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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2019)
B1 THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, OcTObER 10, 2019 CONTACT US ewilson@dailyastorian.com (971) 704-1718 COMMUNITY FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorian IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON SCRAPPING HUNGER ore than a decade ago, Brenda McKune of War- renton woke up at 2:11 a.m. with an idea to help others in need — a 12-hour fundraiser and “crop” for scrapbook fans. What brought on this brainstorm was an earlier visit to Fred Meyer, where she overheard three ladies talking to each other about how they needed to ask for food baskets for the first time to get through the holiday season. Brenda called the Warrenton food pantry — only to find out that the shelves were getting bare, which gave her a “heavy heart,” but motivated her to step up and help her community. She organized the first ScrapHunger event on a wing and a prayer, and managed to collect enough to provide food and gifts for 140 needy families. And, she’s kept at it every year since. This year, the ScrapHunger fundraiser is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Warrenton Grade School, 820 S.W. Cedar Ave. To get in, bring eight nonperishable food items, your craft projects and a soft pillow (you’ll need it). If you’re not a scrapbooker, or a crafter, you can still go on over and donate food, it’s always appreciated. Want information? Call her at 503-861-8126 or email brendamckune@live.com Brenda’s motto, “Let’s help feed those in need,” is her inspiration to keep ScrapHunger going every year. “I just love to help people,” she said. Now you can help, too. M ‘ART TO SAVE THE SEA’ HOLLYWOOD CALLING ollywood calls Astorian,” was the headline local artist Bill W. Dodge proposed. “Well, not totally accurate,” he added with a smile. “It’s Broadway call- ing me.” “Most localities know me from my appearances at the Astoria Sunday Market, and regular shoppers at Fred Meyer. Those shoppers are my extended family,” he revealed. “But a recent call from the Columbia River Mari- time Museum has created a new point of attention from my quiet life at the easel. They received a call wanting to locate ‘Astoria’s Bill Dodge’ for permission to use my art image, ‘Identified Flying Objects over Broadway’ for an upcoming film being produced in New York. “The musical is currently titled ‘The Prom,’ and will star Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, among many other award-winning Broadway performers. “The scene that will incorporate my art will show young Broadway performers at a famous theatrical restau- rant, waiting for a review of the show in which they have just performed.” A portion of his image is shown. While the name ‘Sardi’s’ is never mentioned as being where the scene takes place, the script writer personally included Bill’s artwork in the background “to create the thrill of waiting for all important New York theatrical reviews are revealed,” Bill told the Ear. Of note: The signed reproduction of Bill’s painting, which actually does hang at the real Sardi’s in New York City, was purchased by none other than the famed restau- rant’s owner, Vincent Sardi, himself. By the way, did you know Bill is the only known per- son to have ever been born in a motion picture studio? “It was at the Charlie Chaplin Studios in Hollywood,” he explained. “I thought I was escaping Hollywood’s glam- orous lifestyle when I moved to Astoria in February of l990.” “A part of that move,” he added, “involved Academy Award-winning film star Joan Fontaine, who has never discussed the end of a relationship that finalized here in l990.” If Sardi’s isn’t your thing, Bill Dodge will be at Lumi- nari Arts, 1133 Commercial St., at the second Saturday Art Walk. “But I still won’t reveal any Hollywood secrets,” he swears with an impish grin. “I’ll keep those private until I’m not around.” ‘H A RENAISSANCE MAN ith the millions of tons of ocean debris floating around out there, it’s comforting to learn about the nonprofit Washed Ashore (washedashore.org), based in Bandon, whose motto is “Art to Save the Sea.” They have created, out of marine debris, 70 colorful, and large, community art sculptures of animals that are impacted by plastic pollution. A sea turtle is pictured. More than 10,000 volunteers helped clean beaches, and over 20 tons of debris were processed to create these works of art, which are on exhibit around the country, and in Canada, in the hopes of raising awareness about the marine debris crisis. “Until we run out of plastic on the beach,” Angela Haseltine Pozzi, founder and artistic director of Washed Ashore said, “we will keep doing our work.” W STRANGE FISH ALERT t turns out that in late September, the Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife issued a “Strange Fish Alert” … for an ocean sunfish, aka mola mola, swimming hap- pily around in the Otter Rock and Cape Falcon marine reserves. What’s strange is that more often than not, we see these tropical gentle giants — which can reach 11 feet — dead on the beach, not alive and well. There’s a short video of the critter here: bit.ly/ODFW- mola (a screen shot is shown). Sunfish were spotted off the central Oregon coast, as well. Why were they here? The ODFW figures they were rid- ing the warmer water currents that were near shore at the time. I F rom The Daily Morning Astorian, Friday, Oct. 10, 1884: • J. C. Trullinger, proprietor of the West Shore Lum- ber Mills, is now putting in a wharf … that will enable vessels of the deepest draught that cross the bar to load lumber. The wharf will extend about 120 feet to 22 feet of water at low tide, and will be about 90 feet up and down. Note: After John Corse Trullinger (1828-1901) headed for the California gold rush, then conducted several suc- cessful business ventures in Oregon, he brought his entre- preneurial skills to Astoria in 1875. One of his mills was located on timberland on the Wal- luski River. He built a 3-mile long standard-guage railroad to move the logs to the river, and bought a 320-acre farm nearby (known as “one of the richest farms in the county”), and stocked it with cows to have a steady supply of beef, butter and milk for his workers. His lumber mills, at their peak, are said to have produced 1 million feet per month. Trullinger was also an inventor who held several pat- ents, including the “Duplex Axe” and a turbine water wheel. In addition, he was a father, employing all six of his sons in his various ventures, a mayor (Astoria, 1885- 1887) and later a legislator. What he is probably most famous for is creating Asto- ria’s first electric light company. A plaque on Marine Drive honors him, and tells the tale: “On Christmas Eve, 1885, direct current flowed from a small dynamo in a planer shed of West Shore Lumber Mills to light Astoria’s first electrical lamps. Wires strung across housetops connected the dynamo to 30 arc lamps. Customers paid $16 a lamp (about $420 now) per month to enjoy the novel service …” This initial venture became the Astoria Electric Co., which was absorbed by the Pacific Power & Light Com- pany in 1910. As the “History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington” (1889) aptly noted: “Oregon owes much to his inventiveness and energy.” (bit.ly/jct01, bit.ly/jct02, bit.ly/jct003) A SAD ENDING ack in 2007, The Astorian sports writer Gary Henley (pictured) covered the World War II-vintage airplanes belonging to the Collings Foundation (collingsfounda- tion.org), that flew in to the Astoria Regional Airport for the “Wings of Freedom” tour. One of the planes was a B-17 Flying Fortress, the Nine O Nine; Ernest “Mac” McCauley of California was its pilot. “There’s a lot of tricks we have to do,” Hunter Chaney, director of marketing for the Collings Foundation told Gary at the time, “in salvaging and replacing parts. … These are the most cared for, loved and coddled planes. They’re meant to fly.” And Gary did just that. On the B-17. Gary flew on the Nine O Nine a second time, over Cor- vallis in 2018, again with McCauley at the controls. His video of the flight is at bit.ly/GHfly2018. A screen shot is shown; Laurie Assa’s photo is inset. By now, you might have guessed that it was the Nine O Nine, piloted by McCauley, 75, and Michael Foster, 71, that crashed and burned at a Connecticut airport Oct. 3, killing the pilots and five others. An AP story says McCauley had more than 7,000 hours of B-17 flying experience (bit.ly/B17down). The aircraft, one of the few B-17s left, was brought down by mechanical trouble. “Same plane,” Gary noted, that he flew on — twice. “So sad.” B A HORN’S DILEMMA hree concerts in Ilwaco and Oysterville, Washing- ton, this weekend will celebrate the 35th anniver- sary of the Water Music Festival,” former newsroom col- league Patrick Webb noted in an email to the Ear. “Astoria’s talented artist Noel Thomas designed the distinctive logo back in 1985, featuring a wave and a French horn. His wife, Pat, was the first president of the group. “Event organizer Diane Marshall said that she was amused that longtime arts and community supporter Ann Saari, of Ilwaco, remembers some modifications that took place. “When they talked about it way back when, they talked about having the water come out of the mouth of the horn, Marshall recalled. But then board members took a second look at a draft design. “It made them feel like it resembled spit — like the spit some horn players dump out of the horn frequently.” It was an “ugh” moment. The solution? The artist moved the wave. ‘T PULL UP AND TUNE IN he annual D.K. Warren House (dkwarrenhouse. com) Halloween Light Show is up and running every evening at dusk until 10 p.m.,” Teale Adelmann posted on Facebook recently. The 1885 Queen Anne Vic- torian house is in Warrenton, at 107 N.E. Skipanon Drive. You literally can’t miss it. “This holiday season, all donations go directly to the Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific. The donation box is located on the telephone pole next to the ‘Listen to the Lights 95.7’ sign at entrance to the Haunted Mansion. “Drive up and tune in your radio. We try to contain spir- its to the yard, but you may want to lock your car doors (you’re guaranteed a scary visitor if you park in front of our neighbor’s driveway). “As always,” she added, “respect each other.” Boo! ‘T
