December 2016 Splash by The Liberty Lake Splash

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit #010 ZIP CODE 99019

DECEMBER

2016

pull out guide, page 21

CITY APPROVES PROPERTY TAX HIKE PAGE 8

ASMUS STELLAR AS LLPD CHIEF PAGE 2

LOCAL CONTRIBUTION TO CUBS CROWN PAGE 55

2 • DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

proper was patrolled by one Spokane County Sheriff’s officer. After Asmus was hired, that paradigm began to shift. In early 2002, he brought on Ray Bourgeois a former colleague from Yelm. Later that year, two more officers joined the growing force.

The Park Bench

Asmus did his part to ingratiate LLPD to the growing community. He hosted “Meet the Chief” events that focused on topics like identity theft and property crime. Before long, bike patrols were part of the local scene, part of the proactive approach to crime prevention Asmus had learned in Yelm. Social media was integrated later with the LLPD Facebook page now including around 3,000 followers.

Chief Among Us – Asmus has led LLPD from beginning By Craig Howard Splash Editor Every community has its collection of reliable pillars, civic standouts who shape the character of their environment and hold fellow residents to a higher standard through conduct that rings of class and integrity. Talk to anyone who has spent time in Liberty Lake and they will tell you that Brian Asmus belongs in that company with a bold exclamation point. Asmus has served as police chief here since December 2001 when he was hired to lead the law enforcement effort in Spokane County’s newest city. In August of that year, Liberty Lake became the region’s first community to incorporate since Airway Heights in 1955. Asmus, who had served 11 years in the Yelm Police Department, 20 miles east of

The Splash

Brian Asmus has served as Liberty Lake police chief since December 2001 only a few months after the city incorporated. Asmus is pictured outside the Greenstone Building on Meadowwood Lane, the second of four precinct homes for the Liberty Lake Police Department. Photo by Craig Howard Olympia, saw the move across the Cascades as a unique chance “to start a department from the ground up.” In Yelm, Asmus spent a year as a volunteer officer before earning full-time status in 1991. After graduating from Timberline High School in 1984, Asmus enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University where he earned a degree in business administration with a minor in marketing. He began his career path in computer sales, eventually latching on with Apple. Growing up the Tacoma suburb

of Lacey, Asmus pegged law enforcement high on his career priority list but that changed after marrying his high school sweetheart, Carol, in 1988. The two first met in middle school and participated in band as part of the same trumpet section. After the rings were on, Carol was less than enthused about her new husband becoming a police officer so Asmus shifted professional gears. While Asmus had success with Apple, being promoted to a district sales manager with much of the West Coast as his territory, it wasn’t necessarily his ideal vocation. Sensing that, Carol brought home an application for the Yelm PD one day. The agency was looking for reserve officers. “I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” Asmus says of his decision to make law enforcement his job. Asmus moved up quickly in Yelm, a logging town of around 3,000 at the time. A year into his volunteer service, he became a patrol officer and was promoted to sergeant two years later. By 1997, he advanced to the position of commander. In 2000, he was accepted to the FBI Academy for a three-month, intensive training program.

Asmus is an accomplished runner who has completed close to a dozen half marathons. Photo by Craig Howard

Asmus gives credit to his police chief in Yelm, Glenn Dunnam, a retired Army colonel, for helping him learn the many responsibilities involved in public safety. Despite a positive experience with his first department, Asmus knew he was ready for a new challenge. Before incorporation, the area that would become Liberty Lake

Asmus is quick to give kudos to municipal leadership that has placed a premium of supporting LLPD throughout his tenure. The city just recently signed a groundbreaking six-year contract with the police officers’ union and routinely funds equipment and vehicle upgrades as well as new officer positions when needed. The force currently includes 11 full-time officers, a chaplain, two reserve officers and an administrative assistant. “The city says that public safety is the top priority and they’ve backed it up,” Asmus said. Asmus serves on the boards of several regional public safety and emergency management organizations and is a charter member of the Liberty Lake Rotary. His efforts as a catalyst in LLPD’s campaign to support Special Olympics earned the agency the prestigious honor of top fundraising department in the state last year. Outside of work, Asmus enjoys competitive running, travel and playing the guitar. He and Carol have two grown children and two grandkids. On Dec. 1, Asmus will celebrate his 15th anniversary of joining the city of Liberty Lake. No word yet whether there will be cake or trumpet music as part of the celebration. Q: What were some of your first impressions of Liberty Lake when you visited here to learn more about the chief’s job? A: The first thing that impressed me was the cleanliness of the community. I remember driving around the area with my family and commenting on how everything looked new. I was also captivated with the landscape and the beautiful setting. Specifically, the

See ASMUS, Page 3

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 3

ASMUS

Continued from page 2 surrounding hills, the amount of open space, trails and all of the trees. After driving around the area, we stopped at several local businesses and asked about the community. We immediately felt a true sense of community and everyone we met over that weekend was extremely friendly and helpful. When we left to go back home after our visit, I remember saying that Liberty Lake is the place we need to be and raise our young family. Q: How daunting was it to know that you were tasked with starting a police department from the ground up? A: Before making the decision to serve as Liberty Lake’s first police chief, Carol and I sat down and put together a pros and cons list. Needless to say, the pros won out. Although I was excited and ready for the challenge of establishing a police department from the ground up, I recognized the risks involved. I remember meeting with Mayor Steve Peterson and City Administrator Lewis Griffin and them telling me that I had less than six months to have a fully operational, full-service, law enforcement agency providing services to the city. When I started, I had a small office and a computer. In that six-month period of time, I had to establish policy and procedures, purchase and implement a records management system, hire enough officers to staff a 24/7, 365 day-a-year agency, acquire the necessary equipment to make sure that the officers had what they needed to safely and efficiently do their jobs and to quickly establish agreements, contracts and relationships with our criminal justice partners to include the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane P.D., the jail, the prosecutor’s office, the public defender’s office, juvenile detention, dispatch services and the list goes on and on. In January of 2002, I hired Ray Bourgeois to be my sergeant. I was thankful that he decided to also take the risk and join me in Liberty Lake, as we had worked together for over 10 years in our previous agency. Between the two of us, we worked 16 plus hour days with very few days off during the first several months as we established the department. Q: What lessons from your previous law enforcement experience did you incorporate in your first few years as chief? A:

Establishing

community

oriented policing philosophy was key into launching the department. Without the community trust and support, the department would not be successful. In addition, I incorporated some core values and expectations that all officers would abide by and those core values are part of our mission statement to this day. The expectation is that we treat everyone fairly, with respect, that we are empathetic and that all people are treated with dignity. One of the lessons I learned from my previous law enforcement experience that I shared with the mayor and that has been supported by city administration since day one is that our proactive policing and community oriented policing philosophy needs to stay ahead of criminal activity and population growth. Where I worked before we were a very proactive agency as well. However, there was a point where the officers became so busy with responding to calls for service that they were no longer able to be proactive. When this shift happened, we saw an increase in criminal activity and it became difficult to catch up and overcome that. The mayor and City Council have been extremely supportive in making sure that our agency does not fall behind in providing proactive services to our community.

City of Liberty Lake

Tis the Season

Please join us as we have a gathering of the community

to celebrate the season! Saturday with Santa, 12/17 The fun begins at the Liberty Lake Library! Join Santa from 10:30-1:30 for crafts, songs and

Tree Lighting Ceremony, 12/20

pictures with Santa himself!

Join us at 5:30 in front of City Hall for the Tree Lighting Ceremony! There will be cookies

Walk to Bethlehem, 12/20

and cocoa provided to the community!

End the night with members of the community as multi-faith groups join to show their support for the City while we walk to Pavillion Park for a performance!



Q: The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office was responsible for public safety in the Liberty Lake area prior to incorporation in 2001. How would you describe LLPD’s relationship with the county force over the years? A: LLPD has an outstanding relationship with SCSO and all of our local, regional, state and federal law enforcement partners. As we were establishing the department, we had very view resources. I remember meeting with the SPD chief and the sheriff early in 2002. They asked what help and resources that they could provide to help us. SPD provided us two patrol cars to use until ours arrived. Q: As the department has grown over the years, what sort of effect has it had on your role as chief? A: We are very lucky in Liberty Lake to have officers that have years of experience and training with most having some type of specialty or area of responsibility within the organization. Additional officers, staff and volunteers do require more administrative time to lead

See CHIEF, Page 5

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4 • DECEMBER 2016

City navigates direction of Uplands Trail project By Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent Liberty Lake is about to add several new miles of trails to its already impressive inventory of hiking and biking options. In June, the city closed on a 23acre parcel near Liberty Lake Road and Settler Drive with the intention of conserving the land and potentially connecting it to the nearby Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. The possible connection would involve participation in an easement with the adjoining property owners, including common property of the Legacy Ridge Homeowners Association. The 23-acre parcel was a prime candidate for development, which put the purchase of it on the fast track when Liberty Lake made an offer on it earlier this year. “The city acted in advance of Conservation Futures in order to protect it,” said Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne. Conservation Futures is a Spokane County program that purchases properties and preserves them as natural conservation areas and animal habitat. Last spring, Conservation Futures asked for nominations of properties to be considered for purchase by the county in the next five years. The city of Liberty Lake nominated the 23-acre parcel and the county agreed it would provide an important connection between neighborhoods and recreation areas as well as the two recreation

areas.

The Splash

NEWS

At an open house at Liberty Lake City Hall on Oct. 13 to discuss the ripple effects of an apartment complex being built down the hill from Legacy Ridge on Country Vista, Mayor Steve Peterson told a packed room of Legacy Ridge residents that the city had prioritized the 23 acres near their neighborhood for trails and open space preservation. “That was slated for housing but now it’s going to be greenspace,” Peterson said. The land was included in a “prioritized acquisition list” of properties to be purchased as soon as possible. Because the city had already bought the parcel, Conservation Futures agreed to reimburse Liberty Lake 50 percent of the purchase price when, and if, an easement agreement is obtained to connect to the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. Talks are underway with the adjacent property owners while Dunne and other city officials have reached out to Legacy Ridge residents, yet no decisions have been made. As of now, is not clear when, or if, the trail connection can be completed. While Conservation Futures hasn’t set a deadline for this to happen, the offer could be taken off the table if the agreed upon contingencies aren’t met. “I don’t think it’s reasonable for the county to say it stands indefinitely,” said Dunne. Even if an easement agreement doesn’t happen, the purchased conservation property is an asset of open space for all the city’s residents. The city now owns a scenic piece of property that will benefit people and wildlife, whether it connects to the larger Saltese property or not. “It’s actually a highly graded parcel with amazing views of the

Photo by Staci Lehman A sprawl of 23 acres near Liberty Lake Road and Settler Drive could become the site of a new hillside trail after the city of Liberty Lake purchased the property in July. greater Liberty Lake,” said Dunne. The land includes wetlands and a seasonal stream and serves as a wildlife corridor for coyotes, deer, moose and other animals. It will soon be available to members of the public for recreational use as Dunne made sure that Liberty Lake’s 2017 budget includes funding for trail planning. “It will have internally recirculating trails,” he said, which means all trails built will be completely contained on the 23 acres for now. At this point, it is not clear when those trails will be useable. Currently, the land is not marked and city officials are not actively encouraging citizens to use the area due to a lack of signage. “The land is public,” Dunne said. “There are no clearly defined boundaries however. It’s really hard for people to enjoy this right now without knowing if they’re trespassing on private property.” In the meantime, Dunne and other city officials aren’t giving up

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on the overall goal of connecting Liberty Lake neighborhoods with the Saltese Uplands conservation area through a trail. Dunne says he does recognize why some Legacy Ridge homeowners may have some concerns about a public trail and the accompanying hikers and bikers through their hillside neighborhood. “I have the highest regard for the residents with respect to privacy and security,” he said. Even so, Dunne believes a connecting trail between the two conservation properties could present an economic benefit to the larger community but specifically to people who live at Legacy Ridge. Research shows that homes situated on or near trails or greenbelts often have higher property values. “Trail connections would allow residents to walk from their homes to Starbucks on a sunny Saturday morning and afford others an energetic five-mile trail run with their pets,” Dunne said. “I believe that’s part of the quality of life that people seek in Liberty Lake.”

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CHIEF

NEWS

Continued from page 3 and manage those resources. The greatest change with the increase in personnel is that I do not have as much time to be out patrolling the community and I really miss that. I try to spend at least one day a week and undedicated time to patrol and assisting the officers. Q: Liberty Lake consistently ranks as one of the top 10 safest cities in Washington. While this is reassuring, do you see complacency among some residents who don’t necessarily take the precautions they should to prevent crime? A: The majority of criminal activity that we respond to is for property crimes which includes vehicle prowls, garage burglaries and construction site thefts. We have found that most of these are crimes of “opportunity” where people leave their car doors unlocked or car windows rolled down, garage doors inadvertently left open overnight and construction equipment left unattended at a work location. When officers are investigating these types of crimes and speaking to the victims, we often hear from them that they didn’t think they had to worry about securing the property because Liberty Lake “is a safe community.” We are a safe community but we encourage our residents to help us in keeping Liberty Lake safe by securing your property and reporting suspicious activity. We have worked hard on getting that word out through our social media channels and the news media. Q: What are some of the major changes you’ve seen in the Liberty Lake community since you arrived in late 2001? A: Two major changes come to mind. First is the number of cases and calls for service that we respond to. In the summer of 2002 when we first took over law enforcement services from the SCSO, we would often go a week or more without being dispatched to a call for service. Now we respond to well over 5,000 calls for service each year. The second change is the volume of traffic and the number of traffic related calls for service that we receive. Q: How has serving on the number of regional boards and commissions influenced your perspective as chief? A: One of the biggest differences between policing in my prior agency and Liberty Lake is that the criminal

element victimizing our community is from all over the region. In Yelm, it was relatively simple to solve crimes because the majority of the time the people committing those crimes were local residents that the officers were familiar with. That is not the case in Liberty Lake. What we experience here is that those committing crimes are from the greater Spokane region and North Idaho. By being involved in regional boards and commissions allows for better information sharing which in turn leads to better policing services to our community. Q: In light of events on the national level over the last year, what can police and citizens do to improve the perception that both sides may have of each other? A: We are very lucky to be able to provide public safety services in Liberty Lake. We routinely receive emails, cards and letters from community members thanking us for the service that we provide. I share those with all the officers and the mayor and council. In turn, knowing that they are appreciated, the officers work hard to provide excellent and professional services throughout the community. In fact, if a crime occurs during an officer’s shift, they take it personally and work extremely hard to find and bring the offender to justice. The trust and respect works both ways and am proud to serve in Liberty Lake. The majority of law enforcement agencies have the same type of positive interaction with the communities that they serve. What is portrayed in the national news media with clashes between police and their communities is not the norm. However, what this does is drive a wedge between the community and the police. When the community does not trust those sworn to serve and protect them and take violent action against the police, the police then become hyper vigilant and are less likely to interact with the communities they serve in a positive way which just drives a bigger wedge. Q: Finally, what do you enjoy most about being part of the Liberty Lake community? A: The friendly, compassionate, generous and inspirational people and organizations that make Liberty Lake the special community that it is known for. The commitment from the mayor and the council to keep Liberty Lake safe, clean, and green. I consider myself very fortunate and I am extremely honored and proud to serve the citizens of Liberty Lake.

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Police Report The following items were reported by the Liberty Lake Police Department from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7. The report is listen in chronological order. Incidents and arrests Agency assist: On Oct. 18 at 12:09 a.m., LLPD responded to an agency assist at East Olympic Avenue and East Wabash Avenue for an argument. Agency assist: LLPD responded to East Wellesley Avenue and East Heroy Avenue for an agency assist on a domestic violence call on Oct. 19, 2016 at 1:25 p.m. Threat: On Oct. 19 at 2:34 p.m., LLPD responded to the 1400 block of South Colby Avenue for a threat. Complainant reported that the previous owners of the residence were calling and making threats in reference to coming back to the location. Complainant just wanted to report the threats for informational purposes. Welfare check: On Oct. 19 at 3:17 p.m., LLPD responded to the 22000 block of East Country Vista Drive for a welfare check. Complainant reported that an elderly female was walking around the complex. Law enforcement was unable to locate anyone and checked with local care facilities who reported that they were not missing anyone. Suspicious person: On Oct. 19 at 9:22 p.m., LLPD responded to the 21000 block of East Country Vista Drive for a suspicious person. Complainant reported that a male was passed out behind the wheel at the location. Upon contact, officers learned the male had been staying in the vehicle for the past two weeks and had fallen asleep listening to the presidential debate. The complainant reported that the male had been harassing customers, so he was trespassed from the location and advised to leave the premises. Child abuse: LLPD responded to a child abuse referral at the 2200 block of North Swing Lane on Oct. 20 at 1:40 p.m.

NEWS a vehicle drove away from the location without paying $51 in fuel.

the location. Subject was gone upon police arrival.

Vehicle blocking: On Oct. 21 at 7:02 a.m., LLPD received a report of a vehicle blocking at the 22000 block of East Country Vista Drive. Officers made contact with the complainant and advised he needed to contact management as the vehicle was on private property.

Theft: On Oct. 24 at 9:22 a.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 20000 block of East Glenbrook Avenue. Complainant reported someone had stolen a Seahawks flag and pole from their front yard valued at $48.00.

Noise: LLPD received a report of loud noise form the 1700 block of North Oakland Street on Oct. 21 at 7:02 a.m. Complainant was upset in reference to the ongoing noise created by construction at early hours of the morning and wanted to know if they were in violation of the city ordinance. An officer advised there was an exception for noise created by construction within the ordinance. Suspicious person: LLPD responded to the 1400 block of North Caufield Court for a suspicious person on Oct. 21 at 10:38 a.m. Vehicle at the location was full of personal items and tenants had recently been evicted. An officer checked the location and the residence was secure. Theft: A man was arrested on Oct. 22 at 3:01 p.m. at the 1200 block of North Liberty Lake Road for theft. The man was issued a criminal citation for theft of items totaling $4.49. Citizen contact: On Oct. 22 at 6:34 p.m., LLPD responded to the 24000 block of East Mission Avenue for a citizen contact. Officer was requested to stand by while order was served on subject at their place of employment. Person bothering: At 3:54 a.m. on Oct. 24, LLPD responded to a person bothering at the 1800 block of North Pepper Lane. Complainant reported a male refusing to leave

Suspicious person: At 9:44 p.m. on Oct. 25, LLPD responded to a suspicious person at the 1800 block of North Harvard Road. Complainant reported that a vehicle at the location had almost struck multiple parked vehicles before pulling out of the lot. Officer was able to locate the vehicle at its residence but no damage was readily visible. Abandoned line: On Oct. 26 at 11:05 a.m., LLPD responded to the 23000 block of East Mission Avenue for a 911 abandoned line. Theft: At 5:43 a.m. on Oct. 27, LLPD responded to a theft at the 22000 block of East Appleway Avenue for a theft. Complainant reported a vehicle had left the location without paying for $42.57 for fuel. Road rage incident: LLPD responded to a road rage incident at 2:51 p.m. on Oct. 28 at I-90 and Liberty Lake. Officers made contact with multiple vehicles and medics were called to assist on multiple injuries. Argument: On Oct. 28 at 4:28 p.m., LLPD responded to an argument at East Mission Avenue and North Caufield Court. Officers responded to the location and found two subjects arguing over the ownership of a vehicle. Vehicle prowl: At 2:16 a.m. on Oct. 29, LLPD responded to East Valleyway Avenue and North McKinzie Road for a vehicle prowl.

The Splash

Officers observed that a vehicle at the location appeared to have been prowled and attempted contact but were unsuccessful. A business card was left on the windshield of the vehicle with instructions for contacting police. Vehicle prowl: On Oct. 29 at 2:38 a.m., LLPD responded to a vehicle prowl at the 100th block of North McKinzie Road. Officers observed another vehicle had been broken into in the same area after unsuccessful attempts at contacting the owner. A business card was left with instructions on contacting police. Vehicle prowl: LLPD responded to a vehicle prowl on Oct. 29, 2016 at 3:11 a.m. at the 23000 block of East Broadway Avenue. Complainant reported someone had gotten into the vehicle and rummaged through his items but nothing was taken or damaged. Theft: LLPD responded to the 22000 block of East Appleway Avenue for a theft on Oct. 29 at 5:01 p.m. Complainant reported a vehicle had left the location without paying for $56.68 in fuel. Welfare check: On Oct 29 at 6:13 p.m., LLPD responded to Mission and Harvard for a welfare check. Officer made contact after complainant came in reporting that the store clerk looked very unwell. Subject reported to the Officer that he had a hernia. Suspicious circumstance: On Oct. 29 at 11:53 p.m., LLPD responded to a suspicious circumstance at the 23000 block of East Settler Drive. A residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garage door was observed to be open. An officer made contact with the homeowner and the door was closed. Vehicle prowl: On Oct. 30 at 9:07 a.m. LLPD responded to the 22000 block of Penrose Road for a vehicle prowl. Complainant reported tools taken from the vehicle and location estimated nearly $16,000.

Trespass/possession: A man was arrested on Oct. 20 at 5:24 p.m. for criminal trespass and possession of a controlled substance at the 1400 block of North Caufield Court.

Vehicle prowl: LLPD responded to the 22000 block of North Claremont Lane for a vehicle prowl on Oct. 30 at 10:04 a.m. A trailer at the location was observed to have been prowled. Contact with the owner was attempted but unsuccessful.

Theft: On Oct. 20 at 9:15 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 22000 block of East Appleway Avenue. Complainant reported

See LLPD, Page 19

Theft: On Oct. 30 at 2:45 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 22000 block of East Appleway

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 7

The Lookout MEMO from the

Mayor

By Mayor Steve Peterson

The gift of service! Thinking of something for Christmas this year? Consider giving your time. You will find it more rewarding than shopping for that perfect THING that gets opened and set aside or returned “because it just didn’t fit.” I’ll bet you fit into any service club in our community! Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Friends of the Library or Friends of Pavillion Park all need you and we need them. These service clubs are a piece of our community fabric that do much for our community

Council retreat brings priorities into focus

By Cris Kaminskas and Dan Dunne Liberty Lake City Council Liberty Lake’s Mayor Steve Peterson and City Council met for a three-hour retreat on Sunday afternoon Nov. 13. The focus of the meeting was to clarify and align the city’s priorities for 2017. Support for local businesses was discussed, including how the sign code continues to be a concern for new businesses. The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is headquartered in Liberty Lake and the council agreed to partner with the chamber to educate businesses on the specifics of the sign code and provide support and mentoring as possible. Pedestrian Safety – specifically pedestrian improvements allowing better movement of bikes and people between the developed River District and the I-90 pedestrian bridge – continues to be a priority. As street traffic improvements to Mission Avenue west of Harvard are not yet scheduled, some voiced

year round. They are into doing rather than just meeting and always have room for new members. What do you get for your gift? As you know, Christmas is known for an EXCHANGE of gifts. Think about friendships that last a lifetime, the sense of accomplishment in organization projects, a reward of thanks from the people who reap the benefits and self-satisfaction in your efforts. What does the community receive from your gift? Let’s see. The Liberty Lake Kiwanis has provided over $700,000 back to our kids as well as enriching their lives at school. Rotary’s list of donations is immense and the kids with developmental disabilities in the soap box derby a need to provide even temporary paths or trails which would allow cyclists and pedestrians safer movement. “Barefoot in the Park” continues to be a great event and the council would like to see how it can support and grow the event. The council discussed developing a “Taste of Liberty Lake” addition of the event, to join the Liberty Lake Kiwanis-supported beer garden and Friends of Pavillion Park live music. Facilitating and enabling local eateries to participate in such a community event would be a good platform for visibility and promotion and add significantly to the already fun event.

benefit from funds raised at their Rotary in Motion bike ride. Lions Club provides a myriad of donations like “the sensory garden,” eye care for disadvantaged and glasses shipped around the world. Friends of the Library put their effort into supporting book events and outreach programs for young and old alike. Finally, Friends of Pavillion Park has provided the annual concert and movie series for 20 years in the park we so enjoy. While these are not all of organizations that could benefit from your help and involvement, they are just a few that serve us in Liberty Lake. Doing is how you can best help others. It’s a gift from you and for you. Your personal involvement gives meaning to “Liberty Lake as Spokane County’s premier address!” of social media. It also outlines enforcement of the code and civil penalties associated with violations. Last on the agenda was the topic of developing a master plan for city-owned facilities (City Hall, the Trailhead building, library and the police station). Due to the large scope of this plan, a separate brainstorming meeting was scheduled for Dec. 18 at noon.

December 2016

City to celebrate holidays with special events The holiday season in Liberty Lake is a time for community congregation and no other occasion better exemplifies the spirit of community and togetherness here than the annual holiday event known as “’Tis the Season.” This year, the festivities will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Liberty Lake City Hall with a Christmas tree lighting. There will be cookies, cocoa and a special visit from Santa himself! The night will end with the “Walk to Bethlehem,” held by several local multi-faith groups, followed by the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. We encourage all members of the community to attend as this is a wonderful time for gathering, getting to know one another and celebrating our city.

While the city maintains a booth at the Farmer’s Market and hosts an open house, more citizen outreach is needed. Additional opportunities were explored, including adding an information table at each of the summer events and videotaping the council and planning commission meetings. Links to the videos would be provided through the city’s website. The new code of ethics will come before the council for a vote before the end of the year. It addresses conflicts of interest, use of cityowned assets, nepotism and use

https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov

8 • DECEMBER 2016

Property tax increase approved for 2017

NEWS

Splash Editor

“We have to look at what this tax increase will cost our businesses,” he said. “It applies to them, too. This is not going to have a positive impact.”

Last November, the Liberty Lake City Council debated a proposed increase in property tax with depleted numbers around the dais. With three representatives of the governing board missing the meeting with excused absences, the 2-2 tie kept the rate unchanged for 2016. The move – or lack of one – represented a switch from the previous year when council voted 6-1 to up the rate by 1 percent for 2015. Those in favor of the hike cited the city’s ongoing commitment to upgrading infrastructure as well as maintaining basic municipal services like public safety.

The adjustment will mean an average difference of $4 per year on a home valued at $250,000. Overall, the transition will raise around $20,000 toward the municipal budget. Despite the nominal impact, the decision to diversify the city’s revenue sources makes sense, according to Mayor Steve Peterson. “We’ve tried to utilize every opportunity not only to save money but to look at other opportunities for revenue,” Peterson said. “We’ve been very good stewards of taxpayer money. I think citizens understand the importance of investing in our services. If we were not so frugal, I could see opposing this.” Finance Director RJ Stevenson

“All that sales tax revenue was suddenly gone,” he said. “I have concerns that we rely too heavily on sales tax to provide the services we have. As the city continues to grow, we want to keep the level of services citizens expect.” Moore countered, saying the collection of property tax at a higher rate could have negative repercussions on the local economy.

By Craig Howard

Looking ahead to 2017, the city of Liberty Lake will impose a similar 1 percent property tax hike – the annual amount allowed by state law. The shift was approved on Nov. 1 in a 4-2 vote with Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner and Council Members Hugh Severs, Dan Dunne and Odin Langford in the majority. Council Members Jessica McGuire and Bob Moore voted against the rate change. Council Member Cris Kaminskas missed the meeting due to an illness but expressed her opposition to the increase in a written statement.

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Severs – who referred to the city’s “lack of revenue diversification” – backed the increase by saying Liberty Lake businesses rely on the services the city provides. “You look at public safety, infrastructure, roads – these are drivers for businesses,” Severs said. “I think we’d be doing our businesses a disservice by voting against this. Not voting for an increase will drive businesses out a lot quicker than supporting it.”

RJ Stevenson, finance director for the city of Liberty Lake, presented City Council last month with a six-year scenario of the municipal budget with a 1-percent property tax increase each year versus no change to the rate. By 2022, sales tax revenue would need to go up by nearly $140,000 to maintain the current level of city services without a shift to property tax. Photo by Craig Howard presented City Council with a projection of the municipal budget with and without the 1-percent increase each year. In order to maintain the current level of services in areas like parks and recreation, streets, public safety and the library, sales tax revenue would need to go up by $42,420 in 2018 without a 1-percent hike. By 2021, that amount would need to increase by $113,192 and by $139,092 in 2022. “The city’s mission is to deliver services to its residents,” Stevenson said. “The main resources available to provide those resources are property taxes, sales taxes and utility taxes. Property taxes and utility taxes are more stable to project over a longer period where sales taxes are more unstable.” Stevenson added that the majority of sales tax revenue in Liberty Lake is currently generated through auto sales, RV sales and construction. The 1-percent annual cap on property tax was approved by

Washington voters in 2001. In 2007, the state Supreme Court struck the policy down, only to see it reinstated by Gov. Christine Gregoire and lawmakers later that year. Cities can “bank” the 1-percent increase and utilize it down the line as Liberty Lake did in late 2010. The banked accruement led to a 3.1-percent hike for 2011. Last year, House Bill 2255 proposed raising the ceiling to 5 percent in a formula tied to inflation and population growth. The initiative, introduced by Republican Rep. Larry Haler and Democrat Rep. Ross Hunter failed to gain sufficient momentum but was endorsed by groups such as the Washington State Association of Counties which argued that the cost of public services goes up an average of 3 to 5 percent each year. As in 2010, the discussion surrounding the volatility of sales tax took centerstage this year. Brickner brought up the example of an RV dealership in Airway Heights that closed its doors.

Moore also pointed to the toll the increase would take on residents living on a fixed income. Spokane County does allow exceptions to citizens falling under certain income guidelines. “I think this is reasonable, I mean we’re only talking about 1 percent,” Moore added. “But I can’t in all conscientiousness vote for a property tax increase. Do we really need the money? I think the answer is ‘No.’ Our revenues have exceeded expenditures for the past three years.” Dunne expressed concerns about putting all the city’s eggs in one revenue basket. “If two-thirds of our revenue comes from an elastic source like sales tax that we can’t predict, I would say a more proportional revenue source is needed for our city,” he said. Stevenson, who recommended the 1-percent adjustment, reminded council members that the city’s growing population and rising property values will likely mean a net decrease in property tax rates for 2017 despite the approved hike. “If assessed valuation increases as we continue to grow, homeowners will actually see that (rate) decrease.”

The Splash

Council receives GSI 101 lesson from former commissioner By Craig Howard Splash Editor There was a time when Todd Mielke dealt with the city of Liberty Lake in his capacity as a Spokane County commissioner.

NEWS

Shane Brickner what advice GSI would give the city about recruiting companies to set up shop in Liberty Lake, Mielke said the first priority is to “have a predictable business climate.”

“When businesses are looking at the regulatory climate, they don’t want to be held to a different standard as they would in other communities,” he said. “They don’t want to be caught off guard with local business fees. They want to know if their employees can find housing, if a community is safe, how are the schools, what is the commute like?”

These days, Mielke serves as a conduit between the county’s easternmost city and Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI), the region’s catalyst for business and economic development.

Before Mielke took over, the city of Liberty Lake shared one revolving seat on the board at GSI with Cheney and Airway Heights.

Mielke made an appearance at the Nov. 15 City Council meeting, providing the governing board with an overview of an organization that has been around in one form or another since 1898. Mielke, who took over as CEO of GSI in February after 11 years as a county commissioner, said he appreciated Liberty Lake’s efforts to cultivate a positive business environment.

Not well, according to Peterson and mayors in the other two communities, who felt they could not adequately represent the interests of cities outside of their jurisdiction.

“When I came in, I asked how that was working,” Mielke said.

“So we changed the bylaws in July,” Mielke said of the decision to

grant every city at the membership level of $10,000 and up with a seat around the table. In other council news:

• Council approved a resolution appointing Council Member Odin Langford to the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Board of Directors. Langford replaces Peterson as the city’s STA delegate. • The first stage of the 24th annual leaf and beach cleanup netted 10,395 bags and 415,800 pounds of material on Nov. 12. The event is co-sponsored by the city and the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District. • Council Member Cris Kaminskas gave a report from the Finance Committee on Nov. 15, noting that sales tax revenue is up 16 percent from this time last year. The city has also seen a significant increase in permitting revenue which now stands at 220 percent of the projected amount for 2016. Meanwhile city expenses for this year are trending down to 96 to 97 percent of what was anticipated. Kaminskas also said the city has researched the potential impact

DECEMBER 2016 • 9

of Initiative 1433 – which earned statewide approval in last month’s general election – to the city budget. The measure to increase the minimum wage and provide paid sick leave will cost the city around $5,000 annually when implemented. • City Administrator Katy Allen said the city will pay half of the $9,700 cost for a 5-foot fence at the site of Liberty Creek Elementary, currently under construction. Central Valley School District will cover the remaining half. • A public meeting to discuss a proposed regional sports complex will take place at CenterPlace in Spokane Valley on Nov. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. A meeting involving elected officials on the same topic will be held at the same venue from 4 to 6 p.m. • Council will hold a workshop on master planning of city facilities on Dec. 18 at City Hall with a time to be announced. • At the Dec. 6 council meeting, the minutes and priorities from the council retreat on Nov. 13 will be reviewed.

“I love visiting Liberty Lake,” he said. “You are not one of the local levels I worry about on business climate issues.” Mayor Steve Peterson gave credit to GSI for supporting Liberty Lake businesses with both new and established addresses, including AccraFab, F5, Liberty Mutual, Providence and Comcast. From retention to recruitment to listing commercial space available in city boundaries, GSI continues to make a difference, the mayor noted. “They are the one that lifts the boats,” Peterson said. Mielke told council how he continues to dispel stigmas surrounding GSI, such as the notion it exists as the chamber of commerce for the city of Spokane. “We are a regional chamber and have been since 1898,” he said. With a stable of over 1,200 members, GSI is comprised mostly of smaller companies, Mielke said. Around 65 percent of the membership is made up of companies with 25 or fewer employees. The city of Liberty Lake pays membership dues of $10,250 annually along with the same amount for economic development. When asked by Mayor Pro Tem

Todd Mielke, CEO of Greater Spokane Inc. (left), chats with Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson following the Nov. 15 City Council meeting. Mielke, who took the helm at GSI in February after 12 years as a Spokane County commissioner, spoke to council about GSI’s dual role as a regional chamber of commerce and economic development agency. Photo by Craig Howard

The Splash

10 • DECEMBER 2016

CV Green Team rallies awareness for eco-friendly practices

others are noticing. The group won the Chase Youth Award in 2016 in the environment category. But it’s not for the recognition that members say they participate. Nor is it for class credit, as the only credit they get for being part of the program is community service hours. Even so, most say that’s also not why they take part. “It’s just fun to do and to help the community,” said student Tamekia Whitman.

Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent Students at Central Valley High School are keeping things clean and green in Spokane Valley. Known as “the Green Team,” this group of young people is interested in sustainability, stewardship, protecting the environment and helping others through activities, awareness and education. Each high school and middle school in the Central Valley School District fields a Green Team although the program’s board, which advises groups at other schools, is based out of Central Valley High School. “We’re in charge of organizing events and establishing communication with different schools,” said Board Member Jonas LaPier, a senior at CV.

Student Sam Barrie said there is a social aspect to the group.

Board members of the Central Valley High School Green Team include (from left to right) Scott Frazer, Science Teacher and Green Team Advisor Krista Larsen, Jayden Richards, Jonas LaPier, Bryn Anderson, Sam Barrie, Tamekia Whitman, and Brooke DeRue.Photo by Staci Lehman Board members can be sophomores, juniors or seniors. Freshmen can join the Green Team, but need to have a year in the club before they can become board members. Besides organizing and implementing activities, board members are also responsible for going to other schools around the district to teach students about recycling and other eco-friendly practices.

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The team’s major project for the 2016-17 school year is to produce a series of videos. Each month a video be made with a different theme. The series began with recycling in October and covering what can products and materials be recycled and why recycling is worth taking a few extra minutes. Other Green Team activities include running the school recycling program, campus clean up days, group hikes, tree plantings and cleaning up the Spokane River. Students also host events to repurpose household items and maintain a very successful community garden. “You can learn how to garden and extra food goes to the (Spokane Valley Partners) food bank,” said Scott Frazer, a Green Team board member.

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“We have two large garden areas, raised beds and an orchard,” said CV Environmental Science teacher Krista Larsen who serves as Green Team advisor.

“It’s a great way to make new friendships,” added Barrie, “None of us knew each other before it.” As it strives for its own sustainability, the Green Team is looking to develop support from community sponsors and donors. “We’re a completely donationdriven group,” said Larsen. “We’re always looking for soil, plant starts. We really need a greenhouse.” The team is also looking for a business partner to either donate recycling containers to be used throughout the school or funds to go toward them. In addition, they need some help with the 2017 community garden. Last year, Lowe’s helped sponsor the garden and Green Team members are hoping to secure another corporate sponsor for this growing season. The students raise money to cover what donations don’t. They rake leaves for $10 an hour to generate Green Team funds. If you would like to make a donation to the Green Team, or become a community partner, call advisor Krista Larsen at (509) 2285153.

Everyone in the community is welcome to help with the garden and take crops home. Besides providing food for people who need it, the garden teaches students skills they might not have learned at home, and helped them connect with the community. Several students’ family members also participated. “There was parent involvement in the garden,” said Larsen. “Parents would bring their younger kids.” Frazer agrees the garden was a hit with students and the neighborhood. “It had really good vibes,” he said. Along with having fun, the Green Team is making a difference – and

The Green Team maintained a community garden last spring and summer with some of the produce going to the food bank at Spokane Valley Partners. Contributed photo

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 11

Community Cancer Fund focused on mission of wellness

By Tyler Wilson Splash Correspondent The impact is staggering. Last year, the Community Cancer Fund (CCF) raised more than $1.8 million for the local fight against cancer. The organization has already topped that number this year and the money will all support efforts and organizations throughout the Inland Northwest. A relatively new organization, CCF is a 501 c(3) nonprofit that supports local cancer prevention and screening programs, local research studies and assists patients and their families with out-of-pocket expenses throughout treatment and recovery. Jerid Keefer, co-founder and executive director for CCF, said the organization was formed out of a wish from its board of directors to raise large amounts of money to support cancer care – and to make sure those funds were being put to use in the region. “While there is research being done, for the cancer patient, there is still a need today and right now,” Keefer said. “We’re just trying to do our best to minimize the financial constraints and needs that are faced by those patients and their families.” The Spokane area serves as a hub for cancer treatment and services with patients sometimes traveling hundreds of miles for care. The establishment of CCF arrives at an opportune time, helping fill the gap left when Cancer Patient Care closed in 2013 due to declining funds. Founded in 1958, the Spokane-based nonprofit functioned with a similar mission of supporting residents with the disease. “We have people traveling here from Eastern Montana to get their services, and families have to deal with the lodging and the day-to-day expenses of living life,” Keefer said. “The financial burden of battling cancer – it tends to get lost.” Funds go to causes big and small – from supporting local research to providing gas cards for traveling patients. CCF has provided major contributions to: • Patient support funds through Cancer Care Northwest, Kootenai Health, and the Jensen Fund at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital • Lodging programs via the

Community Cancer Fund, a Spokanebased nonprofit, raises money and awareness for cancer patients and research through events like “The Showcase,” held in Coeur d’Alene this July. Along with a golf tournament and auction, the third annual event included a concert featuring Sheryl Crow and John Fogerty. Contributed photo Walden House, Ronald McDonald House, Shriner’s Hospital and Davenport Hotels • The Camp Good Times Endowment Fund in partnership with the YMCA, and the YMCA’s Livestrong Program • Kickstart research through Cancer Care Northwest and Providence Sacred Heart Partnerships with these cancerfighting organizations and others are the key to CCF’s fundraising success, Keefer noted. “We are in constant communication with our partners,” he said. “It’s not just a give and take. It’s about really communicating and listening to their needs.” Christopher M. Lee, radiation oncologist and director of radiation research at Cancer Care Northwest, said CCF is particularly skilled at getting money to where it needs to go in the community. “They provide basic needs for patients,” Lee said. “Some of these patients are going through the worst challenges of their lives, at least healthwise. It’s very clear they have a lot on their plate. It solves a lot of their basic challenges and allows them to focus on getting well.” Mike Forness, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House, said CCF succeeded early by seeking input from his organization and other leaders and cancer-care providers in the community. “I’ve been doing collaborations for over 30 years and this is the most significant contribution to cancer-related initiatives in the Inland Northwest,” Forness said. “No one organization has been able to bring together the local and regional partners like this – and then on top of that they are able to

bring in relationships from outside the area.” CCF has created national partnerships in support of local fundraisers like “The Showcase,” a celebrity golf weekend held this past summer at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. GoPro was a major sponsor of the third annual event and participants included sports stars like Wayne Gretzky, Fred McGriff, Ryan Longwell and performances by John Fogerty and Sheryl Crow. The Showcase website lists a total of $3.47 million in contributions for this year’s festivities. “The money we raised for The Showcase, (much of it) is coming from out of market,” Keefer said. “Money that maybe wouldn’t be seen in this area. You could argue we are making the pie bigger. We’re bringing that money in, but the money stays here.” Some of that money has contributed to a recent initiative to relieve the waiting list for patients and families getting into the Spokane Ronald McDonald House. The organization provides temporary lodging for families of children undergoing medical treatment. Forness said an average stay for a family is about 26 days,

with families staying anywhere from a week or two all the way up to several months. To help reduce the wait list, which can be 10-20 days depending on need, CCF helped fund the refurbishment of six apartments on the Shriner’s Hospital campus that Ronald McDonald House families could utilize. “It has allowed us to provide accommodations while families are on the Ronald McDonald House waiting list,” Forness said. The long-term goal is to expand the Ronald McDonald House. The facility can currently serve 22 families but Forness would eventually like to expand that number to 50. Still, having additional accommodations at places like Shriner’s now helps to support the organization’s vision of providing fellowship for families. “All of these families are going through the same experience of having a child in the hospital,” Forness said. “(Through the Ronald McDonald House) they are able to have a more supportive and homelike atmosphere.” While CCF contributes significantly

See CCF, Page 13

THANK YOU TO MY CLIENTS AND FRIENDS FOR MAKING 2016 ANOTHER GREAT YEAR! Once Again, I am the #1 Listing and Selling Agent in Liberty Lake! LIBERTY LAKE HOMES SOLD IN 2016 BY PAM 24221 E Pinehurst Ln $480,000 1149 N Tanglewood Ln $188,500 Listing & Selling Agent 1700 N Country Vista Dr $207,500 22809 E Dutchmans Ln $465,000 912 N Oakmont Ln $245,000 1202 S Starr Ln $639,500 614 S Liberty Circle $333,000 1503 N Lancashire $399,970 24929 E Stonecrest Ave $479,000 781 N Holiday Hills $580,000 Listing & Selling Agent 1740 N Oakland Street $345,000 64 N Chief Garry Dr $690,000 660 N Pack Trail Lane $396,700 Listing & Selling Agent 814 N Knudson St $304,000 24850 E Stonecrest Ave $377,500 Listing & Selling Agent 120 S Greenridge Dr $884,700

755 N Holiday Hills Dr $545,000 Listing & Selling Agent 918 S Liberty Dr $585,000 24210 E Maxwell Dr $287,000 675 N Pack Trail Ln $330,000 22855 E Country Vista Dr $130,300 Listing & Selling Agent 1800 N Forest Ridge St $517,000 724 N Pack Trail Ln $569,700 24223 E 3rd St $485,000 Listing & Selling Agent 23205 E Settler Dr $359,900 425 N Kennewick Ln $551,000 325 S Shoreline Dr $698,700 Listing & Selling Agent 927 N Oakmont Ln $302,000 551 N Legacy Ridge Dr $525,000 24002 E Sprague Dr $345,971 1310 N Simpson Dr $269,970 1660 N Country Vista Dr $336,999

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12 • DECEMBER 2016

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DECEMBER 2016 • 13

Windermere Liberty Lake recently moved into a new office on Legacy Ridge Drive. The office features 15 brokers. Contributed photo founded in 1972 by John W. Jacobi in the Seattle neighborhood of Windermere, with the purchase of an eight-agent office. By 1983, Windermere had nine offices throughout the Seattle area. In 1992, the company added its first affiliate office in Eastern Washington, and a year later, had 100 agencies successfully running. Over time, Windermere expanded to Idaho and Canada and other locations in the western part of the U.S. Since first opening in Eastern Washington, Windermere agencies have sprung up throughout the Spokane area. There are now six offices among Spokane, the Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. Since the move, the business has continued to thrive to new levels and staff have been able to reach out to the community in vast ways. Currently, there are 15 brokers based at the office in Liberty Lake and, as time progresses, Windermere hopes to increase its number of agents. “Our office has nearly doubled the number of agents in 2016 and with that momentum, our Liberty Lake buyer and seller base continues to grow as well,” Shiley said. While spring and summer are

CCF

Continued from page 11 to the street-level, individual cancer fight, the organization is also committed to supporting local research and advanced treatment methods. The fund recently contributed to two studies with Lee and Cancer Care Northwest. One study dove into a particularly rare cancer of the head and neck and researchers in Spokane were able to study a large group of patients and measure success rates of particularly treatment methods. The other study looks at a particular heart condition that occurs in some patients after radiation treatment and is working toward developing a program to guide those patients. “Good things come about from people doing research everywhere,” Lee said. “Having that ability in town raises the bar by us having the people and resources to do local studies that contribute to national and international knowledge. In turn, for each individual patient, their doctors are more aware of the cutting-edge tools or treatments or knowledge available to them.” CCF is only just beginning to provide for the Inland Northwest. Keefer credits board president Ryan Lee, founding member Fritz Wolff and the entire board of directors for fostering relationships in and outside the community. “No matter how much we raise, we recognize we are one piece of the puzzle,” Keefer said. “We very much rely on our partners to really give us the feedback, what they’re experiencing on the front lines.” Want to learn more? Community Cancer Fund will host its next fundraiser, the “Holiday Bash” on Dec. 2 at the Davenport Grand Hotel in downtown Spokane. For more information on this event and the program in general, visit www.communitycancerfund.org.

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By Connlee Grey Splash Correspondent Windermere Liberty Lake has recently relocated to a space on Legacy Ridge Drive where they plan to expand both their business and market share. According to Branch Manager Wendy Shiley, the new location is a better portrayal of what Windermere represents. Previously, the business was located in a retail setting. The company decided to move to Legacy Ridge once the lease was up. The new setting allows for a more professional image and is more accessible to the community, Shiley says. “We are extremely thrilled to be in a new location,” she said. For 11 years, Windermere Liberty Lake has served the community and strives to continue to do so to broader extremes now that they have relocated. Now settled in, Shiley has high hopes for the success of the business as it progresses toward ambitious goals. The new office celebrated a ribbon cutting on Sept. 13. Having agents who reside in Liberty Lake will be a great asset to the business as well, Shiley adds. In addition to their work with Windermere, agents participate in volunteer work around town to help give back to the community. “One of the main goals is to reach out to the community and let homeowners know that we are here to help them.” Shiley said. “When we were in our previous location, it was like people didn’t know we were there.” Windermere Real Estate was

typically the competitive months for selling homes, now is a great time to put a house on the market, Shiley said. The colder months offer less competition for sellers and product availability for companies such as Windermere to help with the selling process. It is common for homeowners to hold off on listing houses on the market or selling until the warmer months. “A lot of people think that winter is not the time to put a house on the market,” Shiley said. “As far as getting it listed, now is a great time because we are low on resale inventory. We have been the whole year, so that’s why homeowners should sell now or consider selling during the colder months.” Windermere Liberty Lake hopes to become a bigger aid in helping residents sell their homes. A primary goal is to benefit homeowners throughout the selling process. Despite being lower on inventory this year, Shiley said her office will make it a priority to reach out and improve the quality life within neighborhoods. Being in a more open and prominent location with their business should help bring the company to its fullest potential. Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. with over 300 offices and 7,000 agents serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Mexico. Last year, Windermere closed over 86,000 sides for more than $31.7 billion in volume. The Windermere family has a proud heritage of serving its neighbors via the Windermere Foundation which funds services for low-income and homeless families. Since 1989, the Windermere Foundation has contributed more than $30 million towards improving lives in the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.windermere.com.

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COMMUNITY

14 • DECEMBER 2016

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Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS Dec. 10 | 18th annual Liberty Lake Holiday Ball, 5 p.m. to midnight, Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post Street, Spokane. The event is the sole fundraiser for Friends of Pavillion Park. Tickets can be purchased for $75 per person or $750 for a table of 10. This special event brings together Liberty Lake friends and neighbors to celebrate the holidays and demonstrate their support for Friends of Pavillion Park, a nonprofit group that sponsors a free summer concert series, movies in the park, scholarships, an annual fun run, the Labor Day weekend Spokane Symphony concert and more recently Shakespeare in the Park. To donate auction items for the event contact Laura Frank at pavillionpark@yahoo.com. For ticket information visit www. pavillionpark.org. Dec. 17 | Saturday with Santa, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Liberty Lake Library, 23123 E. Mission. Join in the holiday fun at the library with crafts, songs and pictures with Santa. Dec. 20 | Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Liberty Lake City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista. The city of Liberty Lake continues its holiday tradition with the lighting of a Christmas tree at City Hall. This event is open to the community and will include complimentary cookies and hot cocoa. For more information, call 755-6700. Dec. 20 | Walk to Bethlehem, following the tree lighting ceremony. Hosted by multi-faith groups, the second annual trek to Pavillion Park will begin at City Hall and wind east to Pavillion Park where a Nativity scene awaits travelers.

RECURRING ACT 2 senior classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area. More at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ ACT2.

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Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11: 30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Call Steve at 893-

4746 for more information. Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 5 to 6 p.m., third Friday of the month. Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history, and perspectives on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. More at 599-2411 or www.bahai.us.

MUSIC & THE ARTS

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or eastpointchurch.com.

Dec. 9-17 | A Memory for Christmas, Liberty Lake Theatre, 22910 E. Appleway, Ste. 2, Liberty Lake. This heartwarming holiday production tells the story of children in an orphanage toward the close of World War II. When one of the kids learns that the orphanage’s caretaker has lost her husband in the Battle of Normandy, she goes about writing a play about the soldier as a special Christmas gift. Showtimes are Dec. 9 (7 p.m.); Dec. 10 (2 and 7 p.m.); Dec. 15 (7 p.m.); Dec. 16 (7 p.m.) and Dec. 17 (2 and 7 p.m.). Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at www.libertylaketheatre.com, at the door on the day of the show and at the Liberty Lake Yoke’s. For more information, email the theatre at info@libertylaketheatre.com.

Grange Meeting and Dessert | 6:30 p.m., first Wednesday of the month, Tri-Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. The public is welcome for this community-based service organization. For more information call 226-2202 or see us on Facebook.

Dec. 13 | The Oaks Christmas Concert, 7 p.m., Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave., Spokane. Based in Spokane Valley, the Oaks Classical Christian Academy will present a traditional Christmas musical celebration with free admission. The public is encouraged to attend.

Liberty Lake Library | 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club, and more. More at www.libertylakewa. gov/library.

Dec. 17 | Spokane Symphony Superpops: Celebrate Holiday Pops, 8 p.m., Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave., Spokane. Resident Conductor Morihiko Nakahara and the Spokane Symphony will treat concertgoers to an evening of holiday music, including a screening of “The Snowman” (with live orchestra) choir music from the Spokane Symphony Chorale and the Spokane Area Youth Choir, a visit from Santa and the popular audience sing-along. Ticket prices are $28 to $62; half price for youth 17 and under. For more information, visit www.spokanesymphony.org or call 624-1200.

Catholic Singles Mingle | meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www. meetup.com/Catholic-SinglesMingle.

Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | 6:30 p.m., the first Monday of each month. Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. More at www.pancan.org or 534-2564. Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. More at www.scld.org

Dec. 31 | Spokane Symphony New Year’s Eve: Beethoven’s Ninth, 7:30 p.m., Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. Back by popular demand, the more than 140 musicians of the Spokane Symphony and Chorale will celebrate New Year's Eve with a traditional performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with its themes of joy and the brotherhood of man. Tickets are $23 to $28; $16 for youth 17 and under. For more information, visit

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COMMUNITY

www.spokanesymphony.org or call 624-1200.

RECURRING Drop-in Square Dance Lessons | 7 to 8:30 p.m. (through May 18). Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Road. Square dance lessons for $3 per person; no partner needed. More at 270-9264. Pages of Harmony | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road. If you enjoy singing, you will love the four-part, a cappella harmony of this men’s barbershop chorus. More at www.pagesofharmony.org. Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:45 p.m., Tuesdays. Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 2184799. Spokane Novelists Group | noon to 4 p.m., second and fourth Saturday of the month. Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. A support/critique group for writers. Open to anyone with an interest in writing fiction (no memoirs, nonfiction, poetry, etc., please). Participants should bring 5-10 pages to read aloud and 6-8 copies for others to read along and critique. More at 590-7316. Spokane Valley Camera Club | 7:15 p.m., third and fourth Monday of the month (September through April). Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District building, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops. More at 951-1446 or www.sv-cc. org Spokane Valley Writer’s Group | 6:15 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440. Teen Writers of the Inland Empire | 4 p.m., first Thursday of the month (except holidays). Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Writers (sixth grade and older) meet to write and share their work. More at 893-8400.

HEALTH & RECREATION Dec. 3 | Jingle Bell Run benefiting the Arthritis Foundation, Riverfront Park, downtown Spokane. Be part

of the largest holiday-themed 5K race series anywhere and join the movement to conquer arthritis. This event is a fun way to get out, get moving and raise funds and awareness to cure America’s leading cause of disability. Wear a holiday-themed costume. Tie jingle bells to your shoelaces or sport your ugly Christmas sweater. Complete a 5-kilometer run or walk with your team. For more information about the run, go to www.jbr.org or call 263-0193. Nov. 1-Dec. 31 | Fall Futsal League. The HUB Sports Center runs two sessions of a fiveaside futsal league for ages 9-14 with session one taking place November/December each Tuesday night and session two running January/February on Fridays. Each session is six weeks. Sign up for both sessions online to receive a discount. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www. hubsportscenter.org. Dec. 3 | Finding Your Balance and Igniting Your Joy, 10 a.m., Willow Song Music Therapy, E. 21101 Wellesley, Otis Orchards. This is a mindfulness-based class, exploring the connection with the physiology of stress and tension and well-being. Includes a guided progressive muscle relaxation. Understand how to use music mindfully to support body, mind and soul optimum function, discover your rhythm and learn how to reduce stress. $25 per person. For more information, call 509-592-7875 or visit www. willowsongmusictherapy.com. Dec. 12 | Beginner’s Pickleball Clinic, 10 a.m. to noon, the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. Drop by the HUB and and learn the game of pickleball. Expert instructors teach the basic skills and rules of this exciting game. Clinics take place on the second Wednesday of every month. Registration is $10 per person and all participants will have the option to stay for our drop-in play from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for free. To learn more or to register, visit www.hubsportscenter.org or call 927-0602. Dec. 20 | Ugly Sweater Pickleball Tournament, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. ‘Tis the season for a game that blends elements of tennis, ping pong and racketball. Proceeds from this holiday tournament will benefit Blessings Under the Bridge, a nonprofit founded by Mike and

See CALENDAR, Page 16

DECEMBER 2016 • 15

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COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

safety plan. For more information, call 625-3200.

Jessica Kovac of Liberty Lake to help the homeless. Cost is $35 per player. To learn more or to register, visit www.hubsportscenter.org or call 927-0602.

Dec. 17 | 10th annual Blessings Under the Bridge Winter Event, noon to 3 p.m., downtown Spokane, under the bridge at Fourth Avenue and McClellan. This 10th annual event hosted by Valley-based Blessings Under the Bridge benefits the homeless in greater Spokane and will feature food, music, holiday treats, resource booths and more. To volunteer or donate, contact Blessings Under the Bridge at 8696997 or visit www.butb.org.

Continued from page 15

Dec. 22 | Drop and Shop, 5 to 8 p.m., the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. Enjoy a fun evening out or get that lastminute shopping done while your kids have a blast playing games. The HUB’s staff will be there to lead the festivities. Registration is $10 or $15 at the door. To learn more or to register, visit www. hubsportscenter.org or call 9270602. Dec. 27-29 | Snowball Futsal Tournament, 4 to 9 p.m. each day. Are you ready for some Futsal? Get out and get moving over winter break with your team. Sign up early for this five aside futsal tournament and don’t miss out. For kids U7 through U14. Registration Fees: $250 per team (if registration and payment received by Nov. 30) Cost is $275 per team (if registration and payment received Dec. 1 or later) Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 14.

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Dec. 27-30 | Skyhawks MultiSport Camp and Basketball Camp, the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. For registration information, visit www. hubsportscenter.org or call 9270602.

RECURRING HUB Sports Center 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including: • Badminton open gym: 7 to 9 p.m. Tues., $5/person • Basketball open gym: Noon to 1 p.m. Tues. and Thurs., $4/person • Pickleball drop-in: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to noon Tues. and Thurs.; and 7 to 9 p.m. Wed. and Sun. $2/seniors ($4/non-seniors) • Classes including Kenpo Karate, Modern Farang-Mu Sul, and Zumba Aerobics. See website for cost and times.

CIVIC & BUSINESS Dec. 1-3 | KidSafe event, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Subaru of Spokane, 423 W. Third Ave., Spokane. Event includes fingerprinting and help with a family

LL Theatre fundraiser for Blessings Under the Bridge | Liberty Lake Community Theatre is working with Blessings Under the Bridge to raise funds for the agency’s efforts to help homeless residents in the greater Spokane area. Through Dec. 17 the theatre is are accepting donations of gloves, hats and scarves in the lobby at 22910 E. Appleway, Ste 2. Receive $2 credit at the concession stand for a donation. Additionally, 50 percent of counter sales for the Dec. 10, 2pm showing of “A Memory for Christmas” will be donated to Blessings Under the Bridge. For more information, visit www.butb. org.

RECURRING Central Valley School board | 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 19307 E. Cataldo, Spokane Valley. Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive. Liberty Lake Library Foundation | Noon the first Wednesday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake Merchants Association | 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Liberty Lake Portal, 23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite 120. More at 999-4935. Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 10:30 a.m. the first Thursday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive. Liberty Lake SCOPE (Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort) | 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive. Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.

The Splash

Plenty of positive news in library’s latest chapter By Craig Howard Splash Editor Regular attendees of Liberty Lake City Council meetings know that when Pamela Mogen steps to the podium, they can expect a cavalcade of good news as well as a few tips on the latest in modern-day information gathering techniques. Mogen, who has served as director of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library since late 2003, didn’t disappoint on Nov. 1 with her latest report, an overview of library activity from the third quarter of 2016. Mogen began her message by referring to the library’s mission statement, a creed goes as follows: “Liberty Lake Municipal Library enriches and advances the intellectual, cultural and creative vitality of our extended community by establishing and maintaining avenues to information resources that support those interests, delivering them with personal service in a fast, courteous, and knowledgeable manner.” The library’s board of trustees

DECEMBER 2016 • 17

LIBRARY

established the mission statement in 2004.

commentary on the success of this library,” he said.

“That statement covers a lot of territory,” Mogen said.

From classes on Alzheimer’s education to finance to early literacy, the library continues to offer a variety of educational options for patrons, Mogen said. In midOctober, a seven-week geneology course was introduced, featuring a free database and instruction by noted family history educator Grant Ely. Mogen also pointed out that a library-sponsored Indie Author Day was the only one of its kind hosted in Eastern Washington this year.

Mogen noted how the field of library services has changed significantly since she earned her Master’s degree in Information Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign in 1983. These days, a library’s digital collection is at least as important as what sits on the shelves. The terrain has shifted substantially since 2001, the year the library was established by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who facilitated the largest book drive the region has ever seen. The following year, the Friends of the Library deeded the library to the city of Liberty Lake and it has been a municipal program ever since. The first Nook wasn’t introduced until November of 2009. Mogen and her crew appear to be following a formula that works. In the third quarter, the library logged 16,118 visits. There are currently 3,859 people with active library cards. An average of 100 new library cards are distributed each month. Close to 4,000 residents are now part of the library’s email list. Mayor Steve Peterson applauded the library’s ongoing success in generating new card holders. “I

think

that’s

excellent

“We had seven classes for newer authors to learn how to get published,” Mogen said. Mogen knows a thing or two about getting published. Her Jane Austeninspired collection, “The Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy” was originally published by Wytherngate Press, a company founded by Mogen and her husband, Michael. Eventually, Simon & Schuster, Inc., one of the world’s largest publishing houses, discovered Mogen and her writing gift, leading to the break of a lifetime. In light of several popular community events in the third quarter, including a well-attended Halloween party, Mogen told council that the library is recognized as a civic gathering place. “We are community center, not only through what we offer but also the space we have available,” she said.

We asked a few people “What’s your favorite Christmas book?”

ADULT ACTIVITES Books N Brew

Thursday, December 15th 6:30 pm Discussing Pulitzer Prize winner: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.

Winter Adult Craft

Thursday, December 8th 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Enjoy an evening of winter crafts - choose from mason jar hot chocolate gifts, paper stars or ornament decorating and more. Registration is required.

Christmas Ghost Stories December 22nd 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Chet Caskey, (author of Haunted Spokane:Ghosts & Dark Places in the Lilac City) will be sharing tales of hauntings and ghostly apparitions at the library. The whole family is invited - prepare to be spooked!

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITES Move and Groove Christmas Dance Party Friday, December 2nd 10:30 am

Christmas Stem Challenge Saturday, December 3rd 1:30 pm Ages 6 and up.

Hour of Code

Wednesday, December 7th 4:00 pm Spend an hour learning basic coding. Variety of coding activities and games to choose from. Ages 6 and up. Santa’s Kitchen

December 10th 1:30 pm

Stop by Santa’s Kitchen and make a gingerbread house! All ages welcome.

Christmas Drive in Movie Heidi (9) “How Murray Saved Christmas” by Mike Reiss

Henry (6) “The Jolly Christmas Postman”

Evelyn (6) “The Night Before Christmas”

Rachel (28) “The Gift of the Magi”

Wednesday, December 14th 10:30 am

Create your very own “box car” and watch a Christmas movie with us at our Drive in Theater. *If you have a box at home to make a car with please bring it. Storytime will be cancelled Tuesday December 20-31st. Storytime will resume on Tuesday January 3rd.

John, (37), “The Polar Express”

Taryn, (31) “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

Wyatt (12) “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas

www.libertylakewa.gov/library

23123 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake • 232-2510

The Splash

18 • DECEMBER 2016

LLSWD plant upgrade takes water treatment to next level By Benjamin Shedlock

Splash Correspondent In case you wondered why a towering crane can be seen from most vantage points on the north side of Liberty Lake, a massive upgrade is underway at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD) treatment plant. Slated for completion by March 1, 2018, the $17.1 million project is designed to help the plant meet stringent pollution limits that the Washington State Department of Ecology set in 2011 that exceed the federal minimum guidelines. The expansion is being paid for by a loan from the Washington Department of Ecology State Revolving Fund. The loan will ultimately trickle down to ratepayers who will see a $4.54 per month jump in their monthly sewer bills around the first of the year. LLSWD is one of four entities that have permits from Ecology to release treated wastewater into the Spokane River. The city of Spokane, Inland Empire Paper Company, Kaiser Aluminum and Spokane County. The cities of Post Falls, Hayden and Coeur d’Alene are also upgrading their facilities to meet the federal limits. “Phosphorous removal is what’s driving the permit,” said LLSWD Commissioner Tom Agnew. The permits from Ecology set the limits on how much pollutant the treated wastewater can contain. Phosphorous, the Spokane River pollutant, has been tied to algae blooms in Lake Spokane. As phosphorous increases, algae that feed on it bloom and decay at accelerated levels, sapping oxygen and making it difficult to sustain aquatic life. Wastewater is currently being cleaned at the plant through a biological and ultraviolet process. To remove additional phosphorous, the upgrades at the plant will add a chemical treatment and an ultrafiltration step to the current treatment process. “Think of it like polishing,” said BiJay Adams, LLWSD general manager in explaining the process. Currently, raw sewage comes into the treatment plant and is cleaned with microbes, which eat nutrients that would otherwise cause algae

blooms (the biological process). Once cleaned of nutrients, the wastewater is disinfected with ultraviolet light and discharged into the Spokane River. These two steps have been treating the wastewater since the previous upgrade in 2006. The additional chemical and filtration step will add another layer of treatment, or polishing, to the wastewater. Between the biological and ultraviolet treatment, the wastewater will be treated with alum. Alum bonds with phosphorous and settles out so that the phosphorous cannot be used as food for algae or reduce oxygen. The process results in cleaner water so wildlife can thrive. The LLSWD upgrades will include “some of the best technology available,” Adams said, noting that the new building will “look like a gymnasium.” Indeed, it will house technologies that sound like the latest diet fads— tertiary membranes will provide ultrafiltration to the water during the chemical treatment. According to Adams, the alum and filter membranes will remove 90 percent more phosphorous from the water. Although the plant must be completed by 2018, LLSWD has until 2021 to meet the standards set in its permit. According to Adams, Ecology gives the three-year window because the biological processes used at wastewater treatment plants are unpredictable. Seasonal variations also affect initial tests. Warmer temperatures increase the number of biological processes in the water, which can impact the test results. If the initial tests fail to meet the standards, LLSWD will

try a series of fixes, including finetuning the filters and running the water through the cycle twice in a process known as optimization. Despite the unpredictability, Adams is ”confident that we’ll be able to achieve” (the standards). The finely tuned filters are also the major driver of the upgrade’s cost. The current $17.1 million price tag reflects the tight market for membrane filtration systems. LLSWD is buying the filters from General Electric, one of the few manufacturers. Construction costs have also risen since LLSWD received the original estimates in the $12 million to $13 million range five years ago, just after the recession. After construction, the plant’s operating costs will increase. “One thing for sure is that rates will increase,” Agnew said, referring to the hike LLSWD customers will see. He pointed out that surveys have shown that residents support the upgrade. The district’s sewer rates have remained among the lowest in region. The low rates are part of the reason that Liberty Lake received a loan rather than a grant to pay for the upgrades. Guidelines for the revolving fund require grants go to municipalities whose median household income falls below a certain amount and whose sewer rates exceed a certain percentage of median household income. Liberty Lake did not make that cut, but secured a 2-percent loan over 20 years. Phosphorous levels have been a focus of regulators since 1996, when tests showed elevated levels in the Spokane River. Led by

A major expansion of the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District treatment plant is underway. The $17.1 million upgrade is expected to be completed by March 2018 and have a ripple effect on district sewer rates. Photo by Craig Howard

LLSWD’s example, the region took measures to decrease phosphorous, like banning dishwashing detergent with phosphates. But the Environmental Protection Agency and the even-stricter Washington State Department of Ecology determined that those measures were not doing enough. Those agencies have authority to set the limits for how much pollutant can be added to a river every day, a measure known as total maximum daily load, or TMDL. The agencies regulate TMDL’s by issuing permits to the entities that discharge into the river. “We have to meet the requirements of the TMDL through our permit,” said Adams. Despite the expense and challenge of the upgrades, the LLSWD is not making the upgrades begrudgingly. “We do have a legacy of environmental stewardship,” said Adams. The LLSWD was part of an early wave of sewer districts focused on cleaning the environment rather than just moving waste somewhere else. The district was founded in 1973 under the banner of a resident-led effort to clean up the lake. “Environmental stewardship was the genesis of the organization,” said Agnew. Prior to the district coming on line, developments near the lake were all connected to septic and pollutants leached into the lake. The nutrients and other organic materials disrupted the lake’s chemistry and unhealthy algae blooms proliferated. LLSWD was formed to collect waste from households and the transformation in the lake has been significant. “In our lifetime, the water we drink from Spokane/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, Spokane River and Liberty Lake itself have never been cleaner,” said Agnew. “I think most people think the opposite is true.” Not everyone sees LLSWD as a force for environmental good. The Center for Justice’s Spokane Riverkeeper program challenged the current permits on the grounds that they did not do enough to address non-phosphorous pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The permits only call for monitoring of PCBs at discharge and control of PCBs at the pollution source—not for treatment. The center has asserted that dischargers like LLSWD actually produce PCBs. Adams pushes back on the idea that dischargers pollute. “Humans are polluters and we’re cleaning up after ourselves,” he said.

The Splash

LLPD

Continued from page 6

Avenue. Complainant reported a vehicle drove away from the location without paying for $25.90 in fuel. Suicidal person: On Oct. 30 at 2:51 p.m., LLPD responded to a suicidal person at the East Mission Avenue and North Malvern Road. The subject was transported to an area hospital for evaluation. Threat: LLPD responded to a threat at the 1800 block of North Harvard Road on Oct. 30 at 8:12 p.m. Complainant reported two males were seen outside making threats to one another. Officers arrived and found nothing physical had taken place. Both parties were having a heated disagreement about sports. Mischief: On Nov. 1 at 11:01 a.m., LLPD responded to a malicious mischief at the 700 block of North Molter Road. Complainant reported graffiti and eggs had been strewn around the location causing an estimated $50 in damage. Suspicious person: On Nov. 1, 2016 at 6:03 p.m., LLPD responded to the 1200 block of North Liberty Lake Road for a suspicious person. Complainant reported a male int he area looked like the missing male reported not he news. Officers check the surveillance footage at a nearby location and determined the male was not the missing male form the news. Citizen contact: On Nov. 1 at 7:57 p.m., LLPD responded to a citizen contact at the 11000 block of East 10th. A citation was issued for violation of a city ordinance. Suspicious vehicle: LLPD responded to a suspicious vehicle at the 21000 block of George Gee Avenue on Nov. 1, 2016 at 11:05 p.m. Officer made contact with the driver who reported he was an employee and had forgotten to lock a door so he returned to secure it. Bike stop: LLPD conducted a bike stop at Mission and Barket on Nov, 2 at 12:41 a.m. The driver was warned for having no lights. Agency assist: LLPD assisted another agency with an accident at Eastbound I-90 on Nov. 2 at 12:57 p.m. Traffic hazard: LLPD responded to North Liberty Lake Road and East Country Vista Drive for a traffic hazard on Nov, 2 at 2:29 p.m. Complainant reported two large pieces of wood in the middle of the road.

DECEMBER 2016 • 19

Theft: On Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft of fuel at the 22000 block of East Appleway Avenue. Complainant reported a vehicle drove away from the location without paying for $61.35 in fuel. Suspicious person: LLPD responded to the 2200 block of North Swing Lane for a suspicious person on Nov. 2 t 6:21 p.m. Complainant reported a male came into the location claiming to be out of fuel and started to argue with the staff. No contact was made as subject was gone upon Officer arrival. Lost property: LLPD received a report of lost property from the 23000 block of East Colt Lane on Nov. 3, at 10:18 a.m. Complainant reported they misplaced an item from their business valued at $225. Suspicious vehicle: On Nov. 3 at 1:18 p.m., LLPD responded to the 2300 block of East Knox Avenue for a suspicious vehicle. A vehicle at the location was supposed to be moved the night prior and was still sitting at the location. The owner was contacted in reference to the options. Traffic accident: On Nov. 3, 2016 at 4:58 p.m., LLPD responded to a traffic accident involving injuries at East Appleway Avenue and North Country Vista Boulevard. Theft: On Nov. 3 at 8:39 p.m., LLPD responded to a fuel theft at the 22000 block of East Appleway Avenue. Complainant reported a vehicle left the location without paying for $27.27 in fuel. Theft: On Nov. 4 at 9:06 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 22000 block of East Country Vista Drive. Complainant reported that she believed a subject living at the same location had stolen her phone. Contact was attempted with the subject who reported she had left the location for the evening. Investigation to continue. Suspicious circumstance: LLPD responded to East Valleyway and North Molter Road for a suspicious circumstance on Nov. 6 at 1:12 a.m. Officers observed the gate at the location to be open and truck inside with the hood up. Upon further investigation, the building appeared to be secure and the gate was closed and secured for the evening. Theft: On Nov. 6 at 7:04 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 21000 block of East Country Vista Drive. Complainant reported the license plate was stolen off his vehicle sometime during the night.

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The Splash

20 • DECEMBER 2016

HUB enters crunch time of pivotal capital campaign

By Steve Christilaw Splash Correspondent Sometimes places just take on the perfect name and sometimes they just grow into the name. Either way, the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo in Liberty Lake, is exactly what its name implies. Like the center of an epic wheel, the HUB has grown into a 66,000-square foot, concrete outer shell for the center of a great deal of sporting activity – from boxing and karate to volleyball, basketball and even pickleball. And it’s well on its way to staying at the center of that activity for a long time to come. But to make that future a reality will take some extra hustle as the clock winds down on an ambitious capital campaign. “I’m optimistic,” HUB Executive Director Phil Champlin said. “It’s not going to be an easy pass by any means, but we’ve got some really good support. We’re officially at about $1.95 million raised or pledged so far and we have some things set up to help get us closer to the $3.9 million we set out to raise. The time of year, Champlin said, will hopefully be a boon to the effort. “We’re setting up an event for Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) for people to help,” he said. “We have an anonymous donor who pledged $15,000 toward our goal if we can get the community to match it.” Champlin said there are ongoing talks with foundations for about a potential $350,000 grant as well as a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce for, perhaps another $300,000. The evolution of the HUB Sports Center has been dramatic – which is a selling point for potential donors. “There almost isn’t a night when we don’t have something going on in here,” Champlin said. “And it’s amazing just how many different things we can configure this place to accommodate. Early on, we put down sport court and we held Roller Derby in here. We can do basketball and volleyball. We’ll have people in there flying model planes. We do badminton and, just today, we had 60 people in here to play pickleball. It’s amazing how

The HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake first opened as Sports USA in 2004. Led by current Executive Director Phil Champlin, the facility has become selfsustaining and is attempting a purchase of the building through an ambitious $3.9 million capital campaign. Photo by Craig Howard popular pickleball has become.” Champlin points to the strength of the facility and its mission as benefits in appealing to benefactors. “Prospective donors can come in and take a look at what we do,” he said. “We are a 501 c(3) nonprofit organization and we’re already self-sustaining.” Champlin was hired as the HUB’s executive director in 2009. In his time at the helm, the operation first became self-sustaining – a major hurdle in its own right – and is now working toward its goal of being able to purchase the building and surrounding property outright. An anonymous donor put up the cash to purchase the building and the property to take it off the market, then donated it to the Inland Northwest Community Foundation. HUB Sports Center has until the spring of 2017 to purchase the property from the foundation for $3.2 million. “The nice thing about this process is that I know the foundation wants us to succeed,” Champlin said. “They’re rooting for us to make it.” The plan has always been to raise $3.9 million, with the additional $700,000 to be used to endow some of the center’s programs. “The plan all along was that we only want to do this once,” Champlin said. “We want to be in the position where the programs we have can keep themselves going. And we want to be able to go forward with new challenges when they come up and not have to say ‘Wait while we go raise money.’” The HUB has grown into a vital part of the community. Over the years it has played host several USA Boxing Trials, volleyball tournaments as well an afterschool program for at-risk middle school students. It was a life-saver for Freeman School District during the construction process for its new

high school, with several of its sports programs using the HUB because there was no more room in the middle school gym with all of the high school facilities closed during the building process. “We keep trying to talk (Freeman Athletic Director) Brian Parisotto into having one game here every year, just for old-times sake,” Champlin laughed. “But he doesn’t want to leave that gorgeous new gym he has to do that. And I can’t blame him.” In an odd way, the fact that HUB Sports Center is fully operational can work against the fundraising effort. “It’s generally harder to raise money for something that’s already been built,” longtime HUB Board Member Chuck Stocker said. “That’s usually the case. It’s easier to get people to contribute when all you have to show them are a set of plans.” And, truth be told, the outsides of the HUB Sports Center – despite an impressive new sports collage on the exterior east wall – aren’t going to inspire anyone to reach for their wallet or write them a check. To find that inspiration, you have to pull off I-90 and find your way to the building for a visit. Champlin calls it “the huge unique building.” By the size and shape of the outer shell, it’s easy to see it as the huge warehouse it almost became after the initial owners, Sports USA, defaulted after less than two years of the building opening in February 2004 and turned the building over to Garco Construction. After sitting empty for a year and a half, it was almost sold for storage. Led by local pastor Ian Robertson, an effort brought Upward Basketball to the space and, two years later, in 2007, HUB took over. After Champlin was hired in 2009, he asked his board of directors for some stability and certainty so that he could attract users and make

some guarantees that the building would be open and available. An anonymous donor put up $3.2 million to purchase the property from Garco Construction to take it off the market. The plan is to repay that generosity in the spring, Stocker said. “We have a self-imposed deadline of December,” he said. “We wanted to give ourselves some time to look at where we are before the note comes due in the spring.” The financial numbers are impressive. By the end of 2010, HUB was fully self-sustaining. Almost 180,000 people use the facility each year and revenue approaches $280,000 per year with an economic impact on the community of $6 million according to Spokane Sports Commission estimates. The extensive list of events brings in visitors from all over the region. Numbers like that are vital to the community. “The community has come together to support the HUB,” Stocker said. “The last three years we’ve held a fundraising breakfast every fall and we’re raised $60,000 each year. The people of this community are very good about stepping up and supporting things like this.” Future plans are to remain good stewards of the facility, Champlin said. “We will continue to pay ourselves rent so that we can continue to do a good job of taking care of the building,” he said. “And we will continue to invests in future projects.” Champlin believes the HUB Sports Center can do even more to help make Spokane a gathering place for youth sports – and a destination for sporting activities from throughout the Inland Northwest. But, what happens if the fundraising comes up short of the goal? “At that point, it’s kind of out of our hands,” Champlin said. “It goes back to the foundation and it remains to be seen what they’re going to want to do. Whether we would be able to go out on our own and obtain a loan for the difference is an open question. We’ve been fortunate not to have to service debt up until now has been a good thing, but that remains a possibility. “The goal,” Champlin said, “is to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Want to help? To learn more about the HUB Sports Center and ways to support the ongoing capital campaign, visit www.hubsportscenter.org or call 927-0602.

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I can’t believe that it is the holiday season already. It feels like it snuck up on us – but what an exciting time of year. My favorite part of the season is what I call the “Holiday Spirit. “To me, this means taking the time to recognize and say “thank you” to all the people that surround and impact us in our daily lives. Whether it’s sharing a meal with close friends and family, giving a gift to someone to show your appreciation, or enjoying some holiday cheer, it is with that thought that we have pulled together our annual “Eat, Shop and Be Merry” guide this year. From the team here at the Splash and the Current, we want to thank you, our readers for taking the time to read our publication and advertisers for partnering with us to share their stories. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed taking the time to meet all of these friends and neighbors and help with some ideas for making your holiday the best one ever. We encourage you to pause from your busy everyday routine to appreciate all of the wonderful people around us and help spread the holiday cheer! Ben Wick, Publisher

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22 • DECEMBER 2016

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DECEMBER 2016 • 23

Holiday Gift Guide

When you go out shopping this holiday season check out these local businesses to a chance to support members of our community and find unique, eclectic, personal or elegant gifts for anyone on your shopping list.

$$ Our Choice: Buy a gift card or ake advantage of their dollar days in January.

their own on-site goldsmith. They pride themselves in personalizing their customer service to the needs of their customers to ensure that every client leaves happy and never regrets a purchase. They also carry a generous assortment of jewelry and gifts ready to take home and wrap. $ Our Choice: Silver ring holder. Perfect to set next to any sink and keep your rings safe while washing your hands.

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For over 35 years and through three generations, the Coin Corner has been buying and selling investment coins and collections. They also deal with historical memorabilia, maps, documents and military documents. Excellent place to explore if you have been collecting for years or are just starting out. $ Our Choice: 2016 silver eagle dollar coin. Great gift for the collector or to use as a stocking stuffer.

$ – $0 - $50 $$ – $50-$200 $$$ – You really like this person

Big Bear Chocolates 891-2662, Located near the food court in the Spokane Valley Mall

Adorkable Flowers and Gifts 922-6300, 21950 E. Country Vista Drive, Suite 500, Liberty Lake Drop by this newly established florist and gift shop for a unique, personal experience. The store atmosphere is welcoming, eclectic and creative, all things that you are sure to find in the arrangements that are formed there. Purchase custom or prearranged flowers, candy bouquets, potted plants, balloon arrangements and more. Coming in January, you can order an arrangement through Bloomnet. com $ Our Choice: Dinosaur air plant holder. For that person in your life who likes some greenery with personality. Can be hung anywhere.

Appleway Florist and Gifts 924-5050, 11006 E, Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley This longtime Valley florist has over 30,000 square feet of greenhouse space in which to showcase their bouquets and special arrangements. They also have a large selection of candles, plush, balloons and gift items. Throughout the year, special events are also hosted here such as pictures with Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Bruttles 228-9509, 12609 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

Finger Swagger 279-2917, 10627 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley Two gentlemen, Craig and Steve, own and run this neighborhood music corner. Their wall of beautiful guitars and stacks of new and vintage amps make this a muststop spot for any music enthusiast. They offer consignments, lessons, guitars, repairs, stringing, pro setups and more. $$-$$$ Our choice: Ukulele. The exquisite craftsmanship and style of the various sizes of ukuleles they have to offer would make even the most musically inept buy one to give it a try. With as beautiful as they are you can always turn it into an art piece on your wall.

Fresh, grade A ingredients go into the making of these confections using recipes that have been passed down for over 60 years. Originally a turn down service at the Davenport Hotel, these delicacies can now be found in Spokane Valley. Along with the original soft peanut brittle, you can find salt water taffy, caramels, butter toffee and chocolate bark.

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$ Our Choice: Chocolate covered caramel apple. Choose from a large assortment of flavors such as “apple pie,” “turtle pecan,” and the holiday special “peppermint stick.”

$ Our Choice: Hanging crystal angel decoration. It is the perfect gift to show appreciation to teachers, staff or for a “secret Santa” gift exchange.

$ Our Choice: Japanese moss ball. This moss ball ads a bit of green to any room and is a great conversation starter. Available in glass or kid-friendly containers.

509-891-6800, 23505 E Appleway Ave, Liberty Lake

Gourmet goodies readily available for your consumption. Here you can find delicacies ranging from fudge and chocolates to caramel apples and ice cream. You can usually find a sample of one of their tasty treats to try.

Artistry in Gold 927-4569, 13817 E. Sprague Ave., Suite 7, Spokane Valley This quaint jewelry store specializes in custom design and superior quality craftsmanship with

$-$$ Our choice: Original soft peanut brittle. Its “soft” texture make it a great choice for those with a sweet tooth of all ages. Coin Corner 928-0860, 9215 E. Trent, Spokane Valley

Hallett’s Marketplace and Cafe 926-4076, 14109 E. Sprague Ave., #2, Spokane Valley The marketplace section of this unique business offers a generous makeup of soup mixes, jams, candles, beverages, dips and the

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24 • DECEMBER 2016

largest variety of huckleberry items, all made in the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention Hallett’s chocolates, a local favorite for over 30 years. There is always something new and local to be found here. $$ Our choice: Gift basket. Premade or do it yourself, this basket is the perfect gift for the host of the Christmas party you’re attending or your mother-in-law. Completely customizable, they can cater to any foodie or buy local enthusiast on your shopping list this holiday season.

Irv’s Rock and Gifts 924-5464, 11907 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley For over 50 years Irv, and now his daughter Liz, have been educating the community on the intricacies of jewelry, rocks, stones and gems. Irv’s offers ways to learn about rocks and gems for adults and children. Every Saturday, children under the age of 18 can “spin the wheel” for a prize, which includes geodes, rocks, worry stones and other treasures to choose from. $$ Our Choice: Rock tumbler. For any child or adult that enjoys rocks these tumblers make an ideal gift for decades of polishing capabilities for treasures found on the ground.

person in your life could use a little relaxation. The gift of getting pampered at the spa is great way to get on anyone’s good list. $ Our Choice: Stocking stuffers. Choose from an assortment of items that would make excellent stocking stuffers including Kelly girl makeup, lotions and more. Silver Bow Fly Shop Although the square footage of their store may be small, these pet lovers have managed to have a plethora of food and treats, toys, beds, dishes, collars and other pet supplies available. The owners, Carl and Mara, and their staff are friendly and knowledgeable and take the time to help you make choices that are best for you and your furry family. $ Our Choice: Collars. The variety of rolled leather, sparkly and studded collar choices is unparalleled.

$$-$$$ Our Choice: Sunglasses. With an abundance of choices this is the place to go for classic, colorful, and unique sunglasses. Pawpular Companions 927-8890, 21950 E. Country Vista Drive, # 100, Liberty Lake

The Trellis Marketplace 928-6158, 4102 Spokane Valley

Since 1934, Peter’s has been helping customers find solutions to problems and repair broken parts. They also give advice on projects. With widely stocked shelves, their friendly service can help you with anything you need. $ Our Choice: Real garden tool.

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$ Our Choice: Powersmith LED worklight.

927-8206, 11806 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley What originally started as a home-based gift basket service is now a gift boutique with fullservice website with local delivery. They offer the ability to choose, or have them create, unique gifts for any family member or friend this holiday season and all year round.

Sarah Hamilton FACE 210-0228, 1334 N. Whitman Lane, #210, Liberty Lake A newly opened boutique medical spa offering injectables, facials, waxing and more using medical grade skin care products. Luxury skin care products such as Lollia candles, Baby Foot peels, lotions and scents can be purchased with expert advice. $-$$ Our Choice: Gift card. Every

$ Our Choice: Mints. Buy an assorted pack, available in holiday variety or pastels and you are sure to make a good impression on whomever you gift them to.

$ Our Choice: Fly Fishing Level One. A great way to learn a new skill and that will lead to more than just one peaceful afternoon. These classes are offered once a month.

926-3646, 12118 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

Molter

With improved hours for more cconvenient scheduling the staff takes providing excellent eyecare seriously. They have a wide range of brands for you to choose from for both clear lens and sun protection.

With a goal of “making fish nervous,” this business focusses on carrying gear that is tried and true for all those who wish to try the art of fly fishing. They are available to offer advice based on knowledge from their own time on the water during store hours and at the numerous classes and community events they host throughout the community.

Peter’s Hardware

Liberty Lake Eyecare Center 509-893-7574, 2207 #100, Liberty Lake

924-9998, 13210 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley

with Murphys, mints, caramels, nut clusters and other treats. Although we have listed their main store in downtown Spokane, Spokandy selections can be found at Big Bear Chocolates, Simply Northwest, and other establishments throughout the Spokane Valley area. For your convenience, place your order and have it delivered to your door.

$$ Our Choice: Burlap signs. There are a variety of sayings, colors and themes for this cute décor item. There must be something for everyone. Spokandy 624-1969, 1412 W. Third Ave., Spokane Chocolates made from tradition, these are sure to find a part to play in yours. For over 100 years this company has been providing us

Bowdish,

A veritable smorgasbord of gift options awaits you at this destination gift boutique. They have items to inspire, amuse, paper, comfort and charm all. They believe that building relationships with their customers inspires loyalty and support in order for visitors to leave as friends. $ Our Choice: Wooden snowflakes. These come in a variety of sizes – lighted, unlighted, glittery, plain. They are easily customizable, elegant and fit easily into any holiday décor scheme. This Old House 892-3099, 10619 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley The only second-hand store on our list, these crafters repurpose and refashion vintage furniture into one-of-a-kind treasures. Throughout their three store spaces, cleverly retrofitted from old houses, you will find exclusive yard and garden décor, holiday décor, kitchen items, jewelry and more. $-$$ Our Choice: ???? Spend an afternoon wondering through all they have to offer. You are sure to find something to cross off your

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Christmas shopping list or go home with a treasure for yourself.

for the seasoned player or starter boards for those just beginning. They will even give you a lesson!

Uncle’s Books and Games 891-7620, Located Spokane Valley Mall

Tracy Jeweler 893-2929, 106 Spokane Valley

Evergreen,

Although their slogan may be “where Spokane gets engaged,” engagement rings are far from the only items carried here. They stock a broad selection of diamond and colored gemstone jewelry along with offering jewelry repair, custom design, restoration and appraisal services.

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Locally owned shop featuring board games, puzzles, books and more. Most night there is a “game night” event hosted at their location. Having trouble understanding a board game? They will help. Check out their full calendar on their website for details. $ Our Choice: Chess board. Excellent choices of unique boards

White Elephant 924-3006, 12614 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley Our area’s most iconic discount toy and sporting goods store. You are sure to find the best prices on quality products, often not carried anywhere else in town. $ Our Choice: Thinking putty. Comes in a variety of sizes and “flavor” options. A great choice for a stocking stuffer or a friend that could a fun, destressing tool at their desk. $ Our Choice: Hydroflask Water bottles. Keeps your drink warm or cool for hours. We all need to stay hydrated, so give one to everyone on your list.

$$ Our Choice: LaFonn earrings. Featuring a variety of style selections, all sure to please the recipient.

Show that special someone in your life you care this Valentine’s Day Join our first ever “love notes” section premiering in our February edition. It is the perfect place for sharing how much you care. Contact us for more details 509-242-7752 or email

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“We have the largest selection of local and Nw products in the Valley. Hand-made Chocolates, Holiday Wine & Beer packs, Huckleberry everything, Smoked Salmon. Come in and let us show you what we have to offer.”

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Santa is Coming toandTown... here is where you can find him It’s that time of year again when Kris Kringle takes a shuttle sleigh to sites across the great Spokane Valley. So keep an ear out for the jingle bells, Santa is coming to town and here is where you can find him: Spokane Valley Mall 14700 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley Call: 926-3700 Come to the lower JC Penney court to see Santa or make reservations ahead of time to save some time. Plus, save 30 percent on your photos by pre-ordering a package online. Visit before Dec. 9 to save an extra $5. Reservations and photo purchases are not required to visit Santa. Regular Hours: Monday – Saturday: noon to 8 p.m. Sunday: noon to 6 p.m. Special Hours: 12/16 – 12/23: Hours: 9 a.m. to 9

p.m. 12/18: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Break: 1 to 2 p.m.) RB Photography Santa’s Workshop 9335 N. Division, Spokane Call: 822-9056 Tired of the long lines in the mall? Want to include the fourlegged members of your family in the picture on your time? Then RB Photography Santa's Workshop is for you. Come and sit in Santa's sleigh with the entire family. Enjoy the nice quiet setting, personal quality time and the best Santa photos you will ever have. No appointments necessary just drop on by. Come in early for the shortest wait times the week before Christmas is busy, busy, busy. Traditional to fun, it's up to you!! Breakfast with Santa CenterPlace Regional Event Center - 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane

Valley Call: 688-0300 Saturday, Dec. 3 $5 per person Registration Information: New this year - Pre-assigned entry times: 8, 9 or 10 a.m.. Choose time when registering. There are limited spaces in each time slot. Registration to this event is required. If you register after Nov. 14, your tickets will be available at for pick up at the CenterPlace front desk prior to, or on the day of the event This year there will be no photographs with Santa provided by the Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation staff. Please take your own photos if you like. Creative Catch Studios 1804 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Call: 879-3262

Nov. 26 and 27: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited time slots - Foster teen clothing drive No lines! Schedule a session today! Visit with Santa, write letter to North Pole, enjoy hot apple cider. Big coloring fun. Every child gets a treasure! Pets are welcome! $25 session includes 4 x 6 inche print magnet. Additional prints and products available and 40 percent of your session fee goes to Teen Closet. Accepting monetary and clothing donations to help Teen Closet give back this holiday season and put gifts under the tree for teens in need. Cabela’s 101 N. Cabela Ave., Post Falls Call: 208-777-6300 One free keepsake photo per family Saturday Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson 19011 E. Cataldo Ave., Spokane Valley Call: 927-3306 Saturday Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come on down to get your picture with our Harley Santa! Always a fun event. Pictures include complementary picture frame while supplies last. Also, $5 donations or a toy for Toys for Tots are appreciated! Max at Mirabeau 1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley Call: 922-6252 Breakfast with Santa of Dec 10 and 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended Heidi Pratt - Glimpse Photography 201 W. Riverside, Spokane Call: 869-4488 Saturday, Dec. 3 at the new studio location, 201 W Riverside, Suite 201 in Spokane

The Splash

Why stand in line at the mall, when you can reserve your spot at Glimpse Photography Studio? Packages start at $35. The background will be Christmas trees, gifts and of course Santa, maybe even a table with cookies and milk. Santa is going to have a real white beard - none of that fake itchy stuff. Come have fun with us, drink hot coca, eat a Christmas cookie and, best of all, let the kids tell Santa what is on their list. You can find all the details you need and sign up at www.glimpse-photo.com High Country Orchard 8518 E. Green Bluff Road, Colbert Call: 238-9545 Get out of the malls and into the country and visit Santa at his country home without the long lines! Santa will be available for the kids between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays and every day of Christmas break. Cost is $8/child or $25/family. Images delivered online with a full release of copyright. Pre-purchase tickets online or walk-on set with no reservations needed! No Amex cards please, Visa and Mastercard great!

DECEMBER 2016 • 29

Appleway Florist and Greenhouse 11006 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley Call: 924-5050 Saturday, Dec. 3 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appleway Florist and Greenhouse is ready for Christmas and the winter holiday season with poinsettias, festive centerpieces, creative fresh and artificial bouquets, plush animals, plants, balloons and much more. Photo buttons are available in two sizes for $5 or $7. The 5 x 7 inch pictures are $7 or nine wallet size pictures on a sheet for $7. Or bring your own camera and use the fabulous backdrop! Real Life Photography – Rachelle Flatt 707 W. Seventh Ave., Spokane Call: 280-4420 Join us At Real Life Photography for our annual Santa Photo Event by reservation only Dec. 3 and 4 and now Dec. 11. Kids can choose to take a photo with or without Santa. Cookies and a small gift are provided while supplies last.

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30 • DECEMBER 2016

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The Splash

Festive Five – Celebrating the holidays with a quintet of LL locales By Craig Howard Splash Editor It may not be the North Pole, Bedford Falls or even Whoville, but when it comes to the holidays, Liberty Lake has historically prioritized the merriest season of them all. For those shoppers and diners less than enthused about venturing outside of town to complete gift lists and enjoy a plate of seasonal fare, Spokane County’s easternmost city offers a unique variety of shops and restaurants that would leave the Grinch simmering in his stew. Along with saving gas, avoiding traffic and supporting local businesses, a tour of stops in the 99019 neighborhood might just turn into the sort of gift that retains its jingle throughout the year. So, double check your holiday allotment of funds and fun as you venture out for a day of discovery in Liberty Lake during the most wonderful time of the year – and watch out for Santa in his golf cart. Just Chillin’ – Frozen yogurt is only the beginning Where can you find eggnog and peppermint flavored frozen yogurt along with orange cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies and Christmas breads? Just Chillin’ has been part of the Liberty Lake niche food scene since 2011, although new ownership has added a new dimension to the business over the past year. Nicole and Jeremy Staples and Nicole’s parents, Bob and Ronda Gimlen, have brought baked goods to a site that once featured only frozen yogurt. The results have been applauded resoundingly by customers once they free their hands from the food. “Our mission is to serve the most delicious frozen treats and baked goods in the city,” said Bob. “This is definitely a place you can go to get your holiday goodies.” Nicole and Jeremy are responsible for baking the cakes, breads, cupcakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls

DECEMBER 2016 • 31

and cookies that have turned the store into a pastry haven. As Yuletide arives, themed candy, Christmas tree cakes and cupcakes with festive flavors will be on the menu. Traditional sorbets, nondairy sorbets and gelatos can also be found here. A selection of soups will join the roster Dec. 1. “The holidays are a special time for Just Chillin' because we really love our community,” Bob said. “We love to spread holiday cheer by decorating our shop, selling special treats and having a coloring contest for the children who live in the area.” The business, located at 1322 N. Liberty Lake Road, also makes it a point to serve as Santa for several local charities and community events, supporting the Easter Egg Hunt, the Fourth of July Parade in Alpine Shores, and the Holiday Ball. “Liberty Lake is our home and we enjoy celebrating the holidays here,” Bob said. Trailhead at Liberty Lake pro shop – A range of gift ideas for the golfer on your list It has become a holiday tradition for Chris Johnston. In the harried days before Christmas, shoppers drop by the pro shop at the Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course, frantically searching for that lastminute present or stocking stuffer. As a certified PGA teaching pro, Johnston is well-qualified to make proper gift recommendations – and help you with that stubborn hook. “It’s usually people come Johnston said.

that last week, in scrambling,”

From Halloween to the end of the year, the pro shop makes finding deals easier. All clothing is reduced 50 to 75 percent while accessories and golf balls are half off. Clubs are discounted too, meaning a $400 TaylorMade driver can be wrapped up for $284. “This is the time of the year to get golf clubs at a great price,” Johnston said. Gift cards are good for Trailhead’s plush heated, covered driving range, greens fees and anything in the pro shop. Season passes for the region’s most respected executive course run $525 for adults, $425 for adults and $175 for youth up to 17 or still in high school. Unique items like golf bags with local college logos or a Trailhead

hoodie for $10 make the pro shop a worthwhile stop along the holiday shopping trail. The UPS Store – A gift-giving portal Drop by The UPS Store on 1324 N. Liberty Lake Road any day after Thanksgiving and you are bound to see Manager Reeno Walsh scurrying around like one of Santa’s diligent elves. With her friendly demeanor and ready smile, Walsh has a way of helping customers minimize the stress of trying to get presents across the country before Christmas Day. The customer count here doubles from November to December but that seems fine with Walsh. “The holidays are great here,” she said. “We have a lot of fun.” That agenda includes a tray of peppermint bark set out for those waiting in line and holiday classics showing on a nearby screen. For years, the shop has also been a place where kids can bring their hopeful letters to Santa. A dedicated mailbox makes sure correspondences to the North Pole receive first priority. “We try to make sure Santa writes a letter back,” said Allison Wilke, owner of the store. “We all really enjoy the atmosphere in the store in December. It can feel a little manic for us but all the customers are generally in such a festive mood, it's fun.” Pawpular Companions Feline, canine, Auld Ang Sine

–

If your dog or cat is feeling a little left out this time of year, make a trip to Pawpular Companions, Liberty Lake’s specialty store for pets that has become a destination point for humans and animals across the region. Owners Carl and Mara Crowell greet two-legged and four-legged visitors to the store with cheer and insight on the latest in pet supplies. The location at 21950 E. Country Vista opened in 2010 and quickly established a reputation for exceptional customer service. “We selected Liberty Lake for our business because of the amazing animal friendly community it is,” Mara said. “Our primary focus is on animal nutrition, nothing in our shop has corn, wheat, soy or by-product in the ingredient panel. In our opinion, good animal health starts with nutrition and, of course, lots of love. We not only carry food, we have unique toys, treats, accessories and apparel.”

The store makes sure to introduce products with holiday themes so “Fido” and “Fluffy” will have surprises in their holiday stockings. In case you need advice from an employee with front line experience, the Crowell’s adorable poodle, “Canvas,” is usually on site to point you in the right direction. Pawpular Companions stays open on Christmas Eve for deliberate shoppers and, don’t worry, seasonal treats are complimentary for the animals who tag along. “We always look forward to the holiday season,” Mara said. “Historically, it’s been very magical for us and our four-legged companions. We work hard to make sure our customers have the very best and unique products to choose from.” Hay J’s -- A culinary gift for holiday diners When you’ve earned consecutive “Best of Spokane” awards from KREM-TV for “New American” cuisine, you’re probably doing something right. Hay J's Bistro, 21706 E. Mission, sprang upon the culinary scene in 2006 and has been a foodie staple ever since. Co-owners Martin Dean and Rhonda Enter have also added a pair of establishments to the same section near the Harvard Road roundabout – Piccolo, specializing in hand-tossed brick oven pizza and Butcher Block, an old-time butcher shop featuring the area’s finest selection of quality meats, seafood, artisan cheeses and more. “It’s the perfect trifecta of culinary cuisine,” Dean said. “Whether you are looking for a gourmet dinner at Hay J's Bistro, an authentic hand-tossed brick oven pizza or a quality steak or fresh seafood to grill at home, we have it all for you in one convenient location in Liberty Lake.” At Hay J’s, holiday diners are in for a treat courtesy of skilled chef Patrick Fechser. Start with prosciutto wrapped salmon or a seafood Cobb salad and follow it up with exceptional plates like the chicken marsala risotto or bistro medallions. “Holidays are special for Hay J's and our staff because we get to see our extended family, the regulars, and their families who have often traveled from out of town,” Dean said. “It's always nice to get to know one another's families during the holidays.”

The Splash

32 • DECEMBER 2016

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President/CEO Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce The holidays are some of our region’s most treasured times, most notably as families gather to create warm memories and stop to reflect on some of life’s valued treasures. We are fortunate as each holiday seems to be marked with the changes of the four seasons to add an extra highlight to the experience. Winter happens to be one of my personal favorites, however, as Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the many holidays where it seems the community sparkles just a little brighter in anticipation of the gentle pause our community takes with family and loved ones.

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Leading up to these holidays are many great things people can do in our community, including the enjoyment of shopping, dining and special events in the greater Spokane Valley area. There are great amenities that make enjoying the extra cheer brought on by many of our businesses including easy and free parking, easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment throughout the community by I-90

and a wonderful destination at the Spokane Valley Mall offering many of these opportunities in one easy location. Aside from visiting Spokane Valley’s favorite Santa at the Spokane Valley Mall, there are numerous small businesses sprinkled throughout the Spokane Valley that offer unique shopping and dining experiences. All of these small businesses and many more are hosting events throughout the season and will be kicking off the shopping season on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26. For a full list of participating businesses, visit spokanevalleychamber.org. You cannot help but appreciate the thoughtfulness as everyone seems to put extra care in “decking the halls” as you enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the season with family and friends. One of the grandest benefits that result from appreciating the extra care these stores and restaurants offer is that while you enjoy the benefits of their cheer, you are supporting the same employers who throughout the year have invested in our community by supporting our local soccer teams, festivals, organizations, as well as our countless worthy nonprofits in the area to ensure that the quality of the life we have grown to appreciate only continues to thrive. Warmest wishes on these beautiful holidays to you and yours!

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As we near the end of our first year under new leadership, we would like to say “thank you” to all of you for your continued support. We have learned a lot this year co-hosting a candidate forum, creating the 1st Anuual Election Guide, and continuing to support other organizations that benefit our community. We will continue our mission of “Honoring local communities and encouraging citizen involvement” as we look toward 2017.

Here are a few things we have in the works for 2017 • •

1431 N Liberty Lake Rd, Ste B Liberty Lake 99019 www.healthyLivingLL.com

•

In the coming months will be expanded to being delivered directly to 20,000 homes and businesses in the Spokane Valley area. February’s issue will spotlight a special valentine’s section for those of you who would like to send your loved ones personal messages to show how much you care all month long. Due to increases in costs, we will be implementing new pricing for advertising beginning January 2017. We are currently offering advertisers the opportunity to lock in current prices for the next year before these increases take effect. Our sales department would be happy to assist you with all your advertising needs. Call or email scott@libertylakesplash.com We are now offering advertising gift certificates.

The Splash

We, here at The Splash and The Current have been gallivanting around the area in search of tasty morsels to tantalize your taste buds this holiday season when you need a break from the kitchen. Here are our favorite bites from our local eateries that we couldn’t wait to share with you. Max at Mirabeau Restaurant and Lounge 1100 N. Sullivan, Spokane Valley Spokane Valley’s finest dining experience! So good we couldn’t pick just one. Grilled King Salmon with huckleberry glaze, steamed jasmine rice, vegetables Center cut filet mignon (10 ounce) served with a Yukon mash

Barlows 1428 N Liberty Lake Rd, Liberty Lake Go to enjoy traditional American fare. Our favorite is the apple harvest pork chop that they serve with an apple compote. The Cork House 1400 N.Meadowwood Lane, Liberty Lake Serving amazingly fresh food, spirits and coffee suitable for every palette. We enjoyed the grilled ribeye cipollini in balsamic, arugula, Point Reyes bleu and served with mashed Yukon gold potatoes. Bellcrosta 1235 N. Liberty Lake Road, Liberty Lake They hand craft artisanal breads, pastries and desserts, perfect to share with those you love. We especially like their brownies.

DECEMBER 2016 • 33

The Well 21980 E. Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake A locally owned coffee house that serves delicious lettuce wraps to accompany your favorite beverage. Ferraro’s 11204 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley Family owned and operated Italian restaurant The penne with pesto Sauce is perfect after a hard day of retail therapy Ambrosia 9211 E. Montgomery, Spokane Valley Simply put, the Ambrosia Club is delicious. Try the sriracha chicken tacos or sweet potato fries to start. Palenque 1102 N. Liberty Lake Rd., Liberty Lake Local Mexican restaurant overlooking the Trailhead golf course. We shared a tasty combination platter while enjoying a lovely

view.

Conley’s 12622 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley We enjoy their brunch loaded with so many delicious bites we just couldn’t choose. It’s the perfect place to grab a pie to take to any of your holiday functions. Ding How 1332 N. Liberty Lake Rd., Liberty Lake Sushi is all made fresh in front of you by a Japanese trained sushi chef. The lobster roll and the Washington roll are yummy. True Legends 1803 N. Harvard Rd. Liberty Lake Everyone is so nice here, it’s a great place to watch a game while you eat the ribs.

Hallett’s Market and Café 14109 E. Sprague Ave. Spokane Valley A longtime Valley favorite for shopping and eating After eating a grilled mac and cheese, you can find the perfect candy for dessert. Caruso’s 2314 N. Argonne Road., Spokane Valley Known for making pizza dough from scratch daily Our favorites are the Hawaiian and when you’re not in the mood for red sauce try the Legit Forza 325 S. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley BLTA. Delicious. Need we say more?

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The Splash

34 â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2016

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The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 35

A Dozen to Deck the Halls

Valley personalities ring in with holiday sentiments

It’s been said “there’s no place like home for the holidays.” As another festive season dawns, some might say the greater Spokane Valley community is the ideal place to spend a time in which themes of joy, hope and peace seem to turn hearts a little warmer. The Splash and Current caught up with a dozen recognizable residents from fields like education, government, public safety and the nonprofit world to share a unique collection of holiday memories, wishes and traditions. We hope you enjoy the parade. #1 - “During the holiday season one of our traditions is remembering those less fortunate by donating to and volunteering at food banks, helping out the homeless and collecting toys for tots. Also, about this time of the year I carry a couple of jackets in my car to give out to those that are cold and on the streets.” Bryan Collins, Spokane Valley Fire Department chief #2 - “I loved going Christmas shopping at the old University Mall as a kid growing up in the Valley. Walking in through the doors on the Newberry's end and smelling the caramel corn coming from the candy shop.” Kelly Shea, East Valley School District superintendent

#3 - “I look forward to seeing the museum building lit up with Christmas lights every year. I also enjoy seeing the bells from the old University City Mall hung on the outside of the museum and lighting up the night!” Jayne Singleton, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum director

#4 - “One of the holiday traditions we celebrate came down through my wife’s Myrna’s family. We get together with our offspring around the dining room table on Christmas Eve. Myrna then serves all of us oyster stew with oyster crackers. She also serves mincemeat pie for dessert – a pie made out of real minced beef meat.” Bill Gothmann, former Spokane Valley City Council member #5 - “One of my favorite Christmas rituals is making fruitcake. Yes, I’ve heard the jokes, but the lovely, bright, candied fruit baked in sweet dough is my equivalent to Mrs. Cratchit’s Christmas Carol triumph.” Pamela Mogen, Liberty Lake Library director #6 - “Grandchildren are the best presents to have for Christmas. When my children were young, I would have a big baking day or days! Everyone could choose their favorite cookie to bake, decorate and eat, not necessarily in that order. I attempt this with the three grandchildren under 5 years of age. It is chaos! It is fun to have their parents working with them, talking about their memories. Yes, those cookies are shared! These young helpers have their own ideas on Christmas décor. I have a large Santa collection which gets rearranged before they leave for home. It is love, excitement, laughter that makes memories for us all. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and hope for peace in our world.” Peggy Doering, Valleyfest director

#7 - “One of my favorite Christmas memories was my cousin continually running over to the fireplace and looking up the chimney on Christmas Eve and asking when Santa was going to be coming down.” Phil Champlin, HUB Sports Center executive director #8 - “My fondest early city memories were of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the old University City parking lot.” Mike DeVleming, former Spokane Valley mayor #9 - “Diana tinsels our tree every year (I help) and has done so since we were married. We still have tinsel that is the old metal kind and not the new cellophane type. The tree is always beautiful. The other tradition, started when we moved to Spokane Valley in 1978, is shopping for the Tree of Sharing. I help select recipients but Diana shops all year long for toys and clothes which we donate every Christmas. This is a happy yet sad tradition in that we try to make Christmas a little bit happier for kids and young adults but sad that there are so many that ask for so little just to have a Merry Christmas. It's a tradition that we all need to cultivate.” Rick and Diana Wilhite, local business owners (Diana is a former mayor of Spokane Valley) # 10 - “I hope folks will think locally, give locally, volunteer locally, act locally. Put a safety pin on your lapel and be brave.” Ken Briggs, former director, Spokane Valley Partners

# 11 - “On Christmas Eve we decorate cookies and set them out for Santa and when finished we drive throughout the Valley with our family, including our dogs, “Lola” and “Lucky” (we don’t want them eating the cookies!) to look at Christmas lights. We stop by our favorite house on South Steen Lane and then proceed to South Keller Road, where the whole block participates in Christmas lights and decorations. We so appreciate the effort and care these neighbors put into the holiday season. After visiting Keller we zig zag through other neighborhoods in search of other great light displays. By the time we return home the kids are ready for bed and Santa can work his magic.” Ben Small, Central Valley School District superintendent #12 - “My wife Charmaine always cooks prime rib for Christmas dinner. We invite friends in, especially those whose plans or family have changed, to enjoy their company and stories. We believe sharing food and friendship is our best gift ever. Hopefully, you will also find Christmas or another time of year as an opportunity to share your table, a story or just a smile with someone. It makes the perfect year-round gift!” Steve Peterson, Liberty Lake mayor

nd a s a m t s Chri y r r e M fro m s y a d i l Ho Happy T he t a s u all of plash S e k a L L iberty

The Splash

36 • DECEMBER 2016

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Some different versions of The NAME:_________________ Gingerbread Man to enjoy AGE:__________________

Gingerbread Boy , Richard Egielski, 2000. This retelling of the classic takes place in New York City and includes a chase through Central Park. Stop That Pickle, Peter Armour, 2005 A runaway pickle instead of a gingerbread man, this version has a cast of zany characters to keep you giggling. Catch That Cookie, Hallie Durand, 2014.

Coloring Contest Decorate the gingerbread man how you know how. Send it back to us so we can say wow! Entries can be emailed to contests@ libertylakesplash.com or mailed to PO Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Please provide your name, age, and address. Winner will receive a $5 Barnes and Noble Gift card.

The Splash

38 • DECEMBER 2016

I “ don't s'pose anybody on earth likes gingerbread better'n I do-and gets less'n I do.” - Abraham Lincoln 25 Days of Christmas Bucket List

1.Take a Photo a Day 2. Make a Wish List 3. Decorate Christmas Tree 4. Build a Snow Fort 5. Write a Family Newsletter 6. Share Cookies with your Neighbors 7. Drink Hot Chocolate 8. Call an Old Friend 9.Play in the Snow 10. Build a Gingerbread House 11. Bake Cookies 12. Go Ice Skating 13. Make a Christmas Card 14. Make a Gift 15. Sing Christmas Carols 16. Build a Snowman 17. Game Night 18. Read a Christmas Story 19. Watch an Old Christmas Movie 20. Snuggle on the Couch 21. Give someone a Secret Santa Gift 22. Start a New Christmas Tradition 23. Write a Letter to Santa 24. Build a Pillow Fort 25. Get your Christmas Pajamas

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ 39

PACE Trait CARING

Showing a genuine concern for the welfare of others and a being kind, supportive helper Gingerbread Facts

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According to Swedish tradition, you can make Find out about 1327 N. Stanford Lane, Suite B, Liberty Lake all of our events and a wish using gingerbread. First, place the contests on Facebook! 509.891.7070 www.GrowUpSmiling.com gingerbread in your palm and make a wish. Then, break the gingerbread with your other hand. If the gingerbread breaks into three pieces Every month we will feature an information your wish will come true. on a different animal. Cut them out and collect The gingerbread house became popular in them all! Germany after the Brothers Grimm published Caribou (Reindeer) "Hansel and Gretel" in the 19th century. - Arctic Tundra; North Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the first America, Europe, Asia gingerbread man. She liked to have cookies that - 350-700 pounds, 10 looked like her guests at parties. years Some unmarried English women think think - Endangered 3 eating a gingerbread "husband" will bring them species; Barren luck in meeting a real one. ground, Woodland, and Peary Nuremberg, Germany is the "Gingerbread - Buck, Doe, Fawn, Capital of the World" Herd, Bellow King Hans of Sweden received a prescription for - Only deer with gingerbread to cure his depression both genders having In 1875, the American magazine St. antlers. Nicholasville published the gingerbread man - Travel 1600 miles a story containing the line, "You can't catch me I'm year the gingerbread man". - Eats 12 pounds a Most cultures have a story about runaway food. day - Run 40 mph In the 1500's news stories were pressed into the dough. - Excellent swimmer

Animal Facts

The Splash

40 • DECEMBER 2016

Author Spotlight

t t e r B n Ja

Fingerprint Gingerbread Man

You’ll need paper brown Jan was born in 1949 paint and decorations. in Massachusetts where Dip your thumb in she still lives. She studied at the School brown paint for the of the Museum of Fine body. Use your pointer Arts, Boston. She is finger for the head, known for her detailed arms and legs. When illustrations, many of dry, use puffy paint, which have hidden markers or whatever pictures. While traveling you have to decorate with her husband, your gingerbread man. Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Gingerbread Mug Cake Symphony Orchestra, 1 T. Sugar Jan researches the 1 T. Butter cultural clothing, ½ T. Oil traditions and buildings. 1 ½ T. Molasses Then, she uses them ¼ C. Flour for inspirations in her future books. With over 1/8 t. Baking Soda forty million books in 1/8 t. Cinnamon print Jan is one of the 1/8 t. Ginger nation’s premier author 1/8 t. Cloves illustrators of children’s 2 T. Hot Water books.

The 3 Little Dassies, 2010, ages 3-8 This retelling of "The three little pigs" is set in the Namib desert of Africa so it introduces many animals that may be unfamiliar. Mimbi, Pimbi, and Timbi the dassies, are bothered by a pesky eagle who thinks they'd be delicious for supper. Of course, the dassies prevail. This is an interesting version of the old story.

Stir together all ingredients in a microwave safe mug until smooth. Microwave for 90 seconds on high. Check at additional 10 second intervals if it isn’t done. Garnish with whipped cream, frosting or ice cream, your choice.

Gingerbread Baby 1999 ages 3-10 Gingerbread Friends 2008 ages 3-10 Gingerbread Christmas 2016 ages 3-10

This trilogy start with a twist on an old tale, Gingerbread Baby is a kinder version with quite a different ending. Make sure you get a full version. The board book has been edited and is not nearly as engaging. Gingerbread Friends continues the story when Gingerbread Baby goes to town to make friends. When this doesn't work the way he The Owl and the Pussycat, 1996, ages 4-8 expected he has an adventure getting home to This is a beautifully illustrated version of the find a lovely surprise. In Gingerbread Christmas, Edward Lear poem so if you like the poem, you'll the story has Matti baking a gingerbread band and instruments to perform with Gingerbread probably like this book. Baby at the Winter Festival.

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 41

Student of the Month On the volleyball court, the track and in the classroom, Sydney Johnson achieves at an extraordinary level. The senior at Central Valley High School lettered in volleyball all four years and, this season, was named to the All Greater Spokane League first team. She has also participated in club volleyball since the eighth grade. As a junior, Sydney was part of a CV squad that finished seventh in state, the best placement in school history. The Bears won the GSL title her sophomore and junior seasons. She is also a standout in track in the pole vault and high jump. As a sophomore, she placed third at state in the high jump. On the academic side, Sydney maintains a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She will continue her volleyball career on scholarship at Dixie State University next fall.

Citizen of the Month

& Thanks you for all you do in our community

Down the road, Jacob Hermes would like to be a dentist. For now, the senior at Central Valley High School remains focused on academic excellence and exceptional play on the soccer pitch. Hermes maintains a 3.87 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. Since his junior year, he has been part of the Running Start program at Eastern Washington University. Next fall, he will enroll at Carroll College in Helena, Montana where he has been honored with the Presidential Scholarship. Hermes will suit up for his fourth year of soccer at CV in the spring. Last season, he contributed to the Bears’ runner-up state finish as a letter winner. Jacob also lettered in community service as a junior. He has served as a mentor and aid at Greenacres Elementary, helped with the CV food drive and stepped up as a youth soccer referee.

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Athlete of the Month Jason Spinden joined the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course committee for the Navy installation in Town Square Park and had been with the group ever since. Spinden is a master chief petty officer in the Navy and has served as a Nuclear Electronics technician, Navy diver, and submariner since enlisting in 1994. As a member of Kaiser Aluminum’s Community Involvement Outreach Team for the past four years, Spinden has chaired support for Spokane Valley Partners and been involved in supporting Mobius, Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, Boy Scouts of America and Project Warm-up with Avista. Jason also volunteers for his church, ONE* Spokane and as a leader with Cub Scouts. A resident of Liberty Lake since 2007, Spinden and his wife, Jennifer, are parents to two children, Kate and Will.

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42 • DECEMBER 2016 Brought to you by

About and for Liberty Lake seniors

Persistence, hard work pay off for ‘Hook’

for a turnaround that helped him find freedom from substance use as well as newfound stability on a personal and professional level. “I go to God for a lot, especially patience,” John said. Pointing to his transformed arm, John describes it as “a minor inconvenience, not a handicap.” He uses vice grips and other implements as compensation when the job requires. Sometimes, his hook comes in handy, such as when he needs to lift an engine at a challenging angle.

By Craig Howard Splash Editor

Nestled in a well-maintained lot off Dishman-Mica Road in Spokane Valley, you’ll find John Christensen toiling away on classic Volkswagen cars in need of restoration. Back in 1998, the owner and proprietor of Hook’s Auto Repair Plus began his own remarkable rehabilitation process after a near fatal motorcycle wreck. Christensen was just outside Colville aboard a Harley Davidson bike he had just rebuilt when the crash took place. He was flown by LifeFlight to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he spent 21 days in intensive care, followed by six months in a wheelchair. Doctors told him he would never walk again. For Christensen, the most difficult fallout from the incident had to do with the loss of his left arm below the elbow. As an auto mechanic, the chances of restarting his career appeared slim. “I’d worked with my hands my entire life and suddenly I’m missing a hand,” he said. “I was very, very depressed,” John said. “It took me awhile to come to grips with things.”

“I’ve learned to adapt,” John said. Hook’s prides itself in working with only the highest quality parts and making sure, in John’s words, “to do it right the first time.”

John Christensen lost part of his left arm in a motorcycle accident in 1998, but forged on to open Hook’s Auto Repair Plus, a successful repair shop in Spokane Valley specializing in air-cooled Volkswagen engines.Photo by Craig Howard Over time, John began tinkering on cars again in his garage. A referral to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) got the ball rolling on a business loan that would eventually launch the auto shop he would coin “Hook’s,” a reference to the prosthesis attached to what remained of his left arm. “I’m not a quitter,” said Christensen, a Navy veteran. “I’d heard that there might be some funding available to start your own business.”

Christensen first learned how to work on Volkswagen cars in the 1970s while working at an auto repair shop in San Diego. Photo by Craig Howard

Along with providing the capital to open Hook’s, DVR referred John to the micro-enterprise program at SNAP, Spokane County’s community action agency. By June 2009, Hook’s was operating as a repair shop specializing in aircooled VW engines. “I’ve always been really impressed by John’s motivation to get back on track,” said Dave Heyamoto, now retired as SNAP’s Business Development counselor. “He’s shown a lot of persistence.” John credits his Christian faith

Christensen, whose friends call him “Hook,” said he learned his work ethic growing up on a farm in the northern California town of Eureka. From milking cows to bailing hay, there wasn’t much time for watching television. In high school, he excelled in Future Farmers of America and participated in football and wrestling. He also began working on cars. When he graduated, Christensen signed up with the Navy. It made sense considering his family’s connection to the sea. His greatgrandfather, originally from Oslo, Norway, served as captain of a schooner that delivered cargo up and down the West Coast.

See HOOKS, Page 53

Christensen opened Hook’s Auto Repair Plus in 2009 on Dishman-Mica Road with help from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and SNAP. Photo by Craig Howard

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DECEMBER 2016 • 43

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SPORTS

44 • DECEMBER 2016

Sports Notebook By Mike Vlahovich

Splash Sports Editor In one respect, fall sports proved kind to Central Valley. All five teams qualified for the post season. Unfortunately, only Central Valley’s cross country teams advanced to the state meets with the Bears boys placing second and the girls taking fourth. The football team (7-3) finished second to Gonzaga Prep, the defending 4A champs were the cause of CV’s only Greater Spokane

CV senior harrier Nelson soars to third place at state By Mike Vlahovich

Splash Sports Editor Kearan Nelson says she was “completely shocked.” During three previous state cross country appearances, her times had been relatively pedestrian. Her fourth trip to Pasco was a revelation in part because summer was no vacation. “She’s been good from day one,” Central Valley coach Dennis McGuire says. “But she went from good to great this summer by deciding to be great.” Nelson had run in the shadow of now-graduated teammate Briegan Bester for much of her career, but now has written her own name in Bears’ distance running lore with a third-place finish at the state 4A cross country meet on Nov. 5. Her time of 18:02.8 was a remarkable 42.6 seconds faster and 20 places higher than 2015. And while improvement can generally be expected, it wasn’t until this summer that Nelson realized her potential and took her game to another level. It came on the heels of a running camp that gave her the mental and physical tools to excel and take distance running beyond high school. “I never took it seriously until last summer,” Nelson said. “I took a hard look at myself to say whether

League loss. But the Bears were beaten 37-0 by Richland in a state play-in game. The surprising volleyball team was hanging by a thread until an upset over Gonzaga Prep on the league’s final night sent them to the district playoffs as second seed. The Bears, however, exited the post season after losses to Pasco and upstart Ferris. And the slowpitch softball team reached the GSL playoffs, albeit finishing fourth in league and missing the tourney finals, a rare happenstance.

Bears rattled off seven straight victories under first-year coach Ryan Butner. But the team fell short in the last two games losing 28-19 to Gonzaga Prep in the GSL title game and getting rattled by Richland in the game for state. Richland won the next week 41-0 to advance to the 4A semifinals. CV’s Braedon Orrino was the GSL rushing leader with 1,101 yards and 14 touchdowns. Conner DeGeest threw for 1,684 yards and 13 TDs . Tough ending in volleyball

After a season-opening loss, the

The volleyball squad came close, but ultimately wound up derailed during regional play.

I wanted to continue as a runner. I realized it was something I was going to try.”

track and field this spring as well as a leg of the 1,600 relay when necessary.

And thus, a week after the state meet, Nelson has committed to continue her running career at Brigham Young University where brothers, including ex-CV cross country state competitor Collin, attend.

“It was just an amazing turn around,” McGuire said. “She’s the best runner I’ve ever had.”

Solid season in football

He even went so far as to compare her to school record holder, national

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Looking to be the last GSL playoff team after losing to University, the Bears beat Gonzaga Prep which had appeared to secure second place. Instead, the team stunned the Bullpups in straight sets to share second and take the regional second seed by virtue of the victory. Sydney Johnson had 14 kills, Hannah Wampler and Elise Peck each had 17 assists. Sami Smith and Paige VanMatre shared digs and Sarah Fotheringham had five blocks. But post season was a different story. Both matches went to five sets with CV losing both by 1512 and 15-13 scores to end the season.

and international star Annette (Hand) Peters who graduated in 1983 and was inducted into the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2015. ”That’s a big deal,” McGuire said. Indeed.

The Nelson clan moved to Spokane Valley from Tennessee when Kearan was in eighth grade. Although the family was soccer oriented, she started running because her brothers had. She said she didn’t know what to expect during her first state experience. As a freshman, she was a member of a Bears’ team that took home the fourth place trophy. She finished 40th over 5,000 meters that year in 19:16.51. “It was probably one of my biggest races up to that point,” she said. The next year her time and place were worse, in part attributed to illness. Last year she improved to 23rd at 18:45.4. The summer’s camp experience produced the mental breakthrough. She also ran 500 miles gaining endurance that led to her breakthrough time and another fourthplace team team trophy. She said her strategy was to race with the lead pack then “go with the flow.” She ultimately finished 29 seconds behind the champion and nine seconds away from second. “I always knew I was good,” Nelson says. “It was this summer when I mentally broke through.” Nelson will run anything from 800-through-3,200 meter races in

Central Valley senior Kearan Nelson placed third at the state 4A cross country meet last month in Pasco. The CV girls earned the fourth-place team trophy. Photo by John Hunter

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CV boys parlay dedicated training to runner-up state trophy

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor A couple of years ago, there were rumblings about a group of middle school runners in the Central Valley School District who had run impressive distance times. Those years have passed and the future is now. Those youngsters were instrumental in early November when the Bears finished second as a team in the State 4A cross country meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. There was only one senior on the seven-person team. Four were sophomores. “Those four sophomores are some of the most dedicated (runners) I’ve ever had,” Bears coach Kieran Mahoney said. “They are very talented and not afraid to work hard. It’s a group that has all the tools to be successful.” The team not only benefit from youth, but even better the Bears had inordinate depth. “We had 10 solid guys and I could move them around depending upon the meet,” Mahoney said.

Final Point

Introducing the new and perplexing prep playoff format By Mike Vlahovich

Splash Sports Editor This is my favorite time of the year and I don’t mean the weather. Basketball is underway. And it will be a focal point this year since all Valley coaches except for Jay Humphrey at West Valley, didn’t have to wait until the extensive football and girls’ soccer playoffs come to an end. Revisiting a topic I wrote about earlier, the trials and tribulations of basketball state tournaments – “tah dah” – I give you the latest

SPORTS

Sophomore Ryan Kline led the contingent in Pasco placing 14th. Other sophomores were Evan Peters, Joey Nicholls and Sheamus Mahoney, the coach’s son. Junior Gabe Romney finished seven seconds behind Kline in 17th. Fellow junior Fielding Demars and senior Ryan Hunter rounded out the team. Senior Isaac Nichols suffered a hip injury during the season. Will Grassel and freshman Tyler Hunter, Calvin Whybrew and Derek Holloway got into varsity races. Youth combined with Mahoney’s altered approach to summer

training were the stepping stones to this year’s second place effort. “I never had a group have a better summer that this group,” Mahoney said. They put in mileage, but beyond that, added challenging workouts that included scaling area hills to not only improve cardio, but strengthen their legs as well. “Our goal was to start off this season already in racing shape,” Mahoney explained. “The cross country season is too short. We trained in June, July and August to get ready for racing. It worked out

DECEMBER 2016 • 45

really well.” Runners improved their times by over a minute, he said, and the state place validated his workout regimen. “It was fun getting second place, but it was almost like they expected it.” Already, he added, they are anxious for track to start and can’t wait until next year. “They are ahead of schedule,” Mahoney continued. “I really believe we got second because of June, July and August. Next thing is what are they going to do with that talent.”

The Central Valley boys cross country squad finished second in the 4A ranks at the state meet last month. The Bears had only one senior among their top seven. Photo by John Hunter

incarnation with its inherent bells and whistles; that is if anyone can figure it out. Earlier, a Greater Spokane League coach in one breath said coaches he had talked to were excited for the format. Later, in the same breath he said, the system has many flaws. Let’s see if I can make heads or tails of this for you. First the glitz. Like the NCAA nationals, teams will use a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) to determine tournament pairings instead of drawing out of a hat (Let’s call this the “CV-Moses Lake Rule” when, embarrassingly, the two unbeaten teams were pitted against each other right out of the chute, thus denying them a dream title matchup and excuses had to be answered.) A total of 16 teams will qualify for state in a somewhat normal way, first through district and regional play and then based on

seeding by the RPI. Twenty-five percent of the criteria is based upon your team’s win-loss record, 50 percent on the opponents’ win-loss records and another 25 percent based on the winloss record of your opponent’s opponents. Got that? In my mind, that favors the west side where there are more schools and the likelihood of better competition and, like local coaches say, puts the Greater Spokane League at a disadvantage because most of their games come within the league which will hurt in the 50 percent criteria. The 16-team regional round pits the top eight seeds against each other in a double-elimination format that eliminates four of the lowest eight teams. A dozen move on to state seeded by the RPI with the four regional winners getting byes, the losers moving on as well to fill the bracket 12. The winners

of those games advance to the state quarterfinals against the top four seeds. Still with me? The eight remaining teams play for six trophies and will have played four or five games. Let’s use defending champion CV girls as an example. They should win the eight-game regional firstround game and earn a first round bye at state. If the tourney were to go according to form, the Bears would play in order the numbers seven and four teams in the quarterfinals and semis and two seed for the title. The entire process will require an extra day to play, which hits the WIAA in the wallet, but maybe the excitement of the new format will generate that added revenue. Let’s give the new look a chance hope for the best-case scenario. Or will it just be lipstick on the pig of tourney formats past?

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46 • DECEMBER 2016

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HISTORY

DECEMBER 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ 47

The left side of the photo collage is a 1915 color postcard of the southeast end of Liberty Lake. The real photo Christmas ornaments from top to bottom are: Ronnie Knudsen exuberant about the snow in the hills above Liberty Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southeast-side, circa 1950. Leslie and Larry Blair enjoying the wonders of the Christmas tree, circa 1949. Miss Skok assisted by the breeze, skating near the Liberty Lake Dance Pavillion, circa 1944. Photos courtesy of the Liberty Lake Historical Society

The Splash

48 • DECEMBER 2016

Reflections from the Lake By Katy Allen

E A RN

Liberty Lake is a special place. Like your favorite pair of shoes that you’ve kept over the ages, Liberty Lake is such a “comfortable” place to live; we never wanted to try out a new style, a new color or a different fit. I think everyone who has chosen Liberty Lake as their home has done so for a variety of reasons. For my husband, Randy, and I, in 1983, it boiled down to the location, the golf courses and the schools. Randy worked in Post Falls and I worked in Spokane, so Liberty Lake was convenient to I-90. For those of you who know my husband - simply stated - he likes to golf. Our two sons, Paul and Jeff, were in first and third grade at the time, so Greenacres Elementary, Greenacres Middle School and then Central Valley High School provided that perfect education and sports combination and Liberty Lake provided a great place to catch crawdads on late summer nights. What is more telling though, are the questions as to why we stayed over the years and eventually chose to retire here. So here is my perspective… Liberty Lake is dynamic. It has expanded since the early 1900s, using smart principals for growth, infrastructure and financial sustainability. This is a winning combination for any city. From the decision to install a sewer system in the 1970s to clean up the lake, to the planned unit developments envisioned in the mid-1980s, construction of Meadowwood Golf Course and the trail system in the 1990s to the decision to incorporate in 2001 – all of these milestones have resulted in a progressive community with high quality of life standards.

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Liberty Lake is a beautiful place. Not just the trees, parks and landscapes with mountains nestled in the background but the people, activities, events and volunteers.

Liberty Lake offers a variety of lifestyle options. If your preference is a small house, a big house, an apartment, duplex, townhome or a condominium, there are plenty of choices. If you want a big yard, no yard, or a yard your HOA takes care of, we have that also! And as you age, there are more and more senior living choices. This variety provides a diversity of lifestyle opportunities. Liberty Lake is convenient and close to everything. With easy access to Spokane to the west and Coeur d’Alene to the east, shopping and dining options are bountiful. And when I need my “big city” fix or Randy wants to golf in the winter, the outside world is only 30 minutes away with a flight from Spokane International Airport to anywhere we want to go. Liberty Lake has more and more services. Dining, health care, pharmacy, gas and banking services are so much appreciated. It wasn’t that long ago I remember having to drive to Sullivan to get groceries. Liberty Lake is not perfect – and that is OK by me. We are getting traffic backups in the early morning and late afternoon downtown and frequently we have another car stopped in front of us at a stop sign nowadays. And sometimes we have graffiti painted on the skate park or someone will take their dog for a walk without a plastic bag. But, in the realm of what is really important in life, the concerns of this pale in the gravity of this community’s value. Just this week, I met a Liberty Lake resident who lives in Bitterroot, has worked here since 1983 and just moved to a new office along Appleway. When mentioning the backup along Appleway, she shared, “This is Liberty Lake, drivers will just let you in!” For me - this said it all! Katy Allen has served as city administrator in Liberty Lake since 2012. Previously, she spent nearly 35 years in the public works sector, including jobs as city engineer of San Jose, California and director of public works in Bremerton, Washington. She and her husband, Randy, are parents to two sons, and have called the Liberty Lake area home for the past 33 years.

The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 49

SVFD Report – December 2016 From Splash News Sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 50 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from Oct. 18 through Nov. 13. The list included: • Emergency medical service calls - 29 • Motor vehicle accidents – 9 • Fires – 4 • Service calls – 2 • Building alarms – 5 • Hazardous materials - 1 *Service area for SVFD Station #3 in Liberty Lake Alarm System – Oct. 21 – Shortly before 4 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a smoke alarm activation in the 23300 block of East Knox Avenue. A false alarm was confirmed prior to arrival. The alarm was triggered by a fog machine in use for a Halloween party. SVFD crew members assisted in resetting the alarm and clearing the fog from the structure.

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Motor Vehicle Accident – Oct. 28 – Shortly before 3:30 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a lowspeed motor vehicle accident on I-90 eastbound, just past the Appleway on ramp. The driver had minor injuries and refused ambulance transport. The driver’s mother arrived on scene and provided transportation to the hospital for her daughter. Vehicle Fire – Nov. 1 – SVFD crews responded to the 23900 block of East Valleyway Avenue shortly before 7:30 a.m. They found a vehicle on fire in a parking lot near other vehicles and about 100 feet from the nearest building. The fire was in the engine compartment. Crews quickly ran a hose line and extinguished the fire. Motor Vehicle Accident – Nov. 1 – At 5:45 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported motor vehicle accident near 1201 N. Liberty Lake Road. The driver told SVFD crew members that he had been in a motor vehicle accident one month prior and the current accident had reinjured his back. The driver refused ambulance transport. Service Call – Nov. 4 – SVFD

crews responded to the 1300 block of North Liberty Lake Road for a reported water problem shortly after 11:15 a.m. The manager reported a leak in the fire sprinkler system. SVFD crew members quickly worked to stop the water leak. They then put the retail facility on fire watch until the equipment representative arrived on the scene to repair and test the sprinkler system.

suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, swift water rescue, fire investigation, fire prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fire safety training. The department also offers free home fire safety inspections and smoke detectors. For more information call 928-1700 or visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

Fire Investigation – Nov. 8 – Crews responded to a report of smoke in the 22800 block of Settler Drive shortly after 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they searched but did not find smoke. About SVFD - Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Valley and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park, and the area surrounding Liberty Lake, with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles. In 2015, SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 15,800 emergency calls. Established in 1940, the Department operates 10 stations providing fire

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50 â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2016

LOCAL LENS

The Splash

Local Lens

Share your snapshots for The Splashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo page. Email photos@libertylakesplash.com with scenes from around town, community events and Splash Travels.

Unseasonably warm autumn weather found many local residents enjoying the outdoors last month. Clockwise, from upper left: Employees at Sarah Hamilton FACE celebrated the premier medical spa's grand opening at their new site in Liberty Lake; walkers stroll on the leaf-strewn sidewalks near Rocky Hill Park; fall leaves soak in the sunshine along the Centennial Trail and SCOPE volunteers pitch in at the Otis Orchards Fire Station #4 open house on Nov. 4.

The Splash

LLSWD facility honored with prestigious state award From Splash News Sources

The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District’s (LLSWD) water reclamation facility has received the Washington state Department of Ecology’s Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant award for 2015. This is the sixth time that LLSWD has received the award following recognition in 1997, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. LLSWD General Manager BiJay Adams said the honor is a result of the outstanding work of Water Reclamation Facility Chief Operator Dan Grogg, Facility Operators Darrell Gamble and Chad Jennings, and Sewer Collection System Operator Derek Nesbitt. The award represents a perfect record in meeting the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements for discharging to the Spokane River. “This achievement is difficult to achieve and takes a great deal of work and dedication,” Adams said. The Department of Ecology announced in October that 19 Washington wastewater treatment plants had achieved the rank of “clean water super stars” for 2015 recognizing perfect performance for clean, healthy water. Below is a list of other awards the LLSWD water reclamation facility and its operators have received: 1997 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology 2002 – District of the Year Award for Industry Achievement and Meritorious Service – Washington State Association of Sewer and Water Districts 2006 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology

DECEMBER 2016 • 51

2006 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Innovation Solutions Recognition – Washington State Department of Ecology 2008 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology 2009 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology 2010 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology 2010 – Dan Grogg Operator of the Year Award – Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association 2011 – Award for three consecutive years of Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance – Washington State Association of Sewer and Water Districts 2015 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award – Washington State Department of Ecology

Contributed photo That Washington state Department of Ecology’s has honored the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District’s water reclamation facility (WRF) with the Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant award for the sixth time. Pictured above, from left to right: WRF Operator Chad Jennings, WRF Chief Operator Dan Grogg, Ecology Compliance Specialist Michael Hepp, Sewer Collection System Operator Derek Nesbitt and LLSWD General Manager BiJay Adams.

Does my mom have options besides dentures? A patient of mine who wore dentures once told me how she chose what to order from a restaurant menu. Her question was not, “What looks delicious?” It wasn’t even, “What would be healthy for me?” Instead, she was looking to order the few limited items that she knew she could chew. Her life changed dramatically when we were able to replace her dentures with dental implants instead. While dentures give you about 25% the chewing power of normal teeth, implants provide an actual replacement for natural missing teeth and restore over 90% chewing power. Secured in the gum or jaw, this method of placement makes them the most natural tooth replacement system. In short, they look and feel like your own teeth. You even care for them as you would your natural teeth. While dentures can be initially more affordable, their removable nature not only makes them less reliable, but less functional as well. Dentures require maintenance and care that is both time-consuming and potentially costly over time. We would be happy to visit with you or your loved ones about whether dental implants are right for you.

— Dr. Timothy J. Casey

Liberty Lake resident Member, American Dental Association

OPINION

52 â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2016

About the Opinion Page The Splash opinion page is intended to be a community forum for discussing local issues. Please interact with us by sending a letter to the editor or Liberty Lake Voices guest column for consideration.

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Letters to the editor of no more than 350 words or guest columns of about 700 words should be e-mailed to editor@libertylakesplash.com or mailed to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. A full name and telephone number must be included for purposes of verification. A photo of the author must be taken or provided for all guest columns. The Splash reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. Business complaints or endorsements will not be accepted, and political endorsement letters will only be accepted if they interact with issues of a campaign. Views expressed in signed columns or letters do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or its staff. Editorials, which appear under the heading "Splash Editorial," represent the voice of The Splash and are written by Publisher Ben Wick.

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The Splash

DECEMBER 2016 • 53

HOOKS EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Continued from page 42

Ben Wick

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He eventually settled in Eureka after retiring from his ship. One of Christensen’s uncles has his handmade boats displayed in the community’s maritime museum while another uncle piloted a tugboat. Christensen entered the Navy in 1971 with the Vietnam War occupying America’s attention. He served on a submarine based in San Diego that made routine trips to the Vietnam Harbor as well as the Philippines, Hong Kong and Okinawa, Japan.

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While Christensen emerged from Vietnam in one piece, others he knew did not. One of his best friends from high school was killed when his helicopter was shot down upon his arrival in the war-torn country. “I was on the submarine when I heard about it,” Christensen said. “I try not to dwell on those memories.” After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1976, Christensen settled in San Diego, earning his two-year degree from a tech school and finding work at a repair shop that specialized in British imports. It was there that he discovered Volkswagen, the brand that would become his career niche. “It’s really a simple car but the quality is phenomenal,” he said. In 1979, Christensen migrated back to his hometown where he remained for three years before heading north to Vancouver, Washington. A trip to the Inland Northwest in 1990 left such an impression that he decided to relocate to Ione two years later. He later settled on a farm in Colville where he opened a VW repair shop off I-395. While Christensen dodges questions about his age – “I tell people I’m 59-plus, that should be enough” – he doesn’t avoid opportunities to help those in need. Whether it’s surprising a food bank with a donated truck, delivering food to homebound seniors or rallying to support residents in Okanagan County displaced by the Carlton Complex fire in 2014, Christensen says serving others helps him stay in tune with a stabilizing set of values. “It’s just the right thing to do,” he said. “I know I’m helping someone else get through a tough time. It makes me more humble.”

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Index of advertisers

Following are the local advertisers in this issue of The Splash. Adorkable Flowers and Gifts 36 Amaculate Housekeeping 13 Anytime Fitness 26 Banner Furnace & Fuel 4 BECU 12 Casey Family Dental 51 City of Liberty Lake 3 Coldwell Banker - Rob Brickett 14 Cornerstone Penecostal Church 16 Custom Fit Lighting 5 Evergreen Fountain 43 Family Medicine Liberty Lake 10 Fogle Pump 30 Friends of Pavillion Park 21 Great Clips 54 Greenstone 46 Hallett’s Market and Cafe 27 Healthy Living 25, 32 Highlands Day Spa 26

Horizon Credit Union 48 John L Scott-Pam Fredrick 11 Kealee Geise 34 KiDDS Dental 39 Kiwanis of Liberty Lake 49 Kiwanis of Spokane Valley 25 Liberty Cross Minitries 34 Liberty Lake Community Theatre 35 Liberty Lake EyeCare Center 30 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Liberty Lake Municipal Library 17 Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 13 Liberty Lube 19 Lift 15 Mary Sloan 41 Northern Quest 56 Palenque 36 Papa Tom’s Christmas Tree Farm 22 Pawpular Companions 30

Salon Capello-Alisha Fenton 16 Sarah Hamilton FACE 36 SCRAPS 34 Simonds Dental Group 41, 56 Spokane Realty-Courtney Hanks 16 Spokane Roofing 15 Spokane Symphony Associates 29 Stauffer and Associates 3 Stolp Vision Clinic 4 Thrivent Financial 54 Tracy Jewelers 49 Union Gospel Mission 22 Uplift Church 33 Weishaar, Sue Weishaar D.D.S. 46 Willow Song Music Therapy 22 WindowWorks 54 Service Directory 54

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54 • DECEMBER 2016

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The Splash

Cubs’ pitching heroes began road to World Series crown in Spokane

ON THAT NOTE

Rangers) to the Cubs in 2012. Little did they know they would be part of what Tim Kurkjian of ESPN called “the greatest game in baseball history” four years later. For its part, Cleveland was vying for its first series crown since 1948. Hulett said Kurkjian has a point.

By Craig Howard Splash Editor

When Carl Edwards Jr. of the Chicago Cubs took the ball to begin the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series last month, his task was simple: Record three outs against the Cleveland Indians and snap a 108year losing streak for baseball’s toughest luck franchise. From his living room in Shreveport, Louisiana, Tim Hulett watched Edwards Jr. go through the same motions he had four years earlier as a member of the Spokane Indians. Hulett served as the first pro manager for the South Carolina native who would earn the kitschy nickname of “String Bean Slinger” due to his slight frame. Hulett, however, saw more from the 48th round draft pick. “He was very thin but you knew there was something there,” said Hulett. “He was laid back, but when he pitched, he was an ultracompetitor.” Edwards Jr. made 10 starts for Spokane in the summer of 2012, compiling a stellar 2.10 earned run average. “The thing I remember about Carl is he had a really loose arm but he had a big-league breaking ball,” Hulett said. As the Indians’ skipper for the past decade, Hulett often watches games on television as he would from the dugout, postulating strategy, making pretend pitching moves. When his former pitcher was announced, however, Hulett went quickly from quasi-coach to Cubs’ rooter. “Before that, I was managing the game, but when Carl came in, I became 100-percent fan, just cheering him on, wanting him to succeed and the Cubs to succeed,” he said. Edwards Jr. took care of the first two Cleveland batters in his historic appearance before being lifted for former Seattle Mariner Mike Montgomery. When Cleveland’s Michael Martinez bounced out to Cubs’ third baseman Kris Bryant,

DECEMBER 2016 • 55

Kyle Hendricks, starter for Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series, began his pro baseball career in Spokane after being picked in the eighth round of the amateur draft in 2011. Photo courtesy of the Spokane Indians the Cubs had an 8-7 win and an exuberant conclusion to a drought that had stretched out for more than a century. “You feel good for that organization because you know all they’ve been through and how hard they’ve worked to get where they’re at,” Hulett said. “For them to be down three games to one and to turn it around was amazing. My heart just sank for them early in that series. I felt like if they could get a win at home, they could come back.” Hulett was never exactly a dyed in the wool Cubs’ supporter, having grown up a St. Louis Cardinals fan and spending part of his 12year Major League career with the crosstown rival White Sox. Despite the bleak history, Hulett says he admires Cubs’ fans who never stopped believing. “Cubs fans hadn’t won for years, but they stayed on that train,” he said. Followers of the lovable losers from Chicago’s North Side were feeling confident when Kyle Hendricks was penciled in as the starter for arguably the most critical game in franchise history. As Hendricks prepared for his first pitch in front of nearly 39,000 fans at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Hulett hearkened back to the composure the Newport, California native carried as a rookie with the Spokane Indians in 2011. “I felt good about Kyle being the starter in that seventh game,” Hulett said. “His demeanor is so calm and relaxed, you just feel good about him being out there.” When Hendricks arrived in the Inland Northwest as an eighth-

Carl Edwards Jr. played his first year of professional baseball as a member of the Spokane Indians in 2012. Edwards pitched in relief during the final inning of Game 7 for the Cubs and recorded a 3.65 earned run average in 36 appearances this season. Photo courtesy of the Spokane Indians round draft pick from Dartmouth College, he was soon being called “The Professor” for his intellectual approach. The moniker has stuck with the Ivy Leaguer ever since. “His pitching ability was off the charts,” Hulett said. “He was just that steady, consistent guy. It was fun to talk to him because he really had a feel for setting up hitters.” Hendricks was utilized entirely out of the bullpen during his first pro campaign. His ability to shut down hitters – a 1.93 earned run average in 20 games – was a prelude to the success he would have in the big leagues. In 2016, Hendricks led all National League hurlers with a 2.16 ERA. “I think all along, the organization had him down as a starter,” Hulett said. “A lot of times, though, guys who come out of college, depending on the number of innings they’ve pitched, they’re going to limit those guys on the number of pitches they throw.” The determination and poise Hendricks displayed in nearly five innings on baseball’s biggest stage were reminiscent of the traits he was known for at Avista Stadium on Spokane Valley’s western fringe, Hulett says. “He was the exact same guy you saw in the World Series,” he said. “Hasn’t changed a bit. He just had that confidence, never seemed rattled. He is more polished in terms of sinking his fastball and cutting his fastball really well. His velocity is about the same, though he may be throwing a little faster now.” Both Hendricks and Edwards were traded from the Indians (the shortseason single-A team of the Texas

“I would have to agree, especially in the sense that it’s the seventh game of the World Series,” he said. “If that was a regular season game, it would have been a great game but when you’re talking about the last game of the World Series with these two franchises, it’s easy to elevate it.” Hulett says he enjoys following the trajectory of former Indians who progress through the minor leagues and eventually reach the majors. “There’s been quite a few,” he said. “Obviously, a lot for the Rangers but other teams as well. You start saying, ‘I remember that guy’ and go back to when they were playing in Spokane. It’s kind of fun.” The longest tenured manager in the Indians’ 114-year history says he does talk about his time in “the show” to his roster. Hulett compiled a .249 career average with the White Sox, Orioles and Cardinals in 720 games. Keeping the dream alive is not a negative, he says, even though only about 7 percent of minor leaguers will ever play an inning in the big leagues. “It’s very difficult to make it but I think it’s good to talk about it, because until you actually go through it, you don’t know what to expect,” Hulett said. “You’re trying to help these guys realize that everything counts, both on the field and off the field.” Otto Klein, senior vice president of the Spokane Indians, says the Inland Northwest’s favorite baseball team is proud of two franchise alumni that helped pave the way to an historic crown. “We have great memories of both Kyle and Carl when they played for the Indians,” Klein said. “At that stage of their careers, both were very quiet, but definitely had confidence. We’re thrilled for their success and happy to know they were once Spokane Indians. I imagine they have fond memories of playing here in Spokane and starting their careers.” Now Edwards and Hendricks can add “World Series champions” to their baseball resumes, a claim that no Chicago Cub has been able to make in a very long time.

The Splash

56 • DECEMBER 2016

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