Downtown Vancouver's new community library

Six projects will be honored for their innovative approach to historic restoration, sustainability, community enhancement, public facilities and commercial development during the 2011 Community Pride Design Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 10. Two honorable mentions also will be presented. The free public event will be held in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. Refreshments will be served at 2:30 p.m. The ceremony will start at 3 p.m.

The Community Pride Design Awards were established in 1996 by several local public and private organizations as a way to recognize buildings, development and civic improvements that have had a positive impact on the community. The program honors developers, builders and the community for helping make Clark County a great place to live and work, both now and in the future. More information is available at www.clark.wa.gov/development/about/cpda.html.

2011 award winners are as follows: The Artillery Barracks at Fort Vancouver, 600 E. Hatheway Rd., Vancouver; Hayes Freedom High School, 1919 N.E. Ione St., Camas; McCallister Village, 2155 W. Firestone Ln., Vancouver; Oliva Family Early Learning Center, 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way, Vancouver; Sigma Design, 1714 Broadway St., Vancouver; and the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St., Vancouver. Honorable mentions include Columbia Springs Cordwood Classroom, 12208 S.E. Evergreen Hwy., Vancouver; and Gateway Garden Apartments, 4300 Addy St., Washougal.

Tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Fire District 6 firefighters will hand out candy and 690 glow bracelets, donated by the Hazel Dell Target, to kids who do not have flashlights or reflective clothing. The following three stations are participating: Hazel Dell Fire Station, 8800 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave.; Salmon Creek Fire Station, 1200 NE 134th St.; and Felida Fire Station, 11600 N.W. Lakeshore Ave. For more information, contact Dawn Johnson at 360-356-6040 or dawn.johnson@ccfd6.org.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths among pedestrians ages five to 12 is four times higher on Halloween night than any other night of the year. Fire District 6 offers the following Halloween safety tips: children should carry flashlights, glow sticks, or bags; children should go trick-or-treating accompanied by a responsible adult; children should be instructed not to eat any treats until examined by a parent; walkways should be cleared of obstacles and lit pumpkins; and costumes should be free of long, dangling items that could pose a tripping hazard.

The Magenta Theater Improv troupe

Magenta Theater Company is a family-friendly community theater in Vancouver committed to promoting contemporary new works by local playwrights and musicians, in addition to known comedies and mysteries. Productions are volunteer-driven, and opportunities are currently available in the following areas: assistant director, stage management, stagehands, lights and sound technicians, makeup, costumes, props, set design, set construction, house management, ushering, concessions, publicity and clean-up crew. To learn more, visit www.magentatheater.com.

The National Weather Service is conducting “Skywarn” training for volunteer weather spotters in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. The training session will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Clark County Fire & Rescue’s Dollar Corner Station #26, 21609 N.E. 72nd Ave. in Battle Ground. No registration is necessary if you plan to attend in person. The training will also be conducted as a Webinar from 7 to 8 p.m.; click here to register for the Webinar.

The training is for people who want to become part of the National Weather Service’s network of volunteer weather spotters, as well as refresher training for existing weather spotters. Participants will be trained how to recognize cloud features and other weather phenomena that can produce severe weather as well as the criteria for reporting these elements to the National Weather Service. This information is directly used in our warning program to help protect lives and property of our citizens. The training is free and open to the general public.

To learn more, click here to see a flyer. Volunteering to be a weather spotter is an excellent way to explore your interests while helping your local community. For more information about Skywarn, see www.skywarn.org, or visit the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency site by clicking here.