Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

Change is always present. It can come in the form of the weather changing, the political landscape changing, laws changing, moral interpretations changing, and a score of other changeable things. There is always something changing. We here on the Central Oregon coast have seen many changes and will continue to see more in the future as the population shifts, the economy vasilates, and the popularity of the coast grows. Florence, Waldport and Yachats have all witnessed changes over the last few years mainly in the construction field with new developments and new enterprises coming into being. Yachats will soon have another change with the Shamrock Lodgettes closing to make way for a new project. Of course there will be those that bemoan the fact that things change while others chalk it up to progress.
There is a point to be made in favor of progress in that with the projects that have and will occur here have been opportunities for local people to gain employment in both the building process and upon completion, employment in the operations of the new ventures. That in this day and age is worth quite a bit and maybe will dull the pain some feel as things around them change. Naturally when something new replaces something old there is a nostalgic twinge but when you think about it, what is changing probably was a change from the first project that was built. In Florence their big change was the Casino that grew from a portable building to a fine hotel and convention facility. Waldport has had its share of changes like the new golf course restaurant that replaced the older, much smaller place and the old Bayshore Resort is once again changing for the better as the new Waldport Beach Resort proudly steps up to the plate!

I spoke with a colleague today who lives in Nevada and he told me they are building a new highway bypass around downtown Carson City which will bypass the old town section, the State Capitol, and casinos and the quaint residential neighborhoods. But as he said, “it makes the trip to Reno or Lake Tahoe much easier”.

So I guess it’s a matter of personal choice. Change is either good or not good but I’m casting my vote in favor of change if it done intelligently for the right reasons and is done correctly.

To reach Rick Schultze email:yarick@pioneer.net