Bored? That’s your problem. Tsunami debris, moorage rates and a library bronze.

Coast Radio News
Local News

22 February 2013

No reason for boredom this weekend.

If you complain about having nothing to do this weekend; it’s your own fault.  There are a variety of different events and activities taking place between now and Sunday… from the esoteric to educational and even ecumenical.

Starting this afternoon… it’s the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at the Events Center.  Tomorrow morning there will be three different sessions of the Lenten Renewal Service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church as members of five congregations gather together to hear Father David M. Knight.

At midday tomorrow is the Human Trafficking Symposium at Ocean Dunes hosted by Soroptimist International.  A variety of speakers will be presenting information, including Florence Police Chief Ray Gutierrez.

There are three musical events tomorrow night… two of them major fund raisers.  The Boys and Girls Club is hosting Fraudeville at Three Rivers; and an effort to reopen the pool in Mapleton brings the Craig and Terry Band… also known as the Singing Loggers… back to Mapleton High School.  Seacoast Entertainment Association will present the International String Trio at the FEC.

Tsunami Debris on Coos County Beach?

A 30-foot barnacle encrusted boat washed up on the north spot of Coos Bay Wednesday.  By yesterday afternoon Oregon State Parks and Recreation had hauled it away.  It’s believed to be debris from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  The blue and white vessel with Japanese characters on the side was evaluated by officials who took samples of the marine species.  It’s the second such vessel this year found on an Oregon beach.  Two large docks, a shipping container with a motorcycle in it and several smaller pieces of debris have washed ashore on the west coast over the past several months.

Siuslaw Moorage Rates Going Up

It’s going to cost more for commercial vessels to tie up at the docks in Old Town Florence.  Port of Siuslaw Commissioners approved a rate increase this week after recommendations from staff.  Port manager Bob Forsythe said even after the increase Siuslaw’s price is still lower.

Bob Forsythe – “It’s going to go up about 25-percent a year, but, ours are really, really low.”

Forsythe said Services Coordinator Ken Hill looked into rates at other marinas and ports.

Bob Forsythe – “Ken spent over a month researching all of the rates up and down the coast; everybody.  Made sure that we were still the lowest commercial rates on the coast.”

The new rates will take effect in July.

Library Bronze

It will only appear to stroll onto the grounds of Siuslaw Public Library.  A long awaited life-size bronze sculpture of a woman walking while looking at a book will be delivered a week from today.  It is the work of sculptor Mack Holman.  Several examples of his art can be seen on Highway 101 in Gardiner around his Tsunami Gallery.  The bronze will be placed near the flag pole at the library’s north entrance and is, as yet, unnamed.

Funding for the $18-thousand artwork came from a combination of a grant from the Lane County Cultural Coalition, the Friends of the Library, private donations and library district building funds.  A formal dedication is planned for later this year.