City officials caught off-guard by Port; Food Share celebrates two decades at present location; Local runner remembers Boston

Coast Radio News
Local News

19 April 2013

Port Intentions Catch City Officials Off-Guard

Florence Mayor Nola Xavier expressed surprise yesterday after learning that Port of Siuslaw officials want to talk to her about the possibility of them taking over the Florence Events Center and the Airport.

The news came after a Port Commission executive session Wednesday which had been called to discuss a possible real estate transaction.

Some of the conversations held during that session appeared to Coast Radio News to be more about policy deliberations and less about real estate transactions, but port officials deny that.

FECManager Bob Forsythe said he believes the entire matter did meet Oregon’s Public Meetings statutes, saying any real estate transaction has to begin somewhere.

Port President John Scott was willing to admit, however, that Coast Radio’s interpretation is correct. He also said there was no intention of hiding anything.  Commissioners simply wanted to have private conversations with city officials about their openness to possibly transferring ownership of the two facilities.

Forsythe was directed by commissioners in open session to begin talks with the city… Xavier indicated she and others are willing to listen.

Local Runner Remembers Boston

Members of the local running community expressed a shock and sadness this week following the tragic events at the finish line of Monday’s Boston Marathon.

Even as that story continues today, ever-resilient runners say they’re determined to give silent support to those who were affected.

Jim Archer has run at Boston twice… he wore his 1985 shirt Wednesday and ran while wearing his 2005 shirt yesterday.

While he ran, he was remembering those who were killed, injured or lost friends and loved ones.

He was also thinking this week about what may have happened if he was at the marathon this year.  The bombs went off at the 4-hour-9-minute mark… which he figures would have been right around his finish time.

One Florence runner did make the trip to Boston.  Dr. Paul Pearson finished in three-hours, 32-minutes; just ahead of the blasts.  He then set about helping with the wounded.

Food Share Celebrates Two Decades

Florence Food Share will be celebrating 20 years in their present location next month.  May fourth will be an open house to show off the facility that has grown to include a “shopping style” pantry and a “state of the art” garden.  Volunteers moved the emergency food agency to the north end of the New Life Lutheran Church Parking Lot in the spring of 1993.  They now provide emergency food boxes to about 500 area households each month.

The May 4th open house will also be the kickoff for what has turned out to be a major fund-raising event for Food Share.  The Taylor Graham Read for the Need Book Sale is set for June 1st and 2nd.  Book donations for that sale will be taken beginning May 4th.