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IMPACT CW to Host Summer Meals Food Drive For Needy on June 10

Washougal WA — Camas and Washougal community members are being asked to help make an impact on the lives of school families who need a little help with summer meals.  IMPACT CW (Camas-Washougal), organized by St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Washougal, will be held on Sunday, June 10 from 11am to 2pm at Parker’s Landing Historic Park at the Port of Camas-Washougal, to collect donations and fill food boxes.

“We are asking the community to drive up and drop off their food donations,” said Beth Raetz, Impact CW Committee Member and Church Office Secretary. “If they can, we’d love to have them stop for a while, help fill boxes, enjoy a free BBQ lunch and listen to an outdoor concert by the Camas-Washougal Community Orchestra.”

St. Matthew Pastor Bob Barber started the event and continues to be a driving force. According to Raetz, the event grew from a sermon series “Be the Difference,” which culminated in going shopping and packing boxes during the Sunday morning worship service for the first event.  Barber is the 2018 Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce’s selection for Citizen of the Year.

Although many people are conditioned to make food donations around the holidays, Raetz explains that there is another critical need at this time of year.  “We are targeting families in the schools who receive free breakfast and free lunches and are a part of the backpack programs,” she said. “When school stops for summer those meals end.  These kids may get into a summer meal program but there could be several weeks before they start.  These meals will help to bridge that gap.  It just gives them a boost.”

Now in its fourth year, IMPACT CW is growing. “This year we are continuing to invite groups to get involved and help out,” said Raetz.  “We have high school students working on their community service hours, scout troops, church groups, businesses and families volunteering to help.  It is so wonderful to see families from little ones to big ones all helping to fill up boxes.”

Once the boxes are filled, they will be packed in a U-haul truck and on Monday morning will be delivered to Camas and Washougal schools who will then connect the boxes with families in need.

Schools are currently working to identify those families who could use some help.  “Last year we made 140 boxes,” said Raetz. “This year we expect the need will grow to 200.”

Non-perishable food donations can be made in advance of the event and dropped off at St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 716 Washougal River Road ,Tuesday through Friday from 9:30am to 1:00pm.  Financial contributions can be made through www.gofundme.com/impactcw or checks made out to St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

For more information, contact Raetz at the church office at 360-835-5533.

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“Fiddler on the Roof” Begins Its Production Run This Weekend

WASHOUGAL, WA – Journey Theater Arts Group presents “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Winner of nine Tony Awards when it debuted in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof is the brainchild of Broadway legends, Jerome Robbins and Harold Prince; songwriters, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick; and bookwriter, Joseph Stein. Touching audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth and honesty, this universal show is a staple of the musical theatre canon.

Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof‘s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness.  Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Performances are May 18-27, 2018 at Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School, 1201 39th Street, Washougal WA, 98671.   Tickets are on sale now at journeytheater.org or by calling 360.750.8550.  Pre-sale adult tickets are $12.  Youth and senior tickets are $10.   Our “family day” performance is May 19 at 7:00 pm with all tickets $10 in advance.  Tickets for all performances are $4 more at the door.

Public Performances

Friday, May 18th – 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 19th – 7:00 pm

Sunday, May 20th – 2:00 pm

Friday, May 25th – 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 26th – 2:00 pm

Sunday, May 27th – 2:00 pm

About Journey Theater Arts Group

Their mission: “Growing youth in character, confidence and creativity, in a Christ centered community.”  Throughout the Portland/Vancouver area, Journey offers dozens of classes for ages 6-18, in drama, dance, voice and more.   In addition, we produce 12 Broadway-style shows in four locations during the school year, improv competitions, multiple summer camps and professional-level community theater musicals for all ages in summer.  Journey is a nonprofit educational organization, with offices located at 1400 NE 136th Ave, Suite 201, Vancouver WA, 98684.  Contact at 360.750.8550 or www.journeytheater.org

Fiddler

Playing the violin.

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Events: Dozer Day Coming This Weekend! It’s A LOT of Fun!

What is Dozer Day?

Dozer Day is like going to a fair only the rides are real heavy construction equipment. Kids hop in the driver’s seat and actually drive dozers, excavators and other heavy equipment with a professional operator at their side. Not only is it a dream-come-true for kids (and fun for the whole family), the event also benefits many children’s charities.

When is Dozer Day?

Dozer Day is ALWAYS the 3rd weekend in May. The next Dozer Day event will be held Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th, 2018, from 11am to 4 pm.

How much does Dozer Day cost and where can I get tickets?

Purchase tickets early to save money and avoid the long ticket lines on the day of the event. You can purchase tickets securely online or at participating IQ Credit Unions and Chuck’s Produce. Tickets are good for either day but not both. You must purchase a ticket for each day you attend Dozer Day. Admission is $8 for children (ages 2 – 12) and seniors (60+), $10 for adults and free for those under 2 years old. Tickets on the day of the event are $11 for kids and seniors and $13 for adults. Once admission is paid, the cost of most activities inside the event are free, including equipment rides.

 

Dozer

Having fun at Dozer Day.

Where is Dozer Day held?

Dozer Day will be at Clark County Fairgrounds in Ridgefield, Washington for 2018 (17402 NE Delfel Rd., Ridgefield WA 98642).

What does the fairgrounds charge for parking?

The fairgrounds charges $6.00 to park and only accepts cash.

What is the ideal age for Dozer Day?

Dozer Day has activities for kids of all ages. When it comes to the construction equipment the younger kids get more help from the operators then the older ones. In addition to the heavy equipment there is also an ambulance and firetruck to climb in and around, PUD activities, and lots of sand and construction toys to play with as well. For the bigger kids… If you and the operator fit in the cab together you are good to go! Climb on in, grab the controls and have fun. If you are in the biggest kid category (Yes this includes adults) there are activities geared just for you as well. Have you ever wanted to drive a backhoe? excavator? roller? now’s your chance. Hop in and drive by yourself! In addition to that there is also a scavenger hunt, diamond dig, and shooting for prizes game that caters to big kids as well.

Can the ticket I purchased be used either day?

Tickets can be used either day but in order to attend two days you will need two tickets. You need one ticket per day/per person.

Dozer

Kids will get to see big trucks at Dozer Day.

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Washougal HS Cake Decorating Contest Connects With Library

Washougal WA – Start with the Washougal High School (WHS) Library and add a dash of WHS Advanced Baking class and you get a fun and creative project for students as a part of National Library Week in April.   Students used book titles to inspire and practice their cake decorating skills learned in class.

“To say these creations are amazing is an understatement,” said Fran McCarty, WHS Library Assistant.  “The students had a lot of fun choosing the book to illustrate with their cake. There was a lot of buzzing around the shelves.  If was fun.”

The WSH student body voted for their favorite.   All the cakes are currently on display in the library. The winning cake was an Alice in Wonderland theme created by Rose Elsensohn. Jennifer Whitmeyer, Hannah Moen, Rebecca McDonald.  “We chose Alice in Wonderland because it was so colorful,” said Elsensohn. “And there were so many different characters to create around the story.”

According to the winning team. the most challenging part was building the castle tower.  They tried to roll fondant but ended up using Rice Krispy treats.  They felt their attention to detail and ability to work as a team were the keys to earning them first place in the student vote.

The idea for the cake decorating project came to McCarty when she considered that culinary students create gingerbread houses during the holidays, so why not cakes?

“And by partnering this way we are getting some students into the library that normally may not come in very much,” she said. “The students all did a fabulous job!”

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100+ Women Who Care Clark County To Hold Second Event May 9

Camas, WA — 100+ Women Who Care Clark County is holding their organization’s second event on Wednesday, May 9 at Salud Wine Bar in downtown Camas.

The social hour is from 5-6 pm, with the event officially beginning at 6 pm. The event’s guest speaker will be Andy Tucker, who is the Director of Washington Children’s Home Society — the recipient of the local organization’s first donation. He will be sharing with 100+ Women Clark County about how their previous quarter’s contributions impacted the organization, and how the funds were used in the community.

The group will also celebrate having 100 members with a champagne toast hosted by Arktana Shoes. This makes it one of the fastest growing chapters in the organization’s history. During the social hour, Salud is offering all glasses of wine for $5 and there will be free appetizers for everyone courtesy of Thrivent (one of the organization’s sponsors).

During the event, each member writes the name of a charitable organization on a piece of paper, and places that information into a bucket. Three names are drawn, and each organization is discussed. By ballot, the members vote on which charitable group they would like to donate to,  and the votes are tallied. By the end of the hour, the goal is to raise $10,000 ($100 from each member).

The group welcomes all women in Clark County to come and see what they’re all about — you do not need to be a member to attend the event. Come and learn about what their special group of women is doing to make immediate and powerful change in the community!

To learn more, visit 100womenclarkcounty.com

Women

www.Greshamroofing.com

 

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The Hammond Kitchen and Craft Bar a Delightful Addition to Camas

Camas, WA — When The Hammond Kitchen and Craft Bar opened its doors several weeks ago, it was the fulfillment of a dream for co-owner George Hammond Goodrich, whose meticulous attention to detail is evident when you walk in the door.

“This has been his lifelong dream,” said his daughter, and co-owner, Gwen Goodrich. “We had this opportunity and he knows Matt Olson well, who said ‘hey do you want to open a restaurant here?’ Then everything just fell into place. This is his dream, but he’s really modest about it.”

So, what is The Hammond Kitchen and Craft Bar?

“It’s a casual upscale grill — we are closest to that,” said George. “We have a Gaucho wood-fired grill. Everything is cooked over an open flame on wood — either cherry or alder wood. The Gaucho grill has pulleys and roller wheels that allow you to increase or decrease the height based on the intensity of the coals.”

The Hammond has a good and varied menu that was planned out well in advance of the restaurant’s opening.

“We thought out the items and researched for a year how to best approach everything,” said George. “We worked closely with Dylan Reish, our Head Chef. “We had this foundation of ideas, and we played with each menu item to get just the right flavor. We took classics and did a fun twist on them. Our Caesar salad is a small head of romaine and is smoked a bit, with house-made croutons, fresh made dressing, and watermelon radish that’s been pickled. It’s a new twist on old traditions.”

Hammond

George Goodrich stands at his craft bar.

The Hammond has a good mix of pasta, chicken, fresh seafood offerings. Steaks are choice prime beef. Burgers are a brisket and chuck blend. They also serve delicious brick oven pizzas. And source local, sustainable when possible.

They serve Oregon country beef, and a local farmer in Washougal is coming online for Spring.

The menu has several healthy items like fresh fish that is prepared simply, and doesn’t use a lot of creams. The Quinoa cake is a great-tasting three-blend veggie item that can be made vegan.

“We listen to our customers and created a healthy bowl that only uses olive oils and veggie stock,” said Gwen. “We also offer gluten-free by request, and brought in a gluten-free bun.”

From the dinner menu, we sampled the Gaucho-grilled (wood-fired) salmon with ponzu and honey glaze with fennel and orange relish, served with double cream mashed potatoes, and sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon shallots and balsamic vinegar. It adds a nice sweetness. Their sustainable king salmon is fresh.

Hammond

Wood-grilled sustainable salmon fillet with ponzu and honey baste, orange fennel relish, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts.

The Hammond has unique starters, such as the deviled eggs. The yolks are fine pressed then blended with mustard aioli, pickled relish, scallion, salt and pepper with creamed cheese. They got the idea from a German chef.

George has been in the restaurant business his whole life, working for large hotel corporations, and he was a partner at Beaches. The Hammond is his 39th opening.

“Coming here is an experience,” said George. “I want guests to come here and be comfortable with business, family, or any social event. I want you to have a great time and escape from the world. We are about high quality products and a high level of service. We’re all trained to offer higher level of service. Our team members are friendly, and engaging. They have a high level of food knowledge, and can put a meal together for you. We want people to have a great time and tell others.”

The Hammond has options for large groups, with a private dining room that seats 50. They also have an outside deck for the warmer months that are coming. Their prices are reasonable, and there are options for everybody. There are 24 items on the social hour menu.

Their Craft Bar features small nano breweries, with wine offerings from Willamette Valley, Walla Walla, Columbia Valley, Napa Valley, Australia, South America, and France.

Drinks that appeared in our photo shoot include:

  • Spring Manhattan — the Hammond’s twist, with a splash of Aperol.
  • Gin with muddled lime, cucumber and cilantro — it’s becoming more popular by the day. Where there’s smoke there’s fire— has a nice maskal Chile flavor without being too hot.

And don’t forget dessert. We sampled the Crustless Coconut Cream Pie, which is a childhood fix of what you used to get. It is gluten-free. Plus, we had the bread pudding with lemon curd and put some on the outside. It’s excellent and served warm.

They’re located at 4857 NW Lake Road, Camas, Washington, 98607. Online at: www.thehammondkitchenandcraftbar.com

Photo Gallery

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Events: Get “All Shook Up“ With Elvis Tribute Artist This Weekend

Washougal WA — The Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance is asking the community to get “All Shook Up” about public art and plan to join the fun with Elvis tribute artist, Mark Stevenz, as he entertains on Saturday, April 28 from 7:30-9:30 pm at Los Dos Compadres Cantina at 1713 E Street, Washougal.

“We are looking forward to another fun-filled night with familiar music and lots of Elvis memories,” said WACA board member and event organizer, Joyce Lindsay. “We are also hoping to raise some money to bring more public art to Washougal.” A $10 suggested minimum donation will be requested at the door and a few prizes will be raffled.

The Mark Stevenz Elvis Tribute “Experience” has been called the ultimate tribute to the King! Stevenz’ ability to authentically replicate the shake of the hips, the curl of the lip, the power behind the vocals and get the audience on their feet. Combined with costuming to provide an experience authentic to the decade, Stevenz captivates the audience from the first note.

The Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance continues to grow, and encourages local citizens to learn more about local artists, and to join in their activities. For more information about WACA and public art in Washougal go to their website at www.washougalarts.org 

 

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Events: World-Famous Harlem Wizards Coming to Town April 18

Get ready, Clark County! A high-flying, slam-dunking, rim-rattling basketball show is coming to town!

The world-famous Harlem Wizards will visit Union High School on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 for an evening of great fun and fundraising. The Wizards will play a game against a team of Evergreen Public School administrators, teachers, community leaders, and community members. Proceeds will benefit Harmony Elementary.

The event will feature a variety of fun interactive extras to complement the Wizards’ dazzling demonstration of hoops artistry: Pregame “Wiz Kids” warm-up, contests, comedy, awesome slam dunks, audience participation, merchandise giveaways, and more. The game will conclude with the Wizards’ signature dance extravaganza that will have the crowd on their feet!

“We are excited to host the Wizards,” says Katrina Roberts, Harmony Elementary PTA President. “They are superb showmen who deliver fantastic all-ages entertainment for a great cause.”

Founded in 1962, the Wizards have played over 15,000 games throughout the US that have raised over $25 million for schools and charitable causes. The Wizards have also played in over 25 foreign countries on five continents

Tickets are priced as follows:

  • Student Admission – $10 (pre), $12 (door) General Admission – $15 (pre), $17 (door)
  • General Admission – $15 (pre), $17 (door)
  • Reserved – $25 (available only online) Courtside Plus – $35 (available only online)
  • Courtside Plus ticket holders receive first or second row seating and meet privately with selected Wizard players before the game for a meet-and-greet and show. Only 75 of CSP seats) Courtside Plus tickets are available.
    To purchase tickets, and for more information, visit www.harlemwizards.com
Wizards

Coming to Harmony on April 18.

The home team players will be thrilled to play in front of family, friends, and fans, and spectators will delight in seeing their beloved teachers, principals, and community leaders run the court. Come out and cheer – you will not want to miss this fantastic experience that will benefit our most precious resource: The kids!

About the Harlem Wizards

Howie Davis was a larger-than-life entrepreneur, impresario, promoter, and visionary whose passion for sports, entertainment, and philanthropy culminated with his creation of the Harlem Wizards in 1962.

The idea for the Wizards started in 1959, when legendary basketball showman Goose Tatum approached Howie to organize a tour for Goose’s “Harlem Stars.” The Stars had a short but successful run that opened Howie’s eyes to the enormous potential of “show” basketball. Three years later, Howie launched the Wizards.

Under Howie’s leadership, the Wizards grew into a choice basketball destination for some of America’s best basketball talent. As the team’s reputation spread, professional athletes from across the sports spectrum took notice and joined the Wizards’ roadshow:
• Connie Hawkins, one of the top 50 NBA players of all time
• Nate “Tiny” Archibald, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame
• Elvin Hayes, one of the top 50 NBA players of all time
• Hawthorne Wingo, a New York Knicks fan favorite
• Mario Elie, a three-time NBA champion
• Nancy Lieberman, a WNBA star and Hall of Fame member

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Beacon Rock Trail Turns 100 This Month; Heavy Foot Traffic Expected This Season

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Parks anticipates heavy use of Beacon Rock and Columbia Hills state parks this spring and summer and advises visitors to the area to plan accordingly.

The Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 damaged most of the Oregon trails in the Columbia River Gorge, and State Parks and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) trails are experiencing a significant increase in hikers and crowded parking on the Washington side of the Gorge.

Beacon Rock State Park lies 40 miles east of Portland. The park’s most popular trail up the side of 848-foot Beacon Rock, celebrates its 100-year anniversary this April. The park is also home to the challenging 7.5-mile Hamilton Mountain trail, a hike known for waterfalls and views.

Dalles Mountain Ranch, in Columbia Hills Historical State Parkand just across the Columbia River from The Dalles, Oregon, is a favorite wildflower hike in spring. The 8-mile hike features fields of lupine, balsamroot and Indian paintbrush.

Rangers at the two parks want to remind visitors that parking on State Route 14 is illegal. Safety issues caused by parking on the highway’s shoulder have prompted USFS to require limited weekend use permits and offer shuttles for the well-trodden Dog Mountain trail.

Parks staff encourages hikers to plan visits for midweek, early morning or late afternoon to avoid the high-volume weekend, holiday and mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours.

Beacon Rock staff reminds visitors that parking at the Doetsch day use area is available 1.5 miles from the Beacon Rock trailhead and 2 miles from the Hamilton Mountain trailhead, on the River to Rock Trail. Experienced hikers can use the Hardy Ridge Trail as an alternative to Hamilton Mountain, as the lesser-known trail offers slightly more elevation gain.

Additionally, technical rock climbing on Beacon Rock is closed, except for the west face and the route “Stone Soup” on the northwest face, and is expected to reopen in mid-July. The closure protects the nesting habitat of the peregrine falcon. The east face is permanently closed to protect rare species and cultural and historical resources.

Columbia Hills staff asks visitors to consider such lesser-known trails as Crawford Oaks and Horsethief Butte as alternatives to the Dalles Mountain Ranch, or to hike in nearby Brooks Memorial State Park and the Klickitat State Park Trail. Ample parking is available at Horsethief Lake inside Columbia Hills, but parking is minimal at most trailheads in the area.

To learn more, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/

Beacon

Hiking up Beacon Rock Trail.

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Events: Washougal Studio Artists Tour Coming Up Mother’s Day Weekend

Washougal, WA — Washougal area artists, representing a vast array of creative works and mediums, are opening their studio doors to offer a new family outing for Mother’s Day weekend, May 12-13, 2018, from 10 am – 5 pm. The first Washougal Studio Artists Tour includes 10 stops featuring 18 artists.

Angela Ridgway, mixed media metal artist, is the event coordinator and was thrilled and even a bit surprised to find so many high-quality artists in and around Washougal wanting to participate. “I knew we had a hidden wealth of artists living and working in Washougal, and I’m excited that so many want to open their studio doors to the public,” she said. “Studio tours are a wonderful way to see where the magic of creating art happens …”

Much of the tour route is along the scenic Washougal River and through the Washougal foothills. “It’s no wonder this area attracts such talent with so much natural beauty all around us,” she said. “It will also be a great way for tour visitors to discover some of that beauty in Washougal.”

According to Ridgway, other regional studio tours seem to be more centrally located in the Vancouver area, so it is more difficult for Washougal talent to be showcased. “But with a concentration of artists in Washougal, and a shorter tour route, it will be easier for these amazing artists to be accessible to tour visitors.”

Artists

Working hard.

The tour features the following: Angela Ridgway, mixed media metal; Anna Wiancko-Chasman, clay and wood; Anni Becker, acrylic and watercolor; Char McHugh, ceramics; Chris Brodigan, ceramics; Charlene Hale, fused glass and ceramics; Cyndee Starr, mixed media doodles; Deborah Roberts, colored pencil and acrylic; Jean Hauge, watercolor and pastel; John Furniss, wood; Kathy Beckman, acrylic; Lori Horner, oil and acrylic; Ryan Boomhower, tattoo and oil painting; Sharon Ballard, acrylic; Shirley Bishop, fused glass; Suzanne Grover, pastels and mixed media; Tamara Dinius, mixed media; and Toni McCarthy, jewelry.

You may preview their work and see the tour map on the Washougal Studio Artists website at www.WashougalStudioArtists.org

You may also follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Participating artists will also have copies of the map available, as well as many local businesses.

WSAT is sponsored in part by the City of Washougal hotel/motel tourism tax fund.

Photo Gallery

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