SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018 | 9A
Spirituali-Tea to seek Wood carving by Dan Hefferon on exhibit at Chamber
‘Eudaimonia’ Monday
Those interested in dis-
cussing diverse spiritual ideas
in an atmosphere of respect
and inquisitiveness are in-
vited to join a group that has
been meeting for years at 875
Seventh St., beginning at 6:30
p.m.
This week’s topic will be eu-
daimonia.
When Varun Soni, dean
of religious life at USC, was
in college, he embarked on a
spiritual journey to find hap-
piness. As part of his journey,
he spent a semester living in a
Buddhist monastery in Bodh
Gaya, India, studying Bud-
dhist philosophy, scripture
and practice.
It was there that he first en-
countered Buddha’s First No-
ble Truth: Life is suffering and
to live is to suffer.
But what connects us as hu-
man beings is our shared de-
sire to be free from suffering.
He eventually realized that
happiness was the wrong goal
for him, and in some ways, it
was a trap. He found that hap-
piness arises, and ceases based
on external conditions that are
often beyond control.
What he was really seeking
was equanimity, a calm and
resilient state that is beyond
happiness, and that emerges
from internal conditions that
are often within control.
He went on to say that folks
are looking to thrive in their
lives, they are looking for
well-being and a sense of be-
longing, they are looking for
meaning and purpose, for sig-
nificance and authenticity, for
joy and inspiration.
And ultimately, they are try-
ing to embody what ancient
Greek philosophers called
eudaimonia, a state of human
flourishing and peak perfor-
mance in the art of living.
He found that in terms of
achieving eudaimonia, spiri-
tuality and science are now in
agreement: The single most
important factor for human
flourishing is the cultivation
of loving and enduring rela-
tionships.
The depth and quality of
our loving relationships deter-
mines how we feel about our
lives, and so the best way for
us to achieve eudamonia is to
spend time living meaningful-
ly and sharing life experiences
with the people we love.
All are welcomed to bring
their thoughts for a lively dis-
cussion.
At the end of the gather-
ing, the group will read all the
prayer requests that have been
left in the Prayer Pole in the
garden of the Florence Play-
house, 208 Laurel St.
Dan “Heffy” Heffron of Hef-
fy’s Gallery is this month’s fea-
tured artist at the Florence Area
Chamber of Commerce’s Visi-
tors Center.
“This is incredible wood
carving, true artistry,” said
Chamber Executive Director
Bettina Hannigan. “There’s a
table-sized turtle that’s just gor-
geous, plus some stunning wa-
tercolor paintings by Jowanna
Gosselin.”
Heffy’s Gallery is presenting
18 pieces of exceptional wood
carvings and Gosselin’s water-
colors throughout August. He
specializes in wood burning
sculpture and using unusual
burl woods.
“The turtle took three and
a half months and its shell is
made from a lightning-strike
maple burl from Michigan,” ex-
plained Heffron.
Heffron has been carving
wood professionally for more
than 40 years but engaged in
the building trades and logging
industry in his native Michigan
“to support his habit.”
“Heffy is a new chamber
member and is already working
to make a difference for Flor-
ence and the chamber,” Han-
nigan said.
Heffron is self-taught and
makes his own tools for his
unique style, and plans to offer
carving and sculpting classes,
in wood and stone, soon. He
loves combing the local beaches
after winter storms for the best
materials.
He opened Heffy’s Gallery
on July 4, at 1856 37th St., be-
hind Linda’s Thrift Shop at 37th
Street and Highway 101.
The 1,000-plus square-foot
shop features about 170 pieces
of Heffron’s work, including a
carving of a golden eagle with
an eight-foot wingspan.
The gallery is open from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
COURTESY PHOTO
The wood carving of artist Dan ‘Heffy’ Heffron will be on dis-
play at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Visitors Cen-
ter through August.
FUUF ponders vision of future at next meeting
On Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10
to 11 a.m., Dr. Ruth Miller will
deliver the message titled “La-
bor in the Emerging Culture: A
Vision for the Future.”
The meeting will be held at
the Florence Unitarian Univer-
salist Fellowship (FUUF).
As Labor Day weekend ap-
proaches, Dr. Miller said she
sees a western industrial cul-
ture that has reached a turning
point: human labor produces
less than machine labor, and
there are fewer jobs for those
who work with their hands
than for those who work with
their heads. Karl Marx predict-
ed this time, and it has come.
“What does that mean for the
future?” Dr. Miller will share
historical and economic trends
that suggest a different kind of
culture is emerging, in which
both labor and management
shift radically, and offer a vision
of a culture that honors all peo-
ple and all effort.
FUUF, located at 87738
Highway 101 at Heceta Beach
Rd., is wheelchair accessible.
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.
from page 1A cial culture (bugs) were being
washed out of the clarifier into
higher levels of E. coli and en- our effluent discharge stream
terococcus bacteria discharged and rendering the UV disin-
into the Siuslaw River..”
fec-tion system less effective
Mike Miller is Public Works during the peak flow period,”
Director for Florence and is re- Miller said. “We believe that the
sponsible for the proper oper- current extended dry and warm
ation of the Wastewater Treat- weather pattern played a role in
ment Plant.
the unwanted bacterial growth.”
Miller reports that he is
Miller went on to explain that
working closely with staff to staff has been very proactive in
correct the unexpected bacteria their response to the increase in
problem.
harmful bacteria outflow from
“The peak flow periods for the plant and the latest test re-
the wastewater plant are typi- sults indicate the bacteria is in
cally 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Our retreat.
issue during this last week was
Messmer said city staff have
that the filamentous bacteria taken water quality samples in
had uncontrolled growth in the the affected area, upstream on
treatment system, creating a sit- the Siuslaw River and down-
uation where the plant’s benefi- stream on the Siuslaw River.
Notices have been posted to ad-
vise the public of the potential
hazards and to avoid contact
with the water.
“The public is highly advised
to thoroughly cook any shell-
fish harvested in the imme-
diate vicinity of the Florence
Wastewater Treatment Plant
and to take universal precau-
tions by washing hands with
soap and clean water,” Messmer
said. “Our dedicated and highly
trained wastewater treatment
staff are working hard to restore
the biological balance so that
the plant can quickly return to
normal operations.”
Miller added that the while
the process taken to address the
bacteria situation at the plant
has begun, it may take a bit lon-
ger than hoped to completely
rectify itself.
“The good news is that recent
fecal coliform test results of the
wastewater plant effluent was
well below our discharge per-
mit parameters. Additionally,
our test results for the Siuslaw
River upstream, downstream
and at the discharge outfall area
indicated no measurable organ-
isms per 100 ml of water for
fecal coliform. One test result
is not necessarily an actual per-
mit violation, however we feel
strongly that being good stew-
ards of our natural resources, it
is better to be proactive in no-
tifying the public of a possible
or potential health concern,”
Miller said.
CITY
Saturday, September 8, 2018
At Florence Golf Links
Florence, Oregon
Sponsored by
A Charity Golf Tournament To Benefit
SIUSLAW OUTREACH SERVICES
FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TO HELP NEEDY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER FORMS OF CRISIS.
Entry Fee: $99/ Player OR $396 Team of 4
Early Bird Discount if paid by 8/10/18: $89 per player OR $350 per team
Register at Florence Golf Links or SOS. For more info call 541-997-2816