West Vancouver and Downtown

West Vancouver and Downtown

Esther Short: It was a scary good time when the YWCA Clark County had its first “Hallowood” benefit party at the Hilton Vancouver Washington on Oct. 24. Halloween costumes, dancing, a phantom photo booth and a ghost bar made the night a total howl. Plus, a group of employees from main sponsor First Independent Bank formed the “First Independent Thriller Dancers” and grooved to Michael Jackson’s classic spooky song. The Y raised $77,335.

Esther Short: The city of Vancouver is making an in-kind donation to the Parks Foundation: office space. The homegrown nonprofit agency, which collects and disburses donations for local parks purchases and recreation programs, started in 1999 on Officers Row. Eventually, it moved to Grand Boulevard. And now, looking to economize, the Parks Foundation (www.parksfoundation.us) will move into the city’s own office building at 610 Esther St. That will save the foundation money and allow it to work more closely with Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department.

Arnada: The neighborhood association has received several city grants recently. There’s $2,000 for a bench at 22nd and D streets, where the neighborhood kiosk already commands attention and helps slow traffic. There’s also a $480 grant for 12 rain barrels that will be doled out to interested neighbors by lottery. And there’s $600 for a tool library and checkout system. The latest neighborhood newsletter congratulates grant writer Sara Douglas for her successes.

Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek

Sherwood: Hot rods, restored classics and a spectacular green-and-white 1952 Chevy Hardtop stopped by Chevs of the 40s, a custom car shop (“the world’s most complete supplier of 1937-1954 Chevrolet car and truck parts”) off Northeast Highway 99 on Oct. 11. It was all part of an ongoing “Cruise around the Country” tour sponsored by Street Rodder magazine. Chevs of the 40s contributed parts for the ’52 Chevy, and displayed its 1947 Chevy show truck. Guests toured the business and enjoyed dinner afterward, according to Jeff Stites of Chevs of the 40s.

Pleasant Valley: Students at Pleasant Valley Primary and Pleasant Valley Middle schools had the chance to attend a PTA Family Math Night on Oct. 20. Ward Holcomb, principal of Pleasant Valley Middle School, said the event is an opportunity for “parents to strengthen bonds with their sons and daughters by playing games with them while simultaneously reinforcing math skills.” The event in the gymnasium was hosted by the Pleasant Valley schools and their PTAs, and the Learning Outlet Co. of Kelso.

Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek

Northeast Hazel Dell: Clark College students continue to do good work at the Hazel Dell School and Community Garden. On two recent afternoons, 34 students from Clark College’s Service and Leadership in the Community program and Veronica Brock’s Food and Your Health class spread wood chips donated by Thomas Family Tree, installed plants donated by Sweet Nectar Nursery and pulled hundreds of weeds to transform the garden. The students were assisted by WSU master gardeners Bobbi Bellomy and Barbara Nordstrom. The garden is ready for new raised beds as part of Clark County Homegrown Gardens. Qualifying participants will have access to a raised garden bed with soil, seeds, plants and tools. A garden mentor will assist and give instruction. For more information, contact Kris Alexander 397-6118 ext. 5654 or kris.alexander@clark.wa.gov. The summer harvest was shared with a nearby homeless shelter and Hazel Dell Elementary School staff. The garden also hosts weekly garden and sessions for the children from the Boys & Girls Club, and raised beds are reserved for classes of Hazel Dell Elementary School.

Ridgefield and Fairgrounds

Kozy Kamp: The big election is over, and misspelling won by a landslide. In a victory for local history, neighbors have chosen Kozy Kamp, the fun-but-fading name of a popular 1920s rest stop and campground east of Interstate 5, as the name of a new park. Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association organizer Vicki Fitzsimmons reported the combined results of surveys conducted by the neighborhood and by Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation: Kozy Kamp got 70 votes; Ridgewood got 24; Stanton, 23; and Green Ridge, 11. Coming in last, with two votes each, were NatureSpace and NaturePlay — so intentional misspelling is OK, but smashing words together must not be. Kozy Kamp Neighborhood Park, a 5-acre space at 17410 N.E. 29th Ave., is being designed and should see construction next year.

Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie

Heritage: The members of Washington Grange celebrated its 120th anniversary with a celebration on Oct. 10. The event was attended by 40 people, including several special guests from the State Grange and other Granges throughout the state and county. Grange Master Georgia Goff called the meeting to order and Karen Edwards presented a 120-slide show highlighting the Grange’s history. The group also sang songs and watched a skit called, “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter.” After the presentation, there was cake and ice cream for everyone while Maxine Osborne and Carolyn Kimball demonstrated wool spinning.

East Clark County: Camas and Washougal

Camas: The annual Camas Educational Foundation raised more than $61,000 on Oct. 10 at its 11th annual auction. More than 225 people attended the event at the Hilton, with about 100 donors providing auction items ranging from student artwork to a week’s stay in Hawaii. Highlights of the evening included a performance by the Camas High School Marching Band and a speech by Doug Lumbard, father of Jenna Lumbard, the autistic author of “Worried Wendy Goes to School,” which helped raise $10,000 through a collective bid to purchase adaptive technology for Camas special-needs students. All of the money raised from the auction will be disbursed to teachers and staff through competitive grant programs to support innovation, enrichment and curriculum enhancements across the district.

North Clark County and Woodland

La Center: Veteran Anthony Davis recently competed in the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, a summer sporting rehabilitation event in San Diego. Veterans learned to surf at La Jolla shores, use a hand cycle, sail the San Diego Harbor, kayak in Mission Bay, and experience a number of track and field events at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. Davis, a 27-year-old Navy combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, was a Navy search-and-rescue swimmer. Shortly after returning from combat, Davis was injured as a passenger in motor vehicle accident. Diagnosed as a paraplegic, doctors told Davis he would never walk again, but they were wrong. Davis is able to walk and do much more, and he is training for the paralympic rowing team.

La Center: The Patchwork Pals quilting group, which meets every Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the La Center Evangelical Free Church, has chosen a new president. Meghan Guinn is now the president and is ready to welcome new members. Anyone who is interested in joining can either show up on a Monday morning, give Guinn a call at 503-484-4022 or e-mail her at megkegguinn@gmail.com.

Central Vancouver, Minnehaha and The Heights

Edgewood Park: The Vancouver branch of the American Association of University Women held its Bridge Dollars for Scholars tournament Oct. 24 to raise money for local college scholarships for women. The event, which was co-chaired by Ann Selck and Anna Whipple, was at the Clark County Genealogical Society. There were 10 tables of bridge, food and challenging competition. “Lisa Michels, our Clark College recipient, told us about her educational goals and how much she appreciated the scholarship,” Selck said in an e-mail. The next tournament will be April 17, 2010.

Battle Ground, Meadow Glade and Hockinson

Hockinson: Twenty-eight bucks, and change, per laugh. That’s how the math worked out at the seventh annual Hockinson High School Booster Club Auction, where the theme was “Night of a Thousand Laughs.” The club raised more than $28,000 from businesses and those who attended the Oct. 17 event, which was rich in comedy and magic from Brian Haagen, Courtney Lemos, Megan Helmers, Ashton Prior, Eric Sawyer, Jacob Blair and Nicole Jensen. From knock-knock jokes to the classic “Who’s on First?” routine, club members kept ’em laughing. Plus, the Hockinson High Jazz Band supplied tunes.