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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 2021)
6A | SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS 2020 from page 5A Vigil recognizes national anguish for George Floyd’s death After the death of 46-year- old George Perry Floyd on May 25, national politics shifted to civil rights. Com- munity members from the area began gathering to ac- knowledge — with signs and banners — the impor- tance of national conversa- tions at a local level. • COVID-19 restrictions affect theaters, large gather- ings. CROW postpones and then cancels “Mary Pop- pins.” LRP cancels “Based on a True Story.” Dozens of other events aren’t held. • Coast Guard, police and EMS rescue stranded hikers from the rocks by Heceta Head Lightstation • Three Rivers Casino Re- sort reopens with new safety Lane County approved to measures enter second phase of • May Primary Election re-opening passes bond for Lane Com- Lane County was ap- munity College proved to begin Phase Two, including opening pools, zoos, museums, movie the- JUNE aters, bowling alleys and OHA confirms first arcades; some additional Florence COVID case office work; allowing rec- OHA begins reporting reational sports; loosening cases of COVID-19 by zip current restaurant and bar code and confirmed the curfew restrictions and ex- first case of the virus in panding outdoor gather- zip code 97439. Statewide, ings. the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reach- Oregon PTA names es 4,302 as of June 2, with Siuslaw teacher the 131,508 tests having been Teacher of the Year conducted throughout Or- Music teacher Amanda egon. Sarles is named the Oregon PTA Teacher of the Year after being nominated by Florence Community PTA. In addition, fourth-grader Claire McNeill received the Student Service Award from Oregon PTA. Shoppe LOCAL #MyFlorence Shop. Eat. Support. SAVE. SHOP Boys and Girls opens again The Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Lane County was authorized to reopen as an emergency childcare center. Guidelines included strict physical distancing mea- sures, requiring all students to stay six feet apart from each other, within their own cohorts. Notable Mentions: • Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts hold gradu- ation parades for the Class of 2020 • Gov. Brown “presses pause” on reopening due to fast spread of the virus in Oregon • Salvation Army holds “Christmas in June” kettle campaign to raise money for the community • Dunes City considers ordinance on short-term rentals • 50 community members hold rally in support of law enforcement in Florence and across the country • Florence commemo- rates Juneteenth for first time another pot of chowder as community members gath- ered to share their regards and memories. COVID, Siuslaw and sports The Siuslaw School Dis- trict placed a temporary hold on voluntary summer sports practices after a stu- dent reported flu-like symp- toms. The summer program has not been cancelled but has been placed on hold. Planning Commission begins hearing on development on Rhododendron Drive The Florence Planning Commission held a hearing about a development pro- posal submitted by 3J Con- sulting Services on behalf of the property owner, APIC Florence Holdings of San Francisco, Calif. The pro- posed development would include 31 single-family detached homes, 49 sin- gle-family attached homes and 46 multi-family homes. COVID affects Florence businesses The COVID pandemic definitely lands in Florence as multiple businesses close to test employees for the virus. The businesses re- opened after full disinfec- tion. Notable Mentions: • Siuslaw holds town hall on return to school • Public Art Committee selects next round for Art Exposed rotating gallery • SVFR Firefighter Dave Beck retires • Emergency response agencies field 100 calls over July 4 weekend • Rallies and protests continue across the Siuslaw Region, including pro-Black Lives Matter rallies in Flor- ence and Deadwood and pro-police rallies in Flor- ence • Safe Shelter for Siuslaw Students partners with lo- cal, county groups on com- munity initiative to house students • Power of Florence cele- brates its 10th anniversary • City modifies parking in Old Town to allow restau- rants to expand outdoor seating • Local Census response rate higher than expected as people respond online • OSAA Executive Board decides to push the start of high school sports to late January 2021 JULY Local couple perishes in tragic capsizing Florence mourned the loss of Amber and Kyle Novelli, owners of Novel- li’s Crab and Seafood, who passed away June 29 as their ship Aquarius sank off the South Jetty Beach. Soon afterward, Novelli’s opened once more at its lo- cation on the Port of Siuslaw docks in Old Town to serve AUGUST swimming. From there, shortened seasons for all remaining sports will be spread out throughout 2021. and Siuslaw school districts instructed students online. School officials met regu- larly with representatives from Lane County Health to Morgan named to Florence determine when they could Food Share leadership begin a hybrid model, with Florence Food Share an- limited in-person instruc- nounced that staff member tion on campus. Colin Morgan was installed as executive director. Mor- Water in Mapleton gan started volunteering in undrinkable the warehouse when he was Since August, Mapleton 13 years old. He then be- area residents have been came the warehouse team advised to boil all water ob- leader in 2014, then the op- tained from district sources erations manager in 2017. for drinking and cooking. Residents reported little Florence celebrates communication or guidance a century of suffrage from Mapleton Water Dis- People from all walks of trict until a letter indicated life participated in Flor- that the district was work- ence’s Centennial Women’s ing with representatives on Suffrage Parade which end- a solution. ed at Siuslaw Pioneer Muse- um. There, Last Resort Play- Candidates for the Nov. 3 ers and the Siuslaw Pioneer Election gather Museum’s John Quay Her- Nearly 200 people had itage Players read speeches from notable suffragettes. Notable Mentions: • Florence City Councilor Geraldine Prociw officially resigns Aug. 18, leaving a vacancy that will be filled by appointment by the 2021 council • Siuslaw News begins an investigative series based on the division and partisan- ship in the Siuslaw Region • Boys and Girls Club holds socially distanced Air Academy • Port of Siuslaw increases full-service sites on camp- ground • Oregon RAIN holds ac- celerator to help businesses “make it rain” • The U.S. Forest Service, Siuslaw Watershed Coun- cil and other partners near completion on the Five- mile-Bell Creek restoration project • Community holds rally in support of the U.S. Postal Service a chance to meet and hear platforms provided by can- didates running for seats in the Oregon House and Sen- ate during a special forum sponsored by Lane County Republicans. In addition, all six of the non-partisan city council and mayoral can- didates for the City of Flor- ence participated. Notable Mentions: • Planning Commission passes Rhody Drive devel- opment on to Florence City Council • Latest round of Florence Public Art Committee’s “Art Exposed” Rotating Art Gal- lery installed • Florence Environmen- tal Management Advisory Committee announces it will not discuss the climate and keeps references out of its workplan See LAST YEAR page 7A Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30am – 9:00pm Happy Holidays! We are serving in our dining room and making sure all measures are taken for safety. Enjoy your meal with us or call ahead for take out, we will deliver to your car. Enjoy your favorites from our regular menu and check our board for specials. From our family to your family, thank you! We appreciate your support and hope you are all doing well. 2825 Hwy 101, Florence • 541-997-1144 We are open and ready to assist you! SEPTEMBER Regional fire crews battle 500-acre fire near Mapleton Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters, along with Lane County Sheriff ’s Office, WLAD and fire- fighters from Mapleton, Swisshome/Deadwood and SVFR, responded to reports of multiple wildfires along a three-mile stretch of Sweet Creek Road near Mapleton. The Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire grew into a 500-acre wildfire near Hadsell Creek Road, prompting multiple levels of evacuation notic- es for area residents and an upswell of community sup- port. In addition, thick smoke blanketed the region and a series of unrelated small fires also kept response agencies busy. Sports seasons shift under new OSAA schedule The OSAA released in- formation on when sports programs could begin in the 2020-21 school year. While practices could pos- sibly be allowed, actual con- Districts begin the school tests would not begin until year in comprehensive January, starting with the distance learning traditional winter sports of As the 2020-21 school basketball, wrestling and year opened, both Mapleton Johnston Motor Company Since 1939 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Do you part and volunteer today to help support these organizations in our community. Every hand can make a difference! Help create an extraordinary shopping experience in our ReStore. Call Floyd @ 541-997-5834 Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM HELPING HANDS COALITION New Location:Community Baptist Church 4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer) Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer Christina Voogd SUPPORT relies heavily on volunteers. #1 Realtor in Western Lane County ABR, GRI, CRS, Principal Broker Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate Th ere 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 Th rift Shop on Bay Street. www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/ Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! Florence Branch PO Box 276, 1875 Hwy. 101 Florence OR 97439 Cell: 541 999-0239 Business Fax: 866-499-9414 cvoogd@bhhsnw.com www.CallChristina.com Christina Voogd - Principal Broker To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441