Prudential Pacific Properties

Lighthouse lights the coast line once more

$22,000 in visitors’ donations fund repairs completed by Florida specialists.

After being off for more than three months, the Heceta Head Lighthouse light is back on.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department turned off the light Feb. 1 when inspectors discovered that the carriage wheel assembly was worn out.

Without repairs, inspectors warned that continued use could cause additional damage to the wheel assembly and the light.

Florida-based Lighthouse Lamp Inc., which specializes in lighthouse conservation, were in charge of repairs.

Dennis Lucas, park manager for Carl G. Washburne Park, said that because of the nature of the repairs, choosing Lighthouse Lamp Inc. was an easy decision.

“With lighthouse repair you have to have a certain background. They’re dealing with a historic structure, which narrows the field quite a bit,” said Lucas.

“Since this is an aid to navigation it was important to get this done quickly,” said Lucas. “It’s a pretty serious thing for a lighthouse when friction rollers fail. If it was kept running, it would have caused major damage.”

Repair specialists replaced the worn friction rollers and bearings in the carriage wheel assembly earlier in the week.

The $22,000 project was paid entirely by donations collected from visitors to the lighthouse, Lucas said.

Except for periodic maintenance, the light has rarely been turned off since it was first lighted in 1894.

The automated beacon can be seen as far as 21 miles offshore. Weighing an approximate two tons, the lantern rotates continuously.

Lucas said Lighthouse Lamp crews are still on-hand monitoring the light.

“They’re making sure there are no more problems,” said Lucas.

In observance of Memorial Day

Hundreds assemble to honor those who died in service to their country and to dedicate a new veterans memorial park.

After nearly five years of work, planning and fundraising, the Veterans Memorial Wall was dedicated, appropriately, on a sunny Memorial Day, May 25.

The ceremony was held as part of Memorial Day observances and was a labor of love for the members of the Veterans Memorial Park Commission.

More than 300 people — veterans, families and friends representing every branch of American armed services, including merchant marines — were in attendance for the observance and dedication ceremonies.

Moments before the services were set to begin, a murmur went through the crowd as someone pointed to the sky. A bald eagle circled over the park for several minutes. It was an awe-inspiring moment straight out of a Hollywood movie that had those in attendance talking the rest of the afternoon.

The event was hosted by the American Legion Francis M. Yost Post 59 and assisted by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Grimshaw Post 3232 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 23.

See more photos from Memorial Day services at www.thesiuslawnews.com Photo Gallery.

Relay for Life

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Florence boy on NBC Nightly News tonight at 6pm

A Florence boy's story of how he helps the hungry in his community goes national tonight. Eleven-year-old Taylor Graham will be featured on NBC Nightly News' Making a Difference segment at six o'clock tonight. The network TV cameras were in Florence last week when Taylor held his Read for the Need book sale. 

Florence Oregon Rhododendron Festival 2009

What an amazing weekend we had, the weather could not have been nicer for Rhody Days this year!

Take a look at all the sparkles!

Relay for Life

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

The 2009 Rhody Run

There's been changes to the 2009 Rhody Run. Download the new course map here. To download the application, click here. And, here is a poster you can display in your storefront window.

History of the Rhododendron Festival

There have been some changes to Florence since the first Rhododendron Festival of 1908. Click here for the exciting details...

Relay for Life

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Relay for Life

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Hello Friends,

It is once again time for Relay for Life.  This is our annual event in Florence taking place on August 14-15 from noon to noon.  It is a wonderful event for a great cause.

This is where we ask for your help.  Times are tough for many of us, but this is when we should take a step back and realize all we have to be thankful for and know that we need to help those who need it.  Cancer is something that has touched many lives in different ways.  It doesn't take a lot to be involved, and the more that are invloved, the greater impact we will have. 

There are lots of statistics on how many people are diagnosed, how many we've lost, and how many have survived.  There are lots of statistics of how much money has been raised, how many grants have been provided, how much money goes where.  But they way I look at it is, if I can do any little part, I will have a big impact on someone's life, or even save a life, and I am asking you to do your part too.

There are many ways to help.  Join a team, make an oline donation, fundraise, have a car wash, ask 10 friends for $10, the possibilities are endless.  So join me today and Remember, Celebtate, and Fight Back!

Whether it is a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. We all have the power to make a difference in the fight against cancer. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in our community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I know that you care about finding an end to cancer, and I hope you will join me at this year's Relay For Life®. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page, where you can sign up and join my team. If you are not able to attend, you can make an online donation to support my efforts.

By taking part in Relay For Life®, we have a chance to join 3.5 million people from across the country to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. At the event, we'll camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission. There is an incredible ceremony to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers that starts off the night, and a moving ceremony to honor and remember those who have fought the disease. I can truly say Relay is unlike anything else you'll ever experience. It's a night full of fun, hope, and remembrance.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join me.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3560567&pg=personal&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=u4Wsg_2CvdRnqcCjpKifiw..&s_tafId=293680

Click here to view the team page for Cancer Kickers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?team_id=461627&pg=team&fr_id=17773&fl=en_US&et=4v_oxp5amhD95kUrMd9HYg..&s_tafId=293680

Empty Bowls to be filled

Annual event is Dec. 5 and 6 and moves to Florence Events Center.

The 13th annual Empty Bowls project to benefit Florence Food Share will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, at the Florence Events Center. Local artists and potters have donated hundreds of bowls that will be sold, the proceeds of which will assist in providing food for the nearly 600 families that utilize Food Share’s services each month.

“We’re very excited about moving Empty Bowls to the Florence Events Center,” says spokesperson Cindy Wobbe. This year’s event has also been expanded to two days.

“Thanks to a grant from the Western Lane Community Foundation, we were able to purchase over 3,000 pounds of clay for our potters to work with,” Wobbe said. “We have several new artists contributing this year, and with the expansion of potters and bowls, moving Empty Bowls to a larger space has become a necessity.”

Many of the bowls featured at this year’s event were produced at a special workshop that potters have dubbed the “Bowl-In,” which partnered students from LCC’s evening pottery classes with art students at Siuslaw High School.

Coordinated by instructors Julie Ellingson and Kim Pickell, the potters met for a day-long workshop in Kim’s classroom at the high school and “threw” bowls using clay purchased with the WLCF grant. Each bowl from the Bowl-In will be marked with a unique stamp designed by Vicki Sieber-Benson.

For the second year, attendees can also purchase a limited edition Empty Bowls poster, showcasing the artwork of Lynda Jasso-Thomas, Food Share’s current artist-in-residence.

“We are truly grateful to Lynda for creating this very touching reminder to us all that the hands of humanity reach both ways,” said Wobbe. “All of the artists who support this event do so with both their talent and their heart. Their ongoing commitment to Empty Bowls continues to play an important role in increasing public awareness of the essential services that Food Share provides the working poor and the vulnerable in our community.”

Doors will open to the public on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Bowls can be purchased for $10 each and will include a coupon for a free bowl of soup at one of the many participating restaurants.

Mapleton Grange Christmas Bazaar

November 7, 2008 - November 8, 2008

Times: Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location:  Mapleton Grange Hall

E Mapleton Rd; Mapleton

Admission:  Free

Handmade gifts including jewelry, handbags, bird houses, creative sewing, art cards and prints. Christmas wreaths available for order. Free coffee

About Aging in Place

Aging in Place supports the notion that older persons should be able to maintain a desirable lifestyle by participating in their communities, remaining independent as their health allows, having access to educational, cultural, and recreational facilities, feeling safe, and living in an intergenerational environment. This is especially true of low- to moderate-income older persons whose financial constraints limit their choices. Partners for Livable Communities has recently collaborated with NeighborWorks to make resources about Aging in Place available on this Web site. This site includes Aging in Place Resources, Aging in Place Articles, and Aging in Place Links to organizations involved in solutions. If you are looking for more in-depth information, check out Aging in Place Reports and Studies. Also, a number of NeighborWorks network organizations are involved in providing housing solutions for older adults who desire to stay in their own communities. Read about Local NeighborWorks Aging in Place activities.

Ten FAQs About Aging in Place [PDF, 119 KB] (produced by Partners for Livable Communities) This FAQ provides answers to many common questions about the issues, challenges, solutions, and resources available regarding Aging in Place.

It is a Beautiful Day for a Hike

The sky above Florence is the most perfect shade of blue, bright white fluffy clouds are passing by, and for the moment there is not a breath of wind. Today would be a perfect day for a little trip up the Coast to hike "Amanda’s Trail" at Cape Perpetua. (Clever name huh?)

 

Veterans Day Parade Committee of Florence

The 3rd annual parade for 2008 will be held on Tuesday, November 11th, at 1 pm. Experience a moving moment as the sound of 'Rolling Taps' echos up Bay Street, accompanied by the silence of the crowd.
For more information click here.

Home Builders Association Tour of Homes

The beautiful City of Florence, Oregon is the “place to be” on the weekend of Sept 19th thru 21st. The City will be hopping as the Home Builders Association and the Florence Chamber of Commerce team up to produce two major civic events – the Annual Tour of Homes and the Chowder, Blues & Brews.

The combination of both events offers the participants a fun day to remember on the scenic Oregon coast.

The tour will feature homes throughout the Florence area. Tour maps and guidebooks are available at the Tour of Homes booth at the Florence Events Center during Chowder, Blues & Brews, and the Florence Chamber of Commerce. The tour is open to the public

Florence Rods ‘n Rhodies

The Florence Rods ‘n Rhodies has planned three days of hot roddin’ memories to share for years to come. We’ll be starting with registration at Smith’s Hot Rod Garage and a Rhody Cruisers Poker Run on Friday, and end with awards and raffle on Sunday. Let’s make this an event to remember! Download the Schedule of Events here.

Florence from the sky...

It's been a while since i've posted fresh photos of our beautiful town, the weather has been kind of un-cooperative lately, some days it's clear skies for miles and miles, some days it's raining, and some days it's both. It's OK, every day is like a surprise. Moving on, a friend of mine (who happens to be the Mayor) took a little jaunt over the hills to Eugene last weekend, and his co-pilot (Who happens to be a Pilot in training) took these fantastic pictures from the plane. I'd like to share them with you, they are simply breathtaking. Florence is indeed an amazingly beautiful town.

 

JESSIE M. HONEYMAN MEMORIAL STATE PARK

 

Situated half way up the Oregon coast and three miles south of Florence on scenic Highway 101 is the second largest overnight camp in the state. There are two miles of sand dunes between the park and the ocean. Two natural freshwater lakes are within the park. Cleawox -- which is great for swimming -- and Woahink, which has a public boat ramp, is used for all water sports. Rent a canoe and explore the lake.

Click here to read more

Softly the evening came...

Florence’s 4th is four days of fun

Florence’s 4th is four days of fun Posted: Tuesday, Jul 1st, 2008 http://www.thesiuslawnews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=&story_id=1422 Food, music, arts and crafts, more food and two nights of fireworks this weekend A lawn chair or blanket for extra comfort and a few bucks are all that are needed for fun during Florence’s Independence Day celebration, slated for tonight through Saturday, July 5. This year’s event boasts two nights of fireworks, July 3 and 4. The fireworks will be launched from a barge in the middle of the Siuslaw River. Kady Sneddon, executive director of the the Florence chamber of commerce, says the best viewing will be from the boardwalk in Old Town. This evening residents and visitors can try their hand (or feet) at folk dancing when the Oregon Coast International Dancers take to the boardwalk in Old Town from 7 to 9 p.m. for a free folk dancing performance. The first hour will include dance instruction. Thursday, July 3, through Saturday, July 5, from 11 a.m. until dark, the Lions Club of Florence will be cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers and sausage dogs in front of the Port office in Old Town. If that’s not enough, on Friday, July 4, there will be an all-you-can-eat pie and watermelon eating contest. This free event will be held in Old Town Park at lunchtime. Contestants must pre-register. All ages are welcome. For more information, call the contest’s sponsor, Splash! at (541) 997-7598. Also slated for the Fourth is the 11th annual Great Florence Duck Race, where loads of numbered rubber ducks will race beginning at 1 p.m. in the Old Town waterfront. Florence Kiwanis Club members are selling tickets. Winners for prizes will be announced at 2 p.m. Evening fun includes a John Denver tribute concert, 7 p.m., at the Florence Events Center. Arts take the forefront on Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m. —7 p.m. and Saturday, July 5, from 9 a.m.—5 p.m. when the Florence Arts and Crafts Association holds its free Explosion 4th of July Arts and Crafts Show. The show will feature paintings, prints, fiber art, jewelry, wearables and even edibles. Proceeds go to FACA’s scholarship fund.

What’s blooming in Florence?

All over our little corner of the world these days you will find bushes of Scotch broom, personally I don't find them very attractive. One of my office friends here; Dave, finds Scotch broom to be rather "Picturesque" so I promised him to take a few pictures of them the next time I was out and about.

Scotch broom is a woody perennialPlant that lives for more than 2 growing seasons species up to 10 feet tall. Leaves are mostly trifoliateA leaf made of 3 leaflets; cloverlikewith ½ inch long, alfalfa-like leaflets. Stems are strongly angled and dark green, with branches that spread only slightly from the main stem. Flowers are bright yellow, pealike, 1 inch in length, and borne in the leaf axilsThe angle formed between a leaf and stem during June. Brown seed pods are smooth (except for hair along the marginsmargin: edge of the leaf), flattened, and contain several beanlike seeds, which are thrown some distance as the pods snap open at maturity

To learn more about Scotch broom, click here

It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away

It's 77 degrees outside

The Beach is 1 mile away from my desk

Sandals and Frappuccinos are making their seasonal debuts in the office

The Carnival is in town

It just doesn't get any better than this!

You should be in Florence 

"Something wonderful happens in summer when the sky is a heavenly blue."

-Frank Sinatra

Rhody FUN on HWY 101

The Rhododendron Festival is held in Florence Oregon each year in the 3rd week of May.There have been some changes to Florence since the first Rhododendron Festival of 1908. The population has grown from fewer than 500 to more than 8,000. The streets are paved, and the Siuslaw Bridge spans the river, and computers are commonplace. The town has enjoyed many improvements in this last decade. It has a new library, hospital, convention center and justice center. Logging, farming and fishing are no longer the major industries. They have all but disappeared. The annual Florence Rhododendron Festival has grown to over 100 entries and attracts over 15,000 visitors. Each spring the wild rhododendrons bloom in the hills and fields of Florence as they have been doing for 1,000 or more years, and the white-pink flowers still represent the end of winter and the imminent arrival of summer. Each year there is a parade and a Rhododendron Queen, and each year beautiful wild flowers of Florence echo the theme of the first Florence Rhododendron Festival, “Watch Florence Grow."

Tony Wells Remembers...

When I was young boy my parents owned a business at the southwest end of Woahink Lake. There is no sign of it there now, almost as if there was never anything there, but in the 1960's it was a going concern. So what did we sell???  Dune buggy rides!  "The Place", that’s what we called what was really named The Sand Dune Buggy Excursions, was where I spent most of my childhood.  You know how everyone gets a nickname; well that was ours ... “The Place”.  There was a big parking lot a gift shop, cafe, a house, and garages. There were even docks on the waterfront complete with a filling station.  My dad built dune buggies in our little single car garage out of 1940's & 50's cars. He cut the entire back end of them out and put in two bench seats facing one another. Of course there were no doors and no hood, but there was a nice handle welded to the dashboard to help whoever was in front to hang on! There were three of these little red painted cuties and one large one that we called the big rig. Now you would think these things would sink like a stone in the sand but my dad had outfitted them with airplane (or balloon type) tires. You wouldn't believe how those things could get around. With a 3 speed on the tree and  a good ol flat head six they looked like  a ball to drive... aaaahhh, if I were only old enough. I couldn't drive ‘em but I could ride ‘em... and I did. I rode so much that I could close my eyes and know just where we were, whether we were doing a side hill or about to go over a fifty foot dune ... Backwards! You can imagine the screams from the overjoyed riders; they had never seen nor heard of anything like it. The drivers were great, what a cast of characters. There was Rocky, Don Harmon, A.J. (his real name was Floyd but dad deemed him A.J. after A.J. Foyt a race car driver of the time ... I bet you can guess why.) Even my uncle Albert drove for us a while. They’re mostly all gone now but the memories they impressed upon me will be cherished forever.

So how much for a ride? If you look close at the picture (you’ll need to have a copy of a 1965 Life Magazine lying around, we were on the cover) and you can make it out.... 75 cents. 

My dad was the boss and the drivers knew it. Even years later they would talk about getting called into his “office” (the three by five restroom at the snack bar). I think you can sense the feeling of discomfort that little "visit" with the boss would bring on.

The Place had a pinball machine (you should have seen me, on my stool, flippers smokin’, just short of tilt, I was quite the wizard!).  There was Woahink Outlet, with a cement walk bridge. It was a great hide away, private, and a good place to fish.  The dock at The Place was cool, it had a shed sized building on it where they used to (before our time) sell tackle, supplies and even gas to people on the lake. But what I liked was right below the dock about ten feet under the water,  an old fifty gallon drum... upright, lid on. You can imagine my glee as a young boy when I saw the biggest smallmouth bass ever known to mankind just hovering over the top of that drum. Now I don't know why, but every day he would taunt me. I could see him plain as day and I knew some day he would have to get hungry even though I had dangled every sumptuous bit of bait I could find right in front of his ungrateful face. This little game went on for I don't know how long but one day it was my day. Dog day afternoon... I tricked him with a bullhead I had caught and used for my trophy getter. You guessed it... it worked and the fight was on. Fifty pound boy against fifty pound fish over the fifty gallon drum with five pound test. Well the odds were less than fifty-fifty that I would land this monster. Right at the height of the battle the line snapped.  But just as it did, my friend Alan saw it coming and grabbed the line just before it went out of the last eyehole, and together we hauled the fish in.  I have the picture to prove it, (which I’ll share as soon as I can find it.)  Small mouth bass, big grin boy! 

There were a lot of grins back then.  And thinking back now maybe that’s why we called it “The Place”, it was.

Get ready for a cold weekend Florence

Well the Forecast for Florence says Rain is on our way :0( Like the saying goes "April Showers Bring Rhododendrons" or something like that. If your searching for something to do while staying dry this weekend, check out these websites dedicated to Organizing and de-cluttering. You never know what treasures one might find while on a de-cluttering spree

Organizer Referrals

National Association of Professional Organizers
www.napo.net

OnlineOrganizing.com
www.onlineorganizing.com

Professional Organizers in Canada
www.organizersincanada.com

Clutter Support Groups and Services

Clutterers Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Clutterless Recovery Groups, Inc.
www.clutterless.org

Messies Anonymous
www.messies.com

National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization
www.nsgcd.org

Favorite Organizing ProductsClosetOrganizerSource.com
Choose from 300 styles for closet, garage, laundry and pantry with free shipping

Cape Perpetua

Towering trees looming through a coastal fog.

Frothy surf crashing upon jagged shores.

Majestic headlands offering clear views for miles.

It all awaits you at the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area.

Located two miles south of Yachats, this coastal wonderland – where the forest meets the sea – captivates locals and visitors alike.

Map of Cape Perpetua Scenic Area ~ Artist's rendering

Come explore:

Tidepools, churns and spouting horns

Coastal forests and ocean views

Historical richness

The Visitor Information Center offers a great panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Guided naturalist programs, walks, and interpretive exhibits are also available at the center. Check out the Cape Perpetua Events Calendar for programs, special events, and Visitor Center hours. Cape Perpetua Visitor Center address and phone number.

Florence Senior Services

Click here to learn about the Senior Citizen Services for Florence

One of the most amazing places on Earth! Sweet Creek Falls

These photos were taken last Spring, which is a good time to visit the falls. For more info about this beautiful place click here.

Household Hazardous Waste Round-up

Round -Up that pesky Household Waste! Click here for more info

Sidestreet Bistro

Last week (03/28/08) I posted about a fabulous local Bistro here in Florence. Last week while out and about I snapped a picture of it to share with you. Isn't it Darling?

Ohhh..Pretty Glass Floats!

Are you planning on visiting

Florence

anytime soon, or in the future? Check out The River Gallery
in Old Town Florence where you can find a Glass Float of your very own!

For more info about Glass Floats Click Here

Notable stops along Highway 126 between Eugene and Veneta.

This is an interesting link it points out all of the nifty points of interest between Florence and Eugene, I had no idea that there was so much to see between here and there.

It's almost Camping Season Here in Florence

There are many places to camp year round in the Florence area, it seems that spring is the "Camping Season Kick-off"

Are you thinking of camping around Florence in the future? Check out these websites

Oregon Parks Web Links

Lane County http://www.co.lane.or.us/Parks/

Oregon State http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/index.shtml

Honeyman State Park Florence http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_134.php

Siuslaw National Forest Recreation http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/

Siuslaw National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/

Don't forget your Smore's fixing's

S'more appears to be a contraction of the phrase, "some more". The informal nature of this term reflects the environment in which s'mores are traditionally served and its meaning hints at the desires of campers who are not satisfied by the first bite of the treat. Some have jokingly surmised that the name originated from people who were so busy eating the tasty treat that they did not have time to speak in complete sentences, or alternately, that their enunciation was compromised by the fact that their mouth was still full of the previously mentioned s'more.While the origin of this popular campfire dessert is unclear, the first recorded version of the recipe can be found in the GirlScout Handbook of 1927

Learn S'more on the following sites

http://www.geocities.com/suarezgfam/SmoresHistory.html

http://www.hersheys.com/smores/

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Smores/Detail.aspx

http://www.swycaffer.com/divpeg/August/smores.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Smore

Entertainment Update!

For more info visit www.threeriverscasino.com

Today's the day!!! Whale Watching Season Starts NOW!

There are about 400 gray whales that do not go as far north as Alaska to feed in the summer. They feed along coasts of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Click here for a map of good whale watching viewing points. Don't forget your binoculars and a snack!

2 Days!

Oh Me Oh My!

Can things get any better? 2 Days until the Whales get here and 3 days until the Easter Bunny gets here! Get ready Florence!

They're so close!!!

Whales swim awfully slow don’t they?

Well not really, it just seems like they do, they are believed to be able to swim up to 33 mph. They're making their way to Florence just as fast as they can.

Click here for a printable fun fact sheet about Gray Whales

All you ever needed to know about Florence, Oregon

Handy links for Florence

Local Maps for Florence
Florence, Oregon Google Map (Area and Street Map)
Florence, Oregon Windows Live Local Map (Area and Street Map)
Florence, Oregon Windows Live Local Bird's Eye View Map
Florence, Oregon Mapquest Map (Area and Street Map)
Florence, Oregon Map (Toxic Releases/Hazardous Waste)
Florence, Oregon Map (Aerial Photo)

Attractions, Parks & Recreation in Florence
Oregon Wildlife Refuges
Things To Do in Oregon
National Parks and Preserves in Oregon

Census Data, Statistics, Facts & Figures for Florence
Florence, Oregon Local Area Business Patterns
Florence, Oregon Neighborhood
Lane County - Personal Income
Oregon Health Statistics - National Center for Health Statistics
97439 Residential Profile

Schools & Educational Resources near Florence
List Public Libraries near Florence
Local School information

Community Organizations in Florence
American Red Cross - Local Chapter for Florence, OR
Habitat for Humanity - Florence, OR
Nonprofit Organizations near 97439
Veterans Affairs Facilities in Oregon

Entertainment in Florence
Florence, Oregon Movies
Local TV Listings

Environment & Science
Florence, Oregon Environmental Releases/Pollution Sources
Florence, Oregon Environmental Conditions and Features (EnviroMapper)
Lane County Pollution Scorecard
EnviroLink Atlas (local environmental community)
US Geological Survey Fact Sheet for Oregon

Government information for Lane County
Elected Officials for Lane County
State and Local Government Web Sites

News & Media for Florence, OR
Local Newspapers, Radio and TV
Ownership of Local Media
Search Google News for Florence, Oregon
Search Yahoo News for Florence, Oregon

5 More Days!!! YIPPY!

Thank you Brittaney for all the nifty links to informative Whale websites!

http://www.acsonline.org http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/gray-whale.html

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=279

6 Days away!

Grays have baleen plates instead of teeth, with 130-180 plates or pieces along each side of the upper jaw.
They take great mouthfuls of food-laden water; then using their tongues, they squeeze out the water and swallow the food that sticks to the baleen.
T he Oregon coast produces lots of phytoplankton (small marine plants) which are eaten by zooplankton (small marine animals) including bottom dwelling amphipods and mysid shrimp - primary food of the Gray Whales.

Whales are on the Way!

The reason for the migration south is to give birth to their young in the warm, calm bays of Mexico.
Gray Whale babies are 15 feet long and weigh 2,000 at birth
The grow up to 45 feet long and weigh 70,000 pounds.

They return north and spend the summer feeding in the Bering and Chukchi Seas (they seldom eat during migration).
About 200 Gray Whales don't continue to Alaska, but stay along the Oregon Coast to feed.

Hurry up Whales! Swim Faster!

In the 1600-1700s Gray Whales in the Atlantic were hunted to extinction.
They were hunted almost to extinction two different times in the Pacific Ocean.
Starting early in the 1900s, the birthing lagoons were protected by the Mexican government.
The United Nations joined in the protection (1935), as did the International Whaling Commission (1946), but the moratorium against whaling wasn't started until 1986.
The Grays made a good recovery and were taken off the endangered list in 1994, but are still threatened Download whale_watch_center.pdf

While you and I are waiting patiently for the Whales to pass us by how about we check out these websites and learn a little bit more about the Wonderful World of Whales!

http://www.whalespoken.org/

http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/graywhl.htm

http://www.whaletimes.org/whagray.htm

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Oregon+Whales

LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIES by JAMES HEINTZ

Please enjoy reading this memoir written by our office's very own JAMES HEINTZ

The storm had wrapped itself around the Head Keeper's House and the
night cloaked path, which climbed through the wind pressed trees,
offered little protection.  The one hundred and twelve year old Heceta
Head Lighthouse was at the end of the steep path that ran south and
high above the house.  It was there, on that high and rocky head, that
it's beacon cast beams like the spokes on a wooden wheel across the
sheer hillside over Devil's Elbow and out to sea.  Looking behind
ourselves and through the besieged trees we could see the Christmas
lights wrapped around the Keeper's House.  The glow of the lights
twinkled as the swinging branches and lashing rain battled to block
our vision.  The ocean, white with churned waves, offered no sight of
the normal deep-water blackness before vanishing under a curtain of
rain.
We had spent several delightful hours in the Keeper's house singing
Christmas carols, drinking hot-spiced cider and eating snicker
doodles.  The Community Choirs had carried out their holiday tradition
by performing one major concert in the Event Center, half a dozen
visits to nursing homes around town and a couple of smaller
performances in unique locations like the Heceta Lighthouse.  Despite
the bad weather twenty folks showed up in their red Santa hats, white
shirts and Christmas scarves to sing a dozen classics as part of a
fundraiser sponsored by the Lighthouse Association.  As an additional
enticement the Association opened the Lighthouse for night tours.
These tours rarely occurred and were intended to be a treat for the
participants.
The extent of darkness on the path and the ease of misguided steps
weren't appreciated until we climbed beyond the glow of the Keeper's
House and lost all since of direction.   It was these short moments of
disorientation that heightened our appreciation of the other visitors
who had the wisdom to bring flashlights.  Like small pinholes of light
they appeared and granted new confidence to our steps and lightened
our hearts.
There was little dialog on the path.  It was as if we all were on some
seafarers pilgrimage to a point of light that had guided and protected
sailors for over a hundreds years.  The storm itself amplified the
importance of the lighthouse and we, sure footed on the cliffs of
Oregon, could only imagine being aboard some squall battered ship
working itself up or down the coast of Oregon and having the
illuminated protection of the lighthouse cutting through the storm to
guide and protect.
The lighthouse had two smaller buildings that sat at its foot like
building blocks dropped by a child.  They had, in past years, served
as storage rooms for the kerosene cans that the poor lighthouse keeper
or one of his assistance would pack up the steps to the lamp.  With
the changes of time and electricity the stoutly build buildings were
used for storage and in recent years protection for the tour guides.
For hundreds of feet around the sides and face of the head, all trees
had been removed and had left the three building exposed to all the
weather the ocean could create.
When we left the mouth of the sheltered path we were shocked by the
intensity of the unbridled wind.  Our umbrellas, long before blown
inside out, were now being wrenched from our hands and only with the
greatest effort were we able to protect their exposed ribs and fabric
from the ripping wind.  The small door to the kerosene building was
open and a much smaller light than the beacon above us offered an
inviting protection.  Inside we found our guide who was delighted to
share her knowledge and prepared us for our visit up the lighthouse.
With new information and ample expectations we dashed from one our
block shaped room to the round base to the lighthouse.  Another light
bathed door stood ajar and we dashed inside to an exceptionally
delightful sight.  The interior walls were mortared red brick recently
stripped of their plaster finish.  A steel spiral staircase climbed
and wrapped itself against the wall as it climbed level after level to
the beacon that spun on its brass rollers at the top.  Step after step
we climbed looking up and down as the beauty of our ascension changed
and our expectation of seeing the beacon heightened.
The lenses, which look much like the headlights on a turn of the
century car, were mounted on steel bans and turned on big brass
rollers.  A pair of sun like lamps glowed and cast beams of light in
eight different directions.  Like most pilgrimages we were allowed
only a few moments in the space that housed the beacon and after one
full rotation we were directed back down the spiraling steps.  When we
reached the bottom and walked outside it seemed as if the storm had
calmed.  Our hike back down the path was blessed with many flashlights
en-root to their nighttime visit of the Heceta Head Lighthouse and even
though the storm had calmed we were pleased to reach our parked car.

Florence again rated ‘coastal gem’ for retirees

A national magazine names Florence a prime spot for condo living.

Two weeks ago an article featuring Florence condominium living was published in the February/March issue of Where to Retire magazine.

The magazine article is unlikely to influence growth in Florence the way the highly publicized book Retirement Places Rated did in 2004 and 2005, but it might help the currently struggling condominium market.

“Eight Coastal Gems for Condo Living” by Mary Beagin describes coastal communities in California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland and Oregon, and features Florence. The magazine has a readership of approximately 500,000.

Mary Lu Abbott, Where to Retire editor, said the publication’s readers tend to be “well-educated adults in their 40s and 50s and beyond, who are looking for places to relocate when they retire. They often use their vacation time to check out places for retirement.”

The current condominium market in Florence could use a publicity boost among prospective retirees. Assessor and market analyst Tawfik Ahdab said there are currently 51 condos for sale. Only nine condo sales were completed in the last 12 months.

“That translates to a 68-month supply,” said Ahdab. A balanced market would have enough listings to generate a six-month supply of sales.

Thirty more new condominiums will be entering the market soon. When that happens, Ahdab said, at the current rate of sales, Florence will have a 108-month or eight year supply of condominiums.

“The condo market is a disaster because there’s such an oversupply,” Ahdab said.

The good news for buyers is that prices will likely come down, and the real estate situation may become a positive opportunity, he said.

Andy Johnson of Coldwell Banker, who markets condominiums, is optimistic that the situation could change.

“There’s a lot of people looking around now,” he said, “and things happening such as the Olympic trials coming down the pipeline.”

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce expects to draw as many as 100,000 people to Florence during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track and Field, between June 27 and July 6, according to chamber director Kady Sneddon.

Articles such as the one in Where to Retire magazine also help.

Abbott said Where to Retire researchers find that condominiums are becoming increasingly popular with retirees who want to spend less time doing yard work. They want to be able to lock the door of their home and leave for several weeks.

“We have scouted around the country and know that the Oregon coast is popular with retirees. Florence is a prime spot, appealing to those
who like the natural beauty of the area along with small-town life with proximity to urban amenities, such as in Eugene,” Abbott said.

Magazine researchers also know that Oregon is number 12 among states attracting retirees and that Lane County is among the 100 most popular counties for retirement, she said.

It is too early to tell if the Where to Retire article will help pique interest in Florence.

Sneddon said, “Of course any time we would benefit from an article would be great.”

When people call the chamber asking about Florence, they usually want to know what the weather is like, the yearly rainfall, the age range of residents, activities, proximity to other communities and the price ranges of condominiums, homes, or beach cottages, said Sneddon.

“A lot of people ask what volunteerism in the community is like,” Sneddon said. “That’s one of the reasons this town is so affluent with volunteerism, because of retired people who want to dedicate their time.”

The Where to Retire article highlights answers to the questions Sneddon typically hears at the chamber.

Beagin writes in Where to Retire that “dozens of lovely little towns are sprinkled among the rugged and magnificent scenery of the Oregon coast. Unassuming Florence is among them and is special.

”Posted: Friday, Mar 7th, 2008
Story by Katy Fulton Siuslaw News

 

What's going on here?

Well a lot actually! The sun is making it's appearances more frequently lately, flowers are sprouting up everywhere, and there is a Monkee making his way into town. Really!
Micky Dolenz of the Monkees will be performing March 14th and 15th at Three Rivers Casino Tickets on sale now! (Also available at the Cashier's Cage at Three Rivers Casino or by calling 800-585-3737)

For more info visit http://www.threeriverscasino.com/

And...

Performing at Aces Sports Bar Thursday, February 21 and every Thursday until March 27 - Three Rivers Super Star Karaoke Competition, Aces Sports Bar & Lounge. Sign ups - 7pm to 8pm; Competition - 8pm to 10pm; Each Thursday, 1st Prize $75, 2nd Prize $50, and 3rd Prize $25. Top 3 move on to Semi-Finals March 28. Open Mic Karaoke - 10pm to 12 Midnight. (Ages 21 & Older Please.)

March 7 - Kush, 7pm to 12am

March 8 - Kush, 8pm to 1am

March 9 - Kush, 5pm to 10pm

March 14 - Mr. Wizard, 7pm to 12am

March 15 - Mr. Wizard, 8pm to 1am

March 21 - Valley Boys, 7pm to 12am

March 22 - Valley Boys, 8pm to 1am

March 23 - Valley Boys, 5pm to 10pm

Friday March 28 - Three Rivers Super Star Karaoke Competition Semi-Finals, Aces Sports Bar & Lounge. Sign ups - 7pm to 8pm; Competition - 8pm to 10pm; Consisting of 18 Semi-Finalists plus 2 Wild Card Competitors chosen by Judges. 10 move on to Finals. Open Mic Karaoke - 10pm to 12 Midnight. (Ages 21 & Older Please.)

Saturday March 29 - Three Rivers Super Star Karaoke Competition Finals, Aces Sports Bar & Lounge. Sign ups - 7pm to 8pm; Competition - 8pm to 10pm. 1st Prize $1000, 2nd Prize $500, 3rd Prize $250. Open Mic Karaoke - 10pm to 12 Midnight. (Ages 21 & Older Please.)

Florence Area Chamber of Commerce

On the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce website you will find local events, recreation, coastal living, visitor, business and relocation information, membership listings. View Website

Road Trip?

Are you thinking of visiting Florence? Do you have a place to stay? If not here are some places that offer a nice cozy bed to sleep in. Bringing your RV or something RV-ish? We've got plenty of places to park those too! Give these websites a whirl, you're sure to find the right accommodation for you.

Driftwood Shores Resort, 88416 First Ave., 997-8264, (800) 422-5091, www.driftwoodshores.com. One hundred twenty-eight rooms. Rates from $90 to $275.

Heceta Head Lighthouse, 13 miles north of Florence on Hwy.101 South, 547-3696, www.hecetalighthouse.com. Three rooms in an historic lighthouse. Rates from $135 to $190.

Jessie M. Honeyman State Park, three miles south of Florence on U.S. 101, (800) 452-5687, www.oregonstateparks.org. Three hundred fifty-six campsites plus 10 yurts. Rates from $16 to $21.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, (877) 444-6777, www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/oregondunes. Thirteen camp grounds along the coast. Rates from $12 to $13, plus $7 vehicle fee.

For even more accomodation information visit the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce

Life on the edge of land and water...

Video: Kesey's Oregon

Enjoy the beauty of Oregon's inspiring coastline as literary hero Ken Kesey describes life on the edge of land and water.