During his press conference today at City Hall, Mayor Royce Pollard thanked his campaign staff, volunteers, friends and his family for their hard work during one of the most competitive campaigns in the city's history. "It was a spirited and difficult fight." Pollard says he will miss serving as mayor but looks forward to the future.

Looking back on his fourteen years as mayor, Pollard says to the citizens of Vancouver "We've come a long way. America's Vancouver is no longer viewed as a suburb of Portland. We've strengthened neighborhoods, created positive economic changes throughout the community, and revitalized the downtown and waterfront area along the way, and have done this with the great employees we have working for us in this city."

Pollard plans on insuring that Tim Leavitt's transition will be a smooth one to keep the city moving forward.

Clark College honors October's Athletes of the Month

Two freshmen soccer players have been honored as the October 2009 "Athletes of the Month" at Clark College.

Nick Herzberg came to Clark from West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska. Men’s head soccer coach Biniam Afenegus says: “Nick has been an outstanding addition to the men's soccer program. Nick was chosen as a captain of the team by his teammates. He has total respect of his teammates because of the way he plays the game. His passion and enthusiasm for the game of soccer is constantly shown on the field. He is an ultimate competitor and a born leader. He has scored three goals this year from a defense position.”

Clark freshman Samantha Peppers is a graduate of Vancouver’s Columbia River High School. Women’s head soccer coach Troy Sletten said, “Sam Peppers has had an outstanding month for the Lady Penguins. Samantha has been a vital part of our success in the month of October. Sam has scored two critical goals and had two assists, leading the team to great conference victories that have kept the women's soccer team in the playoff hunt going into the last week of the season. Sam’s hard work on and off the field is a model for all college students to aspire to.” Sletten notes that Peppers is also a member of the Clark College debate team and maintains a 3.3 grade point average.

The Student Athlete of the Month program recognizes both the academic and athletic achievements of Clark's student athletes. Two recipients are selected each month by a committee that includes Clark College coaches, athletic department personnel, and fellow students.

Charles Ray, City of Vancouver urban forester, has been recognized as Municipal Arborist for 2009 by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Award recipients are selected from nominees submitted from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Ray credited the Urban Forest Commission, a seven-member citizen advisory group, and his co-workers in Public Works and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation, for their leadership, guidance and support. "This was really a team achievement," Ray said.

In addition to serving as Vancouver's urban forester, Ray is also a member of the Clark College Agriculture/Horticulture Advisory Committee. He is certified through the International Society of Arboriculture as an arborist and municipal specialist, and has worked for the City of Columbus, Ohio, and in commercial arboriculture in the Vancouver-Portland metro area before coming to the City of Vancouver in 2001.

With flu season in full swing, businesses and other employers are important partners in keeping communities safe and healthy. Because the recent surge in visits to emergency rooms and doctors’ offices is affecting the ability of healthcare providers to treat people who need care, health officials are urging employers not to require employees to obtain a note from their medical provider in order to claim sick time or return to work.

Kevin Gray will become the first director of the county’s new Department of Environmental Services, starting Dec. 1, County Administrator Bill Barron announced yesterday. Gray has worked for Clark County Public Works since 1998 and has served as deputy director since 2007. He is a professional civil engineer licensed in Washington and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Recently, Gray was instrumental in updating the county’s stormwater ordinances to arrive at an equitable means of protecting water resources while providing for economic development and supporting other public policies, such as salmon recovery and growth management. Gray currently lives in Vancouver.

The Cascade Park Community Library building at 301 SE Hearthwood Blvd. will close permanently at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. The closure will allow staff to move books and equipment and prepare for the 4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 15 opening of the new library building. The new location is at 600 NE 136th Ave., next to Firstenburg Community Center. <> Students of Camas High School's chapter of Family Career and Community Leaders of America have been busy planning for the 4th annual Camas Indoor Kite Festival which will be held 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 and 9 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. This festival is a major fundraising event and allows students to attend the Statewide FCCLA leadership conference. This conference provides students the opportunity to experience and participate in a professional meeting, compete for and receive recognition for their efforts, and meet other like-minded students from across the state. Cost to the event is $2 for both days and $5 for a family of three or more. For information on or a listing of scheduled events, visit http://nwskl.org/camas.htm. <> With Princeton Athletic Club closing last week, Anytime Fitness has been assisting members with the transition to a new downtown gym by including VDA members, staff, and families in its corporate and group membership category. Call John Pax at the Downtown Vancouver location, 635-5350, or call the VanMall location at 450-6069. For more information about customized corporate or group plans, call Jon Martin 607-2843. <> A celebration for the opening of the Gee Creek trail will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the trail head located on S. 13th Circle in Osprey Pointe neighborhood. The Gee Creek Trail runs 3.5 miles along the Gee Creek corridor, connecting Ridgefield High School with the trail system located in the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The trail section cost almost $100,000 and took several months to construct after years of planning and permitting.

Calendar

Start shopping for the holidays at the Hawaiian Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, held at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 3000 N.W. 119th Street. Call Deva at 901-3749 for more information. <> The 23rd annual veterans parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, along Officers Row. <> Heritage High School Band will be representing Evergreen Public Schools at the Vancouver Veterans Day Parade, 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, Fort Vancouver Officer's Row. <> Recycle block foam by taking it to a free collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Clark College's Yellow No. 1 Parking lot, on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. For additional information, please contact the City of Vancouver Solid Waste Services at 619-4120 or Clark County Solid Waste at 397-6118 ext. 4352. <> Crew leader training and neighborhood tree planting for the Friends of Tree event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Fishers Landing Elementary School, 3800 SE Hiddenbrook Road. For more information or to sign up, call Jesse Batty at 619-1127 or email at jesse.batty@ci.vancouver.wa.us. <> Roots Restaurant and Bar is celebrating its 6-year anniversary today through Sunday Nov. 6-8, with week-long food and drink specials and a canned food drive benefiting the Clark County Food Bank. Details are as follows: Nov. 6-8th--special anniversary menu--6 items for $36--choose two starters or salads, two entrees and two desserts off of Roots’ prix fixe menu created especially for the occasion. $6 anniversary cocktails all week. Bring in 6 cans of food for the Clark County Food Bank any day during the week and get a free starter. For more details, info and hours, visit www.rootsrestaurantandbar.com/events.php, or call 260-3001. Roots Restaurant and Bar is located at 19215 SE 34th Street, Camas, WA 98607. <> The West Coast Blind Sports Association will hold its 2nd annual craft bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the School for the Blind’s newly built gymnasium, 2214 East 13th Street. Call 600-5334 for more information. <> Tim Drews will perform organ music from the 16th to the 21st centuries at a concert 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, in St. Luke’s—San Lucas Episcopal Church, 426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted. <> City Council meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, for workshops followed by a consent agenda meeting, Council chambers, Vancouver. <> Staff from the City of Vancouver Transportation Service will be presenting information on improvements planned for 39th Street at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at a meeting to be held in the cafeteria at Lincoln Elementary School, 4200 Daniels Street. Call 487-7727 for more information. <> There will be a Washougal City Council workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in City Council chambers. <> Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Board of Trustees meets at 3 p.m. for an executive session, then at 3:30 p.m. for a workshop, followed by a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, Vancouver Community Library (downstairs in Library Hall), 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. <> A meeting for the Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County is from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Public Works Conference room, 4700 NE 78th Street.

Friday on the air

City/County Telecommunications Commission (10-7)—4 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Land Use Hearings (11-5)—5:30 p.m. CVTV

Bravo! Vancouver-100 Years of Jazz (6-20)—6:18 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Police Department West Precinct District 1 Community Forum (11-4)—8:30 p.m. CVTV

VPD All Access: Neighborhood Police Officers—9:22 p.m. CVTV

Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners (10-27)—9:59 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Housing Authority: Housing Matters (11-1)—11:25 p.m. CVTV