“I wanted to write a story the depicts the struggle that a lot of families have during the holiday season. While they strive create the ‘perfect’ Christmas for their family, there is a lot more to the season than presents and an elaborate meal,” Sjostrom shares.
In the Tree Farm, the Shepherd family struggles to keep up with bills and maintain a roof over their heads never mind fashion a magazine-worthy holiday. A local tree farm with struggles of its own, presents as a safe haven for the Shepherd family. Forced to live simply, they discover a great gift, the magic of the holiday is accessible to all, regardless of material offerings.
A serial entrepreneur, adventurer and author, The Tree Farm, is Sjostrom’s ninth novel. The romances Finding Christmas, The Nativity and Back to Carolina along with the thrillers Blood in the Snow, Blood in the Water,Blood in the Sand, Penance, and recently released paranormal thriller Dark Chase were his first books published. All of Seth’s books are available anywhere books are sold.
Camas, WA — Attic Gallery, located in historic downtown Camas, is featuring for the month of October a Solo Exhibit with 15 new paintings by Earl Hamilton.
“Earl’s been really busy during the pandemic and he brought over some stunning new work, and we’re so happy to feature him all month long,” said Maria Gonser, co-owner of Attic Gallery. “His new work is amazing! Please come see it.”
About Earl Hamilton
Earl, now in his sixties, spent most of his childhood living in a small cabin in the Rodgers Mountain area outside the town of Scio (Oregon) in the Willamette Valley, with his parents Satsuko and George Hamilton, both successful artists. The family lived self-sufficiently on their secluded homestead, painting together in their cabin’s living room. Thus, from an early age, Earl was influenced to enter the art world. Living a frugal lifestyle, hauling water, milking goats, collecting eggs from their chickens and minus TV and radio, he was encouraged to read and talk a lot about art. Earl learned self-sufficiency and a desire to follow his own artistic instincts. He now lives in Lebanon, another small Oregon town, where he works on his paintings every day and usually most of the night.
Earl studied art in high school where he won a Scholastic Gold Key award for the State of Oregon and a National Gold Medal Scholastic Award for a competition in New York City. He won an art scholarship while studying art at Oregon State University. In 1980, Earl won The Grumbacker Award for the Northwest Watercolor Society, and 1981 the First Place Sweepstake Award for the Watercolor Society of Oregon.
Earl’s paintings are filled with a kind of whimsical lightness reflected in many images such as castles, clowns, children, animals and lovers. He layers acrylics and uses collage materials in many of his abstract works. Earl’s paintings whether abstract or whimsical objects, could be called meditative, mystical, contemplative, energetic, bold and confident in brushstroke. “I knew that I would always be an artist. Art has become a way of life for me, of perceiving and being. You take art with you whether you paint or not. It’s in your eyes and in your hands.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/05201010/D0E760D2-B520-4615-8644-FFC352E46041-e1601954358244.jpeg9601241Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-05 20:19:362020-10-05 20:19:47Attic Gallery Featuring Earl Hamilton’s Modern Art in Solo Exhibit
Columbia River Gorge Elementary Music teacher, Amy Switzer, stands alone in her classroom in front of her computer screen filled with tiles of smiling first grade students. She leads them in the Good Morning song complete with hand clapping and stomping. When asked for suggestions on other movements they can do, student hands fly into the air. Gideon is called on, unmuted and suggested adding hopping to the song. Another verse is sung.
“It’s great to see the students once a week in live zoom lessons,” said Switzer. “I really miss them!”
Since traditional elementary music class is such a participatory, whole-group experience, Switzer said it was a challenge to figure out how to accomplish music goals remotely.
“Kindy, 1st and 2nd Grades traditionally spend time exploring music through singing, listening and moving,” she said. “I have found it is possible for me to continue much of that in Zoom Music Class.”
In addition to Zoom Classroom, the SeeSaw educational app is an effective tool allowing students to create videos and other multimedia items.
“Our first SeeSaw lesson was a musical scavenger hunt to find things they could shake, hit or scrape and collect in a box to use in music class,” Switzer said. “Then ‘Ta da!’ They now have their own instruments to practice playing steady beats and rhythm in Zoom Music Class.”
Switzer’s music lessons have become more project based with upper grade level students. For example, her 3rd, 4th and 5th grades have started a project called the “World Music Tour.” Their Google Classroom assignment is to interview an adult in their family or adult of their choice to see what continents and countries their ancestors came from and do they know any songs that have been passed down in their family. “Once the information is collected, we will ‘visit’ those places through music,” Switzer explained. “It has been so much fun getting to know my students through this project!”
In fact, knowing students better has been one of the surprising benefits that Switzer has seen.
“It is nice to connect with each and every student who participates in Seesaw and Google classroom,” she said. “I get the chance to see and read their work in depth. I really enjoy seeing and reading each and every one of their assignments and can respond to them with thoughtful feedback. Some students also find they are braver when communicating with teachers through Google Classroom.”
Columbia River Gorge Elementary Music teacher, Amy Switzer, stands alone in her classroom in front of her computer screen filled with tiles of smiling first grade students.
Switzer’s students are reacting positively to the idea of remote learning music classes.
“They are so grateful to have live special subject classes again,” she said. “For some students, special subjects can be the reason they get up and go to school.”
But still, it has been tough for her to not be able to see her students in person.
“It’s also hard not being able to have kids up and moving around interacting together playing singing games, recorders, band instruments, choir, ukuleles, and Orff instruments and experiencing the language of music,” she said.
Teaching music remotely presents many challenges, but Switzer said she is fortunate to have the support of the WSD elementary music team.
“Becky, Anna, Frank and I are a strong team,” she said. “We each have our strengths and collectively we help each other figure this out. We spend each week brainstorming and sharing ideas. We communicate through email daily and try out new approaches on each other before trying with students. They have been my rock through this whole experience.”
When asked if music class can play a role in helping students cope with the situation around remote learning, Switzer said she believes music gives students connections to the world they live in and to each other.
“It takes them to creative places in their brain that other activities cannot,” she said. “Music is a powerful antidote that can relieve anxiety and get our minds back in an even rhythm to cope with whatever life throws at us. Kids too.”
A student gave Switzer a plaque that read: Music is life, that’s why our hearts have beats. “You don’t have to understand that to experience it,” she explained. “Our work is called ‘play’ for a reason. It’s important to visit that part of who we are, especially for growing and developing minds.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/28171257/02B02A0E-6DE0-41C8-9C5D-133A032AAB2C-e1601338552587.jpeg649947Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-28 17:22:052020-09-28 17:22:15Columbia River Gorge Elementary Music Sessions An Online Success
Ellie Cook, a 2016 Camas High School graduate, is in the top 15 of the Broadway World Next On Stage dance competition and is seeking as many votes as possible this week to move onto the top 8.
“I have been dancing since I could walk and doing musical theatre seriously since I was a sophomore in high school when I was in CHS’s production of ‘Grease’,” said Cook. “I was then Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret’ as well as being featured in other shows. I graduated in 2016 from CHS and went onto pursue my BFA in Musical Theatre from Central Washington University.”
Following the immense success of their musical theatre singing competition for student performers, they are moving from the recording studio to the dance floor to shine the spotlight on talented, young musical theatre dancers.
Those moving on to the next round each week will have Friday through Monday to record and submit a new song, fitting within a specified theme, for the next round of the competition.
As they move forward in the competition, they will feature weekly live shows on Facebook with Broadway judges who will provide feedback and have the opportunity to move one of the contestants on to the next round by unanimous decision.
“If I win I am donating to the Fund for College Auditions,” said Cook. “It is a charity that gathers funds to make sure students can pursue their passions in Theatrical Higher Education.”
Both the college and high school winner of The LaDuca Achievement Award for Excellence will receive a Broadway prize-pack with merch from the BroadwayWorld Theatre Shop, shoes from LaDuca, a scholarship to Steps on Broadway’s summer programs and a $1000 donation to a charity of their choosing.”
Both the college and high school winner of The LaDuca Achievement Award for Excellence will receive a Broadway prize-pack with merch from the BroadwayWorld Theatre Shop, shoes from LaDuca, a scholarship to Steps on Broadway’s summer programs and a $1000 donation to a charity of their choosing.
Winners will receive either:
-The classic LaDuca Y-strap adorns an additional support strap in the Alexis. The design provides added support across the top of the foot concentrated at the bunion-area. A 2.5″ heel is perfect for students, dancers new to heeled character shoes, and those looking for a stable shoe to guide them through their choreography. Alexis has a soft suede sole to ensure maximum foot articulation. All LaDuca shoes are handcrafted in Italy to ensure our dancers have all the comfort and flexibility they desire.
OR
-Made with master jazz dancer and choreographer, Luigi, in mind, this shoe provides maximum flexibility and articulation of the foot. The thin suede sole allows the movement of a jazz slipper. Hidden elastic gussets carry flexibility throughout the foot and a gummie heel provides a perfectly stable platform for dancers to land on. All LaDuca shoes are handmade in Italy to provide dancers with the comfort and quality they desire.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/15220338/C2C37DD6-9C8C-4669-9BC8-588FA0A126A3.jpeg8201228Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-15 22:12:332020-09-15 22:12:41Camas Graduate in Broadway Next On Stage Dance Competition
New flavors are coming to Downtown Camas! To bring some extra culinary excitement to the community in September, participating downtown restaurants will be offering Fair Food Week from September 4th – 11th and The Secret Menu Event from September 15th – 30th.
Fair Food Week:
Since Camas Days and the Clark County Fair couldn’t happen this year, Downtown Camas restaurants are offering nostalgic and much-missed fair foods and treats on their menus for a full week starting on First Friday, 9/4. Funnel cakes, mini corn dogs, ice cream, caramel apples, cannolis just to name a few. There will even be cotton candy margaritas and Smoked BBQ ice cream to add unique twists to traditional fair options.
“We’re wanting to bring some fun and unique dining options to downtown and add a little extra zest to late summer,” says Carrie Schulstad, Executive Director of the Downtown Camas Association. “We have amazing restaurants and coffee houses that are working so hard to serve the community during these challenging times. We want to take advantage of the good dining weather and we truly hope people enjoy all the food options and have fun with it. You can have something new to try every day in September!”
The Liberty Theatre will also be serving their famous popcorn on First Friday and Saturday (9/4 – 9/5) from 5-8pm and Caps N’ Taps will kick off the Fair Food Week with free fair games out front of their taproom during the evening. Cedar Street Bagel Co will be selling “Clark County Fair” scent candle wax melts with notes of cotton candy, funnel cakes and deep fried twinkies.
Fair Food Week participating restaurants and offerings:
A Beer At A Time – Giant pizza by the slice and giant pretzels with beer cheese and stone ground mustard
Adams Street Bar & Grill – Ribs with beans and Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
Caffe Piccolo – Nachos (with jalapenos or salsa)
Cake Happy – Cake in a Jar, ice cream sandwiches, caramel apples
Cedar Street Bagel Co. – Peach hand pies and organic lemonade made with lemonade-ice cubes (add mango or blackberry as desired!)
Hidden River Roasters – Cold brew floats, root beer floats
Liberty Theatre – Popcorn served First Friday and Saturday (9/4 – 9/5) from 5-8pm
Mesa – Churro fried ice cream with chile infused caramel and Mexican spiced chocolate topping options
Mill City Brew Werks – Mini corn dogs, funnel cakes, churro-doughnuts
Natalia’s Cafe – Candied bacon on a stick
Salud Wine Bar & Italian Restaurant – Mini cannolis, zeppole (filled Italian donuts)
Squeeze and Grind – Chocolate malt milk and Oreo cookie shakes
Tommy O’s at the Camas Hotel – 2 offerings: Kalua pork loaded fries all week and Malasadas (Hawaiian donuts similar to elephant ear flavors) on Saturday 9/5 from 10am-2pm
For two weeks starting 9/15, participating Downtown Camas restaurants will offer secret menu items. Just ask for the secret menu offering and it will be a surprise until it is brought to your table. Items will be available for takeout as well. The goal is to bring new flavors, fun engagement for customers and some culinary adventure to the community.
Camas author, Seth Sjostrom, releases his latest thriller this September. Dark Chase, an FBI paranormal thriller uses rural America as the setting for the novel.
Why are the residents of a quaint farm town inexplicably dropping dead?
An FBI team has been called to investigate why the population of the seemingly sweet town of Hope, ND appears to be being literally scared to death.
Professor Ryder Chase and his team of paranormal researchers have been assigned to assist with the investigation, much to the bane of no-nonsense FBI Special Agent Devon Jeffers. The oppositional mix of Professor Chase, Agent Jeffers and their respective teams struggle to manage their stark, at times comical, differences.
Faced with unexplainable events, weathering brutal storms and wild chases through cornfields, the team takes the case deadly serious as one of their own go down.
Can they pull together in time to solve the mystery before more people die?
A fascination with finding scientific facts to explain the seemingly unexplainable inspired Sjostrom to write Dark Chase. A lifetime of family trips to Hope, North Dakota to visit his grandfather and extended family inspired him to make Hope the setting for his latest thriller. “I always love visiting Hope. There is such charm and the epitome of Americana. The kindest people you would ever meet, overwhelming sense of peace, just a wonderful town in the middle of our country. I wanted share it with my readers and pay homage to my family,” Sjostrom shares.
“I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous making Hope one of the stars of the book. After all, it is a thriller with unpleasant things happening there and a brash FBI agent with no qualms turning his nose up at the simple, hardworking community…I wanted to make sure that the town and the people of Hope were represented as the way I see them. Kind, generous and welcoming,” Sjostrom added.
There’s a new card game in town, and it’s called “Cows In My Pants.”
“Based off a joke, it’s a card game,” said creator, Kathi Sjostrom, a Camas, WA resident. “It can be a quick pickup game. You should be able to pick it up easy, but there is a strategy. In 20 minutes, you can sit around the table and play it.”
It’s a game that Sjostrom says you can play with kids seven years and older. You need to understand numbers to be able to play. There’s a memory element in it that makes it more complicated. It’s designed to be a family and friendly pick-up-and-go game.
“I came up with the idea,” said Sjostrom. “I’ve always wanted to create board games, and we got to playing games regularly, and one night we had a funny, crazy game night and we decided to name our first game ‘Cows in My Pants’ and we sketched out a game.”
“Cows In My Pants” is a game about a bunch of cows that are dressed up, and you have to put them all back together.
The goal is to be the first player to create four of a kind, a flush, a run, or two pairs in your secret corral. Score points according to what you and everyone else has in their hand when “Cows in my Pants” is declared.
“From there, we played it with our friends, and we decided to make a game company called Paodle Games,” said Sjostrom. “We did this before the virus outbreak. We thought about holding off, and thought we needed laughter and friends. I have multiple games we’re planning to release this year. 2020 will all be light pick up and go games, and I have heavier games, which will be released later.”
To learn more about the game, or purchase it, visit www.paodlegames.com — go the Kickstarter link.
“We are local, we love local business, but the game world is a global platform so we’re putting it on Kickstarter, which allows us to produce it,” Sjostrom. “Our game can be pre-ordered through Kickstarter. After it’s funded, it can be purchase through the website. Once everything calms down we will also have local vendors that will have it.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18194715/39628530-32DE-4503-BC35-2E8D34610270.jpeg7271280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-08-18 19:59:022020-08-18 19:59:11Camas Resident Creates New Card Game ‘Cows In My Pants’
Washougal, WA — The Camas-Washougal Historical Society (CWHS) recently received a generous $2,500 grant from The Honorable Frank L. and Arlene J. Price Foundation. The grant is the third given to CWHS from The Price Foundation and is earmarked for the Gathering Place at Washuxwal project, a Native American-inspired longhouse pavilion located on the south side of the museum.
“We are entering the final stages of the project,” said CWHS president, Jim Cobb. “This includes Native American carvings and artwork to adorn the structure, educational signage and landscaping. We are excited to be nearing completion and are looking forward to using this area to tell important stories of the earliest inhabitants of our area.” Cobb hopes to have the final pieces installed this fall.
Kay Dalke-Sheadel, Price Foundation Executive Director, was unable to present the check in person due to COVID concerns, but in a letter expressed her gratitude for CWHS’ service to the community, stating “The Prices would be happy to know their funds are being used for such a worthy cause.”
“We are honored that The Price Foundation accepted our grant proposal and is helping to make our vision a reality,” said Cobb The Price Foundation was created to provide funding for education, health and historical preservation projects in Clark and Cowlitz Counties.
The Gathering Place which began a capital fundraising campaign in 2017. It is expected to help attract tourists, educational field trips and history lovers to the Two Rivers Heritage Museum and the community. “We are so grateful to the Price Foundation, our historical society membership and the community for their continuing support to help this project come to life,” Cobb said.
Find more information on The Gathering Place at Washuxwal visit www.2rhm.com. Donations can be made online. CWHS mission is to research, collect, preserve, and make available the rich history of Camas and Washougal, WA for the public. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. CWHS is a registered tax-exempt organization, Tax ID #91-1181503.
The Two Rivers Heritage Museum is located at 1 Durgan Street in Washougal and is currently closed until further notice due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Camas Public Library is pleased to announce racial equity as its first annual ‘Read for Change’ theme. Launching next week, the community reads initiative will feature speakers, exclusive access to a local documentary, discussion groups, a book giveaway, and racial equity community lending library—all at a safe social distance.
Starting Monday, August 17th, patrons can contact the Library to request a free copy ofHow to be an Antiracist and/or Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, both by Ibram X. Kendi (the latter coauthored for young readers by Jason Reynolds). There is a limit of one of each title per household, while supplies last. Library staff will treat the items like a curbside pickup request and place the book(s) at the 4th Ave entrance at an appointed time. When the recipient is finished with the book, the Library suggests they pass it along to a neighbor or friend. All books have been purchased and donated by the Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library (FFCL).
Read for Change will feature two keynote speakers to bookend the 12-week program. Portland-based equity speaker Alexis Braly James hosts Building Bridges: Race as a Social Constructon Tuesday, August 25th at 5:30pm. At 6pm on Thursday, November 12th in partnership with Humanities Washington, the Library will host Timothy Golden for Equality on Trial: Race, Fairness, and the US Supreme Court. Both speakers will present via Zoom.
Between the two keynote speakers, the Library will offer exclusive online access to local filmmaker Melissa Lowery’s documentary Black Girl in Suburbia. In addition, community facilitators are teaming up with Library staff to host book discussion groups for both titles, and the Library is also adapting several of their regular programs to tackle racial equity. Finally, a small “take-one-leave-one” type lending library at the Library’s curbside pickup with racial equity themed books donated by the community will round out the offerings. All details can be found on the Library’s website at www.camaslibrary.org.
“We are thrilled to kick off the inaugural Read for Change program with such an important theme. We have already had incredible community support, just in the planning stages. We knew we had to adapt and make this work in a virtual environment because the timing is so crucial. Providing a place for community conversations around race is key,” said Connie Urquhart, Library Director.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/12194045/84F84B24-D74C-4F19-9D36-D42E60AD8D92.jpeg6581280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-08-12 19:46:562020-08-12 19:47:03Camas Public Library Selects Racial Equality as First ‘Read For Change’ Theme
Washougal WA — Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance will host an online art festival as an alternative to its annual August event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic public gathering restrictions.
“We are very excited that our virtual 2020 Washougal Art Festival will last not just one day, but the entire month of August,” said WACA president, Kelli Rule. “Our website will be the hub, and from there people will be able to access the festival through our Facebook and Instagram pages.”
The goal of WACA’s art festivals is to create exposure and drive sales for local and regional artists. According to Rule, artists have pushed themselves to create exclusive videos, new and refreshed websites and more to help promote their art in a new way online. “We hope our community will support these local artisans, hard hit by the cancellation of so many opportunities to sell their art,” Rule said. “We’ll do our best through social media to give the artists the attention they deserve. When you purchase original artwork, you are not only buying that object, but you’re investing in that person.”
The event will highlight the work of 25 artists, each selected to participate by a jury of art professionals. 2020 festival artists are Linda Andrews-Riggs, water color; Eric Berlin, porcelain jewelry; Shirley Bishop, fused glass; Jean Blatner, watercolor acrylic; India de Landa, plexiglass acrylic jewelry; Chrissie Forbes, found art & oils, Katy Fenley, silver jewelry; Kyla Rae Friedrichsmeyer, watercolor & ink; Anni Furniss, mixed media; John Furniss, woodworking; Suzanne Grover, pen & colored pencil; Charlene Hale, fused glass; Kellie Kuter, mixed media; Brenda Lindstrom, oil; Beck Lipp, woodworking; Toni McCarthy, jewelry; Diane Moeglein, fused glass; Liz Pike, oil on canvas; Spike Palmer, oil painting; Karen Reule, silver jewelry; Gary Suda & Pamela Hancock, ceramics; Tamra Sheline, watercolor on yupo; Hiroko Stumpf, watercolor & acrylic; Cyndee Starr, mixed media; Barbara Wright, water color, ink, pencil; Jeff Wirth, photography; and Tom West, acrylic, stationery.
Each year a local artist is selected to create an image for the event poster that reflects Washougal in some way. This year’s poster art of a deer among tall grass was drawn by Washougal artist, Suzanne Grover, a founding member of WACA, whose work will be a part of the virtual festival. Her beautiful spring meadow scene was created from the photography of John Rakestraw. Signed posters are available for a $20 donation. There is a limited number of signed posters from previous festivals available as well, which can be purchased directly from WACA by emailing washougalarts@gmail.com.
“This year has been hard for artists who have seen so many fairs, festivals and events cancelled,” Rule explained. “Artists have not been able to meet potential customers face-to-face and we know it is hard for them to make connections. We hope this virtual event will help in some small way.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/29152602/35D33FCD-E69B-4AC0-92EC-09E66C67C1E1.jpeg6501280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-07-29 15:43:032020-07-29 16:16:13COVID-19 Effect: Annual Washougal Art Festival Goes Virtual This Summer
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