City Faces Housing Issues
The housing problems in Florence continue to plague the city as well as the real estate community. At yesterday’s Noon Chamber Lunch, Wendy Farley Campbell and Steve Earnshaw spoke to the group about the current status of available homes versus viable income. Saying the need for more affordable housing is an issue for everyone to be concerned with. Earnshaw says 2016 numbers saw housing less affordable for median income residents
“with a down payment and you have a 170 thousand dollar loan your down payment has gone up by 11 thousand dollars that monthly payment has increased over 200 dollars a month, assuming you haven’t had a pay increase, now all of a sudden you fall short of qualifying for that median priced house.”
The availability of homes is also an issue. Even though the Florence market has seen over 400 home sales in the past three years the range of homes in the 150 thousand dollar range have all but disappeared. According to Farley Campbell the unavailability of affordable housing is a huge social and economic loss for Florence.
“If you have to drive to Reedsport to go home at night you’re not going to the high school football game at night, you’re not coming back on Sunday for the Easter Egg hunt. You’re not connected with your community.”
The city of Florence is currently working with consultants to bring solutions and are even looking at decade old city regulations that do not match current state requirements for housing.
Military Museum Honors Coast Guard
The Oregon Coast Military Museum has opened its doors to the United States Coast Guard. The museum has officially announced that the Diarama featuring the USCG is ready to receive visitors. Cal Applebee, Executive Director for the museum says the display is quite a bit larger than other exhibits in the past
“It’s really a great little display. It’s a little bit more expanded than we have for some of our other branches, but we wanted to highlight our Coast Guard Members.”
Applebee says in addition to photos they have some vintage memorabilia.
“We have a life-preserver ring that things probably got to be out of the 30’s or 40’s I mean it’s really and old, old, life-preserver ring.”
The display also features uniforms and other artifacts from former USCG members. The Museum is open 10 -4 Thursday through Saturday.
Movie Premieres at City Lights Cinemas
The award winning book from author Kent Nerburn, neither wolf nor dog has been made into a movie by filmmaker and documentarian Steven Lewis Simpson. And it will be premiering today at city lights cinemas. Simpson says if you are not familiar with the trilogy of novels it may be the one instance in Hollywood that it is better. He says that 95 year old David Bald Eagle who plays the star of the film ads so much to the character of Dan the Elder.
“You’re luckier in a way going to the novels after the film because then on you see the character of Dan with the picture of Dave in your mind.”
Simpson says that’s because the end of the movie includes the actors memories and experiences of the Wounded Knee massacre and adds to the intensity of the film. Neither Wolf Nor Dog begins tonight and runs for a week at City Lights Cinemas.
(Full Interview with Director Steven Lewis Simpson)
Healthy Eating Fair
The 8th annual Health Fare is going on today at Three Rivers Casino Resort from 11 to 3 pm. Food and Beverage for the casino, Gary Gortz says this year it’s bigger and better than ever.
“We’re going to be doing all kinds of healthy cooking demonstrations live. Free Samples. We’re also doing the canned food share so bring two cans of food and put it in your favorite bucket and vote on your team, the Ducks or the Beavers.”
At noon Four culinary teams will be competing for honors in a Reality style cooking competition. Each team will receive items and try to outdo the other with their culinary magic. There will be free samples and a lot of prizes to be given away. The event is free and open to the public. Young and old alike.
