Vancouver Family Magazine February 2021

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February 2021

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Discovering Clark County’s Urban Trails

wit h Aut hor C raig Romano

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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contents

14

FEATURE ARTICLES

8

February '21

10

Discovering Clark County's Urban Trails A conversation with author, Craig Romano

14

Three Ingredients for a Successful Second Marriage Even though it’s never easy, putting these three principles into practice can increase satisfaction in your remarriage and stepfamily journey

18

Emergency Preparedness Are you ready? Find resources and recommendations from the City of Vancouver, Clark County and Washington State

IN EVERY ISSUE

18

6

Editor’s Notes

8

Mosaic Family Voyage The Messerschmidt family encounters highs and lows while cruising in the Salish Sea

20

Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB • Surrogacy Stories

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

It’s your moment.

From the moment you find out you’re pregnant to the moment you see that precious face - your journey is full of joyful moments.

At PeaceHealth, we’ve taken every precaution to keep you and baby safe and healthy.

From ensuring each mom has one support person, to offering online classes and appointments, to expanding room service to your partner - our team continues to provide exceptional care.

We’re here for you and every moment of your journey.

Get your birthing questions answered at peacehealth.org/vancouvermom.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

5

EDITOR'S NOTES

Photo by Scarlette Richards

Change Your World As I write this, it’s becoming increasingly clear that things are dangerous “out there,” for all kinds of people across the racial and political spectrum.

I won’t pretend to know all the solutions for our country’s ills, but I’m planting my own feet and heart on the side of humanity over politics, people over power, compassion over compulsion. The hate and fear that so many of our children are learning as a first response has got to go, and it starts in our homes: in our families, in our marriages and in our parenting. We certainly can’t rely on outside forces to do it for us. But we parents do need help, we do need resources, and we do need a community that supports us in our efforts to be and to raise good citizens. We at Vancouver Family Magazine are absolutely showing up for that support: count us in.

In this issue, author and hiking enthusiast Craig Romano shares with us his favorite Clark County trails as documented in his new book, “Urban Trails: Vancouver, WA” (Mountaineer Books, 2020) (page 10), local marriage coaches Gil and Brenda Stewart share their ingredients for a successful second marriage (page 14), and the Messerschmidt family shares the highs and lows of cruising in the Salish Sea on their sailboat, Mosaic (page 8). Plus, is your family ready for a catastrophic emergency? The City of Vancouver and other government organizations share their recommendations for preparing for possible emergencies (page 18).

Hiking, a little marriage therapy, sailing and a first aid kit may not

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 20, Issue 2 Publisher

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

Editor

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

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Ad Designer

Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Rachel Messerschmidt, Sarah Mortensen, Gil and Brenda Stuart

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save the world, but time spent in nature, improved relationships, family adventures and being prepared can change your world.

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On the Cover: Dillon and Alandra Ainsworth of Ridgefield met in elementary school, dated in high school and married in 2018.

They enjoy hiking, boating, camping and spending time with their two dogs, Mazie and Tucker.

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MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE

ea Cruising S h s i l a S

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

Highs and Lows

2019 was a year of highs and lows

for our family aboard our 40-foot sailboat, Mosaic, in the Pacific Northwest. By the time summer rolled around, we had surpassed a major goal in getting the boat, our home, moved north from the Columbia River to the expansive waters of the Puget Sound. Five years of effort and struggle had finally paid off. We’d made it.

working. This was an important element as the alternator functions to charge the boat’s battery banks any time that the engine is running. Without being in a marina, we didn’t have readily available access to shore power to charge our batteries, and we needed to keep our batteries charged to keep the boat’s systems functioning smoothly and to be able to power our laptops for work.

My husband and I both had jobs that allowed us to work remotely.

We were home-schooling our kids on the boat. We didn’t have a home port anywhere in the Puget Sound. Our adventuring was only limited by the constraints for work—we just needed to be some place every day that had good enough cell signal to connect to the internet for work.

We had a rough plan in mind to head from Seattle toward the south sound to explore our way all the way to Olympia. After a week at Blake Island Marine State Park just southwest of Seattle, we made plans with two other boats, Muse and Captain Musick, to meet in Oro Bay at Anderson Island. This would be our first time anchoring Mosaic and it felt like a big step. In three years aboard the boat, we’d never before spent a night away from the safety and security of being tied to a dock overnight.

The world was our oyster, or so it seemed. But on arrival in Seattle at the end of May, our alternator was completely shot. We spent a few weeks in a marina there getting settled into our new life, working on the engine and alternator, and planning our summer adventures.

Finally, toward the end of June, we were ready to leave the safety of the nest in Seattle. We’d replaced several components of the engine, and even had the alternator rebuilt; it seemed to be

It was glorious, and everything we hoped it would be. We solidified friendships, adults and kids alike, that have held true to this day.

Seeing the boats resting happily at anchor, free of the dock, able to move with the wind and water—it was emotionally uplifting for me. That weekend gave us a taste of what cruising could really be like: the self-reliance, the freedom, the exploration and fun with friends.

After waving farewell-for-now to our new friends, we headed further south to a marina in Olympia for the work week and then turned around and headed back north again to Gig Harbor and then to Quartermaster Harbor at Vashon Island for the Fourth of July weekend. We met up with Muse again and spent the holiday continued on next page

Photos, top: The author's boat, Mosaic, rafted up at anchor with their friends' boat, Muse, for the 4th of July weekend in 2019.

Bottom: bottom: Kali, the author's daughter, fishing off a Washington State Park dock in the Puget Sound in the summer of 2019.

Right: The author (second from right) and her husband (far right), along with the owners of Muse and Captain Musick, hanging out during a weekend cruise in the south Puget Sound, summer 2019.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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weekend rafted up at anchor. Rafting up, the practice of having two or more boats tied together while hanging on, usually, just one anchor, was great fun and made socializing between the boats easy and accessible. The fireworks show was incredible with an amazing display launched from a barge in the harbor—we had front row seats! It was spectacular.

But a series of boat troubles quickly knocked us back down a few pegs when engine issues arose again at the end of the weekend and, on top of that, our anchor windlass died in a glory of sparks shot off the bow. The anchor windlass helps to raise the anchor from the seabed back up to the bow of the boat. With that out of order and our engine overheating, we limped back to Gig Harbor and into a slip at one of the marinas there to assess the full situation.

We spent a couple weeks in Gig Harbor which, it turns out, is a lovely little town and very friendly to boaters. They’ve got a nice bus system and downtown trolley for easy access around town without a car, and lots of outdoor watersport and marine shops.

When our troubleshooting on the windlass motor proved fruitless, we were able to purchase a used manual anchor windlass at a small fraction of the price we would have had to pay for a new, electric motorized windlass. The decision meant we’d be getting a workout every time that we raise anchor in the future, but with additional engine problems arising we opted for the cheaper option.

From Gig Harbor, we headed back south to Olympia to have a mechanic take a look at Mosaic’s engine. It was overheating at times, the alternator worked only intermittently and seemed to be in decline again, and we were hearing concerning sounds from the engine block itself. It was time for a professional opinion.

Unfortunately, the crushing news came that the engine would likely fail in the near future. When we’d purchased the boat in 2016, we’d gambled on the engine. It was the original engine from 1978. We knew that we would end up replacing it at some point, we had

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just hoped that it would hold out longer than it did. We also ended up spending several thousand dollars replacing our batteries and much of the wiring on the boat.

So, with the alternator dying and our engine on its last leg, we purchased a small generator to get us through to the end of the season. Being able to use the generator helped us stay out of marinas, which are expensive, and we were bleeding money and looking ahead at a $35,000 engine replacement. With our tow insurance paid up in case the engine gave out, we struck out in the fall for the San Juan Islands.

Determined to enjoy the rest of the fall, we spent most of September and the first half of October exploring the beauty that is the San Juan Islands near the Canadian border. The islands are spectacular to visit and being able to spend that time there on our boat was magical.

We arranged for our engine replacement in Port Townsend in late October and spent much of that time staying with family in Vancouver. By early November of 2019, Mosaic was back in the water, complete with a shiny new Yanmar engine, and we took her to Poulsbo in the central Puget Sound for winter moorage.

It’s said that the cruising life is full of higher highs and lower lows, and that was certainly true for our first season as nomads in the Pacific Northwest. But it’s important to recognize that everybody struggles when you first transition to a new way of life. It’s just part of the story. And that story, for us, was preparation for all that 2020 would bring, and more.

Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives currently living and cruising full time aboard their sailboat, Mosaic, in the Pacific Northwest and preparing to leave for Mexico in the fall. Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www.mosaicvoyage.com and shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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Feature: Discovering Clark County’s Urban Trails

Discovering Clark County’s Urban Trails: A C onversat ion wit h Aut hor C raig Romano By: Sarah Mortensen

One of the best gifts I ever received was a double stroller right before my second child was born.

My husband was a graduate student at Eastern Washington University in Spokane at the time, and we lived right on the Spokane Centennial Trail. The bike path allowed him to ride his bike to campus each day, and every night after dinner I would walk with my kids to see the dam, watch rock climbers belaying and say goodnight to the ducks and horses we could see from the path. In the summer, we would play on a beach and (despite being barely a mile away) both my kids would be asleep in the stroller by the time we got home. The free entertainment for my two toddlers during those years was a lifesaver for my sanity and our extremely tight student budget.

Even though they have long outgrown the stroller, we still love exploring little “hikes” around our neighborhood. When COVID struck almost a year ago, I made it a point to try out a new local trail once a week. We had lived in Vancouver for three years at that point, but I had never known how many fun paths were right around the corner, like Whipple Creek and the WSU Cougar trails.

In his newest book “Urban Trails: Vancouver, WA” (Mountaineer Books, 2020), author and trail enthusiast Craig Romano details essentially all of the local trails in Clark and Cowlitz Counties.

From forest ranger, to history teacher and now a full-time outdoor writer, Romano developed a love of the natural world growing up in rural New Hampshire. He currently lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife (a Vancouver native) and their 6-year-old son. Romano has written more than 25 outdoor guide books including “Winter Hikes of Western Washington” (Mountaineer Books, 2009) and more.

I recently connected with Romano about his love of hiking and running, his passion for environmental conservation and what makes Southwest Washington trails so special.

All photos courtesy of Craig Romano

SM: What inspired you to write a series focusing solely on local neighborhood trails instead of more traditional mountain hiking trails? What makes urban hiking unique?

CR: It was a natural progression. After writing many books covering Washington’s wild areas from the Olympic Peninsula to the Blue Mountains in Eastern Washington, I wanted to write a guidebook focusing on all of the trails and natural areas close to where most of the state’s people live. While we concentrate so much on the mountains and wilderness areas in our state when it comes to recreation and conservation—there are so many natural areas close to where we live—and many of these places need protecting too.

So my mission was to highlight local areas for their accessibility and to promote protecting and expanding greenbelts and parks near our cities. Many of us don’t always have the time and resources to take off for the backcountry—so these urban and nearby parks and trails are so important for us to maintain healthy and outdoor lifestyles. Our urban trails are also very accessible to all folks regardless of socio-economic backgrounds and physical abilities.

Many of these trails are close to underserved communities and can easily be reached via public transportation. Also, they are gentler than backcountry trails since quite a few of them are paved—perfect for pushing young explorers in jogging strollers, continued on next page

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

continued from previous page

and for older hikers concerned about footing. Many of the paved trails are also wheelchair accessible allowing access to even more folks seeking to be outdoors.

What I initially pitched to my publisher as a guidebook to trails and parks flanking Puget Sound morphed into a multi-volume series centering on the major communities of the sound. “Urban Trails: Vancouver, WA” became my 8th “Urban Trails” book, and the second in the series to highlight urban areas in Washington outside of the Puget Sound. Washington’s fourth largest city, Vancouver, has long been treated in the shadows of Portland when it came to outdoor coverage. Most Portland area guidebooks just give Vancouver and Clark County minor mentions. With its own fine parks, trails and amenities I knew that the city was long due for its own guidebook.

SM: “Urban Trails” is a comprehensive series that goes beyond just listing the distance and location of each trail, but also includes things like the amenities and whether the trail is family- or dog-friendly. I especially liked the parts about the local history and ecology surrounding trails I have walked many times myself. How do you hope Clark County residents will use this information in your book?

Photos, page 10: Craig Romano enjoying views along Tarbell Trail in Yacolt Burn State Forest Page 11: Romano’s son, and frequent hiking companion, at Columbia Springs

continued on page 12 Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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Feature: Discovering Clark County’s Urban Trails (cont'd) continued from page 11

CR: I have found that for every locale I have written about, many residents, both new arrivals and long timers, often don’t know what is right in their own backyards. With this book as with the others I have written, it’s my intention to help visitors and locals alike discover and appreciate the array of trails and natural areas in their backyards. And also to help instill in them a sense of stewardship to protect and expand their parks, preserves and trail systems.

SM: “Urban Trails: Vancouver, WA” is your 8th book in this particular series. In previous books you explored areas in the Puget Sound and northern Washington where you live. What is special about Clark County trails?

CR: I have a long relationship with Clark County. My wife grew up here and my in-laws still live in the county. I have been visiting and exploring the region for years. As a history buff (I received my BA in History from the University of Washington) I have long been drawn to the area’s historical significance. Vancouver is rife with historical sites and fascinating (and threatened) natural environments. The Columbia River and its broad floodplain, oxbow ponds and extensive wetlands are exceptional bird habitat. The area’s oak and ash forests are special too—they provide habitat for a myriad of wildlife and they are deeply threatened with being fragmented and lost to development.

Joshua Tree National Parks, our son is just as excited to be out on a local trail. Kids don’t care about views and epic landscapes.

They focus on just what is in front of them and make discoveries on every hike. They can be just as fascinated by watching a newt or beetle wiggle across the trail than by seeing a moose or bear in the wild. Kids have great imaginations too—and an urban trail can easily be transformed into being a portal to another planet or a faraway kingdom. My son has a very active imagination and we tell stories and fight evil monkey monsters on every hike we take. Places like Fort Vancouver with its intriguing structures, the Washougal Waterfront with its beaches and Sasquatch playground and Columbia Springs with its ponds, fish pools and wildlife sculptures are places my son and most kids adore.

SM: In the middle of winter, the rain and cold keeps a lot of us inside, but we are lucky that our winters are milder here in the Pacific Northwest than in other parts of the country. Do you have any tips for enjoying local trails in the wintertime despite the rain?

CR: I grew up in New England with long, cold, snowy winters.

Western Washington is a pretty temperate place that allows us to get outside and run, hike and walk all season long. Embrace the rain—just be prepared for it and head out with a positive attitude.

The best thing about our rainy winters is that they are excellent continued on next page

SM: What trails do you most enjoy in the Vancouver area?

CR: I would have to say that Salmon Creek and the Vancouver LakeFrenchman’s Bar trails rank among my favorites as I return to them frequently for a good run when I am in the area. I enjoy watching the seasonal changes on both of these trails--especially the birds.

There are always so many birds keeping my attention. I love the cranes, swans, ospreys and eagles I frequently see on these trails. The views of Mount Hood and Mount St Helens on the Vancouver Lake-Frenchman’s Bar Trail are splendid. I also love the near solitude I often find on the Vancouver Lake-Frenchman’s Bar Trail. Well, near solitude as there is always lots of avian and wildlife activity.

SM: Your family attended many of these trails with you as you were writing. What do you enjoy about hiking with your young son?

CR: My wife and I are both avid runners and hikers and very much want to instill our healthy and outdoor lifestyle in our son. We absolutely love taking him hiking, running and biking. While we have taken our son hiking to places like Mount Rainier, Acadia, and

Top: Romano running at Fort Vancouver Bottom: Romano’s son at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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times to explore many of our urban trails and parks since the backcountry is off limits buried in snow.

Many of our nearby parks and trails are quiet in the winter months too allowing us perhaps to experience nature in solitude. Many of our large local wetland areas in the winters host scads of migratory birds—and our waterfalls thunder during these wet months. I have always found too that no matter the weather—every time I have returned from being out on the trail, I have always felt better afterward. Hitting the trail during the long dark months—and especially during this time of COVID-19 is a perfect remedy to fighting the blues and staying physically and mentally healthy. And doing it as a family is even better by building stronger bonds and creating lifelong collective memories.

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Sarah Mortensen recently completed her degree in marriage and family studies and works for Vancouver Public Schools as a paraeducator.

When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate, and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.

All of Craig’s books are available at craigromano.com and Powell’s Books.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

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3

Feature: Three Ingredients for a Successful Second Marriage

ingredients for a Successful

Second Marriage

By Gil and Brenda Stuart

Conflict. Connection. Communication.

Three ingredients for a successful remarriage. Happily ever after, the end.

Well, not exactly. We wish it were as simple as stating three words and—poof!—all problems would evaporate, and blissful unity would materialize in stepfamilies.

But, even though it’s never easy, putting these three principles into practice can increase satisfaction in your remarriage and stepfamily journey.

1

Controversy, disagreement, emotional baggage, and perspective from past relationships have the potential to stalemate your willingness to engage peacefully. Anger and hurt build up quicker in a remarriage. If I have not done my personal inventory of how I contribute to misunderstandings, the results will naturally end in conflict. If 56% of us in remarriage have not dealt with our “stuff,” we are bound for conflicts that have roots in our past.

Conflicts are evidence that we have a longing or desire that is not being met in our relationship and family. It could be a strong expectation or a wish. If it came true, it would enrich feelings of bonding and trust. So, what do you do when conflict comes along? Run away, or put up your dukes to fight? What did you do before?

Regardless of how your first relationship ended, either by death or divorce, how did you handle conflict?

When it comes to conflict, the key to remarriage satisfaction is to be honest

14

with yourself. What do I want? Not the material want but the emotional want. This sounds like a simple question, but it is not!

Too often we expect the other person to meet our emotional needs. We forget that we are responsible for our own emotions and the behaviors they generate.

If we are not feeling loved or trusted many of us revert to blame or shame or worse. We try to control others or create an environment we feel safe in by running away or creating chaos to numb out. Add in the stepfamily dynamics of other people we may have little or limited contact with, and confusion begets more conflict.

The beginning steps for a positive conflict style is to humble yourself. You could be wrong, and they could be slightly right!

Ask open-ended questions to seek motives. Second, respect the other person, whether a stepchild or your spouse. Third, empathize sincerely: feel their pain or disappointment with them.

Lastly, have a mentality of goodwill toward them. You’ve got their back. Your actions are to enhance their life and your own in a collaborative effort.

Aim for compromise!

When conflict happens, slow down. The problem is not the problem. It is about the perspective of each person that is not being heard.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

2 Oddly enough, connection is the outcome

of conflict done well. When we battle through a conflict together, unity should be our “end in mind.” Then we can be assured that we have one another’s best interests at heart.

Intentionally seek to listen and feel their feelings with them whether you agree or not. Connection in a stepfamily is first and foremost a bond between the couple.

This is the strongest bond for the entire stepfamily system. Without that bond being protected, detachments happen, and the two blending family systems often collide.

As we coach and counsel remarried couples, we diagram a concept of “middle ground” by showing the family system with a series of graduating circles. The smallest central circle is for the couple only. It is “middle ground.” It is a sacred space for them alone. continued on page 16

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Feature: Three Ingredients for a Successful Second Marriage (cont'd) continued from page 14

Now as the circles radiate out they get bigger and hold more people.

When I nurture the marriage bond the kids feel safer to bond to their new stepparent.

The kids are on opposite sides and show how they are connected to the biological parent. The next circle is farther out and that is the other bio parent that the kids are connected to. The next circle out shows if the other bio parent has remarried. Then we add in yet more rings for more members of the stepfamily. The new spouse and kids (if they have them) are also represented. Welcome to the complex world of stepfamily systems.

Let’s face it, any marriage done well is work.

Remarriage done well requires intentional focus and protection of the marriage.

Simultaneously being flexible to connect with each stepchild is a balancing act.

The kids set the pace of each relationship within the family. As parents, we need to put in the effort, but forcing ourselves on a stepchild will only make things worse.

If you are creating a safe, flexible, loving environment, it takes on average 4-7 years for everyone to accept the “blend.” And sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

How do we stay connected in a space full of schedule changes, misunderstandings, old habits of others that “tick me off” and a zillion other relational or financial challenges—all of which understandably create confusion? The answer: protect middle ground! The marriage union is the strongest bond for the system. Why? Because there is no natural bond between stepparent and stepchild. It has to be developed over time and supported by the bio parent. Connection is built by intentional actions in positive, affirming relationships.

If offenses or errors are made, forgiveness is sought sincerely to build bonds.

I (Gil) can tell you from 18 years of experience blending a stepfamily, when I know that Brenda and I are connected and trust is strong, each of us is flexible. Middle Ground is “our” safe place to share the load, dump frustrations, and connect for support and encouragement. When I am building a connection with my stepkids, the bond between Brenda and I gets stronger.

16

3

Communication is the lifeblood of any relationship! Conflict is inevitable because we think we are conveying ourselves clearly. We assume that others understand. In your head, you made your point, but the words did not match the tone, facial expression, body language, or inflection of your voice. Remember that in remarriage and stepfamily systems, people entering the new family have past histories of their own. These can be like filters that scramble the message in their heads.

Here is the key point with communication: use your head and your heart when speaking, but more importantly when listening. The good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth! Do the math. We are to listen twice before we speak once. What you heard with your head may or may not be logical, so the next step is to listen with the heart.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

Keep an open heart and mind to the other’s emotions. With the heart, tune in for the feeling and the story. Listen for the why behind the why. In stepfamilies, as in remarriage, there are landmines from the past. With loving communication, how you listen is evidence that you care.

Remarriage and stepfamily satisfaction is learning how to do conflict with an end in mind. Connection is the outcome.

Communication is the tool to make it happen.

Gil and Brenda Stuart bring encouragement and hope to couples by uniting Gil’s expertise in counseling and Brenda’s skillful coaching, not to mention their own experience being remarried themselves. They have been interviewed by many national media outlets on creating successful second marriages, and have been featured presenters at Family Life StepFamily Summits and keynote speakers at Blended and Blessed events. Gil and Brenda have also served as guest hosts on Marriage Team Radio. They live in Brush Prairie, and have seven children between them, and a growing number of grandchildren. Connect with them at GilandBrenda.com.

Recommended Reading: “Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages and Becoming Stepfamily Smart”

by Gary Chapman, PhD and Ron L. Deal , MMFT (Northfield Publishing, 2020)

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1112 NW 103rd St, Vancouver

Almost 1/2 acre in Hazel Dell. Split level home with living room, formal dining room, large kitchen with dining nook, 3 bedrooms & 2 baths upstairs. Family room, laundry room, 1 bedroom & 1 bath downstairs. There is also a separate entry door next to garage door--great for in law quarters. Oversized 2 car garage with room for vehicles & storage or shop area.

Enjoy the cherry tree, blueberries, & sunset views from the AMAZING backyard with gazebo, irrigation, & fountains. AC & water softener too!

Thinking of Buying, or Selling a Home in 2021?

Real Estate Education Classes are the best places to begin your Home Adventure. Classes are Free, and Non-Promotional!

Upcoming Classes

We are hopeful that Marshall Community Center & the Vancouver YMCA will open soon, but until they do, we

Home Buying Classes & Home Selling Classes

are happy to host these classes virtually. Please check website, or email questions to chris.berg@cardinalfi-

The Home Buyer & Home Seller Classes will be held virtually through zoom until further notice in 2021. We will let everyone know when that magic happens. In the meantime, yes, classes are ... yet another...zoom class. Please email traciedemars@aol.com for the link for the zoom class you would like to attend. We do understand that virtual classes do not work for everyone. If you would like to meet in person, we can still make that happen ...safely. You can always reach us at our emails, phone, or through www.learningtobuyahome.com or www.freesellerclasses.com for the home Buyer & the home Seller classes.

Happy New Year!!

We would love to be the ones you call when you are thinking about buying, or selling, or refinancing.. and we hope that you will. However, the classes are non-promotional, and informational only.

We'd also like to introduce:

Gideyn DeMars with ReMax Equity Group. He's a 2nd generation realtor and can be reached at 360-601-0868 (cell) and GideynD@gmail.com (email)

Tracie DeMars/ REMAX Equity Group traciedemars@aol.com

nancial.com or traciedemars@aol.com. Thank you

Home Buyer Classes

Saturday, February 6th, from 9am-11am(ish) Tuesday, February 23rd, from 5pm - 7pm (ish) Saturday, February 20th, from 12pm-2pm (ish) Saturday, February 27th, from 10am-12pm

Free Seller Classes Saturday, February 10th from 9am-11am Thursday, February 25th, from 5pm- 7pm Class schedule for more class dates and locations available at:

www.learningtobuyahome.com

www.traciedemars.com (link for upcoming classes)

360.903.3504

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

17

Feature: Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?

M ERGENCY PRE PA RE D N E S S :

Are You Ready?

In 1962,

the Columbus Day storm brought 90-plus mph winds and caused $200 million in damages to Vancouver.

In 2008, a tornado touched down near Vancouver Lake, cutting power to more than 125,000 homes. Are you and your family ready for a disaster that could knock out electricity, water, phones and roads for several days or weeks? If a major earthquake or flood hit our community today, would you be able to survive? By anyone’s assessment, most of us are not ready.

No community will ever have enough firefighters, medics, police, public works and community health workers to fully address a catastrophic disaster. The answer is advance planning and family preparedness. Involve all family members in disaster planning. Set a deadline for completion and make it a priority. You, your family and your neighbors can thrive in the face of disaster if you take the time to prepare now.

Every family should: • Make an Emergency Plan • Build a Disaster Kit • Get Emergency Skills Training (CERT) MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN Communities are better able to withstand an emergency situation when individuals and families are prepared ahead of time to meet many of their own needs. Prepare your family by making an emergency plan.

Start with downloading and filling out the Family Emergency Plan at www.ready. gov. Steps on this plan include questions to discuss within your household about how you will receive alerts and warnings, what your evacuation route is, where you will go to find emergency shelter, how your family will communicate, what your family will need (dietary needs and medications, special needs, pets) and more. Your family’s plan may intersect with other organizations’ emergency plans, such as that of your child’s school or your workplace.

Learn those plans and communicate them to everyone in your household. Establish an emergency meeting place and means of communication and practice your plan twice per year. Identify an out-ofarea contact for your family in case it’s necessary to communicate your needs or your plan to someone not also affected by the local emergency.

BUILD A DISASTER KIT As you are building a survival or disaster kit, Clark County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) recommends starting with the basics: food, water, sanitation and personal hygiene, shelter and first aid. Further, their website states, “Don’t put anything in your kit unless you know how to use it, have used it, have worn it and know it works the way it’s supposed to. The same concept applies to the food you include; make sure you have eaten it and would want to eat it again.”

Adapted from the City of Vancouver’s Emergency Preparedness Resources, Clark County CERT, and Washington State’s Emergency Management Division

The Vancouver Fire Department recommends the following specific items for a disaster kit: • 1-1.5 gallons per day per person • Non-perishable food to last the family for 7-10 days • Radio with spare batteries or hand crank-powered • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger • Flashlight with spare batteries • First aid kit • Dust masks • Moist towelettes, toilet paper, feminine hygiene and other sanitary needs • Plastic garbage bags • Tools to turn off utilities • Unscented bleach • Matches/lighter in water-tight container • Candles • Spare change of clean clothing • Dry blankets • Storage containers • Disposable eating and drinking utensils • Local map • Pet food and supplies • Whistle to call for help • All medications GET EMERGENCY SKILLS TRAINING (CERT) CERT provides training and education on valuable basic skills needed during an emergency, such as disaster psychology, fire safety, search and rescue operations, continued on next page

18

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

More emergency response preparation information and tips: • Ready.gov • cityofvancouver.us/emergencymanagement • cityofvancouver.us/cmo/page/map-your-neighborhood • CERTClarkCountyWA.com

continued from previous page

medical operations and more. Classes, which typically take 22+ hours of classroom and field training, are currently on hold due to COVID-19, but the organization hopes to resume in-person instruction in the future.

Contact info@CERTClarkCountyWA.com for additional information.

MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Once your family is ready for a disaster, reach out to your neighbors. Washington’s Emergency Management Division suggests implementing a “Map Your Neighborhood” program, which “guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to help enhance your preparedness for an emergency.” The program, which includes documents and resources to guide neighbors through the process of accounting for and assisting one another in the event of an emergency, is intended for small groups of 15-20 homes or a defined area that you can canvas in 1 hour. Find more information at www.mil.wa.gov/myn.

Closer to home, email neighborhoods@ cityofvancouver.us for more information.

GET TRAINED

1-1.5 GAL PER PERSON PER DAY

As CERT mentions on their website, “The pandemic has given us a glimpse of what a large scale disaster could be like, except we have been able to stay in the comfort of our homes and had access to power and running water. And while we may have experienced short-term frustration at the low supply of some items at the grocery store, we were still able to shop for food and necessities. How would you do without those things? Are you prepared to camp in your backyard?”

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

19

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar

February '21

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

1 MONDAY

Teen Music Club, online through FVRLibraries. Discuss new artists, genres, albums and old favorites. Meet new friends and share what you are listening to. For grades 6-12. Register at www.fvrl.org.

5-6 pm

2 TUESDAY

Time Together for Parents of Babies & Toddlers, online through FVRLibraries.

Parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers: enjoy a weekly activity with songs, stories, and time to connect with your child and each other. 10-11 am Virtual Beginners Mindfulness, through Camas Public Library. An introduction to mindfulness meditation. Register at cityofcamas.us/camaspubliclibrary. 10-11 am Yoga Sampler: Intro to Restorative & Yin Yoga, online through FVRLibraries.

Gather up all your pillows and blankets and join Sarah Nelsen for a quiet, meditative practice and learn the difference in yin and restorative yoga. Supported shapes are held for 3-5 minutes in order to deeply stretch and deeply relax. Class can be done on the floor or on a bed. There will be time for questions.

Register at www.fvrl.org. 3-4 pm

3 WEDNESDAY

Virtual Storytime with Miss Ellen, through Camas Public Library. Every Wednesday on Facebook: facebook.com/ CamasPublicLibrary. 9:30 am Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

Solo crafting got you down? Drop in weekly for FVRLibraries’ no-stakes craft sessions!

Meetings are informal, and we welcome all projects and skill levels. This is a safe and inclusive space intended for creating and connecting (at a safe distance). This is

20

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.

a social group–not an instructional class.

Wednesdays at 10 am and Fridays at 4 pm Kids Book Group: Read-Aloud Crowd online through FVRLibraries. Do you like listening to stories? Did you know that listening to books helps build your vocabulary and comprehension? Join other 8-11-yearolds to listen to and discuss a fun book.

3-4 pm

5 FRIDAY

Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 4 pm

9 TUESDAY

Time Together for Parents of Babies & Toddlers. (See Feb. 2) 10-11 am Virtual Beginners Mindfulness, through Camas Public Library. (See Feb. 2) 10-11 am

10 WEDNESDAY

Virtual Storytime with Miss Ellen, through Camas Public Library. (See Feb. 3) 9:30 am Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 10 am Kids Book Group: Read-Aloud Crowd online through FVRLibraries. (See Feb. 3) 3-4 pm

12 FRIDAY

Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 4 pm

13 SATURDAY

Sensory Storytime, online through FVRLibraries. Storytime emphasizing interaction and movement, designed for children on the autism spectrum, those with difficulty processing sensory information, or

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

any who prefer an alternative to a traditional storytime. Every Second Saturday at www. youtube.com/FVRLvirtual. 10 am Virtual Trivia Night, through Camas Public Library. 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. The second Saturday of every month.

Registration required at cityofcamas.us/ camaspubliclibrary. 7-8:15 pm

16 TUESDAY

Time Together for Parents of Babies & Toddlers. (See Feb. 2) 10-11 am Virtual Beginners Mindfulness, through Camas Public Library. (See Feb. 2) 10-11 am

17 WEDNESDAY

Virtual Storytime with Miss Ellen, through Camas Public Library. Every Wednesday on Facebook: facebook.com/ CamasPublicLibrary. 9:30 am Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 10 am Kids Book Group: Read-Aloud Crowd online through FVRLibraries. (See Feb. 3) 3-4 pm

19 FRIDAY

Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 4 pm

20 SATURDAY

3D Design for Beginners, online through FVRLibraries. Come and play with TINKERCAD ®! Learn the basics of this free web-based 3D design software and get continued on page 22

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OMG, HEY YOU Welcome to a new year & countless new looks to shop & flavors to try. Our priority is always you and giving you more ways to chill out, dress up, and treat yourself to a safe & worry-free new year!

RACE TO EQUALITY VIR

February 21–28, 2021 RACTEU!AL

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021 3.56x4.8_VFad_v01PRESS.indd 1

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12/18/20 12:46 PM

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d) continued from page 20 started creating your own objects for 3D printing. Workshop attendees can have their project printed on the library’s 3D printer. No experience required to attend this workshop.

Register at fvrl.org. 2-4 pm

21 SUNDAY

Race to Equality 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Virtual Race. Benefiting The Links Corporation. Cool swag, techshirt, buff, sticker and medal! Kids 12 and under race free, ages 13-17 race for 50% off. Register and details at whyracingevents.com. Run or walk any time between Feb. 21-28.

22 MONDAY

Make Anything, online through FVRLibraries. Get creative and join others to learn how to make stuff! Monthly project will feature a variety of projects and tools,

including recycled crafts, sewing and basic mending, 3D design, fiber arts, paper-making, stamp-carving, watercolor, embroidery, cooking, baking, painting, and more! Projects are suitable for older teens and adults. No experience is necessary. Register and learn more at fvrl.org. 6-7:30 pm

23 TUESDAY

Time Together for Parents of Babies & Toddlers. (See Feb. 2) 10-11 am

Washougal READS, online through FVRLibraries. Washougal Community Library is partnering with Washougal High School to provide community book discussions through Washougal READS. Everyone in the community from students, business owners, and your next door neighbor are invited to participate. Let’s keep Washougal reading and having important conversations to truly see #WashougalRising. February book title: “Dragon Hoops” by Gene Luen Yang.

Register at www.fvrl.org. 11:30 am-12:30 pm Kids Book Group: Read-Aloud Crowd online through FVRLibraries. (See Feb. 3) 3-4 pm

24 WEDNESDAY

Virtual Storytime with Miss Ellen, through Camas Public Library. Every Wednesday on Facebook: facebook.com/ CamasPublicLibrary. 9:30 am

26 FRIDAY

Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 10 am

Craft ‘n’ Chat, online through FVRLibraries.

(See Feb. 3) 4 pm

PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS: ¿CÓMO SE ESTÁN CREANDO LAS VACUNAS CONTRA EL COVID?

¿Cómo es que las vacunas contra el COVID se están produciendo tan rápido?

Usually vaccine testing and production are done as separate steps, but because of the pandemic, vaccines are being developed on parallel tracks - meaning we’re still doing both steps, just at the same time.

¿Cómo se están probando las vacunas?

Ahora mismo se están probando varias vacunas contra el COVID. Todas pasan por más de un estudio clínico. Primero con un grupo pequeño de voluntarios, luego con cien o más, y finalmente con miles de ellos.

¿Cómo se aprobarán las vacunas?

No todas las versiones de la vacuna que pasan por los estudios clínicos llegarán a las fases finales de prueba y aprobación.

Las que sí pasan, son evaluadas por expertos médicos que analizarán los resultados y los posibles efectos secundarios.

La vacuna solo es aprobada si funciona y es segura.

Es entonces que llega a ti. Las vacunas que no pasan, se destruyen.

Para más información sobre las vacunas contra el COVID, visita vacunadecovidWA.org

22

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

COUVE CLOVER RUN March 21, 2021 3, 7 & 10 Miler

VIRTUAL RACE!

NOTORIOUS NOTORIOUS 5K 5K March 15, 2021

Benefiting SHARE and Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools

Benefiting Girls Inc. COOL SWAG FOR ALL REGISTERED:

TECHSHIRT, BUFF, STICKER AND MEDAL!

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SAVE 10% USING PROMO CODE WHYVANCOUVERFAMILY KIDS 12 AND UNDER RACE FOR FREE AGES 13-17 RACE FOR 50% OFF

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REGISTER & DETAILS AT WHYRACINGEVENTS.COM

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advertiser index

Events Couve Clover Run..........................................23 Race to Equality.............................................21 Notorious 5k...................................................23 Health Barnick Chiropractic.......................................17 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................3 Clark County COVID-19 Testing.......................2 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................21 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage.............9 Storybook Dental............................................17 Tristar Family Chiropractic..............................11 Vancouver Clinic.............................................15

3.56x4.8_VFad_v01PRESS.indd 3 12/18/20 12:46 PM

Legal Schauermann, Thayer, Jacobs, Staples & Edwards PS.....................................7 Resources Applied Team Insurance.................................15 ESD 112.........................................................13 Gifted Journeys................................................3 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars.............17

12/18/20 12:46 PM

Retail Kazoodles Toys..............................................15 Paparazzi by Nathan......................................13 Vancouver Mall...............................................21 Schools, Education & Child Care ESD 112.........................................................13 St. Andrew Preschool.....................................17 Southwest Washington Learning Center........24

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2021

23

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