In your neighborhood

East Clark County: Camas and Washougal

Camas: Sophia Hansen, 9, and Sarah Wells-Moran, 10, have been the featured junior musicians at the Camas Farmer’s Market twice this season. The girls are raising money for charity by “busking” with their violins. All of their proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. So far, they have raised $63.27 for the shelter. The Camas Farmer’s Market runs 3 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through September.

Ridgefield and Fairgrounds

Ridgefield: Whitney Phillips of Ridgefield placed second in the barrel racing event in the Harley Tucker Rodeo Series at Chief Joseph Days in Joseph, Ore., in late July. According to The Observer newspaper, Phillips’ final time was 17.40. Rodeo barrel racing is an event that sends horse and rider in a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels.

Battle Ground, Meadow Glade and Hockinson

Battle Ground: Members of Camp Fire USA participated in a parade in Battle Ground on July 17. They also participated in a Ridgefield parade, where their float won the “Best Youth Category.” Members included Kayla Oury, Erica Moody, Wyatt Moody. Adeline Johnston, Brianne Sayers of the USA Polar Bears Camp Fire Club and Leslie Wright and Meena Mortazavi of the Soaring Butterflies Camp Fire Club.

Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek

Northeast Hazel Dell: Clark County Public Works and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation started construction of Kate and Clarence LaLonde Neighborhood Park. The new 7.7 acre park is on Northeast 99th Street, just west of 50th Avenue. Kate and Clarence LaLonde operated a family farm on the property since it was purchased in the early 1900s. The park will feature a paved walking trail, playground equipment, an open lawn area, basketball hoop, picnic tables, benches, a bike rack, drinking fountain and trash can. The county will also plant native plants and trees on the north side of the park as part of a stormwater improvement project.

Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie

Brush Prairie: Amy Bruning graduated from the University of Michigan Law School earned a Juris Doctor degree. Bruning graduated from Prairie High School in 2001. She got her undergraduate degree at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. and was a paralegal for two years before she returned to school. She plans to work in the Bay area this fall.

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

Fircrest: If you live in the Fircrest neighborhood but hadn’t heard (until now) how desperately the neighborhood association needs newsletter delivery volunteers, it’s probably because you’re already missing out on newsletter deliveries due to that lack of volunteers! “Once upon a time, Fircrest had 16 or 17 delivery volunteers, and we were still short a couple people,” the newsletter says, but that’s fallen to 10 steady ones now — with more departures expected. “I’m begging for your help!” Contact FNANews@gmail.com to sign up for a route. The task consumes 30 minutes per month.

Central Vancouver, Minnehaha and The Heights

Van Mall: The Red Cross staff at the Clark County Donor Center hosted a Twilight-themed blood drive on June 30 in conjunction with the premiere of the third movie in the series, Eclipse. Donors picked pins for their favorite movie character: “Edward,” “Bella” or “Jacob” — Jacob was the most popular button chosen by donors. Rick Thurber, owner of Artisans Designs donated some of the jewelry his company created for the films for raffles. “There were a pretty high number (of donations) for that day and quite a few walk-ins,” Nate Warren, Red Cross spokesman said.

West Vancouver and Downtown

Hough, Arnada, Carter Park: Organizers of the July 17 Coop Du Jour Tour have a lot to crow about: Sixteen chicken coop owners hosted a whopping 270 guests and raised $1,000 for the Hough Foundation. Tickets were $10 apiece for up to four guests eager to peruse the latest in urban chicken infill. West Vancouver chicken owners were eager to show off their designs, talk about their fowl lifestyles and enthuse about the tasty delights of homegrown eggs. Organizers are hoping this first-ever tour was a first annual.

Fruit Valley: Homeowners in this storied west-side community are grappling with a decision: Property rights versus historic neighborhood character? At a meeting Thursday, they’ll discuss and vote on the neighborhood association’s position regarding a proposed “overlay district” aimed at preserving the neighborhood’s old-fashioned look by restricting certain building facade improvements and expansions. The overlay district would include about 300 homes between Fruit Valley Road, Yeoman Avenue, LaFrambois Road and West Fourth Plain Boulevard. The Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fruit Valley Community Center, 3200 Fruit Valley Road. The Vancouver City Council will make a final decision on the overlay proposal in September.

Fruit Valley: According to the latest neighborhood newsletter, the annual Fruit Valley summer picnic in the park on July 24 had its ups and downs. Downs: It was 92 degrees outside, and a noisily air-conditioned 70 degrees inside the community center, where many fled for cover; one barbecue propane tank was empty, prompting an emergency run for a replacement; even then, burgers took forever to cook; and once they did, they disappeared immediately. Ups: Many friendly neighbors, city officials and law enforcement personnel had a great time, anyway.