Hundreds of local volunteers will spend the day helping homeless community members receive critical services and basic provisions at this year’s Project Homeless Connect for Lane County.

The fourth annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 18, at the Lane Events Center. 

Homeless community members will be offered free medical exams, dental checkups, vision care, hot meals, haircuts, bike repair, and much more. More than 80 local service agencies will be on-site to provide information on housing, employment, education, legal counsel, addiction treatment, and a variety of services available for youth, families, seniors and veterans. Giveaways of basic provisions will include items such as coats, sleeping bags, socks, scarves, hats, gloves, children’s clothing and personal hygiene items.

Last year the event served 1,548 community members. Organizers are anticipating an increase in attendance as Lane County’s homeless population rises. Results of the 2010 annual one-night homeless count, conducted by the Lane County Human Services Commission and its partners in January, revealed that 3,971 people were homeless at that time. Of those homeless, 607 were families.

Project Homeless Connect is part of a nationwide movement working to help meet the needs of people who are homeless, while engaging the local community in finding solutions for ending homelessness.

Throughout the day, Lane Transit District will provide free round-trip transportation from all its service areas to guests attending the event. The City of Eugene will provide round-trip van shuttles from the following Eugene locations:

• First Place Family Center at 1995 Amazon Parkway;
• Looking Glass New Roads at 941 W. Seventh Avenue; and
• the St. Vincent de Paul Eugene Service Station at 450 Highway 99.

Transportation also will be available to serve people in Oakridge and Florence.

UPDATE as of 5/17/10 at 5:11 p.m. >> Devon Joell Holcomb, 27, was arrested in connection with the bank robbery.

Eugene Police responded to a robbery at US Bank, 800 Willamette, at 12:15 p.m. today.

The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was displayed during the robbery. The suspect is described as a black male, 25-years-old, 5′11″ tall and approximately 200 lbs. He is reported to have curly dark hair in dreadlocks, and was wearing an olive army-style jacket with dark-gray sweat pants.

Anyone with information regarding this case should contact the Eugene Police at 541.682.8888.

CORRECTION NOTICE: Please see comments by Autumn Williams below.

Autumn Williams was helping her mother pick up sticks for firewood when she spied two creatures, possibly a mother and a cub.

Being very young herself, Williams thought at first they might have been people. But it was their eyes that gave them away – they weren’t human.

Her mother whispered “walk, don’t run,” and swiftly guided her daughter away from the potential danger. It wasn’t until later that Williams was convinced that the two animals with their reddish-brown fur and deer-like eyes belonged to the Sasquatch family.

In popular culture, Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot and Skookum, is allegedly one single monster that attacks humans, tearing through the forest with King Kong-like rage. But according to Williams and several other Bigfoot researchers, Sasquatch is in fact a real creature – and yes, there are more than one. Perhaps even thousands…. And Sasquatch rarely seek out people, but live in remote areas, scattering at the sight of lights or loud noises from humans.

The data-based reality is this: Thousands of people in Oregon say they have had some type of encounter with this creature. And they haven’t had people to share it with who might actually take them seriously – until now.

On June 19 and 20, the first Oregon Sasquatch Symposium, or OSS, will be held at Lane Community College in Eugene. Researchers and newcomers alike will join together and share their information and experiences about Bigfoot.

Several researchers from Eugene and surrounding areas will speak at the OSS, including Thom Powell, Dave Rodriguez, and Cliff Barackman. Powell wrote a book on Sasquatch called The Locals, where he discusses some of the most contemporary research in the field. Rodriguez first stumbled upon Bigfoot in 1977, and had several more encounters before finally getting involved with OSS three years ago. Barackman has done field research for more than 15 years, using thermal imaging viewers and other technology to come up with one of the largest footprint cast collections on the West Coast.

The event’s keynote speaker, Autumn Williams, has the largest online database of Sasquatch sightings in Oregon. Though she spent her childhood living near Mount Rainier, Washington, she also lived in Eugene for several years and now lives near Elkton, Oregon. She is one of the most renowned researchers in the field; her work for the last 20 years also included occasional Bigfoot encounters of her own.

But despite her years of experience and contributions to Sasquatch research, many people still don’t understand when she tells them for the first time, “My work is with Bigfoot research.”

“Big…what?” people often say in reaction. “No, really, I’m serious,” Williams answers.

But once people realize she’s serious and not insane, they inevitably share a story about a friend or relative who may have encountered Sasquatch. The biggest skeptics, Williams says, are the ones who have never done any research.

“[Sometimes] I ask them how much they really know about it. And they’re usually not qualified at all,” Williams says.

Recently Williams expressed frustration with the state of Bigfoot research. While there are numerous accounts of paw prints, fuzzy photos and sound files, the hard facts, such as the exact size and fur color of Sasquatch creatures – notorious for avoiding human contact – are few.

Williams herself has been on both sides as a researcher and a witness, so she knows the frustration that comes from the difficulty in describing exactly what she saw, while knowing that it really happened. With the lack of so-called hard evidence, it’s the witnesses who make up almost all the data collected on Bigfoot. To date, there are 1,234 sightings documented in Oregon’s Bigfoot database alone.

Though the media and the public at large still hold a tongue-in-cheek view on whether Sasquatch is real, the OSS and the Bigfoot database are excellent ways for citizens to find out what it’s really all about – and share their stories with people who won’t laugh in their faces.

Every American counts—including both citizens and noncitizens, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Census Bureau 2010 representatives recently hit the road to raise public awareness about the recount of the population, which happens every 10 years. They are visiting school campuses and community centers throughout the U.S.

Last month a group of Census representatives came to the University of Oregon campus to distribute informational pamphlets and memorabilia. The purpose of the Census, which began in 1790, is to gather statistical information regarding citizens so that it is easier to make important decisions, such as the amount of Medicaid the State of Oregon will receive.

Henry Cualio, an employee of the U.S. Census Bureau 2010, said, “We are here in Oregon to reach out to the citizens and let them know about the upcoming census. We want every person counted in order to allocate appropriate amounts of money from the government for funding schools, hospitals, and determine the number of seats Oregon will have in the House of Representatives.”

April 1 is National Census Day and citizens will be required to fill out 10 questions  regarding address, race, gender, age, etc. Eugene residents should be receiving their questionnaires at this time. The proposed date of the distribution is mid-March. Forms may be received through U.S. mail or hand delivery.

After April 1, U.S. Census Bureau officials will be going door-to-door to remind citizens to fill out their questionnaire if they have not already done so. Officials will be wearing government-issued badges to identify their purpose. The badges will include a name and photo identification so that Eugene residents can discern between government officials and scammers. If citizens feel that a “Census representative“ appears to be illegitimate, they should report it to Eugene Police Department.

“Our motto is: It’s easy, it’s safe, it’s important,” says Iverson.

If you have not received your questionnaire by April 1, please call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center at 1.866.872.6868 or visit the U.S. Census Bureau.

All information provided in the questionnaire will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with any other government agency according to Title 13 of the U.S. Code.

“It’s a short 10-minute questionnaire that will help our nation grow,” said Jerry Iverson, a U.S. Census Bureau 2010 employee.

Amber Shively is a junior at the University of Oregon majoring in advertising and public relations. She is also the executive officer on the advertising board for the student-run television show DuckU. You can follow Amber on Twitter.

Insect Sculpture with M.E.C.C.A          Art Studio
Hundred Dollar Bill Project                   Ford Lecture Hall
Flower pot decorating                            Ford Lecture Hall

Family Day art activities at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art include:

Appearances

• 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
  Visit with the birds of Cascades Raptor Center – North Courtyard
• 12:30 p.m.                   
  Do the Frog Hop with Frannie! – Pape Reception Hall
• 1:30 p.m.                     
  Do the Frog Hop with Frannie! – Pape Reception Hall
• 2:00 p.m.                     
  Tour of the Amazonia photography exhibit with Sam Abell and Torben Ulrik Nissen

For more information visit the museum’s website or call 541.346.3027.

The 2010 Spring Propagation Fair will be held on March 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Lane Community College (LCC) Cafeteria. The free, volunteer-driven event is a resource for home orchardists, vegetable gardeners and native plant enthusiasts in and around the Southern Willamette Valley.

Hundreds of varieties of scions (fruit-tree cuttings) and vegetable seed, will be shared by local fruit enthusiasts and seed-savers at the Fair.  Rootstocks will be available for a nominal fee. Grafting assistance will be provided. Adventurous attendees are welcome to attend a grafting workshop at 1:00 p.m.

Attendees are not required to bring seeds or scions to participate. However, they are encouraged to ask questions of the experienced local gardeners and gardening education non-profits (see sponsor list below) or listen to the following speakers:

• 11:00 a.m.

Where to begin? From ground zero to feeding yourself out of a garden. Lauren Bilbao, a senior instructor at the Urban Farm Program of the University of Oregon.

• 12:00 p.m. 

Heirloom Pear Varieties for the Southern Willamette Valley. Joseph Postman, curator of the USDA’s 2000+ varieties pear germplasm collection in Corvallis, will discuss pear heirlooms from around the world, well-adapted to growing hereabouts. Several of the difficult-to-find scions he will be discussing will be available at the exchange.

• 1:00 p.m.

Social Permaculture: Growing Our Food with Our Neighbors. A panel discussion by local residents discussing the current state of collaborative, neighborhood-based approaches to growing food. Jan Spencer (River Road Neighbors), Charlotte Anthony (Victory Gardens for All), Aleta Miller (Environmental Center of Sustainability), Anne Donohue (Friendly Neighbors).

• 2:00 p.m.

Locally Adapted Vegetables: What Are They and Why Do They Work So Well? Andrew Still and Sarah Kleeger of the Seed Ambassadors Project and Adaptive Seeds.

• 3:00 p.m.

Incorporating Native Plants into Food Gardens. Why and How? Devon Bonady of the Lane Community College Learning Garden and Fern Hill Nursery; Brian Basor, president, Emerald Chapter, Native Plant Society of Oregon.

The 2010 Spring Propagation Fair is sponsored by:

Eugene Permaculture Guild
Seed Ambassadors Project
Lane Community Learning Garden
The OSU Extension Service in Lane County
Home Orchard Society
Victory Gardens For All
School Garden Project of Lane County
Huerto de la Famila
ECOS
Springfield Transitions Garden
Gardens Program of Food for Lane County
Urban Farm Program of the U of O
USDA Agricultural Research Service National Clonal Germplasm
   Repository, Corvallis
Native Gardening Awareness Program of the Native
   Plant Society of Oregon, Emerald Chapter
Lane County Beekeepers Association
Eugene Tree Foundation
The North American Biodynamic Farming and Gardening
   Association

Bus service to LCC is available from Eugene Station; Free parking is available at LCC. Spanish-language support will be offered.

For more information, visit Eugene Permaculture Guild or contact Charlotte Anthony.

After adopting nine children in addition to her three biological kids, Christy Obie-Barrett knew she was prepared to offer something more to the Lane County foster children who were still in search of a loving family.

That’s why she founded A Family for Every Child (AFFEC) Heart Gallery, a non-profit organization that aims to find new homes for Oregon’s foster children.

The organization helps facilitate the process of adoption by recruiting families for foster children, who are often referred to AFFEC by other foster programs. The non-profit recruits adopting families in a number of different ways using the media and its Web site.

AFFEC also creates wall exhibits, or “heart galleries” as the  organization calls them, which display photographs and biographies of foster children seeking permanent families. These heart gallery exhibits can be found in locations throughout Eugene and Oregon including the Gateway mall, the Eugene airport and the Market of Choice at 29^th and Willamette.

Additionally, AFFEC also offers a mentor program for foster youth from ages 12 to 21. The program’s goal is to ensure that foster youth are successful in completing school and transitioning into their lives as adults, according to the Lane County Heart Gallery Web site.

The organization has experienced great success in its three years of existence. It has moved more than 200 children who were featured on the Web site into foster families. “I had no idea it would be this big. People really responded,” Obie-Barrett said.

Each year, A Family For Every Child works with 250 of the 1000 kids in the Lane County foster program.

Each year, AFFEC works with 250 of the 1000 kids in the Lane County foster program. Obie-Barrett says around 70 percent of the children in all the different programs their organization offers are in the Lane County area.

Obie-Barrett’s decision to devote much of her time to a foster program stemmed from her compassion for foster children and her first-hand knowledge of the adoption process. “I felt confident that I knew enough to navigate the system,” Obie-Barrett said.

“When I see kids and parents become families,” Obie-Barrett said with a sigh, “I don’t know how I could get that from a private business.” Obie-Barrett said she finds it is an amazing experience to spend her time doing something she knows is making a difference. “I’d like to believe it betters our society by providing a better life after foster care.”

There are a number of ways for Eugene community members to get involved with A Family for Every Child Heart Gallery. Mentoring, volunteering, and sponsoring a child’s photograph to be mounted on a Heart Gallery wall are all great ways to help out Lane County’s foster children. Also, local businesses can support the cause by allowing the organization to set up a Heart Gallery display in their venue.

For more information, contact Christy Obie-Barrett by email or by phone at 541.343.2856.

Camille Rasmussen is a Journalism student at the University of Oregon who is minoring in French and Business Administration. Learn more about Camille on her blog.

The City of Eugene is now accepting applications for multiple 911 Call taker/Dispatcher openings and is hosting two upcoming “Career Events” so interested individuals can learn more about the position:

Emergency Services Training Center, 1705 West 2nd Avenue

 
These career events are open to the public; pre-registration is NOT required to attend.

At both events, 911 Call taker/Dispatcher professionals and human resources staff will be available to answer questions about the position. The Eugene Police Department will also be on hand to explain the multi-phase, sometimes months-long, application and testing process.

Those who do successfully complete the application process – which includes a police background check and psychology test – can earn an hourly salary range of $18.77 – $26.44 per hour plus a comprehensive benefits package.

“Only about three percent of the population has the proper skill set and personality to be successful in the career,” said Jenna B LaBounty, public information coordinator for the Eugene Police Department. 

A “Self-Screening Questionnaire” is available online for those who want to test their chances for acceptance and career satisfaction in advance.

For more information about the job requirements or to apply online (registration required), candidates can visit the website. Interested individuals can also call (541) 682-5061 or watch this career video.

TalkFest 2010, a celebration with free entertainment, interactive games, and snacks and beverages, will be held on March 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. in the HEDCO Education Building on the University of Oregon (UO) campus. Everyone is invited.

The event kicks off the official launch of “Talk,” a community-building project created by nine members of Allen Hall Advertising, a UO student-run agency.

The festival will feature storytelling of all forms, including performances by Mark Lewis, Sir Readalot, Absolute Improv actors, Eugene Poetry Slam, and more. UO student groups will host demonstrations, and attendees are welcome to join in a number of interactive conversation “ice-breaker” games.

Event attendees can also become a part of the Talk project, by  conducting a video interview at TalkFest.

As the TalkFest event slogan claims: “If you bring a story, we’ll bring a crowd.”

For more information visit the Talk website.

Nicole Perkins is dually majoring in Public Relations and Art History at the University of Oregon and hopes to find herself working in community outreach, research and education for museums. Learn more about Nicole’s journey on her blog or connect with her on twitter.

People have started to “Talk.” Candidly. They are sharing intimate, humorous, and touching stories with those around them.

Art History student Marisa Fonseca loves her family. Professor John Mitchell lost his daughter. Advertising student Evan Schultz is afraid of the future.

“Talk” is a University of Oregon (UO) community-building project that uses video to spark conversation about what people have in common.

Here’s how it works: UO students, staff and faculty members are interviewed about a variety of “life themes,” including family, travel, and faith. At the end of each interview, participants are asked to share something they love, something they have lost, and something they are afraid of. Then their personal stories and experiences are shared online for discussion.

“Talk allows us to see and share all the ways that we are connected.”

“Talk allows us to see and share all the ways that we are connected,” said Isaac Viel, Talk’s technology director.

The project, which was born in spring 2008 when the UO Office of the Provost requested a diversity-oriented campaign, is the product of Allen Hall Advertising – the UO’s student-run advertising agency. Talk founders Rachel Hom, Jamison Merrill and Tyler Kirsch wanted to approach the topic of “diversity” in a new and creative way.

Instead of a traditional “check the box” method of recording diversity, we wanted people to start talking, Hom and Merrill explained.

Talk’s nine team members hope to strengthen the campus community with this project. They also hope that individuals will learn more about their community not only as passive observers of other people’s stories, but also as participants in conversation with one another.

Though the project is based at the university, Talk team members believe that its mission of sharing stories and sparking conversation can scale to the Eugene community at large.

Nicole Perkins is dually majoring in Public Relations and Art History at the University of Oregon and hopes to find herself working in community outreach, research and education for museums. Learn more about Nicole’s journey on her blog or connect with her on twitter.