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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2012)
STRESS KILLS Why is the state of Oregon willing to do business with people who don’t pay their taxes and don’t obey the laws, at the expense of the community of Dexter? The noise from the mine at Parvin Butte, recently given the go-ahead by Lane County, is shattering to my senses and my well-being. Dexter had a taste of what it will be like last year when Lost Creek Rock Products, LLC, began removing the mountain. They mined late on summer nights, on weekends and even holidays when most of us are home — never allowing a moments rest in our once peaceful valley. I am stunned at the decision by Lane County to not even require a site review to mine, therefore disallowing input from those most impacted. Lost Creek Rock Products, LLC, can legally invade our aural space at any time, in any manner. I live one quarter mile from the site and when they were digging and scraping at the mountain I had to be indoors with music playing loudly so I wasn’t assaulted by the noise. No more relaxing on the deck at the end of the day. Mining noise is repeatedly jarring and I am unnerved by it. Do health issues bear no weight in these decisions? Stress kills and I will be put on a stress test for the rest of my life. Meanwhile Demers and the McDougals will walk away with their pockets full. What is wrong with this picture? Sherrie Sims Dexter Editor’s note: See News Briefs this week for an update WASTED RESOURCES Exile is a cruel and unusual punishment that Eugene unconstitutionally imposes on people with no money and no place to go. By ignoring the fact that having little or no income plagues many of our citizens (including quite a few who are sentenced criminals who governments release from jail with no money and no income), Eugene has created a problem that fear-mongers are trying to expand. If Eugene doesn’t want real criminals in the community, fi nd a way to keep them in jail. Most homeless citizens are not “crimi- nals,” even if you arrest them when they have to “illegally” camp in community- owned parks, sit while homeless in the downtown, live in vehicles, or “criminal- ly” trespass on private property for shelter. What a waste of police and court funds! Homeless people are our citizens, neighbors and families. They are not to be criminalized nor exiled. Until there is a safe, legal place for the extremely poor to be in Eugene, they must hide, and then you hunt them down as criminals. Perhaps you could put a spin on exclu- sion: exclude evictors, fear-mongers, those who ignore art, those who pollute our natu- ral areas, stigmatizers, greedy businesses, intolerant persons and those wearing ex- pensive suits and ties. I like what the city did to the fear- mongering councilman, fencing him into his own yard where he will not be so dangerous to poor and homeless citizens in our community. I hope he stays safely there. Jerry Smith Eugene The Gershwin Brothers Thu, March 1 The Shedd Institute 02.29 Tim Berne: Snakeoil 03.01 Carl Woideck Jazz Heritage: The Gershwin Brothers 03.02 Nellie McKay: I Want To Live! 03.07 Deborah Henson-Conant 03.14 Masters of Hawaiian Music 03.17 Hapa 03.29 Jay Ungar & Molly Mason 04.28 Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm 05.05 Zoë Keating Friday, March 2 During Thursday evening’s concert, I watched Rachev conducting the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony. The score was on the podium, but he wasn’t turning pages. Instead, he was helping the Eugene Symphony play this beautiful movement with passion and precision. It was another one of those moments I cherish with Rachev on the podium. It is good to experience them again. Howard Bonnett Eugene The Carl Woideck Jazz Heritage Project Nellie McKay I Want To Live! TO THE EDITOR Deborah Henson- Conant Wed, March 7 Tickets/more info: 541-434-7000 or theshedd.org 868 High Street (E Broadway & High), Eugene College students 10% discount most shows. Do you have HOT FLASHES due to MENOPAUSE? HERBAL TREATMENT AND HOT FLASH STUDY ENOUGH STUDENT HOUSING I agree with Martha Sherwoood’s letter (2/16) objecting to gifting outside developers tax breaks to build high-end student housing downtown. I’m sure there is more information to be had on the particulars but I have watched a glut of expensive housing being built around the UO for a transient student population over the past fi ve-plus years, and I applaud the other new grand additions we are proudly welcoming in our city core. But I’ve have yet to hear any urban renewal concepts to bring housing opportunities for the medium/ low income needs. Even Portland has committed a percentage of its new riverfront apartment housing to mixed income. Ten years ago I wrote a letter to “”bring housing downtown.” I’ve attended many a meeting on redesigning downtown. I’ve chatted with city planners, presented papers from the Brookings Institute on urban planning. Cities all over the country are reinventing themselves to breathe life back into their lifeless cores. To be a successful working vision all cultural and income levels need to be included. I know of many “boomers” who have downsized and are looking to fi nd a “sustainable” lifestyle as a townie. Can we not create affordable senior housing to add some yin for the student yang that’s being built? Martha Snyder Eugene WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Clinical Trials of America in Eugene is conducting a clinical research trial on the effect of an investigational, non-hormonal, herbal treatment for hot flashes. We are seeking women who may be interested in participating in this study. Qualified participants will receive study medication and study-related care, all at no cost, plus compensation for their time and travel. Insurance is not required to participate. You may be eligible to participate if you: u Are between the ages of 40 and 65 u Are naturally or surgically menopausal u Not currently using estrogen or hormone therapy J897399F17 letters If you are interested in participating call or email the Study Coordinator, Helen at (541) 349-0523; helenm@ctofa.com EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 1, 2012 5
