Downriver Dispatches

Appelo Archives Center Hires New Director

The Appelo Archives Center is located at 1056 State Route 4 in Naselle. It has a new director named Annika Kay. She was born in Anaheim, Calif., and raised in Orange County. She received her bachelor of arts degree from California State University at Fullerton and her master's degree in Fine Arts from the California Institute of Arts. She believes that working for the Appelo Archives Center fits her life style because of the creative and intellectual freedom she will have there.

Annika has ideas to help improve the center, such as having rotating displays from other museums there from three to six months depending on the display. She wants to keep things new and fresh by keeping history alive, the preservation of the center's items, and keeping the Appelo Archives Center open.

There are also plans to have a Kids Corner for children to learn about the history and changes in the area. Workshops and lectures are also in the planning stage. This year's Harvest Auction will be online, and next year there may be a logger's reunion.

The center is open Thursday-Saturday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Archives Café is open, and they are now offering fresh homemade pastries and breakfast items! They also have Finnish pulla (cardamom) bread and korvapuusti (cinnamon rolls). They will offer a weekly quiche.

Annika informed me that they will be looking for a person to work in their kitchen baking fresh items. They will hopefully have an espresso machine as well. Her idea is to have the Appelo Archives Center and Café as a hub for the community as well as a place for tourists to meet. Everyone will miss Kelly Shumar and what she brought to the community.

In compliance with health and safety policies by the governor, they do request that you please wear a mask. Stop in and read The Wahkiakum County Eagle while you sip your coffee or tea and visit with friends and neighbors, or explore the museum and learn about the area. This is the perfect place to meet for bicycling clubs, book clubs, knitting groups, or just friends. If you are going on a hike or bike, they will fill your water bottles before heading out. For any questions, call 360-484-7103 or e-mail at info@appeloarchives.org.

Westend News

For those of you who are wondering why Johnson Park is not open, it is simple. Because of Governor Inslee's suggested covid-19 measures, there are no funds available to hire a cleaning crew to daily sanitize the building, so they are closed until further notice. They do have plans in the works to get grants to complete the outdoor projects. They are doing some much needed painting to interior areas of the facility. The good news is that you can still get food at the food bank. They will bring the food out to your car.

Senior Lunches

Although there are no longer senior lunches at the Rosburg Hall, the Lower Columbia Community Action Program, better known as CAP, has begun delivering take out lunches to Rosburg Hall for pickup on Thursdays between noon and about 12:15 p.m. The menu for today (Thursday) is a turkey wrap, fruit salad, and broccoli and carrots. If you have participated in the CAP luncheons in the past, there is nothing you need to do but call Diane Hollenbeck at 360-465-2991 to place a lunch request. Anyone new to the program will need to fill out a short form for CAP.

If you would like a lunch but cannot come to Rosburg Hall for pickup Diane will deliver your lunch to you. Again, for all information regarding the CAP lunch program at Rosburg Hall please contact Diane Hollenbeck at 360-465-2991.