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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2018 | 7A ROYALTY from page 1A The entire Senior Court were seniors at Siuslaw High School this year. They gradu- ate in June. The Senior Princesses each mentored one Junior Prin- cess — first-grader Aleeya Thomas, second-grader Jas- mine Krause, third-grad- er Abigail Galvan-Mendez, fourth-grader Kylee Stinger and fifth-grader Brittney Ad- ams. The students come from both Siuslaw and Mapleton el- ementary schools. The 2018 Rhododendron Festival features the theme “Rhody Rendezvous,” and this theme permeated the evening. Past Queen Rhododen- dra Kay Robertson said that Rhody Days has come “full circle for her” as she returned to judge this year’s Corona- tion. “It’s really awesome to see the whole community come together for this weekend, and to see the youth and the talent. Everybody comes together to make a really beautiful cele- bration,” she said. The other judges were Florence Mayor Joe Henry, Florence First Citizen Rachel Pearson, Coast Radio host Wayne Sharpe and longtime area resident Diane Conlee, who has been Siuslaw High School’s cheerleading coach since the late 1970s. “It is unbelievable what this town can do in one week,” said Pearson. “The town explodes in a really good way — kind of like the rhododendrons com- ing out this year.” Several community mem- bers and businesses joined together to adorn the event center’s stage with rhododen- drons. Gene Cochran again provided rhododendrons for Queen Rhododendra’s bou- quet, which were then ar- ranged by Gary and Sharon Cargill of Florence in Bloom, and Bones Nursery created the living rhododendron stage arrangements. More rhododendrons will continue to be in view for a couple more weeks, as the flowers are in full bloom in the Florence area. The best of these will be on display at the American Rhododendron So- ciety’s Rhododendron Flower Show Saturday and Sunday at the Florence Events Center. In addition, rhododendrons are the star of the show during the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s Rhody Days Grand Floral Parade on Sun- day. PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS Goss, Reavis and their court will also be in the parade on a float designed by Oregon Pa- cific Bank and Banner Bank. During the Coronation, the Rhody Court first took the stage during “Thunder,” performed by CROW’s (Chil- dren’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops) Flight Dance Team. The rumbling music BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of Western Lane County 1601 15th Street • Florence, OR 97439 541-902-0304 Great Futures Start Here Volunteer Florence Food Share provides food to those who are hungry in our community. If you have four hours a week available, we are in need of vol- unteers to staff our Front Desk and also act as Guides as clients walk through the pantry. Please call our volunteer coordinator, Sarah Lovejoy, @ 541-997-9110 (Monday – Friday, before noon) to learn more about volunteering. info@lorence- foodshare.org 2190 Spruce Street. Get involved Donate Above, Lainey Goss (center) reacts in sur- prise as she is named 2018 Queen Rhododendra. She joins King of the Coast (far left) as the reigning royalty of Florence’s Rhododendron Festival. Left, each Senior Rhododendron Princess part- nered with a Junior Princess for mentor- ship, friendship and fun. matched the entrance of Ned ing he chose to dance in or- Hickson on his custom 1983 der to make people laugh. He Honda Shadow 750 — spe- picked a variety of styles to cifically chosen to match the rock out to onstage, including chamber’s “Rhody Rendez- many fan favorites. vous” logo. He was joined by Sanchez followed with a his wife Alicia and the pair vocal rendition of “Feeling provided banter as the event’s Good” — saying it perfectly masters of ceremony. embodies how she feels being The pair introduced each on the court and getting ready prince and princess before be- to move onto college. Next, VanWinkle took a ginning the talent portion of look at the “Man in the Mir- the evening. Edward Mielke’s Cinema ror” as she used American Studies class at Siuslaw High Sign Language to sing, dance School created video inter- and bring the song and its views with the Senior Courts. meaning to life. Waters stepped out next, These short videos aired be- fore each student performed running a slideshow of im- portant personal photos while their talent. Gentry began with a ballet. he played an original song on She said it was her first year keyboard. Finally, Saindon wrapped dancing again after a sever- al-year hiatus and that she up the talents with a new skill, feels comfortable on stage, but ukulele, accompanying her version of “I’m Yours.” She only when she’s dancing. Next, Goss read a poem said she tries to embody emo- she wrote about living on the tion every time she comes on coast while the screen behind stage, in honor of important her showed a fast motion vid- people in her life. The Hicksons invited the Ju- eo of her as she painted a wa- nior Court back to stage with tercolor sunset. Reavis performed next, say- their guardians. Ned asked the Do your part and Volunteers needed for new home construction, home repairs, general RIÀFHZRUNSXEOLFUHODWLRQVDQGSURJUDPDGPLQLVWUDWLRQ-RLQDQ RSHUDWLQJFRPPLWWHHDQGKHOS+DELWDWKHOSRWKHUV &DOORUHPDLOWRÁRUHQFHKDELWDW#JPDLOFRP 2IÀFHORFDWHGDW+:<)ORUHQFH ZZZIDFHERRNFRPUHVWRUHÁRUHQFH Memory Care Respite of Florence Your Memory Care Respite Center needs you! Seeking volunteers for our Coffee Club: Conversation & companionship in a caring setting while providing respite for caregivers. Contact us at memcarerespite@gmail.com volunteer today to help support these local non-proft COMMUNITY FORUM Tuesday, May 22nd • 4pm – 6pm Florence Events Center, Florence organizations in Now accepting new patients our community! Northwest Refl ections Health & Wellness is an independent practice that services the Florence area 5292 Harvard Avenue, Florence 541-590-3906 Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers. <RXZLOOÀQGDQDUHDRILQWHUHVW in a caring organization. Peace Harbor Volunteers 400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439 541-997-8412 ext. 2218 Volunteer HOME FOR SALE 90310 Highway 101, North Florence Call Rob for more information! Get involved Donate Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood • PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org Operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! Don't miss your opportunity to own this wonderful little home situated in a desirable area only 1/4 mile to Baker Beach trail head and horse camp! Perfect for a weekend get away or horse camp rental with home! 900 sq ft 2 bedroom, 1 bath on 1.77 acres with fenced area, out buildings and creek. $295,000 Features: • wood fl oors • granite counters • wood stove • large outdoor deck • newer furnace • water heater • insulation To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 Licensed in the state of Oregon. • vinyl windows • hardiplank siding • fenced pasture • lovely creek! young princesses a variety of questions about their families and their experiences on the court. Then, during the formal wear portion of the evening, mentors and parental figures escorted the Senior Court across the stage. The young men wore matching fitted suits with blue velvet jackets while the young women wore long gowns and high heels in a variety of styles. According to Alicia, there were four components of the selection of this year’s Rhody Rulers. Talent, poise, partici- pation and button sales con- tributed to the final scores. She then tested their poise by asking each court member one interview question. Poise was again in the spot- light at the conclusion of the evening as 2017 Queen Rho- dodendra Claire Waggoner took her final walk as queen. She gave an update on the past year and her future plans, which gave the judges time to complete their scorecards and turn them in to the event’s accountants, Bill and Cindy Grable. While the points were tal- lied, Flight returned for its final performance of the sea- son, a spectacular number called “Sand.” The group holds auditions for its new season in June. The Senior Court held hands across the stage as the students waited for the an- nouncement. Waggoner first crowned Reavis and then Goss as the reigning rhody royalty. Along with their titles, which they will hold for the next year, the king and queen won the main Rhody Court Scholarships, while the other Senior Court members re- ceived a smaller scholarship. “We would like to acknowl- edge that this evening would not be possible without the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and the time, ef- forts and talent of the Rhodo- dendron Court Committee,” Ned said. This year’s committee was comprised of Jenna Bartlett, Wendy Krause, Dee Osborne, Katie Bartlett, Nancy Boskett and Jared Anderson. In ad- dition, numerous volunteers stepped forward to fundraise for and work with the Rhody Court. U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River presented the colors at the start of the eve- ning. The Rhododendron Festival is sponsored by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, its underwriters Driftwood Shores Resort, Korando Den- tal Group, Three Rivers Casi- no Resort and TR Hunter and its distinguished sponsors. In addition, businesses spon- sored each member of the Ju- nior and Senior Courts. “The Rhododendron Fes- tival kind of takes on a life of its own,” Ned said. “What I love about the Rhododen- dron Court, and particularly our festival’s coronation cer- emony, is that it's something that ours as a community — it brings us all together to kick off a weekend before we wel- come the rest of the world to enjoy Florence. While it’s cer- tainly an event that is a part of Rhody weekend, the corona- tion is uniquely ours. And that makes it special." In honor of “Rhody Ren- dezvous,” the Rhody Courts will make several appearances during this weekend’s festival, including at Saturday morn- ing’s Rhody Run and noon Ju- nior Parade. For more information about the Rhododendron Festival, check out the cal- endar of events s on A8 or visit www. florence c h a m b e r. com.
