in other words/community
2014
Living On a Lake in the Country: History
By Gayle Rich-Boxman
How it has been re-birthed a few times.
From land to railroads, to farmland, to
If I could pick one word that a man-made lake to a thriving resort
currently represents what I know about community, the ultimate dream of the
my “niche”, Fishhawk Lake, it would be original developer.
history.
The history of the birth
of Fishhawk Lake. The history of
the homes I’ve had the pleasure of
selling and re-selling. The history
of the people who’ve lived here
and the sense of community. The
history of events, great fun ones and
life changing emotional ones. The
history of the seasons. The history
of wildlife at Fishhawk Lake,
who’ve come and gone.
All of it circles in upon
itself, is intertwined, as is my
history, with being here.
I’ve learned about the history
I know the history of people
before Fishhawk Lake even existed. who have been born or died here. A baby
was delivered in the bathroom of a home
I have for sale.
There are those people who’ve
died right here whose pets have gone on
to become loved by someone else in this
tight knit place called Fishhawk
Lake.
There’s a history of stories,
lore, parties, craziness, and
sisterhood and brotherhood. All
of which are layered, one upon
another in the years that fold over
one by one. We have had shared
storytelling; laughter and tears
over those same stories.
People come and people go,
some reluctantly, some with signs
pointing towards future goals that
must be met. I represent homes as
listings where I’m on my second
or third owner who started out as my
buyer, then became my seller.
The Senior Center is Not Just for Seniors
“And donating to the Senior Center is
like banking at Wauna Credit Union-it
goes back to the community. Not only is
it funding the seniors, but my goal is to
get more people using this store, so we
can keep the prices really low. I want
people to think of it as a resource, es-
pecially when they are struggling. It’s a
way for families to make ends meet.”
The
Thrift
Store is open from
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Monday through Fri-
day and 10:00 AM to
3:00 PM on Satur-
days. Harrison says
to call her if you have
donations after hours
and she will come
open the door for
you; you can reach
her at 503-429-8425.
New cook Kru-
ger has taken the long
route to arrive in Ver-
nonia. Born in Eng-
land, she has lived in
California, Arizona,
Seattle and Rainier.
She has worked in
catering and most
recently was honing
Sheila Kruger is the new cook at the Senior Center.
her skills for three
bringing them back for sale cleaned up years as the cook at the Rainier Senior
or with a new coat of paint. “I’m a huge Center. She has lived in Vernonia for the
fan of Pintrest and I like to set things up last three years.
so people can see the possibilities.”
Kruger likes to cook from
For the six volunteers who help scratch and tries to stay away from
out in the store, Harrison has allowed canned and processed ingredients. She
them to be innovative as well, encourag- says her specialties are her sauces and
ing them to share their ideas, move items desserts and that she tries to make a
around, use their organizational or other homemade dessert, like rice pudding,
talents, and have fun. “I want them to bread pudding or fresh fruit crisps and
feel like they can come in and really con- crumbles, three or four times a week.
tribute,” says Harrison. “We have a great
For Kruger, it’s all about com-
bunch of volunteers who are dedicated, fort food - rib sticking food that will
resourceful and hard working.”
warm and fill you up. The day we visited
Another change Harrison says she was cooking up some biscuits and
she is considering is some kind of out- gravy; homemade hamburger gravy and
door market in the summer time. She al- fresh baked biscuits. Her biscuits were
ready has a Facebook page where she is flaky, buttery, salty, and delicious!
posting items that are for sale, as well as
Kruger is encouraging the gen-
other information about activities at the eral public to stop by for lunch and try
Senior Center. She also says they are red her down-home cooking. The cost for
marking items after a month; those items a meal is just five dollars; if you’re over
are 50% off. “It’s kind of like a treasure sixty it’s a suggested donation of four
hunt,” says Harrison.
dollars, but no seniors are turned away.
Harrison is a big proponent of “If you want, you can come in and get
donating and reusing items. “For me, it’s a home cooked, hot meal,” says Kruger.
the most exciting part of thrift stores,” “We want people to know that this isn’t
she says about seeing items reused. just for seniors; this is here for everyone
tele. “I want this to be a place that feels
happy and relaxed,” she says. “A place
where people can feel comfortable and
creative.”
Harrison has enjoyed using her
own creativity to display items in the
store in a more imaginative way. She
says she sometimes takes home broken
items and fixes them or dresses up items,
march6
9
The history of my niche
continues as I have new neighbors to
carry on the torch of this continually
changing community. And I am blessed
that this niche is a part of my own history
as well.
If this feels like the type of
community you could live in, give me a
call. Gayle Rich-Boxman, Realtor with
Vernonia Realty. (503)755-2905.
continued from front page
in the community.”
Kruger says some of her other
crowd favorites are lasagna, roast chick-
en, pot roast and meat loaf. Kruger says
she can whip up a burger, grilled cheese
or egg salad if what’s on the menu
isn’t to your liking. Wednesday’s
are usually a meat and potatoes dish.
Lunch is served at noon and are also
available to-go. If you don’t feel like
cooking after work Kruger will make
you up a dinner you can pick up in the
afternoon and take home.
She also makes maple bars
every day and hopes to add scones
and muffins. Kruger says to call
ahead to order a quantity of maple
bars for your next event, they are a
dollar each or a dozen for ten dollars.
As you can see, there is a lot
happening at the Vernonia Senior Center
that just about anyone can enjoy. And
any money you spend goes towards a
good cause.
Register online:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VitalVernonia
