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