Occupy Astoria? Occupy What?

(HipFish Monthly Photo)
The Daily Astorian tells us…..“The next Occupy Astoria action will take place noon Saturday. Protesters will walk through downtown Astoria, starting at the Astoria Post Office, to support small, local businesses.
For more information, call (503) 440-0978 or visitwww.occupyastoriaoregon.org”

There was a time when the "Hippie Movement" in America was just getting under way, there were actually people that worked all week in their coats and ties in their conservative, hum-drum everyday jobs until Friday and Saturday nights when they would actually dress-up in fresh "Hippie" attire and trendy new long-haired wigs and go out for a weekend of experiencing what that movement brought and then on Monday morning get back to the "Rat Race".

Sometimes lately, in trying to figure out just exactly what this "Occupy Movement" is all about, that image of those part-time "Hippies" passes across my mind's eye as it seems the players in this effort appear to take it no more seriously than that...."Activism For The Hoot"?

Chazz Lake,on "Occupy Astoria's" Facebook page, has it right....You want to occupy Astoria and demonstrate for effective change in a public agency that seems to have become an island unto itself with no sense of accountability to whom it serves, then you are looking at a prime candidate in The Port of Astoria, in my view and its recent history over the last 5 or 6 years proves it out but, our “Astoria Occupiers” want to go frolicking up and down Commercial street on a Saturday pimping the patronization of our local businesses which most of us do anyway and besides, shouldn't that be the duty of "The Astoria Downtown Historic Development Association"?

Come On!

If this group wants to really effect change and in addition to “The Port”, let them go down and stand vigil at the "Other Flavel House" and demand somebody save that place before it rots to the ground as we have no historic preservation group willing to stand-up and be heard on the subject.

This group wants to effect change, let them go down to City Hall and demand that we send a "Task Force" out into this world and sell what we have to offer to clean, compatible and cohesive industry that fits within the fabric of and will support the workforce of this community to put thousands of us to work instead of sitting around waiting for schemes such as Liquefied Natural Gas and Ship Breaking to wedge their foots in our door and force themselves on us while our leadership conveniently turns their heads to, in essence, just let it happen to put just a few people to work and in the public perception, prosper their own agendas.

I guess my point is and I truly support the general concept as a counter to the attempted insurgency and usurpation of other fringe movements on our political political system,...If the "Occupy Movement" is going to clog-up our streets, do it for actual purpose and change that will truly, positively impact the life quality of all of us in our community or knock it off.

It may help also if the local leaders of this movement would lay off the speeches on the dreaded "Military/Indutrial Complex" and find a true explanation of exactly what "The Occupy Movement" is truly about for us lesser intellectuals that still don't really get it.

From Time.Com: Greening This Old House; Saving Money And The Environment By Upgrading Older Homes

Greening This Old House
By Bryan Walsh - Time Magazine

Photo By - Viktor Koen - For Time
Thursday, Apr. 23, 2009

Would Abraham Lincoln have gone green? Frank Milligan thinks so. Milligan is the director of President Lincoln's Cottage, a Gothic Revival mansion on a breezy hill a few miles from the White House, where Lincoln and his family sought relief from the summer heat during the Civil War.

Read Full Article

Astoria City Council Races: Who's It Going To Be for You?

Henningsgaard Announces he will not continue to seek re-election but will pursue open Astoria City Attorney Job Instead

Well, here's the list of candidates for 2010 elections for open seats on Astoria City Council.

This is an open call for all candidates to post their Press Releases or views as to why they feel they can serve the citizens of Astoria best and what they can bring to the game to lead us forward to a prosperous future and improved life quality.

Mayor

Willis L. Van Dusen
(Incumbent Mayor Van Dusen's Campaign Statement)
"I am running for re-election as Mayor of the City of Astoria. The next four years will be important to all of us. I ask for your support on November 2nd.
As the Mayor of Astoria over the past four years, I have worked as part of a team on many successful projects. Some of those projects include:
1) Supporting the officers in the Astoria Police Department.
2) Supporting the Firefighters in the Astoria Fire Department. The City Council and I congratulate the department for securing a $ 238,000 grant that enabled the city to purchase of a fire truck.
3) Re-organizing the Parks and Recreation Department. The consolidation of facilities and personnel has made us more efficient.
4) Our community has done an excellent job in improving the financial situation of the Astoria Aquatic Center.
5) Supported our Public Works Department to improve our drinking water and manage the combined sewer overflow project
6) Drafted plans to renovate our City Hall
7) Expanded our world class river walk
8) Serving as President of the Astoria Riverfront Trolley Association.
9) We worked closely with governmental agencies, such as the Astoria Schools, neighboring cities, the Military, Oregon State Agencies etc.
10) Established a street paving/repair program
The next four years have many challenges:
1) Astoria’s Bi-Centennial
2) Completing our Chinese educational park, "The Garden of Surging Waves"
3) City Hall Renovation
4) Rebuilding the athletic fields at Tapiola Park
5) Community Center in the former Armory at 17th and Duane St.
6) Rebuilding the 17th Street Dock with transportation grant funds
7) Work with businesses creating and saving jobs
8) Provide a new library through renovation or construction
9) Communicate clearly with all Astorians
10) Support our local schools
If we continue to work as a community team, Astoria will always be a great place to live and raise our families.
Thank you
Willis L. Van Dusen

Bonnie Anne Wingard (Challenger)

Ward 1

Arline LaMear
(Incumbent LaMear's Campaign Statement)
Arline LaMear – Councilor, City of Astoria Ward 1
288 Franklin Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
alamear@astoria.or.us

Occupation
Librarian, Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1997-Present

Occupational background
School Librarian, Virginia Public Schools, 21 years
Teacher – California, North Carolina and Thailand, 4 years

Educational background
Occidental College, BA, Education
James Madison University, M.Ed, Education

Prior Government Experience
Astoria City Council, 2008-Present; Astoria Parks and Recreation Board, 2010; Astoria Planning Commission, 2003-2008; Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families, 2004-2007; Astoria Library Board, 2002; Chair of the Bicentennial Legacy Committee, 2009-Present

Candidate Statement

A job with the Columbia River Maritime Museum brought me to Astoria in 1997. Thirteen years later, my commitment to Astoria, her river, history and community has deepened. It has been a real honor to serve as City Councilor from Ward 1 the past two years. I have met with many of you on issues and concerns and pledge that I will continue to listen and act in your behalf.

Astoria will celebrate her Bicentennial in 2011. Working with our wonderful city staff and workforce, I will support continuing efforts to replace our bridges that are in poor condition, pave our streets, relocate the temporary water and sewer lines at Hume and Bond Streets, renovate our City Hall, and spruce up our downtown so Astoria looks her best for her 200th birthday.

I plan to:
Actively advocate for you and Astoria’s Ward One.
Work for the opening of a Recreation Center in Astoria for children and adults.
Advocate for an ordinance regarding derelict buildings that includes a firm, fair enforcement component.
Evaluate energy cost saving measures and implement viable alternatives.
Ensure that Astoria has a state of the art, modern library.

Committees/Membership/Volunteerism
Court-Appointed Advocate (CASA) – 2001-Present
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – President 2005-2006
Organizer and moderator for candidate and issue forums, AAUW and Women’s Political Caucus
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce – 2003-Present
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Friends of the Columbia River Maritime Museum
Clatsop County Historical Society

Endorsed by:

John Goodenberger
Karen Kenyon
Virginia (Gin) Laughery
Roy Little, M.D.
Laura Snyder
Helen Westbrook

Robert E. Howard (Challenger)

Ward 3

Blair Henningsgaard (Incumbent)

Henningsgaard Will Not Seek Re-Election But Will Seek Open Astoria City Attorney Job

I am running for re-election to the Astoria City Council Ward 3 and ask for your vote in November.

I can describe my past service to the City in three categories.
Emergency Events.
Hurricane, December of 2007. I am proud of the teamwork and courage of our community’s response.
Landslide at 1st and Commercial Street, April 2007. Our team ensured access, re-routed utilities, responded to citizens’ needs and obtained State and Federal assistance.
Routine (but critical) City Services
We lined and covered our reservoirs. These two changes help protect our drinking water supply with one result that the City uses fewer chemicals to treat our water.
Expensive sewer improvements are helping keep our river and bay clean. I helped spur negotiations that are expected to save over $10 million on this project.
A street paving/repair program was adopted for the first time in our history; funded with help from tourist tax dollars and state funds.
Successes.
Developing highly visible city council goals.
Representing the City Council on our award winning Riverfront vision.
Plans to make Astoria City Hall the most “customer friendly” in the county.
Saving the City over $300,000 per year at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
Acquiring the old Safeway block.
Replacing the Astoria Column steps.

I commit to economically provide needed services but also look forward to developing a new library, recycling the Astoria Armory, opening our Chinese Park and turning the old American Legion block into a public plaza.

I hope the Citizens of Astoria know how much my hometown means to me. We live in a special place; together we will keep it that way.

Karen Mellin (Challenger)

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 1, 2010

For More Information:Karen Mellin
(503) 325-5382

Karen Mellin for Astoria Ward 3 Astoria, Oregon

“I am running because Astorians need achoice,” says candidate Mellin. "I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I think Astoria is a real treasure that deserves outspoken protection."

Mellin served most recently on the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors and before that was instrumental in developing the organization now known as the Women's Resource Center.

She said she felt the values of the particularly historic district of Ward 3 needed a new voice.

"When citizens spend months of time on a public project like the River Visioning process, they deserve to have those concerns taken seriously," Mellin said."Too many people have told me they felt the City Council listened and then imposed its own voice on that process."

Mellin also expressed concern over the what she called "the continuous mishandling of DUII cases in the Astoria Municipal Court." She said that"Municipal Courts play a valuable role in dispensing community justice, but Astoria should join the other four cities in the counties in sending their DUII cases to the Circuit Court where both the judges and prosecutors are full-time professionals.""Something's not right when someone can get two or three DUIIs dismissed just because the case is in Municipal Court. Like the River Visioning process, it is a matter of fairness."

"While we appreciate the work done over the years by the incumbent," Mellin said, "I think people are ready for a change.

"Mellin just celebrated the 50th reunion of her graduating class at AstoriaHigh School.

She spent many years traveling overseas and moved back toAstoria 30 years ago and taught in the local schools until last year.

Karen Mellin's Astoria-based volunteerism began in 1986 as a programmer atKMUN.

She has been a member of the North Coast Women’s Political Caucussince 1987. That year she began volunteering at the Clatsop County Women’s Crisis Service, where she set up group counseling sessions for victims of domestic violence and soon became Executive Director.

In 2001, she waselected to the Clatsop Community College Board, where she advocated renovation of the historic property.

Ward 3 is roughly bound by 5th and 28th Streets, the Columbia River on thenorth and Niagara Avenue on the south, and is equivalent to county precincts5 and 6.

The Committee to Elect Karen Mellin, Astoria Ward 3

Bradwood Landing: 36-38 Miles Of Pipeline Right Of Way - Add 224.24 Acres To The Project Would You?

From John L. Kennedy, "Oil and Gas Pipeline Fundametals"

The average Natural Gas High Pressure Pipeline Right of Way is 50' wide with 35' maintained clear.

So, using this average and an average 37 Mile long NSNG controlled pipeline right of way x 5280 feet = 195, 360' x 50 = 9,768,000 square feet divided by 43560 square feet(acre) = 224.24 acres owned/controlled by who?

Where does the end of that pipeline originate?

From the Bradwood Landing LNG/Storage Terminal facility of course.

So add that 224 acres to that magic, "Bovine Scat", 40 acres NSNG says they are only using and you have 264 acres of physical property under the control/ownership of Bradwood Landing/NSNG.

Small Project?

No way in hell!!!

Port Of Bellingham Contests NOAA Move To Newport

07:54 AM PDT

Monday, August 31, 2009

By KGW Staff

WASHINGTON -- Another group is challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision to move a fleet of research ships from Seattle to Newport, Ore. More: NOAA move

Read Release

Dr. Jerry Havens To Speak On: “Public Safety Implications of LNG Import Terminals.” Thursday May 21, 2009 At The Red Building, 7:00PM

----- Original Message -----
From: Cheryl & Ted
To: lower_columbia@lists.onenw.org
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 12:50 AM
Subject: [lower_columbia] Dr. Havens speaking on THURSDAY
What does it mean to have LNG tankers on our river and terminals in our communities?

Please join us for a special event hosted by Roger Rocka, former Director of Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and Jim Scheller, Chair of Warrenton Trails Association.

Special guest speaker is Dr. Jerry Havens, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. His topic is:
“Public Safety Implications of LNG Import Terminals.”

Thursday, May 21st
7:00 pm
the Loft in the Red Building, Astoria
(turn off Marine Drive toward the river at the light by Kentucky Fried Chicken)

Dr. Havens is not for or against liquefied natural gas development. “My goal is to bring good science to the table in these matters, so that decisions regarding public safety are fairly and accurately deliberated.”

Bret VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper will give an update on the LNG terminals and pipelines proposed for the Columbia River.

There will be an opportunity for Q&A following the presentations.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Bring your neighbors, bring your friends. This special evening will include refreshments and music by Ned Heavenrich, Dan Palenski and Larry Moore.

Sponsored by:
Columbia Pacific Common Sense
Columbia Riverkeeper
Cannery Pier Hotel
Columbia River Business Alliance
Hipfish
Northwest Property Rights Coalition

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Dr. Jerry Havens
Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of Arkansas

Professor Havens holds the Maurice E. Barker Endowed Chair in Chemical Process Safety and the Environmental Fate of Pollutants at the University of Arkansas. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in atmospheric dispersion of hazardous chemicals and fire/explosion phenomena. The DEGADIS and FEM3A atmospheric dispersion models developed and or validated by Dr. Havens and his associates at the University’s Chemical Hazards Research Center are specified for use in LNG plant siting applications in the United States.

From KGW: W.H.O. Upgrades Swine Flu Pandemic Alert To Phase 5

From KGW News
Apr 29, 4:15 PM EDT

WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to phase 5

GENEVA (AP) -- The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent

Read Full Report
KGW Related Link
KGW: 1st Probable Oregon Case Of Swine Flu T Be Announced

Oregon Governor To Paint New Columbia River Bridge As A Job Generator

Dylan Rivera - The Oregonian
Wednesday April 29, 2009, 7:00 AM

As Oregon struggles against recession, Gov. Ted Kulongoski today will announce that building a new Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River would bring employment to more than 27,000 workers in the course of a decade.

Read Full Details

Split Votes At Oregon State Forestery Board Could Mean More Logging

Split Votes At State Forestry Board Could Mean More Logging
BY ETHAN LINDSEY - OPB News

Bend, OR April 28, 2009 12:08 a.m.

Tuesday, state lawmakers are scheduled to debate a bill to change how state forests are valued.

Last week, the chairman of the state Forestry Board told lawmakers that the Oregon Board of Forestry was opposed to the legislation, by a vote of 4-to-1.


Read Full OPB Report

Still No Cases Of Swine Flu In Oregon

From the Associated Press
April 26, 2009
Still no cases of swine flu in Oregon
There have been no cases of swine flu reported in Oregon, but public health officials say the state is prepared for its arrival.

Dr. Mel Kohn, the state public health director, said Sunday that Oregonians with flu-like symptoms are being tested for the strain of flu that has sickened 20 Americans and is suspected of killing more than 85 people in Mexico.


Read Full Update
KGW Related Link
Daily "A" Related Link
KGW Related Link
NPR Tips On Preventing Exposure To Flu Virus
KGW Update:WHO Upgrades Pandemic Alert To Phase 5

Wood! The Hot, New, Renewable Resource

Wood: The Hot New Renewable Energy Source
BY DOUG NADVORNICK - For OPB News
Kettle Falls, WA April 2, 2009 3:57 p.m.

Renewable energy sources are catching on in the Northwest. Windmills have become a familiar sight along parts of the Oregon-Washington border. But the hot new form of renewable energy is actually the region’s oldest source of heat: wood.

Read Entire Article

Time Says: National Standards, Is That The Answer To American Education?

How To Raise The Standard In American Schools

For Time Magazine: Walter Isaacson

April 15, 2009

National standards have long been the third rail of education politics. The right chokes on the word national, with its implication that the feds will trample on the states' traditional authority over public schools. And the left chokes on the word standards, with the intimations of assessments and testing that accompany it.

Read Complete Article

Ten Outrageous Facts About The Income Tax

10 Outrageous Facts About the Income Tax
By Chris Edwards
Chris Edwards is director of fiscal policy studies at the Cato Institute.

This article appeared on cato.org on April 15, 2003.

As you struggle to prepare your taxes this year, you may take some comfort in knowing that your headache is being felt across the country. The following odd and outrageous facts show how widespread income tax problems are:

Go Here For The Details

Tax Day Tea Party: How It All Started

A Tax Day Tea Party cheat sheet: How it all started
By Michelle Malkin • April 15, 2009 08:14 AM

It’s here!
For the Johnny-Come-Latelys in the MSM who will be dispatched by their editors to file obligatory stories about the hundreds of Tax Day Tea Party protests across the country today, here is a cheat sheet to get you up to speed.

Read The Details

KAST-AM: Local Radio Media's Open Letter To Oregon Governor Pleading For Acceptance Of Bradwood Landing's LNG Terminal

GPR - Despite the perception of an unseemly attempt by the parties involved at exploiting an opportunity, in these stressfull financial times for all of us on the Lower Columbia, to prosper the position of NSNG/Bradwood Landing's proposed LNG Terminal upriver, I wonder as Freel pleads for The Governor to do the right thing, exactly what that right thing is.

Mr. Freel seems to forget that this project is up for review and disposition as applied for by both the States of Washington and Oregon with the United States Court of Appeals to overturn all applications for this project, which obviously is already considered the "Right Thing" as far as The State of Oregon is concerned along with legislation, supported by our own State Rep Boone that will require "Proof of Need".

Also, the proposed pipeline developer involved in party with our own Northwest Natural Gas, Palomar, says we don't really need any LNG Terminals in our midst should just one pipeline out of The Rockies to the Williams and TransCanada pipelines be completed and the closest, using, primarily, exisitng pipeline rights of way, is the 585 mile long Sunstone Pipeline coming out of Wyoming and terminating in Stanfield, Oregon and slated for a 2011 start.

Should this happen, as Palomar says, our West Coast Market NG needs will be met for, many years to come while bridging the transition from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable sources.

Could this be "The Right Thing" as well?

Maybe if it were less so obvious NNB-KAST Radio's financial/Advertising/Marketing ties to NSNG/Bradwood Landing, the plea might be more credible to their listening audience.

Nevetheless, you read it and follow your own conscience as to exactly what is indeed "The Right Thing".

From:Tom Freel For KAST-AM Radio

"Dear Sir,

I'm struggling to understand your decision to discourage industrial development in Clatsop County. In light of yesterday's announcement of unemployment rates in the state and the continuing downward trend in private investment here it is unfathomable to me that you would not be in the lead when it comes to supporting the construction of Bradwood Landing LNG."

Read Full Content Of Open Letter

How To Build Your Own Solar Panels

By: Michael Davis

So what is a solar panel anyway? It is basically a box that holds an array of solar cells. Solar cells are the things that do the actual work of turning sunlight into electricity. However, it takes a lot of cells to make a meaningful amount of power, and they are very fragile, so the individual cells are assembled into panels. The panels hold enough cells to make a useful amount of power and protect the cells from the elements. It doesn't sound too complicated. I was convinced I could do it myself.

See Full Details and photos

Time Magazine: St. Helens, Oregon, Illegal Aliens: Unregistered And Undeterred!

For Time Magazine: Nathan Thornburgh/St. Helens, Oregon

April, 2009

Margarito has a decision to make: After more than a decade of living and working illegally in the U.S., is it time to go back home to Mexico? He and his wife lost their jobs recently (he from a pallet factory, she from Burger King, both for having invalid Social Security numbers). He has been looking for other work, but his search is greatly complicated by measure 5-190, a ballot initiative enthusiastically approved by his neighbors and former colleagues that will, if it survives a court challenge, impose a $10,000 fine on anyone in the county who gives Margarito — or any other undocumented worker — a new job.

Read Full Article

A Homebuilt Wind Generator You Can Build

By: Michael Davis

"One thing I noticed right away about my property is that most of the time, the wind is blowing. Almost from the moment I bought it, I had the idea of putting up a wind turbine and making some electricity, and later adding some solar panels. This is the story of how I did it. Not with an expensive, store-bought turbine, but with a home-built one that cost hardly anything. If you have some fabricating skills and some electronic know-how, you can build one too."

See Full Details and Photos

Astoria Port Commission Slate Of Candidates: Who's It Going To Be For You?

*PORT OF ASTORIA

Commissioner - Position 1
Lawrence A. Pfund, P.O. Box 2084, Gearhart, OR 97138, (503) 738-9080 (h),
e-mail: lepfund@yahoo.com
John Hord, 969 19th St., Astoria, OR 97103, (503) 325-2253 (h),(503) 325-4411 (w), e-mail: jd3hord@earthlink.net

Commissioner - Position 2
Floyd E. Holcom, 1, 39th St., Astoria, OR 97103, (503) 325-4532 (h), (503) 325-2502 (w), (503) 325-7182 (f), e-mail: fholcom@ibisgroupllc.com
John Veenendaal, 91471 Hwy. 202, Astoria OR 97103, (503) 791-3903 (h),e-mail: yanqui1995@yahoo.com

Commissioner - Position 5
John B. Dunzer, 2964 Keepsake Dr., Seaside, OR 97138, (503) 738-6885 (h), e-mail: johndunzer@msn.com
Daniel (Dan) R. Hess, 35133 Hwy. 101 Bus., Astoria, OR 97103,(503) 325-6572 (h), (503) 338-8052 (w), (503) 325-8151 (f)
Karl S. Konka, P.O. Box 1317, Astoria, OR 97103, e-mail: kskonka@yahoo.com
Patrick McGee - (Write-In) (503)325-1844, kc2patrick@q.com

From Time: Survival Stores - One Of 10 Ideas Changing The World Right Now!

By Sean Gregory For Time

Stores stink. Yes, they're not selling anything. Open up the business pages any day of the week and you'll see news of shops liquidating, workers getting laid off, retailers bleeding cash. But you can't blame just the economy for consumerism's woes. Think about it: When was the last time you walked into a store and saw, or just felt, something fresh? Most retailers have attacked the recession by discounting their products to pennies on the dollar. But the whole system is in disarray, and 70% off isn't the sole solution.

Read Full Article