Wednesday, Oct. 17

ILWACO — There’s a knitting group that meets at Olde Towne Coffee Café, located at 108 1st Avenue in Ilwaco that meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. All skill levels are welcome including those wanting to learn to knit. There will be experienced knitters there to help teach and to help problem solve if you are having challenges. If you have questions call Olde Towne at 360-777-3085 or Donna Magnuson at 360-642-7116.

Thursday, Oct. 18

PACIFIC COUNTY — On Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m., millions of people across the world will practice how to drop, cover, and hold as participants in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. Wherever you are at 10:18 a.m. on Oct. 18, you should drop, cover, and hold for at least 60 seconds, as if an earthquake were actually occurring. To participate in the Great ShakeOut you won’t need to leave work or school. Participating at places where you spend a lot of time is a good idea. Pacific County residents are encouraged to participate in the Great Washington ShakeOut by registering at www.shakeout.org/washington. At this time more than 3,458 people are registered in Pacific County. Be advised that many of those participating in Pacific County are from schools, government offices, and businesses, so services or traffic may be briefly disrupted. The Pacific County All Hazard Alert Broadcast (AHAB) outdoor sirens will also be tested as part of the Great Washington ShakeOut. The actual tsunami siren tone (a 3-minute wail) will be used. The siren tone will be preceded and followed by a verbal message. NOAA weather radios set to receive the required monthly test will also activate during the Great ShakeOut.

LONG BEACH — On Thursday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Long Beach is hosting a free Festival and Event Workshop at Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort. This event is designed for festival and event organizers, who want to know more about how to host local events and festivals, and those who want to put on a festival or event but don’t know how. Open to all Pacific County event organizers, including the just getting started and the long-running events that need something fresh. The workshop is free. If you want lunch please RSVP before October 15 and get a $10 Beach Bucket Lunch at the workshop. To RSVP, contact Ragan Myers, Tourism & Events Coordinator at Long Beach Package Travel, rmyers@longbeachwa.gov, or 360-642-1227.

OCEAN PARK — The Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) group meets at Ocean Park Community Church at 268th and Vernon in Ocean Park every Thursday morning. Weigh-in begins at 7 a.m. until 8:20 a.m. Meetings are from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. every week. All are welcome. For further information, please call Dee at 360-665-6507 or Donna at 360-665-2336.

ILWACO — The Ocean Beach Hospital Auxiliary is offering free Blood Pressure checks every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the hospital lobby. If you have questions, call 360-642-6301.

Friday, Oct. 19

SKAMOKAWA — Friends of Skamokawa hosts an art exhibit featuring artist Beth Bailey, a talented artist from Longview whose primary mediums of choice are pen and ink, watercolor, acrylics, and printmaking. River Wanderings will run through Nov. 11. Beth’s illustrations include many variations of scenic northwest Washington and Oregon including coastal scenes, historic buildings, and a beautiful interpretation of the Astoria Column. The presentation will include 20 unique pieces celebrating river and waterways of the northwest, including the Columbia River, (Cathlamet, Longview, Skamokawa) the San Juan Islands, and more. RiverLife Interpretive Center-Central School-Redmen Hall is located at 1394 W. State Route 4, Skamokawa. Call 360-795-3007 or email fos1894@gmail.com for more information.

Saturday, Oct. 20

OCEAN PARK — The American Association of University Women meet on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ocean Park Timberland Library. The guest will be Larry Cohen, CEO of Ocean Beach Hospital. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call 360-642-3076.

Sunday, Oct. 21

RAYMOND — Experience the exceptional talent of The Rice Brothers in concert at Sunday Afternoon Live on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. at the historic Raymond Theatre. Johnny and Chris Rice are siblings who share a passion for music and are both masters in piano and cello, individually. Playing an eclectic mix of classical, jazz and boogie-woogie, The Rice Brothers delight audiences with their musical talent and friendly stage presence. They are devoted to sharing the beauty of music, knowing that great music, regardless of genre, has a unique way of reaching deeply into the human heart. Tickets are $15 at the door, or can be purchased in advance for $12 at the Raymond Theatre, Raymond Pharmacy and South Bend Pharmacy. Tickets are also available on PayPal at www.sundayafternoonlive.org, or by calling 360-836-4419. Season Tickets also available at $65 per person. The show is sponsored by Ena Bale, Helen Campbell Memorial Donations, Coast Oyster and Beryl Adams.

OCEAN PARK — A Course in Miracles study group meets on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ocean Park Library community room. All meetings are open to the public and free of charge. A Course in Miracles is a universal spiritual practice, Christian in thought, and dealing with universal themes and experience. It is not a religion nor affiliated with any church/temple/denomination. The Course will address existential questions such as what am I, where did I come from, why am I here and what is my purpose here, as well as the practice of undoing fear and guilt, attainment of inner peace, healing of sickness and of relationships, forgiveness and compassion, prayer/meditation and enlightenment. A Course in Miracles books will be available for use and for purchase at the meetings. For more information, please contact Kenny Tam at 206-979-7714 cell.

ASTORIA — Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Clatsop’s next In Their Footsteps free speaker series event is ““Altho’ no regular botanist” – Jefferson’s Reference to Lewis”by Carol Lucas at1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. It would have been customary for Jefferson to send a botanist on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A primary purpose of the trip was to assess what resources, including plants, were in the lands to the west. Lewis had the ability to catalog plant discoveries, due mostly to his herbal knowledge. Lucas is an herbalist in Gearhart and considers herself a “plant person.” She is a member of the Gearhart CERT team (Community Emergency Response Team), where she teaches people how to use what grows around them at times when a doctor can’t be reached, or medicines are unavailable. She continues regular herbal study and recently participated in a workshop on herbal preparedness. In Their Footsteps is a monthly Sunday forum sponsored by the Lewis & Clark National Park Association and the park. These programs are held in the Netul River Room of Fort Clatsop’s visitor center and are free of charge. For more information, call the park at 503-861-2471, or check out www.nps.gov/lewi, or Lewis and Clark National Historical Park on Facebook.

OCEAN PARK — GriefShare classes are held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Peninsula Baptist Church 2302 Pacific Hwy. 103, Ocean Park. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concept for healing from your grief. You’ll find it to be a warm, caring environment and will come to see your group as an “oasis” on your long journey through grief. You are welcome to begin attending our GriefShare group at any point. Each session is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will be able to pick up any sessions you missed in our next 13-week cycle. For information call 360-665-5060.

Monday, Oct. 22
Thrift Store needs volunteers

LONG BEACH — His Supper Table is looking for volunteers Wednesday through Saturday between the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help process and sort donations, tag and shelve merchandise, straighten up the store, cashier and to provide a welcoming service to our community. Do you like to cook, prepare or help serve meals? Kitchen volunteers are needed on Mondays and Thursdays. HST provides clothes and goods that would otherwise not be affordable as well as a place for the community to donate, buy and reuse goods. A portion of the money raised supports the twice a week hot meal program on Monday and Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., served in the facilities at the Peninsula Church of the Nazarene. Come fill out an application at the Thrift Store check out counter located at 911 Pacific Way N, in Long Beach. More information is at our website hissuppertable.org/volunteer or call us at 360-642-4105.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

SEAVIEW — This month’s community awareness dinner hosted by Peace of Mind Pacific County on October 23 focuses on the work of the Stepping Up team in Pacific County. The Stepping Up Initiative has received national funding to help people with nonviolent crimes and mental health problems to get help within the jail system and through community services after release. Local panelists on October 23 will be Stepping Up program coordinator Rosanne McPhail, jail liaison Judd Comer, and community court coordinator Christina Thompson. The fourth Tuesday monthly event starts at 6 p.m. with a potluck supper open to all. The Stepping Up panel will run from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., including time for questions and answers. The location is the Memorial Room at the Peninsula Church Center, located at 5000 N Place, one block east of Pacific Highway in Seaview. For more information or to arrange for a ride, email info@pompc.org, call 360-244-3555, or go to Facebook/peaceofmindpacificcounty/.

LONG BEACH — Parents of children under 5-years of age are encouraged to attend a seminar sponsored by the Ocean Beach School District to learn about your child’s development. This event will provide information about how your child learns and be given materials and activities to use at home. Sessions will be held at the Ocean Beach School District building and Long Beach Elementary School library from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, parents of children 1 to 3 years old should attend; Wednesday, Oct. 24, parents with babies up to 1-year-old should come to class with parents and on Nov. 7, parents of children ages 3 to 5 years old should attend. Childcare will be available. Call 360-642-8586 to reserve your free spot, or email Ramona.ulbricht@oceanbeachschools.org.

OCEAN PARK — A conversational Spanish class will be offered beginning at 3 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the Peninsula Senior Activity Center at 21603 O Lane. Donations will be accepted for the class. The class is open in public. Call 360-665-3999 for more information and to register.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

ILWACO — The American Legion’s 31st Annual Derald D. Robertson Safety Awards Ceremony and Banquet will be held on Wednesday, October 24, at 6 p.m. at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco. Eleven people who protect our safety on the Long Beach Peninsula will be honored after dinner. Community members are welcome. Those planning to attend are asked to call 360-642-4188. The American Legion Don R. Grable Post No. 48 in Ilwaco sponsors the event, which is a family evening, with no alcoholic beverages being served. The American Legion and Auxiliary are providing all food and beverages and the Ilwaco Jazz Band will provide music. For further information, call Safety Awards Chairman Dick Wallace at 360-642-4188, or Auxiliary President Georgia Bell at 360-484-3662.

Future Events

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Elks Lodge No. 1937, 110 Pacific Ave N, is hosting a community event on October 25, beginning at 6 p.m. Presenters will be Captain Lani Karvia of Fire District 1, Tim Martindale, Jr., director of Pacific County Communications Center (PACCOM), and Howard Chang, program coordinator of Pacific County Sheriff’s office Long Beach Peninsula Community Watch/Neighborhood Watch (CW/NW). Topics will include services offered by Fire District 1, overview of PACCOM’s (dispatch) operations, when to call 911 versus non-emergency (and more), and a program overview of the sheriff’s CW/NW Program. For more information, contact Howard Chang at 425-559-3175.

ASTORIA — Dr. Tara Chestnut, a wildlife ecologist from Mount Rainier National Park, on Friday, October 26 to learn about bats, white nose syndrome, and what National Parks in the Pacific Northwest are doing about it. In response to the 2016 detection of the pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, the National Park Service North Coast Cascades Network implemented bat monitoring and white-nose syndrome surveillance. The primary goals were to identify known bat colonies, conduct white-nose syndrome surveillance, assess bat species occurrence in network parks using acoustic monitoring, and communicate these results to the public. Acoustic monitoring was implemented at all seven network parks to understand bat species distribution and activity patterns. This presentation will begin with a video about National Park Service bat monitoring and white-nose syndrome monitoring efforts in the region, preliminary results and lessons learned in project implementation and demonstrate the acoustic monitoring equipment used to record bat calls. The event begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m., at the Netul Landing Bus Shelter, 91427 Fort Clatsop Road in Astoria. For more information or questions call 503-861-4414.

CHINOOK — Peninsula Association of Performing Artists will present a patriotic concert designed to honor the nation’s men and women in uniform featuring the big-band sounds of the Dukes of Swing from Aberdeen, Wash. The event will be at the Fort Columbia Theater in Chinook from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27. No Discover Pass is needed for entry. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided by local business will be available. Admission is by a suggested donation of $10. The proceeds benefit Don R. Grable Post No. 48, American Legion in Ilwaco.

SOUTH BEND — Do you have unused or unwanted medications? Dispose of them. Proper disposal prevents Opioid addiction, unintentional poisonings, water contamination and more. On Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. drop your unwanted medications at Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco or at Pioneer Grocery, 116 Willapa Avenue, South Bend, South Bend. For more information on safe disposal call 360-875 –9343.

LONG BEACH — The South Pacific County Humane Society shelter is holding an open house and raffle on Saturday, October 27 from 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Enjoy snacks and refreshments, while you visit amazing dogs and cats. The shelter is located at 330 Second St. NE in Long Beach. The raffle will take place at noon that day at the shelter annex. Raffle ticket holders do not have to be present to win. In addition all kitten adoptions will be 50 percent off regular adoption fees that day and kittens will be two for $75. Raffle tickets are available for purchase at the shelter. For information call 360-642-1180.

FORT CLATSOP — Lewis and Clark National Historical Park presents an evening of stories, activities and exploration of night creatures at 5 p.m., Saturday, October 27. Have a hoot and an owl-right time filled with fun stories about night creatures on a ranger-led night hike! The walk will be about one-quarter of a mile over an uneven trail through the dark forest, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight. The event begins at 5 p.m. with the last walk starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center. All zombies, vampires, superheroes, princesses, and others are welcome. Enjoy crafts and treats inside the visitor center while you wait for your walk. For more information or questions call 503-861-4414.

PACIFIC COUNTY — The Long Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3721 is proud to announce this years essay and scholarship programs. The program consists of two competitions, “Voice of Democracy” for students in the grades 9 thru 12, and “Patriots Pen” competition for students in grades 6 thru 8. The competitions are open to all students enrolled in public, private, or home schooling. Entrants in the “Voice of Democracy competition are required to prepare and record a three to five minute essay using the following theme, “Why My Vote Matters.” “Patriots Pen” entrants are required to write a 300- to 400-word essay on the topic “Why I Honor the American Flag.” All entries for both competitions must be submitted to the Post by October 31. Entry forms and other related materials will be distributed to the schoolteachers and counselors. For further information or an entry form, please contact Mark Smith at 360-665-2513.

RAYMOND — On Saturday, Nov. 3 beginning at 5 pm., Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (HAVA) is holding a fundraising dinner and silent auction at the Raymond Elks Lodge, located at 326 Third Street. The menu includes spaghetti (gluten free and vegetarian options are available), with salad, bread and dessert, all for $15 per person. Reservations are not required but are respectfully requested. For reservations call 360-942-4716. If you have a silent auction item to donate please call 360-589-9451.

BAY CENTER — The Bay Center Women’s Club 8th annual Holiday Bazaar will be held November 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at a new location at the Bay Center Art Center at 6781 Highway 101 at milepost 41 near Bay Center. There will be signs showing where to turn to reach the Art Center. Shop for that unique holiday gift while also enjoying holiday music and food. Proceeds go towards community projects funded by the Bay Center Women’s Club. We supply free school supplies to Bay Center students, help families in crisis, support the Bay Center Food Bank, the Bay Center Volunteer Fire Department, and help out wherever and whenever we can. So come and experience a great bazaar and meet some really great people. For more information contact Rheta Edwards at 360-875-0150.

CATHLAMET — Vendors are needed for the Country Christmas Bazaar set for November 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1134 Columbia Street in Cathlamet. Table rentals are $25 to $35. Please contact Christie at 360-849-4489 for more information. There will be food available for purchase including potato soup, hot dogs, chili, chili dogs, nachos, desserts, hot cider, coffee and water. All proceeds benefit St. James Family Center’s programs for children and families.