News Briefs

• PeaceHealth and Regence reach new two-year contract agreement

  PeaceHealth and Regence reached a new two-year agreement yesterday. The contract ensures Regence members can continue to receive their care at PeaceHealth at in-network rates. The new contract begins July 1, 2013 resulting in no interruption of in-network coverage for Regence members. This agreement covers PeaceHealth Southwest, St. John, St. Joseph and Peace Island, as well as PeaceHealth Medical Group offices in those service areas. Earlier this month, Regence was required to notify its members PeaceHealth would become out-of-network by July 1 if a new agreement was not reached. Both organizations understand the impact this has on members and patients and are pleased to assure members there will not be interruption in care or benefit coverage.

• Street closures on Northeast 39th Ave. starting Wednesday

  Drivers are asked to be aware of street closures on Northeast 39th St. starting Wednesday June 19, when cement concrete paving of a new double-lane roundabout at the intersection with Northeast 137th Ave. gets under way. Traffic will be able to flow north and south on Northeast 137th Ave., but eastbound and westbound traffic on Northeast 39th St. will need to follow detours. Cement concrete paving is a more time-consuming, exacting process than asphalt paving and will require a few weeks to complete. Detour signs and flaggers will be in place during the closure, and drivers are especially reminded to proceed slowly through residential neighborhoods. The project is currently on schedule, and is anticipated to be completed in winter 2013. Updates on this project can be found on the city’s website at www.cityofvancouver.us/137-138Ave.

• Community Celebration Sale and benefit for Share this weekend

  The Parkrose Hardware located at 16509 SE 1st St. in Vancouver, is hosting a Community Celebration Sale to benefit Share this Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June  23. Shoppers can bring in cans of food and received discounts on store merchandice. The more food brought in, the larger the discount, up to 50 percent. The food will be delivered to Share. Parkrose is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information and a list of Share’s most needed food items, visit www.sharevancouver.org.

• The Vancouver Madrigal Singers perform a Spring Concert this Saturday

  The Vancouver Madrigal Singers will perform a Spring Concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m., this Saturday, June 22, at St. Luke’s Epicopal Church, 426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. The event is free but a suggested $5 donation will benefit St. Luke’s. Established in 1995, the group is an a cappella vocal ensemble that specializes in English renaissance madrigals. They wear Renaissance-style costumes and often add period instruments and dance to performances. For further details, visit www.madrigalsinger.net. Support them on Facebook here.

• Touchmark at Fairway Village Car Show and BBQ this Saturday

  Touchmark at Fairway Village invites the community to celebrate the beginning of summer with its sixth annual Car Show and Barbecue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Touchmark, 2911 SE Village Loop in east Vancouver. Close to 200 individual car enthusiasts, representing dozens of car clubs, will show off their vehicles. The event is free, but donations will be accepted for  Loaves & Fishes. To register, contact Kellie Wagnild at 360-254-2866 or KJW@Touchmark.com. For the original article, click here.

• Craft Winefest of Vancouver this weekend

  More than 20 local wineries from Southwest Washington and surrounding communities will gather at the first-ever Craft Winefest of Vancouver  June 21 through 23 in Esther Short Park. Along with some of the most notable local wineries in attendance and close to 100 wines offered, several Vancouver restaurants and food vendors will offer culinary choices. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Clark County Rotary Foundation‘s scholarship program. For the full story, click here.

• Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company perform June 21

  Classic rock bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company will perform at the Sleep Country Amphitheater in Ridgefield  Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone 1-800-745-3000. Reserved seating tickets are $60.50, $50.50 and $40.50 and lawn seating tickets are $26.00. For the original story, click here.

• Community Services Northwest names new executive director

  The Board of Directors of Community Services Northwest voted unanimously to name John “Bunk” Moren as its new executive director. Moren has been serving as interim director since Sharon Campbell-Krupski left the position in January. Moren formerly served as program manager for mental health and addictions at the agency. He has a master’s degree in science in education from Pace University and has worked in behavioral health for 11 years. He recently completed his nursing degree. Community Services Northwest (CSN) is a non-profit agency that provides outpatient mental health, chemical dependency and supportive housing services to some of the most vulnerable individuals in Clark County.

• Local brewery wins gold medal at Washington State Beer Awards

  After having been open for only 8 months, Vancouver’s own Loowit Brewing Company has received statewide recognition for excellence in their beer “Vandalia Summer Ale”, which was awarded a gold medal in the fruit beer category of the Washington Beer Awards. Loowit Brewing was the only SW Washington brewery to receive a medal and is proud to represent the burgeoning brewing scene in Vancouver. The winning ale is dry-hopped and brewed with 42 pounds of raspberries. The Washington Beer Awards drew over 400 entries and 70 breweries throughout the state. For more information, visit http://wabeerawards.com.

• Historical Promotion Grants applications accepted now through Sept. 13

  The Board of County Commissioners awards grants to encourage local historical preservation efforts and programs, and applications for 2014 grants now are being accepted by the Historical Promotion Grants Advisory Committee. Clark County established the Historical Promotion Grants Program to increase awareness and education among local residents and better preserve, exhibit and interpret historical collections. Grants typically range from $3,000 to $15,000, although applicants may request more. Grants will be awarded in December and money will become available in January 2014. For an application, click here, or contact Axel Swanson in the Commissioners’ Office at 360-397-2232 or axel.swanson@clark.wa.gov. For more information, click here.

• WSUV offers workshop on financial aid and scholarships this evening

  Learn how to pay for college at WSUV’s A – Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships Workshop offered June through August in the Student Services building, room 101. Free and open to the public, this workshop is a jumping-off point for all college-bound students no matter their age, current financial situation or school they plan to attend. The first workshop will be today, Tuesday, June 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information including the additional workshop dates, click here.

• “Tastes & Tunes” celebration July 6, bonus for tickets purchased before July 1

  A variety of local wines, beers and food plus the sweet summer melodies of Portland’s Patrick Lamb and his band are on tap for the second annual “Tastes & Tunes” Saturday, July 6, from 3 to 9 p.m., at Gardner Center in Battle Ground. Proceeds will benefit the the Battle Ground Rotary. Tickets purchased before July 1 are $30. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit www.battlegroundrotary.org or call Vivian Ashworth, at 360-980-0131. Find the original article here.

• Pacific Lifestyle Homes Care Cup Golf Tournament June 21

  The Pacific Lifestyle Homes Care Cup, one of the largest charity golf tournaments in Southwest Washington, will be held next Friday, June 21, at Camas Meadows Golf Club, 4105 NW Camas Meadows Dr. in Camas. Tickets are $200 per person or $800 for a four person team. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the shotgun start will be at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit Innovative Services Northwest. For further information, visit www.innovativeservicesnw.org. To register, call  Laurie Giacomini at 360-600-8995. For original article click here.

• Volunteers need for “Sunday Streets Alive” event Aug. 18

  Vancouver will be hosting Clark County’s first open street event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 18, 2013. Sunday Streets Alive, presented by Kaiser Permanente, is a free 4.2 mile course open for the community to walk, bicycle, skate, run, dance, play games and more. There are many different types of volunteer positions available. Over 300 volunteers will be needed for the event. For more information and to register to volunteer, call 360-487-8324, or click here. For the original story, click here.

• YWCA presents “Bridging Generations: 2013 Community Celebration” June 18

  The YWCA Clark County invites the public to its annual “Bridging Generations: 2013 Community Celebration” from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 in the YWCA Community Room, 3609 Main St. in Vancouver. The event is free and family friendly. Community leaders will discuss the changes between past and present, and how differences between generations contribute to community and diversity. Mayor Tim Leavitt will speak, and there will be a performance by a local belly dancing group. For the full story, click here.

• “Around the World in 80 Days” premiers at the Magenta Theater this Friday

  The Magenta Theater Company, located in the heart of downtown, presents Around The World in 80 Days, directed by Bryan Schmidt. The play starts at 7:30 p.m., showing June 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28. Matinee performances will be held at 2 p.m. June 22 and 29. Tickets are $12 to $15, available at www.magentatheater.com. For the original article, click here.

• Free training for Landlords in Clark and Cowlitz Counties June 22

  Landlords in Clark and Cowlitz Counties are invited to a free training session for landlords Saturday, June 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center for Community Health, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. A variety of routine and emerging issues will be discussed including: Effective applicant screening techniques; Guidelines for regulating marijuana use in rentals; Lease language; and Partnering with public health agencies to support property management goals. Lunch and training materials are provided free. Parking is available in the lot north of the center. It is presented by John H. Campbell, a nationally-recognized expert on landlord-tenant problem-solving. To register, contact Carole Dalton at 360-397-8126 or Carole.Dalton@clark.wa.gov. 

• Register now for CREDC’s “Swimming with the Sharks” Pub Talk

  The Columbia River Economic Development Council will host a new Pub Talk next Tuesday, June 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Fort Vancouver Military Barracks, 600 Hathaway Blvd. in Vancouver. Tickets are $20 for pre-registration, $30 at the door. For further details visit www.credc.org. Click here for the original story.