Westfield Vancouver Mall offers
complete on-line shopper service

Westfield Vancouver Mall customers can find nearly any product, brand or sale available in the shopping center by using the Internet or mobile phones, reports mall marketing director Kimberly Blue.

The new service is powered by NearbyNow, Inc., the first company of its kind to provide Internet and mobile search technology for shopping centers and retailers.

It's as easy as going to http://vancouver.nearbynow.com.

Shoppers can go online from anywhere to explore available products and sales from shopping center retailers. Shoppers can also use the service while at Westfield Vancouver by using text messaging on their mobile phones. Merchandise can even be reserved.

While most retailers list all products and prices, not all do, including Macy's and Nordstrom's.

Consumers can take advantage of the “what’s hot” and “what’s on sale” categories, print sales coupons from a wide variety of retail outlets and download customized shopping center maps. For further information, call Blue at 892.6255.

Report calls for 13 percent increase
in fulltime longshoremen at port

The Pacific Maritime Association reports that the Port of Vancouver should bump up its pool of fulltime longshore workers from 202 to at least 228, a nearly 13 percent increase, this year.

These are industrial strength family wage jobs. The average annual wage paid members of the International Longshore and Warehousemen’s union in Vancouver is $83,941.

The need for additional longshore workers is driven by increased growth at the port, according to port executive director Larry Paulson.

According to Paulson, the Port of Vancouver is the largest grain exporter on the Columbia River and is a leader in handling other bulk commodities, including copper concentrate and fertilizers. The port is also the U.S. port of entry for Vestas wind energy components and is the U.S. west coast port of entry for Subaru automobiles.

New longshore workers are hired from a group of part-time longshoremen in order of the total number of part-time hours they have worked.

Marshall Leadership Award nominations being accepted

The Marshall Leadership Award Selection Committee is seeking nominations for the 19th annual General George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award. One of the many Celebrate Freedom programs organized by the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust, the annual Marshall Leadership Award is presented by the Bank of Clark County.

Nominees must be Clark County residents, 35 years of age or under, and must have completed a four-year college degree. Selection is based on demonstrated leadership ability, commitment to public service, academic achievement and potential for an ongoing active role in public service.

The 2007 recipient will be recognized and honored at a special ceremony at the Marshall House on Officers Row in November. Benefits include the opportunity to tour the Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Va., and visit Colonial Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. The award winner will also meet with local elected officials and receive a scholarship to participate in the Leadership Clark County Program, a nine-month course designed to enhance public leadership skills.

Nominations may be submitted by individuals or organizations and must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. Nomination forms can be obtained by going to www.vnhrt.org or may be picked up at the Trust's office in the Gen. O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver.

Interactive web dialogue explores
state’s higher education system

State Rep. Deb Wallace (D-17th) invites Clark County residents to join in on a three-day interactive web dialogue exploring the state’s higher education system, Monday, July 23, through Wednesday, July 25.

The open discussion is sponsored by the state Higher Education Committee, of which Wallace is chair.

Participants may join in at any time and as often as they like, Wallace says.

Topics to be discussed are as follows: How can schools help students enter and complete college degrees

and workforce training programs? What methods schools should consider to deliver higher quality post-secondary education and workforce training? What needs to happen to ensure that financial aid is accessible for all residents in the state who want to go to college can afford to attend?

For further information and to register for the program, go to www.webdialogues.net/wahousehe/access.

Wine & Jazz Festival volunteers sought

As many as 100 additional volunteers are being sought to help with the production of the 2007 Vancouver Wine& Jazz Festival, festival volunteer coordinator Mary Peters has announced. The festival in Esther Short Park is Friday, Aug. 24, through Sunday, Aug. 26. Volunteers who help pour wine, work backstage and work in other ways, receive a tee shirt and free admission on the day of the festival they volunteer.

For further information, call the festival office, 906-0441, or go to www.vancouverwinejazz.com.

People

John McCain, equipment operator for the Nutter Corporation, this week gave his company a quick-thinking assist in maintaining its status as having the best safety record statewide as an underground contractor. So did flagger Jenea Martin. Martin, seeing an automobile blast through a road-closed sign on a sewer project in east Vancouver, radioed ahead. McCain in a heavy loader responded by lowering the loader boom in front of the car just in time to stop it from plunging into the trench.

News brief

Deadline for submitting an application to serve in a volunteer position on the Clark County Historical Grants Committee is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10. Annually the committee awards up to $120,000 to finance preservation of historical documents and promote historic preservation and programs. The committee meets four to six times a year beginning in September when grants are reviewed. For further information, call Kelly Sills, Clark County economic development manager, at 397-2232.

Calendar

Nu Shooz Unplugged headlines the free Six-to-Sunset concert series at 6 p.m. this evening in Esther Short Park. Food and beverage vendors are on hand. Alcohol and tobacco are banned. Concert-goers are advised to bring picnic blankets or folding chairs.

Headlines Thursday, July 12

Spanish language newscast causes stir--KATU, Bill Click (Video)

President Bush fires international boundary commissioner over Whatcom County backyard wall; commissioner fights back--Seattle Times, David Bowermaster

Medical Center wants to sell $100 million worth of office real estate and concentrate on health care--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Mission accomplished--Columbian, Dean Baker

Infill sometimes controversial--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Air conditioner use way up in past decade, pushed peak power load 30 percent, but no power supply problems--Columbian, Dean Baker

Report on Iraq sees progress; Bush rejects troop pullout--New York Times, David Stout and Christine Hauser

White House report gives Iraq mixed marks--Washington Post, Karen DeYoung and Peter Baker

S. & P., Dow set new records; Dow up nearly 284 points--New York Times, AP

Al-Qaeda back to pre-9/11 strength--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties