Life | The Daily Chronicle

Jenelle and Olive Britton sit at a table inside their family’s restaurant JJ’s ToGo on North Tower Avenue in downtown Centralia on Wednesday, April 10.

JJ’s ToGo plans soft opening in Centralia on April 15, full opening on April 22: ‘We’re really excited to bring a fresh feel to the community’

When Jessica Britton’s sister-in-law asked her to meal prep lunches for her out of her tiny Chehalis apartment in November 2021, Britton didn’t imagine that fulfilling the simple request … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/12/24

FILE PHOTO — Members of the Winlock Dance Center shake and move down A Street during the Vader May Day parade Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Vader May Day Festival set for May 4

With the theme of “the circus is coming to town,” the May Day Festival will return to Vader on Saturday, May 4. The annual festival has taken place since 1952. “The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/12/24

Owner Rebecca Williams organizes a bouquet inside Fern Ridge Floral & Design in Centralia on Friday, April 21, 2023. The business will take part in a Centralia Downtown Association block party on April 24.

Centralia Downtown Association to host ‘Alice in Flowerland’ block party, fundraiser at British Bites

On Wednesday, April 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) will host an “Alice in Flowerland” block party at British Bites in Centralia. The event, which … more

Submitted by the Centralia Downtown Association | 4/12/24

Tommy, Calista and Matthew Morgan Ripp at Providence Centralia Hospital in early April.

No Foolin’: Baby born in car on the way to Providence Centralia Hospital on April 1

Early the morning of April 1, Calista and Tommy Ripp started driving from Mossyrock to Capital Medical Center in Olympia for Calista to give birth. As the couple drove down U.S. Highway 12 … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/11/24

Lewis County Veterans Service Officer Heidi Palmer takes Clyde, the official Lewis County Director of Fluff and the county's new therapy dog in-training, for a walk outside of the Veterans Memorial Museum on Wednesday, April 10.

‘Lewis County Director of Fluff’: Meet Clyde, the Lewis County Veterans Service Office’s new therapy dog in training

Lewis County staff members knew Clyde was a special dog from the moment they met him. He was originally picked up as a stray puppy, rescued on Twin Peaks Road in Toledo last January along … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/11/24

Comedian Kyle Kinane to headline show at McFiler’s Chehalis Theater Friday

Comedian Kyle Kinane will headline a comedy show at McFiler’s Chehalis Theater on Friday, April 12. Doors to the theater, located at 558 N. Market Blvd. in downtown Chehalis, will … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/24

Oakville is pictured from above in February 2024.

‘Oakville blob’ phenomena featured on Netflix show of the unexplained

The latest season of "Files of the Unexplained" has been released on Netflix. The series looks at unexplained phenomena across the country, diving into what's known about the instance. One … more

Karlee Van De Venter / Tri-City Herald (TNS) | 4/9/24

From the left, Sooz Watkins, Sean-Patrick McNeal and Sarah Amador act out a scene during dress rehearsal for “Noises Off” at Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia on Monday, April 8. The production runs through April 11 to the 28.

‘Noises Off’ showcases show-within-a-show at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia

Patrons of The Evergreen Playhouse’s latest production will get to see two shows for the price of one: the advertised show, “Noises Off,” and the play-within-a-play, “Nothing … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/9/24

Lenticular clouds appear above Mount Rainier at sunset on Easter Sunday, March 31, as seen from Crego Hill Road in Adna.

In focus: Lenticular clouds form over Mount Rainier

Chronicle photographer Kody Christen captured these photos from Crego Hill Road in Adna at sunset on Easter Sunday. To submit your own photos to The Chronicle for possible publication, email … more

4/8/24

From left, Kelsey, Karsyn and Bodie Smith inspect a model train display during the Lewis County Model Railroad Club’s biannual show and swap meet at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on April 6, 2024.

In focus: Hundreds attend Lewis County Model Railroad Club show

4/8/24

Attendees browse vendor selections during the second Keiper's Cards and Memorabilia Show on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Tower Plaza Mall in downtown Centralia.

One former Seattle Seahawk reschedules appearance, another still coming to Centralia next month

While he originally planned to host former Seattle Seahawks standouts Chris Warren and Joseph “Red” Bryant at his card show next month, Keiper’s Cards owner Dan Keiper announced on … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/8/24

From the left, brothers Karl and Gene Goeres cook fried oysters alongside Karl's son Bret during an oyster feed at the Sharon Grange in this photo courtesy of Sharon Grange President Debbie Hill.

Oakville’s Sharon Grange annual spring oyster feed returns this weekend

Seafood lovers are invited to the return of the Sharon Grange’s annual spring oyster feed this weekend. “Over 70 years ago, the members of the Sharon Grange No. 800, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/8/24

Pictured from left to right are staff from Providence Swedish South Puget Sound, bowling tournaments winners, staff from Red Rose Animal Shelter, and Ron Keller and Barbara Overlin from the Lewis County Bowling Association.

$12,000 raised at ‘We Love Animals and Hate Cancer’ bowling tournament at Fairway Lanes in Centralia

People from throughout the community came together at Fairway Lanes in Centralia on Sunday, March 3, to raise funds in support of Providence Regional Cancer Center in Centralia and the Red Rose … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/8/24

A Yard Bird sports a fascinator headpiece inside the Lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis on Saturday, March 23.

Lewis County Historical Museum announces upcoming events for 2024

Lewis County’s history is rich with variety, ranging from Centralia’s founding father, George Washington, settling in the area in the early 1850s, to Kenneth Arnold’s famous 1947 … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/5/24

The name of George F. Bishop is displayed on the Freedom Walk War Memorial at George Washington Park in Centralia on Thursday, April 4. Relatives of Bishop are asking the public to assist in finding a photo of Bishop, who died during World War II. His remains were identified last year.

Burial set for WWII U.S. Army sergeant from Centralia who died after Bataan Death March

On July 28, 1942, U.S. Army Sergeant George Frank Bishop, of Centralia, died at the Imperial Japanese Cabanatuan POW Camp in the Philippines. His body was buried with thousands of others in one of … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/5/24

Cliff Morgan, left, and Ashley Morgan will be oyster shucking for pearls throughout the International Mermaid Museum Festival, which starts Saturday. The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, will end on Sunday, April 14. The festival is free and there are many events for people to enjoy.

International Mermaid Festival begins in Grays Harbor County

A series of activities await anyone interested in learning about the sea and mermaid culture at the International Mermaid Festival — 1 South Arbor Road in Aberdeen — this weekend. … more

By Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World | 4/5/24

Jennifer Winter, of Walupt Farms, talks about harvesting lavender growing around the property in Rochester in 2022. Walup Farms will be among the vendors at this year’s Spring Gardening for Everyone event at Centralia College. Additionally, a class on lavender will be offered from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. during the Saturday, April 20, event.

Spring ‘Gardening for Everyone’ to offer free classes in Centralia

The Washington State University Lewis County Extension Master Gardening Program will offer a day of free classes as part of its Spring Gardening for Everyone event. The series of classes will be … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/5/24

The Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, the site of this year’s Home & Garden Show, are pictured from above in this Chronicle file photo.

Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s Home & Garden Show set for April 12-13

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host the 58th annual Home & Garden Show. The local showcase will be open from noon to 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, and 10 a.m. to 5 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/5/24

Kids walk through tulips at Roozengaarde flower market in Mount Vernon on April 1.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2024: How to experience Washington's tulip fields

Has it sunk in for you yet that it's spring? Though this year's spring equinox came on March 19, one of Washingtonians' favorite, and most visually exquisite, markers of the new season typically … more

By Sarah-Mae McCullough / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/5/24

The staff of La Doña Mexican restaurant in Chehalis, From left, Serena Taylor, Petra Guillermo, and Evelina Castro, stand for a photo on Tuesday, April 2.

La Doña: Centralia resident fulfilling dream with Mexican eatery in Chehalis

Originally from Tecoanapa — a small city in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero on the Pacific Ocean — Petra Guillermo came to the U.S. in 2002 to raise her family and pursue her … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 4/3/24