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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017
CONTACT US
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
FROM BUMPER TO DINNER PLATE
n unexpected upside from the 2011 Japanese earthquake and
tsunami: According to The Asahi Shimbun, the tons of tsu-
nami debris that sank into the valley-shaped sea floor off one of
the hardest hit area during the disaster has turned into a breeding
reef for sea creatures (http://tinyurl.com/tsureef).
In February, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and
Technology sent an unmanned vehicle to survey the reef, and it
took images (one of which is shown) of brittle and feather stars and
other organisms thriving on a tangled mess of car parts and fishing
nets that wound up almost 1,800 feet below the surface.
The growth occurring on this artificial reef was first noticed in
2012, and it has continued to expand every year since. And, bet-
ter yet, the reef critters are dinner for other sea life, including the
broadfin thornyhead (a tasty rockfish, pictured inset), which is a
popular dish in Japan.
A
GOONIE LIAISON
F
red China, aka the French
Goonie, has just released a
2015 interview he filmed with
Astorian Paul Gillum — who
was the liaison for the city of Asto-
ria during the filming of “The
Goonies” — on his Facebook
page, “The Goonies Website.”
You can also see the video at
http://tinyurl.com/FredPaul. Paul,
left, and Fred, are pictured in a screenshot from the video.
Paul’s job on the movie, as he described it, was to “help with
locations, and security of personnel and just helping in general,”
which covers a lot of territory. It also involved working directly with
both Steven Spielberg and director Richard Donner.
“They were absolutely wonderful,” Paul recalled. “They
were probably the friendliest people I have ever worked
with. I was in absolute awe of both of them together when
I first met them, just knowing who they were. … It was
just such a wonderful experience … it was like a family.”
He had high praise for the young actors, too. “The kids were won-
derful to work with, he said. “They were funny. They were always
active, they were always doing something off the wall when they
weren’t being filmed. They were fun.”
Overall, he noted, “It was so professional. I just so thoroughly
enjoyed it. I can’t think of any bad experiences I had.” Watch the
full video to hear the rest.
‘A VERY SWEET HISTORY’
O
K, Astoria nautical history lovers, heads up: Another
piece of Astoria shipbuilding history is up for sale,
the 78-foot wooden Elmore Tug (pictured). Current own-
ers Dee and Sara Meek have pampered and loved the tug
since they bought her, in around 1990.
Built in 1890 in Astoria as a cannery tender for the
Elmore Fish Canning Company, the steamer tug was
originally 68 feet long. It took passengers and freight
between Astoria and Tillamook, repeatedly crossing two
of the worst bars on the West Coast (Columbia and Tilla-
mook), according to Seattle.Boatshed.com (http://tinyurl.
com/Elmore1890). The tug also ferried people up to the
Yukon Gold Rush in 1898.
Rebuilt after the 1922 Astoria fire, literally from the
waterline up, the Elmore was extended to 78 feet, and a
three-cylinder engine was installed. There were many
more changes and conversions over the vessel’s years of
service as a commercial tug. You can read her history at
http://tinyurl.com/Elmore1890a
In 1982, the engine had been removed, and the Elmore
was about to be scrapped, when Floyd Waite, a shipwright
in Everett, Washington, came to the rescue and “adopted”
her. He rebuilt the engine with second-hand parts, and
made the tug a live-aboard, before selling it to the Meeks.
The Meeks have spent years caring for, restoring,
upgrading equipment and enjoying the Elmore. Aside from
all the nautical improvements and being fully furnished,
the tug has a custom galley with a diesel stove and built-in
fridge, three staterooms that sleep eight, a full shower and
a new aft deck. “It’s someplace to throw our money,” Sara
said, laughing.
“It’s been great. We use it to cruise, and always have
friends on board. We just tooled around, and went to non-
tourist places. It’s just been fun. It’s really been fun.”
So why are they selling it? “I can’t jump on and off like
I could,” she explained. “We’re ready to let it go to some-
one who will appreciate its history.” If you’re interested,
give the Meeks a call at 360-437-5121.
“She really does have a very sweet history,” Sara added.
“She’s a very stable boat.”
TILLAMOOK HITS THE BACKLOT
THE CIRCUS IS COMING
EARTHY THOUGHTS
arth Day is Saturday, and in honor of the occasion, Chuck
Albright’s third-grade class at Gearhart Elementary
School submitted their thoughts on the subject.
• “We need to stop littering and if we do, and the cops see, you
will get a fine. We also need to stop killing animals.” Landon
• “I want to have a machine that picks up all the trash around
the states in one day. I want one in every state.” Brenden
There are many more gems from these kids, but there was not
enough room for them here. However, if you want to read all of
them, they can be found at http://tinyurl.com/EARearth. In con-
clusion, some sage advice:
• “I’m going to tell you some stuff to keep the Earth safe. 1.
Do not litter. 2. Do not throw any litter in the sea. Well, that’s
all.” Chloe BB
E
REAL PEOPLE WANTED
ot the acting bug? Thanks to Pete Birdeno for this tip:
Marinella Hume Casting in Portland is looking for people
to be background actors (extras) in the TV show “The Librari-
ans,” which films in Portland.
Bill Marinella (pictured) said they are looking for all ethnic-
ities and ages, but especially for Asian men and women 18 and
older, to be a “featured tourist” on Monday. Want to try out? First,
this weekend, send an email with photos of yourself (full length
and head and shoulders), cell phone number, and your name and
sizes to mhc.librarians@gmail.com. Put “TOURISTS” in the
subject line.
Then, so you’ll be in their database, create a free profile at
www.MarinellaHumeCasting.com (click on “Join Us”). You’ll
also need to submit at least three photos of yourself for the pro-
file, and there are instructions about how to do this at http://
tinyurl.com/MHCastvid. Kids younger than 18 can have a par-
ent or guardian sign them up. You can even add vehicles to the
database.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to join the mailing list on
their Facebook page to get casting notices at http://tinyurl.com/
MHCastlist
“We need real people, all types,” Bill noted. We have no short-
age of those around here, so go for it.
G
NEED ICE?
notice in the Easter Sunday, April 21, 1889, edition of The
Daily Morning Astorian piqued the Ear’s interest: “Tomor-
row afternoon and evening Farini & McMahon’s Circus will
be here.” No, it’s not the Ringling Brothers, or Barnum & Bai-
ley, but Farini & McMahon’s was also quite famous at the time.
According to CircusHistory.org (http://tinyurl.com/FarMcM)
the show was actually the merger of two traveling companies,
Farini’s Grand Australian Circus and McMahon’s Great World
Circus, Wild West Congress and Indian Racing Tournament,
which took place earlier that year. The troupe traveled up and
down the West Coast, and it would have been a very big deal for
a show this size to come to Astoria.
The performers included an equestrian act with trick riding
and hurdle jumping (circus owner John S. McMahon) a somer-
sault act, William Melville as a Comanche chief, aerialists, acro-
bats, high wire artists, lots of general performers and three clowns
— not to mention two trick donkeys, an “imitation elephant” (the
mind boggles) and a uniformed band. And, of course, a sideshow.
By 1891, the show had become McMahon’s International
Hippodrome, Circus and Menagerie, and included real elephants
and world-famous Russian sideshow performer, JoJo the Dog-
face Boy (Fedor Jeftichew).
At three hours long, the event must have been quite a spec-
tacular outing for Astorians in 1889. There was no review in the
local paper, but the Denver News proclaimed, “This ideal eques-
triolympian is among the few legitimate sawdust entertainments,
and is well worthy of patronage.”
A
A
storia, is well-known for its Hollywood connection
— and movies like “The Goonies” and “Kindergarten
Cop” — and now Tillamook is trying to get noticed, too.
While watching an old movie, the Ear learned that the Til-
lamook Coliseum Theater is one of four national finalists
for a movie event to be hosted by cable channel Turner
Classic Movies (TCM).
“How did that happen?” the Ear wondered. Because of
Sydney Elliott’s appealing entry in a TCM essay contest
about why your home town would be the perfect venue for
a TCM event, according to a story in the Tillamook County
Pioneer (http://tinyurl.com/TCMtilly).
She was then invited to write a shorter pitch, and submit
a video, too, which can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/TCM-
tillyvid. A screen shot from the video is shown. Unfor-
tunately, only TCM Backlot members (the channel’s fan
club) can vote and choose the winner.
The Coliseum Theater’s history almost coincides with
Astoria’s Liberty (and why didn’t some Astoria film-fan
enter it into the contest?), and they were both built in the
1920s. The Coliseum closed a few years ago, but then in
2014 it was bought by Matt and Sheila Zerngast, who
have been busy renovating.
If Tillamook wins, Elliott told the Pioneer, “I am
hoping the event will bring people into our downtown area
and highlight our generous, hardworking community.”
A little star power showing up wouldn’t hurt anything,
either.
ans of maritime oddities should enjoy this: An enormous
iceberg has parked itself in the North Atlantic off the tiny
town of Ferryland, Newfoundland (population 465, as of
2011), according to a story in The Star (http://tinyurl.com/big-
berg). It is shown in a photo courtesy of Paul Daly/The Cana-
dian Press.
It’s normal for icebergs to pass through, as that neck of the
woods is called “Iceberg Alley.” But it’s totally unexpected to
see one this large stop in its tracks, dwarf the town and become a
tourist attraction. Hundreds of people are flocking to Ferryland to
gawk at and photograph the icy marvel.
“It’s the biggest one I ever seen around here,” the town mayor,
Adrian Kavanagh, said. While the monster berg is terrific for
tourism, Kavanagh added, fishermen aren’t so “particular about
ice and the icebergs.”
F
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Earth Day Astoria Riverwalk
Cleanup — 9 a.m. to noon, meet
and check-in at 9 a.m. at Buoy Beer,
No. 1 Eighth St. Cleanup supplies pro-
vided. Dress in layers for the weather.
Sign up online or day of the event:
http://bit.ly/2oo4WzH. Event spon-
sored by Wauna Credit Union, Buoy
Beer and SOLVE. All participants
receive a free beer or nonalcoholic
beverage of their choice from Buoy
Beer.
Earth Day Celebration of Sci-
ence Rally — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., out-
side the Astoria Post Office. Hosted
by Indivisible Astoria, part of Indivis-
ible North Coast Oregon. Celebrate
Earth Day and stand in solidarity with
marchers in the March for Science,
occurring simultaneously worldwide.
Bring individually created signs sup-
porting the environment and science.
Families are welcome.
Astoria Yacht Club Open House
— 12 to 5 p.m., Astoria Yacht Club,
300 Industry St., West Mooring Basin.
Open house has information about:
sailing lessons (1 p.m.), local boating
conditions (1:30 p.m.), paddle group
(2 p.m.), crew opportunities at Down-
town Rallies (3:30 p.m.) and races (4
p.m.). Members are on hand all after-
noon to answer questions about the
Astoria Yacht Club and its activities.
Columbia Northwestern Model
Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in Ham-
mond. Group runs trains on HO-scale
layout. For information, call Don Car-
ter 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
Hawaiian Dinner Fundrasier
— 4 to 7 p.m. for Seaside Boy Scout
Troop 642, Cannon Beach American
Legion, 1216 S. Hemlock St. Tickets
are $12 for one person or two for $20.
Menu is teriyaki chicken or pulled pork
(or both), rice, macaroni salad, tropi-
cal fruit salad. To go orders available.
Proceeds help send scouts to camp.
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 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
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.
See NOTES, Page 2B