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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 2019)
WARRENTON WARRIORS SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS PAGE A11 146TH YEAR, NO. 196 ONE DOLLAR DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 Birds thrive at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Wikimedia Commons Land bird species are stable and even thriving in places like Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, according to a new report. A multiyear monitoring effort is encouraging By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian S mall parks could have a big role to play in the quest for bird conservation. Though bird populations are in decline elsewhere, many bird spe- cies are stable or even growing at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, according to a multi year monitoring effort by The Institute for Bird Populations in partnership with the National Park Ser- vice and the U.S. Geological Survey. While the message that bird popula- tions are doing well is encouraging, even more exciting to researchers is the fact that birds are thriving in small, often less-pro- tected parks. Wilderness parks like Mount Rain- ier, North Cascades and Olympic — also included in monitoring efforts — can pre- serve old-growth forest and buffer birds from many human-related threats. But researchers were curious to see what happened in smaller parks like Lewis and Clark and San Juan Island National Historical Park. These parks are more fragmented and more exposed to threats like pesticides and even domestic cats. “The fact that these bird species have held their own or increased in these parks over the past decade suggests that these habitats are suitable for sustaining popu- lations or are attracting birds from other areas,” said Chris Ray, an ecologist with The Institute for Bird Populations and lead author of the report. “We defi nitely think these parks have value as habitat for species that are in decline elsewhere in the Pacifi c North- west and across North America.” See Birds, Page A7 ‘The fact that these bird species have held their own or increased in these parks over the past decade suggests that these habitats are suitable for sustaining populations or are attracting birds from other areas.’ Chris Ray | an ecologist with The Institute for Bird Populations and lead author of the report Astoria fi nalizes ordinance to curb panhandling Some fear it will hurt the homeless By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian City leaders fi nalized a new ordinance Monday they say is nec- essary for traffi c safety , but some fear it is an attempt to ban panhan- dling and believe it will hurt the homeless. The ordinance, modeled off rules enacted by other Oregon cit- ies, would make it a traffi c vio- lation to give or take something from a car window while the vehi- cle is on the roadway. Violations come with a $75 fi ne. “This would apply to whether it’s a Girl Scout, whether it’s a fi refi ghter doing their (fi ll a) boot fundraiser, or any other individ- ual who would approach a vehi- cle or the vehicle would stop to give something, money or goods,” Astoria Police Chief Geoff Spald- ing said. “Again,” he added, “this is not an anti-panhandling ordinance. W e are not trying to prohibit panhan- dling. We’re simply saying: Take it somewhere where the vehicle can park legally and do it safely. That’s all that we’re asking.” But p olice have fi elded com- plaints from places like Safe- way, on the east end of town, and McDonald’s, on the west, about aggressive panhandlers and the frustration they have caused cus- tomers and drivers. The McDonald’s drive-thru on By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Eric Bechard, the owner of Albatross & Co. restaurant and bar, is holding a fundraiser to reopen the former Union Steam Baths in Uniontown. Bechard’s GoFundMe page seeks $100,000 to kick-start the restoration of the steam baths, which have been closed for decades. Along with the baths, Bechard envisions a cafe with traditional Finnish appetizers like g rav- lax — raw salmon cured in salt, sugar and dill — and a kvavit, a Scandinavian spirit. “The multiunit second fl oor is set to house both full-time res- idents and travelers in search of an authentic Astorian experi- ence,” he wrote on the fundrais- er’s page. Kaarlo Koskelo, a Finn- ish immigrant and Olympic gold medal wrestler, opened the s team b aths on Marine Drive in 1928. See Steam baths, Page A5 See Ordinance, Page A5 Donations keep Cannon Beach Academy open Fundraiser launched for Finnish sauna restoration Bechard hopes to reopen baths Marine Drive is already a chal- lenging place to turn. P olice are worried about obstructed views for drivers and, in general, dis- tracted drivers and the poten- tial for road rage if a car ahead in a line of traffi c stops abruptly to give someone money or food, Spalding said. By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian Clatsop County Historical Society Kaarlo Koskelo, a Finnish immigrant and Olympic gold medal wrestler, opened the Union Steam Baths on Marine Drive in 1928. Cannon Beach Academy, which faced possible closure before the end of the school year due to fi nancial woes, will continue to operate thanks to a major donation and several pledges . Concerns about whether the public charter school could remain open past April arose three months ago after board members identifi ed a $75,000 shortfall in their budget. See Academy, Page A7
