In your neighborhood, March 3

Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek

Salmon Creek: Youth from the Real Life Christian Center, 1313 N.E. 134th St., and the surrounding community are fasting and fundraising to understand and support underprivileged youth from around the globe. The kids raised $3,300 for World Vision, a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. “We’re trying to teach kids to think outside themselves,” said youth leader Beth Evanson. “It is important for them to be aware of pain and suffering in the local community and world.” The group organized a concert on Jan. 15. Five local bands including: Saire Du Surf, Maddie DeMarco, If All Else Fails and Fatal Attempt played. More than 50 people attended the event and raised more than $180. Starting on Friday, Feb. 26, about 70 middle school students, high school students, young adults and church leaders fasted for 30 hours to get an idea of what it is like to be hungry.

Hazel Dell: Clark County Homegrown Gardens is working with the Hazel Dell School and Community Garden, 511 N.E. Anderson St., to open 4-foot-by-8-foot raised beds where community members can grow their own organic produce. Those who qualify for low-income housing, food stamps, medical coupons, or free/reduced lunch can sign up for a bed and will receive soil, plants, tools and garden instructions at no cost. Clark County Homegrown Gardens is opening similar raised beds in Central Vancouver, Vancouver Heights, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, and Washougal for income-qualified families.

Salmon Creek: Tom Tripp, professor of management and operations at Washington State University Vancouver, was named a recipient of the university’s Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Instruction. Tripp receives his students’ praise through evaluations. He received the Instructor of the Year Award from the Student Business Organization and the Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence, both at WSU Vancouver. He has won two Outstanding Teaching Awards from the WSU College of Business. Tripp will receive the award at WSU’s annual Showcase celebration March 26.

Salmon Creek: Steve Robertson was voted Music Educator of the Year by the Lower Columbia River region of the Washington Music Educators Association. “There are lots of great music educators in this area,” Robertson said. “It makes you feel pretty good when they recognize you for your efforts.” Robertson, band teacher at Skyview High School and Alki Middle School, received the award Feb. 14 at the WMEA state conference in Yakima.

North Clark County and Woodland

Woodland: Three nonprofit groups have applied to sell fireworks in Woodland this year. Woodland High School’s current junior class, Woodland Little League and Promise Church turned in their applications before the deadline of Feb. 28. Nonprofit groups have the chance to register for the three available permits before the general public. If none apply the permits are opened to the public via a lottery.

Ridgefield and Fairgrounds

Ridgefield: There’s a new nonprofit group to support Ridgefield Public Schools. The Ridgefield Public Schools Foundation will raise funds for grants and programs for students whose needs aren’t being served by the school district, PTA or Booster Club. The foundation will include a Principal’s Checkbook Program, providing supplies and services for needy kids, and a “mini-grant” program for school improvement plans. Teacher appreciation awards and scholarships for students’ continuing education beyond high school are planned, too. “The Foundation’s vision is to bring new resources to the table,” said Paul Lewis, foundation board president. For more information, visit http://www.ridgefieldpsf.org or call Lewis, 360-904-1352.

Battle Ground, Meadow Glade and Hockinson

Meadow Glade: The Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School plans to build a gymnasium on its Battle Ground campus. The private school has submitted plans to Clark County to build the 11,960-square-foot gym at 11001 N.E. 189th St. Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary serves some 230 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and the school employs a faculty of about 13 teachers and 12 support staff members.

Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie

Heritage: Students in Lee Emmert’s digital photography class at Heritage High School have joined the Spontaneous Smiley Project, http://www.spontaneoussmiley.com. Students are challenged to find smiley faces in everyday objects and share them on the project Web site. The class is part of the Career and Technical Education program from Evergreen School District, student submissions from Emmert’s class can be viewed at http://immunemedia.com/.

Sifton: A ship piloted by a Sea Scout troop with members from Battle Ground, Hockinson and Heritage High School earned the rank of “Clipper Ship” at the Sea Scout Quartermaster’s Ball on Feb. 20. The ship, named Tsunami, was also honored with the designation of Flagship of the Sea Scout Cascade Pacific Council Fleet. The unit was judged based on activities: community service, cruising, advancement and participation in fleet activities. Sea Scouting is a part of the Boy Scouts of America and welcomes those ages 14 to 21.

Brush Prairie: Local author Shannon Capps released his latest novel, “Train in the Distance,” which was a quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2009. It’s the story of a broadcast journalist who confronts “the sinister forces behind the TV station he works for,” Capps said in a release. Capps worked as a field reporter for the CBS affiliate in Ardmore, Okla., before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1999. He now lives in Brush Prairie and coaches baseball at Hockinson High School.

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

Mountain View: Students from Mountain View High School placed 13th in the 2010 four-by-four math contest administered by National Assessment and Testing. The team was made up of three four-person groups. The students who participated were: Gabe Heuton, Scott Locke, Kuei-Ti Lu, Yang Liu, Liya Mo, Nicole Pan, Shao Fan Liu, James Yan, Rohith Nagari, Lisa Zeta, Rachel Kim and Rochish Togare. All students are a part of the math club, Mu Alpha Theta, which will compete in 15 math competitions this school year.

East Clark County: Camas and Washougal

Washougal: Students at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary participated in the school’s Reading Olympics from November to mid-February. The youngsters participated in 15 reading events. Fourth-grader John Billington earned the most points in the 15 events and is the gold medal winner. First-grader Lauren Snedeker won the silver medal, and first-grader Aiden Cross took the bronze.

Central Vancouver, Minnehaha and The Heights

Meadow Homes: Fort Vancouver High School students Caitlin Muhly, Lacy Ward and Berenise Cortes won a gold medal in Community Service Project at the regional SkillsUSA competition for organizing Hearts of Hope, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. They enlisted the help of Fort Vancouver culinary teachers and other students to help host a dinner and silent auction for 60 people on Jan. 27. The effort raised more than $400 for the American Cancer Society.

Meadow Homes: The Mock Trial Team from Fort Vancouver High School is headed to the state competition for the 19th consecutive time after dominating its division 6-0. Stockton Pendergast received honors as the tournament’s best attorney. Flynn Crawford was named best witness for his portrayal of a homeless veteran who witnessed an alleged crime. The state competition is March 26-28 in Olympia.

Old Evergreen Highway: The Old Evergreen Highway Neighborhood Association resurrected itself from inactive status on Feb. 16, when it held its first meeting in roughly 18 months. There were about 80 people in attendance. For years, neighbors have clamored for a safe pedestrian trail along the spectacular but rough and tight street that gives their area its historical name. Now that clamor has been put on paper. A draft of Old Evergreen Highway’s first Neighborhood’s Action Plan is available at http://www.cityofvancouver.us. Follow the “our community” link to the Office of Neighborhoods page. Neighborhood Action Plans are official statements of neighborhood association desires, concerns and priorities that city officials can turn to when making plans and spending money in neighborhoods. Neighborhood leader Dode Jackson said residents who live along the road are desperate for a safe walkway. The neighborhood is south of state Highway 14 between 73rd Avenue and Silver Springs Drive.