Hazel Dell, Felida & Salmon Creek
West Hazel Dell: Michelle Slavin was instrumental in bringing the first Earth Day celebration to Uganda on April 22. Slavin graduated from Columbia River High School in 1994 and now works for UNITE, an exchange program between schools in Uganda and North Carolinia. More than 1,500 people attended the event, she said in an e-mail. “The response was positive — people seemed incredibly interested in the alternative energy demonstrations,” Slavin said.
Salmon Creek: Washington State University Vancouver professor John Barber will spend the better part of June figuring out how gaming can advance humanistic teaching and research. Barber was awarded one of 20 fellowships to attend the Humanities Gaming Institute from June 7–25 in Columbia, S.C. Barber hopes to develop a game that can be used with the Brautigan Library at the Clark County Historical Museum and apply what he learns to digital storytelling games for the Fort Vancouver National Historical Site. Barber is a processor in the digital technology and culture program.
West Hazel Dell: Here’s the twist: The great American short story writer and surprise-ending specialist O. Henry — who died a century ago — raised approximately $450 for the Hazel Dell Grange on April 25. He was there in the person of Eric L. Foxman, a pharmacist from Happy Valley whose sideline is one-man performances of O. Henry’s short stories. “It will help,” said Grange manager Linda Lundin, who’s concerned about the aging Grange’s lengthy list of needed repairs. The following weekend, Grange fans and users gathered for a workday to take on some of the less-intensive projects themselves.
North Clark County & Woodland
La Center: Clark County Parks and Recreation staff and 21 volunteers from New Heights Church worked together on April 24 to remove 630 plastic tree protectors at the La Center Bottoms stewardship site. The protectors have accumulated over 12 years of tree plantings. The event was one of three service projects in which church members participate to help local organizations and make an impact on the community.
Battle Ground, Meadow Glade & Hockinson
Battle Ground: The Association of Washington Cities will recognize Battle Ground with the WellCity Award at a conference in June. Battle Ground will be acknowledged for its work site wellness program. City Manager John Williams said the program can help reduce health risks and lower health care costs for city employees.
Hockinson: Forty-seven students from the Hockinson High School Marching Band spent spring break on a performance tour in Southern California. The band performed for patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles and participated in a soundtrack recording workshop with Dr. John Carnahan, director of bands at California State University, Long Beach. On March 28, the band took center stage at Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. as the opening act in a parade. The band also visited Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Santa Monica Pier, Medieval Times, and toured Hollywood and the Kodak Theatre. Many of the students said their favorite parts of the trip were the educational parts, Corey McEnry, Hockinson band director, said in an e-mail. “As a teacher, it’s always nice to hear about how much fun students have learning about and improving at their craft.”
Hockinson: Reports of the death of a cell-tower plan for the grounds of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church off Northeast 164th Street are greatly exaggerated, according to county planner Vicki Kirsher. Although an official “notice and withdrawal of cancellation” of the proposed 50-foot telecommunications tower are making the rounds, Kirsher said it’s mostly a procedural move — based on the fact that tower proponent Verizon missed 25 addresses when notifying local folks about a required neighborhood meeting. Kirsher said she expects Verizon to propose substantially the same plan for the same spot — but the development process and clock will have to start all over again.
West Vancouver & Downtown
Esther Short: More than 600 Clark County residents showed up in support of the March for Babies walk to benefit March of Dimes on April 24. Together they raised $90,000 to fund research, ate 550 hot dogs and received 500 clappers from Corwin Beverage. Two dogs accompanied the walkers.
Northwest: Rachael Kammeyer went above the call of duty. Her husband volunteered her to add numbered letters to bags given to the Northwest Neighborhood Association for newsletter distribution. When Kammeyer, a civil engineer, got her hands on the bags, she thought, “If I was going to carry 500 pieces of paper, that’s not the bag I would use.” She then crafted special bags with different handles to accommodate different ways of carrying the bag, a removable shoulder strap and an ironed-on visual ID. She said the bags are made out of heavy backpack fabric and stand up on their own. They took a few weeks to design.
Central Vancouver, Minnehaha & The Heights
Van Mall: The Autism Society of Washington State held its “Best in the Northwest” conference at Heathman Lodge on April 16. ASW awards were presented to local winners including: Susie Ringstaff, Parent of the Year; Darla Helt, Advocate of the Year; Neatha LeFevre, Professional Service Provider of the Year; and Andrea Pennington-Brooks, Educator of the Year.
Harney Heights: What used to be a junk-strewn lot known as Date Street, and has recently become MyPark Neighborhood Park, continues to suffer the urban blight that spurred neighbors to push for improvements. Along with its new playground and walking path, MyPark still has broken glass, garbage, needles and graffiti, according to the most recent Harney Heights Neighborhood Association newsletter. The neighborhood group is discussing lights, gates, citizen vigilance and quick reporting of problems to local police.
East Vancouver, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing & Evergreen
Evergreen High School: Principal cast members from Evergreen’s upcoming production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” previewed some songs for the residents of the Bridgewood at Four Seasons and Quarry at Columbia Tech Center retirement homes on April 26. Performances ran for 20 minutes and delighted residents. The show opens at Evergreen High School on May 13.
East Clark County: Camas & Washougal
Camas: Elana Towers, assistant cheerleading coach at Union High School, was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association. Towers was recognized for her dedication in helping build on the school’s sideline and competitive cheer program.
Camas: Monte Brachmann, recently retired public works director for the City of Camas, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Department of Health on May 13. The award will be presented during a conference of the state chapter of the American Water Works Association in Tacoma. Brachmann helped found the Lower Columbia Subsection of the American Water Works Association and serves on the Washington Waterworks Operator Certification Advisory Committee and state advisory boards.
