Biz Beat 3-31-2016

 • Saturday Market and Farmers Market will open their seasons Saturday, April 2, at the Park Blocks downtown. This hub of community activity will feature artisans, chefs, musicians and community members gathering to celebrate art, life and veggies in the southern Willamette Valley. Saturday Market will be open 33 Saturdays, more than 400 artisans will sell more than $1.5 million worth of handcrafted wares, nearly 500 local musicians will play on the stage and around the market, and 15 food booths will draw hungry crowds. The Lane County Farmers Market will feature some 50 farmers and food artisans selling a range of local food products, from seafood and meats to vegetables, fruits and flowers. Farmers Market is open from 9 am to 3 pm every Saturday through Nov. 12 while Saturday Market is open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Perk Coffee Shop & Espresso at 1351 Willamette Street appears to be closing following a lease dispute, according to social media. Owner Logan Fisher, who bought the business two years ago, wrote a long explanation that was published on Reddit. Fisher says he was preparing to sell the business and transfer the lease, but his landlord found another tenant, so he has no business to sell — at least not at that location. Fisher can be contacted through Facebook.

Mount Pisgah Arboretum is launching its first permanent nature exhibit at 11 am Thursday, March 31. Eight innovative exhibits will be created over the next three years, “designed to inspire a greater understanding and appreciation of our regional natural environment,” says Peg Douthit-Jackson, event manager for Pisgah. “Our first exhibit, a unique woven wildlife viewing blind set in a traditional Pacific Northwest wetland ecosystem has recently been completed,” she says. “In addition to touring the new exhibit, we will also be announcing the projects’ overall goals, timeline and expected impact this will have on our community.” 

• We hear Gray’s Garden Center donated 140 new rose bushes to the city’s famous Owen Rose Garden at 300 Jefferson Street. Volunteers showed up March 24 to do the planting.

• Local attorney Janie Morgensen is offering a free legal clinic for anyone in Lane County with a criminal history and legal questions from 2 to 4 pm Friday, April 1, at Sponsors RRC, 338 Hwy. 99. Organized by Sponsors and the UO Law School. Call 505-5682.

• Hoodoo Ski Area near Sisters is offering free lift tickets from 9 am to 4 pm Friday, April 1, and “this is not a joke,” says Leif Williams of Hoodoo. It’s a “thank you to local skiers and riders for their continued support of Central Oregon’s oldest ski resort,” he says. No coupons or reservations are needed, and the tubing park is also free that day. Lift tickets will need to be acquired at the ticket office. See skihoodoo.com or call 822-3337 for snow and travel conditions.

Direction Service is celebrating 40 years in Lane County and this week announced that Aimee Walsh has been named chief executive officer. Walsh has been on the administration staff for 16 years. She replaces Marshall Peter, who helped launch Direction Service and served as executive director for 32 years. The nonprofit provides support for children with special needs and their families. See directionservice.org.

• A Foster Care Forum for Lane County is planned for 4 to 6 pm Wednesday, April 6, at the Eugene Public Library downtown. Hosted by the Lane County Citizen Review Board, which includes judges, DHS staff, attorneys, CASA members, foster parents and other community members.