Mother’s Day Brunch at Alderbrook Park
Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (PT)
Brush Prairie, WA

Activities are free with admission
Bounce Houses
Pony Rides
Pedal Boats
Petting farm
Train rides
Volleyball

Visit the website to reserve your meal

Dutch Green Lawn Care is a new business located in East Clark County of S.W. Washington, serving Seniors who need help in maintaining their residential property. The owner, Hendrik vanderBurgh, went back to Clark College in 2010 and earned his Landscape Technician Certificate, as well as an Associate’s degree in AG/ Horticulture, graduating in April 2012 at the age of 60.

Dutch Green Lawn Care is unique in the lawn maintenance industry, as absolutely no gas-powered tools or transportation is used. No air pollution, no noise pollution! A custom made Worksman Mover is used to transport all hand tools to the job site. Being a C.L.T. means that you can be assured that proper and professional lawn care management techniques will be used, with added time taken to ensure your satisfaction.

Dutch Green Lawn Care is licensed with the State of Washington.
Contact Hendrik at 360.326.3799 for an appointment for all of your lawn care needs.

VA VA VOOM, a theatrical group of “seasoned seniors,” will perform music, comedic sketches and dancing during their spring production “Spring in Bloom, or Wilted,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday May 5 and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6 at the School for the Blind, 2214 East 13^th St. in Vancouver.

The performance group will also perform the show at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday May 25 at Barberton Grange, 9400 NE 72^nd Ave. in Vancouver.

VA VA VOOM has previously staged performances at The Barberton Grange, Luepke Center and The Hostess House. “We perform with passion and purpose,” said organizer Harriet Walker. “The purpose is to entertain and enrich audiences as well as stroke our respective smiling senior egos.

“The troupe is talent rich with men and women,” Walker explains. “The urge and ability to perform has been with these community citizens for many years. VA VA VOOM allows such yearnings to be realized.”

Show proceeds will assist The Evergreen Lions Club in its efforts to help the blind and hard of hearing. “There is nothing greater than to watch the inner light that comes on when seasoned seniors find new outlets in the VA VA VOOM experience,” said Larry Browning, club president of the Orchards-Evergreen Lions Club. “Is there anything more satisfying than watching others enjoy life’s entertaining moments?

Tickets are $10. To reserve, call 360-546-5855.

Clark County Environmental Services, in cooperation with community partners, will sponsor a half-day fair on Earth Day to showcase sustainable practices you can use to reduce waste and protect the environment.

The Do-It-Yourself Fair will run 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Clark College, Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

“We want people to repair things rather than throw them away when they can still be very useful,” said Sally Fisher, sustainability specialist. “The Do-It-Yourself Fair also will tell people how they can help the environment and save money by changing the way they care for yards and clean their homes.”

The DIY Fair will include workshops about rain barrels; rain gardens; bike basics; vegetable gardening; computer maintenance; green cleaning; basic plumbing; basic wiring; tree planting/care; weed control; composting; weatherization; screen and screen door repair; sizing your lawn; naturescaping/native plants; sheetrock repair; and radon, mold and lead.

The fair will include environmental exhibits from local agencies and companies.

Environmental Services is sponsoring the event in partnership with Bad Monkey Bikes, Clark County Information and Technology, Clark County Public Health, Clark Public Utilities Home Depot, Lowe’s, Master Composters/Recyclers, Urban Forestry, Waste Connections Inc. and Watershed Stewards.

Participants also can shred personal papers and documents at a free shredding event sponsored by Waste Connections Inc. Each person may shred up to four paper grocery bags of documents.

In addition, Clark Public Utilities will sponsor a compact fluorescent bulb exchange. People can drop off unbroken compact fluorescent lights that have burned out and receive up to six new bulbs per person. Fluorescent tubes or fixtures cannot be accepted at this event.

For a complete list of fair workshops, visit www.clark.wa.gov/environment/DIY.html.

Clark County Historical Museum will host an evening with author William Least Heat-Moon starting at 5 p.m. Saturday May 12 during the annual dinner and auction at the historic Summit Grove Lodge in Ridgefield.

The annual fundraising event will feature a full catered dinner, silent auction and “paddle raise.”  A book signing and auction begins at 5 p.m. followed by Heat-Moon’s tales of adventures on America’s “blue highways” after dinner.

William Least Heat-Moon‘s first book, “Blue Highways,” embarks on a journey off the beaten path. Sticking to the small places via the small roads – those colored blue on maps – he uncovered a nation deep in character, story, and charm.

Once known as Headley’s Camp, a popular “eating house” dating back to the 1880s, Summit Grove Lodge was constructed in the 1920s on Pacific Highway, one of Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways. Its rustic elegance attracted the likes of President Roosevelt, Clark Cable, Shirley Temple and Jack Benny.

The Colf family of Woodland purchased Summit Grove Lodge in 2009 and miticously restored it with state-of-the-art amenities. The lodge, listed on the Clark County Heritage Register, retains the original cedar-log walls, beams and ceilings.

Tickets are on sale now at $65 for CCHS members and $75 for non-members. You may also purchase a table seating six for $450. Call (360) 993-5679 to reserve tickets before May 8.

Clark County will allocate savings realized with a recent bond refinancing to agencies that provide health and human services as tenants of its Center for Community Health.

The bond refinancing will save money for the county and six non-profit agencies,  helping ensure delivery of much-needed programs. Collectively, tenants will save just over $826,000 between now and 2016, when rent and economic conditions will be evaluated to determine whether this year’s reductions may continue.  The savings come from a lower interest rate and a smaller principal amount, reducing the total cost of the building over time.

The county built the Center for Community Health, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. between 2004 and 2006. Bonds refinanced in late March included those issued to build the center, which coordinates public health, youth and family, mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and developmental disability services in one place.

“Social service agencies and nonprofits are struggling in this economy, and state and federal budget cuts have meant scaling back programs,” said Board Chair Marc Boldt. “A break on the rent will help preserve critical services for many residents of Clark County.”

“Rent has been a consistent concern of the tenants, including the county’s health and community services departments,” added County Administrator Bill Barron. “This is a prime opportunity to capture and share savings in a difficult time.”

Service providers that will benefit include Columbia River Mental Health, Community Services Northwest, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health and Human Service Department, Telecare and Lifeline Connections.

This year, rent will be reduced by a total of $107,500. Next year, the total savings will be $202,140. In future years, the projected total ranges from $170,138 to $173,298.

Waste Connections’ new bright pink curbside recycling carts went on sale in March. The limited edition pink carts will replace the regular blue carts and will be sold for $200, with proceeds benefitting the local non-profit Pink Lemonade Foundation.

The cart sales are timed to coincide with the first annual Breast Reconstruction Advocacy Victory Event” Day or “BRAVE” Day March 21.

The annual BRAVE Day proclamation was conceived by the Pink Lemonade Foundation to raise awareness about breast reconstruction rights and to highlight important information that all breast cancer patients should receive from their insurance provider as required by federal law. Unfortunately, data shows only 40% of women who receive a mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis go on to have breast reconstruction.

Waste Connections’ pink cart project was inspired by a relative of the company’s Western Region Vice President, Rob Nielsen. Nielsen’s sister-in-law, Deedra Rosamond, passed away at age 35 after a long battle with stage 4 breast cancer.  It was one of Deedra’s final wishes for her family to continue to support a local breast cancer charity. Her struggle inspired Nielsen and his wife, Desiree, to help make the pink cart project, now known among Waste Connection staff as “Deedra’s Dream”, a reality.

April 27-29

A weekend of free, family-friendly activities and demonstrations featuring ideas for enhancing your home, yard and garden, presented by Clark Public Utilities.

FREE admission (organizers encourage canned food donations to local food banks or cash donations to Operation Warm Heart, helping low-income families in crisis pay electricity bills)

Event highlights include:

• Hundreds of local businesses showcasing home and garden related products and services
• Fun for the whole family with free hands-on kids’ activities and the new PowerZone with interactive stations for exploring electricity
• Elaborate indoor landscape displays to inspire new ideas, presented by the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
• One of the largest plant sales in the region, hosted by the Specialty Nursery Association of Clark County
• Educational environmental displays hosted by community organizations
• Displays featuring the latest in renewable energy resources and energy technology for your home including the Energy Smart Home with New Tradition Homes
• Local farmer’s market vendors offering fresh produce, artisan goods and cut flowers
• Guest presentations by local home and garden experts

May 17-2012. 9am- 11am.
First Christian Church(Fellowship Hall).
111 W 19th St Vancouver Washington 98660

For information or reservation Pat 360-892-0559

April 29, 2012
Time: 11 AM to 4 PM

*50plus Northwest will be at this event, stop by our booth

Are you an empty nester? Thinking about retirement? Looking for resources and opportunities for aging parents? All ages are welcome to attend the 50+ Connections Expo, scheduled for Sunday, April 29, 11 am to 4 pm, at the Vancouver Hilton Convention Center, 301 W 6th Street, which is on the C-Tran bus route. Attendees may also park at the Luepke Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Blvd. and board a shuttle that runs every 30 minutes courtesy of The Bedford and Cascade Inn.

• Enter your name for a chance to win the Grand Prize Mississippi River Cruise offered by USA River Cruises; and visit the 120+ exhibits that will feature information and hands on activities on travel, recreation, health, nutrition, housing, finances, health resources and more.
• Take advantage of health screenings such as Blood Pressure, Lower Extremity Circulation and Lung Function provided by PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center; sample acupuncture from Vancouver Acupuncture; Body Mass Indexing, Blood Pressure Checks, Rx consultation and immunization appointments by Walgreens; Blood Glucose screening by Fred Myer; and Back Scans by Davis Family Chiropractic.
• Relax to the beautiful music of Michael Kissinger Jazz Quartet and purchase discounted tickets available only at the expo to the Wine and Jazz Festival and Bravo! Vancouver Concert Series.
• Come and feel for yourself the comfort of the Toyota Prius c, just introduced to the market in April.
• Throughout the day enjoy “Living the Good Life” mini-presentations featuring topics such as laughter yoga, real estate in Clark County, Memory health, and Tai Chi to name a few.
• This year we will also feature an Expo Boutique where you can get a 10% off show special on all products in that area such as Scentsy, Jockey Person 2 Person, Demarle, Arbonne, Dove Chocolates, etc.
• And don’t forget to stop by and say hello to Napoleon the Alpaca and Rojo and Smokey the Llamas. They will be sure to make you smile!

This event is presented by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and The Messenger newspaper. RSVP is a program of the Human Services Council. Its focus for the past 40 years has been to engage empty nesters and retirees in meaningful volunteer service at over 150 non-profits in Clark County. A suggested donation at the door supports this Program. Sponsors include: PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center; USA River Cruises; A Caring Heart Senior Housing Referral Service, LLC; Glenwood Place Senior Living/The Quarry; Humana MarketPOINT, Inc; Northwest Healthcare, Inc./Aging Resources, Inc.; SWAAD; Memory Health Center (@ Summit Research); Health Net Health Plan of Oregon; Highgate Senior Living; Edward Jones Investments; Human Services Council; ManorCare Salmon Creek; Walgreens; and Kaiser Permanente. Contributors include: Retirement Connection Guide.

Location: Hilton Hotel & Convention Center

Address: 301 W 6th Street

Additional Info: www.50plusconnectionsexpo.com

Email: jeannep@hsc-wa.org

Phone: 360-735-3683