SEH America president donates "Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden" at Clark College

From left: Former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, Clark College President Bob Knight, John Kageyama, Mayor Tim Leavitt, former Mayor Bruce Hagensen.

The 2010 Sakura Festival at Clark College Thursday celebrated international friendship.  The event marked the 20th anniversary of a gift of 100 cherry trees from John Kageyama, then President of America Kotobuki, to the City of Vancouver.

Chihiro Kanagawa, President & CEO of Shin-Etsu Chemical Company, the parent company of SEH America, donated a Japanese garden Thursday, next to the college's music building, to be dedicated in fall 2011 as the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden.

The festival also marked the 15th anniversary of Vancouver’s sister-city relationship with Joyo, Japan. The event was co-sponsored by the City of Vancouver, Clark College and the Vancouver Rotary.

Eleven Battle Ground educators get "Make a Difference" awards

Bonnie Franklin of Riverview Community Bank looks on as awards are handed out at Chief Umtuch Middle School.

With the generous financial support of several local businesses, the Battle Ground Education Foundation handed out its annual awards to 11 of the district's best teachers Wednesday at Chief Umtuch Middle School. Recipients got glowing words, appreciative applause, framed certificates and cash prizes, most of them for $500. Nominations for the “Teachers Make a Difference Awards” are solicited every year from the general public as well as school district employees. The judging is done by a panel that does not include school district personnel.

The 2010 winners are as follows: 

Riverview Community Bank Award: Allison Tuchardt, reading specialist, Yacolt Primary School.

Anita Bolton-Warren Reeves Award: Katelynn Brown, third-grade teacher, Daybreak Primary.

Battle Ground High School Class of 1957 Award: Tanya Bachman, art teacher, Laurin Middle, and Betsy Caughie, intervention specialist, Daybreak Primary.

Wally Barker Award: Beverly Handlan, second grade teacher, Captain Strong Primary.

Pat Pettichord Award: Col. Brian Brown and Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Shannon, Air Force Jr. ROTC instructors, Battle Ground High.

Agard Award of Excellence: Cathy Shannon, nurse, Battle Ground High and Julia Scott, nurse, Prairie High.

Belle Staley Lawrence Award: David Groat, math instructor, Battle Ground High, and Dean Summers, math, CAM. Sr. High. 

Public Health Community Awards go to Barbe West and Wellness Project

Barbe West, director of the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, and Community Services Northwest’s Wellness Project will receive the 2010 Clark County Public Health Community Awards in a ceremony before the Clark County Board of Health on Wednesday, April 28.

West is recognized in the "individual" category for her leadership in health care delivery and tireless efforts to address the root causes of poor health. She serves on the Washington State Free Clinic Association Board, mentors for Clark College’s Health Careers program, serves on the advisory council of the Concordia University’s College Health and Human Services and  consults with area school districts about healthier food choices and curriculum changes that can increase physical activity.

The "organization" category award will be presented to Community Services Northwest’s Wellness Project, the only free mental health clinic in the Pacific Northwest. In 2009 the program served nearly 200 low-income, uninsured or underinsured adults, many with both mental health and chemical dependency issues.

The county public health department also singled out the nurses of Columbia River Mental Health Services, Marilyn Johnson, Sheela Choppala Nestor, Steve Rocereto and Rachel Seidel.

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News Briefs

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation gets $2,500 grant from Home Depot Foundation to replace horse bridge at Whipple Creek National Park. <> Battle Ground Goodwill store robbed 5:30 p.m. Thursday by white man in his 50s with short gray hair wearing gray knit beanie and sweatshirt. Suspect fled on foot and escaped. <> John Przybylski and Laurie Doering named to Battle Ground's Civil Service Commission, overseeing police department. <> Battle Ground recognized by Association of Washington Cities for outstanding worksite wellness program, chaired by Tamara Gunter. <> Congress approves Sen. Patty Murray's bill boosting services for influx of female veterans. <> Leadership Clark County launches video with 14 community leaders including state representatives Jaime Herrera, Jim Jacks and Ed Orcutt, Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and Councilor Jeanne Harris and Sheriff Garry Lucas. Watch at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrOW6wKiUh8.
 
Calendar

Business After Hours networking Tuesday, April 27, with Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce in the Angelo Building, 400 E. Mill Plain. Visit http://www.vancouverusa.com/ for more. <> Flower baskets hit downtown Vancouver on Saturday, May 1, thanks to Vancouver's Downtown Association. <> Vancouver Bicycle Club leads 27th annual Ride Around Clark County Saturday, May 1. Meet at Clark College or visit www.vbc-usa.com for more. <> Annual Summer Country Barbecue at Clark County Skills Center, 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 14 at skills center restaurant, 12200 N.E. 28th St. Meal prepared by culinary students, $25. Contact Robin McColley at 360-604-1054 or robbin.mccolley@evergreenps.org. <> National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis to deliver Marshall Lecture 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at Hudson's Bay High School, 1206 E. Reserve St. Free tickets (required) printable from Fort Vancouver from Fort Vancouver National Trust website at www.fortvan.org.

 Friday on the air

Clark County Board of Commissioners (4-27) — 6:02 p.m. CVTV 23

Building a Portland/SW Washington Bus Riders Union (3-27) — 8:59 p.m. CVTV 23

       Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

Friday, April 23, 2010 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Vancouver designer wins "Project Runway" on Bravo - Mary Ann Albright, The Columbian

Vancouver mayor says there's "interest" in pro baseball stadium, but no cash - Andrea Damewood, The Columbian

Sarah Palin makes first visit to Oregon tonight, in Eugene - Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian

At least 58 dead in new series of Iraq bombings -Steven Lee Myers and Duraid Adnan, NYTimes.com