NOT SO NICE--As this week begins, it's a wet and blustery Palm Sunday, so it's a good day to hunker down inside after making sure all one's outside objects have been securely fastened down. However, forecasters are saying some dry days are ahead prior to what looks to be a wet Easter weekend, but let's hope they're wrong about that. It seems our Spring keeps springing surprising weather on us, but we all hope that comes to an end before long as I know folks are itching to get outside and dig in those flower beds and get those gardens going; good luck to us all!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating their special days on this first week in April are Linda McClain, Dana McClain, Vaal Gribskov, Marissa Longtain, Britany Smith, Spring Doiron, Crystal Davis, Jaxton Holland, George Trott, Amanda Boehler, Roy Ogle, Paul Vik, Loren Bergseng, Patti Phillips, Kayli Boehler, Matt Wright, Mackenzie Jones, Brian Doiron, Chris Holland, Nicole Schubert, Janet Bryan, Leanndra Aragon, Whitley Wirkkala, Randy Vik, Michaela Phillips, Serina Moody, Judy Wilde, Samantha Ahrndt, Karen Bell, Mikayla Bell, Barrett Finkas, Nathan Pedersen and 67'er Keith Lawrence.

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bonny, Mr. and Mrs. Don Wages and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blair. May you all have wonderful times celebrating your special days.

ANOTHER ADDITION--I am happy to announce that the Everest side of our family will be adding another member to it in October, as Kevin and Jessica Palmer will welcome their first child in October and that's pretty doggone exciting! This will bring some firsts to other members of their family as Kevin's parents, Larri and wife, Sally, will become first time grandparents too, so that's pretty cool. I'm sure former resident, Donna Healy Palmer, will enjoy being a great grandmother as well, so we'll say "Congratulations" to one and all and we look forward to adding another branch on the family tree!

JOKESTERS DELIGHT--If you're one of those people who just loves to pull pranks, then today, April 1st, is your day for sure! I do hope people will try to keep their pranks on the "funny" side and not just plain ole mean. After all, if the recipient of your joke is mad or crying, you might want to rethink your April Fools Day high-jinks and go for a more light-hearted approach!

DRESS A GIRL/THIS FRIDAY--If you know how to sew, you've got some time on your hands and you're looking to do a good deed and brighten someone's day, look no further than heading to the Community Center in Cathlamet, as the "Dress a Girl" program lead by Pearl Blackburn, is up and running once again. Every year, a group gathers to hand out a simple pattern, the material and all you need to know instructions, and make dresses for those who may never have had a dress to call their own. Sometimes it seems hard to believe that this is an issue but you'd be surprised, so for the young women who get these dresses, it's a very big deal indeed. Did you know that this local group distributed 476 dresses last year? Isn't that awesome?! Currently, the group can only handle 10 people inside the center at a time, but that doesn't mean you can't pop in and pick up what you need and just take all the info and materials home.

They are meeting on the first Friday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m., so that means Pearl will be at the center this Friday, April 2 and would love to see you there. You will need to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If you can't be there this week, but you're interested in helping out, and you'd like to contact Pearl for further info, you can do so at dressagirlpearl@gmail.com.

If you didn't know, the Community Center is just to the right of the Cathlamet Market, and below the big Pioneer Church on Main Street.

GOOD FRIDAY--Tomorrow, April 2, is Good Friday, and for the various Christian denominations, is a very somber day in the Holy Week as this day marks the crucifixion and death of Christ. It is the somberest of days in the Holy week, which goes from Palm Sunday (last Sunday) to Easter Sunday (this Sunday) and is always the Friday before Easter. This holiday has not been secularized and for centuries, it has remained a somber day of reflection worldwide among all those of the Christian faith.

BINGO TIME FRIDAY PM--The heated Youth Building at the Wahkiakum Co. Fairgrounds will be the place to be on Friday evening, April 2, as it's Easter Bingo time! Doors open at 5 p.m. with games beginning at 6 p.m. For just $10, you can get three cards and use them the entire evening or even swap them out, so it's a pretty inexpensive evening out and who knows, you may be those folks who come home with a whole bunch of prizes after calling out bingo first! There is also a raffle going on for a television and you can buy those tickets separately if you'd like.

LIONS CLUB HUNT & FAIRGROUNDS DOINGS--The annual Easter Egg Hunt put on by the Lions Club will be held behind the Wahkiakum High School in the baseball fields. There will be different sections for different ages and the "golden eggs" will yield a special prize. The hunt begins promptly at 11 a.m. so don't be late this Saturday, April 3 in Cathlamet.

Once you finish at the high school, everyone is invited to head this direction to the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds, where the Fair Foundation will hold their Easter Carnival and an afternoon Easter Egg Hunt for all ages, even adults! With so many things being planned for the weekend, we can only hope the skies take pity on us so that the kids can enjoy these fun Easter events.

MONTHLY FLEA MARKET--The following Saturday will be the monthly flea market at the fairgrounds so you're invited to come and check that out from 9 to 3 p.m. on April 10. If you happen to be doing any Spring cleaning, now might be the time to rent a table for $10 and try to sell some of your extra items that are taking up space in those upper cupboards that nobody has used for years! Call the fairgrounds and leave a message if you're interested: 360-795-3480. Remember to leave your name and your contact number & pronounce it slowly so that one can understand it.

LIGHT SHOW--On March 25, lots of folks were witness to a wild, vivid, massive shower of "something," which was first thought to be a huge meteor shower; it was really something! Lots of folks around here were posting pictures and videos of it and it was stirring up all kinds of interest as everything from a meteor shower to a plane going to UFO's was being tossed around. Luckily it was nothing bad or ultra mysterious, as it seems it was just parts from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that failed to make a "deorbit burn" after coming back to earth after being out in the atmosphere for over three weeks. No matter what it was, it certainly made for some dramatic pictures and some animated people giving rise to all kinds of theories as they witnessed something we'd never seen before. I'm certainly happy it was nothing more than "burning space junk" and not the "end of days" as some were predicting!

GREAT SIGHT--Last Saturday was a gorgeous day, and many folks along the river were treated to the sight of the west coast hospital ship, "Mercy" as she headed downstream on our mighty Columbia River. Her mighty size and color with its red crosses on her sides was pretty impressive as she gleamed in the bright sunshine, while gliding along and out towards the ocean. The ship had been at Swan Island for repairs at the Vigor Industrial facility. According to my nephew, Tim Pedersen, this is where all the big ships/military vessels come for repairs, and beings he has worked there for years, I'll take his word for it. At any rate, it was great to see her all fixed up and headed out on such a wonderful day along our truly majestic river; it just never ceases to impress!

GET WELL WISHES--We want to send a hearty "Get Well Soon" wish to Doug Manary, who had to be hospitalized last week and put in the ICU. He is the husband of Sunny Manary, who was a former Wah. Eagle reporter, so we know this is a trying time for her as well, so we'll be hoping and praying for a great recovery for Doug and we hope he gets to come home soon.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1946, the month began with a very cold rain. It also began as a horrific day for Hawaii which was inundated with a massive tidal wave; just a terrible disaster. This week marked Marian Everest Healy's 28th birthday which was celebrated at her sister Carol's house on Puget Island with a nice dinner with the family. A huge celebration was held in Longview as quadruplets were born to Ruby Pierce; quite the big "to-do" for a smaller town. On one of the only really nice days of the week, the Snyders and Ralph E. went to Skamokawa where they picked up Mrs. Snyder's piano, where Elsie Everest had rearranged their living room to accomodate it. She was truly happy to have a piano at home. This was a big week for the Pedersen boys, as their Dad, Krist bought them a horse! The week didn't end too well, as it was rainy and cold again and there was a wreck on the Puget Island bridge so phone lines were busy and Grandma was still drinking coffee at 10:45 p.m! This according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diary.

Happy Easter, everybody!