Hundreds have Thanksgiving dinner with Kiwanis/Elks
By TONY REED Siuslaw News
Only a half hour after it started, the line went down the hall and out the door at the Elks Lodge in Florence for the Kiwanis Thanksgiving dinner. Inside the large space, every seat was full and every server had at least one plate on their hands.
The dinner was served from noon to 2:00 p.m., and by 12:45, a loose count indicated that more than 185 people had been served. It was noted that many more ordered a takeout meal at the same time. Inside the kitchen, cooks worked at a feverish pace to keep full plates heading out to the floor. Despite the crowded atmosphere, everyone appeared to be having a great time filling up on traditional Thanksgiving foods.
The dinner was put on by Kiwanis and co-sponsored by the Elks Club.
Still cleaning up 90 minutes after the event concluded, Kiwanis and Elks club member Cindy Sherman said the dinner served 375 people in-house and sent out 200 more meals.
Sea Pickles by the seashore
By TONY REED Siuslaw News
Those walking the shoreline south of the Florence Jetty were likely to have seen hundreds of tubular purple bumpy tubes washed onto the shore among the seashells. While one may presume by their appearance that they are a form of jellyfish, they are actually bioluminescent invertebrates called pyrosomes. Informally called a “sea pickle” by some, the organisms are boneless and harmless to humans.
What makes them immediately interesting is that while each purpleish tube appears to
be a single creature, each is actually made up of many.
Oregon Coast Aquarium Communications and Marketing Specialist Courtney Klug said the purple clumps are actually colonies of smaller animals.
“It’s kind of hard to communicate that its a bunch of little tiny animals that come together to form this gelatinous
See PICKLES, Page A8
Falling temps prompt yearly shelter search
By TONY REED Siuslaw News
Clearing skies have made way for colder temperatures on the Oregon Coast, begging the question about where those without homes will find overnight shelter from the cold.
As in previous winters, a local group is seeking a location to provide safe overnight shelter for nights when temperatures drop enough to cause exposure issues, hypothermia and death. Florence Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Committee president Linda Stent said the organization is monitoring local forecasts while looking for a usable location. She said such a place needs only a heated empty space and a bathroom.
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Even if it is “rough” it is better than sleeping in the woods under a tarp in freezing rain,” she said. “We are watching the weather predictions carefully and there is some serious cold with freezing rain coming up in the future.”
The Committee’s mission is to provide shelter when temps
Holiday fun in Florence
Siuslaw NEWS STAFF
With Thanksgiving and Black Friday out of the way, it’s time to look forward to a month of festive, fun and generous events in and around the city of Florence.
Here’s a list of family-friendly holiday events and attractions around town this month.
LETTERS TO SANTA.
Down on Old Town, you’ll find a mailbox at the Siuslaw River Bridge Interpretive Center that will get kids’ letters directly to Santa! Letters can be dropped off until Dec. 17. Be sure to include a return address. Printable letter templates can be downloaded at https://www.ci.florence.or.us/ community/2024-letterssanta
GINGERBREAD
HOUSE CONTEST
Come over to the Florence Events Center and vote for your favorite gingerbread house. The Gingerbread houses will be displayed in the FEC lobby during the Holly Jolly Follies and other holiday events until Dec. 15. Voting tickets
See HOLIDAY, Page A9
Visitors to the Old Town Christmas celebration in 2023 found umbrellas necessary. Tony Reed photo.
Behind the headlines ZERO/Us Too, Florence
BY BOB HORNEY –Prostate Cancer Survivor
In all honesty, it only takes a small monkey wrench to mess up years of effort on the part of urologists, prostate cancer survivors, prostate cancer victims, caregivers and, yes, even the results of clinical trials when those results aren’t examined thoroughly. Years of effort doing what, you ask? Trying to convince men that being screened for prostate cancer saves lives! Early, treatable/ curable prostate cancer does NOT announce its presence and by the time it lets a man know it is present, the treatable/ curable stage has, in most cases, passed. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) was definitely guilty of “misusing” the results of the PLCO clinical trial to support what seemed like a predetermined recommendation on their part. I say that because in spite of letters from prostate cancer
winners and losers, urologists, researchers, etc., stating clearly that this trial was NOT a screening vs. no-screening clinical trial the USPSTF plowed forward with its fateful recommendation. Please understand that this recommendation carried a lot of weight since the USPSTF makes those recommendations for the American Academy of Family Physicians to guide their patient care. All of a sudden, patients who asked for a PSA test were being told, “You no longer need one.” When asked why not, the physicians could simply say the USPSTF determined the harms of treatment far outweigh the limited benefits of lives saved from early detection. And, if the man or spouse should ask what were those harms of treatment, they would be told impotence (inability for the man to get and hold an erection for intercourse) and incontinence (inability for the man to control his urine). If a
& Bake Sale
man needed an excuse to avoid something, those two negatives would sure fit the bill.
There was one more negative that I’m sure came into play. I’m referring to the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) for short where the physician actually feels the prostate by inserting a finger up the rectum. During my 20-plus years leading the Florence Prostate Cancer Support Group, I have heard that comment almost every time we raised the fact that prostate cancer screening included both the PSA blood test AND the DRE. My response to those comments was, “Want to trade places with your spouse for a pap smear?” Anyway, add the DRE to the possibility of impotence and incontinence and you have a tri-fecta for a man to choose following the USPSTF recommendation.
For 2 decades urologists and all those other supporters of screening had been slowly and painstakingly making headway convincing men that their lives were more important and valuable than worrying about the “possibility” of impotence, incontinence or that dreaded DRE examination. We were making headway convincing men to get screened and we were, most of all, saving lives!
Then along came the USPSTF and it gave many men exactly what they wanted to go with the Task Force’s recommendation. Unfortunately,
a lot of those men stopped screening only to regret it later when prostate cancer caught up with them. No fun for urologists, I can assure you. They had watched their “get tested” message gain traction because it truly saved lives. Then we all watched as the revised screening recommendation resulted in an increase of incurable prostate cancer and totally unnecessary deaths from the disease. Due largely to the irrefutable results of its earlier recommendation, the USPSTF revised its recommendation in 2018, stating that men should now talk with their doctor. Unfortunately, that recommendation was too little, too late Even with that revised recommendation, we still have not recovered to our statistics of 2012 I advise men who want to be screened for prostate cancer but are being denied at the primary physician level to stand up for their health. Become a strong advocate for yourself. Connect with a urologist from Oregon Urology Institute for that care. Several urologists come to Florence. If you need help, give me a call at: 541-999-4239 and I’ll help you connect with one. I’ve even had some men in town tell me they changed their primary care physician and found one who believed in screening. Whichever way you want to go is fine with me. Just don’t take “no” for an answer. Give me a call if you need assistance.
ELLOUISE “DOT” UNICK
Ellouise “Dot” Unick, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 25 2024, in Kimberly, Idaho surrounded by her daughter, son in law & granddaughter. Born on September 23, 1933, in Oakland CA, Dot was a beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She adored her community in Florence OR, where she was a School Bus Driver for Siuslaw School District for MANY years and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Dot lived a full life with love, laughter, and dedication to those who knew her. A tireless and spicy spirit, she lived to make those around her laugh. She was known for her warm heart, infectious smile, and a quick sense of humor that made you wonder, Did she just say that?! Dot had a passion for her church family, her kindness and generosity won’t be soon forgotten. She is survived by her 7 children, 14 grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Ashley Manor -Buttercup staff for their compassionate care during Dot’s final days. We could not have asked for better. No service will be held, per Dot’s wishes. Feel free to gather in her memory if you choose to do so. Dot’s legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. To share memories and condolences with the family, please visit www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com
Yachats Winter Festival
All are invited to celebrate the season in Yachats along the central Oregon coast during the two-day Yachats Winter Festival.
Filled with festive activities for the whole family, the annual event starts Friday, December 6, from noon to 8 p.m., with the deeply diverse offerings of a vendor fair featuring unique holiday shopping, wreath-making, and gingerbread house-building stations. The vendor fair continues Saturday from 9 to 5 p.m.
The Santa Breakfast takes place at Lions Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with Santa himself.
Also on Saturday, Dec.7, the town will host a Hot Cocoa Trail from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free hot cocoa at participating businesses. The afternoon features a caroling group at the Yachats Pavilion. The event wraps up with a Christmas tree lighting in town center at 5:00 p.m. At the Pavilion behind the Yachats Commons, there a barbershop quartet will perform from 4 to 5 p.m. each day. The Ladies Club Bazaar will round out the weekend with local crafts and treats on both Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information about the event, or how to join or support the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce, contact Nichole at director@yachats.org or 541-547-2345
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OPINION
Siuslaw News
4969 HWY. 101, North, #4 PO Box. 10 Florence OR,
Seeking Columnists in 2025
Tony REED Associate Editor
Heading into the holiday season, this paper will have plenty of local holiday coverage, but after New Years, when the coast is hunkered down in the rain, our coverage will rely, in part, on local politics, sports and weather until spring.
That said, I’m inspired to share an idea with our friends in the Dunes City, Mapleton and Yachats areas. At one of my previous papers, we employed the help of columnists in our many communities to share items of interest that didn’t usually make it to the newspaper. The paper featured one columnist for every
Although some members of the Dunes City (DC) Council, Administrative Staff, and Planning Commission have had a long and troubled history of unkindness and unchecked hostility toward our residents, things really came to a head at the Nov. 21st Planning Commission meeting. My family and I attended the meeting to both express our views about a controversial money-making ordinance they are determined to pass, and to address their continuing unwelcoming attitude towards us and other residents who dare to speak up or disagree with
community, about seven in total, who were locally known and well-connected. One was a local firefighter, another was a high school graduate, and yet another was a local community leader who happened to be the wife of the fire chief. Every week, they would submit short articles that talked about everything from local birthdays to community projects. They featured information about school concerts, fundraisers, community events and community members. They also shared important information,
like how a community fire station was providing sandbags for flood control, community meetings about fire clearance or put the word out that an community organization was in need of help or supplies. Articles were never political or gossipy and were often used to praise other community members for simply helping each other out. Some noted things like how a local teacher brought an exotic pet to the science class, or how firefighters arrived to teach kids about planned escape routes. Others would
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DC. I witnessed the use of bully tactics and profanity by the previous city administrator, including such declarations as “f*** you” and “go to hell” toward a local citizen she particularly disliked. Others, including myself, have been abruptly cut off when saying something the DC Council or Planning Commission did not want to be stated aloud. I have even been screamed at, reprimanded and twice called “a liar” for simply telling the truth. The newly elected mayor claims this behavior has changed at City Hall, but the Nov. 21st Planning Commission
meeting ended with a longtime commissioner shouting how sick he was of having to answer to “f***ing people like you” (meaning my elderly sister and myself) and how miserable we had made his life when all he wants to do is “serve [the] mayor.” I thought his job was to serve the people. He then stormed out the door while unleashing another F-bomb and more profanity. His anger was so explosive my surprised husband could hear him from beyond the parking lot. The good news is the out-of-control commissioner is moving to Hawaii in January. Let us
ask for help clearing fire space around an elderly couples’ home or information about lost pets. Is that something you’d like to see in the Siuslaw News?
We’re seeking volunteer columnists in Dunes City, Mapleton and Yachats. Weekly articles would be grouped together under a single header. Bylines would feature a name, phone number and email address so community members could share ideas and news. Articles should take an hour or so to complete and would be a great way to share hyper-local information and community bulletins. If interested, drop me an email at treed@countrymedia.net and tell me a bit about yourself.
hope that he is replaced by someone who is more respectful to those of us who live here.
Jeanne Jackson Dunes City/Westlake
I want to heartily thank the very kind and thoughtful person who found my cell phone in the vicinity of 101 and Munsel Lake Rd. on Thursday Nov. 22 I think that is the right date! I must have set it on the roof of my car and driven off! This Good Samaritan gave it to a police officer who turned it in at the police station. My friend called the phone repeatedly as we walked all OVER my house, seeking the phone. At one point, someone answered! A police representative at the station!! I happily drove down there to retrieve my phone. The screen saver was shattered, but phone is unharmed. I am so relieved.
I ordered a new screen saver. SAME BRAND! Thank you!
Carol Strenkoski Florence
OUR STAFF
Holiday shopping tips
Holiday shopping season typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and extends all the way to Christmas Eve. While that’s a considerable amount of time for shoppers to find gifts for everyone on their shopping list, many people will still find themselves putting holiday shopping off until the last minute.
In certain ways, last-minute holiday shopping is easier than ever. Thanks to online retailers who can ship products overnight, men and women who delay their holiday shopping have more options at their disposal than they did before the arrival of the Internet. And unlike the days of yore when the best deals were largely exclusive to Black Friday, some shoppers find that competition between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar stores is so great that deals
can be found regardless of when they begin shopping. But while waiting until the last minute to begin holiday shopping may not be as risky as it used to be, shoppers may still benefit by sticking to certain strategies so they can find the perfect gifts without breaking the bank.
Stay within your budget. Even last-minute shoppers have holiday shopping budgets. But it can be harder for lastminute shoppers to stick to their budgets because they have less time to comparison shop and hunt for deals. As the holiday shopping season winds down, resist the temptation to go over budget. If a gift you had in mind is available but more than you can spend, look for something else. Overspending on holiday shopping in December is a recipe for debt in January, and no shopper wants to begin the new year weighed
down by consumer debt.
Shop local. National chains and big box retailers are renowned for rolling out great deals during the holiday season, but such stores may have very limited or unimpressive inventory left by the time last-minute shoppers begin shopping. Local retailers are often incapable of slashing prices as significantly as their larger competitors, and that may mean they have more extensive inventories available throughout the holiday shopping season. In addition, shoppers who stick with local retailers won’t have to pay shipping costs to ensure items arrive on time.
Shop during off-peak hours.
Shopping during off-peak hours can help last-minute shoppers make efficient use of the limited time they have to buy gifts for their loved ones.
Visit stores early in the morning
or late at night, or schedule a midweek afternoon shopping trip so you aren’t spending what little time you have left waiting on lines or hunting for parking. Give something less traditional. Holiday gifts need not come from stores. Rather than spending their time shopping for gifts for loved ones who seemingly have it all, last-minute shoppers can give the gift of a donation in their loved one’s name. Last-minute shoppers who want to give something more tangible can create a homemade gift that’s both unique and heartfelt. If your DIY skills are lacking, give a loved one the gift of a night out on the town at your expense.
Shoppers who wait until the end of the holiday shopping season to begin their searches for holiday gifts can still find great gifts without going broke.
Randy Paredes Broker
Get your Holiday feels in Florence
You know those heartwarming holiday movie scenes about the romance and pageantry of a small town’s holiday festival that end with the whole town caroling around the city’s tree as the mayor lights it up with a countdown, live music, and great fanfare?0
Bring your special someone, or the whole family, and live it in person at the 2024 Florence Holiday Festival, Saturday, December 7, from noon to 7:00 p.m. This year’s theme is “Winter on the Waterfront.” Enjoy live music, warm beverages, a lighted vehicle parade, Santa’s arrival, great holiday season sales, hayrides, caroling, and the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Celebration.
But your romantic holiday season actually kicks off a week earlier with Shop Small Saturday—the perfect cure for Black Friday and a great way to walk off your extra Thanksgiving indulgences and save money while supporting local businesses.
“’Tis the season to Shop Small in Florence, and it all starts with Shop Small Saturday on November 30 2024,” said Chamber president/CEO Bettina Hannigan. “Watch for details about which merchants (nearly all of them) are celebrating by offering extended hours and special bargains.” Hannigan says specifics are in development at FlorenceChamber.com and available by email at info@FlorenceChamber. com or by calling the Chamber’s office at 541-997-3128
“Then…your personal movie script begins December 7 at 11:00 a.m.,” added Mitzi Hathaway, the Chamber’s director of tourism development and the event’s coordinator. “That’s when you and the gang head
to Santa’s Workshop at Cross Road Community Church (corner of 9th & Maple) for fun activities and holiday cheer until 2:00 p.m. That event includes writing letters to Santa, cocoa and cookies, make-and-take crafts, and a visit from Santa from noon to 1:00 p.m. It’s sponsored in part by Lofy Construction, Coastal Home Services, and Beach Bum Doggie Resort.”
Hannigan chimed in:
“Then, you can become one of your movie’s biggest stars by gathering around the Chamber’s ‘A Season of Giving’ tent at Gazebo Park (corner of Bay & Laurel) for a day full of holiday fun and support for local nonprofit and community organizations.”
“For example, you can be a hero in one of the following storylines,” she added: 11:00 a.m. to noon: Habitat for Humanity Noon to 1:00 p.m.: Helping Hands Coalition 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.: Elks Lodge #1858 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Oregon Coast Humane Society’s Photos with Adoptable Pets
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.: First Step Florence’s Transitional Housing Hathaway explained “In addition, you can warm your heart with the lit balloon giveaway for the kids and young at heart from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; the Lighted Vehicle Cruise and Parade through Historic Old Town Florence at 4:00 p.m. featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival and followed by hayrides until 7:00 p.m.”
Conclude your personal small-town magical holiday movie by attending the Mayor’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at the Siuslaw River Interpretive Center Park on Bay Street.
PFLAG holds holiday White Elephant party Dec. 9
PFLAG will usher in the holidays with its annual “White Elephant” gift exchange on Monday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Florence United Methodist Church, 2nd and Kingwood.
A “White Elephant” exchange is a way some folks gift wrap and “unload” an item for which they no longer have a use. It’s also a fun way to give and get a gift by drawing a number and selecting a wrapped present on a table or “taking” a gift from someone who’s already made a selection. We limit our “gifts” to items under $5, or something fun you find around the house. Just wrap it up, bring it in, and take your turn choosing a wrapped item brought by someone else – or taking a gift won by and already unwrapped by another. The public is invited. Our meetings are always free and there are always refreshments. If you don’t have a gift, don’t let that stop you from coming. We always have “extras.” PFLAG would appreciate an RSVP for this event. Call or text 541-901-3737 or email pflagflo@gmail. com by the morning of Dec. 9
PFLAG-Florence is an affiliate of a national organization with more than
MONTH LONG TREASURE HUNT
“Incidentally… continuing through December 24, you can add to your fun with a treasure hunt to find Sami the Sea Lion and Ollie the Otter—plush toys hiding in plain sight at stores, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants all over town. Spot them, tell the merchant, and claim a small treasure, a discount, or a raffle ticket for a drawing. Each participating merchant will have something special,” added Hannigan. A map of participating treasure hunt merchants is available from the Chamber.
“Just because your personal heartwarming movie wraps on December 7,
doesn’t mean it’s over,” Hathaway explained. “The entire cast is invited to the after party that continues through December 24 when the participating merchants with raffles draw the names of winners who participated in the treasure hunt.”
And finally, the Chamber is promoting its Flocal (Florence Local) e-gift card at: FlocalGiftCard.com.
Flocal cards can be used at 50 local area merchants. Gift givers can send Flocal via email or print them out to be given in person. Any merchant who accepts MasterCard can accept Flocal once they sign up on the website. “It is easy and free
to do so, and easy to use around town,” explained Hathaway. Roll credits! Chamber president/CEO: Bettina Hannigan; director of tourism development and event coordinator: Mitzi Hathaway; town mayor: Rob Ward; Santa and Mrs. Claus: themselves; lead actors: you, your friends, and family; special thanks: supporters and members of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. Best boy/ key grip/publicity: Scott Steward. For more information: Visit FlorenceChamber. com, email info@ FlorenceChamber.com or call 541-997-3128
350 chapters and 200 000 members and supporters across the United States.
PFLAG is the country’s largest organization for parents, families, friends, and straight allies united with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+).
Do you part and volunteer today to help support these organizations in our community.
Peace Harbor Volunteers
Want to make a difference in the community and make new friends? Do you have a few hours a month? If so, we would love to have you join the Volunteer Program at PEACEHEALTH PEACE HARBOR MEDICAL CENTER. Opportunities are available both in and out of the Hospital setting. All training provided. Applications are available at the Lobby Volunteer Desk or the Gift Shop located in the Hospital at 400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439.
Us Too Florence
Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 • 47maribob38@gmail.com www.ustooflorence.org
‘pickle’ shape.”
While it may seem that they beached themselves or died of en masse, neither appears to be the case.
“Because they are free-floating, we can usually attribute that to
rough currents or stormy weather,” she said. “That’s why we tend to see those more in the winter.”
Asked if they wash ashore dead or die on the shore, Klug said both apply.
“Once they wash ashore, they’re not going to survive for long. They need the water to survive,” she said, “and
because they don’t have any power to swim on their own, they’re at the mercy of the waves. They could be dead when they come ashore or die when they arrive.”
Asked why the pyrosomes remained intact while other shelled animals had been picked apart by gulls, Klug said, “I just don’t think they are as appetizing as dead crabs or other things that are meatier. They’re very gelatinous and I can’t imagine they have a lot of nutritional value.”
Pyrosomes are not harmful to people and Klug said smelly hands would be the only hazard of picking one up.
“They don’t have stinging tentacles the way that jellies do,” she said.
Klug said the aquarium gets occasional yearly reports of pyrosomes washing ashore in Oregon, adding that in 2022, researchers received a lot of calls about them.
According to the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
pyrosomes also create their own light.
“Pyrosomes are known to aggregate in large clusters at the surface and the zooids bioluminescence to create beautiful light displays,” a 2017 report stated. “All of this together would make for a spectacular sight underwater.”
A 2024 NOAA report said heatwaves and warmer waters since 2013 can significantly alter marine ecosystems.
“The researchers found marine heatwaves have
potentially negative implications for species at the top of the food web, including commercially important fisheries and endangered salmon,” the report stated. “Lower trophic levels, such as plankton and small crustaceans, experienced the biggest changes in biomass and energy flow after the heatwaves. The abundance of a gelatinous zooplankton species, known as pyrosomes, skyrocketed. They became the dominant consumer of lower trophic level energy, which
may be related to reductions in krill. This shift in energy flow did not transfer to higher trophic levels; predators, such as salmon and sea lions, don’t appear to consume pyrosomes.”
One researcher said pyrosomes consume animals at the base of the food web, taking energy out of the system that predators need.
https://www.fisheries. noaa.gov/feature-story/ marine-heatwaves-reshape-northern-california-current-ecosystem
are forecasted to drop below freezing.
The committee will have rules for overnight guests, including that no drugs, alcohol or weapons will be allowed on the site. Loitering will not be allowed at the site and paid staff will ensure that rules are followed.
Breakfast and dinner will be served by staff and provided by community members. Guests will be allowed to stay from 5 p.m.m to 8 a.m., and the space will be cleaned.
A release said the committee can also pay rent and utilities during extended cold periods.
Anyone with such a space or information about one may contact Stent at 541-844-5573 or email stentlinda47@ gmail.com
HOMELESS IN OREGON
The Florence City Council passed ordinances this summer which dictate the time, places and manners in which homeless people may camp overnight inside the city limits.
The ordinances were approved just days after the US Supreme Court ruled that the Circuit Court of Appeals’ laws (Martin v. Boise) preventing officers from disturbing or arresting people sleeping in public places. However, Oregon law (ORS 195 530) remains valid, according to City legal counsel. It mandates that any law regulating how someone sleeps, or stays warm and dry in public must be “objectively reasonable as to time, place and manner with regards to persons experiencing homelessness.”
The City’s ordinance forbids temporary sheltering in certain areas and requires that campsites must be packed up by 9 a.m. and remain so until 7 p.m.
The full text of the code can be found on the Siuslaw News website at https://www. thesiuslawnews.com/ approvedcode2024
COLD ENOUGH
While the Oregon Coast is not known for below freezing temperatures, the effects of being wet and cold for prolonged periods can also create a medical emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the body can develop hypothermia at cold temperatures, sometimes even at above 40 degrees. When the body loses more heat than it
produces over prolonged periods, the body temperature will start to drop. Older adults with inadequate food, clothing or heating are susceptible, along with those who remain outside for long periods of time. If someone’s temperature is below 95 degrees, they need medical attention immediately. Often, the effects can be reversed by warming the subject, but some may slip into unconsciousness and die if their temperature continues to drop.
Emergency Medical Technicians know that when the body temperature drops below 86 degrees, the subject may go into cardiac arrest, or vital signs will be barely detectable. If the subject has used alcohol to feel warmer, their ability to shiver and generate heat is impacted. Alcohol may also cause a rush of blood to the skin, impacting one’s ability to keep their core warm. The low body temperature will affect the brain and a subject’s ability to think or move well. In this affected mental state, a subject may not know or understand what’s happening or what to do about it, the CDC says. Memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness and fumbling may be indications of hypothermia. If you encounter someone out in the cold with such symptoms, wrap them in anything warm and call 911
can be purchased from the Florence Events Center box office during business hours, or at the lobby boutique for the Holly Jolly Follies. Proceeds from the contest benefit CROW and its scholarship program.
SWEET DREAMS,
THE 2024 HOLIDAY
JOLLY FOLLIES
Also at the Florence Event Center, an annual mainstage production of for C.R.O.W. It’s an enchanting script entitled “Sweet Dreams: A North Pole Nutcracker” that features an enchanting holiday script plus specialty acts such as live music, dancers of all ages, vocal performances, comedy, and more! Shows will happen Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.. For tickets and other information, go to eventcenter.org
EMPTY BOWLS FLORENCE FOOD SHARE Artists, sponsors, and volunteers come together to sell handmade ceramic bowls Dec. 6 7 and 8 Local artists will also contribute items for a silent auction. Look for Florence Food Share on Facebook for more information.
FLORENCE NATIVITY FESTIVAL
Gazebo at the corner of Bay and Laurel streets to take photos of people with adoptable pets It will happen Dec. 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. as part of Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Festival.
HOLIDAY PARTY PFLAG
A white elephant gift exchange and more will happen at the Florence United Methodist Church, 2nd and Kingwood starting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 9
SHS BAND WINTER CONCERT
The Florence Event Center will host Siuslaw High School’s Winter Concert Dec. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m.
COMMUNITY
CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT
happens Dec. 19 and is open to everyone. There is a virtual option that is free but you have to register: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/holiday-sing-along-hybridtickets-1057333034569
FIND SAMI AND OLLIE
Sea Lion Caves hosts the treasure hunt to find Sami the Seal and Ollie the Otter. Maps are available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at 290 Hwy 101. The hunt goes on through Dec 23
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will feature Nativities from around the world, live music, children’s activities December 6 and 8 from 1 5 p.m. Contact Vicki Kennedy at 541-991-7397 for more information.
HOLIDAY FESTIVAL 2024
Florence Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center 12-7/2024 Noon to 7 p.m. Celebrate the season at the Holiday Festival! Gather at the Chamber’s “A Season of Giving” Tent at the Gazebo (corner of Bay & Laurel) for a day full of holiday fun and support for local organizations. Special Activities:
• Habitat for Humanity - 11a.m. - Noon
• Helping Hands Coalition - Noon - 1 p.m.
• Elks Lodge #1858 1 PM - 2 p.m.
• Oregon Coast Humane Society - Photos with Adoptable Pets - 2-3 p.m.
• First Step Transitional Housing 3 4 p.m.
• Lighted Vehicle Cruise Parade at 4 p.m.
• Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive at 4 p.m. followed by Hayrides until 7 p.m. Lit Balloon Giveaway
3-5 p.m.
Santa’s Workshop at Cross Road Church (corner of 9th & Maple) from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Letters to Santa, Cocoa & Cookies, Make & Take Crafts, and a visit from Santa from 12-1 p.m.!
Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
PHOTOS WITH ADOPTABLE PETS Oregon Coast Humane Society will be at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Season of Giving Tent near the Old Town
Celebrating its 50th year, Soroptimist of Florence will hold its Christmas Basket Project Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No registration is required to receive a Christmas Food Basket. Just come on down from 10 am - 1 pm on December 14.. All cars must line up on 27th Street between Kingwood and Oak Street and will be directed on how to enter the pick up line. The Christmas Food Basket Project is coordinated by Soroptimist International of Florence. At last year’s event, Soroptimist members, along with our over 100 volunteers, handed out about $40 000 worth of food and holiday cheer to 447 families representing over 2 100 people. Interesting in help fund the Christmas Food Basket Project? Donations can be mailed to Soroptimist International of Florence at PO Box 1209, Florence, OR 97439
LIGHT UP A LIFE PEACE HARBOR HOSPICE
On Dec. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Florence Event Center will host a special program that offers reflective readings, music, reading of the names and the lighting of the Light Up a Life tree. To submit a loved one’s name to be read, call Peace Harbor Hospice by December 1 at 541- 997-3418 or email charkness1@peacehealth. org, including your name, the name to be read and your phone to clarify pronunciations of names.
TEEN GIVING TREE CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christmas Party will happen Dec. 19 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sutton Lake Fire Station. The Teen Giving Tree Program is in its 12th year. Signup/application sheets and wish lists for teens 13-17 in the North Lakes area have been available from cashiers at Twin Lakes Grocery & Liquor since October 1st . The community can support the program by shopping for gifts and returning them to Twin Lakes by December 13th . More information is available on their website https:// twinlakes.store/2024wishes or call the store at 551- 997-3021 or come to the store
HOLIDAY SINGALONG
This Parkinson’s Resource singalong
SPORTS & LIFESTYLE
Siuslaw cross country’s state championships
Will LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Siuslaw cross country showed out at the 3A/2A/1A-SD4 District 4 Championships at Lane Community College on Halloween, sending both teams back to Eugene for the OSAA 3A/2A/1A State Championships. Once there, Siuslaw competed with the best of them, and Senior: Clayton Wilson came home with the 3A Individual State Championship!
Running against 88 other competitors, Wilson won the 3A 5000m with a time of 15:37 8. Wilson was one of the mainstays at the front of the pack for a majority of the race, but in the final 300m of the race, he found himself just behind Enterprise’s Jeff Leavitt. With the finish line only about 100m away, Wilson got some separation, clinching the state title and finishing just ahead of Leavitt, who had a time of 15:41 0
DISTRICT CHAMPS
Siuslaw’s postseason was a rollicking success by their standards, as at 3A/2A/1A-SD4 District 4 Championships on Oct. 31, both the boys and girls
teams retained their district titles. It was their second consecutive year capturing the title for the women, while the men have now won for the sixth year in a row.
The women’s team took first ahead of Pleasant Hill and Coquille. The final standings at districts for the top five teams were:
1. Siuslaw - 58
2. Pleasant Hill - 93
3. Coquille - 105
4 Cascade Christian - 116
5 St. Mary’s - 118
Of the 84 runners in the field, Siuslaw had six competing, with each qualifying for state. The runners, where they finished, and their times were:
• Junior: Alison Hughes
- 2nd - 19:45 83
• Senior: Addison
McNeill - 4th - 19:58 72
• Senior: Maya Wells11th - 20:40 97
• Senior: Macy McNeill17th - 20:58 6
• Junior: Adylin
Holbrook - 25th - 22:04 79
• Freshman: Claire McNeill - 30th - 22:37 18
On the men’s side, Siuslaw was also district champion, beating out Glide and Pleasant Hill. Of the 64
athletes competing, seven were Siuslaw runners. Their speed and endurance were on full display as all seven finished in the top thirteen at the meet. The Vikings also had both the first and second finishers at the district championship, though Wilson (the eventual state champion and district champion) did finish more than a minute ahead of the next closest runner.
The runners, where they finished, and their times were:
• Senior: Clayton Wilson - 1st - 15:35 78
• Freshman: Henry Stone - 2nd - 16:46 75
• Freshman: Bentley Nelson - 4th - 17:14 37
• Freshman: Ezra King6th - 17:16 50
• Junior: Kale Jensen11th - 17:57 94
• Junior: Camden Linton - 12th - 17:58 03
• Freshman: Sailor Jensen - 13th - 17:58 20
It was an impressive showing for the program, which features a lot of younger members. Three of the men’s team freshmen, Stone, Nelson, and King, placed in the top 10 at the district meet.
District Champs at States
Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosts Chanukah Event with Coast Klezmer
Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosts Chanukah Event with Coast Klezmer. What is Klezmer?
Come find out Dec. 14 when Mitzvah Music and Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will present “Chanukah 2 0,” a dance party just prior to the eight-day Jewish Holiday. Coast Klezmer will perform 19th and 20th century numbers that are guaranteed to get you on your feet. Instructor Paul Poresky will lead traditional dancing. Chanukah is the Jewish Holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the ancient Temple. Doors open 1:30 p.m. Event
starts 2 p.m.
“I was pleasantly surprised I was able to find other musicians here on the Oregon Coast who knew this music or could learn it so easily,” says bandleader Mark Levy, who hails originally from the east coast and lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 50 years. Coast Klezmer consists of bandleader and drummer Mark Levy, accordionist Sharon Rogers, clarinetist Mike Curtis, and fiddler Chip Cohen. The four have over 200 years combined music talent guaranteed to get you on your feet!
It would be less than 10 days that the Vikings were home before they headed back to Eugene and Lane Community College for the OSAA 3A/2A/1A State Championships.
In addition to Wilson’s hard-earned state title, the rest of the men’s team performed well in the meet, finishing third in the state behind Banks and Valley Catholic.
The top five placers were:
1. Banks - 79
2. Valley Catholic 79
3. Siuslaw - 87 4. Oregon Episcopal - 125 5. Enterprise - 128 Siuslaw saw all seven of its athletes land in the top 50 in the state, competing in a field of 88. Siuslaw’s individualperformances to achieve their standing were:
• Senior: Clayton Wilson - 1st - 15:37 8
• Freshman: Henry Stone - 7th - 16:24 7
• Freshman: Ezra King25th - 17:11 4
• Freshman: Bentley Nelson - 32nd - 17:24 3
• Junior: Camden Linton - 40th - 17:49 2
• Freshman: Sailor Jensen - 46th - 18:04 6
• Junior: Kale Jensen
- 49th - 18:12 9
Siuslaw’s women’s team also performed well, finishing fifth in the state, barely missing out on fourth place by one point. Team scores for the women’s division were: 1. Oregon Episcopal - 79 2. Enterprise - 82 3. Union 126 4. Banks - 163 5. Siuslaw - 164 Competing among 113 runners, Siuslaw’s six athletes were all in the top 75 with Alison Hughes posting the best time on the team, finishing the 5000m in 19:47 1, good for 14th in the state. Siuslaw’s times in the event were:
•Junior: Alison Hughes14th - 19:47 1
• Senior: Addison McNeill - 22nd - 20:13 4
• Senior: Maya Wells39th - 20:59 9
• Junior: Adylin Holbrook - 61st - 21:42 5
• Senior: Macy McNeill62nd - 21:48 0
• Freshman: Claire McNeill - 74th - 22:45 6
Overall, both teams came away with strong finishes to add to an impressive season that saw them both atop their respective districts.
Siuslaw girls soccer ends on high note
Will LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
The rainy months are ahead, and high school sports around Oregon are headed indoors, but before we get into wrestling and basketball going into 2025, let’s check in on how Siuslaw’s girls soccer season ended.
Overall, the season made for a large improvement over how the team did in 2022. The Vikings finished the season with a 6-9 overall record and finished league play 3-9. Though they had a below .500 record, Siuslaw took their level up a notch after they finished with a 2-11-1 record in the 2023-2023 season, with all contests being league games.
Siuslaw finished last year as the 36th-ranked team in OSAA’s 2023 3A/2A/1A rankings but managed to leap all the way up
to #28 with this year’s results. On top of that, the team ended the season on a high note, beating Rogue River 3-1 in a nonleague game Oct. 24. It was the fifth time during the season that the Vikings scored more than three in a match.
Though Siuslaw will lose six seniors this year, there is also plenty of room for the team to grow into the future. The team’s five seniors on the squad this year were Abbie Maldonado, Macali Lade, Sophia Montoya Helja Kosunen, Berkley Tregoning, and Nik Shelton. Though the team will undoubtedly miss their experience, the team also featured a promising class of eight freshmen. The team will be looking to make the 2025 fall season another one of growth to keep the upward trajectory going.
Runners burst from the starting line at the the Woahink Lake XC Invitational at East Woahink Lake in Honeyman State Park in October. Tony Reed photo
2024 Community Christmas Basket Project
This year marks the 50th Annual Christmas Food
Community Briefs
Basket Project!
Soroptimist International of Florence and our volunteers will be handing out Christmas Food Baskets at Siuslaw Middle School on Saturday, December 14th from 10am to 1pm. No
registration is required to receive a Christmas Food Basket. Just come on down when we are distributing. All cars must line up on 27th Street between Kingwood and Oak Street and will be directed on how to enter the pick-up line.
The Christmas Food Basket Project is coordinated by Soroptimist International of Florence. At last year’s event, Soroptimist members, along with our over 100 volunteers, handed out about $40 000 worth of food and holiday cheer to 447 families representing over 2 100 people. This event is coordinated by the Soroptimist Club with the help of generous
donations from our community. Each year, we purchase approximately $40 000 worth of food for distribution. Any food that is left over (which isn’t much!) is then taken to Florence Food Share for distribution through their organization. In addition to Florence Food Share, Soroptimist also coordinates with Mapleton Food Share to get boxes of food to families in the Mapleton area. Anyone interesting in donating to the Christmas Food Basket Project is greatly appreciated.
Donations can be mailed to Soroptimist International of Florence at PO Box 1209, Florence, OR 97439
Annual Toy and food drive underway
Three Rivers Casino is holding its 20th annual Toy and Food Rive until Dec. 15 to benefit lower income families in the Florence area. Donors can bring new unwrapped toys or at least three cans of food to the Players Services desk in the Casino, and in exchange, will receive $5 in free play at the casino.
Florence Food Share officials say that for some families, it can make the difference between affording
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for adults is at 9:00 a.m. Online services at www.florenceunitedmethodist.org or find us on Facebook.
FOURSQUARE CHURCH 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sunday Service 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall. Website: florence4square.com
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A. NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. “Serving Christ by serving others.” 21st & Spruce Streets—(541) 997-8113 Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m.
Online services available on our FaceBook, YouTube, and website: www.florencenewlifelutheran.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW 3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136
Church Facebook
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533 Sunday 9am 1st Service in person Sunday 11am 2nd Service in person & Online Children’s Church (0yrs-12yrs) in person & Online Wednesdays at 7pm https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online Other platforms update after the service. florencecrossroadag.org office@florencecrossroadag.org
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational Service is on Sunday at 10:00 am Sunday Service also streaming live at 10am at florencechurch.com
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road RUAUU? Come explore the answer with us. Sunday Worship Services ~ 10:00am www.florenceuuf.com
Internet and in person Sunday Services at 10:30am, Adult Sunday School is at 9:30am. Call the church for details. Reverend Greg Wood All Welcome. Come as you are.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL We meet Sunday’s at 11am in our homes. Call 541-515-8191 for locations.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
Worship Services 10 am • Bible Study 9:00 am Pastor Steve Waterman 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 Facebook.com/ResurrectionLutheranChurchFlorence www.puppro.wixite.com/rlcflorence
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL Church Welcomes You Worship Sun. 10am Wed 11am 2135 19th St. 541-997-6600 standssecretary19@gmail.com Labyrinth & Garden daily 8am-5pm “Be the change.”
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES CATHOLIC CHURCH 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 Mass Times: Daily: Tue, Wed, Fri 9:00 AM Adoration & Confession Fri 9:30-10:30 AM Saturday 5:30 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM Fr. Amir Welcomes All to Attend
the holidays and paying rent. Some of the toy donations will be distributed by Florence Police Department personnel.
Toys for kids of all ages are welcome and have even been as large as bicycles in past years.
Donors who do not wish to come into the casino may leave donations with the valet at the door.
Call to Display Your Nativity in the 17th Annual Florence Nativity Festival
The Nativity Festival Committee of Florence is seeking community members who would like to participate in this year’s event which will be held December 6th, 7th and 8th. It runs from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Displayers from past years are also invited to join us again. All nativity sets, large or small are welcome. The festival takes place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’
Hunger rates in Oregon are on the upswing
a recently released Oregon State University study found.
People lost their jobs and their sources of income shrank, creating thousands more malnourished Oregonians.
In 2023, nearly 13% of state residents — about 530,000 individuals — suffered from “food insecurity” in Oregon, according to a just-released Oregon State University analysis that looks at people’s inability to get enough food on the table in a predictable manner.
That rate is lower than in the years following the Great Recession, but about two points higher than 2020 marking an increase of about 65,000 more people facing food insecurity during 2021 to 2023
Renters, people who live alone, those with a lower education, rural residents and minority communities along with adults up to age 64 are more likely to face food insecurity.
With persistent food insecurity issues in Oregon, dozens of organizations like the Oregon Food Bank have stepped up their efforts to tackle the problem, partly in Washington D.C. More than 40 groups recently sent a letter to Oregon’s U.S. senators and representatives, urging them to oppose any reduction in food aid.
The groups are worried about the farm bill, a fiveyear program that covers agricultural subsidies, crop
insurance and food aid like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP helps 680,000 Oregonians a year buy food to feed their families. The five-year farm bill expired last September and Congress has still not passed a new bill.
“Many Oregonians need these resources now more than ever,” Sarah Weber-Ogden, co-executive director of Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon, told the Capital Chronicle. “We need Congress to understand that these programs can’t withstand any reduction in funding or reach — they’re too essential.”
The Agriculture Committee in the Republican-controlled House passed a farm bill that would cut $30 billion from nutritional programs while a version introduced in the U.S. Senate would protect food aid. Neither is likely to make it to the finish line before the next Republican-dominated Congress is in session.
Historically high rates
Advocates say a cut in SNAP benefits, which are paid by the federal government, would particularly hurt Oregon.
Historically, Oregon has often had higher food insecurity rates than the rest of the country, something that has puzzled researchers, said Mark Edwards, an Oregon State University professor and lead researcher on the study. He pointed to the 1990s when the economy was booming, a time when presumably rates would be down.
But they weren’t, soaring above the U.S. average.
Edwards said the state experienced a big influx of people at the time and that prices rose, creating wider disparities among various groups of people.
“The fraction of people who were struggling in terms of paying rent was high in Oregon compared to a lot of states,” Edwards said. “So from early on, we’ve been thinking a lot about the role of housing and housing costs.”
Renters, who are subject to the whims of the marketplace, are the most at risk. Oregon law limits year-overyear rent increases to the lesser of 10% or 7% plus inflation, but that law doesn’t apply to buildings constructed in the past 15 years.
During the 2021 to 2023 period covered by the analysis, researchers found that nearly 23% of renters experienced food insecurity compared with nearly 7% of homeowners. Renters generally face higher poverty rates than homeowners and have traditionally had higher rates of food insecurity, the analysis shows. Edwards said he wasn’t surprised by that high rate, saying it could have been even higher without pandemic-era eviction protections and expanded federal food benefits.
“The safety net during COVID really did keep the problem from getting as bad as it could have been,” Edwards said.
But those protections are now gone.
The analysis says it remains to be seen how the priority put on building more housing, especially affordable homes, by Gov. Tina Kotek and the Legislature, with its allocation this year of nearly $380 million for housing, will affect food insecurity rates. Edwards said there’s no magic bullet for reducing hunger in a significant way, especially in a short period of time.
“It’s a hard thing to do to address in one budget,” Edwards said.
It will take months and maybe years for the money to make an impact, and the high cost of housing is not the only factor at play in food insecurity. The analysis shows that people without a high school education face the highest rates of food insecurity and that they’re going up, with nearly onethird of those without a diploma facing hunger from 2021 to 2023 compared to 17% for those with an associate’s degree and more than 6% for those with a bachelor’s.
Those who live alone — both men and women — experience higher rates of food insecurity than couples, but single mothers face the highest rates when looking at household composition: 28% in 2021 to 2023 compared
with 15% for single women or 17% for single men.
High rates in rural Oregon
The analysis also found that rural residents experience higher rates of food insecurity than their urban counterparts — 21% compared with 12%. Although many people in the countryside have gardens and grow their own food, the vast majority of rural residents shop at grocery stores, Edwards said.
He doesn’t know exactly why rural folks in Oregon have faced a higher risk of food insecurity, but said it could be a combination of factors. They might not have easy access to state and federal benefits or might not have wanted to use them out of fear of being seen to need SNAP benefits, for example, or experiencing a stigma of going to a church food pantry.
Also during the pandemic, people were told to stay at home, which might have kept them away from food pantries, Edwards said.
But the curious thing is that Oregon is an outlier in having higher food insecurity rates in rural areas.
“It didn’t happen all over the country,” Edwards said. “We’re still trying to figure out if there was something really unique about Oregon’s rural places that made it especially vulnerable.”
With the next legislative session around the corner, Oregon’s Hunger Task Force, which includes lawmakers, agency staff, advocates and people who’ve struggled with hunger, is working on a “roadmap” to address the state’s high food insecurity rates. The document, which is still in the works, will be presented to lawmakers during their three days of meetings next month, said Jacki Ward Kehrwald, the communications lead for the nonprofit Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. The document maps out three main principles — ensuring that food is affordable, easily accessible and culturally appropriate — and details a path forward that would bring together all facets related to hunger that need to work together to bring down food insecurity rates, said Weber-Ogden of Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/11/25/hungerrates-in-oregon-are-on-theupswing/
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Try to figure out which Santa belongs to which business. They may not have their Santa hats on or be wearing a beard, but they will be in the businesses and could be helping you. Two Chances to Win $50
One winner will be who correctly identifies the MOST Santa’s,* and one winner will be selected at random from the entries.
form must be received by Friday, December 20th at 12 Noon.
The winners will be contacted on December 23rd by phone.
BEAT THE PICKERS PANEL FOOTBALL
1. ANATOMY: Where is the glabella located in the human body?
2. LITERATURE: In children's books, what is the name of the Big Red Dog?
3. GEOGRAPHY: In which country would you find the 98-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer figure?
4. GAMES: What number is represented by the phrase "two little ducks" in bingo?
5. SCIENCE: What percentage of air is nitrogen gas?
6. MUSIC: When did Rock the Vote, an organization that encourages young people to vote, come into being?
7. TELEVISION: Which 1970s comedy show features the theme song "Come On Get Happy"?
8. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which month of the year has the least number of letters?
9. U.S. STATES: Which state is first alphabetically?
10. MOVIES: Which 1983 movie
tures a character named Tony Montana?
OLIVE
By Emi Burdge
pital. Days, no weekends, plus benefits. DOE. Please send resume to receptionist@ oceanisidevetclinic. com or call 541-9979300
at www.ci.florence.
or.us/citymanager/public-meetings-live. Testimony can be given in writing or through a request to participate in the meeting. Those wishing to testify via conference call must submit a speaker’s card at www.ci.florence. or.us/bc-pc/request-address-planning-commission-speakers-card by 3:30 PM on November 12, 2024. Testimony not submitted in compliance with the above procedures will not be included in the record. For additional information, contact the Planning Department at planningdepartment@ci.
florence.or.us or 541-9978237. To be published on November 27, 2024, and December 4, 2024
SLN24-3043
Contents of 8 x 10 Storage Unit For sale Visit - 85025 Hwy 101 SLN24-3042
Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the Florence City Council will hold a public hearing in person and via videoconference on December 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the City of Florence, City Hall Council Chambers located at 250 Highway 101, to consider and deliberate on the following applications: Ordinance 12 & 13, Series 2024 - 4726 Sea Breeze Lane Annexation and Zone Change: a petition from Ellen Huntingdon to annex approximately .34 acres of property and apply Low-Density Residential zoning to property described as Assessor’s Map No. 18-12-10-32, Tax Lot 00800. Public rightof-way, Sea Breeze Lane, would also be annexed. Meetings air live on Cable Channel 191 and stream
Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the Florence Planning Commission will hold a public hearing in person & via videoconference on December 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the City of Florence City Hall Chambers located at 250 Highway 101, to consider and deliberate on the following: PC 24 01 CUP 01- Attached Single-Units Dwellings in the Commercial Zoning District. An application received from Jed Truett, Metro Planning, Inc., on behalf of Duman Inc and L&B Development, requesting approval of Conditional Use Permit for 10 single-unit attached dwellings (5 buildings) in a Commercial District Development. Property is 1.15-acres located at 5439 Hwy 126, approximately 450 ft. SW of the intersection of Hwy 126 and Xylo St. and shown on Assessor’s Map # 1812-26-31, Tax Lot 02300. The Commercial District is regulated by Florence City Code Title 10, Chapter 15. Meetings air live
on Cable Channel 191 & stream at www.ci.florence.or.us/citymanager/ public-meetingslive. Testimony can be given in writing delivered or mailed to 250 Highway 101 or planningdepartment@ci.florence.or.us or verbally at the meeting. Those wishing to testify via conference call must submit a speaker’s card by 3:30PM on December 10, 2024. Testimony not submitted in compliance with the procedures, will not be included in the record. For additional procedural information, visit www.ci.florence.or.us/bcpc/request-address-planning-commission-speakers-card or contact the Planning Department at 541-997-8237. To be published November 27, 2024 & December 4, 2024 SLN 24-3044
NOTICE OF POTENTIAL
ORDINANCE PASSAGE
On December 9, 2024, the City of Florence City Council will review and consider two ordinances concerning the following…Ordinance No. 12, Series 2024 - An Ordinance approving annexation of property within the UGB, identified as 4726 Sea Breeze Lane, Lot 8, Rhododendron Terrace West II, as plated and recorded in file 72, slide 141, Lane County Oregon Plat Records, in Lane County, Oregon, and Sea Breeze Lane right of way. Ordinance No. 13, Series 2024 - An Ordinance establishing low-density district zoning as part of a proposed annexation to property identified as 4726 Sea Breeze Lane, Lot 8, Rhododendron Terrace West II, as platted and recorded in file 72, slide 141, Lane County Oregon Play Records, in Lane County, Oregon, and Sea Breeze Lane right of way. This notice serves as official publication of the availability
of the ordinances. The full text of these Ordinances will be available on the City of Florence website at www.ci.florence.or.us, on or before Monday, December 2, 2024, or may be inspected at Florence City Hall, 250 Hwy 101, Florence, Oregon during regular business hours. Persons wishing to address the City Council may submit comments in writing or may provide verbal comments. Written testimony may be submitted by: 1. Email to the City Recorder at cityrecorder@ ci.florence.or.us; 2. Mail to Florence City Hall; Attn: City Council, 250 Hwy 101, Florence, OR 97439 3. Drop off at Florence City Hall (250 Hwy 101) during regular business hours, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at the City of Florence drop box located at Florence City Hall to the right of the main entrance. ** NOTE: Written comments must be received at least 2 hours prior to the start of the meeting (December 9, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.) to be distributed to the City Council and made part of the record. Citizens may provide verbal comments / testimony at the meeting either in person or virtually. In order to participate verbally at the meeting, citizens are required to complete a speaker’s card at least 1 hour prior to the start of the meeting (December 9, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.). Speaker’s cards are available online at www. ci.florence.or.us/council/ request-to-address-citycouncil-speakers-card, or by contacting the City Recorder via email at cityrecorder@ci.florence.or.us or by phone at 541-9973437. For more information about this notice, or any Florence City Council proceedings, please contact City Recorder Lindsey White at 541-997-3437, or via email at cityrecorder@ci.florence.or.us.
SAGITTARIUS -Nov 23/Dec 21
This is the week for exploring new ideas or planning a trip, Sagittarius. It’s only a matter of time before you realize that adventure awaits. Get started on what awaits.
CAPRICORN -Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, try focusing on your longterm goals this week. Strategic planning will pay off in the long run. If you need help, seek a mentor who can offer advice.
AQUARIUS -Jan 21/Feb 18
A surprise opportunity might arise for you midweek, Aquarius. Don’t hesitate to snatch it up quickly, as others also might be interested. Leave weekend plans open for now.
PISCES -Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, if you feel your emotions are running high this week, try to channel your feelings into a creative project that will use them in a smart way. A friend may call asking for advice.
GEMINI -May 22/Jun 21
You might find yourself in discussions that lead to exciting new projects, Gemini. Be open to collaboration and work on improving your communication skills. Time for fun comes later.
ARIES -Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, your energy is impressive and contagious this week. You can put it to use tackling tasks that you have been putting off. A surprise message could brighten your weekend.
TAURUS -Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, review your budget and consider a new investment opportunity. This week brings a chance to reconnect with someone special. Don’t avoid vulnerability, as it could enhance things.
VIRGO -Aug 24/Sept 22
CANCER -Jun 22/Jul 22
This week is all about self-care, Cancer. Take some time to focus on your emotional well-being and nurture it as much as you can. A midweek work opportunity could arise.
LEO -Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, dive into artistic pursuits or share ideas with others this week, as your creativity will be shining brightly. A social engagement may bring new connections that lead to exciting prospects.
Get down to business and organize your workspace or tackle a project that has been pushed aside, Virgo. If you feel overwhelmed, be sure to ask for some help from those you trust..
LIBRA -Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, it’s all about balance this week, something you know a lot about as the scales sign. Make time for both work and play so you can make the most of every opportunity.
SCORPIO -Oct 24/Nov 22
Intensity and passion might define your week, Scorpio. Delve into a project that excites you. By the middle of the week, news reaches your ears and it could be very exciting.
