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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 2020)
E AT I N G 1 3 R EGENCY F LORENCE 2020 RS ENJOYS THE EA CEL SN BR SATURDAY EDITION | DECEMBER 26, 2020 | $1.00 S SIU THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM W 1890 AW NE L S 0 Y HOLIDAYS I NSIDE — B Notice: Early deadlines for the holidays Siuslaw News is joining other area businesses in being closed for the holidays on Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Adver- tisements, news items, line clas- sifieds, legal notices and display advertising should all be sub- mitted by 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, to accommodate deadlines. Giving to the teens of the community Twin Lakes Teen Giving Tree fulfills Christmas list requests Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 130, NO. 104 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Showers expected with a high of 50 and a low tonight of 39. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY COURTESY PHOTO By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News T he Twin Lakes Teen Giving Tree program celebrated its eighth year last week by fulfilling Christmas wish lists for 39 area teens, ages 12- 18. “I am thrilled how it went,” said Twin Lakes Grocery and Liquor store owner Vicki Ambrosio. Traditionally, Ambrosio and her staff and volunteers gather together at a local fire station to have a gift giving party. However, pandemic re- strictions led to gifts being handed out to cars. “They loved it! No lines,” Ambro- sio said. “Most of them didn’t even get out of the car.” The teens received stockings, toi- letry bags, food, masks and lots of Christmas presents. “We gave away four bikes, two televisions, a couple of Hoverboards and an iPad,” Ambrosio said. “Blue light cancelling glasses were the most asked for item, I suppose due to school being on the computer screen so much.” Community members came for- ward to bring gifts to the kids, ful- filling requests that were included on the Giving Tree inside Twin Lakes Store, 88940 Highway 101 north of Florence. “These young adults need things,” Ambrosio said. “They get jaded at Christmas. I wanted to put the spir- it in their hearts. Many don’t have a Christmas at home, so this is it for them.” The night before the event, strong See GIVING page 8A Gov. Brown Support program hopes to gives Oregon make ‘Parenting a Pleasure’ vaccine update WLFEA considers strategic planning Special Session extends eviction moratorium SVFR, WLAD look at future together By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News The Boards of Siuslaw Val- ley Fire and Rescue (SVFR) and Western Lane Ambu- lance District (WLAD) met virtually Dec. 17, with an agenda that was dominated by discussions among direc- tors on what the future of both districts — collectively known as Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority (WLFEA) — will be. The meeting began with Fire and EMS Chief Michael Schick leading both boards in the Pledge of Allegiance fol- lowed by a presentation from Jacob Callister, principal planner for the Lane Coun- ty Council of Governments (LCOG). Callister was on hand to respond to a request made See DISTRICTS page 6A LIFESTYLE Students win for Game Development & Design INSIDE — B RECORDS Obituaries & emergency response logs Inside — A2 SIDE SHOW Activities and comics every Saturday Inside — B4 CLASSIFIEDS Listings and public notices Inside — B5 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 Oregon Gov. Kate Brown held a news conference Tues- day afternoon to update the public on the arrival of the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to the state. The governor talked about the first, produced by Pfizer-Bi- oNTech, and plans for the distribution of those and an- other vaccine from Moderna, which is scheduled to arrive soon. Brown also discussed the results of a special session of the Oregon Legislature called by the governor to deal with COVID issues as well as how new federal funding can help address livability issues faced by Oregon residents. Brown was joined at the press conference by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) See VACCINE page 5A “Currently what I’m necting with other re- By Jared Anderson seeing is families strug- sources and community Siuslaw News gling with added stress in partners,” Nelson said. their lives, whether it be “We’re really looking at financial or social isolation,” said Jen- what a family’s values are and creating nifer Nelson, Family Support Specialist a toolbox — looking for strategies that for Healthy Families Parenting Now. “I support parenting within their value see a lot of new parents struggling with set.” social isolation and feeling a struggle in Nelson, who took the class herself helping children socialize. I think so- when she was the parent of a young cialization is a really important part of child, also hopes that the class can be growing and learning as a young child, an opportunity for some parents to and parents are feeling a lot of stress connect with other parents and their about finding opportunities to support families that are dealing with similar their children with that.” situations. To help with that socialization, Nel- “We’re all experiencing a lot more son is teaching an online class geared stress right now, and we’re trying to toward families with kids eight and un- manage,” Nelson said. der, though lessons could be used for Many parents find themselves work- any age. ing from home, an already stressful The class, which is free to residents of change for some. Lane County and the City of Reedsport, “And then maybe parenting our chil- begins online Jan. 5., and will help par- dren throughout the whole day while ents learn strategies for struggling par- we’re working,” Nelson said. “Maybe ents, as well as create support groups for we have school-aged children who are the parents themselves. navigating online and we’re support- “I think in general that parent sup- ing them with their education in a way port programs are really valuable, par- we’re not used to.” ticularly right now because of social Financial issues come into play, isolations and increased stress,” Nelson which can then lead to relationship is- said. “And so we are offering ‘Make Par- sues, both between parent and child, enting a Pleasure.’” and parents and their peers. The stress It’s an evidence-based curriculum de- compiles. veloped by Parenting Now! out of Eu- “Working from home, caring for our gene, though Nelson lives in the Flor- children 24/7, feeling really isolated. ence area. How do we create time to take care of “It provides information on stress ourselves?” Nelson asked. management, child development, con- See PARENTING page 5A Rotary Interact Club goes caroling INSIDE — A3 C elebrating Over 30 Years in Real Estate JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner 9 201 VOTED F BEST O E SIUSLAW NEWS READERS CHOICE WINNER Voted Best Realtor for 6 Years! F LO E N C R 1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR
