Hillhurst Road from the High School to NW 229th Street– Flagging on September 18th for road striping. Paving was completed as part of the future Kennedy Farms subdivision. When the work is complete, the road will be newly paved, with sidewalks, street lights, and street trees.

So. Royle Road and Hillhurst intersection– Traffic control will be in place all week as crews work to widen the road. This is a City project done in conjunction with the intersection improvements to Hillhurst and Royle, and the frontage improvements on Hillhurst adjacent to the new schools and the recreation complex.

So. Hillhurst Road and So. Sevier Road – Flagging beginning September 19th for road reconstruction on Hillhurst. This work is being completed in conjunction with the Taverner Ridge Phase 10 & 11 project, and will complete frontage improvements on both Hillhurst and Sevier. The existing narrow width of Sevier may cause traffic delays, but after completion Sevier will be a full width road with sidewalks and planter strips on both sides.

Main Avenue from Depot Street to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge – Intermittent lane closures with flagging.  This is utility work in preparation for the upcoming Main Avenue Access Improvements project.  The project will complete a pedestrian path to the Refuge and replace the existing bridge and culvert over Gee Creek. The bridge replacement will address periodic flooding on the road and remove an existing barrier to fish passage.  The full project is expected to begin construction in early spring of 2019.

So. 15th Street and So. 45th Avenue – Traffic control will be in place as work is completed on So. 15th Street. Frontage improvements are being completed as part of the Cloverhill subdivision. The road is being realigned for improved safety and sight distance and to match the City’s future planned So. 45th improvements, which will include road widening and frontage improvements.

Pioneer Street/SR 501 between Reimann Road and Gee Creek Loop – Intermittent traffic control will be in place as sewer and stormwater are connected for the future Union Ridge Ranch subdivision.

Ridgefield Main Street (“RMS”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Ridgefield. Our mission is: Creating a sustainable vibrant downtown that is the heart and soul of our city by showcasing our unique destination and history, and by nurturing our sense of community.

RMS is looking for applicants who are interested in serving on its Board of Directors, a volunteer, unpaid position.

The current board is an action-oriented group that is passionate about the success of the downtown revitalization program. It is responsible for all of the finances of the organization, works to maximize volunteer involvement and establishes program policy. RMS is particularly interested in adding individuals to the Board who have experience or skills in fundraising, who are or can be community leaders, and who share the passion for revitalizing downtown Ridgefield.

The board meets monthly for 90 minutes and board members are expected to actively participate in projects or on one of the standing committees including: economic vitality, design, organization and promotions. In addition to Board meetings, Board members contribute 10-15 hours per month to the program.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest (and resume if desired) including the following information:

1. Qualifications for the position including occupational/employment background and community service work in or outside of Ridgefield.
2. Interest in the RMS organization, the downtown area, and the position.
3. A description of the skills and/or strengths the applicant would contribute to the organization.

Email resumes and letters of interest to ridgefieldmainstreet@gmail.com or send/deliver to:

Marykay Lamoureaux, Executive Director , Ridgefield Main Street, P.O. Box 1656, Ridgefield WA 98642

COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKETS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 AT 5:00PM

For more information about Ridgefield Main Street see www.ridgefieldmainstreet.com.

Hillhurst Road from the High School to NW 229^th Street– Flagging will be ongoing, expect delays.  Frontage improvements for the outdoor recreation complex, the schools, and the new subdivision, as well as associated utility improvements will be underway this week.

Royle Road from the pump station to the intersection with Hillhurst– flagging will be in place as to conduct utility improvements.

Construction in other areas is continuing and is expected to have traffic impacts similar to previous weeks:

So. Hillhurst Road, So. Sevier Road and So. Nighthawk Road – shoulder work only. This work is being completed in conjunction with the Taverner Ridge Phase 10 & 11 project, and will complete frontage improvements on both Hillhurst and Sevier. The existing narrow width of Sevier may cause traffic delays, but after completion Sevier will be a full width road with sidewalks and planter strips on both sides.

So. Nighthawk Road – Road closure to allow the installation of underground utilities. Exact date of closure s not yet set, but will occur this week for approximately 2-3 days. A detour is available and will be signed. The contractor will notify affected homeowners prior to beginning work.

NW 229th – Shoulder Work. Paving was completed as part of the future Kennedy Farms subdivision. This week work will be confined to the shoulders and no flagging is anticipated. When the work is complete, the road will be newly paved, with sidewalks, street lights, and street trees.

Main Avenue from Depot Street to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge –Intermittent lane closures with flagging.  This is utility work in preparation for the upcoming Main Avenue Access Improvements project.  The project will complete a pedestrian path to the Refuge and replace the existing bridge and culvert over Gee Creek. The bridge replacement will address periodic flooding on the road and remove an existing barrier to fish passage.  The full project is expected to begin construction in early spring of 2019.

New Construction Area:

Royle Road – One lane closure with flagging on a portion of Royle Road. The closure will allow for the installation of a water line.

This is the most current information available to City staff at this time. Construction schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions, supply availability, unexpected conditions and other factors that may impact the work underway.

After 12 years of doing business  Myrtle’s Tea House and Herbery will close August 11. The store will reopen in November with a focus on home decor items. Tea and scones will be served, but not the full tea as previously.

No reservations are being taken at this time because the business is completely booked until closing.

Owner Elizabeth Brush wishes to thank her guests for their support all these years.

We wish Elizabeth the best in her new venture.

Due to the extreme fire danger, effective at 12:01 am Thursday, July 26, recreational fires will be prohibited throughout unincorporated Clark and Skamania counties.

Cooking outdoors in approved propane or charcoal barbecues is allowed during this total burning ban, but recreational fires, campfires and fires in outdoor fireplaces or chimney-type devices are NOT ALLOWED during this recreational burning ban. Citations may be issued to those who violate the recreational burning ban. This recreational fire restriction is in addition to the general outdoor burning prohibition that was implemented on July 1.

According to Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway this is a preventive measure to reduce the risk of grass or brush fires as a result of escaped camp fires. The ban also includes lands protected by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. “The ongoing hot, dry weather has us concerned with how easy it is for a fire to be ignited by an escaped ember from a recreational fire. A small campfire can accidentally spread to adjacent properties very easily with our current dry conditions,” he said. With no precipitation in the forecast and the expectation of temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s to continue, the ban will be in place until sufficient rainfall occurs to lower the risk.

Creating a defensible space around a home helps prevent wildfires from spreading to a residence, or vice versa. Dunaway recommends the following measures in both rural and urban areas:

• Remove fuel to within 3-5 feet of foundations, outbuildings, garages and sheds and to within 10 feet of a house, under decks and porches and from gutters, porches and decks.

• Cut the lawn if it is brown. Dispose of debris and cuttings.

• Prune trees so lowest branches are 6-10 feet above the ground.

• Landscape with native and flame-resistant plants.

For more information, please contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 360.397.2186 or visit www.clark.wa.gov/community-development/fire-prevention.

From a post on Next Door from Mark Ford

I love Ridgefield…

Yep, I do. I love the roundabouts where I seldom even have to stop. I love the schools. I love the city government. Great people trying their best. I love all the new homes filled with fine and good families with beautiful children. I love the fact that even though we are growing fast I am basically never stuck in any traffic. I love that my house is worth so much more than I paid not very long ago. I love that the water is relatively good and that the crime rate is so low. I love that kids can play on my street with little to fear. I love my neighbors. I love the first Saturday events and the great things the city puts together. I love the businesses that are coming soon and the ones we have so far. I love how clean it is. I love the people here. I love Ridgefield.

Fair season is less than a month away and the Ridgefield Lions are looking for community members to volunteer in our food booth at the Clark County Fair.  The fair season runs August 1-12.  Here is the link to view available dates and shifts, https://www.ridgefieldlions.org/volunteer_opportunities/

The Ridgefield Lions have been active in our community since 1948, and our motto is “we serve”.  Some of the charities we help include: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Bank, Clark County Sight Committee, Washington State School for the Blind, and local cub and boy scout troops.

Another big part of our service is having monies or “grants” available to the various teams and clubs at Ridgefield High School.  These grants can be used to help fund various uncovered costs such as new uniforms, equipment, travel, or production expenses.  For example, we just donated $1500 to RHS Cheer to help pay for new jackets to use during the fall and winter seasons.  The amount available for us to donate varies year to year, and this year the Lions have $6000 to give to RHS sports and clubs.  In addition to the $6000, Lions also has approximately $10,000 in scholarship money available to graduating seniors. (These scholarships are for graduating seniors whether they attend Ridgefield or other schools, but live in our district).

One of our largest money making events is the Lions’ food booth at the Clark County Fair.  The more money we make, the more we can give back to our community.  The best way for us to have a successful booth during the fair is having adequate volunteers.

We humbly ask community members, both adults and teens, to volunteer this fair season. All jobs at the fair can be done by teens with the exception of grill cook and deep fryer. In addition, all volunteers get free parking and admission to the fair on the day they work.  Gather your family and make a fun day out of it!

Again, you can sign up directly by clicking the link to view available dates and shifts.  https://www.ridgefieldlions.org/volunteer_opportunities/

Note from Kathy – you can also support the Ridgefield Lions Club by buying food at their booth during the fair.

Clark County is experiencing rapid growth in residential, commercial, and industrial development. Now more than ever it is important for us to protect the organizations that help maintain a balance between development and conservation of natural & agricultural resources. One such agency is the Clark Conservation District (CCD). “The CCD is a legal sub-division of state government that administers programs to conserve natural resources. We are a non-regulatory agency that was created to bridge the gap between local landowners and state and federal government,” – www.clarkcd.org.

The CCD works with farmers, landowners, and policy makers to implement best management practices, improve the health of rural lands, and protect waterways. They offer the technical resources to aid property owners in being good stewards of the land they tend. This may be through such actions as farm management plans and resources to enhance wildlife habitat. The District also engages the community through plant sales, environmental education, and programs with young people.

Unfortunately, the grants that fund the CCD are disappearing. We are at risk of losing an organization that protects our quality of life. The good news is that each of us can take a small action to save them. A petition is in place to encourage the Clark County Council to adopt a modest fee of $5/per parcel/per year. Signing the petition will continue the CCD’s work of bringing people closer to the land. This may be key in encouraging folks to consider how the preservation of their land will impact the community and generations to come. The link to sign the petition is below. Will you help save the Clark Conservation District?

The petition to save the CCD may be found here:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/183/568/491/save-clark-conservation-district-%E2%80%93-protect-our-water-and-land-now/

Visit the Clark Conservation District website here: http://www.clarkcd.org/  

– Contributed by Byron Brink

Are you registered to vote in the August 7th Primary Election?

Monday, July 9th, is the DEADLINE for mail or online new voter registrations or updates, otherwise, you’ll have to go in person to register through July 30th.

The library has mail-in voter registration forms or print your own from this link: www.sos.wa.gov/elections/print-voter-registration-forms.aspx

This is what we’re celebrating today folks! The singers of the Declaration of Independence took a big chance in deciding to declare their independence from Great Britain. I can only hope we have statesmen in our country today who will put aside their politics and work together to do what’s right for our country.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

…

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Note: I have deleted part of the wording. You can read the entire document on Wikipedia.

I went to Lava Java this afternoon because owner Phuong Tran was donating a portion of today’s proceeds to the family of Antonio Pickett and I wanted to donate money too. Phoung hung an umbrella from the ceiling for donations and folks filled it up.

She told me people had been coming in all day to donate, some even going over to IQ Credit Union to draw money from the cash machine.

Antonio worked at Lava Java for several years after he graduated from Ridgefield High School and studied music at Opus School of Music.

Rob Melton, owner of Opus played his guitar at Lava Java for three hours in honor of Antonio.

Where else could you find a community with such caring people? Thank you Ridgefield!

A press release from the mayors of towns and cities in Clark County:

As Mayors and County Council Chair in Clark County, we are individually and collectively excited that high quality summer collegiate wood bat baseball is coming to Clark County. News from the West Coast League that they are adding an expansion team in our market, to begin play in the spring of 2019, is just another example of the great progress we are making to provide top flight entertainment for our residents throughout the region.

Ridgefield Mayor Don Stose is “excited to host the region’s baseball team at the new Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex’s 1,800-seat stadium field, and we look forward to having people from across the County come to Ridgefield for games.”

“I’m sure many people in our City and region – including Terry and I – are looking forward to grabbing a hotdog and watching the games,” added Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.

For Clark County Council Chair Marc Boldt, “it’s been a long-term effort to attract a team to our area, so we’re glad the West Coast League recognized the great interest and support for baseball in Clark County, and especially look forward to our team beating built-in rivals in Portland, Cowlitz, and beyond.” Congratulations to all those who helped make this day a reality. We look forward to our team’s first opening day in 2019.

Take me out to the ball game…

Hanging Baskets! They’re back up for the season, and even bigger now than when this picture was taken a week ago.

For years the Garden Club ladies bought the plants, watered and fertilized and dead-headed them using a water tank pulled by a tractor. When traffic got heavy in the early morning they started watering the baskets by hand, standing on a ladder to reach them. Soon that became too much, and for several years there were no hanging baskets in downtown Ridgefield.

Then a couple of years ago, a Garden Club member noticed the lush hanging baskets outside the building next to the Post Office, and found out who was maintaining them. Steve Cox of the Main Street Program took it from there, and the baskets you see now are paid for through a joint effort by the Main Street Program, the Garden Club, and the City of Ridgefield.

The Garden Club ladies still buy the  plants for the planter boxes downtown and water them all summer. Believe me, it’s a lot of work.

That’s one thing that makes Ridgefield so special – more to follow.