Eugene Weekly

Rebates for ductless heat pumps are being offered by local utilitiy EPUD. EPUD announced last week that its rebates for ductless heat pumps have been raised from $1,000 to $1,500 for a limited time, and for the first time, $350 rebates are being offered on heat pump water heaters through Oct. 31. EWEB is no longer offering rebates on ductless heat pumps for both homeowners and landlords, but the incentives are expected to return later this year, says Lance Robertson, spokesperson for EWEB. “We will also be offering zero-interest loans, up to $4,000,” he says. Continue reading →

Student housing projects are rising all over Eugene, despite predictions of a “higher education bubble” about to pop, and now we hear a major student complex is being contemplated for five acres of commercial-zoned land outside the Springfield city limits on the west end of Glenwood. The property near the Glenwood Boulevard junction is right on an EmX stop along Franklin Boulevard, an easy ride to UO, LCC and NCU. The property also fronts the Willamette River. Continue reading →

RIDE (Rides for Intoxicated Drivers of Eugene) is a nonprofit hoping to begin local service this winter. “It is our mission to keep our community’s children safe by reducing drunk driving on our streets,” says CEO Jonathan Russell. RIDE will provide sober drivers to chauffeur intoxicated patrons home in their own vehicles. Chase drivers will follow behind and pick up the RIDE driver once the patron has arrived safely home. Russell says RIDE is “still in the funding stages” using Indiegogo. Perks are available for those who donate at various levels. Continue reading →

The American Institute of Architects Southwest Oregon Chapter is hosting the People’s Choice Awards for Architecture again this year at the Eugene Celebration, and as in recent years the display will also include landscape projects. Find the display at the corner of Broadway and Willamette in the Broadway Commerce Center. This year the designs (and voting) are also online at aiaswo.com, according to Scott Stolarczyk, co-chair of the awards committee (sstolarczyk@robertsonsherwood.com). Winners of the competition will be announced at City Club of Eugene Sept. 13. Continue reading →

Too many cohousing projects in the works? Oakleigh Meadow, a cohousing community planned along the Willamette River in north Eugene, is making progress on city approvals and hopes to break ground soon, but home sites are still available. Until Oakleigh sells out, we probably won’t see much happen at an earlier cohousing site — the big empty lot at the corner of Lincoln and 11th Avenue. Martin Henner owns the Lincoln property and actually had a groundbreaking ceremony for cohousing apartments in October 2007, and then the economy tanked. Continue reading →

Noted herbalist Rosemary Gladstar will be offering a free lecture at 7 pm Friday, Aug. 9, at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, following a free educational plant walk at 5 pm. Mountain Rose Herbs is hosting the event and will provide organic tea. Profits from the sale of event merchandise, DVDs, books and other products will be donated to United Plant Savers, a nonprofit that protects native medicinal plants in the U.S. and Canada. This is the first in a series of events as part of the Free Herbalism Project. See freeherbalismproject.com or mountainroseherbs.com. Continue reading →

A tour of Eugene bicycle industries is being planned as part of this weekend’s Blackberry bRamble celebration. The tour begins from 9 am to noon Friday, Aug. 2, at Rolf Prima, 150 Shelton McMurphy Blvd., followed by noon to 2 pm at Bike Friday, 3364 W. 11th Ave., followed by 2 to 4 pm at Co-Motion, 4765 Pacific Ave. Rides and celebration events continue all weekend. Email hughes97405@gmail.com or see eugenegears.org/bramble. Continue reading →

The Oregon Legislature has approved and funded $3.75 million for the new South Willamette Valley Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN), a broad initiative that “taps into the research and educational expertise of academia and aggressively moves it toward private economic growth,” says Sen. Lee Beyer. RAIN will involve collaboration between UO, OSU and the cities of Eugene, Springfield, Albany and Corvallis. Continue reading →

The nonprofit Emerald Empire Hempfest is back for its 11th year for three days beginning Friday, July 19, at Maurie Jacobs Park in Eugene, across the footbridge from Valley River Center. The alcohol- and drug-free festival features live music, food booths, educational exhibits, a hemp fashion show and new product demonstrations. This year’s theme is “The Walls of Cannabis Prohibition are Coming Down.” Volunteers are still needed. Call Dan Koozer at 517-0957 or see EmeraldEmpireHempfest.com. Continue reading →

Food and farm rights in Lane County are the focus of a citizens’ initiative petition filed July 10 at the Lane County Elections Office. The filing launches the Support Local Food Rights campaign, which, if successful, will be “the first food rights for residents and farmers to be established in Oregon,” according to chief petitioner Lynn Bowers. Ann Kneeland is the attorney for the campaign and can be reached at 255-0272 or annbkneeland@yahoo.com. Continue reading →