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Events: 4:30 Parade Kicks Off 2017 Camas Homecoming Festivities

Camas, WA — The 2017 Camas Homecoming festivities begin at 4:30 pm today with the traditional parade that begins at Garver Theatre. The parade will feature this year’s Homecoming Royalty Court. Following the parade, Doc Harris Stadium will open its gates at 5:30 pm for the annual Homecoming Football game as the Papermakers host arch-rival, the Union High School Titans.

Tickets go on sale at the Doc Harris gate at 5:30. Please note that no backpacks or open containers are allowed.  Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for visiting students with ASB and CSD Middle School students with ASB, $1 for senior citizens and elementary students – CASH only.  No elementary students are allowed without an adult.  CSD employees please have your school badge for entry at the gate.

Camas (8-0 overall) and Union (7-1 overall) compete tonight for the 4A Greater St. Helens League (GHSL) District Championship title. This will be the first time since 2009 the two teams squared off for a league title in the regular-season finale. Camas has beat Union the last contests, and there’s a lot at stake.

Tonight’s winner earns the GHSL No. 1 seed, which keeps them at home for the first three postseason games. The loser of tonight’s game must travel for the first two playoff games, which begin next week. The undefeated Camas team, ranked No. 1 all season, has kept on pace after winning the State title last December. A Papermaker win tonight will bring Camas six straight 4A GHSL titles.

The game will be broadcast live at  www.nfhsnetwork.com

Homecoming

This is the Camas Homecoming 2017 Parade Route.

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East End of Gorge Unaffected by Fires — Go Explore, Have Fun!

The recent Eagle Creek Fire and the resulting trail closures in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area have many people wondering where and how to get their Gorge fix. The answer is simple: They can come to The Dalles and the eastern end of the Gorge, where there is an abundance of beautiful hiking trails, plus unparalleled cycling routes, unique museums, world-class fishing and more.   At the end of the day, visitors can relax at one of the new breweries and pubs, or enjoy a glass of wine at a local tasting room. And with 300 days of sun and only 14 inches of rain a year (compared to 37 inches in Portland), The Dalles is the perfect fall and winter escape.

Some Fun Gorge Escapes

Hike amongst petroglyphs. Head across The Dalles Bridge to Horsethief Butte. For age-old petroglyphs and stupendous views of the Gorge, this hike can’t be beat. Though the trail is just two miles long, the hike can take all day, given the seemingly endless rock labyrinths and basalt mazes within the butte.

The Friends of the Gorge website is a great resource for more hikes in the Eastern Gorge and beyond. For post-fire hiking suggestions, visit gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/columbia-gorge-hiking-opportunities.html.

Gorge

Hike amongst the Petroglyphs. Photo by Michael J. Horodyski.

 

Hit the road on two wheels. The Dalles is a cyclist’s paradise, with rides ranging from the family-friendly Riverfront Trail to a gorgeous spin on the Historic Columbia River Highway (which is still open east of Hood River) to an all-day, 100-mile epic to Mount Hood and back. Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of the area’s dry climate, and the newly updated “Explore The Dalles Scenic Bikeways” bike map includes six of the most popular local routes, which vary in length and intensity. The map is available online and for free at The Dalles Chamber’s headquarters (404 W. Second St.), Dalles City Cyclery in downtown The Dalles and Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, which is located at the west end of the Riverfront Trail.

 

Gorge

Go out on two wheels! Photo by Justin Yuen.

Explore downtown. Historic downtown The Dalles is beautifully preserved and offers a plethora of shopping experiences, including Klindt’s Booksellers & Stationers, Oregon’s oldest bookstore (founded in 1870); Yesterday & Today Records (vinyl, CDs, DVDs and an awesome collection of Beatles paraphernalia), clothing stores, antique and second-hand shops, great restaurants and cafes, Dalles City Cyclery, Flyfishing Strategies Fly Shop, wineries and more. For a complete overview, see the downtown shopping map. And don’t miss the unique historic mural artwork while strolling downtown.

Gorge

Explore downtown. Photo by Klindt’s Booksellers & Stationers

We will feature three more east Gorge escapes soon.

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Camas Girls Swim Team Finishes 2nd at SW WA Invitational; Diver Purwins Wins

The Camas Girls Swim and Dive Team had a successful weekend in the pool — at two locations. The swimmers competed at the Southwest Washington Invitational at Mark Morris Pool (in Longview, WA), and the team’s divers attended an 11-dive meet in Bainbridge, WA.

Diver Jax Purwins won the diving contest with a final score of 406 points.  Lynne McGee earned 292 points, and Shaye McGee earned 268 points. Thirty-eight divers from the Seattle area participated in the meet. The diver compete again this Friday in Moses Lake. This is the first time in more than 15 years that Camas has featured diving events as part of their program.

“It’s something new this year,” said team coach, Mike Bemis. “It’s logistically challenging because SW Washington had abandoned diving many years ago.

The swim team finished second at the SW Invitational. Camas won the 200 Free and 400 Free relays. Paeton Lesser won the 200 Free, and was second in the 50 Free. Bailey Segall placed third in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) and 100 Fly. The next meet for the girls is Sub Districts, which is this Wednesday at Mark Morris Pool, in Longview, WA.

The girls have been trying to get as many State time cuts as possible to exceed last year.

Here’s a Spotlight Video on the team:

To learn more, visit www.chs.camas.wednet.edu

 

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Events: SW Washington Tamale Festival Comes to Washougal This Weekend

Washougal, WA — Who doesn’t love a good tamale? Well, this Saturday afternoon you will get a chance to try a whole bunch of them at the  Southwest Washington Tamale Festival, which will be held in downtown Washougal at Reflection Plaza (the Town Square), from 1-9 pm.

Hosted by the Southwest Washington League of United Latin American Citizens, the family friendly event celebrates great cuisine and the tradition of Latino culture. General admission is free, though patrons will have to pay for their food and other purchases.

The fun event features tamale contests for two groups: Homestyle — which is for individuals to show off their own family recipes; and Professional — which is for restaurants, caterers, and food trucks.

Contest winners will be based on the following criteria:

  • Technique
  • Taste
  • Appearance
  • Quality

The festival also features a craft area for children, tamale demonstrations, food vendors, a beer garden, craft vendors, music, as well as dancing.

Entertainers include Gerardo and Nekla Calderon with a “Leyendas de Mexico” show at 3 pm; Hudson’s Bay High School’s Las Bonitas y Los Caballeros Ballet Folkloric at 4:30 pm; and Son de Cuba Quartette at 6 pm.

Proceeds and donation collected from the festival will support future scholarship stipends for local youth. To learn more, email the festival organizers at [email protected]

Tamales

Tamales cooking: beef, chicken, and pork.

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Events: 1st Annual Halloween Night Trunk or Treat @ Grove Field Airport

The Camas Washougal Airport Association (CWAA) is hosting its first annual Halloween night “Trunk or Treat” at 5:30 pm at the Port of Camas-Washougal Grove Field Airport, which is located in Fern Prairie.

“The Trunk or Treat is a concept where several cars or trucks all pull into a line or semi-circle where their trunks all line up and make an easy and quick way for people with small children to get a reasonable amount of candy without getting stuck in long lines, walking several blocks or being stuck outdoors in the cold,” says CWWA representative, Terah Brice. “It’s offered to anyone, but the basic concept is geared towards people with very small toddlers or elementary-aged children and aimed to fill candy baskets in a fun and fast manner.”

“For a lot of us residing in the Fern Prairie area, we don’t see trick or treaters at our homes because we live down unlit streets with very spaced out houses or long driveways,” she said. “So we also get the opportunity to hand out candy when we would otherwise have zero spooky visitors.”

The trunks will all be decorated with lights and spooky gear and a lot of the vehicles owners will dress up in costume, as well. The CWAA will also offer complimentary coffee and popcorn with a donation can set out. The organization is promoting this to families that are headed to the downtown area to start their trick or treating.

“We are hoping to jump start their candy bags with a good load so their parents don’t have to stay out until 10pm trying fill their children’s candy quota goals,” Brice said.

The fun starts at 5:30pm on October 31 and will go until people stop showing up or when volunteers get too cold. The festivities will occur in the nicely lit Airport parking lot, making it an easy place to pull off for a couple of minutes and hop right back on the road to downtown for the rest of the evening.

To learn more about CWAA, check them out on Facebook @cwaagrovefield

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Camas High School Drama Students Take On “The Laramie Project”

Camas Theatre students are in the middle of daily rehearsals for “The Laramie Project,” which director Sean Kelly says is the “most in-depth play we’ve ever produced here.”

The play, written by Moises Kaufman, and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project, is about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student, Matthew Shepard, in Laramie, Wyoming. The three-act play is based on hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, interviewer journal entries, and published news reports.

The cast of 19, each of whom takes on multiple characters, spends their afternoons rehearsing their lines, and preparing themselves for a play that is causing most of them to look deep into human nature and behavior. We spent 90 minutes with the actors as they listened closely to instruction, and then had their own in-depth discussion about what causes people to behave badly.

“The play is about how people can rationalize, in general,” says Kelly. “The students are taking on some really deep material. It’s stretching them.”

Armita Aziza, who plays Zubaida Ula, among other characters, says the play addressed how the incident affected the town.

“Our characters address prejudice, hatred, and community,” she says.

Omar Shafiuzzaman is playing four characters: Dennis Shepard (Matthew’s father), police detective, Rob Debree, a news reporter, and playwright, Moises Kaufman.

“We’re all on stage for the whole show,” says Shafiuzzaman. “It’s very challenging to switch between these characters, and we’re learning a lot.”

Skylar Derthick plays Jeddidiah Schultz, Dr. Castaway (who operates on Matthew), and Reverend Fred Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church, who lead a protest at Shepard’s funeral.

“It’s tough to play all these roles,” says Derthick, who appreciates the work going into this production.

Kelly encourages the local community to turn out for their play, and welcomes a broader discussion about prejudices and attitudes. Following the play, there will be an open question-and-answer period. And, it should be known the play does contain profanity, as it reflects on real-life accounts and interviews.

“It’s easy to hate an idea,” says Kelly. “But, it’s a lot harder to hate a person once you get to know them.”

The Laramie Project Play Dates

  • November 3 @ 7 pm
  • November 4 @ 2 pm (matinee) and 7 pm
  • November 10 @ 7 pm
  • November 11 @ 2 pm (matinee) and 7 pm

Location: Camas High School Theatre

To learn more, visit www.chs.camas.wednet.edu

Photo Gallery

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Images: “Sillyheart” Play Focuses on Joy During Turmoil

Camas Theatre premiered “Sillyheart” Wednesday night in conjunction with Compass Oncology and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a fundraiser to help cure cancer.

Before the touching play began, the audience heard from Brianna Barrett, who was named “Portland’s Best Storyteller” by Willamette Weekly. She discussed being a cancer survivor and how she documented her cancer battle. Dr. Kathryn Kolibaba, who practices hematology/medical oncology at Compass Oncology in Vancouver, WA, talked about how everyday heroes find ways to raise and apply needed cancer research funds. Megan McDonald talked about her daughter’s ongoing fight with leukemia, and Janelle Hayden also shared her family’s story of how they battle the disease.

Featuring a talented youth cast, “Sillyheart” is a one-act play where tragedy meets fantasy, and myth meets reality.

From the playbook: “The fairy tale world winds itself around the real drama of one little girl’s battle with cancer and her family’s anguish. As they struggle to cope with her prognosis and desperate treatment, the fairy tale characters from the little girl’s book play out in their own drama. Will an evil sorceress and her dark creatures succeed in pulling Princess Caroline (played nicely by Genesis Martinez — on this first night) away from her beloved family and prince? Will little Cora’s experimental cancer treatment save her?”

Sillyheart

Actors Wyatt Hodgson and Genesis Martinez in the opening scene of “Sillyheart.”

“In our imaginations, the villain is always slain, the good win out, and even happily ever after is truly possible. Our fantasies, like so many blankets, can keep us warm in time when the real world is simply too dark, cold and cruel to bear. At the end we are reminded it’s not just children who need fairy tales.”

The play is written by Billie W. Boone, and directed by Sean Kelly. The stage manager is Lily Haddan; costumes and makeup and by Carol Babilon. The event is coordinated by Kylee Shafiuzzaman.

To learn more, visit chs.camas.wednet.edu

Photo Gallery, by Jon Pugmire

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Events: Downtown Washougal Pumpkin Harvest Festival Changes Date

Washougal, WA – Local families are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and receive a free pumpkin at the annual Downtown Washougal Pumpkin Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 28, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main Street.  The event has moved from its previous Wednesday afternoon to Saturday in hopes this will be a more convenient time for families. The event will take place rain or shine.

More than 300 pumpkins will be harvested from the City garden plot behind City Hall for the event.   An additional 800-900 pumpkins will be purchased with a generous donation from Columbia River Realty.  All pumpkins will be handed out free, one per child, while supplies last.

“The Pumpkin Harvest Festival is a culmination of the work of many in the community,” said Rose Jewell, event organizer and City of Washougal Assistant to the Mayor & City Administrator.  “Second grade students from Gause Elementary planted the pumpkin seeds last spring during a field trip to City Hall and the seeds were donated by Washougal True Value.  Representatives from the Washougal Library, City of Washougal, Unite Washougal, Downtown Washougal Association, Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance and Washougal Round Table each cared for a portion of the patch to ensure a bountiful harvest of pumpkins for the event.  DWA volunteers and City staff have worked together on planning.”

“It is so fun to see all the kids and parents in downtown,” said Heena, DWA president.  “After they enjoy the activities at Reflection Plaza, many stay to explore downtown Washougal.” Many merchants will have candy on hand so the kids can get a jump start on their holiday trick or treating with the popular “Halloween Hunt.”

The event is completely free and will also feature carnival games run by student volunteers, balloon animal makers sponsored by IQ Credit Union, apples donated by Washougal Family Dental, popcorn from the Washougal Fire Department, a selfie station and more.

Volunteers are still needed.  If you would like to help please contact [email protected].

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Camas Theatre Prepares For “Sillyheart” Premiere

Camas, WA — In collaboration with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Compass Oncology, the award-winning Camas High School Theater Department is preparing for their premiere of “Sillyheart,” which is a 40-minute play about a young person’s cancer journey.

“It’s a play about an 8-year-old girl with leukemia that’s been in remission, but then the cancer becomes more aggressive,” says the play’s director, Sean Kelly. “The play is about how she maintains hope through her connections to a fairy tale called ‘Sillyheart.'”

Kelly explains it’s about how this princess uses courage and good will to deal with this terrible time. “It’s how the family stays afloat,” says Kelly.

All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk to help support research for blood cancers.

The Camas Theatre is located at Camas High School Auditorium, 26900 SE 15th Street — South Entrance, Camas, WA

House opens at 6:30 pm, Curtain at 7:30 pm
$10 Suggested Donation
http://tinyurl.com/LTNsillyheart

View Flyer

Upcoming Sillyheart Occurrences:

  • Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 6:30pm
  • Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 6:30pm
Sillyheart

CHS Theatre actor signatures on the stage wall.

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Dayley Dance Academy Prepares for “Moving Art Show”

The Dayley Dance Academy NW is performing The Moving Art Show on October 14th as the organization’s fundraiser. These funds are needed immediately to produce upcoming projects, cover costs for the performance company and to admit hardship students for participation in the current dance season. The Moving Art Show is one night only on October 14, at 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm. The show will be held at Dayley Dance Academy NW on 1700 Main Street Washougal.

Audience members will move room to room to view and participate in the different exhibits, some of which are a dancer performance with a unique close up viewing experience, a walk through art gallery of the DDANW students in inspirational and creative dance photos, ballroom dance lessons, and local food, drinks, and desserts. Tickets are $25 per person.

“After nearly a decade of running a small dance studio and giving scholarships when we could, we have received many moving letters, but one stands out from the others,” said owner, Sarah Dayley.  “Upon graduation from high school, a young man wrote an impactful letter highlighting the story of how our dance studio saved him from suicide.  Mentioned were a group of instructors and peers who encouraged his artistry and gave purpose to this young man inside the refuge that has been our dance family.  This is powerful. Saving this one life in the way that we did will save countless others.”Dayley adds: “Inspired to reach out to our community on a much larger scale, we are now Dayley Dance Academy NW (DDANW), a brand-new non-profit performing arts school along the Columbia River’s Gateway to the Gorge in Washougal.”

Community Benefits

DDANW provides professional training and unique performance opportunities to youth and adults in our community, no matter their socio-economic backgrounds. Offering subsidized tuition, special education grants, and community outreach classes will expose a broader range of students in our local area to the movement arts as an alternative to unproductive activities. The academy believes that this will result in the development of emerging new artists, innovative choreographers and instructors of the future.

Benefits for Students and Instructors

DDANW continually works to provide and maintain proper studio space for their instructors and students to not only teach, learn, and cultivate safe spaces, but to create new and innovative works of art. Promoting healthy lifestyles and exposing their dancers to prestigious instructors from around the nation will give their students new vision and world perspectives that encourage growth and build character while increasing their ability to network with other artists on professional levels in the industry.

Funds raised will be used to benefit DDANW grant recipients as well as the academy’s very own Illumination Youth Dance Company for producing performances and exposure to advanced instruction and choreographers that are prominent in the performing arts community around the globe.  Funds are needed immediately to produce projects, cover immediate costs for the performance company and to admit hardship students for participation in current dance season.So many children are wandering around after school hours not knowing what to do with their free time and getting into trouble. Exposing these children to something that is lasting and positive, regardless of their financial situation, can provide a safe haven and an addition family of support, says Dayley.  Teaching them to set goals, work hard and be their best selves will strenghten our community and improve our society.

You may also contribute funds to: https://www.gofundme.com/dayleydanceacademynw
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