Pride in our heritage, honor to our ancestors

The American Indian Students Council of Clark College and Multicultural Students Affairs host a regional celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

Clark College will be concluding Native American Heritage Month by hosting an evening featuring American Indian dancers in a fashion show of powwow regalia, speaker Vice Chairman of the Chinook Tribe Sam Robinson, and closing prayers and songs provided by drummers from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Members of the Northwest Indian Veterans Association (NIVA) will retire the colors.

The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, in Clark's Gaiser Student Center. The event is also free and open to the public.

Rosita Arevalo,of the American Indian Students Council of Clark College, said: “We hope these events will help dispel the myths about the Native American culture that have been passed to generation after generation without question. Textbooks and new age information continue promoting this misinformation and inaccuracies with romantic ideas of a Hollywood nature. Those who believe the truth from someone who has convinced them that they know the culture and traditions are not given the chance to question or research the answers and, as a result, continue with this misinformation and teachings, which compound the myths for another generation.”

Arevalo added, “The events presented on the Clark College campus are truthful and honest. The presenters live the life of the modern day American Indian and feel the need to correct misinformation through questions and answers. By sharing what they know about their culture--which is not dead but alive and strong in today's society – they believe that the greater community will gain valuable insights by attending, as will the American Indians who are curious enough to attend.”

For additional information, contact the American Indian Students Council of Clark College by e-mail at AISCOCC@gmail.com.

The Restaurant offers a new twist on a holiday classic

The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve is cooking up a theatrical production, dubbed “A Kriss-Mad Carol,” that it hopes will be just the ticket for folks seeking some seasonal joy.

The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve has teamed up with the Heritage Players, ( a Vancouver theatre group) and local school children to create a family-friendly, non-traditional improvisational interpretation of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol.

“This is a comedic twist on the old holiday tale everyone knows,” says Matt Ferris, event coordinator for The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve. “The experience starts as soon as you arrive and are perhaps offered a "copper" from one of the street urchins running about and singing familiar holiday carols." Approximately 30 local children will take part in the production. "Then, get ready for a great traditional holiday feast while participating in the antics!” says Ferris. Several performances of the theatrical dining experience are scheduled starting Dec. 1st and running the entire month. Tickets start at $31.50, all-inclusive of a meal, entertainment, taxes and service charges.

Another twist is that party-sharing is offered for larger groups or for businesses and companies with a limited budget for a holiday party who don’t mind sharing the theatrical production part of the event. After the play, the room can be divided so that each company can continue its party in a semi-private space. “We can create an event for just about any budget and can be flexible with menus, performance times and pricing,” says Ferris.

Events will be held at E.B. Hamilton Hall (the Red Cross Building) at the Reserve. Bookings for private and public performances, and lunch or dinner are available by calling 906-1101.

Annual winter holiday closure schedule for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Annual holiday closure of the Visitor Center and reconstructed stockade at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is as follows: Closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, and New Years. The park’s grounds and trails will remain open. For all other days, daily winter operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at these facilities.

In addition, the park’s McLoughlin House Unit in Oregon City, Oregon, will begin its annual winter closure on Monday, Dec.14, and reopen on Thursday, February 11, 2010. This closure includes both houses within the

McLoughlin House Unit, the McLoughlin House and the Barclay House.

For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 816-8230 or visit www.nps.gov/fova.

News Briefs

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Clark County is hosting a celebration of gratitude for all very important prevention peeps (V.I.P.P.s), which includes all from the community who are involved in organizations that help prevent substance abuse, 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, Water Resource Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way. V.I.P.P.s are welcome to bring dates for upcoming events to add to the community prevention calendar, or share information about an organization with the community. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 30, by calling 750-7500 ext. 144, or by emailing sondra.storm@esd112.org. <> Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and Oregon Entrepreneurs Network are hosting SW Washington Pub Talk from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Gustav's, 1705 164th Avenue. Steve Hix, founder of InFocus and Identification International, as well as Angela Jackson, active OEN Angel Investor, will provide insights into technology start-ups, what it takes and lessons learned. To register, click here. <> Divine Consign is having its Holiday Home Tour featuring five beautifully decorated homes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., NW 129th and NW 26th Streets. Tickets cost $10 per person and can be purchased at 904 Main Street. All proceeds benefit at-risk youth. For more information, visit www.divineconsignfurniture.org or call 695-6443.

Calendar

The La Center Planning Commission is holding a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at La Center City Hall, 214 E 4th Street. <> The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council Board of Directors meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the  6th floor training room of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. <> The City of Vancouver, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Vancouver, will host the annual Community Tree Lighting in Esther Short Park at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov, 27. Attendees will be treated to coffee and cocoa from Tully's Coffee and entertainment from the Vancouver School District's Combined High School Choir, and holiday music by local carillon player Paul Van Dyke. Vancouver Pops Orchestra Concert at the Hilton Vancouver at 6:30 p.m. will follow. The concert is free with a donation of non-perishable food. For more information, call or e-mail City of Vancouver Special Events at 487-8630 or events@ci.vancouver.wa.us. <> The 14th Annual Vancouver Rotary Foundation’s Festival of Trees will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28. The trees will be on display at the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay, 100 Columbia Street. Admission is free. Donations of non-perishable food items for area grade-school food backpack programs are requested. For more information, visit http://rotaryfestivaloftrees.org/. <> Start the season of giving by donating blood or platelets to patients in need from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Clark County American Red Cross Donor Center, 5109 NE 82nd Avenue. Visit givelife.org or call 800-GIVE-Life for more information or to set up an appointment. <> Washougal City Council meets for a workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, in Council chambers.

The Daily Insider will resume Monday, Nov. 30.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday on the air

 

Clark County Land Use Hearings (11-24)—5:30 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Police Department West Precinct District 1 Community Forum (11-4)—10:30 p.m. CVTV

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

 

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

 

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

'Road' found ruin at St. Helens--Columbain, Tom Vogt

Woodland schools will ask voters to pass two-year levy--Columbian, Marissa Harshman

Bivens has more time to obtain coverage--Columbian, Marissa Harshman

Toyota will fix or replace 4 million accelerator pedals--The New York Times, Nick Bunkly

Family says Fort Lewis soldier was murdered--Seattle Times, AP