,

Essential Oil Spotlight: What is Sandalwood?

Sandalwood is a name given to a class of fragrant woods that, unlike other aromatic woods, can retain their fragrance for decades. Both the wood and oil have been highly valued for centuries and Sandalwood has a documented history of many applications. It was traditionally used as an incense in religious ceremonies and for enhancing meditation, and the Egyptians used sandalwood for embalming. Sandalwood is very beneficial to the skin; it can help reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes and it promotes a healthy, smooth complexion. Sandalwood has a sweet, woody aroma that can enhance mood and is frequently used in meditation for its grounding effects.

Plant Part:
WoodSandalwood

Extraction Method:
Steam distillation

Aromatic Description:
Woody, dry, sweet

Main Chemical Components:
Alpha santalol

Primary Benefits:

  • Promotes healthy, smooth skin
  • Reduces the appearance of scars and blemishes
  • Enhances mood
  • Frequently used in meditation for its grounding and uplifting properties

What Are Essential Oils?

If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils protect plants and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health care practices.

To learn more, visit www.doterra.com or call 503.308.9161 and speak to a Wellness Advocate.

/0 Comments/by

CRC Opinion: Leaders should come together …

… not be silenced, to seek cross-river solutions

Editor’s Note: Lacamas Magazine offers a forum for all sides to express their viewpoints and opinions.

By Rep. Liz Pike

The Columbian, Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and some other local elected officials have a lengthy, well documented history of supporting a failed and costly light rail project between Clark County and Portland, known as the Columbia River Crossing (CRC). For years, these folks supported bringing Portland’s light rail to our community against the objections of our own citizens.

Liz Pike

Rep. Liz Pike, R-18

Entering into any agreement between Clark County’s taxpayers and an agency with Tri-Met’s financial woes ought to be troubling to every elected official in Southwest Washington. According to Tri-Met’s 2015 Audited Financial Report, unfunded liabilities are 459 percent greater than the costs of current payroll. It is estimated Tri-Met’s unfunded pension liability exceeds $1 billion. It is no surprise our local citizens have completely lost faith with the CRC’s promoters.

Beyond these details, there is no reason to re-litigate why this $3.5 billion – $5 billion light rail project, disguised as a bridge, had to be stopped in its tracks. It’s time to put all this behind us and move forward with affordable transportation solutions.

Fast forward to today, House Bill 2414 is a perfectly-structured bill to put an equal number of Democrats and Republicans at the same table, representing both chambers from two states. The legislative members of this Bi-State Bridge Project Work Group would be appointed by caucus leaders to ensure that all constituencies are equally represented in an open and transparent process. The group is tasked with identifying affordable solutions to meet current and future needs of the region and prioritize the sequencing of those projects.

For the second time in two years, HB 2414 sailed through the House Transportation Committee with unanimous bipartisan support — evidence this bill is a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, there are a few legislators who still cannot get past the grieving process of CRC’s death long enough to work for the common good. It’s either their way or no way. So they operate behind the scenes to kill a perfectly good bill in order to advance their own political agenda. The result of that agenda condemns our hard-working commuters to worsening congestion, longer commute times, years of enduring a failing I-5 corridor, increased pollution, higher costs for employers, fewer jobs and decreased quality of life.

It is shameful these critics tear apart those who are actively working to find affordable cross-river bridge solutions, but offer no solutions of their own, other than the dead-and-buried CRC plan. Our citizens want forward-thinking leaders to work together and move beyond the CRC with new solutions. That was the idea behind HB 2414.

The I-5 corridor belongs to the entire region, not just the legislative district or the city where it is located. Washington is the most trade dependent state in America, giving this corridor both regional and national significance.

Clark County citizens have every right to have their voices represented by their elected officials in all discussions regarding new cross-river solutions. It is wrong to tell their state legislators to be silent and step aside just because they disagree with the mayor, The Columbian, and those on record who wish to force Portland’s light rail upon our citizens.

Voters in the 18th Legislative District have twice elected me to be their voice in Olympia. They support me because I demonstrate the courage to stand up for my constituents. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, I will not abdicate my responsibility to identify and defend common sense and affordable solutions to improve freight mobility and relieve traffic congestion in this important corridor that serves our entire region, state and West coast. I invite people to join me, just as I did in HB 2414, because the problems will not go away on their own.

As Winston Churchill said: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

When it comes to my constituents, they deserve strong leadership that does not yield to intimidation. I will always stand with them and will never give in.

/0 Comments/by
,

Real Estate: Camas Country Home

An elegant Camas country home.

As construction continues to boom in Camas, and East Clark County, sometimes older homes get overlooked. This home, located north of Lacamas Lake, at 2808 NE 232nd Ave, in Camas, is located on one acre, has a great backyard view, and has been totally remodeled.

The four bedroom, three bath residence has 3,308 square feet. It’s listed at $599,900.

This wonderful home has been remodeled and looks like new. It has new carpet, paint, light fixtures, granite counters, etc. The hardwood floors were just refinished. The fourth bedroom or office on the main floor has a built-in desk and cabinetry. The master closet is lined with cedar walls. There are skylights and lots of windows throughout the entire home. The large, upstairs bonus room comes equipped with a Projector and screen. B/I Vacuum.

You can view the video link here: https://youtu.be/eV9mq9PCr74

Outside entertaining in this house is easy, as it has a huge composite deck. The backyard has a very large storage shed/barn, and a side yard with enough room for RV or boat parking. This elegant estate home is very close to golfing, Lacamas Lake, and nearby shopping. It’s also in the  Camas School District.

This country estate is offered by RE/MAX agent, Patricia Judd.

To learn more about this home, visit www.patriciajudd.remaxagent.com or call her at 360.909.1962

 

Kitchen

 

/0 Comments/by
,

Naturopath Perspective: Insomnia Drugs & Dementia

Many studies show about 50 percent of people over 50 do not sleep well. Many are taking sleep aids like Tylenol PM that have an antihistamine like Benadryl in them. The Benadryl makes you drowsy and the Tylenol helps with muscle and joint pain that can wake you. They are Band-Aids on your symptoms of insomnia and joint pain. They do not treat why you have insomnia or joint pain. Now a new study published in JAMA shows a connection to dementia and some over the counter sleep aids. Benadryl falls under the category of drugs called Anticholinergics.

“In a recent report published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found convincing evidence that frequent and long-term use of anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl increases the risk of dementia.

Anticholinergics block the action of the acetylcholine, an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Acetylcholine has a wide variety of known functions, including learning and memory. Anticholinergic drugs–which include some antihistamines (like Benadryl), tricyclic antidepressants, drugs for Parkinson’s and meds for overactive bladders, are widely used by older adults. ”

As a Naturopathic physician our job is to try to find out why you have a symptom. There are many reasons for insomnia. High night time cortisol, blood sugar swings during the night, pain, low serotonin, low melatonin to name a few. Make no mistake all pharmaceuticals have side effects, some side effects, as in this case don’t show up until the drug has been on the market for a long time.

My goal with my patients is to do a full review of system from head to toe and start connecting the dots and identifying the cause of their symptoms. Remember your body is good at balance, as a result you do not get a symptom until you have had a long term imbalance and the body can no longer keep up.

Best in Health.

Cynthia Bye, ND, FABNO
Board Certified in Naturopathic Oncology
www.cynthiabye.com.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Allergies: Two Types of Testing

Allergies are a chronic problem for millions of Americans. The key to successful treatment is determining which allergens are responsible for triggering your symptoms. To accomplish this, your doctor will administer allergy testing.

Allergy Testing: Skin v. Blood

There are two types of allergy tests commonly used: skin tests and blood tests. Each has their pros and cons, but skin tests are preferred by most doctors as they are safe, inexpensive and provide the most reliable results.

Three methods of skin testing exist. In a skin prick test, a drop of the suspected allergen is placed somewhere on the skin (typically the arm or back). A scratch is made in the skin, allowing the allergen to penetrate. If any redness or swelling develops, the results are considered positive. In an intradermal test, the allergen is injected directly into the skin. This type of test is usually reserved for testing a very specific allergen such as insect venom, and used when results from the skin prick test are inconclusive but the allergen tested is still believed to be responsible for the symptoms. A skin patch test utilizes a small patch that has been treated with drops of the suspected allergen; this is taped to the skin and left in place for 24-72 hours. It’s used to test for contact dermatitis specifically.

Fuel Medical LogoAllergy skin testing rarely causes discomfort or complications. There may be a little redness, swelling and itching, but this typically subsides quickly. In extremely rare cases, severe allergic reactions can occur immediately.

Patients who cannot tolerate skin testing may be given blood tests. These are less reliable than skin tests because they don’t show a physical reaction. Instead, an allergen is introduced into the bloodstream, and the antibody levels produced by the body are measured. An increase in antibodies is usually indicative of an allergic response.

If a food or drug allergy is suspected, “use or elimination testing” may be recommended. This involves avoiding, or alternately using, suspected triggers to see if they cause a reaction.

Editor’s Note: Fuel Medical provides a wide variety of practice management and growth services to multi-specialty and single speciality practices. To learn more about them, visit www.fuelmedical.com

/0 Comments/by
,

Sewage Spill Contaminates Lacamas Lake

Due to a sewage spill that began Thursday at Pacific Rim Blvd in Camas, Clark County Public Health officials are advising residents, and their pets, to avoid the water in and around Lacamas Lake, which is a popular destination for runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists and boaters.

The spill was discovered late in the day along Pacific Rim Blvd. and workers urged drivers to slow down to prevent raw sewage from flying around, said a local witness.

Chuck Harman of Clark County Public Health said the leak was reported to the Department of Ecology, and was repaired, but it caused contamination in Dwyer Creek, Lacamas Creek, and Lacamas Lake. Workers continued to monitor the situation during the night to make sure no more leakage would ensue. A backup malfunction caused a leak in a pipe in the main sewer line.

Clark County Public Health estimates that 100 gallons of raw sewage was spilled per minute. Residents and their pets should avoid contact with water from the area of the spill and the path of the water downstream. Public Health staff have posted warning signs.

The DOE is coordinating the response to the spill.

Harman said more information is coming as the Department of Ecology monitors the situation.

/1 Comment/by
, ,

Della Casa: Named Artist of TV Land Awards Bottle

Nostalgia artist and designer, Mario AC Della Casa, was recently named Artist of the TV Land Award bottle, an honor given to him after years of creating one-of-a-kind artwork enjoyed by fans worldwide. Each year, the award show’s winners are given their own customized bottle as a gift when they receive their TV Land honor.

“The TV Land Award’s winners all get my bottle,” said Della Casa. “So, I made bottles for all of them. It’s fun being the official artist of the TV Land Award’s bottle. I made about 90 bottles for the show, which went to the stars, directors and producers.”

Several years ago, Della Casa was granted the only license to re-create customized “Jeannie” bottles that are just like the ones used in the 1960’s hit comedy, “I Dream of Jeannie,” which starred Barbara Eden, the late Larry Hagman, also of “Dallas” fame, and Bill Daley. Della Casa frequently travels with Eden on publicity tours, which promote the show — and the bottles.

“I absolutely love what I do,” says Della Casa, “and I’m grateful to TV Land for giving me this great opportunity.”

The artist has certainly found a market for his work. He says people who buy his bottles and artwork are people who appreciate the history of television, particularly in the 50s, 60s and 70s. He has also painted many celebrity portraits, including Joan Collins, Lucille Ball, Linda Gray, Lindsey Wagner, and many others.

“People love the Jeannie bottles because it reminds them of a simpler time,” he says. “They remember when they were kids or young adults, and they fell in love with these characters and the actors who played them. My work represents those times, and those talented people.”

 

TV Land Show

Mario AC Della Casa, and his mother, appear on the set of the TV Land Awards show.

 

 

In addition to having his work featured at the TV Land Awards show, he is also the official artist for the Roger Neil Oscar Suite. He said any show has suites that are sponsored by an individual or company. His bottles get signed by celebrities and then go up for auction at charity events.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he adds. “Celebrities like Barbara Eden and Faye Dunaway are some of the celebrities we’re working with.”

Della Casa greatly misses his friend, and mentor, Larry Hagman, who passed away in 2012. He says Hagman inspired him to market his artwork and achieve his dreams.

“He was a great talent and friend,” he adds. “I really miss him.”

To learn more about Della Casa’s artwork, please visit www.JeannieBottles.com

 

Charlene Tilton

Mario AC Della Casa, right, takes a photo with “Dallas” star, Charlene Tilton.

/4 Comments/by
, ,

Miss Nola’s Cafe Announces Contest Winner

On Wednesday, Miss Nola’s Cafe owner, Tim McCusker, announced that Camas resident, Bonnie Carter, won the $100 restaurant gift certificate that was recently promoted by Lacamas Magazine. The contest asked readers from the magazine’s Facebook site what they liked most about Miss Nola’s Cafe, which serves quality Southern comfort food in the heart of Historic Downtown Camas.

The responses were fun to read.

Carter, the head secretary at Skyride Middle School, was selected as the contest winner as names were drawn.

” I love Miss Nola’s and all of Tim’s ventures,” said Carter, the mother of four sons. “I think Miss Nola’s is a fun and delicious culinary treat to complement the other dining options in Camas. “I see date night in my very near future at Miss Nola’s, but I believe we’ll bring friends to share in my good fortune. My husband and I are jambalaya fans, and of course, hush puppies will be the first thing ordered.”

Miss Nola’s Cafe offers a wide selection of great eats, and customers are given a complimentary order of hush puppies as they await their order. The hush puppies are one of Carter’s favorite items on the menu. Executive Chef, Shelby Lin Schmidt, works hard at preparing fine dishes for the restaurant’s patrons.

McCusker has received numerous accolades and awards for his culinary accomplishments, and has traveled  extensively to perfect his craft, also runs another local restaurant, called Feast@316. Miss Nola’s Cafe currently occupies the former Harvest Restaurant, which was also a popular destination.

“I love making food that puts a smile on people’s faces,” he said. “We’re happy that Bonnie won the gift certificate, and we hope she enjoys her next meal here. She’s always been a great supporter of our restaurant and our efforts here in downtown Camas.”

To learn more about the cafe, and downtown Camas, visit www.downtowncamas.com

 

Miss Nola's Cafe

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Sci-Fi: Yunker Pens “Shackleton’s Folly” Book

When the author of “Shackleton’s Folly” started writing this intriguing book, he wanted to write Sci-Fi in the classical sense, to be filled with foreshadowing and enticing plots.

“It’s an adventure story about redemption,” says the author, Todd Yunker, who spent the better part of a year writing the book, which is part of a lengthy Sci-Fi series.

In this Sci-Fi story, Earth has been destroyed, few humans remain, and Shackleton, the novel’s central character, is determined to redeem his murdered father’s reputation by honoring his mission, namely to save the human race.

Integral to the story, Shackleton finds himself in a desperate race to solve an ancient legend of a lost tribe that long ago ventured into the stars. He seeks to find that tribe.

“Finding that tribe is key to solving his father’s dream and saving the human race from extinction,” says Yunker, who’s pleased with the effort. “I love how it turned out, and I’m already 115,000 words into the next novel in the series, which is called ‘Shackleton’s Critical Point.'”

Shackleton's Folly

 

Sci-Fi: A love for adventure

Yunker says he’s always loved a good adventure story.

“I’m old school,” he adds. “I like the classics. I like well-written stories and well-written plots. And, I always enjoy storytelling and entertaining others.”

He says it’s also been a good way to engage his son, Alex, who’s been battling cancer for the past few years. “The book has helped him cope with the cancer, as he’s been my beta reader.”

The reviews at Amazon are good, as well.

Says reader, E.A. Gray: “From the earliest part of the book, I realized the quality of the writing, the writer’s understanding of foreshadowing, and the progressive movement of the plot and characters. Alec is a superb protagonist that is a multidimensional individual. His love for his father’s work is respectable and his grit really rounds out his character. This guy is a real brick-laying tough guy that also happens to have a big heart, as well. His sidekick Dancer is a one-of-a-kind construct who’s easy to acclimate to. Before you know it, you are fully suspending disbelief and developing a strong bond with these characters: A testament to the author’s skill at character development.”

Shackleton's Folly3

 

Another reader,  David Bowen says: “Shackleton’s Folly” hit all the right buttons for me. I feel a wistful sense of loss that almost no one is writing classic-style SF adventure stories, ones that echo with the touch of the ghosts of Heinlein, Clarke, Asimov and the other luminaries of the Golden Age of Science Fiction. “Folly” has a similar feel to the classics without being derivative. The driving plot is paced more like an Indiana Jones adventure, but the big ideas are there. When I say big…I mean big. The concept behind the Lost Wonder in this book is staggering, any other word is an understatement. I truly appreciated the author had obviously spent the money on professional copy editing. It nearly doubled the pleasure of reading the story. I’ve read nearly 500 books since I got my first Kindle, many by new authors, some of which are now in development as movies.”

Todd300x300

A little more about Yunker: He grew up in Salem, OR, and grew up with a passion for the science fiction genre. As a child, he was an avid reader, and relished the old sci-fi movies.

“Shackleton’s Folly” is the equivalent of 321 pages in a handbook, and is 408 pages in its current paperback version. It’s also available on Kindle, for $2.99 at Shackleton’s Folly on Amazon

 

/0 Comments/by
,

Camas Boys Swim Team Wins District Title

KELSO — For the second weekend in a row, a Camas High School team has won a District title. Last week, it was Wrestling. This weekend, it was the Camas Boy’s Swim team. And, it wasn’t just a story of wins, it was also a story of old records being smashed. Really old records.

The Papermaker victory, with a final score of 403 points, was a solid effort lead by several freshmen and sophomores, who are doing things that usually happen to juniors and seniors.

SONY DSC

The entire team enjoying the moment of victory.

 

001889

Holding the District Championship Trophy. From left: Daniil Timchenko, Eric Wu, and Noah Macia. Photo by Blake Schnell.

 

While, the Papermakers won multiple events, one of the best stories of Saturday afternoon at the Kelso High School pool, was sophomore Mark Kim’s victory in the 500 Free event with a time of 4:37.62, breaking a meet record, and a pool record held since 1973. He broke the record by 4 seconds. In swim speak, my friends, that’s jaw dropping.

“It feels great,” said Kim, who had little time to savor his victory. He needed to move onto his next event, the 200 Free Relay. His teammates say he just gets the job done, day in and day out. He loves what he does.

“Everybody is excited and happy,” said Kim. “We’ve had a lot of great swims today.”

 

001921

Mark Kim savoring his victory in the 500 Free, as he broke a record that was made in 1973. Photo by Blake Schnell.

Setting the tone early

Earlier in the meet, Kim won the 200 Free (1:44.93). And, the tone of the meet was set at the beginning when Papermakers Eric Wu, Finn McClone, Chris Xia, and Austin Fogel won the 200 Medley Relay (1:43.95).

Then Freshman Eric Wu won the 200 IM (1:57.07).

 

001936

Tom Utas entering the pool during one of the events. Photo by Blake Schnell.

 

“This is just surreal what’s happened today,” said Wu. “Countless years of practice with club swimming (at Lacamas Swim and Sport) have resulted in such a successful day. I look forward to State, and will try to make it to Finals.”

In the 50 Free, Max Dolbinin, of Heritage, won the event (21.64). Papermaker Tom Utas placed second (22.36).

Union’s Andrew Chang bested everyone in the 100 Fly (53.61), and Max Dolbinin blew everyone away in the 100 Free, setting a new meet record (47.83).

Camas again returned to the No. 1 spot in the 200 Free Relay with Luke Albert, Eric Wu, Mark Kim, and Tom Utas, delivering a time of 1:31.85.

Finn McClone won the 100 Back (55.11) and Jeff Fadlovich placed second (56.17).

“It’s been a great meet,” said Fadlovich. “I got a PR (personal record) and the team overall did very well.”

Wu delivered another first place finish in the 100 Breast (1:01.49), followed by Christ Joa, of Mountain View (1:06.07).

And, in the final event of the District Championships, Camas won the 400 Free Relay with a time of 3.19.97, setting a new pool and meet record. The team consisted of Luke Albert, Chris Xia, Mark Kim, and Tom Utas.

 

001896-1

The 400 Free Relay winners: From left, Chris Xia, Tom Utas, Mark Kim, and Luke Albert. Photo by Blake Schnell.

The top 5 teams were as follows:

  • Camas (403 points)
  • Mountain View (245 points)
  • Union (217 points)
  • Skyview (103 points)
  • Battle Ground (86 points)

All first and second place winners move onto State competition at Federal Way.

 

001913

Ian Pinch enters the water. Photo by Blake Schnell.

 

001910

Daniil Timchenko enters the pool. Photo by Blake Schnell.

 

001934

Luke Albert warms up prior to victory in the 400 Free Relay. Photo by Blake Schnell.

 

 

 

 

/0 Comments/by