Yacolt
Veterans memorial to be dedicated Saturday
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony of a new veterans memorial at 1 p.m. Saturday next to the town hall in Yacolt at 105 E. Yacolt Road.
The memorial, which includes a flagpole, brick paving and landscaping, was created by Josiah Woltersdorf for his Eagle Scout community service project.
“Yacolt needs this because of their own rich history of men that have fought for our country — all the way back to the Civil War,” Woltersdorf wrote in an e-mail.
For more information call 360-904-1484.
Vancouver
Charles Ray wins honors for urban forestry work
Vancouver’s urban forester has been recognized as “Municipal Arborist for 2009” by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
The award is presented annually to a city forester “who has significantly improved the quality of arboricultural care in a particular city, state, or province.” Nominees are submitted from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia and Alaska.
The announcement was made in October at a training conference in British Columbia. Ray wasn’t at the conference and only recently learned of his award. He thanked the Urban Forestry Commission, a seven-member citizen advisory group, and his colleagues in the public works and parks departments for their leadership, guidance and support. “This was really a team achievement,” Ray said.
Vancouver’s Urban Forestry program is striving to preserve and enhance the existing city tree canopy and promote urban reforestation with community support and participation. Working with businesses, volunteers and citizens, Urban Forestry has planted 683 trees so far in 2009 and expects to pass 800 before the year is over.
Ray is a member of the Clark College Agriculture/Horticulture Advisory Committee. He is certified through the International Society of Arboriculture as an arborist and municipal specialist, and has worked for the city of Columbus, Ohio, and in commercial arboriculture in the Vancouver-Portland metro area before going to work for Vancouver in 2001.
Hough
Donations sought for Father Christmas Shop
The Parent Teacher Student Association at Hough Elementary School is looking for donations of new or used toys and gift items for its annual Father Christmas Shop on Dec. 8.
The shop allows Hough students to buy presents for their families at an affordable price, so donated items for all ages are needed.
Donations should be dropped off at the Volunteer Center at Hough Elementary School, 1900 Daniels St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the school week.
The Father Christmas Shop will be open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the school.
Call 360-313-2120 for more information.
