By Suzanne Buck, CAN Newsletter editor and Marina Hajek, CAN resident

On Saturday, January 16th, the course “Traffic Skills 101 for Parents and Children”, will be held at McCornack Elementary School (1968 Brittany Street, Eugene) from noon – 3 pm; registration is required.  This bicycle safety course is directed at students living in the 4J school district and will be connected with the Safe Routes to School Kidicalmass event on that same day.  Class attendees will not only learn about basic traffic skills but also learn how to perform a bicycle safety check, how to properly fit a helmet, how to size a bicycle for a child, and how to properly carry things on a bicycle. Information will also be provided about gear and clothing, proper lighting, use of reflectors, and locking a bike.  The majority of the course will be conducted indoors but the last portion will be held in the parking lot where drills and a final ride on neighborhood streets will be conducted.

Parents and children who arrived before 12:00 noon will enjoy a light lunch of pizza and fruit. After coming back from the Kidicalmass ride there will be hot soup and bread, and the opportunity to see a McCormack unicycle team show.  We want to keep on schedule with the events, so if you plan to enjoy the pizza, please plan to arrive thirty minutes before noon.

Class participants are asked to bring a bicycle and a helmet with them to class. Some reduced cost helmets will be available. Anyone requiring a loaner bicycle for the class is asked to state that in the comments section of the registration form. This class is geared towards children ages 5 – 13, and is free and open to all 4J families but registration is required by January 11th. 
To register for the class, visit the website: http://eugenesrts.org/events/trafficskills101

Join naturalist Rick Ahrens for this adult presentation to learn more about the origin of some of our seasonal celebrations.  Meet at the West Eugene Wetland Yurt at 7pm.  Cost: $5/member, $7/non-members (no one turned away for lack of funds).  For more information call 683-6494 or email info@wewetlands.org.

 Neighborhood Block Party http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/ConnectingThoughts/%7E3/HM1ZB1EdaFU/neighborhood-block-party.html

View promotional poster here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rWb6jDtZBOM/Ssy30Nav40I/AAAAAAAAAVk/e6vT5G93iYg/s1600-h/Blockpartypostcardupdate.jpg

Hello Everyone! This weekend is our first Neighborhood Block Party at Willamette.

It begins at 12:30 PM and concludes at 3:30 PM. And You're invited.

We will have great food, music and activities including: rock wall, bike
safety clinic, bike stunt demonstration, I.D. tags for kids, face painting,
raffles, and more. Paul's Bicycle Way of Life is even coming to help with
repairs on your bike.

So here's a few details.
1. PARKING: The front parking lot on the campus will be roped off so you
will need to park in the back.
2. DRESS: come casual and ready to enjoy the day.
3. BIKES: If you're up for it. Ride your bike to church or make sure you at
least bring your kid's bikes for the parade and maybe even a tune-up.

Looking forward to sunday!
VAN

Want a unique way to spend a Saturday morning with the kids? Feeling guilty about not being prepared for the big one?
Catch two birds simultaneously: Volunteer to be a victim at the CERT disaster drill October 17th. See the attached flyer for more information. Then take the CERT class yourself and volunteer for the Churchill Area Neighbor Disaster Organization ( CAN DO )

Improvements to Bailey Hill Road will be dedicated on Tuesday, September 8,
at 11 a.m. in the vicinity of Churchill Plaza, 2100 Bailey Hill Road.
The event will include comments by Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and others involved
in this summer's project to rebuild Bailey Hill Road between 18th Avenue and
Warren Street in a new, safer configuration.

Community collaboration has been a key theme in this project, and the many
forms of collaboration - from the design workshops sponsored by the Bailey
Hill Road Safety Committee and the Churchill Area Neighbors to the funding
provided through the voter-approved street bond measure and a grant through
the Oregon Bicycle & Pedestrian Program.

I hope you'll be able to attend to celebrate the successful completion of
this project and to meet the many people who had a hand in this effort.
Light refreshments will be served after brief remarks.

More information about the project can be found at
www.eugene-or.gov/pwprojects<http://www.eugene-or.gov/pwprojects> (click on
the Bailey Hill Road link), or by contacting Public Affairs Manager Eric
Jones at 541-682-5523, 541-954-2938 (cell), or eric.r.jones@ci.eugene.or.us
<mailto:eric.r.jones@ci.eugene.or.us>.
 

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each 2nd Tuesday of every month. WREN will provide binoculars. For more information call 683-6494.

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each 2nd Tuesday of every month. WREN will provide binoculars. For more information call 683-6494.

How well do you know your eight-legged neighbors?  Join John Parrott, OSU/Master Gardener and spider expert, to find out how spiders live and what the major types are that live locally.  Meet at the West Eugene Wetlands yurt, 751 S. Danebo Ave. Cost: $5/WREN members, $7/non-members. For more information call 683-6494.

Golden Gardens is a 146-acre natural area park located in Eugene’s Bethel neighborhood, at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive, north of Barger Drive. The park was formerly a gravel pit which provided material used in the construction of Belt Line Road and its overpasses. WREN will provide binoculars. Call 683-6494 for more information.

National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands. In celebration of National Public Lands Day in the West Eugene Wetlands, volunteers will be at the Stewart Pond Natural Area. Gloves and tools will be provided. Volunteers will receive a free poster, t-shirt, coupon for admission to a national park, lunch, and the satisfaction of working to improve our public lands alongside fellow community members. Directions: From West 11th Avenue, turn north onto Bertelsen Road. Turn east onto Stewart Road. The event will be based at the parking lot on the north side of Stewart Road. Call 683-6494 for more information.

Kalapuya Elder Esther Stutzman is organizing a day of activities for all ages of the general public that includes story-telling, basket making demonstrations, drumming, dancing, camas oven demonstration, children's activities, a display and discussion of the building of the traditional Kalapuya canoe, and more. Bring a picnic lunch, blanket to sit on, and stay for the day. Event will occur rain or shine. This event takes place at 751 S. Danebo Ave. Parking will be on Isabelle St to the north of the site. Cost: $5/WREN members, $7/non-Members. For more information call 683-6494.  
 

Discover Stewart Pond with your family! WREN staff and volunteers will supply bug nets, field guides, and binoculars to promote exploration. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy independent discovery. Stewart Pond is a 150-acre natural area located east of the intersection of Bertelsen Road and Stewart Road, north of West 11th Avenue.  Free!  For more information contact Carrie Karl at carrie@wewetlands.org or 683-6483.

Parking turnouts along West 18th are available for this wander through The Nature Conservancy preserve. Wetland Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each 2nd Tuesday of every month. WREN will provide binoculars. For more information call 683-6494.

National Night Out is August 4, 2009 and this year the Eugene Police Department, in partnership with Lane Transit District and City Officials are bringing crime prevention to you!
 
WHEN: August 4, 2009
WHERE: Willamette Christian Center (2500 West 18th Ave)
WHAT: Opportunities to learn about current crime prevention programs, neighborhood safety tips, speak with Eugene Police staff, City Officials and meet McGruff the Crime Dog.
In support of this national event the Eugene Police Department has organized two National Night Out caravans. The caravans will transport EPD staff, City Officials, and McGruff the Crime Dog to participating neighborhoods throughout the City.
 
The goal of the caravan is to provide support for neighborhoods as they participate in this national crime prevention awareness program. Caravan members will share information on current prevention programs, neighborhood safety tips, and listen to the concerns of area residents to better address prevention issues throughout Eugene.
 
For those not familiar with National Night Out, it is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in local anti-crime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back!!

 
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back!!
This year Eugene will be celebrating with more than 10,000 communities and 35 million people across the nation for National Night Out.
Grab your friends, family, and neighbors and come meet your neighbors!

For more information call Charlie Fernandez at 541-520-3465 or email at charlesfernandez@comcast.net.