The Power of Florence Set for July 21st…
Already there are more than 30 different events scheduled for the second annual Power of Florence. The intention of the day, according to 12 year old organizer Kaylee Graham, is for many different people to come together and do something special.
For those interested in parks, there are several chances to make a difference. The big park project of the day will be the creation of a Dog Park at Whispering Pines… that’s organized by members of the LDS Church who will bring more than 300 volunteers and will also install playground equipment at the 18th Street Pocket Park. There will be projects at Rolling Dunes, Veterans Memorial and Gallagher Parks; as well as cleanups at the North Jetty, Siuslaw Elementary School and the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center that day.
Nine different events are set so far for the Grocery Outlet parking lot, including events to benefit the Florence Area Humane Society, Food Share and the Helping Hands Coalition.
There will be a ‘knit-in’, a pancake feed, charity garage sales and even an ice cream social that day.
It will be capped off by a party in the park… at Miller Park… with live music courtesy of Green Hits recording artist Frankie Hernandez beginning at 3:00.
Burn Victim Improving
One of the events set for the Power of Florence on July 21st will be a lemonade stand at Grocery Outlet Parking lot to benefit a fund that has been set up for a local burn victim. 14-year old Chris Bursaw was one of two teens injured on the Fourth of July in a fireworks accident. Bursaw suffered severe burns to his face and one hand and spent some time in the Intensive Care Unit at the Oregon Burn Center in Portland last week. According to a posting on his father’s Facebook page he has improved, but has a long recovery in front of him.
Respite From Beach Debris
Now that the summer pattern of northwest winds has settled in, the amount of debris accumulating on Oregon beaches attributed to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan should be slacking off somewhat. At least temporarily. Some of the more notable finds over the past few months include the box-car sized chunk of dock near Newport, at least two boats in Oregon and Washington, and hundreds of fishing floats and chunks of insulating foam. Scientists say the bulk of the debris is still waiting to come to shore but won’t likely make it to the beach until winter storms bring winds from the west and southwest.
Don’t Blame the Politicians…
Southern Oregon resident and Congressional Candidate Art Robinson is making his second run at trying to unseat 25-year Fourth District incumbent Peter DeFazio. Robinson was in town last week and spoke to the Florence City Club. His message: If you’re unhappy with government, don’t blame the politicians.
Art Robinson – “We are the ones making the error. We have elected a congress that is gradually taking away our freedoms.”
He’s says there has been a steady degradation of rights over the past 50-years.
Art Robinson – “And if you look at the economic freedom or the social freedom, or the various ways you might measure this; on balance it’s reasonable to argue that half of American freedom, half of the legacy from our founding fathers is now gone. ”
The Southern Oregon Republican says congress has a ten-percent approval rating, but a 90-precent reelection rate. He’ll be in Florence to host a Town Hall this coming Saturday from four to six pm at the Events Center.