Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), designed to encourage individuals and businesses to learn about their consumer rights and how to keep themselves secure, is set March 3–9.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its NCPW partners provide free resources to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and identity theft.
After paying his debt to society, former Lincoln County Jail inmate Pedro Romero-Galicia has mended his life and been rewarded for his domestic skills with a certificate of appreciation from Sheriff Curtis Landers.
Landers honored Romero-Galicia on Feb. 4 after the ex-inmate finished serving a jail sentence and was assigned to various worker positions.
During the day, Romero-Galicia worked in the kitchen with other inmates preparing meals. In the evenings and late into the night, he sewed and mended inmate uniforms and other items.
Romero-Galicia’s work kept the jail supplied with serviceable uniforms and minimized the number of new uniforms necessary.
“We are thankful for Mr. Romero-Galicia’s efforts and willingness to assist us with this program” Landers said.
The Jail’s mending program started in 2017. Inmates selected to sew have various levels of skill, but prior sewing experience is not required.
Those who have no experience but a willingness to work are given basic training on the sewing machine, something they can take with them into their communities.
The problem of distracted walking is a relatively new one. Each year, more and more people are injured as a result of texting, talking or listening to music while on their cell phones.
Distracted driving is a well-established problem; so much so, that many states including Oregon, currently have bans in place when it comes to using technology while driving.
While some might laugh at the person who falls into the fountain while texting or the one who walks into a wall while texting, the problem of distracted walking is a very real and serious one.
The city of Honolulu, Hawaii is the first major U.S. city to ban “distracted walking.” It recently passed a law carrying a fine for a pedestrian crossing a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device. A few other cities are watching and taking inspiration from this.
According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,977 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 85,000 injured in traffic collisions in the United States in 2017. That’s one death every 1.6 hours and an injury every 6 minutes. While it’s not clear how many of these are a direct result of distracted walking, the total rate of pedestrian fatalities compared to overall road deaths is increasing each year.
Hospitals are seeing people who were injured seriously enough to seek medical attention at the emergency room as a result of texting and walking, and at increasing numbers each year. It’s not just texting while walking that’s a problem. Talking, checking email, using social networking apps and even playing games all contribute to the problem of distracted pedestrians.
The solution to distracted walking is a fairly simple one: do not use your cell phone or engage in other distracting activities while walking. Focus solely on the task at hand – getting from point A to point B in one piece and worry about checking in once you’ve safely arrived.
That text or email can wait.
Ensure you cross the road at crosswalks or signalized intersections and obey your traffic signals as well.
Take the lead in your own safety, and remember: “Heads Up, Phones Down.”
The Lincoln City Emergency Warming Shelter is open tonight through Monday and possibly beyond due to a cold snap that has hit the Central Oregon Coast.
According to the National Weather Service, Lincoln City is expected to experience a low of 36 degrees Wednesday, followed by lows of 38 Thursday, 36 Friday, 32 Saturday, 31 Sunday and 33 Monday.
The Warming Shelter opens when temperatures dip below 40 degrees.
Volunteers are needed to assist at the Shelter, which is open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., at 1206 SE 48th Place (Old Taft Fire Station). Please call Sharon Padilla at 541-992-5748 to volunteer.
The Resource Center is open year-round from 10 a.m-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Supplies Available to Shelter Guests:
1. Clothes: warm jackets, pants, shirts, socks, hats, gloves, scarfs
2. Shoes: athletic shoes, boots
3. Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body soap, razors, shaving cream, feminine products, toothbrush, toothpaste
4. Rain Ponchos
5. Emergency Mylar Blankets
6. Emergency Mylar Tents: retains 90% of body heat and given only to homeless pet owners as we cannot shelter pets.
Shelter Operations:
Morning
6 a.m. – Lights on to wake up for the day
7 a.m. – Breakfast
8 a.m. – Shelter Closes
Between 8-10 a.m. Clean-Up / Breakdown of cots by shelter guests who are previously signed up and have already been approved by shelter Manager.
Night
Between 5-6 p.m. Set up of cots by shelter guests who are previously signed up and have already been approved by Shelter Manager.
6 p.m. – Shelter Opens
6:30 p.m. – Dinner
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – (Hang out time) Watch movie, play cards, coloring, etc
10 p.m. Light’s out, everyone must be signed in by then. No one leaves the shelter after this time, and if they do, they cannot come back in unless escorted by a police officer or until lights on at 6 a.m.
Lincoln City Resource Center & Emergency Warming Shelter
The Oregon Senate has confirmed Gov. Kate Brown’s appointment of Steve Strode as Real Estate Commissioner. Strode officially started his duties Feb. 25.
Strode brings more than 18 years of real estate expertise to the position. He was first licensed in Wisconsin in 2001, then in Oregon in 2008. Prior to real estate, he worked in the banking industry for over a decade in the Midwest.
Strode’s extensive management and leadership experience includes managing a real estate brokerage and serving as 2018 President of the Oregon Association of Realtors. He is a recognized industry leader nationally, serving as chair on various committees for the National Association of Realtors.
The confirmation filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Gene Bentley on July 7, 2018.
The Real Estate Commissioner provides leadership and policy direction to the Oregon Real Estate Agency. The agency is responsible for the licensing and regulation of real estate brokers, property managers, real estate marketing organizations and escrow agents. It also registers subdivisions, condominiums, timeshares and membership campgrounds.
The Oregon Department of Revenue is providing relief for some taxpayers by waiving underpayment interest for taxpayers whose 2018 Oregon withholding and estimated tax payments were impacted by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
This waiver is available to taxpayers:
Who owe at least $1,000 in tax, and
Whose total Oregon withholding and estimated payments made on or before January 15, 2019 covered at least 85 percent of their 2018 net tax.
The usual threshold is 90 percent to avoid underpayment interest.
If a taxpayer paid less than 85 percent of their tax liability, they are not eligible for the waiver. Those taxpayers who did not pay at least 85 percent of their tax liability will be subject to the underpayment interest. Taxpayers who owe less than $1,000 are not charged underpayment interest.
Are you eligible for a waiver?
Complete Part A of Form OR-10 (www.oregon.gov/dor/forms). If the form shows that you owe overpayment interest, follow these steps:
Combine your total estimated tax payments made by January 15, 2019 with the amount of withholding entered on line 6 of the form.
Multiply the net tax amount on line 4 by 0.85.
If the amount from step 2 is less than step 1, request a waiver. If not, complete the rest of Form OR-10 to calculate the underpayment interest you owe.
Requesting a waiver (paper and electronic filers):
Enter “4” in the exception box on Form OR-10, line 1.
Also enter “4” in box 40a on your 2018 Form OR-40, which is your personal income tax return (box 65a on part-year returns or 66a on nonresident returns). If you’ve already filed your 2018 return, you can mail the Form OR-10 to DOR or submit it electronically through your Revenue Online account.
Attach a statement to your Form OR-10 with the label “Form OR-10 attachment” and the statement “85% waiver.”
File your Form OR-10 and attachment with your 2018 tax return.
DOR urges Oregonians to do a paycheck checkup to ensure they’re withholding enough from their wages for 2019. Oregon’s new Form OR-W-4 and online withholding calculator allow taxpayers to more accurately determine the appropriate amount to withhold for Oregon. Both the Form OR-W-4 and the calculator are available at the department’s website at www.oregon.gov/dor.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, call (800) 356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or (503) 378-4988 or email [email protected]. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 1 (800) 886-7204. Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.
Inspired by real-life stories of Tarahumara runners, “¡Corre! ¡Corre!” shares the story of a young girl and her coach, who sees her potential as an Olympic competitor. It’s a story told in English and Spanish, using mythical imagery, dance movement and poetic narrative to showcase a cultural perspective that inspires athleticism and perseverance – and it’s coming to Lincoln City.
The community is invited to enjoy a free performance of Teatro Milagro’s “¡Corre! ¡Corre! A Race Against Time,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Highway. 101. Seating is first- come, first-served, with the doors to open at 6 p.m. Tickets are not required.
Renowned for their incredible long distance running ability, the Tarahumara are the indigenous people who live in the northwestern region of Mexico. Inspired by the real life stories of Raramuri runners, Teatro Milagro’s newest bilingual play shares the story of Estrella, a young village girl, who becomes an Olympic competitor. Estrella, and her family, like most Raramuri, live in extreme poverty. Training for the Olympics means becoming “Chabochi” and giving in to modern ways, but not joining the team means not helping her people.
Winning a race could mean a cash prize that would be greater than a month’s wages. Already her older brother Rahui has been forced into working for the drug cartel and the villagers are contemplating inviting tourism. With the help of her trainer and strength from the wisdom of Rayenari the sun god and Metzaka the moon goddess, she will run to win and run to save her village.
“¡Corre! ¡Corre!” was written by seasoned Milagro lead teaching artist and resident playwright, Ajai Terrazas Tripathi. Teatro Milagro’s new team of touring artists includes Cindy Angel in the lead role of Estrella, Marissa Sanchez as her sister Alma and Metzaka the moon and Eduardo Vasquez as the brother Rahui and the moth. Terrazas Tripathi also performs in the roles of Carlos the trainer, Rayenari the sun and Gano the rock giant. Costumes were created by Joeanally Gonzalez, music by Lawrence Siulagi and Teatro Milagro’s signature mural by Tomas Rivero.
¡Corre! ¡Corre! opened in July, performing for summer school programs in Hillsboro Beaverton and Cornelius, and reaching 852 audience members. “I really enjoyed the incorporation of Spanish and English, the folklore, the acting, and the whole concept,” said one reviewer from Metro Arts. An audience member from Vose Elementary wrote: “I liked the message of the story, the inspiration to go out and reach for your goals. It was informative, educational, and culturally relevant.”
In addition to the free community performance on March 12, “¡Corre! ¡Corre!” will also be performed during the school day for fifth and sixth grade classes from Taft Elementary School (315 students in all). Limited tickets for those morning shows may be available, for details call Niki Price at 541-994-9994.
The Lincoln City performance of “¡Corre! ¡Corre!” is sponsored by grants from the Sponenburgh Memorial Trust and the Oneatta Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, along with a generous lodging sponsorship by Surftides Lincoln City. The project is also supported by Family Promise of Lincoln County, the Lincoln County School District and the team from new nonprofit, Music Is Instrumental.
To learn more or join the LCCC, head lincolncityculturalcenter.org or drop by the LCCC Information Center, open from 9 am to 5 pm Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). For more information, call 541-994-9994.
Spanish Translation
Inspirado por las historias de la vida real de los corredores tarahumaras, “¡Corre! ¡Corre!” Comparte la historia de una joven y su entrenador/a, que ve su potencial como competidora Olímpica. Reconocida por su increíble capacidad para correr a larga distancia, los Tarahumaras son los indígenas de la región noroeste de México. ¡Corre! ¡Corre !, de Ajai Terrasa Tripathi, utiliza imágenes míticas, movimientos de danza y narraciones poéticas para mostrar una perspectiva cultural que inspira el atletismo y la perseverancia.
El espectáculo se ofrecerá en dos presentaciones durante el día para alumnos de 5º y 6º grado de la Elemental de Taft, seguido de una presentación gratuita por la comunidad a las 6:30 pm. Las puertas se abrirán a las 6 pm.
Doug Force tells stories at a previous Story Time at the Museum session
Kids of all ages are invited to “Story Time at the Museum” with storyteller Doug Force from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum.
This month’s Story Time at the Museum’s theme will be “Water of Life.” Join Forceon a journey through “Water of Life” themed books.
Force, who has decades of teaching, educational and storytelling experience, will share his tales in the Mildred and Marie Children’s Room of the museum at 4907 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City.
The Lincoln City Parks & Recreation Department’s 11th annual Half-Marathon & 10K is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 3, at Taft High 7-12.
The out-and-back course is on scenic, two-lane rural roads, with rolling hills and a gravel portion at the second turnaround. Walkers are also invited to participate beginning at 8 a.m.
For more information, visit OregonCoast.org or call Recreation Coordinator Raleigh Bartholomew at 541-921-2768.
