Calling all artists for UpStream Art
SPRINGFIELD – Between now and Aug. 14, artists of all ages and from anywhere in Oregon are invited to apply for the 9th annual storm drain mural-painting project, UpStream Art.
Four artists will be selected to participate and compensated $1,500 each. Their murals will be installed at four storm drains in the Thurston area of east Springfield.
Artists will paint their murals on Sept.19-20 and the public will be invited to watch. The murals are meant to be a simple-yet-meaningful reminder that the storm drains across the City create a direct link from Springfield’s streets to our local waterways.
Acting to reduce waterway pollution
One of the biggest threats to water quality in the Willamette and McKenzie rivers is pollution from urban runoff. Daily activities can cause water pollutants to collect on hard outdoor surfaces like driveways and roads. When it rains that pollution can wash into storm drains and out to local waterways where it concentrates, harming water quality and aquatic life.
“Stormwater is not cleaned before it’s released into local rivers. That’s why we want to keep pollution out of storm drains in the first place,” said Jaeger. “Everyone cares about clean water. We need it for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. Not to mention the countless people, animals, and plants that live downstream from Springfield that also rely on clean water.”
Lane County Fleet Services earn ‘EcoBiz’ certification
Lane County Fleet Services officials are driving toward a better climate.
The department – part of Lane County Government’s General Services Division, recently was certified through a voluntary state-supported program that recognizes government agencies and automotive repair and body shop businesses that adopt best practices to prevent and reduce hazardous waste, and air and water pollution.
Fleet Services – which provides vehicles, equipment, maintenance services, and fuel to County departments and several federal, state, and local partner agencies – was awarded the EcoBiz (Eco-Logical Business) Automotive Services Certification.
Lane County’s EcoBiz chapter is supported by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and managed by Eugene nonprofit BRING, which contracts with the City of Eugene Wastewater Division to implement the program within city limits.
BRING provides technical assistance and resources to participating local businesses and government agencies, while the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the City of Eugene support and approve certifications.
Additionally, BRING recently contracted with Oregon DEQ to expand its work to all Lane County automotive businesses.
While EcoBiz certification is free and voluntary, Fleet Services completed a checklist assessment of criteria to earn the distinction, including:
• Overhauling collection systems and labeling for various waste streams, including barrels containing oil, hazardous waste, and other materials to improve employee safety and better manage materials.
• Formalizing several waste reduction policies, such as prohibiting chlorinated solvents, promoting the use of less toxic products, and limiting hazardous material purchases.
• Servicing oil/water separators on-site to enhance wash bay drainage cleanliness and functionality, creating a regular schedule to maintain separators and servicing stormwater catch basins.
• Conducting staff-wide training to improve knowledge about proper hazardous waste disposal and stormwater/spill prevention.
• Improving spill containment practices by purchasing proper containment caddies and reducing the amount of storage barrels on the shop floor.
“It’s been an inspiring process,” said Emily Reynolds, BRING rethink business coordinator. “Not only did they make important improvements to operations, equipment, and waste management systems, but leadership was also able to foster a culture shift around sustainability practices that protect the environment and their employees.”
Chambers of Commerce
Mikkelsen earns recognition for Chamber leadership
• Vonnie Mikkelsen, President & CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, on receiving the recognition of IOM from the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Graduates from all over the country were announced this summer.
Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the Institute annually.
New members
• Tim Duncan Real Estate has more than a decade of expertise in helping people buy and sell homes in Lane County. The business is a new member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Kipco Construction LLC has joined the Creswell Chamber.
Kipco Construction began operations as Kip Construction Co. in August 1982. The company was created by Kevin Knode and Chip Moulds and later changed its name to Kipco, Inc. in January 2001 when Knode became the sole owner of the company. In May of 2014, the company was purchased by its longtime employee and operations manager Seth Brown and is now doing business as Kipco Construction LLC. With more than 40 years in business, Kipco has steadily grown from a handful of employees to workforce of more than 30 people.”
Check out their Sitework and Subdivision projects at kipcollc.com.
• Oregon Community Credit Union has joined the Creswell Chamber. Its statement: “We’re OCCU, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative located in Oregon and Washington. Our goal is to help people thrive- not just our members, but everyone in the communities we serve.”
• White Bird Clinic has joined the Springfield Chamber. Check them out at https://whitebirdclinic.org/
Golf days
• Join the Eugene Chamber Aug. 23 for the Greeters Golf Day. It’s $35 per player, and that covers each player with a round of golf and a hot BBQ lunch.
Hole sponsorships are still available for $75 (sponsors must provide a raffle prize in addition to sponsorship fee).
• Reserve a spot for the 2024 Cottage Grove Chamber golf tournament on Aug. 17 at Middlefield Golf Course. Teams of four, includes lunch, cart, and swag bag. It’s $50 to sponsor a hole and add something to the swag bag. Email:
100-year anniversary
• Cottage Grove Lions Club is celebrating with a BBQ on July 20. Get tickets at the Bookmine, $20 per person. The event is scheduled for Bohemia Park, 10th & Main.
County’s tech services recognized
Lane County Technology Services tied for sixth place in this year’s Digital Counties Survey, rising from ninth in 2023.
Lane County Technology Services tied for sixth place in this year’s Digital Counties Survey, rising from ninth in 2023.
Lane County was recognized for its work to create a comprehensive cyber risk assessment, vulnerability scan and response plan for at least four types of threats.
Other noteworthy efforts include use of data dashboards to visualize information and trends to help make better decisions about services, increasing broadband access in unserved areas, incorporating a focus on equity in its decision-making, and upgrades to technology that keeps critical information safe.
“It’s exciting to be recognized at a national level for our work to use technology to provide important services to community members, create transparency and access when it comes to local government, keep private information safe, and protect our systems against cyber threats,” said Michael Finch, Lane County chief information officer. “At the end of the day, technology is one of the most important tools we have to help improve lives.”
Conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), the survey evaluates counties across the nation, recognizing those that demonstrate excellence in the strategic use of technology to address local challenges, increase government efficiency, and enhance citizen engagement.
Class Reunions
AUG. 2 – AUG. 3
▸ Annual Cottage Grove Old Schoolmates Dinner/Breakfast and Scholarship Drive. Dinner on Aug. 2 at Cottage Grove High School. Breakfast on Aug. 3 at the Snap House on River Road. Celebrate those who have graduated from Cottage Grove area schools 50 or more years ago. This year the group will honor the Class of 1974. Please help us get the word out to graduates, those who attended but may not have graduated, parents, grandparents, etc. Also a scholarship fundraiser for Cottage Grove graduates. Reservation forms and scholarship info: Cottage Grove Library, Facebook: CGHS Old Schoolmates or email [email protected].
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
▸ Junction City High School Class of 1966 will be gathering at 2 p.m. at Hentze Family Farm, 30065 Hentze Lane, Junction City. RSVP ASAP at 541-998-2147.
Phelps new President/CEO of Travel Lane County
■ Samara Phelps, a Eugene native who began her career in the visitor industry working for Travel Lane County, has been named President/CEO.
She gained experience at TLC as a Visitor Services Coordinator, Director of Visitor Services and Director of Stakeholder Relations between 2007-15.
In 2015, she joined Clackamas County Tourism and in ’19 was named Executive Director of Clackamas County Tourism – which is the destination marketing and management organization promoting the Mount Hood Territory region. She also gained valuable experience in managing a regional destination management organization (RDMO) by leading the Mt. Hood & the Columbia River Gorge RDMO.
Board Chair Dana Turell said, “More than 40 applications were received and four candidates were interviewed. It was the committee’s intention to move the top candidates to second interviews; however, the committee was so impressed by Samara’s background, her vision for our region, and her passion for the industry that a recommendation was immediately sent to and approved by the full board.”
Samara attended the University of Oregon where she attained a Bachelor of Arts in General Science with a minor in Business Administration.
***
■ Josh Neckels, Executive Director of the Eugene Ballet, has joined the Travel Lane County Board of Directors. Travel Lane County’s governing board represents a variety of businesses, community organizations, and government entities across Lane County.
***
■ Molly Babcock has been named Convention Sales and Marketing Coordinator for TLC. Babcock will promote the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region as a convention destination by supporting convention sales efforts and writing content for industry publications, implementing content across all platforms and supporting owned, earned, and paid media efforts. Molly was graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations with minors in Environmental Studies and Nonprofit Management.
■ Kyle Chase joined the TLC team as a Visitor Services Specialist. The Visitor Services Specialist inspires travelers to extend their stay in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Chase is a fourth-generation Oregonian and was graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science.
***
Marriott Hotel Management’s Roussel honored
■ Marriott International awarded Residence Inn assistant general manager Michael Roussel the prestigious Operations Manager of the Year Award for the Residence Inn brand. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to guest satisfaction, outstanding service, and a dedication to upholding the highest standards of hospitality. Roussel was chosen from nominations across all Marriott’s Residence Inn brand locations, more than 850 worldwide.
***
Recognize rising talent: 20 under 40
■ Recognize the rising stars in your organization by nominating them for the prestigious 20 Under 40 awards, supported by Burley Design. This accolade celebrates the exceptional achievements of young professionals who are making significant contributions to our community. Don’t miss the opportunity to spotlight your brightest talent – nominations close on July 19th. Celebrate their hard work, innovation, and dedication by giving them the recognition they deserve. Get your nominations in today at:
https://20under40awards.com/nominations/
Changed jobs? Are you in a new role? Maybe you’ve moved to another company. Let us know about it. Be sure to have your “movers and shakers” acknowledged in The Chronicle.
Email: [email protected].
Business Briefs
Food Safety and Preservation hotline
■ CORVALLIS – As canning season gets underway, the Food Safety and Preservation hotline from Oregon State University Extension Service is open. The toll-free hotline, 800-354-7319, runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Oct. 11. When the hotline is closed, callers can leave a message. The hotline is staffed by certified Master Food Preserver volunteers in several Oregon counties. The volunteers fielded 806 calls in 2023.
Iris Vineyards named ‘Winery of the Year’
■ Iris Vineyards was named Oregon Winery of the Year by Great Northwest Wine. Taste their award-winning wines at the Iris Wine Bar, 322 Main St. in Springfield.
‘Our Town’ grant application underway
The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications for the FY 2025 Our Town program. The grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. Creative Placemaking is when artists, arts organizations, and community development practitioners deliberately integrate arts and culture into community revitalization work – placing arts at the table with land-use, transportation, economic development, education, housing, infrastructure, and public safety strategies.
Our Town offers support for projects in two areas:
• Arts Engagement, Cultural Planning, and Design Projects. These projects represent the distinct character and quality of their communities. Matching grants range from $25,000 to $200,000.
• Projects that Build Knowledge About Creative Placemaking. These projects are available to arts and design service organizations. Matching grants range from $25,000 to $100,000.
The deadline is Aug. 1. To learn more: www.arts.gov/grants/our-town
