Category: General Interest

A Google search reveals the difference. ” Speed bumps are sharp 3-6 inches high, 1-2 feet wide and force speeds of 2-10 mph, typically used in parking lots. Speed humps are gentle, 3-4 inches high, 12-14 feet long, and encourage 10-20 mph, ideal for residential roads. Bumps are abrupt for maximum slowdown; humps allow traffic flow”. Simply stated, you don’t use speed bumps on public streets.

Councilor Hart’s response was speed bumps and humps are interchangeable terms, the Council doesn’t get involved in these details, it has no interest in clarifying the City Manager’s comments and if I need more information, make a public records request.

Hart’s response was similar in tone when he explained why the Council didn’t get involved in considering how to find a way to fund and approve the low bid for the Classic Street project in May with available General Fund TLT revenue. Again, the response was Council just doesn’t get involved in these project details.

The Council’s lack of interest in the details of this project is proving to be both expensive and inconvenient for residents. Had the project been approved for construction and fully funded with available TLT dollars in May, all of the design and pedestrian safety features recommended by the City’s engineering consultants would have been built and the project would have been completed in November. The Council has yet to explain the inconvenient detail of spending almost $470,000 for legal and design recommendations and then failing to even investigate the available financial means to deliver the best long term solution to remedy the City’s past short sighted development attempts involving Classic Street.

Hart’s explanations of the Council’s lack of involvement in the details of this project will become even more problematic as completion deadlines are missed and costs escalate. Citizens should expect to hear all manner of excuses as the project moves forward such as the Council’s limitations in administrative matters, the legal expenses to defend allegations of irregular bidding practices by the City are not subject to public disclosure, wet weather construction challenges etc.

Perhaps a better line of questions to Councilor Hart would be who is making the decisions on these important details and who will be taking the responsibility for the consequences that result from those decisions.

Randy Kugler

Community Voices:

Let me continue here with comments made at last Saturday’s protest in Nehalem. These are thoughts from the people who joined us, reflecting not only on this protest, but also on their experiences at many previous protests. The perspectives shared may or may not reflect insight of each individual protester. They do provide thoughts into the motivations and feelings of individuals who have consistently participated in these gatherings.

-Take Climate Change seriously-no fossil fuels. Red States will feel the effects of climate change more than Blue States. I could go on.

-Heartened by love and generosity of this community in these horrific times.

-Love of Community.

-Peace

-The people rise up and stand up for the poor, minorities, women, and children.

-I want more people to realize what is at stake for all of us and to get involved and vote for democracy.

-Our Country means everyone’s Country. The only people who can say they are not an immigrant are American Indians-and we stole their land.

-Them is us.

-We are all from immigrant families, today or 4 generations ago. Our country was built on the concept of acceptance. We cannot be taken in by sidelining one group and creating an “other” to bully-Acceptance not separation.

-Hopefully Trump will be 6’ under before end of 2026.

-Looking forward to more people recognizing the danger our country is in and responding, standing up, writing letters, making phone calls, encouraging others to voice their concerns. No more bombing, deporting, lies, turning the DOJ and other departments into misinformation to the public. Hoping for some truth, empathy, peace and love.

-Love our planet, our home, compassion for each other, share our gifts, create, iterate, Breathe.

-Looking forward to a much safter 2026.

-Divorce thinking from hope-we need hope.

-Love is needed-community is love.

-Defiance until death.

-May we find our way back to the US of A.

-Tobian Reed, the Secretary of State for Oregon, is being sued by the Department of Justice as he is refusing to allow access to Oregon’s Voter Registration list. The DOJ is wanting access to sensitive personal data. Do we have Reed’s back?

-As we enter the New Year, it is important to pause and reconsider the concept of “hate speech.” Reflecting on its role in society, it becomes apparent that hate speech has not served a positive purpose in our past, does not benefit our present, and will not advance our future. The dictionary defines “hate” as a verb meaning to detest, loathe, abhor, or abominate—each word signaling a violent or extreme dislike. Hate is often associated with a deep, personal feeling fueled by enmity or malice.

This leads us to question: Where do we learn to hate? Is hate something we are taught as children, or does it develop during adulthood? At what point can we consciously choose to check in and halt the spread of hate within ourselves and our communities? Ultimately, when we examine the word closely, “hate” is just a four-letter word, yet it carries significant weight and impact. Let us take this opportunity to challenge the presence of hate speech in our lives and strive for a more compassionate and understanding society.

Again, I hope to see you at our first PROTEST in the 2026 NEW YEAR, January 3, noon to 2 PM. Weather does not look good, but dress in layers, wear your rain gear, gloves, hats, boots, double socks, and scarfs will get you through it. Conversations along the line will warm your heart.
Best,
Patty

– Dave

From the article: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/01/trump-kennedy-center-canceled-programs

“… it ought to be pretty plain to people that when a new administration comes to Washington, it is not the ordinary and appropriate thing to start filling your own pockets, your friends’ pockets, your political allies’ pockets …”

Please check it out and give generously–sowing your own seeds of love.

Not every organization can afford a paid profile, which pays for the production. So there is a list of contact information for all in the back.

The Giving Guide and detailed directories of the organizations can be found at www.northcoastbbq.com/local-resources/
The Giving Guide can also be found here: www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Giving-Guide-2025-26_Final_Spreads-2.pdf

Here are descriptions of several of those organizations:

Community Action Team – Tillamook Head Start
Consejo Hispanon
Dunes Management
Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Community Action Team – Tillamook Head Start
PO Box 713
1100 Miller Ave 503-842-5180 Miller Ave
3808 12th Street 503-354-5360 12th Street
Tillamook, OR 97141
www.nworheadstart.org
Facebook pages – Tillamook Head Start
Tillamook Head Start – 12th St
Rose Lewis, Family Advocate rlewis@nworheadstart.org
Hallie Edgmon, Center Manager hedgmon@nworheadstart.org 503-396-8838 Cell

Mission Statement: We provide opportunities for children and families to succeed in school and life.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Child & Family Development Programs of Community Action Team provide Head Start, Healthy Families, and Parenting Education services. Head Start is a comprehensive preschool for families with income at or below federal poverty levels. Healthy Families is a home visiting program that provides child development, prenatal and parenting information, tips on taking care of your infant, referrals to community groups and information on how to keep your baby and family safe.

Consejo Hispano
PO Box 1029
Astoria, OR 97103
Office 503-325-4547
info@consejohispano.org
www.consejohispano.org

Norma Hernandez, Deputy Director norma@consejohispano.org
Diana M. Niño, Programs Director diana@consejohispano.org

Mission Statement: Fostering resilient, prosperous, and powerful Latinx communities in which people and families flourish.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Consejo Hispano provides services to Latinx/a/e/o, Immigrant, Indígena, Afrodescendiente youth, women and families in the rural communities of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties in Oregon and Pacific County in Washington. Consejo Hispano offers a variety of programs under our three strategic priorities: Community Self-Determination, Economic Empowerment, and Cultural Appreciation as well as a Scholarship Fund to help local students with financial support that can help cover tuition, books, transportation, and other expenses.

Dunes Management
djm@nehalemtel.net

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay 503-389-5820
PO Box 598
Manzanita, OR 97130-0598
info@evcnb.org
www.evcnb.org

Mission Statement:
The Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay promotes a culture of preparedness by:
• Teaching and encouraging personal preparedness
• Demonstrating, promoting and assessing community emergency preparedness
• Supporting our region with technical expertise focused on evaluation of best practices for community resilience
• Actively supporting our community’s first responders

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Through programs developed by EVCNB, citizens are offered tools and training to be self-sufficient after a large-scale disaster. Focus is on the Nehalem Bay region and support is extended to all of Tillamook County. We are preparing our community by pre-positioning supplies, preparing shelters and creating support systems to endure a period of isolation from outside support. We are dedicated to building community and regional resilience, and creating a culture of emergency preparedness.

I am searching for a recording space/studio setup to record a music project here in the area (Astoria through Nehalem). I’m looking for something low key and that is not going to cost me a fortune. I’m open to a home or semi-amateur studio (if it’s for amateur price ^_^). I’ve already checked out the Rope Room in Astoria. Will eventually look at Portland options if necessary.

I think I would do this myself in my space but there are too many outside noises here. But I may experiment with recording in the middle of the night, but even still I don’t have a fancy setup other than my basic laptop — so would be open to offers of recording equipment as well.

Thank you for your time.

Most of the people at this protest agreed to write down a few of their thoughts about this past year and the coming year and our current government. I will work what I can into this message and the rest will be at the end of the week. Each comment is preceded by

Hey North Coast,

Just wanted to put the feelers out there for any musicians who might want to start a pop rock band. Thinking PINEGROVE, Sunny Day Real Estate, ML Buch, Sundays, etc

I miss playing in bands and am ready to start another. Email me or find me on Facebook or Instagram if you’re on there and interested.

andyevansparker@gmail.com
IG @Andyevansparker
Facebook @ Andy Parker

Thanks! I look forward to hearing and seeing what may be out there, AP

Both gals are extremely outgoing, people-oriented kitties that adore attention, being pet, etc. Both will be wonderful companions for someone, but they may need to be the only cat in the household. The fosters are still evaluating this and more could be learned by a “Meet & Greet” on an individual basis.

Ivy has polydactyl front feet and likes to talk with you. Foxy is extremely playful and can’t get enough of the kitten toys!

To learn more or schedule a “Meet & Greet”, please email us at unitedpawshelp@gmail.com. You can complete an adoption application at unitedpaws.org.

See you tomorrow and don’t give up!
Best,
Patty

Make your voice heard in 2025!

PROTEST in Nehalem
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 27, 2025. On this day, a protest will take place in downtown Nehalem from noon to 2 PM. Residents and concerned citizens are invited to participate and make their voices heard.

Call to Action

The North County Resistance is organizing this event, urging community members to join together and speak out. The demonstration is in response to ongoing projects and policies promoted by President Trump, which have seen rising opposition among Americans. Many feel that as these new initiatives progress, valuable programs and individuals deserving recognition are being overlooked.

Legislative Inaction

Despite increasing public dissent regarding President Trump’s policies, these measures continue to advance. One major reason for this persistence is the lack of decisive action from legislators in both major political parties—Democrats and Republicans. Their reluctance to take a firm stand has contributed to the continuation of these policies. This situation highlights the importance of citizen involvement and the need to demand accountability from elected officials.

Reasons for Protest

The protests in Nehalem serve as a call for legislative courage—urging lawmakers to stand up and speak out, just as demonstrators are doing. Concerns include the presence of ICE, which is described as cruel and unwelcome both in Oregon and throughout the United States. Additional issues raised by organizers include opposition to foreign interventions, such as proposed actions in Venezuela and Greenland, and the belief that resources should be focused on addressing domestic challenges. These challenges include cuts to educational programs, food insecurity, homelessness, and the lack of affordable health care. The protest seeks to draw attention to these issues and advocates for meaningful change.

Bring your neighbors, your company, your families of all ages to join us on Saturday. Come for the full two hours or for as long as you can. Churches, civic groups, arts organizations, architects, attorneys, car technicians, bakers, banks, bars, beauty salons, bed & breakfasts, building trades, book store employees, lumber companies, restaurants, vacation rentals, relators, thrift shops, carpet cleaners, telephone companies, grocery store workers, tax preparers, surveyors, storage companies, service station attendees, school teachers, mental health providers, roofing contractors, restaurant workers, post office employees, bus drivers, pizza makers, physicians and surgeons, retirees…you get the message. If it hasn’t already happened, Trump and his gang will be in your pocket very soon and you’re not going to like it!
Long underwear and several layers of clothing is suggested. A hat and gloves will provide more comfort. Bundle up as we want to see you out there again in 2026! Thanks to everyone who has participated. We need to show we are not giving up! Don’t give up!
Thank you, Barbara and BBQ!
Thanks,
Patty

The Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay (EVCNB) is seeking a motivated, organized, and community-minded individual to support our mission of building a culture of preparedness across the Nehalem Bay region.

This role will lead our volunteer orientation, recognition, and retention efforts, while also contributing to community outreach, communications, and ongoing organizational engagement. If you enjoy working with people, coordinating programs, and strengthening community resilience, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

For more information about this opportunity:
evcnb.org/news-updates/join-the-evcnb-team

May everyone enjoy the holidays.

– Dave

Please check it out and give generously–sowing your own seeds of love.

Not every organization can afford a paid profile, which pays for the production. So there is a list of contact information for all in the back.

The Giving Guide and detailed directories of the organizations can be found at www.northcoastbbq.com/local-resources/
The Giving Guide can also be found here: www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Giving-Guide-2025-26_Final_Spreads-2.pdf

Here are descriptions of several of those organizations:

Coast Kids
Columbia Pacific CCO
Communitea Nonprofit

Coast Kids 805-284-1707
PO Box 36 support@coastkids.org
Nehalem, OR 97131 www.coastkids.org

Mission Statement: At Coast Kids, our mission is to provide children in North Tillamook County with resources and opportunities that support their physical, social, emotional and intellectual wellbeing. By nurturing the whole child, we help coastal children thrive and reach their full potential.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Coast Kids is committed to meeting the ever-evolving needs of the children in our community. Our current focus is on funding the Backpack Program through the K-12 public schools. Each week, students struggling with food security receive a bag of food to take home on Fridays. We are working with local suppliers to make these food bundles as fresh, nutritious and appetizing as possible. We appreciate the support of local individuals and businesses who are contributing to the positive impact of this program. We also have the ability to provide additional types of support, such as hygiene items, to children and youth. Reach out if you have collaboration ideas!

Columbia Pacific CCO 855-722-8206
315 SW 5th Ave caccoordinator@colpachealth.org
Portland, OR 97204 www.colpachealth.org

Nancy Knopf, Community Health Partnerships Director knopfn@careoregon.org
Heather Oberst, Community Engagement Manager obersth@careoregon.org

Mission: To inspire local connections that foster member health and community resilience.

Vision: Building equitable and sustainable access to quality health care and community services.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Every day, Columbia Pacific CCO helps more than 36,000 residents of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties access physical, dental, mental health care and prescription drug coverage through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).

Communitea Nonprofit 510-862-5657
209 S 4th Ave Communiteanonprofit@gmail.com
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136

Bryonie Arnold- Secretary
Penny Cole-Treasurer

Mission Statement: Supporting communitea well-being by nourishing relationships between people, place and spirit.

Paragraph about organization history/work:
Communitea Nonprofit began in the fall of 2022 with the intention of offering more ways for our north coast community to heal and connect through art, music and gardening at North Fork 53 Communitea Center. We now have moved the concert series to Wheeler, still with the mission of compensating musicians and bringing music to the area.

The film features north coast locations, as well as some local actors.

The actors:

Cedar Braasch @ 39:00 and 42:00

Kathleen Ryan @ 35:00

Sergeant Mike Sims @ 45:30

The link:

tubitv.com/movies/575933/the-dancer-diaries

The film has had a hard time finding distribution, and I think my prior film may have something to do with it:

rumble.com/v650oqa-targeting-iran.html

Norm McDonald explains how this type of thing works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNlOl12yGqQ

Happy Solstice To All!!!

🙂

May the returning light fill us all with renewed vision.
Happy Solstice
Barbara McLaughlin

You are our heroes.
With great appreciation,
Barbara McLaughlin

And living a life of Love means…

You’re here to give your unique gifts that only you can give to co-create more Love, Peace & Prosperity on this planet.

You’re here to experience the One-ness of spiritual partnership as well as sacred union with another Divine being on this planet.

You’re here to experience the One-ness that occurs when you heal your own thought/mind distortions, traumas and pain, and then see the Miracles that ripple out into your family, your community, your country, your world from this.

You’re here to Love. Fiercely. Strongly. Clearly.
To Love yourself, to Love all beings around you – regardless of externalized labels.

You’re here to Love every bit of your life experience and let that energy radiate into the stratosphere.

You’re here to live as Love and to Be Love and to radiate Love – everywhere you go and in everything you “do” and be.

From: www.heatherkristianstrang.com

Imagine
All We Need is LOVE

Barbara

We thank you again for your support of all the organizations in our community helping to keep people fed and with some sort of housing support.

The dictionary I’m using at the moment is the Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary1966. This dictionary is 59 years old.

Looking at the word democracy. 1. A form of government in which political power resides in all the people and is exercised by them directly (pure democracy) or is given to elected representatives (representative democracy), with each citizen sharing equally in political privilege and duty, and with his right to do so protected by free elections and other guarantees. 2. A state so governed. 3. The spirit or practice of political, legal, or social equality. 4. The common people, especially when regarded as exercising political power.

Now to skip through the letters to fascism and Fascism.

fascism: A one-party system of government in which each class has its distinct place, function, and representation in the government, but the individual is subordinated to the state and control is maintained by military force, secret police, rigid censorship, and government regimentation of industry and finance.

Fascism: The totalitarian system of government developed in Italy in 1919 by the Fascisti under Benito Mussolini to oppose socialism and communism: the government in Italy from 1922-1943, the principles of which were adapted by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to include the concept of racial supremacy.

Some words in these definitions ought to stand out to you.
Best,

Patty

Join the North Coast Resistance Group Protest

The North Coast Resistance Group invites you to participate in their upcoming protest in Nehalem this Saturday, December 20th, from noon to 2:00 PM. You are welcome to join for the entire event or for any portion that fits your schedule. We understand that standing for two hours may not be possible for everyone, so please feel free to come and go as you need.

Please be prepared for challenging weather conditions, as the forecast predicts cold, wet, and windy weather. Dress appropriately to stay comfortable and safe. Last Saturday, we were fortunate to have beautiful weather and a strong turnout of 35 protesters, along with 3 dogs and even a frog. We continue to see increased participation at our protests, reflecting the growing number of issues that our community feels compelled to address.

Gratitude for Community Support
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone in the community who has stepped up during these difficult times, especially as government cuts are impacting our most vulnerable neighbors. The contributions to local food banks have been deeply appreciated, and we are grateful to those who work tirelessly to make these efforts possible.
We encourage ongoing support for the following organizations, which play a vital role in assisting those in need:

• Nehalem Bay Community Services
PO Box 232, Nehalem, Oregon 97131
503-368-4385
• North County Food Bank
PO Box 162, Wheeler, Oregon 97147
503-368-7724
• Rockaway Beach Lions
PO Box 611, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136
• Meals for Seniors, Inc.
PO Box 852, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136
• Neah-Kah-Nie School District Family Resource Center
504 N. 3rd Avenue, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136
503-355-2222

Hope to see you Saturday!
Best,
Patty

“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.
There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.
The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They…may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras and temples.
I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.
May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen”

Jim Heffernan

Please check it out and give generously–sowing your own seeds of love.

Not every organization can afford a paid profile, which pays for the production. So there is a list of contact information for all in the back.

The Giving Guide and detailed directories of the organizations can be found at www.northcoastbbq.com/local-resources/

Here are descriptions of several of those organizations:
Art Accelerated
Bay City Arts Center
CARE Inc and CAT Healthy Families

Art Accelerated 503-809-9172
4185 Westwood Dr artaccelerated@gmail.com
Tillamook, OR 97141 www.Artaccelerated.org

Board of Directors: Cindy Gardner, Chairman; Christine Harrison; Dennis Worrel, Treas; Ann Harper; Sierra Lauder, Sec.

Mission Statement: Art Accelerated is an artist-based organization, promoting the arts and supporting contemporary artists in Tillamook County with exhibitions, performances and educational programs for youth and adults.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
Art Accelerated, local Tillamook County art organization, is committed to promoting art education online with several classes to choose from. Also online, we have monthly Zoom Writer’s Meet-ups for interested writers. We are presently partnering with Roby’s Furniture (1901 Main Avenue) to showcase local artists’ work. Through generous grants from the Pastega Family Foundation, we are partnering with Wilson River High School providing art supplies and journals for nature journaling and poetry. In addition, the grant provides all first graders at Liberty Elementary to receive art instruction once a month through the school year.

Bay City Arts Center 503-377-9620
PO Box 3124 baycityartscenter@gmail.com
5680 A Street www.baycityartscenter.com/
Bay City, OR 97107

Mission Statement: The Bay City Arts Center’s mission is to support creativity, and provide art and cultural education and awareness opportunities to individuals of all ages throughout Tillamook County in Oregon.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work: Since 2000, The Bay City Arts Center has been a vibrant community hub in Tillamook County, fostering creativity and learning to both residents and visitors of Tillamook County. Our programs include art classes, youth camps and after-school programs, a variety of local and regional musical events, and an integrated core curriculum art supplementation program in cooperation with area school districts. Our free weekly open art night and monthly exhibitions showcase local artists. We are in the final phase of facility restoration for the newly designed Hoquarton Historical Interpretive Center project under our umbrella, preserving a historic, Tillamook treasure and transforming it into a tourism centerpiece for the community which will provide not only history, but education to visitors while also facilitating a hands-on learning experience in the new science lab addition for use by local school children. In the past couple years we also started, own and operate the KAYN radio station serving Bay City and nearby coastal communities.

CARE Inc CARE 503-842-5261
CAT Healthy Families 503-842-2773
2310 First Street, Suite 2
Tillamook, OR 97141 www.careinc.org

CARE
Marie Miller, Board Chair and Interim ED mmiller@careinc.org
Melissa Hampton, Homeless Services Manager mhampton@careinc.org
Elizabeth Guzman, Housing Program Manger eguzman@careinc.org

CAT Healthy Families
Natausha Calveri ncalveri@cat-team.org

Mission Statement: Foster changes that create healthier, more resilient communities throughout Tillamook County, and empower people as they work to meet their immediate, basic needs.

One paragraph about your organization’s history/work:
CARE is your local anti-poverty agency. We have been working throughout Tillamook County since 1991 to alleviate the effects of poverty. We provide an array of services including financial assistance for housing, utility assistance, transportation, and other basic needs. We have added shelter, micro shelters, case management and peer support to a full continuum of care of our programs. We provide home visiting services to families with infants in our Healthy Families program.