It's officially "Summer in the City." The cities of Camas and Washougal, that is. And next to the beautiful weather that has graced the area during the past few weeks, the best indication of this are the many events and activities on the calendar that bring these communities together, and welcome visitors to see all that this corner of Southwest Washington has to offer.
One generation inspiring another. This theme is weaved throughout the pages of today's Post-Record. A World War II and Korean War veteran going out of his way to share his story and American history with Washougal High School students. The First Friday car show that brought car aficionados of all ages together to share their expertise with each other, and pass a love for the classics on to others. A father and his teenage son who have traveled to Omaha, Neb., to participate in the Senior U.S. Open -- the chance of a lifetime. The owner of a cutting edge design and invention business who wants to give back to his community and the next generation of innovators through an internship program.
Camas and Washougal are great towns with lots to offer and lots of potential. This was one of the overriding themes emphasized during a town hall meeting in Washougal on Saturday, where among the discussion items was promotion of the city's current festivals, events, businesses and activities, as well as the possibility of developing new opportunities and attractions. Many ideas were bounced around. Washougal city officials and citizens suggested a fishing derby, boat races, car shows and scavenger hunts. Discussion also centered on working to promote at a regional level what is already available in the "gateway to the Gorge."
Earlier this month, some surprising results of a national study were released to the public. According to the study funded by Reading Is Fundamental and Macy’s, only one in three parents read bedtime stories to their children every night. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, also found that 50 percent of parents say their children spend more time with TV or video games than with books.
This weekend, more than 600 seniors will go through commencement ceremonies in their quest to officially become high school graduates.
At its heart, the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society is an organization that does an incredible amount of good work in the Camas and Washougal communities. The no-kill shelter located in the Port of Camas-Washougal Industrial Park is a nonprofit group funded mainly through donations. The city of Washougal also contracts with the dog shelter to provide space for dogs brought in by animal control.
"Paying it forward." It's a term we've often heard used in the movies, but when one Washougal resident uses this term to describe some of her recent activities, she truly means it. Mary LaFrance has overcome some serious medical issues in her life. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2005, she underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments. And when doctors later discovered that some potentially cancerous cells were once again growing in her breast tissue, she made the incredibly brave decision to have a complete double mastectomy.
Originally, Memorial Day was created to recognize the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the American Civil War. Today, however, it serves as a day to remember all Americans who have died while serving in the military, in past and present conflicts. In Camas and Washougal, a number of services and ceremonies at local cemeteries are scheduled to commemorate Memorial Day. Those events are profiled in an article in today's Post-Record.
The Camas-Washougal area is home to many fundraisers that aim to generate money and awareness for any number of worthy causes.
Children in Third-World countries often live lives that most of us couldn't even imagine.
