Fun events offer lots to do in the Valley

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had found my first trillium. Well, on my walk with the dogs yesterday, I hit the jackpot. There must have been 300 trilliums in one little area of our woods. They were just beautiful, and I had never seen so many, so I picked my first bouquet to enjoy in the house.

The hummingbirds are back in full force and they sure are hungry little devils. They are so much fun to watch, and their colors so brilliant. Country life is the only way to go, and welcome to Spring.

News from Naselle:

Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week include: Thursday, the 27th-track at Raymond at 3 p.m., fast pitch and baseball with MMK in Naselle at 4 p.m .; Friday, the 28th-fast pitch and baseball at Neahkanie at 2 p.m .; Wednesday, April 2nd-fast pitch and baseball with Oakville in Naselle at 3:30 p.m., middle school track at Raymond at 3:30 p.m .; Thursday, the 3rd-track at Ocosta at 3:30 p.m. Go Comets!

The Naselle Knowledge Bowl team placed ninth in the state competition. Great job, kids. You make us proud.

Don’t forget the Variety Show at Naselle Schools tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. Bring the family for an entertaining and fun evening.

Students will be on Spring Break next week-April 7-11. They will return to classes on Monday, the 14th. Have a great and safe vacation.

There seems to be quite a few events in the area these days, but you should be able to end the day with this very special pre-FinnFest evening of beautiful music prior to the actual festival which will be held in late July. The FAFF committee welcomes the renowned musical duo, “AALLOTAR” in a special performance at the Valley Bible Church on Saturday, 7 p.m. This internationally acclaimed duo will treat you to an evening of traditional Finnish folk music. The concert is free, but donations to the festival will certainly be appreciated.

Following the concert, you will be able to meet and visit with the performers, Sara Pajunen (violin) and Teija Niku (accordion), as well as sharing a light potluck. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite dessert or appetizer to share.

Westend news:

The second annual Spaghetti Feed was held at the Grays River Valley Center last Saturday evening, and everyone seemed to have a great time, enjoying the delicious meal, visiting with friends and neighbors, checking out the raffle items and even an impromptu segment of fun guitar music and a few songs from Jerry and Becky Ledtke of Skamokawa.

Becky is pretty well known around the area as our part time mail lady, and the maker of some gorgeous jewelry (one set of which she donated to the event). Jerry is also pretty well known, and he and several local folks have collaborated on a fantastic CD (one also donated as a raffle prize), called “Woodstock to Wahkiakum.” I had the pleasure of listening to the entire CD, and it is great. It is a real life picture in music of our country life here in our own little corner of the world, from Jerry’s experiences, perspective and from his heart. It is “real” in every sense of the word.

I especially like the one he wrote for his wife, called “Words (Becky’s Song)”, in which he notes three little words every woman wants to hear. No, not "I love you" but "Honey, you’re right!" He also wrote a tribute song dedicated to loggers who have lost their lives in the woods and who will never be able to hear his songs, called “Logging in the Northwest.”

The music and its presentation are very well done, with the help of Grayson Moody, Pat Conrad, Andrew Emlen, Bruce Satterlund and Kyleen Austin. Jerry wrote all the music and lyrics and it was recorded by Bruce Satterlund. Great job and good music.

Our guest chef, Nick Nickolas, and his son, Nick Nickolas II from Tacoma, did an outstanding job on the meal again this year, and we hope they will return again next year. The rest of the kitchen crew also deserves our thanks for all the work they did as well. So, thank you Penny Gregory, Steve Ramsay, Deanne Bulick, Katy Busse, and our famous dishwasher, Randy (Splash) Collver. Also on hand for extra help during the evening and prior set-up, Ramona Collver, Bonnie Kohn, Ann Bulick, Linda Ramsay and Georgene Scott. We appreciate all of you.

Nick is Penny Gregory’s Dad and he has been an integral part of getting our kitchen outfitted as a commercial kitchen. His church in Tacoma donated the dishwasher, and many other items that now make our kitchen what it has become, and even at the young age of 89 (on St. Patrick’s Day), he is still very active in his own community and church. He is a delightful character and an amazing cook. His son Nick II, is an ex-restaurant owner from Tacoma. When the two of them collaborate on something, I’m told it always turns out to be fun for everyone. Thank you for everything, and we hope to see you again next year. And Penny, you have a delightful family, thanks for sharing them with all of us.

There will not be a Free Friday Night movie this week, in preparation for the Super Sale on Saturday. We will resume the shows next week with a kid friendly movie. Stay tuned.

The Community In-door Super Sale is this weekend in the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This pilot sale may become a regular event and a fundraiser for the GRVC, if we can get the positive feedback and extra volunteer help needed to move forward with such a project.

With more than 25 individuals having items for sale, including fishing gear, tools, antiques, new, used and repurposed items being sold by private parties who have rented tables for the event, you should definitely find something you need or want. I spoke with Dale Dutcher at the Spaghetti Feed on Saturday and he says he will have tons of tools for sale, and for everyone to “bring money.”

There will also be food, beverages and baked goods from the ladies of the Grays River Untied Methodist Church and Byron Parrino from Naselle Massage Clinic giving massages.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park. With the weather predicting rain, what a treat to be able to shop indoors. Come on up, and support our local community members, and pamper yourself at the same time.

The Free Community Partnerships and Awareness Training for Disaster Preparedness seminar, sponsored by the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s office-Department of Emergency Management, will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wahkiakum County Courthouse in Cathlamet. This event will prepare locals in how to respond to a major incident should one occur here in our community.

One must register by contacting Beau Renfro at 795-3242 or e-mail renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us . You can also register online at http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/register.htm.

One more very important and delicious function is fast approaching. The annual Rosburg Community Club Chicken Dinner will be held at the Rosburg Hall on April 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For many years this has been a rite of Spring to many, to come and enjoy an old fashioned, home cooked with all the trimmings, chicken dinner including their out of this world desserts, and support the Rosburg Community Club’s efforts. This group and the Rosburg Hall is an icon in our area, and they do so much to give back to our community. The proceeds from the dinner will insure that the building will be maintained, scholarships will benefit local kids, and much more. For more information please call 465-2919.

The Rosburg Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets at the Rosburg Hall each week for a hot meal prepared and served by Pat Potter and her volunteer crew. Lunch is served at noon.

On Thursdays senior meals are also served at the Rosburg Hall and they are sponsored by CAP. Two great venues for a good wholesome meal and some social time with your friends and neighbors.

Happy Birthday to the following this week: Juan Lopez, Luke Johnson, Alexis Nortrup, Jenny Blake, Karen Kilponen, Scott Jacot, Nikki Footh, Chris Wilson, Whitney Caetano, Trina Mennen, Christi Wirkkala, Brian Peters, Chris Magnuson, Amy Olson, Arlene Nelson, Taylor Wasmundt, Jenni Isaak, Jessica Pearson, David White and Georgene Scott. Wishing all of you a wonderful day.

Happy Anniversary to Larry and Marilyn Sherk, and best wishes for many more.