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Annual Downtown Camas Awards Show Highlights Tremendous Successes

It was a full house Monday at Journey Community Church for the annual Downtown Camas Association (DCA) Awards night.

In attendance were local merchants, business owners, DCA board members, city council representatives, and Camas Mayor Shannon Turk.

Emceed by DCA Executive Director, Carrie Schulstad, the evening began by reviewing statistics about the growth and successes of Downtown Camas.

Schulstad reported the following:

  • A 26 percent increase in First Friday attendance over 2018. 
  • First Fridays started in 2005, became more family friendly in 2014, and have steadily increased in popularity.
  • The annual Car Show, Girls Night Out, Boo Bash, Plant and Garden Fair all helped bring people into the downtown area.  
  • The first Camas Car Show started in 2006 with 10 cars as a First Friday event.  The Car Show moved to Saturdays, and in 2019 there were 250 cars with an attendance of 5,000+.  
  • It was the 10th anniversary of Girls Night Out. 
  • Boo Bash brought in 2,500+ kids with parents.
  • New events in 2019 were Little Art Camas and Picnic in Color.
  • The DCA has 175 volunteers.
  • There were 12 Downtown Camas ribbon cuttings in 2019.

“Little Art Camas was a huge success,” said Schulstad. “Picnic in Color happens on the Sunday of Camas Days, and it brought out 250 kids. It’s helping kids to find their inner artist. We do so many events so people have a compelling reason to come to downtown more often, but we really couldn’t do what we do in downtown if we didn’t have great merchants. They bring it every single day!”

Downtown Camas
Best DT Improvement-Exterior Award: Hidden River Roasters

Design

DCA President, Caroline Mercury also chairs the design committee, which focuses on the aesthetics and tone of Downtown Camas.

“We hear often from newcomers who say how cute Downtown Camas is,” said Mercury. “We are Mayberry with a paper mill, which we love. We fund the flower baskets through community donations. We have extended the flower baskets on 3rd and 5th. And we really want to extend the whole look of downtown.”

Vega, Salud and A Beer at a Time put the baskets on their buildings.

Mercury also highlighted these points:

  • The DCA repainted the Downtown Camas sign on 4th and Adams. 
  • The lights on the buildings are a DCA project through a grant from PUD. 
  • They replaced all the light strands with LED. 
  • The lights costs $300-$500 per building depending on the footage. 

“The lights add to the aesthetics of the downtown,” said Mercury. “It creates an ambiance when you’re downtown at night. Thank you to the building owners who participate in this. It was Ken Navidi’s idea to string up the lights.” 

Election

Mercury reported they have a public art grant to paint a mural at the US Bank parking lot, which will be a 10 x 20 collage.

“Work will be starting soon, and we hope to have that up the first part of 2020,” said Mercury. “It’s a tribute piece to the mill.”

Awards

Here are the award recipients:

  • Best DT Improvement-Exterior: Hidden River Roasters
  • Best DT Improvement-Interior: Attic Gallery
  • Outstanding Window Display: Natalia’s Cafe
  • Creative Local Marketing: Caps N’ Taps
  • Putting Camas on Map: Grains of Wrath
  • Change is Good: Camas Gallery
  • Something New in Camas: Cedar Street Bagel Company
  • Outstanding Customer Service: Hidden River Roasters
  • Exceptional Employee: Allie Baden of Caffe Piccolo
  • Downtown Spirit Award: Erica and Wendy of Natalia’s Cafe
  • Volunteers of the Year: Amanda Whitcombe and Lee Lapp
  • Student Volunteer of the Year: Emily Curry
  • Lighting Our Community Award: Ken Navidi, Greg Goforth, Doug Quinn, Craig Schulstad, Randy Curtis

To learn more, visit www.downtowncamas.com

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Letter to the Editor: Six Weeks — A Look at Local Events Leading to Election Day

Six weeks.

That is the amount of time it took citizens to inform each other, via social media, email, and neighbor-to-neighbor conversations.

Six weeks to rally around Aster Davis & her desire to remain in her home, rather than being forced to sell to the city’s eminent domain demands.

Six weeks to rally around Barry McDonnell as a local citizen willing to stand up for the people and common sense.

Six weeks to raise just under $5,000 to buy yard signs, a few banners, put together a web page. Six weeks to have Lars Larson spread the word on his radio show, and three local TV stations do news reports exposing the real nature of this overreach.

Six weeks for citizens to find new friends from a very diverse set of backgrounds, all sharing similar concerns over the outrageous nature of this overreach.

Six weeks to expose the facts — spending 30% of your local city taxes on a pool and rec center. Six weeks to expose $850,000 annual operating losses. Six weeks to expose $800 per year fees for a family to use a pool they are paying for with their property taxes, but don’t own.

90 percent rejection — history in the making in Washington state. All in just six weeks, by citizens having to dig to expose details city staff and city councilors hoped would remain hidden from public view.

Six weeks to shine the light of truth and expose legitimate facts.

Thank you to my fellow citizens for all the amazing work you did! All in just six weeks.

By John Ley

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BurgerIM Camas: Cooking Good Food; Giving Back to Community

Camas, WA — Not even open six months, BurgerIM, locally owned by Chanly Va and Sang Quach, is finding their momentum making quality burgers, sides, salads, and yummy milkshakes — but they also frequently give back 10 percent of their sales to benefit local schools.

When the Camas Athletic Boosters Club approached them about doing special promotions every third Tuesday, BurgerIM Camas quickly agreed to it. Same with Union High School, whose volleyball program has benefitted by special Union High School nights.

These special night promotions require customers to mention the event. Once noted, BurgerIM will donate 10 percent of every sale to the cause.

“We’re happy to help out,” said Va. “This community has been very good to us.”

BurgerIM continues to expand their menu, experimenting with new milkshakes, and they now offer waffle options on their menu.

“The food tastes really good, and we do have good burgers, and lots of variety,” said Va. “We have so many choices: Angus, Dry-aged, Spanish beef (spicy), crispy chicken, salmon, falafel burger, lamb, and the Impossible Burger, which is plant-based. It’s not GMO.”

BurgerIm
Grilled Chicken Salad.

“We also have gluten-free buns with lettuce options. As a customer, you can order a favorite or build your own. You don’t have to stay with a classic style. You can build whatever you like on the burger. We offer all the menu items that corporate offers. Whatever you can think of, and we have the ingredients, we can do it.”

The restaurant offers the aforementioned big burgers, and you may also order classics as duos or trios. You can match up your favorites and add your choice of toppings.

www.VixonCabinets.com

Sides include regular fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, half and half, and styled fries with either garlic aioli, jalepenos and cheese, or bacon and cheese. 

BugerIM also cooks up a lot of chicken wings, which are available in buffalo, BBQ, and sweet crunchy garlic.

“People always say we have the biggest wings in town,” said Va. “We have really good milkshakes made from fresh milk and real incredible cream. Each are made fresh. We are not fast food, we make gourmet food fast.”

The chain opened in 2011, and the name BurgerIM means “many burgers” in Hebrew.

The restaurant is located at 155 NW 192nd Avenue, Suite 107, Camas, WA 98607. 360-952-8656. To learn more about the company, visit www.BurgerIM.com

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What Are Library Makerspaces? Washougal High School Explains What’s Happening

Washougal, WA — The role of high school libraries is evolving as technology changes the way information is accessed and researched. Washougal High School Librarian, Hillary Marshall, is helping to forward the new vision for how libraries interact with students by helping establish Makerspaces throughout Washington schools.

Makerspaces are collaborative work spaces devoted to using high tech and other tools and materials for creating, making, learning, exploring and sharing.  Marshall, who is the Washington Library Association, School Library Division Chair, worked over the summer with a team of nine other educators and librarians to develop the “Makerspace Your School Library” curriculum for teacher librarians.   The project was funded by a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) though the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and written by Siri Hiltz, Youth Services Consultant, Library Development, Washington State Library, Office of the Secretary of State.  The group worked for two full days to develop the training for all grade levels that will be shared throughout the State of Washington.

“Libraries used to be the center for information, but now students have the internet,” explained Marshall. “The makerspace activities bring students back into libraries.  The concept is also effective when paired with school curriculum and can be used to move the challenge a student faces in that area of study up a notch.  We also provide students who may never have tried computer sciences a place to experiment and explore.  They find out that it may not be as hard as they had thought it might be.”

Sections in the Makerspace program training include Robotics (Computational Thinking), Design Challenge (Collaborative Problem Solving), Creation Station (Innovative Design), Circuitry (Computational Thinking) and Break & Make (Innovative Design).  “The Break & Make section focuses on taking parts of unrelated or broken items to design and create something brand new,” Marshall explained.  “The Circuitry section allows students to explore electricity and building circuits in fun ways like the MakeyMakey banana piano.  Students create a loop circuit through the conduit of a banana, alligator clips, and the programming found online through the MakeyMakey website.  Once it is properly set up students can play various
bananas that emit different sounds on their Banana Piano.”

Makerspaces
Fur Pom Beanies at LILY ATELIER in Downtown Camas. $78!! Get Yours Before They’re Gone!!

Other training will be available at various locations throughout the state of Washington.  However, Marshall and training partner, Craig Seasholes, Dearborn Park International Elementary Librarian, Seattle Public Schools, also have a training scheduled at Fort Vancouver Regional Library on Saturday, November 16.  They are paired to offer six different trainings up the I-5 corridor and the Olympic Peninsula throughout the school year.

“We have school librarians and teachers attending from a variety of instructional areas ranging from elementary to high school,” said Marshall. “All are interested in bringing makerspace ideas and more STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Math) concepts into their curriculum, library or classroom.”

According to Marshall, the development of this type of educational experience for students is driven by best library practices, OSPI Educational Technology standards and industry job requirements.  “Our students need opportunities to be challenged and problem solve,” she explained.  “We don’t know exactly what jobs will be available to these kids, so we need to prepare them with a variety of 21st century skills.”

At the WHS Makerspace, students’ named the BETA Base, students are encouraged to come to the library to tinker and practice design principles as they explore computer science through monthly projects.  “They come in before school, at lunch, during Hop and Stop (study period) and after school,” explained Marshall.  “Each month I set up a new challenge for them to work out.”

The October challenge of programming with a Micro:bit was developed by a recent WHS graduate. The materials were purchased with funds raised through the WHS student Keepers of the Library social club through sports concessions and the proceeds from their entry into the Festival of the Trees.  The club members voted on what they wanted to support with the funds and chose both art supplies and computer coding robotic tools.  WHS also has a strong relationship with FVRL Washougal branch and regularly borrow maker materials to support dual programming offered after school, during Tween/Teen nights at the Washougal Community Library, or for special MakerSpaces programs for some of the activities.

WHS Junior, Maxwell Malcom, has made use of the library makerspaces to learn about 3D printing.  “I used to come to the library to do research,” he said.  “Now I come here to learn a new skill that I never even knew about. I really enjoy 3D printing.  It is a technology that wasn’t available to us a few years ago.”  

Malcom’s first project was a simple Christmas ornament and he most recently created an impressive six-piece Halloween lantern.

“Makerspaces provide opportunities for students to create, innovate, and collaborate,” Marshall explained. “They help to build a sense of community and allow students to make connections with students, staff, and community members as well as with technology.  I love that this work is not being graded so they may freely experiment and learn through trial and error.”

Maxwell Malcom with 3D printer.

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Washougal Appoints New Chief of Police — Wendi Steinbronn

Wendi Steinbronn, a 25-year veteran of the City of Portland, OR Police Bureau, has been appointed the City’s new Police Chief by City Manager David Scott. Steinbronn will replace Chief Ron Mitchell, who is retiring at the end of November, after serving the Washougal community for 23 years. In Washougal, she will oversee a department of 25 employees, including 21 commissioned officers and a $4.2M budget. Steinbronn will assume the Washougal Police Chief duties at the end of November.

“Wendi has strong law enforcement credentials. She impressed everyone involved in our selection process. As a Camas resident for some time, she is familiar with Washougal. I am confident Wendi has the right combination of experience and qualities that will make her a great fit for our community and a successful police chief,” stated Scott. 

Steinbronn comes to Washougal with over 25 years of experience with the Portland Police Bureau. She started in 1993 as an officer and rose through the ranks, including Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Commander. She is currently the Commander of the Bureau’s North Precinct, serving a population of approximately 190,000 with 135 personnel and a $9.3M budget. Prior to her appointment as North Precinct Commander, Steinbronn served in various roles, including: supervising property crimes detectives and a Neighborhood Response Team, commanding officer of the records division, executive officer to the Assistant Chiefs, government relations liaison, managing the day to day operations of the Family Services Division, serving as a member of the Bureau’s Strategic Planning Committee and engaging with citizens and businesses via a number of committees.

 “I’m honored and excited to be your next Chief of Police,” said Steinbronn. “I look forward to getting to know my new co-workers, learning my job and meeting the community. I’m committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of the community as well as continuing to deliver the high level of service everyone expects.”

Steinbronn

The announcement follows a nationwide search and comprehensive selection process facilitated by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and an extensive background review. 

“I want to thank the members of the Washougal community, the Mayor and City Council, and the men and women of the Washougal Police Department who provided input in the process,” said Scott, “as well as the members of the community leadership and City department heads who interviewed the four finalists. It was important that our process include broad input, and I am grateful for everyone’s participation.”

Steinbronn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Portland State University. She and her husband reside in Camas and have one son, a student at Camas High School.

Steinbronn
Wendi Steinbronn.
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Clark County Elections: Camas Mayoral Race Results Coming Next Week

The Clark County Elections Office provided an update on the Camas Mayoral race today.

According to Greg Kimsey, the final results from the Camas Mayoral race won’t be known until the middle of next week due to the high volume of write-in ballots coming in from Camas and throughout Clark County. Other cities are taking a priority, as well.

Each ballot will be closely analyzed by elections personnel and members of both major political parties. They will confirm signatures, analyze hand-writing and then have each ballot counted and tallied.

If a name is misspelled, but it’s clear the intent of the voter, it will count. There are still 27,000 ballots countywide left to count.

At stake, is the manual count of more than 2,700 write-in ballots cast in the Camas Mayoral race. Voters cast votes for at least three candidates: Barry McDonnell, Melissa Smith, and Awna Underwood. Currently, the write-in votes account for about 60 percent of total votes cast for the Camas Mayor position.

You can see countywide results here: https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/current/clark/

Here’s an update of the voter data from throughout Clark County:

Number of Precincts303
Number of Registered Voters293,385
Total Ballots Counted78,696
Estimated Ballots Left to Count27,000
Next Ballot Count On11/07/2019 5:00 PM
Last Tabulated11/06/2019 4:57 PM
Voter Turnout26.82%
www.VixonCabinets.com
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Foodie In Training: Washougal Students Solve Real-World Business Problem

Washougal, WA — Washougal High School Fine Arts Woodworking students have to think “outside the box” when faced with a design and manufacturing issue posed by a local business called Foodie in Training. 

The Camas-based startup, Foodie in Training, offers subscribers a collection of tried-and-true recipes to help bring a family table experience back to today’s time-strapped, technology dominated household.  Their members receive monthly recipes, how-to cooking videos and quarterly mailings of recipes to add to their collection; recipe cards which fit nicely into a robust Foodie in Training recipe box.  

“The basic challenge was for students to make a better box at a better price,” explained Brent Mansell, WHS Wood and Metal Technology Teacher. “With the target finished price $10 per box, students had to think critically about materials used, including type of wood, hinges, stains, and nails, as well as how to reduce labor costs by choosing the best cut of wood and keeping in mind efficient assembly time.” 

In a presentation to students in October, Foodie partners Stephanie Millman, Kelly Bruce and Kasey Morales, explained their recipe boxes were previously constructed by a crate manufacturer in Wisconsin from scrape pallet materials.

“After three orders, we found that they were too heavy and expensive to ship and the quality was not high enough to represent our brand,” Morales explained.  “We like the rustic look of the existing boxes, the fact they are made in the USA, and the internal size that allows for the expansion of a recipe card collection.”

What they were not satisfied with was the weight (leading to a high cost of shipping) and the overall appearance of the finished piece. 

Building a better box.

“We’re delivering a high quality, tactile experience,” explained Morales.  “We want the boxes to look good enough to proudly display on kitchen counters.” 

The three most important aspects for students to consider were design, function and cost.  

“We asked the students to keep the customers in mind,” said Millman. “Our target market includes Foodie members and gift givers.  We asked them to do their own research and consult with their family about the project to get their thoughts.” 

Once students heard the design parameters and expectations, they got busy taking measurements of box samples, jotting down notes on paper and creating new design ideas.  Their next step was to take those ideas out to the wood shop to begin creating prototypes. 

“Students are learning valuable lessons through this process,” said Mansell.  “They are considering the needs of a customer in the look, function and quality of the final product.  They are also realizing how their time is money and the importance of considering how manufacturing elements affect the cost to construct each box.”  

Foodie

“We are very excited to connect with a local business that can bring a real-world problem to our classrooms and students,” said Margaret Rice, Washougal School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director.  “Not only are CTE students presented with an actual business challenge to solve, but once a winning box design is created, the Foodies will have a better product and will need ongoing manufacturing which could result in a job for students.”

“This has been a very exciting process for us,” said Morales.  “We love providing this classroom opportunity for our high school students and are impressed with the enthusiasm they have brought to the project.” To demonstrate student pride, the final boxes will be signed by the individual students who built them. 

WHS sophomore, Aiden Baalaer, admits that this project feels different from other class assignments.

“It seems like we are working as a team on a real job,” he said.  “It is challenging to make sure that every part of the box fits flush and perfect.”

Baalaer enjoys the hands-on aspect of woodworking.  Before the box project he built a scribe and a cutting board.

Foodie
In the classroom.

“In this day and age, it seems like more people are moving toward working with technology, so it is good to learn a skill that you use hands, tools and saws for,” he said.  

“We would like to continue to work with local businesses to provide authentic business challenges for our students in the classroom,” said Rice.  “Real-world application of 21stCentury Skills like problem solving taught in this way are critical for students heading into the job market.” 

Customers can get a look at the student created boxes and learn more about Foodie in Training at the upcoming Washougal High School Bazaar on Saturday, November 16. 

“We are excited to meet new customers and show off the wonderful talent of these WHS students!” said Bruce.

For more information about Foodie in Training contact Bruce at 360-771-7893 or find them online at www.foodieintraining.org.

Planning.
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Election 2019: Voters Sink Prop 2; Camas Mayoral Race Goes to Hand Count

The hotly contested 2019 election ended Tuesday as local residents cast their votes on a number of candidates and referendums — sinking the Camas Community Aquatics Center (Prop 2) by nearly 90-10 with write-in candidates possibly upsetting the Camas mayoral race, according to the first results from Clark County Elections Office.

The numbers will be updated each day by 4 pm, and write-in votes will be manually tabulated over the next several days.

With 22 percent voter turnout countywide, here are the vote results of the local Camas and Washougal elections:

Camas Mayor

  • Shannon Turk: 1,898 or 40.81%.
  • Write-in candidates (including Barry McDonnell, Melissa Smith and Awna Underwood): 2,753 or 59.19%.
  • Total votes cast to-date: 4,651.

It’s not clear how the 2,753 write-in votes split among the three write-in candidates, but McDonnell rode the wave of Prop 2, which sank by about 90-10. If he earns 90 percent of the write-in vote, he would earn 2,477 votes. Seventy percent of the write-in votes would put his vote total to 1,927 — still barely ahead of Mayor Turk.

It’s a race that can’t be called until all the write-in votes are tabulated — by hand.

“I think it’s exciting to hear about Prop 2 and that people came out to vote in such large numbers,” said McDonnell, whose mayoral campaign started in early October. “I’m really surprised by the 90-10 results. The Prop 2 issue shows the disconnect between the elected officials and the citizens. The results are not super clear right now but I’m looking forward to seeing the final results to see how this all plays out. I want to figure out first where we land but if this is a win we have a long road ahead. I’m not in this alone. I’m up for the challenge.“

Election
Supporters of write-in candidate Barry McDonnell came to celebrate the defeat of Prop 2.

Proposition 2: New Camas Community Aquatics Center

  • Yes: 594 or 10.41%.
  • No: 5,114 or 89.59%.

A total of 5,708 votes were cast on Prop 2. By contrast, 4,651 votes were cast for mayor — to date.

Community Aquatics Center
Aerial view of Camas Community Aquatics Center.

Camas City Council, Ward 1, Position 1

  • Shannon Roberts: 2,501 or 55.83%.
  • Deanna Rusch: 1,899 or 42.39%.
  • Write-in: 80 or 1.79%.
Election
Krista Harrington, Deanna Rusch, and Ann Matthews.

Camas City Council, Ward 3, Position 1

  • Greg Anderson: 2,594 or 71.7%.
  • Write-in: 1,024 or 28.3%.

Camas City Council, Ward 2, Position 1

  • Bonnie Carter: 3,105 or 92.44%.
  • Write-in: 254 or 7.56%.

Camas City Council — At Large

  • Don Chaney: 3,104 or 94.69%.
  • Write-in: 174 or 5.31%.

Camas City Council, Ward 3, Position 2

  • Ellen Burton: 3,012 or 91.19%.
  • Write-in: 291 or 8.81%.
Election

Camas School Board

Each of these candidates won their respective races:

  • Corey McEnry: 4,107 or 97.51%.
  • Connie Hennessey: 4,126 or 97.68%.
  • Erika Cox: 4,109 or 97.55%.
  • Doug Quinn: 4,188 or 97.53%.
  • Tracey Malone: 4,045 or 97.80%.

County Councilor, District 4

  • Gary Medvigy: 11,928 or 60.84%.
  • Adrian Cortes: 7,630 or 38.91%.

Port of Camas Washougal Commissioner, #2

  • Bill Ward: 3,969 or 49.05%.
  • Cassi Marshall: 4,063 or 50.21%.

“Currently I’m locked in a tight race with incumbent Bill Ward, but we are ahead,” said Marshall. “We will know more tomorrow at 4 pm.”

Washougal City Council, #7

  • Ernie Suggs: 1,490 or 96.63%.

Washougal City Council, #5

  • Denise Korhonen: 510 or 25.25%.
  • Ray Kutch: 1,495 or 74.01%.

Washougal City Council, #4

  • Alexandra Yost: 1,496 or 96.89%.

Washougal City Council, #2

  • Michelle Wagner: 1,547 or 97.48%.

Washougal School Director, #1

  • Jim Cooper: 1,633 or 64.19%.
  • Bill Durgan: 887 or 34.87%.

Washougal School Director, #4

  • Cory Chase: 1,852 or 98.09%.

Washougal School Director, #2

  • Angela Hancock: 1,858 or 97.84%.

Click here to read a previous Election 2019 article: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/10/camas-releases-community-aquatics-center-operations-analysis.html

Election 2019 campaign signs.
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Vancouver Laser Skin Care Clinic: Offering November Specials

Vancouver Laser Skin Care Clinic, located in the heart of Downtown Camas, is having some November specials — in time to pamper yourself before the holiday season.

Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation: 360.823.0795 

Here are the November specials:

Laser Genesis or IPL

Buy one laser genesis or IPL treatment get the second area free: Face, Neck, Chest or Hands. Laser Genesis Treatment for texture, pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, and scaring. IPL Limelight Treatment for brown spots and facial redness.

November
Laser Genesis or IPL.

VI Peel 

$50 off first 5 people! Come in for a free Consultation.

November
VI Peel.

Hair Removal Specials

Small Area $175 (for 6 sessions); Medium Area $275 (for 6 sessions); Large Area $375 (for 6 sessions).

November
Laser hair removal.

Botox $11 Per Unit

Botox.

Experience Matters

With over 30 years of aesthetic laser and skin care experience and expertise, Master Aesthetician, Lori Keller, knows that looking and feeling confident play a big part in our well-being.

“If you like how you look, you feel more positive and content in your daily life,” says Keller. “But environmental factors such as sun exposure, and physiological factors such as genetics and aging, all can play a role in changing your outward appearance. We help restore confidence by repairing some of the damage our environment and aging can cause.”

When Vancouver Laser Skin Care Clinic (VLSCC) decided to move its offices to Downtown Camas, they brought more than 30 years of aesthetic laser and skin care experience and an array of treatments and products that rejuvenate skin and restore your youthful glow. They feel good when you look great. 

Their office at 715 NE 5th Avenue is charming, and peaceful, and is part of the history and future of Camas, a quaint and successful town that many say is a city about wellness.

“We love being part of this wonderful and historic downtown scene,” said Keller, who owns VLSCC. “And, we invite you to come see what we’re all about. — from pre-teen/adult acne sufferers to mature patients.”

VLSCC offers many services, including: IPL, Chemical Peels, Microneedling, Ultherapy, Face and Leg Vein Removal, Botox, and more!

To learn more, visit www.VancouverLaserSkinCareClinic.com or read a previous article: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/08/vancouver-laser-answers-frequently-asked-laser-genesis-questions.html

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Annual Stuff the Bus Campaign Now in Full Swing — in Washougal & Camas

What started as a small business networking group 12 years ago has turned into an annual Camas and Washougal School District food drive to benefit Children’s Home Society, the C.A.R.O.L. program and the American Legion of Skamania County.

It’s called Stuff the Bus.

“Typically we raise on average 60,000 pounds of food,” said Tabitha Shaffer, a Stuff the Bus organizer. “A couple years ago we hit 80,000 pounds, and we literally stuff the buses. There are usually two or three buses from each high school. A total of four to six buses, and we drive around to all the local schools and pick up literally tons of food! It’s a great event!”

Beginning November 1, the area schools will begin collecting food in designated bins. 

“We pick up all the food on December 6 from the schools in Camas and Washougal,” said Angie Cherry, a Stuff the Bus organizer. “We collect from everyone who has participated, and all of the kids get a high five as they help us load the food in the bus.” 

Each bus is weighed before it’s filled so organizers know how many pounds have been collected. Last year, Washougal beat Camas — but it’s a friendly competition. The students bring in canned food from home and sometimes classrooms are even rewarded for their efforts. 

Beginning November 1, the Stuff the Bus organizers will rally the schools to start collecting food. Volunteers will stand out in front of Safeway (November 23, 24 and 27 from 10 am-6 pm) asking for food or money donations, and Grocery Outlet also runs a promotion for food bags that can be purchased, which helps Stuff the Bus get more food for their program. 

“Our goal is to provide enough food for the entire year so that our beneficiaries can give to people in need,” said Cherry.

The C.A.R.O.L. Program gathers and delivers toys for kids 18 and under, as well as family food boxes during the holiday season. The American Legion of Skamania County distributes food baskets to Veterans and Children’s Home Society distributes about 365 bags of food to families in need per month. 

Children’s Home Society also supplements the backpack program.

“Every year we count on our community to support the program with cash and food donations,” said Shaffer. “We usually raise about $7,000 per school district, which goes directly to the cause with the exception of our operating costs. Starbucks in Camas and Washougal also donates coffee and hot chocolate.”

And it all comes to a fun finish on December 6, kicking off with a meeting at each High School. They load kids on the buses and then they go to the schools and collect from the area middle schools — all with a fire and police department escort.

It’s literally stuffing the buses.

Once collected, the goods are delivered to the non-profits.

Stuff the Bus is looking for businesses or people to sponsor the event. Sponsors get their name on T-shirts and get advertising on their website — www.CWBusinessAlliance.com

Bus
Food donated to Children’s Home Society.
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