Can I do Fireworks on New Year's Eve?

Legal use of fireworks is ok for our neighborhood on the 31st of December from 6pm-1am (since we are located within unincorporated Clark County).  Please refer to the Fireworks Use Map when making your plans for the holiday.  Always be safe and responsible!

Next Neighborhood Meeting, October 2016

Neighborhood Meeting - Important! Who will represent us? 

Note: In lieu of our general meeting this month, please join us at the Candidate Forums (on our calendar). We will vote in November for our representatives.  These forums will not be televised, space is limited. RSVP is encouraged but doesn't guarantee spot.

Candidate Forum for Clark County Councilor and US Congress
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 5:30-7:30pm 
at the Camas Public Library  625 NE 4th AVE, Camas
Find/Join this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/253166208415254/

Legislative District 17 Candidate Forum 
Thursday, October 13, 2016 5:30-8:30pm 
at the Community of Christ (meeting room)  400 NE 179th ST, Ridgefield
Find/Join this event on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/570466739804320/

Legislative District 49 Candidate Forum 
Thursday, October 20, 2016 5:30-7:30pm 
at the Vancouver Community Library  901 C Street, Vancouver
Find/Join this event on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/655724454583909/


Sifton NA is a Member of Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County (NACCC), see you there! 

Family Community Resource Center Drive

Just over 1000 kids in the Evergreen School District alone are "in transition" meaning no permanent place of residence (homeless).  The 14 Family Community Resource Centers in our local schools will greatly benefit from these summer events!  We encourage you to join the June Facebook event and share on your own social media too.  This event was also published in The Columbian.

Fireworks Use Map

Legal use of fireworks is ok for our neighborhood on the 4th of July from 9am-midnight (since we are located within unincorporated Clark County).  Please refer to the Fireworks Use Map when making your plans for the holiday.  Always be safe and responsible!

Coming to Clark County, WA...

Each month, neighborhood association leadership gather to learn more about what's going on in our community, learn about different topics and hear from guest speakers.  Tonight, neighborhood leaders learned more about what's coming soon to Clark County, WA.

What you see before you is a part of the materials neighborhood association leaders will distribute among their neighborhoods.  So what exactly is this?

I folded up and walked away with this picture and a full heart.  Clark County (in my opinion) has always been an animal-friendly community and what you see before you proves just that.  It's a K-9 Memorial with a statue dedicated to each law enforcement dog killed in the line of duty, five to date.

Dogpaw has fully committed to this project and expects to help raise the estimated over $2 million funding to make it a reality.  They will oversee the maintenance and upkeep after it's dedication, likely will partnership(s).  There will be no cost to the taxpayers for this project.

No other Memorial like it exists in Clark County and the project has grown to include recognition for our local law enforcement K-9s plus all K-9s killed in the line of duty throughout the entire State of Washington.  A similar Memorial exists back East, however, we're told there is nothing in between.  This will be a great addition to the Heritage Farm here in Vancouver, WA.

Shared with permission from Mark Watson with Dogpaw.

To The City of Vancouver,

Although we are a neighborhood not in the city's limits, we've worked with the City of Vancouver for many years and also have an interest in the corridor as it is the southern boundary of our Association.

In email to the City of Vancouver, we stated our concerns with this intersection. "Although there is no left turns from Fourth Plain Blvd westbound at NE 143rd AVE, the one sign in place (at the the street median) has faded throughout the years and doesn't have enough visual and reflective quality to be effective."  As a remedy for this issue, we asked "to get that sign replaced, perhaps with a larger size and/or adding an additional no left turn sign to the overhead signal as well".  ~Christie BrownSilva, President

On behalf the Sifton Neighborhood Association, we'd like to extend a big Thank You to Mayor Leavitt, Vancouver City Council and Staff!

Under 21? This is for you.

The Prevent! Coalition of Clark County is seeking youth input with this short survey, including an opportunity to win an iPad.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/youthnow

"The Prevent! Coalition of Clark County is a local substance abuse prevention coalition working for a healthy, thriving, and drug-free Clark County, Washington." -Source: website

Neighbors On Watch Information Night Coming Up

Neighbors On Watch is a volunteer watch program and the Clark County Sheriff's Office is hosting an informational meeting.  

"Now volunteers are trained to patrol neighborhoods throughout the county in pairs looking for suspicious activity such as car prowls and graffiti. They attend community events and other assignments as requested by the Sheriff's Office" -The Columbian 11/7/15

If you're interested in the Neighbors On Watch (NOW) info night, it's coming up Wed, Nov 18th, beginning 6:30pm at 505 NW 179th ST Ridgefield (CCSO West Precinct) near Fairgrounds.

Additional information available from Clark County Sheriff's Office Outreach Unit at 360-397-2211 ext 3380 or email sheriffcommunityoutreach@clark.wa.gov. You can also visit www.clark.wa.gov/sheriff/community/NOW.html

Got Leaves?

Here's a coupon for free disposal of leaves! Please don't rake or blow leaves into the streets, it stresses the drainage systems, clogs drains and floods our streets. 

Residents in Clark County and the City of Vancouver may dispose of Leaves only, Oct 1-Dec 31, 2015 free of charge at the designated locations.  Get your coupon here.

Candidate Forum

Neighborhood Meeting - Important! Who will represent us on the Board of Clark County Councilors? 

Note: In lieu of our general meeting this month, please join us at the Candidate Forum (on our calendar). We will vote in November for our Clark County Representatives.

Sifton NA is a Member of NACCC, see you there! 
*in the meeting room

Rx Take Back Event Coming Up!

Coming Up!  Rx Take Back Fall Event  - Saturday, September 26, 2015.

For year-round disposal options, see this flyer.  For additional information and resources, we invite you to check out the Prevent! Coalition of Clark County or visit Clark County's medication recycling page.

You can also find this event posted on our neighborhood Facebook page.

Events Today, public invited to attend

Public Safety Event Today! Noon-4pm http://www.clark.wa.gov/neighborhoods/documents/PublicSafetyComplexOpenhouseSept-2015.pdf

POW/MIA Recognition Event Today! 11am
http://www.clark.wa.gov/neighborhoods/documents/2015_POW_MIA_Flyer.pdf

NEW! Non-Emergency phone number for Law Enforcement

We can now keep 9-1-1 just for emergencies! Dial 3-1-1 to access the new way to report non-emergencies that need the attention of law enforcement. 


Make note of all your resources:

2-1-1 Health & Social Services Referrals
provided by 211.org

3-1-1 Non-Emergency for Law Enforcement
provided by CRESA911.org

4-1-1 Telephone Directory Assistance
provided by phone carrier

5-1-1 State Travel Information
provided by WA511.org

6-1-1 Telephone Company Repair Service
provide by phone carrier

7-1-1 Telecommunications Relay Service
provided by dshs.wa.gov

8-1-1 Call Before You Dig
provided by washington811.org

9-1-1 Emergencies, All Fire, Police and Emergency Services
provided by CRESA911.org

Call 360-992-8000 report power outages to Clark Public Utilities

Source: CRESA911.org

Safe Exchange Zones

Vancouver Police and Clark County Sheriff's Office parking lots posted as Safe Exchange Zones (Photo) - 08/17/15 
"Vancouver, Wash.- On August 17, 2015, the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff's Office will begin offering the parking lots at their facilities as Safe Exchange Zones where individuals conducting online purchase transactions can meet with the potential buyer or seller to complete the transaction. The parking lots at the participating law enforcement buildings provide an alternative to meeting a stranger at a private residence or unfamiliar location. Signage is placed on the buildings that are designated as Safe Exchange Zones. 

"It's important to remember, everyone online is a stranger, so offering our parking lots as a place where legal transactions can occur seemed like a natural extension of our community crime prevention efforts", said Vancouver Police Chief James P. McElvain. 

"Historically, our precinct parking lots have been seen as 'neutral zones' for citizens to meet, be publicly visible, and know that a deputy may be close by if needed", says Clark County Sheriff Chuck E. Atkins. "In an era of increasing risk from online purchases, we see this as a logical component of our commitment to public safety. By providing our parking lots as a known landmark to meet and conduct legal, private transactions it's our desire to lessen the potential dangers for both buyer and seller." 

Vancouver Police or Clark County Sheriff personnel will not assist with any transactions, and gun sales are prohibited. The Safe Exchange Zone is meant for person-to-person transactions. Property may not be dropped off and left unattended; sellers are required to take their property with them if the buyer does not show up. 

The following location parking lots are designated and signed as Safe Exchange Zones: 
* Vancouver Police Administration (605 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA) 
* Vancouver Police West Precinct (2800 NE Stapleton Rd., Vancouver, WA) 
* Vancouver Police East Precinct (512 SE 155th Ave., Vancouver, WA) 
* Clark County Sheriff's West Precinct (505 NW 179th St., Ridgefield, WA) 
* Clark County Sheriff's Office Central Precinct (11608 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie, WA) 

Law enforcement agencies across the country are utilizing the safe exchange zone premise and both the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff's Office are excited to support this enhancement to community safety. "
Source: FlashAlert.net

Sources, Sources, Sources!

With the power of technology, information can travel fast!  As your official Neighborhood Association, we value the information we provide to you because you expect to receive valid news and updates from creditable sources.  Recognized by Clark County, we're proud to be YOUR neighborhood association!

"Neighbors nationwide have come together to shape the areas in which they live. By forming neighborhood associations, citizens work in partnership with their local governments to maintain or enhance the livability of their communities.

Neighborhood associations usually form when a single issue unites people in a geographic area. Concerns range from crime to traffic to development issues. From there, most groups evolve and focus on the long-range overall health of the neighborhood." *Source: Clark County Public Information and Outreach

We are proud to partner with agencies and groups all over Clark County including Clark County, WA, Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County (NACCC), Clark County Sheriff's Office, Vancouver Fire, CRESA 9-1-1, Evergreen Public Schools, and more.  We're pleased to partner with many others across Washington State, including WSDOT.  Pending approval this fall, we've submitted an application to become an official affiliate the nationwide organization Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA). 

Although utilizing technology is a means for information to reach you quickly, please exercise due diligence, certainly in regards to using social media.  Thank You!

Primary Election Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Reminder: Voters, tomorrow is the Primary Election.  If you haven't already mailed in your ballot, there are ballot drop boxes countywide, even three new locations.  For more local election information, including ballot drop box locations, click here.  Vote!

National Night Out 2015

Wanted: Neighborhood Watch Volunteers!

At this time, we have no active neighborhood watch volunteers from the Sifton Neighborhood.  With representation from our neighborhood, we're able to have more patrols in our area!  Please consider taking part in this program.  See below:

"The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Vancouver Police Department are accepting applications for NOW (Neighbors on Watch), a non-confrontational citizen patrol volunteer program. Citizens interested in the safety of their neighborhoods are encouraged to apply!

NOW volunteers receive specialized training and patrol in pairs throughout the city and county looking for suspicious activity such as car prowls and graffiti, attend community events and other assignments as needed. The next training academy begins in September 2015.

Applicants must be at least 21- years old, pass a background check and attend a 28 hour training academy. For the full list of volunteer qualifications visit: http://www. clark.wa.gov/sheriff/community/NOW.html.

If you live in Clark County, to request an application contact Clark County Sheriff’s Office Outreach Unit at (360) 397-2211 ext. 3380 or email:sheriffcommunityoutreach@clark.wa.gov.

Citizens who live in the city limits of Vancouver can contact the Vancouver Police NOW Program Coordinator, Kelly Cheney, at (360) 487-7467 for an application or more information. Applications are due by July 23 to be considered for the next NOW Training Academy." Source: Clark County Sheriff's Office S.A.L.T Times July 2015 edition
 

Fireworks, Burn Bans and Drought...it's hot and dry in July!

If you aren't sure or don't know yet, here's the latest!

Fireworks
Legal to set off this year ONLY at these dates/times, USE EXTREME CAUTION!.  Here's your direct source to all fireworks information pertains to our neighborhood: http://www.clark.wa.gov/development/fire/fireworks.html

With a note on their Facebook page, Evergreen Public School has banned fireworks on all school grounds. "Due to unusually hot and dry weather conditions, Evergreen Public Schools is taking extra precautions to protect school buildings and grounds during the July Fourth holiday.

District officials are asking the public to refrain from using or discharging fireworks on school property. Gates will be closed at schools that have them and increased patrols will take place over the weekend.

Neighborhood watch groups are encouraged to call 911 to report suspicious activity.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!"

Burn Ban
Effective June 23, 2015 in Clark County: outdoor burn ban

Strengthening the statewide burn ban on June 26, 2015, this Proclamation from Gov. Inslee was put into place.  This supersedes the June 22nd burn ban by the Department of Natural Resources.

Drought
Gov. Inslee declared a drought for some Washington regions.  In March, he expanded the drought to include more counties in the state, including Clark County in April.  Effective in May, a statewide drought emergency was declared.  For more about drought conditions, see the Drought 2015 from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

"Hot Days + Cold Water = Potentially Dangerous Combination" by CRESA 9-1-1

With temperatures predicted in the 90s this weekend, here's some important information from CRESA 9-1-1 for keeping cool and safe!