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Stories by Patty Hastings

Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith

Juan Garcia, right, works Tuesday on framing a room at the Isabella Court apartment complex construction site in central Vancouver. A 180-unit apartment building is planned nearby at 5500 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

Affordable housing projects planned, underway

Juan Garcia, right, works Tuesday on framing a room at the Isabella Court apartment complex construction site in central Vancouver. A 180-unit apartment building is planned nearby at 5500 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

March 30, 2016, 6:05am Clark County News

A Portland-based planning and development firm is looking to build a 180-unit apartment complex in central Vancouver, which would add to a handful of affordable housing projects in the works locally. The preliminary application submitted by Otak Inc. on Thursday details plans to build on a 5.35-acre site at 5500… Read story

Clark County Democrats will hold their legislative caucus and convention Sunday.

7 takeaways about Clark County voters

Clark County Democrats will hold their legislative caucus and convention Sunday.

March 25, 2016, 8:52pm Clark County News

The May 24 Republican primary presidential election will give an indication of local voters' interests, Clark County elections supervisor Cathie Garber said. It's also worthwhile, she said, to look at what voters have done historically, particularly in 2008 when the presidency was an open seat, to get an idea of… Read story

Members of the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver pose in the exact positions Wednesday as the figures in Leonardo da Vinci&#039;s The Last Supper painting during a dress rehearsal for Maundy Thursday.

Church prepares for The Last Supper

Members of the First United Methodist Church in Vancouver pose in the exact positions Wednesday as the figures in Leonardo da Vinci&#039;s The Last Supper painting during a dress rehearsal for Maundy Thursday.

March 24, 2016, 6:05am Churches & Religion

Maundy Thursday, otherwise known as Holy Thursday, is the beginning of a busy weekend for Christian churches. Really, the whole week is packed with holy days -- starting with Palm Sunday -- that are marked by traditions. Read story

Aerial view of housing in Vancouver.

Clark County population climbs 8% from 2010-’15

Aerial view of housing in Vancouver.

March 24, 2016, 6:00am Clark County News

Clark County's estimated population has risen to 459,495 residents, as growth resumes in the area. Between 2014 and 2015, the county grew by 2 percent, netting 9,054 new people, according to data released from the Census Bureau. Read story

After living in Arizona for 16 years, Stefan and Angela Walz returned to Vancouver and had trouble finding an affordable home. Their solution: They bought an unfinished concrete home. &quot;We&#039;ve had a lot of people come by and say these are just like the houses that my family builds in Mexico,&quot; Stefan said.

Sylvan Ecohouse right fit for Vancouver native, family

After living in Arizona for 16 years, Stefan and Angela Walz returned to Vancouver and had trouble finding an affordable home. Their solution: They bought an unfinished concrete home. &quot;We&#039;ve had a lot of people come by and say these are just like the houses that my family builds in Mexico,&quot; Stefan said.

March 20, 2016, 6:04am Clark County Life

The Sylvan Ecohouse was supposed to be a modern, angular house using the latest and greatest energy efficiencies, its slanted roof pointed skyward. Read story

Bob and Pat Jones live in a house built on the concrete foundation of the old power plant from the hydroelectric dam on the Washougal River, which was blown up in 1947.

Clark County home to other head-turning houses

Bob and Pat Jones live in a house built on the concrete foundation of the old power plant from the hydroelectric dam on the Washougal River, which was blown up in 1947.

March 20, 2016, 6:04am Clark County Life

Stefan and Angela Walz's edgy, concrete home isn't the only one that sticks out in Clark County. Others have used not-so-common building and design methods to give their home an edge when its comes to energy efficiency, aesthetics or both. Here is a sampling of the head-turning homes in Clark… Read story

Mick Johnson, president of St. Paul Lutheran Church&#039;s council, talks about creating space dividers to give women privacy at the shelter that will open soon. &quot;We&#039;re back to having the place in use day and night,&quot; Johnson said. &quot;It&#039;s more use than the building had when we planned it. Otherwise, it would have been Sunday school on Sunday and meeting rooms and not much else.

St. Paul Lutheran Church to provide shelter to women

Mick Johnson, president of St. Paul Lutheran Church&#039;s council, talks about creating space dividers to give women privacy at the shelter that will open soon. &quot;We&#039;re back to having the place in use day and night,&quot; Johnson said. &quot;It&#039;s more use than the building had when we planned it. Otherwise, it would have been Sunday school on Sunday and meeting rooms and not much else.

March 18, 2016, 5:06pm Churches & Religion

If it all works out, St. Paul Lutheran Church will transform into a 12-bed women's shelter practically overnight at the end of this month. The church in downtown Vancouver hosts 24 men as part of the annual Winter Hospitality Overflow program, which wraps up the morning of March 31. Read story

Jennifer Samodurov stores and sorts many of the items for Flawless360 in her daughter&#039;s old bedroom at her home in Washougal.

Flawless360 offers clothes for teen girls in need

Jennifer Samodurov stores and sorts many of the items for Flawless360 in her daughter&#039;s old bedroom at her home in Washougal.

March 17, 2016, 6:01am Clark County News

WASHOUGAL -- When Jennifer Samodurov was growing up in Santa Barbara, Calif., she felt ostracized being a poor kid in an affluent area. That's why she sympathizes with homeless students in the Camas School District, where their poverty sticks out amongst the area's general wealth. Read story

Denise Stone, from left, and Debby Dover of Second Step Housing chat with program client Amanda Owens and Armetta Burney of Clark College about their new partnership. The college can now directly refer homeless students to Second Step, which provides housing.

Clark College, Second Step join forces for students

Denise Stone, from left, and Debby Dover of Second Step Housing chat with program client Amanda Owens and Armetta Burney of Clark College about their new partnership. The college can now directly refer homeless students to Second Step, which provides housing.

March 16, 2016, 10:25am Clark County News

Three years ago, Amanda Owens had to move out of her apartment. The single mom had bad credit, nowhere she could afford to go and the beauty school she was attending was shuttering. Read story

The Rev. David Knudtson of Arnada Abbey takes apart a trailer that will be converted into mobile showers.

Lean Mean Hygiene Machine: restroom facility for homeless

The Rev. David Knudtson of Arnada Abbey takes apart a trailer that will be converted into mobile showers.

March 15, 2016, 6:01am Clark County News

If the Rev. David Knudtson knows of a homeless person who needs a shower, he invites them to come to Arnada Abbey. The house in west Vancouver hosts informal religious gatherings and also houses those in need. Read story