Program Gets $5000 Grant
The Food Backpack for Kids program, which provides weekend food supplies to over 131 at-risk students in the Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts, is proud to announce a generous $5,000 grant from the Safeway Foundation. Founded in 2012 after a young student was seen searching for food in a dumpster, the program has since expanded, helping food-insecure children throughout the school year. This donation will further support the ongoing efforts to ensure that at-risk students have the nourishment they need. The program extends its heartfelt thanks to the Safeway Foundation for this impactful gift.
Women’s March
Florence will join the National Women’s March to the White House on Saturday, November 2nd. The event will begin at 12:30 PM outside Florence City Hall, where participants will unite with women across the country to celebrate freedoms and the power of voting. Speakers include Jo Beaudreau, candidate for the Oregon Senate, and Sally Wantz, who is running for reelection to the Florence City Council. After the speeches, marchers will head to the corner of Highway 101 and 126 to join Florence Indivisible, supporting women, families, and freedom in America.
Highway Shuttered 5+ Hours
Highway 126 at Milepost 19 was closed more than 5 hours yesterday after a crash that involved a semi-truck. Original reports from the Oregon Department of Transportation did not include injuries. There was one unconfirmed report of a fatality.
FACC Meeting
The Florence Area Community Coalition’s November 6th meeting will focus on “Help for the Holidays,” inviting Western Lane County organizations to share details on their upcoming holiday events. The meeting, held at 10:45 a.m. in the Bromley Room of the Siuslaw Public Library, will gather information on holiday food baskets, toy distributions, and parties to compile a community-wide resource list. The event will also be available via Zoom, with a link posted by November 4th on the FACC website. The Lane County Public Health mobile unit will be onsite, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit florenceareacc.org.
C.R.O.W. Benefactor
C.R.O.W. is expressing immense gratitude after a generous donor, Diane David, stepped up to cover the entire $6,000 cost of their HVAC system repair. The nonprofit shared their excitement, saying they are “truly blown away” by this act of kindness, which ensures their program can continue uninterrupted. Originally, C.R.O.W. faced a major hurdle after learning their HVAC system was improperly installed in 2015 and in need of urgent repairs before winter. Thanks to David’s donation, the system will be fixed just in time for Follies rehearsals. C.R.O.W. extends heartfelt thanks to Diane for her generosity.
Gas Prices
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Florence is down to $3.15, part of a seasonal decline as crude oil prices stall. Crude oil is now around $70 per barrel, helping push pump prices lower across most states. Nationally, the average price for regular gas has dropped four cents to $3.16, while Oregon’s statewide average is down a penny to $3.67. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production has hit a record high, reaching 13.5 million barrels per day, making the U.S. the world’s top oil producer. For more details, check the latest news release.
OCHS Holiday Shop to Open
The Oregon Coast Humane Society’s annual PAW-liday Store opens on November 1st at 1179 Bay Street in Florence, offering unique holiday items and gifts to support shelter animals. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the store is a Florence favorite, featuring vintage and specialty items, with proceeds going directly to animal care. Photos with Santa and a giving tree for shelter pets are also planned. Volunteers power the event, and donations are accepted year-round. More details will be posted on the OCHS website and Facebook pages.
