DIFFERENT DAYS--As the week began, it was absolutely miserable in West Valley, with rain coming down so hard on Sunday night that I wondered if I should be building an ark! However, it was great to see the work week begin with sunshine, as Monday was great, albeit windy, but that's okay, as at least we were able to let things dry out a little bit and the wind sometimes helps that happen a little faster. With a couple of nice days to follow, we are all quite pleased as the grass seems to grow faster than we can get the lawn mower filled up, so it looks like the rain/sunshine combo is making at least something grow.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 14-20 are Bryan Ledtke, Janine Helms, Dan Keilwitz, Lori Smith, Floyd McClane, Leota Souvenir, Brock Cothren, Mike Heriford, Trevor Whitney, Nancy Granger, Teed Prestegard, Margaret Strueby, 67er Sandra Davis and Carolyn Pedersen. Happy Anniversary wishes go to the Tim Parkers today! Whether you're celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, here's wishing you sunshine and happy memories on your special day!

THIS SUNDAY AND BEYOND--The annual Hosannah! Musicale will be at the Skamokawa United Methodist Church Sunday at 2 p.m. A goodwill donation will be taken to benefit the children's programs at St. James Family Center, which started out as just a day care and has now blossomed into so much more, which truly benefits our entire community.

With the Easter season the following week, the church will be busy with several things, like the Christian Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday, and the Good Friday service the next day and their traditional Easter egg hunt and breakfast Easter morning. They welcome everyone to come and share in this blessed time with them.

Looking a little further ahead, they will provide a breakfast the morning of the Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars Car Show, June 4, with a dollar of each breakfast going to the Dollars for Scholars group. That's a double benefit--the church and the kids and well, a triple play if you count the fact that you'll be getting a great deal on a great breakfast! Spread the word, you're all invited!

July 30, the church is hoping that everyone will have donated something from their Spring cleaning efforts for a rummage sale during the first annual Vista Market held that day in honor of their 30th anniversary. If you'd like to donate something, call Randi Curtis at 795-0628.

AT FAIRGROUNDS--Don't forget there will be a book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, so if you have books you want to get rid of, give Jean Beerbower a call at 849-0001 or bring them to the fairgrounds. The sale will take place in the Youth Building.

EASTER BINGO--The Wahkiakum Fair Board is having their annual Bingo doings on April 22. I got some misleading information last week and want to get that cleared up. Bingo cards are 3 for $10 and if you bring a can of food, you will get another card. It should be a lot of fun with some great prizes. The main raffle is an X-BOX 360 with Kinect and two games--tickets are just $1. There are other prizes and raffles as well. Join in the fun at Julius Wendt Elementary multi-purpose room at 6 p.m.

FREE MOVIE--Once again Skamokawa Grange #425 has teamed up with the WSU Extension office in Cathlamet, and the Wahkiakum Community Network, and is hosting a free movie night on April 30. A short film made by the kids in the 4-H Youth Mobilization and Leadership Program will be shown first and then the main feature will be The Princess Bride. This is a great movie with pirates and adventure and comedy, so we hope you'll come to see it. If you've already seen it, come and see it again on the big screen; our screen is the biggest one in Wahkiakum County, I'm told. You'll also get a free bag of popcorn and goodies will be available with a donation, so come and have a fun evening at the Skamokawa Grange Hall!

IN OUR THOUGHTS--We want to send get well wishes to Gordy Souvenir who was hospitalized after an accident last week. We will keep him and his family in our thoughts during this time. Our sympathies are extended to Judy Garrison and Ray Wood and their families as they lost a sister recently. May she rest in peace.

NEXT MEETING--The Skamokawa Grangers will hold their next meeting on April 25. This past week's meeting was cancelled due to illnesses and conflicting business obligations. If you want to find out for sure about a meeting, just give me a call.

HIGHWAY--I know most folks in our area were happy to hear SR 4 was opened up last weekend, which came even earlier than they predicted. There's lots of talk about bypasses and a bigger ferry or even an extra one, but all of this takes money, which is in short supply these days. If you think this road closure and the long waits at the ferry were unacceptable during the few days this link was closed, just think what you would be dealing with if we had a huge earthquake? We need to take a good look at how we handled this minor inconvenience, as in the scope of problems today, this was nothing.

NEW, GREAT ADVICE--Back in the good old days, we were told to duck and cover or stand in a doorway if an earthquake comes. Currently, Dennis Copp, who is the leader of a team of expert international rescuers, has put out a triangle of life article, in which he says that these instructions are totally wrong. Most often people would survive if they were to curl up in a fetal position next to something bulky, such as a sofa or chair, so the stuff that falls will catch on that and there will be a pocket in which you will be safe. Those that were under things were crushed, like under a bed, but if you laid beside it and the ceiling fell in, you'd most likely have that triangle of space. There are always exceptions I suppose but this new way of looking at how to survive an earthquake makes perfect sense. Something to keep in mind as the earth continues to shake all around us.

OUT OF THE PAST--Fifty years ago this same week, it was cold and miserable most of the week and then surprise--it snowed on April 19! While it didn't last long, it came down in great big flakes. Carol Pedersen took her mom, Elsie Everest, with her to Portland where she took something to be welded for hubby Krist. While they were there, the two went to eat at the 99 cent place, all very good they said. Carol P. was busy that week calling around to people for food for the smorgasboard that was coming up on May 7. The Puget Island Grange was full of people as the community club put on a friendship tea and Grandma Everest was thrilled to see so many old friends and meet new ones. The Ernie McKies had a baby boy that week.

Twenty years ago this week, it was pretty cold and wet and windy to begin with, so everyone was out enjoying the sunshine when it made it's appearance the last three days of the week. It also made it a good time for the Friends of Skamokawa who were holding their annual play at Arnold Andersen's building that weekend.