THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
Thanks to police
I
t seems not a week goes
by these days without
reading a disturbing head-
line about an incident of
police violence and the re-
sulting disconnect between
police and the community
they ostensibly serve.
Against this national
scene of mistrust, it’s heart-
ening to see our very own
Astoria Police Department
open their doors and their
arms to us, the citizens in
the community they serve.
For the past several weeks,
every Wednesday night, I,
along with several other
community members, at-
tended the Citizens Police
Academy, an opportunity to
learn about life on the “thin
blue line.”
The Academy included
presentations, open forum
discussions and hands-on
training (including an eye
opening “use of force” sim-
ulation). At all times, our
questions were welcomed
and answered candidly —
a model of community in-
volvement and transparency
that other government agen-
cies can learn from.
If you have an inter-
est (or healthy skepticism)
about how police operate,
and why they do what they
do, I encourage you to par-
ticipate in the next Citizens
Police Academy. You’ll
learn a ton, have a sur-
prising amount of fun, and
leave realizing that our po-
lice officers aren’t a “blue
line” at all, rather they’re
our friends and neighbors
who share our same passion
for making our community
a better place.
I want to recognize and
thank Chief Brad Johnston
and the entire Astoria police
force — from patrol and
dispatch, to investigations
and records — for walking
the talk and practicing real
community policing right
here in Astoria.
MICHAEL ANGILETTA
Astoria
Sen. Johnson cares
O
pen letter to state Sen.
Betsy Johnson: Thank
you, Betsy Johnson, for
your responsiveness and
5A
Spirit and soul of AMF
O
n my third reading of the arti-
cle regarding the mass resigna-
tion of the Astoria Music Festival’s
board of directors, I finally realized
with relief that both Artistic Direc-
tor Keith Clark and the Astoria Mu-
sic Festival are viable; the board
of directors have abdicated over
“unresolved differences” between
them and Clark. It is sad that such
differences have led to such drastic
actions (“Music Festival directors
resign in dispute,” The Daily Asto-
rian, Ju ly 21).
There is irony in this scenario.
Linda Magee, who had been brought
aboard as a consultant, had been try-
skill in personally respond-
ing to me when I contacted
your office with a sensitive
professional question for
a client. I only expected a
response from an assistant.
Instead, you researched re-
sources and contacted me
three times with essential
information I was able to
pass on. Clearly, you care
about the people you serve.
DANA DEDOLPH
Astoria
Forgive director
K
eith Clark puts on a
great music festival.
Of course he doesn’t do it
alone, but he is the foun-
tain from which it flows.
Classical music lovers are
in heaven for the last half
of June. Creativity, excite-
ment, surprises, and truly
great performers are just a
few of the things he brings
to the event.
He has explained that
what makes this possible is
the ability to be “light on
our feet” to take advantage
of last minute opportunities,
an ability that depends on
community support and the
relatively small scale of the
festival. But in my opinion,
it also depends on his ge-
nius.
In the process of being
light on his feet, Clark is
notorious for stepping on
toes. Victims often feel it
could have been avoided.
But remember, there is no
ing to “professionalize” the festival
and to make it more like other per-
forming nonprofit organizations; to
alter the structure and leadership,
and to smooth out the differences
between our local organization and
that of others.
Excuse me, but to put out a public
press release that causes harm to the
festival, and chagrin to its Artistic
Director Keith Clark, is at the height
of unprofessional. Such tactics
smack of small mindedness, duplici-
ty, and unconscionable behavior.
Keith Clark has given 13 years
to the Astoria Music Festival, has
brought audiences and musicians and
one busier than he is. If he
delegated more, we would
not get that special brand
of excitement. Forgive,
and then go enjoy the con-
certs.
If your toe gets stepped
on, it is usually recommend-
ed that you not shoot your-
self in the foot.
STEWART BELL
Astoria
Rethink the ferry
W
ith regard to the fer-
ry “available” to
add color to Astoria’s wa-
terfront, a few thoughts: I
owned and operated six old
wooden boats for over 30
years, and from 27 to 72
feet in length, most of them
built in the 1920s (one new-
er, 1939). That being said, I
feel qualified in my follow-
ing statements.
If some citizens want to
take this on, more power to
them, and I hope they have
funding with deep pockets.
If, on the other hand, this
is noise to get all of us in-
volved (public monies),
it is a very, very bad idea.
Old wooden boats require
constant maintenance; the
larger the boat, the larger
the expense, and a ferry is a
very large wooden boat.
Then there is the pollu-
tion potential, with inad-
vertent oil/fuel spills, which
in these modern times of
regulations can be very
expensive, and a wooden
celebrities and international stars to
our town, has generated a volunteer
program that has engaged dozens
and dozens of our citizens, has been
a catalyst for our music education,
and has given us years and years of
spectacular music. We are indebted
to him and his view of the future
for the festival. May he find board
members that he can work with in
harmony.
I am counting the weeks... 43 ...
until the opening of the 14th Sea-
son of the Astoria Music Festival in
June.
CELIA TIPPIT
Astoria
boat complicates containing
those spills.
Lastly, speaking of fuel,
those interested in this
dream need to understand
how much cost per operat-
ing hour is involved, and
once again: Larger boat,
larger expense.
I saw a brand new Tesla
sports car the other day I
would love to have, but alas
... you get my point?
SAM DEVEREAUX
Astoria
River vistas
I
n regard to the Bridge
Vista Plan letter, “Silent
majority?” (The Daily As-
torian, July 3), I support
Mayor Arline LaMear, and
council members Zetty
Nemlowill and Russ Warr.
In my informal survey, I
found many people are sat-
isfied with the vote.
I do find it disturbing that
many alders and various
shrubs along the Riverwalk,
across from the Mill Pond
town homes, have been cut
on the river side to enhance
the view. Everything that’s
left over on the bank will
end up in the river. Whoever
cuts them needs to pick it up
and haul it off.
Yet I can’t enhance my
own river view. I can’t cut
the scrub trees, blackberries
and huge high laurel — that
have not been maintained
for several years now —
growing across the street
from me on a property that
is on a very long short sale.
DIANE FINUCANE
Astoria
Service dogs only
R
ecently, in Fred Meyer,
a woman with a dog in
each arm was in the produce
section grocery shopping.
Placing her hand under the
dogs’ butts to support them,
she then touched fruits and
veggies. The dogs were not
service animals.
It isn’t the first time
I’ve seen dogs in the food
section, and previous com-
plaints to management
changed nothing. I’m not
sure how many people want
to buy produce after a wom-
an has been holding her
dogs under their butts, and
then touches produce, but I
sure don’t.
A while back, while wait-
ing at a glass repair shop in
Warrenton, I went next door
to the restaurant/espresso
shop. A woman was sit-
ting up at the food counter
with her dog. After sitting a
while visiting with the em-
ployee, she told her dog,
“stay,” and left the dog un-
supervised while she went
into the restroom. A woman
came in with her 2-year-old
daughter, and as soon as the
little girl saw the dog, she
headed right over to him
and grabbed him, which
could have been disastrous.
Recently at Costco, a
woman was grocery shop-
ping, touching meats, fruits,
etc. while holding a dog that
was not a service animal.
When I complained to the
manager, he said they are
not allowed to ask if it is a
service animal or not.
I have my food handler’s
card and have for many
years, and know that having
animals in food establish-
ments is a clear health code
violation. When I called the
Health Dept. to report Cost-
co, they told me that every
business is allowed to ask,
“What service does that ani-
mal perform?”
In order to park in a
handicap parking spot, ve-
hicles must either have a
handicap sign hanging on
their mirror, or have a spe-
cial license plate. Otherwise
they are fined, and the ve-
hicle can be towed. Service
dogs (or working dogs) need
to also display a sign saying
“service dog” because that
dog must be focused solely
on the person they are look-
ing after, and cannot be dis-
tracted by people petting it,
talking to it, etc.
Not just any car can park
in a handicap spot, and not
just any dog is legally allowed
into stores that have food.
Many people are aller-
gic to dogs. Many have
been bitten by dogs and are
afraid of them. Many don’t
want to listen to them bark.
There is a time and place
for animals, and shopping is
not one of them. Dogs shed,
they have dander, and many
have fleas.
When businesses are
more willing to cater to the
one person who is pretend-
ing their dog is a service
dog, rather than following
health code regulations that
are there to protect every-
one, it doesn’t speak well
for that business.
LAURA RAY
Naselle, Wash.
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