Portland/Vancouver News and Events for June 28 Through July 30

PHOTO: Hundreds turned out last weekend for Juneteenth at Legacy Emanuel Field. Juneteenth Oregon received a community grant from the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, which shifted the festival’s focus to include African heritage alongside U.S. history. The blend brought out more attendees than ever on a beautiful sunny Saturday. The event was also sponsored by the Skanner News and NW Natural. Lisa Loving photo.

WorkSource and Vancouver Community Library Present Free Employment Workshops
Individuals wishing to learn job search strategies, interviewing techniques and how to write resumes and cover letters, among other topics, are invited to attend free employment workshops every Wednesday in July from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street in downtown Vancouver.
Employment workshop dates and topics are:
July 2: Identify Your Skills
July 9: Job Search Strategies
July 16: Perfecting Applications
July 23: Resumes & Cover Letters
July 30: Interviewing Techniques
Registration is requested for the July 9 and 16 classes due to limited space in the computer classroom. For more information visit www.fvrl.org and click "events" or call Jennifer at 360-906-5138 or Michael at 360-735-5015.
Learn more at www.swwdc.org.

CAP Offers Free Testing for National HIV Testing Day
Cascade AIDS Project will mark National HIV Testing Day this
Friday, June 27, by offering free rapid HIV testing throughout the day at Pivot located at 209 SW 4th Ave. in Portland.
Rapid HIV testing is simple and provides results in about 20 minutes from a small drop of blood taken from a finger. Both confidential and anonymously testing is available. Testing will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 10:00am to 7 p.m.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that everyone aged 15 to 65 should be screened for HIV infection. Testing is also recommended at least annually for individuals at increased risk—such as gay and bisexual men, people who inject drugs, and/or people with multiple sex partners.
Statistics from the National Institutes of Health show that HIV-positive individuals who know their status and are on effective drug treatment, can reduce their risk of transmitting HIV by 96 percent.
Additionally, as part of the #UpdateYourStatus campaign, people can go to the www.testing4all.org website to reserve an appointment

African American Family Reunion Fundraiser in Vancouver
A car wash to benefit the third annual "Back in the Day" reunion in Vancouver is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Lord's Gym, 2410 Grand Ave., just north of Fourth Plain Boulevard.
This year's reunion is noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in Marshall Park, 1510 McLoughlin Blvd.
Jane Elder Wulff's book, "First Families of Vancouver's African-American Community: From World War II to the Twenty-First Century" launched the series of Black community reunions.
For more information, contact Ralph Griffin at 360-980-6203 or Juanita Young at 360-521-4890.

Book Reading/Signing Event for Local Memoirist Deloris Dallas
"I Thought I Wouldn't Tell It," is a Portland author's experiences as a Jamaican-born woman with "an unquenchable grit, drive and a sometimes surprising sense of humor. "
The event is Sunday, June 29 from 4-6 p.m. at the Glyph Cafe & Arts Space, 804 NW Couch St. Portland. Presented by Black Rose Books & Social Club, find out more at www.glyphpdx.com/events.

Management Company Offers Scholarships
Vacasa is accepting applications until July 25 for more than $17,000 in scholarship awards to high school and college students. The vacation rental management company has expanded their scholarship program this year to include two scholarships in every school district and university located in a community where they manage vacation homes.
The selected applicants in each school district or university will each receive $150, and from these recipients, two finalists will each be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Scholarships are awarded in two categories: photography and travel writing, with one winner in each subject per school district or university. Applicants are invited to submit essays or photos showcasing what makes their hometowns special. Students from more than 130 towns throughout seven states
Applications are being accepted via VacasaRentals.com/Community until July 25, and recipients will be announced on Aug. 15.

Board of Health seeks applicants for Public Health Advisory Council
Clark County Board of Health is seeking applicants to fill the following vacancies on the Public Health Advisory Council:
A dentist practicing in Clark County
A consumer of public health services
A representative from the Clark County educational community
A representative from the Clark County Youth Commission, Clark County Youth House, or a representative of local area high schools or a local area college
Terms will start Oct. 1 and end Sept. 30, 2017.
The council meets 6-8 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. Members meet in the second-floor conference room at the Center for Community Health, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd.
Applicants must submit a resume and/or letter of interest to Jennifer Clark, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver 98666-5000. Commissioners also will accept applications by fax at 360-397-6058 or email to [email protected].
Application deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2014.

County Fair Talent Show Tryouts
The Clackamas County Fair will once again be holding tryouts for the Talent Show and Gospel Sing performances at the 2014 Fair. Fair dates run August 12-17th this year.
The Talent Show Auditions will be held on Saturday, July 19th, from 10:00am - 1:00pm. It is open to all residents state-wide, but the top placing Clackamas County resident will be moving on to the Oregon State Fair Talent competition. The categories are divided into Child (5-9 yrs.), Youth (10-17 yrs.) and Adult (18 years and older) with cash prizes awarded for the top three places in the Youth and Adult categories, and placement certificates and ribbons for the Child category.
The Gospel Sing Auditions will be held on Wednesday evening, July 23rd, from 4:30-9:00pm. It is open to anyone, with two categories offered in Youth (10-17 yrs.) and Adult (18 years and older). Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three placements in both categories, with the top winners being showcased at the Gospel Sing and Inspirational Message service, held Sunday, August 17th, at 11:00 am, at the Fair.
Entry forms for both are due at the fair office by Friday, July 11th at 4:00pm. More information, rules and regulations, and entry forms are available on our website, www.ClackamasCountyEventCenter.com. E-mail questions to [email protected], or call the fair office at 503-266-1136. Entry forms can also be picked up at the Fair office in Canby at 694 NE 4th Avenue between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Clark County Casa Program Seeks Child Advocates
The Clar k County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program of YWCA Clark County recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for foster children in the county's juvenile dependency court system. As officers of the court, they ensure that the children's needs are recognized and best interests are considered both in the courtroom and in the community.
CASA volunteers are asked to meet with the child regularly and are authorized to interview people in the child's life such as social workers, attorneys, teachers, and family members. They attend court hearings and report their findings to the judge.
With more than 200 children in Clark County waiting for a CASA volunteer, many more advocates are needed. There are no prerequisites for becoming a CASA other than being at least 21 years of age, clearing an extensive background screening and successfully completing 31.5 hours of training.
YWCA is especially interested in expanding the number of male volunteers and volunteers who are bilingual and/or bicultural.
The next training session begins July 1, 2014. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering as a CASA, please visit http://ywcaclarkcounty.com/volunteer or contact Heidi Hiatt at 360-906-9142 or [email protected].

 Fourth Annual Nurse of the Year Awards 

This year, March of Dimes will honor nominated nurse caregivers and award 17 of these nurses for their constant care of and compassion for patients.

Nominations may be submitted online at marchofdimes.com/oregon through August 19th. There is no fee to submit a nomination and you may submit multiple nominations. Award recipients will be determined by a selection committee comprised of healthcare professionals. Winners will be announced at the Nurse of the Year Awards breakfast on October 24, 2014, at The Sentinel Hotel (formally The Governor Hotel) in downtown Portland.

"Through the Nurse of the Year Awards, March of Dimes brings together the health care community to pay tribute to the profession of nursing and the often unsung heroes and heroines who save the lives and health of others," said Elizabeth Joscelyn, State Director for March of Dimes, Greater Oregon Chapter.

Nurse of the Year Awards is presented by Moda Health and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Platinum sponsors include Legacy Health and Providence Health and Services. Gold sponsors include Cambia Health Solutions and Kaiser Permanente. The event is chaired by Dr. William Johnson, President of Moda Health. "This is a great opportunity to honor outstanding nurses in Oregon and SW Washington and to celebrate the vital role of the nursing profession," said Dr. Johnson.

The nominating categories are as follows:

* Adult Acute Care
* Advance Practice
* Ambulatory/Clinic Care
* Case Management/Utilization Review
* Community Health
* Critical Care (Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal)
* Emergency
* Hospice, Home Health, Long Term Care, Rehab and Palliative Care
* Nurse Educator
* Nurse Leader
* Nurse Specialty
* Pediatric Acute Care
* Rising Star
* Small Hospital
* Student Nurse
* Surgical Services
* Women's Health

For more information visit marchofdimes.com/oregon.

Find out what is going on in the Greater Oregon Chapter by visiting OregonMOD.com.
Contact Info:
Caitlin Thompson, Community Director
971.270.2895
[email protected]

People's Choice Favorite, Recycled Arts Festival, set for June 28-29

The ninth annual Recycled Arts Festival will be filled with entertainment, family-friendly activities and more than 120 vendors selling art crafted from recycled items.

The free event, which this year the Vancouver Downtown Association named as its People's Choice Favorite Event, will be the final weekend in June in Esther Short Park at West Eighth and Esther Streets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 28, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 29.

The 2014 Recycled Arts Festival will be bigger, better and more fun than ever with something for all ages, including musicians, stilt walkers, jugglers and clowns.

"The festival is a great opportunity to emphasize the importance of reducing and reusing waste in an informative but fun event," said Don Benton, Environmental Services director.

Artists will display and sell items designed from reused and reclaimed materials, such as: metal, glass and porcelain garden art; recycled paper books and cards; handbags made from album covers; reclaimed turned-wood sculptures, furniture and birdfeeders; jewelry and clocks made from vinyl records; and wall art from reclaimed bicycle parts.

The festival also will feature:
• Music on the park's main stage beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
• Hands-on science activities with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on Saturday.
• Recycled art crafting with SCRAP, the creative reuse store, on Sunday.
• Environmental education activities from local green businesses and recyclers daily.

For more information, visit RecycledArtsFestival.com.

Call for Artists to Display Sculpture

Artists have the opportunity to display a sculpture for two years across from the Hillsboro Civic Center. For the last several years, Dancing Chairs, a pair of whimsical sculptures by North Plains sculptor James Schmidt, has enlivened a small plaza on SE Washington Street at SE 2nd Street. Dancing Chairs will be moved to a permanent location at 53rd Avenue Community Park, opening the spot for a new work of art downtown.
Artists may apply with up to six images of existing sculptures through CaFÉ™, or callforentry.org. CaFÉ™ is a web-based service that allows artists to apply for juried competitions. Artists upload their images to the service, and then can easily apply for competitions worldwide. There is no fee for artists to create an account on the system or to apply for this call to artists. The competition is open to artists from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, and the deadline to apply is July 2, 2014.
The selected artist will receive a $3000 honorarium for the placement of the work for two years, including installation and removal. The artwork may be for sale, and will be prominently featured on the City of Hillsboro Cultural Arts website.
Placing art in public places is an element of a city-wide wayfinding program. The artwork creates visual landmarks that remind viewers of the creative spirit of the city.
Full details are available at www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/PublicArt.

Vancouver Fireworks

Tickets are now available for Independence Day at Fort Vancouver presented by Bank of America, taking place on Fr iday, July 4th at the Fort Vancouver National Site. Families will find a full schedule of activities, culminating with an impressive fireworks show. The event is produced by the nonprofit Fort Vancouver National Trust.

Fort Vancouver has a 50 year history of providing the community with an exceptional fireworks display! Using state of the art fireworks synchronized to music, the 2014 display will once again be launched from Pearson Air Field, providing attendees an exciting fireworks show. Fireworks may not be visible from Portland or the Columbia River.

"The Independence Day at Fort Vancouver firework show is a beloved community event that families have enjoyed for more than 50 years," said Craig Christenson, Bank of America SVP & small business banking manager in Oregon and Southwest Washington. "Bank of America recognizes this as an important economic engine and local tradition, and that's why we helped bring the fireworks back to the community five years ago. This is one of many investments we're making toward strengthening our communities."

Featuring live music, games, entertainment, food and more, this event has something fun for everyone. It all begins Friday, July 4, with gates opening at 8 a.m. Entertainment kicks-off at Noon, the Kids' Patriotic Parade presented by Fred Meyer begins at 4 p.m. and the spectacular fireworks show launches at 10:05 p.m. The Vancouver Toyota Main Stage features a wide variety of local and regionally recognized entertainers, including New Social Order and Hit Machine.

General admission is $5 in advance and $7 at the gate for those 13 and over. Kids 12 and under are free. Purchase tickets online at fortvan.org/fourth, or at any SW Washington Fred Meyer location.

With Prime Viewing tickets, attendees will have access to the exclusive Kiewit Prime Viewing area where they will enjoy a 4th of July picnic dinner, the exclusive Alaska Airlines stage, featuring 5 Guys Named Moe, and unobstructed front row seats to the spectacular fireworks show. Prime Viewing tickets are $50 for guests 21 and over, $25 for those under 21 and free for 5 and under.

Other available activities include:
* Guided walking tours of the Vancouver Barracks presented by Fit Right NW
* $3.00 admission to the reconstructed Fort Vancouver (free for age 15 and under)
* Bi-plane rides at Pearson Airport (fee)
* Adult beverage pavilion featuring domestic beer and microbrews, wine and more

 Hop on one of C-Tran's shuttles running every 15 minutes from the north side of Westfield Vancouver Mall to the fireworks display from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Return service will be available immediately following the fireworks show. Paid parking lots will be available to the east and west of Fort Vancouver and all downtown metered parking is free for the holiday. Bicyclists are encouraged to bike to the event and leave their bikes at volunteer-staffed bike parking.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or to volunteer visit www.fortvan.org/fourth, email [email protected] or call 360-992-1808.