Wednesday, May 4, 2005

Brian Willoughby to keynote YWCA
program on positive change

Brian Willoughby, award winning former Columbian reporter returns to Vancouver to keynote YWCA program to create a strong prosperous, respectful community Tuesday, May 10, in Gaiser Hall at Clark College. The day-long program opens with registration at 8 a.m.

The program is designed to give the community an opportunity to discuss how community and business leaders can focus on individualism in the struggle for positive change.

Other speakers are Randy Blazak, associate professor of sociology, Portland State University, Steven Stroud, former skinhead, Kristi Lemm, assistant professor of social psychology, Western Washington University, Dorothy Wright, Earl Ford, Randall Burton, Tim Spofford and Vancouver Police Chief Brian Martinek.

Willoughby, who was a reporter for The Columbian for 12 years, is the interim director of Teaching Tolerance at the Southern Poverty Center, will pose the question, “Where are you in the modern civil rights movement?”

Willoughby has won more than a dozen state, regional and national journalism awards for his coverage of social justice issues. He is a recipient of the Vancouver Val Joshua Racial Justice Award.

Cost of the event is $10, which also covers breakfast and lunch. For further information, call Jo Jones, 696-0167.

State tourism goes virtual

Private businesses can now link directly to the Washington State Tourism website at www.experiencewashington.com. The site is currently receiving more than 250,000 unique visits per month, according to officials. City-by-city demographics and property searches are also available on the site. Go to www.experiencewashington.com/weblink; free and paid listings are available.

Clark County to hold code change open house May 12

Staff from the Clark County Community Development Department will hold an open house May 12 to answer questions about four proposed changes to the Clark County Code. The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. in the Dragonfly Café on the first floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. Staff will be present to answer questions about this year’s proposed code changes (Code changes and refinements are considered twice per year). A list of code changes is available online at http://www.clark.wa.gov/commdev/development/biannualcodechange.html

Skills Center students honored

Two students from the Clark County Skills Center have received statewide Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarships to be applied toward post-high school education in Washington State. Jesica Tanner, a student in the Skills Center Restaurant Management/Culinary Arts program, is a senior at Heritage High School. Ethan Boyles, a senior at Ridgefield High School, is enrolled in the Skills Center Criminal Justice program. Each student receives six quarters or four semesters of free tuition and services to any community/technical college, regional/research university, accredited independent college or licensed private vocational school based in Washington state.

Youth achievement awards ceremony is May 14

More than 300 outstanding Clark County students will be recognized at the 7th annual Youth Achievement Awards ceremony Saturday, May 14 from 1-3 p.m. at Vancouver’s Skyview High School. Betty Sue Morris, chair of the Clark County Board of Commissioners and Vancouver City Mayor Royce Pollard will join members of the Clark County Youth Commission in presenting the awards.

The event recognizes youth achievement in the areas of personal growth and community contribution. Nomination categories include the following: courage, community services, arts, business/enterprise, citizenship, leadership, family life, education, environmental stewardship, personal achievement, and inspiration.

The awards ceremony has honored more than 2,300 Clark County youth since its inception in 1999. The Youth Achievement Awards received national recognition in 2002 by receiving an award from the National Association of Counties.

Home & Garden Idea Fair attendance hits record

Nearly 40,000 visitors toured the 14th annual Clark Public Utilities’ Home & Garden Fair held last week at the Clark County fairgrounds.

According to Heather Allmain, spokesperson for the three-day event, cash donations for Operation Warm Heart were up $500 from last year to $2,089.80 and food donations were also up. Fairgoers donated over seven tons of food for area food banks.

While the plant sale was in the livestock building as usual, other exhibitors were provided space in the new exposition building at the fairgrounds for the first time.

Kathy Condon to host networking program

Kathy Condon, Career Facilitator/Executive Coach, presents her "Connect with People/Networking" on Thursday, May 12, 2005, 8-10:00 a.m., at The Restaurant on Officers Row. The seminar includes all you need to know about crafting the perfect elevator speech. Call Kathy at (360) 695-4313. The cost is $40.

News briefs

The City/County Telecommunications Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Vancouver City Council conference room in City Hall. ** The National Day of Prayer opens in Vancouver at noon Thursday, May 5, on the steps of City Hall. A multi-church gathering will be at 7 p.m. in the First Church of God, 3300NE 78th Street

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

City Council says Ditch HOV Lane, Columbian, Erin Middlewood

Jantzen site rezone shows city sold on retail, Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Schools ask higher ed officials to ease back on math & science requirements, Columbian, Tom Vogt

Judge throws out England's guilty plea--Washington Post

Survey says downtown Portland is looking up--Portland Tribune

Pakistan nabs Al Qaeda's No. 3 man--USA Today

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Wednesday on the air

An Evening with Jack McGowan—3:30 p.m. CVTV
City  Minutes—5:30 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Close Up—6 p, m. CVTV
Telecommunications Commission (live)—7 p.m.; CVTV
How Schools Plan—9:30 p.m. CVTV
 

Town tabloids and the weather 

Sharon Wylie has nice things to say, too. g Ken McCoy helping out free speech. g Will Pollard coming through. g Aryn Fragner’s first graders not missing a beat — or a cluck. g  g  g Wednesday, sunbreaks may be accompanied by a little precip, 66. Thursday, partly cloudy, warmer, possible late showers, 70. Friday, possible early showers, mostly sunny in the afternoon. 68. .