Cheers: To a safe Memorial Day weekend. With the three-day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer and with hot weather expected, authorities are sending out reminders of the need for caution. This is particularly true for those taking to the water, where water levels are high and currents are running fast and dangerously cold. Washington ranks fourth in the nation for fatalities involving small boats, and officials emphasize the need to wear a life jacket.
But even for landlubbers, a sudden burst of sunshine can present some dangers. Throughout a wet and dreary winter and spring, many of us have spent an inordinate amount of time inside. So here’s a friendly reminder for those venturing outside: Don’t forget to apply sunscreen. Have an enjoyable weekend, and remember some simple safety measures.
Jeers: To not allowing self-serve gasoline. Oregon is one of two states that have restrictions against pumping your own gas, requiring drivers to wait for an attendant to take their order and then fill up the tank. We mention this because the state this week took some steps toward changing that with a bill that passed the Legislature.
The problem is that the measures taken are baby steps. The bill would allow self-service fueling in 15 rural counties and would allow drivers to pump their own gas in three coastal counties between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. This doesn’t go nearly far enough, as the many Clark County drivers who spend time in Oregon can testify. Oregon should join the vast majority of the nation in allowing self-serve gasoline at all times.
Cheers: To the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. The organization recently adopted out the last of 107 rabbits that were rescued in March from an extreme hoarding situation. “I would say that we certainly have gained a lot of experience with rabbits,” said Humane Society vice president Lisa Feder, noting that the organization typically takes in only 20 to 30 rabbits a year.
With help from the Clark County Fair, Portland-based Rabbit Advocates, and Orchards Feed, the Humane Society was able to care for the bunnies and find homes for them, bringing the incident to a hoppy, er, happy ending.
Sad: To the death of Cortez Kennedy. Longtime Seattle Seahawks fans, the kind who followed the team before it became a Super Bowl contender, will remember Kennedy as one of the best players in franchise history. Kennedy played for the Seahawks from 1990 to 2000, providing a bright spot in what often were dark years for the team and earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Kennedy died this week from undisclosed causes at the age of 48, and his death has generated an outpouring of stories suggesting that he was as exceptional a person as he was a football player. Condolences go to his family and friends.
Cheers: To Columbia Springs. The nonprofit center — which features a trout hatchery, walking trails, and numerous educational opportunities — is one of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets. Within the city limits at 12208 S.E. Evergreen Highway, Columbia Springs provides a close-in, free-admission way to get in touch with nature.
Now the facility has added a new visitors center in a building that once housed employees of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The center will provide a quick-stop spot for visitors to learn about all that is offered on the 100-acre site. “The visitor center was part of a bigger concept with how we can reach out to the community,” Executive Director Maureen Montague said.
