You can! Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through Basic CERT training, citizens can organize themselves and use spontaneous volunteers to manage utilities, put out small fires, provide basic medical first aid, search for and rescue victims calmly, safely, and efficiently.

Clark County Fire District 6 will begin CERT training classes on Thursday, February 16, 2012. The classes will be held at Clark County Fire District 6, Hazel Dell  (8800 NE Hazel Dell Avenue).  Cost to participate is $30; knowledge gained, priceless.

For more information, contact Dave Sinclair at 360-576-1195.

This post: “When Disaster Strikes Your Community” was originally featured at Salmon Creek Live!

For more detailed neighborhood coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events in your Salmon Creek neighborhood, please visit Salmon Creek Live!

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

Get a head start on Valentine’s Day at the Camas First Friday Event, A Chocolate Affair to Remember, this Friday, February 3, 2012 between 5 pm and 8pm.

Back by popular demand, participating Downtown Camas businesses will be staying open late serving up sweet treats, including a chocolate fountain, truffle tasting, specialty chocolate drinks and more. Participating businesses will be having a “Guess how much candy is in the jar” contest; be sure to make your best guess as the winner not only gets to take home the candy, but wins a Valentine’s Basket from the merchants. You will also have the opportunity to purchase chocolates and other romantic gifts for your Valentine!

The Camas First Friday events promote downtown business by offering shoppers art, dining, and after hours fun. These events take place the first Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. and are put on through the Downtown Camas Association, a non-profit organization that is part of the Washington Main Street Program.

For more information, visit Downtown Camas Association, or call (360) 216-7378.

Do you have a dog, or know someone who does? Then you will want to check out the Battle Ground Barkery for some yummy treats, called Doggie Biscotti, for Fido! These biscuits contain no wheat, are all natural, and have no preservatives.

Doggie Biscotti is made by students with disabilities at Battle Ground High School as part of their vocational training. Students make the dough, roll it, cut them out in the shape of a dog bone, bake and then package them.  They send them to “Futures,” a Community Based Transition program for students, ages 18-21. These students market the product and deliver to customers in the community. This is a wonderful partnership, providing skills and job opportunities for students with disabilities as well as a quality product.

You can buy Doggie Biscotti in bulk direct from the Battle Ground Barkery (20 Bags of 10 Biscuits each for $20) or from local retailers and businesses (click here for Battle Ground Barkery Partnerships). Proceeds from the “Doggie Biscotti” are used to support vocational training programs at Battle Ground High School in Battle Ground, Washington.

Call 360-600-7026 for more information.

*Originally published 8/25/2010. Updated 2/1/2012.

Visit Confluence Winery (19111 NW 67th Ave,Ridgefield) for an evening of fun including a silent auction, door prizes, live music, hors d’oeuvres, and wine (of course!) on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Funds raised will benefit the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe.

“The quaint community of Ridgefield, WA is home to the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe, a team of horses and riders dedicated to the philanthropic value of equestrian art. The troupe now travels along the west coast and performs with some of the world’s most beautiful and talented equines including Friesian, Andalusian and Spotted Baroque horses. Comprised mainly of stallions, the troupe performs choreographed dances to music, highlighting the trick training of Susan Dyer-DeBoer, the troupe’s founder and organizer.

The BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe self-funds the majority of these costs and does so in honor of the immeasurable value these horses bring to the hearts of their public. In times like these, touching others through love is priceless.

In 2012, the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe will be piloting a one hour show in Albany, Oregon entitled “If Wishes Were Horses”. The intent is to take the viewer along on a journey of dreams that really do come true. The costs for creating such a production are significant and in an attempt to help offset these costs, the troupe and their supporters are hosting a silent auction to raise funds. Your help will keep the BlackPearls dancing for many others to enjoy.

Please join us on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 5-8 pm at Confluence Winery, located at 19111 NW 67th Avenue, Ridgefield, WA. We will provide a slideshow of some of our performances, along with the beautiful, live music of the Montavilla Jazz Committee. Premium Confluence wine will be available for purchase, along with complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

Donations for this auction will also be accepted until January 21, 2012. Items to be auctioned vary greatly from fine art to local artisan goods and services to stud fees, tack and much more. Cash and checks accepted. Payment may also be made by PayPal within 24 hours of auction completion. We look forward to seeing you there!” ~The BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe

Tickets are $15 per person, or $25 per couple; call 360-909-6251 for more information.

Thanks to Susan Dyer-DeBoer of FeatherDance Equine Entertainment for the information!

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.

Cold, wet, rainy, snowy…must be time for Baseball! Well, time to get signed up for baseball or softball!

Registration for the Spring 2012 Baseball and Softball season are currently underway. In person registrations will take place Wednesday, January 18, 2012 between 5pm and 8pm, and Tuesday, January 24, 2012 between 5 pm and 8 pm at the Salmon Creek Round Table Pizza (13009 NE Hwy 99). You can also register online at Salmon Creek Little League. All players must be 5 years old by April 30, 2012; a Birth Certificate will be required for all new players.

Opening Day Ceremonies and Games will take place at the new Luke Jensen Sports Park on Saturday, March 17, 2012!

For more information, visit Salmon Creek Little League online.

This post: “Salmon Creek Little League Sign Ups” was originally featured at Salmon Creek Live!

For more detailed neighborhood coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events in your Salmon Creek neighborhood, please visit Salmon Creek Live!

Updated 1/16/2012: Will it snow in Clark County? And, if it does, many residents, both young and not so young, wanna know, “Is school going to be closed or delayed?”

“The decision to close schools or delay opening them is not taken lightly. The priority is always the safety of students and staff.” Transportation crews begin driving routes as early as 3 am on days of inclement weather; and that information, along with advice from a meteorologist are all taken into consideration for delays or closures. Also keep in mind, road conditions and terrain can vary greatly across Clark County, and even within the same school district.

To stay up to date on what Emergency Notifications are going on in your school district, the list below includes the school districts within Clark County Washington with the link to their Emergency Notification system. You can also sign up to receive instant notification by text message, email, or Twitter alert.

Battle Ground School District
Camas School District
ESD 112
Evergreen School District
Green Mountain School District
Hockinson School District
LaCenter School District
Ridgefield School District
SW Washington Child Care
Vancouver School District
WA School for the Blind
WA School for the Deaf
Washougal School District

*Originally published November 21, 2010.

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!