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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
DOGOODNICS RULE
huge thank you to the DoGoodnics, who hubby, Dad and
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting as we attended their
free ‘Red and Ruby’ (Vince Brown and Lavon Hardison) swing
concert on Feb. 18, celebrating music of the 1930s and 1940s,”
Donna Barnett of Hammond wrote.
“(DoGoodnics is) a Long Beach (Washington) Peninsula
nonprofit service, led by Robert and Gwen Brake,” Donna
explained, “who pour their hearts into sharing music and the heal-
ing power music has to combat memory loss — restoring brain
activity and activating connections to self and others. We are
talking about folks, like my 92-year-old Dad, Spurgeon Keeth
Sr., who’s been afflicted with Alzheimer’s/dementia disease.”
You can reach the DoGoodnics at 360-665-2784 or oobear@cen-
turytel.net
Of historical note: Spurgeon Keeth is the area’s oldest sur-
vivor of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. “Keeth nar-
rowly escaped death on numerous occasions during World War
II,” Robert told the Ear. “A shell exploded near him on Guadal-
canal, blowing off his clothes. He suffered from malaria. And a
Japanese soldier, from just 3 yards away, fired at him and missed.
Keeth received numerous ribbons and stars for his service.” Pic-
tured, from left, Vince Brown, Spurgeon Keeth and Robert Brake.
“Before the concert, Robert and Gwen presented Dad with a
brand new iPod, earphones and headphones containing 185 coun-
try music selections that they programmed especially for him,”
Donna added. “He does not remember attending the concert, he
does not recall what a DoGoodnic is, and he does not remember
Ruby and Red, but he does have a special place in his heart for
the nice couple who provided him with his new little contraption
full of music that connects him to the past.” DoGoonics, indeed.
NOTHING BRATTISH ABOUT HER
‘A
GUNNING FOR CLAMS
TAKE A LESSON
n remembrance of the sixth anniversary of the March, 11, 2011
Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Yahoo! Japan installed a
gigantic banner on the side of a Tokyo skyscraper as a striking
visual reminder to be prepared for the next disaster, according to
Rocket News: A red stripe at the almost 55 foot high mark illus-
trated the height of a tsunami wave in Iwate Prefecture (http://
tinyurl.com/55stripe). A split-frame photo of the building, by
Masatoshi Yazaki, is shown.
Part of the text on the banner is as follows: “Every year, when
March 11 comes, we look back on what happened on that day. …
We tell ourselves that disasters won’t happen again. But some-
day, another disaster will probably, no, definitely occur. … If the
tsunami had happened here, in the middle of Ginza, it would be
exactly this (the red section’s) height.
“It’s higher than one would imagine. But just by knowing how
high it is, the actions we take can change. We can make prepara-
tions here and now. We can receive the understanding and knowl-
edge through our memories of the victims. We won’t forget what
happened that day. Yahoo believes that this is the most important
part of disaster preparedness.”
Please note: If you think the tsunami height on the banner looks
frightening, just remember that the tallest wave during that event
— caused by a subduction zone very similar to the Cascadia off the
coast of Oregon — was a terrifying 128 feet high (http://tinyurl.
com/2011tsu).
Unfortunately, the banner’s lesson was short-lived. It was taken
down March 12.
I
ore celebrities visiting Astoria: Shirley Temple, a
famous child film actress in the 1930s, visited Asto-
ria in June 24 to 26, 1945, the year World War II ended. A
spokesman for the Navy, which brought her here to visit
the wounded at the Astoria Naval Hospital, noted “there
was nothing temperamental or brattish” about her.
The actress also attended the presentation ceremony of
12 Purple Hearts, given by Capt. H.E. Ragle, command-
ing officer of the hospital, and posed for photos with the
recipients. At a dance given in her honor, the Astorian
reported that “during intermission, she took time out from
dancing to autograph casts for wounded men, and scraps
of paper for the many admirers who rushed up to ask for
such a favor.”
An anonymous reader kindly sent in three U.S. Navy
photos of the visit; one of Shirley Temple and Capt. Ragle
is shown. All three are here: http://tinyurl.com/EarST
Karen Radich of Warrenton, who was a Navy WAVE
stationed at the hospital at the time, was chosen to help
Temple get ready for the dance. “What a delightful hour
that was!” she recalled.
“When I told her my favorite of all her movies was ‘The
Good Ship Lollipop,’ we sang together ‘Animal Crackers
in my soup, monkeys and rabbits loop the loop.’ What a
lovely lady she was … she was sitting all alone (at the
dance). I decided to sit by her to make her comfortable.
She was a small woman, and very nice, and a little shy.”
“It was a thrill, you know,” Karen recalled, “and she
was so sweet.”
M
MISSING HISTORY
t a recent memorial service for Allan Doney, what is
believed to be the forerunner of today’s clam gun was
shared,” Marian Soderberg of Astoria wrote. “The late John
Newton made this prized weapon in his woodshop. John donated
it to Allan at one of the clambakes held for 25 years by Ken
Doney (pictured), Allan’s brother, at Roxy’s Motel in Seaside.”
“Allan greatly enjoyed the outdoors and was a great provider
of fish and clams,” Marian recalled. “Legend has it that Allan
was a champion clam digger because of this doomsday weapon.
“According to bona fide witnesses, clams actually came up
to the surface to check it out,” Ken explained, “even though the
Chief Mama Clam kept warning them to flee if they ever saw that
old Mr. Doney in the surf.”
“We are assured that this is not ‘fake news,’” quipped Marian.
‘A
SLOTH SLEEPOVER
ell, Oregon is in the
national news again, and
this time it ain’t for Goat Yoga.
CNN Money is touting a sloth
sleepover at the Sloth Center
at Zoological Wildlife Conserva-
tion Center, 74320 Larson Road
in Rainier (www.chasing-tail.
com) as “the coolest thing to
see” in the Portland area (http://
tinyurl.com/slothsleep) — which some in hipster city might take
exception to.
Anyway, you better save up your pennies, as it’s $600 a night
for double occupancy for a sloth encounter, which takes place in
an enclosure. You’ll need a lot of patience — and the tent, cot and
satellite TV provided — to keep from dozing off, as sloths are
not exactly known for being action-fueled. No talking is allowed,
either. Whispers only. Sloths are apparently very delicate critters
who don’t like noise.
Can’t afford an all-night sloth immersion? An hour-long visit
costs $100 per person.
But before you cough up the bucks for either one, CNN raves
aside, you might want to check out the Sloth Center’s Yelp reviews
(http://tinyurl.com/slothyelp), which range wildly from “you will
reek of urine” to “a dream come true.” Caveat emptor.
W
LOCAL BREVITIES
BIG BOX
he Ear happened to see a Facebook post by World War
II buff, Aaron Buda, that two historic cast iron origi-
nal telephone boxes, used to protect telephones from the
elements, were stolen from Battery Russell gun pits in
Fort Stevens State Park sometime between Thursday, Feb.
23, and Friday, Feb. 24. One is pictured, courtesy of Aaron
Buda.
The boxes are 12 inches by 12 inches by 8 inches, and
weigh about 60 pounds each. “Evidence shows someone
did not use a pry bar,” Park Ranger John Koch told the
Ear. “They took the time to take them off appropriately.”
The Warrenton Police Department has been notified of the
theft.
“Gun telephone boxes are rare,” the park ranger added.
Apparently only 28 of this type of military installation still
exist, as most of them were scrapped after World War II.
In fact, Koch said, after Battery Russell fired its last shot
— in December 1944, during the decommissioning cere-
mony — a crew came out that same afternoon and started
dismantling the installation. It is surprising the telephone
boxes were overlooked.
But not by the thief, obviously, who probably knew
they are highly collectible items. Now that you know what
they look like, please keep an eye out. Those historic boxes
should be returned to Battery Russell. If you know any-
thing about where they might be located, please call Park
Ranger John Koch at 503-861-3170.
T
he largest container ship on record has finally been com-
pleted by shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries
(SHI) of South Korea, and the naming ceremony for the MOL Tri-
umph took place recently, according to WorldMaritimeNews.com
(http://tinyurl.com/SamTri). The ship is shown courtesy of SHI.
At 1,312 feet long, and 192 feet wide, the mega-boxship can
carry 20,150 containers, more than any ship on the seas so far, and
is the first of four being built by Samsung for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
(MOL) in Japan.
It may be huge, but believe it or not, the ship is eco-friendly, and
“boasts an array of energy-saving equipment.” And, this type of
ship can reduce carbon dioxide emissions per container moved by
around 50 percent, as compared to far smaller boxships.
Triumph, which will serve in the Asia-Europe area, will be
delivered to MOL on March 27.
T
idbits from 132 years ago today from the Tuesday, March 17,
1885, Daily Morning Astorian:
• E.C. Holden sold yesterday at sheriff’s sale the Walkley
place at upper Astoria to Brenham Van Dusen for $1,575 (about
$38,000 now). He also sold at sheriff’s sale the Spexarth property
to Theodore Brakke for $1,200 (about $29,000 now).
• A small force of men is now employed in the vicinity of Fort
Stevens … men looking for transient work would do well to think
twice about coming here unless they have sufficient coin to keep
traveling.
• Smallpox is reported at various points on this northwest coast:
Salem and Nanaimo (B.C.) and other places.
• It is the intention of the board of pilot commissioners … to
call for plans and specifications for the building of the pilot boat
for which $10,000 (about $241,000 now) was appropriated at the
last legislature. The boat will be built of the best material, and
will probably be an Astoria production … and in every respect a
staunch vessel.
T
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Columbia Northwestern Model Rail-
roading Club — 1 p.m., in Hammond. Group
runs trains on HO-scale layout. For informa-
tion, 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
Cannon Beach American Legion
Women’s Auxiliary Breakfast — 9 to 11:30
a.m., American Legion, 1216 S. Hemlock St.,
Cannon Beach.
Military Officers Association of Amer-
ica, Lower Columbia River Chapter — 5
p.m., Doogers Seafood & Grill, U.S. High-
way 101, Warrenton. Quarterly meeting. Cdr.
Kristen Serumgard of Coast Guard Cutter Fir,
homeported in Astoria, speaks on her experi-
ences as a commanding officer for the past
three years. All officers, former officers of
U.S. Armed Forces are invited; active duty, re-
serve, retired and NOAA or USPHS officers.
For information, contact Capt. R. Stevens
(U.S. Coast Guard, retired) at 503-861-9832
Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m., Seaside
American Legion, 1315 Broadway. For infor-
mation, call 503-738-5111. No cost; suggest-
ed $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. Needle-
work, hardanger, knitting, crocheting, embroi-
dery 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. Sug-
gested donation $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60. For informa-
tion, call Michelle Lewis at 503-861-4200.
Columbia Senior Diners — 11:30 a.m.,
1111 Exchange St. Cost is $6. For informa-
tion, or to have a meal delivered, call 503-
325-9693.
Warrenton Senior Lunch Program —
noon, Warrenton Community Center, 170
S.W. Third St. Suggested 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
floor of the Astoria Elks Lodge, 453 11th St.
Guests always welcome. For information, go
to www.AstoriaRotary.org
See NOTES, Page 2B