Tag Archive for: Camas

News Recap: Camas Community Aquatics Center Open House

This article is a recap of what City of Camas Administrator Pete Capell shared with the entire audience at the beginning of the Camas Community Aquatics Center Open House on Wednesday night. Lacamas Magazine provided a live stream of the entire proceedings on our Lacamas Magazine Facebook page. It included Capell’s presentation and about 45 minutes of a question and answer session between several residents and Camas Mayor Shannon Turk.

Why the city put the bond forward:

  • Various City Councils have studied the feasibility of a Community Center for over three decades.
  • Through numerous surveys, a year-round swimming pool and a recreational center have consistently been the number one requested amenity.
  • Cost was the same argument used against building the library 20 years ago. The library is now a community treasure and widely believed to have made a significant contribution to initiating the downtown renovation.

Aquatic Center Features & Benefits:

  • A recreational pool with slides and a lazy river are routinely top attractions in an Aquatics Center. This is included in the plans for our Aquatic Center.
  • There is a strong demand for a lap pool in our community. This includes high school students, a strong master’s program and everyday citizens who want to swim for exercise. We are surrounded by lakes and rivers. Teaching our kids to swim is a high priority.
  • The city and the school district have discussed the possibility of having every student in Camas School District receive swimming and water safety lessons as part of their curriculum. The community does not have a good place for senior citizens and teens to meet and partake in activities. The community rooms will fill this void.
  • There will be an indoor path that will allow for a safe and dry place to exercise.
  • A multipurpose gym will allow sports leagues (e.g. basketball, volleyball, etc), small groups and individuals to practice and play inside.
Aquatics Center
A Camas swimmer at Kelso. Local swim teams often have to travel long distances to compete.

Cost Comparisons:

  • The same architect that designed Firstenburg in 2006 used published building cost escalation factors to show that if Firstenburg was built in 2021, it would cost approximately $35.6 mil, as compared to the estimated building cost of $37.2 mil for the proposed Aquatic Center. It was also noted, our center has planned for a lap pool, while Firstenburg does not have one.
  • The City of Hillsboro expects to open a two-story 51,500 square foot community center in 2021 at a cost of $37 mil. Our Aquatic Center is planned to be 72,000 square feet.

Other planned amenities:

  • Frontage improvements to Lake Road, including trails and sidewalks.
  • Additional parking spaces (242) for both the Aquatic Center and Heritage Park boat launch.
  • Intersection improvements at Lake and Sierra, including a traffic signal.
  • Sports field improvements at Forest Home, Dorothy Fox and Prune Hill, which includes lighting and synthetic turf.

Property Tax impact:

  • If the bond is approved by voters, starting in 2021 residents will pay approximately $1.04 per $1,000 in assessed property value. This equates to approximately $500 per year for the median assessed valued house of $464,000. The property tax will likely decrease each year as new construction and property values increase. We will have a fixed debt service amount, so as property values increase, the rates go down.
  • In 2021 the projected $1.32 of school district bond levy taxes, as well as 12 cents in the library building levy tax are set to expire. This could then lead to a net reduction in taxes by 40 cents per $1000 of assessed property value.
  • With recent legislation to address statewide school funding, the school board will be deciding later this year whether to increase the local operating levy up to $1.00 for 2020.
  • The levy is for a maximum of $72 mil. If the levy passes, the city will secure competitive bids and pursue grants and private/corporate donations to reduce the amount taxpayers will pay. It is easier to obtain other monies, when you already have public funding.

Operating Costs:

  • Camas City Council has committed to not take away any funding from essential services to cover operating costs. The building costs will be covered by the bond.
  • The city anticipates operating costs will need to be subsidized by other city revenues. Current estimates of up to $850,000 in operational costs have been projected if operated by city staff. Due to an overlap in recreational services saving the city $400,000, the city would need to subsidize up to $450,000 per year. The YMCA could operate the facility with limited subsidy. The city also projects revenues and reserves to be sufficient to cover by the time we build.
  • Camas residents that pay taxes towards the center will pay lower membership and/or user fees.

Location:

  • The city’s preliminary analysis shows the proposed site will meet traffic, parking needs and protect the environment.
  • The roundabout at the intersection of Lake and Everett will be completed prior to the community center and will address congestion at that location.
  • This project has separate funding (partially by the state). If the project passes, the city will do further analysis regarding the site and are prepared to move the facility to another location if a better site is found.
  • Alternative sites were mentioned as previously being evaluated and/or discussed, and some will continue to be evaluated.

Crown Park:

  • Estimates to provide very basic and temporary repairs to the pool were $300,000. Over $2 mil was estimated for significant renovations with uncertain longevity. A replacement pool in in the same location was estimated to cost over $3.5 mil.
  • A new modern pool on the site could not be supported by adequate parking and we would only be able to operate it 10 to 11 weeks out of the year. The city is still committed to a master plan for Crown Park. This will be phased in over multiple years, beginning with a replacement basketball court next year.
  • If the proposition passes, the city wants to hear from the community as they proceed with the project. They will form advisory committees for the various aspects of the project and will hold additional open houses to share progress and gain feedback.

For more information, go to www.camascommunityaquaticscenter.com

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Opinion: Former State Rep Liz Pike Opposes Prop 2 (Pool + Sports Fields)

I live just outside the City of Camas in rural Clark County, but if I were in the city, I’d be voting no on the proposed $78 million city owned swimming pool. It’s not government’s role to build recreational aquatic centers that unfairly compete with the private sector. $78 million for a community pool? (Editor’s Note: the total bond is asking for $78 million; the estimated pool build cost is $37 million). That’s outrageous! Residents are already overtaxed today between local levies for fire districts, local school levies and bonds, libraries, and enormous never-before-seen gigantic property tax hikes passed by the Washington State Legislature to fund massive public education increases. Where does it end? Most people are fed up with their property tax bill as it is.

Furthermore, imagine how much it will cost annually to maintain and operate a $78 million recreational pool! Where is that money going to come from? Don’t forget about all those new government workers that will also be needed to operate the facility. They come with huge legacy costs, not just new salaries, but new pensions and new benefit costs that taxpayers will be on the hook to pay for.

If the recreational aquatics center is such a brilliant idea, why aren’t private sector businesses clamoring to get in on this business model?

Instead of building extravagant public swimming pools that most citizens cannot afford, I recommend city leaders focus on attracting more family wage jobs to our industrial areas so that more residents can work where they live. In doing so, more industries will help shoulder the property tax burden now crushing many of our working families. More good jobs in Camas will also reduce commuter traffic on SR 14 and across the river into Oregon. City leaders would also be wise to prioritize improving transportation congestion within the city to manage the choke points resulting from the thousands of new houses they keep approving! Quality of life in and around Camas is diminishing from traffic problems at peak times.

Camas has been a beautiful place to live for many generations of working class families. With recent actions, it almost appears as if City leaders want to relegate Camas forever as an overpriced bedroom community where only the wealthiest families can afford to live. There’s an election coming up. City taxpayers should pay attention to those on the ballot that continue to advocate for higher spending as opposed to those who insist Camas live within its means.

Pike is a three-term Washington State Representative.

Past article about this bond measure: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/07/camas-takes-community-aquatics-center-design-sports-field-renovations-to-next-step.html

The Camas website regarding Proposition 2 is www.camascommunityaquaticscenter.com

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Local Leaders Speak at 2019 Camas State of the Community Event

It was standing room only at Thursday’s annual Camas State of the Community at Lacamas Lake Lodge, which featured addresses from Port of Camas Washougal Director Dave Ripp, City of Camas Mayor Shannon Turk, and Camas School District Superintendent Jeff Snell.

Camas School District School Board President, Doug Quinn, served as Master of Ceremonies while the Camas School Orchestra (Rose Hinchliff, Ireland McGree, and Luke Martinez) performed the prelude music and Autumn Sterle sang the National Anthem.

State of the Port of Camas Washougal

At the onset of his address, Ripp said the Port receives income from three sources: 1) Grove Field airport ($153,837 net); 2) The CW Marina ($417,859 net); and 3) Property/commerce center leases ($1,660,988 net).

Ripp then discussed the Port’s work on the Washougal waterfront development.

“We’ve been working on this since 2010,” said Ripp. “The site was originally a lumber mill, which closed down. We wanted to do something that enhances what’s there and have the public enjoy it.”

He explained obtaining the site was possible through a grant, which has two phases: 1) Cleanup; and 2) Planning. In 2014, the Port did the full cleanup, and in 2015, they built the park and trail, and purchased the remaining portion of the Killian site. Once the trail was finished, they looked at master planning, hired an outside firm, and then presented the public with three options, all of which include public access to the waterfront.

Camas
Master plan at Washougal Waterfront.

“In 2021 we want to put a shovel in the ground to get it moving,” said Ripp. “On June 7, the natural play area was opened to the public on June 7. This is our crown jewel of waterfront trail park.”

Ripp then explained the growth and success of the Steigerwald Commerce Center, which received $3 million in grants allowing the Port to double the building’s size. Six businesses are presently there, and the center is operating at 100 percent occupancy. They are now looking at Building 19, a 27,000 square foot facility purchased this year.

The new roundabouts are very helpful with business trade at the Commerce Center, said Ripp, though he acknowledges neighbor frustration.

State of the City of Camas

In her first State of the Community address, Mayor Shannon Turk spoke about four topics:

  • Infrastructure improvements
  • Economic development
  • Recreation opportunities
  • Communication

“The infrastructure improvements that we will be working on this year enhance safety and traffic flow on our roads and ensure the availability of clean water.”

Significant improvements will be made on Brady Road from 16th Avenue to Pacific Rim Boulevard, which include the following:

  • Widening the roadway
  • Addition of bike lanes
  • Street lighting and landscaping
  • Center turn lane/median
  • Utility work begins this fall thru winter
  • Final work/paving — late summer 2020

A two-million-gallon reservoir will be built at NW 18th and Tidland to help the city maintain its commitment to providing clean, quality water to all areas of the city.

Turk also provided an update on the Lake/Everett Road roundabout, scheduled for construction from 2020 to 2021, and showed a fly-over traffic simulation, as seen here: https://youtu.be/iFlQ51XrSyM

The North shore subarea plan (the area north of Lacamas Lake) furthers the vision of our city leaders in the 1980s, she said, and is “setting up our city for the next three to four decades.” The area contains 800 acres of land, of which 160 acres is owned by the city for legacy land open spaces and land preservation (along the north shore).

The North Shore plan creates new developments including homes, shops, and master planned commercial development.

“It shows where we need to invest,” said Turk. “Visit www.camasnorthshore.com, where you can learn more or provide input by taking a survey.”

During the next portion of her talk, recreation opportunities, Turk discussed the Community Aquatics Center and Sports Field bond measure. The 78,000-square-foot multi-use facility includes a recreational pool, lap/competitive pool, community spaces, multipurpose gym, locker rooms, child watch area, and many other amenities. Turk worked with Camas City Council to put this project to vote, known as Proposition 2, on the November ballot. During her presentation, she explained the need for the new facilities, cited decades-long support for the project, and encouraged all Camas residents to continue to provide input on the design, location, and features of the project, which will continue to be refined after November 5.

“This provides an opportunity for seniors to be active and socialize, as part of an aging-in-place strategy,” said Turk. “It gives our children and teens an opportunity to play sports for fun through intramural programs, increasing their activity and connecting them with friends, instead of what they hold in their hand. And it allows us to ensure that all of our children in our city know how to swim and view our community center as a destination for fun diving, instead of swinging off rope swings or jumping off rocks. This is a 78,000-square-foot facility that is designed to highlight the natural surroundings. This is our concept and it is beautiful. That does not mean that things will not be tweaked or changed, but right now this looks awesome.”

Camas

“We did put a bond on the ballot and we are asking you to pay for this,” said Turk. “There’s $72 million for the center, $37.2 million of that amount goes to building the facility itself. The rest goes to offsite and onsite improvements including parking at Heritage Park, a roundabout that will help you get in and out of Heritage Park and proposed Community Center easily. It includes a light at Lake Road and Sierra … These costs are in here.”

Turk said the ballot measure also includes $6 million in sports field renovations (new turf, fields, and lighting).

Contractors will be selected for the project through a bidding process. The city expects to receive competitive bids, which will likely come in significantly lower than the estimated $78 million price tag. Private donations could further lower the overall cost. If the final price tag of the project is indeed less, the city will reduce the projected tax rate of $1.04 per $1,000 in assessed property value, and collect fewer taxes from residents. (Any new taxes would not start until 2021.)

Moving on to the final topic her presentation, Turk explained the city’s commitment to improving city communications. She emphasized the reintroduction of council ward meetings, as well as the inclusion of more open house events, surveys, social media posts, and project mailers.

Turk also introduced Camas 101, which is an eight-class program, starting in January 2020, that includes the following:

  • Learn more about your city
  • History of Camas
  • Role of Mayor and City Council
  • How projects are determined and funded
  • What the city actually does
  • Creating a connected and engaged community — wants people to learn about local non-profits.

“We instituted ward meetings in the spring and will do more in the Fall,” said Turk.

State of Camas School District

“Our focus this year is writing our collective story,” said Snell. “You give your best into that school year with all your hopes and dreams. You take each year’s lessons and apply them to the next year. We get to shape what those stories look like. We see and serve each student. Each means each of you will get something out of this.”

He’s also pleased that Helen Baller Special Education teacher, Amy Campbell, was named as Teacher of the Year.

“We’re excited she gets a platform to advocate for special education and to represent Camas School District,” said Snell. “I can’t think of a better person to do that.”

Snell provided a review of the challenges that McCleary legislation created, the stress it placed on levies and that they will continue to work within these constraints.

“We want to inspire them to be learners,” he said. “Standardized tests are one thing, but we need to do the very best we can with our students. They will be making decisions about our community and world.”

He said the Garver Theatre is coming back online from the 2016 bond.

Read more about the last State of the Community address here: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2018/09/mayor-higgins-snell-deliver-camas-state-of-the-community-speeches.html

Camas
Camas School District Superintendent Jeff Snell.
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All Paws on Deck Event This Saturday to Benefit Local Humane Societies

Camas​ DECA is excited to invite all residents and their four-legged friends to​ ​All Paws On Deck ​on ​Saturday, September 21, 2019. T​his event will run from 10 am to 2 pm, ​and will support our local humane societies!​​All Paws on Deck​ will be a fun-filled day on 5​th Avenue from CEDAR to BIRCH, w​here we will celebrate with our furry friends. There will be a variety of exciting games, food, shopping, face painting, and crafts to keep your family entertained. As for Fido, there will be an obstacle course, talent show, and most importantly, a crowning for the ​Dog Mayor of Camas​! Supporting small and local causes are the best ways to better our world; a little goes a long way.

“We all love our animals,” says Suzie Downs, marketing teacher and DECA advisor from Camas High School. Downs has been a mentor to her students as they’ve planned and coordinated A​ ll Paws on Deck. “​ There’s been a lot of buzz going on about it already… but we can’t stop pushing [to raise awareness]” she tells her Marketing 2 class.

Though she has been a huge contributor, Downs is not the head behind All Paws- in fact, the event was created, coordinated, and will be facilitated by Camas Senior Megan Bauer, who has volunteered regularly at the Southwest Washington Humane Society for the past 4 years.

“I wanted to create an event to help the community…” she said when asked about her reasoning for putting on this event. “Animals come [to shelters] with needs… I wanted to give [Camas] a voice to show that we support our societies.”

All Paws on Deck ​is a shining example of what students can do through DECA. By giving students the resources needed to take action in their community, DECA enables students enrolled in marketing classes to not only be educated on business and professionalism skills but also encourages them to create new ideas and take initiative in implementing them in their community.

All Paws

Camas DECA students will be volunteering at the event, and A​ ll Paws on Deck​ has also partnered with several vendors such as Naturally Healthy Pet and the Downtown Camas Business Association, all with the goal of raising at least $1500 dollars for both the Southwest Washington Humane Society and West Columbia Gorge Humane Society. Though the event is free, Camas DECA is hoping that people will donate to the cause or enter into a drawing to win amazing prizes donated by local establishments such as the Camas Fire Department and Petsmart.

Animals play a very important role in each of our lives; after a long workday, they are always ready to greet us when we walk in the door and snuggle with us when we need a friend. Our DECA chapter hopes this event will help these animals find their forever home- so will you help us get All Paws on Deck?

To vote for Dog Mayor, click here: https://all-paws-on-deck.webnode.com/dog-mayor/

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Plein Air & Art Event Happening All Day at Camas First Friday

New art additions to the Downtown Camas “Plein Air & Art Event” for September 6th’s Camas First Friday will have people enthralled and dancing in the streets. As in prior years, plein air (open air) artists will set up their easels in Downtown Camas and paint downtown buildings or landscapes from 9 am to 4pm. Accomplished local artists and multiple live music venues will be featured throughout downtown, as well. New this year will be “dual artist” live paintings and free dance lessons with local dance instructor Daniel Martinez. 

The finished plein air art pieces will be on display at the Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4th, from 5-8 pm that evening. The community will vote for its favorites and “People Choice Awards” will be given. These works of art will then be auctioned off at the Dinner in White on the Columbia, a benefit for the Washougal Library Building Fund, on Saturday, September 7that Marina Park at the Port of Camas Washougal.

Other art features, music, and activities that night are: 

  • Elida Field’s “Art, Women & Wine” artists will be showcased in participating merchant locations; Meet the artists, enjoy the art, and be entered to win prizes from the merchants. Participation lists can be found at the DCA table in Journey at 304 NE 4th Ave. Look for stores with the red balloons.
  • Local dance instructor Daniel Martinez will be offering FREE dance lessons for the community sponsored by the Downtown Camas Association. Come learn dance steps that you might even use with the outdoor live music that night. Meet at Body Bliss Yoga Studio at 417 NE Birch at 6pm for the lessons. Everyone is invited. Daniel is known for his fun and engaging classes and the DCA is glad to partner to bring this art form to the event.
  • Outdoor dining and live music with 4 bands sponsored by Nuestra Mesa from 5-9pm, 228 NE 4th.
  • Camas Gallery will be hosting two “dual artist” live paintings starting at 4:30pm with two paintings each being done by popular local artists. Two will be painted by Anna Norris and Heidi Curley and another two being created by Liz Pike and Sarah Bang. Each artist starts on a painting and then every 15 minutes, switches places with their painting partner until they feel the painting is complete. This art activity is a crowd favorite.
  • Art Show in Attic Gallery featuring Emmy Award winning artist David Allen Dunlopwho will also be plein air painting the mill during the day. There will also be the dynamic live classical music of the Lily Burton String Trio.
  • Art Guessing Game in select locations–guess the artist of a picture of a famous piece of artwork and be entered to win.
  • Open Mic Night at Journey Church, 6-8pm. Sing a song, play guitar or do a stand-up comedy routine. Each performer has 10 minutes to perform. This is a ‘family friendly’ event so youth are welcome to participate. Sign-ups start at 5:30pm. 
  • The Hidden Bronze Bird Tour will have a twist with each of the 14 bronze birds in Downtown Camas showing off something for the night. Find the birds and find out what they have and be entered to win a special prize basket. 
  • Kids’ art crafts, including The Paint Roller Mobile Paint Party where children can paint rocks; chalk art; and the sixth annual DCA First Friday Coloring Contest. 
  • Live music at multiple locations throughout downtown including Birch Street Uptown Lounge, Salud Wine Bar and A Beer at a Time.
  • Shop, dine, & have artful fun in Downtown Camas
Plein Air

This event is sponsored by Camas Gallery who will be hosting the plein air art that night and Elida Art Studio, which coordinates the art throughout all the downtown businesses.

“This event truly celebrates the love of the arts and showcases the art focus our town is developing,” says Carrie Schulstad, director of the Downtown Camas Association (DCA). “We have such talented local artists of all kinds in our community—painters, potters, dancers, musicians, hair art stylists, tattoo artists, you name it! We are thrilled to be able to feature so much wonderful talent on this day and expose people of all ages to such diverse creativity. Join us for an incredibly artful experience!” 

First Fridays are Art, Activities, Dining, and After Hours Shopping themed family friendly events coordinated by the DCA each month of the year to support downtown and bring the community together. For all the information, visit https://downtowncamas.com/event/plein-air-art-event and www.facebook.com/camasfirstfriday 

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Kris Cavin, Lacamas Magazine Collaborate to Produce ‘@KCFreshInc Meets Burger’

Given America’s love affair with burgers, the major hit of last year’s Feast@316 Burger Contest and the fact that Kris Cavin, aka @KCFreshInc eats three to four burgers a week, it’s fitting we came to this collaboration — and production — of a new Lacamas Magazine Web Series we’re calling “@KCFreshInc Meets Burger.”

The series will star Cavin, a Country Financial insurance agent, and local photographer extraordinaire, as he visits diners, restaurants, and burger joints across the region in search of the best burgers.

“We have so many great restaurants in the area,” said Cavin. “And some get overlooked, and these places have amazing burgers. We’re gonna shine a light on some of these places, and also cover the ones people know about. There’s a lot of love going into food preparation here in Clark County, and beyond, and we’ll have fun covering this, and maybe we’ll even break some news. I’m grateful to Lacamas Magazine for making this happen.”

Cavin, better known as @KCFreshInc to all his Twitter followers volunteers his time as a photographer capturing images at area sports events, and people often refer to him as KC these days.

“I absolutely love Camas,” said Cavin. “We raised our kids here, they went to Camas schools. We’re proud Papermakers, and love promoting the great things happening here and around SW Washington.”

Burger
The Jalepeno Burger with Cream Cheese was featured at Grains of Wrath.

The series already filmed the first episode, which featured the Build Your Own Burger at Washougal Times (formerly called Hellers) in Washougal.

“I had no idea they serve such a great burger,” he said. “Guess I better not give away anymore details.”

In each episode, Cavin will visit each establishment, meet the owners and operators, and tell a little about the place. The burger’s rating is based on the following criteria:

  • Burger quality
  • Quality and ratio of condiments
  • Quality of bun
  • Quality of sides
  • Value to price

Each area will receive a star and an ultimate ranking.

“It really is just about having fun,” said Cavin. “We love burgers — so let’s talk about what makes a great burger.”

The first episode will appear on the Lacamas Magazine YouTube Channel in the coming days. Stay tuned. To learn more, visit www.youtube.com/lacamasmagazine

See a recent Lacamas Magazine food article about burgers: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/08/the-new-burgerim-the-story-behind-the-restaurant.html

Columbia River
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Annual Camas Athletics Boosters Golf Tournament Coming September 14

Camas, WA — On Saturday, September 14, the Camas Athletic Boosters Club will hold its annual Tom Wallenborn Golf Tournament and charity auction at Camas Meadows Golf Club.

This will be the 13th annual golf tournament and charity auction, which raises significant money for local athletic programs. Registration begins at 7:15 am, and the tournament begins at 8:30 am.

“It’ll be another great event,” said Ryan Dickerson, of the Camas Athletics Boosters Club. “Last year, about 150 players came out for a fun round of golf supporting our local athletes. Last year, we raised a little over $58,000 and are hoping to beat this number this year.  Also this year we will be having a meal after the golf tournament.  At the meal we will be having a live auction and many different raffles to raise money.  Tickets will be on sale at the event.  If people are interested in coming to the lunch and auction please email the boosters — we’d love to see you there.”

To register for the tournament, go to www.camasboosters.org or send an email to camasboosters@gmail.com

The objective of the golf tournament is to raise funds to supplement any needs of the student athletics programs from middle school level up through high school.  The club also provides money for scholarships that the boosters gives away each year for seniors who are continuing to college.

Golf Tournament

Dickerson said community members are free to come walk around and enjoy the afternoon.

“We have many local businesses that have sponsored this tournament and many of the different sports teams have put together baskets and different items for the auction,” he said. “We have some great trips, vacation homes, football games, and reserved 50 yard line seats with parking at the remaining Camas home games.”

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Tommy O’s Reunited With Camas — And Yes It Feels So Good!

Tommy O’s at the Camas Hotel.

When we found out the much-respected, consistently delicious, and community-oriented brand was returning to Camas we were ecstatic! Tommy Owens, his son, Josh, and team went right to work modifying the small space into a workable restaurant to fit the local ambiance and carry on the tradition we all know and love.

Now, two months plus into their new location, Tommy O’s at the Camas Hotel has mastered the tiny space by modifying — with great success — their fine offerings.

During our review session, we happily sampled the Thai Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (the biggest surprise of the day), Lobster Pot Stickers, Ahi Sashimi — all three are small plates — as well as the Miso Sake Butterfish (see featured photo), Kalbi Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, Steam Coconut Forbidden Rice, and the Spicy Wok Green Beans.

Tommy O’s at the Camas Hotel serves many of their signature dishes, but due to space limitations, they’ve streamlined the menu. The interior matches its menu with a Hawaiian flair.

“We tried to adapt the menu to take the best flavors from the downtown Vancouver restaurant and make them work in this location,” said Josh Owens. “This restaurant has some unique characteristics as far as the footprint, which is a third the size and then the kitchen layout has a big, beautiful brick oven, but we don’t have a grill so that changes what we can do. Most of what you see here, the teriyaki chicken, the butterfish, the cedar plank salmon, those things all come out of our above ground brick imu. It runs at 600 degrees and allows us to get a nice crispy skin on that chicken, food sears really quickly, so it’s a great tool to serve a great number of people very quickly in a small footprint.”

Head Chef Jonathon Betts makes it all happen.

“I feel that the smaller kitchen is easier to work around because you’re not turning as much,” said Betts. “The public response has been very positive. They love the things that are different about this new space. We don’t have the Kalbi Ribs because we don’t have the grill. Some things just don’t work here, but we’re always looking for ways to bring those flavors here.”

What’s new?

“Just about everything you see here on the table,” said Betts. “The way we do things is much different. The butterfish is seared in the cast iron pan, and you get a different range of flavors. We do a half chicken here, and at Vancouver we just do the breast. I want things to be as good here as downtown if not better.”

The Kalbi Salmon! Why is it so good?

“The oven! Plus we soak the cedar planks,” said Betts. “We have the Kalbi marinade (same as the Kalbi ribs) with soy and sugar, and it’s in there for 24 hours, then while it cooks in the 600 degree oven it becomes caramelized.

Tommy O’s
Kalbi Salmon.

Teriyaki Chicken

A customer favorite, a lot of time and research went into perfecting their Teriyaki Chicken, which is locally sourced.

“We wanted an opportunity to set us apart and offer great flavors,” said Owens. “We wanted to find a high quality chicken we could bring to the customers in Camas. We found this free range chicken that is both high quality and makes for a nice presentation. It makes a good meal. Our goal is always to put the challenge out there to have the best teriyaki chicken in town.”

Tommy O’s
Teriyaki Chicken.

The Tommy O’s Brand

“We’ve been in Vancouver for nearly 26 years,” said Owens. “We went from a lunch place to what it is now. For me, our success is all about focusing on a great customer experience. It’s about consistency and a focus on quality. Your dining dollar is stretched farther than it has ever been, so it’s making sure the experience is a good one. We make so much of our food from scratch, and it takes days and days to make that happen, but the end result is something you can’t replicate anywhere else. For us it’s about finding the sweet spot of going the extra mile and making sure we source the best ingredients we can find at the right price point.”

“We invite you to dine with us.”

Tommy O’s at The Camas Hotel is located at 405 NE 4th Avenue in historic downtown Camas. And, if you want to learn more, visit https://www.tommyosaloha.com

Hours:

Lunch 11a – 3p (Tues -Sun)

Aloha Hour Daily 3p – 5p

Dinner 3p – 9p (Fr-Sa 3p – 9:30p)

Closed – Monday

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This Friday: Shangri-La Farm Hosts Hootenanny to Benefit Artstra

Shangri-La Farm in Camas invites you to a country style fundraising Hootenanny event to benefit Artstra. Enjoy a fabulous western BBQ Cowboy Dinner and homemade pie! Wear your cowboy attire and try your luck at a game of chicken poop bingo! The fun begins at 6 pm this Friday, August 30.

Artstra rented the airport parking lot (ADA parking only at the farm, 26300 NE Third St., Camas.) From the airport, follow the meandering trail 1/4 mile through the woods to Shangri-La Farm or take the free shuttle service to the farm. Park at Grove Field in Fern Prairie, 632 NE 267th Ave., Camas, WA 98607.

Suggested minimum donation: $50 per adult. Kids are free! Your donation is tax deductible. All proceeds will benefit Artstra programs in our community.

Vancouver’s Own Fadin’ by 9
The FUNdraiser will be accompanied by bluegrass-rock-folk fusion band Fadin’ by 9. What happens when you bring together a bass-playing attorney, guitar-strumming bilingual reading specialist, fire-on-the-fiddle volcanologist, and a banjo-picking elementary school principal? Join the Hootenanny and find out for yourself. Or listen to a sample from their latest CD.

Yumm!
Thanks to artist, master gardener, beekeeper, and (as she calls herself) “recovering politician,” Liz Pike, attendees will be treated to a delicious BBQ Cowboy Dinner, along with her famous homemade pies. Liz is the owner of Shangri-La Farm and a participant in Artstra’s Clark County Open Studios Tour. Her amazing generosity and positive spirit have made this Hootenanny for the Arts possible. Brews from Mill City Brew Werks, wine from Pomeroy Cellars plus dinner are all covered with your registration.

How the Game of Chicken Poop Bingo Works
There are 24 squares on the bingo board and attendees have at least two bingo games. Game 1 tickets are $10 and Game 2 tickets are $20. You will have the opportunity to buy tickets when you register online, or you may buy them at the farm. Half the cash collected for each game goes to the holder of the winning ticket and the other half goes to Artstra. This is a super fun game that can get pretty wild, so be prepared with extra $10 bills and/or your credit card to make sure we fill up the pot and support the arts!

For more info
Please email info@artstra.org or call Jean at (360) 823-9101

Hootenanny
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County Medical Examiner Releases Identity of Lacamas Lake Drowning Victim

On Wednesday afternoon, the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office released the name of the Vancouver teen who drowned at Lacamas Lake Tuesday evening.

The victim was 14-year-old Anthony Huynh, who was swimming with friends and jumping off the Lacamas Park walking bridge Tuesday as part of fun summer day outing. According to friends, once they noticed Huynh was missing they went looking for him and eventually called 911 for assistance.

Police quickly found his belongings, including his cell phone.

The cause of death is accidental drowning.

Shortly after 9 pm Tuesday, divers from Multnomah and Clark counties recovered the teen’s body from the lake after a 10-minute search. The Medical Examiner was called to the scene.

Through the day Wednesday, many have stopped by the bridge to pray, ponder and leave balloons, flowers and kind notes to the deceased and to his family.

Drownings have occurred in summer months at Lacamas Lake throughout its history.

Lacamas Lake
Anthony Huynh, 14, of Vancouver, drowned at Lacamas Lake.

In Washington, there were 98 unintentional drowning deaths of residents in 2017. Drowning along with fire/burns, were the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children and teens ages 1 – 17 in Washington. Source: WA Department of Health, Washington Tracking Network Data, accessed June 2019

In 2017, there were 4,508 drowning deaths in the United States, an average of 12 deaths per day. 
Source: CDC, WISQARS Injury Mortality Report, accessed June 2019

Link to the first article: https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/08/police-vancouver-teen-drowns-at-lacamas-lake-tuesday-evening.html

Lacamas Lake
www.MeuPilates.com

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