Biz Beat 9-3-2015

Many people are drawn to the fragrance of handmade soaps and related products, but the aromatic booth at Saturday Market for Barbara’s Soaps has also offended some nostrils. The governing board of the market is expected to make a decision this week (Sept. 2) about new guidelines for scented products. Owner Barbara Hascall retired from teaching at South Eugene High School a few years ago and has grown her business through the market. She enjoys a loyal customer base, but acknowledges the complaints about the wafting aromas from her 50 kinds of all-natural soaps, shampoos and lotions. “I think there’re some underlying side issues,” she says. “Fragrance intolerance is like gluten-free, lactose intolerant, etc. — a bandwagon, a fad to be part of — that is so Eugene.”

Kim Still, manager of market promotions and advertising at the market, says a policy adjustment by the Standards Committee would not cause any booth to get “booted” from the market. “It will make a guideline that she and any other producer of scented products will be required to follow in order to sell their product. At that point it will be her choice whether to adjust her products or her display to meet the guidelines or not.” Meanwhile, Hascall and her husband are busy expanding her new website, barbarasoaps.com, and selling her eco-friendly products on etsy.com.

BRING’s Garden of Earthly Delights will host the area’s largest garage sale between 11 am and 4 pm Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6. BRING Education and Outreach Manager Brett Jacobs organized the sale at the suggestion of former executive director Julie Daniel. Sale proceeds will go to fund the nonprofit’s increased education and outreach efforts, including a new series of workshops at the center that launches Sept. 19 with a mosaic tile class. BRING is located at 4446 Franklin Blvd. in Glenwood.

Wise Turtle Acupuncture of Springfield is moving three blocks to 500 Main Street this week. The new location is on the top floor of the Emerald Art Center. The business will participate in the Springfield Second Friday Art Walk Sept. 11. Wise Turtle’s neighbors in the building include the Cascade Spiritual Center and the Springfield Holistic Health Center.

The Master Recycler training course begins Sept. 8 and includes 35 hours of classroom instruction: nine consecutive Tuesday evening classes, a Saturday compost demonstration and two Saturday multi-site field trips to area solid waste and recycling sites. The course is free for those who volunteer 30 hours in the following year to educate and assist others in the community. Enrollment is limited. Call 682-2059.

The seventh annual Eugene Pearl District Block Party will be from 4 to 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 10, downtown along Pearl Street. The free event attracts thousands of people and a raffle this year will be a fundraiser for Ophelia’s Place — A Community for Girls. The event features free food, drinks and a variety of activities provided by each participating business. One of the organizers is Sean Vierra, a massage therapist who is the owner of The Pearl Day Spa. Call 683-3377, ext. 104 for more information.

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