Westside Stories

I dropped in briefly at Rosburg Hall on Saturday evening to take some pictures at the American Legion’s annual Crab and Oyster Feed dinner at Rosburg Hall. The hall was packed with hungry patrons. Nick Nikkila reported to me there were 199 paid attendees. Fifty items were raffled off, including a Benjamin Marauder high pressure .22 caliber air rifle, the booze wagon, and a cord of firewood exclusively for seniors, won by Sonja Kruse for the second time. There was also an auction that featured items such as an original watercolor painting by Noreen Fitts of the Finnish Pioneer Church in Deep River and an amazing wood map of Wahkiakum County, the Southwest part of Pacific County, Grays Bay, and a portion of the Columbia River.

Teresa Nikkila of PDX Mobile Music, daughter-in-law of Nick and Dee, provided DJ'd music that included the opportunity for dancing at the end of the evening. It sounds like an incredible evening filled with great food and fun.

Break-in at Westend Food Pantry

The Food Pantry has experienced its second theft in the last few months. Someone broke into the storage building through a window in one of the garage doors, taking several hams out of one of the freezers that were being saved for Easter boxes. It is unfortunate that someone feels the need to break in and steal when the food pantry is open to anyone needing food. Please contact the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office with any information about the break-in.

Finnish American Folk Festival update

The Finn Fest board and members met on Jan. 26 to elect officers for 2025-2027. A few board members remained the same, but there were several new members as well. Officers are Jennifer Boggs (Chair), Haleigh See (Co-Chair), Lisa Yeager (Treasurer), Sherry Hartline (Co-Treasurer), and Amber Duncan (Secretary). Board members at large are Sylvia Hoagland, Justin Laine, Mike Swanson, and Serena Travis. This is the first time in many years that most of the board is under 55.

On Apr. 26, Finn Fest will be hosting a forum for cemeteries in the Naselle-Grays River Valley. The objective is to educate the public about the status of local cemeteries, introduce resources for locating loved ones, and inspire community involvement through volunteer opportunities, especially in preparation for Memorial Day. They are hoping to have representatives from each cemetery board participate. For more information, please contact Serena Travis at media@nasellefinnfest.com.

Westside Happenings

February

1 – Naselle-Grays River School District

superintendent interviews in Naselle

School library, 8:30 a.m.

1 – Bingo at Naselle Community Center, doors open at 5:30 p.m., games start at 6 p.m.

5 – Bunco at Johnson Park, doors open at

5:30 p.m., games start at 6:00 p.m.

$5 to play all night.

12 – Grays River Flood District Meeting, GR Fire Hall, 5:30 p.m.

18 – Naselle Grays River School Board

Meeting, School Library, 6:30 p.m.

March

8 – Movie night at Grays River Grange, 7 p.m. Featured film is The Dark Divide.

To include an event on the calendar or to give feedback, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com. You can also follow me on Facebook