Westside Stories

Last Saturday's Rosburg Hall Holiday Bazaar was a big win for the Rosburg Community Club. The hall was alive with conversation, the scent of baked goods, and the unmistakable energy of friends and neighbors gathering. Vendors lined the room, their tables overflowing with handmade quilts, pottery, jewelry, knives, and an impressive array of baked goods. Everything from cinnamon rolls and cookies to delicious loaves of sourdough bread was on display.

Many familiar faces from the West Wahkiakum Farmers Market were among the vendors. After spending the summer getting to know their stories and crafts, seeing them again felt a bit like a reunion.

As always, the annual raffle fundraiser was a major draw. Long tables displayed baskets brimming with goodies, a wide variety of donated items, and local treats. Tickets are still available at senior lunches and at the American Legion Breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 8, with the drawing taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 17, during the Christmas senior lunch potluck. You don't have to be present to win, though half the fun is being there when the names are called.

My husband found his own treasure at the bazaar: a beautifully crafted wooden airplane for our grandson. It's small enough to carry on our flight when we visit him next month, though someone joked he might want to tell the TSA it's a "backup plane," just in case the real one has issues.

No event at Rosburg Hall is complete without food prepared by the women of the Rosburg Community Club. The line snaked through the kitchen and into the main hall, with every available table full of hungry attendees. Dessert favorites disappeared early, including Sonja Kruse's famous cream puffs, which are legendary for a reason. If you didn't grab one in the first hour, you were out of luck.

Sunday evening, the Finnish American Folk Festival hosted a community gathering at the Appelo Archive Center, drawing about 25 attendees. Organizers shared updates on the festival's future and invited discussion about how to make the 2026 celebration more inclusive and representative of the broader Lower Columbia region.

The organization's mission goes beyond honoring Finnish heritage. It's about telling a collective story; one that includes the industries, families, and traditions that built this corner of the Pacific Northwest. Partnerships with local museums, historical societies, cemetery associations, and individuals are already forming. If you were unable to attend but have ideas you'd like to share or would like to get involved, please reach out to info@nasellefinnfest.com.

As I moved through these community events, I couldn't help but feel the contrast between the abundance on display and the growing needs at the West End Food Pantry. Each Thursday, I volunteer alongside Diane Hollenbeck and the small, steadfast team, stocking shelves and sorting donations. Over the past few months, the supplies have dwindled dramatically. The strain is real as larger urban food banks struggle to meet their own rising demand. Our small rural pantry feels the squeeze even more acutely.

It's hard not to worry about what winter will bring. With millions of Americans facing the potential loss of crucial benefits, the gap between need and resources will only widen. However, what gives me hope is the way this community steps up.

If you're able to help, the most-needed items right now include canned soups, stews, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, canned proteins like chicken, tuna, beans, shelf-stable milk, pasta and rice. Financial donations are also deeply appreciated, as they allow the volunteers to buy what's most urgently needed.

Many thanks go to Okie's Select Market, Naselle Lutheran Church, and the Cathlamet Community Garden, along with countless individuals who continue to give. Over the summer, the influx of locally grown produce was a bright spot, not just because it filled shelves, but because it reflected the best of what this community stands for: neighbors feeding neighbors.

Westside Happenings

October

31 – Trunk or Treat at the WSP Office, 791 SR4

in Naselle, 3–6 pm.

November

2 – Majority Finn concert at Valley Bible

Church, 4pm.

8 – American Legion Veterans' Breakfast at

Rosburg Hall, 8–11am.

8 – Naselle Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar & Coffee Bar, 10am–2pm.

December

14 – FAFF Christmas Events: Tour of Homes, Deep River Church Concert, Soup Supper,

Bingo, and Christmas Bazaar

21 – 4th Annual Naselle Lighted Christmas

Parade, 4pm. Register at nasellefinnfest.com.

For a list of regular monthly events, please refer to the Wahkiakum Calendar. To add an event to the calendar, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com.