|
|
|
Bend Chamber
Weekly
June 26, 2009
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator
This Week's
Highlights
|
|
OLCC moves forward with new plan
for concerts
In a meeting
with public officials, business owners and leaders,
as well as Les Schwab Amphitheater personnel, the Oregon
Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) agreed to loosen
some alcohol rules for at least two concerts.
Starting in July at the Les Schwab Amphitheater,
concert attendees of legal age will be able to walk
around and will not be confined to a beer garden
(fenced area).
After talking through the plans for the upcoming
concerts including issues with alcohol monitoring,
security, lighting, exit and entry polices and past
issues, OLCC Enforcement Director Linda Ignowski
issued her decision. She stated it’s critical that
event organizers monitor consumption and have enough
lighting to know who shouldn’t have another glass of
beer or wine.
The Les Schwab Amphitheater and the OLCC agreed that all attendees who want to purchase
alcohol will have to wear wristbands, sales of full
bottles of wine will cease at 7:30 p.m. on concert
nights and all alcohol sales will end at 9:30 p.m.
“It sounds like you have a comprehensive plan, in my
viewpoint, I’m willing to give it a shot,” Ignowski
said.
Amphitheater personnel will also have to draft a
detailed plan for each event that will be signed by
OLCC staff, city officials, and the Bend Police
Department liaison.
“Hopefully, we will have successful events, and will
not have to talk about the amphitheater anymore,” Ignowski said.
In past years, the amphitheater had full walk-around
access for patrons. More recently with events, the
amphitheater could only have beer gardens due to OLCC requirements. Amphitheater Director Marney
Smith said she has lost several concerts because of
the restrictions.
Smith pointed out to the group the shows that are
coming to the theater this year are more
family-friendly and have “mellow” crowds.
Along with the new rules in place, after the
shows event organizers, OLCC staff, and the Bend
Police Department will have to sit down, evaluate
the events, and discuss any issues.
Bend Police Department Community Liaison, Steve
Esselstyn pointed out communication also happens in
real time as well at the events between security,
the police department, supervisors, etc.
Ignowski was glad to hear this and said the more
communication that happens during and after events,
the better.
Several members of the group thanked Ignowski for
working with the amphitheater and allowing the trial
run. “Hopefully this collaborative effort is the
first step to building relationships with other
licensees and that it will promote safe events that
help the economy,” said Bend City Councilor Jeff
Eager.
Ignowski said she will continue to work with the
community on issues, and does plan to come back to
visit the community in the summer and fall with
other OLCC officials. Above all, Ignowski stressed
that people need to understand there are always two
sides to a story and she will continue to
investigate the issues and concerns of the Bend
community.
“There is a lot of education that needs to take place,
and we need to be educated about this community,”
she said. “We will try to see how we can be better
partners.”
|
Town
Hall Forum Recap: Salem Update with Senator
Chris Telfer
Last Friday’s Town Hall entitled “Salem Update with
Senator Chris Telfer” allowed Chamber members the
opportunity to talk with Telfer about what is going on in
Salem and some of the challenges Central Oregon is
facing. The forum was very interactive and had
questions ranging from what businesses will face in
the future, to the budget, to the future of higher
education.
Listed below are just a few questions asked at Town
Hall with abbreviated answers:
Q: Will we possibly see tax reform?
A: Unless the gavel changes, we will not see tax reform
anytime soon. We will see tax increases on big
business and people earning a lot of money. Many
people in Salem don’t realize that it’s the small
business owners, who earn $150,000 that are being
taxed. We took $1 billion out of the economy in one
day and to me that’s jobs. Business owners are
telling me they have already gotten rid of
everything including retirement and insurance.
Q: What issues will OSU Cascades be faced with?
A: We stumbled with OSU, the state never funded the
campus the way they said they would. The problem
we face is OSU does not own its own buildings so
there are heavy lease payments. The community needs
to get behind OSU again, we got hung up a little
with Juniper Ridge and having a university there,
but the community needs to support OSU
and be visible as well as verbal. The governor is confused
as to whether or not the community actually supports
OSU. You need to continue to write all legislators
and tell them how important OSU is.
Q: What is happening with commercial health insurance?
A. Essentially, there will be a premium tax/provider
tax. At least one percent of commercial health
insurance premiums will go toward putting more
people on the Oregon Health Plan. Those who are self
insured, will not pay the tax. So the one percent
increase will be passed along to businesses who are
buying the insurance. Your rates will go up at least
one percent. Hospitals will also pay a 3 percent
provider tax.
Telfer also told attendees that she hasn’t heard from
many businesses in Bend. She says everyone needs to
email, not only her, but all the other legislators
about issues and problems consistently.
|
|
Summer
Opener Results
Twenty-one teams of four gathered together on Monday at
Broken Top to compete in the Bend Chamber’s Summer
Opener Golf Tournament. With the back drop of clear
blue skies, and bright green grass, the golfers
showed off their skills through the 18 hole course.
The Bend Chamber would like to take a moment to
congratulate everyone who participated in the
tournament. Listed below are the tournament winners:
Overall Low Gross
Pilot Butte Rehab
Center with a score of 54. Team
members include Duffy Dezember, Brad Brown, Vern
Miller, and Danny Wendt.
Overall Low Net
Clear Choice Health
Plans with a score of 46. Team
members include Jeff Brown, Randy Cline, Jeff
Jernstedt, and Rob Fincham.
MEN
Low Gross - 1st Place
Covenant Technology
Solutions with a score of 55. Team
members include Tim Choquette, Lane Lehrke,
Rockland Dunn, and Kenton Powell.
Low Net – 1st Place
Four Guys
with a score of 48. Team members include Mike
Kiyokawa, John Abercrombie, Jim Kennedy, and
Stan Myers.
CO-ED
Low Gross - 1st Place
State Farm Insurance
with a score of 55. Team members include Randy
Schoning, Tiffany Schoning, Kerry Schoning, and
Bob Nelson.
Low Net – 1st Place
BendBroadband
with a score of 50. Team members include
Molly Renner, John Childress, and Guy Harrelson.
Closest to the Hole
Shelly Garroutte, 13’2”
Todd Wilson, 9’9”
Longest Drive
Andy Stirling, 330 yards
Tiffany Schoning, 260 yards
|
Unemployment continues
to rise in Deschutes County
Central Oregon saw another increase in unemployment
rates for the month of May. The rates ranged from
16.4 percent in Jefferson County to 20.9 percent in
Crook County. Deschutes County saw yet another
increase to 16.7 percent.
According to the State of Oregon Employment Department,
Deschutes County’s rate has more than doubled from a
year ago. “It is once again the highest rate since
at least 1990, when the seasonally-adjusted series
began,” stated a department press release.
The county did see an addition of 1,000 jobs in May,
which was slightly higher than originally projected.
Areas which saw the largest job gains include
accommodation and food services, professional and
business services, as well as mining, logging, and
construction.
|
|
In
the News
Drivers beware of cell
phone use: A bill banning the use of
hand-held cell phones while driving recently passed
through the Oregon State Senate and the House. The
bill will now make its way to the governor. A
spokesperson of the governor says he will sign the
bill. The new law would impose a $90 fine on drivers
who are caught texting or talking while driving.
Drivers will be allowed to use hands-free phones. If
approved by the governor, the ban will take effect
on January 1.
Volunteer member wanted
for Deschutes County Historic Landmarks Commission:
The Deschutes County Landmarks commission is
seeking a new volunteer member and will accept
letters of interest until July 13. The Commission
serves as a hearings body for matters concerning
historic districts, buildings, structures and sites
within Deschutes County and the cities of Bend,
Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. The term of the
position is four years. For more information online
go to
www.deschutes.org/cdd; click on "Planning for the
Future" at the top of the page, and then click on
"Historic Preservation."
Fireworks sales season now
open: The 2009 Fireworks sales season
opened on Tuesday. Bend Fire and Rescue wants to
remind residents to take a few simple steps to make
the Fourth of July holiday safe for everyone.
Remember, Oregon law bans possession, use or sale of
fireworks that fly, explode, or travel more than six
feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air.
“Fireworks commonly known as bottle rockets, roman
candles, and firecrackers are all illegal in
Oregon,” a recent release stated. Another reminder,
you can be held liable for damages resulting from
misuse of fireworks (illegal or legal). And finally,
purchase fireworks only from retailers and stands
with a valid Oregon sales permit.
|
|
