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THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, ApRIl 24, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
SHANNON ARLINT
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
PUBLISHER’S NOTEBOOK
Print hub a hidden asset
F
ish processors and wood products
come to mind when thinking of
manufacturing in Clatsop County.
There’s also the one-of-a-kind airport
tugs, grinders and forage bag manufac-
turers with historic roots here. And the
most current cannery — beer.
But there’s also a manufacturing
plant at 949 Exchange St., often unno-
ticed, but given away by the rollup doors
tucked discreetly behind the office space
at the toe of the hill. There is a four-tower
printing press inside, capable of running
over 20,000 copies an hour. That press
runs for a full shift, five days a week
printing 15 different newspaper titles,
plus assorted monthly and quarterly
publications.
That manufacturing
plant, The Astorian, is a
print hub for the region.
The Astorian is one
of the few press facil-
ities left in the North-
west. During the past
KARI
two years, presses have
BORGEN
been shuttered at over 40
newspaper printing plants
nationwide, including plants in Longview,
Centralia, Portland, Eugene, Bend, Pend-
leton, Coos Bay, Yakima and Seattle as
centralizing printing operations makes
more sense than supporting costly equip-
ment and underutilized production shifts.
The Goss-Tensor hybrid press at The
Astorian was upgraded in 2010, and
again in 2019. It is big enough to print
full color on every page of 12-page sec-
tions, with a maximum section size of 16
pages, but not so big as to be an overin-
vestment of equipment that requires a lot
of personnel to run it.
Most importantly, The Astorian
has the good fortune to have experi-
enced production professionals — the
key to the success of the manufacturing
operation.
Press supervisor Jim Stanovich has
been with The Astorian for over 40 years
and knows this press inside and out.
Pressman Mark Cope came to Astoria
two years ago from Quad Graphics in
Portland when that plant closed, bringing
with him nearly 40 years of experience.
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Color improved in The Astorian after a significant upgrade to the press equipment.
Their skills are more art than science, and
becoming rare as many print operations
can no longer find experienced press
operators. We are fortunate to have them.
The accompanying distribution and
packaging center assembles the printed
sections and preprinted inserts into com-
pleted products. Mail preparation for 11
of those 15 newspapers happens as the
sections come off of the production line.
An inline labeling machine converts
information supplied from each newspa-
per subscriber database into ink jet labels
printed on each newspaper. Every paper
is sorted into postal route order and into
mail tubs for delivery to post offices as
far away as Crescent City, California.
Production director John Bruijn is
known for his attention to detail and
quality control. His teams work to man-
ufacture an excellent quality product for
our customers — whether our regional
newspaper partners or Astorian sub-
scribers. Corporate systems director and
mechanical whiz Carl Earl is part of the
go-to team to keep the equipment tuned
and running — hydraulics, electron-
ics, mechanics — and keep operations
humming.
LOOKING FOR WORK?
We are always looking for production
team members. If you would like to
join us, or know of someone who
would, please let me know at
kborgen@dailyastorian.com
The fishing and forestry manufactur-
ing in the region helps our operation by
keeping local parts and supply retailers
in business in our market. Those retail-
ers keep us stocked with the belts, parts,
hoses and fasteners we need for repairs.
We still buy our newsprint locally from
Norpac in Longview, Washington,
delivered to us by TP Freight’s Astoria
terminal.
Delivery contractor Bob Wilkie
and his team log an incredible number
of miles every week to and from post
offices, retail locations and racks and
our newspaper partners in other towns.
He is the final leg of the relay, and
despite obstacles, always makes the fin-
ish line.
That said, every day is a challenge
on the production line. Like fish pro-
cessing, we’re packaging fresh prod-
uct for delivery — newspapers have an
expiration date. Tuesday’s paper has
to be delivered on Tuesday. All of the
15 newspapers we manufacture require
on-time delivery, every day, every time.
There is no “delayed shipment” option.
Yet, the fast pace is rewarding work
— all of the efforts from writers, editors,
advertising and design come together in
production where preparation for deliv-
ery finishes the job. There are 15 com-
munities served by the newspapers
printed at The Astorian, and we take our
responsibility to them seriously. We are
proud, grateful and humbled that we are
still able to serve each one.
We are always looking for production
team members. If you would like to join
us, or know of someone who would,
please let me know at kborgen@dailyas-
torian.com.
For more information about our press
upgrades and to watch video of the press
running, look for special features on this
article at dailyastorian.com
Kari Borgen is publisher of The
Astorian.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Heartening
K
udos to Seaside’s Community Well-
ness Center, aka Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District, where there is,
indeed, something for everybody.
COVID-19 compliant, the board,
administration and staff have created a safe
environment, inclusive of activities cover-
ing the lifespan.
Silver and fit benefits, youth sports and
playgrounds and a skate park are all avail-
able. It is heartening to see a community
invested in public health.
PATTI and TOM SMITH
Gearhart
Glad to see
I
was pleased to read in “State backs sub-
sidy for bus route between Astoria and
Portland” (The Astorian, April 15) that the
state of Oregon has decided to reinvest in
bus links between Portland and Astoria.
I live in the Seattle area, and was
excited to make a trip to Astoria, hav-
ing been vaccinated against COVID-19. A
large part of my decision to visit Astoria
was that I could get here without a car. My
trip from Portland to Astoria on the bus
was enjoyable, safe and punctual.
I’m glad to see the state and local gov-
ernments investing in the success of this
public transportation option, even after a
rough year. I have so enjoyed my visit to
this city and look forward to returning (via
LETTERS WELCOME
Letters should be exclusive to The
Astorian. Letters should be fewer
than 250 words and must include the
writer’s name, address and phone
number. You will be contacted to
confirm authorship. All letters are
subject to editing for space, gram-
mar and factual accuracy. Only two
letters per writer are allowed each
month. Letters written in response
to other letter writers should address
the issue at hand and should refer to
the headline and date the letter was
published. Discourse should be civil.
Send via email to editor@dailyasto-
rian.com, online at bit.ly/astorianlet-
ters, in person at 949 Exchange St.
in Astoria or mail to Letters to the
Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR.,
97103.
bus and train) again in the future.
TUCKER CHOLVIN
Snohomish, Washington
Winning
Y
ou grow up playing board games with
the neighborhood kids once a week.
Being the youngest, you don’t win very
often — if at all — and that’s OK. You
learn a valuable life lesson: You don’t
always win.
You get older, and begin winning more
games, until one year, you begin winning
every game. This doesn’t sit well with
your “friends” who announce that they are
going to change the rules of the game.
It isn’t “fair” that you are winning by
following the same rules they used. This is
somehow different.
RICHARD DILLON
Warrenton