Farmers, Artisans and Entertainers.

Whether you are shopping for fresh and local produce, baked goods or arts and crafts…or just wanting a little entertainment…you should check out the Battle Ground Village Outdoor Market.  

“At the intersection of life and art, creativity and commerce, Battle Ground Village is pleased to announce the Battle Ground Village Outdoor Market. This market offers a fresh-air alternative to conventional art shows, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful summer days the Pacific Northwest is known for. Side by side, established craftsmen and women, bakers, farmers, entertainers, undiscovered talents and innovative artists can display their work in an open-air lifestyle shopping center known as Battle Ground Village.

This outdoor market is adjacent to the Village Square, the Tower Clock and the Battle Ground Community Library. As a visitor to the market, you will be sure to find special treasures for yourself, creative gifts for loved ones, fresh produce and tasty treats to snack on while you browse or to take home with you! Entertainment will also be continuous throughout the market.” Battle Ground Village Outdoor Market

Enjoy Battle Ground Village Outdoor Market every Saturday beginning May 5, 2012 through July 28, 2012 from 9am to 2pm; and then every Friday beginning August 3 through September 14, 2012 from 3pm – 7:30pm. The Friday Outdoor Market will have the same fun and special events as the Saturday market, as well as Movies in the Park every Friday in August after the Market starting at dusk (about 8:45pm). Bring your blanket, a low chair & join in the fun!

For more information, visit Battle Ground Village Outdoor Market

The Pageant Begins.

Come see who will be crowned Mr. Columbia River 2012 at the Mr. CR Pageant on Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 pm at the Skyview High School Auditorium.

The Mr. CR Pageant is a mock beauty pageant where the contestants (Columbia River High School Seniors) compete in various dance routines. And, as fun as the Grand Finale evening may be, these guys have been working hard all year long raising funds for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital; the contestant who raised the most money will be the new king. Your contestants this year are Jon Rapazc, John Mahoney, Mack Stromme, Justin Frost, Andrew Morgan, Heath Brinkman, Lucas Braafladt, Tanner Bogart, Micheal Barnes, Vince Castaldi, Eli Gaynor, Chris Boe, Chris Perez, Heath Meler, and Josh Nehnevaj.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment and help raise funds for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at the Mr. Columbia River Pageant on Monday, May 12, 2012 at 6 pm in the Skyview High School Auditorium (And no, that’s not a typo. The Mr CR Pageant will be held at Skyview). Tickets are available in advance for $10 or at the door for $15. All proceeds will be donated to Doernbecher’s.

This post: “Who Will Be Mr. Columbia River 2012?” was originally featured at Hazel Dell Live!

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

Playing with the Big Toys.

The ever popular Annual Dozer Days event, presented by the Nutter Foundation, will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, 2012, between 11 am and 4 pm at the Cemex/Fisher Quarry (just off Highway 14 at the 192nd Ave Exit).

Dozer Days is Vancouver’s Construction Theme Park, where kids are encouraged to go play in the dirt with some toys. Only these toys are the big yellow dozers, dump trucks, backhoes, and other heavy equipment kids are usually told to stay away from. But not during Dozer Days, where kids get to hop in the driver’s seat and actually drive those big rigs (with a professional operator at their side). Not only is it a dream come true for kids (and fun for the whole family), the event also benefits many local, children’s charities.

“Dozer Day is an exciting event for the entire family. The fun begins with a ride into the event on a gigantic articulated hauler. Kids of all ages enjoy riding every kind of heavy equipment, digging for treasures, tire/pipe crawls and collecting stickers for their hard hats. Grown-ups’ favorites include: digging for real diamonds and competing for bragging rights at the equipment rodeo just to name a few.” ~Dozer Day

Purchase tickets in advance online or at participating iQ Credit Unions, First Independent Banks, Riverview Community Banks and On-Point Community Credit Unions for $5 for children and seniors, $7 for adults (day of the event will be $8/$10), you’ll not only save yourself some cash, but you won’t have to wait in line for tickets when you get there. For more information, visit the Nutter Foundation Dozer Day, or call 360-759-2300.

The Salvation Army Celebrates more than 120 Years of Service in Vancouver

Join the Salvation Army, emcee Bruce Hagensen, Guest Speaker Pat Jolotta, and 2012 Honoree Ed Lynch as they share success stories of compassionate care given to children, adults and seniors who the Salvation Army serves every day.

With heart to God and hand to man, The Salvation Army strives to meet the basic needs of all who come seeking help. Taking immediate care of the basic human needs of food, shelter, clothing and safety is an important first step in the development of a more positive and permanent change in the people we help.

The Harvesting Hope Celebration Luncheon is sponsored by our friends at Riverview Bank. You won’t want to miss it, Thursday, May 10 at noon at the Heathman Lodge, there are still tickets available.

Can’t attend, but would love to donate? The Salvation Army would welcome your support, visit them here.

Not in as position to donate, but still want to help? Many hands make light work, find out about Volunteer Opportunities.

You Can Bet Friday Will be a Full House.

May’s first Friday event in downtown Camas is sure to be a winner.  Join the Downtown Camas Association for the Camas First Friday Poker Tour on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 5 to 8 pm.

The downtown streets will be filled with players collecting their cards from participating merchants to then turn them in for a winning hand at Camas Antiques. Each merchant will have poker cards for players and the more you get the better your cards!

All player cards must be turned in by 8 p.m. and winners will be announced.  There are over 20 merchants participating with awards handed out to the top five hands.

First Friday events are a great way to get out and support your local businesses, check out new shops and meet new friends. You can bet Friday will be a full house. For more information, please check www.downtowncamas.com

21st Annual Event at Esther Short Park.

What better way to celebrate Be Kind to Animals week than by participating in the 21st Annual Walk Run for the Animals on Saturday, May, 5, 2012 at Esther Short Park. This event helps support the animal care and rescue efforts of the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.

So grab your favorite walking buddy (two or four legged) and head down to Esther Short Park. The morning will begin with a pancake breakfast, then choose your route (5K Fun Run, 3 Mile Walk or 1.5 Mile Walk) along the scenic Columbia River trail. Ending back at Esther Short Park, participants and their pets will enjoy a variety of festivities including live music, contests and prizes, vendor and retail booths, and more. The Vancouver Farmers Market will also be in full swing adjacent to Esther Short Park beginning at 9:00am on event day. 

 ”Whether you’re a runner, walker, pet-lover or just a people-watcher, while you’re joining us at Esther Short Park this Saturday for the Walk Run for the Animals, don’t forget to bring your donation of gently used items to the ReTails Thrift Store donation trailer located on the northeast corner of the park on event day. Every time you choose to donate your unwanted clothing and household items…you participate in helping the Humane Society afford food, shelter, medical care and humane education programs to positively affect thousands of animals and citizens a year.” ~Humane Society of Southwest Washington

For more information, visit the Humane Society of Southwest Washington 21st Annual Walk Run for the Animals.

Learn How to Save a Life.

Clark County Fire District 6 and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center are challenging the community to become a life- saving one by seeing how many members of our community can be trained in CPR in a single evening. The training is free and open to the public of all ages. It will be held at Salmon Creek Elementary School Thursday, May 24th from 6:30-8 p.m.

About 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one. Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. In just a single evening, you can learn how to save a life.

This training does not certify you in CPR/First Aid, which means you will not be issued a CPR/First Aid card, but it does teach you the skills you’ll need to save the life of person that goes into sudden cardiac arrest.

Are you up for the challenge? For more information, or to register for this FREE event, visit Clark County Fire District 6. 

This post: “Salmon Creek CPR Challenge” 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!

Urban Abundance Seed Swap and More.

Updated 5/01/2012: Join Urban Abundance for their May presentation of Grow Vancouver: Local Food and Land Use, on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Hudson Bay High School (1601 E McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver, WA) from 6:30 to 8:30.

“How we plan our cities and the codes and regulations that govern our communities, can help to grow our local food system or can add hardship to a struggling ag businesses. Hear local planners and farmers talk about how planning in Clark County can localize our food system, create a thriving local food economy and how regulations affect farmers.

Gordon M. Euler- Clark County Community Planning – Permits for ag buildings and Clark Counties tool for ag land conservations, the Rural Reserve.

Brendon Haggerty- Clark County Public Health Planner – Hear how the new Health Chapter of the Comprehensive plan will guide our local food system.

Michele Bloomquist- Heisen house vineyards www.heisenhousevineyards.com - Hear one farmers experience with permits and regulations and a new campaign FARRM(Farmers Against Restrictive Regulatory Measures).

Got garden questions?
Want to get your hands dirty in a garden project?
Looking for help with a garden project?
Join Grow Vancouver!

HIGHLIGHTS:
Seed Station – Bring seed to trade with neighbors. Urban Abundance also has 200+ pounds of free veggie seed to give away. Come with baggies to take some home.

**Kid Fun/child care provided.
***Snack trays by JoFoody catering available, but bring your own foods dishes to share.

For more info contact:
Contact info@myurbanabundance.org”

For more information, visit Urban Abundance or call  360-771-1296.

Remember When.

The 48th Annual Hazel Dell Parade of Bands will be Saturday, May 19, 2012 with a 10:30 am start time; this year’s theme is “Remember When”. Do you remember what you were doing the Spring of 1964? Well, if you played Little League, were in the local High School Band, or a Boy Scout that year and lived in Vancouver, WA; chances are pretty good you were in a parade!

The Hazel Dell Parade of Bands is the largest parade in SW Washington and features local High School and Middle School marching bands from Clark County and surrounding areas. But, there are also decorated floats, vintage cars, clowns, fire trucks, horses, and (a favorite with a lot of parade viewers) CANDY! Sponsored by the Hazel Dell Salmon Creek Business Association and Bomber Brothers Fireworks, the 2012 Grand Marshals are Roy Sonney (Yard ‘N Garden Land), Bob Kuzma (Kuzma Motors) and Mike Collins (Larry O. Collins, Inc).

A popular addition to the parade is the Max Muscle Parade Run. Now in it’s third year, the Parade Run begins just prior to the parade and follows the same route as the Hazel Dell Parade (approx. 5K). Start time is 10 am at the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store (by Kohls); so not only do you get to sleep in, you get to dress up (costumes optional), have fun with your friends, and start a Parade! Finish in front of Buffalo Wild Wings where a beer garden, wings and a special viewing area awaits finishers! Proceeds from this fun run or walk will benefit the Sarah J Anderson Holiday Party. For more information or to register, visit Energy Events.

“The Parade of Bands is a signature event for the Hazel Dell Salmon Creek area, but really serves spectators from Felida to Fisher’s Landing, from Woodland to Washougal.  It’s an event that all of Clark County and Southwest Washington can be proud of.

The Parade brings back great memories for participants of the past and creates new moments to cherish for many more. (Personal note, I still remember several years of riding in the back of trucks for my Hazel Dell Little League teams.)

So get there early to get a great viewing area along Hwy. 99, or wherever your favorite spot may be.  And remember, please support your local Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek businesses that make this awesome event happen.” ~Mitch Canton, Clark County Live! (Live! Local Media)

This post: “Hazel Dell Parade of Bands 2012″ was originally featured at Hazel Dell Live!

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

Hosted by Prairie High School Special Education Department.

The Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair will be held Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 9 am to 3 pm at Prairie High School. This FREE event is designed to provide information and resources to families of children and young adults with special needs regardless of age (birth – 21) or nature of disability (mild-severe).

The fair will provide the opportunity to listen to Keynote Speakers, visit with local businesses/agencies serving families of children with special needs and attend informational workshops; including the latest iPad Apps, Advocacy, Estate Planning, Music Therapy, Fun, Fitness and so much more!

“We understand that we live in a community that offers resources to families of students with special needs. We also understand that when you are a parent/guardian of a child with a disability, the resources that will support you and your family may be difficult to find. The ‘system’ is not always easy to navigate. We thought we could help.” ~Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair Committee

For more information, visit the Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair online, or contact Conference Chair Annie Lamberto at 360-885-5049.