Jeni McAnally, an intuitive educator and extraordinary mentor, is now entering her 20th year teaching at Columbia River High School. Jeni teaches 10th-grade honors, 11th and 12th-grade IB (International Baccalaureate) Literature, and 11th and 12th-grade Theory of Knowledge, pushing students to understand the complexities of life and the world around them in tandem with the study of literature and writing.
Becoming a teacher was not Jeni’s first calling. She bounced around in odd jobs before working in education, ranging from a receptionist, bartender, and waitress, to working within medical billing and coding, as a department administration in an accounting firm, and even working at an auto body shop, a frozen yogurt shop, and was a “Gatorade Girl” at athletic events in LA and Orange County. However, in graduate school, she was given the opportunity to teach an undergraduate literature course and once she started teaching the class, she had an epiphany: “I knew right away that THIS is what I was meant to do. It brings together two great loves in my life: literature and helping people.”
Jeni’s favorite part of her job is, hands-down, the students. She loves working with teens specifically because of how important and formative the high school years are: “It is such a joy to play a significant role in helping young adults get from where they are to whatever next steps they choose for themselves.” She loves to see her students grow throughout her time working with them. Above all, Jeni wants her students to learn to think for themselves, remain flexible in their thinking, and recognize the common humanity in everyone.
When asked what her main passion in life is, Jeni responded humbly, “Love. The way I love my family, my amazing daughter in particular, my friends, and my students brings me the most fulfillment. Acting through love is what keeps me focused on the good in life despite the suffering and chaos of an ever-changing and troubled world.
Savannah Durfee is a 9th grader at Columbia River who is actively involved in both her school and her community. Currently, her favorite subject is aerobic fitness. Savannah enjoys playing Softball, which she played last year at Kings Way, which is where she attended middle school. Her favorite activity/sport is Horseback riding. She has taken Horseback riding lessons off and on since she was very young, and she hopes to one day have a horse of her own! Savannah also likes doing cheer, which she is currently doing at Columbia River and has been involved in since she was in kindergarten.
In her free time, Savannah has volunteered to coach Little League cheerleading. She loves being able to help young girls grow to love the sport and watch kids grow in their faith and community.
#GreetFelida #January2025 #YoungAchievers #SavannahDurfee #WrittenBySophieZabell #SponsoredBy @barre3felida
🕊️With honor and respect, we remember Martin Luther King Jr. 🕊️
Dr. Ben Crusan of @mountainviewdentalcenter opened a new location in Ridgefield! The @chamberridgefieldwa and the #BlueCrew were there to help with the ribbon cutting and presented him with a photo from the special day!
5284 Pioneer St, Ridgefield | 360.887.1177
1412 NE 134th St. Salmon Creek | 360.955.0005
It is the start of a brand new year and a chance to begin anew! Although we all have our own goals for ourselves and our families, MOMS Club of Felida also hopes and dreams to expand our membership. We are welcoming of all moms of all ages of children, but we especially are seeking out moms in the 98685 zip code who are “at home” mothers. Not all, but many of our events take place during the day when there seems to be the biggest need for playgroups, park days, field trips, coffee dates and lunch meet-ups.
MOMS Club began in California in the 1980s when a young mother named Mary James wondered if there were other moms in her neighborhood who wanted to get together for friendship and play. Not only was there a big need, but word spread, and moms from neighboring towns were willing to travel to meet up for park play and play groups. Soon, an organization was born and it has since spread across the country and the globe. It turns out that mothers need the friendship of other mothers.
Once MOMS Club became a registered nonprofit, the organization created local service projects to benefit moms and children in our own communities. Do you have an idea for projects in our community? We’d love to hear from you!
For more information about joining our chapter, pledge reach out today.
MOMS Club® of Felida, WA is a registered 501 (c)3 nonprofit whose purpose is to support mothers. For more information, please email: [email protected]
🍳Meet Felida residents Scott and Julie Gix! Scott has a passion for hospitality and loves how food can bring friends, family, and community together. He has worked in the food industry for many years and now Scott and Juli own NEST at Carts by the Park in Ridgefield (which is really good food if you haven’t checked it out yet!) The word NEST is a homage to the Wildlife Refuge but also has an acronym: Neighbors Enjoying Sharing Together.
Julie Leilani Gix grew up in Hawaii and this is one of their favorite Hawaiian recipes. They plan to add it to the menu at NEST, so if you don’t have time to make it yourself, you can get it at NEST!
The mushroom gravy recipe makes 4 – 6 oz servings, for the remainder of the Loco Moco ingredients, you can choose your portions based on how many you are feeding and how hungry they are!
Ingredients
White Rice
Beef Patty, size of your choice
Mushroom Gravy (recipe below)
Eggs, cooked to your choice
Garnish – Furikake rice seasoning, or green onions
Mushroom Gravy Recipe Ingredients
1 cup cremini mushrooms
1-2 Tbsp oil
3 cups beef stock or bone broth
2/3 cup cornstarch
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Gluten Free soy sauce
¼ tsp granulated onion
¼ tsp granulated garlic
¼ tsp white pepper
salt to taste
Directions
In a saucepan sweat 1 cup of cremini mushrooms with 1-2 Tbsp oil in medium heat. Once mushrooms are softened and browned add 3 cups of beef stock or bone broth and bring to soft boil.
Reduce heat to low and add 2/3 cup cornstarch (to help incorporate, I like to use 1/4 cup of the warm broth and make a slurry with cornstarch in glass jar before adding). Continue to stir as sauce thickens.
Now to build your Loco Moco: White Rice, Patty, Mushroom Gravy, Eggs, Garnish #GreetFelida #January2025 #ResidentRecipe #LocoMoco #CourtesyOfScottAndJulieGix #WrittenByPatriceBaugher #SponsoredBy @salmoncreek_vision
January is the perfect time for stories that warm the heart, and Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons in Love does just that. This book is written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer. The recommended reading level is young readers 8-12, but it’s a great read to expose children to rich language and sweet lessons. The book’s simple, sweet narrative and charming illustrations make it enjoyable for young readers. The theme is love and provides a gentle and thoughtful tone that is relatable to all. “Admire means, I really look up to you and the way you are with your cookies. You remind me of what is good and possible in this world.”
This charming book blends the sweetness of sugar cookies with deeper reflections on love, relationships, and personal growth. This book is a perfect gift that builds vocabulary and has a wonderful message. This story can capture the spirit of the season while offering gentle reminders about the importance of kindness, connection, and finding joy in the little things. At the end of the book, there is a sugar cookie recipe. This is another opportunity to share your favorite sugar cookie recipe with your family while you make winter cookies with love.
As a little girl, I remember making sugar cookies with my grandmother. She had a delicate way of rolling the dough and pressing them just right with the bottom of a small glass cup. There was no licking the bowl and every last drop was used. I shared this tradition with my own daughters and have passed down the recipe.
During this time of the new year, take a moment to reflect on those that we love and the traditions that have been passed down. What family traditions do continue?
#GreetFelida #January2025 #KidsBookReview #SugarCookiesSweetLittle LessonsinLove #WrittenByAmyKrouseRosenthal #IllustratedbyJaneDyerandBrookeDyer #ReviewedByJanineMello #sponsoredbysouthwestwashingtonlearningcenter
Please enjoy January’s Publisher’s Note from Cindy! We are so excited for another full year of #GreetFelida!
❄️On this cold Sunday morning, we thought it’s a perfect time for you to “Meet Your Neighbors.” Say “hello” to Lila and Jerry Bender and read an excerpt of January’s cover feature. How beautiful is Lila’s garden!! 🪻
“Lila and Jerry Bender have been married for 17 years and have lived in Felida since 2010. Jerry had spent his career in education teaching business at the high school level for many years and served as the principal at Centralia High School for ten years. After working for the Principal’s Association in Olympia for over a decade, Jerry retired and he and Lila moved to Felida and settled near the beautiful Felida park. Between their two blended families, they share five daughters, two sons, and fourteen grandchildren! “We moved to Felida because my daughters were having babies! We welcomed eleven grandchildren from 2011 to 2024,” Lila recalls.“
#GreetFelida #January2025 #MeetYourNeighbors #LilaAndJerryBender #WrittenByAndreaScott @getsocialwithandrea #ProfessionalPhotographyBy @ksa_photography
🍝 Save the date: January 23, 2025, 3:30-6@pm!
🥳 We wish you a very Happy New Year’s Eve, Felida! From all of us at Greet Felida. 🍾🥂Here’s to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣❕🎉
