THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
1B
ONE OF THE CHOSEN FEW
1887 NOTES
D
an Campbell of Seaside
experienced what he calls
“my 20 minutes of fame” when
he appeared Dec. 19 as a con-
testant on ABC’s popular game
show “Wheel of Fortune.”
So how did he wind up there?
Dan and his wife, Karen, were
at the Chinook Winds Casino in
Lincoln City on July 16, when
he sat in an auditorium with 300
other hopeful contestants, hoping
his name would be drawn. “What
were the chances?” he thought.
Pretty good, as it turns out. His was the eighth name chosen.
The next step was an audition round in Portland, and he wound
up as a finalist. “Three weeks later, I received an email,” he wrote.
“I made it. It might have been the way I played, or the way I looked,
but I think my introduction was the final hook: ‘Married to my high
school sweetheart for 45 years; building contractor by day, sus-
pense writer by night.’”
Dan and his wife went to Culver City, California, on Nov. 10 for
the show tapings. There were “18 contestants with three alternates,
all in a room with lawyers, and makeup crew and show coordina-
tors, going over the 34 points of what we could do and couldn’t do
before each of us signed our life away … Pictures, and practice,
and final makeup and a chance meeting with Vanna as she stopped
to say ‘hi’ and wish us luck on her way to makeup.”
“From the armchair of my TV room the game plays easy,” he
observed. “On stage it’s the puzzle, the category, the letter board —
the wheel — and don’t forget the smiles and the endless clapping
thrown in, to boot. Stage fright, not an issue, but sensory overload
… I smile when I think about the gal who won ($96,860). Married,
their first child due at any time, just purchased a house, and all she
wanted was to win enough money to put up a fence in their back-
yard. That’s what the ‘Wheel’ is all about.”
“Like a finely tuned machine, ‘Wheel of Fortune’ continues its
journey of 34 years and counting,” Dan added. “And out of the thou-
sands who audition, I felt privileged to be one of the chosen few.”
BACK TO WORK
T
he 75-foot aluminum-hulled pilot boat Chinook, built by
Seattle-based Kvichak Marine Industries (www.kvichak.
com), began serving with the Columbia River Bar Pilots in 2000.
In 2013, it was traded in when a new pilot boat, the Astoria, was
ordered.
Astorian Peter Marsh spotted the Chinook, which by then had
been renamed Pacific Chinook, at the Kvichak boatyard in 2015.
Not much has been heard about it since — except that it had been
sold to the Pacific Pilotage Authority in Vancouver, B.C.
But recently Peter spotted a story in the December 2016 issue
of Western Mariner magazine announcing the arrival of the vessel
at Sea Legend Pilotage in Port Hardy, B.C., after an “extensive
refit” and refurbishing at Kvichak to “bring it into compliance with
Canadian standards.” The reborn Chinook, looking quite spiffy, is
shown courtesy of the Port Hardy Harbor Authority (www.port-
hardyharbour.ca).
“(The Pacific Chinook will probably work another 10 to 15
years, at least,” Peter observed.
LUPATIA’S SAD END
few New Year’s facts about 1887 in the Sunday, Jan. 1,
1888, edition of The Daily Morning Astorian:
• There are 989 structures in Astoria.
• There were 87 deaths in Astoria in 1887.
• One hundred and twenty-one births in Astoria in 1887, 63
boys and 58 girls.
• The rainfall for 1884 was 49.38 inches; 1885, 56.16 inches;
1886, 71.59 inches; 1887, 92.09 inches.
• From memoranda furnished by A. M. Twombley, it appears
that during the years 1886 and 1887 there were 942 arrests made
by the police of this city: 311 charged with drunkenness, 113
vagabonds, 10 crazy, 49 state cases (including larceny, etc.), 110
smoking opium, 189 disorderly conduct, and the balance for mis-
cellaneous offenses and petty misdemeanors.
A
T
he year 1881 was an ugly one for ships coming to
the Columbia River, and it started out with a particu-
larly grisly wreck, that of the British bark Lupatia on Jan.
3, according to Lewis & Dryden’s Marine History of the
Pacific Northwest, published in 1895.
Sailing from Hiogo, Japan, she was heading up the coast
in a dense fog, and approaching the Tillamook Lighthouse,
which was not lit, as it was still under construction. The
lighthouse is pictured, courtesy of the Cannon Beach His-
tory Center and Museum.
“About 8 p.m., Capt. Wheeler, who was in charge of the
work (at the lighthouse), was startled by the sound of voices
outside,” Lewis & Dryden’s reports. “The weather was
thick, with a strong southwest gale, but they at once sighted
the red light of a ship inshore, and heard a terror-stricken
voice give the order, ‘Hard aport.’
“Capt. Wheeler immediately ordered lanterns placed
in the uncompleted tower, and as quickly as possible a
large bonfire was lighted. The glare lit up the scene so that
Wheeler and his men could plainly see the vessel struggling
to escape, less than 600 feet away. Her yards were aback,
and she seemed to be working out of the dangerous place,
but soon afterward the red light disappeared, and no further
cries were heard from those on board.
“The watchers were hopeful that she had succeeded in
working out of her perilous position, but when morning
dawned a shattered topmast and other portions of the rig-
ging were discovered above the surface of the water near the
rocks alongshore. Not a soul was left to tell the tale, but the
next day the bodies of 12 men were washed up on the beach.
Whining about them was a half-grown shepherd dog, which
had been more fortunate than his human companions.
“The Lupatia was in command of the mate, B. H. Raven,
her master, Irvine, having died at sea on the way out from
Antwerp. She carried a crew of 16 men, and most of the
bodies were recovered, although the difficulty of commu-
nication with the coast at that point necessitated their burial
on the spot.”
HOMEWARD BOUND
‘BLADES SPINNING OVER THE OCEAN’
lternative energy fans, rejoice! America’s first offshore
wind farm became operational on Dec. 12 off Block Island,
Rhode Island. Built by Deepwater Wind (http://dwwind.com),
and taking two years to install, the project came in on time and
on budget (a small miracle in these times), according to Deep-
water’s press release. A photo of the completed project is shown,
courtesy of Deepwater.
More than 300 local workers helped make the wind farm
happen. Deepwater believes that the offshore wind industry
can create thousands of American jobs, noting that the industry
already has proven the point in Europe, employing almost 60,000
workers.
The 30-megawatt, five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm has
240-foot-long blades, and is connected to the mainland grid via a
submarine cable. It is expected to lower carbon dioxide emissions
by 40,000 tons annually. “That’s 800,000 tons over its 20-year
life — the equivalent of taking over 150,000 cars off the road!”
Deepwater claims. Not to mention, the wind farm is projected
to save Block Island residents perhaps as much as 40 percent on
their energy bills.
“Rhode Island is proud to be home to the nation’s first off-
shore wind farm,” Rhode Island Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said,
“and I’m proud to be the only governor in America who can say
we have steel in the water and blades spinning over the ocean.”
A
ONE-WAY TICKET
HOW HIGH CAN IT GO?
ast May, Milton, the wrong-way brown booby, made
himself at home on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir
while it was out at sea. Initially, Milton came and went as
he pleased, but eventually he stayed aboard and rode the
ship back to its home port in Astoria.
“It seems that when lost at sea, even the birds know
whom to turn to for help!” a post on the Coast Guard Face-
book page noted at the time.
But Astoria is a bit chilly for Milton, so he was sent to
the Wildlife Center of the North Coast (www.coastwild-
life.org) to be looked after until he could be transferred
to a warmer, more booby-friendly climate. Incidentally,
while staying at the WCNC, it was discovered that Mil-
ton is actually Mildred. She is pictured courtesy of volun-
teer Beth Wise.
At last, Mildred was ready to go, and on Dec. 19, cour-
tesy of Alaska Airlines — who sponsored her flight — she
headed for the sunny (and warm) skies of California. Fare-
well, Mildred.
L
he headline “19-Meter (63.3 feet) North Atlantic Wave Sets
New World Record” on gCaptain.com was an eye-catcher
(http://tinyurl.com/whoa-wave). It turns out an “expert committee”
at the World Meteorological Organization conferred the “new
world record significant wave height” title after the wave was mea-
sured by an automated buoy located between Iceland and the U.K.
In case you’re wondering, “significant wave height” actually
means “the average of the highest one-third of waves” — meaning
single waves could well be a lot larger. Pictured, a North Sea wave,
courtesy of kenmantx (http://tinyurl.com/NSeawave).
The last wave height record, also set in the North Atlantic,
was for 59.96 feet on Dec. 8, 2007. What’s puzzling is that the
new record-breaker occurred Feb. 4, 2013. What took so long to
announce it?
T
storia is very conscious of its large sea lion population. Not
so, Newstead, Tasmania — which is 30 miles inland — so
when a 440-pound Australian fur seal wandered into town and
squished a car, it was a bit of a shock, ABC reports (http://tinyurl.
com/tas-seal). Distancewise, it would be like one of Astoria’s
pinnipeds popping up in Jewell.
The seal is pictured, courtesy of the Tasmania Police, who
dubbed him Lou-seal. Local wildlife folks figured the critter
arrived via a small estuary, and was driven to roam so far from
the sea by hormones. Or, perhaps he wanted a snack.
“In the past we’ve found seals in a range of unusual loca-
tions,” one wildilfe official told ABC, “from paddocks to car
parks, to even last year we had to retrieve one from a toilet block
in a cemetery.”
All’s well that ends well: Lou-seal was tranquilized and given
a one-way ticket back to the coast.
A
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Sit and Stitch Group — 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m., Custom Threads, 1282
Commercial St. Knitting, crocheting
and needle work. For information,
call 503-325-7780.
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.
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://astoriafiberarts.com
SUNDAY — NEW YEAR’S DAY
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.
MONDAY
Chair Exercises for Seniors —
9 to 9:45 a.m., Astoria Senior Center,
1111 Exchange St. For information,
call 503-325-3231.
Scandinavian Workshop — 10
a.m., First Lutheran Church, 725
33rd St. Needlework, hardanger,
knitting, crocheting, embroidery and
quilting. All are welcome. For infor-
mation, call 503-325-1364 or 503-
325-7960.
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 Lewis at
503-861-4200.
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., 1111 Exchange St. Cost
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.
Knochlers Pinochle Group —
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside.
Cost is $1 per regular session per
person. Players with highest and
second highest scores split the prize.
Game is designed for players 55 and
older, but all ages are welcome.
Mahjong for Experienced
Players — 1 p.m., Astoria
Senior Center, 1111 Exchange
St. For information, call 503-325-
3231.
Line Dancing for Seniors — 3
to 4:30 p.m., Astoria Senior Center,
1111 Exchange St. Not for begin-
ners. For information, call 503-325-
3231.
Astoria Toastmasters — 6:30
p.m., Hotel Elliot conference room,
357 12th St. Visitors welcome. For
information, go to www.toastmas-
ters.org or call Christa Svensson at
206-790-2869.
Stewardship Quilting Group
— 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., First Lu-
theran Church, 725 33rd St. All are
welcome. Donations of material al-
ways appreciated. For information,
call Janet Kemp at 503-325-4268.
Do Nothing Club — 10 a.m.
to noon, 24002 U St., Ocean Park,
Wash. Men’s group. For information,
call Jack McBride at 360-665-2721.
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation of $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60. For
information, call Michelle Lewis at
503-861-4200.
TUESDAY
World War II Warbirds — 8
a.m., Labor Temple Diner, 934
Duane St.
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., 1111 Exchange St. The
cost is $6. For information, or to
have a meal delivered, call 503-325-
9693.
Astoria Lions Club — noon,
Astoria Elks Lodge, 453 11th St.
Prospective members welcome. For
information, contact Charlene Lars-
en at 503-325-0590.
Astoria Kiwanis Club — noon,
El Tapatio, 229 W. Marine Drive. For
information, call Frank Spence at
503-325-2365 or Susan Brooks at
503-791-3026.
Astoria-Warrenton Duplicate
Bridge Club — 12:30 to 4 p.m., As-
toria Senior Center, 1111 Exchange
St. Anyone may play if they have a
partner; to request a bridge partner,
call 503-325-0029.
See NOTES, Page 2B