Biz Beat 12-3-2015

• One of the pleasures of the holidays in Eugene is our chance to visit the studios and homes of talented artists. That includes potter Faith Rahill whose holiday studio sale runs from 5 to 8 pm Friday, Dec. 4, at 2581 Monroe Street; potter Ken Stanhardt whose home studio sale is from 5 to 8 pm Friday, Dec. 4, at 55 W. 27th Ave.; jeweler Hannah Goldrich and painter Mike Pease who open the Pease home for their annual show and sale from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday, Dec. 5, at 768 W. 10th Ave.; plus so many others listed in our Calendar. Enjoy.

KEPW will be a new low-power community radio station operated by Eugene PeaceWorks and dedicated to “bringing the diverse voices, music and discussion of controversial issues from unique local, regional and national programs to Eugene,” according to organizers. The nonprofit station has a construction permit and is working to raise $22,500 for a transmitter, other equipment and licensing fees. The station hopes to go live at 97.3 FM before its FCC deadline of February 2017. A benefit with stand-up comedy and live music is planned for 5 to 9 pm Thursday, Dec. 3, at Sam Bond’s Brewery, 540 E. 8th Ave. near the U.S. Courthouse. See kepw.org or call Rick Gold at 343-8548.

The Eugene-based Moroccan Buzz has a new retail location at 1850 C Oak Street downtown for the holidays. The mostly online store features handcrafted items from women in Morocco. The business is having its annual holiday show and sale from 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, Dec. 5, and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, Dec. 6. Call 554-1096.

Pegasus Pizza owners Lori Reader and her husband, Paul Reader, were featured in the November/December issue of Main Ingredient, the trade publication of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Lori Reader talks about the challenges of taking over a restaurant that was “in decline due to absentee ownership and other issues. … We had to live with substandard systems and equipment, which costs you more money.” She also discloses that there were problems with the staff they inherited, and “we had to replace virtually everyone in the first year, which led to further turmoil.” Read the new issue online at oregonrla.org under “Publications.”

The Eugene area is a major center for Peace Corps veterans and many who have served overseas are continuing their work today at home in recruiting and community projects. The West Cascades Peace Corps Association is having a fundraiser called “Curry for a Cause” from 5 to 8 pm Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Central Presbyterian Church, 555 E. 15th Ave. $10 for adults, $5 for children. Email julietbender@aol.com for advance tickets and more information.

BRING Recycling this week is launching #WorkUpstream, “a new campaign to teach our community about upstream waste and to work new ways with local companies in high-impact industries to create less waste here at home and in their supply chains,” says Ephraim Payne, BRING’s development and communications director. “The best way to reduce that waste is to make businesses more sustainable. We’ll be rolling out some exciting new ways to do that over the coming year.” So far, PIVOT Architecture, Rainbow Valley Design and Construction and QSL Print Communications are involved and looking for new ways to reduce waste. Find out more by calling 746-3023 or visit bringrecycling.org.

We hear from Genesis Juice that unprecedented fire, smoke and drought were tough on Northwest apple growers this summer and fall. Organic apple farmers in Eastern Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima valleys provide apples that go into Genesis Juice products, and some of those farmers lost their homes, barns and packing sheds. The big sheds can serve multiple farmers and are where farmers package and ship their crops. “Despite all this hardship, the apples were high-quality, delicious fruits,” says Whitney Hoshaw of Genesis, which is part of Toby’s Family Foods. Hoshaw says the company uses all-local dairy products for Toby’s dressings and seeks out local sources for all its products, but this time of the year Genesis gets its juice apples from Washington through the Eugene-based Organically Grown Company.