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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2016)
COAST WEEKEND: DONATE LOCALLY WHILE SPRING CLEANING INSIDE DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 143RD YEAR, NO. 221 ONE DOLLAR A double shot of trademark trouble Astoria distiller has changed name twice after lawsuits By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Warrenton library teeters toward danger Building inspection points to possible move to another spot By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian AMMOND — The Warren- ton Community Library in Hammond is in extremely poor condition, has outlived its use- ful life and is becoming dangerous, according a memo by City Man- ager Kurt Fritsch. A recent inspection of the build- ing indicated that “the situation is critical and we cannot stay in the existing facility much longer,” he wrote. The city did emergency repairs to the front porch, which had sepa- rated from the building and become a tripping hazard, Site Manager Nettie-Lee Calog said. In addition, “The roof is in poor condition structurally, the fl oor is collapsing, and the building has sunk several inches in the front (and is) starting to separate from its sup- port,” Fritsch wrote, based on infor- mation from Building Offi cial Jim Byerly. “Mr. Byerly believes it would cost more to repair the building than construct a new facility,” the memo states, adding that the structure is “too small and does not meet pres- ent or future needs beyond book storage.” The Warrenton City Commission plans to meet with the library board next month to discuss the library’s future, where it could be relocated and how much the move could cost. Fritsch’s memo says the library land is an “asset of substantial value” that could be sold for hous- ing, then reinvested in constructing a new facility, or in purchasing or improving an existing facility. H Facing legal pressures, Larry Cary is changing his Astoria distillery’s name for a second time. His business — Pilot House Spirits — will become Pilot House Distilling as part of a set- tlement with House Spirits Distilling, a Port- land-based distillery that fi led suit against Cary over trademark infringement. The Portland distillery announced a vol- untary dismissal of the case last week. For Cary, the name change is a frustrating, but nec- essary, move to avoid a legal battle and focus on growing his nascent distillery. Cary opened North Coast Distilling on Duane Street in 2014. In October, he was sued by California-based Larry North Coast Brew- Cary ing, and spent about $10,000 changing his name to Pilot House Spirits. Then Cary was sued in January by House Spirits Distilling, which claimed his new name violates “established valuable trade- mark rights and goodwill throughout the United States.” The distillery, known for Avi- ation American Gin, has registered “House Spirits” and “House Spirits Distillery” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce. See DISTILLER, Page 10A Another ex-staffer fi les suit Photos by Erick Bengel/The Daily Astorian ABOVE: Nettie-Lee Calog, site manager of the Warrenton Community Library, said the book- shelves shake when patrons walk briskly or heavy-footed through the narrow building. TOP: The Warrenton Community Library, housed in the former Hammond Town Hall building, cur- rently operates on a five-year tax levy that expires in 2017. Lawsuit alleges unlawful actions at county mental health agency By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — On Mother’s Day, many families dropped by Ocean View Cemetery to leave fl owers and recon- nect with their loved ones. Some had not visited for awhile or had brought out-of-town guests for a special moment. “Disaster,” one woman wrote on Facebook. “Disgrace- ful,” another exclaimed. “It just made us sick,” a woman concluded. Long grass and weeds marred patches of the cemetery, the latest example of the Astoria Parks and Recreation Depart- ment’s losing struggle with maintenance. Families who in some cases spent thousands of dollars for the promise of perpetual care at Ocean View Erick Bengel/The Daily Astorian A former program manager who was fi red from Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare has fi led a federal lawsuit claiming she was let go after complaining of unethical and illegal manage- ment practices and seeking medical leave for severe work-related stress. Cheryl Varese, a program manager for the developmental disabilities unit, said she lodged an offi cial complaint with the mental health agency’s board of directors last July that described a hostile work environment. Later that month, after Varese informed the agency that her doctor recommended a week off for a health condition and she turned in medical leave forms, she was fi red for allegedly violating multiple agency policies. Varese, according to the lawsuit, had feared retaliation because she was associated with two former staffers — Richard Holmes, a case man- ager who resigned; and Colleen Studinarz, a pro- gram supervisor who was fi red — who alleged discrimination after they left in April 2015. The lawsuit, fi led in U.S. District Court in Portland in late April, names Sumuer Wat- kins, the agency’s executive director; and Nick Benas, the director of business operations. Varese is represented by Robert Meyer and Christina Stephenson, Portland attorneys who have also fi led a federal lawsuit against the agency on behalf of Holmes and Studinarz. Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare could not immediately be reached for comment. Benas, See CEMETERY, Page 10A Several families complained about long grass and weeds at Ocean View Cemetery on Mother’s Day. See LAWSUIT, Page 10A ‘The situation is critical and we cannot stay in the existing facility much longer.’ Kurt Fritsch See LIBRARY, Page 10A Warrenton’s city manager Upkeep again falls behind at Ocean View Astoria having trouble fi nding seasonal parks employees By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian