This past Sunday, Feb. 9, was designated “Gulf of America Day.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Really? That’s what President Trump wants to promote now instead of working on reducing the price of groceries? (More on this anon.) I’ve been in deep conversation with myself for several weeks about how to approach my column in this current — either curious or lethal depending on your point of view — political era.

Our community seems to be mostly buzzing along without much apparent disruption despite what is happening in our government. But even if you aren’t a horrified news-hog as I am — every morning it’s coffee and the news, at least after I get Jackson fed and loved up — little bits of dislocation have come seeping through the cracks of everyday life even here. A long-time Seattle friend writes, “One of my friends has a son who works for the state department and was supposed to fly to Berlin with his family in two weeks. Their tickets are purchased, their house is rented out. They don’t know what is happening.”

Another, who earlier in her life spent time doing non-profit work, texted me, “I have a couple of friends living in South Africa with two young kids — they work for USAID. Their jobs are gone.” And a third friend living in Plain, Washington (north of Leavenworth), “Our fire department has had approved grants frozen. I think the ones for fire prevention. We do live in the woods…”

Ice on the Peninsula

We certainly had plenty of ice on the Peninsula last week though it was the kind that goes away when the sun shines. The other ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and their plans for “enhanced immigration vetting” hasn’t as far as we know arrived here yet; but our immigrant community is facing the same kinds of profound disruption, fear, and confusion as mentioned above.

As noted in the Feb. 5 issue of the Chinook Observer, “The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs issued a statement on Dec. 18, 2024, that indicated the association does not support or condemn immigration enforcement, which isn’t the responsibility of local law enforcement.” I guess a sort of neutral stance. And though Pacific County Sheriff Daniel Garcia has indicated he was not elected to enforce immigration policy, President Trump and his minions have now indicated that local sheriffs will be expected to participate in the immigrant roundup. (It’s easier for ICE if they can pick up immigrants from jails rather than doing their own raids.) Just as a reminder, our sheriff and his crew are paid by us to do what our community needs, not to take up the demands of federal officials.

Donuts for vets

In the bucket labeled “just keep your head down and do your job,” Ed Crawford, Pacific County Veterans Service officer, certainly floats to the top. I met Ed a couple years ago and he’s been little by little increasing the resources available for vets as well as extending his outreach. As Ed says, “We have three times the national average of vets in our county. And when we talk to them and ask about what they need we’ve found out that there are three top things: 1) food, 2) help with burial expenses, and 3) heating and supplies. We also have covered auto and transportation expenses, like tires and repair.” When Ed first got his job here in 2022, the amount of money being spent in our county for vet assistance was $2,000. He managed to increase that to $10,000 in 2023, and last year the number was over $50,000.

“It was a matter of bringing our criteria and definitions up to matching the specifics of the Veterans Assistance Fund for other areas. We just weren’t asking for what our county deserved. We’ve got a great team here in our county health department. And we’ve got great community partners — we work with homeless groups, Coastal Community Action, Willapa Behavioral Health, and our county commissioners are great too. I feel fortunate to have such an effective team.”

“Every week I review a list, a database from the federal government, of homeless people, and I go through it and find out who might be veterans. Then I contact them and see if we can assist them in any way.”

When I ask Ed about whether these recent policy changes and firings emanating from the White House have worried him, he’s a little circumspect. “My wife works with the veterans too so you can imagine the great conversations we’re having around our dinner table.” He goes on to say, “The funds we use to help vets come from the state and county, though — it’s not federal funds, and the county picks up the tab for me. I’m busier than I’ve ever been.”

Despite his workload, Ed is starting a new program that was announced at last November’s Veterans Lunch. It’s called “Donuts for Vets” and it happens the third Thursday morning 8 to 9 a.m. at the Senior Activity Center, 21603 “O” Place, Klipsan, phone 360-665-3999). The first meeting is this week. It’s simply a time for vets to come together and talk.

“You know we lost four vets last year to suicide and the average in the U.S. is 22 vets a day commit suicide. I’m just trying to get people together, to find some common ground. We’ve got one vet who’s a 97-year-old. We’ll get him picked up, and there’s another 78-year-old Vietnam vet I’ve been working with. I’ll make sure we get both of them to our first Donuts for Vets gathering. The Cottage Bakery is generously donating the donuts for our meetings here in the south county and Pioneer Grocery are donating on the north end.” The north end meeting is the third Wednesday at the Hungry Heifer Diner across from the Raymond American Legion, 226 Duryea St., same time, 8 to 9 a.m., phone 360-875-6773.

Drama across the river

In case you want a dramatic diversion, try out “Conflict” by Wade Bradford, directed by Deborah Jensen. “An amusing and comedic tale of hardship,” says Danyelle Tinker, Executive Artistic Director of Ten Fifteen Productions. Conflict, was the winning play in the One Act Wonders productions, and it will move on to compete in the American Association of Community Theatre’s One Act Festival (aact.org). Founded in 1986, AACT is a nonprofit corporation that supports community theatre production.

Danyelle wrote me to say they are performing “Conflict” (and hoping for audience feedback) at the Downtown Astoria theater on Saturday, March 1, 3 p.m., followed by a regional competition in Boise, Idaho at the end of the month.

“I am so proud that Ten Fifteen will be representing Oregon for the second consecutive festival cycle,” Danyelle said. “After placing second in our region in 2023, I knew we wanted to continue our involvement in the AACT festival process, and once again put Astoria on the national theatrical map. I hope our community will come out to cheer on their home team — and I hope we continue to make them proud.” Break a leg, folks.

Eggs!

Now back for just a moment to groceries. Last week Monday, I asked friends heading to Costco to pick me up some eggs. (These long dark days mean my friendly local chickens are off duty.) I got a call, “There are no eggs at Costco! None!” So I went to Okie’s and found the only eggs left there were $14 a dozen. What?! I dashed to Jack’s and bought the last two dozen off the shelves (one for me and one for a neighbor).

So I’d just like it noted that though our current president promised to bring grocery prices down — “On day one!” — instead his priority is threatening either to take over other countries — Gaza, Panama, Greenland; or blast allies with tariffs — Canada, Mexico; and/or take people’s jobs away in a haphazard and indiscriminate fashion. (I note he could be using regular legislative means — he’s got majorities in both the House and Senate — instead of using his black magic marker.) I don’t think that’s what folks voted for, do you?