But after such a long wet spring it’s easy to overdo it.
If you have sore muscles from hiking, biking, gardening or just living life outdoors- now is the perfect time to get some bodywork!
We have massage & sauna appointments from Thursday- Saturday at North Fork 53 Communitea Wellness.
Enjoy the beauty of the river and the gardens while your muscles get the love they deserve!
But don’t take my word for it!
Here’s a recent review:
Ginger hosts incredible and inspiring events! To get to relish in experiences for the body and the spirit (in my case, it was a kelp scrub with sauna time plus an intimate renewal ritual), AND in such a beautiful space, was a rare treat indeed. Every detail was though of. I felt safe and held and joyous the whole time. I left nourished, refreshed, and inspired!
The farm—the land and all of the interior spaces— are artful, warm, inviting, and just damn gorgeous. Ginger and Brigham have poured their heart and soul into this place. If you have a chance, go!
-Bryonie
On behalf of North Tillamook Library Friends — which provides the building and grounds that house our library in Manzanita — I extend heartfelt thanks to everyone in the community who made our annual Memorial Day book sale one of our most successful ever. This year’s sale produced just over $8,000 in total revenue, which will enable Library Friends to keep our Library in tiptop shape. Our annual book sale truly was a community effort, from the hundreds of book buyers who came out on a rainy Saturday to snap up book bargains and make additional donations to Library Friends, to the three organizations that opened their doors to house the sale — Calvary Bible Church, Hoffman Center for the Arts, and Pine Grove Community House, to the more than 175 volunteers who worked on sale day and during the year of preparation for the sale. Overseeing all those volunteers was the volunteer-in-chief, book sale director Madeline Olson. The book sale exemplifies the exceptional community spirit in North Tillamook County, and underscores the motto of North Tillamook Library Friends: Building a Community of Learners Since 1987.
With deepest gratitude,
Steve Brier
President, North Tillamook Library Friends
www.upperleftedge.com/2018/03/28/survivors-lead-us-beyond-the-gunfire/
Managing Growth
At a Planning Commission Meeting a couple of months back, one of the Commissioners said something like this–just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. It’s one of those common sense things people say because we all recognize the truth when we hear it.
Like a lot of people, I’ve been following the hotel proposal for Dorcas and Classic because the developer is using the Ordinances for a Planned Unit Development in an SRR zone to build a 34 unit keyless hotel. The 3rd Street proposal for Heron’s Rest that was denied in 2017 was also a Planned Unit Development in the R-2 and R-3 zones so I’m interested in how the ordinances will be interpreted.
Concerned full and part time residents wrote letters to the Commission many giving specific places in the Ordinances that seem at odds with the proposal. One letter pointed to the mandatory language requiring more complete plans before approval. The letters were included in the public testimony at the Planning Commission’s May meeting. A group has formed and to join the email list you can contact: support@concernedcitizens.org
It seemed from the remarks of the Commissioners during the meeting that they also have concerns, which weren’t addressed by the applicant. It’s confusing to me why the Commissioners feel they need to approve applications that they aren’t satisfied with. If anyone should be able to say, “Hold up!” to a development, it should be the Planning Commission. Members of the public who attended the meeting thought there would be time for public comment, and it seemed the Chair thought so too, but public comments were closed at a previous meeting.
I believe there will be another chance for the public to speak at the next Planning Commission Meeting. I hope so because closing comments at public meetings when people are waiting to speak, shuts people out of the conversation. And, isn’t that what public meetings are all about? The opportunity to speak about something happening where you live.
There are quite a few groups springing up around town in the past few months. I think that might be in part because there haven’t been opportunities for us to have big discussions about things like short-term rentals, work force housing and so many other hot topics. When opportunities at public meetings to comment are closed, as they have been three times in the recent past, trust erodes.
It’s been weird to do all our city meetings via Zoom–very necessary, but weird! Since we changed to the Webinair format, we no longer have the ability to know who is at meetings, where they live, who has their hands raised to speak and who is chosen to speak. The introductions we used to do at in-person meetings aren’t possible, when there’s a big turnout at a virtual meeting. It would take up all our time to introduce everyone if 80 people were in attendance. But I wonder if there’s another way to make the Webinair more transparent to those watching. Otherwise it’s like watching TV. It doesn’t feel public.
This keyless hotel proposal on Dorcas and Classic has really stirred the pot. Maybe because Planned Unit Developments are bigger than a couple of houses. Maybe because they impact density in areas that are residential. Maybe because the Planning Commission seems unable to deny applications they find problems with. Maybe because, as it stands, there won’t be an on-site manager 24/7. Maybe just because things are changing so fast all over town.
I spoke with someone who thought I was against growth. I’m not. I’d like to see growth that supports a sustainable community with housing for people working here, services and goods that support people who live and work here full and part time–that kind of thing. She said we don’t need to stop growth but we need to manage it. I agree. But to manage growth we need a plan that takes into account reality and what our community really needs to survive and thrive. There are limits to what the land and our town can carry. The watershed, the infrastructure like roads and storm water management–all these resources have a limit.
I believe that the plan we have to manage growth is the Comprehensive Plan, the primary land use document on record with the State of Oregon and on the City’s website. The Ordinances and the Plan have drifted apart over the years but that doesn’t matter. When push comes to shove it’s supposed to be the Plan that solves disputes.
At the coming Workshop from 3-5 on Wednesday, June 8 after the National Hazard Mitigation Plan agreement is presented, our City Manager will lead a discussion about Community Outreach and Engagement. I’m looking forward to hearing new ideas for a fresh approach from our community! Hope to see you there!
Kim Rosenberg. loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
The girls are working on overdrive! Come get your colorful eggs! Take them home to your friends and family as gifts!
Thank you so much for all of your support and positive words! They are the best!
40520 Anderson Rd. Off North Fork.
The summer season is upon us! Ready to have someone take the cleaning off your hands? Spend more time with your family and friends?
We are here for you. We do weekly cleans, bi-monthly, monthly, whatever you need for your home and vacation rental. Please give us a call. 503-717-2585.
Thank you!
Questions? Please reach out to Executive Director Dondi. Dondi.cortinas@ncrdnehalem.org
Please come to the Manzanita Farmers Market and show your support for change by signing this petition. We will be near the entrance and you must be a registered voter in Oregon to sign and be counted. Please spread the word to those who may not have access to the BBQ. I see this initiative as common sense in part by requiring a permit to purchase, stricter background checks and limiting magazines to a maximum of 10.
IP 17 Summary (full text at www.lifteveryvoiceoregon.com)
REDUCTION OF GUN VIOLENCE ACT
All firearm purchasers will need a permit to buy a firearm. Before issuance, the permit applicant must successfully complete a background check (regardless of how long it takes), as well as pass both a firearm safety training class and a live-fire training session, as those terms are defined in IP 17.
The permit is valid for 5 years. Whether the seller is a licensed dealer or unlicensed seller at a gun show, at the time of purchase, a current, valid, permit must be presented and a background check must be successfully completed before any firearm is turned over to or received by the purchaser.
Restrictions are also imposed upon purchase of the certain ammunition. No magazines over 10 rounds can be purchased or sold after the effective date of the Act and those already owned on that date are restricted to the owner’s sole use on personal property, at shooting ranges, competition and lawful recreational activities such as hunting, provided they are transported to such locations in a locked container separate from any firearm. Sale or transfer of large-capacity magazines to others is prohibited, except, within 180 days of the effective date of the Act they may be sold or transferred to a licensed dealer or permanently altered to only hold 10 rounds or, at any time, turned in to law enforcement for destruction.
Manufacturing of large-capacity magazines or sale by a dealer is also prohibited, except for military and law enforcement purposes.
The penalty for violation of this law is a Class A misdemeanor or, in some instances, if the violator has one or more prior convictions at the time of the charge, the penalty is a Class C felony.
I live in a neighborhood that now has many houses. This is in it contrast to earlier times when houses sat amidst a number of bare, empty lots. In the early beginnings, neighbors would dump grass clippings and pulled weeds in a mutually used “compost” pile. Over the past two decades that evolved into also having a burn pile. As years progressed so did the quantity of houses utilizing the pile as did the size of the pile. In recent years sometimes the pile could reach before ignition more than 8-10 feet high. Maybe you can imagine how high the flames go when a pile of dry wood this voluminous is ignited. Alder and Spruce woods as well as houses are adjacent to the burn pile. Although burns are usually responsibly attended, the burns have became increasingly dicey.
Adjacent trees, bushes and grasses are frequently much drier than our region formerly experienced. The number of houses contributing to the burn pile has grown exponentially. And as seems so common with “privileges”, use of the burn pile over time has escalated from use to overuse. A “burn pile” that initially contained fairly insignificant shrub trimmings that were a little too woody for the “grass clippings” compost pile began to morph into something else. People began dumping lumber of old fences; rotten house trim, enormous tree branches; even a number of large diameter 8-10 foot drift wood logs that were a discard from a landscape redo. Flames from the pile could soar many, many feet above the pile. The prevailing wind is usually right toward the dry nearby forested area. And when it is beyond burn season, the pile of dry incendiaries just accumulates higher and higher. One year a short term vacation rental idiot dumped their smoldering charcoal briquttes at the edge of the dry pile!
Many members of the Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue including the fire chief were recently in our neighborhood on an unrelated fire call. Since they were here I asked their opinion if my concerns about the burn pile were legitimate or just that of a “bitchy” old lady. It turned out that the burn permits that had been issued for the pile each year were a misunderstanding. They simply gave permission to the person to whom they were issued to conduct a burn on their own individual home lot and to burn only material that had originated on that same individual lot. The understanding of those that thought the permit allowed this “neighborhood” burn was totally incorrect. Turns out, permit or not, the burn pile as practiced is totally against state law.
Today, my neighbor and president of an adjacent HOA was outside near my home. The members the of HOA are the predominant users of the burn pile insist that the burn pile They act as if the burn pile is a grandfathered entitlement. Ironically the burn pile isn’t even located on their land ( it would block their view to have it on their land).
So back to today, I heard the HOA gentleman talking to some hired workman. The workman commented how they would deposit to the burn pile the rotted wood they had just pulled off an HOA shed.
It is less than a week since I had informed the HOA president’s wife about the news of the burn pile being illegal. She had said she would inform him. When I heard him reply “OK” to the workman I came out to speak to the HOA gentleman to inquire if he knew that the burn pile could not continue. That it turns how it is an illegal practice.
He mentioned he had heard about this; however, the burn pile is very convenient, he insisted. He added that since we had a grass clippings pile we pretty much needed to also have a burn pile. (Stunning logic, don’t you think). I suggested that perhaps we could organize as a neighborhood to create both a means and an ongoing schedule, for example, to haul branches etc to the local recycling station. Even if it were legal, which it isn’t, the days of open burn piles is discouraged these days not just to reduce carbon footprint but also as fire prevention safe practice. I asked if he could consider to use his influence as the HOA president to help our neighborhood transition to a better practice.
His comments were that the burn pile would continue but was maybe going to be slightly relocated. He reiterated that they have a burn permit. I reminded him that the fire chief himself had said that was an illegal use of the permit. The HOA fellow’s comment was: “that is open to debate”. I inquired who was the debate with since according to our local fire chief it was completely against state law and not debatable at all. The HOA president’s comment was, “Well, we like to break state law”.
I asked the Manzanita Police about the display and was told it falls under the Freedom of Speech Amendment.
Oh well; the First Amendment applies to traitors and liars as well, but this dishonorable display is insulting to all of us; not just our veterans.
I am a Vietnam War combat veteran. This is Memorial Day weekend, a time to honor those fallen serving our country. Men in my squadron were killed and a few spent years as Prisoners of War. RIP Dick Keirn, Cham Chesnutt, Mike Schwan, Ben Ringsdorf, Marty Massucci and Chuck Scharf.
I know that the family that runs the restaurant has nothing to do with the insulting flag display and I shall continue to eat there. I hope that others will continue to enjoy the fine food they provide and ignore the un-American display outside.
My name is Brad Mayerle and I am announcing my candidacy for an open position on the Manzanita city council.
Our city is at a crossroads and the November election offers an opportunity to choose a better path forward. We need a clear vision for the future and better planning to help us get there. We need elected leaders who are transparent in their work and accountable to the people they represent. We need action, and a sense of urgency. I can offer that.
In talking to my friends and neighbors, watching city council meetings and reading local stories and social media posts, it’s clear our city has lost its way, putting the interests of visitors and developers above the concerns of the people who live here. Our current path, with its dependence on tourists and short-term rental income, is not sustainable. We need a better balance: a diverse and vibrant community that welcomes visitors, but first and foremost, meets the needs of the people who call Manzanita home. Our future and quality of life depend on it.
A little about me. I’m 58, married to my wife Jennifer for 25 years, and we have a 23 year old daughter, Sophia. We have a big, young, adopted yellow lab with too much energy named Colonel Mustard. I enjoy everything outdoors, be it clamming, crabbing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, even yard work.
My family bought a second home in Manzanita more than 20 years ago. We enjoyed being welcomed into the city and neighborhood enough to make it our permanent residence five years ago. While things have changed since we first bought our place, I believe our city is a wonderful place and has enormous potential for the future.
Prior to my retirement a year ago, I was a dentist in Lake Oswego for 28 years, leading a staff of 15 wonderful and talented employees. We made a difference in our patients’ dental experiences and that makes me proud. Patients trusted me to hear their concerns, to diagnose their conditions, and to explain options for their health. These decisions involved listening to patient wants and worries, proposing a resolution, and implementing a plan that would satisfy their needs and budget. While not directly analogous to the role of a city councilor, many of the skills for success are the same: the ability to listen, think critically, create consensus, and execute a plan to accomplish the goal.
I didn’t plan on seeking elected office when I retired. To the contrary, my plan included laying low, fishing, working in the yard, and enjoying the perks of living in this beautiful community. But I believe in public service and in making a difference however we can. I’d like to do that in Manzanita – to bring people together to address the issues we face. I’ve heard your concerns about livability, the ongoing city hall drama, closing trails to access the beach, dune grading, loss of wildlife habitat, and construction noise. And I believe there are solutions—that we can find common ground if we work together earnestly and respectfully.
I know change can be difficult, even scary. But it can also be refreshing and fruitful. I feel well positioned in this endeavor by many members and organizations in our community that have offered their support. I believe that really listening, being genuine and educated on the issues—combined with my pragmatic approach to solving problems—can lead our city to a better place. That is how I plan to run my campaign, and if given the privilege to represent you, how I plan to serve you in council.
Finally, if you see me out and about, please introduce yourself and let me know about your concerns and vision for Manzanita. I want to hear from you! I welcome and look forward to our interactions.
All the best,
Brad
Take care of pets
Help you with small projects (decluttering ace)
Play a house concert (folk music/singalong)
Engage in conversation
Play chess
Things I haven’t thought of but you might need a hand with.
Bringing you hither and yon
Gardening
Bringing things from Portland to beach
I am conscientious, and a clear communicator.
Monkey Pox ?
Dr. Malone explains:
You can help with the map creation and data collection by taking the speed test at:
www.fasterinternetoregon.org/
The test took me less than a minute and I found our speeds here in the Nehalem Valley are dismal, around 12Mbps.
This mapping effort will make sure funds go to communities that need better internet access.
This is the third Community meeting that the Cannon Beach City Council has invited citizens to share their ideas on how to turn this asset into an energy efficient and code compliant model community center that will serve residents for many years into the future.
Based on actual construction costs to date just for the School, it appears that total remodel cost will be less than $2 million for 5,000 square feet of space. This compares to the $4.9 million estimated cost in April 2021 that the City Council used during its Manzanita Listens community outreach for a 6,500 square foot new build project.
Facts would suggest that the total costs of a remodel option of a structure exactly similar to the Underhill School with respect to age, structural design, size and existing condition taking place as we speak 15 miles north of Manzanita is a very cost effective option.
Remodel Advantages: Less total project cost Less financing cost Less long term debt
Less environmental impact Preserves an example of Manzanita architectural history Allows funds to be used for other needed City infrastructure projects Preserves space on the Underhill property for other community uses.
Manzanita Listens concluded that cost was by far the most important consideration in building a new City Hall. Read about the project here: tinyurl.com/2p93vtjk
“(c) ‘Student bathroom’ means a bathroom that is accessible by students, including a gender-neutral bathroom, a bathroom designated for females and a bathroom designated for males.
“[(2)(a)] (2) Each public education provider shall ensure that both tampons and sanitary pads are available at no cost to students through dispensers located in [at least two] every student
[bathrooms] bathroom of every public school building.
“[(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, if a public school building has only one student bathroom, both tampons and sanitary pads must be available at no cost to students through dispensers located in that bathroom.]
House Rep Ricki Ruiz, a Democrat sponsor of the bill who called for the removal of gender language, stated that “not all people who menstruate are women.”
The Sponsors of the “Menstrual Dignity Act” were the following elected officials:
Representatives
• Ricki Ruiz (D) District 50
• Dacia Grayber (D) District 35
• Anna Williams (D) District 52
• Andrea Salinas (D) District 38
• Lisa Reynolds (D) District 36
• Julie Fahey (D) District 14
• Teresa Alonso Leon (D) District 22
• Courtney Neron (D) District 26
• Maxine Dexter (D) District 33
• Jason Kropf (D) District 54
• Ken Helm (D) District 34
• Khan Pham (D) District 46
• Rachel Prusak (D) District 37
• Janeen Sollman (D) District 15
Senators
• Chris Gorsek (D) District 25
• Lew Frederick (D) District 22
• Kate Lieber (D) District 14
• Deb Patterson (D) District 10
Republican Christine Drazen voted in favor of the bill as did many Republicans
* According to a Gallup pole 5.6% of population is LGBTQIA+ look up the definition of LGBTQIA+
Please come get your beautiful, colored eggs! The girls are just going gang busters! Lot’s of eggs 🙂
40520 Anderson Rd., Nehalem
Thank you for your support!!
We are here for you to make your house or vacation rental shine. The season of visitors is here! Or, to help you relax and take the cleaning work off your hands.
We do weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or whatever your cleaning needs are.
Just give us a call 503-717-2585
Thank you!
Please donate anything that you can to A Just Right PAC at ajustright.org. Every dollar counts and goes directly to costs. We are registered with the state and you can see expenditures listed on Orestar.
Thank you!
Having been encouraged by the Council to become informed and involved in the important issues of how the City develops its Budget, I carefully examined the FCS Indirect Cost allocation Study that the Council has relied upon to move $213,000 out of City Water Funds for City Hall staff services for the next Fiscal Year Budget now under discussion.
I noted a small footnote at the bottom of page 6 of the FCS study that stated “FTE (Full Time Equivalent) support for the Parks Department, Roads Fund and Water Operating Fund is provided by the Public Works Department and are based on detailed employee timesheet records for the 2021 calendar year.”
Apparently our Public Works employees do take the time to document how they spend their day working in their three different areas of responsibility resulting in a very accurate accounting of their time for Budgeting purposes. We are told that City Hall staff can’t be bothered to fill out a similar timesheet to record just the one activity of time they spend daily assisting the Public Works Director manage the water utility. Why use a simple and direct approach to gather the information you are interested in like other City employees have to do when you can hire a consultant for $30,000 to create a complex model to get you an answer more to your liking?
Wanting to make sure that I fully understood how the FCS Study came to its indirect cost conclusions, I made a public records request for a blank timesheet that our utility workers fill out to document how they spend their time in maintaining our streets, parks and water system. I was informed that this request would require one hour of a City Hall staffers time and a charge of $43.07.
Thinking that there must be some misunderstanding of my request, I clarified that I only wanted to see a copy of a blank timesheet that apparently is readily available and in regular use by Public Works employees. Sorry, 1 hour of staff time and $43.07 payment to get a copy of a blank timesheet.
Maybe the City should rewrite its invitation to the public by saying it encourages citizens to become informed and involved in these important issues, but if you need information other than what we want you to know, be prepared to open your checkbook.
Public Hearing on next year’s Budget is May 18th at 6 pm. Come ask your questions, there’s no charge. us02web.zoom.us/j/86345266710