Main Street update plans include
two-way street, big sidewalks

For much of Vancouver’s history, Main Street was downtown. It was an economically robust artery through downtown. It was the connection between the states of Washington and Oregon. Main street was built for horse-drawn vehicles. It once provided profitable electric street car service. Once, Main Street pedestrian traffic was so lively that the stop signal at Main Street and what is now Evergreen Boulevard would halt all vehicular traffic to allow pedestrians to
cross the intersection in any direction, including diagonally.

Even pre-World War II Interstate Bridge traffic nearly suffocated Main Street. Highway 99, which carried interstate traffic, was relocated a block west of Main Street to Washington Street at what is now McLoughlin Boulevard, to give Main Street some breathing room.

Main Street, though, didn’t succumb to automobile traffic: it gradually died for the lack of traffic. Automobiles began taking shoppers to places like the Vancouver Mall.

Vancouver’s Main Street, between 6th Street and 15th Street, is one-way north—out of town. Shooting a cannon up Main Street would not hit a thing. Shooting a cannon down Main Street would violate the one-way rule that city planners are looking at changing.

The current plans, for which an open house is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the Vancouver Marketplace, 210 W Evergreen Boulevard, are to open all of Main Street to two-way traffic and to open Broadway, between 6th Street and 15th Street, to two-way traffic. Parallel parking would replace angle parking.

Plans being shown next Tuesday are for three configurations, ranging from 15-foot travel lanes to 10-foot, ten-inch travel lanes. Sidewalks could be widened to as much as 21 feet on the east side of Main Street.

Planning for reconstruction of Vancouver’s Main Street and Broadway is already funded. However, the conversion to two-way traffic was to have been financed by a beefed-up schedule of city business licenses and fees. Reconstruction is tentatively scheduled for 2007.

For further information go to www.cityofvancouver.us/MainStreet.

Brian Baird and astronaut James Reilly
to visit nLight Photonics, area schools

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird and U.S. astronaut James Reilly will visit area nLight Photonics and area schools Thursday, June 1, honoring Mentoring Advance Placement students, teachers and mentors.

NLight photonics put together the first MAP program, which combines math and science education with real-world applications. NLight employees were mentors during the first year of the program.

The tour ends Thursday evening at Washington State University Vancouver with a 6:30 p.m. reception.

Baird has introduced legislation to expand the concept of the Clark County program nationally.

Saturday wildlife garden party offers
inspiration for gardeners, fun for kids

The Water Resources Education Center opens its natural garden of wildlife-welcoming plants with a garden party from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 3. The opening party is free and is for adults and children, according to center spokesperson Cory Samia.

Tips will be offered on how to garden for the birds and the bees, how to attract monarch butterflies, and how to eliminate pesticides and attract wildlife. The celebration includes giveaways and hands-on activities.

Overlooking the Columbia River, at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, the Water Resources Education Center also offers exhibits, events and educational programs about water resources and how to use water wisely.

A division of the Vancouver's Department of Public Works, the center oversees one of the metropolitan area's few remaining natural Columbia River riparian areas, nearly 50 protected acres of adjacent wetlands providing feeding, nesting and resting habitat for more than 120 species of fish and wildlife.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. Further information is available by going to www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.

 Doug Lasher schedules re-election
campaign kickoff for county Treasurer

Democrat Doug Lasher, who has held the office of Clark County Treasurer for the past 22 years, has set the kickoff for his 2006 re-election campaign for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the home of Kelly Punteney and Mike Shepherd, 5401 SE Scenic Lane, Unit 205, in Tidewater Cove.

Special guest for the evening is Washington State Treasurer Mike Murphy. For further information, call 576-9783.

News brief

Southwest Washington Medical Center has won a national silver award for an ad it created conveying thanks to medical center donors Ed and Mary Firstenburg and David and Patricia Nierenberg for their combined $30 million contribution to the medical center and women’s services. The Aster Awards, presented by Marketing Healthcare Today, attracted 2,500 entries. The ad was produced entirely by SWMC marketing staffers Sarah Mottram, Ken Cole and Matt Schoolfield, reports director of marketing Chad Dillard.

Odds were 1 out of 26
and Insider nailed it

Su Moran, award-winning Wells Fargo banker, has a very simple, easily spelled first name, Su. A monkey blindly selecting any one of 26 letters could have selected the correct first letter, S. The monkey at the Insider, writing about her award yesterday failed and hit the D key. Dorry for the mistake, Su. 

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

Wednesday on the air         Career Finding Tips (5/3)—4:01 p.m. CVTV    Clark County Youth Achievement Celebration (4/29)—5 p.m. CVTV    Colorado Springs at Portland Beavers (live)—6:30 p.m. KKAD    Employment, Mental Health and Wellness (5/19)—7 p.m. CVTV    Capital Perspectives (4/18)—8:28 p.m. CVTV    Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony (5/18)—9 p.m. CVTV    Clark County Focus (5/8)—10 p.m. CVTV    Bravo! Vancouver: Happy Birthday Amadeus (5/21)—10:30 p.m. CVTV

Town Tabloids and the weather Julie Moore answering benefit questions. n Michael Woods providing further information. n Cary Buhler on the road. n Karen Ciocia wasting no time at all. n Craig Walker issuing timely bulletins. n Julie Kummer announcing that there is sausage in today’s quiche. n Bill Ganley giving good advice. n Wednesday, some sun, possible showers, 73. Thursday, cooling, possible showers, 68. Friday, rain showers likely, 64.

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, 607-8059 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