THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
Europe’s impossible dream
Class of 1995 meets
T
he Astoria High School
Class of 1995 is holding
their class reunion at 6 p.m.
Aug. 1. The no-host meet and
greet starts at the Fort George
Brewery, and dancing with a
DJ follows at the Port of Call.
The class welcomes fami-
ly, friends and past teachers/
coaches of members to join in
and visit this casual gathering
of classmates.
On Aug. 2, the class will
again have a chance to gather
with family and friends for a
no host lunch at Fultano’s Piz-
za in Astoria. Please help us
spread the word and ¿nd lost
classmates so we can have a
great turn-out.
Find us on Facebook at
“Astoria High School Class
of 1995,” or contact Heather
Ficken, senior class president
1995, at 541-377-0350.
HEATHER FICKEN
Helix
Not happy with plan
I
was a member of the orig-
inal Riverfront Vision Plan
Steering Committee that was
appointed by the mayor to
create a ‘vision’ for the future
of the Astoria waterfront.
When the condos appeared
at 39th Street in 2007, I put
together the Astoria Preser-
vation Action Committee. We
gathered petition signatures to
present to the city council and
held a meeting at the Astoria
Library that hosted an over-
Àow crowd. The chief con-
cern of our committee was to
preserve public access to the
crown jewel of our wonderful
city — our spectacular water-
front views.
There are places that cry
out for renewal and develop-
ment in Astoria, but we truly
shoot ourselves in the foot
when we block the views of
the water and hills of Wash-
ington beyond.
I must clarify that I have
been misquoted about being
“happy” with the Vision Plan.
The “happy” comment was
based on a misunderstanding
on my part about the 500-foot
limit to over water develop-
ment proposed in the Civic
Greenway area. It ended up
being less restrictive than I
had hoped. So in fact, I was
not happy at all.
The Riverfront Vision Plan
was a compromise that was
weighted towards develop-
ment. It was not a balanced
reÀection of what most peo-
ple expressed during the pub-
lic outreach events we held
during the visioning process.
I was appalled with the ¿nal
result.
I regret now that I signed
off on the RVP. I did so be-
cause we had no limits on
development and it was better
than nothing, but we could
have done better. The RVP
was not the vision of the ma-
jority of the people of Astoria.
Smoke and mirrors then, a
devil’s bargain now.
ELIZABETH
MENETREY
Astoria
Pantry will miss leader
A
t their June 15 meeting,
the board of the Cannon
Beach Food Pantry was hand-
ed something most unexpect-
ed: the retirement letter of
Molly Edison. The board ac-
cepted her announcement in
stunned surprise. We under-
stand the dif¿culty of her de-
cision to retire from the pan-
try and we honor her decision.
Molly’s almost seven years of
experience in our pantry will
be missed.
Under Molly’s leadership,
the pantry has progressed
from an idea to a well-orga-
nized effort. Our pantry pro-
vides food and essentials to
those who pass through our
doors every Wednesday. She
led us into our ¿rst pantry
at the Cannon Beach Bible
Church and then to our new
home in the vacated Cannon
Beach Elementary School.
The devotion and atten-
tion to detail she provided
cannot be overstated, Molly
is the face of our pantry. She
is well-respected throughout
the region. She had a smile
for everyone and a shoulder
for every care. Words are not
adequate to express the high
esteem we hold for Molly.
Her departure from the
pantry leaves a void. One
thing it does not do is bring
about the end of our pantry.
The pantry board and volun-
5A
the process of being
doesn’t end there.
vindicated. And the
When the predict-
article’s intended
ed and predictable
hall of shame — the
strains on the euro
here’s a bit of a lull in the long list of econ-
began,
Europe’s
news from Europe, but omists it cites for
policy response was
the underlying situation is wrongheaded pessi-
to impose draconian
as terrible as ever. Greece is mism — has instead
austerity on debt-
experiencing a slump worse become a sort of
or nations — and
to deny the simple
than the Great Depression, honor roll, a who’s
logic and historical
and nothing happening now who of those who
Paul
evidence indicating
offers hope of recovery. Spain got it more or less
Krugman
that such policies
has been hailed as a success right.
story, because its economy is
The only big mistake of the would inÀict terrible econom-
¿nally growing — but it still euroskeptics was underesti- ic damage while failing to
has 22 percent unemployment. mating just how much damage achieve the promised debt re-
duction.
And there is an arc of stag- the single currency would do.
It’s astonishing even now
nation across the continent’s
The point is that it wasn’t
top: Finland is experiencing a at all hard to see, right from how blithely top European
depression comparable to that the beginning, that currency of¿cials dismissed warnings
in southern Europe, and Den- union without political union that slashing government
mark and the Netherlands are was a very dubious project. spending and raising taxes
also doing very badly.
So why did Europe go ahead would cause deep recessions,
how they insisted that all
How did things
with it?
would be well because ¿scal
go so wrong? The
Mainly,
I’d
say,
The
answer is that this
because the idea discipline would inspire con-
is what happens
of the euro sound- ¿dence. (It didn’t.) The truth
euro
when self-indulgent
ed so good. That is that trying to deal with
has
politicians ignore
is, it sounded for- large debts through austerity
arithmetic and the
ward-looking, Eu- alone — in particular, while
lessons of history. turned
r o p e a n - m i n d e d , simultaneously pursuing a
And no, I’m not
the kind hard-money policy — has
into a exactly
talking about leftists
of thing that ap- never worked. It didn’t work
in Greece or else-
Roach peals to the kind for Britain after World War I,
where; I’m talking
of people who give despite immense sacri¿ces;
about ultra-respect- Motel,
speeches at Davos. why would anyone expect it
able men in Berlin,
people didn’t to work for Greece?
a trap Such
What should Europe do
Paris, and Brussels,
want nerdy econo-
now?
There are no good an-
who have spent a
mists
telling
them
that’s
quarter-century try-
that their glamor- swers — but the reason there
ing to run Europe on hard to
ous vision was a are no good answers is be-
cause the euro has turned into
the basis of fantasy
bad idea.
escape.
economics.
Indeed, with- a Roach Motel, a trap that’s
To someone who
in Europe’s elite it hard to escape. If Greece still
didn’t know much economics, quickly became very hard to had its own currency, the case
or chose to ignore awkward raise objections to the cur- for devaluing that currency,
questions, establishing a uni- rency project. I remember improving Greek competi-
¿ed European currency sound- the atmosphere of the early tiveness and ending deÀation,
ed like a great idea. It would 1990s very well: anyone who would be overwhelming.
The fact that Greece no
make doing business across questioned the desirability of
national borders easier, while the euro was effectively shut longer has a currency, that
serving as a powerful symbol out of the discussion. Further- it would have to create one
of unity. Who could have fore- more, if you were an Ameri- from scratch, vastly raises the
seen the huge problems the can expressing doubts you stakes. My guess is that euro
euro would eventually cause?
were invariably accused of exit will still prove necessary.
Actually, lots of people. In ulterior motives — of being And in any case it will be es-
January 2010 two European hostile to Europe, or wanting sential to write down much of
economists published an ar- to preserve the dollar’s “exor- Greece’s debt.
But we’re not having a clear
ticle titled “It Can’t Happen, bitant privilege.”
It’s a Bad Idea, It Won’t Last,”
And the euro came. For a discussion of these options,
mocking American economists decade after its introduction a because European discourse
who had warned that the euro huge ¿nancial bubble masked is still dominated by ideas the
would cause big problems. As its underlying problems. But continent’s elite would like to
it turned out, the article was an now, as I said, all of the skep- be true, but aren’t. And Eu-
accidental classic: at the very tics’ fears have been vindicat- rope is paying a terrible price
for this monstrous self-indul-
moment it was being written, ed.
all those dire warnings were in
Furthermore, the story gence.
By PAUL KRUGMAN
New York Times News
Service
T
teers have been able to move
ef¿ciently to take up Molly’s
work load, a tribute to Molly’s
leadership. Before her depar-
ture she saw to it the pantry
functions in accordance to all
rules and regulations, is ¿nan-
cially stable, and feeds the
hungry in a loving and com-
passionate manner.
Thank you, Molly, for your
years, your caring, and your
devotion.
CARLA O’REILLY
Cannon Beach Food
Pantry Board of Directors
Summer work
I
s your current budget stop-
ping you from taking that
special winter trip, or buying
that special something? Why
not work at your favorite busi-
ness this summer?
I had never worked at a
restaurant, and last summer
decided to work one day a
week at a restaurant in Cannon
Beach. I spent all day looking
at Haystack Rock while I vis-
ited with people from all over
the world. I now have a bet-
ter understanding about the
workings of a restaurant, and I
earned extra spending money.
Most of the businesses
currently have job openings
for part-time summer employ-
ment. Have you ever thought
about working at your favor-
ite business? Would you en-
joy greeting and helping the
guests visiting our beautiful
area? Now is a great time to
speak to the owner or manag-
er of your favorite business
and ask them about working
part-time this summer.
This winter you could then
spend these earnings on that
special something.
LINDA DUGAN
Astoria
A family affair
‘C
inderella” is charming.
Another ¿ne family
production by the Peninsula
Association of Performing
Artists (PAPA) at the Fort Co-
lumbia Theater in Chinook,
Wash., this fun show is a must
for grandparents, and parents
to take their little girls.
As well as the performers,
I also watched the audience,
and they were just taken by
the singing, the story, Cin-
derella’s transformation (it’s
not just lights and mirrors,
folks), the stepsisters, com-
edy, and the family of four
who brought their youngest,
who was only 4, with them on
stage for her ¿rst PAPA per-
formance.
One family from Kelso,
Wash., thought it was worth
the trip and I agree. If you
have young children or grand-
children, I strongly recom-
mend you take them to this
summer’s PAPA production
of “Cinderella.”
Remaining shows are July
24 through Aug. 9, Friday and
Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sun-
day at 2 pm. Tickets can be
purchased at www.papathe-
ater.com or at Okie’s Thrift-
way in Ocean Park, Wash.
New, padded, cloth cov-
ered chairs are in, and the old
folding chairs are out, so it is
de¿nitely a comfortable show
to enjoy.
DANE WEBB
Hammond
‘Cinderella’ sizzles
‘C
inderella” sizzles in
Chinook, Wash. Want to
spend an entertaining evening
at an off-Broadway show?
(About as far off-Broadway as
you can get in the continental
U.S.)
Cross the bridge and see
the Peninsula Association of
Performing Artists (PAPA)
production of Rodgers and
Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”
at historic Fort Columbia,
Wash., engagingly enacted
with energetic performanc-
es by Cindy, the prince and
an enthusiastic step family.
Familiar tunes will have you
humming.
And, help them buy an air
conditioner for the aging ar-
mory.
STEVE FISHER
Ocean Park, Wash.
Rethink school move
D
ear Citizens of Seaside:
I recently read The New
Yorker article, “The Real-
ly Big One,” by Kathryn
Schulz regarding the Cas-
cadia Subduction Zone, and
what will happen to the Pa-
cific Northwest coast when
it ruptures.
A section of the article
mentioned
Superintendent
of Schools Doug Dough-
erty’s efforts to pass a failed
bond measure in Seaside that
would have built a new K-12
school above the tsunami-in-
undation zone. What are you
thinking? Why would you not
face this issue, and deal with
it, to prevent the loss of your
community’s most vulnerable
members and your most pre-
cious asset — your beautiful
children?
I lived in Florida for 30
years before moving to Wis-
consin. I’ve been through
multiple hurricanes. You must
do what you can to mitigate
natural disasters, whether
they arrive in your lifetime or
in 100 years. It’s so worth it.
Please reconsider.
And lastly, not doing this
paints your community in a
very poor light. Bad public
relations for Seaside, for sure.
JULIE GARRETT
Madison, Wis.
Birth control is bad
S
o “It’s about time” (The
Daily Astorian, July 13)?
Really?
Time to pass a law (done
deal) allowing teenage girls
to buy contraceptives at the
pharmacy without a doctor’s
prescription? Parents are
already out of the loop, of
course.
Never mind that “birth
control drugs and devices
aren’t 100 percent safe and
effective.” It’s the “cost-ben-
e¿t ratio” saving “time, has-
sle and money.” Have you
checked out the cost and has-
sle of breast cancer in young
women lately? Study after
study links breast cancer with
contraception use, especially
before a ¿rst full-term preg-
nancy. Google “Dr. Angela
Lanfranchi— Breast Cancer
Prevention Institute” if you’re
interested.
How about the increasing
incidence of premature birth
due to damage from a previ-
ous abortion — especially an
abortion before a first full-
term pregnancy? Those has-
sles and costs can be long-
term for the child involved.
Decades of contraception
availability has increased
abortion rates by making
young girls “available” for
short-term use by predatory
males. Contraceptive fail-
ures, very common in the
teen bracket, are a source of
income for abortion facili-
ties. Why else would Planned
Parenthood push so hard to
make contraception available
through-school based clinics?
Abortion income keeps their
doors open.
Widespread contraception
has conditioned young men
to be more self-indulgent and
less responsible — not good
preparation for marriage and
family life.
And let’s not forget, many
working moms would far
rather be caring for their own
children. Day care is expen-
sive, and home cooking is
cheaper and better than fast
food.
In the bad old days, some-
times dad got a second job.
JEAN M. HERMAN
Astoria
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Our people make
The Planetree Difference
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Devon is one of the caregivers at
CMH who exemplifies our Promise of
Excellence:
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Respect
Integrity
Compassion
Leadership
Safety
Teamwork
Caregivers like Devon make your
community hospital one to be proud of.
“To me, patient-
centered care means
involving the patient
and his or her family as
partners and primary
decision makers to
help enhance their care
experience.”
– Devon Weaver, Nurse
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