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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 | 7A FUUF finds ‘Time for tribe’ Sunday On Sunday, Aug. 19, from 10 until 11 a.m., at the Florence Uni- tarian Universalist Fellowship, Bill Kauth and Zoe Alowan will discuss the concept of “tribe,” i.e., groups of men and women building long term, committed non-residential communities. Kauth and Alowan’s message is titled: “Time for the TRIBE,” which is all about organizing bonded tribes of people who are committed to building intimacy and deep trust while healing the essential feminine and masculine. The fellowship is located at 87738 Highway 101 at Heceta Beach Road and is wheelchair accessible. Each service concludes with refresh- ments and a dialogue circle to ex- plore the questions that come up during each worship service. For more information, visit www. florenceuuf.org. Spirituali-Tea to explore religious law Monday On Monday, Aug. 20, begin- ning at 6 :30 p.m., all are invited to join a group of people who en- joy finding the common grounds in diverse spiritual thoughts and paths. The meeting is at 875 Seventh St. in Florence. The topic is Religious Law. The Writings of the Baha’i Faith state that, “All religions teach that we must do good, that we must be generous, sincere, truthful, law-abiding, and faith- ful; all this is reasonable, and log- ically the only way in which hu- manity can progress. All religious laws conform to reason, and are suited to the people for whom they are framed, and for the age in which they are to be obeyed.” The group will discuss how religion has two main parts, the spiritual and the practical. The practical part of religion deals with exterior forms and ceremonies, and with modes of punishment for certain offences. This is the material side of the law, and guides the customs and manners of the people. In the time of Moses, there were 10 crimes punishable by death. When Christ came this was changed; the old axiom “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” was converted into “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,” the stern old law being changed into one of love, mercy and forbearance. In the former days the pun- ishment for theft was the cutting off of the right hand; in our time this law could not be so applied. In this age, a man who curses his father is allowed to live, when formerly he would have been put to death. “It is therefore evident that whilst the spiritual law never alters, the practical rules must change their application with the necessities of the time,” the Writings of the Baha’i Faith state. “The spiritual aspect of religion is the greater, the more important of the two, and this is the same for all time.” Bring 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 gar- den of the Florence Playhouse and those shared by the group. For more information, contact Suzanne at 541-590-0616. OREGON COAST FOR BRUCE from page 1A Robert Spencer Bruce was my neighbor for over 30 years. We’ll miss him a great deal. He had an impact on anybody and everybody, including total strangers. He would walk up to a stranger on the creek, and next thing they knew they were going fishing with him the next week. He’s that kind of guy. Just look around. This is the impact he had on ev- erybody. The Romeos They call themselves the ROME- Os, Retired Old Men Eating Out. Once a week or so, these group of retirees sit at the restaurant at Dar- ling’s Resort and Marina, eating breakfast, catching up on the week’s goings. Bruce had been a frequent diner in the group, each of whom at con- nections to him: coworker, fishing buddy, mentor. It was just a few days after the announcement of his passing when ROMEO members Vince LaRocco, Sheldon Meyer, Karl Jennings, Gary Knipe and Denny Sydo, reminisced about their old friend. Gary: I started teaching around 1975, and he was new the next year after I started. He was a first-grade teacher at that time. I coached track with him. He got along with the kids really well, because he was a high-energy person. He kept up with them, ran with them. He did every- thing they did. He was really good that way, compassionate and understanding. Vince: I had a student of his tell me that he taught dance in P.E. He would dance with all the kids and they just loved him. I never knew that he had rhythm, along with his other attributes. Gary: He was a little counter cul- ture, and some of the teachers had trouble with that. But he had a golden heart. It was like he was bigger than life. It’s hard to be- lieve that he’s not here. STORM BE READY Expo READY Saturday, August 25, 2018 FLORENCE EVENTS CENTER FREE ADMISSION LIVE DEMOS, VENDORS, PRIZES! DOORS OPEN AT 10AM FREE HOT DOG LUNCH SPONSORED BY KIWANIS PRESENTED BY: FIRST 300 GUESTS WILL RECEVE ONE 2.5 GALLON WATER CONTAINER Sponsored by: Karl: He was really outspoken at times. He didn’t care whose feel- ings he hurt, but he had a golden heart. He had compassion for everyone. Small in stature, but you always had a sense that you were talking to a bigger person. He had a big voice. I played softball with him on two teams and I played volley- ball with him. I swam with him, I fished with him for five years. He’s been in our football group, and this breakfast right here. Gary: I saw him the day before. He had his two halibut, and I just got there. And there wasn’t another bite to be had that day. Karl: His secret was persistence. Gary: He was out there a lot. Karl: A lot. Gary: He fished more than any- body I can think of in this port. Karl: And when he wasn’t fish- ing in the ocean, we used to get our waders and walk up the creek, like Ten Mile Creek, fish- ing all the way up for steelhead. He caught fish there too. He showed me how to fish in those creeks and caught a lot of fish up there, like 32-inch steelhead. He got around. He fished in the river, initially, then he got an ocean-going boat. His first boat was only a 16-footer. We went out way out in the ocean with that very small boat. Gary: Fit him just right. He’s go- ing to be missed by everybody. Everybody’s going to miss Bruce. Karl: Great teacher. Mentored hundreds of youth here. Gary: And adults. He was teach- ing me up until last week. I re- tired before him, and he’s still showing me how to tie leaders. He never quit teaching. Vince: Bruce had my stepson in one of his classes years and years ago. When my son was para- lyzed, Bruce made a point every time he saw me to ask him how he was. That was after 10 years. It demonstrates his innate care for the kids that he taught. I didn’t know him as well as these guys, and we had our differences from time to time, but I’m really heartbroken over this. Karl: I just feel awful for his fam- ily, Sandra and … I’m just … I’m sorry, I can’t. Denny: Bruce was a good guy. He did a lot of good things. Vince: You could count on him. He would be there for you if you needed it. Denny: He was really a good guy. Everything you hear about Bruce doing, it was something good. He continually did that. I’m go- ing to really miss him. Shelion: I’m a latecomer into this group, but I loved and adored him. Like the rest of these guys, I’ll miss him. He leaves a big, big hole in all of our lives. It just makes no sense what happened. Vince: As you get older, your own mortality becomes staring at you in the face. These kind of I think Bruce was a man of pas- things makes that very clear and focused. He’s gone. And I miss sion. He loved his children and took really great pride in them. He him. was just a really positive person, and a real people person. Netl Wartntk I think that his love and concern When Wartnik was still in high school, he competed against Bruce’s for the kids rubbed off on me over team when it was forming in the late time. I hope that I can be the kind 1970s and early 1980s. Years later, of kid advocate that Bruce was, and he taught English Language Arts learn to fight for the children. There have been so many influ- at Siuslaw and worked with Bruce before eventually coaching the high ences in my life, and he’s a very im- school wrestling team. Wartnik talk- portant ingredient in my past. He ed about the history of the wrestling was a good role model. program, why it became a success Rtch DeSantts and how Bruce helped him become Rich DeSantis grew up learning a better teacher. wrestling from Bruce. A “little guy” Bruce was an animated, full-of- like his teacher, he was able to make lifelong friends and win state cham- life man. I first met him when I was in pionships, passing down his knowl- High School. I wrestled for Co- edge to his own sons. quille High School and compet- In 1980, I was in second grade ed against the Vikings numerous when part of our school burned times. Bruce and head coach Pat to the ground. The following year, Zahner were new to the scene and they moved one third-grade class brought great energy to Siuslaw. over to the elementary school. It was there that I had my first They worked as a team for 15 or 20 experience with Mr. McKibbin. years. He was a very energetic teacher, They did a great job running the middle school and high school passionate about teaching, wres- programs. And they were really tling and children. He got us into the ones that introduced the Little Little Toad wrestling and coached Toads Wrestling, this program with us in mat club in middle school. We would have joined a knitting elementary-age students. They knew that to build a good team if that’s what he asked us to program, you have to begin build- do. He was infectious. He had a ing those connections when the passion for life that was evident in children are in elementary school. his huge smile. His laugh was even They got the parents involved, and bigger. He was a little guy and many of put everything together piece by the kids were actually bigger than piece, link by link. It was their good will that made him. At the end of every practice, we ended with a weight line drill it. They built relationships with where all the kids lined up, small- families, they got to know kids. est in front, biggest in back. He was They took kids to tournaments all always up near the front. He forced me to wrestle big guys, over the state. When you do that year after year, much bigger than myself. My freshmen year, I only for 15 years, people begin to appre- ciate you. Any time parents can put weighed 89 pounds, much light- their children in a program where er than the lowest weight bracket. they have fun and are built up in And I weighed in with all my street a positive way, you’ll get parents clothes and my duffle bag over my behind you. That’s what happened. shoulder. He gravitated to the little guys on They just gained respect. Bruce was so instrumental, and the team, made us compete harder he was a great organizer of chil- against the big kids. He taught us, dren. He was a bit of a pied piper, to work harder than them. The size in some way. In no way malevo- of your body can’t compete with lent, but the kids just followed him. the size of your heart. He made me a champion by They loved him. He advocated for kids. He be- making me believe in myself. He lieved in him. I was most impressed made us champions by making us about the fact he brought the best believe in each other. I heard they still had a club team, out of children because he believed so I showed up with my two sons. in them. He was also a great advocate of The coaches were two guys who the children, especially the elemen- wrestled for Bruce. It felt really good to get back on tary age. There was this one time, he saw the blue and gold mats and pass on me interacting with children, and what he taught me. Both my sons maybe not being very positive, are little guys compared to their having a negative, jaded demeanor peers. toward the kids. My youngest only lost one match Bruce got in my face and said in four tournaments. My older son “You need to treat these people competed hard and won about half with respect. They’re good people.” of his matches. He’s learning how He’s someone who wasn’t afraid to be a little more aggressive. to tell you, straight up, what you I got out an old tin from the bot- needed to know. tom of my closet, gathered my sons around the living room and opened it. Inside were all the medals, in- cluding my state title and sixth- place medal. All my ribbons were faded and water stained. They thought I was a superhero. Bruce became a teammate of mine a few years ago when he asked to be held at the Florence Events Center me to be on his bowling team. during the I still called him Mr. McKibbin after 35 years. I think he liked that, Be Ready – Storm Ready as it was nostalgic for him. Preparedness Expo He would talk to me about all our wrestling adventures and he re- August 25, 2018! membered more than I did because it was his everything. I would drink Please call the Siuslaw News and listen to him reminisce. He en- joyed reliving the stories. at 541-902-3526 to sign up. As I looked around in the crowd You may pay by credit or debit card. at the service in Woahink, I saw many people from school who There are two classes being offered. still live in the area. All of us share a passion for life, laugh a lot, and Positions in the class are on a fi rst paid for, fi rst never have a bad day. It was teach- reserved basisand classes are limited to the fi rst ers like Mr. McKibbin, Mr. Perry 25 paying participants in each class. and Mr. Galbraith who made us the men of our community today. So don’t delay, sign up for a place now! I have experiences in my life that shaped me. Being around guys like Bruce played a role in that. The class is at It’s why you coach. You’re always 11:00 AM AND 2:00 PM going to be a coach to some kid for the rest of their life. Saturday, August 25, 2018 I have faith in there being some- Cost is only $25.00 thing better after we leave here. When we’re gone, we leave a leg- per participant! acy. I have zero bad days, and I tell my children to never be sad when I’m gone. Think of me and all the fun stuff — and know that I’m in a better place. EMERGENCY SUTURING CLASS Sending out an SOS IDENTIFY • PREPARE • SURVIVE Speak your peace. Write a Letter to the Eiitor. Eiitor@TheSiuslawNews.com Sponsored by: Taught by: Siuslaw News Siuslaw Outreach Services (SOS), 1576 12th St., is active- ly recruiting volunteers for the front desk. These special vol- unteers greet clients and sup- port SOS staff. Most volunteers cover a four-hour shift once per week. All training is provided. For more info, call 541-997- 2816, email lori@florencesos. org or stop by.