Clark County

Old Vancouver City Cemetery Tour

See You in the Past. Nothing says Halloween like a nice walk…through a cemetery…after dark! The Vancouver Heritage Ambassadors are …

Campfire Stories at Fort Vancouver

Tales of the Engage’. Enjoy a fire lit program of stories and tall tales at Tales of the Engage’; a …

Aviation Harvest Festival

Second Annual Event at Pearson Air Museum.

Fall is in the air…time to celebrate at the Second Annual Aviation Harvest Festival at Pearson Air Museum on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 5 pm to 10 pm (Museum open from noon to 10 pm).

“Get your favorite costume on and get ready for some spooky fun! Candy stations located around our historic airplanes, glider construction & through the hoops challenge, Noisy Rocket balloons, “Fishing for Prizes”, and a costume parade with awards given for best overall costumes will be some of the fun at hand for our 2nd annual event. Our Flight Simulator Lab will be powered up and ready to go, and a special Pumpkin Patch photo-op (be sure to bring your camera and fresh batteries) will be waiting for your visit. Additional details will be posted on here and on Pearson’s Facebook page at the date arrives.”

Eat at Beaches Restaurant

Supporting our Community. I always enjoy going to Beaches Restaurant. The view, the staff, the food…it’s always been the best! …

Clark County Fair Disney Trip Winner Announced

The Clark County Fair may be over, but for one family, the fun is just getting started.

You may recall the ‘Download Appy’ sweepstakes we posted about this summer. You may have played along. And, who knows, you may have won. We know who did… more on that in a bit.

But first, a refresher: as part of a promotion to download the Clark County Fair’s new mobile app, nicknamed ‘Appy’, the Fair, in conjunction with app sponsor Peace Health SW Medical Center and Medical Group and trip promoter Vacation Internationale, was giving away a trip to a Disney Theme Park in Anaheim, CA to one lucky winner. Now that all the entries are in, it’s time to announce the winner.

Please join the Clark County Fair, Peace Health, Vacation Internationale and Live! Local Media, in saying ‘congratulations’ to… (drumroll, please…)

Angela Gotchall

Angela was randomly drawn from all entries, and will receive a family vacation for four (4) persons to Anaheim California, vacation package includes: Four (4) round trip coach air fares from Portland to Southern California; Room accommodations for three (3) nights, and four (4) 2-Day Disney Amusement Park Tickets. Wow! What a great prize!

Dynamic Duplicating

It’s Garden Math. It’s good to share…we learned that in Kindergarten. Now, you can learn how to properly propagate your …

Crushed at Heisen House Vineyards

From Grape to Glass.

Join Heisen House Vineyards this Saturday, October 6, 2012 for their 3rd annual Crush Festival from noon-6. They’ll be making wine, plus have food, music, arts and crafts vendors, activities for the kids, and more.

“Join us this Saturday as we celebrate harvest, run the equipment, squash some grapes, and show you up close and in person how wine goes from grape to glass.

Thanks to the hot summer, the grapes have come in earlier this year so we’ll be making our 2012 Sangiovese this time starting around 2 p.m. We’ll also have a sampling of different types of fresh red and white wine grapes for you to taste so you can see for yourself how unique each type tastes right from the beginning.” ~Heisen House Vineyards

Lasagna Gardening Workshop

Get Your Garden Ready for Spring Now.

The Clark County Master Composter/Recyclers will teach a free lasagna gardening workshop on Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Clark County Food Bank (6502 NE 47th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98661).

Discover how to recycle cardboard, newspaper, leaves, grass clippings and other organic material to make a new garden for next spring. Lasagna gardening, an easy no-till method of soil building, is a great way to recycle organic material and a simple way to create a healthy garden.

Walk for Justice

Or Maybe a Steady Jog for Justice.

This coming weekend, October 7, is the Portland Marathon. Portland? you say. I thought this was ‘Clark County’ Live!?

True, as your hyperlocal site for all things Clark County, we traditionally don’t ‘do’ Portland… but there is a ‘Couve connection here. Susan Arney, Executive director of the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program, is participating in her *first* marathon. (Which will give her a 1-0 lead over me, but I digress). :) Susan has been training since February, and legs willing, her goal is to complete the entire 26 miles, 385 yards. Or about 50,000 strides, for those of you trying to compare it to your daily stroll with the dog.

The best part in her journey is that she is raising money for the Clark County Volunteer Lawyer Program. You can see the pledge sheet here. The Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program provides free legal services to low-income people with Civil (not criminal) issues in the State of Washington in Clark County courts.

Scented Acres Fall Harvest Celebration

Relax at the Lavender Farm. Come celebrate the harvest at the Scented Acres Lavender Festival Fall Harvest Celebration on Saturday, …

Little Cups and Grownups Play Cafe

Coffee, Conversation and Kids.

Families in North Clark County now have a new place to play; Little Cups and Grownups Play Café in Battle Ground is now open! The new Battle Ground coffee shop is not just any ordinary café; it’s a business at the forefront of an emerging trend: a coffee shop with a play area for kids, too.

“We came up with the idea earlier this year when it was clear the options for family-friendly venues are fairly limited in our community,” said Matthew Parker, the café’s co-owner and manager. Parker’s wife, Janelle, and her friends would often try to meet up with other moms at coffee shops with their children in tow. The experiences usually ended up more stressful than relaxing, because though the moms had a place to enjoy coffee and conversation, their busy children would quickly become restless in an environment primarily geared for adults.

Camas First Friday Pumpkin Pageant

You’re Not Afraid of Fun, Are You? Join the Camas Downtown Association for October’s First Friday event, and 7th Annual …

Taste and See

Visit the Clark County Food Bank.

Come be a part of the Clark County Food Bank’s inaugural Taste and See special event on the evening of Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Clark County Food Bank (6502 NE 47th Avenue Vancouver, WA 98661).

“We are excited about the opportunity to welcome you into our new warehouse and distribution center and demonstrate for you the many essential and innovative ways that we are working to alleviate hunger and its root causes in Clark County. We want to give each guest the chance to see what the Clark County Food Bank is about, both inside the walls of our warehouse and out in the community.” ~Clark County Food Bank

See how Clark County Food Bank and many community partners are working together while enjoying great Pacific Northwest wines and an exceptional array of heavy hors d’oeuvres. Browse and bid on creative Silent Auction opportunities and take a chance on winning a bottle or two of exceptional wines.

Dogtoberfest 2012

A Howling Good Time.

A doggone good time to share with man’s (or woman’s) best friend.Dogtoberfest will be Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10 am and 3 pm at the Dakota Memorial Dog Park (NE 18th Street and NE 164th Avenue, Vancouver). Dogs of all shapes and sizes (and their owners) are welcome to join in this fun event! Admission is FREE, but a pet food donation to AniMeals would be greatly appreciated.

There will tons of fun for you and your four-legged best friend: Lure Coursing, Doggie Contests, Raffles, Prizes and Give-aways, Local Vendors and more…

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Fall Leaves Special

A Colorful Ride Through the Country.

Celebrate the changing of the seasons, and enjoy the beautiful fall colors on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad will be operating Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 2012, with their Fall Leaves Special schedule.

With the changing color of the leaves and the crispness in the air, it promises to be an exciting event. The runs will be excursion trains, through a 330 foot solid rock tunnel and a stop at Moulton Station to visit Yacolt Falls.

Sock it to Me

Share Vancouver Operation Sole Mates.

Living in the Pacific Northwest means dealing with rain; some days (and months!) more than others. With the cold, wet, Pacific Northwest winter just around the corner, Share is holding its fifth annual “Operation Sole Mates” Sock Drive. They are asking for donations of new athletic socks for men and women, as well as underwear for men, women and children.

All donated socks will be distributed to clients of Share’s Outreach program, which provides services to individuals living on the streets, as well as to clients currently in shelter. “Donating socks or underwear may not seem like much, but it gives our Share Outreach staff an opportunity to reach out and help in a positive way,” says Katherine Garrett, Director of Share House and Share Outreach. The mission of Share is to lead the hungry and homeless to self-sufficiency by providing food, shelter, housing, education and compassion through the strength of our community.

Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival 2012

At the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Celebrate the changing of the seasons at the 13th Annual Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 2012.

The Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge will be free during the Festival, and the activities are varied and plentiful both days including music, crafts, storytelling, kayak tours and canoe tours, Audubon guided birdwalks, Kiwa Trail tour, the spectacular sandhill crane tours at dawn and dusk and even a chance to get to see areas of the reserve that are normally closed to the public.

“Birdfest is the perfect time for families to experience everything this great region offers — its diverse wildlife, scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage.” ~Katie Harrison, executive director of Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Children’s activities in downtown Ridgefield will include guided bird and nature walks, raptor displays, craft stations, and more. Visitors can enjoy bird, plant, and nature tours and presentations by regional experts who will share fun facts and information.

North County Wine Run

Will Run for Wine. The 2nd Annual North County Wine Run is scheduled for Saturday September 22, 2012 and will …

Zaandercross at Frenchman’s Bar

Cyclocross Race.

The First Annual Zaandercross at Frenchman’s Bar will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012, with the first race starting at 8:40 am. Not a morning person? Dont’ worry, there are races starting all day until 3:15 pm.

I don’t know about you, but I had never heard of a bicycle race where racers rode on pavement and offroad, including obstacles that make the rider dismount and RUN WHILE CARRYING THEIR BIKE! It’s a combination of cycling, stunt riding, carrying, running and obstacle course. And, while it sounds like a lot of fun…this gal is just gonna watch the First Annual Zaandercross. I’ll get back to you about next year. ;-)

Play to Learn at Kazoodles

Therapist Open House Day.

The folks at Kazoodles Toy Store know that learning doesn’t only happen at school or from a textbook…a great deal of learning happens during play!

“Occupational, physical, mental health, speech … if “therapist” is your job description, you’re invited to an Open House for Therapists on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m. We’ve learned a lot about toys that can help you in your work with children (or adults, for that matter), and we want to learn from you about toys you use or toys you’d like to see.” ~Kazoodles

Enjoy goodies from Seize the Bagel, Chuck’s Produce, Great Harvest Baking Company and Larson’s Bakery, door prizes, an networking.

Lewis River Fall Festival

At Horseshoe Lake Park.

Celebrate the last days of summer at the Lewis River Fall Fest September 28-30, 2012 at Horseshoe Lake Park in Woodland.

The Rotary Club of Woodland is partnering with generous area businesses to create this free, fun filled family event. Enjoy live music, wine tasting from local wineries, take a stroll down “Antiques Alley”, participate in an art competition, check out the car show, enjoy some delicious food and more!

Shorty’s Annual Oktoberfest and Harvest Celebration

Eat, Drink and Enjoy the Gardens.

Enjoy the gardens and the beautiful September weather at the Annual Oktoberfest and Harvest Celebration put on by Shorty’s Nursery. One of the best loved folk festivals of the Northwest, Shorty’s Annual Oktoberfest and Harvest Celebration will take place Friday, September 21, 2012 at Shorty’s Garden and Home (10006 SE Mill Plain).

This authentic German style Oktoberfest features true German cuisine, beer and wine, and showcases the musical talents of Donaumusikanten (I’ve been practicing since last year, and still can’t pronounce their name!) – an amazing Bavarian band, straight from southern Germany. And remember, this is a 21 and over event.

Battle Ground Veterans Memorial

Fundraiser at Rusty Grape Vineyard.

The planned Veteran’s Memorial, located in Battle Ground’s Kiwanis Park, will honor local veterans who have died in service to our country. This special place of honor will provide the community an area for private reflection as well as a gathering place for events honoring the fallen. The memorial will include the names of fallen veterans from the Civil War through our most recent wars and conflicts and embodies elements dedicated to the United States Army, Navy Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The funding of the Veteran’s Memorial is solely dependent on public donations and contributions of in-kind services and materials.

Join former Battle Ground Mayor Mike Ciraulo, and hosts Phil Haberthur, Larry J. Smith, Heather Renner and Jacki Gabbert on Thursday, September 20, 2012, 6:30 pm at the Rusty Grape Vineyard (16712 NE 219th St, Battle Ground) for a fundraising event.

Old Apple Tree Festival and Scarecrow Contest

Celebrating Vancouver’s Past and Future.

In 1830 Clark County’s first apple harvest occurred – one apple. Planted near Fort Vancouver in 1826, the Old Apple Tree is considered the oldest in the Northwest and the matriarch of Washington State’s apple industry. The annual Old Apple Tree Festival will take place this year on Saturday, October 6, 2012 between 11 am and 4 pm at Old Apple Tree Park (114 Columbia Way) by the Fort Vancouver Historic Site.

As a result of last year’s success, the 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest returns to the annual Old Apple Tree Festival this year. The Scarecrow contest is hosted and sponsored by Vancouver Watersheds Alliance, and is free to the first 20 people that send in applications. Prizes will be awarded to the best three ‘traditional’ scarecrows on display at the Old Apple Tree Festival. For an application and entry rules, visit Vancouver Watersheds Alliance, or call 360-852-9189.