Local Life

Skills Center honors Dennis Kampe

Dennis Kampe, director of the Clark County Skills Center, is retiring after 30 years with the Skills Center. Kampe is being recognized at the Skills Center Foundation's fundraising banquet, "30 Years of Putting Education to Work," on May 31 at the Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m.; dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. followed by a live auction.

Energy Adviser: Save money by putting solar to work

Investing in solar energy may not be top of mind for many here in the Pacific Northwest, and a price tag that can top $40,000 would be enough to give many homeowners pause. But for some local folks, a mix of federal and state incentives and a desire to help the environment offset the initial investment.

Garden Life: Trimming can revitalize rhododendrons

Instead of tearing out that overgrown rhododendron, this may be the year to practice your pruning techniques. Established rhododendrons can be quite lovely plants, especially when trained as a small tree. Take the time to limb branches from the bottom up. Limbing simply refers to cutting the branches off with a pruning saw where they connect to the trunk or another main branch. Thin out higher branches for an open, airy look.

A green place to call home

Bellevue couple built sustainably for themselves and to teach others

SEATTLE — Before she got into the construction business 41 years ago, Donna Shirey was a teacher.

Garden calendar

A weekly listing of gardening events in Clark County.

Ask the gardening expert

I live in Central Oregon and roses are very expensive in our market place, so I have started some roses from seed and want to use them as a hedge when they are ready. How long will it be before I can plant my hedge? Also could you suggest how I might winter them over?

Monroe's photos for Prague exhibition stolen

PRAGUE — A publicist for an upcoming Marilyn Monroe exhibition in Prague says that photographs of the star have been stolen.

Seeking students, educators to share adventures in blog

Full-fat cheese is key to this healthful quesadilla

At its heart, a quesadilla is a Mexican grilled cheese. Take a tortilla, stuff it with something savory, add some cheese, fold it in half and toast it. It's also pretty delicious.

Try pork chops on the grill

It's May and that means grilling season is officially here. So fill up the propane tank or buy a new bag of charcoal and get your flame on.

Asparagus gives dish the taste of spring

Combine it with lemon chicken and roasted bell peppers

Fresh lemons, olive oil and Dijon mustard. Together they are the perfect trio to brighten up any dish.

Cilantro broth is lovely with fish

Fish stays moist and looks lovely when presented in this light broth. To complete the meal, it would be easy to toss in a small amount of blanched fresh peas, snow peas or haricots verts. Adapted from "The Newlywed Cookbook: 200 Simple Recipes and Original Meals for the Happy Couple," by Robin Miller (Sourcebooks, 2013).

Herb is my friend, even when no one else will cooperate

May is here with sunshine and tulips and warm temperatures, and I am left wondering how I can be so overjoyed with its arrival and at the same time so overcome with a feeling of dread.

The last word on peanut butter cookies?

I do not have a revolutionary approach to peanut butter cookies to offer you. I am not an advocate of the three-ingredient approach: In my book, it's not a cookie unless it has flour in it. Putting aside such radicalism, there are only a few potentially contentious ingredients in the basic peanut butter cookie formula, and for each of these I will give you my humble opinion of the best path. You are, as always, welcome to choose otherwise, as long as you understand that the probable outcome will be disappointment and resentment on the part of those you give your dry, crumbly, bland baked goods.