The Pageant Begins.

Come see who will be crowned Mr. Columbia River 2012 at the Mr. CR Pageant on Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 pm at the Skyview High School Auditorium.

The Mr. CR Pageant is a mock beauty pageant where the contestants (Columbia River High School Seniors) compete in various dance routines. And, as fun as the Grand Finale evening may be, these guys have been working hard all year long raising funds for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital; the contestant who raised the most money will be the new king. Your contestants this year are Jon Rapazc, John Mahoney, Mack Stromme, Justin Frost, Andrew Morgan, Heath Brinkman, Lucas Braafladt, Tanner Bogart, Micheal Barnes, Vince Castaldi, Eli Gaynor, Chris Boe, Chris Perez, Heath Meler, and Josh Nehnevaj.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment and help raise funds for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at the Mr. Columbia River Pageant on Monday, May 12, 2012 at 6 pm in the Skyview High School Auditorium (And no, that’s not a typo. The Mr CR Pageant will be held at Skyview). Tickets are available in advance for $10 or at the door for $15. All proceeds will be donated to Doernbecher’s.

Eat Wings, Support Local Youth Sports.

Besides the good food, air conditioning, and fun atmosphere; here’s one more  reason to head to Buffalo Wild Wings on Wednesday, May 16, 2012…you’ll be supporting some of our local athletes!

A portion of the night’s sales at the Hazel Dell Buffalo Wild Wings (7704 NE 5th Ave) on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 between 4 and 9 pm will be donated to help our local U12 Girls from Pacific FC Blue play soccer! They will be there sporting their Orange and Blue jerseys; so please take a flyer, hand it to your server, and help some young athletes get their kicks!

Community Event and FUNdraiser.

The Sacajawea School Carnival will be on Friday, May 18, 2012 between 5:30 and 8:30 pm at the Sacajawea Elementary School in Hazel Dell (700 NE 112th St).

As always, admission is Free; but game and food tickets will be sold at the event for 25 cents (most games take 2 tickets to participate), as well as Raffle tickets for $1 (there are currently over 100 prizes for the Raffle and Buy-a-Bid!) There will be a raffle, prizes, games, cake walk, bingo, food and fun…

The funds that the Sacajawea PTA raises goes towards many programs and items that may otherwise not be offered. These include teacher grants, student classroom incentives, field trips, book fairs, family fun nights, 5th grade farewell/yearbook/t-shirts, carnival, training, awards, staff appreciation, patrol, and many more.

Playing with the Big Toys.

The ever popular Annual Dozer Days event, presented by the Nutter Foundation, will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, 2012, between 11 am and 4 pm at the Cemex/Fisher Quarry (just off Highway 14 at the 192nd Ave Exit).

Dozer Days is Vancouver’s Construction Theme Park, where kids are encouraged to go play in the dirt with some toys. Only these toys are the big yellow dozers, dump trucks, backhoes, and other heavy equipment kids are usually told to stay away from. But not during Dozer Days, where kids get to hop in the driver’s seat and actually drive those big rigs (with a professional operator at their side). Not only is it a dream come true for kids (and fun for the whole family), the event also benefits many local, children’s charities.

“Dozer Day is an exciting event for the entire family. The fun begins with a ride into the event on a gigantic articulated hauler. Kids of all ages enjoy riding every kind of heavy equipment, digging for treasures, tire/pipe crawls and collecting stickers for their hard hats. Grown-ups’ favorites include: digging for real diamonds and competing for bragging rights at the equipment rodeo just to name a few.” ~Dozer Day

Purchase tickets in advance online or at participating iQ Credit Unions, First Independent Banks, Riverview Community Banks and On-Point Community Credit Unions for $5 for children and seniors, $7 for adults (day of the event will be $8/$10), you’ll not only save yourself some cash, but you won’t have to wait in line for tickets when you get there. For more information, visit the Nutter Foundation Dozer Day, or call 360-759-2300.

This post: “Gearing Up for Dozer Day” was originally featured at Clark County Live!
For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

21st Annual Event at Esther Short Park.

What better way to celebrate Be Kind to Animals week than by participating in the 21st Annual Walk Run for the Animals on Saturday, May, 5, 2012 at Esther Short Park. This event helps support the animal care and rescue efforts of the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.

So grab your favorite walking buddy (two or four legged) and head down to Esther Short Park. The morning will begin with a pancake breakfast, then choose your route (5K Fun Run, 3 Mile Walk or 1.5 Mile Walk) along the scenic Columbia River trail. Ending back at Esther Short Park, participants and their pets will enjoy a variety of festivities including live music, contests and prizes, vendor and retail booths, and more. The Vancouver Farmers Market will also be in full swing adjacent to Esther Short Park beginning at 9:00am on event day.

”Whether you’re a runner, walker, pet-lover or just a people-watcher, while you’re joining us at Esther Short Park this Saturday for the Walk Run for the Animals, don’t forget to bring your donation of gently used items to the ReTails Thrift Store donation trailer located on the northeast corner of the park on event day. Every time you choose to donate your unwanted clothing and household items…you participate in helping the Humane Society afford food, shelter, medical care and humane education programs to positively affect thousands of animals and citizens a year.” ~Humane Society of Southwest Washington

For more information, visit the Humane Society of Southwest Washington 21st Annual Walk Run for the Animals.

This post: “Humane Society Walk for the Animals” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Learn How to Save a Life.

Clark County Fire District 6 and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center are challenging the community to become a life- saving one by seeing how many members of our community can be trained in CPR in a single evening. The training is free and open to the public of all ages. It will be held at Salmon Creek Elementary School Thursday, May 24th from 6:30-8 p.m.

About 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one. Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. In just a single evening, you can learn how to save a life.

This training does not certify you in CPR/First Aid, which means you will not be issued a CPR/First Aid card, but it does teach you the skills you’ll need to save the life of person that goes into sudden cardiac arrest.

Are you up for the challenge? For more information, or to register for this FREE event, visit Clark County Fire District 6.

This post: “Salmon Creek CPR Challenge” was originally featured at Salmon Creek Live!

For more detailed neighborhood coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events in your Salmon Creek neighborhood, please visit Salmon Creek Live!

Remember When.

The 48th Annual Hazel Dell Parade of Bands will be Saturday, May 19, 2012 with a 10:30 am start time; this year’s theme is “Remember When”. Do you remember what you were doing the Spring of 1964? Well, if you played Little League, were in the local High School Band, or a Boy Scout that year and lived in Vancouver, WA; chances are pretty good you were in a parade!

The Hazel Dell Parade of Bands is the largest parade in SW Washington and features local High School and Middle School marching bands from Clark County and surrounding areas. But, there are also decorated floats, vintage cars, clowns, fire trucks, horses, and (a favorite with a lot of parade viewers) CANDY! Sponsored by the Hazel Dell Salmon Creek Business Association and Bomber Brothers Fireworks, the 2012 Grand Marshals are Roy Sonney (Yard ‘N Garden Land), Bob Kuzma (Kuzma Motors) and Mike Collins (Larry O. Collins, Inc).

A popular addition to the parade is the Max Muscle Parade Run. Now in it’s third year, the Parade Run begins just prior to the parade and follows the same route as the Hazel Dell Parade (approx. 5K). Start time is 10 am at the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store (by Kohls); so not only do you get to sleep in, you get to dress up (costumes optional), have fun with your friends, and start a Parade! Finish in front of Buffalo Wild Wings where a beer garden, wings and a special viewing area awaits finishers! Proceeds from this fun run or walk will benefit the Sarah J Anderson Holiday Party. For more information or to register, visit Energy Events.

“The Parade of Bands is a signature event for the Hazel Dell Salmon Creek area, but really serves spectators from Felida to Fisher’s Landing, from Woodland to Washougal.  It’s an event that all of Clark County and Southwest Washington can be proud of.

The Parade brings back great memories for participants of the past and creates new moments to cherish for many more. (Personal note, I still remember several years of riding in the back of trucks for my Hazel Dell Little League teams.)

So get there early to get a great viewing area along Hwy. 99, or wherever your favorite spot may be.  And remember, please support your local Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek businesses that make this awesome event happen.” ~Mitch Canton, Clark County Live! (Live! Local Media)

Hosted by Prairie High School Special Education Department.

The Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair will be held Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 9 am to 3 pm at Prairie High School. This FREE event is designed to provide information and resources to families of children and young adults with special needs regardless of age (birth – 21) or nature of disability (mild-severe).

The fair will provide the opportunity to listen to Keynote Speakers, visit with local businesses/agencies serving families of children with special needs and attend informational workshops; including the latest iPad Apps, Advocacy, Estate Planning, Music Therapy, Fun, Fitness and so much more!

“We understand that we live in a community that offers resources to families of students with special needs. We also understand that when you are a parent/guardian of a child with a disability, the resources that will support you and your family may be difficult to find. The ‘system’ is not always easy to navigate. We thought we could help.” ~Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair Committee

For more information, visit the Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair online, or contact Conference Chair Annie Lamberto at 360-885-5049.

This post: “Clark County Special Needs Resource Fair” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Celebrate with Innovative Services NW. 

Each year Innovative Services presents Caring Heart Awards to individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses that embody the spirit of serving the needs of children, adults, and families with disabilities or other disadvantages in our community. This year’s Caring Heart Award recipients will be recognized at Innovative Services NW’s new spring event, the Fiesta of Caring Hearts Celebration. The event will be held on Friday, May 4, 2012, 5:30 PM at the Red Lion Inn at the Quay in Vancouver (100 Columbia Street).

The Fiesta of Caring Hearts event is a celebration of Cinco de Mayo weekend, with festive music and entertainment, appetizers, dinner, silent auction, and Salsa dance lessons. Rod Hill, KGW Meteorologist will be M.C. for the event and the program will include: the Caring Heart Awards presentation, inspirational stories from program participants, and the opportunity to support Innovative Services NW’s life-changing programs. Casual festive attire is recommended, and the event is open to the public. 

The 2012 Caring Heart Awards will be presented in three categories: Carol Springer to be honored with the 2012 EveAnn Classen Caring Heart Award.  The EveAnn Classen Caring Heart Award is presented to a recipient who makes a difference in the lives of local children who are disabled/disadvantaged or who defines service to local families as an example for others to follow. This award is in memory of former Innovative Services NW Board Chair, EveAnn Classen. Carol Springer has been a foster parent to 653 foster children here in Southwest Washington over the past 37 years. Carol also has three biological children and three children that she adopted. Some of the foster children were with her for a brief time, while others have stayed in her care for several years. Many of the children Carol fosters are medically fragile, have developmental disabilities, and/or other special needs. Carol has frequently utilized many of the services offered by Innovative’s Pediatric Therapy and the Supervised Visitation Programs. It’s not uncommon for Carol to drive over 100 miles a day to get the children to all of their special needs appointments and visitation with their biological parents. She has cared for many newborns, picking them up from the hospital when parents were unable to take them home and care for them. She has also been instrumental in connecting stable families in her acquaintance with “adoptable” children, resulting in several successful adoptions. Carol is 69 years young, and she says she wants to continue to provide foster care, especially for medically fragile children. Carol is a remarkable, yet very humble woman and says that she can’t imagine not caring for children; “It’s never boring and so many foster kids need a place where they feel safe and cared for.”

C-Tran to be honored with the 2012 Employment Caring Heart Award. The Employment Caring Heart Award is presented to a recipient who provides jobs, overcomes employment barriers, or is an outstanding example of an exceptional employee. C-Tran has employed a total of four participants from Innovative Services NW’s Employment Services Program, over the last 18 years. They not only provide jobs, fair wages and benefits for individuals with disabilities, but they provide support to help individuals overcome any difficulties they may be having on the job. They have a designated employee who is in charge of the C-Tran’s supported employees, who works closely with each participant and their job coach from Innovative. Each disabled adult deserves the opportunity to have meaningful employment. Many adults with disabilities and disadvantages may be considered unemployable, without the opportunity to work in jobs with supported employment, such as those at C-Tran. Working individuals with disabilities also pay taxes, and they are less of an economic drain on the system. In addition, the quality of life for all citizens is increased when the community embraces diversity by including individuals with all ability levels in the workplace. In addition, many individuals with disabilities in our community rely on C-Tran for their transportation needs.

Andrus Family Fund to be honored with the 2012 Community Advocacy Caring Heart Award. The Community Advocacy Caring Heart Award is presented to a recipient who advocates for, or provides comprehensive support and resources to, vulnerable youth. The Andrus Family Fund, an endeavor of the Surdna Foundation of New York, NY has provided funding, coaching and support to Innovative Services NW’s Transitions Program since 2006. Innovative’s Transitions program currently serves youth, 15 to 24 years of age, who have been or who are currently in foster care. Andrus has given $600,000 over the last six years so that the Transitions program could provide social emotional skill building, life planning, and self-advocacy training to more than 375 foster youth here in Clark County. The program also assists youth in accessing resources in the areas of employment, education and housing support. Not only has the Andrus Family Fund provided financial support for the Transitions Program, they have provided training, coaching and mentoring to program staff. This year the Andrus Family Fund grant provided funds to build a model of collaborative partnerships for a Foster Youth Continuum of Care, in order to continue enhancing services that encourage and promote independence and self-sufficiency for foster youth in Clark County. The overall goal is to provide improved coordination of services and a shared network of information between foster youth continuum providers, and to track the network’s success with agreed upon measurement tools. The Andrus Family Fund was established in 2000 to give fifth generation Andrus family members between the ages of 25 and 45 an opportunity to learn about and participate in organized philanthropy. Specifically, they aspire to advance efforts leading to community reconciliation and improving outcomes for youth.

Cost to attend the event is $55.00 per person. To make reservations, or for more information visit the Fiesta of Caring Hearts event at Innovative Services NW. Innovative Services NW is a Vancouver-based nonprofit that provides a variety of programs and services for the community. The organization’s mission is to provide quality services for all children, adults with disabilities/disadvantages and families. We are dedicated to providing opportunities to maximize each individual’s highest potential while promoting respect and acceptance of human diversity; sensitivity to individual and family needs; and inclusion in a nurturing, community supported environment.

This post: “Fiesta of Caring Hearts” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Shooting for Two.

The 2011 International Basketball League Champs, the Vancouver Volcanoes, are getting fired up for another great season of basketball! Join the excitement of opening night on Saturday, April 28, 2012 (and any of the other 9 home games) and let’s help cheer our team to another victory!

The Volcanoes are Vancouver USA’s semi-pro basketball team, in the International Basketball League (IBL). They’ve been around for eight years, and finished their 2011 season as league champs! They play their home games at O’Connell Sports Center at Clark College (1840 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver).

Did you make it to a game last year? Well, then you know that there’s a lot more going on than just basketball. It’s a community event, with Volcanoes Dancers, prizes, games; and yes, some pretty darn good basketball!  ”A Volcanoes game is more than just a Basketball Game. What we have done is created an event that focuses on activities that are fun and exciting for everyone, with the added emphasis on families and their children.” Clay J. Bonds VP Business Development, Vancouver Volcanoes.

Single game tickets are just $7, or $3 for fans under 18 or over 65, and there is not a bad seat in the house! For more information, visit the Vancouver Volcanoes online, or call 360.719.7163.

This post: “Another Hot Season for Vancouver Volcanoes” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!