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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2017)
SEASIDE EARNS COWAPA LEAGUE BRAGGING RIGHTS SPORTS • PAGE 10A DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 144TH YEAR, NO. 169 ONE DOLLAR Port backs bond at airport Money for Life Flight, future development By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Photos by Damian Mulinix/For EO Media Group Ophelia Wise is one of 40 local elementary school students who are learning to dance for the upcoming middle school play “Wonderland.” BALLERINAS IN ‘WONDERLAND’ BALLET OPPORTUNITY GARNERS A BIG RESPONSE: 40 DANCERS By DAMIAN MULINIX For EO Media Group I LWACO, Wash. — When Cheryl Cochran took on directing a drama pro- duction at Hilltop Middle School this win- ter, it was a big job. But after listening to the musical score, she decided it should be a lit- tle bit bigger. Cochran, a special education teacher at the school and longtime dancer, put out a call to all kindergarten through fourth-graders in the Ocean Beach School District interested in learning and performing ballet as part of the show. She got quite a response. “I expected maybe 12 sign -ups, but was overwhelmed with how many children wanted to participate,” Cochran explained. “I couldn’t say ‘no’ to anyone and (now) we’ve got 40 little ballerinas.” She said the fi rst song of the play, “Won- derland” — based on a Lewis Carroll book — especially inspired the decision. “It occurred to me that the opening num- ber would be perfect set to a ballet dance,” she said. “What a great way to include our little ones in our drama club production.” So for the last month, once a week, the dancers have rehearsed with Cochran on the stage at Hilltop Auditorium in advance of the play’s performances on March 4, 6, 7 and 8. And the kids have quite a teacher. Cochran, who says she has been a dancer for 55 years, has also directed and choreographed more than 100 productions on stage and screen. She also teaches part time at the Encore Dance Studio in Warrenton. “It’s always a challenge starting a pro- gram, but honestly, I set the bar high and the children always rise,” Cochran said. “Ballet teaches inner strength and discipline which extends into your daily life.” The Port of Astoria will send a $2.6 mil- lion, three-year bond measure to Clatsop County voters in May to help fi nance the development of a southern portion of the Astoria Regional Airport. The bond money would be used to relo- cate aerial medevac service Life Flight Net- work and ready adjacent lots for future development. The project would extend utilities and Flightline Drive south to Airport Lane for Life Flight’s hangar, adding an additional access point to the airport besides 12th Place. Port staff and members of the Airport Advi- sory Committee have said the project will provide a more suitable, quiet and uncon- gested space for Life Flight, and would entice more business to the airport with improved access and utilities. See AIRPORT, Page 7A Astoria debates homestay lodging Local Airbnb hosts object to prohibition By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian ABOVE: Hilltop teacher Cheryl Cochran has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has directed more than 100 plays and movies, and choreographed them, too. LEFT: Ilwaco, Washington , el- ementary school students are learning to ballet dance in advance of the middle school drama production “Wonderland,” in which they will perform. The thorny topics of Astoria’s housing shortage and homestay lodging weren’t on the Astoria City Council agenda, but they came up at Tuesday’s meeting nonetheless. The council, whose goal is to create hous- ing Astorians can afford, has lately debated whether to rein in homestay lodging — tem- porary lodging that caters to out-of-towners — to free up units for working residents. Councilors Cindy Price and Zetty Nem- lowill have expressed interest in limiting Astoria’s future rentals in residential zones to tenants staying 30 days or longer. They argue that, with so little housing on offer, city policy governing the use of spare rooms and other living quarters should favor locals who need them over tourists who can pay more. See COUNCIL, Page 7A Astoria considers adopting ‘city of inclusivity’ resolution Alternative to sanctuary city designation By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian A resolution declaring Astoria a “city of inclusivity with respect to immigrants and refugees” came before the City Council Tuesday. Introduced by Jorge Guti- errez, the executive director of the Lower Columbia His- panic Council, on behalf of the city’s Hispanic and immigrant community, the resolution is a response to President Don- ‘Our immigrant community has expressed fear and concern about what is happening at the local, state and national level.’ Jorge Gutierrez executive director of the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council ald Trump’s hard-line immi- gration policies, including the Republican’s push for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. “Our immigrant commu- nity has expressed fear and concern about what is hap- pening at the local, state and national level,” Gutierrez said, “and we believe that now is the time to explore the possibility of an inclusivity resolution.” The resolution — drafted by attorneys from the Ameri- can Civil Liberties Union and Causa, a group that advocates for immigrants’ rights — does not make Astoria a sanctuary city, however. In December, Mayor Arline LaMear, while declar- ing her support the local His- panic community, said the city would likely not pursue sanc- tuary city status. Gutierrez had told LaMear that designating Astoria a sanctuary city could have a polarizing effect. “Instead, we are asking for a resolution that affi rms the progressive values of our city, and that recognizes that our immigrant population is vital to our community and to our local economy,” Guti- errez said. “Most importantly, in the face of the continued rhetoric that is attempting to dehumanize this popula- tion, an inclusivity resolution sends a clear message to our Hispanic community that we stand with them, that they are our friends, our family and our neighbors.” A similar resolution has been enacted in several other Oregon cities. See RESOLUTION, Page 7A
