What are these kids wishing for? To bring hope and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The St. Joseph Church Youth Group are sponsoring “A Wish Come True“; a fundraising event to remember for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 6 pm to 10pm in the Marion Hall at St. Joseph Church (400 S Andresen, Vancouver).

Enjoy all you can eat appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages, dancing, bingo, a silent auction and a live auction, as well as FREE on-site childcare! Tickets are available for $15 per couple, or $10 individual; to purchase, please contact Laura at 360-513-6799.

Since 1980, the Make-a-Wish Foundation has given hope, strength and joy to children (and their families) with life-threatening medical conditions. For more information on the Make-a-Wish Foundation, click here.

Join your fellow community members in making a difference in Clark County, become a Master Composter Recycler and help create a greener future! Registration is open for applicants for 2012 training program! Master Composter/Recycler Volunteer training provides community members with basic tools and knowledge which reduce household waste, lessen greenhouse gasses, and create healthy soils.

Master Composter/Recyclers attend a ten-session course that explores waste reduction topics such as: backyard composting, vermicomposting, recycling, greener consumer choices, green-building, interpretive techniques, and more. They then share what they have learned about waste reduction, composting and recycling with the Clark County Community.

Master Composter/Recyclers (MCR) Volunteers “payback” their training by helping to represent the MCR Program at community events such as fairs, celebrations and farmer’s markets; helping to host workshops and lectures; assisting with developing educational resources; or perhaps growing redworms for workshops, maintaining composting demonstration sites; or helping with administrative tasks.

The next course begins the first week of February 2012 and is now accepting applications. Training will occur Thursday evenings, but there will also be  a Saturday hot compost pile building activity and a Saturday field trip. Download your application here.

“Be the change,” apply to be a Master Composter Recycler now! For more information, visit Columbia Springs (12208 SE Evergreen Hwy) or call 360-882-0936.

Sharing, Educating, Inspiring

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the largest performing arts organization in Southwest Washington, is now in its 33rd season offering Classical Concerts and Special Events through Spring 2012.

It’s a “Bold New Beginning” for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra this year. Still providing world-renowned classical music and promoting young artists, this year they will also offer a Chamber Music Series and Music Alive!

“For the first time ever, we are excited to launch Music Alive!, a performance collaborative for Southwest Washington. This new initiative will elevate the arts and music through key partnerships with organizations such as Vancouver Children’s Opera, the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, Columbia Dance and others, while providing an array of opportunities for involvement through outreach, education, entertainment and community. As a part of Music Alive! The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra launches a Chamber Music Series with more exciting plans in the works. More than ever before, The VSO is making music heard well beyond Skyview!” ~Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Concert Guide

Classical Concerts, held in the Skyview Concert Hall, will take place January 28 and 29, April 14 and 15, and May 26 and 27, 2012. The VSO Chamber Group Special Events will take place on February 3 and March 23, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church (309 W 39th St, Vancouver); and February 5 and March 25, 2012m at Zion Lutheran Church (824 NE 4th Ave, Camas). The 18th Annual Young Artists Concerto Competition will take place on February 19, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church.

For more information on upcoming events, including tickets, please visit the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Not so with Vancouver’s local bank, Riverview Community Bank. As part of their recent Annual Food Drive, Riverview has already generated the equivalent of 428,000 pounds of food in donations and cash from their employees, clients, friends and media partners. The effort supports local food banks, and it just one way that Riverview gives back in our community.

But they’re not done yet. Riverview is taking food and donations at all locations through Tuesday, January 17, as they look to finish strong and tip the scales at 500,000 pounds (that’s half a million, for us not used to seeing so many zeros).

Riverview is also donating $1 for when folks “like” and “share” on their facebook page, so it can be a simple couple of clicks to add 40 pounds to this great cause.

We can’t ‘weight’ to see how they finish.

The Clark County Skills Center Automotive Technology Class is in the running to win $25,000 towards a shop overhaul; they’ve already done all the work, you just need to “LIKE” it. Voting opened today (January 11, 2012) and ends Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11 am.

Here’s how we (and that includes you) can help: Log in to Facebook, go to the UTI Foundation Facebook page and “Like” it, click the “Auto Shop Video” tab on the left, then “VOTE” for the “CCSC Auto Submission”.  Voting so easy a caveman can do it (watch the video, you’ll understand ) And, hey, while you’re on Facebook, be sure to visit us, Clark County Live!

The guys from the Clark County Skills Center Automotive Technology class put together a funny video for their entry; they wrote, filmed and edited their video in just two days to meet the December 9th deadline; and are now one of the top eight finalists in the nation for a grand prize $25,000 from the Universal Technical Institute (UTI). “The mission of UTI Foundation is to support and encourage technical education for the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, NASCAR and other transportation industries through scholarships, grants, career development and other special programs.”

“The Clark County Skills Center began in 1983 as a cooperative educational venture between eight Southwest Washington School Districts. The vision of those districts was to create a school, in partnership with business, “to prepare students for the work force” by offering students the opportunity to be trained in technical career areas too expensive for a single district to fund.”

To find out more about the opportunities available at the Skills Center, visit the Clark County Skills Center, the Clark County Skills Center Foundation, or take a real life VIP Tour (call Jan Stickland at 360-604-1050 x2151) and see that “Excellence, innovation, and a passionate spirit define the Clark County Skills Center.”

*Special thanks to Tamy Hicks for the tip! If you have an event you would like to share, please let us know!

The Goddard School, located at 13201 NE 27th Avenue in the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver, is scheduled to open summer 2012; offering early childhood education, and childcare, for children ages six weeks to six years old.

“The new state-of-the-art 8,000 square foot building is conveniently situated between Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital and Washington State University Vancouver, near the junctions of both Interstate 5 and Interstate 205; it has been designed to accommodate approximately 130 children from six weeks to six years old. The new school will offer flexible schedules for children Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Goddard School offers a year-round program where children are encouraged to develop at their own pace in a warm environment supported by a team of dedicated teachers. The Goddard School FLEX™ Learning Program is based on a unique learning continuum that encompasses developmental guidelines, formative assessments and child-focused lesson plans that are delivered in a creative and fun environment with a child-centered approach to meet each child’s individual needs.”

Michelle Solari, owner of the Goddard School in Salmon Creek, says the school will provide the community with approximately 25 new job opportunities for full- and part-time faculty members. “I am eager to welcome children into this nurturing environment with dedicated professional teachers,” says Michelle. “Along with our core curriculum, we include several enrichment programs such as foreign language and yoga which are specifically designed to encourage children’s lifelong love of learning.”

For an opportunity to meet the School owner and learn more about The Goddard School program, all are invited to visit The Goddard School table at the MOMS Club Preschool Fair on Saturday, January 21st, from 11am to 3pm at the Vancouver Community Library (901 C Street, Vancouver).

For more information call Michelle at 360-573-2466.

“The shift is about to hit the fan.” The movie documentary “I Am“ will be shown at the Kiggins Theatre Downtown Vancouver (1011 Main Street, Vancouver) at 7 pm on Monday, January 16 and Tuesday, January 17, 2012; admission is FREE!

“I AM is an utterly engaging and entertaining non-fiction film that poses two practical and provocative questions: what’s wrong with our world, and what can we do to make it better? The filmmaker behind the inquiry is Tom Shadyac, one of Hollywood’s leading comedy practitioners and the creative force behind such blockbusters as “Ace Ventura,” “Liar Liar,” “The Nutty Professor,” and “Bruce Almighty.” However, in I AM, Shadyac steps in front of the camera to recount what happened to him after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to share his own awakening to his prior life of excess and greed, and to investigate how he as an individual, and we as a race, could improve the way we live and walk in the world.” ~ I AM

The Kiggins Theatre, named after former Vancouver Mayor JP Kiggins and a downtown landmark since 1936, reopened in 2011 after a year and a half of extensive renovations. They offer not only movies, but community events, art and music are also an integral part of the Kiggins schedule in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

For more information, visit The New Kiggins Theatre or call 360-816-0352

Second Saturdays at the Water Resources Education Center are not only fun, they’re free!

Each second Saturday of the month, from 1 to 3 p.m., kids and their families are invited to explore a different topic through hands-on activities, games and stories. Events at the Water Resources Education Center (4600 Se Columbia Way, Vancouver) in Vancouver are designed for hands on fun for the whole family. When you visit the Water Center, you’ll experience a variety of exhibits, events and interactive educational programs designed to teach us how to be better stewards. But, the best part is..it’s fun!

Here’s what’s “on tap” for the 2012 Second Saturdays at the Water Resources Education Center:

January 14, 2012: Wondrous Weather Around Us! Rain or shine, Pacific Northwest weather can be fascinating!

February 11, 2012: Interesting Inventions! Inquisitive young minds can try their hands at re-creating and learning about several interesting inventions.

March 10, 2012: World Water Day. How much water is used to create some of our favorite foods? Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Join us and learn more about water through interactive, child-friendly activities.

April 14, 2012: Herps. Amphibians and reptiles are intriguing in how they move, live and eat.

May 12, 2012: Creature Families. Do all creatures have families?

June 9, 2012: Get Outdoors Day. Visit us at Fort Vancouver for the fun filled day of activities to help get you and your family outdoors.

July 14, 2012: Bubbles. Let’s celebrate summer with bubble fun.

August 11, 2012: Rocks and Soil. Explore rocks and soil! Not all rocks are the same.

September 8, 2012: Columbia Flyway. This is a partnership event and part of the Columbia Flyway Show.

October 13, 2012: Urban Wildlife. Is there wildlife in your neighborhood?

November 10, 2012: American Indian Heritage Month. Join us for our annual observance of American Indian Heritage Month.

December 8, 2012: Recycle Music. Recycle Man and other musicians recycle every day household items to help them make music.

The Second Annual National Unpublished Writers’ Day Workshop at the Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver) will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2012 between noon and 5 pm.

“National Unpublished Writers’ Day is free, both in terms of admission and in the spirit of a sixties “happening” with their multiple, simultaneous events and opportunities. We do, however, welcome any contributions and donations. The event will feature a series of “creative stations” and workshops around the Museum, each offering different opportunities to learn or experience something associated with different aspects or kinds of writing. These Creation Stations and workshops serve to highlight a broad approach to writing and offer a wide array of information, theory, and practice for our visitors.

Creative stations will include: Zines, Editing/resumé writing, Writing for mobile media, Poetry, Spontaneous writing, Comedy writing, Creative writing, Radio writing, and Descriptive writing.” ~Clark County Historical Museum

This event highlights the Brautigan Library Collection at the Clark County Historical Museum, and is sponsored by Riverview Community Bank, Washington State University Vancouver and the Clark County Historical Museum.

I don’t know about you, but this workshop sounds just “write” for me! See you there.

Clark College will be the celebrating the best young musical talent in Clark County and surrounding areas, and honoring an American art form at the 50th Anniversary of the Annual Clark College Jazz Festival January 26-28, 2012. This Festival attracts over 60 high school vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles for a three day competitive event, with special 50th Anniversary events you won’t want to miss.

Competitions and performances will begin on Thursday and three high school vocal jazz ensembles will  be invited back to perform in the evening Clark College Jazz Festival Vocal Jazz Showcase. On Friday and Saturday, high school jazz ensembles will perform for the privilege of returning to perform in the evening finals competition where they will be ranked for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. On Saturday evening of the festival, one band from the entire festival will be selected to receive the Clark College time honored tradition, the coveted Sweepstakes Trophy.

“As we celebrate this once in a lifetime event, we want to recognize the generations of families from the community who have participated in the festival on and off stage as well as honor the man who founded the festival, the late Mr. Dale Beacock. To honor the generations of community involvement, we are extremely excited to host, The Clark College Golden Alumni Jazz Band under the direction of retired Clark College Band Director, Mr. Chuck Ramsey.

The Clark College Golden Alumni Band will perform at 5 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday after the last high school performance in the afternoon. This all-star big band will feature students from three generations of Clark band directors and will be a fitting tribute to the legacy of the festival.

Another special event for this year’s festival will be two jazz clinics presented by Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Washington State University in Pullman and Clark alumni, Dave Hagelganz. These clinics will take place on Friday and Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in the Ellis F. Dunn Community Room in Gaiser Hall. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this added bonus to our 50th anniversary line up.

Finally, please join us and members of the Beacock family on Saturday evening as we pay tribute to the man who started it all, Mr. Dale Beacock, with a historic special announcement.” ~ Richard Inouye, Clark College Jazz Festival Director

General admission to the festival is $5 per day. Clark College students and children under 12 accompanied by an adult will be admitted free of charge.

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Gaiser Hall is located on the northwest corner of the main campus on Fort Vancouver Way, between McLoughlin Blvd. and Fourth Plain Blvd. Audience members should enter through the North entrance (by the Book Store) or the South entrance.

Welcome to Clark County Live!, all about the People, Places, Activities and Events that make Vancouver, USA and Clark County WA such a great place to be! Thanks for stopping by, we hope you’ll “Like” it.