This Saturday is a very special day for one of our longtime Summit residents. Audrey Olson is celebrating her 100th birthday and Ann and Iver (Audrey's son) will be hosting an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. at her home on Long Road (first driveway on the right).

"Longtime resident" is rather an understatement in Audrey's case. In 1927, toting two suitcases and newborn Melvin, Audrey and her husband, Charlie, arrived at the train depot in downtown Summit and walked the "tram road" up to the property where she has lived ever since.

In their first years in Summit, Charlie and Audrey attempted various money-making ventures, from milking dairy cows to raising turkeys, until Ed Plunkett, store owner and school board member, suggested they take over the Summit School transport route from Forest Porter. Starting with a school bus that resembled a wooden box with seats in it, they built up their fleet until the Olson bus company was transporting not only Summit students, but also those in Kings Valley, Blodgett and Philomath school districts.

A true daughter of pioneers (her grandparents arrived in Oregon from Independence, Mo., in the Great Migration), Audrey knew the meaning of hard work. While her husband drove bus, Audrey kept the home fires burning. Until her third pregnancy, when she "put her foot down" and got running water to the house, she carried water from the spring, heated it in a big copper kettle and washed all the clothes by hand. She milked cows and cooked from scratch. In fact, she mentored many younger local women in these homespun skills.

Over the years, Audrey became known for her homemaking abilities - particularly in producing her legendary coconut crème pie. She donated one every year to the Pie and Cake Auction of the Summit Summer Festival, where it traditionally brought in some of the highest bids.

Audrey has never regretted the hard work or isolation of country living: "It's been a hard life, but I was able to keep up my end of it," she said. Asked if she ever had felt lonely out in the country, she replied, "I have always liked it here."

Audrey has given up mowing her lawn and baking pies, but she still loves her home and her neighbors. Our new centenarian will be spending her birthday greeting friends and neighbors in the afternoon and having a celebratory dinner with relatives in the evening. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren are coming from as far away as Idaho and New Mexico for the momentous occasion.

Everyone is invited to drop by and wish this remarkable woman "Happy Birthday" and share some birthday cake with her this Saturday between 1 and 4 p.m. No gifts or RSVPs are necessary, although Audrey enjoys birthday cards.

A crafty opportunity

The East Lincoln County Quick Response Team is sponsoring its second annual Craft and Garden Faire on May 19, next to the Blodgett Country Café from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An added attraction this year will be the arrival of the Antique Car Club from the Corvallis area. Vendors are already lining up but there is room for more. Anyone who has arts or crafts to sell is encouraged to call Mary at 456-4705. Tables are only $10.

Drumming up travel funds

The Eddyville Charter School Drummers are hitting the big time. After playing at venues around Lincoln and Benton counties over the past couple of years, they are on the road, heading to the World Rhythm Festival in Seattle on Friday, April 13.

They are the last act of "Family Day" at the festival.

The students have raised part of the money for the trip, but still need to cover the cost of hotel rooms and other items. To make up the rest of the expenses, the drummers are holding two fund-raising events.

Tonight, there will be a spaghetti dinner at Eddyville School. from 6 to 7 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children. There may still be a few tickets available at the door. At 7 p.m. there will be a silent auction, a 50-50 raffle, and a bake sale, followed by a performance by the drummers.

On Saturday, the drummers will be washing cars at Wal-Mart in Newport from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Recycling day is here

Don't forget that Allied Waste will be stationing a recycling collection truck by the railroad tracks in Wren between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday. This will continue on the first Saturday of each month, if there is continued interest from western Benton County residents.

An Allied Waste employee will be present with the truck to answer questions and help educate people about what can be recycled and what cannot. The area will be closed when the truck leaves, and nothing should be dropped off at other times or we will lose permission to use this location.

If this program is successful, Allied Waste may increase the frequency of pickups, and might consider locations in Blodgett on alternate weekends.

The next recycling date will be May 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Parents program arrives

The "Active Parenting Now" program is coming to the Blodgett School. This series of workshops is designed for parents of 5-12 year olds and deals with a variety of challenges that face parents. An informational session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in the Blodgett School library. For more on this program, check out www.activeparenting.com.

Nashville resident Kathi Downing can be contacted at ramdown@peak.org or 456-4252.