DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016
144TH YEAR, NO. 130
ONE DOLLAR
COAST WEEKEND: LOOKING BACK, FACING FORWARD IN NEW YEAR INSIDE
New year
‘It was my heart. I couldn’t stop.’ ushers in
new laws
statewide
Releasing sky lanterns
will be a crime in 2017
By JADE MCDOWELL
EO Media Group
The 2016 legislative session was a short
one, but Oregon lawmakers had enough time
to approve a handful of new laws that will go
into effect Jan. 1.
Some — like a law authorizing the gov-
erning body of Tillamook County to estab-
lish wetlands — apply to a very narrow seg-
ment of the state’s population. But others
will affect all Oregonians.
As always, not knowing about a new law
is not a valid legal defense if you get caught
breaking it.
Criminal impersonation
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Barb Roberts smiles for a portrait in her home on Wednesday in Astoria. Roberts has been involved with organizing the Wishing
Tree charity in Astoria for over 27 years. Her Christmas tree is decorated with thank-you notes from gift recipients.
Roberts reflects
on 26 years as
Wishing Tree
coordinator
See NEW LAWS, Page 4A
YEAR IN REVIEW
US election
voted top
news story
of 2016
By ERICK BENGEL
The Daily Astorian
O
n Christmas, about 850 kids from
low-income families in Astoria,
Svensen and Knappa had reason to
feel excited.
Their parents had applied for holiday assis-
tance through the Astoria Wishing Tree, a
30-plus-year-old program that collects and dis-
tributes Christmas gifts for local children.
And after 26 years, the program’s coordina-
tor, Barb Roberts, announced this would be her
last year leading the program.
Roberts shies away from listing her accom-
plishments, preferring to keep the focus on
volunteers, businesses and sponsors who have
helped support the Wishing Tree and its sister
program, the Food Basket.
Asked what the Wishing Tree has meant
to her, Roberts had trouble holding back tears.
“It’s been my life,” she said.
A quarter-century is a long time to run a
program whose goal is to lift people up during
the holidays. What kept Roberts in it for so
many years? “(The program) was my heart,”
she said. “I couldn’t stop.”
Geri Fick, a Wishing Tree volunteer from
Astoria, said that, under Roberts’ management,
the program became much more efficient. Rob-
erts turned what could have been a mad, messy
annual dash into a streamlined operation.
“Barb’s put her heart and soul into this pro-
gram, and she’s very methodical in creating a
system so that it’s pretty straightforward,” Fick
said.
Sending intimidating emails to your
neighbor while pretending to be the city
planner is now a crime.
Senate Bill 1567 makes it illegal to imper-
sonate a public servant, veteran or member
of the Armed Forces with the intent to cause
another person injury.
Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
ABOVE: Wishing Tree coordinator Barb Roberts stands among the donated bikes at
the Clatsop County Expo Center last year. The Wishing Tree program gave out more
than 60 bikes to children around Clatsop County. The bikes come from both private
and public donors. BELOW: Toys for children line tables at the Clatsop County Expo
Center in 2015 as part of the Wishing Tree program.
See ROBERTS, Page 7A
Top 10: Attacks, Brexit,
Scalia’s death, emails
By DAVID CRARY
Associated Press
NEW YORK — The turbulent U.S. elec-
tion, featuring Donald Trump’s unexpected
victory over Hillary Clinton in the presiden-
tial race, was the overwhelming pick for the
top news story of 2016, according to The
Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors
and news directors.
The No. 2 story also was a
dramatic upset — Britons’ vote to leave the
European Union. Most of the other stories
among the Top 10 reflected a year marked by
political upheaval, terror attacks and racial
divisions.
Last year, developments related to the
Islamic State group were voted as the top
story — the far-flung attacks claimed by the
group, and the intensifying global effort to
crush it.
The first AP top-stories poll was con-
ducted in 1936, when editors chose the abdi-
cation of Britain’s King Edward VIII.
See 2016, Page 9A
Biking advocate calls Cannon Beach home
New chamber
marketer has
a passion for
racing bikes
By LYRA FONTAINE
The Daily Astorian
C
ANNON BEACH —
While growing up in Seat-
tle and living in Portland, Mat-
thew Weintraub entertained the
idea of living in a small, remote
town — in the mountains or
on the coast — where he could
have a personal connection
with his community.
OUR NEW
NEIGHBORS
HIGHLIGHTING PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY
In July, this idea became a
reality when Weintraub moved
to Cannon Beach for a job as
destination marketing man-
ager at the city’s Chamber of
Commerce.
“It’s been a fast half of the
year so far,” he said.
The 7-minute bike ride to
work, good coffee and small-
town feel are just a few things
that Weintraub enjoys about
Cannon Beach.
“It’s really nice being able
to walk around and people
know your name and ask you
how you’ve been, not because
you’re important but because
we’re all here and we all care
about our neighbors,” he said.
Submitted Photo
See WEINTRAUB, Page 7A
Matthew Weintraub, the Cannon Beach Chamber of Com-
merce destination marketing manager, moved to town in July.