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Chronicle & Chief THE COLUMBIA COUNTY
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
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Downtown construction causing closures, cancellations a birthday cake for America. The event will also feature music from Larry Jackson Big River Big Band and Ellie Wieneke.
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ue to construction and congestion in downtown St. Helens’s historic Riverfront District, the city has had to cancel and alter events while the projects are completed. While the city announced it is holding its concert series in McCormick Park this year, the 4th of July fireworks display has been canceled. The city discussed the cancellation of the fireworks display at its Apr. 17 work session. In an email to the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief, St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh said the firework display has been canceled to “alleviate congestion” in the Riverfront District due to several construction projects currently underway. Columbia View Park closed on May 20 for construction on the Riverwalk Project, and Walsh said it will remain closed for the remainder of 2024 as construction takes place. This closure includes the playground, amphitheater, splash pad, and Riverfront walking trail access near the splash pad. “People will not be able to gather to view the fireworks inside Columbia View Park or along the City’s Riverfront Property where tailgating usually occurs since this area is also closed for tailgate use due to the Streets and Utilities Extension Project,” Walsh said. The Columbia View Park restrooms will remain open for use.
Tourism events
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Columbia View Park is slated to be closed for about a year.
City dock access, including utilities at the docks, will remain open. The Riverfront walking trail will remain accessible via the designated pedestrian path at the south end of Strand Street. In their discussion at the Apr. 17 work session, Mayor Rick Scholl expressed that while the
fireworks will not happen this year, he is hoping to “double down” on the display next year to show the city’s commitment to its citizens. Aside from the fireworks, Walsh said the Independence Day events are being moved to McCormick Park “in order to celebrate Independence Day and our local
veterans.” Events will include a Freedom Walk, Highway 30 Cruisers, American Legion & VFW Flag Raising, and the National Anthem, as well as guest speakers. With it being America’s birthday, “George Washington” will sign the Declaration of Independence, and there will be
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Growing Rural Oregon (GRO) of Greater St. Helens, Columbia County SBDC (Small Business Development Center), Keep It Local Columbia County, and other community partners on May 16. The opening of the St. Helens location is just the first step in what the SBDC and Columbia Economic Team (CET) hope will grow into a county-wide network. SBDC Director Jason Moon explained their goal of creating similar spaces throughout Columbia County. “The Columbia County SBDC Small Business Resource Corner in the St. Helens library will empower entrepreneurs, support local businesses, foster economic develop-
While the city has moved its summer events to McCormick Park, there is still some uncertainty as to how they will look and who may organize them. The contract for the city’s event coordinator, Tina Curry of E2C Corp, is set to expire on Jun. 30. The June 30 expiration of the contract is also why the city has only announced four of the concerts for its 13 Nights concert series. “The remainder of the 13 Nights on the River summer concerts will be determined by the outcome of the request for proposal (RFP) process and direction from the City Council,” Walsh said. To clear up controversy surrounding the tourism contract, the city put out a request for proposal (RFP) for event management services on Apr. 22. The closing date for the RFP was May 22. “The intent of this RFP process is to award a contract and have an event management services contractor on board to plan and execute 2024 Spirit of Halloweentown events,” St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King said. In an email to the Chronicle & Chief on May 17, the city said they had only received one proposal. It See DOWNTOWN, Page A4
All business at St. Helens Library Country Media, Inc.
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GRO’s Erin Salisbury, Library Director Suzanne Bishop, and SBDC’s Jason Moon cut the ribbon on the new Small Business Resource Corner.
n an effort to make business materials and resources more accessible to budding and growing businesses, the Small Business Development Center has partnered with the St. Helens Library to offer a space for all things business. The space is in a corner of the St. Helens Public Library, and the purpose is to provide easy access to valuable resources and information for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. The opening of the Small Business Resource Corner was celebrated by the St. Helens Library alongside
ment, and strengthen the overall business ecosystem in the community,” Moon said. “The vision is to have an SBDC Corner in every city within Columbia County by Spring of 2025.” The Small Business Resource Corner offers books, guides, and other educational materials on various aspects of starting and running a small business, according to Moon. These include business planning, marketing strategies, financial management, legal considerations, and more. It becomes a hub for continuous learning and skill development, Moon said. See BUSINESS, Page A8
Columbia County Chorale to perform in NYC WILL LOHRE
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embers of the Columbia Chorale of Oregon will soon be performing under the bright lights of one of the United States’ most prestigious concert halls this Memorial Day. On the evening of May 27, 12 members of the Columbia Chorale of Oregon will sing The Magnificat and other selections by composer John Rutter on the Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Margaret Trenchard-Smith is one of the singers heading to the big city to perform, and she explained how the once-in-lifetime chance arose. Originally, the opportunity came about when the Ford Family Foundation gave the Columbia Chorale of Oregon a grant of $10,000 to send youth singers to sing The Wisdom of Columbia County at Carnegie Hall on May 27 of this year, Trenchard-Smith said. The Wisdom of Columbia County, composed by Kevin Bryant Lay with lyrics by Trenchard-Smith, is an original music composition written “about and for the people of Columbia County,” telling the county’s history
through a series of characters. “Unfortunately, that performance had to be canceled. It was replaced by a concert of the Magnificat by English composer John Rutter,” Trenchard-Smith said. “We wrote to the Ford Family Foundation to ask whether the grant monies should be returned and were told that we could keep them if we were to send our four young singers to Carnegie Hall to perform under Maestro John Rutter’s baton. Eight adult singers elected to join the youth.” The four young singers who will be taking the stage are Kayla Bissell, Jaedyn Schumacher, Beth Hanson, and Aidan Pulito. In preparation for the group’s big night in New York, Columbia Chorale of Oregon Artistic Director Alice Rice Boyer decided that the entire choir would perform Magnificat locally as the group’s “spring masterwork.” Trenchard-Smith said the decision was made because it is “beautiful” and that it will “thoroughly prepare our singers who will perform in New York.” “It’s a complex, dynamic, and challenging work, and we’ve come See CHORALE, Page A8
IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Obituaries ...................... A5 Market ............................ A6 Public Notices .............. A7 Games & Puzzles .......... A8 Memorial Day ................ A9 Crossword .................... A9
COURTESY PHOTO FROM MARGARET TRENCHARD-SMITH
Carnegie singers pictured from left to right: Mary Hoover, Monica Ahlers, Jaedyn Schumacher, Cassie Bissell, Margaret Trenchard-Smith, Barbara Byker, Nancy Hart, Aidan Pulito, Becky Jesse. (Not pictured: Kayla Bissell, Elizabeth Hanson, Wes Hanson).
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