WEEKEND EDITION // Saturday, February 20, 2021
148tH year, NO. 101
$1.50
CORONAVIRUS
Public
health
director
accepts
new job
McNickle led
response to pandemic
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
Michael McNickle, who
has directed Clatsop County’s
response to the
coronavirus
pandemic, has
accepted a job
in Washington
state.
The Daily
World in Aber-
deen reported
Michael
McNickle
that McNickle
will
serve
as director of Grays Harbor
See McNickle, Page A6
MORE INSIDE
Photos by Hailey Hoffman/the astorian
WineKraft has outdoor, riverside seating.
North Coast welcomes the return
of tourism a year into the pandemic
County expects larger
allocations of vaccines • a6
City
looks at
denser
housing
Exploring ideas from
countywide study
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Astorian
The Astoria City Council and
the Planning Commission appear
supportive of a suite of measures
from a countywide housing
study to encourage denser and
more affordable housing, with
several caveats to preserve liva-
bility and historic character.
The council and commission
met Thursday to find common-
ality on which policy and devel-
opment code strategies in the
2019 housing study to pursue.
The meeting came shortly after
the two boards approved new
state-mandated development
code amendments to expand the
use of accessory dwelling units
for increased density.
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
N
orth Coast leaders have a very differ-
ent message to send to tourists than
they did last spring.
“We feel like we’re ready for spring
break,” Seaside Mayor Jay Barber said.
“We’re inviting people to come to Seaside.”
When spring break vacationers
descended last March to escape coronavi-
rus-related shutdowns in their own cities
and take advantage of sunny weather at the
beach, residents were alarmed.
City and county leaders quickly adopted
emergency orders to temporarily ban visi-
tors from hotels and campgrounds. Seaside
— hit hard by both the shutdown measures,
but also the influx of tourists — restricted
access to city parks and beaches as well.
Cannon Beach sought to exclude even
daytrippers.
They echoed Gov. Kate Brown’s mes-
sage to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy.”
In Seaside, one resident was more
direct. He held up a handmade sign that
simply read, “Go home.”
Now there are signs that cities are ready
to welcome tourists back.
The Astoria Downtown Historic District
Association hired a new community out-
reach officer whose duties include parking
enforcement as traffic picks up again. Asto-
ria’s leaders have relaxed rules on side-
walk dining, as well as for parklets, which
allow restaurants and bars to expand out-
door seating into street-side parking spots.
In Cannon Beach, the City Council
recently gave city staff the go-ahead to
work with businesses interested in using
parking spots in front of their buildings
for outdoor seating. The city has already
allowed restaurants and bars with their own
parking lots to set up tables in those lots.
In Seaside, the city has eased some park-
ing standards to allow for outdoor tables
and tents.
A sign advertises businesses and restaurants open in Seaside.
‘I THINK WE CAN SAY WE ARE READY FOR
TOURISTS. WE KNOW HOW TO OPERATE OUR
BUSINESSES SAFELY — AND OUR CLIENTELE, OUR
VISITORS, KNOW HOW TO VISIT SAFELY.’
David Reid | executive director for the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Many businesses are still reeling and
suffering, but David Reid, the executive
director for the Astoria-Warrenton Area
Chamber of Commerce, believes the North
Coast economy has entered into a recovery
phase.
Precautionary measures like wearing
masks and social distancing are now nor-
mal. Though some people continue to push
back, in general, businesses and communi-
ties are no longer educating people about
these requirements.
See Tourism, Page A6
See Housing, Page A2
Seaside doctor had ‘spirit of service’
Cockcroft found dead
after snowboarding
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
Providence Seaside Hospital
A memorial for Dr. Ben Cockcroft.
A longtime Seaside doctor was
found dead after he was reported
missing Monday while snow-
boarding in Washington state.
Dr. Ben Cockcroft, 62, who
practiced medicine at Provi-
dence Seaside Hospital for nearly
30 years, was located by a King
County search and rescue team on
Wednesday at Stevens Pass.
“He has cared for multiple gen-
erations — grandparents to babies
— and is well-known and
Many people here have
watched their three chil-
loved by all,” the hospi-
tal said in a statement. “He
dren — April, Travis and
Lucas — grow up, play-
also loved his patients and
ing and learning in school,
community, saying in a
sports and activities. He
profile article, ‘In a sense,
and his family loved trav-
I feel I have thousands of
eling, winter sports and
Dr. Ben
friends here.’ And indeed
Cockcroft
being outdoors. Dr. Cock-
he does.
croft also had a passion for
“He also had a spirit of
service, both in North Coast com- surfing contests and loved playing
munities and also in taking time and spending time with dogs.
to share his medical expertise and
See Doctor, Page A6
bring much-needed supplies to
Oaxaca, Mexico.
“Dr. Cockcroft was a loving
father and husband. He and his
wife, Lindy, have been at the heart
of so much in the community.