Biz Beat 4-4-2013

Nancy Hughes and the nonprofit StoveTeam International will be recognized at the White House April 5. Hughes has been selected as a Rotary Champion of Change, one of 12 people nationwide honored for having “dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others.” StoveTeam provides efficient, inexpensive stores for low-income people around the world, saving fuel and reducing burn injuries and smoke inhalation illnesses. See stoveteam.org and several stories in the EW archives.

Saturday Market returns for its 44th season from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, April 6. The downtown Park Blocks at 8th and Oak will come alive with a mix of local artists selling their wares, 16 food booths and local musicians. The market will be open for 33 Saturdays, rain or shine, and more than 400 artisans will sell more than $1.5 million worth of hand-crafted wares. About 500 local musicians will play on the stage and around the market. See eugenesaturdaymarket.org for the lineup of performers, etc., or call 521-7125.

Local yoga instructor Dave Curtis will be leading a community yoga class from 6 to 7:30 pm Friday, April 5, at the Saraha Nyingma Buddhist Institute, 477 E. 40th Ave., the former Unitarian Church. All donations will go to FOOD for Lane County’s Dining Room downtown. The event is called “United We Thrive!” Suggested donations are $5 to $40. See yogawithdave.com 

Kore Combucha is a new entry in the local non-alcoholic fermented beverage market, offering “organically restored energy” in several flavors with more to come. The company is also introducing its hand-crafted brew on tap for customers to fill their own jars or growlers. Owner and CEO is Curtis Shimmin. See korecombucha.org for a list of more than 20 local outlets, or email curtisshimm2002@yahoo.com

We wrote about Valley VanPool starting up back in November 2011, and we hear the business has expanded and now has spaces available in the new Corvallis to Eugene route. Cost is $160 a month with lower fairs expected as new riders join the vanpool. The morning route leaves Corvallis at 6:30 am weekdays, heads down Hwy. 99 and makes stops as needed on its way to downtown Eugene. The van begins its return route at 5 pm. The drivers also tend to be weekday commuters. Call (887) 826-4646 or visit valleyvanpool.info

The Pearl Buck Center at 3690 W. 1st Ave. is celebrating its 60th anniversary from 5:30 to 8 pm Friday, April 5, at the center. A check representing the final payment on the center’s building will be presented, thanks to a bequest from the late Walter A. Hummel. Anyone with a connection to the center is invited. RSVP to carla.gregston@pearlbuckcenter.com or call 484-4666.

Oregon Country Fair early tickets go on sale this week through ticketswest.com and the dates for the festival in Veneta this year are July 12-14. Ticket prices will be $22 for Friday, $24 for Saturday and $22 for Sunday, plus ticket fees. A ticket for all three days is $57 in advance. See oregoncountryfair.org for more information.

Aqua Serene and Aurora Innovations are now taking applications for their third annual Grow Roots program “to help local community gardening groups grow better tasting produce and achieve higher yields.” Aqua Serene is also celebrating its 25th year on West 11th Avenue in Eugene. For information about the Grow Roots program, call Robert at 968-6089 or email robert@aquaserene.com

We hear Eugene will be getting a satellite office of the Arizona company Get My Mom a Job and its affiliate Get My Dad a Job. CEO and founder is Michele Unangst who says “We have many job openings in Eugene and this is why we have opened an office here.” No details are yet available on the local office location or local phone number, but the company is easy to Google. 

Jimmy John’s third location in the area is scheduled to open April 16. The new gourmet sandwich shop will be in the collection of businesses at 2502 Willamette St. and the phone number will be 357-4701. Other stores in the franchise are at 7th and Washington and at the Gateway Mall.