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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2016)
9A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 Homelessness: Seniors have become more at-risk for it Continued from Page 1A While the count has remained nearly stagnant, “the face of homelessness is changing,” said Suzanne Evans, crisis and mental health case manager at Helping Hands Re-entry Outreach Centers. The 6HDVLGHEDVHGQRQSUR¿WDJHQF\ was a partner at the event and provided clothing, shoes and cold-weather accessories to participants. In particular, seniors and households with children are being more affected. In 2015, the 617 households counted included 278 people younger than 18. “It used to be, years ago, mostly single men; then it tran- sitioned to women, and then women with children,” Bruce said. Staff member Viviana Matthews agreed, saying they still see “the chronically homeless,” but have seen more families come through. Evans, who made appointments for required, and they sometimes resist change. “You get them out of their comfort zone and they don’t want to be there,” Medina said. people to sign up for health insurance, said she believed this year’s event brought in a lot of new faces. Close to 150 households attended this year’s Project Homeless Connect, according to Matthews. It takes a village Overcoming barriers Clatsop County has tight resources and does not have many employment opportuni- ties, Bruce said, especially those that provide living wages. Some people move to the area misin- formed about the job opportuni- ties or unaware of how the job market is seasonal, Matthews said. She feels local agencies and the media are doing a good job bringing awareness of homelessness in Clatsop County, but that also may be why some people see it as more of a problem. Housing, personal habits, lack of marketable skills and numerous other situations contribute to the issue. As the disabled veteran’s outreach and placement specialist with the Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian People walk through booths set up at the Project Home- less Connect event Thursday. Oregon Employment Depart- ment, Patrick Preston sees numerous barriers affecting veterans as they search for jobs. Often they have skills but not always those needed in today’s job market. The same goes for many senior citizens, said Theresa Medina, partici- pant assistant for Experience Works. Medina and Preston said their agencies, as well as 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW :RUNV DQG other groups, help job candi- dates receive training, hone skill sets relevant in the local job market and perfect resumes and interview strategies. “The Employment Depart- ment isn’t going to get you a job,” Preston said. “What we will do is prepare the environ- ment for success.” Medina agreed seniors have become more at-risk for homelessness. Many are not as computer literate and technology savvy as may be The Astoria Rescue Mission, which has partnered for the event since its genesis, empha- sizes building a support system around those in need. The IDLWKEDVHG QRQSUR¿W SURYLGHV a homeless shelter, food and clothing — items to meet people’s immediate physical needs. Their mission also includes a six-month disci- pleship program, daily Bible studies, services and other programs to satisfy spiritual QHHGV DFFRUGLQJ WR RI¿FH manager Robert Warriner. ³:KHQ WKH\ ¿QG SHRSOH WR care about them and their needs, it becomes a family,” House Manager Bill Eckstein said. $OLVKD/XFND¿HOGSURJUDP assistant with event newcomer Family and Community Together Oregon, also sees how important it is for “under- served” community members WR QHWZRUN DQG ¿QG VXSSRUW The organization assists those with disabilities by providing education and opportunities to network with others in similar circumstances. As the proverb goes, Luck said, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and the “family networking piece is that key.” Speaking from experience, Luck said that when she was homeless and raising a daughter with disabilities, she felt cut off from a lot of important infor- PDWLRQ 1HZFRPHUV WR WKH area also may experience a disconnect. Project Homeless Connect’s value, she said, is it links people to the services, resources and information they need, or even those they did not realize they needed. According to Evans, “It’s nice to see us all come together” to give people the referrals and resources they need “in one fell swoop.” Land: Restrictions placed on ranchers gain visibility in D.C. EHKDOI RI GHFHDVHG 1HYDGD rancher Wayne Hage. Left-wing protests, such as “They’re less of a spectacle and should be taken more “Occupy Wall Street,” invaded private property and were VHULRXVO\´1LHVDLG more disruptive than the refuge Far-right interpretations standoff but did not elicit a The philosophy of Bundy similarly strong-armed reaction and his followers, meanwhile, from the federal government, he is entangled with far-right inter- said. Pollot said that distrust of pretations of the U.S. Consti- tution and the power of county the government will particu- sheriffs but does not offer any larly rise if there are indica- serious proposals for changing tions that federal agents over- reacted during the arrests and federal land policy, he said. “I don’t think this spectacle that Oregon State Police did has helped that cause at all,” he not have to shoot the protesters’ spokesman, LaVoy Finicum. said. If nothing else, the confron- Among people who were uneasy about excessive federal tation will show that Western authority, though, recent land policy is more than a minor events will likely reinforce the issue and deserves congres- notion that the government is sional attention, Pollot said. “It will add some weight to out-of-control, said Mark Pollot, DQ DWWRUQH\ ZKR LV ¿JKWLQJ the debate,” he said. On the other hand, there’s federal agencies in court on Continued from Page 1A the risk of a shift away from the political and legal channels that critics such as Wayne Hage have traditionally used in the “Sagebrush Rebellion” against federal land policy, he said. “I’m concerned there will be people who will now think that’s worthless,” Pollot said. ‘Martyr for the cause’ The restrictions placed on ranchers have gained visibility in Washington, D.C., Salem and Portland, but that doesn’t mean they will be changed, said Bruce Weber, director of Oregon State University’s Rural Studies Program. It’s unclear how the existence of a perceived “martyr for the cause” will change the situation, Weber said. “People who believe the Constitution prohibits federal ownership and management Ferry:7RXULVW1RVHUYLFHG Astoria from 1924 to 1966 Continued from Page 1A “‘Bring it home’ is sort of our catch phrase right now,” Dulcye Taylor, vice president of the QRQSUR¿WERDUGVDLG Inspections, repairs planned The ferry is scheduled to get dry-docked and inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard at a shipyard near Seattle’s Lake Union next month. A consultant interfacing with the Coast Guard may perform an extra in-the-water courtesy inspection, either at Lake Union or at its current location at the Bremerton Marina in Washington state, the owner, Capt. Christian Lint, said. After seeing to the minor repairs, Lint plans to person- ally skipper the ferry down to Astoria, where it will undergo ¿QDO UHSDLUV DQG FHUWL¿FDWLRQ %XW ZKHWKHU WKH 7RXULVW 1R 2 would stay moored in place during the bridge commem- oration, or whether it would welcome riders and ply the riverfront, remains to be seen. “One way or another, I’m bringing the boat down,” Lint said. In service from 1924 to 1966, WKH7RXULVW1RLV$VWRULD¶VODVW ferry still intact. Last summer, Robert “Jake” Jacob, the majority owner of the Cannery Pier Hotel, contacted Lint after discovering the ferry’s whereabouts. Along with The Astoria Ferry board, they are working to get the vintage vessel seaworthy and southward before the year is out. That said, Astoria City Councilor Cindy Price, who is leaving the board but will continue to support the effort, added, “We’re not concerned about the timing because, when boat gets here, it’s going to be here for many years.” On the waterfront All of this — from the haul-out in Seattle, to the refurbishment in Astoria, to purchasing the ferry from Lint — will cost money, of course. The Astoria Ferry — which still has board seats available ² KDV IRUPDOO\ DI¿OLDWHG ZLWK the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, which will DFW DV WKH ¿VFDO VSRQVRU DV WKH QRQSUR¿WVROLFLWVIXQGLQJ /LQWVDLGKHKDVQRW¿[HGD price but is open both to leasing WKH YHVVHO WR WKH QRQSUR¿W DQG selling it on a contract for a down payment and installments. “Fortunately, (Lint) believes that it belongs in Astoria,” said Taylor, who is also the president of the downtown association. “He has been giving it tender, loving care as it sits and waits for us in Bremerton.” After the initial investment, the ferry could pay for itself over time — including the VWDI¿QJLQVXUDQFHDQGPDLQWH- nance — through user fees and donations. Even tied to a dock, companies could rent out the ferry for cocktail cruises and private parties, generating a great deal of revenue, Jacob said. Trips along the water- front could feature narrative tours of the city. Lint, who bought the ferry from Ferry Kirkland LLC about six years ago, said that, based on its last inspection, the 7RXULVW1R²DWKUHHGHFN wooden-hull ferry built with old-growth timber — is sturdy enough to “outlive all of us.” “Wood boats live way beyond our lifetime,” he said. “They don’t deteriorate. They last for as long as you maintain (them). They don’t rust away.” Lint said he can’t wait to steer this particular wooden boat over the Columbia Bar and beneath the bridge that put it out of business. “I’m anxious to get cruising down the coast,” he said. Interested donors can visit WKH 7RXULVW 1R ¶V RI¿FLDO website, astoriaferry.com, and its Facebook page at http://bit. ly/AstoriaFerry. “I think this is a historic opportunity,” Price said. RI6SLULWVLQ1HZSRUW Cary said he spent $10,000 Cary, who has won praise for on his last name change and had his line of craft vodka, gin and vetoed several options before RWKHU VSLULWV SODQV WR ¿JKW WKLV settling on Pilot House Spirits, a name that evokes Astoria’s time. “I’m taken aback by it,” he history as the home of bar and said. “I think it’s ludicrous. It river pilots. “Pilot house has a special makes no sense.” If House Spirits Distillery meaning,” Cary said, adding was truly concerned about that he tried to explain the name intellectual property, Cary to House Spirits Distillery, to no said, the company would have avail. Trademark infringement also gone after larger opera- tions, such as Rogue Ales and issues have grown as the number Spirits, which runs the House of distilleries and breweries protesters and the death of Finicum will “activate” people who hold similar anti-govern- ment views. There’s a “palpable sense” that government policy has focused on the economic welfare of urban areas while overlooking rural areas, he said. As to the effect of the occu- Visibility for pation on the federal land Western concerns Even so, the incident has debate, Schrader said the impact brought more visibility to is uncertain. Western concerns over public While people sympathize land. with the hardships faced in “I can’t help but think it’s the rural West, the occupation brought some awareness to has also shown they have no government overreach, that appetite for lawlessness, he said. Schrader said he and other might have some impact,” Skinner said. members of Oregon’s congres- U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, sional delegation are pushing to D-Ore., compared the standoff in reform overly restrictive rules southeast Oregon to the “Black on grazing and logging while Lives Matter” movement, which protecting the environment on DURVH LQ UHDFWLRQ WR FRQÀLFWV federal property. between law enforcement and “The scales have tipped so far the black community. to the left that you can barely do “Rural America faces the anything there, it’s so cost-pro- same lack of recognition,” hibitive,” he said. “We’ve got to Schrader said. change the federal policy.” For online updates: dailyastorian.com “The highest and best expression of the human mind and spirit is achieved through the Arts.” ART e a la c kind! price...one of a one size....one A huge th a n k y ou D a vid Am brose Vick i Ba k er Shirley Cla rk e Ben z Su sa n Bish D a vid Bocci Ja im e Boyd Victoria Brook s Chris Brya n t Ca rol Cou ch Jeff D a ly Sid D elu ca Joy D ia m on d John H . D iL iberti Roger D orba n d An n D resser Y von n e E d w a rd s An n ie E sk elin Pa tricia F a gerla n d Pa m ela F oss Jim Gilba u gh L iz H a rris Ron n i H a rris Roger H a yes to the following local ARTISTS: around the United States has reached historic levels. Last year, the American Craft Spirits Association reported 769 distill- eries nationwide. The Brewers Association reported more than 4,000 craft breweries. Cary is not the only local purveyor to face trademark challenges. River Mile 38 Brewing in Cathlamet, Wash- ington, was forced to change its name from Drop Anchor Brewing last year after Anchor Steam Brewing in California threatened to sue. ! u o y k Ga briela H elesicova Sa ra h H en d rick son Tin a H ess L a Ree John son Sha ron K eist L ois L a rson Gin L a u ghery Tim L id d ia rd D ebbi L ittlefield N ea l M a in e Joa n M a sa t L oretta M a xw ell M u shi M a yflow er M a ry Thera se M cD on a ld Ju d i M cE lroy Ja n e M ea n s D on N isbett Jea n N itzel F red N ova k N orm a N ova k D a rren O ra n ge Stephen Pa rise Robert M . Pa u lm en n n a h T Distiller: ‘I think it’s ludicrous’ Continued from Page 1A of those particular lands won’t change their minds,” he said. Concerns about growing federal restrictions on public lands long predate the refuge occupation and will likely continue even if the current FRQÀLFWLVUHVROYHG %RE 6NLQQHU D ¿IWKJHQ- eration cattle rancher in the Jordan Valley area, heads a group opposed to the proposed Owyhee Canyonlands wilder- ness and conservation area, which would cover 2.5 million acres in Oregon’s Malheur County. The designation would severely regulate or prohibit grazing and other activities on an area that is bigger than <HOORZVWRQH 1DWLRQDO 3DUN DQG covers 40 percent of Malheur County. Skinner said his worst fear is that the arrests of several Jo Pom eroy-Crock ett Ra y Propst Ca rol Riley Ren ee Row e Betha n y Row la n d D ixie Sa m pier K ristin Sha u ck Rin d a Shea Ca itlin Sk a ggs Christopher Spen ce M a rga Sta n ley Ca thy Stea rn s Ja m es Stim e Shigem i Ta jiri D u lyce Ta ylor Ba rba ra Tha ck er N oel Thom a s Pen n y Trea t An n ie U n w in Bla in e Verley Bill (W im ) Vlek John W eck er E ric W iega rd t …and to our wonderful SPONSORS: Ba n k of the Pa cific, The D a ily Astoria n , U S Ba n k , Colu m bia Ba n k , Jeff & Jen n ifer Ca n essa , Ca n n ery Pier H otel & Spa , Cla tsop Com m u n ity College, F u lio’s Pa sta ria , Stea k hou se & D eli, F t. George Brew ery, Christin e L olich, Pilot H ou se Spirits, W in d w a ter Bed & Brea k fa st Su ite, a n d Com m od ore H otel. The Liberty Theater Board of Directors especially thanks all of our wonderful volunteers, and our generous community.