Skamokawa News

CHILLY START I don’t know what it was like at your house this past Sunday morning, which was the first day of this last month of the year, but it was twenty-six degrees at my house and it’s not even winter yet! While some folks find the clear, crisp, chilly air wonderful, I’m not a fan. The bitter cold brings various worries to those of us living out in the country, like our water systems freezing for example.

SPECIAL DAYS. Those celebrating their birthdays this week from Dec. 5 through 11 are Hank Bassi, Dennis Reid, Carol McClain, Jai Snow, Julie Iverson, Kitty Speranza, Rachael Cook, Hollie Longtain, Danielle Coleman, Gary Bergseng, Justin Watkins, Collin Parker, Noah Hill, Julie Doumit, Julie Burdick, Lacey Johnson, Derek West, Todd Souvenir, James Robinson, Donna Christensen, Tyler Johnson, Nora Lee Sorenson, Ron Hendrickson, Alexandra Wright, Gabe Pedersen, Lucy Owen and Patrice Everest Holtz. Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Vik, Mr. and Mrs. Manual Dault, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Wegdahl, and Les and Patty Kellum. May all of you have wonderful celebrations during this coming week ahead of us!

COMMUNITY GATHERING THURSDAY. We hope you’ll come down to the Skamokawa Grange Hall on Thursday and take part in the free Community Breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon. While there you can take part in the wrapping and packing party after breakfast from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for The Wahkiakum Shoeboxes of Joy program. This local program delivers wrapped shoeboxes filled with a variety of donated items to community members in need. If you would like to donate, you can bring any donation items to the Grange Hall, the Duck Inn, the Bank of the Pacific, or the Video Store. Shoeboxes will be getting wrapped on Dec. 5, 12, and 19 and delivered on Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. If you’re interested in helping, please come down to the Skamokawa Grange Hall on Thursday.

BUSY, BUSY WEEKEND. You can tell it’s the holiday season because every weekend seems to be jam-packed with things to do. Here in Skamokawa, it’s time to head to the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds and check out their Seventh Annual Holiday Bazaar this Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a lot to choose from with the various vendors inside the Youth Building. So come on down and check them all out. The River Life Interpretive Center, located at the Redmen Hall/1894 Schoolhouse building, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. and they have lots of gift items as well. They have centerpieces and local artisan items, and their gift and book shop has much to offer for the perfect Christmas gifts for anyone on your list. The Friends of Skamokawa hope you will stop by and help support them and the historic building they’ve preserved for our community. They are open Saturday & Sundays through Dec. 15. Also up at the Hall, on Dec. 8, you’ll be able to paint your holiday sign/gift, and not only can you have some fun while making your creation, but you can help support the FOS as well, as Tracy McCallum is donating a portion of the proceeds back to them.....the cost is $35. Call Tracy to reserve a spot, at 253-350-1582.

DRIVE THRU LIGHT SHOW. By the time you read this, I’m pretty sure you’ll want to head down to Skamokawa Vista Park in the evening hours and check out the great drive-thru light show/decorations there.....always a treat for the kids and you can stay all nice and warm and cozy in your car while you check them out. To positively verify whether they are up and running, please call 360-795-8605.

SKAMOKAWA SWAMP OPERA. This Friday, Dec. 6, the Skamokawa Swamp Opera will be putting on a special Christmas Music Show at the Cathlamet Pioneer Center. The show will begin at 4 p.m. and the cost is ten dollars. Don’t forget, the Pioneer Community Association is still accepting a Christmas tree decoration with your name attached to it and the year you made the Cathlamet area your home, so they can decorate this tree up with lots of unique ornaments. You could bring one with you to this musical event or you can drop one off at the library, Tuesday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, call 360-430-3771

Cathlamet CELEBRATES. This Saturday many things are happening in Cathlamet. At 3 p.m. in the Hotel Cathlamet, you can see Santa and take pictures and then watch the tree lighting at 5 p.m. with the lighted Christmas parade right after on Main Street. For more information about the lighted parade, you can always contact Theresa Eykel at 253-569-1651, and for more info about the day’s events, check out: http://www.wahkiakum.us.

KIDS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY/NORSE HALL. This Sunday, Dec. 8, don’t forget to head over to the Norse Hall where the Sons of Norway lodge members will be hosting their annual Christmas party for kids up to the eighth grade. The games, cookie decorating, and all the other fun things they have planned will be taking place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. We hope you parents with kids will head that way to get a treat, have some fun, and enjoy an early Christmas with the other kids in the neighborhood!

TO HELP WAAG. If you’d like to give a great gift this year, why not give a gift to our four-legged friends by sending a check to our local critter helpers, the “Wahkiakum Animal Advocates Group”? We seem to have a ton of animals that wind up being dumped or lost or in need of some sort of assistance, so please think about donating to them for all the good work they do. These folks have been a true godsend to us. Send your donation to WAAG, P.O. Box 231, Cathlamet, WA 98612

BEWARE POISONOUS/TOXIC PLANTS. As we start bringing in those traditional holiday plants, it’s worth checking to see if they’re safe so we don’t wind up causing our pets to get sick or even die by letting them nibble on any of them. Here is the list of plants that can be deadly for pets: holly, mistletoe, amaryllis, yew, and even pine needles. Also, dogs and cats may get thirsty and want to take a drink out of the tree stand water, which is highly toxic.

HUGE GATHERING. This past Saturday, Nov. 30, the Duck Inn was filled with family and friends who came to remember Larry Holland. He passed away suddenly at the age of 71 on October 25 at his home in Cathlamet. Larry was well known around these parts as he had lived here all his life, graduated from WA-KI-HI, was a commercial fisherman, and had a large family and extended family too. It’s times like these that make growing up in a small town a great comfort as we band together to mourn the loss of one of our own. Once again, condolences to all on the loss of their loved one. RIP Larry.