SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016
Salon
from 1A
Salons first started in the
15th and 16th centuries as
artistic, philosophical, intellec-
tual and literary gatherings.
They picked up steam with
Stein, who brought Pablo
Picasso, Salvador Dalí and
other artists together. Then
came authors Ernest
Hemingway and Zelda and F.
Scott Fitzgerald.
“Many artistic and literary
movements came out of these
salons,” Rourke said. “That is
the purpose why we brought
everyone here and put this on.
It’s to unite writers, to bring us
all together, to promote words
and the written word and to let
Care
from 1A
Michele Diffenderfer, direc-
tor of development for
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor
Medical Center Foundation,
their voices be heard.”
With the support of FRAA,
Kat Cunningham’s Circle for
Oneness and more, Rourke
wants to create a generation of
“found” writers in Florence.
The goal is to unite, support
and celebrate all writers, pro-
vide a platform to share words
aloud, uphold the literary arts
and the written word and show
that every word from every
writer has value.
“Just like the writers of the
’20s and ’30s, we’re finding
our voices, freedom and truth.
Through our literature and our
art, we uphold the American
dream and keep our dreams
alive,” Rourke said.
Author Karen D. Nichols
was the featured writer at the
event. She introduced her
printed books and read a short
story from an upcoming manu-
script.
“I’ve been writing more in
the last 10 years than I have in
the rest of my life,” Nichols
said.
Her background in teaching,
storytelling and art led her to
live her life creatively.
“I was always interested in
the written word,” she said. “I
was writing, I was making new
recipes, I wanted to redecorate
my house — it’s just mar-
velous the way you can start
creativity.”
She also illustrates her own
and others’ books. Her books
and artwork are available at
Backstreet Gallery and the
FRAA Art Center.
“Karen is very inspiring,”
Rourke said.
Twelve writers stepped for-
ward to read during the open
mic session, sharing readings
from genres that included fic-
tion, nonfiction, poetry, essay,
short story and memoir.
“These salons were always
very spontaneous,” Rourke
said. “You never knew who
was going to walk in. We had
that happen this evening — a
poet all the way from
Vermont.”
Vermont poet Paula
McCormick recited a poem
about women, men, genes and
jeans.
“Sometimes, for those who
read ‘Men Are From Mars,
Women Are From Venus,’ you
wonder if we’re even speaking
the same language,” she said.
Another writer — from
Santa Cruz, Calif., and on his
way to Eugene — shared an
excerpt from a political essay.
Rourke said, “We hope that
this is going to spawn a new
literary movement here. We
have many creative people
here with us, and many writ-
ers. These events, with food
and wine, encourage you to
converse and connect. We also
thank all the writers who have
the courage to come up and
share their work with us.”
Harlen Springer, president
of FRAA, said that he was
happy the Art Center could
house the salon.
“We are really excited about
supporting the literary commu-
nity and everything we can do
to continue doing that. We’re
very proud to be part of this
event,” he said.
Rourke said the Art Center’s
gallery of local artwork made
it the perfect setting for a
Stein-style salon.
“Gertrude Stein would be
proud of us if she could see us
tonight,” Rourke said.
More literary events are
scheduled in Florence through-
out the fall, including another
Spoken Word Poetry Slam, the
Florence Festival of Books,
Siuslaw Public Library’s
DemArts and the next Midnight
in Florence salon, featuring
author Ned Hickson in October.
said, “We have raised $285,000
so far. The first donor was the
Peace Harbor Foundation, with
a $30,000 donation to start the
ball rolling. The money was
raised before we even had an
approved business plan.
“The money will pay for
those services that we don’t get
reimbursed for. Which is the
majority of palliative care
costs,” she added.
Kerner said the new two-year
pilot program would begin by
targeting the most vulnerable
people in the community, the
dementia residents at Spruce
Point and Elderberry Square.
“They are not getting any
routine care at all,” Kerner said.
He added, “As the program
gets more funding and is better
established there will be addi-
tional nursing support, volun-
teer support and chaplain sup-
port. The goal is that wherever a
vulnerable patient is we will be
there for them. Because you
can’t get to us doesn’t mean you
don’t deserve to get care.”
Eventually, Kerner hopes to
expand the program to include
people living in assisted living
facilities, retirement homes and
even people living in their own
residences.
“Whatever services you need
to keep you in your home with
the highest quality of life for the
longest period of time, that is
what we need to do,” Kerner
said. “It isn’t rocket science. It
is just providing the care that
people need.”
Kerner’s goal is to help peo-
ple maximize their independ-
ence and quality of life.
“Healthcare has drifted so far
that we forget the fundamentals
that is just caring for people,”
he said.
Diffenderfer said, “Peace-
Health is not for profit. We
don’t turn any patient away if
they have no way to pay. They
may receive a bill, but we will
find a way to work it out if it is
not affordable to them.”
Peace Harbor Medical Center
CEO Rick Yecny said,
“Implementing the palliative
care program is the right thing
to do for our community. The
program will improve the qual-
ity of life for patients and their
families in our local long-term
care facilities that are often the
most vulnerable members of
our community. We are so
grateful for the community sup-
port that has been received for
this two-year pilot program.”
On a parallel track, Western
Lane Ambulance District
(WLAD) Manager Brian
Burright said the organization
was exploring its own commu-
nity paramedic program to pro-
vide in-home care.
He cautioned that the pro-
gram was still in the explorato-
ry stages and would require
funding before it could be
implemented. Burright pointed
to several other Oregon com-
munities that have successfully
implemented community para-
medic programs.
“Instead of just transporting
people to the emergency depart-
ment, which is not always the
best or most beneficial thing for
them, this program embraces
the concept of more integrated
health care,” Burright said.
He said WLAD would work
from a predetermined client list
that would include medical his-
tories. The paramedics would
make scheduled visits to select-
ed individuals.
“The concept we are working
on will be to have a mobile unit
with a community paramedic
go out to an identified client and
be able to provide them with
help to make sure they are com-
pliant with their medications,
that they are managing their
diabetes well and to make sure
they don’t needlessly rebound
back into the hospital system,”
Burright said.
According to Burright, com-
munity paramedics would be
supervised by a medical direc-
tor who would closely monitor
what the paramedics could do
and what protocols they would
follow.
“The paramedic could also
consult with the medical direc-
tor if they are at a patient’s
home and needs additional con-
sultation, or call the patient’s
primary care provider,” he said.
Burright sees the community
paramedic program working
closely with Kerner’s palliative
care program, but not sharing
clients.
The primary outreach differ-
ence is that the palliative care
program will initiate service to
dementia patients and eventual-
ly grow into a home outreach
program, while the WLAD
community paramedic program
will focus on people living at
home from the beginning.
The other element both pro-
grams share is the need for
funding. Burright will look to
federal and state funding for
support along with community
nonprofit resources.
Burright hopes to see the
community paramedic pilot
program launch in 2017.
community. We decided to
support the chamber, the city
and their efforts, and get sup-
ported in return.”
According to Hannigan, it is
the chamber’s job to support
the Florence-area community
through its businesses.
“The chamber is part of pro-
viding the resources for busi-
nesses to grow. And the busi-
nesses support the chamber.
It’s a circle,” she said.
Businesses will also learn to
be more resourceful through
their membership with the
chamber.
“TR Hunter will now get
live-time, real leads on reloca-
tion requests. That’s a privilege
that is only for underwriters. It
could mean 500 new contacts
for TR Hunter in a year,” she
said. “And, it’s exclusive —
there’s only one realtor as an
underwriter.”
Hannigan described other
membership advantages at the
Chamber
Luncheon
on
Thursday at Best Western Pier
Point Inn.
She said there is always
room for more distinguished
sponsors and underwriters
For more information, go to
florencechamber.com.
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business,”
Hannigan said. “TR Hunter has
quite a few agents. Tim saw the
opportunity and went for it.
He’s supporting his communi-
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Sapp said, “We’re the home-
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and I want to be part of our
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WORD
from 1A
Relay For Life of Florence, a 24-hour
fundraiser for the American Cancer
Society, begins today and continues until
10 a.m. on Sunday at Miller Park.
ON THE
STREET
Why do you participate in Relay For Life?
...need a friend?
Meet Buffy
I’m Buffy and I came to the
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stand-offi sh but if you pet me I
will warm up to you. I love looking
after the other cats in my room,
especially the shy cats. They all
treat me like the mama cat. I would be happier in a home with at
least one other cat that I could have as a friend.
“I Relay for my family, friends and pets that
have been lost, those that survived and to try to do a
small part to put an end to cancer. Relay For Life is
an inspirational, fun and sobering event to honor our
survivors and look to a cancer-free future.”
—C HRIS S ALTMARSH
T EAM B ANKING ON L IFE
“I Relay in memory of my friend Leah Hopkins
and my aunt Loretta Platz, who lost their lives to
cancer. I am dedicated to raising money for cancer
research in hopes that it brings us one day closer to
finding a cure for cancer!”
—J EANNA P ETERSEN
T EAM N EWSIES
“I lost my best friend and companion to cancer.
Hans is ever in my heart and I miss him so much. So
I help to raise money for those who are in need of
treatment and for further research because everyone
deserves to survive and celebrate their birthday.”
—B OBBI H ARRIS
T EAM L ADIES OF THE E LKS
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed above are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Siuslaw News or its advertisers.
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