After he takes care of his to-do list at home, CEO Bill Marcum anticipates more time in retirement to work on his golf game, although it's pretty good already. Here's the trophy he carried home from the Lonnie Knowles Memorial Open in September. The tournament was a fundraiser for the Lower Columbia Professionals scholarship fund.
Bill Marcum CEO
Another year has gone by…wow! Just seems to go by so fast anymore. I told myself last December I would have about one more year and then I would retire. Well, December 3, I turn 65. Doesn’t seem possible I am that old and I have worked for over 40 years. In February 2022, I told the Chamber Board I would be retiring at the end of February 2023. Dang! The year went by fast. Three more months, which I am sure will zoom past too.
People ask me if I am excited about retiring. My answer so far is no. I have too much to do before that date and I’m feeling a bit anxious about getting it all done. No, I have not counted the days, marked a calendar or planned out anything to do with retirement. I have budgets to get done, new board members to get up to speed, a 2023 event calendar to complete and facilities to reserve for those events, and oh yes, this little event with 2,500 to 3,000 visitors called sQuatch Fest January 27 and 28.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning to add two more things to my to-do list for today. The older I get the less I can trust my memory to make sure I get all the things done that I need to, or make sure I don’t forget to call back one of you who called me yesterday. It’s very frustrating to not trust yourself like you have in the past.
So, in retirement it will be nice to not have to remember the 40 things I need to do the next day. It will also be nice to sleep a full night; not have to answer 100-plus emails each day; coordinate several events a year; worry about board meeting quorums and make sure I’m ready to serve the many boards that this position requires. Of course, I am sure my wife will fill up those missing responsibilities with doing laundry, vacuuming the house, making dinner, taking care of the dogs, painting the house, fixing and adding lattice to the deck and much, much, more. I don’t think my only concern each day will be when is my tee time, but as most of you know, that will be my main thought as I rush to get all my honey dos completed in time to hit the course.
This season, we are especially grateful for our volunteers. They make it possible for us to do what we do for Chamber members year-round. You see our volunteers in action around the community and they are working behind the scenes as well. How may spots do you think are filled by volunteers each year? Let’s take a look at some of their roles and the work they do.
Chamber Ambassadors are a great example of volunteers at the forefront. They provide a strong communication link with our members, board of directors and staff. You will see them in their familiar red coats promoting member businesses and making connections. They have a lot of fun, too. Corby from Cowlitz Black Bears joined the Ambassadors this year. Prographyx made him a size 6 XL Ambassador shirt to wear during official Ambassador activities! Ambassadors take time away from their own businesses to welcome new members, participate in Chamber member celebrations, deliver welcome boxes, make introductions, volunteer at Chamber events and serve as champions for new members. Ambassadors sometimes have three Chamber events in one week! They are most famous for their ribbon cuttings and we enjoy publishing photos of these congratulatory events.
Lower Columbia Professionals is a committee whose members create events to raise funds for scholarships. They run every part of their events, from planning to implementation to thanking those who contribute. Each year, these hard-working volunteers enjoy the highlight of what they do – scoring and awarding scholarship applications and then seeing the students receive their scholarships at our annual Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards banquet. This year, several people who attended Lower Columbia Professionals events had such a great time that their businesses joined the Chamber so they could be part of Lower Columbia Professionals.
sQuatch Fest attracts volunteers with a variety of skills and they are all interested in the allure of sasquatch. Those who work at registration see 2,500 people arrive. They offer a big welcome to Longview and make sure guests from across the United States and around the world get through the doors as fast as possible. Volunteers work in Brew Mountain, security, the Chamber’s official sQuatch Fest merchandise booth, Kids’ Cave and everywhere else they are needed from setup to take down. The two-day festival is a four-day event for volunteers.
Did you know that we have an Education Foundation? Education Foundation committee members are volunteer businesspeople and people in education. They are focused on fostering relationships between businesses, schools and educators with a goal to enrich education here in Kelso and Longview. They help produce events such as the Career Exploration Expo, job shadow week, and the Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards banquet. The connections they make have a significant impact on the next generation of workers in our community.
Our all-volunteer board of directors has completed the process of revisiting the direction of the Chamber and determining priorities for the CEO who will replace Bill Marcum when he retires at the end of February. This has been a very busy year for our board of directors, as they also support our events and our members through businessto-business interactions.
During 2022, we saw opportunities to gather in person gain momentum. Attendance increased at many of our in-person events and we were also able to bring back some events that had not taken place since 2019. Our volunteers were busy!
There were at least 900 volunteer spots with the Chamber in 2022. These spots were filled by about 200 people. It is our hope every volunteer knows we are deeply grateful for the hours they give and impact they make every day.
Costume Contest: Friday, 5:30 pm at the Monticello Hotel
Packet Pickup: Thursday, December 8, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm at the Monticello Hotel
Late Registration: Day of Race: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
With nearly 100,000 jobs and a payroll of $10.1 billion, the Advanced Manufacturing sector accounts for eight percent of the Portland-Southwest Washington region’s private sector employment and 11 percent of payroll.
Advanced Manufacturing in the greater Portland-Southwest Washington region is comprised of several high-paying industries. The jobs being added in the manufacturing industry are high wage, averaging nearly $32 per hour. They also pay better than their national counterparts, about 124 percent of the national average for the industry. The high demand and high wages for advanced manufacturing jobs makes it an attractive industry for young adults seeking quality employment.
During Manufacturing Month in October, Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) brought awareness to the quality careers the manufacturing industry can offer for young adults in the region. The events held by WSW aimed to make manufacturing a career of choice for the emerging workforce, in accordance with the Regional Manufacturing Workforce Plan, where attracting young adults is one of three key goals manufacturing leaders have set for their industry.
Manufacturing Day, which brought together teachers from Kelso, Longview, Woodland and Wahkiakum, gave educators the opportunity to learn about careers in the manufacturing field and the skills students should be equipped with to successfully join the workforce.
“There are high quality jobs in our region and part of our goal is to help promote those local companies. Bringing in youth and educators helps paint the picture of opportunities for quality employment with local businesses. This also helps start the conversation in the schools at earlier ages about what a quality job is and what job seekers should look for,” said Alyssa Joyner, senior project manager for manufacturing at Workforce Southwest Washington. “Engaging with young adults from different types of backgrounds and interests helps in diversifying local talent. Providing experiences for students who may have never thought they would or could thrive in the manufacturing industry.”
The teachers met at the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce to learn about the workforce development initiatives that WSW is doing across southwest Washington. The group then traveled to North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC), where WSW board member Corey Giles met with them for a facility tour.
NORPAC is an independent paper company based in Longview that has been in operation since 1979. It delivers a broad range of high-quality papers to customers across the United States and around the world. With approximately 450 employees, NORPAC produces lightweight recycled packaging and graphic papers on three sophisticated paper machines supported by recycled fiber
plants and thermo-mechanical pulping operations.
Giles started at NORPAC in 1996 as a process operator. Since then, he has worked his way up in the company to his current position as converting/ warehouse production manager. During the tour, Giles led teachers around the production line, warehouse and NORPAC grounds. They learned about the working conditions, shifts, benefits and the breadth of job positions at NORPAC so they can share the information with their students.
Steve Mahitka, who teaches welding and metal art for Kelso School District said of the NORPAC tour that his students “are interested as this fits with our welding program at Kelso. Some are looking to become millwrights and others see opportunity in this field down the road.”
After the tour, the educators met with Joyner to discuss how the information from the tour can be applied in their classrooms. Teachers shared how the subjects and skills they teach provide a foundation for students to launch into careers at local manufacturing companies like NORPAC.
WSW plans to continue the Manufacturing Day tours, expanding the depth of knowledge around available opportunities for young adults in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. WSW is also working with a RealWear headset to livestream the processes and duties of manufacturing workers into classrooms. The headset gives the worker the ability to show their processes and answer any questions students may have in real time. This project will further students’ knowledge of potential career opportunities.
Manufacturing businesses interested in connecting with Workforce Southwest Washington and learning about opportunities to connect with young adults can contact Joyner at ajoyner@workforcesw.org or 360-567-1076.
Individuals interested in jobs in the manufacturing industry should contact WorkSource at 360-577-2250 in Cowlitz and/or Wahkiakum.
Youth interested in exploring career and educational options can contact Next at 360-207-2628 or cw@nextsuccess.org in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.
Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) is the Local Workforce Development Board designated by federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act legislation to oversee the public workforce system in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Clark counties. WSW is a nonprofit organization and funds services that help individuals gain skills to obtain good-paying jobs or advance in their careers and help companies recruit, train and retain workers. Since 2003, WSW has invested more than $120 million in southwest Washington. Learn more at www.workforcesw.org
As the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) moves forward with an update of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, staff is looking at a variety of resource materials to provide insights into the local economy. This article includes information from two sources. First is a recent publication from the Kauffman Foundation on Trends in Entrepreneurship. The second is the Economic Development Administrations Stats America produced by the University of Indiana.
The Kauffman Foundation routinely tracks data on entrepreneurship nationwide and works to develop and promote the sector. According to this research four in 10 new entrepreneurs were women in 2021. This statistic shows a stable level since 1998. Estimates ranged from a high of 46 percent in 1998 to 39.9 percent in 2021. The low point was in 2007 with only 36.3 percent of new entrepreneurs being women.
Nationally, about one in 10 new entrepreneurs were black or African American and about 1 in 14 are Asian and nearly one quarter of new entrepreneurs were Hispanic or Latino. About half were of the new entrepreneurs were white in 2021 compared to 77.1 percent in 1996.
Age of new entrepreneurs is shifting toward more older entrepreneurs. The share of entrepreneurs aged 55 plus has grown from a low of 14 percent in 1996 to over 22 percent in 2021 but saw some loss from the high of 26 percent in 2017. How will these trends impact our region in the coming years? Will our aging population provide a much needed economic boost with new entrepreneurial ventures to provide additional retirement funds?
in the category compared to the U.S. estimate of 1.5 percent. Cowlitz County is estimated at .84 percent. Would a higher share of non-native born residents increase the number of local entrepreneurs? Would more new entrepreneurs enhance the economic vitality of the region?
The second source under review is the Economic Development Administration supported Stats America site that includes an innovation index for U.S. communities. Cowlitz County ranks 730th nationally with an innovation intelligence index of 122.7. According to the information available the index rating maintains a moderate rating in the index for innovation. The source also provides a ranking for human capital and knowledge creation. Here, the area ranks at 464th with an index of 139.2. This indicates a high level of business competitiveness.
In the area of business dynamics, the area ranked 729th with an index of 133.8 showing a moderate level of business competitiveness. This index is based on traded sector establishment births to all establishment ratio where we ranked 361st. It also looks at traded sector establishment births to deaths ration where it ranked 571st.
The final element of this tool that I will cover is the economic well-being index. The index level here is 123.9 with a rank of 2,010 which is significantly lower than the other indices. This is ranked on broadband infrastructure and adoption as well as per capita personal income growth. These are both recognized shortcoming in the region.
Source: CWCOG, based on Kauffman Foundation estimates
The Kauffman Foundation report also discussed the ongoing share of new entrepreneurs established by foreign born residents. In comparing populations born outside of the U.S., the state of Washington shows 1.8 percent of the population
We are asking the public to join us to discuss the CWCOG’s economic development planning efforts in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Public input is needed as we work to finalize the 2023-28 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Please join us for one of our upcoming public
input meetings listed below:
Cowlitz County
• 5:30-7 p.m., December 5 – Port of Kalama Commissioner, Room, 110 West Marine Drive, Kalama
• 5:30-7 p.m., December 6 – Castle Rock Senior Center, 222 2nd Avenue SW, Castle Rock
Virtual Meetings
• 5:30-7 p.m., December 7 – Zoom Meeting ID: 890 1852 1052 Passcode: 12072022
We are also seeking input for our third economic vitality survey to better understand residents’ priorities with respect to economic development, transportation, housing, and other topics. The survey
takes approximately ten minutes to complete, and responses help local agencies, and state and federal partners, better plan future projects and investments. Please use the following link if interested in participating: www.surveymonkey.com/r/EVS-22
The CWCOG serves a variety of planning functions for its member agencies. We serve as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Longview/Kelso/Rainier bistate metropolitan area, the Regional Transportation Planning Organization for a five-county region and we also serve as the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated Economic Development District for Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. The CWCOG has also recently been recognized as the Administrative Coordination Entity for the Spirit Lake – Toutle/Cowlitz River Collaborative working to address catastrophic flooding, sediment management, fish passage and other issues pertaining to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Ilook at the challenge of writing an article for the KelsoLongview Chamber newsletter with some fear but with appreciation for the opportunity. The fear is the one I always carry: I do not want to waste people’s time with fluff or uninteresting material. The honor comes from being included in an organization that represents constructive relationships, which it does very well.
I have prepared a tryptic for you.
Soon Bill will be retired, and I will miss his handling of the difficult task of leading the Chamber. He is so good that all along I felt compelled at article time to do my best to reflect positively on his work. That is good leadership. Bill, thank you and have a great future retirement.
Lately I have been stating with greater frequency that we have become a banana republic. The United States of America, founded in individual rights coupled with responsibility, has become a country ruled by elite. We don’t call them lords or knights or dukes, but we might as well. Everything that the founders of our nation espoused, a moral fiber of independence and cooperation, has been replaced with mandates from “El Supremo.”
“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.”
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
How does El Supremo work? He values loyalty and family above principle, and he knows he can buy the public with their own money. Each decision is to support his vision, despite his oath of office to abide by the Constitutions, state and federal.
How does El Supremo get away with this? There are multiple factors, but I will offer just three:
1. We have a legal system (distinct from a system of justice) that requires any citizen objecting to actions by El Supremo to file a legal suit.
a. Citizens do not have the deep pockets for his approach
b. El Supremo appoints the people to whom one must appeal, so defeat is almost certain
2. The people vote to return El Supremo to office nearly invariably. Alexis de Tocqueville explains this:
“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
Alexis de Tocqueville
3. My good friend (now deceased) Igor Ushakov (Igor A. Ushakov, Author of Probabilistic Reliability Models) exclaimed to me circa 1997 that “[You Americans are in real trouble because you do not know how to deal with bureaucracy.]” He is correct that the nature of America is to follow rules, but what if those rules are flawed?
"All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void."
Marbury vs. Madison, 5 US (2 Cranch) 137, 174, 176, (1803)
We are told today that we, the people, are not to judge constitutionality, which is strictly the domain of the employees of El Supremo. Because El Supremo is not moral, we have the problem that John Adams identified long ago:
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John AdamsDuring the campaign for this November election, I frequently ran into people who voted based on friendship not principle. I have seen first hand what that does to a society; in varying degrees, the rest of the nations of the world operate like that, which is why the net immigration is to the USA, not elsewhere.
To reclaim our country, we must do some deep soul searching. If we are to save America, businesses will have to succeed on their own merits not at the hands of government favors. Businesses will have to stand up courageously for their rights and independence from meddling.
That is a very hard road (so was the war for independence) to take; we have more than a century of decay in principles to overcome, but if our future means anything, it must be done.
Veterans Day is just behind us. That is a somber time to consider why we sacrifice fellow humans for the political purposes. The excellent touring replica of the Vietnam Wall was in Longview not long ago. As much as I did not want to go see it, I did. It was as difficult as ever to see the names and to consider the loss for all humanity. Keeping a dry eye was not possible. What did we gain? What price did we pay?
By the time the December newsletter gets published we will have celebrated Thanksgiving, which has in it all that is good and symbolic of America. We work together in voluntary association
For more Commissioners, see page 9
to create a nation that is free and just.
Soon we will celebrate Christmas. Christmas brings to us a sense of calm and a realization of spiritual values that make us more than just animals. We do not have to be religious to gain
the spirituality that comes from celebrating the life of the most important person who sacrificed everything so that we could learn to live in harmony with the world.
I wish all of you a peaceful and rewarding holidays.
The topic of business succession, transition, or just “what’s next?” is becoming one of the most common areas of interest post-pandemic. Family businesses that have weathered the storm have emerged on the other side wanting to plan for their exit and a transition to new ownership. This transition can take many forms; one that most people don’t know much about is the idea of selling your business to your employees or customers via formation of a cooperative (co-op) organization structure.
We have a unique opportunity coming up in our area for you to learn more about co-ops and if they might be right for you and your business.
The graphic to the right explains how they work.
The Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC) will be hosting its annual Co-op Academy in Lewis County in 2023. The academy takes participants through a 10-week crash course in creating a cooperative business learning about organizational documents (bylaws), the cooperative business model, and creating a business plan.
What is a cooperative? Cooperatives are businesses jointly owned by their members (this could be consumers, employees, farmers). They operate to meet the needs of the members through equal voice. Each member has one vote. Members can use cooperatives to meet unmet needs in their marketplace. For example, Sunkist and Ocean Spray were started by orchardists over 100 years ago to negotiate a fair price. Local businesses such as Ace Hardware and Best Western use the co-op model to compete with the larger corporations in their market. Over 40 percent of Americans are members of a cooperative or credit union.
A special aspect of NWCDC’s work focuses on business owners ready for their next chapter. It is estimated that only 20 percent of small businesses will continue to a new generation of ownership. NWCDC hopes to change this statistic and help rural communities maintain their sense of place by helping either the employees or the consumers buy the business and convert it to cooperative ownership. This allows the owner to safely exit the organization at their own pace and preserves the legacy of their life’s work in the community.
In the academy, people will learn about the legal structure of a cooperative business, how cooperatives govern, manage, and finance their operations, and learn the basics to creating a business plan and beginning the work of either starting a new co-op from scratch or helping an interested business owner convert their business to the cooperative model. More information on the academy is available at www.nwcdc.coop/services/coop-academy/
NWCDC is a 501c3 organization providing cooperative development services to the Pacific Northwest communities of Washington, Oregon,
Petrick
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and Idaho. The Co-op Academy is funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program. NWCDC is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
If you are considering selling or passing your business on to a new owner/next generation I encourage you to explore this and other options as you make these important decisions. Your business is more than just a place or institution – is a big part of you and your family’s legacy. Passing your creation on to your loyal and dedicated employees may be one of the most impactful actions you take in your business life.
This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA and certified business adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Petrick provides nocost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via email at jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org
Dr. Titiana Trott
306 Vine Street Kelso, WA 98626 360-577-3625 meadowlarkfamilydentistry7234@gmail.com
Scott Woodbyrne 990 W 1st Avenue Eugene, OR 97402 707-849-5881 scottw@hopvalleybrewing.com
Ray Merrill
1111 9th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632 360-562-5570 srcleaningservices@mail.com
Ryan Kampe
2010 North Pacific Avenue Kelso, WA 98626 360-721-6933 greenbeltgraphix@gmail.com
In last month’s article, I wrote about the beginning years of Lower Columbia College, then known as Lower Columbia Junior College (1934-39). This month, I write on the next period of our proud LCC history, the tenure of the third president to serve LCJC, Turfield D. Schindler. It was a truly interesting period, shaped by the impacts of World War II and the creation of a college campus.
Dr. Schindler took the helm at LCJC in the 1940-41 academic year. He had been at LCJC since its inception in 1934. Dr. Schindler taught science (biology and chemistry) in addition to handling his duties as president.
In the fall of 1940, LCJC boasted a faculty of 11 “regular instructors”, which included five part-time teachers. At that time, the Board of Regence, the school’s governing body, consisted of nine community members. An advising board of 20 citizens from Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, and Cathlamet cooperated with the Regents in college operations.
In the 1940-41 academic year, the U.S. government sponsored, for the first time, a flying program at LCJC with Randel Rathbun as the ground school instructor and Bert Thrasher as the flight instructor. Teas were also held each month, sponsored by the Junior College League, composed of “mothers and friends of all college students.” Sports included men’s baseball, basketball and tennis, and women’s archery. Regular student activities included badminton and touch football at the local YMCA. Without a campus of its own, LCJC graduation was held June 8, 1941, at the Community Church in Longview. Students could enjoy speech and debate, annual staff, the Lower Columbian newspaper, drama, music, and, for the first time, radio broadcasting.
In 1941-42, World War II greatly impacted LCJC, its enrollment and student life. Electrical blackouts, conservation of tires for war purposes and rationing of sugar and gas were the norm. Many students bicycled to school and saved money for war bonds.
Late in the war, LCJC undertook the pre-induction training of hundreds of local people for the military, in addition to offering its normal junior college courses. It was a testament to LCJC faculty, staff, administration, and students that LCJC survived both the Great Depression and low enrollments as a result of a world war. Meanwhile, planning continued on the potential for an
LCJC campus.
In September 1945, World War II ended, and things once again changed at LCJC. During the war, under direction of the federal government, dances had not been allowed, and so many regular collegiate social activities had disappeared. The LCJC Tolo finally returned on February 15, 1946, at the Longview Women’s Club Building. The Columbian Ball made a comeback at the Kelso Elks Club on April 5, 1946. LCJC’s Christmas Ball returned on December 26, 1946.
Also in 1946, LCJC baseball, which was put on hiatus for three years due to the war, returned to LCJC and a women’s basketball team was formed.
In the 1946-47 academic year, many veterans returned from the war. Some classes were now held at the Moose Building due to the need for additional space. Enrollments “exceeded 300 students” that fall. A new campus facilities plan was drafted for the purchased property. Also in this year, LCJC merged into the Longview School District. LCJC would now be governed by the Longview School Board No. 122, and its Board.
In 1947, the first annual college forensics meet was held in Aberdeen, Wash., with LCJC students participating. LCJC’s first football team formed within the Washington Junior College Conference. LCJC took third with a 5-3-0 record.
The 1948-49 academic year was a year of heavy snow, earthquakes and planning for the first new building on an actual LCJC campus. Construction of that first building, the Main Building, which still exists on the Lower Columbia College campus today, was completed for the 1950-51 academic year and classes were held there beginning in fall quarter, 1950. (The campus has since grown to include 26 buildings on 38 acres.)
A few years ago, Lower Columbia College held a reunion with the classes of 1950-53 – the first groups to attend classes on the current campus. Each alum expressed how far the college had come from those earlier days. Our community surely has the LCJC leaders from the past, including President T. D. Schindler, to thank for the incredible vision that allowed Lower Columbia College to exist and thrive through the decades.
LCC proud!
Thanks to YOU, students and staff at Huntington Middle School are enjoying their beautifully renovated school with security upgrades, modern and unique design features, upgrades for comfort and function, and state-of-the-art technology.
In addition to modernized classrooms, an all-new kitchen, new windows and paint throughout, new 6,199-square-foot auxiliary gym, this modernization comes with some unique design features that make learning and teaching in it an even more enjoyable experience. Here are a few:
• New Entry and Security Vestibule – One of the most significant design decisions was the placement of the auxiliary gym to create a new entry space between it and the existing building. This open, glassy vestibule connects the existing and new buildings, provides a secure entry point for students and visitors, and establishes a new, prominent “front door” for the school. The new stepped plaza in front of this vestibule creates a place for students and visitors to sit and interact under cover.
• Added Window in Each Classroom – In addition to replacing all existing windows in the entire school with new, highperformance windows, an additional window was added to each classroom. The added window dramatically improves the daylighting in each space and adds an operable window for fresh air.
• Library – The existing library at Huntington was identified as the “heart of the school” during design, and for good reason. The quantity of natural light in the original library made for an impressive space. The renovation has reclaimed the quality of the original by replacing the poorly functioning window with a new, high-performance unit, providing new finishes to the floor, walls, and ceiling, and re-organizing the reception desk to improve overall functionality. Together, the improved daylighting, brightness, quality of finishes, and overall feel of the space re-establish the library as the heart of the school.
•
– These classroom entries were one of the early design opportunities identified on the project and the one that evolved the most throughout design and even during construction. By creating an alcove around each classroom door, the entries were made more accessible for all students.
We are in the midst of a very busy time of year at Longview Public Schools. Our fall sports seasons have ended and winter sports have begun; fall conferences have occurred and winter concerts are around the corner; school assemblies, book fairs, carnivals, and family nights are happening throughout the district, and our choirs, bands, and drama students will be hosting public performances soon. Needless to say, there are many activities occurring in our schools, all of which play an important part in the social emotional development and well-being of our students.
Extracurricular activities play a vital role in public education. Research has shown that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities perform better academically. With this research in mind and equity at the forefront of our policymaking, the decision was made several years ago to eliminate as many fees as possible so that students could freely participate in sports and other activities without having to pay to participate. By eliminating fees, we removed barriers that kept some students from participating and made opportunities more equitable for all kids.
To further our mission this year, we implemented a no cut policy for our middle school sports program. This policy change was made to open up opportunity for all students who were interested in playing, no matter their skill level. It gives those students who may not play club ball or who may not have the skill level to be one of 12 to make a team an opportunity to participate and develop alongside their peers. Our middle schools are committed to creating as many teams as necessary and hiring as many coaches as needed to allow all students who want to play sports, an opportunity to do so.
Sports are just one type of extracurricular activity offered in Longview. For those who have attended a drama production at the Dana Brown Mainstage Theatre, the annual medieval Madrigal dinner and choir concert in our very own Hogwarts cafeteria (R.A. Long), or a winter band concert, you know what a treat it is to watch students who are engaged in the performing arts. The arts attract students of varying interests and plays a critical role in keeping students engaged in school. We hear time and again that if it were not for the drama program, band or choir, students would not have succeeded in school. Students report that these programs kept them in school and got them through to graduation.
The many clubs offered in our schools like heritage clubs, robotics, and DECA provide yet another way for students to connect with their school and peers. Our students have had success at the regional, state and national level through club
The new alcoves also provide a classroom-specific pin-up space inset within the corridor walls.
• Exposed Concrete – During construction, the opportunity to expose the existing concrete walls of the original building was discovered. The exposed board-formed concrete is visually intriguing, with the surface imprinted by the grain, knots, and nails of the original formwork. By exposing this concrete in select locations throughout the corridor, and framing it with new construction, the layering of materials and history that tells the unique story of Huntington going all the way back to initial construction in 1953.
• Written Words – In several areas of the school, the inclusion of words and messages invite interaction with the built environment. The graphics play with the scale of the written words, allowing them to function simultaneously as graphics, as place names, and as conveyors of community values. The large words speak to the identity of the place – Huskies – while the smaller text that makes up the larger words and graphics came directly from the students and teachers of Huntington. Integrus Architects engaged students with an interactive exercise about Husky values to generate the words and graphics throughout the school.
We are so grateful for this incredible renovation and the improved learning experience it will offer students for generations to come.
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activities and competitions. Clubs provide an entirely different experience and teach lifelong skills students can use in the future.
This school year there will be many opportunities for our students and families to engage in extracurricular activities. These activities are made possible through our locally voted Educational Programs Levy which comes before voters every four years. I want to take this opportunity to thank our community for its continued support of our students and to wish you all safe and happy holidays.
On October 27, near the end of the Longview City Council meeting, Kurt Sacha, Longview’s city manager announced with “immense gratitude and a heavy heart” his intended retirement from employment for the City of Longview for the past 45 years. With all the hub-bub, intensity and ongoing discussion of the council meeting, I had selfishly wished for a moment of silence in that very instant, simply to reflect upon that very proclamation from a man who spent his entire career, and nearly every waking moment, concentrated in some manner on the betterment of the City of Longview, and to celebrate the success of this man.
Following graduation with a degree in finance from Central Washington University, Kurt made his way back to his home in Kelso, and in July of 1977, he began his career for the City of Longview in the Street Maintenance Department. In 1978, Kurt transferred to traffic engineering. Shortly thereafter, in 1980, he was appointed as assistant finance director, and then finance director in 1999. He served a dual role as finance director and assistant city manager from 2015 to 2018 and was then appointed as Longview city manager.
What truly makes a person? For Kurt, his intentional hardworking nature and exceptional genuine character have made him the logical successor for each and every position at the city. Of course, Kurt’s loving companion Shirley, and his family and friends have all been equally supportive throughout the years. He is THAT guy. What a blessing for the city of Longview to have enjoyed Kurt’s wealth of knowledge, dedicated work ethic, and success driven manner for over 45 years. For all of Kurt’s vast contributions to the city, his humble closing comment was, “Longview’s best years lie ahead.”
I have stated before that personally working alongside Kurt as a city councilor and now mayor the past five years has been a true pleasure. Kurt’s genuine consideration of others is unparalleled. I reflect on my blessings often, but an especially intentional emphasis during this season of Thanksgiving, and I am grateful each day that our city, our council and the city staff of Longview have been led by this remarkable man, Kurt Sacha.
Each and everyday is a gift to everyone, and we can choose at the beginning of each day what contributions we will add to it, as we put our best foot forward, for ourselves, our family and our community.
What brings you gratitude when counting your blessings? Family, friends and faith, and a healthy community are what I am most grateful.
May we all find joy and love in this season of thanksgiving.
City of Kelso Mike Karnofski Mayor
Kelso will be a great place for Christmas celebrations and shopping. Unfortunately, the two main celebrations will occur before the Chamber newsletter is printed, but I want to feature them here so you can put them on your calendar for the first weekend of December for next year.
The Christmas celebrations opened with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. December 2 at Kelso City Hall. In addition to the tree lighting there were activities for kids including a hayride, face painting, games with prizes, crafts, and cookie decorating. Refreshments were provided by CPI, which had hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies, and the Kelso Rotary provided coffee and chili. And as always, Santa was there for pictures.
The Cowlitz County Museum hosted its Winter Festival from noon to 4 p.m. December 4. The theme was “Christmas in Cowlitz County through the Eras”. It featured crafts and games, story tellers and wood carvers. Please make sure you get these added to your calendar for next year.
On December 16 the second annual Lights in the Park will open. This event is presented by Kelso Rotary and Cowlitz PUD. The event will run for eight nights, ending December 23, and is open from 5 to 9 p.m. It will be more spectacular than last year with additional displays and lights. It is a $5 donation per car and all money goes to PUD’s Warm Neighbor Program.
Before or after the celebrations take some time to shop at some of Kelso’s unique and interesting shops. For gifts there is The Paisley Duck quilt shop, La Favorites yarn shop, Cornerstone Flowers, Furness Drug and Gifts, and Stripper Antiques. You can also pick out a good book at the Cowlitz County Museum.
Then get some food and refreshments at Backstage Café, Solteros, Station Pub and Grub, or Explorer Brewing Co. And Cap’n Yobys, with food “worth rowing ashore for”.
Remember, Kelso High School winter sports start in December, so get out and support your favorite Highlander team.
And finally, there are still many in our communities that need some extra support during the holidays, so support your favorite charity and give generously.
Chamber Ambassadors, 7:30am, Canterbury Park sQuatch sQuad, 4pm, Mill City Grill
Ribbon Cutting, 11am, Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Lower Columbia Professionals, 4pm, TBD
Jingle All the Way, 6pm, Longview Civic Circle
Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill Holiday Mixer, 5:30pm, Kelso Longview Elks Lodge No. 1482
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Chamber Board, Noon, Mill City Grill
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Christmas – Chamber office CLOSED
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Chamber Ambassadors, 5:30am, Teri's Steak and Fish House
Business After Hours, 5:30pm, TEAM –Employment and Management
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Lower Columbia Professionals, 4pm, TBD
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Chamber office CLOSED
Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM
Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM sQuatch sQuad, 4pm, Mill City Grill
sQuatch Fest, 4-8pm, Cowlitz County Event Center
sQuatch Fest, 10am-8pm, Cowlitz County Event Center
Kelso-Longview Business Connection monthly newsletter is published the first of each month, posted electronically on our website and emailed to over 7,000 local business professionals, city and county officials. To be included in this monthly email, call the Chamber office at 360-423-8400.
Size 1 - 3 Issues 4-7 Issues 8-10 Issues 12 Issues Dimensions
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1/8 Page $175 $140 $105* $75* 4" x 2.5"
1/4 Page $205 $170 $140* $100* 4" x 5.25"
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Full Page $625 $570 $480* $400* 8" x 10.5" *Includes ad on website)
All ads include full color and any design work. Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to publication. Digital files: PDF is preferred. JPEG accepted at high resolution (at least 300 dpi). Non-Members of the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce, please add 30% to above rates.
To advertise or request additional information, please call at 360-423-8400 or contact: CEO Bill Marcum bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Project Manager Julie Rinard jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org
It’s officially shopping season! What better place to get that shopping done than in downtown Longview? We kicked off the shopping season with Small Business Saturday November 26. This national day promoting small businesses and shopping locally featured sales, a passport program, and more. Follow the fun at www.facebook.com/downtownlongviewwa/events
Following Shop Local Saturday, the Junior Service League held its Festival of Trees public viewing at the Monticello Hotel and the annual Christmas Parade followed behind December 3.
Shop Local Saturdays will continue December 10 and 17 – come
#supportlocal this holiday season.
December 9 is also a great time to pop in a shop or two while you are downtown for the Kelso Longview Chamber’s annual Jingle all the Way 5K around Civic Circle. You can register at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org.
And, as always, we welcome anyone interested in the promotion, preservation, and development of downtown Longview to attend our meetings at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. #eatlocal #drinklocal #shoplocal #shopdowntownlongview
Stewart Title provided everything necessary for a warm and inviting November’s Business After Hours – fire pits, comfort food, fall beverages and a food drive for Lower Columbia CAP
News and events come from our website, press releases, and public information shared with us. To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org
Merk building, 1339 Commerce Ave.
Rose
Gundersen – Vice President of Operations and Retail Services –Washington Retail AssociationIs the lack of job readiness skill a major concern for you? You can help by taking this survey AND sharing this one-minute survey to your retailers and business members. Your effort will help K12 students access these certifications with funding. Survey due date is December 16.
Virtually every employer in Washington state seeks workers with customer service skill. Four RISE Up retail certifications offer exactly what employers from most industries want – transferrable job readiness skills. Besides, business and marketing teachers want RISE Up certifications for their students.
One-minute survey instructions below (available in the PDF also):
The event will feature historical exhibits, special guests, and the opening of the time capsule from Longview City Hall. Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with light refreshments and the program starts at 7 p.m.
The Longview time capsule was placed in Longview City Hall in 1998 for the city’s 75th birthday, and will be opened by the Longview Masonic Lodge No. 263 and present dignitaries before 8 p.m. The committee will be soliciting items for the new time capsule soon.
Anyone with objects and artifacts from old Longview that you would like to display at the event can contact Spencer Boudreau at spencerboudreau1234@gmail.com
Click this link: Business Management and Administration or https://research.zarca.com/r/wrBG6P
Mark the following certifications and write-in “NRF – Customer Service and Sales” below.
Last step: Fill out your business and contact information and submit. Thank you for supporting students and employers.
NOTE: If you want to also take this survey’s non-business categories, click HERE
The Longview Centennial Committee invites everyone to join it for the Centennial Kickoff Celebration January 20 at the historic
- Tracy Fisher, Business Diversity Institute
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There were plenty of winners at the Lower Columbia Professionals' Bunco Night in November. With proceeds benefiting the LCP scholarship fund, local students will be the big winners in May.
Welcome
DeDe Brill
PeaceHealth
Katie Dillinger
Life Mortgage
Fran Gehrman
Academy Mortgage
Kerri Guitteau and Corby Cowlitz Black Bears
James Hoyt
Heritage Bank
Joy Klein Columbia Bank
Nick Lemiere Edward Jones
Eric McCrandall Family Health Center
Carrie Medack
Diamond Residential Mortgage
Bailey Roberts
