Biz Beat 2-6-2014

Greater Goods is closing after 23 years in Eugene. Joan Kleban is retiring and she has been a good friend to EW and a consistent advertiser all these years. We wish her well and expect she will continue to be a positive force in our community. We also appreciate her dedication to offering fair trade, hand-made products and folk art from around the world. Fair trade goods promote social and environmental sustainability, rare qualities in developing countries and even here at home. Greater Goods is located on High Street across from 5th Street Public Market and will remain open until the inventory is sold.

Lane County Farmers Market started its winter market Feb. 1 and will continue, rain or shine, from 10 am to 2 pm Saturdays at 8th and Oak downtown. We’re still waiting for some kind of breakthrough that will provide a permanent year-round market, at least partially indoors. The city is sitting on $500,000 in urban renewal funds to help make it happen.

Corvallis is expecting a new hotel downtown. “The estimated $18 million project is expected to bring to life a 130-room upscale hotel situated along the riverfront,” according to Lisa Lawton of Eugene, Cascades & Coast. Tom Nelson, the city’s economic development manager, says the project could be completed as early as March 2015.

We hear work continues on the Candlewood Suites hotel in Glenwood and acreage near the Valley River Inn has been purchased for a 100-unit hotel. Eugene Airport officials say a proposed hotel site near the air field is currently undergoing additional land evaluations. And the Eugene Hilton has completed a $5.5 million renovation of all its 269 guest rooms, corridors and the Share Small Plate Bistro.

The annual KLCC Microbrew Festival is coming up Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8, at the Fairgrounds. See our Calendar.

A community forum on Obamacare will be at 6 pm Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Eugene Public Library, sponsored by The Main Street Alliance of Oregon and the Eugene Downtown Neighborhood Association. See DNAeugene.org.

Looks like Hoodoo ski area finally has enough snow to open Friday, Feb. 7, and the resort hopes to maintain a Thursday through Sunday schedule until the end of the season. Call the hotline at 822-3337. Willamette Pass has been open Wednesday through Sunday with limited operations. No night skiing this season. Call 345-SNOW. Farther away, Mt. Bachelor has 10 inches of fresh snow and is open daily. See mtbachelor.com.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!