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