Former columnist was an unforgettable person

Down River Dispatches

 

November 13, 2014

Trudy Fredrickson

Future Naselle Comet champs are seen at basketball camp with Coach Q (Gene Quillhough). These kids meet once a week to learn basketball skills with their friend and mentor at Johnson Park gym.

News from Naselle:

Naselle sports calendar for the week includes Thursday (today), middle school girl's basketball with South Bend in Naselle at 5:45 p.m .; Tuesday, middle school girl's basketball at Raymond at 5:45 p.m .; Thursday,middle school girl's basketball with Ocosta in Naselle at 5:45 p.m.

Congratulations to the Naselle Comette volleyball team for qualifying for the state tournament.

The Naselle School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

The Naselle Congregational Church will hold their annual Holiday Bazaar this coming Saturday, the 15th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bazaar will include crafts, baked goods and rugs for sale. Other vendors will also be on hand with items to purchase. A soup luncheon will be available, beginning at 11 a.m. with your choice of clam chowder or taco soup for a suggested donation of $7. Here is another opportunity to shop local.

ESA Alpha Theta will hold a food drive to benefit the local Naselle food bank on Thursday, November 20th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Okies Select market in Naselle. They will be accepting all nonperishable foods and donations.

Westend news:

Last Saturday, the community paid their last respects to a truly beautiful person, Marilyn Gudmundsen of Rosburg, who passed away on October 30th. I had the pleasure of meeting Marilyn after I started volunteering in the Community Computer Center at the old Rosburg School. She was learning to use the computers and was very proud of herself for learning these new contraptions. She and Marie Fauver were regular patrons of the center and a delightful duo for the volunteers.

After I started writing Down River Dispatches, she told me that she had written the column for many years and asked if I would like to read some of her old articles. I said I would love to and to my surprise, she brought me several bags full of the entire newspapers from many of the years she had been with the paper. It was such a pleasure to read her writings and to recognize many of the names and faces of the folks I have met since we came here 15 years ago. Sadly, all of those papers were burned in our house fire four years ago.

Marilyn was one of the most unselfish and giving people I have ever known and she loved making people happy. When my Mom came to live with us and was in Hospice, Marilyn asked if she could come and have a tea party with us. Though Mom was bedridden at the time, Marilyn showed up with her fancy tea cups and saucers, her lovely tea pots and tiny finger foods with all the trimmings and a full blown tea party ensued. Mom was delighted, and they talked for several hours. I took pictures throughout the afternoon and gave copies to Marilyn, which she recently returned to me, as mine were burned.

In our small community, there are a few unforgettable people, and Marilyn was one of the most recognizable in that category. Always willing to help if she could, and a dear friend to many. She loved her family, her community and her life. We were blessed to know this wonderful, gentle soul. May God bless her and keep her forever. Rest in Peace, dear friend and mentor to many.

Last Wednesday, the halls, rooms and gymnasium of the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park were filled with more than 50 vendors with information on just about anything to do with health and insurance. This second annual event was put together by Health and Human Services, under the direction of Terrie Howell, and it turned out to be a huge success again in it's second year. There were signups for different programs, questions answered, flu shots, Medicare issues and signups, and even a booth with diabetic shoes. It was incredible to have so much information in one place. "Living Well in Wahkiakum" is something to look forward to again next year. Spread the word.

The Free Friday Night Movie in the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park is rated PG-13 and is an action thriller. Another recent release the show is about an alien race, undefeatable by any existing military unit, has launched a relentless attack on Earth, and Major William Cage finds himself dropped into a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage is thrown into a time loop, forced to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again and again. Training alongside warrior Rita Vrataski, his skills slowly evolve, and each battle moves them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

Concessions are available with popcorn, candy and pop for very reasonable prices. Come watch a great movie on our big screen and enjoy a relaxing evening.

The West End Food Pantry, housed in the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park will soon be up and running. Donations have been coming in pretty steadily and with paperwork in order, the operation should be ready to go. The members of the Board for the Pantry have worked diligently to bring this food bank to the west end of our county. Thank you to each and every one of you for your hard work, and a big thank you as well to all the folks who have donated to help out. As soon as I get the particulars on when they will be open, I will include it in this column.

Pat Potter and her volunteer crew prepare and serve a nutritious lunch each week for the Rosburg Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch at the Rosburg Hall. Come join your friends and neighbors for an enjoyable meal with good company.

On Thursdays a senior meal is also served at the Rosburg Hall and is sponsored by CAP. Lunches are served at noon for both venues.

Happy Birthday to Rick Rose, Kori Johnson, Darrel Sotka, Jake Clark, Nancy Larson, Mary Rose Wirkkala, Sarah Haataia, Danny Parker, Carl Adair, Judy Kent, Robert Trimble, Hunter Haataia, Savannah Bryant, Cody Strange, Jacob Shelter, Kylie Legler, Jacob Revis, Barb Rose, Tiffany Coop, Gail Queener, Guy Wirkkala, Susan Burkhalter, Donna Goddard, Katie Bjornsgard, Natalie Wirkkala, Pat Howrton, Chris Dorman and Deborah Olson. Wishing each of you a perfect day.

Happy Anniversary to Merlin and Judy Durrah, Mr. and Mrs. John Bergquist Greg and Andrea Smith and Rikki and Jill Saari. Here's to many more celebrations together.

An extra special belated Happy Birthday to a very unique man, Al Salazar, who is the owner of Duffy's Irish Pub in Grays River. He celebrated his 83rd birthday earlier this week. Al has quite a history with his decorating skills in some famous landmark buildings including the Pine Street Theatre in Portland. If you drive through Grays River proper, you can't miss his talent for using eclectic decorations on many of the buildings as most of them sport his gingerbread expertise. It makes you wonder how a man can produce so much beauty with so much unmatched and interesting items that most of us would consider throwaway stuff. Thank you Al, for giving our little burg such an interesting appearance. Wishing you many happy and healthy years in the future.

 

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