Columbia River Reader June 2025

EYEWITNESS

THE TIDEWATER REACH

Field Guide to the Lower Columbia River in Poems and Pictures By Robert Michael Pyle and Judy VanderMaten.

Rex Ziak’s edited and annotated edition of Franchére’s 1820 journal, The First American Settlement on the Pacific.

FOR YOURSELF OR FOR A FRIEND!

11 issues $55

In three editions:

• Boxed Signature Edition, with color $50

• Collectors Edition, with color $35

Rex Ziak • $29.95

WORDS

AND WOOD

Pacific Northwest Woodcuts and Haiku by Debby Neely •Boxed, Gift Edition with tasseled bookmark $35

OF ART

• Trade paperback B/W $25 DISPATCHES FROM THE DISCOVERY TRAIL

•220 historic photos •Boxed, signed. $50. IN FULL VIEW

Southwest Washington author and explorer Rex Ziak revolutionized historical scholarship by documenting minute-by-minute the Corps’ dangerous days at the mouth of the Columbia.

COLLECTORS CLUB / BOOK MAIL ORDER FORM

BOOKS: A PERFECT GIFT

A Layman’s Lewis & Clark by Michael O. Perry.

•BW Edition $35

Iowe former LCC President Pete Pickett my thanks. And my college degree.

I’m not sure whose idea it was, or who else helped, but during his tenure (19801997), Pete led the effort to establish a program for LCC, in cooperation with other colleges, to offer upper level classes for adults like me, who wanted to complete their degrees without quitting their jobs, leaving their families, and spending months on campus elsewhere.

In my 40s, I was able to go back to school, already a mother and a businesswoman, to complete a Bachelor of Science degree. I give full credit to Dr. Pickett, Lower Columbia College, and the expanded network of higher education institutions they’ve help found and foster.

It was a special treat to attend LCC’s recent groundbreaking event for the new Vocational & Transitional Studies building (see story, Bizz Buzz, page 16) I was especially happy to see Pete digging in at the groundbreaking, a proper acknowledgment of his leadership.

This project is beautiful and forwardfocused, and hearing about it gave me cause to reflect on what the college means to the community — and to me, personally.

Publisher/Editor: Susan P. Piper

Columnists and contributors:

Hal Calbom

Nancy Chennault

Alice Dietz

Joe Fischer

Brandon Ford

Bob Park

Michael Perry

Ned Piper

Ed Putka

Robert Michael Pyle

Marc Roland

Alan Rose

Greg Smith

Andre Stepankowsky

Debra Tweedy

Judy VanderMaten

Jovon Vaughn

Dennis Weber

Editorial/Proofreading Assistants:

Merrilee Bauman, Michael Perry, Marilyn Perry, Tiffany Dickinson, Ned Piper

Advertising Manager: Ned Piper, 360-749-2632

Columbia River Reader, llc 1333 14th Ave, Longview, WA 98632

P.O. Box 1643 • Rainier, OR 97048

Office Hours: M-W-F • 11–3*

*Other times by chance or appointment

E-mail: publisher@crreader.com

Phone: 360-749-1021

In my case, some of my classes took place at LCC, and some on weekends on Linfield’s campus in McMinnville, Oregon. As a result, my degreecompletion goal became attainable. Thank you, Pete!

Each president following Pete — James McLaughlin, Chris Bailey, and,

Columbia River Reader is published monthly, with 14,000 copies distributed in the Lower Columbia region. Entire contents copyrighted; No reproduction of any kind allowed without express written permission of Columbia River Reader, LLC. Opinions expressed herein, whether in editorial content or paid ad space, belong to the writers and advertisers and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Reader.

Submission guidelines: page 36.

General Ad info: page 9. Ad Manager: Ned Piper 360-749-2632.

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

now Matt Siemears — have further contributed to LCC’s excellence. They’ve not only contributed to the college’s vitality in the present. They’ve laid solid groundwork to prepare the way for LCC’s subsequent growth, innovation, and continuing success serving the needs of all-age students in the region.

These days, a student can earn a bachelor’s degree in four disciplines, right there at LCC. And the new vocational training facility will further strengthen opportunities and offerings. This is great news!

Speaking of the College, don’t miss Joe Fischer’s retrospective art show, “From Then to Now,” opening in the Rose Center with a reception July 7, and running through Aug. 28 (see “People+Place” feature story, pages 19-22).

Let’s all enjoy the simple pleasures so abundant this time of year ... the art, music, flowers, and food — at exhibits, farmers markets, outdoor concerts, the town square, and out of our own picnic baskets. Happy summer!

Sue Piper

In last month’s People+Place feature on the Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center, we referred to “the couch where JFK sat.” In fact, though this is, indeed, where Kennedy sat, the sofa itself was replaced in 1987 with the one pictured above. We thank Julia’s son, David Hansen, for the clarification. The public may visit the home at 35 Butler St., Cathlamet, Wash, on June 14, 1–3pm, and on July 19, 12-3pm. during Bald Eagle Days (see ad, page 26).

Various original paintings by Joe Fischer. Story, page 19.

Congrats to LCC

Thank you, Pete Pickett

JFK: Same setting, different sofa

Look for me at Joe Fischer’s Art Exhibit at the College! Umbrella Man Since 2004

An Adventure with a yellow jacket

From about April of 2020 my weight has been dropping but it is not loss of fat. It’s a loss of muscle.

The atrophy in my legs is most noticeable because they fatigue easily.

It was 2018 when strung on the left ear by the sentry yellowjacket, guardian of his underground nest.

He must have pumped a lot of toxin in my ear as it swelled ‘til it looked like a clown’s ear and was so numb it felt like rubber to the touch.

It was with great interest when I read the article about Lyme disease in the May “Reader” because my lingering symptoms match most of those mentioned by Ce’lin Taylor. *Several years after the bee sting I was still having peripheral paresthesia along with muscle atrophy so I phoned the Meningitis Foundation and was told that meningitis can be contracted by an insect bite or yellow jacket sting. They said that’s how children sometimes contract the disease.

Those with peripheral paresthesia notice how unusual and interesting this malady is. It’s like one’s brain contains a short circuit that sends false signals and sensations to any and all parts of the body. One may feel a pin prick or feel like an insect is on one’s arm or like a large needle is jabbed in one’s foot or a sudden itchy sensation. All of these sensations only happen occasionally and only last from 1-5 seconds.

The Meningitis Foundation informed me that the meningitis symptoms may last from one to three months, or on rare occasions can last a lifetime! (Guess who’s the lucky one?)

Don’t get me wrong, though. The paresthesia manifestations are more interesting to me than they are harmful and they are very easy to live with.

I hope Célin Taylor has a full recovery

Thomas R. Hicker Vader, Wash.

*Editor’s note: Mr. Hicker refers to Célin Taylor’s article, “Lyme Disease ordeal inspires college-bound student’s career path,” which appeared in the May 2025 CRR.

He’s a numbers guy

I usually read the CRR cover to cover, so I only recently got to Judy McLeod’s enjoyable column about saving money grocery shopping [May 2025 CRR].

However, being a numbers guy, I did some inflation checking. The 18-oz jar of peanut butter for $0.59 in 1975 is $3.84 in 2025 dollars or 21.6 cents per oz. Today’s 16- oz jar for $3.19 is 19.9 cents per oz.

I do believe the 1975 peanut butter tasted better, however.

George Raiter Longview, Wash.

Editor’s note: Thank you, George. We stand corrected. And we agree about the peanut butter flavor.

LOWER COLUMBIA CURRENTS

Jovon Vaughn, Executive Director Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce, South Bend, Wash.

Being part of the growing process

Whether you’re watching wildflowers paint our coastal meadows in brilliant colors or nurturing a single houseplant on your kitchen windowsill (that you’ve definitely been talking to – don’t deny it), there’s something deeply satisfying about being part of the growing process. June is nature’s invitation to slow down and witness miracles happening in real time.

Start small – a potted herb garden, a few tomato plants, or even that succulent you’ve been eyeing at one of our local nurseries. As your plants stretch toward the summer sun, you’ll find yourself stretching too – into a more patient, hopeful version of yourself. Fair warning: you might also develop the urge to send plant progress photos to friends who didn’t ask for them.

Seeds of Hope in Uncertain Times

In these unpredictable times, there’s profound comfort in planting something and watching it thrive. A seed doesn’t worry about tomorrow’s weather forecast or scroll through news feeds – it simply finds the hope to push through the soil and reach for light. Smart little seeds!

Whether you’re tending a windowsill garden or cultivating your own urban microfarm, those few minutes (or hours) of plant care become meditation in motion. Each successful sprout carries the promise that good things still grow, even when the world feels chaotic.

Growing Community Together

Just like our gardens need extra water in summer, our festivals need extra support in June! This is crunch time when summer events – from festivals to fairs – face their biggest marketing and logistics costs. Your donations help these celebrations bloom into the community gatherings that make our region so special.

This June, plant something, support something, and watch both flourish beautifully.

Above: A slice of Jovon Vaughn’s “Walkaway Garden” at his home in Raymond, Wash.

& Clark

DISPATCHES FROM THE DISCOVERY TRAIL

AEPISODE 14

After Great Falls, the Fourth of July and a Failed Experiment

By Michael O. Perry

fter a grueling eleven days portaging around the Great Falls, finishing on July 2, 1805, the men were exhausted and needed a rest. Thus, the Corps began celebrating Independence Day a little early. Pierre Cruzatte played his fiddle, and the men danced as they drank the last of the whiskey. While the men probably fired their guns, Mother Nature also made a little noise that day. Since their arrival at the falls, the men had repeatedly heard a noise resembling the discharge of a six-

pound cannon at a distance of three miles. Initially, it was thought to be thunder. But, Lewis himself “heard this noise very distinctly, it was perfectly calm, clear and not a cloud to be seen.” He heard three such discharges in an hour. The men had reported hearing up to seven discharges in quick succession. Interestingly, while these noises are still heard to this day, nobody has yet come up with a verifiable explanation.

A grand experiment

One of the more memorable lines in the 1975 movie “Jaws” was Police Chief Martin

Brody telling Quint, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Lewis and Clark had the opposite problem. As the Corps of Discovery traveled up the Missouri River, they would have to abandon their large boats as the river grew shallower. Dugout canoes replaced the larger boats, but they were unstable and would not carry much of a load. Captain Lewis had foreseen this problem in 1803 while making plans for the expedition and designed what came to be called “The Experiment.” The federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, constructed a portable iron boat frame that Lewis believed could be covered with buffalo hides and used to carry provisions when the water became too shallow for the heavy wooden boats.

While no drawings exist, records indicate the assembled boat was 36 feet long and 4-1/2 feet wide. The frame was made of wrought iron ribs that could be assembled with screws. According to Lewis’ description, there were two designs used for the individual sections: one curved, or in the shape necessary for the stem and stern, the

other semi-cylindrical, or in the form of those sections which constitute the body of the canoe. There were a total of eight sections, each about 4-1/2 feet long, that could be fastened together to make the boat frame. Each section weighed 22 pounds, for a total of 176 pounds of iron. The total weight of the iron, hides, wood, and bark needed for the entire boat would be 500 pounds.

In an 1805 letter to President Jefferson from Fort Mandan, Lewis wrote, “Our baggage is all embarked on board six small canoes and two pirogues: we shall set out at the same moment that we dispatch the” keelboat back to St. Louis “One or perhaps, both of these pirogues we shall leave at the falls of the Missouri, from whence we intend continuing our voyage in the canoes and a perogue of skins, the frame of which was prepared at Harper’s Ferry. This perogue is now in a situation which will enable us to prepare it in the course of a few hours.”

The best-laid plans

As Lewis predicted, the red pirogue was buried in a cache near the mouth of Maria’s river on June 9th, and the white

Five years ago, we introduced a revised version oF Michael Perry’s popular series which began with CRR’s April 15, 2004 inaugural issue and was reprised three times and then 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.

Armory Superintendent Joseph Perkins (left) and Captain Meriwether Lewis inspecting the collapsible iron boat frame built at Harpers Ferry in 1803.

Joseph Fields, Capt. Lewis, Patrick Gass and John Shields stretching leather skins over the iron boat frame.

Both illustrations By Keith rocco for harpers ferry national historic parK national parK service

... underestimated the time ...

All they needed was pitch to seal it up. It would’ve been the cat’s meow because when they loaded that thing up, when they first put it in the water when it didn’t leak, it carried some 8,000 pounds of goods. But an hour later it was sinking.”

Lewis and Clark from page 5

pirogue placed in a cache at the base of the Great Falls two weeks later. However, Lewis drastically underestimated the amount of time required to assemble the portable boat.

The first of the four portages made around the Great Falls began on June 21 and contained the materials to assemble the iron boat. Lewis already saw a problem: “I readily perceive difficulties in preparing the leather boat which are the want of convenient and proper timber; bark, skins, and above all that of pitch to pay” [seal] “her seams, a deficiency that I really know not how to surmount…” The frame was quickly assembled while the skins from 28 elk and four buffalo were prepared to cover it.

The final portage around the Great Falls was completed on July 2nd. Rather than resuming their journey up the Missouri River, construction of the iron boat was still not complete and would delay the expedition. While Lewis tried to find a source of pitch, the men shaved the hair off the elk skins. Attempts to extract pitch from pine logs that had floated down from the mountains were unsuccessful. Without pitch or tar, Lewis wrote, “I fear the whole operation of my boat will be useless.”

The hides were sewn together and then attached to the iron framework. On July 3rd, Lewis wrote, “I fear I have committed another blunder also in sewing the skins with a nedle which has sharp edges, these

have cut the skin and as it drys I discover that the throng dose not fill the holes as I expected.” Using a round needle might have prevented the gaping holes.

Two days later, Lewis wrote, “This morning I had the boat removed to an open situation, scaffold her off the ground, turned her keel to the sun and kindled fires under her to dry her more expediciously. I set a couple of men to pounding of charcoal to form a composition with some beeswax which we have and buffaloe tallow now my only hope and resource for paying my boat; I sincerely hope it may answer yet I feel it will not. The boat in every other rispect completely answers my most sanguine expectation; she is not yet dry and eight men carry her with the greatest ease; she is strong and will carry at least 8,000 lbs.”

By July 8th, “The boat was sufficiently dry to receive a coat of the composition which I accordingly applied. This adds very much to her appearance whether it will be effectual or not.” When they “launched the boat, she lay like a perfect cork on the water.” By evening they “discovered that a greater part of the composition had separated from the skins and left the seams of the boat exposed to the water and she leaked in such a manner that she would not answer.” Lewis wrote that the failure of the Experiment “mortified me not a little.”

Lewis “found that the section formed of the buffaloe hides on which some hair had cont page 7

Richard A. Kirkpatrick MD, FACP

Rachel Roylance BS, MPAP, PA-C

Dr. Toddrick Tookes DPM, Podiatrist Vlad Bogin MD, FACP

Hendrickson, PA-C Nicholas Austin MSPAS, PA-C

SCOTT B. KIRKPATRICK, md, abim

Toddrick Tookes DPM, Podiatrist

CHRISTIE KIRKPATRICK SCHMUTZ , md, abim

Shannon Smith MPAS, PA-C

been left, answered much the best purpose; this leaked but little and the parts which were well covered with hair about 1/8th of an inch in length retained the composition perfectly and remained sound and dry.” He now realized that shaving all the hair off the elk hides resulted in nothing for the beeswax and tallow concoction to bond with, but it was too late to start over. It took five more days to carve two additional dugout canoes from cottonwood trees growing about 16 miles upstream. The “Experiment” had cost the expedition 12 days that would have been better spent traveling. The hides were removed and the iron frame put in a cache above Great

Falls. When the journey resumed on July 14th, they were far behind schedule and had given up all hope of making it to the Pacific Ocean and back to Fort Mandan by that winter.

When the Corps returned a year later, Lewis found “the iron frame of the boat had not suffered materially.” There is no mention of what they did with the iron frame, but it is possible they didn’t leave it there since the metal would have been valuable to the expedition for trading with Indians. No trace of the iron boat has ever been found.

Next episode, we will arrive at the Shoshone village where Sacajawea had been kidnapped in 1800.

... cost the Expedition 12 days ...

If they hadn’t spent all the time on the portage and 12 days building the iron boat and getting over to get the horses and then getting back to the Lo Lo Pass, they would’ve made it over to the ocean that first year without any trouble at all. As it was, they were lucky just to get through the Rockies — it was snowing on them up there when they went across the Pass.”

Alcove

Gallery features “Growth” exhibit

The current art show at the Community Art Workshop’s Alcove Gallery, at 1526 Commerce Avenue, Longview, features art by several local artists and runs through June 25. Most of the exhibited artworks are for sale

The show, titled “Growth,” features acrylics and watercolor paintings as well as chalk, charcoal and mixed media works, quilling, and sculpture. The creators of the works are mainly teachers and participants in the workshop’s classes and programs. They include: Lindsy Morgan, Brandy McCartney, Shawn Lewis, Heidi Bishop, Susan L. Miller, Kellen Clark, Valerie King, Craig Clark, Susan Douglas, Kristine Woods and Jasper Kirby.

The Alcove Gallery, located inside the Community Arts Workshop, like all the programs offered by the workshop, is free. Hours are 9 am to 4pm Monday through Thursday.

The Workshop, which is associated with Lower Columbia CAP (lowercolumbiacap.org/), just celebrated eight years in this location.

“This is a place where anyone of any age or skill level can play and make art,” said the workshop’s coordinator Lisa Clark. The classes are free and with many donated art supplies and tools, materials are also free.

Currently, the workshop offers beginning and advanced watercolor classes and a weekly card-making and papercrafting class, with plans to add classes on drawing and art journaling. Past classes include quilling and calligraphy.

By Brandon Ford

The classes come and go depending on participant interest and availability of volunteer teachers. Many participants show up with something in mind that they want to make and usually there is someone who knows how to help them, Clark said.

“If you are an artist with skills to share, we can help you make that happen,” she said. “We are also looking for people who want to donate art supplies or use their skills to help the workshop run smoothly.”

For info, call Workshop Coordinator Lisa Clark, 360-605-3630.

Brandon Ford, who moved to Longview three years ago after nine years living on his sailboat in Olympia, is a fan and participant in the local Community Art Workshop. He describes it as “ a small sliver of the utopian ideal: Everyone is welcome and everything is free.”

Pre-Wildfire Season: Prevention and Preparation Tips for Homeowners

Home Hardening (Low-Cost):

Clean gutters and roofs. Remove dry leaves, pine needles, and debris regularly. Install metal mesh on vents, using 1/8-inch mesh to prevent embers from entering the attic and crawl space vents.

Seal gaps with fire-resistant caulk to close gaps around windows, doors, and siding.

Use ember-resistant screens; replace or retrofit old screens on windows with fine metal mesh.

Defensible Space (Budget-Friendly Landscaping):

Create a 5-ft noncombustible zone with lava rock, gravel, stone, or bare soil directly around your home.

Trim branches and keep tree limbs at least 10 feet away from your roof and chimney.

Mow and clear dry grass. Maintain well-watered lawn less than four inches high and remove dead plants or leaves.

Move firewood and flammable items. Keep at least 30 feet from the home; use fire-resistant plants. Replace highly flammable shrubs like juniper with lowresin native plants like Oregon grape.

Community Resources

Check with local fire departments; many offer free home assessments or chipping services.

Join Wildfire Ready Neighbors to get a free custom plan at: WildfireReady. com.

– Info provided by Washington Dept. of Natural Resources.

WA 98642

DEAR MISS MANNERS: After several decades of typing on keyboards, I have lost my ability to write nicely by hand. My solution is to send electronic notes -- for expressing appreciation, recognizing significant events, etc.

There are several lovely e-card forms available. Using them results in more timely responses, as well as significant savings over printed cards and postage.

I feel it would be nice if Miss Manners would acknowledge that electronic thank-yous are as valid as handwritten in today’s communication environment. Any thank-you is better than no thankyou at all.

GENTLE READER: Sorry, but you will have to snatch the fountain pen out of Miss Manners’ cold, lifeless hand before she agrees that electronic messages are as meaningful as handwritten ones. She will concede, however, that any response is better than no response (has it really come to this?) as long as the sentiment itself is not computergenerated. “Thank you for the (insert present) that you gave me. It was very special and/or significant” is not fooling anyone.

As for your argument about saving money? Miss Manners highly doubts that the dozen or so letters you write annually is anywhere near the equivalent cost of the computer that you no doubt replace every few years.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Three years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was extremely fortunate: My tumor

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

was removed and I did not require radiation or chemo. I have my screenings yearly and all has been well.

Am I a “cancer survivor”? I never want to take anything away from someone who had a much more difficult battle than I did. I don’t want to use the term incorrectly.

GENTLE READER: First of all, Miss Manners would like to say how fortunate it is that you are now well. Even the mildest forms of cancer are frightening.

Now for the admonishment:

Are you (and the rest of the world) under the impression that cancer is a competition? Or worse, a war to be fought? Metaphors like “losing,” “fighting,” “succumbing” or even “surviving” the “battle” add a stigma to a situation that was never a fair contest.

Miss Manners would prefer that any such label be dispensed with altogether. If it comes up in conversation, you simply say that you had cancer, and that now, thankfully, you are doing well. That is as much of a description as is necessary.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Can/ should one wish a Roman Catholic priest “Happy Father’s Day”?

GENTLE READER: If you are sure that he has a sense of humor.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have become friends with another couple over the past two years, and we frequently invite them for dinner.

Lately, I’ve noticed that the husband leaves the toilet seat up after using the bathroom.

Both my husband and I have a habit of closing the lid before flushing. Is there a way I can politely bring this up with our guest?

My husband believes it would be rude for me to mention it and that I should do nothing. If not a polite conversation, is it rude to leave a little framed sign in the bathroom: “Please close lid before flushing”?

GENTLE READER: Are you sure that is what you really want?

Because if your guest (or anyone, really) closes the lid before flushing -- without a quick glance behind to make sure that everything is ... expunged -- you might get an unpleasant surprise when you return.

Miss Manners suggests that you do your best to ignore your guests’ bathroom habits and resist putting up that sign. People have all sorts of private behaviors, and neither you nor she really needs to hear about them (she thanks her gentle readers in advance for sparing her).

If you absolutely cannot control yourself, however, next time it happens, she will permit you to turn to your husband in front of the guest and in a loud stage whisper, say, “I’m afraid the cat was drinking out of the toilet again. He always does that when the lid is left up.”

Of course, your husband will have to consent to the ruse, and you may need to procure a cat.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I would like to hear your opinion on whether or not using “Excuse me” can be rude.

In my opinion, if I can see that a person’s activity will only take a minute, it is rude to say, “Excuse me,” and expect them to stop what they’re doing to allow me to accomplish my task. The proper thing to do, in my mind, is to patiently wait my turn. What do you think?

From Greenhouses to Galleries: From Greenhouses to Galleries:

Ready for the perfect day trip? The Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce has mapped out the ultimate tour that's easier to follow than your favorite recipe! Start Your Journey: Begin at Basket Case Greenhouse 12106 Sandridge Rd, Long Beach, WA, because every great adventure starts with great plants! Grab lunch at Sandbar Food Court 208 Pacific Ave S, Long Beach, then stock up on coastal essentials at Pacific Coast Trading Company 2542 US Hwy 101 before hitting the road.

The Scenic 101 Adventure: After a gorgeous, winding drive up Highway 101, you'll discover South Bend's hidden treasures. Browse unique finds at Boondocks Marketplace 313 Robert Bush Dr W. ; Willapa River Goods 700 Robert Bush Drive W., Patina & Moss 600 Robert Bush Dr. W. in South Bend and then let Randy's Landscaping & Nursery 47 Raymond South Bend Rd, Raymond, WA, help you forage for the perfect plants and specialty gifts.

Raymond's Creative Hub: Next stop: Historic Raymond on the Willapa! Fuel up with amazing coffee at Alder+Co/Wild Pines Coffee Co. 312 Alder St, and admire rotating local artwork at the new Gallery 312. Don’t miss out on a visit to Willapa Printing Boutique 337 7th St, featuring a selection of gifts, clothing, and a drop of history. Time to unwind? Woohoo Winery 45 Old Bullard Rd., has you covered because plant shopping is serious business that requires proper refreshment! Don't miss our newest gem, Rooted on the Willapa Nursery (Airport Road, Raymond, WA just off the 105). With thousands of plants, herbs, veggies, and landscaping greenery, it's like plant paradise!

Tokeland & Grayland Finale: Treat yourself to satisfying brunch or exquisite dinner at The Wandering Goose at the Historic Tokeland Hotel 2964 Kindred Ave, Tokeland, WA. Then it's off to Evergreen Flower Farm & Nursery 2541 Evergreen Park Rd, Grayland, WA, followed by Tokeland Candle Works 1794 State Route 105, Grayland, WA, for that perfect handcrafted scented treasure. Discover all the adventures blooming on your next visit to Washington's Evergreen Coast where every mile brings new treasures and every stop creates lasting memories!

https://willapaharbor.org

The Bloom...is ON in Castle Rock!

Nancy shares tips to make it happen

Visit Castle Rock, Wash., in the summer and you’ll see flowers. Thousands of flowers in parks, gardens, baskets and planters. Volunteer gardeners scurry about in their bright yellow, “Bloom Team’” vests. We are often asked: “How do you do it? What is your secret?”

Whether it be a single basket to highlight your front porch or nurturing hundreds of floral displays, the fundamentals are the same.

To thrive, plants need good SOIL

Our baskets are planted in a 50-50 blend of a custom Cornell University Peat Lite Mix (visit www.greenhouse. cornell.edu/crops/factsheets/peatlite.pdf) and good potting soil with no bark in it. There is coco fiber in this mix, which helps maintain soil moisture. Water small plants sparingly so as not to saturate the soil and rot the roots. Soil in our containers is a similar mixture and compost is added to flowers transplanted to gardens.

CONTAINERS

To support the growth of your vigorous plants, baskets and containers must be of adequate size. The 130 baskets on display in Castle Rock (shown here) are 23” wide. They have a water reservoir that holds 2.5 gallons of water/ fertilizer mix in reserve for the hottest days (available at www.h2olaborsaver.com). Containers are at least 24” wide and 18-24” deep.

PLANT SELECTION

Choose plants for baskets by reading the labels and asking questions about mature size, vigor and sun exposure. We plant Proven Winners® because of their diversity and performance. Volunteers and students raise our plants from the juvenile stage to transplant size and on to maturity (far right). The plants must succeed in many different growing regimes. Generally, seven plants per 14” basket is a good size for home gardeners. Increase the number as the size increases. We put 10-11 plants in a 23-inch” basket and 11-12 plants in a 24-inch container NUTRITION

IF YOU GO to see Floral Displays in Castle Rock this Summer

Take I-5 Exit 48 or 49. The downtown and uptown business districts all have flowers. Downtown (west of I-5) features 102 hanging baskets and the majority of the containers and gardens. Mid-July through September are premium viewing weeks. When you see “Bloom Team” gardeners in their bright yellow vests, be sure to ask questions. We will happily help you “Get Your Bloom On!”

Flowering baskets and containers need to be fed. Expectations are high. You are asking them to grow into voluminous, overflowing mountains of color in just a few months. Good food and ample water are mandatory. We use Nature’s Source® Plant Food, a natural blend of seed extracts. It provides all that a plant needs. Apply a couple of times a week. NSPF absorbs through the leaves as well as up through the roots.

WATER

Early in the season there are few roots and lower temperatures. Plants don’t need to be watered as often. Early hot days may mean frequent light watering. As the plants grow more roots and temperatures rise, the plants will require more water, more often. You’ll become a “weather forecast junkie,” just like us! Flexibility is key. Be ready to adjust on a moment’s notice.

Nancy Chennault and her husband, Jim, operated a landscaping business and independent nursery/garden center for 20+ years. She wrote CRR’s Northwest Gardener in CRR’s early years. After a hiatus, she re-joined CRR to reconnect us with some of her favorite gardening topics. Nancy is founder of “Castle Rock Blooms” community team of volunteers.

Story and photos by Nancy Chennault

Bloom Team volunteer and local businessman

Garnett Ashby waters new plants at the Welcome sign along Huntington Ave. approach into town.

Outdoor Enjoyment

ASTRONOMICAL MIRACLE

Watch Out, it’s gonna BLOW!

Possibly even TWO nova nebulae at once

By Greg Smith

It seems that Betelgeuse is brightening again and may be in the throes of going Supernova. It seems to have blown off a big chunk of dust and gas again. Let’s keep our eyes peeled, as now Betelgeuse is in the daytime sky. By June 29th it will be high in the mid-day sky just west of the sun. So if it does go “big time,” we may be able to see it during the day, for weeks during the summer. Won’t that be something to see!

If a second star visible in the daytime sky, Corona Borealis T, also goes Nova, we will see a night Nova, as well. Two naked eye nova nebulae at the same time would be an astronomical miracle. A first in modern astronomical history.

Later in the year, the constellation Orion will be visible. And if Betelgeuse (part of the constellation of Orion) does go nova

Looking UP

SKY REPORT

this summer, what kind of a nebula will we see in the sky? This could be a very interesting winter of night sky viewing!

It seems we are in another space race to the Moon, this time with China. Who will be the first to set up a permanent base on the Moon? We already know how to do it. Why drag our feet by cutting the budget? Why not trim some of the fat from the defense budget and give it to NASA. Or should Congress include some of the defense budget into NASA’s Moon budget and make it part of the national security system?

To me, it make no sense to cut NASA, as it is part of the greatness of America. It’s one of the things many in the world admire. It inspires young people to go into the sciences and try to better their own countries. In my opinion, cutting the NASA budget only increases the brain drain that is currently happening in America due to current policy inhibiting the status of science in America.

By Greg Smith

June 17th – July 17th

The Evening Sky

A clear sky is needed. We are quickly approaching the summer solstice and it is staying light longer into the evening and it does not get dark ‘til late – after 10pm If you look to the west at around 10:00pm and find the constellation Leo you will find Mars in conjunction with the star Regulus, sitting about 20° above the horizon.

The sky is full of the summer constellations, such as Cygnus the Swan, Lyra the harp, Aquila the Eagle, and Delphinus the dolphin. Pegasus the flying horse arises around 1AM along with M31 galaxy that is in Andromeda. Talking about Pegasus, just beyond the nose of the horse is the star cluster of M15, a very nice object to see in a telescope.

The Morning Sky

MOON PHASES:

3rd Quarter, Wed., June 18th

New Moon: Wed, June 25th

1st Quarter, Wed, July 2nd

Full, Moon., Thurs, July 10th

END OF TWILIGHT:

When the brightest stars start to come out. Allow about an hour more to see a lot of stars.

Wed., June 18th, 9:44pm

Wed.,June 25th, 9:45pm

Wed., July 2nd, 9:44pm

Wed., July 9th, 9:41pm Wed., July 16th, 9:35pm

SUNSET

We are at the latest sunset times of the year

Wed., June 18th • 9:08pm Wed., June 25th • 9:09pm Wed.,July 2nd • 9:08pm Wed., July 9th • 9:05pm Wed., July 16th • 9:00pm

A cloudless eastern horizon sky is required. At around 4:15 am June 21st in the eastern sky we will find Venus. A thin crescent moon will be just above Venus. Find the Moon and the bright Venus will be just below it low on the Eastern horizon. A dim Saturn will be in the southeastern sky. If you have a big telescope, you will find the pale blue planet Neptune right next to Saturn.

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.

Night Sky Spectacle

A clear dark sky is a must. Brocchi’s cluster (the coat hanger), sits about two binocular fields to the right and one binocular field down from the end star of the Swan. It looks like an upside- down coat hanger — a very aptly- named asterism.

Mount St. Helens Club

HIKES

(E) - Easier: relatively flat ground (up to 5 miles and/or less than 500 ft. e.g.) (M) - Moderate: Longer, more elevation gain (over 5 miles and/or 500+ ft. e.g.) (S) - Strenuous: Long and/or elevation gain (over 8 miles and/or 1200+ ft. e.g.) Call leader to join outing or for more info. Non-members welcome. Driving distances are from Longview, Wash. (SS) – Snow Shoe (XC) – Cross Country Ski (K) – Kayak (B) – Bicycle RT - round trip   e.g. - elevation gain

June 18 - Wed Washington Park Hike (E) Drive 100 miles RT. Hike 3-3.5-mile loop with 455’ e.g. We will also have a 20–30 minute stop at the Rose Test Gardens. Parking fee at Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center. Leaders: Art M. 360-270-9991, Moe B. 360-449-9488

June 19 - Thurs Summer Solstice Kalama Waterfront (E) Drive 20 miles RT. Celebrate the start of summer and the longest day of the year on June 18 and Juneteenth on June 19 with a 3.8 mile walk through town and over to the waterfront on a level, paved and gravel path along the Columbia River. Afterwards, enjoy the music at McMenamin’s amphitheater or explore the Timber Market. Leader: Barbara R. 360-431-1131

June 21 - Sat Nicolai Mountain (M) Drive 58 miles RT. Hike 8 miles RT with 800’ e.g. This route is actually a combination of ATV trails and logging roads ending up at the 2970’ summit of Nicolai Mountain. Great views of the Gnat Creek valley and Coast Range. Leaders: Bruce M. 360-425-0256, Shelley H. 707-787-1997

June 25 - Wed   Astoria Hills (M) Drive 100 miles RT. Wander about 5 miles with about 575’ e.g. through hilly Astoria to the Astoria Column and Shively Park. Leaders: Linda J. 360-431-3321, Julie L. 360-747-1415

June 28 - Sat   Banks Vernonia State Trail - (B) Drive 60 miles RT. Start at the end of the trail and bike half way to Banks and back, approx. 20 miles. Trail is paved and mostly flat. Leader: Dory N. 213-820-1014.

July 2 - Wed       Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge (E) Hike 5 miles with minimal e.g. We will pass the Native American plank house, large oak trees and possibly wildlife, as well as the boat launch and walk some on sidewalks. Bring binoculars to spot birds nesting in trees. A senior pass or America the Beautiful pass is required for each vehicle. Leader: Barbara R. 360-431-1131

July 9 - Wed  Millersylvania State Park (E)  Drive 100 miles RT. Hike 4+ miles on perimeter trail with little e.g. A Discover pass is required for each vehicle. Leader: John R. 360-431-1122

July 12 - Sat Gillette Lake/ Green Lake (M)  Drive 155 miles RT. Hike 5 miles RT to serene Gillette Lake. Optional: add 1.6 miles RT to Green Leaf Pond, e.g. 1131’. Leader: Charles R. 360-751-0098

July 12 - Sat   Lake Sacajawea (E)  Walk 4 miles on flat ground around the whole lake or any loop/portion for a shorter walk. The total hike length will be decided by the group at the time. The group will hike together. NOTE: This walk is designed for Super Seniors and /or people with physical limitations at a slow pace. Leader: Susan S. 360-430-9914

July 16 - Wed        Dry Creek Falls via PCT (E/M) Drive 165 miles RT. Hike 4.4 miles RT with 900’ e.g. This is a beautiful forested hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. A NW Forest or America The Beautiful pass is required for each vehicle. Leader: Dory N. 213-820-1014.

sketch by the late Deena Martinson

ROLAND ON WINE

Iby Marc Roland

Rosé makes flavorful comeback

love rosé wine now, but haven’t always. For me, rosé had a bit of a problem: too sweet, too cheap, too pink, like the liquid version of a teenage prom dress. But somewhere along the way, I began to make a shift. And it wasn’t just me. A new wave of winemakers rediscovered that rosé could be crisp, complex, and seriously good. And nowhere is that comeback more striking than in Washington State. Let’s get one thing out of the way: Rosé isn’t just “red wine lite” or “white wine with a blush.” It’s a style all its own, made by pressing red grapes lightly or allowing just a brief amount of skin contact before fermentation. The result? A wine that captures the best of both worlds — refreshing like a white; flavorful like a red. So, what makes Washington such a great place for rosé? It’s the grapes.

The state’s varied climate and long, sunny growing season are perfect for cultivating bold, flavorful varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault — classic Southern Rhône

Recommended Rosés

Syncline 2012 Rosé, $18. Syncline, the flagship winery in the Columbia Gorge AVA, was among the early Washington wineries trying to produce a serious rosé. It’s a blend of 49% Mourvèdre, 39% Cinsault and 12% Grenache, presenting flavors of strawberry and watermelon.

Trust Cellars 2012 Rosé, $18. Steve Brooks of Walla Walla’s Trust Cellars has been making this 100% Cabernet Franc rosé for years. Franc is a great choice for rosé, as it adds savory complexity, here in the form of a light strawberry note, overlaying the core of fruit. That fruit is a lovely, brisk mix of kiwi, pineapple and apricot.

Renegade 2012 Rosé, $10. A side label from Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand Cellars, the Renegade blend includes Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Syrah. Highly aromatic with a combination of watermelon, honeydew, and banana.

grapes that happen to make killer rosé. But there’s also a freshness to Washington rosé that sets it apart.

The cool nights in Columbia Valley help preserve acidity, which is what makes a wine crisp. A lot of Washington winemakers didn’t start out planning to make rosé. Although I did, after a trip to the South of France, where I became a believer. I was determined to give it a try. But for most, it was an afterthought, a side product made by bleeding off juice from red wine fermenters to make concentrated reds. But around 2015, attitudes began to change.

Some wineries started making rosé intentionally, from grapes harvested specifically for that style. They were thoughtful, intentional wines and you could taste the difference.

Take Walla Walla, for example

This corner of southeastern Washington is better known for big reds like Cabernet and Syrah, but a growing number of producers are crafting rosés that are bright, balanced, and bone-dry. They pair beautifully with the kind of meals people actually eat…pink grilled salmon, charcuterie, tacos, or just a good oldfashioned picnic. And they’re made to be enjoyed young. One cool thing about the Washington rosé scene is how approachable it feels.

This isn’t wine made to be intimidating or pretentious. Most bottles are in the $15–$25 range, affordable and delicious. The labels tend to be fun, and the winemakers are usually the kind of people who will pour you a glass and tell you a story rather than a snobbish description of the wine. Of course, the pink wine trend isn’t limited to Washington.

Our World in Words Armegeddon

My money, my life!

by Bob Park

When I was in the eighth grade, we moved from the farm on Coal Creek to 34th Avenue in Longview town proper. We lived there for about two years while we built a home on 20th Avenue.

By the time we had lived on 34th for about a year I had started working at Uncle Bill’s shop on Saturdays, had a large Oregonian paper route plus a job at my school opening the school, turning on the lights and picking up the school yard after school.

I was taking in total about $180.00 a month. I was living high on the hog buying new bicycles, ham radio gear, new cameras/film and Elise’s gifts plus trips to Yoby’s on Sunday nights after church.

I thought “How does it get better than this?” As they say, “Nothing lasts forever.”

One Saturday afternoon Dad said he and Mom wanted to talk to me in the living room. So, I went, and they sat on the couch and I in a chair. Mom said that I was making a lot of money and not saving any and that I should be saving for college.

Well, this was a concept that had never crossed my mind. So, I said I liked spending it on things I needed and was interested in. Dad mentioned something like “you need to buy Elise jewelry!” So, this fired me up as Dad and I both had a temper.

My next statement and actions set off what was to follow.

I said in an aggressive way, “It’s my money and I can do with it what I want,” as I got up and walked out of the room through the kitchen and the Dutch door into the utility room.

Dad was up like a lion and right behind me telling me to stop.

I got through the door and was holding it shut so he could not get through. This was my second mistake, as he punched me in the head through the small panes of glass in the top section of the door. So I ran out through the back door after throwing some stuff in his way and hid in the tool shop under the bench in front of the only window in the shed. He came roaring by and looked in the window but could not see me under the bench so in a few minutes I heard the car start up and assumed he was leaving.

I was scared to death so just sat there awhile. I came out and met Mom coming out of the house. She was upset to say the least. She said Dad had gone to Elise’s house, as he thought I had taken off for there.

Dad came back in about a half hour and he and Mom went in their bedroom and I did the same.

After a while, Mom came and said they wanted to talk in the living room again. So, I followed her back and we sat down.

cont page 14

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.

You’ll find fantastic rosés coming out of Oregon, California, and, of course, France, and beyond. But there’s something quietly special about what’s happening in Washington right now. It’s a place where people are still experimenting, still learning, still excited. And that enthusiasm comes through in the glass. So, if you haven’t given rosé a fair shot lately, it might be time to revisit it with a fresh perspective and a chilled bottle from Washington. It’s not just having a moment. It’s making a comeback the right way — with a whole lot of flavor. See sidebar for recommendations.

Mom said she and Dad had talked it over and since I thought I was in charge of my life and money and that I could do as I pleased, but if I wanted to keep living there I would have a to pay $15 a week board and room and buy my own clothes and other supplies from now on.

Was I relieved and happy as I expected some draconian punishment as I had never until then crossed swords with either Mom or Dad.

So I agreed and paid my first week and did so every week until I left home after high school.

Life went on as before and the subject never was spoken of again. Every week I would give Mom $15.

That was the last serious thought I ever had about savings until I was about 70 years old.

Years later after Dad had passed away, Mom told me they had assumed I would quickly not want to hand over the $15 and buy my own clothes and start saving for college.

Bob Park enjoys the good life in his hometown of Longview, and elsewhere. This is #4 in a series of his recollections growing up. He went on to found his own steel fabrication business, which still operates worldwide.

In Historic Downtown Longview

NOTES FROM MY LIVES

Iby Andre Stepankowsky

Fire and fandom Spectators need to cool abuse of athletes, each other

grew up a die-hard New York Yankees fan and attended many ball games in the old Yankee Stadium. I usually purchased cheap, nose-bleed seats.

But I often had a front-row view of the abuse that “Crankees” fans could heap on opposing players and fans.

Once I was seated near a group of college-age fans who used a cigarette lighter to ignite a pennant waved wildly by a row of like-aged Boston Red Sox rooters seated in front of them. These groups all were stewed, yet somehow they avoided starting a melee.

During pre-game batting practice, I’d often slink down to the dugouts to get a closer glimpse of the players and perhaps shag a foul ball. Often, I’d

hear a Yankee fan verbally accost an opposition player on the field: “Hey! Johnson! You suck.”

I was reminded about these instances because abusive fan behavior recently became an issue in Stanley Cup hockey playoffs. Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer blamed his team’s elimination from the playoffs to disruptive and unsportsmanlike conduct from fans of the Edmonton Oilers. DeBoer objected to the intense booing and jeering from the home crowd, claiming it affected his players’ focus and performance.

There are some sour grapes here, to be sure, but DeBoer’s complaint is telling about the growing boorishness of audiences at athletic events.

Award-winning journalist Andre Stepankowsky is a former reporter and editor for The Daily News in Longview. His Columbia River Reader columns spring from his many interests, including hiking, rose gardening, music, and woodworking. More of his writing can be found under “Lower Columbia Currents,” on substack.com.

What, really, justifies booing when the visiting team takes the field or court?

Fans don’t know about the sacrifices the athletes entering the stage have made, what personal or family tragedies they may have overcome or what abuse they have endured just to make it to the competition.

Most athletes we see on screens or live on diamonds, hardwood or pitch are young people just trying to have fun, challenge themselves and — perhaps —fulfill dreams of earning college scholarships, invitations to the pros or a more lucrative contracts. What’s to boo about?

I agree that there are some sports figures — perhaps many — who are boorish, selfish and full of themselves. Is it spectators’ job to upbraid them? How far should the displeasure go?

Seattle fans still boo former Houston Astros players over the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, in which the team was fined $5 million but all players dodged discipline in exchange for cooperating with the investigation. Should this albatross still hang around the necks of former Astros players?

Sports, of course, has always thrived on tribal loyalties. There’s a primal instinct

What’s Happening Around the River

Biz Buzz notes news in local business and professional circles. As space allows, we include news of innovations, improvements, new ventures and significant employee milestones of interest to readers. Please email to publisher@crreader.com

Lower Columbia College breaks new ground Center will offer world-class skills training

It’s been a long time coming.

Now, thanks to local advocacy, legislative push, engaged industry leaders, and a relentless sense of urgency, Lower Columbia College has finally given birth to its latest crown jewel.

The LCC Center for Vocational & Transitional Studies is now officially a “go.” And they’ve formally broken the ground to initiate it.

“This community — all of you — have had a really strong vision for this project,” said architect Garner Miller at the recent groundbreaking ceremony. “It makes our job as architects a real pleasure, knowing exactly what you want and what we can do.”

LCC’s new president, Matt Seimears, promised the sun-drenched crowd “a world-class skills hub right here in Southwest Washington,” creating not only the first-class physical space, but also an ongoing commitment to maintaining state-ofthe-art equipment and curriculum.

At 46,669 square feet, the Center will occupy the 15th Avenue-facing quadrant presently hosting LCC’s Parking Lot C. Students, administrators, and, most importantly, prospective students and career builders will encounter an airy, integrated series of sky-lit labs, offices and gathering spaces, all designed not just to serve, but to sell.

The project is expected to go out for bid in July, with projected construction beginning in November and the finished Center suitable for occupation in June 2027.

“These skills are in high demand,” said tenured faculty member and machining program head Nathan Shepherd. However, because of dangerous work environments, “tours” and student observations have been difficult. In the new Center, second-floor viewing galleries

will allow visitors to watch, learn, and share the experience, while keeping safe distances, too.

“It’s important that people can see what the place looks and feels like,” echoed designer Andy Rovelstad, “A lot of students are still deciding what they want to do for a career.”

“We’re trying to get the attention of kids as they’re growing up and wondering what in the world they’ll do.”

The Center’s upper level will feature a balcony and patio, as well, with colorful umbrellas visible to people driving by, said Rovelstad. “You’ll see the form, the shapes, the energy.”

Instruction will include a wide variety of skills and disciplines, including welding, fabricating, computer literacy, machining, project management, and various career-advancing transitional classes, but will maintain flexibility as needs and technologies change.

We couldn’t have done any of this without great community support,” said Max Anderson, who has chaired the LCC Foundation’s “Opportunity Can’t Wait Campaign.”

“Today we get to see the fruits of all this labor. Let’s go break some ground!”

Nick Lemiere CFP®

Architects’ renditions of Lower Columbia College’s new facility located along 15th Avenue, Longview.

Former and current LCC presidents Pete Pickett (left) and Matt Seimears at the May 30 groundbreaking event

iMages courtesy of garner Miller, Partner, of Msgs / carVe architects, anD anDy roVelstaD, Design architect at roVelstaD architects

Justin Brown was recently named the City of Longview’s new Director of Parks and Recreation. Brown, who has served as Longview’s Recreation Manager since 2017, brings more than a decade of experience in public recreation leadership. His background includes managing youth and adult sports, community events, and facility operations. Known for his thoughtful leadership, community focus, and commitment to innovation, Brown is wellpositioned to lead the department into its next chapter, City officials said in a press release. As Director, he will oversee all aspects of the Parks and Recreation Department, including park operations, recreation programming, urban forestry, the Mint Valley Golf Course, and community engagement initiatives.

“I’m honored to step into this new role and continue serving the Longview community,” said Brown. “I’m excited to build on the great work already underway and explore new opportunities to make our parks, programs, and events even more accessible and meaningful for everyone.”

www.cascade-title.com

Big Leaf Montessori School i s celebrating 10 years in the community. Located within St. Stephen’s Church complex at 22nd Ave. and Louisiana, Longview, the school serves students ages 30 months to 12 years and recently achieved the childcare rating of Level 5 in the Washington State Early Achievers Program. “What a gift to witness children leading their learning, with adults to guide their way,”said Head of School Alicia Jackson.

Diane Kenneway Escrow Closer / Assistant

Celinda Northrup Escrow Officer / LPO

Alison Peters Escrow Officer / LPO

Jason Brown

RStory &

photos

by Joseph Govednik, Director, Cowlitz County Historical Museum

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

A bucket list destination

ecently, I attended a museum conference in Independence, Oregon, which brought me close to McMinnville — home of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (EASM). This museum has long been on my bucket list,

but every trip to the Oregon coast with my family ended with me outvoted on stopping there. This time, traveling solo, I finally had my chance — and it did not disappoint.

From the moment I approached the aviation museum I was greeted with historic military aircraft and even a Boeing 747 on display outside, setting the tone for what’s inside. Through the enormous glass façade, I caught my first glimpse of the museum’s crown jewel: the H-4 Hercules, better known as the “Spruce Goose.” This massive aircraft is so large that I couldn’t capture it in a single camera shot. Beneath its football field-length wingspan, a variety of aircraft from all eras are displayed. For an additional fee, small group and solo tours of the H-4 are available — and well worth it. The docent-led tour provided insights I hadn’t encountered before and included access to the cockpit and engineering stations—an unforgettable experience for any aviation enthusiast.

But that’s only half the story.

Just across the way lies the Space Museum—an equallyimpressive facility. Exhibits begin with the early development of rocket technology, featuring Goddard’s pioneering designs, the German V-2, and beyond. The museum honors Soviet space achievements with displays and models of the Vostok and Soyuz capsules. American space history is richly represented, from Mercury and Gemini capsules to a full-scale lunar lander exhibit.

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is a world-class experience — an absolute must-see for aviation and space enthusiasts alike. If you’re planning a trip to the Oregon coast, carve out time to explore this remarkable destination. You won’t regret it.

IF YOU GO

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, Ore. •Admission: $24 adults (other pricing options available) •Hours: 9am – 5pm daily •Website: www.evergreenmuseum.org

Area Chamber of Commerce 1715 Bay Ave., #1, Ocean Park, Wash.

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

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

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

Production notes

STEM and STEAM

this month’s PeoPle+Place features an extraordinary character who may represent an endangered species.

Joe Fischer is much more than simply a talented artist and a community benefactor. He’s a passionate arts educator, a walking and talking evangelist for the essential, even critical role the arts play in our lives.

Our so-called Information Age has for the last few decades demanded us to emphasize the skillsets known as STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. As a result we’ve de-emphasized, shoved aside or simply trivialized other disciplines that make us whole people.

In decades past, our schools presented us with a variety of ways we could learn, experience, and grow, many of them outside the confines of STEM: physical education, music, metal shop, wood shop, auto shop, home economics. And, of course, art.

Today we’re working to offset this imbalance. By way of shorthand, we’re simply adding to the acronym an “A” for Art, making it STEAM.

Ironically, it’s the schools that seem to be lagging in restoring these programs, bowing perhaps to the pressure for “employability.” Meanwhile, our communities at large are providing a rich variety of arts and recreation programs for students of all ages.

Think of community and senior centers with classes and activities; public libraries with clubs and groups spanning interests from writers to ukulele players; performing arts organizations attracting aspiring vocalists, dancers and thespians.

The arts are in fact alive and well, and Joe Fischer’s vision is intact. Let’s hope the hard core STEM advocates see the logic of integrating a wider variety of learning and learning styles. We are all lifelong learners. And artists.

people+place

The Art of Being Joe Fischer

He starts most days dancing.

“Well…not ’til ‘Walk of Life’ comes on, usually,” he told us, his face as alive as the works on his studio walls. “That Dire Straits always gets me dancing.”

The meaning of

life

is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

Pablo Picasso

Joe Fischer is known for his good art, good humor, and good works.

He creates splendid paintings in a variety of styles. He’s made a career bringing art to students and lifelong learners. He gives generous support to his community and its arts organizations.

“I’ve never had a plan in my whole life,” he said. “I won a mural competition in Buffalo once, nine of us painting at a construction site downtown. I had my thirty-by fifteen-feet grid all laid out and was painting away and the other guys still had their tape measures out.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do and just went for it.”

His knowing just what to do — and the often hilarious descriptions of a lifetime learning what not to do — has made for a marvelous 92 years of the good life.

And he’s still dancing.

“I’ve always wanted to learn the guitar. I’m gonna learn to play the guitar.”

Pencil and Paper

In the early 1930s Springfield, Oregon, was more concerned with economic survival than producing young artists.

“During the Depression there was no paper or pencils at home,” said Fischer. “I get to school — ’What’s this?’ There was a room where you could paint. I mean it was horrible, that chalky paint and newsprint paper that would wrinkle all up. But all I did was draw and paint.”

After high school in Springfield, four years in the Air Force, including a stint overseas in the Korean War, helped shape the future Fischer’s career admixture of creating art and facilitating art. “Once they find out I’m an artist, this was in Korea,” he said, “they take me out of the tower to paint the logo on the back of the jeep.”

As for “the tower,” he describes his two years as a military air traffic controller as “a danger to national security.”

Hell and Heaven

After doing his “four years for your protection,” he decided to apply to art school in Los Angeles. “I would describe the director as very pompous,” he said. “During the interview he told me, ‘If you’re going to be working on your art here you’ll be working ten hours a day.’

cont page 20

I’VE NEVER HAD A PLAN IN MY WHOLE LIFE

Joe Fischer

Joe Fischer from page 19

“Soon as I left that building, knew I ain’t coming back here. I said, ‘What the Hell is this? I want to go to a party school.’”

Thankfully, Joe’s orbit growing up had included the University of Oregon in Eugene, even then known as “The Country Club of the Pacific Eight.”

“Oh boy, did I fit right in. I’d had to make some money first. Worked double shifts at a sawmill in Coquille, Oregon. But the parties were good. I can’t believe the things we did.”

Despite the hijinks, or because of them, perhaps, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1960 and was awarded a Master of Fine Arts in 1963. “MoFA. They call that a ‘muhfuh’ degree,” he recalls proudly.

Hot and Cold

Newly married, degrees in hand, he scouted job prospects.

“I heard that art graduates were being recruited to set up art programs for the Air Force. How about that? And they have an opening in Nevada, at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas.”

The irony of going back to work for the Air Force didn’t escape him, nor did concerns about climate in pre-air conditioning Las Vegas: “My brother said if you’re going to go there to interview you better drive at night, so I get there and at 8 o’clock in the morning it’s already 85.” By the afternoon it was 109 degrees, but the opportunity was too good — running an arts and crafts recreation and education program for Air Force families.

Typically self-deprecating, Fischer casually mentions his next move — being hired away from Nellis after only two years — to design, build and administer a sophisticated art center at the other end of the country, chilly Buffalo, New York.

“It was part of the SUNY system — State University of New York.“ he said. “I ended up spending 29 years there, combination educator and administrator. “That’s where I painted that mural. People would come by on the street and said, ‘Can you put me in there?’ So I did!”

Past and Future

As both an artist and an arts educator, Joe Fischer celebrates the 20th Century’s dramatic transformation in art and visual expression: from the strictly representational to the wildly improvisational, from realistic to

abstract. He seems equally accomplished and inspired working across the spectrum, straddling the line between the real and the imagined.

“During the Renaissance, and all the periods before and after, artists were recording events,” he said. “Then the camera happened. And artists said, ‘We’re free to do something else.’ And there you go — Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, and all the movements since.”

He told me his abstracts begin with “intuition,” and without a concept. The portraits and landscapes, on the other hand, demand more discipline:

“If they’re representational, that’s a challenge that I like. I like the change. Now I’m observing, and it has to be correct.”

Teaching and Learning

With a reverence for both the Renaissance and for rock and roll, Fischer is a modern man for all seasons. One can only imagine his classrooms, exploring and improvising teaching models that are cutting edge today, anticipating trends in continuing education and adult learning, and, of course, cracking wise.

“One of my best teaching jobs was with Empire State College. That’s an experimental kind of higher ed. The average age of our student body was 35. You had to write a contract, each student, for every course you took. And you ended up with a ‘life experience credit’ at the college level. Pretty cool.”

“I liked teaching,” he said, “but I always felt I wasn’t good enough. I admired the teachers I had, even in grade school. I was in love with my third grade teacher, tall with black curly hair. And she winked at me. And then one day I noticed she winked at everybody.”

The very model of the lifelong learner himself, Joe shares his gifts, including generous support for Lower Columbia College in Longview. Voted LCC’s Foundation Benefactor of the Year for 2019-2020, he has endowed scholarships, supported arts and sports, and endowed the very gallery (in the name of his late wife, Alona Forsberg Fischer), that will show his own work this July.

“The college is so important to this community, to this whole area, really,” he said. ‘It changes so many lives. Every time I go to PeaceHealth, I talk to the nurse, most of the time they went to LCC.”

If You Go

From Then to Now: The Art of Joe Fischer

Artist’s Reception: 4–6pm, Monday, July 7

Exhibit runs July 7 through August 28

Mon–Thurs, 10am–3pm • Free Admission

Lower Columbia College

1700 Maple St Longview, Wash. Forsberg Gallery, Rose Center for the Arts

from page 21

Joe’s talent and spirit are irrepressible. His pen (and his wit) are drawn to paper, lately in the form of a daily cartoon that lands in the inboxes of his followers and fans.

“It’s visual thinking. Edison could draw, he could draw what the light bulb should be. But that type of thinking just isn’t taught enough in schools.

At the start, I don’t know where I’m going. But as I put down color, and start to manipulate the brush, things start happening...”

DaVinci vs. Pollock

Joe Fischer has lived, taught, and painted the fractured, contentious history of 20th Century art. He sums it up as two narrowminded professors waging their hundredyear feud:

“This is art. No, this is not art.” Fischer sees technique, innovation and liberation in works from both sides — among both the representationalists and the abstractionists.

“When I looked at Leonardo’s ‘Portrait of a Young Girl,’ which was in a glass case, so

I could look real close — no brush strokes! And to manipulate a brush, and the paint, that smooth, and get an image…incredible. Knock me for a loop.”

“It’s about breakthroughs — grab The New York Times and hold it up to the light and look at the imagery: that’s a breakthrough,” he said. Look at [Jackson] Pollock. Splashing, throwing, dripping. No one did that before.

And that’s the thing about Abstract Expressionism. It’s time occurring now. The artist did something no one else did with the paint. That’s huge.”

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I WANT TO GO TO A PARTY SCHOOL

Hal Calbom, a third-generation Longview native and author of Empire of Trees: America’s Planned City and the Last Frontier, produces CRR’s People+Place monthly feature, and is CRRPress associate publisher. He studied government at Harvard, and has long been interested in American history and public affairs.

See his “In the Spotlight” column, page 37.

Stepankowsky from page 15 at play here that distinguishes “us” versus “them,” good versus bad. For sure, there’s already enough tribal hate in our politics. Don’t create more at the ball park. There’s little doubt that increasing hostility toward athletes is driven by online sports betting, but a losing wager is the better’s fault, not the athlete’s.

We can be loyal and cheer for our team without jeering, taunting and belittling the opposition. I think it is fine for the home team to drive up noise levels to disrupt the center/ quarterback exchange. Just don’t let it cross over to abuse — like the foulmouthed UW Husky season ticket holder who shared a section with us for several years.

Learn to be a fan of the sport, not just of a team or player. Cheer when the opponent makes an exceptional play. Learn about player’s lives.

That’s so much more enjoyable than lighting fire to an opposing fan’s pennant.

CENTENNIAL CENTENNIAL

Join us for an afternoon celebration honoring 100 years of the Westport Ferry as we pay tribute to a century of service and history on the water

Miss Manners from page 9

GENTLE READER: It depends on the activity.

If someone is standing in your way in the grocery aisle, trying to decide between mayonnaise brands, you should patiently wait your turn.

If that person is blocking you while texting a spouse, having an intense argument about whether mayonnaise should be in their diet at all, and should we even be married if you don’t care enough to pick up the things I asked ... then the task at hand is not going

to soon be accomplished. In that case, you may say, “Excuse me,” with Miss Manners’s blessing.

Note that tone is important, too. A haughty “Well, exCUSE Me!” is always rude.

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

MAN IN THE KITCHEN CLASSICS

A picnic ~ the ultimate movable feast

It’s summer concert season and the perfect time for a picnic. Picnics are an avenue to share your blessings, your food, as a communal act. The following is Paul Thompson’s column, recalling a special picnic that he thought was worth repeating. Try it yourself, sitting on the grass with your own basket this summer!

When I lived in the Chicago area, a wonderful summer treat was to attend concerts at Ravinia Park, with an open-air stage and lots of room to spread a blanket and enjoy a dinner al fresco. The concerts were nightly. Willie Nelson might be scheduled one evening, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra the next, followed by Tony Bennett; a mixed bag of wonderful artists to suit every taste. Unless I had tickets for Pavilion seating, which I never did, I was content to picnic on the lawn with friends and listen, never seeing the artists unless I wandered past the back of the Pavilion for a quick glimpse. The sound system throughout the park was excellent, and thousands of people, me included, would just lie back on the lawn, enjoy the scene and their picnics.

Picnics Extraordinairé

Most just brought a cooler of food and drinks, a blanket and maybe, a couple of chairs to unfold and rest on. Part of the fun was to walk among the crowd, checking out their picnic gear and the foods they brought. A few regulars assembled very cool picnic furnishings to add to the ambience: champagne buckets, crystal glassware, low-rise chairs and folding tables graced with a tablecloth and a candelabra designed to stay lit in light winds.

Poached salmon with cucumber sauce

The foods served were equally variable. Many picked up ready-to-eat foods from deli-counters and fast-food joints on the way to the park. A farmyard of fried chickens was consumed nightly. I’ve done that as well, when time didn’t allow for something special. It was most fun, however, when two or three couples planned a feast.

It came to pass that one day my friend, Jim, asked for my help. He had just met and flipped over a woman named Diane. He wanted to impress her in the worst way, meaning, of course, the best way.

Their first date was an evening at Ravinia, featuring one of her favorite performers.

Jim’s a very basic guy, an electrician with a Harley Davidson and a heart of gold, but not much of a cook. He asked me to provide him a menu for their first time

together that was within reach of his meager kitchen skill. Here’s how it came together.

For starters I suggested my version of guacamole served with rounds of white corn chips. Jim halved this recipe for the two of them, with a lot of it left over. It freezes well for later use.

ala Pablo

4 ripe avocados (they’re ripe when they’re soft, but not squishy.)

½ cup chopped onions

½ cup mayonnaise

Lemon juice to taste

2-3 tsp salt

Cayenne pepper

4 plum tomatoes, skinned and chopped

Halve the avocados; remove the pit and scoop out the good stuff with a spoon. Mash the avocados with a potato masher. Add the onions, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Add salt and cayenne

pepper to taste. I like it a little hotter than most. Keep in mind that cayenne becomes more potent over time, so be careful. I add the tomatoes last, folding them gently into the mix, so their color remains visible. To skin the tomatoes, steam them over or in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The skin will peel off easily.

As an entrée, I suggested poached salmon, with a cucumber sauce, served cold, of course. This is a picnic, remember.

Poached Salmon

Fillet of wild* salmon

Water, to cover fish

1/2 bay leaf

I Tbl lemon juice

1/4 cup white wine (optional)

Salt (1/2 Tbl per quart of water)

*I prefer wild salmon to the farm raised variety. It contains NO artificial coloring, doesn’t contaminate our coastal waters, and gives our fisherman needed work.

Using a pot large enough to hold the salmon without folding or overlapping it, bring all the ingredients to a boil before adding the salmon. Wrap the salmon in a piece of cheesecloth and lower it, gently, into the boiling liquid. The cheesecloth will protect the top of the fish from drying out while cooking and keep the fish together when removing it, later. Any very clean cotton cloth will work. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook the fillet until it’s pink throughout, about 8-10 minutes, depending on its thickness. Remove it from the poaching liquid and place on a dish, skin side up. Remove all the skin and brown meat (fat, mostly), leaving only the pink, good stuff. Let it cool. Then, refrigerate it until ready to serve.

cont page 26

Paul Thompson wrote his popular “Man in the Kitchen” column and other features since CRR’s first issue. He retired from his teaching career in Oak Park, Illinois, and moved back to his hometown of Longview in 2012, passing away in July 2021. We re-run some of his classic recipes and column excerpts from time to time, in fond remembrance and appreciation for his friendship and role in developing CRR’s zeitgeist.

Guacamole

Man in the Kitchen from page 26

Cucumber Sauce

1/ 2 cup mayonnaise, sour cream or plain yogurt (your choice. Jim used mayonnaise)

1 tsp (or more, to taste) lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (or less, to taste) 1 med. cucumber, (about 1 cup) seeded, chopped finely and drained 2 tsp finely chopped chives or onions and (optional) fresh dill

Mix the ingredients together, keep it cool, and serve alongside the poached salmon.

For a vegetable course I suggested Jim steam and serve cold asparagus or green beans, marinated in Italian Salad Dressing, with a little Parmesan cheese added.

cold water to stop the cooking. Cool in your refrigerator. Before leaving for the picnic, put the vegetables in a zip-lock plastic bag, add some salad dressing and Parmesan cheese as a marinade. It’s that simple.

Jim was reaching his limits of creativity in the kitchen. So, as a final course, I suggested he serve bite size pieces of watermelon, honeydew melon and cantaloupe, plain and simple. He liked that part the best.

Steamed Asparagus/Green Beans

Place the vegetables in a steamer tray over boiling, salted water. Cook them until barely tender, 6-8 minutes for asparagus, 8-10 for green beans. Test with a fork and taste. You want them to maintain that bright green color and retain a crispness your mother didn’t think about. Once cooked, immerse in

As a wine accompaniment I gave Jim a couple of choices: any Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio he could afford, or my favorite, a French Pouilly Fuisse, more expensive, but elegant.

The next day my phone rang and Jim was overflowing with news of his Ravinia date with Diane.

After many years of marriage, they still remind me of my part in helping create that perfect first date.

Longview ‘Living Legend’ celebrates 90th birthday

By Dennis Weber, Former Mayor of Longview

Whether you have actually met Bill Kasch or not, you have been affected by his energetic life, either as a veteran educator, peripatetic world traveler, local Y volunteer coach, passionate partisan, incisive letter-to-the-editor writer, or history buff. Bill has been making a difference in people’s lives for years. He is celebrating his 90th birthday this year. Please join him, his family and other friends to celebrate on Tuesday, July 15 (details, far right).

For 25 years, Bill has focused on promoting local history

The “Monticello Convention - Birthplace of Washington” sign near the old walnut tree on Tennant Way, coming into Longview; the “Thanks for Visiting Kelso – Welcome to Longview” signs on Washington Way at West Kelso; and Downtown Longview signs are all Kasch projects.

We Make the Complex Simple

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3:30-5pm ,Wed., July 15, 2025 Antidote Taphouse

If you remember when the city moved the bust of R. A. Long from the center of the park to the Longview Public Library, you can thank Bill Kasch.

A myriad of Kasch projects

Colorful brochures of walking tours (i.e. Lake Sacajawea Park, the Old West Side, Downtown Longview) and the colorful, life-sized cutouts of Longview founders and civic leaders throughout Downtown Longview were also Kasch projects. If you have been inspired by the Veterans Memorial at the flagpole in R. A. Long Park, Bill helped establish that, too. Over several years Bill urged the City of Longview to formally rename Civic Center Park as R.A. Long Memorial Park and was delighted in late May when the City made it official. Bill still hopes the City will construct a third fountain at Lake Sacajawea, near the south end.

Bill married the love of his life, Donna, in Longview in 1993

The couple made several trips to Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East. Donna has supported Bill’s efforts to promote history. They began sponsoring public benches honoring family friends, including Joe Moses and Syd and Bette Snyder. Bill and Donna also share loyalty to the Democratic Party.

A descendant of civic activists in the north Puget Sound region, Bill was named William Kasch III in 1935 in Longview, where his father worked for Weyerhaeuser. While there, his dad became a teammate with Joe Moses. Bill’s paternal grandfather, William Kasch I, pioneered ferry service between Anacortes, the San Juans, and Port Angeles. Bill’s dad, William Kasch II,

coached at Catholic schools in Everett and helped establish Little League baseball there, where today there is a Kasch Park near the Boeing factory.

After Bill’s parents were divorced, his mother married Harvey Dybvik, from Kalama, and they moved back to Longview. Bill then became a frequent visitor to Longview, returning here permanently after retiring from his overseas teaching career.

Extensive travels

An award-winning track athlete at Everett High School, Bill attended the 1953 state meet in Pullman, became a member of Tri Delta Theta and is a proud graduate of Washington State College (now WSU) in Pullman. He then enjoyed teaching and coaching middle school basketball for the Department of Defense, which enabled him to travel extensively to places such as Japan, Vietnam, India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Exploring inside the Great Cheops Pyramid in Egypt was one life-changing experience, Bill recalls. Another was becoming the first private citizen to cross the Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border, where he had the chance to meet Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973. Bill says he came away from his visit to Palestine with great sympathy for the people there.

Bill’s energy and vision have been inspirations to me since we first worked together on the Washington Territory sign in 2002. My admiration grew even more as I researched his remarkable life for an article appearing in the Cowlitz County Historical Quarterly a few years ago.

Bill Kasch certainly is one of Longview’s Living Legends.

Happy Birthday Bill!

Bill Kasch with Dennis Weber.

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

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–10:30pm; 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. 503-556-9950. interstatetavern@yahoo.com

El Tapatio

117 W. ‘A’ Street

Mexican Family Restaurant. Open Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, rest of week 11am-10pm. Full bar. 8-11pm. Patio seating. 503-556-8323.

Longview, Wash.

1335 14th Avenue

18 rotating craft brews, pub fare. M-Th 11am–9pm. Fri-Sat 11am–10pm. Local music coming soon. 360-232-8283. Wine Wednesdays: $5 pours.

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.

Formerly The Carriage Restaurant & Lounge located on 14th Ave.

3353 Washington Way. Chinese & American cuisine. Full bar, banquet room stage room with balcony; available for groups, special events. Restaurant: 11am–9pm, Lounge 11am–1:00am. 360-425-8680.

The Corner Cafe

796 Commerce Ave. Breakfast & Lunch. Daily Soup & Sandwich, breakfast specials. Tues-Sat 7am-3pm. Closed Sun-Mon. 360353-5420. Email: sndcoffeeshop@comcast.net

COLUMBIA RIVER dining guide

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. Cod, Alaskan halibut fish and chips, award-winning clam chowder. Burgers, steaks, pasta. Beer and wine. M-Wed 10am–8pm, Th-Sat 10am–9pm, Sunday 11am–8pm. Inside dining, Drive-thru, outdoor seating. 360-414-3288. See ad, page 30.

Hop N Grape 924 15th Ave., Longview Tues–Thurs 11am–8pm; Fri & Sat 11am–9pm. BBQ meat slow-cooked on site. Pulled pork, chicken, brisket, ribs, turkey, salmon. Worldfamous 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. 360-425-9696.

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

Castle Rock, Wash

Luckman’s Coffee Company 239 Huntington Ave. North, Drive-thru. Pastries, sandwiches, salads, quiche.

Vault Books & Brew

20 Cowlitz Street West, Castle Rock. Coffee and specialty drinks, quick eats & sweets. See ad, pg 30

(Parker’s former location), 1300 Mt. St. Helens Way. 360--967-2333. Open daily, 11am–10pm. Steaks, pasta, calamari, salads, sandwiches, fondue, desserts. Happy Hour, full bar.

Kalama, Wash.

LUCKMAN’S COFFEE Mountain Timber Market, Port of Kalama. Open 8am–7pm. 360-673-4586.

Scappoose, Ore.

Fultano’s Pizza 51511 SE 2nd. Family style with unique pizza offerings, hot grill items & more! “Best pizza around!” Sun–Th 11:30am–9pm;

Warren, Ore.

Toutle, Wash.

Roland Wines 1106 Florida St., Longview. Authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, wine, beer, specialty cocktails. Casual ambience. 5–9pm Wed-Sat, 360-846-7304 See ad, page 25.

Scythe Brewing Company 1217 3rd Avenue #150

360-353-3851

Mon-Thurs 11:30am -8pm; FriSat 11:30am -10pm. Sun 12-8pm. 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

Café on Broadway

1133 Broadway. Lunch and Dinner, full bar. Mon12–8pm. Tues-Thurs 11am–8pm, Fri 11am–9pm; Sat 12–9pm. 360577-0717

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. 360673-9210. Indoor dining, covered outdoor seating.

Antique Deli 413N. First. M-F, 10–3. Call for daily sandwich special. 360-673- 3310.

FIRESIDE CAFE 5055 Meeker Dr., Kalama. Open Wed-Sun, 9–4. 360-673-3473.

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 32.

Big River Tap Room 313 Strand Street on the Riverfront. Lunch/Dinner TueThurs 12–8pm; Fri-Sat 12–9pm. Chicagostyle hot dogs, Italian beef, pastrami. Weekend Burrito Breakfast, Sat 8-11, Sun 8am-3pm.

THE TIDEWATER REACH

A Different Way of Seeing

A Different Way of Seeing

Poem by Robert Michael Pyle • Photograph by Judy VanderMaten • Field Note by Hal Calbom

COLUMBIA LIGHTSHIP: ASTORIA

The US Coast Guard Lightship Columbia is one of six surviving “floating lighthouses” used in especially hazardous waterways. Columbia was commissioned in 1951 and crewed by 18. She left service in 1979, replaced by a remote-controlled buoy. Tours of the lightship are included with admission to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

A River and Its Mountains

Just because they got here when they did Vancouver and the others “named” these snow-cones as if they didn’t have perfectly good names already. PahTo became Adams, for a president. LooWit transfigured to St. Helens, for a British baron. Her other lover across the river, Wy’east, morphed into Mt. Hood, for an English admiral.

But now, when you’re coming down the river or watching from Stonehenge at Maryhill or gazing back up-gorge from Crown Point, and all these cones and humps assert their ashen presences high above the flood, it doesn’t really matter what we call them, as if they — or their river — ever cared..

BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS • BOOKS

WORDS AND WOOD PACIFIC NORTHWEST WOODCUTS AND

This page and pg. 5 feature excerpts from CRRPress books.

by Debby Neely

HAIKU

Midnight Sentinel

The honking of geese

Undulating strings of dots

Decorate the sky

EMPIRE OF TREES

by Hal Calbom

AMERICA’S PLANNED CITY AND THE LAST FRONTIER

CRRPRESS was founded in 2020, with the first printing of Tidewater Reach, followed by Dispatches from the Discovery Trail (see current episode, page 5), Empire of Trees, Words and Wood, and A Lifetime of Art. Purchase info, see page 2, 35.

Grand Road to Nowhere

Longview wished, as always, to keep up with everybody else. Or, better yet, outdo them. So the founding fathers, whether they even had a railroad line in place, whether in fact Longview might one day become a destination, whether indeed railroads would hold their own competing with rivers and roads ... nevertheless...

They built a grand railroad station, suitable, as one critic said, for a city of a quarter of a million, and celebrated its opening July 4, 1928.

Local town queens celebrate the opening of the new railway station.

Photo courtesy of longView Public library

UIPS & QUOTES Q

Selected by Debra Tweedy

Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure there is one less rascal in the world.

--Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer and historian, 1795-1881

Everybody dies. There’s no avoiding it, and I do not believe for one second that butter is the cause of anyone’s death. Overeating may be, but not butter, please. I just feel bad for people who make that mistake.

--Nora Ephron, American journalist, writer, filmmaker, 1941-2012

Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.

--Anthony Bourdain, American chef, writer and television personality, 1956-2018

Two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to truth; and second, the courage to follow this faint light wherever it may lead.

--Carl von Clausewitz, Prussian general, 1780-1831

The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.

--Albert Camus, French philosopher and writer, 1913-1960

I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father’s life.

--Sidney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor, director, activist and diplomat, 1927-2022

Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.

--Vincent van Gogh, famous Dutch painter, 1853-1890

The greatest obstacle for me has been the voice in my head that I call my obnoxious roommate. I wish someone would invent a tape recorder that we could attach to our brains to record everything we tell ourselves. We would realize how important it is to stop this negative self-talk. It means pushing back against our obnoxious roommate with a dose of wisdom.

TWhat are you reading?

Summer Lightning

P.G. Wodehouse

Review by Ed Putka

here are not many novels you read these days where, ambushed by humor, you look up from the page, close your eyes and laugh out loud. Even fewer novels where you do this a dozen or more times within three hundred pages. Summer Lightning (1929) is such a novel.

Calling it a novel is really putting lipstick on a pig, who, by the way, happens to be one of the central characters in this romp through upper British society circa 1920. In a Downton Abbey-type setting, we are introduced to the Earl of Emsworth, his quirky family, neighbors, visitors, and the aforesaid pig, a prize Shropshire sow called the Empress of Blandings.

The twists of the rather silly plot take backstage to Wodehouse’s wonderfully imagined characters: the Honorable Gallahad Threepwood, Lord Burper, P. Frobisher Pilbeam, Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe, and Beach the Butler, who, in other stories is known as Jeeves. Having written ninety-odd novels and hundreds of short stories, Wodehouse is said to have created more than 2000 literary characters, the most

Monthly feature coordinated by Alan Rose

ATTENTION READERS

Read a good book lately? Share your impressions and thoughts with other CRR readers. Email alan@alan-rose. com or publisher@crreader.com for info. Writers and non-writers welcome, editing services provided, and can be based on phone miniinterview if preferred.

famous being Jeeves, whose name has become synonymous with the quintessential valet, fixing problems, sorting out demanding relatives, and solving anything to do with romance.

Wodehouse remains as fresh and funny today as he was a hundred years ago.

Retired judge Ed Putka writes his own humorous stories, many of them about his childhood, growing up in a Polish neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and frequently reads them at the monthly WordFest events.

Good Books

Located in the historic Castle Rock Bank Building 20 Cowlitz Street West Mon-Sat 8:30–5 • Sun 10–4 360-916-1377

--Arianna Huffington, Greek-American author, columnist and businesswoman, 1950Longview native Debra Tweedy has lived on four continents. She and her husband returned to her hometown in recent years, largely due Lake Sacajawea and the Longview Public Library. Newly-relocated to Springville, Utah, to be near family, she remains part of CRR’s editorial team .

1. Remarkably Bright

Creatures Shelby Van Pelt, Ecco, $19.99

2. Problematic

Summer Romance Ali Hazelwood, Berkley, $20

3. Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Perennial, $21.99

4. I Who Have Never Known Men

Jacqueline Harpman, Transit Books, $16.95

5. All Fours Miranda July, Riverhead Books, $19

6. The Ministry of Time Kaliane Bradley, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, $18.99

7. Iron Flame

Rebecca Yarros, Entangled: Red Tower Books, $21.99

8. The Frozen River Ariel Lawhon, Vintage, $18

9. Project Hail Mary Andy Weir, Ballantine, $20

10. The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman, Penguin, $18

Brought to you by Book Sense and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, for week ending June 1, 2025, 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

PAPERBACK NON-FICTION

1. On Tyranny

Timothy Snyder, Crown, $12

2. The Wide Wide Sea Hampton Sides, Vintage, $19

3. The Wager

David Grann, Vintage, $21

4. The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Amy Tan, Knopf, $36

5. Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Milkweed Editions, $22

6. The Light Eaters

Zoë Schlanger, Harper Perennial, $19.99

7. A Dumb Birds Field Guide to the Worst Birds Ever Matt Kracht, Chronicle Books, $15.95

8. No Straight Road Takes You There

Rebecca Solnit, Haymarket Books, $16.95

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

10. Solito Javier Zamora, Hogarth, $18

BOOK REVIEW

By Alan Rose

G1. The Emperor of Gladness

Ocean Vuong, Penguin Press, $30

2. My Friends

Fredrik Backman, Atria Books, $29.99

3. Never Flinch

Stephen King, Scribner, $32

4. Great Big Beautiful Life

Emily Henry, Berkley, $29

5. James Percival Everett, Doubleday, $28

6. Fever Beach

Carl Hiaasen, Knopf, $30

7. Return to Sender

Craig Johnson, Viking, $30

8. Storybook Ending Moira Macdonald, Dutton, $29

9. The Knight and the Moth

Rachel Gillig, Orbit, $30

10. Nightshade

Michael Connelly, Little, Brown and Company, $30

Creativity:

The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing

Adam Moss

Penguin

Random House

$45

enius, for Thomas Alva Edison, was one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Adam Moss, former editor of New York Magazine, comes to much the same conclusion in The Work of Art.

Moss interviewed more than 40 artists, including composer Stephen Sondheim,

Alan’s haunting novel of the AIDS epidemic, As If Death Summoned, won the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award (LGBT category.) He organizes the monthly Word Fest gathering (info at left). Reach him at www.alan-rose.com.

1. The Serviceberry

Robin Wall Kimmerer, John Burgoyne (Illus.), Scribner, $20

2. The Let Them Theory Mel Robbins, Sawyer Robbins, Hay House LLC, $29.99

3. Abundance

Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson, Avid Reader Press/ Simon & Schuster, $30

4. Everything Is Tuberculosis John Green, Crash Course Books, $28

5. We Can Do Hard Things Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle, The Dial Press, $34

6. Is a River Alive?

Robert Macfarlane, W. W. Norton & Company, $31.99

7. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

Omar El Akkad, Knopf, $28

8. The Book of Alchemy Suleika Jaouad, Random House, $30

9. Mark Twain Ron Chernow, Penguin Press, $45, 10. Steve Martin Writes the Written Word

Steve Martin, Grand Central Publishing, $30

Top 10 Bestsellers

1. Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Dr. Seuss, Random House Books for Young Readers, $18.99

2. Jamberry

Bruce Degen, HarperCollins, $9.99

3. Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), Harper, $10.99

4. Don’t Trust Fish

Neil Sharpson, Dan Santat (Illus.), Dial Books, $18.99

5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle, World of Eric Carle, $10.99,

6. Blueberries for Sal Robert McCloskey, Puffin, $9.99

7. Will the Pigeon Graduate?

Mo Willems, Union Square Kids, $18.99,

8. Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak, Harper, $21.99

9. Bluey: Camping Penguin Young Readers, $5.99

10. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Bill Martin, Jr., John Archambault, Lois Ehlert (Illus.), Little Simon, $7.99

An invitation to play

novelist Michael Cunningham (The Hours), playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America), filmmaker Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”), dancer/choreographer Twyla Tharp, “This American Life” host Ira Glass, as well as painters, sculptors, visual artists, chefs, cartoonists, and other highly creative people. Key for all of them is the intense experience of inspiration— an idea, an image, a musical phrase— but then begins the work.

Nobel laureate poet Louise Glück well articulates the agony and the ecstasy of the creative process. The ecstasy: “This engagement is as absorbing as nothing else I have ever in my life known,” she says. “The whole of the self is utterly engaged in something that seems more important than anything in the world.” She describes a natural high where the self is participating in something greater than the self and beyond the self, a sense that one is a co-creator with a mysterious partner who knows you better than you know yourself.

And the agony: Those moments of dormancy, of No-Flow, of being cut off from that creative partnership are for her “a torment,” usually turning her “despondent.” During such times, “I

We — all of us — get hit by lightning (inspiration) all the time, but the bolts are rarely remembered and seldom understood. We all dream. Artists don’t have more interesting dreams than the rest of us. They don’t own imagination. What they do seem to have is an unusual ability to cross over — to get entrance to that inarticulate place, and then to capture what they can make use of. All that listening, scrawling, sketching is their turning what they are grasping at, inchoately, into something they can act on.

– from The Work of Art

feel doomed,” she says. “But I don’t react to those feelings by trying to eliminate them through diligence or intelligence, because what’s needed is not diligence or intelligence. What’s needed is an intervention of something outside yourself, better than yourself, but with access to

1. A Wolf Called Fire

Rosanne Parry, Greenwillow Books, $18.99

2. The Cartoonists Club Raina Telgemeier, Scott McCloud, Graphix, $14.99

3. The Eyes and the Impossible Dave Eggers, Shawn Harris (Illus.), Yearling, $14.99

4. The Lost Library

Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass, Square Fish, $8.99

5. Words with Wings and Magic Things

Matthew Burgess, Doug Salati (Illus.), Tundra Books, $19.99

6. Hatchet

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

7. A Wolf Called Wander Rosanne Parry, Greenwillow Books, $9.99

8. Odder

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

9. Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokémon) Scholastic, $16.99

10. A Whale of the Wild Rosanne Parry, Greenwillow Books, $9.99

yourself.” Outside yourself? asks Moss. Sounds otherworldly. Yes, she admits, for her it is.

Like Glück, many of those interviewed understand the process to be more about listening and discovering than actual creating. “I don’t think I’m gifted,” said the painter Francis Bacon. “I just think I’m receptive.”

So, what to do during those down times, when the muse, or the spirit, or the subconscious isn’t communicating? “I just wait,” says Glück. “For me, the really hard thing about writing is how much patience you need to have.” She adds, “I mean you can will things, but whenever I’ve tried to do that, the poem just goes to hell. Becomes a contrivance. An arrangement made with a mind instead of a discovery.”

Creative writing teachers urge their students to “just get words down on paper.” But too often, without that creative connection, you’re left with only a bunch of inert words on the page. Glück advises, “If you want a discovery that will surprise you, too, you just have to wait.”

Surprise and discovery have always been part of the creative process. The

LONGVIEW

U.S. Bank

Post Office

Forever Fit - 1211 18th Ave

Bob’s (rack, main check-out)

In front of 1232 Commerce Ave

In front of 1323 Commerce Ave

Where to find the new Reader

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

WOODLAND

The Oak Tree

Visitors’ Center

Grocery Outlet

Luckman Coffee

CASTLE ROCK

In front of CR Blooms Center

Cowlitz St. W., near Vault Books & Brew

Visitors’ Ctr, 890 Huntington Ave N., Exit 49, west side of I-5

Cascade Select Market

Amaro’s Table (former location of Parker’s) inside rack

VADER

Little Crane Café

In front of Elam’s 1413 Commerce

Teri’s on Broadway (side entry)

In front of Freddy’s 1110 Commerce

YMCA

Fred Meyer (rack, service desk)

Grocery Outlet, OB Hwy

Fibre Fed’l CU - Commerce Ave

Monticello Hotel (front entrance)

Kaiser Permanente

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

LCC Student Center

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

Etc Mercantile

Fibre Fed’l CU

Kalama Shopping Center corner of First & Fir

Columbia Inn

McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge (rack)

Luckmans Coffee, Mountain Timber Market, Port of Kalama

ST HELENS

Chamber of Commerce

Sunshine Pizza

St. Helens Market Fresh

Olde Town (near 2-Cs Vendor Mall)

Big River Tap Room

Safeway

WARREN

Warren Country Inn

SCAPPOOSE

Post Office

Road Runner

Fultano’s

Ace Hardware

WARRENTON

Fred Meyer

RYDERWOOD

Café porch

TOUTLE

Drew’s Grocery & Service

CLATSKANIE, ORE

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

CATHLAMET

Cathlamet Pharmacy

Tsuga Gallery

Realty West/Computer Link NW

Puget Island Ferry Landing

SKAMOKAWA

Skamokawa General Store

NASELLE

Appelo Archives & Café

Johnson’s One-Stop

ILWACO

Time Enough Books (entry table)

LONG BEACH

Long Beach Merchants Assn

OCEAN PARK

Ocean Park Chamber of Commerce

RAYMOND

NW Carriage Museum

Timberland Library

SOUTH BEND

Pacific County Historical

Society & Museum

Pacific County Courthouse Tourism

TOKELAND

Georgetown Gas Station

Canadian writer Margaret Atwood likened it to being a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. Art happening is “the extra rabbit coming out of the hat, the one you didn’t put there.”

The other message of Moss’s survey of artists is that, while we can’t control the one percent inspiration, we can decide to engage in the 99 percent of genius that’s perspiration. We can do the work of art.

For many artists, creativity is an act of play. Composer Brian Eno sees play as essential to learning and living fully, an activity that most of us lose as we grow older. He says children learn through play; adults play through art. Anyone can make art, Moss argues — which is not the same as becoming a great artist, and anyway, that may be the wrong way to think about creativity and art. The cartoonist Lynda Barry notes how differently we think about art than about, say, riding a bicycle. “When we hop on a bicycle, no part of us thinks that we’ll be able to win the Tour de France, but with art, we think if we’re not really good at it, we can’t, or shouldn’t, do it.” Her point is we can still enjoy the bike ride, even if we’re not Lance Armstrong or Eddy Merckx. It’s the same with the process of creation. It’s the playing, the “engagement,” that’s important. Moss is finally left with the mystery of the creative process. Maybe someday science will solve it, but until that time, the best we can manage is to explore the mystery ourselves by participating in it when lightning strikes, when the spirit moves us, when the opportunity arises, and let ourselves become engaged in something greater than ourselves.

CRR readers are:

Cheerful Curious • Smart Quick to smile Forever Young! Generous, too

Thanks for reading CRR!

Columbia River Reader BOOK BOUTIQUE

Lewis & Clark, Longview’s Centennial, Columbia River poetry, art, history, see pg 2, 29, 39 Gift Subscriptions for yourself or a friend!

Mon-Wed-Fri • 11am–3pm, or by chance or appointment 1333 14th Ave, Longview Free local delivery of books 360-749-1021 GREAT GIFTS!

Where do you read THE READER?

Still-functioning after 408 years (the structure, not the people)

Longview residents Dennis and Kris McElroy Weber at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, aka the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey, Spring 2024.

Entering the Kingdom

Longview residents Marc Silva and Joseph Govednik about to enter Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.. Their families accompanied them on the trip but were camera shy when the photo was taken.

37 years experience

41 years experience

John Edmunds 711 Vandercook Way, #122 Longview

John Edmunds 711 Vandercook Way, Suite 122 Longview Tue -Fri 9:30am–5pm • Sat 9:30am–3pm

360-423-7252

WHERE DO YOU READ THE READER?

Send your photo reading the Reader (high-resolution JPEG) to publisher@crreader.com. For cell phone photos, choose the largest file size up to 2 MB. Include names and cities of residence. Expect an acknowledgment within 5 days of submission; otherwise, please re-send. Thank you for your participation and patience, as we usually have a small backlog!

Tues - Fri • 9:30–5, Sat • 9:30 –3 thejewelersbenchinc377@gmail.com

Fashion Jewelry • Diamonds • Wedding Sets • Swarovski Optiks

Brooklynn Stevens R.A.Long May Scholar

Sponsored by Walker insurance

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. Commercial projects, businesses and organizations wishing to promote their particular products or services are invited to purchase advertising.

HOW TO PUBLICIZE YOUR NONPROFIT EVENT IN CRR

Send your non-commercial community event info (incl 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, Longview, WA 98632

Submission Deadlines

Events occurring:

July 15 – Aug. 20 by June 25 for July 15 issue. Aug 15 – Sept. 20 by July 25 for Aug 15 issue

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

See Submission Guidelines above.

Public invited to celebrate “Make Music Day”

On Saturday, June 21, the Arts Council of Clatsop County joins the Make Music Day celebration, a one-day event with free, live musical performances and opportunities to make music taking place around the world.

Everyone — from professional musicians to people who have never picked up an instrument — is invited to join in the global music celebration at events around Clatsop County from 12–8pm, also happening in more than over 2,000 cities inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique.

MAKE MUSIC DAY • June 21

12Noon to 8pm

Clatsop County, Oregon

For an up-to-date list of event locations and times , visit makemusicday.org/ clatsopcounty

Registration is still open for musicians and venues.

Hear songs inspired by the ocean at the Maritime Museum; join a bucketdrumming session; learn to play the harmonica or steel pan drum; play handbells as part of a large group; or relax to the sounds of many local musicians. All Make Music Day events are free and open to the public.

Make Music Day is presented in the US by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. According to John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO: “Collaborative efforts on Make Music Day deliver a unified message that creating music is a precious element of daily living, linking communities around the world.”

More information: makemusicday.org

Your coluMbia riVer reaDer Read it • Enjoy it Share it • Recycle it

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

Outings & Events

Wahkiakum Westport Ferry Centennial Celebration Sat., June 21, 3:30–5:30pm. Little Island Creamery, 448 E. Little Island Rd., Cathlamet, Wash. See ad, page 23. Free Car Seat Clinic Sat., June 21, 10am–12pm, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, 701 Vine St., Kelso, Wash. Qualifying participants will receive one free car seat per car/ family thanks to a generous donation by Junior League of Lower Columbia.

Living History Encampment Sat, Jul 12, 10–4; Sun, July 13, 10–3 Knappton Cove Heritage Center , 521 SR401, on the north side of the Columbia River across from Astoria. Free museum admission during regular open hours: July and August, Saturdays 1–4pm. Guided Tours at 2pm. More info: knapptoncoveheritagecenter.org

Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center Public open house. July 19, 12noon–3pm. 45 Butler Street, downtown Cathlamet, Wash. During Bald Eagle Days, see ad, page 35.

BROADWAY GALLERY

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

FEATURED ARTISTS

June All Gallery Show “Summer Solstice”

July Guest Artists Tamara Dinius (painting); George Discant (woodcarving)

Unique gifts!, beautiful artisan cards, jewelry, books by local authors, wearable art, original paintings, pottery, sculpture, photographs and MORE!

FIRST THURSDAY July 3rd 5:30–7pm. Join us for Live Music and Refreshments

Classes & workshops available on our website or in store.

If you have a group of 5–7 who are interested in a Paint & Sip, call the Gallery *Call to Artists: Community Art Show in August themed “Community.” To enter bring your original artwork inspired by “Community” to the gallery by 4pm Tues, July 29. Reception Aug 7th. Show runs Aug 1-31. See our website or visit the Gallery for more details & entry form.

OPEN Tues - Sat 11–4

Free Gift Wrap on request.

Voted one of top 3 Galleries in SW Washington.

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

in the spotlight

Technically a flugelhorn is a kind of valved bugle. Dmitri Matheny and his horn guru Art Farmer share a simpler definition:

Straighten out a trumpet and you’ve got four and a half feet of brass. Straighten out a flugelhorn and you’ve just got cool.

This month Dimitri joins us IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

ROLAND’S BLOWS COOL Summer jazz lineup both icy and hot

Marc and Nancy Roland continue to champion the region’s flourishing jazz scene while serving up wood-fired pizza and hand-crafted wine for jazz aficionados and samplers alike.

“This is a great venue and a great crowd,”said Dmitri Matheny in a recent phone conversation. He’ll join Roland’s resident jazz impresario and drummer Alan Cook, along with Joe Bagg on keyboards and Eric Gruber on bass, for a muchanticipated gig Thursday, July 31st.

Meanwhile, on the 19th of June, Roland’s welcomes the delightful Heather Keizer, bringing a swinging jazz sensibility cultivated in both English and French. Growing up bilingual in Canada and mastering a variety of vocal styles, she’s been a star in the Portland jazz firmament for more than 15 years and a crowd-pleasing chanteuse.

Come Blow Your Horn

“I think all of us had this dream,” said Dmitri, “that we’d get these great ensembles together and tour for two weeks on a bus — this is like circa 1959, Miles Davis.”

Instead it’s a different world today for most performing musicians, who for years aspired simply to write, record and cash royalty checks. Now their industry is turned upside down. Internet streaming has killed records and royalties, forcing working musicians to return to their roots and the road — troubadours making a living, one gig at a time.

“It’s so much more decentralized these days,” he said. “The band members get to the gigs on their own, often barely have time to look at the charts. I confess, sometimes it’s almost sight reading!”

But what sight reading! Spontaneous, improvisational, new every night.

cont page 38

Hal Calbom is associate publisher with CRRPress, and produces CRR’s monthly “People+Place” feature, see page 19.

Photo: steVe korn

Dmitri Matheny•July 31

Heather Keizer•June 19

According to Dmitri, three things keep this new / old guild of itinerant jazz musicians working: their superb musicianship, which requires only a few chords and a lead line to launch their magic; a sprawling new network connecting players, gigs and venues; and loyal, interested audiences far beyond the big cities and bright lights.

“We get great crowds, many of them in small clubs, pubs, performing arts centers, grand old theaters,” said Dmitri.

Home Cookin’

As proof of his forsaking the Chicago –Los Angeles – New York mainstream, he now calls nearby Centralia,Washington — not exactly Funk City — his home town. “We were looking for someplace affordable and with some charm, and halfway between Portland and Seattle, where I do a lot of work. It’s perfect!”

Dmitri Matheny is praised to the heavens for his passionate playing, improvisation, and spirit. He’s also a grounded, practical, working musician, with his summer dance card full.

Don’t miss him!

IF YOU GO

Roland Wines Jazz Series

Thursdays, 6–8pm 1106 Florida, Longview, Wash

Heather Keizur, June 19th

Dmitri Matheny, July 31st

Suggested Donation $10

Wood-fired Pizza Wine & Cocktails available Check website for schedule rolandwines.com

PLUGGED IN TO COWLITZ PUD

By Alice Dietz, Cowlitz PUD Communications/Public Relations Manager

Every four years, Cowlitz PUD is required by Washington State’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) to create a roadmap for how we will provide our customers with an electric supply free from greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. In 2022, we developed our first roadmap, the Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP). This plan proposed the steps Cowlitz PUD needs to take to be greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 and have clean energy by

Cowlitz PUD seeks public input for CETA mandates the spectator by ned piper Summer pleasures at The Lake

2045. The steps in the plan included energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy goals, and the actions needed to take to make sure all Cowlitz PUD customers benefit from the transition to clean energy.

Cowlitz PUD’s next four-year roadmap is due January 1, 2026, and we want to hear from you! You are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways: cont page 39

Summer is finally here. And what a time to live in the Columbia River region. We have mountains, a short drive to the fabulous Washington and Oregon beaches, mild weather, and enjoyable local activities galore.

In the Longview area, we are blessed, not only with several rivers, but also with a well-manicured Lake Sacajawea Park, one of the region’s gems.

Let me congratulate Jason Brown for his rise to the position of Longview’s Park and Recreation Director. He is taking over a department that thrived under the leadership of Jenn Wills, who moved up the ladder to become Longview’s City Manager. Thanks to the arborists and landscape workers who so expertly keep it all up.

Lake Sacajawea’s four-mile walking/ jogging path attracts walkers and joggers, come rain or come shine, day and night, year ‘round.

And don’t forget the Thursday Concerts at the Lake at Martin Dock (beginning July 10, 6pm) . Also, GoFourth — the annual celebration around the Fourth of July, which attracts thousands from around the region to its fireworks display, cardboard boat regatta, food booths, logging show, and more.

Are you aware of the Friends of Galileo’s gift-to-the-city Solar System Walk that begins near St. John Medical Center at the north end of the lake? It’s educational and inspiring, and where else can you travel 11 billion miles in just a few minutes?

There is so much going on at Lake Sacajawea that helps make this the place we like to live. Enjoy part of your summer with a walk, a picnic, or a concert at the Lake.

Maybe even all of the above!

Longview resident Ned Piper is mostly retired, but assists with CRR ads and distribution — when he is not enjoying TV sports or political talk (wrangling) shows.

Photo: steVe korn

Dmitri Matheny

from page 38

• Read more about the CEIP, our public process, and the 2022 fouryear road map by visiting our CETA webpage: cowlitzpud.org/ceip/

• Share your thoughts and ideas on the clean energy

• Participate in our workshop and focus groups

Community Survey

The Community Survey is available through the QR code, electronically on a tablet located in the lobby of our Main office (961 12th Ave, Longview), or on paper by request. Your answers will be anonymous and only used to help us develop our 2026 four-year roadmap. The survey should take about five minutes to complete.

Workshop and Focus Groups

We will hold two focus groups in CAP’s Altrusa Room, 1526 Commerce Ave., Longview, Wash, for feedback from you, targeting specific participants: 1) Public and landlords, July 16 (RSVP by July 10), and 2) Public and community organizations, July 23 (RSVP by July 17)

To RSVP, request info to attend remotely, or to submit feedback, email cetapublicprocess@cowlitzpud.org.

Alice Dietz may be reached at adietz@cowlitzpud.org, or 360-501-9146. We are all in this together and want to hear from you. Your valuable input will help shape our plan to make certain no one is unintentionally harmed by the clean energy transition.

A Different Way of Seeing...

THE TIDEWATER REACH Field Guide to the Lower Columbia in Poems and Pictures

THREE EDITIONS • $25, $35, $50

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.

DISPATCHES

FROM THE

DISCOVERY TRAIL

A Layman’s Lewis & Clark $35

by Michael O. Perry

Mail Order Form, page 2. Or call 360-749-1021 FREE local delivery. Or purchase online: crreader.com/crrpress

Books also available at:

• Columbia Gorge Interpretive Museum Stevenson

• Broadway Gallery Longview

• Cowlitz County Historical Museum Shop Kelso

• Kelso-Longview Visitor Center

• Vault Books & Brew Castle Rock

• Morgan Arts Center Toledo

• Tsuga Gallery Cathlamet

• Redmen Hall Skamokawa

• Skamokawa Store Skamokawa

• Appelo Archives Naselle

• Time Enough Books Ilwaco

• Marie Powell Gallery Ilwaco

• Godfathers Books Astoria, Ore.

• RiverSea Gallery Astoria,Ore.

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

Please support our local booksellers & galleries

by Debby Neely

W E C A N

H . E . L . P

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