Columnist had busy Christmas week

My apologies to the readers for not having a column in last week. Thank you to those who called to see if everything was okay with us. We are fine, but it was a very busy time for me, so unfortunately I didn’t get a column written. I hope everyone had as wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration as we did. Our daughter and son-in-law from Redmond, Oregon, our son from Ellensburg, our son, his wife and two grandsons from Cathlamet, our grandson from Eugene and my sister joined us for Christmas Eve dinner and enjoyed a little family time and Grammie time.

I also received the best birthday/Christmas present ever from my husband. He walked for the first time without his cane. His progress has been phenomenal. Thanks for everyone’s support and prayers.

News from Naselle:

Naselle-Grays River Valley students are back in class after their Christmas break and the last half of the 2012-2013 school year has begun. Sports for this week include Thursday, home boys basketball game against South Bend at 5:45 p.m .; Friday, girls basketball game at Ocosta at 5:45 p.m .; Saturday, home boys basketball game against Ocosta at 5:45 p.m .; and Tuesday, home boys basketball game against Montesano at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!

Check out the school website at http://www.naselle.wednet.edu to get all the latest news of the school. You can view an animated display of the newly proposed sports/band complex, look at calendars and read blogs. They do a very nice job of keeping families informed and updated with what is going on.

The Comet Booster Club will meet on January 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Other news from the Westend:

The Grays River Habitat Enhancement District will hold its regular monthly meeting on January 9 at six p.m. in the activity room at the Grays River Valley Center. These meetings are open to the public and landowners are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Need a little help with a sewing project? Want to learn how to sew? Contact Arlene Stefan, or go to the sewing room at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park on Tuesdays at ten a.m. Sewing machines are available for your use and a volunteer is on hand to help.

On January 20, the Johnson Park Advisory Board will host a Chili, Chowder and Chicken Noodle Soup supper at the Grays River Valley Center from one to four p.m. Included on the menu for this fundraiser will be chili, cornbread, chicken noodle soup and clam chowder with crackers. The suggested donation for the meal is $5.

The Advisory Board is very proud of the many accomplishments that have occurred in the past couple of years, and would like the community to see and utilize the facilities to their fullest. This supper is the perfect opportunity to meet with us and let us know what you think of the changes that have been made in the old building and grounds, as well as giving us some input about future changes we might want to make.

Tickets will go on sale January 1 for a spaghetti dinner at Johnson Park to be held on March 9. Tickets cost $10 and include spaghetti, salad, French bread, dessert and a beverage. A silent auction will also take place.

Beginning January 7 the Grays River Valley Library and Computer Center hours will change. The new hours will be: Mondays- three to seven p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday- one to five p.m. The new evening hours will allow more after-school access to the available computers and homework help as well as later library access for those of you who work later.

Our library/computer center is free to anyone in the community/county and is staffed by volunteers. We are so fortunate to have a couple who are retired librarians doing most of the work. I want to say thank you to Randy and Ramona Collver for all their hard work and many hours in the library. Come on in and meet our volunteers, check out all the fiction, nonfiction and reference books as well as audio books, movies, children’s section and free internet access.

Nothing to do on Friday evening? Check out the free movie night every Friday at seven p.m. sponsored by the Grays River Valley Library. The night features great classic movies, concessions, and good company. For more information, call 465-2310 or check out the posters on display at many local bulletin boards.

Our Westend community is fortunate to have lunches for senior citizens served three days a week at the Rosburg Hall. The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets every week at noon for a home-cooked meal prepared and served by Pat Potter and her volunteers. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, lunch is also served at noon and is sponsored by CAP. Join your neighbors for a wonderful nutritious meal. It’s great food and good company.

Happy Birthday to the following: Alan Wirkkala, Keith Wirkkala, James Ray Smith, Lawrence Busse, Laura Ann Leaf, Logan Sandell, Tracey Shirek, Will Wuorinen, Marshall Wirkkala, Eric Peterson, Signa Kilponen, Michelle Condon, Vickie Wirkkala, Brian Cooper, Gary Queener, Harvey Johnson Jr., Michael Busse, Richard Angstrom, Dan Smalley, Jamie Eastham, Megan Albright, Parker, Hannah and Abagail, Linda Strong, Paul W. Bjornsgard, Benjamin Lemon, Jody Baker, Minna Webster, Ryan Torppa, Laureal Smalley and Mason Phipps.

As I finish up this column, my husband is in the family room enjoying a massage by Bryon Parrino from Naselle Massage Clinic. I never dreamed how beneficial a massage could be, but it has done wonders for the muscles that didn’t seem to be working after Del’s stroke. If you are a skeptic, as I was, you may want to give it a try. Thanks, Bryon, for your help in Del’s recovery.

Wishing all the readers a happy new year! We are looking forward to ours as well. Welcome 2013!