TEEN NIGHT at North Coast Pinball Friday April 19th, 6-8PM

Submitted By: Christy@cosmichealingnw.com – Click to email about this post
Hello BBQ Community-

Teen Night at North Coast Pinball is tomorrow night, Friday April 19th, from 6-8PM- FREE PINBALL and Games for ALL TEENS! Please spread the word and send your teens in for some free fun!

Contact Christy (503) 800-1092, or Christy@cosmichealingnw.com for info, questions, or to donate

Thank you!!

Drip, Drip, Drop

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Drip, Drip, Drop

Recent posts and op/eds about the water—monthly billing vs quarterly, why the rate increase, what about tiered usage, where does our water come from and what’s the deal between Manzanita and Wheeler—all made me curious. As is my custom, I’m writing in order to understand. I’ve included the sources I used at the bitter end. Let’s get going.

The last time the city raised the water rates was back in 2014. That council agreed to look at the rates every year to keep up with costs of operation, maintenance, and upgrades but it didn’t happen. It’s been nine years without an increase.

At the June 14, 2023, Council Work Session Director of Public Works, Dan Weitzel presented a water rate study and information about our water. It was clear we needed to catch up with those nine years of inflation and incentivize conservation among heavy users, not because we don’t have the water, but because it costs money to get water to your Slip n Slide.

This isn’t just a Manzanita problem. All over the country there are plenty of cities and towns that have failed to keep critical infrastructure like water systems, power grids, roads and bridges maintained and upgraded so stuff works and is safe. Probably because nobody wants to pay for them. Put things off long enough and you’ve got problems. Do everything on the cheap and you’ll eventually pay in unexpected and unpleasant ways.

We live in Manzanita where the annual rainfall is 81.5 inches according to Climate Data.org, but our water comes from wells on Foss Road. Wheeler has a 99 year lease and a water rights permit to share water with Manzanita as a Joint System. Wheeler pays their share of the costs of operations and maintenance based on the water they use which is about 19%. Water usage is divided between us based on each city’s percentage of the same type of dwelling units in each town. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) has two categories of charges. One is for stuff like permits, repairs, and labor, which is charged whether or not Wheeler uses any water, and the other charge is for the actual production of water Wheeler does use. That’s stuff like chlorine, electricity, and labor. They do that math on the last day of February by looking at the master meters.

On July 5, 2023, Manzanita’s Council approved a new rate structure with tiers for water usage that is only $7 more a month. It used to be that our bill was 39.50 for 4,000 gallons of water but the typical usage for a full-time two person household is a little less than 2,000 gallons. If the cap was still 4,000 gallons, the monthly charge would go to about $70 bucks a month to actually pay for the 4,000 gallons according to the utilities budget and the Oregon Association of Water Utilities.

So, if you use 2,000 gallons of water or less, you’re paying 47.56. Since we’re now billed monthly you can see right away when you’re using more water than usual. A neighbor of ours only discovered a major and expensive leak after receiving a big bill they weren’t expecting. I know others may disagree but we like a monthly bill instead of quarterly because we can fit $47.56 into our monthly bills better than we can fit 142.68 quarterly. But that’s us not everyone.

In the summer most people do use more water what with the Slip n Slide and the warm weather. For a few months in the summer the average household uses about 4,000 gallons so if you want to keep the water bill down you’ll need to be intentional and dare I say mindful about how much water you use. There are ways to conserve—using gray water to water plants, not watering in the heat of the day, using a drip system, doing laundry less often, fixing all the wonky faucets, only running the dishwasher when it’s full, bringing back the potty rule that, ‘If it’s yellow, it’s mellow. If it’s brown flush it down!”

If you’re a water hog you’re going to pay more, and you’ll be billed more but isn’t that how all of life is. You’ve got to pay to play, and water may fall from the skies here, but it is not free and it’s not infinite. Nothing in our world is except maybe our good intentions.

For those of us who garden, like a hot bath or a long shower and compulsively fill our bird baths and dachshund’s wading pool (oh my, that’s me) we’ll be billed 9.50 for each 1,000 gallons over 2,000 up to 5,000 gallons; $11 per 1,000 gallons from 5001 to 10,000 gallons and for folks using more than 10,000 gallons it will cost 12.25 per 1,000 gallons and that’s a whole bunch of water.

To make sure we don’t get in the hole again the rates will increase annually based on the consumer price index which will vary every year. Council will review the rates every year and do a water study every three years to keep on top of it.

The past is over, and the future isn’t here yet. We build it by making good choices about how we use what we have, and how we treat each other. If we plan on leaving anything behind when we exit stage left, we need to figure out new ways to live together using our resources wisely no matter how much money we do or don’t have.

Sources:

June 14, 2023, Special Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3jXaUP5zdY&t=36s

ci.manzanita.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Work-Session-Packet-061423.pdf

July 5, 2023, Council Meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcu2wzbFl6k&t=4s

Manzanita Today Newsletter archives issue July 10, 2023.

Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

COMMUNITY THEATER VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP, THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH

Submitted By: admin@riverbendplayers.org – Click to email about this post
-VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP, THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH, AT THE NCRD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN NEHALEM.

Help bring the magic of theater to life and join a welcoming community at Riverbend Players Community Theater!

www.riverbendplayers.org/volunteer

Hi there!

My name is Linda Makohon, and I’m the Volunteer Committee Chairperson for Riverbend Players Community Theater.

We’re a local theater company that produces high-quality productions for the Nehalem Valley.

We’re always looking for new volunteers to help us, and I’m excited that you’re interested in joining our team.

There are many different ways to volunteer with us. You could help with acting, stage crew, costume design, set design, marketing, or promotion.

No matter your skills or interests, we can find a way to use them to make our theater productions even better.

We’re a friendly, inclusive, and supportive group of people, and we would be honored to have you join us.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the form on our website or contact me at lmakohon@riverbendplayers.org

We look forward to hearing from you!

CALLING ALL BAKERS! JOIN THE TEAM AT WANDA’S CAFE + BAKERY!

Submitted By: frank@wandascafe.com – Click to email about this post
– NOW HIRING FULL AND PART-TIME BAKERY HELP
Do you have a passion for creating delicious pastries and desserts? Are you looking for a fun and fast-paced work environment? Then we want you!
Wanda’s Cafe + Bakery, a beloved local favorite, seeks a Bakery Team Member to join our growing team.
Responsibilities:
Prepare baked goods from scratch using our time-tested recipes. Maintain a clean and organized workspace.
Qualifications:
Previous baking experience in a professional or home setting is preferred. A passion for baking and a strong work ethic are essential. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent attention to detail and quality control.
Benefits:
Competitive wages and benefits package (dependent on experience). The opportunity to work in a fun and creative environment. Employee discount on Wanda’s delicious food and treats.
Do you have what it takes to join our team?
Send your resume, and tell us why you’d be an excellent fit for Wanda’s Cafe + Bakery, to Frank@WandasCafe.com
We look forward to hearing from you! –

Library Book Sale Call for Volunteers

Submitted By: susantone@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
We still need volunteers to help with set-up on Friday morning, May 24th. The work involves unboxing fiction or nonfiction books and displaying them on the sales tables. The work is well organized, relatively easy and a lot of fun. Volunteers have the opportunity to buy 5 books prior to the sale.
Not available Friday morning, but want to help? We have opportunities during the sale either Friday, from 4:45 PM to 7:00 PM or Saturday, from 8:34 AM to 12:30 PM or 12:15 PM to 5:00 PM. We cannot have a successful book sale without our volunteers!
If you can help, please contact Madeline Olson via email: allanmadeline@aol.com
Or text to 503-887-1112. If you worked at the 2023 Sale, you will be contacted again this year.
Thank You so much!

MEET A FEW FAB MANZANITA ON SALE SUNDAY!

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Posting for ketzel.levine@gmail.com
Please DO NOT reply to barbarandchuck@nehalemtel.net
Thanks.

We volunteers at the Hoffman Wonder Garden are pretty psyched about Sunday’s plant sale. That’s ’cause we know what’s on offer, 100 fabulous manzanitas and assorted native and worldly wildflowers you DO want in your sunny garden.

Here’s a few of the manzis we’ve got for you, the pictures below in the same order as these descriptions:

‘Howard McMinn’ – Whoa, is this guy handsome, ultimately 7′ tall and just as wide. You might think him a bit roly-poly but no! More like a pink-flowering, multi-stemmed small tree once pruned. As with all manzis, though, let him bulk up for a few years before revealing his shape.

‘St Helena’ – Big gorgeous Helena! Since she’s capable of 10’x10′, be sure to plant her in the open where she can flex her might and not be crowded by small fry. Wait for those white flowers, twinkling like holiday lights winter through early spring.

‘Harmony’ – Its name describes how you’ll be feeling about your garden when you add this easy-growing, floriferous rounded shrub. A good beginner’s manzanita, reaching – at most – 7’x7′ at absolute maturity, it’s super easy to tip back and keep smaller. Morning shade but aft sun? Go for ‘Harmony’!

Spa Manzanita – Locals Special Is ON!

Submitted By: maggie@spamanzanita.com – Click to email about this post
Spa Manzanita We Love Locals Discount is on again!

Spring Break is behind us and Summer is just a few short months away.

Self-Care is calling ☎ to remind you to take advantage of this time for some relaxation and restoration with a massage or facial, or try our new infrared sauna.

10% off all treatments and infrared sauna sessions for appointments mid-week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays).

Book online at spamanzanita.com or give us a text/call at 503.689.8679

Let’s make it a Tsunami of Food Cans!

Submitted By: info@evcnb.org – Click to email about this post
evcnb.org/events-and-training/food-drive-04272024
Time to practice your emergency evacuation and yellow radio skills. AND do some good for the community at the same time. Bring your cans of food (or monetary donation) with you and you’ll be doing yourself and others a favor.
Saturday, April 27 10am til 1pm

Tired of looking at grimy, stained surfaces around your property

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Posting for vpressurepros@gmail.com
Please DO NOT respond to barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net.
Thanks

Tired of looking at grimy, stained surfaces around your property?
Whether it’s your driveway, patio, or walkways, we will have them looking brand new in no time.
Say goodbye to unsightly buildup and hello to a fresh, clean finish!

Service area: Cannon Beach to Tillamook
Pressure Washing Services Include:

• Driveways
• Walkways
• Sidewalks
• Patios
• Decks
• Roofs
• Windows
• Gutters

Call today to schedule your pressure washing appointment!
Valley Pressure Pros
(503) – 440 – 2349
vpressurepros@gmail.com

TEEN NIGHT at North Coast Pinball Friday April 19th, 6-8PM

Submitted By: Christy@cosmichealingnw.com – Click to email about this post
Hello BBQ Community-

TEEN NIGHT is FRIDAY APRIL 19th, 6-8PM, at North Coast Pinball!!! FREE PINBALL and Games for ALL TEENS! Please spread the word, and send your teens in for some free fun!!!

Contact Christy (503) 800-1092, Christy@cosmichealignnw.com for questions, info or to donate!

Thank you!

Nehalem Bay Health District Board

Submitted By: marc@nehalembayhd.org – Click to email about this post
PUBLIC NOTICE

Nehalem Bay Health District Regular Board Meeting

3:00 PM, Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Location: Zoom remote video conferencing

This meeting is open to the public.

The Zoom link below is for members of the public who wish to attend

Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/83125890009

The Zoom link can also be accessed on the Health District website

For general questions or to request meeting information contact: info@nehalembayhd.org

AGENDA

1. Call to order

2. Consent agenda
a. Minutes of March 13, 2024 regular meeting
b. Financial report
c. President’s report

3. Presentation by Berry Dunn, the District’s CPA firm

4. Health Center/Pharmacy Project Update
a. Klosh Group and Scott Edwards Architects

5. Development of FY 2024-25 budget
a. Schedule
b. Consider new policy, revised District Policy
7.1 regarding Health District budgets

6. Formal receipt of independent audit

7. Public comment

8. Items for the good of the order

9. Adjournment

Tall & Statuesque? Broad & Muscular? Buy both Sunday!

Submitted By: ketzel.levine@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Come Sunday, when the doors open to shop for manzanitas at the Hoffman Center’s Manzanita Plant Sale (11AM!) , a little knowledge will go a long, long way.

Tall & statuesque? Broad & muscular? Big, medium, or groundcover? Let size and shape be your guide.

We’ll be selling a fantastic assortment of manzanitas, THIRTEEN different kinds. Insane! You’ll want to be sure from the get you’ve got the right plant in the right place ’cause these kids don’t like to be moved around.

Got a shady garden? Don’t buy a manzanita. Got overhead irrigation? Ditto. Soil super rich with amendments? Nope. Not gotta thrive.

But if you’ve got at least 6 hrs of sun in fast-draining soil without irrigation or fertilizer, manzanitas are your kind of plants.

Tomorrow on the BBQ: Meet A Few Manzanitas!

COMMUNITY THEATER VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH

Submitted By: admin@riverbendplayers.org – Click to email about this post

VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH AT THE NCRD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Help bring the magic of theater to life and join a welcoming community at Riverbend Players Community Theater!

www.riverbendplayers.org/volunteer

Hi there!

My name is Linda Makohon, and I’m the Volunteer Committee Chairperson for Riverbend Players Community Theater.

We’re a local theater company producing high-quality productions for the Nehalem Valley.

We’re always looking for new volunteers to help us, and I’m excited that you’re interested in joining our team.

There are many different ways to volunteer with us. You could help with acting, stage crew, costume design, set design, marketing, or promotion.

No matter your skills or interests, we can find a way to use them to make our theater productions even better.

We’re a friendly, inclusive, and supportive group of people, and we would be honored to have you join us.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the form on our website or contact me at lmakohon@riverbendplayers.org

We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at the NCRD Performing Arts Center this Saturday!

Fictional Soap Opera – The Tides of Manzanita

Submitted By: Wstone1991@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Episode 8 – The Break-In -Part One

In the heart of Manzanita, under a cloak of darkness pierced only by the occasional flicker of a street light, the tension mounts in “The Tides of Manzanita.” This suspenseful episode follows the daring nocturnal venture of the three allied women—Victoria, Ruby, and Shirley—as they embark on a mission to unearth the investigative report buried deep within the bowels of City Hall.

The night is eerily quiet, the silence a stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling within our protagonists. Victoria, the embodiment of vigilance, takes her position outside the cottage-like facade of City Hall, her cell phone clutched tightly in her hand, ready to signal any hint of danger. Inside, Ruby and Shirley, armed with nothing but their courage, a small handheld light, and thumb drives, navigate the labyrinthine corridors of power, their every step a whisper against the polished floors.

“Are you sure it’s here? Are you sure of the password?” Ruby’s voice barely rises above a murmur, her words a mist in the cold air.

Shirley, with a determination forged from months of silent dissent, moves with a purpose toward the city manager’s computer. “Yes,” she whispers back, her fingers finding the piece of paper taped beneath the desk— the key to unlocking the password to their quest. “I’ve seen the manager access it a hundred times.” Under the tape was scrawled the computer password – Powerful1. “It figures,” said Shirley, “No lack of ego in this office.”

The tension crescendos as Shirley’s fingers dance across the keyboard, the glow of the screen casting shadows that dance like specters across the walls. “There it is,” she breathes, a mixture of triumph and disbelief coloring her voice as she opens the file marked “My Eyes Only.” The room is filled with the soft clicking of the thumb drive, a modern-day Excalibur, as it captures the report—a testament to their fight for justice.

“Hurry, I’m as nervous as a cat,” Ruby hisses, her eyes darting toward the door, her instincts on a razor’s edge.

In that heart-stopping moment, the door flew open, and the lights blaze to life, banishing the shadows and exposing the intruders to the harsh glare of retribution. “What’s going on?” The booming voice, authoritative and incredulous, cuts through the silence like a knife. Ruby had heard the voice before at The Cove.

Shirley and Ruby, caught in the act, turn toward the intrusion, their faces a canvas of shock and fear. Shirley’s involuntary yelp pierces the tension, a solitary note of vulnerability in the crescendo of their mission.

And then, the reveal that leaves the audience gasping for breath—Victoria, their lookout, their guide, ensnared by two shadowy figures whose identities remain shrouded in mystery. The sight of her, held captive, her arm gripped tightly, is a tableau of unexpected twists.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, the fate of our heroines hanging in the balance, their mission, their bravery, and their very freedom caught in the web of Manzanita’s dark underbelly. Shirley and Ruby, their expressions a mix of fear and determination, stand frozen, their mouths agape, as they face the unknown adversaries who have turned their quest for truth into a nightmare.

What will happen next in this high-stakes game of power and revelation? “The Break-In” leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, their hearts in their throats, eagerly awaiting the resolution of this pivotal moment in “The Tides of Manzanita.” Tune in to next week’s episode, The Break-In Part Two, to discover the fate of Victoria, Ruby, and Shirley in the gripping continuation of their quest for justice.

KMUN Community Radio Drive on through Wednesday!!

Submitted By: caroltov@pacifier.com – Click to email about this post
KMUN COMMUNITY RADIO celebrates 41 years on the air this Wednesday April 17, last day of the pledge drive (though you may donate anytime!) Thanks to all who already pitched in and to you for considering doing so.

If you missed my earlier post, read below. Or just call 503-325-0010 or donate on line at kmun.org or send a check to KMUN PO Box 269, Astoria OR 97103. All donations give you a membership. Check out the kmun.org store for great merch including the fabulous Barbara Grant’s book of illustrations.

Membership accounts for the largest portion of our annual income and is what keeps us fully independent and commercial-free! We are incredibly lucky to have such strong support from the community.

It’s BIRTHDAY TIME (April 17, 1983) – and I’m writing to ask for your support – whether you’re a first timer or long timer, now’s a great time to pitch in. Individual Membership, Business Membership, Repeaters Club. All memberships support the station!

Call 503-325-0010 to donate over the phone.

Go to kmun.org and click the red donate button.

Mail a check to KMUN PO Box 269 Astoria OR 97103.

Stop by the station.

Independent media is KEY to a thriving democracy and culture. It’s a source of information, shared experience, expansion, enrichment, learning, and levity. And it’s rare these days!

COLLABORATION is at our core – other nonprofits, theaters, media and news outlets, musicians, artists, advocates, movers and shakers are all central to KMUN programming. Join in.

In case you’re wondering… Services & Resources Supported by Members:

– FM Broadcast from Ocean Park, WA to Tillamook, OR

– 2 Webstreams & the KMUN App

– 2-Week Archives of everything on the air

– Public Affairs Podcasts (including ARTS – Live & Local!)

– Local, Regional & National News

– Emergency Announcements & Information (Local & National)

– Hand-picked Music Programming

– Local Events & Opportunities Information (Community Calendar)

– Audio Production & Broadcast Trainings

– Sustainable Employment Opportunities

– Promos for Nonprofits

Hope you’ll join the pledge party. Call anytime (or go online), mention your favorite shows if you like, or any other feedback.

THANKS!!

carol

Host: ARTS – Live & Local! every Friday 3-4pm

41 year volunteer on the air, hoping to stick around for more

Support our veterans?

Submitted By: jamesk3nn3r@aol.com – Click to email about this post
I’m currently going through a legal battle with my “landlord ” who is a “disabled veteran “
He pulled a loaded firearm on me charged the gun and aimed it at my torso, did the cops take him to jail?
Of course not he’s a disabled veteran.

A little about me , I’m a military brat ” rugrat”
My dad, brothers , sisters aunts uncles , grandparents all served, so i say this with a heavy confused heart.
I’m sorry that you chose a career that you knew would cause you trauma, that doesn’t give you the right to treat people like shit, everybody goes through trauma , you are not special .
It is ultimately up to you to heal, nobody else

theveteranpro.com/no-one-owes-you-shit/

BOOK DONATIONS CONTINUE

Submitted By: susantone@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
North Tillamook Library Friends are continuing to accept donations of gently used books through April 30th for our annual booksale. Books may be left at the North Tillamook Library during open hours. If you have several boxes of books to donate, contact Madeline Olson at allanmadeline@aol.com to arrange for pick up or drop off. NOTE: We no longer accept self help books, travel books older than 5 years, reference books, or sets of books. Questions? Contact Madeline.

Manzanita STR Committee Openings

Submitted By: cityofmanzanitaoregon@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
The City of Manzanita is seeking members for the Short-Term Rental Committee. The City values community engagement and industry expertise in helping to balance the needs of the rental industry and the neighboring properties. The committee makes recommendations to the City Council on policy, weighs options for future STR livability opportunities, and helps to support STR outreach and educational information. The term is 4 years and the committee currently meets monthly on the third Friday of the month on Zoom.

Criteria for Committee members:
• Have a strong interest in representing and serving the broader community regarding STRs.
• The ability to balance the needs of the greater community regardless of personal needs or agendas.
• Be able to work in a collaborative and respectful manner, maintaining an open mind with solid listening
skills.
• Hear and appreciate multiple perspectives and ultimately reach a consensus on a variety of topics.
• Objectively review and provide input on qualitative and quantitative information.

We encourage you to apply!

The link to the application is:

Send applications to cityhall@ci.manzanita.or.us The deadline is: May 6, 2024, at 4 pm.

Salmonberry Trail Hikes in Wheeler

Submitted By: dan@tillamookcoast.com – Click to email about this post
The Salmonberry Trail Foundation will be hosting a series of hikes on two portions of the route starting in Wheeler.

There will be two hikes a day:

Short hike- 10:00 – 12:00 (2 hrs total, 20 orientation, 75 min hike, 10 min break, 15 min wrap up)
Long hike – 1:30 – 4:35 (3 hrs total, 20 orientation, 120 min hike, two 10 min breaks, 15 min wrap up)

Where to meet: Downtown Wheeler at the Train Depot

Dates:
April 17, 20, 27

Monday, May 6

Saturday, May 11

Monday, May 13

Monday, May 20

Monday, May 27

Here is the link for friends and family to register:

www.tickettailor.com/events/thesalmonberrytrailfoundation

Spots open for Saturday’s Community Acupuncture and Sound Bath Event

Submitted By: Christy@cosmichealingnw.com – Click to email about this post
Hello BBQ Community–
Spots still available for Saturday’s wellness event at Rising Hearts Studio- starts at 6PM!
Enjoy a brief community acupuncture session, while bathing in the sounds of healing crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, with a grounding tea offering to follow. Leave feeling calm, centered and refreshed! $60/person
Register Here: app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20787704&appointmentType=58532489
Your practitioners for this event: Megan Lucas, LAc Christy Kay, certified sound healer and reiki master practitioner
Rising Hearts Studio 35840 7th ST Hwy 101, Downtown Nehalem (503) 800-1092 “Lifting the community with education and services that promote healing on all levels.”

Health District Special Meeting

Submitted By: marc@nehalembayhd.org – Click to email about this post
PUBLIC NOTICE

Nehalem Bay Health District Special Board Meeting

3:00 PM, Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Location: Zoom remote video conferencing

This meeting is open to the public.

The Zoom link below is for members of the public who wish to attend

Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/82186311570?pwd=aFRveXlwUlFVeUsvaDNteTRZZk0ydz09

The Zoom link can also be accessed on the Health District website

For general questions or to request meeting information contact: info@nehalembayhd.org

AGENDA

1. Call to order

2. A board work session on issues related to the old Wheeler hospital

3. Adjourn

Salmonberry Trail Hikes from Wheeler

Submitted By: gardencoachkaren@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Join the Salmonberry Trail Foundation for a guided hike and talk along the Wheeler waterfront.

While the Salmonberry Trail is not currently open to the public, the Salmonberry Trail Foundation, in partnership with Tillamook Coast Visitors Association and Tillamook County Wellness, invites you to a guided hike that provides a unique opportunity to explore this natural wonder. Join fellow trail enthusiasts in discovering the untold stories and unseen beauty of the Tillamook Coast through the Salmonberry Trail.Hikes will be accompanied by a Salmonberry Trail Specialist who will provide information on the status of the Trail. And, a local historian to talk about the various people who have lived in our area over the millennia.

Upcoming hike dates are April 17th, 20th, and 27th.

– Short walk/hike is half mile round trip
Leaves from Wheeler Train Station at 10 a.m

– Longer hike is about 5 miles along the beautiful Nehalem Bay. Leaves from Wheeler Train Station at 1:30.

Use the link below to register for the hike:

www.tickettailor.com/events/thesalmonberrytrailfoundation

Earth Day at Elk Meadows Park

Submitted By: emilyakdedian@nehalemtrust.org – Click to email about this post
The Lower Nehalem Community Trust, in partnership with Trailkeepers of Oregon, and the City of Manzanita, invite you to take part in the global movement commemorating 54 years of action on behalf of our planet! Join us at Elk Meadows Park in Nehalem for family fun and community stewardship in honor of Earth Day. Roll up your sleeves, grab a pair of clippers (or borrow ours), bring family and friends to honor our planet, our community, and the impact of collective action!

Where: Elk Meadows Park, Nehalem
(Turn south off of Hwy. 101 onto Bayside Gardens Road. Take the last right turn onto Neptune Way. Park is at the end of Neptune Way on the Left)

When: Sunday, April 21st, 11am-2pm

What: We’ll show some love for this great community park by mulching, cleaning up tree cages and enclosures, chipping paths, trimming brush along trails, and removing blackberry and scotch broom. We’ll have some additional fun stewardship activities for the young (and young at heart!).

For more information please contact emilyakdedian@nehalemtrust.org or visit www.nehalemtrust.org

TILLAMOOK COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT

Submitted By: laura@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
By Brian Vitulli, General Manager, TCTD
You may have heard of the staffing challenges we’re experiencing here at the Tillamook County Transportation District (TCTD). You may be one of our riders, or family member or friend of one. You may be interested in using one of our services instead of driving your own vehicle – for environmental reasons, because you don’t like driving in bad weather, or maybe you don’t like driving after the sun goes down. Maybe you’ve never ridden on a bus, in Tillamook or any other city you’ve visited, but you’re looking for alternative ways to travel throughout the county or along the coast. Or maybe you’ve just been hearing about our issues on social media or here on the Tillamook Pioneer website. It is true that the services we provide is being impacted by a shortage of drivers.

For close to a year, the District has been managing the workforce shortage mostly through the commitment of staff and creative personnel management. In summer and fall of 2023, the two routes we operated to Salem, far outside of our service area, needed to be discontinued. It became more difficult to find additional drivers from those areas to work those routes, and to costly and time consuming to send personnel down there from Tillamook.

And very recently, several service disruptions and cancellations occurred due to drivers calling out sick and not enough drivers in reserve to fill-in for them. As an organization whose meaning is to provide transit service for members of our community, this is the worst possible scenario and something you never want to see. Why is this happening? What are they doing wrong? Those have been some of the questions coming from the community, and it’s a natural response. Let me address those questions and provide some context.

While some think this issue is isolated to our scenic slice of the Oregon coast, the truth is that transit agencies, whether large urban transit agencies operating buses, commuter rail, light rail, subways, and trolleys; smaller city transit operators; or smaller rural agencies like the Tillamook County Transportation District, are all experiencing a shortage of available drivers to operate crucial transportation services. Many transit providers throughout the nation are struggling with this issue at some level. Some are doing better than others with limited impacts; some are just barely managing to provide their service, and others are sporadically having to cancel trips or are operating at a reduced level of service because they cannot find enough drivers. That has happened a few times recently at TCTD when we had to cancel Town Loop (Route 1) trips and a few afternoon Portland (Route 5) runs. Without an immediate influx of drivers, the potential is there for further cutbacks. No, this is definitely not the direction the District wants to drive toward, but we may have no choice.

An additional, unexpected, challenge handed to the District, is the closing of the U.S. Renal Care dialysis care facility in Tillamook. This has put extra pressure on the District to provide transportation for individuals seeking life-sustaining transportation to treatment centers, when it is already short-staffed. TCTD is transporting individuals to dialysis centers in Astoria, Lincoln City, and Forest Grove three times a week, in addition to trying to reliably provide service to the customers that rely on our other routes.

COVID has had some long-lasting impacts, and is somewhat responsible for the driver shortage that we are seeing now, but there are other factors that have slowly made it more difficult to provide our services. The other fact is that transit agencies are not the only organizations experiencing employee shortages. Nearly every industry has been impacted. A trip along the coast will show you that. Many employers are short staffed, some have reduced hours, some are only open a few days a week, and some have to close last minute, and leave a sign on the door saying “Sorry we’re closed due to staffing shortages.”

Similarly, the trucking industry has been hard hit by a shortage of eligible drivers. Again, there are many reasons contributing to this, but one of the factors I am aware of are recent changes to how individuals are trained in order to receive their Commercial Drivers License (CDL). CDL training now needs to be taught by a certified training entity (CTE), which can be difficult due to there not being enough CTEs, as well as the cost. Tillamook Bay Community College has a wonderful program for this, but it is costly for the individual seeking that training. TCTD, however, is another CTE that can provide that training for free once you pass the mandatory requirements and are hired as a driver. Plus, you get paid a training wage while you are learning. Once you are trained and hold a CDL with the proper endorsements, your wage increases and you can begin driving for the District.

Why wouldn’t someone want to work for the District and take part in this designated CDL training program, to serve their community and help their neighbors, get paid while they’re training, and have a wonderful part-time or full-time driving career? I’m not sure. But if you are interested in learning more about the District, the services we provide, our mission, and the driving opportunities that are available right now, me and my team would certainly love to talk to you.

There are immediate openings at the District right now for someone with good people- and customer-service skills looking to drive part-time as an extra-board driver. You could be a retiree who wants to work a few hours driving during the week to help your community, or someone looking for a longer-term career with great benefits. As a flexible, part-time driver, you can tell us when you are available, and you’ll be called upon to drive when it matches your schedule. For full-time employees, an already great benefits package with excellent retirement options, paired with an improved wage scale and impressive annual cost of living increases and step increases on your anniversary, is waiting for you. We also need dispatchers to support our drivers and help keep our operations moving smoothly.

Interested in hearing more about the current happenings at the District?

We are in the process of completing some much-needed renovations to our Administration building and Transit Center. In fact, we’re planning a ribbon-cutting for May 6th to celebrate the reopening of our newly renovated Transit Center at Laurel and 2nd. Come down to see the improvements we’ve made!

We’ve also submitted grant applications seeking funds to conduct a Zero Emission Vehicle Feasibility Study for the District and our partner transit agencies in Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Benton counties. TCTD is one of five members in the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance (NWOTA), which is branded as NW CONNECTOR. Two of our goals are to: Improve transit connections between communities, and to market our transit services to our customers in all five counties as a single, coordinated, seamless service. Through this alliance, our riders can travel up and down the coast, from Yachats or Newport in the south, up through the communities in Tillamook County, before spending some time in Seaside or Astoria. Many visitors to our region take Amtrak to Albany and Portland, and take one of the NW CONNECTOR services to come to the coast, all by taking transit and without driving yourself.

The District also successfully secured nearly $600,000 in additional COVID Recovery and healthcare transportation funds to sustain the operation of crucial transit services to our customers and rural veterans living in Tillamook County.

We have two, new beautiful buses that we are waiting for our vendor to complete production inspections on, but once they are complete, look for them on our Route 3 to Manzanita and Cannon Beach, Route 4 to Lincoln City, or Route 5 to Portland.

Do you remember our big, red trolley? We are planning to roll that out in our community on the Town Loop (Route 1) in the near future!

While we are currently being tossed about in fairly rough seas, I do believe the foundational strengths of the District, continued steady leadership from the Boardand my t, myself, and my team, and the commitment of its staff, will help navigate to calmer waters. And when that happens, opportunities will begin to present themselves in the form of a more reliable system that our customers can continue to depend on and deserve, operating the type of services that better suit our customers and connects them with the places they want to go, and perhaps right-sizing the system to maintain its effectiveness while improving efficiencies and spending its resources wisely.
Interested in talking to someone about working at the District, email us at hr@tillamookbus.com or info@tillamookbus.com or call us at 503-815-TCTD (8283).

Garage sale

Submitted By: Tatianamc007@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Garage sale on Saturday April 13th and Sunday 14th from 11 am till 3 pm. Furniture ( dining table with 8 chairs, queen bed, single bed, dressers, night stands) kitchen stuff, fishing stuff, gas powered weed whacker, etc. Good quality items.
35670 Bayside Meadows dr., Manzanita, turn right to Neptune way from Bayside gardens.

Chess Club Tomorrow (4/13) at the Pine Grove

Submitted By: lesleyanctil@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Hi All! Chess club at the Pine Grove will be held tomorrow from 4-6. This is a relaxed opportunity for pick-up chess . All ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to join us 🙂

AND…congrats to all those at Neah-Kah-Nie Middle School, Neah-Kah-Nie High School and Nehalem Elementary School who participated at the Chess for Success State tournament this weekend!

Hope to see you there!

RIVERBEND PLAYERS VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP ONE WEEK FROM TODAY

Submitted By: admin@riverbendplayers.org – Click to email about this post

VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP, SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH

Help bring the magic of theater to life and join a welcoming community at Riverbend Players Community Theater!

www.riverbendplayers.org/volunteer

Hi there!

My name is Linda Makohon, and I’m the Volunteer Committee Chairperson for Riverbend Players Community Theater. We’re a local theater company that produces high-quality productions for the Nehalem Valley. We’re always looking for new volunteers to help us, and I’m excited that you’re interested in joining our team.

There are many different ways to volunteer with us. You could help with acting, stage crew, costume design, set design, marketing, or promotion. No matter your skills or interests, we can find a way to use them to make our theater productions even better.

We’re a friendly, inclusive, and supportive group of people, and we would be honored to have you join us. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the form on our web page or contact me at lmakohon@riverbendplayers.org

We look forward to hearing from you!

COMING SOON: OUR MANZANITA PLANT SALE!

Submitted By: Ketzel.levine@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
As the Hoffman Wonder Garden continues its mission to put the manzanitas back in Manzanita…

It’s almost time for our annual Manzanita Plant Sale!

Sunday, Apr 21st 11am till they’re gone (don’t blink!)
Hoffman Center for the Arts
In-person shopping inside the Hoffman

Come meet these happy guys!