Around the Area October 10

CLARK COUNTY

Mears to be honored at YMCA luncheon

Tom Mears, chairman of Burgerville parent company The Holland, will be honored with the Spirit of Health award at the annual YMCA Strong Communities Luncheon on Oct. 22.

Mears’ role in improving the health of Clark County residents through Burgerville and the nonprofit group Community Choices will be celebrated.

Keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Sally Edwards, a world record triathlete and snowshoe racer. Edwards is also an author, motivational speaker and founder and CEO of Heart Zones, a company that designs heart-rate monitor systems for athletes, companies, hospitals and more.

The luncheon is set for noon to 1:30 p.m. at the downtown Hilton Vancouver Washington. Money raised at the event will be used to provide recreation and fitness opportunities to help combat youth obesity.

Tickets are $35 each and must be purchased in advance by calling 360-885-9622 or visiting the YMCA Web site. Sponsored tables of 10 are available.

Edwards will hold an endurance workshop for athletes who want to improve their performance. Tickets are $35 or $50 for two. Call Pesut at 360-258-3837 to reserve a spot. The workshop will be held at Nautilus World Headquarters, 16400 S.E. Nautilus Drive.

VANCOUVER

Bail out leaders for March of Dimes

Vancouver’s leading citizens will be “behind bars” on Oct. 16th for a good cause: supporting the research and education programs funded by the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes works to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Each year in Washington State, one in nine babies is born prematurely.

“During March of Dimes Jail & Bail, Vancouver’s leaders are ‘confined’ at Outback Steakhouse until they raise ‘bail’ to help babies,” said event chairwoman Jill Brown. Outback Steakhouse is at 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive.

Donations help support programs such as providing prematurity education to every pregnant woman in the state and funding Nobel prize-winning research breakthroughs that benefit all babies.

To “snitch” and have someone you know become a “jailbird,” contact the March of Dimes at 503-222-9434.

BATTLE GROUND

Ex-columnist wins nod as schools spokesman

The Battle Ground school board approved the hiring of former Columbian newspaper columnist Gregg Herrington as its public information director Thursday.

Herrington had been chosen from a pool of about 40 applicants and will earn between $90,000 and $100,000 a year in the position.