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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015 FRIDAY EXCHANGE Clammed up Giving community O pen letter to the director of the Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife and Gov. Kate Brown: I received a letter telling me that my Dis- abled Clam Digging Permit No. 662 is being canceled. I went to the trouble of get- ting my doctor¶s certi¿cation that my arthritic back prob- lems were keeping me from enjoying this activity. I live at the coast, and have a son who can dig my clams for me, but he is limited, and I don’t want to go into his limit to get some for myself. I paid for, and have an active clam diggers license. I called the ODFW of¿ce, and was told by a represen- tative that Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) now being enforced were passed in 1964, long before I obtained my per- mit. The new revised statutes, as presented by the ODFW to me, do not allow a permit for my disability — they only re- late to ¿shing and hunting. It would seem to me that if the director of ODFW is con- scientious in his responsibili- ty, that he would do something to remedy this injustice. For the department to sud- denly come out and cancel procedures that have been in effect for 50 years, based on legislation passed in 1964, appears to me to be an over- reach. Certainly the department must have some procedure to correct this wrongful cancella- tion? Please advise. NORMAN BENKE Gearhart Warrenton wishes? I t is outrageous that Warren- ton and Seaside kids are ex- cluded from the Wishing Tree gifts. For several years now, we’ve donated approximately $300 worth of toys, clothes, and books per season for the needy children whose paper bells we selected from the wishing trees set up in War- renton banks and businesses, thinking we were helping all Clatsop County kids, includ- ing Warrenton kids. Recently we learned from a front page article, “A wish, an ornament, a promise” (The Daily Astorian, Dec. 11), that our contributions bene- ¿ted only Knappa and Asto- ria kids. Even the staff at the stores and banks who host a wishing tree were under the impression it was for all kids in the county. How deceptive is that? We will never contribute to the Wishing Tree again. In- stead, we’ll ¿nd a needy fam- ily in Warrenton and donate directly. The Wishing Tree organizers have cooked their own Christmas goose. MARY ANN BRANDON Warrenton Parking power G et real, people. It’s a park- ing lot, not a heritage site. Most small towns would love to have so many free city park- ing spaces. It is also nice to be able to kick the cars off so there can be events like Sun- day Market. Get rid of the contaminated soil, ¿ll the hole, pave it and get on with playing in the lot. A real estate consultant would tell you that one level Àat space for parking is this property’s “highest and best use.” STEVE EMMONS Astoria LNG a good thing I ¿nd myself Àabbergasted when reading the letters opposing the proposed lique- ¿ed natural gas /NG facility in Warrenton, in light of the economy of the lower Colum- bia region. Every year we have mul- tiple food drives to provide food for individuals and fam- ilies, and every year the need grows. Providing food for those who can’t ¿nd a job, or get a job that pays more than minimum wage is good, but how about doing something to reverse this trend, like ¿nding industries that will pay a liv- ing family wage? The /NG facility in War- renton will do that, and it will be the catalyst to others to start spin-off and support businesses that will also pay good wages. We are talking about 100 jobs in the plant when it is ¿nished. I believe I 5A A Protect our North Coast brand ‘T he best job-creating industry in my state is clean energy,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee during a panel discussion at the climate talks in Paris. Speaking on the same panel, the mayor of Vancouver, B.C., Gregor Robertson, praised the “brand value” of being a green city. According to a brand valuation, Vancouver’s being a green city is worth a $31.5 billion “core value.” I don’t know the dollar amount of Clatsop County’s core value, but I do know that what we have here is price- less. Our North Coast brand and our core value is our clean and healthy air, easy access to our beautiful and relatively unspoiled natural world, neighborly rural and small-town life, dark night skies, rich and compelling history, the mighty Columbia, the magni¿cent Paci¿c, and much more — enough to read that the average salary for /NG facilities in this country is about $75,000 a year. There will be at least two large tugs stationed here. The taxes paid — did I hear $90 million, annually? The Warrenton School District would be a major recipient, and could likely be freed from the state support system that isn’t getting the job done. The Warrenton city income would be another winner — it could ¿nally afford the police and ¿re protection that the citizens have wanted, and has been recommended in numerous studies. The Port of Astoria, Clat- sop County and Clatsop Com- munity College would realize substantial increases in tax revenue. Also, there will be some 1,500 construction jobs, many of which local workers would be able to ¿ll. How could these things be bad for us? The concerns for the river environment and safety are phony. How can something that is some minus 2,500 de- grees be warm enough to in- crease the temperature of our river? Then there’s “it will ex- plode,” but /NG will not ex- plode. It will burn as it warms and becomes a gas. If you are really afraid, the double tanker trucks haul- ing gasoline through Astoria could explode. Then there is the “big one” (earthquake) — the tank may rupture and burn or sink into the ground. Japan has may /NG tanks, and re- cently had a “big one.” They weren’t damaged. Why is the 1,500 foot safe- ty zone surrounding the /NG tankers of concern? Cruise ships have the same security zone. /ike it or not, /NG is go- ing to become a major source of power for the merchant ships that transit our river. The state of Washington is ordering new ferries powered by /NG. We can either get with this developing trend, or again lose out. KAR/ R. (DICK) HE//BERG Warrenton Readers needed S tart Making a Reader Today (SMART) grade school program is in need of a few good volunteers. Reads like a call to arms, ¿ll our hearts and enrich our lives. We are a blessed alternative to the noise, crowds, and pressures of industrialized and big city life. These treasured aspects of our lives here would be destroyed by Oregon /NG’s export terminal and pipeline proposed for Clatsop County. Check out www.columbiariverkeeper.org/our- work to see how bad this project would be for us. The North Coast has the talent, re- sources, and people to create clean en- ergy jobs. These are the jobs Oregon and the U.S. will need by the thou- sands for decades to come, long after the global natural gas, coal, and oil markets have collapsed and long after a lique¿ed natural gas terminal in War- renton would be obsolete. It’s up to us to protect our brand, our core value and our future. Tell Gov. Kate Brown to uphold Oregon does it not? Well, it is a call for a few volunteers who can spare an hour minimum each week, working with students in grades 1, 2 and 3 in schools within our county. SMART is in Astoria, Warrenton, Gear- hart and Seaside. When offer- ing your time to help a student learn, you are enhancing a child’s learning abilities. An hour includes two one half hour sessions with two students. Working with a local SMART coordinator, your choice of time could be anywhere from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you feel you might have the time to help, please call your local school of choice and make contact with a coordinator for an ap- plication. For those of you in the Warrenton area, your coordi- nator is Jeanne Moha, 503- 861-0443. If you feel you could help out in this program, call her and ask for an appli- cation. As a member of the SMART program for the past 10 years, I continue to volun- teer hours at Warrenton Grade School. For any person wish- ing to become involved in this very important addition to learning for our children with- in our county, I will be glad to fax, email or mail an ap- plication to you. Just call me at 503-861-2030 or 503-440- 0086. Any volunteers wanting to sign up with Warrenton, I will pass your information on to our coordinator. Also, the SMART vol- unteers at Warrenton have their names entered onto the “Awesome” awards that each student receives just prior to summer vacation. We wish you all the very best, and have a wonderful holiday and new year. ME/ JASMIN Warrenton Recall needed T he hamlets of Cannon Beach and Arch Cape are facing a potentially critical situation. Our ¿re chief was ¿red a couple of months ago with the explanation that there were “administrative and per- sonnel issues.” This seemed a dissatisfying reason to almost everyone, but especially to his fellow ¿re¿ghters. This is be- cause there is no one they trust more than Chief Mike Balzer law and Clatsop County’s denial of the pipeline. Tell Sens Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici to walk their talk of U.S, energy independence, confronting cli- mate change and a sustainable, renew- able future. Their contact information is as fol- lows: • Gov. Brown, 503-378-4582 or http://1.usa.gov/1/WuTxU • Sen. Wyden, 503-589-4555 or www.wyden.senate.gov/contact • Sen. Merkley, 202-224-3753 or www.merkley.senate.gov/contact • Rep. Bonamici, 202-225-0855 or http://1.usa.gov/2258jur Be inspired to create a green Oregon future. /isten to the podcast of the pan- el discussion at http://bit.ly/1O7oW4w. Onward to a green Oregon. /AURIE CAP/AN Astoria to lead them at the scene of any kind of emergency. There are several locals who are taking the lead in righting this wrong. We have been handed over 60 letters from the community. But more telling, we have 18 let- ters from Cannon Beach Rural Fire Department emergency medical technicians and ¿re- ¿ghters denouncing the board and in support of their beloved chief. When one of the board members informed the volun- teers of Chief Balzer’s abrupt termination in a meeting, they asked “Why?” They were told, that it isn’t open for dis- cussion, it’s a closed issue and to get over it. Chief Balzer didn’t deserve what he was dealt, and his crew certainly doesn’t deserve to be talked to like unruly chil- dren. Without these volunteers our town would suffer horri- bly with day-to-day emergen- cies, let alone a big one. In a letter it was recom- mended to the board that this whole matter be considered an opportunity to air differences and reconcile. For the good of all, that would be the best case scenario. There are several reasons for this: It would take years for a newly hired chief to get to know and gain the trust of his team; it would take just as long to attain a work- ing knowledge of the streets and the terrain of the area; and most importantly, for the board to regain the respect and trust of the Volunteer Fire De- partment. It appears that they are out of touch with the will of the citizens and ¿re crew. They displayed a disturbing lack of respect for a man who has dedicated 32 years of selÀess duty. Then they showed disre- gard for the grief and anxiety the crew has over losing their trusted leader — for no sub- stantiated reason. They obvi- ously have no understanding of the bond responders devel- op for one another. So if pride and prejudice shall prevail among their in- sulated little circle, then the community must do what they believe best for their safety and the future of the ¿re de- partment that is irreplaceable. That would sadly entail a re- call. SUSAN NEUWIRTH Tolovana Park Reason for season C hristmas is a wonder- ful time of year. Stores and streets and many homes are decorated with beautiful lights, ornaments, decorations and messages indicating this to be a very special season. The air and airways are ¿lled with sweet sounds of carols and hymns. Friends, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers greet one another with smiles and “Merry Christmas!” Children line up to sit in the lap of Santa and present pleas for bikes, dolls and whatever the latest toy might be. And of course, they all confess to hav- ing been good the past year. We send cards and receive cards from friends, family, loved ones, and sometimes nearly forgotten acquaintanc- es. The cards are beautiful, often showing appropriate scenes of snow, sleighs, Santa, wise men, shepherds, angels, and baby Jesus in manger, etc., with wishes of peace, joy, and good will to all. It is also a very enjoyable season for families to gather and share a feast of good food and express and display love of one another. Christmas is in many ways the most enjoyable season of the year, but let us not forget, it all points back to Jesus, the son of God. Without Jesus there would be no Christmas. And the angel said unto (shepherds in the ¿eld), “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all peo- ple. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Sav- ior, which is Christ, the /ord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall ¿nd the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And sud- denly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (/uke 2:10-14) Enjoy Christmas, but help someone less fortunate, and pray for our military men and women who are serving and protecting our freedoms and way of life. Attend a church service and give thanks for Je- sus our /ord. But resolve to let him be your /ord all the time, not just during this brief season. KEN TIPPS Minister, Astoria Church of Christ s a volunteer with the Astoria/Knappa Wish- ing Tree program, I’d like to express appreciation to the many community members helping to make the program successful. Numerous hours are spent in the multi-step process from application to delivery, usually accompa- nied by a family food box put together by the Food Basket program. Accomplishing this in time for distribution day, Dec. 19, takes many individuals and groups working together. As a shopper, this is my favor- ite gift buying — imaging a child’s excitement as they open their gifts. As a volunteer, the many hours spent checking and packaging the gifts is lightened by the generosity of our com- munity. To see these kind and thoughtful gifts come in warms my heart over and over. I feel blessed to live in a community that looks out for its members in so many ways. Thank you for all your con- tributions large and small. To- gether we can make the season a little brighter. GERI JOHNSON FICK Astoria Praying for peace W e’ve been tempted to start wearing our “I am a Muslim” armbands. We are not Muslims. But the hateful, divisive language on the air- ways is sickening. We want to say that such antipathy against “them,” is also pain- ful to us. In truth, we don’t have such armbands. But, we do have a symbol that tells us that such Muslims are our brothers and sisters, with whom we stand in solidarity. For us, as /utheran Christians, that symbol is the cross. For us, Jesus is many things, but one powerful thing he is, is an expression of hos- pitality. He welcomes the stranger, includes the outcast, removes walls. So it is very painful to hear on the radio a Christian pastor preach hate- fully about Muslims. It is ig- norant and it is wrong. We think that the loud hate- ful rhetoric of we/they is an at- tempt to have an easy answer in, what is for some people, an uncomfortably diverse world. But we choose to embrace the words of Presiding Bish- op Elizabeth A. Eaton of the Evangelical /utheran Church in America in a recent letter to the Muslim American com- munity when she wrote: “We believe God calls us to resist what is divisive, discriminatory, xenophobic, racist or violent, and we want you to look to us as allies and friends ... “Together with you, we are committed to building a stronger society based on the dignity of each human being, the value of diversity, the holi- ness of creation and the com- mon good ...” In this holy season we pray that the light of peace and love will shine brightly here on the North Coast. PASTOR JOHN AND JACKIE WECKER Astoria Victim’s fault? B lame the victim. Rober- ta Morgan has been hit by inattentive drivers eight times, usually while cross- ing /ief Erikson Drive at the signal on 33rd Street in her motorized wheelchair (“At an Uppertown adult foster home, a crash course in responsibili- ty,” The Daily Astorian, Dec. 14). Ms. Morgan has been faulted for driving her chair in the street, but as a matter of fact, she has little choice. The sidewalks on her route to Safeway, especially on 33rd, are so broken up that maneu- vering a wheelchair on them is dangerous or near impos- sible. Furthermore, residents routinely park cars on the sidewalks on both sides of narrow 33rd. Ms. Morgan has installed Àags on her wheelchair to add to her visibility, but to the clueless she and her wheel- chair are invisible — or at best an annoyance in their way. So let’s blame the victim for hav- ing the gall to have a life, a “home away from home,” for getting in the way of our cars. FRED WHITE Astoria
