Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Woodburn Independent · Aloha, OR
Nearby: Aloha, ORFall Jazz Nite at Pacific University is a great way enjoy a mid-November evening. Check it out or one of the many other events we’ve highlighted for this week! ALOHA ‘La Gringa’ — This immersive drama runs on select dates, Nov. 13-22 at Experience Theatre Project, 18850 S.W. Alexander St. in Aloha. Performed entirely in Spanish with live English subtitles, Carmen Rivera’s play follows a woman navigating cultural dislocation, family expectations and the search for identity and belonging in a deeply intimate staging. (experiencetheatreproject.org) CLATSKANIE Oregon Symphonic Band — Enjoy a concert from 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center at Clatskanie Middle/High School, 75 S. Nehahlem St. Oregon’s premier symphonic band features 65 volunteer brass, woodwind and percussion musicians performing together for their shared love of music. (clatskaniearts.org) ESTACADA Estacada Veterans Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11. Pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. at 267 S.W. Second Ave..
Forest Grove News Times · Cornelius, OR
Nearby: Cornelius, ORA helping of turkey and community spirit is on the menu in Cornelius this November. The city of Cornelius is inviting residents to gather around the table for its 11th annual Community Dinner from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Cornelius Elementary School, 200 N. 14th Ave. Organized in partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the free holiday meal is open to everyone, with no reservations required. “Enjoy a welcoming evening of food, conversation and community spirit as we bring residents together to strengthen connections and foster a sense of belonging,” the city said in a release. Attendees can also take part in crafts, listen to music and access community resources. Organizers are seeking volunteers to help make the dinner possible. Those interested in lending a hand must be at least 16 years old and can sign up at corneliusor.gov/449/Cornelius-Community-Dinner.
Forest Grove News Times · Cornelius, OR
Nearby: Cornelius, ORThe city of Cornelius will pay tribute to military veterans with a community ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park this Veterans Day. The annual event will take place from 1-1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the park, located at 1251 Baseline St. Residents are invited to gather in recognition of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and the sacrifices they have made. The ceremony is free and open to the public. For more information, visit corneliusor.gov/451/Veterans-Day-Ceremony.
The Wallowa County Chieftain · Beaverton, OR
Nearby: Beaverton, ORENTERPRISE — Special event permits and at least one street closure request will be on the agenda when the Enterprise City Council meets Monday, Nov. 9. The street closure will be Saturday, Dec. 13 for Winterfest. Main Street will be closed from River Street about three blocks west with side streets also closed. Burn barrels will be set up to cut the chill for holiday revelers and warm food and drinks will be for sale — including roasted chestnuts. The council also will: • Consider an update on recruitment for a permanent police chief. An interim chief was hired last month when the council signed an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Beaverton to take on its Deputy Chief Alan Juilfs as interim Enterprise chief to replace Kevin McQuead, who retired Oct. 1. • Consider opportunity fund requests for “feather flags” for Enterprise High School and a sign announcing Enterprise as Home of the Outlaws. • Announce public hearings on accessory dwelling units for Nov. 18 and Dec.
Forest Grove News Times · Forest Grove, OR
Nearby: Forest Grove, ORForest Grove’s “grab, pay and go” art show is popping up for another weekend of original artwork and local creativity. Now in its ninth year, the 97116 Art Show will take over Pacific University’s Kathrin Cawein Gallery, kicking off with an opening reception from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Les AuCoin Hall, 2043 College Way. The annual exhibition showcases hundreds of original creations from artists of all ages and experience levels across Washington County and surrounding areas, with everything priced at $150 or less. Unlike traditional art shows, where purchased pieces often remain on display until the exhibition closes, 97116 lets visitors pluck their favorite creations right off the walls and take them home the same day. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive early for the best selection, with the show continuing from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22. Admission is free.
The Banks Post · Forest Grove, OR
Nearby: Forest Grove, ORJesse Lieble spent 2021 to 2024 in custody at South Fork Forest Camp, a minimum-security prison in the Tillamook State Forest. There, he learned to maintain trails, plant trees and fight fire. Now he's a wildland firefighter for the Oregon Department of Forestry in Forest Grove, he told the crowd at the camp's 75th anniversary ceremony Oct. 29. Lieble and two other men who served time at the camp and went on to careers with ODF were honored guests at the ceremony. The Oregon Department of Corrections and ODF, which run the camp jointly, held the invitation-only event in white tents off the Wilson River Highway. "Being at South Fork made me excited to get out and go to work every day to do something meaningful," Lieble said. He hadn't fought fire before his time at South Fork, he said, "but I found out that I love it." "I learned many skills related to reforestation and firefighting that I needed to kickstart my career with ODF," Lieble said.
Forest Grove News Times · Forest Grove, OR
Nearby: Forest Grove, ORWhile two Forest Grove businesses have bounced back from a sewer line backup that flooded several storefronts at Ballad Towne Square in August, a neighboring Vietnamese restaurant is still trying to regain its footing. Pho Pot owner Michelle Tran hopes to reopen on Black Friday, Nov. 27, at 2834 Pacific Ave., more than three months after contaminated water swept through the restaurant — leaving much of its interior gutted and its finances strained. With months of lost revenue and bills continuing to pile up, the restaurant has turned to community fundraising to help ease the financial burden. A GoFundMe campaign launched Oct. 14 seeks $45,000 to help cover rebuilding costs and ongoing expenses. As of Monday, Nov. 9, it had raised just $445 from 12 donations, about 1% of its goal. “We kept hoping we could find a way through this ourselves,” the owners wrote in the fundraiser.
The Banks Post · Forest Grove, OR
Nearby: Forest Grove, ORFor nearly half a century, Miracle Sign has dominated western Washington County's sign business. Walk through downtown and turn your head. Chances are, there's a Miracle Sign in your view. Now, after nearly 50 years, Lynne and Andy Magner are retiring, and the business will shift to a new model. Located at the corner of Elm Street and Pacific Avenue, where it has sat for most of its existence in what was once the Guyton Dairy, Miracle Sign has pretty much been the go-to sign shop for businesses in Forest Grove, Banks, Gales Creek and beyond. That era is coming to a close. Around Thanksgiving, the Forest Grove shop will stop taking new jobs, and it will finish its remaining work by Dec. 31, Lynne Magner said. By Dec. 31, she said, "we will have the signs come down outside the buildings, and the hours will come down off the doors, and there will be no open sign anymore." Dan Magner, the Magners' son, runs the company from a shop in Beaverton, Lynne said.
The Valley Times of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin & Sherwood · Tigard, OR
Nearby: Tigard, ORVolunteers from Tigard American Legion Post 158 busied themselves putting up flags Wednesday morning in downtown Tigard in honor of Veterans Day. The veterans placed the flags along sidewalks on Main Street and other downtown streets, all part of an annual tradition. The post also places flags around the city each year leading up to Memorial Day, not only downtown but also at Crescent Grove Cemetery & Mausoleum on Greenburg Road near Washington Square mall, according to a Tigard American Legion member. Earlier in the day, the city of Tigard hosted its annual Veterans Day Flag-Raising Ceremony to honor those who have served their country on the lawn of the Tigard Public Library. Meanwhile, Tigard American Legion Post 158’s former commander, Allyson Buechler, is The Times’ featured veteran from Tigard in this year’s “Salute to Veterans” special section.
