• Poppi’s Anatolia, the popular Greek and Indian eatery at 992 Willamette Street, will be closing on Tuesdays beginning May 16 to deal with “some deferred maintenance projects as we head into summer,” says owner George Schaefer. The casual restaurant has been open seven days a week for nearly 30 years. Schaefer says Tuesdays were chosen since they are “typically the quietest of days” at the restaurant. Find a menu and more information at poppisanatolia.com.
• J. Michaels Books at 160 E. Broadway has been ranked #17 on the Huffington Post list of “50 Best Indie Bookstores in America.” The business was launched by Jeremy Nissel and Linda Ellis in 1975 when they were fresh out of college, and managed to survive not only the proliferation of big-chain bookstores but also the rise of Amazon and other web-based booksellers. The owners say they were surprised by the story that came out as they were celebrating a 42nd anniversary party at the store. The Huff Post article describes the store as “A cozy and colorful fixture of one of America’s most colorful small cities. The owner is usually behind the counter, obscured by his curated selection of new releases. His arrangements never fail to compel even this most casual of bookworms to purchase.” See jmichaelsbooks.com.
• On May 4, the Oregon Community Foundation announced the creation of the Oregon Impact Fund, which will “provide impact investments in organizations that are addressing problems facing urban and rural communities, such as access to affordable housing, health care, and jobs.” OCF plans to raise $10 million from donors and match it dollar-for-dollar. Involved in this project are The Gray Family Foundation, Dave and Christine Vernier, Randy Weisberg, Tom Bowerman, Barre and Robert Stoll, Cindy and Duncan Campbell, Chris and Tom Neilsen and The Headwaters Fund of OCF from Central Oregon. More information can be found on the OCF fund on the Oregon Community Foundation website.
• A career fair at HealthFirst Financial is 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 13, at the company’s Springfield offices, 400 International Way, suite 320. The locally based and diversified financial services firm is taking applications for multiple entry-level and professional full-time positions. For more information, call 541-393-3184.
• A small business clinic “Ask the Experts” is 5 to 7 pm Thursday, May 18, at the Eugene Public Library downtown. For a confidential, one-hour free appointment, call 541-682-5450.
Send suggestions to bizbeat@eugeneweekly.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!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519