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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2021)
SN THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY EDITION | JULY 14, 2021 | $1.00 Siuslaw News Summer in full-swing with Florence’s reopening Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY Restaurants, businesses report on first weeks beyond pandemic restrictions By Reina Harwood Siuslaw News VOL. 131, NO. 1 J uly 14, 2021 F loreNce , o regoN The Florence area has hit the ground running, reopening to visi- tors across the West Coast and others from Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania and more. Since Oregon Occupa- tional Safety and Health (OSHA) lift- ed COVID-19 masks and physical distancing mandates on July 30 fol- lowing Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order, the Florence area has seen big changes. This kicked off with the Fourth of July weekend, which kept WEATHER Morning clouds with afternoon sun. High of 64 and low of 52. Full forecast on A3 businesses busy and required them to be ready for the coming months. Last June, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recorded its first COVID-19 case in Florence. As cas- es increased, the City of Florence al- lowed alternatives such as extended parking plans for Historic Old Town, giving local restaurant owners out- door seating on the street. Some of those remain standing today. Now, OHA confirmed 70% of Oregon adults are vaccinated. The growth in vaccinations has paved a way in authorizing the Siuslaw Re- gion to slowly transform back into what it was before the pandemic for local businesses and events. Though challenges like staff short- ages have persisted on a state-wide level, business owners in Florence have resorted to new systems of work, allowing room for more visi- tors, vendors, volunteers and busi- ness. Florence is awakening, and the community can feel it too. Public services and events like the Florence Farmers Market and the Siuslaw Public Library are a few stops amongst many for local resi- dents. In May, the Florence Farmers Market recorded 335 shoppers and is currently counting an average of 500 shoppers a week. More recently, the headcount was at 562 in early July, according to Britte Kirsch, the vol- unteer coordinator for the Florence Farmers Market. “The increase in attendance can be attributed to the availability of more products, especially more veg- gies and produce, as well as people getting out more now that we have the restrictions lifted,” Kirsch said. See REOPEN page 7A Four Siuslaw residents honored with First Citizen nominations COMMUNITY Chamber’s Siuslaw Awards highlight local volunteers, community builders By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News CROW resumes summer camps INSIDE — A3 The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has adapted its annual Siuslaw Awards into a night cele- brating the resiliency of the Siuslaw region and its businesses, organi- zations and individuals. One of the major awards to be announced during the awards — held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, at Three Rivers Casino Resort, 5647 Highway 126 — is the First Citizen Award. This prestigious award has hon- ored dozens of people over the years, and this year four area residents are being considered: Lori Gates, Steve Olienyk, Jodi O’Mara and Bob Teter. Each one has been involved in community work of the highest cal- iber, volunteering on top of the im- port work of their day jobs. See NOMINEES page 6A SPORTS Golfers take ‘tee’ time INSIDE — B RECORDS Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 Kiwanis ‘on par’ with golf tournament O By Reina Harwood Siuslaw News n Saturday, the Kiwanis Club of Florence host- ed its third annual Kiwanis Club Golf Challenge at Flor- ence Golf Links. More than 25 volunteers and 100 golf- ers participated. “Thank you to our spon- sors and everyone who came out to play in our tournament. This will help us fund our projects over the next year to help Flor- ence’s whole community and our children’s pro- grams as well,” said Kiwanis President Megan Messmer. These programs include funding the Kiwanis Doer- nbecher Children’s Cancer Program (KDCCP,) along with other local projects benefitting the area’s youth. In addition, Kiwanis is resuming in-person meet- ings today, July 14, at noon at the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Station at 2625 Highway 101. For more information, visit www.florencekiwanis. org. Cycling through Florence TV GUIDE Inside — B3-B4 KIDS CORNER Activities for kids Inside — B5 CLASSIFIEDS Listings & notices Inside — B6 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 2021 One of the lesser known casualties of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has been the efforts of fund-raising groups which have previously incor- porated stops in Florence, as part of educational and revenue generating campaigns, for a variety of worth- while causes. One of groups impacted by the pandemic, the Texas 4000 for Can- cer bike ride, the longest annual charity bike ride in the world, has stopped in Florence every year since 2004 with the exception of 2020. Since 2004, more than 980 students have completed the ride, raising over $12.1 million and logging more than 5.3 million miles. Texas 4000’s Team Sierra is now By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News University of Texas students stop by on their 70-day bike journey Cyclists on the Sierra route of the Texas 4000 for Cancer Bike Ride stayed overnight Monday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church and shared a meal with community members at Florence Elks Lodge 1858. in the 39th day of their journey, hav- ing logged a collective total of 3,159 miles to this point. All riders on the 2021 team were vaccinated for COVID-19 before the start of the ride on June 5. The Texas 4000 for Cancer riders are all students from the University of Texas who have spent much of the past year preparing for the journey. OPEN HOUSE TODAY • 10-3 22 Sea Watch • Florence Offered by: Christina Voogd, ABR, CRS, GRI Principal Broker Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Northwest Real Estate PO Box 276, 1875 Hwy 101, Florence, OR 97439 Cell: 541-999-0239 Offi ce: 541-997-6000 Toll Free 800-788-3319 Fax 866-499-9414 cvoogd@bhhsnw.com DREAM HOME 4 bed/ 2.5 bath with stunning river and ocean views in great neighborhood turn key $775,000. They are part of a three-pronged team which have three separate routes across the country, one of which runs along the Oregon coast. See CYCLISTS page 6A
