WHERE IS IT?--As our work week began, so did Summer, but considering it was mostly cloudy and wet, it wasn't the start to Summer that most of us had envisioned. We are promised some nice days at mid-week, and as I'm writing this, we do have some brightness in the sky, so let's hope that these warmer temperatures and brighter days come about, as all these drizzly, cloudy, gloomy days are getting pretty depressing.

THIS IS IT--It's here at last: The third annual "Smoky Water Follies" is opening this weekend at the Skamokawa Grange Hall and runs for three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I understand that Carrie Nation will be making an appearance. Most of you may remember hearing about her as the leader of the temperance movement during the prohibition era, who was famous for going into bars and smashing the booze and bar equipment up with her trusty hatchet! Also, Ole will be there with his Can-Can Cannery woes, the Professor is back with his humorous witticisms, and of course, the barbershop quartet will be back to sing some great numbers along with many others acts, so we hope to see you at the "theatre" this weekend!

As I've said before, this is a major fund raiser for the grange hall, and we hope you'll support our efforts to keep improving this building that is enjoyed by our entire community for various functions. Friday and Saturday the show starts at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will start at 2 p.m. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at the door. With the handicap ramp along the side, you can avoid the steps and use that easy access. There is plenty of parking with extra parking in the adjoining park, so come and enjoy some great entertainment!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from June 24-June 30 are Larry Horman, Joel Moore, James Anderson turns nine, LaRita L. Bennett, Cliff Garrison, Don Speranza, Mary Nettles, Tim Doumit, Austin Luthi, Tony Brown, Judy Marsyla, Marie Schwarze, Stan Woody, Clara Olson, Jonathan Hauff, David Vik, Shyley Rae Johnston and Tim Pedersen. Enjoy your birthdays everybody!

Happy Anniversary wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Randy Kuhn, Mr. and Mrs. David Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hendrickson, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brons, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pedersen, Mr. and Mrs. Alan West, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Montgomery, and Mr. and Mrs. Pete Sechler are celebrating 20 years together next Wednesday. May all your special days be memorable.

GAMING SERIES--Fair board president Becky Ledtke says the first in the series of the Silver Buckle Gaming event held last Saturday, went just great. With lots of volunteers, it all went very smoothly and the horses looked awesome in action, she said. While it wasn't a huge event, it was a good test to get the series going and as word spreads among the clubs and different areas, it is bound to get bigger and better. We hope the July 31 event will draw even more people. So spread the word. Another thing that makes this event special is that most of the time the winners do not get prizes. However, someone generously donated prizes of halters and saddle blankets and they were given to the winners. Make sure you mention that when you tell your friends about this event as a little added incentive to register! It was a very nice surprise for those winners indeed! If you are going to any fairs or an area where you think this might be something people may be interested in, contact Lore Twiet or Becky Ledtke and they could give you posters/flyers and registration forms to take with you.

BALD EAGLE DAYS--Also coming up in the next few weeks is our county's annual Bald Eagle Days celebration which starts on July 16 with the Two Islands Market having special things happening on Puget Island and then a sidewalk art contest that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. The all day event, which includes a big parade and fireworks show, will be July 17. Main Street in Cathlamet will be closed down for the day so that all the vendors can sell their wares and we can eat elephant ears, pizza, burgers and more and then head to the marina for the beer garden and music and the fireworks in the evening. On Sunday, the marina will be bustling with the Wooden Boat Festival, with a BBQ put on by the FFA and games and more, so it will be a full, fun-filled weekend for one and all. More details will be forthcoming as the time gets closer but for more information now, you can call the Wahkiakum Chamber at 795-9996. If you'd like to help out and volunteer in some way, I'm sure your help would be welcomed.

IN AND OUT--My two sons were both celebrating their oldest sons' achievements this past couple of weeks, as Brian's oldest, Austin, was moving up and headed in to high school this coming September in Cathlamet, while Pete's oldest, Kyle, was getting "out" of Ballard High School in Seattle and going out into the big wide world, so a couple of great days for those boys' families. It seems like only yesterday that these boys were born, so I just don't know where the time went! It's going to be a whole new world for both of them, as entering high school is always a big deal and brings many challenges as well as a lot of fun and growing up in the next four years. Being done with school and having to strike out on one's own is a huge step, as it can mean going away to college and all the new challenges that this presents, or getting a job and moving away and being out on one's own or maybe a combination of both of these; all huge steps in one's life, and all part of that growing up phase that seems to have speeded up a whole lot lately!

When graduating from high school, parents usually have guests come to their home for a party, and the Sechler household was no exception and was certainly awash in a ton of good food, great people and lots of conversation by the varied guests, which ranged from several teachers to co-workers, to friends and neighbors, to family members. I think everyone was very pleased that the weather for the outside graduation of the 350 Ballard students was decent on Friday evening and the following day, when the party was held, it was dry as well, so they got very lucky indeed.

At any rate, it has definitely been a time to say congratulations and good luck to both Austin and Kyle and we're wishing them both the best as they continue to grow in the years ahead.

TRIVIA BIT--I found this little bit of trivia kind of interesting so I thought I'd pass it along, as this younger generation can't imagine not having certain things done a certain way because they've always had them done that way their entire lives. However, do you know what big event took place on June 26, 1974? No? Well, on that day, the first ever grocery scanner was used, the ones that are totally common place in big stores today, which we pretty much just take for granted these days. And what was the first item scanned by this new technology back on that day? Why, it was a pack of chewing gum! So, there's your bit of trivia history for you today!