 Jacob Thode, Management Analyst for the city of Veneta Veneta may be a small town, but it too has a homeless population. Data from Lane County’s 2023 Point in Time Count denoted a population of 19 unhoused individuals residing within city limits. You can often see these people standing beside a picnic table at the West Lane Center, loudly conversing with someone only they are aware of, or redeeming cans and bottles outside the doors at Ray’s in order to get some much-needed change. At times, they can even be found sleeping on the porch of the empty building on Broadway across from the Broadway Grill or ambling down the sidewalk with their worldly possessions in tow. They are harmless for the most part and seem grateful when they are acknowledged. They have names, stories, and they are all somebody’s child, brother, sister, or parent. They are all human beings.
In an acknowledgement of their humanity and a desire to help, Fern Ridge Advocates for the Unhoused Group aka FRAUG, has been working to set goals aimed at such things as providing laundry and showers, a warming center, a Sunday community dinner, a clothing ministry, and a transitional housing program for women and women with children. Comprised of individuals representing Mid-Lane Cares, the city of Veneta, Lane County Orchid Health, area churches, and the Fern Ridge School District and many community members, FRAUG meets monthly at city hall to discuss issues surrounding the homeless and to set goals in helping them. At the last meeting on May 16th, an update was given on the implementation of a Mobile Crisis Unit that FRAUG has been following for the past several years. According to Jacob Thode, Management Analyst for the city, this will function in a like manner to Cahoots in Eugene. Lane County has since taken the reins, but before it did so, FRAUG made it a priority to locate a service provider who could be responsible for the management of the program in the Fern Ridge Area. With the county now at the helm, FRAUG attempts to stay informed of the latest developments as well as a partner to the county in all ways possible. Last February, Lane County’s Mobile Crisis Response Senior Project Manager Sarah Macorie informed FRAUG that the plan is to have six van in total with 2 in Eugene and 4 in Junction City, Oakridge, Vida, and Cottage Grove. The Junction City van would also serve as a response van within the Fern Ridge area. Lane County plans to have one van in operation by early June. Also in the works is the execution of a 988 service within Lane County, a 24-hour national suicide and crisis lifeline that is being brought to service state-wide. Often, mental health calls in Veneta are routed to Lane Fire Authority or the sheriff’s office. 988 is run out of Portland, but Lane County is training staff on how to steer clients to resources in Lane County. Having 988 available is important in ensuring that those in need receive a proper and timely response to the issue they are having. Lane County has determined that over 70% of mental health issues can be successfully dealt with by telephone. An increased rollout is expected to take place as the same time as the Mobile Crisis Units. Thode describes those who comprise FRAUG as “a passionate group of people” who possess a strong desire to help the unhoused. Because of last January’s ice storm and its revelation of how limited resources are in responding to severe weather such as this, the group was temporarily steered away from its goals and instead focused on how they could improve their emergency preparedness when the next natural disaster occurs. However, they have been getting back to them and are looking to update what these goals should be. Recently, FRAUG organized a cleanup of abandoned tents at 5th and Broadway and they had around 12 volunteers who spent the morning cleaning up camps along the railroad. The group always welcomes new members and there are always opportunities to help with the community dinners clean-ups, or to find other ways to get involved. Being homeless is certainly nothing a person aspires to and none of is immune from finding ourselves without a roof over our heads. All it takes is a catastrophic illness or injury or the loss of a job as many have sadly found out. For far too many, mental illness and addiction are responsible, and they just can’t get the help they need. Meanwhile, they live among us, tired, hungry, confused, all too often treated as sub-human by those who see them as a blight rather than a fellow human being. That there are some who can look beyond the tatters and the dirt and the odor and see a person in need of knowing somebody cares, somebody sees their humanity, can only serve to help make what is truly just an existence rather than a life, a bit more bearable and it is this compassion that may even help a person find their way off of the streets and into a home at long last. Say hello, offer a smile, realize that it could just as easily be the other way around. For someone who has to struggle just to survive, this acknowledgement could be what makes their day a little more bearable.
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 It was almost two years ago that Orchid Health opened its doors in a small, but tidy office building across from Elmira High. In this short time frame, it has become an integral part of the community. This is due in no small part to the efforts of Mandy Powers, the clinic’s Community Health Worker. Under her tutelage the clinic has seen the institution of programs to foster dialogue with youth and to address hunger and has become a presence at various functions in the Fern Ridge area.
One such program is Trillium Produce Plus, which distributes produce on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 1-4 p.m. to those in need. When Powers learned of how well the program was doing at the Orchid clinic in Oakridge, she decided to add it to the Fern Ridge clinic’s offerings and while the numbers vary, approximately 100 families receive produce and occasionally bread, pasta, beans, and during the holiday season, cans of pumpkin. Food for Lane County provides 500-600 lbs. of produce and whatever is left over is taken to the Love Project. People are asked to sign up in advance. Orchid, which began with the credo that rural residents have a right to health care that is both accessible and high-quality, has clinics in Elmira, Oakridge, and Blue River. At the Fern Ridge clinic there is one doctor on staff, Dr. Willie Foster, two Nurse Practitioners, a Registered Nurse and support staff including Powers. Because the patient panel is nearly full, they are looking to hire another practitioner and there has been talk of expanding as they are running out of space. They are also hiring a new counselor for the integrated behavioral health portion of the clinic. Because they are a school-based clinic, this allows them to see students free of charge. To make this known, the clinic attends school events such as Registration Day which sees all staff except providers educating the community and offering a few fun things for the kids such as stickers and bubbles. There is also a Youth Action Council in effect at the high school that acts as a conduit so that the clinic can be aware of what youngsters want in terms of health care. While the first year was just about getting established, this year has seen the council do things such as the creation of a flyer to educate and to list resources for accessing mental health. “We want to give them the opportunity to get involved and have their voices heard,” says Powers. “We want to hear what they want.” If a student is interested in serving, all that is necessary is to sign up as the council is open to anyone who has a desire to learn about the medical field. Orchid isn’t just for students, however. Annual wellness is provided for seniors, as is primary care and well child visits, and some labs are done onsite. Powers is currently attempting to put together a Health Fair that would see organizers come and do a tabling occasion together. It would be, as she describes, “more of an information event” and she would like to see participation by Sr. and Disabled Services, DHS, HIV Alliance, Hope and Healing (formerly Womenspace), SASS (Sexual Assault Support Services), Legal Aid, Catholic Community Services and St. Vincent de Paul. This Health Fair would enable people to acquire resources as well as to network and come up with ideas to meet various needs. One such need that vexes Powers is transportation for those not on Medicaid as they do not qualify for RideSource and a number of people struggle to get into town. Powers recalls telephoning 7-8 transportation services and learning that all were affiliated with RideSource. It is her fervent hope to find a solution to this problem. Powers also takes steps to help people by providing resources to meet essentials such as finding funds to renew driver’s licenses, pay rent, and utilities. Since opening their doors, Orchid has already become a presence at the Harvest Festival and has a float in the Light Parade as part of its outreach. It also provides first aid at the Veneta Race and last October had a decorated Pop-up at Veneta Haunts. In August, they will have a table at National Night Out and more recently took part in the Earth Day celebration at the Elmira Grange in April. It’s not even two years since the clinic opened and Orchid has already made a big impact. They can thank Powers and her compassion for this. Without it, without her empathy and her desire to make things better for those who need a hand up, perhaps it would just be another clinic. But, with Powers on staff, it’s a place that the Fern Ridge area can be proud of.  Cougars or Mountain Lions are increasing in numbers in Oregon with Lane County having the highest density in the state. The big cats are also making their way to Roseburg and the Portland suburbs. Though they number to more than 6,000 including kittens, cougar sightings and encounters are uncommon as they are naturally reclusive and prefer to avoid humans. Oregon’s Cougar Management Plan necessitates a population of 3,000 of the big cats but there is no ceiling. Because kittens are included in the count, leading wildlife biologists and managers in other states have come to believe the population has been drastically overestimated which can lead to overhunting that in turn can disrupt social structures and lead to more conflict with livestock and people.
Cougars are territorial animals and sustain a home range of up to 100 miles. Their main food source is deer, but they will consume other animals such as elk, racoons, bighorn sheep and, unfortunately, livestock. This is naturally upsetting to those owners whose animals have been killed and a desire for vengeance is understandable. Landowners or their agent may legally kill a livestock damaging cougar without obtaining a permit from ODFW though other laws such as the prohibition of discharging a firearm within city limits may apply. The incident must be reported to a local ODFW office, and the cougar carcass turned in for sampling in a period of ten days. This is so ODFW can determine the cougar’s sex, age and other information as the data is needed for its population model. However, there are things people can do to discourage unwanted visits from cougars and protect their livestock from attack. It can not only save a goat or a sheep from dying a violent death, but also a cougar who is merely following instinct. Once a cougar learns where it can find an easy meal, it will return, therefore properly housing livestock at night when cougars are most active is vital to keeping animals safe. To just leave an animal out in a pasture is to invite tragedy, though for those people who have large operations, closing livestock in a barn might not be feasible. Relocating cougars does not work, according to Christopher Yee, from ODFW since they are so highly territorial and there is also the chance that they could resume attacking livestock at a new location. In this case, it is advisable to not leave food and garbage outside and to use garbage cans that are animal proof. Motion-activated outdoor lighting is helpful livestock guardian dogs can help ward off predators, though there is no guarantee of their effectiveness. Motion-activated alarms have shown some success but one has to be quick to respond in order for them to be effective. Cougars are not living among us; we are living among them. This was their home first and as cougar numbers are increasing, the odds of cougar/human interaction are increasing too. Young cougars, who are known to have a high mortality rate, can be pushed into urban fringes as they attempt to establish a range of their own. Taking personal responsibility can help a lot when it comes to discouraging cougars from making an unwanted visit. However, even the most cautious can find themselves encountering a cougar and when this happens, cougars will retreat when given the chance and given a way to escape. Staying calm and maintaining eye contact is very helpful and when picking up children it is best to do so without bending down or turning one’s back on a cougar. Do not run, but back away slowly as running triggers a chase response in cougars which could result in an attack. In the event a cougar seems aggressive, looking bigger by raising one’s arms and clapping one’s hands can scare them off. In the very rare event that a cougar attacks, a person should fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray or anything else available. The taking of a life is not pleasant, and nobody wants to go outside in the morning and discover a loved goat or sheep dead and mangled. But the loss of a cougar’s life is not pleasant, either. If precautions are taken and a mutual respect between humans and cougars is established on the land that is shared, this can only be a win-win for people, cougars, and livestock alike.  The three tax lots on Broadway sit green and inviting. Oak trees stand proudly along the northern perimeter and dot the grassy expanse here and there, creating a small oasis in the heart of the city. In the past, the lots have served as a place for the Veneta Downtown Farmer’s Market to set up booths and do business. During the Harvest Festival, they have served as a place for displays, booths, and even a dunk tank. For a while, St. Vincent de Paul, the land’s owner, had planned to erect a combination retail store/apartment building at the site. Now, the city has been developing plans of its own in an attempt to draw more outsiders to downtown Veneta.
The original Masterplan in 2015 resulted in the construction of the Service Center, new sidewalks and streetlights, and the installation of a monument at the corner of Broadway and Territorial. More recently, work has begun behind the scenes on the second Master Plan to develop the grassy expanse into something that could boost the city’s economy. After St. Vinnie’s funding fell through for the planned retail store at this location and things stagnated, the city watched carefully and when the time was right, spoke with those in charge who expressed a willingness to sell the land. The city then took this offer to the Economic Committee who gave the purchase their blessing as long as there was a plan to develop it. The next step was to go before the City Council, which also gave their okay. Now a “visioning process” has begun to determine how best to develop this expanse as a commercial property and make it into something people coming through on their way to Eugene from the coast and vice versa will want to visit as the city hopes to bring about a revitalized downtown. If planning codes allow, the city may erect a three-story building that would be mixed commercial/residential so that those traveling Highway 126 would be able to see it and be drawn in. Matt Michaels, Veneta City Administrator, says the plans for the three tax lots are “being put on the table” to determine how the three-story building would work. “We want to know what can we work with, and what would go well there,” Michaels states. The city intends to be transparent about its plans and intends to seek input from the public about the best use for the land. As for St. Vinnie’s, they still intend to put a store in Veneta, but no details are known at this point.  A small group of local parents collectively known as FRSD Strong has announced the “Messages of Thanks for Teachers” campaign to show support for educators during Teacher Appreciation Week 2024.
This campaign enables those in the Fern Ridge community to post a message giving thanks and support to a teacher (or all teachers) quickly and easily via fun online message boards set up for each school. From now until the 10th of May anyone who wishes to post a message can do so by clicking on padlet.com/frsdstrong, select a school, and then add a message of thanks and support for our educators. It’s simple and the divulging of personal information is not necessary in order for a message to be shared. FRSD Strong will share the message boards with the school principals who then will be able to share the message with their staff. Because the last few years have been difficult ones for teachers, FRSD Strong wants to show those educators in our district that the community truly appreciates their hard work and offers their support by the posting of these messages of gratitude. FRSD Strong’s mission is to support students and educators while advocating for safe and welcoming schools for ALL students and to protect the district from disinformation and extremist agendas. They ascribe to a belief in common sense prevailing rather than culture wars and are not affiliated with the district. To post a message to a teacher, visit frsdstrong.com or email [email protected]  The Family Resource Center is known for its offerings such as Parent Education, the Free Diaper Program, a parent/child play group and at the library, Sing and Sign. Now, they are preparing to start something new. Beginning in June, the Center, which is a part of the Fern Ridge School District, is going to roll out a soccer program aimed at children 2-3 years old. A pilot program at this point to gauge interest, Soccer Tots will require parents or guardians to participate as the children learn things such as following directions, taking turns sharing, and listening with the goal being to create a positive association with the outdoors for the young participants.
Non-competitive, the children will also do warm-ups such as Red Light, Green Light and will get to run a small obstacle course with hula hoops and cones. Of course, skills such as how to kick a soccer ball into a goal and how to dibble will be taught. To add to the fun, there will also be a big parachute for the children to play with and bubbles. Heather Amrhein says that out of all the sports, soccer is the easiest for very young children to learn and develop skills that will help ensure success in kindergarten. The program “will stive to be inclusive and welcoming no matter what a child’s ability may be and where they are at developmentally.” Registration for the June session begins May 7th and parents are already interested in having their children participate. The four-week program is free, and sessions will last approximately 45 minutes. The games will be held at the playing fields on Bolton Hill Road in partnership with Territorial Sports Program. There will also be sessions in July and August with sign-ups the month before. The location of these games has yet to be determined. If this proves to be a success, the soccer program will continue next year with other ages being added along with increased playing times. Online registration can be done by emailing Heather at [email protected]. |
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