4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ FEBRUARY 25, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE
Michael Falter
C ATHERINE J. R OURKE
For the Siuslaw News
_____________
F
orget Netflix, Hulu and
VUDU. Film curator and
educator Michael Falter
envisioned a grander picture when
he took a leap of faith and opened
City Lights Cinemas three years
ago. In fact, his story unfolds
much like one of the movies on his
big screens.
But it takes more than faith to
launch a theater in an era when
folks can stream flicks on their
phones. It also requires cinematic
resources and innovation. Perhaps
that explains why City Lights just
received the 2016 Stu Johnston
Business of the Year award from
the Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce.
“I’m excited to bring the best in
commercial, independent and per-
forming arts in HD to this commu-
nity,” Falter said. “I was moved to
tears by the award.”
More than just another commer-
cial multiplex theater, City Lights
represents an “art house” cinema,
providing education as well as
entertainment through specialized
films and Performing Arts features.
Falter understood that serious
film fans crave massive screens
and real popcorn that shuns the
microwave. They demand innova-
tive screenings while also enjoying
the nostalgia of the traditional the-
ater experience.
Comedies seem funnier when
we hear others laughing and
thrillers become more exciting
when our hearts pound together.
Moviegoing is all about marquees
with dramatic posters, expansive
lobbies and settling into your seat
with a giant box of Skittles.
themed educational genres in
Cinema gives people permis-
partnership with Lane
sion to escape for two hours
Community College. Theater
without having to check
4 is available for meetings,
Facebook or answer the
special events and one-act
phone.
plays.
Falter took that desire for
“Coming from the nonprofit
drama and nostalgia one step
theater world gave us a per-
further with cultural pro-
spective to apply to City
gramming, a lobby framed
Lights with a slightly different
with original Marilyn
point of view than commercial
Monroe photos from The
cinema,” he said. “We saw
Archives and refreshments
Florence as an experiment that
like handmade chocolates,
took advantage of the shifts in
Oregon-crafted wines and
technology. Our background
quality meals from Box
helped us to create a business
Lunch in addition to the
combining nonprofit and for-
classic snacks. Even the pop-
profit models that can drive
corn comes with a “deluxe
content viable for Florence.”
flavor station.”
The membership program
“Designed as a hybrid the-
enables the theater to operate
ater from the onset, City
as a nonprofit. Last year it
PHOTO BY CATHERINE ROURKE
Lights combines commercial
donated 1,941 tickets and free
Michael Falter, recipient of the 2016 Stu
and art house programming,”
student screenings. Tive and
Johnston
“Business of the Year” award for
Falter said. “It’s the best of
Falter still rely on their day
City Lights Cinemas from the Florence Area
both worlds.”
jobs to pull it all off. Tive
Chamber of Commerce
But City Lights isn’t a
works as director of philan-
one-man show. Falter part-
thropy for the Salt Lake Film
nered with his wife Susan
Society and Falter serves as
“It’s been an epic journey,”
Tive, a writer specializing in
program director for the Pickford
Falter said, explaining how it
grants, to make it happen. While
Film Center, while four employees
included pitching a tent in the
vacationing in Florence in 2013,
help keep the show going.
lobby during renovations until they
the couple from Washington
Falter is no stranger to theater.
found a home. The doors opened
noticed the local cinema had
Born in Olympia, Wash., the for-
in just six weeks in August 2014.
closed.
mer educator traces his fascination
Today, four theaters project
“We saw Florence as a town on
with film to early roots. Watching
everything from blockbusters to
the cusp of cultural expansion,”
“Citizen Kane” in high school trig-
documentaries, foreign and inde-
Falter said. “It was an inviting
gered his passion and the movie
pendent films. The Performing
place that could sustain an art
remains his all-time favorite.
Arts showcases opera, ballet and
house theater. It was a huge risk
Falter received a master’s in lit-
Shakespeare while the Master
but we felt ready to take on the
erature from the University of
Painter series transports viewers to
challenges.”
Washington and taught English at
exhibitions around the globe.
The couple faced a bevy of them
Utah State University. It was love
“It’s amazing to live here and
after purchasing the defunct theater
at first sight for Tive and Falter,
enjoy such culture,” Falter said.
in June 2014. For starters, they
and the couple lived in Santa Fe
“We’ve been completely embraced
needed to remodel the entire facili-
where, as a film school teacher, he
by the community and we’re
ty and replace outdated equipment
realized the importance of educa-
always doing something new.”
with $200,000 in new digital pro-
tion through theater.
Falter plans to bring more film
jection gear.
“I love bringing fabulous works
classics and discussions, as well as
of art to communities through
film,” he said. “It’s important to
expand this to people beyond the
classroom.”
Falter combined art films and
community education during his
10 years as executive director for
the Pickford Film Center, a non-
profit art house cinema in
Bellingham. Tive joined him there
as a grant writer and the couple
worked together for five years on
developing Art House
Convergence, a national art house
theater association.
Falter’s mission to resuscitate
community cinemas by turning
them into art houses deserves an
Oscar. The Pickford Film Center
and Doctober Film Festival he
launched in Bellingham continue
to thrive today.
“I wanted to prove that there
was a viable audience for inde-
pendent and art films,” he said.
“We pinch ourselves every day
that we live so close to so much
beauty. We feel so at home here.
We see Florence on the cusp of
change and enjoy being part of its
attractiveness.”
Tomorrow, City Lights will host
its annual “And the Winner Is...”
Oscar event with all the glitz of the
Red Carpet projected on-screen
and a portion of the proceeds bene-
fitting Siuslaw Outreach Services.
Throw on some finery or just come
as you are and enjoy the party.
Popcorn, anyone?
Catherine J. Rourke is an
award-winning journalist, author
and book editor who teaches
creative writing at the Florence
Regional Arts Alliance.
Email CJReditor@gmail.com.
LETTERS
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USPS# 497-660
P UZZLING REMARK
Newly-appointed U.S. Secretary of
Education Betsy DeVos made a puzzling
remark after a visit to a public middle school in
Washington, D.C. She said that the teachers
were in a “receive mode… waiting to be told
what they have to do….”
This is exactly the kind of misguided state-
ment that fails to recognize the professionality
of educators, while disregarding the underlying
issues such as shortage of funds and over-
crowded classes that prevent many children
from reaching their full potential.
In 40 years as an educator, I have rarely met
a teacher who was waiting to be told what to do.
The many teachers in public and private schools
with whom I have had the privilege to work
have been professionally trained, dedicated,
intelligent, hard-working and creative individu-
als with lots of ideas and the desire to imple-
ment them.
Within a variety of constraints including
budget, class size and regulations, most teachers
do a remarkable job of imagining, innovating,
crafting and creating educational opportunities
for children.
If Sec. DeVos truly understood educational
processes, she would know that teachers are not
waiting for anything… except perhaps for the
support and encouragement they need to be
Trump’s daughter.
The laws of our nation, which President
Trump vowed to uphold as part of his swearing
in process, state (in part) that illegal immigrants
are to be deported. Our President did not insti-
tute this law; he is merely upholding it.
Regarding those who are affected by the law
and people opposed to the law, they should use
their energies to repeal or change the law rather
than weep for those who are essentially law
breakers.
In my opinion, demeaning our President by
calling him a “boisterous television personali-
ty,” as well as demeaning his family, serves no
useful purpose.
The President is simply doing what he is
required to do if he is to keep the vows that he
made to the American people.
Ron Duzy
Florence
K EEPING HIS VOWS
The First Amendment
Judith Preisler’s Letter To the Editor (Feb.
22) expresses her anger and troubled feelings
about the deportation of undocumented (illegal)
immigrants.
She goes on to relate a story about an illegal
immigrant family while, at the same time, not
miss the opportunity to marginalize President
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right
of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
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John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
even more effective in their roles.
A great step forward for the teachers and chil-
dren of Florence and Dunes City would have
been the approval of last year’s bond measure to
build a new Siuslaw High School.
For many good reasons, some of which I
have seen first-hand as a substitute teacher and
ASPIRE volunteer at our Florence schools, a
new high school facility is badly needed. I sin-
cerely hope that the school board plans to resur-
rect the bond measure at an upcoming election,
and I strongly urge all residents to become
familiar with the myriad reasons that this proj-
ect is of great importance to our local children
and the entire community.
I willingly pledge my time and energy to help
ensure that this time, it receives sufficient sup-
port for passage. I hope others will do the same.
Robert Orr
Dunes City
Pres. Donald Trump
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
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.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. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
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