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Headlight Herald
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 | Vol. 137, Issue 23
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Dedication Ceremony
Henson Plaza commemorates former councilor’s ‘persistence’ WILL CHAPPELL
A
Summer reading gets under way
Headlight Editor
group of Tillamook residents gathered on June 7, to officially dedicate the pedestrian plaza in downtown Tillamook the Doug Henson Plaza, in honor of the longtime community fixture who passed in 2024. “We’re here today to honor Doug Henson,” said Nick Torres who is Tillamook County’s Veterans Service Officer and a Tillamook City Councilor. “Doug did so much for the community and individuals of this community, this plaza is just one of many projects Doug brought to the city.” The pedestrian plaza between Pacific and Main Avenues on Second Street in Tillamook was initially converted from a functional street into its current form in 2017, as part of a larger, $28-million rethinking of downtown Tillamook’s traffic flow with the installation of a new bridge over the Hoquarton Slough. Headlight photos by Joe Warren Previously unnamed, Tillamook’s (Top) A crowd gathered to dedicate the Doug Henson city council voted in May of last year to Plaza in a special ceremony in the Plaza the former counname the plaza the Doug Henson Plaza cilor worked to bring to Tillamook. in honor of their former colleague who (Bottom) Doug’s wife Katherine Meurer, unveils the placque the city installed naming the Plaza, Doug Henson had passed the previous month. Plaza after her late husband. Henson was born on May 18, 1948, in Salem, before moving as a young helping to start the annual Christmas Tree child to Tillamook County and attending Lighting Ceremony and Farmer’s Market in the Neah-Kah-Nie School District. After downtown Tillamook, pushing to get playserving in the Army from 1967 to 1969, ground equipment installed at Goodspeed including combat duty in Vietnam where he Park and, fittingly, creating the Second received multiple medals. Henson returned Street pedestrian plaza. to Tillamook determined to make a positive In one of the final acts of his public life, impact in his community. Henson led the effort to bring a veterans’ Following a stint at the Tillamook Counmemorial to downtown Tillamook, successty YMCA, Henson opened a sporting goods fully raising more than $200,000 in supstore in Tillamook and took up coaching and port of the project in 2023. Henson passed refereeing for youth sports in his free time. before he could see his vision brought to In 2003, Henson was elected to the city life, but Tillamook City Councilor Nick Torcouncil, serving until 2006 when he reres assumed leadership following Henson’s signed to run for mayor and campaign in passing and the memorial was installed on support of a veteran’s services levy, before the triangular property between First Street returning for a second term beginning in and Pacific and Main Avenues. 2011. During his time on the council, HenAt the dedication ceremony, Torres, son spearheaded a wide range of initiatives, including serving as a founding member of See HENSON, Page A3 the Tillamook Revitalization Association,
WILL CHAPPELL
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Farmers’ markets return to area A
Staff report
cross Tillamook County farmers market season is in full swing, with markets in Neskowin, Pacific City, Rockaway Beach and Manzanita underway, and Tillamook’s returning this week. Rockaway Beach’s Thursday markets returned on June 5 and will run through September 25 at the Ocean’s Edge Wayside in down-
town. The market is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. each week and features live music in addition to fresh produce, baked goods and handmade gifts. Manzanita’s market has been up and running since May 16, taking place Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Taking place at Underhill Plaza at 635 Manzanita Avenue, the market accepts SNAP benefits and even offers matching funds to card users, with a limited time offer of $40 extra to spend when a SNAP user spends $20. The Tillamook Farmers’ Market is set for its inaugural edition of the 2025 season on Saturday, June Area Framers’ markets return for the Summer. 14. The market takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 The Pacific City Famers’ Market p.m. weekly in front of the county kicked off June 7 and will run courthouse on Laurel Avenue. It weekly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at also offers a SNAP match program the Pacific City Library, located at and features live music, kids’ activi6200 Camp Street. ties and a kids’ bucks program that Neskowin’s market launched gives youngsters $2 to spend at the on May 17 and takes place on market.
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Proposals for All Meadow at 48875 Highway 101 South. The market participates in SNAP’s double up food bucks programs and offers a matching program of its own for SNAP recipients.
Headlight Editor
illamook County Library Director Don Allgeier appeared before the board of county commissioners on June 4, to detail the library’s summer reading program for summer 2025, which began on June 9. At the meeting, commissioners also accepted a $100,000 grant to help with infrastructure improvements necessary to enable the Tillamook Bay Commons development and awarded a contract for $45,900 to upgrade lights at the fairground’s tennis courts. Tillamook County Library kicked off its summer reading program Monday with a theme of “Level Up,” and a focus on expanding residents’ awareness of the library’s offerings. Allgeier said that the program made a point of incorporating puzzles, games and prizes, as well as two craft activities, to keep kids and families engaged throughout the summer to help prevent learning loss between school years. Allgeier said that the library was also aiming to ease access to the program by streamlining the sign-up process and including both English- and Spanish-language materials. Residents wishing to participate can still visit any Tillamook County Library location to pick up a game board, which includes a variety of different activities designed to highlight the library’s diverse offerings. Prizes will be awarded for completing individual tasks on the gameboard and those who complete all activities will be entered in a drawing for grand prizes. There are three gameboards available this year, with versions of the program for younger and older children using the same game board, and teenagers and adults each with their own board. Residents who wish to participate can stop by any library branch this week to sign up and collect a board. Unlike in past years, the end of summer reading will not be accompanied by a two day “prize-apalooza,” with prizes instead being handed out throughout the month of August, after the competition ends on August 2. There will also be an event hosted at the Tillamook Coliseum Theater on a to-be-determined date in August to celebrate the program, with all participants invited. Additionally, the library is partnering with Meals for Seniors and Grub Club to offer free lunches for kids, available at the Tillamook Main Branch Library from Monday See SUMMER, Page A2
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