The American Red Cross and local Papa Murphy’s Take N’ Bake Pizza have partnered to give a large one – topping pizza to all coupon-presenting blood donors from Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 through Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Pizza coupons can be obtained by donating blood at Portland, Salem, and Vancouver blood donation centers and redeemed at participating Papa Murphy stores while supplies last.

During the holiday season, blood donations often decrease as threats of wintry weather intensify and family schedules turn hectic. Every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood. On average, 1,000 blood donations are needed in the Pacific Northwest blood services region each day to help trauma victims, surgical patients, burn victims, patients with blood disorders and many others. For more information,visit www.redcross.org.

The Joy Team, a locally based nonprofit group, spreads  joy, optimism and inspiration to millions in Washington State and elsewhere. This year, the organization delivered “smiley” balloons and cards wishing joy and love to all those at Legacy Salmon Creek on Christmas Day.

“Spending Christmas in the hospital probably isn’t anyone’s first choice,” says Michele McKeag Larsen, founder and chief joy officer at The Joy Team. “We’re hoping to make it a little brighter by letting the patients at Legacy Salmon Creek know we’re thinking about them. And we wish them lots of joy and love.”

Over 90 balloons and cards, enough for every patient spending Christmas Eve in the hospital, were delivered by the Joy Team in an effort to help people shift into a positive frame of mind through the incredible power of positive words. Arlene Kraft, manager of volunteer services and gift shops at the hospital, coordinated with the team to distribute the balloons. For more information, visit http://thejoyteam.org.

The Greater Clark County Rotary Foundation invites the public to welcome 2012 with a New Year’s Eve Gala at the Vancouver Hilton, 301 W 6th St., Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Festivities include gourmet buffet dinner, wine, champagne for midnight toast and midnight balloon drop. The Aurthur Murray Dancers will provide dance demonstrations and instructions, and guests will enjoy the music of Patrick Lamb. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clark County’s Children Center. For more information and tickets, click here.

This month, in support of Dutch Bros.’ mantra “make a difference one cup at a time,” the company’s customers helped raise $93,000 to benefit regional nonprofits. The donation is the result of Dutch Bros.’ annual Buck For Kids Day, an event during which all 173 locations give a portion of their proceeds to the community. “Just in time for the holidays, we’re thrilled to share this Buck For Kids donation with the communities in which we work and live,” says Travis Boersma, co-founder of Dutch Bros. Coffee. “Our franchisees and customers are very committed to supporting local organizations, and we’re thankful for their eagerness to give back.”

In addition to fundraisers, such as Buck For Kids Day, the company reinvests one percent of annual gross sales back into the community, donating more than $1 million in 2010 to nonprofit organizations.

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic celebrates its fifth anniversary at Cover to Cover Books, 6300 N.E. St. James Rd., Suite 104B, Vancouver, on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. The public is invited to bring a dish to the potluck and enjoy an evening with hosts Christopher Luna and Toni Partington as well as musical guests Jennifer Pratt-Walter, Bret Jorgensen and Lincoln’s Beard. For more information, call Luna at 360-993-7777.

The YWCA, will hold an “Introduction to Volunteer Service” workshop Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in its Community Room, 3609 Main Street, Vancouver. “Volunteering at the Y is really a triple play of community service,” says Eric Grundy, a volunteer himself. “First, you get ‘hands-on’ experience in helping others in need. Second, if you stay involved for a length of time, you get to see people you’re assisting move forward in positive directions. Finally, you learn about the resources available to the community and can take that knowledge to help others in your daily life.”

The organization has a strong need for volunteers to advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, to represent children in the court system, and to help connect women in jail with community resources. Other opportunities include helping in a preschool classroom, assisting youth who are aging out of foster care gain access to employment and housing, and supporting positive social change. Our programs currently have a need for more male volunteers and volunteers who are bilingual and/or bicultural.

For more information, contact Stephanie Barr, director of volunteer development, at 360-906-9112 or sbarr@ywcaclarkcounty.org, or visit ywcaclarkcounty.org

A dramatic thriller written by Fredrick Knott

Love Street Playhouse, 126 Loves Ave. Woodland, WA, welcomes the public to audition for its latest thriller, Wait Until Dark, Monday, Jan. 2, 7 -9:30 p.m. Volunteer thespians, both aspiring and experienced, are asked to arrive at the theater a little before 7:00 p.m. with headshots and personal calendars, to perform “cold readings” of the script written by Fredrick Knott and directed by David Roberts. For more information about roles, rehearsal times, and performance schedules, email dnsroberts@aol.com.

Spreading the joy at Legacy Salmon Creek hospital

The Joy Team, a locally based nonprofit group, spreads  joy, optimism and inspiration to millions in Washington State and elsewhere. This year, the organization delivered “smiley” balloons and cards wishing joy and love to all those at Legacy Salmon Creek on Christmas Day.

“Spending Christmas in the hospital probably isn’t anyone’s first choice,” says Michele McKeag Larsen, founder and chief joy officer at The Joy Team. “We’re hoping to make it a little brighter by letting the patients at Legacy Salmon Creek know we’re thinking about them. And we wish them lots of joy and love.”

Over 90 balloons and cards, enough for every patient spending Christmas Eve in the hospital, were delivered by the Joy Team in an effort to help people shift into a positive frame of mind through the incredible power of positive words. Arlene Kraft, manager of volunteer services and gift shops at the hospital, coordinated with the team to distribute the balloons. For more information, visit http://thejoyteam.org.

Papa Murpy's offers "pizza for a pint"

The American Red Cross and local Papa Murphy’s Take N’ Bake Pizza have partnered to give a large one- topping pizza to all coupon-presenting blood donors from Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 through Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Pizza coupons can be obtained by donating blood at Portland, Salem, and Vancouver blood donation centers and redeemed at participating Papa Murphy stores while supplies last.

During the holiday season, blood donations often decrease as threats of wintery weather intensify and family schedules turn hectic. Every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood. On average, 1,000 blood donations are needed in the Pacific Northwest blood services region each day to help trauma victims, surgical patients, burn victims, patients with blood disorders and many others. For more information,visit www.redcross.org.

Rotha Whiting wins big and warm.

Megan Dugan is killing watts.

The Hayes family fight it with music.

The PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center (PHSW) Foundation yesterday announced the names of three new members of the foundation’s community-based board of directors. The following new members were elected for a three-year term: Ron Keil is the former owner of Keil’s Grocery Stores and previously served on the hospital board when PeaceHealth Southwest was known as St. Joseph’s Hospital; Jan Wolf is a community volunteer who has served on the foundation board as vice-chair and chair; and Rick Terrell is co-founder and chairman of the board of RS Medical, a Vancouver-based company that provides physician-prescribed pain management and rehabilitation products and services.

The PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation is the primary fundraising arm of the Medical Center and manages over $11 million for programs such as family medicine southwest, cardiac care, hospice, cancer care, diabetes education and physical rehabilitation. For more information, click here.

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is offering two new workshops to Clark County-area residents this January. Both classes will be held in the Marshall Center Oak Room, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd. in Vancouver. Registration is required; call 360-487-7100 to sign up or visit www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

“Fit and Fun Tap” is a four-week workshop that is an excellent workout for both body and brain. Participants will practice easy-to-learn drills which stimulate short-  and long-term memory. The workshop will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 4 through Jan. 25. The cost is $24 per person. Register using code #87698.

“Breath and Spirit” is an eight-week workshop that will teach participants about the importance of optimal breathing. Attendees will learn techniques to use the full capacity of the lungs in order to oxygenate their bodies and to fully exhale toxins. Topics include improving lung function, reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, managing blood pressure, increasing energy, and equalizing right and left brain activity. The workshop will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 9 through March 12. The fee is $45 per person. Use registration code #87738.

A lovely winter scene from Thornton's Treeland in Vancouver.

The Daily Insider is enjoying the glories of the season to be found only in Clark County. We’ve shopped and dined all over town, seen a top-notch local production of The Nutrcracker, attended lively local Christmas activities at Fort Vancouver, and been wowed by fancifully decorated trees at both the Vancouver and Washougal festivals of trees. We’ve even ridden through Uptown Village on a wagon drawn by local horses. Our locally-grown tree is fully trimmed and we’re ready for some local snow! In short, the Insider is loving its local Christmas.

To celebrate the season in proper style, we will not publish tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 30, or Monday, Dec. 26. We will be back on the job Tuesday, Dec. 27, bringing you everything that’s best about our beloved bit of the Great Northwest.

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is offering two new workshops to Clark County-area residents this January. Both classes will be held in the Marshall Center Oak Room, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd. in Vancouver. Registration is required; call 360-487-7100 to sign up or visit www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

“Fit and Fun Tap” is a four-week workshop that is an excellent workout for both body and brain. Participants will practice easy-to-learn drills which stimulate short-  and long-term memory. The workshop will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 4 through Jan. 25. The cost is $24 per person. Register using code #87698.

“Breath and Spirit” is an eight-week workshop that will teach participants about the importance of optimal breathing. Attendees will learn techniques to use the full capacity of the lungs in order to oxygenate their bodies and to fully exhale toxins. Topics include improving lung function, reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, managing blood pressure, increasing energy, and equalizing right and left brain activity. The workshop will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 9 through March 12. The fee is $45 per person. Use registration code #87738.

The PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation board of directors recently approved the following grants to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center from its “Area of Greatest Need” fund. The foundation donated $500,000 to the Heart and Vascular Center, in order to bring technological enhancements to the electrophysiology lab and cath lab 3. The Neurosciences Institute has been given $500,000 to help fund construction and equipment for a designated neurosciences floor in the Mother Joseph Building, as well as to further plans for the expansion of the physical rehabilitation unit. Behavioral Health Sciences has been granted $158,000 in order to fund the ADAPT program for uninsured patients. ADAPT is the only remaining day hospital program in Clark County and develops patients’ coping skills to address depression, anxiety and coincident substance abuse. For more information, visit www.swmedicalcenter.org.

Maudie Jordan and Ronald Kawamoto

Maudie Jordan has been appointed resident commissioner for the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) by Mayor Tim Leavitt. Mayor Leavitt has also re-appointed Ronald Kawamoto to a third five-year term.

Jordan was sworn in yesterday during the VHA Board of Commissioners’ monthly meeting. The resident commissioner serves as liaison to the VHA’s Resident Advisory Board; the position must be held by an individual who receives housing assistance from the VHA. Jordan is the executive director of Gates of Grace, an organization with two transitional homes for women and children. She is also a mentor and fundraiser coordinator for Transitions to Life, a program which assists women transitioning back to society after incarceration. Jordan is completing her AA degree at Clark College, after which she will transfer to Multnomah University and pursue a degree in psychology and theology. Jordan volunteers for Mission Creek Correctional Center and Second Step Housing, and is a gifted motivational speaker who uses her talent and wit to encourage incarcerated individuals to make positive lifestyle changes.

Kawamoto was appointed to the VHA Board of Commissioners in Jan. 2003. Kawamoto has been a commercial real estate broker for the firm of Norris Beggs & Simpson for the past 21 years, with previous experience as a vice principal and teacher in Portland, the South Pacific, and Southern California. His past service includes Fairview city council member; initial board member and commissioner, C.R.A.G.; vice chair of the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission; marketing committee member of Clackamas County; special committees member in Multnomah County; and board of trustees chairperson with Western Seminary and Hinson Church.

For more information, e-mail Steven Trowell at stowell@vhausa.com.

The Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP) is offering “The Federal Contracting Success Series” to local business owners to help them secure federal contracts. This free training is offered in cooperation with the Small Business Development Center/SBDC in the Climb Center at Portland Community College, 1626 S.E. Water Ave. Classes will be held on Jan. 20, Jan. 24, Feb. 15, March 13, April 24, May 22, June 5, and July 10. Registration is required. To register, e-mail info@gcap.org (subject line: Federal Contracting Success), or call 541-736-1088.

Portland Monthly ranked six Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery physicians in their annual “Top Doctors” list. Todd Borus, M.D., Jay Crary, M.D., Jerod Cottrill, D.O., Greg Gramstad, M.D., Douglas Musgrave, M.D., and Donald Roberts, M.D., are all among Portland’s 2012 top doctors.

Portland Monthly’s 2012 top doctors were chosen out of 6,300 Portland-area physicians. The 312 named as Portland’s best physicians were selected through a partnership between Portland Monthly and Avvo, a Seattle-based company that rates medical professionals. Avvo rated all medical doctors in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark Counties, and the Portland Monthly list represents the top 5% of practitioners in each respective medical specialty.

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

The next PubTalk is from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Red Cross Community Room, 605 East Barnes St., near Officers’ Row. PubTalk is a bi-monthly networking event for entrepreneurs, investors, and business professionals. Attendees hear pitches from startups as well as educational, thought-provoking speeches from successful local entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2009, PubTalk has served over 20 startups and partially funded eight. Registration is now open for the next event, “Patents & Rock n’ Roll!” featuring Kurt Rylander from Rylander & Associates speaking about intellectual property protection, and a pitch from Vancouver startup Young Guitars, complete with an electric guitar demo. Register by clicking here. To nominate a startup, click here. To watch a video about PubTalk, click here.

C-TRAN buses will operate on their regular Saturday and Sunday schedules on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25. On Monday, Dec. 26, many C-TRAN buses operate on reduced service schedules, but the passenger service office and call center will both be open during their normal business hours. Visit C-TRAN’s web site for more information at www.c-tran.com.