Get Involved – House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery – May 21st
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Get Involved – House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery – May 21st

ByTom Atkinson

We hope you took the opportunity to get your voices heard at the last Public Hearing on May 7th which covered Senate Bill 745 & Blue River’s ability to form a Sanitary District. The next chance for McKenzie River residents to participate in the House Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery is May 21st at 10am….

EWEB Introduces Program to Fund Wildfire Restoration in the McKenzie Watershed
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EWEB Introduces Program to Fund Wildfire Restoration in the McKenzie Watershed

ByTom Atkinson

Source: EWEB.org As we have for decades, EWEB is taking a leadership role in protecting the McKenzie River, our community’s source of drinking water. Work to protect drinking water quality began as soon as we could safely enter fire-impacted areas and restoration efforts continue to support long-term recovery. Working with our Pure Water Partners, including…

Business Oregon Announces Second Round of Commercial Rent Relief Grants
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Business Oregon Announces Second Round of Commercial Rent Relief Grants

ByTom Atkinson

Source: Oregon4Biz.com Business Oregon Announces Second Round of Commercial Rent Relief Grants to Help Small Businesses Cover Outstanding Lease Payments On April 22, Business Oregon will open the second round of a grant program for building owners to cover outstanding lease payments from small business tenants that are behind on rent due to COVID-19. The…

Voices of Innovation and Impact: Economic Recovery
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Voices of Innovation and Impact: Economic Recovery

ByTom Atkinson

Zoom webinar • Tuesday, May 18, 2021 • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PST. You are invited to join us for an informational webinar, Economic Recovery, in the Voices of Innovation and Impact speaker series from the Office of the Provost on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. PST. -> Click Here to Register Now…

Give Back to Communities Affected by Wildfire
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Give Back to Communities Affected by Wildfire

ByTom Atkinson

Source: EugeneCascadesCoast.org Visit this article on the EugeneCascadesCoast.org site to see how you can take a volunteer holiday this summer to help wildfire affected areas recover while also getting out in the glorious McKenzie River Valley! We are so grateful for the fearless work of fire crews, the dedication of volunteers, the support of communities…

Senate Bill 745 Offers Wildfire-Affected Communities Water & Sanitary Options
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Senate Bill 745 Offers Wildfire-Affected Communities Water & Sanitary Options

ByTom Atkinson

On the 29th March Oregon Senate Bill SB-745, which would allow the Blue River H2O District to incorporate a Sanitary District under its governance, was heard at the Senate Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Wildlife Recovery (SNRWR) and passed to the Senate Floor for consideration. While SB-745 doesn’t resolve the immediate problems we all face…

Lane County Long-Term Recovery Manager in Vida Thursdays
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Lane County Long-Term Recovery Manager in Vida Thursdays

ByTom Atkinson

Matt McRae, Lane County’s long-term recovery manager, is available to meet with fire survivors each Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old McKenzie Hatchery/McKenzie River Discovery Center (44643 Highway 126).  Recovery information and resources are also available at www.mckenzierebuilds.org.

The Community Rebuilding Fund
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The Community Rebuilding Fund

ByTom Atkinson

The Community Rebuilding Fund is a collaborative fund administered by Oregon Community Foundation, Ford Family Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust. There is currently $6.5m in this fund with a goal of $10m (this is for statewide fire recovery efforts).  The fund will be distributed in two “tracks”: 1.       Track one: Capacity and response (about 25%) – available…

Rebuilding the Vida McKenzie Community Center
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Rebuilding the Vida McKenzie Community Center

ByTom Atkinson

The Vida McKenzie Community Center (VMCC) was entirely destroyed by the Holiday Farm Fire that swept through the McKenzie River valley in September 2020. The total loss of the VMCC has been yet another heavy blow for the river communities, as it was a hub for many activities such as the cheerful Saturday BINGO nights,…

5 Ways to Love the McKenzie River
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5 Ways to Love the McKenzie River

ByTom Atkinson

Source: TravelOregon.com By Jen Anderson Editor’s note: Call destinations before you visit to make sure they’re open. Stay posted on what Oregon’s new COVID-19 guidelines mean for you, and follow these steps for social distancing outdoors. Also, remember to bring your face covering, required for all of Oregon’s public indoor spaces and outdoors when keeping 6 feet of…