Photos: Westport’s Centennial Celebration

Westport celebrated its birthday this weekend, with the city’s centennial celebration. Westport was officially incorporated on June 26, 1914 — 56 years after settlers first arrived in the area formerly known as Chehalis Point.

Portland, Ore., resident, Glenn Peterson, was the first white man to bring his family and settle permanently on Chehalis Point in 1858. Others followed him and the community grew.

Homesteaders on Chehalis Point concentrated on subsistence farming. They used horses and oxen to ease the load. They also raised cattle for the table and for sale to earn enough cash to purchase supplies upriver in Aberdeen when needed.

A century later, modern residents celebrated these events with a pancake breakfast, car show, tours of local tall ships and live entertainment.

Alleged knife attack after party up the Wishkah

Two people were injured after allegedly being attacked by a knife-weilding man early Sunday morning after a house party up the Wishkah.

Deputies were dispatched both to Grays Harbor Community Hospital and to a residence on Johnson Road north of Aberdeen — about eight miles up the Wishkah Road — in the wake of the assault.

A 51-year-old woman, who was “slashed” by a knife on the throat according to the Sheriff’s Office, was taken to the hospital by her husband, who had been awakened by the incident. The wound was described as “significant but not life-threatening” by Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate.

The assault allegedly happened in the aftermath of a party held at the residence. Shortly after the husband went to bed, a 25-year-old man allegedly assaulted the woman and a next-door neighbor with a knife, the report said.

The husband, awakened by the commotion, assisted the neighbor with the suspect. The assailant then appeared to pass out, Shumate said.

The 22-year-old neighbor was also cut, but he did not require hospitalization, according to Shumate.

Since the suspect “was extremely intoxicated,” he was taken to the hospital to be cleared for incarceration. He is now being held at the Grays Harbor County Jail on two counts of first-degree assault.

Man arrested after weapon discharged at Travelodge

A 59-year-old man was arrested Saturday morning at the Travelodge Hotel in Aberdeen after allegedly discharging a firearm and not responding to police in the aftermath. No one was reported injured.

A woman in a room at the hotel called police to report that the suspect allegedly came after her with a shotgun and that the weapon discharged when she grabbed him. She fled the room, according to the Aberdeen Police Department.

The man had been contacted earlier by police — just after 1 a.m. — regarding his report that a handgun had been stolen from him. It appeared at the time that the man had been drinking, police said.

After the firearm discharge, police believed that the suspect could still be in the room and may have possessed two shotguns and possibly two handguns. Crisis negotiators attempted to contact the suspect by phone and bullhorn to no avail. The regional Crisis Response Unit (CRU) and the city’s new armored vehicle, called an MRAP, were called to the scene.

The hotel then notified all of the guests by phone, and the ones closest to the room on the first floor were asked by police to leave. Three blocks of Wishkah and nearby streets were closed as the armored vehicle and other vehicles were deployed to the scene.

A short time after the armored vehicle arrived, the man came to the door of his room and was arrested and taken to the Aberdeen Jail. He is being held on suspicion of first-degree assault.

The Crisis Response Unit involves officers from Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Montesano, as well as deputies from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office.

Citizen of the Year banquet honors the best in service

Honoring the people who embody what it means to serve Saturday night was no less meaningful for being behind schedule.

Firefighter of the Year Keldy Matthews, Police Officer of the Year Keith Fouts and Citizen of the Year Mickey Thurman were recognized for their 2013 awards at a banquet at the Aberdeen Elks Lodge.

The banquet is typically held the same year as the awards, but the tradition nearly faltered until caring volunteers from both sides of Myrtle Street stepped up, Hoquiam Mayor Jack Durney explained during the event.

”The Daily World has sponsored this banquet every year since 1969,” Durney said. “Last year, during budget cuts that everybody has been faced with, we didn’t happen to have a banquet. So the Elks stepped in, both the Aberdeen and the Hoquiam Elks, to help The Daily World so we’re honoring the 2013 honorees tonight. … When you talk about volunteerism, the Elks have been in the middle of it for over a hundred years.”

Keldy Matthews

Grays Harbor Fire District 10 Chief Keldy Matthews has spent the past 36 years volunteering to protect his native Wishkah Valley. He was honored for the 2013 award for his distinguished service as a volunteer and as the district’s second-ever chief.

The award is given each year in honor of Cosmopolis volunteer firefighter Denny York, who died after an industrial accident at the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill in 1986.

District 10 Assistant Chief Mike Pauley nominated Matthews and shared a few memories Saturday.

On one call, Pauley said, “the only thing I see is the chief standing at the corner of the house, and he’s full bunkers, helmet, gear, everything. Next thing I see is a helmet in the air —- one of the rookie volunteers decided to pull on the hose that was wrapped around the chief’s feet.

“The volunteer did not think he was going to be asked back. But because of Keldy’s caring personality, I think it was a month later, Keldy came up and gave him a big hug.”

Pauley noted Matthews would rather “read the paper than be in it.”

“He wasn’t given a choice this time,” he said. “With his dedication and leadership in the fire district, we have gained many volunteers, lots of the training that is involved in it, and the love of the community that he has has spread to the rest of the fire hall.”

Matthews is known throughout the county for his dedication to his district and his community. He can most often be found at the fire hall, often working to maintain the district’s vehicles himself. He took over as chief in 2006 after founding Chief Bill Knannlein retired.

“I wish I could explain my feelings when I found out” about the award, Matthews said. “I really had no idea until I got a phone call on a Saturday morning from last year’s Firefighter of the Year Frank Scherer congratulating me. It was a shock — I hadn’t read the paper yet.”

He said the award was especially meaningful because he knew York.

“It is an honor to be among those who are listed on that paper for Denny,” Matthews said, his voice catching with emotion.

Keith Fouts

Grays Harbor County Sheriff Rick Scott had no hesitation in paying retired Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Keith Fouts the highest compliment a police officer gives another.

“I’d like to introduce you to a cop’s cop,” Scott said Saturday.

For his distinguished career and exceptional dedication to law enforcement, Fouts received the 2013 Police Officer of the Year award. It is presented each year in honor of Hoquiam Police Department Officer Donald Burke, who was shot and killed by bank robbers while on duty in 1980.

Fouts did just about everything in his 24 years with the Sheriff’s Office. As a K-9 handler, he and his partner, Tor, had more than 120 capture arrests and an exceptionally high rate of success. They were honored with a meritorious service award. Statewide, Fouts’ contributions to improving K-9 training are still felt today.

While he was Drug Task Force supervisor, it was involved in 915 investigations and 612 arrests.

“Most importantly, the Drug Task Force during that time seized $3.7 million in assets from drug dealers, $1.2 million of which was forfeited,” Scott said. “Additionally, they took more than $46 million worth of drugs off the street in Western Washington.”

Fouts also served in specialty units like the dive team and Special Response Team, worked as a firearms instructor, and helped in the critical incident management team, being there for his brother and sister law enforcement officers involved in traumatic events.

“Keith ‘s dedication to law enforcement truly is without compare,” Scott said. “He was someone who was there for each and every one of us, and whenever something happened I always felt a lot more comfortable knowing Keith was there helping get things resolved.”

Despite his ample praise, or because of it, Scott couldn’t avoid a little ribbing of his friend, mostly relating to his stature.

“We really did buy booster seats to give out to kids, they were not for Keith,” Scott joked.

Fouts thanked his family, particularly his wife Peggy for “all the long hours and putting up with the dog that shed a lot and smelled a lot,” and his parents, “my two best trainers.”

His nephew is currently training to become a deputy.

“You don’t do this job by yourself, it’s a team,” Fouts said. “We’re all family members, we’re all brothers and sisters.”

He noted he and his fellow honorees were feeling uncomfortable receiving awards in memory of those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

“I didn’t know Donald Burke. He was murdered — and he was murdered, call it what it is — nine years before I got hired. But, my nephew knows, you come into the department, you learn that story,” he continued. “We’re all uncomfortable with this because we know the people who really stuck it out there and gave it all. And to be put in the same sentence as those individuals, it just doesn’t feel right.”

Mickey Thurman

Those who have only discovered the 7th St.Theater in the past decade might be surprised to know the state it was in before volunteers led largely by Mickey Thurman went to work on it.

“We had plaster falling from the ceiling, we had plywood attached to the ceiling to keep plaster from falling on to the audience,” 7th St. Theater Board President Ray Kahler said. “The carpet and upholstery on the seats were held together with duct tape.”

It was 2003 when Kahler and Thurman first met and began forming the board.

“At that time we didn’t have enough money in the bank for postage to send out a fundraising letter … but Mickey saw the potential,” Kahler said.

For her years of hard work and dedication on Grays Harbor, Thurman is the 2013 Citizen of the Year.

Since the board formed, the theater has been beautifully renovated, now sporting a ceiling mural with tiny stars that show through the painted sky, freshly upholstered seats, a candlestick sign and a commercial-grade popcorn machine — all reflecting Thurman’s meticulous research to ensure all the upgrades reflect the original theater.

Now, it hosts events, a popular movie series and projects like a compilation of 1920s newsreels, which Thurman also helped organize.

“Mickey has been the driving force that made that happen,” Kahler said. “It’s hard to overstate just how much Mickey has done for the theater. … She keeps her positive attitude in the face of situations that would make most people want to give up.”

Thurman also volunteered with the Hoquiam High School Band, when her daughter Alissa was in school, and still works with the Hoquiam Business Association.

“Mickey has taken her drive and her passion and put them in the service of our community,” Kahler said. “We’re very lucky to have her in our community.”

Thurman praised Kahler and encouraged others to volunteer when they can.

“I never really planned on volunteering, I always thought volunteering was doing things like walking around picking up litter,” she said. “But there’s so much more to it. … You learn so much and you get to meet so many people all the time, and it’s a lot of fun. I really enjoy what I do.”

Brionna Friedrich: 360-537-3933, bfriedrich@thedailyworld.com. Twitter: @DW_Brionna

Photos: Inaugural Founders’ Day Parade

The Aberdeen Founders’ Day Parade took place this morning, starting with rain and ending with sunshine. Hundreds of harborites descended on Market Street to watch the parade procession comprised of dozens of local companies, civic groups and organizations.

Photos: Sand and Sawdust Festival kicks off in Ocean Shores

The Sand and Sawdust Festival kicked off Friday at the Ocean Shores Convention Center under cloudy skies and rain and will continute through Sunday. The festival features dozens of professional sand and wood sculptors as well as competitions, workshops and more than 100 food vendors.

Hoquiam native is happiest in the pit

For those who have seen a musical on the Harbor over the past year, there is a good chance one Hoquiam resident had a hand in it. Alex Eddy, by day a writing consultant and English tutor at Grays Harbor College, is part of the theater community, just like his grandfather Bud, and father, Jim Eddy, before him.

“I grew up seeing them in plays for Driftwood (Players of Aberdeen) and it was just something I wanted to do,” he said.

Eddy is now working toward being more involved with Driftwood, going beyond writing or playing music. Brad Duffy, who is also a Grays Harbor College instructor and director of the shows at the Bishop Center, is mentoring Eddy to be a Driftwood director. They will be working together on “Calendar Girls,” set to open April 25. Duffy said Eddy is a talented musician and is a dynamic rehearsal pianist.

“I’ve known Alex a long time. I can’t remember not working with him. We keep getting afraid he’ll go away, because he should because he’s so talented,” Duffy said. “But, we don’t want him to leave either! Don’t go away, Alex. At least until we all retire!”

Eddy describes himself as shy, which meant it took a little bit of goading for him to say his lines at age 8 for 7th Street Kids productions. He described Hank Bilderback directing him to stand on stage to practice his one line as the Indian chief in “Peter Pan.” Eddy’s fellow cast-mates sat in the audience as he repeated the line over and over again in growing volume.

“At the end there I was just screaming out this nonsense line into this nearly empty theater,” he said. “In theater, you can still be shy but once you get on stage, you have to get over that. It’s a lesson I never forgot.”

This experience led him to gladly start helping with 7th Street Kids himself. The best part of being part of this program for Eddy is to see the progress kids make.

“It’s awesome to get to see the progress — sometimes from age 9 up to when they graduate high school — of these kids as actors and singers,” he said. “That’s what makes it probably my favorite thing to do.”

He is one of the four directors for the 7th Street Kids’ upcoming musical of “Honk!” which is set to open on Aug. 1.

This fall, a musical he has been working on with Grays Harbor College instructor Lynne Lerych is premiering on the Bishop Center stage. Called “Back in the World,” it follows the story of a soldier returning from Iraq, based off a NPR story about the difficulties of returning home after fighting in a war zone. After years of attempting to write a non-musical version of this play, Lerych realized that her fellow musical nut Eddy, who had first been her student 10 years ago, would be the perfect partner to finish a new version of the story.

“We’ve both been involved in theater and music and theatrical music, both at the Bishop Center and at 7th St., for years,” she said. “I’ve always known that Alex is a great musician, but I’ve only recently come to discover what a solid, powerful composer he is.”

He is writing the music while she is working on the book and lyrics. Duffy will be the director while Eddy is in the pit.

“It’s impossible not to want to do a project with Alex,” Lerych said. “He’s talented, smart, dedicated, energetic, funny and kind. And patient. And brilliant. I’ve always wanted to write the book and lyrics for a musical, and I’m really grateful to have Alex as a writing partner who composes beautiful music.”

Musicals became Eddy’s passion while attending the Evergreen State College for a bachelor’s in music competition. He became enthralled with Broadway playwright Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” for an Ethnomusicaology course.

“It was this course that ended up changing my focus to writing musicals, and, to this day, if you ask my friends about me, the first thing most of them would say is that I have a little bit of an obsession with Sondheim,” he said.

Someday he hopes to make it to New York University for the musical writing program.

While at Evergreen, Eddy played rehearsal piano for Capital High School.

“This was my first experience working on anything outside of the Harbor and really helped me gain confidence in my abilities,” he said.

Earlier this month, Eddy accepted Aberdeen High School’s award for Best Lighting for the Aberdeen High School’s musical “Aida” at the 5th Avenue Awards Ceremony for theater arts. He worked on it with Tamara Helland, the musical’s director, who was thrilled for a win.

In his spare time, Eddy spends time with friends, enjoys cooking and also reads. He is currently on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.

“They are really, really thick books but I just have to know what happens before the show gets to it,” he said.

Friends are also a large part of his life, though he admits they usually heckle him for not seeing them more. The next few months will not be restful for Eddy, with plenty of “Chicago” practices until opening night on July 24, then evening practices of “Honk!”, and then hours of mentoring at Driftwood and finishing “Back In the World” to fill out the rest of the year.

“It’s exciting but also a little scary because it feels like we just started working on it,” he said. “It’s been a fantastic experience and I’m excited to get to see the show come to life.”

Nothing New — Aberdeen’s first Splash celebration — 100 years ago

Today is Aberdeen’s first Founders’ Day celebration, featuring the city’s largest parade in decades, and harkening back to 1914 and Aberdeen’s first Fourth of July Splash. Back in the early days of the Harbor, a logger’s two most anticipated holidays were Independence Day and Christmas; the only times they could get a week out of the woods and raise hell in the city. From the time of their founding, Aberdeen and Hoquiam held separate Independence Day celebrations; it took two decades for them to end that rivalry — and begin another.

It was early 1913 when the Chamber of Commerce managed to talk the two cities into merging their opposing celebrations into one large event that would bring everyone in the county together. The Chamber’s Fourth of July Committee received a proposal from the Hoquiam Commercial Club that a contest be held to name the celebration that would alternate annually between Aberdeen and Hoquiam. Nearly 300 entries were submitted ranging from the “Jungle Jiggle” to the “Grayport Giggle” to the “Lumberjacks Jamboree,” but ultimately the name they settled on was “Splash.” There were four entries with that moniker but the $20.00 prize went to the first person to enter the winning name, C.J. Sims of the Grayport Hotel in Hoquiam.

Miss Elizabeth Adams, also of Hoquiam, submitted the same name and gave many clever reasons to make that choice:

First — It makes no discrimination between the two cities.

Second — It is short.

Third — It is distinctive.

Fourth — It will appeal to all the loggers.

Fifth — A log “splash” has always been something worth seeing.

Sixth — It is euphonic — easily spoken.

Seventh — To people of non-lumbering communities who do not know what a “splash” is, the word will convey a dashy, sporty suggestion which fits well with the occasion.

Eighth — The fitness of this name and the unfitness of others that have been suggested will be seen at once if you will ask the question: “Are you going to the ________?” (followed by any of the suggested names).

The name quickly found popular support, with the Aberdeen Herald declaring, “‘The Splash’ is as appropriate a name for Grays Harbor as ‘The Round-up’ is for Pendleton.”

The first Splash celebration, held in Hoquiam in 1913, was a grand event that drew 20,000 people from throughout the county, as well as the Honorable Gov. Ernest Lister, who observed the grand parade from the reviewing stand in the front of the city library. The First Annual Splash was an unmitigated success — and set a high bar for Aberdeen the following year. This was just the latest bit of one-upmanship between the rival communities which were to meet for their tenth annual Thanksgiving Day gridiron game four months later.

The smoke from the fireworks had barely cleared when the movers and shakers of Aberdeen began planning their turn as Splash hosts. A committee was formed, with Jim Bowes, a gregarious promoter and real estate agent, named chairman. The committee set a target of $3,000 to stage the event. That April, the Rice-Dore Water Carnival was staged for six days on West Market Street from Broadway to L Street, raising $667.80.

The committee also ordered two automobiles which were raffled off at $1 a ticket, each holder having two chances. Over 4,000 tickets were sold, with the drawing held at the July 5 baseball game at Electric Park. The first prize was a $1,150 Studebaker (won by H.A. Comeau, of the Comeau Furniture Company) and the second, a five-passenger Ford (won by laundryman W.H. Cady, owner of the Grays Harbor Renovatory).

On July 2, 1914, with the city wrapped in red, white and blue bunting, the second annual Splash festival was kicked off with Captain Henry Dixon’s speed launch Grays Harbor pulling Henry Rundell of Cosmopolis, standing on a 12-inch plank, at a speed of 35 mph up the Chehalis and Wishkah Rivers. For the next two days, events and contests filled every minute: greased pig race, flour diving contest, greased pole climb, shingle packing contest, fat men’s race, wheelbarrow race, and rope jumping contest, to name just a few. The banks of the Wishkah River between Heron and Market Streets were lined with spectators to witness the canoe races, log rolling, swimming contests and the timber falling contest, which featured huge logs standing upright on barges. For over 12 hours a day, there was literally something for everybody.

Perhaps the most exhilarating event was the July 3 balloon ascent by daredevil aeronaut Professor Frank Brooks of Vancouver, Wash. A huge balloon was filled with hot smoke and launched (from the parking lot next to the present-day D&R Theatre) with Professor Brooks dangling from a parachute. At 3,000 feet he pulled the ripcord, the balloon turned-turtle belching out a huge plume of dark smoke and the daredevil began his descent. Brooks drifted with the wind before touching down at Marion and Evans Streets in South Aberdeen. Where the balloon landed is unknown.

The highlight of the three-day event was the Grand Parade held on the Fourth, with George J. Wolff, the popular dry goods merchant, in charge. Wolff hired Pathé News to film the Splash for later presentation in the local theaters. The cameraman was stationed in front of the Finch Building on the southwest corner of Heron and H Streets as the parade passed by.

The parade floats and marchers snaked for 34 blocks through town and had over a thousand participants representing civics (Gov. Lister, Samuel and Mrs. Benn, A.J. and Mrs. West, and the mayors of Aberdeen and visiting cities); education (most of the public school students, Sunday Schools, Fathers and Mothers, Babies and Buggies); and fraternal organizations (featuring the Elks, Sons of Norway, Polish Independent Club, Croatian Society, and 300 members of the Finnish Brotherhood Lodge).

Following the parade, a huge Mardi Gras masquerade dance was held on Market Street. Jim Bowes assured the public that “the pavement will be in first class shape for dancing and music galore. The dancers will be masked and it will be a wide-open, go-to-it-as-you-please affair. The street will be well illuminated and everything in the fun line, but nothing in the way of disorder, will be tolerated.”

Without question, Aberdeen’s first Splash was a success, posting a tidy profit of $800 that was put in the bank to collect interest until the 1916 event. Other than a rash of pickpockets working the crowded street cars, crime was virtually nill.

For the next dozen or so years, the annual Splash celebration continued with the two cities trying to out-do each other, but by the mid-1920s, the number of both entrants and attendees began to wane. The automobile provided mobility and more people were taking advantage of the warm weather to make a mass exodus to the beaches and lakes and forests. The last time the Splash was advertised as such was in 1928, and by 1929 the only remnant left of the former celebration was the fireworks show.

In the 1990s the Splash celebration was resurrected in Aberdeen, and the fireworks show still draws thousands, but the water sports and grand parades of yesteryear are misty memories of the few left who witnessed it. Thanks to the forethought of George J. Wolff to film the event, we can still get a glimpse of that big day in 1914, including much of the parade, many of the water events, the aeronaut’s ascent, and Samuel and Mrs. Benn and other notable locals. In 1976, the 15-minute film was transferred to videotape and then DVD and is available through the public library and on the internet. The film can also be viewed at the Aberdeen Museum of History.

Today’s Aberdeen Founders’ Day celebration features the largest parade in decades and a street dance featuring the band Humptulips. Let’s do what we can to make it a success and create an annual event that brings back the spirit of the original Grays Harbor Splash.

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and will be riding in Jimmy McGiveron’s “Pumpkin,” a bright orange 1978 Ford F-150 4x4. See you all at the parade! Roy also wishes Dann Sears of the Aberdeen Museum a Happy Birthday!

Candidates for county commissioner participate in wide-ranging forum

OCEAN CITY — Four candidates for county commissioner agreed more than they disagreed at a wide-ranging forum Thursday night at the Fire District 7 Hall in Ocean City.

Topics ranged from crude-by-rail, the public hospital district and weekend transit service to a sewer connection to the North Beach, tourism, jobs and fishing as Al Smith, Jim Heikel, Keith Olson and Vickie Raines fielded questions asked by moderators from the North Beach Community Improvement Association and North Coast News Editor Angelo Bruscas.

District 3 is represented by outgoing Commissioner Herb Welch, and encompasses the northwest corner of the county, including Ocean Shores and the North Beach, as well as Hoquiam, Central Park and Cosmopolis. Smith, a Democrat, independent Heikel, Republican Olson and non-partisan candidate and Cosmopolis Mayor Raines will face off in the August primary. The top two vote-getters will advance to the November General Election.

In addition to the questions asked by the moderators, the audience of close to 60 people were encouraged to chime in on the discussion. Most of those who attended live on the North Beach and inside District 3, though some came from Montesano and Elma in District 2 and Aberdeen in District 2.

Anti-crude-by-rail buttons were worn by many, and the issue came up more than once.

Robert Ford, a retired architect, challenged each candidate to take an anti-crude by rail button. Smith, who owns North West Alternative Energy LLC, is strongly against the proposals. Heikel, a commercial pilot and owner of Grays Harbor Flight, is worried that risks to the fishing industry and environment outweigh the benefits. Both took them.

Olson politely refused because he supports an oil pipeline rather than bringing crude in by rail. He suggested storage facilities be put in Montesano or Elma, “farther away from the water.” He is in favor of “bringing quality family wage jobs to the Harbor,” he said.

Raines gave a couple of lengthy and nuanced answers saying safety and the environment are a big concern. She also praised “excellent” Port of Grays Harbor officials for bringing jobs to the Harbor. As for crude-by-rail, she thinks the projects may not pass muster in terms of environmental laws.

When presented with the button, she removed her campaign button and joked, “I’d be happy to wear one of yours, if you wear one of mine.” She handed Ford hers, which she replaced on her sweater with the anti-crude button.

The audience erupted in laughter.

The biggest groan of the night came in a discussion of road levies. All agreed that the county should stop using road tax levies to compensate for shortages in the county budget.

Raines took a very strong position, saying it “would not get a ‘yes’ vote from me.”

“That’s a woman for you,” Smith rejoined to groans in the audience, “a very smart woman.”

The proposed public hospital district to run Grays Harbor Community Hospital is seen as a distinctly mixed blessing by all four.

Making Grays Harbor Community Hospital public and electing commissioners would make it “transparent and open,” Raines said. On the flip side, she worried, “we don’t know how much debt will be put on the backs of the taxpayers.”

She noted it would be tough to travel to Olympia for Level 3 trauma care.

“We need a hospital, period,” said Smith, a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician in the Wishkah Valley.

He added, however, he doesn’t understand some of what is on the August ballot about the district and worries others don’t, as well.

Heikel, who spent 28 years as a paramedic and firefighter for the City of Hoquiam, said he’s still gathering information and doesn’t yet have a stance on the hospital issue.

Olson was more direct. “I am extremely frustrated that they throw this on us without understanding what is going on,” he said.

A possible emergency medical clinic on the North Beach also came up.

Smith supports an aggressive push for a 24/7 clinic in North Beach, while Heikel said he advocates earthquake and tsunami preparedness but did not commit. Quinault resident and timber faller Olson said there should be one and in the rain forest, too. Raines said she’d like to see a clinic, but said it comes down to tax dollars.

Candidates disappointed many in the audience by pleading ignorance of plans for wastewater treatment for Illahee and Oyehut, where residents on septic systems may be ordered by the state to hook up to a proposed sewer system in the area. The county will receive about $2.5 million in loans and grants to pay for the system, which is reported to cost $3 million.

Ocean City resident and marine biologist Joe Schumacker warned there have been high levels of fecal coliform recorded at the beaches. The sewer system could aleviate the contamination, possibly being caused by septic tanks and run-off in the area.

The candidates agreed that weekend bus service to the beach should be restored if funding can be found, that a resident deputy from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office should remain, that beach and rain forest tourist attractions should be more heavily promoted by the county and that the county’s building permitting process should be clear, consistent and streamlined.

All four agreed that if funds can be found, the transfer station for garbage and recycling in North Beach should be reopened.

All of the candidates expressed an interest in pursuing sustainable jobs.

Raines noted when mill closures hit the Harbor, she helped attract Cosmo Speciality Fibers and Peterbilt to her city. Olson believes more jobs will surge with much less regulation. Heikel and Smith think everyone individually should do more to attract jobs to the area.

Ballots go out July 18.

Opposition to fluoridation resurfaces

The debate over whether to remove fluoride from city drinking water surfaced before the Aberdeen City Council Wednesday night. A pharmacist advocated eliminating it from the water supply, but two dental experts and a citizen asked that the fluoride remain.

The issue was hotly contested 15 years ago before the decision was made to add it to the water supply.

“I encourage you to remove fluoride from the water,” said pharmacist Jacqueline Olson. “It’s a neurotoxin.” She also suggested that if it is not added to the water, pharmacies might contribute fluoride to those in need who want it. A pharmacist did that in Olympia, she said.

The trouble with people who oppose fluoride is they often site studies claiming “they said” responded Dr. Timothy Wandell, a Hoquiam dentist. “It is the most studied thing there is,” he said. Yes, fluoride can be toxic in high doses, but so can many chemicals, including chlorine, which is added to make sure drinking water is safe to drink, he said.

Combating new opposition to fluoride is “kind of like playing whack-a-mole,” Wandell said. He criticized opponents of fluoride who claim “they said” without citing specific sources. He discounted several allegations made by those who advocate removal. However, he also used the word “they” as a source and was pounced on by Council President Peter Schave. “Who are they?” Schave asked.

“There have been thousands of scientific studies” in favor of fluoridation, Dr. Wandell said, seeming a bit frustrated. He listed several, including the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Wandell explained that while toothpaste has a much higher concentration of fluoride in it than water, it only applies it topically. Drinking fluoridated water allows the teeth to absorb it into the calcium, making teeth stronger, he said.

Dental health advocate Emily Firman drove from Seattle to speak in favor of fluoridation. She warned against trusting “Dr. Google” for information about the dangers of fluoride, which, she said, has been proven to be safe in more than 70 years of use.

Firman who is senior program officer for the Washington Dental Service Foundation. suggested people look up the facts on Ilikemyteeth.org — a site hosted by the American Society of Pediatrics.

Mike Dickerson of the civic group Our Aberdeen questioned whether it was right to ask fluoridation be stopped at the request of a few when it benefits the many who likely prefer having it added.

Public works

The issue was discussed at length during the council’s Public Works Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon. The four committee members decided not to take immediate action so they could study the matter. Fluoride is added to the city’s water system at the lowest end of the scale permitted by the state health authorities, or 0.8 milligrams per liter, Public Works Director Malcolm Bowie said Tuesday at the committee. The water supply falls under the jurisdiction of his department.

Paling and Schave had asked the committee to look into whether the city should stop adding fluoride to the water. A private citizen asked that it be stopped, but none of the members could remember his name.

The addition of fluoride costs the city $30,000 per year and is controlled by a continuous dosing meter by remote, electronic control, Bowie said. A printed slide show from Ilikemyteeth.org, which Bowie provided “for information purposes only,” showed that, for every dollar spent on fluoridation, $38 in unnecessary dental costs is saved. Chairwoman Margo Shortt, billing herself as neutral, distributed a study she found on the Internet. The study is titled “50 reasons to oppose fluoridation.” She wanted to be balanced, she said.

That study was questioned by Arthur Andrews, who just earned his degree as a registered nurse. The authors challenged their own findings eventually, he said.

“You’ve got to read the entire study,” he said. Andrews, who is married to Councilwoman Tawni Andrews, also handed out materials from the CDC in support of fluoridation.

The committee has several options, Councilman Tim Alstrom said: to study the issue and choose not to do anything, to sponsor an ordinance revoking the one that authorizes the city to add fluoride, or revoke the law and pass another to ban the use of fluoride in the water. The committee could remain neutral or recommend a vote on the ordinance options.

While he appreciates the right to choose, Alstrom wasn’t willing to sponsor an ordinance, but would consider one sent to the committee by another council member.

Councilwoman Kathi Hoder seemed to want to let citizens choose, until she heard information from PEW Research that fluoridation of drinking water is “identified by many reputable health organizations as a measure that prevents the common chronic childhood disease of tooth decay.”

Hoder considered the effect that would have on Aberdeen’s children, many of whom are on free or reduced lunch and whose families probably couldn’t afford fluoride to add individually to water. She also did not like learning that the Sierra Club opposes fluoridation for environmental reasons. If they don’t like it, maybe she should, she said.

Councilman Alan Richrod said this was one issue where science would have to be carefully considered.

He brought up an anecdote about the Amish, who, he said, did not vaccinate their children until they decided it would be better for society at large if they did, and thereby did not endanger others with childhood diseases such as measles or polio, he said.

The committee meets Tuesdays at 4 p.m. the day before council meetings.

Photos: Sand and Sawdust Festival kicks off in Ocean Shores

The Sand and Sawdust Festival kicked off Friday at the Ocean Shores Convention Center under cloudy skies and rain and will continute through Sunday. The festival features dozens of professional sand and wood sculptors as well as competitions, workshops and more than 100 food vendors.

Complaints lead to drug arrests in Hoquiam

Reports from neighbors led to the arrest in Hoquiam of two people allegedly involved with small-scale methamphetamine sales.

Detectives with the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force, along with Hoquiam Police Department officers and Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office deputies, served a search warrant relating to a suspected drug operation at a home in the 200 block of K Street in Hoquiam Thursday morning, Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.

The resident, a 34-year-old Hoquiam woman, was arrested on suspicion of multiple drug offenses. A 28-year-old Hoquiam man who had been staying there was arrested for probation violations and may face additional drug charges.

Other people in the home were checked for outstanding warrants and released, Myers said.

“This investigation stemmed from numerous neighborhood complaints to the Hoquiam Police Department of heavy foot and vehicle traffic to and from the residence,” Myers said. “These complaints were forwarded to the Drug Task Force, which initiated an undercover investigation.”

Because of the condition of the home, and because it had no electrical service, Myers said it likely will be condemned by the Hoquiam Building Department.

“Anyone who returns will be arrested for trespassing once the premises is posted ‘unsafe to occupy,’ ” Myers added.

The woman’s derelict vehicle was also impounded from the street in front of the house.

“One of our three department focus points is targeting drug dealers and drug locations,” Myers said. “The Drug Task Force took on this location, based on citizen concerns, and developed a case that will hopefully resolve the problem.”

Germany wins, 1-0, but USA advances in World Cup

RECIFE, Brazil — They had to do it the hard way, but in the end it was job done for the United States this morning as the Americans advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament despite falling to Germany, 1-0, at the Arena Pernambuco.

After earning a huge 2-1 win over the Ghanaians in their opening match on June 16 and suffering a gut-wrenching last-second 2-2 draw with Portugal last Sunday, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side needed only a draw to ensure their place in the round of 16 as Group G runners-up.

It wasn’t the greatest display of football from the clearly fatigued U.S. squad as they struggled through much of the match to create any kind of quality scoring chances, but went into the break level at 0-0.

Thomas Muller broke the deadlock for Germany in the 55th minute with his fourth goal of the tournament to send Germany to the top of the group with seven points, while the U.S. finished second with four points and advanced thanks to Portugal’s 2-1 win over Ghana in Brasilia.

“This was by far the strongest group to go through. It was hard work and it required tremendous commitment,” Klinsmann said after the match. “We’ll go into the round of 16, analyze this game, see who we’re going to play and take it to them. Now it really starts, we’ll put this group stage behind us.”

The Americans will face the winner of Group H on Tuesday, while Germany will play the Group H runners-up on Monday.

There was plenty of chatter prior to the match of the United States facing a talented Germany side with a potential disadvantage of having only three days of rest following the Portugal draw in Manaus.

The Americans refused to rely on that as an excuse, but the side did look fatigued for much of the match as Germany had the better of the play in the early stages.

Jerome Boateng fashioned the first good chance for the Germans just minutes in as he sent a cross into the box that forced U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard into an early save.

Lukas Podolski tested Howard with a low, driven cross in the eighth minute, but the Everton goalkeeper made another early key stop.

The Americans’ first quality chance came in the 23rd minute as Graham Zusi had a go on the left flank from the edge of the penalty area, but his right-footed effort soared over the crossbar.

Germany continued to find the better chances as the first half wore on when Arsenal man Mesut Ozil forced Howard into a good save in the 35th minute and the sides went into the intermission level.

The breakthrough for Germany came 10 minutes into the second half via a corner kick. Ozil served a nice ball into the area from the right flank that Per Mertesacker nodded on goal with pace.

Howard parried the ball away, but it fell to Muller on the edge of the box and the Bayern Munich man hammered it past Howard into the bottom right corner to give his nation the lead.

Trailing by a goal, things got chippy as the second half wore on. Tackles came flying in as the Americans struggled to create any kind of opportunities.

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could have set up a lawn chair in his penalty area for most of the second half because the U.S. failed to put any strikes on target over the course of the 90 minutes.

But thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 81st-minute winner against Ghana in Brasilia, Klinsmann’s men won the war that was the “Group of Death” despite losing that final battle against a well-drilled Germany machine.

Sand and Sawdust coming to Ocean Shores next weekend

This weekend, Ocean Shores will once again bring together two defining characteristics of Grays Harbor — the beach and the trees — with the Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival running June 27 through 30.

This year there is a concerted effort to better involve the downtown business community, with some of the businesses sponsoring sand sculptures outside of their locations, according to Lynda Miller of the Ocean Shores Action Committee for Tourism.

“We’d like to have sand sculptures throughout the city, like a trail of them,” Miller suggested. This year, there will be one at the Canterbury Inn, one at Playtime Family Fun Center, and two at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

One of the featured sand artists, Lisa Donze, will be giving lessons on the beach and at the Convention Center during the event on Saturday and Sunday.

“We have been getting requests for more and more and more sand activities,” Miller said of how the upcoming festival keeps evolving. “Events have to grow and change or they dissolve.”

Another change coming up will be a competition on Sunday among master-level entrants who will do a quick-carve sand sculpture on request from the audience using one bucket of sand.

There also will be a children’s quick-carve competition, too, to build sand castles.

Another highlight of last year’s Sand and Sawdust, the dog fashion show, also returns.

Over 100 food and craft vendors will also be at the Ocean Shores Convention Center throughout the festival. Master chainsaw carvers will be competing at the convention center Friday through Saturday. Eric Bjella will conduct the auctions for the carvings at the end of each competition.

SAND AND SAWDUST INFO

Sand sculpting lessons: Free sand sculpting lessons will be conducted by Bert Adams Friday on the Beach from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at the Convention Center Sand Pit at noon.

Group sand sculpting competition: The team sand sculpting competition will take place on Saturday, beginning with check-in and plot assignment from 7 to 9:00 a.m. . The contest will run from 9 a.m. until final judging at 3:30 p.m. Contestants must register Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Convention Center or Saturday before 9 a.m. at the beach.

Individual sand sculpting competition: Individual sand sculpting competitions will take place from 10 a.m. Friday through noon Sunday. Soectators will be able to vote continuously for the winning sculptor.

Children’s quick sand castle competition: The children’s competition will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Convention Center Sand Pit. Registration will take place on site, and prizes will be awarded to the top three contestants.

Chainsaw sculpting: Master chainsaw carvers will demonstrate their skills throughout the festival and compete for prizes and awards from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Entertainment: Live entertainment will take place at the Convention Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday.

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Grays Harbor College announces top grads for 2014

Graduation for Grays Harbor College’s Class of 2014 takes place Friday evening outside on the main campus in Aberdeen. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. The class includes more than 300 qualified graduates and approximately 150 are expected to participate in the traditional ceremony.

There are 12 students leading the classes scholastically. They are:

Logan Zepp, who will receive an Associate in Business — Direct Transfer (DTA) degree — graduated from Elma High School last year and completed college courses he began as a Running Start student. He will attend the University of Idaho as a marketing major. He is the son of Albert and Sandi Zepp.

Kathleen Yi graduated from Hoquiam High School earlier this June and receives her Associate in Arts DTA degree from GHC this week as a Running Start student. The daughter of Pyong Yi and Hani Yi, she will major in biochemistry at the University of Washington and hopes to pursue a career in healthcare.

Paige Pierog is the daughter of Sherri and Brad Pierog and will receive her Associate in Arts DTA degree at GHC, where she has been active in Phi Theta Kappa honor society (PTK). Graduating from Aberdeen High School in 2012, she will attend the University of LaVerne, Calif., majoring in communications with a minor in marketing.

Matthew Lewis is also graduating as a Running Start student from South Bend High School and GHC with an Associate in Science transfer degree as an engineering major. He will continue his education at Colorado School of Mines, majoring in mechanical engineering. The son of David Lewis and Gina Lewis, he participated in PTK.

Derek Thomas Schlaht will transfer to St. Martin’s University to major in business administration and minor in finance. His degree from GHC is an Associate in Business DTA. The son of Denise Schlaht, he graduated from Aberdeen High School in 2012 and is a World Class Scholar. He participated in the TRiO student support program, PTK, American Indian and Alaskan Natives Club, the annual student art show and Choker athletic events. He eventually would like to pursue a masters degree in business administration.

Matthew D. Barclay also receives a Associate in Business DTA degree from GHC and will be continuing his education at George Fox University, majoring in business entrepreneurship and minoring in accounting.

He is the son of Deven Barclay and Tovi Barclay and was homeschooled until 2011. While at GHC, he has been a math and science tutor, member and officer of PTK, and participated in student leadership.

Jaime Reino will receive his Associate in Science degree in pre-engineering and plans to earn a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Washington State University. He is the son of Kriss Longworth and earned his GED in 2006.

Makaela Morton, the daughter of Johnna Morton and Wade Cogdill, receives her Associate in Arts DTA degree as a psychology major.

She plans to attend Pacific Lutheran University to pursue her bachelors degree in social work and eventually to earn a masters degree. She graduated from Aberdeen High School in 2012.

Amanda M. Swarts, an Elma resident, receives her Associate in Science degree in pre-dental hygiene. She will enroll in the dental hygiene program at Pierce College and eventually will receive her bachelors degree in dental hygiene from Eastern Washington University. While at GHC, she was entertainment coordinator on the GHC Activities Board, a tutor and PTK officer. She is the daughter of James Brown Jr. and Kristin Theriault and her spouse is Kory Swarts.

Kseniia Vasileva attended high school in both Aberdeen and Vladivostok, Russia, and resides with Chris and Donna Portmann. She receives her Associate in Arts DTA degree and will attend Monmouth College in Illinois to major in economics. She eventually plans to attend Cornell University for graduate school in industrial and labor relations. At GHC, she has served as PTK chapter president as well as regional vice president, as well as tutoring in math and English, Tyee service club and student leadership activities.

Kevin Montez will transfer to WSU-Vancouver to pursue degrees in neuroscience and psychology, after he receives his Associate of Arts DTA degree from GHC. A Cosmopolis resident, he has been active in PTK, TRiO, leadership development and tutoring, he earned his high school diploma from GHC in 2009 and is the son of Doreen Winningham.

Evan Scamman also receives his Associate of Arts DTA degree and will enroll at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. to pursue a masters degree in divinity. He earned his GED in 1993 and is the son of Lena Scamman.

Rail officials talk safety, derailments

In the wake of three local derailments, Genesee &Wyoming railroad executives have learned two things: Some of the track they bought from RailAmerica in 2012 is in much worse shape than they realized, and “people don’t know who we are.”

For the first issue, Puget Sound &Pacific President Joel Haka recently pledged about $8.8 million in upgrades over the next three years. For the second, Haka and G&W Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Jerry Vest sat down with The Daily World’s editorial board this week.

“One of the things we learned with this series of derailments, which were unfortunate, is that people don’t know who we are,” Haka said.

Derailments

Haka is also a senior vice president with G&W for its Pacific Region railroads, serving as president of six short line railroads in all.

It’s the local one that’s been the problem recently: PS&P had three derailments over the course of about a month. A May 15 derailment near Montesano where 11 grain cars left the track was found to be caused by a “sun kink,” or warped rail caused by sudden changes in temperature. A May 9 derailment in Aberdeen saw seven cars off the track near the Olympic Gateway Mall as a result of failed rail ties because of heavy rains. The first derailment, April 29, had five cars tipped near South Michigan Street in Aberdeen.

“We had two derailments within a couple of weeks, and we couldn’t understand that,” Haka said. “Then we had a third one and the hair on the back of our necks stood up.”

Haka closed the railroad entirely for two days. A geometry car, which checks the track’s alignment, had begun examining the track after the second derailment, but hadn’t yet reached the site where the third train derailed.

“Joel’s decision to shut the railroad down, I think, is a fundamental cornerstone of the belief at G&W,” Vest said. “If we can’t do something safely we just shouldn’t do it.”

G&W is a 110-year-old rail company that started with a shortline railroad in upstate New York — in Genesee and Wyoming counties. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest short-line railroad companies in the world, with 112 railroads in North America, Europe and Australia.

Despite all that experience buying short line railroads, Haka and Vest acknowledged that the problems on the PS&P line got by the company, both before it bought RailAmerica, PS&P’s former owner, and in the 18 months it has owned the railroad.

“We have a lot of physical, civil-type engineers,” Haka said. “They looked at this railroad … one thing that became apparent is that the maintenance practices were not the best. And we didn’t realize that — now we’re aware of it.”

“These problems took more than 18 months to develop,” Vest added, but “we have a responsibility to run this railroad safely, it’s that fundamental. Obviously the inspection practices didn’t catch these (problems) and they should have.”

“We went over all the inspections with a fine tooth comb,” Haka said. “And the devil is always in the details. … We have revamped totally for this railroad. We were very disappointed.”

As a result of the derailments, the Federal Rail Administration conducted an investigation of the railroad and gave G&W a number of violations. An FRA spokesman confirmed that violations were issued, but said the specifics would not be available for release until the final report is completed.

Haka said the violations mostly related to mud seeping up through the track, and all of them have been fixed. He said no monetary fines have been issued.

“That happens when you don’t fix them, and we fixed them,” he said.

The derailments raised questions about the railroad’s readiness to serve three proposed crude oil terminals at the Port of Grays Harbor.

“At the end of the day, we move freight for a living, and I can’t have a derailment,” Haka said. “There’s a total lack of confidence.”

Haka said other railroads he run carry crude oil with a good safety record. He cited low speed limits, sometimes restricted to 10 mph, and inspecting the track before each shipment contribute to that. Vest said the repairs completed since the derailments here have taken care of the immediate issues, and the future investments will focus on hardening the rail and doing more toward preventing derailments. He likened it to lawn maintenance.

“Your lawn looks great, the weeds are gone, now what are you going to do to make sure the weeds don’t come back?” he said.

Crude by rail

More adjustments and policy changes would have to be made if the oil terminal projects proposed by Imperium Renewables, Westway Terminals and U.S. Development are ultimately approved.

The Imperium and Westway projects are currently in the process of completing an environmental impact statement. The U.S. Development project recently completed its initial application process.

“If and when the crude oil is approved, that is a whole new ballgame,” Vest said. “It’s hard for laypeople to understand this, but ‘fit for purpose’ is very much underlying the fundamental rail structure.”

As a common carrier, the railroad is not allowed to turn down any freight as long as it follows federal regulations, Vest and Haka say.

“If all that’s met, we have to handle it,” Vest said. “We’re not going to do anything that isn’t safe. But I would think there would be enough lead time for the receivers to build their infrastructure,” and at that point the railroad would be upgrading its own infrastructure.

Haka noted that if the railroad’s upgrades are not complete by the time the companies are ready to begin shipping oil, he believed the railroad would have the ability to delay transport until the safety upgrades are complete.

“They can’t force us to do something we just can’t do,” Vest agreed. “But that doesn’t happen a tremendous amount of time in our industry. There would probably be some legal discussions because we’re a common carrier, ‘Why can’t you handle it?’ “

The specifics of what would need to change in order to handle crude oil are hard to pin down at this point, they said.

“If we were to actually do crude oil at those volumes, we’d have to do fundamentally different things,” Haka said. “For one thing, I slow them down. I don’t operate anything over 25 mph.”

Vest said the traffic will dictate, as it does with most things in the rail industry, both the physical and policy changes.

“We’re thinking about that, but it’s going to be tied to the volumes,” he said. “We don’t want a mishap with that any more than anyone else, we’re responsible for it. We understand the angst that the community has … they want job growth, they want a strong economy, they want the community to generate a potential future for their children. … We can be a part of that, in giving the community a new industry, but what we’ve also heard is they want it done safely and sustainably.”

“We can handle crude oil safely,” he continued, “the challenge that we have is the folks who don’t want this to happen will grab any issue to stop it. What we’d love to happen here is that, as this EIS process unfolds and this process happens in Grays Harbor County, is just a factual discussion.”

Emergency response

Safety has been a key concern in that discussion. Last week, Haka said, rail officials met with local fire chiefs and discussed spill response plans.

“We don’t carry much hazardous — it’s not that we don’t have emergency response plans, we do, it’s just maybe not as obvious,” Haka said. “Now we’re going to start meeting with them regularly.”

The railroad has so far refused to release those plans publicly, citing safety concerns. Hoquiam Fire Department Chief Paul Dean said the chiefs had met with rail officials and have another meeting scheduled, but still have not received a response plan.

Whether emergency responders need notification when crude oil is moving through their areas is a discussion at both the state and national level.

“That’s an evolving topic,” Vest said. “We’ll absolutely be complaint” whatever is decided.

He did question the benefit of notification for too many trains.

“If we tell them every time we send a train through, what are they going to do with that information?” he said.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, some East Coast fire departments asked to know about shipment schedules, Vest recalled.

“The railroad said, ‘OK, what’s your fax number, we’re going to send you every way bill for every train that comes through here.’ … After three days, they said ‘Stop.’ “

In the event a spill does happen, Vest said the railroad is heavily insured and looking to build a future locally. “It’s a genuine concern: ‘Are these people part of our community, are they here for the long term?’ And we are,” he said. “These (railroads) aren’t commodities we buy and sell.”

Olympic Gateway Mall

Research is currently under way for traffic improvements for the Olympic Gateway Mall and East Aberdeen, where numerous rail crossings often snarl traffic.

The study, conducted by the Grays Harbor Council of Governments, uses mostly grant funding with a match from the Port.

If rail changes are needed in the future, Vest said the railroad may be willing to partner on a solution, but wouldn’t fund it entirely.

“Forget crude oil, that kind of needs to be addressed,” he said of the crossings. “The railroad itself doesn’t have an ability to fix that. It’s going to have to be a public/private effort to fix that. … The way we approach public/private partnerships on our railroad, and I think the fair way to handle it, is: ‘Who benefits?’ … That’s a great way to start the discussion on who pays how much.”

“It’s an emotional subject,” Haka added, “we would not force anyone to close a crossing, but that mile and a half, it’s dangerous and we know that.”

Brionna Friedrich: 360-537-3933 or bfriedrich@thedailyworld.com and @DW_Brionna on Twitter.

Finishing touches to rebuilt Ocean Crest restaurant

MOCLIPS — Friday was the three-year anniversary of a day that still brings tears to Jess Owen’s eyes.

The grandson of the longtime owner of the Ocean Crest Resort and Restaurant chokes up when he recalls how his aunt Shari Curtright suited up with the District 8 Fire Department that fateful day when the view restaurant — its priceless artifacts and family heirlooms, its cherished collection of native baskets and renowned wine collection — went up in flames, with no way to save the cedar building.

Part of the restaurant was the home where his grandmother, Barbara Topete, had once lived.

Last Friday, however, also was a day of tears of joy as Owen and his wife Sara were overseeing the finishing touches of a multimillion-dollar rebuild of the restaurant that features perhaps the most breath-taking view of the Pacific Coast in the state combined with what Jess vows will be the same culinary class that set the Ocean Crest apart from just about anything anywhere in the region.

Original artwork was being displayed with special care by Barbara Bennett Parsons, who was providing silkscreens and other pieces from her father, the late Grays Harbor artist Elton Bennett (1910-1974).

“My dad did things for Ocean Crest that he wouldn’t have done for anyone else,” Bennett Parsons said.

Elton Bennett’s work often ended up at Ocean Crest because of a longtime family friendship, she explained.

“The charm of the family matron, and dad would do something for her once a year. It was supposed to be for my mother, and mother would put it up on the living room wall and Barbara (Topete) would come over,” she said of the longtime tradition of Bennett art being showcased at the resort. “Barbara always had the best eye.”

Some of the pieces include Bennett’s designs of early Ocean Crest folding brochures from the 1950s.

“We had a colored-pencil drawing of his that he did on black construction paper in the old building that unfortunately got lost in the fire. That was beautiful,” Jess Owen recalled. About 30 Bennett pieces were lost in the fire.

Bennett Parsons and interior designer Kathleen Williams (Design by Kathleeen Williams in Bellevue) were busy on Friday, the anniversary of the fire, getting the final details in place for what is likely going to be a mid-July opening. To Bennett Parsons of Hoquiam’s Farmers Market, Ocean Crest has the best view “on the planet.”

For Williams, the interior design, which was approved by the Curtright family at large, is a bit of a departure in that she usually handles high-end residential clients in the Seattle area. The idea is to have the decor of the restaurant fit right in with the natural beauty of the ocean, the beach, the forest and the hillside upon which it is now propped up by a series of fortified pilings.

The woodwork throughout also is done with the same detail by Specialty Wood Co. of Kent. The tongue-and-groove cedar in the walls and cedar shingles were milled from trees harvested off adjacent Ocean Crest property for the project.

Williams noted she grew up in the area “off and on” and even graduated from the old Moclips North Beach High School when her father was assigned to the Naval facility at Pacific Beach.

“My very first job that I ever had when I was in high school at 16 was as a maid at Ocean Crest,” she said.

Williams ran into Rob Curtright at a high school reunion after the fire and offered her services as an interior designer, something she has been doing for the past 30 years.

“Because I grew up here, I understand the beach,” she said. “I wanted it to be true to the area and not look like somebody did a hotel from Seattle.”

One of the artifacts saved from the fire is an Indian canoe paddle from yellow cedar, which was restored by Jack Backes of Ocean Shores, Sara Owen’s father. It is being displayed on the wall as guests enter over the front desk, where it also used to hang over the old entrance to the dining room and lobby.

“It is one of the few things that made it through the fire,” Sara Owen said.

With the artwork done, the dishes stacked up, the wine display ready to be supplied and food shipments on the way, the staff is being readied to begin operations again. Coty MacDonald is the new chef/cook from the Shilo.

“It’s exactly what we want here: Somebody who is creative and passionate,” Sara Owen said. “There is some stuff we can’t change, and people have been waiting for three years so they can have their favorites again. But we want Coty to be creative. Everything we do is from scratch, and everything is the best we can get our hands on.”

For the past three years, the Owens say they have been asked by someone “every single day” when the restaurant would reopen. They note it is a family business and the support from the community has been heartfelt.

“We had such a huge loss with the fire that it is very emotional for us,” Jess Owen said. “We realize that if people stop asking, then we have a problem. We are very blessed that they want us to come back and that they are rooting for us.”

Ocean Shores Council lifts marijuana moratorium, allowing retail location

The Ocean Shores City Council, by a 5-2 vote, passed a resolution Monday night that removes the city’s moratorium on a retail marijuana business within city limits, effectively allowing a pending application with the state Liquor Control Board to move toward final approval.

With council members John Schroeder and Ginny Hill voting against the measure, the rest of the council members said they wanted to end months of debate over the issue, turning back efforts to continue the moratorium or attempt to ask for further clarification about the pending location’s proximity to the city’s skatepark or public beaches.

The resolution states: “At this time, the City Council intends to end the moratorium and site the retail marijuana outlet per the Washington State Liquor Control Boards’s rules without additional City rules and zoning; however, the outlet must obtain a City business license and obey all laws and rules set forth by the City and State.”

The pending applicant, Ryan Kunkel of the Seattle area, spoke to the council and said he was hoping to open at the current chosen location, the Zimmerman Building at Ocean Shores Boulevard.

Kunkel and his company Green Outfitters was awarded Ocean Shores’ one retail marijuana license under the state’s new legalization initiative, with licensing run by the Liquor Control Board. The license is being reviewed by the state after a lottery involving three applicants for the right to sell marijuana in the city.

A zoning map initially prepared by the city and reviewed by the Planning Commission had considered the entire beach as establishing a 1,000-foot buffer from any such establishment. State regulations mandate that marijuana businesses may not be located within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, childcare centers, public parks, public transit centers, libraries or game arcades. The other debate has been about whether the city’s skatepark, located less than 1,000 feet from the proposed location, would meet the definition of a public park under the buffer.

Mayor Crystal Dingler on Monday night told the council that the state had determined the skatepark did not meet the definition, and that the state also didn’t have an issue with having residential units above a retail marijuana location.

The city’s draft of the resolution noted that Initiative No. 502 was “passed by the citizens allowed the licensing and regulation of the production, processing, and retail sale of recreational marijuana for persons over 21, removed state-law criminal and civil penalties for the activities that it authorizes, established taxes, and earmarked those funds.”

Several of the council members said they had voted against the initiative but were not going to let that influence their decision in allowing a business to move forward under the new law.

Gordon Broadbent read a prepared statement that said he voted against the measure because he felt it “would lead to a slippery slope.”

“But my position was rejected and recreational use of pot is now legal in the state of Washington. As your representative, it is now my job to interpret and follow the law.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I will vote tonight to follow the will of the citizens and the rules of the Liquor Control Board,” Broadbent continued. “Unless someone can show me a legal reason to disapprove sales in Ocean Shores, I will vote for the Liquor Control Board’s zoning recommendations and to end the current moratorium.”

Dingler presented the council with a set of multiple choices on what they could do, noting the council may still need to determine how to handle a future medical marijuana application or the potential issue of a growing and production operation.

Resident Don Williams requested that Dingler make public a record of the state’s determination that the skatepark and the beaches were not considered public parks, and warned that the a retail marijuana store would bring law enforcement and emergency service problems without any new funds or resources to pay for such burdens.

“There’s going to be a problem that is going to cost the city money to have this facility in town,” Williams said, playing audio of a news report about increased problems in Colorado, where retail marijuana sales already are legal. “If you don’t believe me, look at Colorado.”

Planning Commission member Holly Plackett, who presented a minority report urging opposition to the proposed location, defended the commission’s request to ask for further clarification on the buffer issues.

“The intention of the 1,000-foot buffer is to protect our children,” she said, asking the council to dispute the state’s ruling the skatepark didn’t qualify.

“I think you should stand firm that the skatepark is a public park that falls within the 1,000-foot buffer, and that location should probably not be sited,” Plackett said.

The council majority, however, felt otherwise, with members John Lynn, Randy Scott, Dan Overton (who made the initial motion), Broadbent and Jackie Farra voting both for the resolution and for a follow-up measure to officially remove the moratorium.

Kunkel, the license holder, said there would be no residential units above the proposed business, which would use the apartments over the location for employees and offices. Signs, he added, are regulated and must be no larger than 1,660 square inches.

“Children walking by will never know what we are,” Kunkel said. The sign will say REC 21. “That’s it… . It’s a very clean operation.”

Schroeder acknowledged he was still confused about the issue of what was considered a park and voted against both measures. Hill, while chastising the Planning Commission for its lack of a clear recommendation, also cited the issues with the buffer definitions used by the state in her opposition.

“This was the beginnings of a city park that was to be expanded upon in the future,” Hill said of the plans for the skatepark, which is the city’s newest park. “If you vote to allow this (marijuana business) where it is, then why do we have a plan at all for the city? … I’m not ready to vote on this.”

Hill urged further consideration of the options initially laid out in the resolution, and that the council “not be pushed because somebody wants to open a business before we are ready to open a business.”

Lynn said he, too, voted against the initiative but his 17 years in public office has given him a perspective that pushed him to fulfill the will of the voters. “When the public asks for something, as they did in the state, the county and the city, when they said yes to recreational marijuana, my responsibility then is to try to make it work for all the people the best that we can.” he said.

After the vote, Kunkel said he was relieved and hadn’t known what to expect from the proceedings.

“This means we can go to work now,” said Kunkel who already operates Have a Heart medical marijuana clinics in the Seattle area.

City to buy lot on F and Wishkah

The Aberdeen City Council came out of executive session Wednesday night to allow Mayor Bill Simpson to contract to purchase four parcels of land in the 400 block of East Wishkah Street for $250,000.

All council members but Margo Shortt were present for the voice vote of aye.

The former site of a Chevron station at F and Wishkah streets, the land is central to plans to renovate the entrance of town as part of proposed public and private partnerships being discussed by economic development consultant Cary Bozeman, Community Development Director Lisa Scott and Greater Grays Harbor Inc.

The site could house a visitor’s center, an entrepreneurial hub and other development, the officials have said. Improving the entrance to downtown is one of the top three priorities in the effort to revitalize the downtown core and connect it to the waterfront.

The land, now a vacant lot, belongs to Lakeshore Investment Corporation and Porterfield Investment LLC according to the sale documents drawn up by S. M. Piha Company LLC in Seattle. The sale contract is dated June 13.

The city has until Nov. 30 to come up with the money, which will come from reserves of the general fund, Finance Director Kathryn Skolrood said.

The city would then close on Dec. 18, City Attorney Eric Nelson said. The delay is to give the city time to have an environmental assessment of the land and communicate the results to the council before the purchase is made.

If cleanup costs prove to be too much, the city can back out, “no harm, no foul,” Scott said. The city is putting up $5,000 in earnest money.

The parcels are part of an area targeted by the Bozeman Group to be part of a renewed and improved entrance to Aberdeen. The city already owns a sort of triangle of land at Fuller Way and F Street near the proposed purchase.

The Bozeman Group recently released preliminary conceptual drawings both of the entrance area and a proposed park along the waterfront. The city has been talking to waterfront owners but has not publicly proposed purchase of parcels in that area yet.

The plan is to submit the conceptual drawings of both areas as part of a grant request for $146,945 from the Department of Ecology to pay for an environmental site assessment of each of the sites. The conceptualizations are an important component to the application for the grant money, Scott said.

Although the Chevron site was cleaned up after it was closed in 1991, there could be residual contamination, Nelson said.

The city can incorporate the waterfront land in the assessment even if they don’t own it, if the owner permits an assessment to be done. If approval is not given, the city will apply for the Chevron site only, Scott said Wednesday night after the vote.

“There is no (grant) money for acquisition, but there is money for development,” said Scott, explaining the reason for the purchase.

The conceptual drawings were created by consultants hired by Bozeman. They cost “under $10,000” Scott said. Council President Peter Schave questioned a check to pay Walker Macy for $8,139.60 earlier in the Finance Committee meeting during a review of city expenditures.

Scott said the funds came from a brownfield cleanup fund administered by community development, not out of Bozeman’s fee.

Part of the money for the drawings, for a trip to Aberdeen by one of the consultants, came out of a private donation given to the Aberdeen Revitalization Movement for efforts by the Bozeman Group. ARM is the fundraising outlet for the group.

Power outage affects 669 Aberdeen customers

Grays Harbor PUD crews are responding to a large outage in West Aberdeen. The outage was reported at 2:15 p.m. and is impacting large areas of Simpson and Sumner avenues, Fifth Street and Cherry Street. Those impacted include Duffy’s, the Pearsall Building and surrounding residential areas.

The outage may be impacting traffic lights and drivers are reminded to treat intersections without working traffic lights as four-way stops. At this time, there is no estimated time for restoration.

PUD spokesman Ian Cope said the outage occurred when a construction crew backed into a power pole and knocked down a transformer. A total of 669 customers have been impacted.

“As far as these outages go, this is supposed to be an easy fix,” Cope said.

Police search for Pacific Beach grocery store robber

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who robbed the D&K Grocery in Pacific Beach at about 7:20 p.m. yesterday.

“The manager called to report that a man wearing a hood and mask over his face entered the store with his hand in his pocket and demanded money,” Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate said. “The manager, believing the suspect had a gun, gave the man money from the cash register.”

No gun was actually seen, Shumate said. The man was seen running across Main Street toward the beach.

A nearby Washington State Patrol trooper responded, along with the county’s K-9 unit and additional deputies, but the suspect was not found. Shumate said investigators have learned he may have fled in a vehicle, and are following up on a possible vehicle description.

The suspect is described as being about 5 feet 7 inches tall, very skinny, last seen wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with a dark green fleece jacket over it, black pants and black rimmed sunglasses.

“While the store did have surveillance video, it apparently was not operational at the time,” Shumate said. “Investigators are looking into the possibility of nearby video surveillance from other businesses.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711.

Grays Harbor County unemployment back in double digits

Grays Harbor County jumped back up into double digits and the highest unemployment rate in the state for May, according to figures released Tuesday. Pacific County fared better with a preliminary rate of 9 percent.

The preliminary rate for Grays Harbor is 10.5 percent, up over the revised rate of 9.7 percent for April, the first time the county had been out of double digits since the Great Recession hit in 2008.

All numbers are not seasonally adjusted. The unemployment rate doesn’t count people who have become discouraged and dropped off the rolls entirely.

“Here we are again,” said labor analyst Jim Vleming of the Department of Labor & Industry. “We probably have more people jumping into the labor force at the end of school” which means fewer jobs for more people.

The county labor force gained 250 people and the county only added 30 jobs, Vleming added. Unemployment went up by 220. The labor force is now counted as 26,810.

The trend is reflected statewide, where the unemployment rate went from 5.6 to 6.1 percent because 19,000 people entered the labor force, Vleming said.

Over the year, Grays Harbor has lost 390 jobs in non-farm employment. Over the month, from April to May, the jobs increased by 180, he said.

“If we look at numbers over the last few years, there is a decline from May to June … in non-farm employment,” Vleming said, conceding, “over the years we are fighting an uphill battle.”

Pacific County also went up a few tenths of a percent, from the revised rate in April of 8.6 percent to May’s preliminary figure of 9.0 percent. That ties Pacific with Columbia County. The Pacific County labor force increased by 110 people to 8,780.

Grays Harbor and Ferry County are the only two counties in the state in double digits. Pacific County is one of 10 counties with unemployment rates in the next highest category. Lewis County is highest among the 10 with a preliminary rate of 9.5 percent and Wahkiakum is lowest, with a preliminary rate of 8.1 percent.

Erin Hart, 360-537-3932, ehart@thedailyworld.com. Twitter: @DW_Erin

Portraits in the mud

About 5,000 runners from around the state took part in The Dirty Dash Saturday at Straddleline Raceway in McCleary. The messy event featured dozens of obstacles for all ages including a massive waterslide, mud pits and rope ladders. The Daily World caught up with particiapants as they finished the race, hoping to photograph them while they were still euphoric, and most importantly, completely covered in mud from their experience.

Free concert focuses on awareness in Aberdeen, Wash.

A 2013 community health profile by Grays Harbor Public Health &Social Services found that 25- to 44-year-olds in the county were dying from drug-related causes nearly 20 percent more often than the state average in the most recent five-year study period.

In response to statistics like these, a partnership between Educational Service District 113 and Worksource of Grays Harbor is bringing a Rockers In Recovery concert to the D&R Theatre at 7:30 p.m. to promote addiction awareness.

Rockers In Recovery is an organization dedicated to using music to spread awareness of addition issues. Based in Florida, the band differs each show, made up of musicians who are passionate about helping addicts get treatment.

The free event on June 27 features musicians from groups such as the Blue Oyster Cult and The Capris in an effort to reach out to the community.

The directors, who lead the different musicians making up the band on different performances, are March Bosch and Lou Esposito. There are five other performers contributing to the event.They plan on playing 21 songs, including “Needle and the Damage Done,” “Tobacco Road,” and “Pink Cadillac.”

Katie Cutshaw from ESD said this free event has a greater purpose than just entertainment.

“We want the community to hear something positive and come together to have some fun,” she said. “Whether a person is in recovery, dealing with their own addiction, or impacted by someone else’s, the message will be that there is hope and that wellness is possible.”

No alcohol will be sold at the concert, nor will smoking be allowed in the theater. Organizations will have tables set up to answer questions about addiction advocacy groups.

John Hollis, founder of Rockers In Recovery, said the musicians look forward to coming to places like Aberdeen.

“We’re just doing a concert for awareness at the D&R,” he said. “There will be no money raised or pressure like that. It’s just about awareness.”

Social media brought the Rockers In Recovery non-profit to the Educational Service District 113’s attention. It appeared to be the best usage of private and public funds to put on monthly addiction-related programs in unison with the Worksource Grays Harbor.

This same program hosts a free comedy show June 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the D&R, with comedian Mark Lundholm, who did a similar show last year talking about his experiences in a 12-step program.

There will also be a special acoustic concert at The Harborena on June 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Those who want to donate to support prevention events can give to the Coastal Community Action Program, which is focused on improving health in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. For more information visit coastalcap.org.

Musical Directors of RIR All-Star Band and their past bands:

Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter, Rant Band, Garland Jeffries)

Lou Esposito (Joe Walsh, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry)

RIR Musical Contributors For D&R June 27 and their past bands:

Eliot Jacobs- Guitar (Peter Criss Band, The Capris)

Tommy Zvoncheck - Keyboards (Formerly of Blue Oyster Cult)

John Gianoulis - Drums (Earl Slick Band, Felix Cavaliere)

Lee Brovitz- Lead Vocals &Bass (Cyndi Lauper)

Casey Montana Rogers-(Recovery Unplugged)

http://ift.tt/1v2dgki

Rockers in Recovery Concert

D&R Theatre

205 South I St., Aberdeen WA

June 27

7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Free

Founders’ Day buttons for sale

The Aberdeen Founders’ Day Parade &Festival is selling yellow buttons for $5 to defray the costs of the events.

Several stores and companies in Aberdeen are offering specials to people wearing them through July 6. Grays Harbor Wine Sellars, for example, will give the bearer a wine tasting worth $6. The buttons are on sale at the wine store and The Daily World, among other locations.

The person who sells the most buttons will be crowned royalty during the celebration. All participants will be published in the parade program.

For more information: mrsambenn@gmail.com, http://ift.tt/VfLuXh or the Facebook page: Aberdeen Founders’ Day Parade &Festival

Here is a list of those offering specials so far:

Grays Harbor Wine Sellars — free tasting

Anytime Fitness — sign up for Anytime Fitness and get the first month for $20.14

Quilt Harbor — buy one yard of fabric and get the second free with a minimum of one yard purchase.

Moo moo oink oink cluk cluk — get a free soda with a purchase of a meal

Harbor Shoes — 10 percent discount

Wiitamaki Jewelry — 10 percent discount

City Center Drug — 10 percent discount

Coffeeman Espresso — 50 cents off a drink

Preserved lemons make any dish special

By Daniel Neman

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

If you close your eyes, you can imagine you are wending your way through the crowded streets of the casbah, with the camels and the open-air markets and the heady aroma of tagines cooking over charcoal fires. A bite of preserved lemon can do that to you, transport you to a land you have never seen or perhaps back to a land you once called home. It is the secret ingredient to cooking throughout North Africa but is especially associated with Morocco. Along with couscous, it is one of the foods that define the entire region. Preserved lemons are one of those ingredients that, the first time you try it, you ask, “What is that taste?” It is definitely like a lemon, but it has been wonderfully intensified. It’s like a SuperLemon.

Preserved lemons are readily available at Middle Eastern groceries, international groceries and specialty stores, but why buy them when you can make them yourself? All it takes are lemons, salt and patience.

Patience, because it takes a month for the salt to work its magic on the lemons. Cut four lemons into quarters from the top without slicing all the way through. Pack salt into each lemon and place them into a sterilized non-metallic jar. Cover with extra lemon juice, salt and any herbs, such as thyme, before sealing and refrigerating for one month.

Preserved lemons create strong pops of flavor anywhere they are added; they are the ultimate condiment in that they work as an accent in support of the main part of the dish.

They are also incredibly versatile. Their skin can be used to add zip to hummus (typically, only the skin is used; the pulp is usually discarded). They could add an unforeseen element to grilled vegetables or be included in a stunning vinaigrette. They can add zest, as it were, to a salad or even be used in dessert, as we shall see. Some local restaurants offer them on pizzas.

But if there is one dish to which preserved lemons are forever connected, it is chicken tagine from Morocco. Traditionally, tagine (the food) is cooked in a tagine, an earthenware pot shaped like an upside-down funnel. The tagine pot is said to produce the best flavor in a tagine, but they can be pricey and have few or no other uses.

In their place, you can use a heavy skillet with a lid or even a shallow casserole dish that is suitable for the top of a stove.

A chicken tagine is basically a stew, with the most tender and delicious meat. What makes it a tagine are the spices: garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and cilantro, all cooked over a bed of thinly sliced red onions. All it needs are a couple of elements to provide a profile-altering counterpoint. A couple of handfuls of purple olives add salt and visual appeal, while the preserved lemons yield delicious bursts of piquant lemon flavor.

Preserved lemons are also a natural accompaniment to many seafood dishes. If regular lemons go well with seafood, as we know they do, preserved lemons can only be better.

With that more or less logical idea in mind, I decided to create a dish that would bring out the best in shrimp as well as preserved lemons.

I turned to some old favorites that always help shrimp find its potential: garlic, of course, and white wine, with just a bit of tomato for depth. And then I brought out the big gun, but just a little of it — Old Bay (or any similar seafood seasoning) helps shrimp taste the way shrimp are supposed to taste. And then I added the preserved lemons.

It was seriously good, with a clean, unsullied taste.

For dessert, I was blown away by the idea of a food website’s astonishing idea. It used preserved lemons in a semifreddo and cooled down the tartness with a basil simple syrup.

A semifreddo is a soft but frozen dessert, sort of like a frozen mousse if the mousse were partly made of ice cream. Adding preserved lemons to it is genius.

To make a semifreddo, you make whipped cream (it’s essential that it’s homemade) and add it to whipped egg whites, and then you gently fold in a flavoring. In this case, the flavoring comes from a little lemon zest and a preserved lemon.

If you wanted a fuller flavor, you could use the juice from the pulp as well as the skin. I was looking for subtlety in my semifreddo, so I went with the skin alone.

It was like eating a lemony cloud.

Preserved Lemon Semifreddo with Basil Syrup

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

1 small preserved lemon

Zest of 1/2 lemon (not preserved)

1 cup granulated sugar, divided

3 egg whites

1 1/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, about 10 leaves

1. Spray an 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and line it with aluminum foil or 2 large pieces of plastic wrap, which hang over the sides of the pan.

2. Thoroughly rinse the preserved lemon and scrape the pulp away from the skin. If you want more of a lemon taste, extract the juice from the pulp by pushing it through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard the remaining pulp. Finely chop the skin.

3. Make a lemon simple syrup by placing the chopped skin, the extracted juice (if using), the lemon zest, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat just until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the lemon pieces; retain both the lemon pieces and the syrup.

4. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Set aside in the refrigerator.

5. In a clean mixer bowl, mix the egg whites on high until they begin to hold a shape. Lower the speed to medium-low and slowly pour in the lemon syrup. Turn the speed back to high and beat until the whites are glossy and doubled in volume, about 5 or 6 minutes.

6. Carefully fold in the lemon pieces and then the whipped cream. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and cover with the overhanging plastic wrap. Freeze at least 6 hours or overnight (it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 days).

7. While the semifreddo is freezing, make a basil syrup by placing the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the basil and 1/3 cup water into a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Allow to come to room temperature, and blend in a blender until the syrup is flecked with green.

8. To serve, invert the semifreddo onto a serving platter and remove the plastic. Slice into thick planks and drizzle with the basil syrup.

Per serving: 195 calories; 12g fat; 7g saturated fat; 20mg cholesterol; 2g protein; 22g carbohydrate; 20g sugar; no fiber; 30mg sodium; 25mg calcium.

Recipe adapted from Kerry Saretsky in SeriousEats.com

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Yield: 4 servings

1 teaspoon saffron threads

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

1 (3 1/2-pound) chicken, cut into quarters

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium red onions, sliced lengthwise

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon lime juice

4 tablespoons chopped cilantro, divided

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 preserved lemons

1/2 cup purple Moroccan or Greek olives

1. Lightly toast saffron in a dry, small, heavy skillet over moderately low heat, shaking skillet, until just fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small dish, let cool, then crumble with fingers.

2. With a mortar and pestle, mash chopped garlic and ½ teaspoon salt to a paste.

3. In a large bowl, toss chicken with oil, onions, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, lime juice, 3 tablespoons of the cilantro, the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper and reserved saffron.

4. Separate the chicken from the onions and spread the spiced onions across the bottom of a 12-inch tagine, 12-inch heavy, covered skillet or a shallow, covered casserole. Place the chicken on top. Cut the preserved lemons into quarters and scrape the pulp from the peel. Coarsely chop the pulp and sprinkle over the chicken. Cut the peel into ½-inch pieces, and reserve.

5. Add 3/4 cup water to tagine, skillet or casserole, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes, until chicken is almost cooked through. Check occasionally toward end of cooking time to be sure tagine is not dry, adding more water if necessary to keep meat from burning and sticking to pot. Add olives and simmer, covered, 10 minutes longer until chicken is cooked through. Just before serving, sprinkle with preserved lemon peel, remaining cilantro and salt to taste.

Per serving: 600 calories; 38g fat; 9g saturated fat; 165mg cholesterol; 55g protein; 10g carbohydrate; 3g sugar; 3g fiber; 1,155mg sodium; 80mg calcium.

Recipe from Gourmet magazine.

SHRIMP WITH PRESERVED LEMONS

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 preserved lemon

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 small tomato, cut into chunks

• 1/2 cup dry white wine

• 1/8 teaspoon (2 pinches) Old Bay or other seafood seasoning

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt and peper

• 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined

Directions:

1. Scrape pulp away from skin of preserved lemon and discard pulp. Chop skin into ¼-inch squares and reserve.

2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute (toss occasionally to keep garlic from burning). Add tomato, wine, Old Bay, bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes, occasionally pressing down on tomatoes with spoon or spatula to help soften them.

3. Add shrimp and reserved preserved lemon skin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp is fully cooked, about 3 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve immediately.

Recipe by Daniel Neman