The Review, August 2015, Vol. 13, Issue 8 by Gloria Loughry

AUGUST 2015 • VOL 13, ISSUE 8 THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS, IT’S STILL…

NORTHWEST

THE MOUNT ADAMS SUMMIT FIRE LOOKOUT—A HURCULEAN FEAT

ere in the Northwest, folks who dedicate their lives to preventing forest fires are passionate about their calling. After all, they’re also protecting our homes, recreation areas, livelihoods, and lives, not to mention flora, fauna and scenic beauty. Those who choose to staff isolated fire lookouts are especially driven, opting to forego human contact, personal safety and many creature comforts for months at a time. And the optimal locations for lookout stations are usually about as far away from anything as you can get—one station in particular may not have been at the end of the earth, but you could probably see it from there. The June 1918 issue of Timberman magazine described herculean efforts by the U.S. Forest Service to build and staff a lookout station on top of Mt. Adams. Not in the foothills surrounding the mountain, not on a shoulder or flank of the mountain, but on the summit itself. “The North Pacific district of the Forest Service will this summer construct a fire lookout house on the topmost peak of Mt. Adams, at an elevation of 12,307 feet. This building, which will be the residence of a forest service employe during the three months of greatest fire danger in the forests, can be MAIN PHOTO:

Wow!

What a view!

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SW WASHINGTON HISTORY BY KAREN L. JOHNSON

placed well up in the list of human habitations at greatest heights…. “The work of transporting the four tons of building material to the top of Mt. Adams was begun last summer as soon as the snow pack was in condition for packing, and when the approaching winter turned the snow fields to blue ice which could not be traversed with safety the lumber and other material was cached a mile and a half from the peak and left. “The boards, cut to short lengths, with the other material, was freighted by wagons 70 miles to a point where it was transferred to mule back. Another transfer took it on the backs of human packers to the bottom of the snow line and there it was loaded on sleds. “By a long piece of heavy telephone wire running over a pulley wheel two sleds were arranged as counterweights. The loaded sled was drawn up the mountain by two men who pulled on the descending sled. Over each distance, ranging from an eighth to three-eighths of a mile according to the terrain, trip after trip was made until all the material had been transported. Then the pulley wheel was carried to a new height FIRE—cont’d on page 2

From the summit of Mt. Adams, the still-buried lookout station oversees an infinity of foothills. The gaily decorated post sports flags and bandanas left by mountain climbers. photo courtesy loomisadventures.com INSET: In a low-snowpack year, nearly the entire lookout station is visible. The original 12 x 12 structure is at the left. To the right are two lean-to’s tacked on by sulfur miners in the 1930s. photo courtesy national historic lookout register.

FIRE—cont’d from page 1

and the task begun all over again. “As many precautions as possible were taken to prevent accidents or loss of material. The sleds were provided with ‘dogs’ to stop them if the wire broke. Even with this safeguard the packers were always faced with the possibility that a sled, turned loose by a broken wire, would turn and start down the mountain side backward and unimpeded, to drop into the first crevasse. Extra lengths of wire were carried on each up trip which will be used for stringing the telephone line which will furnish the fire lookout with constant communication with forest service headquarters. “With only the final mile and a half of the mountainside over which the building material must be transported during the summer of 1918, it is expected that the house will be completed and anchored to the rocks so that the high winds will not blow it away, before cold weather.” The completed building followed the “D-6” Forest Service plan: a main room 12 x 12 feet, with a 6 x 6 cupola on top. Both the living room and the cupola were glassed on all sides, providing maximum views of the foothills and forests far below. A small oil stove provided heat and light for the always-vigilant lookout man. And the lookout stations served their purpose. “Similar lookout buildings have already been erected by the North Pacific district of the Forest Service on the topmost peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and a number of other peaks of less altitude in the Northwest. Their value has been demonstrated by the fact that fires have been reported at a distance of 55 miles by the lookout on Mt. Hood with sufficient accuracy to enable rangers to find them. The lookout on Mt. Hood, with an elevation of 11,225 feet, reported 56 fires in 1916 and 64 in 1917. In 1917 all but five of the fires between Mt. Jefferson and the Columbia River, a distance of 80 miles, were discovered and reported from the Mt. Hood lookout.” According to firelookout.com, the Mt. Adams lookout station took three years to build, and was staffed from 1922 to 1924, then abandoned—a lot of effort for a short lifespan. In the 1930s, miners came to the summit,hoping to extract sulfur from the volcanic vents, and added two FIRE—cont’d on page 3

story with a smaller peaked cupola.

service and former forest lookout sites register.

2 • THE REVIEW • AUGUST 2015

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Mt. Hood also sported a fire lookout at its summit. In this vintage photo, one side of the structure is exposed. The station on Mt. Adams was built to the same plan: a 12 x 12 bottom photo courtesy u.s. forest

WHAT’S HAPPENING

IN THIS ISSUE The Review — August 2015, Vol. 13, Issue 8

Cover: SW Washington 6 The Lewis River: History: Mt. Adams Fire Lookout Tower

By Cheryl Spaulding

3 What’s Happening

Around Town Over the Garden Gate By Cheryl Spaulding

4 Stepping Stones By Pat Stepp

5 Insects: So Many Bees!

By Nora Garofoli

Lake Merwin

By Karen Johnson

9 Religion:

All We Can Do

By Lori Anderson

11 Restaurant Review: Sushi Sakura

By Diva Gastronomique

12 Birds Galore:

Birds vs Cats: 1951

By Norma Brunson and Doug Schurman

All vaccines required for school are free for those up to age 19. Some providers may charge an administrative fee. Parents who can’t afford the fee may ask to have it waived. Families without a regular health care provider can receive free back-to-school vaccinations at the following locations. Please be sure to bring immunization records. Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Friday, Aug. 21, 3 – 6 p.m., Call (360) 566-4409 for appointment. Immunizations provided by Sea Mar. Free Clinic of SW Washington (Walk-in, uninsured children only), 4100 Plomondon St., Vancouver, First and third Wednesday, 5 – 7 p.m., (360) 313-1390 Hudson’s Bay High School—Go Ready! Back-toSchool Readiness Festival, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd.,

Letters to the Editor

WHAT’S HAPPENING Woodland’s Largest Banana Split! Woodland Care Center & Assisted Living is hosting the LARGEST BANANA SPLITin Woodland! Our annual event is scheduled August 26th at 2 p.m. located outside at 310 4th St. Woodland, WA 98674. There will be a live band for residents, family, staff, and community. Come one, come all! And bring a big spoon for the big split! This is an ice cream social to be remembered! This is something special we do for our residents and their families, but this year we’re inviting the local community to be a part of as well. We look forward to sharing this fun event with you! For more information contact Woodland Care Center at 360-225-9443. Free Back-To-School Vaccinations Available Throughout Clark County Vancouver, WA — As the new school year approaches, one of the most important things parents can do to get their kids ready is to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. Vaccinations protect children from many serious diseases and are required for school. Children who aren’t fully immunized may be sent home from school if a disease outbreak occurs. FIRE—cont’d from page 2

lean-tos to the cabin. Eventually the miners departed, too, leaving the station to the vagaries of wind and ice. A century after its construction, the cabin still shows up from time to time when the snowpack is low. TheForest Fire Lookout Associationreports that with the warmer weather of the last few years, the building is sometimes completely exposed during the summer months. Many thanks to my good friend Glen Comstock for sharing the 1918Timberman article, and to the folks at Forest Fire Lookout Association (firelookout.org), Former Fire Lookout Sites Register (firetower.org/ Lookouts), Forest Fire Lookout Page (firelookout.com) National Historic Lookout Register (www.nhlr.org), and Jason Loomis at LoomisAdventures.com.

Please call if you have questions: Phone: (360) 225-1273; web: www.reviewmediagroup.com; e-mail: info@ reviewmediagroup.com Physical address: 131 Davidson Ave., Suite AA; Mailing address: PO Box 244, Woodland, WA 98674 Deadlines: Please see our deadlines on our website at www.reviewmediagroup.com.

FDR & Now To whom it may concern,

ociology has stated that no society will survive without mores. It would be appropriate if this would apply to our democracy. We have lost the value and honor of what we do and how we pay for any item. This is particularly true with CEOs and ball players. On the other side we have a lack of money for education. Money was created for the medium of exchange and not for the control by the few for the containment of the many. Corporations have become so large they control congress and the economy by the power of money. Corporations have been given the freedom to move from one state to another and to any attractive city to locate their business by the states lowering taxes along with the addition of incentive packages. This is advantageous to the business, but a detriment to the general public. I believe that our taxation rules would be effective if our congress and president would enforce the system. We do not need all the lobbyist in our government at any time. We elected our congress but have no control over the lobbyists. Democracy would be better off without lobbyists buying their way at the city, county, state, or national government. I am sure the vast majority would want lobbyists eliminated, along with all the hidden riders that are attached to bills passed by congress. The American people should stand up and set a precedent to eliminate the lobbyists and power of money in elections and law making. Automation has eliminated many jobs for the laboring man and woman. A person sometimes works for a company over 30 or 40 years at an hourly rate and then is let go with no compensation. Automation is changing the work force every year and over time it will cost all of us our way of life.

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE ALL REAL ESTATE advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1978, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination”. The Review will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at 1-800-424-8590.

Circulation approx. 15,000 throughout Woodland, Kalama, Ridgefield, La Center, Cougar, Amboy, Yale, Fargher Lake, Battle Ground, Vancouver, and Kelso/Longview). Published monthly on the first of the month with Special Editions each year. Owner, Publisher, Editor: Gloria Loughry; Advertising Sales: Gloria Loughry, Cheryl Spaulding; Columnists/Guest Writers/Invaluable Helpers: Lori Anderson, Norma Brunson, Nora Garofoli, Tony & Cheryl Spaulding, Pat Stepp, Matt Coffey, Karen Johnson, and Guest Contributors; Printed by: The Gresham Outlook

PRAYER WARRIOR will pray for you. Give me a call if you have a need. 360-567-5146.

Unsolicited photographs and manuscripts are welcomed, but will only be returned if accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume and disclaims any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this publication. Reproduction is not allowed without written permission from the publisher. All material herein is copyrighted and may not be republished or distributed in any form whatsoever without express permission from the Publisher.

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Automation does not buy groceries, home appliances or cars. The worker buys everything which keeps the economy going. We have immigration laws in effect and they should be enforced. We do not need illegal immigration. We have 20,000,000 illegal Mexicans in our labor force and they send their money back to Mexico. This hurts our labor force and our economy. If they were needed, they could go through the regular immigration procedure. Inflation has worked poorly, why was it created in the first place? The gold and silver standard worked by giving the monetary system stability, leaving the gold standard just helped inflation and the bankers. Congress has the ability to give themselves a raise and to have a very good health plan. It seems it is in their best interest to provide for themselves. It would be nice if they could establish a good plan for everybody. Maybe the lobbyists are also controlling that. I have enjoyed three of Michael Moore’s movies: 1. Fahrenheit 911 (Bush should have visited the Minnesota Flying School.) 2. Capitalism, A Love Story. It seems congress does not approve of Michael’s theories. 3. Sicko. I understand the national Chamber of Commerce spent $80,000,000 fighting to keep the movie from being aired on national TV. That money could have paid for food and medical expenses for many Americans. I along with my three brothers fought in WWII for the American way of life. I do not agree with the present system of helping other countries fight their civil wars. Why not help our own people here at home? One of my brothers, who was in the Special Forces, gave his life for this country in WWII. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plans to put people to work (labor) and control the size of corporations and banks. At that time, labor unions still had power over large companies and corporations. FDR and his congress created the CCC, the PWA and the WPA to get the people working and money circulating. He also controlled price and wages which stabilized our economy. FDR controlled the banking system and the size of businesses and corporations. For this he was called a socialist. Obama on the other hand, saved the banks and corporations and his help to labor and the common person was weak or not noticeable. Competition is necessary to get prices and wages in control. When this balance is absent, you definitely need regulations. Social Security was created in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time which has been an excellent condition. Wall Street and the bankers have wanted to control it and thankfully congress and the president have remained in control. Sanders, Independent from Vermont, plans to run for president on the Democratic Party. He is called a socialist and so was Franklin D. Roosevelt. This is a good comparison and puts Sanders in the right position to be our next president. Cordially, Carl W. Mattila Woodland, WA

AUGUST 2015 • THE REVIEW • 3

over the

lthough gardening tasks for the Dog Days of summer (July 16th through August 11) typically results in a short list, one task remains paramount, especially this year with our hotter than normal and drier than usual summer: that of replacing the moisture in our parched soil by means of watering, irrigating, drenching, hosing down or whatever you want to call it. A little departure here: if you have wondered how the term Dog Days of By Cheryl Spaulding summer originated, the Greek and then the Romans first referred to the hottest part of summer as the dog days. The Romans referred to the dog days as diēs caniculārēs and associated the hot weather with the star Sirius. They considered Sirius to be the “Dog Star” because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog); this linkage first appeared in the Greek poem Phaenomena by Aratus (~310-260 BC). But, I digress. Besides watering, another important task is weed control. With the warmer weather weed seeds germinate faster and produce more seeds sooner. If your soil is dry, moisten the soil with some water before trying to remove the weed. Dry soil will hold onto those delicate roots causing them to break off as you are pulling them from the soil. Garden Hint: If you hear a little popping sound when you pull a weed you have left a portion of the weed root in the ground. Results: weeds grow back quicker. On cooler days take the time to remove weeds from those flower beds and add another layer of mulch to keep those pesky weeds at bay and to conserve the moisture that you are trying so desperately to replace in the soil. Be sure to water thoroughly in the early morning hours. (Watering overnight is said to encourage disease.) Deep watering encourages plant roots to grow longer so they are less likely to dry out. A good side effect of this is that, with longer roots, the plant is more firmly anchored in the ground. Shallow watering actually wastes water because the water never actually reaches the roots. Studies have shown water rapidly evaporates from the first inch of soil. And as we are in drought mode this summer, wasting water is not an option we should even consider. Speaking of drought let’s consider irrigation methods. For my lawn, an oscillating sprinkler is still my go-to means of covering large areas quickly. On the other hand all my vegetable and flower gardens are watered using soaker hoses, which is the best means for putting valuable moisture right where you want it. Of course if you have a drought resistant planting or a native plant garden you probably don’t have to water as often but the theory of deep irrigation still applies. Checking hanging baskets and containers is also crucial because they can dry out quickly. Check the soil by pushing your finger at least one inch under the surface of the soil to determine if there is adequate moisture in the soil. In really hot weather I water my baskets every two days and on more moderate days every three or four days. Oh, and by the way, while you are at it, take the time to deadhead. Removing spent flowers will help your plants to continue to flower longer. Another important thing to remember is to keep watering trees and shrubs that were planted just this spring. Maintain a strict watering schedule for at least the first year after new trees and shrubs are planted. Even if your newly planted trees and shrubs are rated as drought tolerant they need at least a year to put out new roots. Fall blooming bulbs can also be planted in August. Spring bulbs gets all the attention, to be sure, but there are some equally beautiful and easy to grow bulbs that bloom in fall

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4 • THE REVIEW • AUGUST 2015

Stepping Stones BY PAT STEPP

Pluto will always be a planet in my book. That’s because my book was published before Pluto was blacklisted by planetary scientists.” —Jarod Klintz

hen I was a kid the only Pluto I knew of was featured in Walt Disney cartoons at Saturday afternoon movie matinees. Later, I learned that Pluto was also the name of a planet that was the ninth planet from our sun. Later still, I found that Pluto was a mythical Roman god. Percival Lowell, an astronomer, who had first seen Pluto’s cosmic footprints in the wobbles exhibited in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune, had searched for the elusive planet for over ten years without actually seeing it. In 1930 Pluto was discovered at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona by Clyde Tombaugh, a fellow astronomer. The planets Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, all visible to the naked eye, were named thousands of years ago. The planets named after the invention of the telescope followed the ancient tradition of being named for the Greek or Roman gods. Neptune after the Sea god, Uranus for the earliest Supreme god, and, of course, Pluto for the god of the Underworld. At the 2006 International Astronomical Union Conference, new criteria were established in determining a planet. Pluto broke one of the “new rules” established there. Its orbit is so elongated it did not clear the neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto’s orbit overlaps the orbit of Neptune, its nearest neighbor. Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet. Sir Christopher Wren, architect and astronomer, had predicted the future in the 17th Century: “A time will come when men will stretch out their eyes. They shall see planets like Earth.” Today men and women are “stretching out their eyes” with cameras propelled to through space by rocket power. New Horizons, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration’s unmanned spacecraft blasted off January 19, 2006 to explore the Kuiper Belt, which includes Pluto. Traveling at 36,000 miles per hour, it passed the moon in just 9 hours and passed Jupiter a year later. By July 14th this year New Horizons had traveled 3.6 billion miles to send photographs of Pluto back to Earth. The technological advances involved in exploring the Universe to learn how it was formed has gained speed. It is exciting to see how much more is known about our universe than when I was growing up. My introduction to Outer Space was a television program called Space Patrol on Saturday mornings. The production values improved and by the time the original Star Trek aired, the sets looked more like what I imagined the interior of a space ship might look. As space science fiction was entertaining us, space science itself was coming of age. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched a manned spaceship that landed men on the moon. Hopefully, we will continue “to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Way past Pluto. The dormant season for fall-blooming bulbs is summer. Plant them in late summer as soon as they’re available. Some bulbs, like the autumn crocus, send up their leaves in spring and flower in fall. Usually, these bulbs spring to life within a few week of being planted. Garden Hint: don’t forget to mark the spot where they are planted so you don’t forget them and plant something over them. Either way the flowers will arrive on schedule. Iris are now in the dormant stage and it’s time to dig, divide and transplant. I use a potato fork to gently pry the Iris rhizome from the soil. Once out of the soil I wash off the remaining dirt with a hose, and using a sharp knife I remove the attachments, discard anything that is mushy or too small to be productive and if the ‘mother plant’ is old I discard that as well. I then remove any old bloom stalks, any brown or yellow leaves and trim the remaining green leaves to about six inches. Newly trimmed rhizomes are then planted in their area which has been amended with composted horse manure, at least 3 to 4 inches apart, making sure the top surface of the rhizome is level with the ground surface. Your ONLY Woodland-Area Feed Store! Now is also the time to start your fall and winter Why drive 1/2 hour or more? Shop local and save! vegetables. Plant starters or seeds of green onions, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and winter cauliflower directly into the garden early in August. And lastly enjoy the harTWO BAGS OR MORE • ASK ABOUT SPECIAL PRICING vest of your homegrown • EXPIRES 8/31/2015 fruits, vegetables and • 25 & 50 LB. BAGS herbs.

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—Happy Gardening!

den Insect ar s G

here are so many types of bees busy in my garden in summer. There are the well known honey bees and several types of bumble bees, but there are also resin bees, leaf cutter bees, beautiful emerald green sweat bees and others who are known as mining bees. All these bees are important additions to the pollinating departments. Without these o ST K oFOvLI additional helpers OR n ow andGL YA honey bees would be RO ND A PHOTO S BY NORA even more overworked or maybe I should say we would be even more worried about the fate of the honey bee as helpers for our crops. My bee blocks had to come down off the eastern house eves recently so the house could be painted. I have been able to see them better where I have them now. I hadn’t realized how busy they can get. There have been many small solitary bees busily filling almost all the drilled holes with food packets and an egg to provide worker bees for next years crops. It seems like the main bees filling the little holes are probably leaf cutter bees. The little

SO MANY

Bees

plugs look like they are made of chewed up leaves as they have a dark green color to them. These little bees are mainly black and white and are about one third of an inch long. They gather their pollen grains on the underside of their abdomen on what is called a scopa or pollen brush. It looks like there are little hairs in between the segments of their abdomen. Other bees have pollen baskets on their back legs. As they gather the pollen they often are quite covered with it. They really get into their work! There are about 140 varieties or species of leaf cutter bees who live in North America above Mexico. If there are no bee blocks for these different types of solitary bees they have a variety of other places they use. Some types make their nursery in the ground others use hollow sticks such as old raspberry canes or small sumac sticks. Even old holes made by wood boring beetles will work. The hole I have in my shovel handle for hanging it up was even used by mason bees one year. Leaf cutter bees line their compartments with neatly cut circles or crescents of leaves or even flower petals. They form these into tubes for each little room or cell for an egg and its food packet. The egg hatches out and BEES—cont’d on page 8

TOP:

This view of this little bee shows her scopa on the underside of her abdomen which is covered with pollen. In the other view she is also covered every where else with pollen from her efforts to get the nectar out of this poppy flower.

LEFT:

This is another species of solitary pollinator which has the pollen baskets on its back legs. They look like they must be nearly full.

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AUGUST 2015 • THE REVIEW • 5

THE LEWIS RIVE

Lake Merwin &

ABOVE:

Timeless local icon, the nest atop the Green Bridge.

or the Lewis River, Merwin Dam is the final delay. Once captured by the Swift Reservoir, the waters of the Lewis begin an obedient, plodding march through four hydrological power projects until they can escape at Merwin Dam 74 miles downstream. Afterwards, the waters are freeto find their own way to the Columbia River. Chronologically, Merwin was the first of the Lewis River power projects when it was constructed in 1931. Merwin Dam contributes 136 megawatts of electrical capacity towards the total 510 megawatts produced on the Lewis. In contrast to the earth-fill construction styles found at the Yale and Swift projects, Merwin Dam sports the classic concrete arch design that we often rightly consider feats of engineering. In fact, you can think of Merwin Dam as a scaled-down, local replica of Hoover Dam,which sits a thousand miles away on the Nevada-Arizona border. Merwin Dam creates Lake Merwin, a 4,040 acre reservoir. Sourced from headwaters high on Mt. Adams, Lake Merwin collects the drainage of not only the Lewis River Valley, but also a significant portion of the southern Gifford Pinchot. The total catchment area of Lake Merwin is an impressive 731 square miles. Lake Merwin, with three separate boat launches, and close proximity to Woodland, is a playground for large populations of boaters and fishermen. Particularly in the summer season, the restless, motor-powered recreation challenges any effort to feel the area’s natural rhythm. If your goal is to understand and experience the land, then it is

6 • THE REVIEW • AUGUST 2015

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ER WATERSHED

& Merwin Dam

ABOVE: The Green Bridge. I was pleasantly surprised to find this new addition sitting to its left, a metal staircase makes for an easy put-in for the Lewis. LEFT: The goal; Canyon Creek’s confluence with the Lewis River. Mountain stream meets the tamed Lewis.

wise to visit Merwin when silence and solitude permit the immersion required. I failed in this regard, and spent more time ducking wakes than watching ducks. While weekdays are an obvious choice, cooler weather and a sunrise start will also help. One bridge crosses the Lewis at Merwin. State Route 503 uses a single-lane, cablesuspension structure, known as the Green Bridge to locals, to cross the Lewis River near the eastern tail of Lake Merwin. For most of my life I have crossed that bridge; waiting for opposing traffic to pass, noting the progress and regress of the eagles’ nest on its northern tower, and wondering what it would be like to paddle below. Recently, I finally found out. A newly graveled, apparently official, parking area sits on the southeastern corner of the Green Bridge. To my surprise, I also found a newly installed stairway leading from the parking area to the southern shore of the lake. From the parking area, tt is a straightforward matter, albeit with a fair amount of effort, to portage a smaller kayak down to the water’s edge. Pause after your put-in at the Green Bridge, no hurry here. Look north across the Lewis, and into the fir forest on the opposite shore. An osprey nest sitsjust uphill from the waterline. While I paused here for a few minutes, a pair of osprey physically competed with an eagle for the airspace above this small patch of Washington woods. Paddle slowly upstream towards Yale Dam. As you progress east, the river channel WATERSHED—cont’d on page 8

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AUGUST 2015 • THE REVIEW • 7

MERWIN—cont’d from page 7

narrows. I was struck with the juxtaposition of rocky ridge spurs jutting into the flat, placid Lewis. These are the spurs that the elk prefer. I have spent many wet days pursuing cervidae prints up such thigh-busting slopes. On Merwin, however, I simply floated past those slopes, and enjoyed the sun. Continue east along the narrow section. On a sunny, spring day, an interesting scene will emerge; flat emerald water, short, craggy cliffs topped by fresh wildflowers, and a canopy of evergreen forest to filter the light. Merwin Dam’s impounded water creates an elevated, waterline perspective akin to floating past mountain ridges. The narrows end abruptly, at a float-barrier that prevents boaters from approaching Yale Dam. At the barrier, turn right and paddle on another half mile or so until you reach the mouth of Canyon Creek. As you swing southwest into Canyon Creek, note the massive, monolithic rocky slab that forms the creek’s northern shore, dividing Canyon Creek from the Lewis River. The Canyon Creek side of the slab slopes uniformly down to an abrupt intersection with the water line.When MERWIN—cont’d on page 9 TOP LEFT:

The entrance to the narrows, the beginning of the Merwin Reservoir. LEFT: One of the most peaceful portions of Merwin. An opening in the topography creates a pseudo lake-within-a-lake. A great place to take a break and watch nature. The Green Bridge is in the near distance.

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BEES—cont’d from page 5

the larva feeds on the food packet as it grows into its adult form. Mason bees are among the varieties of solitary pollinators that emerge early in the spring. They work the early blooming fruit trees and other plants, often when it is too cold and wet for honey bees. Mason bees are used similarly as honey bees often are to pollinate our crops. We make bee blocks for them that they load up with eggs and their food packets. We carefully wait until the babies in these blocks are at a growth point when they can be safely moved without endangering them by jostling them off their food packets and then these blocks are stored in special sheds until the appropriate time next spring. These sheds the blocks are then transported to the selected orchard or crop field as needed. Alfalfa Leaf cutter bees are used this way for better crops of alfalfa. I can tell which holes the resin and polyester bees have used by the plug that is in place in the block. That plug looks like wax or plastic. It is usually light in color, too. Polyester bees even go so far as to line each little nursery room with a plastic like film to prevent the food packet from becoming contaminated by fungus of other things that may cause it to spoil. They secrete this special organic plastic from glands in their abdomen. Some varieties of polyester bees tend to build their nest or nursery tunnels in the ground. Other bees use decayed logs or wood. Some types use shredded plant fibers to line their soil tunnels with and are known as cotton or carder bees because of this behavior. Some species of these

8 • THE REVIEW • AUGUST 2015

solitary pollinators prefer sandy soils which they then glue the larger grains together to form their nursery cells for the egg and it food packet. Again I am amazed at the many ways these small creatures manage to find to deal with the tasks laid out before them. And that is just in my little yard and garden. I am excited to see what else I can learn about out there as I also have fun growing the pretty flowers and yummy vegetables.

In this bee block there are several kinds of plugs some even seem to be including raspberries in the mix. Mason bees plugs are the light brown ones made of dirt and the other ones are probably made by leaf cutter bees. They have the green color and the reddish color to them.

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MERWIN—cont’d from page 8

viewed from its eastern end, the slab is a great illustration of uplift geology. Canyon Creek is a significant watershed in its own right. Originatingat Zig-Zag Lake, just west of Cougar Rock in the middle of the Gifford Pinchot, Canyon Creek flows past many high peaks in the south Washington Cascades. As with Siouxon Creek, the Lewis River, and the Wind River, Canyon Creek is one of the dominate features of the Gifford Pinchot. As you paddle up the Canyon Creek inlet, watch rapids, river rock, and steep slopes replace placid reservoir water. In a few hundred yards you will experience the transition from a tamed man-made lake to an unkept, rough mountain river. Lake Merwin is the final stage in civilization’s pacification of the Lewis River. You can still experience the original pulse of our land before man, however. With patience and a different perspective, the inspired paddler will find that Merwin Reservoir is yet another opportunity to explore the character of our local river.

LEFT:

High country ridge meets water’s edge where the man-made Merwin intersects with ancient geology. RIGHT: Your first sight after the put-in on Merwin. An osprey arrives at its home. WHAT’S HAPPENING—cont’d from page 3

vaccine exemption rate is even higher at 7 percent, and ranges from 0 to 43 percent in local schools. “This is concerning because many diseases require high vaccination rates to ensure there’s enough widespread immunity in the population to protect others who have not developed immunity or are unable to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Melnick. For a list of vaccination requirements in Washington State, visit www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/ Schools/Immunization/VaccineRequirements. For additional information, see www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents and www.vaccineinformation.org/. Second Sunday event at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse: “Traditional Technology Day” Where: Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642 When: August 9, 2015 12 p.m.– 4 p.m.: Various traditional technology demonstrations and hands on activities including: • Carving, Weaving, and Native Art Design Demonstrations by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Lifeways students • Cordage Making • Atlatl Throwing • Friction Fire • Flintknapping 2:00 pm: Naturalist Led Hike “A Walk Through the Oaks” Cost: Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle You can also check out the ample wildlife watching opportunities on the River ‘S’ Unit Auto Tour Driving Route. Check the Friends website ridgefieldfriends.org for maps of Refuge trails, or contact Plankhouse Director Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov, or call (360) 887-4106. For wheelchair access to this event, please contact Sarah prior to the event date. FOLK Library Book Sale Friends of Kalama Book Sale coming August 21st from 9 am to 4 pm at the Kalama city hall council chambers –320 N 1st street. Come and replenish your supply. Hardbacks are $1, paperbacks 50 cents. There are many children books and some special books, CDs and tapes. Cowlitz County Sheriff Recruiting For Reserve Deputies The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is currently accepting applications to join the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Reserve Unit. In order to apply to become a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, high school diploma or G.E.D., and pass a basic physical and written test as well as an in-depth background investigation including criminal history and oral

interview process. Applications must be completed and submitted by Oct 1, 2015. Applications can be picked up in person at the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. For additional information, contact Deputy Jordan Spencer at spencerj@co.cowlitz.wa.us Application period now open for 2016 Historical Promotion Grants The Board of County Councilors is accepting applications from local organizations for grants that encourage historic preservation and programs, including preservation of historic documents. Applications for 2016 Historical Promotion Grants must be received by the Historical Preservation Commission by late September. The commission will review applications in the fall and submit recommendations to the Board of County Councilors in November. Grants will be awarded in December and available in January 2016. Interested people can get the application online at www. clark.wa.gov/planning/historic/commission.html or by contacting Jacqui Kamp in Community Planning at (360) 3972280 or jacqui.kamp@clark.wa.gov. Deadline for submitting completed applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Applications must include an original signature, so electronic copies will not be accepted. Applications may be delivered to Community Planning on the third floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. or mailed to: Clark County Community Planning, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98666-9810, Attn: Jacqui Kamp For questions about the grant process, please contact Jacqui Kamp of Community Planning at (360) 397-2280 or jacqui.kamp@clark.wa.gov or Axel Swanson, senior policy analyst, at (360) 397-2232 or axel.swanson@clark.wa.gov.

Entertainment: Singing, Israeli dancing with lessons, live music by Avi Haviv and the Hora Tzigane Klezmer Ensemble. A view of Jewish culture: Guided tours of our Sanctuary, Shofar blowing, learn the dreidel game and more. Crafts Area: See many displays of jewelry, clothing, metal and glass works and more. Other attractions: Red Cross Bloodmobile (all donors receive a coupon for a Hebrew National hot dog and drink.) Clark County Food Bank Donation Center. (All donors receive a dreidel game.) Clark County Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle and deputies. We’re kid-friendly—there will be a giant slide and other kid’s activities and gifts. Admission is free and there is ample free parking. Please come and enjoy a Jewishly fun day at BAGEL ON! For further information please contact Alan Granat at (cell) 516-302-7506 or 360-896-8088 or bagel-on@jewishvancouverusa.org or visit our web site, wwww.bagel-on. com. AGLOW meeting summer schedule An AGLOW prayer and worship meeting will be held Monday, July 27, at 7:00 p.m. Call for location, 360-907-2882 or 360-694-6914. Vancouver AGLOW meetings will resume in September. Square Dance Meeting! The R Square D Square Dance Club meets September through May on the 2nd Friday and 4th Saturday of the month at

BAGEL ON! A Jewishly Fun Fair Coming August 23rd to Vancouver! Congregation Kol Ami, SW Washington’s only Reform Jewish Synagogue, presents BAGEL ON!, a Jewishly fun WHAT’S HAPPENING— cont’d on page 10 fair showcasing food, culture, entertainment and fun. The fair, one of the first of its kind in the Vancouver-Portland area, is on Sunday, August 23rd, from 11am – 5pm at Kol 233 Davidson Ave. Woodland, WA 98674 Ami’s synagogue at 7800 NE 119th Street in • Carpet • Ceramic Tile • Installation supplies Vancouver. • Pad • Countertops • Hardwood Highlights of the day • Vinyl • Marble, Granite, Stone • Laminate Flooring will include: Jewish food Sales & Installations such as bagels, lox, cream Locally Serving cheese, corned beef, chalowned and (360) Woodland lah, kosher hot dogs, operated since 1994 knishes, etc.

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“…Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” —Proverbs 3:21-24 NASB

roblems are a natural part of life. Learning to successfully deal with problems, however, is not. Dividing problems into manageable sizes so we can solve problems is a skill we (should) start to learn at a very young age. When my children were young and overwhelmed with whatever problem was overwhelming them (having to clean their messy room, for example, before Dad got home) I would sit them down and explain how to break their problem into smaller chunks. “You do all that you can do and I will help you with the rest. Start by picking up all your books. Then when you are done come let me know and I will give you another job.” I would tell them as I would tackle the tougher stuff. Now that they are older my advice for them, when stuff is overwhelming, is couched in more quirky-Lori terms. “Do all that you can do about all that YOU can do it about. Let God take care of the rest.” Oh, to only have a messy room to let God take care of these days! Ah, well… it is what it is. It’s funny, when we tackle our problems, big or small, methodically like, say, we tackle housework, life becomes a bit more manageable. Yes! Like housework, it’s not much fun, and it never seems to stay “taken care of”, but there’s a process and an order that helps to calm us. Stack the dishes, wash the dishes, rinse, dry, and put the dishes away. Voilà! The dishes are done. Then focus on cleaning the counters, wiping the cabinets, sweeping the floor, then mopping. Voilà! The whole kitchen is done. Messy kitchens are one thing, I know, but this works. One time the kids and I were faced with so many problems we were paralyzed. We had just experienced devastating emotional trauma, too, and could not deal with anything. During that time, we needed help thinking things through, so we called in what I call “The Calvary” (Godly, knowledgeable, and wise friends). We asked them to come over and prioritize things for us and break things down into manageable pieces for us to work on. Breaking things down into manageable pieces does not come naturally it seems. (Once learned, it is a skill that can easily be forgotten, too, like it was when we experienced our trauma.) In the old days, it didn’t take

All WE CAN DO BY LORI ANDERSON

long for me to realize my kids had a very hard time when I would say general things like, “clean the kitchen”. I had to learn to break the job down for them… instruct them a step at a time… stack the dishes, throw out the trash, wash off the counters, unload the dishwasher, load the dishwasher, etc. Most of the time, I had to tackle the toughest jobs myself. Now of course I can say, “Clean the kitchen!” and they know what I mean. They have learned to automatically break things down into manageable pieces. Still, I have noticed if things are really overwhelming in their lives, my kids’ problem solving skills regress and I have to intervene to help them break things down again. (Now they are even able to intervene to help me break things down when I am feeling really overwhelmed!) Intervention is what this country needs now I think! Life is really overwhelming to many people these days. It’s easy to understand why. In the middle of a crisis it’s easy to lose focus and lose problem-solving skills. We need the wisdom of the Bible now more than ever. Personally, it is at times like these that I turn to my Bible the most. Yes, I read it for enjoyment and comfort but when I am experiencing difficulties, I devour my Bible! I’ve learned the Bible helps me prioritize our family problems. It methodically helps put things into perspective which helps relieve feelings of anxiety and helps us get back on track doing all that we can do about all that we can do it about. You didn’t think I came up with all the stuff I write about myself, did you? NOPE! I cannot take the credit. Any good thing in my life comes from God. (The messes are my own doing!) I cry to God regularly for help and wisdom and turn to the Bible so much my Bibles are WORN OUT! Anyway, since I wrote about the Bible’s relevance to our lives last month, I decided it could be helpful to expound and find out practical things the Bible has to say about the things we face today.

WHAT’S HAPPENING—cont’d from page 9

7:30 p.m. plus, 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm for mainstream with rounds. There’s a $5 admission. Craig Abercrombie is the

Caller and Lonnie Sykes, Cuer. They meet at the Kelso Senior Center, 106 NW 8th Ave., Kelso, WA. 98626. For more information go to www.r-square-d.info or call 360-636-1993. La Center Library Book Sale: The sale happens August 22nd from 9 to 4 and August 23rd from 10 am to noon at the LaCenter Community Library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Road, La Center. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the LaCenter Library.

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Enjoy the 50th Annual SW Washington Mineralogical Society Rock Show! The Southern Washington Mineralogical Society will be celebrating their 50th annual rock show this year! We are a non-profit organization and have been the Longview/Kelso Rock and Gem Club for over 75 years. The show will be held September 19th & 20th, 2015 at the Castle Rock Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, Washington. Show hours are Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Our show will have member display cases, a country store, door prizes, gem dig, spin table, vendors, food, black light display, silent auction and a voice auction that will be held on Saturday at 3pm. Local sand sculpture artist, Rocky Courser, will build a sand castle for us! Admission and parking are free. The local school with the most attendees at our show will win a museum quality dinosaur fossil valued at $1,100. For more information contact Chuck Sonner at (360) 785-3909 or chucksnnr@yahoo.com.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING—cont’d on page 11

10 • THE REVIEW • AUGUST 2015

How are we supposed to deal with or prepare for economic calamity? Another Depression? Inflation? Disasters? Wars? What does the Bible have to say about gold? What about storing up food? Defending ourselves? How are we supposed to prepare if this really is the beginning of really hard times? Can we prepare? Should we prepare? What exactly does He expect from us? What does He want us to do? How does He want us to live and how does He want us to respond to the stuff that happens in life? These are things I am seeking wisdom on. I want to find out what the Bible has to say to us on these issues. I want us to learn to automatically break things down into manageable pieces so WE can do ALL that God wants us to do and so we can KNOW what God wants us to trust Him with. So stay tuned and if you have some issues you would like to talk about or find out more about, write to me and send it to editor@lewisriverreview.com and put “For Lori” in the subject line so the editor can get it to me. As I am calling in the “Calvary” I will ask about your concerns as well! “So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. —Proverb 3:4–6 NASB

Wha� i� � S��n�?

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hat is a saint? The death of Mother Teresa in 1997 sparked a resurgence of interest in saints. Many of her admirers have pressed the Roman Church to expedite her consideration for sainthood. Born Agnesa Gonxha Bojaxhiu— Mother Teresa indeed did an astounding work in helping the poor in India. She exhibited what most think of as a saintly life. What makes someone a saint by Biblical definition? The apostle Paul addressed an epistle “To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1b). No less than 9 times in that letter does Paul refer to his readers as “saints.” The New Testament consistently indicates that those who are true followers of Christ are saints. That would be me and you if we are those followers. So why the problem of the unsaintly actions of some Christians? The answer lies in living or not living out who we are. If you are in God’s family, you don’t have to live like the devil’s offspring anymore than a wealthy person would have to live in a shack. You can begin right now to accept and live your special designation with God’s help. If you keep in mind your position as a saint, you will find strength in Christ to be faithful and avoid unsaintly living. You’ve entered the home of the Circuit ‘Riter. Come on in and sit a spell, put your feet up—make yourself at home. We’ve been waiting for you. Walk through a delightful series of homespun devotional messages with author, Michael Ullrich. Visit his site at http:// www.in-his-steps.com/

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f you are looking for a very traditional Japanese sushi restaurant where the atmosphere is hushed and the waiters speak in somber tones don’t go here. But if you are looking for a bright and fun atmosphere complete with good Japanese food and where you are met with a smile you should visit Sushi Sakura, 1310 Ocean Beach Highway, Longview, Washington, 98632. Now that Japanese food is becoming more main stream and less exotica in Longview, the need for a really good-quality Japanese restaurant has arrived and Sushi Sakura is fast becoming the forerunner. Over the last year Sushi Sakura has become the goto-place for quality Japanese food and especially sushi, the creation of which is an art. There is no fussiness here, none the stodginess which often characterizes a contemporary sushi restaurant. Yet the quality of a high-end eatery remains in evidence. Located in a small strip mall just off of State Highway 4 (better known as the Ocean Beach Highway) in Longview, Sushi Sakura is a treat for the eyes and the tummy. We were greeted at the door and shown immediately to our table. Our waiter was polite, friendly and very attentive. The décor inside Sushi Sakura is light and lively with the sushi bar located at the front while the remaining space inside the restaurant occupied by tables and booths.

Dining P leasure 5 FOR YOUR

What we tried: It took a while to search though four different menus to make our selection but we finally decided to begin with a Tempura appetizer, $5.95. It arrived piping hot and quite quickly, I might add. In fact so quickly that I suspect the tempura may have been pre-cooked and reheated in a microwave. The coating did not seem to have the crispiness usually associated with fresh-outof-the-fryer food, none-the-less the taste was BY THE DIVA GASTRONOMIQUE good. Our Nigiri arrived next, Sake/Salmon ($3.95), Hamich/Yellowtail ($4.50), Unagi/ BBQ Freshwater Eel ($4.25), Tai/Snapper ($3.25), Tobiko/Flying Fish Roe ($3.95) and the Lady Roll ($11.95). Again, the food arrived very quickly, which G V I E W, WA was amazing to me. Sushi chefs must have the precise hands of a surgeon and the eye of an artist. All that slicing and dicing usually takes a while. Again the presentation was beautiful and the fish deliciously fresh. However, I did notice our sushi chef chose not include a tiny dab of wasabi between the rice and the fish. So be warned if you like a little extra kick with your sushi you can always add it to your soy sauce, Of course the jury is still out on whether to dip or not to dip your sushi in soy sauce before eating. It’s your choice really. It depends on how traditional you want to be. And as to whether or not you eat each piece of sushi in one bite or two is also up to your personal preference. I found the portions at Sushi Sakura very generous and a bit difficult to eat in one bite. We also tried the lunch bento ($7.95) which is a quick and easy way to get your Japanese food fix and be back on the road promptly . Again the portions were generous and the food delicious. Sushi Sakura, 1310 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview Washington, 98632, 360-232-8856. Open daily 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Sushisakura longview.

Sushi Sakura homes in on Longview

WHAT’S HAPPENING—cont’d from page 10

Community Center located at 782 Park Street. For more information contact Delores at 360606-6434. TOPS #1489 Meets in Kalama The Kalama Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group meets every Tuesday at 9 am for their weigh in and meeting at the Kalama Methodist Church at 111 N 2nd Street. It is a low cost, educational support Group. Any questions call Debbie at 360-6735183.

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TOPS #1056 Meets in Vancouver TOPS WA 1056 Vancouver, meets every Wednesday at the Shiloh Fellowship Church located at 10709 SE 10th Street Vancouver, WA 98684. Weigh in begins at 8:15. The meetings are 9:30 to 10:30. Any questions, please contact Barbara Smith at 360-901-4634 or at Barbarassouthern breeze@gmail.com. SW Washington Gold Prospectors Meet! The SW Washington Gold Prospectors club meets every 2nd Sunday every month at 1:00 p.m. at the Minnehaha Grange Hall at 4905 NE St. Johns Road in Vancouver, WA. For more information contact Steve at 971-212-5996 or go to www.swwgoldprospectors.org or see their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Swwgp.

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do believe that I have talked about the many and varied cats we have in our area but want to give you all a little more input on this problem (when it comes to birds) so hold on please. The following is from an article written by an old friend who gave me permission some time ago to use any or all of his interesting stories when ever I needed to. Mel Rees was his name.

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ing skills, coupled with an arsenal of sharp claws and teeth, make the nests of ground-nesting birds an easy target. While young or half-grown birds are the usual victims, they have been known to kill adult birds like pheasants. There have been various ideas proposed as to how to tell a wild house cat from the domestic variety. Some so called experts say that when a cat is farther than 300 feet from house or barn, he’s become a wild one. I don’t believe this for I have seen our cats well outside this perimeter—and they certainly weren’t wild. Generally speaking, however, a cat does not roam too far afield unless he is up to some mischief. This is the human point of view—not one shared by the cat. In reality, the blame isn’t all the cat’s. Man must bear his share. It is a common practice for people who suddenly find themselves blessed with a litter of kittens, to feel too “tender hearted” to kill them—and too scotch to pay the humane society to dispose of them. They just take a short ride into the country and dump them out beside the road. In the woods surrounding my home there are many of these “orphan” cats. Some time back I heard my dog photo courtesy of wikipedia singing his “treeing” song. He had treed the largest cat I have ever seen, high in the branches of a pine tree. As I watched the cat, he snarled repeatedly, showing a set of long fangs. I didn’t weigh him before the funeral, but I am sure he would have outweighed any two house cats. There are some simple remedies to this situation. First, stop discarding cats along country roads. If you don’t want any kittens, have your cat spayed or neutered. If you have unwanted kittens, pay to have then put to sleep by those who are equipped to take care of such things. For the “wild” cats there is only one solution: eliminate them. Their depredations are too enormous to be tolerated. But be very careful in your zeal to protect the birds that you dispose of someone’s pet. When you see your Old Tabby purring by the heater (as we do/did) you might think this a tornado in a teapot, but don’t be fooled. Just turn her/him out without her regular dish of warm milk or cat food, and you can be sure he/she will revert back to the most intelligent, efficient, destructive predator you ever saw.

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A serious problem which confronts upland bird conservationists around the country, believe it or not, is Old Tabby and her progeny. On the surface this may seem a holler in a barrel, but this is not so. The common house cat has taken the place of such other game enemies as the coyote, wild cat, weasel and skunk. And, whereas these other predators have, for many years, been considered enemies of the birds, and treated as such, the cat has enjoyed hospitality and protection as a pet. I like cats because they keep the mouse population under control. I have had cats (we have, too) who were good at catching moles and gophers. I have had other cats who were adept at snaring birds, which, of course, is unacceptable. I like cats that that lie on the hearth before an open fire—they provide atmosphere, so to speak. But when these cats leave bed ’n’ board and take off on their own they can be a menace. The common house cat is a very efficient predator. In the first place they have no fear of man which allows him to hunt close to human habitation. In the second, his hunt-

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