Vancouver Lake partnership
efforts get cooperative boost

Efforts to find answers to the health and future of popular Vancouver Lake are getting a boost, thanks to two new studies and a donation from the Vancouver Lake Sailing Club.

The Portland District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced it will provide $100,000 from its Lower Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration Program to formulate a Corps project team and begin studying the feasibility of improvements to the lake’s water quality and habitat.  That program focuses on mitigating and improving migratory salmonid fish habitat.

The lake is attracting further collaboration with a proposed Washington State University Vancouver study of some of the lake’s tiniest lake dwellers, planktonic algae, planktonic protozoa and planktonic animals. The WSUV work is expected to begin this fall.

The intensified focus on the lake, begun in 2004 with the formation of the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership, has sparked a $1,000 donation from the 100-member Vancouver Lake Sailing Club. Club members say Vancouver Lake is one of the best small-boat racing waters in the Vancouver-Portland area.

Centuries of human activities, including dam construction and flood control have altered the lake and its lowlands

But the partnership suggests that the lake is an important asset to the community. Endangered Species Act-listed salmonoids have been identified in the lake. The lake also provides habitat for migratory and resident waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. In addition to offering sailing, canoeing, crew racing, the lake is home to a 234-acre regional park.

For further information, call Loretta Callahan, 759-4479.

City announces first-ever Creative Community
Peacemaker Award winners

The City of Vancouver/Clark County Mediation Services program announces three recipients of the first-ever Creative Community Peacemaker Awards. The Peacemaker Awards were designed to recognize individuals or groups who have thought of creative ways to make peace within families or the community or who have found creative solutions for compelling current conflicts. Nominees may have dealt with a variety of issues such as youth-adult understanding, land use solutions, violence prevention, community building, cultural understanding, human rights, and peer mediation. The award winners were chosen from nominations submitted by the public.

The three award winners are:

Carol Hansen, retired City of Vancouver employee, known for her community and neighborhood activism; Leadership Clark County, for its proactive work in dealing with the challenges of the expanding community; and Sue Lintz, President East Minnehaha Neighborhood Association. Sue is being recognized for her work with the East Minnehaha Neighborhood Association and The Cleve Thompson Oxford House.

The awards will be presented during a lunchtime presentation at the “How Strangers Become Neighbors: Creating Cultures of Peace in Families and Community” event on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the First Congregational Church, 1220 NE 68th St. in Hazel Dell. The community luncheon, hosted by Muslim, Jewish and Christian members of the Greater Vancouver Interfaith Association, starts at 12:30 p.m.. The awards ceremony begins at 1:15. Clark County community members are welcome to attend. The day’s event and community lunch are free of charge, though donations help defray the costs of food and materials. See www.cityofvancouver.us/mediation for a listing of workshops and other event activities.

RSVP to attend “How Strangers Become Neighbors” activities, lunch and award ceremony at
community.mediation@ci.vancouver.wa.us or call 619-1153.

News briefs

The Clark County Skills Center restaurant is open to the public Wednesday through Friday. Breakfast is served between 8:45 and 10 a.m. and lunch between 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. The restaurant, part of the Skills Center’s Restaurant and Culinary Arts program, is at 12200 NE 28th Street. n City of Vancouver Firefighters launched a sale to “Bring it home!” Returning a 1925 Seagrave vintage fire engine to its rightful home in
Vancouver is the goal of a calendar sale fundraiser. The 2007 calendars cost $10 and feature full-color photos of

present and antique fire apparatus. In addition, each month includes recaps of Vancouver’s landmark fires. Calendars are available now at the headquarters and downtown fire stations. Leading the large group project is a team that includes Capt. Rick Steele, Capt. Mike Bowie and firefighter Dan Guisinger. Click here for more information.

Calendar

The City of Vancouver's Parking Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25, 7 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers has been cancelled. n The Clark County Chamber presents Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach (www.veronikanoize.com), Tuesday, November 14, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at Parker House Restaurant, 56 S First Street, Washougal (Highway 14 East, turn right onto 2nd St., just past Westlie Ford).  Free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided by Parker House Restaurant.  RSVP to 360-258-1181 or info@ClarkChamber.com.

Tuesday headlines

Drug bust sets records--Columbian, Kelly Adams

B&O tax back on council's agenda--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Vancouver soldier injured in mortar attack--Columbian, Dean Baker

Shipping company penalized--Columbian, Erik Robinson

City budget balanced, but may need help--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Capitol tree makes local stop before travel east--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert

US rank on press freedom slides lower--Washington Post, Nora Boustany

New voting machines, rules may cause election day delays--MSNBC.com

Sony recalls lithium ion batteries--Google News