📰 What's Making News

Clark County Rent-vs.-Buy Gap Nearly Disappears, Economist Data Shows

For most of the country, renting is still significantly cheaper than buying — but Clark County has been quietly bucking that trend for a decade, and now the gap has all but closed. A new report drawing on data from The Economist finds that the cost of renting and the cost of owning in Clark County are essentially equal. That's a striking shift for an area where homeownership long carried a premium, and it's useful context whether you're weighing your next move or just curious about where the local market stands. Read the full breakdown from The Columbian.

Road-Repair Season Hits Vancouver — Here's Where to Expect Delays

If your commute felt a little slower this week, it's not your imagination: summertime road work is already ramping up around Vancouver. Crews are fanning out across the area to tackle repairs while the weather cooperates, which means lane closures, flaggers, and detours are back in the rotation. Now's a good time to build an extra five minutes into your drive and keep an eye on project updates before heading out. The Columbian has the details on where to watch for delays.

Union Freshman Shreya Andey Claims 4A District Singles Title

Talk about making an entrance: Union High School freshman Shreya Andey won the 4A District 4 girls tennis singles championship Saturday at Vancouver Tennis Center, defeating Skyview's Annie Sheppert 6-3, 6-2. Andey showed poise well beyond her first year on the varsity stage. On the doubles side, Skyview's Evelyn Stana and Nyah Nelsen also took home a district title in an impressive day for Clark County tennis. Full recap at The Columbian.

Skyview Boys Soccer Punches State Ticket on Late Rally

Skyview's boys soccer team is headed to the 4A state playoffs after a gutsy 3-2 comeback win over Emerald Ridge of Puyallup in Saturday's bi-district playoff. Lucas Angelbeck and Leif Evenson each found the net in the second half to flip the script and seal the berth. It's a big moment for the Storm program, and the state tournament stage awaits. Catch the highlights from The Columbian.

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⚡ Quick Bites

East Vancouver's Performing Arts Center Clears a Major Hurdle

The Friends of Center for the Arts just moved the needle on bringing a large-scale performing arts venue to the Columbia Palisades area in East Vancouver. If you've been waiting for a cultural anchor on this side of town, this one's worth watching. Read more

Ridgefield Waterfront Plan Draws Dozens to Public Meetings

Port of Ridgefield leaders are fielding resident questions about traffic, housing, and environmental impacts after two packed public meetings on the waterfront redevelopment. The port says it's working on answers about how the project will shape downtown Ridgefield going forward. Full story here

Beer Paradise Tap House Applies for Vancouver License

A new spot called Beer Paradise Tap House has filed for a liquor license at 8417 NE Burton Rd, Suite 102, in Vancouver — with permits for a restaurant lounge, growler takeout, and factory-sealed containers. One to keep on your radar if you like a good taproom. See the filing

Marcia Jory Joins Riverview Trust Company Board

Riverview Trust Company announced that Marcia Jory is joining its board of directors, part of the latest Clark County business moves highlighted in The Columbian's weekly briefing. Details here

A Mother's Day Read Worth Your Time

Clark County Today's Ken Vance shares a personal essay about his late mother, Donna Vance — a woman who once apologized to a cashier for paying with food stamps. It's a quiet, lovely tribute that hits right on this particular Sunday. Read Ken's column

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, May 10

• Lilac Days at Hulda Klager Gardens — Final day of the 50th-anniversary celebration. Gardens open 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $10 adults, kids 12 and under free. Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, Woodland
• Plant & Seed Swap with Kindred Vancouver — Bring plant starts, saved seeds, or extras to trade (or just browse). 2213 Main St., Vancouver
• WSU Extension Master Gardener Mother's Day Plant Sale — Stock up on locally grown plants from Clark County Master Gardeners. Sign up for a shopping appointment online. Vancouver
• Clark College Spring Native Plant Center Plant Sale — Perfect for building out pollinator habitat. Reserve St., Vancouver
• Road Trip — Conboy Lake NWR Hike with WNPS — 3.8-mile Willard Springs Foot Trail loop with views of Mount Adams and spring wildflowers. North of White Salmon
• Road Trip — Wildflower Hike at Upper Swale Creek Canyon — Explore balsamroot-carpeted slopes and canyon views with the Washington Native Plant Society Suksdorfia Chapter. Klickitat County, WA
• Cape Horn Trail Hike with WNPS — 5-mile round trip to Nancy Russell Overlook with lush woods and spring wildflowers. Email Ron Klump at klumpton@gmail.com to register. Salmon Falls Rd. Park-n-Ride
• Cook Hill Loop Hike with Mazamas — Solitude and wildflowers just east of Dog Mountain in the Gorge. Columbia River Gorge
• Road Trip — Birding & Wildflower Festival at Silver Falls State Park — Free guided bird walks, wildflower strolls, and family activities all weekend. Silver Falls State Park, OR
• Road Trip — White Salmon Wildflower Festival — Month-long celebration with guided hikes, art shows, wine walks, and live music in the Gorge. White Salmon, WA
• Road Trip — "Keep It Wild" Collaborative Art Show — Creativity meets conservation at Arrowleaf Workshop during the Wildflower Festival. On view May 1–30. White Salmon, WA
• Ridgefield Bachelor Island Circumnavigation Kayak Tour — 10-mile full-day paddle through winding waterways with Alder Creek. Ridgefield
• Beacon Rock Trail Day Work Party with WTA — Spend a day (or weekend) helping maintain trails at Beacon Rock State Park. Camping available Saturday evening. Beacon Rock State Park
• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Community Paddle — Free paddling for ages 14+, no experience needed. Ridgefield
• Road Trip — Volunteer Stewardship at Raistakka Preserve — Help Columbia Land Trust with litter pickup and Scotch broom removal along the Grays River. Wahkiakum County, WA
• Berms & Boats Adaptive Sports Weekend — Mountain biking and boating adventures with Oregon Adaptive Sports. Central Oregon
• Road Trip — Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival — Pedal-powered fun on the sand with fat bikes, trikes, scooters, and e-bikes. Cannon Beach, OR
• Road Trip — Cape Disappointment Volunteer Vacation with WTA — Spend a week building stairs on the Coastal Forest Loop trail and stay in historic Fort Columbia lodging. Cape Disappointment State Park
• Tandem Bike Clinic with NW Association of Blind Athletes — Open to athletes of all ages and ability levels
• Road Trip — Naturalist Training: Reading the Landscape with Cascadia Wild — Build skills in wildlife tracking, botany, ecology, and navigation
• Road Trip — Cascades Pika Watch Training Workshop — Learn to survey for pikas in the Columbia River Gorge
• Road Trip — Women's Advanced Mountain Bike Clinics — Build confidence on steep trails with NWTA and Brave Endeavors at Rocky Point
• Online Watercolor Painting: The Burrowing Owl — Virtual art workshop with Ronna, hosted by Bird Alliance of Oregon
• Tamales Cooking Class with Chef Fabiola Donnelly — 2–4 p.m., $100. Make tamale dough and filling from scratch and take them home. Class Cooking, 110 E. 15th St., Vancouver
• Tacos and Handmade Tortillas Cooking Class — Chef Fabi leads an afternoon of hands-on tortilla and taco making. Class Cooking, Vancouver
• 503 Rising Hip Hop Showcase — 6 p.m., $25. Headliner The Neighborhood Kids, hosted by MC Mic Crenshaw. The Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton
• NWCT Presents: Camp Granada — Kids Co. performs a talent-show romp full of humor and heart. The Judy, Portland
• VanCity's Saturday Social Dance & Beginners Lesson — 7 p.m. lesson, social dancing until 10 p.m., $10. No partner needed. VanCity Ballroom, 9212 NE Hwy 99, Hazel Dell
• Laughgasm Stand-Up Comedy with Adam Pasi and Lucas Copp — 7 p.m., $10. Hosted by Logan Loughmiller. UnderBar, 1701½ Broadway, Vancouver
• Campfire Tales Storytelling Show — 7–9 p.m., $12 advance / $14 door. Ten storytellers, five to seven minutes each. Ages 18+. Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
• Hockinson High School Presents Shrek the Musical — 7 p.m., $10–$13. Hockinson High School, Brush Prairie
• Nature Walk: Wildflowers of Jewett Creek — Short walk led by local author Ashley Erdely. Free. Meet at White Salmon Valley Community Library
• 80s Karaoke Theme Night at Pour Choices Pub — 8:30 p.m. Costume contest with a prize for best dressed. 1919 Main St., Vancouver
• 2026 SW WA Youth Photo Contest with Vancouver Audubon — Nature photography contest for youth, expanded to include urban and wild settings across SW Washington

Family & Kids

• Kids Fishing Festival at Columbia Springs — Fishing for ages 5–14 with expert mentors, hands-on science activities, and BBQ lunch. $8/person, advance registration required. 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver
• Pollinators & Poetry with FVRL — Kids learn about pollinators and write haiku with local author Ashley Erdely. Free. Sprint/Baker Gallery Room

Sunday, May 11

• Bird Walk with Vancouver Audubon Society — Look for Bullock's Orioles and Caspian Terns along the Columbia River beneath towering cottonwoods. Captain William Clark Park, Washougal

Tuesday, May 12

• Spice of Life: Growing Herbs — WSU Master Gardener Terrie Phillips covers planting, harvesting, and preserving popular herbs. Free. Community Room

Wednesday, May 13

• Gardening with Compost Workshop — Learn to apply bokashi, vermicompost, trench compost, and leaf mulch with Waste Connections of WA. 9411 NE 94th Ave., Vancouver

Friday, May 15

• Flora & Fauna Friday at Campus Community Garden — Mid-day volunteer work party with the City of Vancouver's Volunteer Programs and Naturespaces. Snacks provided. Vancouver

Saturday, May 16

• Learn to Kayak Tour in Ridgefield — Paddle the Columbia River Water Trail near the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge with Alder Creek guides. Ridgefield Waterfront Park
• Hatchery Tour at Columbia Springs — Trace the path of spring water through the historic hatchery and learn about trout and salmon. 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver
• Vancouver Neighborhood Tree Stewards Workshop — Learn to care for urban trees and make your neighborhood greener. Vancouver
• Watershed Stewardship Program with Clark Conservation District — Six-week course covering local watersheds, plants, fish, wildlife, and conservation. Vancouver

Family & Kids

• Clark County Parks & Nature Fee-Free Day: "Kids to Parks" Day — Free access to regional parks in celebration of National Kids to Parks Day. Clark County parks

Sunday, May 17

• Life After the Great Eruption: Mt. St. Helens Talk — Fort Vancouver volunteer Alex Lennox explores how forests, rivers, and wildlife recovered after 1980. Fort Vancouver Visitor Center Theater
• Mountains & Meadow Watercolor Painting Class — Free watercolor class with Claire Giordano

Sunday, May 18

• Mt. St. Helens Eruptiversary: Views & Brews — USGS Scientist Emerita Carolyn Driedger shares eruption memories and how 1980 reshaped volcano science. Hosted by Mt. St. Helens Institute

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