Fairs openMENLO, SKAMOKAWA – It’s that time of year again, the Pacific and Wahkiakum County Fairs open this week. The Pacific County Fair runs from Wednesday Aug. 24 to Saturday, Aug. 27 in Menlo, the Wahkiakum County Fair opens Thursday Aug 25, till Saturday. As always, the fairs will feature a variety of exhibit, animals, food and rides. Support these traditional small-town affairs and see what the area has to offer.

Applegate to signILWACO – Author Shannon Applegate will be signing copies of her newest book, “Living Among Headstones, Life in a Country Cemetery” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26 at Time Enough Books at the Port of Ilwaco. This book is described as an “insightful and unexpected book about death and life, from a female sexton of a country cemetery.”

Lions 50th anniversaryLONG BEACH – The Long Beach Lions Club will celebrate their 50th Anniversary with a dinner at the Elks Lodge on Saturday, Aug. 27. The social hour is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. Please contact Al Harper at 642-8322 for more information.

Vespers serviceOYSTERVILLE – On Sunday, Aug. 28, beginning at 3 p.m., Pastor Barbara Bate from the Grays River United Methodist Church will lead the Vespers Service in the historic Oysterville Church. In addition, music will be provided by Peninsula Strings, and the organist will be Marlee Egbert. Come as you are to the Vespers Services, a truly inspirational celebration.

Confluence project CAPE D – On Monday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. at Waikiki Beach in Cape Disappointment State Park the Pacific County Friends of Lewis & Clark invite you to a brief groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction of three artworks for the Confluence Project. Artworks at Cape D will include a circle of driftwood cedar logs, a basalt fish-cleaning station and a bayside overlook. These installations will be connected by a trail between Waikiki Beach and Baker’s Bay when the isthmus area of the Park is remodeled. This is the first of seven Confluence sites in Washington and Oregon; all are along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Maya Lin, the renowned artist who designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., is designing artworks for all Confluence sites. For more information about this ceremony, contact Kathleen Sayce at ShoreBank Pacific, 642-1166.

PAA art showOCEAN PARK – The Peninsula Arts Association’s 35th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival will run from Sept. 1 through Sept. 5 at Squidleys on Vernon (Hwy 103) and 259th in Ocean Park. The Festival starts with a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2. Open to all PAA members, work must be original, no more than two years old, and not previously entered in any PAA show. Entries and fees will be accepted from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 4, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 5. There will be divisions for professionals, non-professionals, youth (6- to 13-years old), and high school (14- to 18-years old), plus there will be a special Lewis and Clark category for all media. All work must be for sale. There is a limit of six entries per person. Call Wes at 665-0061 or Judy at 665-4722 for more information.

Book SaleOCEAN PARK – Ocean Park Timberland Library presents the Friends of the Ilwaco-Ocean Park Libraries Memorial Day Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 4. Pick up some great reads at bargain prices. In addition, on Sept. 4 beginning at 2 p.m. there will be a bag sale – bring your standard paper grocery bag and fill it for $3. Some books are individually priced. Most are $1 for hardbacks and trade paper and $.50 for paperback. Money raised will be used to support local libraries.