DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
149TH YEAR, NO. 33
$1.50
SEASIDE
Project
draws
neighbor
concerns
Seventeen homes east
of Wahanna Road
By R.J. MARX
The Astorian
SEASIDE — Engineer Mark Mead
navigated a steep slope last week at the
Planning Commission, presenting plans
for Vista Ridge II, a 17-home develop-
ment on 6.5 wooded acres that neighbors
say is far too risky to build on.
Representing Sunset Ridge LLC,
Mead asked the commission for approval
for a subdivision east of Wahanna Road,
to be accessed by Hemlock and Alder-
crest streets and separated from the orig-
inal Vista Ridge subdivision by a creek.
According to engineering plans, the
parcel could be developed into 17 res-
idential building lots from 7,000 to
15,000 square feet, with a single one-
or two-story home on each lot. About 2
acres would be preserved for open space.
Concerned about flooding, landslides
and habitat, neighbors turned out to slow
or halt the process.
Three planning commissioners —
Kathy Kleczek, Seth Morrisey and
Lou Neubecker — recused themselves
because they have properties affected by
the outcome of the development.
“This is not a true plan for a devel-
opment,” Kleczek said. “It’s a plan for
a clearing. What will happen once those
trees are cleared is frightening. We only
John Raoux/AP Photo
The briefcase of a census taker at work last year.
Warrenton remains the
county’s fastest-growing city
A 25.8% rise in
population over a decade
By ERICK BENGEL
and MATT WINTERS
The Astorian and Chinook Observer
W
arrenton was the fast-
est-growing city in Clat-
sop County over the past
decade with a 25.8% rise in popula-
tion, according to data from the 2020
census.
The county’s overall population
grew 10.9%, adding 4,033 residents to
reach 41,072. The growth rate was the
largest since the 1970s, when the pop-
ulation rose by 14.1%
Oregon grew by almost the same
rate as the county over the past decade
at 10.6%, hitting 42 million people,
the U.S. Census Bureau said.
See Seaside, Page A3
Lucy’s
Books
changing
locations
A new space on
Commercial Street
By ETHAN MYERS
The Astorian
Lucy’s Books is changing locations.
The independent bookstore, which has
been in Astoria since 1998, will be mov-
ing a few blocks to Commercial Street
between Ninth and 10th streets.
Lisa Reid, the owner of the store, said
the move was motivated by a lack of
space at the location on 12th Street.
“We ran out of space,” she said. “We
have been thinking about (the move) for a
while but the space came open at the end
of August so it has been moving pretty
quickly since then.”
Reid added that with more room at
the new location, the store will be able
to expand the selection. A graphic novel
section is also planned.
Reid thinks the new store will be more
practical for shoppers.
“There will be more space for our cus-
tomers to move freely through the shop,
too,” she said. “Everything will be on one
floor and it will make it easier to shop.”
The 12th Street location will close on
Saturday. Reid is planning to reopen at
the new spot in October.
“I am very excited,” she said. “I think
it will be nice to be able to offer more to
our customers that they have been asking
for.”
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Warrenton was the fastest-growing city on the North Coast over the past decade.
See Warrenton, Page A3
Former Job Corps student becomes director
Zufelt takes on role
at Tongue Point
By ETHAN MYERS
The Astorian
A
fter graduating from high school in
the small town of Mullan, Idaho, Kim
Zufelt reached what she considered a dead
end.
Mining was the main industry, which
young women did not typically go into as
a career.
Then one day, she
found a brochure
from Job Corps, the
federally-funded edu-
cation and vocational
training program for young people 16 to 24.
After calling the 800 number and doing
a brief phone interview, they sent her a bus
ticket to Astoria.
“I had no clue what Job Corps was.
I thought it was kind of like the Peace
Corps,” Zufelt said. “I just took a leap of
faith.”
That leap of faith would turn out to be a
life-altering decision.
Zufelt graduated from the landscaping
program at Tongue Point Job Corps Cen-
ter in Astoria in 1985, and after entering
the landscaping field for a few years, she
returned to Job Corps as a residential liv-
ing adviser.
Despite a few brief occupational
detours, her heart never left Job Corps and
she worked her way up. In July, Zufelt was
named the director at Tongue Point.
“My passion for the program has never
waned … I look back on my career, and
it’s pretty amazing that I’m here,” she said.
“I’m not sure there’s very many center
directors that were former students in the
Kim Zufelt is the director at Tongue Point Job
Corps Center.
whole nation.”
Her journey from student to director saw
Zufelt take on many roles, which allowed
her to witness and contribute to student
development.
“I’ve seen hundreds, maybe even thou-
sands, of kids or youth in my years that
came in and just really needed someone
to say, ‘Hey, you’re worth it, your poten-
tial is there,’” she said. “Then to see them
change, and walk out that door and grad-
uate. It’s super rewarding to watch them
grow up here … I had a special connec-
tion with them being a graduate of the
program.”
Zufelt wants her story to illustrate that
young people facing adverse situations can
still find a path to success.
“I hope it’s an inspiration for the stu-
dents that come in here — that they can do
anything and to set their goals high,” she
said. “But it’s humbling in a lot of ways to
be in this position and be responsible for so
many young people.”
When Zufelt reflects on her path to
director, student development holds the
most weight, but one case stands out in
particular.
She once received a letter from a former
student who had graduated from the pro-
gram nearly two decades before. The letter
read, “I have been looking for you. Are you
the Kim that saved me?”
The impact the message left on Zufelt
was invaluable.
“It was the most validating and touching
thing. Ninteen years and she still remem-
bered?” she said. “I use that often to show
staff how important it is to have relation-
ships. Good mentors and positive, strong
relationships with these students are really
what changes them.”
Job Corps has used many different slo-
gans over the years, but the one from the
30-year anniversary carries more signif-
icance for her: “It’s the best chance for
change.”
“That has really stayed my motto for
years,” Zufelt said. “It really is the best
chance a young person has to change and
grow.”