A8
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
Fitness: ‘There’s a lot more hope now’ Guns: Measure is
divisive locally
Continued from Page A1
Since reopening, the
aquatic center has followed
state guidelines, which
required people to social dis-
tance from one another and
to wear masks anytime they
aren’t in a pool or a shower.
The center will continue
requiring patrons to wear
masks and social distance,
Patterson said.
“Something that’s been
nice is because we have
smaller groups in the cen-
ter, we have an opportu-
nity to interact more with
our patrons … I missed that
interaction. When we were
closed, we got to see what
we take for granted. I missed
seeing the community in the
facility,” Patterson said.
Before social distancing
guidelines, the aquatic cen-
ter’s lap pool could fi t about
20 people. The recreation
pool could fi t about 50. Now,
the lap pool allows eight peo-
ple at a time, while the recre-
ation pool allows between 12
and 15 people at a time. One
household can use the hot tub
at a time.
“It’s a big diff erence, but
we’re just really happy to
be open again. Our baseline
restriction is to be 6 feet apart
in the water … For the most
part, people are very happy
to be back and follow the
rules. The pool can’t be rep-
licated elsewhere,” Patterson
said.
Having patrons schedule
their pool use ahead of time
is a major change , Patter-
son said. The center has also
stopped hosting birthday
parties and large gatherings.
“Before, people just
walked in. Now, unfortu-
nately, we have to be a lit-
tle more restrictive,” Patter-
son said.
Another big change,
which is in the works, is
the reintroduction of fi tness
classes. The Astoria Parks
and Recreation Center’s fi t-
ness classes will continue
at the aquatic center, start-
ing this week. The recreation
center is being used as a day
care.
“Our goal isn’t to com-
pete, it’s to off er things that
aren’t accessible in other
places. We’re fi guring out
what we can give to the com-
munity that will be well
received and used,” Patterson
said. “The question we’ve
been asking is what can we
do to off set things that used
to be off ered pre-pandemic?”
The aquatic center’s fi t-
ness classes include cycling,
circuit training, pilates, kick-
boxing and yoga. Classes are
limited to six students each.
More fi tness classes, includ-
ing swimming classes, will
be brought back but a start
date hasn’t been set.
“The classes are a big dif-
ference and welcome addi-
tion. Our hope is that eventu-
ally a parent can take a class
Photos by Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
TOP: Peter von Payens will teach many of the fi tness classes at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
ABOVE: David Johnsen fi nishes a lap in his own lane.
‘OUR GOAL ISN’T TO COMPETE, IT’S
TO OFFER THINGS THAT AREN’T
ACCESSIBLE IN OTHER PLACES.’
Terra Patterson | Astoria Aquatic Center’s supervisor
while an older kid swims, as
restrictions open up,” Patter-
son said.
The aquatic center’s staff
moved large fi tness equip-
ment machines to the lobby
outside of the gym, making
more room for people taking
fi tness classes or who come
to use the gym.
“We put a lot of time and
eff ort into reorganizing that
area,” Patterson said.
‘A tremendous healing’
In recent months, the
movement
center
has
brought back more of its
classes, many of which
hadn’t been off ered during
the past year.
“It feels like a tremen-
dous healing ... People take
classes for everything from
social interaction to physical
health to emotional well-be-
ing. When you’re not able to
off er that, it is tragic,” West
said. “It broke my heart to
close, especially during such
a diffi cult time when people
needed dance and each other
more than ever.”
The movement center’s
staff has worked to adapt to
varying guidelines during
the pandemic. Recently, the
state’s guidelines on full-con-
tact sports changed, allow-
ing the center to reintroduce
partner dancing courses.
“It’s been exciting,” West
said. “Our county has still
been fl uctuating between
moderate and high risk, so
the AAMC has been operat-
ing in compliance with the
high risk state guidelines
because it’s been diffi cult
to try and fl ip-fl op back and
forth every time that status
changes.”
As vaccination rates
increase, more people are
coming to the movement
center to take classes, West
said. She hopes most of
the center’s usual classes
will resume by summer —
though some classes, like
contra and tap dancing, will
likely come back in the fall
because those classes usually
aren’t taught during summer.
“Some classes are requir-
ing registration. Some are
not open to the public. Some
instructors are capping atten-
dance at 10 students,” West
said.
Looking forward
The aquatic center’s staff
is looking forward to adding
more fi tness classes, espe-
cially swimming, to its roster.
“We’re excited for newer
things we’re bringing back.
We haven’t had exercise
classes at the aquatic cen-
ter for 10 years. It’s really
exciting to give the commu-
nity something it wants,”
Patterson said. “ ... There
are things we’re looking
at bringing back this sum-
mer. With the fi tness classes
we’re restarting, there’s a lot
of possibility. ”
The aquatic center’s staff
is also looking forward to
continuing to host local orga-
nizations and sports teams
for events, Patterson said.
The movement center’s
staff is looking forward to
performing at events and
partnering with local venues.
The center will be involved
with Astoria Pride in June,
which West described as “an
honor.”
“We have really missed
collaborating with other ven-
ues and entities … It is some-
thing that is further out but
before, being under so much
duress, we weren’t even hav-
ing those conversations,
so it feels like this incredi-
ble awakening,” West said.
“There’s a lot more hope
now that wasn’t able to be
there before.”
Steinweg: ‘I just love doing things with the kids’
Continued from Page A1
the Nehalem Valley 4H club
and volunteered in support of
other youth projects.
“It keeps me out of trou-
ble,” she joked.
Steinweg was recently the
recipient of the state’s fi rst
award for education support
professionals in Oregon, rec-
ognition for her work that
came with a plaque and a
$5,000 check.
The award is connected
to state legislation passed in
2019 that directed the Ore-
gon Lottery and the Oregon
Department of Education to
design and implement a pro-
gram to honor the state’s edu-
cation support professionals.
To qualify for the award,
the employee nominated
needed to demonstrate that
they excelled in their fi eld,
showed leadership and inno-
vation and collaborated with
Everytown Law, an affi l-
iate of the group Everytown
to enforce certain state for Gun Safety, is pushing
laws, and it will tell us how for the measure to be over-
to abide by the will of the turned. Eric Tirschwell, the
voters to the extent that group’s managing direc-
we can,” said Sarah Han- tor, said it would be the
son, who serves as counsel nation’s fi rst court test amid
in the conservative-leaning the current wave of Sec-
county.
ond Amendment sanctuary
Supporters of the ordi- laws.
Everytown argues that
nance include the Oregon
Firearms Federation, which the ordinance violates the
said in a November state- U.S. Constitution, which
ment that “extremists” and says federal law super-
“big city radicals” were try- sedes state law, as well as
the state constitution and
ing to curtail gun rights.
The group referenced an Oregon law that gives
Portland protests opposing the state power to regulate
police brutality that occa- fi rearms.
The decision won’t
sionally turned violent last
summer and called the ordi- have a direct eff ect outside
nance a “common-sense” Oregon, but could send a
step that would “ensure message.
“This case is important
your right and ability to
defend your life and the and should send the mes-
sage that where state or
lives of your loved ones.”
The ordinance would local jurisdictions attempt
ban the enforcement of to unconstitutionally or
laws like background unlawfully nullify gun
check requirements and safety laws, we are pre-
restrictions on carrying a pared to and will go to
gun, though it would have court,” Tirschwell said.
Other laws trying to
exceptions for others,
including keeping fi rearms blunt the eff ect of federal
gun restrictions haven’t
from convicted felons.
fared well in
The Oregon
court, including
Firearms Fed-
THE
a 2009 Mon-
eration didn’t
respond to a
DECISION tana measure
that made guns
request
for
WON’T
and ammuni-
comment on
tion manufac-
the court case.
HAVE A
tured in the
Sheriff
state exempt
Brian Pixley
DIRECT
from federal
has expressed
EFFECT
law and a sim-
support, say-
ilar 2013 mea-
ing in a March
OUTSIDE
sure in Kansas.
statement that
Many
of
one of his
OREGON,
the latest wave
responsibili-
BUT
of measures,
ties is to uphold
though, take a
people’s Sec-
COULD
diff erent tack
ond Amend-
SEND A
by focusing on
ment rights and
actions of
that he’s eager
MESSAGE. the
local
police,
to “move for-
including pun-
ward with the
ishments like fi nes.
will of the voters.”
In terms of federal
The measure is divisive
locally, though, and four law, gun rights advocates
residents fi led court doc- may have a successful
uments opposing it. One, legal argument under the
anti-comman-
Brandee Dudzic, refer- so-called
enced the strict gun safety deering doctrine, which
drills she learned in mili- says the U.S. government
tary medic training, saying can’t make state and local
she values the right to own offi cials enforce federal
a gun but believes it should law, said Darrell Miller, a
come with safety measures professor of law at Duke
like background checks and Law School and co-faculty
director of the Duke Cen-
secure storage.
A gun shop owner in ter for Firearms Law. He
Columbia County said agreed that the Oregon case
he supports background is the fi rst of its kind.
Local enforcement of
checks and believes that
“state law trumps the state law, meanwhile, is
county law.” But he voted another matter. Most states
in favor of the Second don’t have similar provi-
Amendment measure on sions in their own legal
codes, and Oregon’s attor-
principle.
“We need to make sure ney general said in court
that people are safe. We documents that the Colum-
need to make sure that peo- bia County ordinance is
ple are responsible,” he incompatible with criminal
said. “But as more rules law and the duties of county
are in place, we just need offi cials.
“To the extent the local
to make sure that we’re not
government is trying to say,
overregulated.”
He spoke on the con- ‘We’re also not going to
dition he not be identifi ed enforce state law either’ ....
because some of his cus- that’s a much more diffi cult
tomers take a hard line and complicated position,”
against gun restrictions and Miller said. “The authority
he didn’t want to lose their of the state over localities is
much, much stronger.”
business.
Continued from Page A2
colleagues, students and fami-
lies “to create a school culture
of respect and success” among
other accomplishments.
Steinweg represents all of
these things, Barry Pack, the
director of the Oregon Lot-
tery, said in a statement.
“Dedicated professionals
like Paula are the heart and
soul of school districts across
the state,” he said.
“Paula is not afraid to try,
fail and try again, especially
when the success of a student
is on the line,” Jon Wood, the
Jewell School principal, said
in a statement.
The award — announced
during a staff meeting at Jew-
ell School this month — was
a surprise to Steinweg. State
Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scap-
poose, and Colt Gill, the
director of the Department
of Education, joined virtu-
ally via Zoom to make the
announcement.
MORE
THAN
YOU
IMAGINED
It was a shock and an
honor, Steinweg said. But, she
added, she has never expected
or needed this type of valida-
tion or acknowledgement.
“It’s just what I do,” she
said. “I just love doing things
with the kids. … All the stuff
that I do for the kids is not
because I want to be recog-
nized for it.”
Steinweg is a former wait-
ress. She initially applied for
a job as an educational assis-
tant at Jewell School to be
able to spend more time with
her children and, in general,
to build up something “a little
more” for herself.
She has spent much of
her life in Jewell and feels
it’s important for students in
the tiny, rural community to
be able to access a variety of
experiences, to be exposed to
diff erent places and diff erent
types of activities — and she
wants to be a part of making
3D Theater
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that happen for them.
Still, Steinweg said, she
does think it’s important to
honor school district staff
who aren’t teachers. Educa-
tion assistants go into class-
rooms and help keep kids on
track and fi ll a variety of other
important roles .
“To recognize us, that’s
great,” she said.
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