CRREADER.COM • Vol. XVI, No. 5 • August 15 – September 15, 2019 • COMPLIMENTARY Helping you discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River region at home and on the road
MARC ROLAND’S FAVORITE SUMMER COOLERS page 14
SUMMER READING
READER WRITERS RECOMMENDED BOOKS page 28
People+Place
SEAMAN’S DAY at FORT CLATSOP page 21
page 38
COLUMBIA RIVER
dining guide
Natural Resource
Bringing Lewis & Clark to Life
CRR COLLECTORS CLUB lub... Jo in the c o Welco me t the fo ld!
EVENTS • BOOKS • SUBSCRIPTIONS We’ve recently added two wonderful new CRR series and reprised our popular historical chronicle, Michael Perry’s “Dispatch from the Discovery Trail.” Adding writer and filmmaker Hal Calbom, creator of “People+Place,” and renowned naturalist Robert Michael Pyle to our stable of monthly contributors prompted many of you to ask:
“Can we subscribe to the Reader and not miss a single issue?” We’re listening! We’ve responded to your suggestions and are introducing a bonus: a line of CRR-published and distributed books. Welcome to our latest innovation: the CRR Collectors Club. We’re not just celebrating the Columbia River lifestyle and good reads — we’re collectible!
LEWIS AND CLARK REVOLUTIONIZED
What really — truly — happened during those final wind-blown, rain-soaked thirty days of the Lewis and Clark Expedition? Southwest Washington author and explorer Rex Ziak revolutionized historical scholarship by providing the answers: day by day and week by week. We’re delighted to offer In Full View, and Rex’s other two books, one with an extraordinary fold-out map, as our inaugural offerings from CRR Collectors Club.
IN FULL VIEW Rex Ziak
Announcing a special subscription program which includes a host of other benefits to membership, including special events and author access, book signings and readings, as well as the convenience and efficiency of monthly home delivery.
ENJOY THESE CRR REGULAR FEATURES $29.95
A true and accurate account of Lewis and Clark’s arrival at the Pacific Ocean, and their search for a winter camp along the lower Columbia River.
EYEWITNESS TO ASTORIA Gabriel Franchére
THE READER COMES HOME!
$21.95
The newly edited and annotated by Rex Ziak version of Franchére’s 1820 journal, Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the Years 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814, or The First American Settlement on the Pacific.
Alan Rose Books • Miss Manners Civilized Life • Marc Roland Wine Alice Slusher Northwest Gardening • Tracy Beard Out and About Ted Gruber and Greg Smith Astronomy Debra Tweedy Quips & Quotes • Tiffany Dickinson Happenings Perry Piper Lower Columbia Informer • Ned Piper The Spectator Dr. Bob Blackwood Movies • Columbia River Dining Guide CRR Readers Where Do You Read the Reader?
CRR EXCLUSIVES AND CONTINUING SERIES People + Place
Hal Calbom’s photos and interviews
The Natural World
Bob Pyle’s essays and commentary
Lewis and Clark
Michael Perry’s Dispatch from the Discovery Trail
Annual subscription: 11 issues $55. Order by mail using the form below or via credit card or PayPal on our website www.crreader.com. Questions? Call 360-636-3097.
CRR Press 1333 14th Ave. Longview, WA 98632
CRR COLLECTORS CLUB
Name______________________________________
DOWN AND UP Rex Ziak
$18.95
A unique fold-out guide mapping day-by-day Lewis and Clark’s journey from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean and back. All book orders to include shipping and handling charge. All book and subscription orders to include, if applicable, Washington State sales tax. 2 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
___@ $29.95 = _______
In Full View
Eyewitness to Astoria ___@ $21.95 = _______ Down and Up
___ @ $18.95 = _______
Street______________________________________
Add Book Shipping & Handling
City/State/Zip________________________________
email_______________________________________
11-issue Subscription ___@ $55 = __________ Start with next issue
Phone _____________________________________
Sub-Total ______________
Washington residents add sales Tax
$3.90
8.1%__________
TOTAL _________________
(Check payable to CRR Press enclosed)
A
s summer winds down and Christmas decorations begin showing up in stores, be of good cheer! There is still time for an end-of-summer outing. This issue is full of inspiring possibilities for a “stay-cation,” meaning, according to Google, a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
Sue’s Views
For a fun excursion, consider a jaunt by the train to Tacoma or even Portland, featuring museums, shopping, peoplewatching and, of course, food (page 16). Or treat yourself to a scenic dinner cruise on the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler (page 11). This is also an ideal time to visit the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (People+Place, page 21), which includes Fort Clatsop (daily schedule at right), Dismal Nitch, Station Camp and Cape Disappointment. Make a day (or two) of it and enjoy the coast!
Stay-cations, picnics and a bucket list of books
August 25 is National Park Service Founders Day with free admission, making it a good time to visit not only Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, but also Fort Vancouver, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier or Olympic National Parks.
And a summer picnic is always fun. Suggestion: Take along Tracy Beard’s Grilled Asparagus Cobb or Tortollini Caprese Salads (page 10), perhaps to Cape Disappointment State Park. It’s a great spot to dine al fresco, with
Publisher/Editor: Susan P. Piper Columnists and contributors: Tracy Beard Dr. Bob Blackwood Hal Calbom Alice Dietz Joseph Govednik Ted Gruber Jim LeMonds Michael Perry Ned Piper Perry Piper Robert Michael Pyle Marc Roland Alan Rose Alice Slusher Lois Sturdivant Debra Tweedy Production/Graphics Manager: Perry E. Piper Editorial/Proofreading Assistants: Merrilee Bauman Tiffany Dickinson Michael & Marilyn Perry Debra Tweedy 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 Website: www.CRReader.com E-mail: publisher@crreader.com Phone: 360-749-1021
its picnic and day use facilities, hiking trails and a concert, by The Unexpected Brass Band, overlooking the ocean on Aug. 24 (see calendar listing, page 34, Discovery Pass required). And, by the way, if you really can’t get away or just prefer to “stay put” for summer’s last hurrah, all is not lost. Relax in your backyard hammock or on the sofa with your favorite summer beverage (page 14) and a good book. In this, our summer reading issue, we propose many books for your consideration, including Alan Rose’s review of 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die (we’d better get started!) and new recommendations from CRR writers (pages 26-29). I hope we all find time to relax and celebrate the end of summer!
Sue Piper
Photos by Hal Calbom
Cover Design by
Columbia River Reader is published monthly, with 15,000 copies distributed free in the Lower Columbia region. Entire contents copyrighted by Columbia River Reader. No reproduction of any kind allowed without express written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, not necessarily to the Reader.
Submission guidelines: page 34. General Ad info: page 18
Ned Piper 360-749-2632.
CRREADER.COM Visit our website for the current issue and archive of past issues from 2013.
Subscriptions $55 per year inside U.S. (plus $4.40 sales tax for subscriptions mailed to Washington addresses). See form, page 2.
Aug 25: Natio nal Park Service Foun ders Day Free Admissi National Park on to all Service sites
In this Issue
Sally Freeman, ranger at Fort Clatsop. Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.
See story, pg. 21
through Labor Day
Two movies alternate in the visitor center theater year-round, shown at the top of each hour: “A Clatsop Winter Story,” a 22-min. program about the Corps of Discovery’s 1805-06 winter at Fort Clatsop, told from a Clatsop Indian view. And “Lewis & Clark: Confluence of Time and Courage,” a 34-min. video about the journey. 9:30am Flag talk (a brief ranger talk about the 2nd flag of the U.S.A. as the flag is raised) 10:30am Flintlock program 11:00am Netul Trail ranger-guided walk 11:30am Ranger talk (on some aspect of the park’s stories, topics vary by ranger) 12:30pm Ranger talk 1:30pm Flintlock program 2:00pm Netul Trail ranger guided walk 2:30pm Ranger talk 3:30pm Ranger talk 4:30pm Flintlock program 5:30pm Flag talk (a brief ranger talk as the flag is lowered
Columbia River Reader . . . helping you discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River region at home and on the road.
ON THE COVER
A friendly Newfoundland dog visiting the Fort.
Fort Clatsop Daily Schedule
2 4 7 9 10 11 14 16 18 19 20 21-24 25 25 26 26-27 28-29 29 31 34-35 36 36 37 38 39 41 42 42
CRR Collectors Club Miss Manners Dispatch from the Discovery Trail ~ A Big Disappointment Northwest Gardening ~ Flower Perk-ups Provisions along the Trail Out & About: Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler Dinner Cruise Roland on Wine ~ Summer Coolers Out & About ~Tacoma via Amtrak SquirrelFest / Squirrel Bridge Map Local Culture / Museum Magic Quips & Quotes People + Place ~ Natural Resource: Sally Freeman People+Place Recommended Books Essay by Robert Michael Pyle: Waving the Flag Besides CRR, What Are You Reading? Cover to Cover ~ Bestsellers List / Book Review CRR Writers’ Book Recommendations Farmers Markets Ryderwood’s Pioneer Hall Outings & Events Calendar Lower Columbia Informer: Greetings from South America Mt. St. Helens Club Hikes Movies by Dr. Bob Blackwood Lower Columbia Dining Guide Astronomy ~ The Sky Report Where Do You Read the Reader? The Spectator ~ Of Mice and Men ... and Fleas Plugged In to Cowlitz PUD: 2nd ‘Annual Eat for Heat’ Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 3
Civilized Living
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When a person buys and moves into a new home, is it up to the new homeowners to invite family to see their home (which sounds like you are looking for a gift), or should the family call and ask to see the house? GENTLE READER: Even firefighters and paramedics wait for invitations from the homeowner before entering. Miss Manners expects the same to apply to family members, no matter how curious they may be. DEAR MISS MANNERS: I attend a very liberal college, and many of my classmates are passionate about decreasing the taboo surrounding mental illness. While I support this cause in spirit, I’m bothered by some of its symptoms. Specifically, many of my peers apologize preemptively for future slights. Typically, a classmate will say something along the lines of, “I’m sorry if I’m rude to you today; I’m dealing with a depressive episode.”
REAL ESTATE TIPS
S
ummertime isn’t exactly when we feel most compelled to perform home maintenance tasks. Getting the easier ones out of the way now, however, will lighten the “honey do” list you’ll face in fall. To make it even easier here’s a list of projects that will take you only 10 minutes or less to perform.
I recognize that nobody is perfect, and would certainly forgive someone who apologized after being gruff. But a preemptive apology often leaves me uncertain that my peer is even planning to try to regulate his or her behavior. I also feel that any regret is insincere: Because the apologizer has yet to hurt me, I don’t think he or she can possibly acknowledge the pain I (might) feel. Am I right to be put off, or should I catch up to the times? Is there an appropriate way to express my displeasure with such an apology without seeming to judge a friend’s struggles with mental health? GENTLE READER: “I am so sorry. How lucky, at least, that you know in advance when you’re going to offend. I’m not sure that I am able to do that, so please forgive me if I accidentally take offense.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A lot of entertaining at people’s homes involves potluck dinners where everyone brings a dish. I love cooking, and put a considerable amount of time and energy into preparing a dish that guests will enjoy, as do many others in my circle. Often, these dinners are some of the best food you will find in our town. But there are some who bring the cheapest and least time-consuming thing they can think of: a bag of chips, guacamole, deli potato salad, etc. Someone once actually brought a cheap takeout pizza.
like doing anything, so they don’t. That doesn’t stop them from eating what others have spent time making. I think it’s incredibly selfish and self-centered, as most of these folks have both the time and the money to contribute. These are the same people who bring the cheapest wine they can find. I had one party at my home, and I will never do it again, as I found myself cont page 30
I find this infuriating. Most of the time, these non-contributors just don’t feel
Your Columbia River Reader
Read it. Enjoy it. Share it. Recycle it.
Columbia River Reader is printed with environmentally-sensitive soy-based inks on paper manufactured in the Pacific Northwest utilizing the highest percentage of “post-consumer waste” recycled content available on the market.
Member SIPC
by Mike Wallin
Home Maintenance Projects You Can Knock Out in 10 Minutes or Less Let It Slide Squirt lubricant on sliding glass doors, windows and doors once a year. But first, clean out the accumulated “gunk” in and around the tracks. If you have vinyl windows, use caution, warns the Family Handyman. Oil lubricants can damage the vinyl, so he recommends using a dry PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) spray lubricant (such as WD-40® SPECIALIST®) “. . . on the contact points and wiping it off with a rag.” Channel You Inner Sherlock Holmes Some annual inspections
experts recommend can be knocked out fast. Do one every weekend and you’ll have this part of your home maintenance chore list whittled down.
• Dust and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries, if needed.
• Check the water heater for rust. Open the burner chamber and look for rust flakes. Also look at the flame – it should be blue. If it contains yellow coloring, the jets may need cleaning. • Test ground fault interrupter outlets by pushing the “test” button. The “reset” button should pop out. Push it and you’re finished. • Check the garage door opener for safety. Pull the handle to put the system into manual mode and lift the door three feet from the ground. It should remain open. If it doesn’t, call a garage door professional. Put the system back into automatic mode and open the door completely. Place an obstacle under it, such as a garbage can and press the button to close the door. If it doesn’t stop when it meets the obstacle, call a garage door professional as soon as possible. • While you’re lubricating the windows and doors, inspect the weather stripping for signs of wear.
https://mikewallin.com/real-estate-blog/summer-home-maintenance-projects-you-canknock-out-in-10-minutes-or-less/
Mike Wallin
Five Star Broker, REALTOR
Highest Rated Locally 360-560-3636 CELL michaelkwallin@gmail.com 1140-11th Ave., Longview, WA By appointment only
To read the full article log onto
www.mikewallin.com
4 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Glass Reminder
Glass only Accepted at Facility - Since Jan 1, 2019 Please bring your glass bottles and jars directly to Waste Control for recycling
Since 2014, the collected curbside recyclable material is no longer sorted, but baled and shipped to various markets, both locally and overseas. It was discovered that a lot of the glass breaks during the baling process, thereby introducing a new contaminant to the baled materials. Broken glass reduces the value of the material the City receives for its curbside material. Please do not place your recyclables in plastic bags Place directly into your BROWN recycling container
Most plastic bags are a solid color, preventing sorters from seeing the contents. Used needles or other hazardous materials are sometimes found; for safety reasons, such bags are not opened up.
In an effort to serve you better, the City has compiled common information that residents often request, plus created an easy way for you to communicate with us.
Recycling Rule of Thumb:
Got a question? Just Ask Longview!
Reuse or donate if possible, but... When in doubt — throw it out!
- Check out the new and improved -
www.longviewrecycles.com
Visit
KALAMA I-5 EXIT 30
The small town with big horizons
124 N First Street Kalama, WA 98625
360.430.6664
athyriumskincare.com
athyriumskincare
Everything you’d expect...and MORE! Mon-Sat 9–5 • Sun 9–4
360-673-2060
362 N. 1st Street • Kalama
Thanks for shopping local!
540 Hendrickson Dr. Kalama Exit 27
360.673.2045
Fresh Roasted Coffee Deli • Ice Cream • Gift Shop
All you need is love... and coffee!
Therapeutic Deep Tissue Treatment Relaxation Chiropractic Care Sauna
360.673.7249 124 N. 1st ST • KALAMA WA
Ella Gray is the antidote to click-and-ship shopping. More than home decor, we offer an experience and inspiration! 210 N 1st Street •Kalama 206-349-3016 T-Sat 11–5:30 • Sun 12–4
223 NE 1st Street, Kalama 9–8 M-Sat, 10–7 Sun • 360-673-2200
135 N 1st STREET • KALAMA OPEN DAILY • ALL AGES WELCOME WILLIEDICKS.COM • 360-673-3647
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 5
Internal Medicine & Preventative Care Open Every Day for Your Convenience Holidays & Weekends Included
Introducing
Nicholas Austin MSPAS, PA-C
Richard A. Kirkpatrick, M.D., FACP
Britta C. Fischer, BS, PA-C
Brooke Wethington, Karen L. Joiner, MPAS, BS, PA-C RN, MSN, ARNP
Dara M. Newberry, Rachel Roylance, RN, MSN, DNP BS, MPAP, PA-C
Carol Sayles, RN, MSN, ARNP
Bev Search, RN, FNP, MA, ARNP
Melanie Hughes, BS, MPAS, PA-C
Vlad Bogin, M.D., FACP
We Accept Most Insurance Plans Extended clinic hours: Mon-Fri, 8am to 8pm Sat, 9am to 1pm Sun, Noon to 4pm
360-423-9580
1706 Washington Way, Longview
ON THE CIVIC CENTER www.kirkpatrickfamilycare.com
Kirkpatrick Foot & Ankle • American Board of Podiatric Surgery • Diabetic Foot Care • Ingrown Toenails • Heel & Arch Pain • Foot Surgery
Ye a r s Over 20 rience of Expe
• Fungal Conditions Mark Rawson, DPM, Podiatrist
• Board Certified in Wound Care
360-575-9161
783 Commerce Ave. Suite 120 BOTH BUSINESSES UNDER SAME OWNERSHIP 6 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Lewis & Clark
A Big Disappointment
C
hief Cameahwait drew a map in the dirt and made it clear there was no easy route across the Rocky Mountains. Lewis attempted to “obtain what information I could with rispect to the country.” Lewis had hoped the Lemhi River flowed through the mountains, but Cameahwait told him it flowed north for a half day’s march before joining the Salmon River. Cameahwait told of “vast mountains of rock eternally covered with snow through which the river passed, that the perpendicular and even jutting rocks so closely hemmed in the river that there was no possibilyte of passing along the shore; that the bed of the river was obstructed by sharp pointed rocks and the rapidity of the stream such that the whole surface of the river was beat into perfect foam as far as the eye could reach.” Cameahwait told Lewis he had never crossed the mountains, but “that he had understood from the persed nosed [Nez Perce] Indians who inhabit this river below Lewis & Clark Encore the rocky mountains that it ran a great We are pleased to present way toward the setting sun and finally lost Installment #16 of Michael itself in a great lake of water which was illy Perry’s popular 33-month taisted, and where the white men lived.” series which began with CRR’s April 15, 2004 inaugural issue. “Dispatch from the Discovery Trail” helped define and shape Columbia River Reader in its early years during the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Each installment covered their travels during the corresponding month 200 years prior. We are repeating the series for the enjoyment of both longtime and more recent readers.
AGENT SPOTLIGHT ~
T
imi’s journey to Real Estate has had many twists and turns along the way, from teaching to regional service supervisor, from bartender to small business owner. In these various careers in service-related industries, she has developed the ability to work easily with people from various backgrounds and personalities.
Lewis now had a pretty good idea about the drainage west of the Continental Divide. Cameahwait told Lewis the Nez Perce crossed the mountains every year to hunt buffalo in present-day Michael Perry enjoys local history and travel. His popular 33-installment Lewis & Clark series appeared in CRR’s early years and began its second “encore” appearance in April 2018.
Timi Harris!
Having extensive knowledge of real estate transaction forms, she conducts the new broker forms training for our new to-the-industry brokers.
Timi has served on the Lower Columbia Association of Realtors’ Board for the last 4 years, and most recently was named by the American Institute of Real Estate Professionals as one of the 10 Best Brokers in Washington State for customer service and client satisfaction.
If you’d like Timi to provide you with the same outstanding service and professionalism, give her a call. She’d be happy to help you. Kelso/Longview • 360-636-4663 209 W. Main St, Suite 200 • Kelso, WA
Cathlamet • 360-795-0552
102 Main St, Suite 200 • Cathlamet, WA
Mon- Fri: 8:30–5:30
Montana. Cameahwait said their route was to the north, “but added that the road was a very bad one as he had been informed by them and that they had suffered excessively with hunger on the rout being obliged to subsist for many days on berries alone as there were no game in that part of the mountains which was broken rockey and so thickly covered with timber that they could scarcely pass.” On August 21st the men awoke to find a quarter-inch of ice on jugs of water. Everyone was aware of the short time left to cross the Rocky Mountains. It’s NOT downhill all the way? It appears Lewis and Clark were still in a state of denial. A water passage through the mountains was still a desperate dream they both wanted to realize if possible. Clark traded a uniform coat, a pair of leggings, a few handkerchiefs, three knives, and some trinkets for three horses, “the whole of which did not cost more than about 20$ in the U’States.” He and eleven men then set out to explore the Salmon River to see if there was a possibility of going that route. But after a week, he knew the Indians hadn’t lied. Clark sent a man with a note telling Lewis to buy more horses since the Salmon River was impassable. Today, the Salmon River is still known as the River of No Return. Meanwhile, Lewis had, “purchased five good horses of them very reasonably, or at least for about the value of six dollars a piece in merchandize.” While Clark was exploring the possibility of going down the Salmon River, Lewis used the horses, a mule, and some Shoshone women to carry their cargo the rest of the way from Camp Fortunate to Cameahwait’s camp at Lemhi Pass where the journey through the mountains would begin. A minor inconvenience? On August 26th, Lewis wrote “one of the women who had been assisting in the transportation of the baggage halted at a little run about a mile behind us… I enquired of Cameahwait the cause of her detention, and was informed by him in an unconcerned manner that she had halted to bring fourth a child… in about an hour the woman arrived with her newborn baby and passed us on her way to the camp.” While still transporting their cargo, Charbonneau told Lewis he had learned the Indians were going to leave the next day to hunt buffalo – before Lewis could purchase the additional horses they would need. He was able to delay their departure and bought 22 more horses on August
28th. Clark hired a Nez Perce Indian called Old Toby to guide them over the mountains, and two days later the rest of the Shoshone Indians left to go hunt buffalo. The Corps reached the North Fork of the Salmon River on September 1st, and then traversed mountainsides so steep the horses slipped and slid down the slopes. Rain and snow fell, making the journey even more dangerous. Is this the way to San Jose? On September 4th, they met 400 Salish Indians (called Flatheads by Lewis and Clark) with 500 horses near present-day Sula, Montana. They bought 13 horses and exchanged 7 others. Toby then led the Corps down the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. When asked, Toby confessed he had no idea if the river joined the Columbia River (it does). The Expedition had traveled north along the Continental Divide and across trail-less mountains to get to Travelers Rest. Toby told the Captains of a trail from there east to the Great Falls that only took four days; the Corps circuitous route had taken 53 days. The Corps spent a couple of days at Travelers Rest on Lolo Creek, ten miles southwest of present-day Missoula, Montana. While hunting, George Colter ran into three Nez Perce Indians and brought them back to Travelers Rest. One of them agreed to guide the Corps the rest of the way over the mountains, which, he said, was a six-day hike. However, the Nez Perce guide abandoned them a day later. The Corps continued to follow an old trail that had been used by the Nez Perce since the 1730’s. This trail is still visible today. Travel was extremely difficult and, as Chief Cameahwait had said, there were virtually no animals to shoot and eat. On September 13th they reached Lolo Hot Springs and saw a bathing hole used by the Indians. They crossed the Bitterroot Mountains at Lolo Pass and began the journey down the Lochsa River, which joins the Clearwater River. The men were starving. The portable soup they had brought from St. Louis was rancid. Finally, on September 14th, they killed a horse to eat. It would not be the last time they had to do that. Patrick Gass wrote, these are “the most terrible mountains I ever beheld.” As bad as the journey had been up to that point, the worst was yet to come. The journey over “those unknown formidable snow clad Mountains” will be covered next month. •••
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 7
Everyday clothing for the everyday man INSTAGRAM: THEOUTFITTERLGV
CONTEMPORARY CLOTHING ACCESSORIES AND MORE FOR
-Her-
HOURS Tue-Fri 11–5:30 Sat 11–4
1262 Commerce • 360-353-3533 Gift Certificates Available
EXPLORE Longview Outdoor Gallery Unique sculptures along the sidewalks of Downtown Longview, both sides of Commerce Ave. New Installations coming in September!
Not your run of the mill restaurant!
Enjoy our twist on American Comfort food
Family friendly • Full Bar Banquets up to 100
MON-SAT
1265 14th Ave #130 • Longview
11am – 9pm: Family Dining 3pm – Late: Breakroom Bar
360.703.3904
1260 Commerce Ave www.millcitygrill.com
Closed Mon & Tues Open Wed thru Sun 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Authorized Lazboy Dealer
1413 Commerce Ave. Longview 360-575-9804 M-F: 9:30–5:30 • Sat 10 - 5
www.elamshf.com
le y t s e m o H Cooking of the s 0 7 & s 60 All natural ingredients Old Fashioned Favorites
We’re family owned, locally owned & here to stay
The Broadway Gallery See ad, page 14
11 – 5 • 7 DAYS A WEEK 1235 COMMERCE AVE LONGVIEW, WA
1240 Commerce Ave. Mon-Sat 9–5 Come check us out!
1140 15th Ave Longview 360-636-6181
We know beer and wine
We’ll help you unleash your “inner connoisseur” World-class Beverages
600 Beer Varieties 700 Wines 14 Tap Handles & Growlers Filled
BBQ Restaurant Meats Slow-Smoked On site
Open Daily for Lunch and Dinner
Catering • Cigars Home Brew Supplies 21 & Older
Bulk Grains, Extracts & Hops
360.577.1541 • 924 15th Ave • Longview WA 8 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Garden perk-ups Tips for better-looking flowers
I
s your summer flower garden looking tired and used up? Mine sure is! Luckily for us here in the Pacific Northwest, summer is far from over. We don’t usually have our first frost until the first week of November. We still have time to bring color back to our gardens and enjoy it for a couple more months. How are your hanging baskets of petunias and million bells (Calibrachoa) looking these days? Leggy, fewer flowers? Here are a few tricks to keep them looking fresh and bountiful. Keep your baskets moist. If you let them dry out completely and the entire plant wilts, you can bring it back by watering. However, it will never completely recover. Deadhead your petunias, but do it correctly. It’s not necessary to deadhead million bells, but your plant will be bushier if you do. Removing only the flower isn’t enough, because the plant will still put its energy into making and ripening a seed instead of making new flowers. The seed develops in the swollen base of the flower-clip the stem about ¼ inch beyond the base. You can also check to see if any spent flowers slipped your notice and started developing seeds. Seeds look like pointy little teardrop-like nuggets nestled in the leaf-like structure at the base of the flower. Pluck off this structure. Prune! The best way to rejuvenate your potted petunias and million bells is to prune them. Yup—give it a good
Northwest Gardening By Alice Slusher
haircut. Pruning will reward you with a Let’s go out into the flower garden. flush of new growth and flowers within Many—but not all—flowering 2-3 weeks. There are two ways to do perennials (those that come back year this. The first way will seem extreme after year) are done blooming and but will result in all-over new lush looking fairly shabby. Many of them will growth: prune all the stems back by 1/4 re-bloom with a little coaxing. Once to 1/2. I know, that’s hard to do when it’s again, pruning and feeding is the answer. still blooming beautifully. If you can’t There are two ways to prune flowering talk yourself into plants, depending on a severe pruning, whether only some Common flowering try cutting back or all the flowers are plants that will re-bloom only a few evenly spent. For example, Remember to feed them after distributed stems if your Shasta daisy pruning. It takes energy to re-grow! by 1/4 to 1/2 their or zinnia has a flower length. If you do that’s past its peak, •Columbine •Bee balm that every couple you can clip the stem •Gallardias •Delphiniums weeks, you should back to the next set •Foxglove •Garden phlox see a dramatic of developing flower •Gaura •Hollyhocks improvement in buds or leaf nodes on •Penstemons •Coneflowers vigor and shape. the stem. Before we •Coreopsis •Yarrow Because it’s the went on vacation, •Rose campion •Spiderwort middle of the my purple salvia •Lavender •Salvia growing season now, was covered with •Pincushion flower I would opt for the bee-magnet purple •Shasta and painted daisies first but more drastic spikes. By the time pruning method. we got home, most Next year, resolve of the plants had to clip back 3 or 4 stems a week, and ugly, brown flowers. So I opted for the your plant will stay full and bloom second pruning method—complete lavishly all summer. Remember, lots amputation. With similar plants that of new growth means your plant will send up many stems from the base, you need to be fed. Now is the time to can cut the entire plant back to the base add slow release fertilizer according to of the plant, and it will flower again in directions, and water in thoroughly. a few weeks for a fall bloom of color. Your petunia will also need some “fast Many plants won’t re-bloom, but you food” after pruning--feed with a liquid can tidy them up. Cut the stalk of plants soluble fertilizer with nutrient ratios on the package similar to 18-6-12 or Kalama resident Alice 24-18-16, or even 14-14-14, following Slusher volunteers package recommendations. with WSU Extension Service Plant & Insect Clinic. Drop by 9–12 Mon-Wed-Fri. at 1946 3rd Ave., Longview, with your specimen, call 360577-3014, ext. 8, or send question via cowlitzmastergardener@gmail.com.
like daylilies all the way down to the base of the plant. Although most daylilies won’t re-bloom, your garden will look tidier. Do the same for iris, gladiolus, crocosmias, astilbe, Russian Sage, and bears breeches (Acanthus). Let’s wring out every last drop of summer color in our gardens this year! ••• WSU/OSU Extension Events Columbia County: 503-397-3462 The Science and Art of Canning Salsas Aug 27, 5:30–8pm. $20 per person. From Hunt to Home: Butchering and Processing Wild Game Sept 21, 9–1. $40. Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District, 35285 Millard Road, St. Helens Ore. Drying Fruits, Vegetables and Meats Aug. 20, 5:30–8pm. $20. OSU Extension Service Office, 505 N. Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, Ore.
Cowlitz County: 360-577-3014, Ext. 0 August 17, Kalama Library “What’s Bugging Your Garden?” Sept 10, Cowlitz Training Center “Spiders: Fact or Fiction”
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 9
By Tracy Beard
PROVISIONS ALONG THE TRAIL Grilled Asparagus Cobb Salad 3 large eggs 5 Tbl extra virgin olive oil 1 ¼ tsp white wine vinegar ¼ tsp Dijon mustard ¼ tsp sugar Salt and pepper to taste ½ tsp chopped garlic ½ Tbl chopped chives ½ Tbl chopped parsley 1 lb. large trimmed asparagus 2 heads chopped bib lettuce 4 slices prosciutto 1 chopped avocado 3 oz. crumbled gorgonzola Cover eggs with water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and boil 10 more minutes. Drain and place in cold water. Peel and quarter once cooled. Mix 3- ½ Tbl. oil with vinegar, Dijon, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, chives and parsley. Whisk until emulsified.
D r i z z l e asparagus with remaining oil and grill on hot BBQ until crisp-tender. Place parchment paper on an old cookie sheet. Lay prosciutto on the parchment. Cover with an additional piece of parchment and top with another cookie sheet or pie pan (something that will keep the prosciutto flat). Place prosciutto and pan on the grill. Check often. Once the prosciutto begins to crisp, remove top pan and parchment. Flip prosciutto over with tongs and cook until crisp. Serves 3 Assemble salad for a picnic or decorate on a plate. Drizzle with dressing.
Tortellini Caprese 24 fresh or frozen cheese tortellini 12 sweet grape cherry tomatoes 24 small basil leaves or 12 large ones torn in half 24 toothpicks ¼ cup Olive Garden or your favorite Italian dressing Place tortellini in boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Place cooked tortellini in cold water. Drain when cooled. Wash and cut grape tomatoes in half width-wise. Wash basil leaves. Skewer one basil leaf followed by one tortellini and half of one grape tomato. Place on a platter or in a container to take on a picnic. Drizzle with dressing. Keep refrigerated until serving.
e
WALSTEAD MERTSCHING
Injury Attorneys •Auto Accidents •Wrongful Death •Medical Malpractice •Insurance Claims •Washington/Oregon
Mark Brumbaugh Attorney
360-423-5220
Matt Andersen
1700 Hudson Street, Suite 300 • Longview, WA • walstead.com 10 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Attorney
Kayakers in the wake!
Out & About
Romance, great food, history combine aboard Columbia Story and photos Gorge sternwheeler by Tracy Beard
E
ach year thousands of people flock to view the Columbia River Gorge. Tour buses filled with sightseers travel I-84, hikers traipse up and down trails along the hillsides and boats float back and forth along the waterway. I have hiked many of the gorge trails, and visited most of the waterfalls by car. In July, my husband Steve and I viewed the river and savored dinner aboard the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. Cruising on the Sternwheeler is a fun, relaxing and educational way to see the area. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler and four other vessels are run by American Waterways, Inc. (AWI). AWI is also known as Portland Spirit Cruises, which is named after their flagship yacht the Portland Spirit. AWI is a locally owned and operated family/employee business founded in 1991. The company aimed to be the first dinner boat to give each party its own private table, live entertainment and fresh cuisine prepared aboard each ship. Providing this level of service was no simple feat in 1994, but it was AWI’s mission to deliver excellence in river dining. And they did it. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler was built in 1982 and launched in 1983, and in 2006 AWI entered into a longterm contract to operate the vessel in and out of Cascade Locks, Oregon. Between the years 2007 and 2015, the company invested additional funds into this division of the business and added the Locks Waterfront Grill, located adjacent to the Sternwheeler’s dock.
The Dalles. Delicious focaccia bread arrived at the table. I know it was delicious because I went to take photos for a few minutes and when I returned, only one of the five pieces remained. Although I did get to eat one piece, Steve enjoyed the bread immensely. As we continued up the river, a server delivered salad plates topped with mixed greens, cucumber slices, grated carrot and a yummy lemon basil dressing. Alaya approached the table and asked which of the four entrée choices we would prefer. We had not traveled far when the captain announced we were turning about. Within a few minutes, we were moving back toward the Bridge of the Gods just outside of Cascade Locks. Over the loudspeaker, the captain shared several morsels of history surrounding the river. We passed docks where the Native Americans fish with large hoop nets. We learned about the seven miles of rapids that forced Lewis and Clark to portage their boats and supplies. The captain explained how the dams worked and how the rapids have now disappeared due to higher water levels. He described how once a natural bridge was formed across the river that is now replaced by the Bridge of the Gods.
Steve and I boarded the Sternwheeler on a glorious summer evening in July. The ship was built to replicate the Bailey Gatzert, a famous sternwheel steamboat that ran up and down the Columbia River and Puget Sound from the 1890s to the 1920s. We boarded at 5:30pm and were photographed and escorted to our private dining table on the second floor next to a window. Once seated, our server, Alaya, asked if we wanted a cocktail. Both the second and third decks boast well-stocked bars. Steve opted for the Captain’s Manhattan, a libation made from Maker’s Mark bourbon, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. I ordered the Portland Mule made with Portland potato vodka, muddled lime and ginger beer served in a classic copper mug. Both drinks were tasty and refreshing. Just a few moments after 6:00pm, the vessel pulled away from the dock. Powered by a magnificent red paddlewheel, we cruised upriver toward Tracy Beard writes about luxury and adventure travel, fine dining and traditional and trendy libations for regional, national and international magazines and is a regular “Out & About” contributor to Columbia River Reader. She lives in Vancouver, Wash.
Dinner arrived and I feasted on herb-roasted beef tenderloin with a rich demi-glace, roasted red potatoes, broccolini and carrots. Steve enjoyed baked Columbia River steelhead topped with fresh gremolata and paired with a medley of five grains and a mix of asparagus, yellow squash, red onion and red bell pepper. Both dishes were well prepared and appetizing. After our entrees, we ventured out on deck to take in more scenery. The captain had turned the ship around again, and we were headed back toward the dock. The light breeze was invigorating, and we made our way to the top deck for a better view. We walked to the back of the ship to take photos of the paddlewheel and were shocked to see two single and one double kayak surfing the waves created by the wheel. The riders put their paddles in the water to stay within the wake, and they matched our speed. It was fascinating to watch. The nose of each kayak was underwater, and the rear was raised up cont page 33 Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 11
Raindance
Acupuncture & Bodywork, Inc.
Healing in a time-honored and holistic way Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine Most Insurances Accepted
Amy L. Schwartz, L.Ac, LMP 208 Church Street Kelso, WA
360.751.0411
Mt. St. Helens Gifts Jewelry • Souvenirs • T-Shirts Ash Glass & Pottery
Original • Local
Spreading good cheer
1254-B Mt. St. Helens Way
Pacific Imaging names new director By Jim LeMonds
W
ith the retirement of Jack Berry, Pacific Imaging Center has chosen Lisa Looney to become the clinic’s Director of Imaging Services. Looney took over the duties in June. Berry will continue to work one or two days a week at PIC as an MRI technician.
Looney earned an MR Cross Trainer Certificate through Medical Imaging Consultants and an Anatomy for the Radiological Professional Certificate from Gage Continuing Education. She also completed a Magnetic Lisa Looney Resonance Procedures for Bio-effects, Safety, and The new position is a good fit for Patient Management Certificate Looney, who worked from 2014 to t h r o u g h t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l 2018 as MRI Director at Olympia Center for Post-graduate Medical Orthopedic Associates in Olympia, Education. Washington.
Celebrating the good life
Castle Rock Bigfoot HQ I-5 Exit 49
MEDICAL MATTERS
Exploring our world Lifelong learning / thinking is a good thing!
360-274-7011
“Jack asked if I would be interested in taking over the position,” Looney said. “I was later approached by upper management about it. I already had five years of experience as an MRI director, and that experience is what led me to this job.” Her duties include managing staff, making sure PIC remains ACR (American College of Radiology)certified, and ensuring exceptional imaging quality.
Auto, Home, Flood, Boat, RV, ATV Business & Commercial Insurance & Bonding
360-274-6991
25 A. ST. SW • CASTLE ROCK • 866-514-3356
ATTENTION LANDOWNERS!
LIFE • DISABILITY • LTCI BUSINESS CONTINUATION FUNDING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MEDICAL
FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE!
If you are interested in the sale of your cedar boughs (branches), we are willing to pay per pound. WE DO NOT DAMAGE TREES. Feel free to call 360-241-6889 or 360-425-0738. We also do pruning, trimming, general yard clean-up and MORE!
Cesar
12 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
“My job is also to make sure that my staff feels comfortable in the roles they are in, that they are properly trained, that they have compassion for patients, and that they can handle any situation in a professional manner,” she said. “More than anything else, we want patients to feel safe and respected when they come to PIC for their MRI.”
When she’s not working, she enjoys gardening, car races, movies, and travel, but cooking is her favorite pastime. She would someday like to open her own food truck. Pacific Imaging Center is located at 625 9th Avenue at Pacific Surgical Institute. Call 360.501.3444 for additional information. ••• Former R.A. Long High School English teacher Jim LeMonds is a writer, editor, and marketer who rides his mountain bike whenever he gets the chance. He lives in Castle Rock, Wash. His published books are South of Seattle and Deadfall.
Summer is the time to prepare for winter! We sell Steamers, Fireplace Tool Sets, Fireplace Screens, Eco Fans & MORE.
DEERFIELD
PELLET S T O V E Large Capacity 60 lb. Hopper • Electronic Pellet Igniter Mirrored Ceramic Glass • Twin 90 CFM fans circulate heat to your room Elegant Design, exquisite quality cast iron construction Efficiency up to 78% • EPA Certified: 0.73 Grs./Hr • Touch Control Pellet Stoves / Inserts • Woodstoves / Inserts • Gas Stoves / Inserts Chimneys and Accessories • Green Mountain Pellet Grills BBQ Pellets • Free Local Estimates • High Quality Pellet Fuel
503-556-3580
Open Mon–Sat
222 B. West • Rainier, Oregon • www.LopiPelletStoves.com
HOT PIZZA FRESH COOL SALAD BAR THE BEST AROUND! IN ST HELENS 2124 Columbia Blvd.
503-397-3211
Clatskanie Mini-Storage
CATERING Be a guest at your next event!
Temperature conditioned units -15 sizes! RV Storage • Boat Moorage Quality since 1976 Resident Manager
503-728-2051 503-369-6503
Serving the Columbia River region, including Longview-Kelso.
11 Beers on Tap • Cocktails & Wine OREGON LOTTERY • Shuffleboard • Pool
Alston pub grub
25196 Alston Road • Rainier, OR Open daily at 11AM • 503-556-9753
LUIGI’S PIZZA
Luigi’sPizza Pizza • Calzone
CDL CLASS A DRIVERS ELECTRICIANS and ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS!
Employment Opportunities Production Days 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Production Swings 4:30 pm – 1:00 am Weigh & Price Days 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Weigh & Price Swings 5:30 pm – 3:00am Sanitation Nights 11:30 pm – 8:00 am Loading Dock Days 9:00am–5:30pm Loading Dock Swings 6:30pm–4:00am Employment Benefits
Foster Farms servicing the Kelso community since 1998! For more information, please visit us at www.fosterfarms.com Employment Requirements
•Work safely and set an example of safe working habits. • Understand and perform established tasks and standards. • Work the scheduled times and occasional overtime. • Report to work on time and ready to work. • Submit and pass both a pre- employment drug test and a criminal background check.
•Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Plans. •Life Insurance Plan: 100% company paid! •Foster Farms Profit Sharing Plan: 100% company paid! •401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. •Employee Sales of your favorite Foster Farms products! •Education Expense Reimbursement: ion at our ick up an applicat P 100% tuition and 80% books! es Office: Human Resourc Foster Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Foster Farms participates in E-Verify during the hire process at all locations for all new employees.
503-366-9099 800-330-9099 201 S. 1st Street St. Helens OR wildcurrantcatering.com
Meet your friends and relax at this classic neighborhood watering hole!
NOW HIRING!
Avenue 1700 South 13th 6. Kelso, WA 9862 ion about
For more informat ase call our ple current openings,
) 575-4955
Job Hotline: (360
Good times ROLL at the
Historic
Goble Tavern Like us on Facebook!
We wish we could take off our coats for the Dog Days of August!
TRY OUR JUKE BOX
~Smokey Man in the Kitchen’s cat
~Ginger
Victoria Findlay’s dog
“Goble Tavern, The Historic” Entertainment Schedule
for
Cold Beer • Micro-Brews • Good Food • Pool Video Poker • Keno • Scratch-Its • Darts
503-556-4090
Milepost 41 on Hwy 30
70255 Columbia River Hwy • Rainier, OR
Evergreen Pub & Cafe DAILY OPEN 8AM
Family Dining
Homemade Soups • Salads Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily Specials Serving Halibut and Cod Fish & Chips
Best Burgers in the Area
FULL BAR
Play Sandwiches VIDEO Spaghetti • Lasagna POKER Burgers • Salads Beer, Wine & Sodas
119 First St E • Rainier
503-556-4213
Open 11am daily
115 -117 First St E • Rainier Keno • Video Poker
503-556-9935
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 13
Roland on Wine
Summer Coolers
McThread’s
We couldn’t just leave you, so we decided to go in a new direction! Come one, come all to see our new look! Thursday, Sept. 5 5–7 pm With tasty treats and an enthusiastic crowd, it’s sure to be a good time.
1233 Commerce Downtown Longview
360- 261-2373 or 360-560-9016 mcthreadsartworks.com mcthreads@gmail.com
Marc’s favorite hot weather libations By Marc Roland
W
ant something different to drink this summer that is both traditional and trendy? My son Zak and I recently went to Napa Valley on a business trip. Really —We did! Well, we may have drunk a little wine while we were there. Zak participated in a class on how to start and manage a small vineyard. My experience while traveling on business is that the most enriching part of travel is the people you meet. At the end of the trip we ended up going to dinner with some of the other participants, an Eastern Indian man who was nearing retirement, a Japanese woman investment banker, and a Peruvian woman, who was also a producer of a distilled liquor made of grapes. They all seemed to understand that in order to produce good wine, you need to understand and control what happens in the vineyard. Where better to learn than in the heart of wine country? While all of these people were interested in different aspects of the wine business, the one who captured my attention was Melanie Asher, founder of Macchu Pisco. Pisco is the national spirit of Peru, and in the last few years has received praise from the press and mixologists around the world. According to Macchu Pisco’s website, there Longview are several theories resident and about where the name Marc’s Original Italian Spritzer former Kelso Pisco comes from, but its origins are Pisco is made from Quebranto, teacher Marc undeniably Peruvian. Some historians Moscatel, Italia and Torrantel grapes. Roland started say it got its name by the port from Our new friend told us she was making wine which it was shipped. Pisco means attending the class to bring back in 2008 in his “bird” in Quechua, the language of information to her growers so they garage. He and the Incas. Old settlers stored alcoholic could increase the quality of the his wife, Nancy, drinks in containers called Piskos, grapes to make a better Pisco for the now operate which were later also used by Spaniards. international market. The flavor Roland Wines Over time, the spirit adopted the name of Pisco is herbal, with notes of at 1106 Florida of the container. lemongrass and orange blossom. One Street in Longview’s new “barrel district.” For wine tasting hours, call 360-846-7304.
cont page 15
Get the best care for your loved one.
Openings NOW!
Adult Family Home Advantages
Metal Sculpture by Gallery Member, Beth Bailey “I Twist, Cut & Weld Metal Together”
Every First Thursday New Art, Music and Nibbles 360-577-0544 1418 Commerce Longview, WA Mon - Fri 10 - 5:30, Sat 10-4 the-broadway-gallery.com In Historic Downtown Longview Your Local SW Washington Artist Co-op since 1982
360-703-5830
P In Home Doctor Visits P Home Cooked Meals P Locally Owned P 6 to 1 Caregiver Ratio P Small Homelike Setting P 24-Hour Registered Nurses Support P Memory Care Experts P Therapies in Home P Licensed facilities that exceed state standards
www.thehavenslongview.com
The Havens are now hiring Licensed Caregivers 360-442-0758
14 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
PREMIE
R SENIO
R CARE
The Havens is a group of 11 premier, independently owned and operated homes. Drop in for a tour any time!
cont from page 14
of the most popular drinks made with Pisco is the sour. This drink is catching the attention of Portlanders and Seattleites. Sound good? Here’s the lowdown: Pisco Sour: One egg white 1 oz. Pisco 1 oz. simple syrup 1 oz. fresh lemon juice Bitters In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine ingredients except the
bitters. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and strain into a 6-oz cocktail glass. Top with a few drops of bitters. An Italian alternative If Pisco is too far out for you or you can’t find Pisco (you may have to go out of town*), then let’s go to another continent and make my new favorite summer drink, the Italian Spritzer made with Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda on ice. Easy to make, beautiful orange color, with a nice refreshing herbal character to it. Campari can be substituted for Aperol, but doesn’t have the subtleties
and seems to be a little sweeter. The Italian Spritzer is the perfect combination of fizz, flavor, refreshment, without being too sweet, but thirst quenching. Go light on the Aperol for a low-alcohol poolside experience. Original Italian Spritzer 2 parts Aperol or Campari This is known as “white space,” somewhat rare 2 parts Prosecco in thie publication. 1 part club soda on ice •••
*For the best pisco sours in Portland, try Epif, Andina, Lechon, or Las Primas.
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 15
T
acoma, once considered the “poor cousin” of its neighbor to the North, is booming. It has surpassed Seattle as one of the hottest housing markets in the country. If you visit, I recommend an overnight stay in order to take in the many museums on Pacific Avenue.
Out & About
From ‘poor cousin’ to boom town Trek to Tacoma includes glass, history, art ... Story & photos by Lois Sturdivant and of course, food!
On our annual getaway, CRR’s publisher/editor Sue Piper and I took the train to Tacoma on a sunny June morning, returning to Kelso the next evening after walking some 12,000+ steps in two days. The train ride was interesting. Going north, the train runs on an inside track, so southbound trains passed in a blur on the left side, where we were seated. Coming south, the views were better and the train was newer. We enjoyed crumb cake with our coffee on the way north and for dinner on the way south, a warm burrito and a subway sandwich. Beer and wine were available. The slightly higher fare for business class is worth it — passengers enjoy more space to move around, cushier seating — some with tables — electric outlets and a $3 coupon to spend in the Bistro car. After arriving at the Amtrak station on Puyallup Ave in an industrial area several blocks from the free Tacoma Transit’s last stop, we arranged an Uber ride to the Washington State History Museum. Somehow we ended up in a parking lot near the Tacoma Art Museum so we made that our first stop. All three museums we visited happened to be featuring Native American culture, art and history. The first exhibit at the Art Museum, “Animals: Wild and Captured in Bronze,” contains figures made by Native Americans from the late 1800s to the middle of the last century. Paintings in “Native Portraiture: Power and Perception” portray a range of emotions, all evocative and many disturbing, when one considers how European immigrants treated the Native American culture. Other exhibits include a glass installation by Dale Chilhuly which is part optical illusion (see photo, above). Gilbert Stuart’s original (1796) Presidential portrait of George Washington is featured, along with other antique paintings. We walked to Indochine Asian Dining Lounge for an exceptional lunch. The cuisine is primarily Thai, but also includes Chinese, Indian,
Thursday morning Uber took us back to Pacific Avenue and the Museum of Glass. The Dale Chihuly Gallery features glass pieces illustrating various Native American stories, including how a white bird eventually became a raven. We spent about an hour in the hot shop amphitheater
Between the restaurant, which is on Foss Waterway, and the view of downtown Tacoma are yacht moorings, also owned by Johnny’s. The menu ranges from seafood, steaks, and lamb chops to hamburgers. We each ordered lavish desserts, which were delicious, but we should have split one. Editor’s note: Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
cont page 17
Orca Pod, oil on canvas, currently exhibited at Tacoma Art Museum. Influenced by the boldness and consumerism of pop art of the 1960s, Karen Hackenburg composes her paintings from objects she collects on the beach near her studio in Port Townsend, Wash.
Japanese and Vietnamese entrees. We sat at a table in an area circling a soothing indoor pond. On campus Strolling the neighborhood after lunch, we admired the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus (established in 1990 and currently with about 5,000 students and 350 academic staff). Later, we learned UW Tacoma in the Union Station District has earned architectural awards for transforming century-old brick buildings into modern classrooms. The re-purposing of the buildings honors the traditions of the Northern Pacific Railroad. We browsed the UW Bookstore, which has many more non-book items than books, however, we managed to buy a few books anyway. Uber delivered us to our hotel near the Tacoma Dome, where we relaxed before dinner. The hotel shuttled us to Johnny’s on the Dock, a longtime favorite in Tacoma.
16 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
,
from page 16
watching artists create simple blown glass pieces. (The narrated process is live-streamed through the Glass Museum’s website and is archived there). The process is very exacting and well worth the time spent to observe. Our final stop before lunch was the Washington State History Museum. Photos, opposite page: passageway leads away from the Museum of Glass; and optical illusional Chihuly glass work. This page, above: view from the Museum of Glass toward the Tacoma Dome; at right, art installations featuring French linen and resembling sea creatures adorn the walls of the Pacific Grill,.
The several hours we spent there just scratched the surface of what was on display. The largest exhibit was about immigration. One installation featured clear cube boxes holding types of shoes, each representing the story of an American immigrant featured in text boxes around the edges. Another featured a timeline of immigration to America, with many well-known names such as George Weyerhaeuser and John Nordstrom. Others were less-recognized people such as Helen M. Robinson, who was the cont page 33
If You Go: TACOMA BY RAIL
Several Amtrak trains run daily between Kelso/Longview and Tacoma. One-way trip is approx. 1 hour 40 minutes Depart Kelso 9:11am, 12:51pm, 4:51pm, 6:50pm. Depart Tacoma 8:08am, 10:37am, 12:13pm, 3:03pm, 6:53pm. One-way fares vary, ranging from $19–38. Senior discount available. Verify fares and times noted for accuracy. Book online www.amtrakcascades.com, call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to speak with an Amtrak ticket agent, or contact a local travel agent who can help.
Washington State History Museum
Tacoma Art Museum
Museum of Glass
1701 Pacific Ave. Tacoma
1801 Dock Street, Tacoma
1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
Museum Hours Tues–Sun: 10 am–5 pm Closed Mondays
Museum Hours Mon–Sat 10am–5pm
Admission Adults: $18
Admission Adults: $17; Seniors (62+) $14
Students/Seniors 65+ $15
Students/Military (with ID) $14
Family: Up to 2 adults, 4 children age 18 and under $40
Children 6-12: $5; under 6 Free
Museum Hours Tues–Sun 10am–5pm; Closed Mondays Admission Adults (age 18+): $14 Seniors (age 65+): $11 Students (age 6-17): $11 Active Duty & Retired Military (ID required): $11 Children (5 and under): FREE Family (up to 2 adults + 4 children under age 18): $40 Group rates: 10 or more, ages 6 and over, $10/person Memorial Day thru Labor Day, Active Duty service members and up to five family members receive free admission. Third Thursdays 5–8 pm: Free www.washingtonstatehistory.org
Military (active duty, reservists, veterans, and family): Free
Sundays 12–5pm
AAA Members: $15 Third Thursdays 5–8 pm: Free www.museumofglass.org
Age 5 and under: Free Age 18 and under: Free on Saturdays Third Thursdays 5–8 pm: Free
Check the museums’ websites before you plan your trip for possible changes in open times
www.tacomaartmuseum.org
Tacoma Museum District Pass Admission to six museums to use within 1 year. Purchase passes at participating museums: Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, LeMayAmerica’s Car Museum, Foss Waterway Seaport, and Children’s Museum of Tacoma. $55.50 Adult; $43.30 student (6-18), over 18 with valid student ID)/senior (65+)/military
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 17
LONGVIEW’S ANNUAL GATHERING OF
NUTS
Community Silliness LONGVIEW’S SQUIRREL BRIDGE COLLECTION 1. The Nutty Narrows Bridge Olympia Way near 1525–18th Ave. Erected 1963 by Amos Peters and believed to be the world’s first squirrel bridge. Peters constructed the bridge of aluminum and a fire hose after seeing squirrels attempting to cross Olympia Way from the Library grounds to the Old West Side neighborhood. A wooden squirrel statue (pictured, above left) is located near the Shay Locomotive next to the library.
AUG 17 • SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 9am
1pm–10pm
Happy Kids On-the-Run 5K Fun Run Clowns Unlimited Attractions Circus Cascadia Art in the Park Kids’ Games & Activities Vendor Row Open (50 Booths) Food Concessions Bed Race Official Welcome Beer & Wine Garden
Live Music
Tickets at Concert $10
1–3pm
Reanne Phillips Northwest Groove Five Guys Named Moe
10am–4pm 11am–4pm 9am–4pm 10am–4pm
10am–5pm 10am 12pm
4–6pm 7pm–9pm For more info:
lvsquirrelfest.com fb.com/LVSquirrelFest #LVSF19
2. Bruce Kamp Bridge 1318 Kessler Boulevard. Erected in memory of Bruce Kamp in 2011. Made of copper, and the first covered squirrel bridge in the world, this bridge’s 24/7 squirrel web cam is accessible from the lvsquirrelfest.com website. 3. John R. Dick Bridge On Nichols Boulevard near RA Long High School. Designed and built by John R. Dick and installed in 2012, shortly after his death. It is based upon the Leonard Zakim Memorial Bridge in Boston. Mr. Dick had a lifelong fascination with bridges, and enjoyed the TV show Boston Legal, in which the bridge appeared prominently in background shots. 4. OBEC Bridge Louisiana Street, near 1503 – 23rd Avenue. Constructed and donated by the company which built the new Washington Way bridge across Lake Sacajawea. Constructed of wood with interesting architectural bracing and installed in 2013. 5. Safety Awareness Bridge 1708 Kessler Boulevard. Designed and constructed by the Bits and Bots Robotics Club of RA Long and Mark Morris High Schools. Inspired by the memory of Linda LaCoursier, who was struck by a car. Made of aluminum with cutouts and tinted material. Many squirrels use this bridge. Installed in 2015.
6. R.D. Olson Mfg, of Kelso, Wash., built this bridge to resemble the Lewis & Clark Bridge crossing the Columbia River at Longview/Rainier. This bridge was installed on Kessler Blvd across from Lions’ island (near Washington Way, in the 1000 block of Kessler Blvd) stretching across the 57-foot wide street. 7. All-aluminum exact scale replica of Portland’s Fremont Bridge (pictured above) On Kessler Blvd near Kessler School at the south end of Lake Sacajawea. Constructed by H&N Sheet Metal in W. Kelso, cut out by S & R Sheet Metal in Kelso, it is the longest bridge so far at 20 feet.
LONGVIEW’S SQUIRREL BRIDGES
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE! Call an ad rep: Ron Baldwin 503-791-7985: Wahkiakum, Pacific, Clatsop Counties, Mouth of the Columbia. Tiffany Dickinson 706-284-4008:
Downtown Longview, Castle Rock. Ad Manager-Ned Piper, 360-749-2632: All areas.
AD DEADLINES Sept 15 Issue: Aug 26 Oct 15 Issue: Sept 25 Free Calendar Listing Submission Guidelines: page 34 18 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Map by Michael Perry
Local Culture
ART SHOW
MUSEUM MAGIC By Joseph Govednik
Made in the shade: Longview’s answer to Central Park
Cowlitz County Historical Museum Director
Remnants of the Past
S
troll among the 25-plus artisan vendors located on the north end of the Civic Circle across from the Longview Public Library in Downtown Longview during Columbian Artists “Art in the Park” on Saturday, August 17, 9am–5 pm. You’ll see art and high quality crafts from all over the Northwest, including pottery, watercolors, acrylics, and oil paintings, fabric art, jewelry, leather work, photography, scrimshaw, fused glass and metal designs. Talk with the artists about their work and enjoy tranquility amidst the trees while watching the day’s events unfold around the Civic Circle.
H
ave you e v e r driven by the Stella Museum on a trip to the coast and wondered what’s going on in that little museum? Stella, a small community 5 miles west of Longview’s city limits, got its start through logging. Douglas fir timber was shipped from Stella to California via large ocean-going “cigar rafts.” Trees from Stella were considered among the highest quality lumber and were used for construction of homes and dock pilings in San Francisco since the Gold Rush.
The Columbian Artists will have their own booth selling original 6x6-inch paintings created and donated by members to raise funds for future association events. Sign up in the Columbia Artists booth for a raffle to win various prizes. Art in the Park is proud to be part of Squirrel Fest.
The Stella Museum and Historical Society is operated by volunteers, many of whom trace their roots to the area. Recently, the Stella Historical Society partnered with the Bunker Hill Cemetery Association and Cowlitz County Historical Museum to offer “Tales from the Grave,” a
historic cemetery tour with living historians portraying the departed at their final resting place. This popular event nearly doubled attendance from the previous year. “We are happy to have cemetery ‘residents’ share the stories of their lives and of past days” said program coordinator Sharon Weinhold. On Saturday, September 7, 10am-4pm, the Society will host its ever-popular program, “Remnants of the Past.” The program includes activities and pioneer games for children and adults and an operating 1907 vintage blacksmith forge, one of the last of its kind in Washington State. Remnants of the Past is a perfect program for families and children to learn more about our local history. The Stella Historical Museum is open the weekend after July 4th through the weekend b e f o r e L a b o r D a y. Saturdays and Sundays 11am-4pm. The museum may be opened by special appointment outside posted hours. Please call 360-423-3860 to schedule a tour!
I just passed a flying squirrel
To: Centralia, Olympia Mt. Rainier Yakima (north, then east) Tacoma/Seattle
Raymond/ South Bend
Oysterville •
Chinook
•
Grays River
Cathlamet 4
Astoria Birkenfeld
Mount St. Helens
Skamokawa
WestportPuget Island FERRYk
101
101
Pacific Ocean
• Woodland Tourist Center I-5 Exit 21 Park & Ride lot, 900 Goerig St., 360-225-9552
Castle Rock
• Naselle
Warrenton •
Seaside
• Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce Kelso Visitor Center I-5 Exit 39 105 Minor Road, Kelso • 360-577-8058
504
Long Beach
Columbia River
Washington
Vader
Ocean Park •
Ilwaco
VISITOR CENTERS
FREE Maps • Brochures Directions • Information
Vernonia
Longview
Ape Cave •
Kelso
Clatskanie Rainier
Woodland
503
Columbia City St Helens
• Ridgefield
rnelius NW Co ad o R s s a P
To: Salem Silverton Eugene Ashland
Sauvie Island
Vancouver 12
Portland
• Naselle, WA Appelo Archives Center 1056 SR 4, Naselle, WA. 360-484-7103.
Local in
for
Points o mation f In Recre terest Special ation Dinin Events Arts & Eg ~ Lodging ntertain ment
• Pacific County Museum & Visitor Center Hwy 101, South Bend, WA 360-875-5224 • Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau 3914 Pacific Way (corner Hwy 101/Hwy 103) Long Beach, WA. 360-642-2400 • 800-451-2542 • South Columbia County Chamber Columbia Blvd/Hwy 30, St. Helens, OR • 503-397-0685 • Astoria-Warrenton Chamber/Ore Welcome Ctr 111 W. Marine Dr., Astoria 503-325-6311 or 800-875-6807
Col Gorge Interp Ctr Skamania Lodge Bonneville Dam
Troutdale Crown Point
97
Goldendale
• Seaside, OR 989 Broadway, 503-738-3097; 888-306-2326
•Yacolt
Scappoose•
Oregon
Cougar •
Kalama
• Wahkiakum Chamber 102 Main St, Cathlamet • 360-795-9996 • Castle Rock Visitor Center Exit 49, west side of I-5, 890 Huntington Ave. N. Open M-F 11–3.
Maryhill Museum
Stevenson Hood River Cascade Locks Bridge of the Gods
The Dalles
To: Walla Walla Kennewick, WA Lewiston, ID
Map suggests only approximate positions and relative distances. Consult a real map for more precise details. We are not cartographers.
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 19
Thank You
P+P Partner Circle members for supporting excellent journalism and spotlighting worthy community organizations and programs.
Join us on Labor Day for a fun afternoon!
Fundraiser for the Clatskanie Arts Commission
FREE CONCERT SEASON KICKOFF
Big Band in the Park Monday, Sept. 2 1–4pm • Music 2–4pm
people+ place For information about joining the Circle, call Ned or Sue Piper
Please join us in supporting the important work of
• Pet Adoptions • Volunteers Needed • Donations • cowlitzhumane.com • 360-577-0151
Clatskanie City Park
Proud sponsor of People+Place
Bring your own chair • Bleachers available More info and season details, page 33.
Please join me in supporting Longview Outdoor Gallery, bringing a rotating art exhibit to our downtown, and currently fundraising to purchase “Fat Tire” as a gift to the City of Longview. Mail your tax-deductible donation to Longview Outdoor Gallery - LPSG PO Box 2804, Longview WA 98632
Paul W. Thompson CRR’s Man in the Kitchen Emeritus
Proud Sponsor of People+Place
Q
UIPS & QUOTES
Selected by Debra Tweedy
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust. ~Gertrude Jekyll, British horticulturist and writer, 1843-1932 The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave to it neither power nor time. ~Mary Oliver, American poet, 1935-2019 Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau, American transcendentalist writer, 18171862 Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ~Mark Twain, American humorist, 1835-1910
To learn more or donate online, visit www.longviewlog.org
Proud sponsorofofPeople+Place People+Place Proud Sponsor To donate or learn more childrensdiscoverymuseum360.org Dawn Morgan, 360-261-4612
You must unlearn the habit of being someone else or nothing at all, of imitating the voices of others and mistaking the faces of others for your own. ~Hermann Hesse, German-born writer, 1877-1962
Providing kids and families a fun and safe environment to learn, engage and play together
Let us read and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world. ~Voltaire, French writer and philosopher, 1694-1778
Congratulations, Children’s Discovery Museum, on your new location at 1309 Commerce, next to Tibbet’s Mercantile in Downtown Longview. We look forward to the Grand Re-Opening!
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot, American academic, Harvard president, 1834-1926 The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm. ~Aldous Huxley, English writer and philosopher, 1894-1963 Longview native Debra Tweedy has lived on four continents. She and her husband decided to return to her hometown and bought a house facing Lake Sacajawea.“We came back because of the Lake and the Longview Public Library,” she says.
20 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
The Evans Kelly Family One of Longview’s pioneer families.
Proud Sponsor of People+Place
Join us at the
Kelso Highlander Festival
Sept. 14 & 15 A fun celebration for the whole family!
Proud sponsor of People+Place
Additional event details, page 34
A monthly feature written and photographed by Southwest Washington native and Emmy Award-winning journalist
Hal Calbom
Production Notes Time Present and Time Past
people+ place
Natural Resource: Sally Freeman For a hundred years history thought the dog’s name was Scannon. Meriwether Lewis had purchased the huge Newfoundland — their owners like to call them Newfs or Newfies — for $20 while equipping for the expedition in 1803. Hal Calbom
Thinking about history. Ours is very recent history. Our sense of time and events is different. Out on this frontier, in the very newest part of the New World, I wonder sometimes if we even have a history, a past, or just a continuously evolving present, our restlessness and curiosity refusing to accept the old, and relentlessly pursuing the new. Because of its physical remoteness, ours was among the last coasts explored and exploited, even described as a “hinterland” by historians and geographers. That’s an area “lying beyond what is visible or known.” I think we like that somehow. How old do you have to be to even have a history? When I lived in England they laughed when I told them my hometown was celebrating a milestone: 50 years since they founded the Planned City. 50 years! Imagine that! The men grew beards. The women baked pies. The conventional definition of history is “a chronological record of significant events, often including an explanation of their causes.” A history is also “a tale or story.” That seems more apt. In his great meditation on time, his “Four Quartets,” T.S. Eliot got it right: Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future And time future contained in time past.
Fort Clatsop continuously rebuilds and re-imagines a piece of history, shaping it with interpretive events. This process we call “history,” the chronology and recounting and naming of things, is a perpetual work in progress, a series of snapshots in time, changeable and “interpretive.” It’s the tales and stories that are timeless. Welcome to People + Place. •••
Early transcribers of the journals misnamed him, blaming blurry ink, and hundreds of Newfies were dubbed Scannon to honor his place in history. In 1916 a researcher found a tributary of the Blackfoot River Lewis dubbed “Seaman’s Creek,” and shortly after corrected the record. SEA-MAN was spared the fate of some 200 dogs who were consumed by the carnivorous Corps, and he shows up periodically in the journals, scaring off bears or plagued by mosquitoes. Every year his descendants, lovable, massive and slobbering, gather at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and celebrate his legacy. Park Ranger Sally Freeman is their host.
NICE TO MEET YOU
H C : This place is buzzing today. Looks like a great crowd.
Sally Freeman
SF: That makes me so happy! Makes all the planning and volunteer time worth it. Special event days are fun. Lots of staff, lots of volunteers. Lots of people coming. And today, of course, lots of big Newfoundlands.
National park ranger, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
resides
Warrenton, Oregon occupation
from
St. Paul, Oregon known for
Special events at Fort Clatsop, 4-H dog activities reading
Lift Off? Astronauts and Space Scientists Speak Their Faith, by James Hetley, and the current issue of Whole Dog Journal
HC: Tell us about Seaman’s Day?
for fun
SF: It’s an annual event. We’re honoring the only animal that accompanied the Corps of Discovery on its whole trip, a big black Newfoundland dog named Seaman. Every year we invite all the local Newfoundlands, and their humans, to help us commemorate.
Spending time with my husband; hiking or canoeing with our dog recommends
Enjoying at least one Hometown Tourism Day activity on Nov. 11
HC:You rely pretty heavily on volunteers? SF: We sure do. I’m the Volunteer Program Manager and I’m so proud of them. We had people standing out in the rain today helping visitors get parking places, handling all the Seaman’s Day people, and their dogs. Getting everything perfect for the programs and in the bookstore. It’s a labor of love. HC: I see lots of children here. SF: That’s something we emphasize. We had our Kids Corps team here, and a great turnout of all those orange shirts. And enthusiastic kids — all kinds of crafts and hands-on stuff — from face painting to exploration. We were happy that so many of the questions came from the younger people here. They were comfortable participating and being part of the event. cont page 22
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 21
People
cont. from page 21
HC: And the big dogs didn’t hurt? SF: No, it’s a pretty unbeatable combination, kids and big dogs. And Lewis and Clark, of course.
“All those dogs, all those people, all those questions, a
The heart of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is its Visitor Center at Fort Clatsop. The reconstruction of the expedition’s winter quarters is a favorite destination, the 50’ by 50’ log enclosure where the Corps of Discovery kept the cold and rain at bay. Other important park sites include the Salt Works, 15 miles down the Oregon coast, and two important landmarks on the Columbia’s north shore: Dismal Nitch, where the Expedition spent six days frustrated by winds, tides and rain; and Middle Village – Station Camp, where the Corps occupied the site of a seasonal Chinook trading center and from whence William Clark launched his explorations and remarkable mapmaking. To wrap up a visit, a trip to Cape Disappointment State Park at the northern edge of the mighty Columbia estuary is icing on the cake. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center there fills in the story of their daunting visit to the river mouth and the long-sought Pacific Ocean. HC: What is your sense of this place? SF: It’s hard not to take it for granted which is why I love giving tours to groups, seeing it through their eyes. We’ll be walking just that hundred yards between the Fort and the Visitor’s Center, and I’ve got my flat hat on that limits my view, and I’m kind of nearsighted anyway and looking where I put my feet, and then I remind myself to lift up my chin and look up at the world around me. People say, ‘Look at those trees! We don’t have anything like this at home.’ And I’m so glad I’m walking with those people, and I’ll say, ‘Wow, you’re right.’ HC: And yet a lot of the site has been re-created. You’ve had to recast the history? SF: The Park Service has done such a nice job bringing it back to life. In the 1900s the Oregon Historical Society set aside the three acres they were convinced included the site of Fort Clatsop. And by then I don’t think anybody was living on the site, but in the 1870s there had been farms and orchards all over this ground. HC: No idea the Fort had been there? SF: Not really, or if they did they needed to survive so they farmed it. They were still pioneers themselves. The whole thing had been logged off. There were orchards and potato fields and people made charcoal for a living in the little farmhouses there. Totally different.
HC: So those majestic trees people marvel at… SF: Re-planted. Same original species. William Clark said they’d chosen this spot in the midst of a ‘lofty pine forest,’ by which he meant an evergreen forest. There were no pines here, per se, and the trees you see now are a result of historic preservation and recreation. HC: And essentially that’s true of the Fort, as well? SF: The original Fort decayed and disappeared. The river has been channelized and controlled, but hasn’t changed course much. So today’s Fort is within two or three yards of the original site. But like so much that’s on the site, it’s a re-creation, a replica. HC: And this replica was completed when? SF: They built it in 1955, for the 150th anniversary of the expedition. It was based on Clark’s sketches, has the same 50- by 50-foot dimensions. There were two
People + Place celebrates Seaman’s Day. “If an athlete will labor day after day in order to receive glory from others, how much harder ought Christians
Weatherguard supports the FCA vision:
To see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.
work for the “well done” of their King (Jesus)?”
~Tommy Davis Baseball player at Lower Columbia College
Proud sponsor of People+Place 22 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
360-577-7200
Proud sponsor of People+Place
+ Place
”
all that curiosity ... It’s the best. main wings, one for the men, and the other for the captains, Charbonneau and Sacajawea. And that lasted a good 50 years and then, of all things, burned down in 2005, just before the 200th anniversary celebration. HC: This is a tough place to survive. Those journals had it right! SF: But the volunteer spirit has buoyed this place all along, too. The current version was rebuilt by 700 volunteers in time for the bicentennial, and that’s what you see here today. The sloping roofs, the log construction, and now, the glorious canopy of trees. HC: You’ve got some authentic-looking denizens here too, I see. SF: These are volunteers. We have people in period dress who can talk to visitors about virtually anything, from fire starting to sewing deerskins to cooking to diets and salt making. HC: How do you attract visitors and keep busy? This is truly impressive but let’s face it: It isn’t the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.
~ Sally Freeman
HC: Those are the ‘buffs.’ What about regular folks? SF: We’re lucky we’re in a region that has so many things to see and do. People come out here to see a whole bunch of things, and we’re one of them, or several of them. Maybe the Columbia Maritime Museum, maybe the Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, Fort Stevens State Park, the Astoria Column, and the beaches. There are just so many things you can combine here for a destination trip or a weekend. HC: I understand the park continues to expand? SF: The park went in a new direction a few years ago in becoming a recreation site. We now have about 12 miles of hiking trails, we have kayaking, we connect into the Fort to Sea Trail which is a round trip of 13 miles that’s part of the Oregon State Parks system. So one of our user groups is people who live locally and want a comfortable trail to exercise on. We see runners and walkers and dog walkers using the park regularly. You see people birding year round. It’s just become a great destination for local people, too. The park thrives on volunteerism and a public spirit of support. The Lewis and Clark National Park Association is a not-for-profit ally and patron that acquires new land, improves facilities, and operates the outstanding book and gift store at Fort Clatsop. Avoiding the traditional concessionaires, many of whom are generic chains serving countless parks, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park has a conspicuous lack of trinkets and generic items, with everything designed to give pleasure and education to the Fort Clatsop’s particular visitors and patrons. The mission is relentlessly educational, serving pre-schoolers to older lifelong learners, youth camps, a speakers’ series, special events, recreation, and outreach to schools and community groups.
SF: There are certain people that just visit all the national parks. That’s their thing. They love the history. After the Ken Burns documentary in 1997 their awareness of the Lewis and Clark story skyrocketed. Then the Ambrose book, Undaunted Courage, came out right after that.
HC: So how do you describe what the modern park ranger does? Educator? Entrepreneur? You’re not a forester or game keeper as far as I can see? SF: We used to say we are in the field of interpretation but that’s always been a tricky definition. If you tell someone you’re an interpreter they ask you what languages you speak. And I always say I only speak one and I’m still working on that one. A few years ago we changed it to emphasize that we’re in visitor services. People that aren’t in our profession seem to understand that better. We interpret and tell cont. page 24
WELCOME, INTERNS & SUMMER WORKERS Manufacturing Interns: In 2017 NORPAC partnered with Goodwill Work Opportunity Center of Cowlitz County, funding a paid internship program with employment potential for top performers. NORPAC is currently providing its third manufacturing internship opportunity with 11 individuals enrolled in the program.
Summer Students: For more than 30 years NORPAC has offered qualified students full-time summer work — jobs crucial to the smooth operations of the mill. Over the past decade we’ve employed, on average, 32 students each summer, including this year’s 31 students pursuing education in both undergraduate and technical schools.
Engineering Interns: We offer engineering students experience in a manufacturing environment, recruiting each year two to four interns for 6 –15 month paid internships. Over the past 15 years we’ve developed a strong partnership with the University of Washington and this year have employed four engineering interns — three UW students and one from Oregon State University.
Proud sponsor of People+Place
Join the fun on Saturday, August 17 at Longview’s Historic Civic Circle! Celebrate summer, our community, and our world-famous collection of squirrel bridges!
Thanks, volunteers and sponsors, for making this free event possible.
See page 18 for event schedule and Squirrel Bridge Map.
Proud Sponsor of People+Place Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 23
People + Place arts, so I had a good grounding in science communications. And then I was on a program that allowed me to take some extra credits and I said, ‘Just how far am I from a history minor?’ HC: You were planning on being a park ranger. You just didn’t know it? SF: Of course! And people said what are you doing and I ended up at Fort Clatsop — after stops at North Cascades National Park and the Oregon Trail commemorative program — and I said what a perfect fit. I had it planned all along! HC: Is there a collegiality among rangers? The National Park Service club, if you will? SF: You know, I don’t think so. For one thing it’s a very far flung and complicated system. There are over 20 different designations that are all run by the National Park Service: recreation areas, monuments, memorials. HC: I notice you’re a National ‘Historical’ Park?
from page 23
the stories of the park, and this area. And that’s more than just Lewis and Clark. It’s the indigenous people who’ve always been here, the natural history, the plants and animals. HC: Did you grow up wanting to be a park ranger? Wear that cool hat? SF: I’m from the Willamette Valley. I had parents who enjoyed history and took us camping as little kids. They enjoyed photography and hiking. HC: Did you go to national parks as a kid?
Oregon’s only national park, and saying it with a kind of awe and reverence. So you figure it must be something very special.
SF: Yes, and that’s a different designation than a National Park. National Parks tend to be the big acreage parks. And there are national historic sites and national memorials, and we’re neither of those either. National Historical parks tend to be a commemoration of something. If we’d had a real-life still-standing version of Fort Clatsop it probably would have never been a National Memorial. But because it was enshrined in people’s memory, and they built a replica and commemorated it, we got that designation. HC: It would seem to be a challenge to commemorate history itself, not just a place or a geologic phenomenon?
HC: Can you study to be in the Park Service? Are there common threads in backgrounds and careers?
SF: I think it’s the soul of the national park experience. Often there are multiple locations, all under the same umbrella. It’s like history itself — complex and evolving and continually being re-worked and re-evaluated.
SF: Almost completely not. I think if you got 20 different rangers you’d get 20 different career paths. I was a good student, and liked a variety of things, and I ended up with the weirdest combination of majors and minors: I had a double major in biology and communications
HC: What’s your perfect day at your park? SF: Today. All those dogs, all those people, all those questions, all that curiosity. And runners and birders and kayakers gliding by. Books on Seaman flying off the shelves. It’s the best.
SF: We went to Crater Lake, and I remember Mom telling me that this was
••• Hal Calbom is an independent film producer, educator, and writer. A third-generation Longview native, he attended RA Long High School and Harvard College and lives in Seattle. He began his media career as a broadcast journalist with the Seattle NBC affiliate, KING Television, as a producer and news anchor.
Mike & Rose Marie Asplund and Sue Lantz appreciate the work of
Cowlitz County CASA works to provide every abused and neglected child in Cowlitz County a voice amplified by a caring Court Appointed Special Advocate. For ways to help, visit cowlitzcountycasa.org 360-261-8870 • 360-414-5212
AUGUST: Children’s Eye Health/ Safety Month Are your youngsters school-ready? Children are susceptible to a host of vision changes and eye problems such as amblyopia and strabismus. Time for a check-up! The American Optometric Association recommends annual check-ups for kids!
360-636-4663 360-751-5157
slantz@windermere.com www.suelantz.com
Dr. Jeffrey Tack
Dr. Terence Tack
Dr. Kristi Poe
Sue Lantz donates a portion of every commission to a local non-profit of her clients’ choice
Proud sponsor of People+Place
24 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Proud sponsor of People+Place
The Natural World
people + place
Waving the Flag Story begins p.19
SALLY FREEMAN’S Top 5 Books Charbonneau Family Portrait by Irving Anderson An excellent book for sorting fact from fiction about Sacajawea, Jean Baptiste, and Toussaint Charbonneau.
Lewis & Clark Among the Indians by James Ronda. This classic book by one of the best western historians focuses on the people-encounteringpeople aspects of the expedition as well as what was going on in some of the Indian nations before and after the expedition’s visit. Empires of the Turning Tide by Douglas Deur. A well-written history of the lands and stories that comprise Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks. Lewis and Clark: Songs of the Journey Companion by Kindra Ankney. This well researched and beautifully illustrated book gives interesting details about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery: the Abridgment of the Definitive Nebraska Edition edited by Gary E. Moulton. The most thoroughly researched onevolume edition of the journals of various members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with their original (and often delightful) spelling and grammar.
I
’ve been thinking a lot about flags lately. It’s been hard, after all, to do otherwise. For example there is the blue flag iris. The name usually refers to Iris versicolor of the North and I. virginica of the East, but I am better acquainted with those wild marshy banners of the old frontier, Iris missouriensis, often called western flag. The sight of a single Missouri iris waving over a wet Idaho meadow last summer put me in mind of an afternoon many years before in the Colorado high country above Nederland. Brillo clouds had come up, closing out the possibility of butterflies. Then, rounding a curve on Highway 7, I beheld a broad lap brimming over with blue. Until then, I had mostly known the fancy irises of my mother’s and grandmother’s gardens, numbering in the dozens. But here I beheld irises by the thousands, just as handsome in their wild simplicity. I pulled over to walk out among them. Each narrow, pale blossom was occupied by metallic blister beetles—shimmering deep bluegreen to bronze to purple—jumping each other’s exoskeletons. I’d never seen such a randy, brilliant bunch of beetles in full throat (if only you could hear them!), nor had I beheld such a sweeping field of flags. Then there is the posterior pennant of the white-tailed deer. While visiting Virginia this past fall, I hiked with friends through a tunnel of red maples up to a high stone bald. The white granite of the Blue Ridge held clefts of fern and lichen, clumps of russet scrub oak, vistas of ranked hills in autumn motley, rolling off into every distance. Hawks and monarchs were on the move. Once we left the summit, all the colors bled to browns, yellows, oranges, reds, and lingering greens. I let the talkers go first, so as to take in nothing but the leaves falling, leaves underfoot, their swishes, snaps, and smells. Then, Wham! A cinnamon flicker of fur erupted from a bittersweet brake, chased by a white-hot candle. Once it was raised, I could no more take my eyes off that bobbing, flouncing flag than follow it, as it blazed a way through the autumn wood. A white flag often means “truce” in human affairs, just as a red flag signals danger ahead. But for other
By Dr. Robert Michael Pyle
Robert Michael Pyle is a naturalist and writer residing along Gray’s River in Wahkiakum County for many years. His twenty-two books include the Northwest classics Wintergreen, Sky Time in Gray’s River, and Where Bigfoot Walks, as well as The Thunder Tree, Chasing Monarchs, and Mariposa Road, a flight of butterfly books, and two collections of poems. His newest titles are Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest and Magdalena Mountain: a novel, released in August 2018. Photo by David Lee Myers animals that can discern it, red holds subtler shades of meanings: the b i t t e r i n s e c t ’s “don’t eat me,” the succulent berry’s come-on. When birds flash red, it can spell attraction for mates or repulsion for rival males. Among my favorite flags, the scarlet epaulettes of the red-winged blackbird probably do both. And the “Ocaree!” of the male red-wing calling from atop a cattail never fails to make me stand up straight and salute that flash: a whole cardinal’s red concentrated in one patch of flaming feathers. But nature’s presentation of the colors is hardly limited to reds, whites, and blues. Especially in the monochromatic months, our eyes hunger for hue, and the wait can stretch out. Something tells me that this winter is going to be a long and a cold one. There will be floods, and damage done, and losses; gray will stay till the cows come home, and there are no more cows. When the fog’s dirty cotton dressing finally falls away, we will all be desperate for vital signs. So when they finally appear in the sodden pastures, reflecting the return of the sun from the southern sectors, nothing will be more welcome than the upstart flags of skunk cabbage. Unlike the greenypurple twists of northeastern skunk cabbage, the western species unfurls its spathes into broad, tall swatches of yellow—the uncompromising yellow of early dandelions, pioneer daffodils, even buttercups. No
This is the 15th in a series of selected essays to appear in Columbia River Reader. These were originally published in Orion Afield or Orion Magazine in the author’s column, “The Tangled Bank” and, subsequently, in the book of the same name published by Oregon State University Press in 2012.
emblem commands my allegiance more deeply than these, announcing the cycle’s rounding once again. Finally, ushering in solid spring with their full-staff flurry of green, come the ensigns that uphold the security of all life: the leaves. When the soft fresh spears of Indian plum first unwrap their packets of incredible freshness, followed by elder, alder, maple, and ash, the entire citizenry of the land awakens unto erectitude, able to face another season after all. There is no older glory than this. April to August, the leaves in their flapping, waving, snapping, and growing flaggage raise deepening green over the countryside, week by grateful week. Then, by measure, they grow tired, dusty, and mildewed, scalloped and mined by insects, summer-blasted; and then...fall. But they will be back. As will the skunk cabbages, red-wings, whitetails, and irises. Through the rocket’s red glare, these standards never flag. Long may they wave. •••
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 25
BESIDES COLUMBIA RIVER READER...
What are you reading? By Alan Rose
M
arlene Field highly recommends this collection of what British fantasy author Neil Gaiman calls “short fiction and disturbances.” Known for his expansive imagination, Gaiman is the author of bestselling novels like Coraline, American Gods, and The Graveyard Book. Marlene has always enjoyed his “storytelling abilities,” but this book was different from anything she had ever read by him. Initially, she picked up these short stories because she didn’t have time to get into a big book this summer. “But I could read one of these short pieces — sometimes they’re only a page — and then mull it over for several days afterward,” she said.
ATTENTION, READERS Read a good book lately? To be mini-interviewed by CRR Book Reviewer Alan Rose for a future “What Are You Reading?” spotlight, please contact him at alan@alan-rose.com or the publisher/editor at publisher@ crreader.com.
Gaiman is known for his often dark and disturbing fantasies, but for Marlene “this collection was one of the oddest things I’ve ever read.” Such as the short piece titled “A Calendar of Tales,” where the different months take on distinct personalities. It poses the question, “Why is January dangerous?” She thinks this book will appeal especially to people who have enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s other works and who appreciate his far-reaching imagination, but also to readers who are looking for something “completely different and off the wall.” She encourages readers to “give it a chance to stretch your own imagination.” ••• Marlene Field lives on several acres outside of Clatskanie with her goats, where she also reads and writes children’s books, paints, and makes mohair yarn from the fleece of her Angora goats.
BOOK REVIEW By Alan Rose
A Bucket List for Book Lovers 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List James Mustich Workman Publishing $35
I
Imagine having a friend who loves books even more than you do. Witty and erudite, he’s consumed everything from low-brow pulpy page-turners read by literally tens of millions of people to high-brow literary fiction read by literally tens of people. James Mustich is such a person. Bookseller, editor, co-founder of A Common Reader, he includes novels, essays, short stories, poetry, drama, biographies, autobiographies, history, science and science fiction, philosophy, humor (The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody), from the quirky (Douglas
like to think of myself as well-read, and I admit to some smugness as I began leafing through this volume in the bookstore, curious to see how many titles I’d read. Or even partially read—I have yet to meet anyone who’s actually finished Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow. (Warning: Say you did and I may require a lie-detector test.) But I was soon surprised, then increasingly alarmed to find so many fascinating books I’d not only not read, but some I’d not even heard of. The Poetics of Space? How had I missed that one? (Cue smugness, fade to humility.)
The Freshest Seafood in Town
Now Serving Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cocktails
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
M-W 10–8 • Th-F-Sat 10–9 • Sun 11–8
New enhanced menu!
Dine in or use our drive up window
• NEW Halibut Steak with Crab Picatta • Seasonal Lemon Pesto Salmon with Asparagus • Classic Alaskan Fish & Chips • Award-winning Clam Chowder • Prime Rib Thursdays • Pit-smoked Pork Ribs Fridays
360-414-3288 360-431-6286
1110 Commerce Ave. Longview
NMLS# 186805
Committed to helping you find Carrie Lynn Medack NMLS#190268 360.431.0998
Jonathan William Maxwell NMLS#1482159 360.953.1794
Programs available to qualified borrowers. Rates and programs subject to change without notice. Underwriting terms and conditions apply.
THE RIGHT MORTGAGE.
Music lasts a lifetime! Piano Lessons A great investment in yourself or as a gift
Martin E. Kauble Longview, WA
1541 11th Ave., Suite A Longview, WA NMLS#116443
26 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
360-423-3072
(www.kaublepianostudio.com)
technique • theory • performance
Cover to Cover Brought to you by Book Sense and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Assn, for week ending July 28, 2019, 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
Top 10 Bestsellers PAPERBACK FICTION 1. The Overstory Richard Powers, Norton, $18.95 2. A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles, Penguin, $17 3. The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris, Harper, $16.99 4. There There Tommy Orange, Vintage, $16 5. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman, Penguin, $16 6. Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng, Penguin, $17 7. Washington Black Esi Edugyan, Vintage, $16.95 8. Before We Were Yours Lisa Wingate, Ballantine, $17 9. The Immortalists Chloe Benjamin, Putnam, $16 10. The Clockmaker’s Daughter Kate Morton, Washington Square Press, $17
PAPERBACK NON-FICTION
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. The Mueller Report The Washington Post, Scribner, $15 2. Born a Crime Trevor Noah, Spiegel & Grau, $18 3. Calypso David Sedaris, Back Bay, $17.99 4. Sapiens Yuval Noah Harari, Harper Perennial, $22.99 5. How to Change Your Mind Michael Pollan, Penguin, $18 6. Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer, Milkweed Editions, $18 7. White Fragility Robin DiAngelo, Beacon Press, $16 8. Killers of the Flower Moon David Grann, Vintage, $16.95 9. The Boys in the Boat Daniel James Brown, Penguin, $17 10. You Are a Badass Jen Sincero, Running Press, $16
1. Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens, Putnam, $26 2. The Nickel Boys Colson Whitehead, Doubleday, $24.95 3. City of Girls Elizabeth Gilbert, Riverhead Books, $28 4. Circe Madeline Miller, Little Brown, $27 5. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous Ocean Vuong, Penguin Press, $26 6. Normal People Sally Rooney, Hogarth, $26 7. The New Girl Daniel Silva, Harper, $28.99 8. Deep River Karl Marlantes, Atlantic Monthly Press, $30 9. Fleishman Is in Trouble Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Random House, $27 10. Exhalation Ted Chiang, Knopf, $25.95
HARDCOVER NON-FICTION
MASS MARKET
1. Educated Tara Westover, Random House, $28 2. The Pioneers David McCullough, S&S, $30 3. Becoming Michelle Obama, Crown, $32.50, 4. The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck Mark Manson, Harper, $24.99 5. The Second Mountain David Brooks, Random House, $28 6. Three Women Lisa Taddeo, Avid Reader Press/S&S, $27 7. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Neil deGrasse Tyson, Norton, $18.95 8. The Moment of Lift Melinda Gates, Flatiron Books, $26.99 9. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat Samin Nosrat, Wendy MacNaughton (Illus.), S&S, $35 10. Everything Is F*cked Mark Manson, Harper, $26.99
EARLY & MIDDLE GRADE READERS
1. Good Omens Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Morrow, $9.99 2. 1984 George Orwell, Signet, $9.99 3. Dune Frank Herbert, Ace, $9.99 4. The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss, DAW, $9.99 5. Past Tense Lee Child, Dell, $9.99 6. The Mueller Report Robert S. Mueller, et al., Melville House, $9.99 7. Mistborn: The Final Empire Brandon Sanderson, Tor, $8.99 8. A Game of Thrones George R.R. Martin, Bantam, $9.99 9. The Reckoning John Grisham, Dell, $9.99 10. Still Life Louise Penny, St. Martin’s, $7.99
1. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal Jeff Kinney, Abrams, $13.99 2. Drama Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99 3. A Wolf Called Wander Rosanne Parry, Monica Armino (Illus.), Greenwillow Books, $16.99 4. Smile Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99 5. The Girl Who Drank the Moon Kelly Barnhill, Algonquin Young Readers, $9.95 6. Ghosts Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99 7. Pax Sara Pennypacker, Jon Klassen (Illus.), Balzer + Bray, $8.99 8. Hatchet Gary Paulsen, Drew Willis (Illus.), Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $9.99 9. The Unofficial Ultimate Harry Potter Spellbook Media Lab Books, $14.99 10. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Dan Gemeinhart, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), $16.99
cont from page 26
Adams’s The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) to the profound (Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain), even books about books (A Reader’s Delight by Noel Perrin.) For book lovers, it’s a literary bucket list. Reading it, I began to create categories in my mind: BOOKS I MUST READ (Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The Famished Road by Ben Okri,) BOOKS I STILL MUST READ (This may be the year I finally break down and read Middlemarch), BOOKS I’VE ALREADY READ BUT NEED TO READ AGAIN — because books speak to us differently at different ages. In junior high school, I first enjoyed Lord of the Flies as an exciting boys’ adventure; when I read it several years later I was surprised that it had become a dark meditation on human nature. This volume is to savor rather than gulp, the literary equivalent of a menu for book connoisseurs (yes, I know I’m Alan Rose, author of The Legacy of Emily Hargraves, Tales of Tokyo, and The Unforgiven, organizes the monthly WordFest events and hosts the KLTV program “Book Chat.” For other book reviews, author interviews, and notes on writing and reading, visit www.alan-rose.com.
The question of what to read next
is the best prelude to even more important ones, like who to be, and how to live…A good book is the opposite of a selfie; the right book at the right time can expand our lives in the way love does, making us more thoughtful, more generous, more brave, more alert to the world’s wonders and more pained by its inequities, more wise, more kind. ~ from 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die
mixing metaphors) causing one’s mind to drool as one reads the offerings, suggesting a feast for the soul. Mustich provides tantalizing descriptions of the works, intriguing anecdotes on authors’ lives, critics’ reviews—and how wrong some were (“so much trash belonging to the worst school of Bedlam literature,” said one critic on Moby Dick’s publication in 1851. In his lifetime, Melville’s reputation never recovered from the novel’s failure.) Alongside the ethereal “No Man is an Island” and “Death Be Not Proud” Mustich adds Donne’s “gorgeously
frisky love poems.” Annie Dillard’s books (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Teaching A Stone to Talk) are “like walks in the woods between covers.” He comments on Theodore Dreiser’s scandalous Sister Carrie (1900), “What disturbed readers even more than Carrie’s disreputable choices was the fact that Dreiser didn’t make her pay for them.” Generously illustrated, Mustich’s book is a witty, insightful, always fascinating look at literature’s role in humanity’s long and continuing journey toward self-understanding. Readers may quibble over how a favorite title could have been omitted (I mean, really, a list of Best Books without Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy?) or Mustich’s preference for one of an author’s books over a reader’s personal favorite (Kazantzakis’s The Greek Way but not The Last Temptation of Christ?) In my first novel, The Legacy of Emily Hargraves—which amazingly Mustich somehow overlooked — the bibliophile Ashley has a theory that the karmic cycle of being and rebirth is essentially literary in nature: We continue to return to earth to be incarnated again and again until we’ve read all of the world’s classics, which hold all the great truths, all the great passions, as well as all the aspirations and collective wisdom of the human
race. Reading, Ashley contends, is economical: Through books, one can experience many lives, inhabit many worlds, look through different eyes and learn things beyond the pale of any one limited and singular human life. By immersing yourself in Mustich’s book, you realize that you could live less fulfilling ways than by reading these works. 1000 Books to Read Before You Die now sits regally and vertically in a place of honor on my desk. While not a substitute for living, reading can be a guide to it. Get a copy and you will never again need to ask: What is there to read? •••
No meeting in August
Sept 10 • Cassava 1333 Broadway Longview
SECOND TUESDAY
www.alan-rose.com
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 27
Summer Reading
COLUMBIA RIVER READER WRITERS’
Book Recommendations
M
id-August, and summer is beginning to wind down. But there is still time to lie back and lose yourself in a good book down at the beach, or on the lake, or next to the pool. Wondering what to read? We invited those who write regularly for Columbia River Reader to offer recommendations for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! ~ Alan Rose, CRR Book Reviewer
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon. I stumbled upon Austin Kleon’s NYT bestselling gem Show Your Work!, reading it in an afternoon. Using minimalistic prose and images, Kleon nudges creatives to stretch themselves in small increments. Some of the Tiffany Dickinson simple ideas he proposes are think Happenings process, not product; share something small every day; tell good stories; learn to take a punch; and stick around. You’ll want to reread it almost immediately to gather up the bits of wisdom you can use in your creative life today.
Hal Calbom People+Place
Alice Slusher NW Gardening
Perry Piper Lower Columbia Informer
Deep River by Karl Marlantes. Karl Marlantes’ debut novel Matterhorn astounded the book world — a gritty, personalized, nightmare trip back to Viet Nam. What many of us didn’t know was that Marlantes is a Northwest native, and his new book Deep River is set in the Willapa Hills in the early part of this century. Finnish immigrants, IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) radicals (“Wobblies”), Greeks, Swedes and Norsemen — all logging and fishing and building what and where we live today. Lazy-Ass Gardening: Maximize your soil; Minimize your toil by Robert Kourik. The author’s principle of “inspired laziness” proposes timesaving practices to improve nearly every aspect of your garden — the easy way! It’s a great read, and makes you want to get out there and do a little more work now to save a lot more in the future. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand (Published ~1953) About 1,100 pages. Extremely deep and interesting characters. Gripping story. I read it nonstop until I finished it. My favorite book of all time. A fiction centered around the objectivism philosophy, capitalism and intellectual property rights versus what is the common good. The book will test what you and society think is moral. The story follows a few very intelligent entrepreneurs during an alternative history 1930s American depression. The government wants them to follow ever tighter regulation or give up their intellectual property for the greater good, but what might happen if the producers of the world go on strike? cont page 29
28 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Marc Roland Northwest Wine
Michael Perry Lewis & Clark
Ned Piper The Spectator
Debra Tweedy Quips & Quotes
Bob Pyle The Natural World
Paris Was Ours Everyone likes a good short story, especially if it has to do with travel. Even better if you learn something, and the stories are well-written and are anecdotal. Paris Was Ours by Penelope Rowlands is a compilation of 32 stories by those who have spent significant time on the streets of Paris, mostly expatriates from around the world. They all write from unique perspectives, and if you have ever been to the city of lights, you will love it even more. Deadly Wind: The 1962 Columbus Day Storm by John Dodge. CRR readers born before about 1955 who lived in western Oregon or Washington on October 12, 1962, won’t forget that evening. In those days, we got by with just a half hour of local news each day; and, without satellites, weather forecasts were quite crude. This is a compelling story of how the biggest storm to ever slam into the west coast caught us by surprise. Reporter: A Memoir by Seymour Hersh. Seymour Hersh, staff writer for the New Yorker and investigative journalist for The New York Times, reveals how he broke the story of the tragic My Lai massacre, the event that helped end the Vietnam War. In the book, Hersh gives valuable instruction to young journalists. His path to winning the coveted Pulitzer Prize is fascinating. Personally, I was pleased that Hersh mentioned my friend, former Longview resident, Lee Quarnstrom. They worked together for a Chicago newspaper in the 1960s. Still Life, by Louise Penny. Canadian Louise Penny has written 14 books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, and, while I am impatiently awaiting the most recent book, I recommend this series to everyone I know and advise starting with the first, Still Life. We first meet Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, when he and his team are called to investigate a suspicious death in the small village of Three Pines, south of Montreal. Gamache is not a show-off or wise guy policeman, but a man of many parts, thoughtful, well-read, kind, intuitive, and a bit of a gourmand. The reader certainly gets to know the menu of the local bistro, as well as the other villagers in Three Pines, who play parts in the entire series. Louise Penny said she based Gamache on her late husband, and that could be why he is such a fully-realized, beloved character. I love it when I come across the first in a terrific series, knowing I have years of reading pleasure ahead! My grandmother’s Complete Works of Shakespeare is alive with action, truth, beauty, and gut-punching wit, all delivered in timeless poetry. What a thrill to find the wellknown phrases in Hamlet and others, and to watch As You Like It in Stratford this April, then come right home and read it! Even the familiar plays deliver surprise after delightful surprise. Whether for midsummer dreaming or a winter’s tale, I can recommend nothing more highly.
Voyage of a Summer Sun by Robin Cody. I’m about halfway into this engaging account of Cody’s 82-day, 1,200-mile canoe adventure on the Columbia River, from its beginnings in the Canadian Rockies to its mouth at Astoria. I’m enjoying learning new things about the River’s origins and Paul Thompson upper reaches. My own experiences Man in the Kitchen over many years canoeing, sailing, and fishing on the Columbia River, mostly around Stevenson, Wash., made me familiar with and fond of that area and I look forward to “re-visiting” it as the story progresses. Cody interweaves historical details, geography and his own childhood memories. Anyone who loves the Columbia River or who appreciates the ambition and courage it takes to put yourself into the hands of something so powerful will enjoy this book.
Susan Piper Publisher/Editor
Elements of Style, by William Strunk,Jr. and E.B. White, illustrated by Maira Kalman. The charming, updated version of this classic now sits alongside my 1979 Third Edition (original price $1.95). The New York Times quote on its (slightly yellowed) cover remains apt today: “Buy it, study it, enjoy it. It’s as timeless as a book can be in our age of volubility.” And now, with a surprise bonus: delightful illustrations. Especially for lovers of our written language, this book even makes for pleasant bedtime reading! •••
Community / Farmers Markets Ilwaco Saturday Market
Astoria Sunday Market
Sundays • 10–3 thru Oct 13 Downtown on 12th, just off Hwy 30, Astoria, Ore. • 503-325-1010 www.astoriasundaymarket.com
Castle Rock Farmers Market
Sundays • 12-4 thru Sept. Spanning the block between Cowlitz and A Streets, downtown Castle Rock.
Clatskanie Farmers’ Market
Saturdays • 10–2 thru Sept. Copes Park. From Hwy 30, turn north on Nehalem, east on Lillich. Music, a food cart, children’s activities each week. SNAP, FDNP. New vendors welcome; find application at clatskaniefarmersmarket.com Info: 971-506-7432 Darro Breshears-Routon clatskaniefmvendorcoordinator@gmail.com
Columbia-Pacific Farmers Market Fridays •12–5pm Thru Sept 27 Downtown Long Beach, Wash. www.longbeachwa.gov info: cpfmmallory@gmail.com Info: 360-224-3921
Saturdays • 10–4 thru Sept 28 Arts/crafts, housewares, cut flowers, foods. Weekly entertainment. Port of Ilwaco, Ilwaco, Wash. www.portofilwaco.com Info: Cyd Kertson 360-214-4964 cydsatmkt.cyd@gmail.com
Elochoman Marina Farmers Market
Fridays thru Sept 27 • 4–7pm 500 2nd St,, Cathlamet, Wash. cathlametmarina.org Info: Mackenzie Jones, Mgr: 360-849-9401
Scappoose Community Club Farmers Market
Saturdays, thru Sept 28 • 9–2 Behind City Hall next to Heritage Park, 2nd St., Scappoose, Ore. www.scappoosefarmermarket.com Info: Bill Blank 503-730-7429 email: scappoosefm@gmail.com
School Garden Produce Sale
Cowlitz Community Farmers Market
Wednesdays, Aug. 21 and 28, 10am-1pm. Fresh-picked fruits, vegetables, flowers. Northlake Garden, 2210 Olympia Way, Longview, Wash. info@lcschoolgardens.org
9–2, Tues thru Sept; Sat thru October 1900 7th Ave, Cowlitz Expo Center, Longview, Wash. www.cowlitzfarmersmarkets.com Info: Laurie Kochis 360-957-7023 CRR gladly lists community-based Farmers Markets lauriekochis@msn.com selling local produce in the Lower Columbia region.
Send information to publisher@crreader.com. Please indicate “Farmers’ Market listing” on the subject line.
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 29
Miss Manners from page 4
scrambling around in my kitchen trying to find something to put out to eat in the absence of any real contributions. Any ideas on how to handle this diplomatically, short of narrowing my social circle? This is a SMALL town where everybody knows everybody else. GENTLE READER: Telling people to bring their own food and then quibbling with the results is unfair and counter-productive. If you don’t like what’s being offered, there is a simple solution. It’s called a dinner party. Miss Manners assures you that even one on a grand scale is possible. However, even if you declare it so (“No need to bring anything, this time we just want to give it ourselves”), your friends will still bring cheap wine and store-bought chips, which you can put aside or toss. But at least they will have been forewarned — and the main dishes will have been suitably prepared in advance. DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the difference between dinner and supper?
followed, at what we now call dinnertime. As the midday meal declined in importance, the term “dinner” began to be applied at, or after, dark. Today, the only distinction that remains is in the calorie count: Miss Manners takes a light lunch when she is going out to dinner, but yearns for a late-night snack when it turns out to be merely a supper. DEAR MISS MANNERS: I see people giving congratulatory toasts to people — wedding couples, winning contestants, etc. — and I always see the toastees joining in by drinking along with the toasters. Is this proper, to drink to themselves? Doesn’t seem correct to me. GENTLE READER: It isn’t. But either raising their glasses when everyone else does is irresistible, or they don’t know how to assume the modest smiling look that such a gesture requires. Miss Manners promises that they can drink as soon as the others put their glasses down. They can even follow the toast by saying, “And to all our dear friends,” which would require everyone else to restrain themselves. DEAR MISS MANNERS: Where is it correct to use a toothpick after a meal out? How about after a meal in the home? Should it occur away from the table, in private, etc.? I have four daughters, and I would sure like to be correct in explaining. GENTLE READER: It should indeed occur away from the table, in private, and “et cetera.” This is true for all meals, both those out and those served at home. And Miss Manners’ ruling applies to all four daughters, their parents and anyone who else wanders in range. cont page 40
GENTLE READER: Historically, dinner was the largest meal, served at midday. A lighter meal, supper,
Esetica Day Spa | E Lifestyle Boutique 812 Ocean Beach Hwy Suite 100 Longview, WA
Benefiting our community library
Columbia City Celebration Saturday ~ September 14 • 7am–3pm A day of
GARDENING NEEDS? Lawn Maintenance Clean-Ups Bark • Soil Planting • Pruning Aeration • Fertilization Weed Control Blackberry Removal Tree Planting & MORE!
FREE ESTIMATES REFERENCES J.J. Landscaping 360-241-6889 or 360-425-0738.
fun
For the whole family ... along 2nd Street in Columbia City — the grounds of Columbia City Elementary School
SHOW AND SHINE CLASSIC CARS 7th annual gathering of hundreds of classic cars
• Pancake Breakfast a tradition since 1994 • Craft Fair & Vendors • Food & Bake Sale • Quilt Show by “Novel Quilters” • Handmade Quilt Raffle Made by
Columbia River Piece Makers Quilt Guild
• Beach House Raffle • Book Sale (5,000+) • Silent Auction • Non-profit & Public Agency Exhibits • Elks Children’s Eye Clinic Free vision screening for toddlers and pre-school children
• Kids’ Activities & Craft Area sponsored by Resonate Church • Music by “The Decades” and St. Helens Library Ukulele Band • Emergency Preparedness Fair Learn how to prepare for the next “Big One” • Art Show by Columbia Arts Guild • AND MORE! All proceeds benefit the Columbia City Community Library, the only free library serving the Registration info, see Calendar listing, page page 34
citizens of Columbia County. Columbia City is 2 miles north of St.Helens off Hwy30
30 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Local History
Centennial on the horizon Ryderwood’s Pioneer Hall needs help! By Lois Sturdivant
P
ioneer Hall was built in 1923 as a First Aid Station and infirmary for a thriving logging community. Many babies were born in the building. When logging subsided in about 1953 it served several purposes, including a retirement home and a real estate office. In 1976, “The Achievers” (now Ryderwood Women’s Club) renamed
the building “Pioneer Hall,” in honor of the women who came before them, and arranged to purchase the building from a real estate developer in exchange for showing new homes. In April 2017 the Hall was placed on The Cowlitz County Historical Register by the Ryderwood Women’s Club. Courtesy photo
Private tasting parties by appointment. Use website form or call 503-201-4545
Pioneer Hall will soon be 100 years old and is in dire need of restoration. The Club hopes to be able to keep it around for another 100 years. The exterior is original Douglas fir narrow horizontal lap siding. Interior features include original historic horizontal bead board paneling and Douglas fir wood flooring, built-in cabinetry and trim. Ryderwood is an age 55+ community; its Pioneer Hall is an important part of the community and represents its rich history. The Women’s Club has a limited budget, mostly to maintain and do minor repairs on the building. The Club is looking at different avenues to
get the word out about and raise funds and is asking foundations and other clubs in town to help with the cause. Come see! On August 23-24 the Club is hosting a community garage sale at the Pioneer Hall from 8am–4pm and a hot dog lunch at the Community Center from 11am–3pm to raise funds for restoration of the Hall. For more information or to help, please contact Sharon Anderson, President of the Women’s Club, 400 Monroe, Ryderwood, Wash. Ph. 360-749-3702. Driving directions: From I-5 take Exit 59 toward WA-506 W / Vader/Ryderwood, continue approx. 11 miles.
2019 Quilt Show
Cowlitz Co Largest Q unty’s u More th ilt Show an 150 Q uilts
Your security is our business! Business, Residence & Automotive Locksmithing SERVING Battle Ground • Castle Rock • Cathlamet • Chehalis • Kalama • Kelso • La Center • Longview Napavine • Ridgefield • Toledo • Toutle • Vader • Winlock • Woodland • Rainier • St. Helens • Clatskanie
2025 9th Ave. Suite 110 Longview, WA
360-423-4443
Licensed•Bonded•Insured Serving Cowlitz County Since 1980
“ Quilting for the Art of It ” Demonstrations • Door Prizes • Vendors • Raffle Quilt • Country Store • Bed Turning
Featuring “Giving Back to the Community” Quilt Display. Proceeds support
Local Veterans Children’s Justice Advocacy Center Luggage of Love
Friday, Oct. 4 • 10am – 5pm Saturday, Oct 5 • 10am – 4pm $5 Admission Youth & Family Link Building 907 Douglas Street, Longview, WA
Find & Like us Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Add’l info: www.lolquiltguild.org Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 31
Joint Replacement Procedures Improve Quality of Life Each year, more than a million Americans make the decision to have joint replacement surgery to reduce pain and improve mobility. New technology and improved surgical techniques mean that recovery is faster than ever. If you have knee, hip, or shoulder pain, the staff at Longview Orthopedic Associates is
Dr. Turner, MD
ready to help. From arthroscopic surgeries to joint replacement procedures, Bill Turner, Jon Kretzler, Peter Kung, and Tony Lin have the skill and experience to improve your quality of life. LOA is located at Pacific Surgical, where MRI and physical therapy services are located on site for your convenience.
Dr. Kretzler, MD
Dr. Kung, MD
Dr. Lin, MD
Dr. Turner
“I have two great knees and a great shoulder thanks to Dr. Turner. He improved my quality of life for many years to come!” – Julie Wanderer
Dr. Kretzler
“Dr. Kretzler replaced my horribly painful arthritic hip. He is a wonderful doctor and if ever I need another orthopedic surgery, he will be my first choice.” - Betty Vickrey
Dr. Kung
“Dr. Kung is a fantastic surgeon. He’s completely focused on taking great care of his patients.” - Clarence Demase
Dr. Lin
“Dr. Lin did surgery on my knee last year. He and his surgical team were amazing.” - Terry Riley
We welcome Kaiser patients with a referral! www.longvieworthopedics.com
360.501.3400
32 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Sternwheeler
cont from 11
on the following wave. It looked like a ton of fun, but I don’t think I would want to paddle back after the exhilarating ride because they followed in tow for quite a distance. Back inside, a rich and decadent cheese-cake topped with a berry sauce awaited us. Diners can choose from three other desserts and pay a nominal fee for one of those offerings; but Steve and I both love cheesecake, so there was no need to make another selection. We pulled up to the dock in Cascade Locks at 7:54 p.m., and the gangway opened just after 8:00 p.m. It was a perfect evening and a delightful way to view the gorge.
If You Go: Follow Tracy’s footsteps onto the Sternwheeler and savor a brunch, dinner or sightseeing cruise with a fantastic new perspective of the Columbia River. Operating in Cascade Locks, Oregon May-October; in Portland Nov-April. Sunset Dinner Cruise from $60 Champagne Brunch Cruise from $56 Landmarks of the Gorge Cruise from $98 Sightseeing Cruises from $28 For more information: 503-224-3900 www.portlandspirit.com/sternwheeler.php courtesy photo
Portland Spirit Cruises has many options. The downtown Portland Spirit offers lunch, dinner, brunch and sightseeing cruises amongst other festive trips. Bookings are also available for private events on either the Willamette Star or Crystal Dolphin yachts. •••
Tacoma
cont from 17
primary author of the Dick and Jane primers used in many schools from the 1930s to 1950s. Also interesting were narratives of anti-immigration laws, which echo the efforts to limit immigration from certain countries today; most targeted Asians, Jews and Negroes. Parts of Bellevue’s Clyde Hill neighborhood had an “Aryans-only “ restriction for many years. We enjoyed a long lunch at Pacific Grill, an award-winning sleek modern bar and grill housed in a former brothel. Especially stunning were the art installations made of French linen by a local artist (see photo page 17). The food was excellent and dessert was a (shared) passion fruit gelato. ••• Editor’s note: Some readers may remember another article Lois wrote about Tacoma in the January 2018 issue. It’s available via CRR’s website, crreader.com, by clicking “Archives,” then navigate to the specific issue, where a “replica” allows page-by-page viewing, printing, downloading and sharing.
Lois Sturdivant helps behind the scenes with CRR and has filled a special role since its beginning. She enjoys quilting, tending her rhodies and exploring Portland on Saturdays with her daughter Anne, a resident there. Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 33
Outings & Events
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.)
FIRST THURSDAY Sept. 5 Broadway Gallery Community Art Show “At the Beach,” featuring 35 local gallery members’ works in various media. Enjoy refreshments and acoustic & vocals by Steve Harvey. Reception, 5:307:30pm. 1418 Commerce Ave., Longview, Wash. McThread’s Art Works New Directions event, see the “new look” at McThread’s Art Works, 5–7pm. Refreshments served. 1233 Commerce, Longview, Wash. Cowlitz County Museum 7pm. R.A.Long High School graduate (1955 ) and Hall of Fame member Whitey Nelmark will share highlights of his lifetime in local sports and as a Cubs fan. This “walking encyclopedia” of sports history will make this a memorable evening for all sports fans. 404 Allen St.,Kelso, Wash.
Unsolicited submissions may be considered, provided they are consistent with the publication’s purpose. Advance contact with the editor is recommended. Information of general interest submitted by readers may be used as background or incorporated in future articles. Outings & Events calendar (free listing): Events must be open to the public. Non-profit organizations and the arts, entertainment, educational and recreational opportunities and community cultural events will receive listing priority. Fundraisers must be sanctioned/sponsored by the benefiting non-profit organization. Businesses and organizations wishing to promote their particular products or services are invited to purchase advertising (contact info, page 3).
Performing & Fine Arts Music, Art, Theatre, Literary Broadway Gallery Artists co-op. Classes for all ages, workshops, paint parties. Featured guest artists, Aug: Community Art show “At the Beach;” Sept: Beth Bailey (metal sculpture), Janis Newton (photography). Hours: M-F 10-5:30, Sat 10–4. 1418 Commerce, Longview, Wash. 360-577-0544. www.the-broadway-gallery. com. Come see us at Art in the Park Aug. 17th! Tsuga Gallery Fine arts and crafts by area artists. Thurs-Sat 11–5. 70 Main Street, Cathlamet, Wash. 360-795-0725.
Koth Gallery, Longview Public Library featured artist Cheryl Hicks through Aug. 31. 1600 Louisiana Street, Longview, Wash. Mon-Wed 10am-8pm, ThursSat 10am-5pm. Info: Daniel, 360-442-5307. Forsberg Art Gallery, Lower Columbia College Rose Center for the Arts. “Body/ Time=Self,” by Erin Robinson Grant. Through Aug. 21. Gallery open Mon 12–6, Tues/Wed 10–4. Free. lowercolumbia.edu/gallery Ilwaco Art Walk First Fridays, 4–7pm. Ilwaco Harbour Village, Port of Ilwaco. Watercolor Workshop Third Saturday each month, 9am–2pm, $50 includes supplies. Pacific Fine Art, 333 3rd St., Raymond, Wash. Info: 360-934-5632. Clatskanie Bloom Gallery Artwork from the lower Columbia River region. Wed-Sat, 11-4. 289 N. Nehalem St. Clatskanie, Oregon. Info: 503-308-9143. Clatskaniebloom@gmail.com. clatskaniebloom.com Community Arts Workshop/Alcove Gallery Free instruction and materials. Mon–Th, 1–3pm. Mon: water color; Tues: paper crafts, paper quilling, drawing, intro. to music; first Wed. of month: Native American arts, 2nd Wed: collage, 3rd & 4th Wed: random acts of creativity; Thurs: fiber arts, step-by-step painting. Finnish Culture Exhibit with illustrations by San Francisco-based Patrick Kroboth from the Kalevala Finnish epic and woven Sami (Laplander) sacred drum designs, through Sept. 30. Located in the CAP building,1526 Commerce, Longview, Wash. Open Mon– Thurs 12–3:30pm. Info: 360-425-3430 x 306, or email capartsworkshop@gmail.com. Cowlitz Valley Old Time Music Association Music jam night with open mic, 7–9pm, 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays, Catlin Grange, 205 Shawnee, Kelso, Wash. Primary instruments: guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, piano, accordion. Traditional country and/or bluegrass. Dance floor open. Info: Archie Beyl, 360-636-3835. Friends of the Library Book Sales Aug 16 and Sept 20, 11am-6pm; Aug 17 and Sept 21, 10am-3pm. $4 per bag. Castle Rock Library, 137 Cowlitz Street, Castle Rock, Wash. Info: 360-274-6961.
HOW TO PUBLICIZE YOUR NON-PROFIT EVENT IN CRR Send your noncommercial community event basic info (name of event, beneficiary, sponsor, date & time, location, brief description and contact info) to publisher@crreader.com Or mail or hand-deliver (in person or via mail slot) to: Columbia River Reader 1333-14th Ave Longview, WA 98632
Submission Deadlines Events occurring: Sept 15 – Oct 20: by Aug 26 for Sept 15 issue. Oct 15– Nov. 25: by Sept. 25 for Oct 15 issue. Calendar submissions are considered for inclusion, subject to lead time, general relevance to readers, and space limitations. See Submission Guidelines, above. 34 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Art in the Park / Squirrel Fest Aug. 17, Longview’s Civic Circle. See event schedule and squirrel bridge map, page 18, and article, page 19. Movies at the Lake Aug. 16: Mary Poppins Returns. Martin’s Dock, Lake Sacajawea. Activities 7pm, movies at dusk. Free. Info: 360-4425400. www.mylongview.com. 13 Nights on the River Thursdays, thru Aug. 22. Free summer concert series (suggested donation $2 per person). Open air market 4pm, music 4–6pm. Happy Hour and Main Stage, 6:30pm. 275 The Strand Street, St. Helens, Ore. (Columbia View Park, Riverfront Olde Town). Fenced area for purchased beverages and food. Waikiki Beach Concerts The Unexpected Brass Band, Aug. 24, 7–8:30pm. Cape Disappointment State Park, 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, Wash. Free with Wash. State Discover Pass. Situated in an outdoor amphitheater with spectacular scenery. 360-642-3029.
Mount St. Helens Club
HIKES see page 36
Columbia City Celebration and 7th Annual “Show & Shine” Car Show Sept 14. Strawberry
breakfast: 7–10am, Columbia City Community Hall, 1850 2nd Street. Car Show: Columbia City Grade School, 2000 2nd Street, Columbia City, Ore. All vehicles welcome, Registration $20. Info: Gordon Thistle, 503-396-5658, traxworks@ yahoo.com. See ad, page 30.
Outings & Events
Recreation, Outdoors Gardening, History, Pets, Self-Help Cowlitz County Museum Open Tues-Sat 10am–4pm. 405 Allen St, Kelso, Wash. www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/museum. Info: 360577-3119. Redmen Hall History and art. 1394 SR-4, Skamokawa, Wash. Thurs-Sun, 12-4pm. Info: 360-795-3007 or email fos1894@ gmail.com. Lower Columbia School Gardens Produce Sale Wed, Aug 21, 28, 10–1. Veggies, fruits & flowers grown by students. Northlake Gardens, 2210 Olympic Way, Longview, Wash. Info: lcschoolschoolgardens.org or 360-431-6725. Back to School Fair Aug 22, 9am–noon, Victoria Freeman Park, 907 Douglas, Longview, Wash. Sponsored by Youth & Family Link and Red Canoe Credit Union. School supplies given away. Info: 360-423-6741.
Ryderwood Women’s Club Community Garage Sale Aug 23-24, 8am–4pm, Pioneer Hall. Hot Dog Lunch, 11–3 Community Building. Ryderwood, Wash. Proceeds benefit restoration of Pioneer Hall. See story, page 31. Remnants of the Past Sept 7, 10–4, Stella Historical Museum, 8530 Ocean Beach Hwy, Stella, Wash. Stella Historical Museum, 124 Sherman Road, Longview, Wash. Adults $5, children $2. Info: 360-423-8663 or 360-423-3860. See story, page 19. In Their Footsteps “John Colter’s Impact on American History,” by Christopher Hodges Sept. 15, 1pm, Netul Room, Lewis and Clark Nat’l Historical Park, 92343 Fort Clatsop Road, Astoria, Ore. Free. Info: 503-861-2471
Kelso Highlander Festival Invites you to come and experience a
“Wee Bit o’ Scotland”
Sunday Entertainment by:
Sept. 14 & 15, 2019 Highland Dance Competition Highland Team Games Heavyweight Events Fun Run/Walk • Bagpipe Bands Scottish Vendors • Food Avenue of the Clans Silent Auction • Parade Kirkin o’ the Tartan
Saturday and Sunday:
Men of Worth • Darby O’Gill
FREE ADMISSION!
TAM O’ SHANTER PARK • KELSO, WASHINGTON
For more information contact: 360-423-0900
http://kelso.gov/visitors/highlander-festival
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 35
the Lower Columbia
Informer by Perry Piper
Greetings from South America: Part 2
M
ost people are unaware that Brazilians speak Portugugese, not Spanish, although the two languages are quite similar and share many of the same words. Thus, after learning only the most rudimentary Spanish in Chile and Argentina, I was back to square one as I crossed the Brazilian border. But armed with my offline dictionaries and Google Translate, I can get by. It’s lucky I speak the only languages that matter: math and charades. South Americans are serious cutthroat drivers, even in buses! It’s like perpetual New York City traffic everywhere. People are flipping some sort of sideways thumbs up gesture in anger, everyone is honking and cutting each other off, and it’s no wonder some places in South America have almost twice as many accidents as in the U.S. Surprisingly though, I have yet to see any such accidents actually occur. Back home around Longview recently, I saw the aftermath of two serious crashes: an overturned truck on I-5 near Kalama and a new Mustang in a tree next to the Longview Country Club. Not a war zone The biggest safety tip is to not drive at night, unless in a large momentum object, like a bus. Buses can be 60 times safer than driving a small car! People also tell me, generally, not to walk around at night, unless the area is well lit, but still to be extra cautious of my surroundings for pickpockets. I haven’t had any problems though, or even felt or seen anyone suspicious. Even in Colombia, my first trip in this region, we had a great time. Crime has been falling dramatically since the 80s and it’s not like an active war zone as many still seem to think. I brought extra U.S. cash with me to exchange and have as an emergency backup and I’ve had a tough time getting fair exchange rates. ATM withdrawals are quick and easy, but usually charge five percent. I have found a few highly-rated Cambio offices and an investment house that offered almost perfect rates at just 0.8 percent! The worst one, though, was a staggering 22 percent!
Before this trip, I dreaded the rumored 10-hour or even 24-hour bus rides between major cities, as even flights after five hours have me feeling trapped. But after a few such bus rides, it’s obvious that this is the best way to travel in South America and perhaps even the world. The tickets are half to one-quarter the price of the plane ticket to the same place. There are no security checks; you can show up 30 minutes before your departure! Even the cheap seats recline and are quite spacious. With the savings, I opt for the elite bus experience of semi- or even full “cama,” meaning bed. The experience becomes luxurious, often at a mere $90 for an overnight or even 24 hour trip. You have extra space, a seat that reclines almost totally flat, a nice view of the countryside and frequent meal stops or airline-like meals, drinks and snacks served enroute! I can easily take a 24 hour trip with these pluses thrown in. And one of the best apps that automates the process, but does require ticket printing, is Busbud. It apparently even works in the US. I’ve arrived at destinations after a night bus actually feeling rested. And I’m someone who can almost never sleep on a plane.
“Like the Disneyland of waterfalls” Puerto Iguazu Falls in Brazil. Bargain Whopper!
Everything in South America, even here in the “expensive” zones of Brazil (according to locals), is insanely cheap. I normally never even consider taxis in the US or Europe, but here and especially with the Uber app, 10 minutes on the road is $1.50! You ask yourself how this is possible, but minimum wage and the cost of living here is significantly lower. Uber also has their Uber Eats offering, delivering food from restaurants that normally don’t offer such a service. I was feeling a bit homesick for a burger and a chocolate shake, so I placed the order and after about 15 minutes, Carlos, via bike, showed up in front of my hostel with the food. The price, even after delivery, came to $4 per extra-loaded whopper and $2 for the shake! It was cheaper than going to an actual Burger King back home and placing the order. Uber rides are so cheap and convenient, they compete with the city’s metro. Arriving in Sao Paulo, I took a 30-minute Uber for another $1.50 to my hostel. Traveling just became even cheaper and easier.
Keep things in sight One of the major luggage safety lessons I learned My hostels average about $12 per day, with some high-end ones being in Europe is to place your bag in a place you can $17 and bargains showing up at an astonishing $4. These are all for always keep an eye on it. I put mine overhead a dorm rooms where socialization and events come first. For privacy, few rows ahead on the opposite side so I can see it you’re looking at more traditional hotel prices at $30-40 per night. clearly if anyone tries to mess with it. Alternatively, Everything can be booked three days ahead, although this is their you could put it above you, with the strap hanging visibly over the edge. There’s room under the cont page 37 seat for one bag and technically room This friendly club welcomes newcomers. within the belly of For more info please call the hike leader or the bus, but I pack visit mtsthelensclub.org. light and keep my RT(round trip) distances are from Longview. with E=easy, M=moderate, S=strenuous, things in sight.
TAKE A
Wi t h t h e t i m e on the road, I’ve gotten some serious reading done. I’ve c o m p l e t e d Ay n Rand’s Anthem, Treasure Island, The Great Gatsby, The Making of the Atomic Bomb and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with many of the classics and some modern works still on my phone.
36 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
HIKE
Mt. St. Helens Club
Thurs, Aug 15 Moonlight Kayak Paddle on Silver Lake (E/M) Drive 60 mi. RT Launch boats and do a 3–4 hour kayak paddle on Silver Lake. Bring your PFD and a headlamp. Leader: Bill D, 503-260-6712. Sat, Aug 17 Sheep Canyon Loop (M) Drive 120 mi. RT. Hike 7 mi. with 1,300 ft. e.g. Nice variety of oldgrowth forest, timberline, lahars, and flowers on west side of Mt. St. Helens. Leader: George W (360) 562-0001 Sat, Aug 21 Lake Sacajawea (E) Walk around the whole lake (3+ mi.) or walk half the lake (1+ mi.). Leaders: Trudy & Ed (360) 414-1160.
e.g.=elevation gain.
Wed, Aug 28 Spirit Trails (E) Drive 50 mi. RT. to the serene and interesting Spirit Trails in Scappoose. Hike 3 mi. thru beautiful forest and experience the beauty of many shrines built to honor a variety of religions and provide a most peaceful setting at this Hindu Retreat Center. Leader: Bonny 503-556-2332. Wed, Sept 4 Macleay Park – Pittock Mansion (M) Drive 110 mi. RT Hike 4 mi. RT with 800 ft. e.g. on a very popular trail through Forest Park to Pittock Mansion and an awesome view of Portland. Leader: Bruce 360-425-0256. Sat, Sept 7 Mildred Point – Mt. Rainier National Park (M/S) Drive 210 mi. RT. Hike 7 mi. with 2,300 ft. e.g. Great waterfalls, alpine meadows and views of Mt. Rainier. Leader: George W. 360-562-0001
Wed, Sept 11 Discovery Trail (E) Drive 140 mi. RT. Trailhead is at the Breakers north of Long Beach. Hike along the beach trail to Seaview approximately 7 mi. RT (or with a possible shuttle, it will be approximately 3.5 mi. one way). Sand and surf and an ocean breeze. Also hike past the Lewis and Clark tree, the Basalt Monolith, the Gray Whale Skeleton. A great area to take photos. Leader: Art 360-270-9991. Sat, Sept 14 Berry Mountain/Indian Heaven (M) Drive 200 mi. RT. Hike
8 mi. RT with 1,400 ft. e.g. Begin at Falls Creek Horse Camp and hike past Indian Race Track to summit of Berry Mountain. Leader: Bruce 360-425-0256.
Blackwood on Movies from page 36
winter season, with fewer people in each hostel. For the best bus seats, though, a week in advance would be recommended. Statistically, the safest bus seats are in the middle, since most accidents involve rear ending or head on collisions, but you can still choose window and the ocean-facing side, depending on your route. World-class: in the top 30 restaurants As for my trip agenda update, Santiago, Chile, has one of the top 30 restaurants in the world, Borago. It was about as expensive as the Melting Pot in Portland. It’s something most people would probably do once a year or less. I had five special juices and a pisco sour drink, the national specialty (Editor’s note: see Perry Piper’s story, page 14), paired with 16 small courses followed by another pisco digestive. The food stretched even my adventurous palate. I was so thoroughly stuffed by the end, with three dessert dishes and the best lamb of my life — cooked in front of me — that I didn’t even consider anything beyond gas station snacks again for an entire month. I gazed upon the most epic waterfalls ever in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, in a small pocket area bordering Paraguay and Brazil. The park was like the Disneyland of waterfalls, complete with an optional wild boat ride through the falls, multiple walking tracks and a train to the best view at the top. When I tried to enter into Brazil, not only did the bus go right past the customs office, but it also went into Paraguay the same way, meaning I was probably illegally in both countries! I walked back across the bridge and had to ask some military police where to get my passport stamped. They were very friendly and relaxed when pointing me in the right direction. Never before have I seen such casual border control! There were hundreds of other people walking across the bridges, as well. I’m writing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, perhaps my favorite city of the continent so far, with its 12 million population, vibrancy and colors alongside a soothing saxophone sound that plays for every subway stop. I’ll be in Brazil for two months total, before I move to the second half of the trip to Bolivia to see the world’s largest salt flats visible from space, then on to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and a cruise to Antarctica. Someday after the situation in Venezuela improves, I’ll return for that and Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana. ••• During his travels, Perry Piper is working remotely for CRR and can refer clients to a technical consultant filling in for him to help with their computer needs. Reach Perry via email (perrypiper@hotmail. com) or text message 360270-0608.
Tarantino returns
S
By Dr. Bob Blackwood
ome folks thought that Quentin Tarantino was through. It would seem, however, that his latest film, “Once Upon A Time In … Hollywood,” has brought him to the attention of the film industry and the filmgoers, thanks, in part, to the acting ability of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Margot Robbie and others. He was back in Cannes for this year’s film festival, in a city where his “Pulp Fiction” opened a lot of eyes 25 years ago. However, I found it to be his slowest narrative ever and far too long at two hours and 40 minutes. One critic called it his most leisurely narrative since “Jackie Brown.” Alas, I certainly found it to drag considerably and somewhat pointlessly. The length of a film should be appropriate to its value. This film would have been better in under two hours. I kept waiting for something to happen. I felt sorry for Di Caprio who plays Rick Dalton, a front man for the director. Dalton had been a cowboy in a number of films, and it is somewhat unclear why he was chosen by the director to do a contemporary film. He does everything he can do to make his role come alive, but Tarentino’s script does him in. Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth seemed to be enjoying the film, though his role was largely to do whatever dirty job that his partner, Di Caprio, had to do in the film. Play dead, fall over a cliff, etc. This is perfectly ordinary in any Hollywood production, and Pitt did a good job as he always does. They are Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio at ease in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” both fine actors who could have done an even better job if they had a better members of the Manson “Family” in Hollywood during 1969. Too often in films about Hollywood the women seem to be either window dressing script and some lively pacing. or utter monsters. Tate had a certain sympathy that came alive on film. I believe Tarantino made a good She was one of those women who could project their feelings onto the choice in picking Margot Robbie screen. as Sharon Tate, the beautiful young actress who was killed in real life by I found the film to be too slow and not particularly interesting despite the high quality of the actors and Tarantino’s reputation as a good director. I just kept thinking it could have been better, but maybe it is enough to Dr. Bob Blackwood, make a pile of money instead of a meaningful motion picture. Obviously, professor emeritus of Mr. Tarantino is entitled to his opinion. He has created a number of the City Colleges of good films. If this one is a bit less than some of the others, it is still doing Chicago, co-authored well in the box office. It has cleared about $51 million in about six days. with Dr. John Flynn the book, Everything At a production cost of $90 million, it should make a large profit in the USA and the rest of the world. I Know about Life I Learned from James Bond. Mr. Blackwood lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
There is no stopping Mr. Tarantino. Who would want to do so? On the other hand, I would have liked to have seen a film where characters are developed and are seen as human beings with concerns for others as well as for themselves. I have seen that in a number of good films, but maybe it is too much to hope for in the worlds of Hollywood and Cannes today. Peace. •••
Responds within hours, not days! Clean-Up • Repairs • Dry-outs Restoring more than just your peace of mind. WATER. FIRE.
SMOKE. MOLD
ServiceMaster by JTS–Longview, WA www.servicemasterjts.com
Call 360-425-3331
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 37
Clatskanie Fultano’s Pizza 770 E. Columbia River Hwy Family style with unique pizza offerings, hot grill items & more! Sun-Thurs 11am–9pm. Fri-Sat 11am–10pm. 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. Sports bar. M-Th 11am–9:30pm; Fri & Sat 11am–11:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm. 503-728-3344
Rainier Alston Pub & Grub 25196 Alston Rd., Rainier 503-556-4213 11 beers on tap, cocktails. Open daily 11am. 503-556-9753 See ad, page 13.
COLUMBIA RIVER
dining guide
Longview 716 Triangle Shopping Center. 18 rotating craft brews, pub fare. M-W 12 noon –9pm, Th-Sat 12 noon-11pm, Sun 12 Noon-8pm. 360-232-8283. Follow us on Untappd .
1260 Commerce Ave. Serving lunch & dinner Mon–Sat 11am–10pm. Full bar, banquet space, American comfort food. 360-703-3904. www.millcitygrill.com. See ad, page 8.
Evergreen Pub & Café 115-117 East 1st Street Burgers, halibut, prime rib, full bar. 503-556-9935. See ad, page 13. Goble Tavern 70255 Columbia River Hwy. (Milepost 31, Hwy. 30) Food, beer & wine + full bar, Live entertainment. 503-556-4090. See ad page 13.
Luigi’s Pizza 117 East 1st Street, Rainier 503-556-4213 Pizza, spaghetti, burgers, beer & wine. See ad, page 13.
Fire Mountain Grill 9440 Spirit Lake Hwy, Milepost 19. Lunch & Dinner: Burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks seafood, chicken & dumplings, housemade cobblers and infamous Bigfoot Burger. Riverside dining. Open 10am–8pm daily. 360-274-5217.
St. Helens, Oregon
The Original Pietrio’s Pizzeria Homestyle cooking from the 1960s-1970. All natural ingredients. Beer and wine available. Open Wed. thru Sun, 7am–8pm. 1140 15th Ave., Longview. See ad, page 8.
The Carriage Restaurant & Lounge
Full breakfast, lunch and dinner 6am– 9pm. Full bar in lounge, open 6am. Three happy hours daily (8–10am, 12– 2pm, 5–7pm). Group meeting room, free use with $150 food/drink purchases. 1334 12th Ave. 360-425-8545.
614 Commerce Ave., Longview. 18 varieties of pizza. Salad bar, Lunch buffet all-you-can-eat. Beer & wine. Mon-Fri open 11am, Sat-Sun 12 Noon. 360-353-3512.
Country Folks Deli 1329 Commerce Ave., Longview. Serving lunch and dinner. Sandwiches, soups, salads. Open M-Sat 11am. 360-425-2837.
Freddy’s Just for the Halibut. Cod, halibut & tuna fish and chips, oysters & clams., award-winning clam chowder. Prime rib every Thurs. Beer and wine. M-W 10–8, Th-Sat 10–9, Sun 11–8. 1110 Commerce 360-414-3288. See ad, page 26.
Hop N Grape 924 15th Ave., Longview M–Th 11am–8pm; Fri & Sat 11am– 9pm; Sun 11am–7pm. BBQ meat slowcooked on site. Pulled pork, chicken brisket, ribs, turkey, salmon. Worldfamous mac & cheese. 360-577-1541 See ad page 8.
Masthead Castaways 1124 Washington Way, Longview. Famous fish & chips, gourmet burgers, Chowders. 13 beers on tap. Extra parking in back. 360-232-8500.
38 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Sunshine Pizza & Catering 2124 Columbia Blvd. Hot pizza, cool salad bar. Beer & wine. 503-397-3211 See ad, page 13.
Scappoose Porky’s Public House 561 Industrial Way, Longview Slow-roasted prime rib Fri & Sat, flat iron steaks, 1/3-lb burgers, fish & chips. 33 draft beers. Full bar. Family-friendly, weekly jazz and acoustic dinner hour sets on Weds. 360-636-1616. See ad, page 10.
Conestoga Pub Cornerstone Café 102 East “A” Street Microbrews, wines & spirits Prime rib Friday & Sat. Open M-F 6am–8pm; Sat-Sun 7am–8pm. 503-556-8772.
Toutle/Mt St Helens
Red Kitchen 848 15th Ave., Longview. Cocktails, taps, vino. Traditional diner fare, breakfast, lunch, dinner. Sandwiches, burgers, funky comfort food, incl. Bacon Gouda Mac n Cheese, shepherd’s pie, healthy options. Full service bar, incl 12 taps. 7am–10pm, M-F, 8am–10pm Sat-Sun.
Fultano’s Pizza 51511 SE 2nd. Family style with unique pizza offerings, hot grill items & more! “Best pizza around!” Sun–Th 11am–9pm; Fri-Sat 11am– 10pm. Full bar service ‘til 10pm Fri & Sat. Deliveries in Scappoose. 503-5435100.
Ixtapa Fine Mexican Restaurant
33452 Havlik Rd. Fine Mexican cuisine. Daily specials. The best margarita in town. Daily drink specials. M-Th 11am–9:30pm; Fri & Sat 11am–11:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm. 503-543-3017
Warren Roland Wines 1106 Florida St., Longview. Authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, wine, and beer. Casual ambience. 5–9pm Wed-Sat. See ad, page 18.
Warren Country Inn 56575 Columbia River Hwy. Fine family dining. Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Fri Prime Rib special, Taco Tuesday. Full bar. M-Th 8am–9:30pm, Fri-Sat 8am–10:30pm, Sun 9am–9pm. Karaoke Fri & Sat.503-410-5479.
Teri’s 3225 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. Lunch and dinner. Burgers, steak, seafood, pasta, specials, fresh NW cuisine. Happy Hour. Full bar. Sun-Mon 3–8pm. Tues–Sat 11:30am–9pm.. 360577-0717.
Castle Rock Parker’s Restaurant & Brewery 1300 Mt. St. Helens Way. I-5 Exit 49. Lunch, Dinner. Burgers, hand-cut steak; seafood and pasta. Restaurant opens 11am, Lounge 12 Noon. Closed Monday. 360-967-2333
To advertise in Columbia River Dining Guide, call 360-749-2632
Astronomy / Friends of Galileo
SKY REPORT August 15 – September 18
TWILIGHT TREATS:
By Ted Gruber
Jupiter, Antares and Saturn Evening Sky In this month’s sky report, I’ll depart from the usual format to focus on three objects you can see in the southern sky starting just before sunset. The first star-like object you’ll see in the south-southwest twilight isn’t a star at all, but the planet Jupiter. The giant planet appears faint at first but becomes brighter as the sky darkens, when it will be the brightest object in the night sky other than the moon. The next object that will appear in the same region of the sky actually is a star– the red giant Antares in the constellation Scorpius. The sky will need to darken some before Antares becomes visible. It will first appear as a faint white point of light, but once darkness falls Antares takes on its true ruddy red color. By that time, you should also be able to see the other fainter stars that form Scorpius. The third object you’ll see in this part of the sky can be found east of Jupiter and slightly
south (toward the horizon). This object is the ringed planet Saturn, which will appear brighter than Antares, but not nearly as bright as Jupiter. The waxing gibbous moon, about 75% full, appears just west of Saturn the night of September 7, and just east of the ringed planet the next night. Sidewalk Astronomy: Come take a look! The local Friends of Galileo astronomy club will host a public sidewalk observing session the evening of Friday, September 6 (weather permitting). Join us starting around 9:00pm in the parking lot outside Starbucks at 808 Ocean Beach Highway in Longview. Several club members will have telescopes set up to observe the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and possibly some deep sky objects. If skies are overcast or it’s raining on September 6, we’ll try again the next night, again weather permitting. Please check the calendar on the club’s website www.friendsofgalileo.com/calendar for last minute details to confirm the event isn’t cancelled. •••
LAWN MAINTENANCE Landscaping Tree planting, Cutting & Disposal Blackberry Removal & Spraying Fence Repairs, Cleaning & Pressure Washing Moving • Painting & MORE! Cleaning & Pressure Washing
FREE ESTIMATES / REFERENCES
Jaime Tovar
360-751-0120 or 360-430-8510
Kelso resident Ted Gruber is president of Friends of Galileo. He makes a regular report to fellow members of the family-friendly astronomy club which meets monthly in Longview. For info about FOG, visit friendsofgalileo.com.
Trees need trimming? We buy cedar and noble branches Sept 20–Nov 30. We do all the work. Call now for free estimate or appointments.
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 39
Miss Manners
from page 30
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Due to a fire at their house, my aunt, uncle and cousin will be staying with us for several months. They have been here two weeks already. There is only one serious problem. While I know that it is always rude to ignore people, and that one generally does not read at the table, I was always told that breakfast was the exception. I bring in the morning paper every day, separate the sections, and place it at the side of the kitchen table for people to read. My aunt has informed me that it is rude to read at the table. I don’t ignore her, or hide behind the paper. I fold it neatly and place it next to my plate. I tried not reading the paper for a few days, but their breakfast sounds consisted of slurping, crunching and discussions of their medications. I tried conversing, but received only one-word answers. I finally returned to my paper. Now, we do have breakfast conversation — of my aunt sotto voce asking my cousin and uncle if they have ever seen anything as rude as someone reading at the table. Am I wrong here? With three extra people to cook and clean for, it is the only time I
get to read the paper. After breakfast they gather up the paper, take it to the family room and remain until suppertime. The paper is read, wrinkled, clipped and circled by afternoon, and unsuitable for reading even if I wanted to.
The polite way to put it is, “I’m sorry that you’re not happy with the way I do things, but I hope you’ll be able to bring yourself to put up with me until you are able to make other arrangements.”
I wonder, first, if I am incorrect that one may read the paper at the breakfast table. If I am incorrect, I will stop. If not, do you have any suggestions for dealing with my aunt?
•••
GENTLE READER: As your aunt considers herself an authority on etiquette, what does she have to say about houseguests who criticize and insult their hostess? And why would you even take such pronouncements seriously? Yes, newspapers are read at family breakfasts. Miss Manners lives in dread of the time when there may be no such artifacts and she will be left staring at her eggcup, and perhaps at people who are staring at their devices. You do not, of course, want to say to your relatives, “Look: This is my house, and I took you in, but you have no business sabotaging my routine.”
Management & Maintenance Experts Specializing in Commercial & Residential Properties
www.catlinpropertiesinc.com 360-636 2897 40 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or via USPS to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
Call before you go ! You have the power to avoid disputes over your estate. Have your Will prepared today.
“I make house calls”
THE LAW OFFICE OF
Vincent L. (Vince) Penta, P.S. 1561 11th Ave. Longview
360-423-7175
Where to find the new Reader It’s delivered all around the River by the 15th of each month. Here’s the list of handy, regularlyrefilled sidewalk box and rack locations where you can pick up a copy any time of day and even in your bathrobe ... LONGVIEW Post Office Bob’s (rack, main check-out) In front of 1232 Commerce Ave In front of 1323 Commerce Ave YMCA Fred Meyer (rack, grocery entrance) US Bank (15th Ave.) Fibre Fed’l CU - Commerce Ave Monticello Hotel (front entrance) Kaiser Permanente St. John Medical Center (rack, Park Lake Café) Cowlitz Black Bears box office LCC Student Center Mini-Mart next to Regents Indie Way Diner Columbia River Reader 1333 14th Ave. KELSO Heritage Bank Visitors’ Center/ Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce KALAMA Fibre Fed’l CU Kalama Shopping Center corner of First & Fir McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge WOODLAND Visitors’ Center The Oak Tree CASTLE ROCK Lacie Rha’s Cafe (32 Cowlitz W.) Parker’s Restaurant (box, entry) Visitors’ Center 890 Huntington Ave. N. Exit 49, west side of I-5
RYDERWOOD Café porch
RAINIER Post Office Cornerstone Rainier Hardware (rack, entry) Earth ‘n’ Sun (on Hwy 30) El Tapatio (entry rack) DEER ISLAND Deer Island Store COLUMBIA CITY - Post Office WARREN Warren Country Inn ST HELENS Chamber of Commerce Sunshine Pizza Post Office Olde Town (Wild Currant) Safeway SCAPPOOSE Post Office For more Road Runner locations or the Fred Meyer pick-up point (east entrance) nearest you, Fultano’s visit crreader. Ace Hardware com and click “Find the CATHLAMET Magazine” Cathlamet Pharmacy under Tsuga Gallery “Features.” Puget Island Ferry Landing CLATSKANIE Post Office Chevron / Mini-Mart Wauna mill (parking area) SKAMOKAWA Skamokawa General Store Redmen Hall NASELLE Appelo Archives & Café Johnson’s One-Stop
Where do you read
THE READER?
Vive la France! John Kramer, of Longview, Wash., atop the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Photo by Dolly Kramer.
Has he found the Fountain of Youth? Kelso
resident John Brickey in Cusco, Peru, while on a Roads Scholar tour. The statue in the fountain behind him represents an early Inca leader; Cusco is a city of approx. 500,000 population.
Batter up! Keith Larson, of Longview, at the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in late May. This was one stop on a week-long sports tour with 53 other baseball fans starting from Newark, NJ. The group visited six ball parks and three Halls of Fame and enjoyed several baseball games. He recommends baseball fans who want a great experience check out the summer tours offered at www.bobsbaseballtours.com, organized by Bob Kaupang, Redwood Falls, MN. bob@bobsbaseballtours.com.
Old friends at Oro Valley, Arizona (near Tuscon): Jarl & Kay Opgrande, Longview, Wash.; Vivian Barr, formerly of Kelso, Wash.; Clarence & Kathy Newton, Longview.
WHERE DO YOU READ THE READER?
Send your photo reading the Reader (high-resolution JPEG) to Publisher@CRReader. com. Include names and cities of residence. We make it a practice to acknowledge photos received; if you don’t receive an acknowledgment within 5 days, please resend. If sending a cell phone photo, choose the largest file size up to 2 MB. For best results and facial recognition, position human subjects 5–8 feet from the camera, with the “landmark” object filling the background of the frame. Thank you for your participation and patience; we usually have a small backlog. Keep those photos coming!
The hills are alive! Kalama, Wash. resident Hildegard Pistor at Seeblick Hotel overlooking Grundlsee, Austria
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 41
the spectator
ATTENTION CRR FRIENDS Room to Rent? Apartment to Share?
by ned piper
Of Mice and Men ... and Fleas
A
uthor John Steinbeck has long been a favorite of mine. His novella Of Mice and Men is the only book I’ve read in one sitting. It’s a fairly short book, but it kept me up all night. While Steinbeck is more famous for books like Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, the simple tale of George and Lenny, two displaced migrant ranch workers who move around in search of job opportunities during the Great Depression, made a huge impression on me. It may have even been what sparked my own fiction writing. Recently, an NPR program caught my attention. A gentleman named Andrew Gulli, managing editor of Strand Magazine, was being interviewed about a literary discovery. In the 1950s Steinbeck moved to Paris. During his stay in the City of Lights, he wrote a weekly column called “An American in Paris,” for Le Figaro. One of those columns was a whimsical story about a chef whose gastronomical
Landscape Installations Skidsteer/Tractor work for drainage Sprinkler Installations Clean-Ups Maintenance Packages Lawn Cutting
Backyard Blitz... Improving your outdoor space!
consultant and chief taster was a cat named Apollo. The title: “The Amiable Fleas.” This story, originally published in French has been hiding in some archive for 62 years. According to Andrew Gulli, Strand Magazine, a quarterly featuring mysteries, interviews and book reviews, acquired publishing rights for “The Amiable Fleas” in their July 2019 (3rd quarter) issue. My good friend, retired attorney Don Frey, and I had plans in Portland the following Saturday. We left town a half hour early to drop by Powell’s Books and pick up two copies of Strand Magazine. Don is also a Steinbeck devotee. In fact, a few years ago, he and his wife took a train to Salinas, California, to visit the Steinbeck Museum. They brought me a souvenir cup from the museum. Opening the box, I discovered that the cup had broken into 10 pieces. I Gorilla-glued them back together. It doesn’t hold water, but I love it just the same. Visit www.strandmag.com for more info about Strand Magazine. •••
Sue and I have the pleasure of temporarily hosting a bright, cleancut 21-year-old Oregon State University chemical engineering student who just started a 14-month internship at a Longview paper mill. He works Mon-Fri, 7:30-4:30, and is looking for a place to live until resuming his studies in Corvallis in the Fall 2020. He’s a friend of our nephew’s and very personable. If you’re an empty-nester, a single adult, a family or living group with a room to rent or an apartment to share and would consider inviting this young man into your household — with payment of rent and sharing of utilities — please call us for more details. We’d love to help facilitate a meeting and housing arrangement. ~ Ned Piper Sue 360-749-1021 Ned 360-749-2632 Longview native Ned Piper enjoys reading, writing, putzing in the yard, watching all manner of TV sports, and schmoozing with CRR advertisers and readers.
53 Great Years
Kid-proof Waterproof Pet-proof Luxury Vinyl Plank
$ 99 SALE 1 Per Square Foot
REG $399
t u O e s o l Mill C quare Feet 10,000 S
360.356.6588 FREE ESTIMATES COUNTYWIDE!
Licensed-Bonded-Insured
backyardblitznw@gmail.com
Hours: 9–5:30 pm • Sat 9–4pm WA LIC. COLUMR529 LQN, OR: 145 www.Carpetone.com 105 B. Street West Rainier, OR Phone: 503-556-0171 Toll Free: 800-886-0171
42 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019
PLUGGED IN TO COWLITZ PUD 2nd Annual Eat for Heat By Alice Dietz
A
s the cost of living increases, Cowlitz PUD has noticed the necessity for offering more programs to assist customers in need. In 2001, Lower Columbia Community Action (CAP) and Cowlitz PUD teamed up to establish the Warm Neighbor Fund. In the past, The Warm Neighbor Fund was primarily funded by voluntary gifts from PUD customers and through Bingo at the Cowlitz County Fair. A few years back, however, the Washington State Auditor strongly advised the PUD to end the Bingo at the Fair. Over the past years, we’ve seen a huge decrease in the annual giving to the Warm Neighbor Fund. Unlike the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Warm Neighbor Fund has fewer restrictions on the awarding of funds. Many customers live above the federal poverty level but still have trouble meeting their day-today expenses. Offering a program like Warm Neighbor extends our ability to help our customers in need. Cowlitz PUD’s Connect to Community volunteer committee is excited to announce our second annual Eat for Heat farm to table dinner on September 8th. We are partnering with Watershed Garden Works, Lower Columbia School Gardens, Roland Wines and many other local businesses to bring the freshest local ingredients right to your table. Chef Josiah Fox, along with additional, local celebrity guest chefs will be preparing the dinner, to be served family-style. This will be an exciting event, bringing the community together for a great cause. 100 percent of the evening’s proceeds will go to the Warm Neighbor Fund. Last year we raised $6,000. Like last year’s event, there is a surprise element as we build the menu close to the event based on what fresh ingredients are available. To sign up please contact me by phone at 360-501-9146, or by email: adietz@ cowlitzpud.org. ••• Alice Dietz is Communications and Public Relations Manager at Cowlitz PUD. Reach her at adietz@cowlitzpud.org, or 360-501-9146.
Columbia River Reader /August 15 – September 15, 2019 / 43
44 / Columbia River Reader / August 15 – September 15, 2019