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Life

April 22, 2014
Recent CWU graduate James Heberling of Camas interacts with children in a neighborhood in Baja, Mexico where he and other students, recent graduates and business people helped build a house for three orphaned siblings over spring break in March.

A time for service

What started out as a trip to build a house for three orphans has changed the direction of one man's life. Paul Heberling, 24, of Camas, traveled to Baja, Mexico, during spring break with a group from Central Washington University. They rebuilt a home for three children after it was destroyed in a fire, which also killed their father. Adding to that suffering, their mother lost her battle with cancer last year. "It was my first time in Mexico and it was a very humbling experience," Paul said. "Traveling from San Diego to Tijuana, you saw the world change. It filled my heart with compassion."

April 15, 2014
"Last year we had well over 1,000 children participate. We expect the same this year. The eggs are gone in five minutes, so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to park." -- Krista Bashaw, Camas Parks and Recreation

It’s time to hunt for Easter eggs!

If not for an army of volunteers, Krista Bashaw estimates it would take her two weeks to stuff the 10,000 eggs for the Camas Parks and Recreation annual Easter egg hunt. "That's a lot of work time," Bashaw, recreation coordinator, said. "The volunteers are instrumental in the success of the egg hunt."

April 8, 2014
Don Larson has logged some 16,000 miles since he began walking Heritage Trail 14 years ago. He wears a signature blue hat and waves to everyone.

A trail of friendships

"You use the trail, right? Come here, I have something for you." It's 9 a.m. on a Thursday at Heritage Trail. Spring is in the air, along with the usual crowd of runners, walkers and nature lovers. Don Larson, 85, is passing out handmade bowls and plates in the parking lot, which are carved from wood he's found walking, "here and there." Nearly every trail user is invited to pick one out, free of charge.

April 1, 2014
Crown Zellerbach paper mill workers wait to start their shift sometime during the 1940s. The Coca-Cola sign in the background is attached to the building that now houses the Mill Corner Tavern at Northeast Fourth and Adams Street. The building the employees are sitting in front of no longer exists. Columbia River Paper Co. was incorporated in 1884 by Henry L. Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian. It became Crown Zellerbach following a merger in 1928, which it remained for 60 years.

History Mystery

Camas has a history mystery on its hands. In 2013, a Georgia-Pacific paper mill engineer was cleaning out his desk in preparation to move to a new office, when he reached his hand deep into a drawer and accidently discovered what appeared to be a small black book. Printed on its spine in gold colored lettering was "Kodak negative album," and inside were approximately 100, 3 by 4 inch negatives along with a log detailing the month and day the photos were taken.

March 25, 2014
A friend captured this photo of Cindy Kassab during a 2011 trip to South Korea and China.

Capturing nature’s majesty

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.

March 18, 2014
Colorful origami decorates a table at the festival. Participating in traditional crafts is one way for the community to learn more about the Japanese culture.

A unique cultural experience

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.

March 11, 2014
Brenda Niblock, Patricia Woodell and Jeri Warner have recently released a book on Amazon.com, which they hope will help other families who are impacted by Alzheimer's and dementia.

Understanding Alzheimer’s

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.

March 4, 2014
Dianne and Darin Van Dyken were married on Nov. 30. They met at a Teen Challenge intern retreat in Spokane. Both successfully completed the program and now work at the Portland Men's Center in Oregon City. Darin is the program coordinator and Dianne, the office administrator for the faith-based drug and alcohol treatment center.

The road to recovery

"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."

February 25, 2014
Studio13 GlassArt owner Shirley Bishop (center) explains safety precautions to Ruth Bosckis (left) and Anne Marie Standley before a recent class.

Color & light

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.

February 18, 2014
Lady Macbeth (Keira Stogin) faints upon hearing of the king's death while the rest of the cast looks on.

A new twist on a dark tale

Alan Stogin and Tyler Schroeder were supposed to be doing research for their U.S. history class.The two WHS students and the rest of the class were studying the 1930s gangster era. However, instead of researching information on organized crime, they were looking at photos from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. "Basically, we weren't really paying attention," said Schroeder. But it was then that they came upon an idea: What would happen if the dark elements from the 1930s underworld were combined with another tale of greed, murder and power? Specifically, Shakespeare's "Macbeth."