City Council expected to take next step in public art
The Florence City Council is being asked to finalize a year-long planning effort that will incorporate more public art in the community. City Manager Erin Reynolds said an ad hoc city arts committee has been developing plans and possible projects. Tonight, the Council will be asked to adopt several proposals that would ultimately allow for large public arts displays.
Erin Reynolds – “There are some programs that we’re talking about that will encourage that; so some outdoor galleries, placing of public art in city facilities, etcetera. We see that as a way of showing the world of what makes Florence amazing and a beautiful and unique community to live in.”
Reynolds says community pride is a large part of the plan; but there are also economic benefits.
Erin Reynolds – “This would be the next step. These are the reasons people come to visit, or they enjoy their experience even more, being here. Or they may want to move here because this is a city where people care what their city looks like and how it feels.”
The Council meets at six this evening at City Hall.
In a separate action: councilors will consider endorsing an application for a $700-thousand grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. If successful in winning the grant, the city would pair the money with $280-thousand in local matching funds to undertake several projects at Miller Park.
Those would include a new concession and storage facility; renovation of four baseball diamonds; relocation and reconstruction of two softball fields; and installation of a new soccer field.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth on the decline
A concerted effort at sanitizing classrooms and common areas, along with stressing the importance of hand-washing is getting the credit for a sharp decline in reported cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease at Siuslaw Schools. Superintendent Ethel Angal said last week there were only seven new cases reported. That was down from 26 the week before.
Angal recognized the extra efforts of building custodians and school staff in making sure all surfaces were free of germs. She added they are continuing to monitor any new cases in cooperation with PeaceHealth.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth can be very painful and uncomfortable, especially for children. It begins with a fever, a loss of appetite and a feeling of lethargy. Sores then develop around the mouth, on the hands and feet.
Lane County Public Health authorities suggest keeping children, and adults, who may have the disease, at home until fevers are gone and no new sores have appeared for at least two days and all existing sores have scabbed over.
Home and Garden Show draws a crowd
An estimated three-thousand visitors walked through the displays at the 20th annual Florence Home and Garden Show at the Events Center over the weekend.
Visitors were greeted with an extensive landscaping display outside the front door courtesy of Laurel Bay Gardens.
Inside they first saw a display of redwood furniture and other products available from the Sand Ranch along with Bandon’s award winning Face Rock Creamery handing out samples.
Several other exhibitors also handed out samples and the Florence Chapter of the Rhododendron Society gave away a live Rhododendron every hour the show was open.
Door prizes totaling one-thousand-dollars were given to a half-dozen different show attendees.
