Senior Center Fundraising tops $176k; DeFazio to tour coast this week; Newport levies a two-tier gas tax; and fall practice begins in college football

Fundraising efforts exceed expectations…

Those efforts mean the new senior center in Florence will be fully equipped from the day the doors open.
200 – “We were able to put everything into the contract basically that we had taken out to try and keep costs down. Other than seven parking spaces that are still an alternate at this point.”

And even those seven parking spaces may wind up being added into the mix. Yesterday’s fundraising total was in excess of $176-thousand… well over the target of $100-thousand set in late July. City Manager Bob Willoughby said the items that had been removed from the construction list really were essentials… things like a covered entry, a soundproof room divider and a more resilient and longer lasting floor in the dining room.
201 – “Those weren’t things that would be just nice to have, they really were part of the function of the building. And the total that we had in hand on Friday enabled us to put those things all into the project. The people of the greater Florence area are to be commended for really an outstanding fundraising effort for a very important project.”

Fund Raising efforts will officially wrap up today… three restaurants… The Grape Leaf and The Beachcomber Pub in Old Town as well as the World Market Buffet at Three Rivers Casino will donate 50-percent of today’s food sales to the drive.

Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio will spend some time on the Oregon Coast this week. The Fourth District Representative will start the day Thursday with a breakfast Town Hall meeting in Brookings, then head north for similar sessions in Gold Beach, Port Orford and North Bend. He’ll wrap up at 5:15 Thursday at U.S Coast Guard Air Station North Bend where he’ll present a Bronze Star for Valor to Radioman Second Class Michael Harris of the Bay Area. Harris is a Viet Nam Vet. De Fazio will also reportedly pay a visit to the Florence Relay for Life this Friday evening.

Citing a tremendous need for road and street improvements, a Central Oregon Coast city has approved a gas tax over and beyond other fuel taxes paid at the pump by motorists. The Newport City Council recently approved the tax that will be used for street, bike and pedestrian improvements. City officials, who recommended the tax package, believe it could generate up to $225,000 per year in additional revenue. The tax will be one-cent per gallon during winter months and three-cents a gallon during summer months, June 1 through Oct. 31. The cities of Depoe Bay and Lincoln City are also reportedly investigating a similar tax. (Thanks Matt Jarvis)

Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…

Northwest League Baseball:
Two big innings gave the Everett Aqua-Sox the advantage, and the rain sealed the deal as the Sox came out on top 11-5 over the Eugene Emeralds last night. Everett scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning to go ahead 6-3, then stretched the lead to 11-3 after six. Joey Railey drove in two runs with a two-out double in the top of the seventh, but umpires called the game between halves when field conditions became unplayable because of the rain. The Emeralds head further north today where they open up a three game series against the Canadians in Vancouver.

Pac Ten Football:
Fall practices are underway for both Oregon and Oregon State. The Ducks hit the practice field last Friday and are donning full pads today for the first time. The Beavers hit the field yesterday and are still engaging in light workouts… OSU by the way will open up the season in the top-25… They’re ranked number 25 in the USA Today Coaches’ preseason poll.