Biz Beat 11-12-2015

The scams are back. Local businesses are once again getting calls about Best of Eugene awards and offers to ship the awards, for a price. These offers from out of state are copyright violations at best and total scams at worst. One fellow who is soliciting fake awards says he works for Eugene Weekly. He’s calling the businesses he sees in our Best of Eugene issue and asking for credit card numbers. Of course we have never charged any business for the awards we give out. A variation on this scam involves websites where businesses can see the awards they are buying.

Pot growers, both commercial and private home-based, are causing power outages in northeast Portland, according to a story by Lynne Terry in The Oregonian Nov. 4. All those high-wattage grow lights are overloading circuits and blowing transformers. Hey local growers, do you really need a bank of 1,000-watt bulbs to make your green grow? We know the technology of lighting is evolving and improving energy efficiency. What works now that Lane County has returned to gray, gloomy weather? Send us your tips.

Remember that time Nathan Fillion of Firefly and Castle fame came to town to test drive one of Arcimoto’s electric vehicles? Now you too can check out the latest prototype. Mark Frohnmayer, founder and president of Arcimoto, says, “The team has been burning the midnight oil” to get the new prototypes on the road. Arcimoto shows off its Generation 8 SRK Alpha Prototypes to the public for the first time 6-10 pm Saturday, Nov. 14, at Broadway Commerce Center, downtown Eugene.

The McKenzie Cider & Craft Beer Festival is coming up Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, at the Willamalane Center, 250 S. 32nd Street in Springfield. Some 70 cider makers and craft brewers from Oregon, California and Washington will be there, along with food vendors. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance. The event benefits McKenzie After 5 and Springfield Rotary programs for kids at risk. See mccbf.com or call 225-2510.

Willamette Farm & Food Coalition is planning its fifth annual “Fill Your Pantry” event from 1 to 5 pm Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Lane County Fairgrounds. This is an opportunity to stock up on grains, legumes, dry corn, seeds, fruits and vegetables that store well in winter. So far, 17 vendors will be there. The first year of the event saw about 6,000 pounds of food sold by three vendors, but the event has grown over the years and last year nearly 28,000 pounds were sold. See a list of vendors at lanefood.org.

The Greater Eugene Community Alliance of Tenants is holding regular meetings and is planning a town hall from 3 to 5 pm Monday, Nov. 16, at Pacific Hall Room 23 on the UO campus, behind Columbia Hall. The group has a Facebook page.

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!