A look back at some of the weekend’s top stories:
Cloud innovation in computer software could soon force school districts and other educational institutions to pay a monthly subscription fee.
Schools are concerned how they’ll be affected by Adobe’s recent announcement that it no longer will roll out upgrades to its Creative Suite software, including Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. High schools and colleges use the software in their photography, communications, design, video, journalism and other creative classes.
Adobe has rebranded the Creative Suite software as “Creative Cloud,” which customers must download from the Internet and then pay a monthly subscription fee. Adobe is focusing all its innovation on Creative Cloud. Consumers will still install the software on their computers. But if they stop paying the subscription, they will lose access to the software.
Read the full story here.
Clark joins the Superior Court
Suzan Clark addressed a room Friday afternoon packed with friends, family and colleagues, and said during her career as a trial attorney, she always promised juries she would be brief.
The county’s newest Superior Court judge said she’d approach her swearing-in ceremony at the Public Service Center the same way. She said looking at the crowd, which included friends from elementary school and college, felt like watching her life flash before her eyes.
It was humbling to have so much support, she said.
“I look forward to serving the people of this community,” said Clark, appointed May 6 by Gov. Jay Inslee to fill a vacancy.
State law requires her to run for election in November to retain office, but the former president of the Clark County Bar Association didn’t receive a challenger.
The judicial oath was administered by presiding Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson, the county’s first female Superior Court judge. Clark replaced Diane Woolard, who had to retire because of chronic health issues. Woolard was the county’s second female Superior Court judge; Clark is the third.
Read the full story here.
Those passionate about the Columbia River Crossing project, mark your calendars: The U.S. Coast Guard is hosting a public meeting on the transportation project Wednesday evening at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St. in Vancouver.
Public comment given at the meeting will help the Coast Guard decide whether it should grant the CRC a crucial bridge permit. The controversial $3.4 billion proposal to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Columbia River needs the Coast Guard’s approval to move forward.
In particular, the Coast Guard would like to hear from the public about any impacts the CRC could have to vessels on the Columbia River. Gripes about light-rail transit, construction impacts to local businesses, congestion and safety problems on the current I-5 Bridge, or the project’s price tag are less important to the federal agency than issues of river navigation.
Read the full story and see the meeting schedule here.
Some things you may have missed:
The heart of Firehouse Glass is a 14-year-old furnace and 600 pounds of molten glass. Two thousand degrees of heat emanates from the furnace, keeping artists warm in the winter and boiling in the summer.
It is one of the few glass studios in the area open to the public. And like the larger glass art movement, Firehouse Glass is preparing for bigger changes.
Walking into the Vancouver National Bank Building, built in 1906 on the corner of Main and Sixth streets, visitors pass through a display space of colorful vases, paperweights and glass pipes for smoking.
Andrew Lueck, 28, is the manager of Firehouse Glass and son of owners Rebecca Seymour and Greg Lueck. It was his father’s passion for glass, and need for a furnace assistant, that sparked Andrew Lueck’s initial involvement in glass when he was 8, but it’s only been in the last two years that he’s returned to Firehouse Glass. He realized he had changed careers when he was taking on more glass projects than construction bids.
Read the full story, see a photo gallery and watch a video here.
Greg Jayne: Let the LeBron vs. His Airness talk end
We don’t know who is going to win the NBA championship, but we do know that it’s not going to matter.
Oh, I don’t mean that from a “Who cares?” style of dismissiveness. Any sport played at the highest level for the highest stakes is compelling in its own way.
I mean that from a broader, more overreaching legacy standpoint.
Because if the Miami Heat manage to win their second straight title, completing a season as dominant as any in recent memory, the ESPN-driven talking points will center on comparisons between LeBron James and the Holy Grail of basketball discussions, Michael Jordan.
Part of that is ESPN’s never-ending mission to reduce sports to the lowest common denominator. Goodness knows, we can’t appreciate greatness for greatness’ sake. We need to minimize it to a debate between mindless talking heads.
Which, of course, means that I am falling right into their trap by feeling the necessity to discuss this. I’ll hate myself in the morning, but here goes . . . any comparison between James and Jordan is absurd.
Read the full column here.
Many things have changed since Hockinson established its first school in 1870 in east Clark County. But one thing that’s remained the same is a strong sense of community.
That’s why organizers of Saturday’s Hockinson Fun Days chose a theme of “Hockinson Through The Ages,” said Deeann Jurgens, the event’s chair.
“I think everybody is proud of our hometown feel here,” she said. “That’s why we keep the parade kind of nostalgic.”
The theme came alive during the Fun Days Parade.
Northwest Friesian Friends illustrated the main mode of travel of Hockinson’s early days by riding the parade route on thoroughbred horses.
Brush Prairie’s Back to Health Chiropractic and Massage brought in the 1970s with a rainbow-festooned float carrying long-haired hippies in sunglasses and retro clothes. Incense wafted from the float, giving a reprieve from the odor of road apples, which was heavily present — one tractor driver even pulled a wagon of it behind him.
Read the full story and see a photo gallery here.
