VANCOUVER, Wash. --- Heritage High School dance teacher Kimberleigh Anderson has been named National Dance Educator of the Year by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Anderson won Washington Dance Educator of the Year in 2010, qualifying her for Northwest District Educator of the Year in 2011 which positioned her as one of five finalists at the National level.

Anderson was interviewed with the competing finalist in Boston, MA earlier this month and chosen for the prestigious honor of National Dance Educator of the Year.

Kimberleigh Anderson works with more than 180 students at Heritage High School. The school's competitive performance team the Wolf Pack Dance Team, has won many awards over the 11 years she has served as coached.
 

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department will down-size to address a significant loss in customer demand amidst tough economic times. Parks Director Peter Mayer briefed Vancouver City Council at a public workshop Tuesday.

The $10.5 million annual parks and recreation operating budget will be cut by 11 percent. The City of Vancouver’s parks and recreation centers will remain open during existing hours and roughly 80 percent of existing customers will continue to be served. However, certain classes, services and programs will be discontinued by March 31 and there will be staff layoffs.

Two specific economic factors in City park and recreation funding contributed to the $1.2 million projected shortfall in 2012:

• A sustained drop in Firstenburg and Marshall/Luepke Community Center passes, program fees and registrations in the second half of 2011 prompted City staff to re-evaluate the 2012 budget. The decline is forecasted to continue for a loss of approximately $800,000 in 2012. The 2011 budget was based upon some revenue loss from the record-setting recreation revenue of 2010; however the actual loss was higher than expected.