Sharpe to Serve as Grand Marshal
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that longtime community figure Wayne Sharpe will serve as Grand Marshal for the 118th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival Parade on May 18. Sharpe’s extensive involvement includes hosting Coast Radio’s morning show, covering Siuslaw Vikings sports, and engaging with civic groups like Rotary and the city’s budget committee. A former pastor and Marine Corps veteran, he’s also co-founded the Oregon Coast Military History Museum and helped revive the Florence Veterans Day Parade. Sharpe says he’s honored by the recognition, calling Florence a special place that’s grown tremendously since he arrived in 1992. This year’s Rhododendron Festival, themed “Rhodies on the River,” runs May 15-18, featuring parades, a carnival, classic cars, and a rhododendron showcase.
After Hours to Highlight Fire House
You can get a look behind the scenes at the community’s main fire station Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 during this week’s Florence Area Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours”. Chamber President and CEO Bettina Hannigan says it’s hosted this week by Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority at Station #1 at 2625 Highway 101. Hannigan says there will be tours of the station and all of the equipment and operations that help to keep our community safe. It’s also, she says, a great time to do some networking with other members of our community. It’s open to anyone, you don’t have to belong to the chamber. There will be light refreshments and a chance to win prizes.
PeaceHealth Appoints New CFO
PeaceHealth has appointed longtime hospital executive Mary Lou Tate as Chief Financial Officer for its Oregon network, effective April 7. With over 20 years of finance and operations leadership, Tate most recently served as CFO at Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay, where she helped improve financial stability and reduce employee turnover. She has also held CFO roles at hospitals in Wyoming and Illinois. Tate says she’s excited to join PeaceHealth’s innovative team and contribute to its growth. She holds multiple healthcare finance certifications and degrees from Gonzaga and Boise State.
Gas Prices
Gas prices are decreasing nationwide, with the national average for regular gasoline dropping four cents to $3.10 per gallon this week. Oregon’s average has dipped two cents to $3.74 per gallon. In Florence, prices are slightly lower; for example, the 76 station at 1570 US-101 lists regular gas at $3.36 per gallon. However, with refinery maintenance season ongoing and new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican crude oil now in effect, experts anticipate potential price increases in the coming weeks. Marie Dodds, with AAA Oregon, notes that the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce, could also contribute to rising prices.
New Gazebo Coming
The City of Florence is set to replace the aging gazebo at Old Town Park with a new 16-foot octagon wood structure from Amish Country Gazebos. With donations from the community and the Central Oregon Coast Board of Realtors, the project is moving forward with an expected delivery date of March 10. Public Works will remove the old gazebo, preserving its weather vane for the new structure. During construction, there may be temporary park closures, but efforts will be made to keep the river viewing platform accessible.