Start On The Right Foot

Word today that the City Of Long Beach is considering building a municipal pool must have a few people thinking hard about the approach to the project. The long term costs are considerable, as we've learned in Astoria. We've also learned that once you make this commitment to the community it becomes impossible to back away.

The 3.5 million dollar bequest could lay the groundwork for an aquatic center but wouldn't last long. Establishing a tax base for a new district will be difficult in a community where so many property owners are absentee much of the year. When you own a second home as a weekend getaway you are less likely to vote to increase your expenditures for critical services much less an extra item like a pool. It's been difficult just providing adequate public safety.

Perhaps the better approach would be a smaller facility scaled to the community needs year round that could include a new community center. This might be more useful and more manageable.

Relay For Life

Saturday the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event takes place at Seaside High School. I would encourage you to take part. You don't have to have a team to take part. One way to do that is to make a donation for a luminary. These will line the track at the school Saturday night each one a lighted memorial. There will be a number of booths set up with educational displays, food will be available. Every dollar counts in this effort so consider dropping by and lending a hand in the fight against cancer.

One Busy Month

About the time I wrote my last post our station General Manager, Paul Mitchell, announced his plan to take a new job with Columbia Memorial Hospital. I wish him well. We had a good management partnership over the last six years. Paul will do well for the hospital and we continue to talk about management challenges and opportunities as I have accepted the position here as Vice President and General Manager for NNB.

I am grateful for the support I have received from my staff and from members of the community in accepting this new position. I plan to stay on the air on KAST while promoting some of our staff members up the chain to responsibilities they are more than ready to handle. Promotion from within is a standard practice at NNB and some of these people have been waiting a long time to move forward here.

Listeners have been asking questions about the future of their favorite radio stations. After working on KAST for various managers and owners over the last three decades I tend to take a longer view of these matters. I see no disruptive changes coming, just welcome opportunities for improvements to how we do business and serve our listeners.

Stay tuned.