Fisher's Landing Community Advantage Magazine June 2023

FIS HE R’S L ANDING

Your First and Only Call

Locally-owned and -operated team of installation experts a proud part of national manufacturer

A dealer now for the nationally known and respected company, Jordan and his crew of certified installers can supply and expertly install any size or style of window or door imaginable — because EcoView custom-builds them to fit! Their manufacturing practices have been designed to create the lowest possible levels of environmental impact, while simultaneously engineering products that provide homeowners with the highest level of energy savings. Windows are 100% recyclable vinyl, and meet the highest energy standards in the industry. Doors are made of beautiful durable fiberglass and rot-proof jams, which avoids the harvesting of wood from forests. And all products come with a lifetime warranty — with the warranty on windows being transferable from one owner to the next!

Jordan and his crew are approved contractors for Clark Public Utilities, so they are qualified to help you get up to $8 per square foot of glass energy

By Dennis McNabb, Staff Writer

Photos By Hayley Starkey

It’s a fact of life here in the Northwest: Homeowners have come to accept that over time windows and doors fail. Seals weaken or break. Glass becomes damaged. Energy bills increase as efficiency is lost. Extreme weather wreaks havoc on our home’s exterior, and many of us become battle-weary over the constant fight to maintain its integrity. Our resolve is further tested when we discover that the only solution is to replace the offenders — an expensive and often daunting task. Fortunately here in Vancouver, EcoView Windows & Doors can do it all, providing the best service and products on the market, and all for incredibly reasonable prices.

Owner Jordan Olin was born and raised right here in Vancouver. He is a third-generation builder, growing up working initially beneath and later beside his father. He’s been in construction his entire life and is an expert in every aspect of building and remodeling custom homes. That said, for years, he dealt with a frustration common to many remodelers: the ability to locate good, high-quality, energy-efficient windows and doors that could be retrofitted for older homes whose openings were often non-standard in size. It was just about one year ago, after months of research, he discovered the perfect solution: EcoView America, LLC.

rebate. They are members of the Building Industry Association and licensed in both Oregon and Washington. Locally and independently owned and operated by people who live in and support the community (they do a lot of work specifically with Rock Solid Community Teen Center), EcoView Windows & Doors should be your first and only call when you see condensation forming on the inside of those windows! And they also do siding!

Call for a free estimate today: 360-727-0377 or checkout their website for more details: ecoviewvancouver.com.

A Life of Giving

Holt Homes HR manager focuses on family, community and her love of horses

newspaper in Battle Ground, starting in sales and eventually becoming publisher. Those positions allowed Laura to become involved in the community and make lasting, valued relationships while connecting people and managing staff. Changing her career path, she joined Tapani Inc., a construction company in Battle Ground, and quickly realized her passion lay in working with employees, health benefits and wellness. That prompted a move to the HR department at Holt Homes, where she is now responsible for benefits and wellness, confirming what she had suspected: “this is my passion, my place of joy where I’m able to contribute ideas and provide support to others.”

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

Finding the path to a life filled with joyful giving is not a simple task. Yet, Laura Venneri has quietly walked that road to find her place in the world today. Born and raised outside Oregon City, Laura graduated from Gladstone High School never realizing then that the man she would eventually marry not only went to that same school, but that their fathers, a policeman (Laura’s) and a fireman (her husband Brett’s) for Clackamas County, had initially known each other for years!

Growing up, Laura watched as her dad would bring home neglected children at the end of a long day on the beat, clean them up and feed them a good meal before delivering them to protective services. She has fond memories of holidays when her entire family would collect microwave ovens and bunk beds along with other “everyday” items she thought everyone surely had and deliver them to families in need. She remembers feeling shocked to discover everyone didn’t have the things she took for granted.

A good student, Laura earned a BS in marketing and communications from Southern Oregon University and began her insurance career at Regence BlueCross BlueShield where she worked for 11 years. She then spent 13 years at The Reflector

The Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce was Laura’s first connection to the community, and she served over nine years as a member, board member and eventually vice president. Married with two children and a firefighter husband, the family had no choice but to embrace Laura’s love of horses. Soon the entire family was supporting the 4-H horse group and high school equestrian team her daughter Ashley had joined. Their son, Tyler, now a medic in the Army, opened the door to the family volunteering at Junior ROTC events. Then Laura volunteered for Rocksolid Teen Center, Harvest Days Parade and Cruise, Battle Ground Citizen of the Year committee, and Clark County Equine Foundation. A horse owner, Laura, to this day, remains passionate about supporting horse-centric organizations and causes.

Laura is also proud of the work that Holt Homes does for the community, from their monthly contributions of food and backpacks to Share, allowing employees on company time to volunteer monthly at Rocksolid, building planter boxes for a women’s shelter, or hosting a Bring Your Child to Work Day event where kids get to build projects instead of just watching.

For more information on these programs, please contact Laura at 360-892-0514 or laura@holthomes.com.

LEFT: Laura Venneri (middle) rides with her husband, Brett, and her daughter, Ashley. ABOVE: Laura and Brett stand proud with their son, Tyler, now a medic in the Army.

Laura Venneri

All That Jazz

A local treasure celebrating her 10th year of bringing the best jazz in the city to Langdon’s Grill in Aurora!

BY DENNIS MCNABB, STAFF WRITER

Rebecca Hardiman is a unique and singular talent. Growing up on a steady diet of jazz standards courtesy of her father, she gained a genuine appreciation for the genre at a young age. By the time she reached high school, she discovered she had an innate talent for singing in that style, and began honing her skills in the jazz choir. Straight out of high school, she auditioned and was selected out of over 100 applicants to enter the prestigious Soundsation Vocal Jazz program at Edmonds College in Washington. That’s where she got her first taste of life on the road, touring Europe and performing at a host of different festivals and venues.

Dazzling audiences and fellow musicians everywhere she performed, she was then recruited to join the prestigious Bostonbased vocal jazz group, The Ritz. There she began her professional career, recorded her first CD entitled “The Ritz,” and met her future husband, Ray Hardiman (the group’s keyboard player). It was an incredible and enlightening experience for them both, but playing in a touring band while simultaneously working full-time jobs was unsustainable as a long-term way of life.

In 1990, they moved from the East Coast back to Rebecca’s home state of Oregon. They continued playing with a variety of local bands—most notably, the vocal jazz group Euphoria which Rebecca

not only formed, but also played in for over a decade. Entertaining and inspiring audiences all over the Northwest, they were a cornerstone of the festival circuit, but it was all familiar territory for Rebecca. She was and always had been a part of a larger group. It was time to break out on her own, and that’s when her star truly began to shine.

In March of 2013, Ray began playing Friday nights at Langdon’s Grill. Shortly thereafter, Rebecca joined him, and over the succeeding months they developed a rabid following. Now, exactly 10 years later, Rebecca, Ray, and Whitney Moulton–their incredible bass player who is an equally incredible human being and integral part of the group–are one of the most popular and renowned jazz house bands in the Portland Metro Area. And their home is right here in Aurora! While their regular band consists of Rebecca, Ray, and Whitney, they also attract a host of guest musicians from all over the Northwest. Everyone who is anyone on the Portland jazz scene jumps at the chance to play with this “little band” out in Aurora.

So, listen up folks! Next time you and the spouse are looking for a fantastic Friday date night, including great food, great atmosphere, and the best entertainment in the city, look no further than Langdon’s Grill. Every Friday night between 6-8 PM, Rebecca, Ray, and Whitney hit the stage, and they will absolutely transport you to another world! Come celebrate 10 years of excellence!

Check out her website at RebeccaHardiman.com for more information and access to her incredible recordings.

place on Sept. 24 at Esther Short Park. Everyone is welcome. Lori and her team will be there enthusiastically walking while cheering on others.

Two friends of Lori’s, Richard and Mar Meyerhoefer, owners of Emanar Cellars in Battle Ground, will also be joining in on the cause. Richard’s mother, Joan, was also sadly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after living alone and being highly selfsufficient all the way into her mid-80s. Over the years, Richard, Mar, and Lori learned of each other’s mutual plights and have come together in support of one another. Not only will Emanar Cellars be a sponsor of Lori’s team, they will also be creating a weekly opportunity for other community members to contribute as well. Beginning with a big kick-off event on May 2 and continuing every “Timeless Tuesday” thereafter — 10% of that day’s proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Making Every Step Count

Community takes action for nonprofit

By Dennis McNabb, Staff Writer

Every time your heart is broken, a doorway cracks open to a world full of new beginnings, new opportunities.”

— Patti Roberts

Live long enough, and there isn’t a person among us who hasn’t been touched in one way or another by illness; that’s life. We all have grief to manage, but there are certain diagnoses that can be particularly heartbreaking. Alzheimer’s arguably tops the list. It’s a terrible disease that robs us of our very essence and is as difficult on survivors as it is on the patients. And yet, it’s in our attitudes — how we choose to conduct ourselves in the face of adversity — that opportunity is found. We can wallow in self-pity or we can take charge of our own fates, we can find purpose. We can partner up with the Alzheimer’s Association and make a difference!

That’s what Lori Lindberg has done. On the surface, she is just one of us: an “ordinary” member of the local community whose mother, Violet, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 14 years ago. Instead of thinking only how it has affected her life, however, Lori has made the courageous choice to stand up and take action, to do the extraordinary. She has contacted the Alzheimer’s Association, signed up for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and is now raising money for the cause. She is making a difference! This walk is a huge event, the Association’s biggest annual fundraiser and is held in more than 600 communities nationwide. Locally, this year’s walk will take

In case you are unaware, Emanar Cellars is an adorably cozy little wine bar boasting a wide range of delicious and authentic Spanish wines and tapas, as well as fantastic local live music every Friday and Saturday night. Richard and Mar, like Lori, are two of the nicest people you will ever meet, and their business, from the quality of the food and drink to the service and ambience, is an extension of that. Come down to Emanar Cellars any Wednesday through Saturday and discover what is sure to be your new favorite wine bar. Come down any Tuesday (after May 2) and enjoy it while also indirectly donating to an increasingly urgent and important cause.

Alzheimer’s is a fatal form of dementia characterized by severe and relatively rapid cognitive decline. Whether we know someone who suffers from it, or we know someone who knows someone, it has unfortunately become increasingly prevalent in the last few decades. Just since 2000, deaths from the disease have increased roughly 145%, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It has become the seventh leading cause of death

Want

LEFT: Walk to End Alzheimer’s. ABOVE: Emanar Cellars, Battle Ground.

in the U.S., and it’s not only affecting the older population. While it is still most common in adults over 65, recent studies have shown that as much as 10% of cases are early-onset and have affected people who are barely into their 30s. More troubling still is the fact that the medical community has hypotheses but

no definitive answers as to causation. Is it genetic? Is it lifestyle related? They just don’t know.

What we do know is that we are not alone. The nationally renowned and respected Alzheimer’s Association has local chapters in every region, and they are here to assist in any and every way possible. They are an incredible resource for information as well as a nonprofit world leader in funding research to help discover a cure. I had the pleasure of meeting with Jen Osojnicki, a local representative of the Association here in Oregon and Southwest Washington, and found her to be not only warm, sincere and sympathetic, but also incredibly well-informed. She was proud to share their mission: end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing

quality care and support. Through many initiatives (since its inception in 1980), it has become the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. If you are a patient or a caregiver seeking help, there is no better resource.

This is your opportunity, folks. Participate in the walk or support these amazing people who live and work in our community. Lori, Richard, and Mar are the best of us, doing what they can to make a difference.

Please consider joining the cause: Sign up for The Walk to End Alzheimer’s yourself at: www.alz.org/walk, donate to Lori and/or her team via the code on the opposite page or come down to Emanar Cellars on Tuesdays.Emanar Cellars is located at 1113 S.E. Rasmussen Blvd. in Battle Ground. Visit emanarcellars.com or call 360-513-2448.

Lori Lindberg and her mother, Violet.

Matt Groening Oregon Cartoonist

Once-struggling artist succeeds with worldwide hit “The Simpsons”

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

“D’oh!”

This simple catchphrase of Homer Simpson’s from the hit TV show “The Simpsons” is so famous that it’s been listed number six on TV Land’s 100 Greatest Television Catchphrases. The state of Oregon has contributed its share of inventions to the global community, from athletic shoes to more prosaic items such as the Tater Tot™ and Phillips screw. Perhaps the zaniest, however, are the creations of cartoonist Matt Groening.

Born in Portland, Oregon in 1954, Matt Groening (pronounced gray-ning) grew up in the City of Roses in a neighborhood near Washington Park. After attending Ainsworth Elementary School and Lincoln High School, Groening spent his college years up north in Washington at Evergreen State College in Olympia, which during the ’70s the cartoonist describes as “a hippie college, with no grades or required classes, that drew every weirdo in the Northwest.” At Evergreen, Groening served as editor of the campus newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, for which he also contributed articles and drew comics. Inspired from a young age to draw cartoons, Groening has cited Disney classics such as “101 Dalmatians” to Monty Python and the works of Charles M. Schultz as influential in his development. At Evergreen, he was befriended by fellow cartoonist Lynda Barry who had impressed him by writing a letter to one of Groening’s favorite authors, Joseph Heller, and she actually received a response. Groening has credited Barry as being one of his biggest inspirations.

After graduating from Evergreen with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1977,

Matt moved to Los Angeles to pursue writing. After enduring a “series of lousy jobs,” including bussing tables at a nursing home, landscape work at a sewage treatment plant, chauffeuring, ghost writing for a retired Western director and working as a sales clerk at Hollywood Licorice Pizza record store, he began sketching out cartoons based upon his experiences of living in L.A. This self-published comic book titled “Life in Hell” was partially inspired by a chapter in Walter Kauffman’s book “Critique of Religion and Philosophy,” titled “How to Go to Hell.” After distributing his “Life in Hell” comics from the book section at Licorice Pizza, he sold his first comic to avantgarde “Wet” magazine in 1978.

At a subsequent job for the alternative newspaper, the Los Angeles Reader, Groening convinced the editor to run his comic strip on a regular basis.

“Life in Hell” (1984) became a hit almost immediately. Groening’s then girlfriend, Deborah Callahan, who worked with Groening at the Reader, helped the cartoonist publish his first book, “Love is Hell,” which

was based on relationships. It was an underground success, selling 22,000 copies in its first two printings. The subsequent “Work is Hell” (1985) was also a hit. By the time his “Hell” series had run its course, “Life in Hell” had been carried in 250 weekly newspapers and anthologized in a series of books which included “School is Hell,” “Childhood is Hell,” “The Big Book of Hell,” and “The Huge Book of Hell.”

The stage was now set for Groening’s next big move. The success of Groening’s “Hell” series caught the attention of Hollywood director/producer James L. Brooks. In 1985, Brooks contacted Groening and began exploring working together on a production for television. What emerged from this creative union was the Simpson family, which Groening conceived while waiting in the lobby of Brooks’ office. He had originally intended to adapt the “Life in Hell” characters for television, but fearing the loss of ownership rights, he chose to move in a different direction.

The Simpson family was named after members of Groening’s own family — Homer the portly father (and in honor of the Greek poet), Marge (Margaret) the slender wife, and three children —

Bart the bratty son, Lisa the bright middle child, and Maggie (Margaret) the baby. Instead of naming the son after himself, which he felt was too obvious, he selected the name Bart which was an anagram of Brat.

“The Simpsons” originally premiered as a short cartoon on “The Tracey Ullman Show” in 1987. By 1989, however, “The Tracey Ullman Show” was on its way out, but “The Simpsons” had proved so popular that Fox (which aired the show) decided to produce an entire half hour program dedicated to Homer and his dysfunctional yet relatable family. In 1989, “The Simpsons” debuted on Fox on a weekly basis, and to Groening and Fox’s surprise the show became a smash hit. Groening’s goal of creating a show that offered the audience an alternative to what he termed “mainstream trash” took the world by storm. Considered by many to be one of the smartest shows on television due to Groening’s sharp satirical wit and complex characters, “The Simpsons” has won over 20 Emmy awards and now stands as the longest-running primetime

scripted show and longest-running animated series in American television history. Many of the characters and locales on “The Simpsons” were inspired by Groening’s Oregon roots. Springfield, the town where The Simpsons reside, has been revealed by the cartoonist in an interview with “Smithsonian Magazine,” to indeed be a reference to Springfield, Oregon near Eugene. Groening liked the fact that Springfield was such a generic name that audiences across the country could identify with it. As a tribute to its “Simpsons” connection, murals have been created at locales across Eugene-Springfield by a number of local artists. While many fans believe that Sideshow Bob Terwilliger was a reference to Terwilliger Boulevard, Groening has revealed that the character was actually inspired by Dr. Terwilliker from the film “The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T.” Other names from the show, however, were derived from Portland street names such as Lovejoy, Flanders, Kearney, Powell, and Quimby. Chief Wiggum drew his name from Groening’s mother’s maiden name. Although Groening went on to create other inventive shows such as “Futurama,” an animated comedy series about life in the year 3000, “Krusty the Clown,” a Simpsons spinoff, and “Disenchantment,” a fantasy-comedy series for Netflix, none of these projects were nearly as popular or culturally relevant as “The Simpsons.”

If you happen to be a fan of Matt Groening and were ever curious about the inspirations for his zany creations which have literally shaped contemporary culture, look no further than right here in the Pacific Northwest. You may very well be driving on a street or through a town that gave birth to some of your favorite cartoon characters!

Photo courtesy of UCSB Arts & Lectures

Southwest Washington

9212 N.E. Hwy. 99, Ste. 110, Vancouver 360.903.1071

sherrie@vancouverfitness.us

www.vancouverfitness.us

Vancouver Fitness Studio is celebrating its fifth anniversary this May! We opened a brand-new studio in the fall of 2021, and we are home to Vancouver Jazzercise, a dance-based total body workout, offering 25 classes a week. We have a spacious 1,900-square-foot dance floor, childcare room, air conditioning, handheld weights and mats, and a fabulous team of instructors! We also provide rental space to other local groups, such as VanCity Ballroom, Eternal Arts Kung Fu and the Ke Kukui Foundation. I have been teaching Jazzercise for almost 18 years and became the owner of Vancouver Fitness Studio May 1, 2018. I love what I do, and I love helping my customers reach their fitness goals while having a great time! My motto is “You’re only one workout away from a good mood!” I also really enjoy having a space that is available for my community to use and appreciate as well.

It is a pleasure to greet you! I’m Hollie Williams, retired Fred Meyer pharmacist turned wellness coach and one-year owner of B.G. Nutrition. My mentor, Kim Frahm, opened 11 years ago with a mission to provide healthy meals, safe energy, fitness, coaching and, most of all, love and support to our community. As a part of the team here for over four years, I’ve come to love and embrace that mission and will continue it for years to come. I truly enjoy interacting and serving our customers and providing a place for friends to gather and visit over nutritious shakes, teas and energy drinks. Additionally, our nutrition club hosts free workouts and body transformation challenges, a pleasant workspace with free Wi-Fi, a space for others to build their own Herbalife business, and just an overall positive, upbeat atmosphere.

8221 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver 360-258-1506

tristarfamilychiropractic@gmail.com

A busy mom of three, I was inspired to move across the country to Vancouver in 2015 to fulfill my dream of opening my own practice and being a part of a community. Little did I know I’d be the only Spanishspeaking chiropractor in Southwest Washington at that time. Thanks to our community, my new practice flourished. With 30-plus years of experience in the healthcare field, ranging from mental health, physical rehabilitation hospitals, working with individuals with special needs, athletes, and the elderly, I offer specialized “health-CARE” to all of my patients. I am the proud owner of Tristar Wellness Partners, LLC, including the award-winning Tristar Family Chiropractic & Scoliosis Center, housing over 10 women-owned healthcare businesses under one roof. We are truly #onebuildingfullofhealing because of our amazing community, that we cherish so much!

Southwest Washington

Sherrie Robertson VANCOUVER FITNESS STUDIO

9212 N.E. Hwy. 99, Ste. 110, Vancouver 360.903.1071

sherrie@vancouverfitness.us

www.vancouverfitness.us

Hollie Williams

B.G. NUTRITION

11 S. Parkway Ave., Battle Ground 360.430.1351

hollie4health@gmail.com

www.bgnutrition.com

Dr. Gloria Arroyo, DC, BA, BS TRISTAR FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & SCOLIOSIS CENTER

8221 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver 360-258-1506

tristarfamilychiropractic@gmail.com

www.tristarchiro.com

Vancouver Fitness Studio is celebrating its fifth anniversary this May! We opened a brand-new studio in the fall of 2021, and we are home to Vancouver Jazzercise, a dance-based total body workout, offering 25 classes a week. We have a spacious 1,900-square-foot dance floor, childcare room, air conditioning, handheld weights and mats, and a fabulous team of instructors! We also provide rental space to other local groups, such as VanCity Ballroom, Eternal Arts Kung Fu and the Ke Kukui Foundation. I have been teaching Jazzercise for almost 18 years and became the owner of Vancouver Fitness Studio May 1, 2018. I love what I do, and I love helping my customers reach their fitness goals while having a great time! My motto is “You’re only one workout away from a good mood!” I also really enjoy having a space that is available for my community to use and appreciate as well.

It is a pleasure to greet you! I’m Hollie Williams, retired Fred Meyer pharmacist turned wellness coach and one-year owner of B.G. Nutrition. My mentor, Kim Frahm, opened 11 years ago with a mission to provide healthy meals, safe energy, fitness, coaching and, most of all, love and support to our community. As a part of the team here for over four years, I’ve come to love and embrace that mission and will continue it for years to come. I truly enjoy interacting and serving our customers and providing a place for friends to gather and visit over nutritious shakes, teas and energy drinks. Additionally, our nutrition club hosts free workouts and body transformation challenges, a pleasant workspace with free Wi-Fi, a space for others to build their own Herbalife business, and just an overall positive, upbeat atmosphere.

A busy mom of three, I was inspired to move across the country to Vancouver in 2015 to fulfill my dream of opening my own practice and being a part of a community. Little did I know I’d be the only Spanishspeaking chiropractor in Southwest Washington at that time. Thanks to our community, my new practice flourished. With 30-plus years of experience in the healthcare field, ranging from mental health, physical rehabilitation hospitals, working with individuals with special needs, athletes, and the elderly, I offer specialized “health-CARE” to all of my patients. I am the proud owner of Tristar Wellness Partners, LLC, including the award-winning Tristar Family Chiropractic & Scoliosis Center, housing over 10 women-owned healthcare businesses under one roof. We are truly #onebuildingfullofhealing because of our amazing community, that we cherish so much!

As a local lender, we know the local mortgage market better than anyone, and our team works with our clients to help them find a home loan to fit their needs.

At Mortgage Solutions Financial, we believe every client should be served with integrity, dignity, and respect — starting with our mortgage process, which we’ve streamlined to make the home-buying process as simple and painless as possible. We specialize in VA, FHA, and USDA loans, and our team of experts can help with home loan refinance that meets your financial needs.

Elevating