NEWS BRIEFS
biz beat
ASSAULT ON TRAVELERS
LEAVES QUESTIONS
spare change), when around midnight on Aug. 16 they say
that they and a passer-by were assaulted by two men at the
corner of Broadway and Olive.
Armeli and Seaux say that the first man, a food cart
vendor, screamed at them for being homeless and spangers,
they retreated around the corner, and the vendor returned
about 15 minutes later to throw hot dogs at them. They say
that the man announced he was calling the police to report
that the group of homeless kids was beating him up, made a
phone call and returned and began pummeling Armeli. Berg-
Caldwell says she hasn’t been able to find a record of a 911
call.
They say that in the process, the vendor’s friend and
employee emerged from John Henry’s and the two beat up
Armeli and Seaux, cutting open Armeli’s chin and showering
his dog, Cheeseburger, with blood. At some point during the
confrontation, Alex Kellis, who works at Big City Gamin’,
walked by and attempted to stop the situation.
“It seemed kind of unfair to me how everything was going
down,” Kellis says, and immediately after he spoke, the man
“got up in my face.” Kellis’ girlfriend tried to pull him away,
and the vendor grabbed her, Kellis says. Kellis began yelling
at him, and that’s the last thing Kellis remembers before he
woke up with his girlfriend standing over him. A punch that
Kellis’ girlfriend says came from the vendor knocked him out
and fractured his maxilla.
Armeli says he doesn’t think the incident is being taken
seriously because he is homeless. “If I would have fought
back or my friend would have fought back, we would have
gotten felony assault charges,” Armeli says. “I feel like the
cops treat us unfairly because of the way we live.”
— Shannon Finnell
Local homeless people and homeless advocates have
long complained of difficulties when they seek justice for
those who have been assaulted or harassed. Two travelers
and a Eugene resident allege that a local food vendor isn’t
being charged with an assault that left the Eugenean with
a fractured face. Social justice advocate Carol Berg-
Caldwell says the vendor has a history of violence and one
Eugene bias crime conviction for a 2007 assault on a black
man.
Eugene resident Alex Kellis says his friends who
witnessed the incident are confident that they could pick
his assailant out of a lineup, but the Eugene Police
Department has refused to provide them the opportunity.
Kellis, 21, says he’s worried that his medical bills won’t be
paid if the correct person isn’t charged.
As EW went to press, Kellis and two others say that
EPD likely charged the wrong man in the assault on Kellis.
In a court appearance the man charged, Ryan Jeremy
Bennett, said that he couldn’t recall the night clearly
because he’d been drinking. Other accounts say there were
three assailants.
In Where the Sidewalk Ends, a short film by local
filmmaker Tim Lewis (http://wkly.ws/1co), Berg-Caldwell
says that multiple sources have told her of an improper
relationship between the food cart vendor and EPD, who
“like the way he treats the homeless.” Armeli and Seaux
have filed a complaint with the police auditor. The
investigation is still open. The video names the vendor,
though he has not been charged.
Eric Armeli and Timothy Seaux, childhood friends
from Texas, travel the U.S. together. The two had been in
Oregon for a few days, busking and spangeing (asking for
Everyday People Yoga is a new donation-based studio
offering “yoga, pure and simple.” It opened Sept. 11 at 352 W.
12th Ave. in Eugene. Three levels of classes are offered,
including for those with physical limitations. Classes are
mornings or evenings. Owner is Phoenix Desmond and website
is everydaypeopleyoga.com
Merry Jane Clothier is a resale boutique “dedicated to
curvy women” that recently moved from Mohawk Plaza in
Springfield to 1670 Willamette St. in Eugene. Owner is Jane
Donahue and hours are 11 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday
and 11 am to 5 pm Saturdays. Call 746-7796.
Advanced Energy Systems of Eugene recently installed a
236-panel solar system for the Stollar Family Estate’s new
tasting room and facilities that opened Sept. 9 in Dayton, Ore.
The hardware was made in the U.S. by SunPower. AES, a major
Oregon solar company, has its offices at 65 Centennial Loop,
website is aesrenew.com
Tamarack Pool at 35th and Donald is open again after two
weeks of annual maintenance. We hear a lot of volunteers
showed up to help in addition to the usual crew, including
Ministry Contracting, Oregon Auto Repair, Paul Messer Custom
Millwork, Boresha Coffee, Forrest Paint, Emerald Pool, Dick’s
Bicycles and Ashley’s Upholstery. See tamarackwellness.com
The Washburne Café at 326 Main St. in Springfield is
celebrating its first year of business in September by giving
back to the community. “We are partnering with three great
organizations to raise money and awareness for their missions,”
says Marilou Heriot, owner and manager. A percentage of
September sales will go to Head Start, FOOD for Lane County
and the Springfield School Foundation. Call 746-7999 for
details.
LCC will begin its nine-month nonprofit business
management programs in October, offering basic and
advanced afternoon classes in Springfield. Visit lanesbdc.com
or email armstrongt@lanecc.edu or call 463-5255.
Oct. 12-14 has been set for the 30th annual Lane County
Home Improvement Show at the Fairgrounds. The fall show
expects to have about 250 exhibits. See eugenehomeshow.com
for vendor information. A list of exhibitors will be up in
September.
Send suggestions for Biz Beat items to editor@eugeneweekly.com with “Biz
Beat” in the subject line.
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