There are so many committed souls and bright lights in our communities. Some make national news. Most do their volunteer service quietly each day, taking small steps, raising one dollar at a time, warming individual hearts and making a cumulative difference.

Annie Timberman. 1950-2011.

One of those good souls passed on in Vancouver earlier this month. Annie Timberman was ONE BRIGHT LIGHT. Annie would zip up to our house in her wheelchair, collecting recyclables to raise funds for a favorite charity, seeking pledges for the Walk for the Animals or just saying “hello.”

There is an inappropriate term often used in the media – “confined to a wheelchair.” Saying that about Annie would be like saying Lance Armstrong was “confined to a bike.” Annie used her chair for mobility and for activism each day.

At her memorial service, Annie’s friends shared the breadth of her involvement in the world. One took Annie to Olympia to discuss disability concerns with legislators. But when they got there, Annie lobbied about landfill issues. Annie set her own agenda and priorities.

Annie philanthropic support reached from the ARC, the Humane Society and Hough Elementary School, where she attended classes as a child, to children in Africa and a girls program in Nicaragua. From Carter Park Neighborhood meetings to downtown Vancouver clean ups, Annie was there. She did all of this while working at First Aid Only, where she received the Employee of the Year award in 2006.

We will all have to work a little harder to make up for her spirited, generous, irreplaceable presence in our community.

Rest in peace, dear Annie.

I saw Johnny Depp in downtown Vancouver. Yep, there he was in Esther Short Park, all decked out as Jack Sparrow. I tried not to act too silly but I did get his photo.

Johnny wasn’t the only one in the park. Kumoricon 2011 came to town for three days over Labor Day weekend. What is Kumoricon? It’s one amazing gathering.

Kumori means “cloudy” in Japanese but the weather was anything but overcast. Kumoricon was a convention for anime lovers, also known affectionately as “otaku.” Thousands promenaded between the two convention hotels, the Hilton and the Red Lion at the Quay in spectacularly creative costumes. Workshops, panels, video gaming, outdoor activities, dances—participants had their choice and seemed to be having an amazing amount of fun. They will be back in 2012. Don’t miss it!

Here is a sampling of some of the anime and manga characters and of course (be still my heart) Johnny Depp.

With summer winding down, there aren’t as many events happening around the region. But if quality trumps quantity, it will be a great month to tour the area.

September 3-5 – Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Trip – The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad will be taking 10 mile trips out of Yacolt on Labor Day Weekend. Check the Web site for reservations.

September 3-5 – Kumoricon – Anyone who is interested in Japanese anime should head to the Kumoricon 2011 convention in downtown Vancouver. Events will be at the Hilton Hotel and the Red Lion at the Quay. Anime lovers in costume will be wandering the streets. Should be very interesting!

Kayaks along the Columbia

September 9-18 - Lower Columbia River Kayak Roundup – These folks are into serious kayaking! It’s a great way to explore the Puget Island area. is an instructional retreat for kayakers of all levels. 2011 will be the 5th and final event. Full-day and half-day classes are offered on the weekend, and intensive multi-day programs are offered during the week.

The Rainy City Roller Dolls

September 10 – Roller Derby! - Centralia’s Rainy City Roller Dolls take on Salem Oregon’s Cherry City Derby Girls at the Back to School Beat Down.

Cars in a Past Rod Run

September-10-11 – 28th Annual Rod Run to the End of the World – A mass of vintage cars are expected for this annual auto gathering in Ocean Park. But it’s not just about the cars. Jamie’s Rock & Roll Legends with Elvis, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline & Connie Francis will perform live on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The beach will be rocking this weekend!

Seattle's jazzy Groove for Thought

September 11 – Groove for Thought – They were fabulous on The Sing-Off (watch their performance here) and now the Seattle a cappella singing group performs a fundraising matinee concert for Pearson Air Museum. Get your tickets here.

Alpaca from the 2009 Tour

September 17 – 13th Annual Clark County Harvest Celebration Day – Nine farms will be open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a great way to see rural Clark County and it’s free!

September 17 and 18 – ARTrails – Check out the 9th Annual ARTrails Open Studio Tour. This self-guided, free event takes you though the towns and backroads of Lewis County to visit the artists and studios of Lewis County.

September 30 & October 1 - Columbia River Country Days and Grays River Covered Bridge Dinner – There will be a Farmer’s Market, Pumpkin Patch, Farm Tours,
Old Time Auction, and an October 1st dinner at Grays River Covered Bridge. For more information, call 360-795-3278

It’s 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Most Southwest Washington residents are snoozing. Not so for Sam, Buddy and Jesse. Ditto for Pink and Gidget. The Ross Off-Leash Dog Recreation Area in Vancouver is animated with wide-awake canines and, of course, their owners.

The 8-acre park is managed by DOGPAW, the Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington. The group’s Mission is “to work with dog owners and the community at large to promote awareness and acceptance and to increase the availability for safe off leash areas for dogs in Clark County.” Located on BPA Complex grounds at NE Ross St and NE 15th Ave, the park offers a large, hilly off leash area with walking trail and collection of benches, plus an adjacent park for smaller dogs.

The owners may be walking the dogs, but the dogs are exercising their masters, too. Many a dog owner has gotten in shape following his or her hound up and down the hilly park. Some walk the 3/4 mile loop multiple times for a human workout.

So who is out there?

Bruce and Sam

Sam

Don and Pink

Pink

Buddies

7:30 a.m. - Surrounded by dogs

Pink and Gidget, who longingly looks out from the small dog area

Where are the sheep?

Hanging out in the flowers

Kings and queen of the bark dust hill

Buddy of Buddy and Bosco

Bosco looking for friends

Love in the dog park: Bosco finds Sparky

8 a.m. - More canines and companions hit the trail

Pure joy...

“The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.” (author unknown)

Enough said.

August 5 - Jake the Alligator Man’s 4th Annual 75th Birthday Party – Long Beach. Who knew he was that old? Check the Web site for details about this celebration which will be held at, of course, Marsh’s Free Museum in downtown Long Beach.

August 5-6 – Art in the Heart/First Friday Musicians and artists take over central downtown Vancouver during the annual Art in the Heart celebration which kicks off on Friday night with the monthly artwalk. Don’t miss the authors’ tent in front of Angst Gallery and Niche Wine Bar. Stop by and say “hello” to master mystery writer, Carolyn Rose!

Aug 5 – 14 – Clark County Fair – 143 years! Clark County’s biggest summer party starts on August 5. This is one great county fair. So much to see including dock dogs, an Amazing Scone Baking Race, concerts, 4H exhibits, cowgirl tricks (Dale Evans and Annie Oakley live on!), amusement rides and, the best reason of all, the Clark County Dairy Women’s super fresh and tasty milkshakes. See you there!

August 7 – Columbia River Concours d’Elegance – Hundreds of classic cars restored to showroom polish will be on display at Officers Row in Vancouver.

August 7 – Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum and Botanical Garden Open House – 9215 SE Old Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. Noon-6 p.m. includes lemonade and cookies on the lawn. A wonderful opportunity to tour the arboretum. The property includes the John Stanger house.

August 10 – National S’Mores Day – Get your Hershey bars out and start your campfire (in a safe location, if legal, please!) OR make them in your microwave, though it’s not quite the same. See August 30 for a related holiday.

August 10-14 – Columbia Gorge International Film Festival - This film lover is REALLY looking forward to the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, which will include the fabulous new Kiggins Theatre as one of the venues. Check out this ZEST interview with the festival’s founder, Breven Warren.

August 10-14 – Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival – Another great fair and it’s free! Head out to Stevenson for a LOT of activities with all the usual fun livestock competitions, exhibits, music and carnival rides. Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue will be appearing.

August 12-13 – Blues and Seafood at the Port of Ilwaco. Port of Ilwaco. There will be LOTS of music at this festival starting with an all-star jam on Friday night. Norman Sylvester performs on Saturday. Willapa Bay oysters, microbrews and regional wines and will be featured. Save some barbequed oysters for me, please.

August 15 - The Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF) is a week-long kite celebration and competition held annually during the third full week of August in Long Beach with professional and amateur kite flyers. Voted ‘Best Kite Festival in the World’ by Kite Trade Association International.

August 16-21 – Southwest Washington Fair – Chehalis – Fun music with Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone, among other groups and activities at this Chehalis-based fair.

August 18-20 – Wahkiakum County Fair and Farmers Market – Rides and games, food and vendors in Skamokawa.

August 19-21 – Bridge of the Gods Kiteboarding Festival – For a totally different kind of kite, kiteboarders from across the nation will compete in the nation’s longest running amateur kiteboarding contest. Held at the Port of Skamania’s East Point Kite Beach.

August 24-28 - Pacific County Fair – August is truly the month of county fairs. The Pacific County Fair in Menlo will include all the fun activities plus Stormy the Clown, Professor Bamboozle and an Elvis Tribute.

August 26-28 – Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival – Vancouver’s premier music festival graces Esther Short Park again. Great wines, beautiful art and fantastic music. Take your lawn chairs. This year’s line up includes Diane Schuur, Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval and Al Jarreau among many others. Check out this ZEST post for opening night from last year’s festival.

Mavis Staples headlined the 2010 Festival

August 27 – Bigfoot Bash and Bounty – Home Valley Park in Skamania County. The day starts with pancakes, continues with Bigfoot authors and spotters and ends with a Bigfoot movie. What more could you want? (If you go, check out the camping at Timberlake Campground.) Take your camera and watch out for Bigfoot!

August 30 – National Marshmallow Toasting Day – You know what that means. If not, refer back to August 10…

One of the best Vancouver events of the year is Sip & Stroll. This year, more than 35 downtown and uptown shops and restaurants offered tastings of wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks to benefit the Hough Foundation.

Starting at Brickhouse Bar & Grill, the event was especially interesting when it featured new businesses. What a selection! From a pole dancing studio to Bad Monkey Bikes, a barber shop (Moe’s) to the newly renovated Kiggins Theater, a karate studio to Arnada Naturals and Music with Miss Mindi, new shops were interspersed with old favorites like Tommy O’s and Urban Eccentric.

By the end of the evening, $15,000 was raised for the Hough Elementary School Family Resource Center, which provides a clothes closet, snacks, school supplies, an after school music program and volunteer support for students and teachers.

Here are a few photo highlights of Sip & Stroll:

Kristin from Small Vineyards at Niche Wine Bar

Beer Tasting at Most Everything

Alisa Tetreault, Owner of Most Everything

Linda Lee and friend at Linda Lee's Lingerie & Pole 4 Fun

Paul Montegue at Moe's

English Estates at Neighbors Market

Lynn Krogseng, Owner of Neighbors Market

The Cat's Pajamas on Broadway

Tasting at Cat's Pajamas

Sweets at Not Too Shabby

Benke Cellars at Mint Tea

Miss Mindi of Music with Miss Mindi

Music at Vancouver Pizza

Dennis Pfendler, Owner of Uptown Karate

Sipper and Stroller on a Jungle Couch

Too much to drink? Time to go home...