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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2019)
T he C olumbia P ress 1 50 ¢ C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper www.thecolumbiapress.com Repairs to Head Start building crucial, city says B y C indy y ingst The Columbia Press The Head Start building at Robin- son Community Park needs major re- pairs and city leaders are contemplat- ing the unusual situation that has the city as owner but with little say over the building’s operation. “Those before us hung us out to dry,” Commissioner Mark Baldwin said, calling it a prime example of a city that builds something it can’t maintain simply because a construc- tion grant was available. “We shot ourselves in the foot the day we took ownership of it,” Mayor Henry Balensifer added. Head Start is a preschool for chil- dren ages 3 and 4 who come from low-income families. The building was constructed in the 1990s using a federal Community De- velopment Block Grant. Head Start pays $200 per month to rent it. The city set aside $30,000 in the budget this year to repair the siding, dry rot and multiple leaks. The cost of April 12, 2019 Vol. 3, Issue 15 Fries with that? Long-awaited Wendy’s opens B y P eggy y ingst The Columbia Press “I’m so glad I don’t have to drive to Vancouver any more to get my Wendy’s,” exclaimed Dan Arnoth of Astoria. He and friends Doug and Debra Kaup were among the first in town to be served at the new Wendy’s restaurant, which opened to 100 invited guests for a “dry run” Tues- day afternoon. The restaurant opened to the public Wednes- day morning. “We’ve been working on it for a year and a half,” said Steve Harris, the franchisee. His new store is the third burger eatery he’s opened in the last 18 months. The others are in Albany and Sandy. “Out of a category of 10, I am at an 11,” he said when asked about his ex- citement level. “We’re hearing a lot of chatter around Warrenton, and it’s been great.” Harris owns 25 other Wendy’s restau- rants, 21 in Oregon and five in Southwest Washington, having bought his first few Manager Janai Hullette-Gromoll had the honor of cutting the ribbon Tuesday while Wendy’s employees and Chamber of Commerce representatives cheer her on. Dylan Hauser-Schalk For The Columbia Press Dan Arnoth, left, enjoys a Frosty with friends Doug and Debra Kaup at the front-counter bar. See ‘Wendy’s’ on Page 5 See ‘Head Start’ on Page 4 Peggy Yingst The Columbia Press Egg hunts, movies, special services lined up for Easter week The Columbia Press For Christians, Easter is a much more important day than Christ- mas. While Christmas marks the birth of Jesus, Easter is the day Chris- tians believe Jesus came back to life after being put to death on a cross. It is a celebration for peo- ple worldwide who profess Jesus as their savior, because he con- quered death and made it pos- The Hermitage Players in last year’s Passion Proclamation play. sible for them to live forever in Heaven. Clatsop County’s churches and other organizations offer a vari- ety of activities in the week lead- ing up to Easter, which falls on April 21 this year. Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy: s aturday , a Pril 13 • The Astoria Passion Procla- mation, 3:30 p.m., Clatsop Com- munity College Performing Arts Center, 588 16th St., Astoria. Do- nations accepted at the door. The third annual passion play by the Hermitage Players is pro- duced by retired priest Father Da- vid Janes. The players present the passion as it has been presented over the centuries, but against a stark and evocative modern set- ting. The group hopes the result is a moving experience of the story that is fundamental to Christian faith. • Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8 to 11 a.m., Warrenton Communi- See ‘Easter’ on Page 7