23 February 2015
Larry Patterson wrapping up work in Florence
City Hall will be saying farewell to Larry Patterson this week.
For the past eight months Patterson has been in the City Manager’s office there, working to keep things running smoothly while he helped elected officials find a replacement for Jacque Betz, who left for a similar position in Newberg last year. 
Patterson reflected on his time here and is optimistic about what’s ahead.
Larry Patterson – “The city, first of all, is in a good position. I found that coming here as a city that for the most part, financially is sound, which is not the case in all cities these days.”
That doesn’t mean new City Manager Erin Reynolds and the City Council will not have any big tasks ahead of them.
Larry Patterson – “The big challenges that lay ahead are kind of outlined in those council goals that the mayor talked about in the state of the city. The big one is economic development. When you look at some of the statistics associated with Florence I think there’s no question that we gotta do more in terms of making a more stable economy here.”
Patterson said another task will be in finding a way to pay for street maintenance. Another one that hasn’t received a lot of attention, but could in the future, is a stable and adequate funding source for public safety. Patterson will complete his interim manager gig in Florence this week. Reynolds will be sworn in Monday Night.
Junior and Senior Rhody Courts announced
Nine area high school seniors and five elementary school students will be representing the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce this spring as Rhody Royalty.
Five girls are on the Senior Court: Bailey Wells; Courtney King; Kennedy Roylance; Natalie Madden; and Trista Lane. One will be named Queen Rhododendra 108. The King of the Coast will be selected from the group of young men including Jonathan Griffes; Joseph Dotson; Keoni Castro; and Trey Cornish. All members of the senior court are seniors at Siuslaw High School.
The Junior Court is made up of Olivia Moore; Adelaide Ficcadenti (fikk-uh-DEN-tee); Alize Geiselle Castellanos; and Elizabeth Perez; all from Siuslaw Elementary; plus Mapleton third grader Ariana Galvan Mendez.
Members of the court will be making public appearances during the months of March and April. They’ll appear at the Rhody Showcase May 6th at the Florence Events Center. Queen Rhododendra and the King of the Coast will reign over the 108th Rhododendron Festival May 16th, 17th and 18th.
First Friday encourages local shoppers
Florence First Friday will make a return to the community next week.
Beginning Friday, March 6th, businesses in the Old Town and Antiques District areas of Florence are encouraged to stay open until eight pm on the first Friday of each month.
The idea, according to organizers, is to encourage businesses in those districts to invite local residents out to do a little shopping the first Friday of each month after dinner. The event is sponsored by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and their Old Town Committee. Businesses will be offering “something a little extra” from six to eight PM.
Beatles tribute on stage in Florence this week
A two-hour tour of Beatlemania will be on the stage of the Florence Events Center this Friday night.
Yesterday Beatles, a tribute show based in Las Vegas, features Beatles music, in the original key; and presented by seasoned performers in authentic dress and playing authentic instruments. It starts with a representation of the Beatles from their initial 1964 U.S. Tour. It includes selections from the Sergeant Pepper and Magical Mystery Tours; before wrapping up Abby Road and Let It Be.
The tribute act was founded in 1999 by longtime musician and singer Don Bellezzo; it has toured around the world.
Friday’s show will be their only Lane County appearance this year. Tickets are $24 at the FEC box office or online.
Kicker rebates likely in 2016
State economists are predicting Oregon taxpayers will receive “kicker” income tax rebates next year.
The quarterly revenue forecast released Thursday projects nearly $350-million will be credited to taxpayers when they file their 2015 taxes.
Oregon’s “kicker” law is triggered when tax collections exceed expectations by at least two percent during a two-year budget cycle.
When that occurs, the unanticipated revenue gets returned to taxpayers. Unlike past rebates that were distributed as a check around Christmas, those in the future will be refunded on tax returns.
State Economist Mark McMullen said the state will be able to tell for sure whether the kickers will be credited next year after it sees how tax collections go this year.
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