First Independent taps Clark College art students to create 100th anniversary poster

As First Independent prepared to celebrate a century of serving residents and businesses in SW Washington, bank leaders wanted to commemorate the event with something that embodied the company’s longstanding support of the community and commitment to the next 100 years.

First Independent invited Clark College students to create art for the bank’s 100th anniversary poster that will be displayed in branches and other community locations throughout 2010. Besides offering students practical graphic design experience and exposure for their work, the bank provided cash awards of $1,000, $500 and $350 for the top three entries selected by a panel of judges.

First Independent’s 100th anniversary poster will be unveiled on Wednesday, March 3, at a ceremony at Clark College, where the dozen top contest entries will be on display. On Friday, March 5, the student art show moves to Art on the Boulevard in the Vancouver Marketplace Building as part of First Independent’s anniversary kick-off event and Vancouver’s monthly First Friday art event.

The anniversary poster features an original design by contest winner Maggee McCarney. Second place went to student Shelley Miller and third place to Sarah Campeau. Judges for the poster contest were Jeff Firstenburg, senior vice president, First Independent, Robert K. Knight, president, Clark College, Jody Campbell, The Columbian, Kevin Weaver, gallery director, Art on the Boulevard, and Andy Askren, creative director, Grady Britton.

Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery announces new Rapid Access Clinic

In January 2010, Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery launched the Rapid Access Clinic, a unique new service developed by Rebound physicians in order to provide urgent, high-quality specialty orthopedic or neurosurgical care while minimizing patient inconvenience and expense.

“We want to be available to our patients when they need us due to an unforeseen injury or accident,” says Douglas Musgrave, an orthopedic surgeon at Rebound who spearheaded the effort to launch Rapid Access. “With today’s fast paced lifestyles, we are increasingly mindful of our patients’ time and need for specialty care on their timeframe, not ours. It’s important to see patients as soon as possible after an injury to accurately diagnose their condition and start treatment. A visit to one of our specialists will expedite this process.”

Typically, specialty medical practices can require a patient to wait up to several weeks for an appointment. As a result, injured patients often go to the emergency room or urgent care clinic where they are referred back to  a specialist for treatment. The goal of Rapid Access is to get patients directly to a specialist, saving the time and additional expense. The benefits of this approach were felt acutely by Vancouver, Washington, firefighter Gerald Weyrauch when a misstep off of one of the city’s engines landed him with torn cartilage. Fortunately, Weyrauch had heard about Rebound Rapid Access the day before and immediately called for an appointment. He was seen later that day.

“Rapid Access offered this patient treatment with an experienced specialist that otherwise could have required a wait for regularly scheduled office visit,” observed Rebound orthopedic surgeon T. David Hayes, who is overseeing Weyrauch’s treatment. “For unforeseen injuries, waiting isn’t a good option and immediate treatment minimizes suffering and expedites recovery.”

Washington posts first job gains since 2008

Washington’s economy picked up some steam in January, adding an estimated 12,400 jobs, the first monthly gain since November 2008.

The state unemployment rate remained relatively flat, inching up to an estimated 9.3 percent from December’s revised rate of 9.2 percent. December’s rate was earlier estimated at 9.5 percent, but was revised downward after more analysis.

The largest number of seasonally adjusted job gains occurred in the following industries: retail trade, up 3,000; educational and health services, up 2,800; construction, up 2,700; leisure and hospitality, up 1,600; professional and business services, up 1,000; manufacturing, up 1,000; information, up 900; wholesale trade, up 800; and aerospace and parts manufacturing, up 600.

Industries that shed jobs in January included transportation, warehousing and utilities, down 900, and other services, down 800.

Year over year, Washington had 107,800 fewer jobs last month than in January 2009, a 3.7 percent

decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 3 percent over the past year.

An estimated 359,500 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work in January. More than 305,000 people received unemployment benefits from Washington state in January.

Unemployed workers can inquire about assessment and training opportunities that are available through their local WorkSource career centers.

Employment Security is a partner in the statewide WorkSource system, which offers a variety of employment and training services, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés, and job referrals.

Locations of local WorkSource offices are listed online at www.go2worksource.com. Assistance also is available by phone at 877-872-5627.

Mayor Leavitt meets with the Vancouver Neighborhood Alliance

Vancouver Neighborhood Alliance, also known as The Alliance, has elected its new officers and will be meeting with Mayor Tim Leavitt and Police Chief Cook in its upcoming meetings.

The new officers are the following: Anne McEnerny-Ogle, chair, Shumway Neighborhood Association; Kathy Huss, vice-chair, Ogden Neighborhood Association; Fran Rutherford (temporary), secretary, Riveridge Neighborhood Association; Susan Page, treasurer, First Place Neighborhood Association; Charlie Stemper, communications, Marrion Neighborhood Association; and Ray Keim, Forums, Oakbrook Neighborhood Association.

The Alliance is an independent advisory body of Vancouver neighborhoods that works with the City of Vancouver and the Office of Neighborhoods to preserve and support the City’s neighborhood associations.

Each City of Vancouver neighborhood association, active or inactive, may become a member of The Alliance. All city neighborhoods, through their selected representatives, are invited to the monthly meetings held the second Wednesday of each month, starting at 7 p.m. and held at the Glenwood Senior Living Center, 5500 NE 82nd Avenue, north of Westfield Vancouver Shopping Mall.

Historic Downtown Camas hosts Arts & Letters at its First Friday event

Historic downtown Camas is having an “Arts & Letters” event for First Friday on March 5 where Camas merchants will host many local authors to sign and sell their books in a variety of shops between 5 and 8 p.m.

Authors and local students will read from their works at Journey Community Church in downtown Camas. There will also be a raffle of the collection of signed books donated by the authors, proceeds to benefit the nonprofit Friends of the Camas Library.

In addition to the literary offerings, student artwork will be exhibited throughout town in juried exhibits.

For more information on First Friday, visit www.downtowncamas.com.

Calendar

First Tuesday presentation will be held at 6 p.m. today, March 2, in City Council chambers, 210 E. 13th Street. <> Winona LaDuke, an internationally renowned activist working on issues of sustainable development, renewable energy and food systems, will be presenting the lecture “Indigenous Strategies for a Sustainable Future” from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, March 2, at WSU Vancouver, in the administration building, room 110, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue. <> Port of Camas–Washougal meets for an executive session at 4 p.m. today, March 2, followed by an open session at 5 p.m.

  Tuesday on the air

School Finance 101 - The Role Levies Play in Public Education (2-2)--4:15 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Board of Commissioners (live)--5:55 p.m. CVTV
Community Choices Report Card Forum - "What Does It Take To Be Healthy?" (2-3)--9 p.m. CVTV
The National Football Foundation & College Scholarship Hall of Fame Clark County Chapter (1-20)--10:29 p.m. CVTV  

       Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

 

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Bridge key to Quay's future--Columbian, Cami Joner

Vancouver may cash in on surplus property--Columbian, Andrea Damewood

State legislators restore alternative education dollars--Columbian, Howard Buck

Wetland bank approved by state--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Profiting from recession, payday lenders spend big to fight regulation--Huffington Post, Keith Epstein

Toyota offers 'unprecidented' incentives to spur sales--USA Today, AP