June 22, 2010
Library offers classes for job seekers
Job seekers are invited to attend several free classes at the Washougal Community Library.
Job seekers are invited to attend several free classes at the Washougal Community Library.
With photos of windsurfing and kiteboarding from the Gorge covering the walls, Over The Top Teriyaki fits right in with its surroundings. Jeff and Kim Howard, both of Washougal, decided they wanted to open their first restaurant, a place with great tasting food that was healthy, a hard combination to come by with all the fast food chains around the area. "We wanted no deep frying, and to stay away from fats and grease," said Jeff. "The way we cook and the quality of our food sets us apart." After researching the best options for his kitchen, Jeff decided on the Rational Self Cooking Center. A substitute for an oven, broiler, grill and steamer, the "combi-oven" is something that would cook healthy, fresh food fast, and would taste better, while saving money and electricity. "One thing we wanted to accomplish here is consistency," said Howard. "The combi-oven will accomplish this and will also cut down on labor and waste."
Two chefs who recently served gourmet meals at Shelby's in Washougal will soon be doing the same in downtown Camas. Morris Fenton and Gwyn Manney will provide an assortment of culinary selections at Oliver's -- former site of Harwoods. The restaurant, owned by Dan Harmic and Chuck Woods, opened Jan. 5 and closed on May 7. Harmic left the business for personal reasons, according to Karen Hall. She and her husband Tom Hall own the Camas Hotel, as well as the 1,200 square foot restaurant space at 401 N.E. Fourth Ave. "Tom and I were a little bit hesitant to step into the restaurant business at first," Karen Hall said. "However, when Morris came into the picture -- with his extraordinary talents and experience -- we all got very excited. We believe he will provide just what Camas needs in terms of an upscale restaurant with great food and drink and a warm atmosphere." Fenton and Manney have worked together for seven years, for the Hilton Restaurant Group, Vesta Restaurant, in Vancouver; and the View Point Inn, in Corbett, Ore. They have been written about in the New York Times and Sunset and Gourmet magazines, and they have appeared on CBS-TV.
Several local merchants will participate in the first anniversary celebration of one of their own. The festivities, which are free and open to the public, are set for Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Camas Bike and Sport, 240 N.E. Third Ave. The business, owned by Ed Fischer, will have a raffle and prize giveaways. The grand prize will be a new hybrid bicycle valued at $440. There will be demonstration rides available on Felt road and mountain bikes, and Sram representatives will show the XX MTB component and Apex Road groups. In addition to rides on tandems (bicycles built for two) and a Surrey (a four-seat beach bike), vendors will include NW Mountain Bike Adventures.
A manufacturer of vertical axis wind turbines will soon provide a free feasibility study, to determine if its products could provide any economic benefits to the Port of Camas-Washougal. Brian Sheets, chief executive officer of Skyron Systems, Inc., along with Chief Financial Officer Bill Steele and Marketing and Sales Manager Jon Gruett attended the June 1 port meeting. The feasibility study will be conducted at locations such as the port's marina area, industrial park and Grove Field Airport. "We're anxious to see what that study shows, and we'll use that information to take the next steps," said Port Planning and Development Director Scot Walstra. "The study will show what the best locations [for the turbines] will be."
The land in Washougal that used to bustle with the activity of bulldozers and other excavation machinery sits quietly these days -- following the demolition of the George Schmid & Sons, Inc. offices. The demolition in May has made room for a planned unit development that could include residential and commercial development at 1407 32nd St., in Washougal. The Schmid Family Limited Partnership II, which owns the land, has received preliminary plat approval for a 68-lot subdivision and planned unit development. The proposal would involve dividing the western portion of the site into 25 lots for single-family attached dwellings (town homes), as well as 11.3 acres of open space and a .66-acre parcel for future commercial development. The applicant has proposed to divide the eastern portion of the site into 42 lots for single-family detached dwellings.
