AAUW hosting election forum Oct. 23

ILWACO — The Willapacific branch of the American Association of University Women will host a voters’ forum from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Hilltop School auditorium, 314 Brumbach Ave. N.E., in Ilwaco. Candidates who have informed organizers they will attend include U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) and challenger Joe Kent (R); state challengers Andi Day (D), senate; and Mike Coverdale (D) and Terry Carlson (D), house; Pacific County Commissioner Dave Tobin (D); and Public Utility District candidates Debbie Oakes and David McClain.

Second annual Library Friends auction

OCEAN PARK — Friends of Ilwaco/Ocean Park Libraries are hosting second annual auction. Viewing of items will take place at Ocean Park library Until Oct. 26. Auction bidding will culminate at 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 in conjunction with Oyster Crackers concert. Funds will be used to assist libraries for community needs not in TRL budget. Help support our libraries.

Ilwaco prepares for big annual Halloween celebration

Ilwaco has an agenda of fun in October leading up to Halloween, much of it sponsored by the Ilwaco merchants Association. The annual candy drive at Ilwaco City Hall is under way, being collected by staff at 120 First Ave. N. Bite-size candy is donated so that it can be distributed ahead of time to homes where the occupants may not be able to splurge on Halloween goodies for trick-or-treaters. The annual Witches’ Paddle will take place on Black Lake noon Oct. 26. On Halloween Night, Oct. 31, Lake Street will be closed to traffic 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the annual block party. There will be children’s games outside the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. The Fire Department’s Haunted Station will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be free parking next to the museum on Lake Street. The Ilwaco Cider Co. will offer music from Herded Catz 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and host the “Thriller” dance performance, choreographed by Annika Kay, at 8 p.m.

Gluesenkamp Perez mobile office hours in Ocean Park

OCEAN PARK — Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) announced her staff will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Timberland Library, 1308 256th Place, where residents can get assistance with federal agencies like the VA, IRS and State Department.

Harvest Dinner at Johnson Park

ROSBURG — A ”Harvest Dinner” is scheduled at the Johnson Park Community Center in Rosburg on Nov. 8. The dinner, a fundraising event for the Community Center, is sponsored by Altoona Grows, a recently established local charitable organization. The cost for the dinner is $30 for adults, $15 for children six to 12 years of age, and free for children 5 years old or younger. The dinner features a menu centered around local, fresh and in-season food such as elk, salmon, chicken, wild mushrooms, root vegetables, squash/pumpkin, a dessert table and more. The doors will open at 5:30 pm with the dinner beginning at 6 pm. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased online at altoona-grows.square.site or at the Johnson Park library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Johnson Park Community Center, a volunteer-run community hub and one of the essential features of West Wahkiakum County. Having served for many years as the Rosburg School, the Johnson Park Community Center now houses the West End Food Pantry, extension offices for the Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services and the County Sheriff’s Office, and a library. A sewing and craft room are available free to use by appointment and an exercise/activity room and gym are available 24/7 with a membership or can be rented along with the meeting and cafeteria event space.

Fiber arts festival set for November

LONG BEACH — The Columbia Pacific Fiber Arts Association will host its third-annual fiber arts festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10 at the Long Beach Elementary School. See story for details.

Uniquely Local Quality Crafts Holiday Gift Bazaar

SEAVIEW — An event billed as a “Uniquely Local Quality Crafts Holiday Gift Bazaar” will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2 at the Peninsula Church Center, 5000 N Place, Seaview. The participating vendors offer different wares ranging from baskets made from crab pot rope to chainsaw carvings. As well as crafts, there will be a bake sale fundraiser for Shoeboxes of Joy, and a Long Beach Grange fundraiser offering breakfast burritos and hotdogs. Fresh cranberries will be available from CranGuyMa farms. More details will be announced later.

Reserve a place in visual storytelling workshop

ILWACO — People wishing to take one of the limited spots on a visual storytelling workshop 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 are asked to call the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum at 360-642-3446 to reserve a place. The class will be taught by comic journalist Nhatt Nichols from Port Townsend. It is suitable for sixth-graders to adults. The session coincides with an exhibit “Nhatt Nichols: The Willapa Oyster and Its Environs” which opens Nov. 8 and runs until March.

Fundraiser concert for Clint Carter

LONG BEACH — Area musicians will host a fundraiser to help pay for treatments of Clint Carter, the leading light of the North Coast Blues Band, who has cancer. The event will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Long Beach Elks Lodge at 110 Pacific Ave. in downtown Long Beach. Admission is by a suggested donation of $25 at the door. There will be a spaghetti dinner and silent auction with the celebration of Carter’s 70th birthday. The Strange Tones, Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots, Rae Gordan, Mary McPage, TJ Wong and King Ken are among those appearing.

Register now for Beekeepers Workshops

LONGVIEW — Designed to build basic beekeeping skills, the class covers topics including bee biology, equipment, seasonal management requirements, identification, and management of pests, as well as honey removal and processing. The four-session evening course — Jan. 20, 27 and Feb. 3, 10 — serves as an introduction to beekeeping for new beekeepers. Cost for the four-session course is $40 per person (includes 1 additional family member free). Register by Jan. 10 at bee-keepers-workshops-2025.cheddarup.com. Classes will be held at the Cowlitz County Training Center, 1942 First Avenue in Longview. Class size is limited to 30. For more information or to register, contact Gary Fredricks at 577-3014 Ext 3 or FredricksG@cowlitzwa.gov.

Peninsula Senior Activity Center

OCEAN PARK — See complete calendar of events at tinyurl.com/Senior-Center-calendar. Ongoing senior center services: Medical equipment for loan: A wide array of medical equipment that has been donated and is available for loan. Drop by or call during office hours. Haircuts: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (call 360-665-3999). Meals on Wheels: call Sally 360-533-3311, Mondays and Wednesdays. Dial-A-Ride: provides service in Pacific County only.

AlAnon meetings on Peninsula and Zoom

AlAnon Family Groups are open to any adult. The only requirement for membership is that there is a concern about problem drinking by a relative or friend. The Ocean Park AlAnon group meets every Monday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Library Meeting Room, 1308 256th Lane in Ocean Park. Contact Maureen McCaslin at 360-214-8086. Zoom AlAnon group meets Fridays at 10 a.m. To receive a Zoom invitation, email dbelais@yahoo.com. A New Day meets at the Timberland Library on Mondays at 1:30 p.m.