Coast Guard Responds to Fishing Vessel Fire. Rescues Crew and Scuttles Boat.

This afternoon- we could hear Coast Guard Helicopters overhead and see smoke out in the ocean... coming from a fishing vessel.  Later in the early evening- LOUD BOOMS could be heard off-shore.  On Twitter- I saw tweets that the 60' fishing vessel had to be scuttled. Here's the story and photos from the Coast Guard District 13 web site. (The Coast Guard site has a bonus video.)

ASTORIA, Ore. – Coast Guard crews responded to a boat fire approximately 10 miles from the coast of Long Beach, Wash., Monday.

Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria received a call at 4 p.m. from a crewman aboard the 60-foot fishing vessel Portlock reporting that the vessel was on fire.

The two crewmembers aboard Portlock were able to relay coordinates to a Coast Guard watchstander before abandoning ship into a liferaft.

The Coast Guard Cutter Active, homeported in Port Angeles, Wash., was eight miles from the burning vessel and was diverted to assist. Additionally, Air Station Astoria launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew to assist.

Once on scene, the Cutter Active launched a small boat crew to retrieve the two men from the liferaft. The two men were then transferred to the motor lifeboat and brought to Station Cape Disappointment.

The Portlock had approximately 400 gallons of diesel fuel and two propane tanks onboard. There were no reports of injuries.

The Captain of the Port of Portland, Ore., determined the best option was to sink the vessel before it drifted to shore and imposed a threat to the coastal environment. After consultation with the Environment Protection Agency and other federal and interested stakeholders, the order was given to sink the vessel. The crew of the Cutter Active sunk the vessel eight miles offshore.

Oceanographers at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration have determined that any fuel residue from the wreck would drift seaward with minimal long-term impact.

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ASTORIA, Ore. – Coast Guard crews responded to a boat fire approximately 10 miles from the coast of Long Beach, Wash., Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria received a call at 4 p.m. from a crewman aboard the 60-foot fishing vessel Portlock reporting that the vessel was on fire. The two crewmembers aboard Portlock were able to relay coordinates to a Coast Guard watchstander before abandoning ship into a liferaft. (U.S. Coast Guard photos/Petty Officer 3rd Class Kelly Parker)

of Dancing and Dreams

Having grown up in Connecticut, and attending the famous Kirov Academy of Ballet in D.C., my brother's daughter has moved to Oregon- where both her parents grew up and attended University of Oregon- before moving east 28yrs ago. She is dancing with OBT- Oregon Ballet Theater.

The Oregonian has a story with her featured:
...Summer of Dancing and Dreams...

It's pretty cool - with hard work and determination - she is on her way to achieving the life of her dreams. Bravo to my niece! (and my Father couldn't be happier!)

I really want to go to Gnomedex 9.0

**UPDATE** Yay!! I won!! Watch for my posts from Gnomedex 9.0

Remember last Sept when we ventured to BlogWorldExpo? I wrote a few posts about it here and here. I confess that I was soooo busy learning and networking that I didn't blog it justice. The experience was fabulous and I can't wait to return this year! I learned so much!

Not to mention, while I signed up on Twitter in April 2008. It wasn't until BlogWorldExpo that I began to get a glimpse of the power of Twitter. Look at me NOW! I am one of the Twitter Elite with over 115,000 followers! Who would think that from my little home office on the coast of SW Washington State- I would have a voice across around the globe!? I am honored by the relationships I have developed on Twitter, Facebook and from my little personal blog.

Many of you know that Brett and I moved full-time to our Seaview beach home after our youngest went away to college. We own a business that processes market research and public opinion survey statistics for a national client base. We can do this because of technology.

One of the lonely things about living remotely is that I don't get to network in person with fellow techies. The perfect opportunity to do this is going to happen in just a few days up at Gnomedex 9.0 in Seattle. I procrastinated...and didn't purchase a ticket. Boohoo... now all the Full-Access passes are sold out!

Except- WOW- while reading the BlogWordExpo Blog- THEY ARE GIVING AWAY A FREE PASS!! I just have until NOON to enter!! Can I do it?

It is time for me to kick into gear...and learn all I can about social media. My blog needs to go to the next level. I can tweet and post and bring all of you along with me!

Who would think that an older #TROT (Top Redhead on Twitter) would get to hang out with all the cool techies? AND the real reason I really must attend GNOMEDEX 9.0? I need more swag. My wardrobe needs a makeover.

Our annual Picnic

We host a political picnic every year. This year, 150 Republicans enjoyed the beautiful weather, fresh oysters, BBQ of ribs, chicken, salmon, hamburgers & hot dogs.... and speeches from the announced GOP candidates for Congress representing the 3rd Congressional District - Jon Russell and David Castillo.

Washington State Attorney General, Rob McKenna, was our keynote speaker. We were ambushed by Pirates too! Imagine that! Pirates and Politicians.