Looking at photographer Cindy Kassab's work is similar to gazing into a kaleidoscope of color, light and breathtaking natural beauty. Kassab, 61, is the featured artist at the Camas Public Library's Second Story Gallery in April. She first caught the photography bug in her teens, when she moved from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to the clear mountain air of Switzerland.
In an effort to increase awareness, the Washougal School District has clarified, in detail, what constitutes acceptable behavior between students and staff. Some of the document is fairly standard, such as refraining from inappropriate physical conduct, showing pornography to a student or making jokes of a sexual nature. However, other portions of it may come as a surprise to some: For example, it is not acceptable to employ a student, such as having them baby-sit any staff member's children.
When one hears the phrase, "Japanese Festival," places like Portland, Tacoma or Seattle typically come to mind. However, Washougal High School has its own festival, the only one of its kind in the Clark County area. For the past eight years Japanese teacher Shoko Parker and her students have spent several months preparing for the March 29 event, which includes entertainment by Japanese performers, swordsmanship lessons via Skype, food and activities.
With scantily clad, perfectly toned models on magazine covers, pop music stars with skin that appears flawless and television shows dedicated to exploring which "hot" woman will snag the even-hotter bachelor, it's tough to be a girl these days. However, students in Jennifer Bohn-Snapp's classes at Jemtegaard Middle School in Washougal aren't letting these images define beauty for them. Instead, they are reshaping it, along with the help of their mothers and modern technology. Inspired by Dove's Real Beauty campaign and its documentary "Selfie," which features real mothers and daughters talking about how they feel about their appearance, Bohn-Snapp challenged her students to use their cell phones to take an "honest" self-portrait, known as a "selfie," with no filters or editing. She asked their mothers, or other influential female figures, to set an example by doing the same.
Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, according to the Alzheimer's Association, one in three senior citizens dies from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. With statistics such as these, it is likely that most people will deal with this deadly disease at some point. Jeri Warner of Camas experienced the devastating impacts of Alzheimer's after her mother, Laurie Snoey, was diagnosed in 2005.
Several Papermakers and Panthers put their musical talents to work at the Washington Music Educators Association conference recently. The event, held Feb. 14 to 16 in Yakima, included a 300-voice symphonic choir, 200-piece concert band, 250-piece symphony orchestra and 65-piece chamber orchestra. Students were selected to perform in the all-state groups based on auditions, which included thousands of entries.
"I think about the years I spent just passing through I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you But you just smile and take my hand You've been there you understand It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true. Every long lost dream led me to where you are Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars Pointing me on my way into your loving arms This much I know is true That God blessed the broken road That led me straight to you."
Shirley Bishop walked into the office at her Portland interior design job last September and received the shock of her life."After 30 years in the industry, I was laid off. Never thought it would happen to me. It was a total shock." Reeling, she began packing up her work area. "Thankfully, they let me come back in to finish taking my files off the computer," she said. Sometimes, it takes a life-altering event to make you realize what you really want. Bishop used her free time to focus on her fledging business, Studio 13 GlassArt. She now hosts regular classes in her Washougal studio and experiments with all types of fused glass projects. Bishop also joined Made in Vancouver, a group of 200 artisans.
When Camas High School won $10,000 in a Cash for Schools contest, the students could have easily held onto the money.Instead, they decided to share some of it with Rosa Parks Elementary in Portland. The school is starting up an orchestra program, and was in need of funds. It also has one of the highest free- and reduced-price lunch rates in the area. Cash for Schools is a contest sponsored by McLoughlin Jeep in partnership with KATU News. The contest asked schools to bring the most Facebook "Likes" to McLoughlin Jeep in a given week. CHS was the first school to win, and the students were given the check by anchors Carl Click and Natali Marmion.
Despite a recent levy failure, Mount Pleasant School District officials are confident. "Voter turnout was very low and we were pretty much the only thing on the ballot," said Peter Tarzian, superintendent. "So, the no voters voted no, and the yes votes probably still have their ballot on the fridge." Voters were asked to approve a two-year, $310,000 levy. It failed by earning 43.48 percent support.
danielle.frost@camaspostrecord.com
