History by Hitchman

As mentioned previously here, Mr. Jim Hitchman of Waldport has been hard at work on a book project about the Port of Toledo's first 100 years, a historical account of the trials and tribulations of a small port district. Here he is, buried in his research.Last July, Mr. Hitchman donated his Teak Lady Sloop, the Ma Zu, to the Port of Toledo. She is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide, and was built in 1958 in Hong Kong.The sloop has some pretty significant damage caused by a crash with a 36-foot fishing vessel in Yaquina Bay last summer. Once it is restored to its previous condition, the Ma Zu will be used in the Toledo Youth Boating Club Program, and will be on display at our 2010 Wooden Boat Festival as well. Here she is last year with Port Secretary Debbie Scacco. Here is a shot of Mr. Hitchman working on his beautiful boat in South Beach before it was damaged.Rick Johnson, left, and Michael Bogoger are hard at work restoring the vessel to her original beauty. She is pictured behind them here.The Port is very grateful to Mr. Hitchman for his generous donation of this beautiful sailboat, and for all his hard work and diligence in his historical book project. Salud!! We are very much looking forward to seeing the book.

Ground Breaking

Last Tuesday marked the groundbreaking of the pocket park adjacent to the former Fire Hall. The weather was cooperative, and several local dignitaries were on hand to commemorate the occasion. Here, Toledo Mayor Rod Cross addresses the group and Port Commission President Chuck Gerttula.
Next up was Instructor and Crew Leader Peter Lohonyay. At left is School Board Member Brenda Brown.
Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall thanked everyone involved in the project. Port Manager Bud Shoemake is pictured here in the center.
Bud Shoemake, Janet Hessell, Jon Holbrook and Whitney Clerf listen to the speakers. Holbrook and Clerf have been instrumental in creating the park's design.Martha Lyon, Carol Zekan, Evelyn Roth, Dee Teem and John Asher enjoyed the ceremonies.

Students from left: Frank Aguilar, Ashley DeVries, Remington Iverson and John Weaver smile for a photo op.

Left, Dee Teem, CSC Workforce and Education Program Advisor and Port Secretary Debbie Scacco give me a nice smile.

A view through the scaffolding inside the building.

Bud Shoemake chats with Martha Lyon about the project.

Toledo City Manager Michelle Amberg and County Commissioner Don Lindly share some thoughts.

And then it's time for the whole crew to turn some dirt. The official groundbreaking.

Not missing a beat, the students got straight back to work preparing the interior for painting.

This is an exciting project for everyone involved!

At the Marina

Yesterday, on a chilly, windy day at the Port of Toledo Marina, work continues on the F/V 'Relentless', based out of Newport, Oregon. She is in Toledo this month getting new cap rails custom made and installed by local boat builder Rick Johnson.


Owned by husband and wife Jan and Sue Peterson, the 47-foot aluminum vessel is used in the Oregon and California salmon, albacore and crab fisheries, as well as a live-aboard home base for the couple and their dog.
After the cap-rails are complete, more work is in store for the interior. Here Mr. Peterson takes a moment from his lunch break for a photo op before he goes back to work.

Working Together

The rehabilitation and remodel of Toledo's former Public Safety Building has truly been a team effort. Port employees have been working alongside students who are gaining invaluable experience and on-the-job training in construction trades. The Community Services Consortium is working with crew leader Peter Lohonyay to complete the rehab, turning the building into usable space and making the exterior look fresh and new.

According to an article in the March 3rd News-Times, the CSC program is open to youth ages 14 to 24, and once accepted, students learn a trade while earning minimum wage. "They receive job training, they learn professionalism, all of the work readiness skills that are transferrable to just about any job," said Diana "Dee" Teem, CSC workforce and education program advisor.

The program is supported through federal, state and local government funding and private foundations. Grant and stimulus dollars through the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps help fund Lohonyay's crew, as well as $15,000 from the Lincoln County Economic Development Grant.

Youth Construction team members have sheetrocked, plastered and textured the interior in preparation for painting, which they will be completing soon. Next on the agenda is the ground-work for the pocket park which will be adjacent to the building. It will occupy the space where the administrative wing of the structure used to exist.