Hi all you faithful readers! I’m amazed at how many of you still checked the blog while I was on vacation and then when the computer was turned off while we moved.

Anyway, we’re settled (more or less) in the new house, and I’m loving living downtown. We had a few glitches (movers broke the door off the refrigerator, plugs were the wrong size for the stove and dryer, movers broke the hose on the wash machine, etc.), but the major problems seem to be over. We are re-doing the pantry, so all our canned goods are on the floor in the living room, and the painters are still here, finishing up, but it’s starting to feel like home.

I tried going without a land line for a couple of days, but decided to keep it, so you can revert back to using 360-887-2160 again.

I happened to be at the Post Office today when John Burroughs was picking up his mail. If you remember, David Taylor suggested sending birthday greetings to John for his 102nd birthday, which is tomorrow, and I mentioned it on this blog.

John had a stack of envelopes over two inches thick and was laughing that he could hardly get them out of the PO box.

Thanks to all who participated in this typical Ridgefield activity. Isn’t it great to live in a town with such caring and involved citizens?

Objective: To improve our church abilities to a higher level by  providing a stable go-to person to assist our congregational service outreach and general informational needs, and to free up pastor Meredith to better fulfill the pastoral needs of the congregation.

Position Responsibilities to include, but not limited to:

• Calendar- schedule events, manage & communicate main calendar
• Building Usage- coordinate & communicate to all parties (preschool, church, community)
• Church communications & publications- bulletins, newsletter, assist social media
• Newcomer outreach coordination
• Membership outreach coordination
• Office organization- phones, emails, paperwork, other administrative duties
• Other duties as assigned

Proposed Hours & Pay & Start Date:

• 12 hours per week- Tu, We, Th 9:00 – 1:00
• $15.00 per hour
• Starting August 1, 2017

Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age
• Satisfactory completion of a background check
• Office organizational skills
• Computer proficiency in word, publisher and google apps
• Telephone and greeting skills
• Calendaring proficiency
• Decision-making abilities
• Confidentiality & discretion
• Team player
• Friendly and positive attitude

Applicants should send cover letter, resume and two references to ltlanderholm@gmail.com and/or

Ridgefield United Methodist Church

PO Box 446

Ridgefield, WA 98642

Long-time Ridgefield resident John Burrow will be 102 on July 5.  John has been Grand Marshall of the 4^th of July parade and was inducted into the Lion’s Club last year. He is still driving.  He’s also sharp as a tack.

Councilman Dave Taylor is leading a campaign to flood John’s PO Box with birthday cards. Since his birthday is on Wednesday next week, it would be nice if people were to put a card in the mail on Friday or Saturday since Tuesday is a PO holiday.  It should reach his box on Wednesday am. Won’t John be surprised?

Address your card to

John Burrow

PO Box 195

Ridgefield, WA  98642

Corwin Beverage is applying to build two segments of an 8-foot-wide pedestrian trail at 219 South Timm Road. The pre-application conference will be held Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Clark County Fire & Rescue, 911 N 65th Avenue, Ridgefield.

The trail includes a 50-foot section of boardwalk over an existing Category III wetland, in the E zone. This sounds like a great idea to me – you can voice your opinion at the meeting.

I’m starting to pack up my things for the big move, and need to find 10-12 book boxes for small heavy things. Does anyone have any they could let me use?

I could return them after the move. If you can help, please email me at kathywinters179@gmail.com.

Mayor Ron Onslow received a letter recently from “Sleepless in Ridgefield” frustrated with the BNSF train horns. The individual hopes for an overpass.

Ron’s answer: “In August the Port and the City will begin construction on an overpass at the west end of Pioneer. When completed the other crossings will be closed, ergo no horns. All this information continues to be posted on the city website.
Then it should be “sleepless no more”.”
Sincerely,
Ron

PS from Kathy – and here I thought the engineers who tooted their horns at 3 am going through Ridgefield had an ex-wife who lived in town!

Happy Easter!

(BTW, these are the egss we made in Yvonne Sakamoto’s decoupage class, which was a benefit for the Ridgefield Library building campaign. )

This morning I posted the information that my house was for sale.

It sold this afternoon!

We are signing the papers tomorrow.

If you have thought about advertising your business on FYI98642.com, maybe now is the time!

Many of you know I have been looking to move into town for awhile. I have fallen in love with a house right downtown, and so with sad heart I am selling my present home.

If you are looking for a pleasant, comfortable home on acreage, this would be something you should look at.

It’s a manufactured home on five acres: three bedrooms, two baths, space inside for an upright freezer. New roofing and Hardi-Plank siding were installed last year. The home is immaculately clean and the property has a territorial view, with a year-round creek.

There’s an artist studio, a greenhouse, a garden shed, and a corral. Eight raised beds could provide you enough food to last the full year. There are also fruit trees (two apples, a pear and an Italian prune-plum), grape vines, raspberry and strawberry plants, asparagus, and rhubarb.

If you are a gardener, artist or craft person, you would love this home. Acreage this size so close to town is hard to find.

Call me for more information—887-2160

The Ridgefield Community Garden has 5 gardening plots left for rental this year. The garden is located downtown on the south side of 5th Avenue at Sargeant, on the left. The plots are 12′ x 4′ raised beds. $17 for one year, water included. The rules and guidelines are available at city hall. The available plots are #11, 14, 16, 20 and 21.

Each gardener is responsible for planting, weeding and watering their plot. The plots will be assigned to the first to sign up and pay.

The current gardeners do a great job of producing hundreds of pounds of food each year for their personal use. It’s fun to see the variety in each plot.

For questions, you may email sandyschill33@gmail.com or call city hall at 887-3357.

Representative Liz Pike is donating this 12×16 oil painting for auction this Saturday, March 4^th, at the Ridgefield Youth Arts Month (RYAM) kickoff at the Old Liberty Theater in downtown Ridgefield. This painting was done specifically for RYAM this past week and the oil is still drying. The kickoff starts at 7pm and the painting will be on display in the lobby for a silent auction. 100% of proceeds will go to fund RYAM activities.

Liz is the Washington State House Representative for Ridgefield in the 18th District.

She currently operates Shangri-La Farm, a small sustainable organic farm in Fern Prairie, where she raises fruits, vegetables, heirloom turkeys, chickens and a small flock of Soay sheep. She is an avid promoter of the “buy local food” movement.

Liz’s artwork is on display at Camas Art Gallery. Her art is inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and her lush gardens at her organic farm.

She donates artwork and time to various local charities and is excited to participate with RYAM to raise money for youth arts.

Here’s Mayor Ron Onslow and Councilman Don Stose cooking breakfast for the kids at the Dr. Seuss birthday party this week.

Gary Gouger in front of his new tank

Gougér Cellars is the first winery in Clark County to have a high pressure tank made specifically for producing sparkling sines. The tank was custom made in Italy and took over 6 months to receive. The tank will enable Gouger Cellars to expand their sparkling wine offerings which already include a Sparkling Rose and Sparkling Pinot Noir.

Gougér Cellars was established in 2009 and produces premium international awarded wines from grapes sourced from two states. Winemaker, Gary Gougér, enologist (winemaker) graduated from the University of Adelaide, Australia, and is known for sparkling and bold red wines such as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sparkling Rosé and Sparkling Pinot Noir.

Gougér Cellars is at 26505 NE 10th.

Reminder – tonight is Mayor Ron Onslow’s State of the City speech at the Ridgefield High School Performing Arts Center at 6:00. It should be fun and informative.