NICE/HOT/COOL--We've had quite a variety in weather lately, as one day it was just perfect to me; mild temps and easy to work outside, but then the following day we were at 92 degrees at my house; too hot! Sunday morning we were a bit damp in West Valley, so my boots didn’t get soaked but they weren’t dry either! The forecast changes from day to day and from town to town, but supposedly we should be a bit cloudy with no rain until the weekend; we’ll see!

THURSDAY--If you’re one of those that gets this paper early on Thursdays, don’t forget that you’re welcome to come to the Skamokawa Grange Hall at 18 Fairgrounds Road from 10 a.m. until noon and enjoy a free community breakfast, or just enjoy a cup of coffee with your neighbors. It’s also a place where kids can come together or you can get a massage, so come on down and check it out. Donations are definitely appreciated to help defray the cost, or if you can donate a can of coffee or some paper plates, etc., or even bring a treat to share, that would be wonderful. If you’re short on funds, don’t worry, come on down anyway.

THIS SUNDAY--On May 7, from 11:30 to 1:30, you can take Mom out for an early Mother’s Day dinner as the Rosburg Hall is the place to be for their annual chicken dinner with all the fixings to go with it, including a salad bar and dessert. They also have great pies!

MOTHER’S DAY--Another quick reminder that Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, so watch for the specials around our local area. As always, they appreciate your support, as they always try to make their dinners something special that day.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from May 4-10 are Conner Emlen-Petterson, Lori Parke, Tami Bosch, Kerry Brown, Rosalie Webb, Maria Snow, Rosie DeBriae, Megan Leitz, Navarre Stewart, Ashleigh Montgomery, Stephanie Moonen, Nick Deal, Nicholas LaBerge, Trevor Gorley, Denise Peek, Dave Hendrickson, Josh Phelps, Beau J. Silflow, Ryan Lorenzo, Sawyer Peek, Ashlenn Coleman, Parker Rusk, Everly Zickefoose, Mercedes Pedersen Wilder, Nicole Coleman and Austin Good. Happy Birthday, everybody!

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are John and Sharon Buennagel, Kerry and Susan Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Treasure Collupy, Gary and Sandie York and Mr. and Mrs. Monte Robinson. Here’s hoping all of you have fantastic wedding anniversary celebrations.

SALE/CORRECTION--I just wanted to correct a mistake my fingers made in listing a phone number for a contact if you’d like to donate something to the Puget Island Fire Auxiliary group for the upcoming PIGYS sale at the end of June. Sherril Bollen’s phone number should have read 360-951-3985. You can call either Sherrill or Liz (360-200-2247) if you have some things that you’d like to donate so they can raise money for their future good works for our community. If you are able to drop things off, they could arrange to meet you at the hall, or if you need them picked up, they could do that too.

They will be selling things on Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24 only.

PIGYS LEADER--If you want to take part in the Puget Island Garage and Yard Sale and get on the map that the organizers put out each year for a small fee, contact Sandie York at 360-430-0951. This is a three day event held on the last full weekend in June each year, so this year it will be June 23-25.

HWY CHANGE--In case you missed it, the speed limit on SR 4 near Stella will be reduced to 45 mph as of the beginning of this week due to the high number of recent accidents in that area recently. Please, folks, slow down and stay on your side of the road, which you can do much easier if you keep your eyes on the road and refrain from being a distracted driver.

TIME IS FLYING BY--I wanted to remind everyone about the “Smoke on the Water Music Fest” taking place at our Wahkiakum County fairgrounds over Labor Day weekend in September, which should be a real blast with tons of music by a multitude of country music stars. Check out their Facebook page or their online site, with the name listed above. Book tickets, get deals and be ready for a great time. Having this in our small town is awesome, so come and support it!

SALMON FEED--A new event that you may not have heard about yet, and all fish-lovers will enjoy, is a Salmon Feed at the Norse Hall on Puget Island on May 20 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost of this feed will be $20 per ticket. If you’d like more information and a ticket, contact Mike Backman at 360-431-4421, or you can send him an email at mikebackman@gmail.com. You can also call Phyliss Wesley at 520-414-0024. This will take place on the third Saturday of this month and they hope you’ll help spread the word! Eat fish; it’s good for you!

WILD TRIP--Kerry and Susan Brown recently returned from Grand Rapids, Michigan where they met the newest member to their family, a granddaughter named Finley Ellise, who was born on March 22. The baby girl joins an older sister, Reese who is eight years old, so it looks like they’ve got themselves a babysitter already! We certainly want to send our heartiest congratulations to the proud parents, Brock and Mollie Brown as well as to Kerry and Susan as they all love those grandbabies!

HAPPY CAMPERS--I know some folks who were very happy to see their loved one fly home recently, and that was the wife and daughters of my great nephew, Adam Pedersen, son of former Cathlamet resident and WHS graduate, Mark. Adam had been sent overseas and those dry, desert pictures sure didn’t look all that great to me! Needless to say, when he got home on a recent Friday night, he was mighty thrilled to be able to join his two daughters and his wife for pizza and ice cream night. It was a super nice weekend at their house, so they all got to kick back in their nice green yard and enjoy a relaxing dip in their swimming pool. Needless to say, it made them all very “happy campers” as it’s always good when your military husband/Dad returns home safely!

GOOD NEWS--I mentioned a gal last week, Kelly Fitch, who was looking for a picture of her great grandmother, Edith Denoyer and I’m happy to report that she was able to get that picture. Once again, we’re happy to thank Kari Kandoll for her sleuthing and making this happen.

SEA LION COMPLAINTS?--If you have first hand information about the intrusion and massive amounts of sea lions in our rivers lately, and would like to file a complaint or get your voice heard, here’s a phone number for you to call: Matt Burks 503-730-8439 - NOAA Fisheries. This number was provided by Peter Swartz of the “Management of the sea lions in the Columbia River” Facebook page. You could also give our Senator, Jeff Wilson a call at 360-786-7636 and voice your opposition to the population of sea lions that are decimating our fish population. It makes no sense to continue to purchase land to flood for salmon habitat, only to have them eaten by their protected predators! They are not endangered, the fish are; call today!

SYMPATHIES--I want to send my sincerest sympathies to former Eagle employee, Sunny Manary, as she told her friends that her husband, Doug had passed away this last week. We were very shocked to hear this news and with the couple having spent the last 25 years together, it was certainly devastating for Sunny. Our sympathies go to all of Doug's friends and family as well.

Through Susan Kuhn and her Mule Train All School, FB page, I also learned of the passing of WA-KI-HI 1981 graduate Becky Bonny this past week. According to her post, she got word from Lisa Bonny Davenport-Walker that her sister, Becky had passed away and that there would be a service at Skamokawa Vista Park at some point. Again, our sympathies to all of Becky’s family and friends.

PROUD MAMA--I am happy to share some good news about one of our Skamokawa gals, as her Mom, Becky is just as proud as can be and just had to share some special news about her lovely daughter, Valle Ledtke. Valle has been working as a distributor for a company called “SeneGence” which is a skin care and makeup company and every month they nominate a worker who they feel empowers others and promotes success and growth and is just an outstanding person in their ability to re-energize others, and Valle was given that award by her peers for one month; nice! That in itself is totally awesome, but wait, it gets better! You see, from those 12 gals, one of them is chosen to be named the “Annual Ms. SeneSynergy,” as a person who has gone above and beyond the call of generosity, and in a big flashy ceremony on a stage in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Miss Valle Mae Ledtke was chosen to win this prestigious honor! Congratulations Valle, you did your folks proud, and all of us here in Skamokawa too!

SAD TIME--I was certainly saddened by the front page news last week regarding Rick’s declining health and his having to say good-bye to this paper and to all of us; it truly seems surreal. I want to thank him publicly for hiring me all those years ago and joining his staff which has allowed me to get paid for talking. I’ve really enjoyed it. Sometimes life is just so unfair. I truly don’t want to say goodbye to my boss, my friend, of almost 29 years so I won’t. Onward it is, but with a very heavy heart.