Memorial Day weekend ahead

SO – SO--I enjoyed a gorgeous Monday with lots of sunshine and blue skies. However, as the day ended, it began to pour. As I write this on Tuesday morning, it looks pretty gloomy out there and forecasters are saying there will be a mix of gray and showers this week. If you have big plans for the Memorial Day weekend, you might want to consider bringing an umbrella with you.

Considering what Oklahoma and other states in the Midwest are going through with massive tornadoes ripping through the countryside, I count my blessings that we are here in the Northwest. The pictures of the tornado damage are just mind-numbing and heartbreaking.

My family just got word that our cousin Donna Peterson Bernard, who lives just outside Oklahoma City, is safe and we are truly grateful for that news. Donna had to endure many harrowing moments hunkered down in a bathroom at home while her husband Chris sought refuge in a stairwell at his workplace.

SPECIAL DAYS-- Those celebrating birthdays this coming week are Mitch Moonen, Rochelle Cothren, Wes McClain, Serene Snow, Bryson Havens, Natalie Emery, Dexter Meyer, Bonnie Bigler, Julie Black, Jeff Vik, Chad Marsyla, Jeanne Paulsen, Don Anderson, Johnnie Peterson, Nancy Corbin, Penny Bond, Tim Hoven, Tiernan Cochran, Pearl Cortay, Mary Jo Brown, Arnie Good, Katrina Pedersen Freeman, Lisa Sechler and 67'er Linda Toste. I am also remembering the following family members this week: my mom Carol Everest Pedersen Smith, Peggy Pedersen Clement, Mary Ann Pedersen, Bella Pedersen Ellison and Ray Pedersen.

Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Bill and Linda Mahitka and Mr. and Mrs. Tony Danker. Enjoy your special days.

SAD TIMES--It's been a pretty sad time for our family this past week as we lost the patriarch of Bill's family, Veryl Chamberlain, last Wednesday. While we all mourn his loss, we know he is holding the hand of his bride Barbara once again and they are at peace. If I know Veryl, he's already riding through the sky on horseback. In this past year, Veryl’s heart and mobility problems had gotten worse and he feared having to leave his home and move to a care facility. At the age of ninety-three, Veryl got his wish to leave this world on his own terms: at home, just like he wanted. For that we are grateful. Although in his early years Veryl lived in Washougal and started his family there, they moved to the Grays River area in the mid-sixties and lived in the Grays River Valley for a long time. He will be laid to rest alongside his wife Barbara and son Robert at the Grays River Cemetery (tomorrow) Friday at 11 a.m. and that will be followed with a Celebration of Life and potluck gathering at noon at the Rosburg Hall.

LOTS OF PRAYERS -- There seems to have been many losses lately, as retired WHS teacher and coach Paul Spears lost his wife Ann not too long ago, and Ebby Engle lost her dad, Bob, recently, so I send them and their families my deepest sympathies.

I think everyone in town is keeping Jim Bjorge in their thoughts and prayers as he has been in ICU with some serious medical issues, so we will continue to keep him on our list of folks who need positive energy flowing his way. There are others who are facing life and death situations that would rather not be named but please know I am thinking of you and your family and will continue to keep you in my thoughts.

I want to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jonnie Knowles as she's recently had some foot surgery and will be stuck in a cast for quite some time. Prior to her surgery, she got to go out and enjoy a wonderful Mother's Day dinner with daughter Brandi and grandchildren at the Duck Inn. They had a terrific dinner, she said, and she had a wonderful day with her family.

BERRY SALE--June 1 is the last day to place your order for the Lions Club strawberry sale. Contact 795-3337 or 849-4003 to get all the information. The pick-up date for the berries will be June 8 and will be delivered to either the Wahkiakum High School or to the Skamokawa Grange Parking lot. The money raised will go for eye exams, sight conservation and scholarships, so it's money well spent.

PROM-- It was Prom night at WA-KI-HI last Saturday. From the pictures I saw, they all looked awesome all dressed up. Of course, while the kids were smiling, the moms and grandmas were getting all teary-eyed, as their "little kids" have grown up to be terrific looking young men and young ladies. For me, I was beaming with pride and got pretty misty-eyed after seeing the pictures of grandson Austin Good and his date, Maya, and I couldn't believe that cousin Lainie Ferguson has grown into such a gorgeous young lady. In spite of a limo getting stuck a couple of times in a winding driveway, it sounded like all the kids had a fantastic evening. What wonderful memories they will have to share later on when they get to be old like us!

ART SALE-- For the next two weekends, all the remaining artwork that belonged to the late Janet Cimino on sale at Redmen Hall will be half price. The prices were very reasonable to begin with but with the end of the sale drawing near, the gallery would like to have the items cleared out as much as possible so as not to have to move it once again or store it. Janet had a wide variety of items in her collection and so there is something there to suit everyone. All proceeds will be donated to Tsuga Gallery that she founded in Cathlamet. Call Redmen Hall at 795-3007 with any questions or for more information.

CAR SHOW--Our neighboring cities have designated June 1 as a "Day of Kindness." I think it’s a great idea to do a kind deed for a neighbor or a stranger or to help support a worthy cause. In the last scenario, you can fulfill the kindness part of the day by coming to the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds to help raise scholarship money for our graduates, as the Dollars for Scholars group will be holding their Eighth Annual Car Show. The raffle prizes are terrific once again. For $1, you could win anything from a BBQ that looks like a V8 engine to an iPad or a full camping set-up, and more. There will also be music and food and trout fishing for the kids plus all the great cars. It's free to look, then buy a lunch ticket and enjoy a burger or some fish, or have some dessert served up by Sharon Buennagel and her staff. All the money goes for scholarships for Wahkiakum High School seniors.

MUSEUM OPEN-- The Wahkiakum County Historical Society wants to remind you that the museum is now open on the weekends. Volunteers are needed for Saturdays and Sundays. I had a good time visiting with some young ladies who stopped by when I was down there this past Saturday and they got a kick out of some of my stories, as I actually experienced some of the things that are depicted in the museum. Another couple stopped by for the first time while I was there. Your help and support is needed and appreciated. Bricks are still available for sale. They can be engraved with your name, or family name or maybe even your class on it. They are a good way to remember someone and support the museum as well.

FOLLIES--The "Smoky Water Follies" is a little over a month away, so I hope you've got your calendar marked. June 28 and 29 are evening shows and June 30 will be the Sunday matinee. If you've got a family that would like to attend, then Friday is your night as family-friendly Friday tickets are available for $25. Individual tickets cost $12. If you've just decided that you'd like to be in the show, call Sunrise Fletcher at 795-8770.

VENDORS’ MARKET-- I've gotten some more requests for vendor contracts for the Vendors’ Market that will be held at Skamokawa Vista Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 27. We won't have power available to vendors this year, as we'll be on the other side of the road, but most folks don't need it anyway. If your group needs to hold a fundraiser, this is a great time to hold one. Spots cost $10 and all your proceeds are yours to keep. Call me today at 795-3425 and I'll get a contract in the mail to you.

FAIR TIME--Now is also the time to be working on items that you'd like to enter into the Wahkiakum County Fair this year as August 15-17 will be here before you know it. So, if you're taking some awesome photos, like I know Justin Garrison is, or you're baking some tasty pies, like I know Kathleen Morgain is, or doing some fancy sewing like I know Donna Moody can do, well then, get those things ready to enter into our fair. The more we enter, the better our fair will be.

MEMORIAL DAY-- I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Please drive extra carefully as there will be an abundance of people on the road for the next few days. Let’s hope the sun returns so that we can enjoy some of our holiday time outside. Here's to all those we have loved and lost and honor this Memorial Day.