Register now for summer theater camp

ELGIN — Registration is open for the Elgin Opera House’s summer theater camp of “The Lion King” with the Opera House Youth Actors.

Week one is July 22-27, and week two is July 29-Aug. 3. Camp hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Performances for week one will be July 26 and July 27. Week two performances will be Aug. 2 and Aug. 3.

The camp is open to ages 6-18, and cost is $150. Scholarships are available. For more information, or to register, visit elginoperahouse.com or call 541-663-6324.

Library is seeking donations

MILTON-FREEWATER — Friends of the Milton-Freewater Public Library is seeking donations of gently used books and DVDs for adults and children. Donations can be dropped off Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Milton-Freewater Community Building, 109 NE Fifth Ave.

Powder River Choir debuts April 18

BAKER CITY — The new Powder River Choir, under the direction of Tom Isaacson, will perform on Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m. at Baker High School, 2500 E St.

Admission is free, and donations will be accepted.

Isaacson taught choir at Baker High School from 1997 to 2008. He said he’s thought about starting a reunion choir for several years. The Powder River Choir has 48 members, and about 90% are his students who sang with the Bel Canto choir during his time at BHS.

“To see the response that I got, especially from my former students, has been so gratifying. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s been an absolute joy.”

The night before the concert, April 17, the Powder River Choir will sing a few songs at the concert featuring choirs from Baker Middle School and Baker High School. That performance starts at 7 p.m. and the public is welcome.

Celebrate ‘Operation Firefly’ at the Pendleton airport

PENDLETON — The All Airborne Battalion presents “Operation Firefly: A 555th Smokejumper Event” on Saturday, April 13, at the Pendleton Airport, 2016 Airport Road.

Doors open for this free event begins at 9 a.m. and spectators will see a live commemoration of America’s famed 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

This is an all-day event that includes a jump from an original World War II C-47 at 10 a.m., an open house from noon to 3 p.m. and a dinner and dance at 6 p.m. (free, with food available to purchase from vendors).

For more information, visit allairbornebattalion.com.

Meet authors at Hermiston bookstore

HERMISTON — Mark your calendars for a pair of upcoming Evening with the Author events at The Next Chapter Bookstore, 1000 S. Highway 395, Suite C.

Novelist Rene Denfeld will talk about her new book, “Sleeping Giants” on April 11. And on April 26, former Hermiston resident Karen Spears Zacharias will share about her new novel, “No Perfect Mothers.” Both events start at 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and the evenings will conclude with book signings.

The author series is free and features light refreshments. In addition, The Literary Cafe will be open for those who would like to purchase beverages.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3kEDobQ or call 541-667-7080.

Trivia Games planned for May 4

PENDLETON — Test your knowledge at the Trivia Games on May 4 at Heritage Station Museum, 108 SW Frazer Ave.

The evening includes fun, food and Umatilla County trivia — all while supporting the Umatilla County Historical Society.

The evening starts at 5 p.m. with food and drinks, and round one of trivia will begin at 5:30 pm. During the break bid on silent and live auction items, then trivia moves to the second round to determine a winner.

Teams are limited to six members. Entry is $25 per player or $120 for a table of six. Tickets are on sale in the museum gift shop and online at heritagestationmuseum.org.

Money raised during Trivia Games will support exhibits, archives, collections and educational programming at Heritage Station Museum, which is run by the Umatilla County Historical Society.

Weekend @ the Blues taking vendor applications

MILTON-FREEWATER — Milton-Freewater’s annual festival Weekend @ the Blues is now accepting vendor applications for the event that will be held on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3. The festival’s theme is “Where the Wild West meets the Bands.”

Vendor forms and detailed information can be found at weekendattheblues.com.

The two days feature several bands, the famous Ambassadors Breakfast, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, games, Walchli Farms Watermelon Chow Down eating contest, Kiwanis Beer & Wine Garden hosted by Dragon’s Gate Brewery, Holden Hearts Princess Pageant paying tribute to the Pea Festival Courts, Guns & Hoses Fun Run, Kyle’s Custom Toys & Towing Fireman’s Water Fight, the Elks Parade, Broncs and Bulls with Barrels added, Ranch & Home Weekend @ the Blues Rodeo, Kelly’s Calf Panty Pull, 120th Anniversary Horse Show, city-wide yard sales, and more.

An event schedule with vendor and contest applications can be found on the website.

Cookie Run planned for April 11

WALLOWA LAKE — The Mountain Runners and Quickhatch are organizing the Wallowa Lake Cookie Run on Thursday, April 11, starting at 6 p.m.

The distance is three miles from Wallowa Lake to Quickhatch in Joseph and back, and participants are asked to bring one to two dozen favorite cookies. (Cookies are not required to participate.) There will be awards for the best tasting, best looking and most creative.

For information, call 541-263-7504.

Auditions set for ‘Peter and Wendy’

JOSEPH — The Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning to Wallowa County with the musical adaptation of “Peter and Wendy” at the Joseph Charter School.

Auditions for up to 60 actors, from age kindergarten to grade 12, will be held May 6, 4:30-6 p.m. at the school. Rehearsals will be held after school Monday through Friday. Performances will be Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 11 at 1 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. Tickets are on sale online at josephy.org and at the door. Cost is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 for ages 12-18 and free for age 11 and younger.

The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture is seeking volunteers to help with the auditions, rehearsals and production. For information, on how to help, call Cheryl North Coughlan or Arianna Olsen at 541-432-0505.

“Peter and Wendy” is the Josephy Center’s third Missoula Children’s Theatre presentation. This year the center is partnering with Fishtrap, who will include MCT productions as part of their new theater program beginning next season.

Funding is supported by the Ford Family Foundation, Fishtrap, the Kokanee Inn and community support.

Learn to make felted succulents April 13

JOSEPH — Christie Lower will teach a needle felting class for beginners to make tiny succulent plants on Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $90.

Students will have enough supplies to make three separate succulents. Adults and children age 12 and older are welcome. Spaces are limited. Register at josephy.org.

Spring Run Off raises money for Cove students

COVE — The Cove Education Foundation is hosting a Spring Run Off fun run on Saturday, April 27, to raise money to support Cove students. The nonprofit foundation provides scholarships to Cove High School graduates, as well as small grants for classroom enhancements and curriculum enrichment.

Participants can choose a 5K or one-mile course that goes through the Umatilla Loop of the Tish Croom Nature Trail.

Register by April 18 to secure your shirt size.

The run begins at 10 a.m. at the Ascension School Camp and Conference Center in Cove.

True crime night for adults at the library

HERMISTON — The Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., will host a program for adults called “True Crime and Chill Night” is happening Tuesday, April 16, from 6-7 p.m. Watch a true crime documentary, eat snacks and hang out with like-minded true crime enthusiasts.

The month wraps up with a Glow Paint Night for grades 6-12 on Thursday, April 25, from 6-7 p.m. Teens can explore their artistic creativity with glow-in-the-dark paint.

Breakfast and bazaar at the grange

JOSEPH — The Hurricane Creek Grange will offer breakfast and host a bazaar on Saturday, April 13. The meal runs from 7-11 a.m. with pancakes, meat, eggs, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee. The requested donation is $10.

The bazaar is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The grange is located at the intersection of Hurricane Creek Road and Airport Lane.

Celebration unites community with music

HERMISTON — The Community Musical Unity Celebration is Saturday, April 13, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Hermiston High School auditorium, 600 S. First St.

In its second year, the community celebration focuses on unity and features an evening of music, including the HHS jazz band, a children’s choir featuring mostly fifth graders and a variety of solo and group performances. In addition, brief inspirational messages will be presented by community members representing various ethnic, cultural, racial, social and religious backgrounds.

There is no admission charge. For questions, call 808-561-1496.

Kids can get creative in Hermiston

HERMISTON — Children ages 7-11 are invited to explore a variety of artistic techniques, including acrylic and watercolor, string art, paper crafts, holiday/seasonal art and chalk art during Creative Kids.

Presented by Hermiston Parks & Recreation, the sessions are each Tuesday in April from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395. The cost is $50. In addition, separate sessions will be held on Tuesdays in May.

For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/hermistonrecreation. For questions, call 541-667-5018.

Music jam and dance planned in Summerville

SUMMERVILLE — A contra dance, potluck and music jam are planned for Saturday, April 20, at the Pleasant Grove Grange, 67218 Hunter Road in Summerville.

The jam starts at 4 p.m., followed by a potluck at 5 p.m. and dance from 7-9 p.m. Donations are appreciated.

Power House rocks with rock opera

WALLA WALLA — Alexander Kariotis will present a rock opera concert on Saturday, April 13, 7 p.m. at the Power House Theatre, 111 N. Sixth Ave.

Weaving timeless operatic arias amid soaring rock melodies, with a powerhouse rock rhythm section, with strings, woodwinds, brass and backing vocals, Kariotis’ music is said to leave listeners exhilarated and breathless.

Reserved seats are $35 for adults and $25 for students. For tickets, visit www.phtww.org or call 509-529-6500.

Family dance is April 20 in Hermiston

HERMISTON — Get ready to kick up your heels during Denim and Diamonds. A dance for the whole family, the event is April 20, 6-8 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395.

The cost is $15 per person and includes DJ music and light refreshments. Proceeds from the event will benefit staff and students at Loma Vista Elementary School.

In addition, photos will be available for purchase at the dance. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/hermistonrecreation or call 541-667-5018.

Globe-trotting author to speak at FOWL meeting

WESTON — Joshua Samuel Brown, a journalist, author, gardener and advocate for sustainable living, is the guest speaker during the Friends Of Weston Library’s annual meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend and hear the Pendleton man speak on April 22, 7 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room at Weston Memorial Hall, 208 E. Main St.

Before moving to Oregon, Brown traveled the globe for two decades, calling a variety of exotic locales home, including Taiwan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Belize and Newfoundland. In addition to authoring/co-authoring 13 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, he also co-authored a travelogue, “Formosa Moon,” with his partner, Stephanie Huffman.

He’s published two books of short stories, “Vignettes of Taiwan” and “How Not to Avoid Jet Lag.” His first novel, “Spinning Karma” was published in 2020, and his second is currently in progress. Learn more at www.josambro.com.

The gathering will include a short business meeting, election of new officers and refreshments. For more information, call Heather Culley at the Weston Public Library at 541-566-2378.