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.”

Our County has been in the process of updating the Wahkiakum Shoreline Master Program, and we encourage agricultural, fishing and tourist industry folks to stay involved, provide input and guidance,  and find out how this law may affect your community.

Follow this link to the County documents

Wahkiakum Shoreline Master Program

From the Final Draft SMP:

“Public  participation  is  important  because it ensures  that  local  knowledge  and  values  form  a basis  for  SMP  policies  and  regulations.  The  Shoreline  Master  Program  public  participation process is ongoing.  A public participation plan completed in the early stages of the SMP update process guides public participation opportunities during the SMP update.”

“Public hearings for formal consideration by Town and County Planning Commissions and adoption by legislative bodies are anticipated in spring 2016.

Wahkiakum County’s and Town of Cathlamet’s home internet pages provide links to SMP planning documents, to notices of public meetings and meeting materials. Public meetings are also advertised in the Wahkiakum County Eagle.”

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Grange Meeting Tuesday, March 22

Exemplification of the 1st Degree — 7:30

Dinner 6:45

Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday March 8, 6:00 pm at Johnson Park. To discuss the future of Grays River Valley Center & recruit members/volunteers.

Saturday, February 27th at the River Life Interpretive Center-

Featuring two excellent local speakers. These two great programs are sure to inform and inspire!

At 1:00 pm, Andrew Emlen will present Birds of the Lower Columbia River. Co-sponsored by the Willapa Hills Audubon Society (WHAS) and Friends of Skamokawa, this program will feature life histories of a number of Lower Columbia River birds and special stories of these birds in connection to the Columbia.

At 3:00 pm, Keith Hoofnagle will be here for a Book signing celebrating the very special 50th Anniversary re-issue of “The Story of Linda Lookout”!

Follow this link for further details;

River Life Interpretive Center