Local Cartridge World participates in tree planting program
The National Arbor Day Foundation has announced a new partnership with ink and toner-refill franchise retailer Cartridge World to help replant America’s national forests that have been damaged by wildfires and other natural causes. In conjunction with its frequent buyer program, Cartridge World will make a donation to the foundation to plant a tree in a national forest. The retailer hopes to plant 75,000 trees in national forests.
Beginning in April, customers at its 550 stores nationwide will be offered a Plant a Tree Frequent Buyer Card. Once the card is filled, the customer will receive a tree gift certificate which tells the customer a tree has been planted in a national forest on his/her behalf. New stores also will be handing out Arbor Day Foundation Gift Trees to customers during grand openings beginning in April.
Statewide shred-a-thon location in Ridgefield
Washington’s Law Enforcement Group Against Identity Theft will hold a statewide shred-a-thon event in 29 locations April 28 to raise awareness of identity theft prevention. Each year, more than 5,000 Washingtonians are victims of the crime.
Southwest Washington’s event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until the trucks are full) at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road. Consumers and small business are invited to bring sensitive documents to be destroyed at no charge.
In order to accommodate as many people as possible, there is a limit of three grocery bags or two banker boxes full of documents per customer.
Police, government officials, business leaders and other experts will be on hand to answer questions and share information about preventing identity theft.
Southwest Washington could host presidential debate
The Vancouver-Portland metro area is one of 19 applicants vying to host a 2008 presidential debate, reports Clark College.
The official proposal is from the "Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission of Portland, Ore., and Clark College, Vancouver, Wash." Other contenders in the west are Spokane through Washington State University and Tempe, Ariz., through Arizona State University.
The debate would likely occur at the Oregon Convention Center or Portland Expo Center.
The college did not provide financial support in the effort, and its participation comes through making contacts in support of the proposal. It should be announced in October where the debate will take place. More information is available at the Commission on Presidential Debates website, www.debates.org.
Fairway Collections certified as women-owned business
Fairway Collections has been certified by the State of Washington’s Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises as a Minority and Women Owned Business. Fairway Collections has offices in Centralia and Longview.
CW Chamber accepting Citizen & Business Person of the Year apps
The Camas Washougal Businessperson and Citizen of the year applications for nomination are now available. Citizen of the year must live in the 98607 or 98671 area codes and have performed volunteer services in the community, which have contributed to an overall positive impact on Camas and/or Washougal. Business Person of the year must work in the 98607 or 98671 area codes and have shown a positive business influence on the Camas-Washougal area and have promoted the community through length of service, image, reputation, activities, promotions, growth, or participation in business organizations.
Applications are due May 4 at 5 p.m. in the CW Chamber office at 422 N.E. Fourth Ave. On June 4 at Orchard Hills County Club, winners will be honored at the annual COTY Banquet; cost is $30 per person.
iQ opens new branch
iQ Credit Union opened a new branch of its credit union in Ridgefield late last month. The new site is the credit union’s eighth location in Clark County.
Located at 2 S. 56th Place, Suite 104, near the Pioneer Street/Ridgefield exit off Interstate 5, the branch will be managed by Tracy Shawa. The new location will feature a drive-up ATM as well as extended branch hours.
Bergstrom Nutrition wins two industry awards
Vancouver-based Bergstrom Nutrition Inc., which manufactures the joint health supplement MSM, recently was recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal achievement awards. Nutrition Business Journal is a trade publication of the nutritional supplement industry, which grew worldwide to $66 billion last year.
Bergstrom was honored for scientific achievement for funding the largest and most thorough clinical trial to date that showed MSM was effective and safe for knee osteoarthritis, according to the company. It was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage in March of 2006.
Bergstrom also was recognized for educational initiative for developing an online resource for noncommercial, impartial consumer education on MSM, www.msmguide.com.
Bergstrom, a family-owned nutrition ingredient company, operates the world’s only facility solely dedicated to production of licensed MSM, sold under the trademark OptiMSM.
Workforce development council again awards ESD 112 youth contract
The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council selected Educational Service District 112 to provide youth services in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties for the next three years.
The youth services contract, funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act, blends youth development with employment and training activities that focuses on low-income youth from hard-to-serve populations and youth with multiple challenges, such as poor academic standing, dropouts, low-income, court-involved, in foster care or with children of their own.
The SWWDC selection committee agreed that ESD 112 provides a program that meets its goals and objectives and that the district is experienced and capable of providing the services.
WSU Vancouver director receives Employee Excellence Award
William Kelley, director of facilities operations for Washington State University Vancouver, has received the Employee Excellence Award. Kelley has a strong record for safety and other training of his employees and collaborates with others on campus and in the community to improve many facets of work at WSU Vancouver.
Clark County Chamber awards scholarships
The Clark County Chamber of Commerce honored 11 high school seniors with scholarships for higher education in Clark County. Sponsors from the Golf 2006 tournament providing the scholarship funding were TwinStar Credit Union, GT Multimedia LLC, Goldman & Assoc. Inc., Aircraft Services International Group, Allstate Insurance/Tony Lawrence, Columbia Resource Co., Costco Wholesale Vancouver, e1 Solutions Inc., East Vancouver Business Association, Gentech Dentist, Golden & Co., M&T Mortgage Corp., Rose Ranch Retirement Inn, Salmon Creek Oral Surgery, The Columbian and Umpqua Bank.
Sponsorships and registrations are currently being accepted for the third annual Clark County Chamber Scholastic Golf Classic, which will be held on May 16, 2007 at the Camas Meadows Golf Club. Contact info@ClarkChamber.com or 360-258-1181.
