Local food banks need your help

NICE--It's been a pretty decent weekend as we had a drying trend show up that helped brighten everyone's spirits, I bet. I think it also brought out everybody's lawn mowers one more time and hopefully the last. While the day time temperatures were nice, it was in the mid-30s here Saturday night, definitely on the nippy side. While we may be lulled into thinking we've got time to prepare for the winter ahead, I'm thinking we better get with the program as we are into the third week of October, and heading into the fourth. Where is the time going?

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from October 20-26 are Brianne Helms, Michelle Collupy, Justin Garrison, Aron Kuller, Valle M. Ledtke, Emily Elliott, Gary Backman, Mary Heagy, Kristi Knowles, Don Wages and Ray Wood. Happy Anniversary wishes this week go to Mr. and Mrs. Greg Bain, Mr. and Mrs. Cory Cothren, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Boldt, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Elliott and Mr. and Mrs.Wayne Bell who are celebrating a special anniversary this year. Hope all of you enjoy your special days whether they be birthdays or anniversaries.

GREAT TIME--The Fred Nollans were the honorees at a black tie affair last weekend to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in Seattle. With only a few unable to attend, the Nollans and their five kids, grand kids and great grand kids had a wonderful time with a special slide show put together by grandson Ryan, of the couple and family members over the years and that was truly special. A trivia game of family events and occasions from days past was put together by son Mike and Debbie, and was real fun as well. The following day was Fred's birthday and so it was a double celebration for the entire family.

THIS SATURDAY--Need to relax a little? Need a different kind of gift? Why not head to the store next to Howie's Corner in Cathlamet, as Nicole's "Healing Matters" massage therapy studio opens up this Saturday. Pam Emery says they'll have goodies, so stop by for some coffee and cookies on October 22.

NEW EXHIBIT, NEW THINGS--Redmen Hall will be showing the works of a new artist that's come to live in our area, so we hope you'll check out the Friends of Skamokawa's last exhibit of the year titled, "Revisions - a Second Look" by Puget Islander, Mike Cullom. He specializes in photography and wood carving, and has a unique style with his enhanced views. There will be a reception for him on October 29 from 2 to 4 p.m., so stop and by and meet our latest artisan and welcome him to the area, and enjoy a cookie or two as well. His exhibit runs until December 18, so come to Redmen Hall and see his remarkable works of art.

Also at the Redmen Hall gift shop, there is now a new shipment of wonderful smoked and unsmoked fish that has come in and I'm sure someone would love to have a basket of that for a nice tasty, Christmas treat. Still available are the 25th year etched commemorative wine glasses, and those too would make a great gift or add the fish and glasses together with a bottle of wine and you're set to go! For the kids, there are new hand puppets and coloring books and for those who like to keep a journal, there is a batch of "Rite as Rain" journal products, so come and check those out. The hall is open from Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

COMING UP--The Skamokawa Grangers will have a meeting October 24 with a social time starting at 6:30 p.m., where we will share some eats until the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are always open to the public, so you are more than welcome to stop by.

Plans for the free community dinner on December 10 is in the works, so I hope you'll be able to come. This is a combined effort by the Skamokawa Grange and the Skamokawa Fire Department and don't tell anybody, but I heard that Santa might be there to hand out goody bags, so I hope he doesn't get called away for more work up at the North Pole....we'll keep our fingers crossed that he'll be there!

GOOD DEALS--The Video Store in Cathlamet has some really good deals on video rentals. Check them out on SR 4 at the Shell Station.

NEXT MONTH--November 12 the Skamokawa United Methodist Church will have a Harvest Rummage Sale, with tables being rented out for just $10. You can call Carol McClain at 795-3337 or Patty Ohrberg at 849-4323 to reserve a table, or get more info. This will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and cookies and coffee will be available for a small donation as well.

On the west side of KM, you'll be able to get the new book entitled, "100 Years of Big Timber in SW Washington" on sale at Appelo Archives Center from noon to 4 p.m. in Naselle. This book was published by AAC and features authors Jim LeMonds, Karen Bertroch, Donna Gaten-Klint and Bryan Penttila, and they will be on hand that day to sign copies of the book, which will be five dollars cheaper that day, and up until December 15. This would make a good gift for those reading buffs who enjoy hearing about the good ole days.

Then that evening, the Skamokawa Grange will have the band Detour show up for your dancing pleasure and we hope you'll come out for a real good time with a real good band and have yourself a dancing good time! Back in the day, there was a good band every weekend, but now they are few and far between, so please come and enjoy the country sound of this live band.

NOT QUITE--Owners of the Duck Inn thought the doors were closing earlier this month, so they held one last big party to say good-bye but surprise, surprise, an offer has been put on the table to buy the place, so they are keeping it open for the next few weeks, and wanted me to tell everybody they could still stop on by. You can call 795-3655 to double check what's going on, but as far as what I've been told, November 12 is now the closing date.

A BIG NEED--As seen in last week's paper, both of our food banks could use some help. While one got a bit of help from a recent food drive, the holidays are coming and there is sure to be a huge surge of need during that time, so I hope we can all find it in our hearts to give them a little extra real soon. The Lions Club is having their Walk 'n' Knock food drive early this year for that reason, so keep November 19 in mind, as usually it is held in December but with the need so great this year, they'd like to collect a whole lot of things prior to Thanksgiving so everyone can enjoy a nice meal over the holiday. Of course, you don't have to wait to donate, so maybe you could pick up a couple of extra things and donate them early. Both of the food banks can use cash donations or how about a gift card from our local IGA store? Folks that are given those can use them to buy toiletries and things that food stamps can't buy, or the food banks themselves can use them to buy exactly what they need the most. If you'd like to help the Wahkiakum Food Bank or the Helping Hand Food Bank, contact the Wahkiakum Health and Human Services: 360-795-8630. Both food banks are open on Tuesdays, with the HHFB handing out food from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. down at the old Rat Tap Tavern and the WFB is out the Elochoman and operates from 3 to 5 p.m.

LETTERS URGENTLY NEEDED--Those of us in Skamokawa are battling with the USPS over the possible closure of our post office. Considering this post office opened in 1873, the idea that it would be taken from us now is not something we want to happen for a variety of reasons. It makes no sense to close a post office that was just moved out of its spot inside the store, to the newly remodeled former post office building, at considerable cost to the new owners, only to be told that now it is going to be closed and they still are holding a lease on it for the post office for several years. Unbelievable! Property owners/lease holders Don and Arlene Jester are willing to take less for the lease if it means keeping the post office there, as it is a real hub of our little town and many aspects of their resort area revolve around having a post office. We may not have store fronts that you can easily see here in Skamokawa, but we have about 40 businesses here in town and out our valleys, that many may not be aware of, but they are here, and they need this post office. For many folks out at the ends of the valleys, having to travel to Cathlamet would mean going between 25 to 30 miles to get one's mail and in this day of high gas prices, that's not too feasible. We are asking everyone who thinks this historic post office should stay where it is and continue to function, to write a letter to our US Senators and Representatives listed below, and put pressure on them to make our voices be heard in Washington DC and keep our post office secure! Please write letters right away and urge them to show their support for rural America! The USPS operating costs are just seven tenths of one percent of their budget. Let them find another way to cut costs!

Please write letters of support to:

US Senator Maria Cantwell, 511 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510.

US Senator Patty Murray, 173 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510.

US Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler, 1130 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515.