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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 30, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2016 3 B NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS Larry Karas (left) delivers a kill shot from the back of the pickleball court, which is half the distance of a standard tennis court. Buying or Selling? I can help. Amy Johnson Broker, CSA 541 999-7875 Highway 36 #3001 – Waterfront year round, 1.78 acres in Deadwood. Perfect spot to get away and enjoy fishing at the water’s edge or just come play. Water, power and septic would need developed. Property on both sides of Hwy. $45,000. 2608- 16093975 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 Garage Doors sales • installation • repair Pickleball from 1B makes for a lot of laughs. “I get a great aerobic work- out from the laughter alone.” The game of pickleball has been around since 1965, when Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum created the game as something their entire fami- lies could play together, regardless of age. With courts being half the size of a tennis court, the dis- tance makes it easy to cover for young children as well as many of those with mobility issues. By using a wiffle-type ball rather than a racquetball or tennis ball, it’s easier to keep the game in play while still making it competitive. The rules are similar to ten- nis. So why “pickleball?” Pritchard’s family dog, “Pickles,” had a habit of steal- ing the ball during play and hiding it in the bushes. And pickleball was born. Before long, the game had moved from family backyards and driveways on Bainbridge Island, to clay courts with official rules throughout the country. Today it is the second- fastest growing sport in the United States, next to lacrosse. It’s also a sport that the group wants to expand in Florence with a little help from the city. “We’ve approached them about allowing us to divide We sell and install all types of garage doors, as well as garage door openers. alumium • steel • wood • fi berglass • vinyl Give us a call today for a free estimate. We promise fast, friendly service and great rates! MIKE BARRETT’S GARAGE DOORS Florence • 541-991-0367 CCB# 79598 Specializing in Interior and Exterior Painting Offering a Quality Product with Attention to Detail Senior discounts / Free estimates USLAW SI S S igns 3 & G R A I P H C 'ų 8 Fri-Sat 7/29-7/30 9am-3pm 2288 E. 11th St Crabbing equipment, tools, camping, household, lots of great stuff. __________________ MOVING SALE! Sat only! 7/30 9am-2pm 1617 29th St Garage full of crafts & misc. __________________ Thurs-Sun 7/28-7/31 9am-5pm 37th & Hwy 101 Linda’s Thrift Store Having a huge Parking Lot Furniture Sale. __________________ Sat Only 7/30 9am-3pm 5485 Hwy 126 Just east of Florence. Multi-Family Downsizing sale. NO EARLY BIRDS! __________________ Sat 7/30 & Sat 8/6 8am-3pm 1275 9th St Everything must go! Household, funiture, etc. __________________ INDOOR / OUTDOOR • • • • • • SIGNS & BANNERS VEHICLE GRAPHICS VINYL LETTERING STICKERS & CLINGS WINDOW GRAPHICS YARD SIGNS 997-8148 LOCATED AT: 7KH6KLSSLQ·6KDFN 2QWKHFRUQHURI th 6WUHHW+LJKZD\ Sat-Sun 7/30-7/31 9am-3pm 3960 Munsel Creek Dr. Church fundraiser yard & white elephant art sale. Books, appliances, furnishings, & craft supplies. __________________ Sat/Sun 7/30-7/31 10am-4pm 83179 Clear Lake Rd. Downsizing! Furniture, small appliances, queen size pillowtop. Complete w/comforter bed, artwork, hunting gear, & clothing, dining room table, lots of misc. __________________ Sat 7/30 9am-4pm 1675 34th St Something for everyone. Let Paul show you a new car or truck. Stop by today! 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 one of the tennis courts at Rolling Dunes into four pick- leball courts,” says Karas. “We’ll do all the fund raising and the work if they’ll let us do it.” Griffin says he’s met with City Manager Erin Reynolds, and that she’s considering the idea. “Eventually, we’d really like to see this grow and include sanctioned tourna- ments,” Griffin says. “We already have people coming here from Reedsport to play, and there are people who trav- el in RVs year-round to com- pete in tournaments all over.” But even more important is the exercise the sport gives to people who may not otherwise get that kind of activity, says Debbie Griffin. “We played with a man a while back who was 85 years old,” she recalls. “His move- ments were choppy but he was having fun. He was wearing a pedometer and, in a little more than two hours, he had cov- ered 4-1/2 miles. “That’s the best thing about pickleball. It’s exercise you want to do because it’s fun — and just about anyone can do it.” The group meets regularly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Rolling Dunes Courts on 35th Street, starting at 8:30 a.m., before the wind picks up. “We are working to find an indoor space, which would let everyone play year-round,” says Karas, who spends part of the year in Palm Desert. “While I’m there, I play every day. And when I’m not play- ing, I’m thinking about when I can play again. “It’s an addiction your heart will thank you for.” Steve Larson, who began playing back in February with knee problems, says pickleball has steadily improved his mobility. “When I started, I was sort of hobbling around because my knees were so stiff,” he says. “Now I’m moving around the court and my knees are in much better shape. It’s really amazing — and I’ve made new friends in the process.” More than 50 years after the Pritchard family created a game for the whole family, pickleball is still bringing peo- ple of all ages together. For more information about playing here in Florence, con- tact John Griffin at 661-496- 6438 or email jgriffish@yahoo .com. S IUSLAW N EWS Siuslaw News + www.shoppelocal.biz