LIFE
Radio play comes to the stage
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CHINOOK OBSERVER Serving the Communities of the Discovery Coast since 1900
ONE DOLLAR
109TH Year - No. 38
Long Beach, WA 98631
Week of Wednesday, September 15, 2010
iPads at NHS bring future to fingertips By KEVIN HEIMBIGNER Observer staff writer NAS ELLE — No l onger wi l l Nasel l e Hi gh School students be able to say, “The dog ate my homework.” Every freshman at Naselle High School is now equipped with an iPad, a mini- computer device smaller than a laptop computer, but with even more computing and connecting power than most laptops. Their school work will be recorded electronically. The NHS students assignments are sent by e-mail to their teachers and returned instantaneously after they have been graded using the latest in technology. No paper and no trees are used and the iPad is fully operated by one’s fingertips and a stylus used for writing. As s i s t an t principal and business manager Jon Tienhaara, who wrot e t he grant applicat i on t hat funded t he iP ads said, “This is not the future of technology, i t i s t he technology of now. The st udent s The Apple iPad l i ke usi ng these kinds of tools. They are motivated by using the iPads. Many of our students look forward to doing their homework just because they love using the technology.” Naselle-Grays River Valley superintendent Rick Pass and school board chairman Hollis Fletcher and members Ed Darcher, Michelle Condon, Bobby Torppa and Gilbert Haataia made technology the number-one priority for 2010-11 during their goalsetting sessions last summer. Three “rolling” computer labs were purchased for highly versatile use from kindergarten through high school and the business education lab was also furnished with all new computers for the new school year.
OCEAN PARK — Tame weather, nearly 800 classic cars and starstudded musical appearances had the Peninsula hopping with visitors from far and wide who made the trek to Ocean Park for the Beach Barons’ 27th annual Rod Run to the End of the World last weekend. Rod Run Show Chairman Dennis Farmer says this year’s event brought in around 750 participants, which is a little less than years prior. “We figured it was the economy, but they missed a beautiful day Saturday,” Farmer explains. “It was a very, very successful show. We had more spectators Saturday than ever before, we probably had about 8,000 people. Everybody loved Buddy Holly, Elvis, Merle Haggard and John Denver. They just had the crowd. Usually by 3 p.m. on Saturday, everyone’s leaving the field. But there were 1,000 to 1,500 sticking around to watch the entertainment.”
See iPADS on Page A12
See ROD RUN on Page A10
By AMANDA FRINK Observer staff writer LONG BEACH — For the past 14 years, His Supper Table has served as a warm, safe place for anyone to get a hot meal and socialize with friendly faces. B ut in a reflection of the challenges many are facing in this economic slump, financial woes recently forced the His Supper Table board to l ay off t hei r pai d cook. Now t he remaining volunteers are working hard to keep their doors open and food on the table. At t hi s poi nt , vol unt eers Don Cline and Van Vandemarr have taken the lead in the kitchen, usually starting the prep and cooking process at 9 a.m. Like a well-oiled machine, the al l - vol unt eer crew hel ps peel and chop, divvy up and package staples, roll silverware in napkins, serve the meal and clean up, fund raise and more. Volunteers say they feed approximately 200 people at each meal, and have seen an i ncrease i n fam i l i es attending meals since the economy While waiting to hand out foods and supplies to those in need, Supper Table volunteer Janet Cline claps along while listening to musician George Roberts. DAMIAN MULINIX/Chinook Observer
Photos by DAMIAN MULINIX/Chinook Observer
Rod Run Rock Roll By AMANDA FRINK Observer staff writer
t anked. Up unt i l j ust a few short months ago, the average attendance at each meal ranged from 80 to 100. Between Jan. 1 and July 31, they fed 5,500 people. Each meal is based on ingredients provi ded by Nort hwes t Harves t , which makes a delivery once a month, bringing meats, vegetables, canned fruit, flour, sugar and more. A typical menu features a main dish, salad, side dishes, dessert and a beverage. And
whi l e guest s eat , George R obert s entertains them by playing country western music on his guitar. After dinner, anyone who needs food to prepare at home can take home preportioned bags of various staples, such as sugar, flour, beans, canned tomatoes, apples, muffins, rolls and even diapers.
See HST on Page A12
TOP: Pleasant weather of blue skies and puffy clouds greeted those in attendence at the weekend’s Rod Run, casting lovely colors and reflections across the curves of classic autos. ABOVE: “Elvis” finishes off a tune with dramatic gyrations Saturday as part of a rock n’ roll show.
SPORTS
UW meteorologist expects a cold, wet winter for the coast Observer staff report LONG BEACH — A cold, wet and possibly even snowy winter is ahead for the coastal Pacific Northwest, according to the best information available to University of Washington meteorologist Cliff Mass. Mass, whose Internet comments at cliffmass. blogspot. com are essential reading for anyone curious about our weather, said last Thursday that a wide area of unusually cold Pacific Ocean water near the equator this year will likely make this winter a doozey. Cold sea-surface temperatures like those now present are called La Nina and “are generally associated with wetter than normal conditions during the fall and winter, something I bet you believe after the last few days of liquid sunshine,” Mass said. Forecast models show La Nina continuing through winter and possibly
intensifying. Taking this into account, National Weather Service predictions for this fall and winter show the Northwest wetter than normal. According to NWS, temperatures this fall will be about average, but the January-March period will be colder than normal. “So colder and wetter than normal in winter — what do you think that implies? Yes, more snow, particularly in the mountains … A good year to risk a season pass at a local ski area,” Mass said. “It also turns out that there is a greater probability of lowland snow west of the Cascades during La Nina years.” Mass concludes by observing that this would be a good year for Seattle to stockpile ample supplies of salt and sand for its street crews. The NWS forecast map shows a possibility for snow even along the Pacific Ocean shoreline of Southwest Washington.
Ilwaco breaks winless streak PAGE B2
This week’s Observer
Business ............A11 Calendar ..............B6 Cops ................A2, 7 Life ..................B1,3 Local ......A1-3, 10, 12 Obituaries ............A9 Opinions............A4-6 Outdoors ............B12 People ..............A8-9 Rod Run ........A1, 10 Schools ................A7 Seniors ................B5 Sports ..............B2-4 Weather ................A2 USPS #106-027
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