DailyAstorian.com // MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017
144TH YEAR, NO. 247
ONE DOLLAR
PRIDE
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
ASTORIA HOLDS SECOND LGBTQ PARTY
Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian
Astoria High School’s nine valedictori-
ans were the first in line during gradua-
tion ceremonies on Saturday.
Hip, hip,
hooray!
Astoria sends 120-plus
grads on to next feat
The Daily Astorian
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
ABOVE: Participants in the annual Astoria Pride Parade made their way down the Astoria Riverwalk Sunday. The parade was
the culmination of a weekend of events that included entertainment and parties . BELOW: Hundreds of people lined the parade
route Sunday on the Astoria Riverwalk . More photos from the Astoria Pride Parade available online at DailyAstorian.com
By KAELIA NEAL
The Daily Astorian
he second annual Astoria Pride cel-
ebrated the LGBTQ community
with events at the Liberty Theater,
a block party, and a parade along the Asto-
ria Riverwalk over the weekend.
“It’s important to me,” said Marco
Davis, chairman of the Lower Columbia Q
Center and a member of the Astoria Pride
committee. “I grew up here, and I didn’t
get the opportunity to get the support. It’s
been my mission to change that.”
Astoria businesses recognized Astoria
Pride by hanging rainbow fl ags on build-
ings and downtown light poles.
Many U.S. cities supported the LGBTQ
community with parades and festivals to
celebrate equality.
“We just want to show we are human,”
said David Drafall, treasurer of the Q Cen-
ter and another member of the Astoria
Pride committee.
Bringing together
On Saturday, Astoria celebrated its
fi rst Pride block party at the foot of 21st
S treet.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing to have
a place where all of us can be here smil-
ing, laughing and not worrying about any-
thing,” Heather Spivey said.
Vendors sold various items, such as
unicorn horns, mermaid costumes and tie-
dye clothing.
Children danced while blowing bubbles
and hula-hooping, while bands played.
“We’re very pleased with the turnout of
the vendors, the people, and of course, the
weather,” said Donna Galich, Pride com-
mittee chairwoman. She said about 1,200
people took part.
On Sunday, the Astoria Riverfront T rol-
ley led the Pride Riverwalk Parade, which
began at Maritime Memorial Park and
went east .
About 360 paraders wore rainbow
socks and necklaces with Astoria Pride
shirts, while carrying rainbow fl ags and
umbrellas. Some dogs were decked out in
tutus and other Pride attire.
“I think it’s an important event
as a whole because it brings people
together. We’re making a statement in a
way that’s peaceful, that’s loving,” Galich
said.
See PRIDE, Page 4A
Astoria High School graduated about 120
students Saturday.
The ceremonies started Thursday with
a graduate walk down Commercial Street
and through Astoria School District’s other
buildings.
On Thursday night, 87 students received
more than $300,000 in scholarships at the
school’s annual awards ceremony. Astoria
High School Scholarship Inc., which man-
ages scholarship funds, gave $240,500 in
scholarships, along with more than $70,000
from businesses, groups
and individuals. High
MORE
school counselor Beth
Frausto said this year’s
INSIDE
graduating class has
See more
gathered more than $1.3
photos from
million in scholarships
the graduation.
from the event and from
Page 9A
colleges and universities.
The event Thursday
honored Michael Foster, founder of Astoria
High School Scholarship Inc.; Harold “Hal”
Snow, an attorney and secretary of the group
for 41 years; and Phyllis Edy-Gray, a former
Astoria teacher and board member of the
group. Edy-Gray died in April, Foster in Jan-
uary and Snow in December.
Batman
was a fan
of Gearhart
West was a regular
at height of his fame
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
GEARHART — Wow! Bam! Pow!
Shazam!
Among Batman’s many stops around the
planet in his role both as caped crusader —
and without the cape — Bill Anderson, bet-
ter known as Adam West, was a frequent
visitor to Gearhart at the time of his great-
est fame. The “Batman” TV show ran from
1966-68.
In late August 1966, shortly after release
of his “Batman” feature, West arrived at the
Clatsop County Airport accompanied by his
children, Jonelle and Hunter, along with his
brother and sister-in-law John and Carol
Anderson and their two children . “The group
spent Sunday and Monday visiting with Bill
See BATMAN, Page 4A
Newly minted GED grad says ‘Just go for it’
atalia Ponce May moved
to the North Coast from
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
at age 15 and learned conver-
sational English from scratch.
She said was just a few cred-
its shy of graduation when
she dropped out of Warrenton
High School several years ago
because of family issues.
Being out on her own , her
focus was on making a living,
she said. Only several months
later did she question her deci-
sion to leave school.
A decade later, after a mar-
riage and two daughters, Ponce
May was one of more than 40
informal graduates honored by
Clatsop Community College
N
for recently passing the GED
exams. For Ponce May, pass-
ing the exam was a step toward
bettering her family’s lives and
a career as a medical assistant,
helping translate for non-En-
glish patients.
Taking steps
After dropping out, Ponce
May said, went to work at a
seafood processor, where she
met her husband, Facundo
Morales, and eventually Eileen
Purcell, coordinator of the col-
lege’s literacy program.
In 2012, Ponce May said,
she requested Consideration
of Deferred Action for Child-
hood Arrivals, an avenue for
undocumented
immigrants
who came to the U.S. as chil-
dren to gain a renewable two-
year authorization for tem-
porary legal presence and
employment. Ponce May said
she already has a work per-
mit, but that the deferral could
help her get Social Security
number and access to fi nan-
cial aid.
See MAY, Page 4A
Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian
Natalia Ponce May, right, hugs Eileen Purcell, the literacy pro-
gram coordinator at Clatsop Community College, on Friday
after receiving a certificate for passing her GED exams. Ponce
May said it was Purcell who approached her at a local seafood
processor to tell her about the opportunity at the college.