Inclement weather reminds us to prepare

ANOTHER YEAR--Well, we’re five days into 2023 and we’ve had some wild weather to end 2022 and to start 2023 as well, so I’m hoping for some milder stuff for awhile. We certainly had some horrible road conditions over Christmas and then later we saw heavy rains with some low land flooding and then we tossed in some super sonic thunder and brilliant lightning so that was definitely impressive! The earlier forecast of some dry weather for this week quickly fell apart and now it looks to be wet and stormy as well, so I hope you’re stocked up and can stay off the roads if at all possible, as we may see some more falling trees and rocks on our local highway. I guess we can always hope that this next soaker system goes elsewhere. However, be prepared, just in case!

GREAT TIME--I must say, I was happy to close out 2022 on a good note with a great meal and great service as the Duck Inn cooks and staff provided a wonderful dinner to bring the year to an end this past Saturday night. We were happy to share our table and visit with Russ Durrah for awhile. So nice to end the year on a happy note and we hope you did too as this has been one heck of a year!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Jan. 5-11 are Jason Rainey, Scott McClain, Kelly A. McClain, Josh Moonen, Nicole Turgeon, Joe Montgomery, Andy Lea, Don P. Wages, Marlena Silva, Shelby Elfers, Micahel A. Quigley, Kristen Robinson, Lisa Hoven, Ryan Burdick, Stephanie Leitz, Ellie Leitz, Alicia Boldt Benjamin, Becky Elliott, Susan Schillios, Kyler Sause, Matt Blain, Mike Moore and 67’er Ed Bussone. Here’s wishing all of you a wonderful time on your birthdays!

UKULELE CLUB FORMING--According to Robert Stowe, all levels of players of ukuleles are welcome to join the “Cathlamet Troubadours” as they will hold their first get-together next Wednesday, Jan 11 at 6 p.m. at Maria's Restaurant in Cathlamet. You can reach Robert at 562-858-9142 for more information.

TOURNAMENT PLAYERS WANTED--Looking into the future just a bit, Mr. Stowe would also like to get together those who like to play Pickleball and Cornhole games and then have a tournament of players during the Ball Eagle Day festivities. If you like to play or help get these players together to form a team, please contact the above number. I think it’s a great idea to add a few new events to the July festival, so if you’d like to get in on this, give Robert a call. It’s never too early to start planning!

AT THE SKAMOKAWA GRANGE--As always, you are invited to attend the community breakfast at the Skamokawa Grange Hall on Tuesdays from 10 to noon and of course, you’re invited to bring a treat with you to share with the group. If you’d like to donate something towards this weekly gathering, it would certainly be appreciated, whether it’s money or maybe supplies, like coffee and creamers, etc.

Also., beginning Jan. 14, and each second Saturday through May, there will be a “Bigfoot Boogie” event from 3 to 4:30 those Saturdays. What is this? Why, it’s a way to have a little fun while getting in a bit of exercise the easy way, as who doesn’t like to boogie to some music now and then? It’s also a fundraiser, as there is an admission of $5 for those under 18 as well as for those over 65, while General admission is $10. Bring a water bottle and a friend, and wear some comfy clothes. You may even wear off a pound or two from all those Christmas goodies you ate!

FLEA MARKET--There will also be the monthly Flea Market at the fairgrounds that day, which starts at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This is a great place to rent a table for $10 and sell all those things you’re cleaning out of your cupboards; good things but “extras” that you realize you’re never going to use again. If you don’t want to sell them, you can donate to the fair in order that they might raise some money.

BINGO--The Sons of Norway holds bingo on the second Saturday of each month at 6 p.m., barring any weather issues or conflicts that could arise. So, to be sure that the Norse Hall will be a abuzz with bingo players, contact Jan Silvestri to be sure that’s it’s happening at 360-431-1705; lower floor doors open at 5:30.

UPCOMING SERVICES--To those of you who knew George Malakowsky, this is a reminder that his services will be held next Saturday on January 14, at 2 p.m., at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Castle Rock. The address is 248 Cowlitz Way West. Once again, our sympathies go out to his family on their loss of someone who left this earth too soon.

ANOTHER LOSS--We have just lost way too many folks around here lately and I was saddened by the news that long time Skamokawa resident, Mike Carroll passed away during the last week of 2022, shortly after Christmas. Lots of folks knew Mike as “the” mechanic and he seemed to have a knack of fixing anything. We all know he loved cars and was always at the car shows we held here. Mike leaves behind his two children, Tracy and Theresa Kuljis and their families and his wife, Lori, and we will be thinking of them during this difficult time and offering our sincerest sympathies.

Also sorry to hear of the passing of Bud Holten, beloved teacher and long time resident, who passed away Dec. 7 at the age of 89. He was my kids’ fifth grade teacher and was always well liked and respected. My condolences to his family.

I also heard from Naomi Pedersen, daughter of Arthur Pedersen, that her sister, Rachael Cook Cifuentes-lopez passed away just prior to Christmas. She had just turned 38 on Dec. 5. Another soul lost too soon; sympathies to all.

I got a message from a friend, Sandi Cik, who told me that her daughter Tracie, passed away on Dec. 29 after a long battle with cancer; she has my deepest condolences.

BAD ACCIDENT--Philomena Thomas, “Philly” to those of us who know her, got a real scare on New Year's Eve, as she got a call that her sister, Valerie and her family, which included her two little girls, were involved in a bad accident and rushed to the hospital. It seems a woman, who had a two year old with her, t-boned Val's car and only by the grace of God, nobody was seriously hurt or killed. Of course, when you first get that call, you have no idea what you’ll find when you get to the hospital, so we were so relieved to hear that the family will be alright, but it was definitely a close call. Another one of those “Don’t Drink and Drive” reminders…..sigh.

GET PREPARED--Once again, if you were without any comforts during a recent power outage or having to stay home due to road conditions, I do hope you made a list of what would help you get through that time a little more comfortably, and get those items as soon as possible. Winter has just begun, so don’t wait until the roads are solid ice before you realize you need to have some “staples” from the store. If you need help, contact one of the local food banks as everyone would rather give you a case of soup and a big bag of pancake mix with a few boxes of brown sugar to make your own syrup, so you can get by, rather than have you risk life and limb driving on icy roads!