American Legion Speaker
The National Commander of the two-million member American Legion will speak in Florence this week.
“We’re doing a 50 state tour, promoting a campaign that we just initialized called Be the One, uh, Be The One to Save a Veteran’s Life.”
Vincent, “Jim” Troiola (tree-OH-luh), of Windham, Maine, says instead of rolling out a big “umbrella” campaign and letting it trickle down to local posts, leadership of the American Legion felt it was more appropriate to take it to the “grass roots”. Troiola says suicide has become evident as a major threat.
“Since 9/11 we’ve lost a hundred and 25-thousand veterans to suicide, dating back to World War II. And it’s still prevalent today.”
Troiola will be at the Florence Elks Lodge at ten AM Wednesday. From there he will travel to Newport and the Coast Guard Station for lunch.
Flu Numbers
Flu numbers have spiked in the last week across the state, most of the increases have been in the Columbia Gorge and in Central Oregon, but overall the percentages are less than 5% at 4.5% which is the number that Dr. Tom Jeanne with the OHA says is the point where it becomes a concern although the two areas that had the greatest increase are at and just above 9%.
America Recycles Day
Today is America Recycles Day and the Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee will observe the day with their monthly meeting. The environmental Protection Agency recognized the 15th of November as a day to educate and encourage people to learn about recycling in their neighborhoods. Here in Florence EMAC has created a list of all the things that can be recycled curbside as well as what the county Transfer station collects. The motto is reduce, reuse, and recycle. Sally Wantz is a member of the committee and she say it is also about using less and planning more. Knowing what you have in y our pantry can eliminate extra items going into the landfill by first using up what you have before buying new. EMAC meets this evening at City Hall at 6pm.
Holiday Bazaar
A holiday bazaar has been set for the Florence Events Center this Saturday and Sunday. Beginning on the 19th the FEC will open at 9am for the bazaar which features holiday gifts and treats and more including Pictures with Santa. It will last until 5 pm and then reopen on Sunday at 10 am until 4 pm.
FURA
Florence Urban Renewal Agency meets on Wednesday of this week and will review their work plan proposal for the next 2 years.
Power Plant Goes Online
A first-of-its-kind hybrid power plant with wind, solar and battery storage has opened in Oregon. The plant could be a model as power grids across the country decarbonize. The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is a partnership between Portland General Electric and NextEra Energy Resources and is located in Lexington, about 30 miles south of the Columbia River in Central Oregon. Brett Sims with P-G-E says the facility will go a long way toward achieving Oregon’s ambitious climate goals.
“That’s a generating facility that literally has the capability to serve 100,000 households, which is roughly the equivalent of the energy requirements of a city the size of Salem or Eugene. So when we add those types of facilities, that’s a big needle mover.”
Under a law passed last year, Oregon utilities are required to reduce carbon emissions by 100 percent by 2040. It’s one of the most ambitious climate goals in the nation.
