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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 Zone: ‘I don’t think we’re selling ourselves out here’ Continued from Page 1A DAMIAN MULINIX — EO Media Group Once aboard, passengers can choose to stay in their cars or walk around on the ferry, including an enclosed viewing area. Ferry: It was named after operator of original ferry Continued from Page 1A The Oscar B, which went into service earlier this year, is named for Oscar Bergseng, who operated the original ferry seven days a week, 365 days a year for 17 years. A plaque in his honor on the new boat reads, “Os- car was instrumental in the county taking over operation of the ferry in 1961 and con- tinued on as manager until his death in 1985.” Another constant aboard the ferry has been Capt. Ray Peek, who has been pilot- ing the boat back and forth across the Columbia for 32 years. An average shift has him making the run 18 times per day. That is less than he used to with the smaller Wahkiakum, where, if they could not fit every- DAMIAN MULINIX — EO Media Group Ferry Capt. Ray Peek pilots the Oscar B back out onto the Columbia River after picking up passengers in Westport. one onboard, they would have to go back and make a second trip during the same hour — something that has yet to happen with the larg- er Oscar B. The ferry leaves Puget Island at the top of each hour from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. “It made it rough, but it was OK. I like the work,” said Scott Tomlinson, a part- time deckhand. “This (ferry) is so much nicer. So much more accommodations for the patrons and all that.” Tomlinson has been working on the ferries for a year and a half. “I love working on here. It’s the best thing I’ve done since I’ve been out of the Navy. I like working with this guy. We keep each other entertained,” Tomlinson said of Peek, who simply replied, “Yup.” As the ferry pulled back into the dock at the Puget Island terminal, the two men prepared to end their shift after offloading all the passengers. But just like the boat, they’ll be back again tomorrow. “We tease each other all the time. We do what we gotta do, but we still have a good time,” Tomlinson said. Sandcastle: Wabi Sabi found redemption in win In Oregon, and across the na- tion, enterprise zones have had a “An enterprise zone gives us mixed record. Some economists another tool to boost economic have questioned whether prop- development in our erty tax incentives local communities,” produce meaningful Clatsop County Man- job growth and have ager Scott Somers likened the tax breaks said in a statement. to corporate welfare. “It can help drive new An enterprise investment in our in- zone for the Geor- dustrial properties and JLD3DFL¿F :DXQD increase private-sector Mill turned into a economic activity.” protracted tax battle The state designa- that ended in a $2.5 tion is a policy victo- Stephen C. Fulton million settlement ry for Somers, who with Clatsop County steered the enterprise and other taxing dis- zone application and tricts in 2012. stuck with the con- But economic de- cept after Astoria, the velopment advisers county’s largest city, believe enterprise pulled back. zones can help re- Port Commission- gions stand out when er Stephen Fulton, competing for new who had been an ad- business. vocate for Astoria’s Warrenton City participation, said Henry Balensifer Commissioner Hen- ³GH¿QLWHO\,WKLQNWKDW ry Balensifer said an there are opportunities that may enterprise zone is a tool for eco- look elsewhere because Astoria nomic growth, not “a solve-all.” chose to go a different way on Balensifer stressed that prop- this enterprise zone.” erty taxes make up only a frac- The Astoria City Council tion of the city’s budget, so tem- voted 2-2 in March against the porary tax breaks to help attract enterprise zone after initially business would not undercut the indicating support for the idea. FLW\¶V¿QDQFHV City Councilor Zetty Nemlow- Warrenton hopes the enter- ill, who recused herself from the prise zone might help convince vote because her husband is an 3DFL¿F &RDVW 6HDIRRGV WR UH- owner of Fort George Brewery EXLOGD¿VKSURFHVVLQJSODQWWKDW and Public House, which would burned down in 2013. have been in the enterprise zone, “It’s important we bring has called the decision to reject them back,” Balensifer said. the partnership disappointing. ³,I 3DFL¿F &RDVW 6HDIRRGV LV the only thing that really takes advantage of it, and the enter- Mixed record County, Port and Warrenton prise zone helped them do that, I RI¿FLDOV KRZHYHU KDYH EHHQ would consider it a success. “I don’t think we’re selling cautious not to oversell the value ourselves out here.” of an enterprise zone. Culling: Island also acts as a nesting ground for a massive colony of Caspian terns Continued from Page 1A Winters and Echols said there is “no particular expec- tation for this season and no speculation on how it will end either.” There are no weekly goals or limits, and, Echols said, there is still time for contrac- tors to shoot adult birds before WKH FRORQ\ ¿QLVKHV QHVWLQJ and leaves. The Audubon Society of Portland tried to put an im- mediate stop to this year’s shooting in May. This injunc- tion was denied, but a lawsuit ¿OHG E\ WKH 6RFLHW\ DJDLQVW the Corps, Fish and Wildlife Service and APHIS is still moving forward. East Sand Island also acts as a nesting ground for a mas- sive colony of Caspian terns, which are managed by the Corps under a separate man- agement plan. In the depredation permit more of family time. We don’t record of decision by USFWS get a whole lot of time to just there is a stipulation that states, VSHQG D ZKROH ZHHN JRR¿QJ “Management actions could “We’ve come back from the off. So it’s special.” cease temporarily if dispersal depths,” said Wabi Sabi’s Eric This year the Jessop team of double-crested cormorants Hawley. ¿HOGHG IRXU VLEOLQJV ZLYHV is 70 percent or less than the The team, comprised of cousins, as well as Mom and expected abundance one week members from across Washing- Dad. They’ve been compet- after implementation of cull- ton state, combined detail and ing for the last seven years, ing or egg oiling events.” ¿QHVVHDUWDQGDUFKLWHFWXUH$W DQG¿YHLQWKH0DVWHUV'LYL- They have not hit that 15-feet-high, their castle was sion. threshold yet, Winters said. the tallest of the day. It was “Mom was looking for The pause now is due entirely accompanied by an octopus, a something to keep us busy to nesting birds. mermaid and a shell cupping a couple years ago,” Jessop Given the Corps’ late start, the earth, and fronted by a trea- said. “Me and my next young- already deep in the nesting sure chest bearing the theme: er brother were just moving season, the Audubon Society “The World is Your Oyster. ANDREW R. TONRY — For EO Media Group Treasure It.” Wabi Sabi’s sandcastle project took first-place in the Mas- out of the house, so she was of Portland had worried that Against the six others in the ters contest. More photos online at www.dailyastorian.com also looking for something contractors would kill parents to get us to come back home with chicks and that those Masters division, Wabi Sabi’s entry was a crowd-pleaser, as offered an added buzz as they occasionally. So this was her chicks would later die from ‘No lost kids’ visitors gathered close to watch “Everything went really were being followed by tele- idea. It’s worked so far. It’s starvation and exposure, thus the team at work. The builders smooth, actually,” Sandcastle vision cameras from Oregon got us back every single year increasing the impact of the take. obliged with additional show- Contest Chairwoman Debbie 3XEOLF %URDGFDVWLQJ ¿OPLQJ since.” manship, at one point breaking Nelson said. for an upcoming episode of Or- from sand-shaping into dance. “Turnout was less than egon Field Guide on the Sand- “Our motto is: if you’re not last year,” she added. “Last castle Contest. here to have fun then, why are year was our 50th anniversa- “It’s been interesting,” said you here?” Hawley said. “We ry and we expected a massive son Raymond Jessop of being want the people to have fun. We crowd. We’re guesstimating trailed by the cameras. “They want everyone here to come about 10,000 in attendance this came up and followed us on a year. Last year it was close to practice in April for one day.” back and see us. “ $W¿UVWLWGLGQ¶WJRZHOO As much as it was a fan fa- 30,000.” “Everything fell down that Rather than disappointment, vorite — and the team took that award as well — so too were the dip in attendance made for a day,” Jessop said. “And then they came up and interviewed the judges enamored with Wabi more tranquil event. Of particular relief to Nel- us yesterday, and they’ve been 6DEL¶V FUHDWLRQ 7KH IRXU¿UVW Pub lished for m ore tha n a QUARTER OF A CEN TURY place votes were unanimous. son and her logistical team was poking cameras in our face all All contestants were judged not WKDWIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHLQ\HDUV day. But it’s been a fun experi- b y the Da ily Astoria n. RQO\ RQ WKH ¿QLVKHG SURGXFW no young children were sepa- ence.” Cha rt ing t he new c om ers a nd b usiness p ioneers of our region. The Jessops suffered anoth- but also teamwork, creativity rated from their parents. “I think that’s a record!” er bit of bad luck at the contest and more. “All of us came up with No. Nelson said. “No lost kids this when two bridges between Jo in u s in celeb ra tin g the rich 1 separately,” Masters judge year! So that was great. That’s VDQGFDVWOHVFROODSVHGRQO\¿YH his to ry in o u r a rea ! Robin Risley said. “The use of why it’s so calm, there’s no PLQXWHV EHIRUH WKH ¿QDO EHOO sounded. the space, the detail, the team- sense of panic.” • A s pecia l pla qu e d e s ign a tio n re fle c tin g “I’m a little disappointed Indeed, when held up work, crowd excitement, the energy that they created — that against the 50th anniversary’s about the arches falling,” Jes- yo u r n u m b e r o f ye a rs in b u s in e s s overwhelming crush of specta- sop said. “But that’s kind of just was the one!” • Ad ve rtis in g fo rm a t tha t tells the s to ry o f yo u r tors, the 2015 contest was rela- the way it goes.” “I think a lot of it is the sun tively serene, both on the beach Comeback b u s in e s s his to ry With the win, Wabi Sabi and throughout the town. And and the wind today,” he added. • Bu s in es s es a re highlighted fro m o ld e s t to while the crowds may have “We did one practice sculpture found a bit of redemption. “The last couple of years been thinner, they were still on Tuesday that was maybe n e we st we haven’t done well,” Hawley stacked rows deep around the two or three inches wider than 2014 • Co pies a va ila b le fo r a n en tire yea r the one that fell, and it held for said. “We brought some orga- seven Masters division plots. about nine hours. Today it was nization back to our group and • In s e rte d in to the Da ily As to ria n really just bad luck, to some de- worked a lot of things out, and Masters teams • Fea tu re s to ries a b o u t the s e le c te d b u s in e s s e s now we’re cutting sand like we Inside the ropes, competi- gree.” Still, the Jessops, whose used to. We’ve been champi- WLRQZDVDV¿HUFHDVHYHU fro m the c o ve r o f W HO’S W HO 2015 ons before, and to come back “We had eight Master teams sculpture depicted the board- and be champions again feels last year, and seven this year,” game LIFE, quickly cleaned up • On lin e fo r a n en tire yea r o n the EADL IN E great.” Nelson said. “I think eight the fallen bridges and managed d a ilya s to ria n .c o m , s e a s id e s ign a l.c o m , • P UBLIC ATION D ATE : Ju ly 3 1 The team, Hawley said might be the most we’ve ever DWKLUGSODFH¿QLVKEHKLQGWKH c a n n o n b e a c hga ze tte .c o m , )RUP )LQGHUV :KLOH WKH RI¿- would split the winnings. had.” c rb izjo u rn a l.c o m “We’re going to drink beer,” “It’s been great to have all of cial acknowledgment and the c hin o o ko b s e rve r.c o m Fu ll c o lo r a va ila b le f o r a ll a d s he chuckled. “We’ve got IPAs that enthusiasm again, because $400 check were no short shrift, with our name on them!” Haw- a lot of people really come to the Jessop’s d participation was To reserve yo u r space, call to d ay: about more than just awards. ley’s good spirits extended to see the Masters,” she added. A sto ria 50 3-325-321 1 • Seasid e 50 3-738-5561 “That’s really just a conso- competitors, spectators and One of those teams, the Jes- even the event organizers. sop family from Independence, lation prize to us,” he said. “It’s Continued from Page 1A THE DAILY ASTORIANʼ S 2015 WHO’S WHO The North Coastʼs Business Guide The Daily Astorian’s CHARTING THE NEWCOMERS AND BUSINESS PIONEERS OF OUR REGION The North Coast's Business Guide S pa ce & Co py : Ju ly 8 • D