Florence agencies participating in count
24 different Lane County social services agencies, including three in the Florence area, will be taking a census tomorrow. Bob Teter with Siuslaw Outreach Services says they’ve been reaching out the homeless population for several days
Bob Teter – “We have them come in and they fill out a form. We’re asking questions like, you know, where did you spend last night? How long have you been homeless? And Lane County uses that information to apply for federal funding.”
The SOS list, along with similar lists from Florence Food Share, the Helping Hands Coalition, and 21 others, will be compiled by Lane County and used to help seek funding and prioritize services.
Last year, the Lane County total was 1,473 homeless people on the last Wednesday in January. Teter says they use a different method locally and keep track of the total number served during the year.
Bob Teter – “We’ve collected our own data because we have a data base system and we actually counted 407 in our area last year.”
Teter said they ask personal, identifying questions, so they can cross reference the census list and make sure they don’t count anyone more than once.
Urban Renewal refining plans for downtown appearance
The Oregon Department of Transportation will be doing some major work on Highway 101 through the core downtown area next year. In planning for that, the agency has been working closely with Florence officials about how that stretch may ultimately look.
A list of five possible design options presented in late 2015 has been reduced to three. One of those would eliminate all on-street parking between the Siuslaw River and Highway 126. Another would retain all on-street parking, while the third would combine a mix of the two options.
Those options will be reviewed by the Florence Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors Wednesday evening, six pm, at City Hall.
Immediately prior to that meeting, at 5:30, the Florence City Council will meet with the Urban Renewal Board in Executive Session to discuss “potential land acquisition opportunities”.
Volunteers sought for free lunch
The Florence Free Lunch Program offers a bowl of soup and lunchtime conversation twice each week for anyone who may need it or want it.
Sandy Stecklair oversees the list of volunteers who come to the Methodist Church on 2nd and Kingwood every Tuesday and Thursday. They prepare two kinds of soup, bread and dessert, then clean up.
There is a dedicated group of volunteers; each giving just a few hours every three months.
But, Stecklair says, they could use a few more. A food handler’s card is not required for many of the slots… and Florence Food Share provides the ingredients.
All you have to give is your time.
Stecklair says you can give her a call at 999-2235 and she’ll sign you up.
Cascadia anniversary
Scientists compared detailed Japanese records to the oral histories of Native Americans living along the Pacific Northwest Coast more than 300 years ago and determined the last “big one” occurred late in the evening on January 26th, 1700.
316 years ago today the estimated 9.0 earthquake, aftershocks and a resulting tsunami caused death and destruction all along the coasts of what is now Oregon and Washington.
It also struck Japan and the records from that “orphan tsunami”, as it was called, helped corroborate the existence of the 1700 quake.
Scientists say there is a one-in-three chance of another devastating earthquake along the 900 mile long Cascadia fault line. They estimate as many as 13-thousand people may die; tens of thousands more could be left homeless and it could take years to recover.
Dunes City Council vacancy
Dunes City is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the city council.
It was created when former councilor Jaime Mills resigned to take the position of city administrator last fall.
Her term would have expired one year from now. Whoever is appointed to the position would have the same term.
All applicants must be Dunes City residents; in order to be considered for appointment they must apply no later than noon Thursday, February 4th.
Medical Marijuana Dispensary
An application to locate what would be the city’s second medical marijuana dispensary will be the subject of a public hearing tomorrow night. The Florence Planning Commission will look at the application by Dennis Smith to locate his dispensary in the Dunes Village Shopping Center between True Value and the Dunes Café.
A staff report on the request for design review and a conditional use permit shows Smith has or can meet all of the necessary requirements.
One of those requirements would be to enhance the landscaping already installed at the center.
The Planning Commission meets at seven pm tomorrow at city hall.
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