Images Vancouver-Clark County, WA: 2009

2009 | IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM ®

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VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON

EVERYTHING’S RELATIVE Generational know-how drives key businesses

What’s s e Online

CUISINE WITH A CAUSE

Video tour of Vancouver National Historic Reserve

Beaches Restaurant serves much more than great food

Smooth Sailing Balanced development makes life easy SPONSORED BY THE GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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2009 EDITION | VOLUME 5 ®

THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

What’s On Online nl VANCOUVE R /CL AR K COU NT Y, WASHINGTON

VANCOUVER NATIONAL HISTORIC RESERVE

6 CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S 6 SMOOTH SAILING Life is easy in Clark County thanks to a deliberate live-work-play approach to development.

8 CUISINE WITH A CAUSE Beaches Restaurant has earned a reputation for serving both the community and great food.

Join us for a wander around Fort Vancouver, Vancouver Barracks and Officers Row. Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

RELOCATION Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about: • Schools

D E PA R TM E NT S

• Health care • Utilities

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Vancouver’s culture

• Parks • Taxes

10 Business Feature: Everything’s Relative 12 Biz Briefs 13 Chamber Report 14 Portfolio: people, places and events that

Images Vancouver/Clark County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

define Vancouver CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

16 Health & Wellness 17 Arts & Culture 18 Sports & Recreation 19 Education 20 Community Profile

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Suite 100 • Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 694-2588 • Fax: (360) 693-8279 www.vancouverusa.com VISIT IMAGES VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESVANCOUVER.COM ©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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EDITOR LISA BATTLES ON THE COVER COLUMBIA RIVER PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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Custom Publishing Council

Member Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce

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Almanac

Recommended Coursework The towering evergreens of the Cascade Mountains. The canyons of the Columbia River Gorge. The peaceful waters of Lewis River.

These are just a few examples of what golfers can expect to encounter when they play on one of the Vancouver area’s many scenic courses.

For everyone from the novice to the professional‚ this southwest corner of the state boasts courses to entice players looking for a challenging yet enjoyable round of golf. Among the top picks for golf in Clark County are Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Dolce Skamania Golf Center in Stevenson, Camas Meadows Golf Course in Camas and Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield. Another popular choice nearby is Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland.

Vancouver At A Glance POPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE) Vancouver: 158,855 Clark County: 412,938

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1101 Broadway, Suite 100 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: (360) 694-2588 Fax: (360) 693-8279 www.vancouverusa.com

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BEGINNINGS Vancouver was incorporated in 1857 after several Americans and Britons, including Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, had explored the area. The city is named after Capt.

George Vancouver, a British explorer who sailed to the area in 1791 in search of the Northwest Passage.

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LOCATION Vancouver is on the north bank of the Columbia River, directly across from Portland, Ore., and about 90 miles from the Pacific coast.

Take a virtual tour of Vancouver at imagesvancouver.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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Fast Facts Keeping Things Brewing Next time you enjoy a perfectly crafted beer, consider that it might owe its flavor to Great Western Malting Co. at the Port of Vancouver. The company has been producing malt for brewers in the western U.S. since 1934 – just one year after Prohibition ended.

Great Western’s Vancouver facility produces an array of specialty malts, including crystal, Munich and wheat malts. The company contributed to the early craft brewing movement by filling cardboard boxes and pick-up truck beds full of malt for fledgling brewers in the early 1980s.

Today, Great Western is an independent subsidiary within a worldwide group of malting companies known as ConAgra Malt.

Meet Your Wild Neighbors Great blue herons, mallards and red-tailed hawks are just some of the year-round residents of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, which consists of 5,150 acres of marshes, grasslands and woodlands. Established in 1965 along with three other refuges in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, the site also is home to a variety of other wildlife, including river otters and black-tailed deer. In the fall, thousands of ducks, geese, swans and cranes migrate to the refuge. Visitors to the refuge may observe the wildlife within the Carty Unit and its 2-mile Oaks to Wetlands Trails, which are open year round during daylight hours. The River “S” Unit includes a 1-mile Kiwa Trail, open from May 1 to Sept. 30, and the 4.2-mile Auto Tour Route and observation blind that are open year round during daylight hours.

Music for the Masses When warmer weather arrives each year, thousands of music lovers converge in Ridgefield to take in world-class performances at The Amphitheater at Clark County.

The 18,000-seat live-music venue offers covered stadium seating, as well as a large lawn for concertgoers who prefer a bit more legroom.

Recent shows have included performances by Sting, The Police and Kenny Chesney.

The venue closed its 2008 season with recordbreaking attendance. The Amphitheater aims to improve the community, too. As part of these efforts, it dedicates a portion of every ticket sale toward music programs implemented by local nonprofit organizations.

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Q The Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2008.

The event is held in August at Esther Short Park.

Q Vancouver’s weather bucks the stereotype of the rainy Pacific Northwest. Average annual rainfall is 36 inches – less than that of Atlanta, Dallas or Indianapolis.

Q Residents of Clark County are surrounded by beauty, with Mount St. Helens to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east.

Q Enjoy a scenic stroll along the Waterfront Renaissance Trail, a 4-mile, 14-foot-wide path along the Columbia River.

Q The Vancouver Farmers Market brings fresh produce, quality artisans, entertainment and a variety of gourmet products to downtown from mid-March to early November.

Q For a day-trip sure to provide breathtaking sights, visit the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, just 30 minutes to the east of Vancouver.

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Balancing Act

JEFF ADKINS

SMART GROWTH MAKES LIFE SMOOTH SAILING

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BRIAN M C CORD

STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON

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aking sure that a bustling region grows evenly is a delicate balancing act, but Clark County communities pull it off with style and grace.

The county boasts a smooth distribution of residential, industrial and commercial development thanks to its leaders taking a deliberate, level approach to managing growth over the past several years.

“Balance in development and growth is essential not only to the livability of our community but also the economic balance of the community,” says Ginger Metcalf, executive director of the nonprofit Identity Clark County, which works to promote regional economic health.

The county brims with examples of innovative developments that encompass all aspects of life. In Battle Ground, a mixeduse development called Battle Ground Center incorporates retail, residential, commercial, corporate and industrial spaces.

“When you have all five components, what you actually do is generate not just a destination for people, but you generate jobs,” says Carmen Villarma, president of Battle Ground Center’s marketing arm, The Management Group Inc. “You can develop a lifestyle center or a mall nearly anywhere and fill it up. We really wanted to be able to do something different.”

The residential component of Battle Ground Center is called The Oaks at Battle Ground Village and combines residential and commercial space with its townhomes, with the bottom floor of each dedicated to office or retail space.

The 108-acre Battle Ground Center is also home to Battle

Ground Corporate Center, a 38-acre office and medical campus; Commerce East Industrial Park; and Battle Ground Village, which is a 21-acre retail center with many shops already open for business and more opening monthly, including two new restaurants. Battle Ground Village also is the home of the new Battle Ground Community Library.

A few miles to the west in the town of Ridgefield, a fundamental shift is taking place in its growth. When the last of the town’s mills was shuttered in 1993, the longtime industrial community transitioned into more of a bedroom community for Vancouver. Today, Ridgefield, which is strategically positioned along I-5, is turning back to its job-based roots.

“It’s balancing, coming back around,” says Brent Grening, executive director of the economic development board Port of Ridgefield. “There’s a growing population and a growing center of business.”

In 2006, the Port of Ridgefield sold 75 acres to Southwest Washington Medical Center, which plans to build a new medical campus in the community over the next 20 years.

“That was very exciting because it sort of changed people’s view of what is going to happen in North [Clark] County,” Grening says. “Having a major medical complex here is much different than just the warehousing and distribution.”

Downtown Vancouver continues to lead the way in balanced development. The city expects more residential growth there over the next several years, with plans for major waterfront redevelopment and an expanded convention center.

Above: Battle Ground Village incorporates residential, commercial, corporate and industrial spaces. Left: Downtown Vancouver boasts a mix of urban living options and green spaces along with offices and shops.

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Cuisine

With a

Cause BEACHES RESTAURANT SERVES MUCH MORE THAN GREAT FOOD

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STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

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hen Mike Barret, head chef at Beaches Restaurant and Bar in Vancouver, took the job in 2000, he didn’t realize that preparing green eggs and ham for thousands would be a requirement.

Known throughout the southwest Washington area for their warm hearts and high energy when it comes to raising money for children’s causes, Beaches, its employees and owner Mark Matthias host the Green Eggs and Ham reading program in local schools each year on the March birthday of Dr. Seuss.

“It takes a little bit of coordination.

In 2008, we made green eggs and ham for about 7,400 people. There’s a lot of egg scrambling going on,” says Barret, who credits the entire Beaches team with the effort.

First-graders and their parents are treated to the unconventional breakfast, and parents read Dr. Seuss classics to the children, who each receive one of the classic books and a quintessential Cat in the Hat stovetop chapeau.

Designed to excite children about reading and involve their parents in the schools, the Seuss program is just one in a long list of charity functions orchestrated by Matthias for local kids.

Beaches also sponsors Cruisin’, the largest weekly classic-car gathering on the West Coast, which is held Wednesday nights from June to September. Held at the Portland International Raceway, Cruisin’ raises more than $100,000 each year.

In 1995, Matthias established the Beaches Charity Fund with a goal to raise $1 million for community children’s causes by 2011.

One beneficiary of Matthias’ dedication is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington. Not only does the organization receive money from the Beaches Charity Fund, Matthias is “the brains” as well as the emcee of the organization’s annual June fundraiser, an auction and food fest featuring area chefs, says Elise Menashe, Boys & Girls VA N C O U V E R

Along with great food and a fun environment, Beaches Restaurant on the Columbia River is known for outstanding community involvement.

Clubs executive director. The event raised $915,000 in 2008.

“Our mission is about youth development, and Mark is passionate about children, about giving them hope and opportunity,” Menashe says.

She recalls how Beaches pampers the graduates of her organization’s Manners Club, which offers dinner at Beaches as a reward.

“Of course, Mark takes it the extra step. When our kids get there, there’s a white tablecloth with name tags and a little package for each child,” Menashe says. “They order off of the menu, and they have the time of their life. Of course,

we expect to pay for it, but Mark will never let us.”

Matthias is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs board of the directors, as well as the board of the Vancouver School District Foundation.

“One of the qualities I admire most about Mark is his willingness to make a personal commitment to the things he values,” says Jim Sork, director of the Vancouver School District Foundation.

“In my mind, it is this attribute that separates those of us who care about our community from those few who, by their personal efforts, truly shape the community.”

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Business

Everything’s

Relative GENERATIONAL KNOW-HOW DRIVES LONGSTANDING ENTERPRISES

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

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usiness acumen seems to run in the family for some of Vancouver’s best-known enterprises. In fact, generational know-how is at the foundation of three major businesses in sectors where customer trust is most important – banking, funeral services and news.

The Firstenburg family is at the helm of First Independent Bank, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2010.

“It really is a family business. It seems like every time you turn around, you run into a family member. I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” Bill Firstenburg says with a laugh, “but it seems to work.”

Firstenburg is president, CEO and chairman of the bank, which had its first Firstenburg on the roster when his father, E.W. Firstenburg, became a stockholder in 1936. The elder Firstenburg, who celebrated his 96th birthday in January 2009, lives at the Waterford at Fairway Village in Vancouver, an assisted living community, where he keeps an eye on the Waterford branch of the bank, Bill Firstenburg says.

Headquartered in Vancouver, First Indy has 24 banking centers from Portland to Bellevue.

“We always like to say we try to out-big the smalls and outsmall the bigs,” Bill Firstenburg says. “You have to go out there and find your niche and have the advantage of being flexible to adjust to the times and to consumer demands.”

Joining Bill Firstenburg on the First Indy team are his brother, Bruce; two sons, Scott and Jeff; wife, Jeanne; son-inlaw, Terry Flack; and sister, Joyce Firstenburg Chiles, who is a director emeritus.

As a result, First Indy board meetings “are like a family

reunion,” Firstenburg says.

That same all-in-the-family philosophy is demonstrated at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The cemetery was established here in 1952, and 16 years later the owners hired Willard J. Carlson of Spokane to manage, promote and further develop the business. He did just that and eventually bought it. Today, Evergreen is a full-service funeral operator with two locations.

At age 85, the family patriarch is Evergreen chairman, while his eldest son, Brad Carlson, is president and handles day-to-day operations. Being a family enterprise “means everything,” Brad Carlson says.

“It’s such a hearts-and-flowers business and so emotionfilled,” Carlson says. “If someone serving you has a total vested interest, they are much more intent on making sure that things are done properly. That pride of local ownership goes a long way.”

Carlson’s wife, Mary, and their daughter, Lindsay Fisher, handle administrative duties at Evergreen, while their other daughter, Megan Carlson, is a licensed funeral director and in charge of the new crematory, which began operation in 2008.

“Our ownership structure has meant a great deal in that we can offer the family our total control over their loved one from A through Z of the process. We’re the only ones in our county that have a funeral home and crematory and cemetery. It’s a real comfort to the families who come to us,” Carlson says.

Yet another business with generational ties is a household name. The Columbian, Vancouver’s local newspaper, began publication in 1890 and was bought by Herbert J. Campbell in 1921. His grandson, Scott Campbell, is the publisher today.

Several members of the Carlson family are involved in the operations of Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Clockwise from far left are Mary Carlson, Willard J. Carlson, Brad Carlson, Lindsay Fisher and Megan Carlson.

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Business

Biz Briefs A SAMPLING OF BUSINESSES – LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY’S STRONG AND WELL-BALANCED ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$2,946,201 Retail sales ($1,000)

$7,961 Retail sales per capita

$359,783 Accommodations and food service sales ($1,000)

27,050 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

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JAVA HOUSE Biz: coffee shop Buzz: Java House has become a downtown institution since it opened nearly two decades ago in a former automobile dealership showroom. Besides serving Panache® coffee that is handcrafted in Portland, Java House also offers free Internet connectivity and is a popular spot for meetings.

210 W. Evergreen Blvd. #400, Vancouver

LILY ATELIER Biz: women’s apparel boutique Buzz: Big name labels may be found in tiny Camas thanks to Lily Atelier, a boutique featuring high-end women’s apparel. Lines include Agave Nectar, Nicole Miller and White & Warren, to name a few. Owner Dawn Stanchfield opened the shop in 2003 and expanded in 2007 to add Luxe, a shoe and accessories department. www.lilyatelier.com

PIONEER STREET CAFÉ Biz: restaurant Buzz: Pioneer Street Café was founded by Ellis Dunn, former vice president and dean of Clark College, and is now managed by his granddaughter, Jessica Marugg. The café seats about 40 people and serves homemade Mediterranean-style fare, using local ingredients whenever possible.

207 Pioneer St., Ridgefield

KYOCERA INDUSTRIAL CERAMICS CORP. Biz: manufacturer Buzz: Kyocera’s Advanced Ceramic Technology Center opened here in 1992. It manufactures cutting tools and advanced ceramic components, and markets LCDs, thermal printheads, ultra high vacuum metallized assemblies and industrial lenses. global.kyocera.com VA N C O U V E R

Business | Chamber Report

Boosting the Bottom Line CHAMBER STEPS UP PROMOTION OF NEW AND EXISTING MEMBER PROGRAMS

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“They pay a fee to be in, which is around 6.5 percent of the L&I premium, but they don’t have to manage any claims and they have received substantial refunds,” Capeloto says. “I think people will do that all day long if they know about it, so we’re working to get the word out and get more members involved.”

That kind of cost savings more than offsets chamber dues, but more importantly, it provides an excellent example of how valuable chamber membership

can be, Capeloto adds.

“We find that a lot of individuals use the chamber for the events that they know and that they’ve been involved with in the past,” Capeloto says. “Now we’re opening them up to things like the L&I program, to political advocacy, to electronic networking. We want to make sure they know there are more ways to get your company’s name out there than at the networking events or in our newsletters.”

– Joe Morris

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n a tight economy, businesses find innovative ways to meet challenges.

Nobody knows that better than the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, which has stepped up efforts to get the word out about its new and existing programs that boost its members’ bottom lines.

Some of these promotion efforts are easy to see, such as a newly redesigned Web site that includes enhanced features and enriched information. The goal was to put all site visitors – including membership – in touch with the basic services of the organization, from activities calendars to forms and other tools related to ongoing programs, says Kim Capeloto, chamber president and chief executive officer.

“We were not able to report back to our advertisers the types of information that is critical to determining the success of Web advertising,” Capeloto says.

“So we converted our entire system, which included an updated interface and Web site. We now have access to the needed information to track results for our members.”

One program that is being highlighted by chamber officials is the retro-refund Labor & Industries, or L&I, claims program that exists just for chamber members. For more than a decade, businesses that use the program have been realizing significant insurancepremium savings.

“It allows group rates to be assessed for L&I coverage,” he says. “We have a third-party administrator for those members who qualify, and the program is based on the number of claims filed.

That means your human-resources department isn’t involved, so they get handled much faster. And, if at the end of the year, the overall premiums paid are higher than the claims paid out, a rebate is issued.”

Capeloto says their average has been 44 percent.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce has redesigned its Web site, one of many recent efforts to enhance value for its member businesses.

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Clark County’s spectacular scenery, the Columbia River and 39 lakes make it an angler’s paradise.

PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD

Making Natural Connections ANGLERS AND HUNTERS ENJOY THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS IN CLARK COUNTY

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espite its proximity to the bustling urban center of Portland, residents of Vancouver and Clark County have just as convenient access to nature, making hunting and fishing a booming pastime.

“It is a unique opportunity in an urban setting,” says Guy Norman, the regional director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 5. “The people of Clark County have the best of both worlds.”

A significant draw for those seeking outdoor adventure is the area’s spectacular scenery, which includes Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood close by.

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abundant wildlife makes it top spot for hunters and anglers.

“It’s quite a landscape,” Norman says. “Goose hunting is popular in the lowlands. Clark County is not a big-game hunting area. Here it’s more migratory birds and upland bird hunting.”

Besides the Columbia River, Clark County boasts a total of 39 lakes, making it a paradise for anglers.

The salmon and steelhead runs draw fishermen from throughout the region.

“Seasonally, we get thousands of people into the area,” Norman says. “A lot of people come from around the county and the state for the spring and fall.

During the spring period, Battle Ground [Lake] and Klineline [Pond] have healthy trout and salmon and are popular.”

Visit www.fishingworks.com and select the Fishing Lakes tab to access a listing of all of Clark County’s lakes, including detailed information on each of them.

Sport fishing has a major impact on Washington’s economy, as well. According to a new report presented by TCW Economics to the state the state Fish and Wildlife Commission, resident and visiting anglers support 12,850 jobs and $376.1 million in earnings statewide.

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Portfolio

History Soars at Pearson Air Museum V the landing of Valery Chkalov, sometimes called “The Russian Charles Lindbergh,” who landed there after the first trans-polar flight from Moscow.

Even Lindbergh was one of many aviation heroes to come to Pearson Field.

During World War I, the airfield was converted into a spruce cut-up mill for the construction of aircraft frames.

What’s Online e Enjoy a peek inside Pearson Air Museum at imagesvancouver.com.

Capt. Carlton Bond statue by Bill Bane at the Pearson Air Museum

Word on Wine Spreads Through the Grapevine W

hen people think of domestic wines, Napa Valley often comes to mind. But California has a true contender in Washington, where the only thing that seems to be outpacing the increasing number of wineries is the amount of recognition they are receiving from aficionados for their quality products.

The origin of the state’s wine industry here can be traced to Clark County: The Hudson’s Bay Co. planted the first wine grapes at Fort Vancouver in 1825. Since then, winemakers have discovered that the area’s climate and soil are ideally suited to the craft thanks to relatively dry summers and deposits made by the Lewis and Columbia rivers. The area often is compared to conditions found in France’s winemaking region. Until very recently, these prime conditions seemed to be a well-kept secret.

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“It took only 48 days to convert it into a mill,” Alley says.

Today, Pearson Field is one of the oldest continuously operating airfields in the U.S. The museum helps preserve the rich heritage of the field with a variety of vintage aircraft and memorabilia exhibits. Besides offering tours, it hosts social events, including weddings.

STAFF PHOTO

isitors to Vancouver National Historic Reserve expect to learn about Fort Vancouver’s earliest days as a fur trading outpost and the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Co., but they also discover more about the site’s significant ties to the beginnings and evolution of aviation.

Pearson Field, located adjacent to the fort, may be one of the best-kept secrets in the country. It boasts a history rich with momentous landings and events and a roster of past visitors that includes some of the world’s best-known aviators.

“There’s a lot of history here,” says Bill Alley, the curator and manager of the Pearson Air Museum. “A lot of people visit for that reason alone.”

Named in 1925 for pilot Lt. Alexander Pearson, the field’s roots go back more than 100 years. The first significant event came on Sept. 19, 1905, when Lincoln Beachey flew from the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland and landed on what was then the polo field for Fort Vancouver. This first aerial crossing of the Columbia River established the site as a pioneer airfield.

Since then, Pearson Field has seen

“We’re trying hard to rectify that,” says Ryan Pennington, senior communications manager for the Washington Wine Commission. “Washington is a state that can be compared to California.”

Today, Clark County has a handful of wineries enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Ridgefield is home to Bethany Vineyard, Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery and Confluence Vineyards and Winery. Battle Ground’s offerings include Rusty Grape Vineyard and East Fork Cellars.

Among the newer enterprises on the scene is English Estate Winery, which specializes in Bag in a Beautiful Box wine, which is packaged in a decorative, wooden box that quickly caught on with its club members.

“We’re doing some things that no one else is doing,” says Carl English, who, along with his wife, Gail, owns the Vancouver winery. “Our club members who enjoy a glass of wine a day can have one with Bag in a Box Wine, and there’s no waste.

There’s no oxidation.”

– Stories by Michael Kelly

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Health & Wellness

Two Pink Power-themed fundraising events helped raise more than $4 million for the construction of Southwest Washington Medical Center’s new Kearney Breast Center.

Pink-Powered Philanthropy INITIATIVE BLAZES A TRAIL FOR HOSPITAL’S NEW KEARNEY BREAST CENTER

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aybe it was something in the coffee …

A few years ago, four women held a strategy session over hot java at their local Starbucks. On the table was the need for a revamped breast-care center at Southwest Washington Medical Center, and they were brainstorming about fundraising opportunities. What grew out of that meeting has happily surprised everyone involved.

“Our foundation exists to raise money for the medical center,” says Jean Rahn, executive director of the Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation. “These women and I were talking about how we’d like to do something to benefit the hospital’s ability to serve women. All their mothers had died from cancer, and so they were very motivated to do something. We settled on the project of breast health and breast cancer, because we needed a new breast-care center as our existing one is tucked away in a difficult-to-find place on the hospital campus.”

And so in May 2007, more than 700 women attended Pink Power Gone Wild!, the first of what would be two “Pink Power” events to raise funds for a new breast-care center. In addition to the more than $500,000 raised that evening, a $2.5 million gift from Lee and Connie Kearney was announced.

“The turnout was incredible; the evening was wonderful, and we raised a lot of money,” Rahn says. “So we decided to do

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it again in 2008 and take a completely different approach.”

The 2008 event, Pink Power Strikes Again!, was held at Big Al’s bowling alley, and this time around a few select gentlemen – in pink ties and cummerbunds, naturally – were on hand to help with tasks. The event raised $815,000 for the center.

“We didn’t think we could top the first year, but this took a different approach, and it was just great,” Rahn says. “People had bowling teams, and a lot of these women hadn’t bowled in more than 20 years, if ever. It was just fantastic.”

At the end of the day, the foundation was able to generate $4.1 million toward the center’s $5.7 million price tag. The new Kearney Breast Center will be a warm, welcoming place for the region’s women.

“There’s a lot of fear involved with getting a mammogram and other treatments,” Rahn says. “This will be easy to get to, highly visible and have the latest technology. It’s going to be beautiful, and we’re just thrilled that it’s happening.”

Pink Power is on hiatus temporarily, but organizers are planning a comeback soon.

“We’re taking a year off, but we’ll be back in 2010,” Rahn says. “We’ll have an event to raise funds for another area within the hospital. The whole concept has such force, power and community momentum that we want to keep it going.”

– Joe Morris VA N C O U V E R

Arts & Culture

Welcome to Our Play House LOCAL THEATER COMPANY THRIVES WITHIN HISTORIC OLD SLOCUM HOUSE

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eight-show season, the building is as busy as it ever has been, says D. Michael Heywood, president of the company’s board of directors. Heywood has been involved with the company since 1978.

“We try to do at least one old piece each year, such as Fallen Angels, an early work by Noel Coward, which we did in 2008,” Heywood says. “And then we try to do a mix of contemporary and middleaged shows, really trying to match the sensibilities of our faithful constituency.”

The house seats 65 comfortably, and with a season-ticket roster of 160 patrons, it’s no problem getting a good turnout for productions. That’s always been the case with Vancouver’s arts community and its patrons, which have kept the Old Slocum alive and thriving over the decades, Heywood says.

“We have a revolving cadre of people who are interested in theater, in keeping it alive in the face of a lot of stress, strain and other competition,” he says. “We

have about 15 people who have been involved for a number of years as actors and directors and patrons, so we’re able to run on a pretty thin shoestring and still produce very good shows. It really is a combination of the facility, the culture of the community and peoples’ love of being on stage and participating in the creation of a dramatic work.”

The company has an ongoing lease agreement with the city, which owns the house, and this also helps keep expenses low. And these days, while some small renovations are being studied, no major plans are in the works for the property.

“We had an ambitious plan to expand the house and move the theater to the newer part, but we realized we were talking about a $2 million or $3 million project,” Heywood says. “[For now] we’re going to continue with the idea of keeping the house as a cultural element in its own right and providing an opportunity for community theater.”

– Joe Morris

JEFF ADKINS

heater patrons get a bit of local history as well as a quality stage production when they visit the Old Slocum House Theater, a converted residence saved from the wrecking ball more than 40 years ago.

The home, which was moved to its Esther Short Park location in 1966, is Vancouver’s oldest nonprofit community theater. It is the last building standing in a former residential section of town that dates back to the mid-1800s. Built

by Charles W. and Laura Slocum as a modified Italianate villa, the structure has architectural features that include a curving stairway of rosewood and mahogany, ceiling medallions with patent dates of 1842 and 1846, an octagonal room and a marble fireplace.

With such a setting, it’s no surprise that the Slocum House Theater Company has found decades of success staging a variety of theatrical productions, recitals and concerts in the former dining room and sitting room area. And with a six- to

The Old Slocum House dates to the mid-1800s and was moved to its Esther Short Park location downtown in 1966.

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Sports & Recreation

Leadership Exercises NORTHWEST PERSONAL TRAINING TRANSFORMS TOP EXECUTIVES

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very well in marrying that concept to exercise,” says McMillan. “We take people from busy corporate backgrounds who have a lot of time demands and teach them to carve out time and add activity into their lives.”

Northwest Personal Training’s notable successes include working with one local businesswoman who went from barely being able to walk to losing 125 pounds.

She currently hikes, bikes and spins as a ballroom dancer, McMillan says.

“We really take a very simple approach to fitness,” McMillan notes. “We individualize our program by making personal lifestyle assessments and customizing our program to who you are.”

BRIAN M C CORD

igning up for a fitness plan at Northwest Personal Training won’t just change your physique; it will change your life, according to owner Alex McMillan.

Northwest Personal Training, with a 5,000 square-foot center in Vancouver and a 10,000-square-foot studio in Portland, boasts an impressive clientele that includes some of Clark County’s most successful executives.

Hard work done in the gym spills over to other aspects of life, McMillan says, and being in better shape can often lead to better performance in the office.

“People who tend to understand change from a business standpoint do

Instructor Leah Minick leads the Muscle and Cardio Blast class at Northwest Personal Training’s 5,000-square-foot fitness center in Vancouver.

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To keep clients engaged in the process, the staff at Northwest Personal Training gets creative.

For one client whose modest goal was simply to walk around the mall without getting tired, the staff turned dumbbells into shopping bags.

Northwest Personal Training also hosts an array of events ranging from obstacle challenges to team training, as well as activities including hiking, biking and snowshoeing.

“We keep it fresh,” McMillan says.

“We look at our facility as a means to get you out there and feeling great.”

The result is custom-fit plans that help individuals set realistic goals and meet them.

One of the reasons Northwest Personal Training proves successful is because of its trainers’ ability to work with clients and figure out reasons for exercise beyond the superficial.

McMillan says, “You have to understand why you want to lose weight.

Figure out how it will affect your home life, how it will affect your social life, your active life. Once people figure out why they want to lose 30 pounds, it becomes much easier to formulate a plan and stick to it for the right reasons.”

The commitment made to start living a healthier lifestyle can be the catalyst for many positive changes, both in and out of the gym.

“You perform better when you know you’re doing things to improve your life,” McMillan explains. “People that exercise and that have all that energy tend to be more creative. They tend to feel better about who they are.”

– Karen Schwartzman VA N C O U V E R

Education

Building Teams for Tomorrow HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS CRAFT PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE WORKFORCE

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rom entry-level to managerial training and support, the area’s higher education institutions’ programs benefit Vancouver and Clark County’s workforce from the top down.

Both Clark College and Washington State University Vancouver offer a variety of educational opportunities for individuals looking to gain access to the workforce, enhance an existing skill set or acquire new ones. And whether the approach is to provide hands-on training or a degree track, both are greatly enhancing the talent pool for local and regional employers.

At WSUV, the goal is to produce wellprepared graduates regardless of the field of study, says Chancellor Hal Dengerink.

With that in mind, the university has taken steps to further its offerings in fields of local interest, making it a vital partner in local economic development efforts.

“The community is heavily centered on the semiconductor industry, so we’ve invested heavily in our mechanical and electrical engineering programs, as well as our computer science degrees,” Dengerink says.

The university partners with local companies in research, an effort that will be bolstered with the completion of a new building planned for the electrical engineering program that will house a branch of the Washington Technology Center, Dengerink says.

At Clark College, workforce development is so important that it has been split into two areas, one focusing on corporate education and training, and another that is designed for entry- to mid-level employees who need to obtain and develop specific skill sets in order to find and keep good positions.

“We’ve coined the term ‘career pathways’ and look at adult basic education in the community,” says Danette Randolph, director of workforce education and economic development for the college. “We work to build career pathways and career ladders, getting students into the community college

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system at the entry point, and then having short certificate and other programs to the next momentum point that will help them along the pathway.”

On the corporate side, training takes two tracks: open enrollment courses in a variety of subjects that are largely noncredit, and professional development and small-business training that’s customized to the needs of a specific employer, says Todd Oldham, executive director of corporate and continuing education for the college.

“For specific companies, we do a needs analysis and then deliver a program to that facility,” Oldham says. “We do a lot of programs around process improvement and excellence, incumbent-worker training for people already on the job.

We’ve trained thousands of people and have succeeded in getting a lot of grants for our programs.”

By providing quality training at all levels, the schools are able to help the region’s current employers remain competitive while also luring new industry, notes Randolph.

“Businesses will come if you give them the workforce that they need,” she says.

– Joe Morris

What’s Online e Read more articles about Vancouver’s diverse learning environments by going online to imagesvancouver.com and clicking on “education.”

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Community Profile

VANCOUVER SNAPSHOT The diverse communities that compose Clark County provide residents with an excellent mix of small-town simplicity and urban energy, with tranquil neighborhoods, bustling downtowns and abundant recreational opportunities.

CLIMATE Clark County residents take jokes about the soggy Pacific Northwest in stride. The truth is, only a handful of days are wet and cold enough to keep them indoors. The temperate climate makes for lush forests, abundant foliage and green open spaces.

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Clark Public Utilities (360) 992-3000 www.clarkpublicutilities.com Comcast (888) 824-8264 www.comcast.com Northwest Natural Gas (360) 571-5465 www.nwnatural.com Qwest (800) 244-1111 www.qwest.com

HEALTH CARE

January Low Temperature

46 F January High Temperature

Vancouver/Clark County residents enjoy excellent health care, with a wide array

of physicians, surgeons and specialists. For a breakdown of medical services, visit imagesvancouver.com.

EDUCATION With nine school districts, a community college, several private schools, a major state university branch campus and state schools for people who are deaf and blind, Clark County offers a wealth of educational options. For a list of schools and other information, visit imagesvancouver.com.

54 F July Low Temperature

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77 F July High Temperature

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LOCAL UTILITIES City of Vancouver Water/Sewer (360) 696-8152 www.cityofvancouver.us

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

visit our

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Holiday Inn Express www.vancouverwahie.com

Southwest Washington Medical Center www.swmedicalcenter.org

Norris Beggs & Simpson www.nbsrealtors.com

The Vancouver Clinic www.thevancouverclinic.com

Precision Eye Care www.pecps.com

Washington State University – Vancouver www.vancouver.wsu.edu

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