First Place Neighborhood Association

First Place Newsletter - June 2001

Jun 12, 2001

What's New?
The First Place Neighborhood Association will form a special committee to complete our Neighborhood Action Plan. If you are able to contribute some time to this very important project, please call Sharen Graven at (360) 944-9137.

Garage Sale Success!
We would like to thank the following participants:
Dave and Mary Taylor
Jerry and Maggie Marx
Bob and Kay Cooke
Larry and Kathy Kersten
Paul and Carole Dickson
Ken and Yvonne Knodell
The Hambletons
The Cravens
Terry and Debbie Low
Norma Gilge
Michael and Beverly Randall
The Farris'
Greg and Kristine Cummings
Duane and Sharen Graven

Celebrate 4th of July at Fort Vancouver
"Take 4 to the 4th"

A great opportunity exists this year to help the Clark County Food Bank Coalition. Volunteers will be collecting $2 and 2 cans of food at the Celebration.

First Place Elects
New Officers
2001 - 2002
We would like to thank the 2000-2001
First Place Officers:
Aaron Garwood, President
Terry Low, Vice-President
Sharen Graven, Sec/Treasurer.

Your dedication to the neighborhood was appreciated!

The 2001 - 2002
First Place Officers:
Sharen Graven, Co-President
Kristine Cummings, Co-President
Mark Halvorsen, Vice-President
Barbara Dunbar, Sec/Treasurer

First Place Neighborhood
Summer Picnic
July 7th!
First place park
12pm-4pm
More information, please contact Karolina Ganschow at (360)254-8069

A Special Request
We are requesting a $20 contribution to First Place Neighborhood Association. The annual collection will be used to subsidize events and projects throughout the year.

Please send a check payable to: First Place Neighborhood Assoc. c/o Barbara Dunbar at 1315 NE 147th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98684

Pride in First Place
Please bring your work gloves, and gardening tools to the entrance of First Place on Saturday June 9th at 9:00am. We will meet to tidy the appearance of the entrance to our neighborhood.

Vancouver Farmer's Market? 
Our purpose is to provide a seasonal weekly market for local Northwest vendors engaged in the production and marketing of fresh agricultural products and fine handicrafts; to present these directly to the consumer; to promote the revitalization of downtown Vancouver and to
provide public access to quality foodstuffs and local products; to promote downtown Vancouver as a tourist and consumer market-place; to enhance existing downtown businesses and to promote future economic development, the arts, and downtown livability."....every Saturday from the first week in April to the last week in October. Our hours of business are from 9AM-3PM. The Market will also be open on Sundays starting the first week of August to the last week of September from 10AM-3PM.
See you there!

"This Side of the River"
The City of Vancouver and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold the Fifth Annual Sturgeon Festival, "A Celebration of Columbia River Ecosystems" on Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 Columbia Way in Vancouver. The festival is free.

The event will offer family fun on "This Side of the River," with Eartha the Clown and her earth-friendly message featured the entire morning. Two popular Sturgeon Festival return attractions include the "Birds of Prey" exhibit with wild raptors at 12:30 p.m. and "Creature Features" where visitors experience exotic reptiles up close and personal at 3:00 p.m.

New this year is the Sturgeon General who will appear at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to demonstrate "What Lies Within a Sturgeon?" The General and his noted sturgeon scientists will explore the inside of this mighty resident of the Columbia River.

Food and beverage vendors will be available during the event, along with button and bookmark making, and interactive games and displays designed to entertain and educate children throughout the day both inside and outside the Center.

The mission of the Water Resources Education Center is to teach people of all ages to better care for and make wise decisions about water.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
(360) 696 -8221 (RSVP) is seeking volunteers 55 years or older to serve in volunteer positions at local non-profit organizations in Vancouver / Clark County.

Neighborhood Recycling Contest
We need volunteers to attend one training session on recycling. First Place Neighborhood Association will share a $3500 prize with an estimated 25 neighborhoods for sending representatives.
Sessions:
I Tuesday, June 26
II Wednesday, June 27
6:30pm - 8:00pm at the
Water Resources Education Center
4600 SE Columbia Way

III Tuesday, June 26
IV Wednesday June 27am
9:30 - 11:30am at the
West Van Materials Recovery Center
6601 Old Lower River Road

Preregistration is required by June 21. If you are able to help our neighborhood as a representative, please contact Kristine Cummings at (360) 885-7989 with your name, address, and phone number.

Pet Licensing
Clark County Pet Licensing Officers will begin canvassing neighborhoods for unlicensed dogs and cats. Officers will be issuing warning citations, providing license applications, and selling licenses to pet owners. The revenue supports animal shelters, animal ambulances, public safety and cruelty investigations.

Dogs and cats over six (6) months of age are required to be licensed. The license is valid for twelve (12) months.
Contact: John Scukanec at Clark County Animal Protection & Control (360) 397 - 2375 ext 5423

Fee Schedule:
Fertile dog $40
Altered dog $12
Fertile cat $20
Altered cat $6
Senior discount 50% fee reduction for one dog or cat.

The Morning Riverwalk
100% of ticket sales ($10 each) goes directly to more than 60 non-profit programs.
Date: Saturday, June 30, 2001
Times: Registration, 7:00 a.m.
Starting at 7:45 am 24-Hour Fitness will warm-up an estimated 1,000 walkers for the 5k walk. Walkers on route, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Route/Distance:
The family walk event will begin at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. The route continues along the beautiful Columbia River to Beaches Restaurant, and then returns to Esther Short Park though Columbia Way. The distance is 5K. (This is a "fun" event and not a time race.)

Morning activities include prize drawings, sponsor- vendor booths and more! To help celebrate the festivities, the Vancouver Farmers Market
adjacent to the park, will be open 9 am - 3 pm.

The Morning River Walk is also a part of the 20th Anniversary of Fort Vancouver Days with events held at the Port of Vancouver - Terminal One, next to the Quay, from 11am-7 pm.

City of Vancouver
Community Mediation Services
(360) 696-8060
Solving Problems Between Neighbors
The benefits of mediation are many. Mediation is both an alternative to enforcement and a positive way to solve difficult problems. It does not involve fines or tickets, so neighbors can live together without hard feelings.

Mediation is:
?•Voluntary Convenient
?•Private Highly Successful
?•Free Risk-free
Mediators are trained to help. Mediators are volunteers trained in problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. they don't take sides; they are neutral community members who help neighbors negotiate their own agreements.

Mediators help people communicate more clearly, sort out misunderstandings and settle differences.
Here are three options we offer:
?•The mediator asks about the situation and helps you develop positive steps to take.
?•If the problem seems too big, or you want more assistance, the mediator can call back and forth between you and the other person(s) to create agreements.
?•A safe, honest meeting can be arranged for everyone to discuss the situation. We will provide mediators to help you talk about the problem and create solutions.

Why should I try mediation instead of calling the police?
Mediation avoids the time and adversarial nature of the enforcement system. The neighbor is more likely to respond in a positive way if you share information without blame or hostility. You can work out your own agreement rather than having a decision handed down by an officer, judge or hearing examiner.

Can I remain anonymous?
You can talk to a mediator without identifying yourself. Everything you say is private - it will not be revealed to anybody, including government agencies, without your permission. The mediator will contact your neighbor only if you are comfortable and give us permission to share your name. Being open is important for clear communication.

What sort of animal issues are appropriate for mediation?
To use mediation you must identify the pet owner or concerned neighbor. We handle animals at large, barking dogs, damage to property and animal waste issues. Instances of animal cruelty, neglect or viciousness should be reported to Animal Control.
What are some of the concerns Code Enforcement hears that may be appropriate for mediation?
Code Enforcement hears a lot of complaints about neighborhood nuisances that impact a neighborhood, but that are not violations of Clark County Code. When that is the case, we cannot help resolve the problem, Mediation Services has been very helpful in assisting neighbors in coming to an agreement to resolve problems that are not violations of an ordinance. Some examples of complaints that Code Enforcement hears which we believe Mediation would be helpful in resolving are; neighborhood issues regarding the noise generated from riding dirt bikes in the rural area; a neighbors tree branches hanging over the fence; violations of private covenants; and some property line disputes.

NOTICE TO FIRST PLACE NEIGHBORS
A special committee has been created to deal with all neighborhood issues. This committee will accept complaints and grievances and promptly take action. The July newsletter will have more detailed information.