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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2015)
❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ THESIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ AUGUST 5, 2015 ❘ $1.00 RELAY FOR LIFE 2015 Hall of Fame inductees PROGRAM INSIDE SPORTS — B SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 FLORENCE, OREGON HEROIC SPLASH Co-op gallery celebrates 10 years Community invited to Backstreet Gallery’s anniversary party B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News Backstreet Gallery, an artist-owned co-operative in Florence, will cele- brate its 10-year anniversary Friday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to join in the festivities that include food, beverages and cupcakes. In addition, guitarist Michael Anderson will provide music. Small art pieces created by the co-op’s artists will be raffled off throughout the event. The gallery, at 1421 Bay St., has featured the works of more than 50 local artists over its 10-year history. Currently, the co-op has 24 members and several consignment artists. In 2005, a group of local artists pooled their resources to create a co- operative gallery. “Bill Durst became president and filed as a co-operative corporation,” co-op secretary Kathryn Damon- Dawson said. “Jennifer French and Sally Wantz found a good deal on a house at 327 Laurel St. We rolled up our sleeves and altered the five rooms into gallery space.” The old real estate adage, “location is everything,” was true for Backstreet Gallery’s first location, which was located on a backstreet away from other shops, restaurants and tourist attractions. According to Damon-Dawson, “In the first four years, out-of-towners sel- dom crossed the threshold.” Even though rent would be triple what they were paying on the Laurel Street location, gallery members voted to move the gallery to Bay Street in 2009. The move paid off. “Within the first three hours of opening on Bay Street, more cus- tomers arrived than during an entire month at Laurel Street,” co-op mem- ber Geraldine McMahan said. In addition to being a showplace for co-op members’ artwork, Backstreet Gallery hosts a number of art-focused events. PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS “Batman” takes a turn on the waterslide provided by Siuslaw Public Library at last week’s children’s summer reading program finale. ‘Every Hero’ has a good time Library summer reading program ends with ‘fun in the sun’ in Mapleton, Florence Siuslaw News S iuslaw Public Library wrapped up its children’s summer reading program, “Every Hero Has a Story,” last week in Mapleton and Florence. The July 29-30 event provided lunch and a free book for every child present, about 300 par- ticipants in total. Library Director Meg Spencer said, “We had an additional 100 kids and teens sign up for the summer reading program this year compared to last year. There were 831 participants at last count.” Children’s Librarian Gayle Waiss said the library measures the finale’s attendance mostly through how much food they serve. “It’s hard to get a headcount,” Waiss said. Volunteers and library staff served hot dogs, chips and fresh-cut watermelon with pudding for dessert. There was also plenty of water and juice packs. The Friends of the Siuslaw Public Library (FOL) also teamed up with the library to provide a free book for every child. According to FOL and Siuslaw Public Library board member Susy Lacer, who is also a Florence City Councilor, the free books num- bered in the hundreds. Four tables featured board books, early read- ers, chapter books and young adult books. One middle school student said, “It’s like book heaven. Look at all the books!” LIBRARY 6A See Children’s Librarian Gayle Waiss poses with a fellow “Incredible Hulk” during the superhero-themed finale in Florence. See State Natural Site C O O L P L A C ES Darlingtonia Mercer Lake Road, Florence ❘ 541-997-3851 TO VISIT THIS SUMMER INSIDE S PECIAL F EATURE : This summer we are highlighting unique spots that make the central Oregon coast one of the coolest places to live and play. A new location will be featured each week. Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5 Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10 In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A11 Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . A5 A T A GLANCE : There are few places along the coast like Darlingtonia State Natural Site, the only Oregon state park dedi- cated to the protection of a single plant species. Located on Mercer Lake Road just after the turnoff from Highway 101 north of Florence, this 18-acre botanical park is home to the darlingtonia califor- nica, also known as cobra lilies or pitcher plants. The rare plant is Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2 COURTESY PHOTO THIS WEEK ’ S carnivorous and lures insects with its sweet nectar, then traps them with the stiff hairs and sticky wax in its knobby head. A boardwalk starts right at the site’s parking lot but instantly transports you to dense woods and wetlands. A couple of trails, one paved and one unpaved, are ideal for easy walks through a lush assortment of vegetation, includ- ing rhododendrons and spruce, cedar and shore pine trees. TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 67 52 69 55 71 56 68 56 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 USLAW SI S igns 3 S B Y C HANTELLE M EYER & G R A P H I C 'ų 8 GALLERY 6A INDOOR / OUTDOOR • • • • • • SIGNS & BANNERS VEHICLE GRAPHICS VINYL LETTERING STICKERS & CLINGS WINDOW GRAPHICS YARD SIGNS 997-8148 LOCATED AT: 7KH6KLSSLQ·6KDFN 2QWKHFRUQHURI th 6WUHHW+LJKZD\ S IUSLAW N EWS 125 TH Y EAR ❘ I SSUE N O . 62 C OPYRIGHT 2015 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM