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NKN Homecoming Royalty Announced Page 2

North Coast

Citizen Serving North Tillamook County since 1996

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February 10, 2022

Volume 28, No. 3

Sowing Seeds Tillamook County weekly COVID-19 update Ashley Tike Staff Writer

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Lower Nehalem Community Trust announces time to register for the Community Garden S

unny weather this time of year is Mother Nature’s reminder that Spring is just around the corner and with that we can start thinking about the garden season.

Lower Nehalem Community Trust (LNCT) offers the perfect opportunity to grow your own food, whether a first-time or experienced gardener.

Registration to become a member of the Community Garden at Alder Creek Farm for the upcoming garden season is now open.

Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A non-refundable fee of $60/family will be used to cover purchases such as seed, soil amendments, and tools. Scholarships are available. Covid policies will be adjusted as

the community manages through the pandemic. To register, visit the LNCT website: https://www.nehalemtrust.org/alder-creekfarm/community-garden/.

This year marks the seventeenth season of garden operations at the farm. In 2005 LNCT established a community garden to increase the capacity of northern Tillamook County community members to grow healthy, affordable food using practices that are resource efficient and appropriate to our regional economy and ecology. We teach and use only organic processes to reinforce our connection to nature.

The Community Garden, a program of LNCT, is operated cooperatively by our 40+

members who grow, learn and share together as a team. Garden members are required to work a minimum of three hours a week or 100 hours during the season. They will share their organically-grown produce amongst themselves, as well as with the North County Food Bank, Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church Pantry and Senior Meals Program.

LNCT is a 501(c) (3) organization with a mission to preserve land and nurture conservation values in partnership with an engaged community in the Nehalem region of the Oregon coast. To learn more about LNCT’s work or the Community Garden program, contact Executive Director Ben Pittenger at ben@ nehalemtrust.org or (503) 368-3203.

Oregon Health Authority announces the end of indoor mask mandates coming soon State health officials are keeping mandates in place to stem the Omicron surge until March 31

ccording to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data, as of February 3, Tillamook County residents have hit 80.1% vaccinated. 17,131 people ages 18 years and older have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine out of the 21,375 in Tillamook’s population.

Feeling ill and need to get a COVID test? The federal government is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests. Order online at www.covidtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 for more information.

If you’d like to get your COVID shot visit the health department’s vaccine clinic at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursdays. Vaccines, pediatric vaccines, flu and pneumonia vaccines are also available.

Adventist Health Tillamook is providing vaccines from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays at the Tillamook Medical Plaza and Women’s and Family Health.

Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

Brown delivers final State of the State address Jeremy C. Ruark

Jeremy C. Ruark

O

jruark@countrymedia.net

regon will remove general mask requirements for indoor public places and schools no later than March 31, state health officials announced today.

The decision to impose mask requirements will then be left up to businesses to decide.

The Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) announcement follows news of stabilizing Omicron cases and overall COVID-19 cases plummeting by 40% over the past week across the state.

By late March, state health officials predict there will be 400 or fewer Oregonians hospitalized with COVID-19, a figure that hearkens back to the days before the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Additionally, state health data indicates COVID-19 hospitalizations have not topped the 1,178 high point of the Delta surge, despite projections that Omicron hospitalizations could double the

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number of patients hospitalized, according to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

State health officials say Oregon needs to keep mask requirements in place for now as COVID-19 hospitalizations crest and Oregon’s health care system strains to treat high numbers of severely ill patients.

Current models show hospitalizations peaking at 1,169 and then declining throughout February and March as infections slow, according to the OHA. However, health officials cautioned that the state’s emergence from the Omicron surge depends on Oregonians sustaining effective prevention measures in the coming weeks.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said, “We’re likely to see as many cases on the way down from the Omicron peak as we saw on the way up. That means we need to keep taking steps to prevent more hospitalizations and deaths.”

Despite this caution, according to data from OHSU, the average peak across the rest of the U.S. is more than a third higher per-capita than the 1,087 people currently hospitalized in Oregon.

“The way Oregon handled omicron is almost as good as you’re going to see,” Director of the OHSU Office of Advanced

Analytics Dr. Peter Graven, Ph.D., said. “Oregon pushed out booster shots, Oregonians modified their behavior early, before omicron fully arrived here, and we kept our masking rates relatively high compared with other states.

“Because of that, our surge was way lower than other places on a per-capita basis.”

State health officials said they would consider lifting the general indoor mask requirement earlier than March 31, if hospitalizations decline to the levels projected by the end of March sooner than expected.

Late afternoon Monday, Feb. 7, the OHA filed a new rule with the Oregon Secretary of State to require people to wear masks while indoors in public places.

The new rule replaces a temporary rule that expires on Feb. 8, said the OHA. Before the filing, the OHA invited public testimony at a public hearing on a proposed permanent mask rule. The Jan. 20 hearing attracted more than 300 attendees and lasted for six-anda-half hours, with more than 100 Oregonians testifying against the adoption of a permanent rule.

State health officials insist the filing was the only way the OHA could extend the current tempo-

rary mask rule past its expiration date, or until mask rules would no longer be needed to reduce transmission of COVID-19, saving lives and preventing the Omicron crisis from further overwhelming Oregon’s health care system.

Over the coming weeks, state health officials said they will work with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to ensure schools can continue operating safely and keep students in class once the school mask requirements are lifted.

The end-of-march date will also give schools the time to pivot in their COVID-19 mitigation strategies, according to the OHA. The state’s indoor mask mandate was first instituted shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, followed by a brief remittance period in June. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s Office reinstated the mandate on Aug. 27, 2021, which was scheduled to remain in place until Feb. 8, 2022.

In the meantime, health experts strongly recommend high-risk individuals continue wearing masks in indoor public settings after mask requirements are lifted, including people who are: • Unvaccinated • Immunocompromised • At high risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations, including those with underlying health conditions and those 65 and older • Living with people at high risk

jruark@countrymedia.net

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uring a passionate electronic address to the Oregon Legislature, Gov. Kate Brown said her legislative priorities for the short February session include helping working families by expanding workforce opportunities, affordable housing and child care.

Brown will leave office at the end of the year due to the state’s term limits.

She has served as governor since Feb. 2015.

“I stand here today at a pivotal moment for Oregon,” Brown said. “Since I took office seven years ago, the world has fundamentally changed. Oregon has undoubtedly faced some of the most challenging times in our state’s history.

However, even with all we’ve lost, we can see a path forward.”

During her final State of the State address on Thursday, Feb. 3, Brown said the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating, but Oregon’s economy is strong.

“In my last year as Governor, I view every day, every moment, as one more opportunity to focus on the big and bold work we still have to do for Oregon’s working families,” she said.

Brown outlined her $200 million Future Ready Oregon platform as a three-part effort dedicated to building a strong Oregon workforce by providing access to child care, “so that parents that work can go to work knowing that their kids are cared for,” she said.

Brown said her plan will surge an immediate $92 million to programs currently working, such as Constructing Hope, which helps Oregonians get back

n See BROWN, Page 2

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Democratic candidate Nick Kristof visits coast, remains hopeful to be on ballot Hilary Dorsey Country Media

Nicholas Kristof, Democratic candidate for governor, visited Lincoln City and surrounding areas last week, meeting with city officials and local government to get a sense of challenges and how his campaign will address them. Kristof, 62 years old, was a journalist for The New York Times for many years, moved back to Oregon and is running for governor.

In an announcement earlier this month, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced her office was rejecting Kristof’s bid to run for governor because he does not meet the state’s threeyear residency requirement.

Kristof grew up on his family’s sheep and cherry farm outside Yamhill. In Yamhill schools, he discov-

ered a love for journalism, reporting in the county for the News-Register in McMinnville and later interning at the Statesman Journal and The Oregonian. After college and graduate school, he worked at The New York Times, winning two Pulitzer Prizes.

Kristof would visit Lincoln City ever since he was a kid. He raised his kids driving back to the area. It is a place that is special to his family.

Kristof said he decided to run for governor because he wants to fix the problems around Oregon, including homelessness, house affordability, better education from preschool to higher education, and a lack of medical health services. He said he saw devastation in his hometown of Yamhill when good jobs left and opportu-

nity declined. He sees this parallel between Yamhill and the coast. He wants to make sure other kids have the opportunities he had.

“I’m doing a tour of the North Coast,” Kristof said of visiting Lincoln City. “We started in Astoria, visited Warrenton, Manzanita.

We’ve been stopping place after place.”

After stopping by The News Guard office, Kristof was planning to meet with Mayor Susan Wahlke and State Rep. David Gomberg.

Kristof said he is trying to get a sense of some of the challenges on the coast and how to address them. One of the major challenges he has seen so far is the need for more workforce housing, which can lead to homelessness.

“It’s a problem along the coast,” Kristof said.

Kristof said child care is another issue he would focus on, as well as affordable housing, addiction treatment and mental health services.

Through his experience writing for The New York Times, Kristof said he has experience standing up for people who have been left behind.

“Too often, state government doesn’t listen,” Kristof said. “We need a governor who can offer a vision for Oregon. I think we need some fresh blood and a new perspective.”

The Supreme Court has taken Kristof’s case for running for governor. He said he appreciates their acknowledgment. The final brief was due Wednesday, Jan. 26. Kristof hopes to hear a decision on whether he can run by early February. He remains confident that he will

be on the ballot in May. To learn more about Kristof’s campaign, visit https:// www.nickfororegon.com/

about Send comments to: newsguardeditor@countrymedia. net

same plant species. So honey bees will only go to one plant species on a single trip. They may go to fifty or a hundred plants but they will all be bachelor buttons or wild roses

or squash blossoms or apples or plums. The pollen collects on their body hairs and is brushed by the bees onto their

a home and more than half of those people are living unsheltered.

“In every tent you see – in a city park, under a highway overpass, along a river – is a person – a person who deserves a warm, safe, dry place to call home,” she said.

Brown also said the state must address the intersection of housing and health needs.

“Expanding access to behavioral health services and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery is critical,” she said.

While she is encouraged by the advancements Oregon has made to address climate change, more must be done the governor said.

“Climate change is a ham-

mer hitting us in the head,” she said. “We must act now, decisively, to lower carbon emissions, transition to clean energy sources, and ensure a just transition for our historically-underserved communities.”

Brown ended her speech with a passionate plea to those that will follow.

“Find the opportunity, even in times of crisis. Especially, in times of crisis,” she said.

“That’s how we continue on this journey of transformational change for Oregon.

That’s how we pursue justice.

That’s how we heal divides and collaborate in ways that serve our state. That’s how we honor this beautiful place we call home.”

Tillamook Beekeepers Association announce 5th Annual Beehive Raffle For the 5th straight year, the Tillamook Beekeepers Association has raffled off beautifully handcrafted beehives to help raise funds to help save the Tillamook honey bee.

Sadly, the honey bees have had another hard winter and it looks like upwards of 40% of the honey bee colonies in our region have died off. Bees are essential to human survival as 1/3 of every bite we humans consume is dependent on bees pollinating grains, fruits and

Claire Moody

TBA Education Director

In the February 1st edition of the Headlight Herald, Carla Albright had a Garden Matters column on planting for pollinators. I decided to continue that discussion but from the honey bee perspective.

You probably know that about one third of the foods we eat

vegetables. The funds raised by raffling off these hives will be a great boon to the honey bees and have indeed helped save the honey bees thus far, but more is needed.

Last year, the Tillamook Beekeepers Association donated $2,500 worth of bee friendly flowering trees to the cities of Tillamook and Manzanita. This year, plans are already in place to continue with this tree planting project. One bee friendly flowering tree is

worth an acre of flowers to the honey bee. Additionally, $1,000 was donated in 2021 to the Oregon State University Bee Lab to assist in research projects designed to help save the bee.

This year’s raffle hive depicting Cape Meares Lighthouse was designed and handcrafted by new beekeepers Patsy and Chris Weber of Twin Rocks.

Tickets are on sale for $5 each or a bundle of 5 for $20

The Buzz about Bees require pollination but did you know that those pollinated fruits, vegetables and grains generate 90% of the nutrients we need? We would be in sad, unhealthy shape without pollinators.

There are over six hundred different kinds of bees just in Oregon! All but the honey bee are referred to as “solitary bees”. That’s because for

those species only the queen lives through the winter.

Those bees don’t need lots of pollen or honey. Mason bees are actually better pollinators than honey bees but they are around only from March until June and they don’t fly farther than about five hundred feet.

So that leaves us with the hard-working honey bees.

Honey bees forage for pol-

Neah-Kah-Nie High School Homecoming Royalty announced

at www.tillamookbeekeepers. org. A 2nd place prize of a $100 gift certificate for the TCCA Farm Store is part of this raffle. Must be 18 years of age to participate (proof must be shown at drawing).

Must be a resident of Oregon to participate (proof must be shown at drawing). The drawing will take place at the 2022 Headlight Herald Home and Garden show on Sunday May 1st to be held at the County Fair Grounds.

len, nectar, water and propolis.

We’ll just talk about pollen today. Pollen is the bee’s protein, amino acids, lipids, micronutrients, enzymes and on and on. (FYI: honey provides their carbs.) Remember that a colony is made up of one queen, 15% drones which are all males, and tens of thousands of workers, all female. From the age of six days to eleven days all worker bees become nurse bees. They are the only bees that need protein but they must have it in order to make royal or worker jelly which is the only thing very young larva can eat. No protein? No royal or worker jelly. No new honey bees. Colony dies.

Flowers attract bees by their color and pattern but more than that by their scent.

Honey bees smell through their antennae and have a 50% stronger sense of smell than the average dog! Honey bees are “flower faithful”.

Nature knows that to produce flower seeds the male pollen of a plant needs to be attached to the female stamens of the

n See BUZZ, Next page

Neah-Kah-Nie High School crowned their homecoming royalty January 29th at the boy’s basketball game against Nestucca High. Neah-Kah-Nie High won the game with a final score of 59-33. (left) homecoming queen, senior Rylee Stinnett and king Deryk Rachiele. Runner ups: (left) freshman, Krista Bozley and freshman Josh Hopkins Photos courtesy of Norm Maves

n Brown Continued from Page 1 on their feet with no-cost construction training and career advancement. Innovation will be boosted through flexible grants to community-based organizations and industries supporting technical and health care training, she said.

Brown’s plan includes $100 million to expand child care access and an additional $400 million investment in affordable housing.

According to Brown, in Oregon on any given night there more than 15,000 people who remain without

Manzanita, Oregon n North Coast Citizen n February 10, 2021 n 3

www.NorthCoastCitizen.com

Maine Event to benefit NCLC and Friends of Haystack Rock Come visit the Seaside Aquarium on Sunday, Feb. 27, and take part in celebrating the local legacy of Neal and Neal’s late wife, Karen Maine.

The aquarium introduced The Maine Event last year as a way to honor the Maines— who spearheaded marine awareness and conservation along the northern Oregon Coast and beyond—and fundraise for causes close to their heart. The Maines have inspired countless educational programs, such as Sea Week and the Beach and Estuary Discovery Program.

Most notably, Karen was responsible for what is now the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP), while Neal is credited for co-founding North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC).

All funds raised from admissions to the aquarium during The Maine Event will be split and donated to NCLC and Friends of Haystack Rock Creating HRAP to protect marine life It all started with a camera and an aquarium. Neal, an avid photographer and former Seaside High School teacher, was photographing intertidal animals found in the tide pools surrounding Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. Karen noticed how interested people were in what Neal was doing and the marine life involved.

It was then that Karen had a thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if there were volunteers down at the beach introducing and educating people about marine life?”

With that thought, the Puffin Club was formed.

This volunteer group would

go down to Haystack Rock during the lowest tides of the year to educate and show off the abundant marine life surrounding the site, including the visiting seabirds, which return every year to nest and raise their young.

While the Puffin Club loved interacting and educating the public, visitation to Cannon Beach continued to increase, taking a toll on the small, fragile marine environment that happened to be right in the heart of Cannon Beach. Haystack Rock was being “loved to death” and it was clear that this highly trafficked area needed some protection.

In 1968, Haystack Rock became part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This prohibited all public entry to the area above the high-tide line, but it did nothing to help preserve and protect the intertidal life surrounding Haystack Rock.

The success and influence of the Puffin Club inspired the City of Cannon Beach to create the Haystack Rock Awareness Program, and in 1991, Haystack Rock was designated as one of seven protected Oregon Marine Gardens on the Oregon Coast.

To this day, not only does the intertidal life surrounding Haystack Rock continue to thrive, but the program also has inspired generations of marine scientists and conservationists, along with inspiring countless other marine educational and conservation programs.

Establishing a local land trust 1991 was a big year for the Maines. Karen’s vision came into being, and Neal’s

was just beginning to.

North Coast Land Conservancy was created in 1986, centered on the concept of approaching conservation cooperatively rather than confrontationally. The idea was to engage the whole community to do what was best for people, plants and wildlife. In 1991, the land conservancy completed a successful land swap that conserved a 15-acre parcel of private timberland adjacent to Saddle Mountain State Park, a park known for its rare plant species. This was the first biodiversity-based conservation proposal that state and federal agencies involved in the negotiations had ever seen. Since then, NCLC has conserved thousands of acres of land in Clatsop, Tillamook and Lincoln counties, mainly by acquiring land outright or by acquiring conservation easements on private land. They also have helped transfer hundreds of acres of land to public ownership.

Taking care of wildlife So, what does this have to do with the Seaside Aquarium?

As many of you may know, the Seaside Aquarium has a long, rich history. Established in 1937, many people have participated in the aquarium’s success over the years, but few have dedicated as much time, energy and love as Neal Maine. Neal’s dedication to the Seaside Aquarium, the community and nature is inspirational.

He was involved with the aquarium for many years when he decided to join the board of directors in 1995.

He joined the board in hopes of helping the aquarium expand their educational out-

reach and get more involved in both the community and the scientific world.

Neal spearheaded the beginning of what is now the Northern Oregon/Southern Washington Marine Mammal Stranding Network, a successful partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Portland State University and the Seaside Aquarium.

In 1995, he brought an idea to the board asking them to participate in what he called the Seaside Beach and Necanicum Estuary Discovery Program.

This program was designed to be a free tool for both locals and visitors to discover and learn about the local beach and estuary environments. The goal was to get people to view their recreational sites in a slightly different way: as a living breathing ecosystem. While

the program has evolved over the years, the mission is still the same.

After 25 years of dedication, Neal thought it was time for someone else to take the reins, and he resigned from the board of directors in early 2020. His time on the board will never be forgotten and he will be missed greatly.

So how do you thank a guy who means the world to you? And what do you give a man who gives back so much to the community? You do the same. The Seaside Aquarium has decided to do a yearly fundraiser, “The Maine Event.” All the admissions collected on the last Sunday in February will go to an organization or organizations of Maine’s choosing.

Long story short: Help us celebrate these two amazing beings and show your support for the programs they started. We hope to see you

all at our “Maine Event.”

Not able to attend but still want to support? Simply send a check made out to the Seaside Aquarium with a note indicating that it is for the Maine Event. Seaside Aquarium, 200 N. Prom Seaside, Oregon 97138.

At a glance Who: Seaside Aquarium What: Maine Event (2nd Annual) When: February 27, 2022, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (This is an annual event that occurs on the last Sunday of February) Why: Fundraiser for the Friends of Haystack Rock and the North Coast Land Conservancy All admission proceeds for the day will be split and donated to the two non-profits which Karen, Neal’s late wife and Neal Maine are credited to have inspired.

$25 M awarded for Oregon wave energy testing Oregon may soon become a leader in using the power of waves to generate new energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $25 million to eight groups for the testing of wave energy technologies at Oregon State University’s PacWave South facility off the central Oregon coast near Newport.

Construction began in June 2021 on the approximately $80 million facility, to be located about seven miles offshore. When completed, PacWave South will be the first commercial-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in the United States. It is expected to be operational in 2023, and grid-connected testing is anticipated to begin the following year.

“The DOE’s announcement represents an exciting new development in the pursuit of producing renewable energy from ocean waves,” said Oregon State’s Burke Hales, PacWave’s chief scientist and a professor in the OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. “This commitment to in-water testing at the PacWave site is the bridge from conceptual or scaleddown designs to operational power production in the fully energetic open ocean.

It also shows the agency’s long-term commitment to the completion and operation of the PacWave test facility.”

How it will work The funded projects

n Buzz Continued from Page 2 hind legs into what are called pollen baskets. A bee can carry pollen up to 35% of its own bodyweight.

Spring pollens that honey bees love include pussy willows, alders, skunk cabbage, dandelions, mustard, fruit trees and maples to name a few. In the summer they have the berries and vegetables.

But bees need pollen throughout the warm parts of the year. Sometimes especially after the spring flowering trees are done, beekeepers

Project history The Department of Energy and Oregon State entered into a partnership in 2016 to build the PacWave South facility for exploring how to harness the carbonfree wave energy created from wind blowing over the surface of the sea. PacWave South, prepermitted by the DOE, is designed to alleviate the challenges associated with testing technologies in the open ocean.

“PacWave in Oregon is at the forefront of wave

energy, thanks in large part to the visionary researchers at Oregon State University,” U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said.

“This federal investment of $25 million will allow innovative technologies from across the country, including one from Portland State University, to be tested right here in Oregon, bringing us closer to realizing the potential of this tremendous resource.”

The University of Washington, which is receiving $1.3 million, is the other university among the funding recipients.

The remaining six groups are CalWave Power Technologies Inc. of Oakland; Columbia Power Technologies Inc. of Charlottesville, Virginia; Dehlsen Associates, LLC, of Santa Barbara; Oscilla Power Inc. of Seattle; Integral Consulting of Seattle; and Littoral Power Systems, Inc., of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

“It has been impressive to see how far the industry has come in the last decade or so thanks to investments from DOE and support from the state and other entities,” said

have to feed their honey bees “pollen patties” to ensure that the colony keeps growing.

It’s easy to imagine bees pollinating flowering trees and plants but it surprised me a little to realize that they pollinate carrots, broccoli, onions and all kinds of grains and root vegetables. We don’t ordinarily see the flowers of a carrot or onion plant but think about it. That package of vegetable seeds you buy in the store in the spring only happen because pollinators pollinated flowering carrots and onions, etc. somewhere, maybe in Madras or eastern Oregon.

The largest use of honey bees happens in California

and it’s happening right now. Over a million (yes, a million!) hives are put on semi-trailers from all over the country and transported to California for three weeks to pollinate the almonds. No honey bees? No almonds.

Commercial beekeepers had to “wake up” their honey bees in December by feeding them pollen patties so the colony would grow bigger and bigger and be ready for the almonds in February. They didn’t exactly wake them up because bees don’t go to sleep or go dormant. But the queen doesn’t ordinarily lay eggs in winter. She waits for the pollen to come in which is what happens when the com-

will focus on wave energy converter designs for use in geographically remote areas or on small grids; converter designs that can be either connected to or disconnected from the grid; and research and development related to environmental monitoring, instrumentation systems that operators use to control wave energy converters, and other technologies.

Portland State University, with a $4.5 million award, is among the funding recipients.

“Wave energy is an essential piece of the strategy to combat the climate crisis, and I’m gratified that Oregon State University, Portland State University and our state will play a central role in developing this energy source to its full potential,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said.

“I look forward very much to what the innovative minds at both OSU and PSU as well as elsewhere develop with these projects that put our country on the path to a clean energy future.”

Tuba Ozkan-Haller, acting dean and professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Full-scale testing at PacWave is sure to accelerate development even more, assuring that wave energy conversion devices are effective and efficient at harnessing the power of Oregon’s majestic waves with minimal adverse environmental impacts.”

Steve Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing.

He may be reached at steve. lundeberg@oregonstate.edu

!

Fulltime Position

Director of Human Resources $62,414-$70,248/annual $31.33-$35.26 per hour

Excellent Benefits

(Full employer paid PERS) Contact Pat Ryan (503) 842-8222, ext.1022 patryan@tillamookbaycc.edu Details and application packet available at:

https://tillamookbaycc.edu/about-tbcc/human-resources/

TBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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ATTENTION ALL NE AH-KAH-NIE GRADUATES mercial beekeepers or anyone feeds a colony pollen.

So the next time you eat an apple or cherry or almond or carrot, thank a bee!

You will truly enjoy seeing the annuals, perennials, herbs, trees that honey bees love.

Go to the website to the section called foraging and you will find pictures and growing instructions for honey bee favorites.

For interesting information about honey bees check out the Tillamook Beekeepers Association website: www.tillamookbeekeepers.org. Claire Moody is education director for the association and can be reached at clairemoody503@ gmail.com.

The Neah-Kah-Nie District #56 Graduate Scholarship Committee will be awarding up to $20,000 in scholarships this coming May. Any graduate of Neah-Kah-Nie High School from 1954 forward who wishes to pursue advanced academic, vocational or technical education can apply.

Applications may be obtained at the Neah-Kah-Nie High School Office, by contacting Guidance Counselor Esther Troyer at esthert@nknsd.org, or by going online to sites.google.com/view/ nkngraduatescholarships/home

Application deadline is April 1st, 2022

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Steve Lundeberg Guest Article

4 n February 10, 2021

B

e sure to mark your calendar for the city Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, February 9th at 6:00 p.m. to share ideas for the 2022 Garibaldi Days celebration. We are looking for volunteers to head up and coordinate the various aspects of the event, such as crowd control, parade, entertainment, and vendor booths. Come with some ideas that worked well in the past and things you would like to see. If there are people out there who would like to get involved, don’t be shy! There are many newcomers that may want to get

4 Opinion

n North Coast Citizen n Manzanita, Oregon

involved as well as seasoned residents with a vast amount of experience. It is important to preserve some of our traditions and tell the story of why this event began as well as form some new traditions that will serve this town as we move into the future.

The Food Pantry behind God’s Lighthouse will be open this Friday, February 11th, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. It is located on the NW corner of Highway 101 and 8th Street in Garibaldi, kitty-corner (yes, that word is in the dictionary!) from the Garibaldi Bay Market.

This pantry is open for

www.NorthCoastCitizen.com

OPINION

residents from Rockaway to Idaville. If you have not been here before, you are welcome to check it out.

There’s a wide variety of items available should you have special dietary needs or food allergies. Hopefully, I will be able to print off

Citizen

recipe ideas for the items that we receive so you can try something new! Please be sure to arrive in plenty of time as we close at noon.

Next Monday is officially Valentine’s Day, and it’s a day to share some extra love. Be sure to mail your cards early so they will arrive on time! While some people balk at the commercialization of designated holidays, I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a reminder to all those busy people (it’s going to be mid-February already!) to stop a take a moment to acknowledge a special person in your life.

It can be a relative, friend, neighbor, anyone who has touched your life. It doesn’t have to be anything costly or extravagant: like a note to tell someone how much they mean to you or even some homemade cookies (if you have a tough time expressing your feelings with words), just a genuine effort. Wouldn’t it be nice to focus on spreading some good cheer for at least ONE day? One day out of the 365.

Show someone you care.

What a world this would be to share the spirit of Valentine’s Day every day.

With the Crab races com-

ing in a few short weeks, March 12th and 13th, please contact me if you are able to volunteer. I know there are people who have never witnessed the craziness and you’d get a front row seat to the event! I will be attempting to contact some of our veteran volunteers, so I am giving you a heads up. Lots of positions are still available, and thanks to the people who have already contacted me.

Take care of each other and share some love! It takes a village, even a small fishing village.

Letters and Columns

North Coast

Serving North Tillamook County since 1996 Publisher Joe Warren Reporter Hilary Dorsey, email headlightreporter@countrymedia.net Sales Katherine Mace, email headlightads@countrymedia.net Ad Production Stephania Baumgart PHONE 503-842-7535 • FAX 503-842-8842 EMAIL editor@northcoastcitizen.com WEBSITE northcoastcitizen.com The North Coast Citizen (15503909) is published biweekly by Country Media, Inc. 1906 Second Street, P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141 SUBSCRIPTION RATES $50.00 annually in county; $67.00 out of county. $50.00 for online only.

Periodicals Postage paid at Tillamook, OR. POSTMASTER Send address changes to P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141 Member Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) © 2022 by the North Coast Citizen. All rights reserved.

Yep, we did that together The front-page story of the Headlight Herald January 25,2022 issue read “Tillamook Bay South Jetty funding request of $62M approved.”

The second paragraph states: “The funding comes from the $22.81 billion in supplemental funding provided in two recently enacted laws (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and 2022 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act) … This is a triumphant success for Tillamook County and for the state Oregon.”

The article explains the histories of the North and South Jetties, stating that in order for the jetties to provide a safe

LETTER POLICY The Citizen welcomes letters that express readers’ opinions on current topics. Letters may be submitted by email only, no longer than 300 words, and must be signed and include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number for verification of the writer’s identity. We will print the writer’s name and town of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published.

Letters are published in the order received and may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, punctuation or clarity. We do not publish group emails, open letters, form letters, third-party letters, letters attacking private individuals or businesses, or letters containing advertising.

Deadline for letters is noon Thursdays.

The date of publication will depend on space.

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passage for boats the jetties must be lined up. The North Jetty was repaired in 2009 but the South Jetty was not and has deteriorated, which results in a deadly combination of waves and currents.

These hazardous conditions have caused deaths and injuries over the years. The article interviewed a retired Coast Guard veteran who said he knows some “very tough fishermen” who will not cross the bar because it is so dangerous.

The dangers affect fishermen, recreational and commercial. The article states that the risk has stopped commercial fishermen from delivering their product to the Port of Garibaldi. Creating a safe passage between the jetties will result in more jobs and positive economic impact for Garibaldi and

the surrounding area.

On March 31, 2021, President Joe Biden unveiled his $2.3 trillion Infrastructure and American Jobs Plan. After many negotiations, President Biden signed the bipartisan bill which provided funds for many projects and jobs, one of them being improvement of the South Jetty.

I am a life-long Democrat because it is my belief that we are all Americans, and that the welfare of all of us must be our goal. I am proud of our Democratic president who got the ball rolling on this important bill that eventually passed with bipartisan votes. Yes, progress can be a reality if we work together for the welfare of all.

I want to join with others to help all Americans experience a “safer passage” through life’s

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Detailsand andapplication application packet packet available Details availableat: at: Human Resources - TillamookBay BayCommunity Community College Human Resources - Tillamook College(tillamookbaycc.edu) (tillamookbaycc.edu)

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turbulent waters. I have been very fortunate in my life. I am not wealthy but I have enough.

My vision of The American Dream is not one where we all live a life of luxury, but one where everyone has at least enough to live life with dignity.

We all want to live a life with dignity, don’t we?

Repair of the South Jetty will create a “safe passage” in and out of the Port of Garibaldi.

In the future when you go between the jetties and are not praying for your life, or you see commercial fishing boats bring their catch into the Port, remember that it is a result of Americans working together for the good of all.

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Public Notice

ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ZOA-21-01 NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Date of Notice: February 8, 2022 Date and Time of Hearing: March 3, 2022, 7:00 PM Hearing Location: Tillamook City Hall 210 Laurel Avenue Tillamook, OR 97141 Notice is hereby given that the Tillamook Planning Commission is considering proposed amendments to the text of Title XV, Land Usage, Chapter 153, Zoning Codes, §153.011 of the City Code of Ordinances.

The proposed amendment would remove reference to off-street parking and design standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Subsection 153.011(1)(E) (4-5), in accordance with ORS 197.312 as amended by SB 1051 (2017) and HB 2001 (2019).

Applicable criteria may be found in Tillamook City Code of Ordinances, Title XV, §153.071.

This notice of the proposal is being posted at Tillamook City Hall, Tillamook County Courthouse, and Tillamook Library and mailed to other appropriate agencies at least 20 days prior to the public hearing.

Written testimony by letter or email received by the Tillamook Planning Department prior to 4:00p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, will become part of the record and be considered in rendering a decision. Oral testimony will also be accepted at the meeting. Comments should

address the criteria upon which the Planning Commission must base its decision. A decision will be rendered no sooner than March 3, 2022.

Failure to raise an issue in person or by letter precludes appeal and failure to specify to which criterion the comment is directed precludes appeal based on that criterion.

A copy of the proposal and the applicable criteria for review are available for inspection at the City of Tillamook Planning Department located at City Hall: 210 Laurel Avenue, Tillamook, Oregon 97141.

If you have any questions about this application, please contact the Tillamook Planning Department at 503-374-1836 or todonnell@ tillamookor.gov.

Sincerely, Tillamook Planning Department NCC22-03

PARTITION P-22-01 NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW Date of Notice: February 8, 2022 Date and Time of Hearing: March 3, 2022, 7:00 PM Hearing Location: Tillamook City Hall 210 Laurel Avenue Tillamook, OR 97141 Notice is hereby given that the Tillamook Planning Commission is considering the following proposed partition: • Applicant: Jann Dickerson • Location: 4014 12th St; AKA, Parcel 1 of Partition Plat 1995-35, Taxlot 1S9W29CD2400. This property is located in the Urban Growth Boundary and outside the City Limits of

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the City of Tillamook.

• Proposed Action: Partition of parcel into 3 parcels.

• Applicable Criteria: Certain subsections of Tillamook City Code of Ordinances, Title XV, §153.003, §153.013, §153.051, §153.055, and §153.072.

This notice of the proposal and a map of the subject area are being mailed to all affected property owners and other appropriate agencies at least 20 days prior to the public hearing.

Written comments received by the Tillamook Planning Department prior to 4:00p.m. on February 23, 2022, will be considered in rendering a decision. Oral comments will also be accepted at the meeting. Comments should address the criteria upon which the Planning Commission must base its decision. A decision will be rendered no sooner than March 3, 2022.

Failure to raise an issue in person or by letter precludes appeal and failure to specify to which criterion the comment is directed precludes appeal based on that criterion.

A copy of the application, along with a map of the request area and the applicable criteria for review are available for inspection at the City of Tillamook Planning Department located at City Hall: 210 Laurel Avenue, Tillamook, Oregon 97141.

If you have any questions about this application, please contact the Tillamook Planning Department at 503374-1836 or mcarpenter@ tillamookor.gov.

Sincerely, Tillamook Planning Department

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General Northwest Hardwoods Overview: Northwest Hardwoods is the Laborer leading manufacturer of hardwood lumber in North America, as well as Northwest Inc.supplier of wood products, NWH serves the furniture, a leading supplier of panel products from around the world. A Hardwoods fully integrated, global flooring, cabinet, molding, and millwork industries.

Location: Garibaldi, OR Position Summary: We are in search of an energetic Office Specialist to join our finance organization.

This dynamic position provides financial and administrative support to the manufacturing operations team as well as serving as an human Background: Northwest Hardwoods is a world class, Integrated, global supplier of wood products to resources administrator supporting the hourly employees at this site. theKey furniture, cabinet, molding, and millwork industries. We serve the industrial market segment Responsibilities and Duties: worldwide.

We are for aacandidate whoreports is a team player a can-do attitude enjoyssoftware • General computer skillssearching including compiling diverse set of daily and preparing datawith reconciliations using Excel and who other business a challenge. a full-time opportunity working forin aourworld class hardwood lumber manufacturer.

• OnboardingThis of newisemployees and assisting them with their setup HR system • Coordinating with employee staffing agencies and organizing hourly employee interviews • Assist employees with various systems and answer basic employment and benefit questions General Responsibilities: • Review and approve Bi-Weekly payroll reports that summarize timesheet activity • Setup •and maintain log purchase contracts in the log accounting system NWH safety rules Work safely - know, understand, and follow • Reconcile log load tickets with data imports Handling, sorting, and stackingtransfers, of lumber dimension, species and grade.

• Record•log inventory transactions (e.g., consumption, sales,by adjustments) Safely maintain flow of the product.

• Process• vendor invoices for payment by centralized Accounts Payable • Prepare• outgoing packages delivery and process deliveredcleaning mail Utilize handfortools / wheel barrows up sawmill debris.

• Document management office organization • storage Operate mobile&equipment.

• Data entry and report distribution • Ability to make decisions quickly utilizing hand eye hand foot coordination.

• Answer phones, direct calls, take messages, greet visitors • Cross training in other • Provide administrative and financial supportpositions. to the site manager Basic Qualifications: • Must have legal authorization to work in the US on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer Qualifications: • Education: School Equivalent have a positive attitude and work well in a team • High Must beDiploma safetyorconscious, • Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook environment.

• Excellent verbal, written and listening skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment • Must have excellent attendance • Superior organization skills with strong attention to detail High school or GEDtime equivalent.

• Ability•to shift priorities and manage effectively, completing a variety of work with changing deadlines accurately and on time • Work at a fast pace and beand detail oriented.

• Ability to handle highly confidential information perform non-routine duties with discretion and independent judgment • Pre-employment drug-screen & background check required.

• Excellent attendance record and ability to be a self-starter Preferred Qualifications: • Candidates must be able to lift 50+ pounds.

• Experience withrequires HR information systemsprotective equipment be worn.

• dealing Always personal • Experience working in a manufacturing environment • Experience in log accounting systems • Education: Some college or an associate degree Candidate meet these qualifications will be considered Youbenefits can apply person atdental, the and Additionalwho Information: Northwest Hardwoods provides competitive wages,further. comprehensive packageinwith medical, healthS.care coverage,Street paid vacation/holidays, company matching 401(k) retirement plan.letter Candidates Millvision at 202 Seventh in Garibaldi and or submit your resume and cover by who mailmeet to these qualifications will be considered further. c/o Roby Lane, PO 217, Garibaldi, OR 97118.

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Church Services by the Sea FREE online access

Apply in person at the Mill at 202 S. Seventh Street in Garibaldi This is a good fit for applicants with gaps in their resume, who letter have been out of or submit your resume andor cover by mail tothe workforce for the past 6 months or more.

If you are someone just entering the workforce or returning to the Northwest Hardwoods, c/o Roby Lane, PO 217, Garibaldi, OR 97118. workforce with limited experience and education this job may be a good fit for you.

Northwest Hardwoods, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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Northwest Hardwoods provides a competitive compensation program with a profit-sharing plan.

Our comprehensive benefit package includes medical, dental, prescription and vision care coverage. Pre-tax Health Savings Account and 401(K) Retirement Plan with company match.

Nehalem

Cannon Beach to Nehalem

Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church 36050 10th Street • PO Box 156 Nehalem 97131-0156 503-368-5612 nehalembayumc@gmail.com The Reverend Steve Wolff Worship Service: Sunday 11:00 Adult Sunday School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday

Nehalem Senior Lunches: Noon Tuesday & Thursday Nursery Available ADA Accessible

To feature your spiritual organization on this panel:

Contact Katherine at (503) 842-7535, headlightads@countrymedia.net.

Manzanita

Calvary Bible Church 560 Laneda Avenue, PO Box 308 Manzanita, OR 503-368-5202 calvarymanzanita@gmail.com Pastor Ryan Holloway Worship Service: 9:00 A.M. Sunday Nursery Available ADA Accessible

6 n February 10, 2021

6 CLASSIFIEDS

n North Coast Citizen n Manzanita, Oregon

www.NorthCoastCitizen.com

TILLAMOOK COUNTY WELLNESS

Benefits of exploring outdoors ­‑ Yes, even in the winter I

t’s official – 6 more weeks of winter. Or at least that’s what Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, concluded when he saw his shadow on February 2nd. The good news is that we have reached the point in the year where the days are starting to get a little bit longer. In fact, between now and daylight savings on March 13th we will have gained over an hour and a half of additional daylight!

And yet, we are still in the midst of winter weather – rain, wind, ice, fog, and maybe the occasional snowflake. It can be difficult to find any excitement in stepping outside to chilly air and sprinkling raindrops, but building a little bit of movement and physical activity into each day can have profound effects on how we feel. Physical activity not only improves balance and

helps strengthen bones, but it also releases chemicals in your brain that boost mood, self-esteem, and concentration.

So what can you do to stay active during winter weather?

We’ve collected a few tips below: 1. Gather Waterproof Gear You don’t need super-fancy items, but a waterproof jacket can make a world of difference when the rain is coming down. It’s also important to have a few comfortable layers of clothing that can be easily added or removed as the temperature fluctuates. (It’s worth noting that cotton traps moisture once it’s wet, either with sweat or rain, and this will actually make you feel colder if you’re using it as your base layer. Check your tags for a lightweight polyester, wool, or polypropylene item to wear closest to your skin).

2. Monitor the Weather

(and plan ahead!)

Weather forecasts are often available a few days in advance, and a quick glance on your phone will usually give you a decent idea of which day might be warmer or when there might be a break in the rain during a drizzling afternoon.

3. Start Simple A stroll around your neighborhood or a quick walk through a park or along the beach is a great way to stretch out after a long day. You might try decompressing by listening to music, a podcast, or calling a loved one while you walk. For ideas on places to get moving, visit https:// tillamookcountywellness.org/ move-well/great-places-toget-moving/ 4. Notice the Nature There’s something about stepping outside during a break in the clouds and being able to smell the rainstorm

that has just ended. It’s amazing how taking a moment to appreciate the world around you can lift your mood.

5. Then Try Something New! There are endless hikes and trails to explore in Tillamook County, you can visit https:// tillamookcoast.com/recreation-map/ for inspiration in finding a new place to explore. Or try your hand at clamming or crabbing on the coast - just make sure to get a shellfish license and check local regulations here: https:// myodfw.com/crabbing-clamming Without a doubt, there will be days where the weather is just too miserable to enjoy. These might be better moments to enjoy a hot cup of tea and watch the rain fall. If you are still hoping to move a bit, there are plenty of options: 1. Try an online workout

(the YMCA has class recordings or you can find videos on YouTube) 2. Finish those household chores (vacuuming counts as both cleaning and exercise -a win-win situation) 3. Blast music and dance (because we all need this occasionally) And before we know it, spring will be just around the

corner :) Other wellness questions?

Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www. tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.

Oregon legislators propose big boost in their pay – and they have some community support COLE SINANIAN AND LES ZAITZ

Oregon legislators would get a significant pay increase and qualify for $1,000 a month for child care under a proposal supported by minority advocates, a leading state union and a Portland business

group as a way to increase diversity in the Oregon Legislature.

Under provisions of Senate Bill 1566, the base annual salary for a legislator would go from $32,839 to about $57,000. They also would still get $151 a day for expenses

when the Legislature is in session and maintain access to their campaign money for other costs.

The pay increase would take effect in January 2023 and would apply to the 30 senators and 60 representatives.

Headlight Herald

The salary would be tied to Oregon’s mean wage. That was calculated by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 to be $56,880.

A similar proposal last year that provided for a salary about $3,000 less would have cost an estimated $4 million

Sat. April 30 & Sun. May 1, 2022

Saturday 9 am to 4 pm Sunday 11 am to 4 pm at the

Tillamook County Fairgrounds Free parking Free admission

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Saturday, April 7 10 am to 5 pm

Sunday, April 8 11 am to 4 pm

FREE ADMISSION at Tillamook County Fairgrounds

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Citizen North Coast

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over 18 months, according to a legislative fiscal study.

That died in the 2021 Legislature, but the Senate Rules Committee considered the new proposal at a hearing Feb. 3.

Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, a municipal prosecutor, is one of the chief sponsors. He said at the hearing that the low pay deters Oregonians from serving in the Legislature. He urged the new salary be approved.

“It will basically ensure a living wage for legislators,” Prozanski said.

He said the current pay serves to encourage only those with personal wealth or with multiple jobs to run for the legislature. Because of the high time commitment legislative positions require, the current salary also makes it financially difficult for some to stay in office once they’ve been elected, he said.

“It’s important to us moving forward so we can ensure that those who want to serve can serve,” Prozanski said.

Oregon’s Legislature has been whiter, wealthier and older than Oregon’s general population.

– Courtney Helstein of Family Forward of Oregon The other chief sponsors are Sen. Akasha Lawrence Spence, D-Portland, Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, Rep. Zach Hudson, D-Troutdale, and Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham.

Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, the longest-serving House member, also signed on as a chief sponsor. None of the chief sponsors responded to requests for comment from the Capital Chronicle.

Rep. Khahn Pham, D-Portland, a co-sponsor, drew attention at the hearing to the potential for conflicts of interests if legislators hold second jobs. By increasing legislator pay, SB1566 would reduce the risk of legislators voting on matters that affect their personal interests, she said.

“Nobody wants legislators to be weighing in on policies that impact the very companies or interests that they’re employed in,” Pham said.

Rep. Teresa Alonso León, D-Woodburn, said the time commitment involved in legislative duties – including those outside of regular legislative sessions – makes taking a second job unfeasible for some.

“Being a legislator is not a part-time job,” Alonso León said. “I’ve yet to work a 15to 20-hour week.”

“Many people don’t know that it’s a sacrifice financially for many of us,” she continued. “I have a mortgage and student loans.”

Several groups weighed in to urge the pay increase to allow more people to have a chance at serving as a representative or senator.

“Legislative pay functions as a historic barrier for candidates who are young, do not have access to wealth, and

are members of the BIPOC community,” referring to Black, indigenous and people of color, the Urban League of Portland said in written testimony.

The statement said that while legislators might prefer to focus on their state duties all year, they have to choose “between working to maintain their livelihood or serving their fellow Oregonians.”

“This is the only path to create a truly inclusive and diverse legislature,” wrote Jenny Lee, deputy director of the Coalition of Communities of Color.

She said that “the opportunity to serve should be open to all, regardless of their wealth, financial support from family members or access to flexible sources of income.”

The child care benefit is important, she wrote.

“Child care costs are burdensome even for those making the average income,” she said. She said the proposal would allow parents to “support their families and still serve.”

Family Forward of Oregon said in written testimony that the low pay for legislators discourages those who are low income, from diverse backgrounds or are young.

“Historically, Oregon’s Legislature has been whiter, wealthier and older than Oregon’s general population,” wrote Courtney Helstein, Family Forward’s political director.

The Portland Business Alliance, which said it represents mostly small businesses in 27 counties, said a pay increase would provide a “more diverse pool of Oregon residents” to serve.

“The meager compensation of legislators has long been a barrier to more business owners, especially small business owners, choosing to run for the Legislature,” wrote Jon Isaacs, vice president of governments affairs for the alliance.

One of the state’s largest public employee unions, Service Employees International Union Local 503, said in written testimony that “the opportunity to be public servants is one that should be accessible to everyone.”

“One of the most common things we hear from our members who are interested in running for public office is that they cannot bear the financial strain of doing so,” wrote David Ramos, policy and political strategist for the union.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the average base salary for legislators in the U.S. in 2021 was $39,216.

A report by the Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office in March 2021 found that legislators aren’t paid in New Mexico and the highest pay is in California at $114,877. In Washington, legislators are paid $56,881 a year and in Idaho they get $18,415.