2017 Rhody Festival logo
contest winner announced
he Florence Area Chamber of
Johnson’s winning design will soon
Commerce selected a design sub- start appearing in print, broadcast and
mitted
by
Susan
online materials to promote
Johnson as its official
the event and draw visi-
logo for the 110th
tors to Florence.
Rhododendron
The logo will be
Festival.
printed on offi-
The design
cial
festival
incorporates
campaign-
the
iconic
style buttons,
Siuslaw
banners and
River bridge,
print guides.
rhododen-
“I
love
drons,
an
what I do and
anchor and
when
an
rope,
and
opportunity
includes
the
arises to com-
words
“110th
bine that with
Rhododendron
one of my favorite
Festival, May 19 to 21,
things about living in
2017, Florence, Oregon,”
Florence, it’s impossible
and
the
theme
for me to pass it by,”
The official 2017
“Always Ready to
said Johnson. “The
Rhododendron Festival logo
Rhody.”
Bay Street roofline
was created by Susan Johnson
The 2017 Rhody
is such a recogniza-
and chosen by the Florence
Days theme inte-
ble facet of our
Chamber.
grates the U.S. Coast
town, the anchor was
Guard’s
motto
a nod to this year’s
Semper Paratus — Always Ready — Grand Marshal and red rhodies are my
because the chamber named the U.S. favorite.
Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River in
“I’m honored to have my work be
Florence as Grand Marshal for the 110th part of this celebration and the history
Rhododendron Festival Parade on May of our town.”
21, 2017.
“This is the Coast Guard station’s
Johnson, who has submitted winning 100th anniversary of service to our
designs in previous years, will receive a area,” added Hannigan. “It is a vital part
cash award of $250 along with her choice of our community so we want to honor
of 2017 Rhododendron Festival memora- the men and women assigned to
bilia featuring the logo.
Florence, and their many contributions
“We are delighted with the design for to the community.
its vibrancy, local icons, Coast Guard
“That’s why we want to recognize
elements and its ability to transcend all them with one of the highest honors the
media,” said Bettina Hannigan, the Chamber can give — making them the
Chamber’s executive director. “Susan Grand Marshal of our parade and the
captured what we were looking for to centerpiece of our celebration— and to
help us celebrate our 110th anniversary integrate their official motto,”
and our recognition of Coast Guard
The 2017 Rhododendron Festival
Station Siuslaw River.”
will be held May 19, 20 and 21, 2017.
‘Eco’
joins library’s
permanent art
collection
T
COURTESY PHOTO
“Eco,” painted by Siuslaw High School student Ben Cahoon, is now on
permanent display at the library.
he Friends of the Siuslaw Public
Library recently announced that
“Eco the Dancing Sea Lion,” has
a permanent home at the library.
With broad support from the commu-
nity, the Friends staged a successful
fundraising campaign and were able to
secure Eco during the live auction of
the Dancing with Sea Lions public art
project held Oct. 8 at the Florence
Events Center (FEC).
“Thanks to all of the generous
Friends of the Library members and
community supporters who contributed
to this effort, we were able to place the
winning bid at the auction,” said Annie
Schmidt, Friends president.
Since April of this year, when the
7.5-foot long fiberglass sea lion, “Eco
and the Ecosystems of Oregon,” went
on exhibit in front of the Florence
branch of the library, the sculpture has
generated lots of attention and countless
selfies.
Eco was created by local artist and
T
Siuslaw High School student Ben
Cahoon, and was part of the Dancing
with Sea Lions public art project to
commemorate the FEC’s 20th
Anniversary.
“We’re thrilled that Eco is back at the
library,” said Library Director Meg
Spencer. “We have created a new dis-
play area for Eco that is visible through
the window of the Children’s Library.
We can’t wait to hold a storytime with
the sea lion next summer.”
Schmidt and The Friends of the
Library gratefully acknowledged the
generosity and support of the communi-
ty.
“We invite the public to come see
Eco, still swimming at the Siuslaw
Library,” said Schmidt.
The Friends of the Siuslaw Public
Library is a nonprofit organization
whose purpose is to support the library.
For more information, email
SiuslawLibraryFriends@gmail.com or
visit www.Siuslaw Library.org.
Community Chorus of Florence to offer free holiday concerts
This year, the Community Chorus of
Florence will be presenting two con-
certs.
Directed by Jennifer Weier, the chorus
will perform traditional Christmas songs
with presentations by several smaller
1 8 • C OAST
ensembles, including the Florence
Nightingales, along with a piano solo by
Weier, and performances by the
Presbyterian Bell Choir and the Siuslaw
Middle School Choir.
Weier recently wowed audiences as
C ENTRAL • A r t s & E n t e r t a i n m e n t • D E C EM B E R 20 1 6
the orchestra conductor and music direc-
tor of Last Resort Players’ “Pirates of
Penzance” at Florence Events Center.
The choral concert will take place
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. and again
Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., at the
Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw,
3996, Highway 101 in Florence.
Although the concert is free to all, a
donation is requested.
For more information, call 970- 618-
6307.