Where Hope Comes Alive.

Friday Night Lights Clark County Style.  High School Football kicks off this Friday Night across Clark County! There are 17 Teams in the Greater St Helens League, and whether they are 4A, 3A, or 2A; all these young men are playing their A game: for themselves, for their school, for their community… for the love of the game!

Pre-game tailgating, the high school band, cheerleaders, rivalries; it’s hard to not get caught up in the excitement! While you can’t catch ‘em all, here is the Full 2010 Schedule for all 17 GSHL football teams in a week by week format. Who are you rootin’ for?

Battle Ground
Evergreen
Heritage
Skyview
Union
Camas
Columbia River
Fort Vancouver
Kelso
Hudson’s Bay
Mountain View
Prairie
Hockinson
Mark Morris
RA Long
Washougal
Woodland

Actually, They Are Doubling It.

Ever heard of the Principal’s Checkbook? It’s a special fund Principals are able to use to help students in need and has been used to purchase things from new shoes, to warm clothes, to laundry detergent. These days, our schools do more than provide an education for our kids; they are also seen as a resource for food, health supplies, and sometimes basic necessities, which the Principal’s Checkbook helps provide.

This month, First Independent Bank will match, dollar for dollar, every donation made to the Evergreen Public School’s Principal’s Checkbook , up to $5,000. So make a donation, double your giving power and help people right here where you live.

For more information, visit First Independent Bank or Evergreen Public Schools.

Blend Your Own Wine Now Offered at East Fork Cellars.

I have a favorite wine, my husband has a favorite wine, my friends have their favorite wines; and guess what? They aren’t all the same wine. That’s because each of us has a unique set of taste buds that dictate sweet, sour, bitter, etc; so you are your own best expert when it comes to wine. With that in mind, East Fork Cellars now offers Blend Your Own Wine; I was intrigued, so I asked owner Jeffrey Waddell for some more information.

“Blend Your Own wines is a first in the industry where you can blend by the glass and have your special blend on file for future purchase (by the glass, bottle or case) . BYOW is very fun and is an interactive offering at East For Cellars… and the guest can blend their very own wines based on their individual taste. BYOW is easy and you can do this as a couple, or a group.” Even better, you can buy a bottle (or a case  ) of your favorite blend to take home. Be sure to fill out a card with your name and your blend on it, and when you come back to visit, you can order your favorite blend by the glass or decanter.

Hmm, are They Serving Green Eggs and Ham?

No, no Green Eggs and Ham for our teachers for breakfast (that is saved for our first graders later on in the year!)

The first day of school for Salmon Creek Elementary School students is Wednesday, September 8, 2010; but the first day back to school for Salmon Creek Elementary School teachers is Thursday, September 2, 2010.

The Salmon Creek PTA is planning a back to school breakfast for our wonderful teachers at 8 am. We’ll have some new teachers, as well as a new principal, to welcome back to school this year and are looking for some volunteers to help with food and drinks. The plan is to keep it simple for all involved: bagels, pastries, fruit, juice, etc. Can you help?

Please contact Christa Lawson ( kcplawson@comcast.net) for specifics, and thanks for helping make back to school fun for all! By the way, don’t forget about our Back to School Social on Tuesday, September 7 for students and parents!

This post: “Welcome Back Teacher Breakfast”
was originally featured at Salmon Creek Live!

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

4th Annual Community Block Party.

Come one, come all for an afternoon of fun, food and entertainment! Everyone is welcome to this free event hosted by Columbia Christian Church (907 NW 99th St, across from Columbia River High School) on September 11, 2010 between 1 pm and 6 pm.

Carnival Games, Bounce House, Velcro Wall (!), Prizes, and a FREE Raffle. Come and dance to the music of the 60′s, 70′s and beyond with live music by The Reformed. And, of course, everyone’s favorite, FOOD! Snow Cones, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and all the fixings.

For more information, visit Columbia Christian Church, or call 360-574-4393.

This post: “Hazel Dell Hoopla”
was originally featured at Hazel Dell Live!

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

Second Annual Camas Vintage Street Fair.

Tons of unique treasures are waiting to go home with you at the Second Annual Camas Vintage Street Fair taking place this Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 9 am to 4 pm, on 4th Avenue, between Birch and Cedar Streets.

Enjoy beautiful, downtown Camas and visit the many talented vendors who will be there offering many handcrafted and vintage treasures for your home. This event is sponsored by the Downtown Camas Association and  Camas Antiques, which recently was featured in Sunset magazine for its cache of cool finds.

“Camas Antiques also will feature a special weekend sale Aug. 27-29 with special gifts to the first 50 customers (Friday and Saturday only). Appraiser Gary Germer will be on hand 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 28 at the antique store, 305 NE Fourth Ave. So, get Aunt Viola’s ring or grandma’s rocking chair out of the attic and to Downtown Camas for an appraisal. Appraisals are $5 each with a limit of two items per visit.”

Visit the Downtown Camas Association, or call (360) 561-0600 for more information.

It’s Cornbread Making Day!

If you’ve never been to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill, or just haven’t been for a while, this Saturday will be a great time to go! August 28th from 1:00 to 4:00 is Cornbread Making Day at the Grist Mill; they will be grinding up flour and cooking up cornbread in as many different ways as they can devise, and then sharing it with visitors!

Visitors will be greeted and given a “Working Tour” of how this mill still works today, like it did 100 years ago. Huge pulleys and belts spinning above and below are turning and churning to produce flour, corn meal and even apple cider (the last Saturday in October). These samples are given to the visitors for take home and a first hand experience of the products. No gas or electricity are used, simply mother nature’s water power. All that work here are volunteers and are more than happy to explain how this process works to any and all.

The drive to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill and old covered bridge alone make it worth the trip. It’s like driving into the past, well, once you exit I-5 at Woodland. The Cedar Creek Grist Mill is open year ’round, Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 and Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00. Visit Cedar Creek Grist Mill on the web, or call 360-225-5832 for more information.

Fresh from the Battle Ground Barkery.

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, 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 of the “Doggie Biscotti” are used to support vocational training programs at Battle Ground High School in Battle Ground, Washington.

Biscuit hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 2:00. Call 360-600-7026 for more information.

Dinner, Music, Movie and Wine.

What’s your idea of a fun Friday night? Dinner and a movie? A little wine and music?  Hanging out in the backyard with friends? How about if you could combine all those things together? Well, that’s what the folks at Rusty Grape Vineyard have done; and you’re invited!

Start your evening with some wine tasting, then get ready for Marianne’s Open Mic Friday from 7 to 9 pm, or get up onstage yourself and sing a song or two. When the music is over, it’s time to settle in for this weeks movie on the lawn, Star Trek. Don’t forget to bring a sweatshirt or blanket, once the sun goes down, it can get a bit chilly!

Hungry? Visit the Rusty Grape’s own Patina’s Cucina for some artisan breads, spreads, cheeses, and even some imported and domestic beer. (Yes, beer, at a winery ). Also, Galeotti’s will be there grilling up some delish dishes (and the most awesome cheesecake ever!), or feel free to bring your own picnic or pizza with you.

The details: Rusty Grape Vineyard (16712 NE 219th St); Friday Night, August 27, 2010; Tasting Room opens at noon, Open Mic at 7pm, Movie at 9 pm. Wine Tasting, Music and Movie are complementary. Food and wine available for purchase.

The Best Wurst in the West.

The Vancouver Sausage Fest is officially the last blowout of summer fun and is always held the weekend after Labor Day. So mark your calendars now for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 10,11, and 12, 2010 for the 39th Annual Vancouver Sausage Fest on the grounds at St. Joseph School and Parish! Check out Clark County Live! on location from last year as we talk with some of the people that help make the Sausage Fest the success it is.

There is a full size carnival, many handicraft booths, a variety of live music and entertainment on the Main stage, beer & wine in the Fest Garden, and oh boy, there is food! Sausage served every way you can think of, corn on the cob, grilled chicken, burgers, elephant ears, and all the sweets you can imagine! The sweets are home baked goodness made right there in the kitchen!

With something going on almost every hour on the main stage, you’re sure to be entertained. Here is a sampling of some of the entertainers on the schedule: Dance Fusion, Ruby Hill, Hit Explosion, and Southwest Washington’s Got Talent Finale! For a full schedule, visit Vancouver Sausage Fest Entertainment Schedule.

Many vendors and merchants will be there, too. Arts and Crafts, Garden and Nursery, and Exhibitors; the Animal Awareness and Pet Adoption booth has been a past favorite of all ages.

Pre-sale Ride Tickets are on sale now and can save you 50% ! They can be purchased on-line or at Athlete’s Corner (Cascade Park), Hi-School Pharmacy (Main Street), Holy Redeemer Parish, Patrick’s Hawaiian Cafe, Rivermaiden Coffee House, Spanky’s, St. Joseph School and Parish Office, Sunrise Bagels on Harney, and Dominoes Pizza (6300 NE 117th, 1919 NE Andresen, 14415 SE Mill Plain, 1006 W Fourth Plain).