In Our View: Cheers & Jeers

Cheers: To downtown Camas. Clark County’s second-largest city has been busy reinventing itself, and now it might get a little help. Producers of the online show “Small Business Revolution – Main Street” have picked Camas as one of 20 small cities to compete for $500,000 to fund makeover projects. “There are a few buildings that could use some renovation love, and some businesses that are poised to grow with a little bit of support,” said Carrie Schulstad, executive director of the Downtown Camas Association.

Camas, which has a population of about 22,000, has seen a growth of small, independent businesses in recent years. But, as show spokesman Cameron Potts said, “Small businesses, especially in small towns, are under siege because people can buy online or from big-box retailers.” That calls for a reminder: Nov. 24 is designated as Small Business Saturday, a promotion urging consumers to keep money in the community rather than sending it to far-away corporate headquarters.

Jeers: To feral rabbits. Residents in central Vancouver’s Ogden neighborhood are hopping mad. Well, not really, but they do have a problem with an infestation of feral domestic rabbits. Somebody, local lore says, released a pair of rabbits years ago, and their offspring have been doing what rabbits will do. Carrie Schienle, interim chairwoman of the neighborhood association, heard of one person counting 200 bunnies during an evening walk.

Every 30 days, adult rabbits will have from six to 10 babies, which can quickly lead to a population explosion. Domestic rabbits are not well-prepared to live in the wild, and they can make a bit of a mess. If you can’t take care of your bunnies, find a home for them rather than unleashing them on the neighborhood.

Cheers: To a gift for Clark College. The family of a 1937 Clark graduate has announced a donation of about $4 million to go toward scholarships. Before his death in 2005, Robert Wallace established a trust for his family and the college. Upon the death of his son, 76-year-old Bob Blanchard, the entirety of the trust will go to the Clark College Foundation. It will be the school’s largest scholarship donation.

“The donation will profoundly affect students who will now have access to scholarships that they otherwise may not have been able to qualify for,” foundation spokeswoman Rhonda Morin said. By helping to educate students of the future, Wallace’s gift will benefit our community for generations.

Jeers: To poor air quality. Air quality warnings were issued this week throughout the metro area, with officials blaming smoke from California wildfires and local wood stoves for a haze in the air. The warning is expected to be lifted this morning.

The fact that smoke from the California fires has impacted air quality all the way in Vancouver is a testament to the scope of the blazes. Our thoughts are with the victims of the fires. We hope that local residents who might be sensitive to unhealthy air heeded warnings and remained indoors as much as possible, and also that the air is cleared a bit in coming days.

Cheers: To pandas. OK, they aren’t the black-and-white giant pandas, but the smaller red pandas are charming in their own right. Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo plans on Nov. 23 to publicly unveil two red pandas — sisters Zeya and Ila — who were born in June. Like their more famous brethren — giant pandas and red pandas might or might not be related; scientists are not sure — red pandas are native to Asia and are endangered.

Zoo officials also recently began showing Kwame, a silverback gorilla who is new to Woodland Park. So, if you’re looking for an adventure in Seattle, something tells us it’s all happening at the zoo.