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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 from 1A their most important campaign issues and are sharing them with their constituents — fel- low third graders. Presidential candidate Grace Dodson said, “I love nature and I love the beach, but I see a lot of trash on the beach. It makes the turtles sad. We need to clean up the beach. We can help ani- mals that we share the water Districts from 1A “We have a pre-identified series of goals for the first four months and then build out to the end of the year,” he said. “That helps both our boards to say, ‘OK, these things have been achieved, this is what we are doing, yes, we should con- tinue on with this.”’ The two departments will also be linked with an interde- partmental intra-net connec- tion. “We are about 65 percent of the way to completing an intra-net. It is like an employ- ee portal. We could have poli- cy manuals in there. The goal is to have employee manuals and employee forms on there, different tools that are avail- able to all our employees. It would be only accessible to us,” Langborg said. He also said SVFR, like other volunteer-staffed fire departments across the coun- try, struggles to attract and keep volunteers. “SVFR has several chal- lenges ahead for us similar to the challenges facing every volunteer fire department in the U.S. right now. That is the recruiting and retaining of vol- unteers. We have done several things to address that issue. One is to do more things to recognize our volunteers. We now swear them in, we pay them more for their education and we try to get them more trained,” he said. and land with.” On Nov. 8, as the nation was selecting its next president, the students practiced casting bal- lots in a classroom voting booth. In addition to voting for the candidates of their choice, they also voted on two ballot measures. The participatory process will conclude in January with the winners of the election giving acceptance speeches that will coincide with the presidential inauguration. Last year the department budgeted for a part-time vol- unteer coordinator to help recruit volunteers. Langborg applied for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) SVFR was awarded a $659,114 grant and Langborg will soon have a full-time Recruitment and Retention Coordinator on staff. The four- year grant will cover salary, training and equipment. Florence, Mapleton, Dead- wood and Swisshome will all benefit from the grant pro- ceeds. “We have worked it in con- junction with Mapleton, Swiss Home and Deadwood, because they are having challenges in recruitment and training,” Langborg said. “Smaller dis- tricts are not as fortunate as we are. They have challenges pay- ing for things. (With this grant) we can help them pur- chase protective equipment and get them trained as fire- fighters.” SVFR has been interview- ing candidates for the position and Langborg said they plan to make an offer to one of the candidates tomorrow after- noon. “We hope to have someone in place from the middle of this month to the beginning of December, depending on the individual and their availabili- ty,” Langborg said. Last Resort Players’ ‘Pirates’ features new conductor Last Resort Players (LRP) are performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comic operetta “Pirates of Penzance” again this weekend at Florence Events Center. Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, will have performances at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 will have a 2 p.m. matinee. While it takes many tal- ented performers to bring a show together, Director Leah Goodwin and the LRP pro- duction team struck gold when they invited Jen Weier, 24, to step into the role of music director and conduc- tor. “Laura Merz connected me,” Weier said. “She gave LRP my name and got me plugged in. And oh my gosh, I love Leah Goodwin and the board.” Merz is the artistic music director for “Pirates,” along with Goodwin as director and Mary Conley as assistant director and stage manager. “I am so, so, so blessed to be with them. I have not done a lot of musical theater, so I’ve learned a whole lot Upriver from 1A “First of all,” Elsea asked, “what happens if it does slide this year, and what is the long term plan to stabilize the road on a per- manent basis?” Elsea was joined in his presen- tation by Orin Schumacher, Lane County road maintenance manag- er, who told listeners the results of their analysis of the road condi- tion. “We’ve been monitoring the road closely, especially since we received about 11 inches of rain in October. And there has been no movement, which is a good sign for that road,” he said. The forum also shared the work the Visioning Committee from them. They are so kind and forgiving, supportive and thankful,” Weier said. Weier grew up in South Dakota and graduated from the University of Nebraska. She always wanted to live in Oregon, so spent last year in Portland before deciding to move to Florence. “I just wanted to live on the coast. I kept driving out here and I thought I should live here,” she said. “I found so much more going on here than I expected.” Weier fit into the musical crowd so well because of her history in music. “I started playing piano when I was 4 years old and I’ve been doing it ever since,” she said. “I took a semester of conducting in college and thought I would never use it, but now I’m conducting the community chorus in town, Bell Choir Chorus at the Presbyterian church and the orchestra and 35 musicians on stage for ‘Pirates of Penzance.’” “Pirates” opened last week to acclaim, and Weier said the crew’s hard work shows. PHOTO BY KATHLEEN WENZEL Jen Weier has been in Florence for less than a year and is already changing the sound of musical theater. “The pitter-patter of the music is really difficult to get the words out and make sure we can hear it all. But they are doing so well,” she said. Weier is an example of moving to town and getting involved. She had a word of advice for people who are interested in trying out for a choir, orchestra, play or musical. “I definitely say go for it and try it out. If you don’t know how you will fit in a program, just get in there and make changes. Get involved,” she said. “They are often very flexible and filled with great people on the boards. We can have a lot of fun.” For more information on LRP, go to www.lastresort players.org. To purchase tick- ets for “Pirates of Penzance,” go to eventcenter.org or 715 Quince St. Upriver communities hear about plans to stabi- lize the region and grow as a community Nov. 1. MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS has completed regarding a plan for addressing the future needs of the growing community in the Siuslaw region, an area encom- passing western Lane County. Committee member Meg Spencer, director of Siuslaw Public Library District, recapped those recommendations and dis- cussed ongoing plans for their implementation. Other presenters included Frank Nulty, Community Emergency Response Team director, Mapleton School District Superintendent Jodi O’Mara and representatives from PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. Path from 1A In addition, the Phase II water main and road- way improvement proj- ect started last week. “This project will include 16-inch and 12- inch water mains; storm water improvements; retaining walls east of the water treatment plant and two six-foot bike lanes and one five- foot sidewalk on one side of Rhododendron between Ninth and Hemlock streets,” Miller said. For more information, go to ci.florence.or.us. Make A Difference Monday DOING THE MOST GOOD Thank You! Western Lane County The Salvation Army of Western Lane County thanks you for tremendous outpouring of support received during its fi rst Red Kettle Campaign during last year’s Christmas Season. MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAY- NOVEMBER 14, 2016 Please, take a moment now to write a generous check to your favorite charity, church or organization serving Western Lane County. Mail it to them today with a personal note of encouragement to those who serve ‘the least amongst us’ and help make our community stronger and better in every way. Offer to volunteer if appropriate, or donate needed supplies and services that they may otherwise need to pay for. In this way, you will help our local associations, clubs, charities, churches, museums, art galleries and social services agencies DO THE MOST GOOD. The organizations that are members of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce listed on its web site: www.fl orencechamber.com. Your gift will serve the needs of others less fortunate than yourself or enhance the educational and cultural opportunities in our community. Your gifts will make a difference! May God Bless You and Grant You and Yours A Happy Thanksgiving and a Very Merry Christmas Season! Celebrate Giving with Others! Honoring 100 years of Sigslaw River Coast Ggard Station Parade Begins at 1pm Great viewing along the Port Parking Lot and Bay Street. Tributes and treats for Veterans will be available at Veterans Memorial Park and at several local restaurants including the Firehouse and Th ree Rivers Casino Resort. 2016 SPONSORS OREGON COAST MILITARY VEHICLE CLUB • BANNER BANK • SIUSLAW NEWS • TR HUNTER SUNCOAST BOOKKEEPING • GROCERY OUTLET • WALLY’S PORTABLE TOILETS THREE RIVERS CASINO RESORT • SEA LION CAVES • OREGON PACIFIC BANK FLORENCE LION’S CLUB • RON’S PAINT • COLDWELL BANKER COAST REAL ESTATE • LES SCHWAB TIRES POTTER’S TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE • 1285 RESTOBAR • TRUE VALUE • RONALD PRESTON MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAY- NOVEMBER 14, 2016 Bring your friends and family, or come meet neighbors who love to give to others. Your cans of food and $15 will give you a meal and non-alcoholic beverage at these locations. Breakfast- Darlings Marina & Resort - 4879 Darlings Loop-Dunes City Lunch- Pop’s Smokehouse & BBQ - 12300 OR 126- Mapleton Dinner- Siuslaw Riverside Restaurant - 1340 Bay St. Old Town Florence Your cans of food will be given to Mapleton and Florence Food Share. The Salvation Army – Western Lane County – Bill Olson Gift Planner P.O. Box 1041 • Florence, OR 97439 Call 1-800-481-3280 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Vote 9 A
