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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2017
Honeybee losses improve
from horrible to just bad
By SETH BORENSTEIN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — There’s
a glimmer of hope for Ameri-
ca’s ailing honeybees as win-
ter losses were the lowest in
more than a decade, according
to a U.S. survey of beekeepers
released Thursday.
Beekeepers lost 21 percent
of their colonies over last win-
ter, the annual Bee Informed
Partnership survey found.
That’s the lowest winter loss
level since the survey started
in 2006 and an improvement
from nearly 27 percent the
winter before.
The U.S. government has
set a goal of keeping losses
under 15 percent in the winter.
“It’s good news in that the
numbers are down, but it’s cer-
tainly not a good picture,” said
survey director Dennis vanEn-
gelsdorp. “It’s gone from hor-
rible to bad.”
Reduction in varroa mites,
a lethal parasite, is likely the
main cause of the improve-
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Honeybees work in a hive located in an apple grove at Hart-
land Orchard, a family farm near the the Blue Ridge Moun-
tains in Markham, Va. A U.S. survey of beekeepers released
on Thursday found improvements in the outlook for troubled
honeybees. Winter losses were at the lowest levels in more
than a decade with only 21 percent of the colonies dying.
ment, said vanEnglesdorp, a
University of Maryland ento-
mologist. He credited the
reduction in the parasite to a
new product to fight the mite
and better weather for pesti-
cide use.
The 10-year average for
winter losses is 28.4 percent.
“We would of course all
love it if the trend continues,
but there are so many fac-
tors playing a role in colony
health,” said bee expert Elina
Lastro Nino at the Univer-
sity of California Davis, who
wasn’t part of the survey. “I am
glad to see this, but wouldn’t
celebrate too much yet.”
For more than a decade,
bees and other pollinators have
been rapidly declining with
scientists blaming a mix of
parasites, disease, pesticides
and poor nutrition.
While usually hive losses
are worst in the winter, they
occur year round. The survey
found yearly losses also down,
but not quite to record levels.
About one third of the honey
bee colonies that were around
in April 2016 were dead a year
later, the survey found. That’s
better than the year before
when the annual loss rate was
more than 40 percent.
The survey, originally
started by the U.S. govern-
ment and now run by a non-
profit, is based on information
from nearly 5,000 beekeep-
ers who manage more than
360,000 colonies. University
of Montana’s Jerry Bromen-
shenk said the study gives too
much weight to backyard bee-
keepers rather than commer-
cial beekeepers.
Noregaard receives Daughters
of American Revolution award
Submitted Photo
Samantha Noregaard, center, graduating senior at Neah-
kahnie High School, received the Astoria Chapter Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award
May 23. Pictured with her are Sandra Fuller, left, and Sue
Glen, right, both of the Astoria Chapter DAR. Noregaard
also wrote an essay which won in competition among
seven local high schools. The essay then placed first in
the district, and went on to place second among all 36
Oregon DAR chapters. She received monetary awards at
all three levels. Information on the award and other DAR
scholarships is given to area schools each August.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Clatsop Cruise Hosts — Look-
ing for volunteers to meet and greet
cruise ship passengers and crew,
provide information and answer
questions about the Clatsop County
area. Ships arrive in the spring and
fall, about 20 ships each year. Work
all the ships or part of them. For in-
formation, go to www.clatsopcruise-
hosts.org
Columbia Memorial Hospital
— Needs volunteers to provide
assistance to patients, visitors and
hospital staff. Training provided.
For information, go to www.colum-
biamemorial.org. To schedule an
interview, call 503-325-4321.
Columbia River Maritime
Museum — 1792 Marine Drive.
Volunteer opportunities for those
with an interest in maritime history.
For information, call the volunteer
coordinator weekdays at 503-325-
2323.
Columbia Senior Diners —
1111 Exchange St., Astoria Senior
Center. Volunteers needed week-
days to serve tables and for kitchen
help. To volunteer, call 503-325-
9693.
Community Emergency Re-
sponse Team — CERT volunteers
needed for community events and
disaster response with local police,
fire and emergency medical service
agencies. Training includes fire
safety, first aid, traffic and crowd
control, communications, damage
survey, disaster planning and civic
events within city limits. For infor-
mation, contact CERT coordinator
Kenny Hansen at khansen@as-
toria.or.us or leave a voicemail at
503-325-4411.
Friends of Seaside Library
— 1131 Broadway, Seaside. Volun-
teers needed to staff the fundraising
store. For information, call 503-738-
6742 or stop by the library.
Knappa Rural Fire Protection
District — Needs volunteer fire-
fighters. Training provided. For in-
formation, contact any of the active
personnel or call Chief Paul Olheis-
er at 503-458-6610.
ing people. Opportunities are avail-
able in the hospital gift shop, café,
and as greeters and for spiritual in-
tegration. For information, call (503)
717-7171 or email Alana.Kujala@
providence.org
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
— Certified ombudsman volunteers
advocate for the rights, care and
dignity of the elderly and disabled
living in licensed long-term care
facilities. Many residents have no
one to watch out or speak up for
when things go wrong. Volunteer
Ombudsmen talk to the residents,
investigate complaints, and work to
resolve problems. Flexible sched-
ule, four hours a week, mileage
reimbursement available. Training
is provided. For information, call
800-522-2602 or go to www.ore-
gon.gov/ltco
River Song Foundation —
Looking for people to assist with
Trap/Neuter/Release/Feed (TNRF),
especially in the Seaside and Knap-
pa/Svensen areas. TNRF involves
setting and/or monitoring traps,
and daily feeding of cats and main-
tenance of any shelters, and is a
proven, science-based method that
along with spay/neuter programs is
the only effective and humane way
of ending cat homelessness and
suffering. Call 503-861-2003 for in-
formation and to volunteer.
Lunch Buddy Mentoring Pro-
gram — Adults needed to mentor
elementary and middle school stu-
dents once a week during lunch.
For information, call Mary Jackson
at 503-440-0368 or email lunchbud-
dies.mp@gmail.com
NorthWest Senior & Disability
Services — Needs dishwashers
and volunteers to serve and clean
up weekdays at a meal site, and
drivers for Meals on Wheels. For
information, contact Candy Foster
at 503-738-9323.
Providence Seaside Hospi-
tal — Needs volunteer drivers for
Community Connections, a free
program that transports people to
services and appointments relat-
ed to health and well-being in the
Portland-Metro area. Mileage reim-
bursement available. For informa-
tion, call (503) 717-7171 or email
Alana.Kujala@providence.org
Providence Seaside Hospi-
tal — Needs volunteers who enjoy
meeting, interacting with and help-
Seaside Downtown Develop-
ment Association — Volunteers
needed to help with local events
happening throughout the year. For
information, call Tita Montero at
503-717-1914 or email director@
seasidedowntown.com
Seaside Museum and Histor-
ical Society — Volunteers needed
to help as docents, maintaining
and creating exhibits, and various
events throughout the year. Small
and large projects available. Any
amount of time will be greatly ap-
preciated. Call the museum at 503-
738-7065 or email seasidemuse-
um@hotmail.com
Start Making a Reader Today
— Needs volunteers to read to stu-
dents one-on-one for one hour a
week at local elementary schools.
To volunteer, call 503-391-8423 or
go to www.getsmartoregon.org
Titanic Lifeboat Academy —
Volunteer to help care for animals
and assist with sustainable living
projects; minimum commitment
of four hours per week requested.
Some training provided. For infor-
mation, contact Caren Black at 503-
325-6886.
Tri-City Spay and Neuter
Thrift Store — 600 Broadway,
Seaside. Needs volunteers inter-
ested in improving the welfare of
animals. For information, call 503-
738-7040.
Veterans Services Officer of
Clatsop County — Seeking vol-
unteer drivers to transport veterans
from Astoria to the Veterans Admin-
istration Medical Center in Portland
using the Disabled American Vet-
erans (DAV) van. To volunteer, call
503-298-8757 or email clatsopv-
so@gmail.com
Warrenton Senior Lunch Pro-
gram — Warrenton Community
Center, 170 S.W. Third St. Volun-
teers needed to help with Meals
on Wheels and in the dining room
Mondays or Thursdays. For infor-
mation, contact Barb Balensifer at
503-861-1341.
Wildlife Rehab Center of the
North Coast — Needs volunteers
to help rehabilitate orphaned and
injured wildlife. For information, call
503-338-0331 or go to coastwildlife.
org
Submitted Photo
Pictured, from left, Warrenton High School Assistant
Principal Josh Hannusch, Warrenton Rotary Club’s
April Student of the Month Krista Morrill, and Warren-
ton Rotary Club President Birch Kelly.
Warrenton’s Morrill is selected
for Student of the Month honor
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — Krista Morrill, a Warrenton High
School senior, has been selected to receive the Warrenton
Rotary Club’s April Student of the Month award. The pro-
gram honors accomplished local high school students who
make a difference in their school and/or community. The
school administration chooses each recipient.
Morrill has a GPA of 4.10, and is a member of the
National Honor Society and the Student Council. She has
been involved in athletics at the high school, and is admired
and praised by the staff and students for setting an example of
excellence.
Each Student of the Month receives a printed award along
with gift certificates from area businesses who also want to
acknowledge noteworthy student achievements, including
Warrenton Fultano’s Pizza, GB Jewelers, Warrenton Mini
Mart, Sweet Scoops, Lucky Locks, Arnie’s Café, Starbucks
and Sandi Kelly.
The Warrenton Rotary Club’s meetings are open to
the public. For information, go to www.facebook.com/
warrentonrotaryclub
CO M ING JUNE 2017 O UR 10 th A NNUA L
Svensen Congregate Meal
Site — Wickiup Grange Hall, 92683
Svensen Market Road. To volun-
teer, or for information, call Debbie
Dunaway at 503-791-7298 or 503-
861-4202.
CELEBRATING
VETERANS
CELEBRATING
FREEDOM
Weekend
C op ies d istrib uted throug hout the year to n orth coast hotels, m otels,
cham b ers of com m erce, visitors b ureaus, cam p g roun d s, restauran ts
an d stores an d in serted in T he D aily Astorian & C hin ook O b server
FORT STEVENS STATE PARK HISTORIC AREA AND BATTERY RUSSELL
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
MAY 27 & 28 • 11 AM- 4 PM
PARK HOURS 8AM-6PM
Free Admission
$5 Day Use Parking Fee
N ew th is Y ea r!
Memorial Day Weekend Events Include:
• Use An Old Soldier’s trail map to complete a word puzzle and collect a gift at
the museum
• Buy a ticket for a chance to fi re a Civil War era cannon
• Enjoy Free Civil War Earthworks tours
• Tour the Fort on The Beast: a 5-ton military truck (Fees apply)
• Check out the one of a kind underground Battery Mishler tour (Fees apply)
• Visit the 1911 Guardhouse
• See great displays at Battery Russell and play a cell phone game
Friends of
Old Fort Stevens, Inc.
503-861-1470
Ft. Stevens State Park, Hammond, OR
email: foofs@teleport.com
Click on: www.visitfortstevens.com
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