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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2016)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS SATURDAY EDITION WITHIN REACH Hands-on learning SCHOOL ZONE SPORTS — B 126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 17 ❘ FEBRUARY 27, 2016 ❘ $1.00 SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 FLORENCE, OREGON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK New vision underway for Old Town and Highway 101 corridor B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News T he City of Florence and the Florence Urban Renewal Agency (FURA) hosted the Economic Strategy and Highway Street- scape Open House on Tuesday, featuring representatives from the agency’s consult- ing group and architects who presented their vision for Historic Old Town and the Highway 101 corridor. Members of the community were invit- ed to learn about FURA’s work toward an economic strategy for the Urban Renewal District and designs for local highways. According to City Manager Erin Reynolds, the entire process could take two to three years. Florence Mayor Joe Henry opened the Feb. 23 presentation at the Florence Events Center for the estimated 150 peo- ple in attendance. “We promised you a year ago that we would be a city in motion. I think espe- cially recently you have seen that there are a whole lot of things going on in town, and some great ideas being planned,” Henry said. See CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS Community members attend an open house Tuesday to add com- ments to designs and plans for the Urban Renewal District and Highway 101. At left, Murray, Smith and Associates provided this design for a possible gateway to Old Town on Maple Street. VISION 11A COURTESY GRAPHIC Teen Center launches ‘Money Matters’ Boys and Girls Club members learn money management through ‘club bucks’ B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News INSIDE The Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County Teen Center has launched a new Money Matters program, teach- ing members to make wise deci- sions on how they spend their money and the importance of saving and budgeting. “My biggest challenge has been trying to teach them with- out them realizing that I am teaching them,” Teen Center director Tracy Aaron said. “I was trying to figure out a way to teach it without boring them to death. Make it fun.” Aaron came up with the idea of “club bucks.” The concept began to evolve. First, she needed to find ways to earn club bucks and then give the students something to pur- chase with the bucks they earned. Initially the club offered club bucks for good grades and atten- dance in school. “Teen members receive 25 club bucks for every A on their Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coastal Events . . . . . . . . . . . Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9 A9 A2 A4 JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS Official NFL and NBA jerseys (like the one Nina Aaron, above right, is wearing) are just some of the items avail- able at the local Boys and Girls Club Teen Center store that uses club bucks. Youth, including Jasmine Vasquez (above left), are learning how to manage money. report card. They get 10 club bucks for every A on a test and five club bucks for an A on a homework assignment. “Members also earn 50 club bucks for perfect quarterly Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 SideShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Word on the Street . . . . . . . A8 school attendance,” Aaron said. “In the last two weeks I have received four report cards on my desk that are straight As and waiting for their club bucks,” she added. THIS WEEK ’ S The center opened a club store that initially allowed members to purchase snacks and candy with club bucks. Aaron phased out the candy and less healthy snacks and replaced them with healthier snacks and other more valuable items the club members wanted and needed. Now, the store offers school supplies, cell phone covers, stuffed animals and Boys and Girls Club and Viking gear. After an afternoon of up to 40 members utilizing the Teen Center facilities, there is a lot of cleanup required to be ready for the next day. Aaron said she had an epiphany, “Why not give the members a chance to earn club bucks while helping to maintain their club?” She divided the building cleanup into 14 separate job assignments, each requiring about 10 to 15 minutes to com- plete, for members who want to participate. See ‘Putnam County Spelling Bee’ cast reunites at Class Act Theater B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News D avid and Rosemary Lauria, owners of the Class Act Theater (CAT) at Rhododendron Drive and Kingwood Street, plan to open their new theater with a special weekend performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a show that was part of Last Resort Player’s 2015 season. “We’re planning a pre-opening concert version of the show,” said Paula Burnett, who makes up part of a five- member creative team. “It will be a sneak-preview of the theater.” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will show at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, March 2, by calling 541-997-4815 during business hours. The original cast came together and presented the idea to the Laurias, saying they wanted the show that they loved to be the first production in the new space. CLUB 7A TODAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 56 51 53 41 55 49 57 51 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 New theater to premiere with pre-opening show See S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS ❘ 24 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2016 THEATER 11A