Hello January - Valley Bugler

Page 2 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

From the Editor’s Desk 2016. Sometimes there are years in our lives that we are more than glad to see turn the calendar. The year of 2015 was one such year for me.

Maybe you're in my camp.

For me, 2015 was filled with turmoil, pain, grief and personal devastation.

You could say that I'm going to do my best to look forward and not behind.

Not to say there weren't things to learn from this bygone year, but some things are better left in the past.

If you're walking that path with me, then my heart goes out to you, and my prayers are with you. Last year was a tough one, and I'm glad to see it go away. I'm not sure how I'm feeling about 2016, to be honest. I've really just been taking it day by day.

And this January, we are presented with the freshest and "newest" of days.

So this New Year, it's all over the place about being healthy and happy. This issue, in fact, is about being healthy and happy. How do we accomplish moving closer to happiness? Does eating better really cause us to become happier?

Many questions fall through our thoughts as we ponder what it is to have a "new" year upon us. Many people use this time to capture their personal goals in the form of New Years Resolutions.

Good for you! Go for it!

Studies show that people who set realistic New Years goals come away feeling happier and more successful than those who set unrealistic and multiple goals that are truly too hard

to accomplish.

Choose a few and make them something that you think you can truly achieve.

For instance, instead of "losing 50 pounds in two months", how about shooting for adding more servings of veggies and less starch and junk food? See what happens with your weight - maybe you'll hit somewhere closer to 10 pounds instead.

I think there are universal goals that we can all strive to achieve. Ones that truly make the world around us a better place to be.

This year, I am taking the character traits of my dear mama and integrating them into my own personal goals.

Maybe my mom's life can touch you just a tiny bit, through reading my goals inspired by her life: 1) Smile more. My mom smiled at everything. Everyone.

2) Choose to think the best. When faced with a situation that allowed for negative thoughts to surface, my mom chose to think the best of everyone. In return, people around her always tried to reach those expectations.

3) Let each day happen. Rarely would my mom get "Super Stressed" over things. Well, preparing Thanksgiving dinner could result in orders being barked out, or when she was preparing for a party of fifty people, but I think we all understand that as being a rarity. I mean like letting each day unfold with the blessings they bring, and not worrying about the next.

Publication Information Valley Bugler, LLC

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

Editor/Publisher....................... Michelle Myre

Web Manager ........................ Oscar Myre IV

Cover Design ........................ Oscar Myre IV

Distribution.............................. Diana Jones

Advertising Sales................... Michelle Myre

Columnists.............................. Listed below

Blake Peterson - Movie Reviews

Georgia Butterfield - Adorable Adoptee

Georgia Cox - Castle Rock Seniors

Oscar Myre IV - Geek Speak

Paddy Burrow - Fruits & Nuts

Pat Nelson - Window to Woodland /valleybuglernewspaper PeaceHealth - Living Well

**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 4) Give and love joyfully. My mom gave with all that was in her heart.

Gifts and acts of service were her love language, and she expressed those beautifully and touchingly to those around her. Even to strangers, she was able to share the love of God through these actions. I want to do that.

There are so many more than I can add to this list. Not only making this list in honor of my mom, it's a way for me to give her a birthday present this January 8th. I have a feeling that she is looking upon us from heaven, and

is blessed and humbled by knowing that this is my birthday gift to her. To be more like her. That I am honoring HER gift to us, by being who she was. In these ways, we can honor her memory eternal.

Until next month.

Michelle Myre Publisher / Editor

[This is me & my beloved mama, Toni Reich, who passed away too early June 23rd, 2015. Pic taken in 2014 at a Christmas Cookie party. Miss you, Mutti.]

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 3

King day of service = Jan.18th January 18, 2016 will mark the 32nd anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday.

This milestone is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.

On January 18, we observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr (Born on January 15th, 1929). King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement. He successfully protested discrimination in federal and state laws.

He also recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals.

In honor of King’s memory, the National Martin Luther King Day of Service was started by Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who coauthored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clin-

ton on August 23, 1994.

The goal of the Act honoring King is to make the holiday a day when people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that King envisioned.

In 2015, citizens in all 50 states delivered meals, refurbished schools and community centers, and collected food and clothing. Volunteers also recruited mentors, supported job-seekers, built homes and provided other services for veterans and military families, and helped citizens improve their financial literacy skills.

As the agency charged with leading the MLK Day of Service, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is proud to highlight the work of our partners in the nonprofit community, at all levels of government, the private sector, and the entire national service family. Americans made it “a day on, not a day off”, making a fantastic impact on the community surrounding them.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing

for others?’”

Each year, Americans across the country are working to answer that question by coming together on the national holiday to serve each other.

One example in our local community is the AmeriCorps new documentary they are making. (Read it on p.5) In honor of the amazing gifts that Dr. King gave our nation, try these creative ways to help children understand and celebrate his vision of hope and sense of humanity.

1. Celebrate Martin Luther King’s ability to help people appreciate diversity by having a unique cultural dinner. Try different foods from different countries, and play some music from different regions of the world. It doesn’t need to be hard, and it only takes a few moments to think up some fun variations. Have kids choose!

2. Have kids take white paper plates, trace their hands on a few of

them, then color each hand a different color. Representing the idea that Dr. King helped us to consider joining hands with people of all colors as they marched for freedom. Punch holes in the top and string them along a display string. Add your hand in the there, too.

3. Choose a service activity. This day is widely held by millions across the country as an opportunity to serve others. Look outside your “usual” activities and find something that stretches your boundaries.

It may even be something closer to home, such as raking a neighbors lawn, or bringing dinner to someone you don’t know very well. Whatever the choice, keep in mind the Day of Service doesn’t need to only one day out of the year, but can extend to many, many more days as well. You might find that you and your family enjoy it!

Parks & Rec Classes for all ages For all classes: Call 442-5400 to register, or online: mylongview.com/reconline (Complete Winter course catalog available online at above website.)

Gymnastics: tots Parent & Tot: Fun, developmental early childhood gymnastics, which provides a positive social environment, builds self-confidence, enhances body awareness, physical and brain development, incorporates fun chants, and new exciting theme is introduced to enhance imagination. Watch your child’s face fill with excitement, body fill with pride and hearts swell with confidence, as their skills expand with every class.

Age: 2-3; Instructor: Kim Philia 1/9-1/30, Saturdays; 9:00-9:45am $35.50 / $40.50 #149867 Age: 3-5; Instructor: Kim Philia 1/9-1/30, Saturdays; 10:00-10:45am $35.50 / $40.50 #149870 Ballet A creative movement class for be-

ginners. Learn the basics such as turn-outs, correct posture and alignment for the arms, body, feet and head.

Age: 3-5; Instructor: Elizabeth Muir 1/12-2/2, Tuesdays; 4:15-5:00pm $35.50 / $40.50 #149857

lego adventures Explore Lego elements and learn building techniques while engaging in a wide range of modeling, architectural and engineering activities.

(Basic STEM!) Gain knowledge in mathematics, physics, and communications.

Age: 6-9; Instructor: Linda Zandi 1/14-2/4, Thursdays; 5:30-6:30pm $35.50 / $40.00 #149879 Rec Building; 2920 Douglas Digital photography Improve your photography skills and gain a better understanding of your camera. In this class you’ll learn how to use the settings of your camSee CLASSES cont. on p.4

Page 4 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

‘Let our New Years resolution be this, we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.’

- Goran Persson CLASSES, contin. from page 3 era, photo composition, and how you can use basic photo editing to manipulate your photos. Bring your camera and all the equipment (adaptors, plugs). Class will take short walking trips to shoot photos.

Age: 18 and over Instructor: Marvin Pierson 1/6-1/27, Wednesdays; 6-8pm $42.50 / $47.50 #149915 Location: Mark Morris High INTO TO IMPROV This course is specifically designed for students with no prior experience. Studying improvisation frees the imagination, builds selfconfidence, and it’s fun! Become more spontaneous and receptive to new ideas in a playful, supportive atmosphere, alongside classmates from a wide variety of backgrounds.

This course will help students become more comfortable with them-

selves, no matter the situation.

Age: 18 and over Instructor: Michael Cheney (Longview Stageworks) 1/13-3/2, Wed; 5:30-6:30pm $55.00 / $60.00; #149922 Location: Women's Club Building 835, 21st Ave, Longview TOTALLY FIT YOGA GOLD This gentle and therapeutic yoga class offers a holistic, mind-body approach to yoga. You will learn simple modifications to poses allowing you to access the support the body needs without pain, strengthen the core for better spinal alignment, while increasing physical and mental strength, stretch and flexibility.

The body quickly responds to therapeutic yoga by letting go of old patterns and pain, welcoming optimal mobility, and a renewed sense of strength with ease. “Moving in ease creates more ease and optimal movement.”

Bring a yoga mat, small blanket and yoga block..

Age: 18 and over Instructor: Kristina Arquette 1/6-2/1, MON/WED; 9-10am $47.50 / $52.50; #149953 Location: McClelland Center 951 Delaware St, Longview *Ticket book available: 10 passes for $65.00. Call for more information.

For all classes: Call 442-5400 to register, or online: mylongview.com/reconline

How to Beat the Winter Blues (SPM Wire) Got a case of the blahs? Winter may be at fault, when Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression, is most common.

But don’t spend the season sad.

Try these techniques to boost your mood.

The best part? They work any time of year: • Get the right amount of sleep. Too much or too little shut-eye can con-

tribute to depression.

• Eat right for mental health. Studies have linked diets low in selenium and omega-3 fatty acids with poorer moods and depression. Eat plenty of fish, beans, lean meats, low-fat dairy and nuts.

• Take a daily walk for exercise and fresh air. Both are important for good mental health.

More tips to combat seasonal blues are available at www.nmha.org

Learn to love your liver

It can happen when people visit their doctors for an annual checkup.

When the doctor orders a medication, they are surprised to hear that they can’t take it. Certain drugs, including statins and cholesterol-lowering drugs, can’t be taken by many people with liver disease.

The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly.

Weighing about 3 pounds, the liver is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery to the touch. Normally you can't feel the liver, because it's protected by the rib cage.

The liver has two large sections, called the right and the left lobes.

The gallbladder sits under the liver, along with parts of the pancreas and intestines. The liver and these organs work together to digest, absorb, and process food.

The liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. As it does so, the liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines. The liver also makes proteins important for blood clotting and other functions.

‘Love your Liver’ That’s the advice of the National Liver Foundation. It’s not hard to do, because most of their advice about keeping your liver healthy is the same as for general health. For example: * Drink alcohol in moderation, especially if you are a woman. One and a half cans of beer a day can cause liver problems in some women. * Maintain a normal weight so you don’t develop a fatty liver, which increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver failure. * Don’t smoke. Smoking is linked to liver cancer, and it may increase the toxic effects of some medications. * Never share a toothbrush or razor with anyone. The toothbrush or razor could carry hepatitis B or C. * For a tattoo or body piercing, only use establishments that practice meticulous sterilization of instruments. * Practice safe sex to protect yourself from hepatitis A and B. * If you have ever been told that something is wrong with your liver, even if you have no symptoms whatever, see a liver specialist (a hepatologist).

Risky business * Avoid recreational drug use. Intravenous drugs are a common mode of hepatitis B and C transmission. Never share a needle. * If you have ever experimented with intravenous drugs, even if it was years ago, see a liver specialist.

Symptoms of liver damage may not be present even when the liver is significantly damaged.

When you love your liver, the body’s largest organ, and avoid risky business, the liver will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Kalama Library Events & Sale A New Year and time to update your book stash!!

Come to The Friends of the Library Kalama book sale on Friday, January 15 from 9 am to 4 pm. It is held in the city hall council chambers at 320 N 1st street in Kalama.

Hardbacks are $1, paperbacks are 50 cents and there is a large selection of children books.

Join Story Time at the Kalama

city hall council chambers at 320 1st street every Wednesday starting at 11 am. Come and hear stores, do crafts and have lots of fun.

Sponsored by The Friends of the Library Kalama.

After School Game days for Teens every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm. Come to the city hall council chambers at 320 N 1st street in Kalama. (Ages 12-18)

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 5

Fun Things To Do In An Elevator OK, these are simply hilarious.

Share with your friends! ☺ 1. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.

2. Blow your nose and offer to show the contents of your kleenex to the other passengers.

3. Whistle the first seven notes of “It’s a Small World” incessantly.

4. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.

5. Shave.

6. Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside, whisper, “Got enough air in there?”

7. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator. Wear yours upside-down.

8. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.

9. When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open; then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.

10. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.

11. One word: Flatulence!

12. On the highest floor, hold the door open and demand that it stay open until you hear the penny you dropped down the shaft go “plink” at the bottom.

13. Do Tai Chi exercises.

14. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then say, “I got new under-roos on!”

15. When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back saying, “Ohhhh, not now, darn motion sickness!”

16. Meow occassionally.

17. Walk in with a cooler that reads “Human Head” on the side.

26. Stare at another passenger for a while, then say, “You’re one of THEM!!” and move to the far corner of the elevator.

27. Burp, and then say, “Mmmmmm...tasty!”

28. Leave a box between the doors.

29. Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.

30. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to the other passengers “through” it.

Fibre Federal Credit Union is offering emergency flood loans

In response to the recent weather events, Fibre Federal Credit Union is offering emergency loans for those affected by the flooding. The rate being offered is well below Fibre Federal’s normal loan rates and is for qualifying expenses involving home or property damage repair, insurance deductibles, recovery of personal property, medical or emergency equipment, and tree removal.

“We wanted to somehow help our friends and neighbors in the affected communities,” said Fibre Federal’s CEO, Larry Hoff. “Times like these can be very stressful, and we’re more than honored to do it.”

For information about an emergency flood loan, please visit www. fibrecu.com, or call us at (800) 2057872, or visit one of the Fibre Federal branches.

31. Start a sing-along.

32. When the elevator is silent, look around and ask, “Is that your beeper?”

33. Play the harmonica.

34. Shadow box.

35. Say “Ding!” at each floor.

36. Lean against the button pannel.

37. Say, “I wonder what all these buttons do?” and push the red buttons.

38. Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.

39. Draw a little square on the floor with a chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your “personal space.”

40. Bring a chair along.

41. Pull your gum out of your mouth in long strings.

42. Announce in a demonic voice, “I must find a more suitable host body!”

43. Carry a blanket and clutch it protectively.

44. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

45. Wear “X-Ray Specs.” and leer suggestively at the other passengers.

46. Stare at your thumb and say, “I think it’s getting larger.”

47. If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler “Bad touch!”

48. Start eating a sandwich and offer to share it with the rest of the passengers.

49. Start eating a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich and offer to show the passengers what the sandwich looks like in your mouth.

50. Hum the “Blue Danel” and do arm pit farts for each of the cresendos.

51. Start hacking and coughing in a crowded elevator and say, “Damn this flu virus.”

52. Let out a loud and robust fart and blame it on the passenger next to you.

53. Let out a silent fart and say, “Ok folks...everyone take a deep breath!”

Strange Veggies?

Perk up your palate with these tasty treats Bored with veggies? Well, the vegetables popular in North America are just a tiny portion of the varieties available. If you are wary of experimenting with strange vegetables you know nothing about, here is a quick get-started list that can help.

Fennel Sometimes called sweet anise, it looks like celery. Aromatic flavor and smells like licorice. The stems can be eaten like celery, uncooked or cooked. Try paring it with apples and nuts.

Silvery-white leaves with green edges. This sophisticated leafy vegetable is great for salads. Avoid specimens with wilted leaves. Use whole leaves as a boat for zesty fillings.

Cardoon A favorite in the Mediterranean. A thistle-like plant. Use the inner leaves and stalks as a celery substitute. A favorite dish during Lent, when it is available.

Celeraic A root vegetable, like a turnip. The light brown bulb root is a nice change from potatoes. Choose a small plant with no roots at top. Soft spot at top indicates decay. Peel skin before cooking. Cut into small pieces and boil until tender. Serve with butter or sauces.

Chinese Peas It ís not the pea, but the pod that counts here. Naturally crisp with delicate flavor. Great for stir frying with butter and soy sauce. Nice addition to stews and vegetable dishes. Do not overcook. They are made to be crisp.

Dandelion Greens Pick wild dandelion leaves while they are still small and tender. Culti-

vated types are less bitter. Add fresh to tossed salad or combine with onion, garlic and bacon seasoning and steam from 10 to 20 minutes.

Salsify Thomas Jefferson loved this plant.

Shaped like a carrot with brown skin.

Peel and trim roots immediately before blanching the white flesh in salted water for 10 minutes. Add lemon juice to water. Sautee briefly in butter.

Taro Well-loved in the Pacific, this tuberous plant is very digestible. It can be baked, steamed, boiled or used in soups like potatoes. Choose a firm tuber. Boil or bake with the skin on.

Cooks in the same time as a potato.

When tender, peel and cut into halfinch slices and brown lightly in oil or butter.

Tomatillos This Mexican native is the principle ingredient in salsa verde.

Choose tomatillos with a yellowgreen color and a dry, split brown husk. Its tart, lemony flavor is good for sauces. To prepare: Remove husks, wash and remove skins. Cook whole or cut, steaming for 5 to 7 minutes.

The result will be a delicious sauce.

Water Chestnuts Add these naturally crunchy vegetables to salads, stews or casseroles.

Look for very firm dark brown skins and store in refrigerator. Light flavor and crisp texture even when stewed.

You can usually find water chestnuts in the canned food section, and don’t be surprised when you discover you actually like them! They add such a nice crunchy addition to any meal, salad or stew, you could even give them plain to fussy kids who may actually like them...

When snow falls, nature listens. ~Antoinette van Kleeff

Page 6 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

There’s imagination in that-there snow...

Above: One of the views of devastation on the Kalama hillside. Right: Mark LaFave reflects at the slide where he saw his friend Gary Ripp cartwheeling through a wall of mud to what he thought of as certain death. All photos by Todd Becker.

Heroes among us: The Flood of 2015

The rain saturated Kalama hillsides took three horrific slides within fortyfive minutes on the fateful eve of December 8th, 2015.

By all accounts, county road crew operator, Gary Kipp, should be dead.

Below is the release issued hours after this fateful encounter by a group of local men, working in the rain.

Katrina Harris, Budget Analyst filling in a PIO for the Emergency Operations Center at the time, penned the following words that relay the harrowing events as they took place.

At 7:22 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 Deputy Danny O’Neill was dispatched to a call of a road slide at approximately the 700 block of Kalama River Road. The County road crew was already busy cleaning a slide above this location. Deputy O’Neill was directing traffic when another slide came down below him; trapping him and half dozen citizen’s vehicles between the two slides. Deputy Landon Jones was at Modrow River Bridge turning traffic around.

The County road crew had cleared one lane and the trapped citizen’s vehicles were able to get out, when a third slide happened.

With the third slide, the County excavator was tipped over. Mark LaFave,

Operator for the County was about 50 feet away from Gary Ripp, Equipment Operator when LaFave said “I heard a large rumble above us and I started yelling at Garry on the CB its coming down, it’s coming down!” LaFave saw that the mud had hit the excavator but Ripp was out and safe. Deputy Jones ran to see if he could help, but as he got to the scene he said “I saw Ripp was off the excavator and he was literally swimming through mud”. Deputy O’Neill and Deputy Jones then ran to the three nearby houses to evacuate the people (a man and woman, and a mom and kids); then Equipment Operator Ripp asked if they found the man who had been standing down below on the driveway; that’s when they realized they were one guy short.

Deputy O’Neill moved his squad car, just as another slide came down immediately behind his car. The Deputies still needed to make their way down to a shop where they believed the missing person was. The shop had been smashed by the mud slide and they were not sure what was left of the building. The only way they could get down was to go by the riverside, in the thick mud. They could see the shop had vehicles tipped over and See HEROES, cont. on p.14

It’s January, with snow potentially a little more patience and agility to on the ground, how are you going to make your project a lasting one.

It’s tricky building an igloo by stagkeep the kids entertained?

Although in our neck of the woods, gering the blocks to balance on top we don’t see much snow at our sea- one another as construction tapers level altitude, there has been some its way to the top. Go slow.

Snow forts can be a two-phase encause lately for at least being predeavor, the first being construction pared for when the time hits.

When it does, we enourage you to and the second being destruction send the kids outside, they probably as family members and pals choose won’t need much encouragement, sides for attacks on the opponent army’s engineering prowess. and give them a few ideas..

To make a fluffy snow project last Of course, it’d be MUCH more fun if some adults joined them, and longer, spray it with a mist of water showed them what a real snowball to create a thin but sturdy coating of ice. fight or snow igloo fort was like....

While there many Internet sites The usual snowball fights and building snowmen come to mind but dealing with snow projects, a good starting place is: they’re just the tip of the iceberg!

To build something else, various squidoo.com/fun-things-to-do-with-snow Imagination! Let it run wild! sizes and shapes of building blocks can be fashioned from molds using household items.

These include plastic totes, tubs and buckets of any size.

Think big. Forts, igloos and castles are fun to build. For the more artistic, containers like funnels can be used to make turrets and spires.

Imaginative subjects could be works of architectural greatness, like the Taj Mahal.

Wet snow always Above photo: Cora Myre (6) hams it up in delight with her works best. Dry snow little brother Oscar Myre V (2) from the pure joy of all the will work, but it takes white stuff in Longview. Photo by Michelle Myre.

How to develop a resilient personality You can be stronger.

How to develop a resilient personality that can bounce back from ‘disasters’: Resilience is the ability to overcome adversity and to deal with stressful and difficult circumstances. The most resilient people recover from traumatic experiences and are stronger and wiser.

Everyone is born with the potential to develop these abilities, says Al Siebert, author of the award winning book “The Resiliency Advantage” and the best seller, “The Survivor Personality”. He says the five levels of resiliency are: 1. Maintaining your emotional stability, health and well-being. This is essential to maintaining your energy.

2. Developing an outward focus with good problem solving skills and concentrating on the challenges at hand. Problem-focused coping is better than emotion-focused coping.

3. An inward focus. Have strong self-esteem. Your self-confidence

is your reputation with yourself. You expect to handle new situations well because of past successes. Remember them.

4. Expect things to work out well.

Have optimism guided by internal values and a high tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.

5. Recognize serendipity. It is the ability to recognize what could turn misfortune into good fortune.

Siebert recommends having friendships and loving relationships.

Those who do are more resistant to stress. Wonder about things. Wonder what is different, and “What if I did this?”

Resilient people can have many sides. They can be strong and gentle, sensitive and tough, logical and intuitive. They can think of negative ways to reach positive outcomes, asking “What could go wrong, and how can it be avoided?” Being resilient helps them block attacks and sidestep cons, games and manipulations. They find allies.

Here’s to becoming even more resilient in 2016!

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 7

Accident numbers grow, whether you’re walking or driving on ice and snow Accident numbers grow, whether you’re walking or riding on ice and snow In wintery driving conditions, keep this keyword in mind: SLOW. It means slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking. Slow means it will take longer to get where you’re going, so be patient and leave with time to spare.

A few things to remember * Your headlights should be on. * Four-wheel drive won’t help you stop any faster. * Abrupt action while steering, braking or accelerating could make you lose control of the vehicle. * Make your own driving decisions.

Cruise control can’t see ahead or judge the condition of the road.

Dealing with snowplows * Washington State DOT cautions you never to crowd a snowplow. The front of the plow extends several

feet and may cross the centerline or shoulder. * Give plows plenty of room. They turn and exit frequently. Stay back about 15 car lengths. * Snowplows can throw up a cloud of snow. Never drive into a snow cloud. There could be a plow inside. * If you are behind a plow, stay there or use extreme caution when passing.

Safer walking * If you are forced to walk in the street because there is deep snow on the sidewalk, wear bright colors so cars can easily see you. * Wear shoes or boots that have traction, or wear ice-traction slip-ons over your shoes (about $10 at Target). * Pay attention to where you are walking. Don’t be on a cellphone. * Avoid carrying things, especially larger packages, which could throw you off balance.

Ever wonder?

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why women can’t put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don’t you ever see the headline ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?

Why is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dish washing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

Submitted by Georgia Cox JANUARY Events Every Monday: Our delectable 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.

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday: “Write Your Life Story” will meet in the Center at 1pm 3pm.

Every Tuesday afternoon: Games and cards will be played, call 2747502 for times.

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 are here, and will be taking place from 1pm - 3pm.

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 face!

Every Friday: Lunches by reservation only, will be served in the Center at NOON. Must Reserve by calling 636-2118 by Monday.

Every Saturday: (Except Jan. 2 and 9) BINGO!! from 1pm-3pm. Game on.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Tuesday, January 12th: David Hunt from the American Red Cross will be our guest speaker at 11am, followed by a potluck lunch at noon.

This will be a very important message for all of us, so please make sure to attend if you can.

Friday, January 15th: The Blood Mobile will be at the Senior Center Parking lot from 10am to 3pm for your donation.

There is always a need for blood.

Thursday, January 21st: Commodities will be distributed from 10am - 1pm. Have a valid punch card.

NOTICE: The Center will be closed January 1-5.

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

Page 8 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

In honor of National Eye Care Month, schedule family checkups

The month of January is dedicated to the promotion of healthy vision. We can start by protecting our eyes with sunglasses when we’re outdoors, goggles whenever we’re mowing the lawn or using machinery, and, yes, by eating carrots. Carrots contain beta-carotene that helps guard night vision and protection against macular degeneration.

Even if you don’t need glasses, an eye exam can help the doctor suggest treatment for problems like eyestrain and headaches.

Staring at computers, TV screens and handheld devices intensifies these symptoms.

Early AMD: Signs of age-related macular degeneration can be seen many years before vision is affected. Doctors may recommend vitamins C, A and E, or lutein, to slow or prevent AMD. Presbyopia: the slow loss of ability to see close objects or small print, usually beginning at about age 40. A correct eyeglass pre-

scription is important at this point.

Floaters: tiny spots that float across our field of vision.

Although they aren’t usually a sign of trouble, in rare cases they can be a warning sign of retinal detachment.

Dry eyes: occur when our tear glands don’t make enough tears; can cause itching, burning, or some loss of vision. Eye drops may help, but an exam may reveal Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that has white blood cells attacking moisture-producing glands. Four million Americans have it.

Cataracts: cloudy areas in part or all of the eye lens that keep light from passing through the lens, causing loss of eyesight. They form slowly and can usually be removed by surgery.

Glaucoma: too much fluid pressure inside the eye. The cause is unknown, but it can often be controlled and blindness prevented.

There are no early warning signs.

Conjunctivitis: occurs when tissues that line the eyelids and cover the cornea become inflamed, causing itching, burning, tearing, or a feeling of something in the eye.

Vision checks often cost less than $40 and may even be fully covered by your insurance. Call your insurance provider to see what your benefits are. Clinics may provide free checkups in January.

Have faith in yourself, a positive outlook Want to live a longer, healthier and more successful life? An optimistic outlook can help you achieve all three.

Researchers at Yale University say people who think positively live 7.5 years longer than those who don’t. The effect was more important than lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

An optimistic outlook is not some-

thing you are born with. It’s a character trait that can be achieved. For those of you who are scoffing, yes it really can!

If your outlook is generally gloomy, changing it to positive isn’t easy. It takes work and repetition.

When you are aware of your feelings, decide to be positive instead of negative. It might feel as if you are faking optimism, but after a

The world has celebrated New Year’s Day for thousands of years Happy New Year! On New Year’s Day, you join the multitudes of peoples who have celebrated the event throughout history. Though customs changed and people were vastly different through the ages, the thought was the same: The new year offered an opportunity for beginning again.

New Year’s Day is the oldest of all holidays, first observed in Babylon more than 4,000 years ago. The celebration began with the first visible crescent of the new moon after the vernal equinox or first day of spring.

And it lasted for eleven days, each with its own type of festivities.

The Babylonians also claim first rights to the tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Their most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment!

The Romans observed the new year in late March, but in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. To do it right, Julius Cae-

sar had to let the previous year last for 445 days!

Using a baby to symbolize the new year was first done in Greece around 600 B.C. The Germans added a New Year’s banner to the infant.

Some thought the first visitor of the new year would bring either good or bad luck in the coming year. A dark-haired man was thought to be a lucky omen.

It was said that luck in the coming year was determined by what you ate on the first day. In Spain, people ate grapes. The Dutch believed eating donuts brought good fortune. In some parts of the U.S., black-eyed peas with ham are favored. The hog is considered lucky because some say it symbolizes prosperity.

Corned beef and cabbage are another lucky favorite, especially cabbage because the leaves symbolize prosperity. And in some areas, rice is the lucky food.

We wish you and yours the best of luck and happiness in the new year.

10,000 steps a day?

10,000 steps each and every day?

Just how far is that anyhow?

Some of you may be familiar with the "new" philosophy that says each of us should get in at least 10,000 steps per day. If you average things, that is roughly about 5 miles.

Some ideas to achieve close to that healthy number goal: • Invite your spouse / friend / family

for a walk • Walk the dog • Use the stairs • Park farther from the store • Get up to change the channel • Window shop • Plan a walking meeting • Walk over to visit a neighbor • Get outside to walk around the garden or do a little weeding

while the optimism will be real.

Motivational author Charles Kovess says it’s important to remember that you are bound to meet negative people. Don’t let them throw you off course. He recommends being grateful for all experiences because we grow stronger by getting through the negatives.

Our actions are the results of our beliefs. If we have positive beliefs, we will take positive actions.

In his ground breaking book, The Power of Positive Thinking, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale says: “Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence

in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”

Finding it hard to scrounge up happy thoughts in the middle of the bleak of winter? Find a good Vitamin D supplement and start writing down things that make you smile throughout the day. Or even just smile, even if you don't feel like it.

Research shows that releases endorphins that actually help you feel happier! It's something that may feel strange to do, but in the end, you'll enjoy the results.

Try anything. The more you find, the more you may find things looking...up!

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 9

Page 10 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

Recipe: Potatoes Romanoff

By Candace Clark For the Valley Bugler

My aunt made the BEST twice baked potato casserole. It was served at every family gathering. The original recipe is 370 calories a serving. That translates to 4,442 calories for the entire recipe!

We lightened up the original by reducing the cheese, switching to light sour cream and using a heart health cream of chicken soup. The sodium was reduced by removing the added salt. Enjoy for a healthy new year!

Original Recipe: 8 russet potatoes 2 c sour cream 1 bunch green onions, chopped 2 c grated sharp cheddar cheese 1 ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper ¼ tsp paprika 1 can cream of chicken soup Nutrition Information: 370 calories, 47 grams carbohydrates, and 340 mg sodium Lightened-Up Version: 8 russet potatoes 1 ½ c light sour cream 1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 c grated sharp cheddar cheese ¼ tsp pepper ¼ tsp paprika 1 can cream of chicken soup (Use the Heart Healthy) Wash and pierce potatoes. Bake potatoes in their skins at 350 degrees until fork tender (approximately 1 hour). Cool.

Remove potato skin.

Shred the potato using a cheese grater.

Stir in sour cream, green onion, pepper, and soup. Mix. Turn into a 9 x 13 glass pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and paprika.

Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Serves 12.

Nutrition Information: 286 calories, 47 grams carbohydrates and 209 mg sodium Candace Clark, RD, CDE, Diabetes Educator at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center.

It’s Happy Birthday

to...

Above left: Cousin Emmi Tjoelker gets one year older this January, as well as my youngest brother, Paul Reich - below left. Poppy Tom celebrates his special birthday this January, and we fondly remember dear Mimi Toni on her first birthday in heaven.

What goes around comes around

Anonymous The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

“Leave me alone,” he growled..

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“No,” he answered sarcastically.

“I’ve just come from dining with the president. Now go away.”

The woman’s smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

“What are you doing, lady?” the man asked angrily. “I said to leave me alone.”

Just then a policeman came up.

“Is there any problem, ma’am?” he asked.

“No problem here, officer,” the woman answered. “I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Help me?”

The officer scratched his head.

“That’s old Jack. He’s been a fixture around here for a couple of years.

What do you want with him?”

“See that cafeteria over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.”

“Are you crazy, lady?” the homeless man resisted. “I don’t want to go in there!”

Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. “Let me go, officer. I didn’t do anything.”

“This is a good deal for you, Jack,” the officer answered. “Don’t blow it..”

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.

“What’s going on here, officer?” he asked. “What is all this? Is this man in trouble?”

“This lady brought this man in here to be fed,” the policeman answered.

“Not in here!” the manager replied angrily. “Having a person like that here is bad for business.”

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin.

“See, lady. I told you so. Now if you’ll let me go. I didn’t want to come here in the first place.”

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. “Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?”

“Of course I am,” the manager answered impatiently. “They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.”

“And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?”

“What business is that of yours?”

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, President and CEO of the company.”

“Oh.” The woman smiled again.

“I thought that might make a difference.”

She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. “Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?”

“No thanks, ma’am,” the officer replied. “I’m on duty.”

“Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to

go?”

“Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice.”

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, “I’ll get your coffee for you right away, officer.”

The officer watched him walk away.

“You certainly put him in his place,” he said.

“That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this.”

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.

“Jack, do you remember me?”

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.

“I think so -- you look familiar.”

“I’m a little older perhaps,” she said. “Maybe I’ve even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.”

“Ma’am?” the officer said questioningly. He couldn’t believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

“I was just out of college,” the woman began. “I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat.”

Jack lit up with a smile.

“Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy.”

“I know,” the woman continued.

“Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right.”

“So you started your own business?” Old Jack asked.

“I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually, I started my own business, that, with the help of God, prospered.”

She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.

“When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons.

He’s the personnel director of my company. I’m certain he’ll find something for you to do around the office.”

She smiled.

“I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you.”

There were tears in the old man’s eyes.

“How can I ever thank you? “ he said.

“Don’t thank me,” the woman answered. “To God goes the glory.

Thank Jesus...He led me to you.”

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.

“Thank you for all your help, officer,” she said.

“On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,” he answered. “Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...and thank you for the coffee.”

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 11

January is National Blood Donor Month

Blood banks begin their annual search for donors, a serious matter.

For children, January is a month for sledding and building snowmen. For blood banks it is a time of searching. With snowstorms, holidays, increased illness, and winter vacations, donations to the blood banks come up short every year. It’s one of the reasons that January has been designated National Blood Donor Month.

With blood being required by a patient every few seconds and only about 5 percent of the population donating blood, the plea goes out for eligible donors to donate as often as possible. The search for new donors goes on. They are appreciated and hoped-for, especially in January.

Blood banks want prospective donors to know that donating is a very safe procedure. All materials involved are used only once and then discarded.

The process starts with registration, a health history is taken and a mini-physical is given. The actual donation takes about 10 minutes and equals approximately one pint of blood. Your body will normally re-

place the lost fluid within 24 hours.

The American Red Cross offers some tips to make donating a good experience. Before going to donate, eat a good breakfast or lunch. Avoid fatty foods and eat iron-rich foods.

Drink extra fluids to replace the fluid you will donate but avoid caffeine. Be sure to wear clothes with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow. Afterwards, partake of the snack and drink provided. Over the next 24-48 hours, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

Even if you cannot donate blood due to health conditions or other reasons, you can still participate in Blood Donor Month. You can help organize a blood drive, or volunteer to help at mobile blood sites. Check with your local blood drives to see if they need treats to give to donors after they give blood. Monetary donations are always welcomed and appreciated as well.

If you’re anything like my husband, who has popular blood, then you will get reminder phone calls and polite requests to come in and donate.

I don’t know about you, but if I need a blood transfusion and that is what would save my life....please donate.

COUPONS

New Years Guffaws You don’t know me...

Trevor’s New Year’s Eve party was an annual occurrence with numerous guests arriving. During the evening, a man knocked on the door, was greeted heartily although no one knew who he was, and was led to where the drinks were, in the kitchen. He sat there happily, chatting away, for a couple of hours before a strange light dawned on his face.

“You know,” he confided to Trevor, “I wasn’t even invited to this party. I just came over to tell you that some of your guests’ cars are blocking my drive.”

He continued, “My wife’s been sitting out in the car waiting for me to get them moved, so that we can go out.”

A bad dream?

Jemima was taking an afternoon nap on New Year’s Eve before the festivities. After she woke up, she confided to Max, her husband, ‘I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond ring for a New Year’s present.

What do you think it all means?’

‘Aha, you’ll know tonight,’ answered Max smiling broadly.

At midnight, as the New Year was chiming, Max approached Jemima and handed her small package.

Delighted and excited she opened it quickly. There in her hand rested a book entitled: ‘The meaning of dreams’.

New Year Pet Resolutions 8. Take time from busy schedule to

stop and smell the behinds.

7. Hamster: Don’t let them figure out I’m just a rat on steroids, or they’ll flush me!

6. Get a bite in on that freak who gives me that shot every year.

5. Grow opposable thumb; break into pantry; decide for MYSELF how much food is *too* much.

4. Cats: Use new living room sofa as scratching post.

3. January 1st: Kill the sock! Must kill the sock!

January 2nd - December 31: Re-live victory over the sock.

2. The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff.

1. I will NOT chase the stick until I see it LEAVE THE IDIOT’S HAND A cold winter night Lorenzo Dow, an evangelist of the last century, was on a preaching tour when he came to a small town one cold winter's night.

He entered the local general store to get some warmth, and saw the town's lawyers gathered around the pot-bellied stove, discussing the town's business. Not one offered to allow Dow into the circle.

Dow told the men who he was, and that he had recently had a vision where he had been given a tour of Hell, much like the traveler in Dante's Inferno.

When one of the lawyers asked him what he had seen, he replied, "Very much what I see here: All of the lawyers, gathered in the hottest place."

Page 12 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

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) Naval Service Veterans, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard.

Lower Columbia Branch 363 meets 6:30 p.m., 2nd Friday, Longview VFW building, 4311 Ocean Beach Highway. Information: Ray Hegr (360) 425-6981 FLEET RESERVE AUXILIARY #363 meets the 2nd Friday of the month at the VFW Hall, 4311 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview. Potluck 6:30 p.m. meeting 7:30 p.m.

Active, retired, or reserve status family members with the US Navy, Marines, Coast Guard. Info 425.4688.

KOREAN WAR VETS ASSOCIATION CHAPTER #321 of SW WA meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month @ 10am; Vancouver WA. Call Commander James Mead (360)907-0592 for information.

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. 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 1st & 3rd Thursdays. 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 Anita Morgan 748-8098, Rentals call Claudia Hunter 274-5263 CATLIN GRANGE #199 2nd & 4th Fri. 6:30 p.m. Potluck dinner 2nd Friday. 7:30 meetings. More info: 423-2122; Rental call Barbara Wilburn: 425-5970.

PLEASANT HILL GRANGE # 101 2nd Monday. 6:30 p.m. Potluck, meeting @ 7:15 p.m. Community Service group meets Thursdays @ 10am. Info & rentals call Zula Bryan 360-425-6101 ROSE VALLEY GRANGE #953 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m.

4th Tuesday, 6pm. Info & Hall Rental: Becky Molt 360575-3977 WOODLAND GRANGE #178 2nd & 4th Thursdays 6:30 p.m. Potluck, meeting @ 7:15 p.m. Info & rentals call John Burke 225-9888 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.

R Square D Square Dance Club: Sept - May. 2nd Fri & 4th Sat. 7:30 pm Plus, 8:00pm - 10:00pm Mainstream with Rounds. $5 admission Kelso Senior Ctr 636-1993

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. & Thurs. 1 - 4 p.m . @ LV Senior Center 274-3175 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 Thursday @ 7:30pm at Longview United Methodist Church. 2851 30th Ave, Longview. Info: Gloria 360-7497449 or www.oa.org NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) "Connections" Open Support Group Mondays @ 4-5:30pm and Thursdays 12-1:30pm. STRIVE Series; Dealing with emotional and/or addiction issues Tuesdays 1-2:30pm: Counseling availabe. Call (360)703-6722 NAMI SW WA Kelso office: 109 Allen St, Kelso WA

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 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

Worship Sunday 10:00 a.m. facebook.com/thefireside First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2000 East Kessler Blv - Longview 360.425.4220 Rev. Eric Atcheson lvfirstchristian.org revericatcheson.blogspot.com Grace and Truth City Church 525 Third Ave SW – Castle Rock Pastor David Beer Worship 10:15am, 749-2289 Grace Bible Fellowship 300 S.10th Ave, Kelso Worship: Sunday 11:00am Bible Study 9:30 a.m. www.GraceIsReal.org (360)423-4035

Baha’i Faith Vader 360-751-3181 Centralia 360-807- 4313 Packwood 360-494-4767 Grace Lutheran Church, MS Longview 360-423-4105 Dover Street, Longview Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 2725 Worship: Sunday 10:30am www.Glcmslv.net Bethany Lutheran Church (360)414-4147 2900 Parkview Drive, Longview Office: (360)577-8240 Pastor Shelley Willem Grace United Methodist Church, Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m.

Vader, 295.3402 Rev. Steven A. Caskey, pastor Castle Rock Christian Church Sunday worship service – 12:15 p.m.

542 Huntington Ave. S, Castle R. Potluck every 2nd Sunday Sunday school – 9 am (all ages) Quilting on Mondays & Thursdays Sunday Worship – 10 am Dr. John Leffler, Senior Pastor Baptist Church 6th-12th Gr. youth Wed, 6-7:30 pm Highland’s 20th Avenue 425-1960 Longview 360-274-6771 M-F, 9:30a -1:30pm 371 Sunday School 9:00am Call for home groups/studies Worship Service 11:00am www.cr-cc.org Pastor Larry Pedigo 703-2117 Castle Rock Church of the Nazarene House of Prayer for All Nations 456 Pioneer Ave. NE, Castle Rock 868 9th ave. Longview, WA Sunday School classes 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 AM Worship Celebration 10:45 a.m.

Morning Service 11:15 AM Evening church service 6:30 p.m. Evening Service 6 PM Women’s Bible study Th 10:30am Rev. Reo McBride, 274.6546 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Allen Street, Kelso Castle Rock First Baptist Church 2200 423-3650 211 Front Ave. NW, Castle Rock (360) M & F Daily Mass 12:15 PM Pastor Joel Royce 274-4113 Vigil Mass 5:30 PM Sun Bible Study all ages: 9:45am Sat Sunday Mass 10:30 AM Worship 11a.m.

Women’s Bible Study: Wed 1:30pm Cowboy Church: Last Sat.; 6-9pm Kalama Baptist Church, Wes Eader Castle Rock Church of Nazarene Pastor Vincent Rd, Kalama WA 456 Pioneer Ave NE, Castle Rock 112 9:45am - Sunday School (360)274-6546 11:00am - Worship Pastor Reo McBride www.kalamabaptist.com Sunday Service: 10:45am Call 673-5570 Sunday School: 9:30am Children’s Service: 11:00am Kelso First United Methodist Church Sunday Eve Service: 6:00pm 206 Cowlitz Way, Kelso Women’s Bible Study: Wed 6:00pm Contemporary Service 9:00 am Sunday School 9:20 am Castle Rock United Methodist Traditional Service 11:00 am 241 First Street, Castle Rock Wed: Children (Grade 1-12) 5:30-7 pm Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Vonda McFadden Worship 10:55 a.m. Sunday 360-423-7480 Youth Group: Sundays 2 p.m. www.kelsofirstumc.org Rev. Pam Brokaw - 274.4252 Lexington Bible Fellowship Central Christian Church 98 Garden Street, Kelso (Lexington) 401 Crawford St., Kelso Sunday school @ 9:45am Worship -11am, school @ 9:30am Sunday worship @ 11am Wednesdays @ 6pm (Youth @ 6:45 Pastor Jerry Hancuff www.lexingtonbible.org Bible Studies - many available Russ Tevis, Minister Life Center 360-425-3420 Church Office Corner of Rock & Pine in Centralia Sundays at 10:30am or Oyler Rd & Hwy 12 in Ethel Community of Christ, Longview Sundays 202 Delaware Street 9:00am 360-736-5898 Pastor Sharon West www.yourlifecenter.com Classes all ages: 10:00am Living Hope Church Worship Service: 11:00am 2711 NW Andreson, Vancouver 11:00am Sundays Church of Christ Pastor Dean Jenks (360)944-3905 300 St. Helen’s St., Toledo, Wa Sunday Bible Class 10 a.m.

Longview Church of Christ Sunday Worship 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. 2219 50th Ave. Sunday Bible Class 9:30, Sunday Worship 10:30 John Gadberry, Minister Pastor Larry Hartwick 360-274-8570 Longview Church of the Nazarene Emmanuel Lutheran Church 2218 E. Kessler Blvd. - Longview 814 - 15th Ave, Longview Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 8:30am Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Sunday “Celebration” - 11 a.m.

Celebrate Recovery Thurs at 6 p.m Thursday Worship - 6:30 p.m.

360-577-1100 Pastor David Martin, Senior Pastor Longview Community Church, Church office - 360-423-3250 2323 Washington Way - Longview www.elclongview.com Contemporary Service 8:45 a.m. Sun. Service 11 a.m. Sun. Faith Fellowship Lutheran Brethren; Traditional John Williams 423.6380 Church 210 Fishers Lane, Kelso Pastor LongviewCommunityChurch.org Pastor Chris Leingang Worship at 10:00am Longview Presbyterian Church www.fflbc.org 3808 Pennsylvania St., Longview Church Office (360) 425-4390 Worship and Children’s Class: Sundays at 10am Fathers House Church 1315 Commerce Ave, Longview Pastor Bill Van Nostran 577-8951 www.longviewpresbychurch.net Worship Sundays: 9am, 10:30am Pastor Chuck Tilton 423-7826 New and Living Way Church www.FathersHouseChurch.com 951 Delaware St., Longview Sundays 10am & 6pm Fireside Fellowship Wednesdays 7pm 271 Atmore Road, Toutle

703-3340 newandlivingwaychurch.org Oak Point Community Church 445 Oakpoint Rd, Longview Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Service 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Thursday Bible Study 7 p.m.

Pastor Doug McMurray #577-6037

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 Ryderwood Community Church,

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

St. Mary Catholic Church 120 Powell Rd., Castle Rock 274.7404 W & Th Daily Mass 8:30A Sunday Mass 8:30A 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 9 & 11am Sunday Worship.

Adult Study & Sunday School 10:10am Tues 10:30am Text Study Wed: 5:30pm Youth Group Wed: 7:30pm Adult Bible Study Pastor Bob Sinclair St. Rose Catholic Church 2571 Nichols Blvd Longview, WA 360-425-4660 The Salvation Army Church 1639 10th Ave, Longview Sunday School @ 9:45am Holiness Meeting @ 11:00am 360-423-3992 St. Stephens Episcopal 1428 - 22nd, Longview WA Office: (360)423-5600 Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 10:00am www.sslv.org Seventh Day Adventist Church 7531 Old Pacific Hwy -Castle Rock Worship 11 a.m. Saturday Pastor Ben Moore 274.6090 Seventh Day Adventist Church 77 Solomon Road, Kelso WA Office: (360)423-7344 Saturday Worship: 11:05am Pastor Marcia Stone journeyadventist.com Stella Lutheran Chapel 124 Sherman Road, Longview Pastor Carol Plummer Sunday Worship 10:00 am Children Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

Office (360) 423-3795 (Wed. Only) Toledo New Life Assembly of God 420 Silver Street, Toledo 864-4366 Worship: Sun. @ 10am, Wed. @ 6pm Dinner on Wednesdays @ 5:15pm Food Bank: Last Tue/Wed of month Toutle Christian Fellowship 5067 Spirit Lake Hwy – Toutle Worship Service Sunday 9 a.m.

Pastor Denny Martinez www.toutle.org (360)274-6305 Vader Assembly of God Church 302 - 6th St., Vader (360)295-3756 Pastor Tracy Durham Sunday Worship: 10:30am & 6:00pm Sunday Youth Group: 6:00pm Wed. Adult Study, Kidz Church: 7p.m.

Valley View Church of God 1435 - 33rd Ave, Longview WA Pastor Dwayne Cothron (360)636-6787 Worship Sundays @ 10am & 6pm Word of Life Christian Center 277 Brown Rd. E, Chehalis Sunday 9:45am / Wed 7pm Study 360-864-4407 / 360-523-8828

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 13

Movie Reviews

By Blake Peterson

'Janis: Little Girl Blue'

Directed by: Amy Berg, With Participation from Chan Marshall, Dick Caveat Running Time: 1 Hr., 46 Mins, NR My Rating: A-

By Blake Peterson Valley Bugler Columnist 2015 has been the year of the rock documentary. We studied the highs and lows of the emotional roller coaster that was Nina Simone in “What Happened, Miss Simone?”. We delved into the psyche of the troubled frontman of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, in “Montage of Heck.”

“Amy” gave us a closer look into the downfall of modern soul singer Amy Winehouse, and now “Janis: Little Girl Blue,” a fastidiously researched account of the life of Janis Joplin, acts as a closer for a year in which misunderstood musical talents were finally given a chance to be seen not through a romanticized cloud of smoke but as humans. As tortured souls whose demons were kept locked away from an adoring public for far too long.

Janis Joplin is the most fascinating of the aforementioned grouping, as she, curiously, is not necessarily the woman most would think of her as.

Most would pin her as a free spirit raised by hippies, a drug abuser that searched for a high not to escape the pains of the everyday but to enhance a thoughtful outlook on life.

Not so. The mystique that obsessively swirls around her tunes and image can, after all, deter human dimension.

Directed by Amy Berg, “Janis: Little Girl Blue” takes its titular figure off the rock ’n’ roll pedestal she currently resides on. Friends and family interviewed speak of her as a hero they admire just as much as the public does. But the component that justifies their accounts is the way they talk about her: deeply in awe but appearing as people who always assumed that Joplin, despite her rough lifestyle, would live forever because of a rough exterior.

Noticeable regret swirls in their eyes; a light melancholy accentuates their recounting of past events.

As we’re given a tour of Joplin’s life through archival footage and intimate letters read by Chan Marshall (also known as Cat Power), the documentary allows for us to feel as though we really knew her, and that makes her tragedy affect us in ways never felt. Before, we just knew her voice and her persona; “Janis: Little Girl Blue” praises her talents but never lets us forget that considerable vocal power does not equal uncomplicated happiness.

We’re reminded of this during one such moment when footage shows Joplin (at the height of her career) attending her high school reunion, being interviewed by a member of the press. With all her fame and fortune, we’d expect her to easily laugh at the kids who used to bully her on a regular basis. So we want to break down as the interviewer awakens memories of her days as a tormented wallflower, her musical recognition making no difference in the pain that we hear in her responses. She was like one of us, just better able to express herself through an impassioned song.

“Janis: Little Girl Blue” has not received the same critical appreciation that “Amy” and “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” did following their releases.

Maybe that’s because our culture has so widely accepted Joplin as a legend of the past that they’d prefer she stay that way. But, in truth, it’s as good as the former, better than the latter.

The unceremonious and jarring way her death is represented (a wise choice by Berg) stirs our souls long after the film is over.

Even forty-five years later, it’s hard to accept that Janis Joplin is no longer with us.

A student at the University of Washington, Blake will major in Visual Communications or Journalism. petersonreviews.com

Winter Riddles Q: What do you call fifty penguins in the Arctic?

A: Lost! REALLY lost! (Penguins live in Antarctica.)

Q: Why is the slippery ice like music?

A: If you don't C sharp - you'll B flat!

Q: What do you get from sitting on the ice too long?

A: Polaroids!

Q: What did the detective in the Arctic say to the suspect?

A: "Where were you on the night of September to March?"

Q: Where do seals go to see movies?

A: The dive-in!

Q: When are your eyes not eyes?

A: When the cold Arctic wind makes them water!

Q: What vegetable was forbidden on the ships of Arctic explorers?

A: Leeks!

Answer to Sudoku Puzzle

Q: What do women use to stay young looking in the Arctic?

A: Cold cream.

Q: What do you call a reindeer with no eyes?

A: I have no eye deer.

Q: Why didn't the tourist in the Arctic get any sleep?

A: He plugged his electric blanket into the toaster by mistake - and kept popping out of bed all night!

By Pat Nelson Valley Bugler Columnist A Look Back at Woodland in 2015 What were Woodland's biggest stories of 2015—schools, business, politics, weather, growth? For me, weather tops the list. Maybe that's because December's flooding, landslides and road closures are still fresh in my mind as I write this column.

Weather did cause some school closures, but Woodland's biggest school news wasn't weather-related, it was the opening of a new high school near exit 22. The $62.5 million facility is twice the size of its predecessor. The old high school has now become part of the middle school, allowing the district to get rid of most of its portable classrooms.

Woodland, the fastest growing city in Cowlitz County, is experiencing a housing shortage that won't get better any time soon as new businesses start up in nearby Kalama and in LaCenter, where work on the Cowlitz Tribe's planned casino has begun.

Taco Bell opened in Woodland in the fall and work is underway at the site of a proposed Carl's Junior.

During 2015, Red Leaf Coffee moved from a tiny kiosk to its own building in downtown Woodland, and Luckman Coffee opened on the east side of town.

The Woodland Veterinary Hospital moved to a new, nearly 4000 square ft. building on Belmont Loop.

In September, the Port of Woodland received a $100,000 federal grant to design a new industrial park. The port reports that the 12acre Guild Road Industrial Park could generate 100-300 jobs.

On the political scene, councilman Scott Perry, who won his council seat with a coin toss, resigned before his term expired, citing frustra-

tion with the job and a lack of time.

The City Council created a city administrator position, and Will Finn, who ran unopposed, will become the new mayor, replacing Grover Laseke.

Probably the biggest news of all in 2015 was the weather. A dry summer found area residents playing outside and spending a lot of time at Horseshoe Lake and on the shores of the Columbia and Lewis Rivers.

Water dropped so low that some boat ramps closed. Warm weather caused tulips at the Holland America Bulb Farm to bloom three weeks early, and bulb-farm owner Benne Dobbe encouraged visitors to visit before the annual festival so they would not miss the colorful blooms.

When fireworks stands opened in July, fire danger was already high and a burn ban was in effect; forest fires were a big problem throughout the summer months.

In early December, heavy rains put property owners on alert and some experienced major flooding.

RV owners and others living along the Lewis River prepared for a possible move to higher ground.

Woodlanders talked about the flood of 1996. Then Tuesday afternoon, December 8, mudslides near I-5's exit 22 closed I-5 northbound until the next evening, when two of the three lanes reopened. During the freeway closure, the Woodland High School made the news again, this time by becoming an overnight home to stranded motorists.

All those December clouds brought us a silver lining, and we start 2016 with our drought worries eased . . . for now.

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.

GET PUZZLED!

Page 14 • Valley Bugler • January 2016

Your website's "Gotta Haves" for 2016

By Oscar Myre IV Valley Bugler Columnist Welcome to a new year of marketing. This month I want to focus on the 6 key elements your website's gotta have to be successful in 2016.

1) Web Stats You can use whatever web stats program you want, but you need to make sure you use them. I recommend going over your stats at least every month. Take the time to learn what they mean. Find out how many visitors (sessions) are you getting.

I’m a big fan of Google analytics, but there are a lot of alternatives.

2) Clear defined goals With your current web stats in hand you can make realistic goals.

Here are a few examples: • Increase average order amount by x $ or x % • Increase your conversion rate to x or decrease your bounce rate to x • Increase weekly orders to x • Increase organic traffic by x • Increase eMail subscribers by x Your plan might include some or all of metrics above. The don't have it be complicated, but they must be easily measured.

3) Value driven lead capture system What does that mean? You need to give visitors a very compelling reason to give your their contact info. Just asking them to contact you for additional info doesn't cut it.

Some value you might offer in ex-

HEROES, continued from p.6

change for their contact info: • A discount or coupon • A valuable report or white paper Consider your audience. If you can show businesses or consumers how to save time or money, improve safety, or make more money they will be more likely to give you their contact info and be willing to chat.

Tip: take your time and deliver real value.

4) Remarketing Ok, maybe this one is not a must for everyone, but if you have an eCommerce site, make sure you are remarketing. Remarketing is a cool way of advertising on other sites to people after they have visited your site. If you have an online marketing budget, make sure you learn about and start remarketing.

5) Search engine optimization with blog Content is still king. Invest your resources in creating good content and have your marketing geek or geeks optimize it for the Google and crew.

6) Responsive Design Last, but not least. If your site isn't mobile friendly then Google is penalizing you big time. I invite you to ignore the rest of this article (at this time) and hire someone to make your site responsive (yesterday).

Your website must respond to all browsers sizes to ensure your visitors have the best user experience and so the search engines give you the best possible rankings.

I gotta say none of my tips for 2016 are groundbreaking, they are simply the right way to do business. I wish you the best as you make your website its best. ~:-) Oscar Myre IV is the head web geek of National Products Incorporated, providing mobile mounting options for vehicles, kayaks, boats and more. Check out their new web site: rammount.com

things were thrown everywhere. They could hear a man screaming for help, but they could not find him. They were trudging through three feet of water, in mud with their flashlights when they heard, but could not see, another extremely loud slide; but this time it was on the Kalama River side where the mudslide came down. The mudslide hit the river so loud, and immediately the torrent of water came back on their side of the river like a tidal wave washing into both Deputies causing Deputy O’Neill to lose his radio. They both ran around the building to higher ground to get back up to their vehicles. They quickly had to move their vehicles again for danger of another slide.

At that time, Deputy Jones went back up the road to try to access the shop on the other side, while Deputy O’Neill called in an update and to make sure the County road crew was coming back down the hill to evacuate. The County road crew met up with Deputy O’Neill, who explained that Deputy Jones was stuck chest deep in the mud and was trying to scramble out of the mud. Deputy Jones said “the only way to the shop was going to be going through waist to chest high water and there was debris, boulders and trees floating by so I made my way back up to the road." Deputy Jones could see the four County road crew and Deputy O’Neill were making their way to the shop from the river side. Deputy Jones kept screaming to the man who was trapped saying “we are still coming for you!” He wanted to reassure him they were still coming, but was not sure how long it would take.

No emergency vehicles or personnel were responding so the four County road crew members (Todd Becker;

Acting Road Crew Supervisor, Carl Davis; Truck Operator, Mark LaFave; Operator, and Gary Ripp; Equipment Operator) went with Deputy O’Neill along the riverside and mud and made their way on top of the building to find the last man. Todd Becker and LaFave went to the front of the shop while Ripp and Deputy O’Neill went to

the back.

They found a window and broke it out to gain access. Deputy O’Neill and Ripp hoisted LaFave on their shoulder and then lifted him into the window. The other County road crew members went to work using broken boards to stabilize and hold up the roof and walls, while Davis watched with a flashlight for rising water and other slides. They all could hear the man screaming, but they could not find him.

The injured man had been pushed by the mudslide through the shop, and it had pinned him to the wall behind his car and other equipment. LaFave had to move and throw things away to dig the man out. Finally, they saw the man’s hand. LaFave told the man, “I have made a fair size opening but the only way I can get you out was if you could help.” So together they started inching back toward the window.

The man “looked like a man of mud” said Deputy O’Neill. Ripp and Deputy O’Neill lifted and pulled him through the window and they all trudged in knee deep mud along the river, over some fences as the injured man half walked and half was carried by the rescuers to the Sheriff’s vehicles.

The County road crew put the excavator in the lead to push out the road and they lined up the vehicles and followed in a caravan. They were able to get the injured man to the command post to get him the medical assistance he needed.

Deputy O’Neill stated, “The real heroes were the County road crew – everyone was brave and worked in pretty hazardous conditions to save his life”.

[Above Photo this page: The hillside slide that took out the excavator, with Gary Ripp inside. Photo by Todd Becker.]

Come see our special dogs and cats today. Humane Society of Cowlitz County.

Call 577-0151

January 2016 • Valley Bugler • Page 15

Tips to keep pets happy and healthy this new year

(StatePoint) Just as you can become tense and stressed out by your daily life, so too can your dog or cat.

And pet anxiety is not only unpleasant for your pet and potentially damaging to your home and belongings; it can also lead to a host of other health and wellness problems.

With some simple lifestyle tweaks however, you can make scratching, digging, clawing, whining and crying a thing of the past. Here are some tips to reduce your dog or cat’s anxiety and make their life, and yours, a bit more comfortable: Keep Pets Active “Often, the source of a pet’s anxiety is lack of activity,” says Brian Atkinson, Director of Pet Training at Invisible Fence Brand. “Whether you have a dog or cat, regular exercise is crucial for a happy, anxiety-free pet.”

Be sure to give pets plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise. Play games with your cat or dog that are both mentally and physically stimulating.

Grant More Freedom If you’re like many pet owners, your schedule means leaving your dog or cat alone for long stretches of time. Granting safe access to your yard while you’re busy can alleviate

this burden. Consider installing a pet door combined with a pet containment system.

“With proper training, dogs and cats can safely learn to understand and respect the boundaries of the yard,” says Atkinson.

Highly recommended by veterinarians, professional dog trainers, behaviorists and other pet experts, a pet door can reduce accidents inside the home, increase exercise, stimulate a pet’s senses and provide a change of scenery.

Make Separation Easier If your pet cries or misbehaves when you leave the house, you may need to take steps to reduce his or her separation anxiety. Desensitize your pet to anxiety-inducing pre-departure cues like putting your shoes on or packing your bag, by regularly doing these actions and staying put.

When you do leave, keep the radio on to keep your pet company throughout the day. Keep your absences short initially, gradually building up the length of time you’re away. And try to avoid making grand entrances and exits. The act of leaving and returning home should be as much of a non-event as possible.

Maintain their Space Be sure to regularly clean litter boxes and keep your pet well-hydrated. Automatic litter systems, pet feeders and drinking fountains can help you maintain your pet’s living conditions, even when you aren’t there to do it yourself.

Don’t ignore your pet’s anxiety. A few household changes can take the stress out of being a pet, giving you peace of mind that your furry friend is happy and healthy.

Adorable Adoptees

Meet 'Fiona' and 'Penn y' Fiona and Penny are two purebred Basset Hounds, 3 and 4 years old. Due to circumstances beyond their control, and through no fault of their own, they are being rehomed. Their guardian tearfully brought them to us; she has had the dogs since they were puppies, and this is heartbreaking to her.

We have promised her to find the best homes for her "girls".

The dogs are very bonded; they need to be adopted together. They sleep together. They groom each other, cleaning the others eyes and ears. They love each other, that's obvious. They are a bit shy when they first meet new people because they have not been ex-

posed to a lot of strangers. Both dogs are spayed and will be brought current on vaccinations prior to placement. They will also be microchipped.

If you have space in your home and love in your heart for these two beauties, please contac Susie Theriault as soon as you can.

These girls are waiting for you!: susietheriault@comcast.net rpaws.petfinder.org 673-7373

Read the COMPLETE issue online for FREE!

www.ValleyBugler.com *FOR SALE*SERIOUS INQUIRIES CALL (360)414-1246*

Page 16 • Valley Bugler • January 2016