Johnson Park has a busy schedule

News from Naselle:

 Sports calendar for the coming week with the Naselle Comet teams: Friday, home varsity boys basketball against Northwest Christian at 4 p.m. followed by varsity girls basketball at 5:45 p.m .; Monday, middle school boys basketball at North Beach at 5:45 p.m; Tuesday, home middle school boys basketball against Valley at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!

 On February 7 the Naselle Drama Club will present a Shakespeare performance at 7 p.m. in the Naselle School Commons.

 Remember your favorite valentine and treat them to a wonderful meal at the annual Valentine Smorgasbord prepared and served by the American Legion Auxiliary ladies from the Deep River Post #111. This year’s event will be held on February 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring delicious main dishes, salads and desserts that these ladies are famous for. Prices for the lunch are adults and teens- $10, preteens $6 and $2 for kids under six.

 The proceeds from the Valentine Smorgasbord will be used for benefiting vets, local scholarships and charities.

Other news from the Westend:

 Only one week left to get your tickets for the Valentine Diamond Dinner being held on February 9 at the Skamokawa Grange Hall and sponsored by the Fair Board benefitting our Wahkiakum County Fair. This is another chance to celebrate a happy Valentine’s Day with your sweetie, enjoy a delicious dinner and entertainment and have a chance to win great prizes. This year’s main prize is a diamond bracelet gift basket. Tickets are $25 per person.

 Tickets are available now for the Annual Crab and Oyster Feed at the Rosburg Hall sponsored by the American Legion Deep River Post #111, scheduled for March 2. Doors open at six p.m. and tickets are $28. Remember that there are only 200 tickets available so get yours now before they are sold out. For tickets and more information, call L. D. Rose at 465-2234.

 The evening begins with happy hour from 6-7 p.m. followed by dinner and the raffle drawing, and then you can kick off your shoes for the dance from nine to midnight. The proceeds from the feed are used to support our veterans, youth and local charities.

 Advance tickets are also on sale for the spaghetti dinner and silent auction to be held at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park on March 9 from 5-8 p.m. in the cafeteria. The menu includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and a beverage. Tickets can be purchased at the Grays River Valley Library (465-2310), from Penny Gregory at 465-2775, Steve or Linda Ramsay at 465-2731 or from me at 465-2960.

 The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to maintain the building and the grounds at Johnson Park. The park and the center are run by volunteers and donations plus the monthly rental of several rooms, so that means we depend on your generosity and monetary help. This is the community’s park and center, and it is available for events, reunions, birthday parties, receptions or whatever you might have planned. If you would like to reserve a date or want to know if one is available, please call events coordinator Judy Durrah at 465-2331.

 February movie posters are up at Okie’s, the Rosburg Store, the post office, the Grays River Café and other locations to remind you that there are free Friday night movies at the Grays River Valley Center every week at 7 p.m. Now that we have our new, larger screen we will be showing more recent films.

 Some of the readers may be getting tired of reading about all the goings-on at Johnson Park and the Grays River Valley Center, but it is, has been, and continues to be a work in progress, and I am very proud to have been a part of getting it to where it is now. We are thriving, with many of you taking advantage of what we have to offer.

 The Johnson Park Advisory Board members are appointed by the County Commissioners and serve specific terms as a volunteer. They meet once a month in the Grays River Valley Library on the first Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Their meetings are open to the public. Members of the board include President Steve Ramsay, Vice President Randy Collver, Secretary Arlene Stefan, Treasurer Penny Gregory, and board members Lilah Lincoln and Trudy Fredrickson. If you have any questions, please call one of us.

 In the past year, the list of accomplishments has grown, with all the credit going to the hard work, effort and just plain gumption of the volunteers at the Grays River Valley Center/Johnson Park, and to the folks who are using the facility. Our kitchen is now approved which allows us to rent it out for events and classes, and is being regularly used on Friday nights for concessions at the free movie night. In the cafeteria area we have had several more tables donated and have purchased some new chairs giving us the capability of seating 100 for any function. A small freezer has also been purchased for the kitchen area allowing us a little more menu flexibility.

 Our sewing room is now open and being used by many in the community for making quilts or learning basic sewing. For more information about the sewing room, call Arlene Stefan or come by on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

 The weight room is being used frequently, and now houses a Nautilus exercise machine donated this past year by one of our sponsors. Even a few of the Sheriff’s deputies have been seen working out. Good job, guys.

 Speaking of the Sheriff’s deputies, we are pleased to announce that there is a deputy at the substation every Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. if you would like to pop in for a chat. Sheriff Howie is making a point of checking in with the board members frequently and has been instrumental in helping out with signage for the park. Our county emergency management officer Beau Renfro is also available with a regular schedule at the center and his office is located in the substation.

 The Grays River Valley Center is now a nationally listed Red Cross Emergency shelter. In case of an emergency, several of our board members have trained to respond to emergency situations and we are working toward disaster preparedness to meet the needs of local residents.

 In the maintenance department, we have made many strides in cleaning up the building. The halls and most of the rooms have had multiple coats of wax thanks to Penny Gregory and Cindy Lahti. Our gymnasium floors were redone again this year thanks to the Naselle School District. Some new lighting has been installed, old fixtures repaired, and old ballasts replaced, making us a little more energy efficient.

 The baseball backstop will be complete this summer, so games can be played on our field. Hopefully when your big family gathering happens, you will want to get a game on. Now you have a great place to play and plenty of other activities for everyone. Don’t forget the nature trail that was done two years ago by Naselle Youth Camp residents. It is a beautiful walk through the trees. If you know anyone that would like to donate some cedar chips or is interested in helping out with grooming the trail for the summer months, please contact a board member.

 This year the Advisory Board is making a concerted effort to do a few fundraisers and plan some fun things for the community as a way of saying thank you. Our first fundraiser was in January. The Chili, Clam Chowder and Chicken Noodle Soup Chow Down was a huge success. Coming up next is our Spaghetti Feed and Silent Auction on March 9. Other events scheduled for the year are the second annual plant, book, and bake sale and soup luncheon on May 18, a very special event on July 21 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the old Rosburg School and our second annual Community Potluck Picnic, Oktoberfest on October 12 featuring a delicious Sauerbraten dinner, and the fourth Trick or Treat in the halls of the old creepy building on October 31. These are just a few of the special things that will be happening around Johnson Park. Thank you to all the volunteers and to all the folks who are using the facility. This is our pride and joy for our community.

 The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets at the Rosburg Hall each week for a delicious meal prepared and served by Pat Potter and her volunteer crew. Senior meals are also served at that location on Tuesdays and Thursdays and those meals are sponsored by CAP. Come join your friends and neighbors for a great meal and good company.

 Happy Birthday to Joyce Otterson, Troy Wasmundt, Erin Saari, Melissa Olson, Hannah Footh, Cassie VanDusen, Chandler Chapman, Jeannine Helvey, James Lovin, Art Busse, Kristen Saari, Alan Erickson, Bette Vaughn and Mindy McNulty. Here’s hoping each of you has a perfect day.

 Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Otis and Renae Hunsinger, Jon and Angie Chapman, Bob and Angelee Torppa and Bud and Wendy Strange. Wishing you many more celebrations together.