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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017
ASK A MASTER RECYCLER
For the Siuslaw News
(A monthly column of recycling
information provided by Florence
Master Recyclers)
Q. Where can I recycle two dead
modems and a related cord?
A. The Florence Transfer Station,
at 2820 North Rhododendron Drive,
accepts phones, answering machines,
computers, office and home electron-
ics, fax machines, printers, TVs,
VCRs and DVD players in their free
electronics recycling container.
A modem would also be accepted
here. For details, visit www.goo.
gl/Mlx3MZ.
A second option is Next Step in
Eugene, at 2101 West 10th Street.
Make sure to leave the cords
attached. Next Step will try to repair
or refurbish items whenever possible;
or dismantle and recycle components
safely if not. Occasionally, Next Step
will provide a local drop off site in
the Florence area.
For more information, visit www.
nextsteprecycling.org.
Q. Isn’t that hazardous material
dump day coming up?
A. The next Household Hazardous
Waste Roundup will be April Friday,
21 and Saturday, April 22, at the
Florence Transfer Station.
Lane County Public Works hosts
this convenient, free disposal option
here in Florence in the spring and fall
each year. County Transfer &
Recycling, Siuslaw Valley Fire and
Rescue, the City of Florence, and
Lane County Master Recyclers
donate equipment, disposal costs,
staff and volunteer time to make this
event happen.
The April 21 collection time will
be noon to 5 p.m., with the Saturday
collection being held from 8 a.m. to 2
p.m.. Staff from the county’s year-
round hazardous waste Collection
Center in Glenwood will be on hand
at the Florence Transfer Station to
accept the following items: house-
hold cleaners, lawn and garden chem-
icals, car care products, arts and craft
supplies, fluorescent bulbs over 4 feet
long, fuel, solvents and poisons.
They ask that you leave materials
in the original containers; it helps
staff know how to transport and dis-
pose of them safely.
Items NOT accepted at the event
include: any container over 5 gallons,
asbestos, radioactive waste or explo-
sives. Don’t bring your empty con-
tainers, either-they can just be recy-
cled, if applicable, or thrown in the
trash.
Businesses that generate small
amounts of hazardous waste may be
able to take advantage of this event in
Florence as well. They will need to
pre-register and will pay a fee for the
disposal.
Call 541-682-4120 for details.
Collection Center staff note that
oil, antifreeze, batteries and sharps
(needles) are accepted year round at
the Transfer Station; no need to wait
for the Hazardous Waste Roundup.
Fluorescent lamps that are 4 feet or
less in length can be recycled year
round at Florence True Value, 1750
Highway 126. In addition, the
Habitat ReStore, 2016 Highway 101,
offers recycling for architectural
paint, stain, primer, sealers, lacquers
and varnishes year round as part of
the PaintCare program.
Visit www.goo.gl/dkwILq for
more information.
Q. Which bottles are worth a dime
now?
A. As of April 1, Oregon’s Bottle
Bill refund doubled from five cents to
10 cents. The redemption applies to
the following types of containers (3
liter size or less): Water, flavored
water, soda water, mineral water, car-
bonated sodas and soft drinks, beer
and malt beverages.
Locally, these can be redeemed at
grocery or convenience stores — any
store that sells products in these types
of redeemable containers.
Empty containers can also be
donated to several charities that col-
lect the bottles and cans to redeem as
a fundraiser. Recently, Florence Food
Share and the Oregon Coast Humane
Society both accepted donated con-
tainers; check with your favorite non-
profit to see if they accept bottles and
cans.
Q. Did I miss the Green Fair this
year?
A. Not yet! The Florence Green
Fair will be held Saturday, May 6,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the
Florence Events Center, 175 Quince
St.
The event includes speakers,
Us TOO Flor ence
Over
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50 Ye ce!
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Behind the headlines
B Y B OB H ORNEY
CANCER SURVIVOR
U S TOO CHAPTER LEADER
I
f you read Gary Sanders’
March 8 update to his July
2010 Prostate Cancer Journey,
you noted a perfect example of a
man and his urologist agreeing to
monitor a low-grade, non-aggres-
sive prostate cancer instead of
going immediately to treatment.
This monitoring is called
Active Surveillance (AS) and was
one of the choices Gary and his
urologist, Dr. Kollmorgen, dis-
cussed following Gary’s diagnosis
of Gleason 6 prostate cancer.
This is a form of non-treatment
for indolent (not immediately
problematic) prostate cancer and
the urologists at Oregon Urology
Institute have long been among
the leaders in utilizing it in lieu of
going right to treatment.
The following is a recap for
anyone who missed Gary’s update
and more explicit information
about AS for everyone.
The purpose of AS is to let the
patient avoid immediate treat-
ment, while monitoring the cancer
so closely that any changes will
be caught while there is still time
for curative treatment to occur.
Does this work 100 percent of
the time? Unfortunately, no.
Does it let some men avoid
treatment all together?
Absolutely.
We all know prostate cancer is
unpredictable — a mutation here,
a mutation there — and it is a
whole new ball game. That’s why
AS demands very close monitor-
ing with regular PSA tests and
repeat biopsies.
Despite that uncertainty, Gary
was at total peace working with
Dr. Kollmorgen in pursuing AS
instead of jumping right into a
treatment of surgery or radiation.
We can look at three reasons for
that peace of mind.
First, Gary had total confidence
in Dr. Kollmorgen and the pathol-
ogist’s assessment of the TURP
tissue which revealed the cancer.
Second, he was completely at
Florence nominated for
Best NW Small Town
Florence, has been nominat-
ed for USA Today’s 10 Best
Readers’ Choice travel award.
The national media compa-
ny’s panel of experts selected
Florence as a contender for
Best Northwestern Small
Town. An online poll is
accepting votes through April
24.
“We are super excited to be
nominated to this list of great
places, and want everybody
who has ever enjoyed Florence
to vote right away, and vote
daily,” says Bettina Hannigan,
executive director of the
Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Voters may vote once per
day until polls close on
Monday, April 24, at noon E.T.
“Last year, Florence was
named
Expedia’s
Most
Beautiful Town and received
the Reader’s Choice for Best
Coastal Getaway. We would
be very grateful to have anoth-
er national recognition,”
Hannigan said
To vote, go to www.10best
.com/awards/travel/best-north-
western-small-town/florence-
oregon.
ease having prostate cancer in his
body while closely monitoring it.
And third, he helped himself
immensely by attending the Us
TOO Florence Prostate Cancer
Education/Support Group meet-
ings. As we say, “Come with
questions — leave with answers.
Or, just come listen and learn.”
Having been at those meetings
with Gary, it was heartening to
hear him tell us over and over
how the information he gained
there reassured him that AS was
his right choice. By attending the
meetings, he had the opportunity
of asking the urologist who was
present, either Dr. Mehlhaff, Hoff
or McKimmy, any questions that
arose between his visits with Dr.
Kollmorgen.
That was like being under the
care of four urologists for the
same disease. What a lucky guy!
With the Gleason 6 prostate
cancer that Gary had, he and Dr.
Kollmorgen were monitoring it
for three primary results: That it
remained a Gleason 6 with no
spreading (the preferred result);
that it remained a Gleason 6, but
growing in volume (which Gary's
did); that it mutated into a higher
Gleason number (especially 8, 9
or 10, becoming an aggressive,
spreading and potentially deadly
cancer), which it fortunately did
demonstrations and vendor booths. A
special showing of the film, “Just Eat
It — A Food Waste Story,” will also
be presented by Lane County Master
Recyclers. You won’t want to miss
this amazing film.
Admission to the Green Fair is $3
per person, or free with a canned food
donation or by bringing your clean
and dry plastic planter pots for recy-
cling.
Visit www.FlorenceGreenFair.com
for details.
Florence Master Recyclers (MR)
are part of the Lane County Master
Recycler Program, a service of the
county’s Public Works Waste
Management Division since 2002.
The mission of the MR program is to
bridge the gap between awareness
and action by motivating people to
reduce solid waste at home, work and
play. This monthly column, written
for The Siuslaw News, answers com-
monly asked recycling questions. For
more recycling information, visit
www.ci.florence.or.us/building/recy-
cling or www.lanecounty.org/ Depart
ments/PW/WMD/Recycle or follow
Master Recyclers of Florence on
Facebook.
not do.
Not knowing what the cancer
might do is the main reason some
men go right to treatment — they
aren’t going to give the cancer a
chance to get away. And, since
early, curable prostate cancer
rarely causes symptoms until it is
incurable, it is not our place to
criticize a man who wants it out
immediately.
Of course, that won’t stop the
so-called experts from shouting
“over-treatment!” They would
tell the man he should never have
had the PSA test in the first place.
Then he wouldn’t know he had
prostate cancer and wouldn’t get
it treated. I think most experts
will admit there is no guarantee
the Gleason 6 will remain a
Gleason 6 (forever).
But then, it isn’t their life at
risk.
One thing we who attend Us
TOO Florence meetings have
learned over the years is that
when prostate cancer gets a head
start, we rarely catch up. We’ve
seen that in the 30 plus men we
have lost from our group in the
last 15 years. That’s exactly why
OUI says, “It is better to know
than to not know.”
Us TOO Florence agrees.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life
movement is the world’s largest fundrais-
ing event to save lives from cancer. Uniting
communities across the globe, we celebrate
people who have battled cancer, remember
loved ones lost, and take action for lifesav-
ing change. Funds raised help the American
Cancer Society provide free information and
support for people facing the disease today,
educate people about how to reduce their risk
for cancer or detect it early when it’s the easi-
est to treat, and fund cancer research that will
help protect future generations.
MODEL TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS
CLEANING UP AFTER THE HOLIDAYS?
SPRING CLEANING AROUND THE CORNER?…
I’M LOCATED HERE IN FLORENCE.
CALL ME TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE!
541-255-9822 - Larry
landl316@live.com
541-999-5083
Relay For Life of Florence
“Paint Your World Purple”
RELAY FOR LIFE FACTS AND FIGURES
Number of Participants
· In the United States: 2.7 million
· Across the World (global and US partici-
pants combined): 3.7 million
Number of Events
· In the United States: more than 3,500
· Across the World (global and US events
combined): more than 4,500
· Countries that participate in Relay For Life
(including the US): 27
Dollars Raised
· In 2016, events in the United States raised:
more than $279 million
· Dollars raised since 1985 in the United
States: $6 billion
· Every action we take moves us one step
closer to a world without cancer. Start or join
a Relay For Life team in your community
today.
Nowhere else can you make the greatest
impact to save lives from cancer than when
you raise funds for the American Cancer
Society through a Relay For Life event in your
community.
Let Paul show you a new car or truck.
Stop by today!
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
What we want people to know about the
impact of the Relay For Life movement:
· The American Cancer Society Relay For
Life movement is the world’s largest fund-
raising event to save lives from cancer. The
Relay For Life movement brings communities
together, embracing their collective power
to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the
fi ght for a world without cancer. With every
passionate step, Relay For Life participants
demonstrate courage and strength. They
prove that, together, we are bigger than can-
cer. And together, we can raise the money
needed to help the American Cancer Society
bring cancer to its knees.
Why we think people should join us:
· With your help, we are touching the lives
of so many – those who are currently bat-
tling cancer, those who may face a diagnosis
in the future, and those who may avoid a
diagnosis altogether. We’re here for every-
one - we always have been - and when you
fundraise through your Relay For Life event,
you support the American Cancer Society’s
lifesaving mission to save lives from cancer.
Relay For Life
Celebrates its 18th Year in Florence
When: July 22nd, 2017
Noon - Midnight (registration begins at 10am)
Where: Florence Events Center
The Survivors Lap • Entertainment and Food
Sunset Luminaria Ceremony • Relay Team Activities
For more information on forming a Team or becoming an event
sponsor go to: www.RelayForLife.org/FlorenceOR
or contact Amy.Bickleman@cancer.org, 541-272-9240
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
S USY L ACER , M ASTER R ECYCLER
A MONTHLY COLUMN OF RECYCLING
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY F LORENCE
M ASTER R ECYCLERS