Oregonian moving to Vancouver. (Orchards, Salmon Creek: rentals, sex offender, crime)

[organic mama]

Ok, so my hubby just recently got a job in Vancouver working for BPA. He now wants to move to Vancouver or at least close to the area. We currently live SE Gresham near some farm fields. Beautiful area since it's really not in Gresham, but the commute is about 45 min from work.
We are currently renting a new town home, so moving isn't a big deal, but I'm wondering...where in Vancouver to live..or a town close by that's cool.

Wondering about the people. Mostly Conservative??? Liberal??? Both?

What about crime? I realize there is crime every where, but some places are worse then others. Like Gresham is really starting to get more gang related problems. Another reason why I personally would like to move.

What are the taxes like? Does Vancouver tax everything including food?

I home school, so I don't worry about schools.

I'm into Organics and holistic healing so any co-ops or health food stores would be great to know about. I see that Whole foods is in the area, anything else?

Any help would be great.
Thanks

[StealthRabbit]

No Tax on food ingredients (Tax on prepared food)
Join VFC today for more local food tomorrow! -- Vancouver Food Cooperative -VFC - Vancouver , Washington
+ farmer's markets and CSA opportunities
There are farm stores west (Ericksons, near Felida) and East (Joe's place) near Mill Plain and I-205. Van Mall area (Kunze Farms) and North (Biz Zee 119th st)
also check here for a grower guide
WSU Clark County Extension
WSU Extension - Small Farms Team
WSU Clark County Extension
Clark County Food & Farm Blog // Recent Blog Entries // vancouver csa // BlogCatalog

What are your interests or potential 'driving' locations / activities for kids? (gymnastics, swimming, soccer, ballet...)

There are some great Homeschool groups in the area, a lot of homeschool kids participate in this
Christian Youth Theater Their productions are superb (something is being done very well, as they do lots of HIGH quality productions).
Clark County Home Educators
Washington Homeschool Support Groups - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling in Washington
Washington Homeschool Groups, Events, & Activities
Southwest WAshington Homeschool Network

For best areas, Personally... I would look to Minnehaha / South Hazel Dell. The convenience is great and climate, soil, and gardening zone is good too. We had a 5 Acre fruit farm next to Hazel Dell Park (68th St) about 5 minutes from BPA, It was a great area. Staying within EZ commute to Clark College is good if kids are near 10th grade (Running Start (free college instead of High School) grades 11 & 12). Many mixes of housing, including 'acreages in the city' in Minnehaha area.

Second Choice (in town) for me would be the Lincoln area / Carter Park (North of 39th street and west of Main)

Pleasant Valley is a nice spot (North of 119th St between 50th ave and Hwy 503). Glenwood Church is good, as is New Heights (78th st)

Hockinson / Brush Prairie is conservative area and excellent (but very tough) schools.
If one of your kids ends up wanting to do 'school of arts' it is near 39th st and Main, and you are best off located in Vancouver School District. (there is a wait list for boundary exceptions)
Skyview (Salmon Creek) has a good science program
King's Way is a popular Christian School (NE78th st ~ 30th Ave (Hazel Dell) also Crossroads (78th st and I-205) and Vancouver Christian is on NE Fourth Plain ~ 84th Ave (near Target)
I get a lot of produce at Gateway Produce at Andreson and Burton Rd (near K-Mart/ Winco)

East of I-205 is rocky soil and Orchards area has lots of rentals.

Cascade Park is pretty 'suburbia', and you may spend a lot of time 'de-programming' your kids and dealing with 'neighbor' issues (barking dogs, loud music...) Different strokes...

Camas is considered good, but it has a huge range of places and people (Suburbia to hillbilly's (like me))

[organic mama]

Thank you so much for all that info. Already checking into those areas!!!!

[happygorgedwellers]

Hey there--GOOD CHOICE--we are originally Portlanders and love it here. We moved from Eugene to Camas/Washougal area in Feb this year, delighted to find ourselves "in the gorge" with the views and clean air, amazing schools (Camas School District) friendly people from long time farm families to newcomers, everyone is happy and friendly and no clicks. Do a sex offender search of your zip code and then Camas/Washougal zip codes and see for yourself--our old zip code in Eugene 73, our new zip code here in Camas/Washougal (we live rigtht on the border) 4. Yep, 4. Not bad considering we moved from a real upscale neighborhood in Eugene--here we are off Crown Rd. Lookout Ridge area. Check it out. We are so happy we did this, took a drive around rural SE Portland area yesterday and could not wait to get out of the smog and back up here.

[moniqueb]

gangs in OR & WA that just sounds so funny from being from CA. Thanx tho I'm moving up that way. I thought Portland was going to be good but I think Vancouver is sounding better

[mattsun]

You should check out the benefits of living in the Battle Ground School District...they have something called HomeLink that offers support, extracurricular classes, sports, etc for families who homeschool their children. This kind of program is unique to Clark County and I've heard great things about it. You can be really centrally located and still be in the BGSD because it extends way south of Battle Ground. Check out the neighborhoods on the north side of 99th St. just west of St. Johns...you're 5 minutes or less from I-205 and I-5 for an easy commute anywhere. In fact my parents live right by Sherwood Place where there's a future community park planned (which is now a little horse ranch in a huge pasture), big fir trees, mature homes with great landscaping and some new homes. It's close to Gaiser Middle School and Tenney Park.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by mattsun

You should check out the benefits of living in the Battle Ground School District...they have something called HomeLink ...

Or...you can use BGSD 'homelink - River Campus' if you live in or around Camas
Welcome to HomeLink River Campus Online


I know several students / families / instructors from the program and seems to be doing a great work. Many students use Running Start for grades 11 & 12, but some stay with Homelink, or go to CAM (Battleground), or some return to Camas Schools + Running Start. (Can't say enough good about that program, just don't forget to test while a Sophmore!)
Academics - Running Start
Academics - Running Start - Frequently Asked Questions

[organic mama]

Thank you so much for all your help. The only thing holding is back is selling our big dully truck.
We didn't realize Washington charges a usage tax for vehicles.
If we took out our truck to Washington, it would cost us an extra 2,000 to move. Whew..
SoOoOo... if we sell it here in Oregon and buy something cheaper in Oregon..the usage tax won't be so bad when we move to Washington.

Anyone wanna buy a Big Black 3500 Dully. 80k miles and already has a 5th wheel hitch loaded on to it. :P

Anyway...Battleground and Camas sound like the town of Sandy in Oregon. Sandy is the gateway to Mt. Hood. Beautiful area. Lots of trees. Booming little community now.
We actually owned a home there and lived there for 4 years.
I loved it, but then when the boom came...everyone moved there.

I'm wondering...Did all the Californians move to Oregon..and now the Oregonians are all moving to Washington? A migration move up.

[organic mama]

BTW..I have a 15 year old that is currently home schooled. Where do I go to register my son in the Washington area for Homeschooling....or test him?
In Oregon, we have to register our children if we home school and take a test every 3 years.
Thanks for your help.

[MrsWolfie]

Stealth, you are a wealth of WA info (and I didn't purposely rhyme stealth with wealth)...

What are your thoughts on the Ridgefield area? We're moving to a development close to Jollie's off the 5 Freeway...