Columbia Credit Union will continue its support of the Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation’s Pink Power fundraising effort by offering pink debit cards for $12 each and donating $10 from each card sold using a promotion code from the Sept. 23 “It’s Vegas Baby” fundraiser.

The offer is good until Oct. 31. After that, a $5 donation will be made for every debit card sold and will be an ongoing offer.

To order a Pink Power debit card, members can visit http://www.columbiacu.org/personal/custom_debit_card.html. The goal is to raise $600,000 for equipment to complete the Holtzman Twins Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at SWMC.

Members can also sign up to send an ongoing donation directly from their checking account by visiting  www.swmedicalcenter.org/foundation and clicking on the Donate Now button or by calling 360-514-3106.

Established in 1952, Columbia Credit Union has $746 million in assets and 12 Clark County, WA locations. Columbia serves more than 64,000 members.

A fundraising movement supported by more than 1,000 women (and a number of men, too), Pink Power raises funds for innovations and improvements at Southwest Washington Medical Center that support the good health of women and children. For more information, visit www.pinkpowersw.org.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce is conducting a survey of members concerning the organization’s legislative priorities for 2011. Although the chamber does not lobby or endorse candidates, members of the  public affairs committee and board of directors make recommendations on issues and speak out on behalf of members at all levels of government.

For more information, visit  http://www.vancouverusa.com/.

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity’s Annual “Raising the Roof” breakfast benefit will feature John D. Deeder, superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools, as keynote speaker. More than 200 people are expected to attend the event at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth Street.

Since 1991, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has built safe, affordable housing.  For additional information, please contact Kristina Aitchison, executive director, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, at 360-737-1759.

The Battle Ground City Council has ordered that flags at city facilities be lowered to half-staff in respect for the memory and service of Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah McClellan. McClellan, who grew up in the Battle Ground community, lost his life this week in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan.

Dr. Nicolae Oprescu

Southwest Medical Group welcomes Dr. Nicolae C. Oprescu, who will be providing care for patients with diseases of the respiratory tract and hospitalized patients with critical illnesses.  Along with pulmonary outpatient services, he will care for patients in the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Southwest Washington Medical Center.  Oprescu is board certified in critical care medicine, pulmonary medicine and internal medicine.

Southwest Medical Group is a multi-specialty group with over 100 primary care and specialty physicians. Services include primary care, family birth, neurology, pulmonary, general surgery, oncology and plastic surgery. Southwest Medical Group is affiliated with Southwest Washington Medical Center, a community-owned, not-for-profit, 450-bed medical institution. Southwest has 3,400 employees and 600 active medical staff members, making it one of the largest employers in Clark County.

A joint effort by Vancouver’s Downtown Association and the Esther Short Neighborhood Association, CAN IT!, which is focused on preventing litter from cigarettes, has led to the collection of eight pounds of waste a month. That translates into a 85,000 cigarette butts a year.  It is estimated that one-third of those, more than 28,000, could have ended up in the Columbia River. The campaign focused on education as well as the placement of trash receptacles, designed for the remnants of smoking.

For more information, contact Lee Rafferty at 360-258-1129 or via e-mail at director@vdausa.org. More information about the Vancouver Downtown Association is available online http://www.vdausa.org/.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Battle Ground Rotary Club will be hosting a Community Service day at the Battle Ground Community Library, 1207 S.E. Eighth Way, Battle Ground. For more information, call 360-901-7392.

The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, marking the 12th National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The ceremony will be in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. The event honors the memory of those who were victims of homicides in Clark County and acknowledges the resulting long-term trauma for families, friends, communities and the nation as a whole. Survivors and community members are invited to the free event. Survivors will have the opportunity to speak in honor of their loved ones and about their losses and experiences with the criminal justice system. Others can comment on the community’s commitment to assist those affected by homicide.

Yesterday’s Insider listed the start time at 10 a.m.

The Clark County REALTORS® Foundation raised $3,500 for Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a poker tournament in July.

All the money raised will be used to purchase equipment for the unit, which provides care for some of the smallest babies born in the Southwest Washington area.

The Clark County Association of REALTORS® represents nearly 1,500 real estate professionals. The Clark County REALTORS® Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children, families and seniors in Clark County. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.ccarfoundation.org or call 360-695-5980.

The One of a Kind Drumline, a group of student musicians from Vancouver Public Schools, directed by Eddie Esparza, will perform from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26, in the courtyard of the Grand Central shopping area, 2500 Columbia House Blvd. Lapellah Restaurant will donate a portion of the day’s sales to the organization. For more information, visit www.oneofakinddrumline.com and http://www.lapellah.com.

Pink Power is scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 23. The event is part of an effort to raise $600,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit under construction at Southwest Washington Medical Center. Visit www.pinkpowersw.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

To complete construction on a new warehouse and distribution center, the Clark County Food Bank needs to raise $427,500 by Nov. 15 in order to secure $1,470,000 in state funding.  To donate, visit http://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/donations.php.

The Fort Vancouver National Trust is accepting entry applications for the 24th annual Veterans Parade at Fort Vancouver. The annual community parade begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, rain or shine. This year’s parade theme is “Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers’ Service at Vancouver Barracks.” Parade applications are available online at www.fortvan.org, at the Fort Vancouver National Trust office in the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson Street, or by calling the Trust at 360-992-1808. Parade application deadline is today, Thursday,  Sept. 23.

The city of Battle Ground is seeking applicants to serve on the Park Advisory Board in the Youth Representative position. Candidates for the position must be between 14 and 18 years of age and reside within Battle Ground’s Urban Growth Boundary.

The Park Advisory is a seven-member volunteer board that is entrusted with making recommendations to the City Council for the acquisition, control, improvement, beautification and planning of public parks and recreational facilities in the City.  A volunteer Youth Representative also serves on the board in a non-voting capacity.

The term of office of the Youth Representative is two years with the period of service to run September of one year through June of each subsequent year.  Meetings of the Park Advisory Board are held on the second Tuesday of each month in the evening.

Applications are available on the City of Battle Ground web site at www.cityofbg.org, at City Hall,  located at 109 S.W. First Avenue, or by calling 360-342-5004.

For further information about the Youth Representative position or questions about residing within the City’s Urban Growth Boundary, please contact Bonnie Gilberti at 360-342-5004.

The sixth annual Oktoberfest and Harvest Celebration at Shorty’s Garden and Home will benefit the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation. The event is tonight,  Friday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Shorty’s,10006 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd.  Tickets are $15 in advance or $25 at the door (admission includes one beverage token). For more information, visit www.shortysgardenandhome.com.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, three Clark County organizations will coordinate clean up projects to coincide with the 26th annual SOLV Beach and Riverside Cleanup. The Salmon Creek Watershed Council, Vancouver Watersheds Council and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation will offer service projects on Saturday. The targeted watersheds include the Columbia River, Salmon Creek, Vancouver Lake and La Center Bottoms. To volunteer, visit www.SOLV.org via the organization’s Beach and Riverside Cleanup page, or call 503-844-9571.

Just a few of the 16,000 students who started class at Clark College Monday

Clark College opened the doors for its 2010-2011 academic year Monday with a record–breaking enrollment, an expected 16,000 students. This includes the largest Running Start program in the state. Running Start allows high school students to take college courses while completing their high school educations.

Scott Weber, a candidate for Clark County Clerk plans a fundraising barbecue from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 23 at the home of Rick and Tamlyn Groth, 900 Sleret Ave. For directions and more information, call 360-695-4040 or 360-607-9813.

Waterford at Fairway Village is celebrating “Active Aging Week” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 23, at the retirement community, 2911 S.E. Village Loop, in east Vancouver. There is no charge for the events, which include demonstrations on how physical fitness affects brain health, mindful meditation and nutrition. The International Council on Active Aging started Active Aging Week. Health and fitness industry veteran Colin Milner formed the Council in 2001 to highlight the wellness benefits of physical activity. More information is available online at www.icaa.cc/aaw.htm.

A full-service retirement community, Waterford is home to more than 240 people. It offers a wide range of retirement homes, lifestyles and services. The Waterford Health & Fitness Club is open to people over 40 years and features a variety of fitness options. More information is available at waterfordvancouver.com/

Out of the more than 400 markets Dex One serves, Vancouver has been selected to house the company’s first-ever Dex One Solutions Center.  The grand opening is today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Columbia Tech Center, 1401 S.E. 16th Ave. in East Vancouver.

The new center – a one-stop shop built to help Vancouver businesses and residents with all of their local search needs – combines a Dex One sales office with a storefront presence.  This gives local business owners a place to work hands-on with Dex One marketing consultants.  During this event, Dex One will be offering a drawing for $5,000 worth of business marketing services. Those interested in entering the drawing are asked to attend the event.

The event will feature food, activities and entertainment, including a special appearance by “The Dex Guy,” star of Dex One’s  television commercials.  For more information, visit http://dexone.com/solutionscenter/.

Dex One Corporation is a leading marketing solutions company that helps local businesses attract customers. For more information, visit www.DexOne.com.