The Columbian: Community

WSU Vancouver expands food access through new partnership

The Columbian — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:58:49 +0000

SALMON CREEK — Washington State University Vancouver has officially been approved as a partner agency within the Clark County Food Bank network, marking a significant expansion of support for students.

Vancouver Dance Theatre celebrates 50 years

The Columbian — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:57:28 +0000

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Dance Theatre recently announced its landmark 50th performing season. The nonprofit has remained completely independent of any single dance studio. It’s driven by a single, powerful mission: to unite dancers of all backgrounds and studios into a collaborative, magical production of “The Nutcracker.”

Columbia Credit Union members raise $25,000 for Doernbecher

The Columbian — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:56:30 +0000

VANCOUVER — Columbia Credit Union recently announced the successful completion of its 2026 Credit Unions for Kids fundraising campaign benefiting OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The campaign raised $25,000 to support local children and families receiving care at Doernbecher.

Enspire Arts announces 2026-27 arts ambassadors

The Columbian — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:19:58 +0000

VANCOUVER — Enspire Arts recently announced its 2026-2027 arts ambassadors. The Arts Ambassador Program is a comprehensive, yearlong mentorship initiative for Clark County young artists dedicated to using the power of creativity for good.

Clark College student named 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar

The Columbian — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:13:27 +0000

CENTRAL PARK — Clark College recently announced that student Namika Miyagi has been named a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar, joining 200 students nationwide recognized for their academic achievement and pursuit of career-focused education.

Battle Ground business owner named 2026 Women in Printing Award winner

The Columbian — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:11:09 +0000

Jamie Young, owner and founder of Uptown Screen Printing in Battle Ground, has been named one of six recipients of the 2026 Women in Screen Printing Awards, presented by Screen Printing Magazine.

Vancouver artist selected for Pastel Society of America’s annual exhibition

The Columbian — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:11:07 +0000

VANCOUVER — American contemporary artist and Clark County resident Steven Palmer has been selected for inclusion in the Pastel Society of America’s 54th annual exhibition: “Enduring Brilliance!”, open online now and running through Sept. 24 at the historic National Arts Club on Gramercy Park in Manhattan.

Greater Vancouver Chamber names 2026 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

The Columbian — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:36:43 +0000

CAMAS — The Greater Vancouver Chamber recently announced Emma Turner as the 2026 Southwest Washington Lemonade Day Youth Entrepreneur of the Year.

Rose Society enjoys annual in-house rose show and supper

The Columbian — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:33:12 +0000

SHUMWAY — The Fort Vancouver Rose Society kicked off its fall/winter season of meetings and events Sept. 3 with its annual in-house rose show, themed “Wings and Roses,” along with a chicken wing potluck supper. The show highlighted the beauty of popular rose classes, including hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, miniatures/mini-floras, old garden roses and shrub roses.

Saving Grace Church provides 37 free haircuts at Community Cuts event

The Columbian — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:32:21 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene hosted its second-annual Community Cuts event, which provided 37 onsite haircuts, plus gift cards for four more at local salons. That’s 14 more than last year’s 23 onsite haircuts.

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity celebrates 35 years

The Columbian — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:56:48 +0000

WEST MINNEHAHA — Evergreen Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 35th anniversary with a community block party Aug. 30 hosted at their office location at its West Vancouver Habitat Store, 3200 N.E. 52nd St.

Ridgefield Lions club welcomes new member

The Columbian — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:46:27 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield Lions welcomed a new member at the club’s Aug. 26 meeting. Jennifer Fletcher was the new initiate. She is joined by her sponsor, T.J Wilcox-Olson, Ridgefield Lions President Stacy Mueller and officiant Stephen Staudinger from the Battle Ground Lions, who is Past District Governor. The Ridgefield Lions Club is open to new members who want to help the community.

Dick Hannah surprises Walnut Grove Elementary teachers with $10,000 donation

The Columbian — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:03:14 +0000

WALNUT GROVE — Dick Hannah Subaru surprised teachers at Walnut Grove Elementary School with a celebratory lunch to kick off the new school year, during which the dealership presented a $10,000 contribution and school supply kits. The donation was made through the Subaru Loves Learning initiative in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org.

North County Community Food Bank receives new canopy

The Columbian — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:41:25 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — The North County Community Food Bank provides food assistance and resources to 30,000 individuals each year. The organization’s ability to serve the community is made possible through donations, community partnerships and the dedication of its 85 hardworking volunteers.

Washougal recognized as JustServe City

The Columbian — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:32:16 +0000

WASHOUGAL — The city of Washougal on Monday was recognized as a JustServe City. The honor recognizes the many ways residents and organizations volunteer throughout the community.

Camas Lions deliver custom mobility trainer to Vancouver child

The Columbian — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:32:15 +0000

CAMAS — On Aug. 9, the Camas Lions Club delivered a custom 3D-printed toddler mobility trainer to Benjamin, a 5-year-old boy from Vancouver, through a collaborative partnership with MakeGood and local Lions Club members.

Assistance League hosts annual back-to-school shopping event

The Columbian — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:28:27 +0000

HUDSON’S BAY — The Assistance League of Southwest Washington hosted its 13th Annual Back-to-School Shopping Event in August at Grand Central Fred Meyer. Thanks to the generosity of the community and Fred Meyer’s support, 100 youth in out-of-home care each received $175 to spend on school clothing and shoes, which they took home in a colorful cloth shopping bag hand crafted by Assistance League volunteers.

Ridgefield Lions Club honors four with highest award

The Columbian — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:27:19 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — The Melvin Jones Fellow Award is the International Lions Club’s most prestigious recognition that a local club can give. It is named after the founder of the organization and is given to Lions or members of the community for exceptional service.

Saving Grace Church hosts vendors during Harvest Days

The Columbian — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:38:35 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene hosted about 20 vendors on its property on July 18 during Battle Ground’s annual Harvest Days.

Battle Ground Senior Citizens, Home Instead collect clothing, essentials for veterans

The Columbian — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:37:53 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — Battle Ground Senior Citizens Inc. joined forces with Home Instead to collect clothing and essentials for veterans through the Christmas in July donation drive.

Miss Teen La Center Pageant crowns 2026 court

The Columbian — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:03:33 +0000

LA CENTER — Celebrating 23 years, the Miss Teen La Center Pageant, now including north county, crowned its new court on July 18 at La Center Middle School. Anneliese Oswald is 14 and will be a freshman at La Center High School in the fall. Bella Mercurio is 15 and will be a sophomore at La Center High School in the fall. Queen Makayla Daniels is 16 and will be a junior at Woodland High School in the fall. Emma Crumbaker is 14 and will be a freshman this fall. Annabelle Ohman is 14 and will be a freshman at La Center High School this fall.

Ridgefield Lions gather notes and donations for service members

The Columbian — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:51:26 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield Lions Club gathered notes for service members along with donations for care packages at the Fourth of July celebration downtown.

PSU students visit Furry Friends cat shelter

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:10:08 +0000

VANCOUVER – Professor Kimberly Mukobi and students from Portland State University paid a visit to Furry Friends cat shelter on July 18. Mukobi is teaching a class on Art for Animal Empathy. The students are tasked with coming up with creative ways to show what is going on with the animal community. They will be using photography, video, graphics and other creative tools to show how Furry Friends is helping the cats in our community through spay and neuter, rescuing the homeless, neglected and abused cats, and adopting the cats and kittens out to good homes.

Community celebrates completion of wetland restoration at Heritage Farm

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:03:40 +0000

HAZEL DELL – On June 17, approximately 50 members of the community gathered to celebrate the completion of Clark County’s Heritage Farm Wetland Restoration Project. The project restores a wetland at the headwaters of Cougar Creek that was ditched and drained more than a century ago, when such practices were commonplace. The restored wetland features eight “cells” that provide wetland functions and a 35-foot wetland buffer with native plants.

WSU Vancouver alumna selected for Nuclear Abolition Leadership Program

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:03:00 +0000

FOUR CREEKS – Courtney Boswell, an organizer with the Collective for Social and Environmental Justice at Washington State University Vancouver and an alumna of the university, has been selected to participate in the 2026 Dr. David Hall Emerging Leaders in Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program, an intensive leadership initiative hosted by Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.