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Siuslaw NewsFriday, September 15, 2023 Florence, Oregon
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Rods ‘N Rhodies roars into Florence
Winners this year’s Rod ‘N Rhodies included the “Best in Show” 1933 Ford Roadster owned by Wally & Judy Belt, the “Peoples’ Choice” 1937 Ford Tudor owned by Craig & Corinne Spotts and the “Childrens’ Choice” 1937 Plymouth Business Coupe owned by Terry & Jennifer Roach. Photos provided by Rods ‘N Rhodies Inc.
I spoke with two gentlemen who came to Florence from Eugene for the sole purpose of obtaining shirts and apparel and snagged an event poster as well. They were awed at the event design that was created by Ron Gorman Illustration and Design from Eugene Oregon, which featured the 1935 Hupmobile from Arbuckle California, who took the Best In Show honors in 2022.
By Gary Cargill, President of Rods ‘N Rhodies Inc. The Rods ‘N Rhodies Charity Car Show is in the books with high quality entries that sparkled in the brilliant sunlight. The event, which began on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Port of Siuslaw Parking lot, brought in many vehicles from the community and surrounding areas as well.
Peace Harbor unveils remodel of Rehab, and Wellness Center
Russ Strohmeyer of Stro’s DJ Service from Stayton Oregon entertained the participants and spectators all afternoon with music appropriate for the hot rod viewing crowd. Saturday began early as volunteers from the community and the local car club Rhody Cruisers gathered on Bay Street to place barricades, cones and sandbags to keep traffic from flowing, and allow-
ing the awaiting show vehicles to be moved into position for the event, which is primarily invitational as the number of vehicles allowed for the venue in Old Town Florence is limited. The volunteers set up canopies, tables and chairs for apparel sales, raffle sales, 50/50 sales and award ballots for the 33 Merchant Awards and the Children’s Choice, the People’s Choice and the Best of Show Award.
Belt. The army of volunteers worked all day to sell raffles, apparel and 50/50 raffle sales in order to fund the Rods ‘N Rhodies “Transportation Solutions Project.” Strohmeyer and his assistant Pat Coffey continued to monitor the music and emceed the event throughout the day, calling out raffle winners and announcing sponsors See RHODIES page 5A
The Merchant Awards are sponsored awards from individuals and businesses throughout our community. The name of the award is generated by the individual or business and usually has something to do with or recognizing the business. A good example would be Anahi’s Beauty & Spa, who awarded the “Glamorous and Beautiful” award to a 1933 Ford Roadster belonging to Wally & Judy
Florence Festival of Florence Chamber announces 2024 Books bringing the joy Rhody Fest theme of reading to Florence ‘High Tides and good vibes’ coming to Florence next year
Peace Harbor at the ribbon cutting for the remodeled Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. Photo provided by PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center leaders, caregivers, Foundation members and patients, alongside local city officials and representatives, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the project completion of the Peace Harbor Rehabilitation and Wellness Center expansion and remodel on Wednesday, Sept. 5. This $1.3 million dollar project - made possible with the help of a generous donation from the Peace Harbor Medical Center Foundation - began in the early part of 2023 and is the Center’s first upgrade since it first opened in 2007. The upgrades will provide improved and increased accommodation for specialized inpatient and outpatient services with the capacity to see and serve between 80-100
patients per day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. During the past seven months of construction, the center remained open to serving patients and the community, only having to close a total of one and a half days. Peace Harbor extended a tremendous thanks and appreciation to the patients and caregivers for their ongoing patience and support during the expansion and remodel and to everyone who helped make the project possible. A business after hours for the center will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, presented in partnership with Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. For information can be found at the Chamber’s website at https://florencechamber. com/chamber-community/ business-events/
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce announced its selection of “High Tides and Good Vibes” submitted by Barb Danko as the theme for the 118th Rhododendron Festival May 16-19, 2024. Danko wins a $100 Flocal Gift Card redeemable at scores of participating local merchants, bragging rights, and a place in Rhododendron Festival history. “The festival, with its carnival, Rhododendron Court, parades, live music, classic car show and cruise, vendor fair, and flower show serves as the unofficial kickoff to the summer tourist season here in Oregon’s Coastal Playground,” said Bettina Hannigan, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We can’t wait to experience all the fun that will come with ‘High Tides and Good Vibes’ in May. “Generations of families have enjoyed all the fun of the Florence Rhododendron Festival. It’s a family tradition, an Oregon institution. And it is Oregon’s second-oldest floral festival, bested only by a year by the Portland Rose Festival. Every year
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we see thousands of visitors from around the state and across the country,” Hannigan added. “This year we had more than 100 submissions for the Rhododendron Festival theme contest. The majority of ideas sent to us had a nautical, pirate and/ or beach party vibe. Some even honored the late Jimmy Buffett,” said Mitzi Hathaway, the Chamber’s director of tourism development and coordinator for the Florence Rhododendron Festival. “The Chamber Board of Directors felt that ‘High Tides and Good Vibes’ incorporated all of these unique ideas. It is going to be a fun theme to work with in the days leading up to the grand floral parade on May 19. I am personally excited to see how this year’s theme brings out the creativity and positivity of our community,” While announcing the 2024 theme, the Chamber also issued a call for entries for a logo design. Amateur and professional graphic designers are encouraged to submit a logo design to fit the theme. The designer of See THEME page 9A
The 12th annual Florence Festival of Books (FFOB) is opening another chapter of its celebration of the written word on Saturday, Sept. 23, with approximately 55 participants signed up, including authors, publishers, panelists, and workshop teachers. The event will be held at the Florence Events Center (FEC) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will allow readers and writers of all ages to interact with some of the most exciting local, regional, statewide and national wordsmiths in the business. From 11 a.m. to noon, listen to the panel discussion “It’s Time to Write Your Memoir,” which has four widely divergent writers of memoir: • Dr. Veronica Esagui (moderator and panelist) is a chiropractor and the author of “The Scoliosis Self-Help Resource
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Book” as well as the “Veronica’s Diary” series and was involved with starting and running the book fair at Portland’s Pioneer Square for many years. • C. Edwin Fender has written two adventure novels, one children’s book, and three memoirs of which one chronicles his adventures as an archeological volunteer in Peru. • Sue Fagalde Lick is a multi-talented author/musician/poet and coastal blogger who has written two novels, two poetry chapbooks, and at least four memoirs including two about being childless. • Dr. David Larsen is a retired vet from a small town in Oregon, who has written six memoirs about his time as a country vet. He is Oregon’s own James Heriot. After the discussion, See BOOKS page 7A
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