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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2018)
T he C olumbia P ress November 23, 2018 Senior Moments with Emma Edwards The long and short of it Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving. I’m sure most of us are thankful for the big and the little of it. How many times have you heard the parallel of big and little? We like to say big or little in describing things that are happening. I find myself say- ing I need to take a little nap whereas, if time permits, I’d like to take a big nap. My friends know I go to two different churches, a little church and a big church. Often, I go to both churches in the same day. My big and my little church! Am I refer- ring to size or congregation? Content or lack of content? Big preacher or little preach- er? So many variables with those two words. Big. Little. It’s even entered the world of jokes. Why did the police officer arrest the turkey? Because the turkey was suspected of fowl play! What did the big flower say to the little flower? Hi, Bud. Oh, well. A favorite of mine in the Christmas season: Why do Dasher and Dancer love coffee? Because they’re Santa’s star bucks! All of those would be con- sidered little jokes. That’s good, because we seniors can have short or little attention spans. Never big! In the 1937 edition of the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the definition of the word big was completed in seven lines. In 2008, it took 20 plus lines to define that little three let- ter word. The opposite of big? Yes, it’s the word little. In 1937, it took 14 lines to define little with the lines climbing to 22 in 2008. I lay in bed in the wee hours not so long ago thinking about these two very common words. I know, “Get a life, Em.” But you know how I am with words! Here in Warrenton, we se- niors have a little library as opposed to Seaside, which has a big library. We have a little restaurant, soon to become a big restau- rant. A little store compared to our big stores. Some of us could be called little while others could be defined as big. Little and big, however, do not always ap- ply to size or height. A noise could be big or little and still be a noise. I used to belong to a weight loss group where we declared big was a bad word. However, it was good when we had a big loss. Big and little can come into the conversation when we talk about our furniture. Of- ten our emotions kick in. We widows may think that if we replace the long couch with a love seat something might “happen.” I don’t know, I’ve had one for more than five years and nothing has happened. You know, a gentleman comes over and simply plops down in the middle of the lo- veseat like it is a wide chair! This Thanksgiving, per- haps I’m thankful I didn’t live in the era of George and Charles Merriam or I would never be sure what to say. Little or big? That is the big and little of it. 7 Changes proposed to state wetlands rules The state is seeking com- ments on proposed changes to Oregon’s requirements that developers lessen the impact of construction on wetlands and streams. Department of State Lands invites the public to comment from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednes- day, Nov. 28, at Hampton Inn & Suites, 201 39th St., Asto- ria. The state protects wetlands and waters for their environ- mental and societal benefits, such as cleaning water, help- ing control floods, and pro- viding fish and wildlife habi- tat. The proposed rules would change how the benefits are replaced when there are un- avoidable impacts of devel- opment or other activity. Oregon’s current require- ments focus on replacing af- fected acres – an approach that has led to a nationwide loss of the benefits that wet- lands and waters provide. Existing state law and new national standards require replacing benefits lost, not only acres lost. To view a webinar on the is- sue, visit the Oregon Depart- ment of State Lands website. This Week in Aboriginal History by Carl A. Ellis Indian farmers file $19 billion suit against USDA Nov. 23, 1877: While au- thorities in Nalad City, Ida- ho, attempt to arrest Naught, an Indian accused of shoot- ing two teamsters, other In- dians become agitated. One of them shoots Alex Rhoden, who is walking across the street. The shooting leads to the Bannock War. Nov. 24, 1999: Ameri- can Indian farmers file a $19 billion class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging a 20- year history of loan-granting discrimination. Nov. 25, 1712: Col. Thom- as Pollock, commander of the Carolina militia, meets with Chief Tom Blount, leader of the northern Tuscarora Indi- ans, at the height of the Tus- carora War. Blount’s tribe hadn’t participated in the at- tacks and he agrees he won’t attack in the future. Blount also agrees to bring in Chief Hancock of the southern Tus- caroras, who had been lead- ing the attacks. Nov. 26, 2007: A new study by the University of Michigan bolsters claims that American Americans are de- scended from one migrant group that crossed a lost land link from modern Siberia to Alaska. The study examines genes of indigenous people from North and South Amer- ica and from two Siberian groups. Nov. 27, 1759: Maj. Rob- ert Rogers is en route to ac- cept custody of French forts given over to the British after the end of the French-Indi- an War. He’s confronted by a group of Indians when he arrives at the Detroit Riv- er at Lake St. Clair. Indians leaders, including Pontiac, an Ottawa, tell Rogers he’s trespassing, and ask his in- tentions. Rogers says he’s going to remove the French and gives the Indians gifts. Pontiac allows Rogers to pass unharmed. Nov. 28, 1729: Natchez Indians lead at attack on Fort Rosalie after becoming con- vinced the new commander, Etcheparre Chepart, is in- capable of governing. They destroy the fort near pres- ent-day New Orleans and 200 whites are killed. Chep- art is killed while hiding in his garden. Chepart had been warned of the impending at- tack, but had refused to be- lieve it. Nov. 29, 1813: A battle breaks out between Upper Town “Red Stick” Creeks and American forces in the Indi- an village of Autossee in Al- abama. A force of 1,000 Georgia mi- litia and 400 pro-American Creeks attack the Red Stick stronghold, using continuous heavy gunfire. The Red Sticks suffer 200 fatalities, while Americans post 11 dead. The village and its supplies are burned as are the villages of Tallassee and Little Tallas- see. Ellis is an author and his- torian working on a book about American Indians. Senior lunch menu Monday, Nov. 26: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, spinach salad, bread pudding. Thursday, Nov. 29: Thai shrimp, brown rice with peanut sauce, mixed vegetables, clam chowder, berry trifle. 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.
