Gregoire signs bill to improve future for foster youth

Governor Chris Gregoire on Friday signed into law several measures that will improve opportunities for young people who have been in foster care.  The legislation creates the “Passport to College” program for former foster youth, extends health care coverage until the age of 21 and provides housing stipends to low-income young adults who have been in foster care.

The Passport to College program includes measures to help attract more foster youth to college and to keep them in college through graduation. The health coverage bill provides health care coverage to foster youth until their twenty-first birthday. The housing bill creates the “Independent Youth Housing Program,” which will provide housing stipends and case management services to low-income young adults ages 18 - 23 who have been in foster care.

Governor Gregoire also signed into law a measure that defines disability within the Washington law against discrimination. The bill restores the anti-discrimination protections put at risk by the Supreme Court decision in McClarty v. Totem Electric and makes it clear that people with disabilities will continue to enjoy equal rights and privileges in Washington.

Wally Amos, Famous Amos founder and literacy advocate, to keynote Clark commencement

Businessman and literacy advocate Wally Amos will be the keynote speaker at Clark College’s 2007 commencement ceremony.  The ceremony will be held on June 14, 2007 at
7 p.m. at the Clark County Amphitheater.

Clark College is the third largest community and technical college in Washington State.  During the 2006-2007 academic year, more than 925 Clark College students are expected to graduate with associate degrees and certificates.

Clark College Interim President Robert K. Knight noted, “While many people know him as the founder of ‘Famous Amos’ cookies, Wally Amos has used his fame to draw attention to an important cause: literacy.  That issue is critically important to our college and our community.”

Wally Amos dedicated his efforts to Literacy Volunteers of America where he served as their National Spokesperson from 1979 to 2002. As a literacy advocate, Wally Amos supports educational causes and serves on the Boards of the National Center for Family Literacy, Read to Me International, and Communities in Schools, in addition to many others.

In 2005, Wally Amos and his wife, Christine, founded the Chip & Cookie Read Aloud Foundation, a publicly supported 501(c) (3) organization, to promote reading aloud to children. He is the recipient of many honors and awards including the President’s Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, the Horatio Alger Award, and the National Literacy Honors Award.

Southwest opens new patient service centers

Southwest Washington Medical Center Laboratory Services recently opened its doors today to the new Patient Service Center at Fisher’s landing and will open a second center next week.

Southwest Washington Medical Center’s new Patient Service Centers will provide patients with convenient access to routine and STAT diagnostic laboratory services. The Center is located in the Southwest Imaging Center at 16821 S.E. McGillivray Blvd. An additional site in the Medical Center Physicians Building (formerly PABCO Building) at 505 N.E. 87th Ave. is scheduled to open on Monday, May. 14.

The new sites provide specimen collection for diagnostic testing and screenings for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. Both centers are open Monday through Friday. For hours of operation, please call Southwest Laboratory Services at (360) 514-3177.

Outpatient lab services are also available at the Medical Center. The lab has relocated to the first floor of the Firstenburg Tower. It is open seven days a week. For more information on Southwest Washington Medical Center’s Laboratory & Pathology Services please go online to www.swmclab.com.

iQ Credit Union celebrating new Ridgefield Branch

iQ Credit Union’s new Ridgefield Branch will host a grand opening celebration on Thursday, May 10 and Friday, May 11 from 9:30 am to 6 pm.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for May 11 at 9 am.  

The new branch is located at 2 South 56th Place, Suite 104, near the Pioneer Street/Ridgefield exit off I-5. Open since late March, the new location features a drive-up ATM as well as extended branch hours.

“This branch is a result of feedback from the community,” said Roger Michaelis, iQ Credit Union CEO. “Our growing membership needed another location more convenient for them.”

For more information about the Ridgefield Branch, call 360-695-3441.

News brief

Volunteers needed for Vancouver clean up

Vancouver’s Downtown Association is hosting the Sweep-Up, Rake-Up, Pick-Up and Clean-Up on Sat., May 12, in conjunction with the national Great American Clean Up. The event will kick off at 8 a.m. from Esther Short Park and in Uptown Village at Starbucks (Main & 24^th). Sign up at www.vdausa.org or contact Stephanie Diaz at 360-906-9517, 360-600-8800 or stephanied@bocc.com.

People

Congressman Brian Baird has announced that Kenneth Mabry, a senior at Mountain View High School is the winner of the 2007 Congressional Art Competition from the 3^rd District. Mabry’s piece, titled “Seagull,” was chosen from amongst 47 entries submitted by 13 high schools by a Blue Ribbon Panel of judges. The work will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol through May 2008.

Calendar

Clark County Public Facilities District (PFD) meets tonight at 5 p.m. in the County Public Services Center, 1300 Franklin St., 6^th Floor, conference room “A”. ■  .The Clark Public Utilities Board of Directors meets tomorrow morning, May 8 at 9 a.m., at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. ■ The Port of Ridgefield Board of Port Commissioners holds its regular meeting on Wed., May 9, 2007, 6-8 p.m. at the Port Office, 111 W. Division St. in Ridgefield. The agenda includes general Port business and selection of a preferred alternative for the Rail Overpass project.

Monday, May 7 Headlines