Grays River Grange #124

Happy New Year & Thanks For All The Help Last Year!

Grays River Grange is looking forward to 2012 as another productive year. The big project in 2011 was obtaining the property next door. 

A very special mention goes to Long Beach Grangers Ray & Barbara Milner who, through their caring spirit, helped us get the project off the ground.

Another special mention is Stan Sorenson - who came forward with a deep sense of caring and community pride.

Thank you to all in the community that helped us raise over $12,000 for the rehabilitation of the lot.

Rod & Darlene Ammer, Norman & Myrtle Anderson, Nina Berg, Norm & Joyce Bolton/Rosburg Store, Jack & Linda Brawn, Kyle Burkhalter, Susan & Gary Burkhalter, Robert & Lois Burkhalter, Pearle Burns, Campbell Group, Verle Chamberlain, Gloria Clark, Edward Downs, Beth Dunham, Carol Ervest, Marie Fauver, Marilyn Gudmundsen, Joe & Josephine Gilbert, Linda & Leon Gollersrud, Esther Gregg, J. Johnson, William Karwoski , Diane Maki, Irene Martin, Mike & Diane Matthews, Donald Matthies, Sue Mitchell, Ray & Barbara Milner, Krist & Darbury Novoselic, Peninsula Sanitation, Robert & Thea Pyle, Anita Raistakka , Don Raistakka, Retired Public Employees, Robinson Brother Construction (RBS), Roland & Lori Scott, Lenore Sorenson, Stan & Darlene Sorenson, Mary Steller, Dan & Clair Stephan, Rayonier , Mike Swanson Realty, Dean Takko, Terry & Kim Tarabochia, Poul & Zenaida Toftemark, Wahkiakum West, David & Gail Wahlstrom , Beverly Wallace, Vern Waterman, Dan & Tari Zimmerman

The Big Cleanup: Robinson Brothers Construction Donation

Thank you Robinson Brothers Construction for donating $5,000 to the big cleanup!

The Big Cleanup #7: Get 'Er Done!

Thank you Stan Sorenson and Robinson Brothers Construction for donating time and equipment for clearing the lot. And also thanks to all who pitched in for the containers.

 

The Big Cleanup #6: Even More Donations Coming In

Donations continue to come in for the big cleanup. Grays River Grange would like to recognize our recent contributors and thank them for their support: Lenore Sorenson, Beth Dunham, Retired Public Employees, Verle Chamberlain, Nina Berg, Susan and Gary Burkhalter, Kyle Burkhalter, Diane Maki, Mary Steller and Wahkiakum West.  In the next few weeks Stan and Craig Sorenson will be bringing in their equipment the buildings will be torn down and the lot will finally look nice.

The Big Cleanup #4: More Donations Coming In

Thank you to Bob and Thea Pyle, Dan and Clair Stephan, Pearle Burns, Mike Swanson & Rod and Darlene Ammer for your contributions towards the cleanup. We're at $850 so far. With the matching grant - that's $1,700! There's still $650 left with the matching grant, and it's good until the end of August. Double the impact of a contribution today!!!!!!

The Big Cleanup #3: Caring Community

Our fundraising efforts have so far brought in $650 from the community. With the $1,500 matching grant, that means $1,300 towards the cleanup. Please remember there's $850 left in the challenge grant and it's good until the end of August. It's not too late to make a contribution that doubles your money!

Grays River Grange #124 wants to give a big thank you to the following individuals for their contribution:

Edward Downs, Carol Ervest, Joe & Josephine Gilbert, Linda & Leon Gollersrud, William Karwoski, Irene Martin, Mike & Diane Matthews, Donald Matthies, Sue Mitchell, Don Raistakka, Poul & Zenaida Toftemark, David & Gail Wahlstrom, Dan & Tari Zimmerman

This is the flier that was mailed to folks. Please download if you can, print, then offer to people you think would help with the cleanup. .pdf  Download 5KAppeal

The Big Cleanup #2: Pitching In!

The Grange is working on cleaning up that eyesore next to our hall. We need to raise $5000.00 to do it right. 

Why We Can't Burn

We have consulted with professional firefighters and have determined that burning the buildings will not work. The site is too close to SR 4 and there could be smoke issues. That means WSP needs to be on hand to potentially close the highway. There are also rules about air quality and the composite roofing. If you think the outside of the property looks bad, the inside of the houses are pretty awful. There seemed to have been hoarding going on as the houses are packed full of appliances, moldy textiles and all kinds of garbage. It would be a big, messy job itself to clean up the insides of those houses - just to burn them.

The Big Cleanup: KEEP OUT!

Today the Grange has taken full ownership of the property next door. This lot has long been an eyesore to the community and we're very happy that it's finally going to get cleaned up.

The effort to acquire the property took about a year. (The transaction has cost our Grange over $4000. As fate would have it, the opportunity to obtain the property came at the same time we're remodeling our hall so the budget has been strained.) I had contacted the Millner's, the owners of the Deed of Trust on the property, about its condition. I sent them photos and they were not happy. One thing led to another and through the caring of the Millner family, the Grange obtained possession of the Deed of Trust. Last December we notified the Jenkins about their obligation to the contract and, like the state of the property, nothing happened. Instead of a foreclosure, we settled with the Jenkins and wish them the best in the future.