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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2016)
6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 Y Marina hosts Business After Hours The Y Marina on Highway 101 in Florence had a fun turnout April 21 at its Chamber Business After Hours social event hosted by George Pagel. Besides being involved in the business of boats, Pagel is also the full-time pastor at Florence Foursquare Church and known locally as an avid fisherman. The evening was full of good food and networking opportu- nities for community members. New Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bettina Hannigan attended the event as her first official After Hours experience in her new role. U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River boat crew mem- bers and Auxiliary also attend- ed with their 25-foot RB-S (response boat) displayed in the parking lot to provide safe boating literature and educa- tion. “I enjoyed the event very much. The Ambassadors did a great job making everyone feel PHOTOS BY DEBORAH HELDT CORDONE New Florence Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bettina Hannigan is flanked by local Coast Guard crew mem- bers BM1 Steve Atkinson and BM2 Justin Lindquist, with Auxiliarist Robert Redfern in back, at the April 21 Business After Hours social event at Y Marina. welcome and connected,” Hannigan said. “Y Marina had Arrest made after pursuit near bridge B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News Oregon State Police report- ed one person was in custody after a pursuit that involved three agencies on Highway 101 Friday morning. Drivers crossing the Siuslaw River Bridge experi- enced lane delays as Oregon State Police, Douglas County Sheriffs and Lane County Sheriffs wrapped up a pur- suit. Library from 1A “It was really striking to see how much the board’s thoughts, the staff’s thoughts and the pub- lic participants’ thoughts really aligned around outreach — get- ting more out to the community through marketing, programs or meeting with people face to face,” Spencer said. Previous strategic plans under former library director Steve Skidmore focused on materials collection, building the library’s expansion and cre- ating a learning commons. “Outreach makes a lot of sense at this time,” Spencer said. “We’re in this time of tran- sition not only as a community, but also as libraries are in a time of transition.” She mentioned the many rea- sons nearly 230,000 people vis- ited the library last year: access to the Internet, meeting spaces, print and online materials, research, job searches, to view Police vehicles blocked the lane while a tow vehicle removed a green pickup from the southbound lane of the bridge. A representative from Oregon State Police said the agencies were seeking a driv- er and a passenger and that a canine team was deployed. Oregon State Police led the pursuit. As of Friday afternoon, no other information was avail- able. public art or even just to use the public restrooms. “Traditional gathering places have gone away more and more, so libraries are one of the few places left where you really do see people of all ages and backgrounds walk through the doors every day,” Spencer said. The strategic plan outlines more ways the library can grow as a community center, a need highlighted in the community by the Ford Family Foundation and the Siuslaw Vision Action Team’s recently completed visioning process. “Our three goals, more than most big goals you see in a strategic plan, overlap a lot. They are really all about bring- ing in the community and going out to the community,” Spencer said. The library’s mission is “to be a warm and inviting place of lifelong learning and human improvement, accessible to peo- ple of all ages, economic levels and cultural backgrounds.” great food available and every- one enjoyed looking at the boats, especially the Coast Guard boat.” County Lane County funding for the local Extension office was elim- inated in 2010 due to reductions in federal timber harvests and loss of federal “safety net” rev- enue. Since that time, extension services in Lane County have been significantly reduced. Extension programs currently offered in Lane County include 4-H youth development, com- munity horticulture, Master Food Preservers, nutrition edu- cation, commercial agriculture and forestry, small farms, live- stock and forages programs. Currently, Lane County is one of only two Oregon coun- ties that do not offer matching county funds to match state and federal extension funds. This measure allows for expanded services to the public, increased staff hours and improved training. from 1A The measure would increase property taxes by 1.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Property valued at $200,000 would see an annual increase of $3 per year. The measure would raise approximately $425,727 in rev- enue in 2016-17, $438,499 in 2017-18, $451,654 in 2018-19, $465,203 in 2019-20, and $479,159 in 2020-21, for a total of $2,260,242. According to the explanatory statement, this tax cannot be increased during the measure’s five-year lifespan and will automatically terminate at the end of 2021. The strategic plan outlines ways to increase the library’s “upriver” presence, create opportunities for intergenera- tional connections, offer more access to technology, promote literacy and learning, strengthen partnerships, expand communi- ty opportunities and communi- cate better through marketing. “The board was thrilled with the result and thrilled with the community involvement. We are all very excited about our library’s future for the next five years,” Lacer said. “We also talked about our vision, which I think is kind of audacious: We will strive to be the best small library system in Oregon,” Spencer said. “Really, I would love to see that be in the entire U.S., and I think we can do it. We have a great library here and offer great serv- ices.” For more information or to view the strategic plan, go to siuslawlibrary.info. Schools from 1A “Every year it becomes more and more expensive to main- tain,” district Superintendent Ethel Angal said. “It is not ener- gy efficient. It has single-pane windows.” In addition, Lauren Johnson with LSW Architects from Vancouver, Wash., gave the building a “poor” rating on the latest Building Condition Assessment done for the district. Renovating the existing build- ing would be almost as costly as new construction, said Angal. “If we went for a remodel renovation, it would be so large scale we would have to house students temporarily in portable classrooms, which would need pads, plumbing and electricity. That would run another $500,000 to $1 mil- lion,” she added. District Business Manager Kari Blake said, “Next year, the new bond would add 29 cents per $1,000 of property value over what we are cur- rently paying.” According to Blake, the cur- rent middle school bond is scheduled to be retired in 2019. Because the interest of the new bond will be deferred until 2019, the total cost increase per $1,000 of property value in 2017 will be approximately 29 cents. A home valued at $200,000 would see an increase of approx- imately $58 per year, or $4.83 per month. As property values fluctuate, the rate could increase or decrease in coming years. Preliminary plans for the new high school include improved science and technical facilities, a full auditorium and cafeteria and increased security precautions. Angal said the new high school building could also be another community shelter in case of a tsunami or earthquake, along with the Florence Events Center and the middle school. According to Angal, the cur- rent high school building is not suitable as a community shelter because it is at high risk for col- lapse in the event of even a mod- erate earthquake. Celebrate what makes your city unique!! Siuslaw News Photo Gallery Coming Soon Community Easter Egg Hunt Dancing with Sea Lions Oregon Dunes Triathlon Rhododendron Festival Now Showing Winter Music Festival Fraudville Home & Garden Show PTA Talent Show $ Proceeds from pin sales go towards scholarships. 5 Get your 2016 RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL commemorative pin at these local business: Abby’s • Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate • Banner Bank BJ’s Ice Cream in Old Town • BJ’s Ice cream on hwy 101 Coast Insurance • Dairy Queen • Florence Heating & Sheet Metal Florence Chamber and Visitor Center Habitat ReStore • Homegrown Public House Laurel Bay Gardens • LoveJoy’s • Siuslaw News • Sportsman View at www.thesiuslawnews.com Photos available for purchase* 5x7 – $5 00 • 8x11 – $7 00 Purchase at 148 Maple St. 541-997-3441 *Photos online are reduced quality – Actual photos purchased are high resolution, high quality.
