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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2016)
COMMUNITY THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016 1B TAKE WHAT YOU CAN FROM IT HOLLYWOOD CALLING THE FATE OF THE TONQUIN f you are a bicyclist who wants to see the country at your leisure, the Trans Am Bike Race is not for you. The bookends of the Transa- merica Trail are Astoria and Yorktown, Virginia, and the object is to complete the journey from one end to the other as fast as possible in a non-stop run for 4,400 miles across 10 states. Each cyclist is on their own, and they are not allowed to have a support crew. The cyclists left Astoria at 8 a.m. Saturday from the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and are shown in a photo courtesy of the of the group’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TransAmBi- keRace. You can keep an eye on the 66 participants via satellite at http://trackleaders.com/transam16 According to the Trans Am Bike Race website (http://transambi- kerace.com), the race lasts anywhere from 15 days to 40 days. “You win by taking what you can from it.” I ON THE ROAD t’s that time of year again, and in the last week or so, some notable cyclists for a cause have set off from the North Coast. • Morgan Shumaker and his friends Aaron Polak, Joe Shaw, and Mike Wilder, all of Omaha, Nebraska, and pictured top, left Asto- ria June 1 on a self-supported ride across the U.S. on the Transamerica Trail to raise money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer research. The group, Team Maddie, is making the journey to honor Mor- gan’s niece, Madelyn Shumaker, who died at 8 years old in Decem- ber 2015, and hopes to raise $16,000 for The Cure Starts Now Foun- dation. You can donate at http://tinyurl.com/dipg-blog “Giant ships, bridges, docks and coastal beauty surrounded us,” the group posted on their blog while in Astoria. “I’m not sure it gets better than Paciic Northwest Coastal biking.” • Bob Quick’s Journey Ride for Autism is a 3-month cycling adventure from Cannon Beach to New York. Although he’s riding to raise money for iPads for the autistic, he will also be thanking ire and law personnel for their outstanding service along the way. You can donate at www.bobquicksjourney.com Bob, pictured bottom, of Roy, Utah, may well be the irst person with 16 stents and a cardiac pacemaker/deibrillator to ride across the U.S. He has advanced stages of coronary artery disease, a hereditary heart problem. He has died twice, yet he learned to walk again after the second time, then took up culinary arts, and competed in and won a cooking competition before getting into shape for this latest project. Accordingly, his message is that “anyone can enjoy the world’s beauty and enjoy life, no matter your disability.” In other words, Quick doesn’t quit. I n February, Native Astorian Christopher James Lang (pictured inset) showed his new independent survival thriller, “A Valley of Ditches” (http://valleyofditches.com) at the Columbian Theater. If you didn’t see it, the movie is about a young woman’s struggle for her life and sanity against a brutal captor, set in the California desert. “So glad to have been able to do a preview screening back home in Astoria,” the 2002 Astoria High School graduate told the Ear. “It’s great to host these events, because I can share with my home town all the knowledge I’ve gained in production. I know there is a lot of interest in the area on this topic, because growing up I was always encouraged by Astoria’s ilm history to make movies, and ilmed a lot of no-budget amateur projects in Astoria and Portland.” This time around, though, Hollywood beckoned. “A Valley of Ditches” was accepted into the 2016 Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles, and was shown June 4. “Screening done!” Chris reported. “It was amazing! We had a great, enthusiastic audience who blew us away with their vocal praise for the ilm. It was incredible and eye-opening to have a world pre- miere on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at the TCL Chinese The- ater (formerly Grauman’s). It’s always been something I dreamed about, but I never thought it would happen this soon.” So what’s next (aside from developing another feature narrative, a short ilm and a television series)? “Now that we’re premiered,” Chris revealed, “we are moving quick to get the ilm distributed. We’re looking forward to the next steps!” I ext week marks the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Woody Point, June 15 and 16, 1811, when John Jacob Astor’s ship, the Tonquin met her fate. Local history buffs will recall the Tonquin brought settlers here in March 1811 to establish Fort Astoria, then sailed north to trade with Native Canadians. In the following account of what happened to the ship, which appeared in The London Literary Gazette, Aug. 4, 1821 (http://tinyurl.com/LLGTonquin), the author claims he heard the story from “the governor of the fort at Columbia River, and the … natives.” Once the Tonquin arrived at Woody Point, near Vancouver Island, B.C., trade was brisk at irst. But Capt. Thorne allowed so many locals on board they outnumbered the crew. Since there were no women among the arrivals, many crew members ig- ured (correctly, as it turned out) there were “hostile intentions.” Thorne, inally realizing his mistake, ordered the Tonquin to get under way. While four men climbed the masts to set the sails, and others were busy hauling up the anchor, the visitors pulled out long knives hidden in their hair and killed most of the crew, and the captain. An illustration of the attack by Edmund Fanning is shown. Eventually, the attackers were forced off the ship by the four men who had been in the rigging, three of whom then took a long-boat in an attempt to reach the Columbia River. Unfortu- nately, the trio were driven ashore by the weather, then killed. The fourth man, the ship’s blacksmith, stayed aboard the Tonquin to avenge his shipmates, even though he was wounded. After laying a trail of gunpowder to the ammunition magazine, he invited the men back aboard to take whatever they wanted from the hold. While they were busy, he set ire to the gunpow- der and jumped overboard before the ship exploded. This version of the story ends with the blacksmith being res- cued by men in nearby canoes. Despite blowing up the Ton- quin, he was saved because the tribe valued his skills. He safely stayed among them, but was never again “allowed to come near the sea-shore.” N FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE OFF TO A FLYING START beautiful day for a pelican release,” the Wildlife Center of the North Coast posted Tuesday on its Facebook page, http://tinyurl. com/wcncFB, which provided the photo shown. “If you listen closely, you can almost hear them saying ‘so long, and thanks for all the ish!’ “These three gorgeous brown pelicans were released back into the wild today after a successful rehab process at our center. Two of them came in starving over the winter, the third arrived this past March and was also starving. All recovered wonderfully though, and were eager to return home today! Fly safe, beautiful pelicans!” Want to be a part of these success stories? Call the WCNC at 503- 338-0331 and become a volunteer. ‘A AXIAL: READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP HOAX, OR NOT? obert Clark alerted the Ear that a bit of history stopped in Astoria on Monday: The Golden Rule peace boat (pic- tured). According to the ship’s website (www.vfpgoldenrule- project.org), in 1958, the Golden Rule sailed from San Pedro, California, toward the U.S. nuclear test zone at Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall Islands in an attempt to stop nuclear bomb tests. She didn’t make it, as the crew wound up being arrested, tried, and jailed in Honolulu before they could get there, but the Golden Rule set an example nonetheless, and inspired later environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherds. Now recovered and restored, the ship personiies the Golden Rule Project, and is owned and operated by the Veter- ans for Peace. The project is committed to ending arms races, abolishing war and nuclear weapons, using nonviolent means and helping the environment. The Golden Rule was in Astoria for such a short time you probably missed her, as she arrived at 4:30 a.m. Monday. The voyage was “uneventful, just like we like it,” Capt. Norm Peterson reported on the boat’s Facebook page, “VPF Golden Rule Project,” which also supplied the photo. She left just before noon the same day, heading for Fleet Week, part of the Portland Rose Festival. Go to https://share.delorme.com/GoldenRule to follow the Golden Rule — literally. R id you see the Clatsop Todo blog post from June 3 about the “Creature found off Oregon coast” (http://tinyurl.com/ noyeshoax)? A photo of the whatsit from the blog is shown. The “creature,” supposedly found near the Iredale shipwreck, is said to be 20 feet long and 3 feet wide, and was found by “local resident Chris Edwards.” The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had been contacted, the post proclaimed. A call to Rick Hargrave at ODFW was in order. He also saw the blog, and said “We did not receive any oficial calls to iden- tify or conirm the photos.” Stay tuned. D emember last summer, when the Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano a mile from the ocean’s surface and 250 miles off the Oregon Coast, experienced thousands of little earthquakes, and inally erupted? It caused quite a stir in the scientiic community, because it was the irst time such activity could be observed in real time, thanks to the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s cabled array camera system. And now you can watch what’s going on down there, too, during 14-minute live broadcasts every three hours at 11, 2, 5, and 8 Paciic Daylight Time at http://tinyurl.com/watch-axial. The HD camera pans, tilts, and zooms to highlight different aspects of a vent on the south side of the seamount, which is still spewing hydrothermal luids at 500°F. The camera also gives you a look at the sea life that abounds there. If you don’t want to wait around, you can always watch record- ings of previous broadcasts, as a link is provided. A screen shot, with a detail of tube worms, is shown. The good news? No danger is expected to coastal residents from the seamount. The bad news? All that sea loor action is not connected to — nor is it relieving any pressure building up on — the Cascadia Subduction Zone. R COMMUNITY NOTES SATURDAY Lower Columbia R/C Society — 8:30 a.m., back room at Uptown Cafe, 1639 S.E. Ensign Lane, War- renton. Local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) chartered radio control model aircraft club meets for breakfast and business. All model aircraft enthusiasts are welcome. For information, call 503-458-5196 or 503-325-0608. Angora Hiking Club — 9 a.m., Sixth Street parking lot. Willapa Bay Nature Trail hike. For information, call Arline LaMear at 503-338-6883. Sit and Stitch Group — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Custom Threads, 1282 Commercial St. Knitting, cro- cheting and needle work. For infor- mation, call 503-325-7780. Pug Socializing Club — 1 p.m., Carruthers Park, Warrenton. For pugs and their owners. For information, call Dave Kinney at 415-827-5190. Join online at http:// tinyurl.com/socialpugs with friend or loved one suffering from a serious brain (mental) illness. For information, contact Myra Kero at 503-738-6165, or k7erowood@q. com, or go to www.nami.org Columbia Northwestern Mod- el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in Hammond. Group runs trains on HO-scale layout. For information, call Don Carter at 503-325-0757. Authentic Spiritual Conver- sations — 3 to 4:15 p.m., Seaside Public Library conference room, 1131 Broadway. Exploring spiritual questions, doubts, practices and longings in a space where every- one’s needs are respectfully held. All faiths, including “spiritual but not religious,” agnostic and atheist are welcome. For information, email info@cgifellowship.org or call 916- 307-9790. Spinning Circle — 1 to 3 p.m., Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296 Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel. For information, call 503-325-5598 or go to http://astoriaiberarts.com SUNDAY National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group — 2 to 3:30 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131 Broadway. Family to Family Support Group, for anyone Lower Columbia River Military Oficers Association of America — 5 p.m., buffet dinner, Serendipity Caffé, 160 Main Ave., Warrenton. Erik Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, speaks about health care. All U.S. armed forces oficers, former oficers, active duty, reserve, retired, warrant oficers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and public health of- icers are welcome. For information, contact R. “Steve” Stevens at 503- 861-9832. Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m., Seaside American Legion, 1315 Broadway. For information, call 503-738-5111. No cost; suggested $5 tip to the instructor. 33rd St. Needlework, hardanger, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and quilting. All are welcome. For information, call 503-325-1364 or 503-325-7960. Mothers of Preschoolers — 10 to 11:30 a.m., Crossroads Com- munity Church, 40618 Old Highway 30, Svensen. MOPS group is a time for moms to relax and enjoy each others’ company. For information, call 503-502-3118. Chair Exercises for Seniors — 9 to 9:45 a.m., Astoria Senior Center, 1111 Exchange St. For in- formation, call 503-325-3231. Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m., Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do- nation $3 for those older than 60; $6.75 for those younger than 60. For information, call Michelle Lew- is at 503-861-4200. Scandinavian Workshop — 10 a.m., First Lutheran Church, 725 Columbia Senior Diners — 11:30 a.m., 1111 Exchange St. Cost MONDAY is $6. For information, or to have a meal delivered, call 503-325-9693. Warrenton Senior Lunch Pro- gram — noon, Warrenton Commu- nity Center, 170 S.W. Third St. Sug- gested donation of $5 for seniors and $7 for those younger than 60. For information, or to volunteer, call 503-861-3502 Monday or Thursday. Astoria Rotary Club — noon, second loor of the Astoria Elks Lodge, 453 11th St. Guests always welcome. For information, go to www.AstoriaRotary.org Parkinson’s Support Group — 1 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church library, 565 12th St. For informa- tion, call 503-440-1970 or 503-440- 1985. See NOTES, Page 2B
