Vancouver Family Magazine February 2022 by Vancouver Family Magazine

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February 2022

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Fun and Frugal

DATE NIGHTS

in Clark County Confluence in the Classroom:

Connecting Students With Living Indigenous History

Re-Imagined Radio Captures Listeners' Imaginations

GREAT THINGS

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Our top 10 great things include: •community •faculty •small class sizes

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

contents

February '22

FEATURE ARTICLES

Lend Me Your Ear Re-Imagined Radio captures listeners’ imaginations with compelling audio stories.

Creative Date Nights in Clark County New ways to make date night happen, no matter your budget or schedule.

Confluence in the Classroom Confluence introduces indigenous voices to Vancouver students.

IN EVERY ISSUE 6

Editor’s Notes

Couve Scoop

• City of Vancouver creates Safe Stay Community • C-TRAN rolls out on-demand rideshare service

8 24

• Padelhorn brings pickleball to Clark County 10

Mosaic Family Voyage Reaching Mexico’s Mainland Pacific Coast

30 Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB •

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Winter Wonderland: Snow Play at Mount Hood

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Photo by Marie Pham Photography

EDITOR'S NOTES

Create Something Outstanding

If you watch a lot of European television and movies, you’ve likely noticed that the actors often look like average people—average weight, average faces. But usually delivering outstanding performances. It’s a refreshing change from the American insistence on a very specific and very rare face and body type. And it’s a reminder that all kinds of people are more than capable of creating compelling art and storytelling. This month we are proud to highlight the efforts of two local organizations who tell compelling stories, in very different spaces and in very different forms. Confluence celebrates the living history of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest through youth and public education programs (see page 24), and Re-Imagined Radio produces high quality audio dramas for broadcast (see page 12). Both are harnessing storytelling that builds community. Within the larger community is the impact that storytelling has on our individual lives. Like the average character in a story who finds themselves in extraordinary circumstances, we tell ourselves stories every day as we assign meaning to the events and encounters we pass through—for better or for worse. Even if we don’t consider ourselves “artistic” or “creative” like actors in a drama, the relationships we create may be our life’s greatest masterpieces if we put the time and effort into crafting the skills to build them. Every “average” couple can create something outstanding. With Valentine’s Day reminding us to nurture partner relationships, check out our roundup of date night ideas, from frugal to splurging, and from at-home dates to going out on the town, on page 18.

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 21, Issue 2 Publisher

Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Editor

Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Associate Editor

Sarah Mortensen Sarah@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Ad Designer

Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Rachel Messerschmidt, Claire Curtis, Sarah Mortensen, Kristen Flowers

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Notable News, Events & Efforts in Clark County

FEBRUARY 2022

December, The City of Vancouver created a Safe Stay Community (SSC), designed to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and developed on City land that had previously been the site of an encampment near the intersection of SR-500 and 112th Ave at 11400 NE 51st Circle. The November 2021 announcement of the City’s plan for the community came following extensive outreach to the existing encampment. “All [individuals who were living at the encampment] were offered assistance moving and/or storing their possessions during the move,” Tim Becker, the City’s strategic communications manager, told VFM. “They were also offered shelter space and/or motel vouchers . . . We also opened a two-week comment period for nearby residents and businesses, to both answer their questions and listen to any of their concerns.”

Safe Stay Community Shelters Vancouver Residents shelter pods, the community also includes trash removal and sanitary services, portable toilets and hand washing stations, and is fenced and staffed 24/7 by organizations Outsiders Inn and Homeless Assistance and Resources Team (HART). Many of the folks who previously lived at the makeshift encampment are now living at the community, following an application and interview process to determine whether the Safe Stay Community would be a good fit for them. “Background checks are done, and sex offenders [are] screened out,” Becker

said. “Individuals who want to live in the SSC [are] expected to be working towards transitioning to more permanent stable housing, employment (for those who can work), health and wellness, and participating by being a good neighbor within the SSC, as well as in the surrounding neighborhoods.” The City of Vancouver plans to open more similar communities in the coming months. “Our hope is to open two more Safe Stay Communities before next summer,” Becker said, “equitably distributed around the City, and following the site selection criteria approved by City Council.”

Improvement efforts for the area moved along quickly: 20 8-foot x 8-foot modular shelters, designed to house two individuals each, were delivered and constructed in mid-December and the community opened just before Christmas. In addition to the

Vancouver’s first City-sponsored Safe Stay Community for individuals experiencing homelessness features small living pods housing two people each. Photos by Nikki Klock.

C-TRAN Introduces On-Demand Rideshare Service C-TRAN, Clark County’s public transit service, recently introduced a new, on-demand rideshare service that provides door-to-door transportation for just the cost of a bus ride.

“The concept of The Current was first introduced in early 2021 as we began extensive public outreach to gather feedback from the community,” said Eric Florip, C-TRAN’s assistant manager of customer experience and communication. “It’s part of a larger series of service changes we’re making . . . to improve efficiency and provide better service that matches shifting rider demands and needs.” The Current is similar to other popular rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, but with a few key differences—most significant of which is the cost. Fare is just $1 per ride for an adult or $0.50 for youth, seniors, Medicare recipients and individuals with qualifying disabilities. Children age 6 and younger ride free with a paying accompanying passenger. All drivers are C-TRAN employees (as opposed to private drivers) and all vehicles are dedicated C-TRAN vehicles that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access guidelines. The Current is being rolled out in the following areas, on weekdays only, with expansion to weekends planned for later in 2022: WSU Vancouver/Salmon Creek, Rose Village, Camas/Washougal, Ridgefield/La Center and the Port of Vancouver. The Port of Vancouver service operates 5:30-8:30 am and 2-6 pm on weekdays. All other service areas operate 5:30 am-7 pm weekdays. “There are three ways to schedule a ride,” Florip said. “Using The Current mobile app, scheduling a ride online through book.ridethecurrent.com, or by phone at 360-695-0123. Rides can be requested on-demand when you need it, or scheduled up to two days in advance.” Riders can pay on the vehicle either with cash or using Hop Fastpass, the electronic fare system used by C-TRAN, TriMet and Portland Streetcar. Find interactive maps of The Current service areas at ridethecurrent.com.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Pickleball Comes to Clark County Pickleball

is quickly rising in popularity across the United States, and now it has a brand new home in Vancouver, where indoor recreation options are crucial. Padelhorn, an indoor, dedicated pickleball court facility in Vancouver (the only such venue in the Portland metro area), opened in December with 6 pickleball courts and a padel court (the first padel court in the entire Pacific Northwest) added later. Pickleball and padel are both similar to tennis but with slightly different rules, court sizes and equipment. The business was founded by twin brothers Rod and Rick Dallum of Battle Ground and another pair of brothers, Tommy and Christian Ekhorn, of Sweden. The four men met when Christian was a foreign exchange student at Battle Ground High School in 2017-2018. Once the idea came to the four brothers to build a facility to house the sport they loved, they scouted out properties until they found a new building under construction and up for lease located near Vancouver’s westside Costco and Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School. Buildout started in November 2021 and finished up in time to open at year’s end. In addition to the courts, Padelhorn’s space includes a small pro shop, cornhole boards and ping pong tables and space for private gathering rentals. Programs and events for youth and seniors will expand over time, and Wednesday Ladies’ Nights and Thursday Open Play nights are happening now. “Plans are big for Padelhorn,” said Tommy Ekhorn of the facility’s future. “We definitely would be interested in expanding our facility to other locations around the Pacific Northwest but we’re fairly new right now so we need to take it step by step. But one dream is to build our own place from scratch so we can get it exactly as we want it. The more people play, the closer to that goal we get.” Minimum booking is one hour at $45 in the evenings between 4-10 pm, and $40 during the day from 7 am-4 pm. Memberships are available that provide a discount on bookings, and other benefits. Contact Padelhorn directly for information about renting the facility for a private party. Padelhorn is located at 9210 NE 62nd Ave, Ste 110, Vancouver.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

ng Mexico’s i h c a e R

Mainland Pacific Coast

Our group of buddy boats in Bahia Santa Maria took a few days to relax after the hustle and bustle that was Cruiser’s Thanksgiving: Anchorage Style. We all collectively pulled up our anchors and traveled together into Magdalena Bay to anchor again in Man-Of-War Cove at a primitive fishing village. We only spent one night at Man-Of-War, as it didn’t hold a candle to the beauty of Bahia Santa Maria. However, we did journey further into “Mag Bay” to the authentic Mexican town of Puerto San Carlos. Happy to find good internet there, (the first since Ensenada) we stayed three days so that I could work. We were the only recreational boat, and the only sailboat anywhere in the area. Leaving Mag Bay behind us, we sailed overnight to anchor off the beach at Cabo San Lucas. Cabo was quite the experience: international vacationers and party central. We stayed for about a week, enjoying the clear turquoise water, amazing beaches and stunning rock formations. The party scene eventually drove us away though and we left to cross the mouth of the Sea of Cortez. For two nights, we sailed across the sea to the mainland side of Mexico. At mid-morning on the third day, we arrived at beautiful Isla Isabel. This was our next “Most Beautiful Place.”

As a Mexican National Park, there are no human occupants of the island. In fact, it is a tiny island of less than a square mile, but it is inhabited by thousands, possibly millions, of sea birds— predominantly frigate birds and the famous blue-footed boobies. Wild iguanas also roam the island in droves. The water at Isla Isabel was absolutely crystal clear. We could see the bottom in 25 feet and carefully picked a nice sandy patch to drop our anchor into. After setting up our shade, priority numero uno was a refreshing swim! It was like diving into a tropical aquarium. The water was a pleasant 83 degrees with exceptional visibility and the variety of fishes was the best we’ve seen this entire journey. There were dozens of different types of brightly colored fish. It was easy to spend hours snorkeling around the boat. We spent two nights off-grid at Isla Isabel and would have liked to have stayed a week or more. But, responsibilities beckoned and we had to soon continue onward in search of internet for my job. It was a day sail to get to Matanchen Bay, where we met up with old friends from our days living aboard in Portland—friends who continued on next page

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

continued from previous page

had left in 2019 to cruise Mexico and who are still here doing just that. It was great to share an anchorage with them after having finally reached such a huge milestone in our journey and listen in as they shared stories and advice for extended cruising in this amazing country.

including being the setting for our first Christmas abroad. We were there with a half dozen other boats that we knew, including two other boats with kids aboard. It was a sweet Christmas and, while we missed family and friends back home, we were happy to share pictures of our adventures and the beautiful life that we’re living.

After Matanchen Bay, we hopped down to another little fishing village known as Chacala, just a little bit north of Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Pacific Coast. It was Chacala that held us for a week,

I find that I’m spending a lot of time lately deep in thought about all that we have to be thankful for. This lifestyle requires a lot of hard work. It’s definitely no vacation . . . but the rewards are pretty epic.

Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives living and cruising full time aboard their 40-foot sailboat, Mosaic. In the summer and fall of 2021, they traveled down the US West Coast and into Mexico. Rachel shares her family’s adventures on Facebook and Instagram (at)mosaicvoyage and in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.

Page 10, top: Scenery and the crystal-clear water of Isla Isabel. Bottom left: The author's family swimming and their daughter jumping off the boat at Isla Isabel. Bottom right: The view from the Messerschmidt family's favorite palapa restaurant on the beach in Chacala, Nayarit. Page 11, above: The author's children playing tourist in front of the Chacala sign. Right: The author and her two children walking the beach, taking in the rock formations, at Cabo San Lucas.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Lend Me Your Ear

Lend ME your EAR:

Re-imagined Radio

Captures listeners'

imaginations By Kristen Flowers

Part 2 of a 2-Part Series on Local Radio Read Part 1, “The Man Behind the Voice of Amateur Radio in Clark County,” in our January 2022 issue!

The quick thud

of shoes hitting the earth, the rustle of trees, the snap of a twig, the rhythmic panting of breath. Each sound is innocuous alone, but each holds the power to create a scene. It could either be the beginning of a horror movie as an innocent victim runs from a killer, or it could be the quiet serenity of a jogger out for an early morning run. Closing your eyes while listening to these sounds can bring different experiences to each person, which is the beauty of audio-based stories. A collage of sounds combined with words tells a story that ends up being a uniquely personal narrative that ceases to exist outside of one’s own head. An Old-Time Art Made New John Barber, the creator of Clark Countybased Re-Imagined Radio, understands firsthand the magic that can come from audio-only entertainment. As a young child, he would listen to radio adventure stories of explorers trudging through the jungle or mysteries that only Sherlock Holmes could solve. Barber also liked the documentaries that included sound. “The documentaries might be talking about animals of the Serengeti,” he told me. “And the ability to hear some of the sounds from the place that the documentary was about helped me to visualize what the place might look like, what I might see there, even how it might smell. Sound has an immediate

power to evoke our imaginations, and I’ve always found that very interesting. And that’s something I’ve tried to carry forward with the Re-Imagined Radio project.”

was a huge success, which led Barber to continue producing first rate, full-scale audio dramas. Re-Imagined Radio was born.

Re-Imagined Radio was born during Barber’s course at Washington State University Vancouver. Barber is on the Digital Technology and Culture program faculty and was teaching a class where students created new audio and combined it with the wildly popular radio drama, “The War of the Worlds.” Students were assigned to take ten minutes of the original radio drama audio and create ten minutes of their own audio, combining them to make a new story. The students’ work was then to be presented to the public in an exhibit.

Re-Imagined Radio was, before COVID, monthly performances before live audience. When that became impossible, the group switched to radio broadcasts and streaming. It’s a change that has some pros and cons. “We’re not in front of people at Kiggins Theatre, so arguably it has less of that community feel, but now we can reach a much larger audience. Our audience is [now more] global than predominantly local,” Barber said.

In the original 1938 drama, filmmaker Orson Welles narrates an adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel. It was presented as a “breaking news” event. The War of the Worlds became famous for tricking some of its listeners into believing it was real. A student asked if the public attending the exhibit would understand their work if they hadn’t heard the original “War of the Worlds” audio. That inspired Barber to team up with Willamette Radio Workshop to bring the full radio drama to the stage. It was performed live to a sold-out audience at Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver, and

Audio-based entertainment like ReImagined Radio has experienced a rebirth in recent years. Thanks to the rise in podcasts, people consume more audio than ever before. The listener creates the scenes and directs the action in their own heads, but conductors are weaving their magic behind the scenes. In Southwest Washington, Marc Rose is one of those people. “It’s endlessly fascinating,” he shared. “I never tire of it, and I’m delighted to see that there’s actually a resurgence these days despite the video generation that we seem to be in right now.” There is not much Rose doesn’t do at ReImagined Radio. He co-produces, does continued on page 14

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Lend Me Your Ear (cont'd) continued from page 12

audio post-production, sound design and musical composition. “There is never a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new. I’ve been doing this for many decades, but honestly, every single assignment, whether a radio drama or a voice-over or whatever, I learn some other technique, a way to make something sound even better. It’s never dull for me.” Rose attributes the rise in audio-based entertainment to the 2014 podcast “Serial.” The wildly popular program presented investigative journalism in audio-only form over multiple episodes. It may not have been the first true-crime podcast, but it’s arguably one of the most successful. “It reintroduced a very old format to a whole new audience who probably wouldn’t be listening to that,” explained Rose. Entertainment on the Go There is another reason why podcasts and audio-based stories are on the rise: the ability to multi-task. A person can listen to a story in the car, cleaning the house, or even at the grocery store. Sound effects and production have evolved to meet Hollywood film standards and can now enhance the story instead of pulling the listener out because it feels out of place. This is where people like Rose shine, and they work tirelessly to create a unique experience for the listener. “When you don’t have something to see, you know that your audience is going to be filling in the blanks with their own set design, direction and lighting and all of that,” Rose explained. “It affords you a certain capability to start playing with sound and what sound that might suggest to someone or what it doesn’t suggest to somebody.” This rise in technology, and the ability to

Marc Rose, who works as a sound designer and producer on Re-Imagined Radio, tapes an episode of his other radio show, “Fusebox,” which airs on Salem, Oregon-based KMWV and will soon also air on Vancouver’s local FM station, KXRW. Photo by Jeff Pollard.

create a compellingly told story is what Rose believes is going to keep the medium alive for years to come. “I don’t see it going away. I think it will be around for a while, I really do.” Sound, though, is only part of the story. You can create an entire drama using only sound, but what really brings it to life is the voices behind it. At Re-Imagined Radio, Barber has partnered with Vancouverbased Metropolitan Performing Arts to provide voice actors, singers and even musicians. Now, Re-Imagined Radio works with a fluid group of professional voice actors in the Portland-Vancouver area. Members of this community, when involved in an episode of Re-Imagined Radio, are billed as “The Voices.” One of those voices is Patricia Blem,

whose ability to lend her voice to an audio drama is a dream come true. For 25 years, Blem worked as an actor all over the country before connecting with Willamette Radio Workshop. From there, she has been able to stretch her craft in ways that she never dreamed possible. “You can use your voice to its fullest range, very high for certain characters or low,” she said. “The emotions of the character that you are expressing as the actor is all done through your voice—you don’t have visual expressions to help. It brings out a different kind of creativity.” It’s been a learning curve for Blem, though, who worked on stage for most of her career, “I love the immediacy of live stage, but I love the fact that as a radio voice, you get to play such an array of characters in such an array of different situations.” A few years back, Blem was able to play the continued on page 16

Magenta Theater in Downtown Vancouver is also celebrating the art of audio drama this month with live performances of “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play,” showing February 4-20. Learn more and get tickets at magentatheater.com/vintage-hitchcock-2022.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

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Feature: Lend Me Your Ear (cont'd) continued from page 14

role of a 9-year old boy. Considering her age and gender, she would never play that character on stage. Voice acting opens up many possibilities for the actors, and bringing them to life is very different from being on a movie set or stage. Visualizing the Story When actors like Blem go into a sound booth, they are often alone without any of the other actors there to read their lines. Blem performs the lines in a way she feels it should be done through her own character research. “You go in and imagine that you’re in the situation, and it’s totally in your own imagination of how it’s being developed and what’s going on and your reactions to what the other actors would be doing if they were there.” Sometimes directors are there to help guide the actors, but most of the time, they are alone. It’s up to the actors and their personal interpretation of the piece. These audio sessions from the actors help shape the story as it goes into production. “With the radio performances, you have the opportunity to work with the voice actors [and] make several recordings,” Barber explained. “You can choose from the best, but with the addition of all kinds of postproduction mojo on the sound, we come up with something that would be very difficult to repeat in a live performance.” There is no debate that this is the virtual age, and that the majority of entertainment is visual; whether it be television, movies, or even YouTube, the story is shown to the audience. But there is a unique beauty and wonder in closing your eyes and letting the story take shape in your own head. Blem said she’s even seen audience members close their eyes inside the theater when

live shows were still happening. They just listen to the voice actors and sound designers do what they do best, creating a unique story for each individual. Now that same experience can be accomplished at home. According to Barber, “Re-Imagined Radio has a positive effect in that people gather together to listen. It’s a communal listening experience.” Barber has already mapped out future episodes. Each will celebrate radio or sound, and engage some aspect of our local community and the larger culture that surrounds us. Most recently, in January 2022, Re-Imagined Radio brought the audience “Figurski at Findhorn on Acid,” a hypertext novel by Richard Holeton and adapted for radio performance by Barber. A hypertext novel is a work meant to be consumed on a computer. The reader follows hyperlinks to the next part of the story and essentially creates their own pathway through the novel. It’s essentially a digital “choose your own adventure” story. The audience can create different endings and follow other storylines, making it a one-of-a-kind experience. Barber has taken on the daunting task of taking all 2001 hyperlinks from the original work and creating a new story to bring to life in front of our very ears. Whether you listen to stories on the go like Rose, or sit still and close your eyes like Blem has observed, Barber made this guarantee, “We promise a good listening experience.” It looks like it’s time to upgrade those headphones.

Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to learn more about RE-Imagined Radio’s upcoming productions, including when and how to listen. 16

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, www. AccordingtoKristen.com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her new Cricut maker.

John Barber founded Re-Imagined Radio while also serving on the Digital Technology and Culture program teaching faculty at WSU Vancouver. Photo courtesy John Barber.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Creative Dates

CREATIVE DATES:

By Claire Curtis

From Nights at Home to Nights on the Town

As a mom of three, date nights are few and far between. Limiting factors such as schedules, money concerns and babysitting get in the way of “getting out” for a romantic evening with my husband as often as we’d like. The COVID pandemic made dating even more difficult, when restaurants were closed and babysitters were not an option. Despite these obstacles, making time for each other and our relationship as spouses (not just as parents) is essential. Since date night is a priority for us, we have found a few creative ways to make it happen more frequently. Here are some of our favorite at-home-date-night ideas, frugal date outings and a few “splurges” for special occasions.

DATING ON A BUDGET Date Night Swap: Dating with kids in the mix, and when budgets are small, usually involves choosing between a babysitter or going out. A way to make that choice a little easier is with a date swap. Simply find a trusted couple and exchange babysitting. The kids tend to enjoy this arrangement since they get a chance to hang out with friends while you get to be on your own with your partner. The next time, you switch whose house the kids hang out at. Bargain Movie Bin Roulette: Go to your favorite department store that has a random mixture of movies at a low price. Without looking, dig in the bin and have your partner tell you when to grab. Whatever you end up choosing, you end up buying. This can end up being some long-forgotten classic or a never-before-seen flop. You can also do this without spending any money at all at your local Fort Vancouver Regional Library branch’s DVD collection. With one person facing away from the wall and giving directions to the other, you end up with a random movie to check out with just your library card.

Second-Hand Styles: This works by giving each partner an equal amount of money to spend at your favorite thrift store. There is one rule: you are purchasing for your companion, not yourself. Try to complete an entire outfit, maybe something special for your next date together. The only reason a person can turn down an item is that it doesn’t fit, so make sure you know their size.

Try a Food Truck: Vancouver is home to a variety of different food trucks; from tacos to BBQ, from burgers to Thai, you can find something that will tickle your taste buds. Grab food on the go and take it to your favorite park, trail or even living room floor. Make a Fort: Whether it’s a box, blanket, or pillow fort, building a fort can create a fun area to spend time as a couple. You can play games, read books, watch movies, or just spend time together.

COVID-FRIENDLY DATE IDEAS We lovingly call the following ideas “mini-dates.” These are dates that are held at home after the kids have gone to sleep. Find a New Hobby: During quarantine, my husband and I tried many new things together. We started with a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle and are currently completing our fourth. The continued on next page

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

continued from previous page

puzzle gets put away each night we work on it so that the kids don’t destroy our progress. Another hobby we have picked up is painting. You can find painting instructions on YouTube or a subscription site. Materials are easily found at any local craft store and by the end of a night (or a few) you have a brand new piece of art! A third thing we have tried is baking; we’ve made everything from pretzels to cream puffs. Drive-in Movie: If you own a minivan, you are likely already equipped with a built-in DVD player. If not, a laptop will do just fine. Pick your favorite snack and watch a movie in your garage or driveway. Couple this with a “Bargain Bin Movie” for a more interesting movie night.

Dean Hochman via Wikim

edia Commons

Zoom Babysitters: Ask a trusted friend or relative to watch your kids virtually as they watch a movie together. That way you can set up in your garage, backyard, deck or balcony to get some alone time. Of course, this doesn’t always go as smoothly as it sounds. We found this out one night when my husband got take-out and set up a table in our garage. Not too long after we had begun, we were informed by one of the older kids that our youngest was crying. We moved our date to our balcony to try and revive our date night, but to no avail—our

youngest did not want us to finish our date night. It made for an interesting memory on our anniversary, though, and I appreciated my husband’s effort. Late Night Deals: Many restaurants in Clark County offer happy hour pricing and deals after dark and near closing. Pick your favorite and bring a meal, dessert or drink home and pair it with one of the other ideas listed above. Play a Game: Open your game cupboard, dust off the old chessboard (or other game of your choosing), and set the stakes. For example, loser does the dishes. Fort Va n c o u v e r Regional L i b r a r y recently rolled out card and board games available for checkout if you’re continued on page 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Creative Dates (cont'd) continued from page 19

in need of something new to try. You can find the games under the “Research, Learn, Do” tab at fvrl.org.

UNIQUELY CLARK COUNTY Explore The Outdoors: Clark County is home to a variety of different trails and hikes. Whether it’s strolling along the Columbia River on the Renaissance Trail, watching a variety of wildlife on the Salmon Creek Trail, or exploring the old-growth forest on the Whipple Creek Trail, you can find a trail that suits you and your partner. One of my favorites is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It has both drive-thru and walk-thru options. Both areas are dirt trails so are best used in the less-rainy months. While on a memorable ride for Mother’s Day, we were able to see egrets, herons, red tail hawks, bald eagles, and several other notable species. Night Market Vancouver: For a fun, monthly night out try Night Market Vancouer. Located at The VIC (Vancouver Innovation Center) in Fisher’s Landing, Night Market is a uniquely Vancouver experience. “Couples can shop in support of [more than] 80 local makers,” says Jessica Chan, founder and owner of NMV. “Expect a fun, party-like, familyfriendly atmosphere with live music, a DJ, dance lessons and rotating entertainment each month. Beverages and food can also be purchased from a variety of different vendors.” Some of the regulars include Conan’s Ju Ju tacos, Gourmet Brothers with brisket and mac ‘n’ cheese and Melted Crumb’s empanadas. Available drinks include coffee from Blumm Coffee truck, or even beer and wine. “[Items for sale include] plants to baked goods and sauces; handmade items in the categories of jewelry, bath and body, art and home decor, to clothing and more.”

Dating ...takes effort, time and planning, but when you and your partner make it a priority, your relationship is better for it! Local artisan shopping and entertainment make Night Market Vancouver a fantastic night on the town. Photo of NMV vendor courtesy of Jessica Chan.

take off, meandering through Fort Vancouver and then crossing the Vancouver Land Bridge, you can find a piece of the past on your next date night. Random Art Walk: One of our favorite date nights is looking for what I dub “random art night.” Basically, we go looking for art everywhere. You can go on a walking tour of all the murals in Downtown Vancouver or find public art pieces throughout the city. You can find a list of art pieces at cityofvancouver.us/ourcity/page/ public-art and a list of murals visitvancouverusa.com/ blog/post/walking-tour-murals/.

Go Back in Time: Visit one of Vancouver’s many historic sites. From picnicking at Pearson Field and watching airplanes

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

continued on page 22

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Creative Dates (cont'd) continued from page 20

Pho

t to

SPECIAL OCCASIONS Cooking Together: Cooking as a couple is both romantic and interactive. You can pick a recipe to try at home, or sign up for a local class, such as Class Cooking with Kim Mahan. “I offer classes from cuisines from around the world. I like to teach students that [a] recipe can be simplified,” she assures. “Home cooks take my classes to learn about something they have been curious about. Classes include making pasta, sushi, dim sum, Spanish paella, Indian and Greek [dishes].” Be sure to book classes in advance because they fill up very quickly. “I post classes four months in advance. If you find a class that works for you, sign up. All classes are refundable if canceled seven days before the class. At this time, I am requiring vaccinations [since] the cooking school is very small and we sit close together.” Classes range from $80 per person for a cooking class and $95 per person for a wine pairing class. “My most popular class s xe l Pe m is Paella. I think I have fr o ro nb taught half of Clark County how to make my paella,” jokes Mahan. “I offer this class every three months now.” Located right next door to Burnt Bridge Cellar, Mahan says that, “BBC wines pair well with my classes.” Check her out at class-cooking.com. LiveLaughLoveArt: Looking for a guided artistic experience? Try LiveLaughLoveArt. Couples or groups spend about two hours to create an art piece. Options include, “glass fusing, paint pouring, canvas painting, wood sign making, glass blowing, pottery painting and candle making,” shares George Merkl who owns the shop with his wife, Joanna. “We charge a $10 studio fee per person for walk-in activities and project prices start at $15 for glass fusing, canvas painting, pottery painting and

$45 for wood sign making. Classes start at $65 for glass fusing, paint pouring, wood sign making, canvas painting and the ‘Sip & Paint’ classes. Glass blowing [begins at] $90,” explains Merkl. “We also offer to-go kits for our activities.” Support a Local Restaurant: Clark County is home to a variety of restaurants from cuisines from around the world. A few of the local restaurants that I have loved are Lucky House (try their broccoli beef), Thai Noodle which has excellent curry and chow mein. (You may have noticed we enjoy Asian cuisine.) The lotus sushi roll is worth a try at Thai Lotus. For dessert, Rally Pizza’s Cherry Pie Concrete is spectacular. An extensive list of local restaurants can be found at visitvancouverusa.com/food-drink/. Dating is never an easy thing. It takes effort, time and planning, but when you and your partner make it a priority, your relationship is better for it!

Claire Curtis is a Vancouver stay-at-home mom of three. She graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Utah State University where she met her sweetheart of twelve years. Claire has lived in California, Utah, Idaho, and Washington. In her free time, she likes to scout out new parks, volunteers at her kid’s school, read, quilt, rides her bike and visit with friends. You can find her park adventures on Instagram @3kidsandapark.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

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Feature: Confluence in the Classroom

Confluence in the Classroom: Connecting Young Students With Living Indigenous History By Sarah Mortensen

An aerial view of the Vancouver Land Bridge that connects Fort Vancouver to the Columbia River and which honors local Indigenous heritage. Inset: Arrowheads in the basalt columns at the Land Bridge. Photos courtesy Confluence.

As a student

at Lake Shore Elementary, my husband still recalls a special field trip to Chief Lelooska museum in Ariel. He remembers sitting in awe as the dancers performed and how their masks opened and changed over and over again. He learned about traditions of local Indigenous tribes and listened to their stories. Most importantly, he realized that those stories were not just in the past—the people of the stories were right in front of him and part of his community. That was close to 30 years ago, but the experience left a lasting impression on him, connecting him to the heritage of the place he calls home. I am a transplant to Washington state, but one thing that stood out immediately upon my arrival here was the tribal influence in the everyday culture of Southwest Washington. I first noticed this influence in the names of cities and streets (that were hard to pronounce at first), but especially in the way Washingtonians take great pride in and respect their natural environment. In addition to writing, I work as a paraeducator at Chinook Elementary in Vancouver, named after the Chinook tribe of our region. In recent months, Chinook, as well as other Vancouver Public School (VPS) elementaries, have benefited from an arts in education grant from Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) to connect students with local Native American heritage. The grant provided funds for arts block teachers to receive training

through Vancouver-based nonprofit Confluence whose mission is to “connect people to the history, living cultures and ecology of the Columbia River system through Indigenous voices.” Wendy Thompson, creative movement and PE teacher at Lake Shore Elementary, explained, “The teachers began with a Nativeled professional development that prepared them to accurately integrate Native voices and perspectives into their arts-based curriculum,” Thompson first heard about the grant opportunity from her work with The Arts Cadre of Educators of Washington. She applied for it on behalf of VPS and it was awarded in spring 2021. The lessons for students coincide with the Washington state social studies curriculum “Since Time Immemorial” which states, “By learning about the traditions of the First Peoples of our place, not only do we learn about history, we learn how we can contribute to the survival and sustainability of our place.” During Native American Heritage Month in November, my school had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Ed Edmo, a Shoshone-Bannock storyteller through a virtual assembly. Edmo used puppets, repetition and hand gestures to tell the stories of a bear who didn’t get ready for winter, why a snake has no legs and how the porcupine’s determination bested a caribou. His stories taught life lessons about why to not be a sore loser and to eat what you are given with thanks. At the end, students were able to ask continued on page 26

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Feature: Confluence in the Classroom (cont'd) continued from page 24

questions. We learned that the stories were often told at bedtime, much like many of the students are used to in their own homes. Edmo explained that today’s science has explanations for things like floods and volcanoes, but the stories of his people explain these phenomena in a magical way. Many of the phrases in the stories were repeated four times because four is a magic number. It was both fascinating and humbling to hear stories as they were originally told using some of the Native language, and it was easy to picture these stories being shared to children over many years. “Movement specialists taught students how to translate these traditional legends into movement using pantomime and the gestures that Mr. Edmo used in the telling,” continued Thompson. “Since winter is traditional storytelling time in Pacific Northwest Indigenous traditions, the specialists then compared and contrasted the Indigenous stories to other traditional stories from winter, most notably the Nutcracker and Columbia Dance’s new historic rendition of the Nutcracker that [was set] at Fort Vancouver.” Additionally, students were encouraged to share the stories they heard with their parents and then talk about their own family heritage. A family engagement activity had students consider what makes their family unique and where/how their own ancestors once lived. “Students are excited to learn about the living cultures in the Pacific Northwest,” shared Thompson. “[Those with] tribal connections [have been] sharing their stories with others. One student at Lake Shore with Inupiaq heritage volunteered her grandfather to speak about his experiences in Alaska with the Inuit Olympic Games.” Two families at Chinook Elementary even created videos to share about their heritage.

These types of personal connections are what Confluence has been striving for since its beginning. The word confluence is the name for the process of merging two things together. As an organization, Confluence works to bring all people living along the Columbia River together through art and historical education. “Confluence began as a response to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in the late 1990s and was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2002,” said Colin Fogarty, executive director of Confluence. “Over the years, it became clear that the partnerships with tribal leaders and artists created an opportunity to bring Indigenous-focused art projects into schools. Confluence in the Classroom and Outdoors was founded in 2007 as a way to connect students and teachers with Indigenous artists and educators to do meaningful projects about the Columbia River system.” Through the partnership with Confluence, VPS students learn that they co-exist with multiple tribes who have lived here for thousands of years. Some schools are even including a land acknowledgement within morning announcements to give recognition to those tribes. “For generations, our region’s origin story has been essentially, Lewis and Clark ‘discovered’ this place and the pioneers settled it,” explained Fogarty. “We hope to replace this tragically oversimplified story with a more holistic and inclusive understanding that our shared landscape has been tended and cared for by Indigenous people for at least 16,000 years. We all have something to gain from learning about that collective wisdom and knowledge.”

continued on next page

Photos, above: Colin Fogarty, executive director of Confluence, at the Chief Timothy site on the Snake River in eastern Washington. Below, left-right: The path along the Vancouver Land Bridge features artwork honoring Indigenous heritage; Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt works with glass artist Juno Bachman on the basalt columns that are being installed at the Land Bridge; Close-up of the columns. Photos courtesy Confluence.

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Thompson is excited for the projects that will continue throughout the school year. “One of our essential questions in VPS arts education programming is ‘How does knowing about societal, cultural, historical, and community experiences expand arts literacy?’” Confluence’s educational arm was ready to answer that question. “We hope all students gain an understanding of the history of our region that begins with Indigenous perspectives,” said Fogarty. “We want them to know that people have lived in this landscape since time immemorial and the descendants of those people are still here, maintaining a cultural connection to this land.” This winter, students at Truman and Hough Elementary schools will work with Yakima muralist, Toma Villa, to create a collaborative mural celebrating the importance of salmon in Native Pacific Northwest communities. Villa said, “People tend to romanticize about Natives. I come in as a graffiti artist, not as a traditional Native person. By working together, I want kids to change the way they may see me and the judgments they may have.” Edmo, who grew up in a more traditional manner on reservation land, talked about the discrimination he experienced as a child and that he was not welcome in restaurants or other businesses. Elementary-aged students often don’t realize that that type of overt discrimination was widely accepted not long ago. Knowing both the past and present of Native tribes helps students appreciate their art and its symbolism more fully.

Page 27: An art installation along the Vancouver Land Bridge path honors Indigenous heritage. Photo courtesy Confluence.

continued on page 28

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

Feature: Confluence in the Classroom (cont'd) continued from page 27

In the spring, students will connect again with Indigenous teaching artists from Wasco, Cowlitz, and Grand Ronde [tribes] to explore traditional legends, arts, ecology and history from each culture. A focus will be on the dynamic aspects of tribal art. To survive, Native peoples had to constantly adapt with the changing seasons and landscape, which is reflected in their stories, drawings and dances. Their adaptation continues today as they live in modern America while holding onto their heritage. Thompson told me, “Students will learn in and through the arts from these elders and teaching artists how to use their [own] art and culture to adapt and transform.” She has high hopes for the learning outcomes of these lessons. “The arts teach empathy and the capacity to respond to the unexpected—valuable skills in this day and age.”

Repairs to the Vancouver Land Bridge that are currently underway and expected to be completed in the spring and will include new artwork by Confluence artists honoring local tribal heritage. The long-term plan is to connect students to place and culture by scheduling guided field trips on the Land Bridge. “[It has] three overlooks that follow three themes: River, Land and People,” explained Fogarty. “The People Overlook is being refurbished to include new artworks by Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt. She worked with glass artist Juno Bachman to create basalt columns inlayed with glass images of traditional petroglyphs from the Columbia River. Each of these images are people. We will also plant a tree nearby to honor Jane Jacobsen, our Founding Director who passed away this year.”

Demonstrating adaptation, celebrated artist and architect Maya Lin created six “earthscape” art installations with Confluence along the Columbia River. “Lin was interested in the cultural aspects of the project but she was especially interested in exploring the ecological transformation of the Columbia River system over the last 200 years since Lewis and Clark came through this area,” explained Fogarty. One of these sites is the Vancouver Land Bridge which connects Fort Vancouver to the Columbia River. Spanning SR-14, the Land Bridge is a reminder that the Indigenous tribes were using the waterways and coastline to trade with various groups long before the Hudson’s Bay Trading Company arrived or before there were freeways and railways to ferry goods from one place to another. As a work of art, it is a reminder of how physically altered the land has become and that Vancouver has been a diverse society for hundreds of years.

“What is so amazing about this particular partnership,” Fogarty shared, “is that it [is reaching] so many students and classrooms. For many of our programs, our partnerships are with one classroom or one school. But, [VPS] was able to mobilize resources for our educators to reach as many as 3,000 students! I don’t think we’ve ever been able to reach this scale in one school district before.”

Sarah Mortensen holds a degree in English and marriage and family studies from BYU-Idaho and works for Vancouver Public School as a paraeducator. When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her vegetable garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.

Left: Volunteers help spread mulch at the Vancouver Land Bridge on October 5, 2020. Above: Students watch and listen to ShoshoneBannock storyteller Ed Edmo as he shares stories during Native American Heritage Month. Photos courtesy Confluence.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar

February '22 S M T 1 6 7 8 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28

W 2 9 16 23

T 3 10 17 24

F 4 11 18 25

S 5 12 19 26

4 FRIDAY

Camas First Friday: A Chocolate Affair to Remember in Downtown Camas. Chocolate treats, art shows, candy themed activities, after hours shopping, prizes, and more. Downtown businesses will be serving and selling chocolate delights and other romantic gifts with wine and specials at select locations as well. Activities include: Guess the candy jar amounts in each participating location and be entered to win the candy, gift cards and other great Valentine’s themed prizes! Art receptions and shows in downtown art galleries and after hours shopping and fun. 5-8 pm Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” Spies, murder, love, and other trademarks of Alfred Hitchcock come to life in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast of the master of suspense’s earlier films. With The Lodger, Sabotage, and The 39 Steps, “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play” is a triple feature, complete with vintage commercials, that recreates a daring train chase, a serial killer’s ominous presence, and a devastating explosion through the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring. Tickets $20 online or $22 at the door. Purchase at magentatheater.com. 7:30 pm Metropolitan Community Theater presents “Heathers: the Musical.” See metropolitanperformingarts.org/ mpaseasontwelve.html for updated details. 7:30 pm

5 SATURDAY

Ridgefield First Saturday: Spudder Olympics at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center. Participate in family friendly competition in spud-related games, baseball drills and more! Join us in the gym and commons for some spud-tastic fun! Wear your best Ridgefield gear and come prepared for games galore. 10 am-2 pm

of events

activities

Have a community event that you want to share? Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue.

Check out our website for even mo re local events .

Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm. All library events are free and open to the public.

Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7:30 pm

Metropolitan Community Theater presents “Heathers: the Musical.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7:30 pm

6 SUNDAY

Camas Public Library Virtual Trivia Night. Enjoy a lively trivia night from the comfort of your own home! Join with a team, or be assigned a team at the event. You must have a computer with video/audio and Zoom. Free to play, and we encourage you to have snacks and beverages handy. For adults and teens. Registration required. 7-8:45 pm

Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 2 pm Metropolitan Community Theater presents “Heathers: the Musical.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7 pm

11 FRIDAY

Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7:30 pm Metropolitan Community Theater presents “Heathers: the Musical.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7:30 pm

12 SATURDAY

Columbia Play Project Wiggles and Giggles Series: Hearts and Hands Drumming at Kiggins Theatre. Fidgety hands will be superengaged during a drumming party with Hearts and Hands Drumming. Everyone will get to drum and make lots and lots of noise! Lest you think this is all fun and games, drumming is a great way to learn hand/eye coordination, identify rhythm and explore creative play. Tickets are $10 for 3 years old and up! In hopes of keeping everyone safe and healthy, we ask that all adults be vaccinated and show a vaccine card or photo of a card. Masks will be required for everyone unless in your seats actively eating or drinking! 10:30 am

13 SUNDAY

14 MONDAY

Metropolitan Community Theater presents “Heathers: the Musical.” (See Feb 4 for more details.)

18 FRIDAY

Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 7:30 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre Presents “WROL (Without Rule of Law)” at Multnomah Arts Center, 7866 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. A darkly comic coming-of-age story. Convinced the world can’t be trusted to prioritize the well-being of adolescent girls in the event of a cataclysmic event (or continued on next page

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2022

continued from previous page just in general!), a determined troupe of 8th grade ‘doomers’ are committed to preparing for survival in the post-collapse society they anticipate inheriting. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets $12 at octc.org. 7:30 pm

Mic. Read aloud your original or favorite work, and listen to monthly featured poets. All ages welcome.6-7:45 pm

19 SATURDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre Presents “WROL (Without Rule of Law)” at Multnomah Arts Center, Portland. *Signinterpreted this week only. (See Feb 18 for more details.) 7:30 pm

20 SUNDAY

Magenta Theater presents “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.” (See Feb 4 for more details.) 2 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre Presents “WROL (Without Rule of Law)” at Multnomah Arts Center, Portland. (See Feb 18 for more details.) 2 pm

22 TUESDAY

Camas Public Library Virtual Poetry Open

25 FRIDAY

26 SATURDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show” at Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. Colorful and kinetic, this show captures all the charm of Carle’s original tales and illustrations, while conveying simple messages about the value of creativity, belonging, and growth. Tickets range from $15-32, purchase at octc.org. 11 am & 2 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre Presents “WROL (Without Rule of Law)” at Multnomah Arts Center, Portland. (See Feb 18 for more details.) 7:30 pm

Aranjuez.” One of the world’s greatest guitar works! Be delighted by the beauty of Rodrigo’s evocative and best-loved work, as guitar virtuoso Adam Levin transports you to a lush Spanish garden. Rounding out the program is a work by an African-British genius of Romantic music and Sibelius’s first symphony. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test will be required. Tickets $35 at vancouversymphony.org. 7 pm

27 SUNDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show” at Winningstad Theatre, Portland. (See Feb 26 for more details.) 11 am & 2 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre Presents “WROL (Without Rule of Law)” at Multnomah Arts Center, Portland. (See Feb 18 for more details.) 2 pm The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Rodrigo’s Concierto De Aranjuez.” (See Feb 26 for more details.) 3 pm

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents “Rodrigo’s Concierto De

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Events Couve Clover Run..........................................29 FVRLibraries..................................................15 Journey Theater.............................................25 Notorious 5k...................................................29 Oregon Children’s Theatre.........................7, 19 Race to Equality.............................................29

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