👋🍕 New Pizza in Canby + Cops In Pink

TOGETHER WITH

Good Morning, South Metro. It’s October in our neck of the woods, which means pumpkin spice, wet AND dry leaves and pretending we know when the rain is actually coming. But don’t jinx it — looks like a nice week coming up!

Coming up in today’s South Metro Weekly:

Thanks to Azend Hot Yoga & Wellness for jumping on board the South Metro Weekly sponsor train. Does your business need to reach more people, all within about a fifteen-minute drive? Send me a no-obligation email and let’s talk.

Thanks for reading, and if you like what you read, forward this to a friend so they can subscribe too!

-Scott Michaels

Apparently even college football coaches spend their bye weeks under the Friday night lights.

Lanning made the trip up I-5 to watch Lake Oswego take on Oregon City, and this wasn’t exactly a random “I was in the neighborhood and heard the popcorn was good” visit.

Lake Oswego has a couple of players who have Lanning’s attention.

One of them is Josh Christensen, a three-star edge rusher who committed to Oregon in June and is ranked as one of the top players in the state.

The other is Presley DeLance, a four-star tight end in the 2028 class who is considered one of Oregon’s top young prospects and already has offers from several major college programs.

So yes, if you happened to glance toward the end zone and thought, “Wait…is that Dan Lanning?” your eyes were not playing tricks on you.

The Ducks had the weekend off, which gave Lanning a rare Friday night without his own game to worry about.

So Friday night brought a little extra star power to the sidelines.

No Autzen Stadium. No 50,000 screaming fans.

Just Dan Lanning spending his bye week watching some high school football in Lake Oswego.

We love you, Coach!

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has brought back its Pink Patch Project for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with deputies wearing badges embroidered in pink throughout October.

And this year, they’re doing more than just wearing them.

The Sheriff’s Office is selling a new 2026 pink patch featuring a Willamette Falls-themed design for $10, along with a pink K-9 patch and some designs from previous years for $5 each.

The money raised goes to the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation Endowment Fund for the Carol Danielson Suzuki Cancer Center, helping support patient navigators who guide people through appointments, treatment, emotional support and some of the very un-fun logistics that come with a cancer diagnosis.

In other words, yes, it’s a patch.

But it’s also helping real people through some really hard days.

And the Sheriff’s Office isn’t the only local department adding some pink this month. West Linn Police are also sporting special pink department patches throughout October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So if you notice a pink badge around town, it’s not a new uniform trend.

It’s a small splash of color for a pretty meaningful cause.

Yes. That is a real sentence.

The Environmental Learning Center in Oregon City is hosting its fall fundraiser Saturday, October 17, from 3 to 5 p.m., with hands-on art activities, music, terrarium-making and a few other perfectly normal fundraiser things.

And then there’s the Bird Poop Drop.

At 4:30 p.m., a bird will be brought out to do what birds have been doing since the beginning of time. The difference here is that people will actually be rooting for it.

Raffle participants will have squares on a grid, and whichever square gets the, um, direct hit wins.

So basically: bingo, but with significantly more risk to the person standing nearby.

The afternoon also includes a painting activity with artist and entomologist Heather Andrews, terrarium-making, art from Steven Soll, refreshments and time to explore the Environmental Learning Center’s natural surroundings.

Tickets for the art activities are $25 for adults and $10 for kids 18 and younger, while Bird Poop Drop raffle tickets are $25 each. You do have to be 18 or older to participate in the raffle, which feels fair. There are some responsibilities children simply shouldn’t have to carry.

The fundraiser runs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Environmental Learning Center at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City.

And if you’ve ever said local fundraising events all feel the same, well…

This one is literally letting a bird make the final decision.

If yoga has ever sounded like something you need to be flexible, fit or experienced to try, Azend Hot Yoga & Wellness in Wilsonville would like to change your mind.

Azend is built around a simple idea: meet your body where it is today. Choose from hot yoga, gentler warm classes, flow sessions and even chair yoga, with instructors ready to help you find what feels right for you.

Because sometimes what we really need isn’t another punishing workout. It’s an hour to move, breathe, loosen up and quiet some of the noise in our heads.

Whether you’re hoping to feel stronger, less stressed or simply carve out a little more time for yourself, Azend offers a welcoming place to begin.

Ready to give it a try? Visit AzendHotYoga.com to explore classes and find the one that feels right for you.

🍕 Canby has a new place for Hot-N-Ready pizza. Little Caesars is now open at 1447 SE 1st Ave, giving Canby another quick option for pizza, Crazy Bread and those nights when cooking sounds like entirely too much work. The new restaurant recently celebrated its grand opening with giveaways and family activities, but the important part now is pretty simple: the ovens are on, the doors are open, and dinner can involve significantly less effort.

🚧 If you’ve been dodging construction around Stafford Road, good news: the detour is finally over. The long-running project at Stafford and Childs roads is complete, with a new roundabout, bike lanes between Pattulo Way and Rosemont Road, and safety improvements at Stafford and Johnson roads. The $18.6 million project has been a headache for drivers for a while, so the big local takeaway is pretty simple: the cones, closures and creative rerouting are done. And yes, that may be worth celebrating all by itself.

🏫 Lake Oswego schools just picked up some serious bragging rights. In Niche’s 2027 rankings, the Lake Oswego School District was named the No. 1 school district in Oregon and also ranked No. 1 for best teachers in the state. All 11 district schools earned an overall A grade or better, and the district landed in the top 1.5% nationwide. Rankings aren’t everything, of course — but if you’re going to get a report card, that’s a pretty nice one to bring home.

🐶 A Wilsonville hike turned into a rescue mission for one very adventurous dog. Nala slipped free from her leash near Memorial Park, made her way down a steep embankment and ended up in the Willamette River. She could swim just fine, but getting the 80-pound pup back up the bank was a different story. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s Station 52 came in to help and got her safely reunited with her family. Consider this your reminder that some dogs hear “stay on the trail” and apparently take it as a suggestion.

🍷 Lake Oswego is already thinking about Tuscany next fall. The Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free Tuscany Happy Hour…this Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Oswego Heritage House. It’s a chance to learn more about the Chamber’s 2027 group trip to Tuscany, meet the travel team, and enjoy Italian wine tasting and appetizers while hearing what the trip includes. You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend, so if “October in Tuscany” sounds better than “October in Oregon drizzle,” this might be worth checking out.

📈 Clackamas County is doing pretty well by the numbers. A new statewide report shows the county with Oregon’s second-highest median household income, one of the lowest unemployment rates, and the lowest child poverty rate of all 36 counties. Students are also outperforming state averages in several areas, with a 91% high school graduation rate, compared with 84% statewide. Life expectancy here is about 80 years, roughly two years above the Oregon average. Not everything is perfect, of course — but on quite a few of the numbers that matter, Clackamas County is holding its own.

🚗 Sherwood Auto Repair is celebrating 40 years in business — and three generations of the same family have helped keep it going. Felix LaPlante opened the original shop in Old Town Sherwood in 1986. Today, his son Scott owns the business, with grandson Alden now part of the team too. The shop has since moved to Tualatin, but the Sherwood roots remain strong. To celebrate, they’re hosting a community party Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Koi Fusion catering and a bounce house. Forty years fixing cars is impressive. Forty years working with family might be even more impressive.

🍎 Oregon City teacher earns regional honor. Math teacher Jennifer Crutcher has been named the Clackamas Regional Teacher of the Year and is now one of four finalists for Oregon Teacher of the Year. She was nominated by a former student who praised her for making math feel approachable and helping students push beyond what they thought they could do. Crutcher says she tries to connect classroom lessons to the real world — which is probably why her students remember more than just the equations.

The gated home is listed for $6.19 million and includes 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 5,554 square feet. The two-story great room is wrapped in huge windows, with sweeping lake views and decks that make the water feel like part of the house.

The primary suite has its own private balcony and spa-like bathroom, while the lower level includes a separate two-bedroom living area with a kitchenette. Basically, your guests can have their own little apartment and still somehow be in your house.

Outside is where things get especially ridiculous: a temperature-controlled pool, hot tub, multiple entertaining areas, landscaped grounds and an oversized boathouse with a lift and private dock.

There’s also a media room with a wet bar, whole-home audio and a three-car garage.

And yes, $6.19 million is a lot of money.

But apparently this is what happens when “lake access” means walk out the back door and get in your boat.

See more here.

🎈 = family-friendly event
💲 = ticket or purchase required
🎵 = includes live music
😋 = there will be food

🎈 E-Bike Safety Forum
Lake Oswego Middle School, Lake Oswego | Monday | 6:00–7:30 PM | Free
E-bikes and e-scooters are everywhere, and the rules around them are changing. This community forum will cover where different devices can be ridden, current and upcoming rules, and what parents and young riders should know about staying safe. Bring your questions — especially if an e-bike is already part of your family’s transportation plan.

🎈🎵😋 Music Garden Festival
Oregon Tech Portland-Metro, Wilsonville | Tuesday | 4:00–8:00 PM | Free
Oregon Tech is turning its Wilsonville campus into a little outdoor festival with live music, games, inflatables and food. Groove Syndicate and the CSET PM Band will perform, while families can try jumbo chess, giant Four in a Row, inflatable axe throwing and archery. Admission and activities are free; food and drinks will be available for purchase.

💲😋 Bunco Night
503 Uncorked, Sherwood | Wednesday | 6:30–8:30 PM | $5
Grab some friends and roll the dice at 503 Uncorked’s monthly Bunco Night. Newbies are welcome, the game is easy to learn, and there’s wine, food and plenty of laughs to go around. Spots can fill up, so reserving ahead is a good idea if you want in.

🎵 Campfire Jams
Robinwood Station, West Linn | Wednesday | 7:00–8:30 PM | Free
Bring an instrument, bring your voice or just come hang out and listen. Campfire Jams is a casual community music night built around playing together, sharing songs and enjoying a low-key evening with local musicians. No stage fright required — this is much more “join in if you feel like it” than “audition for the band.”

💲 Lake Oswego Film Festival
PCC Sylvania Campus, Portland | Thursday–Saturday | Tickets Required
The Lake Oswego Film Festival brings three days of independent films, workshops and filmmaker events to PCC Sylvania. Thursday and Friday feature evening workshops and screenings, while Saturday wraps things up with more films and an awards gala. A nice excuse to get off the couch and watch something you probably won’t find buried in your usual streaming queue.

🎵😋 Live Music: Austin Sweeney
Aurora Vineyards | Friday | 5:00–8:00 PM | Free
Ease into the weekend with live music from Austin Sweeney at Aurora Vineyards. Grab a glass of wine, something to eat and settle in for an easy Friday night just south of Wilsonville. No big production here — just music, vineyard views and a pretty solid argument for not going straight home after work.

🎈 Wilsonville Festival of the Arts @ Charbonneau
Charbonneau Activity Center & Clubhouse, Wilsonville | Saturday–Sunday | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Free
The 42nd annual festival brings together fine art, artisan booths and student artwork from Wilsonville and Canby high schools, with artists from around the Northwest showing and selling their work. There’s also a silent auction fundraiser, so this is part art show, part shopping trip and part excuse to wander around saying, “I could totally find a wall for that.”

🐾 This Week, Furry Friends Has Five Very Cute Exceptions. Usually, Furry Friends introduces you to one local pet looking for a home. This week, we couldn’t pick just one.

Meet Millie, Carly, Brian, Benny and Bobby — five German Shepherd puppies who were rescued from a high-risk shelter in California and brought north for a second chance.

And now they need the next part of the story: homes.

The puppies are being cared for by K9 Rescue Brigade, which is working to line up adopters for all five. An adoption plan is needed by October 7, so this one has a little more urgency than our usual weekly introduction.

They’re still puppies, which means whoever brings one home should probably be prepared for the full package: training, patience, chewed things that absolutely were not supposed to be chewed, and the occasional moment when you wonder how something that cute created that much chaos.

But they also have their whole lives ahead of them.

With the right families, these five get to go from shelter kennels and uncertainty to couches, backyards, walks around the neighborhood and people who know exactly where the treats are kept.

That’s a pretty good upgrade.

Millie. Carly. Brian. Benny. Bobby.

Five puppies. Five second chances.

And hopefully, very soon, five homes.

Reach out to Kris at K9 Rescue Brigade at 503-307-7577 if you can help!

THANKS!

A final thought…

In his book, The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter spends a lot of time on the idea that modern life has made us very good at avoiding discomfort. We can order dinner without leaving the couch, adjust the thermostat by a degree and fill almost every quiet moment with a screen.

There’s nothing wrong with being comfortable. But sometimes, without realizing it, we can start treating discomfort like something that always needs to be escaped.

And the funny thing is, the things we dread are often worse in our heads than they are once we actually face them. The difficult conversation. The workout we don’t feel like doing. Trying something new. Taking the first step toward something we’ve been putting off.

Maybe the goal isn’t to make life perfectly comfortable.

Maybe it’s to remember that a little discomfort won’t break us — and that we can probably handle more than we think.

See you Thursday morning!