On page 5 of this issue, VanVoice contributor Marcus Griffith has a report about a recent liquor control incident where a Vancouver bar was ticketed for having an underage musician in the bar. The musician was confused because where he lives, Oregon, there are guidelines that allow underage musicians to play in bars. This, in our minds, is a policy that the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) should adopt from its southern mayor.

I’m just excited about what’s going on downtown Vancouver. It’s hard not to be. Art in the Heart is almost among us, a new tap room and outdoor market (see page 10) is here and there is plenty more on the horizon.

I was going to write a column about 10 ideas to better downtown — working water fountains, creative space filling ideas (co-ops and such), an annual beach volleyball tournament in the intersection of Main and 7th St. (think about it) and so on.

Fort Vancouver Regional Library is prepared to ask voters to pass the first operating tax increase in 17 years. The Vancouver Voice editorial board supports the levy as a sound community investment.

One upon a time, City Hall was bustling with permit applicants and flush with fees. As the city has “redeveloped,” however, permitting has been the worst nightmare for most businesses working to make money. (Not to mention zoning, which is the second worst nightmare.) It takes on average six to eight weeks and a seven permit process to build a garage. On the other hand, you can build a 50,000-square-foot agriculture building without any of the hassle.

Here’s a dirty little secret: The Voice isn’t a flaming liberal periodical like many alternative newspapers (although some people probably think so). Of course, we are far from any militia-supporting right-wing organization (although, some people probably also think this). Political ideologies may jump around from article to article and author to author, but take in the whole pantheon of editorial content and you’ll find it hugs the middle.

Ah, hell, we’ll just come out and say it: for the most part, this is mostly a libertarian publication (or rag, if you must).

The Vancouver Voice is finally moving out of the cave-like — yet humble — dwellings of its basement office, where it has been ranting, raving, criticizing and espousing since the fall of 2008. On April 1, (not an April Fools’ joke), the paper will celebrate the opening of a new office at the corner of Main St. and Evergreen Blvd. in downtown Vancouver, on the upper floor above the Rosemary Cafe.

At its first quarterly open meeting of 2010, the Vancouver Downtown Association hosted an informative talk by Michele Reeves, well known for development work for Mississippi and Alberta Streets in Portland, among others.

Reeves complimented the “amazing bones” in downtown Vancouver and discussed strategies to bring retail to the core of downtown. The most telling and needed item in downtown she spoke about was the importance of connectivity.

In his 2007 book, It’s Not News, It’s Fark: How Mass Media Tries to Pass off Crap as News, Fark.com founder Drew Curtis writes about the mass media’s attention to stuff that isn’t news at all.

Such goes the recent “news” that the Vancouver, Wash. is considering changing its name to Fort Vancouver.

Whoa! It is some exciting times around these parts. There are new mayors. There are art conversations. There are inane articles and conversations about changing Vancouver to Fort Vancouver. Our vote is for Vancouver U.S.A., Wash., U.S.A. — the more the U.S.A., the better. Talks of bringing minor league baseball to the area are again on the table (“Let us root, root, root for a waterfront ballpark, if they don’t hear us it’s a shame.”)

On top of it all, there are task forces discussing how to better business through a branding campaign of Southwest Washington.

Mayor Royce Pollard has had a positive impact on the City of Vancouver, which has forged ahead under his leadership. Even in tough economic times, Vancouver remains a desirable place to live, from the ignored-yet-quiet streets of the Fruit Valley Neighborhood to the cushy views of the Evergreen Highlands.

However, Pollard finally has run into a political opponent who better represents the people and ever-expanding business environment of Vancouver.