Punxsutawney Phil may hog most of the attention on Groundhog Day, but Oregon Zoo traditionalists say Mayzie the hedgehog is the one to watch. The spiny little creature will make her prediction Sunday, Feb. 2, at 10:30 a.m. in the zoo’s entry plaza. Hedgehog Day festivities are free and open to the public. A zoo admission ticket is not required to access the main entry plaza. “Hedgehogs are the true weather-prediction experts,” says Kim Smith, zoo director. “The groundhog is actually a latecomer to the game. It was only when immigrants to the United States realized their new home didn’t have hedgehogs that they turned to the groundhog. Mayzie is bringing the holiday back to its origins.” For more information, visit www.oregon.zoo.org.

Clark County Fire District 6 is currently offering enrollment for its spring Community Emergency Response Team Training (CERT). CERT is the ideal opportunity for citizens to prepare themselves, and be able to help their fellow citizens, during a localized disaster. The course costs $30.

The 20+ hour program of seven CERT training classes begins Thursday, Feb. 20, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Most classes will be held on Thursdays with the exception of two Saturday mornings when students will test their skills during a disaster simulation drill.   

Participants receive a CERT hardhat, vest, gloves, and protective eyewear. Registration forms are available online at www.ccfd6.org/cert.html or in person at District 6 Headquarters, 8800 NE Hazel Dell Ave. The registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 20. Minimum age is 18 without an adult; there is no maximum age. People of all skills and abilities are encouraged to participate.

For further details, contact David Sinclair, CERT Training Officer, Clark County Fire District 6, at 360-576-1195 or cert@ccfd6.org.

The 2012 Wastebuster winners, photo courtesy of Clark County.

Clark County Environmental Services is looking for households to compete in the county’s waste reduction challenge. After two successful programs, Clark County will launch a third “Green Neighbors are Wastebusters” competition on March 8. All Wastebusters will be honored at the end of the challenge. The household with the biggest average waste reduction will be awarded a prize and the title of “Top Wastebuster.”

Wastebusters pits households against each other in a good-natured competition to reduce their overall volume of waste and encourage recycling and waste reduction in their communities. Winners will be chosen based on weekly weigh-ins over a six-week period. The winning household in 2012 applied enough tips to reduce its waste by 72 percent.

Participants are expected to attend an orientation, record weekly trash volume and submit updates about what they learn during the process. They will receive weekly instructions and challenges to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling, as well as worm bins and other items to help reduce waste. Clark County’s competition will be tracked online. Information also will be posted online at:www.clark.wa.gov/recycle/wastebusters.html.

County residents interested in the Wastebusters challenge should explain, in a couple of paragraphs, why they want to participate in the competition and submit it to Rachel.Rivers@clark.wa.gov. Deadline is February 28.

Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office has announced its board of directors and officers for 2014. The board of directors is comprised of professionals from local hotels, attractions, restaurants, facilities and government officials who are responsible for building community-wide support for the tourism industry in Clark County.

For the 2014 term, Kari Jonassen, general manager of Homewood Suites by Hilton, assumes the position of board chair. Paul Thornton, general manager of Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay, will fulfill the role of vice chair, and Carla Rise, general manager of Residence Inn by Marriott, has been elected secretary/treasurer. New directors include Vancouver Farmers Market Executive Director Jordan Boldt and Clark County Event Center and Fairgrounds Executive Director and CEO John Morrison.

The Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office is an economic development organization responsible for competitively marketing Vancouver and the surrounding area as a destination for meetings, conventions, and group and leisure travelers. The organization also markets the area as a venue for sports events through the Vancouver USA Regional Sports Commission. Its mission is to increase visitor spending in Vancouver and Clark County. For more information, call 360-750-1553 or visit www.VisitVancouverUSA.com.