July 12, 2019
T he C olumbia P ress
Business and development tidbits
Senior Moments
with Emma Edwards
Counting blessings without
discounting the worries
“Ain’t no sense worryin’
about the things you got con-
trol over, ’cause if you got con-
trol over ’em, ain’t no sense
worryin’. And ain’t no sense
worryin’ about the things you
don’t got control over, ’cause
if you don’t got control over
’em, ain’t no sense worryin’.”
-- Mickey Rivers, outfielder
from 1970-84 for the Califor-
nia Angels, New York Yan-
kees and Texas Rangers.
There is a popular hymn that
tells us to “Count your bless-
ings; name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
see what God has done” (2
Corinthians 10:11).
Right, blessings! I think
some seniors think the verse
says “Count your trials; name
them one by one.”
Many of us are at a place in
life where we realize we have
only one body and, therefore,
it’s crucial we treat it right.
As we age, we become more
aware that our thought pat-
terns change.
We have more time for an-
alyzing situations and often
come to conclusions that get
us in trouble. Worrying is a
big problem for some (like
me). Even if we pray we some-
times continue to worry after-
ward.
I read an insightful sugges-
tion recently that I want to
pass on: Create a “worry pe-
riod.” The suggestion that we
need to establish a set time
and place for worrying is rec-
ommended on the healthy
living website helpguide.org.
The best time for many is 5 to
5:20 p.m., early enough that
you won’t be anxious at bed-
time.
I think the best time for me
to do my worrying is early
morning. Then I can include
the worries that woke me
during the night. The rest of
the day, however, will be a
worry-free zone.
The website suggests that
when a worry or anxious
thought comes into our heads,
we write it down, along with
the time and date. I’m think-
ing of a little ceramic contain-
er set upon a top shelf in my
home that would serve well
as a receptacle for those little
slips of paper.
We are supposed to tell our-
selves that we’ll deal with the
worry during our designated
worry period and go on with
our worry-free rest of the day.
In summing up this vital
subject (especially for us se-
niors) it was stressed that
we need to have a specified
length of time for worrying
each day. Some like to include
prayer during their worry pe-
riod. If you’re a praying per-
son, that’s a good idea too.
Cuddling with a pet is a great
exercise to calm the troubled
mind also.
And senior centers such as
the one on Third Street in
Warrenton (503-861-3502)
play a very important role in
the lives of elders today, al-
lowing them to develop a so-
cial network by making and
meeting new friends.
7
VfW plans
• The local VFW post wants
to lease or buy the old Ham-
mond City Hall.
“We have been looking for a
building for our post and aux-
iliary for a long time,” said
Bert Little, quartermaster of
Fort Stevens Post 10580.
The structure once was a
barracks building at Fort Ste-
vens, was moved to Pacific
Drive to become the former
city’s government building
and then was turned into a
library when Hammond dis-
incorporated and was swal-
lowed up by Warrenton.
The building and grounds
would remain public meet-
ing places, Little told city
commissioners Tuesday, al-
though the structure’s maxi-
mum capacity is 49.
“It’s appropriate if it origi-
nated as a barracks for it to
be occupied by a veterans
group,” Mayor Henry Balen-
sifer said.
“I’d rather give it to them.
I’m not interested in being
a landlord,” Commission-
er Mark Baldwin said. The
building has many structural
problems.
The city will continue nego-
tiating with the group. Any
gift of the property would re-
quire a vote of city residents.
s Chool ConstruCtion
• Designs for the new
middle school are under
way and construction of a
new roof at Warrenton High
School will begin soon.
R&C Management Group
gave a construction status
Senior lunch menu
Monday, July 15: Bacon and spinach quiche, hash brown
bake, mixed vegetables, spring greens, berry trifle.
Thursday, July 18: Beef stew, potatoes, carrots, tomato soup,
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.
report to Warrenton-Ham-
mond School Board members
at their meeting Wednesday
night. The board hired the
company to manage projects
using the bond money ap-
proved by voters last year.
Bids for the high school’s
roof are being accepted
through July 24. Construc-
tion should start Aug. 5 and
will be coordinated with a so-
lar panel installation project
that’s part of a student learn-
ing opportunity.
Construction of the new
middle school near Walmart
is expected to begin in the
spring.
ssa Will moVe
• The Social Security
Administration office on
Bond Street in Astoria will be
moving to Warrenton.
The agency is working on
plans for an office in the
North Coast Business Park
on Discovery Lane near T.J.
Maxx.
Preliminary plans have
been submitted to Warren-
ton’s Community Develop-
ment department for review.
f ood at Boat Basin
• A food vendor is com-
ing to Hammond Marina.
On Tuesday, the City Com-
mission approved a license
agreement with Wendey Bal-
ensifer to offer biscuits and
gravy, breakfast sandwiches,
coffee, and boxed lunches
from a food wagon. It would
be set up next to the cutting
station and bathrooms.
Balensifer, who is a cousin
of the mayor, said she got the
idea while working at Buoy 9
Restaurant.
“All the guide fishermen
complained about how they
have to get their boxed lunch-
es the night before; there was
nothing open in the morn-
ing when they launch their
boats,” she said.
Balensifer will be there ear-
ly -- from 3 to 11 a.m.
She’ll pay $400 per month
to the city and initially plans
to open just during the July
and August fishing seasons.
“We’ll see if it works,” she
said.