Community Calendar: 12.22.10

Published 4:00 pm Monday, December 20, 2010

Wednesday, Dec. 22Winter break

PACIFIC COUNTY – Schools in the Ocean Beach and Naselle-Grays River Valley School districts will be closed through Friday, Dec. 31 for the winter break. School resumes on Monday, Jan. 3. The Grays Harbor College Columbia Education Center in Ilwaco will be closed through Dec. 28.

Big Book meeting

OCEAN PARK – The Ocean Park Big Book meeting is at 6 p.m. each Wednesday at Ocean Park Methodist Church at 1202 262nd Place. All are welcome. For information call Jeannie at 665-3831.

Grief support

SEAVIEW – A Grief Support Group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m., in the fireside room at Peninsula Church Center at 5000 “N” Place in Seaview. Call 800-772-1319 if you have questions, or just come to this support group.

Neptune Classic Movies

LONG BEACH – The Neptune Twin Cinemas offers family and classic movies with no charge for admission, subject to capacity. All family and classic shows begin at 1 p.m. The movie on Dec. 22 is “The Wackiest Ship in the Army” starring Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson. 1960. 99 min.

Thursday, Dec. 23Energy Assistance Program

PACIFIC COUNTY – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program through Coastal Community Action Program is now underway. Appointments can also be made online at www.coastalcap.org. This program provides financial assistance to help income eligible households make home heating more affordable. Call for detailed income guidelines, or to make an appointment at 800-828-4883; or from the Raymond/South Bend area call 875-8194.

Firewood permits

ILWACO – Firewood cutting permits are available for $25 at Cape Disappointment State Park. Please call 642-3078 today and get your permit.

Art Around Town

PENINSULA – During December the Peninsula Art Association presents the fall art show winners on display in the Ocean Beach Hospital plus Jean Nitzel and Sharon Strong are showing their paintings and collages in the Ilwaco library. Artist Joan Taplin is presenting her watercolor paintings at the Pacific County building. We hope you have time to admire these creative pieces of art.

Friday, Dec. 24Holiday closures

PACIFIC COUNTY – The Chinook Observer will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24 for the Christmas holiday. We will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27. City and county offices will be closed that day as well.

All branches of the post office will close at noon on Dec. 24. Raymond Federal Bank will close at 1 p.m.; Great Northwest Federal Credit Union branches close at 1 p.m. Branches of The Bank of the Pacific will close at 3 p.m., that day.

All Timberland Libraries will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holidays. Libraries will resume regular schedules on Monday, Dec. 27. For more information call 877-284-6237.

Saturday, Dec. 25Free dinner

LONG BEACH – The Elks Lodge at the corner of Washington and 2nd Avenue N., in Long Beach, is serving a free community Christmas dinner that is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 25. Santa and one of his elves will be there and there will be entertainment and toys for the children. Call 642-2651 if you have questions.

Community meal

OCEAN PARK – NAMI, the United Methodist Church and Lutheran churches are collaborating on a Christmas potluck dinner for those who would otherwise be alone, but for anyone else as well. Bring a friend if you’d like, and spread the word. It will be held Saturday, Christmas Day from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Lutheran Church social hall on “U” Place and 240th, in Ocean Park. Ham and turkey breast will be provided so bring whatever you like that would compliment it, or not. Favorite recipes are always a hit! If you don’t have anything to bring just bring yourself. If you need a ride, some will be available so call. Also, if you can call ahead for meal planning purposes. Come enjoy the company of friends and neighbors. For questions that day call 665-6344, 665-4421 or 665-6305.

Sunday, Dec. 26Remember the Magic

OCEAN PARK – Ocean Park Signs proudly presents the fourth edition of the Christmas lights and music program “Remember the Magic” at 29011 “H” Street in Ocean Park. (North of Joe Johns, and south of 295th on the ocean side.) The hour-long program plays three times every night through Dec. 26 starting at 5:30 p.m., and repeating until 8:30 p.m. Listen from your car on our neighborhood broadcast station playing on 89.5 FM. The show is free to all. Donations for the South Pacific County Humane Society are greatly appreciated. Parking is limited, so share the ride with your neighbors, please be courteous with your headlights, and be aware of traffic. Come and watch the lights dance. Call 665-0174 if you need any additional information.

L&C Park events

ASTORIA – Lewis and Clark National Historical Park will offer special programs about the Corps of Discovery’s winter at Fort Clatsop on the days following Christmas. Starting Dec. 26 Fort Clatsop will feature scheduled living history programs by park rangers in period costume each day through Jan. 1. Events include flintlock muzzle-loading programs daily at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.; talks about various aspects of the explorers’ winter at Fort Clatsop at 11:30 a.m., and skill demonstrations such as quill pen writing at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Ranger-guided walks on the Netul River Trail will be offered this week at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each day will start and end with “The Star Spangled Banner” talk (at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) about the second flag of the United States that flies at the fort. In addition, there are movies in the visitor center. “A Clatsop Winter Story,” a 22-minute movie about the 1805-06 winter from a Clatsop Indian perspective, will be offered on each hour and “Lewis and Clark: Confluence of Time and Courage,” a 34-minute movie about the entire voyage, will be offered at 24 minutes after each hour. The park is closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Peninsula meditation group

KLIPSAN – A meditation group meets on Sundays at 3:30 p.m., in the Golden Sands conference room, off the west entrance. Contact Kim at 642-2916, Jim at 665-3151, or Barb at 665-4421 if you need more information.

Overeaters Anonymous

PENINSULA – There are meetings four times a week on the Peninsula in both Seaview and Ocean Park, on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays for those interested in the support group Overeaters Anonymous. If you have questions call 665-2535 or Kathleen at 642-8439.

Monday, Dec. 27Al-Anon

KLIPSAN – Al-Anon daytime group meet on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Golden Sands Assisted Living. If you love someone who has issues with alcohol or you grew up in an alcoholic home, this is for you. Find help and hope and how to deal with this in a healthy way, in a safe environment. Call 665-5300 for more information.

AA meetings

OCEAN PARK and SEAVIEW – Alcoholics Anonymous has two group meetings on the Peninsula. The Ocean Park group meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Ocean Park Methodist Church at 1202 262nd Place on Mondays and Fridays. The second group meets seven days a week at 6:30 a.m., noon and 8 p.m., at 4603 Pacific Highway in Seaview. For more information you can call 642-2902 or go to http://area72aa.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 28Wrestling for spaghetti

ILWACO – Friends of Ilwaco Wrestling are putting on a spaghetti feed on Tuesday, Dec. 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the old Ilwaco High School cafeteria. All proceeds go to benefit the Fishermen wrestling program. There is a choice of Marinara sauce, Italian meat sauce, or white clam sauce, plus you get Caesar salad, garlic bread and a beverage are included for $6.

Lap Band support

ASTORIA – Lap Band Support Group meets the last Tuesday of each month from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the Owens-Adair Building at 1508 Exchange Street in Astoria. The next meeting is Dec. 28. Contact Lisa t 503-791-2315 for directors or call 665-0049 if you have questions.

Coat drive

SEAVIEW – Chico’s Pizza is once again gathering coats for the homeless throughout the months of December and January. This month if you bring in a new or good used coat to Chico’s you will get a free order of breadsticks. Help someone less fortunate today! Call 642-3207 if you have questions.

Grow & Live Spiritually

SEAVIEW – Anyone with an interest is invited to the Peninsula Church Center at 5000 “N” Place in Seaview to find out about spiritual tools and to use them during a gathering each Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., led by Rev. Mary Evelyn Long. Coffee and tea will be available. Call 655-5300 for information.

Masonic meeting

ILWACO – Occident Lodge No. 99 meets at noon every Tuesday for a no host luncheon at the Imperial Schooner Restaurant at the Port of Ilwaco. Sojourners are welcome. For information call Jim at 665-6577 or Norm at 642-2258.

Do Nothing Club

OCEAN PARK – Enjoy the gift of time throughout the year and spent time with friends. And there’s no better time than now to check out the Do Nothing Club. The club is always looking for a few good men to meet on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at 24002 “U” Street in Ocean Park. You can play cribbage, shoot pool or sit around solve the world’s problems. Meet and make some new friends. For more information, call Jack McBride at 665-2721 or Jim Wirth at 665-2420.

Rotary

SEAVIEW – The Southwest Pacific County Peninsula Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m., at the 42nd Street Café in Seaview. For more information contact Club President Lynn Raymer at 665-2685 or go to www.beachrotary.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 29Weekend navigator

CAPE D – Learn how to use your electronic and paper charts, GPS, plotters, radar and depth sounder with a class that runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting Jan. 6, at Cape Disappointment U.S. Coast Guard Station mess hall. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is sponsoring this class. The fee is $20. Contact Don at 642-8559 or contact via e-mail at bergerdon@centurytel.net.

Neptune Classic Movies

LONG BEACH – The Neptune Twin Cinemas offers family and classic movies with no charge for admission, subject to capacity. All family and classic shows begin at 1 p.m. The movie on Dec. 29 is “The Court Jester” starring Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury and Glynis Johns. 1956. 99 min.

Future EventsClamming

PENINSULA – A razor clam dig is scheduled on the Long Beach Peninsula from the Columbia River north jetty to Leadbetter Point on Dec. 31 through Jan. 2, pending marine toxin tests, with digging allowed between noon and midnight. The best time to start is an hour or two before low tide and it is recommended you take a lantern for evening digs. Low tides adjusted for Pacific beaches those days are as follows: Friday, Dec. 31, 4:44 p.m. -0.2; Saturday, Jan. 1, 5:37 p.m. -0.5; Sunday, Jan. 2, 6:26 p.m. -0.7. Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. Licenses are available at numerous local businesses.

Farmers Market volunteers

LONG BEACH – The Columbia-Pacific Farmers’ Market will get off the ground in May 2011. An authentic farmers’ market, this event will be exclusively a food market dedicated to showcasing the spectacular eats of the Columbia-Pacific region and to supporting and celebrating the hardworking people who bring those foods to our community. The market will include 20 or so farmers, ranchers, fishers, growers, and package food producers, and will also feature entertainment and games. It will be a place to meet your neighbor every Friday afternoon/evening and have fun! Many volunteers will be needed each week from noon until 7:30 p.m., mid-May through September. Please contact Gayle Borchard at 642-4421 or planner@longbeachwa.gov if you wish to volunteer.

“River of Doubt”

OCEAN PARK – A discussion of the book, “River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” by Candice Millard will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 4 for adults at Ocean Park Timberland Library. For more information call 665-4184.

Relay for Life meeting

LONG BEACH – The local Relay for Life group meets at 6 p.m., on Jan. 5, at the Chautauqua Lodge in Long Beach. The committee meeting is at 6 p.m., the team meeting is at 7 p.m. Come get involved in this effort. If you have questions call Lacie at 783-2094.

Audubon cleanup

PENINSULA – Discovery Coast Audubon Society has joined the community beach cleanup set for Jan. 8. Volunteers are needed to lend a hand with the area north of 170th. Please call 642-1310 or e-mail: bird@discoverycoastaudubon.com to get aboard early and help save birds from eating trash and small plastic items.

Singers wanted

KLIPSAN – If you have been thinking about joining the Bayside Singers, rehearsals begin again on Monday, Jan. 10 at Our Savior Church, 240th & U Street in Klipsan. This group of singers does all kinds of music and is seeking one more experienced tenor and baritone as well as more women. Men start at 1 p.m.; women at 2:30 p.m. If you have questions call Claire at 665-6055.