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November 2021
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Welcome to the Family:
Adoptions at Home and Abroad
A Fort Vancouver “Nutcracker”
Inspired by Local History
Brand New Murals
part 2
Help Hopeful Parents
become a Family
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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contents
November '21
FEATURE ARTICLES
12
Welcome to the Family Adoptions journeys connect families in Clark County and around the world.
18
Ellie the Eagle Scout: An Art Project for the Whole City Part two of our two-part series on brand new murals debuting in Vancouver.
24
A Fort Vancouver "Nutcracker" Local history inspires a newly imagined holiday production.
12 IN EVERY ISSUE
18
6
Editor’s Notes
8
Couve Scoop • 13 Miles for 13 Heroes: Honoring Veterans • Year Round Christmas Shop Opens in Hazel Dell • Vancouver Arts and Activity Maps • Dinosaurs Arrive at Clark County Event Center
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10
Mosaic Family Voyage The Messerschmidt family encounters a storm near California’s Cape Mendocino in their sailboat, Mosaic.
30 Calendar of Events & Activities
ON THE WEB
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
• Join us on Instagram Live with Kazoodles every Tuesday in November for the year's best toys and games!
It’s your moment. The moment you decide to start a family, your journey to parenthood begins. PeaceHealth is here for every moment along the way. The first step is choosing a doctor to be your pregnancy partner. Nicole Yonke, MD, is a family medicine physician who specializes in obstetrics, breastfeeding and family planning. Partnering with Dr. Yonke also brings peace of mind knowing your bundle of joy will be delivered at PeaceHealth Family Birth Center – named one of the best maternity hospitals in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine two years in a row. Learn more at peacehealth.org/vancouvermom or call 360-514-7560.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Photo by Marie Pham Photography
EDITOR'S NOTES
Good News/Bad News If we didn’t know before, we have certainly learned since the outbreak of COVID that negative news rules our airwaves, television screens and social media news feeds. As I write this, a quick scan of The New York Times’s homepage revealed mostly (though admittedly not all) negative headlines, including the mildly terrifying “How to Prevent the Worst Case Extinction Scenario.” One reason for this is that, as humans, we are wired for drama. As author Jonathan Gottschall of “The Storytelling Animal” (Mariner, 2012) puts it, “Human minds yield helplessly to the suction of a story,” and “In short, regardless of genre, if there is no knotty problem, there is no story.” News is news because there’s a challenge, a problem, an obstacle, a puzzle, a crisis. But though we are drawn to thickening plots, there may be additional social mechanisms at work, driving a growing saturation of negativity in the media. In a recent episode of “Freakonomics Radio,” host and journalist Stephen Dubner interviewed economist Bruce Sacerdote about a study that Sacerdote and colleagues undertook to analyze COVID-19 news coverage in the United States. The research team found that negative news stories outnumbered positive stories at almost the same rate whether COVID cases were rising or falling. COVID has ravaged our world and our loved ones, and is certainly nothing to celebrate, but positive news in the fight against the virus, and in other current events, could be just as important as the negative, in terms of unifying communities and motivating goodness. The as yet unanswered question is whether readers and viewers demand negative news that media outlets then supply, or whether the media turns us negative. It seems to be a “self-reinforcing cycle,” as Sacerdote called it. With the ease of access to negative news, it’s up to each of us to monitor its effects on our own mood and behavior, and to evaluate the balance between our desire to be informed and our own mental well-being. Even the Centers for Disease Control recommends an occasional media break. “If news events are causing your stress, take a break from listening or watching the news,” reads an article on cdc.gov. At Vancouver Family Magazine, we are proud to report on the good and inspiring news happening every day all over Clark County. In this issue, learn about a Vancouver teen whose momentous Eagle Scout project honors regional native heritage (page 18), discover how a local production of “The Nutcracker” is being reimagined, inspired by Fort Vancouver history (page 24) and see how local families are welcoming children into their family through international and domestic adoption (page 12).
Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com
Volume 20, Issue 11 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, Sarah Mortensen, Claire Curtis, Carrie Lynn
Ad Sales
sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2021. All rights reserved. No portion of Vancouver Family Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC and staff do not recommend or endorse any service, product, or content represented in this magazine or on our website. The sole purpose of this publication is to provide information on available services and/or products. It is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of information given. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC, and/or Julie Buchan and Nikki Klock and staff do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this magazine or on our website. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
On the Cover:
Mandy and Colby Tillitson, of Camas, had their son, AJ, in 2009, followed by a heartbreaking late term pregnancy loss in 2013. “After some healing, we knew adoption would be the best for us,” Mandy says. They became foster parents and in that time adopted their daughter, Ava, in 2015. Photo on the cover by Brittany Johnson Photography.
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Photos courtesy of Christmas in Vantucky
Notable News, Events & Efforts in Clark County
NOVEMBER 2021
13 Miles for 13 Heroes:
Year Round Christmas Shop Opens in Hazel Dell
Honoring Veterans
Illustration by Jes
While Spruill has yet to have any direct contact with the families of the fallen service members she honored, she shared that she hopes their families “know that they have a nation behind them, and are able to find comfort in this devastating time . . . I hope that I was able to shine a light on what our great service members have done and continue to do for our great country.”
One of Vancouver’s Arts and Activity Maps.
Vancouver Arts and Activity Maps
Ashlie Spruill on a walk with sister Kaylie. Photo courtesy Ashlie Spruill
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Koleen Roth has always loved Christmas. “I just love that fall feeling when the rainy days get shorter, people seem to be a little kinder and you spend time in that wonderful Christmas spirit,” she says. “Our world needs it now. More than ever . . . In their hearts, everyone knows that feeling and you can return to it in a heartbeat. People long for that spirit.” She has also always dreamed of opening up a retail shop. So, she blended the two loves together and in fall 2021, she opened Vancouver’s first ever year round Christmas shop, Christmas in Vantucky. It’s a family affair, with Roth’s son, Brandon, managing the store and her granddaughter managing the store’s social media. The shop stocks a variety of ornaments, seasonal home décor, gifts, baking accessories, specialty food and candy items and more, with gift wrapping also available. Roth also hopes to host events throughout the holiday season and beyond, and to carry other holiday items throughout the various seasons. Customers can shop in person at the store’s Hazel Dell location, 6202 NE Hwy 99, or online at christmasinvantucky.com.
s Graff.
When news of chaos in Afghanistan reached the American public in the summer of 2021, many were disappointed, saddened, confused and angry. Nineteen-year-old Ashlie Spruill of Vancouver was no exception. “I had heard about the attack in Kabul and was devastated that [13] American military members had died on foreign soil,” she said. “Most of them were around my age so it hit home. I couldn’t imagine watching a friend die in battle.” While she couldn’t bring these 13 brave heroes back to life, and while she doesn’t have personal experience serving in the military, she decided to honor them in her own small way by walking one mile every day for 13 days, each mile and day in honor of one individual military member who died in the August 26 Kabul attack. “I started walking around my neighborhood after work almost every night,” she said. “Some nights my family joined me as well! Some nights I was away from home but I still found a way to get it done. I couldn’t quit on them because they didn’t give up on defending us.” She shared selfies from her daily walks, along with the names, ranks and photos of the fallen soldiers, on Facebook, and the reaction from her social media community was overwhelmingly positive. “13 miles for the 13 fallen heroes tragically lost,” read her final post, which just happened to fall on September 11, 2021—the 20th anniversary of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. “13/13 miles. For all that have served or who are currently serving, thank you for your service, I am forever grateful. Today’s post/mile is in honor of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.”
The City of Vancouver recently published a series of maps, designed by Vancouver City Hall’s curator in residence, Jess Graff, to showcase public art throughout the city and connect residents and visitors with the community. The maps point out landmarks such as historic Kiggins Theatre, Providence Academy and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s downtown public library as well as public sculptures and murals found around town, and include activity pages and a scavenger hunt. Two maps have been completed, with more coming soon. All can be accessed digitally or printed out at cityofvancouver.us/ourcity/page/vancouver-artsand-activity-maps.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Dinosaurs Arrive at Clark County Event Center Live events are gradually returning to Southwest Washington, and one particular event is making a larger than life entrance. Jurassic Quest will bring more than 100 dinosaurs of the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods to life in an interactive family “edutainment” experience including dinosaur themed rides, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a “Triceratots” soft play area for little explorers, bounce houses and inflatable attractions, photo opportunities, and more. The Jurassic Quest herd of animatronic dinos—from the largest predators to playful baby dinos—are displayed in realistic scenes with some that move and roar, allowing guests to experience them as they were when they roamed the earth billions of years ago. Jurassic Quest works in collaboration with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated in every detail, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers, drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs and ancient giants of the sea looked and moved. The event comes to Clark County Event Center November 26-28. General admission tickets ($19-$22, with a timed arrival) include access to the dinosaur and marine exhibits, arts and crafts activities, and dinosaur shows. Other rides and activities require upgraded tickets available on site for $5 each, or guests can upgrade to the Kids Unlimited Rides ticket (the best value for children ages 2-12). Green screen photography and animal art tattoos are available at a separate cost. Entry is free for children under age 2. Purchase advance tickets and learn more at jurassicquest.com/events/ridgefield-wa. Photo courtesy Jurassic Quest
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE
By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.
Around
Cape Mendocino
When we left off last month, we had successfully sailed our boat, Mosaic, from our protected home waters in the Puget Sound out the Strait of Juan de Fuca and south to Crescent City, California. There, we rented a car and drove back north to Vancouver to return our crew members home and pick up our kids from their grandparents’ home. We said some very difficult goodbyes—we don’t know the next time that we will visit home. So, with a strange mix of sadness and excitement, we loaded our family into that rental car and drove south. Back to Mosaic, our sailboat, our home, and center of selfreliance and adventure. Keeping the rental car for an extra day, we played tourist and drove through some of the oldest groves of Redwood Forest along Highway 101. There is truly magic in those trees, and I reveled in sharing that with our children. They were properly impressed. After settling back into our cozy little floating home, we decided to make a quick ten hour jump from Crescent City down to Eureka, California. We left at 8 am in dense fog and chilly temperatures,
but by midday we’d motored far enough off the coast to come out of the fog and enjoy some sunshine. We played cards in the cockpit and spotted some feeding whales as we approached our destination. Encountering whales while on the ocean will never get old. It was a great sighting and a wonderful way to end the day. We tied up at the public marina in Eureka. Little did we know that we would actually be stuck there for two weeks waiting for a proper weather window to continue our journey. Our next step would be to get the boat past the most notorious cape on the west coast: Cape Mendocino. The gale blew off the cape for two weeks straight. Our dock at the marina grew full with boats like us simply waiting. Instant community forms at each of these stopover points. Whenever a new boat pulls in that’s heading the same direction, we’re fast friends ready to recount the adventure thus far and plan strategy together for moving forward. At one point, we had eight kids from four different boats playing make believe games on the docks. The friendships made the continued on next page
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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wait bearable, but the cold and wet environment of the Northern California coast kept all of us anxious for that chance to move further south.
Make or Break: Cape Mendocino Finally, a sliver of a weather window developed, and we decided to go for it! This would be a big step for our family: our first multi-day passage, nonstop for about 48 hours, with just my husband and I to rely on each other, and the kids’ first time overnight offshore. Our first day was lovely. We left at around 9 am on a Friday, in company with three other sailboats. We had some big swell and waves, but the winds were pretty calm, and the sun was shining and warm. We saw many different groups of whales and spent hours watching their activities. We rounded Cape Mendocino without any drama, thanks to our careful weather routing. But, the real test was yet to come. We knew to expect another weather front the following day, but we had hoped to keep up enough speed to be able to outrun it for the second half of the trip. I think we did outrun the worst of that system, but we still found ourselves at the leading edge of it. The wind picked up and we spent the next 12 hours bashing into a 15-20 knot headwind. The waves picked up and down inside the boat it seemed like we were inside a washing machine. Plus, the skies opened and rain poured down on us.
of probably 60% of the awfulness of this passage. With the rain pouring down relentlessly, we had a small waterfall spilling into the boat. The rain drenched the entire mid-section of the boat, forcing us to the forward or aft ends of the boat where the motion of the waves was the most acute. Add seasickness to the mix and the whole day really just sucked. Thankfully, around mid-afternoon, the conditions eased a bit and we even found a small patch of blue sky. We went into our second night exhausted but at least not totally miserable. The kids were able to sleep in their own beds comfortably. Brenden and I took our turns on watch, even enjoying the beauty of the full moon’s light on the water. And, as the sun rose the next morning, we pulled into safe harbor at Half Moon Bay. We tied the boat up, alerted friends and family that we’d arrived safely, and set to work getting the boat dried out. Then, it was time for a welldeserved nap. We had made it! It wasn’t pretty, but we’d made it.
Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives living and cruising full time aboard their 40-foot sailboat, Mosaic. Currently traveling from the Pacific Northwest, down the west coast of the U.S., and onward toward Mexico, Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www.mosaicvoyage.com. She shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.
The seal where our boat’s mast comes through the cabin top failed. The failure was nothing dangerous but it was the source
Page 10, top: The author all bundled up in foul weather gear watching the sunrise as they come into safe harbor in Half Moon Bay after rounding Cape Mendocino. Bottom left: The author's kids, Evan and Kali, exploring in the Redwood Forest near Eureka, California. Bottom right: The author and her kids play a game of Monopoly Deal while on passage from Crescent City to Eureka. Page 11: The author enjoying the view from the bow of the sailboat off the California coast west of Cape Mendocino.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Feature: Welcome to the Family
Welcome to the Family: Ad o pt io n s a t H o m e a n d A b roa d By: Carrie Lynn
Alla and Cornell Brisc of Vancouver, adopted sons Emmanuel and Jonathan in June 2021. Photo by VVP Photography.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Alla and Cornell Brisc grew up in communist Romania and Ukraine, respectively, where their childhoods were surrounded by poverty and destruction. They distinctly remember orphans and abandoned children roaming their towns. Even though they were children themselves at the time, they committed to be a light against the human storm when they became adults. The quest to be that light has been the cornerstone of their present-day marriage. Now living in Vancouver, they have strived to fulfill that mission. First, as foster parents and now as adoptive parents. In June of this year, two brothers from Colombia, Emmanuel, 4, and Jonathan, 3 joined the
Brisc family permanently. The three-year process to bring their boys home began in 2018, when they contacted All God’s Children International (AGCI).
International Adoption Agency All God’s Children International is a Christian-based international orphan care ministry. Their mission is to “answer God’s call to provide the love and care that every child deserves.” They coordinate international adoptions in seven countries: Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Colombia, Haiti, the Philippines, and South Africa.
Additionally, they facilitate adoptions and home studies all over the United States. Jodi Miyama, vice president of adoption services, shared with me an overview of the process the Brisc family and other families participate in when they are considering adoption. Every interested party, whether a couple or a family, is assigned an adoption advisor. The advisor hosts a series of free consultations to discuss the process, options and the potential for adoption. When the family decides they are ready to pursue adoption, they pay $350 and complete a formal application. The intent of the application is to gain a specific understanding of the adopter’s life, such as the composition of the family (with ages of each member) and number of bedrooms in the home.
continued on page 14
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Feature: Welcome to the Family (cont'd) continued from page 13
Upon acceptance of the initial application, the advisory team guides the future adopters through a broader set of investigations such as criminal clearance, child protective services clearance, medical history and financial aptitude, as well as fee payments required along the way. For the Briscs, there were times when the endless trails of paperwork, extra appointments and logistical hurdles were overwhelming, on top of raising two biological children of their own. But Cornell still found that “if we saw each piece of paper we needed to file as a ministry towards our new children it felt good, even when the process was long.” Once the in-depth application was approved, the Briscs were assigned a social worker to facilitate the necessary home and lifestyle studies that every adoptive and foster family is required to have. Eventually, all the applications and filed documents are compiled into a portfolio specifically for international adoption. At this point, the family can apply for emigration and the portfolio is submitted to the intended country. The country then reviews everything and begins the search for matching a child or children. The most joyous day, Miyama says, is the day the All God’s Children team gets to call the family and tell them they have a
match. “We get to tell them about their child’s personality, if the child is a boy or a girl, the child’s age, what they like to do, what friends they have—everything we know about the child.” The Briscs’ phone call held a surprise. They had applied for one child, but their portfolio presentation fit a pair of brothers perfectly. “We were surprised,” Alla recalls. Yet the more they learned, the more they felt it was a good match. Shortly thereafter, the Briscs flew to Colombia to meet their new kids. Their biological children, Ezra, 7 and Lexie, 5, were apprehensive about being away from their parents for almost a month during this last step. Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa live nearby and were happy to stay with them. For three weeks, the Briscs got to know their new sons and to begin building family bonds, all while interfacing with the orphanage staff. Alla was quick to give credit to them. “The team at the adoption center in Colombia was fantastic,” he said. With the adoption finalized, it was time to fly home and introduce all four siblings to each other. Today, four months later, the Brisc family couldn’t be happier. “The process was lengthy and challenging, but we would do it again.”
Local and Domestic Adoption Of course, international adoption is not the only avenue for parents who want to welcome children into their home. Plenty of wonderful children are waiting to be adopted in the United States. One of the most effective methods for local or domestic adoption is through an agency such as Choice Adoptions, who works with clients in both Washington and Oregon. For the past seven years, Taryn O’Flynn has been the director of advocacy and outreach for Choice Adoptions. She said, “The typical scenario of an adoption surrounding an unwed teen is an outmoded scenario. Today adoptions happen for children of all ages and from all stages of family life.” The goal of adoptions is to give a child the safest most successful life to thrive in, not just move them to a home to hide someone’s mistake. “Our hope is to tear down the negative stigma around adoption and introduce the idea of open adoption,” O’Flynn said, “which is essentially growing your family by choosing one who will raise your child and remain in relationship with you.” Within this model there are multiple opportunities for the child to always remain connected to their heritage, whatever it may be. Presently three standard options of adoption are available:
Open Adoption In this scenario, the birth parent(s) and the adopting family select each other. They get to know each other and begin to build a life continued on page 16
Biological brothers Jonathan (3) and Emmanuel (4) were adopted from Colombia by the Brisc family of Vancouver in summer 2021. Photo by VVP Photography.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Feature: Welcome to the Family (cont'd) continued from page 14
of interconnection, even before the birth. Each open adoption structure is unique. Birth mothers may need additional supports such as school funding, new clothes as their body changes, or simply emotional support as the months and weeks of gestation unfold. Following the birth, the parent(s) who brought this child into the world remain connected, even though they have relinquished parental rights. It is not unusual for the adopting family to send photos to the birth family of the child as they grow or experience milestones. Sometimes, they will attend events like the child’s birthday or a family outing. This option appears to be the most psychologically successful method for many families.
Semi-Open In semi-open adoptions, instead of a direct connection from the birth parent(s) to the adoptive family, an adoption agency becomes the intermediary for the two parties. Any photos, letters, or communications go through O’Flynn’s team and onto the respective party. Semi-open adoptions can transfer to a full open adoption at any time.
November is National Adoption Month, and the need for adoptive parents and families is urgent. Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to learn more about All God’s Children
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels
International and Choice Adoptions.
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Closed Adoption This is a private, confidential adoption where the birth parent(s) relinquish the child or baby to a new family and do not maintain contact. This is a last case scenario and a decision which is made very carefully. Beyond baby and foster adoptions, the team at Choice Adoptions also performs same-day adoptions. This is when a hospital calls with a newborn baby who needs adopting but no pre-work has been done. The cost of adoption through Choice Adoptions is $31,510, with $8,250 required as the baseline birth parent support fee. Fortunately, there are grants, stipends and tax breaks which clients can use for assistance. O’Flynn and her team love their jobs. Their personal support and advocacy with birth parents covers several hours a week of one-on-one guidance, encouragement and case management, depending on the client needs. They are proud to say, “We care and support birth moms holistically. If they need their rent paid while they’re pregnant, or their cell phone bill paid, food in their fridge or maternity clothing, we will get her those things. [However], our most important role is one of emotional support and friendship. Growing a baby is hard work as it is. If we can alleviate extra stress, that is us doing our jobs well.”
Adoption Attorney For attorney Kathleen McCann, adoption is one of the most rewarding client experiences. In law, for adoptive parents, adoption is a happy thing. No one is losing property, no one is going to jail. A marriage is not being dissolved. Over her years representing petitioners for adoption, she has facilitated multiple adoptions including re-adoptions, foster adoptions, adult adoptions, stepparent adoptions, and full private adoptions. Among her favorites are re-adoptions and foster placement adoptions. Re-adoption is the process of recognizing adoptions already completed in a foreign country. The Washington Court recognizes the legality of the foreign decree and authorizes the issuance of a Washington birth certificate for the adoptee. Readoption is often pursued to obtain a Washington birth certificate because it is difficult to obtain a birth certificate in the country of origin. Besides being difficult to obtain, the foreign birth certificate may be written in a foreign language. Having a Washington birth certificate for an adoptee is a document needed for many life events such as obtaining a marriage license or joining the military. Foster adoptions occur when families who have fostered a child for an extended period adopt the child as their own. This can happen continued on next page
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
continued from previous page
only after the biological parents’ rights have been terminated. Termination occurs usually for reasons of unfitness. Many foster parents have raised a child through challenges and painful life experience. There is a feeling of joy when that child becomes legally their own. McCann reflected, “Before COVID, you would attend an adoption docket at the courthouse or Family Law Annex. The courtroom would be filled with family, friends, well-wishers. There would be balloons and 2-year-olds running around in excitement waiting to participate in the proceedings. It was a happy courtroom experience unlike the typically more somber courtroom settings. The judges go out of their way to recognize families who are adopting children and attempt to make the courtroom experience very positive.”
Adoption Family Therapy After all the fostering and adopting is complete, it is sometimes necessary to pursue family therapy. Trinity Saldana, MS, CMHS, LMFT, is a marriage and family therapist who works in postadoption and foster therapy. She specializes in dyadic attachment therapy. Dyadic therapy is an attachment-releasing therapy through the verbalizing of old trauma, followed by creating a safe, fresh life story. Sessions include the adopted child and their new parents with Saldana directly observing or playing a game with the child. While they are playing or drawing, she asks questions of the adoptee. In that space of playing or drawing, hidden pains are revealed. One 5-year-old boy who came to her appeared to be super excited about his upcoming Spiderman birthday. He flew the plastic Spiderman action figure around in his hand, seemingly lost in memories. Saldana said, “You are really excited about your Spiderman birthday.” He kept playing as if the question barely phased him then said, “Nope, Spiderman birthdays are scary. That’s when I get hit.” Being hit was the story of his past Spiderman birthday, yet he had hidden it safely inside where he hoped it would never find him. However, the idea of birthday parties brought it up every year. Each birthday, he would internally replay the trauma and gear up for the worst. Accounts like this are a regular occurrence for Saldana. After each of these types of discoveries, she helps to take the old story and teach the child and parent a new, safe story. Using the Spiderman example, she may state, “Yes, Spiderman birthdays used to happen, but that was with another family. In my new family all birthdays are fun.” Session after session they repeat and add to the story, thereby creating a bridge of healing. With each retelling of the story, the child releases their trauma. As the trauma releases, the child freely progresses emotionally, psychologically
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and physically into their own thriving life. For Saldana, the miracle of the experience never gets old. Today she is the story keeper of hundreds of happy, changed lives.
Happy Endings When the Briscs brought the boys home, the first couple of weeks were awkward. Emmanuel and Jonathan were curious and confused by their new environment. Mom and Dad Brisc chose to spend those first days observing while slowly teaching the boys about their new home. Hugs and affection didn’t come naturally, especially for Emmanuel. His initial hugs were stiff and rigid; the minute the hug was over he would walk away. Today, he cuddles back. When Dad picks him up out of the car, Emmanuel wraps his arms tightly because he knows he is safe. The biological children have adjusted well, too. Their oldest son, Ezra, enjoys being the leader of the kids. He voluntarily helps his new siblings dress or clean up. Lexie, the only girl, loves to dress the boys like dolls. It is an act of affection. The Briscs happily state, “It’s shaping up to be great.”
Carrie Lynn is an abundantly happy writer living in Vancouver. She loves sunrises, sunsets, and star gazing.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
17
Feature: Ellie the Eagle Scout: Brand New Murals Part Two of a Two-part Series on Brand New Murals Debuting in Vancouver. Read Part One in our October 2021 issue
the Eagle
Scout:
An Art Project for the Whole City
By Sarah Mortensen
in
February of 2019, Boy Scouts of America overturned a century of tradition by allowing girls to enter their organization and renaming their teen program Scouts BSA. Ellie S., a current senior at Vancouver iTech Preparatory, was one of those girls. She had watched her younger brother participate in scouts for many years and jumped at the opportunity to participate when it became available to her. Ellie joined at the age of 15, and rules require scouts to earn scouting’s highest rank, Eagle, before turning 18. In just two short years, Ellie worked to earn each merit badge, leadership position and recommendation from superiors to meet the deadline. Shortly, she will become one of roughly 1,000 female Eagle Scouts in the United States. The culminating Eagle Project is the final step in this process and Ellie’s is something everyone in Clark County can enjoy.
Honoring Heritage “I knew that I wanted to do something that would leave a mark,” Ellie told me about the planning process for her Eagle Scout
project. “I had met Mayor Anne McEneryOgle [of Vancouver] at a couple previous scouting events so I decided to reach out to her to see if she had any ideas or connections. Coincidentally, the Mayor had been also thinking of the next mural project for the city.” City leaders were seeking to represent the Native American culture of our region, so the Mayor put Ellie in touch with Clark County Mural Society (CCMS). They were more than happy to partner with her and help bring the plan to fruition. The location for the mural was to be a sound barrier wall on the west side of Interstate 5, near the Fourth Plain Boulevard exit. CCMS had talked for years about placing a mural on a highway to both beautify the city as well as combat graffiti. Artist Guy Drennan, a long-time partner with the society, was up to the task. “Ellie and I met in mid-May [2021]. She had a definite concept [about] bringing the four seasons, native flora and indigenous people together in an image,” explained Drennan. “Due to the location of the piece,
distance from the viewer and the average speed of a vehicle traveling north on the highway, this detail and message would be lost. I suggested a re-design, with the goal of a quick read. Using the same four animals and the abstracted colorful images in Chinook Art, [I strived] to honor indigenous people of our area.” Even though the Mayor had given her support and CCMS had secured the funding, there were many more hurdles to jump over before the project could even begin. First, approval from the Washington State Department of Transportation continued on page 20
Top: Ellie S., a senior at Vancouver iTech Preparatory, will soon be among the first wave of female Eagle Scouts. Photo courtesy Ellie S. Bottom: The wall where Ellie’s art mural Eagle Scout project now displays. Photo courtesy Guy Drennan.
18
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Feature: Ellie the Eagle Scout: Brand New Murals (cont'd) continued from page 18
(WSDOT) was required. WSDOT wanted to make sure the local Native American tribes approved the design before giving consent. “That is when I got in touch with the Cowlitz and Chinook Tribes,” explained Ellie. “This was really big to have everyone sign off [on the mural], not just because of the numerous approvals I had to get, but also because there is no protocol for this type of project. Washington has never had a mural on the side of the highway before, so every time I got approval, the process was being created.”
Progress Delays Once approval from the tribes was confirmed, the physical area around the wall needed to be prepared for painting. Brush was cleared and the wall was cleaned. A solid background color was sprayed on to serve as a base coat for the actual mural design. Delays in obtaining paint (thanks to the February ice storm in Texas) put the project in a precarious position as it needed to be completed before the fall when rain is more likely. Adding to the challenge were vandals who defaced the newly cleaned and base
painted wall, making a whole new base coat necessary. The extreme heat in July was yet another unexpected delay. Despite these setbacks, the perseverance of both Ellie and Drennan did not falter. Ellie and her family even went to help Drennan with some of the initial painting and outlining. But, September rain pushed the project deadline back again and again, making it difficult to get much work done each day.
Art for Everyone The final image showcases (appropriately for Ellie) an eagle, a bear, a deer and a salmon in the traditional formline style unique to Pacific Northwest tribes. Drennan spent time researching the art form, taking classes online to ensure the proportions and design were authentic. “In this case historical accuracy and clarity are key,” he emphasized. The black, red and white ovoid shapes are distinct and easily seen from a distance, or during a cloudy day. Even fast moving cars will notice each animal, especially the revered salmon. A sound wall may seem an odd spot to
place a mural, since the average viewer won’t have much viewing time on the road. However, Drennan reminded me that, “the whole point of art is to interact with the viewer on an emotional level, to offer an experience that lifts them briefly out of the day-to-day routines, resulting in moments of refreshment.” When he put it that way, I pictured the many commuters driving north from Portland and being welcomed by pictures that remind them of home. Children being chauffeured to school or other activities will see the art and will hopefully think of the indigenous people of our region and how different their lives were. “Art is emotion,” continued Drennan. “The world can do without art . . . but it’s so much more interesting with art in it.” The experience Ellie gained in orchestrating her project wholly fulfills the scouting program’s mission to encourage the development of young people “so that they take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national and international communities.” Lynn Krogseng, marketing director for CCMS, was thoroughly continued on page 22
Fellow artist Kelly Snyder assists Guy Drennan in painting a mural depicting traditional Chinook and Cowlitz images on a concrete sound wall in Vancouver. Photos courtesy of the author.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
7th Annual
Join in the Joy Drop-off an item at one of the below locations or contribute through our Amazon Wish List using this QR code. Latte Da Coffee House & Wine Bar Vancouver City Hall Firstenburg & Marshall Community Centers
November 15 thru December 15 The City of Vancouver’s 7th Annual Korey’s Joy Drive memorializes Korey Cochran, an employee who lost his life to a rare brain tumor. Your donations of new, unwrapped toys or new winter coats, gloves, socks and hats will be donated to: • Randall Children's Hospital • Open House Ministries • Children’s Justice Center • Share House • Children’s Center Together, we will spread Korey’s joy to families throughout our community this holiday season.
Scan this QR code or visit cityofvancouver.us/koreysjoydrive for additional information and locations. Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
21
Feature: Ellie the Eagle Scout: Brand New Murals (cont'd) continued from page 20
impressed with Ellie’s organizational skills. “She developed a realistic end date and experienced valuable project management lessons about project planning and flexibility,” Krogsend told me. “The project was successful because she sought input from experienced partners, made the plan and exercised persistence on a rather challenging project through to completion.” Audrey Clark, president of CCMS agreed. “Ellie inspired us all to see something bigger,” Clark said. “She was able to move this vision forward through many obstacles and yet, she still kept going.” Ellie hopes that people appreciate the art on what would otherwise be a boring freeway. “I believe that community art is extremely important. It brings so much to the city in many different ways. It brings beauty, but most community art also serves a purpose besides just being art. Whether it’s to stop graffiti, like my mural, or provide a spot to sit and relax, it’s all important.”
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.
Guy Drennan paints a mural depicting Pacific Northwest Native American images on a concrete sound wall in Vancouver. Photos courtesy of the author.
22
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
23
Feature: A Fort Vancouver “Nutcracker”
A Fort Vancouver “Nutcracker” Local History Inspires a Reimagining of the Beloved Classic By Claire Curtis
“The Nutcracker” ballet, originally performed in 1892, surprisingly, was a flop. Yet, today it is considered a cardinal winter tradition by many. The music composed by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, follows the storyline of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” written by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. Hoffmann’s story surrounds a young girl named Clara and the fantastical adventures she goes on with her nutcracker; a toy that was given to her by her uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer. Becky Moore, director of Columbia Dance in Vancouver, shared that her dance company has been performing a traditional “Nutcracker” for 22 years. Now, they are in the process of reimagining the classic to take place at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, with funding grants from the City of Vancouver’s Culture, Art and Heritage Grant, and Clark County’s Historic Promotion Grants Program. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the show did not go on as planned. Instead, Columbia Dance continued preparing a unique “Nutcracker” with their own twist, mixing the classic story with the local history of Vancouver, particularly Fort Vancouver in the 1840s when it was a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. “We formed partnerships with numerous community organizations surrounding our new historically inspired ‘Nutcracker,’” Moore said.
Filming a Historically Inspired Trailer
In a desire to uphold tradition during 2020, Columbia Dance created a short trailer of their upcoming “Nutcracker” on location at Fort Vancouver. “Fort Vancouver National Historic Site/National Park Service granted us permission and we always had one of their employees present supervising the filming,” explained Moore. “Any antiques that needed to be moved for the filming were only handled by parks employees. We were extremely respectful of our space and beyond grateful to have the privilege of filming there .
24
Columbia Dance performance program courtesy Columbia Dance.
. . While our live production will take place on a stage with a set reconstructed to look like the Chief Factor’s dining room in Fort Vancouver (designed by Thyra Hartshorn), shooting the trailer on site was a special treat.” While filming the trailer during 2020 COVID lockdowns, Columbia Dance chose resident photographer Troy Wayryen, who is also a frequent videographer at the Fort. Wayryen took many precautions to ensure the health and safety of the performers. “Casting was done so that only immediate family members appeared in the same shot,” Moore continued. “Many of the scenes were filmed with only the cast member(s) in the building. I directed from outside and Troy shot the footage through open doors and windows.”
The Show Will Go On
With most restrictions now lifted, Columbia Dance is thrilled to bring back live performances of “The Nutcracker” this season “weaving local history into a fantastical tale of childhood wonder.” Borrowing historical names from the era, many of the “new” characters experienced living at Fort Vancouver. “Cecilia Douglas was a real person who lived at Fort Vancouver as are many of the party guests who will join her,” shared Moore. “Dr. McLoughlin was a real-life, well-respected figure in the community, but it is doubtful he would have performed magic tricks at a party, as he will in our production.”
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
continued on page 26
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Feature: A Fort Vancouver “Nutcracker” (cont'd) continued from page 24
Celia, in place of Clara, will not dream of a battle between soldiers and mice, but instead will witness a scuffle between beavers and fur trappers. Later on, the snowflakes will dance along the Columbia River as they follow the Moon Woman, Ilchee. “In a 1.5hour story ballet, we can only touch on one small aspect of the ancient and nuanced history of the Chinook people, and we must be careful when referencing motifs and lore that are not part of our own experience. One of our historical collaborators mentioned a Chinook moon goddess, Ilchee, whom we have chosen to use as an inspiration for the role traditionally dubbed ‘Snow Queen.’ ‘Nutcracker’ is meant to be a fairy tale children’s ballet, not a historical documentary, yet we strive to highlight the cultural diversity of 1840s Vancouver,” Moore acknowledged.
for the curriculum, creation of an educational video, as well as transportation expenses for busing the students to a matinee of our ‘Nutcracker’ performance. There are 17 dance teachers and approximately 1,700 students participating,” Moore told me.
This year, only the first act will feature the characters in 1840s inspired costumes, while the second act will be the traditional “Nutcracker” that so many have grown to love. “In 2022 we will complete fundraising, costumes, sets and choreography for Act II, allowing us to debut the new historically themed production in its entirety in December [that year].”
“Once COVID is behind us, we look forward to doing more outreach events at schools, festivals, senior living homes, etc.”
With this partnership, students will practice some of the choreography that they will see during the live performance. They will also learn some of the history of Fort Vancouver and compare the plots of the old and new Nutcracker stories. Pantomime, its history and its use in ballet to tell a story, will also be discussed. Finally, students will learn about the work of the production team, such as set and costume designers, their roles and everything that goes on backstage to put on the show.
Connecting Ballet and Education
After hearing about Columbia Dance’s historic production, Traci Young, visual and performing arts coordinator for Vancouver Public Schools, approached Moore to create a program for young students in the district. Young had discovered a grant offered by ArtsWA for an Arts in Education Partnership enabling the school to work with a nonprofit arts organization. “[Young] approached me about creating a ‘Nutcracker’ curriculum for VPS 3rd grade students, using the grant to fund teacher training
Columbia Dance performers film historically accurate “Nutcracker” scenes on location at Fort Vancouver. Photos courtesy Columbia Dance.
26
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
continued on page 28
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Feature: A Fort Vancouver “Nutcracker” (cont'd) continued from page 26
Perseverance and Persistence Pay Off
COVID-19 taught Moore and Columbia Dance dancers many things, primarily perseverance and flexibility both off and on the dance floor. “2020-2021 brought lost performance revenue and decreased enrollment,” Moore said, “but it also brought tangible proof that arts education is essential. Our students showed up!” When lockdown phases and rules were hard to keep up with, the company did whatever they could to keep on dancing. While performing at the outdoor Arts Alive event on Franklin Street in September, dancers used tennis shoes instead of ballet slippers as they performed on a rain-soaked cement stage. Later, plans for a live-streamed “Nutcracker” were changed into previously recorded solos and Zoom performances. Restrictions made typical lessons difficult, but not impossible. “We chose a five dancer in-person learning rather than the more profitable hybrid model because our students needed a safe space to [physically] gather in. We rented a vineyard and a stage because our families needed to see their children dance.” In June of 2020, dancers were able to perform outside at Jacquot Farm and Vineyard in Brush Prairie. “The stage and audience were
covered, but the dancers still had to make it from their dressing room through torrential rain to the stage. Despite a communitybuilt tent city, the last two performances required the dancers to don trash bags over their pointe shoes only to be gracefully removed by a volunteer as they stepped onstage,” recalled Moore. After all these obstacles, “The Nutcracker” that so many dancers and community members look forward to, is back on. “We moved forward building our brand new Fort Vancouver inspired ‘Nutcracker’ because we knew that our community would emerge from this pandemic craving live performance,” said Moore. “Our vision remains future-oriented and dedicated to the youth in our community.”
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, read, quilt, ride her bike and visit with friends. You can find her on Instagram at @3kidsandapark.
Top strip: Columbia Dance performers rehearse via Zoom. Photos courtesy Columbia Dance.
Bottom left and right: Young Columbia Dance performers dance at Downtown Vancouver’s Arts Alive event, held on September 18, 2021. Photos by the author.
Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to watch Columbia Dance’s historically inspired “Nutcracker” video trailer, and for live “Nutcracker” performance dates and times. 28
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Calendar
of events
November '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 29 30
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.
5 FRIDAY
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents Impulse XV at Brunish Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway Ave., Portland. The Pacific Northwest’s award-winning premier teen improv group is back for another season of laughs! Now in its 15th year, a new class of comedic comrades will create fast-paced scenes and games—all based on audience suggestions. Get ready for a quick-witted, hilarious night! Tickets $12-$15 at octc.org. 7:30-9:00 pm Downtown Camas First Friday: Thankful for You (and Pie)! In Downtown Camas. Enjoy pie tastings, a pie walk dance party, pie raffles, autumn crafts, kindness and gratitude activities, art shows, shopping, dining and more. 5-8 pm First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Vancouver. Art galleries, live music, food and drink and more. Full schedule and interactive map at vdausa.org/first-friday.
6 SATURDAY
activities
guided tour as local artists open their studios to the public and share how, why, and where their art is created. This is a unique opportunity to visit artists and artisans, get inspired, and shop local. The tour will include a hybrid of experiences that include video demos and live studio sharing leading up to the tour, opportunities for online shopping and viewing by appointment for high-risk visitors, as well as the traditional in-person tour. This new hybrid approach will be flexible to safety protocols while producing an inclusive event with opportunities for all visitors to engage safety. Use your mobile device as your guide to access the Open Studio Google Tour Map with all the studio locations during the two-day tour. You can also download and print a PDF of the tour map by section if you prefer. Visit artstra.org/open-studios/ for the map and more information. 10 am-5 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre presents Impulse XV at Brunish Theatre. (See Nov. 5 for more details) 7:30-9 pm
7 SUNDAY
Clark County Open Studios Tour. Discover Clark County’s creative side in a free self-
Clark County Open Studios Tour. (See Nov. 6 for more details) 10 am-5 pm
Oregon Children’s Theatre presents Impulse XV at Brunish Theatre. (See Nov. 5 for more details) 2-3:30 pm
18 THURSDAY
Third Thursdays in Downtown Camas. “Fall” in love with Downtown Camas: after-hours shopping, dining, sipping and special activities or menus in downtown businesses. 5-8 pm
19 FRIDAY
“Merry Happy Everything!” presented by Oregon Children’s Theatre at Brunish Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway Ave., Portland. A Holiday Extravaganza of Memories, Merriment, and Music. Tickets $24 for kids and $28 for adults at octc.org. 7:30 pm
20 SATURDAY
Discovery Day Camp at Camp Hope, 12800 NE Roper Rd., Battle Ground. History challenge course, nature walks and hiking, horseback riding, orienteering, archery, arts and crafts projects, woodworking, outdoor survivor skills and team building, scavenger hunts, fire starting, caving, plant identification, games, making new friends and memories. continued on next page
AT-SU
S Adrienne Eliades
Michelle Allen 30
Christian Barrios
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
See local artists at work in their studios through Clark County Open Studios Tour. Photos courtesy Clark County Open Studios.
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continued from previous page Snacks and lunch provided. $40 per camper. 9:30 am-3:30 pm CooperCon 2021 at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Special 50th Anniversary edition! Passes on sale now at kigginstheatre. com! Hear experts discuss all aspects of D.B. Cooper, America’s only unsolved skyjacking. See a real Cooper $20 bill from the ransom money found, a parachute just like the one Cooper used, a tie clip just like the one Cooper left behind on the jet, and much more. Authors will be on-hand to autograph copies of their books. Admission for both days is $20 (no single day passes). 10 am-4 pm Why Racing Shuffle for Share 5K Run/ Walk! A free virtual, no-frills event to raise funds for Share, a local nonprofit that leads the hungry and homeless to self-sufficiency by providing food, shelter, housing, education, advocacy, and compassion through the strength of our community. You can complete the race anywhere around the world including a treadmill, a local path, or favorite running/ walking route, any time between Nov 21-28. It’s your race, your terms, your Thanksgiving Holiday! When you register, the registration fee will be comped and you will register by donation with 100% going directly to Share.
Each runner or walker will receive a Leftover Shirt, Medal, and Swag Bag. Overall and age group awards will be provided to top finishers and all runners/walkers will receive a finishers’ certificate. We will create an official Photo Album, Video, and host a virtual awards ceremony. Packet pickup times are Nov 19 10 am-7 pm and Nov 20 10 am-2 pm. Merry Happy Everything! At Brunish Theatre (See Nov. 19 for more details) 2 pm & 5 pm
21 SUNDAY
CooperCon 2021 at Kiggins Theatre. (See Nov. 20 for more details) 10 am-4 pm Merry Happy Everything! At Brunish Theatre (See Nov. 19 for more details) 11 am & 2 pm
25 THURSDAY
Clark County Turkey Trot at Klineline Pond, 1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver. Annual 5K and 10K run benefiting Clark County Food Bank. Race registration is $30. Check clarkcountyfoodbank.org for updates on if it will be in-person or the multi-site, 5 courses throughout Clark County used in 2020. 9 am
26 FRIDAY
Jurassic Quest at Clark County Event Center, 17402 NE Delfel Rd., Ridgefield. North America’s largest and most realistic dinosaur event. Guests walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods and experience for themselves what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds. Jurassic Quest is the only interactive dinosaur event that has over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs in each of its indoor touring shows from the very small to the gigantic. Tickets $18-36 at jurassicquest.com/events/ridgefield-wa, 9 am-8 pm
27 SATURDAY
Jurassic Quest at Clark County Event Center. (See Nov. 25 for more details) 9 am-8 pm
28 SUNDAY
Jurassic Quest at Clark County Event Center. (See Nov. 25 for more details) 9 am-6 pm
advertiser index Camps & Classes The Little Gym..................................................3 Journey Theater.............................................27 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................29 Events Ball Drop 5k, 10k, Half Marathon...................29 Korey's Joy Drive............................................21 Oregon Children’s Theatre.............................19 Santa's Posse 5k............................................29 Shuffle for Share 5K.......................................29 Financial Warner Brown Financial.................................19
Fitness The Little Gym..................................................3 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................29 Health All Star Orthodontics........................................7 Barnick Chiropractic.......................................11 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................2 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................27 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage...........29 Storybook Dental............................................19 Vancouver Clinic.............................................13
Resources All Families Surrogacy......................................2 Applied Team Insurance...................................3 Great Northwest Installations...........................7 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars...............3 Retail Kazoodles Toys..............................................25 Vancouver Mall...............................................15 Schools, Education & Child Care St. Andrew Preschool.....................................11 Southwest Washington Learning Center........32
Legal Schauermann Thayer.....................................23
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • November 2021
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Where LifeLong Learning Begins
Southwest Washington Learning Center Exceptional care and education provided by highly qualified staff Infant to 12 years Convenient Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. M-F
Infants 5 days Full-Time only $1455/mo (335.77 wk) Current Openings won’t last long!
Toddlers 5 days Full-time (13mos to 35 mos) $1225/mo (282/wk)
e Part-tim lso a s e t a r le! availabat:
visit us s.com earn www.swl
Preschool—through Schoolage (36 mos. To 12 years) $1055/mo (243.67/wk)
Minutes from Downtown Vancouver,Felida, and Salmon Creek Easy access to I-5 and 205
Schedule a Tour or Pre-register Online!!
360-573-7007 www.swlearns.com