Seeds of Change for Siuslaw School Garden

10 April 2015
Coast Radio News
Local News

Online Contest Could Provide Additional Funds for School Garden

The Siuslaw school garden program is entering the third year and volunteer Jen Nelson says once again students will be learning about the life cycle of plants.

Jen Nelson – “So they’ve been learning about soil health and how to grow food organically and how to start from seed and grow back to seed again so they can see the whole process the plant goes through.”

Nelson says the program has another important function.

Jen Nelson – “They are learning about the locality of food. And that’s one thing that I try to stress, the importance of being able to grow our own food and how empowering that is.”

Nelson, who also manages the Real Food Co-op, says they have applied for a grant from Seeds of Change, an online organization that espouses the importance of gardening and eating locally. It’s a competitive process, so Nelson is hoping people will go to the Seeds of Change facebook page and vote for the Siuslaw School Garden. Cash awards will range from $1,000 to $20,000.

Jen Nelson – “So we may expand the number of garden beds even more. We want a greenhouse so the whole classroom can go in there and have instruction. Also, maybe some equipment so we can start the seeds a little bit earlier in the spring and possibly expand even further. We’ll see what everyone decides they want to do with it.”

The 50 gardens with the most public votes will go to the final judging phase… public votes will be accepted online through April 27th and Nelson says you can vote every day. A link to that can also be found at the Seeds of Change facebook page.

Cougar Sighting in Florence

An adult cougar spotted just west of Siuslaw High School yesterday morning prompted officials to issue a warning at the school, as well as at nearby Lane Community College.

Paul Friend, of Florence, was driving on Kingwood Street just north of 27th when he told police he spotted the cougar crossing in front of him. The fact that it was heading in the direction of the school prompted him to call 911.

Police responded and did a quick search of the area, but didn’t find anything.

Wildlife biologists say if you encounter a cougar, stand up straight and back away slowly. Don’t run, as that would trigger the hunter-and-prey reflex in the animal.

Recycled Art for Earth Day

A contest this month sponsored by the city’s Environmental Management Advisory Committee is aimed at raising awareness of just what is recyclable. Florence Planning Director Wendy Farley Campbell says it’s all about the art.

Wendy Campbell Farley – “Sculptures or collages or mobiles, or whatever. They need to be made of items that you would find in your recycle bin. Bottles, cans, aluminum foil, mixed paper, Cheerios boxes, whatever you find. They can alter those items. They don’t need to keep them in their original form.”

Farley Campbell said it’s also all about getting into the spirit of Earth Day, coming up April 22nd. That’s when entry forms for the contest are due at City Hall. The artwork itself won’t need to be delivered to the Florence Events Center until April 27th.

It will be on display there the following week leading up to the May 2nd Green Fair.

Complete information on the contest, including rules and an entry form, can be found at the City of Florence EMAC page

Grants available for FEC rental

The Friends of the Events Center will likely give away nearly $5-thousand to performing arts groups hoping to use the Florence Events Center in the next fiscal year.

Jennifer Connor with the FEC said last year the Friends delivered grants to 8 different groups. The money was used to offset facilities rental fees at the center.

Connor said there are just a few requirements… the grant will be used for an event rental on a specific date up to $700. The organization must be non-profit, and the approved amount will be paid by the Friends after the event has taken place.

Grant applications must be applied for no later than June 1st.

Floating debris likely from 2011 tsunami

A roughly 25-foot-long chunk of fiberglass boat spotted drifting off the central Oregon coast is believed to be more debris from the deadly 2011 Japanese tsunami.

Chris Havel of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department says the debris was spotted Thursday morning. It had drifted to just a few miles offshore by yesterday evening. A crew working under contract with the state towed it to Newport overnight.

Biologists inspected the object while it was at sea and consulted with the state Fish and Wildlife Department. They decided the attached organisms pose little threat to the Oregon coast ecosystem.

Havel says it will be removed from the water, studied, dismantled and taken to a landfill.

Several live yellowtail jack fish on board will be delivered to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Sheriff still expected to make May 1st transition to Florence

The pre-employment process is still in process, but Lane County Sheriff Tom Turner is expected to start work as Florence’s chief of police by May 1st.

Florence City Manager Erin Reynolds said earlier today that there are still a few steps that need to be completed, but she expects they’ll be finalized next week. Once a contract is signed, Turner will be cleared and ready to go.