New Issue: May 23rd, 2013

In this week’s Corvallis Advocate… Habitat Restoration in Your Own Backyard: Certification Offered by the National Wildlife Federation More People Have Cell Phones Than Clean Water Energy Efficient Light in Corvallis OSU Research Finds EPA Pesticide Warnings Effective: Cases of Pet Toxicity Continue to Decline Corvallis Venues: Where Do I Perform? PETA Still Fumbling With ...

Habitat Restoration in Your Own Backyard: Certification Offered by the National Wildlife Federation

It’s easy to bemoan lost habitat for wildlife, especially here in the Willamette Valley where our major export is lawns and more lawns. But there’s a simple way to help: turn your backyard into wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation. Only a few ingredients are needed: a food source, such as native plants, ...

More People Have Cell Phones Than Clean Water

Humanity is on the precipice of one of the most significant changes in our evolutionary history. For the first time ever, more than 95% of the worlds population has a cellphone and more than 40% of households have access to the internet. More people have access to a cell-phone than have access to running water, ...

Energy Efficient Light in Corvallis

Increasing energy efficiency and reducing light pollution is a priority in Corvallis. Adam Steele, franchise utility specialist with the City of Corvallis, said it is “standard practice that we look for energy efficient lighting.” As an example, he sites the remodel of City Hall’s parking lot where inductive decorative lights were added. The effort is ...

OSU Research Finds EPA Pesticide Warnings Effective: Cases of Pet Toxicity Continue to Decline

With June fast approaching local gardeners are gearing up for their yearly battle with the common garden pests, slugs and snails. The most common tool for combating these pests are metaldehyde and iron-phosphate based Molluscicide. Researchers, from OSU, writing for the National Pesticide Information Center, recently released a meta-analysis looking at the previous 11 years of ...

Corvallis Venues: Where Do I Perform?

Are you a local musician and want to share your talent, but are unsure where to play or how to get that first gig? With respect to such quandaries, I want to give readers a feel for the musical landscape of Corvallis.  While not a conclusive word on places to perform, I hope the following ...

PETA Still Fumbling With Outdated Tactics

PETA showcased their film Glass Walls and exhibited birthing stalls that factory farms use to house sows this week. Chris Merrow, a particularly proud eight year Vegan, manned a projector situated inside a stifling hot inflatable tent. Complete with chicken wire walled seating for viewers, was a film about factoring farming. The point of the ...

Change on the Horizon for Oregon’s Disabled Workers: New Hope, Expectations, and Challenges

On April 10th, Governor Kitzhaber signed Executive Order 13-04, which aggressively changes policy regarding employment of workers with I/DD (intellectual/developmental disabilities). Starting July 1st, the “inclusive” employment model will be supported, financially and logistically, by state government. It’s a reaction to federal lawsuit Lane vs. Kitzhaber, brought about with support of Disability Rights Oregon, which ...

Busking in Corvallis: Local Tradition, and a Fistful of Dollars

Emily is a self-taught guitar player who sang choir as a kid. She’s only been busking for a year or so, recently moving to Corvallis from Portland. She really likes it here, because “there’s a lot of musicians, but it’s not too big. People are really supportive, it’s a really good environment for busking.” On only her second time ...

Tyee Cellars: Corvallis’ Own Sustainable Winery

Visitors to Tyee Cellars winery in Corvallis are treated to a 360-degree view of an agriculture wonderland. This piece of the Willamette Valley is, on a spring afternoon, glowing with green new life and bursting with flowers and young fruit. The vines of pinot noir and chardonnay boast tiny grapes straining for sun. Orderly hazelnut ...

Foodie-Friendly Camping Foods

With warmer weather and sunnier skies already here, Oregonians are gearing up for prime camping season. Whether it’s a quick overnighter or a week-long affair, there’s no therapy like the simple pleasure of enjoying a good meal over the fire and under the stars. While classic camp food like franks and beans have fared well in ...

Hannibal: NBC’s New Yawn Factory

Despite the silly Terminator meets Saw logo and Twilight’s David Slade at the helm, when I first heard about this series I was instantly excited. How could I not be? Having loved everything in the past save Red Dragon (sue me) and with the bar for television having been raised so much over the last ...

Culture Fail: Art Vs. Commodity… A Struggle Too Often Lost

Not many people who get into art do so for reasons that don’t at least partially include the romance felt for other artists and their work. Or even just the idea of being well known and thought of as a genius without having to log the hours for a mathematics Ph.D. To break it down ...

Everyone’s a Critic by Jack Compere

Calendar Picks of the Week!

Tyee’s 28th Annual Memorial Day Celebration. 26335 Greenberry Rd., Corvallis. 12 – 5 p.m May 24 through 27. Taste Tyee Estate Wines, Special Discounts & Hiking on the Buchanan Family Century Farm.  Magenta Restaurant of Corvallis will have some delicious Dim Sum available for purchase and you can dig in while The Space Neighbors play a ...

New Issue: May 16th, 2013

In this week’s Corvallis Advocate… Tiny Nematode, Big Losses to Eastern Oregon’s Wheat 50th Anniversary of Legendary OSU Professor’s Everest Ascent Hate Weeds? Learn More About the Enemy at This May 18 Tutorial Corvallis Hikes: A Few Places to Plant Your Feet Limited EU Ban on Pesticides: But Will It Matter? Mazama Brewing Set to ...

Tiny Nematode, Big Losses to Eastern Oregon’s Wheat

Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered the cause behind $51 million annual losses in the Northwest’s wheat industry. Five times smaller in diameter than a human hair and half a millimeter long, the root-lesion nematode has been found in 90 percent of fields. In 60 percent of fields in Oregon and Washington, it exists ...

50th Anniversary of Legendary OSU Professor’s Everest Ascent

Next Wednesday, May 22, is the 50th anniversary of OSU Professor Willie Unsoeld’s legendary ascent of Mount Everest. As part of the first team of Americans to reach the summit from the more difficult West Ridge, 36-year-old Unsoeld became just the 14th human to stand atop the world’s highest peak. As a result of the endeavor, he ...

Hate Weeds? Learn More About the Enemy at This May 18 Tutorial

Want to become an anti-weed warrior? Join Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD) to help tame the threat from local weeds. No, BSWCD isn’t joining the marijuana debate; they take on invasive plant species that push out native plants and cost tax payers a head-spinning amount of money. BSWCD has been providing the Weed ...

Corvallis Hikes: A Few Places to Plant Your Feet

The weather is finally nice again, and Corvallis is ready to show off its spring and summer beauty. There are quite a few hiking areas right in town, and even more in the surrounding areas.  Whether you’re a veteran traveler of these trails and have already begun your warm-weather hikes, or you’re a beginner and ...