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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2015)
8A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 Past: Residents want property protected Continued from Page 1A “It’s one of the very few areas where there is an un- interrupted view of the riv- er,” she said. Residents of the Colum- bia House condominiums and preservationists also would like the property protected. Along with its historic significance and views, the nook often at- tracts waterfowl, particu- larly in the spring and sum- mer. “To me, losing that would just be a crime,” said Russ Farmer, a school administrative assis- tant and former co-own- er of Bio-Oregon Protein, who lives at Columbia House. The White Star Can- nery, one of the dozens that dotted the river during the city’s days as a fish canning hub, burned down in 1973. The old boiler that juts vi- olently out of the water is the last vestige of the ruins. The property is owned by the Oregon Department of State Lands and leased to Stokeld, whose late hus- band, Fenton, once wanted to expand on The Ship Inn and build a hotel and ma- rina. The couple’s British pub and restaurant opened at the end of Second Street in 1974, a year after the JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian The boiler is all that remains from the White Star Cannery, which burned down in 1973. cannery burned, and is up for sale. The restaurant’s dining room and deck have expan- sive views of the river, and the old boiler has become a draw for both locals and tourists as a remnant of a nostalgic era. “That boiler is one of the most photographed sites in Astoria by our visitors,” said LJ Gunderson, the president of the Historic Landmarks Commission. “And it’s one of the last ar- eas like that with any piece out in the water that still is standing. “So we felt that it would be in the best interest of our efforts to try to preserve that area.” The State Historic Pres- ervation Office will con- sult with the Department of State Lands about the po- tential historic designation. The Historic Landmarks Commission, which has the authority to review its own application, will hold a public hearing to determine whether the property meets the criteria under the de- velopment code for historic designation. Among the factors are historic significance, such as whether the property has the capacity to evoke dom- inant themes of local his- tory, and symbolic value, including whether the prop- erty has come to connote an ideal or period. If the commission makes the historic designation, the decision can be appealed to the City Council. A historic designation would not prevent devel- opment of the property, but any project would have to pass review by the commis- sion. The potential building height limit would also se- verely restrict the type of projects possible. Some preservationists have been critical of the city for not doing more to safeguard Astoria’s history, buildings and views during the debate over the Riv- erfront Vision Plan or the possible expansion of the Astoria Public Library into the old Waldorf Hotel. Uniontown was desig- nated for potential develop- ment in the Riverfront Vi- sion Plan, so city planners and policymakers have to be mindful before closing off too much property that could be used to preserve a working riverfront or spur economic growth. “So while you can’t des- ignate all sites, this would give you a representation of what the waterfront was,” said Rosemary John- son, a retired city planner who works on special proj- ects and is closely involved with researching the old boiler property. Wellville: Original idea behind prize stemmed from XPRIZE Continued from Page 1A Steven Blakesley, Clat- sop County health promotion specialist, attended the Tampa conference and said about 50 people were in a conference room together and agreed not to pursue the $5 million prize. The original idea behind the prize stemmed from ;35,=( D QRQSUR¿W RUJD- nization that designs public competitions intended to en- courage technological devel- opment. HICCup used the XPRIZE format in creating a $5 million competition, but Blakesley said that did not translate to the health care world. The Way to Wellville was created by New York City- based venture capitalist Es- ther Dyson. “They are coming out of the high-tech investment world, and they tried to apply it to health care,” Blakesley said. “We are not creating a product behind closed doors. We need to increase collab- oration and work with other FRXQWLHV WR ¿QG RXW ZKDW HY- eryone is doing.” Brush called the Tampa conference a learning experi- ence for HICCup. “We think the value is far beyond the $5 million prize. Ultimately, the health improvement in each of the Wellville Five communities will be worth more than what can be measured in monetary terms,” Brush said. “The spir- it of this is not about winning prizes. People are doing this for important, noble reasons. They love their communi- ties.” Price Tag? Another misunderstand- ing about The Way to Well- ville is the potential cost each RIWKH¿YHFRPPXQLWLHVLVH[- pected to incur over the next ¿YH\HDUV On its website, HICCup claims each community will need to raise $15 to $50 mil- lion on “investments into health care cost reductions and health-production pro- grams.” It later backtracks in another section of the web- site, explaining that the mil- OLRQ GROODU ¿JXUHV DUH ³VLP- ply an illustration, which may give some sense of the magnitude of the initiatives Wellville communities will pursue.” Brush insists there is abso- lutely no requirement for the communities to raise money. “HICCup is not charging money. There is no require- ment. We are trying to help communities understand how to leverage more investments and partnerships,” he said. Quit: First Oregon governor to resign did so in 1877 Continued from Page 1A 2018. Brown’s second term as secretary of state will 7KH ¿UVW 2UHJRQ JRYHU- draw to a close in 2016, and nor to resign was LaFay- she cannot run for a third ette Grover, who did so in consecutive term. 1877 after the Legislature That complicated line DSSRLQWHGKLPWR¿OOD86 of succession might be the Senate seat, according to last thing legislative leaders the National Governors want to ponder, as they at- Association. George Cham- tempt to remain focused on berlain resigned as gover- the work of writing bills and nor in 1909, after he won a budgets. U.S. Senate seat and Frank “The governor is facing Benson, who succeeded serious challenges and he’s Chamberlain, resigned in hurting,” Senate President 1910. Benson resigned due Peter Courtney, D-Salem, to illness, Tymchuk said. wrote in a statement Thurs- Douglas McKay resigned day. “I want to be fair. I as governor in 1952 to ac- want to be compassionate. I cept President Dwight D. want to do my job the best Eisenhower’s appointment I can. I will not speculate as U.S. interior secretary. on his future. As legislators Oregon is one of seven we need to stay focused states that do not have lieu- on providing money for tenant governors. If there our schools, taking care of is a vacancy, the secretary our seniors, tending to our of state is next in line, fol- state’s transportation needs lowed by the state treasurer, and balancing our budget. Senate president and House We have a lot to do and we speaker. Secretary of State need to get it done before Kate Brown and Treasur- July. We can’t let anything er Ted Wheeler are both distract us.” rumored to be interested House Speaker Tina in running for governor in Kotek, D-Portland, issued 2018. a similar statement and cit- If the governor were to ed a preliminary inquiry resign, the secretary of state into Hayes and Kitzhaber’s would only hold the posi- activities by the Oregon tion until the next biennial Government Ethics Com- statewide election. mission. That means if Kitzhaber “This session is off to were to resign before a productive start,” Kotek 2016, Brown would have wrote. “As the Oregon to decide whether to run Government Ethics Com- in 2016 for the balance of mission does its job, we Kitzhaber’s term. If the va- must remain focused on our cancy occurred after Janu- job as legislators, which ary 2017, the secretary of is to serve Oregonians by state elected in 2016 would advancing policies that im- succeed the governor until prove people’s lives and the Kitzhaber’s term ends in strengthen our state.” Port: County hasn’t printed voters’ pamphlets in special district elections since 1999 Continued from Page 1A JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian More than 80 community members met for The Way to Wellville kickoff event at Warren- ton High School Jan. 14. said Taylor, commenting on how the county hasn’t printed voters’ Taylor is chairman of the pamphlets in special district elec- Clatsop County Democrats, tions since 1999. “Most people which overwhelmingly passed don’t know there’s an election its own two resolutions in No- until a ballot shows up.” vember, one opposing the idea The initial impetus was to of making Port commission- move the election of Port com- ers appointed, and another to missioners to regular elections, FKDQJH WKH ¿YH FRPPLVVLRQ- when the county publishes vot- er positions from each being ers’ pamphlets, said Taylor. But countywide to matching county that would involve legislative change, he added, so the initia- commissioner districts. “Initially, I had contact (with) tive stays with the special district the other group to see if they were elections in odd years. Valerie Crafard, interim open to other ideas,” said Taylor, who sent letters to organizers in county clerk, sent out letters to the other committee tackling an the 39 special districts involved in the May 2015 election, trying initiative petition. Taylor still has to set up a to gauge their interest in print- new political action committee ing a voters’ pamphlet. Crafard to support the ballot initiative, said that after Taylor sets up his ¿OLQJ WKH SDSHUZRUN ZLWK WKH new political action committee, Oregon Secretary of State’s Of- she’ll need to verify his signature sheets. Then the committee can ¿FHWKLVPRUQLQJ The initiative, said Taylor, start collecting signatures. The would solve some of the prob- county, she said, would want the lems inherent with Port elec- signatures, a minimum of 2,101, tions, such as an overly costly E\ 0DUFK IRU YHUL¿FDWLRQ E\ countywide elections and a lack the county. March 19, she add- of accountability of Port com- HGZRXOGEHWKHGHDGOLQHWR¿OH PLVVLRQHUV WR D VSHFL¿F YRWLQJ or withdraw a measure for the district, while keeping electoral election. For more information on the control local and expanding the ballot initiative, how to contrib- spectrum of candidates. Taylor is also hoping to pro- ute and how to get involved, vide voters with more informa- visit www.keepportcontrollocal. com or email ClatsopCitizens- tion about candidates. “This is a secret election,” GoodGovernance@gmail.com the CCO is demonstrating that by staying involved. CareOregon, a partner of the CCO, will fund three staff positions in Clatsop County to work exclusively on The — Rick Brush Way to Wellville. CareOre- CEO of Health Initiative Coordinating Council (HICCup) gon also covered the cost of the Tampa trip for Clatsop County. Besides the county’s time There are no guarantees ³7KHUH LV QR SUHGH¿QHG and possible donations from path in any of this,” Brush for success, but the poten- businesses or organizations, said. “It’s all about innova- tial of using global invest- Blakesley said, the amount tion and experiments and ments to boost healthy liv- of money spent so far has not failures and learning along ing in Clatsop County is an been calculated, but is mini- the way so others can build opportunity the community mal and nowhere near mil- upon what we have done.” should not pass up, Morrow lions of dollars. said. Leap of Faith Without the $5 million “It is a leap of faith. 7KH &ROXPELD 3DFL¿F I’m realistic enough to get prize, Brush understands some may wonder what HIC- Coordinated Care Organiza- that,” Morrow said. “But Cup is now investing in the tion (CCO) — established what we will get in the end ¿YH\HDU FKDOOHQJH %UXVK in 2012 to coordinate health is more than $5 million.” could not put a price tag on services for Oregon Health HICCup’s support, but he Plan (CareOregon) members ODLGRXWVSHFL¿FSDUWQHUVKLSV in Clatsop, Columbia, Tilla- with investors it will bring to mook and coastal Douglas counties — applied for The the table. HICCup recently penned Way to Wellville on Clatsop an agreement with IBM, an County’s behalf. Debbie Morrow, Colum- information technology com- pany, to provide data analysis ELD 3DFL¿F &&2 YLFH FKDLU- support to the communities woman, said the CCO saw CMH ENT/Cosmetic Surgery Clinic to close Feb. 20, 2015 GXULQJ WKH ¿YH\HDU FKDO- Clatsop County as a good candidate by already hav- lenge. After two years of dedicated service, Dr. Christopher Nyte During the challenge, Clat- ing established stakeholders. sop County will use IBM’s Brush agrees that Clatsop will be leaving Astoria and the CMH ENT/Cosmetic Surgery support to track its improve- County showed results in Clinic will be closing. ments in various focus areas health care and had an entre- including chemical depen- preneurial spirit. When applying, Morrow, dency, mental health, access Dr. Nyte will continue to keep scheduled appointments until to primary care, employment, who has a background in Feb. 20, 2015, and will ensure that his patients have alternative obesity and food access and real estate, thought The Way to Wellville had a great tag- prenatal education and care. options if they have been under his care. Any patients who HICCup also partnered OLQHRI¿YHFRPPXQLWLHV¿YH have seen Dr. Nyte in the CMH ENT/Cosmetic Surgery with ReThinkHealth.org and years, $5 million. The $5 mil- the Robert Wood Johnson lion prize was, in part, a mo- Clinic in the past 2 years will be able to access their records Foundation, similar organi- tivating factor for the CCO. through the CMH Medical Records department; the phone When that changed at the zations focused on improving Tampa meeting, Morrow re- healthy living. number is 503-338-7528. In addition, HICCup will members thinking that is go- provide a navigator in each ing to be PR issue for HIC- community. The navigator Cup. The goal now is to show will be HICCup’s local liai- son for potential partnerships people The Way to Wellville and investments into the is still worthwhile without the prize, Morrow said, and communities. ‘The spirit of this is not about winning prizes. People are doing this for important, noble reasons.’ PUBLIC NOTICE