THE END--Here we are at the end of yet another month and this day marks the half way point in the year. Holy smokes, where did the first half of 2011 go?

I have yet to start on all those New Year resolutions I made! Before you know it, I'll be making them again, as it seems time is marching at a lightning pace and I'm getting further and further behind. I wonder what that means?

ANOTHER ENDING--This weekend marked the end of the fourth annual Smoky Water Follies put on by the Skamokawa Grange. If you missed the show, you missed some great talent, a lot of laughs and a fun 90 minutes of old fashioned fun. We had people from Skamokawa Vista Park and folks from the Skamokawa Resort as well as others from Castle Rock and Eugene, Ore., so we are pleased that the word is spreading and people are coming to see it. Word of mouth is one advertising tool, so thanks to all those who talked it up!

We were truly thankful to all who came to help support us during this three day show. Considering my tongue seemed to take a twist now and then on my lyrics, you were all kind and said nice things, so I didn't feel too bad with the amateur flubs I made. As president of the Skamokawa Grange, I cannot say thank you enough to all those who attended and to those who were in this show, as we are truly blessed to have all these talented folks volunteer. You are all absolutely wonderful!

Of course Adele Baker-Swift is truly amazing and she has generously taken this project on while she is teaching full time, so we can't sing her praises enough in putting this together, along with our fellow grange member and musical director, Sunrise Fletcher. Adele's whole family is good about helping out, from running the spotlight to painting backdrops and setting up and taking down partitions so they are to be thanked as well.

We thoroughly enjoyed having the kids in the show this year, and they were a big hit! We hope they'll come back and join us next year.Nanea Carroll, Tanner Collupy and Reuben Patterson were real troopers throughout the show. We were delighted when seven children of the Viktor Goldinov family performed the first two nights, so a big thanks to Andre, Pavel, Michael, Dimitri, Ivan, Julia, Anna and their mother Natalia for accompanying them on accordion. It truly was a delight to hear them sing!

Plans are already in the works for next year's show, June 29-July 1. We'd really like to have more kids in the show and of course any adults who like to sing or dance or play in the band are more than welcome to join in the fun! We are always striving to make things better so if you have a suggestion or some constructive criticism, feel free to give me a call!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from June 30 to July 6 are Tim Pedersen, Nathan Chamberlain, George Exum, David Hjaltalin, Debbie Kuller, Jim Wilson, Steve Schwarze, Sandie York, Kelly Melton and 67er Dale Jacobson. We wish you all the best! And blated birthday wishes to Ivan Goldinov!

Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Alan West, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Al McClain, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Seaberg, Mr. and Mrs. Arvid Blix, Mr. and Mrs. Hap Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Emery, Donna and Glen Palmer, Paul and Mary Ann Ehrensberger ,and Pete and Katie Sechler. A belated anniversary wish is being sent to Larri and Sally Palmer who celebrated their silver anniversary last week. Congratulations!

COMING UP--The Fourth of July celebrations around the country will take place during this three day holiday, so we hope you'll take care and have a safe and happy one, wherever you go and whatever you do. It sounds like we'll be free from this current drizzle and see temperatures in the 80s so keep the sun screen handy. (And the umbrella in case they're wrong!)

BALD EAGLE DAYS--The big fireworks display in our area won't be until Bald Eagle Day, which is July 16. Let's hope we have some decent weather for that big event. We hope you've gotten your group together to take part in the upcoming festivities, as we all love the parade down Main Street and all the vendors, music and food. Heading this way from Norway will be former WA-KI-HI graduate Gwen (Good) and her husband Arve Ronninghaug. This is a great time to see your friends and neighbors from the past and present and enjoy this one of a kind celebration.

Don't forget the Wooden Boat Festival held on July 17 at the marina on Sunday--great boats, food and other activities.

MEETING--The committee working on Skamokawa Vista Park's 30th anniversary doings on July 30 will meet on July 6 at the park office at 1 p.m. to touch up the last minute details of this event. Folks with booths at the Vista Market need to have them set up by 9 a.m. as the event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since the park came to be. Music, food and fun, it'll be great!

GREAT RAFFLE--The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm has generously donated an Italian dinner for six as a fund raiser for the Friends of Skamokawa. Tickets for this drawing are just $5 and the lucky winner will get a five course meal with five of their friends. Don and Kitty are fantastic cooks and hosts and will make this a dinner that you won't forget. Tickets can be purchased at Redmen Hall or from FOS board members as well as Sharon's Pizza and More, Sassy Chocolates, Elochoman Slough Marina, all in Cathlamet and here at the Skamokawa Resort. The winner of this drawing will be announced at Skamokawa Vista Park's 30th anniversary doings on July 30. Kitty Speranza will also take orders over the phone and send you the tickets, so call her if you'd like to do that at 795-0585.

FOS DISPLAY--The flag display which I mentioned in last week's article will be on display as of this Thursday and will be showing through the middle of July. As a special tribute to this flag display, the hall will also be open on the Fourth of July so we hope you can get up to see it. Stop in at Redmen Hall between noon and 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.

LOOKING AHEAD--It won't be long until our Wahkiakum County Fair--August 18-20. This year's theme is Country Pride, County Wide and is being dedicated to Lois Wakefield for her many years of dedicated service to the fair. Also as part of this 103rd year of the fair, the fair board is honoring the late Sandi Nelson for her dedication to the fair. The fair books are out now and are in most every business around the area so check out all the categories and find one that suits you as there is a niche for everyone, I think. Whether you do crafty things, grow something, bake something, sew something, etc., you can find it listed in the book and see what the requirements are in order to enter it. Season tickets are still just $6 if purchased ahead of time and $7 at the gate. The princesses will be selling tickets at the Vista Market on July 30. The fair hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Be sure to catch the Silver Buckle Open Game show on Saturday morning in our wonderful main arena.

Hats off to those (oh too few) who are working so hard to get our fairgrounds in tip-top shape, and a special thanks to fair manager Becky Ledtke who is practically living at the fairgrounds lately. She is one hard worker! She and her family and a small group of helpers are working very hard to improve the grounds and they are looking great, but they could sure use a hand. Call 795-3480 and leave a message if you'd like to help out. There is plenty that needs doing!

WINE TASTING--September 10 will be the Friends of Skamokawa's annual wine Tasting and Auction and of course, they'd love to have you be a part of their wonderful group of folks who donate items to be auctioned off in either their silent auction or live auction. This fund raiser is always a blast, so come to the Skamokawa Grange Hall September 10 and have a ball and bring your checkbook!

PRAYERS ASKED--Mary McLaughlin, daughter of Cleave and Audrey Hedman is asking for your continued prayers in regard to her parents as both of them have experienced falls recently. They would certainly appreciate all the good thoughts and wishes you can fire to them right now. Neighbor Barry Brown has been a bit under the weather as has Jill Hatier, so we want to send our get well soon wishes to them as well.

REDUCED HOURS--Just an FYI: currently the Duck Inn restaurant is not open Monday through Wednesday, but the lounge is and they do have a special Taco Tuesday deal going on. The restaurant is open on the other days of the week.