THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017 FRIDAY EXCHANGE 5A A balanced board Losing green space n response to “Experienced nurse” (The Daily Astorian, March 31): My opponent for Position 3 on the Clatsop Care Health District Board is abso- lutely correct that I have “no healthcare background.” I have never received a dime from working in that field. In fact, I have zero formal education past high school. What I do bring to CCHD board is a current perspec- tive from the other side of the fence. For the last 4 1/2 years one or both of my parents has been a client or resident of the health district. I have dispersed their life savings and the pro- ceeds from their home to CCHD for their excellent care. I am aware of the workings of in-home care, assisted living, memory care (not the district’s, it wasn’t open yet) and long- term, skilled nursing. My par- ents have used them all. I have maintained a good relationship with their caregivers. I also bring 25 years of small business ownership to the board. I pride myself on being a “numbers” man. The long-term viability of the district needs “eyes on the books.” I believe a balanced board of directors includes members with diverse back- grounds coming together for a common mission. I applaud my opponent for her interest in the future of quality care for the resi- dents and clients of CCHD. My interest began six months before being appointed to a board vacancy. During those six board meetings, I was the only member of the public in attendance. MICHAEL AHO Warrenton A I Vote DeVaney ecently, the public was informed that the manage- ment of the Clatsop County Health District had been turned over to a private, for-profit company, for a fee of over $1 million, for the next two years above what management has been costing we, the taxpayers of this county. I find this privatizing of the health district — a national trend, now extending into our local area — very disturbing. To make the best of a bad sit- uation, I think we will need smart, experienced people on the district board to make sure the patients are not put at risk or receive sub-par care. One candidate I know fits this description: Jacqueline DeVaney. As a nurse with six years’ experience, first as a home health nurse and then in a management function of a clinical coordinator program. The nurses in these roles pro- vide services to patients in their homes that are not only better for the patients i.e. more comfortable, fewer need- less readmissions, less hos- pital-acquired infections, but also help the facility to oper- ate more efficiently. We need people who clearly understand the value of outreach to the community. I hope you will consider voting for her in the upcoming election. Ballots will be mailed later this month with a dead- line of May 18. Since you will not receive a voter pamphlets for this election, please mark your calendars with DeVaney for Health District 3. CAROLYN EADY Astoria R Basketball joy e would like to thank the many, many people who helped make our season one to cherish and remember. From the very beginning of the sea- son, through the Holiday Clas- sic, on into the league season, and throughout our journey to state, the Seaside girls basket- ball team had so much support from so many different peo- ple, and we’d like to express our gratitude. The kindnesses we received from parents, community members and fans was something we shall never forget. We can’t begin to explain the wonder and joy it meant to go to on the road to Banks, or Tillamook, or Molalla, or play at the state tournament, and have it feel like a home game. With such support, both at home and on the road, we couldn’t help but give it our all. We have truly been given a les- son in what the idea of com- W munity means, and how special it was to have been the recipi- ent of such support. Finally, we would like to give a big, loud and wonder- ful congratulation to our boys. Way to bring home the first state championship for basket- ball in our school history. We could not be more proud of our boys and their coaches and supporters. Thank you Seaside, thank you to all who helped make our season such a memorable one. MICHAEL HAWES, HEAD COACH Seaside High School girls basketball team and coaches Bottle return issues ith the refund doubled from 5 to 10 cents this month in Oregon I, had to speak out. I like the basic rea- son for the Bottle Bill, our deposits being an incentive to keep empty bottles and cans from becoming litter. But when it comes to getting our money back, I can’t make sense of it. Last fall I told my wife instead of simply recycling them, I was going to return our bottles and cans and use the money to buy her a Christmas present. However, time and again I found the few machines available overworked, peo- ple often with heaping carts full of empties waiting in line. Not infrequently, when there was no line, it was because the machine was out of order. Needless to say, my wife got a smaller gift than either of us expected. Somehow Oregonians cashed in more than 1 bil- lion bottles and cans in 2015. But living in the Astoria area, with seemingly few places to get refunds, I wonder how this could happen, and how many more might have been redeemed were there to be a more efficient way to return them. Deposits are made in trust, and while I am not suggest- ing foul play, I question how reasonable it is to think we can actually get our money back. Moreover, can we trust the money we don’t get back will be used to improve ways for refunding, or at least go to advancing our state’s overall recycling efforts? Bottled up no more … JERRY R. O’NEILL Hammond W Rohne is committed am writing in support of Dirk Rohne, who is a candi- date for commissioner for the Port of Astoria. Dirk is a dairy farmer in Brownsmead, who has been involved in various boards and commissions. He ran as an anti-LNG can- didate for the Clatsop County Commission in 2008, and served until retiring in 2016. In addition, he served for six years as a director on the Clat- sop County Community Col- lege Board. I got to know Dirk when we both served on the Clatsop Economic Devel- opment Resources (CEDR) board, and was impressed by his knowledge and com- mitment to the needs of our county. The Port of Astoria needs more board members like Dirk, who understand commission- I ers have to know how to work together as a cohesive and respectful group to accomplish their goals. Please vote for Dirk Rohne for commissioner for the Port of Astoria. He will bring much needed maturity and common sense to the Port. DIANNE WIDDOP Gearhart Water bill woes urge you to vote for Dirk Rohne for Port Commis- sioner. The Port of Astoria is currently dysfunctional. Rohne has demonstrated very effec- tive leadership skills when encountering such circum- stances (think Clatsop County Commission and LNG). He is highly respected throughout Clatsop County for tackling difficult issues head on, and seeing them through to a solu- tion that works for all county residents. As a dairyman, he under- stands hard work and the need for relentless dedica- tion. Dairymen understand environmental issues, as well. The milk you sell as your sole source of income is in greater abundance and of higher qual- ity if you tend carefully and responsibly to the resources that contribute to your farm. Short-sighted exploitation for short-term profits does not work in the long run. He respects the pub- lic process and will “be his own man” when the vote is taken. We need people in pub- lic office who demonstrate a balanced view of the county. Dirk Rohne will represent you nobly, demonstrating his tol- erance and consideration for all viewpoints on the conten- tious issues of today — and tomorrow. The Port of Astoria is a valuable resource. Electing Dirk Rohne Port Commis- sioner will go a long way in helping the port achieve its potential. MIKE TIEDEMAN Astoria rom my perspective, the monthly water bill in Asto- ria has officially gotten out of hand. It seems that the city council thought that it would be a good idea for users to pay for all the improvements that they have, and are, mak- ing — including parts and labor. I know that some of those improvements are expen- sive, and the city cannot afford to bear them alone, however, when water we consume, as residents, is costing us more than any municipality in the area, things are a little out of hand. I decided that I would put a big cistern in my garage and capture all the water that ran off the roof so that I could economize by using that cap- tured water to wash my car or water my lawn, or perhaps even filter it for use in laun- dry and other such things. I thought this would not only save me money, but would per- haps aid the city in the event of a drought, where water is scarce. I relayed my plan to the city of Astoria who said: “not so fast bucko!” Apparently, it is illegal to capture the water that falls from the sky, over your own property, for personal use. I guess the city of Astoria feels that it is far more worthwhile for the runoff to plug sewer lines, thereby giving the city crews something to do, hav- ing to pump out the overflow and such. Don’t tell anyone that I brought this to your atten- tion, because my dog has been drinking from open buckets that fill up with rain water in my yard for years, and I am afraid that the city will vio- late me and add a surcharge to my water bill to cover his indiscretions. The whole thing seems ridiculous to me; but as always, I could be wrong. DAVID GRAVES Astoria Vote for Spence The way we vote rank Spence is running for Port commissioner, and we’re glad he is. This year three of the five Port of Astoria commission positions are open. This could be a ground-break- ing year for the Port of Asto- ria. We have an opportunity to get some fresh ideas, forward thinking and move into the light — or slide farther back into the quarrelsome, self-serv- ing darkness of the past. Frank Spence is currently serving on the Port Budget Committee, and has done so for two years. He chose to run for the commission, know- ing full well how the port cur- rently functions, and having a good handle on the finances of a complex organization. As former city manger and county administrator for over 45 years, Spence has experi- ence serving the taxpayers. He understands the importance of having positive and close working relationships with the cities and ports in our region. The Port of Astoria will be well served by Frank’s intelligence, integrity and experience. CHERYL JOHNSON Astoria O Port needs Rohne I F F n Wednesday March 14, an article (“Bill would award electoral votes to national popular winner,” The Daily Astorian), and then again on March 24, a letter to the editor (“Support NPV,” The Daily Astorian) in sup- port of changing to the popu- Featuring boys and girls high school teams from throughout the Columbia-Pacifi c region lar vote appeared again in our local newspaper. I screamed, “Give me a break from all this nonsense!” Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t our forefathers fight the only revolutionary war in the history of the world that the people won? Did they not live under the tyranny of the Brit- ish king, and did we not defeat that king, so we could all enjoy freedom from oppression? Did they not make the 12th Amendment of the Constitu- tion to protect us from those who want to have power and control over our nation and us as individuals? So, please tell me why we are even listen- ing to people whose ideology and social politics are totally against how this nation was founded. But, to their embarrass- ment, the majority did win. To make my point clear, please turn your TV to the Tucker Carlson Show on Fox News at 6 p.m., and look at the map displayed on his show. Notice the amount of Red, compared to the amount of Blue, which clearly shows how most of the population voted (popu- lar votes) in each state. For another example, his map indi- cates the eastern regions of Oregon, Washington and Cal- ifornia voted Red, just one of the many reasons they want to become their own states, and should. But, when it came to the electoral votes of these eastern regions their votes didn’t matter, because most of the population in those states voted Blue. But, in comparison to the map, does that appear fair? From the appearance, shouldn’t their electoral votes have been counted Red? This issue is as sensitive to me, as it is to you, but there is no rea- son to change what has made America great. Americans have gone from riding in mule drawn wagons to flying in 737 jets, and the way our Consti- tution is, and the way we vote, has never hindered our ability to prosper or grow as a nation. Our Constitution in this nation is still as alive and well today as it has been for the last 230 years. The outcome of this last election demonstrates just how fair, and how perfectly the constitutional process contin- ues to work in this nation. God bless America! RAY GARDNER Warrenton storia is beautiful because it has many nat- ural areas left to enjoy. My neighborhood has one of these green spaces, adding to its value. This special place, just outside my back door, is a small park with trees and bird songs that connect us to the seasons. To my amazement I see deer, mountain beaver, rac- coons, squirrels, snakes and amphibians. An entire hab- itat is represented in this small natural area. Some of these animals have always been there; others have been squeezed out from nearby developed land. This small oasis of nature was significant when choos- ing my home 13 years ago. But times are changing. With a “housing shortage” the city is encouraging infill in our already tight neigh- borhoods. More cars on the street; walking will be differ- ent as we maneuver around them. Crowding permitted, and less value placed on nat- ural undeveloped land. I was recently reminded of this when my neighbor informed us of his decision to cut down the trees outside my back door to allow space for a duplex. He wants more developed space and neigh- bors. So our neighborhood will be changed forever. He has a legal right, of course. The trees are mostly on his property, but didn’t we all benefit with this green buffer from the busy street above? My well-meaning neigh- bor, when sharing his plan with great enthusiasm, stated “this is the way of the world now.” Perhaps this is the one thing we agree on, but his proactive approach will bring it on more quickly. Undeveloped land pro- vides human values lost as cities develop that later we try to restore, but often it is too late. “An unimagined lack of space — Not a tree, not a green thing in the place” — Faust. LYNNE FARRAR Astoria Kudos to equal pay s a member of Seaside Branch of the Ameri- can Association of Univer- sity Women (AAUW), I would like to thank eight of our local businesses for par- ticipating in our Equal Pay Day activity on April 4. Sleepy Monk Coffee, Sea Level Bakery and Coffee, Divine Grounds, Caffe Latte Espresso and Gifts, Seaside Coffee House, Java Reef, By the Way and Me Latte all offered discounted prices for women on that day to help raise awareness to the issue of pay equity. Equal Pay Day is the symbolic day on which women’s earnings finally catch up to what men made in the previous year. In the U.S., there is currently an approximate 20 percent gen- der pay gap between women and men — and that percent is even worse for women of color and moms. This takes its toll over the years for women and their families. The pay gap is closing, but at such a slow pace it will not reach equal pay until 2152. Kudos to the previously men- tioned businesses for bring- ing attention to this import- ant issue. NANCY KRUGER Warrenton A 29 D th ANNUAL AILY A STORIAN INVITATIONAL 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 8 th Seaside High School Track Meet