👋🏴‍☠️ Final Season for “The Show” at Pirates of Pinehurst + We Spotted a Costco Churro

Good Morning, South Metro. Amazon Prime Days are back next week, so start trying to convince yourself now, that you don’t need another heated throw blanket, water bottle or that new John Grisham book. But maybe you do? Hey, no one’s judging.

Coming up in today’s South Metro Weekly:

Let’s go!

Thanks for reading, friends!

-Scott Michaels

One of Sherwood’s favorite Halloween traditions is returning in October, and despite what you may have heard, the Pirates of Pinehurst aren’t going anywhere.

But one popular part of the event is reaching the end of the plank.

Organizers have announced that 2026 will be the final year for “The Show,” the roughly 10-minute nighttime production featuring animatronics, lights, fog, sound and video that tells the story of Jack Sparrow and the Pinehurst Gold.

Neighbors on Pinehurst Court have been turning their Sherwood cul-de-sac into pirate territory every October since 2020, and over the years the event has grown into more than just The Show.

There’s also The Street, where visitors can walk through the neighborhood and check out the collection of pirate displays, and The Hunt, which sends treasure seekers searching Sherwood parks and trails for hidden Pinehurst Gold.

Those parts of Pirates of Pinehurst are expected to continue.

So think of this less as the Pirates sailing off into the sunset and more as one member of the crew retiring.

This year’s performances of The Show begin this Friday and run Thursday through Sunday throughout most of October. There are no shows on Halloween, and organizers recommend checking their social media before heading over in case Oregon weather decides to behave like, well, Oregon weather.

Visitors are asked to park near Woodhaven and Pinehurst and walk into the neighborhood.

And if you’ve always meant to catch The Show but never quite made it, this is the year.

The pirates will be back. The Street will still be there. The Hunt will continue.

But after October, The Show takes its final bow.

Officer Noah Shockley, a West Linn native, has officially graduated from the DPSST Basic Police Academy alongside fellow West Linn officer Eli Camacho.

Shockley’s connection to the job is a personal one. He grew up in West Linn, and now he gets to return home wearing the badge and serving the same community that helped shape him.

Camacho brings a very different background to the department. Before joining West Linn Police, he spent eight years with Chick-fil-A, working his way into executive leadership and building experience in teamwork, leadership and serving people.

Both officers have spent the past several months training, testing and preparing for the responsibilities that come with the job. And while graduating from the academy is a big milestone, they’re not quite finished yet.

Shockley and Camacho will now continue their field training as they work toward becoming solo officers.

For Shockley especially, that next step has a nice full-circle feel to it.

He grew up here.

Now he gets to help take care of home.

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☕ One West Linn Starbucks is closing as part of the company’s latest round of store closures. The location at 22000 Willamette Drive is among roughly 250 North American coffeehouses Starbucks says it is shutting after reviewing store performance and customer experience. West Linn will still have other Starbucks options nearby, including locations on Willamette Drive and Salamo Road. Another Portland-area store at 14585 SE McLoughlin Boulevard in Milwaukie is also closing. So, no caffeine emergency here — just one fewer place to grab that morning latte.

🤪 Churros have been spotted — in real life — at the Wilsonville Costco. Yes, the $1.49 Twisted Churro is making a limited-time comeback at Costco food courts, bringing back the long, cinnamon-sugar-covered version people have been asking for. Costco says the rollout is happening warehouse by warehouse, so not every location has them yet. But Wilsonville apparently got the memo. If you’ve missed grabbing one after spending $300 on things you absolutely needed, this is your moment. Just don’t wait too long — Costco hasn’t said how long the comeback will last.

💡 Canby had a pretty dark Friday afternoon — but local firefighters made sure people weren’t completely disconnected. A widespread outage knocked out power across much of the city after PGE reported a problem with a transmission line feeding the local substation — which is PGE’s way of saying, “something broke.” During the outage, Canby Fire District rolled out its emergency trailer near the Hope Village complex, where residents could stop by to charge their phones and use Starlink-powered Wi-Fi. Power was restored later that evening, but it was a pretty nice example of our local heroes stepping up when the lights go out.

🌱 Tualatin volunteers did some serious yard work — and found a tiny surprise along the way. A recent Stewardship Work Party removed about three cubic yards of invasive ivy and blackberry from Sweek Pond Natural Area and the Tualatin Greenway Trail entrance at Natchez Court. While clearing the habitat, volunteers also discovered a young salamander hiding in the mix. The city is already recruiting for more Stewardship Work Days and fall planting events in October and November, so if pulling ivy sounds more satisfying than pulling weeds at home, there’s your chance.

🦙 Wilsonville has brought in a four-legged landscaping crew. A herd of grazing goats — along with their llama bodyguard — is back in Villebois, working through blackberries and other vegetation in a fenced area along Coffee Lake Drive. The animals are expected to spend a few weeks clearing the property the old-fashioned way: one mouthful at a time. And yes, the llama has a job too. Its role is to help protect the goats from coyotes. So if you spot the crew while driving through Villebois, no, they didn’t escape. They’re just on the clock.

🌿 A familiar South Metro gardening name is getting some statewide recognition. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is spotlighting Darcy Ruef, CFO and co-owner of Al’s Garden & Home, as part of the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer. Ruef is a third-generation horticulturist who helps run the family business with her siblings. Al’s now has four retail stores — including locations in Sherwood and Wilsonville — and grows about 80% of its plants locally.

🚲 Got an idea for making a Tualatin street safer? The city wants to hear it. Tualatin’s Neighborhood Transportation Safety Program lets residents suggest smaller transportation improvements like better signage, crosswalks, bike lanes and other safety fixes. Submitted ideas are reviewed and evaluated, and some may ultimately be selected for construction. So if there’s a corner, crossing or stretch of road that makes you mutter under your breath every time you use it, this is your chance to say something about it.

Our friend Ruby from Wilsonville snapped this pretty awesome pic at Yesteryear Farms just off Stafford Road.

If you have a great pic, send it our way! Just reply to this email, or send it to: [email protected].

If your dream home checklist includes a swimming pool, in-ground trampoline, sand volleyball court and tennis court, this place would like a word.

Set on 31.79 acres, Five Peaks Farm is a sprawling 8,028-square-foot Georgian estate with sweeping views, six fireplaces, a library, theater, game room, gym and even a steam-and-sauna exercise suite. Because apparently “regular house” was never really the goal here.

And somehow, that’s still not the whole story.

Outside, the property goes full resort mode with expansive terraces, a pool and pool house, Island Spa hot tub, monkey bars, swing play features and room for all kinds of entertaining. There’s also an oversized Kentucky-style barn with four stalls, fenced turnouts and access to on-site riding trails.

Basically, it’s part luxury estate, part vacation retreat and part “you need to see these photos for yourself.”

See more here.

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

🎈 Transit Trivia Night
SMART Welcome Center, Wilsonville | Tuesday | 5:00–6:30 PM | Free
Think you know Wilsonville — and maybe a little about public transit too? SMART is hosting a free trivia night with teams of up to five competing for prizes. Even better, everyone gets a SMART squishy bus, which feels like the kind of participation trophy we can fully support.

💲 Crafting with the Classics: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Sherwood Center for the Arts, Sherwood | Tuesday | 7:00 PM | $5
Bring a craft, bring a teacup and settle in for a very Audrey Hepburn kind of Tuesday night. The Sherwood Center for the Arts is screening Breakfast at Tiffany’s while guests work on their own creative projects and enjoy tea. It’s casual, cozy and probably a little more stylish than your average craft night.

💲 You Can’t Take It With You
Lakewood Center for the Arts, Lake Oswego | Wednesday–Sunday | Multiple Show Times | Tickets required
A house full of eccentric relatives, illegal fireworks, unexpected guests and one very normal daughter trying to hold it all together — what could go wrong? Lakewood Theatre Company is staging the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You, where a buttoned-up family meets a household that has pretty much decided normal is overrated. The show runs through Oct. 18.

😋 Mahjong Basics 101
Lake Oswego Coffee House & Wine Bar | Thursday | 5:00–7:00 PM | Registration required
If Mahjong has been one of those games you keep meaning to learn, here’s your chance. This beginner-friendly session covers the basics, and everything you need to play is provided. Add coffee, wine and snacks into the mix, and suddenly learning tiles and strategy sounds a whole lot less intimidating.

🎈😋 Canby’s First Thursday Night Market
Downtown Canby | Thursday | 5:00–8:00 PM | Free
Downtown Canby is turning Thursday night into a full-on fall hangout. The First Thursday Night Market will feature local vendors, food, downtown shopping and a Halloween-themed parade, plus a special Kids Market where young entrepreneurs ages 5–17 will be selling their own creations. Businesses will stay open late with specials and Halloween surprises, so this one is part market, part block party and part excuse to wander downtown with a snack in hand.

🎈😋 Pumpkin Patch on Stafford Road
Neighborhood Church, Tualatin | Friday–Sunday | Fri.–Sat. 10:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sun. 11:00 AM–5:00 PM | Free
Pumpkin season is officially here. The Stafford Acres Pumpkin Patch has pumpkins, farm animals, bounce houses, photo spots, local makers and weekend food trucks. Admission is free, with pumpkins available for purchase and unlimited bounce-house passes for $5 per child. You can also stop by to visit the goats, chickens, peacocks and rabbits — because apparently pumpkin shopping is better with a few barnyard friends nearby.

🎵🎈 Teen Open Mic Night
Youth Music Project, West Linn | Friday | 6:30–8:30 PM | Free
Young performers get the spotlight at Youth Music Project’s Teen Open Mic Night. Singers, musicians and other teen performers can take the stage in a relaxed, supportive setting, while friends, family and local music fans come out to cheer them on. It’s a good chance to hear some of the next generation of local talent before they start charging you concert-ticket prices.

🎵💲 Dance Floor Mafia
The Headliners Club, Lake Oswego | Friday | 8:00 PM | $15+
If your playlist jumps from the ’70s to today without apology, this one should feel familiar. Dance Floor Mafia is bringing a high-energy mix of dance and variety hits to The Headliners Club for a 21-and-over night of live music. Expect plenty of recognizable songs, plenty of reasons to get out of your seat, and probably at least one song that makes somebody yell, “Ohhh, I love this one.”

🐾 Each week, we introduce you to a local adoptable pet hoping to find the perfect South Metro home. Some are playful adventurers, some are champion couch warmers, and others are still figuring out the whole “living with humans” thing. They may have different personalities, but they all deserve a fresh start, a little patience and plenty of love. This week’s furry friend is ready to say hello.

🐶 Meet Finn — A Handsome Gentleman Ready for Retirement

Finn is an 8-year-old German Shepherd mix who weighs about 80 pounds and is ready to trade the hustle and bustle for the good life. He’s even been working on his retirement figure, dropping about 10 pounds while at the shelter.

Finn can be a little reserved when meeting someone new, but once you’ve earned his trust, he becomes an affectionate guy who enjoys walks, belly rubs and simply hanging out with his people. He’s also very clear about his preferred forecast: not too hot, not too cold and, if possible, absolutely no rain. We respect a man who knows what he wants.

When it comes to other dogs, Finn isn’t looking for a wrestling partner. He may do well with a similarly sized, easygoing dog who respects his space. His history with cats and other small animals is unknown, so careful introductions would be important.

Finn would especially enjoy a quiet, adult-only home with a comfy dog bed — extra padding appreciated — and people willing to give him affection, regular exercise and time to settle in.

If you’ve got room in your home for an older gentleman who’s ready to enjoy his golden years, Finn might be your guy.

Connect with our friends at the Clackamas County Shelter to meet Finn.

THANKS!

A final thought…

Hope is a funny thing.

It asks us to believe that tomorrow can be better, even when today feels a little heavy.

Maybe that’s one reason it’s a good thing the future only comes one day at a time.

If everything arrived all at once — every answer, every change, every next chapter — we’d probably be overwhelmed. Instead, tomorrow shows up quietly. Then the next day. Then the next.

And as long as there’s another day coming, there’s something still out there to look forward to.

A conversation you haven’t had yet. A place you haven’t been. A problem that may finally get solved. A really good day you don’t even know is on the calendar yet.

We don’t know what tomorrow holds.

But sometimes, just knowing tomorrow is coming is enough.

See you Thursday morning!