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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, July 28, 2022
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
LOCAL BREVITIES
I
T
n good news from the Japan Times, once popular
Iwasawa beach in Naraha, in Fukushima Prefec-
ture, is finally open. This is after 11 years of closure
after damage from the triple meltdown at the Tokyo
Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. nuclear power
plant during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused
radiation leaks.
The entire area around the plant was abandoned
at the time in fear of radiation exposure. Even now,
few have come back, even though the area has been
declared safe. In fact, the beach in question, which
once attracted around 30,000 visitors a year, is in a
former evacuation zone and about 15.5 miles from the
power plant.
“We want the beach to once again become a popular
tourist spot,” the mayor of Naraha said.
In the not-so-good news, Japan Times reported that
Japan’s nuclear regulator approved a plan to dump
the nuclear power plant’s once contaminated, but now
treated water into the ocean, starting next spring. The
dumping is expected to take several decades. Need-
less to say, many Japanese citizens, not to mention the
South Koreans and Chinese, have filed complaints.
If Japan “insists on taking a dangerous step,” Chi-
na’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin
warned, “it will definitely pay the price for its irre-
sponsible behavior, and leave a historical stain.”
(Photo: Kyodo)
idbits from The Daily Morning
Astorian, July 29, 1884:
• The New Northwest publishes a list
of banner precincts on the women’s suf-
frage vote. Clifton, in this county, leads
the list, where 98% of the votes cast were
recorded in favor of the amendment.
Eight Clatsop County precincts gave the
amendment a majority.
Note: Oregon put women’s suffrage on
the ballot six times, more often than any
other state, in 1884, 1900, 1906, 1908,
1910 and 1912, when it finally passed
at the state level. Women finally got the
right to vote nationwide with the ratifica-
tion of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
• A bizarre note in the territorial news:
Thomas Haskell, aged 18, of Golden-
dale, Washington Territory, killed himself
last Saturday because he couldn’t go to
the circus.
• Glue is now used in the manufacture
of cheap grades of ice cream. That is ice
cream “with a stick in it,” as it were.
Note: Unfortunately, ice cream man-
ufacturers were substituting glue for gel-
atin, because it was cheaper. Even in
1920, the Buffalo Labor Journal claimed
ice cream at the time was made of “con-
densed milk, glue, preserved with form-
aldehyde and colored with aniline dye.”
• A town in Connecticut had a mar-
riage, an elopement, a fire, a funeral, a
circus, a murder and a thunderstorm on
the same day, and Deadwood is asked to
take a back seat.
Note: Legendary Deadwood, North
Dakota, was a wild and woolly town,
originally a gold miners’ camp. The
town’s website says it “attracted outlaws,
gamblers and gunslingers.” Both Wild
Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are bur-
ied there.
• Finally, a “fresh fashion note”: White
stockings are coming in again. Doctors
are beginning to discover that the sole
of the foot absorbs dyes, whether black
or colored, and that a continuous process
of slow blood poisoning is now going on
among those who wear colored stock-
ings. They (the doctors, not the stockings)
attribute to this several new diseases that
have lately been added to the heritage of
our human flesh.
Note: Victorians’ colorful clothing
could accurately have been described as
“to die for,” since many fabric dyes con-
tained arsenic and other poisonous ingre-
dients that leeched into the skin.
MADE TO HAPPEN
N
orth Carolinian Brian Herbst, while taking an
Alaskan vacation that covered fishing, seeing
wildlife and camping, added snapping a once-in-a-
lifetime photo to his itinerary, the Anchorage Daily
News reports.
While on a ferry ride July 12 in Kachemak Bay,
the captain alerted everyone to a whale in the dis-
tance, which began swimming toward them. Holding
his camera, “I was like front row on this, and I was
like, ‘I’m gonna get this thing, chah chah chah chah,’”
Herbst recalled, as the minke whale leapt out of the
water, and he got the stunning shot shown.
Marc Webber, a marine mammal research scien-
tist, noted that it’s rare to catch a minke whale breach-
ing, and called the shot a “remarkable photograph.”
He also explained that people don’t see minke whales
very often, as they are shy, and avoid boats. They are
only 25 to 30 feet long, swim very fast and weigh up
to 20,000 pounds.
Meanwhile, Herbst’s shot went viral. “We just
hit it so perfect,” he said. “It was just made to
happen.”
NO DRAMA LLAMA
‘THE EMOTIONAL ACTRESS’
A
ccording to The Daily Morning Astorian, on July
29, 1884, famed actress, the “great” Charlotte
Thompson, was soon to appear at the New York Nov-
elty Store, and eagerly awaited.
In anticipation, several Astoria notables posted “a
card” to the actress, pleading with her that “in addition to
the great enjoyment anticipated in witnessing your per-
sonation of Jane Eyre (pictured), you will, on the sec-
ond evening, render your famous impersonation of Nell
Gwyn.” Gwyn (1650-1687), was a witty British actress
who was also the mistress of Charles II.
Thompson, “the emotional actress,” who was born
in London and came to the U.S. with her father in the
1850s, was well known for her performances while tour-
ing the Old West. She was best remembered for portray-
ing Jane Eyre, and played the part in 1874, 1883 to 1885,
and in the Eastern U.S. in 1875, 1877, 1885 and 1887.
Consistently receiving rave reviews, this one is from the
San Jose Mercury News in September 1884: “The years
that have passed since she first appeared in this city have
fallen lightly upon her. The same fire, the same genius that
won for her so many warm admirers, remains to her in undi-
minished force … In her line, we think she stands foremost
upon the American stage; certainly she has no superior.”
‘YOU CAN’T BE SHY’
K, aspiring writers, this one’s for you: There’s a
new reality TV show in the works, “America’s
Next Great Author,” hosted by bestselling (and pro-
lific) author, Kwame Alexander, who has had 36 books
published.
The show “is the groundbreaking reality television
series geared toward anyone who loves drama on or off
the page,” the press release says. “First, nationwide try-
outs in iconic American cities show off amateur writ-
ers as they get one minute to pitch their book ideas to a
panel of publishing experts.
“Six charismatic finalists … enter the Writer’s Retreat
together for a month of live-wire challenges and spectac-
ular storytelling. These talented amateurs have to start
their books from scratch on day one of the retreat, and
finish the novel by the end of the 30 days.” The winner
gets a $2,500 cash prize for the best pitch and “a promi-
nent role” in the pilot episode.
Interested? Check out americasnextgreatauthor.com.
Need a little encouragement to enter? Watch Kwame’s
video on Twitter at @ANGAtvshow. “You can’t be
scared, y’all,” he urges. “You can’t be shy.” (Photo:
Twitter screenshot)
O
UP A TREE
LICENSE TO WED
A
he Clatsop County Clerk’s Office released a
press release about one of her many duties, issuing
marriage licenses.
County Clerk Tracie Krevanko said her office pro-
cesses about two dozen marriage licenses each week,
which is roughly triple the usual number. Couples
from all over the U.S. are drawn here to exchange their
vows because of the large number of dramatic scenic
backdrops available to choose from.
Just so you know, weddings aren’t being per-
formed at the clerk’s office anymore. Before get-
ting the certificate, you need to be aware of the rules
(one of which is a three-day wait) which are here:
bit.ly/ClatsopWed
“When you add up the local people wanting to
get married with out-of-state couples,” Krevanko
said, “we are having a lot of people wanting to get a
license.”
T
tempest in a teapot was whipped up on Facebook
last week when it was thought that a live llama was
being used to advertise a hot dog stand in Seaside.
Yes, indeed, there was a live llama in Seaside, but he
is not just any old llama, and his appearance had noth-
ing to do with hot dogs. He is “Caesar, the No Drama
Llama,” llamactivist, therapy llama, World’s Most Hug-
gable Llama, and a celebrity in his own right (with his
own Facebook page) who lives on the Mystic Llama
Farm in Jefferson.
Actually, Caesar was in Seaside and Cannon Beach
on business, to promote and autograph his children’s
book, “Caesar the No Drama Llama,” written and illus-
trated by Bee Dugan. Sadly, it was not explained how a
llama autographs books.
Generous with his time, the llamactivist is available
for free farm visits for small groups, virtual classroom
visits, virtual nonprofit meetings and care home walk-
abouts. He travels with his companion, Larry McCool,
with a mission of spreading good vibes and giving
“amazing hugs.” He has been featured in People maga-
zine and in the Washington Post, and has even received
international recognition.
“He’s a magical creature,” McCool told People, and
said Caesar’s disposition is similar to a dog’s: “I wish I
could take some credit for him, but he’s developed all on
his own. I’ve been his tutor and his guide, but sometimes
I’m the one following him.”
T
reetop rerun: Animal Planet’s TV show “Tree-
house Masters,” with builder Pete Nelson, is fea-
turing a hexagonal treehouse (pictured inset) being built
in the Neskowin area, replete with some furniture from
locally owned Roby’s Furniture and Appliance.
Andrea Langeliers, Roby’s co-owner, said the pro-
gram contacted the store’s marketing manager, and
asked if Roby’s was interested in helping furnish the
treehouse. The deal was made, so the show’s interior
designer arrived, picked out the furniture, and set the
delivery date.
It turned out to be a very windy, blustery day on the
coast, not exactly treehouse weather, but the show must
go on. Even when the show is up a tree. That is moving.
Nevertheless, all went well. The Roby’s crew is pictured
with Pete Nelson, who is wearing the white hat.
“The guys (from the show) were so much fun, and
they were making jokes and helping out,” Andrea
recalled. “Our delivery team had a really good time with
it.” (In One Ear, 9/18/2015)