143RD YEAR, NO. 227
ONE DOLLAR
WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016
Support
builds for
embattled
shipyard
iNaturalist
Volunteers are invited
to explore nature
during BioBlitz
Advisory group hopes
to relocate Astoria
Marine Construction
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
F
or many, exploring nature
used to mean pinning butter-
fl ies to a board or capturing
bugs in a jar.
Lewis and Clark N ational
Historical Park wants visitors to
rekindle that wonder by volun-
teering as citizen scientists this
weekend for a nation wide effort
to record the biological diversity
in more than 100 national parks.
During the BioBlitz event
today and Saturday, visitors
are invited to go around Netul
Landing and identify every liv-
ing thing they come across, with
a focus on pollinators such as
birds, insects and plants. Experts
will lead hikes to help inventory
different species.
Rather than grabbing or kill-
ing the various pollinators, vis-
itors will be encouraged to take
photographs of the species and
upload them through the cell-
phone application, iNaturalist.
Photos can also be uploaded
at iNaturalist.org, an online com-
munity for reporting personal
observations of any plant or ani-
mal species in the world.
All experts need is a clear
photo to properly identify
many species, Lewis and Clark
National Historical Park Super-
intendent Scott Tucker said, and
not a board pinned with insects.
“This is a great way to show
folks they can come out into
nature and utilize technology
to enhance their experience,”
Tucker said.
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
‘Thousands of people will be able to see the
parks in a different way than they ever had
before and learn about the natural resources.’
Scott Tucker
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park superintendent
Critical for fi shing
“The long-term impact of the closure of
AMCCO on our fi shing fl eet could have
severe economic consequences, as the loss
of the fl eet will impact fi sh processing and
other businesses related to the fi shing indus-
try,” Löfman wrote. “Commercial fi shing rep-
resents 18.6 percent ($142.4 million) of all
earned income in Clatsop County.”
Löfman, who also sent the letter to a long
list of local , state and national legislators, said
she put the letter out to raise awareness about
the clear need for the shipyard.
See SHIPYARD, Page 8A
National attention
National parks have held indi-
vidual BioBlitz events in the
past. This weekend will be the
fi rst time national parks make the
effort simultaneously.
The event is part of the
National Park Service’s ongoing
centennial celebration .
A Jumbotron will be set up at
the National Mall in Washing-
ton, D.C., during the two-day
event to showcase each national
park’s fi ndings. What is found in
Astoria may be broadcast on the
Jumbotron in the nation’s capi-
tal. The same feed on the Jum-
botron will be projected at Netul
Landing, for local participants to
see what is being found across
the country.
“Thousands of people will
be able to see the parks in a dif-
ferent way than they ever had
before and learn about the natural
resources,” Tucker said.
Science Central
When visitors arrive at
BioBlitz, they will have a variety
of ways to participate.
See BIOBLITZ, Page 8A
The advisory group overseeing the cleanup
of Astoria Marine Construction Co.’s contam-
inated shipyard has asked the state to support
a public-private partnership to relocate the
business.
Denise Löfman, director of the Columbia
River Estuary Study Taskforce and chairwoman
of the advisory group, wrote a letter to Robert
Williams, the cleanup project manager for the
state Department of Environmental Quality.
In 2012, the shipyard avoided a listing as
a federal Superfund site when the U.S. Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency gave the state
cleanup oversight. The state was taking com-
ments until last week on a plan to cap contam-
inated soil at the shipyard and remove contam-
inated sediment from the shipways along the
Lewis and Clark River. The cleanup, estimated
to cost more than $2 million, is expected to
close Astoria Marine once it starts.
Submitted Photo
Citizen scientists identify and measure dragonfly larvae at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.
ABOUT THE EXPERTS
Experts from across the region will be on hand to
educate and assist citizen scientists during the
BioBlitz event at Lewis and Clark National Historical
Park.
• Jerry Freilich, a former research coordinator at
Olympic National Park and director of the North Coast &
Cascades Science Learning Network. He has worked in
six national parks since 1978 as a ranger, naturalist and
research scientist .
• Robert Michael Pyle, an expert in butterfly science
and conservation for more than 50 years. He has a Ph.D
in butterfly ecology from Yale University. He lives and
studies maritime butterflies in Gray s River, Washington.
• Rich Hatfield, a senior conservation biologist for the
Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization
that protects wildlife through the conservation of inverte-
brates and their habitat. He is a founder of Bumble Bee
Watch, a citizen science website to track and conserve
North America’s bumble bees.
• Jim Johnson, an expert studying the carnivorous
insect Odonata since 1995 and photographing them
since 2006. His focus is on the identification and
distribution of Pacific Northwest species with occa-
sional forays to other areas of the continent and Latin
America.
• Candace Fallon, a conservation biologist at the
Xerces Society. She is a coauthor of the society’s latest
book, “Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract
and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects.”
• Mike Patterson, a biologist, educator and professional
counter of things living in Astoria.
• Kathleen Sayce, a Willapa Bay-based ecologist. She
is a board member of Society for Pacific Coast Native
Iris, South Pacific County Community Foundation, and
Filipendula Chapter, Native Plant Society of Oregon.
• Tony Johnson, chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation.
He is the education director for the Shoalwater Bay Indian
Tribe, and a teacher of students of all ages.
IF YOU GO
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is hosting BioBlitz, an event where citizen scientists are invited to join
experts to explore and inventory the park’s pollinators, plants and other species.
Those interested can sign up online at Eventbrite.com, or just show up.
BioBlitz begins at 8 p.m. Friday for Moth Night. The event continues Saturday for a sunrise bird count from 6 a.m. to 9
a.m., and biodiversity festival and inventories from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will meet for the events at Netul Landing.
For more information, contact the park ar (503) 861-2471 or go online to www.nps.gov/lewi
Grads get free
pass at Column
Announcement comes
after students charged to
park on prom night
By DERRICK DePLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
High school students who want to mark
graduation or prom with photos at the Asto-
ria Column can park for free.
In a statement Thursday, Mayor Arline
LaMear and Jordan Schnitzer, a Portland
real estate magnate and philanthropist who
is president of Friends of the Astoria Col-
umn, said Astoria, Warrenton and Knappa
high school students who show student iden-
tifi cation will not have to pay $5 at the Col-
umn for their celebrations through June.
The announcement came a day after
The Daily Astorian wrote about Joe Di Bar-
tolomeo, an attorney who was surprised by
the $5 fee when he went to take photos with
his daughter, Libby, an Astoria High School
student, on prom night in early May.
See COLUMN, Page 8A
Army veteran enjoys sharing new ideas
Every Wednesday and Friday
for the next few weeks, The Daily
Astorian features an area teacher
as we head toward graduation and
summer break.
Tim Mahoney
John Jacob Astor Elementary
School, s econd-g rade general
education
Why did you become a
teacher, and what was your
biggest surprise?
I initially thought about becom-
ing a teacher my fi rst year in col-
lege. I had spent three years in
the Army, and after being dis-
charged, started up at Portland
Community College taking a few
courses before moving on to Lew-
is-Clark State College. An instruc-
Teachers Talk About Teaching
tor said she thought I would be
good with kids, and I had already
been a counselor at some summer
camps, so I fi gured maybe she was
right. The biggest surprise to me
was my ability to control a room
of 25 students.
things. And when you have all
those personalities with similari-
ties and differences, it makes each
day unique.
What part of the job do
you enjoy the most?
Education in America is just
like its people — it loves fads, the
next great thing, etc. New ideas
and fresh philosophies have an
important place, but it’s also
nice to let things work for awhile
before we discard them and start
something new.
— Edward Stratton
What I enjoy most is being
able to share new ideas with stu-
dents. They all come to you with
some sort of prior knowledge of
at least a few things, but there’s
plenty they don’t know. That’s the
best part — teaching them new
What is the most
challenging part
of your job?
Tim Mahoney