Getting ready to start snuggling in for the winter? We are here to help you!
We do Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whenever you need cleanings for friends & family visits, your home or vacation rental. Years of experience.
Please give us a call. 503-717-2585
Thank you so much for all your support everyone!!!!
Getting ready to start snuggling in for the winter? We are here to help you!
We do Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whenever you need cleanings for friends & family visits, your home or vacation rental. Years of experience.
Please give us a call. 503-717-2585
Thank you so much for all your support everyone!!!!
Read his daily blog:
www.mayerleformanzanita.com/today-i
and his website:
www.mayerleformanzanita.com
He is a Blast to follow!
Digging Out & Leveling Up
There’s a children’s book called If You Give A Mouse A Cookie that kind of describes how I came to be involved in local issues here. The mouse gets a cookie and needs a glass of milk. One thing leads to another, as it has for me, but there have been no cookies for this mouse. Not yet, anyway.
I wanted to know about the clear cutting of the 3rd Street lot in Manzanita—who allowed it and why. Along the way, I discovered a lack of records, the violation of city ordinances and prohibited resource extraction from a marshy wetland designated as Open Space.
I read the city’s primary land use documents to find answers—the comprehensive plan and the ordinances—all of them out of date by decades. As I’ve met with land use lawyers, planners and developers, my list of questions about the way our city has operated in the past grew longer and more complicated.
Until this year it was like the comprehensive plan didn’t exist. I’ve heard it called a wish list but while the goals are indeed aspirational, the policies with mandatory language have the force of law.
The dune view grading application this year revealed that our Fore Dune Management Plan, part of the comprehensive plan, is also out of date and the moratorium on view grading people believed was in place wasn’t. It took a group of concerned citizens from all over Oregon showing up to Zoom meetings and writing letters to both State Parks and Rec and city government to put an actual moratorium on view grading until our land use documents have been updated.
The managed growth of our residential village and the preservation of our natural amenities that’s described by the plan have been ignored in a rush to develop. We have the lowest system development fees on the coast. Our ordinances have been amended so often they’re riddled with loopholes and not always aligned with the plan. Without enforcement and stiff penalties, ordinances don’t matter anyway.
We are like catnip to developers.
We find ourselves needing to level up out of this hole because the work of the city—things like the land use document updates, upgrades to infrastructure, system development fees, digitizing of records, wasn’t done for decades and now we’ve got a lot to do. Like I used to tell my students, “That homework isn’t going to do itself.”
I’ve learned that while we elect our city council and mayor, they in turn hire the city manager that makes the town operate with a staff of city employees. The city planner examines the zoning and ordinances for the developers applying to build here to see what’s allowed and what’s not and that creates the town we live in.
Our elected officials are responsible for the people they hire to make the trains run on time. If those people aren’t doing their job, it’s up to the elected officials to make a change. That’s their responsibility and residents count on being able to trust the people in charge to take care of the business of the city.
The council and the mayor and our whole Planning Commission are volunteers. They don’t get paid. If they’re doing their job, it’s a ton of work for each one of them. They show up at all the meetings. They put in hours the community doesn’t see and they take the heat when people are mad. And, girl, people will always get mad about something. They volunteer to do this for two years or four years, or for some, decades. I’m grateful to the people who have volunteered their time to do this work—even the folks I might disagree with.
We can’t place the entire responsibility for the hole we find ourselves in at the feet of our elected officials.
We as citizens are responsible for more than just voting the council and mayor in or out of office. I’ve had meaningful conversations with folks who’ve been here a long time who tell me that until recently only a handful of people ever showed up at meetings or spoke up in favor or in opposition to much of anything. I have to say that was true of me. For a long time in my life, I thought all I needed to do was vote and then I’d be done until the next election cycle. But like Oprah and my mom used to say, “Keep doing what you’ve always done and keep getting what you always got.”
Democracy is a verb—an action word. The work of a citizen is to get on up and do that work. Nobody is coming to do it for us and we can’t say we were too busy or it was too boring or we didn’t have the time—I’ve heard these excuses in the classroom and those kids flunked. This whole democracy thing we can’t let slide just because it takes an effort. What good things in our lives aren’t worth an effort? We have to stay informed and educate ourselves with facts. We have to write letters and go to meetings and talk with others who share our concerns and also those we don’t agree with. When nobody in charge seems to be listening, we have to speak up until they do. We have to show up and keep showing up and if we can do that with some grace and some humor, well, double points all around. Maybe we can get that cookie.
Kim Rosenberg. loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
Most of us have at some time found ourselves in an awkward situation, and asked, “What was I thinking?” Here’s an opportunity to look more closely. Mindfulness meditation can help us learn to see our thoughts more clearly (at least some of the time) before we blindly follow them down a wayward path.
Beginning Sept. 12th, for five weeks on Monday evenings at 5:00pm, join us for an exploration of the world of Mindfulness Meditation. This is not about transcending anything or going into a different reality, it’s about discovering ourselves and our world right where we are. This is not about any specific religion, it’s about you being your authentic self. As Jon Kabat-Zinn puts it, it’s about “reclaiming the present moment—and your life.” We’ll be meeting in the beautiful space at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church on Hwy. 101.
After years of studying with various teachers, I am delighted to be getting certified to teach this to my community. Please email me or call 503-368-2627 to register. I look forward to this opportunity to learn and grow with you.
Thanks to you all,
Lark Miller
Everything … houseware, tools, art work, furniture etc!
Look for signs – 10th st between Tohls & I Street
35660 10th Street, Nehalem Or
By forbearance and perseverance we forge a new self out of the sharing with one another .
It might be a marriage, a friend at work, or the grocery store checker. Patience and caring will yield a sum greater than it’s two parts. Friendship isn’t just good, it’s critical to creating the advancement of human dialogues. Hence the philosophical meetings of olden times, when great minds would together and hammer out a shared vision of the world we live in and the conduct that could be considered desirable for the greater good.
In the final analysis, if the parts are in disarray, then the whole is without cohesion.
The whole should always be moving towards the force of good and truth. Then will human beings actually become “civilized”
In these vastly disparate times we need to come together and forge an understanding of what it really means to be human.
“A house divide cannot stand”
thomas hilliard
oregoncatalyst.com/61861-quietly-holding-tax-increase-hearings.html
Please click on this link to read about a universal health care policy which will exclude all other health care insurance you might have. I read that this will increase your taxes by 15% of your take-home pay.
Dixie Gainer
Thank you!
415-686-9700
The scandal: His wife took a PPP – That is the Paycheck Protection Program – loan of 2.7 million dollars to keep the employees of her bookstore on the payroll. She took the 2.7 million dollars and laid off 180 employees. She did not rehire them. The loan was forgiven. Isn’t that slick?
Here is the article
freebeacon.com/democrats/ron-wydens-wife-raked-in-ppp-loans-while-laying-off-hundreds/
WE NEED REPRESENTATIVES IN OREGON THAT CARE ABOUT OREGON WHO LIVE IN OREGON. JUST REMEMBER
Watch the Oregon Legislature pass more measures that help push farmers out of business.
We can stop this if we can elect a non-Democratic governor.
You might want to read about regenerative farming. When we had victory gardens we didn’t
have artificial fertilizer, the kind they say puts nitrogen in the air. And nitrogen doesn’t have anything to do with global warming anyway.
It do you want Tina who is campaigning FOR what she’ll do vs trashing her opponents? Go to Tina for Oregon.com and see her comprehensive plan to responsibly end homelessness!
I have Tina lawn signs and I want North County plastered! Please let me know how many you want and where we can meet so you can get yours.
Thank you for storing a Governor who represents US!
We meet every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
St Catherine’s Sanctuary next to Hope Chest and near the Shell Station…right off 101
What is River Community Meditation?
To enjoy all our gifts, together, in silence…
Witnessing what is arising and passing through us…
the joys and sorrows and inspirations…
Seeing clearly and allowing space for the pain in ourselves…and others.
Developing kindness as the capacity to feel and offer what is needed.
Sharing, to celebrate this one precious life…
Together.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-nehalem-elementary-schools-swim-program-2
THANK YOU to the tillamook library system for coming up with the idea of key-ring tags, which of course was for ease of use by the library patron. Luckily for me, it also served as a way to have my keys returned to me.
And of course thank you to the thoughtful soul who brought my keys to the manzanita library.
And, I love our local light-filled manzanita branch library in its own right, for access to books and for its cheerful, excellent service!
om peace namaste
lucy brook
nehalem resident
Tillamook Police Investigates Assaults on Houseless Community by Group of High School Aged Youth
Update on the Memaloose Point Boat Launch Dredging Project
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Subscribe to FREE nightly news updates via email at www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/xscripts/register.php
This research group dug deeply into Manzanita’s profile. We mapped out the STRs to understand the density issues and were alarmed to see some neighborhoods reflected a 50% saturation of STR — half a block was transient lodging. We looked into the STR cap for our city (17.5%) and discovered that multiple cities don’t want “caps.” Why, because tourists want to be closest to the attraction of the area. In our case, it’s the ocean.
STRs in Oregon and across our country contribute to a broad spectrum of livability issues directly affecting the area’s economic impact, one example is affordable housing. The STR, because of its investment value, drives up the price of homes and drives out the affordability of the neighborhood – ultimately decreasing the resident population.
The research group made videos ( This Video Link: https://youtu.be/v3kj5r5emY8 from neighborhood-forum.org/ ) and wrote articles to educate folks about the problem. We developed a comprehensive, multi-prong solution. This solution included many aspects of necessary balances in our neighborhoods integrating transient visitors as a majority portion of the population. We strove for fairness plus additional and diversified revenue to city coffers. The plan addressed good neighbor courtesies needed to create harmony between residents and tourists around problems such as traffic and parking.
On Aug. 4, our research team’s proposals were presented to the Concerned Citizens of Manzanita and guests. The proposals were understood and were well received by the majority. Residents don’t want a piecemeal plan. They are looking for coordinated, fact-based solutions that enhance the city’s assets — but not at the expense of our neighborhoods.
During the City Council Work Session on Aug. 3, the second STR Work Group appointed by the Council was discussed, and noted that in order to reach a level of significant effectiveness, they must start with a Mission Statement written by the City Council. Once the Council states the objectives that the Work Group needs to achieve, the City Council will ultimately draft policy from those findings. The city manager’s role is to carry out those policies.
Below is the STR Task Force Mission Statement from Cannon Beach:
“In order to maintain the residential character and livability of its neighborhoods and to prevent the adverse effects of the transient occupancy of dwelling units on residential neighborhoods, it is necessary to limit and regulate the transient occupancy of dwelling units by investigating the rental permitting, violations and impacts of the STR program in Cannon Beach.”
Compared to other Oregon Coast cities with proactive leadership such as Waldport, Cannon Beach and Gearhart, Manzanita has dug a very deep hole. Our resident population shrinks to only 14% when all homes are fully occupied. This is a very skewed, unsustainable demographic for any town. Many do not think the status quo is a problem. But for me, our town is like a resort – a commercial enterprise, not a community. Yet we have not the structure or resources of a resort business, but we have all the limitations of a small, one-revenue-source-volunteer-dependent village.
To effect solutions, the committee actually belongs with its select Council Member under the charter of the Planning Commission. Bottom line…. STRs are a Land Use issue.
The Comprehensive Plan provides the basis for the Planning Commission to evaluate the STR Committee’s findings within the purview of the Comprehensive Plan.
The City Council has a broader responsibility which encompasses, in this particular case, revenues. Land use solutions should come before the Council prior to any revenue alterations. The Work Group should not worry about revenue. Land Use is their priority.
If elected Mayor, my intention is to move forward with the findings from the Work Group and also those independently done. Time is of the essence. Citizens want a strong Council leadership that is focused, transparent and takes action.
My Dad was an electrician in Portland. I used to tell my friends that he lit up the city.
He was a hunter, fisherman, pilot, SCUBA diver and a master of logic. He said many times over – ‘You can either complain or you can stand up and do something.’
In Manzanita, I got tired of complaining. We have some solutions that won’t take 5 or 10 years to implement. But before it’s too late, we need to break out of the cycle we’re in and support balanced and healthy neighborhoods in our town.
My name is Deb Simmons and I am a candidate for Mayor of Manzanita. I believe in livability, accountability and sustainability.
Gardeners, would you be interested in saving seed from the veggies and flowers you are growing and then sharing with fellow gardeners?
A free Seed Exchange has happened in the past at the White Clover Grange where people could take seeds even if they didn’t bring any. The past 2 Covid springs have caused this event to be diminished. Hopefully there will be a full Seed Exchange next March with lots of gardening goodies besides seeds!
When we save our own seeds, we not only save money, we have varieties that we know do well here on the coast and we are contributing to our own food resilience. And if we really got good at it, we could start a seed bank, where we can store the seeds for community use.
Here are some websites about saving seeds:
seedalliance.org/publications/seed-saving-guide-gardeners-farmers/
www.seedsavers.org/how-to-save-seeds
www.almanac.com/saving-flower-seeds-garden
empressofdirt.net/seed-saving/
Hope you will join me in saving seeds.
If you want to stay in the loop about saving seeds and/or a possible Seed Exchange, email me at barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net
Step 1: Bulldoze a productive triangle of trees, fruits, and flowers, digging out shore pines, blackberries, fireweed, and salal, thus:
• Eliminating plants that clean and refresh the village’s air every day and night.
• Diminishing a living system which manages water and sequesters carbon.
• Eliminating food and habitat for essential insects and birds.
Step 2: Fill the triangle with big buildings, specifically:
• With the maximum allowable number of buildings, each with the maximum possible square-footage.
• Include large walls and windows which absorb and re-radiate heat rather than cool it.
• Make buildings as tall as legally allowed, higher than any trees they replace, regardless of the height of neighboring roofs and heedless of creating sight barriers for pedestrians and others who live in the area.
This is what cities are like. The three buildings in the triangle bordered by Beach, Pacific, and Carmel Streets in Manzanita are apparently being constructed under a single permit, Number 547-21-000169-DWL, issued on June 28, 2021. I assume this project is perfectly legal under Manzanita’s building codes and City planning ordinances. Is this what we want our so-called village to become?
Manzanita has a Comprehensive Plan, which theoretically underlies such codes, adopted in March 1996. The last amendments to the Plan were adopted in April 2014. According to the Plan, “The planning horizon for this document is the year 2010,” which is 12 years ago.
In a world increasingly aware of human obligations for the quality of life across the planet, the structures at 22 Pacific Lane seem ecologically irresponsible and unneighborly. Is our community ready to think about new guidelines for planning which aim toward ecological resilience and foster a more liveable community in a place we love?
Phyllis Thompson
Manzanita, OR
Voter Rules
My husband Ben and I moved here full-time in May of 2020. Our house on Edmund Lane was a licensed short-term rental at the time. Like a lot of people we rented it to cover our mortgage and used it as much as we could. When Covid forced Ben to teach on-line and my health worsened we decided to try living here year round.
Manzanita was in the run up to a contentious election then–in fact, our whole country was. I didn’t follow the ballot measures or the candidates here. I figured the people living in Manzanita would know best how to vote for this community. I voted in Portland where our primary residence was and where I’d lived for most of my life.
After a year we decided we loved living here so much we’d make the big step and be full-timers, letting our STR license lapse this year and making a new life here in Manzanita.
In order to determine our residency I looked at ORS.247.035, which gives you a list to figure it all out. It includes where your primary mailing address is, where your driver’s license is issued, where you file your state and federal taxes, where your car is registered, the address from which your utilities are paid. Pretty straight forward, right?
But nothing in legalese is simple to discern because the statute reads in 1. a):
“The person’s residence shall be the place in which habitation is fixed and to which, when the person is absent, the person intends to return.”
Does this mean that a second homeowner could decide to vote in Manzanita? Intention is one of those slippery slope words that means what you decide it means.
But then later on in ORS.247.035 1.c):
“A person shall not be considered to have gained a residence in any location in this state into which the person comes for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making it the person’s home.”
That seems opposite!
I emailed the Oregon Secretary of State’s office about this and they referred me back to the residency requirements. Where does your mail go? Where is your car registered? Where is your license issued?
It takes awhile to get to know a place and Ben and I decided to wait to change our voter’s registration until we made the commitment to stay put. We voted here this May for the primary and are looking forward to voting here this fall.
What I didn’t know about before I lived here full-time was a lot. I didn’t know how polarized the community was about the City Hall, workforce housing, STR’s, where the best clamming is. I didn’t know how short-term rentals effected livability for so many folks or how much revenue the vacation rental industry generates for the city.
All I knew was that if I asked questions about stuff that was controversial I was likely to wish I hadn’t. Especially, on what I like to call Anti-Social Media. The anonymous nature of Facebook etc seems to unleash the inner middle-schooler in too many people. But this isn’t about that.
To me, voting is a sacred duty and democracy a fragile institution that will fail without our civic and civil engagement. Playing fast and loose with the rules or our words isn’t respectful to all those who died for the rights we take for granted.
The next election is bound to be just as intense as the last one but we have choices to make about how we behave. We could, if we wanted to, have discussions instead of debates about the issues we care about. We could refuse to spread gossip and hateful words about those who disagree with us. We could agree to disagree. We could treat each other with respect.
I think the measure of a person isn’t how they treat those they like and agree with but how they treat those with whom they differ. That doesn’t mean we don’t have hard, honest conversations about difficult things with the people we don’t agree with. In fact, that’s where the solutions lie.
Just imagine what we could do if we played well together?
Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com