NCC87

Manzanita city hall opens for business

WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

Several hundred community members gathered on Manzanita Avenue on August 2, to celebrate the completion of Manzanita’s new city hall and police station with speeches, a flag raising, a ribbon cutting and tours of the facilities.

Manzanita Mayor Kathryn Stock and City Manager Leila Aman expressed deep gratitude to city leaders and staff past and present, local organizations who

had supported the project and the team that undertook it and said they were excited for the new city hall to welcome the community.

“As we open this new city hall, we honor not just a building, but our community; one grounded in service, resilience and sheer purpose,” Aman said. “May this space inspire civic responsibility and may it welcome every voice and guide us always to work for the public good.”

The crowd began to gather in front of the new city hall on a

sunny Saturday morning as a DJ played music, attendees enjoyed snacks and kids participated in activities organized by the Hoffman Center for the Arts. After Stock welcomed the group, Bob La Torre played the national anthem on trumpet while Manzanita Police Sergeant Mike Scott and veteran Chuck Bridge raised the flag over the building. Aman then addressed the crowd and thanked many of the people who had contributed to the project’s success. “This project

was many years in the making, decades in fact, so my role today is to recognize the many hands and hearts who helped envision, plan and build this space,” Aman said. Thanked first were the city councilors who had taken part in the project’s planning, approval and construction. Aman specially thanked Councilor Linda Kozlowski, who led public listening sessions in the wake of a failed

See MANZANITA,

Home First begins affordable development in Manzanita

Work is under way on the Spruce Point development in Manzanita, which will bring 60 units of affordable housing to the city in

fall 2026. Ben Pray, CEO of Home First Development, the company leading construction of the four-building comples, said that he was looking forward to opening the Manzanita apartments.

“We’re excited about this one and we think the design is really going to fit Manzanita,” Pray said. “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how this project, how these buildings look and feel, and we want them to fit the character of Manzanita, and we think they’re going to.”

Progress on the project began when Jim Pentz purchased a 70-acre property in Manzanita in the mid-201-s with an intention of creating a large, mixed-income, mixed-use, housing and commercial development for the city. He quickly brought his former business partner from a pump manufacturing company, Rick Hinkes, onto the project because the pair had discussed developing the property over the course of 30 years of both men owning homes in the city. The duo formed a company, Encore Investments, that would handle the development of infrastructure at the site, while other builders handled construction on individual lots.

The pair initially developed a high-intensity, mixed-use plan that met with pushback from the community, leading them to scale their plans back to an 82-lot neighborhood along the ridge named Manzanita Highlands and an affordable development on a lower part of the parcel.

The affordable element had been part of the original development plan, and Hinkes said that both he and Pentz, who had grown up in modest circumstances, always remained committed to including that as part of the project.

“Both Jim and I come from let’s just say a modest background, mine in Chicago, his here in Beaverton and we both were in that mindset,” Hinkes said. “I mean it’s just how we were raised and neither of us really care to

forget where we came from so that’s always been part of the driving force behind us.”

Individual lots went on sale in 2017 and as the project progressed and their responsibilities began to lessen, Pentz and Hinkes started looking for a company to partner with to turn a portion of the neighborhood into an affordable housing development.

A friend connected Hinkes with Pray as well as other developers and they began having discussions about the necessary lot specifications and costs that would make a development feasible.

Through that process, Home First, which develops and owns affordable housing apartments in 18 communities across Oregon, including the Willet Apartments that opened in Tillamook in 2023, rose to the top, and were eventually selected as partners for the project.

“Ben is fabulous,” Hinkes said, “can’t say enough good things about his company. They’ve been wonderful partners and still are.”

A study conducted by Manzanita’s government had determined that the city needed 60 units of affordable housing and with plenty of space, the team decided to build all 60. “We’re pretty simple, we said they want 60, we’re going to give them 60,” Pray said.

Upgrades to the city’s water infrastructure will be necessary to support the project, and in 2023, the city received a $2.79-million grant from the state to install a new water main between Dorcas Street and NeCarney City Boulevard, with work planned for next spring and summer.

Funding for the project’s $25-million price tag is coming primarily from a $21.4-million loan through Oregon Housing and Community Service’s Local Innovation Fast Track program. The project has also received $615,000 in grants, including $40,000 from Tillamook

Russian quake triggers Tillamook tsunami advisory

A projected 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia triggered a tsunami watch, subsequently upgraded to an advisory, in Tillamook County and across the United States’s Pacific coast early in the evening of July 29. By midday Wednesday, the alert had been canceled.

A tectonic summary of the quake from the United States Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center said that the quake was the largest globally since the 2011 9.0-magnitude Tohoku, Japan earthquake, and among the ten largest since 1900.

The earthquake occurred at 12:24 p.m., July 30, local time (4:24 p.m. pacific daylight time, July 29) 80 miles off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east where the Pacific Plate moves west-northwest against the North American Plate, which extends beyond the continent. The report said that the fault event was likely to have caused a slip around 240 miles long by 85 miles in length and had been preceded by ten days of quakes in the region.

In Tillamook County, residents signed up for Everbridge Nixle alerts received a first warning at 5:21 p.m., letting them know that a tsunami watch had been issued for the area.

A tsunami watch is issued as advance notice to areas that may be impacted by a tsunami at a later time, with an update around 6:15 p.m. informing the public that impacts were expected to start in Seaside at 11:55 p.m.

The watch was upgraded to an advisory around 6:30, meaning that strong currents and dangerous waves from one to three feet in height were expected and members of the public should stay out of the water. The advisory was canceled on Wednesday, July 30, just before 11 a.m.

Tillamook County Fair week has arrived, and all the fun will be kicking off tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds.

This year, the fair is celebrating the centennial anniversary of the only-in-Tillamook Pig n’ Fords races as their theme, but fairgoers will also have access to the gamut of beloved fair activities like parimutuel horse racing, nightly concerts, a demolition derby, livestock shows and so much more.

After kicking off with the opening ceremony at 10 a.m., the next big activity is parimutuel horse racing, which gets started at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday and each subsequent day of the fair. With a post time of 1 p.m., there will be eight races Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and nine races on Saturday, as competitors vie for $226,000 in purse money.

Rainier Amusement’s carnival midway will be open from noon to 10 p.m. daily, with wristbands required for entry in addition to your fair ticket.

Entertainment will continue in the evening when Pig n’ Ford racers square off at 5::30 p.m., with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s races serving as qualifying rounds for Saturday’s championship showdown.

The fair’s annual concert series will take place the first three nights of the fair on the Main Grandstand Stage at 8 p.m., with Chase Matthew performing on Wednesday, Fleetwood Mac cover band Taken by the Sky performing on Wednesday and Waylon Wyatt rounding out the series on Friday. Saturday night, the fair will culminate in the demolition derby, also in the main grandstand arena, starting at 7:30 p.m.

There are a plethora of other activities scheduled through the week, so don’t

Level Up Follow-up

Thanks to competition Brittney Bakes expands production

On a piece of parchment paper Brittney Hudson writes the baked goods specials of the day. Sweets: lemon crinkle, brown butter chocolate chip, and “sprinkledoodle” to name a few. Savory: roasted poblano and cheddar scone. All these decadent creations are Hudson’s recipes and sold at her bakery Brittney Bakes

“We strive to give consistency in the quality of our products,” Hudson said. “I want people to come back for that cookie or that scone. I want them to take a bite and have it give them a warm feeling in peoples’ tummies. From the richness of the brown butter in our cookies or the burst of freshness in our fruit scones, we aim for elevated simple flavors for our products.” Hudson, and her partner Chad Martin, opened Brittney Bakes in Garibaldi in October 2023. The business was a graduate from the North Coast Food Web’s Farm and Food Incubator Program in Astoria. Hudson grew up in the restaurant industry and attended pastry

school at Auguste Escoffier Culinary School and previously worked at Nate’s Baked Goods in the Austin, Texas area. After about a year in business, Hudson and Martin entered Tillamook Economic Development Council’s 202324 “LevelUp” mini pitch competition. The competition was the first of its kind an open to Tillamook County small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with plans for future endeavors. Competitors pitched their business plans and were evaluated by a panel of judges. Hudson won one of the first levels of competition and was awarded $250. She then went on to compete in the finals, placed second, and was awarded a $5,000 grant.

“The program is a great opportunity for small businesses,” Hudson said. “It was able to give myself a chance to share my story and success and play a little ‘Shark Tank’ competition at the same time.”

With the business’s winnings, Hudson was able

to purchase a new Square POS system along with new equipment including an oven, mixer and speed racks.

“With these new tools, we were able to increase our production, gain new accounts and increase our demand,”

Hudson said. “We are now able to expand my quantity of items I can prep, therefore increasing the amount of projects, markets and custom orders I can take on.”

Following the competition, with the ability to increase

production, Brittney Bakes opened a second location as Brittney Bakes Café inside the Tillamook Air Museum. Here, the café sells their signature baked goods as well as deli-like items such as sandwiches.

“We are lucky enough to work alongside some great people at the Tillamook Air Museum and have worked with them and others who use the museum for venues and provide sweet treats,” Hudson said.

This summer, the Brittney Bakes Garibaldi location is paused for a moment while construction takes place, but the Café is open ThursdaySunday 10 a,m. -3 p.m. Shoppers can also find Brittney Bakes goods at several markets this summer including: Rockaway Beach Thursday Market (Thursday), Manzanita Farmers Market (Friday), Neskowin Farmers Market (Saturday), and Pacific City Farmers Market (Sunday).

Custom orders are also accepted.

“We offer packages and custom mini sizes of our regular lineup,” Hudson said. “They work great for meetings or social gatherings.”

Follow Brittney Bakes on social media for specials of the day. For custom orders, reach out at: Brittneybakespastries@gmail.com.

Rockaway requests exclusive use of rails north of wayside

Rockaway Beach City

Manager Luke Shepard visited the Port of Tillamook Bay’s board of director’s meeting on July 30, to request that the city be allowed to take control of the port’s train tracks through the north part of town to facilitate building the Salmonberry Trail. Shepard said that the city had looked at the possibility of a rails-with-trails configuration but found that the cost was too high and permitting requirements too stringent, leading to the desire to instead convert the rails to a trail. Representatives from the Oregon Coast Scenic Rail-

road (OCSR), whose lease with the Port of Tillamook Bay for the rails is set to expire in 18 months, were also at the meeting and argued that it was possible to collocate their operations with a trail and remained important for them to have access to those tracks.

Shepard started the meeting with a presentation about the Salmonberry Trail segment through Rockaway Beach, which is envisioned as a three-mile section of trail between Washington and Beach Streets. The city received a $750,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation in 2022 to pay for 30% design of the path, and Shepard that the project team is about 80% through that process.

During the design work, Shepard said that it had become apparent to the project team that a rails-and-trails configuration, with the trail adjoining an operational rail track, was not going to be feasible north of the OCSR depot at the city’s wayside. The biggest obstacle to building a rails-with-trails configuration in that section is the cost, with Shepard saying that preliminary estimates carried a $5-million-permile price tag. Additionally, Shepard said that the rails in that section run through several environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands, and that permitting and gaining public support for new construction in those

areas would be challenging and time consuming.

Shepard said that it would also be difficult to even find the space for the trail, as almost all the open room next to the tracks that is usable is already being taken advantage of by different utilities and others with easements.

Shepard argued that the difficulties of building in north Rockaway Beach were common across many segments of the trail and said that it was time to move the Salmonberry Trail to a rails-to-trails model between the depot and Banks, to allow easier development, and requested the board approve the change.

Acting quickly is important for Rockaway Beach’s hopes of developing the trail, Shepard said, as the city and project team need to know soon if they can design the trail through the northern section of town as a rails-to-trails project.

Shepard said that if the port did allow the switch, it would be important to support OCSR’s continued operations in the city and that city leaders were committed to do so, mentioning potential financial support for new facilities.

After Shepard’s presentation, Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar, who also sits on the Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency board, said that the project was now at a critical decision point. Skaar pointed out that Rockaway Beach was the first city to do actual engineering work for the trail and generate projected budgets, bringing the challenges of the planned rails-with-trails

configuration into focus.

Skaar said that while she supported OCSR and their continuing operations, it is time to have a serious discussion to figure out what the highest and best use for the railway is.

An official from the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation added that a rails-to-trails project typically cost $500,000 to $1 million per mile.

Paul Daniels, President of OCSR’s board, then spoke to the board, updating them on the organization. In recent months, OCSR has seen a staff shakeup, with the former general manager and operations manager departing and being replaced, and several new board members, including Daniels, beginning to serve.

Daniels introduced Trevor Park, OCSR’s new general manager, to the board, saying that he had been with the railroad for seven years and has a degree in business from Willamette University.

OCSR was founded in 2000 by Scott Wickert, who was also at the meeting, with a vision of using Tillamook’s rail line for passenger train services. In its first year, OCSR transported 2,500 people, a figure that grew to 55,000 by last year, generating $3 million in economic impact, as estimated by Nan Devlin of the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association.

Daniels said that OCSR wanted to continue and hoped to expand operations between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler, where they operate seasonally for fall foliage excursions.

Wicker then discussed possible solutions that would allow the railroad and trail to coexist, saying that bridges and trestles were the biggest challenge but that there were options to add cantilevered trails over spans.

Wickert also highlighted the fact that the railroad has rehabilitated three trestles on the line in the past five years and said that OCSR was more than willing to work with Rockaway Beach or anybody else on building the trail, especially as they believe it will improve safety for the railroad.

Park closed out the railroad’s presentation, saying that of 55,000 riders last year, 10,000 had ridden on the section between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler, generating $300,000 in revenue for OCSR. Park said that 8,000 of those trips had terminated in Wheeler during shoulder season and argued that families were more likely to use the train during that time of year than a trail.

Park said that while it would be more challenging to build a rails-with-trails project, it was key to OCSR achieving their goals and continuing their involvement in the Salmonberry Trail project.

“Yes, it’s going to be more expensive to construct a trial alongside the railroad, but OCSR feels we have been very willing to work with the trail and construct the trail quickly,” Park said. “If we want to continue the partnership with the Salmonberry Trail Foundation, it hinges on being able to keep sections of rail open.”

County news in brief

WILL CHAPPELL CITIZEN EDITOR

Tillamook County Commissioners approved a $2.5-million contract for a bridge project, a $50,000 contract for the recruitment of a chief medical officer, increases to planning, building and wastewater fees, and discussed hiring a financial officer to focus on forecasting and long-term planning in meetings on July 30. A failing culvert carrying Kilchis River Road over Myrtle Creek will be replaced by a single-span bridge as part of the Salmon Superhighway Project, with work to be managed by Trout Unlimited. Tillamook County Public Works Director Chris Laity explained that the county was serving as a pass-through agency for the $2.5 million in funds for the project, which are coming from a variety of sources including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife private forest accord grants, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Federal Highway Administration.

The contract for recruiting a chief medical officer for the county’s health department includes a $10,000 initial payment, with the balance to be paid when a candidate is hired into the role. Marlene Putman, Tillamook County Health and Human Services Administrator, said that the recruitment is expected to take 12 weeks and Centermark, the contracted company, would discount their rate for a follow-up recruitment if the new hire departed within six months. Fee increases in the department of community development were approved to keep fees in line with cost of providing services and will take effect on September 1. Increases range from 3-5% for planning, building and wastewater fees, though some are unaffected. Check the agenda for the July 30 board of county commissioners meeting on the county’s webpage for tables with the new fees.

The discussion about hiring a new financial officer took place at the commissioners’ afternoon board briefing on the 30th and was proposed by Mike Gleason,

a consultant who is working with the county to devise solutions for budget issues.

As part of an ongoing master plan update, Gleason said that he had determined that it would be in the county’s best interest to hire a financial officer who could focus exclusively on forecasting and long-term planning for the county. Gleason said those duties were currently being performed on an ad hoc basis by members of the treasurer’s staff but that given the pressing situation facing the county and many proposed solutions, a dedicated staff member was warranted.

Gleason said that a financial officer would also serve an important role as a neutral voice grounded in financial logic that could help county leaders form a clear picture of the financial realities and facilitate conversations about the path forward.

All three commissioners agreed with Gleason’s proposal, saying that it made sense to add a position given the changing demands of the treasurer’s office as the county reworks its financial foundation.

ule and budget throughout construction, with substantial completion occurring in May 2025, and city staff moving in beginning in June.

From Page A1

2019 vote seeking support for a tax increase to pay for the project.

After city council reaffirmed their commitment to building a new city hall and police station in 2020 and directed city staff to find funding sources to support the facility, the listening sessions helped to inform a preliminary plan, completed and approved by council in 2021.

That led to the hiring of Bearing Architecture to develop schematic designs for the project and Klosh Group to serve as owner’s representatives, with plans completed in spring 2023. During the plan development process, the team identified Business Oregon’s Special Public Works Fund as a funding source, with council approving a loan of $4.6 million at a 2.1% interest rate from the fund in December 2023. Groundbreaking took place in March 2024, and work progressed on sched-

H

ome First

Affordable Housing

From Page A1

County’s multifamily housing solutions development fund.

When complete, the development will consist of 60 one-, two- and threebedroom apartments spread across four buildings,

Quake

Tsunami warming

From Page A1

A water level monitor in Garibaldi operated by the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services showed variations from the expected tidal flow ranging from around .4 inches to 3.5 inches starting around 12:30 a.m. Data from a similar meter in Port Orford on Oregon’s southern coast showed variations as high as two feet. At the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on the 30th, Tillamook County Emergency Manager Randy Thorpe discussed the situation. Thorpe said that he had received the alert at the same time as the public and sprang into action, informing Board Chair

Aman thanked Melanie Olson from Business Oregon for pointing the city to the Special Public Works Fund, Chris Keane and Andrew Hamblin from Bearing for a design that matched the city’s budget while honoring the community, Jesse Steiger from Klosh Group for her support as owner’s representative, Jason Stegner, Dave Cram and Carolina Lysse from Cove Built for leading the construction and city attorneys James Walker, Souvanny Miller and Christi Taylor.

Aman said that while she was happy to see the project completed, she would miss working with the project team and thanked them for their diligence.

“This was the most rewarding professional experience of my career,” Aman said, “so I want to thank all of you who were involved for your integrity, your hard work and your commitment to serving Manzanita.”

After Aman’s remarks, Stock returned to the microphone and thanked the various

managed by Key Property Services. All the units will be affordable to residents making 60% of the area’s median income or less, with 12 dedicated to those making 30% of that figure. Hinkes and Pentz have stayed involved throughout the design process, with Hinkes saying that it was critical to them that the affordable apartments be a place that residents would be proud to live, a goal

Commissioner Erin Skaar and department liaison Commissioner Mary Faith Bell to alert them.

Thorpe said that he then sent out an additional message through the Everbridge Nixle system to ensure that users who had not signed up to receive alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) would be informed and to try to give more context. Thorpe said that the number of characters he could send via text message was limited and that he had sent longer emails, encouraging members of the public to sign up for those communications as well.

After communicating with local leaders, Neal participated in a Teams meeting with representatives from the Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, USGS, NWS and emergency managers from across the coast to coordi-

OBITUARY

Amy Kline Gage

July 7, 1943 ~ May 19, 2025

Amy Kline Gage, formerly of Neahkahnie Mountain, Manzanita, Oregon, died on May 19, 2025 surrounded by family and friends at her home in Fillmore, California. She was 81.

local leaders present, including State Senator Suzanne Weber, State Representative Cyrus Javadi, Tillamook County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell, Tillamook Sheriff Josh Brown, Tillamook Coast Visitor’s Association Executive Director Nan Devlin, Tillamook Peoples’ Utility District General Manager Todd Simmons and NeahKah-Nie Superintendent Tyler Reed, for their support. Stock also thanked local nonprofits who had representatives present, especially the Pine Grove Community House that hosted city council meetings during construction.

Then, before leading the ribbon cutting on the new facility and welcoming attendees to tour it, Stock addressed the community as a whole, thanking them for making the city what it is.

“So, whether you’re volunteering or whether you’re just being a great member of the community, you’re a golfer, you’re on the dragon boat team, whatever it is you love to do in this town, just know that we appreciate you and we’re here serving every single one of you,” Stock said.

which he is confident will be achieved.

“This is a critical piece for me, I’ve repeated this I can’t say how many times, it is critically important for us that people who rent in Ben’s development are just as proud of living there as the people who are living in luxury homes half a mile away,” Hinkes said. “That is critically important to us, we want people to have the pride of where they live.”

nate their response.

Thorpe said that the situation had been a good learning experience and raised the question for him of how to communicate about complex situations that the public needed to be aware of without unduly alarming them. In addition to encouraging members of the public to sign up for Everbridge Nixle alerts by texting their zip code to 888777, he said that he would work on increasing familiarity with the watch, advisory, warning system used by the NWS.

Thorpe stressed that the most important thing to know was that in the event of a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake, which will pose the greatest tsunami risk to the Oregon coast, residents will feel the ground shake and should not wait for an alert to evacuate inundation zones.

Amy is survived by her beloved husband John Gage, daughter Laura Kline Bartels and husband Bill; daughter Grace Kline; daughter Suzannah de Moll and husband Todd Hight; stepdaughter Lisa Star; stepsons Chester Anderson and Ezra Anderson; stepchildren Judy, Jay, and Joe Kline; grandchildren Nico Kline Bartels, Hannah Kline Bartels, Matthew Kline Bartels, Luna Enriquez and her partner Adam Bristow; Evangeline Enriquez; sister-in-law Martha Wood; cousins Gilbry McCoy, Stephanie Birchak, Karen Couch; many Caymanian cousins.

Amy moved from Portland to Neahkahnie Mountain in 1969 with her daughter Laura and thenhusband Fred Kline. Fred and Amy had their daughter Grace in 1975 at home, and after Fred’s death, Amy had daughter Suzannah de Moll at home with spouse Kip de Moll. Amy moved with her daughters, Grace and Suzannah, in 1986 to Mill Valley, California where she married her high school sweetheart, John Gage.

After moving from Portland to Neahkahnie Mountain, Amy opened The Rainbow Gallery, a fine art gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon in 1971. Amy ran the Rainbow Gallery until Fred’s death in 1978. In addition to her work in the arts, Amy was a Certified Yoga Therapist and taught classes across the North Coast, as well as at the Rhinehart Clinic and Hospital. Amy established the program and

taught yoga for Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS (hospice) and orthopedic and cancer patients at the University of California, San Francisco Dental School. She taught Yoga for Percussionists, Yoga in Christian Prayer at Grace Cathedral, Yoga for Children, Yoga for People over 53, Yoga in Christian Worship and Yoga for Incarcerated Women. In addition to her hospice work, Amy was involved with Midwifery, delivering over 30 babies in the North Coast. Amy started the International College of the Cayman Islands in 1970 and was a member of its board for over 55 years. A lifelong Episcopalian, she regularly attended services at Nehalem’s St. Catherine’s By the Sea from her home in Oregon when they were originally held in a room behind the grocery store. She was thrilled that the parish eventually could build its own church. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and Daughters of the American Revolution. Amy’s favorite events in life were those involving her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. She was a great mom and grandmother, living as her family’s beloved matriarch for over 60 years. Throughout that time, she

loved shared dinner table conversations, talks of upcoming events or simple descriptions about the events of your day. She had such optimism about young people and their futures; and she had tongue-incheek nicknames for her towns on the Oregon Coast that always made the family laugh She always gave thoughtful, individualized gifts; she remembered personal details and could greet you after a lengthy absence and carry on as if the distance and time apart never existed. Amy had a way of making you feel that you were the most important person in her world; she had a gift for including you in any activity and she made you feel at ease and a part of her family. Across each and all of her professional and personal accomplishments, Amy’s legacy is one of generosity and love for her family, friends, and the world. May our memories of Amy inspire each and all of us to live with grace, curiosity, and adventure.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at Pine Grove Community House, 225 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita, Oregon from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm on Friday, August 8. Light refreshments will be served. A bonfire gathering afterwards will be on Manzanita Beach.

In lieu of flowers, please bring a story to share of Amy’s impact on your life. An open microphone will be available, as well as cards for your stories and notes. If you want to share a longer story or communicate with John, Laura, Grace and Zannah, please send it to us at: AmyCelebrationofLifeStories@gmail.com. A more detailed obituary can be found at www.perezfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Pelican Brewing to Open Coastal Location in Rockaway Beach

Pelican Brewing Company, the iconic Oregon Coast brewery known for its award-winning beers and coastal hospitality, is thrilled to announce the opening of their fifth coastal location in beautiful Rockaway Beach, Oregon set for mid-August 2025. The new location, just steps from the sand, will offer Pelican’s signature beers alongside a delicious coastal menu. With a smaller footprint than Pelican’s larger brewpubs, this new Pelican location will feature a smaller select menu, family friendly service, and a dogfriendly patio. The inside space will be able to seat over 60 guests, and there will be available seating for an additional 30 guests on the outside patio.

Pelican Brewing cofounder Mary Jones spent her childhood summers at her grandparents’ Rockaway Beach cabin and the area is near and dear to her heart. “Rockaway Beach is a

special place on the Oregon Coast, and we’re so excited to be part of this vibrant community,” says Mary. “We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors alike to enjoy great beer and food, in a casual, intimate setting.”

Pelican is proud to continue investing in Oregon’s coastal communities. The Rockaway Beach location seeks to support year-round tourism for the area, while creating new employment opportunities along the coast. Pelican Brewing is now hiring for the Rockaway Beach location and is excited to welcome a new team to the space.

Soon guests at Pelican Brewing Rockaway Beach will be able to enjoy a rotating selection of Pelican’s classic beers and special draft only releases, alongside a menu intertwining the flavors of the coast with classic pub fare. Whether stopping in after a beach walk or meeting up with

Citizen North Coast CLASSIFIEDS

North Coast

Citizen

Serving North Tillamook County since 1996

Deadline: FRIDAYS at Noon for Advertising, News, Letters, Classifieds, Legals/Public Notices, Obituaries

Chief Executive/Operations: Joe Warren

Editor: Will Chappell, email headlighteditor@countrymedia.net

Advertising: Katherine Mace, email headlightads@countrymedia.net Office Manager: Patty Archambault, email classifieds@orcoastnews.com

Classifieds & Legals/Public Notices: Due by Noon on Fridays the week of publication, send Classifieds to classifieds@orcoastnews.com, send Legals/Public notices to legals@orcoastnews.com, or call 503-842-7535 for more information.

Graphic Design: Steph Baumgart Office Phone: 503-842-7535 Website: northcoastcitizen.com

The North Coast Citizen (15503909) is published biweekly by Country Media, Inc. 1906 Second Street, P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141 SUBSCRIPTION RATES

$60.00 annually in-county; $72.00 annually out-of-county. $50.00 for online only.

Periodicals Postage paid at Tillamook, OR. POSTMASTER

Send address changes to P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141

Member Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) © 2025 by the North Coast Citizen. All rights reserved. LETTER POLICY

The Citizen welcomes letters that express readers’ opinions on current topics. Letters may be submitted by email only, no longer than 300 words, and must be signed and include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number for verification of the writer’s identity. We will print the writer’s name and town of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received and may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, punctuation or clarity. We do not publish group emails, open letters, form letters, third-party letters, letters attacking private individuals or businesses, or letters containing advertising. Deadline for letters is noon Fridays.

The date of publication will depend on space. Obituaries

The North Coast Citizen has several options for submitting obituaries.

• Basic Obituary: Includes the person’s name, age, town of residency, and information about any funeral services. No cost.

• Custom Obituary: You choose the length and wording of the announcement. The cost is $100 for the first 200 words, $75 for each additional 200 words. Includes a small photo at no additional cost.

• Premium Obituary: Often used by families who wish to include multiple photos with a longer announcement, or who wish to run a thank-you. Cost varies based on the length of the announcement.

All obituary announcements are placed on the North Coast Citizen website at no cost.

friends for a pint, Pelican’s newest location invites all to enjoy time spent making new memories along the coast.

About Pelican Brewing Company Born at the beach in 1996, Pelican Brewing Company is Oregon’s only beachfront brew pub and one of the state’s most decorated craft breweries with over 450 awards. Pelican Brewing prides itself on being playful, but not frivolous – brewing each beer with purpose, passion and a deep respect for the craft. Pelican Brewing operates three coastal brewpubs in Pacific City, Cannon Beach and Siletz Bay, as well as a production facility and taproom in Tillamook, Oregon. Pelican Brewing beers can be found at any of their locations, as well as in stores across Oregon, Washington, Northern California and Idaho. For more information, visit the Pelican Brewing website or Instagram.

Successful 2025

Business | Civic | Non-profit

Celebrating women of the north coast who make a difference in our communities

Aman stewards major projects in Manzanita

Will Chappell

Since arriving in Manzanita four years ago, City Manager Leila Aman has helped guide the city through several major planning updates and internal improvements, while also piloting a project to build a new city hall and police station, set to open August 2. Aman, who previously worked in private and public planning roles in the Portland metro area, said that she is proud of the city’s progress the last few years, though she is quick to credit her staff, saying that she is most proud of their performance and mentality.

“I think things are going really great and I feel really good about what the city has been able to accomplish over the last four years,” Aman said, “but I think the thing I’m probably most proud of is the staff and my team and the growth that I have witnessed in the people that work here and their just unwavering commitment to this community and to excellence.”

Born and raised in southeast Portland, Aman started down the road toward city management while in college at

Portland State University when she took an urban planning class and was immediately drawn to the field. “I realized that it put words to things that I saw happening all around me having grown up in Portland and witnessing the change through the 80s and 90s,” Aman said, “and so that was a sort of transformative moment for me.”

After a year spent working as a flower vendor in Pioneer Courthouse Square, which Aman said served to further stoke her passion for getting involved in the community, she completed a master’s program at Cornell University with a focus on land planning and geographic information systems in real estate finance.

During her master’s program, Aman had an internship with Portland Metro government, but when she graduated, they were not hiring, leading her to take a position at Fregonese Calthorpe Associates, now Fregonese Associates, where she worked as a project manager. Aman said that in her studies and career, she has always been drawn to the nitty gritty of how the on-the-ground

Lauren Sheehan, Songster

Old and New Songs Vintage Instruments

Celebrating 50 years of connecting and community building through music.

Concerts, events big and small, weddings, funerals, hospice care, lessons, classes, workshops and bar entertainment

H24600

implementation of highlevel planning documents at regional and municipal governments.

“I was really interested in not only how you plan for a city but how you actually implement those plans,” Aman said. “So, having a background in real estate finance helped me understand how zoning codes actually get applied and how you could develop policies that can actually be realized.”

Following two years with Fregonese Calthorpe, Aman moved to a position in metro government’s transitoriented development program. In seven years with the group, Aman focused on supporting mixed-use development near transit hubs as part of metro’s 2040 growth

plan and helping to develop tools to identify project sites among other responsibilities.

Another stint at Fregonese, consulting on plans and development background work, followed, but after several years, Aman said that she found herself missing work in the public sector.

“When you work in a local government, whether it’s regional or state or whatever, you’re surrounded by people who are driven by service in the same way that you are,” Aman said, “not to say that consultants aren’t, it’s just a different type of business model, and there was something about the public sector that just really spoke to my heart.”

Aman thus took a role with the Portland Development Commission, since renamed Prosper Portland, as program manager for the Lents Urban Renewal District, where she helped to facilitate development of affordable housing and promote new business growth.

From there, Aman moved to the City of Milwaukie, first as their downtown development manager, before being promoted to the role of community development

director halfway through her four-year tenure.

In Milwaukie, Aman helped the city finish a comprehensive plan update, create a farmers’ market plaza and acquire a building to serve as a new city hall.

Then, in 2020, Aman and her husband purchased a home in north Tillamook County and began coming to the coast on a regular basis. Aman had longstanding ties to Tillamook County, with an aunt living off Highway 53 in Mohler and her grandparents owning a home in Bay City during her childhood, and the regular visits made her start to consider a full-time move as her daughter fell in love with the coast.

Aman was unsure what she would do professionally if her family moved, but when she looked at Manzanita’s city website she was surpirsed to find they were looking for a city manager, with a job description closely fitting her experience.

“I think the thing what really drew me here was that the things that they had advertised in the job description that they were looking for were someone who had my skill set, someone who could help deal with a vision,” Aman said. “And so, those are all things that I had spent the last 15 years of my career doing and I thought how neat I can go into this town and do these important things that I’ve worked on my whole career and be able to contribute to this place that I love so much.”

Aman applied for the job and was selected, starting with the city in June 2021. Since then, Aman has stayed busy, helping the city to craft its first capital improvement plan, updating its transportation system plan and beginning work on a comprehensive plan update that will incorporate those. She has also led a largescale shift towards digitization, specifically highlighting moving the payroll to direct deposits from paper checks.

Aman’s most visible accomplishment has been helping the city consummate the construction of a new city hall and police station, which are set to open

August 2 at Underhill Plaza.

The project had a rocky history, with city leaders acknowledging the need for a new facility in 1995 and starting a fund to pay for it, but no substantial progress being made until the purchase of the Underhill Plaza site in 2017. City council sought a bond to pay for construction of a new facility in 2019, but voters did not approve, leading council to pass a resolution declaring their intent to move forward and directing staff to find funding sources in 2020. After an extensive public input process and preparatory work, Aman applied for a loan from Business Oregon in 2023 for up to $5.1 million on behalf of the city, with the rest of the $6 million construction budget coming from grants, the sale of the old city hall and city funds.

Construction began in April 2024 with Aman serving as project manager, and was completed by early July 2025, with an official grand opening ceremony set for August 2.

Aman said that she has enjoyed seeing that project come to fruition and is looking forward to an upcoming project to improve water infrastructure on classic street to facilitate the construction of an affordable housing development at Spruce Point.

For Aman, working in Manzanita has been a rewarding experience and she said that it’s an engaging challenge to address the same issues as larger cities with less resources.

“Manzanita, it’s like a little big city,” Aman said. “It’s got the same issues that big cities have from the administration standpoint to the social, economic, demographic, all those issues right, it’s the same. I’m dealing with housing the same as I was in Portland, the region, in Milwaukee, we’re dealing with growth, we’re dealing with all of the same things here but we have far more limited resources and so the things that my team are able to accomplish to me is exponential in terms of the impact that it has and so that feels great.”

Success in Colors

Eeva Lantela never set out to be an artist, but sometimes the most meaningful things in life happen without a plan

Pierce Baugh V

Residing on Hemlock Street as it has since its first day of business back in 2001, Dragon Fire Gallery has and hasn’t undergone changes in more than two decades of operation. The gallery first occupied the building’s upstairs, before expanding downstairs, then being expanded once more in 2007, which is how it has remained since. But, in many ways, it’s still the same gallery that it was when it opened — bursts of color, a spectrum of artistic expression and pieces with price tags that can accommodate all patrons’ budgets.

Dragon Fire’s tagline is a feast for the senses.

“One of the things I like to say, too, is that the sun always shines in Dragon Fire,” says owner Eeva Lantela.

“Even if it’s a dark, gray day outside, you forget all about it when you’re in here, because it’s, it’s a large space, and it’s got all this color.”

Just two years after Lantela and her late partner Mari Rockett moved to Cannon Beach from New Jersey

in 1999, they started working on opening the gallery, something within Rockett’s comfort zone and outside of Lantela’s. “It was like opening this whole new world for me,” Lanetala said.

Rockett was a painter who came from an artistic family. But Lantela’s background was in athletics, having been an athlete and massage therapist when she was younger. Though she didn’t have a background in art, she has always been appreciative of it. “I just kind of ran on enthusiasm,” Lantela said.

Before opening Dragon Fire, Lantela’s experience with art had mostly been limited to dabbling in jewelry making.

In addition to Rockett, Lantela says her friend Marsha Huss was instrumental in the

creation of Dragon Fire. Huss even worked for the gallery.

For Lantela, owning an art gallery on the Oregon Coast is something she never would have imagined for herself.

Having visited the Oregon Coast when she was young, she was mesmerized by it, but thought living here would always be a pipe dream. “It’s amazing to me that it actually happened,” said Lantela.

Born in Finland, Lanetala immigrated to Canada when she was young, and when she was 35, moved from Vancouver, British Columbia, to New York. In her 20s, she experienced something that would shape her approach to business: her first failure. Having a background in health and fitness, Lanetala opened a business focused on helping

people get in shape when she was in her mid-20s. Though she was excited about the endeavor, she admits that she wasn’t considering all that could go wrong and was unrealistic in her expectations.

Though the business failed, Lantela is grateful for the experience since it allowed her to approach Dragon Fire with a clear view of what could go wrong, but also what could go right.

This has involved some trial and error. When Dragon Fire started, Lantela’s and Rockett’s vision was a type of create-your-own-ceramic shop, but realizing it wasn’t a viable business, they shifted to a colorful gallery that features mainly Pacific Northwest artists.

After 24 years in business, Lantela has been astounded by the gallery’s success.

Being someone who tends to get bored fairly easily by doing the same thing, Lantela is amazed that she’s been intrigued with art and her gallery for all these years.

Lantela has enjoyed working with a range of artists, who all come from different walks of life. She enjoys seeing who the artists are through their work. By seeing what an artist creates, she’s able to see their worldview. And Lantela has her own philosophy on art: “I think that art goes way beyond just making a pretty environment, I think it’s creating a sanctuary in your home or your garden.”

For those chasing their own versions of success, Lantela advises not to be intimidated just because someone might be new to something. “The most important thing is to be passionate about what it is that inspires you,” she said.

But Lantela also urges people to stay grounded while pursuing their goals, keeping in mind what it could take to achieve something.

Intuition also plays a part in how Lantela approaches things, helping her be humble when she knows when to make a change, but also be confident when she knows she’s right. She also encourages others to be open to possibilities and explore what might be available to someone while remaining true to their vision. And, “don’t hold back.” Lantela is thankful for how the last 24 years have gone for her while running Dragonfire. “It’s just amazing how fast it goes. But you know, when you really love doing something, that’s it, that’s how it should be.”

Local Business Spotlight: Pauseful Massage

Celebrating 15 years of Relaxation and Reconnection

By Chelsea Yarnell

The relentless pace of modern life leaves many people feeling tense and overwhelmed, struggling to unplug, living with persistent pain or with racing thoughts that won’t slow down. Sound familiar?

Pauseful Massage &

Owned and operated by Jennifer Robitsch, since 2013

Botanicals, located in the heart of Manzanita, believes the key to a satisfying life doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from slowing down and reconnecting with yourself.

“When we slow down and attune to ourselves, we become more receptive,” said Pauseful Founder Christina Pyktel. “That’s when our experience becomes more dimensional. In the pause, we access not just

our skin, muscles, and bones, but our soul. We come back into a deeper connection with ourselves and with life.”

For the past 15 years, the studio has stayed true to that mission. From the moment you walk through the door, the space invites you to slow down and breathe. Nature-inspired and thoughtfully designed, it offers a sense of calm and comfort. Pauseful’s licensed and experienced massage therapists are deeply caring and genuinely present. Each session is personalized to support you on all levels— physical, emotional and energetic.

Christina is joined by massage therapists Jamie Corvus and Steve Johnson, who together have provided over 13,000 massages. The team is dedicated to offering care that goes beyond easing tension— it’s about supporting your whole being.

“We all bring a lot of heart and skill to our craft,” Christina said. “In each session, our goal is to help you have the most expansive experience. We’re holding space for your wholeness and offering a sensory-rich experience for deep relaxation and pain relief. As therapists, we aspire to transmit calm, peaceful and loving energy.”

Christina has played a central role in the studio’s evolution—starting as a massage therapist when

it was known as Longevity Massage and later stepping into ownership and rebranding it as Pauseful eight years ago. Massage therapist Jamie Corvus was the originator and continues to bring her warmth and steady presence to the team today.

“A couple of things really influenced my journey,” Christina recalled. “When I was younger, my mom was sick for a couple of years with chronic fatigue, and

I got really interested in natural healing and how to care for the body. Then in high school, I saw a photo of Oregon, and something in me lit up. I just knew I needed to be somewhere that beautiful. I studied massage and eventually made my way to the Pacific Northwest. I started coming to Manzanita seasonally, and over time, this place became home. Pauseful grew out of that—it’s really about living a meaningful life.”

Pauseful’s offerings include one-hour, 90-minute, and twohour Pauseful Massage Experiences, as well as two newer services:

• Pauseful Circle – A monthly small group gathering to explore presence and connection in community.

• Pauseful Mentoring –One-on-one guidance to help integrate Pauseful practices into the rhythm of your life, such as slowing down, listening inward, and living with intention.

To explore offerings, book a massage or get an Embodied Bliss Freebie, visit pauseful.com.

To celebrate the studio’s 15-year anniversary, Pauseful will host a community celebration on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 3 p.m. Come dance with us and the local band Rhythm Method as we mark this special milestone.

“I feel so inspired to live in such a magical place surrounded by mountains, ocean, rivers, and forests,” Christina said, reflecting on her time as a business owner in Manzanita.

The community is warmly invited to join the celebration—an afternoon of connection, joy, and reclaiming the right to feel fully alive in a world that’s forgotten how.

Pauseful Massage & Botanicals is located at 298 Laneda Ave, Suite 6, Manzanita, Oregon.

Music teachers powerfully impact our community

By Donna Miles

Four successful ladies, long time members and recent Presidents of the Monday Musical Club of Tillamook, have spent their lives sharing their love for music through performance, mentoring, teaching, and directing. Their leadership is largely responsible for keeping this music club, now 104 years old, viable in recent years. Marianne Gienger, Caryn Backman, Jerilee Henderson, and Kathy Gervasi have all made a powerful contribution to the entire Tillamook County music community over many years.

Marianne Gienger, has been teaching piano to many generations of young people and adults for over 60 years, with a special emphasis on classical music.  Throughout the years, her students have competed in piano festivals, winning many trophies for exceptional musicianship, a tribute to Marianne’s high standards.  In addition to being a long time member and past President of the Monday Musical Club, she was also responsible for obtaining a grant to bring professional musicians to Tillamook in the club’s Cultural Events Program. For 20 years, Marianne’s leadership of this special program made quality professional entertainment available to our small coastal community.

Caryn Backman has also taught and performed music in Tillamook for decades.  Through the years, she has taught piano, band

instruments, and voice lessons to countless young musicians.  She is also in high demand as a piano tuner. Caryn has shared her instrumental, vocal, drama, and dance talents through Tillamook Association for Performing Arts (T.A.P.A.), dance studio recitals, Tillamook Community Band, and in Monday Musical monthly performance programs.  She is the pianist and handbell director for her church, and continues to perform and accompany other musicians.

As President of Monday Musical, she lead the club through the difficult year of Covid restrictions and recorded the performance programs when meeting in public was discouraged.  She initiated the Youtube

channel for the recorded performances at that time.  Since then, all monthly performances are available to view on the Youtube channel, “Monday Musical Club of Tillamook”. The public is invited to attend the free live performance programs on the second Monday of the Month from October through June. Look for advanced publicity for details.

Jerilee Henderson, the current and a past President of the Monday Musical Club, has performed vocal, piano, organ, and guitar music in our community for more than 45 years. Born and raised in Tillamook, she and her husband D. Jay owned and operated the Tillamook Music store for several years.   She

taught elementary school music for 14 years and then Tillamook Jr. High and HS choirs for an additional 14 years until retirement. She was director for the Tillamook Community Chorus for 7 years, and now sings in the chorus. She was also a member of a local marimba band. She has shared her drama talent and well known solo voice as leading lady in many successful T.A.P.A. Musicals, choir performances of “The Messiah”, numerous Monday Musical programs, funerals, weddings, at her church, and many other community events. She continues to share her love of music as an accompanist and as a performer.   Kathy Gervasi has been

serving on the Monday Musical Board and will be the next President of the Monday Musical Club of Tillamook, beginning in October, 2025.  After graduating from college,  she taught elementary music in Madrid, Iowa from 1975-1979. She also taught piano, participated in community theater, and was her church organist and choir director there. From 1979-1997, she taught elementary music in McMinnville, did community theater, and also served as Principal there for 6 years before moving to Tillamook in 1997 with her husband, Mark. Here she served as the Principal of Liberty Grade School for 4 years and at South

Prairie Grade School for 9 years before retirement in 2010. In Tillamook, she has been a frequent piano accompanist, flutist in the community band, sang with the VOX Jazz Octet, community chorus, and T.A.P.A., and has played in a Marimba band and chimes choir.  Tillamook County is a wonderful place to live, in part because of the contributions of talented community leaders like these four ladies.  Their musical success has positively affected more people than they will ever know.

For more information about Monday Musical Club, please visit: https:// mondaymusicalcluboftillamookblogspot.com.

The Successful Women of United Paws of Tillamook

Successful women know there is strength in numbers and diversity, and that is the secret to success at United Paws of Tillamook (UP). Dr. Anita Johansson, Karen Schrader, Maureen Michelson, Nina Mills, Shayna Sheldon and Melissa Josi comprise the board of this local nonprofit dedicated to alleviating animal suffering by humanely addressing cat and kitten overpopulation and homelessness.

The women on the UP Board combine their varied professional experiences, including Veterinarian, Airline Pilot, Book Publisher & Editor, Graphics Manager, Service Station Manager, and Juvenile Probation Officer, to address the challenge of managing feline overpopulation in Tillamook county.

Behind the scenes,

additional volunteers from a variety of careers, including a retired judge, hospital nurse, hairdresser and local artist, show up to support free and reduced cost spay/ neuter clinics, shuttle cats to veterinarians, and care for rehabilitating kittens and cats recuperating at UP Headquarters. Another army of fosters cares for kittens and cats in their homes with support provided by UP. Two successful women in our area, Patti Bumgarner and Christine Watt, founded this all-volunteer organization. They and many others provide financial support and keep the litter boxes clean.

Sadly, thousands of cats and kittens in Tillamook county are born homeless and suffer immensely

Carol Weber of Latimer Quilt and Textile Center

I’d like to nominate Carol Weber for one of 2025’s Successful Women. Carol has been at the helm of the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center for many years and has overseen its growth from a small, hidden, local treasure to an internationally known quilt and textile center. It’s on the “must see” list of numerous tour buses that travel the Oregon Coast. Besides offering classes, the Latimer mounts changing displays from various fiber art groups. It is also home to a world-class fiber art collection of quilts, textiles, weavings, etc. None of this would have occurred without the countless hours that Carol has devoted. She has overseen its growth from a small, unknown idea into the treasure that it is today. And she has done

all of this by donating her time, talents and good nature to transform an idea into a reality. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to bring Carol Weber to your attention. She is truly a gem! Cathie Favret

throughout their brief lives. However, in the 25 years since UP was founded, over 25,000 cats and kittens have been rescued, rehabilitated, vaccinated, spayed/ neutered and ultimately placed in loving forever homes.

UP provides sliding scale spay and neuter clinics, wellness clinics, and basic veterinary services for pet guardians who are on limited incomes.  They also offer support for Trap Neuter Return efforts to help control feral cat colonies.

UP is always looking for new folks - men & women - to lend a hand in whatever capacity you excel. To learn more, please visit unitedpaws. org or call 503-8425663.

Rev Dr Lia Shimada, Priest in Charge of St. Alban’s in Tillamook

Rev Dr Lia Shimada, Priest in Charge of St. Alban’s in Tillamook

Lia Shimada is a geographer, theologian and mediation specialist, who is passionate about community dialogue. After two decades in the United Kingdom, Lia has returned home to the Pacific Northwest. She attended seminary at St. Augustine’s, through the Church of England. As a mediator, Lia accompanies communities as they navigate conflict and change. She spent formative time in Belfast, Northern Ireland, working with the civic peacebuilding process. In London, Lia served as a researcher and writer for a practical theology think-tank at the University of Roehampton. Lia shares a home with Jonathan (the local Methodist pastor) and their two young kids. As a family, they enjoy exploring tide pools and eating noodles together. Last August, she relocated to the Oregon coast, to be closer to family in Seattle. Lia completed her seminary training in England, at St. Augustine’s College of Theology. She will serve as Priest in Charge of St. Alban’s,

Tillamook. Lia was called to priesthood from the central London parish of St. James’s, Piccadilly. In that ancient place, Lia encountered a spacious theology and a community striving to live, joyfully, with questions for which there are no easy answers. As a professional mediator, Lia is fascinated by the ways in which communities navigate conflict

and change. (She particularly enjoys working with churches on the verge of implosion!) She spent formative time in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she worked with the civic peacebuilding process, on both sides of the divide. From 2016 to 2022, she chaired the working group for Diversity and Inclusive Practice for the U.K.’s National College of Mediators. Lia also served for many years as a researcher and writer for the Susanna Wesley Foundation, a practical theology thinktank at the University of Roehampton. She had the great privilege of convening an extended dialogue between Jewish, Muslim and Christian theologians and practitioners. Her edited book, Mapping Faith: Theologies of Migration and Community, was published in 2020. In memory of her son Rowan, Lia’s recent work has focused on improving public conversations around death. Please come and meet Rev. Lia on any given Wednesday or Sunday at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Tillamook.