8A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015
Ceremony: Naturalization process concluded with gun salute
Continued from Page 1A
Ukraine native Alina Zayt-
sev, who became a citizen
Thursday, said she decided to
make the drive from her home
in Vancouver, Wash., to the
national park, instead of to the
Portland of¿ce.
“It’s in a park. It’s some-
thing special,” she said.
Exceptional setting
Bonamici, who gave the
keynote speech Thursday, co-
ordinated with the Portland
¿eld of¿ce to come up with
the idea to host the ceremony
outside at a national park. Or-
ganizers plan to possibly host
more citizenship events at
Fort Clatsop, which Bonami-
ci, D-Ore., described as a
symbol of exploration and
discovery.
“Two years ago today I
spoke at a similar ceremony
in Portland. It wasn’t outside
like this,” she said. “This is
an exceptional setting and a
meaningful one, as well.”
Along with the keynote
speech, the 19 immigrants
were led through an Oath of
Allegiance, listened to an
audio message from Presi-
dent Barack Obama, recited
the Pledge of Allegiance and
were handed their certi¿-
cates.
Tucker gave each one a
small American Àag and a
certi¿cate, similar to a gradu-
ation ceremony. The moment
marked the end of a lengthy
process.
‘Finally get to vote’
Julie Rosenthal, an immi-
gration services of¿cer, said
each candidate for citizenship
was examined by an immigra-
tion services of¿cer and was
found to be in good moral
character.
In order to become a cit-
izen, an immigrant needs to
have a permanent resident
Fisseha Messay Tefera, originally from Ethiopia, poses for
a photo with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici after the natu-
ralization ceremony.
Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
Citizenship candidates take an Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony near
Fort Clatsop at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Thursday.
card — commonly referred
to as a green card — for ¿ve
years before applying for cit-
izenship.
Dozens were in attendance for a naturalization ceremony
near Fort Clatsop at Lewis and Clark National Historical
Park Thursday.
An exception is if the per-
son marries someone who
has been a U.S. citizen for at
least three years. In that case,
the person would have to be
married to the citizen for three
years and have a permanent
resident card for three years
to apply.
At the end of the ceremo-
ny, Tucker announced, the
park had a surprise for the
new citizens.
Park rangers shot off black
powder guns as a closing sa-
lute.
Tucker found it appropri-
ate that the ceremony took
place in front of the replica
Fort Clatsop, where the Lewis
and Clark expedition camped
more than 200 years ago at the
end of their journey West. The
land represented a different
type of milestone Thursday.
As a new citizen, Villa-
Àores said, he is looking for-
ward to exercising his new
rights.
“I ¿nally get to vote,” he
said.
Park Rangers Matt Hensley, Randy Francom, Esther Stein-
er, and Ben Najera stand in the bushes waiting to do a gun
salute during a naturalization ceremony near Fort Clatsop.
Hotel: Sonpatki and two other suitors are interested in taking over the inn
Continued from Page 1A
The Port has had a ca-
shier’s check from Sonpatki
for more than a week, Smi-
thart said, but has refused
to cash or acknowledge the
payment publicly.
Smithart had attended the
Port Commission meeting
Tuesday and tried to com-
ment when the Port was
discussing his impending
eviction. But Port Commis-
sion Chairman John Raichl
denied his request, and Smi-
thart left shortly thereafter.
Smithart said today that his
intent Tuesday was to bring
up the cashier’s check.
Smithart had fallen behind
more than $350,000 to the
Port, city and county. In June,
the Port Commission unan-
imously approved transfer-
ring the remaining two years
of Smithart’s lease to Sonpat-
ki’s Param Hotel Group. In
exchange, Sonpatki agreed to
pay off Smithart’s debts.
The lease transfer was
never signed over to Son-
patki, however, and the Port
moved to terminate Smi-
thart’s lease in late July. Col-
in Hunter, Sonpatki’s lawyer,
has said the holdup in assign-
ing the lease to Sonpatki was
because the Port would not
include an additional ¿ve-
year renewal option.
In a legal filing last Fri-
day, Smithart’s attorney Da-
mon Henrie said the Port’s
failure to assign the lease
to Sonpatki showed the Port
“acted with unclean hands
and should be prevented
from now evicting” Smi-
thart.
The Port had tried to
evict Smithart in August
Lee: ‘I do a lot of lifelong learning’
Continued from Page 1A
“Children with disabilities,
after high school who have no-
where to go, this can give them
real meaning,” said Joanne Hal-
vorson, Lee’s legal guardian.
Halvorson, who homes-
chooled Lee, said she found
out about the award program
and thought it would be a
good way for her daughter to
stay engaged.
:hen she ¿rst signed up at
16, Lee said, she didn’t take
the program seriously. But
within a couple of years, she
was steadily making her way
up the ranks, with help from
friends and her adviser, family
friend John Souza.
It’s elemental
“I do a lot of lifelong learn-
ing,” said Lee, whose personal
development and community
service have revolved largely
around her interest in science.
While playing the video
game “102 Dalmatians: Pup-
pies to the Rescue,” Lee said,
she learned about blimps. From
there, she learned about the pe-
riodic table, which has since
developed into a life-changing
interest in the elements.
Halvorson said Lee visibly
shakes with excitement when
studying the elements. She
has performed experiments,
such as creating hydrogen
gas; visited Rice Museum
of Rocks and Minerals in
Hillsboro; and even taught a
classroom full of 25 middle
schoolers in Jewell about the
periodic table.
It was a common sentiment
throughout the night, which
included several speeches, a
question-and-answer session
with the Regatta princess-
es and performances by the
Maddox Dance Studio.
“In our hearts, you are all
winners,” said Astoria Mayor
Arline LaMear, who wished
the court bright futures.
The princesses are Kim-
berly Castro, Katrina Diego
around the Port’s west end
marina.
Mark Hollander, the pres-
ident of Hollander Hospital-
ity of Bellingham, Wash.,
said he is interested in bring-
ing a Marriott to Astoria. He
has also talked about man-
aging the Riverwalk Inn on
a short-term basis while ne-
gotiating a deal to redevel-
op 6 acres the Port owns in
Uniontown.
LEGAL NOTICE
You Could Get $164 or More
If You Bought Gas in Oregon at an
ARCO or ARCO ampm Station
and Paid a Debit Card Fee
Case Update
You may have seen a previous notice in this case. The Oregon
state rule on unclaimed money in class actions has recently
changed, and your rights may be affected.
People who did not previously receive a letter about this case,
file a claim, or opt out of this lawsuit may need to take action.
If this applies to you, you must file a claim or opt-out of this
lawsuit to preserve your rights. Any money that is not claimed
will be paid to Oregon Legal Services and an entity (or entities)
chosen by the Court.
What is this
case about?
An Oregon jury found that BP West Coast Products LLC
(“BPWCP”) charged more for gas than the amount registered
at the pump and failed to properly disclose its prices when
it charged a 35-cent fee to consumers who used debit cards
to pay for gas at Oregon ARCO stations and ampm locations.
BPWCP has denied the claims in this case and plans to appeal
the jury verdict.
Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian
Alexiya Lee, left, receieved the Congressional Award
bronze medal from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Thursday
at Baked Alaska. Looking on is her adviser, John Souza.
For her presentation, Lee
discovered a periodic table
song from Canadian science
blog AsapSCIENCE that she
said enraptured the students.
On Thursday, she asked
Bonamici, D-Ore., to stick
around a few extra minutes so
she could sing through the en-
tire periodic table.
“Learning can be fun, you
know,” said Lee, who would
like to be a math and science
comedian visiting classrooms.
In addition to her class-
room talks, Lee is creating a
Web page about the elements
and radio shorts for KMUN
Coast Community Radio,
both of which she said will be
called “It’s Elemental.”
“Every little thing I did
helped me overcome anxiety
issues,” said Lee, who wants
to continue on and reach the
top level of the Congressional
Award.
Going for silver,
then gold
Within the next four
months, Lee said, she ex-
pects to earn her Congres-
sional Award silver medal,
the second-highest level
of the award. To reach the
gold medal, Lee must com-
plete 400 hours of commu-
nity service, 200 hours of
personal development, 200
hours of physical fitness ac-
tivities and four overnight
explorations to regional
sites.
If she does, Lee could be-
come only the 12th Orego-
nian to win the Congressio-
nal Award gold medal since
the program was created in
1979. The last recipient of
the gold medal in Oregon
was Alexandra Joy Gritta of
Portland, who was present-
ed her award by Bonamici
in 2013.
Queen: ‘You really are treated like royalty’
Continued from Page 1A
2013, when he similarly fell
behind in payments to the
agency and the city. But that
case was also dismissed.
Sonpatki and two other
suitors are interested in tak-
ing over the Riverwalk Inn.
Seattle businessman Wil-
liam Orr and former Hotel
Elliott developer Chester
Trabucco have partnered
with others in an idea to re-
vitalize the hotel and area
and Sophia Thomas.
“I want to crown all four of
you. These girls are all mar-
velous,” said Astoria Regatta
Co-President Kathy Koppen
Dean tearfully from the stage.
A new reign
Part of Bentley’s role
during this year’s proceedings
will be to select the winner of
the “Queen’s Choice” award
following the Highwater Boat
Parade Saturday.
Former queen Helligso
said Bentley has a lot of busy
days ahead of her. For the next
year, she’ll be the queen. And
that’s not all.
“Being a queen is so dif-
ferent from being a princess,”
Helligso said. “You really are
treated like royalty.”
John Bentley, the newly
crowned queen’s father, said
all the court members are ex-
ceptional and the entire Regat-
ta experience has been great.
“But of course, it’s only
the beginning now,” he said.
Am I eligible
to file a claim?
How can I
file a claim?
You can file a claim now if:
• You purchased gas at Oregon ARCO or ARCO ampm
locations between January 1, 2011 and August 30, 2013
and paid a 35-cent debit card transaction fee,
• You did not receive a letter about the lawsuit,
• You did not already file a claim, and
• You did not opt-out.
If you already received a letter about this case, do not file a
claim because you will receive an automatic payment.
File a claim online or by mail by September 21, 2015. If you file
a valid claim, you will be eligible to receive $164.85 or more,
and you will give up your right to individually sue BPWCP for the
claims in this case. The previous notice talked about a $200
payment, but the fees required to pay Class Counsel will reduce
payments by $35.15.
What are my If eligible, you may also:
• Exclude yourself (or opt-out) online or by mail from the
other rights?
lawsuit by September 21, 2015. You will keep your right to
sue BPWCP yourself.
• Object to the notice or claims process (or the fees if you file
a claim now) by September 18, 2015.
• Do nothing. If you did not previously take action and now
do not file a claim or exclude yourself, you will give up your
right to get any money from this lawsuit and your right to
sue BPWCP yourself.
For More Information
Visit: www.DebitCardClassAction.com
Call: 1-866-329-5931