Community center has a new manager

Kelly Shumar is the new coordinator at the Community Center in Cathlamet.

The Portland native moved to Grays River with her husband, Charlie, in August, after finding a house and falling in love with it.

"We were first looking in Knappa where my mom was raised, and I found a house there but it didn't work out," Shumar said. "We started wondering what was happening on the other side of the river."

Shumar, who received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a specialty in historic preservation does substation designs on contract.

"Years ago I got into drafting, CAD drafting, to pay for college," she said. "It just sort of kept going from there. I was supposed to do historic preservation, and it never happened. Just one thing leads to another. So I'm staying in the power industry, also teaching CAD."

In between contracts, she found this job.

"It was perfect," Shumar said. "It seemed like a great way to get immediately involved in the community and meet people. It kind of reminds me of teaching in a way. It feels good at the end of the day when I go home."

The Shumars love camping, fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing in the winter.

"That's usually what we are working for, those weekends where we can take off and go exploring," Shumar said. "This area is new to us. We're excited to explore all the woods."

She also hopes to find out if her thumb is still green.

"I used to garden when I was younger," Shumar said. "I'm hoping to do that. We have a garden I can't wait to get into."

Charlie works at the Naselle fish hatchery. They have two kids, Addy, who is 15 and finishing her education in Portland. Lily is 23.