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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2021)
6A | SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS Shoppe LOCAL #MyFlorence Shop. Eat. Support. SAVE. SHOP This option was se- verely limited last year as there were restric- tions on volunteer activities and a reluc- tance in volunteers to assist when the danger of infection was high. That is no longer the case, and there is an explosion of onions, MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS peas, lettuce and oth- Florence Food Share is now open for people to come er vegetables on the “shop” in-person at the food pantry. near horizon which soon will be added to the during 2020. and we look forward to possible food options for “The past year was in- seeing you in our pantry!” clients. credibly difficult for so Florence Food Share is The Food Share Garden, many people in many located behind Grocery coordinated by Board Vice ways,” Morgan said. “If Outlet, at the north side President Bart Mealer, has you or anyone you know is of the Lutheran church stepped up food produc- experiencing food insecu- parking lot. The nonprofit tion during the COVID-19 rity, please come and use is open Monday through pandemic by increasing our services. I also want to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to the amount of produce thank our clients for being 1 p.m.; on Monday and grown and distributed by so patient and understand- Wednesday from 4 to 6 2,000 pounds, producing ing for the changes we had p.m.; and every Saturday more than 12,000 pounds to make during this time, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. VETS from page 1A SUPPORT Vet Centers were initial- ly formed to assist Viet- nam-era vets with readjust- ment after serving in that controversial conflict. They provide support to veterans readjusting to ci- vilian life, regardless of time of service, and to victims of sexual assault and violent trauma. The mission of Vet Centers has been expand- ed since its establishment in 1979 to include veterans who served in all Ameri- can military conflicts since WWII. Locally, Will Wagner is a readjustment counsel- or through the Eugene Vet Center. He will be leading the new effort in Florence, as he specializes in provid- ing counseling services to combat veterans and indi- viduals dealing with sub- stance abuse and other trau- matic circumstances. Wagner himself is a veter- an and has additional train- ing in suicide and crisis in- tervention. “I travel to Florence from the Eugene Vet Center every other Wednesday to meet with clients at the DAV of- fice,” he said. “I am really exited about the chance to work with veterans in Flor- ence.” He clarified that the Vet Center is part of the Veter- ans Healthcare Administra- tion, but does not release confidential information unless releases are signed. “We are specialists in mil- itary service related-PTSD, military sexual trauma, bereavement and grief Let me Showcase your property. New Listing Tim Sapp Owner / Principal Broker 541 999-8230 5415 Leavitt Lp – Wonderful south lakes home with fi ltered views of Woahink Lake. Vaulted great room lets in lots of sunlight. Re- lax out on the expansive deck in this private setting. Lower level with family room and sec- ond kitchen. Large RV parking area. $820,000. #3212-21649477 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 counseling, and also em- ploy marriage and family therapists to help with the veteran’s transition to civil- ian life,” Wagner said. “We are licensed therapists that work directly with a clinical team to ensure veterans re- ceive whole healthcare.” Steve Baggin is Adjutant of the Florence DAV and one of the chapter leaders. He has been working to find a way to return some level of services to Florence-area vets. “Since the closed the VSO office over by Highway 101, we have to go to Coos Bay or to Eugene to see some- one. The office here closed and there is no longer a VSO coming here, which makes it hard on a lot of our vets who have health and mobil- ity issues,” Baggin said. He also pointed out the increasing need for ac- knowledgement of the problem of veteran suicide, including locally, and men- tioned it as one of the goals in having Wagner make the trip from Eugene to speak with vets in this area. Wagner is aware of the unsettling nationwide trend. “Suicide Prevention is a major part of all VA-Care Modalities. The Vet Cen- ter is unique in that we’re a walk-in outpatient format and utilize a more commu- nity-based access model rather than the typical hos- pital structure,” he said. Wagner also sees part of his job as sharing informa- tion with veterans who may live in more rural areas or who have chosen a more isolated lifestyle. His major concern is that many veterans are not aware of what they are eligible for or how to access those ben- efits. “Thanks to the Mission Act, which was passed in the 2020 omnibus CARE bill, vets that live more than 40 miles from a veterans medical facility, or have to wait more than a month to be seen, can go to NOVA Urgent Care and be seen by a physician, and they can even get set up with a primary care doctor if they don’t already have one,” he said. Veterans who wish to speak with Wagner regard- ing any of the different ar- eas of physical and mental health with which he is conversant can drop in on alternate Wednesdays at the Florence DAV office and sign up. Wagner especially en- courages any veterans to stop in and speak with him, even if it is in a more infor- mal session or even at a time when he is not normally scheduled. “I always enjoy coming to the coast,” he said. “We have about 6,000 vets between Coos Bay and Newport, and I know some of them extremely well. I really like working with the vets out there. Being a vet myself, I want to do whatever I can to help my fellow vets, even if that means setting up a spe- cial time or place to meet.” The Florence DAV can be reached at 541-991-8014. For more information about veteran services, visit www.va.gov. Get Results...List With Crystell. Crystell Wise Broker, SRS, SRES 541 991-9487 1601-529 Rhododendron Dr – A fully furnished gem in Greentrees Village. The home features a secluded backyard area that buffers up against the hillside, giv- ing you privacy just minutes from the beach. Make this your forever home or your coastal escape. $295,000. #3184-21619735 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30am – 9:00pm Dine in and Outdoor Seating is available Cocktails to Go! 2020 VOTED F BEST O F LO E R E FOOD from page 1A NC From our family to your family, thank you! We appreciate your support and hope you are all doing well. Best Mexican Restaurant and Best Salsa 2825 Hwy 101, Florence • 541-997-1144 SIUSLAW PUBLIC LIBRARY BROWSING IS BACK! No appointment needed. All ages welcome. Masks required. Florence: Monday-Thursday 11 AM - 2 PM Friday 11 AM - 6 PM Mapleton: Thursdays 12-5 PM. Walk-ins with limited capacity; no public computers. 541-997-3132 WWW.SIUSLAWLIBRARY.ORG We are open and ready to assist you! 3pm to 9pm Thur. to Sun. O FF ❇❆ Y ❙❚❘❊❊❚ ❇■❙❚❘ O Early bird 3pm to 4pm 15% off your bill Dine-in only Closed Mon., Tue., Wed. Covered heated porch, In-door dining and ToGo’s Reservations highly recommended LOCATED IN OLD TOWN Johnston Motor Company Since 1939 541-590-3569 165 Maple Street, Florence, OR Offbaystreetbistro.com 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Since 1983 Alva Bracey Broker Your goals are my top priority. Let’s get together! LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS Tires • Brakes • Shocks Alignments 4325 Highway 101 Florence, OR 97439 541-997-7178 Call, Text or Email Cell: 541-505-1180 Alva@CBCoast.com 541-997-7777 100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR COAST REAL ESTATE ESTATE JEWELRY AND ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!! We buy, sell and consign quality estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture. Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with precious & semi precious stones. Call 541-997-8104, Florence Antiques & Coast Jewelers Insect & Pest Removal Trapping • Mole/Gopher Dead Animal Removal • Honey Bee Removal Crawl Space Cleaning • Exclusion Work Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities. (541) 997-4027 MODEL TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS Auto, Home, Life, Business Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s Medicare Advantage Plans Medicare Supplements Health Insurance Phone (541) 997-9497 1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence Over ars 50 Ye ce! rien x E pe CALL ME TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE! I’M LOCATED HERE IN FLORENCE. 541-255-9822 - Larry landl316@live.com Us TOO Florence Prostate Cancer Education Support on the Oregon Coast www.ustooflorence.org BOTH MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD. WATCH SIUSLAW NEWS FOR RESUMPTION • Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday) 5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant • Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends. • Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday) 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant • Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends. Contact Bob for more information: (H) 541-997-6626 • (C) 541-999-4239 maribob@oregonfast.net