Ed Bedecarrax named International Air and
Hospitality Academy director of education

Ed Bedecarrax has been appointed director of education for the International Air and Hospitality Academy, reports co-president Lynn Rullman.

Bedecarrax will be responsible for all instructors and curriculum for all courses offered by the academy, one of the oldest vocational schools in the Pacific Northwest, and the only one of its kind in the nation, according to Rullman.

The director of education is a new position, Rullman says, necessitated by growth in culinary and hospital courses offered in Vancouver Barracks in addition to airline related courses.

Since 2003, Bedecarrax had been with the Continuing Education Department at Clark College, where he was travel studies coordinator for travel tours in North America and Europe. Previously Bedecarrax had been a biology professor, department chair and dean of instruction at the City College of San Francisco.

Bedecarrax is a graduate of the University of California and earned a masters degree from San Jose State University.

Founded in 1979 by academy chairman Arch Miller, the academy has placed over 25,000 graduates in jobs with airlines and in the hospitality industry.

Clark Public Utilities, partners
to celebrate renewable energy

Clark Public Utilities, with some of its partners and customers, will celebrate renewable energy with the unveiling of an educational solar kiosk and panel showing the real-time solar benefits in the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way on Thursday, April 5.

The celebration also calls attention to two additional new solar-electric systems in the Camas and La Center High Schools.

The event also highlights Green Lights, a voluntary renewable energy program that Clark Public Utilities offers to its electric customers in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. The utility’s Green Lights business partners, led by Burgerville USA, will provide displays and information on how other electric customers can participate and support renewable energy and sustainability.

“The use of solar power is a terrific example of how local communities can make significant impacts on a worldwide issue,” Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard says, adding, “Vancouver is poised to be a leader in this area.”

The program at the Water Resources Education Center is from 4 to 7 p.m. For further real-time information on how Clark’s solar energy generation is working, go to http://www.b-e-f.org/renewables.

Steve Stuart to address
League of Women Voters

County commission board chairman Steve Stuart is the headline speaker for the 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, meeting of the League of Women Voters of Clark County, reports League president Jane Van Dyke.

The public is invited to the session, for which there is no charge. The program will be in the main meeting room in the Clark Regional Waste Water District (formerly Hazel Dell Sewer District), 8000 NE 52nd Court. For further information, call Van Dyke at 693-9966.

Bio-fuel distributor helps
beef up fire department

San Antonio-based bio-fuel distributor Valero LP, which is expanding its two terminals in Vancouver, has made a $387,807 grant to the city to provide training and equipment for the Vancouver Fire Department flammable liquids firefighting capability.

Valero LP, which distributes bulk petroleum and chemical products, will begin distributing methanol, an alternative (green) fuel, when the Vancouver expansion project is completed in November.

New firefighting equipment will be used to transport and spread chemical firefighting foam.

Laggards and the listless
get another chance

The Insider yesterday began a poll of readers to select the best breakfast, lunch and dinner establishments in

Clark County, the deadline for responding to which was 6 p.m. today. Readers, like the kid who didn’t do his homework only to happily discover a substitute teacher that day, get another chance.

Those who have already voted should also do so again. The problem with the poll so far is that the publisher accidentally erased all emails sent to the Insider between 3 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today.

The new deadline for voting for restaurants will be 6 p.m. Friday, March 23.

The rules of the poll are to vote for one each of your favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner venues by sending an email message to tony@dailyinsider.info.

Calendar

Port of Vancouver commissioners meet in an executive session at 7 a.m. Thursday, March 22, to discuss real estate and contract negotiations. No action will be taken at the meeting.

Wednesday, March 21 Headlines

Stocks jump on Fed statement of no interest hike today; Dow has risen 337 points for the week--USA TODAY, AP

Most of the people in the audience tell port commissioner they don't want more taxes--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Library district has embraced technology and remains as popular as ever--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Man who tasered granny gets slap on wrist--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Vancouver mystery helmet has archaeologists talking--Columbian, Tom Vogt

39th Street bridge over railroad tracks closer to reality--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

State budget boosts Vancouver area--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert  and Joe Gamm

House OKs subpoenas for top Bush Aids--Washington Post, William Branigin

Paul McCartney first to sign on Starbucks new label--Seattle P-I, Craig Harris

Air, water powerful partners in Northwest--Washington Post, Blaine Harden

Anti-Clinton ad draws attention--Washington Post, AP, Jim Kuhnhenn

VA review: Hospitals beset with problems--USA TODAY, AP

Son of Sudoku--New York Times, Martin Fackler