Beaver-Hunsaker Interested Parties Update

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Gary Haliski

Please note that the items in the first paragraph have been completed.

Lane County’s Beaver-Hunsaker safety project is under construction. Completion of the multi-use path along Delta Sand and Gravel’s street frontage is anticipated in the coming weeks. Before the end of autumn, the remaining elements of the project should be completed which include a pedestrian-activated beacon at the new crosswalk at Taito Lane and tubular delineators installed along the fog line of the south side of Hunsaker Lane to demark the wider shoulder created for people to walk more comfortably. This project was made possible by funding from the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO), right-of-way contributions from Delta Sand and Gravel, and neighborhood support. Thanks for your continued patience as we wrap up construction this fall.

The City of Eugene will be completing the longer-term improvements on Hunsaker Lane. This will include constructing sidewalks on Hunsaker Lane – in two phases, as described below. For more information about these projects, please contact:  Jordan Vesper, Civil Engineer, City of Eugene, JVesper@eugene-or.gov or (541) 246-0019.

  • The first phase involves the westernmost portion of Hunsaker Lane, from River Road to about Daffodil Court. On this segment, sidewalks will be constructed as part of the Hunsaker/River Road intersection improvement project. The intersection will be reconstructed to create dedicated turn lanes to improve safety. There will also be curb-separated space at the intersection to protect bicycles from motor vehicles. Construction is anticipated to start in spring 2022. The intersection project was made possible thanks to safety funding provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
  • The second phase will complete sidewalks on Hunsaker Lane from Daffodil Court to Taito Lane. The exact extents and project details are still in the preliminary engineering design phase. Construction is planned for 2024. This phase of the project was made possible thanks to federal funding provided by the CLMPO.

When funding is secured the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be working with the City and County to complete the longer-term improvements on Beaver Street as part of the Beltline Highway Facility Plan. Those plans are currently in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. Construction funding has not yet been identified. More information about those plans are provided at: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=16223. For more information, contact Molly Cary, ODOT Transportation Project Manager, molly.a.cary@odot.state.or.us, 503-986-6924.

Recommendations for improvements to Hunsaker Lane including bike lanes and sidewalks.
Posted in Beaver-Hunsaker & Multi Use Path, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All about Bird Feeding & a great bird app.

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Gary Haliski

Those of us in Santa Clara are lucky to be surrounded by farms, rivers and woods. That makes for good bird habitat. If you’re a bird watcher, you might want to subscribe to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology newsletter. One of the best apps for birding is FREE from Cornell labs. Not only does the app do a good job of identifying birds, but it does an excellent job of identifying birds by sound! That’s right. Load the app, use the ‘Sound ID’, hit the microphone icon and let the app identify birds. The app will identify as many different birds as it can hear. The app can be found here.

Here’s a part of a typical newsletter from Cornell Labs.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the weather is turning colder, and the peak season for feeding birds has begun! But no matter where in the world you live, bird feeding is a delightful way for birders to connect to the birds they love. Here are a few resources to help you make the most of your feeders.

  • Bird feeding is fun, but there are a few steps to take to keep birds safe when providing food. Learn how to provide birds with a Safe Feeding Environment on Project FeederWatch.
  • Did you know observing birds at your feeder can lead to new scientific discoveries? Tune in to the recorded webinar Winter Bird Feeding 101 with Project FeederWatch and hear how your feeder observations can contribute to science.
  • Not sure what kind of food to provide? Learn the food preferences of common North American feeder visitors with the Common Feeder Birds interactive.
Owl on Wood Duck house in Flat Creek in Santa Clara ——————————————————————–

Have fun birding.

Posted in Environment-Recycling, Parks - Dog Parks, Parks and Natural Resources | Leave a comment

West Bank Path meeting video and chat has been posted

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Gary Haliski

A video of the portion of last Thursday’s SCCO meeting about the West Bank Path extension has been posted to our SCCO Youtube site. The ‘chat’ from that meeting has also been posted.

West Bank Path Video
The video lasts about an hour and a half. The slide show presentation by Reed Dunbar from the City takes about 18 minutes. The rest of the video is the Question and Answer period. (If you want to jump to a specific part of the video click on ‘SHOW MORE’ when you are in Youtube and you will see the time tabs.) View the video here.

West Bank Q and A chat
The chat has been posted so people can see questions and comments without going through the entire video. Read the ‘chat’ here.

Thank you to those of you who attended the meeting. There will be follow up meetings over the next few years. The project timeline has an estimated completion date of 2025.

If you want to join an email list of West Bank Path interested parties please contact Reed Dunbar at the city with a subject line of:
‘West Bank Path interested parties email list.’
In the body, say :
“Please add me to the West Bank Path interested parties email list. I live in the Santa Clara area’.

Reed Dunbar, City of Eugene Transportation Planner
RDunbar@eugene-or.gov
541-682-5727

Click on image to go to video presentation
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Luper Pioneer Cemetery Open Veterans Day

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Peter Thurston

NEWS RELEASE

November 1, 2021

SUBJECT: Luper Pioneer Cemetery Open Veterans Day

CONTACT: Peter Thurston, President, Luper Cemetery Inc. 541-321-0798

On Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2021, the main vehicle gate for Luper Pioneer Cemetery at 30391 Beacon Drive West will be open from 9 am to 4 pm for the public to visit this Oregon Historical Site, one of the oldest cemeteries in the southern Willamette Valley. Luper Cemetery (also known as Irving or Baker Cemetery) was founded in the mid-1800s. Eighteen of the people buried at Luper Cemetery arrived in 1853 by way of the Oregon Trail and the Free Emigrant Road across central Oregon. Over 160 people are buried at Luper Cemetery.

Luper Cemetery, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has been working since 2009 with neighbors, public agencies, and other non-profit organizations to restore the cemetery and share its pioneer heritage with the public. Luper Cemetery, Inc. is recipient of several awards and grants for restoration of the pioneer historic site.

The cemetery may be accessed every day from dawn to dusk by walking the half-mile gravel road from the West Beacon Drive entrance to the cemetery. The main vehicle gate is opened on special occasions, including Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

Please visit www.LuperCemetery.com for more information about the Luper Cemetery Historical Site, and ways you can contribute to its restoration and maintenance. This website also contains many diaries and documents written by early Lane County pioneers.

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DIRECTIONS to Luper Cemetery: From Eugene take River Rd. north to Beacon Drive, on the north boundary of Santa Clara neighborhood, and turn west. From Junction City take River Rd. south, turn onto Beacon Drive West and travel about a ½ mile to a white metal gate, marked with Luper Cemetery signs on the north side of Beacon Drive. Proceed through the gate approximately 1/2 mile to the parking lot and cemetery entrance.

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Calling 9-1-1 in Eugene and Lane County – November 2nd Emergency Preparedness Meeting

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Tim Foelker

Hello neighbors, 

Everyone is invited to attend our next Emergency Preparedness Team Meeting on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, featuring our  Central Lane 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Feel free to reply to this email with your questions ahead of time!

Calling 9-1-1 in Eugene and Lane CountyA conversation with our local public safety telecommunicators.Tuesday, November 2nd, 20216:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PSTVirtual via Zoom

The Emergency Preparedness Teams of the NW Eugene neighborhoods* are pleased to sponsor a one-hour virtual presentation and Q&A session with Central Lane 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Central Lane Communications 9-1-1 guides and instructs callers through crises while connecting them with the public services they need.

Topics will include information about the teamwork that goes into these public services— such as coordination with police, fire, and CAHOOTS; CPR guidance; and even childbirth instruction.

Join us to learn how to utilize this valuable emergency service, including when to call 9-1-1 vs. the non-emergency number.

*River Road Community Organization, Active Bethel Community Organization, Santa Clara Community Organization

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PST

Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83865286951?pwd=Wnk1aXZuR0EvcEVJSnNhZnZ0dkNPQT09

Meeting ID: 838 6528 6951
Passcode: prep
Dial by phone: +1 669 900 6833 US

Posted in Emergency Preparedness, Public Safety | 2 Comments