Columbia River Reader July 2023

COLUMBIA RIVER READER COLLECTORS CLUB

LEWIS AND CLARK REVOLUTIONIZED

What really — truly — happened during those final wind-blown, rain-soaked thirty days of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s trek to the Pacific? Southwest Washington author and explorer Rex Ziak revolutionized historical scholarship by providing the answers: day by day and week by week. We’re delighted to offer In Full View, and Rex’s other two books, one with an extraordinary fold-out map, as our inaugural offerings from CRR Collectors Club.

IN FULL VIEW

Rex Ziak $29.95

A true and accurate account of Lewis and Clark’s arrival at the Pacific Ocean, and their search for a winter camp along the lower Columbia River.

EYEWITNESS TO ASTORIA

Gabriel Franchére $21.95

The newly edited and annotated by Rex Ziak version of Franchére’s 1820 journal, Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the Years 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814, or The First American Settlement on the Pacific.

DOWN AND UP

Rex Ziak $18.95

A unique fold-out guide mapping day-byday Lewis and Clark’s journey from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean and back.

DISPATCHES FROM THE DISCOVERY TRAIL

A Layman’s Lewis & Clark by Michael O. Perry. •Collectors Edition, Trade paperback. Color and B/W $35

Books by Rex Ziak

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THE TIDEWATER REACH

Field Guide to the Lower Columbia River in Poems and Pictures

By Robert Michael Pyle and Judy VanderMaten. In three editions:

• Boxed Signature Edition

Color and BW $50;

• Collectors Edition,Trade paperback. Color and B/W $35

• Trade paperback B/W $25

AVAILABLE NOW! EMPIRE OF TREES America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier by Hal Calbom Longview Centennial Edition. Boxed, signed. $50.

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Dispatches from the Discovery Trail

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Empire of Trees

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Sue’s

Remembering Gary Meyers

Still enjoying the afterglow of a wonderful evening on June 30, I want to again thank everyone who supported and read our “People+Place Then and Now” year-long series, which led to Hal Calbom’s new book, Empire of Trees: America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier, and who joined the fun at the Gala.

“From Page to Stage” was all I could have hoped for (see a few highlight photos, page 15) . The book is now officially launched and available for purchase at several locations, including the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, Broadway Gallery, and CRR’s office, or online at crreader.com.

The only sad part of the Gala was my announcing the news of the passing of Gary Meyers, our HaikuFest founder and chief judge. Gary poured his heart and soul into this annual event,

embellishing it from year to year with various medallions and handcrafted award certificates he presented to participants. We will remember Gary warmly and with gratitude for all he brought to the Reader. And in 2024, we will carry on with the Gary G. Meyers Memorial HaifuFest.

By way of sharing a glimpse of Gary’s quirky interests, over the years he wrote stories for CRR on truck stops, wooden nickels, the player piano, and a “delicacy coffee” called kopi luwak, about which you probably don’t want to hear details. He even bought a pound of it (very expensive) and conducted a tasting in CRR’s office, with limited registration on a first-come, first-served basis. And we filled the room!

My first encounter with Gary was back in the very early days

ON THE COVER

of CRR. A Longview native, he had retired to Hawaii but was in town visiting his mother, Thelma Meyer. He’d picked up a copy of CRR at a local grocery store and called to say he had a gift for us.

It was a bottle of wine, probably what was then known as Three Buck Chuck, its original label replaced by one of Gary’s own making. “Deadline,” he named it.

On the back label: “This private cru was commissioned by an appreciative reader for the publisher/editor and staff of the Columbia River Reader in recognition of their tireless devotion and sustained excellence. ... We have long recognized that Deadline possesses a je nais sais quoi quality that appeals to journalists who are under the gun. When drunk in Homeric quantity, our merlot can create a warm, fuzzy-edged serenity that is impervious to such maddening inconveniences as deadlines and rewrites. In the addled mind, creativity is enhanced. IQ’s soar. Vocabulary is expanded.... Gary was a clever wordsmith. And became a dear friend. And now I’m turning the tables, toasting Gary in appreciation of his tireless devotion and sustained excellence, and his generosity as a friend of the Reader. Rest in peace, Gary. We will miss you!

Sue Piper

Publisher/Editor: Susan P. Piper

Columnists and contributors:

Tracy Beard

Hal Calbom

Karla Dudley Bell

Alice Dietz

Roy Gawlick

Joseph Govednik

Laurel Murphy

Dayle Olson

Michael Perry

Ned Piper

Robert Michael Pyle

Norma Peters

Marc Roland

Alan Rose

Alice Slusher

Greg Smith

Andre Stepankowsky

Debra Tweedy

Judy VanderMaten

Editorial/Proofreading Assistants:

Merrilee Bauman, Michael Perry, Marilyn Perry, Tiffany Dickinson, Debra Tweedy

Advertising Manager: Ned Piper, 360-749-2632

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Visit our website for the current issue and archive of past issues from 2013.

Tracy on an e-bike; photo by Steve Beard, story, page 25

,launched

Columbia River Reader ... Helping you discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River Region, at home and on the road.

The idea for a public sculpture project germinated at a Holiday Party in 2009. Hans Schaufus, a frequent traveler to Germany, noted how much public art one could view in that country. My personal interest in outdoor art was inspired by the “Art on the Corner” program in Grand Junction, Colorado. Thus, a small group gathered in early 2010, with a mission to provide a rotating exhibit of outdoor sculptures and acquire new pieces for the City of Longview’s permanent art collection.

Longview Outdoor Gallery

By Laurel Murphy, LOG Board Member

The goal was to enhance the beauty of the historic downtown to attract more visitors. We hoped to raise enough money every two years to buy the most popular sculpture via People’s Voice balloting.

Every group needs doers — not talkers — and Jeanene LeRae quickly took command as our “champion.” Jeanene was both chairperson and secretary. She created the name, budget, brochures, website, grant requests, met with appropriate Longview city officials and potential sponsors, and made presentations to dozens of local groups. Longview Outdoor Gallery installed its first exhibit of 11 sculptures on September 10, 2011. By the end of 2013, LOG had donated five sculptures.

In 2015, LOG signed up for GiveMore24!, an online fundraiser hosted by the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington. Participation meant entry into a whole new world of digital fundraising. The GiveMore24! fundraiser became a welcome source of revenue.

By 2018, LOG had donated 13 sculptures and adopted a new goal: “23 by 23” – acquiring 23 pieces in time for Longview’s centennial anniversary. Much to our amazement,

2020 and 2021 were spectacularlyproductive years. Why? Because the sculptures were suited to the COVID-19 environment — available for outside viewing day and night. We developed a walking tour podcast that tells a wonderful story about each art piece.

LOG has met that “23 by 23” goal and more. As of this writing, it has donated 25 sculptures with four more in the works. Our last installation will take place on August 17th and the Longview Outdoor Gallery, as an organization, will disband. But LOG leaves an important legacy. Every sculpture is a testament to the generosity of our community and to a dedicated, hardworking board. Watch for the new sculptures, and enjoy Downtown Longview!

Jeanene LaRae, standing by a sculpture “Miracle Grow with Bluebirds,” displayed in LOG’s first exhibit. “We really liked the sculpture,” recalled Laurel Murphy, “but did not have enough money to buy it. But we have tracked it down and it will be among the last 4 sculptures we will install on August 17.

Diane Kenneway Escrow Closer / Assistant

Celinda Northrup Escrow Officer / LPO

Alison Peters Escrow Officer / LPO

DISPATCHES FROM THE DISCOVERY TRAIL

EPISODE 26

Graffiti is nothing new

By Michael O. Perry

Graffiti Is Nothing New

O n J uly 25, 1806, C lark saw a “remarkable rock” near the bank of the Yellowstone River, 25-miles east of Billings, Montana. It was a large sandstone formation that stood 200 feet above the flat prairie. For centuries, Indians had painted pictographs and etched petroglyphs onto the sheer walls of the rock they called Iishiia Anaache (“Place Where the Mountain Lion Dwells”). The rock was a well-known landmark to the Plains Indians since it marked the location of a strategic natural crossing of the Yellowstone River. The rock would also become a significant landmark to early European explorers, fur trappers, immigrants and soldiers.

Clark climbed to the top to see what he could see, and then carved his name and the date in the rock. Today, that signature is the only physical evidence remaining to prove Lewis and Clark made the journey to the ocean and back. Clark named the outcropping “Pompy’s Tower” after Sacajawea’s 17-month old son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (Clark had

nicknamed him “Pomp.”). The first editor of Lewis and Clark’s journals, Nicholas Biddle, later changed the name to Pompey’s Pillar.

Hundreds of individuals have carved their names on the rock over the last two centuries. While Clark’s etching isn’t as clear as it once was, it is still visible. In 1882, the Northern Pacific Railroad took steps to protect it with an iron screen; in 1953 a glass case was installed to protect it from the weather. The land was privately owned until 1991 when the Bureau of Land Management bought it. It was declared a national monument in 2001.

More than a Kick in the Pants

The previous episode covered the unfortunate death of one, possibly two, Blackfoot Indians. One of those Indians had shot at Captain Lewis, just missing his head. Lewis, Drouillard, and the two Fields brothers felt lucky to have escaped with their lives after that encounter. Up to then, the only other death during the journey had occurred two years earlier, on August 20, 1804, when Sgt. Charles Floyd died from what today is believed to have been a burst appendix. But, soon, death would be looking for Meriwether Lewis again.

In AprIl 2021 we Introduced A revIsed versIon of Michael Perry’s popular series which was expanded In the new book, Dispatches from the Discovery Trail, edited by Hal Calbom and published by CRRPress. It includes an in-depth author interview and new illustrations and commentary.

Michael Perry enjoys local history and travel. His popular 33-installment Lewis & Clark series appeared in Columbia River Reader’s early years and helped shape its identity and zeitgeist. After two encores, the series has been expanded and published in a book. Details, page 2, 35.

Photo by bob wick, a blM EMPloyEE

While Lewis and his detachment explored the Marias River’s headwaters, the two parties headed by Sgt. Gass and Ordway had met at Great Falls to portage the canoes and supplies cached the previous year around the series of waterfalls. At the same time, Capt. Clark took a detachment, including Sacajawea, to explore the Yellowstone River. The plan was for everyone to meet at the mouth of the Yellowstone River. All this without GPS, let alone a road map!

Clark reached the rendezvous point where the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers join near the Montana and North Dakota border on August 3rd and set up camp to wait for the others. The mosquitoes were horrible, so Clark left a note for Lewis to look for them downstream. Five days later, after escaping the mosquitoes, Clark was surprised to see Sgt. Pryor floating down the Missouri in a bullboat, made with buffalo hides stretched over a framework, sort of like an umbrella. Pryor and two others had left Clark on July 23rd to take the remaining horses to Fort Mandan in North Dakota, but two days later Indians stole the horses. The three men then walked east to the Yellowstone River and

cont page 7

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Lewis & Clark from page 5 found Clark’s note to Lewis. To Clark’s dismay, Pryor had brought the note with him! However, on August 7th Lewis would find another note from Clark and would figure out what Clark had done.

Meanwhile, back in Montana…

After escaping with their lives on July 27th when at least one Indian was killed, Lewis and his three men needed to get to the mouth of the Marias River. He had told the Blackfoot Indians that there were more white men waiting for him there, so he needed to get there first in case the Indians decided to attack. They rode 120 miles in 24 hours, and when they arrived were happy to find the men led by Sgt. Gass and Ordway floating down the Missouri. While everyone felt security in numbers, no time was wasted; all their horses were turned loose, and everyone got into the canoes and headed downstream at seven miles per hour to meet Clark’s group at the mouth of the Yellowstone.

Choose your hunting partner carefully…

After surviving for more than two years in the wilderness, the men of the Corps of Discovery had become excellent hunters. But, as Dick Cheney might acknowledge, things can go bad while hunting with friends. On August 11th, Lewis saw a herd of elk along the river. He and Pierre Cruzatte, a one-eyed Frenchman who didn’t see all that well out of his good eye, landed to try to kill some. Each of them shot an elk, but Cruzatte’s elk was only wounded and continued into the brush. After reloading, they each took separate routes in pursuit of the wounded elk.

And, be careful of what you wear Lewis wrote, “I was in the act of firing on the Elk a second time when a ball struck my left thye; the stroke was very severe; I instantly supposed that Cruzatte had shot me by mistake for an Elk as I was dressed in brown leather and he cannot see very well; under this impression I called out to him damn you, you have shot me, and looked towards the place from whence the ball had come, seeing nothing I called Cruzatte several times as loud as I could but received no answer; I was now preswaded that it was an indian that had shot me as the report of the gun did not appear to be more than 40 paces from me and Cruzatte appeared to be out of hearing of me.”

Who, me?

Lewis stumbled back to the river, calling out to Cruzatte along the way, warning him to retreat since there were Indians in the bushes. Upon reaching the river, Lewis told the men he “was wounded but I hoped not mortally” and then ordered the men to go back and try to save Cruzatte. Lewis attempted to lead the men back in the search for Cruzatte, but the pain was so bad he nearly passed out after a hundred paces. He ordered his men to continue the search while he limped back to the canoe. About 20 minutes later, the men returned with Cruzatte and reported they had seen no sign of Indians. Cruzatte said he had shot an elk after he and Lewis had split up, but denied shooting Lewis. Cruzatte “absolutely denied” hearing Lewis calling for help after being shot.

A little detective work

Lewis wrote, “I do not believe that the fellow did it intentionally but after finding that he had shot me was anxious to conceal his knowledge of having done so… the ball had lodged in my breeches which I knew to be the ball of the short rifles as that he had, and there being no person out with me but him and no Indians that we could discover I have no doubt in my own mind of his having shot me.” The .54 caliber ball was only used in the Model 1803 rifle, a gun that had not yet reached Indian hands.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Lewis wrote, “I took off my cloaths and dressed my wounds myself as well as I could, introducing tents of patent lint into the ball holes, the wounds blead considerably but I was hapy to find that it had touched neither bone nor artery.” The “tents” Lewis wrote about were rolls of lint used to keep the wound open and thus allow new tissue to grow from the inside out and promote drainage. Lewis’s biggest danger was infection.

And we meet again

The next day, Lewis’s party met a canoe coming up the Missouri. The two fur trappers told him they had passed Clark’s group the day before. When the two parties finally rejoined later that

… made his last journal entry …

It’s surprising that so little is made of Lewis’s wounding and its effects. The fact that the Expedition’s leader and chief chronicler suddenly goes silent for the last six weeks — especially given the problems he experienced later trying to write the trip’s grand narrative — may have indicated the degree of his disabilities, both physical and psychological. In extreme pain, healing slowly, and debilitated, Lewis was seriously impaired, and it could be argued his tragic demise was foreordained from the time of the accident.

day, Clark was quite alarmed to find Lewis lying in the bottom of the canoe, seriously wounded. Lewis believed he would be OK, saying it would take 20 to 30 days to heal. Clark wrote that he, “examined the wound and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the right buttock for 3 inches in length and the depth of the ball.”

Lewis made his last journal entry of the Expedition on August 12th when

he wrote, “as wrighting in my present situation is extremely painfull to me I shall desist until I recover and leave to my frind Capt. C. the continuation of our journal.” Three weeks later, Clark reported Lewis was “mending fast,” and by September 4th he was able to walk comfortably.

The next episode will cover the Expedition’s return to St. Louis.

... Shot in the butt ...

They’d seen elk out there, and Lewis didn’t typically go out but they needed the meat. So Lewis goes out with Cruzatte. And Cruzatte was the classic ‘blind in one eye and nearsighted in the other,’ and not a very good hunting partner. And the next thing you know, Lewis gets shot in the butt. A bad accident, but of course an accident. And the other guy would never admit it. All this proof and he denied it.”

Mt. St. Helens Gifts

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How does one deal with oversharing from a friend?

I have a friend who turns almost every conversation into a chance to use me as a free therapist. She tells me, in great detail, about her very active dating life -- her feelings about each date, plus her tedious self-analysis of every doubt, feeling and changing mood. She asks me for my insight and advice about every trivial event in her life. She rarely asks how I’m doing, and when she does, it’s obvious that my life bores her.

Is there a way to change this dynamic, or should I just ghost her? Can I end this friendship?

GENTLE READER: What friendship?

No one has discovered a pleasant way of breaking off a bond when one party does not suspect anything has gone wrong. Ghosting -- cutting things off without explanation -- is considered cowardly and cruel. But issuing a report card, with all the reasons that the once-liked person is no longer tolerable, is worse.

Forget the idea that such a critique will inspire them to reform and go on to have a happy life. If they try, what happens when they discover that the relationship was already beyond repair? Thus the it’s-not-you-it’s-me approach, which is tactful, if worn. Miss Manners prefers a modified version of ghosting, which is drifting off -- just being less and less available. But she admits that while it sometimes has to be done, there is no truly charming way of doing it.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few years ago, I went through a very bad time with PTSD. My workplace referred me to a psychologist, and I spent a year working closely with him before I was well enough to do without the therapy. He was an awesome therapist and gave me some great tools to cope with things and live life (mostly) normally. I think of him often, with appreciation for all the help. (There are no romantic feelings; I am very happily married.)

I have considered sending him a thankyou card to express my appreciation, but am not sure if that would be awkward. If it had been any other kind of professional, I wouldn’t have any second thoughts about it, but because it is a therapist, I am hesitant. Are there rules for thanking therapists?

GENTLE READER: Thanking any professional for work done is gracious and, almost always, appreciated. The only rule is that the form of the thanks not be such as to be mistaken for something else.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My boyfriend has a mustache and a goatee. Lately, I am averse to the odor of foods that he has eaten, which linger in his facial hair, and find it hard to engage in kissing.

I have mentioned this to him, but he only becomes offended, and takes no steps to remedy the problem. What do you make of this?

from page 8

GENTLE READER: That your boyfriend has not thought through the consequences.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: After a houseguest departed, I discovered multiple places where they had “helped,” but ultimately made more work for me. For example, when taking out my recycling, I found a layer of food scraps that I had to painstakingly remove.

Is there a polite way of bringing up such things before or during their next visit? While I can be vigilant and collect dishes and food scraps myself, that still leaves the possibility of other ways, known and unknown, in which they are likely to try to help.

This isn’t the first guest who has done this. I am frustrated, and find myself designing a curriculum for a class for my guests. But I suspect that will not come off well.

GENTLE READER: As even roommates, spouses and children (Miss Manners makes no claim about whether these are distinct groups) may occasionally fail to follow house rules, temporary houseguests must be allowed more latitude.

Holding a class would be insulting, not to mention poorly attended, but it is also unnecessary. A proper guest asks before doing anything significant. A proper host may remind them of this by offering, “Let me know if you need anything or are not sure where something goes,” and by taking out of their hands things that should not be done — with the assurance of, “Please let me do this; you are my guest.”

•••

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106

Details, Dining Guide, page 20

Longview Outdoor Gallery Unique sculptures along the sidewalks of Downtown Longview, both sides of Commerce Ave.

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NOTES FROM MY LIVES

by Andre Stepankowsky

Classical pianist pays tribute to her mentor Martin Kauble in Aug. 13 recital in Longview

Iwould be lying if I denied being a little jealous of Abrianna Church.

The Idaho-bred musician, who will perform her sixth solo recital in Longview on Sunday, Aug. 13, is a young classical music pianist who is winning praise and prizes across the West for her virtuosity and musicality. Her next Longview performance, scheduled for 4 p.m. at Northlake Church, is in part a homage to Longview piano teacher Martin Kauble, who died last year at age 59. Martin was not Abrie’s teacher, but he was so impressed by her talent after a chance encounter in Portland that he arranged several performances for her in Longview. She came to call Kauble her “Uncle Martian.”

Abrie, 24, says Kauble had a profound influence on her.

“Although I never took a lesson from him, Martin was a friend and mentor who helped me bridge numerous worlds: the separation between audience and performer, the emotional range between humor and solemnity, and personally misconceived divisions between sacred and secular. It was because of him I began to see my role as a performing artist with greater clarity and sense of purpose,” she says.

Her previous local performance, which took place online due to the pandemic, was a brilliant recital featuring only works by Franz Liszt. It included the whole set of the challenging and inventive Paganini Etudes.

More recently, Abrie has performed recitals featuring such demanding pieces as Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” and Sergei Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor.”

On Aug. 13, she will play a selection of Opus 10 etudes by Frederic Chopin, six pieces for the piano Opus 118 by Johannes Brahms, sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti and hymn arrangements by Kenneth Mays, her former piano instructor at Master’s University.

Abrie began her musical studies at age six. At times, her piano lessons required bi-weekly, 800-mile round trips to Provo, Utah.

In 2022, she graduated from The Master’s University, a Christian liberal arts school located just north of Los Angeles. She has won several competitions, including an honorable mention at the 2021 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition.

Deeply religious, Abrie sees her work as a means to glorify God and “do all the good I can do for fellow man.” She has begun collaborating with other

musicians to set biblical scripture to music. Last Christmas, she set Matthew’s gospel account of the birth of Christ to music.

Abrie is looking forward to further development as a performer, composer, and musical collaborator. She is considering graduate school to further study piano performance and musical composition.

Her story has deep significance for me. Martin Kauble was my friend and last piano teacher, and I’m helping arrange Abrie’s recital to continue his passion for promoting Abrie’s career and classical music in general.

In addition, I, too, aspired in my teenage years to become a concert pianist. While I still love it and have given several local charity recitals, I concluded long ago that I did not have enough talent or zeal to achieve a significant concert career.

Most people don’t really understand the emotional, intellectual and physical demands it takes to reach that level.

I’ve heard some pianists say becoming a brain surgeon is easy by comparison. It’s a solitary pursuit and it takes a lot of luck as well as prodigious talent and work to “make it.”

And there’s so much emotional investment. Admitting — after literally thousands of hours of practice and social sacrifice — that a concert career was not in my future was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.

There’s no doubt about it: Abrie has the talent and dedication needed to succeed. So although I’m a tad envious of her, I’m rooting for her all the way.  I hope that you do, too —and come hear for yourself just how talented she is. •••

Award winning journalist Andre Stepankowsky is a former reporter and editor for The Daily News. His CRR columns spring from his many interests, including hiking, rose gardening, music, and woodworking. More of his writing is available through his online newsletter on substack.com by searching for “Lower Columbia Currents.”

THE TIDEWATER REACH

Poem by Robert Michael Pyle

Photograph by Judy VanderMaten

Field Note by Hal Calbom

River Pubs: On Duffy’s Deck

Only crows to be heard. Merganser duckling, long bill ring-tipped pale neck and belly down, strange to be all by itself, out there paddling in the milky way of knotweed petals, nebulae of cottonwood leaves, riding the uptide flow.

Yellow-striped jumping spider leaps to my knee. Steller’s jay vaults the river, which loops around the gravel bar under alders and elms, ninebark and knotweed, then slingshots down to the bay, on this 90-degree afternoon. Wait till winter! When the river roars through here, almost up to the deck, and I take my pint inside, into dim orange light and endless Irish tapes.

But for now, out here on Duffy’s deck, with the crows, the mergs, the jays, as the day drops through 80, to 70, and less, perfection seems possible.

Yet still my pint runs out.

SKELETONS

The ocean approaches to the Columbia — and indeed to much of the entire Pacific Northwest coast — are well-known in folklore as the mighty Pacific’s graveyard. Unpredictable weather conditions, fog and coastal characteristics such as shifting sandbars, tidal rips, rocky reefs and shorelines have claimed more than 2,000 vessels and 700 lives near the Columbia Bar alone. Although major wrecks have declined since the 1920s, several lives are still lost annually. The lethal combination of fog, wind, storm, current and wave wreaked havoc through the middle of the twentieth century, leaving wrecks made famous in regional history and skeletons still visible today.

On this page we excerpt poems, pictures and field notes from our own “Field Guide to the Lower Columbia River in Poems and Pictures,” The Tidewater Reach, by Gray’s River resident and renowned naturalist Robert Michael Pyle, and Cathlamet photographer Judy VanderMaten.

The two dreamed for years of a collaborative project, finally realized when Columbia River Reader Press published color and black and white editions of The Tidewater Reach in 2020, and a third, hybrid edition in 2021, all presenting “a different way of seeing” our beloved Columbia River.

For information on ordering, see page 2.

Teagues’ Interiors has been honored to work with many community members in your homes and offices and serve you from our store front — helping with color and design, draperies, accessories and art since 1988. Thank you for supporting our small business in Downtown Longview through four locations and Covid!

Sincerely,

Open

CHEERS! Our city, our Centennial, our celebrations

By Marc Roland

At 10am on July 12, 1923, in front of the mostly-completed Hotel Monticello, thousands of people showed up for the dedication event of the newly-formed city of Longview.

Two days later the Monticello Hotel had its grand opening, kicked off with a large banquet. We don’t know the menu, but we may assume that champagne — or another alcoholic beverage — was not on the menu. Founder R.A Long was known as a religious man and a teetotaler, and I doubt he would have approved of imbibing of any kind. But it would be foolish to think that the guests and citizens attending this momentous event went completely dry.

Prohibition (1920–1933) was a failure and in a few short years to come, would be repealed. The thirst for adult beverages could not be stopped, and Longview was not an exception. Flasks, kegs, and bottles were surely in the mix, but kept under wraps in respect for the founders and their lofty vision. A lot has changed in town since then and, as in most modern cities today, wine, beer, and spirits are a normal expression of celebration and social life.

We are lucky to live in a city that has embraced the good life with a sense of community and celebration of our shared history. Whether you are a lifelong resident or a relative newcomer, Longview’s past is a part of the ethos of living here. The community events that have developed since the founding are rooted in a shared experience. Here is a reminder of upcoming opportunities to participate and celebrate our town.

August 19th is the return of Squirrel Fest (lvsquirrelfest.com). It has become one the the most popular events in town, now celebrating 11 years of “nutty” fun, including a beer and wine garden. According to organizers, Squirrel Fest is the first of its kind on the West Coast and in the Mount St. Helens region!

We’re nuts over this celebration in honor of our furry friends and so are our 3,500+ guests we reconnect with annually. Longview is known for its Squirrel bridges near the Civic Center and all around the Lake,

QUIPS & QUOTES

Selected by Debra Tweedy

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

--Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and poet, 1844-1900

Every day above earth is a good day.

--Ernest Hemingway, American novelist, shortstory writer and journalist, 1899-1961

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.

--John Lubbock, English banker, politician and naturalist, 1834-1913

and we’re excited to invite you to celebrate with us! With a wide variety of nutty activities, Squirrel Fest offers something for everyone. Located at Longview Civic Center Park, the event features local vendors, performances, children’s activities, delicious foods and more!

On September 8th, celebrate Longview’s Centennial at the Gala Dinner (longview100.org) in the Monticello Hotel Ballroom. This might not be authorized by R.A. Long due to the revelry and fun to be had, but I’m certain Mr. Long would walk over to the David Story Field for a drone show featuring our beloved planned city. And finally, return to the ballroom to dance the night away at the Gala dance with a live band.

Crafted Beer and Food Festival (longviewcrafted.com) is a communityinspired handcrafted beer and food celebration bringing craft beers from around the Northwest and beyond to Longview on Saturday, October 8th in the Civic Circle.

Given the time of year, you will be able to enjoy many Oktoberfest and Fresh Hop beers. Also featured at Crafted Brew Fest are local food vendors serving delicious and unique food offerings and marketplace vendors with beer-related items. Music plays

Longview resident and former Kelso teacher Marc Roland started making wine in 2008 in his garage. He and his wife, Nancy, now operate Roland Wines at 1106 Florida Street in Longview’s new “barrel district.” For wine tasting hours, call 360-846-7304.

Perhaps after all, our best thoughts come when we are alone. It is good to listen, not to voices, but to the wind blowing, to the brook running cool over polished stones, to bees drowsy with the weight of pollen. If we attend to the music of the earth, we reach serenity, and then, in some unexplained way, we share it with others.

--Gladys Taber, American writer and columnist, 1899-1980

Because we are free, we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere.

--Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the U.S., 1924-

throughout the day and there will be lots of games to enjoy. All proceeds from Crafted Brew Fest go to the Rotary Club of Longview’s service projects.

I hope to feature more future opportunities to salute and drink to our beloved city in a responsible and thankful way. Almost everyone I talk to tells me they have never experienced a town that gives so much back to those in need. Most of the celebrations I know about have an altruistic objective for doing what they do. I think R.A. Long would approve!

•••

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

--E.B. White, American writer, 1889-1985

When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.

--Isaac Asimov, American writer and professor, 1920-1992

People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is—just be a little kinder.

--Aldous Huxley, English writer and philosopher, 1894-1963

The only reason people do not know much is because they do not care to know. They are incurious. Incuriosity is the oddest and most foolish failing there is.

--Stephen Fry, English actor, comedian and writer, 1957-

Longview native Debra Tweedy has lived on four continents. She and her husband decided to return to her hometown and bought a house facing Lake Sacajawea.“We came back because of the Lake and the Longview Public Library,” she says.

Columbia River Reader is printed with environmentally-sensitive soy-based inks on paper manufactured in the Pacific Northwest utilizing the highest percentage of “post-consumer waste” recycled content available on the market.

“From Page to Stage” at LCC’s Rose Center for the Arts: Hosts Alan Rose, Dennis Weber, Joseph Govednik, and Ned Piper, and announcer Hal Calbom kept the variety show moving with energy and intelligence. Joseph Govednik led the audience in a spirited “Happy Birthday” to Longview, see addl photo, page 34.

From Page to Stage Gala Highlights

The evening featured Tapestry NW, Brownsmead Flats, Past Longview mayors (and one from Kelso!), readings, tributes, CRR segments on Lewis & Clark, Miss Manners, HaikuFest and Where Do You Read the Reader?

101/Hwy 103) Long Beach, WA. 360-642-2400 • 800-451-2542

• South Columbia County Chamber Columbia Blvd/Hwy 30, St. Helens, OR • 503-397-0685

• Seaside, OR 989 Broadway, 503-738-3097; 888-306-2326

• Astoria-Warrenton Chamber/Ore Welcome Ctr 111 W. Marine Dr., Astoria 503-325-6311 or 800-875-6807

Longview Centennial Events

Sept 8-9 2023 Centennial Celebration: Parade, Gala Banquet at Monticello Hotel, Rolleo at Lake Sacajawea, Drone Light Shows, Street Dances, time capsule cornerstone ceremony & MORE

The Longview Public Library’s Podcast Your Shelf or Mine is celebrating the Centennial with historical episodes, including:

• Longview’s ‘23 Club, with Cal Fowler and Abe Ott

• Empire of Trees: America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier, with Hal Calbom and Sue Piper

• Joseph Govednik, Cowlitz County Historical Museum, World War II

To listen, visit longview100.org, click on “Events” and then the Your Shelf or Mine button

Historic Walking Tour

Pick up your FREE Passport at the Longview Library and enjoy exploring nearby places, with information about each inside the Passport. Great family activity, fun for all ages. Limited supplies.

Fri-Sat-Sun July 28th-30th

Loggers Breakfast, Quilt Show, Sculptor Wade Lapp, Parade, Boat Races, Live Music by Bruce Maier Band. Details, www.ryderwood.org

Classic car buffs enjoy vintage cars

Those who attended the Longview Centennial Vintage Car Show on June 24th were delighted to find an array of vehicles lined up with RAL High School as a backdrop. The day was sunny and warm which led to a large number of pictures being taken.

Among the show cars was a 1927 Model T Speedster and a 1929 Model A Pickup. All participants were given a Longview Centennial Coin and a Centennial Car Show plaque. They were also entered into a drawing for the book Empire of Trees: America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier, by Hal Calbom, and published by Columbia River Reader Press. Doug Walter, who entered his 1953 Willy’s Jeep, was delighted when his name was drawn for the book. All who attended the car show expressed pride in being able to be involved in a Longview Centennial Celebration. Visit Longview100.org for information on upcoming Centennial events.

– Norma Peters, Car Show Chairman, Longview Centennial Committee

WEBSITE longview100.org

Contacts: Reed Hadley, longviewcentury@gmail.com or Arleen Hubble, ahubble61@gmail.com

U.S. MAIL: P.O. Box 1035, Longview, WA 98632

Merchandise

Souvenir Centennial Calendars, artist illustrations, $5

Official Centennial Coins $10, lapel pins $3 (2 for $5); T-shirts $15-22, Pens $1, Stainless steel drink tumblers, etc.

Now available at Kelso- Longview Chamber Visitor Center next to I-5 in Kelso, and Longview YMCA.

NEW EXHIBIT NOW OPEN

“1923: The Year that Changed Cowlitz County”

VISIT WWW.COWLITZCOUNTYHISTORY.ORG

405 Allen St., Kelso • Museum Hours Tues-Sat, 10–4

YMCA OF SW WASHINGTON 100th Birthday 2023 Events

Sept 30 YMCA Ice Cream Social and Ol’ Time Music, 2–5 pm Ice cream treats, music, dancing. $5 Adults, $3 kids.

Nov 11 First Ever YMCA Military Ball, Saturday 6–10pm Black tie or dress uniform event with dinner and dancing for all active military personnel, veterans and their spouses or dates. AWPPW Hall adjacent to the YMCA. Child care, silent auction, other activities at the YMCA.

Celebrate the end of one century and the start of another!

The city of Longview turns 100 this year. Longview Masonic Lodge #263 turns 100 next year.

To celebrate their shared history, Longview Lodge will give the City of Longview a birthday present — a new time capsule, to be opened in 2123 during the city’s bicentennial.

A formal Masonic cornerstone ceremony will mark the occasion, and you’re invited!

Saturday, September 9, 2023, 1pm

At the gazebo at RA Long Square (on Longview’s historic Civic Circle)

Cornerstone ceremonies don’t happen often. Don’t miss out!

Longview Lodge needs your help!

What do you think should go into the time capsule? What message do we send our descendants? What wishes?

What was most important about each of the past ten decades? What are your predictions for Longview 10 decades from now?

What objects should go into the capsule to represent each decade — a fad, an innovation? What books should be read in 100 years? What toys should be played with? What objects will puzzle our descendants about life in Longview?

Submit your ideas to the Lodge at freemasoncowlitz.org/time-capsule Or to info@freemasoncowlitz.org

– Roy Gawlick, Time Capsule Chairman, Longview Centennial Committee

Why I love paper

Nothing takes the place of holding a book in my hands

Imust make a confession: I love paper. I love to hold a book in my hands as I read it and maybe read the margin notes that I made years ago. I love to pick up a book of music and read the comments my piano teacher made 50 years ago (correct the fingering on this phrase!). I love to read a recipe written in my mother’s hand which causes me to remember standing on a stool by her side as she tried (unsuccessfully) to teach me how to make dumplings from scratch.

All this being said, however, I will add that I am somewhat competent in this digital age. I communicate by e-mail, own three digital keyboards, and I even send a text message once in a while.

My “techie”

friend/companion/fiancé

David, always trying to bring me up to speed, has given me two Kindle e-readers and keeps me supplied with e-books which seem to show up on a daily basis. (I think he is sometimes bored on his 13-hour night shifts at Intel). A typical weekend evening for us includes many hours by the backyard firepit and a glass of wine, with David tending the fire and me reading... which brings me to the point of this article.

When I open my Kindle, I often cannot remember the story I was reading and need to scroll back to catch up. And when I choose a new book, I often can’t remember if I’ve read that book already. That is not like me. I know I’m getting

By Karla C. Dudley

older, but I can usually remember the contents of a story and, when visiting the bookstore, I always know if I’ve read a book that’s on the shelf.

Judging a book by its cover

My “fireside reading” books are for the most part engaging, easy-to-read stories. They are not necessarily great works of literature, but I have found it interesting that I can usually only identify a book that I’ve read or not read by the picture of the cover on the screen.

An article in a recent edition of Scientific American* caught my attention. It was titled “Why the Brain Prefers Paper,” by Ferris Jabr. The opening paragraph cites a YouTube video in which a one-year-old girl plays with an iPad, sweeping her fingers across the touch screen and shuffling icons. In the next scene she appears to pinch and swipe the pages of a regular magazine, with no success. The video was called “A magazine is an iPad that doesn’t work.”

Topography of the page

This piece discusses research on the physicality of reading. The human brain often perceives text as a kind of physical topography. When I open a paper book, for example, I am presented with a landscape — left and right-hand pages, eight corners, and a constant awareness of the progress in

the book as I turn pages. I know if I’m at the beginning, the middle, or the end of the book. If I need to remind myself of something in the book, it’s easy for me to just flip back a few pages. Not so with an e-reader.

I liked the writer’s comparison of reading to hiking: “Turning the pages of a paper book is like leaving one foot print after another on a trail.. .there is a rhythm to it and a visible record of how far one has traveled.” Could this explain my attachment to certain books that I can’t seem to remove from my book shelf?

The biographies of John Muir, Jane Goodall, and Beethoven are large volumes and take much space on my shelf. But it somehow soothes me to see them there with other beloved volumes arranged from tallest to shortest, and reminds me of where I have come on my own “life trail.” I wouldn’t have the same feeling seeing my Kindle sitting on the shelf. The Kindle is, for me, a tool to use for a specific purpose, but certainly not something to cherish like a paper book.

I can just hear my children and other “digital natives” snickering and citing the many advantages of digital reading — saving trees, the availability to read all the great classics without leaving home, the elimination of clutter.

Perhaps the brain of the toddler in the video is making new pathways to adapt to the changes needed in this digital age. But what about the sensory, tactile feeling of turning a page, the smell of ink on the paper, and the excitement walking into a library full of great stories?

Perhaps I am overly sentimental. I agree that there is certainly a place for technology and I intend to take advantage of everything available, but for me, nothing will take the place of holding a book in my hands and, of course, the newest edition of the Columbia River Reader!

* Referenced article:

“Why the Brain Prefers Paper” by Ferris Jabr. Scientific American, Volume 308, No. 5, November 2013.

•••

Karla Dudley is a piano teacher in Longview. Shortly after writing this article, she and David Bell married and enjoyed several more years of the good life together, prior to his death in July 2022.

Summer Reading

Quick Picks: Now and Forever

Reader’s staff sets you up for summer

Coordinated and edited by Hal Calbom

This year, to celebrate Summer Reading, more than a dozen denizens of the Reader (writers, proofies, distribution team) answered two queries: What’s the best book you’ve read lately? and What’s your favorite (and most recommended) book of all time?

We gave our esteemed book reviewer, Alan Rose, a pass on this feature, ceding the “summer reading” territory to his enthusiastic and passionate “amateur” colleagues, astute critics and voracious readers, all.

Here’s a fast-paced summary of their recommendations. Enjoy your summer reading!

-- Hal Calbom

Hal Calbom is CRR’s People+Place writer/producer, co-founder of CRRPress, and author of Empire of Trees: America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier.

Merrilee Bauman

Proofreader, Distributor

NOW: Where the Crawdads

Sing by Delia Owens

The story of a girl, Kya, living in a shack on the North Carolina coast. She is abandoned by her parents, but manages to live and learn, supported by the plants and wildlife around her. This is Kya’s life story, with a mystery woven through, which takes an unexpected turn by the end of the book. One of my current favorites.

FOREVER: The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

This novel stirs a desire in me to cook wholesome, delicious meals (although I still don’t have a daily soup warming on the back burner), and a yearning to plant, trim, and pick beautiful bouquets from my large, well-tended garden (which is still in the planning stage). The story is of an English family in WWII, chronicling daughter Penelope’s life through interesting, memorable, charming, and sometimes tragic circumstances.

Sue Lane-Koontz Advertising Maven

NOW: The President and the Freedom Fighter by Brian Kilmeade. Two men go from total disagreement to friendship, and in the process change the course of history. This should be in all libraries, both homes and educational institutions. It’s an incredibly compelling story.

FOREVER: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Following the lives of the March sisters from childhood to adulthood, Alcott was far ahead of her time in the presentation of her message. This is a classic that will live forever.

Debra Tweedy

Proofreader, Editor, Quips & Quotes

NOW: A World of Curiosities by Louise

Penny

I always look forward to a new Chief Inspector Gamache book, and my favorite recent read is #18 in the series. The books are set in rural Quebec, in the fictional village of Three Pines. “It’s spring and Three Pines is reemerging after a harsh winter. But not everything buried should come alive again. Not everything lying dormant should reemerge. But something has....” Who can resist?

FOREVER: Wordstruck by Robert

McNeil

This book is an all-time favorite for me, and I recommend it for those, who, like the author, are “crazy about the sound of words, the look of words, the taste of words, the feeling for words on the tongue and in the mind.” When his friend Jim Lehrer read the manuscript, he said, “You should call it ‘Wordstruck’ because that is what you were.”

And so am I. Like him, I had a mother who read to me, and it has made all the difference.

NOW: Desert Star by Michael Connelly Connelly brings together two of his popular serial characters, Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch, in a newly created Cold Case Department. This fast-paced book takes both detectives back to unsolved murder cases each had to abandon in the past. The fact that Ballard is Bosch’s superior creates some interesting conflicts. Catching the bad guys keeps them both on track. Highly recommended.

FOREVER: Booked to Die by John Dunning

Cliff Janeway is a Denver cop who knows as much about rare books as he does about homicide. When bookscout Bobby Westfall is murdered, Janeway is on the case in more ways than one. I have read this book five times. Love it.

Joseph Govednik

Columnist, “Museum Magic”

NOW: 1776 by David McCullough

With the upcoming semi-quincentennial of America around the corner, I am reading David McCullough’s 1776, published in 2005. This book draws the reader in with fascinating narratives, stories and quotes from famous and less-known participants in the American Revolution. Through several twists of fate, victors and vanquished could have changed places.

FOREVER: Earth

Abides by George R. Stewart

One of my all-time favorite books. This post-apocalyptic novel takes place in the hills of Berkeley, California, not far from where I grew up. It follows a band of survivors of a disease that wipes out most of humanity and tells how the newlyformed civilization adapts between the remnants of technology fading away and the reality of transitioning into a hunter and gathering society.

Michael Perry Author, Proofreader, Distributor

NOW: Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Universe by Philip Plait

This book is a tour of the cosmos, drawing on both the latest scientific research and the author’s imagination to transport the reader to10 of the most spectacular sights outer space has to offer… ranging from our Moon, nearby planets, asteroids and comets, to the star factories and black holes. The next-best thing to traveling through space and time.

FOREVER: In Full View by Rex Ziak I received this book for Christmas, 2002, and was impressed by how Rex used his knowledge of the mouth of the Columbia to bring the words in the Lewis & Clark’s journals to life… he put feeling into the 1805 journal entries and revised the narrative of the most difficult last 30 days of their journey.

Ned Piper Columnist, “The Spectator,” Distribution & Ad Manager

Robert Michael Pyle

Poet

and Author

Karla Dudley

Contributing Writer

Tracy Beard Columnist, “Out and About”

Marc Roland Columnist, “Roland on Wine”

NOW: Flickering by Pattianne

Rogers

I know of no other contemporary poet who more adeptly and beautifully integrates poetry and the science of the natural world — and that includes Mary Oliver. In Making Love with the Gods she writes “What a delirium of green blossoms / to be filled with the wind-razzle / energy of his summer straining / stems and stalks!” Even, or especially, if you don’t read poetry, perturb yourself with these poems, and you will.

FOREVER: Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald

This is the book that won the Booker Prize, but most of her novels have been nominated for it. Among my favorites are The Bookshop and Gate of Angels. I only wish there were more of them. Penelope Fitzgerald said more in fewer words than any other novelist I know.

Alice Slusher

Columnist, “Northwest Gardening”

NOW: The Science of Gardening by Stuart Farrimond

I’m listening to this audiobook as I work in my garden. It may sound like a textbook, but it’s not — the author is down-to-earth and answers questions we all have, such as: How do vining plants climb (I found this one fascinating)? How can I keep container plants happy? Is there a sustainable way to maintain a great lawn without fertilizer, and why should you care? Why is using peat moss a no-no? If you are a curious gardener, this one’s for you.

FOREVER: The Stand by Stephen King

It’s a classic dystopian tale of good vs. evil with deliciously diabolical villains and some unlikely heroes and heroines woven together with a bit of magic. Impossible to put down.

NOW: The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

I became fascinated with this alien creature often called “the monster of the deep.” In this book we meet four octopuses (octopi is incorrect), Athena, Octavia, Kali, and Karma. Can we humans relate to a creature with no bones, the ability to change shape and color instantly, with hundreds of suckers able to taste and feel independently? What are the limits of our consciousness?

FOREVER: Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander

Sometimes I love to read a simple story that doesn’t expect me to search for deeper meanings or to improve my mind, a story that simply solves the crime in the end and leaves me content. A new series for me is the Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, set in Ashland, Oregon, one of my favorite towns. The characters are delightful, perfect with a glass of wine, a soft blanket, and a new chance to visit familiar people and places.

Tiffany Dickinson Contributor, Proofreader, Author NOW: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This is a perfect summertime book. This multigenerational story includes light romance, devastating heartbreak, humor, and a diverse cast of characters. And I mean diverse: How many contemporary adult fiction novels feature a sentient octopus as one of the four points-of-view.?

FOREVER: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Though written for younger readers, this book inspires and amuses adults, too. It’s a classic romp of friendship, community, heroics, ridiculousness, and love. Reading it as a child, I was entertained. Reading it as an adult, I was deeply touched and inspired. This is a book full of heart, humor, and hubris — all with a hog as the star.

NOW: Promise Me by Harlan Coben

Coben provides fabulous character development, interesting story lines, and incredible, unanticipated twists. Most times I can figure out mysteries within the second third of a book, but Harlan fooled me with this one. I didn't suspect the villain until the very end.

FOREVER: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert I love this book because of the fabulous descriptions Elizabeth gives of the three escape destinations: Rome, India, and Bali. Rome was all about food and friends, India was about spiritual renewal, and Bali provided a space for the writer to rediscover herself. During my travels, I often connect with places in those same three ways.

Eileen Bergeson, Distributor

NOW: Rebel Souls by Justin Martin

The Bohemian movement was a popular social culture in the mid1800s, including Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, John Wilkes Booth’s brother Edwin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, as well as other famous artists of the time that I had never heard of, but who had a lasting impact on our culture of today. Similar to our counterculture of the 1960s and 70s.

FOREVER: The Seven Mysteries of Life by Guy

Murchie

This book shows the interconnectedness of all life supported by research in all the sciences, leading to a spiritual perspective. I read it long ago, but I am still reminded of it when I think about how sand dunes move, or the idea that the earth is alive, or the fact that I am no more than 50th cousin to any other human being on earth.

NOW: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

A very influential teacher felt that this book could give me some hope and direction.

Siddhartha realizes that experience is the only teacher that matters, and that love is the answer to life. I didn’t find nirvana, but I did gain a deep understanding of the importance of seeking truth.

FOREVER: The Earned Life by Marshall

Goldsmith

Self-improvement books are mostly written by very successful people who want to make more money by telling you how they did it. This book is different. Like Siddhartha, it also draws elements from Buddhism, learning to ground your success in a higher purpose. I can be me and learn from it; I don’t have to be some super-motivated, life-on-turbo person to live a good life.

Paula Stepankowsky, Contributor

NOW: Dinner with Joseph Johnson by Daisy Hay

Reading this book is like attending a brilliant dinner party with all the people from late 18th-century Britain whom you would like to meet in heaven. Publisher Joseph Johnson gathered luminaries from the scientific, literary, artistic, political and theological worlds around his table weekly. Hay brilliantly recreates this moment so readers feel they, too, are there in the room.

FOREVER: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

So many people read or teach this masterpiece as a romantic comedy. While it does have romance and comedy, it is, in fact, biting social satire. The reader must enter Austen’s mind to strip away both the romance and the comedy to arrive at the true meaning of this novel: Nothing is ever what it seems to be on the surface. If readers /students can arrive at this conclusion, they have learned critical thinking.

Clatskanie, Ore.

Fultano’s Pizza

770 E. Columbia River Hwy

Family style with unique pizza offerings, hot grill items & more!

Dine-in,Take-out and Home Delivery. Visit Fultanos.com for streamlined menu.

503-728-2922

COLUMBIA RIVER dining

Eclipse Coffee & Tea

In the Merk (1339 Commerce Ave., #113)

360-998-2139. Mon-Fri 8am–4pm. Specialty coffees, teas, bubble teas and pastries....drinks with a smile. Takeout and on-site.

Freddy’s Just for the Halibut

1110 Commerce Ave.

Ixtapa Fine Mexican Restaurant

640 E. Columbia River Hwy

Fine Mexican cuisine. Daily specials. The best margarita in town. Daily drink specials. Dine-in, curbside pickup. M-Th 11am–9:30pm; Fri & Sat 11am–11:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm. 503-728-3344

Rainier. Ore.

102 East “A” Street

Microbrews, wines & spirits

7am–8pm Daily. Inside dining.

Interstate Tavern

119 E. “B” St., (Hwy 30)

Crab Louie/Crab cocktails, crab-stuffed avocados. 17 hot and cold sandwiches. Amazing crab sandwiches. Full bar service. Catering for groups. 503-556-5023. interstatetavern@yahoo.com 503-556-5023

El Tapatio

117 W. ‘A’ Street Mexican Family Restaurant. Open Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, rest of week 11am-10pm. Full bar. Karaoke Fri-Sat 8-11pm. Patio seating. 503556-8323.

Longview, Wash.

1335 14th Avenue

18 rotating craft brews, pub fare. M-Th 11am–8pm. Fri-Sat 11am–10pm; Sunday 11am–6pm. Local music coming soon. 360-232-8283. Inside dining

See ad, page 34. Follow us on Untappd.

Bruno’s Pizza 1108 Washington Way. Pizza, breadsticks, wings, salads, fish & chips. WE DELIVER. Four beers on tap. 360-636-4970 or 360-425-5220,

The Carriage

Restaurant & Lounge

The Carriage Restaurant & Lounge

1334 12th Ave. Open 8am–9pm (sometimes later, call to check). Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Full bar, banquet room available for groups, special events. Happy hours daily 9–11am, 5–7pm. 360-425-8545.

The Corner Cafe

796 Commerce Ave.

Breakfast & Lunch. Daily Soup & Sandwich, breakfast specials. Tues-Sat 7am3pm. Closed Sun-Mon. 360-353-5420. Email: sndcoffeeshop@comcast.net

Cod, Alaskan halibut fish and chips, awardwinning clam chowder. Burgers, steaks, pasta. Beer and wine. M-Sat 10am–8pm, Sunday 11am–8pm. Inside dining, Drive-thru, outdoor seating. 360-414-3288.

See ad, page 6.

guide

Teri’s Café on Broadway

1133 Broadway. New lunch spot. Open Mon-Sat, 11–6.

360-998-2936

Castle Rock, Wash

Luckman’s Coffee Company

239 Huntington Ave. North, Drive-thru. Pastries, sandwiches, salads, quiche.

See ad, page 276

Parker’s Steak House & Brewery

Scappoose, Ore.

Fultano’s Pizza

51511 SE 2nd. Family style with unique pizza offerings, hot grill items & more! “Best pizza around!” Sun–Th 11am–9pm; Fri-Sat 11am–10pm. Full bar service ‘til 10pm Fri & Sat. Deliveries in Scappoose. 503-543-5100. Inside Dining.

Ixtapa Fine Mexican Restaurant

33452 Havlik Rd. Fine Mexican cuisine. Daily specials. The best margarita in town. Daily drink specials. M-Th 11am–9:30pm; Fri & Sat 11am–11:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm. 503-543-3017

The Gifted Kitchen

711 Vandercook Way, Longview “Celebrate, create, inspire.” Soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, entrees, sides, pot pies, quiche, grazing boxes & more. M-F 11–6; Sat special events only; Sun closed. 360-261-7697.

Hop N Grape

924 15th Ave., Longview

Tues–Thurs 11am–7pm; Fri & Sat 11am–8pm. BBQ meat slowcooked on site. Pulled pork, chicken, brisket, ribs, turkey, salmon. World-famous mac & cheese. 360-577-1541.

Kyoto Sushi Steakhouse

760 Ocean Beach Hwy, Suite J 360-425-9696.

Japanese food, i.e. hibachi, Bento boxes, Teppanyaki; Sushi (half-price Wednesdays); Kids Meal 50% Off Sundays.

Mon-Th 11-2:30, 4:30-9:30. Fri-Sat 11am10pm. Sun 11am-9pm.

Lynn’s Deli & Catering

1133 14th Ave.

Soups & sandwiches, specializing in paninis, box lunches, deli sandwiches and party platters. Mon-Fri 8-3, Saturday 10-2. 360-577-5656

Roland Wines

1106 Florida St., Longview. Authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, wine, and beer. Casual ambience. 5–9pm Wed-Fri, Sat. 1–9. 360-846-7304.

See ad, page 24.

Scythe Brewing Company

1217 3rd Avenue #150

360-353-3851

Sun-Thurs 12noon -8pm; Fri-Sat 12noon -10pm. Family-friendly brewery/ restaurant with upscale, casual dining, lunch and dinner.

Stuffy’s

804 Ocean Beach Hwy

360-423-6356

8am–8pm. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. American style food. Free giant cinnamon roll with meal purchase on your birthday with proof of ID. Facebook: Stuffy’s II Restaurant, or Instagram @stuffys2.

Teri’s, 3225 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. Lunch and dinner. Burgers, steak, seafood, pasta, specials, fresh NW cuisine. Full bar. Tues–Fri, 12–8pm. Sat 3–9pm.. Closed Sun-Mon. Curbside pickup. Inside dining.

360-577-0717.

1300 Mt. St. Helens Way. I-5

Exit 49.

Lunch, Dinner. Burgers, hand-cut steak; seafood and pasta. Restaurant open 1-8pm Tue-Th, 1-9pm, F-Sat. Lounge Happy Hours 4pm. 360967-2333. Call for status/options.

Vault Books & Brew 20 Cowlitz Street West, Castle Rock. Coffee and specialty drinks, quick eats & sweet treats. See ad, page 26

Kalama, Wash.

215 N. Hendrickson Dr., Port of Kalama. A Northwest pub and unique bars serving breakfast, lunch & dinner daily. Info & reservations, bar hours at mcmenamins.com. 8am–midnight daily. 360- 673-9210. Indoor dining, covered outdoor seating, curbside take-out.

St. Helens, Ore.

Sunshine Pizza & Catering 2124 Columbia Blvd. Hot pizza, cool salad bar. Beer & wine. Limited inside seating, curbside pickup and delivery. 503-397-3211 See ad, page 14.

Big River Tap Room

313 Strand Street on the Riverfront. Lunch/Dinner Tue-Thurs

12–8pm; Fri-Sat 12–9pm. Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, pastrami. Weekend Burrito Breakfast, Sat 8-11, Sun 8am-3pm.

Warren, Ore.

Warren Country Inn

56575 Columbia River Hwy. Fine family dining. Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Full bar. Call for hours.503-410-5479. Check Facebook for updates. Dine-in.

Toutle, Wash.

DREW’S GROCERY & SERVICE

5304 Spirit Lake Hwy (10 mi. fr Exit 49) 24-hour fueling (gas & diesel, card at pump, cash at Jule’s Snack Shack (when open). Red Leaf Organic Coffee. See ad, page 14.

Fire Mountain Grill 9440 Spirit Lake Hwy 360-957-0813. Call for days and hours.

See ad, page 34.

Woodland, Wash.

1350 Atlantic Ave. Rotating craft brews, pub fare. Open M-Th 11am–6pm; Fri–Sat 11am–10pm; Sunday 11am–6pm. 360-841-8941. See ad, page 34.

Luckman

Coffee Company

1230 Lewis River Rd. Small batch on-site roasted coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside seating. M-F 5:30am–6pm, Sat 6am–5pm, Sun 7am–3pm. See ad, page 12.

THE OAK TREE

1020 Atlantic Ave. Breakfast served all day. Famous Bankruptcy Stew, Oak Tree Salad, desserts baked in-house. Full bar. Happy Hours 1-3, 7-9pm. Live music. 360--841-5292. See ad, page 26.

Restaurant operators: To advertise in Columbia River Dining Guide, call 360-749-2632

Diamonds in the Sky

Short course on star magnitude

As we have just recently watched fireworks on the Fourth of July, the topic of star magnitude comes to mind.

We saw the fireworks just in front of us being very bright, while fireworks exploding a few blocks away were dimmer, so too the brightness of a near star is brighter than a star that is far away. But that is not always true; there are near stars that are dim. This is due to the real brightness of the star.

For example: there is the star called Barnards star that is nearby (5.96 lightyears) but past the limit of human eye visibility and has a magnitude of 9.5. This is because Barnards star is a red dwarf star, both smaller and dimmer than our own sun, while the nearest sun-like star is Alpha Centauri, which is +1.3. a somewhat bright star which can be seen if you live where you can see the far southern sky, like in Hawaii. Alpha Centauri is brighter than Vega, which we see in our summer night sky at 0 magnitude.

How is brightness determined? Back in the 2nd century BC the Greek astronomer Hipparchus set up the classification using a six point scale based on the brightness of a star that the human eye could see. The higher the number, the dimmer the star.

Why the larger number the dimmer? It was a class system. A first class star is the brightest and a second class star

is a bit dimmer, down to a sixth class star, anything lower than five was a sixth class star. The stars of the Milky Way were all sixth class, though Hipparchus did not know that the Milky Way was made up of stars.

Remember, there was no light pollution back in the second century BC. Today, out in the dark skies of eastern Washington and Oregon, seeing a sixth class star is not too much of a problem. If you can find a dark sky here in western Washington, you may have a good chance of seeing down to sixth magnitude. If you are very lucky, you may be able to see way down to a seventh magnitude star.

What is the difference between a magnitude 1 star and a magnitude 2 star? It is a difference of 2.5 times.

By Greg Smith

Thus a Magnitude 1 star is 2.5 times brighter than a magnitude 2 star. Each magnitude is 2.5 times. The difference between magnitude 1 and a 3 is 6.25. Thus between 6 and 1 is 97.6 or almost 100 times dimmer.

The same range also applies as you go into the negative range. The moon is –13 and the sun is –26. Venus at max –5, Jupiter at max is –3, and Polaris (the North Star) is 1.98 or considered a 2.

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.

When looking up star magnitudes you will find that stars have magnitudes of 2.23 or some other decimal. That is because modern astronomers have the equipment that can get finer readings on the brightness of a star.

I hope this makes things clearer for you to understand the magnitude scale of the objects in the night sky. •••

Low-impact

Exercise Classes

Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec

Tai Chi for Beginners Tues and Thurs – 10 AM

NASM Certified Senior Fitness

Register through

Longview Parks & Rec 360 442-5400

Instructor

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.

Nick Lemiere

1332 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 360-425-0037

SKY REPORT

Looking UP

The Evening Sky (a clear, open, low western horizon is needed) On July 12th, Mars is setting in the west around 10:00pm and Venus goes down at 10:05pm as it gets close to going to the back side of the Sun. We’ll see her again later this Summer. The moon is in the west a crescent as it returns from the new moon phase. It’s a good time to see the shadows of the craters. The asterism of the Summer Triangle is well placed high in the southeastern sky. Keep trying to find the asterism of

By Greg Smith

July 19 – August 18, 2023

the Coat Hanger with your binoculars as it will fit in your view, it lays about two-thirds of the way between Vega and Altair. This is just a fun object to see. Remember, it is an upside down coat hanger.

The Morning Sky (cloudless eastern horizon sky required)

Jupiter is the bright star low in the eastern morning sky at 10:30pm. Saturn rises in the late evening at about 9:15p.m. in the southeast. Around 5 a.m., on Aug 20th, Orion is

CHAMBER Happenings

SHOP LOCAL

Saturday, July 29

back up in the southeastern sky. And Venus is returning to the sky as it comes out from the far side of the sun about 6:00am. Yes, the winter constellations come out in the late Summer mornings. Jupiter is high in the morning sky at 5am.

Night Sky Spectacle (A cloud- free evening is a must)

Starts around the 9th and lasts till the 15th and peaks in the wee hours of August 13th. It is predicted to have about 90 meteors an hour. These predictions are undependable. Moon brightness is a factor in visibility. This year

All times are Daylight Savings Time

Moon Phases:

New: Tues, July 17th

1st Quarter: Tues, July 25th

Full: Tues, Aug 1st

Last Quarter: Tues, Aug 8th

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

Sun., July 23rd, 9:28pm

Sun., July 30th, 9:19pm

Wed.,Aug 9th, 9:04pm

Thurs., Aug 17th,.8:50pm

the moon will be well past full and close to New Moon thus a dark sky for meteor viewing. Just lie back in your lawn chair and look to the northeast and watch the lightshow. No binoculars needed; in fact you won’t see much with them. This is a naked eye event.

Where to find the new Reader

It’s delivered all around the River by the 15th of each month. Here’s the list of handy, regularly-refilled sidewalk box and rack locations where you can pick up a copy any time of day and even in your bathrobe:

LONGVIEW

U.S. Bank

Post Office

Bob’s (rack, main check-out)

In front of 1232 Commerce Ave

In front of 1323 Commerce Ave

YMCA

Fred Meyer (rack, service desk)

Teri’s (Ocean Beach Hwy)

Grocery Outlet

The Gifted Kitchen (711 Vandercook Way)

Fibre Fed’l CU - Commerce Ave

Monticello Hotel (front entrance)

Kaiser Permanente

St. John Medical Center (rack, Park Lake Café)

LCC Student Center

Indy Way Diner

Columbia River Reader Office

1333 14th Ave. (box at door)

Omelettes & More (entry rack)

Stuffy’s II (entry rack)

KELSO

Visitors’ Center / Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce

KALAMA

Fibre Fed’l CU

Kalama Shopping Center corner of First & Fir

McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge (rack)

WOODLAND

The Oak Tree

Visitors’ Center

Grocery Outlet

Luckman Coffee

Antidote (rack)

CASTLE ROCK

Lacie Rha’s Cafe (32 Cowlitz W.)

Parker’s Restaurant (box, entry)

Visitors’ Center 890 Huntington Ave.

N., Exit 49, west side of I-5

Cascade Select Market

VADER

Little Crane Café

RYDERWOOD Café porch

TOUTLE

Drew’s Grocery & Service

CLATSKANIE

Post Office

Mobil / Mini-Mart

Fultano’s Pizza

WESTPORT

Berry Patch (entry rack)

RAINIER

Post Office

Cornerstone Café

Rainier Hardware (rack, entry)

Earth ‘n’ Sun (on Hwy 30)

El Tapatio (entry rack)

Grocery Outlet

Senior Center (rack at front door)

DEER ISLAND

Deer Island Store

COLUMBIA CITY - Post Office

WARREN

Warren Country Inn

ST HELENS

Chamber of Commerce

Sunshine Pizza

St. Helens Market Fresh

Olde Town: Wild Currant, Tap into Wine

Safeway

SCAPPOOSE

Post Office

Road Runner

Fultano’s

Ace Hardware

WARRENTON, OR

Fred Meyer

CATHLAMET

Cathlamet Pharmacy

Tsuga Gallery

Realty West

Puget Island Ferry Landing

SKAMOKAWA

Skamokawa General Store

NASELLE

Appelo Archives & Café

Johnson’s One-Stop

By Tracy Beard

PROVISIONS

ALONG THE TRAIL

Bucatinin all’Amatriciana

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 oz. pancetta or unsmoked bacon, chopped

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¾ cups onion, minced

28-ounce can peeled tomatoes with juices crushed by hand

12 ounces of dried bucatini pasta

1 clove garlic – minced

¼ cup Pecorino romano cheese, grated

Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta and sauté until crisp and golden, about 4 minutes. Add pepper flakes and black pepper. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until soft, approximately 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt; add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until 2 minutes before al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water.

Add drained pasta to sauce in skillet and toss vigorously with tongs to coat. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and cook until sauce coats pasta and pasta is al dente, about 2 more minutes. Add more pasta water if the sauce is too dry. Stir in the cheese.

Pear Mule

1½ oz. Wild Roots Pear Infused Vodka

1 oz. St Germain elderflower liqueur

½ oz. lemon juice ½ oz. simple syrup

Ginger beer

Place ice in a cocktail shaker. Add pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir vigorously. Strain into a copper cup filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and serve.

Alex Nielson M.D., ABFM

Richard A. Kirkpatrick M.D., FACP

Rachel Roylance BS, MPAP, PA-C

Dr. Toddrick Tookes DPM, Podiatrist

Vlad Bogin M.D., FACP

Scott B. Kirkpatrick M.D., ABIM

Gordon Hendrickson, PA-C

Nicholas Austin MSPAS, PA-C

Christie Kirkpatrick Schmutz M.D.

CHRISTIE KIRKPATRICK SCHMUTZ, md

Christie Kirkpatrick Schmutz, MD,

Less Work: Go farther

E-bike excursion entices

By Tracy Beard

I love to ride bikes. Ever since I was a little kid I have had a bike, from a tiny tricycle to my really cool 10-speed. As an adult, I have had different bikes, including a refurbished Cannondale that I put several hundred miles on to my last year’s birthday present, a Trek FX3. During recent travels, my husband Steve and I have had the opportunity to ride e-bikes. Initially, I thought this would be cheating, but you still must pedal, and we covered longer distances with more challenging terrain using the pedal assist. Our recent rides were on two different e-bike brands, one was an E-Mountain Trek bike, and the ride was predominantly on dirt trails in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The other was on a Raymon Hardray E 5.0 E-Mountain Bike, and the ride took place on pavement and gravel in Vienna, Austria. These two rides won me over to the e-bike world. You, too, can experience an e-bike ride at one of a few Portland, Oregon, shops.

The First Ride

While in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Steve and I spent half the day with Lillian Schiavo. She is the co-owner of Zach’s Bikes with Zach Gilmour. Lillian led us out of the shop and down the road to the Link Trail, a 2.7mile out-and-back trail near Klamath

Falls, Oregon. Birders, hikers, and mountain bikers love this local trail. We pedaled along the relatively level path adjacent to the river. We stopped along the way, and Lillian shared a little history about the area, and we all enjoyed watching the flock of pelicans sunning themselves on the water.

We headed up to Moore Park on the north end of the trail. This park features disc golf, a day camp area, a concession building, picnic and play areas, and new Bike Skills Trails. The courses are designated and colorcoded green for beginners, blue for intermediate riders, and black diamond for the Evel Knievels of the mountain biking world. Although not all trail parks allow e-bikes, this one does. With all my years of bicycle riding, I have never enjoyed riding on gravel. Well, that was all about to change.

The E-Mountain Trek bike featured wider tires with deeper tread, and the pedal assist allowed me to ride up the hill easily. Although my need for speed ended 10 years ago with my downhill ski accident, riding down the gravel hill at 20 miles per hour was exhilarating. My knuckles were white, but it was a blast.

The Second Ride

In May, Steve and I spent time in Europe, and one of the highlights was a 21-mile e-bike ride in Vienna, Austria. We did the Go Green E-Mountain Bike Tour with Vienna Explorer Tours and Day Trips. The ride was a mix of riding on gravel and pavement. We traversed alongside the Danube River, weaved through spectacular green landscapes, then pedaled 1,300 feet up a steep climb through vineyards to the top of the highest hill in Vienna, Kahlenberg, where we stopped to appreciate fabulous city views. We also took in a bit of nourishment (pictured here) before continuing downhill.

On the way down, we traveled through the village of Nussdorf, lined with spectacular homes, then along the Danube’s banks and Vienna’s most popular recreation area, Danube Island. We finished by riding through Vienna’s largest park, the Prater.

Take a Test Drive

A few places in Portland, Oregon, sell e-bikes and offer test rides and tours. I interviewed Pedego Electric Bikes Portland store manager Brook Conners. This shop is located at 1905 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Portland.

When I spoke with Brook about what I liked in the e-bikes I had already ridden, I learned that Pedego bikes have a throttle feature that the ones I rode did not. Yes, these e-bikes do not require pedaling all the time. Wow, a tangible way to cheat when you have pushed yourself just a little too far. Now again, I love the pedal assist, especially when you are climbing up a steep hill. You can shift down and pedal faster, but a little push along the way makes it much more manageable. However, I must admit, I was tired at about mile 18 in Vienna. If I had been on a Pedego with a throttle, I would have cheated and let it take me effortlessly to the finish line at the shop. I have numerous books with 40–50-mile rides with hills that I would love to cruise, but alas, I am not as fit as I once was, and a pedal-assist bike with a throttle to help me finish sounds like a dream come true.

I asked Brook about two different models that would meet my city/country riding needs, and she suggested the Boomerang with a low step-through or the Interceptor Cruiser. The batteries last anywhere from 23-46 miles on the small unit and 38-76 miles on the larger one. Of course, if you totally cheated and just used the throttle the entire time, your battery would last somewhere in the middle of the range. The cost for these bikes begins at $2995 and goes up. Brook also told me that if you purchase one of their locks with your bike, the purchase comes with a warranty against theft. That is a significant selling point today. E-bike rentals at Pedego run $20–$25 per hour, $50–$65 for a half day, and $100–$125 for a full 24-hour day.

So, if you want to go farther faster, consider test-riding an e-bike.

Tracy Beard writes about luxury and adventure travel, traditional and trendy fine dining and libations for regional, national and international magazines. She is in her eighth year as CRR’s “Out & About” columnist. She lives in Longview, Wash.

coordinated by Alan Rose

By Dayle Olson

Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery

By Casey Parks

In rural Louisiana, Casey Parks grows up listening to chain-smoking relatives tell stories under her grandma’s covered carport. Casey’s home life is in constant turmoil due to her mother’s pill addiction. As a teenager, Casey becomes aware she is a lesbian, and her life crumbles. She is publicly outed and condemned by her church pastor and shunned by her own mother. In a Southern culture clinging to outdated notions about gender, Casey finds herself an outcast.

Casey’s grandmother comforts her with stories of a long-ago neighbor, Roy Hudgins, who dressed and lived as a man. It was common knowledge that Roy’s anatomy was that of a female. Casey’s grandmother admired Roy’s musical abilities, as well as his bravery in being himself.

Seven years pass and Casey has a degree and a job as a reporter for The Oregonian in Portland. She returns home to Louisiana to dig deeper into the story of Roy Hudgins. In addition to writing country songs, Roy also kept journals, which Casey locates. With her video camera, she interviews those who knew Roy and documents their recollections of this individual in their community.

On these trips to Louisiana, Casey also has to repeatedly confront her mother’s drug use, and face her own longing for a loving, healthy relationship and acceptance, but she has little

hope for either. Increasingly, Casey’s journey toward self-acceptance becomes intertwined with the haunting and heartbreaking revelations she uncovers in her quest to know who Roy Hudgins was. This 2023 Oregon Book Award winner is well worth reading. Casey Parks lives in Portland and covers gender and family issues for The Washington Post.

•••

Dayle Olson is a poet whose work has been published in The Salal Review, RAIN Magazine, Haunted Words Press, Dirigible Balloon, Litmora Literary Journal, and Timber Ghost Press. She was recently invited to read at the Angry Ghosts Poetry Competition in Suffolk, England. Active in The Writer’s Guild of Astoria, she lives in Cathlamet with husband, David, and one opinionated cat.

LOWER COLUMBIA CURRENTS

Commentary by Andre Stepankowsky

Former longterm reporter and editor for The Daily News invites you to explore the issues of the day through his free online newsletter.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J. Maas, Bloomsbury Publishing, $19

2. Trust Hernan Diaz, Riverhead Books, $17

3. Love, Theoretically Ali Hazelwood, Berkley, $17

4. The Midnight Library Matt Haig, Penguin, $18,

5. The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller, Ecco, $17.99

6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid, Washington Square Press, $17

7. This Is How You Lose the Time War Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone, Gallery/Saga Press, $16.99

8. It Ends with Us Colleen Hoover, Atria, $16.99

9. A World of Curiosities Louise Penny, Minotaur, $19

10. Circe Madeline Miller, Back Bay, $18.99

Top 10 Bestsellers

1. Killers of the Flower Moon David Grann, Vintage, $17

2. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir Michelle Zauner, Vintage, $17

3. Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer, Milkweed Editions, $20

4. The Body Keeps the Score Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., Penguin, $19

5. On Island Time Chandler O’Leary, Sasquatch Books, $24.95

6. All About Love: New Visions bell hooks, Morrow, $16.99

7. Quietly Hostile: Essays Samantha Irby, Vintage, $17

8. Dopamine Nation Dr. Anna Lembke, Dutton, $18

9. Happy-Go-Lucky David Sedaris, Back Bay, $18.99

10. The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz, AmberAllen, $12.95

BOOK REVIEW

Planned City and the Last Frontier

by Hal Calbom CRRPress $50.

On July 12, 1923, the city of Longview was dedicated in front of the new and grand Hotel Monticello. The hotel’s “majestic Georgian design stood out for miles, like a medieval cathedral luring pilgrims in the Middle Ages.” The dedication was a glittering affair, with speeches and banquets, baseball games and concerts, a regatta on the Columbia, and a grand Pageant of Progress, celebrating the

Alan’s haunting novel of the AIDS epidemic, As If Death Summoned, won the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award (LGBT category.) He can be reached at www.alan-rose.com.

1. The Covenant of Water Abraham Verghese, Grove Press, $32

2. Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver, Harper, $32.50

3. Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus, Doubleday, $29

4. Happy Place Emily Henry, Berkley, $27

5. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin, Knopf, $28

6. Yellowface

R. F. Kuang, Morrow, $30

7. Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt, Ecco, $29.99

8. Good Night, Irene Luis Alberto Urrea, Little, Brown, $29

9. The Wind Knows My Name Isabel Allende, Ballantine, $28

10. I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home Lorrie Moore, Knopf, $27

1. The Creative Act: A Way of Being Rick Rubin, Penguin Press, $32

2. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder David Grann, Doubleday, $30

3. A Fever in the Heartland Timothy Egan, Viking, $30

4. Pageboy: A Memoir Elliot Page, Flatiron Books, $29.99

5. I’m Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy, Simon & Schuster, $27.99

6. Poverty, by America Matthew Desmond, Crown, $28

7. The Art Thief Michael Finkel, Knopf, $28

8. Atomic Habits James Clear, Avery, $27

9. What an Owl Knows Jennifer Ackerman, Penguin Press, $30

10. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity Peter Attia, M.D., Bill Gifford, Harmony, $32

Brought to you by Book Sense and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, for week ending July 2, 2023, based on reporting from the independent bookstores of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

For the Book Sense store nearest you, visit www.booksense.com

1. Bluey: Camping

Penguin Young Readers, $5.99

2. Bluey: The Pool

Penguin Young Readers, $4.99

3. Bluey: Mum School

Penguin Young Readers, $6.99

4. Where’s Waldo?

Martin Handford, Candlewick, $8.99

5. Bluey: The Creek

Penguin Young Readers, $4.99

6. Hot Dog

Doug Salati, Knopf Books for Young Readers, $18.99

7. Where’s Waldo Now?

Martin Handford, Candlewick, $8.99

8. Blueberries for Sal

Robert McCloskey, Puffin, $8.99

9. Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography

Wendy Loggia, Elisa Chavarri (Illus.), Golden Books, $5.99

10. Knight Owl Christopher Denise, Christy Ottaviano Books, $17.99

Flowing with the great river of time

triumph of human will and imagination over nature that had culminated in “The Planned City.” Beneath this shiny show of progress was an inconvenient reality: The town’s sewer lines had not yet been connected, so all the toilets in the majestic hotel were flushing directly into the hotel’s majestic basement. Nature always wins.

This scene which opens Empire of Trees seems symbolic. Once again, humanity’s Grand Vision was humbled by the basics. (It perhaps also portended the city’s longstanding and regrettable reputation for a distinctive odor.)

For Longview’s centennial celebration, native son Hal Calbom has produced an expansive and engaging new history. Beginning with the city’s 1923 dedication and ending with its 2023 high school class graduations, Calbom takes us on a tour of the ten decades connecting these two moments in time.

Rather than a stately chronological procession of events, Empire of Trees is more a kaleidoscope of people, places, and themes. The book’s narrative structure is split into alternating

Signs of trouble appeared well before the stock market crash in October, 1929. Two years earlier a sharp drop in construction nationwide had rocked the lumber industry. Unsold inventory crowded the docks […] Most people clung to the singleminded belief that — despite resolutely insisting it was no mere Company Tow — in the end the Company could and would support them. It was a dangerous co-dependence. Besides acting as employer and financier, the company was expected to be chief educator, city manager, church and community organizer, all-purpose supplier and savior. Until it wasn’t.

– from Empire of Trees

chapters focusing on Then and Now, written with the wit, warmth, and perspective of a journalist fond of his subject.

& MIDDLE GRADE READERS

1. From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and the Star Rick Riordan, Mark Oshiro, Disney Hyperion, $19.99

2. The One and Only Ruby Katherine Applegate, Harper, $19.99

3. The Moth Keeper: A Graphic Novel K. O’Neill, Random House Graphic, $13.99

4. School Trip: A Graphic Novel Jerry Craft, Quill Tree Books, $14.99

5. Allergic Megan Wagner Lloyd, Michelle Mee Nutter (Illus.), Graphix, $12.99

6. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Judy Blume, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $9.99

7. Odder Katherine Applegate, Charles Santoso (Illus.), Feiwel & Friends, $16.99

8. Squished: A Graphic Novel Megan Wagner Lloyd, Michelle Mee Nutter (Illus.), Graphix, $12.99

9. Sisters: A Graphic Novel Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $12.99

10. Hatchet Gary Paulsen, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $9.99

By Alan Rose

A generous collection of archival photos from the past are juxtaposed with photos of the present, capturing the ebbs and flows of the city’s first 100 years — its politics, its fashions, the dicey dance between management and unions, the fluctuating markets for timber, and then the mill town’s shift in the late 20th century, seeking a new economic base and a new identity.

And amidst all this, the story of people getting on with their lives as best they could, one day at a time, the days stretching into years, the years into decades, until we have a centennial — a moment to pause and celebrate, yes, but also to reflect on the way we’ve come and who we are as a community.

Hal Calbom and the Columbia River Reader Press have given us a great gift, an attractive aid for community self-reflection, reminding us that history is always Then and Now, ever flowing like the great river that helped place and define this city, and that we are part of that flow. We are part of the great river of time.

Empire of Trees America’s

Signed, giftboxed

Mount St. Helens Hiking Club

Call leader to join outing or for more info. Non-members welcome.

(E) Easier: Usually on relatively flat ground (up to 5 miles and/or less than 500 ft. e.g.)

(M) - Moderate: Longer and more elevation gain (over 5 miles and/or over 500 ft. e.g.)

HOW TO PUBLICIZE YOUR NON-PROFIT EVENT IN CRR

Send your non-commercial community event info (name of event, beneficiary, sponsor, date & time, location, brief description and contact info) to publisher@crreader.com

Or mail or hand-deliver (in person or via mail slot) to:

Columbia River Reader

1333-14th Ave

Longview, WA 98632

Submission Deadlines

Events occurring:

Aug 15 - Sept 20

byJuly 25 for Aug 15 issue

Sept 15 – Oct 20 by Aug 25 for Sept issue.

Calendar submissions are considered for inclusion, subject to lead time, relevance to readers, and space limitations.

See Submission Guidelines below.

Submission Guidelines

Letters to the Editor (up to 200 words) relevant to the publication’s purpose — helping readers discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River region, at home and on the road — are welcome. Longer pieces, or excerpts thereof, in response to previously-published articles, may be printed at the discretion of the publisher and subject to editing and space limitations.

Items sent to CRR will be considered for publication unless the writer specifies otherwise. Writer’s name and phone number must be included; anonymous submissions will not be considered.

Political Endorsements CRR is a monthly publication serving readers in several towns, three counties, two states and beyond and does not publish Letters to the Editor that are endorsements or criticisms of political candidates or controversial issues. (Paid ad space is available.)

Unsolicited submissions may be considered, provided they are consistent with the publication’s purpose. Advance contact with the editor is recommended. Information of general interest submitted by readers may be used as background or incorporated in future articles.

Outings & Events calendar (free listing): Events must be open to the public. Non-profit organizations and the arts, entertainment, educational and recreational opportunities and community cultural events will receive listing priority. Fundraisers must be sanctioned/sponsored by the benefiting non-profit organization. Businesses and organizations wishing to promote their particular products or services are invited to purchase advertising.

(S) - Strenuous: Long hikes and/or elevation gain (over 8 miles and/or over 1200 ft. e.g.)

July 15 - Sat.  Toutle Trail / Loowit Trail (M)

Drive 130 miles RT.  Hike 7.5 miles RT. with 1,200 foot e.g. from the Toutle Trail TH, past Blue Lake up to the Loowit Trail on the southwest quadrant of Mt St Helens thru old growth forest, under canopy most of the way. Leader: Bill D. 503-260-6712

July 19 - Wed. Washougal Waterfront (E)

Drive 114 miles RT.  Hike 5 miles along the Columbia River on a level path. Leader: John R. 360- 431-1122

July 22 - Sat. Packwood Lake (M/S)

Drive 206 miles RT.  Hike 9 miles RT. to Packwood Lake, out and back with 400 foot e.g. with a couple more miles available along the lake.

Leader: David K. 360-703-8738

July 26 - Wed.   Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge (E)

Drive 66 miles RT.  Walk the Oaks to Wetland Trail for a short walk and/or the longer trail which would be a 5-mile loop.  Bring binoculars to spot an eagle’s nest in the trees. Leader: MJ R. 360-355-5220

July 29 - Sat.      Palmateer Point (M)

Drive 204 miles RT. to Barlow Pass.  Hike a 6.2 mile loop with 800 foot e.g.  Great view of Mt Hood and surrounding wilderness. Leader: Bruce M. 360-425-0256

Aug 2 - Wed.   Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge (E) (B)

Drive 54 miles RT.  Option 1:  Bike from the ranger station for approximately 15 miles RT. or Option 2:  Walk 5 miles RT.  Very scenic area with white tail deer, eagles and osprey.  Bring binoculars. Leader: MJ R. 360-355-5220

August 5 - Sat.  Salmon River Trail (M)

Drive 180 miles RT. to the Salmon River.  Hike 7.2 miles with 900’ e.g. on a trail through a mossy old growth forest next to the scenic Salmon River.  The trail follows a gentle terrain with a few steep sections coming to a bluff with a viewpoint of the wilderness where we will stop for lunch before heading back **WILDERNESS PERMITS ARE REQUIRED.** Leader: Susan M. 360751-1255

Aug 5 - Sat.      Lake Sacajawea (E) Walk 4 miles on flat ground around the whole lake or any portion for a shorter walk.  The total distance will be decided by the group at the time. The group will hike all together.

**THIS WALK IS DESIGNED FOR SUPER SENIORS AND/OR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS AT A SLOW PACE.** Leader: Susan S. (360) 430-9914

Aug 9 - Wed.   Gnat Creek Campground (E) Drive 80 miles RT.  Hike 3-9 miles through a shaded forest with 500’ e.g. along a pastoral creek.  Visit the hatchery and feed the fish.

Leader: John R. 360-431-1122

Aug 12 - Sat.          Tatoosh Ridge (S)

Drive 210 miles RT.  Hike 10 miles with 3500 foot e.g. through beautiful flower meadows with stunning views of Mt Rainier.Leader: MJ R. 360355-5220

Aug 16 - Wed    Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail to Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (M/S) Drive 140 miles RT.  Hike 8 miles out & back with 1600’ e.g.  The initial 1.5 miles is steep with lots of switchbacks and then gentler up and downs through the forest that runs along and above the Pacific Ocean.  Near the halfway point there is a restroom, campsites and a viewpoint of the Tillamook Lighthouse. Leaders: John & Mary Jane M. 360-508-0878

Aug 18 - Fri.          Paradise Park (S) Drive 110 miles RT.  Hike 12.5 miles with 2,300’ e.g.  A classic Mt Hood hike, from Timberline Lodge climb down (and up) Zig Zag Canyon to fields of wild flowers and alpine views of Mt. Hood. Visit Timberline Lodge too. Leader: Pat R. 360-225-7232 or 360-560-9554

Columbia City Celebration and Annual “Show & Shine” Car Show Aug. 12.

Strawberry breakfast: 7–10am. Music by The Decades, book & DVD sale, quilt raffle. Columbia City Community Hall, 1850 2nd Street. Car Show: Columbia City Grade School, 2000 2nd Street, Columbia City, Ore. All vehicles welcome, Registration $20. Info: Gordon Thistle, 503-3965658, traxworks@yahoo.com. See ad, page 29.

Fundraising Breakfast Hosted by Cowlitz Valley VFW Auxiliary #1045. 9–10:30am.Aug 12, and the second Saturday every month at the VFW Hall, 4311 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. Eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, French toast, toast, coffee, orange juice and water. $7 per person. Proceeds support Veterans programs. Public welcome.

BROADWAY GALLERY

1418 Commerce Avenue, Longview Mon thru Sat, 11–4. Visit the Gallery to see new work. For event updates check our website: the-broadwaygallery.com, at Broadway Gallery on Facebook, and broadway gallery longview on Instagram.

FEATURED ARTISTS

July: Guest artists Connie Ford (basketry); Noah Homsley (abstract paintings)

AUGUST: SHOW OF THE CENTURY Community art exhibit. Enter your 2-D or 3-D artwork, based on Longview’s Centennial. Entries due by 4pm, July 29th. All ages welcome.

Details on website or come into the Gallery

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Public Zoom meetings 2nd Thurs, 6pm. Visitors welcome, instructions, announcements. Program with guest speaker 7pm. For a Zoom link: lcgsgen@ yahoo.com.

Longview-Kelso Bridge Club Plays weekly, Monday 10:30am, Thurs 6:30pm. Kelso Senior Center, 106 NW 8th Ave., Kelso, near Rotary Spray Park. Free, open to everyone, adults of all ages welcome. Come play, or come watch and see if it looks like fun. Info: Jan, 360-425-0713.

Stella Historical Society Museum

Located at 8530 Ocean Beach Highway (10 miles west of Longview), Free admission; donations always welcome. Hours: 11–4, Sat-Sun through Sept. 2-3.

Join Us for First Thursday

Aug 3 • 5:30–7pm Nibbles & Bites!

Live Music by Keith Hinyard

HOURS

Tues - Sat 11–4

Painting classes by Scott McRae, Beth Bailey, Lorena Birk. Check our website or come into the Gallery. We are a great place to buy gifts and take classes!

Find a unique gift! We have beautiful artisan cards, jewelry, books by local authors, wearable art, original paintings, pottery, sculpture, photographs and so much more.

NEW EXHIBIT

1923: The Year that Changed Cowlitz County History

The Cowlitz County Historical Museum’s newest exhibit features the many events of 1923 that changed our community. From the building of Longview and Ryderwood, to the completion of the Pacific Highway and relocation of the county seat from Kalama to Kelso, 1923 was a time of significant change.

Visitors will learn how 1923 was a pivotal year in so many events, accomplishments, and even tragedy for our county. Displayed in the exhibit are unique items, such as the formal coat and top hat worn by Mark Morris during the grand opening banquet at the Hotel Monticello, the only two remaining sections of a 3D relief map of the Long-Bell timber purchase, and a vintage Ryderwood High School letterman’s sweater. Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10am-4pm. Closed the week of the County Fair, July 26-29.

We’re “Barn to be Wild” at the Cowlitz County Fair!

This year the Cowlitz County Fair theme is “Barn to be Wild” and the Cowlitz County Historical Museum is celebrating by decorating the log cabin in a Pioneer Barn theme.

The cabin, known as the Bush Family log cabin, is situated on the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. From Wednesday, July 26 to Saturday, July 29 the cabin will be open daily from noon to 6pm. Attractions include kids’ crafts, historic toys including the ever-popular stilts, giant Lincoln Logs courtesy of the Children’s Discovery Museum, and much more. Don’t miss a new photo-op at the County Jail cell behind the cabin!

Please join us for fun activities under plenty of shade at Cowlitz County Fair!

Heading to the Cowlitz County Fair and the Bush Family Log Cabin, maybe they’ll have some overalls I can borrow. Somehow I feel over-dressed.

THE MINTHORN COLLECTION OF CHINESE ART

A gift from Dr. and Mrs. H. Minthorn to the community via Lower Columbia College Foundation, The Minthorn Collection of Chinese Art encompasses a wide range of styles and is displayed in the upper level of the art gallery in LCC’s Rose Center, open M-Th 10–3 during current Forsberg Exhibition only. Free.

By Hal Calbom

Stand by for Mars! Astronaut Academy inspires the next generation

If rocket ships were powered by human energy, science educator Janet Ivey could take off for Mars tomorrow, solo, and be there in a matter of days. Well, not really. Ivey’s Astronaut Academy is grounded in real science and the laws of physics. But Ivey, president of Explore Mars, Inc. and creator of the award-winning “Janet’s Planet” series on public television, recognizes that the biggest impediment to tomorrow’s space travel may be today’s lack of enthusiasm and imagination.

“The worst four words in the language are ‘you can’t do that,’” said Ivey in a phone conversation from her home near Nashville, “especially if you tell kids that, when they’re in their prime exploring years – third to sixth grade.”

Ivey and her popular Astronaut Academy come to Longview July 31st to August 4th, a day camp for kids 8 to 12 held at the Columbia Theatre, 9am–3pm. (Tuition $175, scholarships available. 360-575-8499, more info: columbiatheatre.com.) “We’re taking Janet’s Planet on the road,” said Ivey, “It’s a very hands-on, very fun experience celebrating space and science.”

Ivey was The American Astronautical Society’s 2022 recipient of the Sally K. Ride Excellence in Education Award and has received 12 regional Emmys and five Gracie awards for her children’s series, “Janet’s Planet.” “I wasn’t really a science nerd growing up,”

she said. “My college degree was in music and theater.” She credits an inspired fifth grade teacher with kindling her innate curiosity. “We were doing reports on the planets and I was assigned Saturn. I never quit being interested.”

Although she emphasizes the importance of STEM courses and grounding in the sciences, Ivey says many future scientists, astronauts and even Nobel Laureates may come from the arts and the humanities, too. “It’s about the power of creativity, not just the engineering.”

“You can be all kinds of smart,” she said. One of the Astronaut Academy’s favorite exercises is asking kids to create“planet commercials,” in media, where they

advertise the who-what-why “pitch” for exploring a particular solar system destination. “Don’t worry, we teach plenty of reading and writing, too.”

Ivey’s Explore Mars website lists three overarching goals as they propose and promote space travel and astronautical education: Industry Cooperation, International Collaboration, and, critically, Public Determination. It’s this last, very human, goal that may be the most difficult to achieve.

Born into an age where anything seemed possible, Ivey and many other science educators rue today’s negative climate where, often, “nothing seems possible,” and where day-to-day problems, politics and public apathy may continue to keep us earthbound.

“We need to be good crew-mates,” said Ivey. “Space travel is a very human endeavor, not just a technical feat.” And it’s not just for the Right Stuff generation either, those mythic crewcut heroes uniformly white, male, and veteran test pilots. “The Artemis Mission, to the moon, is the stepping stone to Mars,” said Ivey in a recent television interview. “When all goes well with Artemis I, within about a year, year and a half, we will see Artemis II with humans doing the flyby of the moon. At that point, the targeted timeline for humans putting boot prints, the first woman and the first person of color on the moon, is somewhere around 2025-2026,” she said. An eventual manned (or womanned…) Mars landing? Ivey estimates 20 to 25 years in the future. “That’s going to be one of these kids we’re educating now. Maybe even from the Astronaut Academy!” In the meantime, Janet Ivey and her band of crew-mates touch down in Longview the 31st of July.

Stand by for Mars.

Hal Calbom writes CRR’s People+Place and other features. This month he coordinated CRR staff submissions for a special Summer Reading issue. See page 24-25.

Joint Replacement Procedures

The American College of Rheumatology reported that more than 1.2 million knee and hip replacements are performed annually in the U.S. That number is expected to grow substantially as the population ages.

The ACR noted that total joint replacements are among the safest and most reliable treatments in any area of medicine. A hip or knee replacement done today can be expected to last for 20 or more years. In fact, for most patients, total joint replacement surgery will be a lifelong solution for arthritis of the hip or knee.

The staff at Longview Orthopedic Associates has the training and experience to assess your situation and determine whether joint replacement might be the best option for you. Call today to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Kretzler, MD RETIRED

Dr. Kung, MD

Dr. Lauder, MD

Dr. Lin, MD

Dr. Turner, MD

Dr. McLeod, DPM

Invisible Menace

Programs & Events

OSU Extension Columbia County

Is

“Herbicide Drift” lurking in your garden?

Recently, I visited my garden to admire my beautiful tomato and squash plants. I was devastated! All the new growth was twisty and stunted. On closer observation, some leaves were oddly shaped, cupped inward at their edges, and flat and “strappy” looking (think strapping tape). Has anyone else seen that on their plants?

Several people have come into our Plant Clinic with similar problems…and similar backstories.

Is it a disease? Nope. It’s herbicide damage. I extracted a confession without pointing fingers or screaming at the weed-hating person I live with (He Who Shall Not Be Named). He finally admitted to spraying a well-known lawn weed killer all over our backyard, with an especially enthusiastic application along the weedy edge of the wire garden fence.

Looking at the product label, I discovered it contains the active ingredients 2,4-D and dicamba which don’t kill grass but are very effective in killing non-grass weeds. As well as hurting tomatoes and squash.

Herbicide drift is a real thing. Even though the garden plants were not directly sprayed, the herbicide vaporized and drifted into my garden, bathing the plants in a toxic mist. Luckily, we live out in the boonies, so no nearby neighbors’ plants were affected by it. Good thing, too. By law, whoever does the spraying is liable for any damage caused. If you live in a neighborhood, you may never use herbicides, but your neighbor two doors down might. It might be a few days to two weeks before damage is apparent.

Story by Alice Slusher

503-397-3462

Online Workshops: Registration is required. extension.oregonstate.edu/county/ columbia/events

Gardening Spot on KOHI (1600am radio)

Every Saturday, 8:05 to 8:15am.

WSU Extension Cowlitz County

360-577-3014

304 Cowlitz Way, Kelso, Wash.

For connection info or registration for in-person classes: cowlitzcomg.com/publicevents)

Online Workshops. Tues., noon: July 18 Summer Watering

July 25 Deer and Elk Management

Aug. 1 TBA

Aug. 8 Keep on Growing — Extending the growing season

Aug. 15 Hot Summer Weeds

Several things can be done to minimize the chance of herbicide drift. First, read the label. It’s there for a reason. You will find toxicity, environmental hazard, and disposal information; weeds controlled, protective clothing, how much to use, etc., and you’ll see specific information to reduce the chance of damage to non-target plants. Here are the general guidelines.

1. Adjust the applicator spray so it’s droplets, not a fine mist. Drops are heavier, more likely to fall to the ground, and less likely to vaporize. Direct the spray toward the ground and directly on the weed. Use a low-pressure setting when spraying.

2. Don’t spray when it’s breezy. It’s okay to spray with a gentle breeze between 2-10 mph, but be sensitive to the wind direction! Surprisingly, very calm conditions can increase the risk of drift, even without strong wind. Typically, when there are clear skies and no wind at night, an inversion occurs the next morning.

3. Don’t spray when the temperature is above 74° or in low humidity conditions. There is a greater chance of the herbicide vaporizing into the air.

But what about my poor tomato and squash plants? They might recover and not show any outward signs of damage.  But is it safe to eat if they produce fruit (and it’s a big “if” now)? This is an oftenasked question with no easy answer. The residual chemicals in the leaves and fruit would be very low. However, food crops were not listed on the product label, so eating the fruit from any affected plant is not a good idea. I’m not willing to take that chance…are you? Fortunately, I have a lot of Master Gardener friends who may be willing to share a small part of their harvest with me.

If you’d like more information about using pesticides (an herbicide is a pesticide), check out the pesticide products tab on the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website.

Kalama resident Alice Slusher volunteers with WSU Extension Service Plant & Insect Clinic. Call 360-577-3014, ext. 1, or send question via cowlitzmastergardener@gmail.com.

the spectator by ned piper

PLUGGED IN TO COWLITZ PUD Pursuing perfection

At a class reunion in 2007, Sue gave a copy of the paper to Kate Packard, a former R.A. Long High School classmate, who took the paper home with her to North Bend, Oregon. A few days later, she called Sue.

“I’m impressed,” Kate said. “I only found 16 typos. That’s very good for a local paper.”

“What?! 16 typos?” Sue responded, horrified, quickly recruiting Kate to proofread from afar.

Kate helped with a few issues via email, but the process was too cumbersome. It’s much better to have actual pages to make corrections on, noting misspellings, awkward sentence structure, two periods at the end of a sentence and incorrect page numbers.

We now have a team of six dedicated proofreaders who pour over each word, each sentence, paragraph and page, searching for anything that may need fixing.

We mark up the errors with red pens. The error may be as simple as a word indented where it shouldn’t be. Or a word that Spellcheck changed. Like the time s story contained, “I stopped on the way to Bend, Oregon, and played nine holes of gold with an old friend.” Of course the writer knew he’d played golf, not gold, but didn’t notice his computer had changed it. One of our “proofies,” as we affectionately refer to them, circled

the word in red ink and wrote the word “golf” out to the side, for Sue to correct before sending the files off to the printer.

Two things happen at the end of each proofreading session: Sue inquires and one of us invariably announces, “Finally, the first perfect issue!”

Sue then treats the team to dinner where we can all relax, generally at one of the local restaurants that advertises in the paper.

Over the years our group has blossomed into quite the team of perfectionists. At times, a stranger entering the room would think they’d stumbled into a Christian Science Reading Room; we are all in rapt and silent concentration. At other times someone will laugh at something they’ve just read. That may cause one of us to inquire, “What’s funny?” This leads to a read-aloud, which may lead to someone relating a personal story.

We all come from different backgrounds. We have a former teacher, a former restaurant owner who, in her younger years, worked as a proofreader at The Daily News, two published authors and two writers of monthly columns in the Reader.

I must say that serving in this capacity has given me empathy for the errors I uncover in other newspapers. We may not be perfect, but we give it the old college try.  And we continue to strive for the elusive first perfect issue.

Centennial showmanship

By Alice Dietz, Cowlitz PUD Comunications/ Public Relations Manager

Cowlitz PUD Opens Community Garden

Cowlitz PUD has acquired a 2.3-acre parcel of land, adjacent to the Baker’s Corner Substation located at 5746 Mt Solo Road in Longview, Wash. In the District’s continued efforts to engage the community through unique opportunities, the PUD has developed this property into a community garden. Garden plots became available for registration in Mid-April.

Cowlitz is contracting and consulting with the owners of Watershed Garden Works, Scott and Dixie Edwards. Coincidentally, the 5746 Mt Solo Road property was purchased by Cowlitz PUD from Scott’s mother, who had moved there with her husband

around the 1940s and maintained it as a working farm while raising their family. There’s a lot of deep history of farming in the Edwards family, including Scott moving back to Cowlitz County and helping start Cowlitz County’s first Community Gardens. Watershed Garden Works are experts in farming and gardening and have been a wonderful community partner through this project. This piece of land not only has a deep history of farming but the soil has been maintained and preserved and is rich with the nutrients it needs to ensure quality growth.

Plots became available in early June and cost $35 each. All proceeds will go to the PUD’s Warm Neighbor Fund, which helps low-income families pay their utility bills. Plot availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and limited to two plots per registrant. If the plots are filled, people will be added to a waitlist and contacted when a plot becomes available. Organizers are considering expanding plot space in 2024.

Alice Dietz is Cowlitz PUD’s Communications/Public Relations Manager. Reach her at adietz@cowlitzpud. org, or 360-501-9146.

Longview resident Ned Piper coordinates advertising and distribution of CRR, and enjoys the opportunities to meet and greet friends, both old and new.

At CRR’s “From Page to Stage” gala book launch and variety show, Cowlitz County Museum Director Joseph Govednik leads the singing of Happy Birthday to Longview, reminding many of Lawrence Welk’s exuberant style.

See more photos from the event, page 15.

A Different Way of Seeing...

By Robert Michael Pyle and Judy VanderMaten

“Tidewater Reach is a pleasure to hold; it provokes delights, both intellectual and emotional. I commend all who were involved in bringing us this treasure. It deserves a place on your bookshelf and in your heart.” -- Cate Gable, “Coast Chronicles,” Chinook Observer, Long Beach, Wash.

By Michael O. Perry

Mail Order Form, page 2 For

All books Include author Interviews

Also available at:

• Columbia Gorge Interpretive Museum Stevenson

• Broadway Gallery Longview

• Cowlitz County Historical Museum Shop Kelso

• Vault Books & Brew Castle Rock

• Morgan Arts Center Toledo

• Mount St. Helens Gift Shop Castle Rock, I-5 Exit 49

• Tsuga Gallery Cathlamet

• Redmen Hall Skamokawa

• Skamokawa Store Skamokawa

• Appelo Archives Naselle

• Time Enough Books Ilwaco

• Godfathers Books Astoria, Ore.

• RiverSea Gallery Astoria,Ore.

• Columbia River Maritime Museum Store Astoria, Ore.

• Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum The Dalles, Ore.

Please support our local booksellers & galleries

Tidewater Reach and Dispatches books feature original woodcut art by Debby Neely

COWLITZ PUD