• What’s the buzz with the Oakleigh Meadow Cohousing (OMC) project? “We’re still moving forward,” says Will Dixon, the local architect for the controversial project off River Road next to the Willamette River bikepath. “We received re-approval of our tentative PUD application back in October,” Dixon says. “No surprise, the opposition has appealed this once again to LUBA. On Nov. 12 we re-applied our final PUD application. We are hoping for final PUD approval early 2016, and anticipating the opposition to appeal this as well.” Dixon says the appeals “will not keep us from being able to finalize our building permits and start construction.” The development has 22 families committed out of 28 units, and Dixon says, “We are more committed than ever to see this project through.”
Meanwhile, neighborhood activist Paul Conte tells us, “OMC (and city staff) are trying to circumvent laws and regulations that are in place to protect the safety of residents of new developments, as well as current residents whose safety would be affected by the impacts of new development.” Conte says Oakleigh Lane, which allows resident parking on the gravel shoulders, must accommodate two lanes of traffic to adequately serve OMC and emergency vehicles, but the narrow “sub-standard” passage includes private property and “the owners have a right to park on that pavement or even forbid cars to travel over it.”
• What happens to the huge volume of human hair that gets swept up at salons and barbershops in Lane County? Salon DeLange at 3011 N. Delta Hwy. in Eugene is diverting its waste products, including hair, to a specialized recycling center in Seattle. “The hair that is recycled is used to absorb oils spills, and it is both more effective and greener than the synthetic alternatives,” says Haley Jones from the salon. DeLange has been recently certified as a Green Circle Salon, along with Bare Body Waxing and Hair Studio above Beppe and Gianni’s Trattoria near Hayward Field.
• Kathy Stewart-Bronson, owner of Ultimate Fitness LLC Personal Training and Massage Therapy, will be moving and expanding her business on Friday, Jan. 15, to 82 Centennial Loop. Ultimate Fitness specializes in post-rehab training and therapies, people with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, along with goal-specific training. Stewart-Bronson will start teaching exercise classes again in February. See ultimatefitnessor.com for schedule.
• The Network Charter School has purchased the building at 2550 Portland Street, previously occupied by Security First Child Development Center. A welcoming event with teachers, parents and board members will be at 2 pm Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the new location. Light refreshments and student entertainment are planned. Call 344-1229 for more information.
• Free one-on-one job help sessions are being offered from 4 to 6 pm Thursday, Jan. 14, and again Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Eugene Public Library. Preregister for the half-hour counseling sessions by calling 682-5450.