dailyinsider

Southwest Washington's Community News Service
Thursday, July 22, 2010

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Wine and Jazz Festival announces lineup

Mavis Staples

The lineup for the 13th Annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival was announced this week.

The slate of musicians includes singer Mavis Staples, guitarist John Hammond, The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Spyro Gyra, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, guitarist Stanley Jordan, organist Joey DeFrancesco, The Rippingtons, and saxophonist David Sanborn.

David Sanborn

The festival is Aug. 27-29 at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. In addition to the music, the festival features over 200 wines from around the world as well as food provided by nine restaurants.

Ticket prices are: Friday, $20; Saturday $25; Sunday $25. 3-day passes are $50 in advance, $60 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.vancouverwinejazz.com or through TicketsWest, http://www.ticketswest.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 503-224-8499 or 1-800-992-8499.

Senator Murray secures support for projects in SW Washington

Patty Murray

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), chairwoman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee, announced this week that she has included funding to boost Southwest Washington transportation and economic development in the fiscal year 2011 THUD appropriations bill.

"Especially now, it is critical to steer funding into transportation projects that create jobs and boost local economies in our own backyard in Southwest Washington," Murray said.

The following projects were included in the bill for the Southwest Washington region:

Columbia River Crossing - $42,000,000

The Washington State Department of Transportation will receive federal funding to be used for preliminary engineering, final design, and right of way for the Columbia River Crossing project.

C-TRAN Fourth Plain Bus Rapid Transit - $1,500,000

The Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority will receive funding to support the development of high frequency service between residential and job centers along the Fourth Plain corridor as well as connections to downtown Vancouver, and the Vancouver Mall, and will provide interstate transit access to employment and services in Portland.

"This funding will take a significant step toward providing high quality transit service along Vancouver’s Fourth Plain Corridor, thus contributing to a safe, diverse, prosperous, and stable neighborhood," said Jeff Hamm, C-TRAN executive director.

Grace Avenue Safety Improvements - $1,000,000

The city of Battle Ground will receive funding to support the first phase of the reconstruction of S.E. Grace Avenue.

S.E. Grace Avenue connects to East Main Street and provides a vital truck route serving industrial companies located along this route, such as Andersen Plastics, which currently is the largest private family wage employer in Battle Ground.

Interstate 5 Ridgefield Interchange Replacement Project - $1,000,000

The city of Ridgefield will receive funding to support the construction of a new interchange to replace the existing Interstate 5/State Route 501 interchange.

Share Community Service Center - $900,000

Share will receive funding to support the renovation of a facility to provide increased service to the homeless, hungry and low-income populations.

"Share has been a vital part of the solution for the hungry and homeless in Clark County for the past 30 years," said Diane McWithey, executive director of Share. "We are grateful to Senator Patty Murray for recognizing our role in helping those in need in our community."

Vancouver Waterfront Access Improvement Project - $2,000,000

The city of Vancouver will receive funding to support transportation improvements to improve access to Vancouver’s Columbia River waterfront.

"The waterfront renaissance project is the pinnacle in the next chapter of downtown Vancouver’s revitalization. The opportunity to connect, and in some ways reconnect, our community to our waterfront is unmatched in terms of size and potential. This project will forever change the face of Vancouver and the state of Washington," said Tim Leavitt, mayor of Vancouver.

Officials warn of fire danger

As temperatures rise this week, the Vancouver Fire Department is mailing more than 3,000 postcards out to homes and businesses that are vulnerable to wildfire.

The postcards urge residents in the VFD service area to reduce the risk of wildfire by cleaning, clearing and protecting themselves with a practiced evacuation plan.

The highest seasonal wildfire risks are scattered throughout the VFD service area and include sections along Fruit Valley Road, the Columbia River south of SR 14, and large sections to the north and east of the city limits in Fire District 5.

"Wildfire is a genuine threat in our area," says Vancouver Interim Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli. "We want to increase awareness of necessary wildfire mitigation approaches. Homeowners can help protect themselves, their families and their property."

The fire marshal offers these tips on how to reduce risk by preparing for wildfire season:

Create a defensible space around your home that is free of trees, brush and other volatile vegetation. In wooded areas, a 30-foot buffer is recommended.
Remove leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation and limb trees from 6 to 10 feet above the ground and away from any combustibles.
Remove dead branches that extend over the roof or that create a "ladder" to combustibles such as wood fences.
Prune tree branches and shrubs 15 feet away from stovepipe or chimney outlet.
Remove materials that create a path for fire that can lead to a house. Mow regularly.
Avoid accumulations of yard debris, junk, building materials, or other combustible/unsightly items on your property.
Install a smoke alarm on each level and outside all sleeping areas of your home. Test monthly and change the batteries per manufacturer's recommendations. (Batteries can be recycled at the curb.)
Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans.
Stack firewood away and uphill from your home. 100 feet is recommended.

More information is available online at www.vanfire.org.

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Campaign Events

BBQ for Bart: A barbecue fundraiser for Bart Hansen's Vancouver city council campaign is planned from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Vancouver Firefighters Local 452, 2807 NW Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver. See www.electbarthansen.com for more information.

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News Briefs

Six Confusion: As reported last week, Vancouver Fire Department will close Station 6 on 112th Ave. near Burton Road in December. Because Fire District 6 and Station 6 share a similar name, many citizens have confused the two and now believe that Fire District 6 is closing its department, which is not happening, said Dawn Johnson with Fire District 6.
Bike There: The City of Vancouver, Bike Me! Vancouver and the Riverview Six to Sunset concert series have partnered to provide staffed bicycle parking for the Six to Sunset concerts on Thursday evenings at Esther Short Park. The staffed bike parking will be located at the northeast corner of Esther Short Park in the grassy area near the stage. The free bike parking will be available from 5 p.m. until after the concert. Riders are asked to provide their own bike lock. For more information, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/concerts.
Free Fitness Walk: Receive a free pedometer and a copy of the new Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation trails brochure, by attending a free two-hour fitness walk along the Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway, led by walking coach Carmen Jackinsky, on Saturday, July 24. The walk is one of several offered by Portland Metro, as part of this summer's Walk There! event series. Besides Metro, this walk is hosted by Kaiser Permanente and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation. Walkers will meet at 8:45 a.m. in the north parking lot of Leverich Park. Leverich Park is just north of East 39th Street. For more information, call 503-813-7575.
Summer Playground program: The Battle Ground Parks & Recreation traveling Summer Playground program will be held at four local neighborhood parks this summer. The free 10-week drop-in program is designed for children ages 4 to 10 and will bring a variety of arts, crafts, games and sports to local neighborhoods in the City of Battle Ground. For more information about the Summer Playground Program or the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department, visit the City’s website at http://www.cityofbg.org or call 360-342-5380.
Youth drug prevention team seeks new members: The Clark County STASHA (Strong Teens Against Substance Hazards and Abuse) Peer Education Program is recruiting youth to fill vacant positions for the 2010-11 program year. Clark County peer educators are dedicated to addressing alcohol and other drug issues among youth in Clark County. To be eligible, youth must be Clark County residents and have an interest in sharing their opinions and perspectives about substance abuse prevention. Training is provided. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, August 4. Applications are online at http://www.clark.wa.gov/youth-family/prevention.html. For more information or to request an application, please contact Angela McKinney, peer education coordinator, at 360-397-2130, ext. 5841 or angela.mckinney@clark.wa.gov.
Art in the Heart: Thirteen Downtown Vancouver art galleries and Vancouver’s Downtown Association have joined forces to bring a free, family-friendly community event to Downtown Vancouver streets the first weekend of August. The “Art in the Heart” event kicks off Friday, Aug. 6, at 5:30 p.m. After the free concert, many local restaurants and bars will also have live music. The galleries will be open again on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Evergreen Public Schools Registration: Families with students new to Evergreen Public Schools or who have moved to a new school area can now take advantage of centralized school registration hours starting this week. The registration will take place at Evergreen Public Schools Administrative Service Center located at 13501 NE 28th St., Vancouver, in the Home Choice/IQ Internet Academy Building. Registration forms can be found online at http://www.evergreenps.org/AboutEPS/Pages/CentralizedStudentRegistration.aspx or picked up at the registration desk. More information is available at www.evergreenps.org or by calling 360-604-4163.
Burn Ban: In cooperation with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Clark County enacted restrictions on all outdoor burning effective July 15. All land clearing and residential burning will be restricted until further notice.
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.

Calendar

July 22: Affordable Community Environments, known as ACE, plans a fundraiser at 5 p.m. tonight at the Covington Commons Apartment community in Vancouver, 9600 N.E. 73rd St. There will be live music from local band Porter Jones and a barbecue. There will also be a barbecue cook-off competition. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.acecommunities.org.
July 23: Vancouver photographer Kate Singh of Aevum Images is offering social media photos for $35 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 23, at SoHo Marketing Guru, 951 Officers Row, Vancouver. Free social media strategy consultations with Brandie Kajino, Veronika Noize, Rinatta Paries, or Dotty Scott will also be available that day. Reservations are strongly advised. For photo sessions, contact Singh at 360-735-1595 or via her website at www.AevumImages.com. For the consultations, contact Kajino at 360-907-6485; Noize, 360-882-1298; Paries, 503-583-2573 or Scott, 360-607-4767.
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.
July 24: The Clark County Historical Museum offers staff-led walking tours every other Saturday morning, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting about two hours. The next tour is Saturday, July 24. Day Hilborn’s architecture is featured. The cost for the Saturday tours is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. More information is available by calling 360-993-5679. For more information about the museum and events, visit www.cchmuseum.org.
July 28: An artist's reception showcasing the new summer exhibits at Washington State University Vancouver is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28. The new displays will be up through late August.
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.