Gates Foundation gives $700,000 to Vancouver philanthropic clearinghouse
The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington has received a $700,000, four-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to combat intergenerational poverty.
What's Up With That?: Shooting animals in city absolutely illegal
My dad is 86 years old, and he’s been feeding pet squirrels in his yard for years. Two of his little pets went missing. And then we discovered one of the poor things had been shot -- right in his yard, inside Vancouver city limits. We figure the other one has been shot, too. It’s really hard to see Dad lose his animals, and they’re not doing anybody any harm. I want to get the word out: Are you allowed to shoot animals inside the city of Vancouver?-- KarenGood question, Karen. The answer is, absolutely not.
Community Foundation honors seasoned, new philanthropists
Awards presented at annual luncheon
Some philanthropists are blessed with the means to give a lot, all at once. Others, with pockets not quite so deep, manage to give a lot, too — but in a steady stream, across a lifetime of measured generosity. Some have a wealth of knowledge about financial markets and community needs. Others are just getting started, and can use expert guidance.
Mail carriers to carry off food Saturday
Effort to collect nutritious items for needy took in 1.4 million pounds regionally in 2011
If you set some nonperishable food donations out by your mailbox on Saturday, you won’t just be helping to stamp out hunger in Clark County -- you’ll also be taking part in what’s billed as the largest one-day food drive on the planet.
Former resident of Share shelter in Orchards repays kindness
Effort provides financial support, resources to local agencies
Open the door to room No. 4, and you’re met with fresh paint and colorful curtains, a comfy shag area rug, quilted bedspreads, new lamps, dressers and end tables, and some cheerful hand-drawn artwork on the walls.
Revisiting acclaimed ‘Blue Highways’
Author to visit as part of historical society event
Not long after he drove east through Clark County and out into the Columbia River Gorge, author William Least Heat-Moon had an epiphany. His eye was caught by a curious assemblage of tall stones that “looked like Stonehenge,” so he went for a closer look.
What's Up with That? Who mails real dimes back to March of Dimes?
I want to know what the March of Dimes is thinking when they send dimes to people. How many people do they mail dimes to, and how much does that cost? How much money could they put to work on their real mission versus this cheap (expensive?) stunt. I might consider giving to March of Dimes, but this gimmick seems to say March of Dimes is just playing games with funds, not helping kids.-- Annoyed ParentThis reporter must be on that same March of Dimes mailing list, A.P. And when that coin arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, the same thought occurred: Can March of Dimes, with its track record of effectively eliminating polio and its ongoing crusade to support healthy babies, figure out no better use for 10 cents than mailing it back and forth with me?
Group aims to mend a ripped safety net
Nonprofit sees needs in unincorporated urban areas of county
Children, senior citizens and the 78th Street Heritage Farm are important elements of urban, unincorporated Clark County that aren’t getting their due.
Foster mom makes a home for hundreds
Carol Springer has been a foster parent to hundreds of children, many wounded or fragile
Carol Springer occasionally runs into a child of hers on the street, all grown up and glad to reconnect. They tend to recognize her more than she recognizes them, she said, because they’ve changed so much since the childhood years when Springer was their mom.
Baird speaks at fundraiser for program that aids youth
Children's Center helps mentally ill, low-income young people
When Brian Baird was 12 years old and attending summer camp, he watched his older, fully clothed brother swim across a lake and start to tread water for five minutes -- as per the camp’s swim challenge.
Puppy club preps guide dogs for training
Group always looking for volunteers to help prepare canines for work with blind owners
Angelina is one cool pup.
Foundation will honor generosity
Local philanthropists will be saluted at luncheon
The return of Catholic high school to Vancouver and an unwavering commitment to such charities as Share, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Clark County Food Bank and the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington are among the reasons Steve and Jo Marie Hansen will receive the Philanthropists of the Year Award.
What's up with that? Thunderbird Hotel on Jantzen Beach in limbo
I’m very concerned about the empty former Red Lion Hotel on Jantzen Beach in Portland. It’s a huge building and it’s empty. This is one of the biggest fire hazards in the metro area. I’d like to know the status of this huge vacant hotel. Who’s securing it? Are there squatters? It just sits there. You don’t hear anything about it. I see a potential here for a massive fire. I’d just like to know that this place is safe and secure.For one thing, Paul, you alerted us to our own confusion about riverside hotels -- which is which? which is closed? -- so we’re glad to get this straight.
Skating on the edge of trouble in La Center?
City prepares small, very visible skate spot for tweens and younger teens
LA CENTER -- When the city of La Center announced plans to include a miniature stake park -- a “skate spot” -- in its upgrade of Holley Park, nobody much objected.
"Last Supper" play is act of faith
With sight gone and sound fading, a local actor-director finds live religious theater stimulates his sense of spirit
So these 13 guys show up at an artist’s studio to model for a big painting. The painter, a dude named Leo, has the requisite looping mustache and a slightly impatient manner. Maybe his models find him a little bit intimidating. Most of them aren’t so happy with their parts to begin with.
What's Up with That? Long-delayed 88th street upgrade slated this year
I am wondering whether the long awaited and delayed reconstruction of Northeast 88th Street from St. Johns Road to Northeast Highway 99 is planned for this upcoming construction season. When the segment of 88th from St. Johns to Northeast Andresen was completed, now three years ago, an article in The Columbian stated that both segments were already funded. But, the remaining segment has been postponed for the last two seasons. Any information will be appreciated.
Welcoming babies with bundles of love
Community of folks who sew and knit, who shop, who organize, and who build reach out to families in need
She was fleeing domestic violence in Idaho. She arrived at a Clark County hospital with the clothes on her back, three young children and another one about to be born. “Some of these moms literally have nothing,” said Kitty Ash, who doesn’t know who that mom is -- and doesn’t need to. What’s important to Ash is knowing that mom and baby, who arrived in our area destitute and desperate, have gotten what they need -- at least for a little while.
What's Up with That? Fairgrounds flag system prompts concern
I work by the Clark County Fairgrounds, and something has been bothering me: the flag that flies at half-mast and has for a few weeks now. It does not come down at night, nor do they put a light on it as a show of respect. I have placed a call to the fairgrounds, and they said it was an AT&T antenna and they would need to take care of it. This is a huge flag, and I hate to see it not taken care of correctly. What’s up with that?--Chris GillinghamYou mean, what’s half-up with that?
Tiny homes a solution to big homeless problem?
Vancouver man envisions ‘eco-village’ to get people on their feet
Stamp your foot three times if you need Bill Barkley to repeat himself.
Second steps to better parenting
Housing program provides training to its residents, the public
Michelle is helping her little daughter’s vocabulary grow by suggesting bigger words, she said. “Oh, are you confused?,” she might offer, when the girl is trying to work out her own unsettled feelings.
Clark county volunteers’ food runs aid Portland's homeless
Local group members live their faith by heading to such sites as Dignity Village each Thursday to provide sustenance
PORTLAND -- The people who live at Dignity Village say they love the place. And they can’t wait to leave it.
Bus tours visit local nonprofits to glean need
Monthly trips will focus on different areas of interest within county
The Nonprofit Network Southwest Washington wants you to learn about homelessness, the local agencies dealing with it, and how you can help them.
Soroptimists hand out ‘Best of Women’ awards
Children’s Justice Center director, single mom, teen volunteer recognized
One woman is a professional activist who works to protect children. Another is a single mother of three boys, who overcame a life of addiction and abuse to head for school and success. A third is a teenager who volunteers her time to help the homeless in myriad ways -- from collecting food to reading to children at the shelter.
What's up with that? School zone placement focuses driver attention
In Hockinson, the middle school sits at the intersection of Northeast 159th Street and Northeast 182nd Avenue. As you drive west past the school on 159th, toward the fire station, there is an “End School Zone” sign and the speed increases to 35 mph. This “End School Zone” sign is while you are still in the middle of school property. What is the county’s definition of a school zone if it doesn’t mean on or near a school? It is not safe to have drivers increasing speed where children are walking to school and being dropped off/picked up from school. Can anything be done about this?Dawn, HockinsonIt’s an odd situation you describe, Dawn a school speed zone that ends within the school property frontage, rather than ending many yards farther down the road and creating a great big slow-down buffer. Isn’t that the whole idea?
What's up with that? Without money, city’s picking a few ‘good’ streets to fix
Are there any plans to make improvements on First Street between 164th and 192nd Avenues? The pavement is a mess, the paint is faded, and there is no lighting or sidewalk along most of this stretch!Keli, your question sent Vancouver’s public works spokeswoman, Loretta Callahan, scurrying to a bevy of city managers to check. Folks in construction, pavement management and the operations division of Public Works all were consulted about present and future conditions of First Street.
As need soars, charities rise to the challenge
Clark County charities have been weathering tough times lately. There’s the grinding on of the Great Recession with all its resulting budget cuts, layoffs and foreclosures. Local charities are somehow expected to pick up all that slack — with emergency food, cash assistance, places to stay, people who can help — even while their own funding is on the wane.
Religion embodied in county by host of identities
People are always debating whether the swooping roof of Hazel Dell’s hilltop church is an ark or a dove.
Who are the people in your neighborhood?
Everyone lives in a neighborhood.
Camas church helps needy do laundry
Camas Friends Church spreads a little cleanliness in the form of quarters
WASHOUGAL — It’s $1.75 for a standard-size top loader, $3.50 for a big front loader and $4.50 for a superloader. Then, it’s 25 cents for a meager seven minutes of drying time, which is never close to enough. Plus, there’s detergent. Add it all up, and the price of doing your laundry is as much as a decent meal or a gas tank top-off.
Serving good eats, blessings at Lord's Gym
Software developer boosts group’s meal service with gift of much-needed appliances
What Violet Adams can see is enough to convince her that blessings are afoot.
Vancouver man will travel nation's borders on bike for Share
He made coast-to-coast trip in 2010
Last time around, in 2010, David Jones went coast to coast. This time, he’s going to go clockwise along the borders of the nation.
Homeless council hires new leader
He worked to end homelessness at a legal clinic in D.C.
Andy Silver, a former staff attorney at a Washington, D.C., legal clinic for the homeless, has been hired as the new executive director for the Council for the Homeless.
What's up with that? SWAT teams make some noise in east Vancouver
I’m calling to ask what are those explosions or noises in east Vancouver, around the English Pit? I live west of 162nd Avenue and it seems like every evening this week, around 5 p.m., it really picked up. Up until around 10 p.m., there was a whole series of loud gunfire or explosions in the pit. I’m just curious what it is. — Tom Ramish, Cimarron neighborhood
Are Ridgefield ball fields going to the dogs?
Fearing damage, Little League group padlocks its fields against pooches
RIDGEFIELD -- Whose park is it, anyway? Abrams Park, Ridgefield’s largest public greenspace and recreational area, is the site of a miniature turf battle: Little Leaguers versus canine cavorters.
Meals on Wheels’ pet peeve? Mice lured by animal charity’s food
Loaves & Fishes, the legendary “Meals on Wheels people,” is all about feeding human beings, not pets.
Homeless given hope at annual event offering free services
Andrew Wilson has needed a pair of eyeglasses for the last eight years. He’s never been able to afford them.
What's Up With That? ‘Supereasements’ give governments the final word on privately owned sidewalks
Who owns the sidewalk in front of my house? And who’s responsible for maintaining it? If it’s broken, do I notify the city or take care of it myself? If I take care of it myself, do I need a permit?Sidewalk ownership and responsibility aren’t quite as confusing as they may appear. Basically, citizen, the sidewalk is your property and your responsibility. The caveat is that your local government can tell you exactly how and when to execute that responsibility.
YWCA domestic violence specialist steps down to save program
The director of the YWCA Clark County’s domestic violence program is sacrificing her own job to save the ailing agency money.
What's up with that? Road at former airport awaits more redevelopment
The new extension of Northeast Fourth Street through to Southeast First Street (that goes through the old Evergreen Airport) appears to be fully completed — striping, lighting, walkways, signing and landscaping — with some vehicles already working their way around the “Road Closed” barriers. Any idea when this road will be officially open?
What's Up with That? Dogs do harm to Ridgefield Little League fields
Why are Ridgefield citizens unable to use the Little League baseball fields in Abrams Park? We pay taxes on them. Nevertheless, they are padlocked from the public, with the exception of Little League. I understand Little League is tax-exempt. When members of the community who pay taxes questioned this, they were informed by the park board that Little League had the right to do so because they have an informal agreement with the city of Ridgefield. I might add, the baseball fields take up half of the park. Children can’t use these fields if they aren’t in Little League. What is up with this?
What's Up with That? Tanks overdue for removal from Highway 99 eyesore
There is an abandoned gas station at the corner of Northeast 68th Street and Highway 99. This property has been become graffiti-strewn and overgrown in weeds, with no maintenance for over a year. I thought that unused gas stations had to have the underground tanks removed. What’s up with this property?
Best reader-submitted photos of 2011
We get a lot of help from you, our readers, and we appreciate all of it.
Family turns up the volume to fight MS
Dad uses music to get back into shape; son sets up benefit concert
As Ron Haye undertook the fight of his life, the rock ’n’ roll music in his ear buds provided the soundtrack that spurred him on.
Hospitality for homeless overflows on holiday
Program at local church provides full day of shelter, Christmas meal
Cheryl Harvey was chipper as can be during Christmas dinner. It didn’t seem to disappoint her that she’d hoped to bring cherry pie and whipped cream, but all she could afford in the end was a jar of kosher dill pickles.
Book gives voice to homeless women
WSUV associate professor shares stories from Seattle
In 1984 Desiree Hellegers came to groovy, forward-thinking Seattle, the city that grew Starbucks and Microsoft, and went to work at homeless shelters in the shadow of the Space Needle.
Homeless memorial day draws solemn crowd
Friends of the Carpenter hosts ceremony of rememberance for those who died
About 40 people turned up for the chilly 9 a.m. ceremony on the first day of winter — the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Local menorah lighting reflects recent revolutions
Chabad Jewish Center hosts ceremony in Esther Short Park
Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg led the Tuesday night lighting of the menorah in Vancouver's Esther Short Park with some hopeful thoughts on seizing freedom.
Secretary of State report: Be wary when donating to charity
Commercial fundraisers hold onto much of it in some cases
When a professional fundraiser calls you to plead for money for a good cause, how much of your charitable contribution really goes to that cause? And how much stays in the pocket of the intermediary who’s getting paid to beg?
Local charities feel pinch as donor fatigue, economy take toll
A Columbian survey of local nonprofit agencies the week after Thanksgiving turned up many reports of sagging private donations amid rising need.
Senior volunteers save charitable organizations
While dollar donations are down across the board, heartfelt effort is helping to backfill the gift gap.
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