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Stories by Danielle Frost

email icon danielle.frost@camaspostrecord.com

November 12, 2013

WSD approves sportsmanship agreement

After some inappropriate spectator behavior at local high school athletic events, as well as other incidents in the area, the Washougal School District is taking action. A code of conduct agreement has been drafted and will be given to parents of all student athletes at the start of every sports season. It requires refraining from using profanity, obscene gestures, berating players and coaches, showing excessive displays of anger or frustration, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, complaining or arguing about officials' calls, arguing with coaches, or refusing to obey the instructions of security officers, among others. Spectators do not have to sign the agreement in order to be held to these standards. "We have had enough situations come up between this year and last year, as well as situations occurring in Clark County, around the state and nationally involving unsportsmanlike behavior by parents and spectators," said Aaron Hansen, Washougal High School principal. "We have expectations and standards for our coaches and for our athletes, but we haven't had any for our parents or guardians until now."

November 5, 2013
The Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium is partnering with Washougal Community Education's Safe Place Activities Center to bring before- and after-school care to kindergarten through fifth-grade students. It is housed at Hathaway Elementary School.

New childcare option opens in Washougal

Two childcare programs are joining forces to offer local families increased options. The Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium is partnering with the Washougal Community Education's Safe Place Activities Center to bring before- and after-school care to kindergarten through fifth-grade students. It is housed at Hathaway Elementary School. SPACE operates out of Gause Elementary, but is not open on non-school days such as teacher in-service times, or winter break. However, SWCCC is only closed for major holidays and is open during all school break times. Unlike SPACE, it also accepts state subsidies.

November 5, 2013
The Washougal Marketplace Bazaar is a popular event for local vendors and shoppers every year, and includes a treasure trove of handmade items.

The spirit of the season

Just when you thought fall would stretch on endlessly, November hits.This month typically kicks off a flurry of holiday bazaars for those looking for one-of-a-kind gifts. During the next month, several bazaars are coming to churches, schools and civic centers. Local shoppers will have the chance to help local non-profit groups, support the local economy, buy handcrafted items and have fun. For the environmentally conscious, there is a bazaar featuring recycled and reusable items.

October 30, 2013
Dawn Tarzian (left), Washougal School District superintendent, administers the oath of office to Jocelyn Lindsay, while board members Elaine Pfeifer and Blaine Peterson look on. Lindsay will fill the term left when Terrie Hutchins moved out of her director district.

Newest member named to School Board

A longtime community volunteer is now the newest member of the Washougal School Board. Jocelyn Lindsay, 41, was appointed to the position vacated by Terri Hutchins, who moved out of her director district. Lindsay will serve in this role through 2015. "I'm looking forward to working with the school district," she said. "I care deeply for Washougal. I believe in quality education for the children of our community." Lindsay is past president and current foundation president of the Camas-Washougal Rotary Club. She has co-chaired several of its programs, including the Ducky Derby and the Young Women in Action at Hathaway Elementary School.

October 30, 2013
"Zombie bride and groom," Linda and Mike Harnish enjoy the festivities during a performance at Camas Meadows.

A Thrilling Performance

It's close to midnight Something evil's lurkin' in the dark Under the moonlight You see a sight that almost stops your heart You try to scream But terror takes the sound before you make it You start to freeze As horror looks you right between the eyes You're paralyzed 'Cause this is thriller Thriller night These lyrics to Michael Jackson's 1982 mega-hit "Thriller," are some of the best known on the planet. And every year, performers from around the globe, including a group from Camas, participate in "Thrill the World," an international dance event and world record breaking attempt, in which participants simultaneously emulate the zombie dance seen in the music video. Sarah and Steve Bang began what has now become an annual tradition in the Lacamas Shores neighborhood, by participating in "Thrill the World." Not wanting to limit their dancing to just one performance, the group also puts on a show for neighborhood trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. "We practice and practice and practice, and just don't want to stop doing it," Sarah said. "We also started doing it on Halloween night because if we didn't, the festivities would go until midnight here. It's a very popular place to trick-or-treat. This makes it fun for the kids and no one feels bad about turning their lights out at 8:30 p.m."

October 22, 2013

Local woman will help lead changes at Clark

In anticipation of upcoming statewide changes to the community and technical college system, Clark College recently hired Camas resident Jane Beatty to help guide the college through the new transition. Beatty has been hired to oversee changes occurring across campus, including the college's adaptation of ctcLink, a new, standardized system of online functions that will replace the current 30-year-old computer system used by Washington state's 34 community and technical colleges. It is a single, centralized system of online functions that will give students, faculty and staff 24/7 access to information. In this position, which is expected to run for about five years, she will identify organizational changes required to make ctcLink successful at the college, represent Clark in statewide discussions and ensure that it adheres to its schedule for ctcLink implementation.

October 22, 2013
Mike Allen of Washougal and Shawn Garrison of Vancouver have teamed up to offer a free haunted house and yard display to the community. A majority of the static and animated props are handmade.

Fright night

Local residents can experience the fun of a professional style haunted house without a long drive, lines, or expensive pricing.That's because Mike Allen, known as "Coffinguy" to his friends, puts up an elaborate display and walk through haunted house in his Washougal yard. It is free for anyone in the community to attend. "Many of the people that live here simply can't get to or afford the experience," he said. "It's a lifelong hobby of mine that brings a lot of joy and entertainment to the area I call home." Recently, he joined forces with Shawn Garrison of Vancouver, who also had a yard display. She did much of the staging for Allen's haunted house this year.

October 15, 2013
Attendees at Spooky Harvest enjoy homemade apple cider, one of several complimentary treats at the Camas Camp-n-Ranch event.

Spook-tacular Halloween fun

The sounds of delighted children intermixed with the aroma of Dutch oven crisp and the smell of fresh air at Camas Camp-n-Ranch Saturday. For the fifth year in a row, the ranch offered hayrides, horse rides, pumpkin bowling, crafts, a forest walk, homemade apple cider, dutch oven apple crisp and other events to celebrate the Halloween season. "I love looking over the crowd and seeing happy faces," said owner Tina Goodnight. "It is a place for families, and kids of all ages."