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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2015)
Beach Bill story on tap at Fort George Author Matt Love to give Oregon Story Session presentation ASTORIA — How did Ore- gon establish and protect its unique legacy of publicly owned beaches that are free to use? What do free beaches mean for the cultural life of the state? What do free beaches mean to you? What are we do- ing to preserve and celebrate that legacy today? Join publisher, author, ed- ucator and beach fanatic Matt Love for an interactive and spirited multimedia presenta- tion on the inspiring story of Oregon’s famous 1967 Beach Bill. This Oregon Story Ses- sion event “The Great Birth- right Preserved: The Story of the Beach Bill” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at Fort George Lovell Show- room, located at 426 14th St. The event is free and open to the public. “This is one of the most heroic and exciting stories in modern Oregon history,” said Love, “and it’s been my plea- sure over the years to bring it to the Oregon people and remind them how a previous generation won a great victory for the people that enhances our lives today.” The legacy began in 1913, when Oregon Gov. Oswald West signed into law a 66- word bill that declared the wet sand areas of the state’s ocean beaches a public highway. He ODWHU ZURWH ³1R ORFDO VHO¿VK interest shall be permitted, through politics or otherwise, to destroy or impair this great birthright of our people.” He was referring to the state’s ocean beaches. In 1966, the looming threat of privatization of the dry sand areas of the beaches imperiled the legacy. In response to pub- lic outcry, a bipartisan Oregon Legislature passed the famous Beach Bill after it nearly died in committee. The legislation was resurrected by the inde- fatigable effort of citizens, courageous politicians, and journalists calling attention to the threat. Signed into law by Gov. Tom McCall in 1967, the Submitted photo Gov. Tom Mcall stands in front of Surfsand Motel in Cannon Beach, ca. 1967. Submitted photo Publisher, author, educator and beach fanatic Matt Love will talk about Oregon’s famous 1967 Beach Bill on Thursday, Oct. 29 at Fort George Lovell Showroom. ‘The Great Birthright Preserved’ 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 Fort George Lovell Showroom 426 14th St., Astoria Free Beach Bill protected the pub- lic’s right to use the dry sand areas where Oregonians had done so for time immemorial and cemented Oregon’s spe- cial relationship with its ocean beaches — forever. At the conclusion of his presentation, Love will read a short excerpt from “The Great 10 | October 22, 2015 | coastweekend.com Birthright,” his new detective novel about Oregon’s beaches, the looming 50th anniversary of the Beach Bill on July 7, 2017, and recruit citizens to become involved in the cel- ebration. “My goal on that sacred day is to assemble the largest public gathering in cel- ebration of a piece of legisla- tion in Oregon history,” said Love. “And I mean assemble on the beaches all down the Oregon Coast and party.” Love is the author and edi- tor of 14 books about Oregon. In 2009, Love won the Oregon Literary Arts’ Stewart H. Hol- brook Literary Legacy Award for his contributions to Oregon history and literature. He lives in Astoria and teaches at Asto- ria High School. North Coast Symphonic Band to perform concert of water-inspired music Sunday ASTORIA — The North Coast Symphonic Band begins its 36th season of performing quality wind band music for the North Coast community by presenting “Rain, Rivers and the Sea,” a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Liberty Theater. Dave Becker of Manzanita returns as conductor and mu- sical director with a seasoned group of 45 musicians. Lo- cal guitarist David Drury and trombonist Bob Joiner will be featured soloists, and Drury’s Basin Street NW duo will per- form a pre-show at 1:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. with open seating. %HFNHU LV DQ DYLG ¿VKHU- man on the Columbia River and Nehalem Bay. His in- spiration to plan this concert IHDWXULQJPXVLFLQÀXHQFHGE\ or about water came to him as he captained his boat “Major Scales.” Drury will solo on “Here’s That Rainy Day” in an ar- rangement by Dave Robertson of Rockaway. Joiner will go “Slidin’ Down the Mississip- pi” with a medley of tasty old- time jazz tunes based on river melodies. All will recognize G.F. Handel’s “Water Music” as it ¿OOVWKHWKHDWHUZLWKLWVEXR\- ant sounds. Richard Roger’s “Victory at Sea” will present the grandeur of music inspired by America’s greatest gen- eration. Even the march will relate to water as the NCSB performs John Philip Sou- sa’s “Hands Across the Sea.” Johan de Meij’s “Aquarium Suite” consists of three move- PHQWVLQVSLUHGE\WURSLFDO¿VK including neon tetras, seahors- es and guppies. The concert’s river music includes “Ameri- can River Songs,” “Platt River Run” and “Bridges Over the River Cam.” Regular admission price is $15 for adults, $7 for students, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at WKH/LEHUW\7KHDWHUER[RI¿FH Submitted photo Dave Becker will conduct the North Coast Symphonic Band at the Liberty Theater. Submitted photo Bob Joiner, left, and Dave Drury will perform as soloists at the North Coast Symphonic Band’s Oct. 25 concert. ‘Rain, Rivers and the Sea’ 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 Liberty Theater 1203 Commercial St., Astoria $15 adults, $7 students, free children under 12 Ticket prices are kept low due to the generosity of band pa- trons who help cover expens- es. From time to time, NCSB has openings, and though most sections of the band are full with waiting lists, there are openings in sections for trumpet, oboe and percussion. Interested musicians should own an instrument, play at the advanced high school lev- el or higher and be willing to rehearse weekly. Contact Lee Stromquist, personnel director at encore1@charter.net or call 503-861-1328 for information about joining the band or the waiting list. The Liberty Theater is lo- cated at 1203 Commercial St. For information about the con- cert, email ncsband@charter. net or call 503-325-2431.
