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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2019)
August 2, 2019 T he C olumbia P ress Senior Moments with Emma Edwards Conversations with and about plants and how they affect us Comic-strip character Max- ine says, “The only thing I’m growing this year is older and more miserable.” Not so. Anyone can grow beautiful flowers! Howev- er, I’ve heard many people say they don’t have a green thumb. I read a quip the other day: “There is one thing God can- not do.” Well, that caught my at- tention. Reading on, I was reminded that no word from God will ever fail. “For there is nothing that God cannot do . . . except fail. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Luke 18:26-27) Even growing eye-catching flowers is possible. Some say, especially at this time of year, that I have a green thumb. I do have some very beau- tiful violets inside my home, plus a Christmas cactus, all doing quite well. Outside, I have an abun- dance of dahlias, nastur- tiums, roses, geraniums and impatiens plus a few other pretty flowers. I look at my thumb and it’s not green. So, where did that expression come from? According to James Under- wood Crockett, it comes from the fact that algae growing on the outside of earthenware pots will stain a person’s thumb and fingers if he or she handles enough pots. Hence, a person who is always work- ing with flowerpots has a green thumb. Some of us older seniors may remember that Crockett, who was born in 1915, was the original host of the popu- lar PBS television show, “The Victory Garden.” He also was an author of many gardening books. My secret to healthy violet plants is something I learned many years ago: talk to my plants and never water them with cold or hot water, but lukewarm water. Also, I’ll confess to using a unique fer- tilizer that an “older” woman once told me about. It’s sim- ply called Eleanor’s VF-11 and a capful does wonders in that lukewarm water. Hospital patients with in- door plants in their rooms feel less stressed than those without plants, according to a study by researchers in The Netherlands. The presence of flowers or any type of greenery in one’s home can help reduce blood pressure and anxiety and can improve mental acuity. (Per- haps the same finds would hold true for seniors in as- sisted living or nursing care settings.) Plants are natural air puri- fiers and have the ability to reduce noise from the out- doors, which can further de- crease stress. Next time you visit a sick friend, bring a plant rather than a bouquet of flowers. You will be doing a good deed. Five plants specifically rec- ommended for indoor grow- ing are the peace lily, African violet, aloe vera, spider plant and the Amazon elephant ear. Over the years, we always had an aloe vera plant in- doors for its healing proper- ties (especially for burns). Another very wise Maxine observation: “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” 7 Property tax appeals board members sought The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners seeks ap- plications from residents interested in serving on the Board of Property Tax Ap- peals for the 2019-20 term. The board hears petitions from taxpayers seeking a de- crease in their real market or assessed value of real and personal property. Applicants should have a working knowledge of the local real estate market, be willing to participate in pub- lic hearings, have skills that include mediation, real es- tate appraisal or financing and be familiar with Oregon property tax law. Training is provided in Jan- uary. The committee holds one to three daytime meet- ings beginning in February Nichole Brown has been pro- moted by the Oregon Depart- ment of Corrections to super- intendent of Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland and the South Fork Forest Camp in Tillamook. Brown currently oversees the Programs and Social Sup- port Services Unit for Correc- tions. She’s responsible for Inmate Services, Volunteer Services, Victim Services, and Family Advocacy. Brown started her career in 1997 at the Powder River Correctional Facility in the In- mate Work Programs woman to run a pris- section. From 2004 on in Oregon. to 2012, she served as “My decision to ap- Workforce Develop- ply for the position ment administrator. was easy. ... leader- The promotion was ship of the agency announced by Colette has made a commit- Peters, DOC director, ment to diversify the and is effective Aug. workforce with high- Brown 1. ly trained staff and to “I must acknowledge law normalize and humanize the enforcement and the African corrections setting.” American community, tradi- Director Peters, the first fe- tionally, have not always had male DOC director, said she a symbiotic relationship,” was proud to promote the first Brown said when asked how African- American female to it feels to be the first black superintendent. to hear petitions. The com- mittee adjourns April 15, with terms ending June 30, 2020. Application forms for the appointments are available on the county website, www. co.clatsop.or.us, or at the County Manager’s Office, 800 Exchange Street, Suite 410, Astoria. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 12. New corrections leader for Tillamook, Portland posts Roadwork C latsop C ounty • Clatsop County road crews are replacing a culvert and repair- ing the embankment on John Day River Road. The project is expected to be complete Friday, Aug. 2. • Crews have begun striping roads countywide this month. The county uses a water-based paint, so if any gets on your ve- hicle, wash it off immediately. a storia • Work continues on the wa- terfront bridge project, which affects the foots of Sixth through 11th streets downtown. Six aging bridges are being replaced. Half the streets are scheduled to be complete by mid-August. Work on the other streets begins after that and is expected to run through June 2020. • A project to improve drainage, water and sewer at Highway 30 and 30th Street is under way. Flaggers will control single-lane traffic in the area. W arrenton • Columbia Beach Lane wall installation is scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 19, with con- struction expected to take two weeks. Columbia Beach Lane will be closed during construc- tion with traffic routed through Smith Lake Drive and Delaura Beach Lane. • The bridge on Highway 101 over Youngs Bay is undergoing repair. Most of the work is being done from underneath. The project will be complete in 2021. s easide • The Dooley Bridge at the junc- tion of Highway 26 and Highway 101 is undergoing repairs. There will be some overnight lane closures. Senior lunch menu Monday, Aug. 5: Lasagna, garlic bread, broccoli, romaine sal- ad, ice cream. Thursday, Aug. 8: Chicken Parmesan, pasta primavera, green beans, coleslaw, fruit 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 $6 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more information, call 503-861-3502.