Westside Stories

Over the past couple of months, I’ve found myself looking forward to Fridays in a way I haven’t before. Writing about the vendors at the West Wahkiakum Farmers Market has been such a joy. I’ve not only gotten to know the people behind the booths, but I’ve also been able to share their stories with all of you. Judging by the responses I’ve received, many of you have enjoyed it too.

Someone has told me more than once, “I’ve known that person for years but I never knew that about them.” That’s precisely why I love this kind of writing. We pass each other in the grocery store, wave while driving down the road, or chat briefly at community events. However, our conversations often stay on the surface. We think we know who someone is because of what we see but, beneath the surface, there’s always more. There’s more history, more layers, and more humanity.

I think most of us want to be seen, not just for what we do or how we appear, but for who we really are. That’s the hope I carry with me in writing these pieces: to take a step beyond the surface and introduce neighbors to one another in a more meaningful way. I plan to keep doing it. Whether someone has lived here their whole life or just moved in last year, every person carries a story worth sharing.

This Friday will be the last chance this season to gather at the market. The co-organizers, Jamie VanBuhler and Carillon Nicol, have gone above and beyond to make sure it ends with a flourish. There will be a raffle full of great prizes and a silent auction, the centerpiece of which is a giant basket filled with donations from all the vendors. It’s their way of thanking the community for showing up, week after week, to support them. The market runs from 1 to 4 p.m. If you want a chance at those raffle prizes, be sure to be there by 3 p.m.

As the market winds down, the fall calendar is winding up. The 18th Annual 4-H Covered Bridge Dinner, scheduled for Oct. 4 at 4:30 p.m., is just around the corner. Tickets sold out in a flash, as they always do. I was lucky to get three of the last five left at the WSU Extension office, sliding in just under the wire. The popularity of that dinner says something about our community. People aren’t just showing up for a meal; they’re showing up for tradition, for connection, for the feeling of being part of something that stretches back nearly two decades.

Rosburg Hall is also doing its part to keep October lively. On Oct. 11, Bingo Night will open its doors at 5:30 p.m., with games starting at 6 p.m. If you’ve never been, it’s not just about numbers and cards; it’s about laughter, the occasional groan when someone else calls out bingo, and the shared spirit of an evening spent together. Then, on Oct. 25, the annual Holiday Bazaar will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hall will be packed with vendors, handmade goods, and neighbors chatting in every corner. A chicken lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. because, let’s be honest, events like this are as much about the food as they are about the shopping.

The Grays River Grange is adding its own flavor to the season with two events. On Oct. 9, from 5 to 8 p.m., they’ll host their Fall Barter Night. Along with the usual trading of handmade and homegrown items, there will be apple pressing, a harvest potluck, and a Squash Walk. Imagine a cake walk, but with squash instead of sweets. The Grange will also host its annual Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Gatherings like this give the community a chance to meet the people running in November’s election and ask them questions directly.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Appelo Archives Center will host its Annual Harvest Auction and Champagne Social. With Angela Metcalf stepping in as the new director, this year will have a distinct feel. The event will be held on-site at the Archives Center itself. Additional details will be released soon.

One final update worth mentioning: after a long and often frustrating process, the Naselle Community Center building has been officially sold. The Finnish American Folk Festival board can now focus entirely on the 2026 festival. For those of us who have watched the uncertainty surrounding the building linger, it feels good to see that chapter come to a close. An informational event is scheduled for the end of October, and I’ll provide more details soon. Please also note that all future FAFF meetings will be held at the Appelo Archives Center.

So here we are, turning the page from summer to fall. The farmers' market is winding down, but the community calendar is just starting to fill up. Each of these events, whether it’s a raffle at the market or a potluck at the Grange, reminds me that the heart of this place isn’t in the buildings or the organizations. It’s in the people. The more we take the time to really see one another, the stronger our community becomes.

Westside Happenings

September

26 –West Wahkiakum Farmers Market

at Rosburg Hall, 1 to 4 p.m.

27 –Suomi Hall Flea Market in Astoria,

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

28 –FAFF Meeting at Appelo Archives

Center, 4 p.m.

October

4 – 4-H Covered Bridge Dinner &

Auction, 4:30 p.m.

9 – Fall Barter Night at Grays River

Grange, 5 p.m.

11 –Bingo at Rosburg Hall, doors open at

5:30 p.m., games start at 6 p.m.

14 –Candidate Forum at Grays River

Grange, 6:30 p.m.

18 –Appelo Archive Center Harvest Auction

& Champagne Social

25 –Holiday Bazaar at Rosburg Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chicken lunch at 11:30 a.m. For vendor information, please contact Frieda Footh at 360-465-2574.