Eugene weekly., October 12, 2017, Page 9, Image 9

• Who could have imagined that professional football players would be leading the
way with a profound free speech statement about racial justice and human rights in
the U.S.? Who could have imagined that we would have a president and vice-president
who would distort that statement for political advantage? We're disappointed in NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell's call to make all players stand. But locally, we’re proud of
the South Eugene boys’ and girls’ soccer players who took a knee to agree with the NFL
players. School District 4-J followed with a fine statement supporting the students’ right
to free speech.
• It’s time to celebrate the fact that Kesey Square probably will be called Kesey
Square! The recent City Council committee vote of 7-2 goes to the full council, which
should affirm it (see our blog post at eugeneweekly.com). Then the city can continue the
good work it has been doing to make a proud public place equal to the great literary work
that Ken Kesey gave us all. We want to point out the terrific writing EW’s journalists and
viewpoint writers did to keep the square public and open and alive in the face of
opposition from some elements of the downtown business community and city
government. Now, on to an even better Kesey Square in the center of our city.
• Students took over the stage for a “state of reality” protest Oct. 6, upstaging
University of Oregon President Michael Schill’s “state of the university” speech.
Meanwhile, at Lane Community College on Oct. 9-10, a group called the Center for Bio-
Ethical Reform put on the “Genocide Awareness Project” linking photos of aborted
fetuses to genocide and lynchings, and students at LCC angrily protested in response.
LCC has said it will review which displays it allows on campus. At the UO, Schill accused
students of denying his right to free speech as he had to leave the stage and give his
speech via video. As our annual Back to Campus issue goes to press, the protests remind
us that college campuses are, and should be, hotbeds of not just protest but of open-
minded inquiry. Well-paid UO President Schill might ponder that thought when alleging
his free speech was infringed on by a protest led by students of color, LGBTQ students
and low-income students.
• Eugene Symphony’s new music director, Francesco Lecce-Chong, found himself
buffeted by the lethal wildfires that killed at least 17 people in California’s wine country
this week. A candidate for the job of music director at the Santa Rosa Symphony, which
post he could hold while working here, Lecce-Chong guest-conducted the orchestra there
in two concerts last weekend with pianist Joyce Yang before the fire erupted on the edge
of town Sunday night. He was forced by the conflagration to cancel the same program
Monday at Sonoma State University. Lecce-Chong and Yang are both fine, says a Eugene
Symphony spokeswoman.
• As Oregon’s wildfires succumb to rain, those wildfires in Santa Rosa, California
were shocking in their speed and ferocity. October is typically a bad time for fires in
California, but so many fires springing up at once is stunning. No, it was not the firefighters
not responding in time or the Forest Service being slow to use a supertanker to drop water
that’s to blame for the destruction. From worsening wildfires in the West to hurricanes in
the South and the East Coast: It’s climate change.
•
AeroSynth
Electronic
Wind
Instruments is a new high-tech startup based
in Eugene. Company founder and inventor of
the AeroSynth instrument is Brad Stewart,
who has 40 years experience in embedded
electronic systems, product design and
engineering. Stewart says his next-generation
electronic wind instrument (EWI) is played
much like a saxophone, clarinet or recorder,
and goes far beyond earlier EWIs that were
awkward, bulky and expensive. Several
working prototypes of the AeroSynth have
been made but mass production and
marketing are still in the future. One of his top
priorities is getting low-cost EWIs (about
$150) into thousands of schools. Stewart
says he’s tapping his own resources so far, but
he's also looking for marketing help and
financial partners. Videos of Stewart
demonstrating and talking about the
instruments can be found at aerosynth.com.
• Value Village at 555 W. Centennial
Blvd. in Springfield closed last March after
20 years, and the building is now being
remodeled into a 27,000 sq. ft. gym
called Pursue Fitness. “We have spent
$1.2 million transforming the old Value
Village into a beautiful facility,” says owner
Troy Hake. “We have held to a low price with
a basic membership only costing $15 a
month with no enrollment fees, no annual
fee, no hidden fees, no contracts.” A pre-
sale on memberships began Oct. 9 in
anticipation of the fitness center opening
Nov. 1. A description of the facility and its
programs can be found at pursuefitness.
club or by calling 503-383-8274.
• The sixth annual Community Service
Awards Breakfast will be at 7:30 am
Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Venue 252, 252
Lawrence St. in Eugene. Community
members who are champions in the field of
drug and alcohol treatment in multiple
categories will be recognized. Find
registration information at serenitylane.org
— look for “CSA breakfast.”
• Public radio stations are busy with
their fall fund drives now and KLCC is doing
its online “Stealth Drive” through Oct. 17 in an
attempt to raise enough money to avoid the
traditional on-air campaign that interrupts
programming. One fall fund drive that does
not get much attention is KRVM, which has a
loyal audience for full-time acoustic music.
The station at 91.9 FM in Eugene and 88.5 FM
in Oakridge provides on-air experience for
local high school students, along with
production and engineering skills training.
5% of all
Down To Earth
& Mountain Rose
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to RFC
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Are you ready for the winter storm season?
Curious about utility infrastructure improvements?
EWEB Open House
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Eugene Water & Electric Board
500 East 4 th Avenue, North Building, Eugene
Free parking, near LTD bus stop and bike path
Stop by EWEB Headquarters for practical information
on winter preparedness, energy and water efficiency
incentives. Hear project updates and provide feedback on
electric generation resources, pricing, and more. Speak
with EWEB managers and commissioners. Bring the kids
for an interactive electrical safety demonstration.
Door prizes and light refreshments offered.
Can’t make it? Live chat with @EWEButility on Facebook
or Twitter, or visit eweb.org for preparedness tips and
program information.
Send suggestions to bizbeat@eugeneweekly.com.
eugeneweekly.com • October 12, 2017
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