DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
144TH YEAR, NO. 104
As
draws near,
downtown gets ready to reign
UNIQUE GIFTS, SPECIAL SALES HIGHLIGHT START OF SHOPPING SEASON
ONE DOLLAR
County’s
homeless
students
up again
Warrenton has most
without shelter in county
Associated Press and
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
SALEM — More students in Oregon are
homeless than the number tallied last year, a
disturbing trend that has now gone on for three
years, state education offi cials said Tuesday.
The Department of Education said 21,340
students, or 3.7 per-
cent of the K-12
population in public
MORE
schools, don’t have
INSIDE
a fi xed and adequate
nighttime residence.
See a graphic
The vast major-
detailing student
ity of students who
homelessness in
Clatsop County.
qualify as homeless
Page 9A
do have some sort of
shelter at night, most
often shared or tem-
porary housing arrangements that aren’t con-
sidered stable.
But just because they’re not sleeping out-
side doesn’t mean there’s not an impact, said
Marti Heard, the homeless program liaison
for Portland Public Schools.
“If you’re staying someplace where
the utilities (are) off, you may not be warm
enough, you may not have light for studying,”
said Heard. “These students are really at risk
for falling behind academically.”
Holiday decorations hang above Commercial Street in downtown Astoria on Tuesday.
See HOMELESS, Page 9A
By LUKE WHITTAKER
EO Media Group
S
candinavian chocolate. A Goonies-in-
spired painting. A new guitar complete
with lessons. When it comes to fi nding
the perfect present this holiday season,
look no further than nearby, small businesses
for unique options with a local fl air.
“You never know what the hot item is
going to be, but there are some things that
are consistently strong,” said Saara Mathews,
owner of FinnWare. Specialty chocolate, hol-
iday fi gurines and ornaments are particularly
popular.
“Most of our Christmas items come from
Scandinavia, you can’t fi nd them every-
where,” Matthews said. “We’re the last Scan-
dinavian storefront in Oregon.”
Art options abound throughout Astoria;
among them is a commercial illustrator Dave
McMacken, owner of Ratz & CO, a poster,
print and painting gallery at 260 10th St .
“I’m a pure landscape painter,” McMacken
said. “And then I just mix it up with cartoons
and science fi ction.” A commercial illustrator
for 50 years, McMacken fi nds inspiration in
local landscapes, boat yards and abandoned
buildings and empty gas stations. Scenes
depicting Astoria, Chinook and Ilwaco hang
throughout a gallery offering a fresh interpre-
tation on familiar scenes.
US court
blocks
overtime
pay rule
By MICHELLE RINDELS
Associated Press
Luke Whittaker/EO Media Group
Teela Evans, at The Cellar On 10th, recommends a local pinot noir or pinot gris for
the perfect compl ement to the holiday meal.
A variety of specialty
Scandinavian candies
and chocolate are avail-
able at FinnWare, locat-
ed at 1116 Commercial
St. in Astoria.”You never
know what the hot item
is going to be, but there
are some things that
are consistently strong,”
said owner Saara
Mathews. Specialty
chocolate, holiday fig-
urines and ornaments
are among the consis-
tent seasonal sellers.
Special season for sales
For several local businesses the holiday
season is critical boost before slower months
and a chance to clear inventory by offering
deep discounts.
“You can save 50 percent on a refriger-
ator right now,” said Roby’s Furniture and
Appliance manager Brandon Carr. “Every-
body believes they can get a better deal at
Luke Whittaker
EO Media Group
See BLACK FRIDAY, Page 11A
LAS VEGAS — In a blow to the Obama
administration’s labor-law plans, a fed-
eral court has blocked the start of a rule that
would have made an estimated 4 million
more American workers eligible for over-
time pay heading into the holiday season.
As a result of Tuesday’s ruling, overtime
changes set to take effect Dec. 1 are now
unlikely be in play before vast power shifts
to a Donald Trump administration, which
has spoken out against Obama-backed gov-
ernment regulation and generally aligns with
the business groups that stridently opposed
the overtime rule.
The U.S. District Court in the Eastern
District of Texas granted the nationwide pre-
liminary injunction, saying the Department
of Labor’s rule exceeds the authority the
agency was delegated by Congress.
See OVERTIME, Page 9A
Seaside students to lead Parade of Lights
Kids pitch in as
grand marshals
of annual event
IF YOU GO
The parade begins at 6 p.m. at First Avenue on Necanicum Drive
with participants facing south. The parade ends at the Downing
and Broadway pocket park. Following the parade, participants are
invited to join tree-lighting, caroling and visits with Santa Claus.
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
SEASIDE — Organiz-
ers were concerned and dis-
mayed when the health of
Mayor Don Larson made his
appearance at this year’s Sea-
side Parade of Lights prob-
lematic. Larson was sched-
uled to lead the annual event
as the parade’s grand mar-
shal. Because of his health he
couldn’t do it, Sandy McDow-
all of Seaside’s Chamber of
Commerce said.
“We were thinking, ‘What
can we do?’” McDowall said.
“Then the lightbulb went on:
Let’s make it the children of
Seaside School District 10.”
The metaphor was appro-
priate for Seaside’s annual
Parade of Lights, held annu-
ally on Thanksgiving Friday.
Children from the high
school, middle school and
two elementary schools will
gather at the Seaside Civic
and Convention Center and
march behind the “grand mar-
shal” banner.
“It’s really a thank you to
the Seaside area for passing
the bond measure ,” McDow-
all said.
The Daily Astorian/File Photo
See PARADE, Page 9A
Santa waves to the crowd at the Seaside Parade of Lights.
Participants are invited to sign up to join in the parade.