📰 What's Making News

Toasted S'mores Bar Fires Up Uptown Village's Main Street

If your sweet tooth has been waiting for a reason to stroll Main Street, here it is. Toasted S'mores Bar, a Portland-born dessert shop, has opened in the former Yogurt Time spot in Uptown Village. The concept is gloriously simple — made-to-order s'mores finished with a blowtorch, plus frozen hot chocolate, cold brew, and other treats. S'mores start at $6, with vegan and gluten-free options on the menu. Another storefront filled on Main Street is always worth celebrating.

56 Firefighters Contain Warehouse Blaze in 40 Minutes Flat

Vancouver firefighters tackled a two-alarm fire at Furniture World SW's warehouse on NE St. Johns Road, bringing the blaze under control in roughly 40 minutes. The response drew 56 firefighters from Vancouver Fire Department and Clark County Fire District 6, and — mercifully — no injuries were reported. The fire also briefly threatened the nearby Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, a beloved nonprofit railroad. The Clark County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause.

Friday Night Lights Return This Week to Clark County Fields

Summer's final act is officially underway: it's game week for Clark County high school football. Programs like the Heritage Timberwolves, Skyview Storm, and Washougal Panthers have wrapped up preseason training camp and are ready for opening kickoffs. The Columbian's preview captures the buzz from coaches and players as the dog days give way to stadium lights and packed bleachers. If you've missed the sound of a marching band on a warm evening, your wait is almost over.

Treynor Cleeland Rallies UC Davis in First Collegiate Start

Clark County's own Treynor Cleeland made his first collegiate start at quarterback for UC Davis — and did it just miles from where he played high school ball, leading the Aggies to a comeback win over Portland State. The Columbian tracked his debut, and the stat line lived up to the moment. It's always a thrill to see a local kid thrive on a bigger stage, and Cleeland's name is one worth following this season.

Clark County's Surprising Bigfoot Origin Story, Retold

Long before Bigfoot became a bumper-sticker industry, the legend had roots right here. In 1924, gold miners stumbled into the Cougar Ranger Station claiming a band of seven-foot-tall hairy apes had hurled rocks at their cabin and made "horrible noises." The Columbian's Clark County History column revisits that wild episode and how it helped spark decades of Sasquatch fascination across the Pacific Northwest. Consider it your next dinner-party conversation starter.

I-5 Construction Near JBLM Wraps Major Phase

If you ever drive the I-5 corridor toward Tacoma, there's good news on the horizon. WSDOT says this past weekend marked the last of the "major" construction for the I-5 rebuild near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The project has been a headache for northbound travelers for months, so smoother drives are finally in sight. Minor finishing work remains, but the worst of the lane closures and slowdowns should be behind us.

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💬 Community Buzz

The community discussion board was quiet this weekend — we'll be back with more local chatter soon!

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⚡ Quick Bites

I-5 Southbound Closes Near Rose Quarter Starting Sept. 11

ODOT is shutting down all southbound lanes of I-5 near Portland's Rose Quarter, between I-405 and the freeway — a closure that will ripple straight into Vancouver commuters' daily routines. Plan alternate routes now, and get the full detour details here.

Walla Walla's Union-Bulletin Loses Its Printing Press, Keeps Its Paper

The Seattle Times Co. announced it will close the press it operates out of the Union-Bulletin building in Walla Walla, cutting 10 full- and part-time jobs. The print edition will continue, produced at a different facility. Read more from The Columbian.

$4.3 Billion NASA Telescope Launches Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy

The Roman Space Telescope blasted off from Cape Canaveral Sunday morning to hunt for planets around other stars and probe dark energy. It's NASA's newest flagship observatory and rode a triple-thrust Falcon Heavy rocket into orbit. Details here.

Ukrainian Independence Day Fills Seattle Center with Folk Music, Varenyky

Saturday's celebration at Seattle Center marked 35 years of Ukrainian independence with traditional embroidered clothing, varenyky dumplings, Ukrainian candies, and a lineup of contemporary and folk performances. Full story from The Columbian.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Monday, August 31

• Storytime in the Park — 10:30 AM at various Camas parks. Bring a blanket and enjoy a free family storytime outdoors with the Camas Library. More info
• Camas Library Storytime in the Park Series — 10:30 AM at Louis Bloch Park (160 NE Joy St., Camas). The Camas Library staff heads outdoors for an all-ages storytime. Free. More info
• Downtown Vancouver Rotary Lunch Meeting — 12:00 PM at AC Hotel by Marriott Vancouver Waterfront. Community members are welcome at the weekly lunch meeting (noon–1 PM). Free. More info
• Line Dancing — 1:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Grab any shoes you've got and learn line dances for fun and exercise, 1:30–3:30 PM. Free. More info
• Bigfoot Adventure on the Portland Spirit — 2:00 PM departing from Caruthers Landing Dock, Portland. An 80-mile round-trip jetboat tour to Multnomah Falls with exclusive Bigfoot narration by Cliff Barackman. $64–$72. More info
• Adaptive Bicycling Summer Series — 6:00 PM at Portland International Raceway. Everyone is welcome for adaptive cycling — bring your own bike or try one of theirs. Helmets required. More info
• Cosmic Watercolor Splatter Coasters Workshop — 6:30 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Susan Soltau of Dragon Half Art teaches wet-on-wet watercolor blending and splatter techniques. No experience needed; all supplies provided. $35. More info

Tuesday, September 1

• Enhance Fitness Classes — 8:30 AM at various locations around Clark County. Free evidence-based exercise classes for adults 60+, tailored to every ability level. No pre-registration required. More info
• River Nutrient Enhancement Season Volunteers — 9:00 AM. The Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group needs volunteers to place salmon carcasses in streams, returning vital nutrients to local watersheds. Physical but rewarding outdoor work. More info
• TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition — 9:30 AM at OMSI, Portland. Step back to April 1912 and explore more than 100 authentic artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck site. More info
• Reclaimed Creations Exhibit at OMSI — 9:30 AM at OMSI, Portland. Artist Sayaka Ganz transforms thousands of discarded plastic objects into soaring animal sculptures that burst with motion and color. On view through September 30. More info
• Chippers Preschool Rides at Oaks Park — 10:00 AM at Oaks Park, Portland. Little ones (age 6 and under) enjoy kiddie rides followed by snack and story time with Chipper the Squirrel. $13.50 per child; one adult rides free. More info
• Playgroup — 10:00 AM at Firstenburg Community Center, Vancouver. A self-monitored indoor play space for ages 9 months–6 years where kids can run, climb and explore while parents socialize. $7–$9. More info
• Camas Public Library Food Drive — 10:00 AM at Camas Public Library. Running Sept. 1–30, donations benefit the Camas School District's Family-Community Resource Center. Special needs include lunchbox snacks, canned fruit and hygiene items. More info
• Vancouver Wellness Studio Celebrates 10 Years — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Wellness Studio, 301 W Columbia Way, Vancouver. A ribbon-cutting celebration honoring a decade of health and connection in our community. More info
• English Conversation Group for Adults — 12:30 PM at Camas Public Library. Practice speaking, listening and expressing yourself confidently in a supportive setting. Free. More info
• Tween & Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game — 4:30 PM at various FVRL library locations. Create a character and play Dungeons & Dragons — beginners and experienced players welcome. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Outdoor Afro's Little CampOut — 5:00 PM, virtual. A live virtual campfire experience where families gather for stories, laughter and connection. More info
• Shut Up and Write! Writers Group — 5:15 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. A weekly gathering for writers of all levels with dedicated writing time — no critiques, just support. Free. More info
• Spanish Conversation Group — 5:30 PM at Camas Public Library. A monthly group for beginning Spanish speakers. No registration required. Free. More info
• Pencils and Pints — 6:00 PM at A Beer at a Time, 216 NE Third Ave., Camas. Sketch, paint or doodle while sipping a craft brew — co-hosted by the Artisans Guild of Camas and the Camas Public Library. Free. More info
• Page Turners Book Club — 6:30 PM at Camas Public Library. A book club for kids in 4th–6th grade and their adults. Register, pick up the book free, read it, then discuss. Free. More info
• Vancouver Audubon: "The Wildlife Center of the North Coast" — 6:30 PM at Evergreen Public Schools District Office, Vancouver. Speaker Annie Cahill explores the role of wildlife rehabilitation in conservation. Free. More info

Wednesday, September 2

• Providence Academy Tours — 10:00 AM at Providence Academy, Vancouver. Free tours available Wednesday–Friday, 10 AM–2 PM. More info
• Marshall House Tour — 10:00 AM at Marshall House, Vancouver. Free 30-minute tours of this beautiful Queen Anne-style historic home, Wednesday–Friday 10 AM–2 PM. More info
• Musicians in the Park — 12:00 PM at Davis Park, Ridgefield. Enjoy live lunchtime performances by local musicians in the Downtown Arts Quarter. Bring a picnic or grab takeout from a downtown restaurant. Free. More info
• Contemplative Prayer — 12:20 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver. Quiet music and prayer from 12:20–12:45 PM. Free. More info
• Vesta Hospitality Celebrates 30 Years — 1:00 PM at Vesta Hospitality, 15605 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking three decades of growth for this Vancouver-rooted hospitality company. More info
• Camas Farmers Market — 3:00 PM in Downtown Camas (new temporary location on Birch Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues). Fresh produce, food and artisan goods every Wednesday, 3–7 PM. More info
• Tween Bad Art — 4:00 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Random supplies, zero rules — just create something wonderfully ugly or awkwardly brilliant. Free. More info
• Kids Read to a Dog — 4:00 PM. Build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog. Ages 5–9. Free. More info
• Teen & Adult Magic the Gathering Social Club — 4:00 PM at various FVRL library locations. Open game play with decks provided or bring your own. Free. More info
• Kids & Tweens Create — 4:00 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop in for creative projects — use your imagination and try a new artistic skill. Ages 5–12. Free. More info
• Speed Friending — 5:00 PM at Camas Public Library. A fun, low-stress way for adults to meet new people with conversation prompts and quick rounds. Registration required. Free. More info
• Grow and Arrange Cut Flowers Year-Round — 5:00 PM. WSU Extension Master Gardeners and FVRL present tips on growing your own cut flower garden, plus a flower arrangement demo. Free. More info
• Community Dragon Boat Paddle — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch. Try dragon boat paddling for free — no experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14+. More info
• Leathercrafting Workshop with Dragon Half Art — 5:30 PM at The Arts Centered, Vancouver. A hands-on leathercraft session for beginners and experienced crafters alike. $40–$45. More info
• 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. More info
• All Ages Bingo — 6:00 PM at Firstenburg Community Center, Vancouver. Friendly competition, fantastic prizes, snacks and a welcoming vibe for the whole family. $10–$13. More info
• Vaux Swifts 101 — 6:00 PM, virtual. Learn about the fascinating life history of Vaux's Swifts before their spectacular September migration through the Portland-Vancouver area. More info
• Vanport Jazz Open Rehearsal — 7:00 PM at Cascade Inn Assisted Living Center, Vancouver. Listen and dance along to VanPort Jazz's free open rehearsal, 7:15–9:15 PM. Free. More info

Thursday, September 3

• Mount Adams Mystery Backcountry Trip — 8:30 AM. A WTA Backcountry Response Team adventure in Indian Heaven Wilderness — the work could be trail clearing, bridge building or tread repair. For adventurous spirits only. More info
• Communicating Through Supply Chain Disruption — 9:00 AM. A workshop led by Kayla Anderson of Riparian Media on social listening, publishing under uncertainty and drafting response language. More info
• Native Plant Tending and Traditional Ecological Knowledge — 9:30 AM at Sandy River Delta. Join Confluence Project NW, the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Indigenous partners for hands-on land tending and traditional foods restoration. More info
• East Vancouver Farmers Market — 10:00 AM at Columbia Tech Center, 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver. Over 50 small businesses with farm, food and artisan products, 10 AM–2 PM. More info
• Go with the Flow: Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour — 10:00 AM at Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver. A free 90-minute behind-the-scenes walking tour — ages 8+. More info
• Marshall House Tours — 10:00 AM at Marshall House, Vancouver. Explore the Queen Anne home of General George C. Marshall with period furnishings and military memorabilia. Free. More info
• Advanced Competitive Bridge Bidding — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. A six-week class with instructor Michael Walker, a Ruby Life Master. $10–$50. More info
• Card Making Club at Craft Warehouse — 1:00 PM at Craft Warehouse, Vancouver. A free monthly meet-up for paper-crafting fans of all skill levels — discover new products and swap ideas. More info
• Reading Dragons Kickoff — 3:00 PM at Camas Public Library. Pick up a reading tracker, receive a mystery card pack and enter for a chance to win a prize. All ages. Free. More info
• WEO Celebrates 30 Years of Women Empowering Women — 4:00 PM at Visiting Angels, 603 Officers Row, Vancouver. A ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring three decades of supporting women entrepreneurs in Southwest Washington. More info
• Teen Hangout at Vancouver Community Library — 4:30 PM. Games, crafts, chatting and snacks provided by the Friends of Vancouver Community Library. Ages 13–19. Free. More info
• Wintler Beach Clean-Up — 6:00 PM at Wintler Park, Vancouver. Riparian Media and the City of Vancouver host a beach clean-up from 6–8 PM. RSVP for a head count. More info
• Bird Language: Learning to Read the Landscape Through Birds — 6:00 PM, virtual. Naturalist Rey Snyder explores how to interpret bird behavior and what it reveals about their surroundings. More info
• Family Bingo at Kalama Harbor Lodge — 7:00 PM (doors at 6 PM) at McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge. Fun prizes plus a chance to win an overnight stay in the blackout round. All ages. Free. More info
• Line Dancing at Ashwood Taps & Trucks — 7:00 PM at Ashwood Taps and Trucks, Washougal. Kat Nichols leads line dancing from 7–9 PM — beginners welcome. $10. More info
• Fort Vancouver Rose Society September In-House Rose Show — 7:00 PM at St. Luke's-San Lucas Episcopal Church, 426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver. Enjoy the annual rose show plus a Wings and Roses chicken wing supper. Open to all. Free. More info
• "Brewing and Distilling in the Pacific Northwest" — 7:00 PM at Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver. Speaker Sam Busick explores the region's alcohol history from the fur trade to the modern brewing boom. $5. More info

Friday, September 4

• Backpacking Fundamentals: Mount Hood with Opal Creek Center — 8:30 AM. A three-day beginner backpacking trip through old-growth forest, meadows and trout-filled lakes — learn water filtration, food prep and route finding. More info
• The Portland Maize & Pumpkin Patch — 10:00 AM on Sauvie Island, Portland. Almost 2 miles of corn maze pathways plus a pumpkin patch — allow at least 45 minutes to solve. More info
• Fall Watercolor Workshops — 10:30 AM at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Kathryn Garcia-Stackpole of Kathryn By Design teaches florals, apples and pumpkins. Beginners welcome. $125 includes all materials. More info
• 60+ Senior Community Meal Program — 12:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Free lunch for low-income seniors age 60+, served noon–1 PM. More info
• NAMI Art Group — 1:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, 4201 NE 66th Ave., Suite 105, Vancouver. A weekly art group from 1–3 PM. Free. More info
• Alderbrook Park Cruise-In — 4:00 PM at Alderbrook Park, Brush Prairie. Classic cars plus disc golf, train rides, mini golf, bounce houses, pool and more. $5–$10. More info
• Discover Downtown Ridgefield — 4:00 PM in Downtown Ridgefield. Shop, dine and stroll as participating businesses stay open late with sales and activities. Free (VIP packages available). More info
• First Friday Art Walk — 5:00 PM in Downtown Vancouver. Galleries and art-centric businesses open their doors — most locations open 5–8 PM. Free. More info
• Celebrate Art First Friday in Camas — 5:00 PM in Downtown Camas. Art shows, demos, kids art, hands-on experiences including quilling, basket weaving and pottery, plus after-hours shopping and dining. Free. More info
• Between Page and Panel — 5:00 PM at Camas Public Library's Second Story Gallery. Original artwork by 15 local children's book illustrators, on view Sept. 4–Oct. 17. Opening reception 5–8 PM. Free. More info
• Aurora Gallery Presents "Around Vancouver" — 5:00 PM at Aurora Gallery, 1004 Main St., Vancouver. Local artists showcase recognizable Vancouver scenes, plus Cortney Firstenburg's debut exhibit. Reception 5–8 PM. Free. More info
• Into the Crater Hike with Mt. St. Helens Institute — 5:00 PM. A bucket-list guided adventure into the crater of an active volcano with geologists and professional mountain guides. More info
• MSHI GeoGirls Art Display — 5:00 PM at 210 W Evergreen Blvd, Suite 300, Vancouver. See what young women discovered and created at this free geology and technology camp at Mount St. Helens. More info
• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Paddles — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield. Free community paddling — no experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14+. More info
• Family Fun Night in Salmon Creek — 6:00 PM at Salmon Creek Grange, Vancouver. Games, light snacks and family laughter on the first Friday of every month. Free. More info
• Good Times and Wine at English Estate Winery — 6:00 PM at English Estate Winery, 17806 SE First St., Vancouver. Live music by Shirley Van Paepeghem plus food from Venue 1903. Free admission. More info
• First Friday Open Sculpting at Kilnfolk — 6:30 PM at Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. Sculpt up to two pounds of clay into mugs, vases, gnomes or animal sculptures — no experience needed. $50. More info
• Haunted History Walking Tour — 7:00 PM at Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver. Guides lead you through downtown Vancouver's most haunted spots with tales of the strange and peculiar. $20. More info
• Live Music on the Patio at Farrar's Bistro — 7:00 PM at Farrar's Bistro, 12514 NW 36th Ave., Vancouver. Enjoy food, cocktails and live performances on the pet-friendly patio. More info
• Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons — 8:30 PM at The Old Church Concert Hall, Portland. A multi-sensory tribute concert under the glow of candlelight. $49.50–$81.50. More info

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