4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| AUGUST 1, 2018
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
C
The First Amendment
ongress shall make no law respecting an es-
tablishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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Copyright 2018 © Siuslaw News
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon.
A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.
Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O.
Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent
to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Je n n a B a r t l e t t
Ned H ickson
Erik Chalhoub
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M a r k e t i n g Di re c to r, e x t . 3 2 6
O f f i ce Su p e r v i s o r, e x t . 3 1 2
Pro d u c t i o n Su p e r v i s o r
Pre s s M a n a ge r
Su s a n G u t i e r re z
Cat hy Di e t z
Ron Annis
Je re my G e n t r y
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Letters to the Editor policy
LETTERS
Keep up the good work
I am writing to thank you for the ex-
cellent “City of Florence, Oregon, 125
Years” supplement. As a relative new-
comer to Florence, it was fascinating to
read this historical year-by-year record
and I especially liked the many pictures.
During my career, I have lived in
more than 15 cities across six states and
the Siuslaw News is definitely the best
community newspaper I’ve found. The
constant emphasis on all the good being
accomplished by the citizens, civic orga-
nizations and churches is a very refresh-
ing change from the negative content of
so many newspapers today.
I especially appreciate the series of
in-depth investigations on a variety of
important community issues that fre-
quently span several issues. Your cover-
age is always fair in presenting different
approaches to the issues, and your edito-
rials and Guest Viewpoints bring a good
range of viewpoints to be considered.
Thanks to you and to all the writers.
Also, thanks for the weekly “Kid
Scoop” page. I frequently send copies to
my own young relatives and to a social
worker friend whose focus is on chil-
dren. I’m sure all of the advertisers who
support “Kid Scoop” are appreciated by
a great many of Florence’s kids, parents
and teachers who enjoy and learn from
the pages.
Keep up all the good work being ac-
complished for Florence by you and
your staff.
With sincere appreciation,
—Ann Lathrop,
Professor Emeritus
California State University,
Long Beach
Women’s rights can’t be
taken for granted
I read with impending dread Mr. Joel
Marks letter regarding “Divine Cre-
ator”-given rights vs. women’s rights
(Roe Vs. Wade a Masterpiece of Obfus-
cation," July 28).
His words remind me that we women
must guard our rights with every breath
as they can — and would — be taken
away by those who see themselves (usu-
ally men) as superior in decision making
about women's issues.
It reminded me that, when I graduat-
ed from college, as a woman I was not
allowed to get even a library card in my
name. Then, five years later, after put-
ting my husband through law school and
eventually divorcing, he got all my credit
and I was left with none — even though
he did not work during those law school
years.
Since Roe vs. Wade, I at least thought
I have a right to privacy as well as a right
to my own body. I see now that both of
these rights are in jeopardy and might be
taken away — not by due process but by
disavowing those rights.
Many young women assume that
women’s rights have always been there,
and that we have always been able to
make our own choices, whether legal,
financial or health related.
Not so.
So take heed those of you who were
not a part of that difficult struggle for
freedom. Even though we have a secular
constitution and Bill of Rights, there are
many who want us to be ruled by reli-
gious teachings instead.
Is this the Christian version of Sharia
Law? Mr. Marks’ words would seem to
imply that.
—Judy Kinsman
Florence
Block party highlighted
what our city is about
The City of Florence Celebrated its
125th anniversary last Friday (July 27)
with a rousing block party in Old Town.
On behalf of the City, as well as person-
ally, I want to thank all our sponsors who
helped support this effort along with the
Merchants of Old Town (MOOT) for its
support.
To make it even better, the Oregon
Mayor’s Conference was in town during
this event and it made me very proud to
hear the applause and comments prais-
ing our celebration.
They were amazed at what our city is
all about.
I would like to especially thank Erin
Reynolds, our city manager, and her fine
staff, who went above and beyond the
call of duty in coordinating both events
at the same time. It took a lot of hard
work on the part of many people.
And in just two weeks, another great
outdoor event is happening. On Aug. 7,
the Florence Police Department is host-
ing a National Night Out Event at Miller
Park from 6 to 9 p.m.
National Night Out is a communi-
ty-police event held throughout the
United States meant to increase aware-
ness about police programs in commu-
nities, such as drug prevention, town
watch, neighborhood watch and other
anti-crime efforts.
This is going to be a lot of fun for ev-
eryone with free burgers and hot dogs.
Yours truly will be at the grill.
Come out and bring the family.
—Joe Henry, Mayor
Florence
Come share your
thoughts about parks
Lane County Parks has been work-
ing with a community-led task force to
update its Parks & Open Space Master
Plan since 2016. As the coordinator of
the Friends of Harbor Vista Park, I was
appointed to the task force to represent
the Coast District.
I invite you to attend a forum to dis-
cuss the draft plan this Thursday, Aug. 2,
from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Siuslaw Valley
Fire Station (2625 Highway 101). This
is one of six forums to be held through-
out the county and will be conducted by
county parks staff.
The newly released draft plan incor-
porates the feedback from community
members last summer — as well as guid-
ance from the community-led task force
— to create a draft Parks & Open Space
Master Plan that reflects the values and
priorities Lane County residents have for
their parks now and into the future.
Two community workshops were held
on the coast in Florence and Mapleton.
Both were well attended and provided
valuable input unique to our communi-
ty. Ultimately, the final plan will guide
how Lane County maintains and invests
in its parks for decades to come.
The draft plan is available online at
www.lanecounty.org/parksplan, along
with additional information about the
scheduled forums and a brief comment
form. Lane County’s parks and open
spaces are crucial to the community’s
economic vitality, quality of life and pub-
lic health. They also provide an import-
ant legacy for future generations.
Join me in helping to create the best
possible plan for our parks.
—Michael Allen,
Task Force Member
Florence
Celebrating Florence’s
past important part of
appreciating future
Around this day, 125 years past, the
town of Florence as we know it emerged.
So the fair folk of Florence had a party
Traffic was stopped on Bay Street to al-
low for the celebration as infants and the
seasoned alike mingled to take part.
History was celebrated and future en-
visioned.
The abundant sounds, sights and fla-
vors were refreshing from the heat and
the free ice cream lent a helping hand.
Inside an eatery, music from an old up-
right piano forced the capture of atten-
tion.
Rebecca was working the keys.
With expert and exact technique she
delivered song after song from memo-
ry. That old piano, along with Rebecca's
vintage, surprised most observers. Sur-
prise quickly turned to inspiration when
it's discovered that Rebecca is complete-
ly blind.
Sunset while the street was swept and
celebration was neatly packed away for
another day. It was then that the con-
nection became apparent whether we
choose to see it or not.
It’s only through appreciative grasping
of the past, along with careful inspira-
tion from the present, that we’ll find vi-
sion for the future.
—Scott Olson
Portland, Ore.
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Emal letters to:
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WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
(4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
(Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@state.or.us
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us