Wherever Lydia Moynihan goes, her musical inclinations seem to follow.
Hanging out with friends, waiting in line at the grocery store or up on a stage in front of thousands of Clark County residents, the 16-year-old from Ridgefield just seems to always want to sing, she said.
“It’s so fun,” said the soon-to-be junior at CAM High School in Battle Ground. “I always think of a song for everything, even when I’m just talking to people.”
Moynihan won first place in the Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition as part of the Independence Day at Fort Vancouver celebration. With it came a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice from PEMCO Insurance.
“It’s really cool, although I’m still researching which school I want to go to,” Moynihan said. Right now, she’s leaning toward a college that will let her focus on musical theater, which is something her parents support, she said.
She’s been taking voice lessons for the past four years and loves it, she said. “I have wonderful parents,” Moynihan said. “They drive me around all different places. I practice singing in front of my mom all the time. I’m very appreciative.”
Janelle Harriman of Skyview High School won second place in the competition and Remi Skalisky of Battle Ground High School won third place, which came with a $500 and $250 scholarship, respectively.
Two local dogs named top models
Both the small- and large-dog winners of the Oregon Humane Society’s Portland’s Next Top Dog Models contest are actually from Clark County.
Clover, an 8-month-old terrier-mix owned by Beth, Timm and Connor Flannigan of Washougal, was selected as the winner in the small-dog category. Bacus, a 3-year-old German shepherd owned by Rod, Lori, R.J. and Alex O’Hearn of Vancouver, won in the large-dog division.
The Humane Society received 167 entries for the contest. People submitted photos of their pets and answered a questionnaire from their dog’s perspectives. The 24 finalists competed before a panel of judges on the “dogwalk” at the Hotel Monaco in Portland on June 30.
Beth Flannigan handled Clover at the event, a Humane Society benefit, and was excited that her dog won.
“I think she’s a wonderful representative of the great dogs that are down there waiting for you at the Humane Society,” said the 39-year-old artist.
The Flannigans adopted Clover from the Oregon Humane Society in December.
Bacus is a certified search and rescue dog, and the O’Hearns talked in their application about how much he enjoys his work.
Rod O’Hearn, a 59-year-old longshoreman, said the competition “was way fun.”
The Flannigans and the O’Hearns received prizes valued at more than $1,000, including a night at Portland’s Hotel Monaco, a year’s worth of dog food and a massage for their dogs. Clover and Bacus also will appear in Lexi Dog Boutique & Social Club ads and make appearances at Oregon Humane Society events this year.
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