From the editor
Happy May Day to us all. I am sending out this email early so we can recommend a fun event that will occur tomorrow:
“Asian Kite Festival: May, 2015
Saturday, May 2, 2015
250 Sliver Lane, Eugene
12:00 – 5:00 pm.
This year’s annual “Asian Kite Festival”, hosted by the community’s Asian Council, will be combined with Yujin Gakuen’s Children’s Day event. The UO’s Japanese Student Organization (JSO) and the Japanese-American Association of Lane County will contribute to this epic event on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 12:00 – 5:00 pm.
The Children’s Day portion will host free field games and an obstacle course, as well as Samurai hat and Koinobori making. Origami Master Tomo Tsurumi will be on hand to exhibit and teach the intricate art of paper folding. Yujin Gakuen will also have sweet baked goods and pottery for sale. Kinokuniya, a Japanese bookstore based in Portland, will also be on hand selling Japanese books and stationary.
Students of Yujin Gakuen will hold a taiko and song performance, along with other local groups, such as Eugene Taiko, throughout the day. This is a fun community event for the whole family!
Families of fifth grade students will be on site in the parking lot collecting donation items in a Goodwill truck to raise funds for their summer trip to Japan. They would greatly appreciate you clearing out your attic and bringing items you no longer need to their Goodwill truck during the weekend of May 2nd. Please note that no singular item may weigh more than 100lbs.”
Then, meeting news:
Our board will meet on this Wednesday, May 6, at 7 pm, on the upstairs balcony at Market of Choice on 29th. We will be discussing future meetings and ways to contact and communicate with our neighbors.
All board meetings are open. We would be especially excited if pepole from the area south of 40th street, and representatives of any Homeowners Associations (HoAs) in our area, could attend.
We will be trying to visit the meetings of HoAs there as well as in the western reaches of our area around Chambers and City View. If you belong to one of those HoAs, let me know the date of your next meeting and we will come and learn if we can assist you in any way.
Our official area has its north boundary along 28th from Willamette to Chambers then along 24th to City View. The area extends south, bordered by Willammette on the west and City View on the east, down to the city border.
But, also I want to send out some less cheerful items.
Crime notes:
From the Eugene Police Department
“Greetings,
I wanted to let you know that I have noticed a jump in burglaries, especially on the Westside of town. Most of these have involved unlocked doors and windows (over half). There have been a number of thefts from garages with open doors. Several bikes have been stolen because the garage door has been left open.
Sometimes residents get a false sense of security if they are in the house or in the backyard. Please encourage residents to close and secure doors if they are not in the immediate vicinity.
Any help in getting the word out is appreciated. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Margaret Mazzotta
Crime Prevention Specialist
Eugene Police Dept.
541-682-5761”
Dog news
More complaints about off leash dogs in public parks:
“I, too, have been bothered by many people letting their dogs run loose in these two neighborhood parks. We walk our two dogs in these parks every day, always on leash. We walk with pepper spray to protect our dogs from being charged by dogs running loose which, I might add, are always identified as “friendly” by their smiling owners. No loose dog running toward a leashed dog can be perceived as friendly. I have pointed at the sign by the Morse Ranch sidewalk (that says dogs must be leashed) and asked a dog owner to please leash her dog. She laughed and said she didn’t want to. Both this lack of consideration for others and the lack of respect for park rules are disturbing.”
“I strongly support the enforcement of leash laws and proscription of free ranging dogs anywhere. Dogs defecate anywhere, are intimidating and can be a real menace to people and wildlife, as nationwide thousands of dog attacks and bites attest to.”
And about Barking dogs:
On our nextdoor.com site, neighbors have been discussing the problem of deterring barking dogs. They say that their dog owners’ attitudes have hardened and that the city has become lax in enforcing its own ordinances. They make various suggestions.
I found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUx3tWnmZvs a list of videos showing what some people online have tried. Most report at best partial success.
The Eugene city code defines barking this way:
• Barking dog. A dog which persistently barks or howls and thereby unreasonably deprives a person of peace and quiet.
The code defines the offense as
• Continuous annoyance. Permit any animal to cause annoyance, alarm or disturbance for more than 15 continuous minutes at any time of the day or night, be it repeated barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying or other like sounds which can be heard beyond the boundary of the owner’s property.
The city web site says:
• Barking dogs: Dogs barking continuously for 15 minutes or more can be reported to Animal Services at 541-687-3647 during business hours. After business hours, barking dog complaints can be made to the Eugene Police Department non-emergency department at 541-682-5111.
On a more cheerful note, a report on our 4J school board debate
“The Southwest Neighborhood Association as well as the Southeast Neighborhood association together with other community leaders held a Candidate Forum for the 4J School district on April 30th. It was hard to find an empty seat at this packed forum.
Food, refreshments, tabling and information by many wonderful neighborhood association volunteers. Our timekeeper didn’t miss a beat and keep the candidates on track.
As they welcomed attendees, the candidates shared brochures and literature as well as engaged with visitors.
The Moderator, Rick Levin did a great job ensuring the flow and the full participation of the candidates participating in the debate. Amy Schneider, Education columnist and blogger for the Eugene Weekly was at hand and supporting the event with several teachers, former school administrators, parents and community members.
All other candidates not in the debate were given time to introduce themselves at the start of the event. They too, brought in their literature and networked with attendees.
Audience participation through the Q&A was equally engaging and timely. We wish we had more time for more questions.
Juan Carlos Valle and Heather Sielicki teamed up for this well attended event.
The next 4j Board Debate is at City Club of Eugene on May 8th at 12 noon.”
* * * * * *
Who we are:
Our new name: Southwest Hills neighborhood Association
Our old name: Crest Drive Citizens Association
Our area of the City: west of Willamette, extending south to the city borders, with our north boundary along 28th to Chambers then along 24th to City View.
Our contact information
For the newsletter: dkolb@bates.edu
For all other matters: vallecomm@gmail.com
The officers of our Association
Chair: Juan Carlos Valle
Vice Chair: Rachael Young
Reporting Sec.: Francina Verrijt
Corresponding Sec./Treas.: David Kolb
Purpose: Our purpose is to promote community at the neighborhood level and improve the livability of the neighborhood, and to educate neighbors and provide a forum for members to identify, discuss, and resolve neighborhood issues by encouraging and facilitating communications and participation among the members on matters of common concern.
How to keep up with news about our area and our activities:
You can check our Web site: crestdriveca.com
You can join the hundreds who receive our weekly email newsletter. Sign up using the form on the web site.
You can join ongoing discussions at our nextdoor.com web page. Sign up at that site.
SHiNA 