Lane County Dump as I like to call it is a great service. In the 5 years we've been here in Eugene…read morewe've accumulated some stuff that we simply don't need anymore. Last week I took 3 different truck loads here. I had never been here before, and when looking for help with questions, there were plenty of employee's around that were able to answer my questions. They have a lot of different areas to drop off anything from anti-freeze, to cardboard, books, batteries, bottles, reusable lumber, metal, plastics, plant pots and treys and that's just the recycling section. Once you separate everything out, the rest can head to the dump for 15.00 a sq. ft. Kinda spendy at the end of the day, but if you take the time to separate the papers and books and items as such, you can reduce your dump fee. Loads of wood may also be brought here for dumping. They charge 13.50 a load. Make sure you make it worth your time to do a dump run though, even though all I had to dump was an older AC unit today, I still had to pay 15.00 for it since it's considered an appliance. Looking back, I should've just took it to good will. I could've gave 4 stars if the fee's weren't so high, but the customer service is what kept it from being 2 stars.

I highly recommend coming to the Public Health Center to get your vaccinations--Lisa was incredibly…read morekind and understanding about my needle phobia. She made sure the process was as quick and painless as possible. She completely understood and didn't trivialize my phobia at all, instead finding ways to work around it and distract me so that it was over before I knew it. The office is cheerful and efficient but Lisa is the true star here.

1) Horrible phone line with no one answering my call. I waited 20 minutes and still no answer. Was…read moreon a long cue. You would think they would at least indicate how long the wait might be. I've tried calling multiple times and experienced the same long wait. 2) LCPH's COVID Vaccination Appointment page is also useless. I'm 6 days due for my second shot and still couldn't book despite LCPH repeatedly email me to remind me to book a second vaccine dose appointment. Each time I go to the webpage, I had to fill out all my personal information only to find out at the end that there was no available appointments. Why not just tell me from the start so that my time is not wasted nor further disappointing me. Seems like LCPH doesn't know what the heck they're doing. Totally disorganized and Zero customer service!!!

The Local Flavor Is Fun!…read more SITREP Mom and I blitzed down from Seattle through town to see our Oregonian siblings and cousins and we had fun! THE SETUP There are so many Thai and Mexican restaurants to enjoy (our favorite cuisines right now) that are reasonably priced. Voodoo Donuts is always a fun stop to grab a baker's dozen of some pretty special Choco-Peanut donut masterpieces to take back home with us. And the gas always seems cheaper here than it is back home. THE LOWDOWN Always love my time in Eugene, OR.

Home of Eugene University What a beautiful sight driving…read morethrough this town of green natures.

I have seen the library sign on River Road pointing down the street, and been curious about what it…read morecould mean since the Eugene Public Library doesn't maintain a branch in this area since it's outside the city limits. There's a e-newsletter in Eugene that mentioned the library and its Monday story time so we went to check it out. The RRSCVL was established about 20 years ago to serve the residents in Santa Clara and River Road who aren't city residents (although city residents may use the facility and check out books). This was a response to the library charging residents $60+ for a library card each year, whilst a membership here is only $20. The library is entirely volunteer-run, and the River Road Fire Protection District donates the building for the library. I was surprised by how large it was! There's a front and a back room, and I thought it was just the front. They have a large collection of children's books, as well as some children's toys, in their front area, which is where the story time with Gail took place. My little was the only one there for a story on this day but she loves being read to, so she was in high spirits. There are some kids toys there as well that kept her happily occupied whilst I checked out the facility. One of the volunteers mentioned that mysteries and thrillers tend to be their most popular genres. They also have a relatively large selection of large print books too. And their hallway is filled with DVDs and audio books. The library just reached its goal to raise enough money to offer Libby access to patrons, which is so cool. They have passes to places like the art museum, raptor center, and so on. Honestly it's a real, true library, just run by volunteer power, which is awesome beyond measure. The folks who were here volunteering when we visited were so friendly, excited to show off the library, and (understandably!) proud of the work they do here. There's a good deal of parking so that won't likely be an issue. They have various events throughout the year, so it's worth taking a look at their calendar. Their annual book sale is taking place here at the end of August. They also have a summer reading program, for kids at least, and a "crafternoon" on Thursdays. So much thought and care has gone into making this a great resource for RR & SC residents, I wish this had been around when I was growing up. But better late than never.

What a great study spot in the heart of campus. Grab a coffee or a snack and find yourself a spot…read morethat fits you. Want to socialize and run into your friends? Try hanging out in the fish bowl near the Starbucks, chipotle, and Panda Express. Want a quieter place to work? I like the cozy couches in the multicultural center or the window seats in the gallery on the third floor. The emu is also a great place to figure out what's going on on campus and in the community. There are lots of clubs, jobs, and housing fairs that go on so keep and eye out for flyers and tables for all of the details. It's also easy to pick up a copy of ethos or the daily emerald to get those community news updates! The emu is also the spot for all of your ID card, atm, printing, crafting, and computer lab needs. And that's just to mention a few! I like the ceramics studio in the craft center. It's free for students and you can buy all of the clay you need right there! Just make sure to sign up for a quick 30 minute - 1 hour orientation. (Pro tip: there's free printing in the womens center!) You can also find the gender neutral bathrooms on the bottom floor near the east side of the building.

The materials that compose the Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse are humble - poured…read moreconcrete, stainless steel - however its expression isn't in the opulence of materials (as in historic courthouses) but rather how they form spaces and give way to natural light. Like the new San Francisco Federal Building this courthouse, although a seemingly self-indulgent expression of the architect Thom Mayne's design biases, is really a rational response to the function of the building, its environmental conditions (nearby flooding river, light orientations, wind, and climate) and the urban landscape of which it is a part. This particular building has the added responsibility to be symbolic as it is a functional representation of the justice system. Additionally it is situated in an obviously moribund site giving it the opportunity to act as a catalyst for future development in the area. It is interesting to note that one half of one percent of federal building cost is allocated for art in the building to be created by living American artists. This art is most often commissioned for the building and the artist works closely with the architect to integrate the art with the architecture. I was particularly impressed with the art in the Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse which includes: Sean Healy's "Jury Pool", a series of glass polka dots affixed to the glass doors of the jury assembly room; Installation artist Matthew Ritchie's "Stare Decisis", a steel sculpture which sits on the second floor exterior of the building and emulates the nearby Willamette River as well as complementary work "Life, Liberty and Pursuit" composed of huge light boxes that shift as you walk by them; Photographer Kristin Timken's "Witness" a series of pinhole photographs of Oregon's landscape. NOTES: This is a public building which means anyone is free to visit as long as you show a government-issued photo id and pass through a magnotometer (like those at the airport) No cameras allowed inside First LEED Gold US courthouse (a rating based on five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality) CONCLUSION: The Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon is yet another fine example of Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Thom Mayne's commitment to design excellence. His thoroughly rational responses to the function of the building and surrounding environmental circumstances have allowed him to create a courthouse that will be admired for generations.

Miriam w. summed up the place pretty well, though I would not characterize the materials or their…read moreexpression as humble, modern yes. Overall pretty daring architecture for Eugene, everyone seems to have an opinion, love it or hate it. Hopefully this starts the development march to reconnect downtown with the river. The artwork inside is hit or miss but worth checking out.

Near Pioneer Street and Highway 58, Lowell, OR 97452…read more43.90957° N, 122.77952° W Lowell Covered Bridge is a nice spot to get out of the vehicle, stretch your legs, and literally take a short walk through some Oregon history. The original bridge at this location dates back to 1907, while the present covered bridge was built in 1945. At approximately 165 feet long and 24 feet wide, it is considered the widest covered bridge in Oregon. The bridge is no longer open to vehicle traffic and now serves as an interpretive center. A paved walkway with railings leads toward and through the bridge, with displays providing some of the history of covered bridges and the surrounding area. There are also several places along the walkway to stop and enjoy the view. The parking area is large enough that vehicles pulling trailers can maneuver through while still leaving room for regular passenger vehicles. That was something we appreciated while exploring the different recreation areas around Dexter Reservoir. The view across the reservoir is probably as much a reason to stop as the bridge itself. On our visit, we had the added experience of watching a floatplane fly over us and then come down onto the reservoir. Definitely not something we expected to see when we pulled in, but it added a memorable moment to the visit. This does not have to be a long stop. Even if you only have 15 or 20 minutes, it is worth getting out, walking through the bridge, reading some of the displays, and taking a few moments to enjoy the view across the water. See photos.

The Lowell Covered Bridge is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. It has a lot of history…read morebehind it, and I really liked that there are displays inside with information and photos about covered bridges in Oregon it makes it more than just something to look at. The views of Dexter Lake right next to it are gorgeous, and honestly, it's one of the best spots around to watch the sunset. It's also a great place to go fishing if you've got the time. Overall, it's a quick visit, but a really neat piece of history and a great photo spot.

On the 8th of August an incident that was very personal to me could have gone very badly for one of…read moreyoung ladies I was with. The ramifications could have been life changing in a negative way. The officers involved John Moos, Martin Siller, and Marcus Pope deserve recognition for the invaluable and professional way they handle the incident. Because one of the young ladies was in a blacked-out rage, due to alcohol, it was hard to see the respectful, kind, loving person she is. Like most of us she has her demons. That night they got the best of her. To the officers: Thank You!! The three of you were very kind and gentle with her. Despite her insulting violent behavior you showed amazing patience. Her behavior was arrest worthy but you chose to take her to Buckley in stead of jail. I feel like your supervisor, co workers, families, and the public should know about the outstanding job that night. It may have seemed like a routine call to you. Hell it may have been the easiest thing you did all night, but to me......it mattered. So once again with heartfelt appreciation... Thank You!!!!!

I'm giving 2 stars solely because the officer who came out to help me was genuinely kind,…read moreprofessional, and the only redeeming part of this experience. The front desk interaction, however, was shockingly unhelpful and honestly pretty condescending. The woman working there was unnecessarily rude and dismissive from the moment my mom tried to ask a simple question. Instead of offering any actual guidance, she acted irritated, gave us attitude for no reason, and basically told us we could be there for hours and to just "use a phone" because they weren't going to assist us at all, after we had already been waiting about an hour. It was a pretty basic request for information, not a difficult situation, which makes the attitude even more baffling. Thankfully, the officer who came out afterward completely changed the tone and was helpful and professional. But if the front desk is supposed to be the first impression of the municipal court, it's not a great one. A little basic courtesy would go a long way. Right now, it feels like you're an inconvenience just for walking in and needing help.