Vancouver Family Magazine June 2020

Free June 2020

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DAD DAYS:

Real Time with Real Superheroes Honoring the CLASS OF

2020

How a Community Came Together^

to Fight a Pandemic

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Photos courtesy of City of Vancouver, C-TRAN, and PeaceHealth

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contents

June ‘20

18

FEATURE ARTICLES

12

How a Community Came Together to Fight COVID-19 The hidden community helpers in Clark County’s fight against coronavirus

18

Dad Days Real quality time with real superheroes

22

Pomp and Circumstance Honoring the class of 2020

30

How to Fall As her daughter learns to ride a bike, one local mother learns a lifelong lesson

IN EVERY ISSUE

22

8

12

4

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

6

Editor’s Notes

8

The New Domesticity A legacy of laughter

10

Renaissance Dad Neckties, Old Spice and Father's Day

ON THE WEB • Coping During COVID-19: Resources from Clark County Public Health • Virtual Community Events and Activities in Our Online Calendar • Blood donors and American Red Cross respond to needs in Southwest Washington

Dream big. Plan ahead.

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Vancouver Family • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020 5

EDITOR'S NOTES

Show Up, Awkwardly “Stay awkward, brave and kind,” urges revered author, speaker and researcher Dr. Brené Brown. I seem to have no trouble with the awkward part of this counsel, as exhibited when my 14-year-old daughter and I visited a friend who lives alone, to offer some love and cheer. Our plan was to “heart attack” her front door—a morbid term for a very much light-“hearted” act of preparing paper heart cutouts with fun and encouraging messages written on them, then stealthily taping them to the door of the recipient before absconding in a getaway car to maintain anonymity, hopefully precluding a call to the cops by nosy/attentive neighbors. We knew we were toast when we arrived at our friend’s home only to find her loyal dog standing guard in the front window, poised to alert her beloved owner of any intruders.

The dog seemed to sound the siren almost before we got out of the car.

We ignored the alarm, ran up her driveway and began frantically taping the hearts onto her screen door, only to find most of them limply falling to the ground as the tape refused to adhere to the screen door material.

We persevered but were soon busted by our beneficiary. Our friend opened her door and we stepped back, keeping our recommended six feet of distance. There was a moment of confusion as she noticed shapes of paper and tape on her porch floor and in our hands. I awkwardly explained what we were doing, jokingly scolded her for catching us in the act, and we all laughed at our attempt at a refined presentation. We gave her the rest of the decorated hearts, chatted briefly, then headed home, hearts beating from the surprise and the delight of the encounter.

Our friend called me later to tell me our small awkward act had been an answer to her very personal prayers on a tough day.

When we show up for friends, family or strangers in our own community we’re bound to socially stumble. In fact, Dr. Brown asserts that when we truly give of ourselves, we are practically guaranteed to invite mishaps, criticism and even disparagement at times. We need to show up anyway.

Ditch the perfectionism, and resist the urge to wait until you’ve got your life in order before you’ll reach out to others. Something will always be missing from our lives when we dwell in our own insecurities or pride.

Conversely, something very special happens within us when we give, especially to those who can’t return any favors. Step outside—literally or figuratively—today and discover what a little bit of well-intentioned awkwardness can invite into your life. Believe me, it pays off.

In this issue, learn more about the brave and kind (though surely rarely awkward) hidden helpers in our community who joined the fight against COVID-19 (page 12). Plus, join us in celebrating the high school class of 2020 and true superheroes (AKA dads) in our lives (pages 22 and 18).

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 19, Issue 6 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

Julianna Lawson, Carrie Lynn, Muyoka Mwarabu, Perry P. Perkins

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 2002-2020. 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:

The Fordice family of Vancouver pauses in front of downtown Vancouver's Turtle Place as they spend some time together. They love bike rides, playing in their yard and having dance parties together in the living room.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

7

THE NEW DOMESTICITY

the

NEW DOMESTICITY

1

Good Med i ci ne

By Julianna Lawson

For the first few weeks of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, our family was decidedly running on adrenaline. We created our own version of “The Great British Baking Show,” staging a family sandwich competition. We corralled extended family and began writing a postally exchanged mystery serial. We bought seeds and started a victory garden (for which I inexplicably summoned the ability to weave a compost basket, as one does).

Friends, I should have known the exuberance wouldn’t last. About a month into this high-octane existence, we hit a wall. We were irritable. We were tired. We didn’t even know what day it was.

One night, I decided to take action. I pulled out the twinkle lights, draped them about the living room, and announced that a family dance party would begin in 30 minutes.

Soon, the 80s playlist was cranked up. The girls needed little encouragement to hit the dance floor; but when the guys joined in? That’s when the fun really started. I think it was somewhere in the midst of a “total eclipse of the heart” that we grew downright silly, and laughter took over. Our moves were not impressive. Our coordination was lacking. Yet we danced on. And we laughed.

Again this month, I find myself writing in a time of uncertainty.

There is much we can’t anticipate or plan for. But one thing I know for certain: laughter does a world of good, no matter the circumstances. Perhaps you’ve heard the proverb, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Let’s use the word “laugh” to explore this delightful remedy.

L is for Limbic System Did you know that laughter really is good medicine? Vancouver native Sarah Jackson Panther is a health coach in Southern California, where she encourages her clients to be attentive to the

brain’s remarkable ability to heal and flourish, especially in seasons of stress. She shares, “The limbic system is the brain’s threat alert system. When it senses physical or psychological threat, it initiates the fight-or-flight response, sending stress hormones like epinephrine and cortisol coursing through the body. Overexposure to stress hormones can lead to all sorts of health issues like depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems, and weight gain; but the good news is we can calm the limbic system with laughter! Studies show that a big old belly laugh reduces the body’s stress hormones and bathes the brain in feelgood endorphins, lowering blood pressure and improving immune function and mood.” There’s a reason our family’s dance party felt so good! Not only did we benefit physically from the exercise, but our brains were happy, too.

A is for Attentiveness Pay attention to the things that matter. This is age-old advice, but I believe the pandemic has given us a unique opportunity to focus—with fewer outside distractions—on narrower spheres.

As we eliminate the clutter of extra activity and busy schedules, I would suggest that our sense of humor has greater space in which to develop. Simpler things make us laugh. As with all habits, it takes effort. Just as it takes time to develop a taste for healthier foods when accustomed to junk food, so does the development of humor take time and intentionality. In the case of our dance party, we didn’t feel like exerting energy, but we knew the emotions would follow if we put forth the effort.

U is for Unplug I’ll just dwell here briefly, as we are well aware that excessive screen time has adverse effects. Yet, here we are, now relying on screens to stay connected. So, as we navigate this paradox, remember to still set aside times for the family to unplug and focus continued on next page

8

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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on one another. As with attentiveness above, it allows us to see the joy in the midst of family, rather than passively seeking it on social media.

G is for Games Embrace activities that inspire laughter. My son and I recently rehearsed several “Minuteto-Win-It” games for a church family video series. Such games are bound to make the family laugh! As we blew through straws, trying to send Goldfish crackers across the table, or transferred ping-pong balls from one plate to another using spoons in our mouths, we definitely found ourselves giggling!

H is for Heffalumps and Hairy Baboons Heffalumps and hairy baboons (see “Winnie the Pooh” and “Just So Stories,” respectively) remind us to delight in silly literature. Last Thanksgiving, my kids and their cousins performed a shadow puppet show, featuring Kipling’s, “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk.”

Good heavens, how we laughed! There are many delightful stories to enjoy, and even through branch closures, Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries offer thousands of audio and eBooks for digital loans. Perhaps you might even pay a visit to P.L. Travers’s “Mary Poppins,” and laugh your way to a tea party on the ceiling.

Julianna Lawson and her husband Jamie make their home in Vancouver with their four children, ages 14 to 22. The Lawsons all agree that the best laughs are those that produce silent guffaws, doubled-over posture, and tear-stained faces.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

9

RENAISSANCE DAD

By Perry P. Perkins

So, it’s time for Father’s Day! (Queue the crickets . . .)

Let’s face it, unless you own stock in Sharper Image, Father’s Day rates just between Arbor Day and National Toast Appreciation Week on the sliding scale of anticipated holidays.

I don’t mean to sound whiney (which is man-talk for “I’m about to be whiney”), but it’s hard not to notice a certain . . . disparity . . . between the two parental holidays.

Let’s take a look at the inequality of gifts, just as one example when it comes to these two celebratory events.

Mother’s Day • Fresh flowers • A nice card • Breakfast in bed • A thoughtful gift • Brunch at a fancy restaurant Father’s Day • A tie Now, I will admit that those gift lists probably represent fair compensation for the amount of effort that each parent actually provides in producing said child, but that’s a topic for another day.

Still, children begin planning Mother’s Day weeks in advance, making gifts in school, arguing over flowers, debating which is Mom’s favorite restaurant, calculating the square footage of the kitchen to ensure that there’s enough pancake mix to cover every possible inch. (Seriously, my daughter can start with a 50-lb bag of pancake mix and produce exactly three silver-dollar pancakes-while, at the same time, losing three ladles, a toaster, and the cat in the process.)

10

The same children, however, wake up on Father’s Day morning asking, “Are we still doing that?”

You see, motherhood is a lifelong sacrifice, and moms are often better at many necessary parenting skills, like educating, nurturing, protecting, remembering the exact number of children they have . . . and so on.

Honestly, moms, I don’t know how you do it. I think back on the many invaluable life skills that I learned from my own dad, and it basically boils down to: 1. How to spit.

2. Never cut toward yourself (actually, that was more of a “after the fact” lesson . . .)

3. How to clean a fish.

Even with those . . . my mom loved to fish, and I’m pretty sure that she could have taught me how to clean a fish just as well, if not better, than Dad (adherence to hygiene not being equal) but she deemed it, and most other disgusting jobs, to be “man’s work” (Grandma didn’t raise no foolish daughters!) and so wildlife evisceration, toilet blockages, and trips to the DMV all fell under the classification of man’s work.

In Dad’s defense, he did try to teach me basic car maintenance.

God knows he tried.

Sadly, whatever greasy little gene is passed along from father to son while torqueing lug nuts, or whatever, (seriously, I have no idea what I’m talking about) allowing them to bond over a filthy engine, well . . . that’s one grounder I missed.

Dad: “Son, we just spent hours of perfectly good video game playing time, changing out a panful of disgusting black sludge underneath my spider-laden old truck, so you know what to do next time, right?”

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

continued on next page

continued from previous page

Me: “Umm . . . look up Jiffy-Lube in the Yellow Pages?”

(For all you pre-fogies out there, the Yellow Pages was a 15-pound version of Google that got delivered to our doorsteps once a year . . . usually during a driving rain.)

So, I know that my engine repair skills were a huge disappointment to Dad, and most of our father-son bonding sessions in the garage were cut short when dad’s eyeballs started sweating. I’ve always felt a little bad about that. Luckily, I could spit like a rabid llama, so hopefully, that eased his pain a bit.

Anyway, the problem is: I don’t even like ties!

Me: “Hey, where’s my Father’s Day present?”

Pickle (climbing up in my lap, and wrapping her arms around my neck) “Right here, Dad!” Me: “Mrmph...”

In fact, I hate ties.

Pickle: “What?”

I try to only maintain friendships with people 30 years younger than I am, just to escape the possibility of having to wear a tie to their funerals. Seriously, you hit 40 and BAM you’re off the contacts list.

The point is that buying me a tie would be the equivalent of giving my wife a skeet-launcher for Mother’s Day. (It’s a bad idea, fellas . . . trust me.)

Me: “Mrmph...” (pause) Pickle: “Dad, do you want to go outside and see who can spit the furthest?”

Me: “Yeah . . .”

Still, a tie—even an ugly one—is better than what my dad could expect each year: a bottle of cheap cologne (because nothing says “I love you” like making Dad’s co-workers avoid him!). When he passed on, we found 43 bottles of Old Spice in a box under his bed.

Pickle: “Are you OK?” Me: (sniffle) “My eyes are just sweating a little . . .”

Perry P. Perkins is a third-generation chef, award-winning write and culinary instructor in Longview. He operates the MY KITCHEN Outreach Program for at-risk and under-served youth. His writing has appeared in hundreds of publications, including many “Chicken Soup for the Soul” anthologies.

I got the last laugh . . . we buried them with him.

I joke, I joke!

I’m pretty sure that packing 43 bottles of Old Spice will get you a hard U-turn at the pearly gates, and Dad wasn’t exactly showing up with a first-class ticket as it was.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Photo cour tesy of the auth

So, last year I was a bit surprised when I didn’t get the annual neck-torture device for Father’s Day. Given the fact that I complain more about ties than most people do about terrorism, that just goes to show how perceptive I am.

or

Please understand, I waited a long time to become a member of the Father’s Day club, so I had a lot of built-up expectations of how awesome being a dad was going to be. And, short of a little wasted “dress clothes” closet-space, it’s been everything I dreamed it would be, and more.

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Feature: How a Community Came Together to Fight COVID-19

How a Community

By Nikki Klock

Came^ Together^ to Fight COVID-19

March^ 2020 will long be remembered as the

moment that life changed in the United States. COVID-19, first reported in the news as happening “elsewhere” was now most certainly here, and Washington emerged as the nation’s first hotspot. As businesses, schools and churches closed to protect the health of the community, unemployment skyrocketed and families isolated. The economical and health impacts (many of which we have yet to fully comprehend) have been significant and far-reaching, but so has the goodwill response. “Look for the helpers,” Fred Rogers’s mother told him as a boy, “You will always find people who are helping.” Helpers have been overwhelmingly present in Clark County throughout the entire pandemic. Many, such as healthcare workers, have been deservedly and publicly applauded for their frontline work. Others have been quietly and anonymously using their newfound spare time to find and help others in need, and to innovate in business to help families maintain enriching experiences.

Mask^ Ma^vEns^ Kristyn Morgan and Barbara Rogers are friends who both attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mountain View Ward in Vancouver. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their COVID-19 prevention recommendations to include wearing a mask in public places, the women took action with skills they already had: they started sewing homemade fabric masks to donate to community organizations whose essential (non-medical) workers would need them as general protection. Knowing that their network of fellow church members and friends would be eager to help too, they created a Facebook group to generate fabric donations, fabric cutting help and sewing help. Morgan’s clever college-age son provided the name of their new group--SEWcial Distancing Club—and they got to work. As they put the word out, they reminded helpers that sewing skills were not required. “This group has given people a place to help in ways they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” says Rogers. “If you don’t sew, you would most likely not consider making masks as a way of helping those in your community. But no sewing abilities are required here. We have continued on next page

Community members show off their masks received from Repair Clark County. L-R Shawna Vreeke, Sage Barnard-Davidson, Annette Gallo, Debbie Docksteader. Photos courtesy of Repair Clark County.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Jamie Bair of FVRLibraries shows a completed mask strap printed using FVRL’s Lulzbot Mini 3D printers

continued from previous page

something for everyone of every talent and skill level to do.” Within four days of organizing their efforts, the group had grown to over 100 members who together completed over 400 masks, and that was just the beginning.

Within a month, the group had over 400 members throughout the community who completed 10,000 masks that were donated to more than 100 businesses, nonprofit organizations and public departments, includingpage Veterans Affairs, Fort Vancouver Regional continued from previous Libraries, Clark County Sheriff’s Department, various retirement communities, City of Vancouver’s Public Works Department, Fort Vancouver Historical Society, Vancouver School District and QFC. Members of these organizations and many more benefitted greatly from the efforts, but those who participated were rewarded

as well. “[It gave me] a purpose and something to focus on outside of myself and my situation,” Morgan says. “What has surprised me is how important it has become not only to the recipients but to those volunteering their time, talents and resources to create these masks. They tell us their depression, stress and anxiety has lessened and they feel connected to a group of people in a time where we are socially isolated. The entire experience has been extremely rewarding.”

Terra Heilman of Repair Clark County also caught the mask making bug early on in the pandemic, after seeing reports on social media of individuals sewing face masks. “I realized that PPE [personal protective equipment] might be in short supply [for healthcare workers] and I also realized we had some [individuals within Repair Clark County’s volunteer base] who had the sewing skills to help,” she recalls. “I spent the next day and a half or so trying to determine what would be needed to get this idea off the ground—what patterns would we use? Who could use the masks? How would we distribute them? continued on page 14

FVRL’s Lulzbot Mini 3D printers produce mask strap extender for increased comfort.

Photos courtesy of FVRLibraries.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

13

Feature: How a Community Came Together to Fight COVID-19 (cont'd) continued from page 13

Then, when I decided we should probably move ahead, I sent out an email to my volunteer base to see if anyone would be interested in helping with the project. The response was overwhelming.” With skilled volunteers ready to go, the group got to work creating masks for A Caring Closet, Meals on Wheels, The ALS Association and The Humane Society, using donated materials. But Heilman didn’t stop there.

Again tapping into her network of partners and volunteers, she put out a call for 3D printers that could be used to manufacture “ear saver” mask strap extensions that take the pressure off the back of the ears, making masks more comfortable for those wearing them for long periods of time.

Jamie Bair, experiential learning librarian at Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries (FVRL), answered the call. “Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries owns seven Lulzbot Mini 3D printers and actively monitored all the community-sourced projects emerging early in the pandemic, especially those that require 3D printed components,” she shares. Heilman’s call for 3D printers landed in Bair’s inbox and the two joined forces. “We relocated all of our 3D printing equipment to [FVRL’s] Operations Center in Vancouver and can make around 200 in a week. We will continue to print mask strap extenders for as long as needed and anticipate the 3D

printing equipment will be reserved for this project for the foreseeable future.”

Food^ For^ Families^ As the need for masks as protection against COVID-19 was steadily growing within Clark County, so was the need for food, as thousands of individuals lost their incomes due to state-mandated business closures. Share in Vancouver was poised to meet that need through various food distribution points, including Share House and local schools, but their usual operations needed to be significantly modified. “Our costs have increased for various reasons, from the need to purchase containers and utensils for each to-go meal, to the loss of volunteers [due to increased age and risk] and need to pay staff for the preparation and serving, to purchasing food from local grocery stores versus local food banks,” says Jessica Lightheart, Share’s community relations director. But, on a positive note, new volunteers have stepped up to prepare and serve a dramatic increase in to-go meals through Share’s Hot Meals program.

Many partnering organizations have made Share’s monumental efforts possible. “We serve a vulnerable population,” Lightheart continues, “and have been able to apply for grants that are available to nonprofits who have experienced issues such as

increased staffing costs for COVID-19 related operations, increased cost of food and distribution to individuals and families in need, and housing of homeless individuals. We are grateful to have been the recipient of grants from PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center, Community Foundation Southwest Washington, Bank of America, and Swiggert Family Foundation.”

Inno^vAtion^ During^ Isolation^ Funding can make all the difference to nonprofit organizations like Share, and also to small businesses whose bottom lines have been severely impacted by Governor Inslee’s mandated business closures. As this economic reality set in alongside the health and food access concerns of the crisis, businesses quickly found creative ways to make their products and services available to loyal customers, even through the stay home orders. And customers responded, helping the local economy weather the pandemic, and helping families retain a sense of normalcy.

Kazoodles Toy Store in Cascade Park began offering virtual shopping appointments through video calls and curbside pickup in March, in addition to expanding their online store. “Our customers have been extremely positive and supportive,” says owner Leah Pickering. “While there continued on next page

Share staff and volunteers sort and serve food at Share’s warehouse.

Photo courtesy Share.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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are challenges with the current situation, we’re fortunate to have such a loyal customer base. Many prefer to shop instore, so switching to an online-only model was not an option. That’s where

the phone consultations and video chats came in . . . Love is an action word, and our customer’s love for us has inspired us to keep showing up to love them right back. It’s a giant love circle sustaining us.”

Riverside Performing Arts in Hazel Dell also had to make s o m e

major pivots in operating a performing arts academy and preschool from a safe distance. “Our staff had an emergency meeting on March 16th on how to teach live via Zoom,” says owner Annie Warf. “We took the 17th to completely readjust our curriculum to teach 100% of our classes, private lessons and our performing arts preschool online.” Warf and her husband and executive continued on page 16

Christine Davis, Lani Davis and Sierra Allen sort food at Share’s warehouse.

Riverside Performing Arts owner and artistic director, Annie Warf, rehearses in front of a green screen. Photos courtesy Riverside Performing Arts.

Photo courtesy Share.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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Feature: How a Community Came Together to Fight COVID-19 (cont'd) continued from page 15

director, Scott Craig, weren’t sure how families would respond to the new mode, but they forged ahead. Fortunately, the move was a hit. “Most of our students continued with their lessons and those who had moved away joined again,” says Warf.

“We gained new students whose schools closed and did not offer an alternative.”

The Zoom classes were so successful that Warf and Craig expanded on the theme by partnering with Bobby P. Media to create professionally filmed dance

tutorials for enrolled students, and even a “one of a kind ‘edutaining’ performing arts preschool using a green screen to teach letters, numbers, sight words, etc., using dance music, and theatre,” Warf describes. “We are hoping to turn that into a show that can be available to everyone in our community.”

While virtual classes and events and curbside pickup may have become business models for many retailers, and

customers have snagged gift cards to use at a later date, that later date—the now-near future when things go “back to normal” and the COVID-19 shutdown is a memory—can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, the Clark County community has proven that in the event of a crisis, we have the heart, the will and the stamina to face whatever comes our way.

Nikki Klock has been the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine since 2006. She loves learning about the remarkable things that ordinary people do all over Clark County.

^ In^vO t e G l^ vEd^ !

Get involved in Share’s mission to provide food to local families.

During the week of June 1-7, 2020, Share will hold their Appeal for Meals campaign (historically called the Hunger Appeal). Monetary donations will support Fresh Food Pantries, Backpack, Summer Meals and Hot Meals Programs, and the need is bigger than ever. Go to www.sharevancouver.org for details on how to donate.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare to-go meals at Share House, and in the current facility, volunteers are able to maintain social distancing as they pack each meal. Contact Molly Evjen at mevjen@sharevancouver.org or 360-9528228 to help.

Share’s hunger and nutrition programs manager, Becci Read-Ryan, serves to-go meals at Share House’s meal door. Photo courtesy of Share.

Donations of new, high-need items, such as non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items or homemade masks (gender neutral colors preferred) can be donated by arranging a drop off time with Heather Walker at hwalker@sharevancouver.org or 360-952-8312.

Share’s Summer Meals program runs from the end of June through early August, and will be prepared and provided grab-n-go style. Volunteers are needed to prepare and package meals, drop-off/pick-up meals in coolers to meal sites, and staff sites to distribute meals. Contact Molly Evjen at mevjen@ continued on next page sharevancouver.org or 360-952-8228 to help.

16

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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continued from previous page

Get involved with Repair Clark County, hosted by

Columbia Springs, by sharing your sewing, fixing, mechanic, handyman or sharpening skills with the community in order to reduce waste and conserve resources. Go to www.columbiasprings. org/repair to learn more.

Rudy Diaz shows off a mask made by a Repair Clark County volunteer.

Photo courtesy Repair Clark County.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

17

Feature: Dad Days

DAD DAYS

By Carrie Lynn

Long before it was cool, trendy or a topic of

popular conversation, my dad was an integral part of my life. My dad was still attending college during my early formative years. Fifty years later I can still visualize him striding over the hill from campus, dressed like an actor from the Apollo 13 movie. To me, he might as well have been donning a superhero cape, but in actuality it was a plastic pen holder in his shirt pocket and brief case in hand.

Though he didn’t know it, his love of academia rubbed off on me. I credit those memories of him tramping home from campus for planting the seeds of my future education.

Like most dads of the 1970s, mine was the breadwinner. Mom was the “Chief in Charge” at home. However, my dad was progressive for the time—he hung out with us. Annually he would bring our bikes to school for new licenses when “Bike Safety Day” rolled around. He walked us home from the neighborhood swim club each evening in summer, and spent untold hours guiding me through the misery of junior high and high school mathematics. His best moments, though, were on Saturdays.

I don’t know who originally arranged it, but Saturday was yard day. Because we were a single car family, Mom often went to the grocery store continued on page 20

With my father, Lyle Topham, in 1964 in Orleans, France.

Photo courtesy of the author.

18

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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19

Feature: Dad Days (cont'd) continued from page 18

Dad didn’t have any underlying agenda when we hung out. He was just doing what he thought was wisest and best. He’d grown up on a farm where everyone worked side by side, and he was carrying on that model in our suburban neighborhood. Yet his choice affected me deeply. It set the stage for all my later development.

The Fatherhood Project, a nonprofit fatherhood organization in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, states, “A father’s active participation and emotional

engagement with his children leads to improved social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes.” This conclusion is based in part on studies conducted by The Harvard Center on the Developing Child. But Dad didn’t know about the Harvard study, he just enjoyed being with us.

As the years evolved, park days and yard work gave way to swim meets and other youth events. There were also tricky conversations to navigate. Because we had worked and played together, those conversations were easier on both of us. Dad also insisted that we have those conversations over dishes of ice cream, heaped with toppings. Even hard conversations had an ounce of joy when dad was at the helm.

Decades later, I married and my husband, Garen, and I became parents ourselves.

Without even knowing it, my Garen kept up the tradition of hanging with the kids, beginning with our middle daughter, Elaine, who had a hankering for a horse.

Knowing that owning a horse was out of our league, and unclear if Elaine was

Photo courtesy of the author.

and other errands while Dad, my brother and I tackled the yard chores of mowing, edging and weeding. I hated it all. I would moan, cry, and stall. To make matters worse, I suffered from seasonal allergies.

But Saturday after Saturday, dad would coax me through the process. His biggest bribe was a trip to the local park if we finished by noon. It worked every time.

Once complete, he would bike down to the park with us and play soccer, watch dog training, anything we wanted. Every week it worked like magic. My whining would diminish. My tired hands would work a bit more. All for the chance to go play.

Elaine riding Strawberry with Dad nearby at 4C Farms in Vancouver in 2002.

truly prepared for the commitment, he made an arrangement with a local barn for her to muck stalls nightly to earn a horse. I doubted it would work. She was an itty-bitty 8-year-old. They both proved me wrong. Night after night, it was her voice calling out, “Come on Dad, we gotta go.” Ice, snow, heat, allergies. Nothing deterred her. Eventually she claimed her beloved horse. Together they began the long haul of lessons, 4-H, competitions, and finally endless days competing at the Clark County Fair. Today she is on the equestrian team at University of Glasgow Scotland, where she is obtaining her master’s degree. None of that would have happened without her dad. continued on next page

A father's active participation and emotional engagement with his children leads to improved social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes.

-The Fatherhood Project 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Photos courtesy of the author.

Have you heard about the Online Exclusives at VancouverFamily Magazine.com?

Find special locally-focused, online-only content to support your parenting, your health, and your well-being. www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Top: Clarissa and her little brother Mitch skiing on Mount Hood with Dad (taking the photo) in 2006.

Bottom: Clarissa and Garen skiing in the Colorado Rockies in 2020 on their annual father/daughter trip.

continued from previous page

For our oldest daughter, Clarissa, skiing became the father/daughter pursuit.

Meadow Glade Elementary School sent a busload of upper-grade kids to Mount Hood for a weekly ski day during the winter term of school. Dad and daughter never missed a Thursday on the slopes. It was more than just skiing. On the bus ride, he met her friends and classmates in a happy, carefree environment. Lunch breaks in the lodge provided the same one-on-one time that my dad’s ice cream dates had done years earlier. Drowsy rides home afforded him quiet reverie as his first baby was growing up too fast. Now, 20 years later, as an adult living on her own, they still share slope time together with an annual ski week get away. Just recently, while my husband was up skiing at Mount Hood

Meadows, he saw the Meadow Glade School Bus parked in the snowy lot. He took a photo and sent it to her. Her reply: “#bestmemories.”

non-workdays, pursuing activities that are child-centered, or fun for the child, seems to be the best predictor of a good father/ child relationship.”

The Fatherhood Project was right. Those two daughters are thriving. Both college graduates, both with lives blessed with friends, and both out shaping the world for good. All of this because of dedicated dads. You really do shape the world.

In a world based on superheroes, step into the role of a lifetime: be the best hang-out dad there is. When they are grown, those kids will come to you for advice, support, and to share their dreams. Marvel heroes can’t do that.

“Fathers who make the choice to devote their time on non-workdays to engaging with their children directly seem to be developing the best relationships,” said Geoffrey Brown, of the University of Georgia, who conducted a 2018 study of father/child relationships. “And on those

Carrie Lynn is an avid reader and emerging writer living in Vancouver. Her first memoir, “Finding Fitzgerald,” is now available at www.widopublishing.com. When not reading or writing, she can be found coordinating Vancouver’s nonprofit Winter Hospitality Overflow (W.H.O.) or traveling with her family.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

21

Feature: Pomp and Circumstance: Honoring the Class of 2020

& POMP CIRCUMSTANCE Honoring the Class of 2020

Amid the chaos and confusion

of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the months that immediately followed, a generation of babies was born who would never know a life without the threat of terrorist attacks, school shootings and online predators. Suicide and homicide became some of the leading causes of death for this generation, and mental illness was not an uncommon reality. But this generation also had hope. Fueled by a rejection of previous stereotypes and assumptions, and linked together by social media and continual broadcasting, this generation knew there was work to be done within themselves and without, in “the real world.” What they didn’t expect was that as they prepared to enter that world, they would again experience chaos and confusion, but of a very different sort.

The enemy this time was microscopic, elusive and more deadly than the terrorist attacks that this generation heard about every year but couldn’t remember. This enemy would become one this generation would never forget, because it robbed them of some of the crowning events that they had taken for granted during their 13 years of formal education. Spring sports seasons, band festivals, state competitions, educational trips, prom—all canceled in order to protect against the invisible enemy. Unlike the climactic attacks on the twin towers in the year many of them were born, high school seniors experienced an anticlimax, a missing conclusion to their formative educational years, and to their childhood. They were devastated, and yet they had done harder things before. And they knew their community of teachers, administrators, family members, friends and even celebrities they’d only ever followed on social media grieved with them.

This month, we at Vancouver Family Magazine honor this generation—Clark County’s high school class of 2020—and we proudly present a few snapshots that represent a much greater number of individuals who have overcome obstacles, broken down barriers, developed both personally and socially and who have rightfully earned their achievements, regardless of any formal pomp and circumstance. Our caps are off to you, and we expect great things from you.

22

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Area stadiums light up their scoreboards to celebrate the Class of 2020. Photo courtesy Evergreen Public Schools.

A group of Columbia River High School seniors, most of whom have been friends since elementary school, took a trip to Seattle before the pandemic closed schools. Pictured L-R: Darby Killeen, Ryan Brosig, Jeb Bennett, Annie Benson, Jackson Kleier, Riley Hosford, Sam Brown, Jolee Shields, Hannah Mitchelson, Graeme Palmersheim and Cole Delich.

Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Vancouver School District honors Skyview High School's seniors. Photo courtesy Sarah Hawker.

Lucy Otto is a senior at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. She enjoys horse riding, creative writing, playing video games and violin. She'll attend Central WA University where she hopes to continue horse riding.

Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Columbia River High school senior Annie Benson will attend Boise State University this fall. Her favorite quote is “You don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing.”

–George Bernard Shaw (and Kristie Benson) Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Garrett Howell is graduating from Vancouver i-Tech Preparatory and will be attending WSU Vancouver's mechanical engineering program this fall. As everything begins to open back up, he looks forward to continuing his volunteer blacksmithing at Fort Vancouver.

Andres Solorzano is a bilingual super star XC/track athlete who qualified to compete in state as a high jumper. He’s headed to Western Washington University. He excels at any sport he tries: skiing, rollerblading, mountain biking and skateboarding. Photo by Scarlette Richards.

Photo courtesy Lisa Howell.

Ally Green attended Union High School and will be attending Brigham Young Univeristy in the fall. She is planning on majoring in Elementary Education. Her favorite profound words are “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” – Albus Dumbledore

Photo courtesy Amy Morgan.

"Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education." – Martin Luther King Jr. Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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Feature: Pomp and Circumstance: Honoring the Class of 2020 (cont'd) continued from page 23

Kylie Habkirk is a senior from Washougal High/Running Start. She will study nursing at Eastern Washington University. She says, "I might not be getting the typical senior year or college freshman experience, but I'm excited to be making history with my classmates!" Photo courtesy of Erika Renae Photography.

Teach One to Lead One mentor, Vikki Jensen, congratulates Heritage High School senior, Savannah Kelly with her mom, Rachel Kelly. Photo courtesy

Columbia River senior Darby Killeen loves hiking, drawing and hanging out with friends and family. She'll continue her studies at the University of Washington this fall. Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Teach One to Lead One.

Jake Ard is a senior at Columbia River High School. He is a member of the National Honor Society and will also be graduating with an AA degree from Clark College through the Running Start program. He is planning on attending Brigham Young University-Idaho or Washington State University-Vancouver in the fall.

Ridgefield School District staff hono Ridgefield High School seniors with signs on the campus lawn.

Photo courtesy Ridgefield School District.

Photo by his father, Steve Ard.

Peyton Buchanan is graduating from Prairie High School. He started taking photography classes in high school and discovered that he has a real passion for it. He is excited for the future and plans to pursue a career in photography.

Photo courtesy of Erika Renae Photography.

Photo courtesy Vancouver Public Schools.

24

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

Jackson Kleier, senior at Columbia River High School, was captain of CR and Washington Timbers soccer teams. He likes being involved with his community by participating in clubs and activities such as Mr. and Miss CR. He will attend the University of Washington in the fall.

Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Tristin Green is a senior at Heritage High.

He plans on applying for an internship through IBEW local union to be an electrician. He's also interested in computer science and may pursue that later down the road. He is very excited about the future!

Photo courtesy of Erika Renae Photography.

Jolee Shields, Columbia River senior, plans to attend Boise State University in the fall. She enjoys painting, hammocking and skiing.

She has been involved in Younglife since 6th grade and is a student leader for 2 different branches in Clark County. Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Riley Hosford attended Columbia River High School.

He enjoys flying, skiing, sailing and motorcycle riding and will be heading to WP Carey Business School in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

or h

Brayden Youkon is graduating from Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School. As a student athlete, he has played baseball for Heritage High School. Throughout his four years, he enjoyed playing the sport he loves and learning about physical fitness and sports medicine. Brayden has committed to further his baseball career at Clark College this fall and will continue studying exercise science.

One thing he has learned is that it is always important to stay focused on your goals, but it is also important not to be so focused that you miss the fun along the way!

Photo courtesy of Erika Renae Photography.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

25

Feature: Pomp and Circumstance: Honoring the Class of 2020 (cont'd) continued from page 25

From left-right: Trent Richards is graduating from Union High School where he was an AP scholar, top 10,NHS co-VP, Eagle Scout and XC/Track athlete.

He loves snow skiing and is headed to Brigham Young University-Provo in the fall.

Calvin Wight is graduating from Camas High School has a heart of gold with a tender spot for those less fortunate. He considers it the highlight of his week when he has opportunities to help people with special needs or any kind of humanitarian aid. His other favorite pastimes are running, working out with his brother and playing as much basketball as humanly possible!

Ben Brittain will be graduating with his associates degree from Clark College.

He will be deferring his acceptance to Brigham Young University for two years so he can serve a mission for his church. He is an avid rock climber, and also loves playing the piano, snow boarding, and basketball. Photo by Scarlette Richards.

Taylor Gookins is graduating from Columbia River High School and will be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain for the fall 2020 semester. She plans to go on to work in the criminal justice system. Photo by Rachel Chatterley.

Ashlie Spruill is a 2020 graduate of Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School (HeLa) in Vancouver. She plans to become a registered nurse. Photo by Paige Major.

Ryan Brosig attended Columbia River High School and will attend WSUV then transfer to San Jose State University to study aviation. He likes hanging out with friends, longboarding and flying. Photo courtesy of True North Portraits by Kristie.

Camryn Ries is graduating from Hudson’s Bay High School. She was accepted to Eastern Washington in Cheney for the criminal justice program. She is heartbroken about not having a “real goodbye” during this senior year! Photo courtesy of Erika Renae Photography.

26

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE. Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention- Clark County Offering short-term interventions which are solution focused and strengths based to youth in crisis.

Free Service(s) Risk Assessment Safety Planning Parent Support Resources Community Connection Youth Crisis Intervention Mental Health Consultation

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Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention of Clark County Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

27

COVID-19 case interviews and contact notifications

1

Health care providers notify Clark County Public Health every time someone tests positive for COVID-19.

2

We call the sick person to see how they are doing. We ask them to stay home until they are no longer considered contagious. This is to ensure they don’t spread the virus to others.

3

We ask the sick person to share some information with us:

· If they have symptoms and when their symptoms started · Where they went while they may have been contagious · Who they had close contact with while they may have been contagious

This information is kept private. We only use it to identify close contacts who may be at risk of getting COVID-19.

Close contacts include everyone who

4

6 ft

was within 6 feet of the sick person for more than 10 minutes

was near the sick person’s coughs or sneezes

lives in the same home as the sick person

5

We call each of those close contacts and ask them to stay home for 14 days. We ask them to stay home so if they develop COVID-19, they don’t get others sick. Staying home the whole time is important because people can spread COVID-19 before they know they are sick.

6

We call or text those close contacts every day to see if they’ve developed symptoms. If so, we help them to get tested. We also ask if they need other help, like someone to pick up their groceries.

cared for the sick person

Learn more and stay up-to-date on COVID-19 information on the County Public Health website

www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/novel-coronavirus 28

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

51920

Who is at risk for novel coronavirus?

Currently the risk to the general public is low. At this time, there are a small number of individual cases in the U.S. To minimize the risk of spread, health officials are working with healthcare providers to promptly identify and evaluate any suspected cases.

Travelers to and from certain areas of the world may be at increased risk. See wwwnc.cdc.gov/ travel for the latest travel guidance from the CDC.

How can I prevent from getting novel coronavirus?

If you are traveling overseas (to China but also to other places) follow the CDC’s guidance: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Right now, the novel coronavirus has not been spreading widely in the United States, so there are no additional precautions recommended for the general public. Steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold will also help prevent coronavirus: ·

wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer.

·

avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

·

avoid contact with people who are sick

·

stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others

·

cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing

Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent novel coronavirus infections.

How is novel coronavirus treated?

There are no medications specifically approved for coronavirus. Most people with mild coronavirus illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medications. However, some cases develop pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization.

For more information: www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/ novel-coronavirus; www.doh.wa.gov/coronavirus Adapted from Public Health – Seattle & King County

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

29

Feature: How to Fall Ajuna mastering her 2-wheel bike after learning how to fall. Photo courtesy of the author.

wear a jersey as long as she didn’t have to actually play the sport.

On the other hand, I had grown up a tomboy. I had gotten on a bike and just figured it out. As my daughter put on her helmet and pads, she looked like she was being booked for jail. We walked up the street with her bike and began her lesson.

Ajuna mounted the bike but refused to move her feet. I held on firmly to the bike and committed to not let go, but she still wouldn’t budge. When I finally did get her to move a bit, the bike tipped. She didn’t even fully fall, but that was the end of the lesson for that day.

The next day I tried something different. “First, I am going to teach you how to fall,” I told my daughter. “You have the right equipment to withstand the fall. When you feel the bike tipping, you have to prepare your body for the shock. Then, as soon as you hit, you have to get back on the bike as quickly as possible. You can’t stay down.” We practiced falling and getting back up, falling and getting back up. I told her the only way to make it is to get past the fall.

“You have to remember your long term goal: to be able to ride with your friends on the trail.”

By Muyoka Mwarabu

I knew things were not good

as soon as I learned that my boss was unexpectedly driving down from Seattle. It was 2017, and I was working at my dream job. I had been working hard, and had built my life plan around moving up in the company. But tough decisions had to be made. My boss took me into the “lay-off” room—the one with the sealed door and glass window, so other employees can see everything, but can’t hear your cries. It was painful. But as the newest employee, I was the first in line to feel corporate America’s sharp ax. They took my company car and called a taxi. I arrived home, with no job, no car, and no plans. I cried for a week straight.

I moped around the house trying to find things to do and eventually found my way to the garage. My daughter’s bike had been sitting there collecting dust while I had been clocking 50 hours a week at work. With much more time now on my hands, I pulled the bike out and removed the training wheels. My daughter is the ultimate girly girl. On Sports Spirit Day at her school, she was only willing to

30

As we practiced falling, I wondered if I had been following my own advice. My dream company was in my rearview mirror and I was heartbroken. I had been laid off for two weeks and not applied for a single other job. Finally, I determined I was going to model what I wanted for my daughter. I started waking up early every day and applying. I had the right equipment, my skills and talent were still there. Rejection letters came and I kept going.

Soon enough, Ajuna mastered riding her two-wheel bike, and I was back in corporate America. We both learned that the only way to make it in this life is to get past the fall.

It has now been three years since I taught my daughter to ride her bike. At the time of this writing, I find myself at home again, collecting unemployment, like many of my neighbors, and unsure what will come next. COVID-19 has taken away the liveliness of our cul-de-sac, no chalk on the sidewalk, no bicycles strewn in the front yard. My daughter waves at her friends from the window as we stumble through online learning. My social butterfly has had her wings clipped (Zoom birthday parties just aren’t the same). But I know there are people in far worse situations, this is temporary and we know how to get through difficulty. We can fall off our bikes five times but we will get up six. The only way to make it in this life is to get past the fall.

Muyoka Mwarabu lives in Vancouver with her daughter, Ajuna. She works in B2B sales and writes after bedtime.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2020

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Vancouver Vancouver FamilyFamily Magazine Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December • June 2016 2020

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