Submitted By: mbeach125@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
During the forty years since I first set foot in Manzanita, the community has changed for the better in many ways. We joined other voters in north county to create a recreation and fire districts. We approved bonds for a new pool in Nehalem, medical clinic in Wheeler, and middle school in Rockaway. We worked and voted as one north county community.
Manzanita city council and staff have made other good things happen. Laneda Avenue is no longer a rutted strip of gravel. The golf course will stay permanent open space. A new water tank and source of water have replaced the system developed fifty years ago. A walking path leads from downtown to the state park. A new visitor center close to the beach includes public rest rooms. In the mid 90s city council took an early lead in capping short term rentals, then taxing the STRs to ensure most local proceeds go for local needs. Most recently city council took the rare opportunity to buy a large, open space above the tsunami zone for a new city hall.
Business owners have added their energy with new restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, specialty stores, and a distinctive bank building.
Finally, individuals have changed Manzanita in ways many of us may not realize. Ted Erickson built the golf course and donated the land that’s now Classic Street. The Food Bank and Hope Chest both opened. Lloyd and Myrtle Hoffman donated land for the library building and used their estate to create an art center. The emergency corps, community trust, CARTM, history museum, and farmers market are all new. Pine Grove has had extensive repairs and upgrades. Over a million dollars in proceeds from two golf tournaments have supported programs in local schools. Riverbend Players has grown into popular community theater. All new in the last forty years. Volunteers catch spawned out salmon which ends up in cans for the Food Bank. The brand new NBCS. All started and grown by people with a vision and willing to work hard to make it happen.
Of course, a few things have happened that I didn’t want. And a few things I did want haven’t happened. That’s life. But on balance I feel lucky to have lived in north county almost half my life to take part in some of these changes and enjoy the results of all of them. I look forward to more positive changes during my remaining time here.
Mark Beach
Manzanita city council and staff have made other good things happen. Laneda Avenue is no longer a rutted strip of gravel. The golf course will stay permanent open space. A new water tank and source of water have replaced the system developed fifty years ago. A walking path leads from downtown to the state park. A new visitor center close to the beach includes public rest rooms. In the mid 90s city council took an early lead in capping short term rentals, then taxing the STRs to ensure most local proceeds go for local needs. Most recently city council took the rare opportunity to buy a large, open space above the tsunami zone for a new city hall.
Business owners have added their energy with new restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, specialty stores, and a distinctive bank building.
Finally, individuals have changed Manzanita in ways many of us may not realize. Ted Erickson built the golf course and donated the land that’s now Classic Street. The Food Bank and Hope Chest both opened. Lloyd and Myrtle Hoffman donated land for the library building and used their estate to create an art center. The emergency corps, community trust, CARTM, history museum, and farmers market are all new. Pine Grove has had extensive repairs and upgrades. Over a million dollars in proceeds from two golf tournaments have supported programs in local schools. Riverbend Players has grown into popular community theater. All new in the last forty years. Volunteers catch spawned out salmon which ends up in cans for the Food Bank. The brand new NBCS. All started and grown by people with a vision and willing to work hard to make it happen.
Of course, a few things have happened that I didn’t want. And a few things I did want haven’t happened. That’s life. But on balance I feel lucky to have lived in north county almost half my life to take part in some of these changes and enjoy the results of all of them. I look forward to more positive changes during my remaining time here.
Mark Beach