Plenty of events in the coming months

NICE BREAK--After the torrential rains we had, it is nice to have a bit of a dry streak. It seems we can't get the dry without the cold, but that's okay, as those heavy rains wind up causing so much grief, that I'd much rather deal with the nip in the air than the flood waters. At least I'm not buried in snow right now. It's bad enough for those still dealing with flooding problems; we certainly don't need to add snow to the mix.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from January 27-February 2 are Becky Thacker, Brandon McClain, Gary York, Sam Tarabochia, Emma Rose Lindsey, Angie McNally, Varsha Martin, Kyle Gribskov, Maddox Moore, Jamie Helms, Luke Sechler, Nicholas Kubacki and Pamela Priestly. Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Hoby Thacker and Mr. and Mrs. Mel Dominique. Happy days everyone!

LAST REMINDER--The Old Time Loggers Reunion is this Saturday at the Appelo Archive Center in Naselle from noon to 4 p.m. Celebrate truck driver, Howard Nelson's 80th birthday with him and share your logging stories as well.

VALENTINES--There's only a couple of weeks until Valentine's Day and I hope you've decided to take some valentines to the Columbia View Care Center or one of the many Veterans Hospitals, as there's a huge drive every year for the "Valentines for Vets" program. Addresses to the hospital of your choice are on the Veterans' website, http://www.volunteer.va.gov and of course, if you had the time, a visit would be really appreciated by those who served our country at one time or another. This is always a great project for kids, and teachers have been very supportive in their efforts in getting their students to participate, so I hope your class is able to take part in this national event. It's a feel good project for the giver and the receiver!

WILLAPA HILLS--Willapa Hills has just released a new CD and it includes this hilarious song about a girl and a guy who live in these two small towns and well, you just have to hear it for yourself, it's a hoot!

You'll be able to hear "Willapa Hills" February 19 in Cathlamet at the Pioneer Church where I'm sure they'll be selling their new CD.

LOOKING GOOD--Check out all the great work being done at the Skamokawa Center. We've got new porches and a cover over it and it looks like new carpeting and such is going in the rooms, etc. so kudos to new owner, Don Jester, who is putting our local boys to work. It's looking great!

ANOTHER MONTH--February will be here next week. If you're like me, you've hardly begun to make a dent in that "to do list" for 2011. I hope you'll take note of all the special events coming up in our area. In Skamokawa alone, there are numerous things to do. Also, word of mouth is important in reaching folks who would love to attend some of these special events! If you have an event, contact the Wahkiakum Chamber and they can get you added to their list of current events for the year. Contact Lynda Gerlach at 795-9996 or email her at: wchamber@cni.net.

REDMEN HALL--On Feb. 5 the exhibit of Dory Hicks begins at Redmen Hall. The Friends of Skamokawa would love to show your painting that you bought of Dory's, so please contact the Friends of Skamokawa at 795-3007 and let them know you'd loan them your painting for this latest exhibit. The Hall will have new tote bags and aprons with the hall logo on them and I think they are going to be hot sellers. These new items are useful and by buying them, you help support the FOS in their endeavor to keep the doors of this historic building open.

DIAMOND DINNER--The Wahkiakum County Fair board members are putting on their annual fund raiser, the fabulous "Valentine Diamond Dinner" on February 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. The filet mignon steaks will surely be as tasty as always, with the salad and potatoes to go along, and to follow it up, comes the dessert that is always scrumptious, and all washed down by a glass of wine for just $25. What could be better than that? I hope you will call Becky at 795-3434 and get those tickets today! It's a great evening out, a great way to support our fair and who knows, you might be the winner of the lovely diamond necklace that will be given away that evening!

APRIL--Every Easter the Lions Club puts on a great Easter Egg hunt for the kids at Skamokawa Vista Park; a terrific time for the kids and they have a chance to win some really great prize baskets in the various age groups.

CAR SHOW/STURGEON DERBY--The weekend after Memorial Day is the annual Rods and Reels show; a car show and sturgeon derby, which is held at the Wahkiakum Fairgrounds and the Skamokawa Grange hall and adjoining park area. This fund raiser is for scholarships for the kids of the Naselle and Cathlamet schools. It won't be long before someone will be asking you for your help by giving a donation or maybe working to set it all up. If you've got a car to show off, we hope you'll enter it. It really pays to register early. Contact Lee Tischer or Dennis Reid for more information.

THE FOLLIES--The fourth annual "Smoky Water Follies" is June 24-26! We are currently looking for more performers, so we hope you'll call Sunrise Fletcher today, 795-8770, and get your name on the list. It's really fun and the rehearsals are such that you can practice on your own time and just commit to a few more days of working together prior to the show. Please come and join the fun.

SEAMSTRESSES?--Speaking of the Follies, there is always a need for volunteers to help make costumes. Some of our folks are working triple duty during this time, so if you could lend your talent and time to help make a couple of costumes, that would be great.

NEW EVENT--It's official! Skamokawa Vista Park will celebrate their 30th anniversary on July 30! This will be a grand celebration with the first of what we hope is an annual event, Vista Mart! This will be your chance to set up a table or tent, for free, and sell your crafts or promote your group or business, while enjoying the sounds of various musicians and eating from the various food vendors that we trust will come and feed us! Port District 2 wants to invite you to take part in this event. Call Kayrene Gilbertsen, 849-4421, right away and tell her you want to take part in this 30th anniversary celebration.

FAIR--We want to keep our county fair going for many, many years, so we hope you'll take part in this down home, old-fashioned fair and make it a memory that your kids and grandkids will have to tell their kids. As usual, funding is a major obstacle so we hope you can help them out by volunteering your time, to sponsor certain activities, and just help make this a good, clean wholesome event where kids learn about work and sharing and taking care of animals and feeling pride in seeing that ribbon they got for doing it all. If you can help at all, call the fairgrounds and leave a message at 795-3480 or call Becky Lektke directly at 795-3434. This year's fair is August 18-20.

WINE TASTING--The Friends of Skamokawa will hold their annual Wine Tasting and Auction on September 10 at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. This event is traditionally held on the second Saturday in September. This is an adults only evening. Just try and fit in the crab feeds, chili feeds, Bald Eagle Days, Covered Bridge Festival, Rosburg chicken feeds, Puget Island kayak roundups, skateboard events and harvest festivals and you won't ever have to worry about being bored in Wahkiakum county... there is plenty to do!