The
Pacific City
SUN Volume 1, Number 2 • March 6, 2007 • FREE!
Whales on the
Horizon!
Whale Watch Week is March 24-31
Cop Debate Heats Up Some say “We’re safe,” others are fearful of crime
Bay Clean-up Sat, Mar. 10
Birders Take Time for a
Splash!
Photo by Tim Hirsch
On the Cover:
Inside the Sun:
Whale Watching Week runs March 24-31 along the Oregon Coast. Whale experts say headlands like Cape Kiwanda offer some of the best opportunities to see these mighty creatures from land. Photo by Morris Grover
The
Pacific City
SUN
The Pacific City Sun is the resident and tourist’s guide to Pacific City and the Nestucca Valley. It will be published every three weeks through March and once every two weeks starting in April.
Tim Hirsch Editor & Publisher
A Week for Whales
page
3
Blinded by the Light
page
4
Bay Clean-up
page
7
Vicky Hirsch Associate Editor
The Pacific City Sun is distributed free from Tillamook to Lincoln City, but mail subscriptions are available for $20 for one year, $10 for 6 months. The Pacific City Sun welcomes reader input. Please send Letters to the Editor via e-mail, postal mail or fax. P.O. Box 1085 • Pacific City, Oregon 97135 • 503-801-5221 • Fax 541-994-6279 thirsch@pacificcitysun.com Page 2 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
A Place to Skate?
page
11
Coastal Adventures
A Whale of a Lookout
Photo by Russ Paine
BINOCULARS bring passing whales closer to sightseers atop Cape Kiwanda during the 2006 Spring Whale Watch Week, the first time the Pacific City site participated in the Whale Watch Spoken Here program.
By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Whale watchers on the lookout for migrating cetacean need only take a short walk up Cape Kiwanda for a bird’s eye view when Whale Watch Week returns March 24-31. Cape Kiwanda made its debut as one of the 28 staffed viewing spots of the Whale Watching Spoken Here program last spring, filling a big gap between Tillamook and Lincoln City. And it was a welcome addition. “Last spring one whale spouted and sounded next to the Kiwanda cliffs with such a loud explosive exhalation that it turned the heads of the lucky visitors there,” said Russ Paine, coordinator of the Cape Kiwanda vantage point. The cape provides a viewpoint that satisfies one of the most important criteria for a good lookout. “(It’s best to) observe from coastal headlands that look out into the ocean — especially those
with good elevation,” writes noted biologist Bruce Mate, of Oregon State University. “When shallow-water whales move along the shoreline, they usually will go around headlands very close to the point — and you are closer to deepwater species as well.” “It is a prime location. Whenever you get a headland that sticks out in water, whales almost have to go around it,” said Morris Grover, coordinator of the Whale Watch Spoken Here program. And in Pacific City the cape provides some shelter not found in other headlands along the coast. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. With volunteer staff scheduled to be trained Saturday, March 10, help for finding a whale spouting off at the cape will be nearby for all visitors to the site. Planners expect to have at least two volunteers at a time staffing the lookout. “We’ll be there to help educate,” said Paine.
Volunteers Sought for Cape Kiwanda Overlook PACIFIC CITY — Whale Watching Spoken Here is ready to educate volunteers on the how, why and when of spotting whales passing Cape Kiwanda at a special one-day seminar Saturday, March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The training site is to be determined. The Cape Kiwanda lookout, the newest of 28 lookouts in the program, is currently recruiting young and old to do their part in pointing out gray whales spouting on their return trip north. An estimated 2030 gray whales are believed to pass the cape every hour. Held March 24-31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the Oregon coast, the Whale Watching Spoken Here program offers one of the best chances at spotting the massive mammals as they journey north, but the experience wouldn’t be complete without educated volun-
teers pointing the way. Volunteers are educated about gray whale biology, behavior and the journey theses mammals take. Those interested in participating should contact Russ Paine at russpaine@verizon.net or visit www.whalespoken.org. A $20 contribution fee helps fund the Whale Spoken program. During last year’s preparation for Cape Kiwanda’s first participation in the event, a similar training session readied 15 volunteers to staff the lookout. Four of the 15 were youths, a trend they hope to continue in an effort to fuse the young and the old. “We’ve recruited from the high school and junior high in Nestucca,” said Russ Paine, coordinator of the Cape Kiwanda lookout. “It’s a great opportunity. They need to do community service anyway.”
Photo by Morris Grover
VOLUNTEERS will help whale watchers spot cetaceans of the deep at the Cape Kiwanda lookout.
Page 3 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Community News
Blinded by the
LIGHT
By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Star light, star not-so-bright, how will I ever see you tonight? That’s the question Beverly Fisher is asking. A Pacific City homeowner since the early 1970s, Fisher says that excessive exterior lighting is creating a glow throughout the city that is keeping stargazers from seeing the heavens above. She says because many owners use high-wattage lights that spill over into their neighbor’s properties, stars are difficult to impossible to see. Fisher’s goal is to get people to use only as much light as needed. Most people are concerned with security, she conceded, but said having bright lights on all the time doesn’t keep prowlers away. She says studies have shown that 90 percent of burglaries happen during daylight when security lights aren’t even an issue, something she’s shared with Tillamook County Sheriff Todd Anderson. “Some people leave a light on every night whether they’re there or not,” she said. “The only thing leaving a light on says is ‘Look at me. I’m not home.’” There’s a better solution, she said. By using sensors and spotlights, home owners not only put the light where it needs to be when it needs to be on, they eliminate lighting as a source of their neighbor’s frustration. One of the biggest offenders is
large lights over garage doors. Fisher said these lights most often spill onto adjoining property and frustrate everyone from stargazers to the couple relaxing on their porch. “I shouldn’t have to put up black-out blinds to keep the neighbor’s light out,” she added. These issues and more are being addressed by the Lighting Committee, a sub-committee of the Pacific City/Wood Community Planning Advisory Committee. Though some have wondered aloud why a committee is trying to add more illumination to our city, nothing could be further from the truth — the committee is addressing ways to curb excessive light use. Their next meeting will be Friday, March 9 at 10 a.m. Fortunately, not every neighborhood is guilty of intrusive lighting. At Nestucca Ridge and Pacific Seawatch, strict CC&R’s keep homeowners from using lights that intrude on those next door. Mary Jones, president of Nestucca Ridge Development, said they first became aware of the problem after Nestucca Ridge went up. They quickly responded by making an amendment to the CC&R’s there that required lights to point down or up into an overhang, which prevented the light from spilling over onto their neighbor. The rules also require that the light sources are shielded in such a way that the bulb isn’t visible. Security lights need to be sensor
Photo by Tim Hirsch
STARGAZER Beverly Fisher hopes homeowners will turn down or off their exterior lighting to prevent the overpowering of the majesty of the stars. activated and connected to a timer so they will switch off in a short amount of time. The lighting restrictions developed for Pacific Seawatch are even stricter, she said. While Fisher appreciates the work developers like Jones have done, there are many areas in Pacific City beyond their control. And that’s where the formation of a new ordinance could come in. The only lighting ordinance currently on the books focuses on parking lot illumination. It specifies that light from parking lots can’t spill over into residential areas. “In New Mexico every county in the state has a lighting ordinance.
There’s a lighting ordinance in Dundee and one in the Bend area.” She says any new legislation should address wattage and also assure that there wouldn’t be any light trespass. Armed with a stack of ordinances, Fisher is assembling a notebook full of information that interested citizens can peruse at the Tillamook South County Library in Pacific City. “Most people don’t realize that light is pollution,” Fisher said. “But it’s the easiest to control. The magnificence of a starry sky at night is awesome. It’s something we shouldn’t lose.”
Cops at the Cape State Parks Plans Renewal of Patrol at Cape Kiwanda By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — When the tourists hit the beaches this summer they’ll bring with them lots of money, but not without the threat of a little mischief. And that’s where Oregon State Park’s
relationship with the Tillamook County Sheriff Department comes in. Two years ago the departments joined forces for weekend patrols beginning Memorial Day after State Parks’ relationship with Oregon State Police waned. They’ve worked the last two years on one-year agreements. “It’s worked out extremely well,” said Pete Marvin, park manager of Oregon State Parks between Tillamook Bay and Pacific City. This time the agencies plan on entering a five-year agreement to free themselves from the yearly paperwork. The added enforcement has helped State Parks maintain order at Cape Kiwanda. “Pacific City isn’t the same as it used to be,” Page 4 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
he said. “It’s a lot more popular.” But the increase in popularity has come at a price. “Last year, the deputy down there (in Pacific City) wrote up a ton of MIP’s (minor in possession of alcohol),” said Marvin. “We weren’t aware of the extent of that issue. I was surprised to see that amount, but happy to see they were on it.” Other issues that the deputies are writing citations for include camping and driving in undesignated areas. Marvin said that even if Pacific City does vote in an Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol, they plan to hold on to their seasonal forces. “We’ll keep doing our thing,” he said.
Community News
Pacific Seawatch Prevails By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — On the strength of strong CC&R’s and forward-thinking plans, Tillamook County planners gave the go-ahead to Nestucca Ridge Development’s second and third phase of its Seawatch Development on Thursday, Feb. 22. Promising elegant town homes and luxury houses, the two new phases of Seawatch offer a plethora of sweeping views and craftsman features. The development garnered largely favorable support at the Pacific City/Woods Community Planning Advisory Committee, and that support helped point the way for county planners to approve the development. The CPAC earlier voted 17-2 (with 3 abstentions) to support the development to the county. “I was very impressed with the CC&Rs,” said Larry Rouse, reporting on discussions at the CPAC’s Land Use Committee meeting. “One of the things they address is lighting. They also have (dealt with) how trees grow in an area. They have site specific heights for buildings and trees.” The biggest opposition to the project dealt with the one access road to the site. The intersection of Brooten and Fisher roads is a sharp turn for drivers entering
while heading into town. “I’m voting against it,” said Ielean Rouse, a CPAC member, during the Feb. 17 CPAC meeting. “We have a responsibility to ensure the intersections are safe.” She said she was worried that, because of the budget crunch now facing ODOT, the intersection might not be fixed for a long time. But the news isn’t all bad regarding the intersection. The developers have widened the southern part of Fisher Road allowing people exiting Fisher to have a clear line of sight. The improvement doesn’t help those turning onto Fisher from Brooten Road. However, according to developer Jeff Schons, nothing can be done until the county obtains right of way in the property adjacent to the road. “Nothing can be done legally until the county gets the right of way,” said Schons. “Our engineers came up with preliminary designs that would improve the standards but it does require substantial acquisition of right of way.” However dangerous the intersection seems, though, the fact that no accidents have made their mark there meant planners had little to complain about. “If it’s not broke, we don’t need to fix it,” said CPAC chair Larry Rouse.
Photo by Tim Hirsch
NESTUCCA RIDGE developer Mary Jones shows a model of the community center that’s in the planning stages for Pacific Seawatch.
Fact or Fiction? By VICKY HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Noted linguist, professor and author Tom Nash will shed light on the validity of historical stories that get passed down by oral tradition in a Chautauqua lecture Saturday, March 10 at South Tillamook County Library. The noon lecture, titled “True Stories and Other Fictions in Northwest Oral History,” will examine how elements of folklore get embedded into frontier stories of Oregon and the West. His lecture will help separate factual history from embellishments by the storytellers. Amongst the questions he’ll address are: Do the storytellers weave a part of their personalities into the histories of the Northwest, either purposefully or accidently? Where does history end and folklore begin and how does this fictionalization play a role in Northwest history? Chautauqua, the Senecan word for lake, is a time honored tradition of adult educational programs and lectures. Originally started as training sessions for Sunday school teachers in New York in 1874, Chautauqua cir-
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Steve and Kitty Poore wish to thank you all for trusting Maintenance & More Construction LLC with your projects this past year. PACIFIC CITY AUTHOR Tom Nash will speak on the origins and reliability of northwest oral history, Saturday, March 10. at South Tillamook County Library. cuits quickly formed throughout the country in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. The Oregon Council for the Humanities has offered Chautauqua programs to Oregon communities for more than 25 years. South Tillamook County Library is located at 6200 Camp St. and admission is free. For more information, call (503) 965-6163. The program is funded by the OCH and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Anchorage Motel Linda & Leroy Brooks Peggy Cooper Darrell Cronen Tony Erickson Beatice Gilbert The Grateful Bread Dorian Harris Merrianne Hoffman Ginger Hulbert Inn at Pacific City Erma Lafreniere Doug & Michelle Lawhead Fran Madachy Don & Shawna Newell Doug Olsen Nancy Olsen Oregon Coast Bank
Pacific City Library Pacific City Sporting Goods Everett Payton Sandpiper Reality Jackie Shank Navin Sharma Carl & Mary Ann Somdahl Julie Spencer Carmen Stoneking Bret Stovall David Stratton Barbara Taylor Tony Tosti Walt Turner Paul Waterman Carmen Waters Bill Wilson Kiwanda Shores Property Management
CLOVERDALE Maxine Wright Winema Christian Church Fred & Jean Ozan Janice Schenck Carol Foster John Griggs Bruce & Jeanette Hagerty Mary Ho John & Cara Elder
NESKOWIN
Ernestine Ostrin Grey Fox Property Management Prudence Ragsdale Gary & Barbara Ward
We are here to serve our community. 503-965-6570 • 971-998-6385
Page 5 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Community News
Are We
Safe?
Pacific City Re-visits Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol
By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Residents questioned whether we need additional patrol officers and if the money would be better spent elsewhere in an exploratory meeting on an enhanced sheriff’s patrol Saturday, March 2. Some asked whether Pacific City and Neskowin need protection beyond the summer and weekends and others asserted emergency services were more deserving of extra funds. Some also questioned whether it was needed at all. “I think emergency services — firefighters and paramedics would benefit the community more,” said Adian Martin, a resident who splits his time between the Rose City and Pacific City. He also wondered it there’s even a need. “In Portland, there’s lot of police,” Martin said. “Here there’s not many police, but there’s not a lot of crime. Is it really going to change anything or is it just going to make us feel better?” Tillamook County Sheriff Todd Anderson said that a big benefit of adding the full-time police protection boiled down to response time. But Martin questioned whether any real difference will be felt. If you compared Pacific City and Cannon
Beach’s crime per capita, would Cannon Beach, a city with a long history of police protection, have a lower crime rate than Pacific City? he asked. The sheriff said comparing Pacific City to Rockaway, a similarly sized city which has three full-time officers, might also provide some insight as to the effect of increased police protection. Anderson noted Jim Creech told him he did an informal poll of his neighbors and discovered that most felt the problem was only evident in the summer. Creech is teamed up with realtor Barbara Taylor in leading the Pacific City committee investigating the enhanced patrol. Anderson said Creech would like to see the police call numbers broken into categories, an opinion that was echoed by several in the audience. The combination of not having any statistics about the effect of enhanced sheriff’s patrols in other towns and the flood of other tax levies on the ballot left many worried. Anderson said that South County could go for a permanent tax base instead, but would have to wait until May or November 2008. The law requires that permanent tax bases be put on ballots on even years in one of the two general elections. A secondary benefit of choosing
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TILLAMOOK COUNTY Sheriff Todd Anderson (above) and Pacific City resident Doug Olson explain the plusses and minuses of going for a levy versus a permanent tax base in a discussion about an enhanced sheriff’s patrol in the Pacific City-Neskowin area.
that route is the enhanced patrol wouldn’t have to worry about the double majority rule that requires 50 percent voter turnout for a meaures to pass. “If we decided to wait and go for a permanent levy, we could do more research and could get more people involved,” said Pacific City resident Kathy Shellito. Barbara Taylor wrapped up the meeting by suggesting the group meet again — after they get some hard statistics comparing Pacific City to relevant towns that do have an increased police presence.
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Page 6 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Community News
A Clean Sweep By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Add people to our waterways and mix in a series of floods and you have a recipe for litter and that’s why on March 10, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. volunteers will band together to make a difference at the fourth Nestucca Bay Clean-up. The Clean-Up will give volunteers a chance to rid the bay of trash, tires and more. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Pacific City-Nestucca Bay Boat Ramp in Bob Straub State Park. “We had a big flood this year. Usually in a flood year, we have more tires so we need people with big muscles,” said Carol Bickford, secretary of the Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watershed Council. In the past the event has drawn more than 50 volunteers who collected lots of trash and more than 75 tires. Besides the good feelings of making a difference, volunteers enjoy getting out on the water as some bring boats to ferry the helpers to different clean-up sites. Bickford, who served as council coordinator before handing the reins to Alex Sifford, said volunteers will spread out all along the perimeter of the bay as they go about removing litter. Volunteers should bring weather-appropriate clothing and wear boots. They can also bring water and snacks, though some refreshments will be provided by sponsors. Trash bags and gloves will be provided. Coordinators are also looking for boat-owning volunteers to help haul trash back to the boat ramp and
Photo by Tim Hirsch
VOLUNTEERS are invited to clean up litter during the Nestucca Bay Clean-up, March 10, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. guides to lead volunteers to specified locations around the bay. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the Council office at 503-3926134. The Nestucca, Neskowin & Sand Lake Watershed Council, Tillamook County Parks, Oregon Departments of Fish & Wildlife and Parks, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, SOLV, Migrations Cafe, Grateful Bread, Village Coffee Restaurant, Sportsman Pub and Grub, Safeway (Lincoln City), Les Schwab Tire (Tillamook), Nestucca Valley Recycling and Garbage, Tillamook County Public Works and Harvest Fresh are sponsors of the event.
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The
Pacific City SUN
Shorepine Properties Real Estate Sales Broker
P.O. Box 1085, Pacific City, OR 97135
503-801-5221 Fax: 541-994-6279
thirsch@pacificcitysun.com
Send Resumes to Mary J. Jones, Fax: 503-965-7778 Email: MaryJJones@ShorepineProperties.com
Page 7 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Real Estate
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PACIFIC CITY — If living high in the hills isn’t for you, but a river view, value-packed home is what you’re after, it may be time to check out Shade Street Commons, one of Pacific City’s newest townhome communities. Though prices for these luxury homes start at just $349,000 for a 1,600 square foot home, the appointments you’ll find are comparable to homes listing for much more. “A similar home will cost you well over $400,000,” said co-owner Don Sheeley. “In Pacific City, it’s going to be one of the most affordable new projects you can purchase.” The tri-level townhomes feature 3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 bathrooms and expansive 40-foot by 20-foot garages. Above the garage on the second floor, tenants will enjoy a stylish liv-
ing room, a galley-style kitchen and an elegant dining room. The kitchen also features a raised eating bar and stainless appliances. All the units are wired for both surround sound and a security system. It’s optional to have it hooked up. Other pluses include abundant recessed lighting and nearby access to a boat landing. Situated conveniently close to the PC Hometown Market, the homes are in an area ripe for growth, which means now is a good time to get in before prices escalate, Sheeley said. Amongst the neighborhood improvements already planned are an inside-out remodel of the grocery store. Though the units look out over the back of the store — and to the river — it won’t be an eyesore as the back of the store will feature a cedar fence, manicured shrubs and other improvements. The first unit should be completed by the end of March. Owned by Johnson-Sheeley Investments, all units are on the market now. Interested buyers can contact Holly Nelson at Pete Anderson Realty, 503-965-6131.
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Page 8 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
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503-550-0722 Page 9 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
It’s Playtime in Pacific City
Mar. 6Mar. 26
and the Nestucca Valley
Thur., Mar. LEAP (LISTEN, ENVISION, AND ACT TO END POVERTY) RALLY 5:30 p.m., Kiawanda Community Center PACIFIC CITY-NESTUCCA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A.M. BUSINESS CONNECTIONS A networking gathering of chamber members and others in the community. 8-9 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month. For details, call the Cloverdale Visitor Information Center, (503) 392-4340. Fri., Mar. LIGHTING COMMITTEE MEETING 10 a.m. Call 503-965-7813. NESKOWIN VALLEY SCHOOL FOURTH ANNUAL VACATION RAFFLE For information, call Melissa Kelly or Dana Weaver at (503) 392-3124. Sat., Mar. WHALE WATCHING SPOKEN HERE TRAINING 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For information contact Russ Paine at russpaine@verizon. com. $20 contribution fee. “TRUE STORIES AND OTHER FICTIONS IN NORTHWEST ORAL HISTORY” ProfesWhale Watching sor Tom Nash will give a lecture at noon at South Tillamook County Library. Admission is free. 4TH NESTUCCA BAY CLEAN-UP VolunTom Nash teers will meet at the boat ramp in Bob Straub State Park and are asked to wear weather appropriate clothing and boots. Bags and gloves will be provided. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call (503) 392Nestucca Bay 6134. Mon., Mar. MONDAY NIGHT PING-PONG TOURNAMENT Test your skills at the Pelican Pub & Brewery, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive, 503-965-7007. Tue., Mar. TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. at the Pelican Pub & Brewery, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive, 503-965-7007.
8
9
10
12 13
NESKOWIN CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES Featuring the French Chamber Orchestra, with violinist Kyung Sun Lee at 3 p.m. at The Chapel at Camp Wi-Ne-Ma, 3 miles north of Neskowin. For information, call (503) 392-4741. Thur., Mar. PACIFIC CITY-NESTUCCA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER-HOURS MIXER A friendly gathering of business people interested in learning about each other. 6-7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. For details, call the Cloverdale Visitor Information Center, (503) 392-4340. Sat., Mar. LUNKER AND RETROACTIVE GAMMA RAYS From surf music to heavy rock, this St. Patrick’s Day concert at Nestucca Lodge Bar & Grill offers everyone a rollicking good time! Come celebrate the green starting at 9 p.m. $3 cover charge.
15 17
Tides Date
Low Tide
Mar. 6
8:10 a.m. 8:07 p.m. Mar. 7 8:47 a.m. 8:33 p.m. Mar. 8 9:27 a.m. 8:59 p.m. Mar. 9 10:12 a.m. 9:28 p.m. Mar. 10 11:06 a.m. 10:01 p.m. Mar. 11 1:13 p.m. 11:51 p.m. Mar. 12 2:28 p.m. Mar. 13 Mar. 14 Mar. 15 Mar. 16
1:20 a.m. 3:36 p.m. 3:00 a.m. 4:32 p.m. 4:15 a.m. 5:19 p.m. 5:13 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Height 1.1 ft. 1.3 ft. 1.0 ft. 1.8 ft. 0.9 ft. 2.3 ft. 1.0 ft. 2.9 ft. 1.0 ft. 3.2 ft. 1.0 ft. 3.6 ft. 0.8 ft. 3.8 ft. 0.5 ft. 3.6 ft. 0.1 ft. 3.1 ft. -0.3 ft. 2.5 ft. -0.5 ft.
19 20 24
(at Nestucca Bay)
High Tide Height 1:40 a.m. 1:54 p.m. 2:04 a.m. 2:35 p.m. 2:29 a.m. 3:21 p.m. 2:57 a.m. 4:15 p.m. 3:30 a.m. 5:27 p.m. 5:11 a.m. 8:05 p.m. 6:09 a.m. 9:40 p.m. 7:23 a.m. 10:36 p.m. 8:41 a.m. 11:12 p.m. 9:50 a.m. 11:43 p.m. 10:50 a.m.
Mon., Mar. MONDAY NIGHT PINGPONG TOURNAMENT Pelican Pub & Brewery, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive, 503-9657007. CPAC MEETING Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Kiawanda Community Center. Tue., Mar. TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. at the Pelican Pub & Brewery, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive, 503-965-7007. GREAT OREGON SPRING Sat., Mar. BEACH CLEANUP 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sponsored by SOLV. For information, contact Bev Ardueser at (503) 844-9571 or go to www.solv.org.
7.3 ft. 6.6 ft. 7.4 ft. 6.2 ft. 7.4 ft. 5.7 ft. 7.3 ft. 5.2 ft. 7.2 ft. 4.8 ft. 6.9 ft. 4.7 ft. 6.8 ft. 4.8 ft. 6.8 ft. 5.2 ft. 7.0 ft. 5.6 ft. 7.4 ft. 6.2 ft. 7.7 ft.
Page 10 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Date
Low Tide
Height
High Tide Height
Mar. 17
6:05 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:53 a.m. 7:17 p.m. 7:41 a.m. 7:55 p.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:33 p.m. 9:19 a.m. 9:13 p.m. 10:12 a.m. 9:55 p.m. 11:09 a.m. 10:43 p.m. 12:13 p.m. 11:43 p.m. 1:26 p.m.
1.7 ft. -0.6 ft. 0.9 ft. -0.3 ft. 0.2 ft. 0.1 ft. -0.4 ft. 0.6 ft. -0.7 ft. 1.4 ft. -0.7 ft. 2.0 ft. -0.6 ft. 2.6 ft. -0.4 ft. 3.1 ft. 0.0 ft.
1:05 a.m. 2:42 p.m. 2:41 a.m. 3:50 p.m.
3.4 ft. 0.1 ft. 3.3 ft. 0.2 ft.
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6.7 ft. 7.9 ft. 7.4 ft. 7.9 ft. 7.9 ft. 7.8 ft. 8.4 ft. 7.5 ft. 8.7 ft. 7.0 ft. 8.7 ft. 6.4 ft. 8.5 ft. 5.8ft. 8.0 ft. 5.5 ft. 7.5 ft. 5.4 ft. 6.9 ft. 5.5 ft. 6.7 ft. 5.8 ft.
Community News
A Place To Skate? By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Is our city ready for a skateboard park? At least one woman believes it’s time to give our children a safe place to gather, a place to stay out of trouble, a place to skate. Pacific City resident Kathy Shellito is passionate about the need for a park. She sees youths around on boards with no place to go. And when they have no place to go, it can cause conflict. “Skate parks have proven themselves in Oregon,” said Bryan Bates, owner of Seven Surfboards in Pacific City. “They’re an excellent way to provide activity for kids.” Shellito believes a skate park could solve this, but with land at a premium here, is still searching for a usable site. The ideal location, she says, is the southwest corner of the boat ramp parking area located in Bob Straub State Park. This location provides for two critical pieces to the puzzle — parking and bathrooms. It also keeps the park close to the cape where visiting families are likely to
be. However, she says Oregon State Parks has indicated they wouldn’t put a skate park in the unpaved south end of the boat ramp. For his part, Pete Marvin, park manager of Oregon State Parks from Tillamook Bay to Pacific City, said he’s undecided whether a skate park would fit the mission of Bob Straub State Park. “The park has master plans to leave it as more of a natural area,” he said. “Something like a skate park may or may not be appropriate for that location.” Even if the state does support the park, there are other issues. Shellito said one of the horse trails would need to be paved over to make the skate park work. “But we could build more paths to make up for it,” she said. Because permanent bathrooms cost about $150,000 to build, using a site that already has them in place would drastically cut the project’s cost. Another possible site that already has bathrooms is Webb Park,
Photos by Tim Hirsch
KIDS would use a skate park as a safe place to exercise and hang out say Kathy Shellito and Bryan Bates. said Bates. However, Shellito worries that because that park has established camping sites, Tillamook County might not part with the land needed. Currently she’s investigating a county-owned, 33-plus acre tract that is located behind Webb Park. The problem there, she said, is there’s only one access to the property — through a private RV park. Bates also said he thought a skate park would help with tour-
Library to hold book and bake sale TILLAMOOK — The Tillamook County Main Library will hold a fundraiser on March 24 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to help raise monies to fund library expenses. Baked goods, books, treasures and plants will be available for purchase. At least two tables of baked goodies will tempt visitors as they peruse six tables of books and examine the finds on the flea market tables. Plants lovers will find
something to take home, too, as members of Pacific City’s community garden will donate a variety of vegetation. Organizer Joani Moore said that people tend to buy a lot because it is a fundraiser. “It’s the beginning of spring break, so more people will be down here,” she said. For more information, contact Joani at (503) 965-3681 or reach her at jomoore@ oregoncoast.com.
ism. With a skate park in place, skaters from the valley might be more likely to visit Pacific City — and bring their families along — and that would mean more tourism dollars. After extensive research, Shellito believes the grants are available to make it a reality. And because she’s got a heart for the kids, she’s ready to do whatever she can to make it happen. “I don’t have grandchildren or kids. I just feel sorry for the kids.”
Board Members Sought PACIFIC CITY — Kiawanda Community Center is accepting applications from individuals interested in filling four vacancies on its board of directors. Elections will be held on April 4 and completed applications need to be returned to the KCC Nominating Committee by March 15. Terms for the four seats
begin May 1 and directors serve the three-year terms on a volunteer basis. The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month. Those interested are invited to attend a Board meeting to learn about the operation and to discuss membership with either Chair Scott Culp (503) 965-6036 or Vice Chair Diana Sears (503) 965-6537.
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Page 11 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Taylor & Taylor Realty Co.
Coastal Adventures
Rain Doesn’t Dampen
Birders’ Quest
PACIFIC CITY — The rain came down and the wind blew, but birders still braved the weather for a chance to see their feathery friends at the fourth annual Pacific City Birding and Blues Festival, Feb. 23-25. Attendance was strong despite the unwelcome storm and not just for the indoor seminars. “This morning I was depressed, but then I saw the parking lot was full,” said organizer Gary Lesniak. “There were traffic jams of cars leaving for field trips, and people saw lots of birds.” Lesniak was also ecstatic about the seminars. “There was a great response from people attending,” he said. “People were engaged and the speakers did a great job. “I was pleased as punch!”
Photos by Tim Hirsch
A STORMY DAY didn’t keep enthusiasts from trekking through 60 mph winds and horizontal rain in their endeavor to view Pacific City’s eclectic population of birds. Above and left, birders visit the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Below, sightseers atop Cape Kiwanda hone in on shore birds.
Page 12 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Coastal Adventures
Spreading Their Wings CORY ALVIS, education specialist at Wildlife Images and Rehabilitaton and Education Center, shows off a bald eagle as part of the Birds of Prey program held during the Birding and Blues Festival. Bald eagles have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since the 1970s, but on June 9, 2007, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will decide whether to delist the bird from its current endangered status. If taken off the list, the birds will still be protected under the Bald & Golden Eagle Act, as well as the Migratory Bird Act. Below left, a red-tailed hawk perches on Wildlife Images volunteer Cyndee Mauna’s wrist, and, below right, an Eurasian eagle owl peers at the audience. The eyesight of a hawk is eight times as powerful as a human’s and it has a hoarse two to three second scream that is commonly heard while it is soaring. Eurasian eagle owls can live up to 60 years in captivity, but usually only 20 in the wild, most dying from electrocution, shooting or collision with traffic. Photos by Tim Hirsch
Literature has gone
TO THE BIRDS! DEVELOPING WRITERS Hannah Dowdy, at left, a sixth-grade student from Neskowin Valley School, and Erin Labasan, a senior at Taft High School, read from their award-winning, original essays penned on the prompt “Birds that Move You.” Organized by local author Matt Love, at right, the winners read alongside local favorites Joan Cutuly and Melissa Madenski as part of the Oregon Writers’ Roundtable, held in conjunction with the 2007 Birding and Blues Festival. Page 13 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Community News
Vote Hinges on Turnout By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — Most people are in favor of the library, but will enough people go to the polls to pass the upcoming bond measure? “That’s the scary part,” said Tillamook County Library Director Sara Charlton, referring to Oregon’s double majority rule that requires a 50 percent voter turnout for ballot measures to pass. If the library doesn’t get the go ahead they will try again in May. A second failure would mean they’d have to lock the doors on June 30. But the library has done well in past elections. The one failure came in 1999 when though the majority who cast ballots gave it a thumbs up, less than 50 percent of registered voters cast their votes so the doublemajority rule KO’d the effort. “I’m mainly worried about the turnout,” said Charlton. “We want to get it passed so we can keep serving the community for another five years.” Charlton was at Pacific City’s South County Library on Friday, Feb. 23 giving a patrons a chance to quiz her on the pluses and minuses of our library system. She said the biggest challenge is to persuade those who don’t frequent the library of its value
to the community. Often, she says, people say we can do all the research we want on the internet. But the internet doesn’t have all the answers, she said. “It’s important to remember you get what you pay for.” Take the libraries eclectic resume of databases for example. Database resources include an indexed newspaper/magazine database, Healthline, Heritage Quest and a genealogy database. All these resources far surpass any free databases available on the internet, Charlton said. The library also has a full-time reference librarian (at the main branch) to point the way. And for frequent patrons the value is huge, she asserted. If you don’t think the library is a great value, try computing how much it would cost to rent DVDs, buy books, and purchase audio CDs or books on CD — all which are available free at the library. The value goes beyond our county libraries. With the coastal resource sharing network, patrons can access 400,000 books instead of just the 150,000 in the Tillamook County system. And if voters give the go ahead, Charlton will put the gears in motion to ensure the library doesn’t have the
Make Your Business
Photo by Tim Hirsch
TILLAMOOK COUNTY Library Director Sara Charlton visited the Pacific City branch to give patrons the chance to talk to her about the March 13 library levy. threat of closing every 2-5 years. “After we pass the levy, we are planning on starting our own tax district so we never have to do this again,” she said. But first things first. Armed with a fleet of volunteers, the library is
busy contacting as many voters as possible to help spread the word. “I can’t see people wanting us to close down. We have a great group working for the library,” she said as she nodded towards Carolyn Evenson, Pacific City’s librarian.
Gardening Time
SHINE Call the Sun and watch your sales light up!
Pacific City SUN
P.O. Box 1085, Pacific City, OR 97135
503-801-5221 Fax: 541-994-6279
thirsch@pacificcitysun.com
Photo by Tim Hirsch
GARDENING GURUS – A Garden for Sharing recently appointed new officers to lead the club through another season of planting, weeding and harvesting. From left, Harvesting Coordinator Laura Seide, Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator Robyn Bancroft, Watering Coordinator Helen Pasini, and Community Garden Leader/Planting Coordinator Carol Stewart.
Page 14 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
Community
Education is Everything Their
Hearts Desire
By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — What’s sweeter than chocolate and more intoxicating than wine? That’s easy: it’s a community that digs into their pockets to help fund art literacy for elementary school children. The annual Heart’s Desire fundraiser filled Migrations Cafe with art, music and libations and approximately 150 people on Friday, Feb. 9. Sales from the gala event raised approximately $9,000 to fund Mark and Kim Cavatorta’s Art Literacy Program, which is held at Nestucca Elementary School. The program’s annual budget is $10,000-$11,000. The event has been attracting more people and collecting greater amounts of money each year. Last year the event raised $8,300 and in 2005 it brought in $7,300. Art sales accounted for about $4,000 of the sales with the remainder coming from ticket sales and other specialty items. Hearts Desire sold approximately 180 tickets. Added to the mix this year was a cake auction and a raffle for a “Night on the Town” in Portland, a getaway for two that included a night at the Mark Spencer Hotel, tickets to the Portland Symphony and dinner. But they couldn’t have done it without help from local businesses — and once again, support from many companies was strong. Sponsors included Migration’s Cafe, Inn at Cape Kiwanda, Oregon Coast Bank, Wing Ridge Construction, Cape Kiwanda RV Resort and Marketplace, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Shorepine Village, and KTIL-FM/KMBD-AM. Attendees divided their time between relaxing with the musical stylings of Lincoln City harpist Elizabeth Rudkin in Migrations and Tillamook guitarist Max Ferry playing at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda’s lobby. An excerpt from Love Letters, a two-person play performed by Mark Johnson and Julie Buckman, delighted Broadway fans. “I didn’t talk to a single person who didn’t say they had a wonderful time,” said Kim Cavatorta.
Photos by Kim Cavatorta
CHOCOLATE ‘N WINE Above, l-r, Judy Holt, John Abele, and Carolyn McVicker enjoy art, wine and conversation At left, Bob and Pat Newton of Corvallis enjoy chocolate and wine amid the art.
Funding the Arts By TIM HIRSCH Pacific City Sun PACIFIC CITY — José Solano would like to say his recent fundraiser put a big dent in the needed money for the new Nestucca Valley Performing Arts Center, but in reality it was just a minor ding. At least it was a start. “We raised about $130 specifically for the performing arts section of the new building,” reports Solano. Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church has been feverishly erecting the new dual-purpose building that the church hopes will serve as a sanctuary and performing arts center.
But everything costs money and the new center is no different. Solano estimates that they will have to raise $15,000-$20,000 to pay for lighting, sound equipment, a stage and updated flooring. We’d also like to buy a $20,000 concert piano so we can attract top pianists, he said. The next step is forming a Pacific City arts association, a non-profit organization that could solicit grants that churches are ineligible for. “We’ll try to write grants to organizations like the Oregon Arts Commission,” he said. “There are all kinds of grant opportunities out there.”
Photo courtesy of José Solano
A SCENE from “The DaVinci Code Meets the Gospel of Judas,” which raised $130 towards the development of the Nestucca Valley Performing Arts Center.
Page 15 • Pacific City SUN • March 6, 2007
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