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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2016)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 I Stop the whistle am writing to express my disappointment over the starling whistle at the Co- lumbia House condos not far from my home. I wrote about I 5A *UDWHIXOIRURXU¿UVWUHVSRQGHUV Job lies recently heard a radio ad- vertisement sponsored by Oregon LNG. The voice said that the proposed Oregon LNG project would create “thousands” of jobs. Thou- sands? Whoa, really! This facility is proposed, thus job numbers related to it are speculative. I wondered are there any precedents for this FODLPDUHWKHUHDQ\OLTXH¿HG natural gas (LNG) plants op- erating in the U.S. that can validate this job claim? It turns out there is a LNG plant in Alaska. It is the Nikis- ki Plant, on the Kenai Penin- sula. It has been in operation, with a short break, for over 40 years. In the re-applica- tion process, during the short EUHDN WKH SODQW ¿OHG SDSHU work with the Department of Energy. On the application, the Nikiski Plant, operated by Conoco Phillips, stated that it “employed 50 direct employ- ees.” (Aaron Selbig, KBBI, Homer, Alaska) Fifty employees, not thou- sands, as purported in the ad- vertisement. There would be some short-term positions in addition, during the construc- tion phase. Even counting short term positions, thou- sands is a grandiose number. Further, not all of those 50 long-term employees would be local hires. If the Nikiski plant is an example of what happens in actual practice — and remember it has been operating for over 40 years — Oregon LNG would not bring a large number of good long- term jobs to our local area. In addition, there are a number of environmental concerns with the proposal, not the least of which is the location. Building on a land- ¿OOFRPSRVHGRIGUHGJHGULY- er sediments is not generally considered a good idea. I have not asked the local planning authorities; however, I would venture a guess that the Ski- panon Peninsula would not be considered a safe place to build a single-family dwell- ing. If it is not a safe place for a house, why would anyone consider it a safe place for the processing, storage, and dis- SHQVLQJ RI ÀDPPDEOH SURG- ucts? As a resident of Hammond, I want other Warrenton-Ham- mond residents to consider this information. The Oregon LNG project would not bring us the “thousands” of prom- ised jobs, and it would present safety hazards. Oregon LNG LV QRW D JRRG ¿W IRU :DUUHQ- ton. KATHLEEN ADAMS Hammond FRIDAY EXCHANGE n Christmas Day, as I sat in my living room enjoying the holiday, there were a couple of instances where I heard sirens go by outside. That in it- self is not unusual, as I live two blocks above the roundabout, and the sound of passing sirens is very common. What hit me very hard was an extreme feel- ing of gratefulness for the people in the emergency vehicles. O While I feel that none of us takes our first responders for granted, I felt that during the holidays we really owe them some special words of ap- preciation. So on behalf of the gen- eral population, I want to wish all of the emergency medical technicians, drivers, police, firefighters, doc- tors, nurses and any other respond- ers I may have missed a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Plus, a special thanks to those who gave up their holiday so the rest of us could enjoy ours in a safe, peaceful, and worry-free manner. These words don’t seem to be enough, and they’re a little late, but it’s the best I can do. With all my heart, thank you. WILLIAM BELL Astoria ant way to connect to that part of the brain that is being taken by disease. This not only benefits the person with dementia, but it also benefits those of us who choose to take care of them. MINDY STOKES Administrator JO BANTA Administrative assistant Clatsop Care Memory Community Hard choices this a year or two ago, when- ever it was they did this the last time. Every evening between approximately 4 and 6 p.m., someone at Columbia House activates a whistle intended to drive away the large number of starlings that gather under- neath their building, which is built on pilings over the wa- ter about two blocks from my home. It has also happened occasionally at about mid- day, but usually just in the early evening. They started doing this again about two weeks ago. $W ¿UVW LW ZDV IRU MXVW YHU\ brief periods. Now, the length of each whistle blast and the total duration of the exercise seems to have grown consid- erably. I don’t doubt that there is an excellent reason for the Columbia House owners to want or need to drive away the starlings from under their building. However, I found it very DQQR\LQJ WKH ¿UVW WLPH WKH\ did this, and it is no less so for me now. I work in a home RI¿FH,¿QGLWGLI¿FXOWWRFRQ- centrate on my work when their whistle is sounding. It is a shrill and grating sound, nothing at all like the long throaty sighs of the great ships that pass by our window. But more than the annoy- ance I experience from the sound itself is the irritation I experience over the thought- lessness and, in my opinion, the rudeness of the Columbia House owners relative to this issue. It is an irritation that be- gins as a simmering anger and builds to a monumental rage. I end up beside myself with distraction. “How dare they do that?” I think. Perhaps the Columbia House folks are to be credit- ed for trying to deal with the starlings in a humane way. It is not, however, humane for me and the few of my neigh- bors who have mentioned this as an irritation for them, as well. I think what they are do- ing is a public nuisance and that they should be prevented from doing this. I can sympa- thize with their need, but they QHHG WR ¿QG D VROXWLRQ WKDW does not impinge on the peace of mind of their neighbors. PAUL HAIST Astoria means that voters will not be empowered to know what Kudos for panel special interests and corpora- ewis and Clark’s Corps tions are backing candidates of Discovery had one of and their positions in the 2016 LWVORQJHVWVWD\VLQWKH3DFL¿F elections. Without knowing Northwest at the little-known where the money supporting Point William campsite at these candidates is coming today’s Tongue Point in No- from, we cannot make in- formed decision at the ballot vember-December 1805. An interpretive panel box. That said, disclosing polit- highlighting the campsite has recently been erected on the ical spending is not enough. east end of the Astoria River- We need to go one step fur- walk at Alderbrook Lagoon, ther by amplifying the voices along with a commemorative of average voters to combat bench honoring Keith G. Hay, “the groups that are spending co-author of a landmark study hundreds of millions of dol- commissioned in 1962 by the ODUV WR LQÀXHQFH RXU IHGHUDO Interior Department’s Bu- elections.” reau of Outdoor Recreation One way to do this is WR GH¿QH ZKDW ODWHU EHFDPH through the Congressional the National Lewis and Clark bill, The Government by the Historic Trail. People Act (HR 20). This bill The monument is stunning uses public matching funds to thanks to the 12 students from augment the impact of small the Tongue Point Job Corps donors. This is a way to help Center who prepared the site make sure that “all citizens and assisted with the installa- get an even break in elec- tion. Combined, they contrib- tions,” not just those giving uted 168 hours. Their gener- unlimited sums of money. ous donation, which helped us MADDIE secure a grant from the Lewis KUSCH-KAVANAGH Portland and Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment, made this proj- ect possible. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding Reinstate Balzer support of Jonah Dart-Mc- ¿UVWPHW0LNH%DO]HUDERXW Lean, maintenance supervisor 15 years ago, when we at Astoria Parks and Recre- ZHUH ERWK SROLFH RI¿FHUV , ation. was immediately impressed With their help, more than by his sense of community 40,000 visitors and residents and dedication to the people who use the Riverwalk annu- he served. I noticed that even ally will have greater insight while working as a police of- into the Lewis and Clark sto- ¿FHU KH ZDV PRVW SURXG RI ry. KLV VHUYLFH ZLWK WKH ¿UH GLV- MARK JOHNSON trict. I was pleased when he President, Oregon Chap- was promoted to Fire Chief ter, Lewis and Clark Trail DIWHU VHUYLQJ DV D ¿UH¿JKWHU Heritage Foundation for over 30 years. As a Can- Portland non Beach resident, it was comforting to know that a man of his experience and Make it even competency was heading the he editorial board at The department. Upon returning from va- Daily Astorian is right — nothing much will change cation in mid-October, I was about dark money and cam- shocked to hear of his dis- SDLJQ¿QDQFHODZV³XQWLOYRW- missal and the manner in ers realize political spending which it was conducted. The determines who wins and los- board has stated that it was a es in our economy, courts and personnel matter and would corridors of power” (“Power not comment further. Over the years I have ob- goes to the political spend- served Balzer’s pride in, and ers,” Dec. 28). The dark money riders FRPPLWPHQW WR WKH ¿UH GLV- on the budget package will WULFW DQG WKH ¿UH¿JKWHUV ZKR hamper a functioning democ- worked with him. Under racy. Blocking the IRS and Chief Balzer’s direction, the the Securities and Exchange district opened a new station Commission from making in Arch Cape, acquired a new new rules to disclose anony- EUXVKWUXFNIRU¿JKWLQJZLOG- mous campaign contributions ¿UHV DQG UHSODFHG DQ DJLQJ L I T ladder truck. Chief Balzer’s PDQDJHPHQWRIWKH%LVWUR¿UH several years ago no doubt saved much of the downtown business district. A board member indicated that Balzer was very strong operationally, but not admin- istratively. I highly doubt that the alleged lack of adminis- WUDWLYH VNLOO ZDV VXI¿FLHQW WR merit his termination. Until the board can demonstrate that it was, Chief Balzer should be reinstated. ERIC REITER Tolovana Park Music, dementia e were very pleased to read the article written by Katheryn Houghton in the Dec. 9 paper regarding mu- sic re-engaging the minds of dementia patients (“Music re-engages minds of demen- tia patients,” The Daily As- torian). There have been multiple articles in The Daily Astori- an over the last months rais- ing awareness of the grow- ing population of people with dementia. By the year 2025, the number of Ore- gonians living with this dis- ease is expected to rise from 76,000 to 110,000 (Alzhei- mer’s Association). Since opening Clatsop Care Memory Community in July of this year, we have used music therapy to create well-being in our residents diagnosed with dementia. The music not only brings happiness but stimulates the brain as well. Our activities director has loaded several iPods for residents, depend- ing on their musical interests throughout the decades. This information is captured in a “Life Story,” which families provide before their loved ones move in. We are also able to offer weekly sing-a-longs with lo- cal musicians, who provide live entertainment. A grant has recently been secured to offer bimonthly concerts throughout 2016 for our res- idents. Live music makes them “come alive,” wit- nessed in singing, dancing, clapping, and laughing. It is wonderful to know that more attention is being paid to this growing disease and that there are ways to cultivate joy for those af- flicted. Music is an import- W oncerning the story about Roberta Morgan on Dec. 14 (“At adult foster home, a crash course in re- sponsibility,” The Daily As- torian): First off is a correction to the story concerning one of the many reported incidents. This one occurred on May 22, 2013. In this case Ms. Morgan hit our stopped ve- hicle on the passenger side door, and the Astoria Police Department press release on May 22 stated: “While the vehicle was stopped the mo- torized wheelchair exited the curb and struck the side of the Scion. It did not appear that Morgan slowed prior to exiting the sidewalk and en- tering the roadway.” So what is the probabili- ty that someone would have eight traffic/pedestrian acci- dents in a two-year period, and five this year alone? Based on this number, how many near misses have there been? This would suggest that her behavior is creating the potentially lethal scenar- ios. While we all have a shared duty to watch out for fellow citizens, why are the people truly responsible not doing their part to prevent this? This includes Ms. Morgan, her family, the foster home, and the state of Oregon. Peo- ple should be responsible for their own actions. If Ms. Morgan does not have the requisite judg- ment and ability to operate a motorized vehicle (yes the police described it as a mo- torized), then the people re- sponsible for her care need to do their jobs, even if it means some hard choices. As to the point of denying Ms. Morgan her indepen- dence, the article described alternatives to allow her to enjoy those activities, while not risking her life or the safety of the public. I do not understand the assertion that somehow the city of Astoria or drivers are at fault. I would hate to see the next Daily Astorian article about Ms. Morgan telling the story of a more serious inju- ry or her death, and having some poor driver trauma- tized, because we were more concerned about her “inde- pendence” than her safety. RICHARD WOLF Astoria C Space: The visionaries take over WLRQRIDQHZHUDLQVSDFHÀLJKW Musk predicts that the reusable rocket will reduce the cost of ac- cessing space a hundredfold. This ractured and divided as we depends, of course, on whether the are, on one thing we can wear and tear and stresses of the launch make the refurbishing pro- agree: 2015 was a miserable hibitively expensive. Assuming it’s year. The only cheer was pro- not, and assuming Musk is even 10 vided by Lincoln Chafee and percent right, reusability revolution- L]HVWKHHFRQRPLFVRIVSDFHÀLJKW WKH 3OXWR À\E\ WZR Which both democra- separate phenomena), tizes and commercializes it. Which means space as well as one seminal travel has now slipped the aeronautical break- surly bonds of government through. — presidents, Congress, On Dec. 21, Elon NASA bureaucracies. Its Musk’s SpaceX, after future will now be driven far more by a competitive launching 11 satellites into marketplace with its mul- orbit, returned its 15-story tiplicity of independent booster rocket, upright and Charles actors, including deeply intact, to a landing pad at Krauthammer PRWLYDWHG¿QDQFLDOO\VDY- Cape Canaveral. That’s a vy and visionary entrepre- $60 million mountain of machinery neurs. To be sure, the enterprise is not — recovered. (The traditional boost- entirely free of government. Af- er rocket either burns up or disap- ter all, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket pears into some ocean.) landed on a Cape Canaveral pad By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER :DVKLQJWRQ3RVW:ULWHUV*URXS F The reusable rocket has arrived. Arguably, it arrived a month earlier when Blue Origin, a privately owned RXW¿WFUHDWHGE\-HII%H]RV$PD]RQ CEO and owner of The Washington Post) launched and landed its own booster rocket, albeit for a suborbit- DO ÀLJKW %XW ZKHWKHU \RX DWWULEXWH priority to Musk or Bezos, the two events together mark the inaugura- formerly used to launch Air Force Atlas rockets. Moreover, initial financing for these ventures al- ready depends in part on NASA contracts, such as resupplying the space station. That, however, is not much dif- ferent from the growth of aviation a century ago. It hardly lived off air- show tickets or Channel-crossing Space travel has now slipped the surly bonds of government — presidents, Congress, NASA bureaucracies. Its future will now be driven far more by a competitive marketplace with its multiplicity of independent actors, including deeply motivated, financially savvy and visionary entrepreneurs. prize money. What really propelled the infant industry was government contracts. For useful things like mail — and bomb — delivery. The first and most visible con- sequence of the new entrepreneur- ial era will be restoring America as a spacefaring nation. Yes, I know we do spectacular robotic explo- rations. But our ability to toss hu- mans into space disappeared when NASA retired the space shuttle — without a replacement. To get an astronaut into just low Earth orbit, therefore, we have to hitch a ride on Russia’s Soyuz with its 1960s technology. At $82 mil- lion a pop. Yet, today, two private companies already have contracts with NASA to send astronauts to the space station as soon as 2017. The real prize, however, lies be- yond Earth orbit. By now, everyone realizes that the space station was a colossal mistake, a white elephant in search of a mission. Its main contribution is to study the biologi- cal effects of long-term weightless- ness. But we could have done that in Skylab, a modest space station that our political betters decided four decades ago to abandon. With increasing privatization, such decisions will no longer be exclusively Washington’s. When President Barack Obama came into office, the plan was to return to the moon by 2020. A year later, he de- cided we should go to an asteroid instead. Why? Who knows. Today future directions are be- ing set by private companies with growing technical experience and competing visions. Musk is fixated on colonizing Mars, Bezos on see- ing “millions of people living and working in space,” and Richard Branson on space tourism by way of Virgin Galactic (he has already sold 700 tickets to ride at $250,000 each). And Moon Express, another private enterprise, is not even in- terested in hurling about clumsy, air-breathing humans. It is bent on robotic mining expeditions to the moon. My personal preference is a permanent manned moon base, which would likely already exist had our politicians not decided to abandon the moon in the early 1970s. We have no idea which plan is more likely to succeed and flour- ish. But the beauty of privatization is that we don’t get just one shot at it. Our trajectory in space will now be the work of a functioning mar- ket of both ideas and commerce. It no longer will hinge on the whims of only tangentially interested pol- iticians. Space has now entered the era of the Teslas, the Edisons and the Wright brothers. From now on, they will be doing more and more of the driving. Which means we are actually — finally — going some- where again.