Klc july 2014 by Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce

Volume 6, No. 7

Business Kelso Longview

July 2014

Connection Chamber of Commerce

World Series scores big with players and local business community Just as the long days of summer begin to fade into fall, the sharp crack of a bat will snap hundreds of baseball fans to their feet at Lower Columbia College’s David B. Story Field to cheer the country’s top 13- to 15-year-old baseball players in the 2014 Babe Ruth World Series. It’s the World Cup or Tour de France on a local level. “It’s our chance to be on the national stage,” said Kirc Roland, LCC athletic director, radio personality, and president of the local World Series committee staging the prestigious event. “It’s a positive thing for our youth, and a positive thing for our community.” This marks the sixth time since 1990 the Kelso-Longview area has hosted a Babe Ruth national tournament. Ten teams, eight from across the United States, and one each from Kelso and Longview, will make the roster. Babe Ruth begins flying teams in August 19. Opening ceremonies take place August 20 with a barbecue and home run derby, and competition starts August 21 with the championship game scheduled for August 28. From the Chamber of Commerce’s perspective, it’s a home run for the local economy. “It makes it a great Chamber of Commerce event,” Roland said. “It’s not just a weekend. It’s a week of people staying in hotels, eating at restaurants and experiencing the tourism. Few events bring in this many people for this long of a time.” Chamber CEO Bill Marcum has done the math.

Please see World Series, page 2

Fireworks over Story Field during the 2009 opening ceremonies.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Calendar Wednesday

July 2 – 7:30 a.m. Education Foundation Committee Canterbury Park, 1335 3rd Ave., Longview

Friday

July 4 Chamber Office Closed Visitor Center Open

Wednesday

July 9 – 11:30 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Mary Kay – Maria Frey Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 Minor Road, Kelso July 9 – Noon Government Affairs Committee Teri's Restaurant 3225 Ocean Beach Highway, Longview

Thursday

July 10 – 7:30 a.m. Ambassador Committee Meeting Canterbury Park, 1335 3rd Ave., Longview

Tuesday

July 15 – 5:30 p.m. Business After Hours – MEGA MIXER Civic Center Professional Building

Friday

July 25 – 4:30 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Lexi's Pizza Pub 1613 Westside Highway, Kelso

Every Wednesday

Chamber Connections KEDO / 1400AM – 3-4 p.m. Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guests and current events

This year’s World Series in Kelso-Longview is expected to draw at least 600 individuals from across the country. World Series, from page 1 “One team equals about 70 people total,” he said. “So eight teams will be about 560 people, not counting national Babe Ruth people like TV crews and others, for seven to eight days.” He and his team are working with the World Series committee to put together information on the Kelso-Longview area, restaurants and entertainment coupons from local businesses, Mount St. Helens visitor information and specialty items from some members. (For more information, see pages 3 and 4). “I expect it to be a busy week as the World Series will bring some 600 ‘visitors’ to our area and during their down time between games they will be looking for fun things to see and do in our area,” Marcum said. “We plan to be ready with as much information as we can to help them find that right thing on their list.”

So Much More than Baseball

More importantly, the tournament provides those who visit a personal connection to Kelso, Longview and the state of Washington. Traditionally, players stay with host families. Most players bring their own families, and extended families, to sit in the stands, but they also develop relationships with those families they stay with as well. “Lifelong friendships are made,” Roland said. And you never know whom you may be hosting. In 1990, local residents Rita and Warren Walker hosted a Babe Ruth Bambino named Jimmy Rollins from eventual tournament champion Oakland, California. That young man went on to a stellar baseball career as a Major League All-Star and MVP for the Philadelphia Phillies. “The tournament is so much more than baseball,” Roland said. “We work so hard to keep Longview and Kelso in the rotation. We can’t do it every year, but every four to five years. It’s important for our community to keep this.”

Please see World Series, page 4

GET READY CHAMBER MEMBERS! THE WORLD SERIES IS COMING! The Top Babe Ruth Baseball Teams From the U.S. & Canada Come to Longview-Kelso 8 Regional Champions arrive on Tuesday August 19th Opening Ceremonies & Bar B Q Wednesday August 20th. 25 games begin Thursday August 21st culminating with the championship game Thursday August 28th. All games on Story Field at Lower Columbia College

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Sponsorships Title Sponsors, Game Programs, TV/Radio, Employee Ticket Deals, Bat Boys, Diamond Girls, Corporate Nights, Opening Ceremonies, Player Bar B Q, Much More!

Buy Tickets & Attend the Games! Reduced Packages if purchased before July 27th. Buy a large group of tickets and treat your employees or your valued vendors or customers. The 15-year-old players from Longview and Kelso and across the country deserve our community support!

Be A Host Family! Each out of town team needs 6 homes to house 2 players each. Gather your friends and neighbors and show these kids the type of local hospitality weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re known for. You will provide tremendous memories by adding to your family for one special week!

Get Into The Spirit! Provide the Chamber with coupons and gift items from your business to give to each player. Gift bags are a great way to direct the players, parents, out of town guests, and host families to your business. Put welcome signs on your reader boards! Go to: www.longviewworldseries.com or call (360)

430-7286 to get involved.

The Longview World Series Committee is an all-volunteer group committed to bringing a national, wholesome family event to Cowlitz County. The Babe Ruth World Series provides once in a lifetime memories and new dollars to our economy.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

World Series, from page 2

Catch the Spirit!

The labor of love Roland puts into the tournament comes from experience. His son played in the 2004 event here. “It was a special time for our family, and definitely for our son,” he said. “I love what it brings to the community.” Marcum, who played Babe Ruth baseball as a teen, has been on both sides of the host family program – his family having hosted one year, and he being an out-of-town player at another time. “Both were great experiences, some of the best times of my life,” he said.

With all those visitors coming to town, the Chamber of Commerce and World Series Committee are working to cover all their bases. There are plenty of opportunities for Chamber members to be a part of the lineup.

Event Awareness. Local organizers need sponsorship, support and investment. Local business owners are encouraged to welcome visitors and let community members know the event is in town through their reader boards, websites and with special offers.

Great for Fans

Even when they are not hosting, the Kelso and Longview community Babe Ruth teams have had tournament success. In 1997, Longview was the host team, and Kelso qualified for the tournament. Roland said Babe Ruth organizers saw the energy the cities together produced, and it’s been a cooperative effort since, bringing the tournament back in 2001, 2004 and 2009. Story Field, home to the successful Lower Columbia College Red Devils and West Coast League Cowlitz Black Bears, provides the perfect venue for competition with its rich baseball history. The Red Devils have won 10 coveted Northwest Athletic Association of Community College championships and placed more than 77 players into the Major League draft. The Black Bears are hoping for another post-season run, which could prove challenging for the field crews should the season run into extra innings, but will be well worth the additional hustle needed to get the field ready for Babe Ruth.

Trusted.

Attend the Games. Purchase tickets to hand out to employees or customers to encourage big crowds for the visiting teams as well as the hometown players. Nothing makes these games more memorable for the kids than competing in front of packed stands.

Advertise. Showcase your businesses support through advertisement either in the program, on the radio, or through the Internet broadcast.

Donate a Gift. The Chamber of Commerce plans to hand out gift bags to players on all the teams. Provide an item, coupon or keepsake to celebrate the event and welcome them to the community. For more information on how to be a part of the winning effort, contact Bill Marcum at the Chamber, bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.com, or the World Series Committee at longviewworldseries@comcast.net.

Since 1982, Cowlitz County Title has been the company the community turns to when buying, selling or refinancing a property.

Although Longview and Kelso already have their places on the roster, the other eight teams will be determined later. Last year’s World Series in Virginia brought in teams from Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Iowa, Texas and California. The last time Longview hosted, Tallahassee, Florida, was crowned the champion. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase, or for information on the event, visit www.longviewworldseries.com.

Whether you need title, escrow or property search information, come in for our exceptional service. Leave with the confidence that your real estate investment is properly insured and protected. Bianca Lemmons Vice President/Manager

1159 14th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632 Phone: 360.423.5330 ■ www.cowlitztitle.com

Attention Business Owners

Make

Longview Beautiful

Let’s step up and make our businesses look great to the many friends and guests that visit our community each year.

Mint Valley Golf Course

Does Your Business Have Curb Appeal? Your company’s curb appeal goes a long way toward winning customers over and growing revenue. Even if you are not a retail business your curb appeal sends a message to passer-buyers about the quality of your work. Your business appearance projects an image to potential customers and local residents making them more or less inclined to visit or otherwise support your business.

Win the Mayor’s Award for “Best Curb Appeal” All Longview businesses are eligible to win a Mayors award for Best Curb Appeal Improvement. During the months of June-July 2014, you can nominate a business that has made the be best improvement by posting a “before” and “after” photo. Go to our Facebook page: Make Longview Beautiful. Those visiting this page can “Like” the one they feel has made the best improvement. The one with the most “Likes” wins! Visit this page often and make sure you vote.

Thank you!

Go Here & Vote!

Lake Sacajawea

Japanese Garden

facebook.com/pages/makelongviewbeautiful

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

CEO’s Message

Partnering on resource guide good for parents and community By Bill Marcum CEO – Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

to help their children prepare for the future. It includes detailed sections on career assessment, career pathways, graduation requirements, education, technical training, and apprenticeship options, financial aid, job search, and community resources. Best of all, the content of the guide was developed by local high school counselors and career specialists in consultation with school administrators and the Longview Kelso Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation.

In 2009-10 the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce’s Education Foundation, with community support, produced a resource guide for the parents of Cowlitz County youth titled High School and Beyond: A Family Resource Guide. It is now time to produce this guide again for the next generation of our youth graduating during the next three years; helping them plan for life beyond high school.

In 2014 we will be producing a digital version, and a printed version of the High School and Beyond: A Family Resource Guide, that will be made available to every high school student in Cowlitz County. To accomplish this task we will need to raise nearly $10,000 in contributions from our local businesses and education resources. So, if you are looking for an end of the year donation or just planning for 2014, please include this instrumental publication in your budgeting. You can view the previous guide at http://issuu.com/kelsolongviewchamber/docs/ hsb-1215-web/1?e=5295546/5882640

Research confirms that high school-age students depend most on their parents to help them plan their education/career, yet parents have little in the way of resources to guide them. High School and Beyond gives parents the information they need

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team

To participate, with your tax-deductible contribution, call Karen Sisson at the Chamber, 360-423-8400, or e-mail ksisson@ kelsolongviewchamber.org. Thank you for helping families and students in our local school systems plan for a productive future and family-wage jobs.

Bill Marcum, CEO Karen Sisson, Project Manager Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper

Special thanks to those of you who supported in 2010

Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400

Banda’s Bouquets, City of Longview, Corwin Beverages, Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Tech Prep, Ecological Land Services, Foster Farms, Happy Kids Dentistry, LCC, M&R Painting, TOYOCOM, WorkSource, WSU-Vancouver, Youth Workforce Program and Cowlitz PUD. Funding was also provided by each high school in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.

To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or e-mail bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org. Ad Deadline: 20th of each month.

T hank You to our 2014 Sponsors Title Sponsor

Stirling Motors

Hole 1 Red Canoe

Hole 13 Shamrock Tavern

Hole 2 Longview Eye Clinic - Tack

Hole 14 Millennium Bulk Terminals

Par 3, Hole 3 PeaceHealth Foundation

Hole 15 Les Schwab

Hole 4 Riverwoods Chiropractic

Par 3, Hole 16 Ocean Beach Self Storage

Hole 5 Cowlitz River Rigging

Hole 17 ServPro Longview

Hole 6 Three Rivers Eye Clinic

Hole 18 Koelsch Senior Communities

Par 3, Hole 7 Columbia Ford Hole 8 Futcher-Henry CPA Hole 9 Twin Star Credit Union Hole 10 Edward Jones - Nick Lemiere Hole 11 D and C Lemmons Par 3, Hole 12 H & S Enterprises

Beverage Cart Express Employment Professionals Putting Contest Fibre Federal Credit Union

Photo Sponsor Reprograghics Propel Insurance Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Photography PNE Corp Three Rivers Mall 19th Hole Sponsor Signature Transport Dale Lemmons Cart Sponsor Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods Raffle Sponsor Cascade Title Hole in One Cascade Natural Gas Hole in One Dr. Clay Bartness State Farm Insurance, Scott Fischer

Tee Prize Sponsor Prographyx

Dinner Sponsor Twin City Bank

Lunch Sponsor Cascade Networks

Dessert Sponsor Coldwell Banker-Bain

Driving Range Sponsor State Farm Insurance Fischer & Beal

Registration Table Cowlitz County Title

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

2014 Golf Classic

Driving Fashion Team Ashtown Brewing/Bob’s Sporting Goods captured third place for their net score (but first place in fun) at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic June 16 at the Longview Country Club. Bonus for the day, Erik Skreen won closest to the pin honors on the hardest par 3 of the course. For a complete list of winners, see page 9.

Thank You! Auction and Raffle Donors Cowlitz Black Bears Gallery of Diamonds Longview Country Club Pets, Pawns & Imports Bill Marcum Shamrock Tavern Bicoastal Media Renaud Electric Copies Today Speedy Litho Fibre Federal Credit Union CEDC Island Sun Tanning Columbia Theater Pacific Northwest Realty Group Life Works Estetica Day Spa Ashtown Brew Pub Pets, Pawns & Imports Corwin Beverage Co. Summerland Catering KUKN Craig Stein Beverage Kindred Beacon Hill Banta’s Bouquets Thunder Mountain Rodeo Scott Fischer State Farm Taylor Insurance Diamond Showcase LSNetworks Propel Insurance

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

ServePro’s Shawn Green and Ryan Grady offered golfers a break in the action.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

2014 Golf Classic

The Plasmine Technologies team lines up a putt during competition.

2014 Classic Winners 1st Gross – Shamrock Tavern (60): Steve Jones, Matt Carlough, Gene Guttormsen and Rocky McCullough 2nd Gross – Signature Transport (62): Dale Lemmons, Derrick Lemmons, Dave West and John Philbrook 3rd Gross – Cowlitz Black Bear (62): Jim Appleby, Eric Cheatley, Bob Rose and Tim Matz 1st Net – KeyBank (52): Marlo Rivers, Mike Despain, Phil Garver and Tim Kalal 2nd Net – Stirling Auto Group (52.2): Devin Mackin, Geary Martin, Dennis Eddy and Virgina Palmer 3rd Net – Ashtown Brewery/Bob’s Sporting Goods (52.5): Jarrett Skreen, Erik Skreen, Matt Schlecht and Brett Hoggenson Closest to the Pin Longest Drive Hole #3 – Noelle Hamilton Women – Alice Dietz and Mike Titone Men – André Lindberg Hole #7 – Erik Skreen Hole #12 – Jan Dennis Hole #16 – Eric Cheatley

It takes a big iron to drive the crowd wild.

The tournament started with a parade of carts and finished with the Shamrock Tavern which ran off with low gross honors.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Once is not enough By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Management Trainer Murray & Nau, Inc.

consistency takes both time and patience. First and foremost, step back and do some REFLECTIVE thinking. Ask yourself (and your employees) to clarify your business goals, strategies and, quite frankly, your hopes and dreams for your business endeavor. Ask questions (‘who are our best customers? What is our competitive advantage? Who are our competitors? How do we plan to grow our business?’). And once you have developed some answers and identified some problems, needs, and opportunities, plan to meet with your local media (newspaper, radio, cable) sales staff. Share, on a confidential basis, your business strategies with your media contacts. Solicit their input and ideas. Look for ways to match their media benefits and strengths to your goals, needs, or problems. CHALLENGE them to offer a business solution, an idea, and a campaign that will be here not only today, but tomorrow, too! Be sure to share with them how you will SUPPORT the campaign (e.g. prominently displaying the merchandise, signage, sufficient inventory on hand) and what your expectations are (e.g. increased store traffic, selling the advertised merchandise, reaching new customers). Double check that your media contacts understand and benefit from the need to plan, plan, plan your advertising strategy to produce the desired results. Demonstrate to them that sporadic and infrequent advertising does not work, rather that consistent advertising, in good times and slow times, delivers the ongoing results and business growth your business and YOU desire! Selling an idea, a campaign, rather than a single ad or two has NUMEROUS BENEFITS for your business and you. Let’s explore some selected benefits. The potential benefits to YOU include time savings (less time conceiving, developing and handling various ad elements), dollar savings through better ad costs control, planned sales events and elimination of last-minute, poorly -executed promotions, and improved utilization (both in

Did you buy an ad, a commercial, or a single (direct mail) mailing for your retail business or service today? If you did, you may be wasting some of your own time, your business' time and profit, and your media salesperson's time. More importantly, you may be impacting positive results for your advertising expenditure. In essence, your ‘one at a time’, single ad strategy may be impacting the success of your advertising in your community and the GROWTH of your business. A strategy of buying only a single ad just does not work in building your business, developing a strong (and loyal) clientele, or helping you reach and achieve your marketing goals. It does not work for your business or YOU! Let’s explore a much better advertising strategy for you and your business...namely, an advertising campaign strategy. An advertising campaign selling strategy affords you and your business a number of benefits. Two major benefits are saving time and creating, if not enhancing, results. But first, let’s step back and clarify what we mean by an advertising campaign strategy. An advertising campaign strategy consists of five components and affords your business and YOU five key benefits. The elements of an advertising campaign include a series of advertisements, within a time frame, with an allocated or set aside budget, to meet an IDENTIFIED need, problem or opportunity with an anticipated goal or OUTCOME. If one of these elements is NOT present at the onset of your advertising schedule, in all likelihood, you will find yourself wasting valuable time, business resources and dollars on a start – stop – start again advertising program. As you may know, one of the major elements in any successful advertising campaign is CONSISTENCY, not necessarily repetition of the same message, but rather a consistent planned advertising program. It is consistent inasmuch as your business' name and overall message are before your potential target customers on a regular basis. Developing that

Please see Nau, page 11

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Nau, from page 10

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Bring your business to Fibre Federal for Business Plus Checking, Business Online Banking, remote deposit, low-cost loans, and incredible member service.

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planning and payment) of available co-op funds. Most importantly, better response will be achieved in terms of sales, and improved name recognition (...top of mind awareness!) on individual ads and related marketing efforts. The potential benefits to your media partners, much like your own, include time savings through less ad handling, reduced ad ERRORS (and impacts to your business), dollar savings through improved time management which translates into enhanced planning and selling time and stronger media relationships. This will lead to better campaigns, more ad SUCCESS, and the resulting available ad dollars being reinvested since campaigns are conceived, refined (e.g. flexibility does exist in campaign selling), planned and executed in a more timely, efficient manner that generates results. The potential benefits to everyone include control of planning and making choices, having time to identify those opportunities and activities in your market that will be responsible for generating results and leading you to your goals. You will be spending more creative and FUN time and less production and crisis reactionary time – acting, NOT reacting. There will be the opportunity to spend more time getting to know and understand your advertising and marketing (media) resources to help you succeed, and enhance BOTH your personal and professional growth. To GROW your business and be successful in your community, partner with your local media, planning and executing an advertising campaign (three months plus) that will benefit you both. © Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a retail consultant and sales and management trainer. He has been a speaker for and conducted advertising and marketing workshops with retailers, chambers of commerce, community marketing groups, and retail organizations throughout North America. Based in Seattle, Nau 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. Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via e-mail: murnau@nwlink.com. or at 425-603-0984.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Three Rivers Mall anchor stores filling up By Joelle Wilson Cowlitz Economic Development Council Staff With Regal Entertainment Group’s new cinema complex and the addition of Sportsman’s Warehouse, all four anchor spaces at Three Rivers Mall will soon be filled. In addition, Planet Fitness plans to build a gym in an area north of the food court. Linda DiLembo, who has been general manager of the mall since 2010, said the owners of the mall, Rouse Properties, hope to turn it into a shopping, dining and entertainment destination. They have been talking with many companies with that goal in mind, she said, including Red Robin, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Rue 21, Starbucks, Party City, Burger King, BAM (Booksa-Million), TJ Maxx and Kay Jewelers. We are grateful to the Economic Development Council for helping us tell our story to realtors across the country, she said. The new Regal Cinemas complex will feature 10 theaters horseshoed around two larger theaters. It will also have a party room and high end concessions. One of the large theaters will boast Regal’s own RPX technology which it describes as "a custom-built premium environment featuring elegant and luxurious seats with high-back headrests, a giant immersive screen illuminated by high-quality digital projectors and completed with a state-of-the-art sound system." Sportsman’s Warehouse carries top-quality, brand-name products for the serious outdoor enthusiast, especially those who enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, or backpacking.

Three Rivers Mall’s addition of Sportsman’s Warehouse and Regal Cinemas is the tip of the iceberg.

% 20 OFFIDE STOREW

Planet Fitness is known for its low prices, and touts itself as a “judgment free zone” where everyone can feel at ease. DiLembo said the addition of the theater is “a very big deal” because it will increase foot traffic inside the mall and makes the area more attractive to restaurants and food court vendors. She said the mall has also been working to host events that draw hundreds of people to the space and benefits the community. These include the Chamber of Commerce’s Jingle All the Way 5K and Festival of Giving, Boys Scouts’ Pinewood Derby, live performances by various organizations and Cowlitz County Museum’s Road Show. “I’m very happy with what we are seeing,” DiLembo said. “It’s very exciting.” Facilitating Growth Through Leadership and Action

We are a membership based not-for-profit organization. Join us today!

Take your relaxation seriously. Authorized Lazyboy Dealer

FREE LOCAL DELIVE RY

Resources • Access • Partnerships

1413 Commerce Ave. 360-575-9804 www.elamshf.com

1452 Hudson St. • US Bank Building Suite 208 • Longview, WA 360.423.9921 www.cowlitzedc.com

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Business After Hours

Take Me Out to the Ball Game Party deck turnout was strong for the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business After Hours at the Cowlitz Black Bears game June 24. Below, Katie Wangler and Mady Tucker show off their pie-eating contest faces with Black Bear mascot Corby; Theresa Beisse and family enjoy dinner and the view; Teedara Garn and family; Shawn and Leigh Green; and Nick Lemiere, Lance Welch and Christie McDaniel. The Black Bears beat the Kitsap Blue Jackets 5-2.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Lower Columbia College

LCC Foundation building healthy futures for the community By Erin Brown Executive Director – Lower Columbia College Foundation The Lower Columbia College Foundation was established in 1976 through generous gifts from Phillip and Jeanne Wertheimer. The vision of the Wertheimer family, along with the members of the initial Foundation Board of Directors, was to create avenues for excellence in education at Lower Columbia College (LCC). Led by this vision, the Foundation exists solely for charitable and educational purposes. By securing private funds to supplement the college’s traditional revenue sources, the Foundation works to support the college’s educational programs and services, and to enhance the college’s institutional strategic goals. Many of LCC’s alumni, retirees and friends came from humble beginnings, but made a better world for themselves, their families, and the community through hard work and persistence. As testimony to their affinity for LCC, many have also committed to making a difference in the lives of its students, and to ensure LCC continues to provide quality education for the citizens of the region for generations to come. Lower Columbia College is entering a new era of service to the community. With a focus on student success and completion, economic development and international relationships, the college’s spirit of innovation will enable it to meet the challenges of the constantly evolving environment of higher education. And indeed, there are challenges. Over the past six years, state support to LCC has been cut by nearly 28 percent, and in-state tuition has risen 41 percent. The need for community support has never been greater.

Creating Opportunities for Success

True to the mission of its founders, the LCC Foundation continues to provide generous support to the college.

Thanks to dedicated individuals and corporations within the community, the Foundation awarded an unprecedented $330,000 in scholarships to students and more than $400,000 in program support last year. In addition, as part of its Building Healthy Futures campaign, the Foundation provided $845,000 in matching funds to secure a Federal Economic Development Administration grant for a total of $1.7 million to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the newly constructed health and science building. As part of the campaign, the Foundation also is offering naming opportunities for the new health and science building, as well as the newly renovated gymnasium and fitness center. Since losing the ability to use state funding to support athletics, the Foundation provided nearly $170,000 in scholarships and program support for college athletes last year, and seeks permanent endowment funding to ensure Red Devil athletics remains the pride of the community and the region. At the heart of its work and mission, the LCC Foundation created the LCC Student Success Fund to assist students who are most at risk for abandoning their higher education goals due to financial hardship. Since launching the initiative in 2013, the LCC Foundation has distributed nearly $100,000 in emergency grants to help more than 300 students in need. These one-time grants have meant the difference between success and failure for many students who are either progressing through their studies or are now proud college graduates. Many individuals and local businesses have generously supported the Student Success Fund and have helped the initiative be recognized as a national model for student success and completion.

Please see LCC, page 15

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

LCC, from page 14

campus to maintain and support programs on campus.

Most recently, the LCC Foundation received a $10,000 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund Board to support LCC’s Student Success Fund. These funds will help students cover the cost of: • Tuition expenses not covered by scholarships, financial aid or grants • Textbook expenses • Testing fees • Emergency childcare expenses • Emergency transportation Student Success Funds not only help students in need, but also help the college maintain quality instruction because each dollar invested is twice spent. Students get the vital support they need for tuition and books, and the funds stay on

Community Support Transforms Lives

These are but a few examples of how the LCC Foundation is working to help support Lower Columbia College and its students. We owe so much of our students’ success, to our generous community and to our amazing college faculty and staff who tell students, “I know it’s hard, but you can do it." LCC is also the place where many students finally believe, “Yes, I can.” One only needs to attend a nursing pinning ceremony, a GED graduation ceremony, or college commencement to truly see the value of completing successfully, despite all the challenges faced. Our students will never forget the investments made on their behalf. We urge and invite our local businesses to get involved – there is no better way to transform a life than through education.

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Anne O’Connor onthemark associates

Bianca Lemmons Cowlitz County Title Company

Michael Julian Kelso Theater Pub

Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College

Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic

Chet Makinster Longview City Council

Jerri Henry, Past President Futcher-Henry CPA Group Joel Hanson, President KLOG/KUKN/The Wave

Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds

Michael Claxton Walstead Mertsching

Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Lance Welch PeaceHealth

Steve Taylor Kelso City Manager

Diane Craft, Vice President Koelsch Senior Communities Linda DiLembo Three Rivers Mall Julie Rinard Community Home Health & Hospice Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Council of Governments

Leveraging quality of place to improve the economy By Melissa Taylor Acting Executive Director – Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments Have you heard about the Longview Mayor’s Award for Best Curb Appeal Improvement? This civic call to action for sprucing up our community in anticipation of visitors to the Babe Ruth World Series in August is a great example of a “quality of place” initiative. This concept emerged as a serious economic development strategy about a decade ago, when quality of place was recognized as a critical component of economic health and competitive advantage. It is based on leveraging a community’s existing

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

Lindsey McTimmonds Marketing/Recording recording@cascade-title.com

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

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

assets to promote economic growth, and is viewed through four lenses – the natural environment, the built or manmade environment, the cultural and recreational environment, and community traditions or civic life. Thriving urban areas have focused on the connection between walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, a variety of housing and transportation options, preservation of open space and the availability of top-notch recreational amenities. Studies of growing rural communities have found that areas with exceptional scenic and environmental qualities which are supported by a robust recreational infrastructure have fared better than others. Our community has the best of both worlds to build upon. Quality of place doesn’t replace traditional economic factors, such as having an educated and ready workforce, reasonable transportation costs, a favorable tax structure, or an adequate telecommunications infrastructure. But when two communities are fairly similar in these aspects, quality of place becomes a differentiator. Quality of place helps to retain young people, attract talented entrepreneurs, workers and retirees, and supports local tourism. Cowlitz County’s aging population is growing at a faster rate than many areas of the country. The lion’s share of our population growth over the past three decades has not come from natural population growth, but from households relocating to our area. In-migration has slowed considerably across the state in recent years. A sluggish economy combined with an aging population results in lower population growth, making sustained economic growth an even greater challenge. Businesses already talk of the difficulty of finding qualified workers, and as baby boomers retire, these problems will grow. Young people who leave home to seek educational, professional, and social opportunity often do not return. “Quality of place” is the result of thousands of individual decisions made over decades – where new development is located, the design of residential and commercial developments, the building of streets, the extent to which architectural history is maintained, support for arts and culture, and convenient access to water and green spaces. Quality of place is created by the intersection of public, non-profit and private sector decisions. A coordinated, regional approach aligning efforts across these three sectors can accomplish much more than any one of them acting alone.

HELP SAVE LOCAL LIVES: We all need a vacation! Getting away from it all is a popular notion this time of year. Yet we need to maintain enough blood for patients 365 days! The Oregon and Southwest Washington Blood Program provides all of the blood needed in Cowlitz County. We have been the sole provider of blood to St. John Medical Center since 1999. When donating with us you are helping to maintain an operational blood supply for your community. Before you take time off this summer, will you pledge to GIVE TWICE? That translates into just two hours of your time over 16 weeks! PLEDGE TO GIVE TWICE THIS SUMMER - Give Twice this summer. It's simple: ď&#x201A;ˇ

Give blood once between June 15 and August 9, Give blood again (56 days later) between August 10 and October 4

ď&#x201A;ˇ

Receive a certificate for our Give Twice Cookbook as our thank you for honoring your pledge. It's filled with recipes contributed by everyday heroes like you.

There are many opportunities to give in your neighborhood! You can sign up for any of our blood drives by calling: 1-800-398-7888 or stop by as a walk-in donor. You can also sign yourself up online and check all community drives at: www.psbc.org/drives

Together we achieve great things!

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Business Toolbox

7 strategies to retain your best customers 1

By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

Communicate with your existing customers on a regular basis – this could be a great way to use your social media tools

Do you direct all of your marketing and advertising energies and resources toward attracting new customers? If so, you are not alone. Most businesses are focused almost exclusively on chasing and capturing as many new customers as they can – often at the expense of ignoring their existing customers. Just for curiosity, you may want to take a closer look at the source of your sales and profits – which customers generate the most profits for your business. It is very common that 80 percent or more of your sales and profits come from repeat business from existing customers. If you find that 80 percent of your business is coming from 20 percent of your customers, you may want to consider some strategies for staying in touch with those customers. Retaining customers and serving them over their lifetime can mean $1,000s for your business. Here is an excerpt from Forbes.com to consider: “Never Underestimate the Value of Retention For those who feel that customer retention plays a relatively minor role in helping a company grow a healthy bottom line, here are a few statistics you might be interested in. According to Bain and Co., a 5% increase in customer retention can increase a company’s profitability by 75%. And if those numbers don’t impress you, Gartner Group statistics tell us that 80% of your company’s future revenue will come from just 20% of your existing customers. Still not sold on customer retention? One final statistic provided by Lee Resource Inc. should give you plenty to think about: Attracting new customers will cost your company 5 times more than keeping an existing customer.” Here are some practical ways to develop action around your customer retention strategies:

Show your appreciation for their business and nurture customer loyalty – using a customer loyalty/referral program appropriate for your business

Look for ways to build trust between your business and your customers – establish ways to reward loyalty with non-advertised sales/services/bundles/discounts

Make it difficult for your customers to switch to the competition – price matching; subscription sales discounts, provide impeccable customer service

5 6 7

Expand product lines based on customer input/feedback Anticipate the changing needs of your customers – pay attention to industry trends and supplier insights

Actively engage in cross selling and up selling to increase the sales and profits per transaction/per customer

If you have lost customers you may want to work to learn why they abandoned you (competitor/substitute offering/ stopped buying etc.) and react accordingly to win them back or otherwise cultivate the relationship. In order to implement a strategy you will need to develop a database to know who your customers are and what they mean to your business – in other words, what they contribute to your sales and profits. Who really is your best customer? How do you define what a ‘good’ customer is? Do you know which customers are your most profitable? –Hint…the customer who comes in everyday to buy an item or two and catch up on gossip may actually be costing your business money based

Please see Petrick, page 19

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Petrick, from page 18 on the low level of profit their purchases contribute and high level of service they require. You have already invested a lot of money in the customers you have and those you’ve lost. So, making a special effort to retain or win back your current/past customers makes cost effective sense for your business. This article is based, in part, on the book E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber and was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA, CGBP, SPHR, PMP and Certified Business Adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Longview. Jerry provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

EmploymEnt law

WALSTEAD MERTSCHING

Attorney Nicole M. Tideman

AT TO R N E Y S AT L AW

Attorneys in our employment and labor law department represent employers and employees throughout southwest Washington. We handle matters regulated by the Washington State Human Rights Commission, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Washington State Department of Labor and industries, and the United States Department of Labor. Our attorneys can provide representation in all state and federal courts in Washington, including the Washington State Supreme Court. • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Disability Accommodation Issues • Discrimination Claims • Employee Training • Employment Contracts and Manuals • Family and Medical Leave • Hiring, Discipline, and Termination • Investigation of Complaints

• Labor Relations • Litigation • Non-competition Agreements • Severance Agreements • Sexual Harassment Claims • Unemployment Compensation • Wage and Hour Disputes • Wrongful Termination

A Full Service Civil Law Firm for 89 Years CIVIC CENTER BUILDING, 3RD FLOOR 1700 HUDSON ST., LONGVIEW, WA

(360) 423-5220 Longview www.walstead.com

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council

Skills training grant money available to manufacturers By Julia Maglione Communications Manager – Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council

tember 2015. Training your existing employees benefits your company through: • Increased safety, leadership and succession planning • Improved company competitiveness • Improved employee engagement, retention and morale To read an article about how one company benefitted from the grant, go to http://www.columbian.com/ news/2014/jun/24/linear-strives-to-go-lean/ Reach Lee Ann Lawrence at llawrence@swwdc.org or 360-567-3170.

To help local manufacturers improve their competitiveness and productivity, the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) obtained Department of Labor approval to increase the types of occupations for which it could subsidize training. Among the occupations that now qualify are: • Machinists • Welders • Millwrights/maintenance technicians • Machine setters, operators and tenders • Tool and die makers • CNC machine tool operators and programmers You can see the complete list of covered occupations in advanced manufacturing and information technology at http:// swwdc.org/business-resources/training.html. “Companies select the training their employees need and the organization that provides the training,” said Lee Ann Lawrence, SWWDC employer services manager. “Some trainings that have been popular are project management, supervisor skills, Lean, Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word, programming and continuous process improvement.” The $1.4 million U.S. Department of Labor grant, referred to locally as ProSTEP or the Metro-Insourcing Training Initiative (MISTI), runs through early 2016. The purpose of the grant is to train U.S. workers so they have the skills to fill available jobs and reduce the number of foreign workers brought in under H-1B visas to do those jobs. Since October 2012, more than 300 workers have been trained in 48 subjects at 14 companies in southwest Washington. The SWWDC’s goal is to train 1,100 workers by Sep-

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Seen and Heard Around Town

Radio Stars Mark Plotkin with Canyonview Cyclery brought props during his recent Chamber Connections appearance on KEDO radio with Nick Lemiere and Carey Mackey. To schedule your appearance on the show, call the Chamber at 360-423-8400. Chamber Connections airs Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m.

Quarterly Luncheon KLTV videotaped portions of the June 27 State of Cowlitz County Quarterly Luncheon at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center. You can watch them by pushing the arrow in the center of the photo.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Kelso

Longview

One finally done... or are we?

A successful city in the making

By Mayor David Futcher

By City Councilman Ken Botero

I know, I know. I’ve written about West Main too many times. But since it’s at the forefront of most comments we get right now, I thought it worth addressing once more.

What makes a successful city? A city is a place where people live, grow, receive education, work, enjoy leisure, and carry on their daily life. Satisfying the basic human needs is certainly not the answer to the question. The success of a city is tied inextricably to high standards of living and good quality of life.

The new intersection signals are up and should be working by the time you read this. All that’s left for this phase is teaching ourselves how to navigate the county’s busiest intersection in a new way.

In the City of Longview, we are proud of the partnerships that have been formed between the citizens of the community and the many different organizations such as the Longview Downtown Partnership, the Longview Outdoor Gallery, Project Longview, and city staff. We have seen positive participation in all aspects of the community enhancement programs, and appreciate the community involvement in our current downtown streetscape project and the Tennant Way entry into Longview, with special thanks to J.H. Kelly for the outstanding welcome sign. With these new projects we, as a community, are building not only a quality of place, but also a quality of life for our citizens and visitors.

When you’re coming off of Ocean Beach Highway toward West Kelso, remember that only one lane turns left now. But that can be okay now that the center lane provides a new straight shot across the intersection to Catlin Street. Much of the traffic that was in the second turn lane before the change was really trying to get to West Main anyway, and can now just run straight across the intersection to do so. And if you’re one that was turning left to reach Lexington via Fisher’s Lane, you’re probably now better to go straight onto Catlin and then left onto Westside Highway, as there will be two lanes to make that turn easier.

High standard of living is a key component of a successful city. Standard of living generally refers to the level of economic success, availability of necessities, infrastructure, schools and education, health and sanitation, stability and sustainability of our city. Another key component of a successful city is its citizens and their involvement in moving forward.

Change is always tough, and we’ve definitely heard from critics of this project. But over the years that I’ve been on the council, I don’t recall many, if any, councilmembers who voted against the project once they were presented with all of the information behind it. We know that this whole area can work better than it will right now. If we can get additional lanes on Catlin Street, it will handle traffic better and eliminate the merge that is required heading west as you go through the new transition. The city will be applying for grants to fund the widening near the Ocean Beach intersection, with an eye toward funding that completion in the next couple years.

Each of us, as citizens of Longview, has an obligation to step up to the plate and participate in the future development of this quality of place. It seems at times that too many of our citizens are too busy to get involved with their

Please see Longview, page 23

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July2014

Longview, page 22

The City of Longview has much to offer its citizens and visi-

desires for that quality of place, and depend on someone else to do the decision making. I am sure that each of us takes pride in our own private homes, and keep them in the best of shape. I am sure that we, as citizens, have rules for those visiting our homes that should be obeyed, why not the same attitude for our city? Please step up to the plate and participate in making our community that quality of place we all keep dreaming about. Just a few day’s ago I listened to a gentleman explain, “How many people does your community have in leadership positions? Are they outnumbered by the citizens?”

tors. Look at the beautiful atmosphere offered in Longview with the Columbia Theatre, Lake Sacajawea, Stageworks, Historic Downtown and the beautiful history of our community, Lower Columbia College, our many retail and manufacturing businesses, and, the beautiful renovations coming to our entry way and Commerce Avenue. YES, we are a “SUCCESSFUL CITY IN THE MAKING.” Together YOU and I will keep the dream alive.

Local Bank Means Local Business Canyonview CyClery

I had a plan to fulfill a childhood dream and start up my own business. Just when every bank was saying NO, Twin City Bank said yes. They help me to make that dream a reality. I would not be open today if it had not been for the willingness of Twin City Bank and its priority of helping local businesses succeed. Thank you Twin City Bank. Mark Plotkin Canyonview Cyclery

729 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 1-800-319-2265 | 360-414-4101 twincitybank.com Mark Plotkin, Owner Canyonview Cyclery

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)

Business leaders share their secrets for spurring creativity By Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library One of the cornerstones of a successful business is creativity. It doesn’t matter if you are a company of one or 1,000, creativity is not only what leads to the startup of a new business, but it’s also what keeps it moving forward, growing and succeeding. While you need many other things to start, continue, and grow your business including money, time and desire, without creativity your business won’t even get off the ground let alone succeed in this ever more difficult marketplace. Here are a few titles that may help you launch your own, and your businesses, creativity. There are many myths about creativity that stem back to the Greek myths and creativity’s connection to the Muses. People often still see creativity as something somehow divinely inspired, capricious, and bestowed upon only a very few select people. Author David Burkus tries to take readers beyond this image in his book The Myths of Creativity: The Truth about How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas. The founder of a popular leadership blog, LDRLB, Burkus shows readers how to realistically bring creativity into any enterprise and how to discover new ideas, programs, processes, or products. Along the way, he debunks many myths including the Eureka moment, the genius of the lone creator, brainstorming, and incentivizing the creative process. All in all, a good practical approach to bring creativity into your business and yourself. In Quick and Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on how to Create a Culture of Innovation, author Adam Bryant draws upon interviews from more than 200 leading CEOs on how best to create an innovative and creative culture in any business. Bryant discovers what it is that drives corporate cultures and how that knowledge can be utilized to foster employees to

be creative and innovative within the organization’s greater context. While the author is really talking about those forces that influence a large corporation, any organization can glean and utilize the information that is provided here to create a culture of innovation. You may know her as one of the stars of ABC’s Shark Tank or QVC’s Clever and Unique Creations, but in Invent It, Sell It, Bank It: Make Your Million Dollar Idea into a Reality, Lori Greiner takes readers on a course of taking that one creative idea and turning it into a successful business. She covers a wide variety of areas including market research, product design, funding, manufacturing, patenting, and selling your idea/product with insights from her own experiences both in her early, not always successful, career and with her later successful ventures on television. This is one book to take you from a great idea to a successful career as an entrepreneur. Fostering a culture of creativity and problem solving is the goal of Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration written by Pixar co-founder Edwin Catmull (with Amy Wallace). Blending his own unique experience with excellent storytelling skills, Catmull describes taking a dream of creating the first completely computer-generated animated film and ultimately turning that dream into the wildly successful and creative juggernaut that is Pixar. You don’t need to be a fan of Pixar’s creative output (but really who isn’t) to learn from an expert on building and harnessing a creative organization and turning that organizational culture into a successful business venture. Creativity is crucial to any business whether in the dream phase, just starting out or long established and wanting to continue to grow and prosper. These books, and many others, can help you be more creative, encourage creativity in your employees, and help you start or grow your own successful business venture. Come visit your local library and see what you can discover today.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Welcome New Members

Chamber membership has its privileges Celebrate new Chamber members with us

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

• Annual Meeting and Banquet • Networking Events • Committee Participation • Business Contacts • 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 • Ribbon Cutting • Web Site Links • Member to Member Discounts • Membership Directory • Tax Deduction

* A First Place – Cathy Lundahl * Uncaged Cycles – Lea Bualsky * LSNetworks – Steven Cawley

• Newsletter • Business Card Display • Use of Chamber Logo Representation through action committees, Candidate Forums and up-todate Action Alerts. • Legislative Representation • Issues Tracking and Information • Task Forces • Candidate Forums • Legislative Update Breakfast • Demographics Publication

Packages

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.

Join today! Call 360-423-8400

Looking for staff? Express can help! Express can help you find, screen, test, hire, train & motivate your employees. 360.414.1200 • www.expresslongview.com Jan 2014 Chamber Ad 4 x 2.5

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

PeaceHealth

The benefits of preventive care By Jennifer Richards PeaceHealth Concierge

Healthcare today can be confusing, especially when trying to navigate your benefits. With rising costs, patients are taking advantage of their free preventive services. Getting a preventive exam is one of the most important things you can do to manage your health.

ance providers have websites that are also very helpful and fairly easy to navigate that outline preventive care. Finally the day of your appointment has arrived. Remember you are there for preventive care, addressing only how to keep you well. This is a good time to schedule a separate appointment if any new medical concerns have arose since first scheduling your appointment.

Your preventive appointment, known by most as a physical, has recently evolved into something much different than it used to be. At one time getting your yearly physical meant bringing a list of your healthcare concerns and having everything addressed at once. Today a physical is no longer about addressing every need, it is instead about addressing how to keep you well, and assist you in managing your health. Some common screenings that are included in your preventive visit are checking for hypertension, hyperglycemia, cholesterol screening, colon cancer screening, depression, HIV and other types of sexually transmitted disease, colorectal cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, osteoporosis screening, and a mammogram.

Following these guidelines for your preventive care appointment should help to ensure you are on the right path to managing your health and staying well!

Since most insurance plans include one free preventive exam a year, regardless if there is a deductible, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to know the difference between preventive versus diagnostic care. Preventive care focuses on evaluating your current health status when you are symptom free; allowing you to obtain early diagnosis and treatment, to help avoid more serious health problems. Diagnostic care is medical treatment for specific health issues or conditions, ongoing care, laboratory tests or other health screenings necessary to manage or treat an already-identified medical issue or health condition. How can you be sure you are only having a preventive exam? The first step is scheduling the correct appointment with your providerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Be sure and request an annual physical or wellness exam and schedule your appointment well in advance. This is also a good time to schedule your mammogram if you are due. If you are having other issues such as allergy problems, back pain, or even headaches make sure to schedule those for a different appointment. Next, it is important to become familiar with your insurance benefits if you are not already. Your insurance provider will have specific wellness guidelines for your age and gender. Most insur-

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

Longview Downtown Partnership

What’s Happening: Downtown Longview this week and a bit beyond… Forward or PRINT this page and post it in your business so others can see what’s happening when they GO DOWNTOWN! Longview. Longview Downtown Partnership New officers for 2014-15 President – Alice Dietz Vice President – Wendy Kosloski 2nd Vice President – Jarrett Skreen Treasurer – Marcel Goulet Secretary – Dawn Gregg

The Art Beat of Downtown . . . Summer Theatre Camp Stageworks Northwest Monday through Friday through July 26. Grades 6 to 8, 1 to 5 p.m. Grades 9 to 12, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $250 per child – includes camp T-shirt. For applications go to www.stageworksnorthwest.org, or call 360-636-4488. A few partial scholarships may be available. Actors will study audition techniques, scene study, and monologues and devise work and more. Lord & McCord Art Works Grand re-opening, July 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Door prizes, 10 percent discount throughout the gallery. Refreshments served. Metal inflexions by Jan Dalen, fused glass by Ken Knodell, ceramics by Michael Metz, wood turning by Gary Bevers. Featured in July, "The Daily News" series of watercolor and acrylic paintings by Linda McCord. Broderick Gallery Enjoy the world-class art at Broderick Gallery. The Broderick Gallery also does custom framing. Broderick Gallery is located at 1416 Commerce Ave., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cruise on down to the . . . Bow Tie Bash Car Show Hosted by Columbia River Corvettes July 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to all American made and/or American muscle powered cars. Commerce Avenue, near the Korten’s building). Best of Show and Sponsor awards, dash plaques, music.

Also stop by the Art Renaissance Team (ART) table and see the proposed Chihuly art for downtown and our car cleaning demo using ENJO all natural products; also great for home and outdoor cleaning. (Special thanks to Avery’s Air-Cooled Auto Parts for providing parts for the demo). Proceeds support world class ART for downtown Longview. Our table will be located near the Korten’s building.

Support . . . Downtown Streetscape Improvements The City of Longview received final authorization from the Washington State Department of Transportation to proceed with construction of the Downtown Streetscape project. The City began advertising for bids the week of June 9, and will publically open bids on July 2. Pending unforeseen delays, construction is expected to start in late July starting at the Broadway intersection. For more information, go to www.mylongview.com and click on “Downtown Longview” under Popular Requests. Like LDP If you haven’t already, please click the link below and ‘like’ our Facebook page. You can also check out our latest post and ‘share’ it on your page. This will boost our page and continue to improve our reach into the community. https://www.facebook.com/ LongviewDowntowners Find it with the Downtown Shopping Guide Check out the revamp of the Longview Downtown Partnership website: http://longview-downtown.blogspot.com/. Huge thanks to Dawn Gregg for her energy and effort on the website and the handy new Downtown Shopping Guide. Dawn is proprietor of The Soap Factory, 1227 Commerce Ave., Longview, 360-5782400, toll free 1-888-868-2404. Store Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. E-weekly submission: remember to share your Downtown details by noon Tuesdays. Send to rporter@peacehealth.org Please share this information. Together we are a powerful force for building awareness for the great things happening downtown in Longview.

Go Downtown!

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

In the News

Cowlitz Public Works Director resigns

The Cowlitz County Department of Public Works Director, Kent Cash, has tendered his resignation, having accepted a position with the Port of Vancouver as the Chief Operating Officer. “I am very fortunate to have worked for the past 21 years with staff that is committed to providing exceptional public service on a daily basis,” Cash said. “Together, we have accomplished many important projects and have successfully maintained and operated the public infrastructure in a manner recognized throughout the state. I have always appreciated the support of the Board of County Commissioners, which has helped Public Works to evolve into an organization that the community can rely on.” “Kent has been a valuable member of our management team and has provided great leadership for the Department of Public Works,” said Mike Karnofski, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “His leadership and dedication to quality service will be missed.We wish him the best of luck.” The Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners has appointed George Raiter as interim director, effective July 8, until a permanent replacement is hired. Raiter also served as the interim director of the Building and Planning Department in 2013. The hiring process to replace Cash is under way.

Longview’s Go Fourth celebration at Lake Sacajawea is a safe way to watch fireworks.

Fire Safety for the Summer Season

The Fourth of July holiday and summer season is a great time to enjoy the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and surrounding areas. As the public prepares for the upcoming holiday Gifford Pinchot National Forest staff send a reminder about the prohibited use or possession of fireworks on National Forest Lands.   "We would like to remind everyone that fireworks are prohibited on all federal lands and we ask all visitors to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to be extra careful with anything that could start a fire,” said Deb Roy, Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire staff officer. Fireworks at this time of year are a big concern for federal land management officials. “A seemingly harmless sparkler, as well as the bigger combustible devices like rockets and roman candles can start a fire, and we want all visitors to enjoy being out on their public lands without the threat of wildfires,” Roy said. Campfire safety is crucial every summer. Never leave a campfire unattended and always make sure it is completely out before leaving. Leaving campfires unattended may result in a fine or having to reimburse costs associated with fire suppression. When a fire happens on National Forest lands the Forest Service commits resources to respond; costing taxpayers money. While campfires in designated areas are currently allowed on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, some state and local departments are instituting restrictions. Please check with Forest, State or local agencies for current fire restrictions.  The public is encouraged to go out and enjoy their National Forest in a safe and responsible manner. Find more campfire safety information at http://www.smokeybear.com/

Meet Interim Superintendent Greg Kirsch

The Longview School Board of Directors has filled the interim superintendent position with Dr. Gregory Kirsch, retired Chehalis School District superintendent (1995-2010). Prior to serving in Chehalis, Kirsch was deputy superintendent in Yelm. He also served as the state director of special education with the State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Olympia. Kirsch has remained active in education since his retirement by supervising student teachers for universities and being involved in federal and state education legislation. "For the coming school year, no new undertakings are planned; this will be a year of stability as the Board of Directors conducts its search for a superintendent," he said. "In the interim, I will listen, support and help sustain a healthy school district." Kirsch will be getting acquainted with staff members and the community this summer, and maintains an open door policy. He can be reached at supt@longview.12.wa.us or at 360-5757016.

Please see News, page 29

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2014

In the News Longview, page 28

nized and fighting back.

Longview’s pavement work begins July 7

Please contact Longview Police Cpl. Danielle Jenkins by July 11 if your Block Watch group is having a National Night Out party and would like a visit by the Longview Police Department and other City of Longview officials.

The Longview Street Division will begin repairing and/or resurfacing various asphalt street sections citywide from July 7 through the end of August. Recently valued at $250 million dollars, the street network is the City’s most valuable and visible physical asset. Street maintenance is prioritized by condition, functional class (volume and type of traffic), and citizen requests. The City resurfaces asphalt streets via “chip seal,” a common treatment that keeps them in good condition. It is significantly cheaper than repaving, it extends the life of the pavement, and it reduces maintenance costs in the long run. To request a street or pothole repair, visit mylongview. com and click on the blue “ASK Longview” button. Choose “Streets” from the topic menu, or take photos of potholes with your mobile device by using the City’s free mobile app called “ASK Longview.” Your mobile app request will be sent with GPS coordinates that will help our Street crews easily locate problem areas. To learn more about the City’s pavement preservation program, please visit www.mylongview.com/publicworks/StreetMaintMain, or contact Public Works at 360-442-5209.

Hunger doesn’t take a vacation

Join with Longview Waste Control in helping fill the shelves of area food banks. During the week of July 14-18, put out a bag of food with your waste and recycle bins, and Waste Control staff will pick up and deliver the food to CAP’s Help Warehouse Preferred items are dry and canned goods, nonperishable food, infant formula, as well as toiletries such as toothpaste, toilet paper and diapers. Help Warehouse cannot accept home-canned goods, fresh produce, fresh meat, or bulk foods in plastic bags.

Longview National Night Out August 5

This year’s Longview National Night Out is August 5. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and; send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are orga-

Due to budget constraints and staffing levels, LPD cannot guarantee officers will be able to visit every National Night Out party, but they will make an effort. To register your party with Longview Police Department, please contact Cpl. Danielle Jenkins at 360-442-5800 or danielle.jenkins@ci.longview.wa.us.

Make Longview Beautiful!

Cities across America are always competing for tourist dollars, and Longview is no exception. This starts by encouraging and promoting civic involvement and pride in our community. Civic pride is something all of us should practice every day. The city has an exciting opportunity to show off its civic pride when Longview will once again host the Babe Ruth World Series in August. This event will bring in many visitors to the community. Now is the time to work with local businesses to spruce up the areas that front our city streets. A company’s curb appeal goes a long way toward winning customers. Curb appeal sends a message to passers-by about quality of work and projects an image to potential customers and local residents making them inclined to visit and support that business. During the month of July, the City will be promoting “Make Longview Beautiful,” whereby individuals will be encouraged to nominate a business to receive a Mayor’s Award for Best Curb Appeal Improvement. A new Facebook page has been created for this event, “Make Longview Beautiful,” where nominations can be posted along with before and after photos. Those visiting the site will be asked to vote (“Like”) on the business they feel is the most improved. The city will also be running newspaper and radio ads during this two-month period. The winner will be selected by a Civic Pride Committee, comprised of various community stakeholders.

Business After Hours for July

The Civic

Center Professional All your friends will be there… It’s the place to be… The businesses inside the Civic Center Professional building and Key Bank are inviting you to the Chamber After hours a BBQ and Business celebration. We will have food, fun, prizes, spirits, and music to dance to. Come meet the fine people of our business sponsors: KeyBank Stewart Title Brown and Brown Ameriprise Walstead Mertsching Republic Mortgage NWMLS Lower Columbia Sleep Medicine Sarah J. Getman Pacific Northwest Realty Group

Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Civic Center Parking Lot Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $15 advance/$20 at door

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