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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2019)
March 8, 2019 T he C olumbia P ress 7 City seeks permission to dredge Hammond Marina The city has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers to conduct mainte- nance dredging at Hammond Marina. The dredging would allow better boat access to the ma- rina and moorage slips. About 72,500 cubic yards of accumulated sediment would be moved from a 10 ½-acre section to a disposal location northeast and adja- cent to the marina. The proposed dredging of the basin would be to a depth of 8 feet mean lower low wa- ter and a portion of the en- trance channel to the depth of 10 feet. Dredging would be accomplished by a hydraulic dredge and pipeline. The Corps seeks public comment on the proposal. More information is avail- able by going to the Portland division’s website, nwp.us- ace.army.mil and then se- with Emma Edwards When happy hour comes early lecting “Missions” at the top of the page and “Regulatory” then “Notices.” Comments are due by March 31. Dredging would take place Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. Co-op’s solar project wins Pac. Power Blue Sky grant Astoria Co-op Grocery is among the 13 solar projects in Oregon, Washington and California to receive funding from Pacific Power custom- ers who participate in the Blue Sky Block renewable energy program. Blue Sky grants will fund up to $1.2 million in renew- able energy projects in 2019, bringing online more than 1,055 kilowatts of new so- lar-powered energy. Since 2006, Pacific Pow- er Blue Sky Block option program participants have helped fund the installation of 113 community-based projects. Blue Sky is a voluntary pro- gram that empowers Pacific Power customers to match all or part of their energy use with renewable energy, reducing their carbon foot- prints and driving demand for new renewable energy in Senior Moments Seafarer’s Park the West. Through the Blue Sky Block option, participants also support qualifying re- newable energy projects for community-serving orga- nizations such as schools, community centers and arts organizations. The grocery’s award will cover much of the cost to in- stall its roof-top solar energy system. The project was chosen through a competitive evalu- ation process. Other projects receiving funding include a solar ar- ray at Phoenix High School, a roof- and ground-mount- ed solar installation at the Dorris Lions Club in Dorris, Calif., and a solar project for the Yakima Housing Author- ity in Wash. “The Blue Sky program of- fers Pacific Power customers a simple and powerful way to live their values, reduce their carbon footprint and support renewable energy,” said Kling. “Unlike most green power programs, Blue Sky goes be- yond the purchase of renew- able energy credits to help fund additional smaller ener- gy projects for organizations in our communities. Through projects such as these, Blue Sky Block participants are powering a better future for local communities. It’s time to spring forward with all our clocks this week- end. I remember when we had to call the operator to get the correct time. Anyway, when we get up at 6 a.m., it will re- ally be 5 a.m. because we put the clocks ahead one hour be- fore we went to bed on Satur- day night. I don’t drive after dark, but after the time change, I can stay out an hour later. A hint for us seniors: I get a discount on my car insurance for not driving after dark. You may want to research your perks if you don’t drive after dark, either. Our “kids” still hard at work suggest starting day- light savings time at 4 p.m. on a Friday. This coming Sunday, sunset is at 7 p.m.! Some say we waste the first hour of daylight sav- ings time trying to figure out if we gained or lost an hour. Comic strip character Maxine says she likes DST because it makes happy hour come one hour sooner. I like the Indian legend that says when Chief Iktomi was told about daylight savings time, he thought a while, rubbed his chin and said: “Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, Senior lunch menu Monday, March 11: Pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, red cabbage, pea soup, bread pudding. Thursday, March 14: Corned beef, potatoes, carrots, cole- slaw, ice cream. 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 $6 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more information, call 503-861-3502. sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.” Enough said. Just change those clocks! Another important March date is St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. By the way, keep Thursday, March 14, circled on your calendars. That’s the day the Warrenton senior meal site will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a corned beef meal at noon. I’m told several of you will wear green to the lunch. So why wear green? And what about St. Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland? I’ve read several historical accounts of the history of St. Patrick’s Day and the best one I found was dated about this time last year. If you have your own computer or can go down to our amazing library on Main Avenue, look up the following site: ripleys.com/ weird-news/snakes-in-ire- land. You’ll be amazed and entertained at the same time. A hint: Another thing that can be blamed on climate change. It’s fun being a senior as we have more time to look up relevant and interesting facts. Incidentally, most of Ari- zona and all of Hawaii don’t do the DST change. And then there are the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa that do not observe DST ei- ther. And now, an important and maybe a life-saving note. Several years ago, it was sug- gested to use the time change every year as a reminder to change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. So this weekend, be sure to change your clocks as well as your batteries.
