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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2015)
NORTH COAST THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015 3A Downtown association honored for efforts The Daily Astorian Dulcye Taylor, a volun- teer board president with the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, won Volunteer of the Year at Ore- gon Main Street’s semiannu- al conference Wednesday in The Dalles. Taylor, who owns Old Town Framing Company in downtown Astoria, has been involved with the downtown association’s board since 2009. “Dulcye is a connector of people and ideas, and goes the extra step to see them through,” Alana Garner, the executive director of the downtown association, said in a release Wednesday. “Dulcye never rests, and is never satisfied with less than what she believes downtown Astoria deserves.” Oregon Main Street, a program under the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, works with cities to develop revital- ization strategies for down- town cores. The award tak- en by Astoria honors the best downtown retention or business recruitment pro- gram. “We are thrilled to pres- ent this award to Dulcye Taylor,” Sheri Stuart, Ore- gon Main Street coordinator, said in the release. “Dulcye was a critical player in re- building the organization to a point where it can once again support a full-time paid staff person. Dulcye’s fingerprints can be found on countless programs, events, and efforts of ADHDA, in- cluding restoration of the organization’s Performing Main Street status after a hi- Photo courtesy of Diane Taylor Runners and walkers start the climb up the Astoria Bridge in the Great Columbia Crossing event last year. +HDY\WUDI¿FH[SHFWHGIRU Great Columbia Crossing back to normal shortly after 11 a.m., when the partici- pants are cleared from the bridge. Drivers are urged to be prepared for delays, and to either avoid unnecessary trips on the bridge during this time or to be aware of the extra time needed for the trip. For information, con- tact the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce at 503-325-6311 or go to www. greatcolumbiacrossing.com ning at 6 a.m., as partici- pants arrive for the event. The Astoria-Warren- Shuttle buses to the starting ton Chamber of Commerce area begin operating by 7 Great Columbia Crossing DP FUHDWLQJ D VWHDG\ ÀRZ 10K event is Sunday morn- of vehicles on the bridge. ing. More than 3,000 event At approximately 8:30 a.m., participants and volunteers YHKLFOH WUDI¿F VWDUWV EHLQJ are involved in this once-a- guided by a pilot car in alter- year opportunity to cross the nating directions, using one lane of the bridge. Due to the Astoria Bridge on foot. 7UDI¿F FKDQJHV DQG GH- reduced speed on the bridge lays are expected to occur during this time, vehicles may wait up to 45 minutes to between 6 and 11:30 a.m. +HDY\ WUDI¿F LV H[SHFWHG cross. 7UDI¿F ÀRZ VKRXOG EH around the Bridge begin- The Daily Astorian JEFF DALY — For The Daily Astorian Dulcye Taylor, who emceed this year’s Jane Barnes Re- vue as Cal E. Bration, won the Volunteer of the Year Award at Oregon Main Street’s semiannual conference in The Dalles Wednesday. atus of more than 20 years; receiving accreditation as a National Main Street Pro- gram; and increasing the level of city funding allocat- ed to the organization on an annual basis.” NEDTalks NEDalks, the downtown association’s series of infor- mational presentations on creating a healthy downtown core, won an Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award as the “Best Business Development Project” at the conference. The downtown associ- ation’s business develop- ment committee began the merchant-focused series of NEDtalks, short for Novel Efforts Downtown, as a spin on the popular TEDTalk lec- tures. The talks, which are free, open to the public and available on the downtown association’s website, ad- dress current issues or trends and provide a forum for open dialogue and discussion. “The level of engagement from the downtown busi- nesses on the tips and tricks they have learned from the NEDTalks has been great,” Garner said in a separate re- lease Wednesday. “We have received so many positive remarks for the enlightening and rewarding information sharing with the community and businesses.” Burn ban still in effect when traveling on forest roads. “Local residents are only The Oregon Department of Forestry has issued a re- DOORZHGWRKDYHFDPS¿UHVLQ PLQGHU WKDW ¿UH UHVWULFWLRQV designated campgrounds or on personal property where are still in effect. Recreationists are re- ODF has granted a waiv- quired to carry a shovel and er,” ODF Protection Unit HLWKHUDSRXQG¿UHH[WLQ- Forester Neal Bond cau- guisher or 1 gallon of water tioned. “Until we get a line of The Daily Astorian VWRUPIURQWVRIIWKHFRDVW¿UH season will remain in effect.” The countywide burn ban for outdoor debris burning is still in effect. The public ZLOOEHQRWL¿HGRIDQ\FKDQJ- HV &RQWDFW D ORFDO UXUDO ¿UH department or the ODF at 503-325-5451 for any ques- tions about burning. Kumoricon: A welcoming home for area nerds time Thomas joined in 2005, roughly 1,600 people attend- ed. (Anime is the Japanese word for animation, often involving fantasy worlds that blend Japanese folklore and popular culture.) In recent years, the annual event has hosted more than By KATHERYN 6,000 people. It’s expected to HOUGHTON move from hotels in Vancou- EO Media Group ver, Washington, to the Ore- NAHCOTTA, Wash. — JRQ&RQYHQWLRQ&HQWHUWR¿W On an average day in Nah- the crowds. Kumoricon won’t be FRWWD 6WHI¿ 7KRPDV FDQ EH found working as a residen- alone. Two new conventions tial advisor for Job Corps in began this year in Eugene, blue jeans and with her long and one in Portland. Convention Chair Phillip black hair falling to her waist. But in the growing world of Koop said conventions are growing because mainstream anime, she’s a champion. In September, Thomas society has “gone comic.” “Geeks were viewed as stood in front of 6,000 peo- ple as the intermediate cos- basement dwellers who col- play winner for the 2015 Ku- lected comic books and had character,” moricon Convention, which questionable judges how well candidates he said. “But today, every- embody a selected character. one has seen ‘Spider-Man’ Her hair was pinned under and loves the idea of a Lois a short gray wig with bangs Lane.” Today, the geek could be that wrapped around her face. She stood tall in wooden Japa- the person in the cubicle next nese sandals and her body was to you who grew up watching covered in layers of red, yel- Cartoon Network, he said. While nerd culture is low and gray fabric — a look more acceptable, Koop said that took 275 hours to make. “Convention is for nerds of it wouldn’t be OK to hop on any variety to be whoever they a bus dressed in cosplay any- want,” Thomas, 26, said. “We time soon. don’t know each other, but we know we have a common love Finding friends that’s not always understood in among costumes our hometowns.” Thomas’ best friends are Nerd culture Local woman ¿QGVVXFFHVVDQG acceptance in the world of anime Expanding anime culture When the anime gather- LQJ¿UVWEHJDQLQRQO\ 419 people showed. By the BBQ Pork R ib D inner ala D an R eed w ith B aked B eans, C orn on the C ob, C oleslaw & C ornbread Friday O ct. 9 th 4 pm ‘til gone $ .0 0 8 6PM “K araok e D ave” ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Cla t sop Post 12 1132 Exchange Street 325-5771 Katheryn Houghton/EO Media Group Cosplay enthusiast Steffi Thomas prepares to put on a wig by pinning up her hair. Katheryn Houghton/EO Media Group er character she needs to be in that moment.” Thomas snacked on yo- gurt, candy corn and hot co- coa as she talked about the character she choose, Kanata — one of the main characters of Trinity Universe who was the Demon God King until he rejected his father’s evil ways. “I liked him ’cause he’s a JRRIEDOO´VKHVDLG³7KH¿UVW chat I ever saw about him Thomas took 275 hours to make the layered costume. Even with help, getting the costumes according to Japanese custom takes about 30 minutes. screen names coming from places like Oregon, Japan and Sweden. Conventions are the main place she can gath- er with people who love the world she picked. “We’ve all been bullied in some way — for me it was just being ignored,” she said. “But at Kumoricon, being into an- ime is the normal thing.” Her close friend, Ian Jef- IHUVRQVDLGLQWKH¿YH\HDUV they’ve known each other, he’s seen Thomas out of cos- tume once. “It’s hard to imagine her in normal clothes,” Jefferson, 30, said. “I see her as whatev- A tribute to Sharnelle Fee said he loved pizza and naps — that’s lovable.” The character allowed her to tap into her outgoing side, something she said most peo- ple never get to see. W ! O N N Amanda Brian, 26, had only been to one convention when she meet Thomas. “Conventions drew me in because they are a culture of storytelling, art, and educa- tion,” Brian said. Hundreds of attendees hold panels ranging from character Q&A’s to pub- lic-speaking lessons. Brian thought Thomas was timid, until she attend- ed her Shakespearean Voice and Acting panel. “She owned it,” Brian said. “It’s the like-mindedness of this place. Whatever it is you want to call yourself, you’re accepted.” When the judges called Thomas’ name as the winner and the room began to clap, Thomas didn’t move. Brian had to pull her on stage to ac- cept the award. “She was recognized for her amazing work in a room of thousands — it shocked her,” Brian said. “It feels like we are coming into the gen- eration of nerds. They aren’t wearing name tags saying ‘Hi, I’m nerd 645,’ but they are everywhere.” IN WARRENTON next to Big 5 & Fred Meyer E P O A celebration of life for Sharnelle Fee, founder and director of the Wildlife Center of the North Coast Saturday, October 10th at 3 p.m. at the Warrenton Community Center 170 SW 3rd Street in Warrenton In lieu of flow ers, don a tion s m a y be m a de to th e W ildlife Cen ter of th e N orth Coa st www.americasmattress.com 503-861-6085 HOURS M-F 10-7 SAT 10-5 SUN 11-5 FREE DELIVERY FREE SET-UP The Sleep You Need w/minimum purchase local delivery GUARANTEED
