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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2015)
8 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 Submit nominations for Siuslaw Awards The eighth annual Siuslaw Business Awards event is fast approaching. The awards ban- quet, sponsored by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, is Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the FEC. This event recognizes excel- lence in the local business community by naming recipi- ents for awards in Excellence in Customer Service, Curb Appeal, Nonprofit Achieve- ment, Community Caring and the Stu Johnston Business of the Year Award. This year, a new category, Innovation in Business, has been added. The recipient of this award will be a business that has introduced an innovative prod- uct or service or operates in a mode where innovation is built into the company’s culture. The Siuslaw Awards also recognizes two outstanding individuals in the community Port from 1A “It is the best and safest place to go clamming,” Rickard said. “I’d like to see that available to the public.” Caputo said, “It is also one of the only places on the river where you can dock a barge. It is a deepwater port.” The concerns the port has over the property are the possi- bility of ground contamination from former tenants and the additional debt the port will have to assume to purchase the property. by honoring them with the Future First Citizen Award and the First Citizen Award. The First Citizen Award rec- ognizes an individual who has given selflessly to the commu- nity based on leadership and overall impact. The Future First Citizen Award recognizes a student for their academic success as well as civic and community involvement. An individual or business that has selflessly given of their time and efforts in sup- porting the chamber will also be recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Applications are available at the chamber Visitor Center and at www.florencecham- ber.com. Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 11. First Citizen nomination forms are available through area service clubs and are due by Dec. 20. The property currently has three tenants who have leases that would transfer over to the port. Caputo said this would help to make the payments. The port may seek assistance from state agencies in installing a new boat launch ramp. “It is possible that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will want to purchase the tidal flats for the clam beds,” Caputo said. “And ODFW may help us acquire funding from the Oregon Marine Board to black- top and put in a new boat ramp. Parks COURTESY PHOTO Florence Area Humane Society board secretary Sammi Lewis congratulates new shelter manager Tanya Garrett, right, who began her new position Tuesday. Shelter from 1A Garrett hopes to increase in-town adoption events for dogs and cats. “We congratulate Tanya on a well-deserved promotion,” Lewis said. Anyone looking for a holi- day volunteer opportunity should consider FAHS, which It is high on ODFW’s list of concerns of boat ramps on the West Coast.” Port commissioners voted to approve a $3,000 earnest money agreement to hold the property for 60 days. According to Caputo, the agreement would provide port access to the property to per- form on-site inspections and give the port time to review copies of the leases and other documents related to the leases covering the property. The agreement also allows the port time to investigate whether the property is suitable for the continues to need volunteers throughout the year. Volunteers don’t have to work with dogs or cats. Other duties include pulling weeds, maintaining the landscape and working at the FAHS thrift stores. For more information, con- tact the Humane Society at www.florencehumane.org, or call 541-997-4277. port’s planned boat ramp. “If we decide not to go through with it, we will lose our earnest money,” Caputo said. Interim port manager Dina McClure said the Department of Environmental Quality should be contacted to do an evaluation. The price and terms of the proposal are not available to the public at this time. __________ Follow Jack on Twitter @SNews_Jack. Email him at jack@thesiuslawnews.com. from 1A “My responsibility is to ensure that our long-rang plan is successful,” Mokrohisky said. “We’re overdue.” The task force will pick up where the current draft left off. It will look at public com- ment received in the last six months and identify special issues. It will be a working group made up of stakeholders from the coast, Cascades, McKenzie River and other areas in Lane County. At most, it will be 10 to 15 peo- ple. “We want to make sure we have people from Florence involved,” Mokrohisky said. “We need people with broad interests and a county per- spective.” The plan will not be com- plete any time soon. “We’re looking at a ‘best practice’ scenario. ... It will be a slow process to make sure we go through the right steps,” Mokrohisky said. Another step will be the appointment of a park plan- ning specialist with the back- ground and technical expert- ise. The county parks website will continue to track public comments, notes from the meetings, survey results and petitions. Many of the comments received are from residents of western Lane County, who oppose the current draft’s pro- posal to sell Ocean Woods, a 40-acre undeveloped county park near Heceta South and Idylwood subdivisions. Mokrohisky said, “Ocean Woods has been a big topic in Florence for years. We’ve received a lot of wonderful comment from passionate individuals. We’re listening.” The public comments received so far indicate a desire to retain Ocean Woods, and Mokrohisky said it was unlikely the county would sell the land. Ultimately, however, the county commissioners will decide. Since Mokrohisky became administrator in May 2014, parks have been a large part of his focus. He has worked with the county’s Large Events Task Force for parks like Mount Pisgah and lis- tened to public comment on other parks. “I have a passion for open space and park land. I under- stand the value for recreation and families. I want to make sure these continue,” Mokrohisky said. He regularly travels to western Lane County to meet with officials, citizen groups and nonprofits. He also brings his family out to spend time on the coast and even drinks coffee from a Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters mug. “I know people in the county’s outlying areas are worried if we are representing them,” Mokrohisky said. “We are concerned with their point of view, interested in what they have to say and working to partner with them. This shouldn’t be Lane County government’s ideas and visions and goals. It should be the community’s.” __________ Follow Chantelle on Twitter @SNews_Chantelle. Email her at cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com. Local Dining Meet CHEF MICHAEL PIGEON head chef for COME TRY OUR NEW LOCAL HUCKLEBERRY VODKA MARTINI FRIDAY Italian Sausage Stuffed Pork Loin served with Yukon mashers and seasonal veggies SATURDAY Pan Seared Cod served over spinach topped with a Spanish inspired tomato broth Open for Lunch & Dinner • Lunch Specials Daily Reservations Suggested. 165 M APLE S T . • 541-997-9811• WWW . MAPLESTREETGRILLE . COM Surfside Restaruant at Drift wood Shores Q Brussels sprouts or broccoli: I like both Q Breakfast or dinner: I like both Q What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten: Alligator Reservations welcome Wednesday Prime Rib Dinner $16 Th ursday Spaghetti & Meatballs Dinner $10 Friday Prime Rib Sandwich Lunch Special Where good friends & great food come together! 1285 Bay Street in Old Town Florence (541) 902-8338 Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:00am to Close Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3:00pm to 5:00pm The Grill & Lounge at Sandpines WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIAL 2 FOR THE PRICE OF 1 O FFER AVAILAB LE M ON -F RI 12-4 P M E XPIRES 11/30/15 1201 35th Street at Kingwood, Florence Highway 101 & 35 St. 541-997-4623 Hi, Welcome Restaurant to Mo’s Mo’s ® ~ FEATURED LOW-CARB SELECTIONS ~ SEAFOOD SLIDERS SALMON: Grilled, Poached, or Blackened CHICKEN BREAST: Boneless, Skinless Breast of Chicken FOR ONLY $8.95 SHRIMP SKEWERS: 2 Grilled Shrimp Skewers All of the above are served with Green Beans or Mixed Steamed and for Veggies dessert... and a Shrimp Dinner Salad SNICKER OR PEANUT BUTTER PIE $4.95 NEW ITEMS Every Month Mo's has brought in special "Motivation for Kids" BBQ PORK RIBS: Baby Back Pork Ribs with tables which raise money for local charities that are devoted to helping the wellbeing of local children. month Headstart James This Gang BBQ Sauce of Florence is the local charity being honored. the BLACKENED SALMON CEASAR SALAD Mo’s Old Town, Florence • Daily 11 am - 8 pm ® Mo’s Town, Florence • Daily 11 am - 8 pm Serving Old Bowls of comfort for Over 50 Years Serving Bowls of comfort for Over 50 Years • 541-997-2185 Q Q Tacos or Burritos: Tacos Advice to an aspiring culinary student in Mr. Lewis’s class at Siuslaw High School: Pay attention, be calm and don’t be afraid to try new things. Want to Give the PEFECT Gift? Surfside Restaurant/Lounge and Driftwood Shores Gift Cards are Here! FREE $10 Gift Card With the purchase of $100 gift cards Call TODAY! 541-997-8263 Offer expires 12/21/15. Driftwoodshores.com