News and Views

Ridgefield Events - March 2010

The Friends of Ridgefield Community Library are getting ready for their annual Dolly Dessert at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, in the Ridgefield Community Center at 210 N. Main Avenue. The whole family is invited, and boys and girls are encouraged to bring a favorite doll, stuffed animal or action figure. The Opus School of Music will help keep the beat as they parade through the library. Afterwards there will be stories read by several local guest storytellers. There'll be refreshments and door prizes, too. Admission is free and the Center is handicapped accessible. Information: 887-8281

The Old Liberty Theater is hosting 3 Leg Torso in concert, Saturday, March 6th. at 7:30 pm. Adm: $12 Influenced by Tango, Eastern European folk and other world music traditions, their cosmopolitan musical style embraces wit and humor within thoughtful, uncommon and beautiful musical arrangements.

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And we have a Grand Opening coming to Ridgefield!

Dark Horizon, an independent movie about a family's fight for survival, was filmed on location in Ridgefield. The premier showing of this movie will be Friday March 12th at 7:00 pm Admission is $5. The film makers will be in attendance. Put it on your calendar!

Additional showings will follow:

Sat. March 13th - 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm
Sun. March 14th - 2:30 pm and 5:00pm
Tues. March 16th - 7:00 pm

(Parental Guidance recommended)

Friday night is First Friday. Come and tour our wonderful stores. Several will have special offerings that night.

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Ridgefield Floral will have some great specials! They will have bunches of tulips, Gerbera Daisies or mums in various colors for $10 a bunch and you can mix and match to create your own special bunches if you wish. They will also have samples of Rose City Pepperhead's famous spicy jellies.

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The wood work of Dan Baker will be featured at Alcove Art Gallery. Dan makes lovely bowls and other items out of wood, much of it locally grown. These are one-of-a-kind items, so if you see something you like, buy it.

The other artist members of this co-op will have their new work on display.

As usual, there will be snacks and wine, as well as a drawing for a $25 gift certificate. Come and meet the artists! Info: 727-3088.

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Organic Boutique will be open until 8:00 and has lots of organic and natural items: bath and beauty products, linens, essential oils, jewelry, gifts etc. Info: 727-3588.

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Lily Wiggans Antiques always has fun things to buy. Check out their collection of candies. Info: 887-1114

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Ridgefield High School Jazz Band will be playing at the Old Liberty Theater at 6:00. The concert is free to First Friday participants, but donations are welcome and benefit the high school music department. Info: 887-7260.

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The wine tasting is always fun at Zebrun's Deli. Info: 887-8131

Urban Farm School is holding a "Keeping Urban Chickens" class at Pioneer Feed, 21605 NE 10th Avenue, Saturday March 6, 10am to noon. Learn the basics of keeping laying hens in a backyard lot. Class will include information about chicken breeds, food requirements, coop options, brooding, common diseases, and more! A good one for around here since city council passed the chicken ordinance last summer. Fee: $15, pre-registration and payment, urbanfarmschool@gmail.com or 360-852-3728.

A Small Business Tax Info/Help Class will meet monthly on the first Tuesday of each month, 6-9pm. Call Don Lasher, 360-887-4222 or Shar, 360-887-1995 for information on where the next class will meet, and what to bring. The goal of the class is to help small business owners get organized, answer tax questions and whatever else comes up. Cost is $25.

Do you know of a high school junior who would benefit from attending one of our nation's most regarded leadership programs?

The American Legion is accepting applications from young men and women to attend Boys State and Girls State at Central Washington University in June. The program offers practical hands-on experience in forming city, county and state governments where the students actually elect officials, write and pass legislation, see the judicial process in action and much more. College credit is earned by attending and college scholarships are also made available. American Legion Post 44 here in Ridgefield is sponsoring local students to attend, and students should apply now. Call Post 44's Mark Burton (360-727-3468) or Priscilla Ford (360-518-7829) for more information.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge offers plenty of volunteer options to suit your needs and interests. Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to Environmental Education - Help lead visitors and school groups in nature activities and hikes on the Refuge, Cultural Education - Educate weekend visitors and school groups about the replica Plankhouse and the local cultural history, Habitat Restoration - Track and remove invasive plants and help restore wildlife habitat and native plant communities, and Refuge Guide - Greet and inform visitors about the Refuge. For more information visit the website (http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/getinvolved.html).

Upcoming events are: Special Refuge Tour - March 16, 5:50-7pm
Open House & General Orientation - March 16, 7-8pm
Plankhouse Training - March 20, 9am-3pm
Working with Kids - March 30, 9am-12pm
Environmental Education - March 30, 12:30-3pm
Habitat Restoration - April 10, 9am-12pm
Refuge Guide - April 13, 9am-12pm
Meeting locations are variable, please RSVP to get more information

Full Moon Night Hikes

Starting this spring, the refuge will offer monthly nighttime nature hikes every full moon. This is an unusual opportunity to discover the refuge after hours. See how the Oaks to Wetlands Trail transforms when darkness falls! Hikes will last about an hour and begin at dusk: from 7:30-8:30 on March 30th and April 28th; then from 8:30-9:30 on May 27th, June 26th and July 26th. Registration is required for these hikes. To sign up, contact Julia Davidson, Environmental Educator through AmeriCorps, at 360-887-4106 or Julia_Davidson@fws.gov

Heron Gate, 2 South 56th Place, will sponsor an old fashioned Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 from 11am -2pm. This event is free, but registration is needed by March 31. There will be live bunnies and fun for children ages 2-12. Over 100 eggs will be hidden inside and out. There will be hot chocolate and treats, treasures and candy. Search for the three $50 golden eggs! Register at http://tinyurl.com/herongate.

Have you noticed the tulips coming up all over town? Thanks to the Ridgefield Garden Club for planting the 1500 bulbs donated by the Van de Salm Bulb Farm in Woodland. These ladies do so much for our town - put their Garden Sale on your calendar - April 29 and 30, with limited quantities available the 28th.

The Ridgefield Public Schools Foundation will roll out a mini-grant program this spring through its Principal's Checkbook Program. The foundation will raise money throughout the year to support two programs: teacher appreciation awards and scholarships for Ridgefield School district students. For more information, or to make a donation, visit http://www.ridgefieldpsf.org.

A public hearing on a proposal to spread biosolids on 200 acres of land near 27201 NE 19th Avenue will be held at the Ridgefield Community Center on March 11 at 6pm. Effluent biosolids are remains of treated municipal wastewater. Those who want to present their views on this matter, or request a public hearing, should write the Department of Ecology by March 15. Information: Kyle Dorsey, 360-407-6300.

There will be a public meeting on a proposed 160 foot Verizon wireless tower on Thursday, March 4, 6pm at the Ridgefield Community Center. Proposed location for the tower is 5613 NW 289th Street in Ridgefield. Information: Shanin, 503-720-7295.

Clark County Fire & Rescue commissioners will hold an open meeting Monday, March 8 at 11am to review commissioner applicant qualifications. The meeting will be at Station 21, 911 N 65th Avenue in Ridgefield. An executive session will follow the open meeting. Information: Kathy 887-4609.

It's cold today, but time to think about getting your vegetable garden planted. Some cold-hardy vegetables you can start now are:

Spinach
Peas
Lettuce
Radish
Mizuna and Tatsoi (mild Asian Greens--often used in salad mix)
Chervil (a fresh herb for salads and cooking)

Seeds or plants may be started outdoors if the soil temperature is above 45. Generally that's when ground itself is no longer frozen, and is well-drained enough to crumble when handled (light frosts are OK). Trees are usually breaking dormancy at that time, with their buds swelling and getting ready to leaf out. You can check soil temperature by sticking a thermometer 3 or 4 inches into the soil first thing in the morning. Or start seedlings on a sunny windowsill inside and plant out when they have four or five leaves.

I've had reports of some mason bees being out and fertilizing flowering trees, although most of mine are stil dormant. Buy some empty nests and start your own colony! Bird's Nursery has wood nests, some with bees in, for sale. Shorty's has cardboard tubes and straw fillers. Put out the new tubes now and the bees will make nests in them, and next spring you should have a bumper crop of fruit.

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