Where do you read THE READER?

He rowed ashore Tyler Tronnes was home on leave recently before reporting to his new duty station on the East Coast. He joined the US Navy shortly after graduation from R.A. Long High School (Class of 2021). His father, Steve Tronnes, and Emme had saved copies of the Reader for him.

Tyler has been busy and hopefully can catch up soon with his reading of the mere 17 back issues. He’s pictured here with a copy of CRR’s Holiday 2021 issue at Grocery Outlet in Longview. Note their message on the sign.

We appreciate your service, Tyler!

Rainier residents Gary and Jackie Schiedler sightseeing at Aberdeen Harbour, Hong Kong, on a trip to visit their son Adam Schiedler, daughter-in-law Chloe Schiedler and their grandchildren, Lucas and Maya Schiedler, in April.

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weekly newsletters to share with hospital, nursing home, and outpatient clinics, highlights from the 40 medical journals he read every month.

Meanwhile, Wendell was a fixture in the local Boy Scouts, taking young kids to regional and national scouting events. He also was president of the Longview School Board and Team Physician for R.A. Long athletics.

Both brothers — professional musicians since their teenage years in Madison, Wisconsin — were active in the musical community. Neal managed and conducted the Longview Community Church Temple Singers and Orchestra in more than 100 concerts of Handel’s “Messiah” and another 50 oratorios and patriotic concerts. Meanwhile, violinist Wendell recruited and organized musicians to fill out the 30-piece orchestra. Both were involved in creating the Southwest Washington Symphony in 1966, and continued playing flute and violin for many decades. Wendell’s five children all graduated from R.A. Long High School, and four of them went into medical careers (the “black sheep” became a decorated FBI agent and instructor). Neal’s two sons became doctors and two daughters, teachers. All were Mark Morris High School graduates. very forward-looking. I’ve never seen one in person, but Tesla did one recently and it looked incredible online! It’s fun looking back on the town’s history at The Merk building and also a family photo of my great-grandfather (Rev. E.H.Gebert) standing next to R A Long at the Community Church. Having an interest in seasteading, perhaps I’ll repeat the history of Mr. Long and start my own town, as well, on the ocean, someday within my lifetime.

In 1976, Dr. Richard Kirkpatrick returned from the Mayo Clinic to join in, before creating the Internal Medicine Clinic of Longview in 1977. In 1996, Richard rejoined Neal and Wendell, and the practice became Kirkpatrick Family Care (“KFC”), with an additional clinic at the corner of Commerce and Douglas, adjacent to the Lower Columbia Women’s Clinic.

The “KFC” has been open every day since January 1, 1996, and offers dozens of ancillary services provided by a staff of more than 60. Continuing with Neal and Wendell’s commitment to medical education, KFC has mentored nearly 100 students in Medical, Osteopathic, Physicians Assistant, and Nurse Practitioner schools. Also carrying on their legacy, Dr. Richard and Dr. Wendell’s sons, Drs. Steve and Donald, have sponsored many youth sports and musical events, and Richard has been Team Doctor for Mark Morris High School and LCC since 1976. We hope Drs. Scotty and Christie return home to join the staff at Kirkpatrick Family Care in June 2024.

Alongside my CRR responsibilities, I fixed computers as my own part time business. It was always a pleasure helping Longview residents and retirees figure out their electronics. While many of my best clients have passed on, I’m glad I could help removing some of their stress in their final years.

My greatest memories of Longview include my first year in high school, meeting so many new friends in band class marching down Main Street in Disneyland, on the year’s trip. Or the various nature outings of the region, from Beacon Rock, Mount St. Helens, or Multnomah Falls to Astoria. I also loved playing in the Symphony on French horn, as well as guitar, drums and vocals with friends in our own garage band, “The Gentlemen of Envy.” We played a few live shows, the biggest of which we opened for “Broadway Calls!”

I’ll never forget Longview and I salute everyone for the next 100 years of prosperity. I’ll visit again down the road and will be happy to give anyone from back home the Lisbon walking tour — something I think I’ve perfected.

Editor’s note: Take sturdy walking shoes, there are a lot of cobblestones!

Everyone’s

The Evening Sky (a clear open low western horizon is needed) Mars and Venus are still with us in the evening sky. Mars is hanging out near the star Pollux in Gemini while Venus is low in the ‘waist’ of Gemini on May 15th. By May 22nd – 24th, Mars is still up by Pollux, but Venus has moved up between the lines of stars that make up the bodies of the twins.

The Morning Sky (cloudless eastern horizon sky required) Jupiter is the bright star in the eastern morning and if you are lucky, you may see the planet Mercury as a pinpoint of light nearer the horizon 30 minutes before the sun rises at the end of May. Saturn is also up early in the predawn (4:50 a.m.) sky about 15º high in the southeast just as Jupiter is rising in the east.

Night Sky Spectacle (A cloudfree evening is a must)

Spring is when the skies start to abound with star clusters both open and globular. Open up your favorite sky chart app on your phone and point to the sky. Point to the east and northeast, see them pop up on your screen, then use your binoculars to try and find them. These star clusters will be with us all summer; start to

June/July/Aug

Tai Chi for Beginners

Tues and Thurs – 10 AM

Tai Chi/Qigong Flow

Mon – 6:15 PM Beginner

Register through

Longview Parks & Rec 360 442-5400 Instructor

LaNay

Tai Chi for Health and Senior Fitness Instructor

TCHI Certified Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention (Standing/Seated)

Tai Chi & Qigong for Health and Wellness (Standing/Seated)

The Administration on Aging (AoA) has rated the TCHI Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevent (TCA) program as the highest evidence-based program for older adults and wellness. More information at www. taichiforhealthinstitute.org.

By Greg Smith

Moon Phases:

New: Fri, May 19th

1st Quarter: Sat., May 27th

Full: Sat., June 3

3rd Quarter: Sat., June 10

End of twilight - when the stars start to come out:

Fri., May 9th, 9:17pm

Wed., May 31st, 9:31pm

Fri., June 9th, 9:39pm

Sat., June 17th, 9:44pm

All times are Daylight Savings Time learn where they are and get a feel for the night sky. The globular clusters are in the range of 20,000 light years to 35,000 light years away. The light left these stars when sabretooth lions were attacking mammoths at the Los Angeles La Brea Tar pits. M57 (the Ring Nebula, the remains of an exploded star) in Lyre is gaining height in the east. A 4 inch diameter telescope will be needed to see the Nebula. M57 is found by finding the very bright star Vega. Your sky chart app will show you the way. And look down to a point between two stars that make up the bottom of the constellation. It will be a ring shaped mist of light. Look to the right of Vega and see the star Epsilon Lyre with your binoculars and you will see that it looks like a double star. You will need a dark sky to see it. Longview’s light pollution will wipe out this double star from your view. With your 4 inch diameter scope at medium magnification you will see that Epsilon Lyre is a double-double star (four stars).

Longview resident Greg Smith is past president of Friends of Galileo. Meet him and other club members at monthly meetings in Longview. For more info about FOG, visit friendsofgalileo.com.

Heading for my tai chi class, wonder if I’m dressed appropriately? Maybe I’ll go to the astronomy club meeting instead.