August 2018 Business Connections

August

2018

Volume 10, Issue 8

Business Connection Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Members of the business community talked shop with instructors and students in Kelso High School's Career and Technical Education programs at the Chamber's Back to School night in November 2016.

Longview Public Schools Superintendent Dan Zorn

Career Pathway broadens Career Technical Education reach Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock Project Manager Pam Fierst Office Manager Joelle Wilson Social Media Services

Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month

Over the past several years, Longview Schools

have worked to ensure that courses are offered to our students that align effectively with their career aspirations. To this end, we have adopted a Career Pathway model in which students are able to identify course options that will meet their future career preparation needs. As a part of these efforts, we are now providing more Career Technical Education (CTE) course offerings to our students. As a result, we have seen our enrollment in CTE course offerings increase by 28 percent over the past three years.

Since 2016 we have upgraded our manufacturing lab and equipment to meet industry standards and acquired a virtual welder to augment the welders already available to our students. Technology and software used in our business programs have been upgraded and our construction trades and technology course was redesigned to more effectively reflect the workforce needs of our community and region. This fall, we are excited about the opportunities our newly developed Pre-Apprenticeship in Building Trades program will provide our district’s students. We are also adding courses in audio productions, culinary arts, and medical science careers. These new offerings augment the more than 25 other courses previously designed to meet our students’ career needs. We have

aligned many of our courses with those offered at Lower Columbia College so that career based options can be taken in high school to simultaneously earn high school and college credit.

As we look toward the future, we have plans that include expanded industry certification availability in our CTE programs, further alignment of our pathways and courses to those at Lower Columbia College, and continued work with the local business community to expand our partnerships to include more work-based learning, internship, and preapprenticeship opportunities for our students. We recognize the importance of exposing our students to the trades, industries, and businesses within our community. Consequently, we are working hard to help our students who wish to immediately enter the workforce to attain the skills and experiences to do so.

We are proud of the work we have done to better meet the future career needs of our students, particularly those who do not plan to attend a four-year university upon graduation. We also recognize the importance of continuing to improve upon the career options provided our students and are anxious to work with the Kelso/Longview business community to assure that this happens.

A Very Special

Thank You

to everyone who helped to make our annual

Island Bingo a huge success!

Location & Decoration: Kelso/Longview Elks VIP Sponsor: Walstead Mertsching Blackout Game Sponsor: Lower Columbia Longshoreman Credit Union Blackout Game Sponsor: NW Innovation Works Black Diamond Game Sponsor: The Gallery of Diamonds Food and Drinks: Fiesta Bonita

Game Sponsors:

Ecological Land Service Buddy’s Home Furnishings Woodford Commercial – Chris Roewe Three Rivers Mall Eye Clothing Company Elam’s Home Furnishings Posh on Commerce Cowlitz County Museum Taco Time Etch This & That Wanderlust Marketing Global Security Windermere Longview/Kelso Puzzle Quest Red Lion Hotel Titos Vodka Wilco Mill City Grill 100 Woman who Care Three River Eye Care

Raffle Sponsors: Heritage Bank Tibbetts Mercantile Three Rivers Golf Course Treadway Events The Sleep Center Watkins Tractor

Vintage Square on Broadway Viper Vapor Teague’s Interiors Lafavorites Life Mortgage Millennium Bulk Terminals

KLOG - KUKN - The Wave Corwin Beverage Life Works Copies Today Speedy Litho Guild Mortgage - Kari-Ann Botero Sportsman’s Warehouse

Decorations, Set-Up and Event:

Kelso/Longview Elks David Futcher, MC

Lower Columbia Professionals Kalei Lafave and her Hula Dancers

Chamber Ambassadors

We could not do all that we do without all of you!

Cowlitz County Commissioners

By Dennis Weber

A little part of God's green earth

Many of us live here because we are in love with the quality of place we find here in Cowlitz County. Consequently, your county commissioners are pursuing a number of innovative practices to improve recreation and conservation opportunities that make us a little part of God’s green earth. Here are a few of them: 1) Fish Recovery – We participate in the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board to rehabilitate ancient fish spawning beds and juvenile refugia in rivers and creeks throughout the county. We work with other governments and private nonprofits to leverage about $3 million annually and now have more than 200 projects along Washington tributaries of the Columbia from the Klickitat in the east to the Chinook to the west. Now if we can just do something about the voracious sea lions.

2) Community Forest Proposal and other Open Space Set Asides – As a condition of the permit for disposing of municipal solid waste at our Headquarters Landfill, the county wants to create a community forest between the landfill and Silver Lake. Such a working forest would provide a revenue stream to improve water quality at the lake, as well as provide habitat for a variety of species, primitive recreation sites and carbon sequestration. We have also supported two requests from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to acquire additional land for the Elk Refuge near the North Fork of the Toutle and another proposal adjacent to Merrill Lake to protect and preserve that area including beautiful Kalama Falls from further development. These proposals will significantly expand public access and involve purchases from Weyerhaeuser – if the price is right.

3) Biosolid Tree Farming – Last year the BOCC gave approval to our Public Works Department to pursue a pilot program to add biosolids to dredge spoils remaining from the eruption of Mount St. Helens. The nutrients would help a tree farm to grow on the sandy hills, not only providing bank stabilization important for fish recovery, but a revenue stream from fees charged for waste disposal, wetland mitigation, and eventual tree sales.

4) More Parks Along Rivers – We just completed the final land transfer at Willow Grove to the Port of Longview who is pouring $1 million in improvements there. Thank you port commissioners and staff. In the meantime, we have improved maintenance at Riverside Park in Lex-

1157 3rd Avenue, Suite 218 1157 Longview, 3rd Avenue, WA Suite 98632 218 1157 3rd360.952.3100 Avenue, Suite 218 Longview, WA 98632 Longview, WA 98632 www.amadaseniorcare.com 360.952.3100

360.952.3100 www.amadaseniorcare.com www.amadaseniorcare.com

ington and completed the development of Harry Gardner Park at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Toutle River, which also hosts a major fish habitat restoration project. And just this past month, we took action to declare a short section of abandoned county road adjacent to the Coweeman River as a new park. It is still undeveloped but holds great potential for the future.

5) Bike Path Network – We continue to support efforts to develop a more extensive bike trail network throughout the county. We’ve been supportive of the efforts of the cities to expand such hiking/biking trails.

A multi-jurisdictional group is preparing to negotiate with Patriot Rail for a portion of the railroad right-of-way from Ocean Beach Highway to Ostrander and possibly connecting with the proposed Community Forest. Finally, another group from Pathways 20/20 is working under a National Park Service grant to develop the 6 Rivers Bike Path paralleling I-5 from Woodland to the Lewis County border.

6) Excitement at the Historical Museum – New leadership at the county museum has meant new exhibits, programs, and even a Victory Garden celebrating the centennial of World War I. The new award-winning permanent exhibit takes you on a fascinating journey through the lives of the people who have made Cowlitz County a great place to live, work, play, and retire. If you’ve not been before, be sure to do so. The price of admission is well worth it – oh wait, the admission is free. Go anyway.

7) True Conference Center Looms – We all enjoy the meetings and other events that take place at the Cowlitz County Event Center. But our recent strategic plan highlighted a glaring need for hotel space there to make it a true multiday conference center. Staff has been working with the PFD Board and the cities of Kelso and Longview to make this happen. The county will supply property adjacent to the event center to the City of Longview whose Public Development Authority will issue an RFP. Kelso has developed a traffic plan for a new entrance at Fifth Avenue. While there will be adjustments for the annual fair, a lot more discussion is needed regarding capital improvements for exhibit halls the hotel will help fund.

8) Completing the Missing Link – Very preliminary discussions have begun to boost tourism along the Spirit Lake Highway. The Forest Service has watched as fewer tourists make their way to the National Volcanic Monument while more than three times as many make it to Mount Rainier, which is only about 35 miles away (as the crow flies). Perversely, the Forest Service’s answer is abandoning tourist facilities and even demolishing the former Coldwater Lake Visitors Center. Perhaps it’s time to get a study on filling in the missing highway link between Coldwater and White Pass Highway.

9) How About a Real Game-Changer – I believe that the No-NoNanettes who shout “We Can Do Better” should harness their noisy political power toward locating a new Southwest Washington University here. That would be a real game changer to say nothing of a great economic boost.

To sum up, I hope you will agree, we are all bullish for Cowlitz County and we are headed toward a bright, exciting future.

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 3

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

By Ted Sprague CEO

NORPAC's tariff debate Everyone’s talking about tariffs? Tariffs have been a part of the United State’s fiscal policy as far back as 1789 when the government relied heavily on tariffs to pay for its debt. Over the past few months, the Trump administration has brought tariffs back into the conversation with some headline grabbing decisions. There is a distinct difference in tariff policy between tariffs that protect American industry from foreign government subsidies and tariffs that seem punitive for political purposes.

In August of 2017, NORPAC, one of the largest private employers in Cowlitz County petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to begin applying tariffs to newsprint imported from Canada due to the harm caused by the subsidized, dumped newsprint flowing into the U.S. The Department of Commerce determined there were no less than 46 subsidy programs in place, which allowed Canadian newsprint to be sold in the U.S. at an artificially low price. Not surprisingly, once the tariffs were put in place, the market stabilized and NORPAC was able to restart one of its three paper machines and rehire many of the employees that had been laid off the year prior.

Recently I was privileged to travel to our nation’s capitol to testify at the International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing where these tariffs were discussed. It was acknowledged by both sides of the argument that newsprint manufacturing in the U.S. has taken a huge hit in recent

years and cannot keep up with demand. Not surprisingly, Canadian manufacturing of newsprint is at an all time high, with many Canadian firms buying U.S. manufacturing and moving it north. Hmmmmmm.

One does not have to look too far to determine why this is – remember the 46 Canadian subsidies for Canadian manufacturing? It was disheartening to hear our own U.S. Senators and members of Congress testify against U.S. manufacturing all to save $.01 on each printed newspaper. The highest cost for newspapers is labor, the second highest is newsprint and newsprint costs are at historically low levels. The impacts NORPAC has on Cowlitz County both in terms of employment and economics are significant. NORPAC is responsible for $40 million in salaries and wages paid annually. It spends tens of millions on maintenance cost every year, which helps support local labor, materials suppliers and local contractors. It supports our state and local tax base by paying more than $10 million in state taxes and $7 million in local taxes annually. It spends $65 million on transportation services and about $100 million per year on locally sourced raw materials.

I understand some people disagree with tariffs as a policy, but the policy is in place for a reason. When a case is so egregious that one of the world’s most modern and efficient paper mills cannot compete against subsidized products, some remedy must be found. We will learn at the end of August the decision by the ITC.

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Frank Panarra, President

Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College

Wendy Kosloski Teague's Interiors

Bianca Lemmons, Vice President

Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic

Nancy Malone Mayor of Kelso

Neil Zick, Treasurer

Ken Botero Longview City Council

Bruce Pollock Bicoastal Media

Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds

Tom Rozwod NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser

Wendy Hutchinson Millennium Bulk Terminals

Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Marlene Johanson Heritage Bank

Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner

Foster Farms

Cowlitz County Title Twin City Bank

Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching

Nick Lemiere, Executive Board Edward Jones Chris Roewe, Executive Board Woodford Commercial Real Estate

4 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

2018 Small Business

BOOT CAMP 2018 Fall Series begins Friday, Sept. 14 Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College

7:30 am - 9 am ★ Heritage Room at LCC - Admin. Bldg.

Fall 2018 six pack

Sept. 14 Maximum Cash Generation Facilitator: Frank McShane, Square Peg Consulting. This is not the same as Profit or Cash Flow. How do I know which products or services are providing the most cash so I can keep expanding my business? This workshop will show you how to use your own data to determine which products or services are generating the most cash.

Then you can focus your time and resources on the things that will help you grow your business faster.

Sept. 21 Marketing vs. Sales So now you are in charge of Marketing and Sales for your business or company. They are not the

same. How do you know what works, doesn’t work and how can you track sales to try to determine what is providing you the most bang for your buck. Facilitator is still to be determined.

Sept. 28 How to Read a Balance sheet and other financial statements David Futcher, Futcher Group CPA’s will be help you better understand your financial documents which will help you manage your revenue and expenses for maximum growth.

Oct. 5

Conflict – Home, work, boss and the kids Mary Cranston, Performance Coaching will be facilitating this class on

dealing with conflict both at home and at the office. There are simple strategies that can help when dealing with conflict with co-workers, the boss, your kids or your spouse. Mary will show you how to make these work for less stress and better outcomes.

Oct. 12 Optimizing Inventory – Frank McShane, Square Peg Consulting. How can I make sure I have the right products at the right time to serve my customers without ending up with slow or dead inventory? This workshop will show you how to use your data to fine tune your inventory plan and provide great customer service at the lowest level of investment.

Oct. 19 How to generate higher profits. Jerry Petrick with Small Business Development Center will facilitate this class on finding ways to grow your profits. The two basics, sell more product and cut expenses, right. But how do you do that. How do you sell more product? What expenses do I cut? Jerry will lead this discussion and help you answer those questions.

No pricing change since 2013!

100 Members

$

★ $160 Non-Members

Sponsored by:

You can bring up to three people from your business making the cost to attend about $5.50 per person, per class. Individual classes are $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

360-423-8400

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

City of Kelso

City of Longview

By City Councilman David Futcher

By City Councilman Ken Botero

Making the city better – for free Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the challenges we face. I took a minute to consider the things I’m thankful for as they relate to my council work. It was easy to identify some of the positive aspects of the job, like having a strong and knowledgeable staff, and fellow councilmembers with a passion for improving the city. But one that struck me as particularly important was the role that volunteers play.

Coming up in September is a fun, free family event at the Highlander Festival in Kelso. That’s an event that would not take place were it not for a cadre of volunteers that plan, organize, operate and clean up after the festivities. These folks have helped turn our event into one that is the second largest of its kind in the state.

That may be the timeliest evidence of the good work our volunteers provide, but it’s far from the only one. I appreciate the contributions of our volunteer board members, like the library and parks boards, the planning commission, and the folks who put on events like our Christmas tree lighting. These integral parts of our city would not function as well without their participation.

Without volunteers, you would have no skate park, spray park, softball fields, baseball fields, downtown events…and the list goes on and on. We even have a significant pool of volunteer reserve police officers. These officers are walking into dangerous situations for free, just because they care about making the city safer. Volunteers keep the city cleaner, too, whether it’s a Rotary club or Foot Patrol that cleans an adopted street, or one of the dedicated citizens who pick up trash as they take their daily walks.

At any time of the year, it’s a good idea to turn our thoughts to gratitude. I want to give a big thank you to each of the helping hands that make Kelso a better place.

A few minutes can go a long way Do you have a few minutes?

With today’s early morning sunshine and long days, rushing to events for our families and scheduling other activities while the sun shines gives each of us a busy schedule; however, that doesn’t mean we have to write off our community involvement completely. In 30 minutes or less we can make a difference in our community.

A couple of these ideas may help keep the community drive going in a positive direction. The following are a few examples that we here in Longview have seen that contribute to the dream of a city with undying pride.

•

We see several people walking through our neighborhoods lately with a large garbage bag picking up trash, especially in the mornings while walking the lake bank.

•

Stay in town, park the car and walk to many of our locally owned businesses, after all some of that tax money stays here at home.

•

Attend one of the many local festivals or events in our community like the concerts or movies in the park at Lake Sacajawea, activities at RA Long Park, the county fair, a Black Bears baseball game, youth sports contest (as community spectators), the Columbia Theatre or Stage Works.

•

How about putting a potted plant on your front porch.

•

Take the time to say hello to your neighbor, actually how many of us even know who lives next door or across the street.

•

Better yet, how about taking a summer treat to a senior in your neighborhood.

•

Take part in opportunities to give in our community, such as food drives, clothing drives, eye glasses and hearing aid collections (yes, I am speaking of the Lions International Sight and Hearing Program).

•

Encourage your employer to sponsor a local event; many businesses have a variety of volunteer programs that reward each of you for volunteering.

Locally Owned, Family Owned and Here to Stay!

Offering the best in quality and selection.

1413 Commerce Ave.

360-575-9804

www.elamshf.com

6 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

As you can imagine, by doing our part to contribute to our community in Longview, and abroad, we add people to our circle of influence and gain opportunities to build on positive relationships with our neighbors. Oh, by the way, we also demonstrate what it means to be a good, positive citizen to our children.

Chamber CEO’s Message

Calendar

By Bill Marcum

Friday August 3 – 5:30-8pm Island Bingo Elks Lodge SOLD OUT

Monday August 6 – Noon Mill City Grill Government Affairs Committee Topic: I-1631 Speakers Gary Chandler, AWB Chris Roden, PUD

Tuesday August 14 – Noon

Boot Camp marches into fall with six new classes Wow, hard to believe it is August! And what a heat wave its been this past week. We have had a beautiful summer and the fall is coming fast. That means Boot Camp and our fall series of classes is around the corner. All classes are at the Lower Columbia College Admin Building in the Heritage Room, 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Do you realize we have conducted 108 Boot Camp classes, providing information to help businesses be more successful, since it started in 2013? More than 1,400 local business people have attended representing nearly 103 businesses. The series of classes continues with our fall Boot Camp, below is a brief description of the offerings:

Chamber Executive Board Mill City Grill

August 14 – 5:30-7:30pm Business After Hours ServiceMaster, JTS

Tuesday August 21 – Noon Chamber Board Meeting

September 14 Maximum Cash Generation – Frank McShane, Square Peg Consulting. This is not the same as Profit or Cash Flow. How do I know which products or services are providing the most cash so I can keep expanding my business? This workshop will show you how to use your own data to determine which products or services are generating the most cash so you can focus your time and resources on the things that will help you grow your business faster.

Mill City Grill

September 21 No Ambassador Meeting in August

Every Wednesday Chamber Connections KEDO/1400 AM or 99.1 FM 3-4pm Stream live at www.kedoam.com

Marketing vs. Sales – So now you find yourself in charge of marketing and sales for your business or company – they are not the same.

How do you know what works? Doesn’t work?

And how can you track sales to try to determine what is providing you the most bang for your buck? Facilitator is still to be determined.

September 28 How to Read a Balance Sheet and Other Financial Statements – David Futcher, Futcher Group CPAs. Dave will help you better understand your financial documents, which will

help you manage your revenue and expenses for maximum growth.

October 5 Conflict – Home, Work, Boss and the Kids – Mary Cranston, Performance Coaching. This class focuses on dealing with conflict both at home and at the office. There are simple strategies that can help when dealing with conflict with co-workers, the boss, your kids or your spouse. Mary will show you how to work toward less stress and better outcomes.

October 12 Optimizing Inventory – Frank McShane, Square Peg Consulting. How can I make sure I have the right products at the right time to serve my customers without ending up with slow or dead inventory? This workshop will show you how to use your data to fine tune your inventory plan and provide great customer service at the lowest level of investment.

October 19 How to Generate Higher Profits – Jerry Petrick, Small Business Development Center. This class centers on finding ways to grow your profit. The two basics sell more products and cut expenses, right? But how do you do that? How do you sell more products? What expenses do I cut? Jerry will lead this discussion and help you answer those questions.

The fall Boot Camp series is $100 for Chamber members and $160 for non-members. You can bring up to three people from your business making the cost to attend about $5.50 per person, per class. You can select individual classes for $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

Sign up today at kelsolongviewchamber.org or call the Chamber at 360-423-8400.

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 7

Workforce Southwest Washington

By Melissa Boles Industry Initiatives Manager

Health care plan and grant funds to address growing industry’s workforce needs The health care industry is a cornerstone of our regional economy, making up approximately 12 percent of the region’s private sector employment and payroll.

In the past 10 years, the number of people retiring and the number of people needing access to health care (both long-term and acute) has increased dramatically. The health care industry is working hard to increase its capacity to better serve both the number of people needing care and the diversity of people needing care.

Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW), as part of the Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC), is working with health care providers and other champions of the industry to make it easier for job seekers to enter the health care field.

Data shows that in the next 10 years the health care industry is projected to grow by 23 percent. Over half of the jobs in health care pay more than $20 an hour. While about half of the jobs require a fouryear degree, many of the jobs in the industry can be done with shortterm vocational training. Many employees who start in entry-level positions utilize both in-house and additional training to advance their career for long-term jobs in the industry.

using grant funds Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) applied for and obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor to help health care companies increase diversity in their workforce, improve skills of their current employees and foster culturally-competent care by working with under-served populations. These funds will be used to train and place historically under-represented populations into health care occupations with a solid career path. Single mothers, LGBTQ folks, long-term unemployed, people of color, English language learners, individuals with disabilities, low-income residents, and other populations facing barriers to employment will be a focus for the training resources.

If you’re interested in learning more about the health care plan or being involved in the workforce panel, contact Darcy Hoffman, director of business services at dhoffman@workforcesw.org or 360508-4949.

Melissa Boles is the Industry Initiatives Manager for health care and construction. Reach her at mboles@workforcesw.org or 360-567-3185.

Since January 2018, the CWWC, in partnership with community colleges, health care training programs and local health care providers (including Community Home Health & Hospice, Kaiser Permanente and PeaceHealth), has held convenings and panels to discuss workforce challenges faced by the health care industry. After nearly six months of conversation, the group identified three overarching goals and a plan to meet them.

The three goals are: (1) Recruit and retain health care professionals, (2) Build a health care pipeline through employer and education partnerships, and (3) Advance diversity, equity and inclusion in health care.

This three-point plan will allow workforce development to partner with employers, education providers, and other stakeholders to address the health care industry’s workforce challenges. Creating a regional health care plan allows us to identify common industry workforce challenges, coalesce around shared goals and align the efforts of the public workforce system to make a greater overall impact for the sector.

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These three goals come with outcomes that will ask employers and other health care industry experts to be involved in additional conversations about job readiness, diversity and equity, incumbent worker programs, and youth health care training. A health care panel will begin in August.

Residential & Commercial

We are already taking steps to achieve the goals outlined in the plan.

Our health care community has identified advancing diversity, equity and inclusion as one of its goals. To that end, WorkSource will be

ancmovers.com

8 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

360-992-8702

Discover!

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What projects is the Port now working on—and are they are a part of the Comprehensive Scheme?

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By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Managment Trainier – Murray & Nau, Inc.

When is your creative time?

When’s your creative time? Do you have any creative time? Yes! No! I do not know!

ceptance of challenging the ordinary while utilizing your past experience and knowledge.

Well, let’s pause for a moment, and allow me to ask you to do this simple search. Take a look at last week’s calendar, or for that matter, look at the last two weeks or past month, and highlight those times you set aside for your creative time.

Much like changing a habit or driving a different way to and from work... the change itself will cause you to notice things in a new way, to increase your awareness of what’s out there.

Surprised? You are at a loss inasmuch as you cannot find any such time ... exactly the point of this month’s column.

As a small business owner, retailer or service provider, creativity is fuel for the ongoing nurturing and growth of your business. It not only feeds your business, it feeds your soul! New ideas, new products or services, new questions in search of answers and new opportunities to target for your business’ revenue enhancement – all need some time on your calendar to bubble up into that “aha!” moment.

According to my artist son and many of his fellow artists, creativity is play. That’s the easy part. Learning to allow ourselves to play is the hard part and the hard work, my son will tell you. Likewise, to live a creative life, one must lose the fear of being wrong.

Let’s pause again for a moment … some of this sounding familiar to you?

In today’s changing and challenging environment, finding your creative voice is one of the most critical skills you can invest in. As things change around us, we sometime forget that things need to change within us also. The heart of that change is inside us – the seeing, the observing, and the awareness.

Enhancing your creative voice to find new ideas, new answers and new solutions will keep you at the forefront, setting you apart from others and a step ahead of your competitors. To discover new things, you will find yourself stepping out of your comfort zone, conceiving and developing some new ideas while challenging and overcoming some accepted norms. You’ll observe along the way that as you ASK (Always Seeking Knowledge) questions and uncovers new possibilities you will develop a hunger and a motivation for new learning and SUCCESS! Let’s pause one more time ... and clarify this thing called creativity.

Creativity is simply being able to conceive, develop and utilize new ideas or strategies when working with existing resources.

Your creative thinking will flourish best in an ASKing environment that allows increased questioning and thinking plus an ac10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

Creativity is your personal treasure! Enhancing it ever so slightly will help you develop new approaches and find new solutions for every day challenges.

Discipline yourself, a step at a time, to use the power of questions ... within yourself, brainstorming with yourself, to stimulate your creativity and assure both your continued learning and growth ... continual questioning will help stimulate the flow of creativity.

Once you are comfortable (and confident) with yourself and your newfound creative freedom, considering bringing your staff and fellow employees into the loop. Again, the benefits to your business, your work environment and your life will grow.

When’s your creative time? To find it ... schedule it! Start slowly... reserve one hour a day, three days a week, for the first month. At the end of the first month, check how well you did and then challenge yourself to do more next month. The best time to schedule your creative time? Creative people will often tell you it is first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and begin your day. And yes, it’s ALWAYS best to do it BEFORE you check your phone or email!

Last, but not least, something good is going to happen today ... make sure you are looking for it!

© Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray and Nau, Inc. is a Seattle area based consultant and sales and management trainer. He is a 25-year veteran of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate. He has spoken to and conducted workshops for a number of local retail and chamber organizations, national publishing groups, national retailers and manufacturers, state press associations, and newspaper groups.

Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via email: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984.

Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments

By Bill Fashing Executive Director

It's all about the jobs

I have had several conversations lately with a variety of stakeholders about the problems, needs and challenges we face here in Cowlitz County and the broader region. Some of those discussions have wandered into the national economy and the challenges there. As I work through the input and consider the emerging reality, I come back to the understanding that it is all about the jobs.

That is all well and good, but what about education, mental health, disadvantages of your place of birth, skin color, being born into poverty, personal choices and other issues you may have? These all impact employability, spark and drive of the individual, other factors that limit upward mobility. But upward mobility will not happen without job opportunities. I provide some background on a few of these items in the following paragraphs.

The data shows that more education leads to better prospects for earning and stable employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistic data, the differences are significant. This table highlights the issue facing the less educated. This does not mean that someone with a high school diploma has no chance of earning more but the odds are against the majority of the population. Nor does it mean that a college degree will ensure high wages and an improving standard of living without the skills needed to survive in the workforce of tomorrow.

According to Mental Health America (MHA), one in five Americans has some level of mental health challenges. Many are manageable by the individual yet others require on going assistance and treatment. Based on the same source, 56 percent of American adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. Of those with mental health issues about one half of them have a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. Studies continue to show that being unhappy with our jobs can take a toll on mental health, relationships and risks for chronic illnesses.

Census numbers show that 2.4 percent of the workforce that are in poverty worked full time jobs in 1987, while today 2.2 percent work full time jobs. I also found that 12.5 percent of the workforce working parttime were in poverty while 13 percent of those in poverty are working part-time. There were variances in the individual years during this period but the numbers have not changed dramatically. Over 20 percent of the workforce that did not work was found to be in poverty during the same period. This information reflects those individuals 16 and older and does not reflect the impact on youth in poverty.

Source: US Census

In 1990 Cowlitz County was the 4th highest median hourly wage in the state at $12.24 well above the state median hourly wage of $11.28. By 2016 we had increased wages to $18.34 but dropped to ninth in the state and dropped below the state median wage rate of $20.02. During that general period, the county lost jobs in construction/mining and logging, manufacturing, and other high paying sectors as noted in the following graph.

Source: Washington Employment Security

How does all of this impact our day-to-day activities as we work toward a more economically diverse economy and a continued push for economic development? First, we need to ensure that more of the population is workforce ready when they leave high school. They need to be problem solvers, they need to embrace and understand technology.

Second, we need to address generational poverty and provide paths for the youth facing poverty to overcome the challenges they were born into in order to obtain and hold jobs. Third, we need to retain and attract youth throughout the region to support new ideas and approaches to the issues and challenges that we will face. Fourth and final is the need to work together to create jobs for tomorrow. We need to build on the assets in place in the region and embrace our role in international trade while working to inspire a new generation of businesses to enhance local opportunity and wealth for our children’s children.

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 11

Business After Hours

A couple of raffle winners...

Cloe Wheeler, Mary Kay specialist

Yoon Bahng with Global Security

Paige Baldwin and Michele Kophs with Community Home Health & Hospice welcoming guests to the garden party.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

12 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

Business After Hours

Garden Party

Community Home Health & Hospice CEO Greg Pang welcomes nearly 80 Chamber members to our July Business After Hours. It was a beautiful day in a gorgeous setting – the Ken Henderson Memorial Garden – as Pang talked about the Charity Care Program.

Bianca Lemmons, Cowlitz County Title, and Bill Chapman, Millennium Bulk Terminals, share pleasantries over a beverage in the garden.

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 13

Business Toolbox

By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

Five things to know before you sign that commercial property lease One thing that many new business owners fail to consider is how their No. 1 fixed expense, real estate, can influence their profitability. So much goes into selecting the property, from the right location to building out the tenant improvements, that lease details are easily overlooked. But if you don’t read through each clause carefully, you could severely undermine your bottom line. I highly recommend having an attorney who specializes in commercial leases and who represents tenants look over a lease before you sign it. As a Certified Business Adviser with the Washington Small Business Development Center who has worked with hundreds of clients in dozens of industries, I have come across many horror stories (and some big wins) regarding lease negotiation.

Here are my top five things to consider when reading your lease: 1. HOW IS THE RENT FIGURED? Is it a base rent plus triplenet expenses, or does it include a portion of your sales? How are the “nets” calculated? (Triple net, or NNN, is where the lessee pays a part of the building’s real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance.) Are they calculated by square footage or by the percent of the building occupied? What is included in the maintenance portion? I have had clients who signed their lease for base rent plus NNN and were expecting to pay $1,500 per month only to find out that the triple net totaled more than $860 and could be adjusted any time without notice. When we asked to see copies of the property owners’ tax and insurance statements, the owners refused. The tenant had no choice but to pay or be evicted. Remember ignorance (or not understanding what you signed) is not a defense.

2. CONSIDER THE LEASE TERM CAREFULLY. Many times your landlord will offer tenant improvements or “build to suit” if you sign a long-term lease. But if you are planning to move or expand in three to five years, you will want to do a shorter-term lease with an extension option. Depending on the market, you may be offered a concession of three to six months free rent, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will come at the beginning of the term. Read through

can severely affect your business.

3. CAN YOU SUBLEASE? If you want to supplement your income by sharing space with complementary businesses, be sure that the lease does not prohibit subletting. The ability to sublet can also be important if you outgrow your space and need to move to expand well before your lease term ends. Most landlords want to have all lessees on contract so that they limit their risk exposure. I had a chiropractor client, and the rent they collected from a massage therapist, acupuncturist and physical therapist was a significant part of their revenue. It was a severe blow when they discovered that the rental agreement prohibited subleasing. After negotiating with the landlord, the other service providers were allowed to stay, but they had to pay their rent directly to the property owner, which took away any profit my client would have realized.

4. WHICH UTILITIES ARE INCLUDED? Are they separately metered? You wouldn’t want to pay half the water if you shared your building with a laundromat, for example. Is there Internet/Wi-Fi currently, and is it sufficient for your business needs? I recommend doing a thorough walk-through to locate all of the utility panels: water, electricity, gas and cable. Contact the utility companies and request the average bill history. Don’t rely on what the leasing agent tells you.

You can often find out when the last service was and if there have been any issues that could require substantial investment. Remember, everything on your side of the wall is your responsibility to maintain. I found this out the hard way when I had to replace all of the gas lines leading to my office suite in our 1941 building.

5. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY YOUR BUILDING WILL BE SOLD OR CONDEMNED? Are you aware of any plans that your city has as far as development in the area? What provisions are there in the lease to protect you should either occur? I always advise my clients to become active members of their community, not just for networking purposes, but also so they know what direction the city is headed and what that could mean for the future of their business.

the clause carefully so you know exactly how your concession will be

This article was compiled by Jerry Petrick, MBA, and Certified Busi-

applied. If you are adding tenant improvements, try to negotiate the

ness Adviser with the Washington State University Small Business De-

concession to take effect while you are doing your build-out before

velopment Center (SBDC) in Longview. Jerry provides no-cost, confi-

occupying the space. Additionally, if you are leasing new construc-

dential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached

tion, ask if there are provisions should the project run late? A delay

via email jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

14 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

Longview Downtowners

By Lindsey Cope President

Promoting, preserving, developing downtown

The mission of the Longview Downtowners is to “promote, preserve, and develop downtown Longview.” There are numerous ways to accomplish these goals and the organization has been busy!

Promote: We have been in The Daily News about the growth of downtown in recent years due to the improvement of the economy and shifting internal perceptions. People are learning that they do not need to go out of town to have great, locally sourced food, craft beverages, find original clothing, or have specialty medical spa treatments, for example. We have all those things downtown!

Large upcoming events include but are not limited to: Aug. 11 – third annual Rustic Rubble Street Market and Aug. 18 – Squirrel Fest and Downtown Scavenger Hunt. Follow us on Facebook for real time updates and events, www.facebook.com/longviewdowntowners Preserve: On July 14 you may have seen some Longview Downtowners volunteers picking up garbage and returning shopping carts around the Columbia Theatre, RA Long Park, down Broadway Street or by the old casino. In two hours our group collected more than 10 full bags of trash and returned four shopping carts. This is a huge improvement from our April clean-up event where we collected 1,000 pounds of trash. What this tells me is that we have more and

more people helping keep the area clean daily. Cleanliness adds to safety and to the aesthetic of the area. Taking pride in where we live, work, and play helps others do the same. We would like to thank Pat Palmer (Copies Today), Stephanie McGraw (Silver Star/Office 842/ Triangle Tavern), Ron Curran (CCS), Michael and Tracy Hensley (Time Out Ice Cream), Janel Kolbo, Jack Little and family (J Squared Barrel House), Wendy and Ron Kosloski (Teague’s Interiors), Vanessa Johnson (Lower Columbia College) and our student volunteer for taking a few hours out of their day to make downtown Longview a better place!

Develop: We have had recent store openings/expansions and are looking forward to more soon. New businesses fill the vacancies and diversify all that we have to offer while increasing traffic benefitting all. Are you interested in an affordable storefront with built in traffic? Consider downtown Longview! We are planning a vacant space tour this fall to help showcase some of the fantastic opportunities available!

Are you interested in helping us continue to promote, preserve, and develop downtown Longview? Come see what we are all about at our next meeting that is open to everyone on Aug. 9 at 8 a.m. at the Creekside Café on Commerce Avenue. No one will bite, promise!

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August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 15

Lower Columbia College

By Chris Bailey President

Some fun facts about your

community college Lower Columbia College (LCC) first opened its doors as Lower Columbia Junior College (LCJC) in 1934. Individuals went door-todoor to collect money for the institution. This was the beginning of the strong and continuous community support for LCC. Its first graduating class, in 1936, was made up of only 14 graduates! Initially, LCJC classes were held at the Longview Public Library, at downtown locations, and at RA Long High School.

In 1967, LCC joined the state-supported community college system and became Lower Columbia College. Today LCC is one of 34 community colleges in the state.

The college’s first land purchase occurred in 1942, and construction on LCC’s first permanent building, Main Building, began in 1950.

Many buildings soon followed on the now 38.75 acre site. Today, there are 26 buildings on the campus! Currently, our educational facilities occupy more than 478,000 square feet on our Longview, Wash., campus. There has been significant progress in updating the educational facilities at LCC over the past decade with more than 131,000 square feet of facility space added and/or renovated. We are currently on the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges proposed capital list for a new 55,000-square-foot vocational building.

LCC regularly employs about 400 people, and has an annual operating budget of about $24 million. The Lower Columbia College Foundation has approximately $16 million in assets to benefit the functions of the college. The LCC Foundation also provides approximately $400,000 in scholarships each year.

LCC serves about 3,000 students per academic quarter and the average age of our students is around 30. Currently, approximately 24 percent of LCC students are self-identifying as students of color, while the proportion of people of color in our service district is only 16 percent. About 3.5 percent of LCC students receive veteran’s benefits. Approximately 65 percent of our students are female, and females complete at a much higher rate than male students.

Over the last five years, LCC completion rates (within a three year period) have increased from 25 percent to 38 percent, putting LCC near the top for community colleges in Washington (second for comprehensive community colleges in Washington and fifth overall for all 34 community and technical colleges according to an analysis done by The Seattle Times). Over the same period, our fall-to-fall retention rates for full-time students increased from 55 percent to 61 percent and increased from 32 percent to 39 percent for part-time students.

16 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

When LCC students transfer to four-year colleges, they do very well academically. The average GPA of an enrolled student at a public four-year institution in Washington state, based on available data, is 3.24 (2014-15 data).

In 2013, the Lower Columbia Regional University Center was created to provide baccalaureate opportunities on the LCC campus.

Through our partner colleges, 41 baccalaureate and graduate degrees are now being offered through the center. In addition, LCC is working on its own, first-ever, baccalaureate degree, in teacher education. If approved, this degree will help meet a local need for teachers in our K-12 system. A second LCC four-year degree, in business management, is also in development.

I hope you enjoyed these facts about LCC. They help explain why we are LCC Proud! We continue to grow and adapt to meet the needs of our local community.

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Ribbon Cuttings

Pizza Paradise

Tony and Kelli Millard and Brigette and Adam Bohorff, along with Chamber staff and Ambassadors were thrilled to welcome the new owners of Lexi's Pizza Pub at their ribbon cutting. Make sure to check out their new party space and outside seating.

Say Ahhh!

Our Chamber Ambassadors hit the refresh button with spa owner Cateyln Schnell.

More than 2,000 people showed up for the grand opening of Catelyn's Place Day Spa.

See more photos and the video on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 17

Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)

By Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library

There's still time to sneak in a summer read from our experts' list We’re in the midst of summer and here at the library that means the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is Libraries Rock! While the program is nearly over, we usually end in the first part of August, people can, and should continue to read all summer long. For this year’s program, library staff selected summer reading picks and we put them on the library’s website (www.longviewlibrary.org). I decided I would include them as this month’s column. You can find these and much more at your Longview library. Visit us virtually or in person and keep on reading!

“Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” (2017) by Gail Honeyman.

Eleanor Oliphant lives alone and doesn’t have any friends, but she has a routine and she is completely fine. Until she decides to pursue the singer of a local band (she hasn’t met him, but she knows he’s the one) and starts making some changes. Eleanor is socially awkward and thinks you’re rude, but she’ll totally win you over. This book is laughout loud funny and then devastatingly sad then warm and hopeful.

The audio performance by Cathleen McCarron is particularly good. I highly recommend it! – Becky Standal (Youth Services Specialist) “Randy Bradley” (2011) by Jake Morrill. This book is hilariously

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18 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

strange. It is only 38 pages long and consists of a single letter. As you read the letter and between its lines a whole world of odd behavior and off kilter thinking comes into view. I laughed out loud. – Karl Marcuson (Reference Librarian) “A Pirate Looks at Fifty” (1998) by Jimmy Buffett. A journal of the life, times and adventures of Jimmy Buffett as he looks at turning 50.

A good summer read for Parrotheads! – Christy Dempewolf (Library Clerk) “Rainwater” (2009) by Sandra Brown. This book is set in the 1930s during the Depression in Texas. The story is about a woman who takes life’s circumstances into her own hands and how people come into your life and change it forever. I related to this life-altering chain of events, as many others no doubt will. – Sandra Glassett (Library Outreach) “Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers” (2017) by Deborah Heiligman. Brilliantly written, this biography of Vincent and Theo Van Gogh gives you an intimate portrait of one of the world’s most celebrated painters, and the brother who loved and supported him. If you enjoy history, art, or a gripping family drama, this book is for you!

– Daniel Tate (Adult Services Technician) “Perils of Paulie” (2017) by Katie MacAlister. Katie MacAlister is a super fun romance author. She’s witty and her characters are lovable.

This is the fourth in a series but you can read them alone as well. This story is a car race around the world in period attire and cars. Hijinks and love ensue. – Angela Stephenson (Library Technician) “Love and Ruin” (2018) by Paula McLain. One of my favorite current authors, Paula McLain, returns to Ernest Hemingway and his marriages (after the wonderful “The Paris Wife” that depicts Hemingway and his first wife Hadley in the 1920s Paris) in this wonderfully evocative portrayal of his third wife, noted novelist, travel writer and war correspondent, Martha Gellhorn. McLain has the ability to bring alive her characters and to convey the atmosphere of the era. If you are a fan of 20th century historical fiction, or of strong female characters you won’t want to miss this one. – Chris Skaugset (Library Director) “Battle Royale: Remastered” (2014) by Koushun Takami. The book is set in a fictional, fascist version of Japan in the late ‘90s known as the “Republic of Greater East Asia.” In this fictional country, middle school classes are selected randomly and forced to compete in a battle royale to the death, with only one student left standing at the end. The book follows Shuya Nanahara, a wannabe rock star who is one of the most athletic students in his class, as he tries to survive the game with his sanity and morality intact. This book is a favorite of mine because I’ve always enjoyed stories that push boundaries. The sheer brutality and inhumanity displayed in it (and by middle school students, no less) is not for everyone, but it does have value in that it has made many people question what we as people are capable of if put in certain situations, and just how manipulative of its people a government can be. If you’re looking for a dystopian novel in the same vein as “The For more Library, see page 19

Library, continued from page 18 Hunger Games” series, and you can handle the often-gory plot and descriptions, this book might be a great fit for you. – Jakob Collins (Library Technician – Youth Services) “Saga” (2012) by Brian Vaughan. My summers are very hectic, so a great comic book series is the perfect escape. Saga is an epic space fantasy about two soldiers from opposite sides of a long-term galactic war who fall in love – partly because of a BOOK! – and try to raise a family with basically everyone in the universe out to kill them. Saga also features one of my favorite non-humanoid characters, Lying Gat – a four-legged lie detector with a single-word vocabulary. The single issues have been collected into eight volumes so far. The library has a single super-sized volume that combines four of the normal volumes.

– Jennifer King (Youth Services Librarian)

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“The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” (2012) by Jonas Jonasson. This is a hilarious story that takes you on an epic adventure across Sweden. First, you crawl out the nursing home window with Allan Karlsson in his slippers on his 100th birthday and escape to the nearest train station. At the station, Allan does something – on a whim – that will take over his life and the lives of everyone he meets along the way. Decisions are made and what follows is the craziest adventure – and Allan happily goes along. For him, anything is better than the nursing home. I recommend this very funny story. – Elizabeth Partridge (Adult Services Librarian) “Jane Seymour, the Haunted Queen: A Novel” (2018) by Alison Weir. This is the third book in the author’s “Six Tudor Queens” series, about the wives of King Henry VIII. The author combines meticulous historical research with historical fiction. This book focuses on Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife and mother to his only legitimate son.

This book is my summer pick because, having truly enjoyed the first two books in this series, and being a fan of the Tudors, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this book. Once again, Alison Weir has delivered. – Lisa Hedgpeth (Circulation Specialist)

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New Members Add your business to our growing membership – Call 360-423-8400 Today!

T-Mobile Aaron Clarno 3202 Ocean Beach Highway, No. 106 Longview, WA 98632 360-518-2003 aaronclarno@mobileonellc.com

Wanderlust Marketing Co. Marissa Carpentier 708 Allan Street, Apt. No. 4 Kelso, WA 98626 360-749-0382 wanderlustmarketingco@gmail.com

Treadway Events & Entertainment LLC Brandon Treadway 465 NE 181st Avenue, No. 158 Portland, OR 97230 971-266-1781 info@treadwayevents.com

Compass Career Solutions Karyn Foster 207 N. 4th Avenue, Annex Suite 100 Kelso, WA 98626 360-577-5717 kfoster@careersbycompass.com

Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.

• Annual Meeting and Banquet

Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts.

• Legislative Representation • Issues Tracking and Information • Task Forces

• Networking Events

• Candidate Forums

• Committee Participation

• Legislative Update Breakfast

• Business Contacts

• Demographics Publication

• Quarterly Membership Meetings • Civic Representation • Monthly Business After Hours

Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.

• Mailing Labels • Membership Window Decals • Member Referrals

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20 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

Basic Membership Package – $275 or $26 per month.

Bronze Membership Package – $500 or $46.66 per month.

Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or $86.33 per month.

Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or $211.33 per month.

Platinum Membership Package – $5,000 or $416.66 per month.

Diamond Club Membership Package – $10,000 or $834 per month.

Nonprofit Package – $180 or $18 per month.

July Ambassador of the Month Josh Carter KLOG/KUKN/The Wave

Networking creates a powerful marketing tool As the sales and marketing guru at KLOG/KUKN/The Wave, Josh Carter enjoys the networking opportunities the Chamber provides.

In July, his dedication to the program earned him Ambassador of the Month honors.

“I see great value in gathering local professionals for the purpose of networking. I am a b2b marketing person. My entire focus and goals center around helping local businesses communicate their promotional ideas, or turn what is great about their business into a compelling marketing campaign,” Carter wrote in his Ambassador application. “Because I am fortunate enough to work with multiple businesses, I get the added bonus of being able to connect them to each other so they can come together and achieve their goals.

“Networking is one of the most powerful tools every business has. I am hoping as an Ambassador I will further be able to act in a referral capacity, as well as using it as an avenue to increase the amount of inquiries into how radio plays a role in the big picture of marketing. I sincerely think that every single business should be marketing and networking.

There is always something to be gained from staying connected: whether that something is just some fun or the ding from your till.”

Chamber Ambassadors, known as the Red Coats, are an integral part of the Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassador team is made up of active

Josh Carter wearing several hats at the Chamber's Jingle all the Way event in December.

Chamber volunteers whose responsibilities include meeting and greeting at Chamber events, welcoming new members and assisting at ribbon cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy professional careers while making time to assist the Chamber at a variety of events year long. If you would be interested in wearing a red coat and representing the Chamber, contact CEO Bill Marcum at the Chamber office.

LeeRoy Parcel Manager/LPO leeroy@cascade-title.com

Alison Peters Bonnie Woodruff Diane Kenneway Dennis Bird Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Assistant Senior Title Officer alison@cascade-title.com bonnie@cascade-title.com diane@cascade-title.com dennis@cascade-title.com

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1425 Maple St. Longview, WA 98632 360.425.2950 www.cascade-title.com

Connie Bjornstrom Receptionist/Typist connie@cascade-title.com

August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 21

In the News

Free tickets to local plays and performances ready for check out on Aug. 8

check out your tickets today. See the complete rules and restrictions at www.longviewlibrary.org/tickets.php.

Use your Longview Public Library card to check out tickets to Stageworks NW, and Columbia Theatre for free. The Culture Card program has tickets available for checkout starting Aug. 8 for these upcoming shows:

City of Kelso has opening on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

Stageworks Northwest, Longview Theater: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Sept. 7–23.

The City of Kelso has an opening on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Businesses within the city limits of Kelso and required to collect tax under RCW 67.28.1817 are eligible to apply.

The quiet little burg of Windsor isn’t big enough for Sir John Falstaff ’s antics and appetites, especially when he sets his lecherous sights on Mistress Page and Mistress Ford...and their money. It’s a delightful battle of wits as the merry wives, with a trick or two up their respective sleeves, set out to teach both Falstaff and their husbands a lesson.

The Columbia Theatre: Aureum Aerial Arts– Sept. 15.

A young academic creates a key that allows him to travel to the magical world of Aureum in a performance that seamlessly integrates compelling storytelling and characters with world-class acrobatics and aerial. An incredible original soundtrack, and high-flying technical elements that would only otherwise be possible in stadiums.

Aureum promises an unforgettable experience for every audience.

Tickets will be available to check out beginning Aug. 8 and are limited and first come, first served. Patrons over 18 can checkout one pair of tickets for free per calendar year. Come to the information desk or call 360-442-5300 with your library card number ready to

Commissions, boards, and committees are a great way for businesses to give back to their community without committing to a great deal of time.

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) meets one to two times a year to review and propose recommendations for award of lodging tax fund dollars to events and/or facilities dedicated to bringing tourism to Kelso. These meetings generally take place in the council chambers at Kelso City Hall. This is a great opportunity for someone interested in actively participating in the way Kelso supports events/facilities that bring tourism to Kelso.

All commission, board, and committee positions are appointed by the council. To apply go to the city’s website at www.kelso.gov and click ‘Your Government’ and then ‘Boards and Commissions’. There you will find an application that you can print out. Or come in and ask for a paper copy. After you have filled it out you can bring it in to City Hall, mail it in, or email it to jbronstein@kelso.gov.

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22 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

In the News

Credit union needs help to filling its canoe with school supplies for Youth and Family Link Through Aug. 17, Red Canoe Credit Union will be supporting Youth and Family Link with its annual Fill the Canoe School Supply Drive. Red Canoe will match pound-for-pound all new school supplies donated.

Donations can be made at any of the following Red Canoe Credit Union branch locations: Main, Kelso, 30th Avenue, Washington Way or at the Kelso or Longview public libraries. Donations are also accepted at Youth and Family Link. For more information visit www.

FillTheCanoe.com or call 360-425-2130

National Night Out activities planned for Kelso and Longview communities National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. First celebrated in 1983, events across the country are meant to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a sense of community.

A flyer posted on the City of Longview website notes a National Night Out event hosted by the Longview Police Department in partnership with Highlands Neighborhood Association is planned for Lake Sacajawea's Hemlock Plaza Aug. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Free family activities

are slated.

A National Night Out program is also planned in Kelso from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Tam O'Shanter Park.

Opportunity to donate silent auction items to Senior Citizen's Prom The Senior Citizen’s Prom Committee is currently collecting prizes from local businesses for the Silent Auction at the Senior Citizen’s Prom on Sept. 26.

Do you or your employer have something you can donate? Or do you have friends or family who might be able to donate something? Here are a few examples for the sort of items we are looking for: tickets to local attractions or events, gift certificates, services, gift baskets.

Opportunities to dance to a 30-piece band playing classic swing to contemporary favorites is not something you find every day in Cowlitz County – as a matter of fact, it is something you get only once a year at the senior’s prom! There is also refreshments, a photo booth and raffles to make the event really memorable.

The senior’s prom is coordinated by a committee of employees from both the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities and Lower Columbia CAP's Senior Nutrition Program.

Donations can be mailed to: Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, 1336 Commerce Ave., Suite 309, Longview, Wash., 98632. Contact Kelli Sweet 360-501-8365 or sweetka@dshs.wa.gov

Business & Corporation Law

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(360) 423-5220 Longview www.walstead.com August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 23

Chamber Connection

It's Getting Hot

Jen Wills with Longview Parks and Recreation and Marc Silva with Columbia Bank joined forces to discuss the Crafted Beer and Food Festival, and Marissa Carpentier filled us in on her new business, Wanderlust Marketing Co.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

“Your Chamber Connection” EVERY Wednesday Hosts of the Show: Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union; Karen Sisson, Stewart Title; and Russ Chittock, Enlivant Would you like an opportunity to be on Your Chamber Connection or to have more information about the qualifications of an open house or ribbon cutting? Contact Bill or Amy at the Chamber 360-423-8400

24 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | August 2018

Stream live at www.kedoam.com Local guest and current events

Welcome Back!

The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce would like to give a SHOUT OUT and a big THANK YOU to the following loyal members for renewing their partnership with us.

Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance Corwin Beverage Cowlitz River Rigging, Inc. Educational Service District No. 112 Emergency Support Shelter Fairway Collections Futcher Group Hart C's Steakburger & Thai Food Kelso School District Kelso Theater Pub Kelso-Longview Television, Inc. (KLTV) KeyBank Longview Eye & Vision/Drs. Terry and Jeff Tack Longview Physical & Sports Therapy Services Longview Self Storage Mobile Mic Entertainment Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. Opsahl Dawson Renaud Electric Company, Inc. Reprographics, Inc. Southwest Washington Blood Program United Way of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties Willamette Dental August 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 25

f o g in n e v e n a r o Join us f

SUMMER FUN Business After Hours Hosted by ServiceMaster by JTS Snacks by Hop-N-Grape Desserts by Flying Pig Bakery Beer & Wine Raffle Prizes Games Flowers from The Flower Pot

Tuesday, August 14 5:30 to 7:30 pm 2305 Columbia Heights, Longview $15 In Advance $20 At The Door

To Register: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org