The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Holiday & Chamber Cares Giving Breakfast is slated for 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 3,at the Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive, Vancouver.

It marks the third year that GVCC staff, ambassadors and members raise money to support the more than 60 nonprofit organizations that are chamber members.

Rob Ingram, director of the office of Youth Violence Prevention for the city of Portland, will be the guest speaker. The cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. The event is sponsored by U.S. Digital.

Please register online at www.vancouverusa.com or call 360-694-2588.

The Clark County Environmental Services’ division offers several tips to reduce the amount of household waster generated during the holiday.

• With friends and family, give to those in need. Donate to a charity you all support; volunteer together at a local food bank, shelter or service agency; donate blood together.
• Give experiences rather than things. Give tickets to concerts, movies, ball games or other events, or a gift membership to a club.
• Prevent waste when shopping. Remember to take your reusable bags when doing your holiday shopping. Avoid buying items with bulky or non-recyclable packaging such as foam and blister packs. Look for recycled content in cards and gift wrap.
• Make the package part of the gift. Put holiday goodies in a reusable cloth gift bag, candy dish or cookie tin.
• Reuse or recycle gift wrap. Save gift bags, ribbons and bows to use again. Cardboard boxes and most wrapping paper (not foil-covered paper) can be recycled after removing ribbons, bows and plastic. Paper boxes and gift wrap can go into your recycle cart with other mixed paper.
• Recycle your Christmas tree. Be sure to remove lights, ornaments, tinsel and other decorations. Residents with curbside yard debris collection service can cut up the tree to fit in the yard debris bin (5 feet maximum length). In some areas, Boy Scouts collect trees for a nominal fee. Trees can also be dropped off wherever yard debris is recycled.

For more waste prevention and recycling ideas and information, please visit, http://www.clark.wa.gov/recycle/holidaywastereduction.html or call Clark County Environmental Services at 360-397-2121 ext. 4352.

Misty River performs Sunday to benefit the School of Piano Technology

The Misty River Band will perform a benefit concert, “Harmony for the Holidays,” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at Southeast Portland’s Aladdin Theater, Portland.

Proceeds benefit The School of Piano Technology, formerly known as the Piano Hospital.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, 1-866-448-7849,  all Ticketmaster outlets and at the Aladdin Box Office, 503-234-9694. General Admission for the event is $20, or $22.50 at door. VIP Admissions are  $50 or $55 at door.

The School of Piano Technology for the Blind is a private, post-secondary, vocational school.  The school, the only one of its kind in the world, is supported by donor contributions and by customers of the Piano Hospital whose tuning and repair services help sustain the school’s mission. For more information about the School of Piano Technology for the Blind, please call 360-693-1511 or visit www.pianotuningschool.org.

Today, Wednesday, Dec. 1,  is the deadline to register for the private champagne reception with former First Lady Laura Bush prior to her appearance at the 2010 Authors & Illustrators Dinner & Silent Auction. Tickets are $250 and limited to 150 guests.

For more information, visit  http://www.fvrlf.org/.

The event is a benefit for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization created in 1990 to fund the continued development and enhancement of quality library services in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Columbia Credit Union is the presenting sponsor.

The Blue Ribbon Commission asks Clark County residents to complete an online survey, available on the commission’s web site through Nov. 30, about the future of parks and recreation programs and services in our county. The information gathered from this survey will supplement a telephone poll, conducted this month, of 400 Clark County residents.

The Blue Ribbon Commission has 12 representatives from Clark County and the cities of Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal and Ridgefield. Its objective is to make recommendations to local elected officials concerning:

• Opportunities for greater collaboration in providing local and regional parks, trails, open space and recreation programs.
• How to fund, manage, operate and govern local and regional parks, trails, open space and recreation programs more efficiently.
• How to establish stable and sustainable funding for parks and recreation programs and services.

The commission’s next meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Clark College. More information is available at www.cityofvancouver.us/blueribbon.

“Christmas with Jim Fischer & Friends” is a benefit concert for Friends of the Carpenter, a ministry that serves the homeless in Clark County.

Performances are planned for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First Church of God, 3300 N.E. 78th St. in Vancouver. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

For tickets and more information, please contact Jan Cox at Friends of the Carpenter 360-750-4752
or visit www.friendsofthecarpenter.org

From 5 to 8 p.m. until Jan. 2, the Oregon Zoo is transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland with more than a million lights.

This family tradition features a lighted train and live holiday music. The main display is the menagerie of hundreds of life-size, three-dimensional animal silhouettes and moving light sculptures.

For more information, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Events/ZooLights/index.htm.

Services for community organizer and philanthropist Mary Granger will be at 1 p.m.,  Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First Presbyterian Church at 4300 Main St., Vancouver.

Memorial gifts can be made to the I Have A Dream Foundation or the Mary Granger Sculpture Garden via The Community Foundation, 1053 Officers Row, Vancouver, Wash., 98661.

To view Granger’s obituary, visit http://obits.columbian.com/obituaries/columbian/obituary.aspx?n=mary-granger&pid=146858965&fhid=2246.

Glenn Wright promoting a friend.

Michael Andersen becoming radio star.

Stevenson Library and Klickitat Bookmobile get snow days.

The Clark Public Utilities board of commissioners special meeting is at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the Vancouver Service Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way.

Vancouver Rotarians looking forward to Gala.

Craig Murphy remembering scientist grandfather.

Dave Dumas offering parenting advice.

Dick and Mary Granger. Photo Courtesy of The Community Foundation.

Services for community organizer and philanthropist Mary Granger will be Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First Presbyterian Church at 4300 Main St., Vancouver. The time has not yet been determined.

Memorial gifts can be made to the I Have A Dream Foundation or the Mary Granger Sculpture Garden via The Community Foundation, 1053 Officers Row, Vancouver, Wash., 98661.

Please see the first link under News Headlines for a more complete story as it appeared in The Columbian.

“Christmas with Jim Fischer & Friends” is a benefit concert for Friends of the Carpenter, a ministry that serves the homeless in Clark County.

Performances are planned for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First Church of God, 3300 N.E. 78th St. in Vancouver. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Joining Fischer on stage will be the Clark College Chorale  at the 3 p.m.
show and the Touch of Class Chorale  at the 7 p.m. show.

For tickets and more information, please contact Jan Cox at Friends of the Carpenter 360-750-4752
or visit www.friendsofthecarpenter.org

From 5 to 8 p.m.  most nights until Jan. 2, The Oregon Zoo is transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland with more than a million lights.

This family tradition features a lighted train and live holiday music. The main display is the the menagerie of hundreds of life-size, three-dimensional animal silhouettes and moving light sculptures.

Zoo Lights is closed Dec. 24 and 25. For more information, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Events/ZooLights/index.htm.

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) will conduct a grand opening celebration, ribbon cutting, and open house at its new Vancouver offices, located at 500 W. 8th St., Suite 50, on Wednesday, Dec. 8. The open house will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m.

NWABA is a charitable organization dedicated to providing blind and visually impaired persons opportunities to be engaged in physical activity and sports, as well as awarding scholarships and hosting events to build confidence and physical fitness. For more information, visit www.nwaba.org or call 360-448-7254.

On Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m., renowned pianist Michael Allen Harrison will perform a special benefit concert, “A Christmas Carol Times Two!” at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics Royal Durst Theater, 3101 Main St. in Vancouver. Proceeds will equally benefit the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics Parent Teacher Student Association and The Snowman Foundation, founded by Harrison to help schools, organizations and individuals give the gift of music to children.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/137674 or during school lunch at Vancouver Arts and Academics after Dec. 1. This event is recommended for children ages six and up. For more information, contact Lisa Haisch at haischmom@comcast.net.

Ozzie Coates looks at lovely limbs

Stephanie Strong wants to ride her bicycle

Ridgefield Community Center is in stitches

Jeannine Shingler celebrates by the fireside

Washington State tax consultants will meet tonight, Nov. 24, at the Golden Tent Restaurant, 4902 NW 94th Ave. in Vancouver, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call 360-567-0398.

La Center’s city council will meet tonight, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. at the La Center City Hall, 214 E. 4th St. in La Center. Call 360-263-2782 or visit www.ci.lacenter.wa.us.

All C-TRANS routes will begin today with regular service, although buses may run behind schedule due to icy conditions. Tomorrow, Thanksgiving day, C-TRAN buses will operate on their Sunday schedules. Where there is normally no Sunday service, there will not be service tomorrow. C-TRAN will also have reduced service on Friday, Nov. 26.

If additional changes to service become necessary, C-TRAN will provide immediate updates. For the latest information, check C-TRAN’s web site at www.c-tran.com or call Passenger Services at 360-695-0123. See below for complete details:

Sunday Service Thanksgiving day, Nov. 25:

• Buses operate on Sunday schedules
• Administration Office closed
• Passenger Service Office closed
• Call Center open, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reduced Service Nov. 26:

• Buses operate on reduced schedules
• Administration Office closed
• Passenger Service Offices open during normal business hours
• Call Center open during normal business hours; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.