News Briefs

• The Daily Insider will not publish Monday May 27

  The Daily Insider will not be published on Monday, May 27, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Have a safe and happy long weekend. And thank you to all who have served our country.

• Gifts For Our Community grant application deadline May 31

  Gifts For Our Community, a nonprofit organization, provides resources for our community in the areas of human services, education and the arts. Ten grants for $1000 will be granted to fund programs of organizations that provide services in the areas of education, arts and human services. Applications can be found online or picked up at Divine Consign or b.divine clothing boutique. Competitors will complete the application form and submit to: Grant Committee C/O Divine Consign, 904 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660 or shop@divineconsignfurniture.org. For further details and to download the application, click here.

• Port of Vancouver USA’s workshop cancelled; regular commissioners meeting will occur as plannned

  Due to a last minute scheduling conflict, the commission workshop on the environmental permitting process for a proposed crude oil facility at the Port of Vancouver USA has been postponed. Originally planned for this coming Tuesday, May 28, the workshop will be rescheduled for a later date, most likely in June.The regular May 28 meeting of the port’s Board of Commissioners will occur as planned.

• Luke Jensen Sports Park, Mount Vista rain gardens win top awards

  Two Clark County projects have been recognized for excellence as “Projects of the Year” by the American Public Works Association’s Washington chapter. Luke Jensen Sports Park, 4000 N.E. 78th St., took top honors in the structures category for projects between $5 million and $25 million. The multipurpose facility offers an outdoor venue for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and football. Mount Vista Rain Gardens won the environment category for projects less than $5 million. Public Works and Environmental Services, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology, built 15 rain gardens in the Mount Vista area near WSU Vancouver. These awards bring to five the number of Project of the Year honors Clark County has earned from the association since 2009.

• Open house and dedication ceremony for the Planet Clark “Emerald House” today

  The public is invited to attend the Planet Clark Emerald House dedication and open house Friday, May 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. Guests can tour the finished house and talk with the many people who made this amazing project happen. Music and light refreshments will be provided. A ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. The house is located at 9717 N.E. 25th Ave. in Hazel Dell. Click here for the full story.

• Clark College Independent news team captures first in state

  Clark College‘s student news staff of The Independent finished first in Washington this year, capturing 23 awards – including General Excellence and Publication Sweeps titles – at the annual Washington Community College Journalism Association luncheon at Pierce College in Lakewood.They earned eight first-place, six second-place, four third-place and two honorable mention awards, finishing ahead of eight other community colleges. For the original article, click here.
• Register now for a seat at CWEDA’s Work Force Development luncheon

  The Camas Washougal Economic Development Association (CWEDA) will be holding quarterly Business Expert meetings as a part of its efforts to assist local businesses by providing valuable information from local and regional experts on a variety of issues of interest to the Camas-Washougal community. The first hosted luncheon will be held Friday, June 7, at noon, at Harvest Restaurant, in Camas. To reserve a seat, contact Rene Carroll at rene.carroll@cweda.org or 360-607-5990 by Tuesday, June 4. Space is limited. For the original article click here.

• Red Cross hosts Memorial Day blood drive now through May 31

  The community is invited to participate in a Memorial Weekend blood drive going on now through May 31. To donate blood or platelets over the coming holiday weekend, individuals can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment to help save lives. The Clark County Donor Center blood drive, 5109 NE 82nd Ave., will be open Saturday, May 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday, May 27, from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. All presenting donors at donor centers across the Pacific Northwest region between today and May 31, could win one of five $1,000 American Express gift cards. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

• Annual Open Cockpit Day & Young Eagles Program this Saturday

  The Fort Vancouver National Trust will be hosting its annual Open Cockpit Day on Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m to 5 p.m., at the Pearson Field Education center at 201A East Reserve Street. Free airplane rides will be offered to youth, ages eight through 17, with written permission from parents or guardians. Rides will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis; weather depending. For the full article click here.

• Paddle for Life Dragon Boat Festival this Sunday

  A Paddle for Life Dragon Boat Festival will take place this Sunday May, 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Vancouver Lake Park, 6801 N.W. Lower Lake Rd. There is no charge for spectators. Paddle for Life Vancouver is raising money to create a Disabled Veterans Water Sports Program at Vancouver Lake. All of the profits from the event and 100% of the donations go directly to creating a free program that will get disabled vets out on the water in dragon boats, rowing boats and kayaks. New docks and ramps are needed and adaptive equipment must be purchased so that veterans with any disability can participate. Click here for the full article.

• Xeriscaping for Homeowners workshop May 30

  WSU Clark County Extension and Clark County Department of Environmental Services will host a xeriscaping workshop Thursday, May 30, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the WSU Extension offices, 1919 NE 78th Street. Xeriscaping, a concept for saving water in landscaped areas, involves planting with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce maintenance costs for your yard or garden. This workshop includes a discussion of native plants adapted to endure drought. Learn about choosing appropriate plants for your garden, grouping them together with other plants with the same watering needs, and planting them in areas that are favorable to their growth. The event is free, but pre-registration is required at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/374680. For more information, call 360-397-6060 ext. 5712 or email watershed.stewads@clark.wa.gov.

• Tall ships visit Vancouver May 23 through 27

  Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, and Hawaiian Chieftain have scheduled a seven-week tour of the Columbia River that will include 11 ports in Washington and Oregon. The ships are marking the 225th anniversary of the first landfall by a U.S.-flagged vessel on the shores of what would later become Oregon. Both ships will stop at Vancouver this Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27. The ships will offer public tours and excursions, including Battle Sails, which are recreations of a typical 18th-century naval skirmish, and Adventure Sails, which are family-oriented experiences with an opportunity to take the helm of a real tall ship. Prices range from $29 to $60 per person.For further information, visit www.historicalseaport.org.
• Journey Theater Arts Group presents “Annie Get Your Gun” this Friday

  The Journey Theater Arts Group will present Annie Get Your Gun, this Friday, May 24, at the Washburn Performing Arts Center, at Washougal High School. Pre-sale adult tickets are $12; youth, senior and group tickets are $9. All tickets for the Saturday, May 25 performance are $9, and all tickets are $2 more at the door. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.. There will also be a 3 p.m. performance on Saturday, June 1. Click here for the original article.
• Crime Stoppers reward offered for information/return of sculpture’s head

  Local businessman, John Rudi, owner of Thompson Metal Fab, Inc., is offering a reward for information leading to the return of the Wendy Rose sculpture’s head. Rudi’s grandmother was a “Wendy Welder” at Vancouver’s historic Kaiser Shipyards and his business is located on the old shipyards’ land. A thief recently removed the head of the ten foot tall metal Wendy Rose sculpture located on the Columbia River waterfront trail about one mile east of the I-5 bridge. The public sculpture honors the women and men who supported the war through their work at the Kaiser Shipyards during WWII. The mount of the reward will be determined by the quality of the information, but could be as high as $1,000. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Vancouver Police tip line at 360-487-7399 or text Crime Stoppers of Oregon at 823HELP + your tip to 274637 (CRIMES).

• Vancouver Symphony May Concerts this weekend

  The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) ends its 34th season with a concert that combines the wonder of three winners of its 19th Annual Young Artists Competition with Prokokiev’s majestic Alexander Nevsky. Performances will be Saturday, May 25, at 3 p.m., and Sunday, May 26, at 7 p.m., at the Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver. Tickets for both concerts are $35 for general admission; $30 for seniors; $10 for students. Reserved seating tickets are available for $50. For further details and to purchase tickets, visit www.vancouversymphony.org. Click here for the full article.

• Parks Foundation annual luncheon June 4; early bird registration ends this friday

  The Parks Foundation of Clark County will have its annual luncheon Tuesday, June 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hilton Vancouver. Tickets are $30 for Parks Foundation Members; $35 for non-members. Tickets purchased after Friday, May 24 will be an additional $5. Sponsoring a table for 10 is $500. The event will feature the presentation of the Florence B. Wager awards for excellence in service and dedication to parks and recreation programs and projects in Clark County, and the formal presentation of the 2013 Community Grants. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.parksfoundation.us. Click here for the original article.

• Ribbon cutting ceremony at Steamers & Screamers May 31

  Steamers and Screamers, a brand new business in Vancouver, will host their official ribbon cutting event on Friday, May 31, from 9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. This celebration will feature llamas, face painting, balloon art and time to roam the state-of-the-art playspace.  Steamers and Screamers is located at 8400 NE Van Mall Drive, Suite 105. The first 20 attendees will receive a free latte and free “play” voucher for their children. For more information, visit www.steamersandscreamers.com.

• Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan to speak at Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance May 27

  The Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) will present Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m., at the Vancouver Barracks on the Fort Vancouver Historic Site. The event features keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan. Other speakers include: U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, Vancouver Mayor Timothy Leavitt, National Park Service Superintendent Tracy Fortmann, and Col. Peter F. Norseth. There will be a free hot dog lunch and historical camp reenactments following the observance. For the original article click here.