School Board Hears Complaing About Bullying
During the “public comment” portion of Wednesday’s Siuslaw School Board Meeting, directors heard from one area resident.
“My concern is that I know there’s been a lot of grumblings and mumblings about some of the trans kids that attend our school here.”
Jason Wood says there have been posts made on social media that he interpreted as bullying.
“By adults! It’s not acceptable.”
Wood says students in middle and high school are already dealing with a lot of different emotions and feelings. By targeting someone who may be “different” in one way or another, it can increase the risk of of suicide.
“We need to make sure that no kid in this school district feels that way and I’m getting the feeling that they are.”
Wood implored directors and administrators to pay attention to at-risk students and remember that they are our children.
Rhody Theme
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has begun their search for the next Rhododendron Days theme. The chamber is offering the chance to win $100.00 to the person who has the idea that will become the theme for the 116th annual Rhododendron Festival. People can submit their idea by dropping it off at the Visitors Center on Highway 101 or online at florencechamber.com. the winner will be announced on December 19th. if an idea with more than one submission is chosen it will go to the person that entered it first.
Car Light Parade
Organizers are putting together a lighted car parade for December 3rd. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bettina Hannigan says Gary Cargill and Ross Kronert along with the Rods and Rhodies group are heading up the event that will coincide with the annual lighting of the City’s Christmas display on Bay Street. Hannigan says you don’t have to have a classic car to participate in this one.
“It could be any car. It could be a golf cart, it could be a boat on a trailer, it could be a firetruck.”
Hannigan says applications are available at the Visitors Center for those who would like to participate.
Institute For Nursing Excellence
The PeaceHealth foundation is creating an institute for Nursing Excellence. The creation of the institute was made possible through a generous 1 million dollar gift from philanthropist Rosaria Haugland. The institute will support nurses and other clinical disciplines throughout the PeaceHealth network including Peace Harbor Medical Center and will focus on 6 areas including Career Development, recruitment and retention, and Nursing innovation. Haugland specified that this was a matching gift and that the hopes were that others would step up to support the creation. Heather Wall is the chief nursing officer for PeaceHealth. She says they are deeply grateful for the extraordinary matching gift which will allow the Institute to go un with long-term stability.
