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WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
LETTERS
Kindness of strangers
Watching our home burn, with nearly all of
our earthly possessions was devastating. The
efforts by the Florence fire department to save
neighboring homes while saving our irreplace-
able family albums and Marcy’s heirloom jew-
elry was an act of kindness we will never forget.
The Red Cross took care of our immediate
needs; the gentleman from the City Water works
saving our travel trailer was amazing; the caring
shown by neighbors was heartfelt.
The generosity of strangers was — and is —
overwhelming.
Our church, New Life Lutheran and its con-
gregation, have been a true gift from our Lord.
We are especially thankful for our neighbors,
Karel and Joe Cook, who immediately provided
their vacation rental for us to stay in.
All of our family — Andrew, Marcy, sons
Andy and Alex, our friend Dylan and our pets
— thank all of you from the bottom of our
hearts for your support as we begin to heal and
rebuild.
There is no better place to live than Florence.
The beauty of this town is only paled by the
beauty of its citizens.
May God bless you all,
The Kellerman Family
Florence
Leave the baggage
Ned Hickson’s recent editorial (Oct. 21) on
domestic violence was outstanding and I say
that not only because it was a great piece, but
because it hit very close to home.
My childhood experience was not unlike his.
There was little physical abuse but the verbal
abuse was on-going and I could not wait to get
away from that environment.
Like him, it took some time for me to see that
I would have to work to avoid making the same
USPS# 497-660
mistakes with my own children. While there
was no abuse in my relationship with my kids, I
spent way too much time pursuing other goals
before I realized that my sons should have been
my priority.
Fortunately, they don’t see it quite that way
and profess that I was a great father — but one
always feels one could have done a better job.
What I am most proud of is that all three of
my boys have turned out to be much better
fathers than I, so maybe it takes a generation for
that baggage to really go away.
I was very proud to proclaim October as
“Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and I
thank all of the sponsors of this event for their
support.
Joe Henry,
Mayor of Florence
Cherished memories
As a member of several groups which bring
high quality performances to the Florence
Events Center, I am blessed with a wealth of
stories and happy memories from my more than
18 years of volunteering.
Concerts where high school seniors say their
farewells to seven years in Siuslaw bands,
incomparable music performances by world
class musicians and the challenge navigating
the shoals and deeps of publicity, marketing and
fundraising.
My most cherished memories are of the Kids
Concerts for Siuslaw and Mapleton students,
begun in 2002 by the late Ann Rule, Lis Farm
and myself, and now an established part of the
Winter Music Festival.
In early 2001, we booked The Trail Band,
then madly scrambled to garner donations,
grants and free publicity; all the while convinc-
ing the school principals — and ourselves —
that an in-town field trip with three performanc-
Social responsibility
I support candidates who are honest people,
who recognize that social responsibility is as
important as individual responsibility, who
believe that a family, a community, a state, and
a nation are measured best by how those of us
least fortunate are encouraged.
I look for candidates who are both empathet-
ic and practical-minded. I want public officials
who are willing to listen to divergent points of
view.
I want representing me an individual who is
governed neither by expediency nor by mon-
eyed interests that benefit the few. I want that
person guided by conscience.
I have known and supported Arnie Roblan
since he first ran for state public office in 2004.
I have written many letters to newspapers attest-
ing to his wisdom and character. His service as
our state senator deserves to be rewarded.
Harold Titus
Florence
Dangerous political climate
Anyone watching TV, listening to the radio or
interacting on social media these days is well
aware of the divisiveness and anger — and yes,
frustration — surrounding the political climate
in this country. It is impossible to escape it and
has become a “way of life” for some that has
reached a dangerous level.
To illustrate my point, a friend recently
parked his car in the parking lot at a local golf
course and spent a few hours playing a round
with friends. He returned to find that his vehicle
had been keyed.
And yes, he had a bumper sticker supporting
Trump.
Has it really come to this?
Have we become so intolerant of different
viewpoints and choices that some people must
lash out against those who don’t agree with
their outlook?
These attitudes make for a frightening future
for this great country of ours.
Florence is such a beautiful and friendly
town. It saddens me to hear of these types of
things occuring. Hopefully, the person who
chose to take his anger out in this manner will
read this and realize nothing good was accom-
plished.
Sue Hale
Florence
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John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
es for more than 1,300 students in grades K-8
was a logistical possibility.
As the concert day in February 2002 unfold-
ed and success seemed likely, we started to
breathe easier. Halfway through the show for
younger elementary students, I noticed a sec-
ond-grader fast asleep in his seat.
I was stunned.
“How can that kid fall asleep during all this
excitement and music?” I asked.
His teacher later explained, “That boy does
not have a stable home life. Here in the theater
it’s dark, warm and safe. He’s surrounded by
happy people and pleasant music. So his doz-
ing off is a compliment to your efforts.”
That boy was the first to sleep through a Kids
Concert, but was by no means the last. Over
the last decade and a half I’ve looked forward to
catching sight of a dozing child, knowing they
are relaxed and happy.
Here’s to the Florence Events Center’s 20th
anniversary, and many future decades of pro-
viding a warm, melodious, happy space for the
children of Western Lane County.
Rachel Pearson
Florence
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