Central Vancouver, Minnehaha & The Heights
Van Mall: On May 12 kids at Skinner Elementary Montessori brought their bikes to school to participate in a “Tour de Skinner.” The event is part of a yearly weeklong celebration of French culture. Winners of the race receive yellow jerseys — “maillot jaune.”
Columbia Way: The Community Military Appreciation Committee of the Vancouver 40 et 8 veterans’ honor organization dedicated a bench honoring fallen Vancouver soldier Pfc. Ian Walz on May 7. The bench is located on the Vancouver waterfront, just east of Beaches restaurant. Walz was killed Oct. 27, 2009 with six other soldiers during an attack in southern Afghanistan.
Van Mall: KeyBank and the Portland Rose Festival Foundation awarded four grants to shovel-ready projects around Oregon and Southwest Washington. Arc of Clark County won one of the grants and will use volunteer labor to build specially designed raised garden beds to allow physically disabled members of the community to grow gardens.
Ridgefield & Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds: The Gardner School opened a new science lab May 6. The lab was funded by a $60,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and an additional $60,000 from families and supporters of the school. The school also received a $20,000 anonymous donation that will be used to purchase new technology and equipment.
Battle Ground, Meadow Glade & Hockinson
Battle Ground: Timothy Lyashevskiy had a close encounter with a hamburger on April 29 at Daybreak Primary School. The first-grader was eating lunch when he started choking. He ran into the boys’ bathroom to try clear his throat. Charlotte Hobson, also a first-grader, noticed Timothy running out of the cafeteria and told Lynette Wooldridge, the cafeteria monitor. Wooldridge ran to the bathroom, verified the boy was choking and performed the Heimlich maneuver. After two thrusts she felt the boy relax and determined he was OK. Timothy was able to finish his lunch before his mom took him home for the afternoon.
Hockinson: New soccer goals were delivered and assembled at Hockinson Meadows Park on April 9. Corwin Beverage Company donated use of a delivery truck and two employees to help assemble the goals. Volunteers included Vic Oenning, Hockinson High School boys varsity soccer coach; Mike Mikelson, Corwin Beverage supervisor and Prairie High School boys varsity soccer coach; Jenna Tow, Corwin special events driver; Greg Klodt, Hockinson High boys varsity soccer assistant coach; and Ryan Oenning, Hockinson High junior varsity boys soccer coach. The goals will be used by local soccer clubs.
Hazel Dell, Felida & Salmon Creek
North Salmon Creek: Megan Wills, Vancouver, is supporting an eight-week environmental project with the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks department in Boulder, Colo. The team is assisting the city in its effort to manage invasive species and maintain vital irrigation ditches for the municipal water supply. Wills is a member of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and began a 10-month commitment to the organization last October after graduating from Linfield College. She is 22 and graduated from Columbia River High School.
West Hazel Dell: Fire District 6 got a clean bill of financial health from the Washington State Auditor’s Office. The office completed a biannual financial and accountability audit for Fire District 6 and didn’t find any reportable issues for the district to address. The audit is performed to help ensure the efficient and effective use of public resources. Complete reports can be viewed on the auditor’s website, http://www.sao.wa.gov.
Orchards, Sifton & Brush Prairie
Heritage: Heritage High School received a $5,000 Science Education Advocate award from the state Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform organization. Awards go to individuals or organizations that exhibit outstanding advocacy for science education. Heritage was chosen based on its Energy Smart projects, which include the study and creation of alternative fuel and energy sources.
West Vancouver & Downtown
Esther Short: Divine Spree, a “trunk-show shop” with products from more than 20 local vendors, raised more than $700 for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation. About 300 people showed up to shop at the six-hour event. “It was a wonderful opportunity to partner with Divine Consign furniture for a joint fundraiser with the Hough Foundation and YWCA of Clark County. It was a fantastic community event,” said Casandra Franzen, FVRL representative.
Esther Short: Vancouver’s Downtown Association brought hanging baskets to downtown streets on May 1. The total cost of baskets was $18,000. Yard ‘N’ Garden Land supplied the flowers.
Lincoln: More than 110 students from Discovery Middle School’s band and drill team marched in the Long Beach Loyalty Days parade on May 2. The group took first-place honors in its division.
East Vancouver, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing & Evergreen
Fircrest: Leann Ocampo, secretary and newsletter editor in the Fircrest Neighborhood Association, has been collecting e-mail addresses of residents to share severe weather updates, newsletters and event listings. When a neighbor found a lost dog the group decided to send out an e-mail in attempt to find its owner. There were a lot of immediate responses giving clues to the owner’s identity, Ocampo said. Although the owner was found the next day by door-to-door visits, Ocampo said an e-mail came in around the same time with a tip that would have led to the correct house. “If they didn’t find the owner, we would have,” she said.
Fircrest: The Fircrest Neighborhood Association is offering a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the May 7 vandalism of the community garden in Leroy Haagen Park. Call police if you have information.
Fairway/164th: David Harrison was recently honored at Cheney Temple Lodge 42 for 60 years of Masonic membership.
Mill Plain: Tropical Smoothie Café observed National Teachers Week, May 3-7, by giving teachers free 24-ounce smoothies. Vancouver store owner Natalie Dewey said her store gave away 197 of the drinks by the end of the week.
East Clark County: Camas & Washougal
Washougal: On April 17, 330 Rotarians from Rotary International District 5100, which includes most of Oregon and Southwest Washington, met at Washougal High School to participate in the annual District Assembly. Welcoming remarks were made by Teresa Baldwin, superintendent of Washougal schools. Baldwin is also a member of the Camas-Washougal Rotary. Barbara Crozier, the District 5100 governor-elect and a member of Camas-Washougal Rotary, outlined the program. Crozier will be inducted as the governor at the Rotary District 5100 conference in May.
Camas: Derek Hood, a member of Camas Boy Scout Troop 565, earned the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony on May 2. For his service project, he constructed two tent platforms and a shelter for the Cougar Campsite at Camp Currie Youth Camp in Camas. Hood, 16, son of Frank and Ursula Hood, attends Camas High School.
