west columbia gorge chamber of commerce monthly news

WEST COLUMBIA GORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY NEWS
CASCADE LOCKS • CORBETT • FAIRVIEW • SPRINGDALE • TROUTDALE • WOOD VILLAGE
MAY 2008
107 E HISTORIC COLUMBIA RIVER HWY
TROUTDALE, OREGON 97060
PHONE: 503-669-7473 • FAX: 503-492-3613
WWW.WESTCOLUMBIAGORGECHAMBER.COM
Calendar of Events
May 2
12 Noon
5pm - 9pm
May 5th
11am
May 6th
10:30 am
Wings & Wheels
Gorge Winds Aviation
First Friday Art Walk
Special Events Committee
Chamber Office
Membership Meeting
Chamber Office
May 7th
Business AM
May 8th
East Metro Economic Alliance
7:30 am
11:30 am
Troutdale Vision Clinic
226 E. Columbia River Hwy.
Fairview City Hall
May 12th
Summerfest
May 13th
Membership Committee
Noon
10:30 am
May 14th
7:30 am
May 15th
Noon
5:30 pm
Troutdale General Store
Chamber Office
Business AM
Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets
450 NW 257th Way #400
Community Action Team
Charburger
After Hours
Tapatio Restaurant
2441 SW CherryPark Rd.
May 16th
Wheels and Wings
May 19th
Special Events
11:45 am
11 am
Gorge Wind Aviation
Chamber Office
May 20th
Membership Committee
May 21st
Business AM
Clare Bridge
1201 SW Cherry Park Rd
Board Meeting
10:30 am
7:30 am
11:45 am
Chamber Office
Legacy Mt. Hood
May 26th
Summerfest
May 27th
Membership Committee
May 28th
Business AM
May 30th
Wheels and Wings
11:00 am
10:30 am
7:30 am
11:45 am
Troutdale General Store
Chamber Office
Riegelmann’s
301 E. Powell
Gorge Wind Aviation
N
C
Monthly Spotlight
indi Farah moved to Portland in 1979 after
graduating from Madison High School and
completing one year
of Community College in San Diego California. She was born
in Brantford, Ontario
Canada, the Hometown of “The Great
One” Wayne Gretzky.
Cindi’s father was also
a professional hockey
player in the WHL for
18 years. One of those
years he was a Portland
Buckaroo. She is the
oldest of five children
and has three sisters
and a brother. Cindi’s first job was at Pacific
First Federal in 1980 as a teller at the Downtown
Branch. She was trained in bookkeeping, the
vault, and new accounts. After four years she was
transferred to the Gateway Branch and worked
there as an Account Specialist until 1984. Cindi
was married in 1986 and began her family in
1988. Two years later she started her career with
Costco as a Caller and has held several positions
since then, including Loss Prevention, Membership and her current position as Marketing Representative. Cindi enjoys working with
people and loves her job with Costco. The kind
of products and services offered by Costco make
Cindi’s job fun as well as rewarding. She gets a
chance to use her creativity at work developing
benefits that improve the company. Cindi, is
active in the community and enjoys travel, photography, scrapbooking, jewelry making, baking,
yoga, working out, baseball and interior design.
Family and friends are important to Cindi so
you can often find her relaxing with them, and
her little dog DKNY at the family beach house.
This year Cindi has a lot to celebrate. Her son
is graduating from Western Oregon University
with a Business Degree, her parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, she became
a US Citizen and now has dual citizenship, and
she has been at Costco for twenty years. Congratulations on a great year, Cindi!
Please call Cindi at 503-258-3741, if you have
questions about “Exclusive Membership Offers”
through her Marketing Department.
Troutdale House
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
The Troutdale House by the Sandy River
will have a Grand Opening and Ribbon
Cutting May 1st from 6 pm to 9 pm. The
Ribbon Cutting will take place at 6:30 pm.
Owners Laura and Martin Burlus will be
blessing their marriage by renewing their
vows on this special occasion. They would
like you to attend the celebration and join
them for a light buffet and cake.
You are invited to enter a drawing to win
one of two prizes: a complimentary wedding or event to be held at the Troutdale
House or a photography package compliments of Martini Photography.
Advanced Placement Advantage
Randy Trani, Corbett High School Principal
he end of the year is a busy time at every
school. However, at Corbett High School
the month of May is a whirlwind. This year
students will take more than 340 Advanced
Placement Exams.
This is an astounding number when you consider that a school our size would be expected
to take less than 10. A student who passes an
Advanced Placement Exam can earn college
credit at nearly every university, college, or
community college in the nation.
Passing the exam is only the frosting on the
cake. Research consistently demonstrates that
students who take an Advanced Placement
course, even if they do not pass the Advanced
Placement Test, are much more successful in
college than their peers who did not take an
Advanced Placement Course.
T
INTEGRITY
COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP
COMMERCE
Director’s Message
T
he West Columbia Gorge Chamber
of Commerce representing the
communities of Fairview, Wood Village,
Troutdale, Springdale, Corbett and Cascade
Locks is holding a fundraising drawing. You
could win one of these exciting prizes:
Olympic Gym Family 6 Month Membership
New Members
A Romantic One Night Stay For Two
Silk Espresso
3030 NE Hogan Rd.
Gresham, OR 97030
503-666-4716
One Hour In An Airplane Simulator
Celebrity Foods
11818 SE Mill Plain Blvd. # 109
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-695-5156
2 Adults & 2 Children Enjoy the Indoor Pool
(Value $519)
In the Sunset Room, Enjoy a Bottle of
Champagne and Breakfast (Value $125)
Offered by Brickhaven Bed & Breakfast
Test Your Ability to Fly a Plane (Value $100)
Offered by Gorge Wind Aviation
Tickets Are $5. Proceeds to the WCGCC.
Drawing May 15th @ 5:30 pm at the WCGCC
After Hours held at Tapatio Restaurant in
Troutdale. Please call the chamber office to
participate, 503-669-7473. We look forward
your participation in this chamber fundraiser.
Diane McKeel, Executive Director
West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors 2007- 2008
Charisse Liaty
Phyllis Thiemann
Bank of the West
Brickhaven Bed & Breakfast
Mary Greenslade
Brad Fudge,
Celebrate Me Home
John Leamy
The Perotti Group
Jeff Anderson
KB Team Promotions
Max Maydew
Retired
DJ Simcoe
McMenamins Edgefield
Roger Vanderharr
Retired Fairview Mayor
Lennea Cordray
Worksource Oregon
Employment Dept.
Chris Sharpe
Avis Rent a Car
Board President
All-Stor Storage
Condominiums LLC
Fran Walsh
Legacy Mount Hood
Medical Center
Diane McKeel
Executive Director
WCGCC
Dawn Bly
Celebrate Me Home
Chuck Rhoads
Reynolds School Dist.
Barbara Kyle
East Metro
Association of Realtors
Steve Vanier
MBank
West Columbia Gorge Chamber Staff
Diane McKeel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Director
Anna Pinkerton . . . . . . . . . . . Marketing & Membership Director
Jana Hammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visitor Center Coordinator
(503) 669-7473 • Fax (503) 492-3613
info@westcolumbiagorgechamber.com
For a complete listing of West Columbia
Gorge Chamber of Commerce Members
visit us on the web:
www.westcolumbiagorgechamber.com
Honke Heating & Air Conditioning
840 NE Cleveland
Gresham OR, 97030
503-666-3725
Old Fashion Jazzy Barbeque
4259 SE 182nd,
Gresham, OR 97030
503-491-8631
Keith F. Flint
1046 SE 29th St.
Troutdale, OR 97060
503-804-1367
Maryhill Museum
35 Maryhill Museum Drive,
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-3734
Port of Cascade Locks
P.O. Box 307
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
541-374-8619
Jerry’s Custom Paint & Collision
2515 NW 11 Mile Ave
Gresham, OR 97030
503-667-8280
Adult Learning Systems of Oregon
345 E. Columbia River Highway
Troutdale, OR 97060
503-489-6560
Renewals
Paul Thalhofer Insurance
PO Box 177
Troutdale, OR 97060
503-665-3242
Thank You to the Contributors to the West
West Columbia Gorge Chamber Newsletter
Diane McKeel . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Director
Brad Fudge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board President
Steve Vanier . . . . . . . . . Economic Development
Finance
Mary Greenslade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marketing
Chris Sharpe . . . . . Special Events/Membership
Randy Trani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corbett Schools
Polly Malby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nutrition
Patricia Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Moments
Stacy Warden . . . . . . . . . . Recipe of the Month
The cities of Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale,
and Cascade Locks
Thanks to Our Spotlight and Pet Spotlight
contributors that change monthly
Matt Leamy . . . . . . . Layout, Design & Printing
Donna Leamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proof Reader
Anna Pinkerton . . . . . Advertising & Publishing
Do you have a timely article for the newsletter?
We would like to hear from you.
West Columbia Gorge Chamber Newsletter is the
official publication of the West Columbia Gorge
Chamber of Commerce
503-669-7473 Published twelve times each year.
Correction requested to: P.O. Box 245 Troutdale, OR 97060
Join Jeff Anderson and KB Team
Promotions as they Pay It Forward!
to help local charities!
Jeff purchased a 3-minute shopping spree through Oprah’s Big Give
program and KATU. All of the groceries and household items collected in
this 3-minute spree Jeff donated to My Sister’s House and Bethany House,
both local charities.
The shopping spree was held at Lamb’s Garden Home Thriftway, 7410 SW
Oleson Road in Portland on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. KATU
also filmed the event to be aired on their news program & AM Northwest.
Jeff was able to fill four carts with meat & cheeses along with some other
items for a grand total of $3,428.22 of goods which was distributed
between the two charities.
How can you help?
Go to www.oregonwebteam.com and click the “Big Give Link” to have
your donation go directly to My Sister’s House and Bethany House.
Your donation, no matter how small, will go to support the charities
below. Together, we can make much out of little. Help Jeff and KB
Team Promotions to Pay It Forward!
Your donations will help these local charities:
My Sister’s House is to be the stepping stone into a new life for women
and children, by helping to lead them in the pathway of continual
growth for a better future. My Sister’s House is a home for women
and children in transition. We offer educational opportunities, future
housing assistance, parenting classes, life-skill classes and spiritual
guidance opportunities. We are interested in the whole person and
want to assist any woman to better herself and her life situation by preparing her for a better future. Every family will leave our program life
skill confident and job skill ready for a future free of state assistance.
www.mysistershouse.net
Bethany House exists to provide a “shelter” home and services for single, expectant women and their future babies. We provide a loving home
environment that offers hope, encouragement, and confidence to face
the future. Preparation for a healthy birth and responsible motherhood
includes well-baby care, parenting classes, life skills, counseling, adoption counseling, education and employment opportunities, and communication skills. Bethany House seeks not only to provide basic needs,
but also to prepare women for productive futures. Our program’s
foundation is based on Christian principles and the love of God. We
believe His truth, grace, and power can change lives for the better in this
present age, and for eternity. Our “motto” is that Bethany House helps
by “Touching Two Lives at a Time ... and Generations Beyond, with the
love of God.” www.bethanyhousenet.org
Thank you to the following cooperating businesses
to make this Pay It Forward campaign successful!
KB Team Promotions, Oregon Web Team,
the Gresham Outlook & KATU
Comcast
Means Business
The Comcast Business Class Bundle:
Digital Voice, High-Speed Internet and Cable TV.
Starting at only $99 per month!
Call your local Comcast professional and get your office connected today.
Thai Tran
503-381-3730
Services not available in all areas. All services subject to terms and conditions of the Comcast Business Class Service Order Agreement and General Terms and Conditions. Custom installation charges may apply and rates vary. Prices
shown do not include equipment charges, taxes, franchise fees, or other charges. Activation fee may apply. Comcast Business Class Cable Service: Certain services available separately or as a part of other levels of service. Basic
Service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Available for private viewing venues only and is not intended for public viewing areas such as bars and restaurants, or residential addresses. Not all programming available
in all areas. Comcast Business Class High Speed Service: Many factors affect speed. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Comcast Business Class Digital Voice: Unlimited package pricing applies only to direct-dialed
calls to locations in the U.S., certain U.S. territories, and Canada. No separate long-distance carrier connection available. Digital Voice service (including 911/ emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Certain
customer premises equipment may not be compatible. Call for restrictions and complete details. ©'a9 2008 Comcast. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Microsoft product names and
logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Please use these Retail Business Members of the WCGCC when shopping for items they sell:
A
The condition of our local streets is rated using
the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). The PCI
is a widely utilized methodology for evaluating
and tracking the serviceability of paved streets.
The PCI is represented on a scale from 0 to 100,
with 0 representing a completely failed street and
100 representing a brand new street or a street
in like-new condition. This 100-point scale is
broken down into the following categories: Excellent (90-100), Good (70-90), Fair (50-70), Poor
(25-50), Very Poor (1-25) and Failed (0). The City
conducts an ongoing inspection cycle to evaluate
and update the ratings for all of our streets.
The City is pursuing a preventive maintenance
strategy to prolong the life and maintain the
quality of our streets while controlling long term
costs. Under this strategy, funds are applied early
and at regular intervals in the life of the pavement to sustain our desired quality level (“Good”
or better) and to prevent the need for much more
costly repairs in the future. Currently, the City’s
strategy for preventive maintenance employs the
following cycle: crack-seal where needed every
three years, slurry seal every seven years, overlay
every 28 years. In addition to this, there are currently a few streets in the “Poor” and “Very Poor”
categories that, due to age and existing deterioration, will require reconstruction.
Currently, the City maintains over 41 miles of
local streets. The City’s goal is to repair and
maintain all of our local streets to achieve a
“Good” rating or better. The present condition
of our streets is: Excellent 31%, Good 50%,
Fair 16%, Poor 2%, and Very Poor 1%. Today,
the City does not have any streets that are in the
Failed category. The City’s streets are relatively
young, for the most part, but they are aging at a
much faster rate than revenue for maintenance
is growing.
A crack-seal is a treatment in which any cracks
that have developed in a street are sealed with
a tar-like substance. This prevents water from
seeping underneath the pavement, which can
lead to further structural problems and reduce
the pavement’s life. The slurry seal goes a step
further, coating the entire surface of the street
in a mixture of liquid asphalt and very fine
aggregate. This renews the surface of the street
and counteracts the effects of weathering while
bolstering the previous crack-seal applications.
Finally, the overlay places a full layer of traditional asphalt concrete over the existing surface,
renewing the surface as well as the structural
strength of the pavement.
If no maintenance is performed on a street, it
will deteriorate down the PCI scale as it ages,
with the rate of deterioration increasing over
time. If a street is allowed to slide far enough
down the scale, repair and maintenance costs
begin to increase dramatically. Conversely,
by performing relatively less expensive maintenance early in the life of the pavement, the
quality level can be sustained and long term
maintenance costs can be reduced.
Even with the efficiencies achieved through the
preventive maintenance program, the funding outlook is not favorable. Given our current
revenue stream and the many other expenses
associated with maintaining the City’s transportation network, we presently project that we will
have just under $130,000 annually to spend on
pavement preservation in the City of Troutdale
over the next ten years. Beyond ten years, available funds will be less, though the maintenance
Dry Cleaning Station
P.O. Box 3459, Gresham • 503-674-0130
Amish Wrokbench Furniture
235 E Columbia River Hwy. Troutdale
Fairview Chevron
1605 NE 223rd Ave., Fairview
503-666-8970
Art, Ink, Letters
319 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-465-0055
Street Maintenance Funding Outlook
s you’ve probably seen on local, regional and
national news reports, communities across
the nation are facing significant challenges in
funding the maintenance of their infrastructure.
Unfortunately, Troutdale is no exception. This
is particularly true of our local street system.
Action Motor Sports
22455 NE Halsey, Fairview • 503-669-2000
burden will be greater. At this funding level, we
cannot fully fund the preventive maintenance
program and PCI’s will continually decrease over
time. Preliminary analysis indicates that to fully
fund streets maintenance and meet the City’s
goal of 100% of streets rated “Good” or better,
the City will need to generate approximately
$450,000 in additional revenue annually.
Troutdale is not alone. Many jurisdictions are
confronting similar problems. The state imposed gas tax rate, the primary funding source
for street maintenance in Oregon, has not been
raised since the early 1990’s. At the same time,
more streets are being added to the maintenance burden on a continuous basis and the
unit cost of maintenance is increasing. Many
jurisdictions are already taking action locally.
Seventeen Oregon cities have enacted local motor fuel taxes and at least 19 Oregon cities have
instituted local street utility fees to generate
the needed revenue. Some cities have enacted
a combination of these two revenue streams.
Several other cities in Oregon are currently
contemplating similar measures.
This article has been a preview of the streets
maintenance funding challenges facing the City
as we look toward the future. City staff will be
analyzing funding options in greater depth and
will be working with community leaders and concerned citizens to evaluate potential solutions.
If you have any suggestions, questions or
concerns related to street funding issues,
contact the City of Troutdale’s
Chief Engineer, Travis Hultin,
at
503.674.7265
or at
thultin@ci.troutdale.or.us.
Bev Frank Antiques
387 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-665-1640
Inspir Medispa
113 W Historic Columbia River, Troutdale
503-669-0217
KB Team Promotions
PO Box 609, Fairview • 503-669-7313
Caswell Gallery
201 W Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-492-2473
Leamy Printing & Design
105 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-492-1243
Celebrate Me Home
319 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-618-9394
Lowe’s
1000 NE Wood Village Blvd., Wood Village
503-667-1005
Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets
450 NW 257th Way Suite400, Troutdale
503-669-8060
Premier Investments
219 E Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale
503-491-9303
Columbia River Gallery
305 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-491-8407
Riegelmann’s
301 E Powell, Gresham • 503-665-4158
Costco
4849 NE 138th, Portland • 503-258-3741
Creative Edge
97 W Historic Columbia River Hwy. Troutdale
503-492-9937
The Design Center
149 E Historic Columbia River, Troutdale
503-491-1776
Rustic With A Twist
329 E Columbia
River Hwy,
Troutdale
503-492-0595
The Studio Salon
385 E. Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-667-8179
Troutdale Antique Mall
359 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-674-6820
Troutdale General Store
289 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-492-7912
Troutdale Mixer Shop
3030 NE Hogan Rd., Suite A, Gresham
503-665-5227
Troutdale Vision Clinic
226 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale
503-492-3897
Wal Mart Stores Inc.
23500 NE Sandy Blvd, Wood Village
503-665-9200
Zan’s Flowers
72 NW Ava Avenue, Gresham • 503-667-7856
I
’ve had several people tell me they enjoy
starting off their business day with the terrific West Columbia Gorge Chamber Members
at a Business AM. It’s educational and fun to
see the members showcase their individual
businesses at these AM’s each week.
Patricia Smith of Good Samaritan Fairlawn
dazzled the members with her technological
expertise; Charisse Liaty of Bank of the West had
two of the cutest baskets (including a Bank of the
West Bear for each) for a drawing; Darren Simonis
of Action Motor Sports; thrilled the members
with a promise of test rides on any motorized vehicle; John Anderson, of the City of Troutdale,
gave an overview on how the City is organized.
Our last AM for April will be held at Always
Perfect Catering on April 30th. I hope you
have your newsletter by then.
Columbia River Gallery
305 E. Hist. Columbia River Hwy
Troutdale, Oregon 97060
Award Winning Framing
Fine Art Gifts
(503) 491-8407
Fax (503) 491-8808
www.columbiarivergallery.com
Donna Erwin
Tues-Sat 10-5
Sun 11-4
We enjoyed the largest After Hours this year at
Leah McMahon’s Silk Espresso & Pastries. She
asked each member or guest to take a gift package which included Silk Bucks and Chocolate
Coffee Beans and give it to a non-member;
certainly a fun way to pass a good thing forward.
Thank you to all that hosted a WCGCC AM or
an After Hours during the month of April. We
do have the “BEST” Chamber Members.
Anna Pinkerton
WCGCC Marketing & Membership Director
N
Membership Committee Update
T
he Membership Committee has been
diligent for the past several months. We
have had between ten and fifteen members
participate. This month we elected a Membership Committee Chair, Jo Anne Mead the
Manager of US Bank. Dianne Scott, Certified
Nutritional Therapist is the Secretary and the
committee consists of Cosmo Salibello, Optimeyes, Polly Malby, Juice Plus, Michael Stewart,
Stewart Marketing Group, Chris Card, Olympic Gym, Jerry Nordstrom, Life Skill & Stuff,
Adrian Trumbo, Paychex, Steve Brown, Kelvin
Brown & Associates, Neil Robbins, Willamette
Real Estate Group, Ben Chumov, Dry Cleaning
Station. Geoff Kenway, National Association
for the Self Employed and Anna Pinkerton,
WCGC. We have been working on improving
membership services and have created a new list
of services for the WCGC Board to approve.
Further, we have planned a Membership Drive
for the month of June. Watch for more details
to follow.
Membership West
Columbia Gorge Chamber
Special Events Committee
O
ur Committee is working on a special
Business AM to be held June 18th at
Olympic Gym. The Speed Networking AM will
bring two chambers together. It will include the
West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
and the East Portland Chamber of Commerce
members as well as guests for a fun filled morning of getting to know one another.
Those wishing to volunteer for this project
should call Jana Hammer at 503-669-7473.
This is a great way to become acquainted with
businesses in our area.
What’s Happening at the
Fairview-Columbia Library
Opened in 2001, Fairview-Columbia Library
serves residents in Fairview, Troutdale, Corbett and other east-county communities.
Fairview-Columbia offers books as well as
audio and visual materials, periodicals and
electronic resources in English and Spanish
that can be accessed on site or from a home
computer. Fairview-Columbia customers have
access to Multnomah County Library’s systemwide catalog of two million books and other
library materials.
The library features a special children’s area
complete with a large window seat and childsized furniture. Fairview-Columbia’s meeting
room is available at no charge for community
meetings and events on a first-come, firstserved basis. It has a 20-person capacity.
Squirm like a Bookworm
Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Performer Cinda Tilgner presents a bilingual early word recognition performance for shapes, colors, numbers, nursery
rhymes. She incorporates scarves, instruments, clap, tap,
hop, crawl, and dance to increase physical activity, balance,
and strength.
Research Your Family History
Saturday, May 10, 2008 2-5 p.m.
Janet Irwin, librarian and family history expert, will talk
about genealogy and family history research. She will
cover Multnomah County Library resources, including the
specialized genealogy collection at the Central Library (the
newspaper index, ship passenger lists, military records), the
genealogy databases available through the library, (HeritageQuest and Ancestry.com.), and some of the Internet
resources available to genealogists. There will be time for
participants to use the databases and online resources, as
well as to ask questions.
Teen Council
Monday, May 12, 2008 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Toddler Storytime
Thursday, May 1, 2008 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Origami
Sunday, May 18, 2008 2-3:30 p.m.
Preschool Storytime
Thursday, May 1, 2008 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Homeschool Book Group
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 1-2 p.m.
Plush Pals
Sunday, May 4, 2008 2-4 p.m.
Artist Shanon Scholian will show you how to create small
sewn animals and embellish them with bells and ribbon.
Homeschool Book Group for Teens
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2-3 p.m.
Tiny Tots
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12-12:45 p.m.
Pageturners
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Engage in stimulating conversation about books, exchange
perspectives about characters and plot, and get to know your
neighbors. Read “Life on the Color Line: The True Story
of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black” by Gregory
Howard Williams. A stunning journey to the heart of the
racial dilemma in this country. Everyone will be enriched by
reading the unforgettable tale.
Just Duct-y: Roses to Last a Lifetime
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 3:30-5 p.m.
Moms will love these roses that you make yourself out of
duct tape. For ages 7 and up.
Toddler Storytime
Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Guitar Hero
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4-6 p.m.
Senior Moments
Give Me a Break
by Patricia Smith
A
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day Brunch?
T
hen you might want to make
reservations at Multnomah Falls
Lodge. Enjoy your scenic drive up the
Columbia River Gorge and you will
find authentic northwestern cuisine,
served in a rustic, romantic setting.
The Lodge offers an impressive menu
selection for all meals of the day, but
they will be featuring some incredible selections for Mother’s Day. The
Brunch menu will offer Eggs Benedict,
Crab, Salmon, Homemade Desserts,
Crepes and much more. Brunch will
be served from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The price is $24.95. If you miss out
on this holiday Brunch, Multnomah
Falls Lodge has graciously shared their
most requested Brunch recipe that you
can try at home. Whether it is a family
outing, a stop on a scenic drive, or a
romantic evening, Multnomah Falls
Lodge will make the occasion a memorable one. Call today to make your
reservations. Telephone and Dining
Reservations: 503 695-2376
Caramel French Toast
1 cup butter
4 teaspoons light corn syrup
10 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups brown sugar
1 loaf white bread
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend butter, brown sugar and
corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Pour mixture into an ungreased 13x9 baking dish.
Cut bread into pieces and place over the top of the caramel
sauce. Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over
bread. Bake 45 minutes to one hour, until eggs have set.
re you providing care for an elderly
family member or friend? Then you
are part of the approximately 50 million Americans who are providing care
to the elderly. Even a few hours of care a
week makes a difference and can help the
elderly avoid moving into a more restrictive or costly kind of care. Although most
of this care is happily provided by family
members, it can be very stressful. The
stress can cause physical, emotional and
financial problems and can result in the
caregiver needing care themselves.
If you are a caregiver make sure you give
yourself a break and get some respite care
for your loved one. What is respite? Respite is short-term, temporary relief that
allows the caregiver to take time for themselves, care for their family, take a vacation, a long nap or get a good night’s sleep.
A caregiver should not feel guilty about
needing and taking a break. Taking care of
oneself makes for a better caregiver.
There are many options for finding respite care to support the caregiver. Begin
by talking to relatives or friends. Many
who would be happy to give a few hours
of respite or check in on a homebound
person when you are on vacation, or give
you a break from errands or laundry
chores. Even a few hours can help. For
elders needing more care there are several
options. Home care agencies can provide
from a few hours to around the clock care.
Most care communities including nursing
homes, assisted living, residential care
and retirement homes will provide respite
care. There are also adult day care programs that provide half day and whole day
care that includes group social activities.
The cost of respite will vary greatly according to need. Some insurance plans pay for
respite and Medicare will pay for respite
as part of hospice. Some services may be
provided on a sliding scale fee also. However, it is money well spent to maintain the
health of the caregiver and much less costly
than long term care in a facility.
Patricia Smith is Marketing and Resource
Development Director for Good Samaritan Society Fairlawn Village in Gresham.
Shopping Local
Shopping Local Commentary
by William Parker
by Donna Erwin
P
rior to freeway systems, most shopping was
done locally along the main street of small
towns. Everything you needed for everyday life
could be found practically within walking distance of each other. After that came strip malls
and “the mall,” where the stores were strategically placed within an order that along the way
to finding what you came there for, you’d also
find all sorts of other things to buy you didn’t
even know you needed! That was brought to an
extreme with the mega mall, such as the Mall
of America in Minneapolis, where the author
points out that, if a birthing center and a
funeral home were added, there’d be no reason
to ever leave! Nowadays, the mall has become a
social hangout for teenagers.
I am the owner of Columbia River Gallery
in downtown Troutdale. I read this article in
my trade magazine recently written by William Parker, a picture framer. I thought it was
an interesting article on the way Americans
shop and how these trends continue to evolve.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Of
course the same shopper will go to Fred Meyer,
Wal-Mart and Costco and those stores serve
their purpose well, but the desire remains for
a more intimate, less hassled, service oriented
specialty shopping experience in one’s own
community. There’s simply no imitation for
the real thing and I find it very personally
rewarding to be a part of it!
Newer shopping centers being built today have
a sort of Disney resemblance to the old Main
Street, USA, so it has almost come full circle.
People are craving the quaint ambiance and
specialty store shopping experience of yesteryear. Today’s shopper is very much destination
oriented. The internet provides easy access to
find exactly the item they want and tells them
exactly where to go to get it. Busy people preshop online. Then, when they actually go to
buy, they prefer to do so without the traffic,
mobs of people and endless searching. That’s
where the specialty small retailer comes in!
Stop by Columbia River Gallery the next time
you need the expertise of custom framing, or
a gift for someone such as jewelry, a photo
album or sculpture…. or something unique to
hang on your wall…or you just need to replace
a broken piece of glass! We can do that! We’re
located at 305 E. Columbia River Hwy. in
downtown Troutdale. www.columbiarivergallery.com (503) 491-8407 Ask for Donna!
The great advantages to shopping at or operating a store on a real main street in a real
downtown are many for customer and retailer
alike. The ambiance is real. Customers and
store owners get to know each other by their
first names and become not just business acquaintances, but friends. Merchants don’t just
punch a time clock, but pour their hearts and
souls into serving their community. The traffic is usually less, the parking better, and you
don’t have to fight your way through the crowd.
Amongst merchants, there is a camaraderie
that is valuable and unmatched. We share ideas
and information. We encourage each other,
help each other and empathize with each other
over the riggers of what it takes to be everything
to everybody on a daily basis while operating a
small one or two person shop.
Troutdale First Friday 2008
May 2nd
June 6th
July 11th
August 1st
September 5th
October 3rd
November 7th
December 5th
I is for Iron Rich foods and the Immune system
What’s Up in Cascade Locks for May
M
ay proves to be yet another busy month
in Cascade Locks.
May 3rd begins with a clean up in conjunction with SOLV. Debora Lorang of Lorang
Fine Arts and Gorgeous Gifts is once again coordinating this effort and will be ready to help
volunteers by 9am. The cleanup will be from
10am-2pm. All participation would be greatly
appreciated. Last year families, students and
their friends showed up and collected a record
amount of litter and garbage.
This event takes place in the Spring and Fall
which gets the City ready for the thousands of
visitors we enjoy throughout the summer season. The Fall cleanup helps get the City back
in shape for the winter months.
by Phyllis Thiemann
May 17-18th the PSU Gorge Invite Collegiate Regatta will take place in the Marine
Park. This will be in conjunction with the NW
Intercollegiate Sailing Association with is the
governing body of intercollegiate sailing in the
Northwest. There are 10 schools which participate, including schools from Washington,
Oregon and British Columbia.
More information on this event as well as upcoming sailing events can be found by visiting
the newly updated website for the Columbia
River Racing Association at www.cgra.org .
The Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge is back
for the summer season. Weekend brunch and
dinner cruises are always a great way to relax
as well as show out of town visitors the beauty
of the Gorge from the river. Watch the Na-
tive Americans fishing from their platforms
and paddle under the Historic Bridge of
the Gods. For more information including
complete schedule and fare information, visit
www.Portlandspirit.com
Check out the Lorang Fine Art Gallery and
Gorgeous Gifts or stop in the Pacific Crest
Pub for some of their salmon chowder. Drive
through and get a world famous and memory inspiring ice cream cone, or check out
Johnny’s Deli for some great hand scooped ice
cream in a freshly made waffle cone. Or just
sit next to the river and take in the scenery in
the Locks Café while enjoying a glass of beer
or some local wine.
by Polly Malby
I
ron rich foods improve the body’s ability to
transport oxygen to every cell so that it can
function well. When deprived of oxygen, we feel
tired and sluggish like a wilted flower. In addition, it is harder for the immune system to do its
job of fighting off bacterial and viral diseases.
Finally, to improve iron absorption and immune function, look for foods that have the
richest colors - deep green, leafy vegetables,
purple and blue berries, and orange and yellow fruits. For vibrant health, aim to eat at
least one serving of each color per day!
Foods rich in iron include meats, legumes,
and vegetables. Absorption of iron is doubled
when we combine green leafy vegetables with
a bit of meat at meal time. Cooking in a cast
iron pot can increase available iron by 2-3%
according to Dr Lukaski at the USDA Human
Research Center in North Dakota.
For more information and speaker availability, contact Polly Malby, CNM, MSN at
www.passion4prevention.com, 503-6955784, 1-800-832-3946.
Just remember, you are always welcome in the
“Heart of the Gorge.”
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The Lowe’s Story
Carl Buchan later purchased the company from
his brother-in-law and partner, James Lowe.
Buchan anticipated the post-World War II
building boom and concentrated on selling only
hardware, appliances and hard-to-find building
materials. By eliminating wholesalers and dealing
directly with manufacturers, Lowe’s established a
lasting reputation for low prices. Sales grew over
time, and stores opened in neighboring towns
throughout western North Carolina.
The company went public in 1961, and began
trading on the New York Stock Exchange in
1979 (NYSE: LOW). During this time, U.S.
housing starts soared and professional builders
became Lowe’s loyal customers, comprising
most of Lowe’s business. In 1982,Lowe’s had
its first billion-dollar sales year, earning a
record profit of $25 million. Lowe’s stores then
reported serving a new type of customer: Do-
Anticipating DIY needs while still accommodating contractors, Lowe’s began to enlarge its
stores and expanded its merchandise offerings.
The modern Lowe’s began in 1994, when its new
store expansion consisted of only stores greater
than 85,000 square feet of selling space. Expansion continues as Lowe’s opens a new store on
average every three days with 117,000-squarefoot (117K) stores in metro markets and newer
94,000-square-foot (94K) stores in small to
mid-sized markets. Lowe’s opened its first stores
in Canada in December 2007 and plans to open
its first stores in Mexico in 2009. The Lowe’s in
Wood Village opened in 2001.
Lowe’s stores stock 40,000 products and have
hundreds of thousands more available by special
order -- offering everything customers need to
build, maintain, beautify and enjoy their homes.
Although times have changed since Lowe’s first
opened its doors in 1946, Lowe’s values have
not -- the company remains committed to
offering quality home improvement products
at the lowest prices, while delivering superior
customer service.
For more information, visit the local Lowe’s in
Wood Village at 1000 NE Wood Village Boulevard or our website at Lowe’s.com
A health insurance
company that makes
y o u f e e l b e t t e r.
503-243-3948 I 1-800-578-1402
www.odscompanies.com
M E D I C A L • D E N TA L • P H A R M A C Y
INDIVIDUAL • GROUP • MEDICARE
COLUMBIA GORGE PREMIUM OUTLETS
by: Marti Ortolani
L
u Lu the Cocker Spaniel came into
Shereen Spector and her husband
Jim Gurtisen’s lives in a bit of a around
about way. Shereen’s last pet was an adult
Cocker Spaniel from the Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group. They lost her after an
illness and Shereen told her husband
she would like to find a puppy. Jim, the
Optometrist at Troutdale Vision Clinic,
sometimes works outside the Clinic. On
one of these occasions he met a Nurse at a
senior care facility who is connected with
a Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group. In turn
the Nurse heard about a mother, a father
and six puppies that had been abandoned
due do the death of their owner. This dog
family was residing through the Humane Society at a Dog Foster Home. To
Shrereen’s delight she was able to adopt
one of these adorable puppies; a little gal
they named Lu Lu Belle after a friend of
Shrereen’s. Soon they started calling her
Lu Lu. Lu Lu is not only cute she is also
very smart. She poses for photos, can be
a real ham, and has a great showy smile.
Yes, she does smile! She is also a great
hunter. Shereen and Jim were raising
pheasants and on a couple of different occasions one escaped. Lu Lu was on the case
both times and returned the birds without
a scratch. Lu Lu has also been known to
pull moles right out of the ground. This
takes a keen eye, fast legs and strong jaws.
Moles are not just waiting for a dog to
happen by, they are down their hole in a
split second. Shereen and Jim enjoy going
fishing and so does Lu Lu. Her favorite
place on the boat is the bow. She is right
at home with the wind and spray in her
face. She likes to dig as most dogs do, but
along the shoreline Shereen’s sure she is
digging for those elusive clams. Lu Lu can
also do tricks; upon request she will sit, lie
down, dance, walk on two legs, catch, and
talk. These feats only happen when there is
food or a treat in the offering. Remember
we said she is a smart dog. Lu Lu goes to
work with Shrereen so you can meet her at
the Troutdale Vision Clinic in downtown
Troutdale. You can also meet and ask
questions of Shereen and Jim, the owners
of the Clinic. Call them at 503-258-3741
for more information on eye care, glasses,
contacts and eyeware accessories.
P
erhaps you have noticed an increase in the
presence of outlet shopping centers across
the nation. Shopping continues to grow as
the primary activity of travelers in the United
States. Outlet shopping in particular has
become a key component of travel itineraries
for the value-conscious visitor market. Today
more than ever, consumers seek value and are
enticed by finding designer labels and name
brands for less, making shopping at outlet
centers more popular than ever.
Situated in easily accessible locations near accommodations and other attractions, Chelsea centers
offer an attractive setting that makes shopping an
exciting and pleasant experience for the whole
family. Visitor services and amenities provide
a wide range of services, including Customer
Service Centers, international sizing charts and
multi-lingual services, dining options, ATM’s,
gift certificates and gift cards, stroller rentals and
wheelchairs. Some centers also offer foreign currency exchange and locker rentals.
Outlet centers work in many ways to attract
visitors and this benefits other area businesses
as well. Savvy shoppers from around the world
know that when an outlet center is part of the
Chelsea family of Premium Outlet Centers
across the nation, they will be sure to find a
unique and distinctive shopping experience.
Each center is a shopping attraction and destination in its own right, offering factory-direct
savings of 25% to 65% or more every day and
a distinctive, upscale mix of leading designer
and quality name brand outlet stores.
Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets in Troutdale is part of Chelsea Premium Outlets, one
of the world’s leading outlet shopping destinations located throughout the United States.
Consumers enjoy the value of high-quality
merchandise at discounted prices at a wide
variety of designer and name brand merchants
offering clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry,
housewares, gifts, travel items, toys, gourmet
shops, specialty items and many more.
Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets features 45
name brand stores offering discounts of 25% to
65% every day. Located 15 minutes east of Portland off I-84 at Exit 17, the center is conveniently situated at the gateway to the Columbia
River Gorge. The center offers a wide range of
amenities, including: ATM, public restrooms,
stroller rentals, gift cards, complimentary
wheelchair, kiddie rides, massage chair, vending
machines, and an information center. Please
visit our center website for more information.
Chamber members are invited to visit the center’s management office (Suite 400) and receive
a complimentary VIP Coupon Book offering
exclusive discounts from participating stores.
Contact: Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets
Marti Ortolani • Marketing Assistant
450 NW 257th Way • Troutdale, OR 97060
Phone: (503) 669-8060Fax: (503) 666-3062
www.premiumoutlets.com/columbiagorge
WEST COLUMBIA GORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Lowe’s story began in North Carolina
when H. Carl Buchan, part owner of the North
Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned
creating a chain of hardware stores. At the time,
Lowe’s was a typical, small-town hardware store
selling everything from overalls to wash tubs,
work boots and even horse collars.
It-Yourself homeowners seeking to improve the
value of their properties.
PO BOX 245
TROUTDALE, OREGON 97060
ounded in 1946, Lowe’s has grown from a
small hardware store to the 2nd largest home
improvement retailer worldwide, the 8th largest
retailer in the U.S. and 14th largest in the world.
PHONE: 503-669-7473
WWW.WESTCOLUMBIAGORGECHAMBER.COM
F
Pet Spotlight