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Articles written by Vivianne Poe


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  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Sep 2, 2018

    "Community--a group of people living in the same place, a feeling of fellowship with others, sharing common attitudes, interest and goals." In the town of Odessa are a variety of communities where we try to work together and help and encourage one another. That's what makes Odessa a special place to us. We are still in love with this wonderful place and all the awesome people that make this town what it is. And with that, let me introduce you to Mike and Jennifer Drury. Mike...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Jun 28, 2018

    You meet the nicest people in Odessa whether they have been here for one hundred years or they just recently moved here. Odessa is a wonderful place with wonderful people. And now I would like to introduce you to another really nice person that decided to make Odessa his home. Mark Roetcisoender made his move from Marble Mountain in the North Cascades to Odessa about three weeks ago. He was born in 1954 in Snohomish, Wash., where he grew up with his parents, four brothers and...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Jun 18, 2018

    I have found over the last two years living here in Odessa and doing interviews, that there are some very wonderful and interesting people. Everyone has a story, and I feel privileged and honored that these people have invited me into their space for a period of time and shared a little bit of their life's journey. Now I would like to introduce you to Thad and Aimee Striffler and their two children Jameson, two and a half, and Isabella (Bella), six. Thad was born in 1984 in...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Jun 4, 2018

    Another beautiful day in paradise, and today I was privileged to have a wonderful visit with Lois Renken. She was born in 1933 in Kellogg, Idaho and grew up in Spokane Valley with her parents Mark and Esther Owen. In 1946, she moved with her parents to Moses Lake, where her father got a job as fire chief at Moses Lake Air Force Base, later known as Larson Air Force Base. When Lois was in the second half of her junior year in high school she moved again with her parents to...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated May 5, 2018

    It is finally spring in Odessa, and the world is beautiful. Let me introduce you to my neighbor Frank Clark. Frank was born April 29, 1947 in Everett. He grew up in Lake Stevens with his parents and five sisters. He graduated from Lake Stevens High School in 1965, and soon after graduation he joined the U.S. Marines. He served two full combat terms in Vietnam. During that time he met a girl in Japan. They married and through that union two daughters were born. The marriage...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Mar 14, 2018

    My interview this week was within walking distance, just four blocks away from my home. But then anywhere you want to go in Odessa is within walking distance. The weather is beautiful, the birds are singing and the people are friendly along the way. I first met Bill and Vikki Pichon last summer while my husband James and I were taking a walk. They were sitting outside on the front porch of the lovely old Victorian-style house they had recently purchased. I was invited in and...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Jan 22, 2018

    Sitting here, looking out my window at the sunshine makes me think it's spring, but I know it's not true. That's okay because, so far, winter has been mild, and I know spring is just around the corner. I had the privilege recently of sitting down with two really neat people and listening to their story. For those of you who haven't met the Jensen family, let me introduce them to you: Dirk and Karen and their four children Austin, Chayden, Sonjya and Kaleb. Dirk is the new...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Dec 8, 2017

    Christmas is in the air, a time for family, friends and festivities – also a time for giving and meeting new people. Let me introduce you to Hal and Jann Patterson. Hal was born in California and grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. When he was in the sixth grade, he moved with his family back to California. Jann was born in New Jersey, moved to Chicago and, when she was four, moved with her family to Hammond, Ind. After high school she moved to Illinois, married and raised a family...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Nov 22, 2017

    We are in the season of Thanksgiving as far as the calendar goes. To me, giving thanks is an everyday thing, as I take in the wonder and beauty around me. James and I still marvel at, and are thankful for, Odessa and the wonderful people who make up this place. I don't believe that will ever change. Again, thank you, Odessa, for your love and acceptance of us. Now let me introduce you to Amy Pressnall who just moved to Odessa recently. I met Amy while I was taking a walk one...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Sep 8, 2017

    As summer is winding down and we are headed toward fall, I notice the summer flowers slowly fading and the fall flowers starting their entry into the wonderful world of beauty. Along the pathway, I also find two beautiful people happy to share their story. Chuck and Ellen Van Hevel and their faithful companion dog named Moupher have lived in Odessa for five and a half years. Chuck has a sister who lives in Soap lake and Ellen has a sister who lives in Chewelah. In 2006, they b...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Aug 11, 2017

    I had a wonderful visit with an awesome lady and learned some history about this area as she told me her story. Alva Richardson was born in Odessa and remembers when, before there was a Deutschesfest, Odessa had a rodeo. She said it lasted 10 or 12 years and shut down because of lack of participation. Alva grew up on a cattle ranch between Odessa, Harrington and Ritzville. She attended school in Harrington and graduated high school in 1947. She joined 4-H in grade school and a...

  • Meet your neighbor

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Jul 20, 2017

    As I was interviewing Karen Peterson for this column, I realized that most of you probably already know her and her family. But then there are newbies like myself who do not. Karen was born in Seattle and grew up in Edmonds. She met and married Ron Peterson, and they were married 52 years. They had two children, Nicki Peterson of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and Bryce Peterson, our Odessa policeman. Ron was in the coast guard, and at one time they were stationed at the Makapuu lighthouse station in Hawaii. They lived in Ferndale for y...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated May 14, 2017

    I am sitting here at my dining room table looking out the window as I prepare to write this column. My thoughts go back to May 24, 2016, the day we moved to Odessa. In my first Meet your neighbors column in November 2016, I mentioned the warmth and love we felt from the wonderful people in this town and how we felt welcomed as we got out into the community. The only thing that has changed from that time until now is that things are even better. Thank you again to our Odessa...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Apr 6, 2017

    Winter has finally passed. Spring has sprung with daffodils in bloom and tulips not far behind, with many other lovely treasures pushing their way up through the soil. And now it’s time to meet some new neighbors. John and Faye Hill and their two adorable sons, Raymond and Rawlins, arrived in Odessa in November 2016. Before leaving the Seattle area, they did some research on the school districts in this area and found Odessa to be the best. Based on the information they found, they made the move and are happy about their d...

  • Meet your neighbors

    Vivianne Poe|Updated Nov 23, 2016

    As I contemplate writing this "Meet Your Neighbors" column, my thoughts go back six months to when my husband James and I first moved to Odessa and how we felt, and still feel, the warmth and love of the way all you Odessa people welcomed us with open arms. We are all still in awe of this marvelous place and all the people who make it what it is. Thank you, Odessa! And now I would like to introduce you to Kathy Ashe, a recent transplant from Salisbury, Mo. She was born in...