COUPONS INSIDE www.shoppelocal.biz SATURDAY WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF FLORENCE • DUNES CITY • WESTLAKE • MAPLETON • SWISSHOME • DEADWOOD • YACHATS AND ALL POINTS BETWEEN 125 Y T H E A R • I S S U E N O . 11 FEBRUARY 7 • 2015 $1.00 Three Rivers Foundation distributes $100K in grants B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News Four Florence-area organiza- tions were among 23 grant recipients at the fourth annual Three Rivers Foundation grant awards luncheon held Thursday, Feb. 5, at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel. The foundation distributed more than $100,000 in grants. Siuslaw School District received $1,352 to help support the district’s Siuslaw Stream Teams program that coordi- nates watershed studies, includ- ing educational materials and more than 35 field trips for stu- dents in third grade through high school. District Superintendent Ethel Angal accepted the grant for the school district from foundation board member Teresa Spangler. The grant to Florence Habitat for Humanity was $10,000 to purchase a project trailer and construction tools to help with home preservation projects as part of Habitat’s neighborhood revitalization and home repair program. Kate McBroom-Redwine, executive director, Ken Gaylord, neigh- borhood revitalization manag- er, and Phyllis Steeves, board member, accepted the funds from foundation board member Stephanie Watkins. Florence Area Community Coalition received funds to CROW S FLY Siuslaw News See GRANTS 6A March marks end of marijuana moratorium AS THE B Y C HANTELLE M EYER help defray costs of its annual volunteer recognition dinner, during which local nonprofits thank volunteers for their serv- ice. Coalition treasurer David Wiegan accepted the $1,500 grant from foundation board member Jay Bozievich. With no decision on zoning legislation, city council schedules work session B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News Y OUTH THEATER PROGRAM PREPS FOR S HARE Y OUR H EART FUNDRAISER , F EB . 13 PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS Students in the CROW program recently began rehearsals for their new production, “Once Upon a Mattress,” premiering at the Florence Events Center in April. They sing in ensembles, act in lead and supporting roles and dance in musical numbers. A group of students also will perform during the nonprofit’s fundraising party next week. One of the major issues on the Florence City Council agenda on Feb. 2 was the upcoming end of the one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dis- pensaries in Florence. The meeting, which included a public hearing, addressed Ordinance No. 1, Series 2015, “An ordinance to establish locational, site design and operational criteria related to medical marijuana facilities.” After much discussion, the council moved to delay a decision pending a work session, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9. The council now operates under a deadline of only three more council meetings before the moratorium ends March 16. Planning Director Wendy Farley pre- pared an extensive proposal that detailed zoning regulations as established by state law and city ordinances. According to the planning commis- sion’s proposal, amendments to city land use codes would allow medical marijua- na facilities conditionally in the North Commercial District. This was the only area in Florence that followed minimum distance provisions See N ext Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Florence Events Center, Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops (CROW) will present Share Your Heart, a fundraising party designed to help the nonprofit group purchase and renovate a permanent performing arts facility for local youth. CROW will use the facility to house classes in dance, theater, voice and other fine and per- forming arts genres. Director Melanie Heard has made her rounds in Florence, presenting her vision of a building to community members, businesses, clubs and organizations. She and one of her students also appeared this week on KCST 106.9 FM. Ten-year-old Nyah previously performed in front of the Elks Club and Kiwanis and sang INSIDE S AT U R D AY Angling Classifieds Community In Brief B1 B7 A5 A12 Obituaries Opinion SideShow Sports for KCST. She loves performing. “It’s a little bit of everything,” Nyah said. “From the thrill of coming on stage the first time on the first night to the very end, it’s just awesome!” Really, Heard emphasized, it is for the youth. Seven students, ages 7 to 13, will sing at Share Your Heart. Other performances will include local vocal- ists Marty Adams, Mary Beers, Michael Jacobson, Sheena Moore, Erin Reinke, Jacob Steinberger and Jason Wood. Kayla, 9, one of the CROW students per- Your A2 A4 B6 B Weather T ODAY S UNDAY M ONDAY T UESDAY Windy & rain 58 45 Rain Windy & rain 56 49 Clouds & sun 55 48 55 50 forming at Share Your Heart, said, “I’m most excited because we’ll actually have room and CROW kids will feel like we actually have our own space. And we don’t have to use it from any- one else.” “Well I’m excited ’cause there’s going to be rooms and there’s going to be more room for practicing. It’s not going to be a building that we have to borrow. It will be our own building so we can do what we want with it and have fun with it,” said Cecile, 10. “I’m excited that we’re going to have it all to our selves,” said Ramiro, 12. “We can use it for many uses.” One parent said, “I think the main part is just a place to call home. Right now we bounce around the schools. … That dedication that we spend in time running around will be spent on teaching and focusing on the arts of the children.” The building selected would provide space for rehearsals, small performances, set con- struction and artistry and costume and prop See COUNCIL 8A Chamber cancels Business Expo B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News CROW 6A Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cal Applebee announced that the 2015 Business Expo scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Florence Events Center has been canceled due to lack of business participants. According to Applebee, the annual event, which started in 2009, needed at least 20 businesses to make it viable. This year, less than half that number signed up. He said checks would be mailed out to those businesses that had already paid for space. “The chamber board of directors is evaluating how to adjust that event to make it fill a need for our members,” Applebee said. SPORTS — B CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 23 nonprofit organizations, including 4 in Florence, receive funds