Exercise with music at Grange on Saturday

GETTING PREPARED--As this week starts, it’s a drippy day in the 40s but according to forecasters, we are in for some very cold days, so I hope you were ready to bundle up and keep warm somehow. Whenever we see temperatures in the 20s forecast, that’s not a great deal for man nor beast and then throw in a chance of some snow and it could be a really miserable few days. Keeping my fingers crossed that the forecast changes and we are all a bit cooler but nothing too severe; one can always hope! It is still winter so I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised by cold weather!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Feb. 23-April 1 are Lauren Nicks, Mary McLaughlin, Nick Tarabochia, Emery Tomlinson, Becky Hoven, River Wallin, Amanda Zacher, Wyatt Parker, Shelley Olsen, Tina Robinson, Dagmar Adams, Ava Johnson, Elliot Johnson, Jessica Thomas, Alexa Phillips, Ursula Jorgensen, Susan Shook's grandson, Conner, Judy Pedersen and 67’ers Truchet Madden Miller and Kathy Bond Peek.

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Mr. and Mrs. Terry Heagy, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Wirkkala, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Peek, JD and Michelle Sailing, Brian and Spring Doiron and Brandon Bennett and Kyla Meacham. May all of you enjoy your special days to the fullest!

GRANGE BREAKFAST--Once again, it will be breakfast time at the Skamokawa Grange Hall this Thursday from 10 until Noon. There is currently a post up on Facebook for those of you who shop online and with Amazon and would like to help donate to this “free” breakfast by ordering through them. Or, if you’re like me and don’t do any online shopping and have never personally used Amazon, there’s always a way to donate; bring cash to the breakfast and give it to Season Long and let her go shopping for what she needs. Of course, you could go to a larger grocery outlet type store and find those big containers of hot cocoa or those huge packs of paper plates or those large cans of country gravy and large packs of paper towels and drop them off. Any and all help would be appreciated.

BIGFOOT BOOGIE--On Saturday, Feb. 25, you can head back to the Skamokawa Grange Hall and take part in the new “exercise with music” event that’s happening there from 3 to 4:30 p.m., with their “Bigfoot Boogie” routine. All this means is that you can dance alone in your socks and get some exercise while having some fun too! This will take place on the fourth Friday of each month through May. There is a small fee involved but you can contact Aurora for more info at: althea.pnw@gmail.com. All proceeds will go towards the Grange for building maintenance and upgrades.

THIS SUNDAY--The very next day, Feb. 26, there will be more music at the Skamokawa Grange, when the February Acoustic Song Circle will take place at 4 p.m. This is where folks like to gather in a circle and play their instrument and sing and play their favorite tunes. Of course, if you don’t play an instrument but want to just come and listen in, you are most welcome to do that too. They might even let you sing along to one of their tunes! As always, the coffee is always on and donations to the Grange are always welcomed.

LASAGNA DINNER--The Fair Foundation will host a lasagna dinner at the Rosburg Hall on March 5 from noon until 3 p.m. that Sunday. The cost of the dinner is by donations, and there will be a silent aucion as well as a bake sale, so head that way to free yourself up from cooking that day and help the fair as well.

MARCH 10–12--That next week will be when the Friends of Skamokawa will reopen Redmen Hall with their Antique and Vintage Sale, so you’ll want to be sure to check that out. If you’d like to be a vendor, or have some things you’d like to sell, be sure and give them a call at 360-795-3007.

On March 11, the fairgrounds will hold their usual monthly Flea Market from 9 to 3.

Also on March 11, the Norse Hall will hold their monthly bingo games, so it’s going to be a busy weekend.

GERMAN CLUB EVENTS--The students in the German Club will hold a couple of fundraising events next month at Wahkiakum High School, so we hope you can support them as they are raising money for their trip to Germany this year; how exciting! At any rate, they will hold a bingo night on March 11 and then they’ll have a rummage sale on March 18 &19. I have yet to hear about the hours of these events but I do know they are looking for good items for their sale and also some items to give away for their bingo prizes. If you can help, I’d contact the school and they can point you in the right direction. More info as the events get closer.

Please remember, when holding fundraising events, it’s never too early to mention holding them and the earlier and more often they get advertised, the more successful they are bound to be!

MARCH 25--There will be a big fundraising event that evening for the ‘Smoke on the Water Music Fest' to be held over Labor Day in September. There will be a “Game Show Night” with door prizes, raffles for games and other big prizes so it should be fun. The dinner will be held at 5 p.m. with the games beginning at 6 p.m. The entry fee ticket is $25 and is available at the Duck Inn with the dinner menu being pulled pork sandwiches with two sides and dessert. More on this to come but it sounds like a fun evening, so mark that down on your calendars!

Those in charge of the music fest are looking for vendors for that 13 band Labor Day weekend extravaganza, so if you’d like to participate in this first of a kind event in our area, or need more info about it, contact Tracey Mccallum via text at 253-350-1582 or email at jbtm091589@gmail.com.

STILL PLAYING--Former WHS student and one of those “teacher's kids,” Stoney Anketell, is still playing tennis after all these years. He recently met with his pals, Tim Carr and Jon Hermanson at the Seattle Tennis Club so they could whack the ball around the courts for awhile. It seems Tim and Will Maloney put together this group of tennis players for a fun time and friendly competition among old friends, so it sounds like they had a really great time.

I keep thinking of Stoney as a little boy when he and my little brother, Marshall Pedersen and Jeff Hedlund and I, used to go down to the Lloyd Center on Saturday mornings with his Dad, my English teacher, Mr. Anketell, and take ice skating lessons. Yep, those were the good ole days when we were cruising along the freeway in that old black and white Buick and enjoying lingonberry pancakes at the International House of Pancakes restaurant when we got done with our lessons!

MACE REUNION--My fellow classmate, Sherrolin Mace Powell, wants to remind all those in the Mace family that they will hold their big Mace Family Reunion on July 7 through 9 at Skamokawa Vista Park this year. If you want to stay the whole time at the park, you’ll need to make your reservation ASAP, although she says there are a few spots reserved in Larry’s name but be sure to check with her or other family members as to their availability. You could also call the park at 360-795-8605. I hope they have good weather as well as a good turnout for their family gathering, and I hope to pop in and say “hello” to her as well!

However, as a sad side note, we offer our condolences to the family as one of their cousins passed away on January 22, so we were sorry to hear of their loss. Jeannine Schubert passed away peacefully in Carolton, Texas where she had recently moved to be with her daughter. Sherrolin said she often babysat her and her brothers, Tim and Terry. Again, our sympathies to the family.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1948, there was a lot of rain and wind and coldness but there were two decent days, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. The smelt were running and Krist Pedersen brought the Everests a big batch full. However, the big news in the Longview paper featured a batch of smelt dippers in the Cowlitz River and it said that the very first box dipped out of the Cowlitz was going to be headed to President Harry Truman. The Cowlitz County eulachon princesses were holding the box while the Kelso Booster Club members and some Kelso Police officers helped fill it. A record smelt run was being predicted.

Dr. and Mrs. L.G. Measor of Everett were visiting the area and a party was given in their honor by a host of their friends. Ray Mooers acted as the mastor of ceremonies at the potluck dinner, and presented the new bride with a “lovely 1900 trousseau.” Lots of fun and laughter ensued, but a really lovely silver pitcher was given to the couple after all the “fun” gifts were given. Afterwards, dancing was enjoyed by the group as Ernie Grunstad of Skamokawa played the accordion.

This according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diary.