Chaos hits the streets of San Francisco

Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011 12:10 pm

By Elleda Wilson
The Daily Astorian

Some of you might have seen the fascinating film clip, “A TRIP DOWN MARKET STREET,” by the MILES BROTHERS, shot in the early 1900s from the front of a moving cable car from Eighth Street down to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. The film even made “60 Minutes” in a truncated form.

The Ear found the full-length work, which is almost 14 minutes long, online at http://tinyurl.com/trolleymkt, and an in-depth story about it at http://tinyurl.com/maxgblog

If you think traffic is bad now, give the film a good look. A still shot from it is pictured. Pedestrians are wandering helter skelter all over the place, weaving around all the moving contraptions that are criss-crossing the street, such as horse-pulled carriages and carts, bicycles and early motor cars. When they’re not dodging the cable cars, they’re jumping on them. It’s total chaos.

“This film was originally thought to be from 1905 until DAVID KIEHN, with the NILES ESSANAY SILENT FILM MUSEUM, figured out exactly when it was shot,” said RENA DEIN of the museum (www.nilesfilmmuseum.org).

“From New York trade papers announcing the film showing, to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall, and shadows indicating time of year, and actual weather and conditions on historical record … even when the cars were registered,” she added, they realized “it was filmed only four days before the 1906 earthquake, and shipped by train to New York for processing. Amazing, but true!”

Astoria man awarded Carnegie Medal for saving his captain

Curtis Dawson

ELLEDA WILSON – The Daily Astorian
The back face of Curt Dawson’s Carnegie Medal.

Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

Astoria resident Curtis Dawson has been awarded the Carnegie Medal in recognition of his “outstanding act of heroism” in rescuing his captain, David M. Schmelzer, from drowning three years ago.

The medal is awarded throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree to save the lives of others.

Dawson was also recognized by the Coast Guard in a ceremony last year when he was given the Silver Lifesaving Medal, one of the highest awards for civilian valor. Rear Adm. Richard Houck, USCG 13th District commander, said “I’ve been in the service 32 years and I’ve never seen these awards presented.”

The night of the incident, Dec. 3, 2005, Schmelzer was on the tug Tiger in the Columbia River, while crew members Dawson and Leroy “Splash” Schlecht of Warrenton were on a barge being towed by the tug.

Suddenly the Tiger capsized, throwing Schmelzer into the river. Unconscious, he floated toward the surface of the water alongside the barge. Dawson jumped into the water, grabbed Schmelzer’s jacket, and lifted his head above the water. A rope was tossed to Dawson, and he and Schmelzer were pulled to the side of the barge.

Dawson says the rescue could not have happened without the help of several people. Dustin Everson of Warrenton and Brian Dodge of Milwaukie helped Dawson out of the water. They were both from the tug Howard Olsen, which stopped to assist.

Schlecht hung upside down “for what seemed like an eternity, holding on to the captain’s fleece vest (not a flotation device) until the bar pilots’ helicopter arrived,” Dawson said. Ian Peterson, also of the Howard Olsen, put all of his weight on Schlecht’s legs to keep him on the barge.

Dodge climbed down the rope line Dawson had just climbed up to help John Ivanoff of Astoria, from the Foss launch Arrow 2, and Schlecht, put the harness from the helicopter over Schmelzer’s head and under his arms.

Dawson is also grateful to Capt. Billy Davis of Warrenton and his cousin, Capt. Jim Davis who heard the emergency on the VHF radio and raced to the scene from the Astoria Pilot station.

“Without them, I would not have been able to do what I did that December night,” Dawson said. Both Dawson and Schmelzer recovered.

Popping the question is an elaborate ritual

Emily Tschiegg and David Burkhart hug after the proposal.

ELLEDA WILSON – The Daily Astorian
The boat bearing David Burkhart’s proposal banner, in the NorthWest Natural Gas parking lot Tuesday.

Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

People were wondering why there was a boat with a sign on it saying, “Emily, will you marry me?” in the parking lot of NorthWest Natural Tuesday morning.

Carl and Dianne Burkhart had the explanation.

On Saturday, the Burkharts’ son, David Burkhart, proposed to Emily Tschiegg.

It was during a family vacation in Altoona, Wash., when Burkhart took Tschiegg for a walk on the beach.

As he finished reading her a letter professing his love, a boat with his grandfather and aunt aboard cruised by, coordinated by walkie-talkie, with the large proposal banner draped along the side of the boat.

When the banner came into view, that was Burkhart’s cue to get down on one knee and give Tschiegg a box with a key in it, saying it was the key to his heart. She wondered where the ring was – but not for long.

They lifted a string that was tied to the house on the cliff, and a lock came down to the beach. The ring was on the lock.

‘Simply amazing’Tschiegg, impressed and thankful for Burkhart’s creativity, says the ring is “simply amazing.”

For the record, she said “yes.”

The couple, who are seniors at George Fox University, plan to get married next summer.

The couple’s blog can be found at (www.dbandet.blogspot.com)

Take the challenge

ELLEDA WILSON – The Daily Astorian
Gary Benedict approaches the Washington shore after crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge on foot.

Posted: Friday, August 8, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

Last Thursday, the Ear got a phone call from Gary Benedict, pictured above, 73, who, at the time of the call, was walking to Astoria from Cannon Beach, and would be walking across the Astoria-Megler Bridge Saturday morning on his way to Canada.

Steve Carter of the Oregon Department of Transportation arranged for a special permit for Benedict to walk across the bridge, where pedestrians are normally forbidden. The Ear met Benedict on the Washington side to find out what is going on.

It turns out Benedict lives in a suburb of Denver, and he got tired of sitting at a computer all day. He is concerned because young people these days don’t seem to respect their elders, and he wanted to prove that elderly people “can do things.” So he decided to walk from Mexico to Canada.

On April 4, he touched the metal fence at the Mexican border from the California side, and started walking. He has no sponsors, and is doing this with the help of his business partner of 23 years, Sandy Cummings, who drives the recreational vehicle they stay in at night. She picks him up when he’s done walking for the day, then drops him off at the same spot the next morning.

He carries a card on him “like a first-grader” with Cummings’ cell phone number so someone can call her in case of an emergency. So far, he says, he hasn’t met anyone who “wasn’t nice.” Benedict is on his third pair of shoes, and covers 15 to 22 miles a day. He expects to reach the Canadian border around the end of August. Then, he said with a smile, he’ll just go home.

The can-do man’s mission on this border to border trek is to inspire older people to walk more. “No matter what your health is – beer belly or TV tush – take my challenge and pick a road or street near you on a nice day and start walking. Hopefully, the street is straight. Walk for up to 20 minutes, or as much as you can take.

“Do not look back while you’re walking. When you stop walking, turn around and look back. You’ll be surprised at how far you came. It’s symbolic of what you can do.”

Tall tales become a reality

Back row, from left, Helen and Andy Rosenberger, son Tom Rosenberger and daughter Kathy Buttron. Front row, from left, sons Andy and Jim Rosenberger.

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

From Gwen Angstrom, an author who lives in Grays River, Wash., a happy birthday story:

“For years, Andy Rosenberger of Warrenton has been telling stories about his life in ‘Saragosa,’ not believing that the town actually existed anywhere except in his imagination. He’s told wonderful tales of being sheriff there and fishing the lakes surrounding the desert town, and riding his horse westward when he left. March 15, surrounded by more than 125 family and friends at his 90th birthday party, he learned the truth: Saragosa, Texas, is a real town, with real people who have come to love Andy as one of their own.”

After a series of e-mails and letters back and forth between June Pedigo, a feature writer for the Pecos Enterprise (Saragosa’s local newspaper) and Angstrom, a good friend of Andy and his wife, Helen Rosenberger, last December the Pecos Enterprise printed “I’m From Saragosa,” Angstom’s story about Rosenberger’s Saragosa tales.

“At his birthday celebration,” Angstrom wrote, “Andy received a document, signed by Reeves County Judge, Sam Contreras, making Andrew ‘Andy’ Rosenberger Honorary Mayor for the Day because of all the wonderful stories he had told about their town over the years. Andy’s 90 years old now, and his Saragosa stories will be told with a ring of truth in the future knowing the good folks in Reeves County may be listening.”

Lum was a pretty sharp man

From left, Dave Lum, Tom Baker and John Lum share a laugh.
KARI PETERSEN – The Daily Astorian

Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

Tom Baker, owner of Seaside Pocket Knives, came in to see the Ear in early February to talk about an Astoria native who was a famous knife-maker and designer, the late Bob Lum (www.boblumknives.com), son of John and Clara Lum. Most Astorians, including Lum’s family, were unaware of how celebrated he was for his knives until after his death.

Baker, who admires Lum’s knives, called Kelly Williams, sales manager at Spyderco Inc. (www.spyderco.com), a custom knife design and manufacturing company, to try to obtain a Bob Lum knife to give to Lum’s father, and she was able to find one for him. On Feb. 8, Baker went over to Lum’s Auto Center to present the engraved knife to John Lum, while his brother, Dave Lum, looked on.

“This knife is actually a knife that Spyderco collaborated on with Bob Lum quite some time ago [in 2000],” Williams told the Ear. “Tom called and explained that he would really like to honor Bob’s knife-making skills by presenting one of these knives to the family.

“I spoke with the owner of our company, who had the knife in his historical collection of our products. Tom suggested that we engrave it, and he left it up to us; we did engrave the product at our facility in Golden, Colo.”

The knife, pictured, is engraved with, “To My Dad.”

Spyderco had also planned a limited edition of the same Bob Lum knife, with a black handle, but, Williams says, “these are already sold out, so even though we haven’t delivered them, we have no more.”

Bowsprit has a weight problem

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

The Ear has heard many tales about where the missing bowsprit of the Peter Iredale Shipwreck might be. As it turns out, none of them were right. Or even close, for that matter.

Dick Mattson of Warrenton called the Ear last Friday to say he had found the bowsprit in Fort Stevens State Park. He was horrified that such a significant chunk (literally) of maritime history is outdoors, exposed to the elements. Would the Ear go photograph the bowsprit? Of course.

The Ear was sad to see that the bowsprit, between 15 and 20 feet long, has rusted badly, has holes in it and is generally in poor shape.

Mattson thinks that the bowsprit should be moved, preserved and put on display out of harm’s way so everyone can see it. A good idea, but problematic. There’s the expense to consider, for one thing. No one knows how much it weighs, but it’s solid metal, so there’s also a weight factor to consider. More troubling yet, there is reason to worry that it will fall apart if moved. And even if all of those problems were solved, where should it go?

Anyone out there have the means and/or a method to save the bowsprit? If so, contact the Ear, and the information will be forwarded.

Grandma gets third degree

Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

Astorian and great-grandmother Wandalene Beck, pictured right, 78, made quite a splash last week in La Grande while obtaining her third college degree, this one from Eastern Oregon University, when she made her grand entrance before the commencement ceremony on the back of a motorcycle driven by her grandson, Dave Elliott, also pictured, of Albany.

She had already earned two degrees from Clatsop Community College, but she wanted a bachelor’s degree. Her family talked her into trying to obtain it online, and the rest, shall we say, is history. She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies 60 years to the day from her high school graduation.

Beck enjoyed a well-earned standing ovation when she received her diploma, and made headlines nationally with her accomplishment. The Ear, chuckling, spotted the story in news outlets in Indianapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia and Madison, Wis., Miami, Louisville, Ky., and even New York City. Woo-hoo and congratulations!

Scrap raft group readies for adventure

Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 12:00 am

By Elleda Wilson
Editorial Assistant

Tiny Neutrino wrote in about a rather intriguing project over at the Port of Ilwaco, Wash., by the Pacific Neutrinos, an outgrowth of the Floating Neutrinos (www.floatingneutrinos.com), builders and sailors of scrap rafts created mostly of recycled materials. “We currently have approximately 20 people involved in the actual construction, although not all at one time,” Neutrino said.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Floating Neutrinos, they built the first scrap raft to cross the North Atlantic Ocean in 1998, Son of Town Hall pictured right.

“A scrap raft operates much as a boat or ship,” Neutrino said. “We have floatation, cabins, most of the necessary items found in any house or boat for human habitation, including an innovative compost for human waste. We want to find that comfortable spot where humans can live with the world without messing things up, and without going back to some stone-age lifestyle. We power with sails, electric motors, and our newest and most exciting power source: kites.”

Neutrino is especially grateful for the help on the project received from Cart’m Recycling Center in Manzanita, Green Dragon Thrift Store in Ilwaco, many Earth First! volunteers and the Port of Ilwaco.

He hopes Scrap Raft Rosie O’Doggie will be ready to leave Ilwaco on or before Aug. 1, stopping in Chinook, Wash., and Astoria “for at least a few days each, then moving on up the river to Portland.”

In the meantime, volunteers are welcome. Neutrino says, “If you’d like to join us with the building or crewing, come on over” to the Port of Ilwaco.

To contact Neutrino, e-mail (pacificneutrinos@gmail.com)

Starlings swarm over Astoria

Posted: Friday, April 1, 2011 11:30 am

By Elleda Wilson
The Daily Astorian

For the last few months, many people have mentioned the STARLING SWARMS at night around COLUMBIA HOUSE CONDOMINIUMS at the foot of Second Street.

Last week, just around dusk, the Ear and her patient partner stood on the trolley bridge behind the SHIP INN and waited. And waited. One or two birds finally flew in and landed on a telephone pole behind the restaurant. Every now and then the birds would pop into the air and fly around the condo a few times, magically picking up more birds (that seemed to come out of nowhere, honestly), before settling back down on the telephone pole.

After an hour, the birds began to swarm. The Ear had two cameras pointing at the west side of the building, ready for the final dramatic dive to their nests in the pilings underneath. There was one last swoop. Then they vanished behind the building and dove in on the east side. We were not amused.