Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2018)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018 editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher Founded in 1873 JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager OUR VIEW Avast there, mateys! Tall ships welcome here I f it looks like a scene from the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean,” that’s because it is. The two tall ships that visited Astoria last week offer a delightful opportunity for photographers of all skill levels. And when they dock, the enthusi- asm of the guides who welcome visi- tors aboard — and take them out on the Columbia River on battle cruises — is worth its weight in doubloons. The mission of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport is quite remarkable in this day and age. Its leaders seek to rec- reate — and preserve — those rugged old days before steam engines forever changed the nature of ocean sailing. Steeped in history almost as old as this nation, the original Lady Washington is believed to be the first American-made vessel to make landfall on the West Coast of North America in 1788 and the first to visit Japan and Hong Kong. Leaders at the city of Aberdeen, Washington, set in motion a nonprofit group to create and maintain a replica sailing ship clear back in 1986. The authentic-looking brig was built as close to the original as possible by skilled shipwrights and launched as part of Washington’s 1989 state centennial commemorations. Coast Guard inspec- tions of all aspects of the vessel — Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian The Hawaiian Chieftain, center, and Lady Washington engage in a mock cannon bat- tle on the Columbia River. including its three miles of rigging — maintain its seaworthiness. Its smaller companion vessel, Hawaiian Chieftain, has also appeared in movies. The steel-hulled, flat-bot- tomed vessel was originally a private yacht and later a working cargo ship in Hawaii. It had several owners before the Grays Harbor group jumped in to pur- chase it. Its function isn’t just creating photo opportunities for wannabe buccaneers. The Hawaiian Chieftain is home to Sea School Northwest, an innovative train- ing course which sets cadets on a course to earning an entry-level Coast Guard Ordinary Seafarer Certification. And both ships invite thousands of school students each year for memora- ble field trips that take a step back into history. There are also opportunities for Linh DePledge/For The Daily Astorian The Lady Washington on the Columbia River near Pier 39. adults to join the crew and learn about seamanship in its “two weeks before the mast” programs. There is even a pro- gram designed for potential sailors who are prone to seasickness. Those of us living in a maritime region recognize these tall ships as a priceless investment of time and energy; the foresight of its creators 30 years ago is commendable. Long may they sail. On behalf of Astoria and our Washington neighbors in Ilwaco, we are delighted to welcome the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain back any time they care to visit. On the Web For more about the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain log on to histor- icalseaport.org WHERE TO WRITE • U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D): 439 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-0855. Fax 202- 225-9497. District office: 12725 SW Millikan Way, Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005. Phone: 503-469-6010. Fax 503-326-5066. Web: bonamici. house. gov/ • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): 313 Hart Senate Office Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224- 3753. Web: www.merkley.senate.gov • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 221 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Web: www.wyden. senate.gov • State Rep. Brad Witt (D): State Capitol, 900 Court Street N.E., H-373, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1431. Web: www.leg.state. or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@ state.or.us • State Rep. Deborah Boone (D): 900 Court St. N.E., H-481, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1432. Email: rep.deborah boone@state. or.us District office: P.O. Box 928, Cannon Beach, OR 97110. Phone: 503-986-1432. Web: www.leg.state. or.us/ boone/ • State Sen. Betsy Johnson (D): State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., S-314, Salem, OR 97301. Tele- phone: 503-986-1716. Email: sen. betsy johnson@state.or.us Web: www.betsyjohnson.com District Office: P.O. Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056. Phone: 503-543-4046. Fax: 503-543-5296. Astoria office phone: 503-338-1280. • Port of Astoria: Executive Director, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-741-3300. Email: admin@portofastoria.com • Clatsop County Board of Com- missioners: c/o County Manager, 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-325-1000. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Officials show attitudes against immigrants y least favorite politicians in our area are state Sen. Betsy Johnson and Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin. Both seem to have something against being human while poor. The vast majority of people who come to the U.S., without going through the federal bureaucracy (the enemy of the far right), are only doing what humans do, in their circumstances. I’m only inferring Johnson’s atti- tude toward immigrants from her other regressive opinions, and some- thing she said at the Ghadar Party event. She praised Indians for com- ing to the U.S. “in respect with our laws,” which seemed an obtuse attack on Mexican immigrants. Obtuse because Indians can’t migrate here except legally. If India had a border with the U.S., their numbers would dwarf all immi- grants. Despite migrating legally, over 200,000 Indians are no longer “legal.” As for Bergin, his support of Mea- sure 105 — at a time when the pres- ident, the GOP, and far-right media are spewing hate towards minori- ties, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is committing crimes against migrants, wound- ing children and families — is at best heartless. The law, and law officers, often fail to be true standard-bearers for justice. From slavery to ripping chil- dren from their parents, they just have often had to look elsewhere. MICHAEL A. “SASHA” MILLER Astoria M Editorial on lodging tax is wrong he editorial pursuant to last week’s Clatsop County com- missioners’ approval of a new lodging tax is wrong (“Who should pay to operate new jail?” The Daily Astorian, July 31). I am a witness to the exchange between the commissioners and the sheriff. Our District 5 com- missioner, Lianne Thompson, was simply asking that the motion be paused; let the lodging commu- nity have more time to discuss the proposal and the intended use of the taxes. She was barely allowed to fin- ish asking this of the sheriff, and the city manager, and the rest of the commissioners when the chairman called for a motion, a second and a vote. Given the sit- uation, anyone would have voted no. It is unfair to caste her as neg- ligent, when in truth she was the one voice of reason. As many hoteliers testified at this meeting: We don’t have a budget as to what the money would be spent for relevant to the operation of the proposed jail (30 percent of the lodging tax). We don’t have a budget for the use of the majority of the money, i.e. 70 percent of the taxes will be used in relation to marketing the area for tourism. The taxpayers have yet to vote yea or nay on the bonds to build a new jail. Why would any reason- able person say yes to a lodging tax at this time? We don’t have sufficient infor- mation to make a good deci- T sion … neither did the county commissioners. CHRISTINE COCHRAN Seaside Restaurant review was harsh and mean-spirited Please reconsider vehicle entrance to new co-op I ost everyone wants the Astoria Co-op to expand, but the set- ting they have come up with is just not going to work. Steam Whistle Way is a narrow street that is just wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Also, there are six houses with garages that back out onto this road. And, there are several motorized wheel- chairs that use Steam Whistle Way to get around, and this could be quite dangerous. At the City Council meeting, there was talk about 1,200 people using the co-op each day (“Asto- ria City Council backs new Astoria Co-op Grocery design,” The Daily Astorian, July 31). Getting back on Marine Drive is going to be rough if you use Steam Whistle Way. There are two ways for turning right onto Marine Drive — at 23rd Street and by City Lumber. If you want to turn left onto Marine Drive, the safest way is to drive through Mill Pond, and the nar- row road to the stop light by the Fire Department and Police Department. Say that just 400 want to turn left. It could be hard for the police or fire department to get out. Please recon- sider the entrance to 23rd Street, and not Steam Whistle Way. SYLVIA DAVIS Astoria M am writing in response to a review in Coast Weekend (“The Mouth: Galletti’s Spaghetti House misses some Italian pillars,” Aug. 2). If I had never eaten there, I would have found the review to be way off-balance in terms of its negativ- ity. Having eaten there weekly for several months, I found it inaccu- rate and unnecessarily harsh and mean-spirited. Galletti’s has been growing for several years, and I have seen an abundance of return custom- ers. There was no Italian restaurant on the Peninsula, and it has been a delight to now be able to find deli- cious lasagna with gobs of mozza- rella cheese, and to enjoy yummy unusual chicken marsala. From the first time I ate at Gal- letti’s, I have appreciated that a salad comes with the meal rather than costing an extra $5, and that it is made from fresh leafy greens and unusual peppers. The reviewer suggested that he/ she wanted an extra slice of gar- lic bread, understandably since it is quite delicious, but one slice is plenty for a person. The meal is rounded out with spumoni ice cream, and most peo- ple, including myself, leave with carryout boxes, as the portions are quite ample. We are a small community here, Astoria, and along the coast. Restaurants struggle for sufficient business and for responsible staff. It was unnecessary for this reviewer to be so unkind and unrelenting in this review. I am quite certain he/she stands alone in his critique, and I urge people to disregard this review. JUDY ERON Ocean Park, Washington Please vote ‘no’ on Measure 105 he rally in Astoria on Saturday, July 28, to oppose Measure 105 was a significant event for the entire North Coast community. We saw an outpouring of support for Oregon’s 31-year-old sanctuary law. Indivisible North Coast Ore- gon (INCO) was delighted to part- ner with La Voz de la Communi- dad to organize the rally, one of many such events around the state that day. Oregonians value our immi- grant friends and neighbors. We don’t want — or need — laws based on fear or hate. The cam- paign coalition to defeat Mea- sure 105, Oregonians United Against Profiling, already includes more than 100 members from law enforcement, business, social jus- tice groups, and other organi- zations, including INCO. More information is at orunited.org We urge everyone to join forces to defeat Measure 105 on the Nov. 6 ballot. Diversity makes our democracy stronger. CAROLYN EADY JEAN HOOGE JOAN HERMAN LAURIE CAPLAN SUE ZERANGUE Indivisible North Coast Oregon Astoria T
