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north coast Volume 19, No. 6
March 20, 2014
northcoastcitizen.com
Sharing responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world
Beginning with a fire ceremony on Manzanita Beach and concluding with performances in the auditorium at the North County Recreation District in Nehalem, the Tikkun Olam events of March 7 and 8 left those in attendance First ever event inspires and contemplating their next step in working toward healing the leaves participants contemplating world. their next step in working toward Despite gray skies and rain earlier in the week, the healing the world. weather cooperated Friday evening as Joe Pecore created a fire on the beach focused on healing the waters of the world. Pecore has been burning a ceremonial fire every seventh of the month at 7:00 for many years. Approximately 30 people from Montana to south Tillamook County meditated on the health of oceans, rivers, streams, and even drinking water as the fire burned marking the beginning of the local two-day event, created by Nehalem artist Glenna Gray with the help of friends and Fulcrum Community Resources for Photo by John Freethy said Gray. Tikkun Olam is a and transform the world. denly, this local Tikkun Olam long at NCRD beginning a grant that helped cover expenses. Tikkun Olam got underway Friday evening with Joe Pecore creating a fire on the beach focused on healing the waters of the world. Approximately “Recently, I was experi30 people gathered around the ceremonial fire on the beach at the end of Laneda Ave. encing a lot of sadness and fear about the way our planet, Hebrew phrase that means “As I believe the arts have event came alive,” Gray with decorating the gymnaour home, is being abused in ‘repairing the world’ or a significant role to play in added. sium for the ritual at noon. so many ways. During this ‘healing the world,’ which how we move forward into Following the fire on time a friend posted details suggests humanity’s shared the new reality, a major arts the beach Friday evening, of an art show she had creSee TIKKUN OLAM, page 7 responsibility to heal, repair event was called for. Sudevents continued all day ated called Tikkun Olam,”
Tikkun Olam
NCRD narrows search for new general manager Selection committee whittles list down to three, decision expected March 21 By Dave Fisher The Citizen
With a field of 23 applicants to choose from, the North County Recreation District Board of Directors will choose between the two top candidates screened by a selection committee as part of the search effort. A third candidate that was selected to be interviewed withdrew his application saying after visiting the area he and his family decided they did not wish to relocate. The remaining two are from out of state as well, hailing from
Washington and Colorado, and will be interviewed during the day on March 21, after which the NCRD board members will meet and decide who gets the job. “It’s a big question, a big responsibility,” said John Coopersmith, who replaced the departing Kevin Greenwood as board chair. “It’s a tough act to follow,” he added, referring to Peter Nunn tenure as NCRD’s general manager the past five years. At its meeting March 13, the board fine-tuned its interview schedule and strategy as it looks ahead to making its final selection. While a decision is expected to made by day’s end this Friday, board member Jack Bloom urged caution. “What if we’re dissuaded with both candidates after
NORTH COUNTY NEWS ONLINE
the interviews?” he asked his counterparts. “Are we prepared not to make an offer?” “The best action will be what is best for the district,” Coopersmith responded, noting that the district could operate with an interim general manager while a renewed search for a permanent GM continued. “The plan is to make an offer to the person selected by March 28,” Nunn told the Citizen previously, saying he flexible and could stay on longer while the board conducts its search for his replacement. In other business, board member Mary Gallagher was sworn in. Gallagher replaces Julie Chick who resigned in February. In addition to Coopersmith, Bloom and Gallagher,
Marie Ziemecki and Jennifer Holm, who was also recently appointed following Greenwood’s resignation, round out the five-member board. In finalizing its goals for 2014 NCRD’s top priority is to continue to review staff benefits to ensure the district attracts and retains qualified personnel. To that end it has approved a retirement plan for its 12 full-time employees with a fixed two percent contribution with an employee match of at least three percent. The plan, which will be administered by TLC Federal Credit Union, will be reviewed annually as part of the budget process and take effect July 1, 2014, the beginning of NCRD’s new fiscal year. As it looked to attract quality candidates for the
general manager’s position, the move to institute a retirement plan for employees and bring NCRD in line with other governmental entities took center stage beginning last November when a three-person committee was selected to explore retirement plan options for the district. Meanwhile, the budget process gets underway April 17. Returning members of the Budget Committee include Rick Dart and Marv Hirte. Veteran committee members Ann Morgan and Victoria Stoppiello were also approved by the board at its March meeting, leaving open just one position with a two-year term. The Budget Committee also includes NCRD board members and Nunn, who will serve as budget officer.
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Cost of doing business in Nehalem goes up $15 per year By Dave Fisher The Citizen
As expected, the City of Nehalem has passed an ordinance regulating and licensing businesses within its city limits effective immediately. The annual cost to business owners doing business in Nehalem: $15 annually. “It’s not about money,” Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven told the Citizen. “It’s about having more control as to what type of businesses come to Nehalem.” The action came at the February meeting of the Nehalem City Council following a public hearing in which no member of the audience commented. Council members voted unanimously in favor of adopting Ordinance 2014-01, better known as the Business License Ordinance. Even council president Dale Stockton, a longtime opponent of the idea of instituting a policy of requiring business licenses in Nehalem, voted in favor of the ordinance, said Kalkhoven. “Times have changed,” she said, not only in people’s attitudes but the nature of businesses. As for the amount of money that will add to the city’s general fund, Kalkhoven said she couldn’t imagine it amounting to more than a few hundred dollars. “Frankly, there’s not that many businesses in Nehalem,” she noted. While it took the oldest incorporated city in the Nehalem Bay area to adopt a city licensing program, both Manzanita and Wheeler have required business licenses for decades. Currently, the annual fee for doing business in Wheeler is $50, collected the beginning of each new fiscal year, and accounting for over $3,000 that is targeted for the city’s street and general funds. Further north, Manzanita, which up until 2005 charged businesses $50 annually like Wheeler, revamped its business license fee schedule that year making it a graded fee based on number of employees at one time during peak season, including the business owners and managers. For one to two employees the fee is $75 annually; three to five, $100; and six employees and
See NEHALEM, page 2
Rotary Club of North Tillamook County dissolves Declining membership just one of many reasons for club’s downfall
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By Dave Fisher The Citizen
Twenty members strong when it was chartered in June 2007, the Rotary Club of North Tillamook County has seen its membership decline in ensuing years and at a special meeting the end of February, the board and remaining members voted to dissolve the club. “We were starting to ‘revive’ but with so few members, we just
See ROTARY CLUB, page 7
The Fourth of July fireworks stand next to Manzanita Grocery and Deli has long been a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of North Tillamook County. Above, charter member Lloyd Seely helps customers. The booth will not disappear, however, as another local organization will take over operation of it. Photo by Dave Fisher
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