4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ OCTOBER 7, 2015
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
1 2 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y F L A S H B A C K
1890 ❙
T
T HE W EST
F LORENCE T IMES
T HE S IUSLAW O AR
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS
S IUSLAW N EWS
❙ 2015
his year marks Siuslaw News’ quasquicentennial, our 125th anniversary, a remarkable achievement for any business in a small
community like Florence. To commemorate this milestone, throughout the year we’ll feature some of the town’s history as origi-
nally published in the newspaper, including historic articles and photos from more than a century ago. —Editor
NOW AND THEN — BY A SIUSLAW PIONEER
O RIGINALLY P UBLISHED O CT . 2, 1896
T HE W EST , V OL . 7, N O . 33
Ten years ago, the Siuslaw was but a name,
meaningless to all save a few brave pioneers
who, strong in their faith that this was a land
of promise, struggled against odds and
endured hardships and privations now almost
forgotten.
Florence consisted of three or four tumble
down cabins and a small structure of rough
boards that serves as a salting house for
salmon. The nearest schoolhouse was 15
miles away. The only highway was the river,
and skiffs and canoes afforded the only means
of transportation.
I well remember my first visit there, and
the impression the barren solitude of the
place made upon me — the desolate wastes of
sand, the cold winds, the dark storm-twisted
pines and the lonely river. I little dreamed
how dear these were to become to me through
association.
The wind that chilled the stranger cheered
the dweller on the shore with wild sea-songs
of wondrous sweetness. The sands, on close
acquaintance, changed from barren wastes to
endless hills of gold. The river became a
friend that gave new joy every day.
Before I had lived a month in my tiny
cabin under the pines on the Siuslaw, I was in
love with the loneliness. Ah! It was a free
life!
Nature had her own way there and we fell
in with her ever-changing moods, and felt her
great true mother-heart beat close against our
own. We ceased to remember that there was a
world outside of this charmed spot to which
we belonged — and to which we might some
day return. There was never a day that was
not perfect, never a night but brought new
joy.
Still, there were times when we were
reminded of the outer world. On those days
when the mail came in we walked up to the
post office, going along the narrow river
beach when the tide was low, and across the
marsh to get our letters and magazines. There
was something unreal about that marsh; we
often spoke of it and of the strange feeling we
always had when crossing it, as if we beheld
ourselves from some far-off post of vantage
two lonely dark figures amidst the solitude of
sea and shore.
But all of this was 10 years ago.
It is very different now on the Siuslaw.
The dim and dingy cabin with its low eaves
and tiny windows, where the mail was handed
out over piles of calico, blue overalls and red
flannel shirts, is no more.
In its stead are handsome stores, elegant
dwellings, a church, a schoolhouse, a big
square hotel in Florence and sidewalks. The
small salting house has grown into a great
cannery that sends its products out over all
the world.
There are steamboats on the river and a sis-
ter-town across the bay. There is a WCTU, a
Shakespeare Club and The West, whose able
editors hold no small place among the memo-
ries of those far days.
The Siuslaw of today is a recognized locali-
ty and a factor in public affairs.
Yes, there have been changes.
In dreaming of those fruitful months spent
down there on the edge of the world, I can
recall only the dear delight, the beauty, the
freedom and charming associations. If there
was hardship or deprivation, I have lost the
recollection of it.
LETTERS
Resist the sale
of Ocean Woods
Lane County Parks Department pro-
poses to sell Ocean Woods, 40 acres of
local parkland. Reference the Lane
County Parks Department Draft Master
Plan. Approximately 20 years ago, the
state of Oregon deeded 40 acres of land
called Ocean Woods, located just out-
side the Florence city limits, to be only
used as parks land. This 40 acres is
pristine forest land that has eagles,
bears, deer, birds and many other
species of animals some on the endan-
gered list.
Lane County has done nothing with
this property since they have had it.
They are now proposing to sell the
property, most likely to developers,
versus developing the property as a
park as originally intended by the state.
I propose that Lane County develop
the property as originally intended to
serve not only the residents of the
Florence area, but also the many Lane
County residents that visit the coast,
especially when the temperatures
become unbearable in the Eugene area,
and also the tourists who provide
income to our county.
The parks department recommended
selling this property in 2004; however,
the wisdom of the county commission-
ers prevailed and it was voted down 5-
0. Here it is again proposed to be put up
for sale.
I solicit all residents of Lane County
to contact their commissioners and
resist the sale of this pristine property
named Ocean Woods and ask them to
either develop it as a park or return the
property to the state. I have registered
my opposition to the sale of this prop-
erty to the county commissioners; how-
ever, to date, only Commissioners Pete
Sorenson and Jay Bozievich have
immediately responded.
Visit the Lane County home page
and express your views to the parks
staff as well as county commissioners.
Charlie Campione
Florence
Make a difference
with Salvation Army
The people of western Lane County
have been very supportive of The
Salvation Army. Our nearest offices
serving Lane County are in Eugene and
Springfield. There are also offices in
Newport and Coos Bay. However, to
make a difference in western Lane
County, we need to get organized.
There will be a gathering of support-
ers and interested persons on Monday,
Oct. 12, at the new Riverside
Restaurant, 1340 Bay St. During a
“Make a Difference” dinner of soup
and salad, we will discuss ways to help
bring The Salvation Army’s resources
and services to western Lane County.
A Red Kettle Campaign is being
organized and volunteer bell ringers
will be sought for shifts at local grocery
stores. Some supporters want to help
keep our existing food pantries stocked
for the winter. And, discussions are
underway to create a Salvation Army
Donor Advised Fund with Western
Lane Community Foundation.
If any of these subjects interest you,
or, if you would like to explore options
you may have to give more locally to
The Salvation Army, please come. Call
541-991-3363 to attend the dinner.
A suggested donation of $15 or more
will cover the costs of the dinner. If the
limited space calls for it, there will be
two seatings — one at 5 p.m. and one
at 7 p.m.
Bill Olson
Florence
Co-op needs our help
“Organic food! Or as our grandpar-
ents called it, ‘food.’”
This is my refrigerator magnet, and
it’s a reminder of how far we have
come from growing food naturally and
how dependent we are on food shipped
from all over the world.
After World War II, chemical pesti-
cides and fertilizers enabled corporate
farms and a burgeoning population.
These chemicals are now ubiquitous in
our air, water, soil and our bodies. And
the amount of fossil fuels used by
truck, train and boat to get these foods
to us is some of the cause in rise of
CO2 in the atmosphere.
The United States has strict organic
standards. But many of the organic
farms absorbed by corporations are
structured to serve chains whose addi-
tional “organic” sources are Canada,
Mexico, South America and China.
Labeled “organic,” they are often
grown in unregulated conditions.
Corporate chains will not soon lose
their place in our society. But we are
remembering the importance of our
grandparents’ food, and how critical
farmers’ markets and organic food
stores are to the availability of sustain-
ably produced crops.
Organic farms in our area, including
Whiskey Creek and Greenfields Farm,
supply Florence’s Real Food Co-op
with fresh and nutritious food, and we
know how it is grown. Not only has the
Co-op served local farms and shoppers
for many years, members have given
their time to help school children grow
gardens, create two community gar-
dens and hold free classes in such
things as mushroom identification,
cooking and preserving foods.
Recently, there was an article in the
Siuslaw News about Real Food Co-op
facing the challenges of competitive
economic changes (“Real Food Co-op
Faces Financial Crisis,” Sept. 26, A1).
We are in danger of losing a valuable
asset. Shopping there and volunteering
will help keep this important resource
viable. But more than that, we need a
community willing to have a hands-on
involvement in its growth and struc-
ture, and a way to support our local sus-
tainable farms.
We invite you to bring your energy
to this effort. We need ideas, creativity
and involvement to make good food an
ongoing part of our community. Now
more than ever, the good things in our
lives need support. The Co-op is one of
those good things.
Joann Henderson
Florence
L ETTERS P OLICY
Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the
editor concerning issues affecting the
Florence area and Lane County. Emailed
letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed
letters must be signed.
All letters should be limited to about 300
words and must include the writer’s full
name, address and phone number for ver-
ification. Letters are subject to editing for
length, grammar and clarity.
Publication of any letter is not guaran-
teed and depends on space available and
the volume of letters received. Libelous
and anonymous letters as well as poetry
will not be published. All submissions
become the property of Siuslaw News and
will not be returned.
Write to:
Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com
USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2015 © Siuslaw News
John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ryan Cronk
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
Publisher, ext. 327
General Manager, ext. 318
Editor, ext. 313
Advertising Director, ext. 326
Office Supervisor, ext. 312
Production Supervisor
Press Manager
DEADLINES:
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1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m.
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1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m.
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WHERE TO WRITE
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore.
Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us