April 2015

Page 2 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

From the Editor’s Desk

While the East Coast has been simply pummeled by freezing temperatures and buried under snow, we enjoyed a lovely March and beginning of our Spring season!

Makes it not so bad to say we live in the Northwest this time of year, right?

I’ve got my beans, peas, lettuce, and spinach planted, while my kiddos each have their own “garden tub” to plant whatever they want. I wish we had more space to garden, but since this isn’t my property, I can’t just rip up the backyard like I really want to. ☺ Hopefully, we will be in a position to purchase a place and get to our gardens. The kids are happy with their one large tub, and so that makes it alright, I suppose.

April is one of my favorite months to publish. We focus on “Living Green” each year for this issue, and take a closer look at what that means for different people and businesses.

For myself, living green means doing what I can to help keep God’s beautiful earth clean and “green”. We recycle quite a bit, use as little energy as possible (imagine me telling my kids to “put on a sweater” if they were cold....), carpool places, make our own cleaning agents and eat food from our garden, as well as buying local produce from farmers. As much as we can financially afford, we eat whole organic grains and organic produce.

I learned a lot about organic farming in college from a friend of mine, who shared with me the horrors of chemically grown food, especially strawberries. I never looked at another straw-

berry the same after that.

Knowledge is power, but knowledge also provides the opportunity for making a choice. You either change your lifestyle or purchasing choices to reflect what you feel to be important, or you don’t.

This April, we celebrate Earth Day! 45 years strong, this special day commemorates and encourages everyone to think more positively towards the earth, and about ways we can help lessen our negative impact.

There’s a really neat section called “Living Green” that is on pages 10-14 that has some great articles on different sustainable practices, and “green” information. Like I said, this is one of my fave issues, because I love sustainability and trying to live as “green” as we can!

April is also host to a most joyous celebration called Easter! This is the time of year where those who believe Jesus was who He said He was, really get to party! This is the event that separates Jesus from anybody else on the planet. He died. He rose again from the dead - by himself! Now, if I do say so myself, that is a mighty BOOM! I hope that you have considered Jesus. Not by looking at those of us who call Him Savior - because we fail. And fail terribly! But by looking to Him and to God. It’s pretty miraculous when you think about it.

Most religions recognize Jesus as being alive. Most even recognize Him as a Prophet. But perhaps what they failed to consider is that a ‘prophet’ is not able to lie, and that Jesus claimed

Publication Information Valley Bugler, LLC

Longview, WA (360)414-1246 www.ValleyBugler.com eMail: editor@valleybugler.com

Editor/Publisher................................Michelle Myre Cover Design / Web Mngr.............omOriginals Marketing! (360)575-9839 Distribution.........................................Diana Jones Advertising Sales.............................Michelle Myre Columnists.........................................Listed below

Paddy Burrow - Fruits & Nuts

Georgia Butterfield - Adorable Adoptee

Georgia Cox - Castle Rock Seniors

Oscar Myre IV - Geek Speak

Blake Peterson - Movie Reviews

PeaceHealth - Living Well

Laurrie Piland - Baked Lava /valleybuglernewspaper Pat Nelson - Window to Woodland

Mavis Trentham - The Garden Shed **The Valley Bugler newspaper publishes content supplied from the above columnists, and is not responsible for factual mistakes or anything other than the occasional spelling error. The Valley Bugler does not endorse views expressed, but retains a neutral stance on all issues presented.**

www.valleybugler.com

EMAIL: EDITOR@VALLEYBUGLER.COM

He was the Son of God. I guess it’s all about whether you believe Him or not.

I do. And so I celebrate! ☺ Until next month, be green!

Michelle Myre Publisher / Editor [Chloe update: One big hurdle is complete: the CT Scan. The scan revealed that YES, bone was growing back, and it appeared as though al-

most all the bone was filled in. There was one worrisome space that concerned the surgeon, and she mentioned that it was located where a majority of the tumors were removed. It was an area of concern after surgery, and remains the same. We have another x-ray scheduled in about six weeks to see if that “space” has filled in with new bone (prayers!) or if it remains. If it remains, we do exploratory surgery, and biopsy whatever is there, and is causing the “space”.

Thank you for your support!]

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 3

Girls Night Out offers an

evening of fun, food and friends

Woodland Tulips beckon us all

Saturday, April 18th 3:00pm - 8:00pm It’s time to gather the girlfriends and meet up in Downtown Centralia for a Passport Adventure of shopping, eating and lots of giggles.

Ladies can pick up passports ($5.00) at either side of town, at HubBub (505 N. Tower Ave) or The Station Coffee Bar (120 S. Tower Ave), and begin their shopping and playing adventure.

Participating retail shops and restaurants will be offering special discounts and goodies to ladies who

bring their passport in during the event.

The first 250 participants will receive a goody bag loaded with giveaways and coupons.

A collection of Lady friendly prizes have been assorted and are waiting to be claimed by their winners, who will be chosen throughout the evening.

For more information please call (360)623-1016 or visit online at Facebook by typing in: ‘Downtown Centralia Girl’s Night Out’ in the search box.

8th Annual Spring Chehalis Valley Wine Tour • May 2nd - 3rd

Sisters Chloe (left) and Cora (right) Myre enjoy a trip down one of the lovely aisles of tulips at the Holland America Bulb farm in Woodland, sharing beauty and events for all ages. Photos by Michelle Myre.

By Michelle Myre It’s that time of year again, raincoats and galoshes come out and tulips rise up to shine their glory at the Woodland Tulip Farm! The Tulip Festival and other events are set for Springtime family fun in Woodland, WA this April. The U-Pick farm is open NOW due to this glorious weather we have been enjoying, so gather up the family and visit the farm for some wonderful memory making fun.

Holland America Bulb Farms 1066 South Pekin Rd, Woodland Woodland Tulip Festival April 11th - 12th, 18th - 19th Enjoy the tulip fields, purchase cut flowers, browse the vendor’s market and take pictures of your kids as they play and also enjoy painting their own tulip tee-shirt. Of course, no one should forget snapping those gorgeous pics with the kids and the tulips. A simply marvelous combination.

Free admission and NO parking fee make this a fun weekend venture.

Tulip Trot 5K Run/Walk Saturday, April 4th Located at the Holland America Bulb Farms in Woodland, join the throng in a fun 5K run/walk down and back flat race in the Woodland bottoms farm land. Tulips will be in bloom and cheering you along!

Benefits Breast Cancer Awareness, there will be vendors, free tulips and refreshments.

For info & registration, visit: www.woodlandTulipsHABF.com Wine Tasting & Art Show Saturday, April 25th @ 5-9pm Join us for a relaxing evening of live music and tastings from Bethany’s Winery of Ridgefield, WA We will be showcasing our Private label wines and enjoying local catering. Invite some friends to join in the evening with you and take home a bottle of wine to share!

Tickets available at the door for $20 or $15 in advance. (5 tastings.)

Please call 360-225-4512 to make your reservations.

Mark your calendars now for the 8th annual Chehalis Valley Wine Tour, coming the first weekend in May. You will experience 6 of Washington’s premium wineries in the Chehalis Valley, and the $20.00 Passport allows you entrance into each of the six wineries, along with a complimentary logo wine glass, wine tastings and hors d’oevres.

Passports are available at each winery involved in the Tour, or online at: www.ChehalisValleyWineTour.com Each winery offers a variety of wines, many with awards and medals from wine shows in the Northwest.

Plan your route, pick your wineries, or call for information and questions.

Agate Creek Cellars 105 Agate Creek Lane Chehalis, WA 98532

Bateaux Cellars 288 Smokey Valley Road Toledo, WA 98591 Birchfield Winery 242 Kennicott Rd Chehalis, WA 98532 Heymann Whinery 212 N Tower Ave Centralia, WA 98531 Scatter Creek Winery 291 Sussex Avenue West Tenino, Wa. 98589 Wells’ Winery 140 Eschaton Rd. Onalaska, WA. 98570

Page 4 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Silver Lake Resort is host to the Seattle Outboard Association Hydroplane Races on May 2-3

By Michelle Myre Valley Bugler My family had the opportunity to stay at the Silver Lake Resort a couple weeks ago, and discovered a waterfront gem.

We lucked out with weather and calm waters, as you can see in the photo above. Taken with my wimpy iPhone, it nowhere near captures the majestic beauty of Mt. St. Helens standing to the east.

The morning brought a gorgeous shimmering mist that hovered across the water, and disappeared once the sun arrived completely. It was peaceful, quiet and the kids were still snuggled in their beds, so I was quite content. My coffee, the peaceful morning and beautiful view from my covered porch was soothing to my soul.

The Resort offers a variety of lodging sizes, from a wonderful 2 bedroom

apartment that we stayed in, to one bedrooms, studios, cabins and RV slots.

The Silver Suite, which is the 2 bedroom unit we stayed in, was very nice and fit all of us without a problem. The Suite also includes a spacious full kitchen, fireplace, jacuzzi tub in the bathroom, and a large exterior covered porch and deck that wraps around one side of the unit.

There was plenty of cupboard and storage space, including full closets in both bedrooms, easily allowing an extended stay for many people.

After a delicious and lazy breakfast time, we decided to take advantage of the bait shop downstairs and hook up some poles for fishing off of our unit deck. [Photo at right: Oscar Myre IV & Cora Myre fish off our unit deck.]

The only thing we managed to catch was a ton of smiles and gorgeous

views of the mountain, and plenty of pictures to commemorate the experience. We know there’s fish in that lake, but the kids just didn’t have the patience needed to stick it out....

The search for fish brought us to various points around the property, including on the nice lawn with a public fire pit, located next to the docks.

Kids got their life jackets on (provided by the Resort) and headed out to the docks to check out what interesting life they could see from above.

Time didn’t allow us to enjoy the lake by boat, so we will have to make reason to visit the Resort again soon.

One of the most popular boating lakes around, it also offers great fishing!

My major complaint is that we didn’t have enough time to explore and stay! We needed at least two or three more days to fully enjoy and experience everything the Resort had to offer, including more time being lazy on the deck with a bobber in the water.

The Outboard Hydroplane races are coming to Silverlake Resort on May 2nd and 3rd, and the lake invites you to come and watch these popular and fun races! Bring your fishing poles and some comfortable chairs. ☺ Resort Owner and operator, Scott Ingebretson, is excited about bringing the races to the Silver Lake Resort.

“We are really glad to have them back for the 4th year in a row! It’s just a whole lot of free family fun.”

Taking over ownership of the Silver Lake Resort five years ago, due to a self-claimed draw to peaceful, lakeside retreats and plenty of hospital-

ity industry experience, Ingebretson has shed his blood, sweat and tears to bring the Resort up to his par. One addition around the Resort two years ago, is named Robin Toms. Decked out with a friendly smile at all hours, Toms offers a positive experience for guests.

Big plans for the future are written all over Ingebretson’s roadmap for the Resort. But first, we need to discuss the improvements that have already taken place.

Besides the “behind the scenes” improvements that include updating plumbing, floors and furnishings, updating the public rest rooms and building new docks, the Resort now offers a fantastic meeting room and children’s play area.

The meeting room is designed to be used for seminars, marriage retreats, inspiring speakers, family reunions and even graduation parties and birthday parties.

“We also want to create even better guest experiences, and focus in offseason destination experiences for people wanting to see the beauty of Silver Lake in the fall and winter. She is so peaceful and relaxing,” stated Ingebretson.

What better place to sit and watch the boat races than from the grassy knoll at the Resort?? Sip on something yummy, kick off your shoes and relax. After all, it’s the Silver Lake Resort. Enjoy.

Silver Lake Resort 3201 Spirit Lake Hwy, Silver Lake (360)274-6141 www.Silverlake-Resort.com

Family Health Center and Drug Abuse Prevention Center Announce Merger Local non-profit organizations merge to offer better services to the community. The Cowlitz Family Health Center and the Drug Abuse Prevention Center are merging organizations on April 1, 2015.

The Family Health Center offers a variety of services in Pacific, Wahkiakum and Cowlitz Counties including primary medical care, behavioral health, dental and health insurance enrollment assistance. The Drug Abuse Prevention Center provides chemical dependency programs such as intensive inpatient/outpatient and long-time residential treatment for adults and pregnant/postpartum women.

Both organizations have been key players in a strategic alliance since 2004 that leverages the core strengths of partners in order to provide more efficient and effective care.

Rational for the merger is to further integrate, extend and strengthen the services both agencies currently provide to their clients and patients. Both agency missions are patient centric and focused on the overall health, wellness and functioning of the populations they serve.

Leadership of both organizations, including staff administration and both governing boards, have participated in merger due diligence and are committed to making the merger a success. The current CEO of Family Health Center, Dian Cooper, will

remain the CEO of the merged organization. The current Executive Director of Drug Abuse Prevention Center, Floyd “Gus” Nolte, will become the Deputy Director of the merged organization. All locations for both organizations will remain in place with possible integration of services at sites in the future. Clients under the merged organization will continue to receive services regardless of their ability to pay. Corporate rebranding will occur at a later date.

About Cowlitz Family Health Center Cowlitz Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center providing a health home for residents in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Pacific Counties. The center accepts selfpay, Medicare, Washington Apple Health (Medicaid), Tricare and most private insurance plans. For more information, visit: www.cowlitzfamilyhealth.org/.

About Drug Abuse Prevention Center Drug Abuse Prevention Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation chemical dependency treatment agency. Treatment is modeled after a modified therapeutic community (TC) concept and provides intensive inpatient/outpatient, long term residential, Drug Court programs and services for pregnant and postpartum women and their families. For more information, visit www.dapcenter.org

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 5

Grange members craft gifts for Shriner’s Hospital

Joan Frymire and Phyllis Ogden of Sunnyside Grange are showing the “animal buddies” the have made for the Shriner’s Hospital. Not pictured is Yvonne Knuth, who took this photo, and is another “buddy maker”. Knuth and Briann Flatt delivered these adorable buddies to the hospital late March 2015. Special thanks to women and men like these who make a difference in our community, especially in the lives of children!

Walk for Respect • April 4th • 10am Walk for Respect: Honoring all people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and actively supporting their full participation and inclusion in the community.

Individual $25.00 includes a T-shirt and Arc membership. Benefits LifeWorks Non Profit organization.

You can register as an individual or

a team. April 4th 2015 at Lake Sacajawea Lions Club, walk begins at 10 am. No fee to walk if you have a disability or are supporting someone with a disability to walk.

T-shirts available to buy for $10.00.

To pre-register call The Arc of Cowlitz County 360- 425-5494 Sponsored

by JH Kelly.

The laws of golf LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come.

This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the # of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does,

the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all playing partners must solemnly chant “You looked up,” or invoke wrath of the universe.

LAW 6: The higher a golfer’s handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.

LAW 7: Every par-three hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its desire.

LAW 8: Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man.

LAW 9: Palm trees eat golf balls.

LAW 10: Sand is alive. If it isn’t, how do you explain the way it works against you?

Fire Mountain Grill Fires Up for the Season!

April harkens the birds and little baby animals, green grass and fresh spring breezes. It also brings us a delicious option for dining with a gorgeous mountain as your table-mate.

The Fire Mountain Grill, located at Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center in Toutle, is firing up their kitchens for another busy season. Open Thursdays through Mondays at 11am starting March 28th.

Relaxed by day and romantic by night, the Fire Mountain Grill is th eperfect place to enjoy a delicious meal and breathtaking views of Mt. St. Helens and the Toutle River Valley.

Home of the infamous “Bigfoot Burger”, 5 beef patties, 5 slices of cheese, onion rings, cheeste sticks, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a Bigfoot size fistful of fries for $19.00. Devour it in 30 minutes or less and you get a free Mt. St. Helens Bucket List t-shirt as a prize!

If that’s not your size palate, then the plentiful options of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, bugers, chicken, fish, fried specialties, and vegetarian meals will be sure to provide something to your liking.

The menu is a mix of out of the ordinary items such as Jagermeister Prawns, Volcano Poppin’ Chicken and Buffalo Bison Burger, intermixed with traditional items such as Teriyaki Burgers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Burger, Club Sandwiches and Chicken Strips.

You can see the full menu online at their web site, as well as see photos of

the restaurant and patio dining:

www.fmgrill.com

More entreé offerings appear later in May, and include mouth watering steaks, specialty chicken and seafood dishes, including a raspberry salmon that is out of this world. (Northwest Salmon seasoned and chargrilled medium, topped with raspberry glaze).

And what meal would be complete without a beverage and dessert? Featuring Northwest wineries and breweries, as well as bottled imports, and delicious flavored lemonades and teas or sodas, and a delectable dessert list.

Complete children’s menu will keep the little tykes more than satisfied with their Little Foot Burger or Sasquatch Strips, among many other choices.

A special event that Fire Mountain Grill hosts each year is their annual Mother’s Day Brunch, on Sunday May 10th. (See ad page 3.)

Make your reservations early, says owner and proprietor, Mike Casetta.

“We really fill up during the 11am 1pm time periods, and last year we were completely booked.”

The Brunch is a wonderful way to celebrate mom together while enjoying the Brunch Buffet, which is full of upscale and delicious items, such as fresh baked pastries, honey ham, prime rib and cocktail prawns. Call for reservations: (360)274-5217 Fire Mountain Grill located at the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center

Page 6 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Get Puzzled...

Answer on p.14

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April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 7

Submitted by Georgia Cox APRIL Events Every Monday: Our infamous Cinnamon Rolls and coffee will be served to the public from 10am to NOON. Suggested donation is only $1.50 for these delicious concessions. A great way to start your week!

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday: Get that heart rate up and get healthy with the exercise classes from 9:30am to 10:30am! Facts show that exercise helps keep your body healthy and functioning as well as possible. Make it one of your New Year resolutions to come join us if you haven’t already!

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday: “Write your Life Story”, and will meet in the Center from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

Every Wednesday: CAP offers Nutrition Meals for Seniors at the Center at NOON. Suggested donation is $3.00, but PLEASE call #636-2118 (by Monday) for reservations. *Paper Tole classes will be held from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

Every Thursday: Fun Quilting projects will take place from 12pm to 3pm and Pinochle games are played in the Center later at 7pm and is open to all who are interested, so bring your game!

Every Friday: Lunches by res-

ervation only, will be served in the Center at NOON. Must Reserve by calling 274-7502 by Monday.

Every Saturday: BINGO games are played from 1pm - 3pm, get ready to have some fun, and bring your best game face.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Tuesday, April 14th: Join us as we welcome Kalei LaFave for a Hawaiian Themed program, beginning at 11:00am and followed by a potluck lunch at high NOON. Come join us for this relaxing time of enjoyment.

Thursday, April 16th: Commodities will be distributed from 10am - 1pm. Have a valid punch card.

Castle Rock Senior Center 222 - 2nd Ave Castle Rock, WA (360)274-7502

The Great Sustainer

By Paddy Burrow Valley Bugler Columnist Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, defines the word ‘sustain’ as follows: 1) to keep in existence; keep up; maintain or prolong; 2) to provide for the support of; specifically, to provide sustenance or nourishment for; 3) to support from or as from below; carry the weight or burden of; 4) to strengthen the courage, spirits of; comfort; buoy up; encourage. (Among other things).

So to sustain someone or something, we would support, maintain and nourish that one; patiently enduring whatever is necessary to support and preserve that other one.

As we focus on sustainable living, this month, in the Bugler, I am reminded of a short Psalm in the Bible that describes The Great Sustainer, the Lord: Psalm 121 says: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is

thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

Sometimes I like to substitute my own name for the “thees” and “thys” in that Psalm. I love that he promises to be my helper, my keeper and to preserve me from all evil. I definitely sleep better at night knowing the Lord never sleeps nor slumbers, and is always on duty protecting me from evil.

How about you? Do you know The Great Sustainer? If not, invite Jesus into your heart today and begin to let Him carry the weight of your life. He will buoy you up, comfort you with His Holy Spirit, patiently nourish, support and preserve you, sustaining you until the moment He takes you home to be with Him forever.

There’s no greater joy than knowing Him. Remember, the Lord is thy keeper. He can be trusted to work everything for our good, as we just receive His love and gratefully obey Him. Paddy Burrow invites your feedback. eMail her at: paddy.burrow@gmail.com or call her at (360)751-5231

Page 8 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Talking to children about environmental issues

By LivingGreenTips.com reprinted with permission During my childhood I formed a deep-seated fear of all things nuclear and a grim acceptance of the notion of a nuclear Armageddon. It literally kept me awake at nights. This did not come from my parents - it was the media.

Was that fear a good thing? Perhaps. However, it’s certainly set me against nuclear power as a source of energy and it would take some convincing otherwise, even if it were ever made “safe” and environmentally friendly.

The problem with fear is while it can help us avoid harm, it can also have an effect of closing our minds or even becoming fatalistic about things; accepting something is a done deal and that resistance is futile.

So how do we relay our concerns about the environment without frightening the heck out of our children?

How do we translate some of the frightening images and concepts the media (or even this site) puts forward at times into something they can deal with?

Besides setting a good example, we need to empower children; convince them that while things aren’t all sunshine and puppies, they can make a difference and that in fact the future of the planet depends on them; the decisions they make right now and tomorrow.

It sounds like a heavy burden for such young shoulders. The key is to keep the message simple and it’s my opinion we should make it one about personal responsibility first instead of perhaps unwittingly creating mini-activists fueled only by fear; or kids so scared they feel powerless to take any action.

Something else from even further back in my childhood with a strong message but a positive influence

was a song from Sesame Street Willie Wimple.

It relayed to me that what may be considered a petty issue such as dropping a single piece of litter was not insignificant - there were consequences. It was this line that has stayed with me for over three decades: “Now if every kid did it, can’t you see. What an icky, messy, no-fun world it would be.”

It was a big-picture concept conveyed in a way a child could understand the rhyming also helped with retention.

While I couldn’t save the world as a youngster, I knew that littering was something I had a personal stake in - a decision that had an impact on the environment.

It’s that simple line from a children’s song that is a common theme throughout many of the articles I write on green living - that the little things all add up to the mess we have found ourselves in. By starting out small and working your way through all the green issues in your life, you can avoid being overwhelmed and possibly giving up - that simple green actions do have an effect.

Imagine if the basic concept of the Willie Wimple song could reach the consciousness of however many millions of children in that age group today who are in a situation to understand and act on it.

What have you found successful in getting the environmental message through to your children and other kids; without causing them sleepless nights or bad dreams?

[Editor’s Note: We choose to set a good example through teaching our kids budgeting, earth science, recycling, eating responsibly, and raising our own produce when we can.

This summer, we will aim to keep our neighborhood clean, and involve the neighbors, too!]

Interesting Easter Trivia • According to widespread belief, Easter owes its name to “Eastre”, the Anglo-Saxon goddess symbolizing hare and egg. Another theory suggests that it comes from the early German word “eostarun”, meaning dawn and white.

• Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.

• Easter is a “moveable feast” as it does not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or Julian calendars. The full moon determines the date of Easter.

• “Pysanka” is a name given to the tradition of Easter egg painting.

• The color used in painting the eggs differ in different nations. Orthodox Grecians paint their eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ.

Some Germans and Austrians paint their eggs green and use them on Holy Thursday. Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in gold and silver patterns.

• Chocolate eggs were traditionally given as gifts in Europe.

• In 19th century Europe, bitter dark chocolate was used to make small egg shapes. These chocolate eggs were traditionally exchanged as Easter gifts, especially in countries like France and Germany.

• Ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies and 16 billion jelly beans are produced each year before the commencement of the Easter festivities. As a holiday, Easter comes only second to Halloween in terms of the annual sale confectionary items.

• 76 percent of people eat the ears on chocolate bunnies first.

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records the largest Easter egg ever made was just over 25 feet high and weighed 8,968 lbs.

• In countries like Hungary and Transylvania, the day after Easter is called “Locsolo Hetfo” meaning “Watering Monday”. This is because water, perfume or perfumed water is often sprinkled in exchange for an Easter egg on this day.

• The first Easter baskets were designed as such so as to give it anappearance of a bird’s nests.

• One of the most popular hymns sung at Easter Sunday services worldwide is “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”.

• All told, Easter and Passover account for close to 15 percent of annual floral purchases made throughout the year.

Fabric Sale & Quilting info St. Urban Grange will be hosting their annual Fabric and Craft Sale on Saturday April 11, 2015 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The grange is located at the corner of Sargent and North Military, Winlock, WA. Do you have a textile related craft you would like to sell? This is an opportunity to clean out your stash of fabrics, yarn, notions, etc. that you no longer need, use, or want. Mark your calendar and reserve a table now for this opportunity to clean out what you don’t want or use. Or maybe add new items of interest.

Tables are a $20 donation which benefit’s the Veterans Passage Quilt Project sponsored by Winlock St, Urban Grange.

To reserve a table or for more

information, contact Chris Schaffer at (360)785-3366 or Cindy at (360)557-6244.

Lady of the Lake Quilting Guilde’s next meeting is 4/20/2015 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Longview WA at 6:30 PM. The program will be Allison Aller presenting “Using Embroidery in Quilts”.

On 4/20/15 she will do a Crazy Pillow Workshop and a lecture that evening. She is taking a year off from teaching so this is a super time to take advantage of a great opportunity.

All Day Workshop: 4/20/2015 Allison Aller. Crazy Quilt Pillow for $50. The pattern will be available at the workshop for $10.

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 9

Happy Easter!

Sunday April 5th

Easter Traditions - which are yours?

Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

Easter, celebrated from at least the 4th century, is the most important religious feast of the Christian faith, marking the resurrection of the Savior, Jesus.

Eggs play a significant part in the Easter celebration, but did you know of the story behind them?

In the early history of Christianity, the eating of eggs was forbidden during Lent. Come Easter morning, eggs were colored red and brought to the table to symbolize Easter joy.

This tradition has continued into our times by families hiding brightly colored eggs for the little ones to hunt on Easter morning. The popular “egg-rolling” by children on Easter Monday on the lawn of the White House shows the importance of the holiday in public life.

The Blessing of Easter baskets on the day before Easter is popular in many countries. The baskets often contain hard-boiled eggs that are said to be a symbol of new life. Blocks of butter carved into the shape of a lamb or a cross are often included, as are meats and cheese.

In most of America, the morning is started with the Easter Basket full of goodies, candies and treats.

Followed by an Easter Egg hunt, either inside, outside or at a public location like a park or church.

If you were lucky, the sun was shining and your parents were brave enough to hide the eggs

outside, instead of inside around the house.

Easter is also usually celebrated in America with a traditional gathering for feast. Many families gather for Easter Breakfast or Brunch, while many others feast for Dinner.

A traditional way of celebrating Easter among Protestant and evangelical churches is the Easter cantata, a program of special music and joyful songs.

There are probably a wide variety of programs and Easter “performances” to be had around the area - simply call your church or other churches in the area for information. Most churches are listed in the phone book for your convenience. Our local area is filled with great musical talent.

The timing of the Easter celebration varies from the Easter Vigil to a sunrise service to Mass or other services during the day.

Many times, churches are packed with people who only frequent their doors on this joyous Sunday. For some reason, Easter is the one time that they are either brought to church with family, or feel the need to make things right with God. The colors of Easter are white and gold. These are the colors associated with sacred days. The white symbolizes the newness that comes with the victory over sin and death, while the gold (yellow) expresses that Christ is the light of the world.

Whatever tradition you follow, may this Easter be special for you!

The events leading up to Easter Palm Sunday is the final Sunday before Easter. It marks the beginning of Holy Week.

‘The next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”’ John 12:13

On Holy Monday, He drove out the money changers who were buying and selling in the temple of Jerusalem.

‘And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”’ - Matthew 21:12-13

On Tuesday, Christ was questioned by the Jewish leaders. He was condemned by the Scribes by and Pharisees.

‘When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” - Matthew 21:24

On Wednesday of Holy Week, He taught in the temple.

Matthew 21:25-Matthew 22.

Maundy Thursday included the Last Supper, the final meal with His disciples. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

‘And the disciples did as Jesus had

directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”’

- Matthew 26:19

Good Friday is the solemn remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross.All worship is marked by austerity and silence.

“Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. (Matthew 26) Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

(Matthew 27)

Holy Saturday has been known as the Great Vigil.

‘Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it (the tomb) as secure as you can.”’ - Matthew 27:65

Easter! The most joyous day of the church calendar celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

‘But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.

Come, see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.”

And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

And Jesus came and said to them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28

Page 10 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Longview’s Recycling website provides rich resources for all people If you are looking for ways to “green up” this year, then you should really make sure to visit the Longview Recycles web site: www.LongviewRecycles.com This month’s Sponsor for the Green Guide is the City of Longview’s Recycling division, featured on the back page.

Not just residents of Longview will benefit from the information at their web site. There are pages of information that are helpful for all people from all areas in this clean and easyto-navigate site.

For example, a comprehensive page about Backyard Composting is easy to read and has downloadable PDF’s for printing. Everything from where to get worms and instructions on grass-cycling is available. (Think healthier lawns without all the chemicals!)

Working together to help provide resources and education for the community, the information for the Composting pages was provided courtesy of the Cowlitz County Extension Office for Washington State University.

Another feature of the web site is the “Tips for going green” page, which includes information and easy to follow advice as it relates to recycling around the home and saving on energy bills. There are also three links to sites that have a “Kid” focus and are filled with games, coloring pages and other fun activities.

Most importantly, this is definitely the site that needs to be visited if you have local garbage and recycling questions. Their FAQ section is precise and comprehensive, allowing for easy to understand answers, and phone numbers for further information gathering.

For example, now more than every, questions arise about E-waste.

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Computers and other consumer electronics are a rapidly growing part of the solid waste stream. And with that growth, comes the question of what to do with them once they are inoperable or you upgraded to a newer system.

With newer, faster computers and consumer electronics available, residents need outlets to properly dispose of their old equipment. But computers, televisions, and other electronic equipment can contain lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic materials that can contaminate our landfill.

Currently, there are two locations that accept your electronics: Waste Control Recycling - The Waste Control Transfer Station Facility is located at 1150 3rd Avenue in Longview. The hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone: 360-425-4302.

Goodwill Industries, Inc. - Goodwill Industries is located at 1030 14th Avenue in Longview. The hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Phone: 360-425-7520.

Both locations accept the following: Computers Laptops Monitors Televisions Both locations do not accept the

following: Printers Mouse Keyboards Fax machines Other electronic devices If you have any of the items in the do not accept list, dispose of them by placing them in your green garbage container, or bringing them to the Waste Control Transfer Station.

GREEN TIP: Consider donating your used electronics. To cut down on E-waste, consider donating your used electronics to a nonprofit organization or schools in your community. Donate only useable equipment.

You don’t want to dump your trash on an organization that doesn’t have the resources to dispose of your e-waste for you. If your computer is more than five years old, you should recycle it since software and equipment support is difficult to find for older sys-

Celebrate Earth

tems.

If you are wondering where to bring your used motor oil and antifreeze, then just visit the web site for all of the recycling sites available in the area.

In short, the Longview Recycles web site is a treasure trove of information for Longview residents, and even those outside city limits.

Go ahead. Go Green!

Special thanks to Gregg Hannon, the Community Development Coordinator for the City of Longview’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division, for having the strong desire to help educate our community through easily accessible information in local media and the Recycling web site.

The Solid Waste and Recycling division can be reached by calling: 442.5222 at the City of Longview for questions or concerns. And, as detailed above, online: LongviewRecycles.com

Day on 4/18/15

Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Expo Center will find thousands of people coming together to celebrate “Earth Day 2015”, a FREE family event.

(Suggested donation one can of food for CAP) The Earth Day Celebration is a free, fun-filled, award-winning event for people of all ages, even though “Earth Day” is nationally recognized on the 22nd.

Come rain or shine – don’t miss this opportunity to learn about preserving our environment.

Fun-filled with: • Farmer’s Market • Live Animals & Exhibits • Rock Climbing Wall • Harvesting Science • Recycleman • Petting Zoo & Trout Pond • Smokey Bear • Circus Cascadia • Reptile Road Show • Salmon Puppet Show • Eartha the Environmental Clown • Educational Booths

• Lots of free give-aways Join the rest of the county and visit Cowlitz Expo Center on Saturday the 18th for this special celebration.

If you’ve never been to Earth Day in Longview/Kelso, then you should plan to make a trek this April 16th and see what all the fun is about! Very kid friendly, so bring the fam.

The Earth Day celebration coincides with the Farmer’s Market - which is always a big hit in this area, featuring fresh local produce, honey, plants and crafts. Be sure to visit the market before 2pm or you will miss out on the goodies that you can take home with you. At this time of the year, there will be bare root stock to choose from, as well as some early-spring vegetables.

It’s always neat to chat with folks that populate the Farmers Market.

Whatever celebration you have in mind for this “Earth Day”, remember that every day can be an earth day!

For more information, please call the City of Longview Public Works Division at (360) 442-5209.

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 11

Eating Healthy for Two

By Melissa Kirk, RD, CD, CDE During pregnancy you’ll need lots of extras. That includes extra protein, iron, calcium and folic acid.

You’ll also need more calories.

But eating for two doesn’t mean eating twice as much. It means eating sensible, balanced meals. That way, you’ll get the right nutrients for you and your baby.

The right foods.

Most women need an extra 300 calories a day during at least the last six months of pregnancy to support a baby’s growth, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). That’s about the like eating an extra tuna sandwich or a bagel with 1 oz cream cheese.

And not all calories are equal. Your baby needs healthy foods packed with nutrients. You don’t want empty calories such as those found in sweets, junk foods and soft drinks.

To get the nutrients you need try these tips from HHS: 1. Make time for breakfast.

Try fortified ready-to-eat or cooked breakfast cereals with fruit. Fortified cereals have added nutrients, like iron or calcium.

If you are feeling sick, start with 100% whole-grain toast. Eat more food later, when you are feeling better.

2. Eat foods with fiber.

Vegetables and fruits, like green peas, spinach, pears, and bananas.

Whole grains, like brown rice and oatmeal.

Beans, like black beans and kidney beans.

3. Choose healthy snacks.

Low-fat or fat-free yogurt with fruit Whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese.

4. Take a prenatal vitamin with iron and folic acid every day.

Iron keeps your blood healthy.

Folic acid helps prevent some birth defects. Talk with your doctor or nurse about a prenatal vitamin that’s right for you.

5. Eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood each week.

Fish and shellfish have nutrients that are good for your unborn baby.

Eat a variety of seafood 2 or 3 times a week. A 3-ounce serving is about the size of a deck of cards.

Healthy choices include: Salmon Sardines Shrimp Canned light tuna White (albacore) tuna – no more than 6 ounces a week Avoid fish that are high in mercury, especially swordfish, tilefish, shark, and king mackerel. Mercury is a metal that can hurt your baby’s development.

6. Stay away from soft cheeses and lunch meats.

These foods may have bacteria in them that can hurt your baby. Don’t eat: Raw (uncooked) fish, like sushi Soft cheeses like feta, Brie, and goat cheese Raw or rare (undercooked) meats Lunch meats and hot dogs, unless they are heated until steaming hot 7. Limit caffeine and avoid alcohol.

Drink decaffeinated coffee or tea.

Drink water or seltzer instead of soda.

Don’t drink alcohol.

For specific information about how much food from each group to eat each day, visit www.choosemyplate.gov/mypyramidmoms/index. html.

Making smart food choices can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Melissa Kirk, RD, CD, CDE, is a PeaceHealth Nutrition and Diabetes Education Coordinator in Internal Medicine.

Greening an older home can save energy and reduce carbon emissions When we think of energy-efficient “green” buildings, new structures usually come to mind.

When considering carbon emissions in the U.S., 43 percent come from powering buildings and our 100 million existing homes. Those built before 1939 use 50 percent more energy per square foot than homes built after 2000.

But a huge amount of energy and resources went into building older homes.

It would take about 65 years for the reduced carbon emissions from one new energy efficient home to make up for the resources lost by demolishing an old one and rebuilding. So an already built home, in one sense, is already green.

The oldest homes, however, are the least energy-efficient. Many have developed tiny cracks and gaps that expand over time and let in more outside air.

The stimulus package includes some $8 billion in weatherization programs for low-income households, but that covers only a small part of the country’s homes. Analysts at the National

Resources Defense Council say energy efficiency projects, such as installing insulation or new windows, could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs if there were a nationwide effort to improve homes and buildings.

Tax credits for these projects can be helpful. The Preservation Green Lab, a think tank based in Seattle, is working with members of Congress to pass energy-efficiency legislation that would increase rebates and subsidies to cover as much as half the cost.

In the meantime, anyone can make progress toward greening a home. All it takes is a caulking gun and a little effort to plug leaks around walls, doors and windows.

As we live in one of the ‘greenest’ places in the country, we would serve ourselves well by living up to the name.

We have many available ‘green’ resources and products right at our fingertips, and fresh local produce just waiting for consumption.

Jump on the green wagon today, it’s never too late- you will be glad you did.

Page 12 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

By Mavis Trentham Valley Bugler Columnist Can you hear all of the plants and trees singing out? It’s SPRING! This month, I thought that we could discuss small-area container planting as well as the “new rage” of vertical gardening to the extreme.

Don’t want a huge garden to maintain but still take all the bounty? Then this is for you. Of course, all of you others that enjoy having large gardens will learn something new, too.

Vertical gardening isn’t for just smallarea gardeners!

Basically, the idea of vertical gardening means you are utilizing HEIGHT, not length, in your garden beds. If you have height, then you’ve got a garden.

I’ve seen gardens that use a foot print of only 2’ x 10’ wide yielding incredible harvests. The reason is that they are gardening vertically.

For example, a great crop to try out in the vertical method is any type of vining plant: squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, green beans, and many

others. The possibilities are endless.

You could also get one of those commercial shoe pocket holders.

You know, the ones that hold one shoe in each pocket? Then fill the pockets with your planting soil, and tuck in a spinach, broccoli, kale or lettuce plant. Even strawberries can be grown this way.

Your vertical garden might look different from someone else’s vertical garden, so let’s look at different mediums and building styles you can utilize for maximizing your garden space.

1) Plants on Walls. Hang planters or 18” x 24” boxes off the edges of walls.

You can build or buy the containers.

Make them pretty if you want.

2) A Garden Tower. This is something you can use to grow strawberries, leafy veggies, etc. Get a heavy pot with drainage holes, and fill halfway with rocks or potshards, etc. Get a wire mesh cylinder, and position in the center of the pot. A 16” clay pot will be able to balance a wire cylinder 34” tall. Working from the base, line the inside of the wire with moist

sphagnum moss, fill the entire thing with potting soil, and then place plants by poking a hole from the outside.

3) Trellising. As a general rule, any variety with fruits smaller than a volleyball can be trellised. Vines will grow strong enough to hold the weight of the fruit, so there’s no need for individual hammocks.

Make sure that your trellis posts are SUPER secure and buried at least 2 feet deep to hold the burden of the plants, and to withstand the wind.

One of the best veggies for this meth-

The

od is indeterminate tomatoes, and of course Pole Beans and Peas love the vertical space as well.

There is a plethora of great vertical planting resources online. A quick search will reveal everything from tips to do it yourself trellis building plans.

There. Now you have no reason to not garden this year! Until next month, let’s all dig around in the dirt.

Mavis Trentham loves gardening and being outside as much as possible. Gardening began as an adult, but continues to produce childlike joy.

Lighter side

*A passenger jet was suffering through a severe thunderstorm.

As the passengers were being bounced around by the turbulence a young woman turned to a minister sitting next to her and with a nervous laugh asks, “Reverend, you’re a man of God, can’t you do something about this storm?”

To which he replies, “Lady, I’m in marketing, not management.”

The priest is repairing the church fence. A young boy has been standing nearby, watching for a long while.

The priest finally asks him, “Do you want to speak with me, my son?”

“No, I’m just waiting.”

☺

“Waiting for what?”

“Waiting to hear what a priest says when he hits his finger with a hammer.”

The man passed out in a dead faint as he came out of his front door onto the porch.

Someone dialed 911.

When the paramedics arrived, they helped him regain consciousness and asked if he knew what caused him to faint.

“It was enough to make anybody faint,” he said. “My son asked me for the keys to the garage, and instead of driving the car out, he came out with the lawn mower.”

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 13

Everybody wins with D&H Carpet Cleaning Don Talbott, owner and proprietor of D&H Carpet Cleaning has been in business for over 15 years, and maintained one of the most positive reputations in the industry. With good reason.

Courteous, professional, thorough and friendly were all descriptive terms that jumped to my mind when thinking about our experience with D&H Carpet Cleaning.

Not only do they stand out be-

cause of their professionalism, but they also offer affordable prices that won’t break the bank. For instance, you can see their coupon specials here each month: $99.95 for 5 areas.

That’s a great savings!

It matches with their slogan, ‘Honest work at affordable prices’.

The business is licensed, bonded and insured, with uniformed employees, not subcontractors, coming to your home or business in their

badged vans that contain the powerful truck mount systems.

We had a scan done of our carpet, and found only a few places where previous owners had some pet stains. They showed us the areas, and offered to utilize their pet odor removal to get rid of the yucks.

It worked! And we had tried quite a few things to get it to go away.

D&H also utilizes green products as much as possible, which is a factor I really appreciated.

Not limited to carpets, they also

offer cleaning for Leather, Upholstery and Tile / Grout as well.

For property owners, or management companies, Don will work up a special discount for annual pricing and monthly / weekly work.

Overall, if you’re looking to get your carpets steam cleaned, and want a positive recommendation? Call Don at D&H Carpet Cleaning and get on his schedule today. Your carpets will appreciate it.

(360)713-8070 D&H Carpet Cleaning

These merchants offer eco-friendly options for a variety of your needs. Give them a call today!

COUPON Central New tile floor gives a dated bathroom a modern look

• CUT • CALL • SAVE

...and don’t miss the fantastic home improvement special offer from Chehalis Sheet Metal on p.12!

Page 14 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Movie Reviews

By Blake Peterson

‘Cinderella’

Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett Directed by Kenneth Branagh Running Time 1 Hr., 45 Mins., PG My Rating: B

For someone who has endured the plights of Stepmommie Dearest, the quick-to-expire gifts of a bonkers fairy godmother, and the obsessions of a Prince Charming that won’t back off even if you ask politely, Cinderella is probably the nicest girl you’ll never meet. She seems to be on a mission to prove that nice guys may finish last but nice girls will gladly take the top spot.

Ever since Disney made her an icon 65 years ago, Cinderella’s appeal has hardly faded; she’s the rags-to-riches story for little girls.

Just because you have a stepmother with the vengeance of a Greek monster doesn’t mean that you can’t eventually climb up onto the golden throne of the kingdom, sitting next to the spouse of your dreams.

When parents complain that Miley Cyrus is a bad role model, all you want to do is wag a finger at the tots in line for 2015’s Cinderella in order to prove a point. Donning the gown of their favorite princess, hopping with excitement, they don’t care about twerking or questionable poses or controversy; they care about being a

glamorous saint who gets to live in a castle and dress extravagantly, for crying out loud.

That being said, this year’s liveaction take on the classic fairy tale is neither an improvement nor a disappointment; it is faithful to its animated predecessor, retaining that same Disney magic while adding lavish decor and stunning costume design.

It wants to be a square, not a rebel without a cause, ultimately feeling safe, predictable, and long (a characteristic most likely heightened due to the fact that the original was a mere hour). But youngsters (elementary and under) will find plenty to dramatically gasp at (The dresses! Cinderella’s hair! The prince! The Castle!

The …!), and fans of the original will nevertheless be astonished by the scope of it all.

You know the story: Cinderella’s (Lily James) parents die tragically.

She endures years of slaving away to the rhythms of her conniving stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and birdbrained stepsisters (Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera). She is glammed up by her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) so she is fit to go to the kingdom’s primand-proper ball. She rides over in a carriage made of a reject pumpkin, meets (and steals of the heart of) the prince, loses a precious glass slipper in a breathy exit, goes back home at

the stroke of midnight, is pursued by the prince, and, eventually, lives happily ever after as queen of the kingdom.

I walked out of Cinderella with my expectations unmoved. It’s exactly what you think it will be: a live-action version of Cinderella, only this time Cate Blanchett is Lady Tremaine, Helena Bonham Carter calls dibs on bippity-boppity-booing a high paycheck in trade of narration and spell casting, and the budget is skyrocketed to Ben-Hur levels. Everything looks incredible; but the film is lacking personality (James is slightly creaky and Blanchett isn’t given nearly

enough scenery to chew), and that’s why I still prefer the animated take.

Short, sweet, and unavoidably magical, it was simple enough to attract even the youngest of viewers while proving to be lustrous enough to keep fresh for over half-a-century.

This 2015 version is maybe a little too eager to earn some dough, but don’t let that stop you. The excitement of a princess loving tyke can only be resisted for so long, after all.

A student of R. A. Long, Blake is an aspiring film critic that enjoys music, movies and art.

For more reviews, go to: petersonreviews.com

All-purpose earth friendly cleaning fluid recipe - and cheap!

A Green Living Tip from www.greenlivingtips.com Do you have spray bottles full of various cleaning chemical concoctions - a liquid for this, a potion for that?

I’ve published a few articles on various common substances that you can use for different earth friendly cleaning applications around the home, but here’s a recipe contributed by a Green Living Tips reader for an all purpose environmentally friendly cleaning fluid that’s very easy to make and costs well under a dollar a bottle! Thanks to Maureen R. for sharing this!

Tip: While this is a tried and tested recipe made in green cleaning workshops, always spot test any cleaning fluid before going all out.

Ingredients and supplies - 32 oz. (around 950ml) spray bottle - try to use a bottle made from recycled materials, or is recyclable.

Maureen recommends #2 plastic.

- water - White distilled vinegar. It should be vinegar made from grain or plant material. Believe it or not, some vinegar is synthesized from petroleum.. yes, crude oil!. It gives a whole new meaning to fuel as food.

- Genuine lemongrass essential oil. Aside from helping to mask the vinegar odor (which dissipates

naturally anyway), Lemongrass has anti-bacterial properties. For increased disinfecting power, you can use Tea Tree oil which also has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, or even Lavender oil, which will leave everything smelling fresh and comforting.

Note: While we tend to get a little paranoid about bacteria these days thanks to marketing messages that basically paint the presence of any bacteria as being ‘A Bad Thing’, if it’s an important issue to you, lemongrass is a far more environmentally friendly option than chemicals like triclosan. These synthetic chemicals should really only be used in professional health care settings due to issues relating to bacteria becoming resistant when products containing chemicals such as triclosan are used excessively and/or incorrectly.

- Earth friendly dishwashing liquid.

This can be found in just about any supermarket. The dishwashing liquid is necessary to clean mirrors and glass streak-free where commercial glass cleaners have been used previous. Many commercial window/ glass cleaners have chemicals of a waxy nature in them; so when you switch to vinegar/water, there will be streaking unless you have the dish detergent in your cleaner. Once that build-up is gone, dishwashing liquid isn’t necessary.

Method / Directions 1. Fill bottle half with water 2. Top it up with white distilled vinegar, but leave a little room for the additional ingredients and for shaking (1-2 drops of dishwashing soap) 3. 10-14+ drops lemongrass oil, and/or whichever combo you prefer.

Just make sure that it is an oil well know for its disinfecting properties, such as Tea Tree, Lemon or Lavender.

Use to clean hard surfaces, and enjoy your non-toxic cleaner!! ☺

Sudoku Puzzle Answer from p.6

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 15

KIWANIS CLUBS focus their community service hours to the welfare of children.

CATHLAMET 1st Tues. 6 p.m. at the St. Catherine’s Catholic Church; 3rd Tues. at Sugar Lillies at noon.

CHEHALIS - Thursday 12 p.m. at “The Restaurant” in Sunbirds.

CLATSKANIE - 1st & 3rd & 5th Tues 6 p.m. at Fultano’s; 2nd & 4th Tues 12 p.m. Colvin’s.

KELSO - Thurs. noon at 3 Rivers Mall, Comm. Room.

LONGVIEW - Thursdays. noon at JT’s.

SCAPPOOSE- 1st & 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

Windemere Real Estate Office) ST. HELENS - Thurs. noon at the Elks Lodge (350 Belton Rd, St Helens).

ST. HELENS DAYBREAKERS - Tues 7 a.m. at Warren Country Inn, Last Tues 6pm Columbia Soil and Water District Office AMERICAN LEGION GLEN HOYER POST 175 meets in Castle Rock every 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. For info call 423.9542.

The LADIES AUXILIARY to Glen Hoyer Post #175 of the American Legion meets first Thursdays. For info call 423-9542.

AMERICAN LEGION GUY RATHBUN Post #25 meets the 2nd Thurs. of the month at 7 p.m @ Kelso Eagles For info Kandi 423.2504 BUFORD ROCKAFELLOW POST 101, The American Legion, and Auxiliary meets the 2nd Friday of each month at the Winlock Community Building. Potluck 6 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m.. For info Post Commander Wendy Carolan 360-785-0929 or Adjutant Phil Carolan at (360) 785-0929.

The FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION (FRA), an organization of Naval Service Veterans, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard.

Lower Columbia Branch 363 meets 6:30 p.m., 2nd Friday, each month at the Longview VFW building, 4311 Ocean Beach Highway.

For more information contact: Ray Hegr at (360) 425-6981 or E-mail at fra363@yahoo. com.

FLEET RESERVE AUXILIARY #363 meets the 2nd Friday of the month at the VFW Hall, 4311 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. A potluck at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m. All people who have active, retired, or reserve status family members who are now serving or have served with the US Navy, Marines or Coast Guard are welcome. Info 425.4688.

KELSO-LONGVIEW ELKS LODGE #1482 meets Thurs at 7:30 p.m. for our members only. Dinner is served before Lodge at 5:30 p.m. Lunches are served Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. One of our many projects is to serve the youth of the communities. 900 Ash St., Kelso. 360.425.1482.

TOUTLE VALLEY VFW POST & AUXILIARY #10882 meets the 1st Tuesday @ 7 p.m. at their Post Home, 101 Hansen Road in Toutle. For more information, contact John at 274.4350 or Nikki at 274.5263.

TOLEDO VFW 3429, Reg. Meeting 1st Monday, Potluck at noon, meeting at 1 p.m.

COWLITZ VALLEY VFW POST 1045, Tues. Bingo @ 6 p.m., 5 p.m. dinner; Auxilary mtngs at 11 a.m. every 2nd Wednesday. Breakfast for veterans served 1st Sat. of each month $6 each from 9 - 11 a.m.

The COWLITZ VALLEY VFW LADIES AUXILIARY POST #1045 meets the 2nd Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the VFW Hall located at 4311 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. For info or questions please call Ruby at (360) 577-0414 or Jeannette at (360) 414-4053.

COWLITZ PRAIRIE GRANGE #737 meets 2nd Wednesdays 6:30pm potluck, 4th Wednesdays 7:30pm dessert. 5180 Jackson Hwy, Toledo, WA 864-2023 SUNNYSIDE GRANGE #129 meets the 2nd & 4th Saturdays. 6:30 for potluck, 7:30 meeting. Call 274.6013 for information & rental hall.

SILVER LAKE GRANGE 2nd and 4th Thurs. Potluck 6:30, meeting at 7:30 p.m. Info & rental 274-5263.

CATLIN GRANGE #199 2nd & 4th Fri. 6:30 p.m. Potluck dinner 2nd Friday. 7:30 meetings. More info: 425.2973.

PLEASANT HILL GRANGE # 101 2nd & 4th Mon. 6:30 p.m. Potluck, meeting @ 7:15 p.m. Community Service group. Info & rentals call 425-6101 Junior Grange meets 1st & 3rd Mondays 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

CASTLE ROCK WOMANS CLUB meets every 2nd Monday at 1 p.m. 206 W. Cowlitz Street. Business meeting & program. Public iinvited. Info: 274.8149.

THE PYTHIAN CASTLE 24 holds their meetings every 2nd and 4th Thursday @ 1 p.m. at the Castle Rock Womens Club, 206 Cowlitz St. West, Castle Rock.

THE CASTLE ROCK LIONS CLUB meets the 1st & 3rd Thursdays at Hattie’s Restaurant @ 5:45 p.m. The club sponsors newspaper recycling.

LONGVIEW MONTICELLO LIONS meets 6:30 p.m.

2nd and 4th Mondays, dinner and speaker at The Carriage Restaurant on 12th LONGVIEW EARLY BIRD LIONS meets at The Carriage Restaurant on the 1st Wednesday @6pm, 3rd Wednesday @6:45am.

THE VADER LIONS CLUB meets the 1st Thursday @ 6 p.m. and the 3rd Thursday @ 7 p.m. at the club’s building on Hwy 506 in Vader for a potluck dinner and meeting. Info: 295-3087 or 295-3801.

KALAMA LIONS CLUB - www.kalama-lions.com.

LONGVIEW PIONEER LIONS CLUB meets every Tuesday at noon at the Longview Eagles Club (152612th Ave) Provide humanitarian service to the citizens of the area, visitors are welcome.

WINLOCK LIONS CLUB meets the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 12 p.m. at Guadalajara Restaurant, off SR 505. Visitors welcome. Call 7853744 info KELSO LIONS CLUB meets 1st & 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. in Longview Kelso Kels Building. Call Richard (360)425-5876 ROSE VALLEY GRANGE #953 meets 2nd Tues. @ 1pm, & 4th Tuesdays @ 6 p.m. 1520 Rose Valley Road, Kelso. Info: Becky 575-3977 or Debbie 414-9627 COWLITZ COUNTY VETERANS ASSOC. meets the second Friday of each month. CALL 577-6757 for locations.

LONGVIEW REBEKAH LODGE NO. 305 Meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday each month at the IOOF Hall, corner of Pacific and Pine, Kelso, 1 p.m.. Info: 1-866725-3507 CASTLE ROCK EAGLES, celebrating their 100th birthday, meets at the Eagles Aerie on Huntington Ave. @ 8 p.m. every 2nd & 4th Tuesday for the Aerie & Auxiliary.

KELSO EAGLES meet 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Aux., Aerie meets at 8 p.m. Initiation 3rd Tuesday. BINGO MonWed-Fri @ 6:30 p.m. Special Charity BINGO Monday 12 - 3 p.m. Call 425-8330 for info.

CASTLE ROCK FREEMASONS 3rd Mon @ 7:30 p.m. at Lodge located on SW First Ave DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, MaryRichardson Walker Chapter. rootsweb. ancestry.com/~wamrwcdar/ FRIENDS OF CASTLE ROCK LIBRARY, 1st Mondays from 10 - 11 a.m., Library 137 Cowlitz St. West in Castle Rock WORSHIP & RECOVERY meeting, Sunday @ 1 p.m., refreshments. Positive faith group meeting. 1260 12th Ave., LV S.C.O.R.E. - Free counseling & guidance for small businesses by the nation-wide of S.C.O.R.E., Kelso/ Longview Chamber of Commerce, 1563 Olympia Way, Longview, WA. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS: 1st Fri of the month at 1 p.m. @ 1639 10th Ave. 577-5890, and Auxiliary meets the 2nd Friday of the month at 11 a.m.

423-3125 MT. ST. HELENS CLUB - meets 2x week to hike on a rural trail in SW Washington &/or NW Oregon. Location and info: mtsthelensclub.org or 360- 673-2799 NATIONAL ASSOC. OF ACTIVE & RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Longview - Kelso Chapter 1070, meet the 1st Wednesday @ 11:30 a.m. at the Monticello Hotel, Longview. Info: 423.6032.

LOWER COLUMBIA WOODCARVERS Tues 5 - 7 p.m.

Brook Hollow Rec. Center & Thurs. @ LV Senior Center 1 - 4 p.m . 274-3175 ROSE VALLEY GRANGE #953 2nd & 4th Tues. 6 p.m. potluck, meeting 7:00. Info: 423-6952, Rentals 423-8270, or 560-5140.

LONGVIEW BORDER CROSSINGS Volks walking meet on 2nd Tuesdays at St. John’s Hospital, Longview, @ 6:30 p.m. Cafeteria Sam Korff 503-728-0400 KELSO ROTARY Meets Thursdays at 12 p.m. Lunch available to purchase. Kelso Longview Elks Lodge Call 414-5406 for more information ALTRUSA of Longview/Kelso meets Thursdays from 12 - 1 p.m.. 1st - Board; 2nd - Business; 3rd - Committee; 4th - Program; Lunch served for $5 at all meetings except Board. Meet at Altrusa room at CAP. THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM Christian Intervention program for the chemically dependent, meets Wednesday 6 p.m. at Landmark United Pentecostal, 4333 Ocean Beach Hwy, 360-636-0580 LONGVIEW GARDEN CLUB meets at 10 a.m. the 4th Thurs. Jan. - November; Sept. - Oct. Due to holidays, Nov. & Dec. meetings are on the 3rd Thurs. Most mtngs Grace Lutheran Church in Longview. Info: 425-0755 COWLITZ BEE ASSOCIATION meets the 3rd Thursday each month @ WSU Extension Office, 7 p.m.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS of Longview meets Monday @ 7:00pm or Thursday @ 7:30pm at Longview United Methodist Church. 2851 30th Ave, Longview. For info call Coop (505)363-8774 or www.oa.org NAMI Strive - Free support group; Depression, Bipolar, PTSD or any mental illness. Thursdays 4-5:30pm,. NAMI Free Suicide Support Group: For anyone with severe depression that has thoughts of suicide. Please come join us. Starts Jan 7th, Wed 6-8pm. 900 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview (360)984-6096

Abernathy Assembly of God 702 Abernathy Creek Rd. Longview Phone: 360-636-1620 Website: www.AbernathyAoG.com Sunday Service 10:45 AM Apostolic Lighthouse 803 Vandercook, Ste 12, Longview Bible Study Tues 7:30pm Church Service Sun 2:30pm Pastor Mozingo (360)219-6109

Fireside Fellowship 271 Atmore Road, Toutle Worship Sunday 10:00 a.m. facebook.com/thefireside

Apostolic Lutheran Church 248 Cowlitz St. W., Castle Rock Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

Church at 11 a.m.

Information Dave Kandoll 295-3461

Grace and Truth City Church 525 Third Ave SW – Castle Rock Pastor David Beer Worship 10:15am, 749-2289

Baha’i Faith Vader 360-751-3181 Centralia 360-807- 4313 Packwood 360-494-4767 Longview 360-423-4105 Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Bethany Lutheran Church 2900 Parkview Drive, Longview Office: (360)577-8240 Pastor Shelley Willem Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m.

Castle Rock Christian Church 542 Huntington Ave. S, Castle R. Sunday school – 9 am (all ages) Sunday Worship – 10 am Dr. John Leffler, Senior Pastor 6th-12th Gr. youth Wed, 6-7:30 pm 360-274-6771 M-F, 9:30a -1:30pm Call for home groups/studies www.cr-cc.org

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2000 East Kessler Blv - Longview 360.425.4220 Rev. Eric Atcheson lvfirstchristian.org revericatcheson.blogspot.com

The Rock Meeting at 1955 Huntington Ave S, Castle Rock Worship 10 a.m. every Sunday Wednesday @ 7pm Service Pastors Jerry & Angie Hughes 274.7480 Rose Valley Friends Church 1437 Rose Valley Rd. Kelso 360-425-3222 Church Office 9:30am Sunday School Hour for all 10:45am Worship Service 5:00pm - 7:00pm Valley Youth Group 6-8pm Wednesday-JValley Youth 6-8pm -Sunday-JValley Youth

Grace Bible Fellowship 300 S.10th Ave, Kelso Worship: Sunday 11:00am Bible Study 9:30 a.m. www.GraceIsReal.org (360)423-4035

Ryderwood Community Church,

Grace Lutheran Church, MS 2725 Dover Street, Longview Worship: Sunday 10:30am www.Glcmslv.net (360)414-4147

St. Mary Catholic Church 120 Powell Rd., Castle Rock 274.7404 W & Th Daily Mass 8:30A Sunday Mass 8:30A

Grace United Methodist Church, Vader, 295.3402 Rev. Steven A. Caskey, pastor Sunday worshipndservice – 12:15 p.m.

Potluck every 2 Sunday Quilting on Mondays & Thursdays

315 Jackson St. PO Box 161, Ryderwood, Pastor Bill Bowlby, 360-295-3962 Service Opportunities 11 am Sunday

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 412 Pioneer Ave., Box 1467 Castle Rock Worship 10 a.m. Sunday - 274.9393

St. Paul Lutheran Church 312 First Ave. SW, PO Box 847, Castle Rock 274.6604 House of Prayer for All Nations Worship Service: 9a.m. & 11 a.m.

868 9th ave. Longview, WA SundayE40! (education) @ 10:10 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45 AM Wed: 5th & 6th grade Service 11:15 AM Castle Rock Church of the Nazarene Morning Youth Group - 6 p.m.

Evening Service 6 PM 456 Pioneer Ave. NE, Castle Rock Wed: 7th-12th gr Youth, 7:30pm Sunday School classes 9:30 a.m. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Pastor Bob Sinclair Worship Celebration 10:45 a.m.

Allen Street, Kelso Evening church service 6:30 p.m. 2200 423-3650 St. Rose Catholic Church Women’s Bible study Th 10:30am (360) M & F Daily Mass 12:15 PM Rev. Reo McBride, 274.6546 2571 Nichols Blvd Longview, WA Sat Vigil Mass 5:30 PM 360-425-4660 Castle Rock First Baptist Church Sunday Mass 10:30 AM 211 Front Ave. NW, Castle Rock Pastor Joel Royce 274-4113 Baptist Church, The Salvation Army Church Sun Bible Study all ages: 9:45am Kalama Pastor Wes Eader Worship 11a.m.

1639 10th Ave, Longview 112 Vincent Rd, Kalama WA Women’s Bible Study: Wed 1:30pm 9:45am - Sunday School Sunday School @ 9:45am Cowboy Church: Last Sat.; 6-9pm 11:00am - Worship Holiness Meeting @ 11:00am 360-423-3992 Castle Rock Church of Nazarene www.kalamabaptist.com 456 Pioneer Ave NE, Castle Rock Call 673-5570 (360)274-6546 Stephens Episcopal Kelso First United Methodist Church St. Pastor Reo McBride 1428 - 22nd, Longview WA 206 Cowlitz Way, Kelso Sunday Service: 10:45am Office: (360)423-5600 Contemporary Service 9:00 am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 10:00am Sunday School 9:20 am Children’s Service: 11:00am www.sslv.org Traditional Service 11:00 am Sunday Eve Service: 6:00pm Wed: Children (Grade 1-12) 5:30-7 pm Women’s Bible Study: Wed 6:00pm Pastor Vonda McFadden Seventh Day Adventist Church 7531 Old Pacific Hwy -Castle Rock 360-423-7480 Castle Rock United Methodist Worship 11 a.m. Saturday www.kelsofirstumc.org 241 First Street, Castle Rock Pastor Ben Moore 274.6090 Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Lexington Bible Fellowship Worship 10:55 a.m. Sunday 98 Garden Street, Kelso (Lexington) Seventh Day Adventist Church Youth Group: Sundays 2 p.m.

Sunday school @ 9:45am Journey Church Rev. Pam Brokaw - 274.4252 Sunday worship @ 11am 77 Solomon Road, Kelso WA Pastor Jerry Hancuff Office: (360)423-7344 Central Christian Church www.lexingtonbible.org 401 Crawford St., Kelso Saturday Worship: 11:05am Worship -11am, school @ 9:30am Life Center Pastor Marcia Stone journeyadventist.com Wednesdays @ 6pm (Youth @ 6:45 Corner of Rock & Pine in Centralia Sundays at 10:30am or Bible Studies - many available Stella Lutheran Chapel Oyler Rd & Hwy 12 in Ethel Russ Tevis, Minister 124 Sherman Road, Longview Sundays 360-425-3420 Church Office 9:00am 360-736-5898 Pastor Carol Plummer www.yourlifecenter.com Sunday Worship 10:00 am Community of Christ, Longview Children Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

Living Hope Church 202 Delaware Street Office (360) 423-3795 (Wed. Only) 2711 NW Andreson, Vancouver Pastor Sharon West 11:00am Sundays Toledo New Life Assembly of God Classes all ages: 10:00am Pastor Dean Jenks (360)944-3905 420 Silver Street, Toledo WA Worship Service: 11:00am (360)864-4366 Longview Church of the Nazarene Worship: Sun. @ 10am, Wed. @ 6pm Church of Christ 814 - 15th Ave, Longview Dinner on Wednesdays @ 5:15pm Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

300 St. Helen’s St., Toledo, Wa Food Bank: Last Tue/Wed of month Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Bible Class 10 a.m.

Celebrate Recovery Thurs at 6 p.m Sunday Worship 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. 360-577-1100 Toutle Christian Fellowship Tuesday Bible Class 11 a.m.

5067 Spirit Lake Hwy – Toutle Longview Community Church, Wednesday Bible Study 6 p.m.

Worship Service Sunday 9 a.m.

2323 Washington Way - Longview Childcare provided John Gadberry, Minister Worship service Sunday Pastor Denny Martinez 360-274-8570 Contemporary Service 8:45 a.m. www.toutle.org Traditional Service 11 a.m.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church (360)274-6305 Pastor John Williams 423.6380 2218 E. Kessler Blvd. - Longview LongviewCommunityChurch.org Sunday Worship - 8:30am Vader Assembly of God Church Longview Presbyterian Church Sunday “Celebration” - 11 a.m.

302 - 6th St., Vader, WA 3808 Pennsylvania St., Longview Thursday Worship - 6:30 p.m.

(360)295-3756 Worship and Children’s Class: Pastor David Martin, Senior Pastor Pastor Tracy Durham Sun. 10am Church office - 360-423-3250 Sunday Worship: 10:30am & 6:00pm Pastor Meghan Davis (360)577-8951 www.elclongview.com Sunday Youth Group: 6:00pm www.longviewpresbychurch.net Wed. Adult Study, Kidz Church: 7p.m.

Faith Fellowship Lutheran Brethren; New and Living Way Church Church 210 Fishers Lane, Kelso 951 Delaware St., Longview Valley View Church of God Pastor Chris Leingang Sundays 10am & 6pm 1435 - 33rd Ave, Longview WA Worship at 10:00am Wednesdays 7pm Pastor Dwayne Cothron www.fflbc.org Church Office (360) 425-4390 703-3340 newandlivingwaychurch.org (360)636-6787 Worship Sundays @ 10am & 6pm Fathers House Church Oak Point Community Church 1315 Commerce Ave, Longview 445 Oakpoint Rd, Longview Worship Sundays: Limited availability. Submit your Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

9am, 10:30am church services to: Sunday Service 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Pastor Chuck Tilton 423-7826 Thursday Bible Study 7 p.m. editor@valleybugler.com www.FathersHouseChurch.com Pastor Doug McMurray #577-6037

Page 16 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

5 Reasons Why Your Business Should BLOG Does your business BLOG? Whether you are a small business or a multinational company, blogging should be integral to your online content marketing strategy.

I’ve prepared this article of some of the top reasons why your Business should BLOG. 1) Show Your Expertise You are sitting on a ton of knowledge that can help your potential clients and establish your credibility. If your focus is on helping and not worrying about impressing you will go far. Everyone wants to work with an expert. Don’t tell them you are, just show them.

Well written articles demonstrate your company as an industry leader.

Articles that resonate with you clients needs & wants show your understanding of the market. Bonus:

Your customers will benefit from the learning you provide.

2) Create a Buzz The reality is that most of the content remains unchanged on most websites. The BLOG or news section is what is new and fresh. People go here to learn the latest about your company. This is your opportunity to inform and help your customers.

Some blog content example may include, announcements, feature upcoming events, testimonials, highlight of individual staff members, feature case studies, sharing awards won, projects (completed, awarded, in process, etc) and giving thanks.

3) More Visitors from Social Media The marketing world is a noisy place. If your BLOG is at the center of your online marketing, you can

drive traffic from social media, eMail marketing & even other websites. Give your fans a reason to click through and visit website. Then post inbound links to specific BLOG articles. Your BLOG should be the destination of your Social efforts.

4) More Visitors from the Search Engines Blogs by their design help tremendously with Search Engine Optimization (SEO / SERP). Fresh content is still a key to beating out your competitors in Google and the search engines.

Content TIP: Use keywords in your articles. List out the keywords, topics, and categories you want your business to be found with. Use these words, and related expressions when writing your posts. Take your SEO to the next level by hiring a SEO expert or DYI by using SEO tools (like WordPress SEO) to own your keyword space.

5) Improve your Focus Blogging regularly about your busi-

ness, industry, product or customer’s needs will help you to dial into the message you need to share and continue to share to your customers.

This focus will naturally help improve how you cater your offering to your customers.

Are you in? I know you can do this.

Set Schedule The key to starting and continuing to BLOG is to set a production schedule that will work for you. If you’ve never blogged before, then doing a weekly blog might not be sustainable (at this time). Start with an article a month. I also recommend that you publish your BLOG at the same time each month or week.

Whatever schedule you choose, stick with it. You can do this and your business will thank you. ~:-) Oscar Myre IV is the Creative Director & Owner at omOriginals Marketing! a Washington based Web firm for over sixteen years.

Serving National and International clients of all sizes. Call them at (360)575-9839 or omOriginals.com

‘Almost overnight, the Internet’s gone from a technical wonder to a business must.’ ~Bill Schrader

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 17

New to gardening? Start small to save your knees and back If you’ve decided it’s time to celebrate the days getting longer and the sun potentially making its reappearance, you might just be planting your first garden this year.

William Alexander, author of ‘The $64 Tomato’, has some advice for you: Start small, stay small and grow only what you can’t buy cheaply in season at the supermarket.

In spite of many easy-gardening devices available at home improvement stores, it takes more than tools to maintain a garden. It can be backbreaking work, especially if your back is already tender.

Alexander likes to plant sugar snap peas because they grow on a trellis. His gardening is limited by the number of times he can bend over. He can stand up while harvesting peas. He also likes low-maintenance leeks and shallots.

Using plastic weed block between rows will reduce weeding. If you have to weed, use a sharp stirrup hoe and stand up when you utilize it.

Tomatoes are a favorite of gardeners almost everywhere. When planting, remember that they take a lot of space. Leave three to four feet between plants so you can walk around them to harvest.

Fertilize as directed and use a sturdy cage around each plant that is up to six feet high. A tall cage is especially important for varieties like Big Boy. Without one, the plant will fall to the ground and you’ll have to get on your knees to harvest.

Be on the lookout for slugs. Those

buggers will torture most tomato plants when they are young.

The key to slug elimination is to start before you SEE any. There are a variety of slug bait options on the market today, and unless you like hand picking them off your plants in the morning and evenings, I highly suggest purchasing some. One of the brands claims to be harmful ONLY to slugs, not humans or the earth.

Unless you plan to pre-

This specific class is really a great deal, since you receive the greenhouse tray, quite a few 4” pots, the seed mix and seeds. The class is only $20, and well worth the investment.

Never started anything from a seed, or need some refresher pointers? This is definitely a class you will want to catch!

Watching things grow is part of the magical fun of gardening. ☺ Seed starting success: * Soaking vegetable or flower seeds in water (no longer than 24 hours) softens their hard coats, triggering germination. Plant immediately after taking them out of water. * Seeds of many flowers benefit from being cooled in the refrigerator four to 12 hours before planting. In a plastic bag, mix with a dampened mixture of perlite, or vermiculite. Seal the bag.

VEGGIE PLANTS WORKSHOP On April 16 at 6:00 pm, Cowlitz County Master Gardeners will assist participants in starting vegetable plants. All participants must preregister by April 10 by contacting Gary Fredricks at 577-3014 Ext 3 or at garyf@wsu.edu. Participants will pre-select their seeds for 18 starts (lettuce, tomato, basil, zinnias, etc.) prior to the workshop.

Following a short presentation at the workshop, participants will plant the seeds in a mini greenhouse that they will take home. Attendees will receive a 1 - 10”X20” tray with greenhouse dome, 18 - 4” pots, seed starting mix and seeds. The workshop cost is $20.00. The class will be held for in the Floral Building located on the Cowlitz County fairgrounds in Longview. This workshop is sponsored by Washington State University Extension Master Gardeners.

Easy to grow herbs will enhance your culinary dishes serve tomatoes, don’t buy more than six plants. Taking care of six tomato plants can be a gardening time consuming chore all in itself. Last year, I had 2 regular size, and 3 cherry tomato plants. We rather enjoy eating them right out of the garden, or gifting containers full to neighbors and friends.

One opportunity you will have in April is the Master Gardener class, in starting veggie plants. Details are listed at the end of this article, but if you are looking to get some great tips and hands on instruction with working with seed plants, then this class is really a great option.

The Master Gardener program is a resource within our community that offers everyone the opportunity to learn something new from folks that have been doing it for quite some time!

Basil: This annual is the perfect companion for dishes that include tomatoes. Trim the stems, leaves and flowers to make the plant more productive.

Chives: A perennial, it adds flavor to soups, fish and potatoes. Snip the entire stem if you remove a flower bud.

Parsley: It grows for two years and adds flavor and color to fish and other dishes.

Clip flower buds when they appear in the second year.

Likes a sunny location, says Patricia Lanza, author of Lasagna Gardening with Herbs.

Rosemary: A perennial, but it doesn’t like cold climates and may not appear there after the first year.

Its stems add flavor to vinegar or olive oil. Leaves are great in lamb dishes and sauces. Don’t overwater

the plant.

Sage: Used as a seasoning for meats, sauces, stuffings and soups.

Hummingbirds like the plant’s flowers.

Thyme: A perennial herb, it is good for seasoning chowders and soups.

It will grow in rock gardens well, too Start small and grow from there!

You’ll delight in your own bounty!

Page 18 • Valley Bugler • April 2015

Sue Pulse honored as Volunteer of the Year

By Pat Nelson Valley Bugler Columnist

Alert: Life Jackets Needed

A few brave teens took the plunge into Horseshoe Lake in February then headed straight for a hot tub. In the warm days of early March, other swimmers happily played in the water while their families fished and picnicked nearby. Those in the water didn’t care what month it was because the sun was out, and it felt like summer!

By June and throughout the fall, many people will take a dip in Woodland’s small horseshoe-shaped lake, which was once part of the Lewis River. I will be one of them.

My August 2013 Valley Bugler column focused on safe swimming, and safety is as important now as it was then. A month earlier, my husband, Bob and I had noticed there were no life jackets on the rack at Horseshoe Lake Park, so in my column, I wrote about a need for life jackets. We collected several to donate to the fire station. This year, the park still has seven of those life jackets but could use many more.

The most popular area for swimming is from the picnic shelter to the skateboard park. There is currently only one life jacket stand, just west of the boat launch, to serve the entire area. I talked with battalion chief Tim Dowdy of Clark County Fire and Rescue about the need for more life jackets. He agreed. I mentioned that it would be good to have more than one life jacket stand in the park, and he said he has been reviewing the current rack and other possibilities.

He has studied different types of life

jacket stands and has viewed plans online, taking into consideration protection of the life jackets from sun damage.

I told Tim Dowdy that my husband and I had previously solicited life jacket donations for the park and would like to do so again.

He liked the idea and asked that, for liability reasons, those with donations take them to the Woodland Fire Department, 100 Davidson Avenue, rather than dropping them off at the park. At the fire station, the jackets will be examined to be sure they are approved and have secure straps and buckles. Once inspected, members of the department will place them on the rack for use by Horseshoe Lake visitors.

The fire department will accept both new and used life jackets. If you have a boat, chances are you have a few old life jackets that you no longer use..

The older, “not-so-pretty” ones can save a life just as well as new ones, so please consider donating them to the fire department .

One place to find good, older life jackets is at garage sales and thrift stores. My husband sometimes asks thrift stores to save life jackets for him, and then he purchases them to donate.

If you would like to help keep Horseshoe Lake safe for swimmers, please take usable life jackets to the fire department. Since some life jackets disappear each year, there is always a need. (Photo by Pat Nelson) Pat Nelson, is co-creator of three humorous and sometimes edgy anthologies: ‘Not Your Mother’s Book: On Being a Parent’ (Amazon.com & retailers); On Being a Grandparent; and On Working for a Living.

Sue Pulse, owner and operator of The Flower Pot in Castle Rock, was honored by members of Sunnyside Grange as their Volunteer of the Year Award for all the work she has done in the community throughtout the years.

Some of things Pulse has been working on is helping North County Rec. Dist at games and helping them with the auction; like donating baskets and flower arrangements for auction items, and helping them set the area up.

For the fair, Pulse has sponsored a bench to sit and rest, put in a display, made a special bouquet for the grand marshal and has passed out a 1000 roses to those watching the parade.

She went to the girls club and gave a demonstration for flowering arranging. Then from what the girls learned, they applied it arrange their own bouquets for the fair.

Pulse has spent many years going to her children’s events and helping out. She has spent many hours watcing wrestling matches and volunteering in the concession stand.

Selected to the Rocket Hall of Fame serveral years ago, Pulse now works on the scholarship committee.

And in closing, when there is a benefit dinner for someone in need, she is willing to donate her time and flowers for the auction / dinner.

Thank you, Sue Pulse, for all that you do, and congratulations!

[Photo: (L)Yvonne Knuth and (R) Sue Pulse. Photo by Rex Ogden.]

‘Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.’

- Erma Bombeck

After a Poor Game...

After a particularly poor game of golf, a popular club member skipped the clubhouse and started to go home. As he was walking to the parking lot to get his car, a po-

liceman stopped him and asked, “Did you tee off on the sixteenth hole about twenty minutes ago?”

“Yes,” the golfer responded.

“Did you happen to hook your ball so that it went over the trees and off the course?” the cop asked.

“Yes, I did. How did you know?” the golfer asked.

“Well,” said the policeman very seriously, “Your ball flew out onto the highway and crashed through a driver’s windshield. The car went out of control, crashing into five other cars and a fire truck. The fire truck couldn’t make it to the fire, and the building burned down. So, what are you going to do about it?”

The golfer thought it over carefully and responded, “I think I’ll close my stance a little bit, tighten my grip and lower my right thumb.”

April 2015 • Valley Bugler • Page 19

Cat Show • 4/11 Cat Fancier Association cat show, will be held on Saturday April, 11th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cowlitz Regional Convention Center, 1900 7th Ave, Longview, Washington; which has FREE PARKING. The cat show will feature six specialty judging rings for competitive cat entries. More than 125 pedigree cats and household pets will compete in their own divisions for prizes. A lot of these cats belonging to exhibitors from the Pacific Northwest will be entered in this one day cat show. Plus a cat agility ring will be featured! Come out and see how much fun these cats have running around the obstacle course!

The admission price will be $3.00

for adults, $2.00 seniors/veterans/ children and the Family rate for only $6.00. Furry Tails Adoption a local non profit organization will be collecting the money from the admission prices.

Special discounts given off the entrance fee for those who bring animal food as a donation.

A special vendor emporium will be part of the show featuring cat trees, beds, toys, specialty items and some items for the cat’s owners too. It will be just in time to stock up for that special cat item you have been looking for...or a purchase of a kitten or a cat. There is a food vendor at the event, and the Cat Show also coincides with the Farmer’s Market, which is located right across the street from the Show.

Our 2015 Models are in! Come see our special dogs and cats today. Humane Society of Cowlitz County. Call 577-0151.

Quotes about our favorite furry friends

‘The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude.’ ~Robert Brault ‘Ever consider what pets must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul: chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!’ ~Anne Tyler ‘Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.’ ~George Eliot ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’ ~Anatole France

Adorable Adoptee

Meet

‘Rico’

Meet Rico - an adorable little Chihuahua with big brown eyes, and bigger ears. ☺ He’s a bit on the shy side, but warms up once he gets to know you. Rico is a snuggler, and will make somebody a very nice little lap dog.

He is neutered, current on his

vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more information about Rico, contact his foster mom at: pjstoppler@msn.com

Page 20 • Valley Bugler • April 2015