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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 23, 2015)
OREGON SCHOOLS STILL AT RISK OF COLLAPSE IN MEGA QUAKE veyed, 12 percent had a very high risk of collapse, while 35 percent had a greater than 10-percent likelihood of col- lapsing. Courtney says he’s frustrated about the lack of response he’s witnessed over making school buildings safe for chil- dren, and he hopes this recent uptick in funding indicates a If you hadn’t heard about the Cascadia Subduction greater public interest in preparing for a large-scale quake. Zone mega earthquake before now, the recent New Yorker “I can’t believe parents are not out in droves saying, article titled “The Really Big One” has probably popped ‘We are not going to permit our kids to go to these schools up on your social media feed enough times to draw your anymore until they are safe,’” he says. attention. In 2013, the Springfield School District applied for and Some people have known for decades about the pre- received a $255,549 grant from the Seismic Rehabilitation dicted 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami Grant Program for Walterville Elementary School, which threatening to devastate the Oregon Coast and beyond. was considered at very high risk of collapse. Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney is one of those According to Springfield Superintendent Sue Rieke- people. He’s worked for years in the Oregon Legislature Smith, other schools in Springfield were deemed at low to fund seismic retrofitting for public school buildings to risk of collapse. However, she says, “knowing that we make them able to withstand large-scale quakes. Now it’s have these additional dollars available, we will of course up to school districts, including those in Lane County, to be looking at opportunities for other improvements to our apply for money and ensure that school buildings don’t schools to make them even collapse on top of students and safer.” teachers when the earthquake Kerry Delf of Eugene hits, he says. School District 4J says that Courtney says Oregon is because 4J made seismic ad- “way, way behind” in retrofit- justments to school buildings ting old school buildings, and in the 1990s, the district is not only 37 schools have received planning to pursue grants and grant money for seismic up- will continue to make seis- grades. Last year, state agency mic improvements when other Business Oregon received 46 maintenance occurs. applications for grant money Pat McGillivray, spokes- but could only afford to award — S E N AT E P R E S I D E N T P E T E R C O U R T N E Y person for the Bethel School $15 million to 13 school build- District, says Bethel has not ings across the state. previously applied for seismic This legislative session, rehabilitation grants, but the lawmakers set aside $175 mil- district recently replaced its lion to retrofit old school build- two oldest elementary schools with new structures that are ings in Oregon so that they are prepared to withstand a built to current seismic codes. high-magnitude earthquake. This money is disbursed McGillivray says that parts of Willamette High School, through the Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, which Shasta Middle School and Irving Elementary School were started in 2009 but has only provided $15 million for rated at high risk of collapse, while Bethel’s eight other schools per session until this year. schools fell into a range of low to moderate risk. He adds “We’re finally getting the Legislature to pay attention,” that Bethel will consider applying for grants, depending Courtney says. “If the school districts will react to this, we on the eligibility requirements and method of application. can make these buildings safe for kids. I just can’t believe “This is going to be the greatest natural disaster to hit it’s taken this long.” our state, and the children are probably more vulnerable to In 2005, the Oregon Legislature commissioned the Or- this than anything else imaginable,” Sen. Courtney says. egon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to “Kids rely on us to make decisions for them. Today, the survey Oregon public school buildings to determine their children of Oregon are totally vulnerable because of what risk of collapse in a high-magnitude earthquake. the adults are not doing.” — Amy Schneider The study found that of the 2,018 K-12 buildings sur- ‘I can’t believe parents are not out in droves saying, “We are not going to permit our kids to go to these schools anymore until they are safe.”’ Many Eugene downtown businesses will be open for the first Sunday Streets celebration from noon to 4 pm July 26. Streets will be blocked off from car traffic from the Park Blocks to Kesey Square and all the way down Broadway to Monroe Park. Participants can enjoy a relaxing bike ride, skate or stroll through a cornucopia of food, music, fitness classes and bike demos. New activities this year include “Art on a Box” offering 20-minute open mic sets from local artists, a dunk tank at Monroe Park and an up-cycle T-shirt decorating competition sponsored by MECCA and featuring Ariana Schultz, fashion designer and instructor at LCC. To volunteer, call 501-0390 or email sundaystreets@ci.eugene.or.us. The Fertilab Thinkubator, which currently operates a business incubator and co-working space in Eugene’s Fermentation District, has opened the Start Up Center in downtown Springfield. A grand opening was held July 10 at the new business at 138 Main Street. The 1,800-square- foot center will “foster an innovative entrepreneurial economy by offering a place for people to learn about entrepreneurship and connect with peers and mentors,” say organizers. Jeff Sather is operations manger and board member Jason Boone spoke at the opening gathering. A unique feature at the Lane County Fair this weekend is the Repair2ReUse Café, located on the fairway next to the water tent. The booth encourages and offers tips on how to repair items rather than discard them in order to reduce waste and help people save the cost of replacing items that can be repaired. Free advice, estimates and instructions will focus on bicycles Friday, July 24, sewing machines Saturday and hand tools Sunday. Repair2ReUse is a waste prevention initiative of the Lane County Master Recycler Program in partnership with local repair professionals and community volunteers. A group of Eugene-Springfield area manufacturing companies are offering recent high-school graduates an opportunity to launch a career. Currently there are more than 90 unfilled entry-level positions across various sectors of the local manufacturing industry, according to Leigh Anne Hogue, who oversees Focus On Manufacturing, a program of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. “Creating a pipeline of skilled labor is one of the biggest challenges to growth for local manufacturers,” she says. Hogue is the director of economic development for the Eugene Chamber. “We are working to build that pipeline by connecting employers with skilled workers.” Download an application at wkly.ws/1tg or stop by the Chamber offices at 1401 Willamette Street. Encircle Films of Eugene is trying to raise money to continue offering its documentary series. The group creates “daring documentaries, expert speakers, engaging discussions, inspiring local action on global issues.” Information about Encircle and a link to the fundraising site can be found at wkly.ws/21t. The documentaries are hosted on first Thursdays by the Bijou Art Cinemas at 492 E. 13th Ave. The next screening will be at 6 pm, Sept. 17, featuring Alive Inside. eugeneweekly.com • July 23, 2015 7
