Paint and sip class benefits animal rescue

BAKER CITY — Good Karma Community Crafting has a paint and sip class set for Tuesday, March 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St.

The cost is $20 (cash or Venmo) and all proceeds will be donated to Best Friends of Baker, the local animal rescue and adoption organization.

This class is for ages 16 and older, and no experience is necessary. The project will be a painting of the Northern Lights. All materials are provided.

Attendees are welcome to bring beverages; soda and snacks will be provided.

For more information or to reserve a seat, call/text Kelsey at 734-899-7325.

Test your knowledge at Taphouse Trivia

BAKER CITY — The second Taphouse Trivia night is happening Saturday, March 15, at Barley Brown’s Taphouse, 2200 Main St. Emcee Add Collard will start asking questions at 6 p.m. from the Pub Trivia game.

There is no signup fee, although space is limited to seven teams so RSVP in person at the taproom or by calling 541-523-2337. The night has five rounds with five different categories. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team.

Cook up a pot of chili for a fundraiser

PENDLETON — Pendleton Christian School, 3121 SW Hailey Ave., will have a chili and salsa cook-off and dessert auction on Sunday, March 16, 4-7 p.m.

Donate a pot of vegetarian chili and let attendees vote on their favorite. Chips, crackers, cheese and jalapenos will be provided. Dinner is by donation, followed by a dessert auction.

Catch the sweet story of ‘Charlotte’s Web’

BAKER CITY — Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre presents the stage version of E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web” March 14-16 and March 21-23 at the theater, 2101 Main St.

Performances are at 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $13 adults, $11 EORT members and $5 students. Opening night, March 14, features a special of $10 for adult tickets.

Purchase tickets in advance at easternoregonregionaltheatre.com or 541-523-9652, and at the door before each performance.

March events feature native plants, ecosystems

Molly Wiebush of the Washington Department of Natural Resources will present “Ranking the Rare and the WIRS-t Plants in Washington” in a free Zoom talk Wednesday, March 19, from 7-8 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Columbia Basin chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

Wiebush, a vegetation ecologist with the Natural Heritage Program, will share an overview of the Natural Heritage Program and discuss the process and importance of identifying and ranking at-risk species and ecosystems of Washington State. She will also discuss the new Washington Invasive Ranking System program that helps catalog invasive species and their ecological impact on native ecosystems.

Advance registration is requested at https://tinyurl.com/y83xpxdh.

The Richland Public Library also celebrates Native Plant Appreciation Month throughout March. A display at the main library, 955 Northgate Drive, will include five educational posters created by students from Washington State University-Tri Cities.

For more information about the Washington Native Plant Society, visit www.cbwnps.org.

Put your puzzle skills to the test

ELGIN — Rockwall Grange, 71562 Middle Road, will host an Ides of March Puzzle Party on Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Everyone will work on puzzles, and an old-fashioned hot dog lunch will be provided.

Puzzles are provided, or bring one of your own. Admission is $10. For more information, call 541-910-3349 or leave a message at 541-437-5915.

Live music on tap at Barley Brown’s

BAKER CITY — Local musicians Add Collard and Dusty Spivey will play Saturday, March 22, at Barley Brown’s Taphouse, 2200 Main St.

The music starts at 6 p.m. The Taphouse is for ages 21 and older.

“It’s been awhile since Dusty and I have played a show together, and we’re really looking forward to having fun and helping everyone else have as much fun as we’re having,” Collard said. “It’s always a blast to play on the stage at the Taphouse.”

M-F Junior Show Green Pancake Feed is March 14

MILTON-FREEWATER — The annual Milton-Freewater Junior Show Green Pancake Feed is Friday, March 14, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Community Building, 109 NE Fifth Ave.

The menu includes sausage, eggs, fruit, drinks, and all-you-can-eat green pancakes in honor of St. Patrick’s Day (yes, the pancakes really are green).

Takeout orders are available.

The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for ages 65 and older, $6 for ages 5-12 and free for ages 4 and younger.  Tickets are available at the door.

Proceeds will benefit the M-F Junior Show that supports local 4-H and FFA members.

For more information, call Ila Kralman at 509-520-6853 or Brittany Freemantle at 509-540-2996.

A western evening of awards March 15

WESTON — A “Weston Western Evening” is planned for Saturday, March 15, 5 p.m. at Weston Memorial Hall, 208 E. Main St. It is sponsored by the Umatilla County Pioneer Association.

Tickets are $15 at the door, and dinner includes tacos and dessert. Dress is casual, although western attire is encouraged.

The evening includes award presentations, including outstanding citizen, educator and youth of the year. Also, the Umatilla County Pioneer Picnic queen and grand marshal will be introduced.

St. Paddy’s Day Dash is March 15

WALLA WALLA — The St. Paddy’s Day Dash is Saturday, March 15, starting at 9 a.m. in the picnic area at Fort Walla Walla Park, 1199 SE Myra Road.

Rainbow Run 1K prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place finishers. This event is open to ages 10 and under, individuals with special needs and senior citizens to follow the rainbow and chase down their own pot of gold. All dashers will be entered in the Rainbow Raffle at the end of the 1K race. Registration is $30. Pets and strollers can participate in the 1K only.
Leprechaun Loop 5K and Leprechaun Loop-de-Loop 10K prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place, and all will be entered in the Lucky Leprechaun Raffle — winners must be present for the raffle drawing. Entry is $45.

The starting line will be east of the Fort of Walla Walla Museum entrance near the RC car track, prop plane field and amphitheater. Parking is available in the parking lot for the Fort Walla Walla Cemetery entrance — you cannot access the Fort Walla Walla Museum entrance during the event.

To register, go to secure.rec1.com/WA/walla_walla/catalog and click on 2025 St. Paddy’s Day Dash under “Special Event.”

Check out happenings at the M-F library

MILTON-FREEWATER — The Milton-Freewater Public Library, 8 SW Eighth Ave., has events planned for children and adults this month.

For children and youths, storytime happens Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Teens/tweens can make rhinestone pens on Friday, March 14, at 2 p.m., and Kids Crafternoon can do a “birds in a nest pastel art” on Tuesday, March 25, at 2 p.m.

Adults can check out the adult craft night on Wednesday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m. To join the wood burning activity, call 541-938-8247.

The Parent Circle returns Wednesday, March 19, at 4:30 p.m. Kids are welcome and will do their own craft at the same time.

The month wraps up with adult bingo on Wednesday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3D8zAcb or call 541-938-8247.

Music returns to the OK Theater

ENTERPRISE —  Take a look at past performers who have taken the OK Theater stage and you will see a “who’s who” list of musicians on the current national music scene. When the Branns bring artists to the OK Theater, the odds are pretty good that these rising musical stars will soon be shining beyond Wallowa County.

Darrell Brann said they research, listen and learn a musician’s story before ever extending an offer to play at the OK. This spring, they have scheduled diverse groups that Brann really enjoys and believes the community will also.

Bar Jay Bar (Joey Berglund and band) takes the stage on Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. Their high-energy Americana music and classic sounds are highlighted with antics and acrobatics. Tickets are $15 at theoldok.com. For a preview of the band’s music, visit www.youtube.com/@barjaybar.

Fort Walla Walla Museum brings the past to life

WALLA WALLA — Fort Walla Walla Museum will host its next living history presentation about the life of Carmelita Colon on Sunday, March 23, 2-4 p.m. at the museum, 755 NE Myra Road.

Ana Maria Campoy wrote “Carmelita: A Vindication for the Unwritten — or How to Write Yourself Back into History.” She will share the story of Carmelita Colon, who was born in Mexico and arrived in the Walla Walla Territory with her husband, Sebastian, in the 1860s. For several years, they ran a mule train to the gold mines in Idaho and later sold tamales and ran a Mexican restaurant in Walla Walla.

The program is part of the Key City Public Theatre’s Washington Women’s History Tour: Suffrage Lecture Series.

An expanded, fully-staged version of “Carmelita” will run as part of Key City Public Theatre’s mainstage season beginning in late April in Port Townsend, Washington. A touring version will also be available.

For more information about Fort Walla Wall Museum, visit www.fwwm.org or call 509-525-7703.

Enjoy spring weather with wildflower walks

Spring weather brings out wildflowers, and the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society makes it easy to learn about all the local beauties. Beginning Sunday, March 16 through the end of May, guided trips will introduce southeast Washington and northeast Oregon’s local landmarks and the wildflowers making their homes there.

The first trip is Sunday, March 16, in the Two Sisters and Wallula Township area, including historic sites and native plants. For details about when and where to meet and carpool information, visit www.cbwnps.org/calendar.

Daddy/daughter dance planned for March 15

LA GRANDE — Slip on those dancing shoes! The La Grande Rotary Club is hosting their 10th annual Daddy Daughter Dance, “Get Your Glow On,” on March 15 from 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. at Central Elementary School, 701 H Ave.

With a glow-in-the-dark theme, the dance will be done with dancers wearing fluorescent colors in a darkened atmosphere. There will be music provided by a DJ, dancing, finger foods, face painting by Eastern Oregon University athletes and cheer team members, games, and prizes. Portraits by photographer Jessica Baum are also included with the price of the ticket.

Daddies and daughters, grandpas and granddaughters, uncles and nieces, brothers and sisters, or any combination are welcome.

Tickets are $35 and include one “dad” and one “daughter.” Each additional daughter is $10. Tickets can be purchased at https://lagranderotary.org/ddd. Proceeds from this event support local scholarships, local literacy programs and scholarships for students in El Salvador. All ticket sales are online only with no tickets available at the door. If you have any questions or cannot afford tickets, call 541-963-2262. Free formal dresses are available — call or text 541-910-3001.

Plan now for the Pendleton Street Fair

PENDLETON — The Pendleton Street Fair, set for Saturday, May 17, is looking for vendors and volunteers.

In the early 1900s, Main Street merchants hosted the Pendleton Street Fair. This day consisted of booths in front of each business, performing artists and other local organizations.

Eventually, this street fair became the Umatilla County Fair and was relocated to a larger area.

The Pendleton Downtown Association, the city of Pendleton’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Umatilla County Historical Society are bringing back this historic street fair to help promote Pendleton’s downtown historic district.

Interested in volunteering or participating? To connect with the planning committee, send an email to HPC@pendletonor.gov.

Registration for businesses, booth space, entertainment, volunteers and sponsors is now open at www.pendletondowntown.org/street-fair. Additional event information will be posted by the Pendleton Downtown Association and Heritage Station Museum.