Local News Digest – Bare Cupboards; Port Manager; Fire Open House; Celebrate Arts!

The cupboard is nearly bare…

The shelves are empty and the balance sheet is looking a little bleak at Florence Food Share.  The emergency food box pantry provides supplies to 600 households in the Florence, Dunes City and Mapleton Area each month.

Manager Karen Lyn says their reserves are depleted and donations have slowed to a trickle.  To counteract that, they’re holding what Lyn calls the “Fill ‘er up Food Drive” tomorrow.

Karen Lyn — “We’ve never tried this before. I’m real excited about it. It’s an open house and a food drive. People can come from ten o’clock in the morning until two o’clock in the afternoon. Bring us a food donation, but come and hang out a little bit.”

While the intention is to gather donations… both food and cash… it’s also a good opportunity to see what goes on at food share.

Karen Lyn — “We also invite people to come in and talk with volunteers, staff, board members. Come and see how we do what we do.”

Lyn says the Florence Siuslaw Lions will be serving up hot dogs and there will be tours of the newly expanded water retention system for the community garden.

Selection of Port Manager Nearing

The interviews are completed and it’s just a matter of completing a background check or two… then making an offer.  Interim Port of Siuslaw Manager Suzy Lacer says the Port Commission conducted interviews with finalists for the permanent manager position earlier this week.  Lacer said it appears the Commission is close to making an offer to one finalist.  She expected there would likely be an announcement by the time of the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting next Wednesday.

Fire Prevention Open House

Siuslaw Valley Firefighters will be showing off their stuff tomorrow at the main fire station on Highway 101.  From ten AM to two PM they’ll have equipment on display and giving tours of the station.  Fire Marshall Sean Barrett says the event is in honor of Fire Prevention Week and they’ll also be offering free hot dogs, popcorn, pepsi and ice cream.

Celebrate Arts!

Florence’s largest annual juried art competition went digital this year with all entries submitted online.  So far 287 pieces of art are entered in the Celebrate Arts! Show set for an eight day period in early November.

Florence Events Center Community Outreach Manager Tara Haley says there’s been a huge show of support, both from artists and patrons, for the show.  It’s also drawn the largest number of youth entries ever with 51.  All entries will be on display from November 8^th through the 16^th.at the FEC.

The winners will remain on display until New Year’s Eve.