Bats have a bad reputation…many people think all bats carry rabies, bats are pests, bats will attack people and suck your blood, and, if bitten by a bat, you will turn into a vampire! While bats are unusual animals, they are also very useful, known as “nature’s bug zappers”!

“Christine Portfors, associate professor of biology at Washington State University Vancouver, and Peter Ritson, seventh grade science teacher at Catlin Gabel, will host their annual “Bat Talk” from 3 – 5 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Dengerink Administration building, room 110. This event is an especially fun fall activity for families with children ages 4 – 12 and is free and open to the public.

While the season often calls for depicting bats as blood-sucking, vicious creatures, now families have 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 fun children’s activities including arts and crafts.

“Many people want to get rid of bats and consequently, certain species are becoming endangered,” said Portfors. “These animals need to be understood in order to protect them. My role as a scientist is to help educate the public about their importance. Kids especially have a lot of fun coming to see the live bats.”

In her presentation, Portfors dispels popular folklore and teaches guests about the beneficial role 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.

Portfors is a biologist and neurobiologist who has studied bats in the wild and in the lab for more than 17 years. For more information about Portfors’ research, visit her website, “The Bat Lab,” at http://research.vancouver.wsu.edu/hearing-and-communication-lab.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Avenue off the 134th Street exit form either I-5 or I-205. Parking is free on weekends.” ~Washington State University Vancouver

This post: “Bat Girl Visits Salmon Creek” was originally featured at Clark County Live!

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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!

The Clark County Historical Museum is partnering with Clark County and WSU Extension to host the museum’s Seventh Annual Harvest Fun Day at the 78th Street Heritage Farm site. This free family oriented event promises a full day of activities, contests and displays to celebrate Clark County’s rural heritage. Formerly located in downtown Vancouver, the event is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, between 10 am and 4 pm, on the grounds of the farm site located at 1919 NE 78th Street, about half a mile east of Highway 99.

Displays and demonstrations include antique farm equipment, rope making and corn grinding with members of the Fort Vancouver Antique Equipment Association, a blacksmith and his working forge, working draft horses, and small animals displays by Clark County 4-H. A number of Hands-on activities will be provided including pumpkin decorating, button-making with Dorothy Krugner of The Button Jar, and the ever popular scarecrowmaking, with all materials  provided free courtesy of Bi-Zi Farms and Spanky’s Family Consignment Shop. Legacy High School students will offer face painting.

Pie-eating contests will begin at 11:30, followed by cornshucking contests at 1:30 pm. Both contests are split into three age groups and require preregistration. “These are popular competitions,” said CCHM Director Susan Tissot “and we advise folks to sign up before the Saturday event, as there are always waiting lists the day of the event.” Age brackets are 4-8, 9-15, and 16 and up. Register by contacting the Museum at 360-993-5679 or cchm@pacifier.com., and “Please leave a phone number so we can confirm registration,” added Tissot.

Vancouver Pizza will sell pizza throughout the day, donating part of the proceeds to the Museum. Live music will be provided including a morning appearance  by the Vancouver Community Band. To volunteer to help at this event, contact CCHM Visitor Services Coordinator, Karen Washabaugh at 360-993-5679.

This event is made possible through generous support from the Fort Vancouver Antique Equipment Association, Bi-Zi Farms, Spanky’s Family Consignment Shop, Vancouver Farmers Market, Clark PUD, Dulin’s Village Café, Waste Connections, Air & Water Works, Kazoodles, and Sunrise Bagels.

*Special thanks to Barbara Anderson for contributing this article to Hazel Dell Live!

This post: “Harvest in Hazel Dell”
was originally featured at Hazel Dell Live!

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Join your friends and neighbors at the Tenth Annual Open House and Safety Fair on Saturday, September 18th. The fun starts at noon and lasts until 4 pm at the Public Safety Complex – 505 NW 179th Street (located by the Fairgrounds). This Complex houses the Clark County Sheriff’s Office West Precinct, the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office and a volunteer fire station shared by Fire Districts 6, 11, & 12.

Meet your local law enforcement, check out community exhibits, emergency vehicles will be on display, and demonstrations throughout the day. You (and the kids) can enjoy free face painting, child ID and fingerprinting, a bounce house, and the Jr. Firefighter challenge. They will also be serving up hot dogs, chips, pop, and popcorn.

Demonstrations
12:30 Auto Extrication
1:00 Life Flight arrives
1:30 K-9 Demo
2:00 Auto Extrication
2:30 K-9 Demo
3:00 Fire Extinguisher Demo.

Don’t forget to stop by the North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association (NSCNA) Booth! It’s a chance to share some of your ideas with us, ask questions, make suggestions or just share a friendly “Hi – how are ya!” If you need auxiliary aids or services in order to attend, contact the ADA Office. Voice (360) 397-2000; Relay (800) 833-6384; Email ADA@clark.wa.gov.

This post: “Tenth Annual Open House and Safety Fair”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

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Pack a picnic, bring your blanket and settle in for an evening of entertainment at a free outdoor concert Friday, August 27 at 6 pm in WSU Vancouver’s amphitheater. Everyone is welcome, and admission and parking are free.

Local favorite Pepe & the Bottle Blondes will spice up the evening. The Copacabana-style band combines an eclectic ensemble of saxophones, trumpets, congas and percussion with bold singing by Pepe and silky harmonies by his back-up blondes. Pepe & the Bottle Blondes successfully blend dance, opera and musical theater with original songwriting and comedic wit to deliver a fresh and innovative experience.

The visually arresting performances of Pepe & the Bottle Blondes are enhanced with extravagant costumes and makeup that echo the indulgence and glamour of a 1950s nightclub. Their repertoire includes popular songs from the 30s to the 60s, a strong selection of tangos, boleros, rumbas, sambas and many other Latin-American rhythms.

Pepe & the Bottle Blondes have performed in San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. Pepe has sung in Madrid, Paris and Las Vegas, including appearances with Pink Martini at the Cannes Film Festival and with the Oregon Symphony.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Concessions will be available. Dress for the weather. No tents or alcohol, please.

Are you sick of your old clothes? Do you sometimes wish you could just change your wardrobe with someone else? Are you concerned with the environmental effects of consuming clothing and other household goods? Do you need an excuse to do some summer cleaning and purge? Do you love free stuff? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we’ve got just the event for you! Vancouver Green Drinks is putting on a community clothing swap in August, in place of their monthly networking event. They are partnering with the ReStore and Empower Up to bring you this exciting opportunity to clean out your closets and get some fun lightly used clothing-all for free!

The Vancouver Green Drinks Community Clothing Swap will take place 6 pm, August 31, 2010 at the Clark County Habitat for Humanity ReStore (5000 E Fourth Plain). The idea behind the community clothing swap is to get free clothing and other usable items; and get rid of good, usable stuff you no longer want or need. No money will change hands at this event! Unless, of course, you would like to make a donation to ReStore or Empower Up, those will be gladly accepted!

Dig through your closet, drawers and storage, wash clothes you no longer love/wear/need and bring them to this clothing swap (Flip flops, sunhats, jewelry, bags, shoes, and other accessories are also welcome)! The ReStore will accept your donations for one week prior to this event, and will accept clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, household goods, electronics and media (music, movies, games, etc…).  Please do not bring TV’s, microwaves, broken, ripped, stained, or unusable items.

Mingle with friends and have a few drinks (available to purchase from Applewood Restaurant and Bar) on August 31 while items are being sorted into general categories, then the shopping starts! Take what looks good to you, try it on and take it home! At the end of the night, all unclaimed items will be donated to local non-profits. Again, there is no fee to attend this event, and all items will be free, and everyone is invited!

Want more information? View the Community Clothing Swap flyer, or you can send an email to vancouvergreendrinks@gmail.com.

This post: “Vancouver Green Drinks Wants You to Change Your Clothes”
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!

I’ll have my lunch “to go” with a side of music, please. Every Wednesday (until August 11) you can enjoy free live concerts at Esther Short Park at the Terry Lee, Attorney Noon Concert series. The music starts at noon and lasts about an hour, with a different musical talent featured each week.

July 14:      Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer
July 21:     Justin Klump
July 28:     Misty Mamas
August 4:   Key of Dreams
August 11:  Rising Violet

Bring your own lunch or grab a bite to eat from one of Vancouver’s local vendors that will be on site: Chewy’s Really Big Burritos, For the Grill of It, Jo Food Catering, Ice Cream Renaissance, Pizza Della Terra, and Divine Bites.

This post: “Noon Concerts in the Park”
was originally featured at Clark County Live!

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Now that summer weather is finally here and we have all thawed out, we need to start thinking about how to stay cool, and still have fun, when it may be too hot to spend all day in the sun.

Well, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation have issued a press release with the following suggestions:

“With temperatures rising well into the 90s over the next few days, the City of Vancouver encourages residents to seek relief from the heat. Vancouver is a cool place, with a variety of activities and places offering shelter the swelter. Don’t have air conditioning? Here are some options where you can splash, craft, read, or simply chill.

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation’s Firstenburg and Marshall community centers have comfortable, Wi-Fi enabled lobby areas where residents are welcome to relax, meet their neighbors and cool off. They also provide perfect places to play, exercise, swim or take a class.

This Sunday, July 11, is Sunday Funday at Marshall, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., when games, crafts and other activities are free. Bring the suits and towels and swim free between 1:30 and 3 p.m. It’s a great way to cool off with your family!

Next door to Marshall Center, the Luepke Senior Center offers opportunities for seniors to beat the heat. Firstenburg’s Trapedero II is also a welcoming place for seniors to gather and stay cool and comfortable. Firstenburg also features a free game room for all ages.

Find open swim times and all other Parks and Recreation activity schedules at www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center offers cool and free hands-on exhibits, toddler-size learning at Puddles Place, nature-inspired art and a panoramic view of the Columbia River. Admission to the Water Center is free!

July 10 is Second Saturday, with free family-friendly, hands-on games and stories from 1 to 3 p.m. This Saturday’s theme is “How does your Garden Grow?” Learn about garden plants, participate in a garden scavenger hunt, and take home things you’ve made from plants. All ages are welcome, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Water Center will also host an artist’s reception from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 10, to introduce the new art-inspired displays, “Bird’s Eye View – the Art Quilts of High Fiber Diet” and “New Work from Old Hands’ ceramics by Richard Roth. The public is welcome to attend. For more Water Center information, please see www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.

The City of Vancouver reminds residents that during heat advisories it’s important to stay hydrated with non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated liquids. Where possible, stay indoors and in an air-conditioned facility. Children and pets should NEVER be left in a closed, parked vehicle for any time. Pet owners are encouraged to provide cool shelter for animals and plenty of water. Please note that except for service animals, pets are not allowed in the city facilities mentioned above.

Other free, air-conditioned options around Vancouver include visiting the Westfield Shopping Center at Vancouver Mall Drive or a branch of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library. Visit www.fvrl.org for library locations and hours.

Remember, enjoying the air-conditioning and watching the activities around you is free at these Vancouver centers:

Firstenburg Community Center

700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7001

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 6 p.m.

Marshall Community Center and Luepke Senior Center

1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7100

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Friday: 5:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Water Resources Education Center

4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver, Washington

(360) 487-7111

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.”

via Heat got you down? Vancouver offers lots of ways to keep cool and comfortable – News Release – City of Vancouver, Washington, USA.

This post: “Keep Your Cool, 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!

Everyone is invited to the 2nd Annual All Church Picnic on Saturday, July 31 2010 from 11 am to 3 pm on the grounds at Pearson Air Museum. You can park your car at Hudson’s Bay High School and catch a free shuttle to the picnic.

Detour Ministries is putting on this good old fashioned church picnic and hopes to get together as many Clark County Christian Churches as possible for a day of interdenominational fun and community.

What can you expect at an “All Church Picnic”?  Well, according to the All Church Picnic website, you can expect the “best picnic Clark County has ever seen.”  There will be live worship music, pony rides, bounce houses, slip-n-slide, potato sack races, sumo wrestling ring and more.  If you are up for it, there is even a chance for a plane ride! 104.1 the Fish will be there, as will H.B London of “Focus on the Family.”

Admission is free, so bring your blanket, picnic lunch, friends and  family and get ready for some fun.  For more information, visit the All Church Picnic online.

This post: “2nd Annual All Church Picnic”
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!

It’s Friday night. Wanna catch a movie? Meet up with friends? Don’t want to spend a ton of money on either? Lucky for you (and me) there are several locations around Clark County that are offering free Friday night movies on the lawn.

The Vancouver Farmer’s Market, downtown Vancouver at Esther Short Park offers free movies Friday nights beginning at dusk. Brink your own blankets or chairs and enjoy some snacks; fresh squeezed lemonade, Kilauea Hawaiian Shaved Ice, or Double Dip Ice Cream Cart. Show up a bit early and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Friday Night at Vancouver Farmer’s Market. July 30th movie is The Blind Side.

Want to enjoy some wine with your movie? The Rusty Grape Vineyard in Battle Ground opens up their vineyard for movies on the lawn. The movies start at dusk, but the wine tasting room opens at noon; and tastings are complementary. Feel free to buy a bottle to enjoy during the movie, bring a picnic or pizza, kick back and relax! July 30th movie is Airplane.

LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park also shows free Friday night movies, presented by Dr. Bonnie Lund, DDS and the Port of Portland. This 30 acre neighborhood park is located between the Hearthwood and Fircrest neighborhoods. Bring the kids early and let them play on the play structure, shoot some hoops,  or run around the track, then settle down and watch a family movie. July 30th movie is The Blind Side.

This post: “Friday Night Movies Under the Stars”
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!