Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
B3
Spring is in the air
Senior
Living
Scott
McKay
The sun is out, the days are
warmer, and suddenly I have this
urge to start cleaning and getting
rid of “stuff.”
I even start thinking it might be
time to downsize; find a smaller
place to live. Or even fit all my
possessions into a Sprinter van (an
upgrade from the Volkswagen van
of half a century ago) and travel to
new destinations full of excitement
and possibilities! But when my
head clears, and I realize down-
sizing is more a struggle than an
adventure.
I have read about where to begin:
Old technology (the three old lap-
tops stored under my desk), stuff
you’ll never use or wear (if it hasn’t
been used in two years, it’s gone!),
old hobbies (does anyone want
a box of miscellaneous postage
stamps?). And how to get rid of the
stuff: Yard sales, non-profit thrift
stores, unsuspecting friends?
But after raising two children
in the same house with 35years of
accumulated stuff, shrink-wrapped
in memories, my biggest chal-
lenge is the emotional difficulty of
downsizing.
What anyone else would con-
sider junk ignores my emotional
attachments: The broken folding
chair my dad gave me before I left
for college; the first board game I
played with my children; picture
notes I drew for my daughter to go
with her school lunches.
When I look at those unusable
objects, I experience feelings I
have not felt in years. And I admit,
I’m afraid if I toss those memory
triggers, I will also be tossing those
comforting memories — out of
sight and out of mind — forever.
And forever is a long, long time.
There are other reasons why
downsizing is difficult for older
adults, according to David Ekerdt,
professor at the Gerontology
Center at the University of Kansas.
You may feel what you give away
will not be appreciated as much by
someone else. Or downsizing may
force you to face reality: Maybe you
popular among teens was spin
the bottle. I received correct
answers from Betsy Ayers, Louise
Wooderson, Mary Pearce, Virginia
Johnson, Barbara Cadwell, Lana
Tepfer, Carl and Leslie Trabant,
Linda Frizzell, Dave Lutgens,
Margo Dameier, Gene Uczen, Kim
Birge, Patty Burnet, Mike Yarnell,
and Krista Thie this week’s winner
of a free quilt raffle ticket. And
somehow last week I missed Lana
Tepfer.
In the ‘60s there were many
supergroups such as Crosby, Stills
and Nash and the short-lived Blind
Faith. But it was not until 1985
when country music had its first
supergroup, The Highwaymen.
For this week’s “Remember
When” question who were the four
artists (or at least two), known for
their influence on outlaw country
music, in this supergroup? Email
your answer to mcseniorcenter@
gmail.com, leave a message at
541-296-4788, or send with the
DVD of Stagecoach, the 1986
made-for-television remake of the
1939 film starring John Wayne.
•••
Well, it has been another week,
trying to see the future in my
aren’t going to read all those books
you have kept and you aren’t going
to learn to play that electric guitar
stored in the basement and tour
the world with Mick Jagger. When
you must make decisions about
what is important to you, you are
really defining who you are.
But after downsizing, most folks
are glad they did. You are no longer
a prisoner of your past and by
deciding what you want to keep, as
Professor Ekerdt states, “You are
choosing what you are going to be
and this can be very gratifying.”
And you may even find less stuff
can mean more happiness.
•••
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers”
is a six-week educational program
designed to help unpaid family
caregivers take care of themselves
while caring for a spouse, family
member, or friend. The class meets
virtually by ZOOM from 10 a.m. to
noon on Fridays beginning May 21.
Class size is limited. The cost is $30
and scholarships are available. To
register, contact Britta Willson at
541-387-6404 or brittany.willson@
providence.org.
•••
The name of the kissing game
rearview mirror. Until we meet
again, wisdom often comes from
keeping your mouth shut and your
eyes and ears open.
•••
“Here is the test to find whether
your mission on Earth is finished: if
you’re alive, it isn’t.”
— Richard Bach
•••
Nutritious Home delivered
meals and pick-ups for anyone
over 60.
Hood River Valley Adult Center
— Call 541-386-2060.
The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels —
Call 541-298-8333.
The Sherman County Senior and
Community Center — Call 541-
565-3191 by 10:30 a.m. and leave a
message with the number of meals
needed and names of each person.
Klickitat County Senior Services
— Goldendale office call the
509-773-3757 or the White Salmon
office call 509-493-3068.
Skamania County Senior
Services — Call 509-427-3990.
Seniors of Mosier Valley — Call
541-503-5660 or 541-980-1157 at
least one day in advance to order
a Grab-N-Go meal. Monday and
Wednesdays from 11-11:30 a.m.
LYLE NEWS
Opening announced on Twin Bridges Museum Board
■ By Mildred E. Lyken
If you, or anyone you
know, has thought about
“giving back” to the com-
munity or “paying forward,”
now’s your chance.
Recently there has been
an opening on the Twin
Bridges Museum Board. This
is a great way to share your
love of history, especially
local history, and share
that love with like-minded
volunteers. If this isn’t your
cup of tea, talk to your family
and friends, especially those
who do not subscribe to the
newspaper. It’s hard to get
the word out otherwise.
A reminder that Mary
Sorensen’s graveside service
is Saturday, April 24 at 1
p.m. A gathering of family
and friends will meet to see
her ashes interred, but her
funeral service will be held
later in the summer, possibly
the 4th of July weekend,
which was her favorite time
to have a potluck barbecue.
Simultaneously, there
will be an Estate Sale of
Mary’s earthly belongings
held on that same weekend.
(The sale beginning on the
previous Friday the 23rd) at
her home in Dallesport at
504 Third St., from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. If need be it may even
carry on to the next weekend
on April 30 and May 1, same
hours. From antiques to
“stuff,” you’ll find it there.
The Washington State
Parks and Recreation
Commission will offer one
more free day in April, which
is Thursday, April 22 — Earth
Day. Get out there and enjoy
a day of fresh air and sun-
shine — we all need vitamin
D from the sun and the fresh
air is good for the soul. Just
try to park your car accord-
ingly and watch when you
pull out onto
the highway.
We’ve had
enough
accidents at
the park and
hike areas.
There will
Mildred E.
be multiple
Lyken
daytime lifts
of the Hood River-White
Salmon Interstate Bridge
lift span between the hours
of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. starting
Monday, April 26 through
Friday, April 30 as bridge en-
gineers and port crews con-
duct extensive inspections
of the bridge lift mechanical
and electrical systems.
Motorists should expect
delays of up to 30 minutes
depending on traffic volume
during these hours. Each lift
will last approximately 15-20
minutes, but heavy traffic
may increase delay time
following each lift. Up to six
lifts are planned per day,
with lift heights ranging from
less than 10’ to full height.
On Tuesday, April 27, no
lifts are planned, but work
crews will be on the bridge
and flaggers will direct traffic
around the moving work
zone between the hours of
9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Minimal
delays are expected during
these hours. Engineering
crews will be performing
electrical and mechanical
testing to the bridge’s lift
span, counterweight guides,
ropes, and trunnions. For
more information, contact
the Port of Hood River via
email to porthr@gorge.net.
A “Spring Gift Sale” is
planned with a preview on
Friday, April 23 from 6-8
p.m. with the sale starting
on the 24th from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m., and the 25th from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Hand crafted
gifts just in time for Mother’s
Day. Wreaths, candles,
soaps, metal yard art, mosaic
flower pots, birdhouses …
and even some homemade
tamales, salsa, and frozen
cookie balls! How can you
go wrong? You know Mom
would love something
homemade. Find it all at 521
Columbia Drive in Lyle.
Posted Tuesday, April 13:
It’s time to get your little one
signed up for kindergarten
or pre-kindergarten. Check
with the schools. Call them
to get your child on the list
for the 2021-2022 school
year. They will have a meet-
and-greet and school tour
later this summer. For more
info, phone 509-365-2211.
This nice weather we’re
experiencing is somewhat
bitter-sweet. As you enjoy
getting out in that beauti-
ful sunshine and feel the
warmth of the sun and wind
in your faces, please realize
too that this also brings on
the fire season. As you hike
the trails or even bar-b-q in
your back yard, be aware
that the drying Gorge winds
have done their job and what
was wet weeds and grasses
are now fire ready. Because
of the low humidity, and
those winds, outdoor burn-
ing is not recommended.
Something has got to be
done before someone is
critically injured about the
parking off the highway in
designated areas for hiking.
A semi-truck left the high-
way, went over the guard
rail and into Rowen Lake
last week — maybe there
could be a turning lane that
would permit some cars to
pass while others wait to
cross the path of oncoming
cars? I don’t know what to
suggest about drivers pulling
out into traffic without first
checking to make sure it’s
GLENWOOD NEWS
So much good news’ includes college honor rolls
■ By Mary Pierce
We have so much good
news to share this week, it’s
hard to know where to be-
gin. The Glenwood Middle
School girls’ volleyball
team finished their season
with a win in Klickitat last
Friday night to complete an
undefeated season. We here
in Glenwood are very proud
of our girls and their coach,
Sara McFall. The three eighth
grade girls on the team, Jayla
Avila, Brenna Beeks, and
Emmerson Gimlin, were
recognized before the game
began. All three girls are
outstanding players and will
be a welcome addition to the
high school team next year.
All the girls on the team,
from the three eighth grade
girls down to the three fifth
grade girls, played very well
in their final game and fin-
ished their season on a high
note. Now we’re all looking
forward to next year with the
hope that it will be a normal
fall season, as in years past.
Congratulations, Eagle girls.
The Glenwood and
Klickitat combined high
school volleyball team,
Klickwood, finished their ab-
breviated season last Friday
night, facing Trout Lake on
the Glenwood court. The
girls played hard and well
and the games were close.
Even though our girls lost
in four hard fought games,
winning
the third
game to
necessitate
the fourth,
they should
be proud
of how well
Mary Pierce
they played
as a team and how incred-
ibly far they have come
since the beginning of the
season. In the fifth game, the
younger girls also came very
close to winning and should
feel good about the way they
demonstrated their skills
and teamwork. Way to go,
Klickwood girls and Coach
Jaecee Hoctor. We all hope
you get to have a regular fall
season next school year and
we can fill the bleachers to
cheer you on.
Here is some very im-
portant information from
Glenwood Volunteer Fire
Department Chief Brent
Gimlin. Most Glenwood
residents received a ballot
in the mail earlier this
month for the Glenwood
Fire Department levy. This
is NOT another levy. The
last levy that was voted on
two years ago was voided
because Klickitat County
determined it wasn’t worded
correctly. This is the same
levy that our community
passed last time and we
hope to have your vote to
pass it again to enable our
Fire Department to better
Attention Hunters!
Now is the time to select your 2021 hunts
Complete your Controlled Hunt Applications
Online at MyODFW.com
Don’t wait to apply this year.
Apply Now at MyODFW.com
serve you. Ballots must be
postmarked or deposited by
April 27.
A celebration of the lives
of Charlie and June Allen
will be held at the Glenwood
Rodeo dance hall on May
1 at 11 a.m. All who knew
Charlie and June are wel-
come to attend and share
memories of the couple.
Both Charlie and June de-
voted decades to making the
annual Glenwood Ketchum
Kalf Rodeo a success and
both are greatly missed as
planning begins for this
year’s rodeo. A catered
luncheon will be served, but
those members of the Rodeo
Association who remember
how much Charlie enjoyed
the desserts at the workday
potlucks are asked to bring
desserts to share for the
luncheon.
Andy McFall, a 2020
graduate of Glenwood High
School and son of Adam
and Sara McFall, made the
President’s List at Neumont
College of Computer Science
in Salt Lake City, Utah. Andy
has made this list for his first
two quarters at the college,
and that list has a very high
bar. Students must achieve
a 3.75 to 4.0 grade point
average in order to receive
the honor. Congratulations,
Andy. We are all proud
of you back home in
Glenwood.
I am also pleased to share
BEST OF HAWAII
FOUR-ISLAND
TOUR
Glenwood Middle School’s volleyball team was undefeated this year. Pictured are eighth grad-
ers and their coach: Emmerson Gimlin, Brenna Beeks, Coach Sara McFall, and Jayla Avila.
Photo courtesy of Amy Beeks.
the news that Kinley Troh, a
2019 Glenwood High School
graduate and daughter of
Toni and Bill Troh, made
the Dean’s List for winter
quarter at Columbia Basin
College. To be chosen for
this honor, students must
FROM
$
$
2,599
2,349 *
12 days, departs
year-round
earn at least 12 credits in
100-level or above cours-
es within the quarter and
achieve a quarterly grade
point average of 3.85 to 4.00.
Kinley is studying to become
a radiological technician and
is enjoying the hands-on
experience she is receiving
by doing clinicals two days
a week at Lourdes Medical
Center in Pasco. Way to go,
Kinley. We are all proud of
you here in your home town.
Send news items to gmp-
ierce09@gmail.com.
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