From the Editor July 2011

Even though we have been dealt one of the crummiest hands of weather in my memory for this spring and beginning of Summer, I have to do a HAPPY DANCE!
It’s Summer! It’s Summer! Oh-oh-oh-yeah!!! Time to get the grill going and if you haven’t been to the local farms or farmers markets, then it’s time! Check out page 21 for a complete list!
Even if I have to wear socks with my Birkenstocks this summer, which I am right now, my heart is full of anticipation for July and August. Full of Fairs, Fireworks, Festivals and Farmers Markets, my spirit could simply sing it is so full of happiness to be at this time of the year. Now if only the sun would cooperate and bless us with its warm rays and growing magic. My poor vegetables and flowers would sure appreciate it.
This issue is packed with all the local happenings, trail reviews and Farmers Market locations, as well as local farm locations and what type of produce or meat they offer. We are so blessed to live in an area that offers such a wild abundance! Visit page 21 for local farm listings.
It’s also baseball season, and I bet that the Cowlitz Blackbears will be happy to have some warmth outside, so the stands will sport some fans that aren’t shivering under blankets and umbrellas!!
If you haven’t caught a BlackBears game yet, you should really try to take advantage of this team that plays right here in our own backyard. Tickets are CHEAP at only $7 a pop, and if you’re looking for even cheaper, just hit a Tuesday game, where everything including tickets is only $2.00!! It’s some fun entertainment and excitement for a family-friendly evening.
The summer can tend to zip quickly by, so I would encourage you to get out your calendar, and mark the events that you are thinking about attending. Even if you don’t make it – at least you will have a reminder that something is going on, should you want to go have some fun. For example, coming up in August is the 1st annual Squirrel Fest, as seen at left in their ad, on August 6th – coinciding with the Longview Criterium at the Civic Center.
>>Go nutty when you read the Squirrel Fest article found on page 15.<<
As always, a special thank you goes to our advertisers, who keep this publication running strong! Our team here at the Valley Bugler would like to encourage you to visit our advertisers and give us a “pat on the back” by telling them you saw them in the Bugler!
This helps them to know their ads are being seen, and their advertising is appreciated from our readers!!

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Until next month, catch you at the Farmers Market, or lounging in the sun somewhere with the kiddos. Try to hit the beaches, and for goodness sake, get outside and play!!  ☺

Michelle Myre
Publisher / Editor

From the Editor – June 2011

June! The month where statistically speaking, the most people get hitched! Congratulations to some of those statistics, who happened to have made it over 40 years – Tom and Toni Reich! My lovely parents are celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary this June 20th, and share that date with many other lovebirds who decided to make it official on that special day. Congrats mom and dad!
June also holds some other special days that many people celebrate in this great nation. Father’s Day (Pages 12-13) and Summer (Pages 15-18)!! ☼
If you haven’t busted out your flip flops yet in anticipation of this delicious season that is almost upon us, then you probably haven’t lived through this soggy spring! My feet are still cloaked in socks, which is usually unheard of for me at this time of the year, but it will be even that more exciting when I can expose my footies to the warm rays!
Those warm rays beckon you to dust off the grill and and start up one of the infamous pasttimes of Americans. BBQ’s. Grilled pork, burgers, veggies and salmon tickle the tastebuds and incite much drooling from people such as myself. The online realm holds virtually every recipe ever created for barbecuing, so if you are so inclined to deviate from your normal concoctions, visit a web site such as www.recipes.com or even just Google it for some fantastic ideas that even have reader comments after them. That makes it nice, when you can read when other people have tried the recipe and can vouch for it’s ‘goodness’.
Many of us celebrate Father’s Day with said BBQ. Of course, sometimes the dude behind the grill is Daddy-O himself, but I think that guys find a secret pleasure in burning food.
Special thanks to our own BBQ master in this house – Oscar Myre IV, as such a wonderful father to his three little kiddos. He fills their spirits and little hearts with positive words, fun tickles and positive guidance and discipline. Here’s a pic of him and Cora, right before they headed out for the first “Daddy – Daughter Ball”. Chloe was next…he wanted to take each girl to their own dance. Aww..
Thanks Oscar, for being the best daddy that you can be – and for striving to be even more, under the calling of God. You are awesome, what can I say? I’m blessed. I’m also extremely blessed to have my own “Poppy”, who helps me edit this paper, and is one of the best all-time grillers I know! And of course, my waterskiing fantatic Father-in-Law, Oscar Myre III. Love you Dads!!!
Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there! Until next month, catch you at the Farmers Market!

Michelle Myre
Publisher / Editor

From the Editor’s Desk – May 2011

Most of you might know that I was professionally trained as a musician, and received a degree in Music as a Vocal Educator. With that degree, I taught many thousand little local kiddos the joys of singing and the benefits of music over a five year span.
After having three children, and the youngest is now two, I have decided to venture back into some lessons. This is absolutely a shameless plug and promotion to get some voice students into my small studio.
I say small because I am only going to be taking two group lessons and three private student lessons into my fold. It’s something I enjoy, so I don’t want to go full time – I don’t want to go part time – I just want a few hours each week diving into the glorious realm of music and helping others realize their own potential, and learning something along the way.
My rates are reasonable, as I haven’t raised them since ten years ago – they are $35/hr for a private lesson (weekly) and $15/hr for a group lesson of no more than four in a group. I can also offer vocal coaching in preparation for performances, solos and competitions or auditions.
Maybe down the road I will offer a select choir opportunity, but one day at a time, right?
I was trained classically, but know all genres of music, including pop, jazz, musical theatre and on and on. It’s my firm belief that all good singing comes from a core foundation of proper technique, from which you can sing just about any style with ease.
So, if you or someone you know is interested in learning how to build their singing voice – any age over nine – send them my way!
eMail: music@michellemyre.com
or, they can call: (360)414-1246
I look forward to getting to know some new students this year!
Actually, I am excited about a lot of things this upcoming May and summertime. It doesn’t take much, with the mention of the word summer for me, but we do have some great new things happening.
Our Spanish section, found on pages 23-24, includes two articles written by Mark Morris High School students taking Spanish III. The articles detail the exchange program that is happening this September with 24 students from Spain. Next March, Mark Morris students will travel to Spain to tour and stay with the same students who came over here! Fun! (You do have to know Spanish to read it, though….) ☺
Camille Stanberry, Mark Morris High School World Language Department Chair helped spread the good news about the Valley Bugler offering opportunities to students for publishing. (As well as extra credit!)
Teaming up with other teachers, Camille is offering an outlet for her Spanish students to practice writing their newfound language. If you or a student you know would like to write for our paper, please have them contact the office @ (360)414-1246. Students may write in English or Spanish.
That’s pretty exciting news, and really brings out that “former teacher” in myself. I figure, once a teacher, always a teacher!
Another exciting adventure waiting for your reading enjoyment is our Visitors Guide, found on pages 15-19 in this months issue. Through August, we will detail local attractions and stories about our beautiful SW Washington area and things “to do”. Ranging from the Kite Festival at Long Beach to adventurous climbs up Mt. St. Helens, there are so many inspiring activities around this area in which to partake.
Waterfalls, lakes, rivers and the ocean provide our cooling options for hot summer days, and fun venues like the Cowlitz County Fair and Garlic Festival invite our senses to a visual feast.
Let’s face it, this is one of the best times of the year! Oh wait, that’s the sun-lover in me shining out….
But the sun does bring with it some marvelous bounty for our enjoyment. The Farmers Markets are started up, running on Tuesday and Saturday for the Cowlitz Farmers Market, located at the Cowlitz Fairgrounds, fresh produce, homemade items & free parking.
The Sunday Bridge Market happens on Sundays, located at the spray park next to JoAnn Fabric in Kelso and running Sundays from 10am-3pm through September.
There’s also the 31st anniversary of our own Mt. St. Helens herself coming up on May 18th. I can’t believe it has been that long already. I was a little five year old, who knew something was going on – but didn’t quite understand the panic in my parents’ voices. And we lived all the way up in Seattle! ☺
So until next month, I hope that May begins to dry us all out, as we wring out the soppiness left over from March and April, and start our dive headlong into a fantastic summer season!
Catch you at the Farmers Market with fresh produce in hand!

Michelle Myre
Publisher / Editor

From the Editor’s Desk – April 2011

Cortes Land Care came and cleaned up my disastrous yard, removing debris, countless limbs and leaves, and tidying up my garden beds. Fantastico! I was so pleased with the work that Paoblo and his team offered to my sad sad overgrown yard!
If you would like to have Cortes come out and give you a quote, call: (360)270-2171 and ask for Paoblo.
Playing out in the yard brings to mind all of the new ‘growth’ (Living Green Section found on pages 18-26) happening, not just in our gardens, but in our hearts as well. Especially around this dreary Northwest “end-of-winter”, the Spring season bursts forth with such awesome and powerful new LIFE!
Part of that “new life” is found in the celebration of Easter, (found on page 16), where believers celebrate the triumph over death by Jesus – which has never been accomplished by anyone else by themselves. Jesus defeated death, and was seen by over 500 witnesses before he physically rose into heaven. (Again with witnesses in recorded history).
This awesome feat provides much of the cornerstone of faith for Christians today, those who follow Jesus as their Lord, and claim Him as their Savior.
The new ‘life’ that God offers to people through believing in His Son is one that only those who have actually taken that gift and received it – can describe.
For myself, it is one that is full of hope and joy, peace during times of extreme trials and the knowledge that I don’t have to do it ‘all alone’.
There have been so many dark and despairing moments in my life, sometimes for very long seasons, that I don’t know how I could have survived without the unconditional love of God and His hands carrying me and shielding me from the worst of the trials.
I think it’s a misconception that some people may have that once you are a Christian, life becomes all hunky dory, full of roses and angels singing.
It simply ain’t the truth!
The truth of the matter is that life is LIFE for everybody. Full of happy highs and disappointing lows. It doesn’t matter if you are a “believer” in the Lord or not, life will still hit you fast and furious.
The difference is faith.
Faith in the belief that Jesus is who He says He is, and that you accept His gift of Life. Yes, He suffered a most brutal and gruesome death on a Roman cross, and died.
But the glory of the story goes on because even after they took Him down from the cross, prepped and wrapped His body in burial clothes, then literally entombed his dead body – He came back to life.
He squashed death because He is God. Only somebody like God could do that. He died so we could fully live.
I endured a nine-month long time of deep despair and agonizing depression while I was pregnant with my second daughter. During this time, I was battling severe morning sickness that lasted all day and night, and left me 15 pounds lighter at the end of my first trimester.
Dark thoughts, deep desperation, panic attacks, and even suicidal thoughts plagued me as I lived, literally, minute to minute. It was the strength of the Lord and the support and love of my family that kept me going forward. As I look back on it, I saw in every instance how the Lord literally carried me in His arms through that hideous time.
Living my life with the hope of Christ, and knowing that I am not going through this alone is invaluable to me when I am in dark moments. It also provides that light that helps me move up and forward when I have ‘fallen’ yet again.
And folks, I ‘fall’ a lot. I’m human. I bet my family could attest to THAT!  ☺
So our team here wishes you the very best Easter and Spring celebration this year. Celebrate Life! Celebrate Hope! Celebrate new growth! Whatever you choose to take joy in this Easter season, we hope that it blesses your life with much goodness!
Michelle Myre, Publisher / Editor

From the Editor’s Desk – March 2011

I had to gas my van up the other day, and just about choked when I saw the gas prices. Now mind you, I don’t normally fill up our gas tank, so I don’t pay much attention to gas prices.
Shameful, I know.
Well, since I was filling up and grimacing as the gallons poured in and my dollars flew out, I thought to myself, “how can I turn this into some GOOD news?”
I admit, probably none of you are surprised, that I tend to think that way about most things.
High gas prices. Hmmmm. How could I put a positive spin on that?
Well, it didn’t take long, because somebody rode by on their bicycle not long after.
Eureka! I had it.
Higher gas prices isn’t necessarily good news, but perhaps the changes that come along with high gas prices are. Tighter budgeting, fiscal responsibility and maybe even more exercise.
We’re into the tax season, so I think that as these high gas prices start putting a pinch on our pocketbooks, people are more mindful of their own responsibility to be smart with their money, regardless of how much or little they have.
There’s a great column on Page 27 from our financial “guy”, Dan Caballero, who also happens to help us sell advertising to support the paper. I think that Dan has offered up some wonderful steps and tips on changing your financial future for the better in the past two issues. Check it out.
Our special Home Improvement Guide, found on Pages 18-26, is full of tips and tricks that will help you stretch that mighty dollar and use them wisely to help increase the value and estetics of your home or rental properties.
Even if you are renting, there are things that you can do to help improve the environment and work towards better living quarters. Container gardens, for one, if your landlord doesn’t allow gardening – or if you are in an apartment.
For our family, we just moved into a bigger house, (thank GOD), and are now joyfully anticipating all of the fun projects that moving into a house brings. Painting, floors, remodeling – it all comes into play and in close association with money. Ya gotta have it to DO it! (We’re not big on credit).
Small things will make a big impact, such as those gas prices creeping ever upwards will make on your pocketbook. So finding places where you can save cash and cut spending is a huge investment into your future! (Gee, maybe the government should perhaps consider the whole fiscal responsibility thing….)
Spring has almost sprung, and as we prepare for her arrival, I hope that you would take the time to study our Home Improvement Guide, as well as the rest of this issue in preparation.
Everybody loves spring. There’s something about the earth re-awakening and the sunshine visiting more often that revitalizes even the weariest winter souls.
If pennies are being pinched in your household, like they are in mine, I suggest that you look into some gardening this year. Growing beans, peas, squash and carrots are about the easiest thing to do in the Great Northwest.
How do you start? Well, some tips and suggestions are listed on p.16 for your enjoyment.
The brief synopsis: plant what you like to eat. Do you like fresh, crisp green beans? Well, then buy a $1 pack of seeds at the store, bush variety if you’re not into putting up poles or a trellis, and pop them into some dugup earth.
The best idea is just to do something, because you’re bound to enjoy the outcome, and maybe even get hooed on the practice of gardening, and feeding yourself and your family with fresh, nutritious produce. Trust me, once you’ve eaten your own homegrown vegetables, it’s very hard to go back to purchasing store-bought when the season is over!
For the veggies that you just don’t have time to tend yourself, visiting the Farmers Market is a great place to start. Featuring fresh in-season vegetables and crops such as honey or plants, it’s full of plenty of choices for fresh nutritious produce.
You can also be sure that Payton’s Produce has just about everything that you could want, as well. And being locally owned, you are helping sustain our own micro-economy.
Wow, now that I am thinking about spring, I am wishing that it would arrive, so I could get out in the dirt and play!
So until next month, we wish you a jolly St. Patrick’s Day, and happy reading in this March issue!
Cheers!

From the Editor’s Desk – February 2011

Some of you may not believe this, but God really does care about the little things in our lives. We are supposed to “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” – Philipians 4:6. So, that being said, here is an example of something that happened just the other day while this paper was being published. Something small, yet significant.
Our water cooler in the office had been busted for months, only the hot water spigot worked, and the cold water gave us, well – the cold shoulder!!
No water from that cold spigot could be had, no matter the shaking or banging or cajoling.
I had a hankering yesterday for some cold water, and my gracious husband took my cup and said he’d get me some. I told him that he didn’t have to go next door to get some, just fill it with the hot water instead.
He comes back and hands me a delicious cup of cold water!
“Where’d you get this so fast?” I asked him.
“Our water cooler”, he replied with a cheeky grin.
“Oh, you fixed it!” I happily exclaimed.
“Nope, I prayed for God to fix it and now it works”, he replied.
Isn’t that just like God to answer even our littlest prayer with an “Ok, I can do that”? No, not all of His answers are “Yes, of course, my child”. Sometimes they are “We’ll have to wait”, or “Not this time” or “That is not in my Will”.
The point? He answers. In one way or another, the Lord answers our cries of our hearts to Him.
I’ll share my testimony of a few miracles, healing prayers that were answered with a “yes” from Heaven. I believe that my husband and children have the gift of healing, especially legs and knees.
Now, some of you are cackling at me and thinking I should be tossed in the looney bin. But you also know that I am steady and dependable publisher, one who places this paper in your hands each month with consistency and hopefully accuracy. This is me. This is my testimony, and you can choose to believe it…or not, but I speak the truth.
One morning I woke up with horrendous leg pain. So much so that I could not even walk into the bathroom without my husband’s assistance. Hobbling was even out of the question. There was no indicator as to what happened, no accident or injury. All I knew was when I put weight on my leg, I collapsed to the floor. I was worried because I was supposed to sing at church that morning, and there was no way I was going to be carried onto the stage. I had my dignity to keep in tact, you know.
So, my husband calls in our girls, then ages 5 and 3, and said, “We need to pray for mommy’s leg”.
They laid hands on my leg that was in pain, and prayed a simple prayer of healing in Jesus’ name.
Then they looked at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Well, try it out. Walk”, said my husband.
Oh great, I thought – I’m going to fall on my face and my little girls are going to wonder if God really hears their prayers.
I stood up on my good leg, then smiled weakly at my loving family, took a breath and stepped forward.
No pain. Gone. Zip!
I ran around the house laughing as my girls chased me.
I was healed. You can rationalize all you want, but I know that I had PAIN, was prayed for and the pain was GONE. Immediately.
Happened twice. The second time was my knee, about four months later, and I had twisted it so ferociously that even tons of ibuprofen wasn’t helping.
Enter prayer. Enter my husband and girls hands upon my knee, praying that simple prayer of asking the Lord to heal my knee.
I walked across the room as I literally felt my knee un-swelling and the pain was gone. Completely.
My heart swelled with gratitude towards the Lord and towards my family, who were kind enough to request it in love from the Lord.
This month we are supposed to focus on our hearts, Love and the such. I would encourage you to do some of your own “self-examination”, and let God shine a light in your own heart.
Sometimes it is not pretty, ain’t that the truth!
But what a glorious thing for God to shine into our hearts, reveal His truth and then to have the whole mess cleaned up!!
There is a correlation between the physical body and the spiritual wellness of a person. I know there are plenty of studies out there, you’ve heard about them, I’m sure.
You know, where “Susan had a horrible case of heart disease, and once she forgave her father and began living differently, it miraculously went away”…etc. etc.
The stories are out there, I’m going to seek some for reprinting here.
They’re stories that are testimonies of real life. Real things that happen to real people. Real things that happen from a Real and Loving God.
So this month, I’d like to shift the focus from just the “heart” to the Maker of our hearts. The One who is Love. The One we are to mimic when we love others.
Are there prayers that you are too afraid to utter because He might answer differently than you are expecting? Or perhaps you are not asking for answers enough?
On this journey of life, I pray that God will bless you today and in the days to come with many more small miracles, such as our water cooler miracle. Big miracles, too! Maybe all we have to do is ask.
to wonder if God really hears their prayers.
I stood up on my good leg, then smiled weakly at my loving family, took a breath and stepped forward.
No pain. It was gone. Gone!
I ran around the house laughing as my girls chased me.
I was healed. You can rationalize all you want, but I know that I had PAIN, was prayed for and the pain was GONE. Immediately.
Happened twice. The second time was my knee, about four months later, and I had twisted it so ferociously that even tons of ibuprofen wasn’t helping.
Enter prayer. Enter my husband and girls hands upon my knee, praying that simple prayer of asking the Lord to heal my knee. I walked across the room as I literally felt my knee un-swelling and the pain was gone. Completely.
My heart swelled with gratitude towards the Lord and towards my family, who were kind enough to request it in love from the Lord.
This month we are supposed to focus on our hearts, Love and the such. I would encourage you to do some of your own “self-examination”, and let God shine a light in your own heart.
Sometimes it is not pretty, ain’t that the truth!
But what a glorious thing for God to shine into our hearts, reveal His truth and then to have the whole mess cleaned up!!
I believe there is a correlation between the physical body and the spiritual wellbeing of a person. I know there are plenty of studies out there, you’ve heard about them, I’m sure.
Like where studies say that the simple act of forgiveness increases health, heals diseases etc.
They’re stories that are testimonies of real life. Real things that happen to real people. Real things that happen from a Real and Loving God.
So this month, I’m shifting my own focus from just the physical “heart” to the Maker of our hearts. The One who is Love. The One we are to mimic when we love others.
Do you have a miracle to share? We would sure like to be encouraged by it! Send it to us via eMail or snail mail!
Are there prayers that you are too afraid to utter because He might answer differently than you are requesting? Or perhaps you are not asking Him or petitioning Him enough?
On this journey of life, I pray that God will bless you today and in the days to come with many more small miracles, such as our water cooler miracle.
Big miracles, too! Maybe all we have to do is ask?
Here’s hoping you have a wonderful February, full of hope and love towards others.  ☺
Exercise your heart this month, and challenge yourself to forgive an enemy.

Michelle Myre
Publisher / Editor

From the Editor’s Desk – January 2011

Fresh and new. That’s what the image that January brings us. Happy New Year! I don’t think I am the only one who is having a hard time believing that we are already into our journey of 2011.

I know that I am not sharing anything profound, but as I get older, I realize more and more how very precious time is, and just how fast it slips away.
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From the Editor’s Desk – December 2010

♫♪♫ It’s beginning to look a LOT like Christmas ♪♫

Oh yes it is! As I am working at getting this Christmas issue published, it is so fitting to have my Christmas tunes rolling on Pandora.com and glancing outside occasionally to see the snow falling down!
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From the Editor’s Desk – November 2010

The stormy weather has finally settled in, heralding the arrival of what I like to title “Winter”. Yes, if my hands are as cold as they have been this past week, then we are in winter already. At least in my world.

Thus begins a season of hot chocolate, cinnamon apple candles and cords of wood for sale. Break out the fuzzy socks, it’s time to batten down the hatches!
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From the Editor’s Desk – October 2010

I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it…YES! Why am I so excited? The Lucky Seven!! I am tickled to be able to present to you this years most exciting and rewarding contest, as outlined below!

Another thing you’re sure to love in this October’s issue of the Valley Bugler is our annual Children’s Section found on pages 18-22. My daughter, Cora, is featured on the cover in honor of this special section.  ☺
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