Daily Insider

World-renowned Hector Garcia performs for veterans May 21

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:19:16 +0000

Hector Garcia

Clark County Veterans Therapeutic Court will be the beneficiary of a Monday, May 21, event featuring the world-renowned classical guitarist Hector Garcia and his former pupil, Ernesto Quilban. Cuban-born Garcia is widely considered to be the best classical guitar player in the world. He has performed with major symphonies throughout Europe and the U.S. In his youth, he was imprisoned by Fidel Castro for two years, until the Kennedy Administration paid a $50,000 ransom. Upon his release, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Quilban is a major talent in his own right, having won his country’s national talent contest at age 17. Also performing will be pop sensation Ashton Rogers, Col. Dan Kern, country music star Ricky Lee Jackson, Tamara Knight, national fiddler champion Cynthia Hamm, and Don Mitchell and Judy Koch Smith of Three Together.

The concert will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Living Hope Church (formerly K-Mart), 2711 N.E. Andresen Rd., Vancouver. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with Art Miller on the piano. The main event will start at 6 p.m. with a color guard and bagpipers. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. The cost includes beverages, snacks, and a dessert bar. Tickets are available at any Columbia Credit Union branch, Beacock Music, Goldies BBQ, the Cameo Café, and at www.ClarkCountyVetsCourtBoard.org.

Former Share board director “Rolling Across America” starting May 19 to raise funds for hunger

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:02:39 +0000

David Jones

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, former Share board director David Jones will begis his 12,000-mile journey, “Rolling Across America,” in front of Share House, 1115 E 13th St., Vancouver. Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt will stop by Share House between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to wish Jones luck on his trip. Members of the Vancouver Bicycle Club, as well as Share board directors, will join Jones for the first few miles as he heads out of town.

On the first day, Jones will travel across the I-5 bridge, along Marine Drive to Troutdale, and then up to Government Camp. From there, Jones will follow the country’s northern boundary, down the East Coast, back across the South, and up through California and Oregon to Vancouver. Jones will pedal through 26 states; throughout his journey, he will conduct video interviews and update his website, rollingacrossamerica.org, his Facebook site, facebook.com/rollingacrossamerica, and his Twitter feed, twitter.com/rollingacross. Financial donations can be made at rollingacrossamerica.org or sharevancouver.org.

Propstra Square planting May 19

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:47:55 +0000

Welcome spring with neighbors, family, and friends, at the Propstra Square Flower Planting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. Volunteers should arrive at Propstra Square by 9 a.m. to complete volunteer registration forms, and participants should bring their own gardening gloves. The Hilton Vancouver will provide refreshments both before and after the planting. Register by contacting the Parks Foundation office at 360-487-8370 or by e-mailing Cheri Martin at cheri.martin@parksfoundation.us. More details are available by clicking here. The flowers and plants are funded through the Parks Foundation Propstra Square Memorial Brick sales. Purchase information is available at www.parksfoundation.us/support/purchase-a-memorial-brick.

Town Tabloids

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:14:20 +0000

Yoshie Sano says motherhood is worth the wait.

Mayor Sean Guard takes it on faith.

La Center‘s agreement with the Cowlitz Tribe goes down the toilet.

23rd Annual Senior Citizen Prom May 18

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:06:22 +0000

“Orchids and Lace” is the theme of the 23rd Annual Senior Citizen Prom at Lupeke Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., to be held in the Community Room from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 18. The cost is $12 per person for an evening of food, dancing, and fun. Live music will be provided by New Horizons Band. The prom is jointly sponsored by Courtyard Village Vancouver, The Senior Messenger, and KISN Real Oldies Radio. RSVP in person at the Luepke Center or call 360-487-7100. For more details, contact Kelly Lund at 360-487-7055.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office holds candlelight vigil tonight

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:58:50 +0000

From 8:45 to 9:15 p.m. tonight, May 17, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office will hold a candlelight vigil commemorating National Police Week. The free community event will be held in the parking lot of Crossroads Community Church, 7708 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. At approximately 9 p.m., emergency vehicles, synchronized with law enforcement from Cowlitz County, will shine their spotlights skyward in honor of those who now serve and protect our communities, and for those who have given their lives in the line of duty. For more information, contact Kasey Frazier at 360-397-2211, ext. 3380, or kasey.frazier@clark.wa.gov.

Sharon Wylie appointed to Joint Higher Education Committee

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:52:40 +0000

On May 9, Rep. Sharon Wylie was appointed to the Joint Higher Education Committee by Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. Wylie has represented the 49th Legislative District since April 2011 and currently serves on the House Higher Education Committee. The Joint Higher Education Committee was created in E2SHB 2483, a measure establishing a new Student Achievement Council, effective July 1, to replace the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The nine-member Student Achievement Council will provide focus and purpose to increase educational attainment in Washington, including transitions from secondary to postsecondary and among postsecondary institutions. The Joint Higher Education Committee will review the work of the Student Achievement Council and will provide legislative feedback, engage with the council and the higher education community on creating greater communication, coordination, and alignment between the system and expectations of the Legislature, and will provide recommendations for higher education policy.

Clark County fire cadets take training to new levels in Astoria

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:48:34 +0000

One hundred and eight fire cadets from the city of Astoria, as well as from Clark, Cowlitz, and Pacific Counties, will fight a real fire for the first time during three days of intense training at the Marine and Environmental Research and Training Station in Astoria. In addition, cadets will put their hose skills to the test when they compete in “fire hose bowling,” using a fire hose water stream to push a bowling ball through cones, honing the teamwork and problem-solving skills that are essential to firefighting. Cadets will also participate in the “human knot,” in which 10 entangled cadets untangle themselves into a straight line, and the “trolley walk,” in which five cadets must walk as a group wearing 8′x4″ boards as giant shoes. The fire cadets are all high school students, ages 16 to 18, who are training to become firefighters.

C-TRAN temporary closures, Dozer Day shuttle

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:40:57 +0000

C-TRAN buses will operate on Sunday schedules for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 28; click here for details. On Saturday, May 19, some stops will be temporarily closed on Routes 2, 32, 37, and 78 for the Hazel Dell Parade of Bands; click here for details. C-TRAN will provide shuttles to the Dozer Day event on May 19; click here to learn more. As of May 13, several C-TRAN routes have been modified; click here to find out more.

Washington awarded grant to implement health insurance exchange

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:21:07 +0000

Gov. Chris Gregoire announced yesterday that Washington will receive a $128 million federal Level II Exchange Establishment Grant to develop and implement the state’s Health Benefit Exchange, which will help residents find, compare, and enroll in health care coverage in 2014. The grant will be used to support the development of policies by the exchange board, the creation of an exchange infrastructure, and the design of a consumer-engagement and marketing campaign. The exchange will also need to secure a revenue source so it can be self-sustaining by 2015. The benefit exchange will be a new marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase private health insurance coverage and gain access to tax credits, reduced-cost sharing, and public programs, such as Medicaid. The exchange will begin enrolling consumers on Oct. 1, 2013, for health insurance coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. More information is available at www.hca.wa.gov.