Vancouver, Wash. ‒ The public is invited to shop for farm-fresh food and regional products when the Franklin Street Farmers Market opens for eight Wednesdays this summer in the plaza outside the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

The market’s debut will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 12. It will run the same time each Wednesday through Aug. 30.

Eight to 12 vendors who regularly have booths at the Saturday farmers market near Esther Short Park will participate. Products will include produce, flowers, berries, meat, eggs and bakery items.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County residents will get a chance to wander through 15 diverse natural gardens that showcase earth-friendly gardening techniques during the Green Neighbors Natural Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 23.

Booklets with details about the free, self-guided garden tour can be downloaded from www.clarkgreenneighbors.org/gardentour or found at:

Vancouver, Wash. – Northeast Padden Parkway, from its intersection with Northeast 78^th Street east to Andresen Road, will close this weekend so a contractor can repair surface defects and pave the roadway.

The closure is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Friday, July 7, and end no later than 5 a.m. Monday, July 10.

This work is weather dependent. In case of a weather cancellation, the closure will be rescheduled for the following weekend, from 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, until no later than 5 a.m. Monday, July 17.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County will close a section of Northeast Lockwood Creek Road east of La Center next month so a contractor can install a retaining wall and guardrail to improve safety.

Beginning Monday, July 10, Northeast Lockwood Creek Road will be closed to through traffic from Northeast 40^th Avenue east to Northeast Morcroft Road. The closure is expected to last about six weeks. Residents of the area, emergency vehicles and deliveries will have access.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Geographic Information Systems recently rolled out a new Web page for map research called Quick Maps. It is the first phase of the department’s long-term goal to allow anyone to research and download mapping data and standard maps for free. 

Quick Maps can be found at https://gis.clark.wa.gov/gishome/mapstore/index.cfm#/mapProducts.

Vancouver, Wash. – Work will begin to enhance public safety by improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the west side of a 15-block stretch of Highway 99.

On Wednesday, July 5, Colf Construction, LLC, a Vancouver-based contractor working for Public Works, is scheduled to begin replacing portions of sidewalk on the west side of Highway 99 between Northeast 63^rd Street and Northeast 78^th Street.

Access to all businesses will remain open during construction.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Board of County Councilors is accepting applications from local organizations for grants that promote historical preservation and programs, including preservation of historic documents.

Applications for 2018 Historical Promotion Grants must be received by the Historic Preservation Commission by mid-September.

The commission will review applications in the fall and submit recommendations to the county council in November. Grants will be awarded in December, and the money will be available in January 2018.

Vancouver, Wash. - Lifeguards will begin working at Klineline Pond this weekend, providing an extra level of safety at the popular swimming spot heading into the Fourth of July holiday.

Lifeguards will be on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Saturday, July 1, and lasting through Labor Day. The splash pad next to Klineline Pond is currently down for repairs but likely will reopen for the weekend.

Vancouver, Wash. – Even after they light up the night sky, fireworks remain potential sources of fire and worker injury. Improper disposal of fireworks puts waste and recycling workers at increased risk of injury from fires in their trucks and at transfer stations. Fireworks are not recyclable and will contaminate materials that are.

Tips for proper disposal of USED fireworks:

Vancouver, Wash. – The Board of County Councilors Wednesday approved entering a contract with the Prothman Co., an executive search firm in Issaquah, to obtain the professional services of an interim county manager.

On Tuesday, the council interviewed Jim Rumpeltes of Surprise, Ariz., and agreed he will act as Clark County’s interim county manager. Prothman referred Rumpeltes to the position, and he will be a Prothman employee while working in Clark County.