Let's get Columbia back in the swim

This photo was taken at Columbia River Park this afternoon.

During the discussion of River Park at Tuesday night’s Meeting of the Whole, residents and councillors noted that people are using one of the docks as a home base for swimming in the river. This particular dock is designated for boat loading and unloading only, and is clearly marked “NO SWIMMING.” Installing additional signage to address the issue was suggested, although the problem is not poor signage, but lack of enforcement. If the existing park regulations are not being enforced anyway, why not designate an area alongshore for swimming at one’s own risk? Now that Locust Heights is gone, Columbia needs a swimming area. What better place than this great resource running right along our shore?

Po-jama People

A lot of folks have been wearing pajama bottoms around town these days – in public, during the day, as some sort of socially acceptable rebellion, or simply out of sheer laziness. Do they wear the same clothes to bed, after tromping around the streets, sitting in public places, and possibly using public restrooms? Let’s hope not.
A few decades ago, Frank Zappa wrote a song that might be seen as a backhanded tribute to the public pajama wearers of today: