Local Grangers held a performance at the Skamokawa Grange on Friday, September 2nd, as a fundraiser for repairs. Featured alongside several local acts was Giants in the Trees, which includes GRG Grange Master Krist Novoselic , Skamokawa Master Ray Prestegard, Skamokawa Secretary Jillian Raye and Brother Erik Friend.  Here’s a series of photos of that performance, shot by GRG Gatekeeper Sol Mertz.

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Congratulations to Grange Brother and longtime Grays River Lecturer Dr. Robert Pyle for his successful book release, Chinook and Chanterelle! These are some pics of the evening, with Grange Brother Ray accompanying. Photography by Sol Mertz, Grays River Gatekeeper.

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Join our local bee expert for her June class!

The Wahkiakum County Planning Commission will hold a  meeting  at 6 p.m.,  at Johnson Park, on May 26th; if you have comments, perspectives or questions regarding the on-going Shoreline Master Program Update, you are encouraged to attend.

The Grays River Grange is seeking volunteers to help with cemetery clean-up, Sunday, May 22nd.

Stop by the Grange Hall for some food at 10:00 a.m. , before we head over to the cemetery.

The tasks includes cleaning up around headstones, picking up old plastic flowers, scrubbing moss off monuments, etc. No big jobs—just some sprucing up for Memorial Day.

Bring weed eaters, safety gear, scrub brushes, buckets, plastic bags wheel barrels, rakes and other garden tools. We are usually done by 2pm.

Help us take care of our community history, while enjoying a day of volunteering with your neighbors!

From the Finn Fest website–

“The theme for this year’s festival is “My Finnish Memories.”  The Washington State Arts Commission considers our festival one of the most authentic folk life festivals in the state. The dates for this years festival lies on July 29th – 31st, and a Golf Tournament will be held on the 28th of July.

       Attendees will enjoy music, dance, exhibits, lectures, films, food demonstrations, kantele and genealogy workshops as well as sample authentic foods from the numerous vendors.  They can participate in the Paavo Nurmi Run/Walk, wife carry contest, and the Nokia phone toss.  Those who love to shop can find many a treasure in the Tori (marketplace). A large photo exhibit focuses on the history of the area and on our treasured ancestors.  Special activities for children are always included.  Sunday the exhibits, the food booths, and the Tori are not open, but there is always a large crowd at the nondenominational worship service on the Rueben Penttila field and for the coffee and pulla served afterwards.

As plans are finalized, the registration forms for the Golf Tournament and the Paavo Nurmi Run/Walk will be available on out website. The daily schedule of events will also be posted when get closer to the festival dates.“

From the Wahkiakum County Eagle:

“According to Carrie Backman, Director, Washington State University Wahkiakum County Extension, Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) has new funding through the state legislature as part of the Washington Coast Restoration Initiative to help local fishermen with value added processing and marketing.

This funding will allow new access to ice and processing tools, as well as workshops on processing and marketing. The MRC is seeking commercial fishermen to guide next steps, including design and location of ice and processing facilities, as well as selection of workshop topics.

There will be a meeting Wednesday, May 4 at the Grays River Grange at 6 p.m., for commercial fishermen interested in working with the MRC on these next steps. All commercial fishermen are invited to attend.”