images cowlitz county, wa: 2010

Video peek at the bustling Port

of Longview

What’s Online

s essssssssssssss eeeeeeeeee

Natural SelectionsOutdoor enthusiasts find

mountain of opportunities

ENROLLING RIGHT ALONGLCC sees increase in student population

SOMETHING’S ALWAYS BREWINGCaffeine scene buzzes with unusual options

SPONSORED BY THE KELSO LONGVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND COWLITZ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

COWLITZ COUNTY, WASHINGTON

2010 | IMAGESCOWLITZCOUNTY.COM

®®

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U.S. Bank Building1452 Hudson St., Ste. 208Longview, WA 98632(360) 423-9921www.cowlitzedc.com

1563 Olympia WayLongview, WA 98632(360) 423-8400 www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

The Voices of Business –

Facilitating Growth Through

Leadership & Action

Cowlitz Economic Development Council and Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Networking and New Business Contacts

Business Advocacy on Legislative and

Government Issues

Business and Community Information

Referrals and Marketing Opportunities

Business Seminars, Workshops and

Counseling Services

Site Location

Permit and Process Facilitation

Incentives

Policy Development

Demographics

Industrial Revenue Bonds

Washington Manufacturing Services

Foreign Trade Zone

HUB Zone Certification

Strong and Influential Membership

a

Working Together:

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

www.cowlitzedc.com

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2010 EDITION | VOLUME 5


®

CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 NATURAL SELECTIONSFrom rippling streams to lush forests, the natural beauty of Cowlitz County is a lure for those seeking the solace and fun of the great outdoors.

14 BUILDING A GALLERY WITHOUT WALLSA wealth of public art enriches everyday life throughout local communities.

18 SOMETHING’S ALWAYS BREWINGThe caffeine scene bustles with many unusual options for residents who are truly passionate about their coffee.

22 ENROLLING RIGHT ALONGLower Columbia College sees the largest student population increase in its history.

COWLITZ BUSINESS 34 Open for Business

Industries benefi t from a superior transportation and energy infrastructure.

36 Biz Briefs

38 Chamber Report

39 Economic Profile

DEPARTMENTS

8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Cowlitz County culture

26 Image Gallery

28 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Cowlitz County

41 Health & Wellness

42 Arts & Culture

45 Sports & Recreation

47 Education

49 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

ON THE COVER Cedar Creek Photo by Todd Bennett

34

COWLITZ COUNT Y IMAGESCOWLITZCOUNT Y.COM 3

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®

What’s Online Onnnlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

imagescowlitzcounty.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PICTURE PERFECT

VIDEOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages gives readers a taste of what makes Cowlitz County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

LOCAL FLAVOR

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

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.

From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

SENIOR EDITOR LISA BATTLES

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS SUSAN CHAPPELL, JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, ANNE GILLEM, GRETA SHARP

DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW

SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER ELIZABETH WEST

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER,

IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER JESSICA MANNER

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD

WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Images Cowlitz County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce and Cowlitz Economic

Development Council 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 [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

1563 Olympia Way • Longview, WA 98632Phone: (360) 423-8400 • Fax: (360) 423-0432


Cowlitz Economic Development Council1452 Hudson St., Suite 208 • Longview, WA 98632

Phone: (360) 423-9921 • Fax: (360) 423-1923www.cowlitzedc.com

VISIT IMAGES COWLITZ COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESCOWLITZCOUNTY.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.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce and Cowlitz Economic Development Council



www.lowercolumbia.edu

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Enjoy a Wee Bit o’ ScotlandPeople converge to celebrate all things Scottish and

Celtic in Kelso each September during the Kelso Highlander

Festival in Tam O’Shanter Park. The weekend’s activities

include a fun run/walk 15K road race, a silent auction to help

support the festival, a highland dance competition, highland

team games, a piping competition and more musical

entertainment. On Sunday, two Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship

services are held, the Kelso Rotary Club sponsors a duck race,

and a golf tournament is held at Three Rivers Golf Course.

Fountain of YouthThe business scene in Cowlitz County has gotten

a shot of energy, thanks to a united front created by young

professional leaders. Lower Columbia Professionals, an

initiative affiliated with the Kelso Longview Chamber of

Commerce, formed in summer 2007. Its mission is to

promote and encourage the next generation of business

and its professionals through community involvement,

networking and education.

Find Old Favorites in Kalama

Looking for an unusual gift or a rare item for your antiques collection? Your chances of finding them are great in Kalama, which boasts more than 200 antique dealers, along with artists, restaurants and specialty shops. The tiny town’s vibrant Main Street is where most of the variety may be found.

Summer is an especially memorable time in the downtown district, as locals and visitors gather the first weekend of each month from June to October for the Saturday Market and Antique Street Fair. Business owners and antique dealers run specials on fair days‚ and as many as 15 out-of-town vendors participate each month. To kick off the season, hundreds gather each June for the Kalama Artwalk & Saturday Market, which features a weekend filled with local art displays, live music and fresh produce.

8 IMAGESCOWLITZCOUNT Y.COM COWLITZ COUNT Y

Almanac

COWLITZ

140140

4

411

50050

503

504

5

Longview

VancouverVanc

Kelso

WoodlandOREGON

Kalama

Castle Rock

POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE)Cowlitz County: 101,254

Longview: 36,562

Kelso: 12,188

LOCATIONThe Kelso-Longview area is a scenic corner of

southwest Washington, situated at the confluence

of three rivers with a backdrop of green forests

and white-capped mountains.

BEGINNINGSCowlitz County was officially established in 1854,

and its current county seat, Kelso, was designated

in 1922. The county takes its name from the

Cowlitz Indian tribe.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONKelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

1563 Olympia Way

Longview, WA 98632

Phone: (360) 423-8400, Fax: (360) 423-0432


Cowlitz Economic Development Council1452 Hudson St., Suite 208P.O. Box 1278Longview, WA 98632Phone: (360) 423-9921, Fax: (360) 423-1923www.cowlitzedc.com

Cowlitz County At A Glance

What’s Online eTake a virtual tour of Cowlitz County, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagescowlitzcounty.com.

Let’s Get Moving, PeopleThere’s a local group that wants nothing more than for you to feel your

best and live well. The Healthy Lifestyles Coalition’s Cowlitz on the Move

project is specifically aimed at encouraging residents to exercise, eat

nutritious foods and – if it applies – stop smoking. The coalition is a

group of more than 30 organizations in Cowlitz County that formed

in 2005 through the support of the Cowlitz County Health Department

and Pathways 2020. The group provides a variety of resources for those

seeking to improve their health and quality of life, including detailed

information on area recreational opportunities, on its Web site,

www.cowlitzonthemove.org.

Cowlitz County

Splendid Sounds for Every Season

The Southwest Washington

Symphony enters its 43rd

season in 2009-10. Besides its

Fall Pops and Winter Classical

concerts, the symphony also

performs pops music at Lake

Sacajawea as part of the July 4

Go Fourth celebration. Youth

education also is important

to the organization. Besides

performing annual fall concerts

for area fourth- and fifth-grade

students, the symphony holds

an annual youth contest. The

winner receives a scholarship

and the chance to perform as

a featured soloist.


www.cowlitzonthemove.org


www.cowlitzedc.com


Cedar Creek in Woodland


OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS FIND MOUNTAIN OF OPTIONSSelections

Natural COWLITZ COUNT Y IMAGESCOWLITZCOUNT Y.COM 11

F rom rippling streams and crystal lakes to the towering presence of Mount St. Helens, the beauty of Cowlitz County

is a lure for those seeking the solace and the fun offered by the great outdoors, adding a fresh dimension to everything from camping to golfing.

“I’m the typical Pacific Northwesterner [who enjoys] fishing, hunting, hiking and horseback riding,” says Mark Smith, developer, owner and operator of 90-acre Eco Park Resort on the North Fork Toutle River in the shadow of Mount St. Helens.

Smith’s resilient spirit is also that of a

typical Pacific Northwesterner; his family lost their Spirit Lake Resort in the 1980 eruption, yet he returned to the mountain a dozen years later to launch a small tour company. Eco Park Resort, which he opened in 1996, features log cabins, yurts, wall tents and campsites for its guests, with propane and solar panels providing the little power used. “We don’t have – nor do we promote – electronic devices,” Smith says.

Anglers are in heaven in Cowlitz County, Smith says, with rainbow and cutthroat trout abundant in Coldwater Lake; largemouth bass, crappie and

bluegill in Silver Lake; and salmon and steelhead trout in the Toutle River. Wildlife watchers get their fill, too. “There’s a lot of geese, elk, deer. I took a ride this morning and saw two raccoons running up a tree right next to me,” Smith says. “It’s kind of neat to see that. It’s a communing-with-nature experience.”

Eco Park is just one of many rustic options, public and private, available for overnight stays in natural surroundings. The 475-acre Seaquest State Park, just east of Castle Rock, offers 55 tent spaces, 33 utility spaces for recreational vehicles and five yurts. The park boasts more

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT


than a mile of shoreline on the shallow wetland Silver Lake, one mile of wetland trail and six miles of woodland trail for hiking and bicycling.

Hikers find that the scenic trails throughout Cowlitz County range from easy to challenging. And those trails are easier to find, thanks to a map published in May 2009 by Cowlitz on the Move and several other sponsors.

“It’s the first map that we’re aware of for all of Cowlitz County that not only shows the trail locations, but talks about what kind of experience you can have on the trail in terms of surface, the views

that you’ll have and parking. It’s really meant to encourage both tourists and local residents to get up and be more physically active,” says Paul Youmans, co-facilitator of Cowlitz on the Move, a community coalition designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, especially exercise.

The initiative is a spin-off of Pathways 2020, an overarching public-private partnership designed to improve public health countywide. Youmans is Pathways 2020’s director.

The map features 14 trails and two trails under construction. Called “Our

Own Little Sanctuary” on the map, Lake Sacajawea in Longview has four trail-loop options surrounding the water. Under way is the Cooks Ferry Trail between Lexington and Castle Rock along the Columbia River. In addition to the 2.5 miles of standard trail with picturesque views and fishing access, there’s a secluded beach walk, too.

Outdoor lovers enjoy Lewis River Golf Course and Lake Sacajawea.

What’s Online eTake virtual stroll around Lake Sacajawea by visiting the video gallery at imagescowlitzcounty.com.



R esidents of Cowlitz County all share ownership of a dog named Fetch.

You can always find Fetch in Lake Sacajawea Park, surrounded by children who pet, hug and

even try to ride the dog as if it were a horse. Despite all the attention, Fetch never barks or bites. That’s because the dog is a cast bronze sculpture, and it is just one of many pieces of public art on display in the Kelso and Longview area.

“We started with that one piece, and it grew from there,” says Rich Bemm, director of parks and recreation for the city of Longview. “People have really embraced it, and kids love the dog. In fact, they’ve rubbed its nose so much, it’s become shiny.”

The park also is home to a carved wood totem pole, a carved granite piece titled Japanese Figure and a cast bronze sculpture of Sacajawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who explored the West with Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s.

Additional sculptures can be found throughout the two neighboring cities. For instance, Handstand Boy frolics outside the Parks and Recreation Administration building; a cat reads Cat in the Hat over the shoulder of a girl on a bench in front of the Longview Public Library; and a girl presents a f lower to town founder, Robert A. Long, in Thank You, Mr. Long in downtown Longview. Otters Bert and Ernie and a watchful owl called the Sun River Sentinel guard the ends of the Allen Street Bridge in Kelso; and at

WEALTH OF PUBLIC ART ENRICHES EVERYDAY LIFE

STORY BY CAROL COWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

The Longview Pioneer Lions Club donated this wooden totem pole, which is located on an island in Lake Sacajawea.

GalleryBuilding a

Without Walls


the Kelso train station, a lone figure sits on a steamer trunk, waiting for a ride.

Bemm says this kind of touchable public art truly enhances the quality of life in the area.

What’s more, sculpture is only part of the cities’ art package. Stained glass, paintings, murals, woodblocks, bas-relief and paper cuttings decorate the walls of St. John Medical Center, Lower Columbia College and many area businesses.

The college has a campus art walk that includes the gallery at its new Rose Center for the Arts.

The lobby of the Monticello Hotel displays a collection titled Conquerors of the Trail, a series of 46 oil paintings that were commissioned by Long in the early 1900s. In addition, Broadway Gallery and Teague’s Interiors both feature rotating

exhibits of works by regional artists.With such a rich collection of art both indoors and out,

Longview’s Parks and Recreation department decided to put together a downloadable brochure that maps out all of the artworks to be found in the area – from murals and framed calligraphy to historical reliefs and totem poles. The driving and walking art tour encompasses approximately six miles of the city. For the brochure, go to www.ci.longview.wa.us, select the Living section and choose Culture from that menu. On that page, you’ll find the link for Discover Public Art.

“We get comments all the time on how much people enjoy the pieces,” Bemm says. “They feel it adds a dimension to the city, and it’s something they can share with their kids that will teach them to appreciate art.”

From left: Monticello Hotel’s Conquerors of the Trail, a series by Joe Knowles; Helping Hands by artist Jim Demetro


www.ci.longview.wa.us

I t was 22 years ago when avid coffee afici-onado Ken Guse called a friend in Eugene who had built a remarkable coffee roaster.

That friend immediately got to work on constructing another big coffee roaster, which Guse eventually purchased and trucked back home to Longview. He’s been using that same roaster for more than two decades to keep his coffee shop in downtown Longview buzzing.

“Back when I purchased my roaster, there was no such thing as fresh ground coffee in Longview,” says Guse, owner of Guse’s (pronounced Goo-ZAYZ) Gourmet Coffee, which is located on Commerce Avenue. “But having the freshest coffee imaginable is the reason why I started my business, and I continue to roast coffee beans each and every day for my customers.”

Guse purchases green coffee beans in 155-pound sacks and then roasts them at

BREWING

Right: Some of the regular customers at Guse’s Gourmet Coffee are pictured in the shop’s mural, which is a reproduction of an old photo of Longview’s founding fathers.

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

Something’s Always

CAFFEINE SCENE BUSTLES WITH MANY UNUSUAL OPTIONS


What’s Online eCheck out a few local coffee hot spots by visiting the video gallery at imagescowlitzcounty.com.



450 degrees in the back portion of his shop. Then, he packages the beans and then retails them the same day.

“When you open any random can of coffee that you purchase at the grocery store, the first pot of coffee tastes wonderful but then each subsequent pot tastes less and less desirable,” Guse says. “That’s because when you hear that whoosh and the coffee smell first comes out from the can, all of the coffee freshness goes right by your face. That’s why fresh roasting is really where it’s at for true coffee devotees.”

The Guse’s Gourmet Coffee line of products includes Columbian, Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Mexican, Ethiopian and Kenyan blends.

“The Pacific Northwest is known for its excellent coffee,” Guse says. “My store is just one of many such successful businesses that exist in Cowlitz County.”

That statement is so true. Other thriving coffee businesses in Longview include Common Ground, Espresso Express, Hava Java, Intermission, Kaffeine Café Espresso and Quiver & Shake. Meanwhile, Kelso also has its share of coffee house hotspots, including Jitters and Coffee Cabin, while Coffee Cabin also has another store in Castle Rock.

Among the newest coffee shops here is Kwik-E-Kup, which opened in January 2009 on First Avenue in Longview.

“The reason why my business might stand out from the rest is that I feature the very popular Batdorf & Bronson brand – I have the only coffee store in Longview carrying that brand of premium roasted coffee,” says Janice Bates, who owns Kwik-E-Kup along with her daughter, Denise James. “We also have other specialty drinks such as steamers, chai teas, smoothies, Italian sodas, Big Train mochas and hot apple cider with caramel.”

Bates agrees that Cowlitz County residents can be passionate about their coffee choices.

“I open my business at 6 a.m. because customers are already clamoring for their first brew at that early hour of the morning,” Bates says. “I wonder if coffee is the most popular beverage among the adult population in Cowlitz County? My guess is that it is.”

Clockwise from left: Bags of whole bean coffee prior to being roasted at Guse’s Gourmet Coffee; the drink offerings on the menu at Coffee Cabin in Castle Rock; coffee cups for the regulars at Guse’s


L ower Columbia College was founded in 1934, during the economic turmoil of the Great Depression. But despite tough times, LCC officials back then

realized they needed to help their community by providing students with opportunities to earn educations that could lead to future in-demand careers. As a result, students by the hundreds enrolled to take courses at LCC when the college first opened.

“And now, during these current tough economic times in 2009, LCC is experiencing the largest student enrollment in our history,” says Dr. James McLaughlin, president of Lower Columbia College. “We have 3,000 full-time students and 2,000 part-time students taking

a variety of classes. Again, LCC is helping students intelligently prepare for the future, with our commitment to the community being just as strong as it was in 1934.”

That commitment today continues with the college’s recent announcement that it will construct a new LCC Health and Science Center on campus. Funding for the project was approved by the Washington Legislature, and plans are currently in the design phase.

“There continues to be a strong demand in the health-care industry for nurses. We graduate 125 nurses every year and have been doing so for 50 years,” McLaughlin says. “Construction of the health and science center will begin in July 2011 to house our excellent

LCC SEES INCREASE IN STUDENT POPULATION

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

EnrollingRight Along

What’s Online

sessssss

Read more articles about Cowlitz County’s diverse learning environments by going online to imagescowlitzcounty.com and clicking on “education.”



nursing program, as well as provide new labs and classrooms for all of our science programs.”

The new construction project comes on the heels of LCC opening its Rose Center for the Arts in June 2008. The performing arts complex includes a 500-seat Wollenberg Auditorium, an intimate Center Stage Theatre & Lecture Hall, an art gallery, band and orchestra rehearsal space, classrooms and meeting rooms.

In addition, the lobby floor features an advanced radiant heating system to reduce heating and cooling costs, while terrazzo floor tiles add to the beauty of the space. It features a colorful, 40-by-10 mural by artist Lucinda Parker. The mural is titled Where Water Comes Together With Other Water and represents the confluence of five rivers located within the Cowlitz County region.

“The lobby is also one of the most beautiful gathering spots and meeting spaces in all of Cowlitz County,” McLaughlin says. “All of us at LCC are very proud of the Rose Center, with good reason.”

Lower Columbia College is also proud of a commitment it has made toward workforce training, and nearly 50 percent of the 5,000 students at LCC are enrolled in some kind of workforce training curriculum.

“I serve on the board of directors for the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, which coordinates academic programs for high-demand, high-paying career fields in which students can pursue degrees,” McLaughlin says. “LCC has built up a tremendous reputation as a college where it’s a smart move for any student to attend. That’s probably why 35 percent of high school graduates in this region attend LCC in their freshman college year. Lower Columbia College is here to help any student gain valuable classroom knowledge, which is especially important these days when economic times are tough.”

“Again, LCC is helping

students intelligently

prepare for the future.”

Lower Columbia College


A seagull perches atop the historic Monticello Hotel in Longview.


Image Gallery

A bust of Robert Long at R.A. Long Park

What’s Online eVisit imagescowlitzcounty.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in Cowlitz County.


PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT


The colors of purple, pink and lavender abound at Hulda

Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland. The spacious gardens are actually

on the site of an 1889 Victorian farmhouse, and the attraction is named in honor of Hulda Klager, the German homemaker who lived there and started the gardens in the early 1900s. By 1915, she had registered seven lilac varieties and opened her garden to people who could visit and view the blooms.

Klager ultimately began selling the plants and lived to be 97 years old, supporting herself with the lilac sales most of her life. In the mid-1970s, the property was scheduled for demolition until a group of concerned citizens formed the Hulda Klager Lilac Society in 1976.

They purchased and restored the property and also secured designations of the house and gardens as a state and national historic site.

Today, the gardens are open year round to the public, and a huge variety of lilac hybrids are on display. In fact, the Lilac Society maintains 80 varieties of lilacs on the grounds.

The flowers are sold at a number of special events throughout the year, with the most notable being an annual Lilac Festival that lasts for 23 days each April and May. During the festival, visitors pay a $2 gate fee to tour the historic farmhouse, wander through the gardens and purchase lilac plants.

Officials with the lilac society say that the peak times to purchase the most vibrant f lowers include the three weeks and four weekends prior to Mother’s Day. The society also enjoys dressing up the property and illuminating the gardens during the first two weekends of December.

Hulda Would Be Proud TodayLILAC SOCIETY PROUDLY CARRIES ON LEGACY ESTABLISHED BY GARDENS’ FOUNDER

What’s Online ePeer around Hulda Klager LilacGardens by visiting the video gallery at imagescowlitzcounty.com.


Portfolio


Aaron R. Dawson, CPA Jennifer D. Dawson, CPA Susan E. Ellsworth, CPAMichael G. Woods, CPA

Debbie M. Ralston, EA

George H. Opsahl, Jr., CPATerry H. Shepp, CPARichard R. Moffett, CPATeri Elworthy, CPAJames R. Gates, EA

(360) 425-2000

Aaron R. Dawson, CPA Jennifer D. Dawson, CPA George H. Opsahl, Jr., CPA

History Is Always on the Menu

The Monticello Hotel was a big part of the Roaring Twenties when it

first opened in Cowlitz County, and the facility is still a popular dining and events destination for residents and overnight guests today.

The epitome of luxury and relaxation, the hotel has been a landmark site in Southwest Washington since 1923. The spacious, multi-story destination remains a mix of historical ambience and modern convenience. The hotel is known not only for its hospitality to visitors but one of its newer features, Ginger’s restaurant, is a favored pick for dining among residents, as well. The restaurant offers full breakfast, lunch and dinner service along with daily lunch specials. Located just a few blocks from Lower Columbia College and is only a short walk from downtown Longview.

The Monticello also is a recommended stop for those who appreciate art, as the hotel’s lobby contains 46 oil paintings commissioned by Longview founder Robert A. Long in the early 1900s.

The hotel also features banquet facilities. The main banquet area can accommodate up to 350 guests for weddings, receptions, banquets and meetings, and the ballroom offers elevated seating, a dance floor and a stage for bands, DJs, awards or other presentations, performances or speaking engagements. Meanwhile, the Fireside Room is ideal for a business or individual event and is suitable for up to 60 guests.

The Monticello also has a private Rose Room that can also accommodate 60 guests, a LaRiviere Room for up to 40 people, and a Parkview Dining Room that comfortably accommodates 20 to 25 guests.

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Rib-eye served at Ginger’s, a popular dining destination located within the historic Monticello Hotel in Longview


www.opsahlco.com

Is That a Logger’s Bunkhouse?

History buffs, rejoice. The Cowlitz County Historical Museum on

Allen Street in Kelso has become an important resource for understanding the industrial and cultural dynamics of this part of the Pacific Northwest.

The museum building was expanded in 2003 and underwent $1 million in improvements. It has several permanent exhibits that include American Indian artifacts as well as re-creations of a general store, steamboat dock and railroad depot.

There is also an 1884 log cabin that was inhabited by an early Toutle River settler. Another popular attraction at the facility is an extensive photograph collection, which helps historians and researchers who want to learn more about how Cowlitz County evolved into its present state.

The museum also houses a variety of temporary exhibits that have a broader scope than local history. For those seeking mementos of the visit, there is a large gift shop on site with items that include books, 550-piece historical jigsaw puzzle sets and a 140-piece log play set made from real wood.

The Cowlitz County Historical Society also published hundreds of historic photographs in a 2006 book titled Cowlitz County: Then and Now. The pictures and text detail the changes that have occurred in the county over the past two centuries.

Cowlitz County Historical Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What’s Online eGlimpse into the Cowlitz County Historical Museum by visiting the video gallery at imagescowlitzcounty.com.


Portfolio

www.redcanoecu.com


Just Playing a Round Is Encouraged

Golfing is an especially satisfying experience here, thanks to a

variety of venues offering spectacular views and quality amenities.

Among the top of these destinations is Lewis River Golf Course, which is nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and features tree-lined fair ways of large firs and maples, along with a few ponds and several greenside bunkers.

The fairways are a true test of golf because they are quite narrow, and the course is always in good shape thanks to the expert grounds-keeping crew. The facility also features a riverside restaurant and can host banquet events with seating for up to 400 people.

Another top pick is the scenic Longview Country Club, which opened in 1926. It features a challenging par-70 layout for its private membership and includes bluegrass fairways and greens.

Meanwhile, Mint Valley Golf Course in Longview is not only one of the finest public settings for golf in the state, but it also serves incredible hamburgers. The Mint Valley Burger has become legendary at the clubhouse restaurant.

The course at Mint Valley has several water hazards, tall trees and well-bunkered greens that are fast and in excellent condition. Besides the 18-hole layout, Mint Valley has a six-hole, par 3 pitch-and-putt course for golfers looking to improve their short game.

In Kelso, Three Rivers Golf Course has also garnered stellar reviews for its well-manicured terrain. It provides a true 18-hole challenge as a par 72, 6,700-yard public venue, and golfers are actually playing on a bit of history whenever they tee it up. When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the Cowlitz River became clogged with mud and ash, so the Army Corps of Engineers dumped much of the dredge spoils on land that would eventually become Three Rivers Golf Course. Then people found out that grass could grow great on the dredging, and today this course has lush green grass all year round.

Golfers enjoy a game at Longview Country Club, which opened in 1926.

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www.cni.net

(360) 414-9663240 Tennant Way

Longview, WA 98632 www.swansonbark.com

Yard & Garden Supply Headquarters

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the future … TODAY!Longview Public Schools:

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Great Place To Veg Out

Sure, there are plenty of tomatoes, apples and gourds to be found at

the various farmers’ markets in Cowlitz County. But there are also vendors on site who sell products such as hormone-free chickens and beeswax candles.

The largest market in the county – Cowlitz Community Farmer’s Market – is open Saturdays from April through October at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds. It also operates every Tuesday from May through October.

Shoppers at Cowlitz Community Farmer’s Market can find everything from ornamental grasses to baby pigs along with the usual produce, plants, homemade crafts and artwork. Other items include fresh seafood, jewelry and unusual food products, such as Mama Nano’s Caponata.

Meanwhile, additional markets in the area include the Kelso Bridge Market as well as the Kalama Saturday Market and Antique Street Fair. The newest addition to the market lineup in Cowlitz County is the Longview Saturday Market, which takes place in downtown Longview on Saturdays from Mother’s Day weekend through the first weekend in October. It began in 2007 and has experienced great success during its first three years.

Nearly 100 different vendors participate at the Longview Saturday Market during its spring and summer run, and vendors sell what they have produced or created themselves. One of the interesting booths features a group of Russian women selling Russian food that they cook from scratch on site. Another vendor owns a mining company and builds what he mines into furniture.

There is also a children’s craft area and an entertainment stage that hosts everything from live orchestras to hot dog eating contests.

– Stories by Kevin Litwin


Portfolio

www.longviewschools.com

Open forBusinessINDUSTRIES BENEFIT FROM SUPERIOR TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Business


STORY BY GRETA SHARP | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

W ith numerous transportation advantages and some of the lowest energy rates in the nation, Cowlitz County

economic development officials have powerful tools in attracting new industry and ensuring ease of commerce for those in place.

“Industrial clients want to go where they are appreciated and can be successful,” says Ted Sprague, president of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council. “The environment created here is absolutely set up that way. Transportation is very important, and we’re able to say, ‘Freeway access? We’ve got it. Rail access? We’ve got it. River access? We’ve got it.’ ”

Interstate 5 is the main surface transportation artery, running conveniently north to south through the county.

“The closer you are to an interstate, the easier it is to locate companies because it’s so important to shipping products out and bringing the input you need to the plant,” Sprague says.

Another logistical advantage is the proximity to the Columbia River, providing access to the Pacific Ocean. The Ports of Longview, Kalama and Woodland recently joined with the Ports of Vancouver and Portland to deepen the river’s navigation channel from 40 to 43 feet. Thanks to this improvement, the Port of Longview attracted a new grain elevator.

“It’s a $200 million capital investment and the first new grain elevator in the Western U.S. in 28 years,” Sprague says. It also represents two years of construction with several hundred workers, as well as 50 ongoing jobs.

In terms of rail service, Cowlitz County’s ports are dually served by Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads.

Cowlitz County Public Utility District plays an important role in business recruitment by providing commercial and industrial service

that is inexpensive, reliable and high quality, Sprague says.

“All of these things are conducive to business,” Sprague continues. “Our PUD does a great job with residential clients, but really works hand-in-hand with industrial clients.”

Most of the industrial clients are served by a double loop electrical feed: one substation backed up by another. PUD also offers business rates that are 30 percent below the national average, and its large industrial rates are as low as half the national rate. In fact, many high-energy-consumption clients chose to locate in the area because of its competitive energy costs.

In order to assist new business and industry, Cowlitz PUD developed rate incentives and assistance in constructing substations for these clients who are larger consumers of energy.

“It allows us to do even better than our already competitive rates,” says Brian Skeahan, general manager. “It’s intended to help businesses get off the launching pad.”

Energy conservation and cleaner sources of power are also important to the district. Cowlitz PUD is installing smart meters, with the goal of every customer having an automated meter by 2011. For businesses, having the real-time data from the meters will allow them to better conserve energy and control costs.

The district also has developed the 205-megawatt Wind Creek Wind Project, completed in 2007. The project consists of 89 energy-generating wind turbines in the Columbia River Gorge. The second phase, the Harvest Wind Project, will add 43 more turbines by the end of 2009, generating another 100 megawatts of power. The Wind Creek turbines and blades were shipped through the Port of Longview, increasing revenue and helping to diversify its business base, Skeahan says.

Cowlitz County’s three ports – the Port of Kalama, at left, the Port of Longview and the Port of Woodland – are key parts of the area’s strong transportation and logistics infrastructure.

What’s Online

sessssssss

Learn more about the Port of Longview in the video gallery at imagescowlitzcounty.com.



Biz BriefsBUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

COWLITZ COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

CAPSTONE CELLARSBiz: wineryBuzz: Capstone Cellars was established in Longview in 2003 by Roy and Sandy Bays and Joel and Cathleen McNelly. The winery crafts small lots of premium, complex wines of distinction, sourcing high-quality fruit from the nearby Yakima Valley and using fine oak barrels. Its newest offering is the 2006 Unicus, a blend composed of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.www.capstonecellars.com

ScorecardBUSINESS AT

A GLANCE

$938,408Retail sales ($1,000)

$9,914Retail sales

per capita

$112,475Accommodations

and food service

sales ($1,000)

5,922Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts


Business

www.capstonecellars.com

SUZLON ENERGY LTD.Biz: wind turbine companyBuzz: Suzlon Energy Limited is the fifth-leading supplier of wind turbines in the world. Based in India, Suzlon is an important client at the Port of Longview, through which it imports wind turbine components. The Cowlitz Economic Development Council worked to secure a boundary modification to the port’s Foreign Trade Zone to allow them to increase their imports.www.suzlon.com

THE PRO SHOPBiz: snow and water sports equipment Buzz: The Pro Shop in Longview has been offering snow and water sports equipment and boats to customers in southwest Washington for more than 30 years. The shop carries top brands and specializes in custom rigging. It is known for superior customer service and its knowledgeable staff. The Pro Shop also offers an online store featuring new and used boats. www.teamproshop.com

LONGVIEW FIBRE PAPER AND PACKAGING INC.Biz: specialty paper and containersBuzz: Longview Fibre opened in Longview in 1927. Today, its manu-facturing facilities here collectively are considered to be one of the largest papermaking complexes in North America. The company has a network of seven efficient converting plants producing quality containers.www.longviewfibre.com

THE BROADWAY GALLERY Biz: art galleryBuzz: The Broadway Gallery is a downtown Longview destination where works by approximately 50 local and regional artists are on display for sale. Works range from paintings to jewelry to unusual handcrafted paper goods. The gallery also offers adult and children’s art classes in a wide variety of media. www.the-broadway-gallery.com

North Port Marine Terminal

The Port

The Kalama River Industrial Park

Our promise to you is simple: Port of Kalama

Our promise to you is simple:

Where Business Lives


www.suzlon.com

www.teamproshop.com

www.longviewfibre.com

www.portofkalama.com

www.the-broadway-gallery.com

Working Double TimeCEDC AND CHAMBER CLOSELY COORDINATE TO GROW AND SUPPORT BUSINESS BASE

T he spirit of cooperation is alive and well in Cowlitz County. The Kelso Longview Chamber

of Commerce and the Cowlitz Economic Development Council have partnered on projects for the past four years, working to increase the presence of business and industry in the area, as well as provide optimal operating conditions for existing enterprises.

Together, their efforts and expertise pay off for businesses large and small.

“We look at each other as collab-orators,” says Ted Sprague, president of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council. “We both see the big picture. There is a division of labor that makes a lot of sense.”

“We both realize we can’t be everything to everyone,” says Rick Winsman, president and CEO of the 800-member chamber.

The chamber focuses its efforts on commercial and retail businesses.

“We spend our time working with small businesses,” Winsman explains. “Small businesses represent 75 percent of all new jobs created.”

The economic development council concentrates on industrial and manu-facturing clients.

“I believe manufacturing is the core of the economy, and everything grows from that,” Sprague says.

Expanding the area’s industrial and manufacturing sector creates somewhat of a snowball effect: More jobs are created and higher wages are paid, so residents can spend more money with local businesses.

The CEDC remains focused on further diversifying the local industry mix, which has been based mainly on natural resources such as lumber, pulp and paper.

“Our goal is to bring in recession-proof industries to try and balance the economy more,” Sprague says.

The collective effort of the two agencies presents an image of a community that has a plan for businesses looking to expand or relocate to the area.

“They see a community that is all on the same page and moving in the same direction,” Sprague says. “You don’t see

that everywhere, the spirit of cooperation we have in this community.”

In addition to working together directly, the two agencies have a good deal of peripheral involvement, particularly in the area of workforce development. Both participate on the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, which provides skills assessments and training, then employment with partner businesses.

Winsman also points to Lower Columbia College as a leader in workforce education, providing a skilled workforce that is powerful tool in recruiting new business.

Sprague and Winsman also serve on the boards of each other’s organizations.

“We’re the cheerleaders for the business community. We’re out there in front pointing out the area as a great place to locate businesses and families and have them in a good environment for edu cation and recreation,” Winsman says. “It’s a very engaged community for all the right reasons in all the right areas.”

– Greta Sharp

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CEDC President Ted Sprague, left, and Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce President Rick Winsman


Business | Chamber Report

COWLITZ COUNTY

Cowlitz Economic Development Council1452 Hudson St.,

US Bank Bldg., Suite 208

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 423-9921

www.cowlitzedc.com

INDUSTRIAL SITES

Port of Kalama380 W. Marine Drive

Kalama, WA 98625

(360) 673-2325


Port of Longview10 Port Way

Longview, WA

98632-7739

(360) 425-3305

www.portoflongview.com

Port of Woodland141 Davidson Ave.

Woodland, WA 98674

(360) 225-6555

www.portofwoodland.com

Mint Farm Industrial Park1525 Broadway

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 442-5004

www.mintfarm.com

MORE ONLINE


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

E OOOOO

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

No. of Company Employees

PeaceHealth/St John Medical Center 1,874

Weyerhaeuser 1,580

Longview Fibre Co. 1,020

Longview School District 900

Kelso School District 850

Foster Farms 800

J.H. Kelly 600

Cowlitz County 570

Safeway 550

NORPAC 450

Lower Columbia College 400

City of Longview 351

Steelscape 350

Walmart 350

Kaiser Permanente 263

PNE Corporation 253

Fred Meyer 242

RSG Forest Products 236

Community Home Health & Hospice 220

BUSINESS CLIMATECowlitz County is a strategic hub interconnected by interstates

and railways and alongside major shipping ports. Affordable,

available land and comprehensive tax advantages sustain Cowlitz

County’s favorable economic climate, which is supported by the

proactive philosophy and economic diplomacy of its people.

TRANSPORTATION

Community Urban

Bus Service

P.O. Box 128

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 442-5663

Kelso-Longview Regional

Airport/Molt Taylor Field

Kelso, WA 98632

(360) 577-1964

Portland International Airport

7000 N.E. Airport Way

Portland, OR 97218

(503) 460-4040

(877) 739-4636

ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Kelso Longview

Chamber of Commerce

1563 Olympia Way

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 423-8400

www.kelsolongview

chamber.org


Business | Economic Profile

www.cowlitzedc.com




www.mintfarm.com



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Family Health Center is a private, nonprofit community health

service organization.

Family Health Center

“Providing the quality care your family deserves”

Longview Clinic1057 12th Ave.Longview, WA 98632(360) 636-3892

North Beach Clinic21610 Old Pacific Hwy.Ocean Park, WA 98640(360) 665-3000

Woodland Clinic1251 Lewis River Rd., Ste. DWoodland, WA 98674(360) 225-4310

Family Planning Nurse711 Vine St.Kelso, WA 98626(360) 501-2438

Family Health Center has Four Locations to Better Serve You:

visit ouradvertisersBond Properties www.bondapts.com

Cascade Natural Gas www.cngc.com

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Cowlitz Economic Development Council www.cowlitzedc.com

Cowlitz Family Health Center www.cowlitzfamilyhealth.org

Cowlitz PUD www.cowlitzpud.org

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Longview Fibre www.longviewfibre.com

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Opsahl, Shepp & Company www.opsahlco.com

Peace Health www.peacehealth.org

Port of Kalama www.portofkalama.com

Port of Longview www.portoflongview.com

Port of Woodland www.portofwoodland.com

Red Canoe Credit Union www.redcanoecu.com

Red Lion Hotel www.redlion.com

Swanson Bark & Wood Products www.swansonbark.com

The River Edge Condos www.riveredgecondos.com

US Bank www.usbank.com

Windermere Real Estate www.windermere.com

Peter C. Wagner D.M.D., P.S.

ORTHODONTICS FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS

855 BROADWAY LONGVIEW, WA 98632

(360) 425-2370

NEW PATIENTS WELCOMECONVENIENT PAYMENT PLANS

INVISALIGN


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It was back in 1968 when St. John Medical Center made headline news after opening a sparkling new, eight-story patient tower on its Longview campus. In 2010, get ready

for some more big news.The long-standing hospital currently is in the final stages

of a four-year, $46 million patient tower renovation, and the project is scheduled for completion in February.

“St. John actually first opened in 1924 and has undergone a few expansions and renovations over the years, but it was high time to get more technology and comfort into the patient tower,” says Gary Hall, regional vice president of facility services for St. John Medical Center. “As a result, we concentrated on increasing the size of the patient rooms, plus have added several more upgrades.”

Those upgrades include doubling the size of the emergency department, refurbishing an 18-bed critical care unit, and revamping a behavioral health floor.

“We have also completed a brand new obstetrics and labor delivery unit with private patient rooms,” Hall says. “Each room is a 21st-century LDRP model, which means that a woman experiences labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum care all in the same room.”

The tower also will be equipped with three individual f loors of medical surgical units, with the seventh floor surgical unit currently being overhauled. Construction work on the seventh floor is the final phase of the four-year project.

Hall says that once the entire renovation is completed, the hospital will start thinking about adding another tower to the St. John campus.

“Our overall goal is to have enough square footage to offer every patient their own private room, but adding another tower is something that will occur quite a ways down the line,” Hall says. “We are just excited right now about the February 2010 completion date for this current project.”

Part of the renovation included installing a high-efficiency heating and cooling unit, as well as an all-new electrical system. Those specific upgrades have allowed St. John to qualify for a national Energy Star certification in environmental excellence – the only building that has achieved that status to date in Cowlitz County.

St. John Medical Center primarily serves the communities of Longview and Kelso, but also as far north as Chehalis, and south to Woodland and into Oregon to cities such as Rainier and Clatskanie.

“We serve hundreds of square miles throughout our surrounding region, with much of that area being rural,” Hall says. “The hospital is classified as a Level III trauma center and is adding more specialties all the time. St. John is advanced in technology, equipment and facilities, and we can compete with any other hospital in the Pacific Northwest in providing top-notch patient care.”

– Kevin Litwin

Making Patient ProgressST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER TOWER NEARS COMPLETION OF MAJOR RENOVATION

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St. John Medical Center


Health & Wellness

It will soon be curtains – and much more – for the Columbia Theatre.

The historic entertainment venue in Longview has been in the midst of an $11.6 million renovation for the past couple of years and is set to reopen in February 2010.

That’s quite an impressive achieve-ment given the fact that the theater was just days from being demolished in 1980.

“The Columbia was built in 1925 at the height of the Vaudeville era, but then Vaudeville saw a steady decline as the entertainment industry shifted to radio, silent movies and then talking movies,” says Gian Paul Morelli, executive director of the Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts. “The theater ultimately became a movie house that eventually became outdated, and the owners planned

to demolish the Columbia in 1979.”In fact, a local paper published the

headline “Goodbye, Columbia” on June 30, 1979, but a number of concerned citizens conducted a tenacious stall campaign and then a fundraising effort to save the historic landmark.

“The citizens managed to delay the demolition for 10 months, but they couldn’t raise enough money to buy the building. So, heavy equipment

Poised for Many More EncoresLONGVIEW’S HISTORIC COLUMBIA THEATRE UNVEILS MAJOR RENOVATION IN 2010


Arts & Culture

was driven to the parking lot next door in early May 1980 – with the intent to knock down the Columbia within days,” Morelli says. “But suddenly, Mount St. Helens erupted and all available construction equipment was needed to clear the roads leading to the volcano. The timing for the theater being saved by Mount St. Helens almost seemed apocalyptic.”

The eruption bought another six months for the theater, during which time the non-profit Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts was established. The association ultimately purchased the facility and has operated it ever since.

In 2007, the Columbia sustained significant f looding, so the association decided to refurbish the entire structure. Nearly $6 million was raised privately, while another $6 million was secured through state grants.

“When the Columbia reopens in early 2010, it will host about 90 entertainment events a year,” Morelli says. “The renovation primarily will focus on audience comfort, with wider seats and more spacious rows along with many more rest rooms. There will be comfortable seating for 815, and, although it will be outfitted for 21st-century entertainment, the Columbia will certainly retain its old-time charm.”

While the renovation continues to move forward, the Columbia Theatre Association is staging its seasonal plays and concerts at the Rose Center on the campus of Lower Columbia College.

“For our 2009-2010 season that will run from September to June, we will probably hold two or three shows at the Rose Center and then transfer everything back to the Columbia in February 2010,” Morelli says. “The Rose Center has been great to stage our shows, but we are anxious to return home to the Columbia Theatre once again.”

– Kevin Litwin



141 Davidson Ave.P.O. Box 87Woodland, WA 98674

(360) 225-6555www.portofwoodland.com

Phone: (888) 522-1130

Fax: (360) 788-2310

www.cngc.com



www.onthemarkassociates.com

www.cngc.com

Current Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jason Schmidt used to play Babe Ruth baseball in

Kelso. And current San Diego Padres manager Bud Black was a former Babe Ruth baseball player in Longview.

Babe Ruth baseball has a long history of popularity here, and that popularity seems to increase every year. The league is composed of individual divisions for 13-year-old boys, 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds, and then Senior

Babe Ruth baseball is for boys ages 16-18.In 1990, Longview hosted the

national Babe Ruth World Series, which brought in the top teams of 13-year-olds from across the country. The event was such a marketing and financial success that the city has hosted World Series tournaments in 1997, 2001 and 2004.

And in August 2009, again the top 11 teams of 15-year-old boys from across the nation once again traveled to Longview. But besides those 11 teams,

there was an interesting surprise twist to the 2009 competition.

“For 2009, there were eight U.S. regional winners who qualified for the tournament, plus one team apiece from Kelso and Longview, along with another team representing the state of Washington. Plus, we had one team that traveled here from Japan,” says Kirc Roland, co-president of the Longview World Series Committee along with co-president Tony Waadevig. “Having the Japanese team here actually made 2009 an international tournament.”

All tourneys in Longview have been played at David Story Field on the campus of Lower Columbia College. As for Roland, he is athletic director at LCC besides his duties on the World Series committee.

“The president and administration at LCC have been fantastic in allowing the tournaments to be held at Story Field – they all know what the event means to the economy and overall image of Cowlitz County,” Roland says. “Story Field in Longview is an excellent ballpark, and Kelso also has its own quality Babe Ruth facility at Stan Rister Stadium. However, Rister is simply not large enough to host national tourna-ments, but it has admirably hosted several regional Babe Ruth tourneys over the years.”

Roland adds that having the event here also is rewarding for the com-munity because several of the visiting ballplayers stay with host families during the eight-day tournament.

“Many times when the visiting kids leave after the final game is played, tears start to f low because the host families get emotionally attached to the ball-players and vice versa,” Roland says. “That’s why Cowlitz County has such a good history with the Babe Ruth World Series. The community gets behind it, the volunteers are invaluable on the Longview World Series Committee, and the business community comes through with sponsorships. It has really become a prestigious event that Kelso-Longview is lucky to host every few years or so.”

– Kevin Litwin

Babe Ruth Is Alive and WellYOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE’S WORLD SERIES RETURNS TO STORY FIELD

STA

FF

PH

OT

O

Stan Rister Stadium in Kelso’s Tam O’ Shanter Park


Sports & Recreation

Employee Benefits & Insurance Plans

Building Solid Relationships For Over 34 Years

Anne DeFrancisco MBA CPAJames Lampitt CPACindy Brado CPAAddie Ashby CPA

L O N G V I E W , W A S H I N G T O N A state-of-the-art showplace for Southwest Washington

Re-opening February, 2010360.423.1011 www.columbiatheatre.com

preservation …renovation …

transformation!

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g


redlion.com

cancer.org

www.dlbcpas.com

www.columbiatheatre.com

Superintendent Suzanne Cusick is committed to providing the best education possible for

her students in the Longview Public Schools system, and she has plenty of help – inside the classrooms and in the community.

Despite tough economic times shared with the rest of the nation, in March 2009 local residents overwhelmingly approved two tax levies that are key to operating the 6,800-student district’s eight elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools, plus the Broadway Learning Center.

For Cusick, who assumed her post as superintendent in July 2008, the support is reassuring and vital to ensure the success of LPS students.

“What drew me to the job was this unique community – unique in the sense of its deep caring and commitment to children,” says Cusick, who came to Longview from Hillsboro, Ore., where she served as assistant superintendent for student improvement.

“I don’t say that lightly. This is a mill town that has had incredible struggles over the past couple of decades. And yet this community continues to give and give and give – as they showed when they passed the levies so resoundingly.”

Voters approved a Maintenance and Operations Levy, replacing one expiring in 2009, which will produce revenues of $13.48 million in 2010 and $14.15 million in 2011. Property owners pay $3.01 per $1,000 assessed property valuation for the levy. Funds are used to

supplement staff expenses not met by state funds, as well as other district costs.

The Technology and Capital Projects Levy will yield $1.25 million in 2010 and $1.32 million in 2011. The rate for property owners is $.28 per $1,000 assessed property valuation. The new levy will fund repairs to the HVAC system at Mark Morris High School, updates to the fire alarm system at R.A. Long High School and security upgrades systemwide, Cusick says.

The levies are vital to the school system’s economic health, but budget cuts still were necessary, Cusick says. Her first week on the job, she had to begin cutting $2.4 million from the $70 million budget for the 2008-09 school year. For the 2009-10 school year, $5.1 million in additional cuts were necessary. A decline in enrollment of 125 is projected for the 2009-10 school year, which also impacts the budget, Cusick says.

She says she’s been grateful that, for the most part, “the school community and the greater community understand that’s what we have to do.” And even though cuts were necessary, the levies prevented even more drastic reductions, she adds.

“We’re on a very clear path in terms of instruction,” Cusick says. “We hope, when the economy turns around, to rebuild our staff. We’re looking to the future. I’ve been reminding people I’m still going to be superintendent, and we’ll still be focusing on instruction.”

– Anne Gillem

Schools Get Resounding ‘Yes’RESIDENTS STRONGLY SUPPORT TAX LEVIES FOR TECHNOLOGY, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS

Producing Paper... and More

Making value-added paper and packaging products is the forte of our large Longview operations, which have been a major contributor to the Cowlitz County and region’s economy since the mill’s startup in 1927:

and women.

million annually.

plants in West Coast and Intermountain regions for converting into corrugated and solid-fiber containers for

products, ranging from foods to computers to appliances.

kraft papers is made at Longview for conversion by other firms into countless end-uses, including retail bags, construction papers, food packaging and many specialty products.


Education

www.cowlitzpud.org

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

Luxury Living on the Cowlitz River

(360) 425-1517

“Visit uus todad y yy ... See why yy we’re Longggview’s PrPrPrememe ieierr CoCondndomomininiuiumm CoCommmmununititity”yyememieierr CoCondndomomininiuiumm CoCommmmununitit

SNAPSHOTCowlitz County is ideally situated between Seattle and Portland,

offering residents proximity to two major urban centers along with

a rural lifestyle that has year-round opportunities for recreation.

COWLITZ COUNTY

HEALTH CARE

St. John Medical Center and

PeaceHealth Medical Group,

operated by PeaceHealth, has

been recognized as one of the

top 100 medical centers in the

nation. The acute care, not-for-

profit community medical

center, which was the first

Level III-designated trauma

center in the state, provides

a variety of health care

programs and services.

For a breakdown of

medical services, visit

imagescowlitzcounty.com.

EDUCATION

Cowlitz County provides a

successful learning atmosphere

where educational programs

of all types are enhanced

continually.

For a list of schools and

other information, visit

imagescowlitzcounty.com.

CLIMATE

The overall climate is mild

year round, and the most snow

is seen in January. The rainiest

month is December, while July

is the sunniest.

33.1 FJanuary Low Temperature

45.4 FJanuary High Temperature

51.4 FJuly Low Temperature

77.4 FJuly High Temperature

LOCAL UTILITIES

Cascade Natural Gas Corp.

1332 Vandercook Way

Longview, WA 98632

(888) 522-1130

Cascade Networks Inc.1324 Vandercook Way

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 414-5990

Comcast Spotlight1555 Third Ave.

Longview, WA 98632

(360) 423-6268

MORE ONLINE


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

E OOOOOOOOO

Community Profile





Ad Index 40 BOND PROPERTIES

44 CASCADE NATURAL GAS

31 CASCADE NETWORKS

7 CITY OF LONGVIEW

46 COLUMBIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

2 COWLITZ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

40 COWLITZ FAMILY HEALTH CENTER

48 COWLITZ PUD

46 DEFRANCISCO, LAMPITT & BRADO PS

40 DR. PETER WAGNER

1 FIBRE FEDERAL CREDIT

4 INTERSTATE

WOOD PRODUCTS

46 LARRY HANSEN INSURANCE

47 LONGVIEW FIBRE

33 LONGVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

6 LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE

44 ONTHEMARK ASSOCIATES

29 OPSAHL, SHEPP & COMPANY

C4 PEACE HEALTH

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions

answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

Ad Index (cont.) 37 PORT OF KALAMA

43 PORT OF LONGVIEW

44 PORT OF WOODLAND

30 RED CANOE CREDIT UNION

46 RED LION HOTEL

32 SWANSON BARK & WOOD PRODUCTS

C3 THE RIVER EDGE CONDOS

32 US BANK

C2 WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE

cancer.org

www.peacehealth.org/lowercolumbia

images cowlitz county, wa: 2010

Documents

cowlitz business

ne cowlitz county

economic profiledepartments

chamber report

unusual options

student population somethings

right alonglcc

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