PHS health occupations
teacher is Haiti-bound
Shari Pfeiffer
Shari Pfeiffer, a critical
care registered nurse for 25 years before she began a teaching
career in 1994, will leave Jan. 27 for earthquake-ravaged Haiti,
where she will work for one week in a field hospital helping trauma
patients.
Pfeiffer, who has been at Prairie High School throughout her
teaching career, will serve under the auspices of Forward Edge
International (www.forwardedge.org),
a Vancouver-based relief agency. She returns Feb. 3.
As
horrific as the Haitian disaster has been, Pfeiffer says she is
mentally prepared for it, having made numerous trips around the
world in the wake of disasters as well as ongoing poverty, famine
and health crises.
Pfeiffer, often volunteering with Portland-based Medical Teams
International, has been among early responders to devastating
earthquakes before, including Guatemala (1976), El Salvador (1987)
and Armenia (1988).
“I
am absolutely mentally prepared for this,” she said. “There is
something in me. I can do this. I know it will be overwhelming – the
sights, the smells, the loss.” She said she has learned from blogs
of relief workers already in Haiti to expect to sleep on dirt or
gravel, work as much as 16 hours a day and bathe with four or five
cups of water. Still, she said, “It’s a privilege to go.”
Pfeiffer is a graduate of Good Samaritan Nursing School in Portland
and was a critical care nurse for 25 years.
Rep. Jaime Herrera to hold
tele-town hall meeting
Rep. Jaime Herrera is
inviting residents of the 18th District to participate in her tele-town
hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.
Constituents can call in to talk to Herrera by dialing
1-877-229-8493 and entering
the PIN number 15498.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from the people I represent and
sharing my solutions for the problems facing our communities in
Southwest Washington,” says Herrera. "I encourage citizens to call
in and participate.”
The conference call format will allow participants the options of
listening in, asking questions and taking part in polls. If
residents have questions, Herrera can be contacted at
786-7850 or
herrera.jaime@leg.wa.gov.
GOP to honor Reagan at
annual Lincoln Day Gala
The Clark County Republican Party will hold their annual Lincoln Day
Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Vancouver Hilton.
This year’s gala event features keynote speaker Professor
Mike Allen from the
University of Washington, Tacoma. Allen is a presidential historian
and author of five books. Allen’s Lincoln Day Dinner address will be
a tribute to Ronald Reagan, who was born on Feb. 6.
“We are looking forward to celebrating Lincoln, Reagan, and our
belief in the platform and principles of the Republican Party,” says
Ryan Hart, Clark County
Republican Party Chairman. “We have great candidates running for
office and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm as we enter this
election cycle. This is a great way to kick off the election year
with our biggest party of the year.”
Kirby Wilbur, a long-time
radio talk show host in the Puget Sound area and a frequent fill-in
host for Sean Hannity, will
emcee the festivities.
The Lincoln Day Dinner program also includes a live and silent
auction, dignitary reception, and a special video presentation
featuring locally elected Republicans.
Tickets for the dinner are $60. To register, visit
www.clarkcountygop.org
or call 695-1609.
Camas High School
named one of the best schools in the nation
Camas High School has been awarded a silver medal and named one of
America's best high schools by the
U.S. News & World Report.
The
U.S. News & World Report
used a three-step process to determine the best high schools
including state proficiency standards, how well the schools served
their students and the degree to which schools prepare students for
college work. Students at Camas High School perform statistically
better than the average for the state proficiencies and also excel
at the Advanced Placement tests.
The U.S. News & World Report
analyzed 21,786 public high schools in 48 states plus the District
of Columbia. Out of those schools, 100 were awarded gold medals, 461
silver and an additional 1,189 bronze.
News Briefs
The 16th season of the Bravo!
Vancouver Concert Series continues at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, with a
performance of two very different pieces of music: Ludwig van
Beethoven’s famous Piano Quintet
and Chris Brubeck’s
classical/jazz crossover piece
Vignettes for Nonet. Tickets
are $20 for reserved or general admission seats. Tickets are
available at
www.bravoconcerts.com
or the Bravo! Box Office at
906-0441 or
www.ticketswest.com.
Tickets are also available at the door. The concert will be held at
St. Joseph Church in Vancouver, Washington, 400 S. Andresen Road.
For directions, call the church at
696-4407.
<>
Ballots for the February 9 special election are now available at the
Clark County Elections Department, 1408 Franklin Street, Vancouver.
Election Department office hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. Mail ballots will be sent to all eligible
registered voters in these jurisdictions. If a voter does not
receive his or her mail ballot by Thursday, Jan. 28, he or she
should contact the Elections Office by calling
397-2345 and request a
replacement ballot. Replacement ballots can be requested in person,
by email (elections@clark.wa.gov),
by mail (Elections Department, P.O. Box 8815, Vancouver, WA
98666-8815), or by telephone.
<>
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
and U.S. Secretary of Labor
Hilda Solis announced that the Washington State Workforce
Training and Education Coordinating Board will be receiving
$5,973,635 to train Washington state workers in high demand
occupations needed for energy efficiency in commercial and public
buildings. These awards are among the $190 million awarded
nationally through the State Energy Sector Partnership and Training
grant awards authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
Calendar
The Columbia Economic Breakfast event
is being held from 7 to 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, but the deadline to
register is at 5 p.m. today. Cost is $50 per person or $450 for a
table of ten. To register, visit
click here.
<>
The Urban Forestry Commission meets from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Esther
Short Building, 610 Esther Street. For additional information, call
619-1128.
<>
Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight, in the Ridgefield
Community Center, 210 N Main Street.
<>
Ask questions or chat with Mayor Tim
Leavitt from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Jan. 20, in the
Cascade Park Library Community Room, 600 NE 136th Avenue.
<>
Loaves & Fishes will be serving meals from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday,
Jan. 21, in the La Center Community Center, 1000 E 4th Street.
<>
There will be a ribbon-cutting mixer for Columbia Bank held from 4
to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 400 E Mill Plain Blvd., Suite 100.
<>
Devine Consign is hosting Bunco night from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday,
Jan. 21, Devine Consign, 904 Main Street. Cost is $35 per person;
benefits will help support the Fort Vancouver Regional Library
Foundation. This event is being sponsored by Ameriprise Financial.
For more information or to register, call
695-6443, or visit
http://www.divineconsignfurniture.org/.
Wednesday
on the air
Vancouver Land Use Hearings (1-19)--4 p.m. CVTV
Vancouver City Council (1-11)--7 p.m. CVTV
2010 State of Clark College Address (1-14)--7:45 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Focus (12-22)--8:15 p.m. CVTV
On the Road, Sidewalk, Bikeway, and Trail to a Healthier Clark
County (11-17)--8:45 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Planning Commission (12-9)--10:30 p.m. CVTV
Community
Calendar Links
Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 Headlines
Links to news of
local & national significance
C-TRAN could sell Evergreen Park-and-Ride in E.
Vancouver--Columbian, Michael Andersen
Crossing conditions worry state transportation chief--Columbian,
Erik Robinson
Buyer of foreclosed homes eyes county--Columbian, Cami Joner
Work force council in greater demand--Columbian, Libby Tucker
Obama weighs shift in health plan, seeking G.O.P. backing--New York
Times, David M. Herszenhorn, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and
Robert Pear
