Fire Department presenting awards

Vancouver Fire Chief Don Bivins and his chief officers will issue formal awards and commendations at the City of Vancouver Fire Department Awards Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, in the Northwest Regional Training Center, 11606 NE 66 Circle.

Randy Reed and Mike Hutton, will receive Life Saving Awards for pulling an unconscious woman from burning automobile. Donna Franchino, Alan Lollar and Robert Brown will also receive Life Saving Awards, for performing CPR.

Receiving Certificates of Appreciation are: Cory Wells for assisting fire suppression at a summer wildfire, and Dianna Trushin, for helping firefighters at a medical call.

Firefighter awards will be presented to :firemedic John Stewart, firefighter Chris McBride, Firefighter and firemedic Mark Bennett.

Charter Review Committee
recommends ward study

Vancouver’s Charter Review Committee has voted 10 to 4 to continue a study beyond the Charter Review Committee of whether Vancouver city council members should be elected from districts or wards.

The issue has come up in each Charter Review Committee over the past 25 years but no action was taken.

According Clark County elections supervisor to Tim Likness, census information from the 2010 census will probably be available in late 2011 so a committee propose a vote on a ward system in 2011.

Take your kids outdoors

The associate deputy chief of the National Forest Service, whose passion for getting kids and their families into nature led to the creation of National Get Outdoors Day, will be an honored part of the Vancouver celebration Saturday, June 13, in the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way.

Gloria Manning began her career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1979 as a planner for the National Forests in North Carolina and has since completed two separate tours in the Washington D.C. Office. Her support of the  "More Kids in the Woods" program and vision of "Take Your Kid Outdoors Day" led to National Get Outdoors Day, which in 2008 included some 60 sites across the nation and more than 100,000 visitors learning about outdoor activities. This year's second annual National Get Outdoors Day is geared toward engaging urban and multicultural youth in nature-based activities and attracting first-time visitors to public lands.

The free Vancouver event, "Explore Your Backyard," from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, encourages families to experience healthy, active outdoor fun available right outside their doors. Manning is expected to speak briefly at 11 a.m. about the importance of reconnecting families with nature.

Throughout the day at the Water Center, hands-on activities and engaging presentations will highlight traditional and non-traditional types of outdoors activities, from casting a fishing line and taking a hike, to growing plants and building a volcano.

News brief

The Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership meets from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, in Port of Vancouver Administrative Offices, 3103 Lower River Rd. Meetings are open to the public and time set aside at the beginning and at the end of the meetings for brief public comment.

Calendar

The City of Vancouver meets in workshop session at 4 p.m. today. <> The Vancouver City Council meets in regular session at 7 p.m. this evening. <> Clark County commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 16. <> Kathy MacDonald's "Build Your Business with Social Media" is from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, in The Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Road, Vancouver Barracks. Breakfast included, $55 at the door. <> The Vancouver Library Capital Facility Area board meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the 6th floor hearing room in the Public Service Center. <> Information on the Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s early learning center will be presented to the library board of directors at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the Vancouver Regional Library 1007 E Mill Plain Boulevard. <> The Volcano Views and Brews presentation in the Lucky Labrador 1945 NW Quimby Street, Portland is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16.

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar