Kitchen approved for rental, catering, etc.

Yup, spring is almost here. The baby lambs at Georgene Scott’s are romping and jumping happily in the fields on Altoona/Pillar Rock Road. The frogs are still singing merrily, and Derek Heitsch just stopped in to announce the arrival of his first calf of the season. A healthy 102 pound bull. New season, new life. I love spring.

News from Naselle:

There will be no school on Monday in honor of President’s Day. School will resume on Tuesday.

The Naselle-Grays River School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. These are public meetings and everyone is encouraged to attend.

I’m told that the Valentine Smorgasbord was a huge success once again. Everyone seemed to enjoy all the delicious food prepared and served by the ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary Deep River Post #111. Proceeds from these events benefit our kids and our local charities. Thank you ladies for all your hard work and your generosity in our community.

I haven’t written much about the new vet Lisa Bartel and her business in Naselle, aptly named Country Pet Vet, but this week I feel like I should. Though I have not had occasion to visit her, I finally had the opportunity to meet her. A very personable lady. Everyone that I have talked to says that her care and enthusiasm for her work is just wonderful.

A good friend, Beverly Wallace of Grays River recently had to have her elderly cat put to sleep due to illness and she took him to see Dr. Bartel. In our conversation, Beverly asked me to let folks know how much she appreciated the knowledge, compassion and ability to understand the animal’s distress, all the while making him comfortable. It takes a special person to deal with animals and their owners in a stressful situation, and I want to tell Lisa thank you for being here. I’m sure I speak for all the residents in the area who have used her services.

Other news from the Westend:

Wahkiakum County commissioners recently appointed nine citizens to a new board called the Property Rights Advisory board. Three appointees from each commissioner district meet on a monthly basis to discuss and advise the commissioners on all matters having to do with property rights issues.

Last Wednesday, I attended the meeting held in Cathlamet at the courthouse, where the group had asked members of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District to speak to them regarding property issues due to non-governmental agencies purchasing large amounts of land in the county and possible consequences that might arise from those purchases. The group seems to be eager to learn and work with the public as well as the county with any issues having to do with our properties.

The advisory board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. and alternate locations on the west end and on the east end. Next month the meeting will be held at Johnson Park and the following month in Cathlamet. The meetings are public and the dialogue that I witnessed was very enlightening. Check them out.

The Valentine Diamond dinner in Skamokawa last Saturday, was another huge success. The steaks were perfect, thanks to the expertise of Commissioner Blair Brady and County Assessor Bill Coons with all the trimmings, the service impeccable, the music very nice, and the hall looked beautiful. It appeared to be a sell out.

Congratulations once more to the big winner of the diamond necklace, Carol Ervest. The other big winners of the evening were Al and Nancy George. All in all, everyone there was a winner, and benefitted our Wahkiakum County Fair.

Last Monday a group of 14 eager volunteers showed up for Red Cross Disaster Training at Johnson Park. This was a shortened, preliminary meeting with two more sessions to be scheduled for later in March. If you were unable to attend this meeting, please contact Cindy Lahti or Penny Gregory to get info on the next training sessions.

Once we have a certified group in place the park and the Grays River Valley Center will be a place for people to come in the event of a disaster.

The kitchen at the Grays River Valley Center is now approved for rental, catering, baking, etc. If you or your group is interested in utilizing it, contact our events coordinator, Judy Durrah or Penny Gregory for available dates and times.

This kitchen has been a long time project, with much blood, sweat and tears to bring it to fruition. A huge thank you to Penny Gregory for taking the bull by the horns and securing the equipment, the volunteers, spending many hours and just plain doing whatever needed to be done and getting it done. Thanks to all the other volunteers for their time and monetary donations, we now can move forward with some fund raisers.

Cindy Lahti is working with several ladies on making quilts, and utilizing the new sewing room at the Grays River Valley Center. This service is just one of many activities available to everyone in the community.

Check out the Grays River Valley Library and Community computer center on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m., play pinochle on Monday afternoons Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS)on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., shoot a game of pool or use the equipment in the exercise room, play basketball in the gym, or walk the nature trail in the woods near the ball field. This park and the Grays River Valley Center belong to the members of the community and we are proud to see so many of you using the facilities.

The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at Rosburg Hall will hold a potluck on the 22nd. Bring your favorite dish to share and enjoy. On the 29th, Pat Potter and her volunteer crew will prepare clam chowder and smoked salmon chowder with crackers and dessert.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, lunches are also served at the same location, sponsored by CAP. Menus for the coming week include: Thursday, the 16th- baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cheese and cauliflower, sliced peaches and chocolate mousse; Tuesday, the 21st-turkey tetrazzini, orange quinoa salad, broccoli Normandy and pineapple upside down cake; Thursday, the 23rd-barbeque beef sandwich, potato salad, Oregon bean medley, sliced oranges and peanut butter bars.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Carol Rose, Larry Helton, Connie Mercer, Wayne Erickson, Junea Brannon, Hilary Erickson, Kayse Rogers, Jill Ragnoni, Jason Mennen, Eva Malerich, Paul Footh, Kaylee Albright, Peter McGuire, Karl Mahlum, Mike Olmstead, Nathan Engelson, Deanna Wilson, Paul Wirkkala, Audrey Ullakko, Rhonda Warra, Logan Leaf, Mike Queener and Rowena Ehrlund. Have a wonderful celebration.

Happy Anniversary to John and Freida Footh, Ray and Linda Jordan, Isaac and Mary Beth Queral, Ken and Donna Tyyska, and Jon and Norilyn Pakkenen.

Also a special Happy Anniversary to a wonderful couple from Eden Valley. Norman and Phyllis Sotka will celebrate another wonderful year together. I understand that this year is 61 years. Congratulations and wishing you many more.

Here’s hoping Norman is feeling better after being under the weather for the past few weeks. You need to get back on your feet so you can get the hay out of our fields in a few months. Get well soon.

A belated happy anniversary to Gean and Walter Deege of Deep River. According to Walter, it has been 49 wonderful years and he looks forward to the big 50 next year. Mr. Deege has the Impact Financial Group in Cathlamet (Deege Insurance) and they also sell farm fresh brown eggs at their home on SR 4. This family is a true asset to our community. Congratulations, Gean and Walter.