4J School Board to make a decision soon whether to retrofit the current North Eugene High building or tear it down

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Gary Haliski

From our friends at the River Road Community Organization:

During the February 13th RRCO General Meeting several neighbors expressed concern the lack of information about the upcoming 4J School Board decision on the future of the existing North Eugene High School Building and lack of information about how they can provide feedback. The RRCO Board sent a letter on February 28th to the 4J Board Chair Maya Rabasa and Superintendent Andy Dey requesting that they provide an information/feedback session for area parents and neighbors.

We asked for information from district staff about the pros and cons of rehabilitating the building along with projected costs. We also asked to know what options are available for both siting and program development of Yugin Gankeun Japanese Immersion School and Kelly Middle School. We asked to have the session in the North Eugene attendance area and that they provide information on how people can provide feedback to the decision makers.

When we had no response to our request by March 15th, we resent the same request to the entire School Board. Board Members promised at that evening’s School Board meeting that the session that we requested would take place. However, it appears that this session will not come to pass so here is the information we can provide you from 4J’s website (https://www.4j.lane.edu/2023/02/4j-weighs-options-for-original-north-eugene-building/).

“The estimated cost to retrofit the old building for a new program is $30 million. That estimate includes expenses for deferred maintenance, upgrades to meet current district standards for school buildings, and required city system development charges. Added to this estimate would be any renovations of the building to accommodate a new program. Retaining the old building also leaves the new North Eugene High School with about half of the field space of other district high schools, leaving less green space in the region for sports and community recreational uses.”

“Demolishing the original building and installing fields on its footprint is estimated to cost $12 million. This option would provide substantial credit toward the system development charges for the new building. It would add two grass soccer-sized fields side by side, bringing the new North Eugene High School’s field area in alignment with other district high schools.

4J is accepting questions through its Let’s Talk page to help inform the board’s discussion and final decision. District staff will answer those questions, as well as post the questions and responses on the district website. Staff also will forward the questions to the board for their consideration. Submit a question: https://www.k12insight.com/Lets-Talk/Dialogue.aspx?k=PB8F29D3F5TLT@WY3D8Z1LT@DY7R6FXLT”

Here is information on upcoming meetings:
North Region Board Subcommittee
 DATE: Friday, April 7, 2023 TIME: 2:45 p.m. 
LOCATION: Hybrid: Virtual and In-Person at Kelly / Yujin Gakuen building, 850 Howard Ave., Eugene, OR 97404
TOPICS: The North Region Board Subcommittee will meet to discuss Kelly/Yujin Gakuen building related business
Meeting URL: https://4J-lane-edu.zoom.us/j/96368647690

4J School Board
DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 TIME: 7:00 p.m. TOPICS: Decision of future of NEHS Building anticipated.
LOCATION: Hybrid: Virtual and In-Person at 4J administration building, 200 North Monroe Street.
Virtual Meeting URL:https://4j-lane-edu.zoom.us/j/91225128314
Streaming Meeting URL:
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/www.4j.lane.edu/stream

Posted in Education, General Interest | Leave a comment

12th Annual Wildflower Celebration – April 29th – Awbrey Park

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Gary Haliski

Join in the fun at the Awbrey Park annual Wildflower Celebration on Saturday, April 29th from 11 am to 2 pm. The park is located at 4291River Road. Take a self-guided tour and discover native flowers, shrubs, and trees. The Friends of Awbrey Park will be stationed throughout the park to help you find trillium, lupine, red Columbine, bleeding heart, violets, fairy bells, starry false Solomon Seal, Oregon myrtle, and much, much more. Other items to look forward to:

  • Live Music – Santa Clara’s own Tim Foelker, and Jerry Finigan and Friends
  • Treasure Hunt – Search for native plants and earn a native plant while supplies last. Plants are provided by the City of Eugene, Buford Park Native Plant Nursery and the Small is Beautiful Farm.
  • Rock Painting – Rocks and paint provided. You make up your own design.
  • Horseshoes

Learning Opportunites about Santa Clara initiatives:

  • The Santa Clara Community Organization – Find out the kind of topics that the SCCO present at monthly meetings (you can attend SCCO meetings in person or via Zoom)
  • The Santa Clara Community Foundation – The SCCF is a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports several projects including renovating the old (1901) schoolhouse on River Loop 2 and returning Hileman Landing to a more natural state.
  • Lane County Master Gardeners mobile plant clinic will be available to answer questions.
  • The Irving Grange will be present to talk about their new mural project on the side of their building (1011 Irvington Dr)
  • Boy Scout Troop 182 – Thank the young men who have helped chip our trails for many years and been responsible for the flourishing natives on ‘Boy Scout Bank’
  • CERT and Eugene EMCOMM will be at the event to give important information about Community Emergency Response and Emergency Communication. Learn about skills needed for fire safety, disaster medical operations, emergency communication, and a lot more.
  • Meet the Friends of Awbrey Park. The Friends just completed their 15th year of improving the park. If you haven’t been to the park since before late 2015, it is time to visit the park once again. The city put in a new bridge to replace a slippery log. The bridge makes it safe to walk to the small forest in the east part of the park.

Bring a picnic. Children are more than welcome. The park features two playground areas (one for 2-5 years old and one for 6-12 years), a large playfield, a pollinator garden, Spring Creek and a small forest where you will find woodpeckers, mallards, newts, and salamanders.

For more information, please contact Kelsey Irvine, Native Plant/ Waterways Volunteer Coordinator, at 541-228-5349 or KIrvine@eugene-or.gov .

Posted in Emergency Preparedness, Gardening, Parks - Dog Parks, Santa Clara Community Foundation, Santa Clara Schoolhouse, SCCF Hileman Stewardship | 2 Comments

Move EUG Takes Off

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Tim Foelker

Have you heard about Move EUG? It’s the City of Eugene’s new community planning project designed to identify and prioritize walking, biking, and safety programs and infrastructure projects. The first step of Move EUG is now underway! The Transportation Planning Team will be listening to community members this spring about their experience with walking, biking and safely getting around in Eugene.

The City wants to know how you think walking, biking, rolling and taking the bus can be more accessible and enjoyable, in addition to how you think all ways of travelling could be made safer for everyone. Share your project ideas and transportation experiences with City Transportation Planners at the Move EUG Open House on April 20th at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion downtown from 4:30pm – 7:00pm. Or visit the Move EUG Engage Eugene page to share your ideas and experiences via online tools:  https://engage.eugene-or.gov/move-eug 

Posted in Education, Events, General Interest, Public Safety, Transportation | 4 Comments

Share Your Thoughts About LTD

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Gary Haliski

From LTD:

We want to hear from you! Take LTD’s annual customer satisfaction survey now through April 30 to tell us how we’re doing. Whether you use the buses frequently, occasionally, or hardly at all, we want to hear from you! People who complete the survey will be entered to win a $100 gift card to Fred Meyer. The survey takes 3-5 minutes to complete and is available March 27-April 30. Printed surveys are available upon request at the Customer Service Center and can be returned there once completed.

Take the survey: https://www.ltd.org/customer-service-survey/

Thank you in advance for your assistance in getting this information out to the community.

Cammie Harris
Marketing and Communications Representative

Posted in LTD Mass Transit | Leave a comment

Hileman Park Heroes—Launch Day

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Tim Foelker

The Santa Clara Community Foundation has officially adopted Hileman Landing County Park. Tim Foelker (SCCF board president) signed the work plan agreement with Lane County on Thursday, March 23rd, and Saturday, picked up tools for the inaugural Last-Saturday-of-the-Month regular work parties to begin serious park rehabilitation. (Please mark you calendars.)

Neighbor Arlene G. arrived with a beautiful smile on her face.

Of course, we are doing the hard work of invasives removal and cleanup around the entrance. It won’t be long, though, until we can plant some native trees/shrubs and move further into the park. Jerry Finigan (below) won first prize for the largest blackberry-briar root yet!

Some of these blackberry corms have been rooting for many decades.

We had eight volunteers—a great turn-out for an inaugural event—and we engaged with a dozen or so park visitors and, often, their pets. These visitors deserve thanks for the fabulous job of keeping the park clean the last year or so. We filled only a tiny bucket of trash and doo on this day!

The diligent Pond-bank team, from left to right: Peter Thurston, Tim Foelker, Amy B., Khloe, and Margo.

Our next event is scheduled for May 27th. We are skipping April 29th, because that is the day of the Awbrey Park Wildflower Celebration. Join the neighborhood there for wildflower tours, info tables, food, music, and fun.

Then join us in May for a shift. We’ll be working from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Choose a time that works best for you. Tell your friends and neighbors, and follow the park’s progress in your media.

Rich K. (left) and Jerry Finigan prepping the park gate area for planting

The Santa Clara Community Foundation would like to thank Kate Perle, from the nearby Small is Beautiful Farmstand (and SCCO president!), for creating and displaying the excellent road sign for the event. Plus, Jodi Low, Lane County Parks Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator, for creating the shift sign-up, and getting tools and gloves to us.

Posted in Environment-Recycling, Events, Santa Clara Community Foundation, SCCF Hileman Stewardship | Leave a comment