21 November 2014
Wind and rain signal a return to familiar weather patterns
Normal weather, or at least what most northwesterners consider to be normal weather, will return to our area today as a Pacific storm blows in with gusty winds, rain and mountain snow.
A high wind warning is in effect along the central and north coast until seven this evening for South winds gusting as high as 60 miles an hour.
In addition to that, the National Weather Service is saying as much as two inches of rain could fall along the coastal strip by tomorrow.
That also means at higher elevations there will be an accumulation of snow… more than a foot is expected to fall in the Washington Cascades… six to 12 inches in Oregon passes.
Forecasters say the wind and rain should break an inversion in southeast Washington and Eastern Oregon, clearing out stagnant air and allowing things to warm up east of the mountains just a little.
Pounding to collect food for hungry
The 2014 edition of an annual food drive that has accumulated well over 30-tons of food for Florence Food Share since 2001 will take place tomorrow.
Cindy Wobbe, the owner of Mon Ami Gourmet Deli and Antiques, is challenging the community to donate food to Food Share tomorrow from nine to one at Florence Grocery Outlet.
The practice of ‘pounding’, she says, originated in pioneer times when a community would welcome a new family into town by filling their pantry for them. Neighbors would bring a pound of flour; a pound of sugar; a pound of bacon; and so on. Everyone would chip in just a little, but it would combine to make a lot.
Wobbe doubles the donations she receives at her pounding by donating an equal weight of food to Food Share. Usually, her donation consists of fresh produce that she donates throughout the year.
Slash burn fills sky with smoke
Yes… it was smoky in Florence Wednesday afternoon. Siuslaw Valley Fire Chief Jim Langborg said there were lots of calls reporting the smoke and asking about the source.
Jim Langborg – “After looking into it we determined that there was a slash fire, a large slash fire, that had been burning pretty much all day up in the Maple Creek area and with the inversion from the weather had just moved its way down the river and into Florence.”
Most of the smoke had dissipated by late evening.
Food safety is important, especially during holidays
Thanksgiving is just a week away… but now is the time to start preparing. The centerpiece of the traditional meal is the turkey, and if it’s frozen, Susan Kendrick of the Oregon Department of Agriculture says do not defrost it on the kitchen counter.
Susan Kendrick – ““What we’d like you to do is put it in the refrigerator and– you are going to have to plan ahead– it takes about 24 hours for every five pound of turkey to thaw. So if you have a big turkey, you probably need to put it in the refrigerator four or five days ahead of time.”
Undercooking turkey could lead to food poisoning so you want to make sure you use a meat thermometer and cook it to an internal temperature of 165-degrees. Another possible cause of food borne-illnesses can come from handling the uncooked poultry.
Susan Kendrick – ““It is cause for some concern. You want to make sure, when you are doing your prep, that you are avoiding cross-contamination and are keeping the raw meat, the turkey, separate from any ready-to-eat foods.”
Kendrick says using good techniques and common sense will help ensure a safe and satisfying meal for family and friends.
M92 could see recount
An Oregon ballot measure that would require labels for genetically engineered foods may be heading for an automatic recount.
Measure 92 appeared to have been rejected, but results released Thursday by Multnomah County pushed the margin of defeat statewide to a mere one-tenth-of-one-percent. That’s well within the two-tenths of one-percent margin that calls for a required recount.
Out of 1.5-million ballots counted, fewer than 15-hundred votes separate the two sides.
Counties have until five pm Monday to publish their final results. Several thousand ballots remain unreported. If the margin holds up, the recount would likely begin the first week in December.
Champagne shopping and tree lighting on tap
Merchants in Historic Old Town Florence will be offering “champagne for shoppers” this evening between five and seven pm as part of the early kickoff to the holiday shopping season
There’ll be more activities in Old Town tomorrow, including a Christmas Wreath Silent Auction at Siuslaw Pioneer Museum through four pm.
Then, at 4:45 at the Old Town Park and gazebo, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive for the official lighting of the Old Town Christmas Tree.
