19 February 2015
New governor vows to restore public trust
Oregon’s new governor was sworn in yesterday morning. Just over a month after her predecessor had been sworn in for an unprecedented fourth term.
Kate Brown assumed Oregon’s highest office during a ceremony at the state Capitol in Salem. In a speech to the legislature after her swearing-in, Brown praised John Kitzhaber for his contributions to Oregon, but also said – quote – “We must restore the public’s trust”.
Kitzhaber announced his resignation last week amid allegations his fiancée used her relationship with him to enrich herself. He has denied wrongdoing on both of their parts.
Brown will serve just under two years. The state constitution calls for a special election in 2016 to fill the final two years of the open term.
Patterson honored for career
Florence’s interim City Manager since July, Larry Patterson, was honored recently by the Lane Council of Governments for an “Outstanding Public Career”. Patterson has had a 35-year career in municipal service. He has been city manager in Bend and in Oregon City. Since his retirement from Oregon City he’s found a successful second career in working as an interim manager for the cities of Ashland, Creswell and Florence.
Mayor Joe Henry, who nominated Patterson for the LCOG award, said he was happy to orchestrate a surprise for the February 6th awards presentation.
Larry Patterson – “He was totally surprised and it was very deserving because we’ve gotten more knowledge and input on how to… er… city government in six months than we’ve gotten in a whole long time.”
Patterson will wrap up his time in Florence next week when Erin Reynolds is sworn in as permanent City Manager March 2nd.
Mobile Vet Services
Living on the Oregon Coast can mean a lengthy drive for military veterans hoping to access services at VA centers.
Putting some of those services on wheels can make life a little more convenient.
Veterans in the Siuslaw Valley can now access a Mobile Vet Center in Florence on Wednesday and Thursday during the second week of each month. It will set up just outside the Diabled American Veterans Hall on 21st street.
The Mobile Vet Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs offers readjustment counseling and information resources to veterans across the country.
2014 best books
A summary of 60 books in 60 minutes. That’s what Adult Services Librarian Kevin Mittge will deliver next week in his presentation of the “Best Books of 2014” program at Siuslaw Public Library.
Each year Mittge solicits recommendations for the list from library patrons, staff, volunteers, and national critics. He’s a prolific reader, so he adds his own favorites of course.
He then delivers the compilation, including brief, but fast-paced summaries of each tome in just one hour. That’s a pace of one book summary per minute.
The presentation will be at the library, Tuesday, February 24th from two to three pm… you don’t want to be late.
Oregon Humanities planning April conversation in Florence
The independent non-profit group Oregon Humanities will be sponsoring a series of “community conversations” in 24 different locations around the state this spring. They’re aimed at encouraging Oregonians to discuss provocative issues and ideas like racial diversity, “community in the age of the internet”, and the ethics of food.
There will be 37 different conversations in 24 communities around Oregon.
Only one will be in Lane County. That will be at the Florence United Methodist Church on Kingwood Street. April 14th Leslie Dunlap will present a talk titled “Something Old, Something New: Exploring the State of Marriage.
Information on the entire program can be found at the Oregon Humanities website.
