Cheers: To Vancouver. While there are various problems that require attention, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle provided a reminder of the city’s many successes during her first State of the City address. Highlighting the burgeoning Waterfront Vancouver development, the mayor said, “Isn’t it exciting to think that by this September you will be able to walk or bike on the park’s new waterfront trail or just sit and enjoy the river view from one of many beautiful locations within the park?”
Numerous other projects are underway, with Vancouver taking advantage of a growing population and a bustling economy. “I commit to you that we will continue working on developing new and collaborative solutions for our community,” McEnerny-Ogle said. Not that everything is rosy, but these are exciting times in Vancouver.
Jeers: To influenza. Despite the fact that the weather and the calendar tell us spring has arrived, flu continues to take a toll in Clark County. Positive flu tests increased to 21 percent over the past two weeks, indicating that the sick season is still in full swing. A positivity rate above 10 percent is regarded as evidence of an active flu season.
The local flu season began in November and hit a peak in January, and along the way it has mirrored a difficult season nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expect the season to continue for weeks. So remember to take precautions, including staying home when you feel ill.
Cheers: To Cruise the Couve. Vancouver’s annual parade of cars both classic and not-so-classic will take place on July 21, providing a family-friendly event for aficionados and novices alike. Hearkening to the tradition of driving to see and be seen, the event has become a summertime favorite in the heart of the city.
The original event was christened in 2009 and quickly grew, but the organizer pulled out last year over a dispute regarding the city’s insurance requirements and growing costs. Downtown merchant Bryan Shull stepped into the void and put together an event last summer; now, he is preparing for an encore. “We’ll have some side shows in the mix with the cruise,” Shull said. “We’ll have a way for people to really take in the classics.” By any name, the cruise is the kind of event that helps bring a community together.
Jeers: To dog thieves. It is one thing to take computers and household items during a burglary, but stealing somebody’s purebred black Lab puppy is deplorable. That is what happened on March 13 in the area of 164th Avenue and Northeast 28th Street.
Carlos, a 5-month-old puppy who was purchased for the family’s children, was a victim of the burglary, and Clark County deputies are trying to locate the dog. Carlos has a consistent black coat of fur but white discoloration around his left eye. Anybody with information should contact Deputy Greg Agar (Greg.Agar@clark.wa.gov). To play off a time-honored idiom, a dog is a child’s best friend. As for the thieves, well, we can assume they are dirty dogs.
Cheers: To Easter. Sunday marks the occasion when Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and there is no shortage of opportunities to take part. Numerous organizations are holding Easter egg hunts this weekend (https://tinyurl.com/y76qkbju), and churches throughout the region will be filled for services.
With Good Friday and Easter being perhaps the holiest days on the Christian calendar, the weekend is of profound importance to believers. We wish a happy Easter to all Clark County residents and hope that the sense of peace accompanying the season can serve as a guide for the remainder of the year.
