Duck Inn closes doors and era

WET WET--It looks like we've got a wet week ahead of us with mist, drizzle, light showers, showers or rain in the forecast, which in layman's terms just means wet! We did have part of our weekend fairly dry, so it wasn't too bad. With our damper weather, I know it was time to kick on some heat, so even though the temperatures weren't always that low, the dampness just creeps in your ole bones and they just ache for some warmth!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from October 13-19 are Debbie Chamberlain, Heidi Heywood, Sami McKinley, Keith McNally, Curt Moore, Dixie Anderson, Randy Kuhn, Lindsey Brown, Laura Brown, Mike Phelan, Adeline Durrah, Myles Whitaker, Cameron Collins, Kathy McClain, Hunter Baldwin, Fred Nollan, and Jennifer Kyle. May all the birthday kids have a memorable day!

Those celebrating an anniversary this week are Dennis and Vickie Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Weaver, Kim and Erik Anderson and Matthew and Lori Kyle. Enjoy your special days! I found out too late that Jean and Ralph Kenner celebrated 65 years of marriage last week, so belated congratulations to them!

BIG DAY--It was a big day last Saturday for my brother and his wife, Ralph and Peggy Pedersen, as grandson, Adam Pedersen and his wife, Samantha vowed once again to love, honor and cherish each other forever in a very nice ceremony in Vancouver. The two had tied the knot earlier back East where they work and live, but with most of their family out here, they had a lovely wedding and reception out West so we could all wish the happy couple the very best of everything. Mark Pedersen, father of the groom, had all his sons there and welcomed the new "daughter" into the family. He and wife Rhonda, had a wonderful time with a houseful of family. The newlyweds had a couple of unique features at their wedding, and one of them was a photo booth, which I thought was really neat. Also out of the norm, was their wedding cake. Instead of a big cake, they had a small cake with a huge last name initial on it, which they cut and shared, and then there were several layered tiers with banded cupcakes in lavendar of several different flavors. The buffet dinner was scrumptious, but then, anytime you've got three different kinds of meatballs, chicken cordon bleu and you have a guy carving out nice slices of a baron of beef, I'm happy! All in all, it was a wonderful day to celebrate a lovely couple and wish them a "happy ever after" as they begin their lives together.

FOOTBALL--The Mules Varsity team will play at home this Friday night against Napavine, at 7 p.m. while the JV team will play them away on Monday at 6 p.m. The Warriors will play Toutle Lake at 6 p.m. here tonight (Thursday). On Saturday, the Youth Football team plays in Castle Rock. Here's to great games for all the football teams!

NEW LOCATION--The 13th annual Chocolate Extravaganza put on by the Charlotte House will have a new place for their event with plenty of parking, when they hold it at the Bank of the Pacific in Cathlamet on October 21 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. I think this new spot is just right as with front and rear parking available at the bank, and both sides of the street out front to park, there should be ample room for everybody. If you'd like more information on this event, call Susan Schillios at 795-6401.

ANNUAL MEETING--On October 23, the Friends of Skamokawa will hold their annual meeting and all members are urged to attend. The 3 p.m. meeting will include some goodies as usual and will feature speakers, Kent and Irene Martin.

LEFSE TIME--It's almost time to think about making lefse for the upcoming holiday season, so get out your pen and write these dates down on the calendar. Head to the Norse Hall on November 3, 4 or 5 and learn how to make lefse. On November 6, they will be selling it, so now's the time to let the Sons of Norway ladies teach you their tricks of the trade and treat your family over the holidays to this wonderful traditional Norwegian goody!

DANCE--We hope you'll mark November 12 on your calendar as the band, Detour, will play some good ole country music for you, so come and dance at the Skamokawa Grange Hall that night. Admission is $10. Many people have said they want to see some dances in the area again, so here's your chance to come out and have a good time, kick up your heels and dance the night away!

NEW BUSINESS--Layton Elliott is back in town and he's re-opened his accounting business and he also builds websites, so if you need some help with your books or business, just give him a call at 795-0615 or email him at laytonio@gmail.com.

SAD NEWS--The descendants of the Jonas (Nelsine, Helga) Pedersen family were sad to learn that the last remaining sibling of that family, Holger Pedersen, passed away back in Virginia October 8 at the age of 86; he would have been 87 on Christmas Day. His wife, Mary Ann, passed away in March. His services will be held this Saturday, Oct. 15 in Leesburg, Va. He leaves behind a son David (Ulana) of Seattle and a daughter Judith of New York and several grandchildren. We nieces and nephews always called him Uncle Putt, while many in his family called him Pete. We always marveled at his size, as he was a tall, good looking guy and as he grew older, looked more and more like his dad, our Grandpa Jonas. We always knew him as a quiet and kind man, who always seemed to beam with a big, wonderful smile on his face. We certainly enjoyed his visits from his home in California where he lived for many years, and then in his later years, Virginia. He will be deeply missed by all those that knew and loved him. He is now with his parents and 11 other brothers and sisters: Bella, Kristian, Arthur, baby Werner, Norma, Grace, Werner #2, Nancy, Peder, Margaret and Walter. May you all rest in peace.

SYMPATHIES--Over the weekend we learned of the death of one of our long time Puget Islanders, Irene Bacon. She and her husband Oliver have been together forever and we know how saddened he must be at losing the love of his life. Our sympathies to Irene's entire family and her dearest friends as well, as everyone knew her as a truly delightful lady.

POST OFFICE--My deadline came before I could put in the scoop on the Save the Post Office meeting that was held last Tuesday night at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. If you couldn't make it, but still want to show your support, please send letters to either: USPS Western Area Dist. Mgr., 1745 Stout ST Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80299-5000 or District Discontinuance Co-Ordinator, PORTLAND PFC, PO Box 3609, Portland, OR 97208-3609 or both. Thank you for your help and support as we try to keep our newly moved and remodeled Skamokawa Post Office right where it is! Remember to list all the reasons why you need this post office to stay here. You need to get those letters mailed by October 19. Thanks!

SAYING GOODBYE--There were lots of tears among the faces of the crowd of people at the Duck Inn last Saturday as we said our goodbyes to our long-time friend Judy Smith, who will be leaving soon to live in Portland. I don't think people realize how much Judy and Skamokawa Pete (the late Arthur Peterson) did for this community and just how much we are going to miss not having either of them here. I have lost track of all the gift certificates I have made on behalf of the Duck Inn for the various fund raisers around town such as Dollars for Scholars Car Show, Kiwanis Golf Tournament, Friends of Skamokawa and so forth. They were always generous in helping others. Judy opened up the restaurant so that a fund raiser could be held by the Fair Foundation as they hijacked the Duck with their blessing to benefit the fair. And when my cousin Ray Pedersen was alive, they held a benefit dinner to help pay his medical bills, which was certainly a blessing for the family. When I needed refrigeration to store a lot of chicken and ribs in for the car show, I was given free reign of the kitchen and was able to pre-cook things there, which made things very handy for that fund raiser for the fire department. When one of our local gals needed a kitchen to pull off a catering job, it was the Duck Inn's kitchen that sometimes made that possible. Judy had a knack for fixing tasty snacks and making terrific trays of foods, and so whether she was fixing them for a birthday bash in the lounge, or a wedding reception in the dining area, or for a family grieving the loss of a loved one, you could count on her for having things done up really nice. I can't even guess how many special occasions were celebrated there over the past 25 years that Judy has been there from class reunions to anniversaries, to birthdays to Celebrations of Life gatherings, there's been a ton of them held right there at the Duck. When our area flooded here a few years back, it was the Duck Inn that was opened up at 3 a.m. and was headquarters for all the local folks who had to be evacuated and the emergency folks to come in and dry off and get coffee and a bite to eat. For a long time we didn't have a store, but we knew if we needed a loaf of bread or a head of lettuce, why you could just ask Judy and she'd give it to you and let you replace it later. The place itself was a melting pot of individuals who came to eat, to drink, to talk and just mix with others. As I worked there off and on, it was always great to see this mix of people as they ranged from bankers, lawyers, loggers, truck drivers, firemen, policemen, commissioners, grangers, various business owners, farmers, fishermen, students, politicians and more. They were all there from time to time. From the early morning coffee club to the happy hour crew, they gathered, they talked and laughed and shared opinions and they had this place called the Duck Inn to do it all in, thanks to Pete and Judy. Needless to say, it is with extreme sadness and many tears that I say good-bye to a great, caring and giving member of our community, as well as a dear friend. From our hearts, thanks for everything you did for us Judy; you will be truly missed!