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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2017)
September 15, 2017 T he C olumbia P ress 6 Senior Moments with Emma Edwards Payback is easy as sodapop I can’t resist sharing some “holy humor” from one of our octogenarians. While driving in Pennsylva- nia, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The carriage owner obviously had a sense of humor because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand-printed sign: Ener- gy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust. We all enjoy a good laugh! Recently, the term “payback time” was a conversation at lunch. It turned into a time of realizing how good life is for most of us seniors. Perhaps we’re also blessed to be able to give to the less fortunate. Time for payback? We don’t have to pay anyone back, but it feels good. Many have learned where to find seniors in our area and that’s enjoying lunch on Mondays and Thursdays. I’m talking about the Warren- ton Senior Citizens Inc. meal program at the Warrenton Community Center on Third Street. Some of us have been going there for more than 20 years (like me). Seated at tables of eight, the group is composed of seniors, usually starting at age 55 and up to 96 currently. Besides eating, we do a lot of laughing and even solve many world situations. Maybe it’s time for us to do a little “payback”? Recently, our dishwasher, Mitch Mill- er, who also represents VFW Post 12123, shared some ways we can do a bit of “payback,” blessing giver and recipient. He encouraged us to partici- pate in the Wounded Warrior Project, which is a military and veterans charity service organization. It empowers injured veterans and their families, Mitch said, adding that Coors and Miller Brew- ing Company donated mon- ey to the Wounded Warrior Project for ever pull tab that comes off the top of a can. By collecting the tabs, we sup- port Wounded Warriors who have served our country. You can bring your tabs to the se- nior meal site, where there is a collection bin for your do- nation. The tab of an aluminum can is pure aluminum, unlike the rest of the can, which con- tains paint and other metals. Money earned is based on the market price of aluminum. It takes approximately 763 tabs to make a pound. I think it’s exciting that our little Warrenton meal site group can be a part of this worthy countrywide fund-raising event. So be sure and save your beer and pop tabs and bring them to lunch with you. Or anyone can drop them off on a Monday or Thursday. Not only is our participa- tion a privilege that makes us feel good, it helps meet the growing needs of our injured servicemen and women. We are also urged to donate polypropylene and polyeth- ylene caps and lids to Caps of Love under the division name Chariots of Love. This program provides free wheel- chairs to handicapped chil- dren up to the age of 21. Plastic bottle caps current- ly are recycled for 10 cents per pound. Chariots of Love contacts children’s hospitals, clinics, pediatric physical therapists and others to lo- cate children in need. Grants to go toward heritage preservation projects The Oregon Heritage Com- mission is offering grants for projects that tackle the con- servation, development and interpretation of Oregon’s cultural heritage. Awards range from $5,000 and $20,000. Projects can be anything related to Oregon heritage, such as theater performanc- es, collections preservation, exhibits, oral history projects, etc. Priority goes to those that preserve, develop or interpret threatened resources of state- wide significance. The grant application dead- line is Oct. 2. “We hope to see a variety of projects that engage Orego- nians in heritage,” said Kuri Gill, heritage grants program coordinator. “We encourage the documentation, preser- vation and exploration of all aspects of Oregon’s heritage.” Applications are submitted online. To learn more, go online to oregonheritage.org or con- tact Gill at kuri.gill@oregon. gov or 503-986-0685. Dredging: Maintaining channel tied to economics Continued from Page 1 ic impact if we don’t do that.” During the Buoy 10 salmon season, which ended Labor Day, the marina was packed with anglers, providing the city with bountiful launch fees and camping fees. There is only 7 to 8 inches of water below the hulls of some ships docked there, which causes problems during low tides. The marina is owned by the Corps of Engineers, but leased and managed by the city. Plans are in the works for the city to take ownership of the marina. At the marina task force meeting, there was much talk about the need to dredge for economic reasons, Ack- ley told city commissioners Tuesday night. “We’re reprioritizing the goals and see the importance of getting the dredging per- mit in place before the trans- fer occurs,” she said. “It’s the To learn more An open house-style meeting on the dredging plan is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria. Written input will be accepted through Nov. 15 through an online com- ment tool at nwp.usace. army.mil/lcrchannelmain- tenance. More information about the project also is avail- able there. most important thing before we talk about moving on” with other goals. While Hammond Marina dredging is incidental to the larger scoping plan, it is a lo- cal economic issue that mesh- es with the regional one. “The Port of Portland, along with other Columbia River ports, depends on mainte- nance dredging to support our trade gateway,” said Curtis Robinhold, executive Senior lunch menu Monday, Sept. 18: Chicken with mushroom sauce, brown rice, mixed vegetables, cucumber salad, chocolate cake. Thursday, Sept. 21: Lasagna with meat sauce, garlic bread, broccoli and cauliflower, Italian bread salad, key lime pie. The Warrenton senior lunch program is at noon (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) Mondays and Thursdays at Warrenton Community Center, 170 SW Third St. Suggested donation is $5 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more information, call 503-861-3502. director of the Port of Port- land. “Maintaining the riv- er channel at its authorized depth and width is essential to sustaining the billions of dollars of commerce that flow through the Columbia River.” Vessels using the full chan- nel depth carried about 11 million tons of export ship- ments worth nearly $3 bil- lion in 2015, the last year for which records are available. The primary mission for the Corps’ Portland District -- eliminating impediments to navigation on northwest rivers -- dates to 1871. The Corps maintains safe and re- liable channels, harbors and waterways for the transpor- tation of commerce, support to national security and rec- reation. The ports of Longview, Ka- lama, Woodland and Van- couver in Washington state and the Port of Portland are co-sponsors of the environ- mental impact study and maintenance plan. The Corps and ports, with input from those who have a stake in the dredging, envi- ronmental agencies and the public, will determine the best plan for placing dredged material and evaluate ways to reduce the need for dredging. For the past two decades, the Lower Columbia River Fed- eral Navigation Channel has been maintained to a federal- ly authorized 43-foot depth.