Central Park Neighborhood Association

Open space, a heritage worth preserving.

Newsletter January 26, 2015

Next meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 28. Potluck 6:30; meeting at 7:00. Location: W.S.S.B. cafeteria. Enter from north side of "Old Main Building" at 2214 E 13th St. (Use driveway to east, park in back.) Our program: CPNA's 25th Anniversary Celebration. Co-founder of the CPNA, Bob

Scott, is planning to attend. Our new VP, Pepper Kim, will offer a presentation on Central Park history. Join us for pictures, stories and official City of Vancouver cake.

Message from the President Hi Neighbors! Central Park Neighborhood Association will pass a milestone next Wednesday night. We will celebrate 25 years as a city-recognized neighborhood association. Several of us have been sorting through old documents and photos and have put together a special night of remembrances. Our honored guest, Bob Scott, will be in attendance. He and his late wife Olive were instrumental in the formation of Central Park neighborhood. Please join us as we eat cake offered by the City of Vancouver Office of Neighborhoods and listen to our VP, Pepper Kim, fill us in on the colorful history of this neighborhood. We will begin our potluck as usual at 6:30 sharing memories of these past years in Central Park. After our presentation, we’ll have a short general meeting. Andy Meade, our City Rep., will fill us in on local events and we’ll talk about what’s happening at Waterworks Park. This is definitely the meeting of the year. I look forward to seeing you!

Norma Watson

CPNA President

Clark College offers some of the best walking paths in our neighborhood especially on certain spring days. Photo: Hovey

What is a Neighborhood Association? Unlike a homeowner's association, a neighborhood association welcomes all residents regardless of whether they are owners or renters and usually have no membership dues. But they are both groups of neighbors working together to maintain and improve their neighborhood's livability. Issues include traffic and pedestrian safety, public safety, transportation, recreation, open space, land use and housing. Cities and counties often recognize neighborhood associations and partner with them to establish better two-way communication between citizens and government. They notify neighborhood leaders of proposed road changes, construction projects, development and zoning plans for their neighborhoods and invite comment at hearings. In Vancouver, city employees act as liaisons attending meetings to hear neighborhood concerns and provide information about city policies and plans. The City of Vancouver began a neighborhoods program in 1975. In 1990 there were 14 recognized associations; today there are 66.

CPNA established to preserve residences and open space By Robert Scott Robert Scott and the late Olive Scott Photo: courtesy Bruce and Norma Watson

In September 1989, we saw a notice in The Columbian that the Vancouver School District, with blessing of the city was

offering the Hudson’s Bay High School and the surrounding eighty acres as a site for the Washington State University branch campus in southwest Washington. (Ed. note: The present WSUV campus in Salmon Creek is 351 acres.) We realized along with several neighbors living close to Clark College the effect this would have upon our neighborhood. We attended the City Council meeting announced in the paper and found that the proposal had been discussed for some time. During one public discussion period, questions were asked about the potential growth of WSU in the Central Park location and that more land might be needed. The Mayor, Bruce Hagensen, said that provisions could be made by the city to alleviate the problem through condemnation or acquisition of property by right of eminent domain. This provided an added sense of urgency to our efforts. We offered some input, but with little background were unable to make any concrete suggestions. It was pointed out to us that we could have a neighborhood meeting to discuss the issues with fellow citizens. The Office of Neighborhoods mailed notices to householders of record about the meeting to be held at Clark College. Unfortunately, the notices could not arrive in time through the mail, and as many of the houses were rentals with out of town landlords. When this was pointed out to the city staff, Carol Hansen, Marie Day and Peggy Furno came with notices to hand out in the immediate area of the neighborhood closest to Clark College and the Hudson’s Bay High School. A meeting was held and I (Robert Scott) acted as chairman pro-tem. Carol Hansen from the Office Of Neighborhoods explained to us that if we wished to present a voice for the neighborhood that we should organize a neighborhood association. Her advice and suggestions proved invaluable, as we felt there was no time to waste in presenting our views in an organized manner. We held a meeting shortly thereafter and elected officers, chose a name for the association, adopted bylaws and requested recognition from the City Council. Elected co-chairs were Robert Scott and Pam Krohn, vice chairman was Kenneth Boothby, secretary was Olive Scott and treasurer was Lil Freese. We made our presentation to the City Council at a workshop, and were questioned at length by some council members. Some questions were asked about our choice of name for the group, as those questioning felt we were in opposition to some city plans. Council member Ethel Lehman said “we have never questioned any association as to the propriety of their groups name, and as the land is adjacent to Central Park it is most appropriate.” Councilman Royce Pollard said that he didn’t want to see another neighborhood association being formed that brought forth problems with no solutions! All in all, it was not the cozy presentation used now in welcoming new neighborhoods. As the association became aware of the process in choosing a site for WSU-Vancouver, we formed committees to work within the system. Letters were written to the citizens committee charged with reviewing prospective sites in SW Washington. Our Central Park Neighborhood Association was not for any particular site – just NOT IN CENTRAL PARK. We felt that the open space in central park was too valuable as a community asset to lose.

Letters were written to the members of the Board of Regents for WSU, President Sam Smith, local legislators and the Higher Education Board. Numerous letters to the editors of The Columbian were sent in and most were published. The HEC board was responsible for making the ultimate designation for the site. Numerous meetings were held and attended by interested members of the association. On one occasion, at a meeting when the City of Vancouver was presenting a slide showing the advantages of the Hudson’s Bay site, the show indicated that parking was no problem as there was adequate parking at Clark College. The pictures must have been taken on a Sunday morning as few or no cars could be seen. We had taken pictures of the Clark College lots, and the streets adjacent to the college. Virtually every space was filled on the streets east of the college and along Fort Vancouver Way, and cars were even parked on the median between the north and southbound lanes. The association circulated petitions in the neighborhood and around shopping centers. Marilyn Nagle was a most valuable helper in getting signatures at the Fred Meyers store and at St. John’s IGA store. Without her help we’d have been hard pressed to collect the over three thousand signatures presented to the HEC board in our final presentation. We worked with and gave what help we could to proponents of sites outside of the city limits. Many people in the community gave us moral support, even if they thought it would not be the politic thing to do. It was with real joy that we received a call from Olympia from John Fischbach that the HEC board had chosen the Salmon Creek location.

Robert "Bob" Scott and guests at his 90th birthday celebration in 2010.hold a display of illustrated memoirs Scott created with his computer to share with relatives and friends. Olive Scott was the first CPNA Chairperson in 1989. Bob was in charge from 1990-1994. Left to right: Carol Anderson friend and event organizer, Leslie Baisley niece, Barbara Kelly retired Lincoln Elementary teacher, Robert Scott retired science teacher Lewis Jr. High, John Kohler former student, Carol Hansen retired manager City of Vancouver Office of Neighborhoods. Photo: Richard Hovey

Getting Quarnberg Park built was a project that occupied the CPNA in the early years. It's 3.5 acres and, according to the Parks website, has benefited from $280,000 in grants since 1992. That likely includes the initial cost of construction and landscaping. It's open in daylight hours. Among other damaging activities, smoking is prohibited. The residential building in the background is the 20-bed Ray Hickey Hospice House. Photo: Richard Hovey

Bruce Watson followed Bob Scott as Chairman serving in 1995-1996. New bylaws eventually named the position "President". Norma Watson has been President in 2001-02, 2007-08, 2013 to now. She did the newsletter in 1997-98. Angel is CPNA's First Dog. Photo: Watson

Frank Fannick was CPNA Chairman in 1997 seen here with his late wife Helen and a Vancouver Sparkles award for all his work running the yearly Clean-up Days. He also helped distribute CPNA newsletters to door steps. Helen was our Secretary 1996-97. Photo: Richard Hovey

Richard "Dick" Malin, here with Joyce Malin was President 1998-2000 and 2009-12. Joyce served as Secretary 1998-2001 and produced the newsletter in 2001. With his background as a builder, Malin knew a lot about the machinery of local government, especially in the area of zoning and development. He helped preserve single-family homes, some of which had already been converted into duplexes with no doors or windows facing the street, by getting the majority of our lots changed back to single-family zoning. He and Joyce got grants to get federal money through the city to fund sidewalk and road improvements here. They fended off attempts to build projects in our neighborhood open spaces. Photo: Malin.

Jim and Sue Thomas receiving their "Vancouver Sparkles" award from Mayor Royce Pollard. Jim has spent huge amounts of time working to make our neighborhood safer by attending training workshops, setting up our Neighbors On Watch program and handling neighbors' concerns about crime in their blocks. Sue works for the city utility department. Their seasonal decorations alone are enough to have deserved that Sparkles award. Photo: City of Vancouver

Richard and Sylvia Hovey have been active CPNA members since 1994. Rich has produced the newsletter since 2002 and served as President 2003-06. He also served two terms as a member of the city/county Historic Preservation Commission. Sylvia served as CPNA Secretary in 2005 and as Treasurer 2002-07 and in 2009. Photo: Tom Darby

Vicky Cramer and family organized a July 4th Kid's Parade followed by games in Quarnberg Park for several years. CPNA was happy to help out with contributions to help offset expenses.

Charlotte Cooney is a long-time active CPNA member who was born on the Fourth of July. She celebrated by bringing ice cream for the kids to enjoy with the after parade activities in Quarnberg Park. Joyce Malin (not pictured) helped scoop.

TGrand Blvd. got ADA ramps in two years.

Sylvia and the late Bill Bailey make a point to a Columbian

photographer and reporter about the need for better ways to get a wheelchair down Grand Blvd. Sylvia was CPNA Treasurer in 2001 and 2009-present. Photo: Courtesy The Columbian

Grand Blvd. was put on a "Road Diet" after CPNA asked city engineers to do it and helped with studies.

Grand Blvd. was scary to walk with two lanes of traffic on both sides with the right lane close up against the sidewalk.

After building Quarnberg Park to a size suitable for the estimated usage, there was a parcel of City-owned land left over facing Mill Plain Blvd. Proposals to sell it to someone to build dense, multi-family housing there met negative comments from CPNA members and leaders who felt we already had a large enough percentage of that in our neighborhood. City Manager, Pat McDonnell, found that Southwest Washington Medical Center was looking for a location to build a Hospice House and approached CPNA with the idea it might work out on that parcel. We were very happy with this resolution of the empty lot problem. Photo: Richard Hovey

Cpl. Duane Boynton is CPNA's Neighborhood Police Officer pictured here at a National Night Out gathering in August of 2010 with (L to R) Jim Thomas and Frank Fannick.

Hospice House ground-breaking picture-ops were offered to Richards Malin (L) and Hovey (R) in Oct. 2003.

CPNA's Annual Clean-Up Day has been one of our most popular events. Here, seen in May 2003 (L to R) are Sylvia Bailey, Joyce Malin, Norma Watson, Bruce Watson and Sylvia Hovey visiting during a slow time of the annual yard sale where we try to make a few dollars for the treasury from items too-good to put into the bins during the previous week's Clean-Up Day. Frank Fannick manages both events and hosts the sale. We saw ways to reduce the dumping cost for the city by inviting in a resident with a metal recycling business to pull out the heavy metal items. He then gave us a portion of his profit as a "thank you." Then we found more items were good enough to resell during the same day or saved for the next week's sale.

Lyn Ayers has attended most of our meetings and events with his wife Janine and many other civic meetings on our behalf. He's kept up with transportation issues since Dick Malin retired from active CPNA service in 2012. Most recently the Bus Rapid Transit plan for Fourth Plain Blvd. has received most of the attention. He's also spent many hours visiting places in the neighborhood and writing grants for sidewalk and street improvements. He also serves the community as the president of the Clark County Rental Association, a group that helps people who rent out their homes and apartments learn how to manage legally, ethically and professionally. He's also been surprisingly good at dodging my camera lens. Photo: from Facebook

Columbia Lancaster is one of Central Park's oldest "residents" in the Old City Cemetery. He was born in New Milford, Connecticut in 1803. As a boy he became fascinated by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, apparently having met William Clark, and vowed he would go west to the Columbia River. His father renamed him "Columbia." He studied law and eventually settled with his family on acreage near the Columbia River near Woodland. He became the Supreme Judge for the Provisional State of Oregon 1847-49 and was instrumental in breaking the area north of the river away into the new state of Washington. He was then a Representative in Congress serving 1854-1855. He built his elaborate southern colonial style home south of Woodland around 1850 with the finest materials available. The turned wood, (banisters and newel posts) was sent around Cape Horn by clipper ship. The home was furnished with original pieces brought across country by ox team. Lancaster hosted Chief Umtuch and members of his tribe on the home’s grand two-story porch. President Ulysses S. Grant, was a guest at this home when he re-visited Fort Vancouver after he left office. The home is still in the area having been moved a short distance from it's original location. It's on the National Historic Register. Much of the Northwest's important early history took place within walking distance of our homes in Central Park. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Might you have time to do a bit more to help protect and improve your neighborhood? Join in at our meetings.

Central Park's resident professional

musician releases first CD of original songs

David Cooley has a successful career performing popular songs in a wide range of musical styles for private, corporate, concert and other events at venues in the U.S., Asia and Europe. And he's even played for CPNA on several occasions. Now he's recorded his own original songs and put them on a CD for all to enjoy.

The recording is titled COOLEY and described on the CDbaby web-site as "A savvy collection of powerful rock songs, ballads, and new blues tunes composed by a versatile songwriter and performer who blends deeply-felt emotion with cool pop swagger."

To read much more about Cooley and the new CD, see the recent article in The

Columbian at http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/dec/26/vancouver-singer-cd-an-original/ .

The CD is available for purchase at the Java House, 210 W. Evergreen and Music Millennium on E. Burnside. The CD and digital versions can be purchased on the CDbaby website at www.cdbaby.com/cd/cooley22 . Samples can be heard at that address as well. Cooley's music will get your toes a-tappin'.

Calendar Wednesday, Jan. 28 CPNA 6:30 potluck, 7:00 meeting at WSSB.

Saturday, Feb. 14 6:30 Lantern Tour, Ft. Vancouver Adm. $10 ($7 under 15.)

Saturday, Feb. 28 6:30 Lantern Tour, Ft. Vancouver $10 ($7 under 15); last of the season.

Wednesday, Mar. 25 CPNA 6:30 potluck, 7:00 meeting at WSSB.

Central Park Neighborhood Association

President: Norma Watson 699-7219 watson. bn at gmail.com

Vice President: Pepper Kim 901-0176 pepper tk at comcast.net

Secretary: Megaera Jarvis 906-0166; damsonplum at yahoo . com

Treasurer: Sylvia Bailey 695-9676; Baileyws at msn . com

Newsletter: Richard Hovey 737-0632; cpna at q . com

Police Rep.: Jim Thomas 737-9946; CentralParkPAT at msn . com

City Liaison: Andy Meade 487-7098; andy.meade at cityofvancouver.us

(Since this is posted on the Internet subject to "harvesting", the e-mail addresses have been changed. Please eliminate all spaces and replace the word "at" with the symbol @.)

We would like to thank the City of Vancouver for all the things it has done in the past 25 years to help us make our neighborhood better. We have become better informed on the workings of local, state and federal programs and feel that our concerns have been heard. As we walk through our neighborhood we see concrete evidence that many of them have been addressed by the City. We would also like to thank Carol Hansen, Adrienne

DeDona and Judi Bailey, who have held the position of Neighborhoods Program Manager during these past 25 years, for their all their hard work as well.

Published on the Internet by the City of Vancouver Office of Neighborhoods. The City of Vancouver supports the Neighborhood Associations in their effort to share vital information with residents to create a more informed public.

However, the information provided and the opinions and views expressed in Neighborhood Association newsletters or other documents do not

necessarily represent the position of the City of Vancouver, nor does the City determine whether the information published is accurate or appropriate.

The Central Park Neighborhood Association and its unpaid volunteers strive to provide appropriate and accurate information but cannot guarantee it

either.