News Flash – April 2011

Do you have an event or local activity or community service project to announce? Send it to us for printing in our “NEWSFLASH” section!
eMail: editor@valleybugler.com
or mail to 705 Vandercook Way, LV

PETER PAN, presented by Longview Stageworks!  April 29, 30, & May 1 @ 7:00pm and Sunday at 2pm.
You had better purchase these tickets early, for Longview Stageworks is bringing the local production of “Peter Pan” to life right on the stage of the Columbia Theatre this April!
Come see Peter and the Lost Boys take on Captain Hook and his motley crew of pirates! Complete with flying magic and crocodiles that “tick tock”, you will want to grab the whole family and experience Pan like you never have before!
Ticket Prices $20 – $35
Columbia Theatre (360)575-8499
or online: longviewstageworks.org

Lower Columbia College Scholarship
Applications for Next Year Due April 29
Lower Columbia College is accepting scholarship applications through Friday, April 29 for the 2011-2012 academic year. LCC awards hundreds of scholarships every year, totaling about $250,000. The application instructions and online application, which covers all LCC scholarships, are online at lowercolumbia.edu/scholarships.
As they complete the electronic application, the system will match students to scholarships, based on the information they enter and the scholarship criteria in the system. If you have questions about scholarships or the process, please contact the LCC Foundation at foundation@lowercolumbia.edu

Cowlitz Business Expo Thanks you!
Thank you sponsors and exhibitors of the Cowlitz County Regional Business Expo 2011!
Cruise to Success AGAIN in 2012!
Go online and visit www.cowlitzcountybizexpo.com and stay updated.

Genealogy Course offered in Toledo
A genealogy Course will be offered through the Toledo Senior Center starting Monday, March 14th   10:00 – 12 noon.  The course will last 7 weeks.
This will be a comprehensive and thorough study for the beginner as well as the intermediate.  Guest speakers, and visits to the Lewis County Historical Museum, the Cowlitz County Museum and the Veteran’s Memorial are scheduled.  Heritage Quest Library of Sumner, Washington will give a presentation on Foreign Research along with numerous materials available to purchase.  For information to register, please contact Liz Hicker at 1-360-295-3882”

CPR CLASS
Elder Options is offering a CPR class on Tuesday, April 12, 12:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. This 4-hour class covers the new American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers.  The class also covers adult, child/infant CPR with automatic external defibrillation (AED), 1 and 2 person rescue, and adult, child/infant choking. Upon completing the class, students will receive a two-year certification ID card. Class size is limited so call early to reserve your seat by calling (360) 636-1000 or (800) 608-2388.  Elder Options is located at 872 15th Avenue, Longview, across the street from St. John Medical Center.

Call for Vendors: Ryderwood Spring Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair
Artists, crafters and vendors of small antiques and fine collectibles are invited to participate in Ryderwood’s Spring 2011 Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair on Friday, May 13 & Saturday, May 14. Ryderwood’s biannual shows historically offer a variety of vendors and enthusiastic customers. The Ryderwood Women’s Club provides excellent advertising and signage and each six-foot space is only $20 for the 2-day event. Please contact Marty at 360-295-0096 for more information and registration forms. Dealers should not inquire.

3rd Annual Spring Fling – Kelso Downtown Revitalization sponsored Flea Market. Saturday June 18th from 10am – 4pm. Limited Booth spaces available, fees only $15 for a 10×10 space. eMail: fringe9@msn.com for more information and entry form. Call Mike @ 636-3000, Robin @ 423-4816 or Joyce @ 425-4451

75th Anniversary of the “Lone Yew Sewing Club” on April 2nd, 2011 from 1pm – 3pm. Refreshments will be served at the Cowlitz Prairie Grange at 5180 Jackson Highway in Toledo, WA. Please RSVP to Sandy Miller (360)864-2229

Tired of that drab wood paneling? Yes – you CAN paint it!

Begin at the home improvement store by buying the best paint you can afford. It will go on easier, cover the surface better and last longer. Skip the oil-based paint and buy acrylic or latex in a satin or eggshell finish.
For paneling, don’t try to fill the grooves between panels. They will show up anyway. Do wash the walls down with deglosser. You might have to wash it twice in rooms where people have been smoking.
To paint over laminate or very shiny surfaces, rough up the surface with sand paper, then apply a primer designed for slippery surfaces.
When painting over any dark-colored wall, first use a primer that is approximately the color you will use next. Let the primer dry overnight before applying the paint.
If you don’t use a primer designed to cover dark colors, the dark color could distort the color of your finishing paint. For a very dark wall, it could take two or three coats of paint.
You can even paint over wallpaper. But because painted-over wallpaper is even more difficult to remove, it is best to remove the old wallpaper first. If you chose to paint over it anyway, remove the paper in any spots where it is loose, Sand the edges to make them smooth, then apply a coat of primer.
In case you wondered, you absolutely cannot paint your kitchen stove. Paint is flammable and it could cause a fire. You can buy appliance paint and paint your refrigerator or dishwasher, though! Use deglosser first to remove any trace of grease or appliance polish.
Editor’s Note: Can’t wait to try it!

New tile floor gives a dated bathroom a modern look

The bathroom is the most-used room in the house. With high traffic and high moisture, the floor begins to show its age after ten or 15 years.
One good thing about replacing it is that the room is small. That means you can choose high-quality materials and not have a huge amount of money or a great deal of time invested.
Here’s some advice from Lowe’s, the home improvement store:
Tile comes in ceramic, porcelain, stone, and mosaic. Any of these choices will give you a great range of possibilities for color, style, and pattern.
Ceramic comes in many colors and shapes that make it easy to create patterns and features, such as a border or center medallion.
Porcelain is a denser tile and offers superior resistance to mold and stains. Stone-look porcelain looks very much like real stone.
Natural Stone is available in marble, granite, limestone and slate. It’s more expensive but has an outstanding appearance and comes in many colors.
When considering tile, leaf through design books and home magazines. Your personal preferences will narrow your choices.
You might decide to take the project a step farther with a new tub surround or elegant tile wainscote.
If you have the time and skill, you could install the new floor yourself. First remove the old floor down to the subflooring. Then screw down sheets of cement-fiber tilebacker to create a solid underlayment.
Lay out tiles along the room’s center lines, and cut the tiles to fit up to the walls. Then spread adhesive with a notched trowel and press the tile into place. The next day, mix grout and spread it into the gaps.
Too much work and worry? Professional installation costs more but could produce a more perfect job.

March is Red Cross Month!

Above: 72 DEGREES Air Conditioning & Heating Sponsors American Red Cross Blood Donor Day on January 27th, 2011. A total of 31 units of blood were donated that day, at the National Guard Armory! Pictured in photo from left to right: Doug Clay, Bettie, Edwina Clay. Doug and Edwina Clay are the owners of 72 DEGREES Air Conditioning and Heating in Longview, WA

Vegetarian & Vegan Potluck

Friday March 18th
7pm @ Payton’s Produce
1132 Washington Way, Longview WA 98632
Guest speaker, Mike McKee of Willow Grove Gardens will be talking about organic farming and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about enjoying a plant-based diet.
For the potluck, please bring a vegetarian (plant-based with dairy or egg) or vegan (plant-based with no animal products, including honey) main dish, salad or dessert: a card listing its ingredients and plates and utensils for your own use.
This is a great time to learn more about eating healthy. For those who bring a dish, if you come alone – figure the amount of your potluck dish to serve 4-6 people. This is an alcohol-free event.
Please RSVP to kaydebbie25@yahoo.com and you may call Debbie at (360)431-4182 and ask questions.
A donation of $2-5 per person is suggested to help cover the extra expenses.

You know you are a dog person if…

•Nobody’s feet are allowed on the furniture, but your dogs are welcome to sleep on any piece they so choose
•It takes an entirely separate garbage can to handle the poop
•All kinds of things around the house are in need of repair, but the injured dog you rescued by the side of the road requires immediate surgery and out comes the checkbook
•You and your family haven’t had your annual check up in two years, but the dogs are all medically up to date
•You start barking at your children to “Sit! Stay!”
•You’re more concerned with the dogs’ needs than your own when the budget gets tight
•At least three of your five weeks vacation are scheduled around grooming, vaccinations and dental cleaning…all for the dogs!
•Dog crates double as chairs and/or tables in your family room
•You can only remember people by associating them with their dog
•Your mom calls and asks how the granddogs are
•Your trunk has an emergency food kit for any strays you might come across
•Your cookie jar has never seen the likes of people cookies

Naturopath Doctor gives free presentation in Longview

Vancouver Licensed Naturopath Physician, Dr. Cynthia Bye, will present “Journey to Wellness” concerning Cancer Prevention.
“Prevention has a 100% Cure Rate” is the theme, and will be presented at Canterbury Inn in Longview.
WHEN: Thursday, March 31st 7pm
WHERE: Canterbury Inn
1324 – 3rd Avenue, LV
WHO: Those interested in reducing risk factors for cancer
Dr. Bye will discuss naturopathic medicine, preventative proactive medicine versus Reactive medicine, common threads seen in cancer patients and review of things that can reduce your risk factors.
Questions? You can call the sponsor of this complimentary presentation, Brenda Courser at (360)425-6962
or eMail: bcourser@msn.com
This is a complimentary presentation, but donations will be accepted for the 2011 Relay for Life and the 2011 Bark for Life.
Thank you, and we hope to see you at this informational lecture!

Eagle’s Eye – The Shrine

By Bill Eagle, Columnist

I like to walk daily. On my walks, I visit with neighbors, wave to other walkers/joggers, and pet animals. I notice things around me, and will often see day-to-day changes. One thing that caught my interest was a power pole.
On the power pole was tacked a faded plasticized picture of a handsome young man. Lettered underneath the picture was the young man’s name and the inscription “ In Loving Memory, Feb 16, 1987 – October 31, 2006.” At the base of the power pole were some flowers in a vase.
I continued walking.
From time to time things would change. The flowers died and were replaced.
Every day that I walked that route, I would look at the picture and the mementos at the power pole base. I thought to myself that this was a young man, not yet 19, who’s life probably ended someplace close to this spot.
Fall arrived and sitting next to the flowers was a small beautifully carved pumpkin, with an unlit candle inside. A snickers bar sat next to the pumpkin.
Someone had to be stopping by, and placing things by the pole.
Christmas season, and the cut flowers were replaced with artificial flowers and a tiny plastic tree. A new picture replaced the old one.
I continued to ask people about the shrine at the base of the power pole, most people expressed ignorance.
No so, my friend Lynn. Lynn is a former teacher and is actively involved with youth. She immediately knew about the shrine.
“He was a very handsome boy and he had a lot of potential,” said Lynn. “He attended the alternative school.”
“What happened to him?” I asked.
“He was partying with friends, and had too much to drink. He was traveling way too fast. His car became airborne and crashed.”
“His parents must have loved him.”
“Everyone loved him, “said Lynn. “He was brilliant. He had a future, and now he’s dead.”
I shook my head. “What a waste.”
“He’s not the only one on that road,” interjected Lynn.
“No?”
Lynn replied. “I’m a member of MADD; Mothers against Drunk Driving. Many deaths, particularly those of young people could have been avoided.
People do dumb things, and it’s really dumb to drink and drive. Keep your eyes open. You’ll notice that there are other shrines along that road. A lot of young and older people have died there. People with potential, people who could have helped others and made our world better. …Such a waste.”
I like to walk daily, and in my walks I have noticed that there are (as Lynn pointed out to me) other shrines, and crosses.
I think about these people and the lives that they have lived, and the lives that they could have lived.
At times I have felt compelled to buy flowers and leave them on a shrine. Somehow I know that it is a meaningless act. I feel helpless when I think about it.
Do you think there might be some way for us to call attention to these deaths, a way that might be able to help others? I do wonder.
M.A.D.D. is an organization that promotes awareness of drunk driving, and the impact that it has on the world around us, especially in young teen lives. Here is the mission statement, taken from their web site: http://madd.org
“The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.”  To date, MADD’s work has saved nearly 300,000 lives…and counting.
Candy Lightner founded MADD in 1980 after her daughter, Cari, was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender. Cindy Lamb—whose daughter, Laura, became the nation’s youngest quadriplegic at the hands of a drunk driver—soon joined Candy in her crusade to save lives.
Don’t drink and drive.

Spring cleaning: time to flush the gutters!

You really have to do it before the spring rains come. Just make time, get your mind in the gutters, and clean them.  ☺
One reason you want to get the stuff out of them is to make sure rainwater flows away from the house. In a cold climate, it could break your home’s foundation when it freezes.
Another reason to do it now: If the gutters are clogged, rainwater will spill over and rot the fascia board, the soffits, and the plywood under the roof. It could cause a wall or ceiling to crack.
The most important factor in the project is safety. You might not like the idea of moving the ladder every few feet, but getting up on the roof to do the cleanout is a lot more dangerous. If you don’t have a ladder that’s high enough, one can be rented.
On a single-story house, you might chance going up on the roof but only if it doesn’t have a steep pitch and you have shoes with good traction.
Place the ladder on a secure base. Put it against the house, not the gutter, which can break loose.
Get a helper to hold the ladder and climb up until you can look down into the gutter. Be careful to avoid any power or electrical lines. Use glove-covered hands to scoop out the muck or use a garden trowel to clear horizontal run areas. You can empty the leaves into a plastic bag or bucket or fling them down onto a tarp.
Clean the downspouts so water has a place to go. Scoop stuff out of the top, then run water down the hole. Water pressure will remove almost anything. If necessary, remove the clog with a wire hanger or a broomstick.
Run a hose along the gutters to remove anything you missed.
Spring home maintenance
* Patch peeling paint. Look for cracking or flaking paint on the exterior of your home. Scrape off the area, then prime and paint it with two coats. Small touchups will push back the day when you need a full paint job.
* Renew your lawn. Fertilize and patch bare spots, or throw in seed before vigorous growth months come around. * Clean the chimney. If you used your fireplace very much over winter, cleaning will prevent chimney fires and alert you to problems, such as a cracked flue, which has to be corrected before next winter. You could pay less in spring or get better service now than in fall.
* Change filters in the air conditioning unit. If filters aren’t clean, the unit will use more electricity to cool the house.

NEWSFLASH – March 2011

Do you have an event or local activity or community service project to announce? Send it to us for printing in our “NEWSFLASH” section!
eMail: editor@valleybugler.com
or mail to 705 Vandercook Way, LV

Print Arts Northwest
30th Anniversary All-Member Show
February 17th – March 11
Located at the Rose Center for the Arts, Lower Columbia College, 15th & Washington Way in Longview, WA
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 10 – 4pm
Wednesday, Thursday: 10 – 7pm
This 30th Anniversary special show is free and open to the public.

Savvy Shopper Resale Expo coming to Longview!
April 29th – May 2nd
Longview Armory 819 Vandercook Way, Longview WA
Free admission & parking!
The Coupon Savvy will be hosting a Children’s and Family resale Expo April 29th – May 2nd. Savvy Shopper Resale is a children’s and family consignment event that will take place twice a year!
It’s easy to make extra cash by cleaning out your closets. Consignors make 60% of their sales and get to shop before the public at our pre-sale. You choose and price your own items and drop them off at a designated time and Savvy Shopper Resale does the rest.
For more info and to become a consignor visit www.Savvyshopperresale.com or email couponsavvy@comcast.net

4th Tuesday Topics
“Your Health by the Numbers”
Nancy Lundquist, retired Nurse Practitioner, will speak and teach on what our “numbers” mean and help give a better understanding of what is healthy and what isn’t. For example, cholesterol and blood pressure, etc.
Tuesday, March 22nd @ 5:30pm
Teaching to be held at Longview Presbyterian Church, located at 3808 Pennsylvania Street.
Refreshments to follow – so please bring a friend!

TRIVIA NIGHT
A graduation fundraiser presented by the parents of Rainier Class 2011.
Saturday March 12th
8:00pm
Rainier High School Commons
$10.00 per player
Enjoy an evening of fun, laughter and light hearted competition with each other! Teams of six players each compete by answering Trivia questions, with prizes awarded to first and last place. The evening will also include:
Split the Pot Quarterly Flip (Bring in $2 of quarters)
Silent Dessert Auction
Raffle Baskets (Tickets are $1 or 6 for $5)
Reserve your team spot now! You can register until March 4th with Lisa Skeans at (503)556-4215 x260 or Teresa Gollihugh at (503)438-5577
Or – just show up and enjoy the evening!

Castle Rock Fair has chosen their theme for the comingyear. It is A Family A”Fair. The fair is July 14-16. All of the big entertainment has been signed for the fair.
On Thursday and Friday will be the Just Cuz’ Singers from Chehalis. The singers are all cousins. Of course the lip sync contest on Friday night and then on Saturday will be Alex the Great magic show and in the evening will be singr Tom Ford.

Local Audubon Society:
Sunday, March 13:  We will once again visit local birding hot spots.  The specific locations will be determined closer to the outing date.  The field trip will include some walking.  We will start at 8:00 AM with a planned completion of noonish.  Many of our attending members are long standing Birders so new people welcomed. Space will be relatively limited so reserve your spot by calling (360-575-9238) or emailing John Green:
jgreen2317@aol.com

Castle Rock’s “GOT TALENT?” Show
Castle Rock United Methodist Church is sponsoring it’s 2nd annual “Got Talent?” show.  Talent is a wide variety of things.  Do you have a poem to read, a story to read, do you have quilts to show, can you juggle or cup stack?  Do you speak a foreign language, do you tell (church appropriate) jokes?  Do you sing, or play an instrument?   We welcome a call from you to register.  274-7664 ( Linda)  or 274 4252 at the church.
Oh, and by the way, if you aren’t into “showing off”,  why not “show up” and be a great audience member!  Saturday, March 12,  6:00 at the Castle Rock United Methodist Church  241 First Ave. S.W.  The show is free,  there will be a basket to donate to our mission trip if you can and want to.  See you there!

“Biggest Loser” contest results:
Forever Fit, Gym in Longview announces their “Biggest Loser” contest results!
1st: Ryan Yanez lost .11% body fat!
2nd: Kevin Farley lost .09% body fat!
3rd: Kristina Arquette lost .07% !
4th: Mandy Tathum lost .06% !
And the team called “4 Little Pigs” placed first!
Congratulations everybody, and here’s to a great year of exercising and maintaining optimal health!

Toutle Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars #10882 and Ladies Auxiliary will meet Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. at their Post Home, 101 Hanson Road in Toutle.
There will be a pot-luck dinner at 6 p.m. prior to the meeting. Theme for dinner will be St. Patrick’s Day.
The Ladies Auxiliary will begin their ‘Attendance Drawing’ at this meeting. An Auxiliary member’s name will be drawn and if that member is in attendance she will receive $10, if not, the prize will raise $5 each month until a member whose name is drawn is attending.
For further information contact Auxiliary President Nikki Benjamin at 274-6352 or nikkiauxwa@comcast.net
Lower Columbia Genealogy Society will meet the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.  At Somerset Retirement Apartments, 2025 Tibbets Way, Longview.  A program on a genealogy subject will be presented at each meeting.
The Public is invited. More information is available at www.rootsweb.com/~walcolgs or email:
locoges472@yahoo.com

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners announces vacancies and/or expiring terms.
Stormwater Advisory Committee
Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board
Rural Partial County Library District Trustee
Public Health Advisory Committee
Mosquito Control Board
Building & Planning Advisory Council
Yale Valley Library District Trustee
Park & Recreation Advisory Committee
Boundary Review Board
Food Advisory Committee
Regional Support Network Advisory Board
Substance Abuse Advisory Board
Applications and information are available through the Cowlitz County Commissioners’ Office by calling: Vickie Musgrove, Clerk of the Board, 577-3020 Or on the Cowlitz County Web Page – “What’s New” www.co.cowlitz.wa.us
Applications due by March 4, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Interviews may be held at the Board’s discretion.

Have a service organization that isn’t listed on p.6? Please eMail the editor: editor@valleybugler.com
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