4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 3, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise 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.
A tapestry of compassion woven through centuries
We tend to think of iconic
nurse Florence Nightingale as
the beginning of an organized
effort to provide care to the
sick and injured. Stories of her
heroic exploits into the night,
attending the wounded by
lamplight during the Crimean
War (1853-1856), inspired the
first steps toward profession-
alizing the role of nurses in
modern medicine.
Her importance is reflected
in the fact that the highest
international distinction a
nurse can achieve is being
chosen to receive the Florence
Nightingale Medal — and
that, for decades, nurses have
been reciting The Nightingale
Pledge as a part of their “pin-
ning” ceremony.
However, even as far back
as 268 B.C.E., Buddhist
Indian ruler Ashoka recog-
nized the importance of pro-
viding his people with medical
care, utilizing what he
described as “both skillful
physicians and their assistants,
who should be sympathetic
and devoted to the sick” and
made available within hospi-
tals built along the routes of
travelers.
In the Charaka Samhita, the
Indian book of medicine writ-
ten in about 100 B.C.E., it was
said that “good medicine
should always include a nurse
that is knowledgeable, skilled
at preparing formulations and
dosage, and sympathetic
toward the ill.”
The first-known Christian
nurse, Phoebe, was mentioned
in Romans 16:1 when, in 50
A.D., St. Paul “sent a dea-
coness to Rome” to encourage
other Christians to tend to the
sick.
a compassionate protector to
provide physical and emotion-
al comfort when we’re ill or
hurt; a Band-Aid may stop the
bleeding of a scraped knee,
but a sympathetic word from
Mom or Dad seems to take the
sting out of it.
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
It seems that humanity,
regardless of culture or time
period, has always understood
the importance and value of
individuals within our society
who are inspired to tend to the
ill — not just on a physical
level, but on an emotional one
as well.
Perhaps it stems from our
basic need as children to have
Over the last few decades,
more men have entered into
the nursing profession as well,
with the number of male nurs-
es jumping from 3.9 percent in
1970 to 8.1 percent in 2011
(U.S. Census Bureau 2011).
Like all the best human
traits, compassion and the
desire to help others isn’t gen-
der specific.
In fact, the notions of sym-
pathy and compassion are
common threads that run
through the historic tapestry of
medicine, from the time of
Ashoka through today, when
nurses make the promise “as a
missioner of health, I dedicate
myself to devoted and com-
passionate service for human
welfare” as part of The
Nightingale Pledge.
Fittingly,
this
year’s
National Nurses Week (May
6-12) comes less than a month
after naming Sylvia Trent-
Adams to the position of U.S.
Surgeon General, the first time
a nurse has become our
nation’s highest medical
authority.
As we approach National
Nurses Day (May 6), which
kicks off a week of recogni-
tion for all nurses across the
country — from the ER nurse
that we likely never see, to the
neonatal nurse that we entrust
our infants to, as well as the
RNs that care for us even
when aren’t at our most pleas-
ant — I encourage you to
extend your appreciation to
those within our own commu-
nity who play such an impor-
tant role in our lives when we
need them most.
Thanks to the promise each
of them makes to the rest of
us, the care we receive also
includes the kind of compas-
sion and sympathy that takes
the sting out of our ills.
Write Siuslaw News editor Ned
Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw
news.com or P.O. Box 10,
Florence, Ore. 97439.
LETTERS
C ONFIDENT IN
B ILL M EYER
I work along side Bill Meyer on a
Neighborhood Watch group and Condo
Association. I have seen his dedication to
resolving issues while working with others in a
positive manner.
His school district board experience is a true
indication of his attitude, abilities and under-
standing of how to get things done. He recog-
nizes the priorities the Port should be address-
ing and would bring an essential skill set to the
other members of Port Commissioners.
My wife and I are confident he would
take the responsibility of the Port
Commissioner seriously, and work on
behalf of, and for, the good of the
Florence community.
We casted our vote for Bill Meyer for
Port Commissioner.
Mike and Debbie Lobey
Florence
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USPS# 497-660
Bill Fleenor’s running for a spot on
the Port Of Siuslaw Board of
Commissioners is great news in my
opinion.
Having watched his prior strong lead-
ership
as
our
Lane
County
Commissioner, and also during his prior
stint on the Port Board, I am convinced
that his experience and expertise are
sorely needed.
I feel he has a proven record of being
a watchdog for the public’s tax dollars
and understands the ins and outs of the
Port’s fiscal issues and long-range needs.
During his term as Lane County
Commissioner, he held more than 198 town
hall meetings and public coffee events. He
made sure that County Commissioner Board
meetings were live-streamed from Florence so
that local residents could testify here rather than
being forced to drive to Eugene.
As Port Commissioner, I believe Bill Fleenor
will ensure that tight budgets are transparent
and that docking fees are fair to all. I am confi-
dent he will put Florence first with his experi-
ence and deep knowledge of the Port and its
needs.
Mia Li
Florence
V OTING FOR
C RYSTAL F ARNSWORTH
I support Crystal Farnsworth for the Siuslaw
Valley Fire and Rescue Board of Directors—
Position 1. She was a volunteer firefighter at
Station 4 for six years. We worked together on
many fires and rescues during her time as a vol-
unteer firefighter.
She has excellent people skills and cares
greatly for our fire department and community.
She knows the importance of continued train-
ing for our firefighters, which I agree is impor-
tant for our department as well as the communi-
ty it serves.
Capt. Mike Barret
SVFR Station 4
Florence
A DD YOUR VOICE TO THE
PARKS DISCUSSION
I wish to thank Mark Brennan for his excel-
lent coverage of the community workshop in
Mapleton conducted by the Lane County Parks
Division (Siuslaw News, April 29).
The workshop received important input from
citizens about the county’s vision for a Parks
Master Plan.
Another workshop will be held in Florence
this Thursday (May 4), from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at
the Siuslaw Valley Fire station on Highway 101.
The meeting will be engaging, fun and
informative.
As a member of a county-wide task force rep-
resenting the Coast District, I spent several
months participating in a re-visioning process
for the Parks. Task Force members and mem-
bers of the Parks Advisory Committee, along
with Parks Division staff headed by Division
Manager Mike Russell, are facilitating the
workshops.
My involvement with Lane County Parks
began three years ago when my wife and I spent
a full year hosting at the beautiful Harbor Vista
Park overlooking the Siuslaw River off of North
Jetty Road.
While there I developed educational activi-
ties for children and interpretive signs to
describe the nature and history of the park.
Harbor Vista Park is one of many parks and
open spaces on the coast offered by the County
for recreation and education.
These parks give us access to open land,
rivers, lakes and the ocean.
We loved the Florence area so much we
bought a home within walking distance of the
park. Recently, we formed a Friends of Harbor
Vista Park with many local residents to promote
more educational opportunities.
The Parks Division in turn is working with us
by providing an amphitheater and kiosks for
interpretive signs.
The Parks Division is encouraging more
community partnerships like our Friend’s group
and wants to hear from the community at
Thursday’s workshop.
Michael Allen
Florence
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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WHERE TO WRITE
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
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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
Along with her experience as a firefighter,
she has also served three years as secretary of
the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Association,
four years on the SVFR Scholarship
Committee, and was also recently a member of
the WLAD/SVFR Stakeholders Interview
Panel.
I am voting for Crystal Farnsworth.
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