4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 13, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
Time for Oregon to take lead on ocean health
O
regon is an ocean state, next
to one of the world’s most
productive oceans. From
spring Chinook salmon to the fresh
Dungeness crab and oysters in our
markets and restaurants, we benefit
immensely from our fishing indus-
tries’ economic productivity.
Unfortunately, global changes in
ocean chemistry are posing new
challenges for how we will sustain
our coastal ecosystems and fisheries.
Informed Oregonians are aware
of the damage being done to our
atmosphere by global change and
other sources of atmospheric pollu-
tion. However, most people are
unaware of the damage being done
to our oceans and our state’s coastal
resources by those same sources.
If we fail to take action to address
these dangers, many of
our state’s industries,
particularly the fishing
B Y A RNIE R OBLAN
and seafood industries
S TATE S ENATOR , D ISTRICT 5
that rely on a healthy
coastal environment, will
All of our policies on ocean
be put in jeopardy.
management were developed
The ocean absorbs 1 in 4 mole-
before the threat of ocean acidi-
cules of CO2 that are emitted into
fication was recognized. The reali-
the atmosphere. As a consequence,
ties of a changing ocean will require
the chemistry of our oceans has
us to change how we manage ocean
begun to change, becoming more
resources. Failure to take seriously
acidic. This quickly increasing
ocean acidification has wide-ranging the damage to our ocean ecosystem
invites disastrous consequences for
effects on marine life, from inhibit-
our ocean-based and coastal indus-
ing the growth of oysters to altering
tries.
the behavior of fish. The fact that
We are fortunate that many scien-
the ocean in many of our coastal
tists are aware of these distressing
areas is also subject to low oxygen
developments. This week, a panel of
(hypoxia) must also be a call to
20 scientists from across the West
action.
GUEST VIEWPOINT
Coast, including
five from Oregon,
released a report
on recommended
actions on ocean
acidification. They
are all worthy of our
most serious consid-
eration. With respect
to immediate action, among other
things, the report calls for the fol-
lowing actions:
Intensifying effort to identify
areas that are most susceptible to
changing ocean chemistry;
Exploring sea grass restoration
to enhance water quality; and
Fostering genetic diversity that
supports resilient fish and shellfish
populations.
To help implement these recom-
mendations, we call for the state and
its partners to form a center of
excellence focused on ocean acidifi-
cation and hypoxia, to be hosted by
the new Marine Studies Initiative
based out of Oregon State
University
Oregon has led on issues like sus-
tainable forestry, recycling and the
passage of the nation’s first bottle
bill, as well as comprehensive land-
use planning and using and main-
taining a healthy coastal ocean.
Again, we must demonstrate our
leadership in addressing this new
challenge to our all-important ocean
resources.
Sen. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay)
represents Oregon Senate District 5,
which stretches along the central
Oregon coast.
LETTERS
Remember that even if you don’t have chil-
dren in school, someone long ago built the
schools that we went to.
Nancy Rickard
Former 97J School Board Member, 1980-1994
Florence
What a splash
We thoroughly enjoyed the Splash Off! event
for the Dancing with Sea Lions project at the
Florence Events Center. It truly was a one-of-a-
kind event to experience the beauty and spirit of
the project, to meet the artists and see the lions
all together, up close.
The only part I didn’t like was choosing a
favorite.
Looking forward to visiting them in their new
homes along the coast.
Kathy Blok
Florence
Save Mapleton schools
A summer hit
What a thrill it is to be a part of the 20th cel-
ebration of the Florence Events Center. Jennifer
Conner’s vision to bring sea lions to Florence is
going to be a hit all summer long.
The community’s reaction at Saturday’s
Dancing with Sea Lions Splash Off! event was
incredible.
I’ve never seen so many bodies, young and
old, contorting and bending to find celebratory
years on each sea lion. People were engaged
and enamored by the art on each fiberglass cre-
ation and fascinated on how the same sea lion
could look so different.
The 2016 summer season will be one to
remember when each of the sea lions graces the
streets of our coast. Thank you, Friends of
Florence Events Center and Sea Lion Caves for
letting me play a part.
My creation, “Wish You Were Here,” is eager
to see the world while sitting outside the
Chamber of Commerce. Honk if you love
Florence!
Marsha Horner
Florence
Honoring our son
A warm thank you to our Florence communi-
ty for supporting our taco feed fundraiser for the
Jose Dela Mora Scholarship. We raised over
$4,200 and couldn’t be more grateful. We
appreciated your patience and understanding at
the event as the response was amazing, and it
was difficult to keep up — a wonderful prob-
lem.
A special thank you to the Siuslaw High
School students and others who helped us pre-
pare the food and serve. Also thank you to our
home church, Cross Road Church, and Pastor
Dale Edwards for hosting the event.
The Jose Dela Mora Scholarship is being
established this spring in 2016, the year our son,
Jose Dela Mora, was to have graduated from
Siuslaw High School.
The scholarship was established to honor
Jose’s life and to memorialize the lives that he
touched.
Jose was tragically taken from this earth in a
drowning accident. He was a gifted wrestler and
a talented artist. However, he was most known
for his fun-loving character and kindness.
Everyone considered Jose their friend.
Two $500 scholarships will be offered annu-
ally to students who have a passion for art or for
wrestling and who need support to pursue
enrichment opportunities, college or vocational
training. Interested students can get the scholar-
ship information in the counseling office at
Siuslaw High School.
Thank you again for your support in this
important endeavor as we seek to honor our
son’s memory in a positive way.
Rosa and Jose Dela Mora
Florence
Vote ‘yes’ on school bond
We can be very proud of Oregon where vot-
ing has been made easier. Compare that to sev-
eral states that are putting up roadblocks to
make it more difficult for citizens to vote.
In a recent election in a southern state, citi-
zens stood in line up to five hours to cast their
votes. Would you do that? All we have to do is
turn in our ballots by mail or the box near the
Florence Justice Center.
I’m asking you to do just that — turn in your
ballot. I’m also asking you to vote “Yes” on the
Siuslaw School District bond measure for a new
high school. Groups that I’ve been a part of are
working to make Florence a better place, with
more job opportunities and making it more
enticing for new doctors who come with their
families who want excellent schools that are
safe. We would like for these doctors to stay and
feel that this is the community where they and
their families could thrive.
There is information about the condition on
the current high school. Check out the listening
times that are being offered by our current
superintendent. Also, ask the students. I’ve
learned that there are eight classrooms in the
upstairs part of the mall that were not intended
for classes, each having about 30 students.
There are no windows in these classrooms
because their walls are part of the roof. These
rooms are often at 90 degrees.
Should there ever be a disaster, these students
could be trapped. The building was not built for
earthquakes. The current building was meant to
house about 270 students and we currently have
over 400.
Ask to take a tour of the building. It was
modeled after California schools and has been
most difficult to keep warm in winter. Systems
are failing and a serious problem is the many
doors that make it very difficult to close down
should someone come in with a gun as hap-
pened at the Umpqua Community College near
Roseburg a few months ago.
Florence has risen to the task many times
since 1978 by building a new hospital, new
library, the events center, two new school build-
ings, the senior center, adding to LCC, the new
justice center and perhaps others. These addi-
tions have made Florence the city we love.
Voters who live in the Mapleton School
District will have an opportunity this month to
make a real contribution to the future of their
community. By voting “yes” on the school bond
measure, they will provide $8 million — half in
a small tax assessment, half in state matching
funds — toward repairs and updating of the
Mapleton schools.
After about 65 years, the school buildings
badly need plumbing, electrical, safety and roof
work, projects not supported by current state
allotments.
Mapleton’s middle and high schools serve
vital district needs. Mapleton High’s graduation
rate, 91 percent, was the second best in Lane
County. Its small class size ensures that students
receive individual attention, particularly for stu-
dents who fall behind or are prepared for
advanced studies.
The schools offer an extensive athletics pro-
gram, without imposing a “pay to play” fee
common in other schools.
Career counseling and college preparation
are important services. Mapleton School
District provides a crucial health service as
well, since about 80 percent of its students rely
on subsidized meals (breakfast, lunch and a
snack). In short, Mapleton is a full-service
school that well prepares students to be valuable
community members.
Many people mistakenly believe that a good
deal of money will be saved if the school bond
measure fails and Mapleton School District
must close. To the contrary, district residents
would be subject to current Siuslaw school
taxes, which may include a new $36.9 million
bond measure on the May ballot to construct a
new Siuslaw High School.
Mapleton district’s $4 million in school taxes
will be lost, the district’s property values will go
down and business in the district will be
adversely affected.
The average assessment for property owners
in the Mapleton School District will be about
$15 a month. That is a tiny amount when we
consider the value of education to the young
people in our district and to the long-term well-
being of the entire community.
Saving Mapleton School District really
amounts to a huge public service.
Mel Gurtov
Deadwood
USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News
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L ETTERS
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