Home & Garden

78th Street Heritage Farm community garden opens fourth season

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 4:20pm

VANCOUVER, Wash. -– The 78th Street Heritage Farm community garden program is accepting lottery submissions for plots available for the 2012 season.

To enter, submit your name, email address and/or phone number to Sunrise O’Mahoney, community garden manager, at 360-619-8315 or email the information to O'Mahoney.

Entry deadline is 6 p.m. Feb. 29. A random drawing for plots will be March 1.

78th Street Heritage Farm is at 1919 N.E. 78th St.

The community garden is a year-round program with an emphasis on education.

“Gardeners of all levels of ability are encouraged to participate. We offer free classes from the Master Gardener Foundation,” O’Mahoney said. “Community gardens are an excellent way to learn about growing healthy, fresh food.”

The plots are:

20-feet by 20-feet
Pesticide-free
$60 per year

Some scholarships are available. Some plots are ADA accessible.

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Have you seen the lights on this house in Vancouver?

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011, 12:09pm

Have you seen the lights on this house in Vancouver?

Huge displays of holiday lights are becoming more and more popular. One home -- at 2524 NE 176th Avenue in Vancouver -- has become part of people's traditions. Another house on the same street has a large display of more than 65,000 lights and there are a couple more nearby homes, one of them with an amazing light show and they are raising money for the Make-A-Foundation.

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‘Curb’ your used antifreeze, motor oil for easy recycling

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011, 1:25pm

VANCOUVER, Wash. -– With the weather turning decidedly chilly, Clark County residents may be checking and changing their vehicles’ antifreeze.

For that reason, Clark County Environmental Services is reminding residents that used antifreeze and motor oil are accepted for curbside recycling.

Antifreeze and motor oil should never be dumped down a household drain, on the ground or into a storm drain.

Fixing oil and other fluid leaks also helps protect pets and the environment. Antifreeze that leaks or is drained onto the ground is a hazard to dogs and cats because it contains ethylene glycol, which is deadly when ingested. When it rains, what has leaked onto the pavement may be washed away to contaminate soils or waterways.

Curbside recycling is available at all single-family homes, but not all apartments or condominiums. Check with your manager before setting out used antifreeze or oil if you live in a multi-family complex.

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Learn to be able to recognize and manage hazardous trees

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, November 17th, 2011, 9:00am

Learn to be able to recognize and manage hazardous trees

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- During winter storms many residents become concerned about the condition and safety of large trees. Careful understanding and management of tree defects creates a safer environment, reduces liability and helps when prioritizing tree care.

All trees have the potential to fail, but only a relative few actually do so. "Just because a tree is mature doesn't mean it will fail," said Charles Ray, Urban Forester for the City of Vancouver. "Most trees fail because of an existing defect in the tree, such as cankers, decay and root problems." Defects can be identified by a certified arborist.

Urban Forestry has a webpage with tips and resources on how to recognize and manage hazardous trees. Learn what you can do before a storm to make sure your trees are prepared for all weather conditions. View a list of certified arborists to help manage your valuable assets.

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Quilt raffle will benefit the Children's Justice Center

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Friday, November 4th, 2011, 8:00am

Quilt raffle will benefit the Children's Justice Center

Here are the details from Clark County:

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Free leaf coupons helps keep leaves out of streets, storm drains

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011, 9:09am

Free leaf coupons helps keep leaves out of streets, storm drains

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Falling leaves and falling rain together can create a colorful curbside mess. To prevent leaves from clogging catch basin gutters and turning streets into pools, residents of Vancouver and Clark County are again encouraged to take advantage of a free fall leaf disposal program.

The program, which runs through Dec. 20, is available to Vancouver or Clark County residents only. Only leaves -- not other yard debris -- may be disposed of as part of the free program. A leaf coupon is required. Residents will find the coupons in a variety of locations, including at many City of Vancouver offices, in the October Curbside Recycling Newsletter and on the City of Vancouver Solid Waste Services' web site at www.cityofvancouver.us/solidwaste.

Leaf coupons are also available at the designated free leaf disposal sites:

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Police looking for rapist who claimed he was selling magazines

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Friday, October 28th, 2011, 9:29am

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Police say a woman was raped at knifepoint in her own home by a man who claimed to be a magazine salesman.

The crime happened around 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 at a home near Stapleton Road and Fourth Plain.

According to police, a woman answered her door and a man with a clipboard in his hand told her he was selling magazine subscriptions. But when she declined, he produced a knife, forced his way in and then sexually assaulted her. Police said the woman was so scared that she passed out and the man got away.

It is unclear whether the man was actually a magazine salesman who committed the crime while working or whether he was pretending to be one just to get access to the victim. The woman did not know the man.