April 2017 Splash

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Real Estate Roars Again;

A look at the dazzling return of the Liberty Lake housing market, page 12

CAMPAIGN FOR COMMUNITY FLAG PAGE 31

CUTTING DOWN CANCER WITH CAMERON PAGE 26

CATCHING UP WITH LL’S FAVORITE GROCER PAGE 2

2 • APRIL 2017

NEWS

The Splash

the industry?

A: Teamwork skills, work ethic and the ability to work hard yet have fun doing it were all things I developed at that time. But most importantly, customer service. The grocery industry is so competitive that when you come down to it, it is customer service that will set you apart from the competitors.

The Park Bench

Magnanimous Manager – Longtime grocer DiCicco known as community gem

Q: When you first arrived in Liberty Lake to manage the Safeway store in 2000, what were some of your impressions of the community?

By Craig Howard Splash Editor

For Dan DiCicco, 2015 will be remembered as a year with a few hurdles.

Better make that mountains.

To start, the Safeway store in Liberty Lake that DiCicco had managed since 2000 was closed and repurposed as part of a complex Safeway/Albertson’s merger and subsequent acquisition by Haggen, an Oregon-based grocery chain.

After reopening under the Haggen banner that June, the space shuttered up in November, leaving DiCicco and close to 100 employees facing their second career quandary in less than a year.

Through it all, DiCicco remained a pillar, replacing uncertainty with the sort of reliable leadership that had been his signature in 45 years at Safeway. Along with Eugene Henthorn, assistant manager, DiCicco made it a priority to rally his ex-troops. He wrote reference letters, navigated unemployment resources and focused on providing a supportive safety net for the former colleagues he referred to as “family.”

“I just couldn’t walk away,” he said. “We did all we could for them.”

Employees still held potlucks and met at Starbuck’s, keeping tabs on the latest professional and personal developments. DiCicco remained the positive sounding board, cajoling, encouraging and imparting guidance, all the while borrowing lessons learned from decades in a field that can be stable at times, fragile as a carton of eggs at others.

“I’ve had mentors in my career who’ve been there for me,” he said.

Finally, in late 2015, came some good news. Yoke’s Fresh Markets, the Spokane-based, employeeowned grocery company would be

Dan DiCicco has become a fixture in the Liberty Lake community as manager of a grocery store on Liberty Lake Road that has been under the Safeway, Haggen and Yoke’s umbrellas since 2015. A Spokane native, DiCicco has worked in the grocery business for 48 years.

Photo by Craig Howard transitioning the store on Liberty Road into one of their own. The announcement was eventually followed by the hiring of 75 former employees.

DiCicco, who earned the moniker of “Safeway Dan” among Liberty Lake shoppers over 15 years, was asked to remain on as store manager. While “Yoke’s Dan” might not have the same ring, the hire shed the new ownership group in a positive light among locals.

DiCicco’s amiable approach at the store had carried over into efforts to support civic staples like the Liberty Lake Community Theatre, the Fourth of July Parade, service clubs, Relay for Life, veterans’ causes and more. In December 2015, DiCicco was honored with the Key to the City by Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson.

Later that month, DiCicco and his wife, Charlotte, were in San Diego visiting family when he suffered a heart attack. Just as he had when experiencing professional setbacks earlier in the year, DiCicco pulled himself back from the crisis, committing to a rehabilitation process and focusing on his return to a renovated store and employees he knew would be counting on him. When the Liberty Lake Yoke’s opened last March, DiCicco was there with his trademark smile, greeting folks at the door.

DiCicco began his journey in the grocery business 48 years ago as a student at North Central High School. His father, a firstgeneration American citizen who emigrated from his native Italy, taught his kids the importance of a steady work ethic. DiCicco first

worked at the bakery of a Safeway store near his home, cleaning pots and pans.

He rose through the ranks quickly, becoming an assistant manager at the age of 27. By 1989, he was named manager of the store in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho and eventually took on the same role in Sandpoint where he transformed a struggling site into a profitable one, emphasizing top-flight customer service. In 2000, he was assigned to the Liberty Lake Safeway.

Dan and Charlotte made Liberty Lake their home shortly after. The couple has been married since 1974 and are parents to two daughters, Kim and Lisa. They also have two grandchildren.

The Splash caught up with DiCicco recently to chat about the early days of Safeway, the transition to Yoke’s a year later and what life is like in the aisles.

Q: When you first started working in the grocery business during high school, what did you like about it?

A: Truthfully, I just needed a job to survive high school and the store was within walking distance.

It was 1969, I was 16 and started out washing pots and pans in the bakery. Not only did I earn 75 cents an hour, but I could have one free donut per day. I continued to work my way through the business with various promotions. I liked the fast pace and camaraderie of the crew.

Q: As you were moving up the ladder in the grocery business, what lessons did you carry along from your early years in

A: It was still a young suburb, still growing and about to become its own city. It was clean and attractive and had great amenities such as parks, golf courses and walking paths. We immediately knew this was where we wanted to live. We built our forever home in anticipation of retiring here. When we moved in, we were delighted to find the most friendly neighbors of anywhere we have ever lived.

Our impressions of the community continued to grow as we discovered the Fourth of July Parade, music and movies at Pavilion Park and other events as the years went by.

Q: In what ways do you think the store became part of the culture in Liberty Lake?

A: We knew we wanted to partner with the community for events, so we just looked at things we could participate in using our resources.

For example, putting up a root beer float stand at the car show, or having Oreo cookie stacking contests at Liberty Lake Days in the park. We opened our doors to nonprofit groups for various fundraising efforts and participated yearly in Best Foot Forward. We established relationships with our city leaders, the schools and The Splash newspaper.

Q: When Safeway became a Haggen store in 2015, your retained most of your staff.

Then the store closed later that year after only six months as part of a bankruptcy. How did you, as a manager, try to provide solace and support to employees?

A: It was definitely a difficult time.

I teamed up with my assistant manager, Eugene Henthorn, and we put together a plan. We invited outside services to meet with employees at scheduled gatherings in the store. WorkSource came and provided informational services such as job search, unemployment benefitsand retraining for those who

See DICICCO, Page 5

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 3

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4 • APRIL 2017

NEWS

Community message board will inform, welcome

Allen acknowledged that online sources don’t reach all residents.

Splash Correspondent

“It’s a really active corner whether you’re a biker, jogger or mom trying to get your kids back and forth to school. Everyone goes by there.”

By Staci Lehman

Liberty Lake will soon have a new way to keep people informed of local events and happenings while welcoming them to the community at the same time.

“It’s as much a monument as it is a sign and a gateway to our city,” said City Administrator Katy Allen of the new digital sign that is being installed at the corner of Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road.

Installation began in March and will wrap up this month.

“We’re waiting to start the brick laying until we actually have the sign,” said Allen. “The lead time of that LED board is several weeks.”

Once the manufacturer delivers the sign to the city, work will start on building a brick surround for it.

The sign, approximately 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide was initially supposed to be smaller.

“We were originally going to go with a 3 by 8,” said Allen. “So we actually went bigger. Council was concerned no one could see it.”

Allen says the LED board will display messages from the city and community groups like service clubs and the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District promoting public events and activities.

“This sign is really geared toward community messaging,” she said.

“We will have a contact person here to help shape the messages.

We want to be able to program it remotely so we don’t have to go out there.”

Cost of the sign will be covered out of Liberty Lake’s general fund.

City Council members in early February voted unanimously to award the bid for the sign to Baldwin Sign Co. for close to $50,000. City officials believe it will be a way to further communicate with the public and help with community outreach efforts. While the city has used social media effectively and provided information on its website,

The Splash

“We’re just really trying to reach our community,” he said.

Most people in the community drive, walk or ride by Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road on a regular basis.

While a process has not been finalized yet as to what will be allowed on the sign or guidelines set as to which groups can use it, Allen says at this point it will be limited to nonprofits and the city.

Notice of City Council, planning commission, library board and other meetings will be announced on the sign, along with events sponsored by service clubs and the Friends of Pavillion Park.

“This will be a change for our city,” said Allen. “I want to make sure that we do it well. Maybe we will be a little cautious as we put it together and find out what works best and gravitate in that direction.”

That means keeping messages restrained and ensuring they are not distracting to drivers and others using the roadway and sidewalks.

“We’re not trying to put something in your face,” she said.

When a meeting or event is not featured on the sign, the time and temperature will be displayed.

City Council’s vote to ease sign restrictions made the placement of this sign possible. So far, this and the R&R RV sign are the only electronic signs resulting from the more lax regulations, although another is on the horizon.

“The new Liberty Creek Elementary School on Country Vista Drive will have an electronically changeable message sign as well.,” said Amanda Taino, Planning and Building Services manager. “It is permitted since it is in the Public/ Semi-Public Institutional Zone. “ Other than that, there have been some inquiries into putting up signs but no applications submitted yet.

“People are asking questions but it’s a significant investment for a business,” said Allen.

The city of Liberty Lake will soon feature a digital message board at the corner of Country Vista and Liberty Lake Road. The sign will include community information from the city and entities like the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and local service clubs.

Photo by Staci Lehman

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The Splash

DICICCO

NEWS

Continued from page 2

wanted to take this opportunity to do something different or develop other skills for the industry.

Thrivent Financial Services in Liberty Lake provided a Q and A session for employees who needed information on what to do with their pensions and 401-K. We had daily huddles at the store where employees could come together and share ideas and ask questions.

We really came together as a family during that time with everyone supporting each other.

Q: What aspects of grocery retail might not be as apparent to the average shopper?

A: We have an extensive recycling program that includes cardboard, paper and plastics. We do composting. We donate surplus products to support the local food bank as well as the Kiwanis program that makes sack lunches for students in need. We strive to find local sources for produce and specialty items that we can stock for customers.

Q: What do you think makes a good grocery store?

A: A great crew, service, selection, freshness and store cleanliness.

Providing the best customer service possible is paramount and it all starts with our employees who are happy and proud to be a part of the Yoke's family. I owe this store's success to our team of employees who support me every day. In addition, we strive to have the best selection and freshness of products, whether local or from another area.

Displaying products in an appealing manner is important and it enhances the shopping experience.

Yoke's is up to the challenge of keeping our prices competitive with other grocers.

Q: When Yoke's came along in late 2015, I'm sure a lot of folks may have been skeptical based

on the history of the store over the past year or so. How did Yoke's make this transition a positive one?

A: Yoke's was thrilled to have the opportunity to provide Liberty Lake with a new grocery shopping experience. They invested in a complete remodel to give the building a new look and a new start. They pledged to become involved in the community. They knew the importance of familiar faces, and they had compassion for the employees whose careers were interrupted by this chain of events.

They hired many of the former Safeway/Haggen employees for the Liberty Lake store, as well as placing others in various Yoke's facilities in the area.

Q: How would you characterize the approach of Yoke’s in your time with the company?

A: Yoke’s is a relatively small local company who took a risk purchasing the Liberty Lake store and completely remodeling it. They recognized the value of keeping the current store management and many of the team members. Not even a year later, they purchased four Trading Company stores in our area who were in the process of closing down. Again, they made it a priority to keep many of the employees, offer them the same or better wages and benefits and remodel their stores.

Yoke's is employee-owned, with an amazing leadership team and is truly a community minded company.

Q: Finally, what do you enjoy most about being part of the Liberty Lake community?

A: There's so many things.

Yoke's provides the residents with an incredible grocery store, and I get to be a big part of that by getting to know the local residents.

There is never a shortage of things to do here, whether it is golf, the community theatre, events at Pavilion Park or just walking on our wonderful tree-lined paths.

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As a longtime store manager, DiCicco has always made it a point to cultivate a cohesive team environment that honors employees. From left to right at Yoke’s: Jamie Kaiser, Brita Kallunki, DiCicco, Dana Smith, Lyra Reese and Cameron Spurlock.

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LIBRARY

6 • APRIL 2017

Join the Book Club!

spring bird scene followed by some time to paint what they like. For ages 6 and up. Register here >goo. gl/tJJCns

Activities ADULT EVENTS

Liberty Lake Library’s Books ‘n’ Brew Book Club is going online! We’ll still meet once a month at the library but for anyone who’d like to join, but cannot make it in person, we’ll have a Facebook page just for you.

To promote this event and to celebrate April’s National Library Week, the first 6 people who sign up for our April book club and posts a comment on the book we’re reading in April will receive a ‘book-box’ with all sorts of awesome book-related items.

These could include things such as unique bookmarks, Tchotchkes related to the book or theme, tea and coffee samples etc. We might even include an extra book or magazine for you to keep.

Our April book is “Winterdance” by Gary Paulsen.

Paulsen offers a gripping account of his experience running the 1,180 mile Iditarod dogsled race – he and his team of dogs endured snowstorms, frostbite, dogfights, moose attacks, sleeplessness and hallucinations in the relentless push to go on. The book also includes a map and color photographs.

To get a copy of your book, please go to our web page, http://libertylakewa.gov/122/ Library and follow the link to our library catalog. Once there, simply place a hold on the book using your library card number, (located on the card) and password (last name, all caps.) Once the book arrives, you’ll get a call letting you know to pick it up.

Going forward, we’ll try to choose books that can be found online through our Overdrive account and we’ll also have future book choices available on our adult Kindles which can be checked out from the library for up to four weeks. So join up, like our Facebook page and happy reading!

The Splash

Stem-Tacular Thursday Thursday April 27th 4:00 pm

Easter Decor

Food Science. Ages 8 and up.

Registration required.

Thursday April 6 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Spring Break Events

Liven up your doorway with a cute Easter decoration. Register on facebook or at the library.

CHILDREN EVENTS

Check out these fun events happening at the library during Spring Break!

Monday April 3, 10:30 am Move and Groove Dance Party (all ages)

Estate Planning Workshop Tuesday April 13 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Learn the ins and outs of esate planning. Class held in the Learning Center.

Family Crafts

Saturday April 8th 2:00 pm Decorating Easter eggs.

Tuesday April 4, 2:00 pm Chocolate Challenges (8 and up), registration required >goo. gl/ExN2yK

Build a Birdhouse

Saturday, April 29th

Celebrate the Spring and create your very own backyard birdhouse.

Thursday April 6, 10:30 am

Etched Glass Vase Craft

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Thursday April 20th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

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Books ‘n’ Brew

Thursday April 27th 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

“Winterdance” by Gary Paulsen

509-232-2510

Kids Paint Class

Tuesday, April 18th 4:00 pm

Kids will use paints, paintbrushes and stamps to create a beautiful

•

Friday April 7, 4:00 pm Lego Club (all ages)

www.libertylakewa.gov/library

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 7

The Lookout MEMO from the

Mayor

By Mayor Steve Peterson

“The chief business of the American people is business.

They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world. I am strongly of the opinion that the great majority of people will always find these the moving impulses of our life.”

--President Calvin Coolidge These past few months, the city

has reached out to local businesses to highlight themselves and their products at City Council meetings.

We have had The Well, Field House Pizza, Just Chillin,’ Liberty Lake Farmers Market and most recently Pawpular Companions.

In reflection, “the real business of business is OUR business!” These entrepreneurs have developed ideas, risked time and fortune to bring them to our community to enhance our shopping or dining experiences. It is incumbent on us to support them through trade and give them feedback as to how they can adjust their sales to be more responsive to our needs. One thing is certain -- these are our neighbors

not just someone on the Internet.

These people support our projects, pay taxes and provide jobs. Price will always be a consideration, but there is no way you can replace the face-to-face experience with those in our community.

One of the comments made

by Mara Crowell of Pawpular Companions during her presentation to council was the Internet is impacting consumer shopping habits. Let me say this about the Internet. When we began buying food for our dogs, Pecos and Rico, they went out of their way to find a supplier and the price was less than the big box store!

When we purchased a new car seat

Garden Notes “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree...”

If Alfred Joyce Kilmer defined loveliness with trees, he would find our community lovely indeed.

On April 15, Scout Troop #325, will be working on a project in the Liberty Lake community which will enable them to earn their Citizenship and Emergency Preparedness merit badges.

The city of Liberty Lake is committed to planting and caring for trees and has demonstrated so by applying to the Arbor Day Foundation and being awarded “Tree City USA” designation in 2003. Every year since then the city has been approved for this outstanding recognition.

Liberty Lakes celebrates Arbor Day in April by inviting all the fourth graders from the elementary school to join Mayor Steve Peterson and plant a tree. The event is sponsored by the city, hosted

by Jennifer Camp, director of Parks and Recreation and officiated by Mayor Peterson. The mayor explains the history and importance of Arbor Day to the young volunteers then proclaims Arbor Day as official.

Arbor Day is a special experience, full of laughter and fun. Planting a tree involves soil and water which are popular with 150 kids. The benefits of this celebration reach beyond this single day.

Years from now these young people can visit “their” tree standing tall and strong, preserving the memory of Arbor Day.

for the dogs (now don’t laugh but this is the sixth one!) it was less than the Internet and stocked on the shelf.

Finally, I had to tell Mara that the experience Pecos and Rico have shopping at the store is definitely more than price. IT IS BEING ABLE TO CHASE THEIR DOG, CANVAS, AROUND THE STORE! They play while we laugh, tell stories, share life and shop.

This year commit to shopping at ALL of our Liberty Lake businesses.

They offer so much more than price and their presence promotes Liberty Lake as Spokane County’s Premier Address!

Scouts to distribute survey on emergency preparedness

By Joice Cary City Horticulturist

The Tree City USA honor is awarded annually to cities adhering to four standards: Establish and maintain a tree board; have a tree care ordinance; budget at least $2 per capita annually to the community forestry program and proclaim and observe Arbor Day.

April 2017

Spring marks start of street projects

This year, the city is working on a number of projects throughout the community. The two most visible projects under construction this year are the Liberty Lake Road Restoration Project and the Heights Overlay Phase 1.

The restoration project will remove the old asphalt and replace it with new surface on Liberty Lake Road from Country Vista to Appleway Avenue. To help with some of our daily intersection congestion we will also be installing new signal electronics and a right turn lane on the westbound off ramp. Both of these improvements will help with the wait times we have all experienced.

The schedule for Liberty Lake Road

work is June, July and August of this summer. Most of the work will take place at night. Even with night work, you should expect delays when traveling through the construction zone. More detailed information will be posted on the city’s website as it is available.

Overlay work is taking place in the Heights neighborhood this season on two roads: Valleyway Avenue and Mitchell Court. A new layer of asphalt is being placed on top of the old one.

This will leave a smooth new driving surface. The work in the Heights is tentatively scheduled for May. This project should only last for two weeks and impacts to residents should be minimal except for the days of grinding and paving. Notification will go out to the residents on Valleyway Avenue and Mitchell Court prior to any traffic impacts.

The Emergency Preparedness badge requires that the troop conduct a survey of about 150 homes in the city to determine how prepared residents are for a disaster.

They will use the Department of Emergency Management’s disaster supply checklist as the main part of the survey.

Scouts will be covering the area within a section of Molter, Country Vista, Homestead and Maxwell and will start at 10 a.m. Each homeowner who participates will be given some information on disaster preparedness and each survey will take about 10 minutes.

The scouts will present their findings to the City Council at the April 18 council meeting.

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

The Splash

8 • APRIL 2017

Warmer weather a reminder to guard against property crime

belongings rise.

when

temperatures

“People start leaving doors and garages unsecured,” said Morgan.

“It gives people a chance to drive by and see what is in the garage.”

“It’s a crime of opportunity once it starts getting warmer,” said Liberty Lake Police Sgt. Darin Morgan of the increase in property crime that takes place every year when the weather warms up.

While Liberty Lake suffers its share of property crimes, the number is still much lower than neighboring jurisdictions. Eastern Washington University’s Community Indicators website shows that Airway Heights reported a total of 353 property crimes in 2015, the most recent year for available data. Cheney reported 262, Spokane Valley 4,779 and Spokane City 15,971.

In comparison, Liberty Lake had a total of 138 reported property crimes, to which Liberty Lake Police officers responded to each one.

The trajectory happens for several reasons – more people leave their homes to go on vacation during the spring and summer; thieves can’t be tracked by footprints in the snow and, overall, people are a little more lax on securing their

Some of those crimes have been connected to trailheads at the Centennial Trail, although not the

By Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent Spring is here, bringing car and home prowling with it.

“We are one of the only agencies in the county that responds to every single crime reported,” said Morgan.

majority.

“It’s (trailhead prowling) not as prevalent as you would think because there’s a lot more volume in the neighborhoods,” Morgan said. “The thing with trailheads is they don’t know when those people using the trail are returning.”

When trailheads are targeted it is for the type crimes in which a window is quickly broken and random items grabbed from out of a vehicle. In neighborhoods, thieves can take a more leisurely approach and are known to stake out homes in advance to learn residents’ habits, such as what hours they work and when they go to bed or get up.

The Liberty Lake Police Department works to educate residents on these tactics and crime prevention measures through social media posts and programs at area schools and libraries. They are also being proactive by staffing accordingly.

“We’ll have two extra guys on during these timeframes and a couple of our reserve officers come out for large-scale events,” Morgan said.

Officers can’t be everywhere though, so the Liberty Lake Police Department website includes some tips on fighting crime in your neighborhood, including: • Write down license plates of unfamiliar vehicles in your neighborhood in case something comes of them at a later date.

The information may solve a case should a crime be occurring.

The Liberty Lake Police Department continues to get the word out about proactive steps residents can take to dissuade property crime.

File photo

Sprinkler Spruce Up Before turning your system on...

1. Turn system on slowly to avoid breaks 2. Check for broken heads and leaks — a broken one can waste 25,000 gallons in six months!

3. Consider our climate: • Spring is a rainy season (March-June) • Water between 7p and 9a to avoid evaporative losses • Turn off system during high winds • Established lawns only need 1.5” per week — www.epa.gov/watersense

www.libertylake.org

www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor/ watering_tips.html

Please direct spray on landscapes, not pavement. It helps keep things green!

• Don't leave garage door openers in your cars when they are parked on the street or in the driveway.

The Vacation House Watch program can be arranged by calling the Liberty Lake S.C.O.P.E. at 755-1143 or emailing scopelibertylake@ spokanesheriff.org. If you are the victim of a car or home theft, S.C.O.P.E. also has a program that monitors pawned items to find stolen property. The Liberty Lake Police Department can be reached at 755-1140. To report a crime not in progress, contact Crime Check at 456-2233.

• You can tell the difference between solicitors and burglars.

Solicitors want to contact as many people as possible while thieves try to avoid people. Solicitors generally go to every house on the street and look for houses that appear occupied. Burglars will skip several houses or look for houses that appear to be unoccupied.

• When possible and practical, park a car in the driveway so potential criminals know someone is home, but never leave valuables inside.

• Pick up newspapers and mail frequently.

• If possible, avoid establishing a day-to-day pattern of leaving or returning to your home.

• Enter a "Vacation Check" request with the Liberty Lake S.C.O.P.E. office so your residence will be checked in your absence.

The most effective way to keep from being a victim of crime though is simple – lock up your belongings.

“Close everything up,” said Morgan. “Keep high-value items out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind.

Make sure everything is locked up and secured and well lit.”

The Splash team woud like to appologize for the distruption in bringing you the “Police Report.”

Due to a system update inplemented by Spokane County/Liberty Lake Police Department. The new system has changed the amount of information that is sent out to us, being far more brief in coverage of incidents. We ask that you please have patience as we work through this issue. We hope that in the coming months we can rectify this situation in order to continue bringing you your community “Police Report.”

The Splash

NEWS

New software streamlines city permit process

By Tyler Wilson

Splash Correspondent The city of Liberty Lake is now utilizing a permit tracking program intended to ease the process for both applicants and city employees.

PermitTrax, implemented in January, boasts online permit and code enforcement capabilities, enhanced reporting and data processing and the ability to schedule and track inspections.

City Administrator Katy Allen said the previous software didn’t generate the kinds of reports needed to track various stages of the process.

“We wanted a system that was more interactive with our customers to the degree where people can do more applications online and get more info on the status of permits,” Allen said.

Amanda Tainio, the city’s Planning and Building Services manager, said the new system is designed specifically for permitting and inspections.

“Our previous software’s primary function was accounting and the permitting portion was very limited and slow,” Tainio said.

Later this spring, an extension of the software called “Citizens Connect” will allow users to apply for simple, over-the-counter-type permits online. They will then be able to track the progress of those permits and schedule inspections without having to visit or contact City Hall.

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Included in Citizens Connect are residential mechanical, plumbing and re-roof permits and all permit inspections.

Code enforcement investigation requests will also transition to Citizens Connect and there will be additional functionality for utility providers.

“Our goal is better access to our development community and the area contractors,” Allen said.

Citizens Connect will also allow residents to research permit information utilizing a map of current projects, providing a quick, online answer to the question of “What are they building there?”

Cost for the software is $10,000 per year and includes external support services from Bitco Software. Tainio said the rollout has been smooth, with little to no problems or bugs.

Though most wait times to receive a permit remain the same due to plan review, Tainio said individual permit issuance wait time is shorter because of the software. The city is also working to coordinate permit and plan review comments with outside agencies through PermitTrax. Tainio also hopes to enhance electronic review capabilities.

“We still have not fully maximized online plan submittal and that is a direction we would like to expand into in the future,” she said. “PermitTrax is currently working on designing that feature.”

Tainio said online permitting was a frequent request from applicants who regularly used the process in larger jurisdictions and that the city already had a permitting volume on the level of some of those larger jurisdictions.

“To the best of our knowledge, we are the only small jurisdiction in this area that will be using online permitting,” Tainio said.

Building High 509-481-5536 Performance Smile Makers

APRIL 2017 • 9

City of Liberty Lake Spring Cleanup Day It’s that time of the year again! The City of Liberty Lake, in partnership with Waste Management (WM), will host its third annual Spring Cleanup Day, City residents who subscribe to Waste Management’s garbage collection services are invited to attend the event on:

Saturday, April 29th Town Square from 8 am to 2 pm.

Accepted drop off items include up to three large appliances (doors removed), reusable furniture, electronics, and miscellaneous items such as lawn mowers free of fuel and oil. Clean green items such as grass, leaves, and branches will also be accepted.

Goodwill will be on hand to collect reusable household items,clothing, shoes, and e-waste.

Hazardous and automotive waste, as well as construction and demolition material, household recyclables, and mercurycontaining products will not be accepted.

The event is limited to one trip per household for drop off of bulky waste, and one trip per household for drop off of clean green. To participate, a postcard issued by Waste Management must be presented at the time of drop off. Waste Management customers will receive the postcards in their mail approximately two weeks before the event. For easier unloading of bulkier items, event staff requests that participants place those items on a tarp before dropping them off.

Please visit the City’s website for additional information: www.libertylakewa.gov

The Splash

10 • APRIL 2017

Council considers going to ballot for community center, Trailhead

council focused primarily on the first two projects during its discussion.

“It is recommended that both facilities would be a voted issuance by the citizens of Liberty Lake,” Stevenson said. “This would create a dedicated revenue source from property taxes and citizens would have an opportunity to voice their concerns and questions.”

By Craig Howard Splash Editor

Last August, a $12 million initiative for a community center/ library/aquatic facility in Liberty Lake fell just over 100 votes short of the required 60 percent supermajority.

The city would still be on the hook for ongoing operation and maintenance costs of both facilities if they did earn the supermajority, Stevenson added.

This August, there’s a chance another capital bond could find its way to the ballot.

At the March 21 City Council meeting, talk around the dais produced enough support for financing a community center and upgrades to the Trailhead at Liberty Lake golf facility that a special meeting was scheduled for April 11 to discuss steps that would add the proposal to the August election.

Council would need to pass an ordinance and file its intentions with the Spokane County Elections Office by May to be included on the summer ballot.

Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne explains the concept of a “community flag” at the March 21 council meeting. The campaign, which has received support from local businesses and service clubs, will announce three finalists for the flag design in June. For more on this story, go to page 31.

Photo by Craig Howard “We’ll start moving forward with this vision of what we want to accomplish,” said Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner.

Council had asked city staff to generate budget projections for the next 10 years in order to gauge the prospects of building

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a community center and pool as well as renovating the aging pro shop and accompanying space at Trailhead. Finance Director R.J. Stevenson provided those numbers in a presentation that projected a 3-percent increase in sales tax revenue for 2018 and a 2-percent jump from 2019 to 2026. In 2017, sales tax income reached its alltime high of just over $3 million.

“A lot of that is being driven by new construction as well as RV and auto sales,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson anticipates utility tax revenue and proceeds from all other taxes to go up 3 percent over the next 10 years, keeping pace with the same percentage expected on the expenditure side for all municipal departments outside of the police force. LLPD’s current contract runs until 2022 and will include adding a police officer in 2019 and 2020.

While Stevenson acknowledged the city has brought in sales tax revenue at a rate that’s been “off the charts” recently, he warned that returns from new construction will eventually tap out.

“When construction slows down as we reach our built-out status, so will the sales tax revenue,” he said.

With the numbers for the next decade crunched, Stevenson said it would make the most sense to bring the subject of new and upgraded buildings before voters.

The projections prepared by the city included a budget of $5 million for a community center and $4 million for Trailhead improvements.

Another $3 million was mentioned in the report for a pool, although

If approved for August, the vote would represent the third such ballot measure since the city incorporated in 2001. Last year’s bid drew just over 2,700 voters with just over 56 percent in support of the project. In April 2008, a total of 1,734 ballots were cast on a $9.8 million plan to build a community center/library. That spring, over 61 percent opposed the initiative.

After Stevenson’s presentation, council members pitched in with their opinions on if and how to move forward with funding for a community center and a facelift at Trailhead.

“The only sensible way would be to present this to the public and allow them the opportunity to vote,” said Council Member Odin Langford. “Ultimately, it will be in their hands to pay for it.”

Not all on the governing board agreed that a bond vote would be the best route. Council Member Bob Moore said the city could have done a better job saving up surplus funds from robust revenue years like 2016 that might have gone toward capital projects.

“I’m not so sure these new projects need bond financing,” said Moore. “We’ve had these excess funds, we just haven’t set them aside. We’ve found ways to spend that money.”

Council Member Hugh Severs said while it would have been ideal “for the city if we’d stacked up cash over the years,” council must deal with the reality of the current situation and how it corresponds with the priorities of residents.

“The Severs seems sooner

community will tell us,” said. “If we’re listening, it they want these projects than later.”

Mayor Steve Peterson said complete council backing of the initiative would be critical as well as educating the public about exactly what is on the ballot.

See COUNCIL, Page 18

The Splash

Council hears update on River District trails, open space

By Craig Howard Splash Editor Kevin Schneidmiller of Greenstone Homes made a special appearance at the March 7 City Council meeting to apprise municipal leaders on the status of parks and pathways across the freeway.

Schneidmiller’s references to the River District Trail and Open Space Plan were nothing new at City Hall. The document dates back to the city’s approval of the River District specific area plan (SAP) just over eight years ago. Greenstone submitted the SAP for the River District – an ambitious 648-acre mixed use development on the north side of the city featuring plans for residential neighborhoods, a large commercial center and local businesses – in the summer of 2009. The plan was approved by the city in October 2010.

Schneidmiller told council that Greenstone has been working on several main components of the plan over the past few months. For the most part, he said, the current version of the document “remains very much intact from the original one.”

“As part of that, we’d always meant to make connections to the Centennial Trail,” Schneidmiller continued.

A trio of entities is part of the connectivity process, including the Washington State Parks Department which owns parcels of property adjacent to the Centennial Trail.

Spokane County is also involved as is the city of Liberty Lake.

Greenstone has submitted applications to the county and state parks for approval to move ahead with mergers to the Centennial Trail. Any proposal must fit within the county’s Shoreline Master Plan while representatives from state parks visited Liberty Lake in late March as part of its review process.

“Everyone’s been very supportive of it,” Schneidmiller said. “There are just some detail items you have to work out. I am very encouraged at this point that while the process takes a significant amount of time, we will get there.”

Greenstone has already made trail upgrades from Indiana Avenue north to the river. West River Park has also been improved by Greenstone during that time span.

The neighborhood greenspace,

APRIL 2017 • 11

covering 4.5 acres, is maintained by the River District Homeowner’s Association. By May, the park is expected to be fully functional. The trail in that area is only around 75 feet short of a connection to the Centennial Trail.

“I am confident that by early summer, we’ll be able to complete that,” Schneidmiller said.

Greenstone is also at work on a trail from its newly forming Trutina district for 55-and-over residents that is approaching the Centennial Trail.

“The thing is we’re trying to improve connectivity inside River District and also outside River District,” Schneidmiller said. “I am fully confident that will take place once buildout happens.”

The River District’s first largescale greenspace, Orchard Park, will eventually be built south of Indiana. Like Rocky Hill Park before it, Orchard Park will be a city-owned and operated property with acreage contributed by Greenstone.

“We will be working with the city on providing input but most importantly we will be donating that land to the city for that park,” Schneidmiller said. “We’re finally starting to see some things really happen (in the River District) with trails and open space. We’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with the city on the public part of that.”

Schneidmiller added that Greenstone has some discussion with city staff as to what Mission Avenue is going to look like in the burgeoning development. Several council members expressed concern about current and future pedestrian safety along Mission.

“We have a real concern with pedestrian safety along that road,” said Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner.

“Even if Greenstone could build a gravel trail, something temporary, I think it would be a benefit.”

While not specifically on Mission, Schneidmiller said connectivity in the River District will be improved with the eventual construction of Harvest Parkway, a main thoroughfare scheduled to start construction this year, the building out of Indiana and the establishment of Orchard Park. He added that Greenstone would be willing to talk about ways to address Mission sooner than later.

“If the City Council and the staff feel it’s important to address some kind of temporary situation there, let’s talk about that,” he said.

Council Member Dan Dunne brought up a scenario in which future visitors to Orchard Park may want to travel to a retail

establishment on the south side of town.

“Right now, I’m wondering how they would do that,” he said.

In other city news: • Allen provided an update to council on March 7 concerning the city’s purchase of the Saltese Uplands acreage for the purposes of a public trail. “We know that some of the residents in the Legacy Ridge area have questions and concerns about a trail going through their property,” she said.

The city paid $330,000 for the land with a contingency that $165,000 would be reimbursed through the Spokane County Conservation Futures program if an easement was secured in the Legacy Ridge area to build a trail. “Right now, there’s no movement going on associated with that,” Allen said. “We’re kind of in a holding pattern.” A total of $30,000 was set aside in the 2017 budget for the project with $10,000 earmarked for a boundary survey and signage and $20,000 toward improvements to the existing trail that does not infringe upon private property. “I appreciate that we listened to the concerns of (Legacy Ridge) residents,” said Brickner.

• Allen commented on the community flag idea championed by

Dunne, calling it “a great opportunity for us to get a community flag and not spend a lot of money.”

• City Engineer Andrew Staples gave an overview on the Liberty Lake Road project that will improve the street surface from Appleway to Country Vista and add a dedicated right-hand turn. The construction budget for the project is $1.48 million. The schedule is set for 55 working days in June, July and August. There will be an extensive outreach plan for businesses affected by the construction. More information on the project can be found on the city’s Lookout page.

• Council approved the awarding of an architectural and engineering services consultant agreement for Orchard Park to SPVV Landscape Architectures in the amount of $167,400 with a contingency of 10 percent to be managed by staff.

• Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting passage of Proposition 1, Spokane County’s measure that will appear on the ballot this month. If approved by voters, the initiative would continue the one-tenth of 1 percent sales and use tax to operate, maintain and improve emergency communication systems.

FRESH START

12 • APRIL 2017

Residential Resurgence – Housing market works to keep pace with demand

COVER STORY

The Splash

By Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent Ask anyone trying to buy or sell a home – or issuing a permit to build one – the real estate market is hot right now. And Liberty Lake is definitely feeling the effect.

A lack of housing inventory has homebuyers competing for the few homes available and builders scrambling to keep up.

Liberty Lake developments like River District, Trutina and Stonehill are selling homes as fast as they can build them and it is the same story across the state.

According to data from the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington, the median price of homes sold in Washington during the fourth quarter of 2016 was $323,000. That is a 10-percent increase from the year before.

Inventories of homes for sale statewide at the end of 2016 were down 44 percent from the third quarter of the year and decreased 53 percent from the same quarter the previous year. This amount of inventory is only considered to be a month-and-a-half supply of the state’s real estate market, which indicates that demand is exceeding the supply of homes on the market.

The Runstad Center also reports that building permit activity in Washington rose 86 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 from the same timeframe the year before.

Amanda Tainio, Planning and Building Services manager for the city of Liberty Lake, says she is definitely seeing this trend locally.

“We have a stack of building permits waiting,” she said. “It’s absolutely crazy around here on permitting volume.”

Building permits in Liberty Lake were up a record amount in 2016 as well, so much so that a temporary inspector was brought on to help.

City officials are seeing the same, and potentially more, permitting volume this year.

So far in 2017, Liberty Lake’s

Quality homes and quiet streets have emerged as trademarks of the Villages at Stonehill, a new residential development on the east side of Liberty Lake that opened last June. Like many other burgeoning neighborhoods in the area, Stonehill has seen its inventory go quickly.

Photo by Craig Howard Planning and Building Services department has already dealt with 125 permits, both residential and commercial. That is compared with around 200 in 2016.

shown.

spring or summer.

“We’re just having to tell people that it’s taking longer and anything they can do to make their submittals go smoother will help the process,” said Tainio.

“Spokane’s labor force is low,” he said. “There’s a lack of skilled subcontractors to keep up with demand.”

Conversely, there is not a lack of migration into the area.

In the meantime, building continues at both Trutina and the River District, with the Centennial Trail connecting the two sections of the development.

Developers aren’t complaining though, as many are also dealing with a time crunch on their end.

“Greenstone is making a strong commitment to customer service this year and trying to sell less homes,” said Jeremy Nichols, sales manager for Greenstone Homes at the River District and Trutina developments on the north side of the Spokane River off Harvard Road.

While selling fewer homes isn’t generally a profitable business model, Nichols says they are taking this tactic because homes were selling so fast that they weren’t able to be built and delivered in a timely manner.

“Build times were getting long,” he said. “I don’t have any homes right now. All I have are lots.”

While some homes can be seen under construction here and there within the River District development, Nichols says there just aren’t enough people to build them as fast as the interest is being

“We get a lot of out-of-staters,” said Nichols, “People from places like Denver, Seattle and L.A. They just don’t like sitting in their cars for hours.”

“I feel like the River District is a collective of what Greenstone does best,” said Nichols. “There are parks, trails, the river, bands in the park. There’s so much potential in this development.”

He says many who relocate are drawn to the slower pace of life and the natural surroundings, including the river that flows right behind many of the homes in River District and the latest development within the District, Trutina.

That full potential won’t be realized for a while yet though.

Nichols expects it to be 10 to 15 years before the River District is completely built out.

“This is Liberty Lake’s future,” he said.

“It’s going to be a resort setting,” Nichola said of the gated community for people 55 and over.

Eventually, Trutina will be a mixed use development with shopping and dining options. As with another Greenstone development, Spokane’s Kendall Yards, Nichols says Trutina will be known for its’ community events.

The Villages at Stonehill, off Country Vista Boulevard on Hawkstone Loop, are also selling as fast as homes become available.

“When you buy at Trutina you’re buying into a very high level social setting,” Nichols said.

When completely built out, Trutina will have around 300 maintenancefree single family homes and over 200 apartments. A grand opening celebration will be held in late

“We’ve sold out of all our standing inventory,” said Community Sales Manager Jake Spencer. “We were expecting them to go quick but not this quick.”

The development, on 100 acres of land, opened last June and the last standing home just closed a couple weeks ago, although new construction is underway. Price points in Stonehill range from $150,000 to 350,000. Stonehill also has a section devoted to people 55

See HOUSING, Page 13

The Splash

HOUSING

COVER STORY

Continued from page 12 years and older.

Developers Todd and Maryann Prescott of Whitewater Creek, Inc. in Hayden, Idaho, have focused mostly on developing apartment complexes in the past, so the Stonehill development is something new for them. At full build-out, Stonehill will have between 600 and 800 living units (including some multi-family housing options) and amenities including parks and natural-looking rock work.

“It will have a town xenter, called ‘The Landing,’ with 130,000 feet of community space and mixed use development with living space above,” said Spencer. “It’s pretty much within walking distance of everything.”

The planning that went into making this a walkable community has apparently been a selling point for many.

“We get a lot of comments on how there’s a vision and plan for the community for the future,” said Spencer.

Others appreciate that maintenance, at least front yard maintenance at the lowest level, comes with every home.

“I can’t tell you how many people come through looking for something

APRIL 2017 • 13

Real estate numbers soaring in local market

By Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent Tom McArthur of the Spokane Association of Realtors says the numbers do the talking when it comes to Liberty Lake real estate.

The interior of this model home in the River District is indicative of the classy, contemporary designs that are the signature of Liberty Lake-based Greenstone Homes. The blueprint for the River District covers 648 acres on north side of town and features an ambitious mixed-use plan of commercial and residential development.

Photo by Staci Lehman with full maintenance, especially in the 55-and-over section,” said Spencer.

Others come in just to look and are impressed by the quality, according to Spencer.

Whether it is the quality of the houses or the quality of life in these communities – and the greater Liberty Lake community in general – that accounts for the

housing surge, it looks like it will continue at least through 2017. The National Association of Realtors is forecasting that new home sales are expected to grow 10 percent this year. To which Tainio says she’s not surprised.

“We had almost three times our anticipated (permit) revenue last year and double on the zoning and subdivision side. So, so for ’17, it looks like we’re on the same track.”

“Looking at Spokane County overall, sales are up 3 to 5 percent but not the double digits we’re seeing in Liberty Lake,” said McArthur who serves as Public Affairs/Communications director for SAR. McArthur’s numbers show that in 2015, home sales in the Liberty Lake area were up 10.5 percent. In 2016, there was a 12.8 percent increase. McArthur believes those numbers could be even bigger this year, if the supply can keep up with the demand.

“Inventory is the key,” he said.

“We’ve been having a crunch on that for probably about a year now. Our Realtors are saying, if we had inventory, we could sell it.”

One area where McArthur has seen a definite increase in sales is homes over $500,000.

In 2014, there was just one home sold for over half a million dollars in Liberty Lake. In 2015, that number was half-a-dozen.

In 2016, it was two. In just the first three months of 2017, five homes over $500,000 have already been sold.

McArthur believes some of these sales are from people in other states moving here. He says homes go for big money in places like California and the sellers are bringing their profits here where they can get a lot more home for their money.

McArthur actually has a relative who followed this pattern – a trend that just may have something to do with the quality of life in the Inland Northwest.

After a record-setting year for building permits in 2016, the city of Liberty Lake is on pace to break that mark this year.

The city has already issued 125 residential and commercial permits in 2017 compared to 200 total from last year.

Photo by Craig Howard

“I think we live in the best place in the world,” McArthur said.

COMMUNITY

14 • APRIL 2017

Hallett’s Market and Cafe

Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS

Personalized Fudge Eggs Fudge Fudge with Nuts Rocky Road Peanut Butter Chocolate Bunnies White Chocolate Lambs Easter Candy Easter Baskets Mr. Bubbles Sparkling White Wine 14109 E Sprague Ave #2 Spokane Valley, WA 99216 www.hallets.com www.facebook.com/hallettsmarket

“ IT’S

THE LAW ”

In WASHINGTON Click or Call Two Business Days Before You Plan To Dig

www.CallBeforeYouDig.org

1-800-424-5555 or dial 811 Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council www.ieucc811.org

The Splash

March 31 | Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser, 4-7 p.m. at the Tri Community Grange, 25025 Heather Street, Newman Lake.

All you can eat spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert and beverage.

Take outs are welcome. Adults $8, children age 5 and above $5, children under 5 free. More information at 226-1389 or email eyrock13@gmail.com.

April 8 | Behold Jesus, 1 and 6:30 p.m., INB Performing Arts Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Admission is free to this Easter drama based on the life of Jesus. Presented by Valley-based Spokane Dream Center. For more information, call 924-2630.

April 15 | 21st Annual Easter Egg Hunt, 11 a.m. at Pavillion Park for toddlers up to fourth grade kids. Registration is required. Cost is $2 per child.

Registration will take place at the Liberty Lake Library Monday, April 10 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Thursday, April 13, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Cash or check only – or six plastic eggs filled with wrapped candy per child. For more information, call Alisha Davis at 921-6746.

April 22 | Spokane Fire Department open house for Greenacres Fire Station #10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 17217 E. Sprague Ave. Try on firefighter gear, tour the fire station and enjoy refreshments. For more information, visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

April 29 | Annual Spring Tea sponsored by the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 2 to 4 p.m., Meadowwood Technology Campus, 24001 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Tickets are $20.

Doors open at 1:30 to view silent auction and drawing items.

Proceeds go to support library programs. For more information, call 232-2510.

April 29 | Third annual Spring Cleanup, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Town Square Park, 1421 N. Meadowwood Lane, Liberty Lake.

Residents of the city of Liberty Lake who are customers of Waste Management’s garbage collection services can participate. The event is limited to one trip per household of bulky waste and one trip to drop off clean green at no cost. Residents will receive a mailer approximately two weeks

before the event that they must fill out and present on April 29. For more information, go to the city’s website at www.libertylakewa.gov.

April 29 | Breath of Spring Luncheon/Tea, 1 to 3 p.m., Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. For more information, call Milly Kropp at 928-1979.

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 893-4746 for more information.

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

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/CatholicSingles-Mingle.

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 2709264.

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 218-4799.

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

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 15

COMMUNITY

| 7:15 p.m., third and fourth Monday of the month (September through April). Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District building, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops.

More at 951-1446 or www.sv-cc. org Spokane Valley Writer’s Group | 6:15 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440.

Teen Writers of the Inland Empire | 4 p.m., first Thursday of the month (except holidays).

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Writers (sixth grade and older) meet to write and share their work. More at 893-8400.

HEALTH & RECREATION 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.

April 5 | Opening Day of Meadowwood Women’s Golf Club, 8 a.m., Meadowwood Golf Course, 24501 E. Valleyway Ave., Liberty Lake. Meeting at clubhouse with coffee and rolls precedes golf at 9 a.m.

April 12 | Sign-up meeting for Spokane Valley Women’s Evening Golf League, 6 p.m., Liberty Lake Golf Course, 24403 E. Sprague Ave., Liberty Lake.

Season begins April 26.

April 22 | ParaSport Spokane presents “Gateway to Gold,” 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., University High School, 12420 E. 32nd Ave. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

Lunch is included. This free clinic will feature wheelchair racing, ambulatory running, seated and ambulatory throwing. All equipment will be provided. For more information, call ParaSport Spokane at 999-6466 or teresa@ parasportspokane.org.

RECURRING HUB Sports Center 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including: • Badminton open gym: 7 to 9 p.m. Tues., $5/person • Basketball open gym: Noon to 1 p.m. Tues. and Thurs., $4/person

• Pickleball drop-in: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to noon Tues. and Thurs.; and 7 to 9 p.m. Wed. and Sun. $2/ seniors ($4/non-seniors) • Classes including Kenpo Karate, Modern Farang-Mu Sul, and Zumba Aerobics. See website for cost and times.

CIVIC & BUSINESS April 11 | Special meeting of the Liberty Lake City Council to discuss the possibility of a bond vote to support a community center and improvements to the Trailhead golf facility, 7 p.m., Liberty Lake City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive. This meeting will be an addition to the normal council schedule of the first and third Monday of each month.

RECURRING Central Valley School Board | 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 19307 E. Cataldo, Spokane Valley.

Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake Library Foundation | Noon the first Wednesday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake Merchants Association | 11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays, Liberty Lake Portal, 23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite 120.

More at 999-4935.

Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 10:30 a.m. the first Thursday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake SCOPE (Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort) | 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave. Liberty Lake Toastmasters #399 | 5:45 to 7 p.m., Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Learn to improve your public speaking skills in a friendly, encouraging environment. For more information call Larry at 435-6711 or Sherry at 953-2034 or visit www.libertylakers.org.

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The Splash

16 • APRIL 2017

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The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 17

The Water Front

LLSWD facility upgrade to put clamp on phosphorous

By Jeremy Jenkins Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District From laundry detergent to dishwashing soap, the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD) has historically led the way in addressing the clash of phosphorous and clean water.

When complete, the upgraded LLSWD water treatment facility will ensure a 99-percent removal rate of phosphorous.

Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Water and Sewer District

Now, the district is in the middle of a major upgrade to its treatment

facility that will ensure filtration of phosphorous on yet another level.

LLSWD was one of the first dischargers in the region to upgrade its facility to achieve enhanced phosphorous removal from its discharge to the Spokane River in anticipation of more restrictive discharge limitations.

To achieve this removal, LLSWD converted their facility in 2006 from an extended aeration process to a biological nutrient removal treatment process.

This reduced the phosphorous discharge from 20 to 25 pounds per day before the upgrade to 3 to 4 pounds per day after the upgrade was complete. The result of the phase one upgrade was removal of 91 precent of the phosphorous that enters the facility.

Construction for the mandated phase two upgrade of the facility is now underway and anticipated to be on-line by March 2018.

These upgrades include advanced tertiary treatment through chemical addition and membrane filtration. This additional treatment will further reduce phosphorous discharge to less than a half pound per day. This will equate to better than 99 percent removal of phosphorous entering the facility.

The phase two upgrade of the Liberty Lake Water and Sewer treatment plant is underway. The $22.7 million project is expected to be complete in March 2018.

Photo by David Stasney

The cost for phase one ($12.5 million) and phase two ($22.7 million) upgrades total $35.2 million over a 10-year period.

The Splash

18 • APRIL 2017

COUNCIL

Continued from page 10

“I think it’s imperative that every council member be fully supportive of this project if we’re going to a ballot measure,” Peterson said.

“We want it on the ballot, we want to pass it.”

Moore said the timeline may present a challenge.

“I don’t know if we’ve defined what we want for a community center or for the golf course,” he said. “How can we communicate that to the electorate by August?”

Brickner responded by saying council needs to move forward with the second phase of the discussion quickly, including a list of what the community center would include as well as outlining operation and maintenance costs for the center and a restored Trailhead facility. “if this is as much of a priority to our council as we say it is, this is going to be feasible,” Brickner said.

In other city news: • Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program to include the proposed addition of a new

northbound lane on Harvard Road off Appleway. City Engineer Andrew Staples said the project would also entail two dedicated right-hand turns on Appleway onto Harvard as a way to lessen traffic backups during peak hours. Preliminary design for the project – with an estimated cost of $4.5 million – should be complete by the end of this year, Staples said. He added that the city hopes to have around 70 percent of the price tag covered through matching grants.

• Following a public hearing, council approved a moratorium on the acceptance of application and issuance of permits for specific types of uses and improvements in an area designated as “light industrial.” City Administrator Katy Allen said the goal of the move is to encourage more of a campus-type environment featuring businesses that do not fit into a “heavy industrial” category.

• Council passed Ordinance No. 238 which establishes a requirement to register vacant properties as part of the municipal code.

• Allen said the city is considering adding an employee who would oversee street

maintenance, including snow removal, asphalt repair, road markings, street sweeping and drainage systems. She said the city would like to improve service delivery in these areas.

• Council approved a new policy for nonprofit groups that reserve recreation space within the city. With a goal of making the process more equitable, organizations will not be able to reserve fields for an unlimited amount of time for a $25 application fee as before. The fee will now cover 20 hours and include the option of groups re-applying and paying the same amount for additional 20hour blocks.

• Representatives from Boy Scout Troop 325 gave an overview of a project to distribute surveys on emergency preparedness to 150 homes in the Liberty Lake area on April 15.

• Pedestrian crossing beacons are being installed at two intersections – Wright/Country Vista and Appleway/Country Vista.

Allen said trees that were removed for the pair of projects will be replanted.

•

Companions, a specialty store featuring supplies for dogs and cats, provided an overview of the business she owns and operates with her husband Carl. The store on Appleway is celebrating its seventh year in Liberty Lake.

Calling All Local Graduates The Splash is featuring Liberty Lake high school graduates in the June issue. This invitation extends to all graduating seniors who live in the community, regardless of where they attend high school.

In order to participate, simply submit a photo with the following information to danica@libertylakesplash.com: Graduate’s name, high school, parents’ names and plans after graduation

Mara Crowell of Pawpular

Information must be received by Friday, May 12th. Contact 242-7752 or danica@libertylakesplash.com with any questions.

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National Library ENROLL TODAY! Week April 9-15, 2017

Our coaches are passionate about gymnastics and focus on teaching quality gymnastics in a fun and safe environment. Classes run year-round with three 13-week sessions (Fall, the country each Winter andApril.

Spring) and Originating one 10-week were getting summer a lotsession. of attention. The

Since 1958, National Library week has been celebrated across when research began to show that other forms of entertainment ALA set out to motivate the public to read. The first campaign “Wake Up and Read” was a huge success which led to this annual observance. What a great time to celebrate all of the wonderful books and programs that our libraries have to offer.

Library adventures Take pictures and send to contests@ libertylakesplash.com., We’d love to see them.

• What’s the weirdest reference book you can find?

• What’s the oldest book you can find?

• Look at microfilm from the day your grandma was born. Parents too.

• Try to find the biggest book at your library and take your picture with it.

• Choose a new cookbook and find a recipe for dinner.

• Find a new quote.

• Hunt for an author with your last name.

• Can you find a book with gold edges?

Some “library” books for older readers Curse of the Boggin by D.J. MacHale 2016 ages 8-12

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler 2015 ages 10 and up Ink and Bone

by Rachel Caine 2016 ages 12 and up

The Splash

20 • APRIL 2017

Packhorse Librarians

In 1935, as part of the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration. This program helped recover from the Great Depression. Most New Deal programs were for men and required hard physical labor which wasn’t acceptable for women at the time.

However, it became evident that there was a need for jobs for women. Sewing, cooking, nursing and cleaning jobs became available, but arguably the most successful and ingenious job might have been the pack horse librarians in rural Kentucky.

At this time thousands of people in rural Kentucky didn’t have access to telephones, radios or newspapers making them very isolated from the rest of the world. The only way to travel through these areas was on foot, by horse or occasionally by boat, up to 80 miles a week. The librarians were paid $28 a month to maintain and distribute materials. Most felt it was meaningful work, sharing books, magazines and most importantly contact with the outside world to people who had never had access before.

The WPA did not pay for any materials so most were donated or discarded by others. Popular Mechanics and Women’s Home Companion were the most popular magazines. All children’s books were popular. They were used to teach the young

Art work by Tami Booher depicting the a pack horse librarian at work delivering books to a woman at home. and also the illiterate adults to read.

The program had 30 branches serving close to 100,000 residents when in 1943, the WPA was dismantled. There was no longer pay available to keep this rural program in place regardless of it being a huge success. Many of the areas served were left without a library service for decades but, while in place the librarians fostered an appreciation of reading and expanding their knowledge of the world.

Want to learn more? Check these out!

That Book Woman by Heather Henson Librarians of Kentucky by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne C. Schmitzer 2008 ages 6 and up Lark loves to read, her brother Cal has no 2001 ages 10 and up

desire to until the tenacity of the Pack Horse The writing is really more informative than librarian makes him realize that reading must a story but the photographs are what tie it all be very important, important enough for him to together and make this book interesting. learn himself. Winner of the Christopher Award, the Great Lakes Book Award and others.

My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brought to Children Around the World

by Margaret Ruurs ages 8 and up.

Brown ages 5-8

Explore how 13 countries have alternative Based on the real-life librarian Luis Soriano and kinds of libraries. Boats, elephants, burros, his journey to bring literacy to rural Colombia. buses, wheelbarrows, donkey carts, camels, the Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse methods of book delivery are endless.

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 21

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Animal Facts

Try sinking your teeth in to these books!

Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library

by Julie Gassman 2016 ages 3-7

Adorable artwork and enjoyable rhymes that include the possible disasters that could happen with a dragon in the library make this a lively read aloud.

The Library Dragon by Carmen Deedy 1994 ages 5-8

What’s up with the scales on the new librarian and what’s the point of a library that you can’t touch the books in? Find out what changes her mind.

There’s a Dragon in the Library by Dianne De Las Casas 2011 ages 4-8

Cut them out and collect them all!

DRAGONFLY - Worldwide - 1/2” - 6” - Live one day - six months - 30 wingbeats per second - Can fly up to 36 MPH - Has 30,000 eye lenses, but does not see detail as well as human - Eats eggs of other insects - Eaten by fish, frogs, and birds - Hold their prey in spike covered legs - Fly like a helicopter moving inn all diretions including hovering

The Splash

22 • APRIL 2017

Henry was raised in a Chicago suburb. Both of his parents were art historians so he was exposed to many different artists and styles from a very young age. His attempts at drawing were heartily encouraged so drawing became a large part of his life. The desire to add words to bring his art to life came much later.

After graduating from high school, He attended Cornell University. His plan upon graduating was to become a lawyer but he worked as a business consultant instead. During the next five years, he realized that this was not his true calling.

He became a high school history teacher in San Francisco and began to write his first book, The Hounds of Rowan. When published in 2007 people quickly realized that it was unique in that it encompassed a range of genres including, history, mythology, folklore, fantasy and science fiction. Besides writing, Henry created all of the artwork in the old-fashioned way with a dip pen, paintbrush, and India ink. This led to a four-book series. He now lives in Brooklyn where he recently completed and released Impyrium, the first book in his new fantasy series.

Author Spotlight eff N y r n e H

Tapestry Series. ages 8 and up.

2008-2014

This series follows Max McDaniels and his life at Rowan Academy. It contains magical creatures, Irish mythology, secret agents and of course our hero that wants to save the world. The kitchen staff add some comic relief and the illustrations match well. It has been translated into 19 languages and been nominated for several awards.

Impyrium 2016 ages 8-14

This companion series to the “Tapestry” series takes place 3,000 years in the future.

Hazel, a future heir and Hob, a poor commoner begin to question what they’ve been taught about their country.

Mythology, political intrigue, and magic reign supreme.

Dragon Corner Bookmark

MATERIALS: You’ll need a square of paper. We used a five inch one.

Some eyes or pens for decorating.

DIRECTIONS: 1. Begin by folding your square in half and then in half.

1. & 2.

2. Cut out one quarter.

3. Fold the two outside squares in half and cut the outer half off.

4. Fold the two triangles over the square and glue the top triangle to the bottom one creating a pocket.

5. Decorate to make the dragon of your choice.

3.

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 23

Student of the Month Before she joins the Stanford University basketball roster for the 2018-19 season, Lexie Hull is focused on leading the Central Valley Bears to elite territory and earning some serious honors along the way. Last month, the standout junior was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for a season in which she averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 steals a game.

The Bears, state 4A champs last year, finished 26-1 while placing fourth at state. Hull was state tournament MVP in 2016. She was second team All Greater Spokane League as a freshman and first team the past two years. Hull maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. The Liberty Lake resident has participated in Key Club, DECA and Green Team at CV. She is currently part of the Bears’ track squad, competing in the long jump, high jump and 4 x 400 relay.

Citizen of the Month

& Thanks you for all you do in our community

As one of the top high school debaters in the state, Central Valley senior Andy Reding is accustomed to getting across his point. As a student and citizen, the Liberty Lake resident has made it a point to make a positive difference.

Reding maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He serves as president of the high school advisory board for the Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center, a nonprofit that helps children with disabilities. Last year, he served as board vice president.

He also volunteers regularly at Second Harvest Food Bank. Reding has participated in debate since his freshman year. He has competed in cross country and is currently part of the CV tennis team. After high school, Reding plans to attend Gonzaga University and study engineering.

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Athlete of the Month A resident of the Liberty Lake community since 1980, Lorraine Halverson is known as someone who brings a smile and positive energy to every situation. She was one of the founders of the Liberty Lake Yard Sales in 1993 and has served as a longtime member of the Friends of the Library, a group that raises funds and awareness for the Liberty Lake Library. This year, she is serving as the chair of the library’s annual tea fundraiser. Lorraine and her husband, Harley, have been married since 1957. They served as grand marshals of the Fourth of July Parade in 2013.

With an extensive background in education, Halverson has continued to enrich the lives of students, volunteering as an English as Second Language (ESL) instructor at The Barton School through Spokane’s First Presbyterian Church, mostly working with Russian and Ukranian immigrants. Thanks for all of your selfless efforts, Lorraine. Liberty Lake is better because of you.

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The Splash

24 • APRIL 2017 Brought to you by

About and for Liberty Lake seniors Art classes celebrate creativity at Valley Senior Center

“Some (ACT2 students) may have wanted to take art over their lifetime but career and kids didn’t allow the time,” said Frey. “Classes are very affordable. You can take as many or few as you like.”

Splash Correspondent

Instead of taking the classes for college credit, they can be taken for enjoyment and personal growth.

By Mary Anne Ruddis

Art is something that everyone can do, a way for all of us to express ourselves with a wide range of activities.

Just ask the artists at the Spokane Valley Senior Center.

At the popular site for seniors located in the CenterPlace building near the Valley YMCA, several art classes are offered through the Community Colleges of Spokane ACT2 program. ACT2 provides a variety of affordable classes for those who are retired or preparing to retire.

Research shows that tapping into imagination and creativity later in life can help art participants realize potential they may not have known they possess.

Katie Frey has been teaching art for eight years and offering classes through ACT2 for about two years.

Frey teaches two classes at the Spokane Valley Senior Center. On Wednesdays, “Open Art Multimedia” is a free flowing class. “Everyone is doing something different and working on their own projects,” Frey said.

Students can be working with watercolor, oil, acrylic, colored pencils or any medium they wish.

“It isn’t a how-to class but [a place] to see demos and get help with individual projects,” Frey points out.

On Thursday, Frey teaches an acrylic painting class where students “learn and practice basic acrylic techniques.”

Other instructors offer additional art classes such as drawing, ink, colored pencil and watercolor at the center through

Original watercolor paintings and other student works will be featured at the Spokane Valley Senior Center ACT2 Show and Sale on April 28.

Photo by Mary Anne Ruddis

Art classes at the senior center are affordable and feature instruction in watercolor, oil, acrylic, colored pencils and other mediums.

Photo by Mary Anne Ruddis

ACT2.

president of the Spokane Valley Senior Citizens Association.

In art class, Frey says participants “don’t have to live for others and can explore something just for the fun of it.”

“We are never too old to start something new,” Frey said. “Art is so diverse and there are so many different styles not necessarily just drawing and painting, some abstract, some realistic, some collage style. Especially in the open art class, there is something for everyone. You find an area to excel at and enjoy yourself. It may take some time to find your particular area of art and if you keep at it, you’ll find it.”

Students Deborah Phaneuf and Nancy Collins echoed Frey’s statements. “It is nice to do something different,” said Phaneuf.

“I never took classes until now.”

“It’s fun and relaxing and uses the other side of my brain and I meet lots of new people,” Collins said.

Katie Frey teaches art at the Spokane Valley Senior Center as part of the ACT2 program offered through Community Colleges of Spokane Photo by Mary Anne Ruddis

All of the art classes held at the Spokane Valley Senior Center will be joining together to present their work for sale at the Spokane Valley Senior Center ACT2 Show and Sale on Friday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the senior center located at 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. All pieces are under $75.

Sales are cash and check only, no credit cards.

“It’s important [for seniors] to get out into the community during the day,” said Jim Stone, current

The art classes are just one way of engaging. The center also offers a wide variety of activities that are volunteer driven and a great way for seniors to create a sense of community and be engaged.

Research has found that being actively engaged in life is a vital part of healthy aging. Art promotes not only engagement in life, but also an avenue to discover new aspects of yourself that can enrich your later years.

Volunteers are vital to the continued stability of the center and Stone wants to encourage people to donate time in any capacity they are able. Without their caring commitment, many of the activities at the center would not happen. The center will be recognizing volunteers during volunteer Appreciation Month on April 22 with a volunteer luncheon at Darcy’s Restaurant on Sprague Avenue in U-City. If you have volunteered in the past year at the center, you can sign up to attend at the front desk or call 926-1937 for more information.

Want to find out more?

Visit the Spokane Valley Senior Center website at www. spokanevalleyseniorcenter.org or call 926-1937 for more information on classes, activities and volunteer opportunities. Details on the art classes can be found on the Spokane Valley Senior Center website calendar.

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 25

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The Splash

26 • APRIL 2017

Rally Time – Rehkow family gathers strength in face of challenges

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor Life can have its peaks and valleys as the Rehkow family – Freddie, Kim and their four boys – well know.

They’ve had plenty of highs, but the diagnosis a year ago delivered a life changing jolt that sent them careening into an abyss and put their lives in perspective.

Cameron, the youngest of the brothers, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia, a result that shook the household to its foundations.

“The first response is disbelief, the second response is fear,’’ Freddie said. “It’s a very, very big shock for your family. There is no greater sense of helplessness.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, sports have always represented reassurance for the Rehkow household. Sports have also been very good to them.

Freddie coaches Central Valley’s girls’ basketball team.

Kim (Priebe) played basketball at Central Valley, North Idaho College and the University of Alaska in Anchorage, the city

where she and Freddie met.

Freddie’s kids didn’t spend bundles on traveling teams, but he spent countless hours working with them, shagging basketballs and footballs as they honed their crafts. Indeed, he says he was the one who talked Austin into place kicking and punting because of his leg strength playing AAU basketball. Ryan and soon Landon would follow suit.

Austin was a three-year varsity basketball player at Central Valley, averaging 14-plus points per game over junior and senior seasons and playing on the Bears’ State 4A finalist.

He kicked a national high school record 67-yard field goal while a Bear and parlayed that into a career at the University of Idaho where he became the nation’s leading punter, a two-time AllAmerican and a current NFL aspirant.

Ryan is following in his brother’s footsteps, no pun intended. He’ll attend Brigham Young University following a two-year LDS mission to kick after being the All-GSL punter. This winter he completed his high school basketball career after scoring double figures his junior and senior seasons during which he was selected All-GSL as well.

Logan is next in line.

Their dad coached Central

Freddie and Kim Rehkow are both known for their success in basketball at Central Valley High School but the games have been second priority for the Spokane Valley family since their youngest son, Cameron, was diagnosed with leukemia last year. From left to right: The Rehkows – Ryan, Cameron, Freddie, Kim, Austin and Landon.

Contributed photo

Valley to an undefeated state championship 4A title in 2016 and finished fourth this year losing just once all season, by a point in the state quarterfinals, leaving them with a 54-1 record over two years.

But their lives turned upside down and altered their perspective of all those accomplishments following Cameron’s diagnosis.

Coincidentally, Freddie was in a hospital bed following hip surgery when he got the call about Cameron and relayed the message to Kim. “Cameron hadn’t been feeling well,” said Kim who had gotten a doctor’s appointment previously.

“The doctor’s office was trying to get ahold of us.” She was told to take Cameron to the hospital and learned he might have leukemia.

She was forced to quit work a year ago to become Cameron’s fulltime caregiver, driving between the hospital and home while he underwent chemotherapy and further treatments.

“As soon as you hear that, you can’t even control your emotions,” she said of the diagnostic shock.

“From that night on, I had a fulltime job basically. I’ve not been back to work since that day.”

Treating the disease is a marathon, not a sprint, she explained. “I just hated everything about it, but I accepted it.”

A year later, following endless rounds of chemotherapy, Cameron’s cancer has gone into remission and now is considered in maintenance. He still travels to the hospital for tests, including monthly spinal taps to mark his progress. Kim is hopeful he’ll be ready to return to school soon.

“Unfortunately it’s taken a toll,” Kim says of the treatment. Besides persistent fatigue, she said Cameron’s “muscles contracted a bunch, he has difficulty walking.

We’re still working on it.”

Understandably, Cameron’s cancer has affected his brothers.

Austin wore a wrist band with his initials “CTR” on it during the Vandal football season as a tribute to his young brother. “Ever since I learned about Cameron,” Austin was quoted in The Spokesman-

Review, “(I’m) just trying to see him through it.”

Many have rallied to Cameron’s side. He was given an Idaho football helmet. When able, he sat on the bench during CV girls’ basketball games, sharing a special handshake as the team entered and exited the games.

He traveled to state in Tacoma, the first time he’d spent longer than an hour in the car, Freddie said. But three days of state basketball exacted its toll.

“As he was there he got pretty fatigued,” Freddie said. “There was a lot of walking in the Dome.

It was definitely taxing. After three days he was ready to come back home.”

How, you might ask, has the family managed their lives around Cameron’s illness?

“It’s been stressful on our relationship for sure,” Kim said.

“I’m focused on Cameron and (Freddie’s) working. It’s a divide and conquer thing. It’s definitely a family project.”

Freddie added, “Some days are definitely better than others and days that are super stressed.

My wife has helped the most.

Cameron’s being well take care of by her while having Ryan and Landon playing sports, you’re trying to do your best job and knowing it’s not going to be easy.”

Freddie said he has a different perspective on life that enables him to face Cameron’s illness.

“I guess I look at it differently,” he explained. “Things happen for a reason. You count your blessings and fight through disappointments.”

Kim added, “We are trying to be patient, that’s for sure.”

The community and friends, Kim said, have provided incredible support and Kim said she hasn’t been able to adequately communicate their gratitude.

“We’ve been more than blessed,” she said. “I want people to know we have felt that through this journey. We’ll never be able to thank everybody during this devastating time in our lives.”

But, she adds, “We’re expecting a happy ending.”

The Splash

SPORTS

Sports Notebook

and finish fourth. CV only graduates two players. And for those who will be playing for a fourth straight year, there’s solace in the knowledge they’ll add to their 73-6 overall record, including 54-1 the past two seasons, with the opportunity to add another title.

“We lost by one point, that’s what people remember,” said CV head coach Freddie Rehkow. “We were supposed to win three in a row. What happened? My view is different. You have to be messed up in the head to think that’s not good.”

There was a pressure to maintain the winning streak. People were understandably disappointed. The pressure of the long season was evident, Rehkow said, and they missed several opportunities to win the game.

“They (Bellarmine) played their best and we didn’t,” Rehkow said.

“If that’s disappointing, I’m sure there a lot of people who would trade for (our) disappointment.”

Lexie Hull averaged 17 points a game, Lacie Hull 10, with strong support from Hailey Christopher and Camryn Skaife.

All return next season.

Final Point

two rounds of this year’s NCAA men’s tourney. By that measure Hardwood Classic can be considered a success, I suppose.

In CV’s case, however, I wish that other aspects, like the media polls, would factor in the seeding process.

My quibble, as was CV coach Freddie Rehkow’s, is that the defending champion Bears entire resume of work wasn’t taken into consideration when they were ranked fifth in the RPI despite being defending champions with 52 straight wins. A deserved higher seed may have been the difference between the Bears winning the title and the fourth place trophy they brought home.

That said, it turned out despite the slight given the seed they had,

the Bears essentially wound up right where they belonged in the quarterfinals opposite No. 7 and eventual state champ Kentridge, which had upset No. 1 Kentlake on the same day CV lost by a point to No. 6 Bellarmine Prep in their tournament openers. I suppose that’s why they play the game.

During the year it must be pointed out, CV beat No. 4 ranked Sunnyside twice during the tournament, beat No. 1 ranked Kentlake for a second time this year and beat No.2 seed Moses Lake, also for the second time, to place fourth.

Not a bad year’s work considering the new RPI had its flaws along with its improvements.

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor Bears wind up fourth at state The run of 52 consecutive wins for the Central Valley girls’ basketball team ended with a loss at state and the defending 4A champions were denied a repeat title. But there’s always next year.

The Bears lost their tournament opener to Bellarmine Prep, 56-55, missing opportunities to prevail, but rebounded to win the next two

Revisiting the RPI after roller coaster prep brackets

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor I stand corrected. The RPI, designed to set up basketball tournament brackets more equitably did have some merit when comparing rankings to seeding in last month’s state high school basketball tournaments.

The RPI was designed to take the human element out of past draws, like last year when two unbeaten teams from essentially the same region, Central Valley and Moses Lake, were pitted against each other in the first round of state in 2016.

This season in virtually every classification, the first through fourth/fifth seeded teams reached the quarterfinals as designed.

Of the final eight in each of the six boys and girls classification tournaments, all but five teams followed form. The RPI had done its job up to that point. Furthermore, of 24 Final Four teams, 15 followed form in the girls tournaments and 17 did so among boys.

Winning championships, however, proved considerably problematic for the top seeded schools. Only two No. 1 or 2 ranked teams of a possible 12 made the finals in the Washington girls’ tournaments and neither won the title. Four of the champions were ranked seventh or eighth by the RPI, including 4A champion Kentridge, a team Central Valley would have played in the semifinals had they not faltered, losing by a point in its tournament opener.

The boys had better success with six of 12 finalists either ranked in the top one or two of the RPI. Two No. 1 seeds and one No. 2 were champions. The stunners, perhaps, were No. 13 Foss winning over No. 4 Selah for the 2A title. Locally, Liberty, No. 12 ranked in the RPI, reached the finals in 2B before “settling” for second place.

Upsets are the norm during college “March Madness.” Look what happened in the bracket busting first

APRIL 2017 • 27

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The Splash

28 • APRIL 2017

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DAY THAT CHANGED IT ALL 4.16.17

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The Splash

Irrigation and innovation with the lake’s pioneers

By Ross Schneidmiller

Liberty Lake Historical Society Liberty Lake’s water level is regulated by a head-gate and canal located at its northwest corner.

Now operated by the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, regulating the water level was not the original purpose for this.

In the late 1800s, interest developed in irrigating the gravely soil of the Spokane Valley. W. L. Brenan, a freight agent for the Great Northern Railway, beat everybody to the punch claiming water rights on Liberty Lake and other bodies of water.

HISTORY by the Corbin’s substantial infusion of cash, the SVLWC was ready for a large-scale expansion of its already growing canal system.

As much as this positively impacted landowners in Greenacres, some landowners at Liberty Lake were negatively impacted. When the canal was built at Liberty Lake, an arm of the lake called Lake Loomis was drained. Prior to the canal, Rasmus Madsen’s land bordered Lake Loomis. He claimed it was of great value and they used it for bathing, watering stock, fishing, cutting ice and general domestic purposes.

Madsen and his wife Anna took the SVLWC to court. Portions of the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In end, the court system decided that the Madsens did not have rights to the water because Liberty Lake was navigable. Because of this, the state could transfer the water rights to W.L Brenan. There were additional lawsuits by other landowners with different circumstances but all had favorable outcomes for the SVLWC. In one of its expansions, the SVLWC tapped into the Spokane River at Post Falls. By the time it connected with the water from Liberty Lake near Trailhead Golf

APRIL 2017 • 29

Course’s first hole, it had traveled though canals, flumes and pipes.

The canal system known to locals as “Corbin’s Ditch” was utilized in part into the 1960s.

Did You Know?

The reason the beaches seen in old photographs were as much as 20 or 30 feet deeper than today was because of the water withdrawn from the lake to make Greenacres green. When the water level of the lake was too low to flow naturally into the canal, the irrigation company would often pump it in.

This impacted the west and north sides of the lake the most because of the gentle sloping base.

He then joined developer D.C. Corbin and his son Austin in forming the Spokane Valley Irrigation Company (SVIC) in 1899 exchanging water rights for stock.

Aided by a state law passed in the year of its incorporation, the SVIC started condemning private land for canal right-of–ways if the landowner was unwilling to negotiate a sale.

After the company acquired the rightof-ways needed, it authorized construction of the first canal to carry water from Liberty Lake for 6.5 miles to an area that became known as Greenacres.

The SVIC proceeded with confidence bolstered by a positive feasibility study done by engineers the company hired. Spokane Valley settlers were skeptical and thought the irrigation project would fail.

They did not believe the unlined canals would hold the water, thinking it would disappear into the gravely ground before it reached the so-called irrigated tracts.

Skepticism dissipated, however, by the summer of 1900. Previously established orchards and vegetable gardens, now under irrigation, had favorable results. All the first irrigated tracts of Greenacres were sold by 1905. Starting at $50 per acre they increased fourfold to $200 over a four-year period. By this time, the SVIC was merged into the Spokane Valley Land and Water Company (SVLWC). Aided

The underlying photo shows a portion of Lake Loomis at the northwest corner of Liberty Lake (circa 1898). The inset aerial photo shows both Neyland’s and Wayside resorts in the cluster of trees at the lake’s northwest corner. The black line near the bottom of the photo is the irrigation canal (circa 1940).

Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Historical Society

The Splash

30 • APRIL 2017

Design The Liberty Lake Flag and Win $300!

Help us develop a unique and meaningful flag for the Liberty Lake Community!

Submit your design by May 31st, 2017 to be entered to win! 3 finalists will be selected and each will win a $300 grand prize!

Imagine a great idea - and draw it! Or, produce it using your favorite software. Remember, your idea is what counts! Amazing ideas can be expressed in crayon!

DRAW HERE

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: 1) Cut out this page and mail to: Spokane Valley Arts Council PO Box 141676, Spokane Valley, WA 99214

2) Email your entry to LibertyLakeFlag@gmail.com

3) Take a photo of your entry with your phone and text it to 509-879-2758

DESCRIPTION OF IDEA:

NAME:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

ADDRESS:

While designing your flag please consider something that is meaningful, with a few basic colors, no lettering or seals and a design that is simple.

Suggested colors (though not limited to) include Blue (freedom, patriotism, water), Green (earth, nature, agriculture), White (peace, purity, mountain snow) and Yellow/Gold (sun, wealth, prosperity). Liberty Lake has many wonderful symbols you may also consider to inspire your design including Liberty Lake, children, growth, the Spokane River, outdoor recreation, golf, families, forested hillsides and the dance pavilion!

A flag’s purpose is to represent a place, organization, or person. Flags of places promote identity and civic pride! With this in mind, what would make a GREAT Liberty Lake Community Flag? It would capture the spirit of this place and its people: past, present and future. It would be distinctive and recognizable, and could be proudly displayed next to our Nation’s flag and our Washington State flag. The Liberty Lake Community has historically been a place of Gathering, Recreation and Music – both for Native Americans and early twentieth century people of the greater Spokane region. It is a vibrant community with significant commerce and economic activity!

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The Splash

Residents encouraged to take part in community flag campaign

By Mary Anne Ruddis Splash Correspondent We live in a complex world where there is a great deal of competition for our attention. We select where to give our attention whether it is to causes, ideas, particular products or building community cohesion.

A well-designed symbol will not only get our attention, but has the power to communicate underlying values and unity.

A symbol is a graphic sign for an idea, concept or object that comes to reflect the qualities and values behind it. Symbols have the power to unite us on a level beyond language. A flag can be one of our most proliferate symbols to foster unity and pride.

Now, thanks to some creative initiative being taken by a local leader, the public is invited to be a part of creating a community flag for Liberty Lake.

Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne is driving the effort to design and create a community flag chosen from residents’ submissions. Dunne says that he is hoping for “hundreds of entries.”

The top three finalists will each receive a $300 cash prize.

“The community flag (design submission) is an opportunity for the community to contribute their voice to the design of the flag,” said Liberty Lake City Administrator Katy Allen. “The flag will be a way to show pride in our community,” Dunne stresses that the flag is way to symbolize the collective identity of a unique community.

“Once a community flag has been selected, community organizations like the schools, fire stations and the city are invited to implement it,” he said.

Dunne has identified four boundary areas inclusive in the community flag concept: the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, the city of Liberty Lake, Central Valley School District and the Spokane Valley Fire Department Liberty Lake Fire Station No. 3.

“A community flag enhances the community spirit and is a creative

APRIL 2017 • 31

way for the community to rally around an identity,” Spokane Valley Fire Chief Bryan Collins said. “It is a great idea.”

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water Commissioner Tom Agnew agrees, “This appears to be a fun community project,” he said.

Dunne has been working on the idea for about two years. After seeing a municipal flag appear in multiple places throughout a large city he was visiting, including moving through the city decaled on police cars, Dunne became intrigued at how the symbol seemed to tie the city together presenting a unique identity. “It was a point of civic pride for the community and represented more than just municipal boundaries,” he said.

“A flag’s purpose is to represent a place or organization,” said Dunne, “I love this community. It’s about the people.”

The pathway to enter the contest that runs throughout April and May can be as easy as taking a photo of your submission and texting it to Dunne. “I want it to be as easy as possible. Every idea will be given merit and consideration with an acknowledgement,” he said.

There are very specific guidelines for creating great flags. The purpose of the flag is to represent Liberty Lake and the greater community. Flags need to be visible and recognizable at a distance even while in motion. The North American Vexilogical Society provides the following guidelines as to what makes a great flag: Keep it simple; use meaningful symbolism; use few basic colors; do not use lettering or seals, and be distinctive.

When designing the flag, keep in mind the unique history and distinctiveness of the Liberty Lake community, recommended Ross Schneidmiller of the Liberty Lake Historical Society.

“A community flag can be a unifying symbol that identifies our uniqueness as an area,” he said.

“For example, the natural beauty and resources of our area have drawn people to our community since the Native Americans. For over 150 years the themes of gathering, recreation and music have been present in our community.”

Another consideration when designing your submission is the meaning of specific colors that might be reflective of the community. Blue often represents freedom and patriotism and can

Many towns and cities across the country have their own distinctive flag that flies beside the American flag outside municipal buildings and at community events such as the one above in Denver. Liberty Lake City Council Member Dan Dunne has introduced the idea of creating a Liberty Lake community flag.

Contributed image symbolize water. Green reflects the earth, nature, and agriculture.

White often represents peace, purity, and mountain snow. Yellow (gold) symbolizes the sun, wealth, commerce and prosperity. There are also many symbols that can be used: hillsides, lakes, river, trails, etc. Keep in mind that simple is better and that the flag should be recognizable from a distance and in motion.

Centennial Rotary Club; Liberty Lake Police Department; Friends of Pavillion Park; Spokane Valley Fire Department; Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and Central Valley School District.

The Spokane Valley Arts Council (SVAC) will vet the submissions and narrow them to three finalists. “It is a great idea,” said SVAC Director Jim Harken.

The following sponsors (in alphabetical order) support the nonprofit community flag effort: Altek, Consign Furniture, Friends of Pavillion Park, Frencken, Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Itron, Kiwanis of Liberty Lake, Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club, The Splash, STCU, Washington Trust Bank, and Yoke’s Fresh Market.

Once three finalists are chosen, the final selection will be made by individuals representing eight Liberty Lake essential organizations: Liberty Lake Splash; city of Liberty Lake; Kiwanis of Liberty Lake; Liberty Lake

Have a hand in creating a lasting legacy for the community and send in your submission by May 31.

The projected date to announce the winner is July 4. For further information, contact Dan Dunne at 879-2758.

The Splash

32 • APRIL 2017

Safety Scroll Spring cleaning for home fire safety

By Chief Bryan Collins

Spokane Valley Fire Department It may seem hard to believe after the winter that we just went through but spring is finally here. As blue skies and warmer temperatures return, thoughts turn to cleaning up from the long winter, making repairs around the home and enjoying the outdoors. This year, the Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to encourage you to include home fire safety items on your spring cleaning checklist.

Inside the home, start by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Smoke and CO alarms save lives – if they are working. You should test alarms every month by pressing the test button and replace the battery at least once a year. You also need to check the age of your alarms; if they are more than 10 years old, they should be replaced. Finally, when was the last time you checked to make sure you have the proper number of alarms? There should be a smoke alarm in every bedroom, in a central location outside of bedrooms and on every floor. You should also have a CO alarm on every level.

In the laundry room, clean out your dryer filter, vents and hoses of any lint and debris. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), failure to clean dryers is the leading cause of laundry room fires. In the kitchen, clean around stovetops of all combustibles, including oven mitts, utensils, towels or food packaging. Check your home for cracked, frayed

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or overloaded extension cords or surge protectors.

Clear out clutter throughout the home. While clutter does not start fires, it becomes fuel that makes a fire grow. Floors need to be kept clear of slip, trip and fall hazards, as well as not blocking emergency access and escape routes.

Outside the home, remove potential fire fuel by cleaning up leaves and debris and trimming tree branches to maintain a “fire zone” of at least 10 feet from the home.

Clean out gutters, downspouts, and your roof of leaves and combustible debris. Check to make sure that your address numbers are still up, not faded and clearly visible from the street. Check outdoor electrical outlets and replace outdoor light bulbs so address numbers are illuminated at night.

Spring is also a good time make sure that paint, yard and pool chemicals are stored properly. Old or leaking containers should be disposed of through local waste management. Check gasoline and

other fuel containers for leaks and make sure they are stored in a cool, dry place away from combustible materials.

For our rural residents, it is not too early to start preparing for wildfire season. Planning ahead to clear the home ignition zone and create your property’s defensible space now will pay off when the temperatures rise later in the year.

Finally, know your physical limits.

Spring cleaning can involve heavy lifting, so make to use proper lifting techniques and posture so you don’t injure yourself. Stay hydrated and take frequent breaks. With a little preventative work now, you can make a huge impact and reduce your home’s overall fire risks.

For more information and downloadable spring cleaning checklists, visit the Fire and Life Safety page on our website at www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

We also offer free home fire safety inspections and smoke detectors at no cost. For more information call 928-1700 or visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 33

SVFD Report – April 2017

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 89 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from Feb. 21 through March 22, 2017:

• Emergency services - 74

medical

•

Motor vehicle accidents – 2

•

Fire – 4

•

Hazardous materials - 1

•

Building alarm – 1

•

Service call - 1

• Dispatched cancelled en route - 6

and

*Service area for SVFD Station #3 in Liberty Lake Furnace Fire – Feb. 26 – Just before 7:30 a.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported fire in a manufactured home in the 200 block of South Neyland Avenue.

Firefighters located and quickly extinguished the fire inside a closet containing a natural gas-fired furnace. The furnace, closet and floor sustained fire damage. The cause of the fire was accidental. As a note to residents, SNAP, Spokane County’s nonprofit community action agency offers furnace repair and replacement to residents who qualify. The agency also provides home repairs, including electrical work. Call 456-7627 for more information.

Rescue – March 1 –SVFD crews responded to a rescue call in the 2500 block of North Drummond Street shortly before 12 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found a man with his foot stuck under a car. The man had been changing a tire when the jack supporting the vehicle collapsed and pinned the man’s

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Smoke Investigation – March 20 – Shortly before 4 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a report of smoke in the vicinity of the 24900 block of East Hawkstone Loop.

Firefighters investigated and found the source of the smoke was authorized outdoor burning by a nearby homeowner.

Motor Vehicle Accident – March 21 – SVFD crews responded to a reported motor vehicle accident at 24001 E. Mission Avenue just before 3:45 p.m. The elderly driver had not been feeling well and decided to pull off the road when he fainted. His pickup truck landed on top of some landscaping

Greenacres Fire Station 10 Open House and New Ladder “Push In” – April 22 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.—SVFD invites the community to join them for free family fun at Greenacres Fire Station #10, 17217 E. Sprague.

Try on firefighter gear, tour the fire station, take pictures and enjoy tasty treats! At noon, attendees will “Push In” the brand new fire truck, Ladder 10. Visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com for more information.

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

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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 installation of free smoke detectors. For more information call 928-1700 or visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

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The Splash

34 • APRIL 2017

HUB Sports Center receives boost from Murdock Trust

found at: www.SavetheHUB.org.

The HUB Sports Center is a 501c3 nonprofit sports facility. The facility opened in 2007 and has operated with a positive cash flow since October 2010. The HUB covers 66,000 square feet and is used for community events, outreach programs and athletic activities.

According to Champlin, the purpose of the HUB is “to provide events that have a positive impact on youth and the community.”

From Splash News Sources

The HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake received a $350,000 grant award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust last month.

With this pledge, the HUB’s capital campaign is almost 75 percent toward a goal of $3.2 million for the purchase of the facility, land and assets with over $2.3 million pledged and received to this point.

The overall goal is to raise $3.9 million with the additional $700,000 going toward an operating reserve fund to provide for current outreach programs as well as new initiatives.

Murdock awards grants that help improve the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest with an emphasis on nurturing and enriching the educational, spiritual, cultural and social lives of individuals, families and communities. The

The HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake recently received a grant of $350,000 from the Murdock Charitable Trust toward its ongoing capital campaign. The donation brought the HUB to nearly 75 percent of a $3.2 million goal for the purchase of the building, surrounding land and assets.

Contributed photo HUB organization is a great fit for the funding priorities of Murdock, according to Phil Champlin, HUB executive director.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant,” Champlin said. “The Murdock Trust carefully vets its applicants before making award decisions. We

appreciate their vote of confidence in the HUB’s ability to be a positive impact in this community and the necessity of this facility for future generations.”

The capital campaign for the HUB Sports Center is currently active.

Opportunities to participate can be

The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust was created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock and provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest— Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the trust has awarded nearly 6,000 grants totaling more than $850 million.

If you would like more information about the HUB’s capital campaign, please contact Phil Champlin at 927-0602 or by email at phil@ hubsportscenter.org.

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The Splash

Voters go to ballot to decide on emergency communications

By Tyler Wilson

Splash Correspondent This month, voters on Proposition 1 are being asked to continue funding technological progress for Spokane County emergency services.

If approved, the April 25 ballot measure would renew the onetenth of 1 percent sales and use tax that helps operate, maintain and improve emergency communication systems and services countywide.

The tax equates to one penny on every $10 purchase.

The initial tax was approved in 2008 and the money has funded multiple service enhancements, including a new computer-aided dispatch system (CAD), integrated communications systems and radios that connect emergency service agencies and the operations of Spokane County’s Crime Check program.

Spokane Valley Fire Chief Bryan Collins said the previous analog dispatch system didn’t allow for fire and law enforcement crews to communicate with each other.

“Most people are unaware of how often we go to the same calls – the police almost always go out on our calls for things like scene safety,” Collins said. “We really couldn’t talk to each other on our radio systems.”

In a March 15 press conference on the levy, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich explained the importance of having an interconnected system in response to natural disasters and mass emergency situations.

“Before we did not have that capability, I could literally see a firefighter not 200 yards away and not be able to communicate with them,” Knezovich said. “Now we can.”

The new CAD system allows dispatchers to coordinate the most effective and timely response based on location.

“The computer monitors all units

APRIL 2017 • 35

by automatic vehicle location,” Collins said. “It knows all the assets by type and location and the computer can quickly assign the closest unit.”

While the initial tax provided funds to implement the CAD and provide approximately 4,000 public safety radios across multiple agencies, additional funding is needed to maintain and upgrade the system and to replace equipment when necessary.

“The radios we wear on our hips, for example, life cycle is five to seven years,” Knezovich said. “I’ve already had this for three. So it is one of those aspects that without this funding, there are many things we can no longer do.”

Prop. 1 will continue funding for Crime Check, which is a service for residents to report crime without clogging the emergency 911 line.

Last year, Crime Check (456-2233) fielded more than 247,000 calls.

“If this tax were to go away, the Crime Check wouldn’t be funded and all those calls would have to be added to 911 dispatch,” Collins said. “Based on that volume, there are times when you might get a busy signal.”

of FirstNet/OneNet. FirstNet is a nationwide program that creates a dedicated public safety wireless, broadband network for emergency responders.

OneNet is the Washington state version of that program.

“In a big disaster, a cell network can go down,” Collins said. “We won’t have to fight that issue anymore. We can push data and information across OneNet.” If the proposition fails, Spokane County would still be tasked with funding mandated programs.

“It will have to come out of every individual budget,” Collins said.

“About 80 percent of our budget is people. It would be pretty easy to do the math to see what we would have to cut.”

Even the advancements made to the CAD system and other technology upgrades would quickly begin to erode without maintenance funding, Collins said.

“It would be fine for about a year, but like your cell phone, it becomes antiquated,” Collins said. “It would be out of date and we would be back

in the situation we had before.”

Collins also stressed that voters can continue to expect upfront communication about where the money is going.

“We built in mechanisms to make sure this is very transparent,” he said. “There is a citizen’s oversight group on how we’re spending the money, and we’ve had very good reports and no major issues. That’s an assurance back to the public.”

At the press conference, Knezovich highlighted the citizens’ contribution to the advancements of the past 10 years.

“Spokane County has become cutting edge in this field,” he said.

“Not very many communities have as robust a system as we have, and I really do thank the citizens for providing the resources for us to do that. But this really means maintaining it and building out to the future.”

More information can be found at www.Prop1Spokane.org or by calling 477-6001. Registered voters can expect a ballot in the mail by April 10.

The next 10 years If approved, Prop. 1 will fund upcoming programs and technology advancements, many of which are mandated requirements from federal and state levels.

Next Generation 911 is a mandated internet-protocol-based system that allows photos, videos, voice and text messages to be received through 911 dispatch, then shared with emergency responders.

Other services to be funded by Prop. 1 include: Improvements to ALERT Spokane, the region’s citizen emergency notification system. A “reverse 911” system allows for information to be distributed to citizens in important times in need – for example an alert for people in an area to evacuate because of a fast-moving wildfire.

Expansion of the county’s radio channel capacity to accommodate high-use times, such as extreme weather emergencies or public safety situations.

Implementation and expansion

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36 • APRIL 2017

Toastmasters adds value to members and community

During a recent Wednesday night meeting at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District we had a rousing discussion about selfimprovement. A speech that I gave was a humorous look into how many of us are in hyper-improvement mode these days. From skipping lunch to participate in webinars, to monitoring our steps, food and water via the FitBit, there is a crazy level of competition in our world right now.

That is… self-competition!

However, I should say that the one highly valued piece of selfimprovement in my life is my involvement in Toastmasters.

OPINION Friends have asked me if Toastmasters is something that I go to learn how to make great toasts at parties? Well, something like that.

Toastmasters has been around since the early 1900s and has 345,000 international members.

Per the Toastmasters website (www.toastmasters.org), “Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 15,900 clubs in 142 countries.”

Last fall, I joined Toastmasters to improve my public speaking skills.

Little did I know how much more I would learn! Toastmasters has both public speaking and leadership components. When you join, you receive two manuals, “Competent Leadership,” and “Competent Communicator.”

In the leadership manual, you are engaged by leading meetings,

as the Toastmaster of the Night.

Other opportunities include timing speeches, serving as the grammarian, acting as a speech evaluator for your peers and even being the nightly Table Topics Master for impromptu speaking.

In the Competent Communicator manual, you work your way through 10 prepared speeches such as “Get to the point,” “Organize your speech,” “How to say it,” as well as how to use visual aids and body language.

In my work, I have had the opportunity to give many speeches and I expect to do more in the future. I decided that while I could give a speech, sans butterflies, I wanted to be able to make more of an impact in my speeches. For example, being able to tell a joke

The Splash

in front of an audience, or to be flexible with the mood in the room.

The first time I memorized a speech in its entirety was just a few weeks ago. Wow, it felt great to be able to accomplish a memorized speech while using visual aids, voice inflection and body language!

For me, the learning and selfimprovement has been tremendous.

But the friendships I’ve made have been even better. Meeting weekly allows the group to enjoy times of levity and fun amidst our learning and growth. This is one type of selfimprovement that is useful and not over-the-top!

Join us! We meet Wednesdays at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Come as you are!

Jennifer Ferrero, APR

The Splash

APRIL 2017 • 37

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

EDITOR

Craig Howard

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

Paula Gano

paula@libertylakesplash.com

Hayley Schmelzer

hayley@libertylakesplash.com

Dean Byrns

circulation@libertylakesplash.com

CIRCULATION

CONTRIBUTORS

Bryan Collins, Craig Howard, Jeremy Jenkins, Staci Lehman, Mary Anne Ruddis, Ross Schneidmiller, Mike Vlahovich, Tyler Wilson 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 business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area.

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

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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.

Sheriff’s Office warns against river danger From Splash News Sources

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of the severe danger the Spokane River presents due to its extremely high flow rate and frigid temperature.

Residents are urged to please stay off/out of the Spokane River and make sure to maintain a safe distance from the river.

Spokane County has issued an emergency order closing access to the river. The city of Spokane Valley also issued a similar announcement regarding the river within municipal limits.

The river is also full of debris being carried downstream and the banks are full or overrun causing trees, brush, rocks and other obstacles to “strain” the rushing water and have an extreme amount of force pushing against them that could easily trap a victim. When the very cold temperatures of the snow runoff is added to this, making hypothermia an almost immediate factor.

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 of that month.

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

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Correction

In a story about the Legacy Ridge community that appeared in the March issue of The Splash, the last name of Jeff and Janice Renfrow was misspelled. The Splash regrets the error.

quality

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

Thrivent Financial • Family Medicine/Healthy Living Liberty g Lake re e n s t o n e h o m Kiwanis • Liberty Lake Family Dentistry • Liberty Lube

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

should be reported immediately to 242-7752 or by email to editor@libertylakesplash.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

About the Opinion Page

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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.

YO

Adorkable Flowers and Gifts 16 Amaculate Housekeeping 5 Banner Furnace & Fuel 33 Casey Family Dentistry 38 Central Valley Theatre 16 City of Liberty Lake 7, 9 Clark’s Tire & Automotive 3 Coldwell Banker - Rob Brickett 27 Cornerstone Penecostal Church 34 CS Motorsports 9 Evergreen Fountain 25 Family Medicine Liberty Lake 23 Friends of the LL Municipal Library 10 Greenstone 18

Gus Johnson Ford 26 Hallett’s Market and Cafe 14 Horizon Credit Union 11 Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council 14 Jim Custer Enterprises 34 John L Scott - Pam Fredrick 15 Liberty Lake Children’s Academy 33 Liberty Lake Church 23 Liberty Lake EyeCare Center 3 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Liberty Lake Flag Competition 30 Liberty Lake Kiwanis Community Yard Sale 28 Liberty Lake Municipal Library 6 Liberty Lake Petsitters 5

Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 8 Liberty Lube 28 LIFT 35 North Idaho Dermatology 15 Northern Quest Casino and Resort 40 Ott Knott Used Golf Carts 27 Sarah Hamilton FACE 32 Simonds Dental Group 40 Spokane Gymnastics 19, 21 Spokane Roofing 32 UpLift 28 Waste Management 3

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 • APRIL 2017

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The Splash

Weather or not, spring arrives in the Inland Northwest

By Craig Howard Splash Editor On the first Saturday this past December, I rolled out my lawnmower on a dry, mild afternoon and addressed a chore that was weeks overdue. The same weekend, a few houses down, my neighbors were unraveling their Christmas lights.

A week later, my lawn – neatly mowed to resemble the outfield grass at Safeco Field – was buried in snow.

On March 7, a late winter storm set down in Spokane County less than a week after a bright, resonant day seemed to signal the dawn of spring. My snow shovel was dutifully retrieved from the garage like a sand wedge pulled from a golf bag right when it appeared each remaining fairway was devoid of hazards.

Welcome to the zany, bewildering – and inevitably unique – climate of the Inland Northwest.

While March 20 may have been the first “official” day of spring, those of us who have lived here a while know better. After all, it was only eight years ago – on March 29, 2009 – when 3.9 inches of snow fell on the greater Spokane area, setting a new local record for that day and pushing the snowfall total for the 2008-09 winter to a new alltime mark of 93.6 inches.

The winter before, 92.6 inches of snow transformed the area into a Winter Wonderland, as in “I wonder when this snow is ever going to stop.” The National Weather Service actually reported a trace of snow on June 10, 2008, although there is no official documentation of any local baseball games being snowed out or picnics at Pavillion Park layered in ice.

While our neighbors on the west side of the state enjoy more temperate winters with commonplace precipitation, our geographical address – on the fringe of the Columbia Basin with an average elevation of over 1,800 feet – puts us in the pipeline for snow, sleet, hail and general frostiness.

With the Rocky Mountains to the east and north and the Cascades to the west, the Inland Northwest

ON THAT NOTE is nestled in a slope where cold air often settles during certain months.

Hence the scarcity of palm trees in Otis Orchards and abundance of vacant tennis courts at Central Valley High School in February.

Don’t get me wrong, this is still a great place to live, despite the chilly quarter or so of the year. Visit Spokane, the area’s official envoy of tourism, notes on its website that we boast “four true seasons,” including “seemingly endless winter recreation.” Visit Spokane also draws a comparison of our region to the Puget Sound area, or “the rainy coastline of Washington state,” claiming that Spokane and its surrounding communities receive a paltry average of 16.5 inches of rain each year while enjoying around 260 days of sunshine.

No mention if those days include ice-covered weeks in January when the yellow circle in the sky is visible but emits about as much warmth as a frozen grapefruit.

that isn’t possible.”

The Inland Northwest is known for its “active weather pattern,” Sherry says, making exact predictions a challenge. Overall, though, weather forecasters fare pretty well, accurately anticipating snow, sun and other conditions 90 percent of the time in an average 24-hour span. The success rate is nearly as good – 80 percent – over 48 hours.

Mark Twain may have summed up the chore of predicting the elements best when he said, “Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get.”

One thing is certain – most residents are glad that colder weather seems to be on the downhill slide. Just in case, my golf bag this spring will include the normal array of clubs along with the obligatory umbrella and snow shovel.

APRIL 2017 • 39

Spokane-area weather landmarks

Warmest temperature – 106 degrees – Aug. 4, 1961 Coldest temperature – 24 degrees below zero – Feb. 2, 1996 Most rainfall in a month – 32.5 inches – April 1973 Coldest month on record – daily average of 1.4 degrees – January 1949 Warmest average month – July with an average temperature of 84.7 degrees Information from Global Summary of the Day which began recording Spokane County weather data in August 1941.

We know that a decrease in sunlight can lead to a condition known as “seasonal affective disorder,” characterized by higher levels of melatonin, the sleepinducing hormone and lower levels of serotonin, a natural mood stabilizer. Along with a dialing down of nourishing brightness, winter can also present challenges in the exercise department, another source of emotional and mental health according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Along with new approaches like light therapy and supplements like Vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin,” bundling up and stepping outside has been known to help combat the winter doldrums. A 2004 study at the University of Michigan found people who spent at least 30 minutes outside each day showed improved mood, memory and creativity.

Tom Sherry is accustomed to questions about when spring weather will be here to stay . The longtime meteorologist at KREMTV says while new technology has brought advances to his profession, “the demands on the forecast have gotten much tougher.”

“Used to be you could forecast snow for tomorrow,” Sherry said.

“Now people want to know what time snow will start and end. How much will fall by a certain time of day? Will it rain at my house at a certain time and how much will fall?

Will it be sunny or cloudy six days from now? Viewers want a more precise forecast and sometimes

Conditions at the Trailhead at Liberty Lake golf facility have varied dramatically over the past month, from a snow-covered course and pro shop to a venue emerging from layers of a lingering winter.

Photos by Craig Howard

The Splash

40 • APRIL 2017

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