Rassoul Dastmozd named vice
president of instruction at Clark

Iranian native Rassoul Dastmozd has been appointed vice president of instruction at Clark College, reports interim president Bob Knight.

Dastmozd began his higher education in the United States at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma. He earned his bachelors degree at Southwest State University in Minnesota and earned a master of science degree in educational administration at Drake University. He is a doctoral candidate at Colorado State University.

Before joining Clark, Dastmozd was dean of the Applied Technology Division in the Eastern  Iowa Community College District.

Dastmozd, who also has experience in the private manufacturing sector with John Deere. He was the 2005 recipient of the International Exemplary Leaders Award.

Port adopts budget,
slightly lowers taxes

Port of Vancouver commissioners yesterday approved an $83.2 million budget for 2007, which reflects a slight reduction in property taxes levied for port operations. 

Commissioners authorized a 2007 tax levy of $8.9 million. The levy rate will be 39.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, a half-cent lower than the 2006 property tax levy. The levy will cost the owner of a $250,000 home in the port district $98.

Capital improvements include design plans and the initial phase of construction for new rail lines accessing the port from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway, completion of an addition to the port’s administrative office building, and annual maintenance projects. Additional funds have been allocated for continuing environmental clean-up projects and security improvements. More than 70% of the 5 million metric tons of cargo moving annually through the port is transported by rail.

Revenue to support the budget is expected to come from operations, $23.3 million, from general obligation bonds, $14.3 million, from the local property tax, $8.9 million, and $7.6 million from non-operating revenue. 

The port's budget can be found by going to www.portvanusa.com.

Turkish conductor leads Clark
College Orchestra tonight

Emin Guven Yaslicam, director of Turkey’s Adana Symphony, will be the guest conductor for the Clark College Orchestra’s concert at 7:30 p.m. this evening in the Royal Durst Theatre, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, 3201 Main Street.

Italian pianist Maurizio Barboro will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The program also includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, featuring solos by concertmaster Gretchen Tucker and principal cellist, Nikki Graybeal.

While the concert is free, donations to the Clark College Music Scholarship Fund will be accepted at the door.

Camas-Washougal port’s advisory
committee on RiverWalk meets today

The Waterfront Advisory Committee, appointed by the Port of Camas-Washougal to “recommend the wisest and best long-term use of waterfront resources for the maximum public benefit,” meets at 5 p.m. today in port offices at 24 S A Street, Washougal.

The Waterfront Advisory Committee has been endorsed by the City of Washougal and RiverWalk, LLC, a private developer which has proposed a mixed-use development of 65 acres of the port’s Columbia River waterfront property.

RiverWalk on the Columbia is a public-private partnership exploring a possible mixed-use development encompassing approximately 65 acres between Highway 14 and the Columbia River. The development could include residential, retail, office, light industrial uses, and parks and open spaces.

Further information on the proposed project can be found by going to www.riverwalkonthecolumbia.com,

Stroll upper Main Street
Saturday and sip wine

The third annual Uptown Village wine-tasting event, which benefits Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust and Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, is from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, on Vancouver’s upper Main Street between Mill Plain and Fourth Plain Boulevard.

Showcasing the “charm and variety” of the Uptown neighborhood will be 16 wine merchants, whose wares may be tasted. Wine tasting tickets are $20 each and good for 20 “tastes.” Wine by the bottle may also be purchased. A $5 donation will entitle shoppers to all-day discounts in the Uptown Village’s stores.

Uptown Village has been experiencing a spurt of growth, which includes new restaurants and shops.

The area above downtown Vancouver first became fashionable in 1910, when it was first served by light-rail in the form of a trolley.

News brief

State Rep. Deb Wallace (D-17th) is celebrating her re-election  with friends and supporters at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, in the Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Avenue. For further information, call 256-9011.

Calendar

Clark County Community Pride Design Awards are being presented at 4 p.m. this afternoon in the sixth floor hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. n The Vancouver Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker opens a five-day run with performances at 7 p.m. this evening through Saturday, Dec. 2, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, in the auditorium in Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E 18th Street. General admission is $12. For further information, call 601-1804. n The final of two joint meetings of the Board of Clark County Commissioners and the Clark County Planning Commission to take comments on the Environmental Impact Statement alternatives for completing the county’s Comprehensive Growth Management Plan is at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the county commissioners’ hearing room in the Public Service Center.  

Wednesday headlines

Cowlitz Casino: no decision so far--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Election is certified in Clark County--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Coalition gets credit for business license surcharge--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

$50 fee puts Vancouver closer to goal for road work--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Utility pursuing water for customers near Vancouver Lake--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Camas paper mill severance talks begin--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Small fire forces evacuation of downtown Portland's Macy's store just before noon--Oregonian, Laura Gunderson

World's largest commercial jetliner lands in Vancouver (B.C.)--Seattle P-I, James Wallace

Iranian leader urges rejection of Bush policy in open letter to Americans--USA TODAY, AP

Bush-Maliki talks postponed,--New York Times, Sheryl Gay Stolberg