News Briefs

• Volunteers needed at Columbia Springs June 22

  Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., this Saturday, June 22 at Columbia Springs. Participants will help remove English Ivy from Columbia Grove, an annex property adjacent to some of the last remaining habitat in the area for spawning chum salmon. All volunteers are welcome, including kids under 14 with parental supervision, and teens under 16 with parental permission. Snacks and tools will be provided. Volunteers are asked to bring appropriate outdoor work clothing, a water bottle, and to wear boots or sturdy shoes. Training and orientation starts at 9 a.m. at Columbia Grove, 3412 SE Riverwood Court, Vancouver. Parking will be located along S.E, Evergreen Highway. To sign-up or for more information, email intern@columbiasprings.org, or call 360-882-0936 ext. 230.

• Joseph M. Kortum announces retirement from PeaceHealth

  After eight years as CEO of Southwest Washington Health System and two years as CEO of the Columbia Network of PeaceHealth, Joseph M. Kortum, MHA, ACHE, has announced plans to retire, effective January 2014. Kortum has played a key role in the growth of access to health services in the region, including the affiliation with PeaceHealth in 2010, as well as the completion of the Firstenburg Tower in 2007 and the development of Southwest Medical Group (now PeaceHealth Medical Group) in 2007. For the full story, click here.

• National Goalball Championships come to Vancouver June 20 – 23

  The Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) has announced that the organization has partnered with the United States Association of Blind Athletes to host the 2013 National Goalball Championships in Vancouver from June 20 through 23 at McLoughlin Middle School, 5802 MacArthur Blvd, Vancouver. The event is free to attend, but donations are welcom. For more information and an event schedule, visit www.nwaba.org. Click here for the original article.

• Vancouver Public Schools wins an Emmy

  Vancouver Public Schools’ (VPS) television studio nabbed its first-ever Northwest Regional Emmy at the 50th annual awards ceremony last Saturday. The studio’s Famous Scientist – Leonardo da Vinci segment beat out teams from Oregon Public Broadcasting; Idaho Public Television; and KING 5 Television of Seattle, in the Health/Science – Segment category. Click here for the original article.

• East County Fire & Rescue hosts Citizen’s Fire & EMS Academy this Saturday

  East County Fire & Rescue (ECFR) invites interested parties to attend the Fire District’s annual Citizen’s Fire & Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., this Saturday, June 22 at Fern Prairie Fire Station #91. All safety gear will be furnished, but students need to bring their own lunch. For more information and to register, call 360-834-4908. For the full story, click here.

• 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.

• “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.

• “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. 

• Commission on Aging presents first year’s work June 18

  The Commission on Aging will present the results of its first year work to the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday, June 18, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The meeting is open to the public. The Commission on Aging was formed in 2012 as an advocacy panel to help the county put into place 91 strategies identified in the Aging Readiness Plan, a community assessment by a countywide citizen task force. At the meeting, commission members will share work underway to implement some Aging Readiness Plan strategies. Highlights include an overview of projects such as Universal Green Design, time banking and TeleHealth. Over the past year the commission completed six strategies and launched another 39. For more information: www.clark.wa.gov/planning/aging/commission.html.