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OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 GUEST COLUMN Where’s The Way to Wellville? Founded in 1873 By SUE CODY For The Daily Astorian STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager Humpbacks to the rescue I Whales become part of our economy and biological diversity n one of the more implausible movies of the late-1980s, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Capt. Kirk and crew travel back in time to rescue a pair of humpbacks that are about to harpooned by venal whalers. Transported by spaceship to the year 2286 when humpbacks are extinct, the whales save hu- manity by using their ethereal song to ask others Àying in a vast “spacewatertank” to spare us. Conceived and directed by Spock actor Leonard Nimoy, the popular film undoubted- ly played a part in convinc- ing nations to more strongly enforce a ban on whale hunt- ing. Compared to a prewhal- ing population estimated at 120,000, there are now thought to be a still-healthy number of 80,000 humpbacks worldwide, with perhaps 20,000 of these in the North Pacific. Because of their myste- rious songs and a practice of throwing their massive 80,000-pound bodies out of the water in displays of awe- some exuberance, humpbacks are among the rock stars of the whale world. When it became apparent during Buoy 10 salmon season this August that they were en- tering the Columbia estuary in pursuit of schools of bait fish, it was both newsworthy and somewhat worrisome. There is ongoing concern they might have been forced into the riv- er by this year’s warmwater “Blob” and El Niño, or by a vast bloom of algae that some- times produces a potent toxin. One researcher offers a much more positive view — that they have ventured into river waters simply because there now is a robust humpback population that is exploring new habitats. Because they remember good feeding grounds and pass this information on to their young, it’s possible humpbacks might visit the waters around the Astoria Bridge year after year. ward bump in tourist traf¿c in what should now be a dis- tinctly slowing season. Even before print publication of Josh Bessex’s outstanding whale photos, online humpback cov- erage in The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer attracted more than 270,000 viewers. Exciting as it is to have dra- matically huge new wildlife in the neighborhood — biolog- ical diversity is a key benefit of living here — it would be hard to overstate how much this could mean for the Lower Columbia’s economy. Efforts at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in the 1990s to nurse Keiko the killer whale back to health poured mil- lions into Newport’s economy. Well-wishers and school chil- dren came to see Keiko, who had starred in Free Willy, a movie partly based in Astoria. I t’s important that we act responsibly with respect to the humpbacks. This means boaters should give whales the right of way and main- tain a significant distance to avoid disturbing them. NOAA publishes a complete set of guidelines and rules at www. nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/ viewing.htm. Whale watchers should park in turnouts along U.S. Highway 101 and motorists must keep an eye out for distracted drivers and pedestrians — the miles between the McGowan Church and Dismal Nitch reportedly have been something of a cir- cus at times in recent days. How amazing it is to have humpbacks in our neighbor- hood, easily observable from shore. This is a rare privilege and there is no certainty it will be repeated. Let’s appreci- heir presence has already ate these enormous and enor- brought a noticeable up- mously appealing guests. T The editorials on this page are written by Steve Forrester, editor of The Daily Astorian (sforrester@dailyastorian.com) and Matt Winters, editor of The Chi- nook (Wash.) Observer (mwinters@chinookobserver.com). FYI Clippings from the press of the Paci¿c Northwest and the nation 0RUHPRQH\IRUZLOG¿UHV W ild¿res that have burned more than 8million acres and are still raging in the West are draining the budgets of federal agencies and forcing them to divert money from es- sential environmental and land conservation programs to ¿ght the ¿res. That is why Congress needs to start budgeting for forest ¿res in a different way, treating them more like natural disasters rather than a continu- ing expense. The Agriculture and Interior Departments have been making this case for some time, and it’s a good one. Those members of Congress who reject or belittle the sci- ence of climate change should pause for a moment and try to imagine a future with even more devastating ¿res than the ones they see now on the eve- ning news. — The New York Times T he Way to Wellville started as a nationwide competition to choose ¿ve communities to spend ¿ve years improving the health of their populations. Clatsop County was one of the chosen ¿ve. ,n its ¿rst year, the Health Initiative Coor- dinating Council (HICCup) is fo- cusing on form- ing a strategic council, creating community part- nerships, iden- tifying Clatsop Sue Cody County’s health and wellness needs, then building a business plan to support those needs. The other Wellville Five commu- nities are Lake County, Calif., Niaga- ra Falls, N.Y., Spartanburg, S.C. and Greater Muskegon, Mich. Representa- tives from each area attended a meeting in Florida, where it was decided that it would no longer be a competition, but a cooperative enterprise where the com- munities could share ideas and strate- gies. “The whole point of The Way to Wellville is to help communities apply well-known techniques in sustained initiatives that are accountable, measur- able and ultimately fundable,” initiator and investor Esther Dyson said. Columbia Paci¿c Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) and CareOregon sponsor The Way to Wellville Clatsop County. They offer resources, such as training, communications and staf¿ng. “Clatsop County had built-in infra- structure through the CCO, so we could implement changes and hire Sydney Van Dusen as coordinator,” said Deb- bie Morrow, a member of the strategic council. Among the 14 council members are educators, business people, health care professionals, and others. “We have a solid cross-section of leaders at the table who are working on identifying goals for our focus areas. The end goal is to connect the people who are doing similar work and pro- mote collaboration to create a healthier society,” Morrow said. Strategic Council Chairman Jeff Ha- zen said the council is meeting monthly and creating a business plan from the ground up. The council re¿ned four focus areas • Emotional Health, • Community Wellness, • Health Care Access, • Economic Opportunity. Within each category, there are nu- Sue Cody/The Way to Wellville From left, Way to Wellville Coordinator Sydney Van Dusen, Gail Galen and Tessa Scheller pose at The Way to Wellville booth at the Sunday Market Aug. 16. The booth was shared with the Northwest Coast Trails Coalition, where all three serve on the board. The coalition has ex- panded from what was formerly the Warrenton Trails Association. merous sectors to be addressed. community’s health. The Way to Well- For example, Seaside Heights’ re- ville sponsors are working with local tired Principal Dan Gaffney is leading clinics to improve health delivery and the Economic Opportunity team. He offering “pay for performance opportu- presented studies to the strategic coun- nities. They reward providers who meet cil about the direct correlation between the state and federal metrics for ensur- reading pro¿ciency in the third grade ing their patients receive needed care. and high school graduation rates. Clat- In 2015, Columbia Paci¿c CCO sop County’s high school graduation allocated $1 million to improve access rate in 2014 was 70 percent and the per- and clinical quality in their service ar- centage of children who were Àuent in eas, Tillamook, Columbia and Clatsop reading by third grade was 69 percent. counties. Those Àuent in reading by third grade Currently, 88 percent of health care have more economic opportunities in spending goes to medical services. the future. With the pay for per- In light of that in- formance model of formation, the council Supporters funding, government opted to focus on early resources are direct- help find childhood education. ed toward social pro- Five years won’t be grams that provide ways of long enough to mea- positive results. The sure change in gradua- model taps private investing tion rates, but it will get funders to cover up- us started, said Gaff- in upstream front costs of social ney, who is leading the programs. supports Clatsop Kinder Ready The Way to Well- program. Clatsop ville provides an op- Kinder Ready is a partnership focused portunity to develop investment pro- on preparing children for kindergarten cesses with the support of HICCup and being Àuent readers by third grade. and other interested entities. Supporters Sample goals to reach by 2020 help ¿nd ways of investing in upstream • Reduce substance abuse by 50 per- supports and services that prevent poor cent in Clatsop County children (from health outcomes in the future without 33.9 percent in 2014 to 17 percent in taking away from existing resources. 2020. “We need to make a paradigm shift • Improve mental health of children away from archaic social programs that by reducing childhood trauma. do not address the current issues of this • Increase the number of quality generation and instead make strate- preschools using the quality rating and gic investments into programs that we improvement system. know work,” Morrow said. • Improve the high school gradua- See more reports on local projects, tion rate of children in Clatsop County such as Northwest Parenting, Clatsop (from 70.5 to 90 percent). Community Action Regional Food • Improve the third-grade reading Bank, early childhood education pro- pro¿ciency (from 68 to 90 percent). grams, exercise, events and more on • Increase the community mentoring Facebook, http//bit.ly/W2Wfacebook programs (from 42 participants to 200 and our website www.waytowellville. participants). net Sue Cody is communications lead Pay for Prevention for The Way to Wellville Clatsop Coun- Ensuring patients get the best pos- ty. She is the former deputy managing sible care is a key part of improving a editor of The Daily Astorian. So long, House Speaker John Boehner worse things in the world. We should spend more Then there’s the major- time quoting Nancy Pelo- ity whip, Steve Scalise of si. Also noting that in re- Louisiana. He’s a red state arewell, John Boehner, fare- cent years, the nation has avoided a raft of political guy, which seems appropri- well. cataclysms because Pelosi ate. And he has no memory These departures are a little wea- has delivered crucial votes of giving a speech at that rying. whenever Boehner could white power convention. Or what about Paul It was not long ago that we said not get his own majority to Ryan? No, wait — take adieu to Rick Perry. And then Scott behave in a minimally re- Paul Ryan back. The for- Walker. And of course we are gearing sponsible manner. Gail Anyway, under normal mer vice presidential nom- up for the moment when the political Collins Boehner inee declared he was inel- world says goodbye forever to Donald circumstances, would have used the Democratic votes igible since he is the father of young Trump. to keep the government funded. Then children. Good times, all. “This is a job for an empty nester,” Boehner’s leave-taking is a bit more the right wing would have descended of a mixed bag. The surprise announce- on him like a band of vicious wombats. he told reporters. No more. The speaker may still It was a grand moment of gender ment came the day after he sat proudly in the background while Pope Francis need the Democrats, but once it’s all progress. Someday, perhaps, ambi- gave his address to Congress. You will over, it’ll be ... all over. Boehner is tious women will be allowed to say not be stunned to hear that crying oc- retiring and everybody loves him. stuff like that. Maybe even under cir- There’s nothing like an imminent de- cumstances that do not involve trying curred, none of it involving Francis. And there was a private meeting, parture to make a politician popular. to dodge a politically disastrous as- (“A patriot,” President Barack signment. in which reliable sources said the pope admired Boehner’s tie. But there is Obama said. “To say that I will miss Boehner claimed he had always no indication he grabbed the speaker John Boehner is a tremendous under- been planning to retire at the end of the by the shoulders and cried “You’re statement,” the Senate minority leader, year. He was going to announce it on surrounded by crazy people! Get out Harry Reid, said.) his birthday, Nov. 17. But then he sud- OK, not popular with totally ev- denly decided it might be better to do it while you can, my son!” erybody. The right-wing ... Friday. To end “leadership turmoil.” Not that it couldn’t have Value Voters Summit burst happened. The pope is in- The bottom line is that the next We into applause when Sen. time the Freedom Caucus decides it fallible. Rubio announced cannot support any legislation that Maybe Boehner fell on should Marco the resignation news. his sword to keep the gov- fails to defund Planned Parenthood, “I’m not here today to ernment from being shut repeal Obamacare and eliminate the spend bash anyone,” Rubio said, Department of Homeland Security, it down. We’ll probably nev- slightly inaccurately. “But will be somebody else’s problem. er ¿gure that one out, since more the time has come to turn it’s impossible to discuss John Boehner won’t be around to time the page ... and allow a worry about continuing resolutions. the question without using generation of leader- Or the coming crisis over how to keep the term “continuing reso- quoting new ship in this country.” Ru- highway construction going. Or fund- lution.” is always promising ing the national debt. And after that The Republicans want Nancy bio to usher in an era of fresh it’ll be Thanksgiving and time for the to defund Planned Par- enthood. There are many, Pelosi. new ideas, which appear to next government shutdown. involve lowering taxes on many reasons that idea is Boehner won’t care. No sirree, the wealthy. not going anywhere. We he’ll be back in Reading, Ohio, peace- So who would you like to see as fully carving the turkey. Or maybe will not enumerate them, since it would require the mention of the term “budget the next speaker of the House? (Re- in his Florida condo. Soon, he won’t reconciliation process.” However, the ally, you don’t need a reason. People even have to set foot in Reading, Ohio, minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, had ex- will just be impressed you have an again unless he feels like it. pressed con¿dence that Planned Parent- opinion.) Majority Leader Kevin Mc- He hung out with the pope and hood would be safe even if the Republi- Carthy of California is the favorite. now he’s hanging up his hat. Canny Some say he’s a little dim, but there are fellow. cans “vote their alleged hearts out.” By GAIL COLLINS New York Times News Service F