Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2015)
4A • July 24, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com T “ View of The New Yorker, from a New Yorker S EEN FROM S EASIDE he Earthquake That Will Devastate Seattle.” The New Yorker piece by Kathryn Schultz terrifyingly chron- icles the all but inevitable fate of those of us living in the Cascadia subduction zone: “When the giant fault line along the 3aci¿ c North- west ruptures, it could be our worst disaster ever.” “Worst … ” “Disaster … ” “Ever.” Even Steven Spielberg wouldn’t use that tagline without thinking twice. “Is that you?” a friend Face- book-messaged from the East Coast. Ummm, yeah. Seaside. Cannon Beach. Gearhart. The cities we cov- er. The city where I live. We’re at ground zero. When the big one hits, “anything indoors and unsecured will lurch across the À oor or come crashing down,” Schultz wrote. “Houses that are not bolted off their foun- dations will slide off — or rather, they will stay put, obeying inertia, while the foundations, together with the rest of the Northwest, jolt westward. Unmoored on the undu- lating ground, the homes will begin to collapse. “Among natural disasters,” Schultz concludes, “tsunamis may be the closest thing to being com- pletely unsurvivable.” Lest you think this is East Coast hysteria, Schultz’s sources are Or- egonians. Quoted are Seaside School District 10 Superintendent Doug Dougherty, Seaside City Planner Kevin Cupples, Jay Wilson, Chair- man of the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission and Ian Madin, who directs the Oregon Department of Geology and Miner- al Industries. It’s not that this is “new” news here: in 1964 a wave spread over Seaside and environs, À ooding basements and streets. “Tsunami smashes coastal communities,” read the Signal’s headline after the March 27 magnitude 9.2 event. “No one hurt when wave damages homes, bridge.” “Striking with no warning, the tidal wave resulting from the Alaskan earthquakes hit the Sea- side-Gearhart area Friday night before anybody could leave his home,” wrote the Signal’s Archie Satter¿ eld more than 0 years ago. Below the fold, a headline from further south read: “Cannon Beach declared disaster area by governor.” Mrs. Rose Emery wrote: “The seismic wave poured down the streets of the city, carrying logs, de- bris and sand everywhere between buildings and littering streets.” As if the area needed a reminder, Asian tsunamis in 2004 and 2011 sent ripples — and warnings — across the Paci¿ c. “Sirens pierced the air in Seaside,” wrote USA Today in 2011. “Restaurants, gift shops and other beachfront businesses stayed shuttered. Some residents moved to the hills nearby.” Geologists and authors mined this material with scienti¿ c rigor. Along with Bonnie Henderson’s magni¿ cent “The Ne[t Tsunami,” which meticulously chronicles our region’s geologic history, those seeking more thrills and potential spills can ¿ nd them in “Cascadia’s Fault,” by Jerry Thompson and B Y R.J. MARX The irrepressible Rex Amos of Cannon Beach sent us this note: ‘If you haven’t read The New Yorker piece, you are missing a real good chance of getting the bejesus scared out of you.’ “Full-Rip 9.0: The Ne[t Big Earth- quake in the Paci¿ c Northwest.” The number of quake-disaster titles is growing faster than the Hal Lind- sey bookshelf. But before you sell the house and head for the Plains, it may be im- portant to realize that doomsayers always get a lot more ink than those predicting a mild winter. In New York City after 2001, when the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers fell, there was an im- mediate awareness of the dangers around us. In late 2001, nothing seemed more imminent or to hold greater potential for catastrophe than the 40-year-old Indian Point nuclear reactor situated on the shore of the Hudson River, miles north of Midtown Manhattan and the 11 million people living in the metro- politan area. The reactor was deter- mined to be outdated, unsafe, with leaky pipes spilling radioactive tri- tium into the river and contaminat- ing local water supplies. Fuel rods were stored in “swimming pools on the roof” of buildings “no sturdier than your average Kmart building,” wrote the environmental watchdog group Riverkeeper. “More than 20 million people live within ¿ fty miles of the plant,” Elizabeth Kolbert wrote in the same New Yorker magazine in 2003. “A 1982 analysis by a congressional subcommittee estimated that, under worst-case conditions, a catastro- phe at one of the Indian Point reac- tors could result in 0,000 fatalities and more than 100,000 radiation injuries.” Manhattan and the Bron[ would be “uninhabitable” if the acci- dent-prone Indian Point nuke plant suffered a Chernobyl-like disaster, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., represent- ing the National Resource Defense Council, said in 2011. That same year Indian Point was labeled the reactor with the “highest risk rat- ing” in the nation. But millions of people in New York City are staying put, despite a working reactor at Indian Point, the outmoded facilities, leaks, growing stockpile of radioactive fuel rods and an increasingly unworkable evacuation plan than e[isted more than a decade ago. In the best case, the assiduous- ly written and researched New Yorker story validates the number of hard-working and dedicated scientists and engineers who have tracked the tsunami risk in the Paci¿ c Northwest for decades. It gives a gold star to those visionary county planners and city of¿ cials seeking to safeguard our county and implement safety protections for the North Coast’s vulnerable communities. The story can inspire a national awareness to what the North Coast has known for decades. It provides solid ground for legislators and an emphatic wake-up call for residents and responders alike. Preparedness and public education are two things everyone can agree on. But for those caught in the sneaker wave of the headline, don’t be shocked if The New Yorker abandons us. If the “Earth- quake that could devastate Seattle” doesn’t, the national media will quickly turn to the ne[t “worst” natural disaster. Topics of which there are no shortage. Take the current drought as an e[ample. The New Yorker is already on it, with “Drought City,” April 6; “California runs dry,” May 4; and “The disappearing Colorado River,” May 2. In one of those, a source warns the author: “Beware apocalyptic journalism.” We agree. Prepare for the worst, but greet every new day. The irrepressible Re[ Amos of Cannon Beach sent us this note: “If you haven’t read The New Yorker piece, you are missing a real good chance of getting the bejesus scared out of you.” When you’re looking at the po- tential for a tsunami, “scared” is a good thing. But if you’re going to run, just make sure you know where you’re running to. Between the Covers ESTHER MOBERG Enticing beach reads and cool breezes on the coast Some may ¿ nd it hard to believe, but by the time you read this, we are well over the midpoint of summer reading here at the Seaside Public Library. Our last big performer for the kids, Jug- glemania, performed today, and now it is time to keep reading, reading, reading and turning your reading logs in up until the end of August Don’t forget, the last day to turn in those reading logs for prizes is Aug. 31 This includes all kids, teens, or adults that are participating in the Seaside Library sum- mer reading program. As of July 18 we had 207 kids signed up for summer read- ing, 47 teens, and 19 adults and many of our voracious summer readers have turned in reading logs already We do have an adult summer reading program because we believe that even adults like a little mo- tivation to keep reading on those beautiful sunny days here on the coast I feel like this summer has been one that makes me keep running to the beach just for those cool breezes off the ocean. Just because some of our biggest events for kids and teens are over for the summer, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep coming in to the library all summer ESTHER MOBERG long. In fact, storytimes will continue as have all year long on Wednesdays every week with a start time of 10 a.m. Don’t for- get to check the library cal- endar for the theme of the day; whether it’s a puppet show, letter of the alphabet, or tied in to our summer “heroes” theme, each story- time is fun, interactive, and helps kids up to age with pre-reading skills that are crucial for being successful later on in school We will also be continu- ing our teen Tuesday events at 3 p.m. throughout August. In September the time will change to better serve teens after school. We will also be starting a teen advisory board this fall so that teens have input in the events and programs that are put on just for them at the library If you are a teen interested in joining the library Teen Advisory Board, please let Marian the youth librarian know. Some fun things that are coming up will include teen craft and teen gaming events. We are also adding a new handheld gaming sys- tem to the teen area of the library in August. For those who love Legos, we will also be start- ing a monthly re-occurring Lego club this fall. These things and more will be coming your way, so check in at the library for upcom- ing events for kids and teens. Don’t forget, we also have a full complement of adult programs every month as well. This month, we will have a class on how to create your own journal with Darota Haber-Lehigh on Aug. 8. Space is lim- ited so signing up is re- quired. Our ever popular trivia night will be on Aug. 12. Finally, in celebration of the annual salt maker’s re-enactment, we will have Gary Moulton speak at the library on Aug. 12. Rumor has it that the annual cele- bration will be a little dif- ferent than past years, so come to the library to ¿ nd out what it is all about Scene and Heard CLAIRE LOVELL Thank you for the patriotic display in Seaside Why do people always say, “no pun intended” when intention is the name of the game? A “raisin reserve” has been declared in the news lately. Maybe it’s the small- er crop, ha, that causes companies to short change us when we buy them at the store. I know it’s not “set- tling in transit” that causes the level of fruit to be two inches short, but rather, not enough of the product — sort of like 13 ounces of grounds to a pound of coffee. I know we’re being taken advantage of because there have been times when raisins were immediately under the lid of a new can. These comments may bore you but I do like to get my money’s worth and raisins are e[pensive A family on the corner of 7th St. and Lincoln has really decorated their home to honor the Fourth of July. There are always at least two À ags À ying — a testa- ment to citizenship every day. There are emblems, pennants and À ags all over the place — in À ower pots, in the eaves and on fences. They represent a tremen- dous amount of work. I don’t know this family be- cause neighbors often keep to themselves these days. Buddy Walk at the Beach registration opens CLAIRE LOVELL They live behind a big hedge, occasionally ¿ lled with birds. There is a dog that woofs sometimes as we go by — doing his job to give warning. I have no idea of its breed, only hav- ing heard, not seen, but I’m sure we could be speaking friends in any encounter; although I often send out vibes of fear to strange an- imals. I’d just like to say thanks for this patriotic dis- play. Today, so much that we revere is under assault. It seems, much like Dorothy in Kansas, we’ve ridden a tornado that put us down in a strange country. It’s scary. I watch a lot of televi- sion when I’m alone. Too much, actually. Saturday night there was an informa- tive special on TBN. I wish everyone in positions of au- thority in Oregon had seen it. It was about marijuana, told by a former addict to a bunch of high school stu- dents. In the not to distant future, I’m sure we’ll be sorry for the stand we’ve taken — which has every chance of dragging our country further down. There were so many pretty contestants in this year’s Miss Oregon con- test, judges would be hard- pressed to choose a win- ner. So much tap dancing should shiver their timbers although some of the other dances might be energetic as well. Though I’ve at- tended only once, I prefer Obituaries Martha (Scriven) Daniels March 11, 1946 — July 3, 2015 SUBMITTED PHOTO Last year’s “Buddy Walk” helped to raise funds for young people with disabilities. This year’s Buddy Walk at the Beach, one of more than 20 Bud- dy Walks nationwide, seeks to raise $30,000 to support Sammy’s Place on Oregon’s north coast, to establish a living and working community for adults with special needs. The walk will promote awareness about devel- opmental disabilities and the vision Sammy’s Place has for those with special needs. The walk takes place at Quatat Park, Seaside, Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9:30 a.m. To register or become a fundraiser for prizes visit www.sammysplace.info. Martha A. Daniels (Miss Martha), 69, of Seaside, Ore., passed away on July 3, 201. No funeral ser- vices will be held. A cel- ebration of her life will be held at 123 Seventh Ave. in Seaside on July 26, 201, at 2 p.m. Martha was born in New Smyrna, Fla., on March 11, 1946. Martha worked as a phar- macy technician for Kaiser Permanente for 20 years before retiring to Seaside. She enjoyed art, a good book and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also actively involved in South County Food Bank before her illness. Martha is survived by her children, Wil- Martha Daniels liam Scriven, Ruth Sw- enson, Ron Richardson, Bob Daniels Jr., Bonita Daniels; grandchildren, Ashley Swenson, Jale- na Montrond, Dominique Montrond, Luca Daniels, Johnathon Oswald, Saul Daniels, Ja[on Oswald; and great-grandchildren, Keegan Bailey, Nia Stone and other family and friends. Martha is preceded in death by Anita and Rich- ard Scriven. In lieu of À owers, me- morial donations may be given to the South County Food Bank. The families of Dan- iels, Oswald, Richardson, Scriven and Swenson wish to thank Providence Hos- pital, Clatsop County Hos- pice and Rose Adult Foster Care. Caldwell’s Funeral & Cremation Arrangement Center in Seaside is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.cald- wellsmortuary.com vocalists or those who play an instrument of some sort. Music is more our thing — and marketable. It’s dif¿ cult to miss so much because I no longer drive. That little dab of rain we had on Sunday was a refreshing moment. Others said they had heard thun- der earlier. I didn’t hear anything though I did “see” wind in the trees. Laugh line: Now that I’m older, here’s what I’ve discov- ered: I’ve ¿ nally got my head together and now my body is falling apart. Death July 7, 2015 THOMAS, Pauline S., 96, of Seaside, died in Seaside. A gathering will be planned at a later date. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary in Seaside is in charge of the arrangements. Obituary Policy The Seaside Signal publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small photo and, for vet- erans, a À ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m. the business day prior. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9 a.m. the day of publication. Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at www.dailyastori- an.com/obituaryform, by email at ew- ilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at The Daily $storian of¿ ce, 99 E[change St. in Astoria. For more information, cal --, e[t. .