Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Last Sunday I visited with the Building Committee for the Naselle Community Center. Those lovely and faithful folks are a joy to visit with. I talked with them about my history as a fundraiser/grantwriter/consultant with non-profits and gave them some of my experiences with both large and small organizations. I first came to Wahkiakum County in February of 2003 to offer a grantwriting class that turned out to be a good sized group. There are similarities among non-profits in our area, whether...
There are good reasons to serve on a school board, but there are also issues that challenge both the local Naselle GRV board members and the community. At the last meeting on February 21, a full agenda and an estimated 20 guests had some long discussions. An on-going issue from the January meeting was the hiring of a new interventionist by the board with funds from Pacific County. Several people from the school as well as the Pacific County Health Department, defended the purpose of the position and clarified her responsibilities. One teacher...
Newspapers: I highly value our Eagle newspaper. It is one of the few small-town papers still in existence. We have become a society that reads "electronic" news. This illustrates our addiction to being stimulated by instant news and constant information with no data, science or study beyond what we see and hear. Good things can happen on our devices, but we err when we believe only what a device tells us. Newspapers are meant to provide "investigative news," not unverified information....
Commentary: I am a Texan at heart. It doesn't make me love this area less; it makes me appreciate it more. My favorite spot there is the Bussey family ranch in Weatherford, west of Ft. Worth. They are my foster family and I remember well when they bought that ranch which now has given joy to four generations so far. My husband's family was from Colorado, a place I learned to love in 1963 when I worked on a remote dude ranch out of Durango, Colorado. When I was first married, we lived in Gypsum,...
In Bob Pyle's lovely second edition of "Sky Time in Grays River," he says, "Every day and every night of the shoulder season, winter into spring, the Swede Park census grows." He is referring to the increasing number of birds and butterflies appearing around his historic home built by H.P. Ahlberg, an early founder of Grays River. The idea of a "shoulder season" is so true. Even in February, some days feel like spring, then again winter sometimes appears in freezing nights. Either way, there...
Youth Camp News: A letter to DNR dated November 2022 was shared with me last week written by our State Senator and both State Representatives. It stated: "We believe the (our) recommendation should include one that will create a task force to look at maximizing public service functions which require capital facilities. We are confident a task force could find a positive solution which improves state services and utilizes the exceptional qualities of the now closed Naselle site. We are hopeful th...
Sunday's Concert: It's a lovely Monday with fog lifting and sunshine coming through. A good day to smile and remember the wonderful concert yesterday at the packed Naselle Community Center with the Skamokawa Swamp Opera group. I was so happy to hear the Sheriff's Report song first thing and then the Sheriff's Report Volume Two at the end. Folks came from Raymond to the west and Puget Island to the east. The group sang for an hour with songs of Finland and the region, giving the audience a wonder...
On January 17, the Naselle GRV School Board met with long range strategic planning as a goal for the coming months. During the meeting, issues of transparency and process were on the table twice. One of the goals of the board set this school year is transparency for the public. With that goal in mind, at public comment this reporter asked that the Superintendent make every document given to the board for their meetings, available on the school’s web site and passed out with the other documents normally given at the beginning of the meetings. T...
My friends, I know the rain can get to us, but please remember to take your Vitamin D because it helps the body with what the sun normally gives us the rest of the year. Margie Godfrey from the old Naselle Clinic taught me that years ago and I’ve discovered it really helps. Remember that by mid-February, it’s usually possible to get out into the yard/garden so it’s just a month away. Wet is one thing, but warmth brings hope, at least to me. And rain beats several feet of snow every time. I’d rather wear a rain jacket than layers and boots t...
FAFF is sponsoring the Skamokawa Swamp Opera who will be performing on Sunday, Jan. 22nd beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Naselle Community Center. The cost will be a suggested donation of $10. Refreshments served afterwards. The group is working on a set list centered around songs by and about the people of the lower Columbia River and they will also be selling CD’s after the concert. Contact Barbara Swanson for more information: 360-484-3602. Did you know the Naselle Clinic has 600 patients that come from all over the area? If you want to e...
Happy New Year, my friends! This is my third annual writing folder for Eagle articles. We've all been through a lot over the past two years and I hope and pray we're only going higher, happier and healthier. During the past quiet week, I spent time in one of my favorite history books, "Water Under the Bridge" by Ruth Busse Allingham. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Marie Fauver, one of the first people I visited with when I moved to Grays River in 2005. I first lived in Cathlamet after...
Citizen of the Year and Photo of the Week: During a December 10 ceremony in Cathlamet, Grays River resident Diane Hollenbeck was awarded the title of 2022 Wahkiakum County Citizen of the Year by the Cathlamet Women's Club. Hollenbeck was recognized for her many community activities that include: preparing Wednesday senior lunches on the first and third Wednesdays of each month; assisting with the Thursday CAP senior lunch; a member of the Rosburg Community Center Board of Directors; Secretary...
On December 20, the Naselle GRV School Board met for the last time in 2022. Amy Hunt was elected to be Chair, continuing her time as interim chair in the latter portion of 2022. She stepped in as Interim Chair when former chair, Chuck Hendrickson, resigned at the August meeting. Amy Chadwick was elected Vice-Chair as well for the 2022-2023 school year. The meeting was held at the Grays River Fire Hall following the policy stating the School Board will meet there three times annually. This meeting was productive and enjoyable. Fifth graders pres...
Christmas time can be intense. Just finding time to shop, decorate, pick up family members at the airport, make cookies, attend seasonal services or events, hosting family who've come to stay, seating family members at the table so there are no arguments, or adjusting to new grandchildren or marriage partners and other changes each year, can be tiring and emotional. And then we add in the deaths at Christmas. My Aunt Hattie died on November 27 this year, at age 97. She has been in contact with...
This is my 50th Downriver Dispatch - 2022. It's hard to believe time shot by so fast this fall. I want to make sure you're aware of all the activities scheduled for this weekend because we have another busy set of days celebrating Christmas in the area. Saturday, December 17, the Naselle Youth Sports Club (NYSC) will sell chowder and chili at the basketball games at the school. Funds raised will support NYSC's purchase of sports equipment and other supplies (more info about NYSC in another...
I spent Sunday afternoon at the home of the Garlock family including Trenton and Megan along with their children, their oldest child, daughter Auspyn, middle son Tregan, and youngest son, Atlas, and three dogs. They have lived up Salmon Creek on Alanen Road for six years. What a fun family and the children have exemplary manners. Megan homeschools the kids, and Trenton works alongside his father-in-law, Lee, with the family business, Burnard Construction. Lee Burnard started the business in...
Here's a Christmas story from Kayrene Gilbertsen: "For many years Puget Island was known as Little Norway. Christmas was our biggest Norwegian celebration of the year. Each family brought the traditions of their area and for weeks the women baked beautiful cookies in the irons they had brought from home; krumkake,fattigmond, sandbakkels, rosettes, goro and many more. Of course, lefse was our favorite. The men made the rullapulse as it had to be tightly rolled, tied, cooked and pressed. It was...
On Thanksgiving, I spent the day in my robe just watching football and movies. My recommendation for this holiday season is on Netflix: "Slumberland." Enjoy! Venue Change for FAFF Concert from Barbara Swanson: The Finnish American Folk Festival group presents its annual Christmas concert/tour of homes and soup supper on Sunday, December 4. The concert will be held upstairs at the Naselle Community Center: 14 Parpala Road, Naselle, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Memorial for Kenny Chapman: A service for...
Happy Thanksgiving to all! May your day be full of gratitude for all we have in our county, region, state, country, and world. Love is everywhere, but especially in our hearts. I pray for God's blessings on each heart, home and family, large or small. Ben dog and I wish you the best. It's a busy time but when out and about shopping or just checking out what's new, please stop by Slim Pickn's Antiques and Collectibles, the new antique store in the Grange Building in Naselle, next to Post Office....
More than 12 people attended the November 15 school board meeting held in the school library to make hearing the meeting better for all present. Early in the meeting, as the agenda changes were discussed, board member Tyson Vogeler, commented that he, as a board member representing folks in the Grays River area, would prefer having the board meet in the Grays River Fire Hall three times a year as Policy #1400 currently states. Superintendent Lisa Nelson explained her preference for meeting at the Naselle school: “My personal desire is to c...
FAFF: The Finns at FAFF sent me a couple changes for their upcoming events: The Christmas Tree Lighting will be on December 3 and the baking classes have been cancelled. I am hoping a few Finns will send me some Christmas childhood memories so I can include them in The Eagle as we get closer to Christmas. If you have a story, just send me three to five hundred word stories that will help all of us remember our early Christmas holidays. Last weekend was a busy one for sure with the American...
A Commentary on Flooding: It's flood time again. Let's talk about floods so new folks have some information as we move into flood season. Our low lying areas, if we hadn't populated them already, would be marshes or wetlands with trees that can live in water. Those trees, often noticed at high tide, can be seen across SR 4 from the turn onto West Deep River Road. Two hundred plus years ago when Lewis and Clark came through, only the tribes who lived in the region would wander through for fish or...
Every year the sheriff’s department invites 20 to 25 kids on a Christmas shopping spree at Walmart in Longview. Referrals come from various schools and agencies, including Wahkiakum and Naselle/Grays River schools, community outreach, corrections and from personal references. Sometimes the same children are nominated each year, but the event’s goal is to welcome new children before repeating those who have already participated. After a few years, they may be able to do it again. Walmart gives the county sheriff’s office a community servi...
Vote! Voting is 100 percent effective and much more powerful than complaining, so vote! If you read this early today, November 3, you can attend a Caregivers Discussion group offered for anyone interested in being part of a gathering for caregivers. It will be at the Naselle Clinic from 1-2. If you miss this one, call the clinic at (360) 484-7161 to get more information about any subsequent meetings. Also, today there is a high school volleyball game at home at 6 p.m. Then on November 5,...
Retirement move from Virginia to Deep River Victor and Wendy Liguori made a major move when they both retired from good jobs in Virginia, she as a medical assistant and Victor in medical security. Knowing they wanted to move, they looked through the real estate offerings on Zoom. They saw a property in Deep River, Washington, that appealed to them, so they checked on it and thinking it might be just what they were looking for: property on a river with fishing; a good climate for a garden; and as...
