Spring brings the hummingbirds

Is it my imagination, or are there lots more crows flying around this year? They seem to take great pleasure in bothering our dogs while they nap in the sunshine.

I know one thing for sure, the hummingbirds are here and they are hungry. I have two feeders and they empty them every other day. They are so much fun to watch.

News from Naselle:

The sports calendar for Naselle-Grays River Valley School this coming week is as follows: Thursday, high school track - Home Meet with start time 3:30 p.m .; baseball and softball at Northwest Christian starting at 4 p.m .; Friday starting at 4:30 p.m., track at Montesano; Saturday, baseball and softball at North Beach starting at noon; Tuesday at Ocosta starting at 4 p.m .; Wednesday, middle school track at Naselle.

Spring Break for the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District will be the week of April 5-9.

Green was the color of choice in Mrs. Smith’s first grade class, and the halls were alive with romping leprechauns bestowing “golden coins” in their wake! If this were not enough to get the students excited about St. Patrick’s Day, a peek into a few classrooms showed that students were very animated, seeing evidence of a visit by the wee people! Desks were topsy-turvy, clocks and calendars displayed incorrect times/dates, on the board were spelling words interspersed with nonsense phrases, gym shoes were askew in piles, and green dust was sprinkled among footprints! Subjects even centered on the Emerald Isle, with writing assignments telling about “The luck of the Irish” or “The Leprechauns!”

Naselle Timberland Library presents PageTurners Book Discussion, 10 a.m.-noon on April 3 for adults. Join in a discussion of “Kabul in Winter: Life Without Peace in Afghanistan” by Ann Jones. This program begins before normal hours so the library will open early only for this event. For more information call (360) 484-3877.

The Friends of the Naselle Timberland Library will meet at 6 p.m. on April 6 at the library. Monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month (excluding July and August). Meetings are open to the public and new members are welcome.

Check out the Beverly Cleary Scavenger Hunt, at the Naselle Timberland Library from 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. on April 7, for all ages. What's that Ramona up to now? Join in a spring break scavenger hunt and find out where Henry, Otis, and Ramona are hiding at the library. This Family Read-Aloud event is part of a Timberland Regional Library districtwide program. For more information call (360) 484-3877.

Other news from the Westend:

It appears that there will be a meeting (tentative) on May 3, from 6-10 p.m. in the Rosburg Hall, with regard to a permit for Evergreen Septic to apply treated human waste on property located at 118 Covered Bridge Road in Grays River.

Department of Ecology is the lead agency on the project and they will be on hand to answer questions from the public.

Last Saturday, my husband and I had the opportunity to attend an all day seminar hosted by Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights in Seattle. The keynote speaker was Fred Kelly Grant, a masterful proponent for private property rights, as well as a wonderfully entertaining speaker.

Mr. Grant speaks about “coordination” between all federal, state, county and subordinate government entities including water districts, diking and flood control districts, even cemetery districts. With a coordination plan in place, any of the small entities can call any agency to the table to discuss and reach an agreement.

As many of you know, some of the local landowners are trying to start a Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights chapter here in Wahkiakum County. The group is expanding from Washington to Oregon, Idaho and California at a rapid pace. If you are interested in joining, or would like more information, please give me call. CAPR also has a legal fund, which could be of assistance in the event of a legal issue with private property.

Remember the Mill Road project proposed by Columbia Land Trust, where they wanted to put up a concrete wall along most of Mill Road? After much discussion and thought, the affected landowners came forward with a compromise to the benefit of both sides. It seems they want to have the road raised to a higher level, using some material from their private properties, thus making it a dike road. This solution seems to be a good fit for both sides, and it is being looked at closely before moving forward with it. How’s that for cooperation? Many thanks to the landowners for stepping up, not only with questions, but with a solution.

The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at the Rosburg Hall will feast on home made meatloaf, spuds and gravy, veggies, hot rolls and dessert. After the meal a silent auction will be held. There are always wonderful items to bid on. At the last auction, I brought home a delicious pecan pie, fresh out of the baker’s oven.

On Tuesday and Thursday seniors can also enjoy nutritious meals which are sponsored by CAP. Thursday, the 25th: pepper steak, fried rice, stir fry veggies, mandarin oranges and banana pudding. On Tuesday, the 30th: lasagna, Sicilian blend, Caesar salad, garlic bread and apple crisp.

Birthdays being celebrated this coming week include Sherri Salme, Marilyn Johnson, Kale Trimble, Kara Trimble, Kenny Setala and Amanda Lee on the 25th; Trevor Tolva on the 26th; Juan Lopez and Luke Johnson on the 27th; Alexis Nortrup, Jenny Blake, Karen Kilponen and Scott Jacot on the 28th; Nikki Footh, Chris Wilson and Whitney Caetano on the 29th; Rob Crozier, Josh Weston and Denise Blanchard on the 30th; Trudy Nelson, Cynthia Clark, Merlin Durrah and Candy Johnson on the 31st. Happy Birthday, everyone.

Happy Anniversary to our Grays River neighbors, Eugene and Eleanor Saari on the 25th. Wishing you many more.