In your neighborhood

North Clark County and Woodland

Amboy: Amboy Middle School finished first in the Governor’s Health Bowl. Students, staff, parents and friends logged around 60,000 miles of running and walking during a six-week period this fall. The school finished second last year and first two years ago, according to Assistant Principal Steve Michaelis.

East Clark County: Camas and Washougal

Washougal: Fifteen Clark County residents and Clark College volunteers on Nov. 13 helped with restoration efforts on a Columbia Land Trust property in Washougal. The volunteers planted around 100 trees and removed invasive plants such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. Columbia Land Trust recently acquired the property, which was formerly used as a dump site. It hopes the trees can eventually provide habitat for birds that live along the Washougal River.

Battle Ground, Meadow Glade and Hockinson

Hockinson: The second Sharing is Caring charity clearinghouse, held in the basement of the Hockinson Apostolic Lutheran Church, was such a success that organizer Donna Aho lost count of the attendees. It’s her very rough estimate that 2,000 people came in between Nov. 8 and 13 in search of free, donated clothes, housewares and more — “revealing to us the great need we have in our community,” she said. Plus, she said, the event was advertised on Craigslist and drew people from as far away as Beaverton, Portland, Gresham, Wilsonville in Oregon and Idaho. She’s planning another Sharing is Caring giveaway next April.

Ridgefield and Fairgrounds

Ridgefield: More than 40 volunteers spent around four hours cleaning the city cemetery in Ridgefield as part of the National Make a Difference Day on Oct. 23. Volunteers included members of the Ridgefield Cemetery Advisory Board, Ridgefield City Councilman Don Stose, city staff and several community members. They removed blackberries, English ivy, garbage and debris and cleaned grave markers.

North of Clark County

North of Clark County: On Veterans Day, employees from Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery donated more than $500 to Kalama’s American Legion Post 107 and the Guardians of Freedom and Peace Project, a nonprofit group promoting a central facility for veterans’ services. Kelly McCoy, an X-ray technician at Rebound, organized the fundraising effort. Rich Axtell, commander of Post 107, presented the clinic certificates of appreciation.

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

Evergreen: Dan Modrall, manager of Evergreen Public Schools maintenance department, was appointed president of the Washington Association of Maintenance Operations Administrators.

Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek

Salmon Creek: LeAnne Bradford has been helping deliver babies for years, but she is ready to retire after a 45-year career of nursing in the Legacy Health System. The first five years, she taught at Emanuel School of Nursing in Portland, the next 35 she was a “high risk” nurse in Labor and Delivery at Emanuel Hospital. Five years ago, Bradford transferred to Legacy Salmon Creek when they opened and said it has been a great five years. She will retire Dec. 1.

WSU Vancouver: Creative Media and Digital Culture students from WSU Vancouver won an honorary mention at the International Digital Media and Arts Association’s conference and student showcase competition. The event was held Nov. 4-6 at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. The group submitted five projects that were created over the course of a year by 33 students. Nick Hill, Aaron May, Reed Rotondo and Geoff Wallace were able to attend the showcase and accepted the award on behalf of the program.

West Vancouver and Downtown

Evergreen: The Evergreen High School We the People team won the 3rd Congressional District Competition, which was recently held at Heritage High School. The competition is a simulated congressional hearing that tests students’ knowledge and application of the Constitution. The team from Heritage came in second. Both will advance to the state competition in January.

Hudson’s Bay: Shorty’s Garden & Home held an Oktoberfest fundraiser Sept. 24 for Fort Vancouver Regional Library. A check for $8,500 was presented to the library foundation at its November board meeting. The money will help support library programs and services.

North Image: Melodies Salon held a fundraiser to benefit the Living Hope Church’s food bank on Nov. 13. The salon’s two locations, 2415 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. and 11101 N.E. Fourth Plain Road, donated $1 for every haircut to the food bank. Around $150 worth of donations came in that day, which salon spokeswoman Arlene Jackson said equates to a pretty busy day.

Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie

Brush Prairie: Junior Air Force ROTC cadets from Prairie High School visited Laurin Middle School on Nov. 17 and Pleasant Valley Middle School on Nov. 18 to pitch an anti-smoking message. Senior Jason DeTurk talked with students about the danger of using tobacco and distributed fliers with sophomore Brandon Okayama.