SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017
5 A
Opinion
LETTERS
More letters
from 4A
T HERE HAS TO BE
A BETTER WAY
Today, I again forced
myself to take back the used
cans and bottles held hostage
by the required deposit. On
arrival at the “redemption”
area, I discovered three of the
four machines were non-
functional and watched the
fourth break during use.
I went to get help and
eventually someone with a
key to the devices came and
did his magic.
I then proceeded to place,
one at a time, the sticky little
objects into the maw of a
device that looked as though
it could take your arm off, if
you were indiscreet. Some of
the cans, even though pur-
chased at the same store,
were rejected by being forced
back out the input hole, caus-
ing a traffic jam.
I had no choice but to drop
them on the ground for later
retrieval and disposal.
Meanwhile, I had the
pleasure of breathing some-
one’s cigarette smoke as the
wind whistled through the
outdoor tunnel where the
machines were located. I then
went into the store to wash
my hands, not wanting to get
stuck to my car.
I was in no mood to shop.
I’m all for recycling.
However, it continues to get
more difficult. What hap-
pened to the machines with
bins where you could dump
cans and have them counted?
What will we do with plastics
now that they’re no longer
acceptable? Why do I have to
go elsewhere to recycle
Styrofoam? Glass?
As the system makes it
more and more distasteful,
difficult and time consuming
to recycle, people will stop.
I’m close to not recycling and
not buying things with
deposits.
There has to be a better
way.
—Rick Marsh
Florence
R ENEW LOCAL OPTION
LEVY , IMPROVE
PROPERTY VALUE
The Nov. 7 local option
levy renewal simply saves
what we’ve gained from
approving the original levy
for our school system:
Decent staffing, reduced
class size, more programs
and opportunities for our stu-
dents to enter the world on an
equal playing field.
We all love living on the
coast — especially retirees.
That luxury limits income
sources to support education.
Fixed incomes fix our minds
on immediate interests which
often do not include our
youth — medical services
and leisure time activities fill
our days.
Sometimes our youth scare
and annoy us; we just don’t
know what to do with their
energy and noise. Even the
library segregates the teens
and the toddlers from the
main population.
So why should we care to
continue spending the same
amount of money we current-
ly spend on our property
taxes to support schools?
Consider caring enough to
keep our schools at their cur-
rent level of operation ...
enough to convince young
professionals to stay in
Florence and raise their fami-
lies while providing us with
the many services we require
as we age ... enough to build
a diverse and thriving culture
which fosters creative and
capable future citizens.
At the very least, it will
improve our property values.
—Bou Kilgore
Florence
Y ES , WE DO NEED TAX
REFORM
President Trump and
friends are pushing tax
reform legislation with bou-
quets of promises for
J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP
WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING
NETWORK
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
(3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48.
24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspira-
tional music, health lectures, healthy cooking and more.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
SINGSPIRATION
You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel
hymns
Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational
Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N.
For more information , please call 541-997-2681
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road
Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday
All are welcome! 541-997-7268
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer.
Sunday Worship Service ~ 10:00 a.m.
www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Worship Services 10:30 on 1st Sunday of each Month
9:00 and 10:30 each following Sunday
Adult Classes at 9am; Children’s Sunday School at 10:30m
Coff ee Fellowship Following Service
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m.
Website:fl orence4square.com
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
stymied
by
corporate
takeovers that control sectors
of the economy.
Fair taxes can reduce the
bloated profits for the few,
into jobs in healthcare, infra-
structure, technology and
education.
Give small business a
chance to compete. Jobs
equal paychecks — and pay-
checks equal spending.
The jobs are there if educa-
tion provides the skill sets,
and if fair taxes provide the
means.
—Karen Mahoney
Florence
O LDER THAN 60, STILL
SUPPORTS SCHOOLS
I, like many other seniors,
have moved to Florence from
out of the area. My own chil-
dren are grown and live else-
where.
However, I still see the
importance of supporting our
local school district. In fact, I
recently joined the Florence
Community PTA because I
want to be part of making
positive changes in our
schools.
The PTA is endorsing the
Siuslaw School District
Local Option Renewal,
Measure 20-281.
A renewal means tax rates
will remain the same. We
want to make sure that the
positive changes brought
about by the current levy,
such as increased graduation
rates, remain in place.
The renewed option levy
would add funds to fully
implement Measure 98,
which expands career and
technology education.
Why do I think supporting
schools is important? I know
that educating children helps
us all. They will be able to
work at jobs that can support
themselves and their fami-
lies. This in turn will build
our local economy.
Many of them will also go
into medical fields that will
support our aged population.
A vibrant school system
improves our community and
attracts new businesses, as
well as professionals. The
new doctors we so badly
need here most certainly
want good educational
opportunities for their chil-
dren.
Supporting our schools by
approving renewal of the
option levy (Measure of 20-
281) will benefit all of us.
—Leonora Kent
Florence
G UN REGULATION DOES
NOT REDUCE HOMICIDES
In response to Michael
Allen’s letter “Regulations
Can Reduce Gun Violence”
(Oct. 25): For ages 14 to -24
there was a gun homicide
rapid ramp-up beginning in
the mid 1980s. These homi-
cides were overwhelmingly
by handguns and males.
We all remember the tele-
vision show “Miami Vice”
and its depiction of drug gang
violence.
If one removes the 14 to 24
demographic, waiting peri-
ods have zero effect. For ages
under 14 and over 25, gun
homicides
have
been
decreasing at a constant rate
for almost the entire study
period, save for a slight spike
at the end of the Carter presi-
dency.
Regulations are applied to
everyone and ignored by
criminals. To my knowledge,
no legitimate study has ever
shown that increased regula-
tion has led to a reduction in
firearm homicides.
Mr. Allen might find Joyce
Lee Malcolm’s “Guns and
Violence:
The
English
Experience” instructive. This
excellent
study
tracks
firearms and their regulation
in England for hundreds of
years. And for all but the last
hundred years, English socie-
ty became increasingly less
violent; firearm violence
increased lock-step with
firearm regulation.
One would do well to
recall Englishman Disraeli’s
maxim:
“There are lies, damned
lies and statistics.”
— Ian Eales
Florence
NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC
Senior Center, 1570 Kingwood • 541-991-9398
Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533
Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections
Adult Bible Class, 9:30am on Sundays.
Sunday Services, 9am and 10:45am.
fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Mon. 5:30 pm
Pastor Lori Blake
www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen
Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m.
A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome.
Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood
Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir
All Welcome. Come as you are.
3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We worship in homes at 11am Sundays
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations.
Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am
Middle School and High School youth groups meet on
Wednesday.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH,
L.C.M.S.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
theshedd.org/JazzKings
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pastor Randy Benscoter
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
12th and Nopal –997-9020
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study
Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m.
Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM
–- Sunday School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening
activities - 5 PM
Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM
Call for details.
Join Us In Worship
4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week
4 week Minimum
Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays.
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
Average Joe.
However, those even half
awake can see the breaks are
going to the top tax bracket
— with a few crumbs to the
rest.
Ronald Reagan cam-
paigned with similar promis-
es and massively reduced
taxes in 1981, with the
wealthiest receiving the
largest
slice
of
pie.
Meanwhile, the Treasury
came up short and taxes went
up in 1982, 1983, 1984 and
1987 — but only on the back
of Average Joe.
So truth be told, the mas-
sive disparity in wealth dis-
tribution we are experiencing
now began in the 1980s.
Now, the premise that cor-
porations need this current
tax break to boost the econo-
my is being swallowed by the
gullible.
Let’s be honest: Corporate
heads who already receive
multi-millions in compensa-
tion and bonuses fight mini-
mum wage increases, health
benefits and overtime pay for
their employees. Can we
expect them to suddenly
change and share their tax
break with Average Joe?
They promise jobs; tax
cuts do not equal job growth.
Prior to Reagan, Jimmy
Carter had yearly job growth
of 2.6 M; Reagan, after tax
breaks to the wealthy, had
2M a year; and Clinton, after
raising the tax rate for the
wealthiest, had job growth of
2.6 M a year.
We do need massive tax
reform. The top one percent
of households hold about the
same wealth as the bottom 90
percent. Corporate taxes paid
after loopholes is a fraction
of the rate and, recently, 22
percent of large corporations
paid zero corporate taxes.
Without fair taxes, our
schools suffer and college
students able to get a loan are
buried in debt.
Our transportation and
infrastructure need a transfu-
sion.
Our health care is a disas-
ter.
Economic competition is
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE
DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m.
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
To be included in this directory contact
the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off
information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence.
Keep Your
Sunny Side Up!
The music of De Sylva, Brown & Henderson
Sunday, October 29, 2 pm matinee
Florence Events Center 541.997.1994
Free Jazz
Tickets for
Students
program