In four short years, Springfield’s The Block Party has grown from a big picnic to Lane County’s largest free festival, hosting up to 15,000 neighbors one magical night in our Historic Downtown.  Continuing Springfield’s rich history of gatherings, Community Activation Network produces this annual Community Revitalization Celebration. The Block Party is a regional, powerhouse event for the next generation, featuring music, food, social service outreach, civic engagement and festivities that embody the Springfield spirit. All entirely for free.

Benjamin Wilkinson, Executive Director, Community Activation Network, will discuss the history of The Block Party and the Network’s plans for future growth of a series of community events at the Springfield City Club program at Noon on June 4. He says that the Shopper’s Paradise, Filbert Festival and the Eugene Celebration weren’t built overnight. The Network has identified economic, cultural and placemaking opportunities that will build a year-round calendar of free, public-space activations for large scale neighbor to neighbor connection. As a small public charity, he says they can work in ways that are difficult for our local government partners, and, outside the charter of economic development or networking agencies.

Mr. Wilkinson first ran for public office (school) at age 12.  He raised his hand to get things done.  Now he is the Executive Director of Community Activation Network and the organizer behind Springfield’s The Block Party, Lane County’s largest free community party. His background is in small business management, specialty coffee, and mindfulness-based fitness — not event production — which is maybe why, when he raised his hand to take over a scrappy little party in 2022, he saw not what it was, but what it could be. Five years later, Springfield seems to agree.

The program will be held at Roaring Rapids Pizza, 4006 Franklin Boulevard in Glenwood and will begin at noon on June 4.

The Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) is coming to Springfield to improve water supplies regionally. EWEB has proposed construction of a water treatment plant at the southern tip of Glenwood to treat water drawn from the Willamette River just downstream of the confluence of the Coast and Middle Forks of the river. The treated water will be piped through Glenwood to connect with EWEB’s existing transmission system the Knickerbocker Pedestrian bridge just west of I-5 and will include an intertie with the Springfield Utility Boards’ water system, benefiting SUB customers and the Rainbow Water District.

Laura Farthing and Clarie Wray will present the plans for the project at Springfield City Club on May 21. The program will begin at noon at Roaring Rapids Pizza, 4406 Franklin Boulevard and be live streamed on Zoom. It will be available for later viewing on the Springfield City Club’s You Tube channel.  A further overview of the plans may be found here: EWEB Presentation.

Ms. Farthing is a licensed Professional Engineer and Principal Project Manager who has worked at EWEB for 17 years. Laura has led the on-time and on-budget delivery of some of the largest and most complex water construction projects in EWEB’s recent history, including the construction of four water storage tanks with a cumulative cost of over $80 million. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University.

Ms. Wray is a Communications Specialist with 15 years of experience communicating about water and the environment. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Oregon State University and a Master of Science in Journalism from the University of Oregon.

On May 7 Springfield City Club, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Lane County, will hold a candidate forum for the three candidates in the Democrat primary for House District 7, serving Springfield. The seat is presently held by John Lively, who is retiring. The candidates at the forum will include Ky Fireside, an archeologist, KC Huffman, a local attorney, and Kori Rodley, currently member of the Springfield City Council. The winner of the primary will likely face, in the general election, Adam Wilson, who is unopposed in the Republican primary and the only other candidate to file with the Secretary of State.

The forum will be held at noon on May 7, in person at Roaring Rapids Pizza, 4006 Franklin Boulevard in Glenwood and will be livestreamed on Zoom as well as being posted on the Springfield City Club You Tube site. Lunch will be available for purchase starting at 11:30 a.m.

Each candidate has, at the request of the sponsors, submitted a brief statement describing their candidacy. Those statements are available at these links: Ky Fireside, KC Huffman, Kori Rodley.

Ms. Fireside says she is fighting for human rights, an umbrella of protections for everyone here. That means universal healthcare, so we don’t have to worry if we’re covered. It means tax fairness, making giant corporations pay their share. And it means protection from fascism, because the people who already have power aren’t using that power to help us. The system is broken, and we need someone who can dive in, ask hard questions, and solve these problems.

KC Huffman is a husband, father of four, community volunteer, baseball coach, attorney, and 23-year resident of Springfield. He says he is running for the Oregon House seat John Lively has admirably held for the last 14 years because I have a lot of respect for what John has done – and how he’s done it – and I would like to continue John’s hard work.

Kori Rodley is a life-long Oregonian, raised in a logging family, and having spent the majority of her adult life living and working in Lane County. Kori attended the University of Oregon, Portland Community College, and Lane Community College; and has spent more than twenty-five years working in nonprofit management and local government. She currently lives in Springfield, Oregon and is part of the management team at Lane County Development Disabilities–working in equity, strategic planning, and human resources.

Springfield City Club and the League of Women Voters of Lane County are pleased to host a forum for all candidates for the Springfield seat on the Lane County Board of County Commissioners. The forum will take place at noon on April 16 at Roaring Rapids Pizza, 4006 Franklin Boulevard in Glenwood.

The public is invited to attend, and there is no charge. The forum will follow a moderated format, featuring facilitated questions, with an opportunity for attendees to submit questions for consideration. The forum will also be livestreamed on Zoom and made available as a video on the Springfield City Club YouTube channel the following day.

Three candidates have filed for election to the seat:

• David Loveall, Commissioner, Lane County
• William Monsoor
• Sean VanGordon, Mayor, City of Springfield

Commissioner Loveall writes that he is 64, married 46 years to Nita, a six-year Navy veteran, life-long entrepreneur, developer and former pastor, world-wide missionary and teacher of men. His journey toward a political endeavor is typical of his approach to life. Putting “skin in the game” is the key. Rolling up his sleeves, immersing fully in the process, working hard and applying vision to the issues facing Springfield and Lane County are just what you’d expect from someone that acts on their dreams, beliefs and faith…

Mr. Monsoor writes that his work with children and families at many school districts in Lane County through the Lane Education Service District will be a valuable asset to the citizens of Lane County. He is also a retired Crisis Clinician, Military Veteran, Forestry Aide (Recreation, Timber, Range, Wildland firefighter, natural resources management) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As stewards of National Forest Lands, the Forest Service is committed to strengthening relationships with Indian Tribes that have lived in the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial.

Additional experience includes Group Worker, Community Justice and Rehabilitation, Juvenile Justice Center, a branch of the Lane County Government Department of Youth Services. Qualified Mental Health Associate, Lane County Behavioral Health. Direct Support Care, State of Oregon Department of Human Services. Civil Service Worker (supporting military personnel to maintain operational readiness and contribute to international peace and security), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) civil service. Civil Service Worker (Europe through NATO to contribute to international peace and security), Global Affairs Canada, Civil Service Commission of Canada (now the Public Service Commission), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), The Department of National Defense, and the Canadian Armed Forces. Peace Officer/Group Supervisor (counseling, security, and rehabilitation), The California Youth Authority (CYA), now largely operating under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Division of Juvenile Justice.

Mayor VanGordon writes that he leads with the clear purpose of putting people first. As Mayor of Springfield, he has focused on the simple idea that the government should make life easier for the families who live and work here. For the people he serves, that has meant more places to work, more places to gather, and a local government that shows up and gets things done.

Sean has called Lane County home since 2001, when he moved to attend the University of Oregon. He earned a master’s degree in economics and a bachelor’s in political science, and in 2007, he and his wife, Elaine, bought their first home in Springfield. Today, they’re raising twin daughters, Katie and Livy, along with their dog Marcus, while cheering on the Ducks and frequenting their favorite local restaurants.

Sean believes in Lane County. He wants a community where families can build their life and their businesses can grow. The leadership and collaboration that strengthens Springfield is the leadership that Sean is committed to bringing to Lane County.

On May 19, Lane County voters will have an opportunity to consider Measure 20-373, commonly referred to as a “Watershed Bill of Rights.” This initiative would, among other things, grant individuals the right to initiate litigation to protect county waters from damage caused by a variety of sources, such as pollution or degradation of the quantity or quality of water available in the ecosystem.

Springfield City Club, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Lane County, has invited proponents and opponents of the measure to a forum to discuss the measure and their reasons for supporting or opposing it. The program will be held at noon on March 19 at Roaring Rapids Pizza, 4006 Franklin Boulevard in Glenwood.

Rob Dickinson, a member of the Protect Lane County Watersheds Steering Committee and Campaign, will present in support of Measure 20-373, and Tiffany Edwards, Vice President of Policy & Community Development of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, will present in opposition.

After a career in software development, Rob Dickinson has dedicated his time and energy to community volunteering and civic work focused on protecting the environment, building strong and healthy communities, and supporting vulnerable populations. He has served nonprofit organizations in a variety of volunteer and leadership roles, including efforts to improve electoral models and voting systems, and has helped lead legislative work to advance ranked-choice voting in California. He has also served on the board of a community mental health organization and as a local leader in a sustainability education organization in his rural hometown. During the pandemic, he organized a mutual aid project that continued for several years and primarily served homeless individuals. For the past 12 years, a central focus of his volunteer work has been advancing policy changes to protect communities from hazardous industrial activities, including as part of the team that brought forward the Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights.

Tiffany Edwards is the Vice President of Policy & Community Development for the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, with a background in advertising, public policy and communications. She chairs the Eugene Planning Commission and the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee, and currently serves on several boards, including the State Chamber’s PAC, Cascadia Mobility, Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation, Eugene’s Historic Review Board, Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene and Better Housing Together.  Tiffany is also Vice-Chair of Lane Transit District’s Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the Lane Area Committee on Transportation (ACT). A Washington State University graduate (Go Cougs) and Bend-native, she moved to Eugene in 2012 and is a former small business owner. Passionate about community service, Tiffany enjoys travel, yoga, wine, and outdoor activities with family and friends.

Willamalane Park and Recreation District is asking voters to consider a five-year local option levy on the May 19, 2026, ballot. If passed, the proposed levy would help bridge funding gaps to preserve park safety, maintenance, recreation programs, and wildfire prevention.

Michael Wargo, Willamalane Executive Director, will share an informational overview of the district’s financial outlook, the proposed levy, which, if approved, would cost the median Springfield property owner about $49.20 per year, and potential outcomes.

About the Levy:

The proposed rate is $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years, beginning in 2026.

If the levy is passed, the median Springfield property owner is estimated to pay about $4.10 per month, or $49.20 annually.  The appointed budget committee would review how levy funds are implemented, providing citizen oversight and transparency into the process. Levy expenditures would also be reviewed by the elected board, along with public disclosure of all levy spending, an independent audit, and monthly financial reporting.

If the levy is not passed, the district would reduce its budget by approximately 10%, resulting in decreased maintenance, fewer programs and services, and reduced facility hours and staffing. In addition, the proposed temporary property tax increase would not occur.

For more information, visit willamalane.org/levy

fraud, assists doctors, generates images and essays, and increasingly shapes decisions that affect our communities and daily lives. Yet despite its profound impact, important questions remain: What exactly is AI? How does it work? What is it genuinely good at—and where does it fall short?

This non-technical talk explains AI in accessible terms for a general audience, clarifying how AI systems learn from data and why recent developments, such as generative AI, have progressed so quickly in both capability and public visibility. It explores how AI is being used across business, healthcare, education, media, and government—and why these systems are both powerful tools and imperfect instruments.

Alongside the benefits—greater efficiency, scientific progress, expanded access to information, and new forms of innovation—the presentation addresses pressing civic concerns, including misinformation and deepfakes, bias in automated decisions, privacy and surveillance, workforce disruption, and the growing concentration of technological power. The talk offers a balanced perspective grounded in technical understanding and democratic responsibility.

As AI becomes embedded in public and private life, informed and engaged citizens matter more than ever. Attendees will gain practical insight into what to watch for, what questions to ask of institutions and technology providers, and how human judgment, public policy, and shared values will shape the future of intelligent machines.

Reza Rejaie is a Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Oregon and a founding Associate Director of the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OCCoE). With over three decades of experience in networking and cybersecurity, Professor Rejaie has contributed to both academic research and real-world practice and has worked closely with public and private partners. He led the creation and implementation of a vision to turn the University of Oregon into a regional hub for cybersecurity research and education.

In his current roles, he leads statewide initiatives focused on strengthening cybersecurity education, workforce development, and awareness, including programs for high school teachers and students across Oregon. Professor Rejaie is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Distinguished Member of the ACM, honors recognizing sustained and significant contributions to computing research.

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical topic—it affects how we bank, communicate, work, and access essential services. From smartphones and social media to healthcare systems and public infrastructure, our daily lives are deeply connected to cyberspace.

This talk provides an accessible, non-technical introduction to cybersecurity for a general audience.

It explains what cyberspace is, why cybersecurity matters to individuals and communities, and how common cyber attacks—such as phishing, data breaches, and online scams—actually occur. The presentation also highlights practical steps individuals can take to better protect their digital lives and reduce risk.

The talk concludes with an overview of ongoing efforts and programs in our state aimed at strengthening cybersecurity education, workforce development, and awareness.

Reza Rejaie is a Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Oregon and a founding Associate Director of the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OCCoE). With over three decades of experience in networking and cybersecurity, Professor Rejaie has contributed to both academic research and real-world practice and has worked closely with public and private partners. He led the creation and implementation of a vision to turn the University of Oregon into a regional hub for cybersecurity research and education.

In his current roles, he leads statewide initiatives focused on strengthening cybersecurity education, workforce development, and awareness, including programs for high school teachers and students across Oregon. Professor Rejaie is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Distinguished Member of the ACM, honors recognizing sustained and significant contributions to computing research.

The next session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly opens on February 2. It promises to be a busy and challenging session with the Governor seeking to repeal the transportation measures she proposed in the last special session because of voter pushback and the challenges of dealing with multiple federal funding cuts.

Two legislators representing Springfield: Senator Floyd Prozanski and Representative John Lively, will discuss the upcoming session and provide their insights on what might happen.

Senator Prozanski currently serves on six committees: as chair of the Senate Judiciary and Conduct committees, and as a member of the Joint Committee on Addiction & Community Safety Response, the Senate Natural Resources Committee, the Human Resources Committee, the Joint Conduct Committee, and the Legislative Counsel Committee. In addition, I co-chair both the Task Force on Public Safety and the Justice Reinvestment Grant Review Committee. Finally, I continue to serve on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC),​ the Oregon Law Commission, the Asset Forfeiture Oversight Advisory Committee, the Task Force on Legal Representation in Childhood Dependency, and the Oregon State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision.​

Representative Lively currently is Chair of the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, a member of the Joint Ways and Means Natural Resources Sub Committee and a member of the House Economic Development, Small Business and Trade Committee.​