It looks like we will get a few raindrops in the next couple of days, but it certainly has been nice weather for the past week. After breaking a belt on my lawnmower a couple of weeks ago, and only completing half of the yard at that time, it looked like I would need to bring in the hay equipment to cut the rest of it. Finally the new belt arrived (I bought an extra to have on hand) and thanks to neighbor, Dirk Heitsch it was replaced in a matter of minutes. Several hours later, I had a mowed yard again and a cold brew to celebrate. Now if the weather cooperates, it can be done on a more regular basis.

News from Naselle:

Last Saturday the Naselle-Grays River Valley Class of 2013 graduated. We should be very proud of this group of students, their accomplishments and the rewards for their efforts. Local scholarship donors contributed over $40,000 toward the future education of this year's graduating class. In total, the class will accept over $550,000 in merit-based grants and scholarships. They received well over $350,000 in additional merit-based scholarships from various college, military, and scholarship organizations. Great job, kids!

You can see Senior Sendoff photos and tributes to the Class of 2013 on the Naselle-Grays River Valley School website and on their Facebook page.

Check out “Trivia Tuesdays” each week at Mochas and More’s FaceBook page. You can win free cupcakes and drinks just for answering a trivia question. This week you don’t even have to have the exact answer, just be close. It’s great coffee and good food as well. Shop local.

Other news from the Westend:

The Johnson Park advisory board members will host a work party for two days of clean-up on the grounds and in the buildings of the park this Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15 starting at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided both days. Bring your energy, muscles, expertise and tools (rakes, clippers, shovels, or whatever you think might be helpful), and give us a hand in this endeavor. The main goal is to clean out the bus barn, make a dump run (so we will need a pickup or two), and then transfer items from inside the building into the cleaned-out area. We also would like to dig up and separate the daffodils around the exterior of the building and get them ready for replanting in new areas of the grounds.

The Grays River Valley Library and Community Computer Center has been in contact with the LCC e-learning coordinator to discuss the possibility of utilizing the facilities for online classes, possibly proctoring tests and volunteers being trained as distance learning advisors. There are quite a few LCC students in our area that might benefit from this option, and probably a few more who could return to classes if they didn’t have to drive so far to take classes. Let us know how you feel about this option for our library/computer center and also if you would be interested in participating in such a program.

The Grays River Valley Library and Community Computer Center is open on Mondays from 3 to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. Use high speed internet for free, check out books, audio books, music cds, and movies. Library cards are free to anyone choosing to use our library. Children’s storytime is available on the fourth Friday of each month at 10 a.m.

Looking for a place to get some exercise, shoot a few baskets, play a game of pool, relax in the sunshine on the grass or take a walk through the woods? It’s all here at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park. Use the facilities whenever you choose by purchasing a sponsorship for your immediate family for $65 per year or $45 per year for an individual. You will be given codes to enter the facilities with your paid sponsorship.

Don’t forget free Friday night movies at the Grays River Valley Center every week. Come join us for a fun-filled evening of great movies on our big screen, with surround sound, comfy seating, concessions and good company. Family friendly movies are shown on the first and fourth Fridays of every month. Call 465-2310 for more information on what is showing.

On Sunday, June 23, the Grays River United Methodist Church will hold a special service for the Blessing of the Animals. The service will be held outdoors at 10 a.m. followed by a Stuffed Potato Luncheon hosted by the ladies of the church. Bring your critters for this annual event. Everyone is welcome.

Wahkiakum County’s Search and Rescue Unit will hold one of their main fundraising events of the year on Saturday, June 29 in the parking lot of the Bank of the Pacific in Cathlamet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out all the goodies available and help support this essential organization that does so much for our county and community. If you have something that you would like to donate to the sale, please call Arlene Stefan at 465-2919.

The Rosburg Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets each week at the Rosburg Hall for a delicious home cooked meal prepared and served by Pat Potter and her volunteer crew. Lunch is served at noon.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Rosburg Senior Community Lunches are served at the above location and are sponsored by CAP. Menus for the coming week include: June 13-pork chop and gravy, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, melon and berries and chocolate mousse; June 18-sweet and sour pork, Cantonese vegetables, brown rice, Mandarin oranges and fortune cookie; June 20-chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, fiesta vegetables and raspberry bars.

Happy birthday to the following: Megan Wirkkala, Sue Thomas, Ray Jordan, Lauren Rose, Alan Bennett, Ashley Hendrickson, Abbie Magee, Hannah Magee, Morgan Maddux, Rebecca Hernandez, Steve Davis, Alicia Crozier, Teresa Legler, Mary Beth Queral, Dick Burkhalter, Madison Didion, Becky Torppa, Tim Calvert, Dennis York, Kenny Clifford, Rokey Scott and Greg Wirkkala. Here’s hoping your day is extra special.

Happy Anniversary wishes to Steve and Gayle Gacke, Jim and Josie Eastham, Bob and Rosalie Eaton, Paul and Nikki Footh, Doug and Sharon Tetz, Matt and Tina Scrabeck, Ed and Sandy Boyle, Tim and Sabrina Wirkkala, Tim and Martha Tienhaara, David and Rebecca Strong and Glen and Donna Goddard.

A special happy birthday wish goes to a good friend and neighbor, Blair Brady. Thank you for being the kind of county commissioner who respects the wishes of his constituents instead of moving forward with his own ideas, for serving the Westend in such a positive way, for working hard to keep our county fair, for making fair decisions and asking fair questions when necessary, and especially for just being an honest and good person. I hope your birthday is everything you hoped it would be and more. We appreciate all you do and who you are.

This Sunday is Father’s Day. I want to wish all the dads out there a wonderful day and I hope all of you do the same. It takes a special guy to be a “Dad” and there are a lot of you out there who don’t even have children, but stand in for someone who isn’t there. Our wonderful son-in-law is one of those special people and we are so fortunate to have him in our life and the lives of our grandchildren. No matter what the circumstances, these dads and all fathers deserve to have their day of celebration. Let’s make it an unforgettable day for them. Happy Father’s Day to all.

I had an experience on Monday evening that still makes me shudder. I was walking my dogs out on the back side of our property and looked up to see and hear a huge bull elk coming toward me on the roadway. The dogs had somehow spooked him and he turned to run the other way—toward me. Fortunately, he saw me in time and turned into the trees and up the hill, but at the time I knew I was going to be trampled. He looked like he was 20 feet tall from where I stood. His old antlers must have been the sheds that our kids found this spring. He was huge. There’s never a dull moment in the country.