Florence Supports “Small Business Revolution”
The message from the podium was that we have already won. Hundreds gathered at the Florence event center for a show of force last night as the host of the reality show “Small Business Revolution” spoke about the spark that ignites fires and brings people together. Amanda Brinkman told the crowd of 400 plus that Florence had set the bar high for the other 9 potential cities on the list. Mayor Joe Henry and others in attendance were proud of the amount of people that showed up to greet the host and show’s producers. Brinkman’s message to the crowd was about the importance of small businesses in the economic landscape. The FEC was brimming with multi-media presentations promoting the city and a small feast from several local restaurants. Residents enjoyed a free tasting of local cuisine. Brinkman said that her and her team would be touring the city over the next several days talking with business owners and getting a feel for the landscape.
Notice Seeking Port Manager Distributed
The search is on for a new port manager. Interim manager Dina McClure has issued an official notice that will be circulated in multiple markets. The right candidate could expect to earn as much as $70,000 with the right experience. McClure has been handling the day to day operations since the termination of Former Port Manager Steve Leskin. Anyone interested in the position can see the requirements on the ports website at portofsiuslaw.com. The job posting will remain active until the end of the month.
Food Share Fundraiser
The annual Crab Crack to support the Florence Food Share will be held on Saturday February 3rd. tickets for the event will be sold as first come first serve and are $40 each. Only 400 tickets will be sold and Food Share Executive Director Norma Barton says tickets normally sell out fast. The feast includes Dungeness crab, pasta, slaw and dessert from BJ’s Ice Cream. It will be held at the Florence Event Center.
Oregon Bridges in Good Shape
Oregon bridges, including the ones that offer a supply line to and from Florence are in good shape according to a new ODOT report issued yesterday. The report states that fewer than 25% of bridges are considered distressed, meaning they are in need of some type of structural repair. Bridges that are deemed unsafe are closed immediately according to ODOT. Half of Oregon’s 2742 bridges are more than 50 years old, but for the past 16 years maintenance and repair operations have secured the bridge system around the state. Some of the largest issues with the bridge system stem from the new seismic requirements considering the potential for a large Cascadia quake and that many of the interstate bridges are nearing the end of their design life expectancy. The Siuslaw River Bridge has about 16 months of construction to finish repairs. City Manager Erin Reynolds says she is hopeful, based on reports from ODOT that the work will be done ahead of schedule.
