Thank you.
Stay with me.
As someone who worked in mental health for years, I have the deepest respect for therapy. It can be absolutely life-changing, life-saving, and the exact right space for teens working through trauma, depression, or more complex emotional struggles. Therapy is sacred, and I’ll always advocate for it when it’s needed.
But here’s what I’ve also learned after working with hundreds of teens:
Some of them don’t need more therapy. They need more tools.
Sometimes what they need is for someone to show them how to breathe through it, set boundaries with their phone, walk into social situations with confidence, navigate complex friendships, etc. They don’t always need to dissect their past—they need to be guided in building their future.
And that’s where coaching shines.
Coaching is proactive. It’s action-based. It’s the difference between “Let’s understand what happened” and “Let’s decide what happens next.” As a coach, I don’t diagnose—I equip. I help teens develop emotional strength, daily habits, and confidence in real-time, in real life.
Think of it like this:
Therapy helps you heal.
Coaching helps you grow.
And many teens need both at different times. One isn’t better than the other—they’re just built for different roads. My job as a coach is to meet a teen where they are and help them move forward with practical strategies they can actually use—not just in the safe space of an office, but at lunch, in class, at home, and online.
So what if we stopped seeing mental health support as one lane?
What if we honored both paths—healing and growth—and gave teens the tools to walk whichever road they’re on?
If you’re curious about how coaching can support your teen—or if you’re a teen who’s feeling stuck and just wants someone to walk beside you and hand you a few solid life tools—I’d love to connect.
You don’t have to choose one or the other. You just have to choose what helps. Let’s talk.
Www.optimallifecoachingforteens.com
Email: optimalcoachingservices@gmail.com
Neahkahnie School Superintendent, Dr. Tyler Reed gave an informative and lively presentation last week at the Manzanita Pine Grove Community House, highlighting the financial challenges our school district faces, and the need for a local school levy.
In short, revenues from logging are falling in Tillamook County, and our schools face a $2.7 million deficit. To maintain a high level of educational support for our students, our schools need a new funding source. Please visit the links below to learn more, and be sure to vote YES on Measure 29-184
nknsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mailer-4-25-1.pdf
nknsd.org/levy_calculator/
Sincerely
Mark Kuestner
Manzanita
Craft Workshop: Your Own Flag to Raise
June 14 | 10:00am–4:00pm
Ages 16+ | $10
with Jessica Rehfield
During this craft workshop, design and make a unique identity flag and discuss the power of representation and visibility! Learn design and fabrication to make an individually sized flag to represent you.
Printmaking for Teens
Visualization + Tetrapak Printing
June 18 | 1:00–5:00pm
Ages 14–18 | $10
with artists James L. Tucker & Jessica Harrison
Tap into mindfulness and creativity through visualization meditation and sustainable printmaking! Teens will explore abstract drawing and learn Tetrapak printing—a technique using upcycled materials to make unique, textured art.
Wild Blue Worlds: Cyanotype Workshop
Exploring Art & Nature with Sunlight
June 24 | 10:00am–2:00pm
Ages 8–11 | $10
with artist Iris Sullivan Daire
Kids become sun-powered alchemists as they create magical cyanotype prints on paper and fabric using plants, found objects, and silhouettes. This playful workshop blends art, science, and storytelling under the summer sky!
Space is limited — register now! Fee waivers are always available, please inquire at info@hoffmanarts.org.
I pointed out that the case for the Q hut being eligible for City and County TLT funds for rehab would be easy given its potential to enhance the Farmer’s Market activities. An indoor space for local artisans and vendors for Saturday market activities including expanded space for the Hoffman Center for arts and performance activities year round would additionally be possible to satisfy the funding requirements as a tourism related facility.
Local benefits included the fact that our Public Works loved the covered storage space the building provided for its equipment. And don’t forget how the EVC told us when the Underhill site was purchased, it would serve as the City site to shelter displaced locals and visitors in the event of disaster. 3,200 square feet of covered space would have been a nice addition to the EVC ability to fulfill this promise.
The costs to repair and remediate the structural issues with the Q Hut were estimated to be $260,000. Manzanita currently has almost $1 million dollars in its Tourism Fund that has to be spent on tourism related projects like the Q Hut and it struggles to spend that existing $1 million with another $285,000 forecast to be collected this budget year. Tillamook County Tourism is also begging cities to apply for annual grants for projects to pass out the growing surplus of funds that it must distribute.
Our Council could have saved an interesting architectural structure that preserved a piece of Manzanita’s history, saved $40,000 in demolition costs and kept a facility that provided all of the above community benefits that was totally paid for by visitors. Somehow the practical and financial logic of that decision escaped our City officials.
This matter reminds me of the quote that citizens should be concerned when leaders who have all the facts and proper information and still make the wrong decision.
Randy Kugler
Here is Riley Gaines (below) in her own words. I find her to be well-spoken, kind, and, although she is a Christian, very much based in scientific reality. She fights to keep men out of women’s sports. You see, she was the number one college female swimmer in the world, then a man with a penis showed up in the locker room and, after making all the women athletes feel awkward as hell, he then went on the win the college women’s swimming championship! Now he has a gold medal for winning the women’s championship AND he has a penis!!! Talk about accomplishments!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-kinevyxJg
Riley was scheduled to speak at PSU, but members of the trans community would have none of Riley’s logic and reason!
Luckily, there are still some folks good enough and brave enough to be cops in Wokeland and several of the violent protestors were arrested!
Thanks for coming to Wokeland Riley! Wish I coulda heard ya talk!
BONUS!
Here is a geo-engineering conference at University of Washington that might have been of interest to folks! Unless of course you STLL don’t believe that SAI is happening in Tillamook and Clatsop counties…
And remember to look up and investigate the Johnson Near Space Center in Tillamook!
phil.washington.edu/news/2017/10/23/geoengineering-political-legitimacy-justice-conference
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Christy’s collaborative work with other local businesses and the non-profit HUGGS has breathed life into our city at critical times. Much of her volunteer work has focused on recognizing our local teens; providing them opportunities, encouragement, and fun.
Our local teens are one portion of our community who are underserved at our local recreation district, and I am confident that Christy’s contributions can improve this. I also look forward to the great potential that her presence on the NCRD Board will bring toward fostering a closer partnership between the City and NCRD, which has historically existed since the district’s inception.
I am voting for Christy because she is in-tune with the pulse of the community. Christy Kay has the spirit of North Tillamook County and the best interest of the community close to her heart. She will offer much both programmatically and fiscally to support the mission of the North County Recreation District, as well as for the people it serves.
Phil Chick
Mayor
City of Nehalem
The Nehalem Bay Garden Club’s annual plant sale is this coming weekend!
On Saturday, May 10th the hours are from 10-3 and on Sunday, May 11th from 10 to noon. Please no early entry. Location of the sale is 43080 Northfork Rd, Nehalem at the junction of Hwy 53 and Northfork Rd. (Directions below.)
Since it’s Mother’s Day weekend, bring mom out to shop or take her home some flower plants, veggies, planters filled with colorful flowers or gifts.
Or perhaps buy her some raffle tickets. There are 3 items in the raffle this year: a ceramic planter with Lavatera shrub and annuals valued at $50; a composite/plastic planter with Fuschia and annuals valued at $60; and a Vermihut Plus 5 Tray Worm Composter valued at $100. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 6 for $20.
On Saturday only, bring your children and your tools. There will be a hands-on nature related activity for the kids and the Sharpenator will be there to put a new edge on your tools.
As always, there are all kinds of plants: hanging baskets, planters with colorful flowers, perennials, annuals, vegetables, tomatoes, shrubs, trees, herbs, ground cover and houseplants at reasonable prices. We have lots of tomatoes for you in 8 different varieties.
No matter which day you come, to help assuage hunger in our communities, please bring canned food and/or personal care items when you come. All will be donated to the North County Food Bank.
We encourage you to pay with cash or check and to round up! Nehalem Bay Garden Club donates proceeds from the sale to local organizations that share the Club’s mission. Credit cards will be accepted.
Past recipients include Food Roots, The Wonder Garden at the Hoffman Center, Alder Creek Farm, Coyote Ridge Community Garden, Nehalem Bay Health Center, Tillamook Early Learning Center, North County Food Bank, Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church for their food programs, Nehalem Elementary Garden Program, and the mural at Nehalem City Park. The Club has awarded a total of $17,800 in grants since 2020.
Directions:
Start at the blinking light in Nehalem at 7th Street, which turns into N Fork Rd and go 5 miles to the end of N Fork Road. The sale is on the left. If you are coming from the north, you will turn left at the blinking light; if from the south you will go straight instead of continuing on Highway 101.
For a glimpse at last year’s sale please check out this video by Julie Stratton.
Pick up at the Manzanita Police Station on Saturday, May 10, between 1:00 – 1:30 PM.
Click the link at the top to see what’s available.
Order now!
Mark it on your calendar. Come join us for the North Coast Veterans for Peace meeting.
Lots to talk about. The following is the info you’ll need for the VFP meeting:
Thursday – Thursday, May 8th
Time – 10:30 am PST or PSD
Place – Library in Manzanita – 571 Laneda Ave, Manzanita
Everyone is invited, you need not be a veteran to attend. Really looking forward to seeing everybody. If you can’t make it in person, you can always zoom via the following link
Veterans for Peace is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
us06web.zoom.us/j/87254740556?pwd=7rvDylDeoWZEIwrmAyp05UnohIGDm8.1
Meeting ID: 872 5474 0556
Passcode: 333942
Brian
971–977-9880
$25 Cash
Holly
Call or text
(503)799-5758
A Celebration of Life for Gregory Lee Hightower (1952-2025) will be held at the Performing Arts Center at the North County Recreation District in Nehalem on Saturday, May 10 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Doors to the theater will open at 1:30 p.m. We will have a slideshow running. The tribute starts at 2 p.m. There will be an opportunity to mingle with friends and share more Greg stories in the NCRD kitchen/gallery/fireside room from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with the slideshow shown again for those who missed it.
In lieu of flowers, and to honor Greg’s great love of rescuing cats, especially his feral Mr. Finn, and his love of feeding all birds and stray animals, the family requests donations to Animal Haven by the Sea at animalhavenbythesea.com. Or in honor of Greg’s love of nature, a donation to the North Coast Land Conservancy at www.nclctrust.org.
For information or questions, contact Kathie Hightower at 503-739-1505 or kathiejhightower@gmail.com. She welcomes any stories people may have about Greg, even if they come to you weeks after the event.
We have been in business here for 10 wonderful years helping with your cleaning needs. I have many years of experience with both private homes and vacation rentals, making sure everything is clean and running smoothly.
We do Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whenever you need cleanings for friends & family visits, for your home or Vacation Rental.
Please call 503-717-2585 to help you with your cleaning needs.
Thank you,
Thanks so much for all your support, everyone!!!!
I have 2 chest freezers for sale. Firm
One 21.5 x 19 x 32 $50.00
One 21 x 32 x 34 50.00
In excellent condition.
Thank you,
Calling everyone with a body, a curious mind and an open heart! No experience or fitness level necessary. There is no right or wrong way to do ecstatic dance! You are only asked to allow the music to touch you and to find in your body what wants to be expressed, to be released. You are there to do your dance, whatever that is, as it is, in the present moment. This is a practice meant to serve our authenticity, our fluid nature. Whatever you’re feeling, is where you begin. The world is so heavy and we all carry so much. Ecstatic dance is an emptying, a way to keep the heaviness from solidifying, a way to break up any calcification that has been with you, so that you can continue to show up again and again, renewed. It is an ancient path of resilience.
Ecstatic dance is so simple and so deep. Ecstatic dance is a conversation between your body and your spirit. It has the power to be holy. It is also simply incredibly joyful and freeing to dance with ourselves, with spirit, with each other. *That said, you are in no way expected or required to be in direct physical contact with anyone else. Some people enjoy a bit of “contact” dancing and those people will find each other. Everyone is actually encouraged to go within and dance from a place of deep listening and connection to self and spirit- near others doing the same.*
6- 6:30pm What is spirit dance, ecstatic dance, 5-rhythms? Bring your beginners mind and your questions! I, three-years into it, am a beginner too! I’ll give a little history and a little demo on Gabrielle Roth’s 5-rhythms ecstatic dancing , as I am beginning to understand it. This will also be a time to warm up, to stretch a bit.
6:30- 8pm Dance your grief dance, your joy dance, your compassion dance, your sacred anger dance, your acceptance dance, your gratitude dance, your I-don’t-have-any-idea-what-I’m-doing dance. Come dance your “right now, it’s like this” dance. Only you will know what that is, and whatever it is will be perfect!
Sliding scale $10-20
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Kids welcome and free!
We dance barefoot or in soft, “dance floor only” shoes.
No strong scents, please.
**Artist Unknown
$2500 plus utilities. Looking for a year lease to start.
Call or email Josh (texts are welcomed)
Josh.herbivore@gmail.com
503-314-1005
Happy to share more photos upon request.
1. Oregon DOT is responsible for herbicide spraying along Highway 53 (not Tillamook County as I previously wrote in the BBQ.) ODOT owns 30 ft from the centerline of the road and is responsible for twice annual herbicide spraying along the shoulders.
2. A no-cost annual No Spray permit from ODOT is required to ensure no herbicide is sprayed along your property. Signage alone does nothing. Permit must be filed in January to ensure no spraying in the Spring and for the second application.
3. The landowner has maintenance obligations identified in the permit in lieu of ODOT herbicide spraying.
4. To secure your annual no-cost No Spray permit, contact:
ODOT Permit Department
503.325.7222
5. ODOT will email you a permit to be completed. Permit takes a month or more to make it’s way to the maintenance department, so get your permit application into ODOT in January to ensure you are covered for the year.
