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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2020 | 5A EDITORIAL from page 1A Between my arrival in Florence in 1981, departure in 1984 after graduating from Siuslaw High School, and eventual return in 1995, I have spent nearly 30 years in this community. I’ve seen strug- gle and controversy over those years as local government and community interest groups found themselves at odds over everything from housing and infrastructure to dunes protection and commercial development. Fred Meyer, condo- miniums higher than two stories tall in Old Town, the Justice Cen- ter, Florence Events Center, Three Rivers Casino — each brought a level of division within our com- munity. But nothing has approached what we are experiencing at this moment as nationally driven agen- das on both sides of the divide — aided in no small part by wielding the power of social media — have trickled down into local conver- sation through grassroots efforts aimed at influencing, dividing and claiming territory within local government, agencies and com- mittees. As Mayor Roger McCorkle said at that city council meeting back in 1997, “The issue is getting bigger and bigger, and it doesn’t have to get bigger and bigger.” To that end, beginning Aug. 12, Siuslaw News will be publishing the first in a series of investigative re- ports culminating from more than a year of researching thousands of documents, emails, texts and oth- er information obtained through public records requests in order to understand the scope of the issue. This is in addition to hundreds of hours spent searching through so- cial media sites and posts dating as far back as 2015. The end result is a road map of how we got to where we are, which events influenced that direction, what role our own coverage played in amplifying both right and left turns, and who the most prominent groups and individuals are giving directions. The point of this series is not about assigning blame. It’s not about right or wrong, left or right, conservative or liberal, choosing sides or pointing fingers — all of which are elements that got us here. Our hope is that by under- standing how the many moving parts within our community have each contributed to arriving at this destination, we can at least have the option, as a community, to pump the brakes long enough to decide if this is the direction we wish to continue taking. That being said, there are four consistent truths that I ask that you keep in mind throughout this series: 1) Primarily, each side is pursu- ing what they believe is in the best overall interest of our community, even if political in nature. 2) Neither side is without fault; both have utilized many of the same devices and resources to ad- vance their goals. 3) We as a newspaper, and I as its editor, at times have failed to identify some of those devices and, in some cases, inadvertently strengthened their influence. 4) We are all human and prone to some level of assumption or prejudice, no matter how much we don’t want to believe or admit it. We are launching this series so that, as a community, we can de- cide whether we want to allow the issues we face to “get bigger and bigger” or agree together that it “doesn’t have to get bigger and big- ger” if we can make the changes necessary to defuse the influence — and influencers — of partisan- ship dividing our community. It really wasn’t that long ago that the description of public discourse described by Robert Serra in his 1997 editorial could have been used to describe our communi- ty discussions at any city council, FURA, PAC or even school board meeting here in Florence. We can get back to that. But not without acknowledging and learn- ing from the mistakes that got us here. Together. struck, their attention went a way to make it available formance are not things straight to the effects it to kids.’ that must strictly be done where he was involved in would likely have on chil- “So many programs face-to-face thanks to vid- both music and theater — dren and their access to are just dead in the water eo conference technology. and has since worked in continued education and right now that it felt very, The teaching tandem saw children’s improvisation- al theater and is a private music teacher. Moore, a “The humanities [like music] really encourage teamwork, they Mapleton native, recently encourage empathy, and allow you to learn about other cultures graduated from a music other than what you’re immersed in. That’s a wonderful thing and education program at the a very important thing in this globalized world we live in.” University of Oregon with — Sheena Moore, Music Instructor a focus on choral studies, and also has a background in elementary education and works as a private mu- social interaction with very necessary. … Sheena their opportunity to con- sic teacher. their peers. and I think it’s really im- tribute to their community “That’s another facet as “In the summer I will portant that the kids have during a time of need. to why we are a good team, usually teach a music pro- these artistic and musical “These kids, some of too,” Wood said. “My ap- gram in one of our local outlets available to them them may have siblings or proach tends to be more camps here in town for and watching them all dis- family members that are performance based and kids,” Wood added. “But, appear was really, for me vulnerable,” Moore said. Sheena’s is very literacy because of the pandemic personally, the fire, my mo- “So they need to quaran- based, I would say.” everything is shut down. tivation.” tine, and with that quaran- Like so many educators, So, our thought process Luckily, unlike sports for tine they’re isolated from when coronavirus first was, ‘We have to figure out example, music and per- peers and activities that are really enriching. It can be lonely. So, we’ve tried to in- corporate interaction with other kids as well as us into this program.” As education moves to- To include your organization in this directory, wards distance learning please call us @ 541-997-3441 models under the threat of COVID-19 — models THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST FOURSQUARE CHURCH that could become fixtures OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 of education pending the 2705 Munsel Lake Road, All are welcome! Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. future of the pandemic — Zoom Worship Service 11 AM Sunday Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 6pm-7pm Bishop Larry Farnsworth 541-999-1979 Website: florence4square.com “Music in Motion” is shap- ing up to be an example of COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. how these models can work 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113 and, hopefully, work well. Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 Pastor Rachel Simonson – All are welcome Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. – Sermons are on YouTube at The campers have an Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. https://youtu.be/jcTJVWp_6ps. opportunity to learn in- www.florencenewlife Lutheran.org dependence in their edu- CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD cation, as there is a three- Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW Sunday Live Services: 9am & 11am 3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136 day window each week (please pre-register) Internet and in person Sunday services at 10AM, between when the weekly Facebook Streaming: 11am Sunday morning Call the church for details. lesson is released on Mon- https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online Reverend Greg Wood day and the “in-person” Other platforms update after the service. All Welcome. Come as you are. florencecrossroadag.org video meeting each Thurs- RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) office@florencecrossroadag.org day, but more important- “War is still not the answer.” FCNL ly, it’s a model that shows FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC Since we meet in homes, we are taking a mindful pause. interaction is still possible, 1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Ron Allen Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for information. Services on Facebook live even at a distance, given Sunday’s at 11:00 am RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, the right subject material Wednesday’s at 6:00 pm L.C.M.S. and approach. Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m. All Bible studies held at the church including MUSIC from page 1A Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun CHURCH DIRECTORY Sunday morning, Thursday Ladies study, and Children’s Programs are suspended. Blessings on you and your family. 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 DVD of Weekly worship service available. Pastor Randy Benscoter ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2135 19th St. –- 997-6600 2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational One service, at 9:00 AM, each Sunday in July. Service is on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Reservations are required. Our service is also available via Zoom. Call 541-997-6600 or e-mail standressecretary19@gmail. Contact us at office@florencechurch.com com and state name & number of people in your family for log-in information. that plan to attend. Weather permitting, service may be held outdoors in the FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST Labyrinth Area behind the church. Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) Face masks, hand sanitizing and social distancing are 1833 Tamarack Street required both indoors and outside. (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES www.churchofchristflorence.org CATHOLIC CHURCH 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled. 12th and Nopal – 997-9020 Please call our office for details. Services will be available via YouTube. Follow the link at http://florencenaz.church/ FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523 Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School) Mid-Week Activities, all ages. FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 Link to Sunday services at www.florenceunitedmethodist.org or find us on Facebook. “The humanities [like music] really encourage teamwork, they encourage empathy, and allow you to learn about other cultures other than what you’re immersed in,” Moore said. “And that’s a wonderful thing and a very import- ant thing in this globalized world we live in.” “And then all you gotta do is make it fun, throw a few animal movements in there, ride a horse, chase a bull, and then you’ve got the kids!” Wood added. While Wood and Moore are pleased to be able to of- fer a tangible, real-life sum- mer activity to children during a difficult time, their hopes extend beyond the four-week “Music in Motion” camp. Perhaps programs like theirs and others like it can be a ru- bric for other educators of all subjects to explore as the future of education gets cloudier. “The future of music ed- ucation in public schools is increasingly uncertain … due to the nature of music, with breathing and singing. They’re all ac- tivities that require extra distance, extra space and extra caution,” Moore said. “It’s making educators re- think how to teach music and what’s really important about music. Hopefully in the future we realize that music is much more than singing or playing notes from a page.” “We, as educators, need to get creative right now and we can’t back off. We need to push forward,” Wood said. For more information, contact jasonbrettwood@ gmail.com or sheenamoore vocals@gmail.com. 240 HOURS Is your family prepared? If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 240 hours. Get your emergency kit started with these essentials: FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road All are welcome to explore the answer. In lieu of our regular service, we will be videotaping the sermon and have it available from YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC1h3s3lhuRKRCXNxbF8H3Nw). www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840 Siuslaw News + Give us a call 541-997-3441 to get us your updates or email to: mberg@thesiuslawnews.com ❑ Pen and paper ❑ Money ❑ Address and phone numbers ❑ Work gloves ❑ Basic tools This message brought to you by the West Lane Emergency Operations Group. www.wleog.org IDENTIFY • PREPARE • SURVIVE www.shoppelocal.biz