Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

Stay safe (and sane) this Fourth of July holiday

A column by Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor

     Community Days is upon us again and this year’s events include a demolition derby, vintage car show, street parade, inflatable rides, art displays, auctions, talent shows and an evening dance in the beer gardens.
     Beyond that, there is the simple but perhaps most favored part - seeing old friends and catching up with acquaintances.
     However, with air temperatures crackling and dry ground hissing the possibility of more fires is on the minds of many.
     Over the weekend, firefighters put out121 acres of brush fires in Klickitat County that threatened dozens of homes and filled the area with smoke. Lightning storms spread throughout the sky.
     With numerous people congregating to celebrate the weekend and set off fireworks, authorities have expressed concern. Even without weather conditions the Fourth of July presents its own hazards.
     Last year, the Center for Disease Control reported 1,059 fires and injuries related to fireworks in Washington. The data, based on information from fire departments and hospital emergency rooms, represents a six percent increase from the year before and about $21.5 million in property loss.
     Only a few days out of a major storm and with unpredictable weather looming ahead, it is imperative people are smart about safety.
     One of the best things to do is educate oneself about what is legal.
     According to Washington’s RCW 70.77.136, “consumer fireworks” refer to a small device “designed to produce visible effects by combustion and which must comply with the construction, chemical composition, and labeling regulations of the United States consumer product safety commission.”
     This includes small scale noise makers and whistling devices, as well as things like sparklers, cylindrical fountains, cones, wheels, illuminating torches, ground spinners, smoke devices and Roman candles.
     On tribal land, it is also legal to possess and discharge things like firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles and rockets, according to the Washington State fire marshal. However, the items become illegal once they leave tribal lands.
     “M-80’s and larger, dynamite and any improvised, homemade or altered explosive devices such as tennis balls or cherry bombs are illegal explosive devices. Persons in possession or using illegal explosive devices can and should be charged with a felony,” the state marshal warns in a fireworks enforcement campaign.
     This year, let’s not let fire worries interfere with one of Goldendale’s most loved and longstanding community traditions.
     There is plenty of room for both fireworks and for fun. Take the week to catch up with old friends, eat hot dogs, and stuff your face with cotton candy. Just keep in mind safety precautions and make sure your fireworks are legal, safe, and used properly.

Op/Ed

No need to avoid sun exposure

A column by Karen Henslee

     Here we are at that time of year where we have moved directly from the freezer to the oven.
     When I left for vacation on June 4, we were still lighting our stove in the evenings to keep off the chill. Then we spent 10 days hiking in the Utah-Arizona area, where temperatures hovered around the 100-degree mark, and skyrocketed us into the heat.
     Sitting around the campsite, talking with our traveling companions who were from all over the country, weather was one of the topics of conversation.
     Being a red-headed Norwegian-Washingtonian went a long way in explaining the white glow that practically emanates from my skin.
     Over the course of my life, I have attempted to tan. Ridiculously thinking that at some point, if only by sheer willpower, I will eventually turn that much sought-after golden brown. And so I went through the pain and frustration of sunburn and peeling, only to produce another layer of pale white skin, and a few hundred more freckles.
     I finally learned my lesson. It just hurts too much.
     I suppose it should make me feel better to think that when I am old(er), my current efforts to avoid sun exposure should produce a more youthful look – or so they tell me.
     I recently saw an ad for a sunscreen with SPF 80. That’s 80 times longer in the sun without burning than with no sunscreen at all. Funny how the instructions on sunscreen bottles tell you to reapply every few hours. (If I ordinarily burn after 15 minutes in the sun, using SPF-80 should allow me to stay out for 20 hours without having to reapply, shouldn’t it?)
     As July arrives and the heat carries us through to October, remember the hats and the sunscreen, especially for children. It offers everyone the opportunity to spend time in the outdoors without the epidermal consequences we should all avoid.