Lots of events on Valentine weekend

NOT TOO BAD--Monday wasn't too bad; some fog in the morning and lots of sunshine, which was nice after several days of partially wet and cold. Looks like the dry streak won't last long as by the time you read this, we'll be ready for more raindrops and maybe even some wind. At least we aren't "shoveling" our weather, as those folks back East got hammered with a couple of feet of snow, so we're looking good. The only down side is that we might be singing the blues when our lack of snow pack brings us a drought this summer. Let's hope that doesn't happen!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from February 11-17 are Mykall Stensland, Reese Gullickson turns the big "75", George Hanigan, Brandon Souvenir, Wendy Havens, Sean Brennan, Ellie Carosa, Conni Shrum, 67'er Pam Lazor, Austin Havens, Angela Stensland, Angel R. Thompson turns four, Vickie Reid, Terry Everman, Brody Brown, Derek Phipps, Julie Chamberlain, Blake Hess, Justin McCarthy, Kris Baldwin, and Hailey Blain. Belated birthday wishes to KC Garrison who had a birthday on February 4--sorry about that! Happy anniversary wishes go to the Stan Thackers and the Jerry DeBriaes.

NEW BIRTHDAYS--Mary and Paul Vik have some new birthdays to add to the list as they added two new granddaughters to their family last month. John and Jessica Vik of Puget Island welcomed Annelise Irene Vik into their home on January 26. She was a good sized little girl weighing in at nine pounds, six ounces! She joins a brother Peter, three, at home. Maternal grandparents are Dave and Tracy Ankenbauer of Hockinson. Then on January 30, Paul and Mary's daughter, Reidun and her husband, Jordon Staudinger, welcomed Ingrid Elizabeth into their home in Delburne, Alberta; she was born in Edmonton however. She was not too tiny either as she was a nice eight pounds and eight ounces. She joins a brother Rafael who is 22 months old. Congratulations to the families on their new arrivals and to Paul and Mary who doubled their grandchildren in just a matter of four days!

THIS IS IT--This is the weekend to be hungry around this town, as tomorrow (Friday) it's the all you can eat smelt feed at the Duck Inn for $10, complete with salad bar. The feed begins at 4 p.m., so bring your appetites and come on down! For Valentine's couples going to the Duck on Saturday night, they'll be sure to have a "sweetheart" of a deal for dinner.

REMINDER--This is also the Saturday that the free workshop is going on in Rosburg: "Rural Tools for Survival: Living along the Columbia"...it's taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.at the Rosburg Hall.

DIAMOND DINNER--This Saturday from 6-8 p.m. the fair board puts on another great filet mignon dinner with all the trimmings. If you don't have tickets already, they will have them at the Bank of the Pacific or at the Lower Columbia Realty office, or call Jean at 849-0001.

BACK HOME--Sunrise and Jessica Fletcher took a little break from all their duties as innkeepers and zipped off to Costa Rica last month for a nice, sunny stay. Jessica said she got a nice tan and they had some great food but I think we all have to admit that there's no place like home after a long trip. Sunrise didn't get a very long break though, as he and Adele Swift are already planning for this year's Follies show. This is a major fund raiser that the grange counts on in order to keep improving our building and getting it to meet the multiple needs of the community, so we truly appreciate all those who take part in this fun-filled, three day musical revue, as well as all of you support us by coming to see it. The Follies will take place at the Skamokawa Grange Hall, June 25, 26 and 27! If you'd like to be included in this year's production, give Sunrise a call at 795-8770.

FOS HAS NEW SHOW--The first exhibit to be held in this new year at Redmen Hall, will be some long time local folks, Tom and Cora Irving and their beautiful quilts. These two have been making and showing quilts forever and their work is just outstanding. The new exhibit opens February 13, with a reception for the couple from 1 to 3 p.m.

GRANGERS MEET--The Skamokawa Grangers met last Monday evening and had guest Carrie Kennedy from the WSU Extension Office come by and present us with an interesting proposal about joining in with other volunteers in a "Coastal Marine Resource Committee Program." She'll be coming to the grange for an open meeting to explain all of this to the community one day soon, so we hope you'll come and listen. You may have seen how folks get together and clean up beaches, or kids that go out in the tide pools and learn about marine life, or take pictures from the same spot every year and make comparison maps so that soil or sand errosion can be monitored; the hands on approach may help local folks to better understand our surrounding waterways. Carrie is also going to be getting stories from those who lived "back in the day" when "this was like that, and we did this." All those great stories that are getting lost to us as folks pass away, so those stories would really be great to have preserved for all time. If you have stories to tell, give Carrie a call at 795-3278.

The movie night the grangers put on last month was a pretty big hit and Carrie and the kids are working on more short movies. The grangers are thinking of having another movie night in April, so keep posted for more on that.

BIG WINNERS--Granddaughter Tessa Sechler played some hoops at a championship this past weekend in Seattle, and put in a three pointer at the end of the game to make it 53 to 33 over their arch rivals "Denny," so the Whitman girls were definitely enjoying their big win last Saturday night! Way to go girls!

MONTH AWAY--Don't forget to mark March 19 on your calendar; it's time to dance at the Skamokawa Grange Hall again. Admission is just $8 and you can dance from 8 to 11 p.m., with free lessons a half hour prior to the start. You'll be able to do contra, circle and square dances, as well as some waltzes. Caller Rich Goss and the band from Portland, "Cascade Crossing," will ensure that you have a great time!

IN JUNE--If I haven't bugged you already for a donation for the Dollars for Scholars car show, you know I will be shortly, as I do love the support that all of you are so willing to give to this great fund raising event for our school kids and all monies raised go for scholarships for both the Naselle and Cathlamet high schools. The car show and sturgeon derby will take place June 5, so make sure that car is all shined up and ready to go by then. It seems like a long ways off but the time is flying and car buffs like to get their shows all lined up well in advance. It's a combo event with combo fun--food, fun, prizes and more! Give me a jingle if you want a little more general info but for car entries and such, either call Lee Tischer: 360-430-4377 or Vickie Reid: 795-3589.