Megan Tautfest, 14, a Frontier Middle School student, has raised about $5,300 toward her goal of $6,200, the amount necessary for her to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador program trip to Europe this summer.
The Orchards resident has raised most of the money selling fleece blankets at craft bazaars. Now she’s peddling them at the Battle Ground Farmers Market for prices ranging from $20 to $35.
Megan calls herself a “history fanatic,” so she was especially motivated to raise the money for the trip, which includes visiting Anne Frank’s house, the Tower of London, the Imperial War Museum and the D-Day landing site.
“I love the idea of being a world traveler,” she said.
As a Girl Scouts camp counselor, she also hopes her experience can inspire others.
“It occurred to me that this would not only be an educational trip of a lifetime, but I could truly show the others by experience that if you set your mind to something you can reach your goal.”
Ridgefield couple prove big fans of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’
David and Michelle Adams planned to watch Sunday’s episode of the Donald Trump reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice” from a prime position. The Adamses expected to be at a viewing party at Trump Towers in Las Vegas.
The Ridgefield couple own the Vancouver-based Miller’s One-Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. It’s part of the national One-Hour Heating & Air Conditioning franchise, which was scheduled to be featured in a “Celebrity Apprentice” challenge on this weekend’s episode.
The Adamses were in Las Vegas for a franchise convention part of last week and over the weekend. They planned to have a second viewing party today when they returned to Clark County.
David Adams, 44, said that traffic on his company’s website and Facebook page has increased as word of the “Celebrity Apprentice” connection spread. Interest also is being piqued by a tie-in contest, where people can go to http://www.win100grand.com and enter for a chance to win $100,000.
Adams thinks the added exposure can only mean good things for the franchise as a whole and Miller’s One-Hour Heating & Air Conditioning by extension.
“It’s kind of a big deal to have your brand be invited to be part of a big, national show,” he said.
‘Top Model’ hopeful also competing in sweepstakes for a makeover
Dezarae Nicely always wanted to be a model, but, at 5-foot-7-inches, thought she was too short. But when The CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” had a casting call in Portland last month, Nicely, a 21-year-old Battle Ground resident and Clark College student, decided to give it a go.
“I decided to say, ‘What the heck,’ and try out anyway,” she said.
As of last week, Nicely hadn’t heard either way from the show’s casting director, but she is one of 208 entrants in the Model Makeover Sweepstakes run by NW32TV, which is the local CW affiliate and organizer of the Portland casting call. Everyone who tried out for “America’s Next Top Model” in Portland was automatically entered into the contest.
People have until 5 p.m. May 13 to visit http://www.nw32tv.com and vote for their favorite contestant. Video from Nicely’s and 141 other contestants’ auditions is also available to view at the site. The first-place winner will receive a package valued at $1,500 that includes a hair and makeup makeover, two facial treatments, clothes and a photo shoot. BeigeBlond in Vancouver is donating makeup and hair services for the first- and second-place finishers, and hair for the third-place finisher.
Bits ’n’ Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you’d like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.<I>
