Cheers: To the Vancouver Farmers Market. One of the sure signs of spring sprouted last weekend on streets adjacent to Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. Since being founded in 1990, the Vancouver Farmers Market has grown into an institution, with organizers claiming it is the top visitor attraction in Southwest Washington. The 2018 season will run Saturdays and Sundays through October.
Offering a variety of produce from farms throughout the region, in addition to hot food, entertainment and crafts, the market also is a prime location for people watching. Executive director Jordan Boldt says several new vendors have entered the market this year, and seasonal produce means the selection can change from week to week. It all adds up to one of Vancouver’s signature events.
Jeers: To inadequate foster homes. Unannounced visits to 20 foster-care group homes in Washington in 2016 revealed that all of them failed at least one basic guideline for protecting children. Among other shortcomings, a recent report from the U.S. Office of the Inspector General showed that 16 of the homes failed to conduct required background checks on employees. Meanwhile, none of the group homes fully complied with medical-safety requirements.
Group foster homes are an important part of the state’s social safety net, providing for a vulnerable population. Failing to protect children who already have been failed by adults will simply exacerbate problems down the road. The state agency overseeing the homes already is pursuing changes to improve oversight, but jeers are warranted for the problems exposed by the visits.
Cheers: To public input. Three upcoming meetings will allow Clark County residents to weigh in on Oregon’s proposal to establish tolls along Interstate 5 and Interstate 205. The Clark County Council will hold a meeting on Tuesday; a Vancouver City Council workshop is April 2; and the SW Washington Regional Transportation Council will hold a meeting May 1. Details can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yc9ev966.
Oregon is considering tolls along the freeways, which are frequently traveled by Washington residents. An estimated 70,000 people who live in Clark County work in Oregon, and those freeways provide the only access across the Columbia River. If Washington drivers are to be charged for using the roads, it is essential that we see some of the benefits.
Jeers: To frivolous lawsuits. This jeer could perhaps go to bad beer, but who are we to judge? Either way, a 37-year-old man in Sacramento, Calif., is suing Pabst Brewing Co., alleging false advertising in its marketing of Olympia.
You remember Olympia, don’t you? It used to actually be brewed near Olympia, with water from “artesian wells.” Although the beer now comes from California, the company claims to use spring water from Washington. That is not good enough for Brendan Peacock, who filed the suit. The growth of microbrews throughout the Northwest shows that we take our beer seriously, but even we would simply switch brews instead of taking the matter to court.
Cheers: To running kids. Hough Elementary School has turned recess into an exercise in, um, exercise. The Hough Mileage Club has students running along a quarter-mile path and keeping track of their distance as part of a voluntary running program. “It’s fun, and it’s a great way to get exercise,” said third-grader Karina Woodley, who has logged more than 50 miles since October.
With childhood obesity being pervasive throughout the United States, anything that gets students excited about sweating is beneficial. In going at their own pace — walkers are welcome — and doing an activity with friends, the students are developing positive habits that can last a lifetime.
