8A | WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
AIRPORT from page 1A
greet arriving pilots and also to
provide real-time weather infor-
mation for aviators as they are
landing and taking off. Members
of the Airport Volunteer Group
(AVG) perform a function that
was once filled by paid profes-
sionals but is now primarily the
responsibility of a small group of
dedicated volunteers.
The reason for the creation of
the AVG several years ago was
simple, money — or, more pre-
cisely, lack of money.
Mike Miller is the head of Flor-
ence Public Works and has direct
oversight responsibility for the
airport.
“The AVG was created during
the tail end of the economic col-
lapse and when the airport was
completely out of reserves. The
airport is operated just like one
of our utilities, meaning that it
needs to have an income stream
to offset its expenditures,” Mill-
er said. “The city had already
ceased transfers to Public Works
and city administration to pay for
our time and resources in manag-
ing the airport, meaning that we
would continue to provide sup-
port but not be reimbursed by the
airport.”
That was when Miller had a
meeting with a small group of
pilots and aviation enthusiasts,
where an interesting idea to ad-
dress the situation came up.
“A group of pilots came up
with the idea to form the AVG,
which would staff the airport of-
fice on a volunteer basis,” Miller
said. “Our airport volunteers are
the friendly face of the airport
office. They welcome and greet
pilots and their passengers from
out of town; answer the airport
office phone; and provide infor-
mation and directions to local
attractions.
“The volunteers are also the
‘eyes and ears’ in regard to mon-
itoring airport operations and
alerting city staff of potential
safety, security or maintenance
issues.”
Some of the senior members of
AVG gathered to shared thoughts
on the Wings and Wheels event
held at the airport on July 7. The
unique aircraft and vintage vehi-
cle show has continued to grow
in each of its eight years, and the
men and women of the AVG are
major contributors to the success
the event has enjoyed.
Miller believes Wings and
Wheels is an important opportu-
nity to highlight the airport and
the many advantages it brings to
residents of the area.
“The city has been actively in-
volved in Wings and Wheels since
the beginning. What better way
to showcase the airport and bring
in visitors to the airport?” Miller
asked. “Our airport is small, and
some community members do
not realize that we even have an
airport. The airport provides dai-
ly air overnight deliveries, air am-
bulance service, emergency ser-
vices, flight instruction, a place
for radio-controlled aircraft to
safely operate (at the north end of
the airport) and a great place for
aircraft hobbyists to hone their
skills.”
Sam Spayd, Steve Sauber, Carl
Middleton and Terry Tomeny are
central members of the AVG. All
are more than willing to share
their enthusiasm for the time
they spend volunteering.
“The group was originally put
together because we lost our air-
port manager,” Saubert said. “Our
whole concept was to use volun-
teers to operate this facility, like
the folks that help to manage the
parks. We put this group togeth-
er to save the city money and to
keep the airport open and operat-
ing with someone on site to greet
pilots.”
Spayd and Saubert are long-
time residents of Florence, and
Tomeny purchased Florence’s
famous Stearman Bi-Plane from
Spayd a few years ago. In so do-
ing, he joined the loose fraternity
of ex-military pilots and combat
veterans that make up a signif-
icant portion of the area’s popu-
lation.
Many of these veterans also
staff the airport.
Between just these four mem-
bers of the AVG, they have more
than a century of flying expe-
rience between them. The sto-
ries and recollections are easy
to come by, as the coffee starts
kicking in and the doughnuts get
passed around.
While spending time at the air-
port with members of the AVG
has the relaxed feel of hanging
out with a group of friends, the
contributions made by the group
are important.
“There are people that use
different calculations, but I per-
sonally think we save the city
between $100,000 and $150,000
a year, by the time you add up
all the different aspects of what
we do out here,” Tomeny said.
“An airport this size is a major
cog in the economics of an area
like this, and it’s also important
in other ways. One of these rea-
sons we have such good delivery
of UPS and Fed-Ex in Florence is
they fly packages in every day for
delivery in the Florence area.”
Over the intervening years, the
group has grown from a small
handful of volunteers to a few
dozen people who perform ba-
sic observation and maintenance
functions, each and every day at
the airfield.
“We normally have about 30
people, that varies a little, and we
all give one day a month or two,”
Tomeny said. “There is a sign-up
sheet and a checklist of the things
we do when we open, and then
you answer the phone and greet
anyone that flies in. Then, when
you are done, you clean up, get
the coffee ready and call the next
person on the list to remind them
they are coming in the day.”
BETTER HEARING.
BETTER COMMUNICATION.
BETTER RELATIONSHIPS.
Another important service
the AVG provides is to welcome
pilots that are traveling from
one place to another and have
stopped in Florence for a visit or
to rest.
A
long-standing
custom
among aviators is to welcome in-
coming pilots to their airport and
help make their stay as comfort-
able as possible. One of the ways
this is accomplished is to provide
a loaner car for pilot use. Gener-
ally, this vehicle is not in the best
condition and is offered free of
charge to visiting pilots.
“We had a 30-year-old Lincoln
out here, which was a grand old
car and people loved it. At many
airports they loan cars to pilots.
If you go from little airport to
little airport, what are referred
to as uncontrolled fields, it is
not unusual for them to have a
loaner car, and they are usually
hilarious,” Middleton said. “They
are old beater cars and they don’t
charge anything for them. They
give you the key and they ask
that you put in as much gas as
you use.”
Over the past couple of years
Florence has seen a rebound in
the local economy and the Flor-
ence Municipal Airport has been
able to secure a number of leases
for property under its control.
New long-term leases for the
property off Kingwood Street,
where both the new Public
Works Facility is located and the
Oregon Coast Military Museum
has been for three years, has al-
lowed Miller to use the increased
revenue stream to replace and
upgrade what has traditionally
been a vehicular afterthought
with one that is cutting edge.
According to Miller, these
properties, as well as lots in the
Pacific View Business Park, be-
longed to the airport.
“As such, the sale proceeds
go to the airport to fund capital
projects as well as operations,” he
said. “We really looked at what
we had at the airport and made
two key investments. One was
the new airport monument sign
Estate Sale
Sat.-Sun. 7/28-7/29
8:30am-4pm
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Oak furniture & counter stools,
professional oil paintings & other
assorted wall hangings, reclining
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boat stuff, lots of tools, fi shing,
books, sleeping bags, xmas,
household items & lots more.
for the airport and the other was
getting a low maintenance and
sustainable courtesy car.”
City staff worked with John-
ston Motors to secure a quality
lease return vehicle.
“With the Public Works new
operations center and the effort
we put into being efficient, ef-
fective and sustainable, it made
sense to bring in a plug-in elec-
tric gas hybrid vehicle,” Miller
said. “The plug-in electric speaks
volumes to the city’s commit-
ment to sustainability.”
Miller also said the airport can
provide another economic en-
gine for the city, now that some
basic concerns expressed by pi-
lots have been answered.
“The city has a strong com-
mitment to the airport. We have
come a long way since the dark
days of the economic collapse
and we continue to provide en-
hanced services to the airport.
As a number of the Airport Ad-
visory Committee members, as
well as our out of area and visit-
ing pilots, have stated on many
occasions, the airport has never
looked so good. As the economy
continues to improve, the airport
is staged to be a potential eco-
nomic engine for the communi-
ty,” Miller said.
Members of the Airport Vol-
unteer Group are currently re-
cruiting new members to their
team. They encourage anyone
interested in aviation, or looking
for pleasant way to spend some
time and contribute in a positive
way to the work at the airport, to
stop in and say hello.
“We welcome anybody who
wants to come by for coffee and
doughnuts, that’s fine,” Tomeny
said. “But if anybody wants to
sign up for the volunteer group,
you don’t have to be a pilot and
you don’t have to know any-
thing about airplanes. We can tell
you what’s involved and get you
signed up.”
For more information on the
Airport Volunteers Group, call
Saubert at 541-999-8095 or Mid-
dleton at 530-305-5373.
POWER from page 7A
A whole host of volunteers,
about 40 in total, made two or
three pies a piece to donate to the
event. Sandi’s specialty is apple.
“For me, the pie crust is the
thing,” she said. “It’s shortening,
flour and water. Don’t touch it
too much, because that makes it
flakey.” She added, “Never buy
crust. It’s terrible. I would never
think about buying crust.”
She would also never think
about buying anything but gran-
ny smith apples for the pie, but it i
s other ingredients that really
give the pie its flavor: cinnamon,
sugar, butter and fresh nutmeg
on top.
“Put the pie crust top on, pop
it in the oven for 45 or 50 min-
utes at four and a quarter, and
Voila!” Sandi said. “It shows love
when you give somebody a pie.
We serve them to all our friends,
and if we aren’t friends when they
come in, we make sure they’re
friends before they leave.”
Friendship is what volunteer-
ing is all about.
Sandi said she was lucky grow-
ing up. She didn’t have much as
she tried to raise her children. It
was the generosity of others that
helped get her though tough
times.
“I know what it felt like to be
the recipient, and it’s much more
gratifying to be the giver, don’t
you think?” she asked.
“Much more than being the
taker,” added her friend and fel-
low volunteer Margaret McDiar-
mid.
Margaret was running back
and forth in the room, making
sure all the pies were stocked.
“And it makes me feel young-
er,” Sandi added. “I’m 76, but I
don’t feel 76.”
Margaret joked, “I’m not old
enough to be 76.”
“Really?” Sandi asked.
Someone else yelled out, “Me
neither.”
“Well, there you go. Two
friends lost,” Sandi joked.
Friendship is only natural for
a place like Florence, Sandi said.
“Most of us come to here from
other towns or other states, and
we combine here,” she said.
And the best way to give back
to a community of friends is to
give back. She volunteers at the
hospital, the American Rhodo-
dendron Society and the P.E.O.
Foundation.
“And in my free time, I nap,”
she added. “And make pies, of
course.”
Most of her days find her wak-
ing up at 6 a.m., showing up to
her duties at 7, and working until
noon.
“When I wake up, I think, ‘Oh
no, another day,’” Sandi said. “But
when I’m there, it’s all great. It just
somehow works.”
For Sandi, and all of those who
gave their time during the Pow-
er of Florence, volunteering is as
American as apple pie.
“It just makes me a better per-
son.”
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