Several elected officials demonstrate tsunami awareness
A U.S. Congressman, a State Senator, and several state and local officials walked from Florence City Hall to one of five area “blue lines” painted on roadways in the area. The purpose was to promote tsunami awareness. Oregon Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps was one of those officials. As he walked, he talked about just how scary it can be to think about escaping a tsunami.
Andrew Phelps – “It can be a little intimidating to know, when you’re looking from the coast, and you look back towards the east where higher ground is; when you see the blue line, you know, it’s not that far and it’s certainly a survivable situation.”
Florence is one of two coastal communities to get the initial “Blue Lines”. The other is Reedsport. Phelps said the cost was relatively low… about $13-thousand in four different communities. Florence, he said, has long served as an example to other coastal communities.
Andrew Phelps – “I think the efforts that have been undertaken by the City of Florence really serve as an example, I think, to the rest of the coast. Things like the Blue Line Project show a pretty low cost but innovative approach to public awareness and education.”
Phelps hopes to be able to provide additional “blue lines” to coastal communities to show residents and visitors that it’s not really that far to safety.
Ms. Nicani makes safety
After more than 23 hours under tow, the fishing vessel Ms. Nicani (nih-CONN-ee) reached the safety of Yaquina Bay just after one this morning.
The vessel had called for assistance at two a.m. Thursday, reporting that a rogue wave had broken the boat’s windshield and destroyed electronics.
A 47-foot motor lifeboat from Depoe Bay was able to take the boat into tow, keeping it away from the rocks. The vessel was towed to just outside the Yaquina Bay entrance, but crews were unable to cross the bar because of heavy seas.
A second motor lifeboat was dispatched from Depoe Bay and took over the watch at about three yesterday afternoon.
A Coast Guard Spokesman said they were able to cross the Yaquina entrance shortly after one this morning.
Middle school students chronicle Robot Apocalypse
A 30-minute film written, shot and edited by students at Siuslaw Middle School will be shown on the big screen at City Lights Cinemas next week.
“Robot Apocalypse” is a product of the after school “STEAM” program… students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mechanics. The group of students are also known as the “Siuslaw Nerd Squad”.
“Robot Apocalypse” features the robots created by the Nerd Squad. It was filmed last spring and edited earlier this school year.
The showing at City Lights is likely to be a one-time showing only. The movie begins at 5:30 PM Monday and the admission charge of $3 goes directly to the Nerd Squad.
Making the cover of the phone book
Photographers will have a shot at making the cover of the locally produced phone directory.
The 2016-17 edition of the Central Coast Connection, published in Florence since 1991, is set to be released later this year.
The cover of the popular directory alternates every other year between either an original painting, or a photograph.
Pacific Publishing’s Bob Serra says this year it is the photographer’s turn. Submissions must be original work in a vertical format; and depict some aspect of the central Oregon coast. They’re due no later than June 1st.
The winning work will become the non-exclusive property of Pacific Publishing and a brief biography of the photographer will be included in 20-thousand copies of the phone book. They are distributed between Winchester Bay and Waldport, then east to Swisshome and Deadwood.
Making memories
A class on how to write a memoir will be presented next week by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance. Presented by award-winning journalist Catherine J. Rourke, “Memoir Writing: From Real Life to Real Story” will be offered a week from tomorrow; March 19th from ten a.m. to noon at the FRAA (fraw)Art Center, 120 Maple Street, in Old Town.
Rourke said writing can open “doorways to the emotions and imaginations”. She will show participants how to convert memories and anecdotes to paper.
Class space is limited. The cost is $20 for FRAA members or $25 for those who are not.
For more info, email Rourke at CJReditor@gmail.com.
