The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington has received a $15,000 grant from the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. The grant will supply medications and blood pressure equipment to help the Free Clinic’s volunteers care for low-income uninsured and underinsured patients. Medicine is an essential part of treatment for most Free Clinic medical and dental patients. They need antibiotics, insulin and other medications to regain their health and return to their jobs or schools. Since 2009, the Free Clinic’s on-site dispensary has filled 8,000-10,000 prescriptions annually at no cost to patients.

Sandhill cranes return to the refuge in the fall.

Join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge staff for a wonder-filled weekend of nature, wildlife and Native American culture. This family-friendly two-day event features Sandhill Crane tours, guided nature and bird walks, children’s activities, kayak tours, Chinookan Plankhouse tours, naturalist workshops, and the Birder’s Marketplace, featuring artists who concentrate on wildlife and/or nature themes.

Local musicians will perform throughout both days, and guests can partake in the traditional salmon bake or choose from the many food vendors on hand.

Birdfest & Blugrass kicks off today, Sept. 30, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 2. Some activities have suggested donations or fees, but most are free of charge. To view a full event schedule, visit ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest/. Find the event on Facebook here.

The 24th annual Pumpkin Festival opens this weekend at Pomeroy Living History Farm. Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for youth ages three through 11.

Visitors to the farm can enjoy a mile-long hayride through the enchanting Pumpkin Lane, where dozens of “pumpkin people” await. The hayride stops at the pumpkin patch. There will be dozens of vendors with handcrafted goods, pumpkin flume, farm animals, tours of the historic log house, yard games and more.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Properties, this farmstead includes the Pomeroy’s log home built in 1920, a working blacksmith shop, barn, extensive herb and vegetable gardens, pastures and woodlot. The farm utilizes living history as an interpretational technique to share with school children and the general public, what life was like on a pre-electrical farm several generations ago. The farm is located at 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd. in Yacolt. For further details, visit www.pomeroyfarm.org.

Riverview Bancorp, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Riverview Community Bank, and Merchants Bancorp, and its wholly owned subsidiary MBank, announced that they have entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement. Riverview will acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities of MBank in a cash transaction. Riverview Bancorp will also assume the obligations of Merchants Bancorp’s trust preferred securities. Find the original story, here.