Southwest Washington Medical Center's $146 million expansion information

Hilton Vancouver opening
officially opens doors June 15

The Hilton Vancouver will officially open with a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, reports hotel spokesperson JJ Wills.

Following the opening ceremonies, public tours will be given and the 114-seat restaurant, Gray’s Bistro and Bar, will be open for lunch and dinner.

The $73 million, 226-room hotel and the attached 30,000-square-foot convention center, all on Columbia Street just south of Esther Short Park, is owned by the City of Vancouver. The facilities are being operated by Hilton Hotels.

Further information on the hotel-convention center can be found by going to www.vancouverwashington.hilton.com.

Convention and Visitors Bureau
offering promotional opportunities

Local businesses are being given the opportunity to promote themselves through the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau’ convention services directory, according to bureau president Kim Bennett.

Businesses listed in the directory are solicited by meeting and convention planners who are looking for promotional materials to give away to groups and organizations visiting Vancouver and Clark County.

With the recent opening of the Exposition Center at the Clark County fairgrounds and the impending opening of the Hilton Vancouver and the city convention center, opportunities for local businesses to gain exposure for products and services are increasing.

The bureau is a destination marketing organization focused on creating awareness and attracting leisure and convention visitors to Vancouver and the surrounding area.

For further information on the bureau’s promotional opportunities, call Kimber Legato, 750-1553, extension 16.

Craig Pridemore keynoter for
Leadership Clark County graduation

State Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-49th) is the keynote speaker for the 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 10, Leadership Clark County graduation ceremonies being held in the Student Services Building at Washington State University Vancouver.

Graduates participated in a year-long course of study in leadership style and development, and community problems and opportunities.

Graduates are the following:

Courtney Barker, Corwin Beverages; Shawna Care, Clark County Family YMCA; Todd Coleman, Port of Vancouver; Sharon Crouch, Clark Public Utilities; Amber Curtin, Columbia Credit Union; Jim Demmon, CVTV; Doug Dray, Key Bank; Pete DuBois, Clark County Public Works; VaNessa Duplessie, Balanced Just Write; Rica Halleck, Education Service District 112; Kim Hash, Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust; Jeff Kassel, New Phoenix Casino; Sharon Lien, First Independent Bank;Betty Montgomery, community volunteer; Paula Muller, Hewlett Packard; Debbie Nelson, City of Vancouver; Tabitha Reeder, The JD White Company; Peggy Sandberg, Education Service District 112, Nicole Sicilia, Hopper, Dennis Jellison, Cathy Sork, Vancouver School District; Scott Sturgeon, Hewlett Packard; Troy Thomas, Electric Lightwave; and Karen Kay Varkados, IQ Credit Union.

The public is invited. Tickets at the door are $10 each.

People

Cheralyn Beaudry, director of Quality Care Resources, Southwest Washington Medical Center, has been appointed to the board of examiners of the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. The award process was created by Congress in 1987 to recognize the highest level of performance excellence in American organizations. The board’s members are 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and government.

News briefs

The Clark County Skills Center Diesel Technology program has been certified for Automotive Service Excellence for heavy and medium trucks. The Skills Center is only the sixth high school in the western United States to achieve the certification.

Calendar

The ad hoc Intergovernmental Roundtable on the Cowlitz Casino meets at 6 p.m. this evening in the Education Service District 112 media building, 2500 NE 65th Avenue. g The East Minnehaha Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the media center in the Walnut Grove Elementary School, 6103 NE 72nd Avenue. g The Clark College Women’s Choral Ensemble, directed by April Duvic, presents its final concert of the year at 7:30 p.m. this evening in the Decker Theatre in the Frost Arts Center at Clark College. Also performing is the college Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Janet Reiter. Admission to the concert is free, but donations for the college music scholarship fund will be accepted at the door.

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

County commissioners think concrete floors in livestock building a bit too much--Columbian, Erin Middlewood

Ridgefield School District voters to get $56 million bond issue for new high school on ballot Sept. 20--Columbian, Margaret Ellis

Legal dispute ends hopes for reopening of Parker House Restaurant at the Port of Camas-Washougal--Columbian, Gretchen Fehrenbacher

Real estate deals put boom in downtown Vancouver development--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Explosions, shootings kill 36 more in Iraq--Washington Post, Marwan Ani, Jonathan Finer and Fred Barbash

Seattle Times live video coverage of governor election trial when in session (Video)

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
 

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