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Southwest Washington's Community News Service

Thursday, July 8, 2010

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Inaugural Coop du Jour takes flight July 17

The first-ever tour of chicken coops in Vancouver’s Uptown Village is slated for Saturday, July 17. Coop du Jour opens local residents’ private coops to the chicken-curious public. The event is a self-guided tour that will lead visitors from one home to the next to meet chicken owners, see the hens and gain a better understanding of how chickens can live and thrive in an urban setting.

Tours begin at noon and continue until 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for up to four people. They are available for advance purchase at Mint Tea, 2014 Main St., and Arnada Naturals health food store, 1705 E. Broadway. Same-day tickets will be available only at Mint Tea.

All tour stops are within walking distance of Uptown Village, and proceeds will benefit the Hough Foundation

It is legal in the City of Vancouver to keep female chickens. For more information, visit www.coopdujourtour.com.

Port of Vancouver completes key segment of freight access project

On Wednesday, the Port of Vancouver USA announced completion of the Terminal 5 Unit Train Improvement project. The project, part of the larger West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, adds 35,000 feet of new rail capacity to the port's internal system. The new track, constructed in a loop with associated yard tracks, is located at the port's recently developed Terminal 5 (T-5) and will provide rail service for a variety of cargoes, including wind energy components. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) began using the new loop track at the end of June.

"Completion of the T-5 loop track is another step forward in our efforts to create family-wage jobs by investing in port infrastructure," said Larry Paulson, the port's executive director. "The more competitive we are as a port, the more we're able to retain existing tenants and customers, as well as attract new businesses to our region."

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast.

Twelve youth participate in 5th annual Weed Rodeo

Twelve teens from the Vancouver NAACP Urban Youth program recently participated in the Mount St Helens Institute’s 5th Annual Weed Rodeo in the Coldwater Lake Area. Eight adult chaperones from the Vancouver Branch NAACP and USDA Coalition of Minority Employees also participated. For many participating young people and several adults, this was their first up-close and personal encounter with the mountain.

"Although we were only there for several hours, these teens were able to learn about and remove scotch broom and other invasive weeds," said Gifford Pinchot natural resources manager, Earl Ford. "We were also able to make memories that will last a lifetime."

Monument scientist Peter Frezen told participants during his presentation that years from now they would be able to bring their children here and tell them how their parents helped to keep scotch broom from invading the area.

To learn more about how you can help visit http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/. For more information on Mount St. Helens Institute, visit http://www.mshinstitute.org/. And to get involved with NAACP youth programs around Vancouver, see http://www.naacpvanc.org/youthprograms.html.

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Campaign Events

Campaign kickoff: David Horowitz will launch a campaign for the position of Clark County Assessor with a fundraiser tonight from 4 to 6 p.m. at Java House, 210 W. Evergreen Boulevard. His campaign will provide a wine tasting, coffee or cappuccino and light appetizers.

3rd District candidate forum: Leadership Clark County will host a candidate forum at 6 p.m. tonight at Clark College's Gaiser Hall, featuring candidates running for the open seat in the U.S. 3rd Congressional District. The event is free and open to the public.

Democrats Picnic: The Clark County Democrats are hosting a summer picnic from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, at Leverich Park. There will be candidate speeches at 3:30 p.m. and canned food will be collected for Share. For more information, visit www.BlueDonkeys.com.

Candidate Night: The League of Women Voters of Clark County is hosting a candidate night for U.S. Senate candidates, 17th Legislative District, Position 2 candidates, County Assessor candidates, city of Vancouver, Position 4 candidates, Clark Public Utilities District candidates and Supreme Court Position 6 candidates at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 at Clark Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver. For more information, contact Jane Van Dyke, 503-459-1011.

Prosecuting attorney candidate forum: The Forum at the Library and League of Women Voters are offering a forum featuring the candidates for Clark County Prosecuting Attorney at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 15 in the community room at Clark Public Utilities, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. For more information, call 360-695-1566.

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News Briefs

Cooling Centers: Cooling centers will remain open around the county through Saturday. The Battle Ground Community Center will be the site of the cooling center there at 912 E. Main St. Today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call Battle Ground Parks & Recreation at 360-342-5380.The Camas Public Library, 625 NE Fourth Ave Camas, will be open as a cooling center today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 360-834-4692. Clark County Fire District 6 will open a cooling center at noon today at its Felida Fire Station, 11600 N.W. Lakeshore Ave., Vancouver. Today's cooling center will close at 8 p.m. and reopen at noon on Friday, July 9, and remain open until 8 p.m. For more information, contact Dawn Johnson 360-356-6040.
Hazel Dell redevelopment: Clark County's commissioners will consider development incentives and design standards for the Highway 99 area at a public hearing Tuesday, July 13, at 10 a.m. in the in the sixth-floor hearing room of the county Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The county might decide to reduce development fees, speed up permit review and offer credits for bicycle, pedestrian and public transit amenities.
192nd Avenue signals: A new fiber optics communication system will better coordinate traffic signals along Southeast 192nd Avenue. Drivers along the road should experience smoother traffic, but motorists approaching from side streets may notice slightly longer signal delays.
Voter deadline: Monday, July 19, is the last day to register by mail or online for the primary and special election on Aug. 17. This applies to anyone who has changed addresses since his or her last vote. Visit the county elections office at http://clarkvotes.org for more information.
CRESA Book Club: The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) will be hosting a lunchtime book club downtown to discuss the Amanda Ripley book The Unthinkable beginning Monday, July 12. Registration is available at http://www.cresa911.org/emergency/training-register.php or via phone at 360-992-6270. People may also participate in the book club discussion virtually, off-site, through Twitter by following www.twitter.com/CRESA_Presents.

Calendar

July 8: The City of Battle Ground is planning to improve Southeast Grace Avenue between Rasmussen and Eaton Boulevards, with construction starting in late 2011 or early 2012. The city will host an open house on the design plans from 4 to 6 p.m. tonight at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St.
July 12: The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District board meets in executive session at 4 p.m. and regular session at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 12, at the Ridgefield Community Center, 210 North Main Avenue, Ridgefield, Washington.
July 12: The first widespread shutdown of state agencies as a result of budget shortfalls will take place Monday, July 12. The closures will save more than $70 million in all funds in 2010–11. The temporary layoff law was passed as part of a series of measures to address an almost $12 billion shortfall during the 2009-11 budget period. For more information on state agency closures, visit http://ofm.wa.gov/layoff/.
July 19 and Sept. 16: The Port of Vancouver is offering two more "V.I.P. family tours" this summer of its site on 3103 NW Lower River Road. The events are 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17, and 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. To reserve a spot, contact Andrew Ness at 360-992-1137 or amness@portvanusa.com.
July 20: The next Face to Face with Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and the Vancouver City Council will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, at Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver.
July 23: The Columbia River Economic Development Council's 20th Annual Golf Classic is coming up Friday, July 23. Hole sponsorships and player slots are on sale. For details, visit www.credc.org.