4A • August 14, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
From NYC to Cannon Beach, can’t shake Trump
F
or reporters, Donald Trump
threw down the gauntlet
Thursday night at the Re-
publican presidential candidate
debate: “They’re a very dishon-
est lot, generally speaking, in the
world of politics.”
I can only hope that I was not
among those to whom he was re-
ferring. I kind of thought “The
Donald” liked me.
I had been covering Trump since
1997, shortly after he purchased the
213-acre property he calls “Seven
Springs.” The property, located in
New York’s Westchester Coun-
ty, ironically had been owned by
a newspaper family — Katharine
Graham, the longtime publisher of
the Washington Post, and before
her, her father, Eugene Meyer, a
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have made Trump himself proud,
purchasing the newspaper at a 1933
bankruptcy auction for $825,000.
Woodward and Bernstein were to
follow many years later.
When Trump purchased the
property for $7.5 million — a
considerable bargain, even 20
years ago — he inherited conser-
vation easements, land covenants,
along with woods and meadows
home to forest creatures, native
plants, even bald eagles.
As the new owner, Trump
promptly sought to address the
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Westchester community: a golf
course. His intention was to bring
a world-class course that would
host his version of the Masters,
replete with limos for oil sheiks
and a helicopter pad to provide
easy access for visiting golfers.
Studies quickly determined
that the pesticides and chemicals
used on the course would have po-
tentially contaminated the nearby
C ANNON S HOTS
highlighted by the Trump Nation-
al Golf Club in New York’s near-
by Briarcliff, with new courses in
Scotland, Palm Beach, Los Ange-
les and the United Arab Emirates.
What followed was a de-
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By
homes on the Seven Springs prop-
R.J.
erty, one that, as a newspaperman ,
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allowed us to gleefully cover his
every utterance. Homes — now that
made more sense, especially with
the crying need for affordable hous-
ing in the area. Each McMansion
That is the mark of
would be 12,000 to 16,000-square-
a career politician:
feet, perfect for the aspiring bil-
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you can disagree
not at all in Trump’s plans: at a city
with almost
meeting he told board members: “If
you want squirrels, move to Ver-
everything he says
mont.” (Read: Oregon, the W est
and does, and still
C oast equivalent of that green, an-
be charmed as heck
archic state tucked into northern
New England and represented by
by the sound of his
Socialist Bernie Sanders.)
voice on the phone.
There was one awkward mo-
ment as a reporter during a Sev-
en Springs property site walk
Mianus River, source of drinking conducted by the local wetlands
water for 150,000 nearby resi- commission. I decided to tag
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disrupt the town’s miles of dirt meeting and what better oppor-
URDGVDQGHTXHVWULDQWUDI¿F$VIRU tunity to gawk. Trump wasn’t
the helicopters, there was a bat’s there, but his war cabinet was,
chance for approval, as Trump’s and they were disconcerted to see
new neighbor, corporate raider a reporter with (gasp) notepad
Nelson Peltz (star of the 1980s and camera. Perhaps they were
corporate exposé “Barbarians at frightened we would report on the
the Gate”), had already been shot sharp-shinned hawks or red-bel-
down by the town and courts in lied woodpeckers nesting in the
his bid for a heliport on his tony woods. Freedom of the press be-
property, known as “High Winds,” ing what it was, I was told to take
formerly owned by Readers’ Di- a hike. Off the property.
gest founder Dewitt Wallace.
While local boards and com-
Reluctantly, Trump gave up missions kept whittling down
dreams of the helicopters and the plan, and lawsuits from the
the golf course, too, and why Nature Conservancy and nearby
shouldn’t he — he was build- homeowners slowed the process,
ing an international golf empire, Trump ultimately won approvals
Boac’s Bird Notes
SUBMITTED PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Seven Springs, one of the modest properties owned by presidential
hopeful Donald Trump.
for Seven Springs in 2013, clos-
ing the loop on a 16-year process.
The most amusing recent en-
counter with “T he Donald” came
in 2009, when the Libyan dicta-
tor was still alive and committing
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at the United Nations to address
the General Assembly and needed
a place in New York to maintain
his entourage, including his many
wives and children.
Step up: Donald Trump.
Trump offered the use of Seven
Springs estate on a short-term basis
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contingent even went as far to set
up on the property with lawn chairs
and Bedouin-style tents. Only the
resourceful thinking of a local
town supervisor — the equivalent
of a local city manager — could
bring the dictator to his knees. It
is widely believed that Supervisor
Lee Roberts’ adroit intervention in
the affair prevented a possible in-
ternational incident, as she shrewd-
ly invoked a local code forbidding
temporary outdoor structures and
sent the caravan packing.
There was no comment from
Trump.
While Trump often used un-
derlings to do his dirty work,
“The Donald” would occasional-
ly be surprisingly accessible, es-
pecially when things were going
his way.
There was always a frisson of
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ager put her hand over the mouth-
piece and whispered: “Donald
Trump’s on the phone for you!”
And when he spoke it was as
if you were the only person in the
world. “R.J.!” he exclaimed. “Just
wanted to make sure you heard
the news!”
That is the mark of a career
politician: you can disagree with
almost everything he says and
does, and still be charmed as heck
by the sound of his voice on the
phone.
SUSAN BOAC
Water and native plants draw more winged visitors
My observant husband
Scott, gave me the topic for
this article. He was left in
charge of watering the gar-
dens and pots while I was
away at a conference last
week. He adorably, sent me
pictures of little squashes,
new rose blooms and the sun
gold tomato that was ripe
(and quickly eaten). During
this process, he noticed in a
new way the many birds that
visit our backyard and just
what brings them there.
Longtime readers (thanks
Mom) of this column know
that we live on Neawanna
Creek which attracts many
birds and mammals. But he
was noticing some of the
other less noticeable little
birds and the things they
were doing.
This is not news to me! I
can’t think of many things I
enjoy more than watching a
bird take a bath. We offer a
shallow bowl of fresh wa-
ter that attracts many birds
to drink and bathe. I also
keep a bare patch of dirt and
sand for the birds to take dry
baths. I love the little inden-
tions they leave behind. I
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dragons, fuchsia, dianthus
and foxglove as a means to
attract hummingbirds and
song birds. I do put out bird
food in the form of a cou-
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er seeds each morning. (It’s
eaten by the end of the day
and I don’t feel like I am
feeding the raccoons who
visit our yard each night)
I was delighted to see a
Wilson warbler in the wil-
low that I planted last year.
We have reclaimed a portion
of the bank from grass and
Uncorked Ramblings
per’s hawks that nest nearby,
picky tasty bugs from the
needles, resting and I am
sure, all kinds of birdy stuff.
One day this summer,
when my mom was visiting,
we reached a new record for
a daily yard bird count. We
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That was exciting.
NOTE: Something new!
Please join a group of peo-
SUSAN BOAC
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the month for birding in the
are planting native plants Cannon Beach area. We will
there. I am excited that twin- meet at the Lagoon Trail
berry has taken hold as well. parking lot on Second Street
This visit from the little war- at 9 and bird until about 11
EOHULVFRQ¿UPDWLRQWKDWWKH a.m. Bring binoculars and
project is “growing” along wear appropriate clothing.
the right lines.
Everyone is welcome!
And lastly, we have a 20-
Susan has spent her life
IRRW JUDQG ¿U EHWZHHQ WKH enjoying the great outdoors
house and the creek. Many from the lakes and woods of
birds use it’s dense branches Northern Minnesota, Mount
for protection from the Coo- Adams in Washington and
SUSAN BOAC/FOR CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Song sparrow drinking and bathing in the garden.
now the Oregon beach
environs. After spending
many pleasurable hours
driving her avid birder par-
ents around, she has taken
up birding as a passion, to
the mixed emotions of her
husband Scott. The Boacs
reside on the Neawanna
Creek in Seaside where
their backyard is a birder’s
paradise.
STEVEN SINKLER
Columbia wine cruise off ers tour of regional vineyards
It’s hard to believe that
we’re already halfway
through August. The Wine
Shack has been busy with
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long-time customers who
are making their annual
visit. This month, instead
of covering a single topic
in my column, I thought
I’d get you caught up on
things….
on the right track!
While we’re talking
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some
exciting
news:
There’s going to be a new
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sauvignon! We are teaming
with John Derthick, Lujon
Cellars’ Winemaker, to de-
liver another powerhouse
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STEVEN SINKLER
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Big Puffi n news!
sauvignon with a “wine re-
The judges at the 2015 lease” party, so stay tuned tours, giving daily wine
Oregon Wine Awards were for that event’s date and talks and pairing the wine
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and food for the week-
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long cruise. We will visit
SLQRW *ULV DQG Bon voyage!
wineries in Hood River,
Maryann and I are look- Milton-Freewater and Wal-
Rose won Gold Medals at
the Oregon Wine Awards ing forward to sailing on la Walla before coming to
earlier this summer. Ad- Un-Cruise’s new Colum- Cannon Beach for a couple
GLWLRQDOO\ RXU 3XI¿Q 5HG bia Valley Wine Cruise of hours. We love cruising
Blend won a Silver Medal. from Aug 15-22. As the and wine, so this should be
Four wines, four medals. on-board “wine expert,” a perfect week. Our week’s
7KHUHVXOWVFRQ¿UPZHDUH I will be leading winery cruise is almost sold out,
Encore Dance
Studio open house
Encore Dance Studio
will hold an open house
and customer appreciation
event to kick off the stu-
dio’s 20th anniversary cel-
ebration. Festivities take
place at 3631 Highway 101
North in Gearhart, Tuesday,
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Instructors will be avail-
able to answer questions,
give studio tours and help
students choose classes for
the fall. Dancewear will
also be available for pur-
chase. Online registration is
open now at www.getyou-
dancing.com.
This fall encore is offer-
ing more than 70 classes
per week in two locations.
Classes are available for all
ages from 2 1/2 to adult.
School bus drop-off and
transportation is available
from Seaside Heights. For
more details, visit www.
getyoudancing.com or call
503-717-1637.
twelve person Hood to
Coast team, “Stop Wine-In
Run” has been training
Provisions 124 is a hit! and
for months. The race starts
Cheese is king at Pro- on Friday morning at Tim-
YLVLRQV :H VWRFN RXU berline Lodge with a steep
cheese display each week downhill leg. “Dangerous
and customers empty it Dan” Floyd is our team’s
each week. We are focusing lead-off runner and takes on
on small, local creameries this challenging leg. The race
making delicious cheese continues through Friday
and our customers have re- night and ends approximate-
sponded. One of our favor- ly 31 hours and 200 miles
ites is River’s Edge “Up in later, on the beach in Seaside.
Smoke,” which is a smoked Yes, we think this is fun.
chevre, wrapped in a maple
leaf and misted in bourbon. Two quick picks
for August
Yes, it’s delicious.
I didn’t want to wrap this
Hood to Coast hits
up without mentioning two
the Wine Shack
wines customers have been
Oregon’s iconic 200 mile raving about this summer:
relay race, “Hood to Coast,”
White wine fans have en-
takes place on Aug 28-29 joyed Bergevin Lane’s “Lin-
and The Wine Shack will en” sauvignon blanc. This
be there. The Wine Shack’s delicious wine presents cit-
but there is still availability
on the following weeks.
NEWS IN BRIEF
New Clatsop park
nience for the parks division
and park users. Tiered passes
passes available
The Clatsop County Parks
Division is offering a new
one-price annual transferable
park pass. The $30 pass can
be used in any of the three fee-
use county parks — Carna-
han, Cullaby Lake and John
Day — and can be transferred
between any number of vehi-
cles. The new pass replaces
the tiered pass ($25 for one
vehicle plus $5 per additional
vehicle) to improve conve-
already sold this year will be
honored to the end of their ex-
piration date.
For more information on
Clatsop County parks go to
www.co.clatsop.or.us.
Parkinson’s disease
program slated
One of the state’s lead-
ing experts in the treatment
and research of Parkinson’s
disease will be the featured
speaker at an educational pro-
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Dr. Richard Rosenbaum,
a neurologist and medi-
cal director of the Portland
Parkinson’s Program, will
give a presentation from
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the
Bob Chisholm Community
Center, at 1225 Ave. A. The
program is being offered
through the Parkinson’s Re-
sources of Oregon, a Port-
ODQGEDVHG QRQSUR¿W WKDW
helps people with Parkin-
son’s disease through sup-
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a crisp acidity that makes it
perfect to enjoy with salads,
seafood or just a sunny sum-
mer day. I haven’t checked
the crystal ball recently, but
there’s a good chance that
“Linen” is going to be a
candidate for our prestigious
“Wines of the Year” list.
For red wine lovers,
Sleight of Hand’s Spellbind-
er is a great, well-priced red
blend. Made by Trey Busch,
one of my favorite winemak-
ers, Spellbinder is a blend of
cabernet sauvignon, merlot
and petit verdot. This wine
pairs nicely with grilled
foods and pasta dishes.
Enjoy the remainder of
summer and remember to
drink responsibly. We want
to see you again at The
Wine Shack (and Provi-
VLRQV
port groups, classes, confer-
ences, personal support and
advocacy.
People with Parkinson’s
disease, their family mem-
bers and care partners, are
encouraged to attend Rosen-
baum’s lecture at the library,
The event is free; registra-
tion is required. For more in-
formation, call Parkinson’s
Resources of Oregon at 503-
RU
email info@parkinsonsre-
sources.org or visit www.
parkinsonsresources.org.