Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2021)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday, October 27, 2021 B5 SENIOR LIVING Internet offers plenty of learning opportunities Senior Living Scott McKay F ROM THE FIRST PUB- lic demonstration of network technology and the development of electronic mail in 1972, the Internet has revolutionized the computer and com- munications world. Today we can shop online at Fred Meyer and pick up our groceries and then go home and stream our favorite TV shows or log on to one of the many websites that offer more online classes in response to the pandemic. During the pandemic, I’ve had time to discover several websites offering a variety of classes. Two of my favorites are Oasis and Senior Planet. Both encourage lifelong learning by offering classes to learn and explore in this digital age. At Oasis Lifelong Adventure (www.oasisnet. org) you can find virtual classes from “Cybersecurity Scavenger Hunt” to the “History of Halloween,” and at Senior Planet (senior- planet.org) classes from “Easy-to-Follow Tai Chi” to “Streaming and Smart TVs”. Locally, Kerry Cobb will teach a virtual class on Modern Art. She will be using the book What Are You Looking At to tell “the surprising, shocking and sometimes strange story of 150 years of modern art — without all the jargon and pretentiousness.” The class will be online, but you can also watch her presentation at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center on the big-screen TV. Copies of the book are available to borrow or purchase at the Mid- Columbia Senior Center thanks to a grant from the Wasco County Cultural Trust. The 10-session class will be every third Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon beginning with the Impressionists on Nov. 16. The book isn’t required but you do need to register for the class by calling 541-296- 4788 or emailing mcse- niorcenter@gmail.com. Most of us are fortunate. We still drive, have adequate retirement income, a house that is paid for, and now our children are buying us gifts — which we don’t have any room for! Life is good. But many older adults face vari- ous challenges: Inadequate housing, inability to prepare healthy meals, poverty, iso- lation and loneliness. For those of you who live in The Dalles, you are invited to attend a virtual Community Conversation on Aging. Your voice will help identify our community strengths and the challenges older adults face in order to influence state and local policies. It is hosted by Age+ and will be held on Nov. 4 from 6-8 p.m. Since it is vir- tual, you will need to register at www.ageplus.org/register to receive the link for the conversation. If you are concerned about the environment, you should read next week’s “Through the Eyes of an Elder.” Susan Hess writes about her passion to protect the environment and how in her 70s, when most people are considered over the hill and tumbling down the back side, she started an online environmental magazine. Not all of us have Susan’s skills, but is there a passion of yours you want to revive? ••• The name of Hanna- Barbera’s space-age animated series portraying life one hundred years in the future was the Jetsons. I received correct answers from Emmett Sampson, Steven Woolpert, Jeannie Pesicka, Doug Nelson, Gene Uczen, Lana Tepfer, Rose Schulz, Dave Lutgens, Patty Burnet, Margo Dameier, Mike Yarnell, and Rhonda Spies, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Mike Nagle. I can’t remember where I placed whatever was in my hand two minutes ago, but I do remember this televi- sion series from 1952-1956 when I was just a wee boy. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the popular comedy series starring Eve Arden as the sardonic high school teacher and Gale Gordon as the blustery high school principal? Email your answer to the mcse- niorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or mail it with a picture of Walter Denton from the 1956 Madison High School yearbook ••• Well, it has been another week zigzagging from one distraction to another. Until we meet again, don’t forget to take time to take care of yourself. ••• “Nobody ever said that growing old would be easy. Just having to hold the newspaper out in your 40s and then hair growing out of unusual parts of your body in your 50s. It’s tough on the ego.” — Geoffrey Rush ••• Nutritious home-deliv- ered meals and pick-ups are available for anyone over sixty. For more information, you can call the meal site in your area. Hood River Valley Adult Center at 541-386-2060 — open for in-person dining; Sherman County Senior and Community Center at 541-565-3191 — open for in-person dining; The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels at 541-298-8333 — now open for in-person dining Tuesday through Thursday; Klickitat County Senior Services — Goldendale office at 509-773-3757 or the White Salmon office at 509-493- 3068; Skamania County Senior Services at 509-427- 3990. Seniors of Mosier Valley — call 541-980-1157 at least one day in advance to order a Grab-N-Go meal. Monday and Wednesdays from 11-11:30 a.m. The City Council: A fictional narrative of rural life in the American West Episode 173: River Current Power Delivers ■ By Jim Tindall River Currents Power has been true to its word, to its potential, to the prom- ise of free power to all in Warhaven. The company’s founders have very success- fully built the technology to draw power from rivers using portable equipment with only a six foot by six foot footprint on one bank and a four inch steel post on the other. Their inflated tubes of low density polyethylene and magnesium alloy Pelton wheels were working so well these RCP systems were selling well on six continents. The first broad stroke of the company’s generosity was the funding for and laying of underground lines throughout city limits. This took two years of New Hope County Public Utilities District, City of Warhaven, and private contractor partnerships. Now the next step would be taken. RCP principals Wilbur Weston, Bill Singleton, and Perry Cloverdale remained committed to Warhaven’s prosperity and their initial contract with the city. Each now owned homes in town and all three were raising families. Their success in en- gineering and in finance had not gone to their heads. While RCP’s business park footprint did not expand much up at the airport, their floor-space did. Curious citizens birthed rumors the facility was excavated down 10 stories — and that they spread out in all directions like a coal mine! In fact, the building had five basement levels, in addition to the three stories above ground. Research and develop- ment occupied the lowest, most secure basement. They continued to refine the technology and the materials to stave off the competition that was indeed thrashing about everywhere. Commitment to quality paid off every step of the way. In the beginning the principals had hit the ground running and had caught any existing potential competition com- pletely flat-footed. Tonight’s meeting of the Warhaven City Council finds the council chamber packed. The agenda is a public matter, of course, so hopeful constituents are giddy, chatting away as councilors stroll in, taking their seats up front. Mayor Orin Holman lays wide his three-ring notebook and sets down his open pocket watch. He reads, reviewing the agenda, then scans his colleagues for their focus. The gavel falls once. “It is 7. I call this meeting of the Warhaven City Council to order.” Following the routine business and department reports, Orin brings up the RCP contract. “Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a long time coming, but we are finally here and River Currents Power will begin to pay your electrical energy kilowatt us- age fees beginning the first of next month.” Applause is enthusiastic and shouts of good cheer fill the council chamber until the mayor strikes his gavel three times. “Now, as I was say- ing, Misters Cloverdale, Singleton, and Weston have been true to their word. With robust sales in all corners of the planet, these men are now the town’s greatest benefactors, and we applaud you.” More noises of gratitude rise amid the sea of smiling faces. SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition. Need exposure? Reserve this ad space one week in advance, and support this popular feature. Sales@GorgeNews.com The gavel strikes again. “What started as tests on the Big and Rushing Rivers and Caldwell Branch are now fully functional along with systems on Smith, Panther, and Japer Creeks, on Red Fox Run and Cinnamon Bear Brook. “As agreed upon among the New Hope County Public Utility District, the City of Warhaven, and RCP, residen- tial and business users will no longer pay for kilowatt hours, yet the meters will continue to be monitored to assess value to the charitable giving made by the compa- ny, which they will leverage for taxation and granting purposes. Users will contin- ue to pay their monthly hook up fees.” For the record, Orin Holman of the West Hills, Debbie Dacnic of Downtown, Tootie McDaniels of Uptown, George Ansbach of the Plateau, and Ike Moseseek of the Craggies all vote in favor of proceeding. The meeting ends with many congratu- latory slaps on the back and exaggerated handshakes. Illustration by Peggy Ohlson Two months later, all the cogs and wheels of this power bounty are working well bureaucratically and electrically. Local businesses reported a distinct uptick in sales, and curiously, Warhaven Building Supply noted a big increase in consumer interest in energy saving ap- pliances. Prior to the council meeting, Debbie nudged her peer to her left. “It’s Curious, George!” exclaimed Warhaven’s newest city councilor, Debbie Dacnic. “How odd that this gift from business is a boon for conservation. Now that’s a paradox.” George Ansbach smiles at this surprising truth. 401-K Plans Start Ups Rollovers Consulting Education Gary Akiyama, CPIA AKIYAMA FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC AKIYAMA FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Call 800-620-0950 or email gary@akiyamafinancial.net. Call 800-620-0950 or email gary@akiyamafinancial.net.
