Gov. Gregoire appoints new ecological director

Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced the appointment of Ted Sturdevant as the director of the Washington State Department of Ecology. Sturdevant has spent the past seven years as Ecology’s director of governmental relations and replaces Jay Manning, who recently joined the Governor’s Office as Gregoire’s chief of staff.

“Ted knows this agency–he has a strong familiarity with its priorities and challenges, and already has an excellent working relationship with agency staff, the environmental community, tribes and the business community,” Gregoire said. “I am confident that Ted will work with people in every community and industry to ensure Washington state remains a place in which we’re all proud to live.”

Before joining the senior management team at the Department of Ecology in 2003, Sturdevant worked under Gov. Gary Locke, leading Locke’s external affairs team. Sturdevant has also worked for Rep. Mike Nelson and Rep. Tony Federici in Oregon.

In 2008, Gregoire presented Sturdevant with the Governor’s Award for Leadership Management.

Nellor Law is hosting a blood drive from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, Nellor Restinas Crawford PLLC, 1201 Main Street, downtown Vancouver. Sign up by calling 695-8181, www.givelife.org (sponsor code: NellorLaw), or by emailing blooddrive@nellorlaw.com. <> The Vancouver Farmers Market is having a Harvest Day Market event encouraging everyone to eat locally this Thanksgiving holiday by re-opening for one day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at its regular location at 6th and Esther Streets, downtown Vancouver. For more information, go to www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com. <> The Slocum House Theatre Company will hold auditions for “The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged” by The Reduced Shakespeare Co., directed by Tony Bump at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14-15, at The Slocum House Theatre, 605 Esther Street, Vancouver, and are looking for funny men and women ages 18 and older. The audition will consist of improv and readings from the script.

Calendar

Equestrian advisory group meets at 5:30 p.m. tonight, Nov. 9, in the Dollars Corner fire station, 21609 N.E. 72nd Avenue (Fire District 11). The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Laurie Lebowsky in Community Planning at 397-2280 ext. 4544, or e-mail Laurie.Lebowsky@clark.wa.gov. <> City Council meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, for workshops followed by a consent agenda meeting, Council chambers, Vancouver. <> Staff from the City of Vancouver Transportation Service will be presenting information on improvements planned for 39th Street at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at a meeting to be held in the cafeteria at Lincoln Elementary School, 4200 Daniels Street. Call 487-7727 for more information. <> There will be a Washougal City Council workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in City Council chambers. <> Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Board of Trustees meets at 3 p.m. for an executive session, then at 3:30 p.m. for a workshop, followed by a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, Vancouver Community Library (downstairs in Library Hall), 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. <> A meeting for the Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County is from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Public Works Conference room, 4700 NE 78th Street. <> Port of Vancouver USA meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. <> Public Utility District of Clark County board of commissioners is holding a meeting at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10. <> Various Veterans Day assemblies are being held at the following schools: Burnt Bridge Creek Elementary School, with an assembly at 9:10 a.m.; Mill Plain Elementary School, which will be featuring patriotic songs and reader's theater piece at 9:35 a.m.; Image Elementary School, whose All-Star Choir and Festival Singers will be performing at an all-school assembly with the American Legion Band at 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Hearthwood Elementary School, which will hold an assembly at 10 a.m.; and Endeavour Elementary School, which will also be holding an assembly with the American Legion Band and the Grizzly Choir at 1:30 p.m.