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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016 FUUF to host ‘Starlight Cabaret’ of Wonder Just recently returning from her debut West Coast tour, Wonder offers a collection of whimsical, autobiographical songs to listeners. Each song comes accompa- nied by the promise of an experience that is not plastic and impervious, but real and human. Wonder’s hope is to to turn the tables on the pursuit of answers to life’s haunting questions through her per- formances, inspiring others to become obsessed with the ask- 3 A Spruce Point resident turns 106 next week Stephanie Hruska remembers life as a child in Chicago Heights ing questions. With soaring melodies and poignant lyrics, Wonder is here to woo audiences back into uncertainty. Wonder’s “Starlight Cab- aret” will take place Friday, Jan. 15, beginning at 6 p.m., at Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Highway 101 at Heceta Beach Road in Florence. Cost is a suggested dona- tion of $10. There will be tea and coffee, or B.O.B if you wish. B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, three months after Stephanie Hruska turned 2. Next Wednesday, Jan. 13, she will celebrate her 106th birth- day. Hruska, a resident of Spruce Point Memory Care communi- ty, was born in Illinois in 1910 but returned with her parents to their native Slovakia when she was a child. She immigrated back to the United States when she turned 18 and spent her adult life in the Chicago area. She had been living with one of her sons in Chicago until he passed away. Hruska then moved to Florence in December 2014, to live with her other son, Carl, before moving to Spruce Point on ninth Street in August 2015. In addition to her surviving son, Hruska has three grand- children and three great-grand- children. She has had a lifelong pas- sion for gardening. Her COURTESY PHOTO Spruce Point Memory Care resident Stephanie Hruska will celebrate her 106th birthday Wednesday, Jan. 13. favorite flowers are tulips and cosmos. Hruska recalled her days growing up in Chicago. Concrete sidewalks had not yet come to her neighborhood of Chicago Heights. As a child she would walk barefoot to the vegetable stands along wooden boardwalks. Being the oldest of five sib- lings, she never attended for- mal school. “My mother always needed my help,” Hruska said. “I was the oldest. I helped with the cooking. It was kind of fun.” Her cooking skills also endeared her to several young men. “Guys were crazy about my dumplings,” she said. “I had to show their wives or mothers how to make them.” Another Slovakian recipe she prided herself on making was kolaczki, a Slovakian jam- filled pastry cookie. “They were good. All the guys went for my kolaczkis,” Hruska said. She grew up in the age of the automobile, but never learned to drive. “I didn’t like it,” she said. Looking back on her life, Hruska said, “Some things are gone, but not forgotten. If it is something you enjoyed, you never forget.” Spruce Point is planning a birthday party for Hruska next Wednesday, Jan. 13, for imme- diate family, friends and staff members. __________ Follow Jack on Twitter @SNews_Jack. Email him at jack@thesiuslawnews.com. Commissioner Bozievich reflects on 2015 in Lane County B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich delivered a State of the County address on Jan. 4 at Harris Hall in Eugene. He focused on the theme of resiliency in the past year as well as a positive focus for the future. “I began 2015 by announc- ing that it would be a year focused on resilience,” Bozievich said. “Resilience is defined as the capacity or abil- 3 0 0 TO YOU! $ OUR GIFT Subscribe to the Siuslaw News or renew your 1-year subscription by January 31, 2016 and receive a ity to recover from, or adjust easily to, disaster, misfortune or change.” He listed Lane County’s improving systems and strengthened sense of commu- nity as well as how citizens and staff have come together to implement innovative ideas and work collaboratively. “It is also about organiza- tional and financial systems that have the capacity to with- stand upheaval and uncertainty. It is about building a diverse economy that will weather downturns in a single sector. It is about developing a sense of community, so that folks will be ready to care for one anoth- er if times turn difficult,” he said. The county’s other strengths in 2015 included a high level of funding for senior and veteran services, increased insurance coverage, expanded behavioral health services, the formation of the Poverty and Homelessness Board, improve- ments to Lane County Correctional Facility and more transparency with the budget. “The citizens can trust our financial records and budget documents as being both accu- rate and truthful and represent- ing an organization built on sound financial practices,” Bozievich said. Moving into 2016, he high- lighted areas that will need extra focus this year. “Looking ahead to 2016, we know this will be a year of great financial challenges for Lane County ... not the least of which is a projected budget deficit due to the end of feder- al timber harvest replacement funds and a return to actual harvest receipts,” he said. The county has had to gen- erate cost-saving programs in the budget to take the place of federal timber funding that ends this year. Some areas of the budget, like insurance plans for county staff, were reduced or changed. The coun- ty has also sought grant fund- ing. Bozievich said, “Another way to prepare for hard times is to diversify and grow our economy. Our Community and Economic Development staff did that very successfully in 2015.” Among other programs, the county supported a grant for Oregon RAIN (Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network) to support business- es in the Florence and Mackenzie River areas. “We are also facing the same unknowns that the Oregon Legislature will face,” he said. “I am confident we can take on another year of building resilience and then continue practicing it as we deal with change together.” His 2016 goals for Lane County are to: provide housing and services to veterans and at- risk populations, add 41 more local beds to the jail, integrate mental health and addiction treatment into the criminal jus- tice system, build a vibrant community by diversifying the economy and building under- standing and strengthening infrastructure against disaster. “It will take all of us to achieve these goals. Working collaboratively. Being open to different perspectives. Using our intellect. Even taking responsibility for our own homes and families,” Bozievich said. “Yes, Lane County is resilient. And in 2016, we can make Lane County the best place to live, work and play.” __________ Follow Chantelle on Twitter @SNews_Chantelle. Email her at cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com. FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY JANUARY 9 JANUARY 10 JANUARY 11 JANUARY 12 JANUARY 13 JANUARY 14 JANUARY 15 Occasional Early Rain Times of Sun and Clouds Mostly Cloudy, a Little Rain Mostly Cloudy Periods of Rain Rain and Drizzle Possible Rain Possible 51°F 39°F 51°F 42°F 52°F 46°F 55°F 46°F 49°F 37°F 48°F 38°F 49°F 38°F WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SPRING SAVINGS COUPON BOOK . Valued at over $300. S IUSLAW N EWS SUMMER COUPON SAVINGS BOOK OVER 300 $ IN COUPON SAVINGS * EWS OOK N W B A S IUSL UPON SAVINGS COUPON COUPONS MUST BE USED BY MARCH 31, 2016 *BASED ON MINIMUM PURCHASE AND ALL COUPONS USED. NO CASH VALUE. 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