Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation seeks public comment on two proposed changes to the Clark County’s park fee program: A proposed policy for operations and field use fees at the new Luke Jensen Sports Park in northeast Hazel Dell, including discounts on the regional park and boat launch annual parking pass for seniors age 62 and older, veterans, active military personnel and park volunteers; and a $10 discount on its $40 annual park passes for seniors (age 62 and older), active-duty military personnel, veterans and volunteers who serve at least 24 hours on approved projects and tasks within a continuous 12-month period. Public comment about the proposed changes will be accepted until 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Comments can be submitted online at www.vanclarkparks-rec.org, by e-mail to clarkparks@clark.wa.gov, or by mail to Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668. To learn more, click here.

The Board of County Commissioners has approved a revised fee structure for all septic system owners, effective January 2012. An annual $16.50 fee will replace the current fee of $20, charged when a system is inspected, and an additional fee of six cents per gallon, charged when tanks are pumped. The new approach will free private inspectors and pumpers from the responsibility of collecting county fees. The county will handle the collections in connection with property tax bills, starting in spring 2012.

“For most septic system owners, this flat fee should represent a cost savings or be cost-neutral,” says Marni Storey, Public Health deputy director. “Having all septic system owners pay the same amount ensures they share the cost of the program. This levels the playing field.” To visit Clark County Public Health online, go to www.clark.wa.gov/public-health.

Yesterday, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler helped advance the elimination of the 3% withholding on government contractors, a bipartisan jobs bill that was today approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. Jaime joined the bill’s original sponsors, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA), by both cosponsoring and voting for the permanent elimination of this “suspicion tax” on employers who accept government contracts. The 3% withholding of certain payments to contractors doing business with local, state and federal governments was intended to ensure tax compliance. However, small businesses and other employers have raised concerns that the suspicion tax would impede cash flow, disrupt their operations and hurt their ability to hire. President Obama has signaled he’ll support the 3% withholding rule bill passed by Congress. To learn more, click here.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its strong “AA-” long-term and underlying credit rating of the City of Vancouver Utility’s water and sewer revenue bonds. The bonds are backed by the net revenues of the city’s water, sewer, and stormwater collection systems. The stable outlook is based on an anticipation that the city’s rates will continue to be set at balanced levels. The report notes that the City Utility has no additional debt plans.

The City of Vancouver is the fourth largest provider of drinking water in the state of Washington, serving up 8.5 billion gallons to more than 200,000 people within the city and a portion of the unincorporated area in 2010. At the same time, the City of Vancouver provides sewer service to as estimated 192,000 residents across a 55 square foot area, with two wastewater treatment facilities that have been recognized for their environmental excellence.

For more details, contact Brian Carlson at 360-487-7130 or brian.carlson@cityofvancouver.us

On Friday, Nov. 4, from 5 to 10 p.m., Clark College will welcome the community as it hosts “Educating for the Seventh Generation,” a celebration of indigenous cultures. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a welcome address and a performance by Native American flutist and flute maker Isaac Trimble. Indian tacos will be served during the performance. Opening ceremonies for a powwow will begin at 6 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Gaiser Student Center on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

This is the third year that Clark College has coordinated and hosted an event in honor of Native American Heritage Month. It is one of four signature events hosted by the college annually to celebrate diverse cultures. According to event organizers, the title references “a responsibility to pass on and teach the future seven generations to use all our resources, culture and heritage. 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.”

Information about Native American Heritage Month is available at http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 29, Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St. in downtown Vancouver, will present “Women Leaders: Panel Discussion and Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient Presentations” in celebration of the 150th birthday of Juliette Low, founder of the Girl Scouts. This presentation is in conjunction with the CCHM’s current Road to Equality exhibit.

From 11 a.m. to noon, hear a panel of women leaders who are former Girl Scouts talk about how they became the leaders they are today. Panelists include the following: Heidi Scarpelli, fire marshal for the city of Vancouver; Betty Sue Morris, former Washington State legislator and Clark County commissioner; Jewel Lansing, author, CPA,  and former elected Multnomah County auditor and Portland auditor; and Karen Hill, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

In the afternoon, visit with Girl Scout Gold Award recipients to learn about the Girl Scout program and how girls can earn their own Gold Award. Craft activities for younger girls will be led by retired teacher and long-time CCHM volunteer Pepper Kim. For more information about CCHM, visit its website at www.cchmuseum.org.

Jie Xu (center) receives the DARPA award from Regina Duga, DARPA director (left), and Tayo Akinwand, Young Faculty Award program manager (right)

Jie Xu, assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Washington State University Vancouver, was among 39 of the nation’s brightest young scientists to receive grants totaling $11.7 million under this year’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award program. Awardees were recognized by DARPA in Arlington, Virginia, on Oct. 25 and 26. The objective of the DARPA Young Faculty Award program is to identify and engage rising research stars in junior faculty positions at United States academic institutions, and expose them to Department of Defense needs as well as DARPA’s program development process.

Xu received the 2011 award for “Ear on a Chip: Microfluidics for Characterization and Control of Hair-Cell Sensing with Acoustic Stimuli.” In the short term, such a system can be used to study the mechanisms of hearing and hearing loss, and to screen drugs that might protect hearing or even cure hearing loss. In the long run, Xu hopes such a system can be developed into a prosthetic device for human beings or artificial sensory organs for future neuron-based devices, such as neural computers or robots. Xu will receive approximately $300,000 to develop and validate his research ideas over a period of two years.

For more information about the award, click here.

Christine Portfors, associate professor of biology at Washington State University Vancouver, and Peter Ritson, seventh grade science teacher at Catlin Gable, will host their annual “Bat Talk” from 3 to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 29, in the Dengerink Administration Building, room 110. This event is an especially fun-filled fall activity for families with children ages four to 12, and is free and open to the public. “Kids especially have a lot of fun coming to see the live bats,” says Portfors, a biologist and neurobiologist who has studied bats in the wild and in the lab for more than 17 years.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. off the 134th St. exit from either I-5 or I-205. Parking is free on weekends. For more about Portfors’ research, visit http://research.vancouver.wsu.edu/hearing-and-communication-lab.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., the Gardner School of Arts and Sciences will host its annual “Partner with Gardner Breakfast” at Vancouver’s Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E. 5th St., near Fort Vancouver. The annual fundraising event serves the dual purpose of building awareness for The Gardner School of Arts & Sciences and supporting Gardner’s ability to offer its education to a broader, more diverse student demographic through financial aid. Guests will include Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt, Battleground Mayor Michael Ciraulo, Commissioner Steve Stuart, Commissioner Tom Mielke and Rep. Sharon Wylie. For more details about the event, contact Jennifer Quinn Conkey at 360-320-6872 or jconkey@gardnerschool.org.

Gary Bock and Jim Mains ignore the signs.

Heather McClellan meets the press.

Kelly Adams stays in touch.

Fire Chief Jerry Green authorized Clark County Fire District 6 firefighters to wear pink shirts this week, instead of their traditional blue, in honor of breast cancer awareness. Firefighters first wore the shirts last October after the wife of Battalion Chief Todd Iremonger was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. After radiation and chemotherapy, Christina Iremonger says a mammogram in January of this year came out clean. Christina does not have a family history of breast cancer. She was diagnosed in January of 2010 after a mammogram several months earlier came back clean. To see a photo of Christina with CCFD6 firefighters in pink, visit the Insider‘s Facebook page.

Katlin Smith

Public relations professional, community volunteer and Rotarian Katlin Smith received the 2011 Vocational Service Award of the Rotary Club of Vancouver yesterday at a noon luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay. The Vocational Service Award recognizes individuals who exemplify outstanding professional commitment, leaving a lasting positive influence on their vocation and the community in general, and who reflect Rotary Club values.

Smith, owner of UrbanWords Group, holds an APR (Accredited in Public Relations) certification. She is also a past president of the Portland Metro Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Smith has coordinated public involvement for diverse projects including transportation, parks and community development. Her popular “Spreading Your News” series has helped many nonprofit organizations receive positive and accurate media coverage. She has handled media outreach for events ranging from Project Homeless Connect to the Vancouver Rotary Festival of Trees. Smith is the founder of the local Dining for Women Chapter, which raises funds monthly for international organizations serving women and girls living in dire poverty in developing countries. Every week, Smith delivers food to senior citizens through the Loaves & Fishes Meals on Wheels program. She is a member of Fort Vancouver National Trust Marketing/PR Committee, Vancouver’s Downtown Association and the Rotary Club of Vancouver. Her blog, www.southwestwashingtonzest.com, embodies her love of the region and has received national attention.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Vancouver, click here.

Christine Portfors, associate professor of biology at Washington State University Vancouver, and Peter Ritson, seventh grade science teacher at Catlin Gable, will host their annual “Bat Talk” from 3 to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 29, in the Dengerink Administration Building, room 110. This event is an especially fun-filled fall activity for families with children ages four to 12, and is free and open to the public. “Kids especially have a lot of fun coming to see the live bats,” says Portfors, a biologist and neurobiologist who has studied bats in the wild and in the lab for more than 17 years.

While the season often calls for depicting bats as blood-sucking, vicious creatures, this presentation gives families an opportunity to see live bats up close and learn why these animals are largely misunderstood. In addition to teaching guests about bats, Portfors will offer children’s activities, including arts and crafts. Portfors dispels popular folklore and teaches guests about the beneficial role that bats play in nature managing insect pests, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. She will showcase different bat species and introduce guests to a few of her captive tropical fruit bats.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. off the 134th St. exit from either I-5 or I-205. Parking is free on weekends. For more about Portfors’ research, visit http://research.vancouver.wsu.edu/hearing-and-communication-lab.

Battle Ground Schools welcomes the public to a dinner auction fundraiser for the North County Community Food Bank tomorrow, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. at Royal Oaks Country Club, 8917 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd. This annual fundraising event is crucial for the health of the North County Community Food Bank. Costumes are encouraged.

By helping to feed local families, the North County Community Food Bank supports children who attend Battle Ground schools. Employees of the Battle Ground School District are strong supporters of the food bank, as are the Battle Ground Education Association and other clubs and organizations, including student groups. If you cannot attend, you can make a donation by clicking here.

The public is invited to an open house to celebrate the grand opening of the new Camas branch of Equity Northwest Properties, 1806 N.E. 3rd Ave. The open house will be held this afternoon, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m., with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m. There will be food, beverages, and wine, plus a raffle for a gift certificate to the Puffin Café. For more information about Equity Northwest Properties, visit www.equitynw.com.

Clark Public Utilities board of commissioners voted on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 to increase electric rates in Clark County, effective Nov. 1. The average increase across the system is equal to 2.8 percent, accounting for a $9.7 million projected budget shortfall. Rate increases, based on a cost of service analysis, are as follows: residential, 3.9%; commercial, 1%; industrial, 1%; lighting, 3.9%.

Offsetting the increase for residential customers is a two-year credit via the Bonneville Power Administration Residential Exchange Program. The credit is greater than the projected rate increase; so, while rates will go up, residential customers will see monthly net bills go down by about 2.5 percent. For more information about Clark PUD, visit www.clarkpublicutilities.com.