Peter Gearin

Former Port of Astoria director admits a felony charge

By CASSANDRA PROFITA
The Daily Astorian

Former Port of Astoria director Peter Gearin pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Clean Water Act Thursday in the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in Portland.

Gearin, who was fired from the Port in 2007, appeared in court and admitted to knowingly violating the terms of a federal dredging permit in March 2005, when he was the Port’s executive director. He was to be booked in the U.S. Marshal’s Office and conditionally released Thursday.

Gearin declined to comment on the case.

Judge Ancer L. Haggerty set Gearin’s sentencing hearing for 9:30 a.m. May 8.

Gearin’s charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and fines between $5,000 and $50,000.

Haggerty told Gearin that as a felon he will not be able to possess firearms and some other weapons.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Evans presented the facts of the case earlier at the plea hearing.

Because the Columbia River bottom to be dredged had tested positive for contaminants, the Port’s permit required that the dredge spoils be stored on land. The Port was required to allow that material to settle and to have it tested for contaminants before releasing it back into the river.

“The defendant was fully aware of those conditions,” said Evans. “On March 10, 2005, the defendant knowingly allowed water in the settling pond on Pier 3 to flow back into the Columbia River in violation of permit conditions.”

The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a two-year criminal investigation into Gearin’s role in the circumstances of the Port of Astoria’s 2005 dredging violation, Evans said.

Gearin had signed a plea agreement in April 2008, but the agreement had been sealed until Thursday morning.
Click here to read the rest of the article hosted at the Daily Astorian’s website
Astoria’s Peter Gearin saga featured a series of bad decisions

Exterior of Columbia River Coffee Roaster's Company Store (doesn't show the cool weathervane, but the sign's up!)

 Grand opening day at Columbia River Coffee Roaster’s Company Store (July 5) was great fun:

 

Smells great!

    If not, then we know what true “liquid sunshine” really is! THUNDERMUCK!

Dead Reckoning Shipwreck Chart...thanks for letting us hang!

Columbia River Coffee Roasters‘ Company Store is now open at the site of Uniontown’s newly remodeled Finnish Meat Market building (most recently the home to Shanghaied in Astoria)!

Don’t be so dazzled by the fresh paint and windows that you forget to step inside the new Company Store opened by Columbia River Coffee Roaster owners Tim Hurd and Nancy Montgomery: 

The smell is amazing.

 On this wall is a veritable historic archive…

    Can’t leave without some of this:

  <—Look what’s here!

 They’ve got great WiFi access, too!
Annnd….soon to come, a filtered water fountain where you can re-fill your water bottle. Nice!!!
Just one more (important) reason to love Columbia River Coffee Roaster:

“We also believe strongly in the notion that one’s work should build one’s community, so we put a high percentage of our profits into the local arts scene, specifically The River Theater in Astoria, a vibrant venue for diverse performing arts.”

NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM wishes you great success in your newest venue!

Though they are open for business, now, the official grand opening is scheduled for July 5, 2008, and everyone’s welcome!

Links:

Columbia River Coffee Roaster’s Website

Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard shipwreck chart at NW Limited

from now, and NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM will be there!
Astoria-Warrenton Crab & Seafood Festival. (Click for more information on the festival)
Taste some wine, get crabby and sample the BEST our region has to offer, for example:
Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard shipwreck chart will be available there.
We will also have a wide range of products available for purchase.
From Star Wars, American Motorcycle, the Jamestown Map to The Beatles, we have something spectacular for everyone!
If you’re super quick, (and worthy), there may just be an Evel Knievel American Motorcycle complete with certified, authentic autograph on a photo of the man himself performing a wheelie on his Harley Davidson! Must have!

Website update is in the works!
Stop by!

Did you catch it?
Tuned to KAST am Radio 1370  from 4 pm to 5 pm, you would have heard Bill Brooks of NW Limited as a guest on the Dezmo Zone.

March 7, 2008 marked Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay’s 100-year Anniversary!
On this date in 1908, Barview Lifesaving Station was established on the then-largest unprotected section of Oregon coastline. 
Capt. Robert Farley was the Keeper, beginning Mar. 7, 2008 and served in that capacity until May of 1934.
The original station was located one and a half miles north of Garibaldi.  Sold to a private party in 1942, another was then built. 
In 1981,  Station Tillamook Bay was inaugurated along with a boathouse and haul-out facility.
Historic photographs, movies, and the station’s scrap book were displayed as part of the celebration.  A search-and-rescue demonstration was planned as well as tours of boats, station and equipment. 
NW Limited was there to honor this prestigious occasion!  
Here are a few pictures:

A memorial to the 11 lives lost on the Taki Tooo and other boats and lives lost on the Tillamook Bar (seen in the distance behind the memorial itself on the horizon)

The bell from the wreck of the Glenesslin, one of the most famous shipwrecks along this stretch of coastline.

SAR demonstration, which is tricky in any kind of weather…just imagine the wind blowing 70 knots and swells of 30 ft. It happens! These are the guys to call!

Just one of the many pages of memorabilia representing events these men and women have responded to. If you click the image above, it should bring up a readable image.
The personal notes from the loved ones of the lost lives are heartbreaking, but represent the very real risk in light of life amidst the elements of the Oregon coast.

NW Limited’s “Dead Reckoning” chart was one of the stars of this presentation of Oregon coast and Coast Guard history, and received much admiration for the sheer volume of history presented in such a beautiful manner.
(Click on the above photo to be taken to a slide show with more photos from the event.)
The United States Coast Guard provides our country with priceless dedication to patrolling our waterways, performing above and beyond the call of duty to ensure safety of boaters, the public, also security of country.
We at NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM thank you for that, and for including us in your special day.

Links:
The United States Coast Guard History in the Columbia River Area
U.S. Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay to Celebrate 100-year anniversary March 7 (Daily Astorian)
USCG Station Tillamook Bay Area Familiarization Photo Gallery

The father of the telephone was born this day in 1847. He passed away in 1922, but his telephonic contribution to our society continues to be a tremendous factor in everyday life. Not as many of us realize that Mr. Bell was also considered to be influential in aeronautics as well as a founding member of the National Geographic Society.
Use that famous, historic invention of his to make a date with destiny and experience History in Vogue^TM for yourself.

Happy Leap Day from NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM!

Our weekend at the Portland Expo-Mart is now complete.

There was lots of greatness displayed to the teeming masses, including Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard shipwreck chart:   The ultimate in shipwreck memorabilia; tales of tragedy and intriguing mysteries are presented within this four-year gathering of history.
The Beatles, James Bond, American Motorcycle, Jamestown, VA, Lewis & Clark, DC and Marvel Comics, USS Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Stewart…and the boxes!!! (Click for a slideshow of examples of each)
Each piece is off the chart cool, and it’s as always: First-come, first-served!
Call for your chance to view, and have:
503-338-6056 or email Bill: bill@nwlimited.com

(Paul sends a shout-out to his homies…’cuz)

Wow is a word that crosses language barriers; there is no mistaking what it means.
For those that aren’t so sure:

wow 1 (wou) Informal
interj.
Used to express wonder, amazement, or great pleasure.
n.
An outstanding success.
tr.v. wowed, wow·ing, wows
To have a strong, usually pleasurable effect on: a performance that wowed the audience.

We specialize in “WOW“.
For giving or getting, NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM is in a class by itself.
Book your ticket : Email bill@nwlimited.com or call 503-338-6056 

See us this weekend at America’s Largest Collectible & Antique Show in Portland, Oregon at the Portland Expo Center just off I-5 near Delta Park/Jantzen Beach.