📰 What's Making News

Lotic Beverage Company Builds a Hangout, Not Just a Taproom

If you haven't popped into Lotic Beverage Company yet, owner Matthew Kiser wants to change that — and he's betting on couches, board games, and a laid-back atmosphere to do it. Kiser says the family-friendly spot is modeled after a college memory: grabbing a cold one from a friend's garage fridge and settling into the living room. The result is a beverage company that feels less like a bar and more like your coolest neighbor's house. It's exactly the kind of homegrown concept that makes Vancouver's food-and-drink scene its own thing. Full story from The Columbian.

Dr. Brianna da Silva Bhatia Steps In as Interim Health Officer

Clark County has a new face leading public health — at least for now. The County Council appointed Dr. Brianna da Silva Bhatia, the current deputy health officer, to serve as interim health officer following the departure of longtime leader Dr. Alan Melnick. Da Silva Bhatia steps into a role that touches everything from restaurant inspections to community wellness programs. The search for a permanent replacement is expected to follow, but for the moment, continuity is the priority. Read more at The Columbian.

Property Value Questions? County Equalization Board Needs You

Clark County is looking for residents willing to serve on its Board of Equalization, the volunteer panel that hears appeals when property owners disagree with their assessed values. If you've ever wondered how those numbers on your assessment notice get decided — or challenged — this is your behind-the-curtain look. Applicants don't need a real estate background, just a willingness to review evidence and make fair calls. It's a low-key but genuinely impactful way to serve your community. Details from The Columbian.

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⚡ Quick Bites

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Vancouver — Firewood Quarantine Now Statewide

The invasive emerald ash borer, responsible for killing over 100 million ash trees across the U.S., has been confirmed in Vancouver. A statewide firewood quarantine is now in effect — if you're hauling wood for camping or backyard fires, keep it local.

Washougal Earns JustServe City Designation for Volunteer Spirit

Mayor David Stuebe accepted the JustServe City honor on behalf of Washougal, spotlighting residents who've organized cleanups along SR-14 and other community projects. Read more about the recognition here.

Eight Luxury Builds Star in Clark County's Parade of Homes

This year's Parade of Homes features eight houses designed around how families actually live — think flex rooms, multigenerational suites, and spaces that adapt as kids grow.

Seahawks Sale to Khosla Family Gets Unanimous NFL Approval

NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to Vinod Khosla and his family on Wednesday. The deal closes a new chapter for the franchise that matters most to Clark County football fans.

Caden Pinnick Named WSU's Starting Quarterback

Washington State tapped Caden Pinnick as its starting QB for the upcoming season — and the first call he made was to his mom. Coug fans in the 'Couv, mark your calendars.

NE 102nd Avenue House Fire Displaces Two Residents, Dog

Eight Vancouver Fire units responded to an attached garage fire before 5 a.m. Wednesday on NE 102nd Avenue, quickly knocking it down. Two people and a dog were displaced but uninjured. A good reminder to test your smoke detectors.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Thursday, August 27

• Enhance Fitness Classes — 8:30 AM at various locations around Clark County. Free, evidence-based exercise classes for adults 60 and older, tailored to every ability level from seated to full mobility. No pre-registration needed; first-timers should arrive early. More info
• East Vancouver Farmers Market — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Columbia Tech Center, 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd. Over 50 small businesses with farm-fresh produce, food and artisan goods. Free parking available. More info
• Advanced Competitive Bridge Bidding — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. A class for beginning and intermediate bridge players instructed by Ruby Life Master Michael Walker. $10–$50. More info
• Vancouver Quilt Club — 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM at Craft Warehouse, 9307 N.E. Fifth Ave., Hazel Dell. See new fabrics, notions and quilting books. Bring a current project and swap inspiration with fellow quilters. Free. More info
• Starting with the Earliest Years: Nature in Pre-Natal to 3-Year-Olds — 11:00 AM. The Children and Nature Network explores the role of nature in early childhood development, including a preview of emerging research findings. More info
• Wheels and Wings — 4:00 PM to dusk at Grove Field Airport, 632 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas. The Port of Camas-Washougal's community appreciation day features vintage cars, planes and a free hot dog lunch. More info
• Experience Lightly Spiced Gallery — 4:00 PM ribbon cutting at 500 Washington Street, Vancouver. This photography gallery and studio showcases fine art photography with hands-on experiences, including a "Make Your Own Rainbows" soap-bubble photo activity with a printed keepsake to take home. More info
• Teen Hangout — 4:30–6:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Games, crafts and snacks for ages 13–19, provided by Friends of Vancouver Community Library. Free. More info
• Tween and Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure — 4:30–6:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Create a character and play Dungeons and Dragons with other players ages 9–19. Fill out the character creation form online before attending. Free. More info
• Bingo Nights Supporting dogpaw — 6:00–8:00 PM at Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar, Vancouver. Play 10 games with 3 cards each for $20 — win a bingo, win a prize. Proceeds support local off-leash dog parks. Dogs welcome on the covered patio. More info
• Vancouver Waterfront Symphony Series: VSO String Quartet — 6:00–7:00 PM at Grant Street Pier, Downtown Vancouver Waterfront. Enjoy a free evening performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra String Quartet along the Columbia River. More info
• Pour Choices Pub Summer Concert Series: Mizar 5 and 3 Minutes of Fame Fundraiser — 6:00–9:00 PM at Pour Choices Pub, 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Two bands, one great cause — proceeds benefit the Fruit Valley Boys and Girls Club. More info

Friday, August 28

• BIPOC Backpacking Trip with Opal Creek Center — 8:30 AM. A three-day backpacking expedition into the Mount Hood National Forest for those who identify as BIPOC. Enjoy old-growth forest, stunning views and the chance to develop your backpacking skills. More info
• American Legion Fundraising Rummage Sale — 9:00 AM–3:00 PM at American Legion Smith-Reynolds Post 14, 4607 N.E. St. James Road, Vancouver. Also on Aug. 29. Proceeds support veterans, military families and local community programs. More info
• Volunteer Gleaning at SWWA Victory Garden — 9:00 AM at 2311 NE 68th Street, Vancouver. Join Urban Abundance's weekly community garden workday — harvested produce goes to local food banks. More info
• BARK Ranger Led Tour — 9:30 AM at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Bring your four-legged companion for a volunteer-led guided walk exploring the park's history and the BARK Ranger program. Free. More info
• Family Mountain Bike Ride Days at Timberline Lodge — 9:30 AM at Mt. Hood. Kids and teens 17 and under ride free with an adult day ticket or season pass. Bike and gear rentals available on-site. More info
• Fruit Harvest at Raymond Shaffer Community Park — 10:00 AM. Join the City of Vancouver's Volunteer program and Urban Abundance to harvest fruit for local food banks. Volunteers get to take some fruit home too. Training, gloves, tools and snacks provided. More info
• 60+ Senior Community Meal Program — 12:00–1:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Free lunch for low-income seniors age 60 and older, sponsored by the 5&2 Food Pantry. More info
• Musicians in the Park — 12:00 PM at Davis Park, Ridgefield. Enjoy a lunchtime performance by local musicians in the Downtown Arts Quarter, in partnership with the Ridgefield Art Association. Bring a picnic or grab takeout from a downtown restaurant. Free. More info
• NAMI Art Group — 1:00–3:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, 4201 N.E. 66th Ave., Suite 105, Vancouver. A weekly creative gathering hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free. More info
• Kids Create — 3:30–4:30 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop-in creative and interactive projects for ages 5–9. Free. More info
• Tween Hangout — 4:00–5:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Games, crafts and snacks for ages 9–12, provided by Friends of Vancouver Community Library. Free. More info
• Alderbrook Park Friday Night Cruise-In — 4:00–8:00 PM at Alderbrook Park, 24414 N.E. Westerholm Road, Brush Prairie. Admission includes disc golf, train rides, volleyball, mini golf, bounce houses, play structures and the pool. $10 adults, $5 kids 4–13, veterans and seniors, free for ages 3 and under. More info
• Jack-O-Lantern Textured Wall Art Class — 5:00 PM at Craft Warehouse, Vancouver. Create a festive Halloween wall art piece using sculpting medium and acrylic paint. $30. More info
• The Stuff of Legends Reception at AQUA Gallery — 5:00–7:00 PM at AQUA Gallery, 403 Quayside Place, Vancouver Waterfront. Meet artists Abby Ketcham and Carson Legree and explore vibrant paintings of mythological characters and expressive stuffies. Free. More info
• Community Dragon Boat Paddle — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch. Try dragon boat paddling — no experience needed, equipment provided, and paddlers must be 14 or older. Free. More info
• Wine for Wildlife at the Oregon Zoo — 6:00 PM in Portland. Stroll the zoo after hours while sampling wines from 30 Northwest wineries, with live music and winemaker meet-and-greets. More info
• Good Times and Wine at English Estate Winery — 6:00–8:00 PM at English Estate Winery, 17806 S.E. First St., Vancouver. Live music by local singer-songwriter Brenna Larsen, plus the Venue 1903 food truck. Free admission. More info
• English Country Line Dancing — 6:30 PM at Fern Prairie Grange, Camas. Learn a new dance or two — the steps are walked through first, so no experience is needed. Usually 40–80 people show up. $5 per person or $10 per family, supporting the Grange. More info
• Free Friday Night Movies in the Parks — 6:30 PM, movie at dusk. This week's showing wraps up the August series at a Vancouver park. Arrive early for family-friendly activities, food vendors on-site. Free. More info
• Live Music on the Patio at Farrar's Bistro — 7:00 PM at 12514 N.W. 36th Ave., Vancouver. Enjoy food, cocktails, local wine and live music on the pet-friendly patio. First come, first served seating. More info
• Treble Tones Present "The Gift to Sing" — 7:00 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver. The 17-voice Treble Tones, directed by April Duvic, perform choral music by women composers from the 16th to 21st centuries. Free. More info
• Pour Choices Summer Concert Series: Drifter — 7:30 PM at Pour Choices Pub, 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Kick off the weekend with live music. Free admission. More info

Saturday, August 29

• Summit Climb on Mt. St. Helens — 6:00 AM. A single-day guided scramble to the summit with professional mountain guides. Designed for both novice hikers and experienced mountaineers. More info
• Kerry Island Volunteer Workday with Columbia Land Trust — 8:00 AM at Westport, OR. Help with vegetation control at Kerry Island to preserve access for hunters. Tools and training provided. More info
• Veterans' Work Party at Seminary Hill with WTA — 8:30 AM. Washington Trails Association hosts a trail-maintenance work party tailored to veterans and service members from all branches. Build camaraderie and enjoy the outdoors. More info
• TSMC WA Mulching Stewardship Party — 8:30 AM. Join the Camas Earth Day Society for late-summer mulching in preparation for an upcoming fall tree planting at the rewilding project site across from TSMC. Parking at Skyridge Middle School. More info
• Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market — 9:00 AM–3:00 PM at Esther Short Park, 8th and Esther Street. The flagship market, running since 1990, with local produce, food and artisan goods. More info
• 17th Annual Camas Vintage and Art Faire — 9:00 AM–3:00 PM in Downtown Camas. Over 60 vintage and local art vendors with furniture, clothing, paintings, woodworking, glass art, handmade jewelry, fiber art and more. Live music and food available. Free. More info
• Salmon Creek Trail Parkrun — 9:00 AM at 800 NE 117th Street, Vancouver. A free, friendly weekly 5K — walk, jog or run. All ages and abilities welcome, dogs too. Register online for your personal barcode before your first visit. More info
• Wander Clark County: Washougal Memorial Cemetery Walking Tour — 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM tours at Washougal Memorial Cemetery. Discover stories of Washougal's pioneers, homesteaders and civic leaders with guides from the Clark County Historical Museum. $10. More info
• Curiosity Kids: Become a Nature Detective — 9:00 AM at OMSI, Portland. Hands-on STEAM challenges for ages 3–5 and their families. $22.50–$30.50. More info
• Kayaking Clinic for Visually Impaired — 9:00 AM. The Northwest Association for Blind Athletes hosts a free kayaking clinic for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, all ages and ability levels. More info
• Assisted Bridge: Lesson and Play — 9:15–10:30 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Free bridge lesson followed by assisted play. More info
• Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center — 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. Explore flight simulators, a vertical wind table and historic airplanes. Perfect for curious kids of all ages. Free. More info
• Pop-Up History Museum: Exploring Ridgefield's Told and Untold Stories — 10:00 AM at The Greely Building, Ridgefield. Discover the industries, institutions and cultural forces that shaped Ridgefield, including stories of Japanese farmers forcibly removed during WWII. Free. More info
• Garden Gnomes Workshop — 10:00–11:30 AM at Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. Ages 8 and up learn the pinch pot method to create a ceramic garden gnome with personalized details. $65. More info
• Saturday Volunteer Day at LUYF Farm — 10:00 AM at 1919 NE 78th St., Vancouver. Spend the morning with Latinos Unidos Y Floreciendo preparing the community farm for fall. All experience levels welcome. More info
• Play Bridge (0–150 Points) — 11:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. $10. More info
• Chunky Blanket Workshop — 11:00 AM–2:00 PM at Craft Collective, 21506 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver. Learn hand-knitting basics — no needles or experience needed — and leave with an oversized chunky knit blanket. $89. More info
• Summer Style Social Women's Networking — 11:00 AM–5:00 PM at a private garden and pool in Vancouver Heights, hosted by Analee Styling. Pop-up shops, curated fashion, small bites, DJ and mocktails. $25 ticket includes a $25 Analee Styling gift card. More info
• Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Summer Train Rides — 12:00 PM departing from Yacolt. Ride through the tunnel, across the East Fork of the Lewis River and visit Yacolt Falls at Moulton Station. $16–$24. More info
• Bi-Zi Farms Sunflower Festival — 12:00–8:00 PM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Cut your own sunflower, enjoy hayrides, photo ops and visits with farm animals. $12. More info
• Treat Day at Cedar Creek Grist Mill — 1:00 PM at 43907 N.E. Grist Mill Road, Woodland. Cookies, cakes, muffins, scones and even dog biscuits — all free — at the historic water-powered grain mill. More info
• Teen and Adult K-Beauty and K-Drama — 2:00 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Portland State University Professor Jungmin Kwon discusses digital culture, and Yoo Be Skin Care esthetician Yooseon Hwang shares K-Beauty essentials. Enjoy mask samples, trivia and more. Free. More info
• Vancouver Community Library Radio Theater — 3:00 PM. Join a light melodrama in old-time radio style — read from a script or provide sound effects with the group. 1930s attire optional. Free. More info
• Blacktail Deer Foundation Annual Fundraising Banquet — 5:00–9:00 PM at Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive, Vancouver. Raffles, games, auctions and prizes including hunting gear and outdoor equipment. Tickets from $27.09. More info
• PeaceHealth Appletree Sunset 5K, Hot Rods Classic Car Show and More — 6:00 PM at Officers Row / The Grant House, Vancouver. Run through history on a flat, scenic course past Fort Vancouver, Pearson Airport and the Columbia River. Also featuring a classic car show, food, a beer garden and live music. Marathon and half-marathon continue Aug. 30. More info
• TRAIN — Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere — 6:30 PM at Cascades Amphitheater, Ridgefield. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Grammy-winning hit. $45–$184. More info
• VanCity's Saturday Social Dance and Beginners Lesson — 7:00 PM at VanCity Ballroom, 9212 N.E. Highway 99, Hazel Dell. A 45-minute lesson followed by social dancing in all styles — ballroom, Latin, swing and country. No partner needed. $10. More info
• Horsing Around: Equestrian Safety at Battle Ground Lake — 7:00–8:00 PM at Battle Ground Lake State Park. Meet senior park aide Mindy Lahti-Phillip's horses and learn trail safety. Bring a folding chair. Free (Discover Pass required for parking). More info
• Karaoke Night at Pour Choices Pub — 8:30 PM at 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Grab the mic and show off your pipes — come solo or bring friends. More info

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