Empty Bowls on tap…
It’s been one of the most successful and best-attended holiday functions in the Florence area for the past 15 years… Empty Bowls.
Desiree Johnson – “It’s free and it’s family friendly. We’re going to have live music. Friday night we’re going to be having refreshments and serving refreshments again on Saturday until they’re gone of course.”
Desiree Johnson helps put together the annual event that brings together artists and students to create hundreds of hand-crafted bowls that are sold to raise money for Florence Food Share.
Desiree Johnson – “Unique, one of a kind Christmas gifts for a family member. And with each bowl sold you get a soup coupon for a free cup of soup of the day from a participating restaurant.”
Most bowls sell for five or ten dollars with a few larger pieces priced higher. The annual Empty Bowls Fund Raiser is runs from 5:30 to 7:30 this evening at the Florence Events Center… then again tomorrow from ten AM to two PM.
Board of Commissioners appoints temporary legal counsel
Lane County Commissioners took an unusual step yesterday and appointed District Attorney Alex Gardner as interim Legal Counsel for the County. In addition to serving as the top prosecutor, Gardner will provide legal advice to county administrators and elected officials until a permanent replacement is found. The previous counsel, Lianne Richardson, was appointed as the county administrator earlier this year. The move was not unanimous… the appointment was made on a 3-2 vote.
Ocean off limits to sports crabbers
Commercial efforts to harvest Dungeness crab are delayed until at least December 15th, but that also means the ocean is off limits to sports crabbers as well. That’s according to Justin Ainsworth with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ainsworth, a shellfish biologist, said good weather forecast for the weekend is likely to draw sports crabbers. That’s ok, as long as they stay in the river or bay. Samples last month showed that crab in the majority of test-areas up and down the coast did not meet minimum quality criteria. Managers delayed the December 1st commercial opening to allow time for the crabs to fill out with more meat.
Alzheimer’s Respite Program Raising Funds
Sometimes it can seem that Alzheimer’s is just as hard on the caregiver as it is on the person who suffers from the devastating disease. Usually a spouse or a close family member, the caregiver has little or no time for themselves to recharge or take a break. That’s why the Florence Alzheimer’s Respite Center was established at the Senior Center. For a few hours each week the center offers lunch, games, companionship and understanding.
There is a $10 daily fee to participate, but they won’t turn anyone away if they can’t pay. As a way to help support the program a dedicated group of volunteers has gathered to make holiday wreathes. Dee Oremus was on duty yesterday at their temporary shop next to the Sportsman on Highway 101.
Dee Oremus – “They’re all hand made, and they’re all different. We don’t make two alike and they’re various greens. We go to Eastern Oregon and get the long-needle pine and the juniper and the rest of the greens are all local greens.”
Wreathes sell for $30 each. The shop is open from ten until four weekdays, then ten until two on Saturdays through December 14th.
Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…
Vikings in 4A Football Finals
The two remaining undefeated teams in Oregon 4A football; the Siuslaw Vikings and the La Salle Falcons; will square off tomorrow at the Hillsboro Sports Complex for the OSAA State Championship game. The pregame show on Coast Radio Sports will be at 1:45 with kickoff at 2:15.
If you’re going to the game… parking is four dollars and adult ticket prices are $10. Students get in for $5. The 4A game is the 2nd in three championship games at that location tomorrow… the 3A between Dayton and Santiam Christian is set for 11…. The 5A game between Sherwood and Mountain View is at 5:30.
Pac 12 Championship
There’s another championship game… that’s this evening in Eugene. The Pac-12 Championship game between South Division winner UCLA and the Oregon Ducks, who claimed the North crown. Number 8 Oregon is so heavily favored that the attention may not be on the game itself, but on the sidelines where Bruin’s Coach Rick Neuheisel will oversee his final game. He was fired earlier this week following a 50-nothing loss to USC.
Oregon is 10-2 overall with an 8-1 conference record and is a 31-point favorite over the 6-and-6 Bruins. Kickoff this evening will be at 5:20… the pregame show on KCST is at four.
Prep Basketball
The season gets underway for the Siuslaw Vikings Girls this evening in Junction City… the Lady Vikings and the Tigers play at seven. The boys were scheduled to play tonight, but that game has been postponed because the Viking Boys roster only has three players right now… the rest are still playing football. Mapleton is at the Crow Tipoff… the boys play at 4:00… the girls at 5:30.