Camas-Washougal Post-Record

March 29, 2011

Washougal residents Bridgette McCarthy (left) and Jessica Hatton (right) will appear in, "My Son Pinocchio," at Washburn Performing Arts Center this weekend. They participate in Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy, which is sponsoring the production. The academy offers classes in musical theater, acting, singing and dance, among other activities.

A passion for the arts

Eighteen months ago, a group of parents and educators, saddened by the lack of arts education in local schools, decided to take matters into their own hands. From this has come the Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy, a non-profit organization for Vancouver and the surrounding areas. It offers students from elementary through high school opportunities to participate in acting, singing, dance, musical theater, music and art. The academy students, who hail from Vancouver, Camas, Washougal and other outlying areas, have participated in eight different productions since last April. "My Son Pinocchio," which will show at Washburn Auditorium in Washougal, will be the ninth show.

March 22, 2011

Preschool camps allow the youngest spring breakers to use their imaginations with creative play, stories, crafts and music. There are several different opportunities for children in Camas and Washougal to enjoy their time off from school, safely and supervised.

Spring break options abound

Spring break is just around the corner, and with it, the age-old question: What to do? While it sounds wonderful to just take off for a week in some sunny locale, or squeeze in some late-season skiing, it's not the reality for many families with tight budgets. In addition, many parents have to work during break. But never fear, this doesn't mean your child has to be parked in front of the television or computer all day. There are several local activities and camps available for kids at no cost or reasonable rates, as well as movies at the Camas library.

March 15, 2011

Honoring everyday heroes

A Camas teen was one of 10 honorees from Clark and Cowlitz counties to receive a "Real Hero" award from the Red Cross last week. Tiffani Pekkala, 16, was honored for organizing blood drives and rallying fellow students at Hayes Freedom High School to join her. She and her grandmother, Bette-Jo Poser, started the annual drive in April 2009. Pekkala suffers from a very rare condition, primary immune deficiency disease, and requires daily immunoglobulin injections, a product derived from whole blood American Red Cross donors.

March 8, 2011

Susan Glavin, Debbie Oliver and Angie Cherry signed copies of their new book, "Be the Gift," at Lily Atelier in Camas last Friday as a part of the Arts and Letters First Friday event. In addition to the book, the women also sell unique gift cards and a table game, pictured above this photo.

Learning how to ‘Be the Gift’

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. That is the principle behind Be the Gift, a local company created by four women who wanted to put their mark on the world and make it better. Products include unique gift cards, a table game and book. The gift cards are reminiscent of the "chore coupons," that children typically make for Mother's Day or Father's Day, but with an adult twist. A person can buy a gift card for $9.95, and give it to someone. "Gifts" include running errands, cleaning house, a night out on the town, pampering and several others.

March 1, 2011

The "Hello, Dolly!" cast sings "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," before an outing in New York City. The musical is based on Thornton Wilder's, "The Matchmaker," and features a colorful cast.

Celebrating the joy of living

The story of the joy of living will come to Camas High School during performances of "Hello, Dolly!" set to start this Friday. This Broadway musical is based on Thorton Wilder's "The Matchmaker," and is about Mrs. Dolly Levi's efforts to marry Horace Vandergelder, a well-known and well-to-do man. Dolly wants to send his money circulating among the less fortunate, just the way her late husband, Ephraim Levi, taught her. Along the way, she also succeeds in playing matchmaker and orchestrating the lives of several of the main characters in the musical.

February 25, 2011

Who’s who

Randal Houle's flash fiction has appeared in "52/250 - A Year in Flash." Three stories also appeared in the anthologies "Thirteen" and "Twentysix." He teaches short story and novel writing at Clark College.

February 22, 2011

Carrie Schulstad admires one of the pieces of artwork that's been submitted for Camas First Friday Arts and Letters. The event features an art contest for middle and high school students, as well as readings by local authors.

A celebration of Arts & Letters

Downtown Camas will be transformed into a book and art lover's venue next Friday. Several local authors and students artists will have their work on display at different downtown shops as part of the "Arts and Letters," Camas First Friday event on March 4. The event, in its second year, is being organized by Carrie Schulstad, local business owner and board member of the Downtown Camas Association; and local author Randal Houle.

February 17, 2011

Colton Lasater will play the role of Dylan Martin in the film, "Blake's Country," set to be filmed in Bend, Ore., this summer.

A home grown star

Colton Lasater and Ron Morris have quite the Camas connection. Lasater, 18, an actor, and Morris, a retired airline pilot turned film director, lived in the same neighborhood for several years. Lasater is good friends with Morris's children. And they are both passionate about film. Now, they'll take that passion and meld it together for "Blake's Country," Morris's first feature-length film.

February 8, 2011

Above is an engagement photo, taken in December 1944. Warren and Celia Lougheed eloped to Idaho soon after they posed for the portrait. Below, this photo of Douglas and Barbara Espinosa was taken shortly after their wedding day on Jan. 12, 1951. They have lived in the Camas area for most of their married life.

A love that endures

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." This verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 is often heard quoted during wedding ceremonies. But with so many marriages ending in divorce, sometimes people question how seriously the words are taken. But then there are the couples for whom love has endured throughout the decades: Through wars, child rearing, recessions, illnesses and all the other inevitable twists and turns that life can take. This Valentine's Day, the Post-Record is featuring two longtime married couples who share some of the secrets to their success.

February 1, 2011

The Washougal River Greenway Trail is a 1.1 mile paved walkway that includes a 370-foot steel trussed bridge, seen in this photo. It is the newest addition to the city of Camas trail system.

Stepping into another world

With the relatively mild winter, many local residents are beginning to venture outdoors for exercise. However, it can become rather dull when one's feet are constantly pounding the pavement. But with the abundance of trails and natural areas in Camas and Washougal, there is definitely variety for everyone, whether a person is training for the Boston Marathon or out for a walk with a toddler. Brent Erickson, director of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce and current Camas Parks Board chairman, said keeping fit and healthy is the greatest benefit to having a variety of choices when it comes to recreational opportunities. "Here, it's easy for people wanting to be healthy to get to the local parks and trails," he said. "You've got walkers, runners, bikers and hikers, so there's a wide of variety of usage."

Life