Pacific City Sun, April 13, 2018 by Pacific City Sun

news&community Neskowin Valley School amongst recepients of PUD Community Grants The Tillamook PUD Board of Directors recently awarded 13 non-profit organizations in Tillamook County funding through the 2018 Tillamook PUD Community Support Grant Program. Organizations receiving awards included Neskowin Valley School, which received an award that will finance the installation of a ductless heat pump. “We’re super excited to receive funding from (Tillamook) PUD for the second year in a row,” said Kelly Ellis, NVS head of school, who added that the new heating system will be installed in the school’s Fireside Room, which is currenlty heated by a fireplace and electric heaters. “It will be a much more efficient heating system,” she said. Other organizations throughout the county receiving awards for their community projects were Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, for new lighting; Camp Makuala, to update camp electrical needs and for LED lighting; Meals for Seniors, Inc., to replace a commercial water heater; Tillamook Habitat for Humanity, for the Ramps & Rails program; Food Roots, for commercial energy efficient appliances; Oceanside Neighborhood Association Community Advisory Committee, for the Oceanside beach access site survey and permit procurement; Oregon Coast Futbol Club, for a new soccer field; Tillamook Gun Club, for LED range lights; Tillamook Senior Citizens Club, for two ADA fire doors and a deck ramp; Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, to upgrade lighting; St. Mary’s by the Sea, for construction of a permanent storage facility; and Garibaldi Cultural Heritage Initiative, for electrical work in the historic coast guard boathouse. Tillamook PUD developed the community support grant program to assist local non-profit organizations in funding projects designed to promote economic growth in Tillamook County. In evaluating and selecting projects for funding, the Board focuses on enhancement of economic development and community livability. For the past 17 years, the Board has budgeted funds towards this program and over the years, response from the community has been very positive. In many cases, recipients have reported that PUD grant funds were an essential factor in the completion of their project.

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A SCIENCE PUB scheduled for Tuesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. at Pelican Pub in Pacific City will focus on “The Role of River Otters in Our Watershed.” The free event, with guest speaker Dr. Nicole Duplaix, is hosted by Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watersheds Council. For more information, call 503-965-2200 or visit nestuccawaters.org.

An Important Role

Ecologist to speak on ‘The Role of River Otters in Our Watershed’ during April 24 Watersheds Council Science Pub Ecologist Dr. Nicole Duplaix will help others explore the world of river otters when she speaks on “The Role of River Otters in Our Watershed,” Tuesday, April 24, 6 p.m. at Pelican Pub in Pacific City. Hosted by the Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watersheds Council, the science pub is free and open to all. During the event, Duplaix will be walking through the 13 river otter species of the world and the important role they play in our local watersheds and abroad as indicators of overall ecosystem health. Duplaix received her master’s and doctorate degrees in Ecology from the University of Paris, France. Her doctoral research focused on the giant otters of Suriname, the first time this endangered species had been studied in the wild. She

ECOLOGIST DR. NICOLE DUPLAIX will explain the world of otters at a Science Pub, April 24. has studied otters and explored river systems worldwide for 45 years

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and now focuses her otter research and conservation in Asia and South America. A longtime contract photographer for the National Geographic Society, Duplaix is the founder (1974) and chair of the IUCN- SSC’s Otter Specialist Group — the authority in global otter conservation, cofounded TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade monitoring network, and set up TRAFFIC-USA. She is a senior instructor at Oregon State University and teaches courses in Conservation Biology and Species Recovery planning. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watersheds Council event. Food and drink are available for purchase. For more information, call 503-965-2200 or visit nestuccawaters.org.

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