Senior Center Bids come in over budget; US Senate working on health care reform; and Surfrider working on river cleanup

Senior Center plans facing hurdle…

Expectations were high this week when bids were opened for a new senior center in Florence. The architectural and design firm for the City of Florence had estimated that many of the 11 bids received would be well within the budget allocated for construction.
200 -- "The four for the modular were all higher than the seven for the built in place building. And the lowest bidder came in above budget."

In fact, the lowest bid received was just over $100-thousand higher than expected says Mayor Phil Brubaker. That puts the city in a tight spot. If they reject the bids, they’ll lose a Community Development Block Grant that will two-thirds of the $1.2-million project. But, they can’t accept the bid without having all construction funds in the bank.
201 -- "In order to proceed with this project we have a challenge in front of us to raise $100,000 in cash, not pledges, in cash, over the next 28 days to make the award deadline to preserve the Community Development Block Grant of $800,000."

Brubaker is confident that it can be done. Members of the Senior Center fund-raising committee agree. They’re embarking on an immediate campaign and say they expect they’ll have enough money by August 12th to allow the council to move forward with construction.

A U-S Senate subcommittee approved a plan this week that US Senator Jeff Merkley expects will improve access to health insurance coverage and help keep costs down.
203 – “What it would do is enable individuals and small businesses which previously have had to negotiate on their own for health care and therefore like lambs to the slaughter… enable them to join an exchange and have the collective marketing clout of hundreds of thousands of folks behind them and thereby get a much better deal on health care.”

The Health Care Exchange is just one part of the Senate plan that would require all Americans to have some sort of coverage. Merkley said there are provisions that would allow residents to opt-out for an annual fee.

From a distance, the Siuslaw River looks great… but Melisa Buckwald, a member of the Siuslaw Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, says there really is quite a bit of trash and litter in spots.
205 -- "If you look closely, yes. From far away you don't really see it, not as much. You know when you're along the river bank, yes there is. The tide brings up the trash and it kind of gets stuck there at the waterline."

That’s why she and other volunteers are planning to spend three hours tomorrow cleaning up. Buckwald says anyone with a boat, a raft, a kayak or a canoe can meet at one of four locations… the Port of Siuslaw Boat launch in Florence; Bender Landing on the North Fork; Siuslaw Marina in Cushman or at the county dock in Mapleton. No boat? No problem she adds… meet up at Rain Rock on Highway 36 or the Deadwood store. Be there at 11 AM and don’t forget your own life jacket.

Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…

American Legion Baseball:

A 16-run fifth inning carried the Eugene Bi-Mart Challengers to a 23-10 victory over the Three Rivers Sandblasters last night at Swede Johnson Stadium in Eugene. The Sandblasters led by three runs going into the frame, but gave up eight hits, eight walks and committed two errors. Zach Laxague had a home run for the ‘Blasters and Kevin Warren and Drew Rainwater each had two run doubles. Three Rivers has two games remaining on their schedule… Sunday they’ll host the Springfield Titans at 2:00… that game will air on Coast Radio Sports at 1:45.

Northwest League Baseball:

The Salem Keizer Volcanoes ended the Eugene Emeralds four-game win streak with an 8-7 victory over the Ems in Keizer last night. Volcano shortstop Ryan Cavan (kuh-VANN) drilled a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to put Salem-Keizer on top for good. The two teams wrap up their three-game series at Volcano Stadium tonight… the Emeralds head out for Pasco, Washington tomorrow where they’ll take on the Tri-City Dust Devils.