Vintners say Clark County
pinot noirs are the best

Owners of all of Clark County’s three wineries agree that the pinot noir grapes grown here and made into wines under the Salishan, English Estates, and Bethany Vineyard & Winery labels are the best anywhere, and that includes the fabled pinot noirs of Oregon.

Carl English, owner of English Estates, told a Lunch with Challengers audience today in the Red Cross Building in Vancouver Barracks that the county’s climate is similar to that in the Willamette Valley and is further improved by better soil conditions and a micro-climate flow from the Columbia River Gorge.

In addition to bottled wine, English Estates offers box wine, which it calls “bag in a beautiful box,” that isn’t cheap wine. Some of English Estates upscale pinot noir box wine retails for over $90.

Joan Wolverton, who came to Clark County 35 years ago to become the first winery in Clark County, says she chose Clark County for the same wine growing reasons that caused English to begin growing grapes on the property he owned in Vancouver.

So, too, do Walt and Beth Houser grow pinot noir grapes, as well as other varieties for their wines.

In addition to the three wineries, Clark County has three more wine growers: Yacolt Valley Vineyards, La Center Vineyards and Eagle Crest Vineyard.

The Bethany Vineyard & Winery, 4115 NE 259th Street, Ridgefield, offers wine tasting between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Wine tasting hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at English Estates, 17806 SE 1st Street. Wine tasting at Salishan, 35011 N. Fork Avenue, La Center, are 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, and by appointment.

Unemployment down statewide, but in
Clark County number of jobs dwindle

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in March matches the revised rate for January and is the lowest unemployment rate in the state since November 1999, according to the state Employment Security Department.

March also marked the second time this year that the state’s jobless rate was lower than the national rate. The national unemployment rate for March was 4.7 percent. Statewide, the number of non-farm jobs rose by 7,900 in March and increased by 94,000 jobs in the past year.

In Clark County the labor force declined in March from 206,800 to 205,100, and the number of people employed fell by 400 persons, from 192,800 to 192,400. The unadjusted unemployment rate in Clark County was 6.2 percent last month, compared to 6.8 percent in February and 7.3 percent in March 2005.

Will Hornyak’s humorous stories
lighten up water resources center

Will Hornyak will be telling humorous and inspirational stories about the natural world in a free one-hour show presented by the Clark County Clean Water Program at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way.

Hornyak, known for his presentations at schools throughout the northwest, focuses on native American stories in which animals and fish are often central characters. 

Eight gain tenure at Clark

Eight Clark College faculty members were granted tenure today by the college board of trustees

Being rewarded for their professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines were the following: Judy Alleman, nursing; Lisa Conway, art; Michael Scotto di Carlo, computer technology; Dwight Hughes, data networks & telecommunications; Izad Khormaee, engineering; Charlene Montierth, geology; Rick Rausch, biology; and Jim Wilkins-Lutin, developmental education.  

Named Clark College tenured faculty were, left to right, Judy Allenman, Lisa Conway, Michael Sotto di Carlo and Izad Khornmaee. Clark College president R. Wayne Branch, stands next to additional tenured faculty, Dwight Hughes, Rick Rausch and Charlene Montierth. Not pictured is Jim Wilkins-Luton.

Calendar

A public meeting to discuss how the undeveloped Sgt. Brad Crawford Park could be developed is being sponsored by Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation at the park site, NE 131st Street and NE 47th Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. this evening. Tents will be available in case of rain. n The NE Hazel Dell Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Clark County Public Works community room, 4700 NE 78th Street. n Clark County commissioners meet in informal session at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in conference room B in the Public Service Center.

Headlines at home and from around the world: (Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

Tuesday on the air       Vancouver Arbor Day (4/12)—3:30 p.m. CVTV    Portland Beavers at Colorado Springs (live)—5 p.m. KKAD    Clark County Close Up (4/2)—6 p.m. CVTV    Clark County Focus (4/6)—6:30 p.m. CVTV    City Minutes (4/2)—7 p.m. CVTV    Texas at Seattle Mariners (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KFXX    Steve Stuart Town Hall Meeting (4/13)—7:30 p.m. CVTV    Bravo! Vancouver: St. Paul—An Oratorio—9:30 p.m. CVTV

Town Tabloids and the weather Terri Cochran first to notice. n Eric Olmsted successfully recruiting from within. n Julie Kummer selling tickets like crazy. n Kim Bennett ahead of the curve. n Dave Roberts promoting Our Town. n  Tuesday, gray with a few faint sunbreaks, 62. Wednesday, sunbreaks, cloudy, 66. Thursday, mostly cloudy, 63.

Accounting Caley & Associates, James Caley CPA, 695-0065 Peterson & Associates, P.S., Certified Public Accountants, 574-0644 Tax Advisors, PLLC, CPAs Property Tax/Cost Segregation 750-6884 Attorneys Miller Nash LLP. Steve Horenstein, 699-4771 Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Lisa Lowe, 694-7551 Banks Bank of Clark County, 993-2265 First Independent Bank, 699-4200 West Coast Bank, 695-3439 Beauty and Wellness Iduhair & Company Salon Retreat, Celinda Rupert, 735-1249 Charitable Gift Planning Barbara Chen CFP, Clark College Foundation, (360) 992-2659 David DiCesare, The Community Foundation, (360) 694-2550 Jim Forkner, FAHP, SWMC Foundation, (360) 514-3182 Elson Strahan, CFRE, President, Historic Reserve Trust (360) 992-1835 Cosmetic and Family Dentistry Earl C. (Duke) Simpson, DDS, PS, 993-0300 Construction Management and Development Andersen Construction Co., Inc. Bob Durgan, (503) 720-5234 RSV Construction, Ron Frederiksen, 693-8830 Credit Unions Columbia Credit Union, 891-4000 iQ Credit Union, 992-4242 Development/Investments Killian Pacific LLC, 567-0625 Prestige Development, Elie Kassab, 993-0010 Human Resources Consultation O'Neill & Associates, Paula Johnson, 606-2961 Insurance Services Keenan Insurance Services, Brandon M. Keenan, 213-1500 Investment and Retirement Planning First Pacific Associates, Mark Martel, CFP, (360) 254-2585 Public Relations Hunt Communications Tom Hunt, 693-8180 KMac & Associates LLC, Kathy McDonald Rocky/Hill & Knowlton, Krista Hildebrand, (503) 248-9468 Real Estate Coldwell Banker Commercial Wally Hornberger, 699-4494 Norris Beggs & Simpson, Roger Qualman, 699-7181 Retirement and Inheritance Planning Andy Nygard, CFP, (360) 695-6431 Signs Security Signs, Designed to inform and sell! Carol Keljo, 817-9959 Speaking and Training Kathy Condon, Career Communications, 695-4313 Window Washing Quality Window Washing, Dave Beecher, 256-7370