DailyAstorian.com // Tuesday, May 18, 2021
148TH yeaR, NO. 138
$1.50
CORONAVIRUS
ASTORIA
RIVERWALK
Grant
to boost
lighting
Expansion of lights
on path to Pier 39
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Astorian
Photos by Hailey Hoffman/The astorian
Cindy Johnsen swims freestyle in the lap pool at the Astoria Aquatic Center. Lap swimmers now reserve their lanes in advance online.
Astoria fitness centers adapt
to varying virus regulations
Local pool, dance center
among those impacted
By ALYSSA EVANS
The Astorian
T
hroughout the Astoria Arts and
Movement Center, signs remind
students and instructors to wear
masks at all times. Tape on the floor
acts as a barrier, encouraging people
to stay at least 6 feet apart from one
another.
With mask and social distancing
mandates easing for anyone fully vac-
cinated against the coronavirus, the
precautions will no longer be needed
for many of the center’s visitors. The
center will not require fully vaccinated
individuals to wear masks if they ver-
ify their vaccination, though some
instructors might still require masks.
“This could be due to the age
demographic they teach, the type of
class they teach and what they feel is
safe for their class. We are completely
supporting our instructors’ ability to
implement what they feel is best for
their students,” Jessamyn Grace West,
the center’s executive director, said in
a statement.
Fitness centers, like many other ven-
ues, have had to adapt to ever-chang-
ing guidance during the pandemic. The
social, physical and emotional connec-
tions people build through play have
been disrupted by virus restrictions.
A few minutes away from the Asto-
Kathy Buford, left, and Sophie Thomas swim around the recreation pool at the Astoria
Aquatic Center. The recreation pool now only allows 12 to 15 people at a time.
ria Arts and Movement Center, similar
signs are placed throughout the Asto-
ria Aquatic Center. Swimmers wait in
line to use the center’s slide and drop a
face mask into a plastic bag before tak-
ing their turn.
As others swim laps or play with
their family, plastic bags with masks
are placed along pool decks and walls
near pool entrances. A staff member
watches over patrons to ensure safety
and make sure patrons stay 6 feet
apart from those who live in different
households.
The aquatic center reopened in
March after being closed for a year.
“We’re very happy to be reopened,”
said Terra Patterson, the aquatic cen-
ter’s supervisor.
All but two employees who were
laid off in March 2020 returned to
work this year, Patterson said.
See Fitness, Page A8
The state and federal govern-
ments are funding an expansion
of lighting along the Astoria Riv-
erwalk from the Columbia River
Maritime Museum to Pier 39.
The Oregon Community Paths
program, created to improve mul-
tiuse paths separated from vehicle
traffic, will provide $844,843 —
or 89.3% — of the cost to add bol-
lard-style lights to the Riverwalk
east of the museum. The city will
match 10.7% of the project cost
through lodging tax revenue in the
Promote Astoria fund. The project
was one of 17 selected statewide
out of 57 applicants.
Jonah Dart-McLean, the city’s
parks director, said some construc-
tion could begin this fall, but that
most of the work will likely be in
spring 2022.
Increased lighting on the River-
walk was identified as a priority in
the 2016 parks master plan to pro-
mote use of the path and deter van-
dalism and other negative behavior.
The Mill Pond Homeowners Asso-
ciation, Astoria Downtown Historic
District Association, Astoria-War-
renton Area Chamber of Commerce
and Columbia Memorial Hospital
supported the grant application.
“The parks master plan identi-
fied one priority recommendation to
just improve the amenities through-
out the parks system, rather than
building anything new,” Dart-Mc-
Lean said.
The grant for the eastern por-
tion of the Riverwalk comes after
the city received $428,408 from the
state Parks and Recreation Depart-
ment as part of a $717,435 project to
improve lighting, wayfinding signs
and safety on the western portion
of the Riverwalk between down-
town and Uniontown. The project
also includes a Portland Loo-style
restroom near the planned Nor-
dic Heritage Park. Construction is
expected to begin in late summer or
early fall.
The city will also receive more
than $30,000 from the Portland
Trail Blazers and insurer Moda
Health. Violet LaPlante Park in the
Alderbrook neighborhood was cho-
sen to receive $20 for each assist
made by the Trail Blazers in the
regular season. The team ended the
regular season Sunday against the
Denver Nuggets, recording 1,531
assists.
Jewell staffer honored for work
Steinweg known
as the ‘mother hen’
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
P
aula
Steinweg’s
work-
days with the Jewell School
District include a little bit of
everything.
Truly, everything.
During the 20 years she has
worked for the district, she’s filled
a number of roles and earned the
nickname “mother hen.” For now,
she drives school buses, works
in classrooms with students as
an education assistant and is the
school librarian.
She also coordinates a bian-
nual trip to Washington, D.C., for
middle school students, working
on the curriculum and travel plans
as well as helping with fundrais-
ing. For many years, she has led
See Steinweg, Page A8
ELECTION DAY
Voters have until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to
drop off their ballots for the May election.
Oregon department of education
Paula Steinweg, who does everything from driving school buses to
tutoring students, received the first state award honoring education
support professionals in Oregon.
The Clatsop County website has a list of
ballot drop locations at bit.ly/3u0ZWSQ
Follow election results online at
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