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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW SOU dorm rooms flooded after student breaks sprinkler head ... Talk explores birds and climate change ... Ashland development earns 'green' rating ... SOU dorm rooms flooded after student breaks sprinkler head ... Talk explores birds and climate change ... Ashland development earns 'green' rating ... TECHNOLOGY Techtoberfest has high-tech speakers and exhibits Beer, music also featured at event Saturday at Ashland's Historic Armory Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 8, 2015 at 5:55 PM Updated Oct 8, 2015 at 5:57 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 8, 2015 at 5:55 PM Updated Oct 8, 2015 at 5:57 PM » Social News Ashland will get a big, new festival Saturday, celebrating the broad world of innovation, opportunity and entrepreneurship — and giving you the chance to touch and try out most of it — along with plenty of craft beer, wine tasting and good old rock 'n' roll. Called Techtoberfest, it starts at 2 p.m. at the Historic Ashland Armory and on B Street next to it, between Oak and Pioneer streets. It’s free to peruse outside vendors and pedal-powered stage entertainment. That’s right, the lights and speakers will be powered by bicycles pumped by volunteers and, if you pedal for 15 minutes or more, you get a free beer, says event organizer Cassandra Davis. “It’s a community celebration showcasing 26 exhibitors where you can see, touch and learn about technology in action,” says Rosetta Shaw, program manager with Sustainable Valley Technology Group, the sponsor of the event. Exhibits focus on environmental-sustainable technology and will include Solar Power 101 (True South), natural health care, electric bikes (Brammo), a Kid Zone with KEVA Blocks, Ozobots, electric vehicles (ScienceWorks), plasma technologies for emission controls (ThrivalTech), and a Tesla electric car with 691 horsepower. Outside events are free, with more exhibits, wine tasting and music inside, for $15 admission. Tickets and info are available online at www.eventbrite.com/e/techtoberfest-2015-tickets-18322799988 . The Jeff Pevar Project and Lovebite will perform in the Armory Hall, as will Zepdrix, a cover band for hits of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Tim Snider and T.E.L.L. also play. Speakers, including “futurists,” will deliver TED-style talks on new technologies at the inside stage. They include: —Juan Pablo Hinestrosa, vice president for R&D, Biological Dynamics. Background in polymer research. —Jeff Allen, Rogue Valley workforce development, the future of mobility, electric, connected and shared. —Heather Stafford, leads the state’s strategy on innovation and entrepreneurship, an ecosystem that supports emerging tech industries, including ag tech, craft brewing, sportswear. —Jef Trece, IBM Informix Database software. “New data applications driven by the Internet of Things (IoT) and Informix timeseries data. Informix, with its optimal time series capabilities, hybrid application support, high availability, and focus on embeddability, is perfectly suited for emerging markets, technologies, and business models in IoT around the world." The festival was in Jacksonville last year, so this is a first for Ashland. It led to a long council discussion about closing B Street for one block and how this might impact emergency services, but the council approved it. Traffic will be routed off B Street to Lithia Way and A Street. The Growers Market, one block away, will end as the festival begins. The Southern Oregon Pride Parade is at 11 a.m., heading down East Main and concluding in Lithia Park, so, far from interfering, should swell attendance at Techtoberfest, says Davis. “It’s going to be a historic, precedent-setting event, full of community celebration, something that’s never been done here before,” said Davis. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Oct. 8, 2015 at 5:55 PM Updated Oct 8, 2015 at 5:57 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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