THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM | SIUSLAWNEWS | SATURDAY EDITION | DECEMBER 8, 2018 | $1.00 @ SIUSLAWNEWS SAILORS WIN AT HOME “I love to help people buy and sell property” Delbert lb L. "Del" l Phelps hl Real Estate BROKER SPORTS — B Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate 1875 Hwy 101, P.O. Box 276, Florence, OR. 97439 Cell - 541-991-7787 dphelps@bhhsnw.com • oregoncoastallistings.com A member of the franchise system of BHHS affi liates, LLC 128TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 98 Holiday traditions Many people have a favorite memory of Decembers past, of the crackling of the fire- place, twinkling lights, pres- ents wrapped with care and the smiling faces of those they love most. Maybe it’s the food — traditional holiday feasts, decadent pastries, peppermint candy canes — and season- al hot beverages. Some fami- lies chop their own Christmas tree; some shop the same tree lot year after year. Maybe a Christmas miracle made cele- brating the holidays possible. From now through the end of the year, the Siuslaw News wants to feature the region’s favorite holiday memories and traditions. Hilarious or heart- felt, recent or from those fa- mous “days of yore,” share the warmth of the holidays with your friends and neighbors. Submissions should be around 250 words, and a pho- to can be included. The Siu- slaw News welcomes all sub- missions, though reserves the right to edit as needed. Send submissions to PressRe- leases@TheSiuslawNews.com or message us on Facebook. FLORENCE, OREGON SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 Wall honors Oregon’s veterans Oregon Coast Military Museum plays host to the Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall this weekend. It is free to attend from noon to 4 p.m. V eterans from the Umpqua Chapter of the Vietnam Vet- erans of America arrived in Florence Friday morning with a repli- ca of the Vietnam Memorial Wall from Washington, D.C. The vets unloaded and assembled the replica at Oregon Coast Military Museum. While the design of the wall is de- rived from the Viet- Story & photos the names of those Or- nam Memorial in By Mark Brennan egonians lost in Pana- Washington, the Siuslaw News ma, the bombing of names inscribed Beirut, Desert Storm, there are of fallen servicepersons from Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Oregon. The Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall The center panels in black contain will be displayed at the Oregon Coast the names of those lost in Vietnam and Military Museum this weekend during on the USS Pueblo. There are panels normal hours of operation. There is no off both sides in sandstone color with charge for visiting the museum during this exhibit. The visit in Florence is sponsored by Three Rivers Casino Re- sort. The Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall will be displayed at the Oregon Coast Military Museum from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9, at 2145 Kingwood St. in Florence. For more information, visit www. oregoncoastmilitarymuseum.com. Brass plaque returned to Florence Donation ‘instrumental’ to learning Veterans celebrate the return of Veteran’s Memorial Park plaque Florence Elks donate $5,000 to Siuslaw Elementary music program Story & photos By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News INSIDE Sometimes bad stories have unexpectedly good endings. That is certainly the case from the perspective of local veter- an, Tony Cavarno. “I really can’t believe we got it back. I thought that it was probably gone for good, melt- ed down and sold,” Cavarno said. “I am really surprised to see it here in one piece. It real- ly is amazing!” Cavarno referred to this week’s return of the Veteran’s Memorial Park’s engraved brass plaque, missing since early November. The plaque was hung in 2009 to dedicate Florence’s park honoring area veterans on Bay Street in His- toric Old Town. The plaque is one of the park’s central elements and included a list of the people involved with the creation of the park. Cavarno was one of five vet- erans who gathered Wednes- day to discuss the return of Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5 A3 A4 A2 MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS (From left) Local veterans and Veteran’s Memorial Park founders Terry Robertson, Tony Cavarno, Wally Scholtz, Steve Olienyk and Robert Woerner were on hand this week to receive the dedication plaque that was stolen last month from the park on Bay Street. the plaque to Florence and to plan for its reattachment to the wall. These veterans have been involved in the concep- tion and ongoing mainte- nance of Florence’s park, and they are relieved the missing plaque was located and re- turned. Sideshow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Monthly Calendar . . . . . . . . . A6 Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2 “There was no major dam- age done to the plaque,” said Bob Woerner, another found- ing member. “We are still gon- na have it cleaned up and re- surfaced before we put it back up on the wall.” See PLAQUE page 9A THIS WEEK ’ S Music makes the world go around. It can also raise the spirits of those playing the mu- sic and of those listening to that music. Music education teaches less experienced musicians the val- ue of perseverance and dedica- tion and ultimately brings joy to millions around the world. Many forms of music cannot be learned, or played, without instruments. That last barrier to becoming a musician, a lack of musical instruments, is much less of a concern for students attending Siuslaw Elementary School now than it was previously, thanks to a major donation from Flor- ence Elks Lodge #1858. Siuslaw Elementary Principal Mike Harklerode believes the $5,000 donation made by the Elks is important in a number of ways. “Early music experiences are a critical element of a well-round- TODAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 57 48 51 44 51 40 51 43 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 Students from Amanda Smith’s (right) fourth-grade music class at Siuslaw Elementary School are learning music on an array of new musical instruments this semester thanks to a generous donation of $5,000 from Florence Elks Lodge #1858. ed education. Not only is music instruments provided by the Elks for the sake of enjoyment a wor- Lodge will help to make music thy endeavor, we also recognize instruction more systematic. that it supports learning in core academics, as well,” he said. “The See DONATION page 8A S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 20 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2018 Soroptimist International of Florence Christmas Food Basket & Toy Distribution Project needs your HELP! Please help us to assist area families with a food basket and toys this Christmas! Last year we helped nearly 400 families put a complete Christmas dinner on the table and put toys under the tree! Did you know that Oregon has the highest childhood hunger in the nation? That is why YOUR contribution is so important! Contributions from you and your neighbors are spent on food and toys. Any food items left over are donated to Florence Food Share for distribution. Please make your check payable to: Soroptimist Int. of Florence, OR and mail to P.O. Box 1209, Florence, OR 97439. Soroptimist International of Florence is a 501(c)(3) organization.