Carl Crouse, retired pastor, long-time Sumas resident, and author of "The Waters are Rising" and "The Heavenly Mountain," will share stories and anecdotes from his new book, "Gateway to the Caribou: A Boy's Life in Sumas, Washington, in the 1960s and 1970s, Sprinkled with a Bit of History."

Everyone has a story! Enter into the delightful and thought-provoking story of what it was like growing up in a small town in the U.S.A. half a century ago. Yet Gateway to the Caribou is far more than a trip down memory lane. The author knows we live in a changing world today. As we face challenges, it is essential to remember our roots; we are all part of a continuing story. The world of Sumas, Washington, in the 1960s and 1970s, is far removed from the present. Yet, some values, such as loving and caring about our neighbors, will always be needed to find purpose and contentment.

Carl Crouse shares his insights into what it was like living in a small border town in Washington State. His stories are unique because his father was a pastor in the community and volunteered in a dozen organizations around town, which gives him insights into a different side of the community and also means he volunteered behind the scenes. It is wild that the Canadian government sent people to the Crouse house to find help when the customs officials refused to allow them to cross the border. There are stories about earning money by picking berries all day at age seven, a skunk in the Lions Club Park, the farmers in the community, crashing at the corner, dismantling a house, and many more.

Sumas in the 1960s and 1970s was a quintessential 'small town U.S.A.' life, but its roots tell a story of a wild west frontier town. The community's history, complete with settlers, a wagon road, gold mines, railroads, smuggling, saloons, and a rodeo, is a fascinating journey. The book is sprinkled with hints of Sumas' distant past, and it concludes with an appendix of highlights from the community's history. Sumas, as Crouse knew it, was not always the farming community it is today. Growing up in his safe and stable community, he had no idea that he knew people born to the first settlers in the late 1800s who hunted cougars to save the family pig.

Gateway to the Caribou is a book that will not only delight and entertain you but also inspire you to consider your own community. It encourages you to make it a better place by appreciating and caring about the people in your life. The book is a gift to those who call Sumas home, but it is also an inspirational and entertaining read for anyone who appreciates a good story.

Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing at the event.