The Recycled Arts Festival started 6 years ago, as a way to educate and get the community excited about waste reduction, reuse, and recycling in Clark County. It has grown into a huge family event, with more and more artists participating every year.

Come on out and peruse the artists’ wares, help your kids make their own handiwork, relax and listen to music, and get all sorts of info on what you can do to improve the environment!
Event Schedule Overview

* Music on the mainstage beginning at 10am each day
* Make-your-own recycled art tent for children both days
* Juggling Stilt Walker

Visit the Website

An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?

Isolated by Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

find it on Amazon

Joy Lasseter, Ph.D. Nutritionist

Ten years in the making! This unique book is a collection of delicious recipes for youngering. Dr. Joy designed it to address the most common health problems in one book (allergies, fatigue, weight issues, blood sugar imbalances, high blood pressure, recovery from cancer, heart attacks and surgery). She has eliminated the most common food allergies from the recipes (wheat, dairy, yeast and peanuts). These easy recipes can help you reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, overcome sugar cravings, improve energy, conquer fatigue and save time.  Her delicious recipes are wheat free, dairy free, low sodium, low fat, high fiber and yeast free. This is a vegetarian book. If you are not a vegetarian you can easily add your favorite animal proteins to these recipes. There are also numerous raw recipes for maximum enzymes benefit.

More than a recipe book, you will find information on holistic nutrition, creating a balanced meal plan, healthy food preparation tips and tools, the truth about oils and fats, common allergy provoking foods, non dairy sources of calcium, food sources of iron and vegetarian sources of protein, and conversion tips for your favorite recipes. With 16 point print the book is easy to read. It lies flat when open. No fighting the pages while you are preparing these simple, easy recipes! paperback

Visit her website

Grief Recovery Weekend
Those grieving the end of a marriage from a death, divorce or permanent separation can find healing by attending a Beginning Experience Weekend June 29 – July 1 at The Griffin Center in Milwaukie, near Clackamas Town Center. Registration by June 25 is recommended.

The program consists of presentations by Beginning Experience team members, periods for private personal reflection and sharing in small groups. The weekend begins on Friday evening and concludes Sunday afternoon. The cost of $195 includes lodging for 2 nights in a double room, 5 meals and resource materials. Special arrangement may be made for extended payments, and partial scholarships are available.

Please call Jeri Shaw at 503-314-36974 for more information. You could also email using this address: shawjeri@frontier.com. Additional information may be found on the website of International Beginning Experience: www.beginningexperience.org.

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OTHER INFORMATION YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW:
Beginning Experience, a peer ministry, was created with the help of the founders of Marriage Encounter in the 1970′s. The Oregon team, active since 1978, provides 3 healing Weekends each year. It is a peer ministry of people who have benefited from this program and have received training to offer the opportunity to others.

A 6-week follow-up support program is available for those who wish to attend the weekly meetings.

Currently,Oregon Beginning Experience team members live throughout NW Oregon and Southwest Washington, including Metropolitan Portland, Vancouver, Salem, The Dalles, Albany and Dallas. The next Weekend will be held December 7 – 9.

The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and the opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, recently announced the results of the first in a series of four meetings, “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers.”

During a time of high unemployment and low economic growth, CPL initiated the 2012 series to stimulate the interest of Baby Boomers in new-business creation.

The first event was held at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO, a focal point for entrepreneurship in America, and attracted almost 100 participants to engage in interactive discussion and dialogue about entrepreneurship. Sponsors of the event included the Kauffman Foundation, AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL.

Written evaluations from the event indicated that almost all participants have a strong desire to start a new business; 97 percent stated they are more likely to create a new business as a result of attending the daylong meeting.

These responses mirror a national trend where increasingly more Baby Boomers are starting their own businesses. In fact, according to the Kauffman Foundation, from 1996 to 2011 the number of Baby Boomers starting a business increased by nearly seven percent, the largest increase among all age groups. For people 20-44, the number of people starting a new business actually fell about five percent during that same time period.

“There is a wide range of individual, economic and societal benefits for the Baby Boomers to start new businesses,” says William Zinke, 85, founder and president of CPL.  “People are living longer, yet often retiring earlier, and recent AARP studies confirm that 80 percent of Baby Boomers indicate their intent to continue working after leaving regular career jobs.”

Additional feedback from the meeting found that 87 percent of attendees stated that the event increased their awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship “very much” or “a great deal.” Seventy-seven percent indicated that they were “a great deal” or “very much” more likely to pursue programs or courses on entrepreneurship as a result of attending the event.

Human Resource Services, Inc. (HRS) created CPL as a non-profit to serve as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue as productive contributors. The economic benefits of enabling people 55+ to continue working include providing them with needed income, contributing to-instead of drawing from-entitlement programs, reducing unemployment and increasing national economic growth.

Visit www.ctrpl.org for more information.

AARP has compiled a list of the 10 perfect places that dance to their own beat-just like you:

1. Portland, OR

All the accolades, popularity and an IFC television show dedicated to the city, haven’t altered what makes Portland special: The place is quirky to the core. Fueling this extended reign are, foremost, the type of people the city draws — creative, free-spirited, stridently alternative — and a well-supported slew of edgy local businesses.

2. Austin, TX

Long a traditional oasis of liberal edginess, originality remains a badge of pride in Austin, as do progressive political stances, green living, large and convenient parks, and artsy festivals.

3. Boulder, CO

The offbeat crowd mixes well with the town’s many college kids, and they all enjoy abundant sunshine and proximity to a vast mountain playground.

4. Ulster County, N.Y.

The county is a funky string of artist-haven villages edged by vast swaths of bear-haven mountains, and strung prettily along the Hudson River. Of special note to retirees: Residents age 59 1/2 and older can take $20,000 a year from qualified pensions free of state income taxes, and all pensions are tax-free for retired military and government workers.

5. Providence, R.I.

The salt air may not cure all but it gives people who are prone to whimsy — like retirees! — an excellent excuse to throw caution to the wind.

For the rest of the list, please visit http://www.aarp.org/home-family/livable-communities/info-04-2012/great-quirky-places-to-retire.1.html

Vancouver Singers presents their final concert for the 2012-2013 season titled “A Night at the Cabaret.”

The first performance will be on Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m., the second will be on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m., and the final performance will be a matinee performance on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m. All three performances will be held at Thomas Jefferson Middle School at 3000 NW 119^th Street, Vancouver, WA.

This year’s Cabaret is filled with music from the shows “Cabaret,” “Music Man,” “The Sound of Music” and many more.

“Every time we have a cabaret and the theme is Broadway it is always a resounding success. I have been part of the cabaret since we had our very first one. It is as fun for the group as it is for the audience,” comments member Pat Tidland This concert is an opportunity for individuals and small ensembles to shine. “I think this is going to be a fantastic Cabaret!” said director Jana Hart.

Vancouver Singers is an all volunteer, non-profit community choir that is nearly 100 voices strong.

“I’ve never sung with such a loving, caring, incredibly talented, and professional group of folks. It is such an honor to be one of them and to sing for you, our audience.” said member Petey Fleischmann.

If you would like to join Vancouver Singers on stage next season contact Jana Hart at (360)901-8120 or janahart2007@gmail.com.

Purchase tickets at Beacock’s Music, Music World in Hazel Dell, at www.vancouversingers.org and at the door. General admission is $15, students and seniors are $10, and children 10 and under are free.

May 19, 2012 to May 20, 2012 - Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Thousands of fresh herb and garden plants, many organic selections, entertainment, Farm Cafe, vendors, herb garden and much more!

The Pomeroy Living History Farm hosts the Herb and Garden Festival, on the third full weekend in May.

Admission is free, donations accepted. Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

• Thousands of fresh herb and garden plants, many organic selections
• Entertainment
• Farm Cafe
• Vendors
• Herb Garden

visit the website

The Olympia Wooden Boat Association is proud to announce the 33rd Annual Olympia Wooden Boat Fair will be held Saturday and Sunday on Mother’s Day Weekend, May 12 and13, 2012.

The fair, a traditional community and family fun event, is held at Percival Landing Park in downtown Olympia. Hours of this FREE event are Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On display will be wooden boats of all sizes and types, new and old, power and sail, row boats, dinghies, kayaks and canoes.

The Children’s Boat Building Booth, held on Saturday only until the wood runs out, is a family fun tradition offered at the Wooden Boat Fair. Here children are allowed to use their imaginations and build their own wooden boat. Boat hulls and components are supplied (only one per child please). We request adult supervision while their child builds their dream boat.

While visiting the fair, in addition to the wooden boats on display, browse the arts and crafts booths featuring beautiful artwork and pottery, wooden décor, jewelry, clothing, stain glass, leather products, homemade food products, and many more nautical-related items. There is time to get your application in to be chosen as a vendor this year.

When the family gets hungry, walk through the International Food Alley featuring booths offering traditional burgers, seafood and international food choices to tempting desserts, sweets and treats. Vendor applications will be accepted soon so check back for more on the mouth-watering choices for this year’s boat fair.

The fair is known for showcasing local entertainment on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon. Entertainment includes music by the following:

• The Aspirations (Aspire School) – Jazz Ensemble
• Tumwater High School Jazz Ensemble
• Olympia Highlanders Bagpipe Marching Band
• The F.B.I. – Bluegrass
• The Slieveloughane Irish Dancers
• Freckles Brown Band – Rock, Pop and Blues

The fair officially closes on Sunday at 5:00 pm.

For more information on the Boat Fair, visit our web site at www.olywoodenboat.org and click on “Boat Fair” or by email at association@olywoodenboat.org. Always held on Mother’s Day weekend, bring Mom and the entire family to our FREE, fun-filled Boat Fair!

Jerry & Bettie Mitchell are celebrating 60 years of marriage. Despite the odds, the marriage survived. In 1952, Bettie was 17 when they dated and were married within three weeks before Jerry left to serve in the Korean War, stationed in Japan for two years. She tells the story in her recently completed book “Something Worth Saving” released on Amazon.com this year.

Bettie founded Good Samaritan Ministries in 1978 which continues to offer donation-based teaching and counseling in our community as well as in 32 countries around the world. Jerry & Bettie have been teaching couples about marriage, sex, and conflict resolution for the past 30 years as they gradually learned how to play on the same team. Bettie retired 3 years ago from serving as Executive Director of GSM to write books and spend time with family. Jerry retired from Beaverton School District as a Teacher and Substitute Teacher.

They have four children, Michelle Carter, Laura Sweitz, Jennie Mitchell, and Mohammad Bader and 9 grandchildren. “It is a great gift to see our parents, now spend quality time together, exercising at Harman Pool & the intimacy in the way they look into each other’s eyes. Jerry & Bettie’s greatest desire would be for you to learn and grow through life and for you to discover the true joy they have found,” said Jennie Mitchell who serves at GSM. Jerry & Bettie have been living in their same house in Beaverton for 52 years. They enjoy walking around the streets of Beaverton collecting bottles and cans to help support Widows & Orphans.

The couple overcame anger and emotional problems which led to many battles over the years. In 1968, Bettie went to the Holy Land and she was instantly healed in the Jordan River in 1968. Jerry went from worrying about money daily, to saying YES, when Bettie asked if she could quit her teaching job and “Teach Nothing but His Kingdom.”

Bettie tells the story in her recently completed book “Something Worth Saving” and this book will transform you from the inside out! Bettie declares: “It’s a miracle we made it. If you want your marriage to discover this joy, read the book and/or come to GSM, you might just meet up with the Mitchells.” The book, “Something Worth Saving,” is available to order online at Amazon.com.

Bettie & Jerry will be celebrating with the community on:
Wednesday May 2nd from 6pm-9pm with potluck dinner at Bethel Congregational Church, 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, 97005. They will speak on the topic “Is Marriage Hard Work or Great Reward?”

Send your well wishes to Good Samaritan Ministries, 7929 SW Cirrus Drive, Beaverton, OR 97008 attention: Anniversary Celebration –OR- electronically to jennie@gsmusa.org; goodsam@gsmusa.org
www.GoodSamitanMinistries.org