Vancouver Family Magazine June 2022 by Vancouver Family Magazine

Free June 2022

Local Filmmaker

Dru Holley

on Bringing History to Life

Different Types of Dads and Why We Love Them All

Ridgefield Raptors:

Rooting for the Home Team

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

contents

June '22

FEATURE ARTICLES

Buffalo Soldiers Our exclusive interview with local filmmaker Dru Holley on bringing little known history to life.

Root, Root, Root for the Ridgefield Raptors The hometown team is back in action this summer with a new field, new fans and fun for the whole family.

Different Kinds of Dads and Why We Love Them What "type" of dad are you? From Responsible Dad to Affectionate Dad, we show why we love them all.

IN EVERY ISSUE 6

Editor’s Notes

Couve Scoop

• New Life for Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge • Marshall Leadership Awards Recipients • Kilnfolk Clay Studio Grand Opening

8 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Mosaic Family Voyage Follow the Messerschmidt family as they visit the U.S. before crossing back to Baja

32 Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB •

Celebrating Diversity: Local LGBTQ+ Organizations Provide Support and Education

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Photo by Marie Pham Photography

EDITOR'S NOTES

Trust the Process

In the summer of 2018, 12 members of a youth boys’ soccer team and one of their coaches entered the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in their homeland of Thailand and became trapped when flooding blocked their exit. For two weeks, the world watched as teams were assembled and plans were hatched to rescue the group in what would eventually become a complex process of anesthetizing each of the boys, fitting them into proper diving gear and moving them underwater, while unconscious, to safety. Miraculously, all 12 boys and their coach were successfully rescued and survived the ordeal, though a Thai Navy Seal rescue diver died on his return trip out of the cave after delivering oxygen tanks to the stranded group while they awaited rescue. In a recent episode of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans,” host Dr. Maya Shankar interviewed Dr. Richard “Harry” Harris, a man with a skill set so unique as to make him one of the only people in the world who could make the mission work: Harris is both an anesthesiologist and expert cave diver. He was contacted by a fellow cave diver who summoned him from Australia to Thailand, he heeded the call, and he and the rest of the rescue team were lauded as heroes. Toward the end of the interview, Drs. Shankar and Harris considered an alternate ending to the story. “I can’t help but wonder how things would have been for you had things turned out slightly differently, and if the kids had been severely injured, or even died,” Dr. Shunkar mused. “The public’s reaction, your own reaction, would have been the complete opposite, even though it was the same decision-making process at play. We often assess the quality of our decisions based on their outcomes, not the actual quality of the decision-making process . . . [but] even if it had been a failure, your plan you came up with with your team may actually still have been the best plan.” Dr. Harris replied, “I think about that a lot . . . I’m quite cynical about some of the stuff that has happened to us subsequently—the awards and the accolades, the label of hero and courage and all this stuff. If even one of those children had died, the perception of us and the event would be wildly different, and certainly my judgment of myself would also be wildly different. I don’t think I’d be talking to you today.”

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 21, Issue 6 Publisher

Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Editor

Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Associate Editor

Sarah Mortensen Sarah@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Kristen Flowers, Rachel Messerschmidt, Sarah Mortensen, Nikki Klock

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sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2022. All rights reserved. No portion of Vancouver Family Magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC and staff do not recommend or endorse any service, product, or content represented in this magazine or on our website. The sole purpose of this publication is to provide information on available services and/or products. It is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of information given. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC, and/or Julie Buchan and Nikki Klock and staff do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this magazine or on our website. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Sometimes a twist of fate is the only difference between what our society deems a success or a failure, an honor or a shame. It’s up to each of us to trust our own decision-making process and let the results follow. This month, meet a local filmmaker whose decision to direct his first feature film is bringing little known history to life (page 12), find out where you can root for the success of Clark County’s home baseball team (page 20) and join us in honoring all kinds of dads (page 26).

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

On the Cover:

Dru Holley of Vancouver and his daughter, Andrea, love daddy daughter ice cream dates. Andrea loves to sing and Dru loves to listen. Turn to page 12 for our exclusive interview with Dru about his new historical documentary. Photo by Shonda Rochelle Photography www.shondarochelle.com 206.605.0057 IG: @shondarochellephotography

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Notable News, Events & Efforts in Clark County

New Life for Steigerwald Lake

JUNE 2022

esidents R

and visitors of east Clark County have a whole new natural world to explore. After a three-year ecological revitalization closure, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) reopened to the public in May. Located just east of Washougal, the refuge is the western gateway to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and home to a variety of fish, fowl and other wildlife. Central to the project was reconnecting Gibbons Creek to the refuge’s flood plain—a connection that was lost decades ago when the creek was manually rerouted from its original flow through an elevated canal, bypassing the Steigerwald wetlands and starving nearby wildlife of nutrients and deposits. In addition to the Gibbons Creek reconnection project, a new trail system in the refuge now includes one additional mile of trail, two new footbridges and additional viewpoints.

KILNFOLK Grand Opening

A brand new clay studio has opened in Downtown Vancouver,

offering pottery painting and clay classes—and the best part is, child care is on-site for your little ones to play while you create! Kilnfolk Clay Studio and Gallery celebrated its grand opening on April 30, welcoming the community to enjoy the beautiful space and experience the joy of creating one-of-a-kind art. Founder Faith Odman discovered clay arts herself at Yakima Community College seven years ago. “I just loved spending all of my spare time in the studio and have craved it ever since,” she said. From Yakima she went on to earn a business degree from George Fox University, then to work as operations manager for a couple of different startups. But pottery was still calling her name. “I was tired of working from home and recognized a need in myself and others to have some in-person activities after these last few years of isolation.” Odman chose Downtown Vancouver for the location for her clay studio, based on its “amazing atmosphere” and proximity to other arts-centric organizations and locations like Firehouse Glass, Vancouver Farmers Market, Esther Short Park and nearby restaurants. Kilnfolk is currently offering pottery painting and firing, plus a variety of classes for kids up to adults, including Family Clay, a two-hour time slot with guided instruction for kids and adults together, and Mindful Clay, “a relaxing hand-building class with an emphasis on slowing down, contemplation and mindfulness practices. It can be thought of as ‘yoga with clay.’” Senior Clay, Kids Clay, birthday party packages and Date Night “Throwdown” (wheel throwing) are also available to book. Kids Club child care for kids under age 7 is available during most class times for $8-$10 per hour. Coming soon will be a multiweek art program designed for home-school curriculum and memberships for experienced potters to get more time on the wheel. Kilnfolk is open Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-6 pm at 108 W 6th St. in Vancouver. Learn more at kilnfolkclay.com. Artists young and old enjoy creating one-of-a-kind works of art at Kilnfolk in Downtown Vancouver. Photos courtesy Kilnfolk.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Left: A view of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge Right: Volunteers help plant various native species plants at Steigerwald NWR. Photos courtesy of Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership

The restored region is now poised to be a much more ecologically welcoming place for all. “As wetland habitat improves,” says the National Wildlife Refuge System’s website, refuge2020.info, “so too will the quality of life for Refuge neighbors, through flood protection, jobs, and the health benefits of a deeper connection to nature.” The Refuge will close again briefly in August and September 2022 to finalize construction.

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Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to see a series of videos about Steigerwald Lake NWR’s revitalization project.

Marshall Leadership Awards

Ridgefield

High School senior Charlie Fisher and architectural designer Naleigha Williams of LSW Architects were honored at the 2022 annual General George C. Marshall Awards on April 26. The Marshall Leadership Awards celebrate and support local rising leaders who, like General Marshall, demonstrate integrity, candor, courage and preparedness while serving a greater good.

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“The Historic Trust is honored to steward the 32nd annual The Marshall Awards,” said board chair of The Historic Trust, Linda Glover, at the ceremony. “We take seriously our role in developing emerging leaders. The Marshall Awards celebrate the quality of leadership this community experiences, as represented by the extraordinary caliber of the nominees, and stretches back all the way to the establishment of the Fort and to the Tribal peoples of our region who are still here today.” The Historic Trust presents the annual awards on behalf of the City of Vancouver’s Celebrate Freedom program. Fisher stood out among a record number of remarkable youth applicants due to her passion for education as a way to build bridges, and her service to young people. Described as humble, smart and enthusiastic, Williams was recognized for her dedication in seeking out opportunities for youth and for developing the skills of those around her. Both leaders share an intrinsic value of leading with grace and transparency, while maintaining their core beliefs, and believe that true forward movement only happens when all boats are lifted. Each recipient was awarded a $3,500 scholarship for continuing education or professional development.

Ridgefield High School senior Charlie Fisher (left) and architectural designer Naleigha Williams of LSW Architects (right) were each recently awarded a 2022 annual General George C. Marshall Award. Photos courtesy of The Historic Trust.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

o ur V i s a s a n d g n i w e n Re

Crossing Back to Baja

With about four weeks to spare on our six-month Mexican tourist visas, we prepared our floating home for a week-long absence, packed just a couple changes of clothes each, and flew from Mazatlán on the mainland Pacific Mexican coast up to the U.S. border at Tijuana. Our flight was on a Thursday night; we landed and then walked across the USA-Mexico border into San Diego. We spent that Friday picking up a rental car and driving north up past Los Angeles and into wine country. We’d coordinated our trip into the U.S. for a chance to see my husband’s brother, Cameron, along with his girlfriend and their new baby. Little Mila Jade was born last November, and for obvious reasons, we’d never yet had a chance to meet her. My brother-in-law is a professional disc golfer and was playing that weekend in a tournament near Solvang, California. When we’d learned that he would be there with his family in tow, we adjusted our plans so that we would get a chance to meet up with them.

Our kids were absolutely smitten with adorable little Mila from the first moment they met her. It was a really nice break for us to get that chance to spend a day and a half hanging out with family. We watched him play a round of disc golf on Saturday in a beautiful park under a gorgeous blue sky and that evening went out to dinner and spent hours just passing the time together. After our visit with family, we spent a couple days running “U.S. errands”—seeking out and purchasing some items to make our lives aboard Mosaic easier which are not readily available to us in Mexico. Then we walked back across the border into Tijuana, renewed our six-month visas, and took a flight back to Mazatlán. Back at the boat, we readied ourselves for our longest passage in a while. We would be crossing back across the Gulf of California, the bottom of the Sea of Cortez, from Mazatlán to La Paz in Baja California Sur. It would take us two full days and nights to get across. Lots of friends had made the same, or similar, passages recently and had seen loads of wildlife so we were hopeful of catching some glimpses ourselves. continued on next page

Page 10, top: The author's daughter, Kali, watches a booby, a common seabird in the Sea of Cortez, as it hitches a ride aboard their boat to rest through the night. Bottom left: The author's husband and kids meet the newest addition to the family, Mila. Bottom right: The author's children, Kali and Evan, along with their uncle, Cameron, and their cousin, Mila, in the stroller at Cameron's disc golf tournament.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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We left from Mazatlán at about 10 a.m. on a Wednesday. We had light winds, directly on our nose, and we motored for the first day and night with just our mainsail up for stability. We didn’t see much in the realm of wildlife, save for a few turtles, some sea birds, and one strange unidentified fin that was spotted by Brenden and Kali. We were excited, but we had no idea what it might have been! The next morning, we had better wind and we raised our headsail and turned off the engine. Ahhh, the beautiful calm of the engine going quietly to rest and the water burbling along the hull as we glided serenely through the ocean waters. We had wonderful wind and sailed comfortably for that entire day. We had to turn the engine back on and motor through the night, but we had a lovely bright, nearly full moon to keep us company on our solo night watches. We take turns sleeping and staying awake while underway to make sure everything goes according to plan.

day. We chose a beautiful little bay just outside of the main town of La Paz, dropped our anchor and took naps. In the afternoon, we awoke to admire the stunning beauty of the gorgeous blue waters that were so missed during our time spent on the mainland side. Baja was welcoming us back and we are ready for this next chapter in our adventures: exploring north up into the Sea of Cortez!

Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives living and cruising full time aboard their 40-foot sailboat, Mosaic. They’ve traveled down the US West Coast and have been cruising in Mexico since November of 2021. Rachel shares her family’s adventures on her blog at www.mosaicvoyage.com and on Facebook and Instagram @mosaicvoyage. She writes a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.

The next morning, we started to approach land and our internet signal came in. We began checking the satellite tracker links for various friends in the area and trying to decide where to land for the Mosaic sitting at anchor in the gorgeous turquoise blue waters of Playa Pichilingue after arriving from their passage crossing the Sea of Cortez.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Feature: Buffalo Soldiers

Local Filmmaker Dru Holley Brings Little Known History to Life By Nikki Klock

Animation still shot from “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts." Photo courtesy Dru Holley and Ryan Davis.

in their formal education, most American schoolchildren learn familiar stories of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. From the American Revolution to the Civil War to the Spanish-American War and other later conflicts, remembered history has been curated by those with the power and freedom to publish it. But a Vancouver filmmaker has been working for years to shine a light on lesser-known American history and the hidden figures who have shaped our nation. Dru Holley is the director of a new d o c u m e n t a r y, “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts,” which premiered at Seattle International Film Festival Film Director Dru Holley (SIFF) in April. The film tells the history of racially segregated Black military units (or “Buffalo Soldiers” as they were nicknamed by Indigenous

Photo courtesy Dru Holley

AT SOME POINT

peoples), and their fight for both America’s national survival and their own personal civil rights while enduring Jim Crow discrimination. The film weaves the stories of a few specific individuals who served in the U.S. military to illustrate the plight of Black Americans serving in the military from the Civil War into the 20th century. One of the featured individuals is Moses Williams, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Indian Wars and who spent his last months in Vancouver, died in 1899 and is buried in the Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery. I sat down with Holley on the Monday following “Buffalo Soldiers”’s SIFF premier to talk about the process of directing his first feature film, America’s complex racial history and what he’s got planned for his next project. NK: How did you get started in the film industry? DH: I’ve always loved films, I’m a history buff, and I’m a hustler. The combination of those three things drew me to the

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

film industry where I could focus on historical documentary filmmaking. I have an associate’s degree in broadcasting from the Art Institute of Colorado and a certificate in project management, but most of my education came from on the job training, which I think is definitely the best approach to learn the different functions. You’ve got to start as a PA [production assistant] and then find where you work best . . . there’s hair and makeup, there’s line producer which is different from a regular producer. We want to give opportunities in my [video production] company, Black Bald [Films], to see all these different positions and find the best one that works for you. NK: So many of those skills are brought to bear in filmmaking, which I noticed in your documentary “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts.” There’s incredible animation, there’s expert interviews with historians, there was reenactment footage which brings in costumes . . . continued on page 14

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Feature: Buffalo Soldiers (cont'd) continued from page 12

DH: Yes, we must have had, maybe 30-50 people working on different tasks for this project, like set design, hair and makeup, research archives, sound design and color correction. NK: What inspired you to make “Buffalo Soldiers” specifically? DH: While I was a production assistant [in Tacoma] I was also volunteering at the Langston Hughes Film Festival Juneteenth Celebration. I brought my 6-year-old daughter with me so she could learn about the rich Black culture too. While I was getting footage she was wandering around and I heard her say, “Ooh, horsies!” I looked up from the camera and saw these black cowboys [Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle], looking like they were straight out of the 19th century, galloping down the hill on horseback. I was in awe. She asked, “Who are they, daddy?” And I kinda forgot who they were. I thought of the Bob Marley song “Buffalo Soldiers,” and it dawned on me. I was embarrassed that I forgot who they were, and sad that my kid may not have ever known who they were had I not brought her with me that day. So, it started as a promotional video for them, and then it just grew into this history doc. I realized that somebody should tell this story. Why not me?

NK: So you got this idea, you were inspired. How do you start? How does this vision start to come together?

here, including all these historians who knew about this history. So it actually came together, I think, pretty good.

DH: At first I didn’t know how to start so I just started asking around to see who would support a project like this. Then I was learning on the fly how to get sponsorships, organizational support and donors. I remember I got my first grant in 2018 from the Grand Cinema for $500 and I thought, “Oh my gosh, I made it! Yo, it’s over now!” It was everything to me. I remember being up late, like, “Damn, am I going to get this support? Am I kidding myself right now? Is this a joke? Am I a joke, to even try to make this?” I dealt with doubt a lot, in the course of making this. Finding the funding was difficult. But when we moved to Vancouver, where one of the film’s main characters, Moses Williams is buried, I became a local filmmaker and we got a lot more support. We started filming in 2019 which was fairly quick. I started gathering different interview subjects. There was a lot more history here than I had originally thought. As I was looking for the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle who inspired me, I ran into the Buffalo Soldiers Museum and Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club in Tacoma and the Moses Williams Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers [which is located] in Portland. I learned there was so much

NK: The film features amazing historical archive photos, images and documents. How did you access all of that? DH: One person did all of that. Yeah, he’s amazing. His name is Dave Hedberg, [research producer], and I couldn’t have done this project without him. He’s actually been on the project the whole time. And there’s more images than what you see in the film. We have so many that didn’t even make the cut. Dave is a force . . . Over eight cuts, he found different images for different roads that we were going down that we didn’t end up going down . . . We [featured] the most historical Black soldiers of any project. continued on page 16

Photos from clockwise: National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson is one of the interview subjects in “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts". Historic photos and movie poster from “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts.” Photos courtesy Dru Holley and Ryan Davis.

Black Bald Films pres

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BUFFALO SOLDIERS:

FIGHTING ON TWO

FRONTS

Directed by Dru Holle y 2022 | Documentary | 58 mins | www.buffa losoldiersmovie.com

Publicity contact: Ryan

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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Feature: Buffalo Soldiers (cont'd) continued from page 14

NK: Of the stories and figures you highlight in the film, was there a specific one that spoke to you personally? DH: There was one that spoke to me personally, and it was David Fagan. He was in the Filipino Wars and he defected to the Filipino Army during a real contentious time in America. And that’s a story that I hope to dive into a bit more, hopefully write a narrative feature about it. NK: He was not featured prominently in the film. What attracts you to his story, specifically? DH: During that time in America when Black military men and women were fighting on two fronts, dealing with civil rights issues here at home, he recognized what America was trying to do to the Filipinos and decided to fight with the people who looked like him, instead of for a country that didn’t love him. That just speaks to who I am. I’m a bit of a rebel, [and I want to] fight on the side of good. NK: Along those lines, the film does get into the complicated nature of race in America, Indigenous peoples

being forced from their ancestral lands and some of the conflicts that Black soldiers were ordered to fight in. What would you say about that intersection? What was that like, sharing the history of people of color being forced to fight against other people of color? DH: The Indian Wars [and Buffalo Soldiers being ordered to force Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands through Black regiment military actions] wasn’t something that I knew at the beginning of this project. And then I learned about plantations being replicated in Liberia by formerly enslaved people and about the colonization of the Philippines. I wasn’t in this film to make a promotional video, I was in this film to make a historical documentary. So we’re making a historical documentary, and that comes with complex history, it comes with seeing different perspectives and it comes with telling the truth. NK: Did you consult with any Indigenous tribes about telling parts of the story of their removal? DH: Yeah, we definitely talked to tribes. But we’re talking to tribes up here in the

"...we’re making a historical documentary, and that comes with complex history, it comes with seeing different perspectives and it comes with telling the truth."

Pacific Northwest, and they can’t speak for tribes in the Plains [whose story is also told in the documentary]. They’re not all just one people. And a lot of folks just like you and me didn’t know this history, and so [viewers] are going to be learning a lot of this too . . . I’m sure some of the Buffalo Soldiers empathized with the Natives, but I’m sure some of the Buffalo Soldiers were happy that they weren’t the ones being oppressed and got to do some of the oppression themselves. People are people, no matter what time it is. NK: Film critic Josiah Teal of Film Threat gave you your first ever review just ahead of the SIFF premier, scoring “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts” a 6/10. He wrote, “Despite its significance, how does the film distinguish itself from the 7th grade Social Studies documentary? You know, the one your teacher put on that time when they ran out of episodes of ‘The Men Who Built America.’ Unfortunately, ‘Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts’ falls into the same trap countless historical documentaries fall into: the classic/ cliché old photos, reenactments and professors talking heads, sitting in chairs format. Now, rinse and repeat until the credits roll.” Ouch! DH: I think the review hit the nail on the head. I set out to make something that would be used in that way. I did something for America. I made this film for us, so that scholars can use it and call on it for information. And for our children to absorb it into their consciousness [while] learning history. So, thank you! That’s what I went to make. That was my objective. If I can make that on my first film and get into SIFF which I planned on doing—mission accomplished. continued on page 18

Still shot from “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts” featuring a historic photo of a Black American military regimen. Photo credit: Ryan Davis and Dru Holley

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Feature: Buffalo Soldiers (cont'd) continued from page 16

NK: Are there plans for it to be distributed widely? What is the future for this film? DH: I know what this film is. I’m not trying to get on HBO Max or Netflix. It’s a historical film. We’re working with PBS on our distribution contract right now, and we will be working with PBS educational distribution as well on getting it into schools and building a curriculum. [We’ll also] be doing tours and screenings. We’ll be [touring at] some HBCUs [Historically Black Colleges and Universities such as Howard University]. NK: What’s next for you? DH: My next film [will be] called “New Slave.” Cheap prison labor is everything for the four thousand corporations that profit from mass incarceration in the United States. Corporations . . . use forced prison labor to make their companies richer while

exploiting prisoners for pennies on the dollar. [It will be] more contemporary. But also historical in a lot of ways . . . We’re developing it, finding our access, finding the people we’re going to talk to. We want to represent a lot of different perspectives in an unbiased way. People from the milk company to lumber yards, all over, are using prison labor. They’re incentivized to keep the prison population full to keep this labor going. Some [incarcerated] people can feel like they’re learning important skills that they can use outside of the prisons, and they’re able to work. NK: What else do you want to share with our readers? DH: Every day . . . when I drive by the Vancouver Post Cemetery, I pass by Moses Williams’s grave, and all those vets. I hope that what

Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com/ Buffalo-Soldiers to see a trailer for Dru Holley's documentary, “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts”

Left: Moses Williams' grave site at Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery. Photo credit: Nikki Klock Right: Ordnance Sergeant Moses Williams between 1886 and 1898. Williams' official Medal of Honor citation reads: "Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running flight of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least 3 of his comrades." Photo credit: U.S. National Archives

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

we did is something that they would be proud of. And I know I couldn’t have gotten through this project without this city and the people in this city . . . I couldn’t have got through it without Vancouver . . . Roots down. This will always be home.

Nikki Klock is the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine. She loves reading, running, eating chocolate and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Feature: Root, Root, Root for the Ridgefield Raptors

ROOT, ROOT, ROOT

FOR THE

RIDGEFIELD

By Kristen Flowers

There is something about walking into a ballpark that can send

a person back to their childhood: the familiar metallic ding ringing out when a baseball connects with a metal bat, the smell of grilled hot dogs wafting through the stands and the excitement brewing from the fans as the national anthem blares through the stadium. Baseball is America’s pastime for a reason, and now it’s come to Southwest Washington.

The Ridgefield Raptors are a West Coast League Baseball team that plays nearly 30 home games between June and August. The team is comprised of high-level college players who use the team to develop their skills and hone their craft before going back to their university teams at the end of the summer. Teams like the Raptors are invaluable for these college athletes because many use the training and the development they get from the Raptors to be drafted by Major League Baseball teams.

The Ridgefield Raptors are our home team, and while they are here to stay, they did not have an easy start. As a relatively new team, the Ridgefield Raptors played their first season in 2019. This budding organization was just finding its footing in the community when everything came to a screeching halt in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic managed to kill whatever momentum the community was building toward the new team.

Head coach Chris Cota believes that having a team like this in Southwest Washington makes a huge impact—and not just on the players. “To be able to go to the park and see quality baseball right in your backyard is, I think, a pretty good experience for the community.”

The organization sat patiently by, but after getting the all-clear to gather and play again, the entire team wondered if fans would still be there. Did people still want to see baseball in Ridgefield?

Time to Play Ball The fans rallied behind the team when they could play again, filling the blue and orange stands at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreational Complex (RORC). Each year, the team’s lineup looks a little different, but the blue circle with the large orange “R” in the middle of it behind home plate remains a constant reminder that Southwest Washington has a home team.

Since its inception, Cota has been with the Raptors and baseball is in his blood. When he was old enough to pick up a glove, he trained with his brother and father. After playing professional baseball in minor league teams, he became a coach. He’s been helping young athletes in their careers for over 30 years now. “It’s a game that I’ve always loved, and it’s done so much for me that I appreciate it,” he shares. The fans enjoy the game just as much. “We’ve had big followers since day one, and I see many of the same people out at a lot of the games and have gotten to know some of them,” says Cota. “It’s been a great experience. Not only for me, but for the fans to be able to go to the park every night.”

Affordable Family Fun Raptor super-fan and season ticket holder, Michael Bomar, may sit in the stands, but he feels the excitement every time he sets foot into the ballpark. “I think I’m one of the largest spenders at continued on page 22

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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Feature: Root, Root, Root for the Ridgefield Raptors (cont'd) continued from page 20

the concession stand, [on] apparel, and things like that. So, you’ll see me out in the community, whether in Vancouver or Ridgefield wearing Raptor gear quite a bit.” The love of baseball runs deep in Bomar, too. He played for the University of Washington and went on to play minor league with the Padres’ organization. As the director of economic development for the Port of Vancouver, he doesn’t play professionally anymore. Yet, that hasn’t stopped him from passing down his love of the game to his kids. He rides his bike with his kids to many home games and watches as they meet up with their friends at the stadium and interact with the players. Being there to support the Raptors as a family is essential to Bomar. “I have seen in communities, both as a baseball player and professionally, how the brand of a community identifying with a sports team really creates a lot of positive momentum both inside and outside the community. I’ve seen that certainly happen in Ridgefield, and being able to associate and root for a team is a unifying factor in a community. It created the opportunity for business exposure as fans come to the game, but it’s also a great gathering place where people outside of the game can connect, support each other and just enjoy being outside.” For Bomar, sitting down and seeing high-level baseball players who are playing for younger viewers is what keeps him coming back. “The Ridgefield Raptors have really set the tone of being family-friendly and a gathering place for the entire community,” he says. That family-first tone remains deeply ingrained in the Ridgefield Raptors’ organization. It’s a commitment that they strive for at each game, and it comes from the top down. “It’s really about community and making a difference at a grassroots level and putting out a good product that’s affordable family entertainment, that the Southwest Washington community can enjoy and get behind,” says Gus Farah, executive vice president of operations for the Raptors.

Hosting a Hometown Hero Driven by his love of the game, Farah helped launch the team after seeing its need in the community. “Ridgefield is obviously growing very quickly. It’s a top-growing city in the state of Washington. This is an amenity that Southwest Washington has not had, and it’s something the community is getting behind and feeling like it’s their own. It’s the home team. We’re building fans one at a time, and they really got behind the team.” Just being in the stands helps the organization, but some fans have taken their love of the Ridgefield Raptors to a whole new level. One way fans show their support for the team is by opening up their homes and becoming host families for the players. Since the Ridgefield Raptors are a summer league team played by current university athletes, they don’t take a salary. The development and training they get are worth the experience, but the lack of a paycheck brings about a challenge. They don’t have a place to stay when they come to town to play ball, and they can’t afford one on their own. They rely on host families that will give them a bed, a place to stay during home games and a refrigerator they can raid. It’s a kind of tradeoff common in the baseball and hockey worlds. The players benefit from this type of agreement, but Farah says the host families do as well. “You get these young kids in who are forming their lives and going on to be a professional in the business world or be a professional baseball player.”

Camps for Kids While not everyone can be a host family, Bomar brings his kids to the stadium for both education and fun. “The opportunity to connect and see high-level athletes and just baseball, but in general, to see those who are committed to their craft, really helps them see the pathway of what they could do. Whether it’s baseball or something else, it’s just really fun for them to be able to experience that. They get to see and learn about different colleges because of the locations where the players come from, around the region but also around the country. It’s a really good opportunity for them to understand other areas, other spaces, and what it means to commit to excellence.” One way the team provides this kind of outreach is through baseball camps, led by Ridgefield Raptors and coaching staff. Kids who participate learn from the players many of the basics like hitting, fielding, pitching and running base drills. It’s a chance to get the kids continued on page 24

Left: L to R - Hunter Held, Brady Bomar, Audri Bomar, Gwen Bomar, Raptors Player Andrew Troppman, Ella Bomar, Mike Bomar. Right: Rally the Raptor (mascot) with Gwen Bomar.

Photo credits: Mike Bomar

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

SAVE THE DATE FOR FAMILY FUN IN VANCOUVER

EVENTS

Waterfront Park Concert Series

Presented by Riverview Community Bank Fridays | 6-8 p.m. | July 8 through August 12 Vancouver Waterfront Park (695 Waterfront Park)

Sunday Sounds Concert Series Presented by Columbia Tech Center and iQ Credit Union Sundays | 6-8 p.m. | July 10 through August 14 Columbia Tech Center Park (SE Sequoia Cir. at SE Tech Center Dr.)

Movies in the Parks Presented by HAPO Community Credit Union and Country Financial Fridays | July 8 through August 12 Activities start at 7 p.m., movies at dusk Visit a new park each week

All events are free & family friendly

VISIT cityofvancouver.us/Events Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Feature: Root, Root, Root for the Ridgefield Raptors (cont'd) continued from page 22

active and learn from some of the best college athletes in the country. Those kids in the baseball camps could play for the team one day. Coach Cota remembers a 19-year-old who watched the Raptors from the stands last summer that has since worked hard and earned a spot on the team. He believes it’s a dream anyone can achieve as long as the person works hard.

Learn more about the Raptors’ home field, the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreational Complex (RORC) at VancouverFamilyMagazine.com/ ridgefield-outdoor-recreation-complex

Community Connections As COVID impacts decrease, Southwest Washingtonians want to connect again and many are reconnecting around the Raptors. Even if you don’t know much about baseball, it’s still fun to be at a game. “It’s a very welcoming ballpark,” says Cota. Easily accessible to everyone in Clark County, there is something for everyone where happy memories are sure to be made. Whether old and young, eating crackerjacks and bringing a mitt to catch fly balls or enjoying a beer with adult friends makes for an enjoyable summer night. Since food is synonymous with baseball, the Community Building at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreational Complex is where you’ll find all the hot dogs, Papa Murphy’s pizza, popcorn and beer. On the second floor is the Home Plate Club, a 2,500-squarefoot community room with a small kitchen, tables and chairs. It overlooks the baseball field and is the perfect place to book for business outings, birthday parties, or just a place to gather with friends.

If You Build It, We Will Come With summer already begun, there is plenty of time to join other fans in the stands, absorb the sunshine, and cheer for the home team. The Raptors are ready, and Southwest Washington is, too. “They come and visit the park and watch games because it’s their team,” says Farah, “and it’s something that’s been missing.”

Vancouver Mayo

The Ridgefield Raptors season runs June 1 through August 15 (depending on playoffs). Ticket prices are tiered, starting at just $7 and can be purchased online at www.ridgefieldraptors.com or at the door the day of the game. Local businesses can also get in on the action by sponsoring the team. Learn more at ridgefieldraptors. com.

Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, www.AccordingtoKristen.com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her new Cricut maker.

r Anne McEnern

Photo credit Ridgefi eld Raptors

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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Feature: Different Kinds of Dads and Why We Love Them

Different Kinds of Dads and Why We Love Them By Sarah Mortensen

My brother is a single dad

who has his 8-year-old daughter nearly 100% of the time. He works, cleans, shops, cooks and parents all by himself every single day. I have seen him in action many times before, but I am always amazed at his juggling act. Case in point: last fall we took a trip to Disneyland, staying in a large family suite, with grandma and grandpa too. Every morning he woke up early to work on his laptop before the park opened so he could enjoy the day with us and with his daughter, without interruptions.

Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna at pexels.com

Dads, whether single or partnered, wear many hats simultaneously. The role of “dad” and what is expected of them has changed over the years, with more men taking on childcare and housework in addition to working. Many think this is a

step in the right direction for women and partners; however, it’s just as beneficial for children. Research has shown that what children want from their dad hasn’t changed in almost 100 years. A survey given to high school students in 1929 found that what both sons and daughters most wanted was a dad that “will spend time with his children.” Children today want the same thing. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. As researchers Loren Marks and Rob Palkovitz state, dads are caught in a constant “double bind,” trying to balance the “time it takes to work and be a provider with the time to be face-to-face fathering.” Research has also shown that dads have always been more than just providers and disciplinarians. Dads are also counselors, companions, role models, teachers and even playmates. Of all of these roles, I wondered which one was most fulfilling for dads. So, informally, I surveyed dads around me asking them, “What

Photo by cottonbro at

pexels.com

26 Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

did they most love about being a dad?” The responses seemed to match what kids love the most too. Most frequently I heard things like playing or spending time together. One dad said, “Goofing around with my kids and doing what they want to do.” Another stated, “Snuggling on the couch at the end of the day.” As a close second to spending time together, the dads I spoke to reported that they enjoyed watching their children learn and grow. One father of an infant shared, “I love watching her learn a new skill,” while my own husband explained that he felt the most joy watching our children make good choices on their own, such as helping others or working hard. The roles dads play are many and so, too, are their personalities. Some dads are silly and interactive, others are affectionate and thoughtful. They can be spontaneous jokesters, prepared planners or nurturing confidants. An Australian organization, Support for Fathers, recommends that dads try on a different “hat” on occasion to see how it fits or to see if there is room for improvement in their current style of fathering. They list seven dad “types” based off research, noting that each type has its unique strengths and weaknesses. Those types are Responsible Dad, Thoughtful Dad, Nurturing Dad, Affectionate Dad, Interactive Dad, Sharing Dad and Providing Dad. Wondering what kind of dad you are? Check out this fun quiz to get you thinking about your own dad style. (Hint: There are no right or wrong answers!) continued on page 28

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Feature: Different Kinds of Dads and Why We Love Them (cont'd) continued from page 26

1. During a sports match, your child collides with another player and their tooth falls out. They are bleeding quite a bit. Your first thought is to . . . A) Schedule a dentist appointment B) Hug your child to comfort them C) Find some ice in a cooler to help with the pain

A) B) C)

2. The dishes are piling up in the sink, which is typically your child’s responsibility, but they have extra homework today. You . . . A) Do the dishes this time since you know they have been working hard B) Help them plan out a better study schedule so they can get their chores and homework done C) Offer to help them study and/or do the dishes with them this time

Talk with your partner to understand the problem more fully Talk with your children and implement a set of expectations and consequences Listen to your children’s explanations and invite them to problem solve with you

5. It’s the end of a particularly long day and the kids are taking longer than usual with the bedtime routine. You . . . A) Still take the time to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight B) Get their pajamas and toothbrushes ready for them to speed up the process C) Check their teeth to make sure they still took the time to brush well 6. Your child comes home upset and about problems with friends at school. You . . . A) Sit on the couch with your arm around them while they open up B) Enlist your partner to decide together how to help your child resolve the issue C) Coach your child on how to manage their emotions and encourage them

3. Your child is sick and cannot go to school today. You . . . A) Stay home with your child, since your partner stayed home last time, and make homemade soup for dinner B) Call to check in on them in the day and see if there is something you can bring home for dinner C) Take their temperature and call the nurse line to find the best way to deal with their symptoms

with examples from your own childhood 7. On your child’s birthday you are more likely to . . . A) Have the cake ordered ahead of time B) Pick out the perfect present C) Work overtime to pay for something special 8. You and your child get into an argument. You resolve it by . . . A) Apologizing with a hug B) Asking your partner for feedback and help C) Playing your child’s favorite game and talk it out 9. There’s no time to make dinner, so you must pick something up. You . . . A) Ask your kids where they want to go for dinner B) Already know where the closet place to go is that has something everyone likes C) Pick a place that balances healthy options with speed and convenience 10. Your child’s performance didn’t go as well as they hoped it would. You . . . continued on page 30

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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4. Your children have been bickering with each other more than usual lately. You . . .

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Feature: Different Kinds of Dads and Why We Love Them (cont'd) continued from page 28

Comfort your child by rubbing their back Cheer them up with their favorite treat Ask how they feel and listen without interruptions

11. You are more likely to know . . . A) The time and date of your child’s next medical appointment B) The names of your child’s friends and where they live C) What makes your child happy/sad/ anxious/afraid 12. When you are together, you think your child mostly feels . . . A) Loved and cherished B) Safe and protected C) Respected and trusted There are many great ways to be an outstanding dad! So, rather than give you a result or label based on your answers

to the quiz above, I encourage you to consider what your answers reveal about your own style of parenting. Is there a style you identify with? A style you’d like to develop more? Whatever your personality, family makeup or value system, children appreciate and remember the little things. So, regardless of which type of dad you are, consider how you can seize the opportunity to be intentional and involved in those little things, and you’ll see your kids benefit for years to come.

Sarah Mortensen works for Vancouver Public Schools as a paraeducator in addition to her role as associate editor of Vancouver Family Magazine. When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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A) B) C)

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar June '22

S M T 5 6 7 12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28

W 1 8 15 22 29

T 2 9 16 23 30

F 3 10 17 24

S 4 11 18 25

1 WEDNESDAY

Liberace & Liza: A Tribute at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Presented by Southwest Washington Center for the Arts, David Saffert and Jillian Snow Harris share the stage as Liberace & Liza Minnelli, creating an exhilarating night of musical and comical fireworks. Delighting in the costumes, music, and glamour of show business’s wildest entertainers, you and your friends will be smiling and clapping along to such hits as “Chopsticks,” Gershwin Medley, “Cabaret” and “New York, New York.” Conducting the entire show is Bo Ayars who toured with “Lee” for 13 years as his arranger and music director. Tickets $25 at kigginstheatre.com. 7 pm

3 FRIDAY

First Fridays at Thiselle Creek Farm, 26903 NE CC Landon Road, Yacolt. Family friendly hangout on the farm! Bring your kiddos rain or shine to come play outside at the farm. Bring your own chair or picnic blanket if you’d like somewhere to relax. Activities to enjoy and even 10% off of all items at the farm stand as well! Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, and closed toes shoes are recommended. 3-5 pm First Friday in Downtown Camas. Activities include art shows and receptions at the galleries, unicorn kids’ craft, plus dress in unicorn and rainbow attire! Unicorn and Rainbow cornhole tournament – win a festive prize! After-hours shopping–get a ticket to win for every $10 spent in downtown. 5-8 pm

4 SATURDAY

Big Paddle in Downtown Ridgefield and the Ridgefield Waterfront. Guided hikes and paddles, food trucks and beer garden, live music, activities, yoga, a trolley shuttle, used book sale and more. 9 am-3 pm

of events

activities

Have a community event that you want to share? Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue.

Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm.

Junior Market at Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. Kids from across the region are invited to sell their hand-made or home-grown products at the Junior Market, giving young entrepreneurs an opportunity to test their skills as they run their own business for a day at no cost. (For kids age 6-16.) 9 am-3 pm Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park. 9 am-2 pm Camtown Youth Festival at Crown Park, 120 NE 17th Ave., Camas. Presented by Camas Parks and Rec this free event for ages 3-16 includes food, entertainment, crafts, games, petting zoo, an art show and more! 11 am-4 pm Rainbow Walk at Holley Park, 1000 E 4th St. La Center. Come with the whole family to celebrate Pride; just like last year, let’s flood La Center with big love! Featuring performances by PDX Cheer, roller derby fun, beloved drag queen Pepper Pepper, DJ, vendors and activities for kids and grownups alike. Festival begins at 11 am, walk begins at 12 pm at the west end of the La Center Bridge. 11 am-4 pm Parkersville Day at Parker’s Landing Historical Park, 24 S A St, Washougal. This new event will celebrate the area’s rich history. A Chinookan blessing, storytellers in period clothing, the playing of historic family games, a display of student art, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, display booths, and even a high school brass band performance will round out the day’s activities. 12-3 pm PDX Triathlon Festival at Blue Lake Regional Park, 21224 NE Blue Lake Rd., Fairview. The fun begins on Saturday with a free kid’s tri followed by a Sunset 5K. On Sunday athletes compete on a scenic, flat and fast course in either the Super Sprint/My 1st Tri, Sprint or Olympic Distances. Paddle Triathlon option for those who would rather kayak or paddleboard!

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Check out our website for even mo re local events .

See whyracingevents.com/pdx-triathlon for details and registration. 4 pm Teen Five Minute Film Festival Premier (Online). Screen 12 of the entries for FVRLibraries’ Teen Five Minute Film Contest as selected by the FVRL Teen Council. The audience will get to vote on a variety of categories as well as pick Best in Show. To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone with a camera and microphone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/ teen-five-minute-film-festival-premiere. 6-8 pm

5 SUNDAY

PDX Triathlon Festival at Blue Lake Regional Park, 21224 NE Blue Lake Rd., Fairview. See June 4 for more details. 8 am Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. Discover fresh produce, flowers, plants, baked goods, delicious food, pet treats, and accessories for yourself, home, or garden. 10 am-3 pm Farm Days at Pomeroy Farm, 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd., Yacolt. Open farm weekend, featuring Pomeroy’s historic grounds, farm animals, and many local artisans and vendors! Admission is free, but suggested donation is $3 per person, or $10 per family. Free parking. Pets must stay in parking area. No ATM available. 11 am-5 pm

6 MONDAY

Camas Public Library Storytime in the Park. Fun, outdoor storytimes in Camas parks! Songs, stories, dancing, and more. All young children and their families are welcome. Please bring a blanket for your family to sit on. Locations will vary each week. This week’s location is Goot Park, 303 SE Zenith St. 10:30 am continued on next page

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continued from previous page

10 FRIDAY

Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St., Vancouver. Come and enjoy a plethora of tacos while listening to live music, ruling our vintage video arcade and sipping on 35 different local craft brews, cider and agave tequila. Bring the family for lunch, dinner, or taco snacks! Food area is all ages. Proceeds benefit Arc of Southwest Washington. Tickets $20+ at eventbrite.com/e/tacos-in-the-parktickets-305874227047. 5-10 pm

11 SATURDAY

The Amazing History Race at Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St. Vancouver. Teams of up to four people solve clues. taking them throughout downtown and Vancouver’s history. This is a family friendly event sure to be fun for everyone, whether you are an avid “hardcore historian” or a “history buff” who merely “dabbles” in history. Register at eventbrite.com/e/amazing-history-racetickets-262238972827. 9 am Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 9 am-3 pm

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park. 9 am-2 pm Repair Clark County Drop-Off Event at Three Creeks Community Library, 800-C NE Tenney Rd., Vancouver. Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries is partnering with Repair Clark County, a program of Columbia Springs to have volunteers fix your small appliances and electronics, do minor sewing repairs, sharpen knives and gardening tools, and more! Sign up at fvrl..librarymarket.com/ repair-clark-county-drop-event-45. 12-1 pm Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park. See June 10 for more details. 12-10 pm Camas Public Library Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party at 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas. Special performance by the Pegasus Puppet Theatre at 2 pm, plus chalk art, photo booth, bean bag toss, a sticker poster and paper crafts. Registration is required to attend the puppet show. Register at cityofcamas.us/library. 1-4 pm Riverside Preforming Arts presents “Alice @ Wonderland” at 1307 NE 78th St., Vancouver. A modern retelling of the classic children’s story has all of the characters you know and love, including the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts. The

story is laid out in traditional style, except that Alice is distinctly contemporary, complete with cell phone in hand. Full of references to text messaging and social media, the play imagines a present-day Alice encountering the Wonderland so many of us treasure. Tickets $12. 5 pm Teen Late Night: Nerf Gun Wars at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. Join us in person for Nerf gun wars, a ribbon cutting for the teen space, food and games. For ages 12-19 only. Registration is required. Register at fvrl. librarymarket.com/teen-late-night-nerf-gunwars. 6-8 pm

12 SUNDAY

Plant Fair at Two Rivers Heritage Museum, 1 Durgan St., Washougal. Plants for sale may include Solomon’s seal, forsythia, red hellebores, violets, Hosta lilies, pink and white peonies, small azaleas and rhododendrons, wildflowers, Camas Lilies and other native plants. While supplies last. 10 am-3 pm Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 10 am-3 pm continued on page 34

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d) continued from page 33 Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park. See June 10 for more details. 12-7 pm

per household. Register at fvrl.librarymarket. com/secrets-wizards-jeff-evans. 10:30 am

Riverside Preforming Arts presents “Alice @ Wonderland” at 1307 NE 78th St. Vancouver. See June 11 for more details. 2 pm

17 FRIDAY

13 MONDAY

Camas Public Library Storytime in the Park. See June 6 for more details. Locations will vary each week. This week’s location is Crown Park, 120 NE 17th Ave. 10:30 am Repair Clark County Drop-Off Event at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. See June 11 for more details. 6-7 pm

15 WEDNESDAY

Music & Puppetry with Red Yarn (Online through FVRLibraries). Red Yarn (AKA Andy Furgeson) weaves folksongs and puppetry into high-energy, interactive shows for family audiences. He’ll have audiences singing, dancing, stomping, clapping, and celebrating the multicultural musical heritage of the USA, while Red Yard introduces his Critter friends along the way. These handmade animal puppets provide comic relief, calm and tender moments, and valuable social-emotional lessons. To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary per household. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/ music-puppetry-red-yarn. 10:30 am Musicians in the Park at Overlook Park, 113131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. A music-filled lunch hour. This week’s musician is Katie Fitzgerald. Please feel free to bring a picnic lunch or pick up take out from Downtown restaurants. There will be a few benches and picnic tables, but folding chairs are encouraged as well. 12 pm

16 THURSDAY

Opening Day of East Vancouver Farmer’s Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. 10 am-2 pm Secrets of Wizards with Jeff Evans (Online through FVRLibraries). Spells, potions, photos that come to life, the “cloak of invisibility”, and much more are part of this show. Plus: get a deck of cards and follow along and experience a spooky trick in your own hands! To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary

Summer Solstice Soiree, benefiting Fosterful at AC Marriott Hotel, 333 West Columbia Way, Vancouver. Meaningful stories from the frontlines of foster care, live music, live and silent auction, mocktails and more. Have some fun while raising funds so that children entering foster care will have brighter days ahead. Tickets $125 at fosterful.org/events. 6 pm

18 SATURDAY

Hockinson Artisan Market at the corner of NE 182nd Ave and NE 159th Street, Hockinson. 9 am-1 pm Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park. 9 am-2 pm Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 9 am-3 pm PAL Bike Rodeo at Evergreen High School, 14300 NE 18th St., Vancouver. SW Washington Police Activities League’s 1st Annual Bike Rodeo. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to bring their bike and helmet and enjoy activities like obstacle courses, bike safety, giveaways and more. 9:30-11:30 am\

19 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 10 am-3 pm

22 WEDNESDAY

Jessa Campbell & The Saplings Concert (Online through FVRLibraries). Jessa Campbell & The Saplings rock out in a high energy, ecology based musical performance for families that will get folks moving! By incorporating movement and lessons into the program, young folks will love learning as they have a blast! To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary per household. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/ jessa-campbell-saplings-concert. 10:30 am Musicians in the Park at Overlook Park. See June 15 for more details. This week’s musician is Ann Fleming and Kit Garoutte. 12 pm

23 THURSDAY

East Vancouver Farmer’s Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd. 10 am-2 pm

Summer Movies: Celebrating World Culture at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave. Come enjoy fun movies, projected on our big screen upstairs in the meeting rooms, with popcorn! Registration required for each movie. This week’s movie: “Luca.” Register at cityofcamas.us/library. 2 pm

25 SATURDAY

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park. 9 am-2 pm Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 9 am-3 pm Downstage Center presents “Murder at the Art Show” at The Cottage Building at the Academy, 404 E Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. Everyone’s an art critic . . . but who’s serious enough to kill over it? This madcap comedy will keep you guessing and laughing as Sloane Akers does her best to keep the beloved Harriet Anderson Gallery (AKA the HAG) afloat in the face of betrayal, intrigue and a missing Monet. Tickets $15 at downstagecenter.org. 12 pm & 7 pm Tales of Cryptids and Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide with Kelly Milner Halls (Online through FVRLibraries). Kelly Milner Halls, cryptid expert and author of “Tales of the Cryptids” and “Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide” shares the knowledge of mysterious animals that may or may not be real. We will explore some of the world’s favorite possibilities--including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and chupacabras--in this presentation that encourages critical thinking and the evaluation of “evidence.” To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary per household. Register at fvrl. librarymarket.com/tales-cryptids-and-cryptidcreatures-field-guide-kelly-milner-halls. 2-3 pm Supper & Social at Pomeroy Farm, 20902 NE Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt. 4th annual Fundraiser Dinner. Must be age 21+ to attend. More details and tickets at pomeroyfarm.org/ event/supper-social. 4 pm

26 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market on 8th & Esther Street, Vancouver. See June 5 for more details. 10 am-3 pm Downstage Center presents “Murder at the Art Show” at The Cottage Building at the Academy, 404 E Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver See June 25 for more details. 12 pm continued on next page

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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27 MONDAY

Camas Public Library Storytime in the Park. See June 6 for details. Locations will vary each week. This week’s location is Louis Bloch Park, 160 NE Joy St. 10:30 am

28 TUESDAY

Summer Playground Program at Davis Park, 337-411 N 3rd Ave., Ridgefield. Summer is the perfect time for kids to get creative and stay active! Ridgefield partners with Battle Ground Parks and Recreation to offer their annual Summer Playground Program at Davis Park in Ridgefield. This free recreation program will run June 27-August 19. This week’s theme is Stars and Stripes. 12-2 pm Teen Pride Party at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave. Celebrate Pride Day at the Library! Light refreshments, music, activities, crafts and more. For LGBTQIA+ teens and their allies in grades 6-12. 3 pm

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Musicians in the Park at Overlook Park. See June 15 for more details. This week’s musician is Avi Haviv. 12 pm

30 THURSDAY

29 WEDNESDAY

OMSI Indoor Star Party: Around the Sun (Online through FVRLibraries). Take a planetarium tour of the universe without leaving your seat. Geared for young children, these Zoom based programs are an instructor led screen shared experience traversing through the night sky and beyond. Learn about predictable patterns of celestial bodies with kinetic activities simulating earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun. Voyage through time and space to learn more about the earth’s movement and seasonal changes. To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary per household. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/omsi-indoor-star-party-around-sun. 10:30 am

East Vancouver Farmer’s Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd. 10 am-2 pm Cascade Raptor Center (Online through FVRLibraries). Join Cascades Raptor Center to learn all about raptors! What makes a raptor a raptor? You’ll get to meet two birds of prey, learn all about their personal stories and species, and ask questions from the experts! To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants. Only one registration necessary per household. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/cascaderaptor-center. 2 pm

advertiser index Camps & Classes Camp Hope....................................................19 iSTEM Kids.....................................................13 Journey Theater.............................................17 The Little Gym..................................................3 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................24 Events 4 Days of Aloha................................................7 Columbia River Triathlon Festival...................31 FVRLibraries..................................................19 Hagg Lake Triathlon and Trail Festival...........31 PDX Triathlon.................................................31 Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival........31 Summer Fest..................................................25 Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services............................................23 Fitness The Little Gym..................................................3 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................24

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Restaurants Laughing Planet...............................................2 Retail Kazoodles Toys................................................5 Vancouver Mall...............................................33 Schools, Education & Child Care AWV Chinese School.....................................11 ESD112......................................................9, 27 St. Andrew Preschool.......................................5 Southwest Washington Learning Center........36

Resources Applied Team Insurance...................................9 Clark County Junk Removal...........................15 ESD112......................................................9, 27 Greater Vancouver Chamber............................5 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars.............17 Lucky Luke.....................................................11

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2022

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Vancouver Family Magazine June 2022

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