Reminder issued on fireworks restrictions
Sparklers, screamers, and the “tower of sparks” can provide a lot of entertainment this time of year; but public land managers are reminding residents they’re not welcome everywhere.
Dan Eddy, the fire management officer for the Siuslaw National Forest, says fireworks can pose a serious fire threat. “People often assume” he says, “the restrictions apply just to forested areas, but they also include campgrounds and sparsely vegetated areas” like the Oregon Dunes.
Oregon State Parks and Recreation officials are also quick to point out the prohibition against all fireworks also extends not only to parks and campgrounds, but also to the beach.
In fact, if it’s publicly owned or managed land… fireworks are not allowed. That includes the Boardwalk area and Port of Siuslaw parking lot as well as most street rights of way in Old Town Florence.
Ducks to race in Old Town
The traditional Independence Day activities are planned for Florence on the Fourth of July; things like the watermelon and pie eating contests and the community fireworks at dusk.
But, it also includes as many as 2-thousand rubber ducks being launched into the water at the Port of Siuslaw’s commercial marina at one o’clock. The first 41 to cross the finish line will win prizes ranging in value from $16 up to the top value of $600 for ticketholders who have the corresponding number of the winning ducks. The race is coordinated by Florence Kiwanis Club and they’ll be selling tickets near the boardwalk all weekend.
The pie and watermelon eating contests will also be staged at the same location around Noon on the fourth.
The day caps with the fireworks display beginning around ten pm.
Nancy Pearson with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce says the boardwalk will be a good place to watch.
Arlis Ulman Scholarship deadline near
A $3-thousand scholarship will be presented to one qualifying student at Lane Community College in Florence. The Arlis Ulman Health Careers Scholarship is intended for students in Florence enrolled in the nursing or pre-nursing curriculum.
The application deadline is coming soon… it’s Thursday, June 30th.
Arlis Ulman is a retired nurse who, along with her husband Dr. Richard Ulman, maintained a medical practice in Florence from 1955 to about 1990. She still lives in the community.
The scholarship is administered by the Western Lane Community Foundation and applications can be picked up at the LCC Florence Center.
Leave the pups alone
As harbor seals are born in the Pacific Northwest, marine mammal advocates are urging people not to touch or pick up pups that come up on beaches and shorelines to rest.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that at least five times this season, well-meaning people have illegally picked up seal pups in Oregon and Washington thinking they were abandoned or in need of help.
Two of the seals died.
NOAA’s regional stranding coordinator Kristin Wilkinson says people’s impulse is to rush in and help, but it’s better to let nature run its course. The risk in taking these animals off the beach is that adult seals may abandon their pups.
NOAA reminds people to leave marine mammals alone, to stay at least 100-yards away and reduce other disturbances, such as keeping dogs on leashes.
Local gas prices steady
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas is holding steady for the third straight week at $2.42. While that’s the highest average price since September, it’s also 40-cents a gallon below the average price last year at this time.
That’s right on track with the rest of the country according to Triple-A. The national average posted price is $2.29… down 49-cents from the last week of June in 2015.
Oregon’s average price is the seventh highest in the country at $2.54 a gallon.
Catch a ride to Wings and Wheels
You can catch a ride to Saturday’s Wings and Wheel’s car and airplane show at the Florence Airport. For the second year in a row, the Rhody Express will be running a shuttle between the airport and two “park and ride” locations.
The Express will begin service at 9:45 Saturday morning, making pickups at the Florence Senior Center as well as at Siuslaw Middle School. Service will continue through 3:15.
City of Florence spokesperson Glenn Southerland says there is no cost for the service.
