Rep. Jaime Herrera to hold tele-town hall meeting Thursday, two traditional town hall meetings Saturday

Rep. Jaime Herrera is inviting residents of the 18th District to participate in three town hall meetings she will be hosting this week.
From 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, Herrera will be holding a tele-town hall meeting. People can call in at 1-877-229-8493, and enter PIN number 15498, and listen in from the comfort of their own homes. Participants can also ask questions and take part in short polls.

Then on Saturday, Feb. 20, Rep. Herrera will be joined by her 18th District seatmates, Sen. Joe Zarelli and Rep. Ed Orcutt, in Woodland and Battle Ground for two traditional town hall meetings. The Woodland meeting will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Woodland Church of the Nazarene at 2000 Lewis River Road. The Battle Ground meeting will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Battle Ground City Hall at 109 SW First Street.

Herrera: “With the voter-approved taxpayer protection law[’s] being pushed aside, I know there is a lot of concern out there about what tax increases could mean for families and employers in our area. I share this concern, and want to hear from the citizens of Southwest Washington as we hit the homestretch of the legislative session I hope these events are convenient ways for people to share their views on the decisions in the legislature that will affect their communities.”

For questions, contact Herrera at 786-7850 or herrera.jaime@leg.wa.gov.

County seeks technical advisers for 78th Street/WSU property

Clark County is seeking people interested in serving on a technical advisory team to help guide operation of its 78th Street/WSU property.

Members’ perspectives and opinions will help managers make decisions based on the best available science, goals of partners, and prospects for a sound operation.

Applicants should have expertise in one or more of the following topics: agriculture, sustainability, history and/or archaeology, habitat and wetlands, Washington State University interests, residential neighbors, and commercial neighbors.

Terms are for two years. Members will meet at least once per quarter. Additional meetings could be called as needed.

Applications are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in General Services, sixth floor, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver, or online at http://www.clark.wa.gov/78wsu/documents/TechTeamApp.pdf. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 12. The Board of Clark County Commissioners will select the members.

Skills center opens to public for lunch tour

Clark County parents, businesses, elected officials, community volunteers, educators, economic development participants and interested citizens are encouraged to attend the next Clark County Skills Center VIP Tour and Luncheon, Friday March 5, at the Skills Center, 12200 NE 28th Street in Vancouver.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning with an all-campus tour visiting classrooms, checking out the state-of-the-art equipment and observing students. Following the tour, students from the award-winning skills center restaurant management and culinary arts program will host, prepare and serve a gourmet lunch in the Skills Center Restaurant. Cost is $5. For more information and to make reservations, call Jan Strickland at 604-1050 ext. 2151 by Wednesday, February 24.

Clutter clearers convene at Marshall Center

Jeff Williams, professional organizer, will host "Dare to Downsize," from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 20, in the Rudy Luepke Center Stage area at the Marshall Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Boulevard in Vancouver.

This interactive class offers strategies to measure the pain of clutter, blast through emotional and sentimental attachments, and create a personal plan to increase open space.

Cost is $15. For more information, directions and registration, call 487-7100 or log on to www.vanclarkparks-rec.org. Request Class # 74118. Walk-ins are welcome.

Simple & Clear is an organizing service that designs solutions for people who want to order their lives and their businesses. Visit www.simpleclear.biz for more information.

News Briefs

Gliere Harp Concerto and Kalinnikov Symphony will highlight the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at Skyview Concert Hall. For more information, visit www.vancouversymphony.org. <> The Clark County Historical Museum will host its 4th annual Women’s Tea & Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 15. Tickets are $35 per person. For tickets, contact the museum at 993-5679. <> Join Dr. Steven Webb, superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools, at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, for his fourth patron tour of this school year. Patrons will be invited to stay for a lunch following the tour. The lunch, prepared by culinary arts students, costs only $4. RSVP with your name, address, phone number and whether you would like to stay for lunch to Gary Yarne, 313-4720. For more information about Vancouver Public Schools, visit www.vansd.org. <> A “Where Is the Happiest Place in Southwest Washington?” contest was announced earlier this week on the local travel and recreation blog, www.southwestwashingtonzest.com. Contestants are asked to submit on the blog 75-word-or-less comments on the happiest places in Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Klickitat or Lewis Counties. It should be a location that is open to the public. Only one entry per person will be accepted. The entry should have one location. The deadline is noon Wednesday, March 31. More information about the contest is available at www.southwestwashingtonzest.com.

Calendar

There will be an Urban Forestry Commission meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Feb. 17, in the Esther Short Building, 610 Esther Street. <> Loaves and Fishes will be serving hot meals to senior citizens from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the La Center Community Center, 1000 E 4th Street. <> Art Conversation will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 17, in the Battle Ground Library, 1207 SE 8th Way. <> Magenta Theater is holding auditions for Pride And Prejudice at 6 p.m. this evening, Feb. 17, 606 Main Street. They are looking for 9 men and 12 women. Mrs. Bennet has been pre-cast. Auditions will be cold readings from the script. A head shot (nonprofessional is fine) and a list of conflicts (and/or your calendar) should be brought to the audition. Call 606-0033 for more information, or visit www.magentatheater.com.

Wednesday on the air

 

Town Hall Meeting: 49th Legislative District (1-9)--5 p.m. CVTV
Vancouver Land Use Hearings (1-19)--7:05 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Board of Commissioners (2-16)--7:30 p.m. CVTV
2010 Annual Port Re:Port (2-4)--10:30 p.m. CVTV
VPD All Access: Neighborhood Police Officers--11:30 p.m. CVTV  

       Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

 

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Governors take initiative in crossing debate--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Defense attorney joins county prosecutor race--Columbian, Laura McVicker

Judge deals mining expansion a setback--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Cost of B.G. executive session probe escalates--Columbian, Marissa Harshman

Couple seeks to reopen theater, offer beer, wine--Columbian, Columbian Staff

Clark County office vacancies decrease--Columbian, Cami Joner

Lindsey Vonn wins gold medal; U.S.' Julia Mancuso takes silver--USA Today, AP

Haitian judge frees eight U.S. missionaries--USA Today, AP