15 October 2014
Short Term Optimism Tempered With Caution
Home sales in the Florence area rose more than 36-percent over the second quarter of this year from 98 to 133 units. That increase also constituted a 25-percent jump over the same time period last year when 105 sales were closed between July and September.
The optimism engendered by that “explosion” in sales is tempered with a potential shortage in workers to build future homes.
Tawfik Ahdab is with the Pacific Valuation Group. He compiled and released the home sales figures this week; and said the work force in the construction field locally was “decimated” by the 2007 recession and housing crisis. Many younger, less well-established builders in the area at the time left the industry and most, he added, are reticent to return.
That could leave a void as demand increases.
Without an adequate supply of tradesmen and craftsmen, prices could rise quickly and stifle future growth.
Meeting that demand with a well-trained and capable workforce would also help the overall economy in the area by reinstating residential construction as one of the gateways to what Ahdab calls “middle class existence”.
Food Share Celebrates World Food Day
Florence Food Share will be participating tomorrow in “World Food Day” with a “Re-Grand-Opening” celebration. The local non-profit food pantry has been making distributions from their warehouse for the past two weeks while a new floor has been installed in the pantry and offices.
Food Share Director Norma Barton says a special grant from Wal Mart enabled them to make several repairs to the pantry over the past few months. Staff and volunteers have been “making do” with cramped and chilly conditions while the work has been going on.
That work is nearing completion and they’re planning on restoring complete operations Thursday morning, 9 AM with a special celebration.
Cost of Driving Takes Another Dive
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Florence plummeted by 17-cents in the past week to $3.40. Oregon’s average price dropped by 11-cents in the same period and, according to Triple-A, is at $3.50 today.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A says the organization expects average prices to keep falling, mostly due to relatively low demand and an abundance of supply.
Indeed, prices have gone down considerably in the past six weeks with Oregon’s average falling 30-cents; and the local average coming down 43-cents a gallon.
Prices along the west coast continue to track considerably higher than the rest of the nation however… the national average price this morning stands at $3.19 a gallon.
Fire Season Ends
Fire season is officially over… that means Lane County residents outside Florence City Limits are free to burn brush piles and other woody debris once again.
Open burning inside Florence is prohibited year round, except for small warming fires using split firewood.
Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett says despite recent rains, residents outside the city who want to burn yard debris or brush should still be careful. Make sure you have a hose and a shovel nearby… and don’t light it if the wind is too strong.
State of the Coast to Host Best Selling Author
A ten year tradition in Florence is undergoing a change next week with the advent of the “State of the Coast” conference. The former three day long Heceta Head Coastal Conference has been revamped, revived and renamed. It will run just one day at the Florence Events Center October 25th, but it will still include discussions on marine research, biological and environmental challenges, and even adds a segment on coastal seafood cooking.
New York Times best-selling author Paul Greenberg will deliver the keynote address.
Cost for the session is $35 and includes lunch. Preregistration can be completed at the conference website.
