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The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
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In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Fresh food; secret tax plans

The Columbian
Published: December 30, 2024, 6:03am

Cheers: To offering fresh produce and nutritious food to people who are in bad health and also experiencing food insecurity. A new initiative this year by several community partners regularly delivered fresh food from local farms to 55 heart patients and their families. Each delivery included $25 worth of fresh produce, and a multilingual newsletter that included food storage tips and recipes.

The partners, which include Vancouver Farmers Market, Washington State University Clark County Extension, Vancouver Clinic and the American Heart Association, ended the program year in October with a final box that included $75 worth of fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and bread. They plan to offer the Produce Prescription Program again next year, assuming funding can be obtained.

“Produce Prescription not only supports patients with healthy food, it also increases economic opportunity for local farmers,” said Stephanie Clark of the Vancouver Farmers Market.

Jeers: To secret plans for new state taxes. An email mistakenly copied to Republicans by state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, before Christmas outlines her party’s ideas to raise taxes on employers, on highly compensated employees and on transactions, including sales of guns and ammunition and rental of storage units.

Frame, who is vice chair of finance on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says that the email was meant to “get the conversation started early.” But, she intended it only for the eyes of her tax-friendly Democratic colleagues.

Of course, her mistake certainly has started that conversation. Let’s hope that further conversations about new and increased taxes on Washingtonians occur early and in public, rather than in some last-day backroom deal.

Cheers: To remembering a beloved coach. John Griffin, an assistant coach on the Camas girls basketball team, died of prostate cancer in August after working for more than 35 years in education. Now the team is honoring his legacy. Elite senior point guard Kierra Thompson changed her jersey number from 35 to 5 to remember Griffin, with whom she shares an Aug. 5 birthday. And the team has raised a banner with his name on it in the high school gymnasium.

“He always brought positive things to this team, and taught us what we know ever since we were freshmen and it just carries on through the program,” said senior Sophie Buzzard.

Jeers: To warming up your car unattended. On frosty mornings it’s tempting to start your car to defrost the windows while you go back into the house to finish your coffee. Police say it’s a bad idea and may even be illegal, depending on where you live. Unattended vehicles left running are very easy to steal, and a mechanical failure or mistake could pop them into gear, leading to a crash. And, auto exhaust pollutes the air. Invest in a good ice scraper instead.

Cheers: To Friends of the Carpenter. This longtime local faith-based nonprofit continues to quietly serve its mission to help people experiencing homelessness have a place to relax, have a snack and bond over woodworking. The workshop is a foundation of the program, where anyone can gain skills in carpentry and other trades. Mike Hammond, the group’s new executive director, hopes to expand the program in 2025.

Jeers: To contaminated pet food. An Oregon house cat died after eating frozen raw pet food contaminated with the bird flu virus. Avoid feeding your pets raw food, even if it has been frozen. Freezing doesn’t make contaminated food safe.

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