Images Vancouver-Clark County, WA: 2007

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IMAGES O F VA N C O U V E R /C L A R K C O U N T Y, WA S H I N G T O N

HEART OF THE ARTS Downtown steps up commitment to the arts

FLIGHTS OF FANCY Kite flying is more than child’s play

VINTAGE VANCOUVER There’s no finer place to make wine

SPONSORED BY THE GRE ATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • 2007

I M A G E S

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Vancouver/ Clark County

TABLE OF CONTENT S

Features

2007 EDITION, VOLUME 3

SENIOR EDITOR DI A NE B A R T L E Y COPY EDITOR J O Y C E C A RU T HE R S ASSOCIATE EDITOR S U S A N C H A P P E L L STAFF WRITERS R E BE C C A D E N T O N, K E V I N L I T W I N, JE S S IC A MOZ O EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JE S S Y YA N C E Y DIRECTORIES EDITORS C A R O L C O WA N, A M A NDA K I N G, KRIST Y WISE

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS S A ND Y C A MP BE L L , K I MBE R LY DA LY, C AT HE R I NE DA R NE L L , J I M E L L IO T, L AU R A HIL L , L E A N NE L IBB Y, DA N M A R K H A M, J O HN M c B R Y D E AD PROJECT MANAGER J O E T H O M A S ADVERTISING SALES ASSISTANT S A R A S A R T I N CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER G R E G E ME N S STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS W E S A L D R I D GE , A N T O N Y B O S HIE R , M IC H A E L W. BU N C H, BR I A N M C C O R D CREATIVE DIRECTOR K E I T H H A R R I S WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR S H AW N DA N I E L

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR N ATA S H A L O R E N S ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR C HR I S T I N A C A R D E N PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR H A Z E L R I S NE R

V IN TAGE VANCOU V ER Bordeaux has nothing on Clark County, one of the finest wine-growing spots on the planet.

F L IGH T S OF FANC Y Kite flying may look like child’s play, but here it’s a full-fledged sport.

HE AR T OF T HE AR T S As downtown Vancouver grows, so does the community’s support for the arts.

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER TA DA R A S M I T H

GR AND -S I ZED COMMUNI T Y F UN Cool off at the new Firstenburg Center’s water park and kiddie spray-ground.

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS C A NDAC E C O C K R E L L , AMANDA M C ALL I S TER, KR I S SE X TON, L AUR A TAYLOR GRAPHIC DESIGN C ANDICE HUL SE Y, AMY NEL SON, BR I T TANY SCHLE ICHER, V IK K I W IL L I A M S WEB PRODUCTION J I L L T O W N S E ND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER A L I S O N HU N T E R AD TRAFFIC M I ND Y A R B O U R , S A R A H M IL L E R , PAT R IC I A M OI S A N, J IL L W YAT T

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CHAIRMAN G R E G T HU R M A N PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER B O B S C H WA R T Z M A N EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT R AY L A N GE N SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JE F F HE E F N E R SENIOR V.P./SALES C A R L A HE N R Y

Departments

V.P./SALES HE R B H A R P E R V.P./VISUAL CONTENT M A R K F O R E S T E R V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING S Y BIL S T E WA R T V.P./PRODUCTION C A S E Y E . HE S T E R

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR T E R E E C A RU T HE R S MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS M AU R IC E F L IE S S CONTROLLER C HR I S D UD L E Y ACCOUNTING M O R I A H D O MB Y, DI A N A GU Z M A N, M A R I A M C FA R L A ND, L I S A O W E N S, S H A N N O N R IG S B Y MARKETING MANAGER T R AC Y R O GE R S

21 | P O R T F OL IO 39 | ED UC AT ION

RETAIL PRODUCTS MANAGER B R YA N C HI N E L L A DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING S U Z Y WA L D R IP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR G A R Y S M I T H IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR M AT T L O C K E IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN R YA N S W E E N E Y

43 | HE ALT H/ W ELLNE S S 4 4 | COMMUNI T Y PROF IL E

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER P E G G Y B L A K E BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT N IC O L E W IL L I A M S CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/CUSTOM MAGAZINES PAT T I C O R NE L I U S

Images of Vancouver/Clark County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C O N TA C T:

Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Ste. 100 • Vancouver, WA 98660 (360) 694-2588 • Fax: (360) 693-8279 E-mail: yourchamber@vancouverusa.com vancouverusa.com

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I T ’ S P O S I T I VELY ROCK WELL I AN . . 26 The community of Camas has transformed its downtown into a charming shopping area.

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CHAMBER REPORT

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On the Cover P H O T O B Y M I C H A E L W. B U N C H Statue of George Vancouver, English sea captain

ECONOMIC PROFILE

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READ MO RE ON LI N E

IMAGESVANCOUVER . com EDUCAT ION AND SCHOOL L I S T ING S Check out school districts, colleges and universities in the Vancouver area. >Read More

ACTION! ADVENTURE!

GARDENING How does your garden grow? Get the dirt on regional gardening. >Read More

FOOD Get a taste of regional cuisine. >Read More

“IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!”

REALTOR.COM Search for a new home, get moving tips and more at the National Association of Realtors’ Web site. >Read More

THE MOVIE Take a virtual tour of Vancouver as seen through the eyes of our photographers. See for yourself what sets this community apart. >IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM

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Vancouver/ Clark County

“VANCOUVER LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

Images of Vancouver/ Clark County

THE MOVIE

2007 EDITION, VOLUME 3

Images of Vancouver/Clark County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Vancouver tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

– Alex Haley (1921-1992), co-founder

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Almanac She’s a Chinook A 7-foot statue overlooking the Columbia River honors the daughter of a 19th-century Chinook chief.

The Ilchee Monument & Waterfront Renaissance Trail is located along Columbia River Drive, connecting downtown Vancouver with the retail shops and restaurants along the riverfront. The monument is of Ilchee, daughter of Chinook chief Comcomly. According to Native American lore, Ilchee paddled her own canoe – the sign of a chief.

Visitors can see the statue while strolling along the 4-mile Waterfront Renaissance Trail.

Things You Should Know On

the last stretch of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition, the explorers traveled down the Columbia River through Vancouver to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition led the way in settling the West.

With

one horse for every 11 residents, Clark County ranks in the top 10 nationally in per-capita horse ownership.

Believe

it or not, Vancouver’s weather bucks the stereotype of the rainy Pacific Northwest.

Average annual rainfall (36 inches) is less than that of Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis or Seattle.

Vancouver

is just across the river and minutes away from Portland International Airport.

Vancouver

has been named a Tree City USA several times and is home to the oldest apple tree in the Northwest. The tree, planted in 1826 near Fort Vancouver, is regarded as the matriarch of the state’s apple industry.

Notable

soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks include Ulysses S. Grant, George Marshall and George McClellan.

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Climb Every Mountain Now that Mount St. Helens is calm, try climbing it.

It was May 18, 1980, when the volcano had its famous eruption, spewing volcanic ash and lava for nine hours.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan established the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument, and the environment has responded naturally from that point forward.

Fresh, green and newly ready to explore, the mountain is again open for climbers. Those interested must apply for a climbing permit before scaling the renowned volcano.

Mount St. Helens is less than a two-hour drive from Vancouver, and is visible from Clark County. Also visible from the county is Mount Hood, its sharp and snowy peaks on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.

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Trading Places

To Market We Go Out of lentils? Have enough lungwort?

The Vancouver Farmers Market is a year-round attraction located in the Esther Short Commons, next to Esther Short Park between Sixth and Eighth streets. The indoor market expands outdoors into the streets from April through October.

The bustling market features local produce, flowers and herbs, crafts, and live entertainment. Food vendors offer their wares in the indoor area, and during the outdoor season, you’ll find more than 150 vendors and a lively street scene.

Memories of the Hudson’s Bay Company are returning to Fort Vancouver.

The fort was a fur-trading hot spot when it opened in 1825, with the famed Hudson’s Bay Company doing most of its trading there. It became such a bustling venue that laborers from around the world traveled to Vancouver to work for the prospering business.

Today, a reconstructed Fort Vancouver Village is being built onsite to showcase those trading glory days, joining the other attractions at the fort. The fort is the heart of the Vancouver National Historic Preserve and open for tours.

VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY At A Glance P O P UL AT ION (20 05 E S T IM AT E ) Vancouver: 157,493 Clark County: 403,766

L O C AT IO N Vancouver is on the north bank of the Columbia River, directly across from Portland, Ore., and about 90 miles from the Pacific coast.

BEG INNING S Vancouver was incorporated in 1857 after several Americans and Britons, including Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, had explored the area. The city is named after Capt. George Vancouver, a British explorer who sailed to the area in 1791 in search of the Northwest Passage.

F O R MO R E INF O R M AT IO N Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Suite 100 Vancouver, WA 98660 (360) 694-2588 • Fax: (360) 693-8279 vancouverusa.com

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.Vancouver

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Almanac Lots of Links To Like It’s easy for golfers to get teed off in the Vancouver area.

There are many courses for golf enthusiasts to enjoy in the region, with several public and private venues to choose from. In Vancouver itself, you’ll find Bowyer’s Par 3 Golf Course, Club Green Meadows, Fairway Village, Green Mountain, Lakeview Par 3, Pine Crest and Royal Oaks Country Club. Other courses include Camas Meadows in Camas, Dolce Skamania in Stevenson, Lewis River in Woodland, Tri-Mountain in Ridgefield and The Cedars in Brush Prairie.

Even a Glockenspiel?

One of the most interesting parks in the Northwest Passage started life as Vancouver’s town square. Today, its green space is still the center of community activity.

Esther Short Park was bequeathed to Vancouver at the death of its namesake in 1862, and the city’s first piece of public art was displayed there in 1929. Additonal art has been added through the years, and the one-of-a-kind Salmon Run Bell Tower and Glockenspiel adds further interest. Esther Short Park is also the scene of the city’s official Christmas tree lighting each November.

Fun Things To Do Sip

and chew – try a sweet bubble tea, complete with tapioca pearls, at the downtown Vancouver Farmers Market.

Bring

your prized pig or best jar of preserves to the Clark County Fair, which dates back to 1868.

Dine

Very Attractive Vancouver is graced with a number of attractions for visitors to hike, bike or drive their way through history.

One of the most popular spots is Fort Vancouver/Officers Row, site of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 1825 trading post. Some of the other must-see attractions include the Pearson Air Museum, Pomeroy House & Living History Farm, Cedar Creek Grist Mill and Chalatchie Prairie Railroad.

Additional points of interest are the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Clark County Museum, Pendleton’s Washougal Woolen Mills and the North Clark Historical Museum.

VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

at The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve, then go for an after-dinner stroll along picturesque Officers Row.

Head to the Columbia River Gorge for some incredible scenery and world-class windsurfing, fishing, skiing and snowboarding.

Catch a game of the Vancouver Volcanoes, the city’s new professional basketball team.

Feel

like bird watching? Visit the Ridgefield National Wildlife Area, home to geese, herons, swans and cranes.

Buy

a bag of freshly ground corn meal at Cedar Creek Grist Mill, built in 1876.

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V intage

V ancouver Sun and soil combine to c reate out s t anding Cl ark Count y w ines

S TORY BY

B

Kimberly Daly

ordeaux Plus. That’s how Vancouver’s Carl English, who owns English Estate

Winery, sums up Clark County’s superior

P H O T O S B Y M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

ability to produce fine wines.

“There isn’t any place in the world that has better conditions for wine production Carl English and stepdaughter Kelly Emerson are two principals in English Estate Winery, founded on land owned by the English family since 1903.

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than we have in Washington,” English says.

Vancouver’s advantage over the famous IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM

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year in the state.

And it all started right here in Clark County. Back in 1825, the Hudson’s Bay Company planted the first wine grapes in Washington at Fort Vancouver, leading to a thriving wine industry in the Northwest, “before Prohibition killed it,” according to English.

Just what makes Vancouver so great for grapes?

“There are two things that control growing grapes: climate and soil,” says English. Washington is at roughly the same latitude as France, and the state’s wine commission notes that the state averages two hours more summer sunshine per day than California’s prime grape-growing region.

Also, the factor that makes Bordeaux wines world-famous – gravel – is in abundant supply in Washington as well. English says Clark County has numerous riverbeds and 65 to 70 feet of deep gravel soil, providing ideal drainage and growing conditions.

Linc and Joan Wolverton of nearby Salishan Vineyards in La Center also realized the similarities between France and Washington early on. While Linc was studying in Dijon, France, he

noticed that Clark County resembled the colder regions of France.

“Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay can all do well in a cooler climate like we have here,” Joan Wolverton says. “We have the right elevation, with a slope protected from frost and with exposure to the sun.”

The couple, who plan to retire later this year, planted their first crop of grapes in 1971, making Salishan one of the oldest vineyards in the region.

Over at Bethany Vineyard and Winery in Ridgefield, Walt and Bethany Houser planted their first grapes in 1999. Walt Houser, who has made wine since he was a teenager, says the best thing about being in the business is “being able to make a product people like.

“I think I get more of a reward from that than I do the money part of it, to be honest.”

Bethany Vineyard has 24 acres in grape cultivation, English Estate has 16, and Salishan has 12. Despite the small acreages, “It’s a crop that can generate enough income to meet the regulations to have your property in agricultural use.” English says. “And the potential is enormous.”

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

French winemaking region lies in the climate, English adds.

“Our climate is better in summer for ripening. They have a wet summer, and we have a dry summer.” And thanks to the state’s many microclimates, he continues, “there’s not a variety in the world we can’t grow here in Washington.”

Figures from the Washington Wine Commission back up those claims.

According to the commission, the state is the second-largest premium wine producer in the nation, contributing $3 billion to the state economy and employing more than 14,000 people.

More than 30,000 acres and 460 wineries produce 18 million gallons of wine per

English Estate Winery’s main operations and tasting room are housed in a classic barn built by owner Carl English’s grandfather in 1915. Inset: Salishan Vineyards in La Center has received multiple honors for its Clark County wines.

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Oasis for Oenophiles V

ancouver is not only a great place for making wine, it’s a perfect place for drinking it as well. In fact, thanks to the wine-savvy culture of the city, Vancouverites have many opportunities to enjoy, learn about, and celebrate the fruit of the vine.

At Vinotopia Restaurant and Wine Bar, patrons can please their palates and increase their wine knowledge at the “largest wine bar in the Northwest,” according to owner Rudyard Coltman.

Vinotopia offers more than 100 worldclass wines by the glass or by the ounce, as well as a library reserve list of an additional 400 bottles. Computers in the tasting rooms allow patrons to research the vintages; Wine 101 classes and a monthly Wine Maker’s Dinner make sharing that knowledge an enjoyable social event.

Patrons can also savor the gourmet cuisine of award-winning chef Alan Lake, as well take in films in the adjoining theater complex, Cinetopia.

“We have a very cosmopolitan demographic in the Portland/Vancouver area, very educated and cultured,” Coltman says. “You can sense that right away when you come here.”

“The area is growing by leaps and bounds,” says David Gray, co-owner of Salut! Wine Co., which has stores in Camas and Vancouver.

Salut! offers international and local wines, weekly wine tastings, cooking classes, wine classes, special dinners and unique gift items. The Camas store has an in-store bistro; both locations offer catering.

At Pheasant Valley Vineyard & Winery in the nearby Hood River Valley, visitors can have their wine and drink it too during a stay at the vineyard’s on-site bed and breakfast, with a bonus view of Mount Hood.

With so much focus on wine, it’s no wonder that the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival has been rated the No. 1 cultural tourism event in Vancouver and southwest Washington. The annual festival, held downtown at Esther Short Park, celebrates “hot jazz, great wines, fine art and delicious cuisine;” the 2007 festival is slated for August.

PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD

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Todd Rudolph proves that kite flying can be an indoor sport, though his Revolution Dual-Line kite (top) seems equally at home outdoors.

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Flights of Fancy Vancouver f lyers send thei r k ites soar i ng year ’round – i ndoors and out

S TORY BY

K

Jessica Mozo

ite flying is more than child’s play in Vancouver – it’s a fullfledged competition sport.

“Here in the Vancouver area, we have several international champion kite f lyers,” says Theresa Norelius, owner of The Kite Shoppe on Evergreen Boulevard in Vancouver.

How does one compete in kite flying, you ask?

“There are tons of competition categories,” says Gary Goodenough, a Vancouver resident who has been VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

✦ PHOTOGR APHY BY

Michael W. Bunch

building and flying kites for 20 years.

“There’s competition kite building and designing. Then there are competitions for how many kites a person can put up and how long a person can keep their kites in the air.

“At one competition, a guy had three kites in the air for 20 hours, and he’s nearly 70 years old.”

Another popular competition category is kite ballet, where a team of flyers choreographs a dance-like routine and flies kites to music, complete with

synchronized dips, rollovers and other tricks.

“They’re judged on how well their routine fits the music, how they execute f lying and if they’re in control of the kite. A lot of flyers excel at doing tricks without crashing their kite,” Norelius says. “They use right and left hand movements to control the kite, making it spin, roll over or move from side to side.”

Their goal is to collect points at regional competitions – often held at IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM

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area beaches – in order to qualify for national competitions and, ultimately, international events.

“The 2005 national competition was in Maryland, and in 2006, it was in Des Moines, Iowa,” Norelius says. “The 2007 national competition will be in Ocean Shores, Wash.”

In Vancouver, kite flyers can often be seen at Frenchman’s Bar Park on the Columbia River and Wintler Community Park. Portland’s Delta Park is also a hotspot with flyers.

In colder months, enthusiasts even fly kites indoors, which dispels the myth that wind is a necessity for flying a kite.

An indoor flying competition was held in November 2006 at Camas High School’s gymnasium.

“A lot of people think running is the way to get a kite up, but it’s not,” Goodenough says. “Indoors, you walk around and move your body, and you release the line. It’s very interesting to see that.”

Kiteboarding is another activity that’s interesting to watch, and lots of locals practice it east of Vancouver along The Dalles region of the Columbia River in Oregon.

“Flyers attach a board to their feet and use a power-controlled kite on the

water,” Goodenough says. “I’ve seen people fly through the air with their kite and the board and land back on the water. It’s very stunning.”

Such daredevil tricks demand experience and skill, but kite flying on land, Norelius says, requires little to no experience.

“Anybody can give it a try,” she says.

“It’s a great family sport, because you can go to the local park and take a picnic along. And it’s affordable – you don’t have to pay every time you want to go to the park.”

Plus, kiting appeals to all ages.

“I’m involved in the Northwest Sport Kite League, and the youngest flyer in our league is 6 years old,” Norelius says.

“The oldest flyers are well into their 80s.

I love seeing the grins on children’s faces when they’re able to launch a kite and keep it in the air ” For Goodenough, kiting is “almost a spiritual experience.”

“It’s quiet and relaxing. You feel a oneness with the environment around you,” he says. “When teams of flyers are doing a choreographed routine with music, it’s very harmonious and soothing, and people can feel that. The concept is trying to communicate an emotion with the audience.”

Adult kite-fliers, like Todd Rudolph, often enjoy the challenge of kite competitions, with categories evaluating everything from handling skills to kite design. Rudolph finds the grounds at Fort Vancouver a handy spot for in-town flying.

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From

Llewellyn J. Rhoe chose to locate his Main Street Theatre in downtown Vancouver, also home to a growing number of galleries – including Art on the Boulevard, above. Left: Steve Reinmuth’s Ascent AP at Art on the Boulevard.

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Town to Town Ar t s lover s have plent y of op t ions close to home S TORY BY

H

Laura Hill

✦ PHOTOGR APHY BY

ankering for a day of gallery hopping? Heart set on an evening of music, dance or cutting-edge theatre?

No need to cross that bridge to Portland – Vancouver has something to offer arts lovers of every stripe, whether your tastes run to The Nutcracker, contemporary sculpture or Harold Pinter.

Downtown Vancouver is increasingly home to visual and performing artists and their supporters, who have made impressive strides in recent years and plan more ambitious projects in future.

“I used to joke that Vancouver was a great place to live if you were in the witness protection program because we were such a sleepy little suburb,” gallery owner Gene Wigglesworth says with a laugh. “We’re trying to change that perception,” he adds. “The arts scene is growing with downtown Vancouver.

We’re awakening.”

Wigglesworth and his wife, Grace Teigen, opened Art on the Boulevard in 2006, a good example of the downtown arts renaissance that is complementing existing arts organizations such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Dance Theatre and the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics.

The latest of five downtown galleries and artist co-ops, Arts on the Boulevard is a 2,000-square-foot exhibit space located in The Marketplace, a charming enclave of small shops. Its portable walls allow innovative staging of new shows each month, featuring everything from $25 pottery pieces to an $88,000 bronze water sculpture. A non-profit project of Friends of the Arts, it is also part of a new organization, Southwest VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

Michael W. Bunch

Washington Art Galleries (SWAG) that sponsors First Friday art evenings and plans to work with the popular Downtown Vancouver Association monthly Art Walk.

Launched in 2005, the Main Street Theatre is also boosting the downtown arts scene with a year-round calendar of productions by Arts Equity Onstage. The non-profit theatre group debuts innovative new dramas as well as offering more familiar fare by playwrights such as Eugene O’Neill.

More good news for the arts lies ahead. After long planning, including a 2003 community symposium that demonstrated wide public support for the idea, plans are under way for a Center for the Arts, a performing arts venue in Vancouver.

Friends of the Arts, which has been active in promoting arts in the community since 1996, views the arts as an economic development opportunity. Friends hope to establish ARTillery, a multipurpose arts space, at a former Army installation in the Historic Reserve. The proposed space – a former barracks – would function as a home for the arts community and would include a gallery, studio space for potters and printmakers, individual small studios that artists could rent at affordable prices, and an education component for children and adults. The project is contingent upon the Army’s donation of the property on which the future ARTillery barracks building stands.

“Our vision is absolutely firm to have a building that embraces the arts on the Historic Reserve,” says Friends board member Jan Asai. “We hope that we will be able to move forward on it some day.”

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Portfolio / C A T H E R I N E D A R N E L L

Dance a Jig, Do the Tango ‘ L I V E AT T HE F R IE S ’ PROV ID E S AN ECL EC T IC MI X OF MUS IC OF F T HE BE AT EN T R ACK

T

Music-lovers always find something interesting at “Live at the Fries,” one of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets.

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M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

ucked away in downtown Vancouver on the campus of the Washington State School for the Blind is what Thomas Rheingans hopes will not be a well-kept secret for much longer.

His buried treasure is Live at the Fries, a concert series he began three seasons ago. It is a marriage of the renovated Fries (pronounced Frees) Auditorium, built in 1915, with music he hopes will be the talk of the town.

Rheingans, of nearby Portland, is owner of Rivergoose Records, an independently owned record label. He is also a featured performer in Live at the Fries.

“Because I lived in Vancouver for a number of years and have performed in that area, I saw there is a need for live music there,” he says.

The concert series, 17 performances in all, is a mixed bag: Irish folk, jazz, Argentine tango music and a little bit of Middle Eastern, to name just a few of the featured styles.

“We find here in the Northwest there is an eclectic interest,” says Rheingans. “We try to cater to the Vancouver audience and also try to lure some of Portland’s.”

The Fries seats a capacity of 150160 people. A partnership with Simply Thyme catering means dessert is included in the $14 ticket price, and word-ofmouth has ticket sales growing.

“People who come love the ambiance and the level of the artistry,” Rheingans says. “When people see it, they’re sort of shocked because they didn’t know this little auditorium was in Vancouver.”

Concert information is available at rivergoose.com.

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Portfolio

A Sanctuary for Tea Lovers W

worldwide mailing list. Petersen expanded to a retail shop in 1999; it’s located at 1803 Main St. and is open Monday-Saturday.

Her clientele is generally between the ages of 25-55 and crosses all economic lines, she says.

“We have grandmothers who come in with walkers and people with kids.

We’re 49 percent male, 51 percent female, so we’re half and half. The men think it’s a women’s place – until 10 men come in right behind them.”

In addition to tea, Petersen carries all sorts of things related to tea, edibles to serve with it and a line of men’s and women’s spa items. Classes and book signings with authors are also offered. Lunch is served. It is, as one would imagine, a civilized place. There is even a sign asking that cell phones be turned off.

“It’s somewhat like living in a bubble,” she says. “I had the walls soundproofed. It’s designed to be a sanctuary. People come in the door expecting a good experience, and they’re in a good mood. When they come through here, they are well-behaved.”

For more information, visit the store’s Web site at carnelianrosetea.com.

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

hen Jennifer Petersen wanted to open a business 10 years ago, she did an industry analysis on up and coming enterprises. She found that tea, well, might just be her cup of tea.

“It would never surpass coffee in the United States, but the future for it was optimistic,” she says of her findings.

They were correct. “It definitely has grown and grown and grown.”

Carnelian Rose Tea Co. started out as a wholesale business and now has a

Settle back with a hot cup of oolong or rooibos at the Carnelian Rose Tea Co.

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Mary Cole r e a l t o r Mobile: 360-903-8722 mary.cole@century21.com Gently used furniture and home accessories are up for adoption at Divine Consign, where a portion of every sale benefits the community’s nonprofits and charities.

• Specializing in pre-owned residential and vacant land • 10 years of experience

Charity Begins at Home C

harities must think Divine Consign is truly heaven-sent.

Downtown Vancouver’s inspired consignment shop provides nonprofits or other charitable endeavors with a healthy donation – with little or no effort on their part. Here’s how it works: A kind soul with an extra dining room table brings the “gently used” piece and designates that a share of the proceeds from its sale go to any of the recommended favorite charities.

It is a place that “really makes a difference in our community,” says Linda Glover, director of creative enterprises, who oversees about 60 unpaid volunteers. Individuals wishing to sell things on consignment are also welcome, and they receive 50 percent of the money after sale.

About two years in operation, Divine Consign is a project owned and operated

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by Nonprofit Network. The store has 10,000 square feet of merchandise and, Glover says, “It’s packed. It’s hard to walk around in here. We’re very busy and very successful.”

Divine Consign has all manner of household furnishings: couches, beds, living room furniture, dining room sets, lamps, antiques, rugs, paintings and other decorative items.

And their diverse customer base could come six days a week and not see the same thing.

“We have lots and lots of stuff and it comes in every day,” Glover says.

“There have been only two days since we opened that we haven’t gotten new merchandise.”

Divine Consign, at 904 Main St., is open year-round, Monday-Saturday.

For more information, visit online at divineconsignfurniture.org.

• Serving all of southwest Washington

marycole.net

Expert Realty 800-777-7488 3925 NE 72nd Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661 360-397-0021

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Portfolio

Prepare To Be Bowled Over I

Would you be smiling if this happened to your eyeglass frame?

Yes, if you wear frames made from Flexon, the flexible metal.

DR. J. CHAN OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIAN

7700 NE Parkway Dr. • Ste. 215 • Vancouver, WA 98662 360.254.5855 • 360.885.0661 Fax • www.pecps.com

Fruit arranged like flowers?

What a unique idea!

Make any occasion a special one!

f you walk into Big Al’s looking for Al, you might have a hard time finding him.

Not that Al doesn’t exist – he does and is a member of the Kirkwood family that owns the place – but you’d have to wander through more than 60,000 square feet to find him.

However, on that journey, you’d encounter just about anything else connected with a bowling alley and then some.

“It is absolutely awe-inspiring,” says Becky Schiro, events coordinator.

“People walk in and just gasp.

Everybody’s reaction is, ‘Oh my gosh!

It’s huge!’ Everything is state of the art, so nice, so new and so clean.”

Opened on Sept. 1, 2006, Big Al’s is indeed a monster of a place that has a capacity of 1,300 people. Go through any of the four glass door entrances and you will see a front desk, 30 traditional lanes and 12 private ones. There is the Satellite Bar, a pro shop, and an arcade with more than 100 games.

Go down the hallway to the right and find a full-service restaurant, along with a 7,000-square-foot sports bar with a 36-foot x 8-foot JumboTron screen and numerous other TVs scattered around.

Don’t miss the shuffleboard table, seven billiard tables, five private party rooms and fireplace.

On any given weekend night, 600700 people converge on Big Al’s to find their own brands of fun.

“On a Saturday night, it is absolutely crazy,” Shiro says.

Big Al’s, at 16615 S.E. 18th St., is open seven days a week; learn more at ilovebigals.com.

To order, please call 360-693-6370, or visit ediblearrangements.com.

6617 E. Mill Plain Blvd. • Vancouver, WA 98661

Delicious Fruit Design™ with Apples

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Berry Chocolate Bouquet™

Delicious Fruit Design™ Half Dipped

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Warm and Fuzzies in Washougal H

ear the word “Pendleton” and start woolgathering.

Fine plaid blankets and shirts, a smart woman’s jacket cinched at the waist, vests in American Indian patterns: These are the kinds of products that Pendleton Woolen Mills has been producing since the turn of the last century. And the company says its timehonored attention to quality calls for products that are as well made as ever.

“Hopefully, better,” says Charles Bishop, vice president of the mill division of Pendleton Woolen Mills, which operates a mill and factory outlet in Washougal, 16 miles east of Vancouver.

The mill, one of three – the others are in Pendleton, Ore., and Bellevue, Neb. – has been in operation since 1912 and currently employs 220 people.

An outlet store operates alongside the mill, together totaling 300,000

adding that the most popular items are womenswear and menswear as well as the trademark Pendleton blankets, known for their plaids, distinctive coloring and Native American patterns.

“What’s terrific about Pendleton is the wool fiber itself and the quality,” says Bishop. “Quality of our products and our service.”

For shopping online and other information about Pendleton, visit pendletonusa.com.

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

square feet of space. Visitors can take mill tours to see how wool is spun into yarn, how it is woven into fabric and how that fabric is dyed and finished.

In addition to the weaving of yarn, blankets are cut and sewn at this location; clothing is manufactured elsewhere. However, shoppers can find plenty of Pendleton fashions at the outlet.

“It’s a very busy place, we have people from all over the country,” says Bishop,

Shoppers can find a bargain at the Pendleton Mill Store, an outlet location next to the company’s woolen mills.

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V A N C O U V E R / C L A R K C O U N T Y

Business Jim Elliott

S TEPHEN CHERRY

S TORY BY

Shops and restaurants line the sidewalks of small-town Camas. The downtown area has been resurrected over the past year.

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It’s Positively

Rockwellian Dow ntow n Ca m a s rei nvent s it sel f w it h ch a r m i n g shops a nd re st au ra nt s

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and successfully marketed Camas throughout the Portland and Vancouver areas.

“Just three or four years ago we still had as many as nine empty storefronts in the downtown,” reports Brent Erickson, executive director of the Camas/ Washougal Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Paul Dennis says any vacancies that do occur are quickly filled, so the city is studying how to expand the people-friendly concept beyond the Fourth Avenue corridor.

“This atmosphere really fit our store,” says Schultz, whose interior design business features large windows overlooking downtown’s streetscape.

“We were decorating a lot of the homes up here in the hills, so the location was also very good for us.”

The large homes she refers to provide expansive views of the surrounding area and dramatic Mount Hood.

Erickson notes that the average home price in Camas is hovering between $325,000 and $340,000, a market driven in part by professionals at the high-tech businesses that have moved to town, such as Hewlett-Packard, Sharp, Linear Technology, Wafer Tech, Underwriters Laboratories and others.

The Georgia-Pacific mill on the west end of downtown remains an important player in a community whose high school teams are known as the “Papermakers.”

But with all the business and residential development, the mill’s contribution to the tax base has plunged from 85 percent in 1977 to less than 15 percent today, says Hogan.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s no longer the essence of Camas, where the downtown now proudly proclaims itself “the place to be.”

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

S

ome longtime residents of the Vancouver area might still regard nearby Camas as a mill town, but only if they haven’t been there lately. The community of about 16,000 just east of Vancouver has transformed its downtown into a charming shopping area that attracts visitors from throughout the region.

“It has a Norman Rockwell feel to it,” says Susanne Schultz of the downtown.

Joined by daughter Lauren Rengati, Schultz operates Chateau Lauren Interiors, which relocated to Camas from Vancouver.

That quintessential small-town feel is accented by the downtown’s narrow streets (with wide sidewalks for strolling), mature trees decked out with twinkling white lights, mini-plazas ideal for sitting with friends over a cup of coffee, retrostyle street lights complete with hanging plants, and curbing designed to slow down traffic.

“It’s a neat place to go, the kind of place where you want to get out of the car, walk around and go through the shops,” says Steve Hogan, a member of the Camas city council and a board member of the Downtown Vision Coalition.

The DVC formed in 1999 to rescue what was then a failing business district.

Through a cooperative effort of the city, business owners and landlords, they created a people-friendly environment

Lauren Rengati, co-owner of Chateau Lauren Interiors, finds Camas’ cozy atmosphere a comfortable fit for her home furnishings shop.

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V A N C O U V E R / C L A R K C O U N T Y

Business B I Z

B R I E F S

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

have it open again,” says Gina Mudarris, manager of the Parker House.

Espinoza’s operation includes a sports bar downstairs and a banquet room, complete with a sizable dance floor upstairs.

And patrons who are simply interested in the fine dining options can do so with a glorious backdrop of the river below, as all of the tables come with a view.

Parker House is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, plus Sunday brunch.

Halibut With Ginger Glaze shows off the chef ’s talents at the Parker House.

BACK IN THE SADDLE When nationally known jockey Victor Espinoza cast his first glance at Parker House, he realized he had found his new mount.

Espinoza was visiting the Mudarris family when he noticed the Washougal fixture sitting regally, and unoccupied, above the Columbia River. For 20 years, the landmark restaurant had

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been shuttered.

Espinoza purchased the restaurant, then began the process of restoring it to its former luster. He redid the furniture, installed new booths and carpeting and built a new kitchen.

In December 2005, a remodeled Parker House reopened, to the delight of the community.

“The whole city was so excited to

ONE MOVER FITS ALL The biggest of items and the smallest of jobs are driving Clarke’s Moving.

The Vancouver company, owned by Peter Clarke, specializes in moving pianos throughout the Portland area.

His company handles all the moving for the School of Piano Technology for the Blind.

The Piano Hospital – as the school is known – receives regular donations from the community, requiring Clarke’s services up to 10 times per week.

“That’s our niche,” Clarke says.

“Not every moving company knows how to move a piano.”

But Clarke’s business has grown through his willingness to take on any kind of job. His six-person, threetruck crew handles deliveries for local consignment stores and moves, as well as handling the assembly of office furniture and other deliveries for local retailers. Clarke’s Moving even takes jobs that don’t require loading the trucks, moving items from one floor to another within a home or office.

To Clarke, taking on jobs of all sizes pays off in the long run.

“When there’s a bigger job that comes around, I’m the person they call,” he says.

FIT TEST OF THE FIT When Vancouver residents train at Northwest Personal Training & Fitness Education, they can be certain they’re getting the best in fitness instruction.

The 5,000-square-foot facility at 27th VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

and Broadway, plus a second 10,000square-foot operation in Portland, is not just where locals come to workout.

It is also a facility that attracts fitness trainers from all over the country.

“We train the trainers,” owner Alex McMillan says.

The facility offers continuing education programs to more than 1,000 trainers yearly. And owners Alex and Sherri McMillan also take their programs on the road, attending conferences and offering workshops for budding trainers around the country and the world.

Northwest Personal Training is also the first choice for the first name in health equipment. Neighboring Nautilus tapped the company to run its fitness program at its world headquarters in Vancouver, and also utilizes the company to put individuals through six-week training programs with products such as its Bowflex machine for commercial television spots.

K AZOODLES OF FUN Mary Sisson had grown tired of traveling to Portland to find stimulating and different toys for her grandchildren, so she decided to reduce her commute considerably.

In March 2006, Sisson and husband Bob opened Kazoodles Toys, a specialty toy store in downtown Vancouver.

Kazoodles eschews the mass-produced, saturation-marketed toys found in discount stores for toys that put the kids in control of the action.

“We look for toys that can interact with children and are not just going to do the playing for them,” says Sisson, who stays abreast of the best of these toys through participation in the American Specialty Toy Retail Association, where she serves as editor of the organization’s newsletter.

To date, the local reaction to Kazoodles

is just what she had hoped.

“The response has been really positive. People are either really glad they don’t have to go to Portland for them, or they’re really glad to discover these kinds of toys exist.”

– Dan Markham

BUILDING ON TRADIT ION For nearly a century, First Independent Bank was the most trusted name in banking for residents of southwest Washington.

In 2003, officials at the bank, operated by the Firstenburg family since 1936, decided the time had come to evaluate its future role in the region.

“After 96 years, it was time to take a look at who we were and where we wanted to go,” says Stacey Graham, the company’s marketing specialist.

Following an exhaustive three-year process, the facility chose a new name in 2006, First Independent, and a new slogan, “Ready When You Are.” Both were chosen to foster the idea that the operation is building on its existing services, and finding new ones, to meet its customers’ growing needs.

Whether inside its 24 branches or online at its upgraded web site, First Independent is offering more financial, business and life tools to its customers.

“We all have these moments of epiphany,” Graham says. “When you want to be serious about money, we want to help you make those decisions.”

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V A N C O U V E R / C L A R K C O U N T Y

Business C H A M B E R

R E P O R T

Opportunities Unlimited Chamber of commerce members find their annual dues go a long way hen Eric Olmsted became a member of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, he didn’t think of it as merely an association that required him to pay regular fees.

He saw it as an investment in his company’s future.

“Over the years, the customers I’ve obtained through the Chamber have referred other businesses to us,” says Olmsted, owner of On Line Support Inc., a company that offers technological services such as computer support for small businesses, virus protection and network systems. “And that has resulted in substantial growth.

“For such a small investment, my Chamber membership has paid for itself over and over in helping my business to obtain new customers and grow revenue.”

Countless Clark County businesses and industries – from startups like Olmsted’s to the area’s largest employers – would make the same testimonial about the 117-year-old Vancouver Chamber. It has grown substantially through the years, but it has never wavered in the quality of service offered.

“We are proud to serve 1,400 business members,” says Beth Quartarolo, who was named president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce in 2006. “Our top priority is to provide the highest levels of programming, networking and customer service to our members.

Through business leadership, advocacy and community building, we’ve developed a strong foundation upon VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

which our businesses can grow, thrive and succeed.”

Membership in the Chamber pays off through exposure, value and information, according to Quartarolo.

“Members can count on the Chamber for creating a stronger local economy, providing networking opportunities, promoting the community, business advocacy and leadership, various training, and taking political action,” she explains.

To help the regional business community reach its overall goals, the Chamber has established what it considers its strategic focus areas: member services, advocacy and community building.

Quartarolo and her staff are continuously researching, developing and enriching services to meet the specific

needs of the Chamber’s members. The Chamber plays the role of advocate by staying abreast of community, and it acts as a bridge by seeking out alliances with community partners.

In fact, the Chamber serves the larger community by hosting community-wide events, participating in important community discussions, and helping to grow jobs and boost economic development throughout the region.

The Chamber also offers relocation services to help new residents and corporate recruiters prepare for a move to Clark County.

For more information on the Chamber of Commerce and its wide range of services, call 360-694-2588 or visit vancouverusa.com.

– John McBryde

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

W

Businesses can count on the chamber of commerce for a wide range of services.

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Relocating to Vancouver?

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1. My services won’t cost you a penny.

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V A N C O U V E R / C L A R K C O U N T Y

Business E C O N O M I C

BUSINESS CLIMATE

P R O F I L E

Clark County is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Pacific Northwest, offering businesses the advantages of a major city along with affordable land, housing and business costs.

HOUSING

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Average Selling Prices New • $200,000 Existing • $174,000

Population Clark County • 403,766 Vancouver • 154,800

Monthly Rental Cost (two-bedroom apartment) • $686 (Clark County MLS)

BUSINESS POINTS

TRANSPORTATION

Vancouver and Clark County have strong industry clusters in semiconductors, high-technology and services.

Airports Portland International (PDX) (503) 460-4234, (877) 739-4636

The city of Vancouver has embarked on a 20-year, $800 million redevelopment of its downtown area, including new housing, retail space, offices and public facilities.

Commercial shipping is easy from Vancouver, which sits at the center of an international transportation network of water, rail, road and air.

Overall, office space in Clark County is less costly than in the Portland area. The average lease rate for office space in Vancouver is $17.25 per square foot. Downtown Portland averages $18.34 per square foot. Flex space within the city of Portland is $12.92 and $6.79 in Clark County. Warehouse space is $5.40 in downtown Portland and $4.38 in Clark County.

Clark County controls more than half of the shovel-ready industrial land (1,345 acres) within the Portland market.

Rail BNSF, UP, Canadian Pacific Trucking 25-plus, including Mitchell Bros., H.B. Hunt, Taylor Trucking, Atlantic and Pacific Freightways, Vancouver Warehouse and Distribution

WAGES Average hourly wages Annual average covered wage Data Entry Clerk Laborer Machinist Metal/Plastic Worker Secretary/Admin. Assistant Welder

$16.69 $10.13 $10.61 $17.81 $13.16 $13.36 $16.27

EMPLOYMENT BREAKDOWN Industry

No. of employees

% of labor force

541

0.5 percent

Construction & Mining

9,347

10.5 percent

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

5,252

5.2 percent

Government

20,374

15.5 percent

Manufacturing

13,348

10.7 percent

Agriculture

Retail Trade

12,791

11.7 percent

Services

45,151

37.5 percent

Transportation & Utilities

3,272

2.7 percent

Wholesale

3,987

4.2 percent

Clark County’s cost of living is 11 percent lower than Portland.

INCOME Median Household Income $51,274 (2002)

VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

Washington state residents do not pay personal or corporate state income taxes.

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INDUSTRIAL & UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company

Washington provides a high level of benefits to workers – ranking among the top third in the nation.

Washington’s insurance rates also remain among the lowest third in the nation.

Industrial Insurance (Based on hours worked rather than wages paid) Average cost miscellaneous manufacturing .6289 cents per worker hour

Employees

Southwest Washington Medical Center

3,236

Evergreen School District

3,052

Vancouver School District

2,775

Hewlett-Packard

1,800

Clark County government

1,664

Clark College

1,434

Fred Meyer

1,383

Bonneville Power Administration

1,285

Battle Ground School District

1,125

Average rate for professional & clerical workers .1616 cents per worker hour Maximum weekly benefit (for 2004) $496 Unemployment Insurance Taxable base Percentage rate

$30,900 0.5%-6.38%

Average among existing employers 2.18% Statutory amount for new employers Employer rates based on industry average Maximum weekly benefit

$496

Source: wa.gov

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Building Industry Association of Southwest Washington (360) 694-0933 Clark County Association of Realtors (360) 695-5980 Columbia River Economic Development Council (360) 694-5006 Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (360) 694-2588 Leadership Clark County (360) 567-1085 Southwest Washington Contractors Association (360) 694-7922

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Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (360) 567-1070

individuals and one of only four without a corporate tax.

Sales/Use Tax Rate

TAXES

State • 6.5 percent

Washington is one of seven states that does not tax

Local • 1.2 percent to 1.4 percent Total • 7.7 percent to 7.9 percent

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WORKFORCE EDUCATION ATTAINMENT (25-64 years of age) Less than 12 years of school 8.6 percent High school graduate 27.6 percent Some college

29.3 percent

Associate degree

10.1 percent

College graduate

16.4 percent

Advanced degree

8.2 percent

MILEAGE FROM SELECTED CITIES Denver

988

Las Vegas

757

Los Angeles

826

Olympia

98

San Diego

932

San Francisco

699

Seattle

179

Spokane

343

Vancouver, British Columbia

309

FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Ste. 100 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 694-2588 Fax: (360) 693-8279 vancouverusa.com Columbia River Economic Development Council 805 Broadway, Ste. 412 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 694-5006 Fax: (360) 694-9927 credc.org Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau 101 E. 8th St., Ste. 240 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 750-1553, (877) 600-0800 Fax: (360) 750-1933 southwestwashington.com

Sources: credc.org, ci.vancouver.wa.us, census.gov, vancouverusa.com

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SPORTS/RECREAT ION

Vancouver residents find it easy to get healthy at the $21.1 million Firstenburg Center; its features include an indoor water park complete with slide and lazy river, as well as lots of room for traditional court sports like basketball. P H O T O S B Y M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

Grand-Sized Community Fun IMPRESSIVE NEW FIRSTENBURG CENTER OFFERS SOME THING FOR EVERYONE

I

n the beginning, it was simply 17.6 square miles of undeveloped land in east Vancouver, purchased by the city in 1997. But in 2006, the city gave the residents there an 80,000-square-foot showcase.

The $21.1 million Firstenburg Community Center opened in February 2006, delivering to the eastside a magnificent hub for both recreational and community activities.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Dave Miletich, assistant director for the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department. “The community loves the building.”

The centerpiece of the center is the aquatics area, which includes a leisure pool, 130-foot-long water slide and a lazy river. A 3,186-gallon spa sits nearby, with room for 17 and views of the pool.

In the warm-weather months, a “spray-ground” features plenty of attractions for kids, including two water cannons, a misting rainbow, waterfalls and other spraying equipment.

Firstenburg Center also offers its share of dry activities, including a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium, dance/aerobics room, rock-climbing wall, fitness room and indoor walk/ jog track.

Even sedentary activities are accommodated and encouraged. The community room can seat 180 at round tables and 300 for lectures. It can also be divided into three rooms for smaller events.

Other areas are targeted for specific age groups, including a game room, Teen Zone and Trapedero II, a space designed

VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

for adults ages 60 and up and named after a parks and rec social club for teens in the 1940s. A full-service kitchen can be used for catering and cooking classes.

In its inaugural year, the Firstenburg Center proved to be everything city officials hoped. The facility exceeded revenue projections, with more than 1,000 people using the center daily.

“The primary users are people who live within 3-5 miles, but we know people are coming in from all over Clark County and southwestern Washington,” Miletich says.

Voters rejected a bond issue for a community center in 1997, failing to reach the necessary majority to support the project. But the new, larger plan succeeded by inviting the entire community to voice ideas about what was needed in a center, Miletich says.

And the community’s contributions weren’t limited to just ideas. The Community Foundation of Southwest Washington donated $3 million in the name of Ed and Mary Firstenburg, while Sadri’s Summit, the rock-climbing wall, was the gift of the Asghar Sadri family.

And Vancouver’s most prominent name in fitness, Nautilus, donated approximately $250,000 in equipment for the facility’s exercise room, which bears the company’s name.

“Our donation of fitness equipment was to help city leaders complete this beautiful facility within budget, while providing a showcase facility for our equipment that is open to the public and close to our world headquarters,” says Ron Arp, senior vice president of corporate communications for Nautilus.

– Dan Markham IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM

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EDUCAT ION

‘Two Plus Two’ Adds Up VANCO U V ER COLL EG E S WO R K T O G E T HER T O OF F ER L O T S OF ED UC AT ION O P T ION S

B

As the student body takes on a younger look, Dengerink says, one thing won’t change: the outstanding relationship between WSU Vancouver and Clark College, a two-year community college that has supplied the majority of WSU Vancouver upper-class students for years.

Clark has an enrollment of 12,500 full-time and part-time students and is located in Vancouver’s historic Central Park.

The “two-plus-two” concept has been “working like a charm,” Dengerink says.

Robin Terjeson, dean for math, physical sciences and engineering at Clark, agrees. As a 33-year veteran at the college, she has witnessed first-hand the success of the long history enjoyed by the two campuses.

Terjeson points out that when established in 1989, WSU Vancouver first occupied Boer Hall on the Clark campus. And although 10 miles separate the two main campuses, there is now a Clark College building on the new WSU Vancouver campus in Salmon Creek, which opened in January 2006.

In June 2006, WSU Vancouver and Clark, along with Lower Columbia College, crafted a precedent-setting agreement guaranteeing that all students who complete the co-admission and transfer-by-major process, previously agreed to by the three institutions, will be able to transfer to WSU Vancouver.

“It is a unique arrangement that serves our students better than any such agreement in the state,” Dengerink says.

– Sandy Campbell

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

ring on the freshmen.

Upperclassmen at Washington State University Vancouver are finding some fresh young faces around campus – a much-anticipated change for the school, founded in 1989 as an upper-division and graduate school only.

Freshmen and sophomores joined the campus in fall 2006, marking the university’s emergence as a four-year institution.

Chancellor Hal Dengerink says the decision to change to a four-year school was the result of a positive response to surveys taken among high school students, community members, faculty and university students.

The initial class of freshmen and sophomores numbered 330, with an average freshman age of 18.11 years. In the past, the university has traditionally attracted students who are already settled in jobs and marriages, Dengerink notes, with an average age of 28 years.

The class of 157 freshman students had an average high school grade point average of 3.52, were 55 percent female, 45 percent male and included 15.9 percent minorities. Popular academic majors among the first-year students were biology, business and mechanical engineering.

“Our freshmen class very much mirrors the freshmen class at the main campus in Pullman,” says Nancy Youlden, vice chancellor for student affairs. “Students are choosing our campus because of the quality education, access to faculty and the welcoming environment.”

Freshmen and sophomores joined their upperclass colleagues at Washington State University Vancouver in fall 2006.

VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNT Y

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EDUCAT ION

She’s ‘All Wound Up’ About Education Skyridge Middle School assistant principal Spring y Yamasaki receives national recognition

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a gift. I’m blessed. I don’t sit down until I go to bed.”

As assistant principal of the Camas school of 670 students, she does a little bit of everything, which includes being in charge of the math and science curriculum, parent conferences, student conferences, teacher evaluations, lunchroom duties, serving on two district committees, writing a tips-to-parents column in the newsletter, supervising athletics and evening events, and writing student and faculty handbooks.

For her efforts, she was chosen National Assistant Principal of the Year in 2006. As a result of that, she was asked to apply to the National Middle School Task Force, one of 15 people chosen from across the country to formulate goals and direction for

school leaders nationwide. She also volunteers in the community and is going back to school to get her personal coaching degree.

“That shows you my energy level,” she says. “I’m a hard worker, and I love kids. It seems to be a passion of mine to help kids. I really believe our job as educators is to teach every child so they are successful.

“I’m from Hawaii, where I was raised with a lot of aloha, which is a love for people – to help them find their strengths.”

Yamasaki says her job remains exciting and “magical.”

“You never know what will unfold.

It’s a problem-solving job, like a big puzzle. I believe I’ve found my niche in middle school.”

– Catherine Darnell

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

he first thing one must know about Springy Yamasaki is how she got her first name. It says quite a lot about the Skyridge Middle School assistant principal.

When she was young, she says, she used to “ping off the walls.” She reminded her friends in 10th-grade science class of a spring that came with their molecular model kit.

“They nicknamed me that, and I legalized it,” she says. “I was named after my energy. I have a lot of energy.”

She needs it.

“I honestly do the work of about three people in a day,” she says. “It’s

Spring y Yamasaki earned her name honestly; the natural “pinginess” that so impressed her friends as a teenager still serves her well.

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HEALTH/WELLNESS

Recruiting in Paradise T O P- NO TCH S CHO OL S, PR IME LO C AT ION D R AW D O C T OR S T O AR E A HO S P I TAL S

ny hospital can tout their latest gizmos or list impressive staff credentials. Not every hospital, however, can do that in an idyllic setting like Clark County. Near mountains and beaches, boasting a strong school system and a short drive to big cities, Clark County gives hospitals an edge when it comes to attracting physicians.

“This is an easy community to recruit to,” said Donna Overman, director of physician recruitment for Southwest Washington Medical Center. “There’s the growth here. Physicians want the stimulus of difficult cases, and they always ask about growth in the area.

They want to be busy.”

Hospital administrators have been busy as well. Milestones in 2006 included opening the Center for Weight Management and obtaining the region’s first Cyberknife, a robotic radiosurgery system.

In February 2007, the hospital opened the Firstenburg Patient Tower, a $146 million project including a 307,000 square-foot tower housing the Heart and Vascular Center.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, Overman says, physicians are looking for a vibrant lifestyle for their families. Physicians also thoroughly investigate schools, Overman says, and often say that is the No. 1 factor in their decision.

Overman sees a trend of physicians job-hopping early in their careers.

Ultimately, she says, they want to settle in a community, dedicate themselves to their patients and forge strong bonds with the partners in their practice.

“I don’t sell compensation,” she says.

“I sell friendships and relationships.”

Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital opened its doors in August 2005. Jonathan Avery, the hospital’s administrator, says staffing the hospital proved to be one of the easier tasks.

“We had 7,000 applicants for 700 positions,” Avery says. “We had the cache that comes with a brand-new facility and joining a new team.”

Avery says acquiring technology for

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minimally invasive surgery has been a priority, as has staffing a unit for high-risk obstetric patients and a comprehensive cancer center.

Salaries in Clark County may tend to be lower than some other locations, Avery says, but the area’s proximity to outdoor activities and big cities more than compensates.

“When physicians make a choice to come here, it’s because they are coming to be part of the community long-term and have that lifestyle,” he says.

Carber Huang, a vascular surgeon at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, said quality of life as well as a connection with the surgeons in his group spurred his move from Denver.

Huang’s job search took him nationwide.

“I had a lot of choices,” he says.

A surgeon Huang knew from vascular conferences practiced in the area and told Huang about the job opening.

“When I interviewed, I liked the job, I liked the new hospital, I liked the partners,” he says. “As an employee, I get to see patients from all spectrums of the community, and I don’t have to worry about getting paid. It takes some of the pressure away from private practice.”

Huang moved to the area in July 2006, along with his fiancée, Samantha Abate, who is a surgical technician instructor, and his stepdaughter, Destiny Acevedo, who is in seventh grade.

“This is a good, long-term opportunity for me to grow as a physician and a surgeon,” he says.

– Leanne Libby

M I C H A E L W. B U N C H

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Clark County residents have a pair of healthy choices: Southwest Washington Medical Center, above, and Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, which opened in 2005.

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C L A R K

C O U N T Y

Vancouver C O M M U N I T Y SNAPSHOT

P R O F I L E

The waterfront city of Vancouver is a mix of small-town simplicity and urban diversity, with tranquil neighborhoods, a bustling downtown in the midst of revitalization and abundant recreational opportunities.

LIFE IN VANCOUVER

CLIMATE Clark County residents take jokes about the soggy Pacific Northwest in stride. The truth is, only a handful of days are wet and cold enough to keep them indoors.

The temperate climate makes for lush forests, abundant foliage and green open spaces.

Average monthly temperatures Month High/Low March 54.9/36.4 June 71.8/49.2 September 72.9/47.1 December 45.2/32.5 Average annual rainfall 41.3 inches Average annual snowfall 6.5 inches Growing season

218 days

Source: National Weather Service

UTILITIES

Nestled in a valley between the coast and the Cascade Mountain Range, Clark County residents enjoy snow skiing, hiking, camping, fishing and many other outdoor activities.

Dozens of downtown events – including the Arts Crawl, the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival and a year-round farmers market – draw folks to the heart of the city.

Each year, neighborhood residents show their community pride by participating in the popular “spring cleanup” event, with the city providing free disposal of yard debris and large appliances.

Public transportation is flexible, safe, inexpensive, clean and on time. Nearly 6 million commuters in Clark County ride C-TRAN, the community transit service.

Cable Comcast • (888) 824-8264

Downtown Vancouver is just five minutes from Portland, Ore., and 2 1/2 hours from Seattle.

Electricity Clark Public Utilities • 992-3000

EDUCATION

Gas Northwest Natural Gas • 571-5465 Phone Qwest • (800) 244-1111 Sewer and Water City of Vancouver • 696-8152

With nine school districts, a community college, several private schools, a major state university branch campus and state schools for people who are deaf and blind, Clark County offers a wealth of educational options.

Area Schools Battle Ground School District 885-5300 Camas School District 817-4400 Educational Service District 112 750-7500 Evergreen School District 604-4000 Green Mountain School District 225-7366 Hockinson School District 256-5270 La Center School District 263-2131 Ridgefield School District 887-0200 Vancouver School District 696-7000 Washougal School District 835-2191 Woodland Schools 225-9451 Washington State School for the Blind 696-6321 Washington State School for the Deaf 696-6525/TTV 418-4366 For more information about private schools in Clark County or home schooling, contact Educational Service District #112 at 750-7500.

Vancouver is the oldest continuous non-American Indian settlement in the Northwest.

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Colleges and Technical Schools Business Career Training Institute 695-8900 City University 253-9261 Clark College 992-2000 Clark County Vocational Skills Center 604-1050 CNA Training School of Nursing 546-0098 Washington State UniversityVancouver 546-9788 Western Business College 254-3282 University of Phoenix 993-7800

GOLF COURSES Beacon Rock Public Golf Course • (800) 428-5730 Bowyer’s Par 3 Golf Inc. • 892-3808 Camas Meadows Golf Course • 833-2000 Cedars Golf Club • 687-4233 Club Green Meadows • 256-1510 Skamania Lodge • (800) 293-0418 Fairway Village Golf Course • 254-9325 Green Mountain Golf Course • 833-8463 Hartwood Golf Course • 896-6041 Lakeview Par 3 Golf Challenge • 693-9116 Lewis River Golf Course • 225-8254 Pine Crest Golf Course • 573-2051 Royal Oaks Country Club • 256-1250 Three Rivers Golf Course • (800) 286-7765 Tri-Mountain Golf Course • 887-3004 Vanco Golf Range • 693-8811 Westside Golf Range • 573-2565

NEWSPAPERS The Columbian, daily

694-3391

The Oregonian, daily

896-5701

The Post-Record, weekly 834-2141 The Reflector, weekly

687-5151

The Vancouver Business Journal, twice weekly 695-2442 The Vancouver Voice, monthly 600-0300

POINTS OF INTEREST

HOUSING In Clark County, more than 65 percent of the population owns homes, and there are numerous housing choices. From downtown bungalows to mini-mansions or rural north county homesteads, prices range from $90,000 to well over $1 million.

However, the average sale price of a new home is around $200,000.

The average two-bedroom apartment rents for about $686.

2000 Census Housing Prices Battleground $136,700 Camas $193,500 Clark County $156,600 La Center $173,200 Ridgefield $157,800 Vancouver $142,900 Washougal $134,900 Yacolt $111,500 Source: Clark County Assessors Office

Capt. George Vancouver Monument Clark County Historical Museum Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Henry J. Kaiser Shipyard Tower Jack Murdock Aviation Center at Pearson Field Old Apple Tree Park Officers Row (George C. Marshall and U.S. Grant houses) Pearson Field Providence Academy Water Resources Education Center Vancouver Barracks Vancouver Farmers Market Valeri Chkalov/Soviet Transpolar Flight Monument (at Pearson Field) Vancouver waterfront

9411 NE 94th Ave. • Vancouver, WA 98662 Serving Vancouver & Clark County Contact Us To Start New Service: 892-5370 or wcnorthwest.com

GARBAGE & RECYCLING • Commercial Containers • Commercial Recycling • Residential Garbage • Residential Recycling • Yard Debris Get More Information on Garbage and Recycling in the Front of DEX Yellow Pages

T he area code for Vancouver/Cl ar k Count y is 360.

DROP BOXES (Up to 40 Yards)

• • • • • • •

Construction Demolition Roofing Wood Garbage Special Waste Compactors

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HISTORIC FACTS Vancouver has a long and colorful history and boasts several distinctions: It is the headquarters of Hudson’s Bay Co., which was established in 1825.

Vancouver was named among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2005

by Money magazine.

It is home of the oldest living apple tree in the Pacific Northwest (planted 1826).

It is home of the first sawmill in the Pacific Northwest (1827).

ACCRA COST OF LIVING INDEX

The oldest public square in the Pacific Northwest – Esther Short Park, 1855 – is here.

Vancouver • 100.6 Seattle • 122.7 Spokane • 102.8 Portland, Ore. • 113.2 Los Angeles • 155.8 San Jose, Calif. • 170.8 Third quarter 2004, ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

Notable soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks include Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. George McClellan, Gen. Philip Sheridan, Gen. O.O. Howard and Gen. George C. Marshall.

The city is home to the oldest continuously operating airfield in the country, Pearson Field.

The city was the world’s largest spruce lumber mill for airplane construction during World War I. Pearson Field was the landing site of first transpolar flight (Soviet, 1937).

It was a major shipbuilding center during World War II. Vancouver was chosen as an AllAmerica City in 1957 and 1987.

Vancouver has been designated a Tree City USA.

RECREATION FACILITIES

NUMBERS TO KNOW City of Vancouver 696-8121 Clark County information 397-2000 Emergency Service 911 Fire Department, general information 892-4323 Police Department 696-8292 Sheriff’s Office 699-2211 State Patrol 696-6161 Vancouver Parks and Recreation 696-8171 Department of Social and Health Services 993-7735

Clark County Family YMCA

885-YMCA

Clark County Indoor Sports Center

696-8225

Firstenburg Community Center

487-7001

Hough Pool

696-8245

Luepke Senior Center

696-8202

Marshall Community Center

696-8236

Jim Parsley Center

696-8219

Propstra Aquatic Center Swift Skatepark

313-3625

(no number)

Vancouver Tennis & Racquetball Center

696-8123

PARKS AND RECREATION The Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation Department has programs for people of all ages.

The department oversees nearly 7,000 acres of parkland, more than 44 miles of trails and a number of community facilities. Call 619-1111 for more information.

questions

answers

© 2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g

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LIBRARIES Fort Vancouver Regional Library System Battle Ground Community Library Cascade Park Community Library La Center Community Library Ridgefield Community Library Three Creeks Community Library Vancouver Community Library (main) Vancouver Mall Community Library Washougal Community Library Woodland Community Library City of Camas Library Clark County Law Library Clark College – Lewis D. Cannell Library Clark County Historical Research Library

669-8804 687-2322 256-7782 619-1800 887-8281 571-9696 695-1566 892-8256 835-5393 225-2115 834-4692 397-2268 992-2151 695-4681

MEDICAL FACILITIES Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital • (503) 335-3500 Southwest Washington Medical Center Medical Center Campus • 256-2000 Memorial Campus • 696-5000

T he area code for Vancouver/Cl ar k Count y is 360.

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2007 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JAN UA RY CLARK COLLEGE JAZZ FESTIVAL 992-2188

APRIL DISCOVERY WALK FESTIVAL 892-6758

HULDA KLAGER LILAC FESTIVAL 225-8996

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORK S & CELEBR AT ION

OLD APPLE TREE FESTIVAL

Fort Vancouver • 693-5481

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

HARVEST DAYS

Pomeroy Farm 686-3537

City of Battle Ground 687-1510

MOUNT TUM TUM NATIVE AMERICAN ENCAMPMENT 247-5101

887-0703 La Center 263-2782

DEC E M BE R AU G U S T

(800) 254-9255

397-6180

BRIGADE ENCAMPMENT

FOUNDER’S DAY

Fort Vancouver 992-1820

992-1820

HAZEL DELL PARADE OF BANDS

UPTOWN VILLAGE FESTIVAL

576-1195

693-2978

HERB FESTIVAL

VANCOUVER WINE & JAZZ FESTIVAL

SIX TO SUNSET NOON CONCERTS Backyard Concert Series begins 696-8478

J U LY AMBOY TERRITORIAL DAYS 686-3383 or 263-4429

CAMAS DAYS STREET FAIR 834-2472

CLARK COUNT Y RURAL HERITAGE FAIR

906-0441

SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS 735-7278

TASTE OF VANCOUVER 706-4331

SEPT EMBER ALEXANDER PEARSON DAY Pearson Air Museum 694-7026

CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF FORT VANCOUVER 992-1820

(800) 989-9178

1860s VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME 696-7655

FORT VANCOUVER RODEO 896-6654

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VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY

STEAMBOAT FESTIVAL

CLARK COUNT Y FAIR

263-2782

FESTIVAL OF THE TREES

992-1820

AMERICA’S WALK FOR DIABETES

LA CENTER ARTS FESTIVAL

NOV E M BE R 750-0409

RIDGEFIELD FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

M AY

Pomeroy Living History Farm 686-3537

696-8171

OC TOBER BIRDFEST Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge 887-4106

CHRISTMAS AT THE FORT 992-1820

HOLIDAY PARADE OF SHIPS on the Columbia River

RIDGEFIELD HOMETOWN CELEBRATION 887-0703

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Esther Short Park • 693-2978

FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Ste. 100 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: 694-2588 • Fax: 693-8279 vancouverusa.com Columbia River Economic Development Council 805 Broadway, Ste. 412 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: 694-5006 • Fax: 694-9927 credc.org Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau 101 E. Eighth St., Ste. 240 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: 750-1553, (877) 600-0800 Fax: 750-1933 southwestwashington.com Sources: credc.org, ci.vancouver.wa.us, census.gov, vancouverusa.com

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