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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2020)
E BR 31 st Anniversary RS 2020 YOUR #1 LOCAL YARD, GARDEN, AND LANDSCAPE EXPERTS! WE’RE GLAD TO GET YOU GROWING! EA CEL SN S 1890 WEDNESDAY EDITION | MARCH 18, 2020 | $1.00 THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM W SIU AW NE L S AT I N G 1 30 Y 88493 Hwy. 101 Florence Open 7 days a week Senior Discount Every Tuesday 997-5973 In support of keeping our community and staff safe and in good health, Siuslaw News is shortening its offi ce hours to 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or by appointment, at 148 Maple St. in Historic Old Town Florence. Contact Siuslaw News by phone, 541-997-3441, or through TheSiuslawNews.com. For more of Siuslaw News’ free coronavirus coverage, visit TheSiuslawNews.com/ Coronavirus. Siuslaw News District food program keeps kids connected to health, learning NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 130, NO. 22 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Story & Photos By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News Siuslaw School District staff and volunteers began serving brown-bag meals from to area families via the school bus route on Monday as the district preps for a two-week minimum closure. The district also prepared lesson plans for students to work on at home. “W e are definitely through the looking glass, in terms of anything I’ve ever dealt with in my career. I’d dare say it’s the same for all of you as well,” Siuslaw Elemen- tary Principal Mike Harklerode told volunteer staff of the Siuslaw School District on Monday morning. They had gathered to help prepare and deliver hundreds of meals for children across the region, as well as begin lesson plans for students to keep them engaged and attempt to find out the community’s needs. “Think about the kids,” Har- klerode said. “Think about their home lives. Think about those kids you worry about every weekend Siuslaw School District launches mobile food, schoolwork program in light of shifting coronavirus landscape when you send them home, and now that’s where they are for the foreseeable future. We need to have something that keeps them connect- ed to school, something that keeps them connected to learning and keeps them healthy.” The group was split into two, the first being classified employees who were tasked with riding along on Siuslaw School District buses to hand meals out to children — all children, no matter if they are en- rolled at the district or not. “The school board is committed to feeding the students in the com- munity,” District Superintendent Andrew Grzeskowiak told the Siu- slaw News. “As long as we see the whites of a kids eyes they will get a meal bag.” The meals were delivered at bus stop points throughout the district’s normal bus routes, with volunteers handing out the brown sacks from the back of the bus. There were two Public Art Committee announces outdoor ‘Art Exposed’ gallery finalists Community invited to comment, ask questions at ci.florence.or.us By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News CORONAVIRUS No events larger than 25 people, restaurants restricted to take-out Local coverage on COVID-19 INSIDE — B By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News RECORDS well as international artists,” Mess- mer said. PAC Chairperson Harlen Spring- er said he is looking forward to the public’s input on the PAC selections as the process moves forward. “We are very excited by the fi- nalists for the 2020-22 program. See ART page 5A See GOVERNOR page 5A COURTESY IMAGE Serving the community INSIDE — A3 Governor issues executive order on social distancing measures In a press conference on Monday, March 16, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown stated, “I’ve been weighing the eco- nomic impacts of mandating the closure of places where Oregonians gather. I will be issuing an executive order on new social distancing mea- sures for Oregon, effective March 17, for at least four weeks.” According to Brown, the order will include the following: • A statewide cancellation of all events and gatherings larger than 25 people, with essential locations like workplaces, grocery stores, pharma- cies and retail stores exempted. “Although I urge Oregonians to avoid gatherings of 10 people or more,” the governor said. • Restaurants, bars and other establishments that offer food or beverages for sale are restricted to carry-out and delivery only, with no onsite consumption. Food service at hospitals, workplaces and other es- sential facilities will continue. “I am also urging all other busi- nesses to evaluate your practices to accommodate social distancing Gerry Newcomb’s “Rain Garden,” currently located in Washington, is one of 11 finalists for Florence’s Art Exposed gallery. Florence annually,” Messmer add- ed. In addition, chosen artists re- ceive a stipend of $1,000. “Art Exposed has been one of the most successful programs of the of the City of Florence’s Public Art Committee, providing members of the local arts community an op- portunity to display their work, as See ROUTE page 6A COMMUNITY Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 NEW: TV GUIDE Inside — B3-4 KIDS CORNER Activities for kids Inside — B5 CLASSIFIEDS Listings and notices Inside — B6 FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS : /S IUSLAW N EWS @S IUSLAW N EWS T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 16 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2020 The Florence Public Art Com- mittee (PAC) has settled on the finalists for the next stage in the ongoing “Art Exposed” rotating outdoor gallery series. The Art Exposed Gallery is an effort by the City of Florence to place art pieces in different lo- cations around town in order to draw interest and attention to both the public art and to Florence. The first series of pieces was in- stalled two years ago. Now, PAC is switching out those pieces, some of which were bought. For the second series, PAC wants to make sure the public is fully in- formed about and has the oppor- tunity to respond to the pieces that will be on exhibit for the next two- year cycle of the program. According to Florence Project Manager Megan Messmer, there are 11 finalists for the five loca- tions of Art Exposed. “The finalists represent artists from the Florence area, as well as from across the State of Oregon, Pacific Northwest region and in- ternationally,” Messmer said. Art Exposed also features a commercial element as 30 percent of the proceeds from art sales goes back to the city. “The pieces, while on display, are for sale to locals as well as the estimated 750,000 people that visit runs on Monday, a morning one dedicated solely to breakfast, and a second run that had lunch and breakfast included. Schedules for the deliveries can be found on the district website, siuslaw.k12.or.us, or at thesiuslawnews.com. The district gave out more than 600 meals in total on Monday. It be- gan slowly, with only 125 breakfasts handed out in the morning. But by afternoon, the number had grown to 250 lunches and additional break- fasts, totaling 625 meals for the day. It’s possible that the need for meals will grow rapidly. Partly cloudy with a high of 53 and a low tonight of 36. Full forecast on A3 Barbara Martin TAXES & BOOKKEEPING Bookkeeping & Payroll Quickbooks Pro Advisors BARBARA MARTIN Licensed Tax Consultant #71554 • EA #00107916 Shari & Barbara SHARI JAMES Licensed Tax Preparer #31250-P (541) 997-8833 2285 Highway 101 Suite “K” • Florence, Oregon, 97439 Toll Free (877) 549-6899 (In the Coastal Fitness Shopping Center)
