Astoria and LONG BEACH, Wash. — Local author Anita Schacher will be signing her book “You Forgot to Shut the Gate” at Lindstrom’s Danish Maid Bakery from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at Long Beach Coffee Roasters.

“You Forgot to Shut the Gate,” has been well received and is now in its second printing.

The title came from an experience Schacher had as a young nursing assistant struggling to put a patient, who had dementia, to bed. He was combative and refused to cooperate. Finally, the patient said he couldn’t go to bed until “the pigs were in.” With much contrived drama, the pigs were put in for the night, and as Schacher left the room the patient stopped her. “Hey,” he said, “you forgot to shut the gate.”

The book is comprised of entertaining and inspiring stories and lessons garnered from Schacher’s many years working in the nursing home environment. The book includes stories of local personalities featuring Elsie Silver, Russell Fluher, Helen Morgan, Nora Lambertson and more.

One reader commented, “I laughed, I cried, I got angry and I learned lots about the nursing home.”

Another shared, “I couldn’t wait to finish one story so that I could begin another.”

A nurse practitioner and college professor wrote, “This book should be required reading for anyone working in health care.”

Schacher began her career in long-term care in 1965 working as a nursing assistant. She also worked as an activities director, social services director, nursing home and ALF administrator before ending her career as CEO for Clatsop Care Center Health District. She retired in October 2013 but has continued to work with the facility as a consultant.

“You Forgot to Shut the Gate” is available at Lucy’s Books and Columbia Memorial Hospital Gift Shop in Astoria and at Beach Books in Seaside.

Lindstrom’s Danish Maid Bakery is located at 1132 Commercial St. in Astoria, and the Long Beach Coffee Roasters is located at 811 Pacific Ave. in Long Beach, Washington.