Astoria is on the map now. The 25th anniversary of The Goonies this past weekend was amazing, and little did the fans of the Goonies realize that the story resonated with Clatsop County citizens in many ways. Doesn’t everybody want a piece of paradise?

It was a perfect plot. There were the out-of-town land developers trying to buy up Astoria’s treasured old houses to benefit their greedy plans. There were “the Goonies,” a group of kids with nothing but their determination to find the treasure to save their town. And there were the blundering Fratellis who determinedly worked to undermine the kids at every twist and turn.

Interesting how fiction imitates life. We have the cast of real-life characters right here which includes: The greedy developers, starring the NorthernStar liquefied natural gas corporation; the Goonies, played by a host of community members from doctors to teachers to those vocal long-haired activists; and finally, the blundering Fratellis played by four of our very own county commissioners. Both stories had a happy ending though, and the Goonies rejoiced with saving their town, and community members rejoiced with victory over Bradwood Landing.

This now classic film illustrates that sometimes the end is worth the twists and turns, and we all need a little faith and a lot of determination. “Goonies never say die!”

LaREE JOHNSON

Astoria