Visit Confluence Winery (19111 NW 67th Ave,Ridgefield) for an evening of fun including a silent auction, door prizes, live music, hors d’oeuvres, and wine (of course!) on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Funds raised will benefit the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe.

“The quaint community of Ridgefield, WA is home to the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe, a team of horses and riders dedicated to the philanthropic value of equestrian art. The troupe now travels along the west coast and performs with some of the world’s most beautiful and talented equines including Friesian, Andalusian and Spotted Baroque horses. Comprised mainly of stallions, the troupe performs choreographed dances to music, highlighting the trick training of Susan Dyer-DeBoer, the troupe’s founder and organizer.

The BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe self-funds the majority of these costs and does so in honor of the immeasurable value these horses bring to the hearts of their public. In times like these, touching others through love is priceless.

In 2012, the BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe will be piloting a one hour show in Albany, Oregon entitled “If Wishes Were Horses”. The intent is to take the viewer along on a journey of dreams that really do come true. The costs for creating such a production are significant and in an attempt to help offset these costs, the troupe and their supporters are hosting a silent auction to raise funds. Your help will keep the BlackPearls dancing for many others to enjoy.

Please join us on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 5-8 pm at Confluence Winery, located at 19111 NW 67th Avenue, Ridgefield, WA. We will provide a slideshow of some of our performances, along with the beautiful, live music of the Montavilla Jazz Committee. Premium Confluence wine will be available for purchase, along with complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

Donations for this auction will also be accepted until January 21, 2012. Items to be auctioned vary greatly from fine art to local artisan goods and services to stud fees, tack and much more. Cash and checks accepted. Payment may also be made by PayPal within 24 hours of auction completion. We look forward to seeing you there!” ~The BlackPearl Equestrienne Troupe

Tickets are $15 per person, or $25 per couple; call 360-909-6251 for more information.

Thanks to Susan Dyer-DeBoer of FeatherDance Equine Entertainment for the information!

This post: “Horsing Around at Confluence Winery” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

The Couv’ Groove benefit concert with Alisa Williams & Friends will take place Friday, December 16, 2011, 7 pm at Mill Plain United Methodist Church (15804 SE Mill Plain, Vancouver) . This concert is FREE and open to the public.

People are encouraged to bring hard goods like canned foods to support the local food bank and HUGS which stands for new hats, undies, gloves and socks to support local homeless shelters. There will be a Love Offering where money gifts will support the Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) Shelter and the Friends of the Carpenter (FOC).

The WHO Shelter is a homeless shelter that provides a safe place for the homeless during winter’s coldest months. Not only are guests offered a warm place to sleep, but also food, a hot shower and the warmth of volunteers caring to provide the most basic of human needs. The Friends of the Carpenter is another local organization that supports the homeless population by providing a welcoming community in their 20,000 sq. ft. workplace. The FOC have numerous activities available some of which teach people wood working techniques and make beautiful wood pieces which are available for purchase through their workshop.

The Couv’ Groove benefit concert with Alisa Williams & Friends is one local community supporters’ offering to help our local homeless population during this time of year. Alisa says, “I have always been very grateful for everything I have and I know it does not take much to find another in a worse situation. I hope that this benefit concert will become a regular annual community event and that people will make it a part of their many holiday traditions.”

For more information, call Alisa Williams at 971-219-4991, or email alisa@acelineupathletics.com.

This post: “The Couv’ Groove Benefit Concert” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

The Second Annual Vancouver USA Marathon will take place Sunday, June 17, 2012; and that means What? events are already up and running!

What? That’s right, What? events are the Vancouver USA Marathon “pre-functions” that take place monthly (usually on a Wednesday evening) where you can get together and meet others who are training to run, or walk, the Vancouver USA Marathon. These run/walks are free and are a great opportunity to run a portion of the course, get some free stuff, a free beer, discounts on Pasta and/or Happy Hour, and hang out with other cool people who are also training.

The running routes and restaurant change each month, but will begin at 6 pm, prizes at 7 pm and wrap up by 8:30. Sign ups begin around 5:30 and the first 10 people receive a free Vancouver USA Marathon Training shirt! Speaking of free…during the month of October, when you register for either the Vancouver USA Marathon or Half Marathon, you will receive a free entry for the Fort Vancouver Run in March 2012.

Here is the What? schedule so far:

October 19, 2011: Main Event (800 Main Street)
November 16, 2011: Tiger Garden (312 W 8th Street)
December 21, 2011: TBD
January 18, 2012: TBD
February 15, 2012: TBD
March 21, 2012: TBD
April 18, 2012: TBD
May 16, 2012: TBD

For more information visit the Vancouver USA Marathon.

This post: “What is Getting You Prepared for the Vancouver Marathon” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park is at the corner of NE 159th Street and 20th Avenue in the Fairgrounds area. The 4.5-acre neighborhood park currently features trees and a small area of open lawn. Whipple Creek runs through the property along the northwest boundary and connects with the Whipple Creek Greenway to the north.

All interested neighbors are encouraged to attend the April 20, 2011 meeting at 6:30 pm at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds (17204 NE Delfel Rd, Ridgefield), where project staff will present a draft concept plan for review and discussion. Public input will be used to develop a preferred draft concept plan, which will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission later this spring.

For more information, visit the Greater Clark Parks District, Salmon Creek Community Club Neighborhood Park.

East Fork Cellars, Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery, and Bethany Vineyards have joined forces for the North Clark County Wineries Spring Barrel Tasting Tour on Saturday, April 9, 2011 and Sunday, April 10, 2011.

These three award winning wineries are all within a corks toss of each other, so you have time to enjoy a unique wine tasting experience, as you tour all three wineries and taste their newest releases directly from the barrel. Wine, food, music… “Indulge yourself in a relaxing day experiencing the best of SW Washington wine country, and be the first to taste and reserve these limited releases from each winery.”

The barrel tasting is from 12 noon to 6 pm, and is available at East Fork Cellars, Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery, and Bethany Vineyards for $5 per person. For more information visit North Clark County Wineries.

This post: “Barrels of Fun in North Clark County” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

You don’t need to be a Cougar to join the fun! The Cougar Community 5K will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2011 starting at the WSU Campus in Salmon Creek.

This is a five kilometer race/walk which raises funds for an annual Student Leadership Award. This is a challenging cross country course with both steep descents and inclines that transition from: concrete, curbs, bark chips, dirt, mud, gravel, uneven ground, grass, wooden bridges, and wooden boardwalks. Due to the variety of terrain there will be no wheelchairs or strollers allowed.

However, if you are looking for a race the whole family can do, this event also offers a one mile family walk as an alternative for those with young children.

The race will feature official timing (AA Sports), a gear check and changing stations, as well as water, sports drinks, food; and of course T-shirts, gift bags, photographers, music, and more…

Registration is open to everyone. For more information, visit WSU Vancouver Cougar Community 5K.

Clark County Fire District 6 and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center are challenging the community to become a life- saving one by seeing how many members of our community can be trained in CPR in a single evening. The training is free and open to the public of all ages. It will be held at Salmon Creek Elementary School Thursday, May 19th from 6:30-8 p.m.

Participants will learn hands-only CPR, which is CPR without rescue breathing. “People often hesitate to start CPR because they’re uncomfortable giving mouth-to-mouth,” said Dawn Johnson, Public Information Officer for Fire District 6. “Hands-only takes away that stigma, and still saves lives.” The training can be learned in as little as 22 minutes.

Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. At the CPR Community Challenge, in just a single evening, you can learn how to save a life.

“Twenty-two minutes to learn something that can save a life,” added Brian Willoughby, spokesperson for Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. “There’s not much better return on investment than that.”

CPR with rescue breaths is recommended for infants and children; and victims of drowning, drug overdose, and breathing problems.

Please join us, and encourage your friends and family to attend, this life-saving event. Please pre-register online at Clark County Fire District 6. CPR manikins kindly donated by Fire District 6, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, Vancouver Fire Department, Camas Fire Department, and North County Fire.

Come learn how to save a life.

Spring is just around the corner, and you can’t have a garden without seeds!The next Grow Vancouver: Seed Swap and Giveaway will be Tuesday, March 15, 2011, between 6:30 and 8:00 pm at Harney Elementary (3212 East Evergreen Blvd); the meeting will be held in the cafeteria (now that’s appropriate! ).  This event is hosted by Urban Abundance, who also recently held a Wildflower Seedball Making Workshop; if you like anything to do with food, gardens, flowers, or pollinators, you should definitely check them out!

So, bring your extra vegetable seed and trade with neighbors. Bring packets to fill with seed. Take home some of the packets of the 250 pounds of Free Vegetable and Herb Seed that have been donated to Urban Abundance. Besides seed exchanging there will be opportunities to plan more urban agriculture projects with neighbors. Vegetarian stew and cornbread will be available. Feel free to bring other food goodies to share!

Grow Vancouver meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month and is a place for neighbors to meet and work together on urban agriculture projects. The meetings are open to all and are a great opportunity to meet other people in Vancouver focused on urban agriculture.

Half of the meeting is dedicated to an activity or speaker, the other half is dedicated to Hot Topics brought by neighbors who show up. Bring your Hot Topic and break off into a small group to see what we can get done!

Hot Topic ideas:

• Getting neighborhood buy-in to utilize the new Neighborhood Garden Policy.

• Developing a plan to work with the owner of a 3 acre site near Andreson and 4th Plain that has committed the site to urban agriculture.

• Developing a plan to work a privately owned half acre site in Central Park and a half acre site in Edgewood neighborhood that have been offered as a site for a neighborhood garden.

• Funding has been offered for Pollinator Pathways in Vancouver. Where should we place the first one?

Bring your hot topics to Grow Vancouver and find neighborhood partners to work through the details of growing more food in Vancouver.

For more information, contact Warren Neth at 360-771-1296

This post: “Grow Vancouver” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

Downtown Camas just celebrated February’s first Friday event and it was a hit.  The streets were bustling and parking was hard to find!  The streets were full of families and couples looking forward to February’s theme “chocolate and romance.”

We started our evening at a Camas favorite, the famous Twilight Pizza.  The place was packed with great music playing on the stereo and atmosphere that’s hard to beat.  Candles on every table made the meal even more delicious.  With just a short wait we were seated and ready for pasta heaven.  Twilight cannot be beat for an Italian meal made to please!

With our tummies full we turned the corner to Camas’s new lounge “Birch Street Uptown Lounge,” another experience all in its own.  The bartender in his perfectly pressed white suit and the owner, Kevin, in his pin stripes were just the beginning of getting to know Birch Street.  With handmade liquor filled chocolates made especially for Birch Street and their next to famous lemon drops a visit when in camas is a must.

The folks on the streets were shopping and sampling chocolates of all kinds.  The chocolate fountain at Camas Antiques really drew a crowd.  People were happy, smiling and having a great time.  The Uncommon Gift hosted Moonstruck chocolates that are the best around and Déjà Vu Camas Consignment offered guests chocolate covered strawberry’s.  Every business that participated had a wonderful treat to offer and quests were lined up to get them.

For March’s First Friday the downtown business will be hosting a Student Art Contest and a local Author Showcase.  Come back for more information!

This post: “February First Friday Followup” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

For more detailed coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events throughout the neighborhoods of Clark County, please visit Clark County Live!

The Skyview High School Choirs and Orchestra will be presenting their Storm Forecast Concert on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 7 pm, at the Skyview High School Auditorium (1300 NW 139th St, Salmon Creek).

The concert is free and open to the public and will feature music they have prepared for the competitive season.

This year, in conjunction with the concert, will be Skyview’s Art Walk from 5:30 to 7:30 in the Skyview Commons. Come see the talented young artists we have here in Salmon Creek, and maybe even buy a piece to take home!