Biz Beat 1-8-2015

The Ducks might have lost some feathers in Dallas this week, but we hear local pizza and other take-out businesses had one of their busiest sales times ever in the hours leading up to the national championship game. One pizza maker we talked to said he was swamped starting at 10 am Monday filling orders for home game-watching parties. As it turns out, comfort food was badly needed, particularly in the second half of the game.

A panel of experts will speak on “Cannabis as a Biotechnology” from 3:30 to 5 pm Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce at 1401 Willamette St. Speakers include Troy Morris of MxResearch and colleagues who will explore medical and recreational cannabis as a “real resource, a clinical tool, which should benefit Oregon most if applied effectively. The approach creates a hub of biotechnology in Eugene, and converts the old-world I-5 drug corridor into a pipeline for research connecting performance agriculture with biotech quantification and clinical investigations that generate best practice, direction and policy,” reads a statement from organizers. Contact Paul Berger, paul@saavsus.com.

A new restaurant in town is Placido’s Pasta Shop offering all organic, homemade pasta products. Joe Placido is the owner and the restaurant is at 150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., in the Stellaria Building at the foot of Skinner Butte, where the delightful Carmelita Spats was. Find the eatery and its menu on Facebook or call 687-6445.

Bloxi is a new Eugene web business startup that appears to be quickly growing an international audience. “Bloxi is a quiz site where anyone can create, take or share quizzes,” says Bailey Koharchick, director of marketing . Find it on bloxi.com or call the company at 505-8044.

The new nonprofit Rapid Access Center (RAC) and Medical Clinic is having its grand opening from 4 to 6 pm Thursday, Jan. 15, at 195 W. 12th Ave. The facility offers same-day assessment and treatment for those suffering from behavioral health issues. Willamette Family, Inc. operates the facility and others in Lane County. Jon Smith is the senior program manager for the RAC. For more information, call Willamette Family at 344-0031.