Marshall Center ready for the next 40 years

The Marshall Community Center will open its doors again September 4 after being closed since last fall for remodeling. The community is invited to a Grand Reopening Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 16 from noon to 6 p.m.

The celebration will include games, a community resource information fair, entertainment and demonstrations, and free hot dogs.

David Judd, Parks & Recreation director, says, “The Grand Reopening Celebration will be a chance for people to see that this grand old Vancouver institution is ready to serve the community for another 40 years.”

Among the upgrades and changes are a pool drop slide; arts & crafts studio with outdoor work terrace; new teen lounge (The SPOT — Safe, Positive Outlet for Teens); new wiring, plumbing and phone lines; a fitness center with 2,800 square-foot weight room; expansion of the Oak/Elm Room with balcony; and much more.

Vancouver’s own Nautilus Corporation donated new, state-of-the-art fitness equipment for the Center.

Classes, events, pool and fitness schedules, and fee information for Marshall Center, as well as for all other Parks and Recreation facilities, may be found in the Fall issue of the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Activity Guide available at city facilities. Go to www.vanclarkparks-rec.org to view the entire catalog online.

LCC Alum Craig Pridemore to address new class Sept. 5

Keynote speaker and State Senator Craig Pridemore will welcome Leadership Clark County’s 36-member Class of 2008 on Wednesday, September 5^th at Pearson Air Museum.  Pridemore is a 1996 graduate of the Leadership Clark County program, which is designed to help participants be more effective leaders in the community. 

Class members will attend a private orientation from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. and alumni and sponsors are invited to socialize from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Light refreshments will be provided.  Please RSVP to Kathy Scott at director@leadershipclarkcounty.com or call 360-567-1085.  The event is sponsored by Columbia Credit Union.

LCC includes participants from both public and private institutions, large and small, including businesses, educational institutions, government and non-profit organizations. For more information, go to: www.leadershipclarkcounty.com.

Free Clinic awarded $50,000 grant to serve children

Free Clinic of SW Washington is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from The Regence Community Health Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation to increase and enhance services to children.

“We are extremely pleased, says Dr. Gerald Bader, Free Clinic board member and local pediatrician with The Vancouver Clinic, "to have this exceptional support from Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and The Oregon Community Foundation, and to provide more medical, vision and dental services to children who are uninsured or who have just fallen through the cracks of state assistance.”

More than 3,500 children received services at the clinic last year, including free medical care, immunizations, prescriptions, head lice treatments, sports physicals, vision exams, and dental care.  All services are provided by health care professionals in the community who generously volunteer their time.  Currently, there are more than 500 active volunteers.  The Free Clinic began providing free health care in 1990, with the mission “to provide free, compassionate, quality basic health care to children and adults who are otherwise unable to access such services.

The Regence Community Health Fund is dedicated to ensuring that children have the fundamental health care services and support they need to lead healthy, productive lives. It funds programs and research designed to broaden health coverage for all children, improve knowledge and understand of what kids need to be healthy, and reduce social and cultural barriers that impede their ability to be healthy and successful.

Headlines Thursday, Aug. 30