📰 What's Making News

Ridgefield Senior Wins District Golf Title by Seven Strokes

Brody Newcombe of Ridgefield High School put together a masterclass at the 2A District 4 boys golf tournament, winning the title by a commanding seven shots. The senior followed up his opening-round 4-under 68 on Monday with a 3-under 69 on Tuesday — the kind of back-to-back performance that turns heads beyond Clark County. Keep an eye on this name as the state tournament approaches. Read more from The Columbian.

Evergreen Public Schools Keeps All Middle, High Schools Open

If you've been holding your breath over the Evergreen Public Schools consolidation process, here's welcome news: no middle schools or high schools will close. Superintendent Christine Moloney shared the decision in a letter to the community on Monday, easing concerns that had been simmering among families across the district. The announcement is a significant development for neighborhoods where a school closure would have reshaped daily life. Read the full story.

Two County Boards Need Volunteers — One Involves Mosquitoes

Clark County is looking for community members to serve on both its Animal Control Advisory Board and its Mosquito Control District Board. The mosquito board has an at-large seat with a term running from January 2027 through December 2028 — perfect for anyone who's ever had strong opinions about summer swatting season. If you've been looking for a way to get involved locally without a huge time commitment, these are solid starting points. Details on the animal control board opening are here, and the mosquito control board application is here.

Tuesday Prep Scoreboard: Volleyball, Soccer, Golf Results

It was a busy Tuesday night across Clark County high school sports, with results rolling in from volleyball, girls soccer, and boys golf. If your kid's team played — or you just like keeping tabs on the local standings — The Columbian's full scoreboard has all the scores and highlights in one place. Check the results.

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⚡ Quick Bites

Washington Gas Prices Dip, Still Above National Average

Fuel costs across Washington state are edging lower after hitting record highs earlier this year, giving drivers a bit of breathing room at the pump. Prices remain above the national average, but the trend is heading in the right direction. Read more from The Columbian.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Wednesday, October 21

• Scary Story Walk at Camas Public Library — Celebrate the winners of the Scary Story contest by strolling downtown Camas. Each participating business features a winning scary story in its front window. Free. Check the website for a map and story locations.
• Marshall House Tour — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at the Marshall House, Vancouver. Book a free 30-minute tour of this beautiful historic home. Reserve your time online.
• Bi-Zi Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze — 10:00 AM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Wagon ride to the patch, one free pumpkin (any size you can carry!), plus corn maze admission. $14–$16.
• The Portland MAiZE & Pumpkin Patch — 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Sauvie Island, Portland. Almost two miles of corn maze pathways plus a full pumpkin patch.
• Providence Academy Tours — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Providence Academy, Vancouver. Free tours of the stunning 1873 building constructed by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Reservation required.
• Vancouver Pumpkin Patch — 11:00 AM–6:00 PM at Velvet Acres Gardens, Orchards. Pick-your-own pumpkins, corn maze, hay bale pyramid, hayrides, apple cannon, farm animals, food carts, and more. $10.
• Military Officer Association of America Luncheon — 11:30 AM–1:30 PM at Cascadia Tech Center Culinary Academy, Vancouver. Featuring Dennis Fisher, Marine photographer during the Vietnam War. $25.
• The Patch at Whalen Oaks Farm — 12:00 PM at Whalen Oaks Farm, Woodland. A 40-plus-acre pumpkin patch with 60-plus varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds. Free admission and parking.
• October Forest Walk at Columbia Springs — 3:30 PM at Columbia Springs, Vancouver. Join knowledgeable staff on a guided trail walk to discover native plants and local wildlife. Great for all ages (trails are not stroller-friendly). Free.
• Kids Monster Buttons — 3:30 PM at Camas Public Library. Kids ages 5–11 can design silly monster buttons using paint, googly eyes, and colorful materials. Free.
• Kids Read to a Dog — 4:00 PM. Kids ages 5–9 build reading confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog. Free.
• Teen & Adult Magic the Gathering Social Club — 4:00 PM–6:00 PM at Cascade Park & Vancouver Community Libraries. Decks provided or bring your own. Free.
• Kids & Tweens Create — 4:00 PM–5:00 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop in for creative, interactive projects for ages 5–12. Free.
• Providence Academy Plaza Dedication — 4:00 PM at Providence Academy, Vancouver. The Historic Trust officially dedicates Sacred Heart Plaza at Ed Lynch Square with a ribbon-cutting and unveiling of a new interpretive exhibit. Free and open to the public.
• Intro to Sewing Machines — 4:30 PM–6:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Learn to thread a machine, select stitches, and sew a Trick-or-Treat bag. Ages 9+, kids under 12 need an adult. Space limited to eight — register early. Free.
• Coco — 5:30 PM at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver. Sepia Language Study hosts a screening of the Oscar-winning animated film in Spanish with English subtitles. A portion of concession sales benefits the Sepia scholarship fund. $10–$12.
• Wined Down Wednesdays: Karaoke Night at 14 Acres — 5:00 PM–8:00 PM at 14 Acres Vineyard and Winery, Ridgefield. Ages 21+ can sing karaoke and enjoy wine by the glass or bottle. Free.
• Weekly Swing Dancing at the Valiant Ballroom — 6:00 PM at The Valiant Ballroom, Vancouver. Intermediate lesson at 6 PM, beginner lesson at 7 PM, social dance 8–9:30 PM. Singles, partners, and groups welcome. $5–$10.
• Waltz and Salsa Classes — 6:00 PM–8:00 PM at Clark College O'Connell Sports Center, Vancouver. Waltz 6–7 PM, salsa 7–8 PM with Julieann and Joseph Platt. No experience required. $69 per five-week session.
• Online Spanish Conversation Classes, Levels I and II — 6:00 PM–7:00 PM via Zoom with Andrea's Spanish School. Practice speaking with a native speaker in a small group — no homework, no tests. $25 per session. Sign up at learnspanishvancouver.com.
• Worm Bin Composting Workshop — 6:00 PM. Clark County Composter Recyclers teach you how to care for your worm bin — different bin types, feeding, and getting up close with decomposers. Free.
• Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights — 7:00 PM at The Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton. Grand Kyiv Ballet reimagines Tchaikovsky's classic with vivid light design, illuminated costumes, and world-class dancers. $55–$65.
• Cinema of Horrors Drive-In Movies — 7:30 PM at Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, Ridgefield. Drive-in horror movies with in-car audio, Hollywood-quality makeup monsters, and food and drinks available. Tickets start at $78.22.

Thursday, October 22

• Enhance Fitness Classes — 8:30 AM at various Clark County locations (Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, Camas, and Washougal). Free evidence-based exercise classes for adults 60+, tailored to every ability level. No pre-registration required.
• Marshall House Tours — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at the Marshall House, Vancouver. Explore the Queen Anne architecture, stained glass, and military memorabilia inside this historic home. Free.
• Advanced Competitive Bridge Bidding — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM at the Vancouver Bridge Club. Instructor Michael Walker, a Ruby Life Master, covers opening bidding, slam bidding, doubles, and more. $10–$50.
• Xeriscaping: Landscaping for Dry Conditions — 10:00 AM. A deep dive into water-wise landscaping with Kaitlin Hasse and Elliott Gordon from the Xerces Society. Learn how to reduce irrigation and fertilizer while conserving water and soil.
• Dine the Couve — 11:00 AM at locations around Clark County. Now in its 11th year — sample three dishes for $35 or $50 at participating restaurants, cafes, brewpubs, and tasting rooms. Grab the free mobile Dine the Couve Pass to browse menus and earn points.
• Preschool Trick or Treat — 2:30 PM–3:30 PM at Camas Public Library. Little ones and their grown-ups practice trick-or-treating in a playful setting with dramatic play, sensory activities, and Halloween safety tips. Costumes welcome. Free, no registration needed.
• Walton Farms Pumpkin Patch — 3:00 PM–5:00 PM at Walton Farms, Camas. Admission includes corn maze, train ride, and one pumpkin of any size. Dogs welcome on leash. $13 (seniors 55+ $11, 2 and under free).
• Kids & Tweens Great Build Off — 3:30 PM at various FVRL library locations. Ages 5–12 design, build, and problem-solve through a surprise challenge. Free.
• Kids & Tweens Build It — 3:30 PM–5:00 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Ages 5–12 spark their imagination with LEGO bricks, blocks, boxes, and more. Free.
• Teen Bad Art — 4:00 PM at Battle Ground Community Library. Ages 13–19: make your worst art on purpose, share your process, and vote for the most impressively bad piece. Free.
• Mac's Auto & Diesel Repair Moves to a Larger Location — 4:00 PM at 6309 NE St Johns Rd, Vancouver. Celebrate the growth of Mac's Auto & Diesel Repair with a ribbon cutting at their new, larger space. Light snacks, drinks, and raffle prizes.
• Teen Hangout at Vancouver Community Library — 4:30 PM–6:30 PM. Ages 13–19 can play games, craft, and hang out. Snacks provided by the Friends of Vancouver Community Library. Free.
• Silent Book Club — 5:30 PM–7:30 PM at Camas Public Library. No assigned reading — just an hour of silent reading followed by optional socializing. Bring your own book or borrow one. Light snacks provided. Free.
• Atlas Community High School Information Night — 5:30 PM–6:30 PM at the Clark County Food Bank, Vancouver. Learn about this new small, Montessori-informed high school offering rigorous academics. Register at atlasmhs.com. Free.
• Native Plant Seed Saving with Vancouver Bee Project — 5:30 PM at Grays Restaurant & Bar at the Hilton, downtown Vancouver. October's Pollinators & Pints topic is native seed saving — bring your questions and connect with fellow plant lovers.
• Online Workshop: Recycling 101 — 6:30 PM–8:00 PM via Microsoft Teams. The City of Vancouver covers what to recycle curbside, why it matters, and where it all goes. Bring your trickiest recycling questions. Free.
• Haunted Theme Park at Oaks Park — 7:00 PM at Oaks Park, Portland. Two immersive main haunted houses, five additional haunted houses, a Halloween theme park, food, drinks, and oddities vendors. $25–$33.
• Stitching at the Movies — 7:15 PM at Regal City Center, Vancouver. Hook and Needle Fiber hosts a private screening of LAIKA's hand-crafted stop-motion film Wildwood. Bring your fiber project and a neck light. $15.
• Love Street Playhouse presents The Women of Lockerbie — 7:30 PM at Love Street Playhouse, Woodland. A moving drama about grief, compassion, and community set seven years after Pan Am Flight 103. $26.

Friday, October 23

• Adult & Teen Craft & Chat — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM at La Center Community Library. Bring your knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, or any fiber arts project and stitch alongside fellow makers. Ages 13+. Free.
• Playgroup at Firstenburg Community Center — 10:00 AM for ages 9 months–6 years. A safe indoor space for kids to run, climb, and explore while parents socialize. $7–$9.
• HOPE Dementia Support: Meet Me at Kit-Tea Cafe — 10:00 AM–11:00 AM at Milky & Coco's Kit-Tea Cafe, Vancouver. People living with dementia can attend with a loved one or care partner. Free; register at Eventbrite or call 360-513-5754.
• 60+ Senior Community Meal Program — 12:00 PM–1:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver. Free lunch for low-income seniors age 60+, sponsored by the 5&2 Food Pantry.
• Thrive2Survive Community Wellness Event — 12:00 PM–4:00 PM at River City Church, Vancouver. Free event connecting individuals and families with local support for youth programs, employment, mental health, housing, and more. Includes a free hot meal.
• NAMI Art Group — 1:00 PM–3:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, Vancouver. A weekly creative outlet — all are welcome. Free.
• Kids Creative Crafts: Mason Jar Luminaries — 3:00 PM at Ridgefield Community Library. Ages 5–9 bring art and science together to create their own luminaries. All materials provided, or bring your own jar. Free.
• Vega Gymnastics Open Gym — 4:15 PM–5:00 PM at VEGA Gymnastics, Camas. Ages 2–6 get 45 minutes of open gym time. $12.
• Graphic 45 Merryful Greeting Card Class — 5:00 PM at Craft Warehouse, Vancouver. Create elegant Christmas cards with layered dies, embossing, gilding flakes, and festive sparkle. $25.
• Tree & Shrub Pruning 101 — 5:00 PM. An ISA Certified Arborist leads this beginner-friendly Master Gardener class on proper pruning for healthier plants and safer landscapes. Free, in partnership with Fort Vancouver Regional Library.
• Pumpkin Lane After Dark — 5:30 PM at Pomeroy Farm, Yacolt. A cozy evening hayride down scarecrow-adorned Pumpkin Lane, a beverage token, s'mores, and BBQ from Mosscrowe. $40.
• Live Music: Nick Walker at 14 Acres Vineyard & Winery — 5:30 PM–7:30 PM at 14 Acres Vineyard & Winery, Ridgefield. All ages welcome, no cover, no reservation needed. Wine by the glass and bottle for the grown-ups.
• Bi-Zi Farm Nighttime Corn Maze — 6:00 PM–10:00 PM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Navigate the maze after dark. $9.50 (seniors 62+ and military $7.50). Daytime pumpkin patch tickets include same-day maze admission.
• Lenny Pearce — Toddler Rave World Tour — 6:00 PM at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. The pioneer of Toddler Techno brings high-energy family entertainment on his world tour. $49.70.
• Music Bingo at Vancouver Elks Lodge — 6:00 PM at Vancouver Elks Lodge #823. October's theme: One Hit Wonders. No cover — just grab a drink, play bingo, and win quirky prizes. Free.
• English Country Line Dancing — 6:30 PM at Fern Prairie Grange, Camas. All skill levels welcome — dances are walked through first. $5 per person or $10 per family.
• Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics — 6:30 PM at The Old Church Concert Hall, Portland. Live Halloween classics performed under the gentle glow of candlelight. $42.50–$66.
• Haunted Walking Tours — 7:00 PM at the Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver. Guides lead groups through downtown sharing tales of lingering spirits, forgotten tragedies, and moments where history meets the supernatural. About one mile. $15–$20.
• Spirit Tales of the Vancouver Barracks — 7:00 PM. Historian Jeff Davis leads a 1.5–2 hour tour of haunted goings-on at the Barracks, from its 1849 founding to 2011. Meet at the Grant House parking lot. $17–$22.
• Phat Cat Swinger — 7:30 PM at Columbia Theatre, Longview. Led by Marco Palos and American Idol's Blake Lewis, this 10-piece band reimagines pop hits with hard-swing swagger. One night only. $35–$55.
• "Friday Frolic" Scottish Dance Class — 7:30 PM–9:00 PM at Columbia Dance Center, Vancouver. New dancers welcome, no partner needed. First class free, then $8 at the door.
• The Shining Night in Downtown Camas — 7:30 PM–midnight. Start with the Horror Movie Scream Contest at Drop the Mic Karaoke, then hit Caps N Taps for The Shining Costume Contest and Spooky Trivia, and catch a 10:05 PM showing at Liberty Theatre. Costumes encouraged. Movie tickets $8.50.
• Starbird Theatre Company presents "Leaving Iowa" — 7:30 PM at Sherman Auditorium at Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver. A heartwarming family comedy about a father-son road trip through memory and Iowa. $23–$25.
• Friday Live Music at Pour Choices Pub — 7:30 PM at Pour Choices Pub, 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Tino takes the stage for a night of live music and cold drinks.

Saturday, October 24

• Columbia CX Harvest Cross — Cyclocross Race — 8:00 AM at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park. Races for all ages and abilities, including Kiddie Cross on a separate course. Expect grass, dirt, gravel, pavement, and the fan-favorite sand pit. Register at OBRA.org.
• Stewardship Saturday at Columbia Springs — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Spend the morning removing invasive species, maintaining trails, and improving the site. Tools, gloves, and guidance provided.
• Make a Difference Day: Wetland Restoration and Native Planting — 9:00 AM. Join the Water Center and Clark Public Utilities to plant native trees and shrubs across 3.6 acres of wetlands. Get your hands in the soil for clean waterways and thriving habitat.
• Mason Bees Unwrapped: The Art & Science of Cocoon Harvesting — 9:30 AM. WSU Master Gardener Anne Bulger leads an interactive workshop on these gentle, native pollinators — how to attract them and maintain a thriving mason bee habitat in your backyard.
• Mushroom Foraging with Mt. St. Helens Institute — 10:00 AM at Pine Creek Information Station. Learn to identify wild edible and inedible mushrooms, harvest them, and cook them into delicious dishes. Expect dirty shoes and hands!
• Volunteer Gathering & Orientation for Plas Newydd Farm — 10:00 AM in Ridgefield. Tour the house and farm, enjoy refreshments, and learn about volunteer opportunities with PNFA.
• Adopt-A-Park Event at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park — 10:00 AM. Help remove ivy and non-native plants from the park's natural area. Family-friendly — tools, gloves, water, and snacks provided. Youth under 18 need a signed minor consent form.
• Nature Days at Columbia Springs — 10:00 AM at Columbia Springs, Vancouver. Free, self-guided exploration of the natural world with activities and presentations throughout the day. All are welcome.
• How to Winterize Your Garden for Spring Success — 10:30 AM. Learn tips to protect your plants, enrich your soils, and care for your irrigation systems before winter. Free, in partnership with Fort Vancouver Regional Library.
• Bat Class at Nature's Haven Nursery — 11:00 AM at Nature's Haven Nursery, Camas. Just in time for Halloween — learn about Pacific Northwest bat species, their importance, and how to make your yard more bat-friendly. Bat houses available for sale.
• The Resilient Yard: Battling Climate Change at Home — 4:00 PM. Learn actionable steps to reduce your carbon footprint right in your own suburban yard. Free, in partnership with Fort Vancouver Regional Library.
• The Rocky Horror Pet Show — 4:30 PM. A Halloween event for dogs (and brave cats!) featuring nosework for treats, bobbing for frankfurters, a DIY trick-or-treat bag station, and a photobooth. Timed entry. $18 pre-sale (through Oct. 22), $20 after. Tickets at civilizedwolf.com.
• Pink After Dark — Karaoke for a Cause — 8:30 PM at Pour Choices Pub, 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Wear pink, grab the mic, and celebrate women and breast cancer survivors. Proceeds from special-edition hats and donations support women during treatment.

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