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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2018)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM | SIUSLAWNEWS | WEDNESDAY EDITION | SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | $1.00 @ SIUSLAWNEWS RODS ’N RHODIES & Communoty-wode Garage Sale SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE Sponsored by: 128TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 71 FLORENCE, OREGON SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 First day of school Directing a legacy New teachers speak of their hopes for new school year Florence theater world says farewell to Leah Goodwin A nyone who has seen a theater or mu- sic performance at the Florence Events Center (FEC) in recent years has likely seen the work of Leah Goodwin, even if they didn’t know it. By Chantelle Meyer More comfortable Siuslaw News back stage than in the limelight, Leah rarely took the stage, preferring to direct, stage manage and run other aspects of the theater from behind the scenes. “Everybody loved her so much and she im- pacted so many people,” said Kathleen Wenzel, who herself got involved in Florence’s theater world through Leah’s encouragement. Leah passed away July 27 at 56 years old, after she was hospitalized from complications with asthma. She also had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and survived cancer. During her time in Florence, Leah used her professional background as a line producer and stage manager for screen and stage to elevate the level of theater in the area. She helped with Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops and events at the FEC, but was most active with Last Resort Players (LRP). “She came to us so well endowed with knowl- edge,” said LRP founder Annie Schmidt. “She lifted our level of expertise, both in LRP and at the Florence Events Center. She was such a re- source.” As Annie remembers, Leah came to theater through volunteering at the event center. She later joined the Friends of the FEC and donated countless hours to the many shows that required lights, sound and stage direction. “As a professional, Leah was a little snobbish about community theater — and she said so,” Annie said. “Then she saw something that LRP did, and she was very impressed. That’s when she By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News PHOTO BY KATHLEEN WENZEL Leah Goodwin managed shows from behind the scenes of the Florence Events Center. started being our regular sound person and back stage person.” Leah started the “Women in Black,” a group of volunteers who regularly work backstage for local community and theater events. The group later expanded to include “Plus One” as more people began volunteering backstage. See LEGACY page 8A A whopping 21 new teach- ers will be readying their class- rooms, syllabi and leadership skills as they prepare to step in front of their classrooms this week as yet another school year begins for both Mapleton and Siuslaw school districts. Siuslaw Elementary School has seven new teachers, includ- ing three brand new kindergar- ten teachers. Natalie Timm has seven years of elementary school teaching under her belt, but this will be her first time taking over a kin- dergarten class. “I just want to have a great time with the kids and get them to feel comfortable with school, going into the rest of their ele- mentary time,” she said. Chelsea Anttila is brand new to teaching, just graduating with her masters degree from Oregon State University (OSU). The kindergarten teacher wants her students “to learn from me as much as I learn from them.” Monica Butler is also new to teaching, though she’s worked for the school district for a number of years. The new kin- dergarten teacher is just hop- ing to have fun with the kids and “watch each and every one grow into lifelong learners.” JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS Siuslaw Elementary School has several new staff mem- bers. In the front row (from left) are Monica Butler, Chelsea Anttila, Natalie Timm and Amanda Smith. In the back row are Jesse Siewell, Sarah Whisler and Adam Decker. Hailing from Nashville, Tenn., Amanda Smith came to Oregon two years ago to get her master’s in music at the Univer- sity of Oregon (UO). She loved the state so much, she stayed. “I hope that all 612 students learn that they can express themselves through music, and that all of them are musicians,” she said. Jesse Siewell just graduated from OSU, and this will be his first time teaching by himself. An Oregon native, born and raised in Albany, the new fifth- grade teacher is looking for- ward to making new connec- tions with the students. “There’s nothing better than teaching a very difficult topic, and suddenly you see a light Connecting the coast Story & Photos By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News INSIDE On Tuesday, travelers experienced some of the first rides on the new Florence to Yachats Connector Service. One-way tickets cost $2.50 and all-day service costs $5. Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . B6 A3 B5 A5 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2 THIS WEEK ’ S Lane Transit District’s Florence to Yachats Connector Service began running on Tuesday. Rick Dias, one of the drivers for the new route, said, “The first trip went really well. I had a few passengers and the bus handled perfectly. The customers really enjoyed the ride.” Don Patton, a member of the Florence Trans- portation Advisory Committee (TAC), was one of the first people to take a ride on the new coastal route. “We have been working on this route for about four years,” he said. “I just rode down from Yachats and it is the most beautiful drive. It is just a spectacular view; the bus is really comfortable, and the trip was just fantastic.” The service will make four round trips each weekday, with weekend service planned for a future date. The vehicle used on the route has been designed to accommodate riders with mo- bility issues and bicycles. “I think that once people get to know about the Florence to Yachats Connector, they will use it regularly,” Dias said. For a complete schedule of the route, call 541- 902-2067. TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 64 50 61 50 63 52 64 50 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 N ATIONAL P ROSTATE C ANCER A WARENESS M ONTH Exciting new developments in prostate cancer diagnoses and treatment: IsoPSA - MRI prostate scan/targeted biopsies - Axumin (PET) scan - & more. Stay up-to-date – attend Us TOO Florence meetings – talk with urologists. 2nd Tuesday with Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff – 5 to 7 p.m. at Ichiban Restaurant 3rd Tuesday with Dr. Roger McKimmy – noon to 1 p.m. at Ichiban Restaurant Mayor Joe Henry presents Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation to Us TOO Florence leader Bob Horney See TEACHERS page 6A Florence’s plastic waste to go to Recycle Roundup Lane County Waste Management and the Master Recyclers of Florence want to invite ev- eryone to participate By Mark Brennan in the upcoming “Re- Siuslaw News cycle Roundup” on Sept. 30. In response to many changes in recycling standards, Lane County is hosting the event at the Glenwood Transfer Station in Eugene to ac- cept all of the materials on the current list of recyclables accepted from consumers. Kelly Bell, coordinator for Lane County’s Master Recycler Program, instructs about and supports recycling efforts countywide. “The response to the plastics collection event is amazing. The word is getting out like wild- fire. For all the different ways recycled plastic collection may take place for coastal residents, Master Recyclers will be called upon to give good direction and advice,” Bell said. “Folks are listening right now so here is your chance. Be the coach and collector for a full carload of plastic, whether you are the driver or not.” See ROUNDUP page 8A S IUSLAW N EWS 3 S ECTIONS | 24 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2018 ܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂ SEPTEMBER ܂܂܂܂܂܂ ܂܂܂܂ BETTER TO KNOW – THAN TO NOT KNOW maribob@oregonfast.net or 541-999-4239 for more information (Bob Horney) click in your students’ eyes,” he said. “That’s the best feeling in the world.” Sarah Whisler is starting her second year as a teacher, though this will be the first time she’s teaching physical ed- ucation (PE). She’s originally from Florence but moved away for 20 years and is now excited to finally be back home. “I am hoping to instill a love of movement, so students can believe they can move their bodies and stay active and fit for the rest of their lives,” she said. Adam Decker is also new to teaching PE, though he’s been a teacher going on 15 years now.