📰 What's Making News

Vancouver's Newest Pet Shop Sells Spiders — Yes, Really

Not every new business opening makes you do a double take, but this one earns it. A new store in central Vancouver is dedicated entirely to arachnids, aiming to replace fear with fascination and maybe even convince you that an eight-legged roommate isn't so bad. The shop sells spiders as pets and works to dispel the myths that make so many of us reach for a shoe (or, let's be honest, a flamethrower). It's the kind of only-in-Vancouver quirky that makes this city fun. Full story from The Columbian.

Shane Felton, Hailee Phelps Top Amboy's Territorial Days Log Show

Amboy's annual Territorial Days celebration wrapped up this weekend, and the Log Show did not disappoint. Shane Felton claimed the Men's All-Around Logger title while Hailee Phelps took the Women's crown in a competition that featured ax throwing, stock saw, high climb, choker set, and more. Youth competitors also got in on the action, and the weekend included lawn mower races and a car show — because of course it did. It's the kind of small-town Clark County tradition that deserves a bigger spotlight. See the full results at Clark County Today.

Raptors Drop Ninth Straight as All-Star Break Arrives

The Ridgefield Raptors could use the West Coast League All-Star break right about now. Sunday's 16-12 loss to the Portland Pickles extended the skid to nine consecutive games, with Ridgefield surrendering multi-run innings from the sixth through the ninth after holding a 4-3 lead through five. The break gives the roster a chance to reset before the back half of the summer schedule. Brighter days at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex are overdue. Recap from The Columbian.

1918 Mountain View Rescue Attempt Gets Its Due in Clark County History

A gripping new installment of The Columbian's Clark County History series tells the story of Lora Ethel South, a 25-year-old mother in the remote north-county hamlet of Mountain View who began hemorrhaging days after delivering a daughter in March 1918. A schoolhouse bell was rung to summon neighbors, and what followed was a desperate, ultimately unsuccessful rescue effort across rugged terrain. The piece is a vivid reminder of what life looked like in rural Clark County just over a century ago — and the lengths a community would go to help its own. Read the full story.

Native American Graduation Rates Climb Across Washington

Graduation rates for Native American students in Washington state are trending upward, a bright spot in the state's education landscape. The story follows Gerald Dillon, who spent his senior year on the Puyallup Reservation splitting time between coursework and career training as a teaching assistant — a path that connected him to younger students who greeted him each day with fist bumps and hugs. The gains reflect broader efforts statewide to support Indigenous students through culturally relevant programming and mentorship. Story from The Columbian.

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⚡ Quick Bites

Washington Fines Farm Labor Contractor Nearly $700K for Worker-Protection Failures

The state Department of Labor & Industries hit a farm labor contracting company with a nearly $700,000 penalty for violating worker-protection laws — including failing to tell workers where they'd be placed, what jobs they'd do, or how much they'd be paid. A good reminder that Washington takes these protections seriously. Read more from The Columbian.

Live-Action 'Moana' Opens at No. 1 but Falls Short of Disney's Expectations

Disney's live-action "Moana" earned $43 million in its opening weekend domestically — enough for the top spot, but a modest start for a film that reportedly cost $250 million to make. Worth knowing the next time someone in line at Cinetopia asks if it's any good. Read more from The Columbian.

2026 Hurricane Season Downgraded to 'Well Below Normal'

Colorado State University researchers further lowered their Atlantic hurricane forecast, now expecting even fewer tropical storms than average this year. Good news for anyone with travel plans along the Gulf or East Coast this summer. Read more from The Columbian.

King Charles, Prince Harry Reunite with Families for First Time in Years

King Charles III hosted Prince Harry and met with his family on Friday — their first in-person gathering in years as the royals work to mend the rift that began when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Read more from The Columbian.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Monday, July 13

• Early Learners Play to Learn — 10:00 AM at Battle Ground Community Library. Fun early literacy tips and hands-on activities for ages 0–5. Free. More info
• The Great Summer Dash at Vancouver Mall — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Mall. Complete fun challenges, earn points, and enter for chances to win prizes all summer long. More info
• Community Harvest Volunteer Day — 10:00 AM. Join Latinos Unidos y Floreciendo for a weekly volunteer gathering rooted in stewardship, shared labor, and food access. More info
• Storytime in the Park — 10:30 AM at Crown Park (120 NE 17th Ave., Camas). Bring a blanket and enjoy a family storytime outdoors — all ages welcome. Free. More info
• Downtown Vancouver Rotary Lunch Meeting — 12:00 PM at AC Hotel by Marriott Vancouver Waterfront. Community members are welcome to join the weekly gathering from noon to 1 p.m. Free. More info
• Line Dancing — 1:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Grab any pair of shoes and learn line dances for fun and exercise. Free. More info
• Summer Movie Mondays: The Croods — 2:00 PM at Camas Public Library. Free screening upstairs in the Community Rooms. Registration required. More info
• Early Learners Music and Movement — 2:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Songs, rhymes, rhythm, and dance for ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Free. More info
• ROAD TRIP: Adaptive Bicycling Summer Series — 6:00 PM at Portland International Raceway. Everyone is welcome — bring your own bike or try one of theirs. Helmets required. More info
• Story Explorers at Camas Public Library — 6:30 PM at Camas Public Library. A book discussion group for 2nd–3rd graders and their adults. Pick up your free copy at the library beforehand. Free. More info

Tuesday, July 14

• ROAD TRIP: Haystack Rock Interpreter Talk about Sea Stars — 8:00 AM at Cannon Beach. Meet near the red truck at Haystack Rock for an interpreter talk all about sea stars — and bring binoculars for Tufted Puffin spotting. More info
• Science Heroes: Digging It! — 9:30 AM at Three Creeks Community Library (with an 11:00 AM session too). A hands-on, high-energy STEM show packed with audience interaction and wow moments. Free. More info
• Storywalk at Camas Public Library — 10:00 AM. Follow the path at Dorothy Fox Park to read "So Tortoise Dug" by Emmy Kastner — a reading adventure for all ages. Free. More info
• Sensory Storytime at Ridgefield Community Library — 10:30 AM. Interactive storytime with sensory play, visual aids, and reduced group size for ages 3–9. Free. More info
• Kids Axe Academy at Firehouse Axes — 12:00 PM at Firehouse Axes, Vancouver. A 90-minute session for ages 10–14 with an expert coach — ends with a tournament. $15. More info
• Preschool Imagination Station — 1:30 PM at Camas Public Library. Preschoolers and adults enjoy a read-aloud and hands-on activity. No registration required. Free. More info
• Kids & Tweens Great Build Off — 2:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Use provided materials to design, build, and problem-solve your way through a surprise challenge. Free. More info
• Teen & Tween Tabletop RPG: Dungeon Master Workshop — 3:00 PM at Three Creeks Community Library. Learn from a game master with 40+ years of experience. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Cookie Excavation at Camas Public Library — 3:30 PM. Kids in grades 1–5 excavate chocolate chips from a cookie like real archaeologists — with an adult. Registration required. Free. More info
• Tween & Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game — 4:30 PM at various FVRL library locations. Play Dungeons & Dragons 5E and Pathfinder 1E — all experience levels welcome. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Shut Up and Write! Writers Group — 5:15 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub. Dedicated writing time plus community — no readings or critiques. All experience levels. Free. More info
• Spanish Conversation Group — 5:30 PM at Camas Public Library. Geared toward beginning Spanish speakers. No registration needed. Free. More info
• Taco Tuesday Cookie Decorating Workshop — 6:00 PM at Craft Collective, Vancouver. Learn beginner-friendly royal icing piping and flooding techniques to decorate six themed sugar cookies. $65. More info
• Ridgefield Raptors Baseball — 6:30 PM at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. Cheer on Clark County's hometown team under the summer lights. More info
• Hilary Duff: The Lucky Me Tour — 7:00 PM at Cascades Amphitheater, Ridgefield. Her first global headline tour in almost two decades. $35–$158. More info
• Hell's Kitchen (the Musical) — 7:30 PM at Keller Auditorium, Portland. The new Broadway musical from Alicia Keys about growing up in New York City. More info

Wednesday, July 15

• Impressions of the Pacific Northwest — 8:00 AM–5:00 PM at the Rebecca Anstine Gallery (6th floor, Clark County Public Service Center). Works by Oleg Ulitskiy and Elizabeth Ganji celebrating PNW landscapes. Free. More info
• Enhance Fitness Classes — 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM at Bethel Lutheran Church, Brush Prairie. Evidence-based group exercise for older adults (60+). More info
• Reclaimed Creations Exhibit at OMSI — 9:30 AM in Portland. Sayaka Ganz transforms discarded plastic objects into soaring animal sculptures — on view through September 30. More info
• High School Art Exhibit at Camas Public Library — 10:00 AM. The Second Story Gallery's annual showcase of painting, sculpture, and mixed media by Camas School District students. Free. More info
• Where's Waldo? at Autumn Leaf Books — 10:00 AM in Downtown Camas. Pick up a passport and hunt for Waldo hidden in up to 25 local businesses all month long. Free. More info
• Marshall House Tours — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Explore period furnishings, military memorabilia, and General George C. Marshall's study. Free. More info
• Providence Academy Tours — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. Tour this historic Vancouver landmark by reservation or walk-in. Free. More info
• Reading in the Wild — 10:00 AM at the Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver. Stories and nature activities for families with kids ages 3–6. This week's theme: Fish are "O-fish-ally" Awesome! Free. More info
• ROAD TRIP: Sandsations Sand Sculpture Festival — 10:00 AM at Long Beach, WA. Watch professional sand carvers and amateurs create stunning sculptures on the coast. More info
• Officers Row Trees Walking Tour — 12:00 PM starting at Howard House, 750 Anderson St. Join Urban Forestry staff and Historic Trust's Holly Chamberlain for a leafy tour blending tree science and Officers Row history. More info
• Camas Farmers Market — 3:00–7:00 PM in Downtown Camas (new temporary location on Birch Street between 3rd and 4th). Local produce, food, and artisans. More info
• July Hatchery Tour at Columbia Springs — 3:00 PM at 12208 SE Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. Trace the path of spring water and learn about the trout and salmon growing up in it. Free. More info
• Recycling 101 and Waste Reduction Charrette — 3:00 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. A presentation and hands-on session exploring ways to reduce waste. Free. More info
• Tummy Time — 3:30 PM at Camas Public Library. For babies under 18 months. Register at CamasPL.org/tummytime. Free. More info
• Kids & Tweens Create — 4:00 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop-in creative projects for ages 5–12. Free. More info
• Kids Read to a Dog — 4:00 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. 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 Cascade Park Community Library. Open game play — decks provided or bring your own. Free. More info
• NW Furniture Bank Ribbon Cutting — 4:00 PM at 14000 SE 6th Ave., Vancouver. Tour the new space and celebrate this nonprofit that provides upcycled furniture to Clark County families. Free. More info
• Introduction to Sewing Machines — 4:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Learn to thread a machine, select stitches, and make an apron. Ages 9+. Free. More info
• OMSI: Wild Weather — 4:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. OMSI explains what causes exciting weather conditions and how to track them. Free. More info
• Pokémon Trade Night — 5:00 PM at Barnes & Noble Vancouver. Bring your binders, show off your collections, and trade with the community. All ages. Free. More info
• Community Dragon Boat Paddle — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch. No experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14+. Free. More info
• Leathercrafting Workshop with Dragon Half Art — 5:30 PM at The Arts Centered, Vancouver. Hands-on beginner-friendly leathercraft — leave with something genuinely cool. $40–$45. More info
• Moroccan Cooking Class — 5:30 PM at Class Cooking, Vancouver. WildSalt Studio guides you through braised chicken thighs, saffron rice, and Moroccan flatbread — then you eat it all. $99. More info
• Community Changemakers: Stories Behind Women Making a Difference — 5:30 PM at The Neighborhood Refuge, Ridgefield. TED-talk style evening featuring five women shaping Southwest Washington, with refreshments and appetizers. Give-what-you-can admission. More info
• Weekly Swing Dancing — 6:00 PM at The Valiant Ballroom, Vancouver. Intermediate lesson at 6, beginner lesson at 7, social dance 8–9:30 PM. $5–$10. More info
• Educated Guess: Astronomy Trivia at OMSI — 6:30 PM at OMSI's Theory Restaurant, Portland. Teams of up to 4 compete through multiple rounds of science, pop culture, and discovery trivia. More info
• ROAD TRIP: The Bird Days of Summer — Birds, Bats & Bugs — 8:00 PM in Portland. Watch birds settle in for the night, then switch gears as bats emerge overhead and moths gather at a UV light sheet. More info

Thursday, July 16

• Insect Investigators — 9:30 AM at the Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver. Explore insect life cycles, join a garden scavenger hunt, and build your own clay insect. Families with kids ages 6–10. Free. More info
• East Vancouver Farmers Market — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Columbia Tech Center. Over 50 small businesses offering farm, food, and artisan products. More info
• Tiny Art Show at Camas Public Library — 10:00 AM. The 6th annual community-created tiny art exhibit — come see what Camas has made. Free. More info
• Vancouver Bridge Club Introductory Bridge Class — 10:00 AM at 6503 Mill Plain Blvd. A six-week series starting July 16. $10/lesson or $50 for all six. More info
• Fruit Tree Pruning Education & Volunteer Work Party — 10:00 AM. Learn summer pruning techniques from Vancouver's expert Urban Forestry team. More info
• Lewisville Regional Park Picnic Bench Painting — 10:00 AM north of Battle Ground. Help spruce up picnic tables at this historic park with Clark County Parks & Nature volunteers. More info
• ROAD TRIP: Mt. Hood Meadows Chairlift Wildlife Ride and Hike — 10:00 AM. Take the chairlift to stunning high-mountain wildflower meadows with the Washington Native Plant Society. More info
• The Craft of Writing: Workshop & Writers Group — 10:30 AM at Vancouver Community Library. Writing prompts, craft discussion, and workshopping in a fun, welcoming environment. Free. More info
• TALented Works Studio & Gallery Ribbon Cutting — 4:00 PM at 1015 Main St., Vancouver. Meet local artist Tal W. DeWitt, explore the newest gallery in Southwest Washington, and celebrate the grand opening. More info
• Teen Hangout — 4:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Games, crafting, snacks, and good vibes for ages 13–19. Free. More info
• Tween & Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure — 4:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Create a character and take on challenges in Dungeons & Dragons. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Heritage Tree Bike Tour — 5:30 PM starting at Esther Short Park (meet at the clock tower). A four-mile guided ride visiting 12 of Vancouver's Heritage Trees. Helmets required. Free. More info
• Road Cycling 101 — 5:30 PM. Join the Vancouver Bicycling Club's Charla Burke for a fun, flat, 5–10 mile group ride exploring trails and neighborhoods. More info
• Teen Video Game Night — 6:00 PM at La Center Community Library. Play Nintendo Switch games and hang out. Ages 13–19. Free. More info
• Open Mic Night at Dovetail Cellars — 6:00 PM at 404 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. Hosted by Jeff Keddie and broadcast live on KXRW. Sign-ups start at 5:30 PM. Free. More info
• Local Author Panel at Literary Leftovers — 6:00 PM at 813 W. Main St., Battle Ground. Excerpt readings and book signings with Cindy Goyette, Hollis Oliver, Peggy Lotz, Cameron Paris, and Toni Woodard. Free. More info
• Waterfront Concert Series — 6:30 PM at Vancouver Waterfront Park. An eclectic mix of live music on the north shore of the Columbia. Bring a picnic or grab dinner at a waterfront restaurant. Free. More info
• Disney Trivia at Firehouse Axes — 6:30 PM at Firehouse Axes, Vancouver. Teams of all ages battle it out to be crowned Disney Trivia Masters. Free. More info

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