Karen Richards

Whether it’s changes to travel plans or the size of gatherings, this year’s holiday season will be atypical for many people. Area farms and butchers have made a few changes in 2020, but there should be plenty of turkey and other locally-raised meat to gobble up this Thanksgiving.  

For anyone ready to put something on their calendar for spring, the Eugene Marathon, as well as its half marathon, 5K, and kids’ Duck Dash, has opened registration. They hope to hold an in-person event ending on the finish line at Hayward Field.

Drivers may have noticed white trash bags with Halloween faces on Highway 126 west of Veneta lately. They’re one man’s effort to raise awareness of illegal dumping.

Organic Redneck Growers is known for blueberries, its presence at farmer’s markets and its farm stand. The farm, located up the McKenzie Highway, was spared direct damage from the Holiday Farm fire, but it forced them to rethink, for the second time this year, how to run the business. 

Eugene-area wine lovers worried about smoke tainting their local vineyards can rest easy. Experts say recent wildfires aren’t likely to affect the grapes.

Don’t use a leaf blower to clear your bushes or sidewalks of ash. We spoke with an expert about this and other best practices as communities begin to clean up from recent fires. 

Collection and distribution of donations for those affected by the Holiday Farm Fire continues at two locations in Eugene. 

Gardening supply is one business that’s done well, and even blossomed, during the pandemic. Vegetable growers and landscapers both are spending more money this year. 

After a pause, Lane County’s community plastics collection is up and running again, though many collectors have dropped out for health reasons.

A new chapter at the Eugene Public Library starts Monday. Branches have been closed to the public since the start of the pandemic.

St. Alice Catholic Church in Springfield started planning last summer to turn its warming kitchen into a commercial one. While the coronavirus hasn’t changed the project’s scope, it may shift the use.

Awareness, patience and some changes to public health policy will help us get through this pandemic, and be more prepared for the next one, according to one local expert. To cap off our year-long series on resilience, KLCC’s Karen Richards spoke with Lane County’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Luedtke.

As previously reported, the Mapleton School District created a model plan for in-person class this fall. After the latest guidance, they’ve switched gears.

One of South Eugene’s most loved trails is closed for renovation, but it should re-open with improved footing and lighting in a couple of months.

Contact tracing and support is a critical tool to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but it’s time consuming. To help ease the burden, Lane County Public Health contracted with the University of Oregon, and they formed a group they call the Corona Corps.

Since mid-July, comet NEOWISE, named for the ‘Near Earth Object’ explorer that found it, has been visible after sunset. This week a local astronomer admired it from College Hill in Eugene. 

Summer is traditionally a time off for teachers and school staff, but this year, of course, is different. Oregon school districts have until August 1st to submit a plan to the state on how they’ll meet COVID-19 guidelines this year. One rural Lane County district did the work early.

No doubt, the pivot is one of the skills traditionally taught at KIDSPORTS summer camps. Now housed in a new facility at 20th and Willamette in Eugene, KIDSPORTS itself is demonstrating some savvy lateral moves.

The Oregon DMV rolls out a new system July 6th. Ten years in the planning, it’s well timed for COVID-19 needs.