OCV is involved with the Yachats community. Civic engagement begins with our board. Three directors of the five-member board are nominated from the community and act as independent directors. This helps us be sensitive to and responsive to the needs of the community.
OCV placed an entry in the La De Da Parade on July 4, 2010. It offered a 3-D glimpse of the Aqua Vista Square project then being planned. Mr. Morrill is the man under the box.
City Councilors Sandy Dunn and Max Glenn were invited to participate in the Aqua Vista Square groundbreaking ceremony which was in-doors due to rain. Mr. Morrill explained the project to those in attendance. When the project was completed a day-long open house was held, during which our board members gave tours of units. Members of the local garden club, Joan Johnson and Peg Gray, made recommendations for the landscape plantings at Aqua Vista Square.
While Fisterra Gardens Townhomes was under construction, OCV solicited local artists to enter a competition for art pieces for the project. OCV commissioned the winners to deliver their proposed pieces. Maeona Urban painted a rendering of Fisterra Gardens Townhomes in her magnificent colors. Michael Guerriero created “Finding Balance” a sculpture in stainless steel rods. OCV also solicited local master gardeners to develop and administer a program for tenants to grow produce in the six outdoor raised beds. Rose Valentine was selected and the participating tenants love her program and the gardening facilities provided at Fisterra Gardens Townhomes. A local woodworker outfitted the greenhouse with four raised grow boxes, storage shelves, and a wall hanger for garden tools.
OCV held a grand opening for Fisterra Gardens Townhomes attended by many from the community, plus Margaret Salazar, Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services; County Board of Commissioners members Clare Hall, Doug Hunt, and Kaety Jacobson; and Mayor John Moore, Councilor Max Glenn, and City Manager Shannon Beaucaire. In his remarks, Mr. Morrill noted that at least 96 business, professional, and/or philanthropic organizations had played a part in the creation of Fisterra Gardens Townhomes. He expressed special appreciation to those who had played the major roles. Tours of several townhomes followed the program.
In addition to our primary mission of affordable housing, OCV also contributes to other charitable efforts in the community. Our directors affirmatively seek our areas where we can help. We have made grants to the Yachats Food Pantry, the YYFAP Preschool, the Community Garden, Seashore Family Literacy, and to a program that placed a homeless high school student with a local family for his or her senior year.