Business Awards Announced
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their 10th annual Siuslaw Business Awards nominees. As well as honoring the First Citizen and Future First Citizen of Florence at this year’s event, local businesses will be honored for their excellence in the local business community. As well as their dedication in the area of community service. This year’s nominees in the following categories are first the
Stu Johnston Business of the Year: Korando Dental Group/Charles W. Korando, DDS PC, Driftwood Shores Resort, Tony’s Garage
For the Community Caring Award: Banner Bank, Beach House Gifts, Friends of the Florence Events Center, Lane Community College, Beauty by Delivery Wellness Spa
In the area of Curb Appeal: Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast, P.S. Winkles, Polished Boutique & Salon, Peace Health Harbor
For Excellence in Customer Service: Abel Insurance Agency, Beaux Arts Fine Art Materials, Florence Tech Solutions, Jerry’s Place, Sand Master Park
For Innovation in Business: RAIN, Siuslaw Broadband, Small Business Management Program
For Non-Profit Achievement: C.R.O.W., Florence Regional Arts Alliance, Siuslaw Vision 2025, Soroptimist of Florence, Siuslaw Pioneer Museum.
The business awards will be presented during the annual dinner and presentation on February 7th at the Florence Event Center beginning at 5:30 pm.
No More Polystyrene
As of January first of this year businesses within the city of Florence will have 3 months to deplete their supplies of foam cups, plates, togo containers, trays and other polystyrene foam containers as part of a new city ordnance to reduce foam litter in and around the Florence area, especially in our lakes, creeks, and ocean beaches. The one exception to the rule will be raw meat that is intended for human consumption. This is due mainly because of the outsourcing of these products by larger national chains involved in food production. Also precluded from this are non-food related plastics such as peanut foam for packing and ice chests.
As of April 1st these items will no longer be available or used in Florence.
Sage-grouse Threatened Again
The Interior Department is expected to announce its decision soon on the fate of the sage-grouse conservation plan, which spans Oregon and 10 other western states. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says his agency is re-examining the plan to see if it hinders energy development, meaning sage-grouse habitat could be opened up to more drilling and mining. Jack Connelly is a former wildlife biologist who worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for nearly three decades. He and 16 other scientists sent a letter to Zinke in October expressing concern that the voices of scientists and wildlife managers weren’t being heard on this decision.
“If policymakers and agency leadership wants to seriously address sage-grouse conservation, they have got to embrace the science, and the scientists and the habitat managers and so forth, and bring them in and listen to their advice. And that’s simply not being done.”
Connelly says researchers know more about sage grouse than almost any other species in the West. He says the birds need large areas to thrive, and breaking up the land for development threatens their ability to survive. Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have been critical of the proposed changes and say the original plan is the result of negotiations between ranchers, sportsmen, conservationists and states. The plan was finalized in 2015 under the Obama administration. As an indicator species, sage-grouse conservation also helps protect more than 350 other species. Matt Holloran is a leading sage-grouse researcher who headed the group of scientists that sent the letter to Zinke. He says science supports the current approach to management and conservation.
“We actually have information to say, ‘Okay, that is a good idea,’ or, ‘That is not such a good idea,’ with sage grouse in particular – a ton of research on that species. The management decisions that were forwarded in those plans were based on the information that we have and therefore, have a pretty high likelihood of succeeding.”
He adds the sage grouse already has lost half its habitat and 95-percent of its historic population. Its range is part of an iconic western landscape that stretches across 50-million acres in 11 Western states.
Coastal Flooding
A significant storm off the coast with high winds and surf could mean that Florence and areas north and south might be impacted by flooding. The National Weather Service has listed a flood warning for the central coastal region. Look for tides to be at extremely high levels and be watchful for water in low lying areas. The flood watch will be in effect until midnight tonight as the effects of the wind and surf subsides.