Watch for Galentines and Shamrock Saturday

Downtown Longview is buzzing with excitement as it heads into strategic planning. As we prepare for strategic planning for next year, we are accepting nominations for election for our 2023-24 Board of Directors in February.

While we work on onboarding and planning, we are continuing with our monthly Shop Local Saturday events on the fourth Saturday of every month. You can find specific information and specials on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ downtownlongviewwa under “events”.

Other events downtown include: downtownlongview.com

• Antidote Tap House hosts trivia every Monday. Come down to play and have a libation or two.

• The Broadway Gallery is hosting art classes. You can find more information under “events” at www.

• The Columbia Theatre has a fantastic line up of live acts and Rainy Month’s movies with Fibre Federal Credit Union.

• February 9 – JoJo and CoCo are hosting a Galentines event from 6-8 p.m.

• March 18 – Downtown Longview is bringing back Shamrock Saturday. This will feature themed St. Patrick’s Day fun and a passport shopping program.

• April – we will host our downtown clean up in memory of dear friend and former board member Lonnie Knowles.

We are delightfully busy implementing events for the first quarter and building on growth and prosperity for downtown Longview and beyond.

Don’t forget to eat local, drink local, shop local, shop downtown Longview.

Thinking about hosting Business After Hours in 2024? Contact us at 360-423-8400 or email jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org

January 10: Total Employment and Management (TEAM)

February 21: Three Rivers Law Center

March 29: Building Bridges Business & Tourism Expo

April 11: Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid

May 16: Foster Farms 25th Anniversary Celebration

June 13: Stewart Title

July 11: Mary Cranston, LLC

August 8: Cowlitz Indian Tribe

September 12: Northwest Enforcement

October 10: Edward Jones - Roy Gawlick

November 14: Windermere Northwest Living

December 12: Holiday Mixer

Business After Hours

Hosted by TEAM – Total Employment and Management

Business After Hours hosted by TEAM – Total Employment and Management featured a “Winter’s Best” theme. Guests enjoyed great food from Hop-n-Grape, drinks and generous raffle prizes.

State Supreme Court began hearing arguments on capital gains

Written by Washington Retail From Inside Washington Retail

Nine state Supreme Court justices began hearing oral arguments in January over the legality of the recently imposed capital gains income tax legislation. The hearing will stream live on TVW

If the court upholds the capital gains tax, it would be imposed as an income tax on all Washingtonians. This is the 11th attempt to impose an income tax on our state’s residents, three of which were attempts at amending the state’s constitution. The recent state advisory vote in November 2021 made it clear that over 60 percent of Washington’s residents do not want a capital gains income tax.

Despite a $10 billion budget surplus, lawmakers used an emergency funding clause to pass the tax, denying voters the opportunity to repeal it. The income tax was essentially approved by the judicial branch and Supreme Court, avoiding an inevitable defeat by voters.

Proponents say the tax will affect only 0.2 percent of the state’s residents—while opening the door as a precursor to a broader income tax on all residents.

Call it what you want, but the Internal Revenue Service and the revenue departments of 49 states view this as an income tax.

A new proposal, SB 5335, would increase the overall capital gains tax rate and include real estate transactions.

Combating Organized Retail Crime Act reintroduced in Congress

Written by Washington Retail From Inside Washington Retail

Recently, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV) introduced the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023. A summary of the bill can be viewed here. Washington Retail strongly supports the bill, as does the National Retail Federation, which has worked closely with the senators on the reintroduction of a similar bill last session.

The bill does the following:

• Seeks to make amendments to Title 18 of the U.S. Code, including adding a dollar value threshold of $5,000 or more in a 12-month period.

• Establishes a Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime to be led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Center is tasked with coordinating federal-level ORC investigations and intelligence sharing, and supporting the retail industry and state and local law enforcement in their ORC-related investigative activities.

• Requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to review their existing training and technical assistance programs and find ways to increase their prioritization of ORC within these programs.

Workshop series available to benefit local small businesses

Lower Columbia College is hosting a series of Small Business Success Workshops on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning in February and running through May on campus. Each series costs $99.

The first workshop, Website Development and Digital Storefront Management, begins Feb. 7-28. It is followed by Target Market Segmentation March 7-28. Utilizing Social Media and Influencer Marketing closes out the run April 18-May 9.

Included with each workshop:

• Two days of in-person instruction with an experienced small business owner instructor.

• Online course contatent and materals accessbile to you for one year.

• Networking with other local small business owners. A bonus: each participant will receive one free two-hour personal business consultation.

For information email ehoff@lowercolumbi.edu

For more News and Events see page 33

Lower Columbia College hosts job fair for those interested in education

Lower Columbia College will host an Education Job Fair for current high school and college students and community members interested in employment in teaching, substitute teaching, or paraeducation February 21.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 2:30-6:30 p.m., in the Student Center on the Lower Columbia College campus. Local school districts and childcare facilities will be on site to answer questions and accept resumes to fill current and future positions.

Staff from Lower Columbia College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAS-TE) program will also be on hand to answer questions about the college’s education programs. The BAS-TE program is tailored for working adults with options for residency teacher certification or a focus in early care and education. LCC offers endorsements in elementary education and early childhood education. Multiple other certificate and associate degree options in education and early childhood education are also available at LCC.

Applications for LCC’s BAS-TE program are currently being accepted at lowercolumbia.edu/bas to start in the 2023-24 academic year. Prospective certificate and associate degree students can start anytime, and should begin by applying for admission to the college. There are no minimum academic requirements for admission to LCC, and applying is always free at lowercolumbia.edu/apply

Police Satellite Office at the Archie Anderson Park open for business

The new police station in Longview’s Highlands neighborhood is open. Patrol officers will come and go from the station 24 hours a day while they serve the Highlands neighborhood and surrounding area.

Located at 275 21st Ave., at Archie Anderson Park, the station’s business office is open to the public 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday (closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.).

The direct number to the station front desk is 360-442-5850.

Celebrating 100 Years

The Longview Centennial Committee kicked off a year of celebrations with a community event at The Merk in historic downtown Longview January 20. The event included historic exhibits, special guests, refreshments and the opening of a time capsule led by the Longview Masonic Lodge No. 263.