B4
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022
Are You Hard of Hearing?
Tristan Pa
Anis Mojgani began his term as Oregon’s poet laureate in May 2020.
Tele-poem hotline off ers
listeners cool escape
that we live in right now, when we are
struggling for human relationships and inti-
macy, the telephone, strangely enough, can
April is National Poetry Month and provide that.”
those who want to hear some pithy poems
The idea lingered in his head for a few
won’t have to go far. In fact, they are only a years. Then, in 2022, his fi nal year as l aure-
phone call away.
ate, he called his friend, musician and art-
Every day for the entire month callers ist Oliver Blank, and together, they created
can listen to recordings from Oregon Poet the hotline.
Laureate Anis Mojgani
“I decided to reach
and past l aureates Pau-
out to three of the more
‘HOPEFULLY IT
lann Petersen, Kim
recent previous l aure-
Staff ord and Elizabeth
Paulann Petersen ,
ALLOWS A CALLER ates,
Woody reciting their
Kim Staff ord and Eliz-
favorite poems.
abeth Woody,” he said .
TO TURN DOWN
Mojgani created the
“The current plan right
A LITTLE BIT OF
Daily Tele-Poems Tele-
now is to have a week
phone Line to give lis-
of Paulann ‘s poems, a
THE NOISE THAT
teners a space to enjoy
week of Liz’s poems, a
a light break from the
week of Kim’s poems
IS PLAGUING US
recent heavy news cycle.
and a week of my
RIGHT NOW AND
“Right now we are
own.”
living in a time where
The hotline has only
HAVE A QUIET
we don’t have access
been up for a week, but
MOMENT OR TWO Mojgani saw a huge
to the usual things that
have comforted us,” he
response from peo-
WITH ONESELF
said . “Poetry allows us
ple both locally and
to fi nd some clarity in
abroad. Around 1,000
THROUGH
diffi cult and challenging
calls were made from
THE VOICE
times.”
12 diff erent states,
Mojgani came up
Mexico and Canada, he
OF ANOTHER
with the idea back in
said .
2020 when he was
“The loving and
PERSON. I HOPE
appointed the state’s
exciting way in which
THAT IT GIVES
chief wordsmith. Due
so many folks have
to the COVID-19 pan-
responded, it feels that
CALLERS THAT
demic, he had to nav-
people are really curi-
igate bringing the joy
ous and really excited
INITIAL LITTLE
of poetry to the public,
about this,” he said .
SLIVER OF QUIET
while also keeping safe.
Currently, there are
During one of his
no plans to keep the
REFLECTION TO
evening walks, Mojgani
hotline up past April,
BLOOM.’
recalled coming across
but Mojgani hopes that
an object on the street
at least for the month,
Anis Mojgani | Oregon’s
that seemed to come
callers can have a little
poet laureate since May 2020
from a bygone age.
space for themselves.
“I don’t know if it
“Hopefully it allows
was a construction bin
a caller to turn down
or a what, but the thing that entered my a little bit of the noise that is plaguing us
head image wise was the thought of being right now and have a quiet moment or two
able to walk up to a phone booth, and pick with oneself through the voice of another
up the phone, call a number, and hear a person,” he said . “I hope that it gives call-
poem,” he said .
ers that initial little sliver of quiet refl ection
He loved the idea that a simple device to bloom.”
like a telephone could evoke nostalgia and
• For more information, visit Mojgani’s
connection and that’s when his creative Instagram, and to hear some poems, call
sparks started to ignite.
503 -928-7008. Other events celebrating
“There’s something really interesting National Poetry Month around the state can
and beautiful about a machine that bridges be found on the Oregon Poets Association
distance,” he said . “Particularly in the time website.
By STEVEN TONTHAT
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Contact YOUR County Commissioner TODAY!
We did our “due diligence.” We looked
for a buildable property in Clatsop
County, in a neighborhood, zoned
CR to retire to. Single family, no
businesses allowed, per the county
ordinance. Per our realtor.
WHY DO WE FIND OURSELVES
SURROUNDED BY MINI-MOTELS?
WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?
On April 13th the Board of
Commissioners will hold a public
hearing to change the zoning
ordinances in all zones in the county
to allow STRs in every zone?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE
SURROUNDED BY MINI-MOTELS?
Contact YOUR County Commissioner TODAY!
Email them at commissioners@co.clatsop.or.us
Paid for by the people who live, vote, work and volunteer
in Clatsop county and North Coast Neighbors United.
northcoastneighborsunited@gmail.com
A major name brand hearing aid
provider wishes to fi eld test a
remarkable new digital hearing
instrument in the area. This off er
is free of charge and you are
under no obligation.
These revolutionary 100%
Digital instruments use the latest
technology to comfortably and
almost invisibly help
you hear more clearly. This technology solves the
“stopped up ears” and “head in a barrel” sensation some
people experience. If you wish to participate, you will be
required to have your hearing tested in our offi ce FREE
OF CHARGE to determine candidacy and review your
results with the hearing instruments with our hearing care
specialist. At the end of this evaluation, you may keep your
instrument, if you so desire, at a tremendous savings
for participating in this fi eld test. Special testing
will be done to determine the increased benefi ts of
this technology. Benefi ts of hearing aids vary by
type and degree of hearing, loss noise environment,
accuracy of hearing test, and proper fi t.
This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if
hearing help is available for your hearing loss and
get hearing help at a very aff ordable price.
LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Offer Expires
April 15th, 2022
Special Notice State Employees
You may qualify for a hearing aid benefi t up to $4,000
every 4 years. Call for eligibility status.
The Miracle Ear Foundation
Since 1990 the Miracle-Ear Foundation™ has been
providing hearing aids, follow-up care, and educational
resources to people with hearing loss who demonstrate
personal inability to financially provide for their hearing
health needs. We do this because we believe everyone in
our community deserves quality hearing instruments.
Only at select
locations.
Call Now and Make Your
Reservation Today!
Warrenton
173 S Hwy 101
Warrenton, OR 97146
(503) 836-7921
Tillamook
2505 Main Ave N
Suite C
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 836-7926
Mention Code: 22AprHealth
visit us online at: www.miracle-ear.com
Hearing tests are always free. Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper amplifi cation
needs only. Hearing Aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences will vary depending
on severity of loss, accuracy of evaluation by our Consultant, proper fi t, and the ability to adjust
amplifi cation. Pursuant to terms of your purchase agreement, the aids must be returned within 30 days
of the completion of fi tting, in satisfactory condition for a full refund.