The Columbia Press
4
February 12, 2021
Awards: Chamber honors cities’ top citizens
Continued from Page 1
Commercial crabbing opens Feb. 16
The commercial Dunge-
ness crab season opens this
weekend after a delay of 2 ½
months.
The opening is for crabbing
between Manzanita and the
Washington state border.
The season generally starts
Dec. 1 and ends Aug. 14. But
it was delayed when crabs
tested too scrawny.
The ocean and Columbia
River commercial fishery is
the most valuable single-spe-
cies fishery in Oregon with an
annual harvest of 16 million
pounds of crab per season.
The season officially opens
Feb. 16 this year, but crab
vessels may set their gear be-
ginning Saturday.
The recreational season is
open already, and commer-
cial crabbers expect to do
well despite the delay.
Results from recent testing
in Washington state indicate
levels of the marine biotox-
in still are elevated. All crab
harvested in Washington
must have the guts removed
by a licensed crab processor
prior to sale to ensure crab
going into the market is safe
to eat.
All crab from Oregon’s har-
vest areas have been well be-
low alert levels.
our children and our com-
munity is revered by many,”
Warrenton Mayor Henry Bal-
ensifer said in making the an-
nouncement.
“You’ve most likely seen this
year’s winner at City Com-
mission meetings, decorating
our downtown corridor, or
at any number of communi-
ty events. He has played an
instrumental role for years
in the school walkathons,
weekend backpack program,
Thanksgiving baskets and
Christmas Toy Drives.”
He serves on the Warren-
ton Planning Commission
and previously served on the
Warrenton Business Associa-
tion.
Moha is an organizer of the
Fourth of July celebration,
and is active in local youth
sports programs and Spruce
Up Warrenton, a group of
volunteers devoted to im-
proving downtown.
Also honored at the banquet
was Corleen Mathews, who
received the George Award
as the top Astoria volunteer.
The award honors someone
who consistently steps up to
meet community needs in-
stead of “letting George do
it.”
“Here are a few more things
her nominators called her,”
community.
“Main
Street and its fami-
ly owners are superb
examples of a busi-
ness with a heart,”
said Judy Hoff, Pres-
ident of the Chamber
Ambassadors. “From
our experience, these
are people who don’t
draw a distinction be-
Mike Moha with his wife, Carla, during tween customer ser-
the virtual event.
vice and community
service. They look for
Astoria Mayor Bruce
ways to make their
Jones said. “(She’s)
store and everything
our No. 1 helper, a
within sight better ev-
woman of service, a
ery day.”
real hard worker be-
Normally, the cham-
loved by all, a record
ber’s
annual banquet
keeper, supply keeper,
is
attended
by 200
memory keeper, tra- Mathews
people
or
more.
This
dition keeper, and the
perfect George for our com- year’s event was held virtual-
ly, with participants “seated”
munity.”
Mathews has played a ma- in groups with others as if
jor role in the success of the they were at a table.
Using the online meeting
Scandinavian Midsummer
platform
Remo, those attend-
Festival since its beginning.
ing
paid
a
small fee and could
She volunteers for the As-
upgrade
their
registration to
toria School District’s Christ-
receive
party
kits
that includ-
mas Food Basket program
ed
the
ingredients
to make a
and helps with the chamber’s
cocktail.
Crab, Seafood & Wine Festi-
There were fewer attendees
val and the Great Columbia
this
year and the program
Crossing.
was
shorter
than usual.
Warrenton’s Main Street
It
was
a
great
platform in
Market was named Chamber
honoring
deserving
members
Member of the Year for ser-
of
the
community,
said
David
vice to its customers and the
Reid, the chamber’s execu-
tive director.
“The Richard Ford Award
and the George Award are
among the most prestigious,
highest honors our commu-
nity can give to the super-vol-
unteers in our midst,” Reid
said.
“It is more evidence that we
live in a truly special place
that we have not several,
but dozens, of worthy nomi-
nees each year. The selection
committees have an extraor-
dinarily tough job to narrow
that list down. This year’s
recipients are deserving of
this recognition and so much
more.”