Celebrate the new year responsibly

NOT BAD--If you were hanging around this area during Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the weather was quite co-operative, as it wasn't pouring, snowing, freezing or blowing, so I was pretty happy with the "just dreary looking" weather, as it wasn't a big factor in getting to "grandma's house" for dinner at least! Sure, it wasn't sunny and in the 70s like some of my classmates and friends were enjoying, but anytime I'm not dealing with snow or ice, well, then I think that's a real good deal! Now we just have to get through this next weekend, which is New Year's Eve weekend, and we'll be closing out the year fairly decently, we hope!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Dec. 29-Jan. 4 are Duncan Cruickshank, Mary Gustafson, Bob Stewart, Trynity Mendez, Tony Danker, Charlene Montgomery, Terry Cleveland, Greg Bain, Skylor Grasseth, John Hoven, Jaxon Hoven, Adele Whittle, Stephanie Crouse, Olaf Thomason, Taleah Wallin, Brooke Luthi and Frank Pedersen.

Celebrating their anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jungers, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Helms, Mr. and Mrs. David Eaton, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bigler. Here's to all of you having wonderful celebrations during your special days!

NEW YEARS EVE--Here's hoping you get a chance to enjoy New Year's Eve at the Duck Inn this Saturday night, as there will be a great dinner special and you can do some dancing later on to "The Nash Brothers." I have been checking their website and Facebook pages and they have had a great following in the many places they have been performing this year, so it should be a fun night. As always, have a good time, but enjoy your evening responsibly, which means that if you do have more than a drink or two, leave the driving to someone else. You'll be much better off that way, and so will all the other people on the road.

ON THE CALEN-DAR?--If your group, organization or club has an upcoming event this year, I hope you've called the Wahkiakum Co. Chamber of Commece (795-9996) and let them know about it, so this can be put on their events calendar for the coming year. If not, be sure to call the columnist in your area, and let them help you spread the word, and don't forget about putting an ad in our local paper, besides using social media, as not everybody uses just one source of information, so it's best to use them all! Also, if you're going to make some signs, it really helps to make them noticeable, like making them "pop" with bright colors, large, bold wording. Then it's time to do a little test, such as walking by them yourself to see if you would be able to read it, or be drawn to it. If they're not eye catching, they aren't going to draw people in like you want them to, and none of us want that. If you're able to afford some professional work done, don't forget we have a local gal who does desktop graphic designs, so contact Lisa Mooer's Laser Designs at 795-3577 and see what she can do for you and your event!

MEETINGS--The Sons of Norway will hold their monthly meeting on Jan. 4, which is the first Wednesday of the month, and is always held at that same time every month at the Norse Hall. All are welcome to attend the meetings, or become a member, so please feel free to stop in. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. Also, they offer bingo on the second Saturday of each month, with doors open at 5:30 and games beginning at 6 p.m., so come on over to the lower level of the hall and try to win one of their cash prizes!

Wahkiakum Lions Club meets on the first and third Mondays of each month, and the Kiwanis and Skamokawa Grange members meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

Don't forget our local fire districts, which could always use extra hands, and you can meet with them on Thursday evenings every week. Here in Skamokawa, you can find our crew at the little blue building on East Valley Road by our fairgrounds and recycling bins. They'd sure like to see you there! Hats off to all our crews for working at all hours to respond to our emergencies and getting us the care we need in time of crisis; good job!

FULLY PACKED YEAR--I guess you know, there will be things going on every month, with multiple fund raisers and special events, so be watchful for all their upcoming ads. As the year takes off, we'll see a crab feed in Rosburg, an antique sale at Redmen Hall, a Valentine dinner put on by the Wah. Fair Board, another crab feed on Puget Island at the Norse Hall, a Chocolate Extravaganza, Fair Board's Easter Bingo, the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt, Salmon Derbys, Great White Tail Run, Rods & Reels Car Show, Bald Eagle Days, Wahkiakum County Fair Aug. 17-19, Wooden Boat Show, FOS Wine Tasting & Auction, Octoberfest dinners, Halloween Haunted House at the fairgrounds, turkey bingo and more. With something going on every month, the new year will surely fly by, just like this last one did! If you're feeling a little bored and have some spare time on your hands, be sure to contact one of the area's many groups, and they will surely find a spot for you and put you right to work volunteering for one thing or another!

CHRISTMAS WRAP-UP--By the looks of all the posts on Facebook, there were a lot of folks who were having a wonderful Christmas holiday. It was so great to see all the smiling faces, pretty Christmas trees, decorated homes and the array of foods that everyone was posting! Rosalie Webb's counters looked full of yummy food, so along with her lovely decorations, both inside and out, the family definitely had a festive and filling Christmas! Cindy Seaberg Faubion posted some great pictures of their family gathering, and once again, Cindy was the smiling centerpiece who we all enjoy and appreciate! Todd and Kristen Souvenir and their family were all smiles with a wonderful holiday picture, and with Peyton's fantastic basketball season, and terrific write-ups, there was even more reason to smile. Kathy Peek traveled a bit to meet with her family, but she just beat out the winter warnings and made it home safe and sound after a wonderful holiday gathering, so that was perfect timing for her. Theresa Kuljis was posting multiple holiday pictures, and there was nothing but happiness and goodwill coming from her and the family this year, as not only were they enjoying dinner, gifts and each other's company, but they'd also added another girl to their family, so they spread their giving spirit in an even more special way.

The owners of the Roadkill Saloon (formerly the Oasis) posted their first Christmas picture here in Skamokawa and so it looked like Ric and April Murdock had a very merry holiday with their family and friends this weekend. Here's to many more!

The Adam Pedersens' two little girls were all dolled up in darling red dresses and so their great grandma, Peggy Pedersen thought they just looked adorable. Tim and Margie Pedersen, along with Tim's son, Jeremy, made a stop at the Pedersen home as well, where they joined Mark and Rhonda Pedersen, who had been staying with the boys' Mom for the weekend. This was a bittersweet Christmas, as their Dad had just passed away a month ago, but yet, still counting their blessings that they still have one another with which to share this special holiday.

Out here in West Valley, we had Chamberlains, Pedersens, Sechlers and Goods sharing an array of food and a big turkey dinner, so nobody went away hungry. Grandson Austin can be talked out of the goodies, but he was certainly not giving up those mashed potatoes, not even to Papa Bill! His brother, Bryce, made sure he got his extra helping of plain red jello and whipped cream, so they both had their favorites to eat and to take home too! It's always fun to have the kids around during the holiday season for awhile. I was more than happy to send home some leftovers with the crew, and I think just about everybody wound up with something, from fudge to finger foods, so that helped clean out the 'fridge a bit! We didn't get to see the whole Sechler gang, but they were having a big deal at their place in Seattle so we got to see them via pictures of all the food and the whole gang on the computer at least!

Some of us had a nice holiday, albeit a little sad and more subdued at times, as many of us lost loved ones this past year and so this first holiday season without them can be a little rough. Our family lost three people this year, so while we totally loved our gatherings with our families, it was tough not to think of those who were no longer with us to celebrate this special occasion. I guess all we can do is think in a postive manner and think of them as three more angels to help watch over us now.

Happy New Year 2017, everybody!