Stories by Erin Middlewood

Columbian Managing Editor for Content

@col_life

(360) 735-4457

erin.middlewood@columbian.com

Brett Seifried of Ridgefield kicks a soccer ball with his son, Archer, 5, at Salmon Creek Indoor Sports Arena on a recent Sunday. Archer participates in Salmon Creek TOPSoccer, an inclusive team for kids with disabilities. Archer, who has cerebral palsy, can control his body much better after undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery at Seattle Children's Hospital in 2022.

Surgery gets Ridgefield boy, 5, with cerebral palsy moving

April 25, 2023, 6:02am Clark County Health Subscriber Exclusive

Archer Seifried’s parents noticed early on that their son’s development wasn’t matching what they had observed in his older sister. Read story

Ingela Martinson, center, prepares lunch with her sons Andreas, left, and Nathan, right, during a break from watching the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints general conference broadcast on April 1. They are mourning the death of Göran Martinson, husband and father. Their faith's promise of eternal families sustains them.

Vancouver woman’s faith provides comfort in grief

April 9, 2023, 6:03am Churches & Religion Subscriber Exclusive

Göran Martinson survived for 13 years after he was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer. It was not cancer but COVID-19 that ultimately killed him at age 55. Read story

Tana Hart is the longest serving member of Single Seniors. She joined shortly after the group formed in 1993 as a recent widow.

Companionship club: Single Seniors celebrates 30 years of fun gatherings, activities

March 12, 2023, 6:03am Clark County Life

The Vancouver club now known as Senior Singles, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, originally served a younger crowd. Read story

Sonya Zalubowski had this Warsaw bus pass but not official correspondent credentials while in Poland.

Vancouver author, retired journalist looks back at time in Poland in 1980s

March 9, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life Subscriber Exclusive

In her new book, retired journalist Sonya Zalubowski of Vancouver recounts her time in an Eastern European nation struggling to break free of Russia’s orbit — not present day Ukraine, but Poland in the 1980s. Read story

Instructor Dani Synarski, lefts, directs Jesse Braman during their dance practice at LA Fitness in Hazel Dell. Braman is among the "local stars" who will compete at ilani on March 4 in the Rotary Club of Three Creeks' community fundraiser Dancing with the Local Stars.

Dancing with Local Stars is March 4 at ilani

February 16, 2023, 6:02am Clark County Life

Jesse Braman said his wife, Amanda, volunteered him to dance in front of hundreds of people as part of Rotary Club of Three Creeks’ big annual fundraiser. Read story

Book collections weigh heavy on Clark County baby boomers

Retired educator Lisa Emmerich sorts through her collection of books to decide which she will take when she and her husband relocate from the Vancouver area to Santa Fe, N.M.

Lisa Emmerich and her husband, Frank, are planning to move from their home near Vancouver to a smaller place in Santa Fe, N.M., now that they have both retired. To do that, they must pare down their possessions — especially their books. Read story

Stories by Erin Middlewood

Columbian Managing Editor for Content

Surgery gets Ridgefield boy, 5, with cerebral palsy moving

Vancouver woman’s faith provides comfort in grief

Companionship club: Single Seniors celebrates 30 years of fun gatherings, activities

Vancouver author, retired journalist looks back at time in Poland in 1980s

Dancing with Local Stars is March 4 at ilani

Volunteer network Villages lends a hand to seniors in Clark County

Book collections weigh heavy on Clark County baby boomers

Vancouver man wins $98,000 in four-day run on ‘Jeopardy!’

Vancouver man competes on ‘Jeopardy!’

Vancouver Bridge Club members say cards keep them sharp