Pacific City
SUN
Beach Box offers gourmet s’mores and bonfire supplies..............................................2 Dial-a-Ride restructures fare system................................................................. 4
Bicycling the Beach
8
5K Fun Run/Walk, live music added to Clover’s Day Celebration ...............5
Vol. 15, No. 372 • July 2, 2021 • FREE!
Preparing for the ‘Big One’
Back on the
March
By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
W
Dory Days Parade returns July 17 as COVID restrictions are relegated to history books Wellspring Respite Day Center re-opens for area seniors in need Adventist Health Tillamook announced on July 1 that its Faith in Action – Wellspring Respite Day Center is re-opening on Tuesday, July 13. Operated as a program of the medical center’s Faith in Action department, Wellspring adult respite day center provides companionship and loving care by a licensed nurse and volunteers to guests while allowing a valuable “day away” for their family caregivers. Held on Tuesdays in the fellowship hall of the Seventh-day Adventist Church located at 2610 First St. in Tillamook from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the senior-friendly community service program includes activities of simple games, easy chair exercises, fun crafts, music sing-alongs, and more. A nutritious lunch and snacks are provided. Trained volunteers provide individual assistance and encouragement in what Adventist says is a family-like atmosphere for a nominal per day fee of $30; financial assistance is available if needed. A past family caregiver shared this: “Many, many
thanks for the help you gave us. Sue came home calmer after her day at Wellspring, and I, in turn, had some rest and relief. You are doing a service to ones who need it most.” Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation and lack of social stimulation have been identified as detrimental to the mental health of seniors. Family caregivers have endured the unrelieved 24/7 burden of caring for loved ones who need constant observation and assistance. Adventist says that re-opening Wellspring with several safety precautions being put in place, including vaccination of all participants, offers healing and hope to both caregivers and care receivers. “At Wellspring, we become like a family and we have so much fun interacting with our guests and seeing glimpses of their lives through the songs they enjoy and the memories they share from yesteryear,” says Mollie Reding, volunteer supervisor. I would encourage anyone who might be interested to give us a call and schedule a time to come see
we are open!
for yourself what a blessing Wellspring could be for your loved one.” Pre-registration for this program is required. For more information about Wellspring, to register a guest, or to donate to this community program, contact Mollie Reding at 503-8152272. Adventist Health Tillamook is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii and Oregon. Their workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees; nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 4,350 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 19 hospitals, more than 260 clinics (hospitalbased, rural health and physician clinics), 15 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. Visit AdventistHealthTillamook.org for more information.
hen the big one hits, it won’t just be a question of where you need to flee to but also how to get to those safe spots on high ground. And that’s where an effort to improve the current tsunami wayfinding signs comes in. Community members are being invited to give their input on the program at a meeting on Saturday, July 10, starting at 10 a.m. at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. At the meeting, the public will be able to view a large map showing the proposed location of evacuation signs and offer their feedback. Two elements will be focused on in the informational meeting — signage and assembly areas. Meeting organizer and project manager for the South Tillamok County Emergency Volunteer Corps Pacific City-Woods Wayfinding Committee Christopher Dennis said the need for an improved wayfinding program in Pacific City is great. “Our community has less than 10 signs right now of where to go,” he said. “One of the things we’re interested in doing is really getting people an understanding of how this community can support residents and visitors when a very bad thing happens. It’s a certainty (that a subduction zone earthquake and tsunami will eventually happen). It’s just a matter of when.” He says the committee, in its collaboration with officials from Tillamook County and from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries has learned much. To date, they have drafted a signage plan, reviewed it with Tillamook County and applied guidance from DOGAMI. The current draft calls for increasing the 10 wayfinding signs currently pointing the way to safety to 70 to 80. The new signs, as recommended by DOGAMI, will also be slightly larger. “We’ve made some adjustments after our conversation with the county,” Dennis said. “In some places, the county felt the (proposed) sign density was too high, (and) there were some questions on where right of way is and where we can plant signs. The county also had some feedback on the way to mark the inundation zone. You can mark the inundation zone with physical signs on posts, or, on roadways, you can lay down thermoplastic indicators. The county felt thermoplastic indicators are a better solution.” The second piece of the effort is assembly areas, which are defined as temporary locations where those escaping the threat of a tsunami can gather in safety. These areas also provide a location that emergency responders can focus their resources on. As part of the draft plan, there would be assembly areas on Hill Road, McPhilips Drive, Sandlake Road (between Woods and Town Lake), as well as in the neighborhoods of Pacific City Heights, and Pacific Seawatch and one near the Pacific City Transfer Station. The current iteration of the Pacific City wayfinding project began meeting in November 2020. Since that time, they have visited other communities on the coast such as Neskowin and Tierra Del Mar to see how they addressed wayfinding, have had discussions on what’s possible, and started the first draft of the wayfinding map and plan in March 2021. Following the meeting, a number of action items are on the table, starting with erecting the signs, which is expected to start in August. “The rate we’ll install the signs will (depend) on how much volunteer help we have,” Dennis said. “I think it’s going to be a phased in approach.” And on the slate for 2022 are practice evacuations. For more information, email Christopher Dennis at pcw@steaming-kettle.com.
VISIT US AT ANY OF OUR THREE COASTAL BREWPUBS
Join us for lunch and dinner at one of our three coastal brewpubs – Pacific City, Tillamook, or Cannon Beach. All three locations are OPEN with indoor and outdoor dining. Fly over and enjoy our newest seasonal Peach Trip, Ale with Peaches or Kreamsicle, an Orange Zest India Pale Ale. Visit PelicanBrewing.com to stay up to date on all our current offerings, hours, and dining options. Cheers!