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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2021)
The Columbia Press June 18, 2021 Senior Moments with Emma Edwards Cars can have personality Not so long ago, there was an article in a 50-plus senior newspaper about seniors buying new vehicles. When you look at the av- erage parking lot – such as churches or stores – you’ll notice how many new vehi- cles occupy the parking plac- es, according to the story. So I tried to test that re- port, recently. But I was at a disadvantage as I don’t know enough about cars to recog- nize whether a car is brand new or just well kept. Hey, that kinda sounds like some of us seniors. Anyway, it appeared to me that there were several new cars. In most cases, the only way I could tell was by the temporary license on the car. It’s estimated that one in five of those new cars is driven by someone 65 or older. I think that as seniors we need to consider some im- portant questions in buying a new car such as: How easy is it to get in and out of? What safety features is it equipped with? Does it have user-friendly climate controls? Is there good outward visi- bility for the driver? Another interesting article noted the results of a 2019 survey citing the 10 most user-friendly new vehicles for us seniors. The following ones were listed, in case you wonder which ones were cho- sen: Acura RDX SUV Audi A8 sedan Ford Taurus sedan Honda Accord sedan Hyundai Sonata sedan Lexus ES 350 sedan Mazda CX-9 SUV Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Toyota Avalon sedan Volkswagen Passat And, no, I didn’t just get a job selling cars at one of our friendly car dealers! “We share the milestones of our lives with our cars,” said David Bennett, AAA manag- er of repair systems. “Maybe you drive it to your wedding, or to the birth of your child. There are so many things that connect us to the cars we drive.” Recently, I read of a man who purchased a 1968 Volk- swagen Microbus sever- al years ago and, as he was about to drive off, the previ- ous owner choked up, wiped away a tear and said, “By the way, her name is Basil.” He didn’t ask about the name or why it was a female, but for as long as he owned it “her name was Basil.” I think cars have personal- ities. When you think about it, many of us talk to our cars. When we lived in Minnesota and sometimes in the dead of winter the car would have a rough time starting. I can still hear my husband saying, “Come on, Bessie, you can do it! One more try.” When you think about it, we take good care of our cars, too. We see to it that the oil is changed, give it the best gas, a weekly bath, and on and on. By the way, the 10 most pop- ular names people gave their cars, according to one survey, are Baby, Betsy, Ruby, Betty, Beast, Max, Bertha, Pearl, Frank and Christine. 7 Off the Shelf by Kelly Knudsen Sculpture dedication kicks off reading program Warrenton Community writing process and her Library’s (WCL) Summer latest addition to the Syl- Reading Program, Read- via Avery Mystery Series, ing Colors Your World, is Tsunami Warning. These in full swing! cozy mysteries are set on Our Kickoff Party on the Long Beach Peninsu- June 12 was a huge suc- la. cess. A big thanks to Eric A “cozy” takes place in Knudsen and Kelsey Bal- a small town, has an am- ensifer for volunteering ateur sleuth who works their time to help make it with the police depart- a fun, artsy experience for ment, a quirky cast of all. characters, and, in Jan’s At the end of the kickoff books, a lot of humor. event, Spruce Up Warren- Stop in and meet Jan next Photo courtesy Spruce Up month. ton, along with Warren- ton City Commissioner Brenda Hoxsey leads the dedication On a final note, a big Rick Newton, unveiled a of two sculptures outside Warrenton thank you to Em Adams, new, donated art piece of Community Library. Commissioner Jenny Feldman, and all two reading silhouettes, Rick Newton is in the background. those who donated to the in front of the library. vation Lab of Warrenton. plaque and plants now Thanks Rick and Spruce Up WCL’s Teen Advisory Board planted and on display out- Warrenton for this beautiful is off and running. They held side the library in memory of piece of art commemorating their first meeting last month Alex Jimenez, who died April the importance of books and and have planned several 17, 2020. reading. upcoming clubs, including a Alex lived behind the library It’s not too late to partici- Dungeons and Dragons Club and visited us often, always pate in the Summer Reading (ages 10-18) at 4 p.m. June with a smile. Alex was a U.S. Program. 22, a Teen Book Club, 3:30 Army veteran who’d served To sign up, pick up a reading p.m. June 24, and an Anime in Iraq and the Persian Gulf. gameboard or bookmark log Club (ages 10-18) starting He was living with mental and keep track of how many July 1 at 4 p.m. illness when he passed away minutes you read throughout The next WCL Teen Adviso- after being arrested in War- the month. Bring the read- ry Board meeting is 4:30 p.m. renton. Rest in power, Alex. ing log back at the end of the June 24. Any Clatsop County Kelly Knudsen is director month and the person in each teen that wants to join is wel- of Warrenton Community age group that read the most come. minutes wins a prize. Next month, at 2 p.m. July Library. She has a master’s Each completed gameboard 8, local author Jan Bono will degree in library and infor- or bookmark log is also an be at WCL discussing the mation science. entry for a grand prize in each age group, at the end of Special columns in The Columbia Press summer. We have some fabulous Every week: Senior Moments with Emma Edwards monthly prizes, including gift Week 1: Financial Focus with Adam Miller certificates, Bluetooth speak- ers, a lava lamp and the grand Week 2: Here’s to Your Health from CMH prize for teens (grades 6-12) is an Ender 3D printer and a Week 3: Off the Shelf by Kelly Knudsen spool of PLA (polylactic acid) Final week: Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer filament donated by Vega- bond 3D Printing and Inno-
