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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, OcTObER 10, 2019
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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