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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 3 B The things you can learn from batting with a cucumber Ned Hickson While walking through our local park last weekend and watching small children par- ticipate in one of America’s favorite pastimes (no, not scrolling through their smart phones), I was reminded of my daughter’s first season of T-ball. We bought a mitt, ball, practice tee and all the equip- ment necessary to get started on the basics. For obvious reasons, we saw no need to purchase an athletic cup — until I decided to advise her about batting stance, at which point it became obvious that I should have. At least for myself. Though practice ended a little early that first day, we were back at it the following afternoon — my daughter with her bat and a look of determination, and me offer- ing advice and encourage- ment a safe distance away with my bullhorn. It was one of those father/daughter moments that lasted just long enough for me to realize it, but long enough for our neighbor to cross the street and threaten to shove my bull horn some- where that isn’t located on any ball field. With that, we decided to try some fielding practice; I’d hit the ball to her, and she’d practice leaping on it with her eyes closed. Before we could do that, however, I had to actually HIT the ball. In my defense, I was using her bat, which is roughly the size of a cucumber. Also in my defense, let me just say that the cucumber and I have about the same degree of hand-eye coordination. Yet, between the two of us, we still couldn’t hit the ball. As a father, this is very embarrassing. (As a cucumber, it’s no big deal.) On the other hand, this was a good opportunity to teach my daughter about the impor- tance of not giving up, and how, through patience and determination, you can do anything. I say this all in retrospect, having hurled her cucumber bat over the top of the house in a fit of frustration. In spite of all this, when it came time for our daughter’s first official T-ball practice that week, we felt ready. OPRD offers overnight for novice campers Boating The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) welcomes beginning campers to join in an overnight guided camping experience this summer at an Oregon state park. Registrations are being accepted for the “Let’s Go Camping Program.” Events will be held at nine different parks. For $30 per family, OPRD provides tents, sleeping bags and other gear. Volunteers will help campers set up tents, build campfires, prepare meals in the campsite and more. Activities could include ranger-led hikes, owl prowls, bat chats and plenty of s’mores. Register for one of the fol- lowing events by calling 800- 551-6949. Most events are limited to 35 people and spots are filling quickly: • June 16-18: L.L.Stub Stewart Park • June 30-July 2: Deschutes River • July 7-9: Cascadia • July 14-16: Willamette Mission • July 21-23: Silver Falls • July 21-23: Prineville Reservoir • July 28-30: Ainsworth • Aug. 11-13: Milo McIver • Aug. 25-27: Champoeg • Sept. 8-10: Memaloose Cel e 70 brati Yea ng rs! Hoberg’s from 1B including where you are going and when you intend to return. • Double-check your equip- ment. Before you leave, make sure you have the necessary equipment onboard and that it’s all in good working condi- tion. • Practice passenger com- munication. You’re the captain. Don’t be afraid to issue instructions. Make sure your passengers and crew know Buying or Selling? I can help. For those of you who’ve never watched T-ball, the rules are roughly the same as baseball; the ball is hit, the batter runs the bases, and 15 infielders throw their mitts at the ball in order to stop it. Once that is accomplished, everyone runs to a spot about eight inches in front of home plate — which is where the ball has usually landed after gravity, and a solid hit to the neck of the tee, has advanced the ball. This isn’t always the case, however. In fact, some of the kids I saw could really whack the ball. If not for them, the outfielders walking around with mitts on their faces pre- tending to be monsters might not have seen any action at all. In the end, it is the ability to cover your face with your mitt and run around in circles until you trip over a sprinkler head that separates T-ball from major league baseball. I’d even say that profes- sional baseball could learn a thing or two from T-ball. But not before I learn how to hit the ball with a cucum- ber. what’s expected of them and where they can find needed equipment. The skipper is obli- gated to educate everyone on board about matters of safety. • Load your boat properly. Your boat should sit level at the waterline when fully loaded. Load passengers and equip- ment alternately to achieve proper trim. Pack gear to bal- ance the load, and don’t over- load. Your boat may have a label identifying its capacity. • Wear your life jackets. Children under 13 must wear life jackets when underway on a recreational boat unless they’re in an enclosed cabin or below decks, or unless a more stringent state regulation applies. You’re required to have life jackets for everyone on board, and everyone should wear one. • Check engine compart- ment, and run blowers, if applicable. Always check your engine compartment for fuel, fuel vapor and water, and run your blower for four minutes to clear the air before running the engines or using electrical devices. Blowers are specially sealed to prevent ignition of fuel vapors. Smell the bilge blower outlet to verify the absence of gas fumes. • Start and warm the engine. Cold engines can stall. Start your engine, and let it run until it’s running smoothly before leaving the dock and while you still have the boat under con- trol with lines. • Designate an alternate skipper. Appoint someone to take over should you become incapacitated. Practice differ- ent situations where this might be necessary. To schedule a free vessel safety check from a certified examiner, call Certified Examiner and Coast Guard Auxiliary Staff Officer Jonathan Yoder at 541-991- 1181. Complete Auto Repair www.hobergsautorepair.com 345 Hwy. 101 • P.O. Box 357 Florence, OR 97439-0012 541-997-2413 Bernhardt Creek Rd #1700 – Come enjoy your own 1.84 acre waterfront retreat near Mapleton. Zoned F1, so many memories could be had on this private piece of land. Walking path to deep water slough frontage. Fish from your own seat. $19,500. #2687- 17082259 Kevin McMullen 3rd Generation Owner hobergsautorepair@gmail.com Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945 Amy Johnson Broker, CSA 541 999-7875 Breaking news, photo galleries and MORE! Visit the Siuslaw News online at WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 Ned is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation. Write to him at nedhickson@ icloud.com Johnston Motor Company (541) 997-3475 • 2150 Hwy. 101, Florence 2014 Ford F-150 Super- CrewCab xlt 4x4 17U25 2015 Ford Edge SEL 17U35 2014 Ford Edge SEL Sport Utility 4D 17U13 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport SUV 4D 15U97C 2016 Ford Connect Passenger Titanium Van 16U81 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium Sedan 4D 17U08 $26,500 $26,500 $26,500 $25,900 $22,500 $21,995 2014 Ford Escape SE SPT. UT. 4D 16U120 2015 Ford Escape SE Spt Ut. 17U30 2014 Ford Fusion SE Sedan 4d 16U100 2013 Ford Escape SE 4WD 16C19A 2014 Ford Escape SE SPT. 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