City sells industrial park plot; Backyard burn permits required; Primary Care on Our Town; RAIN meetup; Sea Lion Caves elevator; Chowder and Wine in Old Town this weekend

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Auto parts manufacturer to buy business park property

A manufacturer of custom hydraulic systems for luxury automobiles will build an assembly and shipping facility in the Pacific View Industrial Park.

The Florence City Council approved terms of sale for the lot, just off Kingwood Street, this week.  Top Hydraulics, owned by Klaus Witte (WITT), will purchase property for $110-thousand.   Witt will be eligible for three rebates, totaling $40-thousand if he meets three performance goals related to economic development.

If he obtains a building permit within one year of purchase, he’ll get $20-thousand back from the sale price; another ten-thousand will come if he completes the building and takes occupation within 18 months.

The third target:  the establishment of no fewer than five full time jobs at that location with 18-months, carries another $10-thousand refund.

Top Hydraulics manufactures after-market hydraulic systems for high-line convertibles.  It already operates in a facility north of Florence and employs five people there.  The new location would be in addition.

Backyard burning permits required

Backyard burning for areas outside Florence will be allowed beginning October 15th, but fire officials are reminding residents they still need to get a permit before lighting up.

Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Fire Marshall Sean Barrett said the permits are free and can be obtained both online… at the fire district’s website… SVFR-dot-org… or at the main station on Highway 101 at 26th Street.

The permits are a way, he says, of making sure people who burn back yard debris are informed about the regulations, and about the need to check the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency website before burning.

PeaceHealth officials talk primary care on Our Town

One possible long term solution to a nationwide shortage of primary care physicians is currently being explored.  It is a “team concept” to care.  Instead of a single… or primary… care physician; patients would be paired with a team of care givers that includes other types of practitioners like Nurse Practitioners, RNs and Physician’s Assistants.

Dr. Mark Adams is the Chief Medical Officer, systemwide, for PeaceHealth:

Dr. Mark Adams – “You know there’s great advantages to it, in that it provides better access.  No any one patient then is not dependent on an individual, but is actually known by a group of people that can step in at any time to provide care and knows their history and knows about them.”

Adams, along with several other representatives of PeaceHealth will be on this week’s Our Town on Coast Radio to talk about immediate efforts to recruit and hire additional doctors.

Our Town airs today from four to six on KCST; then again Thursday from ten a.m. to noon on KCFM.

Florence RAIN recognizes one year

The first anniversary of the latest round of economic development efforts in the Florence area will be observed Wednesday night.  City Manager Erin Reynolds said the Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network will host a “meetup” of local entrepreneurs in the “Startup Florence Coast initiative”.

Erin Reynolds – “Along with the City of Florence and LCC and the Chamber and a lot of other community partners will be celebrating RAIN in Florence for a year.  So it’s the state of the startup.”

This evening’s meet up will be from 5:30 to 7:30 at City Lights Cinemas.

Sea Lion Caves getting new lift

Access to the sea cave north of Florence that serves as a year-round home for Steller Sea Lions will be closed until late November.  Sea Lion Caves will remain open for the next seven weeks, but crews will be replacing the elevator that has provided visitor access to the underground grotto.

The original elevator opened in 1961.  The new one is expected to last about 30 years and will feature a more energy and environmentally friendly way for visitors to descend through the 208 foot shaft.

The walkways below the visitor center and gift shop will remain open, as will the gift shop and there will be no admission fee charged while the work is going on.

The sea lions typically leave the cave this time of year and usually return in late November.  They hope to have the work done by November 20th… weather permitting.

Food and Wine pairing this weekend in Old Town

The annual Chowderfest and Wine Walk in Old Town Florence is set for this weekend.

On Saturday, from two to five p.m. visitors can purchase a pass at Vardanian Gallery, next to the Gazebo Park and sample wines from about a dozen Oregon wineries in various shops and galleries in Old Town.

Sunday, from noon to four, you can return to sample the entries in the Florence Area Clam Chowder contest.  Ballots and punch cards are available at several locations for $5, allowing you to vote on your favorites.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Bettina Hannigan said even though they are two separate events, they “pair nicely”.  Sunday’s chowderfest will also feature a chance to find and win multiple glass floats hidden in various shops.  Hannigan said there will also be live music at the Gazebo, Sunday afternoon.