To view this email as a web page, please follow this _link_: <http://emailer.emailroi.com/r.pl?8bXC2eylQJF79Udg_8fe351680807a3b1 Gust of gradsNorthwest Renewable Energy Institute graduates first wind technician classThe first 40 students of the Northwest Renewable Energy Institute in Vancouver graduated last weekend as wind turbine technicians. The six-month training program, which started last July as the latest division of the International Air and Hospitality Academy, prepares students for careers maintaining and fixing turbines in the growing wind energy industry.Most of the first class received federal job-training stimulus grants to pay the $11,000 tuition. And several of the new grads have already landed jobs at wind farms across the U.S., said Arch Miller, founder of the Institute. The Institute enrolls up to 40 new students each month for the training and the next class begins Jan. 11. Today's close: Dow Jones Nasdaq S P 500 10,428.05, down 120.462,269.15,  down 22.131,115.10, down 11.32 Stocks   Markets Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009Walgreens to carry beer and wine in 13 Vancouver storesWalgreens is gearing up to ring in the New Year with beer and wine sales at its Clark County pharmacy stores in March. On Tuesday, the company applied for liquor licenses through the Washington state Liquor Control Board to sell the spirits at all 13 of its local stores. The move is part of a national initiative for the Deerfield, Ill.-_base_d Walgreen Co. , said Robert Elfinger, a company spokesman. Walgreens stores already carry beer and wine in several states, including Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and Oregon. Walgreen Co. operates nearly 7,150 stores in 50 states. The company opened its first Clark County store in 2001. In 2003, Walgreens bought 11 stores from Vancouver-_base_d Hi-School Pharmacy Inc. and converted most of the sites to the Walgreens� corner-conveniece-store model. For more, read Friday's Columbian. Two new C-W port commissioners start MondayTwo newly elected Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioners will be sworn in by Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey at the port's regular meeting at 4 p.m. Monday at its headquarters, 24 South A St. in Washougal. New to the port's three-member commission, Mark Lampton and Bill Macrae-Smith will be sworn in at the ceremony. They will replace outgoing commissioners Jim Carroll and Alan Hargrave. The remaining port commissioner, Bill Ward, will hold office through 2011.State liquor stores open on New Year's Day Washingtonians that deplete their liquor cabinets on New Year's Eve can restock New Year's Day at most state-run liquor stores. Stores run by the Washington State Liquor Control Board will be open tomorrow, including two Vancouver stores at 5000 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. and 13875 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Stores close at 8 p.m. tonight and reopen from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 1. Regular hours resume on Jan. 2.Rite Aid offers $15 swine flu shotsRite Aid, which operates a store at 13511 S.E. Third Way in Vancouver, is offering H1N1 flu shots for $15 at 1,257 stores in 30 states, including Washington and Oregon. Rite Aid's regular seasonal flu shots cost $30. Visit www.riteaid.com/H1N1 to find a store offering the shots and call ahead for an appointment.  While the incidence of reported H1N1 flu cases has declined in recent weeks, flu is unpredictable and activity can rise and fall throughout the season, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Holiday fares from Idaho Falls to PDX and Sea-TacHorizon Air is offering a holiday special on airfares from Idaho Falls to Portland, Seattle and other locations. The fares, which run $119 one-way from Idaho Falls, are good for travel between Jan. 13 and March 10. Tickets must be purchased before Jan. 15. If you missed itKuni auto dealership buys Vancouver Kmart site for $3 million The buyer, KEIRE LLC, is an entity of Kuni Enterprises Inc., which operates dealerships in four states including Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado. The company has maintained its corporate offices in Vancouver since 2004.   Boring but importantSnow, security don�t snarl PDX Airline traffic is flowing smoothly at Portland International Airport this week despite Tuesday�s snowstorm and tighter security after an attempted terrorist attack near Detroit on Christmas Day. Quote of the Day  ï¿½At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it ... See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you , and once in a while people may even take your breath away.   - Dr. Meredith Grey, from the TV show Grey's Anatomy, which began airing in 2005. 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