Pound for pound donation drive for Food Share
Each November since 2001, Cindy Wobbe has hosted an old fashioned “pounding” at Grocery Outlet. The idea is that everyone gets together and brings in a pound of this, or a pound of that, to help out those in need.
For the first 14 years, the former deli owner matched donations “pound for pound”, but when she sold the business two years ago, she also planned on no longer hosting the benefit for Florence Food Share.
Last year, however, an anonymous donor approached Food Share and said they would match donations at a dollar a pound, as long as she continued.
Cindy Wobbe – “Well yeah! We have our anonymous donor who has stepped up for a second year to match the poundage with money. So five pounds of food will equal five dollars and ten pounds will equal ten. So we’re going to tackle it again.”
Last year’s effort netted nearly ten-thousand pounds of food… you do the math.
Once again, Wobbe will be at Grocery Outlet… This Saturday from ten am to two pm… in an effort to restock the pantry shelves at Florence Food Share.
School Resource Officer funding
It must still be formally approved by elected officials, but the City of Florence has received notification of approval of a federal grant to help pay for a police officer dedicated almost exclusively to the Siuslaw School District.
Erin Reynolds – “A $125-thousand over three years does give the city and also the Siuslaw School District a great start at reintroducing this great program back into our community.”
Florence City Manager Erin Reynolds said the money would be received over a three-year period. But, she added, both the city and the school district are committed to equally funding the rest of the costs over a four year period.
Erin Reynolds – “We’ve been working with them to find a way to ensure that both the city and the school can afford this even after the grant is in completion.”
The program could cost as much as an additional $400-thousand over four years. Reynolds said the officer would be committed to primarily schools, but could cover nearby areas.
Erin Reynolds – “Covering the full campus area of the school district. And we also see that as something leading into the Miller Park area and the surrounding blocks around the school district’s property.”
Both the City Council and the School Board must formally accept the grant requirements… both bodies have already agreed to work together on the project.
Documenting high tides
Some of the highest tides of the year along the Oregon Coast are taking place this week. The midday high tide yesterday at the Siuslaw River entrance was 9-feet… today and tomorrow will along the same lines.
For the seventh year in a row, the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition will be sponsoring the “King Tide Project”, a citizen science project aimed at documenting the juxtaposition of man-made structures and the highest tides.
Residents are being asked to photograph things like roads, seawalls, trails or bridges at high tide to show the location of the water.
Those photos can be posted to the group’s website at oregonkingtides-dot-net.
Today’s high tide will be 11:49; then Wednesday at 12:35 pm.
What to do about Ester?
Port of Siuslaw Commissioners are expected to take action this week on the problem of a derelict vessel.
The Fishing Vessel Ester has already been formally declared as surplus. Port Manager Steven Leskin was asked last month to bring back a plan to the Commission on the final removal and demolition of the abandoned boat.
The Commission will hear that report Wednesday night.
Also on the agenda, further discussion on moorage rates.
The Port of Siuslaw Commission meets Wednesday, seven pm, at the Port office on Harbor Street.
Siuslaw Watershed Council wins grant to restore Walker Creek
A project to replace an undersized and failing culvert, as well as restore access to one-and-a-half miles of what is described as “high quality spawning and rearing” salmon habitat got the go ahead this month by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
The Walker Creek Fish Passage Improvement project near Walton will be organized and undertaken by the Siuslaw Watershed Council.
In addition to benefiting Coho Salmon and other aquatic species, Watershed Enhancement Board executive director Meta Loftsgaarden says the $260-thousand project also supports the local natural resource economy.
The board awarded another $488-thousand to three other restoration projects in Western Oregon. About one-third of the money comes from Salmon License Plate revenues; the rest comes from State Lottery and federal funding.
Storm drain bubbles explained
Staff at Florence City Hall puts together a monthly newsletter with information and stories about a wide variety of city issues. The November issue of “Focus on Florence” is no different according to City Manager Erin Reynolds.
Erin Reynolds – “There’s an article in there about storm drains and how they work and I found it fascinating. So I encourage you to go on to our website and see what ‘bubbling up’ means and how that all works.”
In addition to the brief story about storm drains, the November edition has informational pieces about changes to the National Flood Plain maps; rehabilitation of the city’s drinking water wells; and the 20th anniversary of the Florence Events Center.
You can sign up to automatically receive a copy of the newsletter in your email inbox… or simply go to the city’s website and download it at your convenience.
