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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2011)
NEWS BRIEFS pedestrian-dominated area shouldn’t lose any car parking and that a shared lane with cars would be safer than the existing bike lane. “With low speeds, it is safe for bicyclists and drivers to share the road,” he emailed to the bike group list. “I’ll be interested to see how it works,” said Sweeney of the 13th plan at the UO’s Bike Silver award ceremony last month. “The jury’s out on that for me,” he said. “I can’t visualize how it’s going to work.” But Sweeney said he has “trust” that Roth knew what he was doing with the shared lane and back-in parking design and appeared resigned to the city prioritizing car parking over cyclist safety. “They had to find a place for the parking,” he said. “That’s something that we deal with.” In the future, if the parking isn’t needed, Sweeney said, “that will be a great day.” — Alan Pittman STATE BANK ON AGENDA AT CITY CLUB City Club of Eugene will host Oregon’s state Treasurer Ted Wheeler talking about “Investing In Oregon, Not Wall Street” at 11:45 am Friday, June 10, at the Hilton downtown. Wheeler is advocating for a state bank and the Oregon Legislature is considering HB 3452 and SB 889, which would consolidate and streamline many of the state’s economic development funds. These funds — our tax dollars — would then be used to extend lending to community banks, acting as a banker’s bank. LIGHTEN UP BY R A FA E L A L DAV E work for Oregon families, businesses and communities.” Wheeler cites the success of the state bank in North Dakota but says Oregon needs its own “Oregon solution.” “There are elements of North Dakota’s approach that are not workable here,” he says. “Chiefly, we do not need a new bricks- “One of the frequently cited reasons for Oregon’s sluggish recovery has been a shortage of bank financing,” wrote Wheeler in a recent Oregonian op-ed. “We also frequently hear that our tools for economic development need sharpening. If this effort succeeds, we will put more Oregon public funds to happening people BY PAUL NEEVEL ONG KAR WALEN Back when he was known as Ken, Ong Kar Walen grew up with eight siblings on his family’s commercial orchard outside of Salem. He got his start in tree work as a teen, went into business for himself at 21, and still climbs trees 40 years on. As a Sikh in the 1970s, he took the name Ong Kar (“in tune with creation”), taught yoga, practiced martial arts and helped start ashrams in Salem and Coos Bay. “In ’79 I took the turban off,” says Walen, who left the ashram life, got into reggae music and big parties, and onto the security crew at the Oregon Country Fair. In 1986, he first heard marimba music by Zimbabwean Dumi Maraire. “I had to learn to play,” he says. “This music is the closest thing there is to meditating.” Walen took lessons from members of the band Shumba, who had studied with Dumi. A year later, he launched his own band, Kudana. “I taught lessons and built all the instruments,” he says. “And I overcame extreme stage fright.” Over 24 years, 90-plus people have been members of the band. Kudana has four appearances scheduled for this year’s OCF. Check your Peach Pit guide to the fair. Walen retired last as coordinator of security for the fair, but will return this season to help with the transition. and-mortar institution in your hometown — or anywhere else in Oregon — to accomplish the goals that are driving this conversation.” He also does not want the state to compete with established community banks and credit unions. He does want to offer an alternative to Wall Street banks. “We can build upon our existing financial institutions and strengthen our economic development efforts,” he says. “A virtual Oregon state bank will be a wise investment in Oregon communities, and in our future.” — Ted Taylor OREGON WOLVES KILLED Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife killed two members of Oregon’s fledgling wolf population in May and has plans to kill one more. Wolf advocates say such heavy-handed lethal means of control are endangering wolf recovery in Oregon. Oregon has only 20 wolves, and the predators are listed on the state endangered species list. As of May 5 wolves in the eastern third of Oregon are no longer on the federal endangered species list. Local conservation group Cascadia Wildlands is legally challenging the federal delisting of the wolves. In April, Democratic Sen. John Tester of Montana inserted language into the already controversial budget bill that delisted wolves from federal Endangered Species Act protections. The rider overrode a federal judge’s decision forbidding this same delisting, and The Best Long-Shot Career Move Of The Year Award goes to Liane Richardson. While serving as the legal advisor to the Lane Board of County Commissioners, the winner publicly expressed her concern that several of its members were violating the law. A resulting lawsuit cost two board members $20,000 each and enough embarrassment to make them consider a move to McDermitt. After making other allegations of improprieties against the two commissioners for good measure, the winner applied to the board to become its chief administrative official — and got the job. Without a search. Way to go, Liane! Is Your Auto Shop an EcoBiz? EcoBiz-Certified Auto Shops in Lane County Certified Ecological Businesses exceed local environmental requirements. Certification assures customers that the business has taken the necessary steps to reduce water and air pollution, and hazardous and solid waste. EUGENE A & M Autobody Collision Repair Center 430 W. 1st Ave Having your car serviced at an EcoBiz-certified auto repair shop 541-686-2915 is right for the environment and for your car. EcoBiz-certified shops practice pollution prevention and are committed to a cleaner environment. When it’s time for your car’s tune-up or repair, ask your shop if they are EcoBiz-certified. It makes sense to be Eco-logical! The EcoBiz program is sponsored by the Lane County Pollution Prevention Coalition (P2C) and the Northwest Automotive Trades Association. P2C members: City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, Lane County Waste Management, Eugene Water and Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, and DHS-Drinking Water Program. WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Autohaus 1502 W. 7th Avenue 541-683-5050 Euro-Asian Automotive 1917 Franklin Blvd. 541-485-8226 Mac’s Radiator & Repair Inc. 2270 W. 11th Avenue 541-344-0253 North Eugene Automotive LTD 1048 River Rd. 541-688-1917 Old Dominion Collision 1060 W. 6th Ave 541-485-3368 Small World Auto Center, Inc. 2090 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-6475 Sun Automotive 1905 Agate St. 541-344-0869 Sun Automotive 391 Rustic Ave 541-344-2219 Swedish Engineering West 900 McKinley St. 541-685-0830 Wayne’s Garage 27 E. 27th Avenue 541-342-3941 JUNCTION CITY Guaranty Chevrolet 20 Highway 99 South 1-800-766-9231 541-998-2333 We would also like to thank the following fleet services for their participation in the EcoBiz program: SPRINGFIELD ACME Collision Service 4350 Main Street 541-726-7242 City of Eugene, City of Springfield, First Student (Dove Lane, Eug.) and Springfield Utility Board. A Street Automotive & Collision 3445 Main Street 541-726-8453 For more information, Wayne’s Garage 333 Q. Street 541-746-7142 call 541-682-8625, 541-726-3626 or visit www.lanep2c.org EUGENE WEEKLY JUNE 9, 2011 9
