Residents invited to get their “gro” on…
The City of Florence will be giving away free compost one week from tomorrow. It’s called FloGrow and it’s not packaged, so you’ll need to bring your own containers… or a truck to haul it away. Each person will get up to one cubic yard at no cost.
The gates at the Florence Waste Water Treatment facility on Rhododendron Drive will open at eight o’clock sharp, June 11th and the FloGro will be handed out until it’s gone, or two p.m.
According to city spokesperson Megan Messmer, the last free distribution of FloGro lasted about two hours.
The compost is a combination of ground yard debris mixed with the remnants of what goes through the waste water treatment plant. Much of the “dewatered” sludge is trucked away, but in 2010 the city began collecting and grinding yard debris and mixing it with the sludge, creating an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum and chemical fertilizers.
It’s proven to be a popular soil amendment that has also had a solid impact on the city’s bottom line… Messmer estimates it has reduced costs at the plant by about $30-thousand each year for the past three years.
Hot, hot, hot!
An “excessive heat watch” is posted for much of the interior portions of Western Oregon this weekend. National Weather Service forecasters say highs along the Oregon Coast could reach into the 80s tomorrow… and well into the 90s in the upper Umpqua and Willamette Valleys… as a high pressure ridge passes through the area.
Weather Service forecasters say the heat will be relatively short-lived as onshore flow of cooler, marine air pushes in by late Sunday or early Monday. That’s expected to bring some clouds and significantly cooler temperatures along the coast. The flow may not be enough to overcome the warmer temperatures in the valley for a couple more days.
Dunes City to consider possible litigation
The Dunes City Council will hold a double session next week. Thursday at six, they’ll hold a private executive session to consult with legal counsel concerning current or likely litigation.
Then, at seven that evening, the council will hold a regular session to consider business for June.
On the list… a public hearing on the proposed budget for 2016-17, and a proposed resolution that would refer a sales tax on retail sales of recreational marijuana in Dunes City.
Also on the agenda, details about upcoming Dunes City Council elections. Candidate packets are now available at City Hall. The Mayor and three City Council seats are up for election in November.
Fire it up barbecue
Five-thousand dollars in prize money could go up in smoke this weekend during the “Fire It Up” barbecue cook off at Three Rivers Casino and Resort.
The two-day state championship event starts Saturday with “People’s Choice” voting on ribs, brisket, chicken and pork butt from noon until five p.m. Samples will be offered for a dollar each.
Sunday afternoon from noon until two, judges from the Kansas City Barbecue Society will taste the product of 11 different teams. The Grand Champion will win $700 while the Reserve Grand Champion will pick up six-hundred.
Gypsy Camp Vintage Market features “champagne and shop”
The romantic image that comes to mind when you think of a “gypsy camp” is that of bright and colorfully dressed people selling wares from wagons or carts… setting up and tearing down their markets as they travel. That image will be presented Friday evening and Saturday at the Florence Events Center during the Gypsy Camp Vintage Market.
Josh Berggren of Coos Bay will bring a variety of vendors to Florence this weekend offering unique crafts, house-wares, décor and collectibles. He says think of “shabby-chic, chippy paint and all things rusty and time-worn.”
A special section featuring outdoor items, including camp trailers, will also be on display.
Friday evening’s market will offer a complimentary glass of champagne or beer for shoppers. Admission will be $7 Friday from four to eight p.m. That paid admission also includes entry from ten to four Saturday. Saturday only admission charge is five bucks.