On the north side of Commercial Street in Astoria – between 10th and 11th streets – is a building housing the Beacon Clubhouse and Filling Empty Bellies. The two organizations are filling gaps in the community – meeting vital needs – but they serve and attract homeless people and that has caused concern from some neighbors. To learn more about Beacon Clubhouse and Filling Empty Bellies I talked with the couple that runs them, Erin Carlsen and Osarch (pronounced Ozark) Orak. We also heard occasional comments from their 10 month old son….
Michael McCusker shares a piece of writing originally in KMUN's The Current, by microphone immortal Joanne Rideout. The title is: "Turning Toward the Light." ...
Roger Rocka attends a public meeting for public comment on the issue of Astoria's Heritage Square. Ed Overbay leads the conversation.