On Monday, Dec. 27, the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency released a winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service. One to three feet of snow is expected to accumulate at higher elevations with the snow levels at 1,500 to 2,500 feet. Southwest winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of 45 miles per hour are also predicted. The warning continues until 10 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 28.

There have not been advisories issued for the valley floor. The forecast calls for rain, possibly turning to snow by Wednesday evening.

Vancouver poet Christopher Luna will host a special open mic poetry reading and celebration of the late poet Richard Brautigan at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 13 at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St. in Vancouver. Admission is free.

The evening will include a presentation by Washington State University Vancouver professor John Barber, a personal friend of Brautigan’s, who developed and continues to maintain the Brautigan Bibliography and Archive, www.brautigan.net. Barber also led the negotiations to move The Brautigan Library,www.thebrautiganlibrary.org, to Vancouver, where it is now a permanent, interactive exhibit at the Clark County Historical Museum.

Richard Brautigan was born in Tacoma in 1935 and is best remembered for his novel, Trout Fishing in America.

For more information, contact Christopher Luna at 360-910-1066 or christopherjluna@gmail.com.

Dr. Allen Gabriel

Southwest Washington Medical Group plastic surgeon Dr. Allen Gabriel‘s article about the off-label use of Botox is among the year’s most read articles in the online medical information source, WebMD.

Botulinum toxin A, commonly known as Botox, has been shown to significantly reduced postoperative pain for women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction with expander following mastectomy, according to Gabriel’s research, conducted in Vancouver. The Botox works by relaxing the chest muscles around the expanders.

An article outlining the details of Dr. Gabriel’s study on the treatment was among the annual top ten list of most read articles by plastic surgeons worldwide, as featured in Medscape from WebMD in December.

Southwest Washington Medical Group is affiliated with Southwest Washington Medical Center, one of Clark County’s largest employers. Medscape from WebMD is a part of WebMD Health Professional Network.

Dining for Women, a nonprofit national giving circle with more than 150 registered chapters, is forming a new chapter in Clark County. The chapter will meet on the second Tuesday of the month in downtown Vancouver.

The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan.11, at the offices of Alling Henning Associates, 415 W. Sixth St., Suite 605. Special guest for the kickoff meeting will be Patricia Andersson, member of the Dining for Women National Advisory Council.

Each month, Dining for Women chapter members gather for a potluck dinner and educational program. They donate the money they would have spent dining out to international organizations that serve impoverished women in developing countries.

The recipient of the January Chapter meetings will be Matrichaya, which provides economic development for tribal women in the State of Jharkhand, India. Dining for Women started in 2003 when founder Marsha Wallace hosted a dinner for 20 friends in her home in Greenville, South Carolina.

For more information about Dining for Women, visit www.diningforwomen.org

For information about the new Vancouver chapter, contact Katlin Smith at 360-699-7234.

Governor Gregoire and First Mike, their daughters, Courtney and Michelle and son-in-law, Scott

Along with the obligatory family photo, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire encouraged charitable giving in her holiday message:

“2010 has brought historic challenges to our state. While there are signs of recovery, we continue to struggle through the worst economic downturn in a generation and its impact on our state budget.

“Many Washington families continue to struggle because of the tough economy and more are turning to food banks and charities for support. Those food banks and charities need our help. Your gift of money or food will help them meet the needs of struggling families.”

Gregoire continued by encouraging Washington residents to give to charities that provide food for needy families, offering examples of three organizations: Second Harvest Inland Northwest, www.2-harvest.org; Northwest Harvest, www.northwestharvest.org; and Food Lifeline, www.foodlifeline.org.

This holiday season, the Governor’s office staff launched a food drive. The employees raised over $1,500 and filled three barrels with food for local food banks.

Patricia Spicer, Customer Service Agent with Davidson Insurance, has earned the designation of Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR). Spicer successfully completed five courses covering all areas of insurance risks and exposures, followed by extensive examinations. A licensed insurance agent, she has more than 30 years of insurance agency experience.

The CISR designation is awarded by the Society of CISR, a not-for-profit organization and member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Currently, more than 25,000 individuals hold the CISR designation.

Davidson Insurance, which is owned by Bruce Davidson, has served local businesses and individuals since 1990. An independent agency, which represents multiple insurance companies, the firm is located at 501 S.E. Columbia Shores Blvd., Suite 525, in Vancouver. For more information, call 360-514-9550 or visit  www.davidsoninsurance.com.

Jaime Herrera Beutler

Congresswoman-Elect Jaime Herrera announced today that she has adopted her husband Daniel Beutler’s last name (pronounced “Butler”). Keeping Herrera as her middle name, Jaime Herrera Beutler will now go by Congresswoman Herrera Beutler. She released the following statement explaining her decision and timing:

“When I was appointed to the Washington State Legislature and during my 2008 campaign to keep that seat, I wasn’t married.  As a result, my name was printed countless times in news articles, on public documents and in advertising as ‘Jaime Herrera.’  Within a few short months, I was married, became a candidate for Congress and hit the campaign trail,” Herrera said. “Now that the dust from the campaign has settled, I’ve had the chance to thoughtfully consider and make a permanent choice regarding this personal decision about my family.”

Bess R. Wills

Bess R. Wills, general manager and co-owner of Gresham Ford, has been appointed to the board of directors for Vancouver-based Riverview Community Bank and Riverview Bancorp, Inc.

Wills works with numerous charitable organizations and currently serves on the board of directors for the Gresham Chamber of Commerce, East Metro Economic Alliance and the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation.

Riverview Bancorp, Inc., with assets of $863 million, is the parent company of the 87 year-old Riverview Community Bank, as well as Riverview Mortgage and Riverview Asset Management Corp. There are 17 branches, including twelve in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Mojgan Kasraei drops off donated books to Truman Elementary.

As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, First Independent has dedicated volunteer hours, books and financial resources to support early learning.

In its most recent donation, Mojgan Kasraei, manager at the bank’s Minnehaha branch, located at 4500 N.E. St. John’s Rd., filled wish lists provided by librarians at Minnehaha and Truman elementary schools. Kasraei delivered the books to both schools on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Mojgan Kasraei drops off donated books to Minnehaha Elementary.

First Independent worked with the Fort Vancouver Library Foundation, for which the bank was a sponsor of their Summer Reading Program, to purchase the books. This continued partnership allowed the bank’s Minnehaha branch to fill the entire wish list provided by both schools.

Headquartered in Vancouver, First Independent is a full-service community bank with assets of nearly $1 billion.

Fadin’ by 9 recording.

Bob Sisson offering Christmas rescue.

Rose Hart going Scandinavian.

Continuing our founder Tony Bacon’s tradition of taking a Boxing Day holiday, The Daily Insider is taking Monday, Dec. 27, off.  The Insider will also not be published on Friday, Dec. 31.

Please submit your end-of-the-year news to: news@dailyinsider.info.

Best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Cameron Falkner

Two cross country runners, Cameron Falkner and Briel Thoune,have been chosen by Clark College as November 2010′s “Athletes of the Month.”  

Falkner for placed second overall as an individual competitor and led the men’s team to a Southern Regional Championship Title in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) competition.

Briel Thoune

This was Thoune’s first competitive season in cross country – a season in which the Clark women’s team won the NWAACC championship. Thoune consistently ranked in the top five for all individual female runners in the NWAACC conference, and took second place honors in the Southern Regional Championships.

­­­The Student Athlete of the Month program recognizes both the academic and athletic achievements of Clark’s student athletes. Each honoree receives a jacket with his or her name on it. The jackets are provided by Les Schwab in partnership with Clark’s Penguin Athletic Club and the Clark College Foundation.

Gerald M. Pops, professor emeritus at West Virginia University and author of a book about Gen. George C. Marshall, will speak at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 23 at the Marshall House, 1301 Officers Row.

For more information, call the Fort Vancouver National Trust at 360-992-1800.

Amtrak is adding four trains on the popular Cascades route between Portland and Seattle starting today, Wednesday, Dec. 23, until Sunday, Dec. 26.

Amtrak has added the two extra round trips between Portland and Seattle to accommodate the travel demand during the Christmas holiday week. 

Regular one-way adult fares between Seattle and Portland start as low as $30 and require reservations. Visit www.AmtrakCascades.com, or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for reservations and information.

First Citizen 2010 Royce Pollard presents a check to Kim Hash of the Children's Center aboard the Santa Train.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe “Holiday Express” included a surprise on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

On behalf of the railroad, former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard presented a check for $7,500 to the Children’s Center, accepted by Development Director Kim Hash.  

Joining Hash and Pollard were more than 200 guests including, Lt. Governor Brad Owen, State Rep. Jim Jacks and Mayor Tim Leavitt.

The center is a private, non-profit state licensed community mental health agency which provides quality mental health services for children, youth and families. Children’s Center has been serving the needs of Clark County children and families for more than 20 years. For more information, visit www.thechildrenscenter.org.

Over the course of three days beginning Tuesday, Dec. 21, five Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery of South India will use individual grains of colored sand to construct an intricate mandala design at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave. in east Vancouver.

The monks will begin and end the project with traditional music and chanting, starting at 9 a.m. every day and ending at 8 p.m.

The visit is part of a three-month tour of the West Coast. The monks are accepting donations to support their travels, their monastery and their work spreading the message of compassion.

Sheri Byrd putting it in perspective.

Leslie Ham advocating.

Bill and Vicky Smith celebrating recovery.

The Mount St. Helens Institute is offering guided snowshoe tours on Sundays until March 27.

Sunday snowshoe adventures are for snowshoe enthusiasts of all abilities. No experience is necessary. Most of the adventures are family friendly.

Snowshoe adventures are $15 per person and space is limited. For details and online registration, visit www.mshinstitute.org.

The institute does not provide equipment, but snowshoes can be rented at a number of businesses. E-mail questions to info@mshinstitute, or call 360-449-7883.

Due to state budget reductions, Department of Licensing offices will be closed for business on Monday, Dec. 27, as DOL employees take a required temporary layoff day. Because this temporary layoff day directly follows a state holiday, all driver licensing offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 24, through Monday, Dec. 27. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Many services are available online at  http://www.dol.wa.gov.

C-TRAN Driver going beyond to assist disabled rider.

Fort Vancouver Gift Shop open for last-minute shopping.

West Vancouver on alert for missing Min Pin.