Last Resort Players hosting music in Old Town; plenty of fireworks viewing options are available; and fire danger is up despite the clouds.

Independence Celebration to take over Old Town…

Visitors to Old Town Florence this weekend will be treated to a party atmosphere.
215 – “The whole idea is to celebrate Fourth of July and the wonderful talent in Florence.”

The Last Resort Players have set up a stage in the center of Old Town and organizer Laura Merz says it’s designed to encourage people to stay and enjoy what Florence has to offer.
216 – “There’s lots of room. People can bring picnic, or their lawn chairs or, you know, just sit on the grass.”

The Florence-Siuslaw Lions Club will be on hand with food, and there are food vendors across the street in the Old Town Public Market… plus at all of the restaurants in the area. Merz said the music starts tonight at six.
217 – “We have lots of rock and roll on Friday and then Saturday is a hodgepodge of all kinds of wonderful entertainment; lots and lots of fabulous musicians.”

Tomorrow’s festivities run from one until just before the fireworks at ten… then Sunday’s lineup will feature a little light jazz and soft rock from one to five.

Speaking of fireworks… there are two locations on the Oregon Coast where you can catch an early show. Depoe Bay and Waldport both offer up displays tonight. In addition to the display over the Siuslaw River here in Florence tomorrow night there are several other shows. Mapleton, Gardiner, Winchester Bay, Lakeside and Newport also boast fireworks.

By the way, the east sidewalk on the Siuslaw River bridge will be open and available tomorrow night. It’s become a favorite perch for fireworks viewers. Rick Little with the Oregon Department of Transportation says renovation work will keep the west walkway closed. O-DOT will also have electronic message boards operating at each end of the bridge advising motorists to watch out for pedestrians.

Banks are open today… in fact you can get free ice cream at at least two area banks… but the stock market is closed, as are most offices at Lane County.

Don’t let the clouds fool you… just a bit inland the forecast is for warmer and drier weather, creating a higher fire danger. Oregon Department of Forestry officials say that makes forest fuels more susceptible to fire… they’re urging caution this weekend.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

American Legion Baseball:

The Beaverton Allstars lead from the first inning and never looked back, cruising to an 8-4 non-league victory over the Three Rivers Sandblasters last night in Florence. The two teams meet again today for two games… the first starts at noon. The Sandblasters have another non-league game Sunday evening in Grants Pass.

Northwest League Baseball:

One night after scoring 15 runs on 13 hits, the Eugene Emeralds were held scoreless on two hits, losing 3-nothing to the Everett Aqua Sox at Civic Stadium. Despite only two hits, the Emeralds stranded eight base runners, including six in scoring position. Their six-game home series against the Sox wraps up tonight with a fireworks show… the game is sold out… Eugene hits the road for a five-game series against the Hawks in Boise beginning tomorrow.