A Royal gathering 85 miles out of town

I've heard "it's a small world" many times, and the adage proved out again last Saturday.

After I checked in for the Marv Underwood Memorial Golf Tournament at the Cherry Hill Golf Course in Granger, I spotted a couple of ladies who appeared to be sort of official.

I asked if they were Underwoods. At about the same time, one lady said to the other something like "That's the editor of our paper in Royal City."

Caught again. No, not at being a newspaperman. Caught at not knowing the name of someone whose name I should know.

It was Angie Smith, wife of Royal City Police Chief Darrin Smith. We had met once, she said. Of course, I apologized and she said there was no need.

Angie is the daughter of Jack Underwood, brother of Marv. Her husband played in the tournament, and she helped with the refreshment cart. Before the day was ended, I met three generations of Underwoods, not counting Marv's.

I knew members of Marv's generation growing up in the Valley but only generally. I got to know Marv better at Cherry Hill. We played together from time to time.

Marv was a gentleman on the course. He never angered with a bad shot, and he never cursed. The most concern he ever showed was to ask for analysis.

I usually suggested that most missed shots are the result of eye movement. He promised himself to work on that.

I rarely went to Cherry Hill in the last year. The news that Marv died last fall escaped me. I learned of his passing when I was invited to play in the tourney. I'll miss Marv, and I'll think of him each time I speak with Angie or Darrin.

I'll be at the new Mattawa Community Days this Saturday, and I hope to meet Maggie Celaya. Community Days has been revived because of her.

I spoke to Maggie just once leading up to this weekend. She wondered if Community Days would come off as well as she hoped. I'm guessing it will.

When you can get Miss Washington to join you, you've done something. Not to mention all of the other groups, businesses and organizations committed to participating.

Maggie, whom I've never met, is a humble volunteer. I tried to interview her so that I could present her to you, but she declined.

"It's not about me," she said. "It's about Community Days."

True enough, but everyone deserves recognition at least once. So here's to you, Maggie, and your efforts.

There will be a celebration of Father J. Jesœs Ram'rez Curiel's 25th anniversary as a Catholic Priest on Sept. 3 in Lions Park in Royal City.

The pastor of St. Michael Archangel Church is known to most parishioners as Padre Jesœs. He is a very personable man who does not insist on being Father Ram'rez.

Padre Jesœs is not just a parish priest. He is a community priest. He works with all people, even those without faith.

Padre Jesœs came to Washington State - Yakima Valley specifically - to organize an anti-drug, anti-gang ministry. He still works with addicts and the victims of addicts.

Padre Jesœs also conducts a marriage ministry, working at marriage encounter retreats all over the West. He believes the rearing of upstanding children starts with a faith-based, rock-solid marriage.

In keeping with his sense of community, Padre Jesœs has had the mayor of Royal City and the superintendent of Royal Schools speak to his congregation at the close of masses.

Padre Jesœs's 25 years of service to the church and humanity will be honored with a mass at 4 p.m., a dinner in the park, and a dance nearby hosted by many of the couples to whom he has ministered.

I'm guessing God would agree he deserves the recognition.