Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Recycled Arts Festival is back this month for a 14th year, offering free fun for the whole family in Esther Short Park. The popular two-day event showcases artwork made of recycled materials, and aims to educate and excite Clark County residents about waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
The festival, presented by McCord’s Vancouver Toyota, is 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 29 and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 30. Attendees who show their reusable mugs or water bottles at the information tent will be entered in a special drawing.
More than 130 artists will sell items, such as metal and glass garden art, sculptures, mosaics, jewelry, clothing, furniture, birdfeeders and wall art. Items are made of at least 75 percent recycled material and are sure to inspire everyone to see things they may consider as trash in a new way.
The family-friendly festival also will include:
Additional festival features
The Falconer will bring live birds of prey to educate the public about wildlife conservation. Human habits, from toxic chemicals used in gardening to throwing litter on highways, directly affect the wellbeing and survival of these animals. The Falconer’s feathered friends and team of experts will be in the northeast section of the park on Saturday and Sunday.
The Procession of the Species is returning for a third year. The parade celebrates the natural world through art, with participants dressed in costumes and masks representing animals, plants and elements.
The parade begins at 11 am Sunday, June 30. Registration opens at 10:30 am. The free parade is open to people of any age. The cast of costumed characters will be led by The Beat Goes On, an all-adult marching band, and joined by dancers as they wind through Esther Short Park. The parade ends with a costume contest on the festival’s main stage.
Clark County Public Health and the Recycled Arts Festival have hosted free costume workshops throughout the month to help participants get ready for the parade. Those interested in joining the parade can make a costume or mask at one of the remaining workshops or bring their own on parade day. Here are the remaining workshops:
Register for the June 27 workshop on the Procession of the Species website. No registration required for workshops at the Recycled Arts Festival Kids’ Activity Booth.
Free parking will again be available in the Clark County Public Service Center parking garage, 1300 Franklin St. A shuttle bus will run regularly between the gazebo in the plaza at northeast 13th and Franklin streets and the south side of Esther Short Park (across the street from Vancouver City Hall). People who purchase heavy items that cannot be carried to a vehicle can be left at a secure loading area at the northeast corner of the park and picked up later.
For more information, visit the Recycled Arts Festival website.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Works invites residents to attend an open house to discuss proposed improvements on Northeast 99th Street between Northeast 94th Avenue and Northeast 117th Avenue/State Route 503.
The open house will be from 4:30 to 7 pm Wednesday, June 26, in the commons area of building 200 at Prairie High School, 11311 NE 119th St.
Clark County scheduled the open house early in the process, so stakeholders can meet with county staff to ask questions and offer comments. Maps of the proposed plan will be available.
The proposed changes are intended to improve cross circulation in the area. They include:
Funding for the estimated $17 million construction cost will come from a variety of sources including federal and state grants, traffic impact fees, the county road fund and Real Estate Excise Tax.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Superior Court has appointed Stefanie Ellis as Superior Court Commissioner. She fills a position vacated when Judge Jennifer Snider was appointed as Superior Court Judge.
Ellis is a local attorney who has practiced law since 2007. She has served as assistant city attorney for the city of Vancouver, judge pro tem for Clark County District Court and most recently as owner/partner for Priest and Ellis, PLLC. Her experience also includes serving as adjunct professor in Clark College’s paralegal program.
Ellis earned a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane and a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University. She is active in the local legal community serving as president of the Family Law Section of the Clark County Bar Association and currently is the treasurer for the Association.
Clark County's Superior Court has ten elected judges, three full-time judicially appointed court commissioners and one part-time commissioner. The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It is the trial court for all felonies and civil suits pursuant to RCW 2.08.010. Superior Court also has jurisdiction in adoption, probate, competency, divorce and juvenile cases. In addition it hears appeals from District Court decisions. Clark County’s Superior Court Commissioners preside over domestic relations, juvenile and mental health cases.
Ellis’ first day as commissioner will be Monday, July 8.
Vancouver, Wash. – Effective Monday, June 17, all land clearing and residential burning in Clark County will be restricted due to increased fire danger.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway is canceling all burning permits issued in Clark County for this year. Permits can be reissued or extended when the ban is lifted. The burning restrictions do not apply to federally managed lands.
Clark County typically bans outdoor burning from July 15 through Sept. 30 each year. However, a ban can begin sooner or end later depending on conditions.
“Clark and the surrounding counties have been in regular communication with the Washington state Department of Natural Resources, DNR, and the U.S. Forest Service over the past several weeks regarding the weather patterns and wildfire fuel conditions. Due to the low moisture content in the wildfire fuels coupled with the extended forecast calling for normal to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation, we are in agreement that the ban should be implemented earlier this year,” said Dunaway.
At the same time, the Pacific Cascade Region of DNR will be changing the wildfire danger rating to ‘moderate’ in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties, which prohibits all debris burning on DNR protected lands. Permits that have been issued are suspended until the fire danger subsides in the fall. In effect, all debris burning is prohibited on DNR protected lands and fire district protected lands in these three counties until further notice.
Protect your home
Creating a defensible space around homes is important to prevent a grass or brush fire from reaching your home. Dunaway recommends these actions in both rural and urban areas:
Campfires
Recreational campfires are still allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as commercial campgrounds and local, county and state parks. On private land, recreational fires are permitted when built according to the following regulations:
Self-contained camp stoves are a safe and easy alternative to camp fires for cooking.
For more information, please contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 564.397.2186 or visit the county’s website at www.clark.wa.gov/development/fire/burning.html.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Correction Facility Advisory Commission, CFAC, a volunteer advisory commission tasked with evaluating options to replace the county jail, this week discussed potential costs of the facility and how to move forward with a recommendation to the county council.
Commission members representing the cities expressed concern regarding the preliminary capital and ongoing operational cost estimates for the new facility. Several commission members said more research was needed on this issue and indicated they would like to be a part of that process.
The commission will move forward with a recommendation to the county council that emphasizes the agreement between members on what the new jail should look like for the community. Commission members said the recommendation should also highlight the potential costs and financial components of the project for the county council to consider.
“As we wrap up our process, we want to provide a recommendation that will give as much assistance as possible to the county council,” said Craig Pridemore, commission chair. “It’s important the councilors have the details needed to make decisions.”
CFAC has 24 members representing law and justice, community services, social services, business, neighborhoods, cities and labor. The commission held its first meeting in April 2018 and is on schedule to turn over its findings to the county council later this summer.
For more information, go to www.clark.wa.gov/councilors/correction-facility-advisory-commission.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health has posted caution signs at Vancouver Lake due to the possible bloom of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Public Health staff identified today suspected blue-green algae blooms at the Vancouver Lake swim beach, the Burnt Bridge Creek inlet and the flushing channel near the swim beach. Public Health is currently awaiting sample results from these locations to determine if toxins are in the water. Results should be available by early next week.
Public Health is advising people to avoid direct contact with lake water in areas of floating blue-green-colored scum. Blue-green algae produce toxins that can be harmful to people and deadly for small pets that drink the water.
Health officials are recommending:
Caution signs have been posted at the lake. Public Health will continue to monitor the lake throughout the summer, and signs will be updated as conditions change. Additional information and current advisories are posted on the Public Health public beach website.
Vancouver Lake Regional Park remains open. Water in park restrooms and shelters is not affected by lake water and remains safe to drink.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is accepting applications from local organizations for grants that encourage historic preservation and programs, including preservation of historic documents.
The Historical Promotion Grants program is designed to increase awareness and education to better preserve, exhibit, and/or interpret local history and historic preservation.
Applicants must be either a non-profit organization or public entity within the boundaries of Clark County that promotes our local history. Applicants also must either operate or own a museum or similar historical institution or perform educative, interpretive, or similar activities.
Applications, grant guidelines, and other information are available online at www.clark.wa.gov/community-planning/historical-promotion-grants-program or by emailing icpreservation@clark.wa.gov">historicpreservation@clark.wa.gov.
The deadline for submitting completed applications is 5 pm, Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.
The Historic Preservation Commission will review applications in the fall and submit recommendations to the county council in November. Grants will be awarded in December and grant funds will be available in January 2020.
The following information is in response to a media request for information regarding a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Date of death: 05/26/2019
Location: Vancouver, WA.
Decedent Name: Elia, Dylan M.
Decedent Age: 38 Yrs
Resident of: Vancouver, WA
The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:
Cause of death: Toxic effects of methamphetamine
Manner of death: Accident
Given the relatively long and extremely variable half-life of methamphetamine, it is not possible to determine when and where this use occurred.
Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Martha J. Burt, M.D.
Medical Examiner
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council this week adopted its spring supplemental budget which updates the 2019 budget originally adopted in December 2018.
The updated budget includes a 10 percent increase in pay for indigent defense attorneys contracted by the county to represent felony defendants who cannot afford attorneys. The increase goes into effect July 1 and will cost $179,275 for the remainder of 2019. The current rates for indigent defense attorneys have not been increased since 2009.
County Manager Shawn Henessee noted that the county has sufficient General Fund balance to cover the increase. The General Fund is the county’s largest fund and serves as the primary operating fund.
Henessee recommended approval of 76 budget requests received from county departments. The requests related to: maintaining service levels, infrastructure upkeep, revenue forecast updates, budget interventions and items with no impact on fund balance such as grants and technical adjustments.
Included in the supplemental was $834,665 in General Fund savings realized as a result of thorough reviews of departmental budgets. “It’s important that we be good stewards and be as efficient as we can with county funds,” said Henessee.
The net impact of the updated budget to all county funds is more than $3.7 million for 2019 and $13.2 million for 2020. The total 2019 adopted county budget is $520 million. The General Fund accounts for 33 percent or almost $170 million. The Road Fund has the second largest budget at $89.2 million.
For more information on the county budget, go to https://www.clark.wa.gov/budget/2019-budget
Vancouver, Wash. – A healthy community provides a readily available, affordable, and abundant selection of healthful eating options through conveniently located fresh produce markets, grocery stores, farmers’ markets and community gardens. Learn about how the presence and access to neighborhood grocery stores and markets encourage higher fruit and vegetable consumption, which supports dietary needs and helps reduce the risk of many diseases at the next meeting of the Commission on Aging, 4:30 pm Wednesday, June 19.
The meeting will be in the sixth-floor Hearing Room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
Melissa Martin, Public Health program manager, Ann Foster, Food Systems Council/Farmers Markets; and Zena Edwards, WSU Extension, will discuss our local food system and the importance of having access to healthy food.
The June 19 discussion is the fourth meeting this year focused on healthy communities, especially for people 65 and older. Healthy communities can contribute to one’s ability to live independently, safely, and comfortably.
The Commission on Aging, supported by the Clark County Council, is a nine-member volunteer group that implements the Aging Readiness Plan and provides leadership addressing needs of aging community members. For more about the commission, please visit www.clark.wa.gov/aging.
Commission meetings are carried live on CVTV Channel 23 and online at www.cvtv.org. To see replay times, go to www.cvtv.org.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County’s Veterans Therapeutic Court, VETCO, was established in 2011 to serve veterans with post-plea misdemeanor convictions at the District Court level. To date, 55 veterans have graduated from the court. Major changes to the program now will allow VETCO to serve even more veterans.
On June 3, VETCO began accepting veterans with pre-plea felony charges from Superior Court in addition to those from District Court. Veterans who successfully complete the pre-plea program will have their charges dismissed with prejudice. These changes are in line with those made to Clark County Mental Health Court in 2018. The court will still accept post-plea District Court referrals.
VETCO staff will hold an informational meeting from noon to 1 pm Wednesday, June 12 to share information with defense attorneys, prosecutors and others who are interested in the referral process and program changes. The meeting will be on the second floor of the courthouse, 1200 Franklin St.
In the innovative veterans’ treatment court model, one judge handles the cases of numerous veterans and addresses them during the same court session, restoring some of the structure and camaraderie found in the military but often lost on the home front. The judge is surrounded by an interdisciplinary team – prosecution, defense, treatment providers, probation, law enforcement, Department of Veterans Affairs representatives, and a team of volunteer veteran mentors all working toward the same goal: to help each veteran achieve recovery and get their lives back on track.
“The VETCO Team appreciates the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Vancouver City Attorney’s Office, and our many other stakeholders for making the vision of this updated model a reality,” said Beth Robinson, Therapeutic Specialty Courts Coordinator.
To learn more about veterans’ treatment court go to https://justiceforvets.org/whats-at-stake/.
In its mission to Leave No Veteran Behind, VETCO is working on reestablishing a volunteer veteran mentor program. For more information on how you can help with the mentor program, or for general information on VETCO visit www.clark.wa.gov/district-court/therapeutic-specialty-courts.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Procession of the Species is returning for a third year at the Clark County Recycled Arts Festival, and the community is invited to attend free workshops to create costumes for the parade.
The Procession of the Species is a celebration of community and the natural world, and takes place on the final day of the popular Recycled Arts Festival. Parade participants of all ages dress up in costumes representing animals, plants and elements. Past Clark County processions have featured unicorns, jelly fish, birds, the sun, water, an inchworm and a sloth.
To get participants ready for the parade, Clark County Public Health and the Recycled Arts Festival are hosting a series of free costume workshops. Repurposed materials will be supplied, and people are welcome to bring their own materials, as well.
Here’s the workshop schedule:
Register for costume workshops on the Procession of the Species website. No registration required for workshops at the Recycled Arts Festival Kids’ Activity Booth.
The Recycled Arts Festival is 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 29 and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 30 in Esther Short Park. The Procession of the Species begins at 11 am June 30, with registration beginning at 10:30 am.
The cast of costumed characters will be led by The Beat Goes On, an all-adult marching band, and joined by dancers as they wind through Esther Short Park. The parade ends with a costume contest on the festival’s main stage.
Learn more on the Recycled Arts Festival website.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County and the City of Vancouver invite residents to attend an open house on the Northeast 68th Street sidewalk project. The county and city are partnering on the project which is meant to fill in gaps between existing segments of sidewalks on the south side of the road.
The open house will be from 4:30 – 7 pm Tuesday, June 4, in the cafeteria/common room at Hazel Dell Elementary School, 511 NE Anderson St.
The county and city scheduled the open house so stakeholders can meet with project managers, designer and traffic engineers, ask questions, and offer comments. Maps of the proposed plan will be available.
Northeast 68th Street between Highway 99 and Northeast St. Johns Road serves a densely populated residential neighborhood with an average daily traffic of 3,288 vehicles. It has limited segments of sidewalks.
The proposed improvements include:
The following information is in response to a media request for information regarding a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Date of death: 05/26/2019
Location: Vancouver, WA.
Decedent Name: Elia, Dylan M.
Decedent Age: 38 Yrs
Resident of: Vancouver, WA
The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:
Cause of death: Pending
Manner of death: Pending
Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Nikki J. Costa
Operations Manager
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Assessor has announced that seniors on the property tax exemption or deferral program will not receive their notice of property value in this week’s mailing of property tax notices. This is due to the state legislature passing ESSB 5160 raising the qualifying income levels among other changes.
As a result of the legislative changes, income qualification is tied to the median income of each county rather than a flat income level statewide. Based on Clark County’s current median income, it is estimated many taxpayers in the senior exemption and deferral program will be impacted and moved into a new income threshold resulting in additional property tax relief.
“I’m delaying mailing the notice of value to senior and disabled veterans property tax exemption program participants until the final income numbers are released from the state in August because I want to ensure my office is reporting accurate information,” said Assessor Peter Van Nortwick.
While this year’s taxes are not impacted and seniors who did not qualify under the old income levels won’t see a change in 2019, it is anticipated that in 2020 approximately 2,000 additional Clark County senior property owners may qualify for a tax relief program.
“This legislative change has been a top priority of my office, and I will ensure that enrolled senior citizens receive their notices of value in September with additional information on the benefits of the legislative changes,” said Van Nortwick.
This fall, both the Clark County Treasurer and Assessor will be actively communicating to senior citizens informing them of the new income levels and how to apply for property tax relief. “This is a timely change for low-income seniors who are struggling with housing affordability, and my office is pleased to work with the Assessor’s Office to reach as many seniors as possible and inform them of the opportunity,” said Treasurer Alishia Topper.
The notices being mailed this week, report market value as of Jan. 1, 2019, as required by state law. Values for 2019 will be one factor in calculating property taxes for 2020.
About ESSB 5160
This bill amends the requirements for a person to be eligible for the property tax exemption and deferral program for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Beginning with taxes levied for collection in 2020, ESSB 5160 will:
Vancouver, Wash. ??' Mosquito season has arrived. As Clark County Mosquito Control District crews work to control the mosquito population, Public Health officials are encouraging everyone to take steps to eliminate mosquito habitats and avoid mosquito bites.
Earlier this spring, Clark County Mosquito Control District crews began monitoring floodwater areas and wetlands, which are common mosquito breeding areas. Recent sampling at those locations revealed significant numbers of mosquito larvae, with the potential for as many as 8 million mosquitoes per acre.
Over the next several days, the Mosquito Control District will use a helicopter to treat 800 to 1,000 acres of floodwater areas and wetlands. The aerial treatment will occur at 20 to 30 locations between Ridgefield and the area south of Vancouver Lake. Aerial treatment is not occurring in residential areas.
The aerial treatment uses a naturally occurring soil bacterium effective at killing mosquito larvae present in water. Treating larvae as they hatch is more effective at reducing mosquito populations than attempting to eliminate adult mosquitoes.
Clark County residents can do their part to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding on their property by taking these simple steps:
Clark County health officials are also urging residents to take these steps to avoid mosquito bites:
The Clark County Mosquito Control District will continue surveillance and abatement activities throughout the active mosquito season, which usually runs through the end of September. Mosquito control crews are also trapping adult mosquitoes and testing certain species for West Nile Virus. While West Nile Virus has been found in other parts of the state, Clark County has never had a positive test result in a mosquito sample.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the volunteer Planning Commission.
This position is for an unfinished term that begins immediately and ends Dec. 31, 2023.
The Planning Commission is a seven-member group that makes recommendations to the council on land-use planning, zoning and development in areas outside cities and about issues such as growth management, roads, public facilities, development regulations and applicable county ordinances.
To apply, please submit a letter of interest and résumé to Alyssa Weyhrauch, Clark County Council, PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Applications also can be emailed to auch@clark.wa.gov">alyssa.weyhrauch@clark.wa.gov.
Application deadline is 5 pm Friday, June 28, 2019.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is seeking applicants for one open position on its Commission on Aging. The commission manages and implements the county’s Aging Readiness Plan and fosters countywide awareness, dialogue and insight into challenges and opportunities for residents of all ages, incomes and abilities.
The term would be three-years beginning immediately and continuing through May 31, 2022. This is an at-large position. Residents from all areas of Clark County are encouraged to apply.
The county is looking for people with an interest in issues and advocacy for older adults, related to: housing; transportation/mobility; supportive services; healthy communities; and community engagement, which are the five elements of the Aging Readiness Plan. The county also is looking for applicants who can bring ethnic, cultural and social diversity to the group.
The commission will focus on healthy communities in 2019 and will explore how the built environment can provide opportunities for better physical and mental health for all ages.
The commission meets 3-6 pm on the third Wednesday of each month. Additional meetings may require an extra 10 hours per month.
Applicants should submit a résumé and letter of interest to Alyssa Weyhrauch, County Manager’s Office, at auch@clark.wa.gov">Alyssa.Weyhrauch@clark.wa.gov. Applications also may be mailed to P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000.
Submission deadline is 5 pm Friday, June 14.
The Aging Readiness Plan covers access to housing, transportation, a variety of lifestyles, support services and civic or social engagement. For more on the plan and commission, see www.clark.wa.gov/aging.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Recycled Arts Festival is looking for volunteers to serve during next month’s popular family event in Esther Short Park.
The eco-conscious event draws about 40,000 people to downtown Vancouver to see art and wares created by more than 130 different artists using at least 75 percent recycled materials. The two-day festival also features kids’ activities, live music, stilt walkers, jugglers, robots, a parade and much more.
Clark County Public Health and the Clark County Green Neighbors program count on volunteers to help make the festival a success. This year’s event is 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 29 and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 30.
A variety of volunteer roles are available, including positions as greeters, picking up litter, providing breaks to vendors, surveying visitors about their experiences, and assisting with kids’ crafts.
Volunteers receive a free Recycled Arts Festival T-shirt, and those who volunteer three hours or more will receive a $10 voucher to use at a festival food vendor.
Youth volunteers are welcome but require a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Those younger than 15 years must be volunteering with a parent or guardian. Contact the Green Neighbors program at 564.397.7352 for more information on youth volunteers.
To learn more about volunteer positions and to sign up, visit the Recycled Arts Festival website.
This year marks the 14th year of the Recycled Arts Festival. The festival aims to educate and excite Clark County residents about waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and to inspire everyone to see things they may consider as trash in a new way.