Vancouver Family Magazine September 2022

It’s your moment.

From the moment you find out you’re pregnant to the moment you see that precious face - the journey of motherhood is filled with moments you cherish. PeaceHealth is here for every moment, starting with the moment you choose your pregnancy doctor.

Jeannette Flammang, MD, is a family medicine doctor who specializes in obstetrics. She loves building a personal relationship with the mom, ensuring she has a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and then helping the baby grow up healthy. Partnering with Dr. Flammang also brings support of the PeaceHealth Southwest Family Birth Center, which has been named one of the best maternity hospitals in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine for three years in a row.

Learn more at peacehealth.org/vancouvermom or call 360-727-0991.

Jeannette Flammang, MD

PEACEHEALTH FISHER’S LANDING CLINIC 16811 SE McGillivray Blvd. Suite 101 Vancouver, WA 98683

FEATURE ARTICLES

NW Getaway: Seattle NorthCountry

Discover how coastal waters, noble forests, rolling farmland, small town America and sophisticated technology cohesively welcome visitors to experience the Pacific Northwest.

It Takes a City That Cares: Suicide Prevention For Suicide Prevention Month, read how a Camas couple turned their personal tragedy into a force for hope--and how you can get involved.

NICU Nurses

Take a peek into a day in the life of a NICU nurse, and learn how they help and heal babies and families.

September '22

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Editor’s Notes

8 Couve Scoop

• Ashwood Taps and Trucks: New Food Pod Opening in Washougal

• The Enchanted Rose Emporium Emphasizes Sustainability and Skill with Vintage Crafts and Fabrics

• C-Tran Rolls Out Refugee Pass

10 Mosaic Family Voyage Follow the Messerschmidt family as they swim with whale sharks

32 Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB

• Banking Liquid Gold: Northwest Mothers Milk Bank

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @VancouverFamily

The Power of Touch

“Touch is now understood to be the first sensation a fetus perceives,” Cynthia Gorney writes in National Geographic’s June 2022 cover story, titled “The Power of Touch.” “At birth and during the initial months of life, it’s an infant’s most critical and fully developed sense—the way babies start exploring the world, developing confidence, learning where their bodies end and everything else begins.” In the article that feels especially timely post-pandemic, Gorney explores what scientists are learning about the crucial human need for touch, and how the perception of the importance of touch has shifted in recent decades. For example, experiments conducted on monkeys by University of Wisconsin psychologist Harry Harlow in the 1950s showed that newborn rhesus macaques preferred the comfort of a soft, terry cloth-covered surrogate to a hard and wiry surrogate, even though the wiry surrogate dispensed their food.

The findings, indicating a deep need by our close biological cousins for comforting touch, flew in the face of the conventional wisdom of the time. “Influential Western child-rearing authorities of [Harlow’s] era were instructing parents not to touch their babies any more than absolutely necessary,” writes Gorney, “to regard cuddling and kissing infants and small children as antiquated forms of overindulgence [and unsanitary].” Now armed with better knowledge of the power of touch, we can feel free to hold, kiss and cuddle our babies as much as we want—indeed, we must touch our children in order to provide a firm developmental foundation. From a newborn baby who is delivered directly onto mother’s chest, to embracing your kindergartner as they arrive home from their first day of school, collective moments of touch reap huge rewards.

In this issue, learn how families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit nurture their babies with indispensable help from NICU nurses (page 28), and read how a Camas couple’s personal tragedy was transformed into founding an organization aimed at preventing suicide (page 20). Plus, explore Seattle NorthCountry in this month’s NW Getaway (page 12).

Volume 21, Issue 9

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

Rachel Messerschmidt, Kristen Flowers, Nikki Klock, Sarah Mortensen

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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:

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

@whitneysummersphotography

@whitneysummersphotography

Photo by Marie Pham Photography Addison (7), Alden (5) and baby Ariston love to swim, play chess, practice martial arts and care for their home garden.

Photo by Whitney Summers Photography. WhitneySummers.com

Ashwood Taps and Trucks: New Food Pod Now Open in Washougal

In August, Washougal welcomed a brand-new food cart pod and restaurant, Ashwood Taps and Trucks, to E Street. Entrepreneurs Tyler and Megan Davis are excited to offer the community a fun gathering place for the whole family to enjoy. Inside, Taps and Trucks offers local craft beers, wines, ciders, kombuchas and non-alcoholic drinks as well as food. But just outside are several food trucks that are sure to whet anyone’s appetite. The Davises operate The Bowl Shebang truck which offers a variety of make-your-own bowls, with rice, beans, choice of protein and vegetables. Also parked outside is The Cravory known for gourmet smash burgers, hotdogs and grilled cheese and Getta Gyro who already has an established following in the Camas/ Vancouver area. Each truck is owned by local Washougal and Camas residents.

Patrons are able to eat in either the indoor or outdoor space where both kids and pets are welcome. While parents enjoy a drink, they can watch their kids play cornhole or other games in the fenced grassy area while enjoying the sun and breeze from the nearby Columbia River. “We could not be happier to finally have the doors open and welcome our community into Ashwood Taps and Trucks,” shares Megan Davis. “The support we’ve received has been beyond what we could have imagined, and we cannot thank our family, friends and neighbors enough.”

C-Tran Rolls Out Refugee Pass

E arlier this year, C-TRAN partnered with Lutheran Community Services Northwest to create a new Refugee Pass program which provides free transit access for eligible refugees now living in Clark County. Since the program launched in May, four individuals have been approved for a pass—and with it, access to transportation as they navigate a new community and a new life.

As refugees from Ukraine and other countries continue to arrive, Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) has stepped up to help assist people across the Pacific Northwest, including Clark County. They act as a critical lifeline to services like mental health counseling, English classes, employment and of course, transportation.

Nikki Chung, resettlement program supervisor at LCSNW expects they will serve 300-350 refugees this year from Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Syria and Kenya in addition to 145 refugees who previously came from Afghanistan. “Successful refugee resettlement cannot happen without an involved, supportive community,” shared Chung in an interview with C-TRAN, found on their website. “Volunteers really make a huge difference in a refugee’s journey. We love to connect people, organizations and faith groups with our work.”

The Enchanted Rose Emporium

Sustainability and Skill with Vintage Crafts and Fabrics

A new gift and craft shop of all things vintage has come to Downtown Vancouver. Fittingly located inside the historic Providence Academy building, owner Miki Landis brings vintage patterns and gifts back in vogue with a large variety of fabrics, craft kits, patterns, jewelry and more. Landis, who struggled to find the types of fabric she wanted for her quilts locally, opened her Etsy shop in April 2020. Soon after, her inventory began filling her house and she moved into a brickand-mortar store this spring.

Focusing on sustainability, Landis repurposes vintage linens to make aprons and baby clothes and specializes in giving existing wedding gowns new life through alterations and remakes. She also found suppliers for recycled yarns and thread to help reduce the waste that crafting can create.

Ashwood Taps and Trucks founders Tyler and Megan Davis.

Photo courtesy Tyler and Megan Davis

C-TRAN’s new Refugee Pass provides free transit access for eligible refugees now living in Clark County. Photos courtesy C-TRAN.

What differentiates The Enchanted Rose Emporium from other fabric and crafting stores is Landis’ love of vintage items. She carries nearly 100 Aunt Martha’s iron-on patterns from their original designs from the 1950s—the same patterns her grandmother used—as well as completely unique handmade Annie dolls. Landis, who learned her crafting skills from her mother and grandmother, hopes to help younger generations find their own love of hand crafting. “Opening a brick-andmortar location allowed me to have a classroom and offer crafting classes to children and adults,” shares Landis, “I’m really looking forward to building up my class schedule.” Currently the Fort Vancouver Quilts of Valor group meets in her classroom space Fridays, and they welcome more volunteers; no previous sewing experience required.

Miki Landis recently opened The Enchanted Rose Emporium in Providence Academy and now offers crafting classes for kids and adults, as well as a variety of vintage supplies and collectibles.

Photos courtesy Miki Landis.

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

Swimming with

Whale Sharks

“There’s a whale shark in the anchorage!” The call crackled over the VHF radio through the hot summer air.

“Whale shark! They said whale shark! Let’s go!!” The four of us scrambled to get into the dinghy and head toward the growing crowd of people on paddleboards and in dinghies. We could hear sounds of awe. This was an event we’d been waiting for. We were about to check off a huge Sea of Cortez cruising bucket list item!

Whale sharks are the world’s largest known fish species. They can grow to lengths of over 40 feet and weigh in up to 50,000 lbs. For perspective, that’s the size of a school bus! And they hold a reputation for being extremely docile and unperturbed by human visitors to their underwater space. They’re truly gentle giants.

The Sea of Cortez, our cruising ground these past few months, is the ancestral home of a large population of whale sharks that migrate up and down the sea each year. They eat only krill and other tiny sea creatures that they filter out of the water. They pose no threat at all to humans and are a popular tourist attraction.

We’d been hoping to see a whale shark since arriving in Mexico last winter and, despite having come close with reported sightings nearby over the previous months, this was our first time actually seeing one.

As we approached the small crowd of excited cruising families, we could see the animal’s dorsal fin and tail fin occasionally breaking the surface of the water, but we couldn’t see the bulk of the animal hidden below. There were snorkelers all around and our son, Evan, jumped in to try to get close enough to see the giant creature underwater.

The shark cruised through the crowd and turned to head back out toward the opening of the bay. It didn’t seem like he wanted to stick around, and we hadn’t really gotten much of a view yet. We collected Evan from the water and quickly made a large arching semi-circle to try to position ourselves in its path. As it came closer, we turned off the engine and drifted, hoping it would continue past. When we could finally see it clearly, the size of the whale shark was stunning. The thing was huge—easily three times the length of our dinghy, putting it well over 30 feet in length—and it passed directly underneath us! Evan jumped back into the water and came up with amazement in his eyes as we watched it swim away. He excitedly claimed the title of being the first Messerschmidt to get to continued on next page

Page 10, top: The author's daughter, Kali, swims toward a passing whale shark. Bottom: The author's son, Evan, watches underwater as the first whale shark they've ever encountered swims by. See whale shark coloration and spots at the top of the image.

Page 11: A whale shark swims past the author on the family's paddleboard.

swim with a whale shark! Little did we know, this would not be our only encounter.

Just as we returned to our sailboat, we heard another VHF call and saw a new crowd gathering near another whale shark closer to shore. We watched for a moment from the boat before I took our daughter, Kali, and we got onto our paddleboard to go check it out. This one was in no hurry to leave the shallow waters and swam in lazy circles gulping in mouthfuls of water packed with its dinner. Several times, we were able to get close enough to touch it, though we restrained ourselves from doing so out of respect. Being mere feet from such a massive and powerful sea creature was just breathtaking.

After 10-15 minutes, I paddled back to Mosaic to tell Brenden that he and Evan needed to check this one out. Evan hopped on the paddleboard and took off, while Brenden, Kali, and I transitioned back into the dinghy. Brenden and Kali even got into the water to observe the animal close-up and we hung out with it for about 45 minutes, amid gasps and excited whispers from the attendant adults and children alike.

And, later in the evening, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, three more of the beasts were reported among the sailboats.

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That’s when I got my turn to get into the water and swim with them. They made close pass after close pass on our sailboat and those anchored nearby. One even came so close that it bumped our paddleboard and anchor chain as our family peered down at it from the deck of our boat.

Two days later, as we were swimming and playing at the beach, we looked out and spotted several whale sharks again visiting the anchorage. We happened to have our drone with us, and Brenden quickly launched it to get aerial footage of what turned out to be five whale sharks feeding right next to the shore. The kids and I, along with a few others from the anchored sailboats, spent an hour swimming and paddleboarding again with these sharks. What more could a cruiser ask for!? This was truly a highlight of our year, a magical moment made possible by living and raising our kids on our little 40-foot sailboat in 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 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 for Vancouver Family Magazine.

GETAWAY

By Nikki Klock

All photos by Nikki and JR Klock

Just north of the thriving metropolis of Seattle lies Snohomish County, an area anchored by marine travel and trade, and lifted by aerospace innovation and flight. The region, called Seattle NorthCountry, is rich in both natural resources and urban development, juxtaposing thousands of years of ecological history with human-developed technology that could radically impact the next thousand years. In May, my husband, JR, and I took our oldest daughter, Maddie, along with us on a visit to this beautiful area, where we discovered how coastal waters, noble forests, rolling farmland, small town America and sophisticated technology cohesively welcome visitors of all backgrounds and interests to experience the Pacific Northwest.

Arriving in Seattle NorthCountry

Seattle NorthCountry includes four primary visitor regions across Snohomish County: Urban Basecamp, Salish Sea Coastal Communities, Stillaguamish and Sauk River Valleys, and Skykomish and

Snohomish River Valleys. Our urban basecamp while we’d be exploring these areas was Inn at Port Gardner, an unassuming hotel on Possession Sound in Everett, with rooms overlooking the port marina. We passed some heavily industrialized areas en route to the hotel, but once there, we found the marina and boardwalk to be lovely. We would spend some wonderful evenings and mornings exploring the miles of walkways along the Port of Everett, but first, our dinner reservations were just down the boardwalk at Anthony’s Woodfire Grill.

We happened to arrive on the first day Anthony’s opened the outdoor patio seating for the season, and the view of the marina was beautiful, even from inside, thanks to large windows throughout the upscale restaurant. Of course, in the nautical environment in which we dined, I had to try the famous Copper River Salmon and we all shared a yummy garlic cheese baguette appetizer.

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The sun sets over the Port of Everett in May 2022.

Feature:

Getaway: Seattle NorthCountry

continued from page 12

After dinner that first evening, we walked up and across the truly grand Grand Avenue Park Bridge, which was lit up each evening, casting a glow on the boardwalk. The bridge bypasses railroad tracks and a steep cliff to connect the port and marina with Grand Avenue and Grand Avenue Park, allowing access to panoramic views of the sound and Whidbey Island.

Small Town Charm

The following morning, we headed southeast of Everett, through forests and farmland to Snohomish, a small town with a charming downtown that parallels the Snohomish River. For breakfast, we visited Grain Artisan Bakery—a small bakery that sources 7585% of their ingredients locally—and ordered a variety of scones,

to be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet. The first 777X test flight took place at Paine Field in January 2020, and the model will be rolled out to airlines in coming years. Besides the film presentation, the museum features interactive exhibits that showcase aerospace innovation. My husband and daughter got to fly real drones (fun for my husband, as he flies a drone of his own back home), virtually design an aircraft then test that craft in a flight simulation and pretend to prepare for space flight in the “Marathon to Mars” virtual astronaut training. Perhaps the most thrilling part of the entire experience is looking out from the museum’s top deck onto Paine Field’s enormous, 1300-acre complex—a small city unto itself—where flights come in and out and over 50 aviation businesses conduct commerce, including aircraft repair and helicopter flight instruction. Boeing Backstage Pass, which includes general admission to the museum and the theater, range from $10-$20, free for kids under age 6.

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cookies and cupcakes to share. (My favorite was the bacon maple scone!) After breakfast, we strolled along Snohomish’s 1st Street, which is full of antique shops in particular, among other restaurants and shops. We noticed lots of cyclists on the road, and later learned that the 29-mile Snohomish County Centennial Trail’s southern terminus is right in downtown Snohomish. From that southern tip, the trail winds north all the way to Arlington, near a historic barn on the property that was the childhood home of famed American woodworker, architect and furniture maker, George Nakashima. We didn’t get to ride that trail or visit that historic landmark, however, because our next destination was back west through the forests and farmland of the Snohomish River Valley to a unique museum in the city of Mukilteo.

Boeing Future of Flight

Not to be confused with the independent Museum of Flight in Seattle (which you can read about at VancouverFamilyMagazine. com/Museum-of-Flight), Boeing Future of Flight is located within Paine Field, a working public airport with a long history. The first Boeing 747 jumbo jet was constructed here, a story told in a film presentation that is shown in the museum’s theater. We also learned about Boeing’s newest aircraft, the 777X, which purports

Feature: NW Getaway: Seattle NorthCountry (cont'd)

Left: Grain Artisan Bakery in Snohomish serves baked goods using locally sourced ingredients.

Right: Boeing Future of Flight showcases aerospace technology through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.

High Adrenaline

After exploring aerospace technology, we were ready for another type of aerial experience: a ropes course and zip line. We stopped for lunch at Tapped in Mukilteo (Pretzel burger? Yes, please!), then made our way to Paine Field Community Park in Everett. The park is a typical public space with baseball fields and a playground, with a few conspicuous differences: a huge ropes course, mini golf course, laser tag field and axe throwing facility on site, all run by High Trek Adventures. All four of these activities are located within the public park, but do cost money and, in the case of the ropes course/zip line and axe throwing, require a brief training session before getting started. We arrived for our pre-booked ropes course time slot in time to begin “Ground School,” where we and our fellow climbers were fitted with helmets and harnesses and instructed on how to use the carabiners and zip trolleys to safely navigate the course that lifts up to 50 feet in the air. It took some practice to master the process of clipping and unclipping the safety equipment, but we caught on and were soon on our way up, up, up. The course is designed to guide climbers age 7 through adult through challenges and on to two culminating zip lines. This was a brand-new experience for all three of us, and we had a blast negotiating the ropes elements that are visually color coded for different heights and ability levels. With 60 different challenges and two zip lines, it takes about two hours to explore every inch of the course, including snack and water breaks. We didn’t make it through every challenge, but we did enjoy a good hour climbing. After dismounting and removing our climbing gear, we tried our hands at axe throwing. We got a good laugh out of my feeble, frightened attempts to wield the weapons, while JR and Maddie were naturals (should I be worried?). At High Trek Adventure, hourly-rate tickets for each individual activity are available, but the best value is the Adventure Pass, which includes unlimited time on the ropes course and zip lines, mini golf, axe throwing and laser tag, and ranges in price from $70-$80, depending on the time of year (peak and off-peak).

Sunset at Mukilteo Beach

After the high adventures, we drove north to make it to our dinner reservations at Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing next to beautiful Mukilteo Beach on Puget Sound. The restaurant provides a thoroughly

Feature: NW Getaway: Seattle NorthCountry (cont'd)

Left: High Trek Adventure’s ropes course guides climbers age 7 and up through challenges and zip lines.

Right: The author, her husband and daughter gear up to climb High Trek Adventure’s ropes course and zip lines.

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Caring

infants, children and

NW Getaway: Seattle NorthCountry (cont'd)

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nautical experience inside and out, with the building jutting right out onto the water, and the interior designed to feel just like the inside of a well-appointed old-time ship. The view of the sound was spectacular, and the seafood was delectable. For those wanting a more casual Ivar’s experience, a fish bar and ice cream shop adjacent to the dine-in restaurant offers less expensive fare. When we finished our meal, we walked just a couple of blocks over to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park and Beach just in time for sunset. The golden hour was beautiful on the small historic lighthouse and the beach. We arrived as many groups were starting up fires in the park’s built-in fire pits and roasting marshmallows while enjoying the gorgeous sunset. We walked along the winding paths through the park before settling on a spot to watch the sun go down—a lovely ending to the day.

The Legacy of the Tulalip Tribes at Hibulb Cultural Center

The next day, our last in Seattle NorthCountry, we enjoyed breakfast delivered right to our hotel room by Inn at Port Gardner staff (included in every stay during the time we were there) before checking out and heading to our last activity of the trip: a visit to Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip (pronounced Tuh’-lay-lup), about 20 minutes north of Everett. The museum is a remarkable tribute to the Tulalip Tribes, which include the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and other allied tribes and bands of the region. Exhibits throughout the center depict the history and present-day traditions of the tribes who have dwelled in the Puget Sound area since time immemorial, and still inhabit the region to this day. Prominent in the tribes’ history and in the exhibits is the complicated story of the signing of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott,

in which Indigenous peoples of what is now western Washington ceded millions of acres of land to the federal government in exchange for medical treatment, education and guaranteed access to natural resources.

The impressive Canoe Hall holds replicas and original authentic canoes set alongside large murals of the surrounding natural landscape, along with other artifacts. In the Main Gallery, interactive displays introduced us to the legacy and culture of the Tulalip people, told in both the native Lushootseed language and English. In the Longhouse, an auditorium patterned after a Tulalip longhouse, we watched a video documentary about the Tulalip people’s past, present and future as “The People of the Salmon.” We felt a reverence for the people who first called this place home, and who still inhabit and steward a 22,000-acre reservation in the Seattle NorthCountry region.

After exploring the small towns, the space-age future, the high adventure, the Native American history and the culinary delights of Seattle NorthCountry, we can’t wait to go back.

Nikki Klock has been the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine since 2006. She reads obsessively, runs daily and loves exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

Left: Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip brings to life the history and presentday traditions of the tribes who have dwelled in the Puget Sound area since time immemorial, and still inhabit the region to this day.

Right: The Mukilteo Lighthouse, constructed in 1906, now sits on a beachfront park overlooking Puget Sound and Whidbey Island.

Suicide Prevention:

It Takes a City That Cares

By Sarah Mortensen

Note: This article discusses suicide and self-harm.

Nothing can prepare a parent to receive the news that their child is gone. Even more shocking and painful is learning that they intentionally took their own life. Oftentimes, the family didn’t observe any warning signs or know of the deep internal struggles their child was facing. “Suicide does not end the pain of one. It transfers that pain to those left behind,” explain Joe and Sheryl Stephens, founders of the nonprofit organization Our City Cares, who lost their son to suicide in 2016.

Knowing that neighbors and friends who lost their loved ones to suicide were experiencing the same indescribable pain they had, and asking themselves the same unanswerable questions such as, “What if they had just . . .” or “If I had only done . . .” the Stephenses decided to try something that hadn’t been tried before. What if those who were secretly struggling with thoughts of self-harm could see that there was hope? What if the words every friend and family member wished they had had the chance to say were out in the open for them to see every day?

Left: Sheryl and Joe Stephens lost their son to suicide in 2016, prompting them to found Our City Cares.

Bottom 3 photos clockwise from left: Providence employee, Dawn Tolotti, holds two Signs of Hope before placing them on a Providence campus; Our City Cares’ partner El Burrito Mojado owner Victor Avendano holds a Sign of Hope, along with son Christopher and nephew Faustino; A Sign of Hope greets visitors at the entrance to Riverview Elementary School in Vancouver. All photos courtesy of Our City Cares.

A New Local Initiative

Founded in Camas, Our City Cares’s mission is “To unite city governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches and schools to combat the tragedy of suicide and bring hope.” They’ve developed three main initiatives to accomplish this mission: Signs of Hope Campaign, Community Care Cards and

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The following year, their community lost other young people to suicide, causing the Stephenses to wonder, what could be done to prevent these deaths? “Suicide impacts large numbers of people who are left with haunting questions and regrets [and] a vicious cycle of complicated grief,” they share on the Our City Cares website.

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Walks and Talks. Many Clark County residents have seen the Signs of Hope displayed near schools and roadways with encouraging words in both Spanish and English. Some signs read, “There is Always Hope” and “Without the Darkness, You Can’t See the Stars.” “One common thread that experts agree on is that people who end their lives, or attempt to, get caught in a negative cycle of thought and struggle to pull themselves out of it,” continues Sheryl Stephens. “Our hope is that an unexpected sign of hope would begin a positive spark that could be a game changer for that person, no matter what their day entailed.”

Since it is a newer approach, there is no research yet to indicate if the positive affirmation signs help to reduce the suicide rate in a community. However, Brian Curtis, LMHC with Sea Mar Community Health in Vancouver says, “If those signs can give someone a sense that there are people who care or are willing to help them, then it’s a step in the right direction. Also, if it teaches people in the community that suicide is a

subject that can be approached and reduce the stigma around mental illness, then that’s a bonus.” Curtis, who specializes in treating individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress, says that one of the most common misconceptions about suicide is that talking to someone about it will put the idea in their head or make them more likely to attempt it. “This belief is false and is one of the things that prevents a lot of people from reaching out and trying to help,” he says. “Speaking up and asking someone directly, ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ can open a dialogue and let them know there are people who care.”

Our City Cares’ other initiatives go a step further to connect individuals with the professional help they need. Inside the schools, businesses and churches displaying the hopeful signage are Community Care Cards which list community-specific mental health crisisline phone numbers, and medical and mental health providers. Additionally, local churches are included on the list who are

willing to help others navigate those services and offer spiritual guidance. Knowing that a faith-based approach can be the right approach for many people, these churches “are committed to providing support and connecting you to valuable care, even in your hardest of times,” shares Katie Yates, outreach coordinator for Our City Cares. Lastly, the Walks and Talks initiative encourages others to “disconnect from their cell phones or social media and be present outside and with others.” Yates affirms that this effort “is an additional therapeutic technique to break those unhealthy thought patterns, refocusing them on healthy ones.” Community helps many individuals feel connected, and Our City Cares works with local event venues and racing organizations, such as Why Racing, to promote these preventative mental and physical health practices.

Combatting an “Epidemic of Loneliness”

These small efforts are similar to what former U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H.

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Murthy, has been encouraging for almost a decade. During his time in office, he studied the factors leading to the rapidly increasing rates of anxiety, depression and deaths of despair, which include deaths from alcohol misuse and drug addiction in addition to suicide. What he learned was that across all regions, cultures and economic statuses, the underlying issue to these mental health problems was loneliness, labeling it an American epidemic years before COVID struck. In a 2017 interview with Harvard Business Review he said, “We live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.” He explained that loneliness is associated with a reduction of lifespan equal to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and that loneliness has an even greater impact on one’s lifespan than obesity.

Since leaving office, Dr. Murthy has continued to speak out and encourage community and business leaders to do more to encourage human connections, especially within the workplace where most people spend a great deal of their day. By encouraging time for employees to share things going on in their lives or taking breaks outside with others, stress can be reduced, and human connections fostered. Dr. Murthy also councils Americans to take account of how much quality time they spend with their loved ones (quality being the key word), and to prioritize at least 15 minutes a day to talking with them without distractions. Trying to multitask during conversations while watching TV or looking at a phone “dilute[s] the quality of our connections to each other,” he shared in an interview on WBUR radio in Boston in 2020. On top of these simple steps, he explains that one of the best ways to overcome feelings of depression and loneliness is to make time to serve others. “It turns out that when we reach out

and help someone else, that that not only enables us to connect with another human being, but it reminds us of our value and of our purpose in life,” he said.

Recognizing Those in Crisis Research has repeatedly shown there are predictable patterns that can alert others if someone is at risk of or is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). In fact, a new algorithm from Brigham Young University, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard can predict STB with 91% accuracy in adolescents, an age group statistically more prone to STB. Online harassment and bullying were high risk factors, but serious arguments and fighting with family were just as heavy an influence on STB risk. Some outward signs people may see include giving away prized possessions, sleeping too much or too little and increasingly isolating oneself.

“Many people believe that deaths by suicide happen without warning, but more

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continued from page

often the warning signs simply haven’t been recognized,” adds Curtis. “The biggest warning signs are changes in mood and behavior. [This may look like] someone who normally comes out when friends get together, but then stops coming, [or] someone who’s normally eventempered, but then starts acting irritable or angry, someone who starts using alcohol or drugs more than they usually do.”

Surprisingly, many people who think about suicide will talk about it, even explicitly saying they want to die. “Another common misconception is that a person who talks about suicide isn’t in as much danger of attempting suicide, or they’re just ‘looking for attention,’” continues Curtis. “In fact, many people who die by suicide do talk to people about it in the late stages leading up to a suicide attempt. Sometimes a person in danger of suicide will talk about feeling trapped, hopeless or like they’re a burden on others. These warnings should not be dismissed.” Curtis reiterates that the if you suspect someone is dealing with STB, you should directly ask them, “[If] it turns out that they are not, asking them about it was still the right thing to do. It’s better to ask and find out they’re actually OK than to not ask and then find out they weren’t.”

However, knowing what to say if a friend does open up about their STB struggles can be difficult. “Many people feel fearful, shocked, or even angry when they learn that a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide,” says Curtis. Not overreacting or being judgmental is his first piece of advice. “[Individuals] dealing with suicidal thoughts already feel ashamed or guilty, and telling the person why you think suicide is wrong will only increase those feelings. The best thing to do is listen. Allow them to express their feelings without telling them that they shouldn’t feel that way. Show them that you’re willing to accept their emotions, no matter how difficult.”

How to Give or Get Help

In July, a new number for the national suicide and crisis line, 988, launched, replacing the former 1-800-273-TALK number, though the former will also remain active. People are encouraged to call (or text) for themselves, neighbors or loved ones to receive immediate help and direction and are ensured that no crisis is too small to call. With greater national coordination and federal funding, you will not get a busy signal or be put on hold. To compliment the hotline, 988lifeline.org

provides thorough information on how to access services or support a friend. When listening to a friend in distress, the website suggests avoiding a debate on whether suicide is right or wrong, or lecturing on the value of life. Instead, provide hope that there are alternatives and that you will help them find support. Do no act shocked or be sworn to secrecy—you may need support yourself when helping a friend deal with such difficult problems. In conjunction with 988, The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention treats suicide risk as any other public health matter, such as smoking, which can be diagnosed, treated and ultimately reduced. Their #Bethe1to campaign focuses on public awareness and education. BeThe1to.com details five action steps to support someone in crisis: Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect and Follow Up.

Connecting to services as soon as a risk is known is key, then a long-term support system can be created. 988 calls are routed to local crisis centers with professional mental health counselors who listen, encourage and remind callers that treatment is available and effective. In addition to providing immediate help in a

continued on page 26

Feature: Suicide Prevention: It Takes a City That Cares (cont'd)

Our City Cares volunteers, leadership and staff pause to pose at a Why Racing event in Clark County where Our City Cares was the beneficiary, and where the group promoted their Walks and Talks initiative.

Suicide Prevention: It Takes a City That Cares (cont'd)

crisis, 988 connects individuals with mental health service providers in their area who offer therapy and other medical referrals if needed. Providers like Curtis are trained to help ensure those dealing with STB have . “Once a referral is made, the clinician gathers information about the challenges that the individual is facing, their current mental health concerns and some background information,” he explains. “From there, we create a plan for treatment, outlining the kinds of changes that the person wants to work toward and the barriers that they may be facing. With a person who’s dealing with suicidal thoughts, we create a crisis plan, including specific steps that the individual can take if they’re in crisis to help them reduce the risk of harming themselves and seek support from others.”

Isolation is a major driving force behind suicide, so reaching out can be extremely difficult if you are dealing with thoughts of self-harm. “Talking to a family member or trusted friend can go a long way,” reassures Curtis. “In addition, any person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts should seek professional help. A person’s doctor can help them find resources, or they can call a local community health center to get connected with a mental health professional. In cases where a person is in immediate danger of harming themselves, they should call the Clark County Mental Health Crisis Line, or 911.”

Where There’s Help, There’s Hope The good news is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports overall suicide rates declined by 3% from 2020 to 2021. Unfortunately, rates for those ages 10-24 have been on the rise, even in the immediate years before the COVID-19 pandemic brought on increased social isolation. Helping more young people learn about suicide prevention for both themselves and their friends will hopefully curb the disturbing trend of younger suicides. The Teen Crisis

Line is an anonymous service provided by teenagers who have received over 100 hours of training from mental health professionals. Through text, email or phone calls, they listen and help other teens work through their problem who, as a peer, will likely be able to understand them better. Unsurprisingly, most calls deal with anxiety, depression, issues with friends and loneliness. Additionally, TeenLine.org lists multiple resources for both teens and parents of teens to learn how to recognize and address problems and find further help in their area.

Connection and community support are what make the difference to those with STB. Thankfully, numerous mental health providers in Clark County stand ready to

outreach and public awareness. Anyone, including businesses and churches, can visit OurCityCares.org to get involved. They are always looking for Hope Ambassadors to spread their message and help with signage placement. According to the Stephenses and the entire Our City Cares organization, “The problem is too massive for one entity to combat. It takes a united effort. It takes a city that cares.”

Sarah Mortensen holds a degree in English and Marriage and Family Studies from BYUIdaho. She 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 enjoys hiking, hot chocolate and dressing up

ing practice or medical clinic who is committed to combatting suicide and would like to be included on the Our City Cares Community Care Cards, email info@ourcitycares.org.

Donate to Our City Cares Hope Begins Here Campaign:

NICU Nurses: Helping & Healing the Whole Family

By Kristen Flowers

I sat on the edge of the exam chair, having just completed a routine preg nancy ultrasound. My doctor pored over the images, zooming in and out until the silence in the room became deafening. My husband and I anxiously looked at each other, waiting for him to say something so we could be excused and go about our day. Little did I know that I would not be return ing home from that fateful appointment.

When my doctor finally spoke, he ex pressed concern that I was leaking am niotic fluid. He was worried that perhaps I had lost too much to continue a safe pregnancy and advised me to go to my local hospital’s labor and delivery depart ment as a precaution. He advised us that he was probably being overly cautious since I was feeling fine, but urged me to go anyway. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being poked and prodded for a second time in one day, but I went to put my doctor’s (and my own) mind at ease.

An hour later, I stood in the hospital hallway, sobbing to my mother, who lived in Michigan. “They won’t let me leave. The doctor says I must stay in the hospital until I give birth,” I told her. I was only 24 weeks pregnant.

My husband went home and packed a bag of things I would need at my new resi dence. It was an odd feeling that night as I kissed him goodbye. Hooked up to IVs and

baby monitors, I cried knowing I would not sleep in my bed again until I was a parent. My husband would have to get the nurs ery ready by himself. There would be no baby shower or any last-minute vacations with him. I had to figure out how to file disability for my work, all while wondering how we would survive if I lost my career.

Humans are resilient, and although watch ing “Friends” reruns on a fuzzy TV and being awakened every four hours for tests wasn’t my favorite, I managed to get through it. My daughter was born at 34 weeks by cesarean section. Before I could hold her, she was sent to the neo natal intensive care unit (NICU) immedi ately for evaluation. It wasn’t until 12 hours later that I met her for the first time, and was introduced to the NICU experience.

A Whole New World

As a new NICU mom, Stephanie Lyle was scared and unprepared for what she saw in the unit for the first time. “I’m used to

medical stuff, alarms and bells, and things like that, but when it’s your child? It’s a different level, and it’s a different level of anxiety and a different level of feeling.”

Lyle is an emergency room social worker at Legacy Salmon Creek. She had a 25week fetal demise before becoming preg nant with her daughter. Because of her history, she was under extra supervision during the pregnancy. When she reached 28 weeks, she ended up on bed rest un til her daughter reached a gestational age of 31 weeks plus one day. After the birth, her daughter spent the next six weeks in the NICU. “It’s very anxiety-provoking,” Lyle recalls. “It’s scary when you don’t know what’s going on from day to day or there is an alarm going off, and it’s scary,”

During this time, Lyle practically lived in the NICU. “We would spend all day every day [there]. We would get there some where around nine or ten in the morning,

Feature:

Nurses: Helping

Healing the Whole Family

on next page

Stephanie Lyle's daughter, Sidney Rose, was born at 31 weeks gestation and spent six weeks in the NICU before going home. Photos courtesy Stephanie Lyle.

continued from previous page

and we would leave around nine at night.” Lyle’s daughter was healthy enough that she didn’t require any oxygen or extra support. She had an IV, but she was just there to learn how to grow and eat on her own without a NG-tube, which is a feed ing tube that goes through the baby’s abdominal wall and into the abdomen.

While at the hospital, Lyle spent a lot of time holding her baby, as skin-to-skin contact was allowed in her case. Other times, she watched TV on her tablet or wandered the grounds of the hospital. Lyle now laughs about the one day she didn’t visit. “We were feeling overwhelmed, tired, feeling all that anxiety that comes with NICU life,” she says. “The nurses were like, ‘Don’t feel bad, go take a day to yourself. She will be fine. We will take care of her. Go do something else. Take care of your mental health.’”

This was my personal experience as well; the NICU nurses are not only car ing for the babies but the parents, too.

Treating the Patient, Teaching the Parents

Kimberly O’Kelley, a NICU nurse at Peace Health, says caring for the entire fam ily comes with the territory. One thing she enjoys most about her job is that she gets to let the best parts of herself come out. “I like that I can be tender. That’s what you have to be with a NICU baby, and I can be tender with the family because they [also] need that gentleness.” O’Kelley has been a NICU nurse for 22 years, and believes it’s a calling. “When I was in the NICU during my practicum, I was helping the little babies and I remember standing by a wall one day, and all of a sudden, something in me just came alive. I just took a deep breath and said, ‘This is it.’”

Before I went into the hospital for medi cal bed rest, I thought I had all the time in the world to learn the things I needed to know before becoming a mother. Be fore my daughter was born, I had never held a baby, let alone changed a diaper

or fed one. I was the youngest in my fam ily and never babysat for younger kids, but I thought I had time to figure it out.

When that time proved short-lived, I learned everything I needed to know from my NICU

continued on page 30

nurses. I changed my first diaper under their guidance. They taught me how to bathe my daughter and handle her reflux. They showed me positions that she would like to sleep in, and they showed me how to swaddle her expertly. I lived thousands of miles from my family, but these nurses taught me what it took to be a mother.

O’Kelley says that’s just part of the job. “You need the nurse to help you under stand what it means to be a parent in the NICU because to love your baby when your baby is in the NICU sometimes means not stroking them. It means just a gentle, firm touch. Sometimes it means whisper ing. Sometimes it means the lights are down while you’re skin-to-skinning. Just helping the parents learn what it means to be a parent [to a] premature baby is an important thing.” These teaching mo ments are essential to O’Kelley because she understands the stress the parents are going through when their child is in the NICU. “It’s one of the worst things anyone could ever go through,” she says, get ting emotional. “It still touches my heart because I know how precious these little babies are.” For her part, Lyle fondly re members the staff that helped her fam ily during their stay in the NICU. “They’re amazing in every way, shape, and form and I’m grateful for them every day.”

“Parents don’t have babies because they don’t want to care,” O’Kelley continues. “They have babies because they care and they’re excited. So, facilitating that kind of contact is very important.” A big part of her job is to help enhance the bonding between the babies and their parents. She is acutely aware of how hard it is on them because the parents feel helpless sometimes. She believes that all NICU nurses know this, and work hard to make every family feel comfortable. “I’m proud I work here be cause I think this unit is like a treasure chest,” O’Kelley says. “One thing about this hospital is that they believe in their mission statement. It’s OK to care here,

and it’s OK to be professional and compas sionate. That’s why I love working here.”

The Magic Touch

While NICU medical staff do help par ents and families, the routine primarily revolves around the care of the patient. For O’Kelley, she begins her day by look ing at her daily assignments. “I could have anything from a very sick baby to three babies who are just here to grow and get bigger.” Once she knows what children she is caring for that day, the real work begins. She organizes the feeds for the day and goes through the rooms to ensure all the safety equipment and supplies are there.

After that, she plans out the care times so she has time to accommodate any special needs that the babies might have. Then there are things like setting the stage for the day. She strives to customize the ex perience for every baby. That could mean making the room dark if a child is sensitive to light so they can grow the best they can.

If she is caring for a micro-preemie (gener ally defined as a baby that is born before 26 weeks gestation) or one that needs more specialized care, that will be her sole focus. “I look for different things with each baby, depending upon what their history is as far as neurological behaviors, what their gestation age is,” O’Kelley says. “We keep it in the back of our mind where a baby should be and how we can help them grow

[and] facilitate the growth that they’re do ing in the best possible position.” There is also a focus on developmental care, which can be as simple as putting the baby in unique positions to help them simulate an in utero experience to encourage growth.

For Better or Worse

It takes a special person to be a NICU nurse. Even with their exceptional compas sion, sometimes the job is hard. Not every patient is a success story. “I’ve had to learn not to take it home, but sometimes you do,” O’Kelley shares. She likes to look at the wins and wants to remind parents that every tiny victory is a chance to celebrate. “These little babies are growing into their skills, so they are growing to remember how to breathe, the brain is growing into maturity to keep that breathing regulation, and those are the celebrations. ‘Yes! Look, his brain is working, and he’s growing.’”

It’s these wins that NICU parents live for. The day my daughter stopped having fre quent Bradycardia episodes (a short stop page of breathing) was a celebration filled with a lot of relief. But not all parents are as Iucky as others; some never get to bring their babies home. Thankfully, there are re sources available to support these parents. NICU Families Northwest is a peer-to-peer web-based support group that assists NICU parents in Southwest Washington.

Feature: NICU Nurses: Helping and Healing the Whole Family (cont'd)

continued from previous page

There are groups for parents in all stages of the NICU, including those whose babies, sadly, don’t make it. The group provides so cial and emotional support to NICU families online at NICUFamiliesNW.org and through a Facebook page, @NICUFamiliesNW.

The Big Send-Off

On my last day in the NICU with my daugh ter, I will never forget the love I received. The NICU nurses filled bags and bags full of diapers so I wouldn’t have to worry for the first month. They gave us handmade quilts and tons of swaddling blankets. They loaded me up with a unique formula that my daughter could tolerate. They gave us everything that wasn’t tied down so that we could enjoy being a family at home for the first time. I still have her tiny graduate hat,

complete with tassel and a certificate show ing that she made it through her NICU visit.

And the care doesn’t end when a child graduates from the NICU. Many hospi tals, like PeaceHealth, hold reunions for NICU families. It’s a chance for the nurs

es to be part of the lives of children they cared so much for during their most fragile states. Even when COVID caused these in-person meetups to pause, they moved online in the form of Facebook groups.

One thing remains, regardless of how parents choose to keep in touch with their NICU nurses: These caring and lov ing individuals will never be far from our hearts. For people like me, they taught me my first lessons in being a parent. They

comfort us at our lowest, and pick us up with their relentless compassion and love.

If you find yourself in need of a NICU nurse’s care, remember that you and your baby are in good hands, and make sure to celebrate every small victory.

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.

Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com/Milk-Bank to learn about Northwest Mothers Milk Bank, an organization that safely provides donated breastmilk to babies across the Pacific Northwest, including many babies spending time in the NICU.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ACTIVITIES

of events activities

1 THURSDAY

Movies in the Park at Fort Vancouver, 1501 E Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. Movie begins at dusk. Load up your friends, pack some snacks and come have a good time together! This week’s film: “Wonder Woman” (PG-13). 9 pm

2 FRIDAY

First Friday at Thiselle Creek Farm, 26903 NE CC Landon Rd., Yacolt. Family friendly hangout on the farm! Bring your kiddos rain or shine to come play outside at the farm. Bubbles, a bar ley “sand” box, and possible farm animal sight ings! Bring your own chair or picnic blanket if you’d like somewhere to relax. Attendees enjoy 10% off of all items at the farm stand. 3-5 pm

Friday Night Cruise-In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. All special interest cars, trucks and bikes welcome. Spectators: $5 per person, participants: $10 per carload/motorcycles $5. Live music, cafe, beer garden and snack shack open for takeout or ders. 4 pm

First Friday in Downtown Camas. Celebrate Art! This event is a combination of art install ments, art shows, art activities, kids’ art and after-hours shopping, dining and family friendly artful activities. Let’s “art it up” in Downtown Camas! 5-8 pm

3 SATURDAY

Hockinson Artisan Market at the corner of NE 182nd Ave. and NE 159th St., Hockinson. A col laborative of dreamers, makers and creatives bringing a variety of treasures to our commu nity. Come join in to support independent busi nesses. 9 am-1 pm

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. 9 am-2 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-3 pm

First Saturday Multicultural Festival at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridge field. Come celebrate our diverse community at the fifth annual Multicultural Festival! Per formances, crafts and activities, classes and more! Classes are $10 and include Vietnamese cooking, Chinese Fried Rice Cooking, and a Bollywood Dance class. 9 am-3 pm

BG Farmer’s Market – Old Town Organic at BG Healing Arts Apothecary, 408 E Main St., Battle Ground. 10 am-1 pm

4 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 10 am-3 pm

Kansas live at ilani, 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield. With a legendary career spanning nearly five decades, Kansas has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic Rock bands. Tickets $39-$49 at ilaniresort.com. 7 pm

6 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers Market at Salmon Creek Grange, 1900 NE 154th St., Vancouver. 11 am-3 pm

7 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmers Market at 600 NE 4th Ave., Camas. 3-7 pm

9 FRIDAY

Friday Night Cruise-In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie). See September 2 for more details 4 pm

10 SATURDAY

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. 9 am-2 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-3 pm

Downtown Alley Flea Market at 606 Main St., Vancouver. Kindred Homestead Supply hosts this event, with over 20 vendors, collectors, makers, movers and shakers. 9 am-4 pm

Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St., Vancouver. Van couver. Showcasing the hard work and creative spirit of individuals, social justice groups, peace organizations, faith communities, performers, artists, businesses, and environmental activ ists who are making the world a better place. 9 am-4 pm

BG Farmer’s Market – Old Town Organic at BG Healing Arts Apothecary, 408 E Main St., Battle Ground. 10 am-1 pm

Experience Ridgefield at the RACC, 510 Pio neer St., Ridgefield. Food, games, inflatables, arts and crafts, potato sack races, Mr. Potato Head contest, vendors, game truck, loads of family fun! 11 am-4 pm

Oktoberfest at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. Family-friendly event with German-style food, local beers, live music and more. Tickets range from $10- $35, general ad mission is $15. 3-10 pm

“The Office” Trivia Night at Camas Pub lic Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas. Play our trivia night about your favorite office workers in Scranton, PA! Dress up as your favorite charac ter! Adults 18+. 6:30 pm

11 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 10 am-3 pm

13 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers Market at Salmon Creek Grange, 1900 NE 154th St., Vancouver. 11 am-3 pm

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d)

from page 32

14 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmers Market at 600 NE 4th Ave., Camas. 3-7 pm

15 THURSDAY

Night Market Vancouver at Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Sum mertime outdoor market with local vendors, mu sic, food and drinks–for all ages! $5 admission / age 12 and under free. 4:30-9:30 pm

16 FRIDAY

Friday Night Cruise-In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie). See September 2 for more details 4 pm

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Gala at The Hilton, 301 W 6th St., Vancouver. From the concert hall to the classroom, music touch es us all. Join in for an extraordinary evening honoring the many ways in which music en riches our lives. The 2022 Gala, which can be attended in person or virtually, features special performances throughout the night. Tickets are first-come-first-served at $125 a person at vancouversymphony.org/gala-2022. Guests at tending the Gala in person will enjoy a plated meal, cocktail service and outstanding live per formances. 6:30-8:30 pm

17 SATURDAY

Relay for Life of Clark County at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St, Vancouver. The Ameri can Cancer Society Relay For Life celebrates cancer survivors with a recognition event and a luminaria ceremony at dusk to honor the fight ers and those lost. Plus, live entertainment, ac tivities for all ages, vendors, food trucks, Bark for Life activities for dogs and so much more. 9 am-9 pm

Hockinson Artisan Market at the corner of NE 182nd Ave. and NE 159th St., Hockinson See September 3 for more details 9 am-1 pm

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. 9 am-2 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-3 pm

BG Farmer’s Market – Old Town Organic at BG Healing Arts Apothecary, 408 E Main St., Battle Ground. 10 am-1 pm

Thrive2Survive Community Outreach Event at Living Hope Church, 2711 NE Andresen Rd., Vancouver. Free event with tons of community resources, hamburger meal, clothes/shoes/hy giene, showers/haircuts, pet clinic and more. 10 am-2 pm

Arts Alive! 2022 at the Public Service Cen ter Plaza, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. Live music, dance, poetry and performance, plus informational booths, all celebrating the arts in Southwest Washington. 12-4 pm

“South PAWcific” Auction Benefitting Furry Friends at The Heathman Lodge, 7801 NE Greenwood Dr., Vancouver. Tickets are $70 each and include dinner, a live and silent auc tion, costume contest and more. 5-9 pm

Alchemy Tap Project at Columbia Theatre, 1231 Vandercook Way, Longview. The Alchemy Tap Project is a Seattle-based performance company for serious tap dancers ages 16 and up. The company was founded on the principles of experimentation, entertainment, and excel lence. Visit columbiatheatre.com/new-events/ alchemy-tap-project for tickets and more infor mation. 7:30 pm

18 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 10 am-3 pm

20 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers Market at Salmon Creek Grange, 1900 NE 154th St., Vancouver. 11 am-3 pm

21 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmers Market at 600 NE 4th Ave., Camas. 3-7 pm

22 THURSDAY

Give More 24! Community Day of Giving. Online fundraiser that rallies our community to raise money for more than 200 local nonprof its. It’s a day when everyone who cares about Southwest Washington can take action by giv ing what they can, wherever they are, at the same time. Learn more about the participat ing nonprofits and how you can give at Give More24.org

24 SATURDAY

Ridgefield Farmers Market at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. 9 am-2 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 9 am-3 pm

BG Farmer’s Market – Old Town Organic at BG Healing Arts Apothecary, 408 E Main St., Battle Ground. 10 am-1 pm

Children’s Festival at Vancouver Mall. Join Vancouver Family Magazine for our 15th annual Children’s Festi -

val! Enjoy free face painting and balloon art, performances, games, priz es, giveaways, resources and more! It’s all free! Sponsored by The Little Gym and WA529 College Savings Plans. 10 am-3 pm

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra “Rhapsody in Blue” at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver. George Ger shwin’s brash and rousing “Rhapsody in Blue” starts off the season with a bang, alongside Florence Price’s joyous Piano Concerto in One Movement. See vancouversymphony.org/20222023-season-tickets for more details. 7 pm

25 SUNDAY

Walk to End Alzheimer’s SW Washington at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St, Vancou ver. Held annually in more than 600 communi ties nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on partici pants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease. While there is no fee to register for Walk, all participants are encour aged to raise critical funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. 11:30 am-1:30 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market at 8th & Esther St., Vancouver. 10 am-3 pm

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra “Rhapsody in Blue” at Skyview Concert Hall, Vancouver. See September 24 for more details. 3 pm

27 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers Market at Salmon Creek Grange, 1900 NE 154th St., Vancouver. 11 am-3 pm

28 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmers Market at 600 NE 4th Ave., Camas. 3-7 pm

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