Big weekend ahead in Wahkiakum County

WET START--As I begin this column, it’s a damp Sunday morning, and from the looks of the forecast, we’re only going to get a couple of nice dry days and if you get this paper on Thursday, that might be the second one and the last dry one for several days, so here’s hoping you didn’t have any outdoor plans.

Due to the possibility of a very nasty storm system coming in, as well as appointments coming up, I’m going to be turning my column in extra early, as we just never know about the timing of these windy predictions or their consequences. At this moment, I’m going with “better safe than sorry” and then hope it misses us altogether!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 7-13 are Andrew Emlen, Judy Wilde, Liam Thomason, Janet Bryan, Leanndra Aragon, Chris Holland, Tim Parker, Kylie Thacker, Wendy Westover, Rafael Gilbertsen, Trygve Gilbertsen, Whitley Wirkkala, Janna Doumit, Nikki Danker, Sylvia Link, Chris Doumit, Sara Havens Brown, Aspen Cothren, Hudson Heiner, Savannah Burdick, Stephanie Olsen, Lyle Nielson, Kael McKinley and Misty Shook.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Mike Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Parker and Ed and Annie Watters. May all of your birthday and anniversary celebrations be full of wonderful memories for you this year.

BIG WEEKEND--Whether you’re here in Skamokawa, or on Puget Island or over the hill, there’s a place to go to have some fun this weekend. First of all, the Friends of Skamokawa invite you to attend their annual “Antique and Vintage Sale” April 8-10. This is happening on the second floor of Redmen Hall on the corner of SR 4 and East Valley Road, in the River Life Interpretive Center.

On Saturday there is the monthly Flea Market at the Wah. Co. Fairgrounds, where treasures await you, or you can sell your own; contact the fair at 360-795-3480 for more info about renting a table. Set up is usually at 8 a.m., with doors opening to the public from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

On Puget Island, the Norse Hall will be the place for the bingo players who love to win cash prizes, so you can head there about 5:30 p.m., and get ready to play bingo at 6 p.m .; that’s Saturday, April 9. They have bingo every second Saturday of the month.

If you’re a little closer to Rosburg Hall, you may want to head there to play bingo; this Saturday evening and they will open their doors at 6 p.m., with games beginning at 6:30 p.m., according to Dian Hollenbeck. They have lots of prizes she says, cards are three for $10, and there will be snacks and coffee, too. This is a fundraiser put on by the American Legion Auxiliary to help support the Rosburg Hall.

NEXT WEEK--The following weekend is Easter, so there will be Eater Bingo on Friday evening, April 15 in the Youth Building at our county fairgrounds, and then an Easter Egg Hunt around the fairgrounds the following day, April 16 beginning at 11 a.m. So keep those events in mind for next weekend. There are bound to be a lot of dinner specials at our various local eateries, so if you’re not wanting to be in the kitchen on Easter fixing that ham dinner, then let your favorite restaurant fix it for you. Whatever you do, we hope you have a wonderful gathering.

EGG YOUR YARD?--Crystal Davis is letting everyone know about a fundraiser to help our local equestrians go on to State, so if you’d like to help out, here’s a fun way to do it. You can have the group come and hide filled Easter Eggs in your yard. Are your children diabetic? No problem, they have special goodies just for them. You need to contact this group right away (no later than midnight on April 9) so they know which day and time you’d like this to take place, as well as how many eggs you want, etc. For all the info, contact Susan Potter at kigerskyhawk@outlook.com or call 360-560-0496.

DONATION DEADLINE--Crystal Davis and Jennifer Menning are also collecting things for a big sale to help this group of riders, but they would like to have all donations by April 10, which is this Sunday, so if you have something to put in their big sale/fundraiser, please give one of them a call right away and they will come and get those things if necessary. You can contact Crystal at 360-560-4964 or Jennifer 360-430-8107.

BOOK SALE--Here’s another quick reminder of the Book Sale at the Cathlamet Library, located to the right of the Cathlamet Market. This will be held on April 15 and 16, so check that out if you want to get a good buy on some great books.

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST/VOLUNTEERING--There are so many new folks around here that I can’t keep track of all of them, but many seem to be having a little difficulty finding their footing within the community. One place to start might be the Skamokawa Grange Hall at 18 Fairgrounds Road on Thursdays, from 10 to Noon. There you will find some friendly folks, some new and some seasoned residents, and you can grab a bite to eat or just have a cup of coffee and meet with some of these folks.

To really dive into your new community, there are groups and organizations that rely heavily on volunteers, and that’s really a great way to meet new people. In the March 24 edition of this paper, Diana Zimmerman wrote a great article on page 8 about opportunities for folks in which to volunteer. There is no need to be bored or lonesome or feeling unneeded around here, as every small community is extremely reliant on local folks pitching in and volunteering, so we hope you’ll reach out and join a group, or two or three. Some of us who have been super active in multiple groups over the years, are now getting older with health issues and we’d really love for the folks who are able to be a little more active and energetic than us, to come and fill in these vacancies.

FAIR TIME--Speaking of volunteering, if you like to do yard work, painting, sprucing things up, being in charge of a group, taking tickets, etc., you’d be most welcome to join the crew at our Wahkiakum County Fair! This three day event has been taking place for over 100 years and has always depended on folks pitching in to do the clean up prior to the fair, and there are superintendents needed for various parts of the fair to set up displays, etc., and there’s also a great sit down job, called, “collecting tickets” at the gate, to name a few, so, if you’re so inclined to join in and meet new folks and help keep this fair up and running, contact Patty by calling 360-795-3480 and leave a message. There’s bound to be a spot for you! The fair will take place August 18-20 this year.