Community center to close for Thanksgiving

Wintery temperatures are on the horizon and it looks like we need to make sure our vehicles are protected with antifreeze, our pet’s water bowls are in a place where they won’t freeze, and our hoses and water pipes are protected from the low freezing temperatures.

It probably wouldn’t hurt to check on any of your neighbors who might need a hand with some of these tasks, before it’s too late. We all seem to have at least one neighbor/friend who could do with an extra hand but probably wouldn’t ask. Just sayin’

News from Naselle:

The sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week: Thursday, the 21st-middle school girl’s basketball at South Bend at 5:15 p.m .; Tuesday, thee 26th-middle school girl’s basketball at Ocosta at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!!

Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday. School will resume on December 2.

The ESA Alpha Theta group will be collecting food items for their food drive to benefit the Naselle Food Bank on Saturday, the 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Okie’s Select Market in Naselle. For more information or questions please call 484-3844.

Here’s one more chance to shop local and support our community organizations. The annual Martha’s Circle Bazaar and luncheon will be held on December 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Naselle Congregational Church located at 14 Parpala Road. There will be lots of vendors with rugs, crafts, baked goods, etc. for your shopping pleasure. This is a great opportunity to finish up your Christmas shopping and then enjoy a wonderful soup luncheon with your choice of taco soup or clam chowder with dessert and a beverage for a $7 suggested donation.

Under the direction of Cliff Weimer, the Naselle Finnish-American Choir will perform their Deep River Christmas Concert on December 8 at 2 p.m. in the historic Deep River Evangelical Lutheran Church in Deep River featuring the Finnish Kanteles, several solos, a community Christmas carols sing-a-long as well as selections by the Naselle Finnish-American choir

There will be a Soup Supper at the Naselle Lutheran Church from 4-6 p.m. after the Christmas Concert. Several soups will be prepared by church members accompanied by homemade breads. Admission is by donation and all proceeds go toward the upkeep and maintenance of the beautiful Deep River Church.

The choir will rehearse, in preparation for the concert, on November 23 and December 7 at 10 a.m. at the Naselle Lutheran Church.

Westend news:

Don’t forget the Free Friday Night Movies at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park. This weeks selection is Monster’s University, so bring the kids. Monster’s University is rated G and is an animated family comedy which was released in June 2013 by Walt Disney Films. It tells the story of Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. When these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. This is the story of how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. Sounds like a great movie for the whole family.

Concessions are also available at the movies with popcorn, pop, candy and coffee for a reasonable price. Bring your own pillows, camp chairs or sit in our comfy chairs and watch a great flick on our big screen with surround sound. Check it out, you and the kids will be glad you did. Remember, the first and fourth Fridays are kid friendly movies. Make your plans in advance to attend.

With Christmas fast approaching, why not think about a yearlong gift for that special someone or that special family? How about a sponsorship to the Grays River Valley Center with unlimited use of all the exercise equipment, pool table, gym, etc. for only $45 for a single or $65 for a family (immediate family)?

Another gift idea for families with kids interested in dance, how about a gift certificate for dance lessons from our very own Genesis Dance Studio here at the Grays River Valley Center. For more information, class schedules, etc., please contact the studio instructor/owner, Shellie Burkhalter at 360 703-7609 or e-mail: genesisdancestudio@gmail.com Check out her website for schedules, registration and more info: http://www.genesisdancestudio.com

Speaking of the dance studio, Shellie is looking for large mirrors (as least 6 feet tall and at least 2 feet wide) to build a mirrored wall for the studio. If you have one/some available please contact her.

If you are using the facility with a group or an individual and you are not a sponsor, we ask that you donate $2 per visit to help with the high heating bills for the building. Remember we receive no help from the county or any other agency for heat or electricity.

I would like to mention that Wahkiakum West has been a long standing donor and supporter of the Community Computer Center and the entire Johnson Park project. They make a large donation each year that nearly covers the monthly usage fee for phone and DSL for the computer center for the whole year. They have also donated some needed items for the setup of service and a new land line telephone in the cafeteria. On behalf of the advisory board and the community, I would like to publicly thank Wahkiakum West for their generosity and support.

It’s a little early yet but I wanted to give a heads up to the community about our soup and chili chow down coming up in January at the Grays River Valley Center. As most of you know we get no monies from the county or any other source except donations and rental fees to cover our monthly expenses at the center. The gymnasium needs to have it’s lighting retrofitted and the bid for doing the work is quite a bit higher than we had anticipated, so we will be using the proceeds from the January fundraiser toward the lighting project.

Is anyone interested in adult basketball league/games? That suggestion came from a gentleman from Skamokawa who is a relative newcomer to our area, and he said he might be interested if anyone else is. Our gym is available most evenings or days, so let me know if you think it could work out and we will try and set up a schedule. By the way, the man who suggested it is 82 years young. Come on guys; show him what you are made of.

Our commercial kitchen is available for rent, or if you would like an event catered we can do that as well. For more information or to set up an event at the Grays River Valley Center please call Judy Durrah (to book a date or to check availability) or Penny Gregory for more details.

We also make our building available for public and private meetings, family reunions, showers, weddings, receptions, birthday parties, etc. For rental fees and more information please contact our events coordinator, Judy Durrah.

The Grays River Valley Library and Community Computer Center will be closed November 28 and 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday so our volunteers can spend time with their families. We apologize for any inconvenience to community members.

We will resume our normal hours after the holiday. Monday 3-7 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1-5 p.m.

The Rosburg Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at the Rosburg Hall each week will not be serving lunch next Wednesday as it is the day before Thanksgiving and many will be with family and friends. On December 4, they will enjoy spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and dessert. Thank you Pat Potter and your volunteer crew for all your support for our seniors.

Senior lunches are also served at the Rosburg Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are sponsored by CAP. The menu for Thursday the 21st includes chicken divan, roasted potatoes, Capri veggies and sliced melon. Lunches will not be served on Thanksgiving Day but will resume on December 3. Thank you to CAP for filling a need in our community and making it a pleasant venue for our seniors to meet twice a week.

Happy Birthday to the following celebrants this week: Shelley Gilbert, Doug Tetz, Aaron Smith, Kevin Wirkkala, Robbie Johnson, Serena Johnson, Emily Albright, Idali Mendoza, Ciara Sandell, Jack Smith, Dustin Dunham, Bob Caetano, Darrell Fields Steve Leamy, Jeff Fleming and Jamie Bighill. Wishing all of you a perfect day.

Happy Anniversary to Rick and Patty Rose, Chuck and Roxanne Hendrickson, Steve and Audrey Ullakko and John and Roxanne Didion. Wishing you many more celebrations together.

We certainly got our share of the rain and wind earlier this week. Our pasture is a lake once again with ducks and even a few sea gulls. The dogs love the chance to hunt mice in the lower branches of the trees as they climb up to get away from the water on the ground.