Fall events offer variety of opportunities

It’s time to start gearing up for the wintery weather. Looks like we are in for some wet and windy days ahead. Though we had a beautiful summer and a rather warm early fall, now the leaves are changing and the mornings are much cooler, not to mention the daylight hours are dwindling. I do love fall, and the changing colors.

Naselle news

Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams for this week include: Thursday (today), cross country at Ocosta at 3:30 p.m., JV volleyball with South Bend at 5:45 p.m., varsity volleyball with MM Knight in Naselle at 7 p.m., middle school football at North Beach at 6 p.m .; Friday, high school football at Perrydale at 7 p.m. Go Comets!!

Westend news

The Johnson Park Advisory Board has been reorganized and will hold their next meeting on November 5th at 12:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. The new board is as follows: Amber Davis, Tim Virkkala, Shonda Ware, Trudy Fredrickson, Holly Parrino, PJ Katims and Dee Nikkila.

The Free Friday Night movie this week will be a 2014 release, sci-fi thriller rated PG-13. Synopsis: On a road trip, Nic and two friends are drawn to an isolated area by a computer genius. When everything suddenly goes dark, Nic regains consciousness - only to find himself in a waking nightmare. Looks like a good pre-Halloween flick.

The movie begins at 7 p.m. and concessions are available with popcorn, candy and pop for reasonable prices. See the show on our big screen with surround sound.

Another new addition is coming soon to the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park. The Westend Food Bank is coming together very nicely, and will soon open its doors to the public, thanks to the job well done by a few wonderful folks under the direction of Susie Whalen. This has been another project brought to the center at Johnson Park by community need, and recognized by someone who was willing to take up the reins and follow through with the project. We thank all of you who have volunteered to bring this project forward. As soon as I get a date for the grand opening, I will publish it.

Remember the Grays River Valley Center is here for everyone. If there is something you would like to see happening here, please don’t hesitate to meet with the Advisory Board with a proposal. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. in the meeting room. Be prepared with a plan in hand, including how your program, class or event will be initiated and by whom. As a board we are only a few and are stretched pretty thin with the everyday running of the center, so we tend to stick with the projects we have brought forth ourselves. We need more volunteers, so if you have a few hours a week, please contact us and we will find the perfect spot for you. Call me at 465-2960 or call the center at 465-2310.

If you visit the Grays River Valley Center this week, you may walk out with some sheetrock dust on your shoes. The ceiling tiles in the upper hallways were removed due to damage from former water leaks. Now that the roof has been repaired, Wahkiakum County commissioners voted to make the ceiling repairs as well. It will be completed before our Halloween event.

Get out your best costumes, or not, and join in the annual Halloween celebration at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park (formerly the creepy old Rosburg School) for trick-or-treating, free hot dogs and punch with cartoons and a (not too) spooky movie on the big screen. The event takes place on Friday, the 31st. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. kids can knock on all the decorated doors inside the old Rosburg School and get their treats from costumed characters. No matter what the weather has in store, we will be dry inside for a fun filled evening.

If you would like to donate candy for this event, or volunteer to help out please contact Trudy Fredrickson at 465-2960 or email trudydownriver@yahoo.com. We look forward to another successful, safe and fun Halloween celebration.

Get your Christmas shopping list out and make sure you are looking for some unique gifts, because you will find some wonderful things available at the Rosburg Community Club’s annual Holiday Bazaar and chicken luncheon on November 1st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are still a few more spots available to rent a space, but hurry. Tables can be rented by calling Barbara Rose at 465-2234.

With all the talented artists, seamstresses, bakers, candy makers, wood workers, etc. in our community, you can do much of your holiday shopping right here in one stop. Shop local and if you are one of the vendors you are doing the community and the Rosburg Hall a huge service by giving the public an opportunity to buy the products that you have put together for sale.

The chicken luncheon is always delicious and no one does it quite like the Rosberg Community Club. The proceeds from this fundraising event are used for maintenance of the building, and all the other generous things that this group does in our community. If you would like to be a part of this small but mighty group, you would be welcomed. They meet every other month and there are no dues to join. For more information, you can contact Barbara Rose or Sonja Kruse.

On November 5th the Grays River Valley Center will be filled with vendors presenting information on “Living Well in Wahkiakum.” This second annual event is sponsored by the Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services and it will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park. Many service organizations will join together to bring you and your family a variety of community resources for all your needs. There will be information booths, presentations, individual signups, as well as details of how to prepare for your retirement years, Medicare, Medicaid and much more. A light lunch will also be available

To sign up as a vendor or for more information please contact Terrie Howell, Wahkiakum Community Outreach at 360 795-8630 press option 2.

On November 6th you have an opportunity to give a life saving donation of blood at the Valley Bible Church, located at 4723 SR 4 West in Rosburg between the hours of 1 p.m and 6 p.m. For more information call Susan Burkhalter at 465-2264.

The American Legion Post 111 in Deep River will be serving their wonderful and delicious fall annual breakfast on November 8, from 8-11:30 a.m. Tickets will be sold at the door $5 for adults and $3 for children 6 and under. Pancakes, eggs (the way you like them), sausage or ham, juice, coffee, etc. What a great way to spend Saturday morning and at the same time helping out a truly awesome organization that gives so much back to our community.

As an added bonus, raffle tickets will also be sold for a Husqvarna 270 rifle. Sounds like another good reason to go for breakfast.

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

On Thursdays, a senior meal is also served at the above location and is sponsored by CAP. These two venues are a great opportunity to meet with your neighbors for a little socialization as well as enjoying a nutritious meal.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Amber Wirkkala, Angie Chapman, Dillon Adair, Marilyn Strange, Emily Albright, Mike Mouliot, Mindi Reitz, Cassie Bolton Chandler, Trudy Heriot, Dan Todd, John Didion, Tori Legler, Mike Nortrup, Chad Andring, Tye Johnson, Peter Hunter, Judy Paavola, Clay Mullins, Lindsay Smith, Sharon Johnson-Ross, Kevin Maki and Kyle Olmstead. Wishing you a perfect day.

Happy Anniversary to Wayne and Becky Erickson.

We had a wonderful visit with our son and daughter in law from Bend, Ore., last weekend. They showed up on Friday evening and made a delicious dinner for the four of us, ravioli, artisan bread and caesar salad, much to my surprise. It was wonderful, not having to cook, spent most of Saturday with them, shopping in Longview and then a pleasant evening at home. It was a very relaxing weekend. Thank you, kids.