New officers at Skamokawa Grange

NOT NICE--As this work week begins, it is cold and wet and nasty looking out there, so a good day to stay in and sit by the fire or, in my case, start typing! November is definitely zipping by and you know what that means: the holidays will soon be upon us! Let's hope we can all keep a grip on what we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and to spread Christmas cheer each and every day, and not just during the Christmas season, and keep the celebration of New Year's in our hearts all year long, so we can appreciate each new day!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from November 18-24 are Tanner Collupy, Barry Brown, Matthew Bennett, Larry Holland, Dorothia Farmer, Linda Mathers Ashe, Brian Havens, Bruce Linquist, Marc McCoy, Sheryl Parker, Harvey Good and Erik Pedersen. Happy Anniversary wishes go to the Jim Mendozas and Carl and Ruthie Lindquist. Happy days to everyone!

BINGO TIME!--Just in time for Thanksgiving, it's "Turkey Bingo" at the J.A. Wendt Elementary School tomorrow night, Nov.ember 19, at 6 p.m. This annual event is being put on by the Wahkiakum Fair Board and it not only helps to support the fair for next year, but it's a fun way to get together and spend a Friday night. It's also a great way to get that turkey or a ham for the big dinner the following week and you can take part in other games and raffles as well. You can even snack on a hot dog while you're there and enjoy a piece of pie, so head to the school and have some good old-fashioned fun!

COMING RIGHT UP--Yes, indeed, you can get in the Christmas spirit by heading to the St. James Family Center for the annual Holiday Bazaar tomorrow, (Friday) from 1 to 7 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can choose gifts from an array of vendors with homemade craft items or food items and kids can shop in their very own store with gifts for a dollar or under, and you can also dine in on their soup for the day or hot dogs, etc., so it's a "one stop shopping" experience for the whole family and you're all invited!

NOT QUITE RIGHT--In my column last week, a number was left out, so the dates for the holiday doings at Redmen Hall, put on by the Friends of Skamokawa, should have read "November 26 to December 19" and not November 2. I'm guessing you were all smart enough to realize the error but wanted to make sure it got corrected. During the first three days, there are many performers and authors scheduled, so we hope you'll stop by and buy a book from one of these local authors or check out the many books in the gift shop and take in some good music while you are there as well, all while snacking on a cookie or two. During this big holiday celebration, the usual hours will be held during December, which are noon to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Please go and check out the hall; there are many unique items. Shopping local helps us all.

SKAMOKAWA GRANGE #425--On a cold and wet evening a couple of Mondays ago, the Skamokawa Grangers met and held their annual elections. We have some new officers in place and as always, would welcome new members into our midst as we continue to move forward with our plans to keep our hall available for a variety of events, which benefit our community. Those who will be starting their posts at the beginning of 2011 are as follows: President, Kay Chamberlain; Vice President, Bill Chamberlain; Secretary, Jessica Fletcher; Treasurer and Musician, Sheran Parker; Lecturer, Ursula Petralia; Chaplain, Kitty Speranza; Steward, Chuck Parker; Assistant Steward, Don Speranza; Lady Assistant Steward, Becky Ledtke; Greeter, Mike Linn; Ex. Committee members, Mike Mouliot, Sunrise Fletcher and Treasure Collupy and the Three Graces, Kathleen Morgain, Lesley Horman and Sharon Schmitz.

DINNER IS A GO--The Skamokawa Grangers and the Skamokawa Fire Department are looking forward to serving you up a free spaghetti dinner on December 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. We had a great time getting together the last time and everyone was anxious to do it again. We'll have a special treat this year with some songs from Andrew Emlen, musician extraordinaire and you'll all get a chance to sing along! All the kids will get a goodie bag and you'll be able to win a gift basket as well, so come and meet your neighbors, ring in the holidays and have a good time out with the family--that's December 11!

GOOD NEWS--I got word from Seattle that son, Pete Sechler, coached his girls basketball team to a league championship game this past weekend, so he was mighty thrilled with that, as his girls were the underdogs this year for the first time ever, so the team had some challenges to overcome. They came back to win over a team that had beaten them twice already in the season, so it was a sweet victory. Congratulations to the girls, which included my granddaughter, Tessa and to the coach for believing his girls could come out winners!

SYMPATHY--Our sympathies go out to Wayne Helms and his family members as he lost his mother, Mary Helms, 82 of Longview on November 5. We also want to send our condolences to the family of Wally Smalley of Rosburg, which includes his wife Diana, as well as two sons Ben and Ronald, two brothers, Arnold and Russell and a sister, Barbara Rose, as he passed away November 3. Another loss was the mother of our former neighbor, Lucille Aldridge, as she lost her mother, Hilda Sperle, on November 3 as well. She also left behind four other daughters and a son. Our sympathies to each of these families as they deal with their losses.

OUT OF THE PAST--Way back in 1945, this same week began wet and stormy and just plain miserable. Grandma Elsie braved the rain to attend the Business and Professional Women club meeting at May Watkins' house. They had a nice time with several members present and enjoyed Miss Houch's talk about China. In the evening, Grandma went to the show, "National Velvet" which she thought was very good. On November 19, Eli (Doumit?) came by to visit. He looked fine Grandma said; he had left January 12, 1942 and had not been back since. Werner Pedersen wrote to the Krist Pedersens and said he was working in San Francisco now. The weather cleared up the rest of the week and so it was a decent day on Thanksgiving that year, which was November 22, and a big crowd met at the home of Carol (Everest) and Krist Pedersen. Attending: Mrs. Moore; Grace and Deb Moore; Dwayne Moore; Erling, Bella, Elinor and Norman Ellison; Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Pedersen with Peder; Nancy, Walter and Peggy Pedersen; Ralph and Elsie Everest; and the Krist Pedersens' three sons, Ralph, Frank and David. There was a 30 pound turkey to feed the group and a big birthday cake with 53 candles on it--31 for Deb Moore and 22 for Dwayne with singing and banter all around, it was a good Thanksgiving. The following day, much celebration was to be had as the rationing of items was to come off at midnight, except for sugar and tires, but everyone was very happy with the news.

In 1960, the first four days were wet and windy and very nasty. On that last wet day, the Ralph Everests boarded the train and headed to California to see their son George and his family over Thanksgiving. Tickets were $44.80 and dinner on the train was six dollars with pillows costing them 75 cents. As they traveled south, the snow was over the passes and 26 degrees at Klamath Falls. They arrived in Davis, Calif. to clear skies and sunshine and promptly boarded a bus to make it all the way to Amador City where Ruby and Pat Everest met them. Grandma loved the house they lived in; big and old and very interesting. The Everests slept well that night and spent the next day touring around the area; of course, they loved the museum there. The next day was Thanksgiving and they had a wonderful dinner, played parcheesi and Scrabble and enjoyed the beautiful day, which lent itself to the ladies wearing sleeveless dresses--shocking for Grandma this time of year. All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.