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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2015)
A4 V IEWPOINT Hood River News, Saturday, January 17, 2014 O ur readers write JOE PETSHOW Publisher/President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. CHELSEA MARR General Manager JODY THOMPSON Advertising Manager DICK NAFSINGER Publisher, Emeritus (1933-2011) TOM LANCTOT Past President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. Protesting point In protest of Jim Burdick’s letter to the Editor “Good Job, Obama.” In it he demonstrates a profound igno- rance of history, claiming that no other world leaders stood in support of the US after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Not only did Europe stand in unity with America, so did some of our traditional adversaries such as Iran, Cuba, Libya, and North Korea. He forgets that no one was flying anywhere immediately after the at- tacks of 2001. However, the inability to physically stand on American soil did not deter the rest of the world from mourning with us. Speaking with such force and con- viction without an understanding of history demonstrates the arrogance of ignorance that leads to acts of ter- ror like Sept. 2001 and Paris 2015. If we let these acts of terror drive a wedge between us, then the terror- ists win. Glen Patrizio Hood River KIRBY NEUMANN-REA Editor TONY METHVIN Columbia Gorge Press Manager DAVID MARVIN Production Manager Subscription $42 per year in Hood River trade area. $68 outside trade area. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Printed on OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION recycled paper. Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County Published Every Wednesday & Saturday by Hood River News, P.O. Box 390, Hood River, Oregon 97031 • (541) 386-1234 • FAX 386-6796 Member of the Associated Press Service The best way to remember Dr. King We could fill dozens of editorial columns with the powerful words of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., from throughout his career serving his church, his communi- ty, and the nation. Many of those words will be spoken during Monday’s community celebration on MLK Day (details on page A1). Here are just 13 words that sum up the underlying mission of Martin Luther King: “Life’s most persistent and urg ent question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’” Groups around the country are focusing on these words of King in the MLK Day of Service, a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to ser- vice initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. In 2014, citizens in all 50 states delivered meals, refurbished schools and commu- nity centers, and collected food and clothing. Volunteers also recruited mentors, supported job-seekers, built homes and provided other services for veterans and mil- itary families, and helped citizens improve their finan- cial literacy skills. To learn more, go to nationalservice.gov, and register your project or idea, track what others are doing, and learn about more resources on the subject. What are you doing as an individual or group, as part of the organized Day of Service, or on your own? Share it with readers by sending a short description — attach a photo if you’d like — to hrnews@hoodrivernews.com. If you want to reach out at this time, or any other, to groups that are striving to deal with problems of litera- cy, hunger, aging, and domestic violence, our “How to Help” feature, running on this page, is a place to start. King himself put a major emphasis on mentoring — caring adults spending time and giving their talents to young people — and numerous such programs are avail- able and in need of volunteers. They include foster par- enting and Big Brother/Big Sister programs through The Next Door, Inc., Aspire at HRVHS, reading and math assistance at any school, Start Making A Reader Today, and more. The question is “persistent and urgent” because the needs are. Whether in memory of Dr. King or for the fu- ture of a young person, reach out and lend a hand. The giver is usually the greatest recipient. Punchbowl Falls ‘a gem’ I’m relatively new to the area. I moved to Parkdale in July 2013. I’ve been over to Punchbowl Falls for swimming. I heard about the area and just had to see it for myself. I’m a father of three boys, soon to be four. I’ve been to many of our Na- tional Parks and State Parks across the country, to include Yosemite, Yel- lowstone, Grand Teton, Everglades, and Great Smoky to name a handful. Punchbowl Falls is a gem in this valley. The view from the pool is wonderful. The basalt wall towers at least a couple of hundred feet up. There is another waterfall nearby that is just a refreshing delight to visit. It has two small pools of its own. I’m 38-years-old, and it was strenuous for me to enjoy. In fact, I found much of the area to be precar- ious. There are some real dangers at the site. Depending on the time of year, Punchbowl Falls gushes and is dangerous to approach. Guard rails are an absolute necessity. Warnings about approaching the falls while in the pool are needed as well. In my humble opinion, it would be a great loss for this county not to acquire the land. I’ve visited both Tucker and Tollbridge parks. They are trea- sures for this area as well. Punch- bowl could be the park that is miss- ing. I would be willing to pay a small tax to help fund the county parks. I read before that grant money did not meet the sale price. There must be some way to supplement that grant money with aide from local citizens and businesses to turn Punchbowl into the next county park. Mike Teems, Jr. Parkdale Money talks If you do not believe this, then you have not looked at the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding political contributions, or the recent decisions regarding zoning in Hood River. I decided to look at the local deci- sions only. Hood River used to have a zoning that restricted housing to lots 100 by 100. This has been reduced to allow- ing five houses on a lot sized for two units. This is only an extreme example. Others include allowing multiple units for single unit housing, allow- ing parking units that were impossi- ble to use. This only results in many addi- tional costs to those who do not prof- it from the recent zoning decisions. The additional costs for water and sewer pipes, which were not de- signed for the in-fill decisions made by selected developers, are going to be paid by residents who followed the previous rules. Why don’t we require these devel- opers pay for the additional services required by their developments? I propose a cost, per unit, be added to development expenses for all units added to the fee for multi-units on ANY site other than the original 100 by 100 site. This cost should equal the anticipate fee for provid- ing this service. Why should they profit at the cost of older residents? Leonard Hickman Hood River Missing the point I think people are missing the real reason why Obama did not go “Stand with France” recently. If you read his “Audacity of Hope” crap you know that in reference to the Muslims he said, “I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” His words ex- actly, not mine. I think what he is doing by staying away from France is exactly that, “standing with the Muslims.” It does not surprise me. He and Michelle, like most liberals, are ashamed to be American. That’s my opinion. Cliff Mansfield Cliff Mansfield Incorporated Odell Thank you for thank you notes “The Elusive Thank You Note” by Wendy Best said it best. I have been concerned for a long time that adult children and grandchildren do not write “thank you” notes for any- thing from wedding gifts to bringing their friends for a weekend of play- ing on the slopes of Mt. Hood. Of course we are grateful that they come and want to bring their friends, but they should be grateful too, for the invitation, beds, food and welcome. Since they do not send “thank yous,” they are not teaching their children to do it either. Great aunts and uncles, grandpar- ents and old family friends are usu- ally on fixed incomes. When “we” send money for birthdays and other gifts, we would like a note (and maybe a crayon drawing) from the recipients showing their gratitude. It is a labor of love to get over 30 cards a year, add money and mail them to the right people at the right time. Make some old people happy. Send “thank yous.” Linda Frizzell Mt. Hood W HERE TO WRITE President — Barack Obama, White House, 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave., Washington D.C., 20500 E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov U.S. Senators — Sen. Jeff Merkley, 313 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, phone 202-224-3753 Sen. Ron Wyden, Dirksen Senate Office Building 221, Washington, D.C., phone 202-224-5244 2nd Congressional District Representative — Greg Walden, 14 N. Central Ave., Suite 112, Medford, OR 97504. Phone: 541-776-4646; E-mail: www.walden.house.gov/contactgreg Governor — John Kitzhaber, 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310. Phone: 503-378-3111; E-mail: www.governor.state.or.us/email.htm District 26 State Senator — Chuck Thomsen, 900 Court St. N.E., S-307, State Capitol, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1726; E-mail sen.chuckthomsen@state.or.us District 52 State Representative — Mark Johnson, 900 Court St. N.E., Bldg. H-385, State Capitol, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1452; E-mail: rep.markjohnson@state.or.us Hood River County Board of Commissioners — Chair Ron Rivers, Vice Chair Maui Meyer, members Les Perkins, Bob Benton and Karen Joplin, Hood River County Courthouse, Hood River, OR, 97031. Phone: 541-386-3970. County Administrator — Dave Meriwether, Hood River Coun- ty Courthouse, Hood River, OR, 97031. Phone: 541-386-3970. Hood River City Council — Mayor Paul Blackburn, members Laurent Picard, Mark Zanmiller, Kate McBride, Becky Brun, Peter Cor- nelison and Susan Johnson, Hood River City Hall, Hood River, OR, 97031. Phone: 541-386-1488. E-mail: cohr@gorge.net Chelsea Marr General Manager CMarr@hoodrivernews.com Founded in 1905 419 State Street Hood River, OR 97031 P.O. Box 390 Phone: (541) 386-1234 Fax: (541) 386-6796 Operations: Joe Petshow Publisher President, Eagle Newspapers (541) 386-1234 JPetshow@hoodrivernews.com Chris Stenberg Bookkeeper CStenberg@hoodrivernews.com Front Office/ Classified Advertising: Stacey Methvin Classifieds/Receptionist HRNClass@hoodrivernews.com SMethvin@hoodrivernews.com Circulation: Esther K. Smith Circulation Manager (541) 386-1234 Ext. 205 ESmith@hoodrivernews.com HOW TO HELP ■ Helping Hands Against Vio- lence — Helping Hands operates two facilities that offer shelter and safe- ty to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Contact the of- fice at 541-386-4808 prior to dropping off shelter items or to arrange a pick up. You also may donate online at: www.helpinghandsoregon.com. Needed goods include, for the shelter: toilet paper, sponges, paper towels, garbage bags, laundry deter- gent, dish soap, laundry soap, towels and washcloths, sheets and blankest (single double, queen), pots and pans silverware, and toys for the kids’ playroom; for the office, copy paper, envelopes, letter size file folders, stamps, post-its, bottled water, tis- sues, and disinfectant wipes. For those in need of Helping Hands services, here is the hotline number: 541-386-6603. ■ HR Care Center — The Family Council at the Hood River Care Cen- ter is seeking donations for wild News: Kirby Neumann-Rea Editor HRNews@hoodrivernews.com birdseed, to be used in filing the res- idents’ birdfeeders. This is an activi- ty which is enjoyed all year round. Donations may be dropped off at the Hood River Care Center, 729 Hender- son Road. For delivery or pick-up, call Debbie Medina, 541-490-1575 or Carol Daniel, chairman, 541-490-6136 or hrccfc551@gmail.com. ■ Warming Shelter — Hood River Warming Shelter is open at River- side Community Church, Third and State, this week until Jan. 18, and then for a week at Immanuel Luther- an Church. Visit hoodrivercares.org for details on how to assist. On Jan. 25 it moves to the former Expo Cen- ter at the waterfront, through the end of the season in March. From 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly, homeless people can find a warm place to sleep, bedding, meals, and connection to community resources, all at no charge. The service is of- fered nightly at rotating locations. ■ Veterans Office — Volunteer Trisha Walker News/Features TWalker@hoodrivernews.com WANT IN? If your non-profit is looking for volunteers or has other needs, send brief information to hrnews@hoodrivenews.com. drivers from the Mid-Columbia area are needed to take veterans to the Portland VA Medical Center. Oregon drivers must have a valid driver’s li- cense and a good driving record. CDL is not needed. For more infor- mation, contact the DAV Coordina- tor at 1-800-949-1004, ext. 57804 or ext. 56957. ■ FISH – The food bank program in Hood River County can always use monetary donations to help stock shelves at sites in Hood River, Parkdale, Odell and Cascade Locks. Donations may be sent to 1767 12th St., ox 147, Hood River, OR 97031 Production: David Marvin Production Manager Adam Lapierre Ailene Hibbard Archivist DMarvin@hoodrivernews.com News/Features Advertising: Jim Drake ALapierre@hoodrivernews.com Jody Thompson Advertising Manager JThompson@hoodrivernews.com Production/Commercial Printing Liana Stegall Advertising Sales LStegall@hoodrivernews.com Production/Commercial Printing Ben Mitchell News/Features BenMitchell@hoodrivernews.com Jim Drake Entertainment JDrake@hoodrivernews.com Kirsten Lane Advertising Sales KLane@hoodrivernews.com JDrake@hoodrivernews.com Andy Taylor ATaylor@columbiagorgepress.com Allen Diers Commercial Printing ADiers@hoodrivernews.com 419 State Street Hood River, OR 97031 P.O. Box 390 Phone: (541) 386-1234 Fax: (541) 386-6796 Tony Methvin Plant Manager (541) 386-1234 TMethvin@columbiagorgepress.com Andy Taylor Commercial Printing/Production ATaylor@columbiagorgepress.com David Marvin Commercial Printing/Production DMarvin@hoodrivernews.com