CRR March 2020

CRREADER.COM • Vol. XVI, No. 176 • March 15 – April 15, 2020 • COMPLIMENTARY Helping you discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River region at home and on the road

MOSS IN YOUR LAWN? What to do page 15

ONE RIVER, MANY VOICES WASHINGTON’S POET LAUREATE COMES TO WAHKIAKUM COUNTY page 14

People+Place

Cutting Edge The art of the woodcut

page 19

page 28

COLUMBIA RIVER

dining guide

ESCAPE TO BARCELONA • “FEATURED CHEF” RETURNS

e ailabl v a s B o ok o m/ ader.c e r r c il at by ma , s s e r CRRP office R R C or at v th, Lg 4 1 3 133 3 • 11– F W M

CRR COLLECTORS CLUB

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

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 360-749-1021.

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS MAKE THOUGHTFUL GIFTS...

FOR YOURSELF OR FOR A FRIEND! We provide a printed notification card for your recipient

$29.95

GIVE BOOKS! COLLECT BOOKS!

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

EYEWITNESS TO ASTORIA Gabriel Franchére

$21.95

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

• History comes to life!

• Happened in our back yard!

• Boosts local pride and sense of place!

Available in CRR’s office • 1333 14th Avenue, Longview

Open M-W-F 11am–3pm ... or by appointment (call 360-749-1021)

CRR Press 1333 14th Ave. Longview, WA 98632

CRR COLLECTORS CLUB ___@ $29.95 = _______

In Full View

Eyewitness to Astoria ___@ $21.95 = _______

Name______________________________________

Down and Up

Street______________________________________

Add Book Shipping & Handling

City/State/Zip________________________________

$18.95

email_______________________________________

11-issue Subscription ___@ $55 = __________ Start with next issue

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

Phone _____________________________________

Washington residents add sales Tax

DOWN AND UP Rex Ziak

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 / March 15 – April 15, 2020

___ @ $18.95 = _______ $3.90

Sub-Total ______________

8.1%__________

TOTAL _________________

(Check payable to CRR Press enclosed)

N

othing draws sympathy from a green thumb like the subject of moss in lawns. But, I own up to a recently developed fascination with the nondescript green stuff.

When I first read Alice Slusher’s gardening article this month on moss in lawns, I stumbled over her calling moss a weed. Poor Alice! How was she to know this reasonable and rather mild description would rouse her editor to take exception?

Sue’s Views

I blame a marvelous book by Elizabeth Gilbert, best known as author of Eat, Pray, Love, called The Signature of All Things. A coming of age novel set in the last century, Signature

In Defense of Moss: Brilliant Bryology introduces us to young girl growing up lonely, homely and rich, to her love for science and the natural world, and eventually her study of bryology, the science of mosses.

Publisher/Editor: Susan P. Piper Columnists and contributors: Cynthia Basso Tracy Beard Hal Calbom Alice Dietz Joseph Govednik Ted Gruber Jim LeMonds Suzanne Loeb Dayle Olson Michael Perry Ned Piper Perry Piper Robert Michael Pyle Marc Roland Alan Rose Alice Slusher Greg Smith Debra Tweedy Production/Graphics Manager: Perry E. Piper Editorial/Proofreading Assistants: Merrilee Bauman 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

But before we learn more about Alma, and her thousands of classifications and experiments, we are treated to exceptional storytelling that has captured my imagination and that of any friend to whom I can robustly recommend the book.

Two decades later, a more matronly Alma is more grounded, studying botany in the age of Darwin, with the evolution of species front of mind.

She discovers the most unlikely of fascinations, mosses, and becomes their champion. In Gilbert’s words:

In an early scene, for instance, an Italian astronomer visiting Alma’s father’s estate imbibes enough champagne on an insufferably hot night in Philadelphia that he proposes abandoning the ballroom completely and setting up theatricals on the vast lawns. In a fit of inspiration and intoxication, he creates a veritable human cosmos, arranging the dinner guests as the sun, moon and planets, then encouraging their orbiting, whirling and general rotations to exuberant dance music.

“The simplest weed sprouting from the humblest city sidewalk appeared infinitely more sophisticated by comparison. But here is what few people understood, and what Alma came to learn: Moss is inconceivably strong. Moss eats stone; scarcely anything, in return, eats moss.

Moss dines upon boulders, slowly but devastatingly, in a meal that lasts for centuries. Given enough time, a colony of moss can turn a cliff into gravel, and turn that gravel into topsoil.”

Young Alma is chosen last, given a flaming torch, and assigned the role of a comet flashing among the planets in their staid gowns and tuxedos. She is flying.

Photo 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, whether in editorial content or paid ad space, belong to the writers and advertisers, and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Reader.

Sue Piper

Columbia River Reader . . . helping you discover and enjoy the good life in the Columbia River region at home and on the road.

In this Issue

ON THE COVER Woodcut artist Debby Neely in her workshop studio in her Woodland, Washington home. Story, page 19.

All hail the mighty moss! Except in my yard, of course. Happy gardening, bryology, and exploring Elizabeth Gilbert’s masterpiece.

2

CRR Collectors Club

4

Miss Manners

6

Roland on Wine:

7

Dispatch from the Discovery Trail ~

10

Northwest Gardening: Moss in your Lawn?

11

Peace Tree at the Oregon Garden

12

Me & My Piano: Cynthia Basso

14

Local Culture: Poet Laureate at Skamokawa’s Redmen Hall

15

Local Culture: CRR Press presents The Tidewater Reach

16

Armchair Travel: Escape to Barcelona

17

Museum Magic: Port of Kalama’s Interpretive Center

18

Quips & Quotes

19-22 People + Place ~ The Cutting Edge: Debby Neely 23

People+Place Recommended Books

23

Essay by Robert Michael Pyle: Spark-infested Waters

25

Where Do You Read the Reader?

26

Cover to Cover ~ / Book Review

27

Bestsellers List / Besides CRR, What Are You Reading?

28

Lower Columbia Dining Guide

Submission guidelines: page 32.

29

Featured Chef: Mike Grimm, Freddy’s Just for the Halibut

General Ad info: page 8

31 Lower Columbia Informer: The Good Life, Away from Crowds

Ned Piper 360-749-2632.

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

32-34 Outings & Events Calendar 34

Mt. St. Helens Club Hikes / Angora Hiking Club

37

Astronomy ~ The Sky Report

38 34

The Spectator: Even Chicken Soup Doesn’t Sound Good Plugged In to Cowlitz PUD Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 3

Civilized Living

CATERING

Please join us for our Spring Fashion Show & Tea

Be a guest at your next event!

Saturday

April 4 ~ 2 pm FREE to the public

DOOR PRIZES

Serving the Columbia River region, including Longview-Kelso.

503-366-9099 800-330-9099 201 S. 1st Street St. Helens OR wildcurrantcatering.com

10% OFF

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Your Columbia River Reader Read it • Enjoy it Share it • Recycle it

1233 Commerce Downtown Longview

360- 261-2373 or 360-560-9016

mcthreadsartworks.com mcthreads@gmail.com

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

McThread’s

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am baffled as to why, when dining out with a friend or a group, it is often conveyed as bad manners to ask for separate checks. If I were to draw an analogy: When I go shopping with two friends, the cashier never asks if we want separate receipts.

It is understood that each person will pay for their own items and will have their own receipt.

Why are the expectations different in restaurants? When we eat out, no matter who we are with or the size of the party, I always ask up front if we can please have separate checks. I say it quickly, before orders are taken, and always with a smile.

I can only remember a time or two in the last decade when the staff didn’t happily comply.

hopes that no such objections are coming from your fellow diners, because there is nothing rude about this.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband has been diagnosed with a devastating illness and a worse prognosis. Our friends are stepping up and being a big help. Should I send a thank-you note for every meal and thing they send and bring? Or can I wait until our suffering is over?

GENTLE READER: As much as you are able, Miss Manner recommends that you do it now.

Good people should hear that their kindness, which you may be drawing on in the sad future, is welcome and appreciated. And cont page 5

GENTLE READER: You are not the only person who is baffled. A restaurant may choose not to allow this, but that is purely for its own convenience. Miss Manners

Call before you go !

It takes years to build an estate; only a few hours to properly plan it.

Cardboard If you would like to continue recycling your glass containers, please bring them directly to Waste Control Recycling

Reminder

- 1150 3rd Ave, Longview Acceptable • • • •

Flattened Cardboard Paper Egg Car tons Cereal Boxes (No Liner) Milk Car tons

Unacceptable • Paper plates, cups & napkins • Styrofoam (Any kind) • Waxed Cardboard

Corrugated Cardboard (used to hold paper, small appliances or boxes from warehouse stores) and smaller boxes, like cookie, gift or soda.

Cardboard Recyclables MUST BE CLEAN. Remove all contents from the box, including food, plastic liners, wax paper, or Styrofoam packaging from inside the boxes. Flatten ALL boxes to conser ve space.

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.

Got a question? Just Ask Longview!

Recycling Rule of Thumb: Reuse or donate if possible, but...

When in doubt — throw it out!

- Check out the new and improved -

www.longviewrecycles.com 4 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

“I make house calls”

THE LAW OFFICE OF

Vincent L. (Vince) Penta, P.S. 1561 11th Ave. Longview

360-423-7175

Member SIPC

from page 4

unfortunately, you will likely be dealing with condolence letters to respond to after the fact.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are expecting our first child, and we have been gifted tons of hand-medowns from friends and family. Some of these items are great, and we are grateful for them.

However, several family members seem to think that they can just use us as a dumping ground for old, dirty, broken or unsafe items they no longer want. We’ve received a broken playpen, a moldy

booster seat, a ripped baby carrier from the 1970s, and towels that are old and rough.

We’ve accepted everything with thankyous and smiles, but now the burden is on us to sort through the trash and get rid of it. At a time when we are already overwhelmed, this is incredibly frustrating.

While it’s not worth starting an argument with our family members, I’m hoping you’ll consider publishing this as a public service announcement to givers. If you want to hand down baby items, please A) Make sure they are in

Financial Network TERRY BARNES GRAMBO

Investment Adviser Representative Making sure the winds of time and change will take you where you want to go.

1339 Commerce Ave • Suite 207 Longview WA

Direct: 360.423.1962 Fax: 360.423.8022 grambot@financialnetwork.com www.terrybarnesgrambo.com Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks llc, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Services include: • Life Insurance • IRA Rollovers • Estate Planning • Asset Protections • Annuities • Retirement Strategies

good, safe, working condition; and B) Check with the parent(s) to ask if it’s something they still need. (We also have multiples of many items.)

GENTLE READER: Consider the announcement made. Miss Manners is sympathetic to your situation, and commends you for enduring it. She humbly cont page 34

Lower Columbia Contractors Association

Home&Garden Show

Master Gardeners Garden Lecture Series Cowlitz County Expo Center & Fairgrounds Saturday, MARCH 21 9:30am Growing Vegetables: Where to start 11:00am Landscaping Tips 12 Noon Tips to control moles 1:00pm Mason Bees 1:20pm Using native plants to help pollinators 1:40pm Get the dirt on soil testing 2:00pm The smart way to manage garden pests and disease 2:20pm YUM–Microgreens! How to grow them at home 2:40pm Got Worms? Introduction to worm composting

Sunday, MARCH 22 11am 12 Noon

Do-It-Yourself “Irrigation” Companion Planting

Time to review your insurance costs and coverages?

Call me for your No-Obligation quote or visit me at our NEW LOCATION

near Red Leaf Coffee on Ocean Beach Hwy

360-414-3101

3202 Ocean Beach Hwy • Suite 150 Longview, WA 98632

Achieving Excellence in Property Management, Commercial Sales, Leasing and Development

360-425-3700

www.rodmanrealty.com Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 5

Roland on Wine

Wine prices drop!

The Little Dog Salon Mobile Dog Grooming

Supply and demand rule the market...

By Marc Roland except when they don’t

A

re wine prices really going down as reported in the news recently?

It depends. How much do you pay for wine now? Like every product produced and sold in the marketplace, there are good, better, and best. The headlines rarely tell the whole story.

So what is the story? First, it is true that the two main reasons for the decrease in wine prices is that wine consumption has leveled out, and there is an oversupply of wine due to over-planting of grapes, mostly in California. This also is true in Washington. We have seen increases in grape production in spite of changes in drinking behavior. Huge amounts of wine are dumped on the open market at a steep discount.

Here is my take on the story. You will indeed see lower prices on what I call commodity wine — wines made for the mass market by big corporate companies. This will last for about three years until the market corrects itself. For some, this will be a boon because the quality of this surplus wine will be good and the wine quite quaffable, but not great. If you are not a wine aficionado, you should look for your favorite go-to wine and Longview resident and former Kelso teacher Marc Roland started making wine in 2008 in his garage. He and his wife, Nancy, now operate Roland Wines at 1106 Florida Street in Longview’s new “barrel district.” For wine tasting hours, call 360-8467304.

I have noticed at our winery that people are still drinking wine, but less of it. I personally think that is a good thing. I suspect it has to do with health consciousness more than anything else; but with this in mind, there are other things to know. You have alway been able to find to inexpensive wine, albeit bad wine. People always love to brag about a good deal. For example, when they find “amazing” Dave Taylor has joined ou wine at a discount store, I’m r agency! always suspicious. However, research has proven that price affects how we perceive quality. If we think a bottle Auto, Home, Flood, Boat, RV, ATV of wine costs a lot, we want Business & Commercial Insurance & Bonding to believe it is better, so we 360-274-6991 rate it higher in quality. In 25 A. ST. SW • CASTLE ROCK • 866-514-3356 turn, if we get a good deal LIFE • DISABILITY • LTCI on wine, we tend to rate it BUSINESS CONTINUATION FUNDING higher than it really is.

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Meet your friends and relax at this classic neighborhood watering hole!

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

Good times ROLL at the

Goble Tavern

TRY OUR JUKE BOX

“Goble Tavern, The Historic” for Entertainment Schedule

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

6 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Save time and hassle.

Let me do the driving!

stock up (I know I will), but for those who love wine and appreciate aboveaverage wine, I don’t think you will get your favorite Walla Walla wine or California Cab for less.

• No Kennels • At-Home Service • Convenient • Less stress for human and pet • One-on-one attention

Bath prices from $50 Cuts from $75

This is because many of the best vineyards are well established and not dictated by price, but rather by quality. They also have an established market based on loyalty and brand recognition.

Services available throughout the Lower Columbia area

The luxury wine market will continue to strive for the highest quality and the price will follow and people like me will have to pay the price. But for those of us who also want value, the temporary price reduction of many wines is happy news.

•••

Call for a FREE quote!

360-749-2659 Thelittledogsalon.com

Mt. St. Helens Gifts Jewelry • Souvenirs • T-Shirts Ash Glass & Pottery

Great Valentine’s & Mt. St. Helens gifts for friends & family around the country!

Drink Good Coffee, Read Good Books Located in the historic Castle Rock Bank Building 20 Cowlitz Street West

M-Sat 7am–6pm • Sun 10am–4pm

Open 7 Days a Week

LUIGI’S PIZZA

Historic

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Bigfoot HQ Castle Rock • I-5 Exit 49

1254-B Mt. St. Helens Way

360-274-7011

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

Lewis & Clark

Homeward Bound!

W

hile everyone was anxious to leave wet and dreary Fort Clatsop, they knew it would be impossible to cross the Rocky Mountains until the passes were clear of snow. If they started too soon, they would have to survive in a land where elk and deer were non-existent, and firewood was unavailable. Lewis wrote, “two handkercheifs would contain all the small articles of merchandize which we possess. On this stock we have wholy to depend for the purchase of horses and

Lewis & Clark Encore We are pleased to present

Installment #22 of Michael Perry’s popular 33-month 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 ~

N

such portion of our subsistence from the Indians as it will be in our powers to obtain.”

Earlier in 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had decided to wait until April 1 to begin their journey home. The Corps of Discovery hoped a trading ship might arrive before they left the mouth of the Columbia. President Jefferson had recognized it might be “imprudent to hazard a return” by land, so he gave Lewis a letter of credit to purchase passage home on a trading ship, or to purchase supplies for the journey home overland. Unfortunately, no ships visited during the four months the Corps was at the mouth of the Columbia.

If the Corps hadn’t taken so long to get around the Great Falls in Montana or across the Rocky Mountains in 1805, they would almost certainly have 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.

Nicole Graichen!

icole grew up in Longview, graduated from Mark Morris High School and then earned a BA in public relations and advertising from Central Washington University. After college she married her husband Rick (R.A. Long High School and WSU), they moved to Spokane and then San Diego, where they had their two children.

During her successful career as a marketing, events and fundraising professional in Washington and Southern California, she realized it was time to follow her dreams of becoming

a Realtor in her hometown.

Her husband, an advertising professional, also found his perfect career match which made the transition seamless.

Nicole is very active in the community, volunteering her time with local non-profits, is PTO president for Monticello Middle School, and coaches youth soccer. She loves being part of the Windermere Team and we are so happy to have her on board!

Nicole believes everything happens for a reason and could not be more thrilled to be HOME doing what she loves!

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: 8:30–5:00

found a trading ship waiting for them at the mouth of the Columbia. Captain Samuel Hill and his ship, the Lydia, had departed Boston in August 1804, and was at the mouth of the Columbia in November, 1805. However, the Lydia left shortly before Lewis and Clark arrived in mid-November.

Decisions, Decisions…

On March 14, 1806, the Clatsop Indians told Clark that the Makah Indians, who lived on the Olympic Peninsula, reported four trading ships were visiting them. Thus, it is strange that Lewis and Clark decided not to wait for a ship to visit the mouth of the Columbia. But low morale among the men and a fear storms might delay their departure worried them. Food was becoming scarce at Fort Clatsop. The Corps had killed most of the elk, and those remaining were moving to higher ground now that winter was over. Many of the men were ill from the constant exposure to the cold rain and poor diet. So they decided to leave a week early, on March 23. But before leaving, they needed to obtain two more canoes.

The End Justifies the Means Lewis’s dress uniform jacket was traded for one canoe, but when attempts to buy another canoe failed, Lewis and Clark did something they had vowed never to do: They decided to steal a canoe from the Indians. They justified it by the fact some Clatsop Indians stole six elk killed by the Corps earlier that winter. When the owner of the canoe confronted the Corps a day after they left Fort Clatsop, demanding the return of his canoe, the 32 riflemen were able to convince him to accept a dressed elk hide in trade.

Home For Sale – Cheap!

Lewis and Clark gave Fort Clatsop and all the contents to Chief Coboway. He would live in the fort for several years, and in 1899 his grandson was able to point out where it had been located.

Copies of a letter were given to various Indian chiefs, listing all the men and the purpose of the Expedition along with a map showing their route from St. Louis to the Pacific. The hope was that a visiting trading ship might obtain one of these letters and take it back to President Jefferson. Interestingly, the ship that had been anchored at the mouth of the Columbia in November 1805, just before Lewis and Clark arrived, returned soon after they left in 1806. Indians gave the letter to Captain Hill when the Lydia sailed to China, eventually arriving at Philadelphia in January 1807 where the letter was forwarded to President Jefferson. However, Lewis and Clark had safely returned to St. Louis four months before the letter arrived. Still, if they

had met some misfortune, Jefferson would have learned they had at least reached the Pacific Ocean.

Slow Going On March 24th, they purchased wappato and a dog at an Indian village, near present-day Knappa, Oregon, to feed to the sickest men. They camped opposite present-day Skamokawa that night, and opposite presentday Cathlamet on March 25th. On March 26th, they camped on Fisher Island, downstream from present-day Longview, adjacent to Willow Grove.

All winter long, the Expedition had been buying fish and wappato roots at high prices from the Clatsop Indians.

As they headed up the Columbia, they soon realized the prices were lower as they went upstream, due to eliminating the middlemen.

On March 27th, the Expedition stopped at a Skillute village downstream from present-day Rainier, where the Indians welcomed the men and gave them all the sturgeon, camas and wappato they could eat. Two miles further, they passed the mouth of the Coweliskee River (present-day Cowlitz River).

Clark wrote, “we Saw Several fishing camps of the Skillutes on both Sides of the Columbia, and also on both Sides of this river. The principal village of the Skil-lutes is Situated on the lower Side of the Cow-elis-kee river a fiew miles from it’s enterance into the Columbia. those people are Said to be noumerous, in their dress, habits, manners and Language they differ but little from the Clatsops, Chinooks &c.”

Lewis wrote, “The Coweliskee is 150 yards wide, is deep and from indian Information navigable a very considerable distance for canoes. it discharges itself into the Columbia about three miles above a remarkable high rocky nole which is situated on the N. side of the river by which it is washed on the South side and is separated from the Northern hills of the river by a wide bottom of several miles to which it is united.” The “rocky nole” Lewis described was Mount Coffin, a 225-foot tall basaltic column that was an Indian burial ground and historic landmark. Sadly, a Portland sand and gravel company leveled the rock in the early 20th century. In 1954, Weyerhaeuser Company purchased the land to build a chlorine plant.

Deer Me! They camped somewhere between present-day Goble and the site of the futureTrojan nuclear plant on March 27th. Then, on March 28th, they camped on Deer Island after spending all day repairing their canoes and hunting deer. On March 29th, they reached Wappato Island (present-day cont page 9

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 7

Many galleries and shops in Downtown Longview stay open late on

FIRST THURSDAY

Refreshments • Surprises • Tastings Join the fun on April 2

We’re fundraising with

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

We’re family owned, locally owned & here to stay Authorized Lazboy Dealer

1413 Commerce Ave. Longview 360-575-9804 M-F: 9:30–5:30 • Sat 10 - 5

www.elamshf.com

AUXILIARY A selection of boxed chocolates, bars & novelties arriving in time for Easter!

McThread’s

Lighten up for Spring!

Lamps and Accessories for your home at Teague’s.

See ad, pg 4

The Broadway Gallery See ad, page 26

360.636.0712 1267 Commerce www.teaguesinteriors.com

WO

Columbia River Reader office • M-W-F • 11- 3 1333 - 14th Ave., Longview, Wash. info: 360-425-0430

S RKSHOP

1265 14th Ave #130 • Longview

Continuing the Tradition ... creating a friendly atmosphere where everyone feels at home.

HAPPY at 3pm HOUR!

W! NEstarting

Chicken Sandwich $6 • Prawn Cocktail $8 Philly Flatbread $7 • Seared Ahi $8 • and MORE

Well/Mixed Drinks $4 /Specialties $6 • Wine $5 Glass • Beer $3-4, Draft $5

Serving Lunch and Dinner featuring Steak Diane • Prosciutto Chicken Marsala Dungeness Crab Cocktail • MORE!

Located in the Monticello Hotel on Longview’s Historic Civic Circle

Restaurant 360-442-8234

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE! Call an ad rep: Ron Baldwin 503-791-7985: Wahkiakum, Pacific, Clatsop Counties, Mouth of the Columbia.

Sue Lane 360-261-0658 Downtown Longview

Ad Manager-Ned Piper, 360-749-2632: All areas.

AD DEADLINES April15 issue: Mar. 25 May 15 issue: April 25 8 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

To Book Holiday Events 360-200-9453

Mon-Thurs 11–9 • Fri-Sat 11–10 Closed Sundays

In deference to the custom of Robert A. Long, Longview’s founder and benefactor

Wine, Beer, Specialty Drinks and Cocktails

HAIKUFEST CORRECTION & APOLOGY A particular Japanese proverb is most apropos here: “Saru mo ki kara ochiru.”

Roughly translated it means Even a monkey falls from the tree sometimes. I use this as the lead-in to reporting my error in the results of HaikFest 2020 in last month’s CRR.

The poet submitting the haiku was Mary Ellen Daugherty from Longview.

I wrongly attributed the haiku, however, to Tami Tack of Rainier, who notified me promptly of my error. My only excuse is: Even a haiku judge falls from the tree sometimes! In the future, I will do my best to keep a firm grip when climbing trees.

Our judges selected the following wellcrafted haiku for honorable mention:

In the meantime, I deeply regret my error, thank Tami for reporting it, and hope that Mary Ellen continues to participate in future Haikufests. ~ Gary Meyers HaikuFest Founder and Chief Judge

Sparkling ice halos Ring a pale sun cloaked by fog January dawn.

Mount Coffin, a 225-foot tall basaltic column was an Indian burial ground and historic landmark.

Dispatch

Photo courtesy of the Cowlitz County Historical Museum

from page 7

Sauvie Island), across from the Lewis River. In 1806, there were more people living on that island than there are today.

This was where much of the wappato was grown. In fact, you can still see large patches of wappato in lakes and marshes on Sauvie Island.

Future Metropolis They then crossed the river to the Cathlapotle village near the mouth of the Lewis River and bought 12 dogs and more wappato. They camped near present-day Ridgefield that night. The next night, they camped downstream of today’s I-5 bridge near Vancouver. Lewis wrote, “I took a walk of a few miles through the prarie… this valley would be copetent to the mantainance of 40 or 50 thousand souls if properly cultivated and is indeed the only desireable situation for a settlement which I have seen on the West side of the Rocky mountains.” The timber growing in the flat bottomland was abundant and impressive; Clark described a fallen fir tree measuring 318 feet long and just three feet in diameter near the Sandy River.

The Corps spent a week east of the Washougal River (which they named Seal River due to the abundance of seals at its mouth). Many Indians were visiting the area and reported a great scarcity of food upstream since the spring salmon run was not expected for another month.

Clark wrote, “this information gives us much uneasiness with respect to our future means of subsistence.” Thus, they decided to stay there until they had obtained enough meat to get to the Nez Perce lands.

“Lost” River Several men were sent to explore the Quicksand River (present-day Sandy River). Based on the lay of the land, Clark knew there had to be another river

that emptied into the south side of the Columbia. Since islands hid the mouth of the present-day Willamette River, the Corps had missed it going down and then back up the Columbia. Local Indians told Clark about the river (they called it the Multnomah River), and he hired a guide to show him where it was. Clark explored 10 miles up the river, to presentday northwest Portland.

Amateur Magician While in an Indian lodge, Clark offered several things in exchange for some wappato. The Indians refused to trade with him, so Clark resorted to showing off his technology. He threw a piece of fuse-cord in the fire, which sizzled and burned like gunpowder. At the same time, he used a hidden magnet to make the needle of his compass spin rapidly.

As they begged him to put out the bad fire, it quit burning by itself. The Indians gave him a basket of wappato, thinking he was “Big Medicine.” They were terrified of the white explorer. Clark paid for the wappato and left.

Windsurfing, Anyone?

On April 6th, the journey resumed up the Columbia. Violent winds blowing through the Columbia Gorge halted progress several times, but by April 9th they reached the Cascades of the Columbia, near present-day Bonneville Dam. They noticed the water level at 700-foot tall Beacon Rock was 12-feet higher than it had been the previous November. This was interpreted to mean the snow on the east side of the Cascades was rapidly melting, and gave the Corps reason to hope they might find the Rocky Mountain passes to be snow-free when they got there. That would prove to be wishful thinking!

••• Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 9

Northwest Gardening

Pacific Northwest winters create perfect conditions moss growth

H

By Alice Slusher

ave you noticed moss showing up in your lawn this winter? I’m about to tell it like it is: Moss is a weed! (Editor’s note: At least in terms of our lawns, see page 3.)

Moss grows so well in our lawns because the grass is dormant, exposing more bare earth to moss spores. And it’s wet — hey, we live in the Pacific Northwest, of course it’s wet.

Not to mention very little winter sunlight, the major enemy of moss. Moss also loves soil that’s acidic, and we have that, too. So what can we do about it?

Have you noticed that moss usually appears in areas where grass struggles to grow, but where weeds invite themselves? That’s an area where your lawn is “sick,” for one reason or another.

One of the best ways to deter moss is to have a healthy lawn so the grass can out-compete the moss and weeds. Always try the following cultural methods of controlling moss before escalating to chemical control.

In a nutshell, to keep moss at bay: 1. Let the sunshine in.

2. Mow properly.

3. Manage soil moisture properly .

4. Create good soil conditions for healthy grass.

Sunlight: Believe it or not, the best way to control moss in your lawn is to increase sunlight. Prune trees to at least 6 feet from the ground, and perhaps thin the branches to allow more sunlight. If you don’t create more light, the moss will come back regardless of what other steps you might take to eradicate it!

Mowing: Don’t cut your grass too short. If you cut it shorter than 2 inches, you are inviting moss and other weeds into your lawn. Mow once a week to keep your lawn between 2-3 inches. Longer grass will put down deeper roots, and mowing it frequently will increase the density of the grass. Ultimately, it will be difficult for moss to invade and thrive.

Soil fertility: Moss loves acidic soil. You may need to add lime to maintain the pH around 6.0-6.5.

Lime won’t kill the moss, but it will help your soil to keep good nutrient values. Have your soil tested in a laboratory. It costs between $24 and $36, and the money you spend will save you money in the long run--you won’t be buying products that you hope will take care of the problem--the report will tell you exactly what you need. Call the WSU Extension office for collection instructions and lab availability.

Feed your lawn to keep it lush. For established lawns, buy a product that is high in nitrogen (N), low in phosphorus (P), and moderate in potassium (K); for example, NPK-3:1:2 or 4:1:2. Apply 1 pound of actual nitrogen at each application four to six times a year in spring and fall.

Lush growth will overcome the mossy areas.

WSU/OSU Extension Workshops & Events Cowlitz County: 360-577-3014, Ext. 3 • Building a Rain Barrel Mar. 25, 6pm (Cowlitz County Training Center) • Growing Blueberries, Raspberries, and Strawberries Mar. 28, 9:30am (CCTC) • Make & Take Worm Bins and Worms (Vermiculture) • Mar 31, 6–8pm (CCTC)Advanced Composting April 1, 6pm (CCTC) • Brown Bag Series: Master Gardener Panel Discussion April 9, 12 Noon (Cowlitz County Museum, 405 Allen St., Kelso, Wash.

• LCCA Home & Garden Show Lecture Series Mar. 21-22 (Schedule, page 5)

Columbia County: 503-397-3462 Mar. 26 Master Gardener™ Chapter Meeting 6:30 pm Extension Office. Public welcome! Guest Speaker: Javier Fernandez-Salvador, OSU Specialty Crops, presents a FREE talk on: “Research on Growing Olives in Oregon.”

25th Annual Spring Fair & Plant Sale May 2, 9–3, St Helens High School.

Home & Garden Show Sat, April 18, 10–5; Sun, April 19, 11–3, Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens.

Seed to Supper beginning gardening courses throughout Columbia County, see schedule, P+P spot ad. page 21.

Irrigate properly: Moss loves wet conditions. There are some steps you can take to keep the wet affected areas less hospitable to moss--install French drains or a rain garden to divert rain runoff. When you water, plan on giving it ¼ inch each time you water, 4 to 6 times a week, totaling 1 to 1 ½ inches per week, especially during our dry summers.

Measure the water with a rain gauge or a tuna can in the watered area.

If following the above guidelines doesn’t work, there are other options. From mid-March through April when moss is actively growing, you can rake or de-thatch your lawn in mossy areas to remove the dead grass stems and moss.

You will probably need to overseed the de-thatched area.

First apply fertilizer as directed above, then spread lawn seed over the area. Plant a fine fescue, like creeping red fescue, in shady areas. If your lawn has shade and sun, plant a combination: a perennial rye grass and fine fescue. After seeding, mulch with a bit of straw, and water daily for at least two weeks.

Chemical products should be used only after using above recommendations. Please be sure to follow all directions on the label!

An environmentally friendly option is to apply products containing ferrous, iron, or ammonium sulfate from midMarch through April. Examples include Lilly Miller MossOut! for Lawns and Scotts Turf Builder with Moss Control 22-2-2. Ferrous sulfate will permanently stain concrete and other surfaces, so sweep any scatter from driveways and walkways. Complete fertilizers with iron sulfate will kill moss rapidly, and stimulate health grass growth at the same time. Wait until the moss is dead (usually around 2 weeks), rake it up, and then overseed.

Here’s to a lush, green lawn this year—and if you keep a healthy lawn, it won’t be moss green! Be sure to visit our booth and come to our Garden Series talks at the LCCA Home, Garden, and Leisure Show, March 21-22, for great information on many gardening topics!

••• Kalama resident Alice Slusher volunteers with WSU Extension Service Plant & Insect Clinic. Drop by 9–12 Mon-Wed-Fri. at 1946 3rd Ave., Longview, with your specimen, call 360-577-3014, ext. 8, or send question via cowlitzmastergardener@ gmail.com.

10 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Earth Day & Goodwill

Oregon Garden to plant Hiroshima Peace Tree during Earth Day Celebration SILVERTON – The Oregon Garden Foundation is honored to announce The Oregon Garden was selected as a recipient of a Hiroshima peace tree seedling, which will be planted on April 18th, part of an Earth Day celebration where admission to the garden is free. The seedling ginkgo tree was grown from seeds collected from trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The planting will coincide with the 75th anniversary.

“We are thrilled to have been selected for this program, “ said Allison Pennell, development director for The Oregon Garden Foundation. “We’re looking forward to adding this new specimen, with its history, to the Garden’s extensive plant collection.”

Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko, is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta, all others being extinct. Native to China, the tree is widely cultivated and hailed as “undoubtedly one of the most distinct and beautiful of all deciduous trees.” Its unique, fan-shaped leaves turn a stunning yellow color in the fall.

IF YOU GO The Oregon Garden 879 W. Main St. Silverton, OR 97381 Hours: 10–4, daily Admission Price: Through May 31: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $9, Children $6 June through Aug: Adults $14, Seniors $12, Students $11, Children $8. Discounts for groups of 15+. Children 4 and under free.

Admission Includes 25-minute tram tour.

Visitors Center, Gift Shop, Garden Café, retail nursery More info: 503- 874-8100 or Toll Free 877-674-2733 www.OregonGarden.org

The plantings are an opportunity to acknowledge those who served and those who sacrificed during World War II. Oregon is privileged to host the largest planting of Hiroshima peace trees in the country.

In Oregon, most of the seedlings are going to parks, arboretums and schools. Twentysix Oregon communities plan to plant Hiroshima peace trees in 2020 through a combined effort by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Community Trees and the One Sunny Day Initiative.

The Oregon Garden offers more than 80 acres that showcase the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest with more than 20 individual themed gardens and related attractions. The mission of The Oregon Garden is to welcome and inspire all visitors with an appreciation for the extraordinary ecology of the Pacific Northwest, and to provide a meaningful educational experience for gardeners of all skill levels and ages.

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1110 Commerce Ave. Longview Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 11

MEDICAL MATTERS

By Jim LeMonds

ME AND MY

PIANO*

Mid-level providers boost Longview Ortho

*or other instrument

Ashley Hawkes

L

Nichol Halverson

ongview Orthopedic Associates features six excellent surgeons: Bill Turner, Jon Kretzler, Peter Kung, A.J. Lauder, Jake McLeod, and Tony Lin. But they wouldn’t be nearly as efficient without the mid-level providers who support them.

Christine Matthews (Physician Assistant-Certified) and Nichol Halverson, Acacia Syring, and Ashley Hawkes (all Nurse Practitioners) are experienced and effective.

“They give patients easy access to our clinic,” said LOA Operations Manager Shawnna Riedweg. “There are often patients without a specific diagnosis, maybe just pain. When they come in, we do a work-up that includes X-rays and possibly an MRI or a nerve conduction study. This allows expedited care if there is a surgical need.”

Hawkes earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Duke University before serving as the Joint Replacement CoordinatorProgram for PeaceHealth Medical Group from 2013 until 2019.

Syring graduated with a MS degree in nursing at Washington State University. She then worked at Fairchild Medical Center (Yreka, Calif.), Southwest Washington Medical Center and the Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash.

Matthews earned a PA certificate in surgical residency at Yale University.

Christine Matthews

Acacia Syring

After working at Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York, she was employed as a surgical PA for Longview Surgical Group and as an orthopedic PA for PeaceHealth.

Halverson completed a MS degree in nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) at WSU. Before joining LOA, she worked as an RN for PeaceHealth.

Beginning in April, Halverson will work primarily with Dr. Lauder on hand-wrist issues. “This will help us get patients in faster for surgery, injections, and follow-up care,” Riedweg said.

Matthews, Syring, and Hawkes treat patients with knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow problems, and also see patients with hand issues.

Call LOA at 360.501.3400 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.

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12 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

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Cow-for-piano trade yields Cynthia M. Basso, years of pleasure By Kalama resident

M

y dad was a very talented man.

He taught himself to play five musical instruments and never took a lesson. We moved to Clatskanie in 1954 and I started school in the fall at Mayger Elementary.

Bartering and trading were common in those days and when I was about 10, my dad traded a cow for a beautiful player piano. I took lessons but never really learned to read music, mostly because I had my dad’s talents and could usually pick out a tune by ear. I have that piano now.

How we all enjoyed pedaling the foot pedals to make it work, kind of like the pedals on an organ, and a good workout. Daddy was constantly repairing the piano rolls from wear and tear. I remember one specific roll called “Ponk Elephants,” such

a cheerful piece. The words were colorful and the melody fun. That roll disappeared at some point and I’m sure my dad was responsible, being a religious man and the subject matter was questionable. After mention of it at Christmas this year, my sister, Pam, sent me a YouTube of Vince Lombardi’s band playing that song on New Year’s Eve many years ago.

During the holidays this year, I visited a vintage shop in Kalama and ran across some player piano rolls, including “The Rose,” a favorite of mine. The lovely lady tending the store told me the shop had more rolls but before I went to look for them, we struck up a conversation and I told her my story. As I was leaving the counter area to look around, she cont page 13

“Me & My Piano” Reader Submissions INVITED

from page 12

Cynthia Basso at the player piano her dad traded a cow for.

said to me, “You know what? I’m going to send all of these rolls home with you. No one even knows what they are and I would love for them to go to a good home where someone will appreciate them.”

This was truly a Christmas Miracle. My family was coming to our home for the Wolf Family Christmas and my brother was bringing my 11-year-old nephew, Ryder, who had been told about the player piano.

While we were all together, I took out one of the piano rolls and we all sang “Frosty the Snowman.” I ran out of steam from pedaling and Ryder took over for me. There is a special trick to those pedals and after a while we turned it over to another family member.

Share your unique story of you and your relationship with a musical instrument in 500 words or less and mail to CRR, 1333 14th Ave., Longview, WA 98632, or email to publisher@crreader. com. Note “Me and My Piano” in the subject line and if possible attach/include a current mugshot and/or a photo of you with your instrument.

Don’t worry about perfect spelling or syntax. If your story is chosen, we will provide editing services and will contact you for additional details or embellishments as needed.

I love this old piano. I learned to read music and I do play from time to time, but always enjoy the beautiful music created by the piano rolls. When in Italy in 2018, we visited the Island of Capri.

One of the rolls we had was “T’was on the Isle of Capri.”

While on a boat tour with friends and family, I sang that song, recalling the many times I had played it on that old player piano...and thanked my dad for trading that cow!

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Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 13

Local Culture

ONE RIVER, MANY VOICES

By Dayle Olson

Tour, events bring Poet Laureate to Southwest Washington; Northwest literary luminaries to converge

L

ate in 2019, Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna launched a poetry tour titled “One River, Many Voices,” to explore the varied and unique characteristics and peoples of the vast Columbia River system. The tour began last September at the river’s upper reaches in Kettle Falls, Washington, and will conclude next month in Cathlamet, Washington, approximately 30 miles from the river’s mouth.

and landscapes o f Wa s h i n g t o n ’s water highway. A recent Kickstarter campaign raised money to put a copy of the book in each county library system and tribal library in Washington State.

original river-centric songs to round out the evening. Books and CDs will be sold at the onsite gift shop, with authors available to sign purchases. As a special added treat, Robert Michael Pyle and Judy Vandermaten will be on hand to sign their newly released book of poetry and photography, The Tidewater Reach, published by Columbia River Reader Press.

Poetry enthusiasts will get several opportunities to enjoy Ms. Castro Luna’s work during the final leg of her One River, Many Voices tour when it stops in Cathlamet April 17-19.

Other weekend events • Poetry Open Mic at Hotel Cathlamet April 17, 7pm

Claudia Castro Luna

Some readers may recall Ms. Castro Luna visited Longview in March 2019 to conduct a poetry workshop at Lower Columbia College. Participants were invited to write poems about specific places in Washington for her Washington Poetic Routes project, an online map populated with evocative imagery. Her river tour soon followed, dovetailing seamlessly with Castro Luna’s epic poem, “One River, A Thousand Voices,” a small-press accordion-style book which unfolds to reveal the creatures, peoples,

Photo by Tim Aguero

Poetry and Music Event, April 18 The signature event of the weekend will be an evening of poetry and music April 18th at River Life Interpretive Center in Skamokawa. In addition to the Poet Laureate, the event will bring together Northwest literary luminaries Robert Michael Pyle, Irene Martin, Mary Garvey and Ruby Hansen Murray. Musicians Andrew Emlen and Kyleen Austin will perform

• One River, Many Voices poetry workshop with Claudia Castro Luna, April 18 at 2:30pm, Cathlamet Library (pre-register at 360-795-3254, as space is limited) • One River, Many Voices Hike & Write at Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge April 19 at 10am. Meet at White Tail Trail gate on Steamboat Slough Road for 2-mile walk with Castro Luna; bring a beloved poem, a notebook and pencil.

• After Hike poetry reading at Patty Cakes Coffee Shop in Cathlamet, April 19, 1pm.

Events are free, with donations accepted to benefit Friends of Skamokawa Foundation. Castro Luna will also spend a day with students at Wahkiakum High School and Middle School. The Washington Poet Laureate is a position supported

by Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission.

••• Dayle Olson, writer and poet, is a supporting member of Friends of Skamokawa, a nonprofit foundation.

Her poem about Stella, Wash., was one of eight selected statewide for inclusion in the Washington Poet Laureate’s 2019 broadsheet project. Dayle lives with husband David and two opinionated cats in Cathlamet, Wash.

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Local Culture

A different way of seeing and celebrating

By Hal Calbom

CRR Press presents ‘The Tidewater Reach’ at April 22 museum event

C

class naturalist,” said CRR Press publisher Susan Piper, “but in verses and images, not just scientific descriptions. There are lots of ways to appreciate the natural world. We think The Tidewater Reach offers a different way of seeing and celebrating.”

olumbia River Reader Press will celebrate publication of its first book with a reading and author conversation this Earth Day, April 22nd, 5:30pm at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum.

The new book — The Tidewater Reach — is an innovative collaboration featuring 44 poems by author and naturalist Robert Michael Pyle augmented by images of the Lower Columbia region by Cathlametbased photographer Judy VanderMaten.

Robert Michael Pyle

“I never felt compelled to collaborate with a photographer,” said Pyle, a monthly contributor to Columbia River Reader. Then he discovered the work of Judy VanderMaten, “right here in my own county. I admired her pictures from the start, at an uncommon level, and began haunting shows and galleries to collect her work.”

The public is invited to the reading and book signing which will feature an interview with the author, and light refreshments. Ms. VanderMaten will also be on hand for the book launch.

“ We ’ r e t h r i l l e d t o continue to collaborate with the Reader and celebrate the launching of CRR Press,” said Museum Director Joesph Govednik. “To have Bob and Judy here, and on Earth Day to boot, is a real treat.”

Admission is free. The Tidewater Reach will be available for sale in both a Signature First Edition signed by the authors and a paperback trade edition.

“We call it a ‘Field Guide in Poems and Pictures’ and think it’s a novel way to extend Bob’s vision as a world-

•••

“ These are images and words captured in hopes of furnishing for you a new kind of esthetic, imaginative, and yes, even factual guide to our oh-so-luckily shared home…”

— Robert Michael Pyle

The

Tidewater Reach Field Guide to the

Lower Columbia River in

Poems and Pictures

Field Guide to the

Lower Columbia River

Robert Michael Pyle is a celebrated naturalist, writer, and environmentalist who makes his home in the Willapa Hills of Southwest Washington. He has chronicled the days, seasons, and science of the Pacific Northwest and the habitats and migrations of the butterflies — to national and international acclaim.

in

Poems and Pictures

Robert Michael Pyle Judy VanderMaten

The Tidewater Reach

Boxed Signature Edition Color $50

Robert Michael Pyle Judy VanderMaten

The Tidewater Reach

Paperback edition B/W $25

For pre-orders, custom orders or more information, call 360-749-1021 or email publisher@crreader.com

Judy VanderMaten is a highly admired photographer who has taught her craft at Lower Columbia College and exhibited her work around the region.

The Tidewater Reach pairs poems and pictures, complementing Pyle’s verses with the photographs of collaborator Judy VanderMaten to evoke “a different way of seeing.” The Tidewater Reach extends our idea of what a Field Guide might be and the language we use to characterize and illuminate the natural world.

Photograph by Judy VanderMaten

IF YOU GO:

CRR PRESS SPECIAL EVENT PRESENTING THE TIDEWATER REACH A Conversation & Poetry Reading Meet Author Robert Michael Pyle and photographer Judy VanderMaten Wednesday, April 22 - Earth Day - 5:30pm Cowlitz County Historical Museum 404 Allen Street, Kelso, Wash.

Free Admission - Light Refreshments The Tidewater Reach will be available for purchase

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 15

Visit sunny Spain, even if just in your imagination By Tracy Beard

Armchair Travel

W

ashington and Oregon are incredible places to live in and explore, but sometimes it is fun to visit somewhere a bit more exotic. Join me on a journey to one of Spain’s most exciting cities, Barcelona, a city filled with stylish hotels and rooftop bars, an array of delicious food, and spectacular works of art and architecture.

Incredible Accommodations During my visit to Barcelona, I split my stay between two sister hotels, Hotel Ohla Barcelona and Hotel Ohla Eixample.

Hotel Ohla Barcelona is located just a short walk from the Gothic Quarter, a place where the Old World meets the new. The hotel boasts a unique exterior with a dramatic exhibition of 1,000 ceramic eyeballs affixed to the face of the building. I booked a private walking tour, and traversing the cobblestone streets, I admired how the century-old churches coexisted with the modern shops in the area. It is easy to spend one or more days visiting the museums, the Barcelona Cathedral, colorful gardens and the Jewish Quarter, all located in the Gothic Quarter.

Hotel Ohla Eixample (center photo) is a new fivestar boutique hotel nestled between the main thoroughfare, Diagonal Avenue, and a prime shopping street, Rambla de Catalunya. Navigation through the modernist Eixample district is simple due to its grid design; it makes sightseeing in this area a stress-free pleasure.

Nearby are several architectural works by Antoni Gaudí. Both Casa Batlló and Casa Milá are just minutes away. La Pedrera is within walking distance, and public transportation is available to reach the Park Güell.

La Pedrera was one of my favorite architectural sights, and it is the perfect example of how nature inspired Gaudí’s work. The rough exterior is reminiscent of a stone quarry. The building stretches for two blocks with apartments interconnected by interior courtyards. The rooftop is the most exciting part Vancouver, Wash. resident Tracy Beard writes about luxury and adventure travel, traditional and trendy fine dining and libations for regional, national and international magazines and is a regular “Out & About” contributor to Columbia River Reader.

16 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Escape to Barcelona

of the tour as you get a real sense of Gaudí’s whimsical use of space and shapes (see photo, page 36).

Stunning City Views Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is located by the sea. Each day I spent some time at one of the hotel’s rooftop bars. The Mediterranean can be steamy, and there is no better way to cope than sipping a cold glass of cava (top photo), Spain’s version of champagne, while dangling your feet in a refreshing pool on a rooftop. I gazed out over the cityscape, soaked in the beauty of the nearby mountains, and stood in awe of the cathedral spires reaching up toward the heavens.

Delectable Dining Bring your appetite to Barcelona. It doesn’t matter if you have an unlimited expense account or just a few Euros in your pocket, the city has incredible food for every price point. During my trip, I was fortunate to dine at two Michelin-star restaurants, Caelis and Enoteca.

Caelis received a Michelin star in 2005, and Chef Fornell became the only chef to acquire a Michelin star in both France and Spain.

Over the years, he has opened several other tempting restaurants.

The cuisine at Caelis changed over the years, and it is now less classical and more contemporary. Caelis serves a set menu changing with the seasons. I dined at the chef’s table and delighted in observing the staff meticulously prepare identical plates to serve throughout the evening (photos, above).

My dinner began with six single-bite tastings, each one delicious, but the pumpkin gnocchi with truffle ice stood out. The tiny gnocchi bathed in a pool of sweetened chardonnay vinaigrette, frozen truffle water and minuscule pieces of white mushroom was light, fruity and refreshing. The evening continued with Mediterranean courses offering items from both land and sea.

Chef Pérez, at Enoteca, serves a rendition of contemporary cuisine with classic and inventive touches, reimagining the use of quality ingredients, creating exquisite and delicious dishes with innovative aromas, tastes and textures.

My tasting menu at Enoteca began with a lovely play on a cappuccino.

A delectable mix of deep rich stock made from chicken and mushrooms was topped with black truffle foam and dusted with cocoa powder. As a starter, it was delightful and surprising. Five small bites followed the “coffee.” Chef Pérez’s intense and hearty fricandó unleashed all the flavor of a typical stew, yet he produced it without any cont page 36

Local Culture

MUSEUM MAGIC

Port of Kalama’s Transportation Interpretive Center : One Stop for learning and waterfront recreation

By Joseph Govednik Cowlitz County Historical Museum Director

T

he Port of Kalama’s Transportation Interpretive Center hosts highquality exhibits and information about the history of Kalama with a focus on transportation heritage. Opened in 2014, the exhibits track Kalama’s first inhabitants, the Cowlitz Tribe, and the settlers who followed in later years, including Ezra Meeker. Displays illustrate how Kalama’s particular landscape gave birth to a booming transportation system impacting both cultural and economic aspects of life in the region.

Kalama is connected domestically through rail and road, and internationally through its port which serves ocean-going bulk container and cargo vessels. Exhibits include models of famous ships such as the Tacoma and USS Oregon. A prairie schooner Oregon Trail replica wagon, a vintage flatbed truck, and salvaged historic anchor are among pieces that complement rich storytelling. Coming soon is an authentic steam locomotive to complete the experience!

The interpretive center is one of many attractions on the Kalama waterfront including the new McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge (which features a restaurant, lounge, and more Kalama history in the hallways), waterfront park and walking trails, and a marina with public boat launch. The interpretive center is part of the comprehensive waterfront experience where visitors may learn, eat, play, and explore the richness that is Kalama’s waterfront.

“The exhibits are a great asset to the community,” said Mark Wilson, Port of Kalama Executive Director.

“We are pleased to enrich the experience of visitors near and far through the Interpretive Center.”

The interpretive center is located at the Port of Kalama offices at 110 West Marine View Dr. in Kalama and open from 9-5 Mondays through Fridays. Admission is free.

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 / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 17

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• Pet Adoptions • Volunteers Needed • Donations • cowlitzhumane.com • 360-577-0151

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For information about joining the P+P Partners Circle, call

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Ned Piper, 360-749-2632 or Sue Piper, 360-749-1021.

UIPS & QUOTES

Selected by Debra Tweedy

Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. ~ Sir Isaac Newton, English scientist, 1642-1726 Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. ~ Will Rogers, American actor, humorist, columnist, 1879-1935 Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work. ~ Thomas Edison, American inventor and businessman, 1847-1931 Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.~ James Baldwin, American writer and activist, 19241987

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~ Charles Dickens, English writer and social critic, 1812-1870 Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay. ~ Maya Angelou, American writer and activist, 1928-2014 Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature— the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. ~ Rachel Carson, American marine biologist, author, and conservationist, 1907-1964

April 3, 3– 6pm • 909 Columbia Blvd., Longview.

For Low-income households of Cowlitz County

(Bring EBT or state health insurance card, or pay stub showing earnings belows the poverty level for Wash. State, or welfare status letter).

worthy organizations and programs.

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Vaccine/Microchip Clinic

Reduced fees for vaccines ($15), microchips ($20), flea medication and dewormer treatments ($10-15).

Check website or Cowlitz Humane Society on Facebook for details

Proud Sponsor of People+Place “I believe God can use anybody in any position to bring Glory to His name.

God has blessed me with athletic ability. When I play basketball I do it for the Glory of God. I lead team prayers before games so that my team knows God is with us. As a team we win together and learn together, we leave with our heads held high knowing we gave our best and brought glory to God.”

FCA Vision: To lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.

Hallee “Mo” Harris Mark Morris High School

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Weatherguard supports the FCA vision.

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Faith and Ralph Pacheco and Sue Lantz appreciate the work of

To volunteer, donate, or learn more http://www.chhh.org Sue Lantz donates a portion of every commission to a local non-profit of her clients’ choice

slantz@windermere.com www.suelantz.com

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Avamere at St. Helens, celebrating 20 years providing excellent care to our residents in Columbia County and standing by our mission:

The only thing most people do better than anyone else is read their own handwriting. ~ John Adams, 2nd President of the United States, 1735-1826

To read in bed is to draw around us invisible, noiseless curtains. Then at last we are in a room of our own and are ready to burrow back, back to that private life of the imagination we all led as a child and to whose secret satisfaction so many of us have mislaid the key. ~ Clifton Fadiman, American author, editor, and radio/TV personality, 1904-1999 18 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

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“To Enhance the Life of Every Person We Serve.”

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.

Proud sponsor of People+Place

For more information contact Jenny Hicks at 503-366-8070

A monthly feature written and photographed

by Southwest Washington native and Emmy Award-winning journalist

Hal Calbom

Production Notes The Old New Age

people+ place

Cutting Edge: Debby Neely Debby Neely is master of the ancient, demanding art of the woodcut.

Hal Calbom

W hile producing this month ’ s People+ Place, featuring woodcut artist Debby Neely, it occurred to me that the breadth and depth of her relationships were as critical as her artistic talent.

As much as her aptitudes and accomplishments, Debby’s people power — in networks, co-op galleries, job and career paths — has influenced her professional development.

My contention is that today this trend is accelerating, and we are in fact in a Relationship Age. Recently Longview Rotary invited me to speak about what I might have learned (if anything) since leaving my home town, some five decades ago and now returning every month to write and photograph profiles for this paper.

The timing was apt. I’ve just published a textbook which addresses the demand for relationship building.

Shorthand title: People Skills for Geeks.

We’ve moved beyond an Information Age, and the primacy of data, to a Relationship Age. Today’s most valuable business assets are people — colleagues and customers. Consider the proliferation of service businesses, the focus on customer capture and care, and the critical role of employee recruitment and retention.

Her talents spring from childhood. Raised in a small farming community in Iowa, she loved the natural world, especially birds, and began drawing them, obsessively, as a child.

Her other skills were physical. An athlete who ran marathons, became an Olympic-class archer, and taught physical education in schools, she remains robust — albeit equipped with new hips and knees — with a ready laugh, strong opinions, and confidence in her craft.

Tucked away in her perfectly tidy, sprawling house in the hills above Woodland, Washington, adorned with her own and others’ artworks, sits her workshop. And hunched over a perfect-grained piece of basswood, amidst pots of ink, racks of mattes, stacks of wood blocks, sits the artist herself, lethal knives and gouges in hand, intent on that first, critical cut.

I ask her how long, and with how much effort, it took her to evolve her signature style.

DN: My style came full blown. I don’t know how HC: Does your woodcut style reflect your drawing to tell you otherwise. style?

HC: Why am I not surprised! You just “had it?”

DN:: No, not at all. I DN: Immediately. As a working artist and as a juror was highly realistic. I was and as someone looking at other artists, you look at going to be John James their style. Mine just came that way. Not that I’ve Audubon the second. If stopped working on it or trying to improve it.

I painted anything it was going to be individual feathers and all that detail. That’s why I liked etching because it was so detailed.

NICE TO MEET YOU Debby Neely resides

In the hills above Woodland, Wash. occupation

Retired college instructor from

Iowa, Ohio, and California known for

Woodcuts, wildlife art, birding for fun

Having friends to dinner, visiting our parks and outdoor recreational facilities recommends

A day kayaking or a day at the beach and all the little shops

HC: So you were learning different media? And then woodcut…

DN: First time I did it I was had. I was a goner. Suddenly it was like, ‘I can only go so far. Now what am I going to do?’ And then cont page 20

We’re all in the people business.

Which brings me back to Debby Neely, my Rotary talk, and the lessons I learned about the primacy of relationships, especially from my dad.

He’d drive across town to buy gasoline from a client or friend. Big business is simply re-learning what small business has always known: that relationships — built on trust, reciprocity and loyalty — are the soul of business and community life.

Welcome to this month’s People+ Place. And the Relationship Age. ••• Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 19

People

“ I consider myself a strong woman. And I like strong art. I don’t like na

from page19

I could stylize things. And then I started playing with the black and white areas. Not just the bird. I began playing with the spaces.

HC: But you essentially just get one crack at it?

DN: You get one chance at it. It puts pressure on your sense of design. You make a decision with a gouge, it’s done. I used to draw almost everything ahead. Now I just sketch the basics. I’m looser. But it always comes down to the design. Anybody can carve.

HC: So, you’re drawn to the boldness of woodcut, the black and white, no nuances?

HC: Is this dangerous for amateurs?

HC: And the red signs or ideograms are what?

DN: No, I always include bandages. (laughter) The idea is to always have your holding hand beyond your carving hand.

DN: Those are my chops. They are classical Chinese characters that are used to sign documents, pieces of art work. The Chinese invented so much of this — currency and printing and multi-colored prints.

HC: What do you do if you make a mistake? Is there a wood carver’s version of White Out? DN: Mistakes? (more laughter) The thing that can lead to mistakes is running afoul of the grain. The grain will want to steer the gouge along its path. So I tend to use a knife as much or more than a gouge. I do a groove by cutting down each side.

HC: And your chop?

DN: One of these is my name, and the other says, ‘I draw birds and animals.’ They are usually carved in stone that is considered your birth month stone.

When you get the chops you also get the red paste

DN: I consider myself a strong person. And I like strong art. I don’t like any namby-pamby, in anything. Don’t give me pastels.

Neely’s career is testimony not just to her own willpower and strong vision but to our regional education system, especially our community colleges. As both student and instructor, she has honed her talent, worked with inspired artists and teachers, and developed an active network among colleagues smitten by the challenges and joys of printmaking. She maintains longstanding connections with both Lower Columbia and Clark Colleges. She supports herself and her peers in co-op galleries. She epitomizes the lifetime learner and teacher, continually broadening her network, sharpening her critical sense and deepening her love and reverence for her art form.

People + Place + ink + wood + paper.

“Will your grandchildren appreciate the arts?

Please support the

Columbia Theatre.”

Kudos to the Oregon Food Bank, the OSU Extension Service and their volunteers for offering this free beginning gardening course, where participants learn how to start a garden and grow their own food on a tight budget.

SEED TO SUPPER 6 weekly sessions begin: Clatskanie, 6pm, April 6 Rainier, 10am, April 8 Scappoose, 9am, April 6 St. Helens, 10am, March 11 Vernonia, 6pm April 21

Call

503-397-3462 for more info

Paul W. Thompson Upcoming Shows: See ad, page 33 columbiatheatre.com

CRR’s Man in the Kitchen Emeritus

Proud sponsor of “People+Place”

20 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Proud sponsor of People+Place

It’s fun to grow, cook and eat your own fresh food ~ Bon Appetit!

+ Place

amby-pamby, in anything. Don’t give me pastels.” used to imprint the design. You pound it to warm it up, and then you hand print it one at a time on your prints, as a signature.

~ Debby Neely

THE CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT Artists hanging together

HC: How many prints do you typically make?

DN: My small prints, I do 100. The others are 60, 50, 30, whatever I think will sell.

Broadway Gallery members Debby Neely and Susan Supola, current president. .

HC: Do you ever reprint? If you get a popular image?

DN: No, never. That would violate the ethics of it, and the scarcity. If you say you do 60 prints, you do 60 prints.

HC: What inspires your images, your choice of subjects?

THE BROADWAY GALLERY 1418 Commerce Longview, Wash.

Open Mon–Fri 10–5:30, Sat 10-4 360-577-0544

DN: Well, first of all I just like being here, the tactile nature of this. I love the smell and feel of wood. And I have drawers full of designs and images I’m always adding to, sketches. I like birds and fish. They are all very specific, not generic. I do different salmon species, and try to be as accurate as possible. I started fishing when I moved here.

HC: So you’re really something of a naturalist as well?

TSUGA GALLERY • 70 Main Street, Cathlamet, Wash.

Open Thurs–Sat 11–5 • 360-795-0725

DN: Just a bird and fish watcher. But a pretty serious one. I like to add a little knowledge to what I do. I often have a full moon, or a circle, in the design, which brings the fish out of the ocean into the rivers, through the tides. What I call their birth waters and death waters.

And often I do haikus to accompany a set of prints.

HC: So you’re putting some spiritualism, or reverence for nature, into your pieces? Do you incorporate Native American traditions and lore?

DN: Oh yes. I was going to grow up to be an Indian Chief. I didn’t know that I couldn’t be a chief and I had to be a man. I have great respect for the tradition. There are so many Indian wannabes these days it kills me.

Fishing is a great way to enjoy our beautiful outdoors and connect with your youngsters.

Proud sponsor of People+Place

Neely works to keep her work accessible, pricing smaller prints around $100.00 and her biggest works around $300.00 - $400.00. Part of her passion for co-op galleries is that by displaying a wide variety of works by different artists, they also draw a wider variety of visitors. She takes pride in knowing many of her customers and hearing their stories. And, as part of her co-op responsibilities, presides over Broadway Gallery several days a month as part of the rotating band of member artists who take turns at the cash register.

DN: I used to do a lot of outdoor shows. I had a UPSstyle truck, and I would fill it with work and I would go cont. page 22

Let’s go fishing!

Sign up now for the April 25 Lake Sacajawea Kids’ Fish-In.

Join the fun at this year’s SOUPER event for Columbia Theatre!

More info, page 33.

Cowlitz County Conference Ctr. Longview, Wash.

Proceeds support The Eloise Pepper Arts Education Fund!

March 27, 6–9pm,

A friendly competition — All in good fun and for a good cause!

Seating is limited, Reserve your spot today!

Dr. Jeffrey Tack

Dr. Terence Tack

Dr. Kristi Poe

Tickets $65, includes great entertainment, beverages, soup samplings & desserts. www.columbiatheatre.com

360-575-8499.

The Evans Kelly Family One of Longview’s pioneer families.

Proud Sponsor of People+Place Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 21

People + Place HC: What’s your most important asset as an artist?

DN: Well, I know my subject. What I love.

And you have to have a style. And stick to that style. You don’t shed one style and pick up another the next day. You need to control your tools, you need to have craftsmanship. And you have to have creativity.

working on a book. I’ve been working on it for way too long. I’ve written haikus that go with my artwork and I want to put a haiku on one page and a print on the other.

HC: Did you enter the Reader’s HaikuFest?

DN: No. I was too late!

from page 19

from California up to the islands and I would set up shows, 2-3 day shows.

Have the tents and tables in the back.

DN: That’s how we pay our bills.

HC: That’s a lot of effort for an artiste?

DN: When I was taking the class in printmaking, we were asked to think of something that is black and white. And get a piece of wood.

I thought of a loon, which is black and white. And I love loons. Only problem, do you have any idea how many white spots are on the back of a black loon? I was always crazy about birds. My mom would take me, when I was probably 9 or 10, to the local parks. They had birdwatching on Saturday or Sunday morning.

They had binoculars!

DN: You have to make a living, and I’m a pretty determined saleswoman.

Anybody walked into that tent ... they were buying something!

HC: Are co-op galleries viable?

Flourishing?

DN: You’re always on the edge. We have dozens of members, and we support ourselves by paying dues. We have full-time members who pay one rate and other members who pay a commission rate and then teachers who pay a different rate.

HC: But you share revenues for work sold, which in a traditional gallery would go to the owner?

HC: How did you narrow your focus to woodcuts?

HC: And you started drawing them?

DN: Oh yes. And catching them in my hands as they flew by. Or if there’s a little bird in a nest, I would take care of them. I had pet birds. Pet parakeets. This was in Galva, Iowa, a little farm community.

Hal Calbom is a third generation Longview native who makes his living as a film producer, educator, and writer. His new book, Resourceful: Leadership and Communications in a Relationship Age, serves as basis for

keynote speeches, workshops, and online training. This is his 22nd feature story in CRR’s People + Place series.

HC: Are computers and new design tools enhancing or degrading what you do?

DN: I think they’re enhancing. You can do amazing things with the rich software that might have taken you days to do. And the more media we have to expose the work the better.

HC: What’s ahead for you besides work with the gallery?

DN: I’m working on a book. I used to do shows all the time but I’m pretty well aged out. We have a pop-up gallery that’s open for three months for the holidays. But I’m

HC: Well, it seems to be a rigged game since my entries have failed to place the last two years.

DN:: Maybe you should enter a woodcut with it?

HC: Yeah, can I borrow a few of your bandages?

DN: Of course. Good luck!

••• Editor’s Note: Interviews are edited for length and condensed for clarity.

Paint to Fight Hunger!

PAINT NIGHT fundraiser Thursday, March 19, 6–8pm, at Rainier Eagles #4022. $45 Ticket price includes fun, a beverage, artistic instruction and your original painting to keep! Proceeds benefit HOPE of Rainier’s Food Pantry. Details and ticket info, page 33.

Spring Fundraising Campaign

Proud sponsor of People+Place

Please join us in supporting Rainier’s food pantry.

Send donations to HOPE, P.O. Box 448, Rainier, OR 97048.

22 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Proud sponsor of People+Place

The Natural World

people + place DEBBY NEELY’S Recommended Books Rising, Dispatches from the New American Shore, by Elizabeth Rush Climate change and how it has decimated the population of Red Knots, shore birds that are possible subjects for woodcuts.

The Sibley Guide to Birds, by David Sibley: a reference guide to US birds.

I use it as a reference guide and subject search for art inspiration.

The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman.

Reveals what makes birds capable of extraordinary feats of mental prowess. Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures, some rivaling primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence.

Ackerman explores their newlydiscovered brilliance and how it came about. This is an exciting read for anyone interested in “animal intelligence.”

Woodcut, Stepby-Step Lessons in Designing, Cutting, and Printing the Woodblock, by David L. Oravez.

A how-to book on the mechanics of woodcut. Well written, easy-to- follow instructions.

Lots of pictures.

Block Printing, Basic Techniques for Linoleum and Wood, edited by Sandy Allison.

Another well designed how-to book with lots of photographs.

YouTube and Pinterest: Google block printing for lots of ideas and instruction.

The Long Haul

By Dr. Robert Michael Pyle

I

n the dim deepwood of massive and moss-bound trees, the three tenors of the Northwest forest give voice: varied thrush’s raspy note, like whistling through spit; goldencrowned kinglet’s high tinkle, the sound older ears lose first; and winter wren, puck with a pennywhistle on an endless tape loop. A fourth, pileated woodpecker, is silent for now, having already totemed all the big old snags.

I’ve arrived at a place known as the Log Decomposition Plot. The mossy turnoff is paved in evergreen violets, then comes a trench and berm to keep vehicles out, but the bulldozed tanktrap has grown to resemble a native outcrop, covered in sword fern, salal, and moss. Fresh wind-throw renders the trail almost impassable at times: a suitable gateway to a place where, when a tree falls in the forest, a lot of people hear it — and then take a close look at what happens next.

When I get to the laid-out logs and the sawed-off tree-rounds that fallers call cookies, I know I’ve arrived at the place where druids of forest research make offerings to Rot. This is the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 16,000 acres situated deep in the Oregon Cascades and managed by Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service. The Andrews, dedicated to forest research since 1948, became a charter member of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research Program in 1980, one of twenty-two sites in the United States and two in Antarctica. The fundamental study of the northern spotted owl took place here, along with much basic research on forest function. Recently, recognizing that science is not the only tool for probing what forests mean, the Forest Service and the Spring Creek Project of OSU’s Philosophy Department initiated a program called Long-Term Ecological Reflection. This inspired whim is the source of my good luck in spending a week here, reflecting and writing.

Whole watersheds of old-growth western hemlocks and Douglas-firs grace the Andrews, which are simply shocking compared to the secondand third-growth evergreens of my home hills. The Decomposition Plot, devoted to studies of nutrient cycling and forest refreshment, lies in one

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.

Photo by David Lee Myers such ancient stand.

It’s easy to tell when I’m inside the research zone by the yellow, red, and blue tags on wire stems sprouting from the moss. One pink duster pokes like old trilliums from a mossy mound that once was a tree. A red bunch limns the ground where a one-time log has finally given up the ghost. Metal tags label the cut butt-ends of many logs that lie about higgledy piggledy, as gravity and the wind might have arranged them had researchers not dropped them first. Bright flags beribbon trees, shrubs, small boles, and limbs, and duct tape shores up the ends of some logs: is someone investigating the degradation rate of duct tape as well as wood fiber? White plastic pipes, buckets, jugs, and other bits lie here and there, each significant to some experiment or other. In early spring, no one is here for me to ask.

Some would see all these artifacts as litter, marring their wilderness experience. You can also see them as inflorescences, like that mysterious white plastic funnel sprouting next to a nodding trillium. Take away the pink ribbon around that hemlock over there, pick up all the aluminum and plastic, and this old-growth forest would still work just like any other.

Researchers cut fresh cookies for a starting point, then measure their decay forever after—or as long as they can. But let all the straight cuts rot away and you’ve got an untidy place going about the important business of trading in the old for the new, an ecosystem definitely in it for the long haul.

For the most part, most of us take the short-term view, most of the time.

What gratifies right now, or soon at

This is the 21st 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.

the latest, is always more compelling than what might satisfy years from now, let alone nourish the generations.

When business opts for short-term profits instead of long-term husbandry, both forest and human communities suffer. The short view is what turned most of the Northwest’s giant forests into doghair conifer plantations cut on short rotation for pulp. To peer much further down the line requires not only empathy for those who follow, but also faith in the future—even if you won’t be there to see it for yourself. Such an ethic underlies all of the long-term studies here on the Andrews, whether concerned with old-growth ecology, hydrology, riparian restoration, forest development and mortality, carbon dynamics, invertebrate diversity, or climate change and its effects.

Meanwhile, here in the Decomp Plot, nuthatches toot in monolithic columns of Douglas-fir; a robin chitters in a clearing. Dappled light falls on forests of the moss called Hylocomium splendens, hammocks of shiny twinflower leaves, and fleshy Lobaria lichens lying about like tossed-up ocean foam. The path is a maze of Irish byways for voles. Douglas squirrels leave their middens of Douglasfir cone bracts all about like a prodigal’s spent treasures, and round leaves of evergreen violets and wild ginger spatter the path like green coins. If they were gold, I doubt they’d distract the unseen leprechauns who come here to gather cont page 24

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 23

Tangled Bank

from page 23

the data of decline. Gold doesn’t decompose, and this place is all about the documentation of rot. It goes on all around me: something fairly large just fell from a nearby old-growth giant.

Maybe that’s the problem with the long view: it speaks of our own inevitable demise. We’re not much into selfrecycling. Even in death, we take heroic steps to forestall rot by boxing our leavings in expensive, hermetic containers. After all, to anticipate the future—a future without us—is asking quite a lot. But life and regeneration are the name of the game on this mortal plane, every bit as much as corruption.

The winter wren’s song, after all, is no morbid message. Old vine maples hoop and droop under their epiphytic shawls, but the unfurling leaves of the young ones are the brightest items in the forest (even brighter than the red plastic tags). Every downed and decaying cylinder of cellulose makes yards of nitrogen-rich surface area for hopeful baby hemlocks, lichens, liverworts and entire empires of moss to take hold on and begin making forest anew.

If we care about what’s to come, it makes sense to send delegates to the forests of the present to find out how things truly are, report back,

and check in again year after year.

The conundrum of the diminishing baseline says that if we have no clear idea of what went before, we are more likely to accept things as we find them, no matter how degraded they may be. Memory is short, the collective memory even shorter. But with baseline in hand, we can appreciate change for what it is. Recognizing loss, we may even act to prevent future loss.

Just as the scientists gather data, any open-eyed observer could go on documenting details without end in such a place: the declination of that row of saplings bent over one deadfall by another; the way that one sword fern catches the sun to suggest a helmet; how the polypore conks launch out from cut ends as soon as they can after their vertical hosts go horizontal, their mycelia reorienting ninety degrees to the zenith. There is no end to particulars as long as the forest goes on and there is someone to record them. The moss grows, the raven barks, the trees go to soil—first hemlocks, then firs, finally cedar. All the while, the decomp team is there, watching how the cookies crumble.

Maybe looking to the future is a way of hoping there will still be something to see when we get there. Maybe it’s the only way to make sure of it.

•••

Author’s note: Long-Term Ecological Reflections is a collaboration between the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature and the Written Word at Oregon State University, the Andrews Forest Long-Term Exological Research Program, and the Pacific Northwest Research Station, with funding from the US Forest Service. It was the brain-child of Philosophy Professor Kathleen Dean Moore (OSU) and ecologist Fred Swanson (USFS). Nearly a hundred writers have undertaken residencies at the H.J. Andrews since I was fortunate to be the very first resident in 2004. To see a list of them, read excerpts from their writing (including more of mine) on the Forest Log, or to find out how to apply to take part yourself, visit: https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/centers-and-initiatives/spring-creek-project/programsand-residencies/long-term-ecological-reflections/forest-log

NMLS# 186805

Committed to helping you find

THE RIGHT MORTGAGE.

Programs available to qualified borrowers. Rates and programs subject to change without notice. Underwriting terms and conditions apply.

Carrie Lynn Medack Sr. Loan Officer 360.431.0998 NMLS#190268

1541 11th Ave., Suite A Longview, WA NMLS#1164433

24 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

PET DEPARTMENT People think I’m cute. ~Ginger

Victoria Findlay’s dog

You are, in your way. But I have nine lives. ~Smokey Man in the Kitchen’s cat

Where do you read

THE READER? In the Greek Isles After Kelso,

Wash. residents Marliyn and Michael Perry visited Turkey (see photo at right), they relaxed on Santorini, one of the beautiful Greek islands. They stayed at the Chelidonia Traditional Villa (in background) in a cave house dug into the face of the caldera of an ancient volcano.

Santorini resembles Oregon’s Crater Lake.

Reading in Ephesus Left to right: Dr. Hani Eid and his wife Dr. Hazar Jaber of Ridgefield, Wash., Dr. Michael Bartlett and his wife Sally, of Longview, Wash., spent two weeks in Turkey. Their tour group, which also included Michael and Marilyn Perry of Kelso (see photo at left), made a loop from Istanbul to Ankara, Anatolia, Cappadocia (where they rode in a hot air balloon), Konya, Antalya, and Pamukkale, ending in Kusadasi. They are shown in front of the library at the ruins of Ephesus.

Grandchildren gather Sterling Laird (Richmond, B.C.), Monica Accola (Coon Rapids, Minn.), Scott Hanks (Kennewick, Wash.), Kyle Hanks (San Tan Valley, Ariz.), Tyler Hanks (Volga, South Dakota), Tia Sanford (Townsend, Montana) and Shanna Faulkner (Victoria, BC), all grandchildren of the late Ernie and Virginia Hanks of Kelso,Wash., read the reader at Goldfield Ghost Town near Phoenix, Arizona, while there for a family reunion.

Egyptian travelers

Longview residents Pam and Reed Hadley and with Joel Rupley and Janice Stixrud caught up on the news in Petra, Jordan.

Dipping their toes in R.A

Long High School classmates (Class of ‘67) Judy (Quinting) Saling, of La Manzanilla, Mexico, and Tom Gilles, of Longview, Wash. enjoying Christmas Day 2019 at Tenacatita Beach, Jalisco, México.

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 re-send. If sending a cell phone photo, choose the largest file size up to 2 MB. Thank you for your participation and patience; we usually have a small backlog. Keep those photos coming!

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 25

Cover to Cover

BOOK REVIEW

ATTENTION, READERS

By Alan Rose

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.

One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder

By Brian Doyle Little, Brown and Co. $27 Hard cover

Playing with words and wonder

T

April Feature: Student Art Show “I am Fearless with a Paintbrush!”

Gallery Member & Teacher Scott McRae

the-broadway-gallery.com

In Historic Downtown Longview

Your Local SW Washington Artist Co-op since 1982

Every First Thursday New Art, Music and Nibbles 360-577-0544 1418 Commerce Longview, WA Mon - Fri 10 - 5:30, Sat 10-4

here are times in life when just the right book comes at just the right moment. After recently reading about A Very Stable Genius and then the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake (aka The Big One), this collection of essays by the late and much loved Oregon writer Brian Doyle was a refreshing re-centering breath of fresh air, humanity and sanity.

Readers who loved his novels Mink River and Martin Marten will find in this collection the same quirky, joyous madcap rush of words at play, unhindered by such niceties as punctuation and paragraphs. He used words and wonder as playthings, toys for his imagination, often pushing words to their limit, like a kid in an old hot rod wanting to see what it can do.

Doyle, who died of a brain tumor in 2017 at the age of sixty, was editor of Portland Magazine for twenty-five years and the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction works. Like Walt Whitman, William Blake, and countless other poets and mystics before him, he found wonder and delight in the everything of everyday, bearing witness to life’s “incomprehensible, inexhaustible, inexplicable yes.”

Indeed, he seemed to think proper punctuation was for wimps. He would run with a sentence, seeing how long he could keep it in the air, suspended on looping strings of adjectives as if they were on special that day, going two for one, until, finally stretching the sentence to its utmost limit, he’d grudgingly slap a period on the end of it, as if disappointed he couldn’t keep it aloft for a couple of more lines.

After reading one such 379-word sentence, I realized that I’ve read shorter chapters.

Alan Rose organizes the monthly WordFest gatherings. His next novel, about the AIDS epidemic, As If Death Summoned, will be published in 2020 by Amble Press/ Bywater Books. More book reviews, author interviews, and news updates can be found at www.alan-rose.com.

One imagines Doyle not writing words so much as dancing with them, sometimes he leading, sometimes the words, in a continuous dizzying delightful whirl of wonder.

“I sing a song of things that make us grin and bow,” he announces, filling these essays with musings and memories of the gloriously mundane: Of his journalist father’s old manual typewriter, hearing the shift and drift of the thrum of the thing.

Of being a teenage counselor at a summer camp ministering to a mob of boys, age four to six, who ran like deer, cried like infants, fought like cats, and cursed like stevedores.

April 7 • Cassava 1333 Broadway Longview

www.alan-rose.com 26 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

SECOND TUESDAY

Or playing chess with his son: My queen roared off her throne snarling and forced her way all the way to his back line but he deftly boxed her in with yapping pawns…I sent my bishops slicing here and there… cont page 27

Cover to Cover

Top 10 Bestsellers PAPERBACK FICTION 1. The Overstory Richard Powers, Norton, $18.95 2. Normal People Sally Rooney, Hogarth, $17 3. Unsheltered Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Perennial, $17.99 4. There There Tommy Orange, Vintage, $16 5. The Great Alone Kristin Hannah, St. Martin’s Griffin, $17.99 6. A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles, Penguin, $17 7. The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris, Harper, $16.99 8. Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng, Penguin, $17 9. Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo, Grove Press/Black Cat, $17 10. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman, Penguin, $16

1. Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer, Milkweed Editions, $18 2. Born a Crime Trevor Noah, Spiegel & Grau, $18 3. Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk Jon Krakauer, Anchor, $15 4. Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland Patrick Radden Keefe, Anchor, $16.95 5. Killers of the Flower Moon David Grann, Vintage, $16.95 6. Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson, Spiegel & Grau, $17, 7. Sapiens Yuval Noah Harari, Harper Perennial, $24.99 8. The Library Book Susan Orlean, S&S, $16.99 9. So You Want to Talk About Race Ijeoma Oluo, Seal Press, $16.99 10. No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference Greta Thunberg, Penguin, $10

PAPERBACK NON-FICTION

Book Review

from page 26

HARDCOVER FICTION 1. Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens, Putnam, $26 2. American Dirt Jeanine Cummins, Flatiron Books, $27.99 3. A Long Petal of the Sea Isabel Allende, Ballantine, $28, 4. The Dutch House Ann Patchett, Harper, $27.99 5. Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid, Putnam, $26 6. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous Ocean Vuong, Penguin Press, $26 7. The Giver of Stars Jojo Moyes, Pamela Dorman Books, $28 8. The Starless Sea Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday, $28.95 9. Nothing to See Here Kevin Wilson, Ecco, $26.99 10. Apeirogon Colum McCann, Random House, $28

HARDCOVER NON-FICTION 1. The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz Erik Larson, Crown, $32 2. One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder Brian Doyle, Little Brown, $27 3. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Charlie Mackesy, HarperOne, $22.99 4. Educated Tara Westover, Random House, $28 5. A Very Stable Genius Philip Rucker, Carol Leonnig, Penguin Press, $30 6. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat Samin Nosrat, Wendy MacNaughton (Illus.), S&S, $35, 7. Talking to Strangers Malcolm Gladwell, Little Brown, $30 8. Tightrope Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn, Knopf, $27.95 9. The Body Bill Bryson, Doubleday, $30 10. How to Be an Antiracist Ibram X. Kendi, One World, $27

~ from One Long River of Song

MASS MARKET EARLY & MIDDLE GRADE READERS 1. Blood of Elves 1. Guts Andrzej Sapkowski, Orbit, Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $12.99 $8.99 2. Drama 2. The Tale Teller Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99 Anne Hillerman, Harper, $9.99 3. The Wonders of Nature 3. Good Omens Ben Hoare, DK Children, $19.99 Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, 4. Pax Morrow, $9.99 Sara Pennypacker, Jon Klassen (Illus.), 4. American Gods Balzer + Bray, $8.99, 9780062377029 Neil Gaiman, Morrow, $9.99 5. Little Women 5. The Way of Kings Louisa May Alcott, Puffin, $8.99 Brandon Sanderson, Tor, $9.99 6. New Kid 6. Dune Jerry Craft, Harper, $12.99 Frank Herbert, Ace, $10.99 7. A Wolf Called Wander 7. Outlander Rosanne Parry, Monica Armino (Illus.), Diana Gabaldon, Dell, $9.99 Greenwillow Books, $16.99 8. The Last Wish 8. Smile Andrzej Sapkowski, Orbit, Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99 $8.99 9. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic 9. Eleanor Oliphant Is Novel: A Modern Retelling of Little Completely Fine Women Gail Honeyman, Penguin, $9.99 Rey Terciero, Bre Indigo (Illus.), Little, 10. 1984 Brown Books for Young Readers, $12.99 George Orwell, Signet, $9.99 10. The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs America’s Test Kitchen Kids, Sourcebooks Explore, $19.9

BESIDES COLUMBIA RIVER READER...

What are you reading?

Or sharing letters from readers: ‘Our book club read this book and we got into such an argument about it being inane or brilliant that the book club was dissolved and now I have to find a new book club, for which I blame the author.’

I am standing in the hospital watching babies emerge from my wife like a circus act. First out is a boy, dark-haired and calm, the size of an owl. He is immediately commandeered by a nurse who whisks him off for a bath and a stint in what appears to be a tiny tanning bed. Now, says the doctor, reaching around inside my wife while he talks, here’s the other one, and he hauls out another boy. This one is light-haired and not calm; he grabs for a nurse’s scissors and won’t let go and they have to pry his fingers off and the nurse looks accusingly at me for some reason and I want to say hey, I don’t even know the guy, but I don’t say anything, being overwhelmed with new roommates and tears and astonishment at people emerging from my wife one after another…

Brought to you by Book Sense and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Assn, for week ending March 1, 2020, 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

Or listening to the simple grace pronounced by a friend before their shared meal: He bowed his head, in the guttering candlelight, steam rising from the food before him, the fingers of the cedar outside brushing the window, and said, ‘We are part of a Mystery we do not understand, and we are grateful.’

Living amid this current hyperpartisanship, facing present and potential disasters, you too might take a break and walk with this humble, humorous man, looking through his eyes (through his words) to see how extraordinary and wondrous the ordinary is.

Finishing the last essay, I closed the book with a sigh — once again, just the right book had come to me at just the right moment — and murmured, Thanks. I needed that.

••• Note: Introduction to Fiction and

Memoir Writing Workshops with Alan Rose, presented by WordFest and Longview Public Library, March 30– May 18, Mondays 6–7:30pm. Details, see calendar listing, page 32.

Monthly feature coordinated

by Alan Rose

By Suzanne Loeb

W

e are intrigued, inspired, and impressed by authors who present their ideas in a way that can change our lives. The Wisdom of Genevieve Behrend is a collection of Behrend’s three best-known books that can change a person into someone better. Behrend (1881-1960) was devoted to promoting the ideas of her mentor and teacher, Judge Thomas Troward (1847-1916) who introduced the concepts of Mental Science in the late nineteenth century.

A devout Christian intellectual, his ideas about religion and life sparked the New Thought movement and influenced the development of contemporary authors like Louise Hay, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Esther Hicks. Churches such as Unity, Church of Religious Science, and Christian Science were

established by followers of Troward’s philosophy.

Behrend’s easily digestible philosophy books tell us that we all have the power and ability to use our minds for our good. She uses stories to illustrate how to manifest desires through selfawareness and to create what we want in a certain intuitive way. Her work has been read, tested, and discussed by readers and self-help authors for over 100 years.

If you are a person who identifies as spiritual but not necessarily religious, enjoys learning directly from the source of self-help, and wants to apply ideas immediately, The Wisdom of Genevieve Behrend is the book for you!

•••

Suzanne Loeb writes: “I have always loved reading and listening to well-told stories. As a child, I dreamed of living in my hometown’s Carnegie library.

That familiar anticipatory thrill still hits me when I enter any library. In my imagination, all those authors are secretly beckoning to me to join their discoveries and adventures.” Suzanne blogs at https://thesuzanneloeb.com.

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 27

Clatskanie, Ore. 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

COLUMBIA RIVER

dining guide

Kelso, Wash.

El Ranchero Kelso 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. Ore. Alston Pub & Grub 25196 Alston Rd., Rainier 503-556-4213 11 beers on tap, cocktails.

Open daily 11am.

503-556-9753 See ad, page 6.

1626 West Side Hwy Family Mexican restaurant. Full Mexican menu. Daily specials. Liquor, beer & wine.

Mention this listing for $5 off purchase of $30 or more. Open Mon–Sat 11am–9pm.

360-423-3704.

Longview, Wash.

716 Triangle Shopping Center.

18 rotating craft brews, pub fare.

M-W 12 Noon–9pm, Th–Sat 12 Noon– 11pm. Sun 12 Noon–8pm. Local music.

Follow us on Untappd.

See ad, page 30.

The Carriage Restaurant & Lounge

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.

6.

The Carriage Restaurant & Lounge 1334 12th Ave. Open from 6am to close. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Full bar, banquet room available for groups, parties, family reunions, etc. in lounge, open 6am. Three happy hours daily (8–10am, 12–2pm, 5–7pm). Group meeting room, free use with $150 food/drink purchases.

360-425-8545.

The Original Pietrio’s Pizzeria

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.

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 11.

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.

Regent & Woodshed

3353 Washington Way Chinese & American food. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Full bar.

Food to go during open hours. Families welcome. Deliveries available after 5pm.

Call for Live Music on Saturdays.

Open Tues-Sun, 8am–9pm.

Kalama

215 N. Hendrickson Dr., Port of Kalama.

A Northwest pub and unique bars serving breakfast, lunch & dinner daily.

Handcrafted beer, wine & cocktails, burgers, specialties, incl Kamikaze Seared Ahi & more. Live music, art, history & riverfront hotel rooms. Info & reservations at mcmenamins.com. Bars hours vary; see website for details. Pub open M-Th 7am – midnight; Fri-Sun 7am– 1am. 360- 673-9210.

St. Helens, Oregon

Sunshine Pizza & Catering 2124 Columbia Blvd.

Hot pizza, cool salad bar. Beer & wine.

503-397-3211 See ad, page 35.

Scappoose, Oregon 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.

Phone: 360-423-8680 Ixtapa Fine Mexican Restaurant

Evergreen Pub & Café

115-117 East 1st Street Burgers, halibut, prime rib, full bar.

503-556-9935. See ad, page 6.

Goble Tavern

70255 Columbia River Hwy. (Milepost 31, Hwy. 30) Food, beer & wine + full bar, Live entertainment. 503-556-4090.

See ad page 6.

Freddy’s Just for the Halibut.

Cod, halibut & tuna fish and chips, oysters & clams, award-winning clam chowder.

Prime rib every Thurs. Sunday Brunch 9am–1pm. Beer and wine. M-W 10–8, ThSat 10–9, Sun 9am-8pm.

1110 Commerce 360-414-3288.

See ad, page 11.

Hop N Grape

Luigi’s Pizza

117 East 1st Street, Rainier 503-556-4213 Pizza, spaghetti, burgers, beer & wine.

See ad, page 6.

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

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

Grant’s at the Monticello

Hotel on Longview’s historic Civic Circle. Casual upscale dining. Seafood, steaks, pasta, burgers. Happy Hour specials 3pm. M-Th 11-9, Fri-Sat 11-10.

360-442-8234. See ad, page 8.

28 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Roland Wines

1106 Florida St., Longview. Authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, wine, and beer.

Casual ambience. 5–9pm Wed-Fri, Sat. 11–3. See ad, page 11.

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.

Vault Books & Brew 20 Cowlitz Street West M-Sat 7am–6pm • Sun 10am–4pm Open 7 days. Coffee and specialty drinks, quick eats and sweet treats. See ad, page

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

Mark’s on the Channel

34326 Johnson Landing, Scappoose, Ore. Floating restaurant. Fish & Chips, Oysters, Steaks, Daily Specials. Happy Hours 3–6pm daily. Free Live Music Fri-Sat. Open year-round, Sun-Mon 11:30–8; W-Th 11:30–8:30; F-Sat 11`:30–9. 503-543-8765.

Warren 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.

Dining Out

FEATURED CHEF

Internal Medicine & Preventative Care Open Every Day for Your Convenience Holidays & Weekends Included

Introducing

Dr. Toddrick Tookes

Columbia River Reader

DPM, Podiatrist

Mike Grimm

M

ike Grimm always knew he wanted to be a chef, even before he got a job working at McDonald’s while a student at Mark Morris High School in Longview. Later, he worked at several other restaurants, and even became a bartender.

“Bartending was the greatest job in the world,” he recalled, “and I’ll never do it again,” citing the lifestyle that goes along with it. “A lot of partying is part of the job.”

At age 24, decided it was time to choose between his two loves, writing and cooking. He chose cooking, to make sure, “I wouldn’t be a starving artist.”

“I wanted to have an accredited degree,” he recalled. In 2008 he earned one in a four-year program at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, considered by many “the Harvard of culinary schools.”

Employment prospects were bleak in the hospitality business due to the economic downturn at the time, so Grimm instead managed his mother’s law firm for the next several years.

Finally, he tired of the predictable, day-to-day office routine.

“I needed the barely-controlled chaos of the restaurant industry,” he said, laughing. When the opportunity to buy Freddy’s Just for the Halibut came along through a family connection, he decided it was his time to get cookin’.

Freddy’s appealed to him because of its 14-year track record and established customer base. It also had “a little bit of kitchiness that I wanted,” he said.

Grimm thought the restaurant’s price points were such that, as he “fancied it up,” moderate increases wouldn’t cause sticker shock.

1110 Commerce Ave., Longview, Wash.

ON THE MENU Mike’s Personal Favorites: Halibut with Crab Picatta “Our new “signature dish.” It screams ‘Alaskan!’ but with its SpanishItalian preparation is still an international dish.” $37 Braised Cod “It’s stacked, so offers some height, along with a depth of flavor enhanced by cinnamon and cloves.” $18 Blackened Halibut Po’ Boy “This is from the lunch menu ... Such a simple sandwich..there’s no pretense, just great flavor and textures.” Halibut $20, Oysters $17 Menu Note: Fish ‘n’ Chips Baskets $7 and up; Seafood Combos $7–23 Entrees From $14

He’s a good cook, Grimm said, but even better at managing people and systems. “And I love creating recipes; I love creating menus.”

He and his fiancee, Rikissa, bought the restaurant in January 2019.

“Everything was dredged in panko, pan-fried and covered with Parmesan cheese,” Grimm said of Freddy’s at the time. He thought it was “struggling with its identity ... did it want to be a fish fry house, or a full sit-down restaurant?”

“We kept the heart of Freddy’s,” Grimm said. “Fish and chips is still our best seller, but we’re trying to elevate it and fill a niche…to be cont page 35

Richard A. Kirkpatrick, M.D., FACP

Dara M. Newberry, RN, MSN, DNP

Rachel Roylance, BS, MPAP, PA-C

Nicholas Austin MSPAS, PA-C

Karen L. Joiner, RN, MSN, ARNP

David Oliver, PA-C

Melanie Hughes, Brooke Wethington, BS, MPAS, PA-C BS, MPAS, PA-C

Bev Search, RN, FNP, MA, ARNP

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

Dr. Toddrick Tookes, DPM, Podiatrist

• American Board of Podiatric Surgery • Diabetic Foot Care • Ingrown Toenails • Heel & Arch Pain • Foot Surgery • Fungal Conditions • Wound Care • U.S. Navy Veteran

360-575-9161

783 Commerce Ave. Suite 120 BOTH BUSINESSES UNDER SAME OWNERSHIP Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 29

Future salesman Columbia River Carpet

Waterproof Kid-proof Pet-proof flooring 10,000 ft Luxury Vinyl Planks 2 colors

*See store details 1 Sale Price Price ($3 forReg. price)

$ 99

99

No interest for 12 months - see store for details WEEKDAYS Hours: 9–5:30 pm SATURDAY 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

Antidote’s Music Box

This box represents our commitment to local musicians expressing their craft in their own way TAP TAKEOVERS • OPEN MIC NIGHT • RHYTHM & WINE • JAM SESSIONS

When you see our Music Box join us for live, local music. Help us support the Arts!

Follow us on Facebook for current events and daily specials.

Get live tap updates and rate our brews with the Untappd App.

Longview, WA 98632

30 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Antidote’s Music Box

S u p p o r t t h e A r t s # AT H Welcome to Our Music Box

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 ...

RAINIER LONGVIEW Post Office Post Office Cornerstone Bob’s (rack, main check-out) In front of 1232 Commerce Ave Rainier In front of 1323 Commerce Ave Hardware (rack, entry) YMCA Fred Meyer (rack, service desk area) Earth ‘n’ Sun (on Hwy 30) Fibre Fed’l CU - Commerce Ave Monticello Hotel (front entrance) El Tapatio (entry rack) Kaiser Permanente St. John Medical Center DEER ISLAND (rack, Park Lake Café) Deer Island Store Cowlitz Black Bears box office COLUMBIA CITY - Post Office LCC Student Center Mini-Mart next to Regents WARREN Indie Way Diner Warren Country Inn Columbia River Reader ST HELENS 1333 14th Ave. Chamber of Commerce KELSO Sunshine Pizza Heritage Bank Post Office Visitors’ Center/ Kelso-Longview Olde Town (Wild Currant) Chamber of Commerce Safeway KALAMA SCAPPOOSE Fibre Fed’l CU Post Office Kalama Shopping Center Road Runner

corner of First & Fir Fred Meyer For more McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge (east entrance) locations or the pick-up point Fultano’s WOODLAND nearest you, Ace Hardware Visitors’ Center visit crreader.

WARRENTON, OR CASTLE ROCK com and click “Find the Lacie Rha’s Cafe (32 Cowlitz W.) FredMeyer Magazine” Parker’s Restaurant (box, entry) CATHLAMET under Visitors’ Center Cathlamet Pharmacy “Features.”

890 Huntington Ave. N. Tsuga Gallery Exit 49, west side of I-5 Puget Island Ferry Landing RYDERWOOD Café porch SKAMOKAWA Skamokawa General Store CLATSKANIE Redmen Hall Post Office Chevron / Mini-Mart NASELLE Wauna mill (parking area) Appelo Archives & Café Johnson’s One-Stop

the Lower Columbia

I’ve been using VR for six years now and it’s a revolution in entertainment, compared to going to the movies or getting a new TV, because it’s all around you in a more natural way and usually contains physical fitness. Even my friend’s mother who normally hates video games bought herself a Quest and plays often, it resembling her experience playing handbells at St. Stephen’ Church in Longview.

Informer

by Perry Piper Quarantined?

You can still enjoy the good life away from crowds!

W

ith fears of a new pandemic on the rise, CRR might need to emphasize ways to live the good life at home or in activities outside the home involving just you and a single buddy, rather than a large public group.

Board Games My good friend Esana has introduced me to a few modern board games over the past few years. The easy ones that my parents love are Timeline ($15, with many expansion sets) that has players arrange famous historical events in sequence and Codenames ($20) getting teams to choose multiple words with single word clues. Both games are so simple though, they could be made at home with scissors and a pen.

For the strategy lover who isn’t afraid to spend 30 minutes reading the rules or watching a YouTube tutorial, we have Scythe ($90, with three expansions) which takes players to an alternative 1920s Europe with huge robotic war machines. My

German “brother,” Daniel, and I love this one as it involves video game style complexity and planning around economy, military and various achievements — like having the largest workforce, infrastructure or social standing. Scythe has a beautiful board and pieces, but is too expensive for us, so we’ve split the cost with three friends and we all play a few times a month. Timeline and Scythe can be played alone, but the latter is much better with three to seven. Codenames starts with two, but any number can play. The easy games are 15-minute rounds, whereas Scythe is about two hours. All board games can also be enjoyed on computer or in VR very cheaply or free with a one-time $20 purchase of Tabletop Simulator. It supports almost all games in existence via the free Steam Workshop and Scythe is one of the most expensive at under $10 just for the party host to share with guests.

You can get a stellar experience with the $400 Oculus Quest that can be used anywhere wirelessly without a PC. You can watch the movies you already own with Plex VR in a virtual, shared living room space that is night and day versus a Skype call. This system is worn on the head like ski goggles, can be used in bed and has optional finger tracking technology, so you’ll never lose the remote! VR is quickly becoming the main cardio outlet for many people with fun music titles like Beat Saber.

The Quest enables a world class private home theater experience anywhere

you are. You can download content for the plane and in general watch movies, live TV, and sports games in 3D and from the best seats, YouTube and even meet new and old friends in social spaces where you see each other in 3D. You can use somewhat natural hand gestures in experiences like Bigscreen, that now has social movie nights as well as VRChat. It’s like a combination of a real life social party and Facebook on your phone. If you also have a new Windows PC, you can optionally plug in the headset for better flagship experiences, such as the upcoming March 23 Half Life: Alyx (made in Washington State by Valve), puzzler The Room VR, or space station mystery Lone Echo 2.

••• Perry Piper has his finger on the pulse of emerging technology and keeps CRR’s computers from crashing too often. He is available to assist with individual computer and electronic device difficulties and challenges. See ad, page 37,

Private tasting parties by appointment. Use website form or call 503-201-4545

Virtual Reality I urge everyone to give this one a shot. This is not a fad like 3D TV.

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Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 31

Outings & Events FIRST THURSDAY April 2

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

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

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

Unsolicited submissions may be considered, provided they are consistent with the publication’s purpose. Advance contact with the editor is recommended.

Information of general interest submitted by readers may be used as background or incorporated in future articles.

Outings & Events calendar (free listing): Events must be open to the public. Non-profit organizations and the arts, entertainment, educational and recreational opportunities and community cultural events will receive listing priority. Fundraisers must be sanctioned/sponsored by the benefiting non-profit organization. Businesses and organizations wishing to promote their particular products or services are invited to purchase advertising (contact info, page 8).

Broadway Gallery Student Art Show. Reception with live music by Keith Hinyard.

5:30-7pm.

1418 Commerce Avenue Longview, Wash.

McThread’s Barbara Kempf Matkowski acrylic pouring exhibit, opening reception. 5–7pm.

Refreshments. 1233 Commerce Ave., Longview, Wash.

Across the River: Cowlitz County Museum Program: Dan Myers, a volunteer at the Kelso Train Depot, will talk about its history. The Depot was built in 1912 for the Northern Pacific Railroad and was extensively renovated in the mid-1990s.

7pm. 404 Allen St., Kelso, Wash.

Longview-Kelso Community Concerts 2020-2021 Season Subscription info, page 34.

Longview-Kelso Community Concert Association 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Sons of Serendip

Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 3.00 pm

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: April 15 – May 20:

by Mar. 25 for April 15 issue May 15 – June 20:

by April 27 for May 15 issue.

Calendar submissions are considered for inclusion, subject to lead time, general relevance to readers, and space limitations. See Submission Guidelines, above.

America’s Got Talent Finalists Sons of Serendip create beautiful music through the use of harp, piano, cello and voice. This Billboard charting quartet is gaining popularity since appearing on season 9 of America’s Got Talent as finalists. Their program is a fresh mix of emotionally expressive popular music, engaging stories, and audience participation.

Musical serendipity.

Performances at Lower Columbia College Rose Center for the Arts Tickets Available Online or at the Door

Order by March 29 to receive the Early Bird discount:

Season subscription prices: Adults $85 • Students $30 • Family $200 Prices after March 29: $100 Adult • $40 Student • $240 Family Single tickets $25 Adults Early Bird, $30; $10 Students For Information: Susie Kirkpatrick 360-636-2211

www.lkcca.org

32 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Performing & Fine Arts, Music Art, Theatre, Literary Broadway Gallery Artists co-op. Classes for all ages, workshops, paint parties. Featured artists, March: Gallery member and LCC ceramics instructor Peipei Wallace (mixed media drawing & ceramics). Gallery hours: M-F 10-5:30, Sat 10–4. 1418 Commerce, Longview, Wash. 360-577-0544. www.thebroadway-gallery.com.

Tsuga Gallery Fine arts and crafts by area artists. Thurs-Sat 11–5. 70 Main Street, Cathlamet, Wash. 360-795-0725.

Workshop: “Art Speaks Volumes” Creative people are asked to make works of art out of used books for silent auction May 2 (5–7pm at LCC Rose Center) to benefit Library’s special programs. Hands-on problem-solving workshop led by local artist Susan Supola, April 15, 6–8pm. Longview Library Auditorium, 1600 Louisiana St.. Register at Main Desk. Info 360-442-5300 or email artspeaksvolumesLPL@gmail.com.

Clatskanie Bloom Gallery Artwork from the lower Columbia River region. Wed-Sat, 114. 289 N. Nehalem St. Clatskanie, Oregon.

Info: 503-308-9143. Clatskaniebloom@ gmail.com. clatskaniebloom.com

Southwest Washington Symphony 7pm Sat., April 18; 3pm Sun, April 19.

Lower Columbia College Rose Center for the Arts. 1600 Maple St., Longview, Wash. Free.

Community Arts Workshop/Alcove Gallery Free instruction and materials, 1–3pm, Mon–Thurs. 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.

Introduction to Fiction and Memoir Writing Workshops with local author Alan Rose. 8-week series, Mon 6–7:30pm.

Mar. 30 – May 18. Topics include character development, plotting, settings, dialogue, and more. Free, open to the public, pre-registration required; first come, first served basis. Call or email Elizabeth Partridge, 360-442-5321 or elizabeth.partridge@ci.longview.wa.us. Presented by Longview Public Library. and WordFest.

McThread’s Wildlife Exhibit through Mar. 30. Barbara Kempf Matkowski, April 1–29 exhibiting acrylic pouring. 1233 Commerce, Longview, Wash. 360- 261-2373.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

Outings & Events

Recreation, Outdoors Gardening, History, Pets, Self-Help Cowlitz County Museum First Thurs April 2 see details, page 32. Museum Open Tues-Sat 10am–4pm. 405 Allen St, Kelso, Wash. www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/museum.

Info: 360-577-3119.

Appelo Archives Center Historic exhibits, Naselle-Grays River area. 1056 State Route 4, Naselle. T-Fri 9–2, Sat 10–2, or by appt. 360-484-7103. appeloarchives.org.

In Their Footsteps Free lecture series. Sun, Mar. 15, “History of Powder Horns,” by Scott Morrison, Journeyman hornsmith; April 19, “The Louisiana Purchase and the World that Gabe Rise to It,” by Dr. James Armstead, professor. 1pm, Netul Room, Lewis and Clark Nat’l Historical Park, 92343 Fort Clatsop Road, Astoria, Ore. Free. Info: 503-861-2471. In Their Footsteps sponsored by the Lewis & Clark National Park Assn and the park.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Lunch & Raffle Tues, Mar 17. Rainier Senior Center starting at Noon. Raffle. Lunch $7, $5 for age 60+. 48 West 7th, Rainier, Ore..

503-556-3889.

Book & Gift Fair Sponsored by Friends of St. John, fundraiser for medical student scholarships. Items include household, gifts, books, music and more. Mar 17, 9–3; Mar 18, 8–3; Mar 19, 8–2. PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Café, 1615 Delaware St., Longview, Wash. Info: Kathy Davis, 360-751-1048.

45th Annual Quincy Grange Chicken Dinner April 5, 12–3pm, at the Grange hall, 78314 Rutters Rd., Clatskanie,Ore. Follow signs from Clatskanie 3.5 miles NE. $12 adults, ages 6-12 $5, under 6 free. Homemade goodness from the grange ladies, incl. dessert. Proceeds sponsor youth programs, scholarships, community services. Follow on Facebook at quincygrange321@outlook.com.

Ducks Unlimited Annual dinner/auction Sat, April 18, Kelso Red Lion, 510 Three Rivers Dr., Kelso, Wash. Doors open 5pm, dinner 6:30pm.Proceeds help promote conserving, restoring and managing wetlands. For ticket info and to purchase tickets: Barbara, 360-577-1365. Tickets: Single $65, Couple $95. Children are encouraged to attend.

Cares Campaign Fundraising Dinner for Community House on Broadway Mon, April 20, 5:30-7:30pm, Cowlitz County Event Center. Casual, family style dinner.

Silent auction featuring children’s art.

Dessert dash, success stories, live jazz combo. Tables for 8: $300. Individual tickets $40. Community House is a homeless recovery center. Community support helps families overcome barriers and change their future. Contact Julie Rinard at 360-747-1394 or juliear@ choblv.org.

“Help Our People Eat” Paint to Fight Hunger!

Fundraiser for HOPE of Rainier food pantry. Thursday, Mar. 19, 6–8pm, Rainier Eagles #4022. $45 ticket price includes all painting supplies, a $5 beverage voucher and guidance from Hope Wirta — local artist, speaker, writer and advocate for the food bank — and your original painting to keep! 60% of ticket sales go to HOPE’s food pantry.

Space is limited.

Buy tickets at Ticket Leap:

Painting by Hope Wirta

hopewirta.ticketleap.com/fundraiser-for-hope-of-rainier-food-bank/

or purchase at the door at the Eagles in Rainier.

KIDs’ Fish-In Martin’s Dock, Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Wash. Saturday, April 25, 8am–2pm, various time slots. Registration open for up to 434 participants, ages 5–14, mylongview.com. $10 fee includes fishing pole and gear kids keep. Info: 360-442-5400. Sponsored by Early Edition Rotary and Longview Parks and Recreation Foundation.

Royal Tea Party Sun, May 3, 1:30– 3:30pm, Youth & Family Link. Fundraiser/ silent auction benefiting Royal Family KIDS, a free summer camp for abused/ neglected children in local foster care system. Special appearances by princesses and superheroes; movie and story-themed tables. Guests under 13 are invited to dress as their favorite character. Tickets available online only, through April 18 (unless sold out earlier). No tickets at the door. $27/seat. Discounts available for early or multi-ticket purchases. Visit www.CowlitzCounty.RoyalFamilyKIDS. org or call 971-225-7352 for details and ticket info.

Annual Hospice Benefit Dinner Show Saturday, March 21, 6pm. By High Step Dance Academy. Cowlitz Expo Center, 1900 Seventh Ave., Longview,Wash. The show will feature High Step’s own awardwinning dancers and buffet style dinner.

Proceeds from ticket sales, raffle tickets and silent auction benefit Community Home Health and Hospice’s children’s grief program. Tickets $40, available through Mar. 18, 4-6 pm, Mon-Thurs at High Step’s Office, 3033 Washington Way, Longview, or by phone: 360-6360669.

Mt. St. Helens Club

HIKES

Hospice offers free End-of-Life program Living Fully Free series by Community Home Health & Hospice. Four topics aimed at preparing for end of life. Held in Conference Room A, Community Home Health & Hospice, 1035 11th Ave., Longview, Wash. Walk-ins are welcome.

Honoring Choices: Advanced Care Planning Mar 25, 3–4:30pm, with Senior Heroes 2019 Healthcare Professional of the Year, Linda Melton, as speaker. Walk through documents and steps needed to ensure an advanced care plan is properly prepared so a dying person’s choices will be honored when they are unable to make them.

“New Rules for End of Life Care,” A film from Barbara Karnes. April 15, 3–5pm. The film explains the difference between caring for someone who is recovering and one who is approaching end of life. American Hospice pioneer Barbara Karnes, RN, will hold a Q&A after showing this award-winning film.

Learn about Washington’s new burial option: Recomposition Aug. 16, 4–5:30pm. Starting May 1, Washingtonians may choose recomposition at end of life. Anna Swenson, from the first organization to offer this new burial option, Recompose in Seattle, will explain how compost burials work and answer any questions.

Make a Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will in 1 Hour with attorney Meredith Long. Sept.

10, 2–3pm. This working session will make planning an estate seem less intimidating. At the end of the hour, attendees will have completed a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will.

Schedule, page 34 Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 33

Miss Manners

from page 5

reminds you, however, that what you consider a threadbare and smelly old blanket may be, for others, a treasured memory that they are now lovingly passing down to you.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do you greet someone you know rather well when you encounter them in a shadowy situation where neither one of you should be, with people you shouldn’t be with? Just asking for a friend.

GENTLE READER: Please tell your friend that it is done with a half-smile, in which the lips move slightly but the cheeks do not. It means “I didn’t see you, and you didn’t see me.”

Miss Manners trusts that the two people are sneaking around to plan surprises for their spouses. Pleasant ones, that is.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A year ago, my husband and I met a couple with whom we thought we had enough in common to make a go of a friendship. We’ve come to regret the impulse.

Each time we’ve seen them has been a bit less enjoyable than the time before — for us. They either really like us or they are desperate for companionship (I suspect the latter), because they continue to try to make plans. I have delayed responding; I’ve said we couldn’t make dates they suggested and have not offered alternatives.

Longview-Kelso 2020-2021 Community Concert Association Sons of Serendip

America’s Got Talent finalists Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 3.00 pm

Sons of Serendip create beautiful music through the use of harp, piano, cello and voice. This Billboard charting quartet is gaining popularity since appearing on season 9 of America’s Got Talent as finalists. Their program is a fresh mix of emotionally expressive popular music, engaging stories, and audience participation. Musical serendipity. This Concert - Single tickets $25 Adults, $10 Students

2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT + SONS OF SERENDIP BONUS

Sultans of String

When I was young and single and didn’t care to go out with someone, I was taught that it was acceptable to simply say that I wasn’t “interested.” I’m pretty sure that’s not the thing to say in this situation, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to convey the message. I’d like to get past this without being unkind or being thought badly of, but I will accept the bad thoughts if I must. Is there something I can say, or should I simply ignore repeated attempts to connect?

What you can do is to stop inviting them and stop accepting their invitations. No excuses are necessary. Just “Oh, I’m so sorry, we can’t. Thank you for inviting us.”

Miss Manners is aware that many people believe that frank declarations are better than merely drifting away. No, they are not. This is not a divorce we are discussing, but merely the kind of adjustment of social life that happens all the time for many different reasons.

••• GENTLE READER: Sorry, but there is no decent way to say, “Now that we’ve (Please send your questions to Miss gotten to know you better, we realize that Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, you’re not very interesting.” dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

Wed, Mar 25 Warrenton Fish Dock and Dike Hike Learn about Oregon’s seafood and local fisheries at this easy guided walk around the commercial docks in Warrenton Marina with guide Amanda Gladics. Call Kathleen Hudson, 503-861-2802, by March 24 to join. Meet at 1pm at 2nd Street location in Astoria on Marine Drive to carpool.

Wed, April 1, 9am A mystery hike at the beautiful Lewis and Clark National Park. Meet to carpool at our usual spot in Astoria, west of Burger King on Marine Drive. Hike starts at 9:20am. Bring National Parks Pass. We will meet inside where this “mystery hike” will begin. There are some hills but we will take it easy for those who need a slower pace. Call hike leader Gail Sunderland (541 213-4793) by March 31 to join.

Membership is $10 for the year. Non-members may participate. All are welcome; dogs not allowed. For more info visit angorahikingclub.org.

Friday, October 2, 2020 - 7:30 pm

The Sultans of String are a genre-hopping passport of Celtic, flamenco, gypsy and Arabic rhythms that celebrates musical fusion with warmth and virtuosity. This amazing quartet excites audiences utilizing fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar and unstoppable grooves. Acoustic Strings Meet Electronic Wizardry.

Sweet Dreams: Mandy Barnett Sings Patsy Cline Sunday, November 1, 2020 - 3:00 pm

Mandy Barnett takes the audience on a sparkling journey performing Patsy Cline’s greatest hits together with other classic country and pop standards.

It’s a night of enchanting entertainment, celebrating the legacy of a country music icon and the great songs of our time as performed by one of today’s premier vocalists. Country Royalty.

Kubecca

Sunday, March 21, 2021 - 3:00 pm

Kubecca is a unique duo that brings together an acclaimed Broadway musical vocalist with a vibraphone/multiinstrumentalist virtuoso. The program consists of widely varied Broadway, classical, popular and country tunes and adds personality and an affinity for storytelling. From the stage, screen & radio, enjoy a fun-filled show for all. Two Knockout Performers in One Show.

Seraph Brass

Friday, May 7, 2021 - 7:30 pm

Seraph Brass is a dynamic brass ensemble drawing from a roster of America’s top female brass players. They present a diverse body of repertoire that includes newly commissioned works and well-known classics. Enthusiastic about education, Seraph Brass has developed strong relationships with universities all over the country. Brass with Class.

Performances at Lower Columbia College Rose Center for the Arts Tickets Available Online or at the Door Order by March 29 to receive the Early Bird discount: Early Bird Season subscription prices: Adults $85 • Students $30 • Family $200 Season prices after March 29: $100 Adult • $40 Student • $240 Family Single tickets $30 Adults; $10 Students For Information: Susie Kirkpatrick 360-636-2211

www.lkcca.org

34 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

TAKE A

HIKE

This friendly club welcomes newcomers.

For more info please call the hike leader or visit mtsthelensclub.org.

RT(round trip) distances are from Longview.E=easy, M=moderate, S=strenuous, e.g.=elevation gain.

with Mt. St. Helens Club Wed, Mar 18 Lake Sacajawea (E) Walk around the whole lake (3+ mi) or walk half the lake (1+ mile). Leaders: Trudy & Ed 360-414-1160.

Skamokawa. Great way to exercise on a Saturday morning with a good chance to see wildlife. Leader: Kim 360-431-5530.

Sat, Mar 21 Siouxon Creek (E/M) Drive 110 miles RT. Hike 4 – 8 miles with 800 ft. e.g. along a beautiful stream (it should be really full this time of year) with many waterfalls.

Leader: David 360-703-8738.

Wed, April 8 Mt. Tabor (E/M) Drive 104 miles RT to SE Portland. Hike 3.5-mile loop with 250 feet e.g. to the top of a 3 million-year-old butte inside urban Portland. Leader: Bruce 360-425-0256.

Wed., Mar 25 Lucia Falls / Moulton Falls (E) Drive 95 miles RT. Hike 4 – 6.5 miles with views of river and waterfalls. little e.g. Leader: John R. 360-431-1122.

Sun. April 11 Hummocks Trail Maintenance (E) Drive 100 miles RT. Hike 2.5 miles RT while trimming brush on club’s adopted trail. Leader: George W. 360-562-0001.

Sat, Mar. 28 Sauvie Island Bike Ride (E/M) Drive 90 miles RT. Bike 12- (or more?) mile loop on flat, rural roads through wildlife sanctuary. Views include Sturgeon Lake and Columbia River. Leader: Bruce 360-425-0256.

Wed, April 1 Longview’s Old West Side and History Tour (E) Walk approx. 4 miles with no e.g. through historic neighborhood, see many of Longview’s oldest homes with brief stops at several along the way where a guest will talk about the architecture and share stories of these historic homes. Leader: Jenny 586-872-8126.

Sat, April 4 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge to Skamokawa (E/M) Drive 60 miles RT. Hike 6.2 miles along the Columbia River from Julia Butler Hansen Refuge to the Duck Inn in

Sun, April 12 East Fork Lewis River Kayak (M) Drive 60 miles RT to LaCenter, paddle with Cowlitz River Kayakers. Need your own kayak. Leaders: Becky 360-560-4170, Karen 360-442-3884.

Wed, Mar 18 Lake Sacajawea (E) Walk around the whole lake (3+ mi) or walk half the lake (1+ mi). Leaders: Trudy & Ed 360414-1160.

Sat, April 18 Angel’s Rest / Devil’s Rest (M/S) Drive 130 miles RT. Hike 4.5 miles RT with 1,500 ft. e.g. to Angel’s Rest, or continue to Devil’s Rest for a total of 7.5 miles with 2,300 ft. e.g. See both burned and untouched areas from the Eagle Creek fire. Leader: Bruce 360-425-0256.

Featured Chef from page 29

a date night or slightly better fine dining restaurant, without being pretentious.” He’s added more variety, sauces and garnishes. “I want to take it from ‘fast casual’ to ‘casual fine dining.’”

A lot of people are migrating up this way from Vancouver and Portland, he noted. “I want to give them what they’re used to.”

Grimm said his favorite part of running Freddy’s, besides costing (to

calculate food cost in a restaurant to determine an appropriate menu price) is interacting with the crew.”

That, and,of course seeing customers enjoying the results of their efforts.

Freddy’s is seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays. They serve beer, wine, and cocktails from their service bar. and offer take-out food and a drive-thru window. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am–8pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am–9pm , and Sunday 9am–8pm.

•••

HOT PIZZA FRESH COOL

SALAD BAR THE BEST AROUND! IN ST HELENS • 2124 Columbia Blvd

503-397-3211

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 35

TRACY’S TRANSPORTIVE TAPAS

(these will take you to Barcelona!)

Patatas Bravas

4 medium Yukon gold potatoes 1 Tbl extra virgin olive oil (Spanish if you have it) Salt and pepper

Brava Sauce

2 Tbl extra virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 2 cloves garlic 1 bay leaf ½ cup tomato puree 1 Tbl smoked Spanish paprika 1 Tbl hot smoked Spanish paprika 1 Tbl all-purpose flour Salt and pepper Saute the onions and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until translucent.

Add bay leaf, paprika and flour. Stir constantly for two minutes. Stir in 1- ½ cups water and tomato puree. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and whisk for 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and add salt and pepper. Puree all ingredients in a blender.

REAL ESTATE TIPS

Peel the potatoes and rinse under cold water. Pat dry and cut into wedges or quarters. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet covered with foil and place in a preheated 400-degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Garlic Aioli

2 cloves of garlic 1 egg yolk ½ teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Salt While the potatoes cook, make the aioli and brava sauce. Place garlic, egg yolk, and lemon juice in a small food processor.

Slowly drizzle in the oil while the machine is running until you have a mayonnaiselike consistency. Season with salt.

by Mike Wallin

What to consider when you inherit a home

O

ver the next decade or two, members of the silent generation and older baby boomers will be leaving their children and grandchildren $68 trillion, most of which will be in the form of homes. “More than half of all existing-homes are owned by baby boomers and the silent generation,” according to Mark Fleming with First American Title.

Heirs have several choices as to what to do with these assets, including: • Move into the home and live in it • Rent the home to tenants • Sell the home Many of our clients decide to sell the home, splitting the proceeds among the heirs.

Last year when Louise Bishop and her brother Frank Becker inherited their childhood home in a Minneapolis suburb, they entertained all three options.

Going through their dad’s paperwork they learned he’d fallen behind on payments and the home was in preforeclosure. Working with the bank’s attorney, they secured a hold on the foreclosure so they could sell the home.

Sounds easy, right? There is a lot to consider when deciding to sell an inherited home...

• Will your pocketbook stretch?

• There’s often an emotional toll to pay • Take it a step at a time • Why an attorney?

• We aren’t lawyers The information we’re providing is from a layperson’s point of view. We are not lawyers and cannot dispense legal advice.

We can tell you that you’ll need professional legal and, perhaps, tax advice and assistance if you plan on selling an inherited home.

For the full article visit www.mikewallin.com https://mikewallin.com/real-estate-blog/what-to-considerwhen-you-inherit-a-home/

Mike Wallin

Five Star Broker, REALTOR

Feel free to reach out to us if with questions on this or any aspect of the home purchase process.

Highest Rated Locally 360-560-3636 CELL

michaelkwallin@gmail.com 1140-11th Ave., Longview, WA By appointment only

36 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Barcelona

from page 16

beef. This creative and incredibly tasty dish made my Top 10 list of inspired foods.

I switched gears on my last night in Barcelona and joined a tapas tour in the Gothic Quarter. Our Viator tour guide brought our group of eight to several ancient (100 years old or more) establishments where we dined on a series of delicious tapas, sips of vermouth and tasty desserts. The dishes ranged from flaming sausages to tender octopus. These dishes arrived on everyday serving platters and the tapas were tasty and equally satisfying (Patatas Bravas, above left).

Spectacular Things to See, Do I love to ride the Hop-on Hop-off buses in big cities as it is a fantastic way to get your bearings and make stops at the sights you find most interesting. Stops not to miss are the Basilica Temple (Sagrada Familia, photo, top of page 16), the botanical gardens (Jardins de Miramar), and Barceloneta, a neighborhood with one of Barcelona’s oldest and longest beaches, Sant Sebastià Beach.

La Rambla, a famous tree-lined pedestrian street, explodes with vibrant colors and delicious smells emanating

from the cafes and shops lining the street.

It separates the Gothic Quarter and El Raval. El Raval, a broad pedestrian walkway in a neighborhood with an eclectic mix of different nationalities, is lined with flower stalls and newsstands.

This path connects the Mediterranean Sea with modern Eixample.

I enjoyed meandering these streets during the day and felt perfectly safe walking them alone late at night.

Evening activities don’t begin until 10pm in most of Spain. After my tapas tour it was already late but I decided to attend a flamenco show. The show was expressive, consisting of guitar playing, songs and dancing with lots of stomping, clapping and intricate hand, arm and body movements. Watching the woman was exhausting as she continuously twirled her brightly colored dress.

Flamenco is a form of storytelling, and I noticed that the experience created a lot of emotion in the crowd. The show I visited was not a tourist exhibition but an event that the locals attend, and I saw tears in the eyes of many in the audience.

Barcelona is a fabulous place to visit whether you are a foodie, historian, artist, or traveler. Try one of my favorite tapa recipes and imagine yourself there.

•••

Raindance

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Astronomy

SKY REPORT

March 15 - April 20

A celestial treat April 3

B

By Ted Gruber Evening Sky Over the past month, several people have asked me about that bright “star” in the western sky. If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know that’s not a star, but the planet Venus. The bright planet becomes visible at twilight and remains visible until setting about 11:30pm in mid-March, and just past midnight by mid-April. Venus is the brightest object in the night sky other than the moon, and will even become very slightly brighter through early May. We’re in for a rare celestial treat in early April, when Venus passes through the Pleiades open star cluster. The Pleiades, also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters, is often mistaken for the Little Dipper, and is easy to see with the naked eye.

Venus appears closer to the Pleiades each night until passing through the cluster the night of April 3. Binoculars or a spotting scope aren’t necessary to view this event, but I’d definitely recommend using them if you can.

Morning Sky Mercury has returned to the morning sky, rising about an hour before sunrise in mid-March, but less than 30 minutes before sunrise by mid-April. Between the dawn sky and the fact that Mercury will stay quite low to the east-southeast horizon, spotting the innermost planet won’t be an easy task. The morning of

March 21 might present the best opportunity, when a crescent moon appears just below Mercury.

Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible in the southeast morning sky all month, but over the course of the month, the three planets change the order in which they rise. On March 15, Mars rises just after 4:30am, with Jupiter following a few minutes later and Saturn about 30 minutes later. On March 18, Mars and Jupiter rise at almost the same time, and starting that morning, Jupiter rises just before Mars. Then on March 29, Saturn begins rising earlier than Mars. So the order then becomes Jupiter rising first just before 4:00am, with Saturn and Mars about 20 minutes later. By mid-April, Jupiter rises just before 3:00am, Saturn about 20 minutes later, and Mars about 30 minutes after Saturn. All three planets remain visible until fading into the morning light.

The next few weeks provide some close encounters between the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The best of these occurs the morning of March 18, when all three planets appear clustered together, with a crescent moon positioned just below them. Mars then passes just below Jupiter the morning of March 20, and when Mars appears halfway between Jupiter and Saturn the morning of March 26, it marks the closest meeting of the three planets in 20 years. Mars appears just below Saturn the mornings of March 31 and April 1. Finally, on April 15 the moon passes just below Jupiter and then just below Mars the following morning.

•••

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.

Afraid to be left to your own devices?

I can help!

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Call or text: 360-270-0608.

PERRY PIPER PRODUCTIONS

BETELGEUSE IS SAFE (for now) But watch out for space junk!

By Greg Smith

etelgeuse is safe! It is brightening once again. This may have been a confluence of dimming cycles that created an intense dimming, plus a large cloud of dust and gas that was expelled by the dying star. The real answer is still unknown. This is new territory for astronomers, as they have never seen the last stages of a star before blowing up. This dimming and puffing out of dust and gas may be the first steps in this death sequence. For now, we will get the bright Betelgeuse back in the left shoulder of Orion again.

Spring is here; the stars show it Along with the warmer weather, shorter nights and Daylight Savings Time, we are getting the constellations that let the ancients know that planting time was upon them.

The constellation of Gemini (the twins), past its prime, in the high south-by- southwestern sky, is allowing the main spring star forms to take center stage in the upcoming months.

Cancer the Crab is now center stage. Though it is faint, and the three main stars are not very bright, all three are between 3rd and 4th magnitude of brightness. In the center of the three stars that form an upside down “Y,” is the open star cluster known as the “Beehive” M44 (it looks like a swarm of bees), best seen through binoculars. This cluster is “only” 577 light years away (closer than Betelgeuse) and is a delight to view.

Coming next is the constellation of Leo the Lion. It is easy to make out in the sky as the head is in the shape of a backwards question mark.

The bright star Regulus is of the 1st order of brightness used by the ancients (only 78 light years away). It lies on the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun and planets. It is here that the wise men saw the virtual eclipse of Venus and Regulus as they were searching for the new king of Israel. There are several somewhat bright galaxies that lie along the belly of the lion to be viewed in a telescope (M65,M66,M95,M96 all about magnitude 10, so a 4” or larger sized scope will be necessary to view them). The tail, Denebola, is only 66 light years away and of the second order of brightness.

The last of the spring constellations is Virgo the Virgin (or as I call her, the lazy princess). Here is located the largest collection of galaxies in the night sky. They seem to be loose jewels flung up off a necklace.

The careless Virgo takes center stage in the southern sky in May. A telescope is necessary to view these jewels of the Spring sky.

Look out for Space Junk Here is a trick for you. Use your binoculars to see if you can spot any of the hundreds of new small Internet satellites that have been launched.

They should be in along the path that the planets follow. I said some time ago that this was not a fully thought-out plan. Now many other astronomical organizations are reporting that these satellites are interfering with astronomical research. All this sky garbage is from Space X that touts being “green.” They just polluted the night sky.

They are far brighter than they were touted to be in the proposals to get permission to launch them. Hundreds more are planned and not only from Space X. There is already too much space junk in orbit around earth...Time to get off my soap box.

Get out and enjoy the Spring sky whenever you can.

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

Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 37

PLUGGED IN TO

the spectator

COWLITZ PUD

by ned piper Not even chicken noodle soup sounds good.

W

hen I woke up a few mornings ago with what felt like the beginnings of the flu, my first thought was that I had not gotten around to getting my annual flu shot.

My second thought was more frightening, given the most prominent story in the news these days, the spread of the Coronavirus.

I probed my mind as to where — if I had contracted the virus — I may have encountered it. We had gone to the Oregon Coast to stay for a few days in a friend’s lovely beach home. That

seemed an unlikely place to have caught the bug. And if so, why were Perry and Sue not coming down with it? Our young German visitor had arrived a few weeks earlier. He accompanied us to the beach. Could he have been infected on the plane from Germany?

He showed no signs of sickness, but then, he’s a healthy, robust young man, while I am of an advanced age — part of the most vulnerable on the planet. And I do live in Washington State, the state with the most Coronavirus victims.

My symptoms seem to mirror some of the bad virus’s symptoms.

I feel tired most of the time. Been fighting an incessant cough, though I have discovered that if I take constant sips of ice water, the coughing is eased. Before making that discovery, I coughed so much that my stomach and chest were wracked with pain. I take comfort in the fact that I don’t have a fever and I am taking a flu medicine prescribed by my doctor.

To be on the safe side, I’m keeping my distance from Perry and Sue. I have been doing a lot of reading, watching movies and occasional sports game, catching up on certain Netflix series and, of course, keeping up on the political news, wishing I hadn’t wasted my vote on Mayor Pete.

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Unfortunately, I have no appetite for food. Absolutely nothing sounds good to me. Who knows, maybe I’ll lose a few pounds.

That may be the silver lining to all of this. Another virtue: I have never, never washed my hands so frequently in my entire life.

Editor’s Note: Don’t worry folks.

At press time, he’s on the mend.

I can tell because his interest in food is returning. He’ll be back in circulation soon, albeit with the new hand-washing habit, something everyone should adopt.

••• Ned Piper coordinates ads in CRR, oversees its distribution, and brings the publisher breakfast in bed — except when he himself is sick in bed — a treat she appreciates and misses.

APRIL ISSUE ON THE STREETS APRIL 15

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Piano Lessons A great investment in yourself or as a gift

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(www.kaublepianostudio.com)

technique • theory • performance 38 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020

Featuring • People+Place, featuring The Tidewater Reach • Out & About Tracy Beard hikes Silver Falls • Alice Slusher on Gardening: Saving Seeds • Surprises!

Ad Deadline: May 25 Submission Guidelines, p. 32.

What is Cowlitz PUD doing for our earth?

By Alice Dietz As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we like to celebrate all that Cowlitz PUD does for our Earth. Not only are we lucky enough to be global leaders with our clean, renewable hydropower portfolio, there are so many other projects we do to enhance our contribution to a clean environment.

• Our Swift No. 2 Hydroelectric Project generates valuable carbon-free electricity for our rate payers.

• We are a strong steward of the Lewis River Basin, working to enhance aquatic and terrestrial resources which includes 525 acres of land that is managed specifically for wildlife.

• Want to get outside? Cowlitz PUD has an ADA accessible fishing pier located on our Swift No.2 power canal - just 3 miles east of Cougar, WA. • In 2020, Cowlitz PUD expects to receive roughly 300,000 MWh of renewable electricity from our shares of the Harvest Wind Project and White Creek Wind Project.

• Our Technical Services Building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) Certified!

• We recycle as much material as possible, including but not limited to the following: • Metals, used mineral oil, surplused transformers, used batteries, used fluorescent lighting tubes, used motor oil, used oil filters, spent antifreeze, and tires.

• We responsibly dispose of any generated Dangerous Waste.

• Finally, our OspreyCam now has two cameras and a microphone. The osprey should be arriving early April so make sure to join us in watching our 5th OspreyCam season! https://www. cowlitzpud.org/about/osprey-cam/ Visit our booth at the City of Longview’s Earth Day Celebration on April 18th from 10am-3:00pm at the Cowlitz County Regional Expo Center.

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

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Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020 / 39

40 / Columbia River Reader / March 15 – April 15, 2020