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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2015)
143rd YEAR, No. 128 MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2015 ONE DOLLAR OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HIGHLIGHTING PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY These 2 aim to get things done Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Jeff and Christine Jacobson pulled their food cart out of storage in August and transformed it into CJ’s Trolley Stop Coffee and Food Cart, an eatery they plan to open Saturday. Ding, ding, ding goes the food cart Downtown lot’s ¿rst food ¿[ture opens Friday with samples By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian M ore than ¿ve months after the opening of Riverwalk FoodCarts and Market- place, the Bechtolt family has a permanent food cart at the corner of Si[th Street and Marine Drive. CJ’s Trolley Stop Coffee and Food Cart, a product of Portland transplants Christine and Jeff Ja- cobson, will offer free samples Fri- day and open Saturday. After raising their ¿ve kids ² the youngest is ² the Jacob- sons decided it was time to realize their dream of living on the coast, quitting their jobs and moving to Astoria in February. In August, the couple pulled out a food cart they had in storage, and painted it to appear as if looking out during a trolley ride along the Columbia River, which provides the back- drop to their cart and the Bechtolts’ parking lot. “We wanted to be Warren’s an- chor food cart,” Jeff Jacobson said of the cart pod’s main overseer, Warren Bechtolt. “Hopefully we get a few more carts in here.” After seeing the Riverwalk FoodCarts sign on the side of the road, the Jacobsons said they tracked down Bechtolt and got him to add electricity and water for their Class IV food cart, which includes sinks, ovens, grills ² all new equipment they installed, e[- cept for a vintage espresso machine Jacobson said comes straight from Italy. The Jacobsons plan to open for breakfast and lunch, including AmeriCorp volunteers gain e[perience through their service By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian Two young professionals have traveled from different parts of the country to Clatsop County, where they will spend the ne[t year gaining e[perience in various areas of public service. Bijan Fayyaz, from Fort Lauder- dale, Florida, and Ian Sisson, of Chi- cago, came to the 1orth Coast this fall through Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE), a di- vision of AmeriCorps that operates through the University of Oregon. The program places about 20 vol- unteers in cities throughout Oregon. They come from all over the country and stay for months. “It’s a mi[ of people. Some have master’s degrees, some have work e[perience and some are just out of college,” Sisson said. “Everyone that is in the program is af¿liated with planning or nonpro¿t management.” See NEIGHBORS, Page 10A Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian CJ’s Trolley Stop Coffee and Food Cart will offer éclairs and other pastries and candies on site and through preorders. muf¿ns, scones, cinnamon rolls, pies, cookies, éclairs and other pastries in the morning, along with tea and Kobos Coffee brewed in Portland, and a full assortment of mi[ed drinks and cold brew coffee and tea. The couple make their own fry bread, using it for entrées like breakfast sandwiches, barbecue pulled pork and Zenner’s Sausage Co. sausages wrapped into “dough dogs.” The cart will also offer clam chowder daily, along with a rotat- ing daily soup. “Every day, the goal is to have something different,” Christine Ja- cobson said, adding the cart will do preorders over the phone and even- tually add bicycle delivery. The two said they are living off their savings, trying to make the food cart their full-time venture while giving back to the commu- nity, donating to the Astoria Riv- erfront Trolley and giving leftover food to homeless shelters. Jeff Ja- cobson said he was a chef at Oswe- go Lake Country Club for nearly 20 years. Christine said she repre- sented TBS Couriers and brieÀy worked at Shilo Inn in Seaside until September. “It’s e[citing and scary and a challenge,” she said. “But we’re anticipating it’s going to be good.” The year ahead Minimum wage, ta[ ¿ghts top 20 Salem agenda By HILLARY BORRUD and PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau Christine Jacobson, co-owner of CJ’s Trolley Stop Coffee and Food Cart, said she wants to have a rotating cast of soups and entrees, along with daily staples like barbecue pulled pork, homemade fry bread and clam chowder. Edward Stratton The Daily Astorian Foss keeps Brick House hoppin’ ‘G SALEM ² The 1ew <ear will ring in some pivotal policymaking and elections in Oregon that could shape the state’s government, econ- omy, quality of life and balance of power. The Legislature will only meet for about a month in 20, but law- makers still plan to tackle high-pro- ¿le issues including the minimum wage, child welfare and problems at the Oregon Department of Ener- gy. It also promises to be a year of contentious ballot measures, from a proposed corporate sales ta[ to a measure aimed at repealing or weakening the state’s low-carbon fuel standard. Minimum Wage ood evening and WELCOME TO THE BRIIIIICK HOUSE!!” It’s about time to start hearing those words again, as the Astoria basketball season kicks into full gear. Just as legendary pub- lic address announcer Don Essig is the “Voice of the Ducks” on gameday, Dan Foss is the “Voice of the Fishermen.” And he’s much more than that. The longtime in- dustrial arts teacher at Asto- ria High School has, over the years, coached golf, volleyball and soccer; and volunteered for much more (timer at swim meets, driver for Homecoming Parades, etc.). His career is just now starting to wind down a little. Foss has already stepped down as the Astoria boys golf coach, and he’s close to retirement as a teacher. Daily Astorian/File Photo Four competing Oregon ballot initiative proposals would gradually increase the $9.25 per hour mini- mum wage to at least $.50, and to as much as $5. Some Oregon lawmakers are trying to head off that contest with their own proposal during the 5- day session in February and March. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Port- land, is spearheading the effort. His proposal would set three min- imum wages for the state based on cost of living and median income. Lawmakers have yet to agree on e[act amounts to propose, Dem- brow said. They are scheduled to meet after the 1ew <ear to contin- ue discussions. See FOSS, Page 5A Dan Foss, pictured as a volunteer driver for a recent Astoria Homecoming Parade. See YEAR AHEAD, Page 10A
