Kids Day Mini Relay Event!

Saturday, October 8th
Three Rivers Mall
10am – 3pm
*A benefit for the American Cancer Society*

You may be young
you may be small,
but believe me
you can do it all.
You have what it takes
to raise the stakes.
So come join us
at the Three Rivers Mall!

Come and play on Saturday, October 8th with us at the Three Rivers Mall, a fundraiser where all proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Bring pictures of loved ones who have lost their battle with cancer, or who are dealing with the disease. We will have having a special ceremony to honor them.
$2 per person or a $10 family
All ages are welcome to celebrate, walk, enjoy crafting, karaoke, face painting, raffle prizes and games.
* Crafting
* Walk
* Music
* Raffle Prizes
* Games
* Facepainting
* Karaoke
* Celebrate!!

Safest treatments for arthritis

Doctors often recommend that patients take an over-the-counter NSAID every day for arthritis pain. Some people wonder which one is the safest for long-term use.
A recent study reported by the Mayo Clinic suggests that naproxin (Aleve and others) is the safest type of commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in terms of heart attack risk.
Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin and others, were at an intermediate level in terms of raising heart attack risk.
But all of these drugs, including naproxen, raised stroke risk.
Appropriate doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) are considered the safest option for pain relief, but many other drugs are also acceptable, according to your circumstances.
The doctors also say non-drug tools can be powerful pain relievers, including physical therapy, counseling, stress management, treatment for depression, physical activity, and therapies such as acupuncture and massage.
Because the incidence of osteoarthritis rises with age beginning about 40, people think their cartilage is just wearing out. But the Arthritis Foundation says that’s not a normal part of aging. What we do to ourselves is the cause.
The degenerative process can be set in motion by an injury and exacerbated by overuse. Exercise, as such, is not the culprit; in fact, it can help to prevent osteoarthritis.
Obesity is one major risk factor for arthritis, and exercise can reduce body weight. By strengthening muscles around the knees, exercise stabilizes the weight-bearing joints and reduces the risk of damaging twists. And specific exercises for strengthening the abdominal and lumbar muscles can pull the spine into better alignment, alleviating back pain.
Dr. Kenneth Cooper of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas says what’s important in avoiding arthritis is to listen to your body. If an exercise is aggravating a problem, do something else. That could mean walking instead of jogging, which is much harder on the knees.

Calling all recipe enthusiasts!

It’s been 3 years since my husband and I moved into the ol’ 21-foot RV here with our 2 big dogs and mouthy girl cat named Dave. It’s been 2 years that I’ve been blogging about our RV life, my recycled container garden and what I cook in the kitchen/galley. I’d like to explain the “what I cook” deal a little further, but give me a sec…
My name is Laurrie Piland and I write Life in an RV.
www.lifeinanarv.blogspot.com
It feels weird to say that. What I cook is NOT typical RV or camping fare. I am cooking my way ‘Around the World in an RV’, seriously, that’s the name of my project. I’m getting ready to prepare a meal from my 54th country, Guatemala, today. I let my blog readers choose which country they would like to see, I cook from one country per week and I prepare each meal on a budget of $20 or less with ingredients that I find around Longview/Kelso…no easy task!
I have no formal cooking training, I’m completely self-taught. This project has taught me quite a lot about different cuisines, spice mixes and world cultures. It has taught me that I can create a plan and stick to it and it’s taught me self-reliance.
I wanted to share a quick Korean-style marinade with you, and, forgive me, but I’ve no formal writing training, either…but you’ll get that idea quickly enough!

Korean Kalbi Marinade
*Use for beef, pork, chicken or shrimp, if that’s your gig!

* 1/2 cup soy sauce
(use low-sodium if you must)
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
(light, dark, who cares!)
* 2 finely chopped scallions
(green onions, around these parts)
* 3 teaspoons sesame oil
* Pinch of red pepper flake
(a pinch is open to interpretation)
* 2 cloves minced garlic

Put all ingredients into a gallon freezer bag – make sure it’s closed or you’ll be cleaning a heap ‘em big mess – and smush (Yes! That’s one of my technical cooking terms!) everything around to combine it. Put in whatever meat you want to use to the bag, seal it again and stick it in the fridge. Now just walk away for at least 6 hours so that the meat can have a bit of privacy with the marinade!! When they are done doing what it is that they do best…GRILL THOSE SUCKERS UP!

**Note: All of your “International Recipes” qualify for an experiment in my RV kitchen, don’t you think? Submit them to us, and we will highlight one reader-submitted recipe each month here in the Valley Bugler, as well as in my blog. Include your “tips and tricks” so I can cook my way into the international cuisine you send my way!
eMail to: editor@valleybugler.com
or Mail to: 705 Vandercook Way
Longview, WA 98632

Golden Dollars

Every time I get paid, I like to go to the bank and get a roll or two of dollar coins.
The people at the bank expect to see me. They usually have coins waiting.
“What do we have here?” I asked. “Andrew Johnson? Cool!”
The coins are fun to have, and fun to spend. They are a bit larger than a quarter and are gold in color.
Small dollar coins have been around since 1979 when the US issued the Susan B. Anthony Dollar. The Susan B. Anthony coins were silver in color and many people confused them with a quarter. They weren’t very popular.
The Sacajawea dollar was first minted in 2000 and is still being minted. They are not silver but gold in color, making them much easier to differentiate from a quarter. The US has minted approximately 1 billion Sacajawea coins since 2000, but not many people ever see them. I am not sure why. My guess is that collectors may be hoarding the coins.
Since 2007, the mint has been issuing presidential dollar coins starting with George Washington. They issue a new president every three months.
I love the presidential coins. I try to always have some in my pocket. I use them in vending machines, parking meters; I give them away as tips and use them to purchase small items in stores. People always seem to brighten when I hand them one. Sometimes people don’t even realize that these small dollar coins are still in circulation.
I bought a cup of coffee the other day and paid my $2.00 bill with four golden Andrew Johnson dollars.
“What’s this?” The waitress asked.
“They’re golden dollars.” I answered.
The waitress brightened. “Really? My daughter would love to have them.”
She reached into her apron, dug into her tip money and pulled out a couple of her own dollars to replace the golden dollars that would normally have ended up in the cash register.
I saw this as an opportunity to fill her in on trivial facts about this President.
“Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States.” I burbled.
“He is listed as a Democrat. He actually ran with Lincoln, not as a Democrat but as a member of the Union Party (Lincoln also ran as a Union Party Candidate instead of a Republican).
Johnson came from a very poor family. When he was very young his mother bound him to a tailor in South Carolina. As a tailor’s apprentice, he was essentially a slave. Johnson stayed as an apprentice until he was 16 or 17. In order to get out of his “apprenticeship,” he had to run away to his brother’s home in Greenville Tennessee.
The Tailor who held his contract, tried to use legal means to get him back, but couldn’t. After being in Tennessee for a year he married the 16-year-old daughter of a shoemaker. Up until this time Johnson was self taught and basically illiterate. His new wife taught him arithmetic, basic algebra and how to write.
I could see that the waitress had other things to do, so I left her with this parting shot: “President Johnson was the first President ever to be impeached. He was saved only by one vote. He was a good man, and had a good heart, but he was not a very successful President.”
The US mint would like us all to use dollar coins, because they believe that these coins will save our nation money. Paper dollars last less than thirty months. Dollar coins are expected to last thirty years or more. The US mint estimates that they can save the American taxpayer $522 million a year if they would be willing to spend and use dollar coins.
I like the dollar coins. I use them, I learn from them and I have fun with them.
How about you?  They cost only a dollar and you can always get your money back.
Bill Eagle and his beautiful wife, Claudia, live in St. Helens Oregon and enjoy a funny view on life most days. He loves comments! Visit online or send to:
editor@valleybugler.com

Pacific Surgical Institute marks 5th Anniversary

When Pacific Surgical Institute (PSI) opened in summer 2006, the goals were simple – create an environment that was comfortable, convenient, and cost-effective for patients.
During the past five years, the unique medical facility at 625 9th Avenue in Longview has made huge strides toward achieving those goals.
“We wanted to provide alternatives, so that area patients would have the opportunity to make choices about their medical care,” said William Turner, M.D., one of PSI’s managing partners. “We feel very good about what we’ve accomplished.”
PSI houses an outpatient surgery center (Pacific Surgical Center), as well as six other health care providers – Longview Urology, Pacific Imaging Center, Longview Orthopedic Associates, Longview Physical & Sports Therapy Services, Northwest Medical Analytic Laboratory, and Flourish Skin & Laser.
PSI tenants have recorded more than 200,000 patient visits during the past five years.
Turner said that Longview Orthopedic Associates’ expansion to nine providers – seven surgeons, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant – is due in part to having a surgery center and MRI and physical therapy services on-site. In many cases, patients are able to receive related services without leaving the building.
“It’s allowed us to provide better access and coordination of services to our patients,” he said.
Turner had rave reviews for Pacific Surgical Center (PSC), and patients seem to agree. Michele Peterson, nurse manager at PSC, reports that in 2010 and 2011, nearly 98 percent of patients rated their experience at the surgery center as “excellent.”
Turner also noted that with a struggling economy and rising insurance co-payments, patients benefit from the fact that PSC charges much less than hospitals.
PSC is the only ambulatory surgery center in the area that handles orthopedic, urological, gastro-intestinal, ENT, gynecologic, pediatric, and general surgery procedures.
Additional information is available at www.longviewpsi.com.
Above Photo: The grand and beautiful entrance to PSI. Photo by Jim LeMonds

Job Well Done

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays.
These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country.  Here are last year’s winners…..
1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one  of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E.Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.
11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.
16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up

Decorating for fall

It’s fun to build a scarecrow: Here’s how!!

It’s too late to celebrate Build a Scarecrow Day. That was July 5th, but it was for gardeners and farmers. That was also Workaholic’s Day,  so building a scarecrow gave those folks a break.
Your fall scarecrow will be more festive. You can dress it in whatever outfit you like from formal on down, because it doesn’t have to scare birds away. It can stand, sit, or lean, and it will be part of your Halloween and Thanksgiving decor.
Decide if your work of art will be stuck into the ground or tied to a fence, drainpipe or whatever. If it goes into the ground, the main pole will be longer.
* Cut a 10-foot stake or piece of bamboo into two pieces, one 6-foot piece (shorter if it won’t go into the ground) and the other 3 or 4 feet long.
* Place the smaller section across the 6-foot piece about 1 foot down from the top. Secure with wire or twine.
* Put a shirt on the crosspiece and button it. Stuff it loosely with hay, dry leaves or rags.
* Secure the stuffed gloves to the ends of the arms with a rubber band.
Some people tie another small section onto the long stake to make a waist for the pants. Others just tuck in the stuffed shirt and secure the pants to the main stake with rope or twine.
* Pull one leg of a pair of trousers onto the stake. The other leg hangs freely. (You could bend it at the “knee” to rest on a bale of hay or planter.) Stuff the pants with the same material as the shirt.
* Make a head for your scarecrow by stuffing a pillowcase and using marker pens to make the face or gluing on buttons for the eyes. Make the mouth from yarn.
* Tie the opening onto the stake with a rope. Add a hat for more interest.

Longview Rec Fun Fall Sessions

To register for any of the classes below, please call Longview Recreation at #442-5400 or register online at:
mylongview.com/reconline

Creative Creations
Brighten up your child’s day with some colorful art projects. Students, ages 4 to 6, will have the opportunity to paint, and make a variety of craft projects. Dress for the mess!
Class is Mon, Oct 3 through 24 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at St. Stephens Church, 1428 22nd Ave. The instructor is Theresa Nelson and fee is $30 in-city or $35 out-of-city.
Register for #123745

Shutterbugs
A creative photography class using nature for inspiration. Each day study an aspect of nature and photograph a different subject including: flowers, trees, birds, the lake, and landscape. Digital images printed during class. Please bring own camera and a $5 supply fee, due to the instructor at the first class. Class for those ages 8-13 is Tues, Sept 27 through Oct 18 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.at the Woman’s Club Building, 835 21st Ave in Longview. The instructor is Marvin Pierson and fee is $36 in-city or $41 out-of-city.
Register for #124446
Acting for Kids
Students, ages 6-12, will learn the basics of acting for television in a fun and positive environment. Kids will learn to relax and feel natural in front of the camera, how to hit their marks, learn their lines, project and enunciate, and be ready when the director says ‘Action!’ The class will write and perform short skits in front of the camera. Footage will be aired on KLTV’s KIDZ TV show. Class is held Thurs, Sept 29 through Oct 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Woman’s Club Building, 835 21st Ave. in Longview. The instructor is Bryan Calhoun and the fee is $40 in-city or $45 out-of-city.
Register for session #125395

Gymnastics, Head over Heels
These introductory classes focus on body awareness and listening. Child should be walking independently. Skills include jumping, balancing, and social skills such as taking turns and following directions. Adult participation required. Ages 2 to 3. Class is held Sat, Oct 1 through 22 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at Youth and Family Link, 907 Douglas St. in Longview. The instructor is Jill Sitton and the fee is $32 in-city or $37 out-of-city.
Register for session #123995

Pottery
Create and paint a piece of art each day with clay. Learn hand building techniques like coiling, slab, sculpture, and pinching. $8 supply fee due to instructor at first class. Class for ages 8 to 12, is Wed, Oct 5 through 26 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club Building, 835 21st Ave. in Longview. The instructor is Jane Dinh and the fee is $40 in-city or $45 out-of-city.
Register for session #125695

Nature Explorers
Enjoy the world around you in this specialized nature program is filled with lots of educational and enriching hands-on activities. Experience something new each class; insects, fish, gardening, animal tracking, recycling, treasure hunts, and trees. Included with these activities and exploration will be a variety of art projects, crafts, and games. Class for ages 5 to 8, is Tues, Oct 4 through 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Woman’s Club Building, 835 21st Ave. in Longview. The instructor is Aspen Clontz and the fee is $31 in-city or $36 out-of-city.
Register for session #124196

Columbia Theatre’s Fall Season offers a delightful feast

The Columbia Theatre, crown jewel of Southwest Washington, is celebrating a Fall to remember with a variety of music and entertainment. The intimate 800 seat historic venue has recently undergone an $11.6 million renovation and stands as the largest performing arts venue in Southwest Washington.
For information about all of the Columbia’s events call the Box Office (M-F, 11:30 – 5:30) at 360-575-8499 or 888-575-8499 for ticket information or order online at www.columbiatheatre.com.

Symphony, Swing, and String Quartets in October…
* October kicks off with the Southwest Washington Symphony’s Pops Concert featuring “Bach to Beatles” on Sunday, October 9 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will feature J. S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite #4, J.C. Bach’s Overture to Artaserse, Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E Flat, and Bruce Healy’s Beatles medley Love is All You Need.

* Celebrate the life and times of America’s Greatest generation on Tuesday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m. when In The Mood—the 1940’s musical review visits the Columbia stage with a 13-piece Big Band, 6 singers and a high energy Swing-Dance couple. It’s the music that moved a nation and helped win a war!

* On Sunday, October 16th at 3:00 p.m. the Longview-Kelso Community Concerts Series opens  its new season with Carpe Diem String Quartet performing classical string quartet repertoire with a twist—a collective musical passion that has lead them down the paths of Gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz-inspired music.

* Jazz at its absolute finest…
The Miles Davis Experience: From Birth of the Cool to Kind of Blue 1949-1959 a Blue Note Collaboration comes to the Columbia on Sunday, October 30th at 3:00 p.m.  Featuring Ambrose Akinmusire,  winner of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.  Joining Akinmusire onstage will be Samuel Harris (Piano)  Harish Raghavan (Bass) Justin Brown ( Walter Smith III (Tenor Sax)and Donald Lacy (Narrator).
This musical event pays tribute to jazz innovator and legend Miles Davis with live performance, archival images, film and recordings. The multimedia experience traces Miles’ most notable tracks from 1949 through his Blue Note years, culminating in his masterpiece Kind of Blue. Recapture the period, sound, historical and cultural context of this critical period of American history through the lens of jazz music and its most iconic innovator.  It is a linear walk through the iconic 50’s Jazz scene with a world-class jazz quintet against a multi-media backdrop. Sponsor: KMHD Jazz Radio 89.1 FM

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I
learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I
learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.

Next Page »