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FEATURE ARTICLES
Mobility Matters
Two local travel enthusiasts with disabilities sound off on creating more accessible spaces, at home and abroad.
The Principal/The Playwright
Heritage High School's principal wrote an original musical play. Read how students and staff are coming together to debut the show.
Delivering Joy
Take a look behind the scenes of community toy drives that spark connection, and the magic of the giving season.
Scoop
Family Voyage
The Marvelous Consequences of Creativity
When I was in middle school, I filled notebook after notebook with stories, written in experimental iterations of handwriting and different colored inks, and centered on romance and teen drama—the world I wanted to inhabit—sprinkled with serious situations like drugs and crime, about which I was blessedly ignorant. Like a child who learns and develops by playing pretend, I practiced life by inventing it. The characters were mine; their worlds were under my control. I always thought I’d write a novel one day, but for now that dream hangs in the ether. In the meantime, here in adulthood, opportunities for creative expression continue to present themselves, from producing Vancouver Family Magazine every month for you, dear reader, to experimenting with a new food recipe. It turns out that not only is creativity a vital part of what makes us human, but it is a skill that can be developed.
In a 2009 article in gradPSYCH, Amy Novotney wrote about four core skill sets that were found in a research study by psychologist Robert Epstein, PhD to lead to “an increase in novel ideas”: capture your new ideas (in a notebook or voice recorder, for example), seek out challenging tasks, broaden your knowledge and surround yourself with interesting things and people. Whether you’re at work with colleagues, at a park with your toddler, or on a date with your partner, pay attention to moments when these skills can be practiced. Then watch what happens.
In this month’s issue, meet Heritage High School’s principal, who can now add playwright to his resume; his students are preparing to debut his original musical play this winter (page 16). Learn from two local travel enthusiasts and bloggers as they sound off on creating more accessible spaces for individuals with disabilities (page 12), and find out how community toy drive volunteers deliver the magic of the holiday season to kids in need (page 20). Creative expression in all its forms—artistic or not—enriches our entire Southwest Washington community.
Volume
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, Sara Giza, Nikki Klock, Rachel Messerschmidt
Ad Sales 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.
On the Cover:
Mya G. is a senior at I-Tech Preparatory. She enjoys playing the guitar, drawing, writing stories, and computer programming. She is looking forward to graduation in June and attending college next fall.
ACT-SO: Olympics of the Mind Help Black Teens Excel
N ational youth program ACT-SO now has a presence in Clark County, and NAACP Vancouver is seeking applicants, volunteers and mentors for the program and competition. “ACT-SO stands for Afro-academic cultural, technological, scientific Olympics,” says Mandipa Masike, a student engagement coordinator for ACT-SO. The year-long program begins in the fall with students working with mentors to prepare for a local competition in April. Winners will advance to a national competition in July. There are over 30 categories to enter in the arts, humanities or STEM fields, including culinary and business. “ACT-SO aims to highlight the skills the students already have [in these] categories,” continues Masike. “We are hoping to gain interest for this program in Vancouver to highlight the skills that our high school students have and help students refine their skills while networking.” In addition to a scholarship competition, ACT-SO is also an enrichment program where students can experience different hobbies and skills with help from professional mentors.
Two local teens took home a gold and silver medal at last year’s national competition in sculpture and photography—the first year Vancouver teens participated. They met with Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle to help promote the program and raise funds for this year’s competitors during September’s Give More 24 charity event. Donations will help fund both scholarships and the expenses to send this year’s winners to the national competition. Students in grades 9-12 who are of African American descent are encouraged to apply now at naacpvancouverwa.org/act-so.
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Hails From Camas
The national title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen (MAOT) 2023 was recently awarded to Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen. Morgan Greco, a student at Camas High School and the youngest of eight siblings, was crowned in Dallas, Texas in August of this year. Greco is the second teen from Clark County to win the national title. In 2019, Payton May of Skyview High School also took home the top crown. As a scholarship program, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen’s mission is to “promote scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for American’s teens.” Greco has earned over $53,000 in scholarship funds which she plans to use at the University of Alabama to further her passion of operatic singing, along with marketing.
To get this far, Greco first competed at the local level of Miss Clark County’s Outstanding Teen, then at the state level before representing Washington at the national level. A misconception about MAOT is that girls are mainly judged on beauty. In reality, contestants are judged on an interview (30%), talent (40%), evening wear and an onstage question (20%), and fitness in which they wear sportswear, not a swimsuit (10%). Now that the competition is over, the work is just beginning. Greco will meet with young women across the country, sharing her platform which encourages girls to learn self-defense strategies; she herself is a student of Krav Maga. Her platform perfectly represents Miss America’s mission to “Prepare great women for the world . . . Prepare the world for great women.”
Morgan Greco of Camas, recently won the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2023.
about
Families
Self-Sufficiency
B ridgeview Resource Center is now open, where over 25 local organizations offer classes and events in one location to help Clark County families with everything from education and health, to aging and disabilities and even financial services and employment needs.
Bridgeview has a highly qualified team who work with clients to identify household needs, connect them with local resources, and develop a plan to help fulfill those needs. “Finding and accessing healthcare is a common need many families seek assistance in navigating,” explains Jodi Freydenfeldt, volunteer and engagement supervisor at Bridgeview. “[We are] proud to be of service and support in navigating these sometimes confusing resources,” she explains.
Another common need is employment training and supports. “Bridgeview provides connections to a variety of job training programs offered through our partners,” continues Freydenfeldt. “In addition, we have internships, sheltered employment and on-the-job partnerships.”
To spread the word about their services, Bridgeview hosted a Bridging the Gaps Direct Service Market in September where over 30 partners were on site offering services. AmeriCorps also supports Bridgeview with community engagement, directly reaching out to families with young children by working in after-school activities and coordinating with school-based resource center partners. Whatever the need, their goal is to help bridge the gap families experience between outside support and self-sufficiency. “Bridgeview Resource Center is your place to turn when you need help. We are here to serve the greater Clark County Community, providing advocacy, navigation, direct support and warm hand-offs,” welcomes Freydenfeldt. Find Bridgeview online at BridgeviewResourceCenter.org or visit their office at 505 Omaha Way, Vancouver.
Our Last Passage
of 2022
In Bahia de los Angeles the daily temperature, both of the air and of the water, continued to climb. We could find reprieve in the water, but even the efforts needed for that got to be bothersome. We lived much of the time misting ourselves with water and sitting in front of the fans. We eventually needed to get out of there.
It was time to head further north and prepare for our last passage of our first year in the Sea of Cortez. But first, one more sweet little anchorage to share with friends: Isla Coronados.
We arrived at Isla Coronados with our friends aboard Captain Musick and anchored between two islands in the shadow of an ancient volcano. This was a really nice anchorage, secluded and protected from the dangerous and unpredictable nighttime winds known as chubascos.
Chubascos are a local weather phenomenon that happen frequently in the Sea of Cortez in the summertime. These winds build into thunderstorms along the mainland coast and often blast westward across the Sea of Cortez and can hit the Baja Peninsula with extreme violence, including lightning. The strength can vary,
sometimes not even reaching the peninsula or hitting the boats in the anchorages, or sometimes hitting with near hurricane force and thunder and lightning lasting for up to several hours. Besides the larger threat of an actual hurricane making its way up into the sea, chubascos are the biggest weather concern for any Sea of Cortez cruiser in the summer months.
But the anchorage we’d picked was protected from the east and from the west, both of the primary directions to watch out for nighttime winds, so we felt good. It was also visually and geologically interesting and the wildlife in the area was ever entertaining. At any given time, we could look out at the bay and see rays jumping from the water and hear the telltale ‘thwap’ as they splash back down.
We spent several days here, exploring the terrain, enjoying the rays, and spotting enormous osprey nests on the rocks. As is the way for sailors, we watched the weather and waited for a good window to move further north.
We had to plan our next moves carefully. We would need a solid two days of decent weather to move from our current spot, stop for a night in the last anchorage, and then make the overnight jump from Refugio up to Puerto Penasco.
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Page 10, top: The author's family's friends and buddy boat on SV Captain Musick. Building community in the remote places of the world is critical.
Bottom: The author's kids, along with the kids from Captain Musick, play along the beach at Isla Coronados.
Page 11, left: Sunset on passage from Refugio to Puerto Penasco, heading into a dark night.
Right: The author's boat hauled out of the water and being stored on dry land in the boat yard at Puerto Penasco, until the family can return for more adventures.
For this passage, sailors ideally want a little wind to fill the sails, but not too much, as the waves can quickly build to a very uncomfortable state as the wind blows up the length of the sea. Plus, you must carefully time your arrival to Penasco to hit at midtide or better or there won’t be enough water depth in the channel to be able to enter the harbor. The tides swing 15-20 feet every 12 hours or so up in the northern Sea of Cortez.
Timing the tides right, and watching for developing chubascos, and waiting for good-but-not-too-much wind can be a real dance to try to make for a decent passage.
We saw a few days that started to develop to look like a good chance to make our jump. We moved up to Refugio on a Monday, watching potential openings to go on either Tuesday or Wednesday. In the end, we waited until the Wednesday window, awaking at 5 a.m. to be ready to leave at first light. We lifted anchor at 7 a.m., and were off!
We had little to no wind and, thankfully, no chubasco so it was a smooth ride. With a current pushing us though, we ended up going faster than expected so even though we slowed ourselves down for the last few hours, we still arrived before dawn on Thursday. We had to slowly and carefully enter the tiny harbor in the darkness before first light.
After a desperate search, we finally tied the boat up to the only available dock space, one where we had been told to expect to be hit by the commercial fishing vessels coming and going. This was not an ideal or even a safe place to put our boat, but it was the only option. Thankfully, we were able to get ahold of the owner of the boat yard and he arranged for our haul out that very same day!
So, our final passage wrapped up, we carefully prepared the boat for us to be away for a few months. We packed a few bags and drove north, back into the United States, and to the Pacific Northwest to visit friends and family that we hadn’t seen in a year.
Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives living and cruising full time aboard their 40-foot sailboat, Mosaic. They 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 (at)mosaicvoyage. She writes a monthly column for Vancouver Family Magazine.
continued from previousMaking Travel Accessible for Everyone
By Sara GizaWhether it’s a weekend trip to the beach, a tour of a historic site or an epic voyage abroad, the ability to travel for recreation is something many people take for granted, and that everyone should be able to enjoy. Not long ago, if someone experienced a disability that limited their mobility, they’d likely spend most of their lives isolated from society, inside their home or a care facility. Thankfully, the voices of those with physical disabilities has been amplified, and some systems have greatly improved over time, allowing people of many ability levels to discover the world outside their own home and neighborhood. Historically, improvements started with access to basic needs such as transportation and restrooms. Today, the conversation revolves around inclusion in the greater community and access to a variety of activities—moving beyond simply surviving to truly thriving. Instead of just making weekly grocery trips realistic, checking off that dream vacation abroad is also doable for many individuals with disabilities. But, like any trip, getting there is often the hardest part, and more so if accommodations are needed. We still have a long way to go, but opening up the world of travel to folks of all abilities is vital to creating a vibrant and inclusive community, and two women in Vancouver are working hard to do just that.
A Blogger and a Bucket List
In 1988, Vancouver resident Susan Ternyey experienced a spinal cord injury and lost the use of her legs. She now relies on a wheelchair for her mobility. Since her injury, she has seen improvements in accessibility. “There are a lot more accessible amenities than there were 20 or 50 years ago,” she says. “One of the things that I have seen improved, was when they got the kneeling ramps on buses, instead of having to be on a little elevator
lift. It [was] really scary to be three or four feet off the ground in a wheelchair,” she shared. This feature, now commonplace, has made travel easier and safer for many people. Thanks to a combination of better healthcare and technology, individuals like Ternyey get to continue doing the things they always loved to do.
Ternyey loves history and visiting important sites, including state and national parks. She blogs about her trips at travelpacificnw. com. Most of her posts are focused on sites and events in the Portland/Vancouver area, but she’s also working on a bucket list of places further away she’d like to see. While it’s nice to have a companion, she’s not afraid to go it alone. “It’s either just go and do, or just sit home and not do. And, I don’t feel happy with that,” she says. The tricky part is not knowing ahead of time what hiccups she might run into. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) spells out specific rules and guidelines for accessibility, “older facilities are notorious for not being wheelchair friendly. Additionally, people may list something as accessible because it is on a single level, but there may be many issues they haven’t thought of,” explains Ternyey.
This means a lot of up-front research is required before venturing out. Even flooring can be an issue. Depending on the kind of ground, an electric wheelchair can spin out or a manual wheelchair could get stuck. Ternyey uses her electric wheelchair on her travel adventures, and a manual chair around her home and yard, so she has experience with both. The details and photos she shares on her blog alert others who also use a wheelchair and want to be prepared before they visit the same spots. “Nearly everyone has
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a friend or family member that is disabled in some way, whether by age, accident, military service or birth,” she shares. “That’s one of the reasons I started my blog . . . People need to know how accessible a venue is, and that’s hard to know without a photo. I try to provide that kind of detail . . . A lot of what I cover is good for anybody to see, but I do try to [focus on] accessibility.”
When it comes to improvements Ternyey would like to see more of, she acknowledges that each person’s needs are unique. “Obviously, more progress can be made in every area of life. I understand that not every disability is the same,” says Ternyey. “However, if something is marked with a wheelchair on it, I think it should be wheelchair friendly.” Sadly, this is often not the case when it comes to bathrooms, even those marked with the ADA wheelchair symbol. “[Many] are too small and not functional. If you have a helper it could work, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a person in a manual wheelchair could go in there all by themselves.” Still, Ternyey doesn’t blame people for not knowing. “If they don’t live in a wheelchair, they don’t realize. Even our sidewalks, they’re all slanted slightly. That means that in a manual chair, one arm is doing all the work. That’s hard on your body and shoulders,” she points out. Improvements such as wider sidewalks and curbed ramps also go unnoticed by many people, but they make a big difference to individuals who use a wheelchair or other device to move around.
In addition to navigating buildings and sidewalks, hotel rooms carry other potential challenges. Before booking a stay, Ternyey is concerned about whether there will be enough outlets close to the bed that can charge both an electric wheelchair and a phone. In the bathroom, will the shampoo, soap and towels be low enough to reach?
Despite the unpredictability, Ternyey still enjoys her journeys. “I do love to go places and learn different things,” she says, and she has no issue discussing her disability with anyone. “Every person is different, and some people don’t want to be asked about their disability. I am just great with answering questions.” Those impromptu conversations help raise awareness for business owners and individuals about the need for accessible amenities and how everyone can benefit from them.
Learning to Live a New Life
Like Ternyey, fellow Vancouver resident and travel blogger Jae’lynn Chaney wants to keep the travel accessibility dialogue going. Via her popular social media channels, Chaney shares her experiences traveling abroad, and uses her story and voice to combat the stigma surrounding body image and disability. She encourages others to not let disabilities or body size stop them from enjoying life to the fullest. A graduate of Washington State University in business management, Chaney couldn’t have foreseen the need for her advocacy while still a student. Today she runs her own company, Jae Bae Productions, where she reviews hotels, airlines
and travel products, and helps other content creators with strategy and design services. But it’s been quite a journey to get there.
“In 2018, shortly after I graduated college, my life changed,” Chaney recalls. “ It was flipped upside down when I became newly disabled.” She was rushed to the hospital with shortness of breath. It took almost a year and over 20 follow-up visits before doctors were able to diagnose her with pulmonary hypertension. Not to be confused with typical hypertension or high blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension specifically affects the arteries in the heart and lungs and is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other heart and lung conditions. When her lung function decreased, Chaney needed a wheelchair “because I could no longer walk any amount of distance without experiencing shortness of breath, increased heart rate and a decrease in my oxygen saturation,” she explains.
Chaney recalls sitting in a hotel room after being discharged from the hospital, contemplating how much she still wanted to accomplish, but at the same time not knowing if she would even survive her prognosis. She realized she had a story that she wanted to share with others to inspire and uplift them. “I just began thinking about what an asset our health and bodies are. If I didn’t have a lot of time left to live, I wanted to go ahead and spend the time that I did have to help others. I wanted to share my personal story and tell people that they can live their best lives, no matter their size,” she says.
Learning to live with disabilities was a big change to say the least. “I was a very active person before,” says Chaney. “I’ve been plus sized my whole life, but I was very active. I liked to travel and go on hikes. Going from that, to being wheelchair bound and also homebound for a time—things really changed for me. Then factoring in oxygen and having these different needs and abilities, and not being able to do the things that I did before the same way. I had dealt with chronic pain, but I had never dealt with being in a wheelchair or just being limited by my physical ability. Everything changed for me. I kind of had to learn how to navigate life in this new body. Learning how to navigate the world took some time.” She admits, “I still struggle sometimes with feeling 100% comfortable. Access is something that I never really thought about until I was a person with disabilities.”
Chaney continues, “I really wish I would have thought about people of all ability levels and of all sizes, because now that I’m in a much
"Access is something that I never really thought about until I was a person with disabilities.” -Jae’lynn Chaney
since 2006.
Newborns, Infants, Children and Pregnancy Massage.
larger body, disability access is a huge thing to me. I’m constantly having to research things before I go. I no longer can go out freely.” With each outing, Chaney must consider if her wheelchair will fit through the doorway and if her oxygen machine will have enough battery life. Parking in cities is especially problematic because some parking structures may not have elevators or are blocks away from the venue. All this preparation work takes a lot of time.
“Finding community is what really helped me figure these things out,” acknowledges Chaney. “It’s OK to have to research before you go, making sure that something is going to be accessible and feel comfortable or that their staff are friendly to people with disabilities.” Chaney says she sometimes needs to remind herself of these things, too. “ [I’ve had] to teach myself that it’s OK to have to speak up for myself and it’s OK to have to do a few extra things before you go.” She does wish, however, that there was more of a structure for resources for people of all abilities, and a consistent standard adhered to instead of every place having varying degrees of accessibility.
Like Ternyey, Chaney has noticed that despite ADA laws for all businesses and buildings, each place poses its own challenges For example, she’s found that some places (especially historical locations) will have a couple of steps to get inside, even while claiming to be accessible. “If you’re a person using a
wheelchair . . . if there aren’t ramps, it’s difficult. For me, being a bigger person means that my wheelchair is a little bit wider than others,” she explains, adding, “ So many places still don’t have the handicapped door button that automatically opens the doors. I’m constantly needing help from my fiancé.”
Chaney feels grateful to not only have a supportive partner, but one who shares her love of travel. Whether it ’s something local like Winter Wonderland in Portland or farther away like their recent trip to Hawaii, they enjoy it all. “We love getting out and going to different events. We’re just always planning our next trip.” During their adventures and even in the planning stages, Chaney continues to run into misconceptions that accessibility works the same for everybody, when in actuality, needs vary greatly. People also often assume that her disability is a result of her size, when actually the disability is what led to an increase in her size.
Yet, despite some disappointments, Chaney remains positive and optimistic about exploring all that there is to do and see, locally and afar. She hopes others will be too. “It’s so possible and so close. Go outside of your comfort zone and get out, rather than staying inside or feeling like you have to hide yourself away,” she says to others with disabilities. “I felt that way when I was homebound, but we all deserve to live a great life. Every single body on this earth deserves to feel seen and feel loved.”
Sara Giza is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, Washington. She has been a stinger for LEO Weekly and The Voice-Tribune in Kentucky, as well as for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and Vero Beach Magazine in Florida. Most recently, she’s been a feature writer and senior editor for Embrace Magazine. Connect with her on Instagram @searingsara.
THE PRINCIPAL/ The Playwright:
Heritage High School Students Debut Musical Written by Their Principal
By Kristen FlowersThe song “Make Your Move” starts with rhythmic clapping. It only takes listening to the song for a few seconds to get your foot tapping. The synthesized music kicks in to become the melody. Then a British voice rings out clear as a bell:
“. . . Shoot the double, shoot the double, make your move.
If you don’t shoot the double, you will lose. I’m telling you, buddy. You better make your move.”
This song is just one of 17 original songs from “Wrestling: The Musical,” coming to the stage at Heritage High School in Vancouver. This musical will be unlike anything seen in a high school theater because it’s a brand-new musical that has never been seen on stage before.
It’s a story about Royal McKay, a longtime head wrestling coach who sees himself as a local legend. He is approaching his 100th career win when a new assistant coach joins the department. Already feeling defensive about it, he is shocked to see the new coach is Annie Goulet, a woman with unique ideas about the sport. The conflict between the two emerges, but there are issues at home, too. Royal contends with his son, Jay, a senior on the wrestling team who only wrestles to connect with his dad and to earn his respect. It’s a story that touches on the themes of self-importance, equality and acceptance.
And it was written by the Heritage High School principal, Derek Garrison.
The Writing of Wrestling Garrison has spent 28 years in public education, and the last nine years as the principal of Heritage. He is probably someone whose office many students don’t want to end up in, but to the people closest to him, the idea of him writing an entire musical makes sense. They see his creativity and passion, especially when it comes to writing.
The idea for “Wrestling: The Musical” came to him about four years ago. With experience in both wrestling and screenwriting, Garrison
sat down to create something no one had before. “My goal was to shine a spotlight on a couple of worlds that I’ve always appreciated as an educator that may not get much of a spotlight. A lot of hardworking kids sometimes don’t get attention or recognition. And so, I thought, what a unique opportunity here of shining a spotlight on two worlds that seem nothing alike. But there are quite a few similarities between them.”
An idea and writing talent are not enough to compose a complete musical, though. While Garrison was able to write the intelligent wit, dark comedy and lyrics he wanted for the show, he did need help when it came to the music itself. Armed with hilarious lyrics about singlets and ringworm, he headed to Fiver.com, a site where anyone can hire specialized talent, mainly in a creative field. That’s where he partnered up with Joe Gautrey, a budding British pop singer. Over the next six months, the two chatted on video, traded ideas and worked with Garrison’s inspiration to come up with and compose a unique musical. Garrison is still shocked to this day at the process. “There was this whole international collaboration which
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was super interesting in this day and age. I don’t think that’s how musicals were made 20 years ago, but now you can. I’m just making a musical with this dude named Joe from London, and it was just awesome.”
Sondheim, Webber, Hammerstein, Garrison . . . and some dude named Joe.
Coaching the Cast Garrison spent the pandemic fine-tuning the script, lyrics and music. After four drafts, everything was in place, but one question remained. Would the students at Heritage high school even like his creation? Would they get it?
Wrestling vocabulary like double legs, blood time, cradles, arm bars and bridging are commonplace for athletes on a high school wrestling team, but not for many teen thespians. So, before auditions were even on the calendar, the drama
department gathered for a table read, a chance to read the script out loud. Immediately the teens knew this was something they had never done before, but there were moments where it already clicked. “They looked at each other like, OK, this is funny,” says Garrison. “They got the humor.”
After the positive reviews from the students, Garrison believed his vision was complete. The show was ready for the stage. He gathered the many creatives at the school, including the show’s director, Charlie Jackam. Together, they looked at the show’s roles and set out to see if bringing the show to life was even possible. It was essential to know if they had the kind of actors that the performance required in the talent pool before auditions. The answer was a resounding yes!
Payton G. is a senior at Heritage, playing the challenging lead role of Royal McKay.
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Feature: The Principal/The Playwright (cont'd)
Through his preparation he has thought a lot about how difficult it would be to balance being both a father and a coach. “I’ve always kind of felt like the Jay to my dad’s Royal,” shares Payton. “So, when I got the role of Royal, I just looked at the relationship from my dad’s eye to find the character.” Having a shared understanding of the character he’s playing (added to his experience in wrestling as a middle schooler), has given Payton a sense of how he will play the role. While this might be one of his last shows at the school, he plans to make theater his profession. “Hopefully, I’ll make it to Broadway. If I don’t, I guess I will just try harder!” he laughs.
Tristyn M., a sophomore at Heritage, was intrigued by the idea of starring in a musical written by her principal, so she decided to audition. She will play the new female wrestling coach, Annie Goulet. “It’s just really exciting to do something that’s never been done before,” she says. As a young woman, Tristyn also saw the inherent power struggle between Royal and her character, Annie. She feels that it’s something that she can relate to and bring to the show.
But very quickly, a problem appeared that needed to be wrestled to the ground. Unlike Payton, most theater students, including Tristyn, were clueless about wrestling. An actor’s job is to play a part convincingly, which goes hand in hand with understanding the character’s motivation.
To do this, the students must pretend to be in someone else’s shoes. For many members of the cast, the wrestling world is not something they understand. Despite her lack of knowledge of the sport, Tristyn feels she is in good hands with Garrison. “I know Mr. Garrison knows a lot about wrestling, so he’s going to teach us a thing or two.”
It turns out that she is right. Garrison has a plan to teach the cast all about the world
of wrestling. “Our wrestling coach, Robbie Garcia, is all about it and super supportive. Wrestling season starts right about the time of dress rehearsals, so it’s cutting it close, but we will probably have a couple of wrestlers help with choreography and teach some wrestling 101 to the actors. We’re also saving quite a bit of money on costumes, and we’ll use our school wrestling uniforms and mats for the sets and costumes.”
Singing, Dancing . . . and Wrestling
The passion for the project is certainly there from the creator to the students, but wrestling, dancing and singing require intense physicality. Thankfully, the students performing the wrestling choreography on the stage will not have to sing while doing it, and the singing will be done around them, giving them the chance to lose themselves in the role of a wrestler.
The song, “We’re Fans,” starts with an ominous tone before the horns kick in. It’s reminiscent of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” While no one has seen it performed live yet, you get the sense from the lyrics that the students will play athletes’ families who get a little too into the sport.
“. . . What do we do? We’re dads. We yell at the ref, and we yell at the coach, and we yell at you!”
While the musical is about wrestling, family dynamics are certainly at the heart of this story.
Garrison has been in both worlds as an athlete and a creative, and he believes both require grit and motivation, with no one activity being more complex than the other. “If there is a Venn diagram for wrestling and theater, that overlapping section is about hard work and dedication,” he shares. “Here’s a bunch of young people who are going to invest a ton of hours, be super brave, and be on stage in front of strangers and friends, which is equally tough. And their hard work is going to be awesome. It’s really going to be fun to see them perform, get applause and bring happiness to the audience. We really look forward to it, and I have a lot of confidence in everybody doing it.”
Since “ Wrestling: The Musical” is the creative baby of Garrison, it would stand to reason he might become a bit of a “stage parent” over the project. One could imagine him hovering over the project to ensure it gets done the way he wants, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. He says he has the utmost faith that his
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theater department team will execute the show in the best possible way. “I just have a ton of confidence in them to bring the vision to life, and we visit about it often. I’m always trying to be very respectful of their role and their process and not step on toes. It’s like screenwriting and film; you have to hand it off at some point.”
Now only one question remains. Will Garrison make an appearance during his opus? “Oh, no way,” he laughs. “No way. I don’t want that, and I’d be way too nervous and don’t want to add nerves on top of nerves.” That doesn’t mean the show won’t be without any surprises, though. Garrison teases that there will be a rotating cameo, filled with either faculty or other notable people within the community.
Be a part of “Wrestling: The Musical” history. Tussle up some tickets to see the show’s original cast before they are gone, because this show is likely to sell out.
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.
To learn more about the musical, check out
DELIVERING eJ Ye
YLocal Toy Drives Spark Connection
By Nikki KlockCHRISTMAS 1994 was a memorable holiday for my family. The most significant event of the season was my baby brother coming home from the hospital on Christmas Eve after spending four months in the neonatal intensive care unit as a preemie. On top of this joyous occasion, a local charitable organization gifted our family a heap of delightful gifts for each of us seven children. It was by far the most luxurious of all my childhood Christmases, and I never forgot the act of generosity by total strangers to bring some extra cheer to our struggling family. Almost 30 years later, it’s the memory of that selfless generosity, not the gifts themselves, that brings back a feeling of gratitude and of being seen and valued in my community.
STRANGERS HELPING STRANGERS
Over the decades, toy drives like the one my family benefitted from those many years ago have become as much a part of American Christmas tradition as any other holiday ritual. And what makes this tradition unique is the connection made between strangers who happen to inhabit the same community. Last year, my church congregation participated in a communitywide toy drive organized by The Salvation Army, a Christian church and international charitable organization headquartered in
London, England, and with a presence in Clark County. We collected new, unwrapped toys in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and turned them in to a church regional representative who in turn delivered them to The Salvation Army. Shortly after we turned in all of our toys, a couple of extra toy donations came in and I was tasked with delivering those extras directly to the Downtown Vancouver warehouse where The Salvation Army’s toy sorting was well underway. I’m not sure what I expected, but when I arrived at the address I was given, I was blown away to see an ocean of bags and toys being sorted by a dozen or so volunteers. Tables marked by age range (teens, preschool, baby, etc.) were loaded with hundreds of age-appropriate toys and gifts, from which volunteers with family wish list slips were selecting corresponding toys and filling bags for later distribution to families who had been previously identified by The Salvation Army’s partner
agencies as needing assistance. It was an impressive sight. In addition to the sheer number of toys and bags—all bound for kids in need—the comradery between the volunteers on site was especially inspiring, given that the volunteers came from different faith groups. The Salvation Army’s own volunteers mingled with young adult missionaries from my own church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a common goal to light up children’s holiday season. These volunteers wouldn’t be there to see any of the kids’ faces when they received the gifts, and their warehouse sorting work was anything but glamorous. But all were dedicated to working anonymously behind the scenes to make magic happen.
Local Captains Angela and John Morrow serve in many roles within The Salvation Army throughout the year, running a church, an after-school program, a food
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pantry, a job-training program, a scouting program and more. But come August each year, their attention turns largely to preparing for the upcoming Christmas season’s toy drive. This year, I reached out to Captain Angela, who shared with me the process of bringing wishes to fruition. “We start with establishing dates and working with partnering agencies who will come alongside us to refer families who will benefit from receiving gifts this year,” she said. “The public is also welcomed to sign up for assistance even if they aren’t associated with a partnering agency. For the collection of gifts, we work with local companies and individuals who might want to support our efforts by hosting an Angel Tree in their business and/or take an Angel Tree tag which lists three gift wishes for a child in need . . . During the months of September and October, families are signing up online to receive assistance and we are working with companies and donors to help us fulfill the
children’s gift wishes on the Angel Tree tags. Gift collection happens throughout November and beginning of December. By the second week of December, we are organizing the gifts by family group. Once they are all organized, they are ready for distribution day [when families come pick up their gifts].”
A COMMON GOAL
When I encountered the final sorting process in December 2021, Elder Crismon Lewis, a Vancouver area service mission leader from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was directing young adult missionaries who were working alongside The Salvation Army volunteers. It was his first involvement with The Salvation Army here in Vancouver, though he had worked with the same organization across the river in Gresham where he and his wife raised their family before relocating to Clark County shortly before the 2021 toy drive.
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Joy: Local Toy Drives Spark Connection (cont'd)
“We came in on the tail-end of the project, so to speak,” he told me. “All the toys had been collected already by The Salvation Army and which families were to receive what kind of toys. Our job was to match toys with each family’s requests and put them inside the bag corresponding to that family. It was a monumental task, frankly, to prepare ‘Santa sacks’ for more than 600 families in less than a week. But, with the help of a dozen or more missionaries each day and a few other volunteers, we got it done in time for the families to pick up their bundles a few days before Christmas. It was exciting to imagine the reaction of the children who would be receiving these valued toys, all donated by a generous community.”
Besides The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Salvation Army collaborates with many other businesses and organizations, including local school districts, to pull it all off. Last year, more than 300 volunteers worked 1,300+ volunteer hours to collect, sort and distribute over 5,000 gifts. When I spoke with Captain Angela, she expected that number to increase to more like 6,000 gifts in 2022.
BEAUTY OUT OF TRAGEDY
Another Southwest Washington toy drive traces its very recent roots not to the efforts of an international nonprofit organization, but to the experience of the just one family. Korey Cochran was a Vancouver husband, father and IT professional working for the
City of Vancouver when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2015. His kids were just ages 4 and 1. In the years before the diagnosis, Korey grew up in Vancouver, earned his Eagle Scout rank as a teen and met his future wife, Kerry, in high school. “He loved the outdoors,” Kerry told me about her husband. “He would go fishing, camping and hike regardless of weather or season. He could fix just about anything, given enough time, and the right tools. He was at home in his man-cave garage maintaining his ‘85 Toyota truck, brewing a new batch of beer with buddies, prepping the fishing boat for the next voyage with his dad or just tooling around with his brother. He was equally at home at the BBQ, and game to try out a new technique in search of the perfect piece of meat—no veggies allowed.” In addition to his love of adventuring, Kerry told me, Korey was a giver. “You could not find a more reliable guy to help you out. Whether you were in a techy pinch or needed your car winched out of a ditch, he would take care of you.” He was also a dedicated dad. “[Once he became a dad] he . . . focused all his energy and enthusiasm for life into bringing up his children . . . and teaching them the endless things that a dad needs to pass down to his kids. He was an amazing daddy and took his responsibility very seriously. Once he decided to do something, he committed with all of his being.”
Korey was so beloved by his friends and colleagues that they decided to help his family during the Christmas season immediately following the diagnosis. “All of his coworkers and fellow City employees wanted to make sure that Kyrsten and Kynen [Korey and Kerry’s kids] had a great Christmas, so we all brought in toys for
the kids,” recalled Jen Thomas, a City of Vancouver employee who worked with Korey. “We wrapped all of the toys and a group of coworkers all drove to his house along with fire trucks and police cars. One coworker dressed up like Santa and had toys in his red sack and handed them out to the kids. We ended up with so many toys that Korey and his family decided it was too much and they wanted to share them with those in need.” Kerry remembers this day vividly. “I was told by Korey that some of his coworkers wanted to make sure our kids had a wonderful Christmas,” she said. “But when I went outside our house that day and the entire cul-de-sac was filled with people, Santa and an actual fire truck? There are no words. Korey was shook to the core. The outpouring of love and support was tangible. And then there were the toys—so, so, so many toys! It was immediately apparent that we could not take in all of them. So, the toys and our family were loaded up on the firetruck and we were off to a shelter downtown where they were given to other kids in need. It felt right and made our entire family feel happy and at peace.” Unfortunately, Korey died in 2017, and those who loved him mourned his passing deeply. Inspired by Korey’s own giving nature, his colleagues at work were moved to continue the tradition that was born in the Cochran’s cul-de-sac that winter day in 2015. What started as a way to give just Korey’s two kids a magical Christmas grew into Korey’s Joy Drive, a large community toy drive benefitting some of the same charities that the Cochran family donated their excess toys to in 2015, and more, now including Randall Children’s Hospital, Open House Ministries, Children’s Center, Children’s Justice Center, Share and Sea Mar.
This year, community members can drop off donations of new, unwrapped toys,
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along with new winter coats, gloves, socks and hats at several locations around town, including City Hall, Vancouver Police East and West Precincts, Firstenburg Community Center and Marshall Community Center, between November 16 and December 14. Donations can also be made through a “Korey’s Joy Drive” Amazon wish list. After that, Thomas and other past and present City employees will collect the donations from the drop-off locations and deliver them to each charity to distribute to families within their care.
As for Kerry’s role in the community effort that honors her late husband, it’s become a family affair. “At first my role was just to take care of Korey,” she said. “The first two years of the drive he was still with us, but very sick. After we lost him, my family and I became more actively engaged. I began to plan with Jen [Thomas] and Lisa [Green, another previous colleague of Korey’s] and take on tasks with them like wrapping the gigantic boxes for the donation sites. Once
the donations were ready to be picked up, the real fun began for my family. I asked my Girl Scout troop, and we all asked family and friends to join us to sort the collected toys. Sorting night has become a yearly event we all look forward to with a cookie exchange, cocoa and comradery. It’s always a special treat when we get to see the mayor too! The next day, after the sorting is complete, Lisa, Jen, myself and my kids all load up the donations and begin the process of delivering to the locations that we have coordinated with to receive them.” Through all of these efforts, Korey’s legacy lives on for his family and for the community who helped raise him.
This holiday season, consider contributing to, or volunteering for either of these organizations or others in the Clark County community who work to bring the magic of the season to kids and families who may be having a difficult year. Whether due to medical challenges, a death in the family,
financial burdens or any other challenge, the need is always there, and a community that shares is a strong one indeed.
Nikki Klock has been the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine since 2006. She reads obsessively and loves exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.
Calendar
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.
Check out our websitefor even morelocal events.
2 WEDNESDAY
Dinovember at La Center Community Library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Rd., La Center. Come have some fun making dinosaur fossils! 10:30-11:30 am
Courageous Conversations, presented by NAACP Vancouver at Hilton Vancouver, 301 W 6th St., Vancouver. Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health: Featuring an intimate conver sation with Bassey Ikpi, author of “I’m Telling the Truth, but I’m Lying.” Moderated by Victor Jackson, CEO of Columbia River Mental Health Services and Temple Lentz, Clark County Councilor, District 1 and executive director of The Historic Trust. Register at crmhs.org/cou rageous-conversations. 12-1 pm
3 THURSDAY
CCHM Speaker Series: The Stories That Shape Our Community: Past, Present, Future at Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver. Admission $5. 7-9 pm
4 FRIDAY
Holiday Bazaar at Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E Main St., Battle Ground. Free to attendees and featuring a variety of local ven dors with unique and gift-worthy handcrafted items available for purchase. 2-8 pm
First Fridays on the Farm at Thiselle Creek Farm, 26903 NE CC Landon Rd., Yacolt. Fam ily friendly hangout on the farm! Bring your kid dos rain or shine to come play outside at the farm with bubbles, a barley “sand” box, and possible farm animal sightings! Bring a chair or picnic blanket, wear appropriate clothing for the weather, and closed toes shoes are recom mended. Enjoy 10% off all items at the farm stand as well! 3-5 pm
First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Vancou ver. Explore a wide array of gallery spaces
and art-centric businesses with the help of an interactive map that acts as a guide to navi gate through art exhibits and demonstrations in Downtown Vancouver. Find the map at vdausa. org/first-Friday. 4-8 pm
Downtown Camas First Friday: Thankful for Pie! Enjoy pie tastings, pie raffles, kids’ autumn art and crafts, art shows, after-hours shopping, live music, and pie walk dance party and more, all in Downtown Camas. 5-8 pm
CCHMuseum AfterHours at Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver. Each monthly event showcases a different theme with experiences such as pop-up exhib its, workshops, live performances, author read ings, and more. 5-8 pm
Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation’s Authors & Illustrators Dinner and Auction at Hilton Vancouver, 301 W 6th St., Vancouver. Keynote speaker will be Susan Or lean, author of “The Library Book.” Tickets $100 each at fvrlfoundation.org. 5:30-9:30 pm
The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra live at Providence Academy Ballroom, 400 E Ever green Blvd., Vancouver. The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra is teaming up with The Historic Trust to bring live music and dancing to Vancouver, with the music of the roaring 20s and Depres sion-era 30s. Tickets $10-$11 at historicmusic. org or at the door. 7-9 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. 1348. Avignon, France: A third of the population has been wiped out by the Bubonic Plague. The other two thirds are extremely freaked out. Part reality television, part psychedelic fever dream, this is a play about humans and the way we deal with real, actual tragedy: totally inadequately. Tick ets $12-$18 at octc.org. 7:30 pm
5 SATURDAY
Downtown Fall Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-2 pm
Holiday Bazaar at Battle Ground Community Center. See November 4 for details. 9 am-4 pm
The Lough Legacy Veterans Parade at Historic Officers Row, 1101 Officers Row, Vancouver. Now in its 34th year, the Lough Legacy Veterans Day Parade celebrates the service and sacrifice area veterans have made for our freedom. 11 am-1 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. Best buds George and Harold have been creating comics for years, but now that they’re in 5th grade, they figure it’s time to level up and write a musical based on their favorite character, Dog Man, the crimebiting sensation who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO!! How hard could it be? Tickets $20$42 at octc.org. 2 pm & 5 pm
Peace Lives Here at Cascade Park Commu nity Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. Participate in this inspiring and entertaining event about cultivating meaningful dialogues and relationships centered on peace. This pro gram is a community-led collaboration, bringing together local musicians, poets, comedians and leaders in peace and community. 2-4 pm
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony” at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver. Tickets $48 at vancouversympho ny.org. 7 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. See November 4 for details 7:30 pm
Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d)
from
SUNDAY
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. See November 5 for details. 11 am & 2 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. See November 4 for details 2 pm
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony” at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver. Tickets $48 at vancouversympho ny.org. 3 pm
9 WEDNESDAY
Dinovember at La Center Community Library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Rd., La Center. Come have some fun with dinosaur games! 10:30-11:30 am
10 THURSDAY
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
11 FRIDAY
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. See November 4 for details 7:30 pm
Bret Michaels: Nothin’ But a Good Vibe Tour at ilani, 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield. Tickets $29$49 at ilaniresort.com. 8 pm
12 SATURDAY
Downtown Fall Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-2 pm
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Patriot’s Week end Runs at 207 N Railroad Ave., Yacolt. Ride through a 330-foot solid rock tunnel to the Heisson area with a stop at Moulton Station to visit Yacolt Falls. Tickets $12-$18 at tickets. bycx.org. 12 pm & 2:30 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. See November 5 for details. 2 pm & 5 pm
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. See November 4 for details 7:30 pm
13 SUNDAY
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. See November 5 for details. 11 am & 2 pm
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Patriot’s Weekend Runs at 207 N Railroad Ave., Yacolt. See November 12 for more details 12 pm & 2:30 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Pestilence: Wow!” at Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland. See November 4 for details 2 pm
The Cult live at ilani, 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield. Tickets $45-$65 at ilaniresort.com. 7 pm
16 WEDNESDAY
Dinovember at La Center Community Library, 1411 NE Lockwood Creek Rd., La Center. Come make a cool habitat for your dinosaur ter rarium. Materials provided, while supplies last. 10:30-11:30 am
STEMgineers at Washougal Community Library, 1661 C St., Washougal It’s gooey. It’s stretchy! It’s slime! Make your own slime and learn about chemical reactions in the process. Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/stemgi neers-slime-0. 4-5 pm
17 THURSDAY
Holiday Sip & Shop in Downtown Camas. Festive holiday shopping, good friends, cocktail tastings, and holiday music! 4-9 pm
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
18 FRIDAY
Turkey Bingo at Lacamas Lake Lodge, 227 NE Lake Rd., Camas. Brought to you by Camas Parks Foundation as a fundraiser to support future programs, special events and scholar ships. Adults play to win turkeys, pies and other prizes. Kids play to win toys and snacks. $10 per card. Register at cityofcamas.us/parksrec/ page/turkey-bingo-lacamas-lodge. 5:30-9 pm
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
Journey Theater presents “Shrek the Musi cal” at Fort Vancouver High School Auditorium, 5700 E 18th St., Vancouver. Tickets $13-18 at journeytheater.org. 7 pm
19 SATURDAY
Downtown Fall Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-2 pm
Dinovember at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. Come celebrate Dinovember with dinosaur crafts and activities! Register at fvrl.librarymarket.com/ dinovember-1. 2-4
Journey Theater presents “Shrek the Musi cal” at Fort Vancouver High School Auditorium, 5700 E 18th St., Vancouver. Tickets $13-18 at journeytheater.org. 2 pm & 7 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. See November 5 for details. 2 pm & 5 pm
Battle Ground High School Drama presents “A Christmas Carol” at Battle Ground High School, 300 W Main St., Battle Ground. Tickets $7 at the door. 7 pm
20 SUNDAY
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Dog Man: The Musical” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. See November 5 for details. 11 am & 2 pm
21 MONDAY
Poetry Open Mic at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas. Read aloud your original or favorite work, and listen to monthly fea tured poets. All ages welcome. 6-7:45 pm
25 FRIDAY
Journey Theater presents “Shrek the Musical” at Fort Vancouver High School Auditorium, 5700 E 18th St., Vancouver. Tickets $13-18 at journeytheater.org. 7 pm
26 SATURDAY
Downtown Fall Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-2 pm
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Christmas Specials at 207 N Railroad Ave., Yacolt. Visit Santa and ride through a 330-foot solid rock tunnel to the Heisson area with a stop at Moulton Station to visit Yacolt Falls. Tickets $12-$18 at tickets.bycx.org 9:30 am & 12 pm & 2:30 pm
Journey Theater presents “Shrek the Musical” at Fort Vancouver High School Auditorium, 5700 E 18th St., Vancouver. Tickets $13-18 at journeytheater.org. 2 pm & 7 pm
27 SUNDAY
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Christmas Specials at 207 N Railroad Ave., Yacolt. See November 16 for more details. 9:30 am & 12 pm & 2:30 pm