The fog horn is back!

 So many of our local residents are happy to see and will soon hear the north jetty fog horn!

Today, with team work from Aids to Navigation Team Coos Bay and an aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend the installation was completed.

Photo Credit:

AUXPA1 Deb Cordone

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In 1953, the late Frank Herbert, author of the Dune series of science fiction books, came to Florence

 
In 1953, the late Frank Herbert, author of the Dune series of science fiction books, as well as many other works of fiction and non-fiction, came to Florence, Oregon, to do research for a magazine article that he was going to write about a US Department of Agriculture project there.  The USDA was seeking to stabilize the dunes by planting beach grass, thus changing the ecology of the dunal areas, a very controversial project at the time.  In several interviews, Mr. Herbert credits the time spent in the Florence area out on the dunes as the inspiration for the setting for what he called his "messiah story".  By 1963, Mr. Herbert's agency began submitting Dune for publication.  Two years later, after 22 rejections, Dune was accepted for publication, and the rest, as they say, was history. 

Six Dune books, as well as over thirty other fiction and non-fiction books and innumerable magazine articles later, on February 12, 1986, Frank Herbert passed away, leaving, in addition to his legacy of writing, a large personal library that helped to illustrate the wide range of his interests and research.  In the late 1980's one of his daughters moved to Florence as a business owner and resident, and took an interest in the new library building under construction.  Shortly after the library building opened she presented the library with almost 400 books, pamphlets, recorded books on phonograph records, posters, photographs and other materials from the late Frank Herbert's personal library.  This represented about one fifth of his personal library, and is a very eclectic collection of non-fiction, fiction and author's copies of his various works in many languages. 

The books have been catalogued and are visible in the library's on-line catalog , but do not circulate.  Visitors to the main branch can view the collection in it's locked cases in the library conference room, where, in addition, storyboard art and posters from the original Dune movie which were presented to Mr. Herbert are on display. 

http://siuslawlibrary.net/frank_herbert__collection0.aspx

Fire Weather Warning

🔥🔥

Headline	Fire Weather Warning
Description	The National Weather Service in Portland has Issued a Red Flag Warning for Wind and Low Relative Humidity, Which is in Effect from 11am to 10pm PDT Friday. * Affected Area, in Oregon, Fire Weather Zone 602 North Oregon Coast Range, Fire Weather Zone 603 East Slopes of the Central Oregon Coast Range, Fire Weather Zone 604 Willamette Valley Fire Weather Zone 605 North Oregon Cascade Foothills, Fire Weather Zone 606 Central Oregon Cascade Foothills, Fire Weather Zone 608 Below 3500 Feet Willamette National Forest and Fire Weather Zone 612 Central Oregon Coast. * winds, Northeast 10 to 20 MPH with Gusts Up to 35 MPH. However, East Wind 15 to 30 MPH with Gusts to 50 MPH Can be Expected Near The West End of the Columbia River Gorge in Fire Zones 604 And 605. * Relative Humidity, As Low As 15 Percent. * Impacts, Conditions May be Favorable for Rapid Fire Spread Which May Threaten Life and Property. Use Extra Caution With Potential Ignition Sources, Especially in Grassy Areas. Outdoor Burning is Not Recommended. A Red Flag Warning Means That Critical Fire Weather Conditions are Either Occurring Now, or will Shortly. a Combination of The Above Conditions Can Contribute to Extreme Fire Behavior.
Expires	4/16/21 11:00 AM

To view this message online, click here

Heceta Beach spring Beach Cleanup 4/17/2021

 

Join SOLVE at the North Jetty Beach in Florence from 10 AM – 1 PM! This event is part of the Oregon Spring Cleanup, presented by PGE.

Note that there are some beach restrictions in this area (on the north side) for snowy plover nesting season. Help protect this amazing shorebird! Please look out for signs, do not cross roped off areas even if you see trash, and keep your pets leashed.

Help us protect marine life and maintain the beauty of our coast. Be prepared by dressing for any weather and wearing sturdy shoes. You are encouraged to bring your own reusable bucket/bag, gloves, and water bottle to help reduce plastic waste. If you happen to forget, SOLVE will provide bags and gloves. Don’t forget about the small stuff! The most commonly found items of trash found on Oregon beaches are tiny bits of plastic and cigarette butts, which can be harmful to shore birds and marine life. Bring an old colander to sift the sand for these items. This beach cleanup is family-friendly, and volunteers of all ages will find the event fun and rewarding.
Remember our ocean shores can be dangerous. Avoid logs in the water. Keep your distance from marine mammals, and never turn your back on the ocean! If you find any hazardous material, please alert your Beach Captain. And remember, it’s more fun to work as part of a team. Bring a buddy, stay safe and have fun!
Hauling and disposal services donated by Central Coast Disposal and Lane County.
Meet at North Jetty Beach
Take Hwy 101 to Florence, follow 35th St to Rhododendron Dr. Follow Rhododendron Dr. north to N Jetty Rd. Stay on N. Jetty to end at the beach in Harbor Vista County Park
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/JPS53Hmcirq

Celebrating Vacation Rental Week, March 8-12, 2021!

 

Whales Watch Vacation Rentals is thrilled to participate in the second annual Vacation Rental Week! We’d like to use this opportunity to highlight the value and key benefits of professionally-managed vacation rentals for both guests and property owners alike, and to encourage you to book a stay or entrust your vacation property to a professional manager. 

As a guest, vacation rentals are a great alternative to hotels in every aspect, offering you much more for your money, with additional space, privacy, convenience, and amenities included. Vacation rentals offer a cleaner, more socially-distanced experience as well, with less touchpoints and outside interaction compared to hotels, which is a key benefit as we navigate the last mile of the pandemic. 

Vacation rentals also present you with a unique opportunity to create a more personalized, memorable vacation experience when compared with traditional hotels. You’ll have the practical comfort of an actual residence, the ability to explore the neighborhood, and the opportunity to discover aspects of your destination you might not encounter when staying at a hotel. If you’re vacationing with family, vacation rentals are an excellent option, typically offering multiple bedrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and easy access to local entertainment. 

For property owners, safely renting your second property through a professional manager can be an easy and reliable revenue source, transforming it into an asset that offers a significant return on your investment. You’ll also be able to use the property when you choose, spending your own vacations there with family, while renting it to guests the rest of the year. 

A professional vacation rental manager will handle all the logistics, securing responsible guests, and maximizing your return through an expert understanding of the industry and in-depth knowledge of the local community. They’ll also handle cleaning the property to the highest standards, advertise, handle inquiries, collect deposits and balances, generate agreements, and follow-up post-rental, so you can sit back and simply enjoy the experience.

 Finding a vacation rental to book or a professional manager to represent your property is fast and easy. Our friends at the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) provide a free search tool https://www.vrma.org/page/find-a-vrm to locate property managers and their available properties worldwide. Find a vacation rental or professional manager for your property and get started in this exciting industry today!

#VacationRentalWeek

U.S. 101 re-opens with 24 hour flagging.

ODOT contractors retrieve 28-ton drilling rig from rocks below U.S. 101 on Saturday, highway re-opens 24/7 with flaggers at Brays Point

 https://yachatsnews.com/odot-contractors-retrieve-28-ton-drilling-rig-from-rocks-below-u-s-101-on-saturday-highway-will-re-open-24-7-with-flaggers/?fbclid=IwAR261o4M2CqYQ4oJZEAI4FJj8nxIGpQXQWBaNHIHXqDt2tq70VvdbS8QUYY

U.S. 101 to close 2/17 for up to a week.

Work will start at 8am on Wednesday 2-17-2021:

A section of U.S. 101 will close completely for up to a week to build a retaining wall to shore up a shifting portion of the road at milepost 170.5, 2.5 miles south of Cape Perpetua. The closure will be between Sea Lion Caves and Cooks Chasm, areas that have space for larger vehicles to turn around, between Yachats and Florence.
Read the full story at the link below.

https://www.pnwne.com/post/hwy-101-to-close-south-of-yachats

You can always find out the current status of roads in Oregon on Tripcheck.org

Grocery, Pharmacy & Pizza Delivery

 If you need groceries during your stay and don't want to go shopping.

AnyCart.com delivers for Safeway for free.

Safeway also delivers for a fee.

Fred Meyer you can order online and they'll deliver it to your car.

InstaCart delivers for a fee:  Safeway, Fred Meyer and Rite Aid Pharmacy.

Domino's and Abby's pizza both deliver to all of our houses except Starry Night.

2021 Rhododendron Festival Suspended

a letter from the chamber

Dear Chamber Members & Friends, It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I share this COVID casualty. Please be kind to one another, we're all doing the best we can. The board of directors of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has changed course on its plans for the 114th Rhododendron Festival and has suspended the event for the second year in a row. The event was scheduled for its traditional date, the third weekend of May, May 12 to 16, 2021.   “People missed the point that we were moving forward with cautious optimism when we announced that our first step was the cancelation of Rhody Court since that’s the earliest aspect of the festival and demanded an early decision,” said Chamber president/CEO Bettina Hannigan. “As quickly and unpredictively as the State issues its edicts for where and what is safe for people to do, and then just as quickly rescinds them, it leaves us trying to hit a moving target while making plans for a huge event in as little time as possible.”   “Vaccines, we’re now told, will roll out much slower than first announced. The rapidity in growth and spread of variants has become too unstable, that complicates matters further,” she added.   “The board and other stakeholders have agreed that there is no way to enforce social distancing and efficient proper sanitizing, even outdoors to hold the carnival. Hannigan continued. “The same must be said for distancing at a vendor fair or during a parade. OHA guidelines prohibit large gatherings and we must comply with these restrictions. We are so saddened by another loss for this generational family tradition and its economic impact on Florence for a second year.”   The Rhododendron Festival makes the single largest economic impact on Florence’s tourist-driven economy and serves as the kick-off to the tourism season. Around 1900 people in Florence rely on tourism-based employment, and tourism pumps about $147 million into our community each year.   “Safety really is our top priority and so we’re forced to hold off on promoting the level of tourism our community needs to survive. We are really chomping at the bit to get back up to speed, but it’s just not safe enough to do so yet,” Hannigan explained. “Even though we’ve noticed them, this is not in response to those small pockets of mean-spirited outrage on social media. It’s just the right thing to do in the face of the rapid changes and edicts forced on society.”   Relatedly, Hannigan said that ancillary events such as the Rhody Run, the classic car Show ‘n’ Shine and cruise, the Rhododendron Society’s flower show, and music events, are not organized by the chamber and that the organizers of each will have to make their own decision for how they want to proceed.   Last year’s Rhody Fest, though officially cancelled for the first time since WWII, did feature a virtual parade coordinated by the City of Florence with short videos submitted by the public and edited for use on social media. Local rhododendron expert, and Chamber ambassador Mike Bones, took it upon himself last year to roll a wheelbarrow packed with rhododendrons along the traditional parade route in lieu of the official Sunday grand floral parade.   “We continue doing all we can to safely advance the cause of commerce during the pandemic to make Florence the best place to live, work, shop, eat, play, and stay—now, and as the crisis passes,” she explained. “As I’ve said many times before, we must be vigilant in adhering to Governor Kate Brown’s rulings. A healthy, vibrant community is essential for everyone’s success. As a chamber of commerce, and as a community at large, our top priority should be preventing further spread of COVID-19 and taking care of each other with compassion, humility, and encouragement.” Serving our community together, Bettina Hannigan President and CEO

Saving The Oregon Dunes

To go Menu: Surfside Restaurant at Driftwood Shores

 

Holiday Events

The City of Florence is doing Holiday Photo Ops around town:

You might not be able to visit Santa this year… but you can sneak a photo in his sleigh. We haven’t seen the abominable snowman… but his giant Adirondack chair has been spotted. We’ve seen a few polar bears and have a suspicion they were delivering a giant giftbox. The gazebo seems to have been transported to a snowy winter wonderland. This might be Florence, Oregon... but we have spotted the North Pole and it’s shining beacon. Go find the cozy holiday fireplace… and maybe get yourself a sweet treat. And of course… don’t miss the AMAZING light displays around town!

Siuslaw River Bridge Interpretive Site Old Town Park (Gazebo Park) Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk Florence City Hall Habitat for Humanity ReStore 

https://www.ci.florence.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community/page/19291/pop_up_photo_ops.pdf 

The Florence Chamber is doing a holiday decor contest you can vote for you favorite:

https://florencechamber.com/event/home-for-the-holidays-holiday-decor-contest/

Circles in the sand - October 17, 2020

Circles in the sand will be in Florence on October 17, 2020.  It's a super fun event.

Learn more here on their website. 

Heceta Beach health advisory issued September 22

 The Oregon Health Authority issued a public health advisory today for higher than normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Heceta Beach in Lane County.

People should avoid direct contact with the water in this area until the advisory is lifted. Higher than normal levels of fecal bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. This applies especially to children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to illness from waterborne bacteria.

Increased pathogen and fecal bacteria levels in ocean waters can come from both shore and inland sources such as stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, failing septic systems, and animal waste from livestock, pets and wildlife.

While this advisory is in effect at Heceta Beach, visitors should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Even if there is no advisory in effect, officials recommend avoiding swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.

Although state officials advise against water contact, they continue to encourage other recreational activities (flying kites, picnicking, playing on the beach, walking, etc.) on this beach because they pose no health risk even during an advisory.

The status of water contact advisories at beaches is subject to change. For the most recent information on advisories, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website or call 971-673-0482, or 877-290-6767 (toll free).

Learn more here

We are ready to welcome you back.

If the novel Coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that we cannot take our safety for granted anymore.  Masks and in some cases, gloves have become a way of life. By all expert accounts, this could become the new normal. 

Perhaps you’ve been “quaranteaming” with family and/or friends, or maybe you’ve been going it alone. Either way, when restrictions ease and travel resumes, you’ll no doubt be ready for a getaway to your favorite place. 

Here’s the question to consider. Is your favorite place ready for you? 

Here at Whales Watch Vacation Rentals, we can answer that important with a resounding YES. We know exactly who has been in each property, what tasks they’ve performed and whether they’ve been wearing protective face coverings and following all updated guidelines (hint: they have). 

In the time of the novel Coronavirus, when few things make sense anymore, you can feel confident that your vacation rental accommodations are as safe as your own home for you and your quaranteam. 

Here are a few reasons why:

• Self check-in. All vacation rental accommodations are equipped with keypad or lock box entries. Prior to arrival, you’ll be given the code and on arrival day, simply show up to your home at check-in time and enjoy your much-deserved vacation. 
  
  

• Control over your space. You’re not at the mercy of a lobby, a common hallway or common amenities during your stay.. Everything in your vacation rental is for the exclusive use and enjoyment of you and your quaranteam only.
  
  

• No daily services. Housekeeping is performed prior to arrival and after your departure. No strangers coming into your space.
  
  

• Our housekeeping, inspection, and maintenance staff has followed a stringent set of guidelines that meet or exceed national, state and local recommendations. 

Come stay with Whales Watch Vacation Rentals, knowing that you’re safe and secure in one of our beautiful vacation rental homes. 

We can’t wait to see you again!

Cleaning during COVID-19

During our closure, we've taken this time to educate ourselves and our cleaners on cleaning during this pandemic.

We know there is heightened uncertainty around travel with the coronavirus (COVID-19), so we wanted to proactively share the steps we’ve taken to ensure your health and safety. While we always take the proper precautions and exercise rigorous cleaning protocols between each guest stay, we are sanitizing and disinfecting every property following guidelines laid out by the World Health Organization, CDC, and EPA.

We encourage you to review our comprehensive housekeeping procedures, an example of which can be found [cleaning list]. We know this is an unconventional time, but we hope our commitment to providing the most well-maintained and clean properties gives you more confidence.

If you would like to learn more about our approach to COVID-19 or general information about your stay, do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Stay safe. Stay healthy. We’ll see you SOON

COVID-19 has changed all of our lives in ways we couldn’t even imagine as little as 2 months ago.
There’s so much fear and uncertainty. We’re there with you.

The vacation rental industry has been impacted particularly hard by the virus. As soon as borders started
closing and stay-at-home orders were issued, our guests were forced to cancel their reservations. 

While of course, this has hit us hard in many ways, the most important message we want to convey is
that we’re still here and we’re not going anywhere. Our office doors may be closed, but our phone and
internet lines are open. Our business is open. 

Truth be told, we miss you. Remember, as vacation rental managers and owners, we CHOSE the
hospitality industry! We miss recommending our favorites restaurants and coffee shops. We miss
hearing your vacation stories and telling you a few of our own. We miss your kids and dogs. 

But right now, we’re all safer where we are. At home with our loved ones. Trying new recipes.
Recording TikTok videos. Staying connected on Facebook and FaceTime. Homeschooling and
telecommuting. Binge-watching Netflix. Washing our hands. Maybe (probably) going a little stir-crazy.

We know you’ll join us in giving thanks for all our selfless first-responders, from the doctors and nurses
in the ER to the grocery delivery drivers who keep us stocked. We owe each and every one a debt
of gratitude for their part in keeping the rest of us healthy. 

Again, please know that we are hunkered down and riding it out. Most importantly, we’re HERE.
We’re not giving up on our industry and more importantly, we’re not giving up on our guests, our owners,
and our friends. We will get through this. We’re made of sturdy stuff here on the Oregon Coast and when
it’s safe to travel again, we’ll be here to greet you.

In the meantime, please know this: This, too, shall pass. The borders will open back up. The day
will come when you can travel again. We will all see each other again. 

That’s the day that keeps us going. 

Stay safe. Stay healthy. We’ll see you SOON. 

Rhody Days Cancelled

Chamber Announces Cancellation Of 2020 Rhododendron Festival

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it is canceling the 113th Rhododendron Festival.

Chamber executive director Bettina Hannigan met Monday, March 30, via virtual meeting with the Chamber’s presidential team and Florence city manager Erin Reynolds to forward the recommendation to the Chamber’s board of directors to cancel the event. The board approved.

For perspective, this will be the first time since WWII that Rhody Fest has been canceled.

Read more online at the Siuslaw News ... https://thesiuslawnews.com/…/chamber-announces-cancellation…

Closed For April

We are not renting houses from March 24- April 30, 2020 to protect our community resources, the health of our housekeepers, homeowners and to follow the governors request of Stay home, Save Lives. You can make reservations for future dates. A few houses may be available during this time for 1 to 2 month stays for work or if you're moving here.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Readiness

Coronavirus COVID-19 Readiness

Like you, we're monitoring the latest news about the coronavirus.

As always, your vacation and safety are what matter to us. We have the following Policy in place for Reservations:

Reservations that may be modified without charges:

1. Any reservations in place that have guests who have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. or who may have been exposed.
2. Reservations with guests who are traveling from or through areas severely impacted by COVID-19. The WHO website (www.who.int) and the CDC website (www.cdc.gov) both have lists and other helpful information.
3. Any reservation that is impacted by official travel restrictions or have travel cancelled due to COVID-19.

We may require proof of reason for your modification.

Modifications that may be made:

Reservations that need to be cancelled due to COVID-19 will receive a future stay credit in the amount of their original reservation total. That credit can be used towards a future reservation in the same house for any available dates before April 30^th of 2021. If the new reservation total exceeds the credit amount, the guest will be responsible for paying the difference.

All reservation modifications are at the discretion of Whales Watch Vacation Rentals and will be considered on a case by case basis.

Cleaning Standards:

Our homes are cleaned and sanitized after each departure. Our cleaners are using approved disinfecting cleaners. In addition to the meticulous cleaning our houses normally undergo, our cleaners are paying additional attention to detail including, but not limited to light switches, lamps, cupboard handles, doorknobs, banisters, remotes, and thermostats.

Since bleach is the most effective method of eradicating COVID-19 we're providing each house with a spray bottle of bleach & water mixed to CDC recommendations – for use during your stay. In addition to all the other normal cleaning products we provide.