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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2021)
Y L O P O - E C N E FLOR ibrary.or iuslawL www.S 97-31 32 541-9 OUT CHECK S.) (WE EVEN GAME BOARD g On Sale ... 24. 99 ...to Vis it us at ue s, each disc ho over me vi inte ntag rio e cl rs, ot an hing d co , ok an�q ies! $ ay 101 m Highw 1749 trhunter.co www. rd aboa ng Climb readi ad! the real railro SN THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY EDITION | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | $1.00 Modeled after the world famous board game, Florence-Opoly is customized to our great city. Framing es Fram ence Quality Custom of Flor Fun for the whole family! NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 131, NO. 70 S EPTEMBER 1, 2021 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Sunshine with a high of 66 and a low of 46. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY Drivers should prepare for school INSIDE — A3 LIFESTYLE Volleyball opens at Mapleton INSIDE — B RECORDS Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 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 43 2285 OR 97439 Florence, Siuslaw News • 148 Maple Street • Old Town Florence or call 541-997-3441 Siuslaw News Siuslaw News • Mirrors s • Needlework • Watercolors Shadowboxe Photography Oils • 97-20 G 541-9 101, Suite Hwy. ‘The fight continues for voting rights’ Florence activists celebrate 58th anniversary of March on Washington Local demonstrators sought to “Demand Democracy” with signs during a local “March on Washington” Saturday. Story & Photos By Reina Harwood Siuslaw News On Aug. 28, 1963, civil rights activ- ist Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech after his March on Washington. Last Saturday, Aug. 28, marked the 58th anniversa- ry of his speech spoken from the Lin- coln Memorial steps. Thousands of Americans across the nation partic- ipated in demonstrations in remem- brance of King’s legacy surrounding freedom and equality. Those same ideals were demon- strated locally by Florence Indivisible as more than 15 people gathered in front of Florence City Hall to honor the 58th anniversary of King’s march. The group hosted the event to advo- cate for inclusive voting rights for all genders and people of color in sup- port of the “For the People Act.” The event lasted an hour, while some people stood on the sidewalk and waved American flags, others sat in a chair and held posters and more held signs and waved to passersby. “We’re here today because the fight continues for voting rights,” a group organizer said. “We think it’s been settled so many times, but here we are protecting our rights to vote, for everyone.” See SIGNS page 6A Habitat provides ‘part of the Local restaurants struggle solution’ in affordable housing By Reina Harwood Siuslaw News For decades, the struggle to find affordable housing across Oregon has become especially severe. The complex issue con- sists of several layers, beginning with the need for public and local funding, available land, construction resources, devel- opment partners and more. In Florence, the shortage of affordable housing is a per- sistent issue. Although some Florence Habitat for Humanity projects have been established, moved its latest family into an af- it may take years until long- fordable house in August. term solutions are in effect. However, local and state efforts 80% of the median income, stat- towards affordable housing have ed Florence Habitat for Humanity not given up in providing decent Executive Director Janell Morgan. living for low-income households. The medium income rate is One local organization work- established each year by the U.S. ing towards affordable housing is Department of Housing and Ur- Florence Habitat for Humanity. ban Development standards. In August, Habitat was in its final According to Morgan, Hab- stages of completing the develop- itat for Humanity is “not a solu- ment of one affordable home. The tion, but a part of the solution,” construction had begun before to the housing problem. This the pandemic and an individual is because the organization can was qualified to move in. take up to a year in building an Individuals are eligible for af- affordable home, making the fordable housing through Habitat process “long term,” she said. for Humanity if they are below See HOUSING page 6A Two restaurants have decided to close as pandemic pressures persist. Clawson’s, Off Bay Street Bistro shutter doors while others close for short-term The COVID-19 pan- Story & Photos Some of these closings demic continues to claim By Mark Brennan are connected to the im- victims, although not all pact of COVID, as staff- Siuslaw News are someone’s friend ing and supply shortages or family. Some are the business- have hit many restaurants. Others es those people count on for their are due to an overall reduction in livelihoods. The list of Florence operating capital, which is making restaurants and businesses which it impossible to make needed re- have been hurt by a significant drop pairs and upgrades. in revenue during the pandemic is Business Week reports that 17% growing, with some closures tem- of restaurants across America have porary, but others forever. permanently closed, with another The sector most noticeably hit in 10% in danger of closure. the Florence area has been eateries. See RESTAURANTS page 5A Western Lane Fire/EMS considers next step of merger Public comments address upcoming ambulance levy vote S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 16 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2021 By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News On Aug. 26, the boards of direc- tors of Siuslaw Valley Fire and Res- cue (SVFR) and Western Lane Am- bulance District (WLAD), which share an administration called Western Lane Fire and Emergency Authority (WLFEA), met virtually for the group’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The meeting opened with pub- lic comments, which are limited to subjects not on the evening agen- da. The only person requesting to speak with the joint board was for- mer WLAD Director Larry Farn- sworth, who has been an outspo- ken critic of many of the financial procedures used by the two dis- tricts during his term on the board, which ended in July. These public admonitions in- cluded speaking in opposition to the continuing merger of SVFR and WLAD as well as against wages paid to firefighters and EMTs and the long-term viability of both districts. Farnsworth has also been vocal in opposing the upcoming levy re- quested by WLAD, which will be voted on this fall by residents. In November, local voters will decide whether to renew a five-year supplemental levy, which makes up 26% of WLAD’s operational funds. The proposed levy renewal will not increase taxes, as it maintains the current funding level of 45 cents Understanding Medicare Plans Enroll En nroll in the right Medicare plan for your need needs. ds. Gain an understanding of how Medicare works. Learn the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. Discover how Medicare Prescrip�on Drug Plans work. per $1,000 of assessed home value. For a home in Florence with a me- dian assessed value of $204,000, the cost would be $92 a year. The five-year levy received the support of 78% of voters in the 2016 election. On Thursday, Farnsworth’s com- ments related to WLAD’s decisions about political funding for the levy and which accounts can legally be accessed to fund communication services from Turell Group, which was voted upon in the July meeting. 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