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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017
Carols at the Capitol: ‘It restores my faith in the future’
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — First-graders from
Salem’s Crosshill Christian School
curl their arms into wing shapes,
flap around the rotunda of the Ore-
gon Capitol and belt out: “Two
French hens, two turtle doves and a
partridge in a pear tree.”
The class of nearly 20 first-grad-
ers is among more than 500 students
who are performing Christmas car-
ols at the Capitol this holiday
season.
The decadeslong tradition has
gained such popularity that the
Capitol’s Visitors Services employ-
ees no longer have to reach out to
schools to book the performances.
School choir directors call each year
to claim their spot on the schedule.
“I remember singing here when I
was a child so it was fun to see my
daughter sing here,” said Danielle
Johnston, mother of Crosshill first-
grader Parker Johnston.
Surrounded by a magical scene
of Christmas trees and holiday
adornment in the rotunda, the choirs
Paris Achen/Capital Bureau
First-graders with their teacher, Colleen Andersson, from Salem’s Cro-
shill Christian School sing ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ in the ro-
tunda of the Oregon Capitol in Salem Tuesday.
sing from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday through Saturday until
Dec. 22. Parents, passers-by and
state employees fill audience seats.
Some state employees bring their
lunches to the rotunda so that they
can watch the performances during
their break.
“Our world is a chaotic place
right now,” said Robin Maxey,
communications director for Sen-
ate President Peter Courtney,
D-Salem. “We see and hear a lot
more about the bad than the good
in it. To be able to see the joy of the
season on the faces of these chil-
dren and teenagers every day gives
me a lift. It restores my faith in the
future.”
Maxey
keeps
closed-cir-
cuit footage of the performances
switched on in his office upstairs
for most of the day.
The performances also are
streamed live online.
“Having it in office doesn’t
compare to being in the rotunda
and actually hearing them, but it’s
a busy time of year for us prepping
for session so we can’t always get
out there,” Maxey said.
Sherry Chandler of Visitors Ser-
vices, who schedules the choirs,
sits at an information desk near the
rotunda for the most of the day. She
said she never tires of hearing the
carols.
“The little ones have sweet, lit-
tle voices, and in the middle school
and high school choirs, there is
very good talent. Sometimes, you
hear the same carols over and over.
This year, they were mixing it up
a little.”
The carolers bring a starkly dif-
ferent scene to the Capitol, where
during other times of the year law-
makers may bicker over bills and
lobbyists pace the halls.
“The kids aren’t wearing thou-
sand-dollar suits and lobbying for
bad causes,” quipped Arthur Tow-
ers, a lobbyist for Portland-based
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.
“It’s heartwarming as opposed to
heartbreaking.”
Scott Jorgensen, chief of staff
for Sen. Alan DeBoer, R-Ashland,
said he got sick of hearing Christ-
mas music in his past life as an
employee at Fred Meyer, where
the music cycled constantly from
Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
“It’s different when the school
kids sing,” Jorgensen said. “I abso-
lutely love it. I think it’s easy to
lose sight of how special it is when
you’re there every day.
“Through the eyes of school-
children, especially schoolchildren
from the rural parts of the state,
it’s a really big deal to be able to
come to the Capitol. You can see it
on their faces how thrilled they are.
It really warms your heart to see the
groups of kids singing.”
John Ferguson
DEATHS
day, Dec. 18, 2017 at Skyline Memorial Gar-
dens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd.,
Portland.
HENDRIKSEN, Harold, 87, of Astoria,
died in Portland. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton
Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
INDERBITZEN-RYAN, Anna, 66, of Sea-
side, died in Seaside. Caldwell’s Funeral &
Cremation Arrangement Center of Seaside is
in charge of the arrangements.
Dec. 15, 2017
PETERSON, Joan, 89, of Clatskanie,
died in Clatskanie. Caldwell’s Luce-Lay-
ton Mortuary of Astoria is in charge of the
arrangements.
Dec. 13, 2017
DOUGAN, Shirley, 73, of Portland, died in
Hillsboro. Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral
Home is in charge of the arrangements. A
memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Mon-
FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TONIGHT
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
48
43
40
Partly cloudy with a brief
shower late
51
43
Cloudy with a little rain in
the afternoon
TUESDAY
51
45
50
38
Occasional rain and
drizzle
Low clouds
Breezy with heavy rain
developing
Seaside
June 23, 1967 — Dec. 12, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce John sondra, Andrew, Michael, Arianna, Robin, Madi-
“Tim” Ferguson passed away on Dec. 12, 2017, son and Britton; grandchildren, Kenadie, Kaden,
Aubree, Raegan, Zetta and
peacefully at home with his
Luka; siblings, Ty, Brisa,
closest loved ones.
Brandi and Jay; and nieces
Ferguson, who was born
and nephews, Trinity, Wyatt,
in West Palm Beach, Flor-
ida, spent most of his life on
River and Clay.
Ferguson was proceeded
the West Coast and finally
in death by fathers, Pete
settled in Seaside, Oregon.
Rieves and Ned Ferguson;
Ferguson was a very
and a nephew, Hunter.
proud soldier, retiring from
A viewing will be held
the Army in 2010. He woke
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
up each day with the pur-
John Ferguson
pose to make a person smile
Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, at
or laugh who was not doing
Ocean View Funeral Home
it before.
in Astoria, Oregon. The viewing will be followed
He is survived by his mother, Sue Ferguson; by a memorial service at 3 p.m. at Lewis and
wife, Annette Ferguson; children, Kristen, Kas- Clark Bible Church and a potluck.
Helen Gaston
ALMANAC
Shown is tomorrow's weather. Temperatures are tonight's lows and tomorrow's highs.
ASTORIA
40/48
Astoria through Thursday.
Temperatures
High/low ....................................... 51°/34°
Normal high/low ........................... 48°/36°
Record high ............................ 62° in 1962
Record low ............................. 18° in 1919
Tillamook
40/47
Salem
33/44
Newport
38/49
Sunset tonight ........................... 4:30 p.m.
Sunrise Saturday ........................ 7:52 a.m. Coos Bay
Moonrise today ........................... 5:10 a.m. 38/50
Moonset today ........................... 3:23 p.m.
Dec 17
Full
Dec 26
Last
Jan 1
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
TOMORROW'S TIDES
Astoria / Port Docks
Time
5:42 a.m.
6:40 p.m.
Low
2.9 ft.
-0.2 ft.
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Denver
Des Moines
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Honolulu
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Memphis
Miami
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, DC
Hi
48
30
33
61
44
30
53
24
78
37
47
63
80
51
78
44
53
30
53
32
46
42
60
44
34
Ontario
25/40
Burns
17/32
Klamath Falls
23/39
Lakeview
20/33
Ashland
32/44
REGIONAL CITIES
City
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Eugene
Ilwaco
Klamath Falls
Medford
Newberg
Newport
North Bend
Hi
36
41
55
39
49
43
44
41
50
51
Today
Lo
24
21
41
29
42
23
33
34
38
38
W
c
c
pc
r
r
pc
r
r
r
r
Hi
37
35
54
41
47
39
43
44
49
51
Sat.
Lo
18
23
41
34
44
20
31
39
42
39
W
pc
pc
c
c
r
pc
c
r
r
c
City
Olympia
Pendleton
Portland
Roseburg
Salem
Seaside
Spokane
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Yakima
Hi
46
34
39
41
42
48
30
42
41
37
Today
Lo
33
29
35
36
33
41
24
33
36
27
W
r
r
r
r
r
r
sn
r
r
c
Hi
46
40
43
42
44
47
28
44
43
43
Sat.
Lo W
39
r
28 pc
40
r
36 c
38
r
43
r
23 pc
35 c
39
r
30 c
TOMORROW'S NATIONAL WEATHER
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Lo
30
23
28
34
30
22
28
19
65
28
34
42
51
34
60
30
41
26
32
26
35
28
49
36
29
Baker
24/37
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017
Tonight's Sky: The Big Dipper is low above the
northern horizon after sunset. Before sunrise, it will
be nearly overhead.
High
7.7 ft.
9.4 ft.
La Grande
27/35
Roseburg
36/42
Brookings
43/55
Jan 8
John Day
29/35
Bend
21/35
Medford
33/43
UNDER THE SKY
Time
12:15 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
Prineville
23/37
Lebanon
34/44
Eugene
29/41
SUN AND MOON
First
Pendleton
29/40
The Dalles
37/46
Portland
35/43
Precipitation
Thursday .......................................... 0.00"
Month to date ................................... 0.93"
Normal month to date ....................... 4.65"
Year to date .................................... 77.24"
Normal year to date ........................ 62.02"
New
Portland
July 17, 1931 — Dec. 9, 2017
REGIONAL WEATHER
W
pc
pc
sf
pc
pc
sf
s
pc
sh
c
s
pc
s
s
s
pc
r
sn
s
sn
pc
c
pc
r
sn
Hi
56
36
44
51
54
31
57
27
78
49
59
61
71
58
80
57
60
38
60
42
60
36
62
45
48
Sat.
Lo
38
20
28
22
30
25
40
14
69
33
39
42
50
42
68
37
54
27
40
28
40
23
49
41
33
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
W
s
pc
pc
c
pc
sn
s
s
pc
s
pc
s
s
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
pc
s
sf
s
r
pc
Helen Gaston, a longtime resident of Sea- hosted foreign exchange students and traveling
side, Oregon, passed away on Dec. 9, 2017 at high school bands. She welcomed people that
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Port- stopped by her house on the Prom to fill their
land. She was accompanied by her three children, canteen with water.
Her curiosity about others later
Nannette Bierma, Renee Millikan and
turned into Gaston’s Beachside Bed
Robert Gaston, and passed peacefully.
and Breakfast. Later in life, she was
Originally from Wisconsin, she
able to travel to many different coun-
moved to Oregon and married her
tries to satisfy her interests. After
longtime husband Robert W. Gas-
ton. In addition to her three chil-
putting on both of her daughters’
dren, Helen is survived by her older
dream weddings, Gaston helped with
friends’ weddings, which eventu-
sister, Elvira Stevens of Texas,
ally turned into a wedding and cater-
and eight grandchildren and nine
ing business. She was at one time
great-grandchildren.
referred to as the “Martha Stewart of
Gaston had many interests, which
Seaside.”
included many volunteer positions as
Helen Gaston
She loved decorating and enter-
well as paid positions throughout her
taining and did so even up into her
life. Change seems to be the constant.
She worked at CITA in Astoria for sev- 80s with the help of friends and family. Just
eral years helping special needs adults obtain before her passing, she was busy decorating her
employment. She volunteered at church, for apartment in the retirement home with her daugh-
Girl Scouts, and was on the boards of museums ters for the Christmas holiday. She will be greatly
missed by many friends and family.
in Seaside and Clatsop County.
A funeral mass to celebrate her life will be
She was an avid reader and an expert in
genealogy and several history subjects. She held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at Our
wrote grants, organized volunteers, stood in the Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Seaside. A
rain and wind for hours boiling sea water for salt reception will immediately follow at the Parish
for living history programs, and even wrote a Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that dona-
curriculum for teachers to use on native peoples
tions be made to Our Lady of Victory Catholic
of the north Oregon Coast.
Gaston adored people and welcomed strang- Church, St. Vincent’s Medical Foundation, or
ers. When at home with small children, she Seaside Museum & Historical Society.
ON THE RECORD
Assault
• At 3:14 p.m. Thursday,
Misty Romero McBride, 41,
of Hammond, was arrested by
the Seaside Police Department
on the 500 block of S. Roos-
evelt Drive and charged with
fourth-degree assault, unau-
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy,
sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries,
sn-snow, i-ice.
thorized use of a motor vehi-
cle and harassment. A caller
reported the a pickup truck
his girlfriend was driving had
been stolen from the Safe-
way parking lot. He later spot-
ted the truck as it was returned
to the lot. McBride allegedly
claimed she was given permis-
sion to borrow the truck and
went to get something before
returning. The man then used
his own car to block McBride
and the truck in a parking spot,
allegedly leading her to bite
him.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
MONDAY
Astoria City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1095 Duane St.
LOTTERIES
OREGON
Thursday’s Pick 4:
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4 p.m.: 0-2-6-6
7 p.m.: 3-3-7-0
10 p.m.: 1-4-9-1
Thursday’s Lucky Lines: 01-07-11-14-20-24-26-30
CLASSIC
SHORT II
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