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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2018)
10 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2018 Spirituali-Tea to discuss WLAD paramedic releases first (mostly) fiction novel progressive taxation This Monday, April 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the community is invited to join a group that enjoys diverse spir- itual thoughts and paths. The topic for Monday’s gathering is “Progressive Taxation.” The Bahá’i teachings, since their introduction to the world 150 years ago, have called for progressive, fair and graduated taxes, all based on the funda- mental idea that everyone is part of one human family. Progressive taxation isn’t new; Great Britain first imple- mented progressive tax poli- cies centuries ago, and President Abraham Lincoln signed the first progressive income tax law in the U.S. in 1862. Bahá’is believe strongly that just, well-ordered soci- eties tax progressively to encourage kindness and com- passion toward all. “Although the body politic is one family, yet because of lack of harmonious relations some members are comfort- able and some in direst misery, some members are satisfied and some are hungry, some members are clothed in most costly garments and some families are in need of food and shelter. Why? Because this family lacks the necessary rec- iprocity and symmetry,” the Bahái writings say. Bring your thoughts on the subject for open discussion. The gathering will end at 8 p.m. with prayers for the requests left in the Prayer Pole in the garden of the Florence Playhouse and those shared by the group. Meetings are held at 875 Seventh St. in Florence. For more information call Suzanne Mann-Heintz at 541- 590-0779. Florence Unitarian Universalists to hear about wisdom Sunday, April 15, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, guest speaker Rev. Stephen Landale will lead the worship service titled: Even the Wise Cannot See All Ends. “In a time of deep divisions in our country, where can we turn for counsel? It turns out that J.R.R. Tolkien’s character Gandalf, the wizard from “The Lord of the Rings,” has wis- dom that is both reassuring and challenging for our times,” Landale said. “This message, while encouraging, also challenges us to be less focused on ends, particularly short-term ends, and more focused on … well, that’s what we’ll be exploring.” Landale has served as a hos- pice chaplain in Corvallis and Eugene for nearly 6 years and previously served for 11 years as a full-time UU minister in New England and Eugene. Florence Unitarian Uni- versalist Fellowship, 87738 Highway 101 at Heceta Beach Road, is wheelchair accessi- ble. Each service concludes with refreshments and a dialogue circle to explore the questions that come up during each wor- ship service. For more information, visit www.florenceuuf.org. Visit the Siuslaw News online at WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM Albert Kreitz, a 25-year vet- eran WLAD Paramedic, has published his first novel, “Partners For Life.” Kreitz was just 20 years old when he worked as an EMT-B in Los Angeles. Kreitz said the inspiration to write the book came from his many personal experiences as a medic there. “I was 19, living with friends in Hollywood and looking for a job when I saw the word “Emergency” in all-caps in the L.A. Times classifieds,” recalled Kreitz. “Before I knew COURTESY PHOTO Al Krietz it, I was done with school and on the streets of Los Angeles County with my polar opposite, ‘Big Jeff.’” This sets the initial conflict of the fictional novel, as Jeff and “Joe,” the character Kreitz draws from, begin their epic journey as first responders in Los Angeles. “All the emergency medical calls in the book are real and happened either in L.A., Oakland, Calif. or in Oregon, where I eventually moved to,” said Krietz, whose story includes a cult, escapes through northern California pot farms, encounters on the ocean, rivers and finally a major showdown in Oregon. The book, which is only available online at Amazon. com and KDP Kindle, has received a 5-star rating from readers — the highest level possible. Kreitz hasn’t decided if he’ll write a follow-up book, saying that it depends on how sales of his first attempt goes. “This last one about did me in,” he admitted. “My kids thought I was going to lose my mind working 24/7 the last week to get it done. But people seem to like it, which made all the effort worth it.” Siuslaw Watershed Council announces new Executive Director The Siuslaw Watershed Council's (SWC) Board of Directors president, David Eisler, is thrilled to announce that Eli Tome will be the new Executive Director of the non- profit organization. “SWC's board and staff could not be more pleased to welcome Eli to his new posi- tion and for him to bring his experience in restoration and community resiliency to help challenges we face here in our watershed,” Eisler said. Prior to assuming the Executive Director position at the Council, Eli was working as a watershed restoration proj- ects manager for the last year at L EARN the SWC. Eli came to the Watershed Council after working in Moab, UT where he sought to restore natural functions on the Colorado River. Before his time in the desert, Eli went to the University of Oregon for a masters in Community and Regional Planning, and his pas- sion for communities and healthy environments has led him to the Siuslaw today. “I'm excited to meet diverse members of our community throughout the Siuslaw, and to hear from folks new and inno- vative ways that the watershed council can support community resilience, economic vitality and most importantly work to support a healthy and produc- tive ecosystem,” Eli said. “I'm excited to lead an organization committed to these core val- ues.” The Watershed Council has been diligently working with partners to restore natural habi- tat-forming processes in the basin for the last two decades and is embarking on new efforts to increase their out- reach and education efforts throughout the basin while also continuing the restoration work that the organization is known for. Eli wants to hear from the community; what purpose can TO CONQUER WRITING BLOCKS AT Many people feel inspired to write but often feel paralyzed by the blank page. Even experi- enced writers can become stuck and struggle to begin flowing their ideas onto paper. “The Blank Page: Tips to Fill It, Conquer and Master It” will take place on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA), 120 Maple St. in Historic Old Town Florence. Presented by Writers on the River, the class will show writ- ers of all levels and genres how to overcome the blank page and get their writing going. “Together we’ll explore the world of creative possibilities presented by the blank page and learn tips for filling it with powerful prose,” said event organizer Catherine Rourke. The cost is $20 for FRAA FRAA SWC serve to better support a resilient community in addition to supporting and working to create a healthy and productive environment? The SWC president, David Eisler, encourages interested residents to reach out to Eli and welcome him to his new posi- tion and help him grow the watershed council as a commu- nity organization dedicated to the health of our river and our people. Eli can be reached at the watershed council office at (541) 268-3044 or by email at coordinator@siuslaw.org. WORKSHOP members or $25 for non-mem- bers, payable at the door. For more information, call 541-708-2120 or email CJReditor@gmail.com. FRAA creative writing instructor Catherine J. Rourke is an award-winning journalist, editor, author and writer edu- cated at the City University of New York, the University of Oxford/England and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. A PRIL 21 With more than 30 years’ experience as a staff editor and writer for newspapers and magazines, she is the author of “Forgive Us Our Press Passes — Confessions of a Modern- Day Muckraker” and a recipi- ent of a 2017 national first- place press award for her columns in the Siuslaw News. Screening Presented by: Siuslaw News & KCST & KCFM Coast Radio Thursday, April 26, 2018 Two Showings @ City Lights Cinema 12:30pm • 6:00pm Tickets are FREE* Admission tickets are required and available starting March 26 th at: • Siuslaw News 148 Maple St. • City Lights Cinema 1920 HWY 101 Representatives will be available for a Q&A after each showing. *Only 230 tickets available, fi rst come, fi rst served, Limit 2 per person. IL E RV M CEN T (54 R 1 5 SE IC ) 902-75 L SA PO 4 COAST DIS AL E W I TH A S FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ANTHONY BOURDAIN WASTED! The Story of Food Waste
