Vancouver’s Columbia Dance presents the traditional holiday classic, The Nutcracker, on Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Monday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at Royal Durst Theater on the campus of Vancouver School of Arts & Academics, 3101 Main St. in Vancouver. Tickets are $18 for adults or $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the following locations: Columbia Dance Center, 1700 Broadway in Vancouver; Beacock Music; Divine Consign; Sunrise Bagels; and at the door before each performance.

For more information about Columbia Dance, contact Jan Hurst, artistic director and choreographer, at 360-737-1922, or visit www.columbiadance.org.

The Daily Insider will not appear tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, or Friday, Nov. 26, but we’ll be back on the job Monday, Nov. 29.

In the spirit of the holiday, the staff of the Insider thanks you, our subscribers, for trusting us as a resource for up-to-date local news. We strive to bring you concise, accessible stories that you might not see elsewhere, relevant news briefs, and a packed events calendar. We’re committed to keeping you connected to what’s important in Clark County…every day.

The historic Grant House Restaurant, 1191 Officers’ Row in Vancouver, will host “Cuppa with the Countess,” a holiday-themed tea and book signing featuring author Jennifer Peterson of Carnelian Rose Tea on Friday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Peterson will sign copies of her new cookbook, 17-76 Tea Party  Recipes – a Cuppa Countess Gourmet Guide.

On Friday, Dec. 3, Clark College will host a community-wide celebration of indigenous cultures, “Educating for the Seventh Generation.” The title references “…a responsibility to pass on and teach for the future seven generations to have all our resources, culture and heritage,” according to event committee members Becky Archibald and Anna Schmasow. “It is a way of caring and preserving for those yet unborn, to leave the world a better place when you pass on….a true sustainable practice.”

The free, daylong event will begin with an invocation at 11 a.m. at Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Additional events include an appearance by comedian Gilbert Brown at noon, a performance by Native American flutist and flute maker Isac Trimble at 1 p.m., a reading by Clark College English professor Gerard Smith at 2 p.m., a presentation by storyteller Ed Edmo at 2:30 p.m., and a showing of the film We Are All Connected through the Water at 3 p.m. A traditional powwow will begin at 6 p.m, with closing ceremonies commencing at 9:30 p.m. Directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

The Battle Ground City Council has approved a development agreement and the sale of bonds in order to extend Scotton Way to the west, through the Lewisville Highway (SR 503), to SW 20th Ave. The road extension and the installation of a signalized intersection at Scotton and SR 503 will pave the way for future commercial development, improved traffic flow and access to a future city park. Construction is slated to begin in late 2011 and be completed in 2012.

Three development sites owned by Hinton Development, Mill Creek Partnership and CJ Dens are located on the east and west sides of SR 503 at Scotton Way and are zoned as “regional center commercial.” The installation of the signalized intersection will facilitate the development of the properties. By partnering with the developers to extend Scotton Way, Battle Ground improves east-west connectivity and estimates that nearly 700 jobs will be created, not counting construction jobs for the road project and commercial sites.

For more information, contact Public Works Director/City Engineer Scott Sawyer at 360-342-5075.

Slocum House Theater, Vancouver’s oldest nonprofit community theater, presents A Christmas, Carol! written by Rebecca Kramer and Martina Paris-Fully, is a modern twist on Dickins’ famous story.

For the past three years, Emily Peters, an eighth grader at Pleasant Valley Middle School, has led blanket drives to help homeless citizens of Clark County keep a little warmer during the winter. “We were going somewhere in the car and I saw these homeless people under a bridge, including women with babies,” Emily said. “It made me sad, and ever since then I’ve wanted to help the homeless.”

Emily calls her effort “Operation Warm Clark County.” She printed about 400 flyers and distributed them to every teacher at her school, and daily announcements were made over the school’s P.A. system to encourage donations.

The blanket drive ended last week, and the blankets have been delivered to the Share house in downtown Vancouver – just in time for the freezing weather. Pleasant Valley Principal Ward Holcomb says additional blankets may be dropped off at the school, located at 14320 NE 50 Ave. in Vancouver, and he’ll see that they get to Share. To learn more, call Pleasant Valley Middle School at 360-885-5500.

Woodland’s Loves Street Playhouse and the Woodland Rotary Club team up to present Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus, running from Dec. 3 to Dec. 12 at the playhouse, located at 126 Loves Ave. in Woodland.

Dessert and coffee will be provided at intermission by local business sponsors. Playhouse patrons wishing to participate in the spirit of the season are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys to be placed under the Christmas tree in the theater’s auditorium. Woodland’s Rotary Club will distribute these gifts to needy children in the Woodland community. For more details about the Rotary Christmas giving program, call John Bohrnsen at 360-225-9240 or Ingrid McQuivey at 360-263-5209.

Performances will be held on two consecutive weekends from Dec. 3-12, with showings on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are $8 for seniors and youth under age 18, and $10 for adults. Tickets are available at www.lovestreetplayhouse.com or by calling 360-263-6670. Tickets are also available (accepting cash and checks only) at the following locations: Columbia Bank, 782 Goerig St. in Woodland; Holdahl Family Chiropractic, 1227 H Goerig St. in Woodland; and Minuteman Press, 803 Vandercook Way, Ste. 1, in Longview.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters, 703 Grand Blvd. in Vancouver, will host a night of poetry with David Mathews, beginning at 7 p.m.

Mathews is a Portlander whose poems have appeared in Chattahoochee Review, Night Bomb Review, and elsewhere. His blog, “House Red,” can be found on his website at www.matthewsmanofletters.com.

For more information, contact Dan Nelson at 360-334-1129 or nelsondaniel59@yahoo.com.

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. Guests will meet NWABA staff, tour the office and learn about the organization. Refreshments will be provided.

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.

Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) is sponsoring a game called “#12DaysPrepared” to raise awareness about emergency preparedness, starting Wednesday, Dec. 1, and ending at midnight on Sunday, Dec. 12. The game will be followed by a special “Worst Day of Your Life” Community Conversation event, sponsored by the Homeland Security Center of Excellence, CRESA and Clark College on Monday, Dec. 13, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. To RSVP for the Community Conversation, you can fill out this online form.

Each day at 9 a.m., CRESA will post a scenario at www.cresa911.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/cresa.911 and at http://www.twitter.com/CRESA. Contestants will describe how the presented scenario would affect their lives, and how our community should prepare to handle this scenario. A $25 American Express Gift Card and a $10 iTunes card will be awarded to the person who completes the most #12DaysPrepared scenarios.

For more details, visit www.cresa911.org.

A sweet leap during one of Columbia Dance's past performances of The Nutcracker

Vancouver’s Columbia Dance presents the traditional holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” on Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Monday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at Royal Durst Theater on the campus of Vancouver School of Arts & Academics, 3101 Main St. in Vancouver. Tickets are $18 for adults or $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at Columbia Dance Center, 1700 Broadway in Vancouver; Beacock Music; Divine Consign; Sunrise Bagels; and at the door before each performance.

For more information about Columbia Dance, contact Jan Hurst, artistic director and choreographer, at 360-737-1922, or visit www.columbiadance.org.

Terry Johnson hits the small screen

Lewis River Rotarians head for the cedars

June Mulford remembers happy trails

Clark County Bicyclists go round and round

Sandra Brown talks turkey

A Chamber of Commerce “Ribbon Cutting Mixer” will take place tomorrow, Nov. 24, at the new Costco in Camas, 19610 SE 1st St., from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. For details, call 360-694-2588 or visit www.vancouverusa.com.

The Vancouver Planning Commission will meet today at 4 p.m. in City Hall Council chambers, 210 E. 13th St. in Vancouver. For details, call 360-487-7955 or visit www.ci.vancouver.wa.us.

Complimentary copies of Jennifer Petersen's cookbook will be given to attendees

The historic Grant House Restaurant, 1191 Officers’ Row in Vancouver, will host “Cuppa with the Countess,” a holiday-themed tea and book signing featuring author Jennifer Peterson of Carnelian Rose Tea on Friday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Peterson will sign copies of her new cookbook, 17-76 Tea Party  Recipes – a Cuppa Countess Gourmet Guide.

The Battle Ground City Council has approved a development agreement and the sale of bonds in order to extend Scotton Way to the west, through the Lewisville Highway (SR 503), to SW 20th Ave. The road extension and the installation of a signalized intersection at Scotton and SR 503 will pave the way for future commercial development, improved traffic flow and access to a future city park. Construction is slated to begin in late 2011 and be completed in 2012.

Three development sites owned by Hinton Development, Mill Creek Partnership and CJ Dens are located on the east and west sides of SR 503 at Scotton Way and are zoned as “regional center commercial.” The installation of the signalized intersection will facilitate the development of the properties. By partnering with the developers to extend Scotton Way, Battle Ground improves east-west connectivity and estimates that nearly 700 jobs will be created, not counting construction jobs for the road project and commercial sites.

For more information, contact Public Works Director/City Engineer Scott Sawyer at 360-342-5075.

On Friday, Dec. 3, Clark College will host a community-wide celebration of indigenous cultures, “Educating for the Seventh Generation.” The title references “…a responsibility to pass on and teach for the future seven generations to have all our resources, culture and heritage,” according to event committee members Becky Archibald and Anna Schmasow. “It is a way of caring and preserving for those yet unborn, to leave the world a better place when you pass on….a true sustainable practice.”

The free, daylong event will begin with an invocation at 11 a.m. at Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Additional events include an appearance by comedian Gilbert Brown at noon, a performance by Native American flutist and flute maker Isac Trimble at 1 p.m., a reading by Clark College English professor Gerard Smith at 2 p.m., a presentation by storyteller Ed Edmo at 2:30 p.m., and a showing of the film We Are All Connected through the Water at 3 p.m. A traditional powwow will begin at 6 p.m, with closing ceremonies commencing at 9:30 p.m. Directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.