Frohnmayer to accept

public service award
School of Law Alumni Association will present its first award for public service today to University President Dave Frohnmayer during the association’s annual dinner in Portland.
Assistant Director of Communications for the law school Elizabeth Schmidkunz said the Frohnmayer family demonstrated commitment to public service, which inspired the association to create the award.
An association representative notified Frohnmayer about the award three weeks ago. He said he was immediately surprised.
“I am very touched to be the first recipient of this award,” he said.
Oregon Court of Appeals Judge and former University law Professor David Schuman will present the award during a reception ceremony at the group’s annual dinner. Frohnmayer helped Schuman get his first job as a lawyer, and the two have worked together throughout their careers.
Schmidkunz said future recipients of the award do not have to be law school alumni. She said the recipient’s commitment to public service is the most important factor.
“They have to be committed to increasing public good in the Northwest,” Schmidkunz said.
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Portland Embassy Suites.

— Katie Ellis

Saturday Market

to begin 33rd season
The sweet smell of spring will waft through the air as Eugene’s Saturday Market begins its 33rd season Saturday.
The oldest open-air crafts market in the United States features a music showcase, two dozen food booths and nearly 200 local artisans selling their wares. The market will open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday and run through mid-November.
Market organizers said they made minor infrastructure changes over the winter, including a new credit-card machine and speakers for the soundstage.
“We tend not to mess with the basic formula,” said Kim Still, Saturday Market promotions manager. “It’s worked for 33 years.”
The Saturday Market also shares space with the Lane County Farmers’ Market, where people can buy fresh produce, herbs and starter plants. Both markets occupy the park blocks of Eighth Avenue and Oak Street.
Weather forecasters predict a chance of showers Saturday, but Still said the market employs a marimba band as a good luck charm to keep away the rain. In her ten years’ experience at the Market, Still said the sun has appeared each time a marimba band plays at the soundstage.
“It’s very weird,” she said. “The marimba band rolls up and hauls out their instruments and the sun comes out.”
Zambuko Marimba appears on the soundstage at 3 p.m.

— John Liebhardt