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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017 Surf Let Paul show you a new car or truck. Stop by today! 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 from 1A Volunteer instructors pro- vide a one-to-one ratio in the water, both as a safety precau- tion and also to help strength- en the mentorship and learn- ing experience of the partici- pants. According to Chapman, the surfing portion of the program is not only fun, challenging and active, but it also provides a medium for helping youth develop character skills such as courage, discipline and compassion. During the camp, the youth participated in a beach cleanup where they collected, sorted and evaluated the trash. Instructors also led youth through the process of water quality testing, where partici- pants collect and analyze samples to monitor the health of the oceans and beaches. MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Together, these Warm Current’s Surf Camps teach youth how to interact with the activities challenge ocean in a positive and enriching way. youth to recognize human impact on the coastal Warm Current runs yearly free of charge. ecosystem and instill an aware- one-day surf camps on the For more information on the ness of the role each person can coasts of Washington, Oregon Warm Current Program, visit play in caring for the planet. and California. The camps are warmcurrent.org. Otter ere s are h sinesse u b y it n commu ds. g these ur service nee in w o n k o , y x f la o y to re with all It’s eas to help Call the Siuslaw News to Join Our Senior Directory 541-997-3441 Spruce Point SPRUCE POINT ASSISTED LIVING Assisted Living 375 9th Street • Florence 541-997-6111 997-6111 9 A S S IUSLAW IUSLAW N EWS 148 Maple St. Florence 541-997-3441 Th e Siuslaw News Presents: from 1A One thing has remained the same during that time, howev- er, and that is the Otter. At more than a century old, the boat is one of the few things in Florence that is a working example of an earlier and simpler lifestyle. “The Otter was built in San Diego in 1913 and I bought it in 1953. I really wanted a fish- ing boat, but there were none available at the time, so my brother and I converted this one,” Fossek said. “Wooden boats were my hobby before I got into fishing. I’ve always liked wooden boats and it’s kind of neat when you can combine your hobby with your work.” Fossek worked as a com- mercial fisherman for 40 years, earning his living, as did most of his friends and neigh- bors, by working the land and the water — a lifestyle no longer available to most resi- dents of Florence. “When I first came to the coast in 1944, tourism and retirement weren’t the big thing it is today. Everybody was busy logging, sawmilling, farming and fishing,” he said. Fossek doesn’t consider himself retired, but he hasn’t commercially fished in 1994. He takes the Otter down to Reedsport Machine and Fabrication for a semi-annual bottom painting job. Fossek pointed out the dura- bility of the Otter, as well as the need for continual mainte- nance. “Wooden boats will last a long time if you take care of them. I spend a good deal of my time puttering around with it. If it’s sunny weather, I usu- ally come down here and do some painting and mainte- nance,” he said. “Most of the woodwork on the boat is done by hand. That’s because it is odd shaped; it’s not like doing cabinetwork.” According to Fossek, very few of the wood joints are square. “Steaming works good for bending and shaping it, or even boiling the wood will work good,” he said. Fossek has mixed feelings about all the changes he and Otter have seen take place around them over the last half century, especially the dramat- ic shift in the economy. “It’s a little scary for the area to have all of it’s eggs in one basket, but I guess tourism is pretty secure and probably won’t go away,” he said. “It’s just a little sad, I wish there was just a little more of the old still around to mix with the new, but I guess that’s just the way things go.” FALL G OOD L IFE SUBSCRIPTION 2 17 special Boomer & Senior Expo Thursday, October 19 10am-3pm Florence Events Center (715 Quince St.) Free Admission (please bring a canned food item to donate for Florence Food Share) • Raffl es • Lifestyle Presentations & Seminars • Health Screenings • Flu Shots • Samples • Volunteer Opportunities Subscribe to the Siuslaw News or renew your 1-year subscription by October 31, 2017 and receive a FALL SAVINGS COUPON BOOK . Sponsored by: Valued at over $300. FREE BJ’s Ice Cream until gone. and Sponsored by Siuslaw News & BJ’s Ice Cream Expired/Unwanted Medication Drop-Off Clean out your medicine cabinets and bring expired/unwanted prescription and over the counter medication to the Expo for proper disposal. No needles. Sponsored by Florence Police Auxiliary For more information call 541-997-3441. Siuslaw News Call 541-997-3441 for more details. Coupon Books available at the Siuslaw News offi ce. 148 Maple Street • Florence, OR