Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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A new partnership between Friends of Haystack Rock and the National Audubon Society hopes to address the decline in tufted puffins.

At Haystack Rock this year, there were 74 puffins — the lowest count since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began tracking the population.

“It’s encouraging that we’ve gotten the attention of a lot of people,” said John Underwood, who enjoys watching the birds. “But we just hope we’re not too late.”

Read the story by Nicole Bales by clicking here.

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WCT Marine and Construction is the latest business to potentially benefit from the Clatsop Enterprise Zone, which offers tax breaks to incentivize development.

In order to receive the tax breaks, the company must get approval from the four enterprise zone sponsors. The Port of Astoria Commission and the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners have unanimously approved the application. It will go before Astoria and Warrenton in the coming weeks.

The company is part of new development at Tongue Point.

“The Port of Astoria is supposed to be all about supporting economic development, and to me, this is the easiest possible exercise for the Port to be involved with that would help support what is proven to be very successful,” Dirk Rohne, the president of the Port Commission, said. “Understanding that there is a tremendous outlay and investment, and anything that can be done to help improve the successes of everyone’s best interests, I certainly fully support it.”

Take a look at Ethan Myers’ report by clicking here.

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The site of the former Darigold Building downtown could get new life as affordable housing.

Astoria is looking to acquire the parking lot at Ninth and Duane streets from Clatsop County, which has put up surplus land for potential use as housing, child care or social services projects.

“The city does not have a specific plan for the property at the moment, but, with ownership, we would be in a very good position to respond to opportunities,” Interim City Manager Paul Benoit said in an email.

See the story by Nicole Bales by clicking here.

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