Salmon bake-off helps fund environmental education nonprofit

Old Evergreen Highway — Columbia Springs hosted its annual “Hooked on Nature” fundraiser at Gaiser Hall at Clark College on Aug. 4, where guests enjoyed salmon dishes prepared by chefs from the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute at Clark College, Beaches Restaurant and Bar, Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Bistro and Simply Thyme. Earl Frederick from Clark College was voted as the winner for the second annual Local Celebrity Chef Salmon Bake-Off. The event brought in more than $60,000 for the nonprofit, which aims to provide environmental education to local schools and outdoor activities to the wider community. “Last year, Columbia Springs programs reached over 16,000 people,” Executive Director Maureen Montague said in a release. “Our field trips served over 6,000 local grade school students. We can only continue this essential work with the support of our community.”