February 4, 2014
When Jim Price arrives for his volunteer shift at Bonneville Lock and Dam, he has two main goals."I want to pass on information and inspire young people to consider careers in the engineering or technical careers." Price, 73, a retired electrical engineer, is in his 10th year volunteering at Bonneville. "If people ask me technical questions, I have the knowledge to answer them," he said. "It's my way of helping people."
Having a business with graffiti on the outside gets you noticed.But not in a, "Oh, we'd better call the cops!" kind of way. Limitless Snow-Wake-Surf employs artist Bobby Johnson to create bold designs on the storefront. These change every six months or so. He uses Montana Gold paint, which is sold at the store. "What I enjoy about his work is that he has great unique designs and pushes himself to get better each time he paints," said Eric Hargrave, Limitless owner. "He loves painting and has a passion for making people smile and to give the local kids inspiration through his painting."
"It wasn't a matter of if I would serve, just when I would," he said. His older sister, Amy Schmid, who enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Camas High School in 2000, also inspired him to join the military. "I saw how well she was doing and it made sense to me," he said. "But it was after Sept.11 that it really hit me."
Katey Sandy and Judith Howard knew each other professionally for several years before either realized that they shared a love of painting.Both women worked in the field of early childhood education and met at an Association of Christian Schools International conference.
Anyone who has ever ran or walked the Round Lake trails knows it is a challenge with its switchbacks and rolling hills. But there's a local walking club, with many of its members in their 70s, 80s and even 90s, who traverse the terrain five days a week, rain, shine, hot or cold.
Students with special needs at Camas High School are developing academic, social and vocational skills for life after graduation.Additionally, young adults ages 18 to 21 can also participate in a program that helps them learn the basics of living independently: How to use public transit, obtain job skills, budget, do yard work and navigate a grocery store, to name a few. Program participants can often be seen around the downtown area, washing windows, interning at local businesses or researching at the library. At the high school level, students in Henry Midles and Cory Vom Baur's Life Skills classes focus on academics in the morning, then on social and vocational skills in the afternoon. With the support of the local community, the students receive work experience that can help prepare them for integration into the adult workforce.
Hannah Gutkind loves ballet.Since she was 2, the Washougal resident has fostered a passion for dance. As the years have gone by, this has meant giving up soccer and other sports, missing out on youth group and a lot of the high school experience. But she wouldn't have it any other way. "It's hard to put into words how much I love dance," Gutkind said. "I love how I can express myself through it and tell a story through my movement. I never liked talking in front of people, so this is a way I can express myself without words."
Several local residents spent Thursday decorating Christmas trees, which this time of year is nothing unusual.However, their adorned evergreens were for the fourth annual Festival of Trees in Washougal. The event, held Friday and Saturday at Hathaway Elementary School and organized by the Washougal Lions Club, featured 19 decorated trees. These were auctioned off to raise money for local schools.
