📰 What's Making News

Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, Young MC Rock the Clark County Fairgrounds

If you heard "Ice Ice Baby" drifting across Ridgefield Friday night, you weren't imagining things. The I Love the 90s — (and America, too) — tour rolled into the Clark County Fair Grandstands for a 90-minute nostalgia-fueled set that had the crowd on its feet from the first beat. Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, and Young MC ran through their greatest hits while fairgoers juggled funnel cakes and sing-alongs. The concert is part of a stacked fair entertainment lineup that continues all week. Full recap from Clark County Today.

Today at the Fair: Bull Riding, Mutton Bustin', Barnyard Races

Monday's Clark County Fair schedule is packed, headlined by Hell on Hooves Extreme Bull Riding at 7 p.m. at the Grandstands. Before that, tiny cowboys and cowgirls can try their luck at mutton bustin' qualifications starting at 2 p.m. The rest of the day fills in with Barnyard Races, a hypnotist show, Pirate's Parrot performances, the Mars Encounters science show, and the DogTown stunt dogs. Carnival rides and livestock exhibits run all day, so there's no wrong time to show up. See the full Monday schedule here.

Medal-Winning Martial Artist Malia Cropper Opens Training Center in Camas

Malia Cropper grew up inside a dojo — literally raised around the sport before she was old enough to train — and parlayed that upbringing into a medal-winning martial arts career. Now she's bringing that expertise home to Clark County with a new training center opening in Camas. The facility will give local athletes access to elite-level coaching without crossing the river or driving to Seattle. It's the kind of homegrown-talent-stays-local story that makes you want to root a little harder. Read Malia's full story in The Columbian.

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⚡ Quick Bites

Vancouver Golfer Alistair Docherty Nears PGA Tour Card

Clark County's own Alistair Docherty finished runner-up at the Korn Ferry Tour event in Omaha over the weekend, moving him closer to earning a PGA Tour card after a 10-year professional career. Read more from The Columbian.

Looking for Sober Social Plans? A Local Woman Wants to Start a Group

A 30-year-old Vancouver resident posted on the r/VancouverWA subreddit looking to start — or join — an alcohol-free meetup once or twice a month for folks who enjoy outdoor activities, arts and crafts, concerts, and general good vibes. If that sounds like your scene, check out the thread and connect.

B.C. Wildfires Force 20,000 to Evacuate Near Okanagan Lake

British Columbia declared a state of emergency Saturday after fast-moving wildfires destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake, with dozens rescued by aircraft. Worth watching for anyone with travel plans to western Canada this month. Full story here.

NBA Coaching Giant Don Nelson Dead at 86

Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history with 1,335 career victories and a five-time champion as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. Portland Trail Blazers fans may remember his Warriors and Mavericks teams as frequent opponents in the Western Conference. Read the tribute.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Monday, August 10

• Early Learners Play to Learn — 10:00 AM at Battle Ground Community Library, Battle Ground. Fun early literacy tips and hands-on activities for ages 0–5. Free. More info
• Clark County Fair — 10:00 AM at Clark County Fairgrounds, Ridgefield. Blast Off to Fun! Rides, food, entertainment, and hands-on space adventures all week long. Carnival opens at noon daily. $8.50–$11.50. 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
• Storytime in the Park — 10:30 AM at various Camas parks. Bring a blanket and join the Camas Library for a family storytime outdoors. All ages. Free. More info
• Preschool Cotton Ball Painting Dinosaur Art — 10:30 AM at Camas Public Library. Little ones create colorful dinosaur art using cotton balls as paintbrushes. Free. More info
• Camas Library Storytime in the Park — 10:30 AM at Louis Bloch Park, Camas. This week's outdoor storytime heads to Louis Bloch Park (160 NE Joy St.). All ages. More info
• Tiny Toppings Storytime — 11:00 AM at Copper Bell Bookshop, Ridgefield. Story time for little ones, plus a coupon for a free kids ice cream scoop at Eight Cow Creamery with purchase. 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 lunch meeting. 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: Meet the Robinsons — 2:00 PM at Camas Public Library. Catch a free screening upstairs in the Community Rooms. Registration required. Free. More info
• Early Learners Music and Movement — 2:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Songs, rhymes, rhythm, and dance for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Free. More info
• Cosmic Watercolor Splatter Coasters Workshop — 6:30 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub. Susan Soltau of Dragon Half Art teaches wet-on-wet watercolor blending and splatter techniques. No experience needed; all supplies provided. $35. More info
• Monday Trivia Night at Pour Choices Pub — 6:30 PM at Pour Choices Pub, 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Grab your smartest friends and compete for bragging rights with host Don Elliott. More info

Tuesday, August 11

• Chippers Preschool Rides at Oaks Park — 10:00 AM at Oaks Park, Portland. Kiddie rides and selected family rides for ages 6 and under, plus snack and story time with Chipper the Squirrel. $13.50 per child; one adult rides free. More info
• Columbia Springs "Explore with the Interns" — Macroinvertebrates and Insects — 10:00 AM at Columbia Springs, 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver. Stop by the lawn for hands-on activities about the fascinating world of bugs. More info
• Columbia Springs "Explore with the Interns" — Invasive and Native Species — 10:00 AM at Columbia Springs, 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver. Explore hands-on activities focused on native and invasive species. More info
• Sensory Storytime at Ridgefield Community Library — 10:30 AM at Ridgefield Community Library. An interactive, smaller-group storytime with sensory play and visual aids for ages 3–9. Free. More info
• Pressure Canner Gauge Testing — 1:00 PM at Second Mile Marketplace and Food Hub, Vancouver. Get your dial gauge tested for accuracy before canning season. Bring lids with gauge attached. Free. More info
• Reptile Man — The Fascinating World of Reptiles — 2:00 PM at various FVRL Library locations. Live reptiles, big laughs, and up-close encounters with the Oregon Reptile Man. Free. More info
• Teen Make Your Own Merch — 2:00 PM at Battle Ground Community Library. Design custom prints and buttons and learn how artists turn handmade items into a business. Free. More info
• Tween and Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game — 4:30 PM at various FVRL Library locations. Create a character and dive into Dungeons and Dragons 5E or Pathfinder 1E. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Eastside Community Picnic and Neighborhood Night Out — 5:00 PM at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park, Vancouver. Food carts, music, bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, kids activities, and local business booths. More info
• Shut Up and Write! Writers Group — 5:15 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub. A welcoming weekly group for writers of all levels — dedicated writing time, no readings or critiques. Free. More info
• Spanish Conversation Group — 5:30 PM at Camas Public Library. A casual group for beginning Spanish speakers. No registration required. Free. More info
• Back Yard Barbecue Cookie Decorating Workshop — 6:00 PM at Craft Collective, Vancouver. Learn beginner-friendly piping and flooding techniques to decorate six themed sugar cookies. $65. More info
• Identifying Shorebirds Online Workshop — 6:00 PM, online. Bird Alliance of Oregon teaches you to ID shorebirds by size, shape, color patterns, habitat, and behavior. More info
• Science Pub: Titanic — Beyond the Wreck — 7:00 PM at OMSI, Portland. Dr. Steve W. Ross shares recent deep-sea explorations of the RMS Titanic shipwreck and western North Atlantic science. More info
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — 7:30 PM at Keller Auditorium, Portland. The Tony Award-winning stage spectacular brings the wizarding world to life. More info

Wednesday, August 12

• Skywatch: Dawn Planet Alignment — Pre-dawn. Six planets — Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune — stretch across the sky along the ecliptic. Mars and Saturn are easiest to spot with the naked eye. More info
• Rebecca Anstine Gallery: Impressions of the Pacific Northwest — 8:00 AM at the Clark County Public Service Center, 6th floor, Vancouver. Work by artists Oleg Ulitskiy and Elizabeth Ganji celebrating the region's landscapes. Free. More info
• Enhance Fitness Classes — 8:30 AM at Bethel Lutheran Church, Brush Prairie. An evidence-based group exercise program helping older adults (age 60+) stay active. More info
• Reclaimed Creations Exhibit at OMSI — 9:30 AM at OMSI, Portland. Sayaka Ganz transforms discarded plastic objects into soaring animals and fluid sculptures. On view through September 30. More info
• Gravity Catastrophe: A Science Show — 2:00 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. A hands-on journey through centripetal force, gravity, vortexes, and more. Free. More info
• Camas Farmers Market — 3:00 PM in Downtown Camas (new temporary location on Birch Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues). Over 50 vendors with farm, food, and artisan products until 7:00 PM. More info
• Teen and Adult Magic the Gathering Social Club — 4:00 PM. Open game play with decks provided or bring your own. Free. More info
• Teen Magic the Gathering Social Club — 4:00 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Open game play for ages 13–19. Decks provided. Free. More info
• Kids and Tweens Create: Origami — 4:00 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop in to fold a selected monthly origami pattern. Ages 5–12. Free. More info
• Community Dragon Boat Paddle — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch. Try the sport 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 beginner-friendly, hands-on leathercraft session. $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
• End of Summer Concert on the Lawn — 6:00 PM at La Center Community Library. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket for live music by the Sunny South Bluegrass Band. Free. More info
• Disabled American Veterans Monthly Meeting — 6:30 PM at 40 et 8, 2809 NE 78th St., Vancouver. Free. More info
• "Noticing": A Conversation with Richard Louv and Sally Jewell — 6:30 PM, livestream. The bestselling author of "Last Child in the Woods" and the former REI CEO discuss Louv's newest book about deeper encounters with the natural world. More info

Thursday, August 13

• WTA Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Work Party — 9:00 AM at Ridgefield NWR. Join the Washington Trails Association to brush back overgrown trail corridors. No experience needed. 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 goods until 2:00 PM. More info
• Marshall House Tour — 10:00 AM at Marshall House, Vancouver. Free 30-minute tours of the historic home. More info
• Advanced Competitive Bridge Bidding — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club. Topics include opening bidding, slam bidding, takeout doubles, and more with instructor Michael Walker. $10–$50. More info
• Vancouver Bridge Club Introductory Bridge Class — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club. A six-week class for beginners. $10–$50. More info
• Bee Amazed at Camas Public Library — 3:00 PM at Camas Public Library. Discover mason bees, cuckoo bees, bumble bees, and more with hands-on science activities. Registration required. Free. More info
• Okojie Wellness Ribbon Cutting — 4:00 PM at 2100 SE 164th Avenue, Suite F101, Vancouver. Tour the new clinic, meet the team, and celebrate the grand opening. More info
• Trans360 Ribbon Cutting — 4:00 PM at 611 SE Kaiser Ave, Bldg 60, Vancouver. Celebrate a new chapter for the commercial driver training organization with more than 40 years of history. More info
• Teen Hangout — 4:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Games, crafts, chatting, and snacks for ages 13–19. Free. More info
• Tween and Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure — 4:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library. Play Dungeons and Dragons for ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Summer Nights Sips and Bites — 5:00 PM in Downtown Camas. A tropical-themed evening of cocktails, small bites, live music, and after-hours shopping at 15+ locations. Ages 21+. $25. More info
• Bingo Nights Supporting dogpaw — 6:00 PM at Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar, Vancouver. Ten games of bingo under the covered patio — bring your pup! Proceeds support local off-leash dog parks. $20. More info
• Vancouver Sons and Daughters of Italy Meeting — 6:00 PM at Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Vancouver. Dinner included. Free. More info
• An Evening with Hiroya Tsukamoto — 6:30 PM at Three Creeks Community Library. World-renowned Japanese-born guitarist and composer blends masterful technique with heartfelt storytelling. Free. More info
• Recycling 201: Beyond Curbside — 6:30 PM at City Marine Park Engineering, 4500 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver. Learn local recycling and reuse options beyond the basics. Registration required. Free. More info
• Southwest Washington Woodturners Monthly Meeting — 7:00 PM at Friends of the Carpenter, Vancouver. Open to experienced and novice woodturners. Free. More info
• Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic featuring Eric Fair-Layman — 7:00 PM at Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. The poet and performer reads from his works; attendees may also share their own poetry. $5 suggested donation. More info

Friday, August 14

• PCT Trail Days at Cascade Locks — 7:00 AM at Marine Park, Cascade Locks, OR. The 19th annual celebration of hiking and backpacking features 100+ exhibitors at the Gear Expo, activities, presentations, and more. More info
• Cascade Park Kiwanis Fundraising Rummage Sale — 9:00 AM at Fourth Plain Church of the Nazarene, Vancouver. Tools, kids' clothing, bikes, toys, sports equipment, and more. Proceeds support children's programs. More info
• Volunteer Gleaning: SWWA Victory Garden — 9:00 AM at 2311 NE 68th Street, Vancouver. Help keep the community garden growing — harvested produce is donated to LULAC. More info
• Family Mountain Bike Ride Days at Timberline Lodge — 9:30 AM at Mt. Hood, OR. 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
• Summer Craft and Play with Drip Drop Art Studio — 10:00 AM at Drip Drop Art Studio, Vancouver. Open-ended art fun for little ones plus a Maker Station for ages 5+. $18–$24. More info
• Plas Newydd Farm Excursion and Canopy Time — 10:00 AM in Ridgefield. A guided walk exploring beautiful farm landscapes, migratory birds, and native plants. More info
• Unicorn Storytime at Cascade Park Community Library — 11:00 AM at Cascade Park Community Library. A magical storytime with a special appearance by unicorns Mystical and Pearl. Free. More info
• 60+ Senior Community Meal Program — 12:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver. Free lunch for low-income seniors age 60+, sponsored by the 5&2 Food Pantry. More info
• Long-Term Care Planning Seminar — 12:00 PM. Pettis Webber Pacific elder care law firm hosts a free seminar on incapacity and long-term care planning, presented by attorney Karen Webber. Registration required. More info
• NAMI Art Group — 1:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, 4201 NE 66th Ave., Suite 105, Vancouver. A creative space every Friday. Free. More info
• HOPE Dementia Support: Meet Me at the Movies — 1:00 PM at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver. A musical on the big screen on the second Friday of every month. $10. More info
• Kids Hero Quest for Young Adventurers — 1:30 PM. Kids ages 5–9 and their caregivers team up to battle monsters, avoid traps, and discover treasure in a beginner-friendly tabletop adventure. Free. More info
• Chor Anno presents Voices in the Vineyard — 3:00 PM at Columbia Ridge Winery, Ridgefield. Sip wine, enjoy food, and take in live choral and solo performances. $75–$95. More info
• Kids Create — 3:30 PM at Washougal Community Library. Drop-in creative projects for ages 5–9. Free. More info
• Friday Night Cruise-in at Alderbrook Park — 4:00 PM at Alderbrook Park, Brush Prairie. Classic cars plus disc golf, train rides, mini golf, bounce houses, and the pool. $5–$10 admission. 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 expert geologists and mountain guides. More info
• Project Huddle Knit/Crochet Circle — 5:30 PM at Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary, Vancouver. Bring your project or your unfinished scraps for others to use. Free. More info
• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Paddles — 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch. Free community paddling — no experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14+. More info
• Hollie Olson at English Estate Winery — 6:00 PM at English Estate Winery, Vancouver. Enjoy jazz, blues, R&B, and original songs alongside small plates from food truck Venue 1903. No cover charge. More info

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