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Life

December 18, 2025
Christmas Festival of Lights features holiday light displays, outdoor caroling, indoor choral concerts and more through Dec. 30 at the Grotto in Portland. (Contributed photo)

It’s time to light up the holidays in Clark County

Holiday lights give the darkness of December a sparkling uplift, just like bubbles in Champagne. These local light shows include festive displays that have been family traditions for decades as well as a couple recent additions, like Ridgefield’s Brew Lights in the Park and the Holiday Light Walk at Skamania Lodge. Wherever you decide to enjoy the glittering extravaganza of holiday twinkles, you can be sure that your spirits will be made merry and bright.

December 4, 2025
A room stands and applauds as Northwest Battle Buddies’ 300th service dog, Missy, at left, is given to a veteran Friday during a Northwest Battle Buddies graduation ceremony at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Service dogs help heal veterans suffering from PTSD

Veteran Deanna Garcia and her service dog Missy were recognized Friday as the 300th team to graduate from Northwest Battle Buddies during a ceremony honoring the group’s 293rd through 302nd dogs.

December 4, 2025

Salvation Army kicks off Red Kettle campaign

The Camas-Washougal Salvation Army has kicked off its annual Red Kettle campaign, which provides funds for social services such as food, shelter, disaster assistance and addiction recovery programs. The…

November 26, 2025
Black Drongo Brewery co-founders Devin Nail, left, and Tim Smith pose for a photo at their Yilan City, Taiwan, brewery. (Contributed by Black Drongo Brewery)

Camas graduates brew up success in Taiwan

Tim Smith and Devin Nail have known each other since the late 1990s when they became tomodachi (friends) in a Camas High School Japanese class. As adults, they both got into the Portland beer scene and started homebrewing in 2004. They eventually reunited in Taiwan. Nail moved to the Asian island in 2008, followed by Smith in 2010. There, they began brewing once again, motivated by their new country’s relative lack of quality craft brews.

November 26, 2025

Washougal Christmas event Dec. 4

Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. in Reflection Plaza with musical performances by the Washougal High School Band and an appearance from Santa Claus, who will hand out candy canes and be available for photos.

November 26, 2025

WCGHS receives support from Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Vancouver is supporting the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society this holiday season by donating all of the proceeds from its Cane’s Holiday Plush Puppy promotion…