SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016
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October was proclaimed “Arts and Humanities Appreciation Month” by Mayor Joe Henry, which begins
this weekend with the Dancing With Sea Lions dinner and auction at the Florence Events Center (top)
and the demARTS event at the Siuslaw Public Library (above), along with recognition of local photogra-
phers (right), painters (above) and more through the rest of October.
C ELEBRATING THE ARTS
IN F LORENCE
T
his Saturday, a month-long
focus on art appreciation in
Florence kicks off with two
major events.
The Siuslaw Public Library will
host the third annual demARTS
event in partnership with the
Florence Regional Arts Alliance
(FRAA), the Siuslaw Fiber Arts
Guild, the Central Coast Miniature
Club of Florence, Friends of the
Siuslaw Public Library, Florence
Area Beaders and Beaux Arts-Fine
Art Materials.
This fun and talent-laden event is
the library’s premier celebration of
National Arts and Humanities
Month.
Named demARTS for the demon-
stration of creativity and art, this
event includes something for anyone
and everyone who enjoys art, creates
art or yearns to create art.
More than twenty artists will
demonstrate techniques in painting
See
ARTS 4B
BILL STONE PHOTO
Coast Guard named Grand Marshal for Rhody Festival
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has
named the U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw
River in Florence as Grand Marshal for the 110th
Rhododendron Festival Parade on May 21, 2017.
“This is the Station’s 100th anniversary of
service to our area,” said Bettina Hannigan,
executive director for the Florence Area
Chamber of Commerce. “They are such an
important and vital part of our community. We
want to honor the men and women assigned to
Florence and their many contributions to the
community. That’s why we want to recognize
them with one of the highest honors the Chamber
can give — making them the Grand Marshal and
the centerpiece of our celebration.”
And as such, the festival is integrating the
Coast Guard’s official motto “Semper Paratus,”
or “Always Ready,” into the festival’s theme,
which will be “Always Ready to Rhody!”
The Station’s area of responsibility spans 25
miles of coastline, from Cape Perpetua to the
Siltcoos River. The station’s primary mission is
to provide search and rescue to commercial
mariners, recreational boaters and surfers.
The station also escorts fishing vessels across
the Siuslaw River bar, provides marine environ-
mental protection, fisheries conservation and
boating safety regulations enforcement, and
emergency towing of vessels.
The station averages about 175 cases a year.
“This year there will be a special emphasis on
displaying rhodies on all parade entries, espe-
cially on the floats — even if entrants have to use
artificial rhodies or make them from tissue or
fabric,” said festival coordinator Nancy Pearson.
“We really want them to rock the rhodies for our
grand floral parade as was the tradition in past
decades.”
“It’s such a ‘go-getter’ sounding theme,”
added Hannigan. “During the three-day
Rhododendron Festival, we’re always ready for a
party.”
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce
will hold a contest to design this year’s
Rhododendron Festival logo for use on ads,
posters, lapel pins, T-shirts and more.
Details on how to enter the contest are at
www.Florence Chamber.com.