Redmen Hall new exhibit April 16

GORGEOUS--Wow, have we had some great weather or what? I know we had some rain come down later in the day on Sunday and some on Monday, but prior to that and even after that, it was great! With temperatures due to reach up into the high 70s, and maybe even 80 by the time you read this, we'll be thinking it's more like summer than spring.

Once again, we are enjoying wonderful weather while back in the northeast, they've been dealing with snow and wind and record cold, so we really feel for all those adversely affected in those areas; some of which are friends and family members.

PLANT REMINDER--I know this is planting season, so I hope you remember that we have a great nursery here in Skamokawa, as Danny Silverman not only has some awesome flowers and baskets, but he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to when and where you should plant certain things. Stop by the Skamokawa Gardens Nursery on Steamboat Slough and check out the inventory. It goes without saying that if you're planning on digging around your house for the first time, be sure to check with the untility companies first as you don't want to dig up anything important like water or cable lines and if you have underground power anywhere near, you definitely don't want to get tangled up with any live lines!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 7-13 are Andrew Emlen, Bryan Ledtke, Wendy Westover, Tim Parker, Kyle Thacker, Patrick Thacker, Kael McKinley, Sara Havens, Brown, Janet Bryan, Judy Wilde, Charlie Buennagel, Leanndra Aragon, Whitley Wirkkala, Janna Doumit, Rafael Gilbertson, Pat Dennis, Chris Doumit, Savannah Burdick, Stephanie Olsen, DeeDee Crouse, Lyle Nielson, Sylvia Blix Link, Patricia Ballard, my brother, Ralph Pedersen, who turns 80 this coming week and "baby Raven" turns one year old. Enjoy those special birthdays everybody!

Celebrating their anniversaries this week are Cliff and Judy Garrison, George and Judy Bates, Mike and Ronda Rose, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Johnson and Ralph and Peggy Pedersen. Happy days everybody!

AT THE MOVIES--This Friday evening at the Cathlamet Community Center, the free movie will be one in the drama and history genre, and is rated as an Adult (R) movie. Be there for the 7 p.m. show time. The center is at 101 Main Street.

CRK CLASSES TO START--This weekend marks the beginning of the Wilderness Medical courses put on by Columbia River Kayaking, For all the information about the classes offered check out their website or call 360-747-1044.

NEW EXHIBIT--The Friends of Skamokawa will have a new exhibit at Redmen Hall next Saturday, April 16. The River Life Interpretive Center, which is located on the second floor of the hall, is where you will be able to take in all the wonderful artwork of the very talented, Rachael Wolford. I understand that this will be the last exhibit of her works at the hall, so stop by between April 16 and May 29 and check out her exhibit entitled, "Elements: an Exhibit of Painting and Poetry." There will be a reception on the opening day of this exhibit and refreshments will be served. The historic Redmen Hall, with it's wonderful Gift and Book Shop on the first floor and the RLIC on the second, is open Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. If you'd like more information about this event or have any other questions regarding the hall, you can reach them by calling 795-3007 during those hours.

HEADS UP--There's just a month to plan something special for that special lady in your life, as Mother's Day is May 8. Moms love getting colored drawings from the little ones, a list of chores they'll do for the week from the older kids and even something as simple as a hand-made card telling her how much you love and appreciate her, would be treasured, so don't use the lack of a lot of money as an excuse for not getting Mom a gift, as giving a gift of yourself on this day is always welcomed. For husbands, you might want to up the ante a bit and spring for some flowers or a nice dinner out. Be sure to check out the local eateries for their Mother's Day dinner specials!

NICE VISIT--Frank Pedersen and his daughter, Cindi stopped in to visit Ralph and Peggy Pedersen this past weekend, and yours truly joined the gang later on in the day and we had a good gab as well. Later on, it was time to head for something to eat, which found us chowing down on some really great pizza at Sharon's Pizza and More. Cindi hails from Hood River where her other half, Jeff Nicol, and three partners have opened a new cidery. It was to be called "Spoke and Sail Cidery" but like our own brewery found out, there are some words that seem to belong to only certain people, and "Full Sail Brewery" said that "sail" was all theirs. So the new business will be undergoing a name change after a very brief time as the "Spoke and Sail Cidery." We wish them a lot of luck in this new venture!

ACROSS THE CREEK--If you've never been to the Astor Street Opry Company's playhouse in Uniontown, Astoria, at 139 West Bond Street, then now would be a great chance to do so. "The Real Lewis and Clark Story" or How FINNS Discovered Astoria" will open Friday, April 8 and this musical melodrama, which is in its sixth year, will be just the thing you need to see to brighten up your day. There are various times and days that this show will be available to see, and it only runs through April 19, so call 503-325-6104 right away and reserve a spot and have them tell you all about the new Family Fridays Night with reduced costs, or you can check them out and read all about this show and even book tickets online at http://www.astorstreetoprycompany.com.

BOGUS CALL--Once again, I got that phony telephone call from the IRS telling me I was going to be sued due to money I owed them. Beware, do not respond to this scam, as the IRS will not call you like that. My call said it was from New York, 607-745-0867, and while I'm sure there are many others, this is one of them that is truly bogus!

WARNING--Here's a little warning from the Petroleum Equipment Institute. They want to warn you of the hazards of fueling your vehicle and using your cell phone at the same time, and also to the dangers of static electricity. For safe refueling, the main four tips were: 1. Turn off the engine 2. Do not smoke 3. Leave your cell phone in your vehicle and do not answer it if it rings, and 4. Don't re-enter your vehicle while refueling. Happy travels everybody!

OUT OF THE PAST--During the first two weeks of April, 1946 it began wet on April Fool's Day and often cold and wet that week. However, that was nothing in comparison to what Hawaii was going through as a massive tidal wave hit there that day with a 159 lives lost. Waves were 55 feet high in the Pololu Valley, 36 in Oahu, 33 in Maui and only 30 feet in Hilo, but that was where most of the deaths occurred. This was due to the fact that the first two waves that came on shore were very small and they thought the worst was over, so the children in the school nearby, were out on the beach collecting shells. Sadly, by the time they saw the 30 foot wave appear, it was too late, and all the children were swept away. On Puget Island, the Pedersen boys were pretty happy as their Dad, Krist, bought them a horse. While the boys got a horse, their Mom Carol, got a new Bendix washer. In Longview, the big news was all about a woman giving birth to quadruplets, which was the same day Marian Everest Heally turned 28. Later on, Ralph Pedersen turned 10 on the same day that his cousin Pat, turned 17.

Back in 1961, it seemed to take turns being sunny and wet but by the end of the two weeks, it turned real cold and miserable and snow was falling in the surrounding hills on April 13. Ralph Everest and Ralph Bunn went to put the chairs up at the church. Later on the Everests and the Bunns went to the educational wing dedication at the Episcopal Church. Later on that week, Elsie Everest headed to Seattle with daughter, Carol and her husband, Krist, where Krist was picking up gear for the fishermen, and the ladies visited with Elsie's sister, Jean. On the way back home, they stopped and ate at the Poodle Dog (in Fife) and they had also stopped at the home of George and Helen (Danielsen) Rust where they had a nice visit and also brought back Mrs. Danielsen to Cathlamet. On April 12, Astoria turned a 150 years old. It was also a day of headlines as Russia put a man into space, which was a first, so that was big news around the world.

All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.