MONTHLY NIVA MEETING
Lantern Tour: An Evening at the Fort
Cost: $20 for adults, $10 for children 15 years and under.
The “Lantern Tour: An Evening at the Fort” is a wonderful opportunity to experience the reconstructed Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver at night. As in past years, each adult attending the program will carry their own candle lantern and tour with a Park Ranger through the reconstructed fort’s Counting House, Fur Store, Chief Factor’s House, Kitchen, and Bake House.
In each building, visitors will experience historical vignettes with costumed living history interpreters, including graduates of the park’s Youth Volunteer Programs. Visitors will learn what activities would have occurred during the evening hours at Fort Vancouver, and enjoy a cup of hot cider at the end of the tour. These tours meet at the entrance gate to the reconstructed Fort Vancouver, 1001 E. Fifth St. All tours start at 7:00 p.m.
Reservations
Reservations are required for all Lantern Tours. To make reservations, prospective attendees can call the bookstore at the park’s Visitor Center, managed by the non-profit Friends of Fort Vancouver, at (360) 816-6216.
Payment for the tour must be made at the time of the reservation. Payment will NOT be accepted on the evening of the tour.
National Park Passes do not cover this special program. Reservations are final and non-refundable. Paid reservations/receipts are transferable.
Changes to reservations may be made up to noon the day before the tour, allowing those on the waiting list an opportunity to attend.
Other Information
Parking is available at the lot adjoining the reconstructed Fort Vancouver at 1001 E Fifth Street. This parking lot will open at 6:30 pm.
Attendees are requested to please arrive no later than 6:45 pm to allow time to park, present their ticket, and get oriented.
Attendees are also requested to please follow the lantern-lit path upon arrival, and check in at the contact Station just inside the main gate to the reconstructed fort.
The tours last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and tour routes are approximately one mile in length.
Attendees are advised to please dress for the weather and the terrain, as they will be outside and on sidewalks, pathways, and/or grass and uneven ground surfaces.
Only attendees 10 years and older may carry a lantern.
Homeless Memorial Service
Friends of the Carpenter (FOC) invite the community to join them for a Homeless Memorial Service this evening, Thursday, Dec. 21, from 5:45 to 7 p.m., on the steps on St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1309 Franklin St. “The Homeless Memorial event holds a special place in our hearts as we pause and remember our neighbors who have died in the past year,” says Tom Iberle, executive director.
The memorial will include a candle lighting service, as well as a short program with special guests. The event is co-hosted by Outsiders Inn, whose mission is to use a multi-pronged approach to tackling the problem of homelessness, separation and discrimination through advocacy, awareness and support.
FOC’s event coincides with the 2017 National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored the event on Dec. 21, the first day of winter and longest night of the year, to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember those who have died while living without a permanent home. Learn more at friendsofthecarpenter.org.
Oregon Women Veterans Conference
Every two years the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs sponsors a state women veterans conference. In April 2018 we will host the 10th 2018 Oregon Women Veterans Conference. This Conference is open only to women veterans and is free to attend, although attendees do have to pay for their travel and lodging. ODVA hosts the conference, supported by generous contributions from sponsors and donors.
This year we are adding a Thursday night screening of the documentary “Lioness” , which will include a panel of some of the women veterans who were featured in the film. There will also be a selection of workshops taught by various experts in their field from around the state (including benefits information, yoga, professional development, and much more). We are excited to announce that Margaret Witt will be a keynote speaker, discussing her new book “Tell: Love, Defiance, and the Military Trial at the Tipping Point for Gay Rights” and will be doing a book signing. This year we expect to get at least 400 women veterans from around Oregon.
More information on registering, becoming a vendor, or sponsoring the Conference can be found on the website: www.wvc.oregondva.com. Should you have any questions, or if you would like to donate to the conference or become a vendor, please feel free to contact Oregon Women Veterans Coordinator Elizabeth Estabrooks at estabre@odva.state.or.us or 971-720-9116 or Martha Garcia at garciam@odva.state.or.us, 503-373-2383.
Christmas at Fort Vancouver
This season’s Christmas at Fort Vancouver event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the reconstructed Fort Vancouver, costumed volunteers will portray the sights and sounds of an 1840s fur trade Christmas and New Year’s Day.
This holiday was one of the few times a year that the Hudson’s Bay Company granted leave to all employees. Many spent this respite outdoors hunting or fishing, and all would celebrate together by dining and dancing in the fort. Learn more about the history of the holidays at Fort Vancouver at https://www.nps.gov/articles/holidaysatfova.htm
Visitors will hear caroling by the Madrigal Singers as they enjoy free, warm holiday wassail, games, music, demonstrations, and dancing. There will be several ongoing Victorian-era craft activities, with the park providing materials for visitors to make wooden toy tops, wreaths, and potpourri ornaments. Regular entrance fees to the fort will apply.
Also on Saturday, The visitors center will host a “Celebration of Birds” event from 10 am to 3 p.m., and guest artist Pat Courtey Gold will open a new exhibit at 2 p.m. For more information, including a complete schedule of the day’s events, click here.
“Meet the Directors” Community Meeting and VBA Claims Clinic
Meet with VA Portland Health Care System & VBA Portland Regional Office Directors personally in an informal, relaxed environment to share your ideas on how to improve VA services, ask questions, & address your concerns.
Veterans Benefits Administration representatives will be on hand to discuss YOUR benefits claim, answer questions, and address specific concerns.
The following VAPORHCS services will have staff members who will be on hand to talk with you;
– Suicide Prevention team;
– Transition & Care Management;
– MyHealtheVet (who can help YOU sign up for MyHealtheVet)
– Patient Advocates
– Enrollment Services (who can answer questions about eligibility & how to enroll)
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Portland VA Vancouver Campus
1601 E. 4th Plain Blvd. Vancouver, Wash. 98661
Building 11, 3rd Floor Columbia Room
Stop by anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. There will be no formal briefings.
We hope to see you there!
Please share this event on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Questions?
Please contact VAPORHCS Public Affairs Office at (503) 402-2975 or VHAPOR-PublicAffairs@med.va.gov