Dining on the coast

Finding a worthwhile restaurant on the Oregon Coast often seems to be a crapshoot. So I was really pleased to stumble across the Newport Cafe last weekend when I was down there for the Gladstone-Newport football game. It looks like a former '60s-era drive-in. Inside, it appears to be family-run and very family-oriented. They offer a great variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items ranging from $3 to $25. I had an albacore tuna fish-and-chips special. It included five good-size chunks of fish, a modest portion of really good home-style fries, lemon and tartar sauce, all for less than $9. To top it off, they had the Red Sox vs. the Blue Jays on the television. I'll definitely go back, and I'll take my family. You can find in on U.S. 101 at the corner of Northeast 6th.

Coming soon to a windshield near you

Don't cars come with ash trays any longer? They all have them, don't they? So why does the knucklehead in front of me feel the need to send his burning cigarette butt airborne, in the direction of my car's grille? If you are a cigarette smoker, here's my message to you: Throwing burning material from your car is illegal, it's a fire hazard, and it could initiate a road rage incident. Face facts—your clothes and your car already smell, so just keep that stinky stub in there with you.

A thought about leadership

Hillary Clinton claims that she is more prepared than Barack Obama to lead the country. That may be true. But my question is this: Which candidate is the country more prepared to follow?

Freshman basketball: Perfection

I probably wouldn't be doing my job as a dad and a sports fan if I didn't mention the season just concluded by the GHS freshmen boys' basketball team. Under the tutelage of Mr. Ken Riggan, ably assisted by David Duong, these boys wrapped up their schedule with a win over LaSalle to finish with an amazing 20 wins against zero defeats.

Making this feat even more remarkable is the fact that Coach Riggan, while he certainly wants to win, is a firm believer that teaching trumps winning. So obviously, the boys listened and learned! Coach Riggan has been around GHS since, I believe, the fall of 1968 and cannot recall another undefeated squad. Beau, Blake, Drew, Erik, Hector, Jacob, Joe, Kenny, Mason, Sage and Ted: Great job!

Fishing fights cancer

The Sherrie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer Foundation has scheduled its second annual Fish for Life salmon derby for Saturday, April 5, at Clackamette Park in Oregon City. (Sherrie, of course, teaches sixth graders at Kraxberger Middle School.) Registration for the derby is $50 per angler, $150 in the Pro Guide division. The event also includes a barbecue, raffle and silent auction. The raffle features a hand-crafted Willie drift boat. For more information, visit the SHOC Foundation Web site.

Catching up on the news

It's been a long, long time since I've posted here, but I've got a backlog of topics. Let's see how far we can get. For now, let's talk about Darlene Hooley.

You've probably heard that our longtime congresswomen has decide to leave the House of Representatives at the conclusion of her current term. She's been a strong advocate for business, our armed forces and veterans, and the people of of the 5th District for six congressional terms (not to mention her service as a Clackamas County commissioner and in the Oregon state legislature). I'm disappointed to see her go, but I completely understand the grind and toll that bi-coastal living probably exacts, and I'm hopeful Kurt Schrader can pick up her torch and continue the thoughtful work Rep. Hooley has been doing in the trustworthy manner with which she has conducted herself.

A number of years ago, we (my family) had some difficulties with the INS. An aide of Ms. Hooley's (who now works in government relations for ODOT) looked into our situation and got things moving. I'll always be grateful.

Darlene, thank you for your service.