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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2020)
4A | SATURDAY EDITION | NOVEMBER 7, 2020 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR | 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respect- ing an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Govern- ment for a redress of grievances. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800) USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2020 © Siuslaw News Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Cathy Dietz Ron Annis For Advertising: ext. 318 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor For Classifieds: ext. 320 DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Dis- play classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to pub- lication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $79; 6-month in-county, $56; 10-week subscription, $25; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $102; 6-month out- of-county, $69; 10-week subscription, $35; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $134; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Siuslaw News Let’s move forward expecting better from ourselves how we see each other and constantly being diverted anyone with a differing away from real interaction with each other and to- viewpoint. It’s a mindset that runs ward a nebulous relation- completely counter to be- ship with those we hardly ing thankful — because know. The result is a growing While I don’t necessari- it narrows our vision and ly subscribe to the theory behind trickle-down eco- nomics, I have become a Ned Hickson firm believer in the trick- ledown effect of national discourse and its ability to permeate how we feel minimizes the chance of inability to live in “real” about our lives — and, just recognizing any good that time and in the moment as importantly, in recog- exists within our periph- with one another. With the final tally of nizing the good in each eral. To put it plainly, it’s elections essentially over, other. The overt divisiveness hard to appreciate a sunset and taking into account the historic participation that has arisen within our while facing east. Admittedly, I’m no ex- made by fellow Americans, society over the last few years has conditioned us ception. And not just be- I hope we can finally begin to accept pessimism as a cause I have a lousy sense talking about the things that unite us and the com- natural part of our daily of direction. In today’s constant bar- mon good that defines us perspective. Forget about wearing rage of information, opin- as family, community and rose-colored glasses or ion and analysis through ultimately as Americans. I believe the trick- beer goggles; more often news outlets, social me- than not, we have come dia and notifications on l e - d o w n d i v i s i v e n e s s to instinctively reach for a phones, computers and around us can be diluted blindfold when it comes to tablets, our attention is if we allow the ripple ef- From the Editor’s Desk fect of kindness to provide some much-needed levity. It is within times like this, especially as we enter into the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, that we are reminded of the things that unite us as people rather than partisanship. I realize that the end of the elections doesn’t guar- antee something better. However, I do believe in the natural pendulum swing we regularly take as a society in our ever-con- stant need and desire to correct ourselves in the pursuit of something bet- ter. I still believe that, de- spite how our divisions have been amplified, we ultimately share more common ground than our surface tribalism would have us believe. We can expect better as we move forward. And we should. ‘Whatever It Takes’ for the kids of our community (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis- sions on this and other topics are al- ways welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) It just takes one person who cares to change a child’s life. I know that from personal experience and my bet is many of you have a story about how one person made a difference in your life; if not for them, your life would be very different. Public assistance is vital to many families in Florence, but will not fill the hole in a child’s heart created by a parent who is in prison; or the death of a parent or sibling; or the child ex- posed to domestic violence; or a child that is feeling isolated and alone; or the parent who is stressed out about how they are going to help their kids with Distance Learning. Families need money, food and clothing to survive. But those things cannot heal the heart or give fami- lies the tools to help them overcome the enormous obstacles that break a child’s spirit. I’ve heard the comment over and over the Boys & Girls Club is where all the “poor” kids go. That is largely a true statement. Two-thirds of our kids’ families are at the poverty level or below, which makes sense when we understand the demographics of Flor- ence. We have no major industries to speak of. There is a very limited num- ber of full-time jobs that pay full ben- efits. When the local economy is built on tourism like Florence, major events like COVID-19 have a devastating im- pact on local businesses and jobs. Coupled with the cost of childcare, shortage of housing and cost of hous- ing, we shouldn’t be surprised that and 7 part-time employees. •Before COVID, our part-time em- ployees worked 15–20 hours a week. • In the world of COVID and Dis- tance Learning, they are working 20– 35 hours a week. • Since Sept. 14, we have prepared and served over 1,000 meals at the Teen Center. Your donations to the Club and our staff ’s salary go back into the com- munity through local businesses from coffee shops to insurance com- By Chuck Trent panies. Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Due to the COVID crisis, we had to cancel our Homecoming Event, But the Club is so much more than which is our major fundraiser. Last childcare. It is more than helping kids year, it raised $120,000 to fund our with Distance Learning while they programs, program scholarships and cannot go back to the classroom. The covered almost one-fourth of our to- reason kids come to the Club is that tal annual expenses. At the same time, we talk with every single child 1:1 our donations have dropped signifi- every day. We listen to them. We cry cantly. Since we can’t hold our Homecom- with them, laugh with them. We create a safe place for them both ing Gala, we created a fun virtual event physically and emotionally; we are a that is our FUN-D Raising Compe- youth development organization and tition of Ducks vs Beavers Platypus not a childcare organization. When Bowl, which will run from now to the the Club was shut down for COVID, Ducks vs Beavers game Nov. 27. You can pledge a dollar amount of our staff could have gone on un- employment and received the extra your choice for either the Ducks or $600-a-week. But they chose to keep the Beavers. The team that raises the working so that First Responders and most money will be the winner of the Essential Workers had a safe place Whatever It Takes Platypus Bowl and to leave their kids while serving the have their team logo painted on the Teen Center for bragging rights. community. All the proceeds will support our There is another value we bring to the community. Our Club has about a Club kids right here in Florence. Checkout the Club Facebook page $550,000 budget. • Roughly 60% of the costs are for for information as we announce the details at https://www.facebook.com/ salaries. • The state of Oregon dictates the BGCWesternLaneCounty/. And remember: number of kids to staff ratio, so we “To the world you may be one per- have little or no control over the num- son, but to a child you may be the ber of employees. • We have 5 full-time employees world.” many of our families are at or near the poverty level. Many middle-class families make just enough that they don’t qualify for public assistance. Last week, I met with a family where both parents are working, but childcare is half of their rent. The cost of childcare has an enormous impact on these families too. Guest Viewpoint Office: 148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR 87439 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to noon Letters to the Editor policy The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters need to in- clude full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Letters should be limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publica- tion of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen- tative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are un- sourced or documented will not be published. Letters containing poetry or from outside the Siu- slaw News readership area will only be published at the discretion of the editor. Political/Election Letters: Election-related letters must address pertinent or timely issues of interest to our readers at-large. Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) En- sure any information about a candidate is accurate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hear- say; and 3) Explain the reasons to support candi- dates based on personal experience and perspective rather than partisanship and campaign-style rhet- oric. Candidates themselves may not use the letters to the editor column to outline their views and plat- forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid politi- cal advertising. As with all letters and advertising content, the newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher, general manager and editor, reserves the right to re- ject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. Email letters to: nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com WHERE TO WRITE Pres. Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. Salem, Ore. 97301-4047 Governor’s Citizens’ Rep. Message Line: 503-378-4582 www.oregon.gov/gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 www.merkley.senate.gov U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416 541-269-2609 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@ oregonlegislature.gov State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown @oregonlegislature.gov West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 FAX: 541-682-4616 Email: Jay.Bozievich@ co.lane.or.us