The Daily Chronicle

Pat and Missy Murphy of Mistletoe Tree Farm near Chehalis wrap a Christmas tree for a customer on a recent afternoon. The farm, which is open to the public until Sunday Dec. 5, sells about 1,000 Christmas trees during their u-cut season.

'No One Comes Out Here Unhappy': Local Christmas Tree Farms Offer Range of Species, Holiday Traditions

Family Christmas is important to Missy and Pat Murphy. That’s why the u-cut Christmas tree season at their rural Chehalis Mistletoe Tree Farm is somewhat short, ending this Sunday, Dec. 5. … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 12/3/21

Girls dressed as the grinch dance along to music during the annual Santa Parade in downtown Chehalis in 2019.

Community Calendar: Downtown Centralia Christmas Celebrations; Santa Parade in Chehalis; Breakfast With Santa

Submit events: To have an event added to the calendar, email reporter Isabel Vander Stoep at isabel@chronline.com. Onalaska Volunteer Fire Fighters Association Bazaar Dec. 4 at 1733 state … more

12/3/21

Artistic Director Brianna Jones works with Eva Reynolds (dancing the part of Clara) and Tanner Calder (dancing the part of the Nutcracker Prince) in a recent partnering class at Southwest Washington Dance Center in Chehalis. The non-profit will present "Escape to the Land of the Sweets" Nov. 16-19 at Corbet Theatre.

Southwest Washington Dance Center: Clara Searches for Christmas Joy in New Ballet

As a dancer, Brianna Jones performed in many productions of Southwest Washington Dance Center’s “Nutcracker,” so she knows what the annual Christmas ballet means to her … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 12/3/21

Chris Mohr holds up his daughter Lorien to see Santa during the annual Santa Parade in downtown Chehalis in 2019.

Santa Claus Will Be Busy in Lewis County This Weekend; Here's Where to Find Him

Even for those bah humbug types who complain about Christmas songs long before the holiday, it’s hard to keep a straight face at the Santa Parade. Jolly Saint Nick’s vacation wrapped … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 12/1/21

Fake snow rains down during the annual Santa Parade in downtown Chehalis in 2019.

Community Calendar: Holiday Events and Celebrations Aplenty

‘The Shed’ Christmas Market Dec. 2 through 4 at 516 Spooner Road, Chehalis; Thursday 4 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wreaths, trees, signs, candles, antiques and … more

12/1/21

Visitors gather for the Christmas Island Lighting Ceremony in Maytown on Saturday. Every year, the Maytown Assembly of God Church, located at 2920 Tierney St. SW, hosts Christmas Island: a life-size nativity scene that is free and open to the public through Christmas. Every evening until Dec. 25, it will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., with goodies and warm drinks available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

In Focus: Maytown’s Christmas Island Lights Up

11/29/21

Image from the 2016 Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10 in downtown Centralia.

Community Calendar: Downtown Centralia Christmas Celebrations; Breakfast With Santa; Winlock-Vader Food Bank Drive n’ Drop

To have an event added to the calendar, email reporter Isabel Vander Stoep at isabel@chronline.com. ‘The Shed' Christmas Market Dec. 2 through 4 at 516 Spooner Road, Chehalis; Thursday 4 … more

11/29/21

Grace Bradley (portrayed by Andrea Weston-Smart) attempts to teach the Sunday school class, including the rowdy Herdmans, the meaning of Christmas in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" opening Dec. 3 at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia.

Evergreen Playhouse Tale Asks: What Makes the Best Pageant?

In many ways, “The Best Christmas Pageant” is the perfect Christmas story for the Evergreen Playhouse this year, said Dave Marsh, who is co-directing the show with his wife, … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 11/29/21

Santa’s List Craft Show to Be Held at Fairgrounds

The Santa’s List Craft show will be held this weekend at the Blue Pavilion in the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds at 1909 S. Gold St., Centralia. The bazaar and craft show is free to … more

By The Chronicle staff | 11/26/21

PNW Chamber Orchestra to Perform Free Concert at Centralia College

Under the direction of Nickolas Carlson, the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra (PNCO) will perform a Sounds of the Season Concert at Centralia College’s Corbet Theater on Dec. 6. Free … more

By The Chronicle staff | 11/26/21

Centralia Ballet Academy performers practice for the upcoming production of The Nutcracker.

Centralia Ballet Academy Nutcracker Goes Live Again

Nancy and Mickey Gunter of Centralia Ballet Academy say keeping their students dancing over the COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy. After all of the masking, temperature checks and working with … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 11/24/21

Chehalis Middle School Honor Roll

Following are members of the Chehalis Middle School first-semester honor roll. Students are listed from highest to lowest GPA. Eighth Grade 4.0 Yasmine V. Azcunaga, Madison … more

11/23/21

Winlock High School Honors

Following are members of the Winlock High School’s first-semester honors list, with GPAs of 3.0 or above. Students are listed in alphabetical order. 12th Grade Spencer K. … more

11/23/21

Winlock Middle School Honors

Following are members of the Winlock Middle School’s first-semester honors list, with GPAs of 3.0 or above. Students are listed in alphabetical order. Eighth Grade Issac … more

11/23/21

Wedding Announcement: Curtis Lenz and Sydney Ramsey

Curtis Lenz, a 2017 graduate of Rainier High School, and Sydney Ramsey, a 2017 Morton High School, were married during a wedding ceremony Nov. 12 at the Creekside Event Center in Chehalis. … more

Submitted to The Chronicle | 11/22/21

Mel Canfield pauses near a white, wooden cross he built and installed at the Newaukum Hill Cemetery. Many of the graves do not bear markers, potentially because the interred may have died at a local poor farm.

The Keepers of History: Volunteers Care for Some of Lewis County’s Earliest Burials

Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a two-part series focused on pioneer cemeteries. Look for the final installment in Thursday’s edition. When Mel Canfield heard a … more

By Carrina Stanton / For The Chronicle | 11/22/21

Community Calendar: Leaf Exchange and Styrofoam Recycling; Annual Fall Bazaar and Lunch; Turkey Bingo

Leaf Exchange and Styrofoam Recycling Nov. 20 at the Central Transfer Station at 1411 S. Tower Ave., Centralia; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drop off or pick up leaves and recycle clean tape-free … more

11/17/21

Balloons blow in the wind during a Lewis County Hiring Fair at Dick's Brewing in Centralia in September.

Community Calendar: Hiring Fair; Turkey Bingo; The Turkey Trot

Submit Events To have an event added to the calendar, email reporter Isabel Vander Stoep at isabel@chronline.com. Hiring Fair Nov. 16 at the Holiday Inn, 730 Liberty Place, Chehalis; 12 … more

11/15/21

Berkeley and Linden Varick smile and pose for a photo on Thursday while wearing a handmade coat and skirt they made.

Chehalis Sisters Show Expert Sewing Skills at State ‘Make it With Wool’ Competition

Sure, they might have been the only two people to compete. Nevertheless, placing first and second in the statewide pre-teen “Make it With Wool” competition in October was still an … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 11/15/21

Ashlee Shirer holds up the gold ornament she won on Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. It was her second time winning the top prize on the show, which this time featured returning champions.

Centralia’s Cookie Champion Crowned Again, Wins $10,000 Prize on Food Network

Many newlyweds give their spouse a “first Christmas together” ornament. Instead, Ashlee Shirer (formerly Ashlee Christman) gave her new husband a gold ornament reading “Best of the Best” … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 11/12/21