THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
COMMUNITY
1B
POSITIVELY PINNIPED
Y
es, sea lions can be upstanding citizens. NavyTimes.com re-
cently featured a story about how sea lions and dolphins are
helping Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams detect and re-
cover mines, and are playing a role in port security (http://tinyurl.
com/navyhelpers). One of the 50 sea lions on the team is pictured in
a photo by Kathleen Gorby/Navy.
According to Mike Rothe, the marine mammal program direc-
tor at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego,
during the Iraq invasion, dolphins and sea lions tagged mines on the
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are also used in mine-dropping training in San Diego.
“In Kings Bay, Georgia, that water’s like coffee with cream in it,”
Rothe noted. “It’s nearly impossible to see anything, yet our sea lions
are able to do a bang-up job in detecting swimmers” who are spying
or trying to sabotage a ship.
The marine program is going strong “until there’s other hardware
or technology that can do what they do,” Rothe said. But, he added,
“so far there’s nothing that can catch a rogue swimmer like a Cali-
fornia sea lion.”
MYSTERY BUOY
UP FROM THE ASHES
‘O
n April 11, our father, David ‘Big Chief’ Magnuson, lost his
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son David Magnuson wrote. “He made it out unharmed along with
his dog, Tyson.” Big Chief and Tyson are pictured in Naselle, Wash.,
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“Unfortunately he only recently received disability, and was still
in the process of applying for insurance, meaning he was completely
uncovered,” David explained. “He has lost everything including his
house, shop, two Harley-Davidsons, boat, all-terrain vehicle, Cama-
ro Z28, and riding lawn mower.”
ey Dude: Dust off your bowling shoes. Jeff Daly tells the Ear
As if that weren’t bad enough, “he was recently forced out of his
that fans of The Dude (Jeff Bridges) and the cult bowling mov- career as a truck driver when he began to suffer from glaucoma,”
LH³7KH%LJ/HERZVNL´DUHLQIRUDWUHDW²WKH¿UVWDQQXDO,W¶V/HE- David recalled. “He has been unable to work for over two years due
owski Time Festival, May 1, starting at the Astoria Event Center, to his failing eyesight, and has gone through all of his savings over
this time.”
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David has set up an account to help his father out. “We are start-
Lower Columbia Bowl will have open lane bowling (and danc-
ing) from 8 to 10 p.m., and nifty prizes (like a Cannery Pier Hotel ing this fund to try to get him started. We need to rebuild his life
VWD\DQGUHVWDXUDQWFHUWL¿FDWHVZLOOEHJLYHQDWDQGSPIRU from the ground up. This will take much more money and time than
we could ever ask for but, we are hoping that we can get him on his
best/worst Lebowski character costumes.
A ticket price of $20 gives access to all events. Buy your ticket in feet.” You can donate at www.gofundme.com/bigchief.
“Please help spread the word for our father and Tyson,” David
advance at Frite & Scoop, and receive a free ice cream. Of course,
:KLWH5XVVLDQVZLOOEHVHUYHGGXULQJWKHIHVWLYDOWRKRQRUWKH¿OP requests. “Thank you all so much for your support. This has been an
and the Glam Tram will be available to transport Lebowski-ites to overwhelming experience, and everyone has been so kind.”
other businesses celebrating the festival with their own White Rus-
sian presentations. The Dude abides.
Love fest: The Oregonian was practically swooning over Asto-
ria with “$VWRULDWKLQJVZHORYHDERXW2UHJRQ¶V¿UVWFLW\”
(http://tinyurl.com/20Astoria), a slide show with commentary by
Terry Richard, who wrote several travel posts about Astoria last year
(http://tinyurl.com/14Astoria).
The Astoria Bridge is mentioned (of course), and the Astoria Col-
umn, Sunday Market, the sea lions, the Riverfront Trolley, several lo-
cal businesses — well, you get the idea. However, tacked on the end,
after No. 20, he also mentions Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Long
Beach, Wash., which made the Ear a little huffy. Hey, it’s supposed
to be about loving Astoria, for heaven’s sake.
No way: Overheard at the Astoria Column by Jennifer Lind-
strom: A tourist dad asked his daughter if she’s ready to climb to the
top. Daughter, eyeing the engraved paver stones around the column,
said “No way, Dad. Look at the names of all the people who died
trying to get up there!”
H
EYE TO EYE WITH NESSIE
‘A
pril 12, my friend Karen Hoyt and I found this bad boy just
south of Silver Point in Cannon Beach,” Pam Chater wrote
to the Ear about her photos of the buoy, which are shown. “As di-
rected we called the police, and they responded immediately.” They
put tape around it, but they didn’t remove it.
Where did the buoy come from? A call to the U.S. Coast Guard
revealed it is not one of theirs. The answer? Judging from photos,
it’s a Canadian submarine indicator distress buoy (http://tinyurl.com/
AFTind). Apparently, each of the four Victoria Class submarines is
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“AFT.”
So how did the buoy wind up on the Oregon Coast? Emails to
the Fisheries and Oceans Canada have produced no answers. Pam
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the beach near the buoy on Saturday (did they pick it up?). There
was also a king tide Saturday. All we know is, at the end of the day
the buoy was gone — disappearing as mysteriously as it appeared.
THE SMILE MEISTER
T
he Ear has just the perfect thing for armchair monster hunters
and Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) fans. According to the Huff-
ington Post (http://tinyurl.com/eyenessie), you can thank Mr. Google
for mounting a Street View camera on a boat that gives people a
360-degree view of the loch and its surroundings, and even takes a
peek under the notoriously murky surface of the water now and then.
Pictured, a few screenshots from the camera. Intrigued? You can
start stalking Nessie here: http://tinyurl.com/eye2nessie
Now all we need is a Street View camera to watch our very own
Columbia River sea monster, Colossal Claude.
BEYOND MEASURE?
PACE YOURSELF
I
n an April 17 In One Ear story, Cyndi Mudge was tickled to re-
ceive a Smile Award from a stranger in an electric cart at Fred
Meyer’s. “Who was he?” she asked.
The smile meister is Richard Ortez, pictured left. He and his
wife, Diane, run Sabra J’s Attic in Cannon Beach. Some time ago,
Richard fractured his skull, and it’s been a long recovery, Diane told
the Ear. “He still has a balance problem, but he’s OK mentally. Some
get a little bitter, he just went the other way. After his fall, his mission
is to make people laugh and smile.”
Then, more recently, there was a cancer diagnosis. That’s when he
started taking his Smile Awards with him when they go shopping, Di-
ane recalled, along with their beloved blind dog, Chloe, pictured right.
He gives out the awards because he knows “how a little compliment
just changes somebody.” So who gets an award? Well, people who
everal media sources recently ran a story about a new study with a “smile with their whole face” — but then, you might also get one if
headline similar to this one, from ABC News: “More People Could you look like you could use a smile. After all, who needs it more?
Survive Tsunami If They Walk Faster” (http://tinyurl.com/fastwalk).
Richard’s not only keeping people smiling, either. “Sometimes
The Ear’s third-grade bratty alter ego said, “Well, duh! Really?”
it gets a little hard on the budget, but it’s dog country at Cannon
Yes, really. When a Cascadia Subduction Zone tsunami is on its Beach,” Diane said. “He gets a big bag of treats, so when he sees
way, you’ll only have about 15 or 20 minutes to get to higher ground a couple with their dog go by, he’ll offer to give the dog a treat.
(or inland) before the water rolls in after the earthquake. Chances are New neighbors came in a few weeks ago, and they have a collie
the roads will be too damaged to get away by car, meaning you’ll named Buddy. When he sees my husband coming down the street,
have to walk. Briskly.
he bounds out to wait for him to get his treat. It’s the cutest thing. All
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21,562 residents (of Oregon, Washington and California) would not
On the phone, Diane sounds every bit as upbeat as Richard is.
make it to safety if they walk slowly — at about 2.5 mph. But if they “It’s been an unbelievable journey, and we hope to retire soon,” she
walk faster, at about 3.5 mph, the death toll drops to 15,970.”
mused. “Life is good. It just makes you a little stronger if you have
So, now tsunami preparedness has also become about getting faith, and we have faith. We’re going to be married 59 years in July.”
healthy to walk faster. Better lace up those walking shoes and get
“Sometimes I want to be ‘poor me’ today,” she added, laughing,
moving.
“and he just won’t let us.”
S
I
n June, the U.S. Ocean Observatories Initiative and other ob-
servatories in the Arctic and Canada (between all of them,
they cover every ocean) will start measuring “physical, chem-
ical, geological and biological phenomena from the seabed to
the surface,” according to The Economist (http://tinyurl.com/
measuresea).
One of the areas of concentration will be the Cascadia Sub-
duction Zone, using the Cabled Array (pictured in an Econo-
mist.com graphic), a more than 550-mile-long submarine pow-
er and data connection off Oregon and Washington, which will
measure the tectonic plates’ volcanic and seismological activity
and hydrothermal vents’ output.
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let instruments go back and forth to the surface to take measure-
ments; and, a propeller-driven autonomous underwater vehicle,
Endurance, will also be gathering information off Oregon’s
coast.
More good news: Since it’s taxpayer funded, the data gener-
ated by the project will be open access and free.
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Seaside AAUW — 10 a.m.,
at the home of Jane McGeehan,
Gearhart. Seaside Branch of
American Association of University
Women monthly meeting. Program
is “Pay Equity.” Refreshments will
be served. For address information
and directions, call Karin Webb at
503-735-5919.
Columbia Northwestern Mod-
el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in
Hammond. Group runs trains on
HO-scale layout. For information,
call Don Carter at 503-325-0757.
SUNDAY
National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) Support Group
— 2 to 3:30 p.m., Seaside Public
Library, 1131 Broadway. Family to
Family Support Group, for anyone
with friend or loved one suffering
from a serious brain (mental) illness.
For information, contact Myra Kero
at 503-738-6165, or k7erowood@q.
com, or go to www.nami.org
Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m.,
Seaside American Legion, 1315
Broadway. For information, call
503-738-5111. No cost; suggested
$5 tip to the instructor.
MONDAY
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60.
For information, call Michelle Lew-
is at 503-861-4200.
second Àoor of the Astoria Elks
Lodge, 453 11th St. Guests always
welcome. For information, go to
www.AstoriaRotary.org
Warrenton Kiwanis Club —
noon to 1 p.m., Doogers Seafood
and Grill, 103 U.S. Highway 101,
Warrenton. For information, call
Darlene Warren at 503-861-2672.
to 7:30 p.m., Astoria Senior Center,
temporarily located at 1555 W. Ma-
rine Drive in the old Astoria Yacht
Club. For information, call 503-325-
3231.
Clatsop County Democrats —
6:30 to 9 p.m., Astoria Yacht Club,
300 Industry St., Suite 201 (at the
West End Mooring Basin, above
Tiki Charters). For information, call
503-717-1614 or go to http://clat-
sopdemocrats.org
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., Peace Lutheran Church
(lower level), 565 12th St. Cost is
$5. For information, or to have a
meal delivered, call 503-325-9693.
Knochlers Pinochle Group —
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside.
Cost is $1 per regular session per
person. Players with highest and
second highest scores split the
prize. Game is designed for play-
ers 55 and older, but all ages are
welcome.
Warrenton Senior Lunch Pro-
gram — noon, Warrenton Commu-
nity Center, 170 S.W. Third St. Sug-
gested donation of $5 for seniors
and $7 for those younger than 60.
For information, or to volunteer, call
503-861-3502 Monday or Thursday.
Diabetes Class — 1:30 to 2:30
p.m., Providence Seaside Hospital,
725 S. Wahanna Road, Seaside.
Free help managing diabetes. All
are welcome. For information, go
to www.providence.org/diabetes or
call 503-717-7301.
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation of $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60.
For information, call Michelle Lew-
is at 503-861-4200.
Astoria Rotary Club — noon,
Line Dancing for Seniors — 6
Columbia Senior Diners —
TUESDAY
Do Nothing Club — 10 a.m.
to noon, 24002 U St., Ocean Park,
Wash. Men’s group. For informa-
tion, call Jack McBride at 360-665-
2721.
11:30 a.m., Peace Lutheran Church
(lower level), 565 12th St. The cost
is $5. For information, or to have a
meal delivered, call 503-325-9693.
Astoria Lions Club — noon,
Astoria Elks Lodge, 453 11th St.
Prospective members welcome.
For information, contact Charlene
Larsen at 503-325-0590.
Line Dancing for Seniors —
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Astoria Senior
Center, temporarily located at 1555
W. Marine Drive in the old Astoria
Yacht Club. For information, call
503-325-3231.
Spinning Circle — 3 to 5 p.m.,
Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296
Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel.
For information, call 503-325-5598
or go to http://astoria¿berarts.com
WEDNESDAY
Open Sewing Gathering —
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Homespun
Quilts, 108 10th St. For information,
call 503-325-3300 or 800-298-3177
or go to http://homespunquilt.com
Wickiup Senior Lunches —
11:30 a.m., Wickiup Grange Hall,
92683 Svensen Market Road. Free
for those older than 60 ($3 suggest-
ed donation), $6.75 for those young-
er than age 60. For information, call
Michelle Lewis at 503-861-4200.
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation of $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60.
For information, call Michelle Lew-
is at 503-861-4200.
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., Peace Lutheran Church
(lower level), 565 12th St. The cost
is $5. For information, or to have a
meal delivered, call 503-325-9693.
Blood Pressure Checks —
noon to 2 p.m., Astoria Senior Center,
temporarily located at 1555 W. Marine
Drive in the old Astoria Yacht Club.
For information, call 503-325-3231.
See NOTES, Page 2B