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