The Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Association meets monthly at the Felida Fire Station — the closest space that’s large enough to hold the association’s 30 regular attendees after the closing of the Totem Pole restaurant.
On Wednesday afternoon, association representatives from business, government and community associations filled the the station’s conference room, where they heard presentations from Community Home Health & Hospice, Parade of Bands organizers and a couple of their member firms.
New Hospice Center
By the end of 2012, the nonprofit hospice provider will start the first phase of its Vancouver center at 3100 N.E. 136th Circle. It currently leases space at 14508 N.E. 20th Ave. The project will create up to 80 jobs in construction, 30 in health care and four in administrative positions, according to the nonprofit.
The center would be the second of its kind in the county after the Ray Hickey Hospice House. The nonprofit’s CEO Greg Pang said that 13.9 percent of all deaths in Clark County occur in hospice centers, and that a county that supports two hospitals can support two hospice centers.
The project is currently in the permitting and design phase. Construction will start in early 2012. The second phase of the project will add an additional 10 beds to the inpatient care facility. Marykay Morelli, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit, said the second addition won’t start until there is funding and is still a few years out.
The Parade’s Coming
Organizers reminded businesses about the upcoming Parade of Bands at 10:30 a.m. on May 21. It now has 29 bands taking part and another 29 sponsors contributing more than $14,000. This year’s theme is Stars & Stripes Forever.
Retired U.S. Army sergeants Jack Carrier and Brian Radke will serve as grand marshals. Both are from Vancouver and were injured while serving in Iraq.
Max Muscle and Sports Nutrition will hold its second annual charity run/walk along the parade route starting at 10:15 a.m. To register, email tracy@maxmusclevancouver.com. Proceeds from the event will support the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center.
Business Show-and-Tell
David Edwards from Liberty Tax Service – 1108B N.E. 78th St. – and Vicki Fitzsimmons from Edward Jones Investments – 7730 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave. and 9901 N.E. 7th Ave. – also explained their businesses’ roles in the community.
Edwards said that more than 60 percent of his customers come in because of ‘waivers’ on sidewalks imploring drivers to do their taxes. Liberty does personal, business and corporate taxes. It dedicates weeks of the year to free tax services for firefighters, police, health care employees teachers and military members. Its Hazel Dell location also does cosmetology licensing tests.
Fitzsimmons said that Edward Jones distinguishes itself by using single-person offices located in the communities they serve. She does personal, business and corporate tax returns right out of her office in Hazel Dell. Her specialty is retirement planning, but she also does college plans, life insurance, annuities and general analysis of peoples’ finances.
The Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Association holds a general meeting every month. For more information, leave a message for Ila Stanek at 360-573-7376 or email ilastanek@hotmail.com.
