Misc.

Mark your calendar! Saturday is the Big Garden Club Plant Sale. Lots of hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and best of all: homegrown plants that you can be assured will prosper in your yard.

It’s in a new location this year – Bennett Hall at Abrams Park and starts at 9 am. There will be special parking for shoppers as ball games will be taking place at the park.

This is the club’s major fundraiser for the year, and the money collected goes to fund the club’s many projects in Ridgefield.

Friends of the Library will have a pop-up sale of garden and craft books.

Come and support your local club.

Do you want to add some color to your yard or patio? Are you ready to plant some vegetables?  Do you need a Mother’s Day Gift?  Then join us for the Ridgefield Garden Club Annual Plant Sale.  We will have hanging baskets, trees, herbs, sun & shade planters, shrubs, color spots, home grown veggie and flower starts, and more.

This sole fundraiser to help beautify Ridgefield is held the first Saturday of May each year in downtown Ridgefield.

DATE:  May 7th, 2022

TIME:  9:00 AM to 3:00 PM or until stock is gone

LOCATION:  Bennett Hall, Abrams Park,  Ridgefield, WA

NOTE; THIS IS A NEW LOCATION FOR THE GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE. 

Friends of the Ridgefield library are decorating a Christmas tree for Hometown on December 4. We need 2-300 tiny lights to finish off the decorations. I priced them at Lowe’s, and two strings of 300 lights cost $35.00.

I’m hoping someone out there might have some tiny white lights meant for outdoor use that we could borrow until December 13. Please email (kathywinters179@gmail.com) or phone (360-887-2160) me if you can help.

Thanks!

Did you get your ballot? The race for City Council position six has two candidates: Jennifer Lindsay and Ken Spurlock. Here’s what they told me:

Hello Ridgefield! My name is Jennifer Lindsay, and I am humbly asking for your vote this November so I can continue serving the people of Ridgefield as City Councilor Position 6. I have been serving the people of Ridgefield for 12 years. Most notably, I have been a member of the Ridgefield City Council for three years, and a member of the Ridgefield Planning Commission for two years. If you would like to learn more about my qualifications and the differences between me and my opponent, I would encourage you to watch the Q & A session hosted by the League of Women Voters, Election 2021: League of Women Voters Forum (09-30-21) > Clark/Vancouver Television (cvtv.org).

More about me: We moved to Ridgefield over 12 years ago. Since then, I have been actively engaged and dedicated to making Ridgefield a place where individuals and families of all backgrounds can feel safe and welcome in their community. My early years volunteering as PTO president and as a Ridgefield Boosters Club board member helped me recognize that while we all have different backgrounds, we are all united in our love for Ridgefield. My record of putting the people of Ridgefield first and my commitment that I will always listen and respect the viewpoints of long-time and new residents of Ridgefield, is what makes me the best qualified candidate for Ridgefield City Council Position 6.

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Hello, my name is Ken.

I am running for Position #6 City Council of Ridgefield, Washington

I come from a small city of 14,000 near Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a young man I had a spirit of exploration and discovery. That same spirit led me to explore many regions of the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Northwest/ SW Washington, where I have lived for over 35 years.

Today, I am happy to say I am spending my retirement in Ridgefield. Many things attracted me to Ridgefield. It is a safe community with; clean air, good schools, amazing spirit of volunteerism, recreational and entertainment attractions, a rich history, and a natural wonder- The National Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. The diverse people who live here are happy and flourishing in this small city and it shows.

Why have I decided to run for the City Council of Ridgefield? I believe I can make a positive difference as a bipartisan member of the Ridgefield City Government. My life experience includes being a successful business owner, artist, hiker, photographer, non-profit coordinator, and well-loved favorite Uncle. I have developed skills as a problem solver, market analyst, fair housing specialist, contract negotiator, and investment counselor. I have worked with families from all socio-economic backgrounds – people at different stages in their lives, people of color, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, veterans, professionals and hardworking trades men and women. They all have one need in common, a place to call home.

Please vote for the experience I will bring to the City Council of Ridgefield and my positions on; balanced growth, recreational opportunities for all ages, a well-planned infrastructure, open spaces, parks, sensitive environment protections, affordable housing, a thriving business community with good paying  jobs, and a waterfront development that will compliment Ridgefield for future generations. Together we can make this happen. Please vote for me!

What a day I (we) had! First thing up Gretchen, Marsha and Diane all went early to get a COVID test-this is for when we fly into NY. They all then ate breakfast and shopped around. Sandy and I got up a little later and ate breakfast at our B & B. Sandy and I then joined Gretchen at the old Port. This is at the very bottom of the city of Fira. We took a cable car and Gretchen walked all the way down. We purchased tickets and boarded a large boat (holding about 150-200 people). This took us to the Caldera where we walked to the top. This was not an easy hike. Over ½ hour of hiking straight up in intense heat was tough! The last major eruption was over 3600 years ago. Another was in 1630 BC and eight more eruptions have occurred, the latest in 1950. There were a lot of people who did the trek!

We then (in our boat) went to an area that has mud baths – hot springs that bubble up in a cove. There is a lot of sulphur and manganese turning the water a very orange color. It was pretty amazing how many people dove off the boat and swam into the cove. Back to the port and we had some very good gyros, which we have not really been able to find.

We came home to pick up Diane and went to a place we called the ‘Getto Beach’. This is a beach run pretty out of the ordinary…..kinda Getto. Relaxed. read, and I swam even though the sea was pretty rough.

Back to the B & B and Sandy and I went to get our COVID tests necessary to enter into the US. And then on to a restaurant where we watched the sunset for the last time in Santorini.

We now start our trip back home. We fly to Athens tomorrow AM and spend one night in Athens before we head home. Our flights take us to NY and then customs and a connecting flight to PDX.
Today was an exhausting day with all the hiking and swimming, but it was the last real day.

Notes: This is one difficult island to get around in. GPS does help now though. The traffic is one thing, some streets are one way – you’d never know it! Some streets are 2 way – you’d never know it! Parking is at a premium and some park just wherever they might stop. Motorcycles go too fast. A cruise ship came in today. They come in for one day and leave in the evening. What a boost it gives to the economy. We met two couples today from the US  and one from Ireland. Not many Americans here, mostly Europeans. We did get some news today from the US, been distant from most of it. Missing home, need a rest!

Ron and Sandy