Boil-water notice for homes north of Florence to be lifted
Heceta Water PUD crews worked quickly Friday to repair a water line that broke earlier that morning after heavy rains damaged Mercer Lake Road.
Heceta General Manager Carl Neville said the break was on a distribution line that feeds about 50 to 60 homes in that area.
It was discovered at six am and was repaired by that afternoon.
Because the line was depressurized, Neville says state regulations required a notification of residents in the area to boil water before drinking or cooking with it. According to “door-hangers” left at each residence, that order was in place for 96-hours. It expires this evening.
Friday’s break was in the same general area as a landslide last year that destroyed a home and killed one person. That slide also left a line feeding an area reservoir unstable. Neville said they are two separate lines and were not directly connected.
Boys and Girls Club hoping to stuff the bus
Members and friends of the Boys and Girls Club are hoping to stuff their activity bus with toys, coats, books and non-perishable food this weekend.
The Boys and Girls Club bus will be parked at Fred Meyer from three until seven pm Friday. The next morning it will be at Florence Grocery Outlet at ten. It will be there until two that afternoon.
Teen Center Director Tracy Aaron says the intention is to “stuff” the bus with items that will be distributed to children and families in the Florence and Mapleton areas this Christmas.
The food will go to Mapleton and Florence Food Shares; while the toys and clothing items will be handed out by Boys and Girls Club staff Monday, December 19th.
Collection barrels will also be left in several locations around Florence through Friday, December 16th. Those will be at the Teen Center, the Elementary after-school program, City Lights Cinemas, Les Schwab, Regency Florence and Oregon Pacific Bank.
Aaron adds families can register to receive the goods by contacting the Boys and Girls Club administrative office on Airport Road.
Sea of Lights opens Friday
The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport has added another holiday lights destination to your possible list of outings this season.
The “Sea of Lights” celebration opens later this week and will be available every Friday and Saturday night through December… with the exception of Christmas Eve… from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
Lance Beck is the director of marketing at the Aquarium. He says the “Sea of Lights is a fun way for the Aquarium to give back to the community”. In addition to offering the light display inside and outside the facility, they’re also asking visitors to bring non-perishable food for their local food bank.
Opening weekend… this Friday and Saturday… the cost is only $2 per person with two non-perishable food items. Entry is $10 without a donation.
Crab Crack tickets available
400 of the hottest tickets in town will go on sale Thursday in Florence.
They’re for the sixth annual Crab Crack to benefit Florence Food Share.
The crab feed itself will be Saturday, February 4th at the Florence Events Center. But tickets are only sold in advance, and they usually sell out well before the day itself.
Dinner includes Oregon Dungeness crab, along with pasta, coleslaw, garlic bread and dessert courtesy of BJ’s Ice Cream.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance by calling Bob MacDuffee at 541-997-9599.
Chamber/PUD lighting contest
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and Central Lincoln PUD are teaming up again to promote energy efficient Christmas light displays.
Entries for the lighting contest will be accepted at the Chamber Visitor Center through December 13th. Executive Director Bettina Hannigan says there are two categories again… commercial and residential.
She says entries must utilize L-E-D lighting.
Judging will take place the evening of Thursday, December 15th. Central Lincoln is funding the cash prizes of $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third in both categories.
Results will be announced Friday, December 16th.
Douglas County fire leaves pet owner homeless
The American Red Cross provided emergency assistance last night to the victim of a home fire east of Reedsport.
The fire occurred sometime Monday afternoon at the home in the 700 block of Carlson Road near Loon Lake. That area is not served by a fire department. One person and their pets were left homeless.
The cause of the Monday blaze was not released.
The Red Cross provided immediate resources… food, clothing, and a comfort kit… as well as temporary housing assistance.
Red Cross Communications team member Franca Hernandez said the Red Cross Cascades Region… covering Oregon and Southwest Washington… responds to an average of two home fires each day, offering what she calls “hope and comfort”.