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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2019)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2019 | 7A FARM from page 1A Over the years, the fam- ily has spread to include cousins and more cousins, in-laws and friends who are more like family. It made it hard for kids who knew the ropes of the farm and its homemade playground to wait to visit with their first- grade classes. “One was pouting because he had to follow the rules,” Loni said. Barb said it was like the family’s kids who were there during the school visits this year. “No, you guys get to play all the time. You can get it in line like the rest.” Jami Thomas, Loni’s sis- ter, said, “Well, it’s more fun when other people are here!” “Yeah, when it’s not just family!” another family member added. On May 30, the very last field trip, Siuslaw Elementa- ry teacher Heather Crossley was able to attend as a sub- stitute teacher for Rachel Henry’s class. Along with Heather Costa’s class, her students heard about field trips “back in the day” when Crossley visited the farm when she was in first grade. “I remember that day,” Crossley said. “You guys are going to remember this field trip for a long time. And it’s special since you guys are the last ones to go.” Among the students was her son Rye, who said that he liked the cows the best out of all the animals. He added that his favorite part was at the end of the day when they got to play on the playground. “My favorite was the tire swing with the rope and a board that has a big knot on the bottom,” he said. When asked why it was his favorite, he said, “because my mom got to push me.” “That’s so special,” Cross- ley said. Over the past 55 years, traditions formed around the field trips, including the serving of ice cream to the students. “When we started, it was homemade,” Loni said. “Due to all the rules and regula- tions, we can no longer do that, but we still continue the tradition.” The farm, south of Flor- ence on Canary Road, orig- inally was a dairy farm, raising Guernsey cows to provide milk to the commu- nity. The family also raised 2,000 chickens and sold the eggs to restaurants. “They raised eggs in that barn way over there and they milked cows,” Loni said to the first-graders. “They would put the milk in glass jars and deliver to houses in town on what’s called a ‘milk run.’ Grandma would drop off a full jar of milk on the doorstep, pick up the emp- ty with the money inside and go on to the next one. We were excited because we got to go on Saturdays when there was no school. That was fun.” She laughed when she was asked to count the num- ber of animals on the farm. With goats, cows, chickens, rabbits, ducks, a donkey named Poncho (who bites), wild turkeys, cats and a small dog, it would be hard to count. “There’s even a pig — but the pig doesn’t come home anymore,” said Nancy Flat- ley, Loni’s mom. Loni said, “He was our pig — he is our pig — but the people down there have horses and feed their hors- es two times a day at two separate times, so they feed the pig. Why would the pig come home if he gets fed four times a day down there? And they keep the barn open and he has a bed inside. So why would he come home? I wouldn’t come home! I’m not going to walk up that hill.” As the students left for the final time on Thursday, fam- ily members gathered to give them small goodie bags and wave to the departing bus. “You guys are the last ones,” Loni said. “It was so cool seeing all the different generations come up through here. Like Aric Sneddon, who said it was 31 years ago that he was here. When he heard they were coming here, he said, ‘Well, I’m definitely going to that,’” Barb said. Mention a name in town, and the Elliott descendants have a connection to them. Crossley is a cousin to their cousins, and they know ev- ery family who had a farm in the area, including the Smiths, Huffs, Martins and Libbys. They can even name where they used to deliver milk. “I remember delivering milk to the Dotsons who lived over on 17th Street,” Nancy said. The different generations remember different things about the milk runs, includ- ing when during the day they would have to help. Nancy said, “We were in high school, and we’d come from school every day and milk the cows at night.” Her sister Georgia Phil- brook said, “I’d do it in the morning. And then I’d go on the milk run before school and be back in time to go to school.” The third sister Barb add- ed, “I think all of us had to deliver milk door-to- door before we got to go to school.” “We all helped,” someone else replied. For the next generation, “We got to do it on Satur- days when we weren’t in school,” Loni said. “We al- ways thought it was great; Grandma would pick us up and take us one the milk run.” See FARM page 8A Florence Food Share Ask us about volunteer opportunities. 2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514 Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-9110 info@fl orencefoodshare.org A weekly roundup of shopping, savings and doings around town. Habitat for Humanity Construction Volunteers needed for each stage of the building process. Experience is a plus, but not required. Help us build a new home For information call 541-902-9227 Helping Hands Coalition We are in need of volunteers on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. We need volunteers to serve food, set up for meals and also prepare meals beginning at 11:00 am and fi nishing at 2:00pm. New Location: Community Baptist Church, 4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer) Volunteer Get involved Donate Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Senior Services Advisory Council Needs New Members Are you a senior? Have a passion for working with seniors? If yes, please consider applying for the Senior & Disability Services (S&DS) Senior Services Advisory Council. S&DS serves all of Lane County with a wide range of publicly funded services for older adults and persons with disabilities. The council advises S&DS on services and advocates on senior topics. Contact us at: sdsadvisorycouncil@ lcog.org or download an application from: http://www.lcog. org/827/SSAC-Council-Membership Application deadline: April 26, 2019. Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60 Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood, PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org THE OLD SCHOOL FURNITURE STORE NEW FURNTIURE AT OLD SCHOOL PRICES NEED A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP? COME TO THE OLD SCHOOL FUNITURE STORE FOR A NEW MATTRESS WHILE YOU ARE THERE CHECK OUT BEDROOM SETS Monday - Saturday 10-6 • HWY 101 & 6th Street 541-997-9424 FREE IN TOWN DELIVERY FLORENCE SAW SHOP & RENTAL CENTER MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER WITH HONDA. Florence Saw Shop is your local Honda Power Equipment dealer. Come see our selection of Generators, Mowers, Tillers and Pumps. OPEN MONDAY—FRIDAY 8AM TO 5 PM 1550 HWY 101 & 6TH STREET 541-997-2653 6TH 10-6 6th & & HWY. HWY 101 101 541-997-9424 541-997-9424 MONDAY-SATURDAY Monday-Saturday 10-5 Memory Care Respite of Florence Come join the team! Memory Care Respite of Florence is looking for new volunteers to spend time socializing, playing games, listening to music, and having coffee and lunch with our participating senior citizens. Our program depends on volunteer power to stay afl oat and time is running out! If you’re at all interested in socializing and relaxing with seniors while their loved one takes a break, please email us for more information. We need more volunteers like YOU to keep our program going. Contact us at memcarerespite@gmail. com COME IN TODAY AND BROWSE ROOM AFTER ROOM OF NEW FURNITURE BEST HOME FURNISHING ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES COASTER OF AMERICA SPECIAL ORDERS— PICK YOUR FABRIC * FREE IN TOWN DELIVERY * Oregon Coast Humane Society relies heavily on volunteers. There are many opportunities to volunteer and a variety of skills and talents are always in need. Volunteer interest forms may be found online, at the shelter and at our Thrift Shop on Bay Street. www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/ Peace Harbor Volunteers Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers, you will fi nd an area of interest in a caring organization. 400 9th Street, Florence 541-997-8412 ext. 2218 Us Too Florence Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net www.ustoofl orence.org STIHL IS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING BRAND OF GASOLINE POWERED HANDHELD OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT IN AMERICA. FLORENCE SAW SHOP HAS CHAIN SAWS FOR HOME OWNERS AND PROFESSIONALS ALONG WITH TRIMMERS – EDGERS - BLOWERS - BRUSHCUTTERS MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM TO 5PM HWY 101 & 6TH 541-997-2653 FLORENCE SAW SHOP & RENTAL CENTER TheSiuslawNews.com