Follies performers needed in May

SUN HAS ARRIVED-- After a wet, windy and often cold weekend with a spattering of sunshine here and there, it looks like we finally have a few days of warmth in our region and it's sure a welcome sight. I think my old bones were about to permanently seize up from being so cold all the time, so when the sun finally showed up, all I could do was soak up the light and heat- warmth at last! I did get to soak up the sun, but it wasn't by kicking back and enjoying it, as the flower beds beckoned and so it was warmth via sweating while I yanked and pulled all those nasty weeds. I hope you're all able to enjoy some of this sunshine, but you might not want to take that extra blanket off the bed just yet. We froze out here in West Valley Monday night with a heavy frost blanketing everything Tuesday morning, which really sparkled in the sun. That frost did a real number on some of my freshly budding plants, so I'm glad I hadn't planted anything new just yet. Here's hoping we get warmer days and warmer nights very soon.

SPECIAL DAYS-- Those celebrating birthdays this coming week are Sunrise Fletcher, Tom Blalock, Mike Snow, Kent Martin, Kelly McClain, Debbie McClain, Shannon McClain, Ricky Montgomery, Misty Havens, Kim Tracy, Carol Danker, Carrie Backman, Mary Vik, Aaron Bernard, Shawn Woods, Emma Mae Keithly, Max Scudder and 67'er Dennis Havens. Enjoy your birthday celebrations, everyone! Belated birthday wishes go to cousin Joel Peterson who celebrated his special day last Monday.

Celebrating their anniversaries this week are Kent and Irene Martin, Mr. and Mrs. John Lindsey, Erval and Carol Cooper and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Paulsen. Enjoy your anniversaries, everyone!

PERFORMERS WANTED--The Skamokawa Grange is hosting its sixth annual Smoky Water Follies at the end of June. We're still looking for more singers, actors, magicians or jugglers; youngsters or adults, just about any kind of talent will work! This is a three day event, with two evening performances on June 28 and 29 and a matinee on Sunday, June 30. Other than the last week prior to the show, the practices can be made to fit your schedule, so it's not an every weekend-type thing that would totally disrupt your life. If you'd like to be an extra in our skit, that will work out too. Call Sunrise Fletcher at 795-8770 to get added to the list. Our next gathering of performers is May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall. We've got some kids, but we'd sure like some more young people to turn out and do a little community service by being a part of this great, fun show!

GRANGE CONTEST ENTRIES--If you'd like to enter something in the grange contests, please bring them down to the Skamokawa Grange Hall this Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. If you have ever entered anything into the county fair, then you know that just about everything- artwork, needlepoint, beadwork, home-made cards, photos and more- can be entered. Donna Moody will be at the hall with the proper forms to help you get your items entered. Your item could go on to the state contests where you'd be eligible to win some cash prizes. You can check out all the rules online by going to the Family Living section of the Washington State Grange website (http://www.wa-grange.org/cwaforms.html).

REDMEN HALL ARTWORK--When I went to the Janet Cimino artwork sale at Redmen Hall last weekend, I was shocked to see so many empty hooks where paintings, prints and other items had been hanging. Folks came in and grabbed up the great deals. The sale benefits Tsuga Gallery in Cathlamet, which Janet created, so that was really great to see. Never fear, there is plenty more art where those came from. The hall will be restocked before the sale reopens on Thursday. For further information, call Redmen Hall at 795-3007.

CLOSE CALL--If you were watching the news last weekend, you may have seen a picture of a very large, collapsed crane down at a Portland shipyard- certainly a scary sight. Wahkiakum resident John Burdick and his crew were working under that crane when it went down, and had to run for their lives to keep from being crushed! Thankfully, everyone was able to escape unharmed. Of course, no one was more relieved than John's family, which includes his wife, Kassie (Anderson) and children.

GREAT DINNER--The annual chicken dinner served at Rosburg Hall last Sunday was wonderful again this year. The salad bar contained some of my favorite salads, like the celery and crab meat one, or the broccoli, bacon and raisin one, or the carrot one, as well as many others. They were all so good! After I got my fill of salad, I was served the chicken and mashed potatoes and roll and by that time, my eyes were bulging just a bit, as was my tummy, but it was just impossible to turn down one of those yummy desserts that was being paraded around on a dessert cart . I just had to have my favorite before it disappeared- lemon meringue pie. I saw Ronda and Mike Rose there, as well as classmate Marnee Davis and hubby Todd from out in the Elochoman Valley, and Patty Ohrberg and the Torgets from Puget Island, and many, many more, so it was great to see folks come over the hill to take part in this delicious dinner to support Rosburg Hall.

NICE VISIT--Frank and Carolyn Pedersen of Castle Rock joined Ralph and Peggy Pedersen of Cathlamet for lunch at the Duck Inn on Sunday afternoon. These brothers of mine couldn't get together without their little sis (me) joining them for some good gab at least. Husband Bill and I had just been down to Rosburg for dinner, so we were plenty full already, but the others had a great lunch.

BERRIES--The Lions Club will once again be selling berries. They will be taking orders the whole month of May. Look in the May 9 edition of the Eagle for the form. The last day to order will be June 1 with a June 8 delivery date. The prices are the same this year- $25 for 14 pounds of berries or $46 for 28 pounds of berries. For more information contact Carol McClain at 795-3337.

MAILED ALREADY--I recently mailed out Vendor's Contracts for the Vendor's Market that will occur at Skamokawa Vista Park on July 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is being put on by the Skamokawa Grange #425. While it is a fundraiser for us, it’s also a great time to promote your own business or make people aware of your group or organization. I understand the park is mostly booked for that weekend, so vendors will have lots of potential customers. If you have not been sent a contract and would like one, give me a call and I'll get one in the mail to you, or if you happen to be driving by Vista Park, you can pick one up at the park office.

NEW MONTH--It's hard to believe that we are heading into the fifth month of 2013 already as it seems like the year just started, but soon the kids will be out of school and graduation will be taking place and busy summertime activities will be happening.

However, before then, we've got a lot of things going on in May. To begin with, it's May Day next Wednesday, which should bring flowers to the lucky ones who have kids that carry on those May Day traditions.

The Columbia River Kayakers have moved to their new location at Skamokawa Landing, located at 957 Steamboat Slough, Office #1. They will be having an open house on May 4, so come for refreshments and to enter the drawings they will be having. The group teaches a wide variety of kayaking skills from beginners on up and offers trips around the area. They also offer a Wilderness First Responder course every spring. This year it will take place May 19 through 25 at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. If you're interested in taking part, you can either go to their new office or contact them at 360-747-1044 or via their website: http://www.columbiariverkayaking.com.

For those of you who like tea, you've got two places to go to on May 5. The Sons of Norway will be hosting their Mother's Day Tea at the Norse Hall on Puget Island. There is also the 11th annual tea put on by the Grays River Friendship Circle at Rosburg Hall with the doors open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch served at 12:30 p.m. They will have a program and raffles as well.

For those who love to run, it's time for the annual Great White-Tail 5K or 10K Fun Run. This is a fundraiser for the Wahkiakum 4-H program. For more information call 360-465-2275 or contact the WSU Extension office in Cathlamet at 795-3278.

Car buffs who want to enter the June 1 Rods and Reels car show in Skamokawa need to get their entry forms submitted by May 20 in order to receive all the pre-entry extras, which include a t-shirt, dash plaque and goodie bag. For more information, contact Lee Tischer or go to the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce website or check the Rods and Reels page out on Facebook.