February 2017 Splash

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Love, Laughter and happily ever after

Refined Romance: True stories of how love and marriage have withstood the test of time page 12

LEGACY RIDGE TENUOUS OVER TRAIL PAGE 4

THE LATEST ON WINTER ROADS PAGE 9

LOVE NOTES PAGE 31

2 • FEBRUARY 2017

NEWS

The Park Bench

Five-Star Service – Brickner contributes to council, LLPD, community

By Craig Howard Splash Editor When Shane Brickner ran for the Liberty Lake City Council in 2011 on a platform of community involvement, he was already walking the talk.

The graduate of Shadle Park High and Eastern Washington University had been volunteering as a reserve officer with the Liberty Lake Police Department since 2006, establishing himself as a reliable, trusty supplement to the force. Just two months before the general election in 2011, Brickner literally went the extra mile at the inaugural Liberty Lake Relay for Life fundraiser, walking 17 hours straight to generate funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society. He had also served as the president of the Eastside Little League.

In another gesture of support, Brickner founded and facilitated a local chapter of GriefShare in part to help him cope with the loss of his brother, Greg, who had died in 2007 after an assault. The group, which is still meeting at Real Life Church, provides hope and encouragement to those who have lost loved ones.

A bid for the city’s governing board seemed the next logical transition for Brickner who conducted a thoughtful and thorough campaign against another first-time candidate, Keith Kopelson. Despite the considerable stakes, both council hopefuls took the high road, opting to address the issues facing the city instead of resorting to personal critiques.

“If I can get involved and bring ideas to the table to help for the greater good of the city then that is where I belong,” Brickner told The Splash in a June 2011 election preview story.

By the time the final votes were counted that autumn, Bricker had earned a seat at the dais, winning by the narrow margin of 77 votes.

He recalls the first year on council consisting of “a lot of learning and

Spokane native Shane Brickner was elected to the Liberty Lake City Council in November 2011, edging out Keith Kopelson by 77 votes. He won re-election in 2015 and now serves as mayor pro tem.

Photo by Craig Howard a lot of reading.” Any potential conflict of interest with his role at LLPD was addressed by a special ordinance and Brickner agreeing to abstain from any vote that involved the police department.

Brickner and his wife Jamie moved to Liberty Lake in 2004. They are parents of three kids in a blended family. Even before transitioning to Liberty Lake, Brickner had known the city’s mayor, Steve Peterson for years through their shared circles in the pharmaceutical sales business.

Brickner has risen in the industry over the years, now serving as a regional sales manager.

Brickner’s professional trail began on the west side of the state in Oak Harbor after he applied to the city’s police department while still a student at EWU. He’d sent in a resume more as a way to test the job market but was offered a position and stayed for two years before returning to Cheney where he completed his degree in 1999.

Brickner credits his father in helping him develop the stellar work ethic and assertiveness that would come to characterize his life and career. At Shadle, he became an elite competitive swimmer and also participated in cross country.

He studied martial arts and, early on, took an interest in standing up for the vulnerable.

“I was raised in a way that respected all people,” Brickner said.

“Even as a kid, I wanted to protect others.”

Q: You grew up in the north Spokane area. What did you know about Liberty Lake back then?

A: I knew very little about Liberty Lake growing up, except that there was a gas station for my family to stop at on the way to Coeur d’Alene.

There wasn’t much out this way back then when I was growing up.

Q: How do you think your experiences as a reserve police officer may have benefited you in your role on City Council?

A: I think being a reserve with the city of Liberty Lake has helped me a great deal because I see first-hand what is going on in the city, not just from a police standpoint but also from a business, neighborhood, citizen and community standpoint.

As a police officer, you have an opportunity to see this city and its community unlike most. You are fortunate enough to have great conversations with citizens and business owners within the city as well. I love talking to people doing police work during the Liberty Lake Yard Sales. I’m doing police work on a mountain bike so I encounter and engage a lot of citizens. I love this city and the citizens in it. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else or doing police work anywhere else.

Q: Why did you decide to run for City Council in 2011?

A: I would talk to a lot of friends about things I felt our city could do differently and was encouraged a lot to run for City Council. I have always had the mindset that I can be part of the problem as sit on my couch complaining or I can get up and be a part of the solution. I have always had this mindset and continue to. I don’t mind when people dislike something or how it is done but you better follow that

The Splash

up with a way to fix it or you’re just adding to the issue. I have loved serving our community both as a police officer and as a council member over the years and hope to continue this journey. I hope to be an ear to our citizens and our local business owners to identify how we can continue to make our city great and improve areas we have opportunities to grow in.

Q: What were some of the issues that you wanted to address when you first joined council?

A: When I first got on City Council I wanted to work closely with the other council members and mayor to help identify areas we can grow in and to also look at some of the challenges our city has had. I know there was a lot of concern about development and overgrowth within our city which was an immediate concern for me. I also wanted to access building codes regulations and how we can better enforce those building codes (i.e. water pressure levels/flashing of house siding with siding). I think we live in a beautiful city and people move out here for that reason but they need to feel confident they are moving into a city that takes pride and care for the development that goes on it in this city. I also had a great interest in projects within our city (baseball fields/multi-use sports fields). Being the president of Eastside Little League I got to see first-hand the struggle kids had in finding fields to play on and how difficult it was to compete for use of those fields within leagues and other sporting groups. Gary Tomlinson, his wife, Jennifer, and many others worked very hard to get that league going and none of us wanted to see kids have to leave the city just to play a sport outside.

Q: You've seen a few renditions of the governing board since you joined. How would you describe the council chemistry right now?

A: I think the council chemistry is stronger now than it has ever been. Sure, we don’t always see eye to eye and we may challenge each other from time to time but I know without a doubt in my mind every council member has the best interest of this city and its citizens in mind. I think we have come together on some big topics better then we have in the past. I can truly say I take great pride in our current council and how much they care for this city and how vested each of them are to keeping this city great while staying open-minded on how we can improve things.

Q: You started a local chapter

See BRICKNER, Page 5

The Splash

FEBRUARY 2017 • 3

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4 • FEBRUARY 2017

New Year!

New Homes!

0 3,90 2 2 $

Concern in Legacy Ridge over possible trail easement

By Staci Lehman Splash Correspondent

The city of Liberty Lake is discussing the idea of a new recreation trail for citizens, but some residents of the Legacy Ridge neighborhood don’t think it’s the right fit.

0 9,00 2 2 $

,900 3 8 $3

,900 6 0 $4

City officials are learning that the residents of Legacy Ridge are not too keen on granting an easement to bring a trail across the community’s common area.

It would connect a 23-acre piece of property purchased by the city last June near Liberty Lake Road and Settler Drive to the Saltese Uplands Conservation Land on the other side of Legacy Ridge.

Residents of Legacy Ridge like Greg Husted are not exactly hopping on the trail wagon.

“I went up and down and talked to anyone having a current home living there and all were strongly opposed,” said Husted who spoke out against the easement idea at a City Council meeting in December.

Until an easement is secured, the 23 acres will be used as conservation land with “internally re-circulating” trails for hikers, mountain bikers and others, but city officials are holding out hope for an agreement. The HOA has some concerns though, mainly related to privacy and security.

Husted, who has lived in Legacy Ridge for nearly four years and is a member of a 12-person advisory committee that advises the HOA Board on topics that could impact the neighborhood, says his home is one the trail would go directly behind.

NEWS

Jody Johnson, mommunity Manager at Legacy Ridge with Black Realty Management, Inc. says the neighborhood sees the value in recreational trails but the main concern, as expressed to her, is privacy. She has walked the proposed trail route with advisory committee members and says it comes within 40 feet of some homes.

“They can’t sit in their living rooms with big windows and expect privacy that close,” she said.

Dunne would like to address the privacy and security issues with Legacy Ridge decision makers, as well as discuss the benefits of recreation trails in communities, but says there is some confusion as to who can make those decisions.

According to the Legacy Ridge website, the developer of the community, The Holt Group, Inc. is considered the “declarant,” or the party that can make decisions.

Bylaws adopted in 2004 say there are two classes of membership in the HOA – Class A members who have one vote for each lot they own and Class B (the declarant) who has 10 votes for each lot.

Today, the declarant owns a majority of lots with 10 votes each, so The Holt Group, Inc., a corporation, makes up the Legacy Ridge Board of Directors.

Dunne says others have claimed to be decision makers, however, so the city has had a difficult time gauging the true interest in a potential trail or how much the declarant knows about it. Johnson says the declarant has definitely been kept informed through the advisory committee.

“This has been a topic of discussion for a long time,” she said.

The Splash

She also said the city has never presented an official easement proposal. Dunne concurs, saying they haven’t gotten that far in discussions with the HOA, but he doesn’t believe the topic is closed.

“At this time, there is no proposal,” he said. “There is a discussion.

There is a conversation.”

In the meantime, the clock is ticking to fund the trail project.

Conservation Futures is a Spokane County program that buys properties and preserves them as natural conservation areas and animal habitat. Conservation Futures agreed to reimburse Liberty Lake 50 percent of the purchase price of the 23 acres when, and if, an easement agreement is obtained through the Legacy Ridge property.

If that doesn’t happen, the city doesn’t get the money.

Husted says he, and his neighbors, are also protecting their investment.

“That (not being interested) is the majority of the committee’s view, but also the majority of the homeowners now,” he said.

Property manager Johnson agrees, although she says no one at Legacy Ridge has anything against trails in general.

“I think it’s cool,” she said. “It’s outside, it’s exercise but I have not heard one resident say ‘Yeah, I think it’s a good idea.’”

(Editor’s note: A story in the January Splash mentioned that Husted expressed his opposition to the Liberty Lake City Council on Dec. 20 regarding “a public trail built on land owned by the city.”

Husted was actually voicing his concern over the city’s discussion of a trail easement through Legacy Ridge property not the nearby 23 acres owned by Liberty Lake.

“If there were a trail through there it would be a privacy concern,” he said. “In reality, if an individual was to walk through the field behind the homes today they would be on HOA property.”

City officials say they respect the residents’ concerns and will take safety measures if the trail becomes a reality.

1421 North Meadowwood Lane #200 • Liberty Lake, WA 99019

“If the city owned a trail, it would absolutely own the security of that trail,” said Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne who has taken an active role in the Uplands Trail project.

Legacy Ridge residents are concerned that a trail easement would impact privacy in their sloped neighborhood on the west side of Liberty Lake.

Photo by Staci Lehman

The Splash

BRICKNER

NEWS

Continued from page 2 of GriefShare after losing your brother in 2007. How did this effort help you personally deal with your loss?

A: Losing my brother unexpectedly was a great tragedy.

I have lost many people throughout my life but a sibling rocked my universe. I blamed myself for a long time because I was supposed to be with him that night. My world was getting turned upside down and going back to my belief I had to get control of this problem. I was either going to let this destroy me or I was going to step up and get involved to fix it. I began to realize very quickly how many people out there were dealing with grief and did not know how to deal with grief just like me. I did some research and talked with my church pastor and realized there were a lot of support groups out there but there was nothing for grief share. So, I asked my pastor if I could get trained on it and lead the group which he supported and that changed my life. Not only did I truly learn how to face grief headon but I learned how to help others during a very difficult part of their lives. Too often in life people try to go around, over, under grief. They do everything thing they can to bottle it up or throw that feeling in the closet but this does not work.

You have to allow yourself to face grief head-on and seeing people grow and heal in their grieving process helped me that much more in mine. You see, grief never goes away, it just changes. Those sad thoughts become thoughts of good memories and I was dealing with and learning more about my journey with grief side-by-side with those I was trying to help along the way. So, the next time I faced grief I knew not only how to better deal with it but how to help those around me. It made me a stronger and more compassionate person for those struggling in life.

Q: There seems to have been a trend lately of a big turnout for an appointment process to replace a member of City Council who has stepped aside for one reason or another. Yet when it comes election time, very few candidates appear on the ballot other than those who are running for re-election. Do you have any theories why?

A: I think some people either fear they can’t make a difference or they have to know everything to be on council. I’m here to plead with our citizens to come to City Council meetings. Let your voices be heard because we do listen and it allows

citizens to better understand why things happen the way they do.

I would love to see our City Hall filled every meeting. I would love to see more people run for City Council. Get involved. You have to step up to make change whether it is from your voice at a meeting or you running for council and getting involved that way. I love hearing ideas and feedback from citizens more than anything and it excites me when people get involved.

Q: There has been a lot of speculation about the Town Square project after the ballot loss last fall. What's your take on the future of that property and/or the quest to build a community center?

A: I know there have been a lot of questions regarding why the bond failed and what is next. The truth is we are not sure yet. We as a council have all agreed we need a community center. We all agree to though we want to be strategic on this process and not rush anything.

We want to create a master plan that encompasses what our citizens need, utilizing existing property while being financially attentive to how we go about providing those services needed. I know we are committed to getting our community what they need and we are committed to take the time necessary to do this but again we need to hear from the community.

We have two chances for citizen comments at each council meeting – one at the beginning and one at the end. Please come to a meeting.

Introduce yourself, tell us about you, what you feel we need and get involved.

Q: Finally, what do you enjoy most about living and serving in Liberty Lake?

A: I love how active this community is. It doesn’t matter if it is 100 degrees outside or 5 degrees outside. You always see a lot of people walking or running on our trails. From the events we have within our city to the Liberty Lake Farmers Market in the summer, the community engagement is amazing. I have not seen too many cities where so many people come outside to enjoy everything it has to offer. We also live in a beautiful city. The design of this city and its surroundings are so beautiful and I would like to keep it that way. I take great pride when I tell people I live in Liberty Lake. It truly is the best community I have ever lived in and am proud to call this city my home. Thank you to all the citizens who take time out of their busy lives each day to get involved in some form and I look forward to seeing how many more we can get involved in 2017.

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LIBRARY

6 • FEBRUARY 2017

Learning code opens doors for the future

Activities ADULT EVENTS

Clear the clutter...or just hide it.

Upcycle a box into a beautiful book craft. Bring your own box and we’ll supply everything else.

*NEW Weekly Music Time Mondays at 10:30 am

By Jandy Humble

Along with reading and mathematics, computer science is quickly becoming seen as a necessary “literacy for the modern age” (Pat Yongpradit, Code.org).

Almost every industry is using computer science in some way, making knowledge about computer science a requirement for more and more jobs.

The demand for computer science majors is ever increasing.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of jobs in computing will outnumber the number of college graduates in computing fields by almost 100,000 by the year 2020. However, according to a 2016 national survey from Google and Gallup, just more than half of seventh through 12th-grade students attend a school that offers a dedicated computer science class.

Due to importance of teaching children skills related to computer science, the Liberty Lake Library will be starting a weekly Code Club.

Code Club will be offered to children ages 8 and up on Wednesday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 p.m., beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1. The class will be primarily hands-on and use materials from web sites like Code.org and Scratch to teach participants how to design games, animations and websites.

If you are interested in registering your child for Code Club, check out the following link, goo.gl/Vo0nCm or visit the library’s Facebook page.

The Splash

Winter Reading Challenge

January 9th - February 28th

Sign up at the library for a chance to win a Kindle Fire, gift card or Basket of books!

Friends of the Library Annual Valentine Basket Auction Bid now and win beautiful Valentine Baskets for your Sweetheart, your kids, your pet, or your passion in the silent auction at the library in February until noon Friday, February 10th. Funds raised will support library needs and programming for all ages.

Our Move and Groove music time will now occur on a weekly basis!

Come move, shake, sing, and dance with us every Monday. Ages 0-5

Stem-Tacular Thursday February 9th, 4:00 pm

Complete various STEM challenges using conversation hearts. Ages 8 and up.

STCU Finance Workshop

February 2nd, 6 pm - 7 pm

Budgeting 101- Becoming debt free. Get your finances in order for the new year - learn budgeting tips from STCU - light refreshments will be served.

Books ‘n’ Brew Book Club

February 23rd, 6:30 pm 7:30 pm ‘In the Unlikely Event’ by Judy Blume.

CHILDREN EVENTS

Valentine’s Day Tea February 13th, 4 pm

Grab your favorite adult and join us for treats, crafts and games! All ages are welcome. Register here >goo.gl/rSMZ3w

Valentine Craft

February 9th, 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Come learn how to make beautiful paper roses from old books - just in time for Valentines Day.

Code Club Begins February 1st, 4 pm 5:30 pm

Saturday Craft

February 18th, 2 pm - 3:30 pm

509-232-2510

Learn how to make cool games, animations and websites at Code Club. Weekly meetings on Wednesdays from 4 pm - 5:30 pm weekly. Ages 8 and up. Learn more and register here >goo.gl/Vo0nCm

•

Family Movie Night: Trolls

February 16th, 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Trolls (rated PG) features a colorful troupe of lovable characters that love tot sing, dance, and play. An unexpected arrival sends Princess Poppy and Branch on a journey that will challenge their courage and show their true colors.

www.libertylakewa.gov/library

The Splash

FEBRUARY 2017 • 7

The Lookout MEMO from the

Mayor

By Mayor Steve Peterson

Prioritizing priorities! This time of year is filled with New Year’s resolutions that are nice words with good meaning but without the sense of urgency, resolve, putting in order or true relevance in our lives will be transferred to next year or forgotten. They maybe will be added to a growing list of things that don’t or won’t happen.

In city government our resolutions are disguised as priorities. Unlike our New Year’s resolutions at home, city priorities should be things that

have high urgency, should address needs to avoid future emergency action and should build upon each other during the coming years.

One of council priorities in 2017 is community engagement. How do we truly engage you? Is it meeting you in the park or at the Farmers Market? Should we go door-to-door with our pitch? Are we hoping you show up at the council meetings?

How can we ever engage you if we know nothing about you, ask you what you want, ask what you mean or confirm what we are doing?

connection and information. In 2017, please expect that the city will be doing all these things and more to ensure we are meeting the needs and expectations of our citizens.

Casting the biggest net possible will enable us to capture the greatest amount of feedback, to fully understand our community’s needs and to ensure it is not only the few squeaks that get the grease.

We need to reach out to gain input.

This is where social media via Twitter, Facebook, our library newsletter, home owner’s associations and the like have become our bellwether for

In February, our council meetings will feature workshops regarding current facilities and proposed build-out and use of our lands. I hope you all will attend and let your voices be heard. It’s always our goal for Liberty Lake to be Spokane County’s premier address!

development of density, proportion and compatibility to the criteria of the PUD.

City receives clean audit report from state

Council, Planning Commission discuss land use

By Dan Dunne

Liberty Lake City Council The City Council and Planning Commission held a workshop Jan. 24 to discuss land use, specifically, possible changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Development Code. No actions were approved but rather this was an opportunity for council to provide direction to staff regarding continued development. Later this year, these changes will be voted on by the council for adoption.

The first possible change was to modify the Comprehensive Plan to allow planned unit development (PUD) projects within the I (industrial) and C-2 (commercial) zones west of Madson Street.

Planned unit developments are projects which deviate from allowed usage and meet specific criteria. The council directed staff to continue development of this change and to include additional

The second possible change was to the Development Code and definition of mixed residential and commercial use in M2 zone.

The city is under a moratorium regarding multifamily (apartment) projects in order to allow the planning commission to analyze how M2 zoning defines multifamily projects. The Planning Commission recommended no changes to the current code, sayingthat current definition is sufficient to address how multifamily housing may be developed in M2.

There was consensus that the changes had material impact on infrastructure (roads and schools) and would require additional consideration prior to approval.

By R.J. Stevenson Finance Director

After reviewing the city’s financial statements and compliance with state laws and internal policies and procedures for fiscal years 2014- 15, the State Auditor’s Office awarded the city of Liberty Lake a clean audit.

The audit was for the 2014 and 2015 financial statements. The auditor reviewed financial condition, selfinsurance, procurement, disbursements, open public meeting minutes, interfold transactions/ balances and contract compliance and found no reportable conditions.

This is the eighth straight year the city has received a clean audit and a reflection of the great staff that the city has in place.

February 2017

Looking ahead to Community Garden season

If you live in Liberty Lake, you’ve undoubtedly heard the buzz surrounding the city garden plots early each year. They are a source of recreation, education and even nutrition for the members of our community lucky enough to snag one when reservations begin in January.

Liberty Lake residents of all ages can be seen at the gardens in the City Arboretum and Rocky Hill Park, planting and watering a variety of earthy goods.

Those new to the green thumb way of life are welcomed and feel at ease in the secured and well-maintained garden areas. While gardening veterans return year after year in hopes of snagging their favorite plot, newcomers are always a sure sight.

Vegetables are the most common sight in the plots and the members of our community couldn’t be prouder of the fruits of their labor every year. The colors that grow from the soil in the plots adds a beauty to Liberty Lake that is a welcome sight every year.

The camaraderie between the community gardeners is refreshing.

Advice is shared, supplies is passed between one another and the trading of harvested vegetables can be seen from time to time as well. Our City Horticulturalist Joice Cary returns to the city mid-February. With her she brings her own wealth of knowledge and experience, of which she will be sharing in monthly blurbs and snippets to the 2017 community gardeners.

While the city wishes it had endless garden plots for every member of the community, space and plots are limited. There are a few left at this time, and we hope to see them paired with a gardener. For information regarding available plots, please contact the City at 755-6700 or stop by and pick up an application at City Hall.

We are excited to see what the New Year will hold for our community and their plots!

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

The Splash

8 • FEBRUARY 2017

Police Report

February 2017

The following incidents were reported by the Liberty Lake Police Department from Dec. 19 through Jan. 23. The report is listed in chronological order.

Suspicious vehicle – On Dec. 19 at 5:29 a.m., LLPD responded to a suspicious vehicle at the 1800 block of North Pepper Lane.

Car prowl – On Dec. 19 at 7:12 a.m., LLPD responded to a vehicle prowl at the 20000 block of East Deschutes Avenue. Complainant reported their vehicle had been broken into and $150 in tools taken from inside.

Vehicle stranded – On Dec. 19 at 8:09 a.m., LLPD responded to a traffic hazard at North Liberty Lake Road and East Country Vista Drive. A vehicle had broken down in the intersection.

alone with her children.

block of North Garry Drive.

totaled $200.

Accident – On Dec. 20 at 6:38 a.m., LLPD responded to an accident at the 1000 block of North Tanglewood Lane.

Noise complaint – On Dec. 23 at 6:38 p.m., LLPD responded to a noise complaint at the 21000 block of East Country Vista Drive.

Vehicle break-in – On Dec. 20 at 8:59 p.m., LLPD responded to the 24000 block of East Desmet Road for a vehicle prowl.

Complainant reported $2,600 in items were taken from inside his vehicle.

Domestic violence – On Dec. 24 at 9:54 p.m., LLPD responded to a domestic violence at the 23000 block of East Riverside Avenue.

Pilfered pallets – On Jan. 6 at 8:56 a.m., LLPD responded to a commercial burglary at the 19000 block of East Broadway. Two suspects were seen at the location driving into the fenced area and taking wooden pallets.

Parking dispute – On Dec. 20 at 9:08 a.m., LLPD responded to a suspicious circumstance at the 23000 block of East Boone.

Complainant reported someone had parked a vehicle in their parking space.

Suspicious vehicle – On Dec. 20 at 4:27 p.m., LLPD responded to a suspicious vehicle at East Appleway Avenue and North Madson Road.

Deer call – On Dec. 19 at 2:49 p.m., LLPD responded to an animal problem at the 23000 block of East Colleen Court. Complainant reported a large deer had entered the backyard somehow and had no way to get out. An officer responded to the location and opened the gate as the complainant was home

Stolen gas – On Dec. 20 at 4:57 p.m., LLPD responded to a theft at the 22000 block of East Appleway.

Complainant reported a gas drive off in the amount of $20.

SVFD Report – February 2017

scene as the homeowner reported that the fire had been extinguished.

The cause of the fire was burned food.

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 124 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from Dec. 19 through Jan. 23:

• Emergency medical services - 86 • Motor vehicle accidents – 10 • Fires – 5 • Service calls – 2 • Hazardous materials - 2 • Building alarms – 7 • Dispatched and cancelled en route - 12 *Service area for SVFD Station #3 in Liberty Lake Oven Fire – Dec. 27 – Just after 6:30 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a report of a fire in the oven of a home in the 1600 block of North Holiday Lane. Crews arrived on the

Reckless driver – On Dec. 20 at 10 p.m., LLPD received a report of a reckless driver at the 1000

Structure Fire – Dec. 29 – SVFD crews responded to the 18800 block of East Marlin Drive at 4 p.m. in response to a reported structure fire. Crews traveling to the fire noted the smoke column and upgraded the incident to a working fire, bringing more firefighting resources to the scene. Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from a single story detached garage.

They quickly contained the fire to the garage, preventing any damage to the adjacent manufactured home and a large camper trailer parked outside. A neighbor noticed the smoke and alerted the home’s occupants, an adult family of four, who were home at the time and safety evacuated. The cause of the fire was electrical.

Motor Vehicle Accident – Jan. 10 – SVFD crews responded to

Traffic hazard – On Jan. 1 at 9:26 a.m., LLPD responded to a traffic hazard at East Appleway Avenue and East Broadway Avenue.

Vehicle break-in – On Jan. 5 at 8:31 a.m., LLPD responded to a vehicle prowl at the 1300 block of North Eagle Road. Complainant reported $10 in change was taken from inside their unlocked vehicle.

Vehicle prowl – On Jan. 5 at 10:29 a.m., LLPD responded a vehicle prowl at the 1200 block of North Eagle Road. Complainant reported someone had entered their unlocked vehicle and stolen items from inside totaling $23.

Car burglary – On Jan. 5 at 7:33 p.m., LLPD responded to a vehicle prowl at the 24000 block of East Desmet Road. Complainant reported items were stolen from inside the unlocked vehicle that a report of a single car rollover accident eastbound on I-90 near the Harvard Road exit at 3:15 p.m.

The driver had overcorrected to avoid a bumper in the road and drove nose first into the snow on the south side of the freeway. This caused her car to flip over, coming to rest in the deep snow. The driver was able to exit the car and was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

FREE “Love Your Heart” Blood Pressure Checks – Feb. 11 – SVFD and the Liberty Lake Municipal Library are celebrating American Heart Month. Stop by the library at 23123 E. Mission Ave between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for your free blood pressure check. Learn more about how to keep your heart healthy and about SVFD’s free CPR classes.

About SVFD - Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Valley and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the

Stolen car – On Jan. 8 at 7:46 p.m., LLPD responded to a vehicle recovery at East Maxwell Avenue and North Caufield Court An officer observed the stolen vehicle was occupied by two subjects. Upon contact, the male admitted to stealing the car and was booked into Spokane County jail.

Vehicle in way – On Jan. 9 at 11:19 a.m., LLPD responded to a traffic hazard at East Mission Avenue and North Molter Road.

Officers assisted with vehicle that was blocking traffic.

Property returned – On Jan. 11 at 2:15 p.m., LLPD received found property from the intersection of Aladdin and Indiana. The item was returned to the owner.

Domestic violence – On Jan. 16 at 8:30 p.m., LLPD responded to a domestic violence at the 2100 block of North Country Vista Boulevard. communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park and the area surrounding Liberty Lake with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles.

SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 16,250 emergency calls in 2016. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), one of only a handful in the state of Washington. SVFD operates 10 stations providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, special operations rescue, fire investigation, fire prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fire safety training.

The department also offers free home fire safety inspections and complimentary smoke detectors.

For more information call 928-1700 or visit www.spokanevalleyfire. com.

The Splash

Winter Wonderland not so wonderful for city budget

By Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent While school children may be saying “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” in hopes of having school canceled or postponed, some city officials in Liberty Lake are saying “enough already.”

NEWS

getting to know areas that need more attention due to drifting and blowing.”

Already since the first of the year, two full city plows have taken place. An accumulation of 4 inches or more of snowfall triggers a full city plow, which takes almost a full day to complete, depending on conditions. During this time, residents are asked to park vehicles off the streets if possible. Plowing around them can slow crews down or leave them bermed in. City crews clear the area’s trails and sidewalks, which takes additional time.

Only a month into the new year and the area has already seen a lot of the white stuff, over 33 inches this winter so far according to the National Weather Service; enough to cause a headache for some of the people in charge of removing it.

Then there are the days that every community struggles with when it comes to snow removal and Liberty Lake is no exception.

In the second year of a contract with a new snow removal vendor, Stone Creek Land Design & Development, city officials say they are still getting some of the kinks worked out with the new company.

Unfortunately, time is money and Liberty Lake’s budget is being stretched by all the snow removal activity this winter.

“It’s going OK,” said City Administrator Katy Allen. “The learning curve is still out there.

Our challenge is the community

“Yesterday was garbage day,” said Allen, following a recent storm, “And that adds more time and obstacles.”

“For 2016, the budget was $69,000,” said Finance Director R.J. Stevenson. “The city spent $161,000 ($100,000 in December 2016 alone).”

Stevenson

isn’t

too

worried

though. He says that while this line item went over budget, the city has other areas of the 2016 budget that came in under budget that can make up for the overage, which does not require an amendment.

The current year isn’t looking so promising though. For 2017, Stevenson says the snow removal budget is $122,000. He doesn’t have numbers to see what has been spent so far this year but does have a prediction.

“We will be challenged, as will all cities in this area when it comes to the total cost for snow removal this year,” he said.

The budget isn’t the only area feeling the strain of a heavy snow season. People with disabilities, elderly resident and those not physically able to clear their driveways, sidewalks or berms left by snow plows and graders struggle with snow removal. Posts on Liberty Lake’s Facebook page show that the city has many people who take it upon themselves to shovel other people’s driveways and walks for them.

“We do have a lot of good neighbors out there and it’s mostly done at the neighborhood level,” said Allen of efforts to assist those

FEBRUARY 2017 • 9

who are less physically able.

Even so, more help is needed and city officials are working to create an “official” platform or method of connecting residents with snow issues to volunteers who have the time, ability and willingness to help. Through the city’s Facebook page, people willing to give their contact information to be included on a volunteer snow removal list are being asked to message the city.

The Facebook page will then be used as the primary platform for posting requests for help and matching those requests with volunteers.

“We’re kind of doing it in an informal way,” said Allen.

Check Liberty Lake’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/cityoflibertylakewa/ for more information.

Plowing updates are also posted to the page, such as when plowing is complete in each zone, where plows are currently working and when more snow is expected. You can find a map of snow plowing and deicing zones and routes on the Liberty Lake website at http://www.libertylakewa.gov/ DocumentCenter/View/2512 that explains the zones mentioned in Facebook posts.

Does my mom have options besides dentures?

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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 We provide mid-day walks, over-night pet sitting and pet taxi to and from the vet or groomer’s.

and Pooper Scoopers

Your pets feel at home, because they ARE at home!

926-8640

Bonded & Insured Check us out on Facebook

SERVING THE LIBERTY LAKE AREA SINCE 2000

libertylkpetsitters@msn.com

Liberty Lake resident Member, American Dental Association

The Splash

10 • FEBRUARY 2017

Mayor emphasizes ‘growth timeline’ in priorities for 2017

By Craig Howard Splash Editor The first Liberty Lake City Council meeting of 2017 echoed with themes suitable for a New Year.

While resolutions in their traditional form may have not been on the docket at City Hall Jan. 3, a pair of lists – one courtesy of Mayor Steve Peterson and another composed by council – mapped out priorities for the next 12 months and beyond.

“This is the first of the year so I try to put out some kind of mission for our community,” said Peterson before introducing his outline of prerogatives.

The mayor emphasized the importance of staying in tune with a “growth timeline” for Liberty Lake, one that would provide formulations based on both actual and projected data. A Facility Master Plan, he said, would focus on current and future venues, ensuring that all sites met citizen needs.

In addition to existing city-owned properties like the Trailhead Golf Course, City Hall, and library/police building, the mayor brought up the proposed Town Square Community Center and aquatic facility that fell just short at the ballot last year. Another 3 acres at the site of Liberty Lake Elementary has also been the subject of development talks.

The governing board also zeroed in on strategies for municipal properties at a special retreat on Dec. 18, confirming that a community center should be an area of focus. The final budget for 2017 set aside $100,000 for the development of a long-term vision for city-owned facilities (see sidebar).

Going back to the days shortly after incorporation in 2001, Peterson has been a stickler for infrastructure upgrades that keep pace with the city’s continued growth. As 2017, dawns, the mayor said the city needs to continue work on a platform for transportation projects that will “provide for the mobility needs of our residents and employment centers.”

Grappling with the increase in traffic along major arterials means looking ahead to the construction of an additional lane on Harvard Road (most likely within the next 36 months, according to Peterson) and providing the concept design of the long-discussed Henry Road interchange with slip road connections to Interstate 90 that would relieve congestion at the Harvard exit.

The mayor also brought up road work slated for the not-so-distant future, such as a pavement overlay on well-traveled thoroughfares like Country Vista and Mission.

Pointing to an equation in which the cost of building a new road is approximately seven times the price of maintaining a street, the mayor said repaving represents “a good investment in the backbone

of our transportation system.”

Other projects on the mayor’s transportation priority list include traffic calming and a roundabout at Simpson Road, a requirement of underground utilities and purple pipe (utilized for re-use of water for irrigation) in any public street upgrade project or work in the public right-of-way. Also making the agenda were safety and accessibility improvements – in the form of crosswalks and parking – at the elementary school and new Liberty Creek K-2 site.

Looking ahead, Peterson said the city “needs smart business investments to leverage other funds,” including those culled from two innovative sources, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT) that derive revenue for the city from new development.

The mayor went on to say the city should look at the Spokane River as “a new connection with access improvements,” adding that Liberty Lake’s most prominent natural resource could be part of an approach that would feature frontage portage park areas. He added that a corresponding care and maintenance agreement with entities like the Spokane County Parks Department, Washington Parks and Recreation Department and city of Spokane Valley could also be part of the equation.

Peterson said another area of potential collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions could involve a way of evaluating animal control efforts through Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS). Liberty Lake is currently part of a regional network with SCRAPS that includes fellow cities like Millwood, Cheney, Airway Heights, Spokane and Spokane Valley. In addition to providing feedback on the effectiveness of SCRAPS, the mayor said he would like pet licensing to eventually become the sole funding source for the contract.

“I want to motivate the city for an active increase in pet licensing,” Peterson said. “Our contribution has diminished over the last three years. I’d like to get to a point where the program is self-sustaining without city contributions.”

Mayor Steve Peterson and the Liberty Lake City Council have each spoken out on the importance of developing a long-term vision for municipal facilities. One of the top priorities is the Town Square Park property (shown above in a 2014 construction phase) that is still mentioned as the possible site of a community center despite a slim defeat at the ballot last fall.

File photo

The mayor also highlighted several successful events that continue to make Liberty Lake a destination point. “Barefoot in the Park,” which will celebrate its third rendition this year, has built upon the popularity of shoeless soccer to become the city’s signature

summer celebration while a program to provide free golf at Trailhead to representatives of the Fairchild Air Force Base drew over 100 participants last year. Peterson said he would like to see courses throughout the region adopt the approach.

Peterson expressed hope that the city could formalize and display a comprehensive Liberty Lake Trail Map. He also brought up River District connections to Mission and Harvard trails.

Like the council, Peterson is stressing opportunities for citizens to get involved on a variety of civic levels. Echoing a theme championed by Council Member Dan Dunne, the mayor said the city should formalize a Public Arts Commission with support from an enterprise fund that would require a certain percentage of contribution from all public capital projects to incorporate art into their design and construction.

In discussing the potential of a Liberty Lake Parks Board, the mayor brought up names like Joe Frank, Bob Schneidmiller and Scott Bernard that have plenty of experience with local greenspace.

The group would review current park sites and equipment as well as survey community input.

“This is in the best interest of the community,” Peterson said.

“The board would envision new park events and establish a longrun funding stream for events and programs.”

Finally, the mayor spoke out in support of reconvening the Community Center Advisory Committee that provided input to the city prior to the Town Square vote last November. Peterson would also like to see the Library Board and Planning Commission recruited for feedback.

While council bypassed the idea after the narrow loss at the ballot, Peterson has lobbied for professional evaluation of the Town Square election result with a poll of how residents viewed the proposal. A consultant would also, in Peterson’s view, “elicit recommendation on moving forward with a revised project and re-evaluate and/or extend the current design-build contract.”

Overall, the mayor said the city’s goal for the future “is to provide continuous improvement,” accomplished in no small part by engaging the public.

“I think we need to reach out and get feedback from the residents who are our stakeholders,” he said.

The Splash

Winter road care draws mixed reviews at council meeting

By Craig Howard Splash Editor As freezing rain fell on the roads outside Liberty Lake City Hall last month, the discussion inside focused on how to keep the very same streets safe from a harsh Inland Northwest winter.

The second City Council meeting of 2017 dealt mostly with concerns over snow and ice removal with Stone Creek Land Design & Development at the center of the conversation. The company is in its second year of contracting with the city after outbidding longtime vendor Peplinski Construction of Newman Lake.

City Engineer Andrew Staples presented the governing board with an overview of Stone Creek’s efforts at the Jan. 17 gathering, pointing out aspects of the contract that were going well along with areas that needed improvement in the city’s estimation.

Staples and certain members of the council pointed to a lack of thorough service in the River District area, particularly after an episode that involved snow piling up on neighborhood roads after a thawing period was followed by rapid cooling and wind drifts.

“The River District streets were not in good condition,” Staples said.

When called upon to give his take on road upkeep this winter, Police Chief Brian Asmus said feedback from officers characterized River District streets as “extremely neglected.”

While Asmus said Stone Creek crews have been “fairly responsive and friendly to work with,” he added that officers feel the contractor “is not familiar with city roads” and that there “has been delayed response to snow drift issues,” although one situation involved an area near AllSport that Stone Creek apparently did not know was its responsibility. Asmus also noted that Stone Creek “seemed to not

FEBRUARY 2017 • 11

be plowing curb to curb” and “not getting down to the pavement in the River District.”

In covering positive elements of the contract, Staples said Stone Creek “has been responsive” and that “arterials and collectors are in good condition.” On the city side, he pointed out that community notification of snow plowing and de-icing efforts via social media has been effective as has the rallying of community volunteers to help with residential snow clearing needs.

The city’s policy is to call for clearing on main arterials like Appleway, Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road when snow reaches 2 inches or higher. On residential roads, the threshold is 4 inches or more. De-icing is based on assessments by crews and Staples as well as incoming weather patterns.

Staples said the city now relies on an around-the-clock on-call crew that “goes out to intersections to see if we need to plow or de-ice.”

“It’s a visual assessment – we’re not going by the amount of snow,” he said.

Staples told council that an incident involving a leak of deicing fluid on a Stone Creek truck – spotted at an intersection by Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner – led to an updated policy of mandatory equipment checks before trucks hit the road.

“We will be testing before they go out,” said Staples who assured council and Mayor Steve Peterson that the city would be credited for any wasted de-icing material that was part of the leak.

When talking about ice buildup in the River District, Brickner called into question Stone Creek’s ability to tackle the streets with its current fleet.

“I don’t feel like a truck with a plow in front of it is sufficient for plowing streets like that,” Brickner said. “I also don’t know if they know our city well enough to handle the situation appropriately.”

Council Member Hugh Severs said the city should also be evaluating the level of road maintenance efficiency.

“It’s not just a question of service – it’s a question of how fast they

See ROADS, Page 16

Council focuses on diverse priorities for New Year

Liberty Lake Shuttle Service • Identify options that would provide internal circulation within city limits Pedestrian Trails

From Splash News Sources

The last month of each year is traditionally the time when a budget is approved at Liberty Lake City Hall for the impending 365 days.

On Dec. 18, the City Council held a special retreat to go over its priorities for 2017, many of which will intertwine with the financial game plan for the New Year. On Jan. 3, at the first council meeting of 2017, the priorities were officially distributed under four categories: Business Support and Recruitment; Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space; Transportation Projects and Miscellaneous Initiatives.

The following is a list of the council prerogatives for the upcoming year with asterisks by items included in the 2017 budget: Business Recruitment

Support

and

Outreach and engage with local businesses, large and small • Identify business inhibitors/possible solutions • Provide information to improve/expedite permits and applications Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Spokane River at Centennial Trail • City to pursue feasibility to obtain public access Liberty Lake Upland Trail Area* ($30,000) • Develop design concept of circulating trails and demarcation of adjoining property Barefoot in the Park* ($19,000 – does not include staffing) • Recruit event planner, i.e., Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce • Expand volunteers and include local business participation Orchard Park* ($2.5 million) •

Design and construct

Transportation Projects

Connectivity

•

Harvard Road

•

Harvest Parkway

•

Mission Avenue

•

River District

and

• Country Vista East and Country Vista West* ($75,000) •

Safety lighting projects

Transportation Recommendations

Study

• Appleway and projects* ($190,000)

Signal

• Harvard Road Overpass expansion Miscellaneous Initiatives Create a policy requiring utilities to be underground for all future projects when feasible Public Art • Establish a functional Arts Commission • Fund on project basis

a

project-by-

• Include an Art Market at Liberty Lake Farmers Market Miscellaneous Initiatives Citizen Council

engagement

by

City

• Provide increased presence and visibility of council members at city booth during more events other than Farmers Market • Rotate council member assignments at Farmers Market • Possibly setting up an “Ask Your City Council Member” table in front of local stores • Video recording of council meetings* ($2,000) • Possibly keeping City Hall open later one night a week to allow residents to meet with council members • Council member attendance at HOA meetings • Including and addressing a “Question of the Month” headline in the city’s section of The Splash • Promote utilization of Municipal Research and Services Center’s (MRSC) services • Develop a long-term vision for city-owned facilities* ($100,000)

12 • FEBRUARY 2017

COVER STORY

Heart Check – The rewards of love, marriage and bonding through life’s storms

Perhaps that man is dealing with the loss of his father a month earlier and needs to talk about the times he and his dad would play catch or go trout fishing on a Montana river.

Splash Editor

The Splash asked two Liberty Lake couples to share their thoughts on marriage and the accompanying lessons learned with Valentine’s Day 2017 approaching.

The result is a glimpse at the realities of relationships, the strength that overcomes fear and the overarching power of love in the face of adversity. Take heart, it’s time to honor your Valentine.

By Craig Howard

It’s dinner time on Valentine’s Day and couples are streaming into a local restaurant adorned with the prerequisite candlelight and reddish hues.

Some women carry flowers while several men have neatly wrapped gifts in tow. The attire is formal, a grown-up version of prom. Wait staff move promptly across the floor, balancing dishes and aware of the expectations. Everyone knows this is one of those nights that needs to be special.

Beyond the roses, boxes of candy and Hallmark cards, there is more at play here. It is a time to pause and reflect on just what that person across the table means to you. Maybe that woman has survived a demanding series of cancer treatments over the past year and her hair is not what it was when you married her. Still, she looks more gorgeous than you can ever recall.

The Splash

Whatever the scenario, Valentine’s Day is about investing in the one you love, not with money spent, but with time, effort and caring that transcends a manmade holiday and sustains the relationship like a warm and steady breeze throughout the year.

Hugh and Jolene Severs Hugh and Jolene Severs seemed to have the idyllic life. He was a successful financial advisor and the youngest representative on the Liberty Lake City Council. She was nurturing mom of two healthy boys.

They had a nice home, went on trips as a family and soaked up fun during the lazy Inland Northwest summers.

Then Jolene found out she had breast cancer.

After the shock of the diagnosis – Hugh happened to be working near the doctor’s office where Jolene

Liberty Lake residents Hugh and Jolene Severs have been through a rigorous and rewarding 18 months after Jolene was diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple says the experience brought out new and valuable traits that have strengthened their marriage.

Contributed photo received the news and rushed to her side – the couple embarked on a quest. The next 18 months would represent the most challenging, austere and rewarding time of their marriage as Jolene tackled the healing process and Hugh stuck by her side every step of the way.

Then comes the irony. After all the chemo and radiation, the tears and the nausea, the gut-wrenching talks at all hours of the morning, Hugh and Jolene discovered that their marriage and family had become stronger, healthier and richer than ever before.

The Severs’ unique story begins at Central Valley High School in 2001 when Hugh transferred as a junior from Florida. Born in Mississippi, he came from an Air Force family and moved frequently as a kid with stops in California, Ohio and Washington, D.C. Jolene was a native of Vancouver, WA. who came to the Spokane Valley shortly before her freshman year.

Hugh and Jolene were both juniors when they met at a Bears’ football game. She was a selfdescribed “nerd” while he played varsity tennis and participated in student leadership.

Hugh and Jolene Severs are both graduates of Central Valley High School. They moved to Liberty Lake in 2008 and are parents to two sons, Liam and Jackson.

Contributed photo

“We didn’t run in the same circles in high school but we were friends,” Hugh recalls.

At one point, both Jolene and Hugh began working at Pizza Hut. They never dated in high school but Jolene remembers being impressed with Hugh’s well-mannered and generous approach.

“Even though we were just friends, he looked out for me,” she said. “He was always a gentleman, picking up the check or opening the door.”

Jolene and Hugh were part of CV’s graduating class in 2004. They hung out frequently that summer, mostly languishing on Liberty Lake. Then autumn arrived with its familiar reminders of responsibility. Hugh headed to Pullman to start school at Washington State. Jolene stayed in town, working several part-time jobs and attending Spokane Falls Community College.

The two friends were apart for the first time, separated by wheat fields and about 75 miles. They suddenly missed each other.

“We got out on our own and realized the writing had been on the wall,” Hugh said.

Hugh and Jolene began dating the summer before their sophomore years in college. They were eventually married on July, 18, 2008 and spent their honeymoon in Kawai. The newlyweds settled in Pullman where Hugh was majoring

See STRENGTH, Page 13

The Splash

STRENGTH

Continued from page 12 in landscape architecture and Jolene was studying interior design.

“We had this tiny little apartment but we thought it was the greatest place,” Jolene recalls.

While at WSU, Hugh started working for Copper Creek Landscaping, based in Mead. After graduation, he continued with the company, relocating to Spokane and rising to the position of senior designer.

Eventually, Hugh transitioned into financial planning, running his own business under the umbrella of Northwestern Mutual. Hugh and Jolene made a different kind of shift in 2008, moving to Liberty Lake with their two sons, Jackson and Liam. Life was good and it didn’t take long before Liberty Lake felt like the perfect home.

“We were just kind of coasting along,” Jolene says.

Jolene’s biopsy came in May of 2015. The next month, she returned to the doctor’s office. On June 23, she learned it was stage three breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes, a whisker away from stage four.

“It was very Jolene recalls.

overwhelming,”

For his part, Hugh remembers “trying to be the strong person in the room.” He took a leave from City Council and was there at every one of Jolene’s chemo and radiation sessions.

COVER STORY

bumpy road along the way but the courage I have seen in him has made it all worth it.”

As she grappled with the rigors of treatment, Jolene often turned to Hugh for comfort more than advice.

“When I’m expressing my feelings, sometimes I just want him to listen to me, not always to fix it,” she said.

Hugh said he noticed changes in Jolene along the way, too.

“She became her own strong person,” he said. “Now she speaks up for what she wants. We’re definitely not the people we married. Because of the changes we’ve been through as people, we have a stronger, healthier marriage.”

As Hugh stayed by Jolene’s side through the challenges of each day, the relationship came into sharper focus. Instead of acquiescing to the struggle, they gathered strength from the turbulence and learned to rely on each other more than ever before. Reflection, compassion and gratitude fed into the health of their marriage like rivers flowing into an ocean.

“Marriage is something that you need to constantly be working on,” Jolene said. “Always strive to give your best to your spouse, not what's left over after you've given your best to everyone else.

Commitment is a choice you have

to make repeatedly over the course of a relationship. It doesn't begin or end with your vows. We had chosen to commit, both commit to fighting the cancer and commit to fight for each other when the challenges of it all became too much to handle.”

Beyond being there for his wife and kids, Hugh said that the experience helped him gain a more gracious perspective on life in general.

“It’s been extremely humbling to see my own mistakes,” he said. “I now love people more and criticize less. It’s taught me that we all go through problems.”

On Dec. 8 of last year, Jolene completed her last chemo treatment. The family celebrated with a party at Barlow’s. Now officially in remission, Jolene says she and Hugh are doing their best “to find a new normal.”

“I never imagined having to honor the ‘in sickness and in health’ part of our wedding vows so early in our marriage,” she said. “But life just works out that way sometimes. The past 18 months have been difficult to say the least, but we have survived. And if we can get through this, we can get through anything.”

Keith and Nicki Kopelson For Keith and Nicki Kopelson, a romantic evening might be springing for ice cream cones at 10

Keith and Nicki Kopelson of Liberty Lake are parents to four kids, including Samantha and Emilee.

Contributed photo p.m. or strolling around Wal-Mart when most of the aisles are empty.

The couple – married since 1995 – say the definition of a date has little to do with fancy restaurant décor, expensive flower arrangements or original love poems. The definition depends on the company.

“It’s not about what you do, it’s just about being together,” said Keith.

The Kopelsons met simply enough. They were both working at a Shopko store in 1994 and first got to know each other when stocking shelves. After Keith left to go to another section, Nicki had him paged because the work was not yet done. At the time, she was not aware Keith was the store manager.

“I thought he was being a slacker,” Nicki said.

The couple sought out counseling and relied on the support of family and friends. As time went one, Hugh learned that being the strong and silent type wasn’t always the best approach.

Nicki recalls Keith “being pretty funny” as the two became friends.

Previously married, Keith was a doting dad to two small kids – a fact that Nicki found admirable.

“I hadn’t been a good communicator before,” he said. “I learned the importance of helping her be heard and the good that comes from telling how you feel about the relationship. I realized that the health of your marriage is something you should talk about often with your spouse.”

“What impressed me most was how cute he was with his kids,” she said.

By the same token, Keith appreciated Nicki’s family-oriented values. The two became friends and Nicki wasn’t afraid to speak up when Keith ran into issues with someone he was dating.

Jolene said she saw a different side of her husband emerge as the recovery process went on.

“It has been incredible to see his personal growth through this journey,” she said. “It has been a

FEBRUARY 2017 • 13

“She wasn’t happy with some of my choices,” Keith recalls.

The Kopelsons were married in 1995. They moved to Liberty Lake in 2004.

Nicki has supported Keith through a number of health challenges including cancer and a triple heart bypass.

Contributed photo

After a while, Nicki and Keith realized their shared values, faith

See TEAMWORK, Page 13

COMMUNITY

14 • FEBRUARY 2017

The Splash

Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS Jan. 31 | Stinky Sneaker – Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon, Spokane. The annual basketball rivalry between Central Valley and University high schools features the faceoff of thematic halftime presentations and awarding of the event’s namesake to the winning school. The varsity girls’ game begins at 5 p.m. followed by the boys’ game at 7:30.

Feb. 3 | Rotary Fashion Show Fundraiser, Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include hors d’ oeuvres and the show. Proceeds benefit Rotary scholarships for youth and Books for Kids. For more information about tickets or sponsorships, call 590-6531.

Feb. 11 | “Love Your Heart” – Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate American Heart Month with the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Stop by for your free blood pressure check and learn more about keeping your heart healthy and our free CPR classes. More at 892-4155 or www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

March 1 | March for Meals – Spokane Valley Mall, 8 to 10 a.m.

Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels is sponsoring the annual March for Meals Walk-a-thons as a way to raise money and awareness.

Trophies will be awarded to individuals and teams. Register at www.gscmealsonwheels.org.

Registration is $15. For more information call 924-6976.

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.

Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11: 30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Call Steve at 8934746 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.

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.

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Mondays 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.

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.

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.

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

MUSIC & THE ARTS 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

The Splash

COMMUNITY

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 Feb. 20 | HUB Multi-Sport Camp, HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake, 9 a.m. to noon ($35) or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($55). It’s a day of fun and games at the HUB Sports Center. Kids from first through sixth grade can participate in a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, futsal/soccer, whiffleball, dodge ball, pickleball and more. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www.hubsportscenter.org.

Feb. 24 | Indoor Fly-In hosted by the Inland Empire Quiet Flyers – HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake, 6 to 9 p.m. Join the IEQF and the HUB Sports Center for the Indoor Fly In. Bring you RC foamies, park flyers, helicopters and free flight models to beat the cold with two full courts of indoor flying fun. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www.hubsportscenter.org.

There will be a $10 landing fee for participants.

Jan. 1-Feb. 28 | Winter Futsal League. The HUB Sports Center runs a five-aside futsal league for ages 9-14 taking place January/ February each Friday night. Each session is six weeks. Sign up for both sessions online to receive a discount.

March 30 | Liberty Lake Nine Hole Golf Club will hold their registration on Thursday, March 30 at 9 a.m. at 24403 E. Sprague Ave., Liberty Lake. All new golfers welcomed. Please contact Bette (509) 928-6854.

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.

FEBRUARY 2017 • 15

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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.

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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.

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The Splash

16 • FEBRUARY 2017

ROADS

Continued from page 11 can clear the arterials and get to the residential streets,” Severs said.

Staples responded by saying that “clearing times vary in the region depending on the jurisdiction.”

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The Splash reached out to Stone Creek for reaction to comments from Jan. 17 but did not receive a return call.

While the city takes on the responsibility to clear public streets, private roads are another story. Homeowner associations (HOA’s) deal with winter conditions on pavement within their respective neighborhoods. City Administrator Katy Allen said responsiveness has generally been better among residential HOA’s than commercial entities.

The city has received calls regarding slippery or snow-caked roads throughout town, Allen said.

Whitman is one private road that has been known to be particularly slick. Allen said the city will put safety first even if the street falls outside municipal responsibility.

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“It can take 10 hours or two days,” he said. “If our expectation is that we want our streets cleared more quickly then we can set that expectation.”

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“Certainly safety is our number one goal,” she said. “If a (private) street is approaching a public street or right-of-way and it’s unsafe, we’re going to put sand on it.”

Allen emphasized that residents can make a difference by notifying the city of roads that need to be cleared or de-iced.

“If you see something and it’s not safe, let us know,” she said.

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Severs said the city should be more proactive about winter road maintenance, “dealing with issues before they become a problem.”

Allen said the city has learned an important lesson with the challenges of an extreme winter and a contractor in only its second year.

“When you’re working with a contractor, you really have to be in the field, observing the work,” she said.

While Stone Creek oversees roads when the snow falls, city crews, led

by Parks and Open Space Director Jennifer Camp, patrol sidewalks and trails. Camp and her crew say the purchase of equipment, from snow blowers to tractors has made a significant different.

City crews prioritize school routes, clearing from the road to sidewalks so bothersome berms don’t become a problem. The nineperson team also addresses parking lots at city-owned properties like Pavillion Park, Rocky Hill Park, the police precinct and library.

In other city news: • Council Member Cris Kaminskas, a representative of the city’s finance committee, reported that revenue from Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) totaled $665,000 in 2016. The tax, typically paid by the seller of a property, was up 65 percent from the projected amount for last year.

• Allen told council that the city is now looking at a larger electronic community messaging sign that will be installed at the corner of Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road. The sign will measure 5 feet high by 12 feet wide and have a monument-like appearance. “We want it to be like a gateway,” Allen said.

• A memo to incoming residents of Legacy Ridge has been completed, Allen said. The memo will focus on water pressure issues relevant to properties on sloped neighborhood. “It puts them on notice to make smart plumbing decisions related to irrigation, bathroom fixtures, etc.,” Allen said.

• The city is moving closer to having building permit software in place. The online option will be more user-friendly, Allen said.

• On the high-tech front, representatives of the City Council will have new iPads by midFebruary while City Hall, the library and police station are being wired for Smart TV’s – a cross between computers and flat-screen televisions. Allen said the additions will help in areas like accessing google maps that will stay current unlike print versions and improving access to communication and safety updates during extreme events like the November 2015 windstorm.

The Splash

TEAMWORK

Continued from page 13 and goals aligned in a way that pointed to marriage. They were wed on Oct. 28, 1995.

While the Kopelsons enjoy less elaborate outings, anniversary celebrations can be an exception.

Nicki and Keith take turns surprising each other when the special date rolls around. One year, Nicki put together a trip to San Francisco to catch “Phantom of the Opera.”

Another year, Keith surprised her with a Caribbean cruise.

Sometimes, life can get in the way of an anniversary surprise trip. Keith has been in the hospital several times over the past dozen years when the special date has come up. From cancer to a triple bypass to the installation of 15 heart stints, health challenges have been part of the equation for the native of Massapequa, N.Y. Keith says he is just grateful that Nicki has been by his side through it all.

“I’m in awe,” he said. “Nicki is extremely loyal to me. I know it’s not easy. She is such a great person.”

While Nicki appreciates the gratitude from her husband for standing by him regardless of the scenario, she is quick to emphasize that her dedication to Keith – in sickness and health – is all part of the understanding.

“It’s that initial commitment we made,” she said. “When times get tough, you just go back to why you fell in love in the first place.”

After a successful 20-year career in retail management, Keith had to slow down due to his physical concerns. Nicki became the primary breadwinner, rising to the position of regional office operations manager at TierPoint, a national DataCenter and Cloud Services provider with an office at the Liberty Lake Portal.

“I became a stay-at-home dad,” Keith said.

Nicki has supported Keith through several entrepreneurial efforts as well as civic involvement on several levels. He served on the Liberty Lake City Council from January 2012 through May of last year. The owner of a security/janitorial business, He also co-founded the Liberty Lake Merchants Association and served as president of the Liberty Lake Rotary.

Keith and Nicki now have four kids – Ashlee, Kenny, Samantha and Emilee as well as one grandchild, Zoey.

Keith, Nicki and their family moved to Liberty Lake from Boise in 2004.

FEBRUARY 2017 • 17

With a father who passed away from a heart attack at the age of 37, Keith once had a goal of reaching 35. Now 51, he says Nicki has been the catalyst for his physical and emotional well-being.

“I’m not a great patient,” Keith says. “I really rely on her to give me advice. She sincerely cares about taking care of me.”

Father Daughter Dance 2017

Occasionally, the reinforcement takes a different form. Keith was at a City Council meeting a few years ago when he learned his brother had passed away.

Under Sea

“We just hugged and cried,” Nicki said.

Nicki quickly rallied to make all of the travel arrangements and take care of all the incidentals so Keith could be with his family.

THE

“She was there for me in everything I needed to do,” Keith remembers.

“It meant a tremendous amount.

The next thing I knew, I was on a plane. She is a problem solver.”

Nicki makes sure to point out that the support in the relationship is not one-sided.

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“Keith is great with the kids, he cooks, he’s creative and fun,” she said. “He’s very supportive of the things I want to try, whether it’s at church or Rotary.”

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When Nicki and Keith have disagreements, they don’t dwell on the gap that may be created.

If an argument happens, it always includes the policy of what they call a “fresh start,” a re-set that lays aside any harsh feelings.

“It works if you let it,” Keith said.

“It’s easier to let it go because you’ve already agreed to that.”

Learning to compromise, finding balance, working together on a family budget and consistent communication also make the Kopelson’s priority list for nurturing their relationship. As for romance, they both say it’s there in layers, formed through all they’ve experienced together on both smooth and choppy seas.

“I look at it as unconditional commitment,” Nicki says. “It’s how you can make that person happier.”

This Valentine’s Day, it’s Keith’s turn to surprise Nicki. Not surprisingly, he wouldn’t divulge the gift. Rest assured, though, it will include a considerable helping of gratitude.

“I’m just so thankful for her,” he said. “Our romance is a byproduct of our relationship. It’s there naturally because of the way we treat each other.”

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The Splash

18 • FEBRUARY 2017

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Every American should know President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

"Honest Abe", as he was commonly known, was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809, making him the first president born outside the original 13 states. He didn’t have a middle name nor did he like being called “Abe”. Growing up very poor he didn’t have much schooling and was self taught through avid reading. He worked many jobs; postmaster, shopkeeper, and surveyor, before deciding to practice law, without a degree. He even argued in front of the Supreme Court, allthough he lost.

Wrestling was a favorite pastime of his. As was reading Shakespeare. He didn’t hunt, drink, chew, fish or smoke. Reading the bible was important to him, but he never belonged to an organized church.

His favorite poem was “Morality” by William Knox.

He won his campaign for the House of Representatives after only spending 75 cents (that was for apple cider to share.) on his campaign. He lost his bid for the Senate twice before becoming president in 1861, winning 40% of the popular vote. His presidency contained many firsts: first to have a beard, first to use a telegraph, first to hold a patent. Establishing Thanksgiving, the Department of Agriculture and the National Banking System were just some of his accomplishments while in office. Although he hated war, he believed it was

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the only way to save the nation, after the southern Sp states declared their secession from the Union. www.sp In addition to serving as president during the civil war and saving the Union, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation paving the way for the thirteenth amendment which ended slavery in the U.S. forever. He believed that women should have the right to vote as early as 1837, but wouldn’t become the 19th ammendment to the constitution until June 4, 1919. He also wrote and gave The Gettysburg Address, memorializing the bloodiest and most important battle of the Civil War. At just 272 words, it is considered one of the greatest speeches in American history and one of the most quoted.

Shortly after the war ended, Abraham Lincoln became the first U.S. President to be assassinated.

After being shot and mortally wounded on Good Friday, April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre he died the next day. His coffin has had to be moved 17 times due to disturbances.

Although he had four sons, there aren’t any direct descendants living today.

In 1909, the Lincoln penny was the first coin to have a presidential likeness. It commemorated the100th anniversary of his birth. He is still the most popular president in American history.

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20 • FEBRUARY 2017

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G A H T U O M B F W N X S E P Q J O Z G I F P E O

E U T F H U L E A I G X L W M O S D N T C W E Y M

D U J X L L H F L C Q C N Y X P U T D U I T C L F

H W J Z H Z F I H A O P E I M W R Q I W H U J Q A

M R E K T D U L C N N V W L P X T T X B R V J R J

C J W K U S W R M I O Y W Q O N Q I F J N W F W Y

Y R G H T H L O T N D E A H P T A I X P O I V V J

Y T Z Y E R W V U E X Z Y L W O L Z R I B G P A Z

T M I K U N T Z L H C K T X F M F W A C H Z T E E

P O Q V M H R U Z L I R A T R A T R L K J Z G U Q

Q H O G A R H C S P R H Y B P T Y I O C Z I K P H

R S X T F C N U R G F D A R B I F W M R Y P L F M

B R U S H I I S S G Y E N P Y C Y S V L J A Z X G

F O L R G P L C S E X T T W Z F B Y I X Q L J U Z

D N X L L E A B I Q Y P Y F N W W N H U E O L N U

K J Q F G T S S S V T H K K Y L K Q E O S C D U S

G A U D D L L P T V L U O D S V I P V G U X A E K

A H F F E X M S J E F Y I K T G Y D Z I A R V D W

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducat A book to dig your BRUSH The Tooth Fairy Wars Kate Coombs 2014 ages 5-8 teeth into... CANINE CAVITY CLEANNathan doesn’t want the tooth fairy to take his teeth.

DENTIST The tooth fairy just wants to do her job well. Who do you ENAMEL think will win this battle of the wills?

FLOSS FLUORIDE INCISOR MOLAR

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FEBRUARY 2017 • 21

PACE Trait Honesty

Sincerity and reverence or love for the truth

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Animal Facts

Every month we feature an information on a different animal. Cut them out and collect them all!

Bobcat - North America - 26” to 46”, 11 to 30 pounds, and 15-25 years.

- Tom, queen, kitten, clowder or clutter - Most abundant wildcat with greatest range - Males will share their territory, but females will not - Name comes from their bobbed tail - Twice as big as a house cat, but can bring down a deer ten times its size - Pounce up to 10 feet - Good Swimmer

The Splash

22 • FEBRUARY 2017

In 1945, Mary was born in Hampshire England. After winning a scholarship to James Allen’s Girls’ School she continued her education at the University of Cambridge where she studied English at Newnham College. She then spent two years studying Linguistics at University College London.

As an adult she worked at schools, as a writer, but primarily as a consultant for the BBC Look and Read series.

Since 1975 Mary has written 24 picture books including Amazing Grace which has won many awards. In more recent years she has written teen fiction including the Stravaganza series. She also writes for adults under a number of pseudonyms making her total of published books over 80.

Author Spotlight n a m f f o H Mary

CHOCOLATE SPARKLE COOKIES

Total time: 1 hour, plus 8 hours chilling Makes about 36 cookies

1/2 pound semisweet chocolate 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature 2 eggs 1/3 cup sugar, plus more for rolling 3/4 cup ground almonds Powdered sugar, for garnish 1. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over, but not touching, simmering water. Remove from the heat. Cut the butter into a few pieces and mix into the chocolate until melted.

2. Beat the eggs with an electric mixer, gradually adding the sugar until ribbons form.

Fold in the chocolate-butter mixture. Gently add the ground almonds. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Stravaganza Series 2002-2012 age 10 and up

This series travels between modern England and Talia which is similar to Renaissance Italy. New characters introduced in each book while keeping you up-to-date on the previous travelers. City of Masks is where your journey begins. There are currently six books but we can hope for six more.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses 2012 ages 6-10.

The story isn’t really different than other versions that you’ve read but the artwork

by Miss Ciara makes this a standout book to enjoy.

Clever Katya 1998 ages 5-10

This is a nice retelling of the traditional Russian folktale. The young daughter outsmarts the older wiser people and is amply rewarded for being clever.

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FEBRUARY 2017 • 23

Student of the Month When the Central Valley High School girls basketball squad needs a defensive stopper, they turn to senior Courtney Carolan.

The defending state 4A champs look to Carolan, one of the first players off the bench, for leadership and enthusiasm as they continue their undefeated run through the Greater Spokane League. Carolan was more of an offensive threat in her first two years at CV but has adjusted her game to the team. “I like the challenge of defense,” Carolan says. She suffered a seasonending knee injury last year but battled back to return to the court in July and resume practices in November. The senior is also a two-year letter winner in varsity softball and a member of DECA, a marketing club at CV.

Citizen of the Month

& Thanks you for all you do in our community

You might say Ryan Hagmann is a student of note at Central Valley High School. The senior plays string bass in the symphony and electric guitar in the jazz band and last year, earned a trip to state in the guitar as part of the solo/ensemble competition.

Over the holidays, Hagmann was part of a jazz band tour of local retirement homes. A 4.0 student, Ryan is a member of the National Honor Society. The Liberty Lake resident is also an Eagle Scout. He has also been part of the Bears’ cross country team for the past four years. In track, he participates in the pole vault. Hagmann is considering the University of Washington and Western Washington University as college options.

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Athlete of the Month You’ve probably heard of the “Rain Man,” but Liberty Lake’s “Water Man” is known as one of the region’s leading experts on H20. Steve Skipworth joined the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District in 2007, replacing longtime commissioner Harley Halverson. Skipworth spent 32 years at Spokane Valley-based Vera Water and Power, retiring as director of operations. He ran unchallenged on the ballot for LLSWD commissioner in 2008 and again in 2013. He is currently in the fourth year of a six-year term and is collaborating with Sen. Mike Padden on an irrigation rights bill in the latest legislative session. “Steve has been an incredible asset to the district,” said LLSWD General Manager BiJay Adams. “He brings tremendous knowledge and experience of water issues.”

A Spokane native, Skipworth is a 1968 graduate of Central Valley High School and earned his degree in Industrial Technology Construction from Eastern Washington University in 1972.

He and his wife, Jill, are parents to two sons.

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24 • FEBRUARY 2017 Brought to you by

About and for Liberty Lake seniors

Humble resolve propels Spokane’s ‘Iron Nun’ to iconic status

By Craig Howard Splash Editor Things were fairly normal for Sister Madonna Buder before last summer – as normal as they can be for a nun in her 80s who competes in triathlons across the world.

Then an ad from Nike appeared on TV, portraying Buder in panoramic settings, running, cycling and swimming in true Ironman form.

Toward the end of the promotion, as Buder is galloping down the sand to take on the 2.4-mile swim that represents one-third of the Ironman’s rigorous agenda, a voiceover warns her to sit this one out. A fellow competitor quickly sheds light on the situation by identifying Buder as “the Iron Nun.” Buder then tells the ad’s incredulous host that she has completed 45 Ironman events, which consist of a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon along with the swim.

The cynicism must have rung familiar for Buder, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, who moved to Spokane in 1970. When she took up running at the age of 47, she was a nervous wreck before her first competitive race, the second rendition of Bloomsday in 1978.

Training in flimsy canvas tennis shoes until shortly before race day, Buder alternated between walking and running the distance of just under 7.5 miles, proving to herself and others that she had found her stride.

“It was really uplifting,” Buder recalls. “The camaraderie was great.”

She would graduate to longer races before completing nearly 40 marathons.

Buder remembers the whisperings that a place for a nun was not on the race course. Even her mother in St. Louis, who raised her Catholic, struggled with the growing legacy of the sister in running shoes.

Around that time, Buder set about on some soul searching.

Sister Madonna Buder moved to Spokane in 1970 and took up running in 1978 at the age of 47. She has competed in 377 triathlons and 45 Ironman events and was inducted into the U.S. Ironman Hall of Fame in 2014.

Photo by Craig Howard “I climbed a mountain top and asked God about the situation,” Buder said. “The answer I got was, ‘You don’t have to apologize for the gifts you have been given but you do have to apologize for not using them.’”

When she prepared for her debut as a triathlete in 1982 at the age of 52, Buder again heard the skeptics.

Later, when the idea of an Ironman cropped up, even Buder found herself wondering aloud.

“At that point, I knew I could handle a marathon, but an Ironman?” she said. “Would there be anything left of me?”

Buder was 55 when she crossed the tape at her first Ironman.

Over the years, she would win gold medals in her age bracket at events in eight countries and over half the states in the U.S. At Ironman Canada in 2009, she set a new world record in the 75-79 age group, one of several world marks she still owns.

Back in Canada for the event’s 2012 rendition, Buder became the oldest person ever to complete an Ironman at the age of 82. She was inducted into the U.S. Ironman Hall of Fame in 2014.

The legend of the Iron Nun gained momentum as Buder channeled spiritual strength into athletic

Medals, plaques and trophies take up most of one room in Sister Madonna Buder’s humble north Spokane home.

She competed in her first triathlon at the age of 52 and her first Ironman competition at 55.

Photo by Craig Howard success. She opened half-a-dozen new age groups for women at various events and raised money for charities along the way.

Somehow, she found time to earn two Master’s degrees and become an accomplished photographer.

In 2010, she published a wellreceived autobiography, “The Grace to Race.”

Sometimes, fellow competitors ask for blessings from the Iron Nun before the start. Propelled by faith and her best effort, Buder found herself becoming a fitness icon.

“My faith has certainly given me an ultimate trust that if I think I can do it, I can with God’s help,” she said. “When people say, ‘You’ve got God on your side, I say, ‘You do, too, you just have to refer to Him.” When not traveling to a race,

Buder lives a quiet life in Spokane, training on the Centennial Trail and a YMCA near her humble home.

Service and spiritual pursuits take precedence with daily Mass and visits to the Spokane County Jail where she tells prisoners they “are treasured beings.”

“Everyone is a masterpiece,” she says. “Everyone is precious in God’s sight.”

Whether appearing on “The Doctors” television show as she did last November or fielding media calls in response to the Nike ad, Buder said she has struggled somewhat with the newfound fame. She cringes when people use a term like “idol” and has refused to sign an agent, saying it would only add another layer to an already busy schedule.

Buder will kick off the spring racing season in March with a sprint triathlon in Arizona. In July, she will celebrate her 87th birthday. Along with training for the latest event, the Iron Nun confides that she spends time these days “trying to figure out how I’ll fit into the great beyond.”

Even with the demand of celebrity, Buder welcomes the opportunity to instill hope and encouragement at any turn.

“I tell people there is no such thing as failure – the only failure is not to try,” she says. “Success is in the effort.”

Spokane resident Sister Madonna Buder set the Ironman Canada record for the 70-74 age group in 1995 with a time of 14:46.21. At one point, Buder held the record in five different age categories for the event.

Contributed photo

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FEBRUARY 2017 • 25

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The Splash

26 • FEBRUARY 2017

CV’s Christopher provides senior savvy for defending champs

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor Lexie and Lacie Hull inarguably are the engines that make the Central Valley girls basketball team go but they’re not the “Hull” reason the Bears are so dominant.

The team with but two seniors has more depth than last year’s squad with Hailey Christopher a dominant player in her own right.

As CV’s third leading scorer, the 6-foot post has averaged better than nine points per game over the last two seasons. With her size, she’s been a menace defensively and, according to coach Freddie Rehkow, is as quick running the floor as CV’s guards.

“She is exceptionally athletic,” Rehkow says. “Most posts can’t cover the floor the way she does.”

Like the Hulls, Christopher is being recruited by Division I schools not only for basketball (which is the sport she plans to play collegiately), but for track and field.

Last spring as a sophomore high jumper, she cleared the bar at 5-foot-5, a mere inch below Mariah Cunningham’s CV school record while finishing second in state. Being tall in middle school, Christopher was recruited to the high jump and cleared 5 feet

as an eighth grader, no small achievement then.

It is a future soaring for rebounds and layups that this senior is focusing on, however.

“Basketball has always been my main sport,” Christopher says.

With Big Sky schools, including Eastern Washington University

and others calling, track and field, other than high school, is on the back burner.

“She may not be going to Stanford (the schools the Hulls have committed to), U-Conn or the Pac-12, but she certainly will be at the WCC or even higher depending upon her progression in the next year or two,” Rehkow

Central Valley senior Hailey Christopher starts at center for the defending 4A champion Bears. She has averaged over nine points a game the past two seasons and is known for her defense and rebounding in the post.

Photo by Mike Vlahovich

points out. “She’s so athletic and long defensively she’s able to block shots and get rebounds.”

That’s pretty much been her role since beginning playing basketball in fifth grade when her job was to be a defender and rebounder.

“I’m really strong on defense and I kind of guard the post,” she says.

Back then Christopher played against her future teammates in AAU and said she typically had to guard one or the other of the Hulls.

“It was always a challenge to guard them,” she says. “It was like I didn’t want them to score and every once in a while I’d get a steal.”

Once at CV the teammates have formed a bond that is into its third year. With only two graduating after this season it’s likely not the last.

“On the court we are so used to playing with each other there’s a high level of trust between us,” Christopher explains of the Bears’ bond. “I guess we just kind of know where we’ll be in certain places. I think it’s kind of a sixth sense.”

Despite a 43-game winning streak and counting, no one is looking ahead. When told of CV’s overwhelming scoring disparity this year, Christopher said she hadn’t known it, which kind of sums up the nature of what the team is about.

Never looking too far ahead, Hailey Christopher runs the floor, clogs the middle and rebounds, scores and swats way opponents’ shots, surrounded by a group of gifted teammates – all of them good friends.

The Splash

Sports Notebook

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor The basketball season is winding down with three games remaining at publishing date and Central Valley basketball teams gearing for postseason.

Before that was the Stinky Sneaker spirit games versus rival University, as the Bears girls and boys begin their quest.

Regardless of where the RPI takes them, the girls will be chasing a third straight state finals berth and second straight unbeaten state 4A title. The boys have been to regionals four of the past five years, with three state appearances.

While the girls have already separated themselves from the rest of GSL pack (they do have a showdown versus one-loss 3A Mt. Spokane), the boys were part of a taut three-team struggle, tied with Ferris, two games behind Gonzaga Prep.

Final Point CV alum, ex-hurler Falkner carved his career as Bullpup

By Mike Vlahovich

Splash Sports Editor Al Falkner wasn’t going to amaze anyone with his fastball. But two score and seven years ago, the left hander with a nasty curveball and deceptive pick-off move earned Central Valley a memorable 2-1 victory over Gonzaga Prep that put the Bears in the driver’s seat during the district baseball tournament series.

I vividly remember how things unfolded while I watched along the right field line at Spokane Indians Stadium, then the home of Los Angeles Dodgers’ AAA baseball affiliate.

There is certain irony in all this.

It came to mind after seeing the Spokesman-Review’s Valley Voice, my former employer. There was a picture of Falkner for a story pronouncing his retirement after 40-plus years as English teacher,

FEBRUARY 2017 • 27

SPORTS

Despite being unbeaten over the last two years, the girls are ranked sixth in state according the RPI state seeding poll.

“We keep dropping,” Bears coach Freddie Rehkow said. “Here’s the crazy thing. If we won out we could be (as low as) number nine.”

If there’s no adjustment based on state rankings and history, the Bears would have to win twice in loser out play to reach the double elimination round of eight.

“I’ll tell you what,” Rehkow said. “If it’s a nine versus a 16, there might have to be a statement made.”

So much for new and improved.

Girls keep romping Unbeaten in 15 games, CV has been led by the Hull twins, Lexie and Lacie, who were scoring a combined 29 of CV’s average 61 points per game.

Average margin of victory had been 33 points per game. The Bears scored 78-8 and 70-13 victories while holding five teams below 20 points in a game and having five total 70-plus point games.

Through 15 games they were averaging 61 points per contest.

Eleven different players had scored, the majority by Lexie Hull, who is averaging 15.5 points per game and

Lacie who is averaging 13 points.

Hailey Christopher is averaging over nine per contest. Both Hulls had been in double figures each of the first 15 games, while Christopher was averaging about 9.5 points.

Rehkow also put in a good word for the team defense and sophomore point guard Mady Simmelink, who he described as “our floor leader.”

“I’ll tell you without a doubt she’s the most overlooked girl on our team,” Rehkow said. “What people don’t see is her assist to turnover ratio.”

Simmelink has dished almost five assists per turnover, an indication why the Bears are piling up huge offensive numbers, according to Rehkow.

Boys challenge Ryan Rehkow will make his living with his foot, but the senior is making his mark with a basketball in his hands as well. Through 15 games, he was averaging over 17 points per game, including a whopping 34 points in one game against Mead.

He’d also had games of 28, 26 and 24 for the Bears who had a 10-3 league record and were 12-3 overall.

The perimeter oriented team also

had long-range bombing of junior Zach Stocker who was averaging nearly 11 points per outing.

A post-presstime game with league leader Gonzaga, who led the Bears by two games, would go a long way toward determining where the season takes them.

Wrestlers in post-season In many years, the Battle of the Bone was not only for inter-district pride but included a Greater Spokane League wrestling title on the line.

This year pride will have to do.

The Mead schools wrestled for the GSL title while the best Central Valley could hope for was third.

As coach Shaun Williams said at the beginning of the season, the inexperienced team would have an uphill climb, but the Bears finished strong and have several post-season hopefuls.

Both state veterans Braedon Orrino and Bridger Beard were unbeaten in league. The team could advance as many as nine past district, Wyatt Wickham, Tate Malek, Brock McNeilly, and Bradley Wiggs among them.

District wrestling is Feb. 3-4 with regionals and state the following two weekends.

baseball coach, athletic director, principal and finally president at, of all places, G-Prep, the very school he beat so many years ago.

“I really wanted the first Falkner said. “I don’t why Harry Amend) chose me. it was a hunch. Personally, pitching in that place.”

transferred to Whitworth, playing with a couple of CV teammates.

It drew a chuckle from him when I called and told Falkner he’d scarcely aged since that memorable playoff performance lo, those many years ago.

Valley schools CV, University and West Valley had been ousted from the city league for lack of competitiveness, mainly in football. They formed the Border League. There were no state baseball tourneys at the time so the champions from each league squared off for the equivalent – end of season area bragging rights in a best-of-three playoff.

“It was two great teams in classic Border-City League games,” recalls Falkner of the 1970 playoffs.

He wasn’t kidding. Lineups of both teams were loaded with athletes who would go on to play collegiately or professionally – including eventual Major League player Bump Wills from CV – in one sport or another.

Falkner was essentially CV’s no.

2 pitcher behind sophomore Brad Darrow based on Darrow’s firstteam All-Border selection versus Falkner’s second-team choice.

Falkner had a 5-1 record and 0.84 ERA so not much separated them.

game,” (coach Maybe I loved

Perhaps, in part, it was because Falkner was the senior. Been there done that.

The “gamble” if you will, paid off. Falkner pitched a classic 2-1 triumph over Prep’s number one hurler, Mike Davey, to give the Bears a leg up with Darrow ready for the next game against Prep’s no. 2.

Unfortunately there is no happy ending to the story even though Darrow pitched one-hit ball and took a three-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of game two. It appeared the Bears were on their way to a title.

“Don’t sack your bats before the game’s over,” the baseball adage goes. The young, uber-confident coach didn’t heed the advice and a bases-loaded triple to the fence in right field in the bottom of the seventh ruined Darrow’s dandy.

Prep had Davey ready the next day and dream turned into nightmare.

It was something Falkner and I have never forgotten. He counts his win and a 13-inning victory over University among his high school highlights. He went on to the University of Washington and

A teaching position fortuitously opened at Prep and he ultimately spent his career entirely as a Bullpup.

“I wanted to get into teaching and we meshed in a couple of good ways,” Falkner recalls. “There had been no openings at either CV or U-Hi. Former Titan teacher John Traynor was president at Prep and called Falkner about an English opening.

For 17 years Falkner taught and was the Bullpups’ baseball coach, winning two GSL championships. “I really enjoyed it. We had a pretty good run here,” he says.

Then he spent seven years as athletic director, another nine as principal and since 2004 has been president in charge of “mission and money.” Since there is no public money at the private Jesuit school it has been his job to raise it privately. The Voice story talked about his work on the Fair Share tuition plan and fundraising to upgrade the school and athletic facilities.

“There’s no trick to it,” Falkner says. “It’s all about relationships.

We’ve been blessed.”

Maybe that upset 2-1 victory over Gonzaga Prep 46 years ago was an omen.

The Splash

28 • FEBRUARY 2017

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The Splash

Lake Grier preceded Liberty Lake with ties to a president

By Ross Schneidmiller

Liberty Lake Historical Society Liberty Lake was once named Lake Grier after Brevet Major William Nicholson Grier for acts of bravery performed during the Spokane Indian War of 1858. But it was an act of kindness, not bravery, that may have made its greatest impact

HISTORY by this take-charge cavalry soldier of the Western frontier.

Grier, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1835, spent much of his life in service to his country, rising to the rank of brigadier general towards the end of his career. In 1840, after serving time on frontier duty in Indian Territory, Grier returned to West Point to instruct infantry and cavalry tactics.

One evening, Grier came upon Ulysses S. Grant and his roommate while making a tour of inspection.

Fredrick Dent Grant would write an article for the New York World Sunday Magazine about this encounter between his famous father and Grier. He told how a turkey had been smuggled into the

room of the first-year cadets and they were in the process of cooking it as Grier arrived. The account follows: “The odor of roasting turkey was strong in the room and must have smote the officer in his nostrils before he crossed the threshold.

He walked around, keeping his eyes continually upon the ceiling, and announced with ostentatious severity: ‘Gentlemen, it seems to me I can smell something cooking.’

Grier carefully avoided looking at the guilty faces of the two young fellows or towards the fowl on their hearth. It was perfectly clear that he had not the faintest intention of reporting them and he did not do so. Of course, he should have reported them, for theirs was a serious offense. His consideration

FEBRUARY 2017 • 29

saved the boys a great deal of trouble and possibly from dismissal from the corps of cadets.”

After the Civil War when the downsizing of the army took place, Grant “remembered the favor shown to him by Grier and he did not allow the pressure brought by the friends of other officers to secure them places in the new army list to overweigh the just and proper claims of one who had rendered a kindness to him in his early life.”

In August 1866, Grier, “who was a brave and efficient officer,” was named commander of the 3rd U.S. Calvary. General Ulysses S. Grant rode his popularity from the Civil War into the White House, becoming the 18th president of the U.S. in 1869.

Counter clockwise from the left: Brevet Second Lt. Grant in 1846, three years after graduating from West Point; an 1800s map of West Point Military Academy depicting the Cadet Barracks near center; Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, circa 1869; William N. Grier, commander of the 3rd U.S. Calvary 1866; the underlying map is from a lithograph plate contained in Cpt. John Mullan’s “Report on the Construction of a Military Road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton,” published in 1863.

Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Historical Society

The Splash

30 • FEBRUARY 2017

Adorkable Flowers & Gifts premieres with creative flourish

By Mary Anne Ruddis Splash Correspondent In a massed produced world, it is a breath of fresh fragrant air to discover a flower and gift shop that believes there is no such thing as a “cookie cutter” expression of love.

Adorkable Flowers & Gifts, LLC in Liberty Lake opened its doors on Oct 10 of last year. Owners Andrea and Joshua Wallgren are both former Marines who left active duty status in 2013. They began the business out of their home in January 2014 before moving to 21950 E. Country Vista Drive, Suite 500 in Liberty Lake.

The opening date, as well as the date of their recent ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 24, is significant.

“We wanted to open on October 10

because that is my grandmother’s birthday and the day we celebrate our wedding anniversary,” said Andrea. Her grandmother passed before her wedding and this was a way for Andrea to honor her.

Andrea first got the idea to open her own flower shop in 2012 as she was preparing to leave the Marines.

A friend joked that she should buy a floral shop that was for sale near where her friend lived. Andrea and Joshua decided to move back to Spokane after being stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina but the seed of opening a flower shop was securely planted. Andrea is originally from Otis Orchards and Joshua is from the Spokane Valley.

The name of the shop, “Adorkable,” was Andrea’s nickname in high school. The shop is a dream come true that both Andrea and Joshua are continuing to build upon.

Andrea points out that flowers mark the special occasions in our lives – both joyful and challenging.

“When we feel good, we share it,” she says. “And when we don’t feel good, people share with you.”

She believes that flower arrangements should be as unique as the loved one receiving them.

Adorkable

Flowers & Gifts

Adorkable Flowers & Gifts opened last fall on Country Vista Drive in Liberty Lake. The shop has already established itself as a go-to place for those looking for creative, unique flower arrangements and gifts, such as these air plants and Japanese Moss Balls.

Photo by Danica Wick At Adorkable, they can prepare traditional and non-traditional arrangements but pride themselves on creating arrangements that truly reflect the recipient.

“We’ve been conditioned with (online shopping sites) to think we know what a flower arrangement should be,” Andrea said. “But computers don’t know anything about us.”

Andrea much prefers talking with her customers directly, getting an idea for what they would like and creating something customized and unique.

“We once did a Seahawks arrangement for a funeral,” she said. “Flowers signify our lives.

Flowers are a part of big events. The colors have meaning. The flowers have meaning. When someone leaves my shop, I want them to leave happy. The individual person is what is important.”

We are Officially Open!

thank you to all those who attended to support us 21950 E Country Vista Drive Suite 500 Liberty Lake WA 99019

509.922.6300

Veteran Owned Business Hours: M-F 10 am - 6pm • Sat 10 am - 5 pm

Andrea started her flower business using a technique to print directly on flowers and still offers that service. It is a unique niche and the script can be customized to say anything a customer wants.

Andrea is a licensed vendor for the process and is the only business in the Northwest to offer this feature.

Along with cut flowers, Adorkable also carries potted flower plants.

“Flowers add a bit of color to life,” said Joshua.

He recalled being in the drab environment in Afghanistan and seeing vehicles that the Afghanis decorated with flowers to add color. “That stayed with me.” Joshua has even tried his hand at creating a few floral

designs as well. He likes natural and wild arrangements.

The shop also carries unique gifts and is continuously looking for new items to add. Some are consigned items from local entrepreneurs. “I like helping out locals,” said Andrea.

She believes that we should all support our local community and spend our dollars with integrity.

Joshua creates many of the items in the shop from repurposed materials. He is continuously on the lookout for unique items that can be crafted into something new.

He also creates custom orders. “I can do anything within reason,” he said. They’ve used burlap, canvas and even dip cans to create unique, one-of-a-kind orders. “The limitation is your imagination,” said Andrea.

Adorkable is slowly adding more gifts as Andrea and Joshua learn to understand what their customers are looking for. In the meantime, they continue to keep things fresh and unique.

Adorkable does not currently have a website, preferring to wait until they can get the custom website that will accurately reflect their brand.

“I want my website to be as unique as we are,” Andrea said.

You can find Adorkable Flowers & Gifts on Facebook or reach them at 922-6300.

“Life is a series of events,” Andrea said. “We want to help make every memory a great one. You can’t have a bad day around flowers.”

The Splash

Love Notes

FEBRUARY 2017 • 31

roses are red, violets are blue, those that you love, have a message for you

Thanks for 21 great years together. Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Anniversary Dale.

Eternally your, Jessie

Happy 94th Birthday to the most special and wonderful grandmother a grandson could ever have. Thank you for all the support and love throughout my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you. Oh, and Happy Valentine’s day also.

Ben Dena, Every couple has their nicknames for each other. I always call you Deenar because there isn’t a nickname that can tell you what you mean to me. It’s hard to come up with something that says “you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and you are the reason I am a happy man.” I love you Dena Happy Valentine’s Day. ​Alana, I was going to write the lyrics to an 80's ballad but I couldn't because of copywrite issues. So I will say this Happy Valentines Day to my lovely sweetie pie, for the 10th year as husband and wife.

To my wonderful mother, Although I may not be the definition of a “valentine” I want to take this opportunity to tell you that I love you. You are the most influential person in my life and I am thankful every day for your guidance. As life continues I will gladly lend an ear, be your shoulder and share this and every other day with you. Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Birthday!

Love you bunches!

Tandy, Even after almost 30 years, I am still amazed that god led me to you. I can't imagine life without you. I love you more than ever and I 'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Of course, that's easy because I got the best end of the deal.

Love, Dave

Tim, Thank you for noticing me at the airportand talking with me. Now we are engaged to be married. Will you be my Valentine forever?

Joy Dear Sarah: You are the most courageous person I know. Thank you for being my wife, my companion, my friend, my support.

Thank you for leaving your favorite city in the world to be with me here in Spokane and to start an amazing family.

I love your laugh, your creativity, your wit, your intelligence, your bright eyes and your radiant smile. Most of all, I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day (El Dia de Amor).

Love, Craig Happy Valentine’s Day to the love of my life, V. You are my everything.

My other half. The finisher of my sentences. The joy and light in my world. I love you baby. Forever and always.

Chuck

Adric, You are a blessing beyond measure in my life and I could not be more thankful that god brought you into my life. Every day we grow closer together and I cannot image in a life without you in it. I love our adventures, singing Disney music in the car together, snuggles, the good times and the bad times together and everything in between.

You are my rock, provider, husband, best friend and biggest supporter and every day that we spend together is the best day of my life!

I love you so much, happy second Valentines!

- Love, Hayley

Happy Valentine ’s Day to all our readers

- The Splash and The Current team

GraceSon_invitations_2017_back_pr.pdf 1 12/13/2016 11:25:32 AM

The Splash

32 • FEBRUARY 2017

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The Splash

Reflections from the Lake

By Scott Bernhard What do you remember about the effort to incorporate Liberty Lake?

I remember it was going on in the background. I was aware of it but there was a definite group that was directly involved. It made sense.

Police, taxes, direct involvement in decisions that affected the community.

Why did you decide to run for the first City Council?

There was a lot of volunteer work that had been going on by a lot of people. It was fun to be a part of.

But without a question it was input from a Liberty Lake founder named Lud Kramer. If you don’t know anything about him he was a past secretary of state for Washington.

This awesome guy adopted Liberty Lake. He was a mentor to me and with his advice I wanted to run for City Council.

What are some of your memories of that first year as part of the council?

Amazing. It was such an amazing group of people so dedicated to what we were doing. I remember there was a period between the incorporation vote and funding that we literally had zero dollars to operate.

People donated computers, time, paper, resources to get it going. The council, while having amazingly different perspectives on the city coming from very diverse backgrounds, came together on so many issues.

My favorite moment was the night we came together on the mission statement for the city. We kicked around a lot of ideas and we came to a consensus. Thank you to Steve, Dave, Judy, Wendy, Tim, Paul and Brian.

How do you think the incorporation has worked out overall?

Everything the incorporation group tried to accomplish they have. Police, roads, library, trails and signage are a few things that come to mind. I was always a proponent of limited signage. I

FEBRUARY 2017 • 33

remember when Steve Peterson first showed up in Liberty Lake and he had no local history. I was skeptical of him and his intentions.

He has proved himself over many years to be an amazing leader and the community is indebted to him for his leadership and commitment.

Liberty Lake is so lucky to have him as dedicated leader. He has put so much personal effort into the community.

What other civic efforts have you been a part of in the Liberty Lake area?

There are so many other people that have put more effort in that it is not appropriate for me to respond to that question. I do have two favorite moments though. My first is the installation of the playground equipment at Pavillion Park.

The playground equipment was delivered and we had assembled a group of 25 volunteers to install it on a Saturday, a group of handy guys ready to go. The afternoon before we discovered the layout on the footings for the equipment was wrong.

Casey from Greenstone came out and did demo to remove

concrete to get the foundation right.

It was an amazing effort. The next day a group of guys came out and put up the playground equipment.

What a fun day.

My second is the pedestrian bridge over I-90. The trails committee obtained funding to build the bridge. Max J. Kuney Company whom I worked for agreed to bid the project at cost and I was able to work with the city to build the bridge. It was fun to be a part of that.

What makes this community special?

What is there not to love. This is going to be a cliché but the volunteers are amazing.

Lud Kramer, city founder; Steve Peterson longtime mayor; Jim Frank, longtime volunteer and advocate; Kiwanis, amazing; Friends of Pavillion Park, wow; City Council, amazing effort; Sewer and Water District, yes; Tom Specht, trails; Wendy Van Orman. The thing is that so many people have volunteered for so many years. Without all that this community is not what it is. I hope people appreciate that.

Finally, why do you enjoy living in the Liberty Lake community?

I love everything about Liberty Lake. I like that it is centrally located and it takes me five minutes to get to I-90 and I can get to Spokane or Coeur d’Alene in 20 minutes.

It’s great not having to deal with a bunch of traffic to do so. I think the police force is amazing. It’s great to go by golf courses on my way to work not to mention Pavillion Park and the beauty that goes with that . Last summer I was stranded and a Liberty Lake resident who didn’t know me gave me a tow. It is amazing that I can ride in a golf cart to go down to Barlows on the trail system to sit outside and have breakfast. It’s all made possible by an amazing level of dedication and effort put forth by the volunteers, business owners and citizens of Liberty Lake.

Scott Bernhard is a 25-year resident of the Liberty Lake area.

He was a member of the inaugural Liberty Lake City Council and also served as president of the Friends of Pavillion Park.

The Splash

34 • FEBRUARY 2017

The Water Front Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club consolidates with LLSWD

By BiJay Adams

LLSWD General Manager Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club (ELLIC) was incorporated in 1945 for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining a water system for properties generally located on the east side of Liberty Lake.

The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD) provides water and/or sewer service for a large area surrounding Liberty Lake. The Eastside Water Service Area is located within the boundaries of the district, but prior to consolidation only provided sewer service to Eastside customers. Since 1992, Eastside has contracted with the district to provide operation and maintenance of the Eastside water system. Recently, Eastside also contracted with the district to provide meter reading, billing and payment collection services.

Eastside has continuously operated, maintained and expanded its water system to provide water service to currently 325 customers located within Eastside’s Water Service Area.

However, over the years it has become increasingly difficult for Eastside to complete necessary upgrades and improvements to its water system to provide optimal water pressures and fire flows. Eastside’s water system is in need of substantial necessary improvements; including improvement of its wells and pumping stations, improvements to or replacement of many of its water mains with larger water mains to provide adequate

water pressures and fire flows to existing residents and to make provisions for any future growth in Eastside’s Water Service Area.

Recently, Eastside received approval from the Washington State Department of Health for a loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).

The purpose of the loan was to provide funds for Eastside to make necessary improvements to its water wells and pumping system. However, the loan did not provide funds for improvement of Eastside’s water mains and distribution system.

system pressures and flows.

The district was successful in working with the Washington State Department of Health and Department of Commerce to approve a transfer of the DWSRF loan from Eastside to the district and revise the scope of work to include consolidation, eliminate the well and pumping improvements and to provide for improvements to the water mains and distribution system in the Eastside Water Service Area. The new consolidation loan transferred to the district offers no loan fees, an interest rate of 1.0 percent per annum, and 50 percent forgivable principal where only half of the loan would need to be repaid.

Pursuant to RCW 24.03.215 and the Eastside bylaws, the consolidation proposal was subject to two-third’s approval of Eastside’s members. A public meeting was held on Sept. 28, 2016 where Eastside customers

voted in favor of consolidation.

Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the boards of Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club and Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District formalized an agreement on consolidating the two systems.

Eastside’s water system is now owned, operated and maintained by the district. To ensure district customers are not subsidizing Eastside improvements, a surcharge on Eastside accounts is in place to pay for the re-scoped consolidation loan.

The district appreciates the longstanding working relationship with the Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club, in particular Manager Denise Coyle and Board Members Neil Humphries, Bruce Andre, T.A. Dorsey, and Kirk Davis. We look forward to continuing to serve the members of Eastside to provide safe and reliable drinking water. For questions or for more information please contact General Manager BiJay Adams at 922-5443.

During the course of the discussions between Eastside and the district regarding the DWSRF loan, it became apparent that if Eastside consolidated its system into the district’s water system, Eastside customers could be saved the cost of improving Eastside’s wells and pumping stations because the district had sufficient existing well and pumping capacity to serve the Eastside system. Furthermore, the DWSRF loan could be used by the district for replacing and enlarging Eastside’s water mains and distribution system and could provide a second intertie between the district’s system and the Eastside system.

Consequently, Eastside customers would not only have increased water source and pumping capacity, but also significantly enhanced and enlarged water mains in the distribution system thereby improving system hydraulics,

Water service boundaries for the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club are depicted above with LLSWD service area in blue and ESLLIC in red. ESLLIC recently consolidated with LLSWD to provide meter reading, billing and payment collection services.

Contributed image

The Splash

Safety Scroll Now is the perfect time to “Love Your Heart”

By Chief Bryan Collins Spokane Valley Fire Department February is an odd month. It is the shortest month of the year. The holiday season is over, most of us have abandoned many of our New Year’s resolutions. The weather is bitter and spring seems far away. However, there is no better time than February to focus on a healthier you, especially when it comes to your heart.

Heart (cardiovascular) disease is currently the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. In fact, cardiovascular diseases claim more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined, accounting for one out of every four deaths nationwide. In 2016, the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to nearly 1,100 calls related to cardiovascular issues; that’s an average of three calls every single day.

The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented or reversed when people make healthy choices and proactively manage their existing health conditions. That is why the American Heart Association sponsors American Heart Month activities every year in February.

This year, the Spokane Valley Fire Department is joining the national effort with our local “Love Your Heart” campaign. During the month of February, we’ll be doing free blood pressure checks on Feb. 11 at the Liberty Lake Library and on Feb. 25 in the Spokane Valley Library. You can also stop by any SVFD fire station and our crews will be happy to check your blood pressure.

Additionally, the SVFD hosts free community “hands-only” CPR classes on the second Saturday of each month at our Training Center. Register online at www. spokanevalleyfire.com. The skills taught are vital tools that could help you save a life.

Here are some helpful tips to help you “Love Your Heart” and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease: • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight • Adopt a diet low in salt,

FEBRUARY 2017 • 35

saturated fats and trans-fats (unsaturated fats are okay) • Engage in regular, moderate aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week or more vigorous workouts at least 20 minutes a day, three times a week • Quit smoking and stay away from second-hand smoke • Know your risk factors and discuss them with your primary care physician • Learn CPR • Learn the symptoms of a heart attack • Learn how to respond if you or someone you know experiences a heart attack Half of the deaths from heart attack occur in the first three or four hours after the onset of symptoms, so it is important to know and recognize the warning signs. Symptoms of a heart attack can be different from person to person, but generally include: • Chest pain or discomfort • Shortness of breath Other symptoms can include: • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach • Breaking out in a cold sweat • Nausea and/or vomiting • Light-headedness It is important to note that women are more likely to experience the other symptoms of a heart attack, and that 33 percent of women who experience a heart attack do not experience chest pain.

If you think that you or someone in your presence is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Every minute you delay can result in more damage to the heart muscle. If possible, have the victim chew an aspirin, which may help reduce the size of the blood clot.

If the victim loses consciousness and/or stops breathing, begin CPR and have someone else locate an Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.) nearby.

For more information, visit our website at www.spokanevalleyfire. com and American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

Know CPR and want to help our first responders save a life? Download PulsePoint Respond, a free app that notifies you via your smartphone if you're in a public place and CPR is needed within a quarter mile of your location. Get it at the App Store for Apple devices and at Google Play for Android users. Join with thousands of your neighbors and help save a life today.

February is

Dental Discount Month

Periodontal disease is a common and serious problem in dogs and cats with 85% of dogs and 75% of cats suffering from it. An early warning is tartar on the teeth. Built-up tartar supports the growth of bacteria, that in turn causes inflammation of the gums. Bacteria can enter the blood stream and cause or exacerbate respiratory, liver, kidney or cardiac problems. Once tartar accumulates and hardens, only a veterinary dental cleaning can eliminate it.

(Dental Discount is $55.00 off invoice.)

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The Splash

36 • FEBRUARY 2017

You are The Splash Want to see your name in print (for all the right reasons, of course)? Or maybe you just want to help point out great ideas for content worth sharing with your neighbors? The Splash is a community newspaper, so if you are part of the Liberty Lake community, we want to know what’s important to you. We like to say there are eight of us, and there are more than 100,000 of you. Maybe one of the questions below applies to you? If so, you can help us out.  Do you go on vacation?

Maybe you’re heading somewhere fun (and warm) for spring break. If so, pack a copy of The Splash and pull it out to snap your photo in front of your favorite destination or landmark. When you return to the Liberty Lake, drop us a line with the pic, and we’ll share it with readers. Call it “Splash Travels.”  Are you part of a club or service organization?

Well, what do you know? Let us add you to our list of recurring Liberty Lake events in the near future that will be well-suited for clubs and organizations

that have regular meetings. Send us the info.  Do you celebrate?

We want people to know about everything from your new baby, to your upcoming wedding or anniversary, to your incredible office or sporting achievement. Photos, announcements, honors — please send!  Did you capture a shot?

Shutterbugs, unite! If you are capturing great Liberty Lake moments, whether while out and about or in your backyard, e-mail us your photo so we can share it around the neighborhood.

Send along names of those pictures and complete caption information as much as possible.  Are you a local freelance journalist?

The Splash sets aside a budget and great assignments for people like you. Send some clips our way, and we’ll be in touch.  Do you eat?

We thought so. Perhaps you have a favorite order at

OPINION 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.

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.

a Liberty Lake eatery? Before you clean your plate, get your picture taken with your order and send it to us. Include the place, order, cost and why you love it.

It’s just one more way we can point one another to all the best Liberty Lake offers.

You are The Splash. E-mail editor@ libertylakesplash.com so we can share the things that are important to you.

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The Splash

FEBRUARY 2017 • 37

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

EDITOR

Craig Howard

ben@libertylakesplash.com

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craig@libertylakesplash.com GRAPHICS EDITOR/ Danica Wick A DVERTISING COORDINATOR danica@libertylakesplash.com OFFICE MANAGER GRAPHICS

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The Splash is committed to serving Liberty Lake through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage.

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Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships with The Splash and its partner publications:

CONTRIBUTORS

Craig Howard, Staci Lehman Mary Ann Ruddis, Ross Schneidmiller, Mike Vlahovich The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.libertylakesplash.com The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every

The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 100 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations:

ENR

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business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area.

Additional copies are located at drop-off locations in Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

The Splash is brought to you by

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Announcements, obituaries, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Splash.

Subscriptions Liberty Lake residents receive a complimentary copy each month. Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses outside of the 99019 ZIP code cost $12 for 12 issues.

Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must be

received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end

Albertsons Brothers Office Pizza Casey Family Dental Express Scripts NEW Fieldhouse Pizza and Subs Greenstone Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt KiDDS Dental Liberty Lake City Hall Liberty Lake Portal Building True Legends Grill NEW The WELL Coffee House Walgreens Washington Trust Bank NEW Yoke’s Fresh Market Would you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact Paula at paula@valleycurrent.com.

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Thrivent Financial • Gus Johnson Ford

Index of advertisers

should be reported immediately to 242-7752 or by

Following are the local advertisers in this issue of The Splash.

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

FEBRUARY

2017

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email to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

Advertising information Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 242-7752 for more information.

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Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved. All contents of The Splash may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

g re e n s t o n e h o m

Kiwanis • Liberty Lake Family Dentistry • Liberty Lube

Correction policy The Splash strives for accuracy in all content. Errors

SNOW REMOVAL PAGE 2

CHAMBER GALA A SMASH PAGE 22

LOVE NOTES PAGE 18

Celebrating Our First Direct Mail Issue , Mailed to Over 15,000 Valley Homes!

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New homes in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Libe Custom Fit Lighting • Stauffer and Associates • Spokane Gymnastics

of that month.

Inaccurate

quality

Adorkable Flowers and Gifts 30 Amaculate Housekeeping 9 Aspire Community Theatre 38 Banner Furnace & Fuel 35 Central Valley Theatre 32 City of Liberty Lake 7 Coldwell Banker - Rob Brickett 4 Cornerstone Penecostal Church 14 Courtney Hanks 5 Custom Fit Lighting 16 Evergreen Fountain 25 GraceSon Housing Foundation 32 Greenstone 38 Gus Johnson Ford 26

Hearth Homes 28 Jim Custer Enterprises 15, 18 John L Scott - Pam Fredrick 15 Kiwanis of Liberty Lake 17 Liberty Lake Community Theatre 23 Liberty Lake EyeCare Center 3 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Liberty Lake Municipal Library 6 Liberty Lake Petsitters 9 Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 23 Liberty Lube 28 LIFT 18 North Idaho Dermatology 3 Ponti Veterinary Hospital 35

Relics 14 Sarah Hamilton FACE Simonds Dental Group Spokane Gymnastics Stauffer and Associates

18 40 19, 21 3

Thrivent Financial

16

Tracy Jeweler

33

True Legends

28

Waste Manaement Wish Upon a Star Events

3 18

Service Directory

38

Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Splash’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Splash’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@libertylakesplash.com. With story ideas, contact editor@libertylakesplash.com.

The Splash

38 • FEBRUARY 2017

A s p i r e C o m m u n i t y T h e at r e C o e u r d ’ A l e n e , I da h o

SERVICE DIRECTORY SNOW REMOVAL PROMPT AND COURTEOUS SERVICE

February 9-18, 2017 7:30pm

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The Tri Community Grange Event Hall is an affordable and ideal location for parties, receptions, dances, reunions and meetings. Full kitchen, stage, piano, tables and chairs, NEW AC, handicap accessible, large parking lot and free signage. Call Jerry at 226-2202 or email jerrylpeterson@comcast.com.

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ON THAT NOTE

The Splash

SVFD home checks ramp up safety conditions for residents

homeowner Carole Conzelman on whether to refill or buy new extinguishers and the advantages of battery powered alarms versus hardwired.

Splash Contributor

The good news is that Conzelman’s existing alarm is hardwired in, but the bad news is that it’s from when the home was built- almost 40 years ago.

Staci Lehman

Elysia Spencer walks through a stranger’s house, examining decorative holiday lights hanging from the wall and disconnecting a power strip to gain a better perspective.

Spencer has been in a lot of strangers’ houses lately, looking for anything that could increase the chances of a fire in the home.

As a Community Risk Reduction specialist with the Spokane Valley Fire Department, she and other Valley Fire personnel are making homes safer, one at a time, through a new program known as “Home Fire Safety Visits.”

Accompanied by Fire Marshal Greg Rogers on this day, the two examine and replace old smoke alarms, check the dates on fire extinguishers and look at electrical cords for safety issues. If items such as wood stoves, fireplaces and carbon monoxide detectors are present in a house, they will check those too. They throw out statistics and tips as they go, advising

Smoke Alarm Facts

• New smoke alarms come with a 10-year lithium ion battery and don’t need to have the batteries changed twice a year, as recommended in the past.

“If there’s more than one, it’s best to have them hardwired in,” said Rogers. “Because the one in the hallways will set off the one in the bedroom if they’re hardwired, and down the line. They’re all connected.”

• Smoke alarms have an “expiration date” of 10 years.

To see if yours is that old, check the back for a manufactured date. If it is over 10 years old, replace it with a new one. If you purchase a new alarm that doesn’t have a date on it, use a marker to write it on the back.

“A hardwired smoke alarm would have been state of the art in 1978,” said Spencer.

Not state-of-the-art enough to depend on now though, so Conzelman’s old alarm is removed and replaced with a new one, along with two other new ones placed around the home.

“I’ve had the mobile home for a year and just wanted to make sure it’s up to standard.” Conzelman said. “I do have my grandkids here a lot.”

Which is why Spencer and Rogers say Conzelman’s home needs more than the single smoke alarm that was there when they arrived.

“You should bedroom and sleeping area floor,” Spencer

have one in each one outside each and one on each said.

Because many people sleep with

Spokane Valley Fire Marshal Greg Rogers is one of the keys to a new program that provides free home fire safety visits as part of Project RISK (Residential Inspection Smoke Alarms Knowledge), an initiative to reduce fire and medical emergencies through outreach and education.

Photo by Staci Lehman bedroom doors closed, alarms on both sides of the door are recommended.

These Home Fire Safety Visits are part of Project RISK (Residential Inspection Smoke Alarms Knowledge), a Spokane Valley Fire Department initiative to reduce fire and medical emergencies through outreach and education. The smoke alarms are funded through grants from the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and community donations.

The labor to install them and do the home checks is provided by Spencer, as part of her job duties.

Firefighters and other Valley Fire personnel also help between calls and as time allows as do members of the Fire Corps, a volunteer group that supports SVFD in a nonemergency capacity.

Using Fire Corps members allows checks to be conducted on weekends when other staff is not available, an important aspect of the program as many homeowners aren’t available during the week.

SVFD Community Risk Reduction Specialist Elysia Spencer (left) talks with Spokane Valley resident Carole Conzelman about ways to improve the fire safety conditions in her home.

Photo by Staci Lehman

FEBRUARY 2017 • 39

The department is also partnering with Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs (SNAP) and Spokane Cares to conduct the checks. They hope, as the program takes off, that they get so busy that they may have to partner with civic groups as well to reach a wider number, and demographic, of people.

• Three of five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

SVFD offers free smoke alarms to residents.

“Fire doesn’t discriminate,” said Rogers. “Our goal is to make everybody safer.”

One way to do this is to determine an emergency escape route. While checking homes, Rogers says he looks for fire escape routes and recommends homeowners have an emergency exit in mind.

“Practice it with kids, but if you’re an adult with no children, just keep it in mind and think about it,” he says. “Now you’ll be a little bit more calm if you do ever have to use it.”

Another tip from Rogers – if you are in a bedroom or room with a door and there is fire outside, close the door. He says fire inspectors often go into homes that are severely damaged by fire, only to find that rooms that had closed doors are virtually untouched.

“You would be amazed how much a small door can prevent smoke and flame,” Rogers said.

Home Fire Safety Visits are free and there are no qualifications to have one, such as age or income.

They generally take about half an hour or less and can be done at your convenience, including on weekends. If you would like a Home Fire Safety Visit, you can schedule one online at spokanevalleyfire. com or by calling 892-4153. Rogers and Spencer are eager to sign up more people.

“One of the best things about my job is doing this,” said Rogers. “We know it’s safer when we leave than when we got here.”

The Splash

40 • FEBRUARY 2017

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