Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association
The Eugene Wildfire Preparedness Coalition is having another Zoom presentation to help residents of our neighborhood prepare. This meeting is one in a series on preparing your neighborhood & home home for fire. The event will be held on Wednesday, February 24th at 6:00pm. Join us on Zoom.
Oregon’s Risk and Protection Framework uses data to help inform safety measures at the county level. Every two weeks, Governor Kate Brown’s office announces the revised risk status of each county based on current data. Lane County has lowered into the high risk category for the two-week period beginning February 26.
With the reduced risk level comes new guidance including what is allowed for indoor activities such as dining, gyms, entertainment establishments and faith institutions. See Oregon Health Authority’s guidance for activities at each risk level.
Help us remain at a lower risk level by continuing to follow these important recommendations:
If you haven’t already done so, you can fill out Lane County Public Health’s pre-registration for vaccination, available to all members of the public. Pre-registration will help create a centralized database to help health partners countywide contact those who wish to be vaccinated and schedule an appointment when they are eligible.
If you have a friend or loved one who does not have internet access, or has difficulty navigating the internet, we encourage you to help by assisting them in preregistering online. The contact information field on the form only requires email OR phone. If someone does not have an email address the field can be left blank as long as a phone number is listed. If you are unable to complete the online form you can also preregister by phone by calling 541-682-1380 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but please use the online form if possible.
You will receive an invitation from Lane County Public Health when an appointment is available for you to schedule. Remember to check your SPAM folder for any scheduling messages. Please follow instructions for your vaccine appointment and show up on the date, time, and location as scheduled.
It is important to remember that Lane County will continue to follow Oregon Health Authority eligibility guidelines and the timeline to receive your vaccination will depend on supply. To date, 32,480 people in Lane County have received their first dose and 16,665 are considered fully vaccinated in Lane County after having received their second dose. Sign up to receive email updates from Lane County Public Health about vaccine availability and distribution.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Wednesday, Feb. 24 will establish a 14-day exclusive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees.
This will give lenders more time to work with small businesses to submit their applications, while also ensuring that larger PPP-eligible businesses will still have plenty of time to apply for and receive support before the program expires on March 31.
Starting March 1, businesses and non-profits are allowed to request a second appointment for PPE. The City of Eugene, in partnership with Business Oregon, continues to offer free personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to nonprofit and small businesses located in Eugene with 100 or fewer employees.
Businesses can book their appointments for March online as long as spots are still available. We will add new appointments as the current schedule is filled.
Available supplies include:
Supplies will be dispersed on a first come, first served basis. Sign up now for an appointment to pick up your two-month supply.
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Lane County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 541-682-1380
Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your donations over the past weekend, everyone who participated made this drive possible. The turnout at all the food drives was so unprecedented that it took a few days for Food For Lane County to pick everything up and sort through it. Here are the total collections from each donation site below.
Food for Lane County calculated the combined food and fund totals into meals, and the food drives were able to collect 13,190 meals for our community! We are in awe of our community’s generosity and the way you all came together to support people in need during these trying times. These donations are much needed right now. Food For Lane County has seen a record number of new clients in the last year, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as continued weekly deliveries to residents on the McKenzie River who were affected by the Holiday Farm Fire. Food For Lane County’s mission is to reduce hunger by engaging the community, and you all were the very embodiment of our mission this past Saturday. Thank you!
Photos of the SHiNA Neighborhood Volunteers working the Food Drive Donation Site at Wayne Morse Family Farm.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of Americans worry about nearly empty refrigerators and barren cupboards for their children and themselves. In Lane County, the need for food security has greatly increased and those people without jobs and folks affected by the Holiday Farm Fire depend more on food pantries.
Please help by donating canned food –
Peanut butter, tuna, canned stews, soup and chili are among the most needed foods.
Curbside drop off –Volunteers will be wearing masks, and we ask you to remain in your vehicle to help provide social distancing. Please pop the trunk or open the backseat door while we take your donation.
Cash donations can be made on their website here:
Donate funds: https://fundraise.foodforlanecounty.org/NeighborsHelpingNeighbors21
Or by phone, 541-343-2822
Food and checks payable to Food for Lane County will be accepted at the donation sites.
Drop Off Sites:
Sunset Hills Cemetery – 4810 Willamette Street, Eugene
February 13th from 12:00 – 4:00pm
Wayne Morse Family Farm – 595 Crest Drive, Eugene
February 13th from 12:00 – 4:00pm
SHiNA will be having their general meeting over Zoom this Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:00pm. You can join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) is your local air quality regulator. A government agency who works to assure the air in Lane County is clean and safe for all residents. LRAPA is looking for public engagement in choosing their next executive director. The LRAPA’s Board of Directors has selected three candidates for the position of Executive Director: Kris Tucker, Max Hueftle, and Steven Dietrich.
A virtual “Meet and Greet” style meeting open to the public will take place next Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 from 9 am – 12 pm PST. Each candidate will have one-hour to introduce themselves and engage with the public and stakeholders.
This is an opportunity to ask questions of these candidates and hear their responses. Feedback forms will be provided for participants to complete and return to the Board for consideration. Following these interviews, the Board will meet and determine their top choice to replace retiring Director Merlyn Hough. We’re particularly interested in your feedback and would greatly appreciate your participation. Also, please feel free to forward this invite to anyone you believe should provide important feedback to the Board of Directors. 3 hours is a long time, we understand if you cannot attend for all of it. But please join for what your schedule allows.
The meeting’s agenda can be found on LRAPA’s website here:
https://www.lrapa.org/AgendaCenter/Board-of-Directors-2/?#02092021-152
Zoom Meeting Information is as follows:
By Video: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85282334654
By Audio: +1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 852 8233 4654
The order of each candidate’s appearance over the three-hour public meeting is as follows:
1. (9:00 a.m.) Candidate Kris Tucker
Kris Tucker is currently the CEO/President of Ingenious Pursuits, which provides consulting and grant writing assistance in areas including environmental policy, research, and strategic planning. He also has prior experience in town management and economic development. He has a BS in Environmental Science and Government Affairs, and a Masters in Natural Resource administration and Management.
2. (10:00 a.m.) Candidate Max Hueftle
Max Hueftle is currently the Deputy Director/Permit Section Manager for the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. He has been with the Agency for 22 years, beginning as a Permit Writer. He also has prior private sector experience as a Laboratory Technician and possesses a BS in Chemical Engineering and is a registered professional engineer (P.E.).
3. (11:00 a.m.) Candidate Steve Dietrich
Steven Dietrich is currently an Air Quality Manager for Oregon DEQ and has worked for both the Wyoming and Virginia Departments of Environmental Quality. He has over 28 years of experience in public and private sector air quality/environmental executive level management and administrative positions. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering and is a registered professional engineer (P.E.).
Thank you for your time, We look forward to seeing you on Feb 9th!
*We encourage anyone who has internet access to preregister on the online portal.
*If you have a friend or loved one who does not have internet access, or has difficulty navigating the internet, we encourage you to please help by assisting them in preregistering online.
*If you are unable to complete the online form you can also preregister by phone by calling 541-682-1380. We are experiencing long wait times in our call center due to high call volumes. The Call Center is open 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday-Friday. Please use the online form if possible.
*You only need to preregister once and by only one method (either phone or online, not both to avoid duplicate entries).
*If you have already registered with a provider or with your workplace, please DO NOT register again with the County’s database. We are all working from the same information and doing so will slow down our process.
*If you are part of Phase1A and have not heard from Lane County Public Health or a local provider to receive a vaccine, please DO preregister using the new link.
*If you provide an email address you will receive an email confirmation that your preregistration has been received.
*Preregistering to receive the vaccine DOES NOT mean you will be contacted to schedule an appointment right away. We will still follow Oregon Health Authority eligibility guidelines AND as always, our timeline to get you vaccinated depends on supply. In other words, even if you are eligible it may be some time before we have enough doses to offer you a vaccination appointment. Your patience is deeply appreciated.
*Please remember, Lane County does not determine which groups are eligible.
* Once you have preregistered, we ask that you not call the call center with additional preregistration questions unless you believe there is a critical error in your preregistration.
PRIVACY STATEMENT: Some personal demographics will be collected during preregistration process to identify which phase/group you are in. Information entered will only be used for the vaccination effort and will not be shared outside of the HIPAA compliant partners distributing vaccines. As vaccine becomes available, you will be contacted via your preferred method by Lane County Public Health OR a vaccinating health partner to schedule an appointment.
Step 1: Preregister via the online link. Please take your time to answer each question as accurately as possible.
Step 2: If you preregister online and provide an email address, you will receive a confirmation email that we have received your preregistration.
Step 3: You will receive a weekly, automated email letting you know who is currently eligible and that you are still preregistered.
Step 4: When you are eligible and we have doses to vaccinate you, either Lane County Public Health OR a vaccinating health partner will contact you via your preferred method to schedule an appointment.
1) I am eligible in Phase 1A and have already registered with Lane County to receive a vaccine but have not been scheduled to receive the vaccine. Should I re-register with the new form?
Yes. If you have not been contacted by Lane County or another vaccinating partner to schedule an appointment, please re-register using the new form. If you work for a medical provider, please check to make sure your clinic hasn’t already been scheduled. If your clinic has not already been scheduled, each individual should register using the new link.
2) If I have been registered to receive the vaccine through my employer or through my doctor’s office, should I re-register with the Lane County link?
No. If you have already completed registration with your employer or healthcare provider, you are enrolled and that will be fastest and best way for you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.
3) How do eligible community members preregister to receive a vaccine appointment once vaccine is available?
Click here to preregister to receive the vaccine as doses become available. See the important notes section above for alternate format options.
4) I am an educator in Lane County and heard that I am now eligible but have not received an invitation to be vaccinated. Should I preregister with Lane County’s new preregistration?
No. Public K-12 educators will receive vaccine scheduling information directly from their school district. Early learning facilities, private schools, and childcare facilities have received instructions about clinics being conducted this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please check with your employer about attending one of those clinics.
5) How are people with preexisting conditions prioritized for a vaccine?
We heard from the Oregon State Vaccine Advisory Committee that individuals under 65 years of age with preexisting conditions and “essential workers” will be prioritized following our 65+ population. As we receive more detailed information, we will communicate that through this email.
You can view the most recent press conference regarding vaccination at https://vimeo.com/508602775
Starting Feb. 8, people age 80 and older can begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority is committed to getting all older Oregonians vaccinated. There will be more seniors who want to get vaccinated than there will be vaccines available to them.
When will you be eligible?
Everyone 65 and older will be eligible for vaccine by the end of February. Here are dates that each age group becomes eligible for the vaccine:
Next week, OHA will launch a new tool that will allow people to determine if they are eligible for a vaccine and register to get email alerts or text notifications about vaccine events in their area. The tool will be open to all Oregonians and information will be available in 11 languages. We will provide information about how to access the tool in Coronavirus Update after it goes live. In the meantime, Oregonians can:
Lane County Public Health has opened up pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccination– to all members of the public. Officials say since the roll out Thursday morning, people have enrolled at a rate of 5,000 every 30 minutes.
The pre-registration information effort will build a centralized database. This will help health partners reach out and schedule those wishing to be vaccinated.
There is a reminder that vaccine availability remains limited—even among those who are currently eligible for a shot.
Right now, internet access is required to pre-register on the online portal. Officials say if you have a friend or loved one who does not have internet access or has difficulty navigating the internet, consider assisting them in pre-registering online.
Phone pre-registration will be available in coming days.
Pre-Register for COVID-19 vaccination in Lane County in English here
and en Espanol here
Just as your household invests in emergency supplies, EWEB is making investments to make sure safe, reliable water continues to flow, especially in the days and weeks following a natural disaster or other emergency. This includes renovating the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant, planning for a second filtration plant on the Willamette River, replacing water mains, improving storage tanks, and working with upriver partners to support fire recovery efforts and protect water quality in the McKenzie River.
EWEB is also developing neighborhood emergency water stations. Working with community partners, EWEB now has five, fully operational emergency wells:
Howard Elementary School – 700 Howard Ave.
Sheldon Fire Station – 2435 Willakenzie Rd.
Prairie Mountain School – 5305 Royal Ave.
Eugene Science Center – 2300 Leo Harris Parkway
Lane Events Center/Fairgrounds – 796 W. 13th Ave.
Two additional sites are planned near Churchill High School and Roosevelt Middle School.
Using the map below, take a moment to locate the emergency water station nearest to your home. If disaster strikes our community’s water system, you’ll need to obtain water from one of these distribution sites by bringing your own storage containers. Learn how to clean and prepare water containers and find more emergency preparedness tips at www.eweb.org/emergencyprep.
Emergency planning experts advise Oregon residents to prepare to be on their own for a minimum of two weeks following a disaster. That means storing 14 days of water, food, medicine and other supplies.
Starting your kit from scratch can feel like a daunting task. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of preparing your home and family for a natural disaster, EWEB can help!
EWEB is once again offering their Pledge to Prepare, a 12-month blueprint for emergency preparedness. Each month through the year, EWEB shares a new set of tasks aimed at incrementally building your emergency supply kit.
More than 2,300 people have taken the Pledge so far.
Think of emergency preparedness like saving for a big purchase such as a house or a car. If you break it down into small steps you can take each month, at the end of the year, you will have reached your goal. That’s the idea behind the Pledge to Prepare.
When you join the program, you’ll receive a monthly email with step-by-step recommendations. To help you stay motivated and engaged in building your supplies through the year, EWEB will raffle off useful emergency preparedness supplies such as water storage containers, solar chargers, and first aid kits. There will be a new drawing every month.
To join the Pledge to Prepare and get started on your two-week emergency kit, visit eweb.org/pledge. Anyone can join, but you must be an EWEB customer to participate in the monthly prize drawings.
The Eugene Wildfire Preparedness Coalition is having another Zoom presentation to help residents of our neighborhood prepare. The event will be held on February 4th at 6:00pm. Join us on Zoom.
