Doug Sparks for NCRD Board Position 5

Submitted By: DebMuell503@aol.com – Click to email about this post
I’m happy to support Doug Sparks in his run for NCRD Board Position #5 in the upcoming election on May 25th!

I’ve gotten to know Doug over the past few years in his role as co-lead for Rainy Day Village and as an avid member of NCRD fitness over the last several years! Doug has impressed me with his passion for this community and the people in it, and his desire to be actively involved with programs that make a difference in the lives of many.

Dougs previous work experience managing a large campus serving 10,000 employees across 60 building, which included fitness centers, pools, child care, to name a few, supports the work he’ll be doing on the NCRD Board. He is currently sitting on the board, filling a vacancy for 1 year, so he is quite familiar with NCRD, it’s mission and future goals, and he very much wants to be part of the planning, implementing, and the continued involvement of community going forward.

I urge you to vote for Doug on May 25th! He’s an excellent candidate for Board Position #5!

Debbie

Vote Doug for NCRD Board Position #5

Submitted By: dsparks267@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Please vote for Doug Sparks for NCRD Board Position #5
– Proven Leadership: Retired Air Force pilot. Managed large corporate campus (similar to NCRD, but bigger!) – budgets, operations, diverse teams.
– Community/Volunteer Focused: Co-leads Rainy Day Village (helps seniors age in place).
– NCRD Dedication: 8-year member, frequent user, board meetings since 2023, appointed to the board last April.
– Board Achievements: Helped complete pool project, secured funding, and hired new leadership.
– Trustworthy: Doug will ensure NCRD is responsive, efficient, and delivers great recreation for all!

Interested in rainwater harvesting?

Submitted By: cnoling@watertechtransfer.com – Click to email about this post
Interested in harvesting rainwater? For potable use and/or irrigation… Need some help getting started? Want to design a full-scale system? Or maybe you just want to bounce your ideas off an expert?

www.WaterTechTransfer.com

I am a licensed Professional Environmental Engineer based in Nehalem, serving the North Coast from Tillamook to Astoria. I specialize in water supply, stormwater management and onsite septic. But rainwater harvesting is my passion!

Contact Cal at (503) 758-7532 or cnoling@watertechtransfer.com.

Volunteers Needed For The 2025 Manzanita Open

Submitted By: manzanitaopen@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Every year in May, our non-profit organization, The Eugene Schmuck Foundation hosts The Manzanita Open golf tournament to raise money for our local communities. The event started in the 1990’s, but in 1997, local philanthropist Eugene Schmuck helped transition the tournament to ESF. This move assured that the funds raised stay right here, in the North Tillamook County area. Since taking over, we have given away over 1.8 million dollars to many, many wonderful organizations that help others, to our schools, and through scholarships for graduating senior and alumni.

Our 2025 event will be May 16, 17, and 18th with lots of fun golfing, hanging out by the burger tent, games, door prizes, and raffles. Which is where you come in!

We need volunteers to help us put on the event. We are looking for volunteers for the following times and events. If you want to enjoy the great outdoors and support a worthy cause we would love to hear from you. Please email manzanitaopen@gmail.com with the event(s) and time(s) when you can help.

5th hole marshals – help keep up the pace of play on the fifth hole:
– Friday May 16 10:30am to 1:00pm
– Friday May 16 3:30pm to 6:00pm
– Saturday May 17 8:30am to 11:00am
– Saturday May 17 11:00am to 2:00pm
– Saturday May 17 2:00pm to 4:30pm
– Sunday May 18 8:30am to 11:00am
– Sunday May 18 11:00am to 1:30pm

5th hole selling drinks and snacks
– Friday May 16 3:30pm to 6:00pm
– Saturday May 17 2:00pm to 4:30pm
– Sunday May 18 8:30am to 11:00am
– Sunday May 18 11:00am to 1:30pm

6th hole – closest to the pin
– Friday May 16 1:00pm to 3:30pm
– Friday May 16 3:30pm to 6:00pm
– Saturday May 17 2:00pm to 5:00pm
– Sunday May 18 11:00am to 1:30pm

Chipping and putting contest
– Friday May 16 10:30am to 1:00pm
– Friday May 16 1:00pm to 3:30pm
– Saturday May 17 11:00am to 2:00pm
– Saturday May 17 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Community Pick-Up Basketball – All Adults Welcome!

Submitted By: delpha_32@hotmail.com – Click to email about this post
Looking for a fun way to stay active, meet new people, and shoot some hoops? Join us for Community Pick-Up Basketball — no teams, no pressure, just good vibes and great games!

When: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Nehalem Grade School Gym
Who: All adults, all skill levels – come solo or bring a friend!

Whether you’re a seasoned baller or just want to shake off the rust, come out and play. It’s all about fun, fitness, and friendly competition. No registration needed — just show up and bring your game!

Let’s ball!

Tillamook County Pioneer Week in Review 5/1/25

Submitted By: laura@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Tillamook County Pioneer Week in Review 5/1/25
https://youtu.be/2bCK8J4R4iw?si=pqnbSDWt2zYEKm_o

Orca Whales hunt in Tillamook Bay,
Miami-Foley has a one day shutdown, May 2nd
May is Wildfire awareness month,
Progress at the Nehalem Bay Health Center and
Gordon brings us his Mayday weather update.
For all these stories and much more check out the Tillamook County Pioneer’s web site at:
LINK – TCP web site = www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/
LINK – Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program = www.facebook.com/groups/1153518985090764/
LINK – ODOT = www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Pages/index.aspx
LINK – ODF = www.oregon.gov/ODF
LINK – NBHD = nehalembayhd.org/
LINK – LNCT = www.nehalemtrust.org/
LINK – Fire Mountain School = www.firemountainschool.org/

Jeff’s next raw honey “pop-up” is THURSDAY May 15th!

Submitted By: jwmerc@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Hi folks – I’ll be back in WHEELER on THURSDAY MAY 15th from at least 12-4 pm set up next to Handy Creek Bakery – on the north side of town. On hand will be all sizes of the delicious raw Wild Country Clover (not collected from farm pollination efforts) – VERY unique and something that won’t be seen again for awhile – $17 per pint, $28 per quart, $58 per half-gallon and $112 for a full gallon. Of course I will have real Vermont maple syrup jugs, the organic chocolate sauce, the organic northwest-sourced apple-cider vinegar – and more. Special requests welcome – I’ll do what I can but you would want to reach out to me SOON with those via text to my cell: 208-424-0042 – or via e-mail: jwmerc@gmail.com. Thanks in advance – we’ll see you on THURSDAY THE 15th on the north side of WHEELER!!! JW

Planters with colorful annuals and hanging fuschia baskets at the Nehalem Bay Garden Club sale

 

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Mom’s Day is coming up—need a gift? The Nehalem Bay Garden Club has over 30 planters and hanging baskets filled with colorful annuals and fuschias to sell at its upcoming Plant Sale.

The sale starts Saturday, May 10th at 10am and goes to 3pm. On Sunday, May 11th the hours are from 10 to noon. Location of the sale is 43080 Northfork Rd, Nehalem at the junction of Hwy 53 and Northfork Rd, with a horse sculpture in the front yard and real horses in the back yard. (Directions below)

This year we have more quantity than usual of shrubs, annuals and vegetables. We have about 500 tomatoes, lovingly cared for, and trees, herbs, ground cover and houseplants.

There are more Mother’s Day gifts and a raffle. 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.

Either day, 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.

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.

 

Free cabinets and more Friday 1-3

Submitted By: carolina@covebuilt.com – Click to email about this post
We are converting the former Nehalem Bay House assisted living facility into affordable senior apartments. The previous owner left behind quite a few items, and many of you came last week to claim them! But we still have more, and we’ve dismounted all of the old kitchen cabinets, sinks, and counters, so we’re having another free open house.

Friday, May 2, 1 to 3pm
35385 Tohl Ave
Nehalem, OR 97131

There’s lots of cabinets, sinks, countertops, a few rolls of carpet and flooring, commercial dining tables and chairs, other chairs, desks, bookshelves, 2 folding hospital type beds, and more misc materials and items. Everything is free! Please come only between 1 and 3, it is an active construction site during other hours.

Call for Writing & Art – North Coast Squid

Submitted By: writing@hoffmanarts.org – Click to email about this post
INK THE SQUID!

Submissions for the 10th Edition of the NORTH COAST SQUID are being accepted during our open submission window from May 1-31, 2025, for writing and visual art.

hoffmancenterforthearts.submittable.com/submit

The publication will be released in October of 2025 with a special release party celebration to commemorate the 10th Edition.

All submitters must have a connection to the North Coast to submit in the categories of Poetry, Nonfiction/Memoir, Fiction, and Visual Art. You may submit to multiple categories, and the $3 submission fee applies to each submission.

**For Young Writers and Young Artists (ages 18 and under), we have separate categories to accept submissions for writing and art with no submission fee. **

The North Coast Squid, A Journal of Local Writing, was first published in 2012 in collaboration with The North Coast Citizen and is now published by the Hoffman Center for the Arts Writing Program and our dedicated team of volunteers. This full-color literary magazine offers local writers and artists—as well as those who have a strong connection to the north Oregon coast—a way to share their work in print. We publish the North Coast Squid every other year in odd-numbered years, and 2025 marks the 10th Edition.

hoffmanarts.org/submissions/publications/

POSITION AVAILABLE: North County Recreation District Fitness Director

Submitted By: lauras@ncrdnehalem.org – Click to email about this post
The Fitness Director is a supervisory/management level position responsible for the planning, development, coordination, and supervision of the North County Recreation District’s (NCRD) fitness programs and facilities. Regular, full-time
Salary: Hiring Range is $55,000-$65,000
This position ensures the delivery of high-quality, inclusive fitness services that promote wellness and healthy lifestyles for individuals of all ages and abilities. The Fitness Director will oversee fitness staff, instructors, and operations of the fitness center, group exercise programming, personal training services, and wellness initiatives, while also contributing to strategic goals and community engagement. The incumbent must be able to create an inviting environment for a variety of age group participation. Job description and application at www.ncrd.org/about#employment
Please send application to JustinS@ncrdnehalem.org or bring them by the District in person. Accepting applications through 5/5/25.

Optimal Life Coaching For Teens and Young Adults

Submitted By: optimalcoachingservices@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Denise knows it is not easy navigating through life as a teenager. Whether you are challenged with peer relationships, school work, or adult relationships, as an experienced life coach and former school counselor, we can work together to practice real-life skills proven to help you overcome your challenges.

For the last twenty years, Denise has been working as a licensed school counselor specializing in the social-emotional wellness of teens. With her combined experience as a counselor and as a certified health and life coach, she is optimally prepared to facilitate goal achievement regarding both physical and emotional health for teenagers and young adults. With her Teen Confidence Life Coaching program, your teen will learn and practice real-life skills that will help them make significant changes in their life.

To learn more about Denise’s Teen Confidence Life Coaching program:
Visit her website at www.optimallifecoachingforteens.com

Complete an inquiry form below or form.jotform.com/240288386131053

Email Denise at optimalcoachingservices@gmail.com

News from the Nehalem Bay Health District

Submitted By: marc@nehalembayhd.org – Click to email about this post
Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy Update

For the week of: 4/28/2025

What to expect this week:

• Asphalt paving and sidewalk pours along HWY 101 4/28 – 4/29, expect traffic delays.
• Stormwater trenching and pipe install around perimeter of the building.
• Drywall finishing throughout Level 1 and Level 2 areas.

Major milestones on the project:

• Stormwater system install complete beneath HWY 101.
• Public sidewalk curb pour complete along HWY 101.
• Rooftop air handling unit craned onto low roof.

About the new Health Center and Pharmacy:

• The new Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy project remains on schedule with substantial completion expected by September 8, 2025. The facility should be in
operation shortly thereafter.
• Tillamook County is one of the most underserved areas in Oregon in terms of dental services, and by providing local dental care the new Health Center will be a major upgrade for the north coast.
• A number of Oregon foundations, including the Roundhouse Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, the Autzen Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust have generously contributed to the construction and outfitting costs of the new Health Center and Pharmacy. The support is very much appreciated.

Have questions?
• Email the Health District at: info@nehalembayhd.org
• Call: Kevin McMurry: 503-753-1185, Jake Werger: 971-221-5958 or Marc Johnson: 208-866-6864
• Visit the District website: www.nehalembayhd.org

Thanks BBQ! And can you please return our generator?

Submitted By: carolina@covebuilt.com – Click to email about this post
Thank you everyone for helping us clean out the former Nehalem Bay House today! We were so happy to see so many things go back out to the community and find new homes. Once we’ve done some demo we’ll be hosting another giveaway day, including cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and more. Keep an eye out in a week or two’s time!

In the chaos, someone very kindly took a generator from the fire alarm room that was supposed to stay in place. This is the backup power for the fire alarms in case of emergency, and we didn’t mean to include it in the giveaway. If this was you, we would appreciate getting it back! No hard feelings though, it was chaos this morning…

Thank you BBQ!

EVCNB’s Velda Handler Receives Honorable Mentions During National Volunteer Week

Submitted By: info@evcnb.org – Click to email about this post
evcnb.org/news-updates/velda-honorable-mentions-april2025
Our very own Velda Handler has been recognized during National Volunteer Week. Velda is EVCNB’s Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator and Shelters Division Lead. She also serves on EVCNB’s executive committee and board as Secretary.
Click the link at the top to read the full article.

Nehalem Bay Garden Club meeting next Tuesday April 29 1:30 Manzanita

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Hi everyone! At this month’s meeting, we are having a speaker from Northwest Oregon Restoration Partnership (NORP) come to discuss the ecosystem services of native plants and their propagation. He will give us an overview of their program and may even bring some seeds and a few surplus flowering perennials. Should be very informative. Hope you can all attend.

Nehalem Bay Garden Club meeting
Tuesday
April 29
1:30
Calvary Bible Church
Across from the Manzanita Library

Ideal Clean for Humanity Coastal Professional Cleaning services

Submitted By: Blu.idealclean@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
We are looking for new clients that are interested to ongoing residential cleaning services.
We also have 1 spot left open for a vacation rental if you are in need of a Housekeeping service.
We can help you with a large variety of things cleaning related and we are also able to haul away yard waste to the dump as well. It’s spring time, let us know if you want a carpet shampooing done or you windows cleaned.
Our names are Brice and Blu, please text or call during the day to set up a walkthrough estimate inspection. 971-389-6795
If you’re not in need of a cleaning service, please share this post out to other people here in the community or share it on your local social media pages.

Thanks so much,
Blu Moorman
971-389-6795
Blu.idealclean@gmail.com
Licensed* Bonded* Insured*

Need something done? A little or a lot? We’ve got this!

Submitted By: Mikey.tree@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Seeking odd jobs

Husband and wife team seeking odd jobs.
Trustworthy-Reliable-Efficient- Hardworking!
Yard care and cleanup, lawn mowing and weeding, maintenance, gutter cleaning, debris hauling, and dump runs! $50/hr
Nehalem, Manzanita,Tillamook Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, Arch Cape
Call or text 360-472-0638 (leave message and will get back to you ASAP)
email Mikey.tree@gmail.com
Thank you!

Manzanita 4th of July Parade

Submitted By: gjlewis2002@msn.com – Click to email about this post
PSSSSSTTTTT … have you heard the news?
Yep, you guessed it … REGISTRATION for the Manzanita Fourth of July Parade will open
on MAY 1st !!!!
If you want to walk (or ride, or stroll) in the best small-town parade EVER, come on over to our website AND register:
www.manzanitaparade.com
Be sure to read the ‘rules of the road’ … when you click the button to submit your registration, you’re agreeing to join us in true Manzanita Parade spirit.
The Manzanita Parade is a family-friendly apolitical celebration of community in which we commemorate our nation’s independence with joy and creativity. We ask that everyone, participant or observer, join us with that spirit in mind.

Hairstylist information

Submitted By: alourartist@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
To those who enjoy Myriah Mathews hair services, I am still working at J.Marie salon. And as of right now working Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Wanting to increase my days now that I am only driving back to McMinnville twice a month. You can book your appointment through my website at

www.alour-artist.com/

or you can send a text message at 503 503 5061 Thank you again for the continued support and friendship you share with me.

Gregory Lee Hightower

Submitted By: dillond@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Gregory Lee Hightower
Gregory Lee Hightower, 72, of Manzanita, Ore., died April 15, 2025, at his home. He was in hospice care, due to the spread of a rare cancer that first appeared in 2013. His wife of 48 years, Kathie, and his dear friend Daric Moore, were at his side when he passed.
Greg was born Nov. 6, 1952, in Oakland, Calif. to Jack and Naomi Hightower. The family moved with his father’s civil service work for the military. They lived in Japan when Greg was young, and in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he graduated from high school.
Greg graduated from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in 1974. He was a member of Delta Tau fraternity. He completed two master’s degrees.
Upon graduation Greg was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Police and served 30 years. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2004.
A fan of the popular Lee Child book series about a fictional retired Army MP major named Reacher, Greg liked to say, “I AM Jack Reacher,” as he had in fact served as a commander with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID), as a major. Greg delighted in pointing out all the inaccuracies in the Jack Reacher books and movies.
Greg’s Army career included Military Police assignments, CID, and Civil Military Operations in Germany. He was the S3 Operations Officer for an MP battalion during the conflict in Panama, and in the UN Protection Force during the conflict in Bosnia Herzegovina.
Greg served as the Professor of Military Science at Oregon State University. He later worked at ROTC headquarters at then Ft. Lewis, Wash., with additional assignments covering a wide area of the United States, Guam, Tinian and American Samoa, providing Junior ROTC oversight.
After retiring from the Army, a life highlight for Greg was attending the Oregon Culinary Institute for two-plus years at age 63, graduating from both the culinary and the baking programs. His family and friends benefited greatly from those skills.
Greg met his wife Kathie in Germany in 1977, where she was also assigned as an Army lieutenant. They moved a total of 19 times in their nearly three decades of military life. With amazing foresight (i.e. luck), they bought property in the Manzanita area in 1984 and moved there fulltime in 2006, involving themselves in many community activities.
Greg and Kathie traveled the world — all over Europe, Mexico, Indochina, India, China, Russia, and Peru. Even the Republic of Georgia and Lithuania. These were not bucket list trips for the couple to check off. The Hightowers would immerse themselves in the places they visited — talking to people, trying every bit of traditional food and drink, and spending active time in nature whenever possible.
Particularly memorable were numerous week-long kayaking trips off a base camp boat in remote British Columbia with family and friends, and a week of biking much of the country of Liechtenstein, crossing into Austria and Switzerland.
Greg was one of a kind, especially for an Army officer. He talked to everyone to get their life story and could make anyone laugh — even in way-too-tense war zone situations. He made everything into a fun adventure, from a meal to a house project to a trip. He was proud of the fact that he could get just about anybody dancing on his kitchen “dance floor.” As numerous people have said, “Greg always made me feel welcome, seen, and heard, and that is something for men in our generation.”
Greg is survived by his wife Kathie, sister Anita (Gene) Inzer, sister-in-law Nancy Hotter, brother-in-law Joe Hotter, nephews Justin Trudeau and Paul (Liz) Trudeau and their children, goddaughter Mary (Kenny Trowbridge) Beougher, and nieces-in-law, Jessica (Scott) Hotter, and Jocelyn Hotter.
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.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Performing Arts Center of the North County Recreation District in Nehalem on Saturday, May 10, from 2 to 5 p.m.
For information or questions, contact Kathie Hightower at 503-739-1505 or kathiejhightower@gmail.com. She welcomes any stories people may have about Greg.

You got something to say

Submitted By: micktaylorappraisal@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
MEN’S GROUP NORTH COUNTY
What: An inclusive and diverse Men’s Group
Where: 34610 Lodgepole Drive in Pine Ridge neighborhood
When: Second and Fourth Sunday of every month
Next : Sunday, April 27th, 3:00pm
Why: It is beneficial to experience a diverse circle of men – all ages – all walks of life – all points of view – let’s expand the possibilities
How: A few of us have been meeting for over ten years, others are new to the process. Each man adds to the gathering. We all have connection to a vast knowledge. The group intelligence is more expansive than the individual awareness. There is a great release and power in sharing our wisdom and vulnerabilities.
We are confidential.We are inclusive.We are diverse.New men are always welcome in this circle.Bring yourself.Be yourself.Add yourself to the mix – see what happens.
If you need directions or have questions call Michael at 503-616-6538

We listen and we speak with each other.