Vancouver’s Downtown Association next quarterly open meeting will be held on Thursday, July 14, at 7:45 a.m. at the Hilton Vancouver. There is no admission charge. Pastry and coffee will be served. To RSVP, click here.

The next Woodland Chamber of Commerce meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 5. A special presentation will be given by Tammy Kepple, Wellness in the Workplace Coordinator for Kaiser Permenente. Guests are asked to arrive early for a good seat.

The Woodland Chamber meets every Tuesday at the Oak Tree Restaurant from noon to 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Lunch is optional.

The City of Vancouver’s summer outdoor movie season starts this week, featuring a selection of action-packed, dramatic, and comedic films chosen to entertain the whole family. Presented by the Port of Portland, movies are shown each Friday in July with support from The Columbian.

The season’s premiere movie is Despicable Me, and will be shown at Esther Short Park at 610 Esther St. in downtown Vancouver on Friday, July 1. Movies will also be shown at LeRoy Hagen Memorial Community Park in east Vancouver at 136th and 9th Streets. The movies are free and everyone is welcome. All shows begin as soon as it is dark enough to see an image onscreen, about 8:45 to 9 p.m. Vendors will be on site at 6 p.m. with popcorn, light dinner options, and sweet treats. Seating is first come, first served; guests should bring their own blankets and chairs. If special accommodations are needed, call 360-487-7060. For a complete schedule, go to www.cityofvancouver.us/events, or call 360-487-8631.

The Washington State School for the Blind will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Saturday, July 16, in the Kennedy Gymnasium, located on its campus at 2214 E. 13th St. in Vancouver. A prime rib banquet is set for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., featuring a musical program and presentations on the history of WSSB. The public is invited; tickets are $25 per person, available by calling 360-696-6321, ext. 120#. Featured musicians include the “Three Grands” piano trio, Mac Potts, Nick Baker, and Brent Gjevre, and jazz vocalist Darcy Schmitt.

A full-color book (Braille editions available) by WSSB alum Dan Tolva, with photographs from the school’s archive dating from 1886 to 2011, will be on sale for $25. Beginning at 10 a.m. that day, guests may tour the campus and visit the school’s two museums, the Tactile Museum of Natural History “Sensory Safari” (sponsored by  Pacific Northwest Chapter of Safari Club International), and the Living History Museum on Education of the Blind. For more information, visit the WSSB website at www.wssb.wa.gov.

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, praised the unanimous passage of her landmark veterans’ employment bill, the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951). Chairman Murray’s bill is the first of its kind to require broad job skills training for all service members returning home. Having unanimously passed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest officials remind visitors that forest roads 23 and 25, among others, remain blocked by snow; however, many lower elevation campgrounds, trails and other recreation sites are open and ready for the holiday weekend. Call or visit the local Ranger District office to find out what sites are open and accessible. The use of all fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices is prohibited in the forest, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Forest visitors must ensure that all fires are extinguished and cold to the touch before leaving them. For more information, visit the Gifford Pinchot website or call Ken Sandusky at 360-891-5007.

Share, Open House Ministries, The Salvation Army and Friends of the Carpenter were recently recognized for their participation in Homeless Court with the “Access to Justice” award. Homeless Court, operated by the Clark County Volunteer Lawyer’s Program, is a specialty court allowing homeless people to convert misdemeanor fines to community service. The court is recognized as an essential part of reducing homelessness and is written into Clark County’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. Judge Darwin Zimmerman was the first presiding judge of Homeless Court.

The Access to Justice Board was established by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1994 to oversee the delivery of legal aid in the state. Its community partnership award is given to community agencies that partner with legal aid providers. Share is the primary provider of emergency shelters in Clark County. Open House Ministries is a faith-based transitional housing program. The Salvation Army serves low-income people with its Food Bank. Friends of the Carpenter is a faith-based organization that provides a friendly outreach to homeless people through its woodworking facility.

For the second year, First Independent Bank is sponsoring the Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) Summer Reading Program. Along with a $15,000 donation, employees of First Independent will volunteer at events throughout the region that encourage children and youth to read during summer months. This year’s theme is “One World, Many Stories.”

The program occurs at library sites throughout Southwest Washington and includes board games, reading events, prizes, performances, reptiles, comedy, dancing, ponies and more. For a full schedule of activities, go to www.fvrl.org and click on “Events.” Reminders of where employees are volunteering will be posted on First Independent Twitter and Facebook pages all summer long.

A full-service community bank with assets of nearly $1 billion, First Independent serves Southwest Washington and Portland with 11 branches and offices and a variety of online and mobile banking services. Headquartered in Vancouver, First Independent celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. For more details, visit www.firstindy.com.

Jordan Crouch

The second annual Jordan Crouch Memorial 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, July 23, beginning and ending at Marine Park on Vancouver’s waterfront at S.E. Marine Park Way and Columbia Way. Participants will receive goodie bags, snacks, beverages and t-shirts. Official timer and photographers will document the event. All proceeds benefit the scholarship endowment established in Jordan’s memory at Seattle Pacific University.

On Saturday, July 23, local restaurants and fire stations will compete in a chili cook-off as part of the annual Vancouver Firefighters Union’s fundraiser, “Fire in the Park,” a benefit event for Share. The event, to be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Esther Short Park, 610 Esther St. in downtown Vancouver, is free and open to the public.

This year’s competitors include Chef Hector Hinojosa of Foody Blues BBQ, Chef David Mork of Lapellah, Chef Denny Shanahan of O’Shansky’s, Chef Craig Alexander of Red Lion Inn Vancouver at the Quay, Chef Mike Bitter of Philly Bilmos, Rick Huffman with Battalion Chiefs, John Larson with Station 8, and Jae Muson with Station 5.

Other activities include the firefighters’ competition, children’s event area, fire apparatus display, and firefighters’ pipe and drum bands, plus a concert featuring Patrick Lamb from 6 to 9 p.m. For details, visit www.fireinthepark.com.

Share was founded in 1979 with the goal of caring for the homeless and hungry in the greater Vancouver area. For more information on Share, visit our Web site at www.sharevancouver.org.

Al Schauer

After serving Mackay & Sposito, Inc. (M&S) and the Clark County community for over 34 years, Al Schauer, principal and former president/CEO, has announced his retirement.

Schauer is a senior principal at M&S, responsible for managing new office growth and mentoring new employees, as well as performing in a project advisory role. Schauer is recognized for his leadership and expertise impacting environmental laws and regulations, most specifically, stormwater issues. He has served on national committees with the Environmental Protection Agency, assisting local ordinance committees to draft regulations in order to comply with state law. Schauer is also the author and illustrator of A Builders Guide to Erosion & Sediment Control & Prevention for CCHBA.

Schauer plans to continue to participate on Mackay & Sposito’s board of directors, as well as provide consulting services. Schauer resides in Camas with his wife and young daughter, Sydney, and looks forward to spending time with his family.

Founded in 1974, M&S offers full-service civil engineering, land and construction surveying, land-use planning, landscape architecture and construction management services, with over 80 employees at offices in Washington and Oregon. For more information on M&S, call Stephanie Hadley at 360-823-1322 or visit www.mackaysposito.com.

Gary Bock and Jim Mains present check.

Kim Jarvis hangin’ with Britney.

Glenda Michael is about to get even smarter at OHSU/PSU.

The next RTC Board of Directors meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 5, at 4 p.m. in the 6th floor Training Room of the Clark County Public Service Center. Click here for directions.

For more information, contact RTC at meetings@rtc.wa.gov.

The next RTC board of directors meeting will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, in the sixth floor Training Room of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

Vancouver Watersheds Council is offering grants of up to $1,500 to neighborhood associations recognized by the city of Vancouver. The grants can be used for volunteer-driven projects that improve neighborhood and community sustainability. Past projects include community food gardens, street and natural-area tree plantings and sustainability projects.

The Vancouver Watersheds Council plans and implements large-scale volunteer projects, including tree plantings, clean-ups and festivals. “We mobilize volunteers to educate the community about environmental issues and forward a sense of community,” said Gary Bock, executive director.

If interested, e-mail info@vancouverwatersheds.org or call 360-852-9189.

Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery has been named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Washington by Seattle Business magazine.  This year is the first time Rebound received this recognition, placing 24th out of the top 26 mid-size companies in Washington. The magazine surveyed nearly 25,000 employees across Washington to compile their list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.

Rebound has four offices at Southwest Washington Medicine Center, Legacy Salmon Creek, Rose Quarter, and Jeld-Wen Stadium. In September, Rebound will open a fifth office in Camas. For more information, visit www.reboundmd.com.

The Community Pride Design Awards program is accepting nominations for outstanding projects that demonstrate quality development and enhance the community. Projects completed between Jan. 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011, are eligible. A public awards ceremony will be held in November.

Nomination forms are available online at www.clark.wa.gov/development/about/cpda.html or by contacting Désirée de Monyé at 360-397-2375, ext. 4165.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. They may be e-mailed to commdev@clark.wa.gov or mailed to Community Pride Design Awards, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98666.

Jim Mains inviting all to the Family Entertainment Center at the Fort.

Gary Bock’s organization offering money.

Rotarians rescuing red and green for Christmas in July sale.

Everyone stuck for bridge lifts.

Bill Roller and team preparing to roast.

Katlin Smith coming through.

Stevie Hanley’s favorite aunt missing him on his birthday.

Sleep Country Amphitheater will host a “Food for Tickets”  drive to benefit Share from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, at the Grand Central Fred Meyer, 2500 Columbia House Blvd.

Participants who bring 10 pounds or more of non-perishable food items will receive two tickets to one of the following concerts: the Monkees, Saturday, July 9,;the Doobie Brothers concert, Sunday, July 10; or the Steve Miller Band, Sunday, July 17. The donor who brings the most food, by weight, will receive a 6-seat box to one of those shows.

The Sleep County Amphitheater is an 18,000-seat live-music venue, the largest outdoor venue in the Vancouver-Portland metro area. For more information, visit www.sleepcountryamphitheater.com.

Share was founded in 1979 with the goal of caring for the homeless and hungry in the greater Vancouver area. For more information on Share, visit www.sharevancouver.org.

A free pancake breakfast will kick off the “City of Abundance” mural painting project from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 2, on the east side of IGA store at 2109 St. Johns Blvd. The mural will be displayed on the wall there. The mural design was a collaborative effort between Vancouver youth and local artist Collin Cushman. The mural is part of efforts by local nonprofit Americans Building Community.