Biz Beat 3-3-2016

• Lane County has a new Spanish language radio station, reportedly the first ever on the local FM dial. KEQB, La Que Buena, began broadcasting Feb. 17 on 97.7 FM. The station is owned by McKenzie River Broadcasting and will serve the “almost 30,000 Latinos in Lane County and more in the surrounding counties,” says Program Director Steve King. McKenzie River Broadcasting also operates KMGE-FM (Mix 94.5), KKNU-FM (New Country 93.3) and KEUG-FM (105.5 Bob FM).

• The nonprofit Fern Ridge Community Radio KOCF 92.5 FM is holding a fundraiser from 6 to 8:30 pm Saturday, March 5, at Domaine Meriwether Winery, 88324 Vineyard Lane in Veneta. Live music and silent auction, food available to purchase. KOCF is building its broadcast studio that will allow live broadcasting, present local musicians, air community meetings, interview local guests and serve as a command center in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Call 953-8847 for more information.

• We hear Community Alliance for Lane County is looking to fill a half-time paid position for fundraising, development and volunteer coordination. CALC is a venerable organization dedicated to peace and social justice for 50 years, and the staff actually has some fun doing the work. Send a letter and resume to calcoffice@gmail.com. 

• Happy to report that The Torch, Lane Community College’s student-run newspaper, took “Best of Show” for two-year colleges at this year’s Associated Collegiate Press conference in Los Angeles. The Torch, which has won many awards over the years, was up against community college papers from throughout the western U.S. Production Director Zack Russell says the paper’s management crew is working on new digital and multimedia offerings.

Willamette Resources & Educational Network (WREN) is currently scheduling spring 2016 environmental education field trips and classroom presentations. WREN’s programs are based in the West Eugene Wetlands and use a combination of classroom and open-air opportunities to teach science-based concepts in natural settings. WREN’s programs meet Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-12, as well as addressing writing, vocabulary, math and geography, and are open to all Lane County schools. Interested teachers can email WREN at info@wewetlands.org or call 338-7047