The Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year Awards for East Clark County.
Forms to nominate a Person or Business are available at the CW Chamber office, 422 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas and online at www.cwchamber.com.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6. The winners will be honored on Tuesday, June 7, at an award banquet.

“Stop Measuring Failure” exposes the inadequacy of using most reports to calculate progress or positively influence change. In this Lunch-and-Learn, you’ll be introduced to a unique approach that measures the behaviors that actually drive improved results, presented by award-winning sales consultant Jennifer Smyth.

The program is presented by Clark College Corporate Education from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center:
18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd. The is $10 (includes box lunch).

To register, visit http://www.clark.edu/corporate_continuing_education/customized_training/LunchLearnSeries.php.

The Port of Camas-Washougal meets in executive session at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, then in open session at 5 p.m. at the port office,  24 South A St. in Washougal.

Dexter the Cat mourned.

Shawna Burkholder remembering to breathe.

Courtney Sherwood discovering her inner Royal Watcher.

Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters is hosting its third Thursday poetry reading at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, at the coffee shop, 703 Grand Blvd., Vancouver.

On Monday, April 18, the Science Olympiad Team from Camas High School placed first in the region and first in Washington State.

They will be traveling to the University of Wisconsin in Madison for the national tournament on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21.

The Camas Educational Foundation is collecting donations to help pay the expenses for the trip. Contributions can be made online by visiting www.cefcamas.org.

Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler and Leadership Clark County Class of 2011 project team member Ralph Parker (employee of UL, Inc.) promote Take the Stairs Day.

Clark County’s inaugural Take the Stairs Day will take place on Wednesday, May 4. This event is being held in partnership with Community Choices, Leadership Clark County and Clark County Public Health.

The goal is to encourage residents to take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator as way of promoting exercise in the community. Campaign organizers from Leadership Clark County’s Class of 2011 and Community Choices are providing signage and other promotional materials to participating organizations. Mayors for the cities of Vancouver and Battle Ground both issued proclamations for Take the Stairs Day.

A recent study by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention found an increase in stair use when signage was displayed at the decision point between the stairs and an escalator or elevator. The study also found that stair use helps increase overall physical activity.

Organizations interested in participating in Take the Stairs Day should visit the Community Choices website at www.clarkcommunitychoices.org or e-mail clarkcountystairs@gmail.com.

The 22nd annual Senior Citizen Prom will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, at the Luepke Senior Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd. in Vancouver.

This year’s theme is “All That Jazz,” and the evening will feature dinner and dancing to The Stardusters and Patti Preigo. Tickets are $12.

More information is available at 360-487-7100 or online at www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

The grand opening of the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center starts with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, at 1305 Columbia St., Suite 100, in Vancovuer. An open house is planned until 6 p.m.

For more information, call 360-693-7030 or visit www.veteransassistancecenterofclarkcounty.com.

Jed Mickelson

Wy’east Middle School teacher Jed Mickelson has been named one of the five finalists in “LIVE! with Regis & Kelly’s Nationwide Top Teacher Search.”

Last week, the hosts of the popular ABC Television show unveiled their 12 semi-finalists and viewers were given four days to cast their votes to determine the finalists.

A producer for the “LIVE! with Regis & Kelly” show will tape Mickelson in his classroom next week with students. Mickelson will then fly to New York the following week and appear live on the show on Friday, May 13.

The voting window to determine a the winner will open after the appearance on the show and close at midnight on Sunday, May 15. The winner will be announced during the show on Monday, May 16.

Tickets are still available for the Hough Foundation Benefit Fashion Show, planned from 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, in the Vancouver Marketplace Courtyard, 210 W. Evergreen Blvd.

Tickets are $40, available online at https://houghfnd.ejoinme.org/fashionshow.

All proceeds from the event will benefit hundreds of students and families in downtown Vancouver through the Hough Family Services Center, funded exclusively through individual and corporate donations.

Victoria Maxwell getting laughs and touching hearts.

Val Ogden accepting accolades.

Cheryl Pfaff complimenting.

Sen. Joseph Zarelli with Jordan Karlous

Jordan Karlous, an eighth-grader from Skyridge Middle School in Camas, took a week away from his studies to participate in the Senate Page Program at the Washington State Legislature.

Karlous was one of 18 students that participated in the page program during the fifteenth week of the 2011 legislative session. He was sponsored by Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield).

Karlous plays soccer, football and basketball. He participates in theater productions and hopes to pursue a career as an actor. He is the son of Ramzi and Shaunna Karlous of Camas.

The Senate Page Program gives Washington students the opportunity to serve at the state Capitol. Students play a valuable role in the process, providing a page service for elected officials and staff.

Middle school and high school students who are interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit //www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/.

Applications for the Leadership Clark County Class of 2012 are due Saturday, April 30.

Forms are available on the LCC website, leadershipclarkcounty.com.

Mailed applications should be postmarked by April 30 or delivered to the LCC office, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd, Suite 113, or e-mailed to director@leadershipclarkcounty.com.

CDM Services and Bauman Chiropractic are hosting “Love Your Mama,” a benefit for CDM starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at Cinetopia Theaters, 11700 S.E. 7th St., Vancouver.

There will be an omelette bar starting at 9 a.m. followed by a special presentation of the movie Julie and Julia in the Grand Auditorium.

There will also be a silent auction. Roses and chocolate will be presented to every mother. Tickets are $50 and available by calling Marti Sanders at 360-896-9695.

CDM Services provides long-term care services for people with disabilities or the elderly to help them remain in their homes. More information, visit http://cdmltc.org/.

Waterford at Fairway Village, a Touchmark community, has announced that it will change its name later this year to Touchmark at Fairway Village. Because Waterford already is part of the Touchmark family, everything but the name will remain exactly the same. The ownership and management remain unchanged.

As the company turned 30, the Touchmark senior management team, with input and support from Waterford executive directors, made the decision to use the Touchmark name for all of its communities and affiliates. The name will be phased in throughout the year.

Waterford at Fairway Village opened in 1998 and recently completed a $1 million remodel. The retirement community offers a range of homes and lifestyles adjacent to the Fairway Village 55-plus community and public golf course. An on-site health and fitness club is open to anyone over 40 and features a variety of fitness options. For more information, visit WaterfordVancouver.com.

On Monday, April 18, the Science Olympiad Team from Camas High School placed first in the region and first in Washington State.

They will be traveling to the University of Wisconsin in Madison for the national tournament on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21.

The Camas Educational Foundation is collecting donations to help pay the expenses for the trip. Contributions can be made online by visiting www.cefcamas.org.

The Woodland Tulip Festival has been extended through Sunday, May 1.

Holland America Bulb Farms is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1066 S. Pekin Rd. in Woodland. Directions and information are  available at www.habf.com.

The Thursday, May 26 Argentstratus Gala Auction for Political Action will benefit the Building Industry Group’s political action efforts.

The social hour starts at 6 p.m. at the Heathman Lodge followed by a steak dinner and auction at 7 p.m.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Building Industry Association of Clark County’s May Dinner meeting. Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is the keynote speaker.

Tickets are $45 before Friday, May 20 and $50 after May 20. For tickets and more information, visit https://biaclarkcounty.webconnex.com/galaauction.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. will arrive on Saturday, April 30, to examine all aspects of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office must comply with 459 standards in order to gain accredited status.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 2. The session will be conducted in the Clark County Public Service Center, commissioner’s training room, sixth floor, located at 1300 Franklin St.

If an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone by calling 360-397-2211 ext. 4899 on Monday, May 2 between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of  is available at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 707 W. 13th St. The local contact is Commander Rusty Warren, 360-397-2303.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to : Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155, or e-mail calea@calea.org.