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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