4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ MARCH 2, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
DEAR READERS
B
elow is an article about the first ever
Florence Home and Garden Show in
1997. Don’t miss the show’s 20th event
from Friday afternoon through Sunday at
the Florence Events Center. —Editor
F LORENCE F LASHBACK
1890 ❙
T HE W EST
F LORENCE T IMES
T HE S IUSLAW O AR
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS
S IUSLAW N EWS
❙ 2016
HOME SHOW ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD
O RIGINALLY P UBLISHED M ARCH 19, 1997
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS , V OL . 107, N O . 11
Bay Breeze lounge chair and an Elmira cookstove —
sold. A wine kit that will make 30 bottles of wine —
sold. A bottle of garlic bread-dipping sauce — sold. A
worry stone — sold.
Whether it was sales, information or a chance for
exhibitors to strut their goods, the first annual Florence
Home and Garden Show had it all.
More than 3,500 people attended the three-day event held
at the Florence Events Center last weekend. Twenty-eight
exhibitors displayed their merchandise in 37 booths located
on the flat floor of the event center.
Organizer and co-sponsor of the event Jon Thompson said,
“The event turned out better than I had dreamed. The show
was a tribute to the events center, which is becoming the
social center of the community. I think it reflects the unique-
ness of the community the way they responded to an event
such as this.”
He said the show was promoted by the local media, KCST
Radio and the Siuslaw News, the event sponsors, and by the
Garden Club, the show’s greeters.
“The entire success of the event rested on the shoulders of
the vendors, and the success of the event is a reflection on
them as well. They performed extremely well, and will prob-
A
ably reap the rewards,” he said.
The group of exhibitors was diverse, much to the delight
of many in attendance.
There were demonstrations held throughout the weekend
that included everything from toilet repairs to home wine
and beer brewing.
Some show attendees said they didn’t want to buy any-
thing, but wanted to learn from the demonstrations.
Mapleton resident Angela Canby was on her third demon-
stration on Saturday, fixing a leaky toilet. After that, she
planned to attend a demonstration on composting, food
preservation and more the next day.
“All home shows have demonstrations and we try to make
it to them,” she said. “It’s an educational experience, and
they usually have something for everyone.”
By 1 p.m. on Sunday, 14 people had signed up for plumb-
ing inspections and 50 people had signed up for pest elimina-
tions.
“We were rushing around last night to get more literature
in our booth and game tickets because we ran out by the first
night,” said Dennis Shepard, Pelican Plumbing owner.
“People are really interested in their water and how it’s treat-
ed. We were really surprised by this turnout and quite over-
whelmed.”
Exhibitor Linda Ory, of Orygon Home Center, said,
“People seem to be real interested in learning to do things
themselves or get help for some of the decorating they want
to do,” Ory said.
Just at that moment, a customer thanked Ory for work
done on a bookcase.
“You see, this is great — we get to visit with the cus-
tomers we don’t get to see after we finish a job,” Ory said.
“This has been a great show.”
The exhibitors made many contacts not only with the
show attendees but with each other as well.
Wanda Johnson, co-owner of Florence Hearth and Patio, said
one of the nicest things about the show was how the different
exhibitors supported each other by lending products for displays.
“We are normally all so busy we don’t get to go out in
each other’s businesses,” Johnson said. “So often we don’t
get to see what the others have in their stores. I have been
attending home shows and industry trade shows for 20 years,
and I have not seen this happen in other areas. There was
full cooperation by the exhibitors with each other.
“Doing a home show in your own home town is like hav-
ing a three-day party, and you get to see your friends.”
Florence resident Arol Salo said it was wonderful that
Florence had its own home show and thought the timing was
just right.
“I think my wife now has the idea that she wants a pond,”
Salo said. “And now I’ve got to get started to work around
the back of the house.”
LETTERS
A new challenge
Oscar night at City Lights
Within this past year, Helping Hands
Coalition for the homeless has been gratified
and astonished. Our small community has
responded to our requests for donations with a
tremendous outpouring of clothing, camping
equipment, kitchen supplies, monetary gifts —
the list is endless!
This is a town that cares about those in need.
We wish that this letter was merely to thank all
of you, but we are facing a more difficult chal-
lenge now. Our building has become too small.
We have been searching for another one, but our
resources are limited. Florence, will you help us
once again? We want to become a stable and effec-
tive resource center for our homeless population.
Please consider attending our next planning
meeting March 26 at 10 a.m. at Helping Hands,
1339 Rhododendron Drive, where you can
share your insights and knowledge with us, or
drop by our office and we will meet with you.
Thank you, Florence, for your support.
Sue Thornton
Volunteer Coordinator, Florence
Once again Michael and Susan presented a
wonderful venue for viewing the Academy Awards
in their theater. With your ticket you received one
glass of wine, unlimited hors d’oeuvres and a
chance to win a photo from the Milton Green
Archives by being the one who was successful by
picking the most winners in each category.
There were little gold statues that one could
purchase for a prize worth more than the pur-
chase, and a prize for Best Dressed. A wonder-
ful guitar player and female singer provided
L ETTERS
TO THE
entertainment during the evening and there was
BoxLunch, which had its van outside offering
special meals for the evening.
The awards were shown in two theaters and
nominated short and animated films were
shown in another theater before the main pres-
entation began.
Truly a nice evening because you could dress
up and during commercial breaks one could get
more wine and food, schmooze and reconnect
with individuals, visit the bathrooms and those
that smoked could go outside.
What surprised me is that more people in the
E DITOR P OLICY
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community did not attend the event because
they missed a wonderful evening to interact
with other patrons to clap and cheer. It was
almost like being there.
Win Jolley
Florence
Camp for all youth
The “Barbershop Trio” article (Feb. 20, A1)
referred to the Oregon Youth Authority teaching
young offenders important skills and life les-
sons at Camp Florence.
Where does a camp exist for those youths
who are not law offenders to learn these skills
and lessons? For those youths who have chosen
not to be law violators, where is their Camp
Florence?
Seems like the wrong group is being posi-
tively rewarded for making the wrong choices
instead of vice versa. Separate facilities should
be available, and equal opportunities for all
should not be ignored.
Thomas Nieland
Florence
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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