Celebrate St. Paddy's Day in Skamokawa

NASTY START--This past weekend began with a miserable start, as it rained and then blew some, and rained again. Luckily, we had a real nice break on Sunday, and it was terrific to see the sun shining, the river glistening, and out here in West Valley, we even had some eagles flying around. Unfortunately, the rains returned all too soon and were to last all week, so I can hardly wait for our next sunny day, or preferably, days!

IN OUR THOUGHTS--Former resident, Brittney Robbins Haddix is living in New York now and it's been bitter cold in her area, and they've had lots of snow to deal with already this winter. However, there is a blizzard that is forecast for much of the east coast this week, and this could be quite daunting. We are thinking about her and hoping she and all our other east coast friends and family members will get through this okay.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from March 16-22 are Lucy Bosch, Connie Bassi, Leroy Wika, Pat Kehrli, Carol Wegdahl, Lance Souvenir, Mariah Souvenir, Cathy LaBerge, Katie Turgeon, Gaylene Johnson, Gene Healy and Mathew Kyle. Belated birthday wishes go out to Veryl West and Ralph Kenner, as well as Dwight Blackshear who celebrated this past weekend by traveling from Germany to the states so he could visit family on his birthday. Mark Whitaker celebrated his birthday by doing some flying as well, as he was headed to Illinois for more work. He's a busy guy these days.

Those celebrating their anniversaries this week are Kevin and Janelle Gilligan, Bill and Shelley Olsen and Mr. and Mrs. Brett Deaton. A couple of our local musicians, Layton and Pam Elliott, will be celebrating their 40th anniversry this Sunday, so that's pretty special. Congratulations to them, and happy days to one and all!

MUSIC--Speaking of Layton Elliott, he and the "Bloody Pirates" will be entertaining everyone at Duffy's Tavern this Saturday, March 18, beginning at 2 p.m., so you're invited to come and celebrate part of your weekend in Grays River!

FRIDAY NIGHT--The Community Center in Cathlamet will show an adult drama movie this Friday night, which begins at 7 p.m., so if you're in the mood for a free movie and popcorn, it's time for the grown ups to head to the center.

ST. PADDY'S DAY--The Duck Inn will celebrate the "green day" with special green drinks and their Irish dinner this Friday, so head this way for a great dinner and dessert! You can contact them at 795-6055 for further details or reservations.

ROADKILL CALENDAR--There will be even more goings on this Friday for St. Patrick's Day as the Roadkill Saloon will have a party, complete with green beer from 6 to 10 p.m. April and Ric hope you'll stop by and check out the fun, as well as their menu.

The saloon has a full calendar of events for the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons, so if you're looking for something to do, it sounds like they've got a lot of great ideas to bring folks into our town. Stop by for a full calendar or check them out on Facebook. Call 1-360-606-0179 and ask April for all the latest.

I'd also like to thank Ric and April for being one of the new sponsors for our upcoming Dollars For Scholars event, which is the car show on June 3; we appreciate their support. If you're new to the area and would like to help out this great cause, which provides scholarships for our seniors, give me a call.

SYMPATHIES--Carol McClain informed us that her friend and former Cathlamet resident, Margaret Burt passed away this past weekend at the Frontier care center in Longview. Beings her birthday would have been in just a couple of days, she died just shy of her 109th birthday. Needless to say, she had a very long life. (FYI: Margaret had once been the caregiver for someone that all of us knew back in the 60's, and that was our WHS English teacher, Mr. Anketell.) Our sympathies to Carol and others who knew her over the years.

SAD TIMES--It seems like we just laid a member of our family to rest, when my brother, Ralph Pedersen passed away and his memorial was in January. Sadly, his bride of over 61 years, Peggy, went to be with him this past Friday afternoon, while family members gathered around at her home in Cathlamet. Peggy had been battling a rare form of cancer for several years and during that time, she had often been given just months to live, but being the tough cookie that we knew her to be, she outsmarted all those doctors and kept hanging in there. Each time things were looking bad, we prepared ourselves for the end, and each time she prepared Ralph and the rest of us, on how to run the household when she was gone, but yet, she'd pull through. Who knew that she would be the survivor and he would pass away before her instead? Having been my sister-in-law for almost 62 years, she was like the big sister I never had and, at times, a substitute Mom for when mine was away in Alaska. Peggy leaves behind her two sons, Tim (Margie) and Mark (Rhonda) both of Vancouver, as well as a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as several siblings, which include Roger (Joann) Reed of Cathlamet and Brian (Mitzi) of Yuba City, CA. A graveside service is planned for a later date.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1947, the week was mostly very nice with only one day a bit misty, but other than that, it was a really nice week. It was during this week that Miss Lucille Brockmeller married Roger Below in a ceremony held at Pastor Parcel's home in Vancouver. The bride had white and blue accessories and wore an orchid corsage. The Pocahontas ladies held a meeting on St. Patrick's Day, and following the regular session, held a grand party with lots of Irish decorations and green goodies as they celebrated the birthday of one of their own: Mrs. Elsie Everest. She remarked that the Irish decor was most fitting, as she was the first generation of her family to be born in America, as her father had been born in the "land of lakes and fairies." Later on that week, it was off for a nice drive with daughter Carol and son-in-law, Krist Pedersen, and at the end of the day, they all attended a show.

This week back in 1957, the first four days of the week were just "lovely and beautiful" and Grandma was working outside putting in flowers and strawberry plants. Grandpa Everest headed out to feed the Snyders' horses while they were away, and then they straightened out the garage and were airing out the house while working in the garden. However. by the fifth day, things had cooled down and it got showery, and then on March 21, it got very cold and there was a lot of "snowy rain" coming down and the hills turned white all around the area! Mildred Kerstetter stopped by one day to pick up Grandma Elsie and took her out to the grange hall, as they were having a P.U.D. Commissioners banquet out there. There were a lot of people there and a Puget Island delegation committee came to voice their complaints on PUD management. After all the formal meeting was over, the groups enjoyed a lot of good food. Earlier in the week, George Irving passed away. On March 19, George and Ruby Everest celebrated their anniversary. As Grandpa Ralph started making a locker at the Grange Hall for the Oddfellows things, Grandma was busy baking goodies for the Rebekah's meeting. Stopping by for a visit that day was Nina Witham and Mrs. Gill, along with daughter Carol and kids, and the George Everests, so it was a busy day at the Everest home. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.