Day of the Dead

The Lane Transit District (LTD) will host a Día de los Muertos celebration on Friday, November 1st. The party will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Rosa Parks Plaza at LTD’s Eugene Station.

Attendees will see live performances from local groups Mariachi Cuervo and a folklórico dance by Raíces de Oregon. Also planned are interactive activites for children, including bilingual storytime on an LTD bus and family-friendly art projects. Community partners, including Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad and Oregon Department of Human Services, will also be on site.

LTD participates and hosts dozens of outreach events each year to further engage with community members. This Día de los Muertos event is no different – come celebrate culture and community with LTD at this exciting party!

Attendees are encouraged to use LTD or its partners in public transit to get to the event. People can download the Umo Mobility app, plan their trip and purchase bus fare in advance. Another option is a PeaceHealth Rides bike, by LTD’s partners at Cascadia Mobility.

Eat-A-Thon

As fall sets in, bears are beginning their annual fall eat-a-thon, known as hyperphagia, as they prepare for winter.

Their intense feeding period begins in late summer when berries and fruits ripen and peaks when fruits like pears, apples, and plums become available. During this time, bears spend up to 20 hours a day foraging.

ODFW is urging Oregon residents, vacation rental managers, and visitors to secure attractants and prevent bears from accessing trash, bird seed, pet food, livestock and poultry feed and other tempting food sources – including dirty diapers (yes, this is true). If these types of food are easily accessible, bears won’t turn down an easy meal. Bears that become used to “people food” can pose a serious safety risk to people.

The good news is that most conflict between humans and bears is preventable. Bears don’t want to be around humans. Removing things that attract them to the area is the most important thing you can do.

Contact your local district ODFW office if you need assistance with a bear-human conflict or observe unusual or aggressive behavior from a bear. Report human safety concerns to the Oregon State Police.

White Oak Ceremony

A White Oak Blessing will be held at the Riverwalk Trailhead in Blue River from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 10th. The ceremony, on the River Street site near the confluence of Blue River and McKenzie River will be conductd by Dietz Peters of the Grand Ronde with drum by Karen Rainsong, bell by K’iya Wilson and accompanied by native flutes. People are invited to attend and learn about the role of White Oak in local Indigenous Cultures. Everyone is welcome. For more information contact [email protected] or 541-521-3378.