SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 | 3A Community News Florence Community PTA distributes Care Kits to Siuslaw teens D uring the last week in May, Florence Commu- nity PTA (Parent Teacher Association) put together and distributed 740 Care Kits to students at Siuslaw Middle and High schools. “The idea for the project was to let our teens know that there is a communi- ty of parents, teachers, and local businesses that recog- nize how hard this past year has been for them due to the pandemic, and we care about their well-being,” said Diane McCalmont, project coordinator. “We filled gift bags with snacks, journals, stress balls, lists of coping and calming strategies, a list of resources kids can use if there is a need to talk or reach out for help, Dutch Bros gift cards, Big Dog Do- nuts coupons for a free do- nut, and a few other items for fun.” Western Lane Health Network provided free in- formation to include that helps kids handle stress, as well as places they can contact if they are feeling overwhelmed, need to talk, or need other help. The Or- Getting rid of 'Huh?' for over 20 years Call today to schedule an appointment. 541.991.4475 HEARING Scott C. Anderson, Au.D. Steven G. Anderson, Au.D. ASSOCIATES of Florence HearingAssociatesofFlorence.com FLORENCE • 1901 Hwy 101, Ste A Greetings Florentine Homeowners Only Florentine Board members are privileged to commu- nicate to Homeowners via the Florentine Focus monthly newsletter. Therefore, we are turning to a paid infomercial route. We are nearing the time when Florentine Homeowners choose Board members for 2-year alternating terms. There are six candidates for four openings. Three are current board members and three are from the homeowners ranks. The current Board has canceled “Meet the Candidates” meeting that has always been a part of our election pro- cess. The only opportunity for Homeowners to hold cur- rently, serving board candidates accountable for past ac- tions! The following issues would almost certainly have been mentioned at the now defunct meeting! 1. Resolution to ban flying of Armed Services and State of Oregon flags? A 6 to 1 vote by the current board. 2. The present board has been remiss in supervision of management staff. The result has been the vir- tual creation of an 8 th non-elected board member resulting in misinformation and unnecessary con- frontations with Florentine Homeowners. All kinds of “Catch 22” issues! 3. Maintenance staff, so important to the physical appearance and operation of Florentine. Unable to hire and retain! Rapid turnover! An indication of problems. 4. Board does not encourage participation by home- owners. Most of the Adhoc committees have been made up of only board members. The Current election is important! The open board posi- tions are not for the aggrandizement or longevity of any board member. It is time to reestablish a culture of placing the bill paying Homeowner in first place above the Floren- tine Board and Florentine employees. Paid for by Florentine Estate Owners. egon YouthLine organiza- tion also provided rubber bracelets and a quick ref- erence sticker with con- tact resources for teens. PTA is so thankful for the local businesses that wanted to get behind this project and support our teens: Dutch Bros donated free drink gift cards and an encouraging “you got this” sticker and Big Dog Donuts also came through with coupons for free do- nuts. “Our volunteers were superheroes in putting together the bags and personally distributing to students at each school,” McCalmont said. These included Cathy Ball, Liz Hughes, Mike Blankenship, Becky Hol- brook, Jaime Snider and Florence Police Depart- ment School Resource Of- ficer Hailey Coons. Many students, teach- ers, admin, and parents have expressed apprecia- COURTESY PHOTOS tion for the timeliness of Members of Florence Community PTA worked with Western Lane Health Network this project and for these to create and distribute 740 Care Kits to Siuslaw Middle and High school students. to show support and care for around.” CommuntiyPta. gifts of support. People can also email For more information One parent said, “Thank the students…I asked him if you for the care packages for he read any of the literature about Florence Commu- florenceoregonpta@gmail. the SHS students! That was and he said, ‘YES!’ Good nity PTA, check out www. com to find out how to join so cool and such a great way (and important) stuff all f a c e b o o k . c om / F l ore n c e and/or get involved. Plan ahead for Memorial Day weekend travel As more people get vacci- nated and pandemic restric- tions ease, more travelers are anticipated to hit Oregon roads this Memorial Day weekend and over the sum- mer. Travelers need to plan ahead, add travel time, and pack their patience for ex- pected congestion and delays. Plan routes carefully, consid- ering the many wildfire re- covery areas around the state and continued wildfire risk. The usual holiday cautions are also in place to help re- duce risk: pay attention, put down the cell phone, and of course, drive sober. Set expectations Traffic rates are nearly back to typical levels on all state roads. AAA estimates 485,000 Oregonians are planning a trip to kick off summer. Near- ly 93% will go by car. This is up 60% from last year when people stayed home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Know road conditions be- fore heading out by checking Tripcheck.com or calling 5-1- 1. An Oregon Department of Transportation summer con- struction map shows major planned projects throughout the state. To reduce risk to drivers and crews while help- ing traffic flow, most ODOT construction crews will pause roadwork projects between Friday, May 28 and Tuesday morning, June 1. On Interstate 5, south of Ashland over the Siskiyous, drivers should expect single lane traffic in both directions throughout the summer. This includes all weekends and holidays until paving and bridge work is completed. Destination reminders • Parking lots can fill up quickly at popular recreation areas. Plan ahead, get there early and have back up places to visit. • Park only in designated areas. • Local law enforcement may ticket or tow cars parked along a roadside or another undesignated area. • Most recreation destina- tions may be open, but some roads to get there could be closed. Wildfire Recovery Areas Debris cleanup from last September’s devastating wild- fires complicates the holiday and summer road picture. Work continues in key cor- ridors connecting the Willa- mette and Umpqua Valleys to Central Oregon and the coast. “We know that traffic de- lays can be frustrating and difficult to navigate. To help ease congestion this holiday weekend, hazard tree and debris removal operations will pause work on ODOT’s highways from noon on Fri- day, May 28 until Wednes- day, June 2,” said Mac Lyn- de, ODOT’s Delivery and Operations Deputy Division Administrator and Lead for the Debris Management Task Force. Travelers should use extra caution while traveling in wildfire recovery areas, and take alternate routes if possi- ble. Speed limits are reduced, areas look different and land- marks may be gone. Expect numerous work zones and long delays when crews are working, which may include weekends throughout the summer. Wildfire impacted routes include: OR 138 in Douglas County, OR 22 in the San- tiam Canyon, OR 18 east of Lincoln City, and OR 126 along the McKenzie River. OR 224 in Clackamas County remains unsafe due to extreme wildfire damage and will be closed through the fall. “We are all eager to get out and about to enjoy Oregon’s beauty but we also need to respect the ongoing recovery efforts in these communities. SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY MAY 29 MAY 30 MAY 31 JUNE 1 Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Mostly Sunny 63°F 47°F 69°F 51°F 73°F 54°F We appreciate the public’s understanding and ask folks to stay clear of closed areas for their safety and others,” said Lynde. Wildfire Prevention 2021 comes with extra concern about early wildfire dangers. Much of the state is currently experiencing drought. Some regions are already in fire season and have fire restrictions in place. Know and follow fire restric- tions before traveling. Motorists can help prevent wildfires: • Stay on paved surfaces whenever possible. Avoid roadsides where flammables such as dry grass can come in contact with a vehicle’s hot exhaust system or catalytic converter. • Prevent throwing off sparks by ensuring that all parts of your vehicle, from mufflers to chains, are secure and tires have correct pres- sure. • Never toss a lit cigarette or flammable materials from a vehicle. • Extinguish all smoking materials completely and thoroughly, away from dry grass and fuels. • Carry a fire extinguisher in the car and know how to use it. • Know local wildfire dan- ger and restrictions. WEDNESDAY THURSDAY JUNE 2 JUNE 3 FRIDAY JUNE 4 Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy 73°F 53°F 67°F 53°F 64°F 49°F 63°F 50°F Health is our #1 Priority! At Shervin’s we are taking extra precaution in order to ensure that our customers and staff are kept safe and healthy during this quickly changing situation. 1 Car Sanitation – All cars are wiped down with a sanitizer before and aft er the service. We wipe down any areas in the interior where employees have touched, such as door handles, the steering wheel, keys, shift ers and power window panels. 2 Hand Sanitation- Our staff will continue to wash their hands throughout the day and change gloves aft er each car they service. 3 Give Customers Options- We will pick up and deliver your vehicle to your home. You may also drop your key in our secure mailbox for drop-off s to avoid or minimize contact. 4 Employee Illness is Serious- We are encouraging employees not to shake hands. We are practicing “personal distancing” and encouraging employees to stay home if they feel under the weather. 5 Wipe Down High Touch Points- We wipe/spray counters, credit card machines, door handles, phone handles, kitchen areas, and chair arms and tables in waiting area multiple times a day. We continue to be focused and committed to working with each of you to ensure we continue to meet and exceed your expecta- tions. We are here for you. We thank you for your business and more importantly, your friendship. Please be safe and exercise extra precaution during this challenging time.