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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2019)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 Long Beach marks Loyalty Days with a parade Port candidates meet in election forum Hunsinger, McClaine square off in Seaside By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian SEASIDE — Port of Astoria Commissioner Bill Hunsinger touted his expe- rience and criticism of what he sees as ineffective Port management at a candidate forum on Saturday, while Scott McClaine, his chal- lenger in the M ay election, stressed he would bring fresh eyes. The two are running for a four-year term in Position 3 on the Port Commission. Commissioner Robert Ste- vens, a retired Coast Guard captain, is running unop- posed for Position 4. Hunsinger, a commer- cial fi sherman and for- mer longshoreman, has been on the Port Commis- sion for 12 years. McClaine, the owner of an online coin shop and a Coast Guard vet- eran, recently quit his job as a security guard at the Port to campaign against Hunsinger. The Port is in dire fi nan- cial straits , with staff esti- mating more than $20 mil- lion in maintenance on decaying infrastructure and barely enough money to cover operating costs. “I want to thank Commis- sioner Hunsinger for his 12 years of service to the Port. It’s seen both good and bad,” McClaine said at the forum, which was held at the Bob Chisholm Community Cen- ter and sponsored by Clat- sop County Democrats. “But I want to say that I think I bring a set of fresh eyes to the Port. I’ve been known for thinking outside the box.” Hunsinger pointed to his experience with the Port, along with the fi shing and shipping industries, as giv- ing him credibility. He has been the biggest critic of Port management and has said Port Executive Director Jim Knight should resign or be fi red. “I’ve seen the Port at its very best, and I’ve seen the Port go a different direc- tion,” he said. “The reason I’m running again is I’d like to turn things around.” A volunteer committee of fi nancial professionals has recommended a more pro- active Port management and the sale of multiple prop- erties to help fi x decaying docks and keep the agency solvent. Hunsinger at fi rst said he is totally opposed to selling public property to make up for managerial mistakes. But he later stated his willingness to sell the Astoria Regional Airport, which loses money operationally but brings in the vast majority of the Port’s federal grants . McClaine said the Port Chinook Observer Bill Hunsinger Scott McClaine needs to study the fi nance committee’s recommenda- tions. Selling buildings, but not the land underneath, could be a good option, he said. The Port recently shut down a causeway over the East Mooring Basin after an inspection by state engi- neers found a signifi cantly rotted substructure, leaving several boat owners with- out access to their vessels. Asked how they would bal- ance safety with servicing customers, Hunsinger said the Port needs a more expe- rienced grant writer to seek government support. The Port Commis- sion has long been beset by squabbling , much of it related to Hunsinger’s con- stant criticism of the agen- cy’s staff and Knight. Asked about making commis- sion meetings more cor- dial, Hunsinger started with a laugh in recognition of his self-appointed position as a whistleblower . “You all know I am,” he said. “I don’t like watch- ing public dollars be spent recklessly, throwing money away. And that’s what they do.” The Port Commission should resemble a family, McClaine said, with unity in public and disagreements hashed out privately . “Live debate is not good,” he said. The Port’s largest source of revenue is from charges to log ships exporting timber for Astoria Forest Products, a business nearly halted by tariffs amid a trade war between the U.S. and China. McClaine credited Hunsing- er’s role in attracting a log exporter to Astoria, but rec- ommended the Port look beyond logs. Hunsinger said the Port needs to do a better job mar- keting itself and take advan- tage of the potential for ship- ping cargo by barge on the Columbia River. He recounted the Port of Grays Harbor in Aber- deen, Washington, which was similarly dependent on wood products but diversi- fi ed into agricultural, liquid and auto exports, attracting more than $200 million in private investment. In 2011, Grays Harbor was named by state offi cials as the Wash- ington Port of the Year. “Aberdeen was in worse shape than we were by far,” Hunsinger said. “And what did they do to change that? They marketed their port. They marketed worldwide.” Patrtick Webb/Chinook Observer The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival brought its royalty to the Long Beach parade. The royal party included, left to right, Miss Norway Jordan Walter, Junior Miss Norway Phaira Lane, Miss Sweden Hannah Sundstrom Eaton, Junior Miss Sweden Katelynn McCauley, Senior Court Chaperone Rebeckah Orton and 2018 Miss Scandinavia Kourtney Tischer. Channeling Seeger at fundraiser for the PAC Local musicians honor folk singer By PATRICK WEBB The Astorian Patrick Webb/The Astorian Keith Clark celebrated folk singer Pete Seeger at a fundraiser on Saturday. used its Small Business Development Center when starting a small business and SEASIDE — Incum- studies in its historic preser- bent Andrea Maz- vation program. zarella and chal- She was lenger Sara Meyer, appointed to the col- candidates for the lege board in Janu- Clatsop Commu- ary 2018 to replace nity College Board, Patrick Wingard, shared many similar and also serves on views in a Saturday the Astoria Bud- candidate forum, get Committee. The Karen albeit from different May election is to Burke backgrounds. fi ll out the remain- They are running ing two years of for Zone 2, Posi- Wingard’s term. tion 2, which covers “I may not be Astoria and outlying considered an aca- neighborhoods. demic in some tra- Also at the forum ditional senses, was Karen Burke, but I do under- Andrea a former nurse and stand how a com- Mazzarella instructor who is munity college not running unopposed only builds a strong for Zone 1, Position foundation for fur- 1, covering much of thering your educa- the eastern portion tion, but also offers of Clatsop C ounty. an opportunity to The college’s two explore your cre- positions covering ativity,” Mazzarella South County and said at the forum, Sara Warrenton have no which was held at Meyer candidates and will the Bob Chisholm likely be decided by Community Center write-in campaigns. and sponsored by Clatsop Mazzarella, 38, spent County Democrats. more than 20 years in the Meyer, 74, came to Asto- service industry before ria in the 1970s with her hus- becoming a real estate agent band, Chuck. She worked at and delving into community the Tongue Point Job Corps service. She was in the col- Center and opened the Com- lege’s Upward Bound high pleat Photographer with her school enrichment program, husband in 1977, running it By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Join us for a conversation about God’s favor and limitless love for ALL people. 45th & Leif Erickson Thursdays 6:30 pm Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA www.hisgathering.net Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Help Clothe Kids!! Buy 10 balls, dress 1 child!!! $10 per ball nn th Max 2000 balls sold. Each ball 1 chance to win. A 1ST CLOSEST TO PIN: $1000 TRAVEL VISA CARD 12 2ND CLOSEST: 1 night at the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa w/ two 1-Hour Massages & Dinner for Two at the Bridgewater Bistro (Value $900) 3RD CLOSEST: 2 Nights at The Waves Cannon Beach, $100 at The Wayfarer, $100 at Public Coast Brewing Co. & $100 at the Stephanie Inn Dining Room (Value $700) CL NS OSE ST TO THE PIN WI 4TH CLOSEST: 1 Night at the Holiday Inn Express Astoria & Dinner for 2 at the Bridgewater Bistro (Value $525) 5TH CLOSEST: 1Night at the Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach & Meals at Tom’s Fish & Chips & the Driftwood Restaurant (Value $450) SATURDAY, MAY 11TH, 2019 • Astoria Golf & Country Club Schedule of Events: 3:00pm - Champagne Reception 3:30pm - Helicopter Drops Golf Balls 4:00 to 6:00pm - Social & Silent Auction WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: *All golf ball ticket sales must be made in advance. Ticket holders need not be present to win. -Holly McHone Jewelers, Astoria -The Sweet Shop, Gearhart -Any Assistance League Member SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS the communist “witch hunt” era of the 1950s. Clark joined 29 musi- cians from the North Coast folk scene who performed Seeger material, including many protest anthems of the 1960s. The event, attended by 240 people, was a fundraiser for the venue, the Clatsop Community College Per- forming Arts Center. for 40 years. She served on the Astoria School Board from 1976 to 1980 and the college board from 1996 to 2000. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. “I want to serve more,” Meyer said. “I’ve got the time now. I’ve got the experience.” The college recently pur- chased the land it leased for the Marine and Environ- mental Research and Train- ing Station, its career-tech- nical campus at South Tongue Point. It is trying to gather $14 million from a variety of sources to pair with up to $8 million in matching state bonds to build a new maritime sci- ence center . Asked how the college can get the money, Maz- zarella focused on reach- ing out to companies that employ the mariners trained at the campus and looking at phasing in improvements to save money. Meyer said donors to the Columbia River Mari- time Museum should also be supportive of the expan- sion of maritime science education. Both candidates agreed on the need to empower staff, promote the impor- tance of higher education and strengthen connections with K-12 students. Meyer touted her retired status as providing more time to serve on the college board, while Mazzarella said she has invested signif- icant time in learning about the organization and wants to delve deeper. Burke made a call at the end of the forum for res- idents interested in serv- ing as Warrenton and South County representatives on the college board. “Please consider think- ing about who might serve and serve us well, because we do need a fully func- tioning team to be a good board,” she said. Jeffrey Allan Hamel Hamel, 56, of Tillamook, formerly of Seaside, died in Tillamook on Monday, April 15, 2019. Waud’s Funeral Home of Tillamook is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers make a donation to Tillamook animal shelter. Celebration of life and potluck reception Saturday, May 11th at 1 p.m., Seaside American Legion, 1315 Broadway in Seaside. For potluck information, contact Kim Wright at 503-440-7630 Good News from CANNON BEACH CHOCOLATE CAFÉ Beginning Friday, May 17th we will expand our hours and serve a EUROPEAN BREAKFAST World famous ESPRESSO Italian Frittata, Authentic French Toast, Breakfast Muffins, Chocolate Croissant, and more. OPENING AT 8 A.M. ASTORIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB SEASIDE TEMPS Most know Keith Clark as a world-traveled classical orchestra conductor who has been the leading light at the Astoria Music Festival. But on Saturday, his musical repertoire embraced another genre when he took down his cherished “wall ornament,” a banjo which Pete Seeger, a friend of his father, had had made for him, and performed in Astoria at a folk concert to commem- orate what would have been Seeger’s 100th birthday. Clark performed “Wasn’t That A Time,” a song that got Seeger in trouble during College candidates have similar views, different backgrounds WANTED l ua LONG BEACH, Wash. — Hundreds of people took part in Sunday’s Loyalty Days parade through Long Beach. The annual event cele- brates patriotism. SENATOR BETSY JOHNSON NORTH COAST DENTAL CLINIC We are a volunteer organization focused on promoting self-esteem and emotional well being of children in our community. 100% of all proceeds go to children in Clatsop County. Visit us at: www.assistanceleaguecp.org Cannon Beach Chocolate Café 232 N Spruce St., Cannon Beach • 503-436-4331
