4
T he C olumbia P ress
August 16, 2019
Regatta: Major
event for Astoria
includes Warrenton
Continued from Page 1
the region’s best qualities.
“The main goal is community in-
volvement, tradition and the history
of Regatta, which is 125 years old,”
Dowaliby said.
About the picture Regatta photog-
rapher Mitch Eckhardt took on the
night of her coronation: “I hadn’t
felt that happy in a long time,” she
said. “I couldn’t stop smiling. It was
a huge honor.”
And a family tradition.
Dowaliby’s sister, Kim, was Re-
gatta queen in 2013 and her oldest
sister, Meg, was a Regatta princess
in 2011.
“Regatta has helped me in huge
ways,” she said. “It has opened my
eyes to the community, the needs in
the community. … I never thought I
could memorize a speech and give it
in front of 100 to 150 people. It also
helped with talking to people and
being comfortable in big settings.
I’ve grown a lot.”
Dowaliby and the three princesses
rode in the Junior Parade on carts
pushed by Astoria High athletes.
About 100 children, their pets
or bikes and their parents partic-
ipated in the parade, which was
sponsored by the Kiwanis Club,
Columbia Memorial Hospital and
Providence Seaside. Pirates, jelly-
fish and dressed up dogs wound
around Robinson Community Park
and ended with a Regatta Movie in
the Park event sponsored by War-
renton Business Association.
Walmart donated 3,000 hot dogs
and Van Dusen Beverages donat-
ed soft drinks. Serena Moha’s dad,
Mike, passed out free popcorn
throughout the showing of “Toy
Story.”