Karen Chan deserves an apple.

Mary Guhl finds a solution.

Rowan Vance loves the number five.

Gretchen Schnepper makes local schools smile.

Desiree Goode shows uncommon scents.

PurpleStride Portland, a 2K walk to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Oregon Zoo. Registration begins at 8 a.m. in the zoo entry plaza. The walk begins at 10 a.m. on the concert lawn. Afterward, participants can enjoy live music, activities for kids, a silent auction and more. Registration is $40 for adults, $20 for youths (ages 3-12) and free for pancreatic cancer survivors. Zoo admission is included. For more information about the zoo, visit www.oregonzoo.org. To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org.

Drivers will encounter rough pavement, narrowed lanes and nighttime single-lane closures on the westbound Hwy. 14 Camas Slough Bridge starting Monday, Oct. 3. Vehicles more than 10 feet wide will also be restricted on the bridge starting the same day, until bridge improvements are completed next spring.

The bridge will be narrowed to two 11-foot lanes during the day while crews work behind concrete barriers. At night, crews will close one lane and flag traffic through the work zone. Drivers can expect up to 20-minute delays between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Crews will construct slightly wider bridge shoulders and install a median barrier across the bridge, in addition to grinding out old asphalt, replacing existing guardrail with updated bridge railing, and repaving the bridge. This work is part of the SR 14 Camas-Washougal Widening and Interchange project. Learn more at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR14/CamasWashougal.

The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument will hold a public stakeholder meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters, 10600 N.E. 51st Circle in Vancouver. Attendees will hear about the results of the Monument’s Strategic Investment Plan developed in response to the Citizens Advisory Committee, such as the recent premiere of the film Eruption of Life, new high-resolution interpretive signs, upgraded facilities, new Interpretive Ranger programs, and state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. Stakeholders are invited to participate in future strategic management activities of the Monument. For details, contact Chris Strebig at cstrebig@fs.fed.us or 360-891-5005.

Homeless and low-income children will receive scholarships through YWCA Clark County’s Y’s Care Program thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from the Vancouver Rotary Foundation. It will allow for children currently supported by the Preschool Assistance for Needy Families Project to continue their education and will award scholarships to at least 12 additional children.

Y’s Care provides preschool education to children from homeless, transitioning, or low-income circumstances. Children are offered a safe environment, nutritious meals, physical fitness, and need-specific care to prepare them emotionally and intellectually for kindergarten. The Preschool Assistance for Needy Families Project is a scholarship fund to provide tuition assistance to homeless and low- income children attending Y’s Care. For more information, visit www.ywcaclarkcounty.com.

The Vancouver Rotary Foundation exists to foster, develop, promote and encourage the health, education and general welfare of the residents of Vancouver and Clark County. For more information, follow this link: http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?cid=2802.

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office, in cooperation with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, will lift a countywide burning ban tomorrow, Oct. 1.

The risk of wildfires has significantly declined because of recent rainfall, increased large woody fuel moisture levels and an extended weather forecast that calls for cooler temperatures and more rain. Residents still must follow all local outdoor burning regulations and meet burning permit requirements. Recreational campfires are allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those found in local, county and state parks and commercial campgrounds.

Additional outdoor burning rules and information are available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/development/fire/burning.html.

Sarah Reich, a policy analyst with ECONorthwest, will speak about the benefits of low-impact development on management of polluted stormwater runoff during a meeting of the Clark County Clean Water Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the sixth-floor training room of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The meeting is free and open to the public. Reich will discuss the costs and benefits of green infrastructure compared with conventional stormwater management techniques. She will identify incentives and barriers to adopting low-impact development standards and review examples from other Washington communities. For more details, contact Earl Rowell at 360-397-2121 ext. 4580 or Earl.Rowell@clark.wa.gov.

Architect's rendering of future Gresham branch

Riverview Community Bank yesterday announced plans to expand its Oregon presence with the opening of a new Gresham branch on N.E. Burnside Road near Gresham High School. A groundbreaking date has not been set, although construction is slated to begin soon.

The nearby Wood Village location, which was named “Best Financial Institution” for two consecutive years in a local poll conducted by the Gresham Outlook newspaper, will remain open.

With assets of $886 million, Vancouver-based Riverview Bancorp, Inc., is the parent company of both Riverview Community Bank and Riverview Asset Management Corp. This year, Riverview was named one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon and Washington, and was honored as one of the top 75 Corporate Philanthropists in Washington for 2011. For more information, visit www.riverviewbank.com.

Sophie Rollins

Sophie Rollins, physician assistant, and Michael Colby, physical therapist, both joined Rebound in August.

Rollins completed her master of physician assistant studies at the University of Colorado child health associate and physician assistant program in June 2011, having focused her studies in orthopedic surgery, with an emphasis in pediatrics and sports medicine. She completed part of her training in New Zealand and South America, and is interested in helping the underserved both locally and internationally through medical missions.

Michael Colby

Michael Colby is a physical therapist with a sub-specialty interest in the spine, knee, and shoulder. Colby completed his doctorate in physical therapy at A.T. Still University in 2011. Colby joins Rebound’s five other physical therapists and two athletic trainers.

Rebound is the most complete orthopedic and neurosurgery clinic in Portland and Southwest Washington, with offices at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Legacy Salmon Creek, and in Portland’s Rose Quarter. Rebound’s physicians are all board certified or board eligible with fellowship training in orthopedics, neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine, and hand surgery. For more information, visit www.reboundmd.com.

A Latino/a Youth Conference is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Gaiser Hall on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

The conference supports the future success of young Latinos and Latinas by encouraging and motivating them to pursue higher education. Participants include the Vancouver and Evergreen School Districts, Clark College, Washington State University, SW Washington League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Safe Communities Task Force, Clark County Juvenile Dept., Vancouver Police Dept., Sea Mar Community Health Clinic, D&L Associates, Latino Community Resource Group, USDA Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

“Going Beyond the Dream” is this year’s theme. For more information, contact Diana Avalos-Leos at 360-852-3605.

Arun Raha

Washington State economist Dr. Arun Raha will give an economic update and forecast at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the Columbia Room of the Vancouver Library, 901 E. C St., Vancouver.

This presentation is offered through a joint effort of Cascade Title Company, Southwest Washington Contractors Association and Clark County Association of Realtors®.

Entry is free, but registration is necessary. To register, call Erica L. Rodman at 360-281-0768 or send an e-mail to mike@swca.org.

Live music, food, fun for children, and cuttings from the  old tree itself will be offered at the free annual Old Apple Tree Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Old Apple Tree Park, 112 Columbia Way, located directly east of the Interstate 5 Bridge within the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Prizes will be awarded to the best three “traditional” scarecrows. For an application and entry rules, call 360-487-8308 or visit the Urban Forestry website at www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.

Jeff Davis

Clark County Historical Museum’s First Thursday Museum After Hours will present Vancouver resident and U.S. Army historian Jeff Davis speaking about his book, Weird Washington from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St.

For more information, contact Karen Washabaugh at 360-993-5679 or cchm@pacifier.com.

The groundbreaking of the Early Learning Center. The center will be dedicated today.

A dedication ceremony for Clark College’s Early Learning Center is set for 4 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 29, on the north end of the school’s main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

The ceremony will commemorate the first phase of the Oliva Family Early Learning Center.  The state of Washington provided $1 million for the project  on the condition that the college raises matching funds. A gift from Jan and Steve Oliva of Vancouver allowed the project to move forward.

Kitty Welsh of Vancouver donated the funding for the “Little Penguins’ Gardens” in the Early Learning Center.  She made the gift in honor of her late husband, Paul.  A bench in the garden is inscribed with her husband’s name.

Information about the new facility is available at www.clark.edu/cc/elc.

Southwest Washington Zest the newest Daily Insider Source Link.

Kim Hash looking lovely in coral.

Melanie Handshaw reconnecting.

Bill Roller scripting Santa.

Dale Read winning.

Hans Boehm translating Oktoberfest.

Dave Horowitz remembering BART.

The Magenta Band & Friends offer an evening of music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Magenta Theater, 606 Main St., Vancouver. They will be joined by The Harmless Eccentrics and The Insanitzers. Tickets are $10. Reservations are available online at www.magentatheater.com.

Photo Credit: Jerry Weigel Photography

After more than a year of renovations, the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St.,  has reopened.

The theatre, built in 1936,  will offer shows four days a week, Friday through Monday. The art deco lounge, located on the second will floor, will offer beer, wine and cider to go as well as pizza and other snacks.

Community events, art and music will also be staged at the site. For more information, visit www.kigginstheatre.com. For showtimes and listings, call 360 816-0352.

Several household hazardous waste collection events are planned in recognition of Household Hazardous Waste Awareness Week. Hazardous waste includes pesticides, paints, solvents, batteries, cleaners, motor oil and other common products. Look on the label for the following signal words: poison, corrosive, combustible, caustic, volatile, flammable, danger, caution or warning.

A mercury thermometer, unused prescription, hearing aid, cell phone and eyeglass collection is set for 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, 2211 N.E. 139th St. A collection of the same items is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at  Southwest Washington Medical Center, 400 N.E. Mother Joseph Place. The collection site is at the entrance to the Education Center, just south of the N.E. 92nd Ave. entrance. A block foam, electronic waste and household hazardous waste collection is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Clark County Public Works Operations Center, 4700 N.E. 78th St.

For more information about hazardous waste disposal, including disposal options for businesses, call 360-397-2121, ext. 4352.

If weather conditions allow, Vancouver residents and businesses can expect to encounter paving equipment and detours on Columbia Street, between Eighth and 15th streets, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 29 and 30.

Paving is taking place on sections of several major streets throughout Vancouver as part of the city’s 2011 pavement management program.

Pearson Air Museum will offer the only opportunity in the Portland metro area for visitors to tour a World War I traveling museum developed in partnership with the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, and Waddell & Reed on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The exhibit is housed in a custom 18-wheel “big rig” that has been transformed into a traveling museum offering a free, interactive and educational experience designed by the National World War I Museum.

The gallery features artifacts, videos, audio tracks and an authentic walk-through trench that simulates the war environment.

For more information on the tour and how to support the National World War I Museum, visit www.honoringourhistory.com.