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In your neighborhood, March 10

The Columbian
Published: March 10, 2010, 12:00am
6 Photos
Yacolt: DJ Miles and her brothers-in-law, Dave Tomastik and Scott Miles of Portland, had a grand time at the Olympics, sans spouses.
Yacolt: DJ Miles and her brothers-in-law, Dave Tomastik and Scott Miles of Portland, had a grand time at the Olympics, sans spouses. Photo Gallery

North Clark County & Woodland

Yacolt: DJ Miles was up in that other Vancouver last month, attending the Olympic Games with her two brothers-in-law, Dave Tomastik and Scott Miles. (“Our respective spouses didn’t wish to join us,” she said.) She witnessed many of the highlights, she said, from speed skaters Apolo Ohno and J.R. Celski winning silver and bronze to Nate Holland tumbling and Seth Westcott winning gold in the snowboard cross. “I saw Shaun White receive his gold medal for that amazing run in half pipe and looked on as U.S.A. beat Norway in hockey 6-1,” she said. It was all memorable and the setting was beautiful, she said, but the best part was the people. Waiting in line isn’t so bad, she said, when you can strike up conversations with folks from the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan. “Smiles and friendliness were the order of the day, and I witnessed Olympic spirit everywhere I went,” she said. “If only our political world held the Olympic spirit in their hearts every day.”

Amboy: North Clark County residents and members of the North Clark Historical Museum saved the day when they agreed to join the judging pool of the Regional History Day Contest, held Feb. 20 at Washington State University Vancouver. About 288 students from 10 local schools submitted exhibits, documentaries, essays and performances on local history. The top entries will compete in the state contest at Bellevue College on May 1.

Ridgefield & Fairgrounds

Fairgrounds: Pleasant View Church of the Nazarene has run Sunday school the traditional way for years. Teachers and leaders preached to kids, told them Bible stories and tried to grab their attention with games and decorations. Everything changed when the church took note that kids weren’t retaining what they learned or looking forward to coming to church every week. The church started a program called “Big City Studios” this year; it lets kids act out parts of the Bible, play a game show called “Shout it Out,” participate in memory verse games and watch skits. Kids earn “Big City Buks” for bringing their Bible, answering review questions, remembering the memory verse, bringing a friend, going to Sunday School and completing their fun facts. They deposit their money in the Big City Bank and can visit the Big City Store once a month to purchase items of their choice. Parents have noticed that their kids are retaining what they are learning and are excited about coming to church each week.

Battle Ground, Meadow Glade & Hockinson

Battle Ground: Local historians Louise Tucker and Orville Stout received 2010 Community Citizen Awards at the North Clark Historical Museum’s 22nd annual membership meeting Feb. 20. Tucker wrote the popular historical reference book “Battle Ground In and Around.” Stout, a former Yacolt teacher and principal, produced a book and DVD titled “History of Yacolt,” which was compiled from student interviews of longtime Yacolt residents. Stout also donated a collection of local materials to be included in the museum archives. Both recipients were praised for their contribution to the preservation of local history. The framed award drawing of the church/museum was done by Michael Allen of Battle Ground.

Hockinson: Students from the life skills special education program at Hockinson High School took a field trip to the Hockinson Kountry Cafe to practice ordering from a menu, using money, traffic safety and social skills. Students took the 15-minute walk down Hockinson streets and were escorted by a fire engine from Fire District 3. Fire Chief Steve Wrightson rode alongside on a bicycle.

Hazel Dell, Felida & Salmon Creek

Pleasant Valley: Republican Sen. Don Benton was honored Feb. 27 with the 2010 President’s Award by the Oregon Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Benton won the award for his bill that expanded access to specialized training for teachers to help children with dyslexia. “I am delighted by this recognition,” Benton said. “Too many children labeled as learning-disabled are really very bright, but afflicted with dyslexia. By making specialized training for teachers more accessible, we are helping these children reach their full potential.”

Orchards, Sifton & Brush Prairie

Heritage: Shailah Rickets was named a 2010 Young Women of Achievement Community Service honoree. Rickets attends Heritage High School and is a member of the NAACP. She is involved in volunteer programs for the Forest Service’s Urban Youth Program and captain of her school’s varsity volleyball team.

West Vancouver & Downtown

Shumway: It’s the Year of the Sidewalk in this older westside neighborhood. According to the most recent neighborhood newsletter, unsafe sidewalks have become a major safety issue. “Sidewalks often have hedges growing over them, tree roots lifting them and debris covering them,” says a new draft sidewalk plan now being circulated by the Shumway Neighborhood Association. If the plan is implemented, the neighborhood would prioritize different sidewalks as “major,” “minor” or “other” and would request grant funds and help from city code enforcement, public works and urban forestry, as well as matching funds from homeowners, to keep them clean and well-maintained. Work-party dates would be arranged.

Shumway: Residents from several neighborhoods around West Vancouver and downtown met with numerous volunteers Feb. 27 to plant about 175 trees. Folks met at 8:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and returned around noon for a barbecue sponsored by Northwest Natural.

Fruit Valley: The Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association held elections for three officers in January. Lee McCallister was re-elected as president; Matt Braddock was re-elected as sergeant at arms and Karen McCallister was elected as secretary. Sharon Kersting was appointed to fill the remaining term as treasurer.

East Vancouver, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing & Evergreen

Mountain View: The Environmental Action Club at Mountain View High School organized a Teens for Jeans promotion in February and received donations of more than 208 pairs of used jeans. The jeans will be given to local homeless shelters. Students Kaitlyn Lee, Jack Bernatovicz, Adriel Henriksen, John Russell and Adrienne Hurst organized and carried out the event. The club adviser is Mountain View math teacher Christa Woods. Kaitlyn Lee is a youth adviser for http://www.dosomething.org. Woods worked with the nonprofit organization and with Aeropostale to sponsor the event.

Central Vancouver, Minnehaha & The Heights

West Minnehaha: Several folks turned out for a tree-planting in West Minnehaha on Feb. 14, including people from the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation and NAACP Urban Youth Programs. Donut Nook provided donuts for the volunteers and the City of Vancouver Urban Forestry Department provided trees and assistance.

North Garrison Heights: Neighbors are on the look-out for vandals who have uprooted recently planted trees in Coop Park on two occasions. The trees have been replanted both times, but they might have suffered long-term damage, and that won’t be known for a while.

East Clark County: Camas & Washougal

Camas: More than 80 Union High School cheerleaders and Titanettes performed for a sold-out crowd at a Trail Blazer game on Dec. 15. The Titanettes attended a cheer camp before the performance, hosted by the Union cheerleaders to raise funds for program expenses.

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