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2017
Greenspace Triple Crown
Liberty Lake sets regional open space and recreation standard with Pavillion, Rocky Hill and Orchard parks page 12
COMMUNITY CENTER HEADED TO AUGUST BALLOT PAGE 9
LIBERTY LAKE ROAD UPGRADE PAGE 8
ZAGS FANS RELISH STUPENDOUS SEASON PAGE 47
2 • MAY 2017
The Park Bench
Boost to the Board – Mason brings educational insight to CVSD By Craig Howard Splash Editor When Amy Mason talks about curriculum standards and classroom environments as a member of the Central Valley School District Board of Directors, she speaks from experience. Before being appointed to the board in June 2011, Mason served as an English and Spanish teacher at Post Falls High School from 1994 to 1999. It was her first job in the field after graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Elementary Education. While she enjoyed her time at Post Falls, even pitching in as a cheer squad advisor, Mason’s connections to the Palouse still ran strong. She had met her future husband, Casey, when they were both students in Pullman and brought the rally call of “Go Cougs” to her newfound role in North Idaho.
NEWS High School, Mason enrolled at WSU. She and Casey – also an outdoor enthusiast – spent their first date fishing on a river. Amy and Casey are parents to two boys – Christian, a freshman at Eastern Washington University and Micah, a junior at Central Valley. The family lives in Liberty Lake’s Rocky Hill neighborhood. Mason now works on the data side of the mortgage warehouse industry. After being appointed to the school board in June 2011, she ran and won a seat that November. She emerged as a winner at the ballot again in 2013. Mason represents District 5 on the board, an area that includes her adopted hometown of Liberty Lake. Q: At what point in your life did you decide to pursue education as a profession? A: I have always had a love of learning. Teaching seemed to be a place where I could share that love with others. I was a good student growing up but probably could have worked harder. Many things interested me but I seemed to be best in the area of English and Language Arts. My best efforts were put into English and Spanish. Q: Were there certain teachers who had an impact on you? A: Teachers can have a profound impact on students. I would say that the ones that impacted me the most were the ones who really tried to get to know me and cared about my successes and failures. They certainly weren’t always the ones who were easiest on me.
Q: Are there lessons you have taken from your teaching career that have helped you as a representative of the school board?
at the HUB playing and practicing sports. The HUB is currently in the final stages of a capital campaign to purchase the building to ensure that these programs can continue.
A: I’m not sure I can categorize “lessons” per se that I have taken from teaching that help me on the school board, but I do think that it has given me an unusual perspective. I know what it’s like to be in the classroom. Sometimes it’s a pretty lonely place and sometimes it’s the greatest place on earth. When I joined the board, I was able to view the role of educating our students from a wider perspective. It wasn’t just 25 kids I had to be concerned about. The scale was much larger. My appreciation for administrators and central office grew in a hurry.
Q: What do you think was the key to CVSD passing your capital facilities bond in February 2015?
Q: You serve on another board as well. Tell us about the value of the HUB Sports Center from the perspective of a HUB board member and a parent A: The HUB is an amazing nonprofit facility that provides not only quality gym space for basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, Pickleball and other sports, but also provides a quality after-school program called HUB 360 that targets at-risk middle school kids. The program is available to students in the Central and East Valley districts and combines games, sports, homework help, resources and community speakers in an afterschool setting. The students love attending and have shown improvement in grades, attendance and engagement. My family has spent quite a bit of time
In addition to her teaching credentials, Mason brought a layered background as a volunteer to her responsibilities on the school board. She was past-president of the Liberty Lake PTSA and served as a volunteer with the Superintendent’s Parents Advisory Council, championing the cause of levies and bonds for CVSD. A native of Sacramento, Mason moved to Southern Illinois with her family when she was an infant. With a dad in the Air Force, the U-Haul was seemingly part of the family fleet. At the age of 3, Mason settled in the Spokane area with her parents and brother. She would grow up as a student in the East Valley School District with hobbies that included ballet, horses, the outdoors and soccer. After graduating from East Valley
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A: There were many things that came together for passage of the CVSD 2015 capital facilities bond, but I believe the greatest among them was transparency and vision. The district has been diligent in communication and gathering of input. I really feel that we listened to the priorities of the community. Our community is unfailing in its support of students and is proud of the educational opportunities they are offered. The district was able to “over provide” (10 major projects when the bond only called for eight) by maximizing resources and being fiscally responsible with the money provided. The projects were also ready to go with a lot of pre-construction work done which allowed for us to enter a more favorable market. Therefore, we will see these new and updated facilities coming on board much sooner than we would have in the past. Q: What was the learning curve like for you when you joined the school board in 2011? A: The learning curve when joining the board was not insurmountable. I may have had a leg up because I already had been in the field but my fellow board members were always available if I had questions. I was not elected with any single issue in mind but more of a broad interest in consistent improvement for the Central Valley School District. I tended to sit back and assess situations before asking questions to see if I could come to my own interpretation of matters at hand. Q: Finally, what do you enjoy most about being part of the Liberty Lake community?
Liberty Lake resident Amy Mason was appointed to the Central Valley School District Board of Directors in June 2011. She formerly served as president of the Liberty Lake Elementary School PTSA and supported CVSD bond and levy campaigns as a volunteer with the Superintendent’s Parents Advisory Council. Photo by Craig Howard
A: I can’t say that there is one thing I love most about Liberty Lake, so I’ll list a few – greenspace, walking trails, community events, friendly people, fiscal responsibility, future planning, pride in community, responsive police force, that my kids were able to walk to school without me worrying. Just about everything I need and want is available here in our amazing community. My friends and I joke that if we didn’t ever have to leave Liberty Lake, we wouldn’t.
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MAY 2017 • 3
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4 • MAY 2017
NEWS
New fire station breaks ground in Liberty Lake
By Staci Lehman Splash Correspondent A downpour of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) officials as they broke ground for a new station in Liberty Lake on March 24. Despite the weather, a crowd including Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson, Spokane Valley Mayor Rod Higgins and Spokane Valley fire commissioners gathered for a ceremony to officially kick off construction of Liberty Lake Fire Station #3 at 21300 E. Country Vista Drive. “We’re going to be better positioned for future growth of the community,” said Spokane Valley Fire Chief Bryan Collins of the station to be constructed at the new location. “We try to keep up with the current (growth) needs but also we look at the future needs. We did an analysis about two years ago. When we were looking at the Liberty Lake
The Spokane Valley Fire Department broke ground on a new station in Liberty Lake on March 14. Tossing in the ceremonial soil at the site on Country Vista Road were (from left to right): Barry Baker, president and CEO of Baker Construction, Mike Pearson, president, SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners, Patrick Burch, SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners, SVFD Fire Chief Bryan Collins, Joe Dawson, SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners, Mark King, ZBA Architecture, Ron Schmidt, SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners, Bill Anderson, SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners, Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson, Zach Bull, Baker Construction and Reed Caudle, Baker Construction. Photo by Staci Lehman location, that location (on Country Vista) really serves us well.” The new station will be closer
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to homes and businesses that are under construction now or slated for the future. It is also adjacent to the Country Vista Apartments and close to where the Henry Road/I-90 overpass is proposed to be built in the future. All of these factors will allow fire personnel to maintain the fast response times the community relies on. The new station will replace the current one located on Harvard Road, north of the freeway and much of the city’s development. It is accessible from Liberty Lake only by the bridge over Interstate 90. “If something were to happen to that freeway overpass we would have all our assets on one side of the freeway,” Collins said. By moving, SVFD isn’t leaving people on the north side of the freeway without coverage. Station #4 is located just two miles away from the current Harvard Road station on Wellesley Avenue and can pick up the slack. An additional station to support growth on the north side of Interstate 90 is in the plans, with an eye on the build-out of the River District and Trutina developments. “We have a future station planned that’s going to fill our gaps,” said Collins. “We have property to build Station 11 at Barker and Euclid. It will be driven by growth so my guess is five years out.” In the meantime, the new Liberty Lake station will be 11,691 square feet when complete and include
three drive-through apparatus bays, seven sleeping dorms and four bathrooms. Construction on the building, by Baker Construction and Development, is expected to be complete by December 2017 at an estimated price of $2.7 million. Those funds will come from the Spokane Valley Fire District Capital Reserve account and will not incur any bonded debt for the project. When crews move to the new station, the station and property currently in use on Harvard Road will be taken over by the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District. The district bought the property for just $500,000 based on an earlier agreement with the SVFD. “The interesting thing about that current property is that the water district originally sold it to us,” said Collins. “Just the property; we built the station. In the sale agreement, where they basically gave it to us, we agreed that if we ever vacated, to sell it back to them for the same price. So basically they’re buying the building.” Collins believes the district plans to remodel the building and use it for operations and office space. SVFD operates 10 stations and covers an area of about 75 square miles with 125,000 residents. It serves the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood and unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Last year, SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 16,250 emergency calls.
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NEWS
Reflections from the Lake By Pat Dockrey
Linda and I moved to the Liberty Lake area in 1976. It was all grass fields and sand dunes with the only building a leftover A-frame from the Expo ‘74 RV park. The post office was where the Art Chalet is now, along with a small tavern. There wasn’t even a gas station. An inauspicious start to what is now a thriving community. I was not a supporter of the incorporation in 2001, but I am very pleased that events have proven me wrong. Like most people, I do not necessarily embrace change. However, I have learned that managing change is the best you can hope for. Over the next few years, as our city’s population doubles, we will need to make the necessary investments to keep Liberty Lake the special community that it is. This will require a commitment by both the citizens and the city leadership to ensure that the required improvements are introduced by the City Council and supported by the voters. There are currently two major projects to consider. One of them, the replacement of the Trailhead
Pat Dockery
clubhouse, appears to be moving towards approval by the city. The second project, a community center, has been defeated by the voters on two previous occasions. Liberty Lake currently has almost no indoor public meeting spaces. The existing library has no room to meet the increasing needs of a growing community. The construction of a combined community center and library will do many things at one time. The staffing and maintenance costs for the existing library can be used to offset costs for the community center. Meeting rooms can be shared. The building space will be utilized to an extent not possible without the library. The center will also be the anchor for the longterm development of the Town Center property. These projects, and others that will come up in the future, represent long-term investments in the city. They ensure that the city will continue to be the great place to live that it is now. Their cost is each citizen’s opportunity to participate in the development and growth of Liberty Lake. Providing the tax dollars gives us all a “skin in the game”. It gives us the chance to control the growth of the city and to have a say in how that growth occurs. However, this also means that we need to make informed decisions, based on something more than the “read my lips” approach to tax questions. Both the City Council and the Planning Commission meet on a regular basis. They need citizen input to make informed decisions. The city staff is always available, including the city manager and the mayor, to answer questions and provide information. Our input is the best way for Liberty Lake to stay, in the words of the mayor, “Spokane County’s premier address.” Pat Dockrey is a longtime community advocate who is a charter member of the Liberty Lake Kiwanis. He belongs to the Greater Spokane Valley Support Network and is the founder of Food 4 Thought, a nonprofit that provides supplemental weekend meals to students on the free and reduced lunch program. He currently serves as the president of the Liberty Lake Library Foundation.
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6 • MAY 2017
Activities
2017
The Splash
Call for Vendors & Businesses
ADULT EVENTS
6th
We are seeking vendors and businesses to participate in Barefoot in the Park this year!
thAugust 4 STCU: Planning Financial Future
Your
Thursday May 4th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
genealogy sources, every Thursday evening in May. Final class June 1st.
For More Information Call (509)755-6700
flowers of all kinds for a unique flower bouquet.
Learn how to make wise financial choices now and for the future in the Large Meeting Room.
Nerf Wars
Friday May 12th Drop off 5:45 pm Games from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Ages 7-10. Register here >goo. gl/VM3ggP Participants should bring their own nerf gun. The library will provide standard nerf darts.
Genealogy Class
Mother’s Day Paper Flower Bouquet
Come learn how to research your family history using online
Just in time for Mother’s Day, come learn how to make paper
Thursday May 4th 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday May 6th 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Please join us for
Books ‘n’ Brew
Thursday May 25th 6:30 pm 7:30 pm
Join us in person or on Facebook to discuss a romance book of your choosing.
CHILDREN EVENTS
Memorial Day 2017 Monday, May 29
Pancake Breakfast and Program
Pop in for a special storytime with Princess Snow White. Playtime to follow.
Mingle with our special guests, build lightsabers, bubble battle room and obstacle course. Wear your costume!
Summer Code Club
Weekly on Thursdays June 22nd - August 10th 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Serving pancakes, sausage,
Learn how to make games, animations and more at Code Club! Limit to 10 coders. Registration opens May 1st on Facebook and the library website.
9 a.m. Memorial Day Program Color Guard/Musical Program
Location: Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake
Veterans Eat Free!
Wednesday May 17th 10:30 am
Thursday May 4th 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
8 to 10 a.m. Pancake Breakfast
Cost: Donations Accepted
Snow White Storytime
Star Wars Meet & Greet: May the Fourth Be With You
Presented by Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club
*Limit to 24 participants. Reistration and permission slip required.
Supporting Inland Northwest Honor Flight
www.inwhonorflight.org
Presented by
5 0 9 - 2 3 2 - 2 5 1 0 www.libertylakewa.gov/library
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MAY 2017 • 7
The Lookout MEMO
location and its connection to our trails.
from the
Mayor
By Mayor Steve Peterson
The way to celebrate Arbor Day is planting a tree! The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago and the next best is today! Each year that passes is a celebration of someone’s effort for a future generation. It is the same for the city’s infrastructure. It was 15 years ago when the city purchased Valley View Golf Course and renamed it Trailhead, a more appropriate name for our community because of the
Two years later we had the opportunity to acquire the building and land contiguous to Trailhead which was a perfect site for City Hall. The following year, we were gifted the land on which the arboretum has been created. How’s that for planting trees and seeds for future generations? In August, we plan to revisit the community center bond for construction at Town Square Park. We have high hopes this facility will be a gem like all of the other investments the city has made. It will allow us a venue to come together in
so many ways. It will bring outdoor park activities indoors whether it be in winter or just inclement weather. It will help maintain those close- knit friendships that bind our community together and foster new ones. I believe it will be the most critical investment we can make for the future to sustain the activity and friendships which we count on in our daily lives. The community center keep will keep kids busy, seniors engaged and service clubs empowered to do good. It’s a place of learning, teaching, playing, sharing and having fun. No matter what your age or activity level you can join the team, play a game or
Garden Notes
City Horticulturist
Wrangler
Planting seeds, flowers, trees and providing infrastructure is the only way to celebrate Arbor Day in Liberty Lake. We do it every year as we strive to maintain Liberty Lake as Spokane County’s Premier Address.
The city of Liberty Lake offers several rentable facilities and parks to select from for your event, sports activity, company or family picnic or other occasion. The greenspace venues include the shelters at Pavillion Park and Rocky Hill Park.
They are Baa-baa back! Spice, Annie and Oakley, Rosy, Banshee, Toby and Woody Jr. – the seasonal “City Vegetation Management Specialists” have arrived at Trailhead golf course for pruning, de-weeding and digesting. These goats are a favorite sight during the summer months enjoying friendly, curious attention.
employee/Goat
Once again at our August primary election you will be asked to plant a seed for a better tomorrow by endorsing the construction bond for our own community center. Just like today, 20 years from now someone will look back and say “It sure was smart for them to build Town Square for so many more generations to enjoy.”
Do you have an event or activity coming up that you would like to host in Liberty Lake?
By Joice Cary
Park
garner and build on a hobby.
City offers variety of facility rentals
Goat crew makes spring return on city grounds
Unlike the popular Riverfront Park “Garbage Goat,” which happily ingests every trashy offering into its metal stomach, real goats need real nutrition. Goats have one stomach with four compartments, similar to cows, allowing them to ruminate which means to regurgitate, rechew and re-swallow a meal. Rumination breaks down fibrous plants and tough seeds into goat nutrition. This process is aided by a complex balance of bacteria and enzymes which also produce stomach gases. Fun fact – goats burp to release stomach gas. If gas is produced faster than can be expelled a potentially lethal condition called “bloat” can occur.
May 2017
Sports sites include fields 1-7 at Pavillion Park and fields 1-3 at Rocky Hill. Ballfields include The Diamonds (near Liberty Lake Elementary) and The Rookie Field located at Pavillion Park. Bob Kestell manages the care of city goats, moving them to new areas as needed and supplementing their weed diet. Bob adds alfalfa grass, a “sweet feed” mix of barley, molasses, corn and oats, mineral salts and ammonium chloride for tummy health and lots of fresh water because, as he knows, “goats are particular about their water.” In the animal world, goats possess an honor roll IQ and are very picky eaters but as food curious creatures are happy to sample most offerings unaware of
possible harm. Many goat admirers just cannot resist offering a treat to coax the goats closer. However, for their health, please do not bring any vegetation to feed the goats. They may be fed weeds that are directly adjacent to the pen. Bob and city staff are familiar with the weed population around the pen and these are acceptable to feed the goats. Enjoy visiting with the goats this summer. They are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.
Facilities include the banquet room at Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course and The Little House next to Liberty Lake City Hall. Rates vary according the venue, how long the facility is being used, nonprofit status and number in the group. A $25 clean-up fee applies to all reservations. City sanctioned events take priority while events with confirmation permits take priority over those without. For questions on space availability and applications please call City Hall at 755-6700 or email thunter@ libertylakewa.gov.
https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov
8 • MAY 2017
Celebrate Mom!
Annual Mothers Day Champagne Brunch Join us May 14th, 2017 9:00 Am -1:00 Pm
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NEWS
City gears up for Liberty Lake Road renovation
By Craig Howard Splash Editor In August of 2002, work began on the city of Liberty Lake’s first major street overhaul. Incorporated only a year earlier, the city was tackling the reconstruction of Harvard Road with new pavement, landscaping, illumination and a pair of welcome monument signs letting motorists know when they had reached municipal limits. Lewis Griffin, city administrator at the time, said the $1.4 million project would set a precedent for transportation priorities down the road. "We'd like to do the other streets in the same way," Griffin said. "With islands, landscaping and the streetlights. We'll follow the same theme. As things wear out we'll replace them following that theme." Griffin, who passed away in 2008, would have been proud of the city’s latest efforts to improve a well-traveled thoroughfare. At the April 4 City Council meeting, the governing board received an update on plans to refurbish Liberty Lake Road this summer. The construction schedule is expected to span June, July and August with the work separated into two phases. “You’re going to see one half of the road driven on and one half of the road under construction,” said City Engineer Andrew Staples. While there will be some landscaping and concrete work addressed during the day, most of the construction will take place at night to minimize traffic disruption, Staples added.
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There will be one evening where the Appleway/Liberty Lake Road intersection will be completely shut down for paving purposes. Staples said the city will be coordinating traffic detours away from the main junction with the Washington State Department of Transportation. “We want to make sure we have the best product possible,” Staple said of the project. City Administrator Katy Allen said the undertaking happens only “about once every 20 or 30 years.” “It’s very difficult for a city to rebuild your main street,” she said. “We want to give you plenty of time to know what’s going be happening. It’s difficult to do and not have some disruption to our businesses and our community.” In other city news: • Officer Mark Holthaus took the oath of office as the newest representative of the Liberty Lake Police Department at the April 4 council meeting. A 1995 graduate of Central Valley High School, Holthaus has a background in the military and most recently worked for the Lakewood Police Department. • City officials are talking with representatives from the HUB Sports Center about organizing the soccer component of Barefoot in the Park. William Miller, the coordinator of soccer for the first two years of the event, is unavailable to facilitate the schedule this year. • In his report from the Finance Committee, Council Member Hugh Severs said it appears “no state-shared revenues with the city look like they will be taken away” as the legislature works to finalize a budget for the next biennium. • The city will hold off on the hiring of a streets maintenance lead until the position can be worked into the regular salary schedule. • Sales tax revenue is up 7 percent from this point last year.
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Liberty Lake Road, the community’s primary north/south thoroughfare, will undergo a major upgrade this summer. The project will include a renovation of the Liberty Lake/Appleway intersection. Photo by Craig Howard
The Splash
Council workshop paves way for possible community center vote
By Craig Howard Splash Editor No one needs to tell the Liberty Lake City Council that the August primary election is fast approaching. On April 11, the governing board met to discuss whether or not a capital facilities initiative might be part of the ballot lineup. The special workshop included efforts to define the parameters of two proposed projects – a community center and an overhaul of the Trailhead golf clubhouse and practice facility. “Tonight’s an important night,” said City Administrator Katy Allen. “We’re trying to put together a go-forward plan on a community center and Trailhead. The goal is that everyone has an opportunity to hear council’s discussion.” Council chambers welcomed a near-capacity crowd for a rare second Tuesday of the month meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner served as moderator of a dialogue that began with an overview of feedback received from council members on priorities of a potential community center. Amenities like a kitchen, craft room with sinks and flexible meeting space emerged on many lists while “outside the box” ideas like an indoor track and leased food court also generated conversation. Whatever floor plan earns approval, Council Member Cris Kaminskas said the city needs to be smart about how they spend taxpayer money. “We don’t need to get real fancy,” she said. “We just need to make it usable and presentable.” In lobbying for a space that could house groups like the Lego Club and activities like STEMtacular Saturday, Council Member Dan Dunne echoed the importance of not going overboard with an ostentatious design. The town square bond vote last August that failed by 103 votes featured a project that Dunne described as “too costly” at $12 million. “We need to design a project that doesn’t exceed the threshold of cost,” Dunne said.
MAY 2017 • 9
NEWS
Town Square Park was the first project to crop up on a portion of the 6.4 acres owned by the city of Liberty Lake along Meadowwood Lane. The Liberty Lake City Council is once again focusing on the possibility of a community center on the property. Photo by Craig Howard Along with a community center and aquatics facility, last year’s Proposition 1 included a new library. Needing a 60 percent supermajority, the measure garnered just over 56 percent. The city adopted a “design-build” approach to the project, budgeting $185,000 over two years to bring on consultants who established a blueprint for the venue. By the time votes were cast last summer, $147,000 had been spent. “The last project got very grandiose,” said Brickner. “We need to get a price point whether it be $4 million or $5 million and design it to that.” Council Member Bob Moore pointed to the community center in Millwood, built by the Millwood Community Presbyterian Church, as a local example of a cost-effective project that produced a functional result. When it came to determining the size of a meeting space at the community center, the blended agenda brought up the prospect of how a larger banquet room at Trailhead might impact the blueprint of both venues. “I’m not entirely sold on the community center having a large space especially if Trailhead is going to have one,” said Council Member Hugh Severs. Moore brought up the example he knew of featuring a golf club with a full-service restaurant, saying “if it is designed properly, the dining room of a restaurant can be used for larger groups.” “This one sat 100 comfortably,” Moore said. Council Member Odin Langford
presented some of most nontraditional ideas for the community center, including an indoor track, leased food court and space for shuffleboard and foosball. He said it would be important to distinguish the role of the community center in relation to the library – which some would like
to see included in the community center’s layout. “For years, our library has been the community center,” he said. “When we talk about this new space, is the library going to be the library or is the library going to be the community center? If you put library activities in the community center then the library can actually be the library.” Mayor Steve Peterson said Liberty Lake still had a need for “a true gathering place” that would bring the community together, particularly as the city grows. “We’re making an investment for the long term with this community center,” he said. “This is the vision for the future.” Council seemed to agree that amenities like a basketball court and weight room should not be a priority since local facilities like the HUB Sports Center and Liberty Lake Athletic Club already include such features. Moore said he appreciated the outline of the Spokane Valley Senior Center housed at the CenterPlace building in Spokane Valley. The site offers space dedicated to art classes, a small library, dancing, billiards and more.
See WORKSHOP, Page 10
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The Splash
10 • MAY 2017
WORKSHOP
Continued from page 9
“The problem is that it’s not convenient for me,” Moore said. When it came time for public comment, Charles Matthews, a member of the planning commission, said he was “astounded” at council’s discussion of programming for a community center in light of the groundwork completed leading up to last year’s vote. A dedicated citizen-led committee continued momentum of vetting the facility after residents responded to a survey on recreation priorities issued by the city. “The bond issue probably failed because of the pool,” Matthews said. Mike Kennedy, who served on the committee, applauded Allen for taking the group on a tour of area community centers to see examples of what works and what doesn’t. “I can see the benefit of having a library in the facility,” Kennedy said. Mindy Howe, the newest library trustee, reminded council that the library “has innovated with so many popular programs” and has had to turn people away due to lack of space and/or parking. Referencing last year’s ballot measure, resident Mike Connors expressed concern that the latest community center incarnation “will turn into another $12 million dollar project.” Trailhead discussion Nearly every council member referenced the presentation by Trailhead PGA pro Chris Johnston earlier in the year as a preface to potential improvements at the well-worn facility that includes a clubhouse, practice area and banquet room. “This is a revenue-generating facility,” said Kaminskas. “We’ve heard how Trailhead could house more tournaments and events, offer more lessons in the winter and increase revenue with improvements to the facility.” Debt service on the Trailhead bond will be paid off this September. Purchase of the executive golf course, clubhouse, driving range and restaurant amounted to $1.8 million over 15 years. While the venue does well at the gate, Finance Director R.J. Stevenson said the annual revenue “covers operational costs but would only cover 15 to 20 percent of another bond” in a bestcase scenario. Moore reminded his council colleagues that addressing Trailhead has been identified as “a top priority” of the governing board. He encouraged the city to “look 30 to
40 years ahead at the highest and best use for the property,” adding that the return on commercial and residential development will likely be more lucrative than the city retaining a golf course. With that in mind, Moore said the redesign of the clubhouse and restaurant should be able to stand alone “as a draw.” Stressing the importance of improving practice accessibility, Severs brought up the possibility of a multi-level driving range while Langford described the Trailhead setting “the premier address in Liberty Lake.” “There’s no other place that can match that view and location,” he said. “It’s a very special place.” Brickner – who said he supported what Johnston said “100 percent” – advocated for starting from scratch. “Let’s start over and build something worthy of the view, the location and the address,” he said. “We also don’t have to do it all at once.” Council Member Jessica McGuire pointed out that whatever happens with a community center and Trailhead “it needs to be clear that both of these facilities are funded by our citizens, by taxpayer money.” In public comments on Trailhead, Kennedy echoed the sentiments of Moore on the future value of the land that now is home to fairways and putting greens. “The time will come when that property will become so valuable the city will want the tax revenue from that,” he said. “So build it where it can be rented out in office space.” As for running the community center construction and Trailhead improvements on the same bond, Brickner said it made sense to address the projects separately. Subsequent conversation around
the dais made it fairly clear that a Trailhead renovation would not be appearing on a ballot anytime soon. Up to a certain amount of debt service, the City Council can issue something called “councilmatic bonds” that do not require a public vote. “We should look at the clubhouse and restaurant and how we pay for that on our own,” said Severs. Moore said with the last two bond issues failing (in 2007 and 2016) the city needs to structure the community center intiative “in a way that will be acceptable to taxpayers in our community.” Local architect Gary Bernardo was called to the podium near the end of the meeting to offer insight on some of the costs related to the construction of a community center. He advised city leaders “to control the budget within the design process.” Success at the ballot, Bernardo said, hinges on “three C’s – clarity, certainty and confidence.” “You need clarity in terms of what the project looks like, certainty that says we can build this project at this dollar amount and confidence in the City Council and city staff.” Bernardo said he liked the idea of a multi-purpose community center with flexible open space. He added that while cities like Seattle, Bellevue and Portland are seeing construction costs range from $350 to $550 per square foot, a reasonable number in the Spokane area for a community center is closer to $250. McGuire encouraged those around the dais to exercise financial stewardship when looking at the numbers. “Let’s look at it and scale it back to what we’ve talked about tonight,” she said. “My concern is the bells and whistles that may be added to it.”
A Tale of Two Votes
The idea of a community center has been presented to voters in Liberty Lake twice since 2008 with both initiatives falling short of the required 60-percent supermajority for a capital facilities bond. Below is an overview of both ballot measures: April 2008 – Proposition 1 – Community center/library Cost: $9.8 million Project site: Land owned by city on Meadowwood Lane just east of Liberty Lake Farmers Market Proposed tax increase: 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value or $114 per year on a home valued at $200,000 (20-year bond). Votes in support: 668 (38.52 percent) Votes against: 1,066 (61.48 percent) Memorable post-election quote: “It’s time to find out what voters are thinking and go from there.” --Council Member Neal Olander August 2016 – Proposition 1 – Town Square Community and Aquatic Center Cost: $12 million Project site: Same area as 2008, to the east of Farmers Market and Town Square Park Proposed tax increase: 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value or $135 a year on a home valued at $270,000 (30-year bond) Votes in support: (56.19 percent)
1,524
Votes against: 1,188 (43.81 percent)
City Council discussed ways to improve the Trailhead golf facility at its April 11 meeting. Talk has included ideas like doubling the size of the existing pro shop (above) and the banquet room. Photo by Craig Howard
Memorable post-election quote: “Everyone got a ballot in the mail yet we had almost 2,800 (ballots) not turned in. We sure wish 200 more would have gone the extra mile to the library ballot box.” – Mayor Steve Peterson.
The Splash
Council moves closer to placing community center on ballot
By Craig Howard Splash Editor For the second summer in a row, Liberty Lake voters may have the opportunity to decide on establishing a civic gathering place. At the April 18 City Council meeting, a unanimous vote around the dais assured that an ordinance will be introduced on the May 2 agenda regarding a capital facilities bond to be placed on the August ballot. Council plans to move ahead with the second read on the ordinance and vote that night. The city has until May 12 to file with the Spokane County Elections Office. Council is leaning toward a bond that would fund a 25,000-squarefoot community center including a library in the range of 7,000 to 9,000 square feet. Finance Director R.J. Stevenson presented the governing board with three funding options that could go before voters; all scenarios included a 30-year note. Consensus on April 18 favored “Option B,” a 30-year bond that would generate $9 million for a 25,000-square-foot project. If approved, the initiative would mean an increase of 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property tax valuation or $101 a year on a home valued at $267,000. “Option A,” a $20 million proposal, would fund a 20,000-squarefoot building at a rate of 33 cents per $1,000. “Option C” came in at 42 cents per $1,000 for a 30,000-square-foot venue at an overall cost of $30 million. The $20 million project would run the average homeowner $90 annually while the $30 million design would cost the same homeowner $112 a year. The city will also look at the possibility of forming a special taxing district that could open the election up to voters outside Liberty Lake boundaries who may be utilizing a community center. Some, like Mayor Pro Tem Shane Brickner said a broader ballot may not be in the city’s best interest. “It could hurt the chances to pass if we extended the vote to others,” he said.
MAY 2017 • 11
A supermajority of at least 60 percent is required to pass a capital facilities bond. Last August, a $12 million initiative for a community center/library/aquatic facility fell 103 votes of the required margin. In describing the city’s current capacity to host indoor events, Parks and Open Space Director Jen Camp said about half the inquiring parties eventually wind up outside the city to book their events. Pat Dockrey, president of the Liberty Lake Library Foundation, set the tone for a main theme of the workshop when he told council “that building a community center without a library would be a huge mistake.” “Having the library there gives you a head start on staffing costs, maintenance costs and clientele,” Dockrey said. Mindy Howe, library trustee, reminded council that the existing library lacks adequate space to host its full schedule of programs and activities. “Think of it as the heart of your community,” Howe said. With a current operating budget of around $450,000 and staffing already in place, the library does have the advantage of bringing financial efficiencies to a community center, according to City Administrator Katy Allen who talked about “economies of scale” in merging the library with a center. Stevenson also said it made fiscal sense to include the library in the project, although some council members like Odin Langford expressed concern about the community center losing its focus. “I’m not saying the library doesn’t need more room, but I’m opposed to the library taking over the facility,” he said. “The whole concept was supposed to be a community center.” Brickner said he could see a scenario where some rooms at the venue were dedicated to library programming and some to general community uses. After Council Member Hugh Severs raised the question of just how much space the library needed to operate successfully, Scott McGlocklin of Walker Construction – the company that helped map out the designbuild plans for last year’s project – described how that 19,200-squarefoot blueprint included room for a 120-person event space and a 7,200-square-foot library. “That was smaller than the library they have now but they would have had access to surplus meeting space,” McGlocklin said.
McGlocklin said the design the council was now considering “would get the project to where it was before without the pool.” Brickner raised the possibility of constructing a 25,000-square-foot center and leaving 5,000 square feet of the space unfinished. From a tax standpoint, Stevenson pointed out that the city’s projected growth and corresponding impact on property value would mean paying less over the years. With a 2-percent growth rate, a 30-year bond at $10 million would start at 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation and drop to 23 cents in 10 years. As far as the specifics of the floor plan, Council Member Bob Moore said it would “make sense to start with what’s been determined and designed and voted on already.” “The question is what will the electorate be willing to support,” Moore added. The numbers that will appear on a potential ballot are expected to gain clarity at the May 2 meeting. “This boils down to how much budget do we have and what kind of building do you want to build with that budget,” Allen said. Council Member Dan Dunne said he had talked with Central Valley School District Superintendent about the possibility of a vote in August and the impact it may have on CVSD’s capital facilities bond scheduled for next February. Dunne said Small was not concerned about any potential conflict. The primary ballot is slated for Aug. 1. Ballots would be mailed out beginning July 12.
Market Statistics: Days on Market
19%
Days on on Market Days Days on Market Market
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From 69 in March 2016 to 56 in March 2017*
Days DaysononMarket Market
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Median Home Price
8% 8%
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Median Home Price Median Home Median Home PricePrice
8% 8% 8% 8%
Median MedianHome HomePrice Price From $183,000 in March 2016 to $197,000 in March 2017* From $183,000 in March 2016 to $197,000 in March 2017* From $183,000 March to $197,000 March 2017* From $183,000 in Marchin2016 to 2016 $197,000 in Marchin2017* From From $183,000 in March 2016 to $197,000 in March 2017* From $183,000 in March 2016 to $197,000 in March 2017*
Months of Inventory
Months of Months of Inventory Months of Inventory Inventory Months MonthsofofInventory Inventory
32% 32% 32% 32% 32%
From 4.4 months in March 2016 to 3 months in March 2017*
From 4.4 months in2016 March 3 months in2017* March 2017* From 4.4 months in March to 2016 3 months in March From 4.4 months in March 2016 to to 3 months in March 2017* From From 4.44.4 months in March 2016 to to 3 months in March 2017* From months in March 2016 3 months in March 2017*
*Information obtained from Spokane Multiple Listin *Information obtained from the Spokane Multiple *Information obtained from the the Spokane Multiple Listin *Inform
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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 Information must be received by Friday, May 12th. Contact 242-7752 or danica@libertylakesplash.com with any questions.
Fro
1421 North Meadowwood Lane #200 • Liberty Lake, WA 99019
12 • MAY 2017
Maintenance of greenspace remains municipal priority
By Craig Howard Splash Editor As the Parks and Open Space director for the city of Liberty Lake, Jen Camp has plenty of acreage on her agenda. The city has established an ideal parks and open space service level of 30 acres per 1,000 residents, well above the state average. The current level surpasses the objective at 34.2 acres per 1,000. Mix in the three golf courses within city limits and that ratio goes up to 79.4 acres per 1,000. Over the years, the city has invested no shortage of funds to keep the city, in the words of Mayor Steve Peterson, “clean and green.” In 2015, funds were approved to add storage space at Pavillon Park for maintenance equipment that had previously been stored near City Hall. The result? More efficient and less costly upkeep of the community’s signature common area. Camp is familiar with the challenges associated with soil and turf. She graduated from Washington State University in 1998 with a degree in crop and soil sciences. She was also the first woman to complete the school's turf management program. While in Pullman, Camp spent time as a maintenance volunteer at the local golf course and athletic fields. In other words, divots do not deter her. The Splash asked Camp a few questions about the challenges and rewards of keeping the community’s greenspace inventory in order. Turns out the task is anything but a walk in the park. Q: How would you describe the maintenance involved with Pavillion and Rocky Hill parks? A: There is a high level of maintenance that goes on at both parks. Parks staff works diligently throughout the season to keep them in top condition. The level of detail they tend to in each park is not what you find in most city parks. Q: When does parks maintenance start each year, how many employees are involved and what are their duties? What about the frequency of the maintenance?
COVER STORY A: The parks staff season runs year round with a skeleton crew during winter and approximately three to five employees at any given time during spring, summer and fall. They are responsible for anything and everything that has to do with maintenance and upkeep of the parks, such as restroom care, play equipment monitoring, mowing, watering, fertilizing, edging, trimming and event work and even goat care. During the busiest times of year, the parks are staffed seven days a week due to the high demand from events, reservations and activities that go on. Q: What about irrigation? How much water does it take to keep the grass green? A: That depends on the time of year. Irrigation is completely different at Rocky Hill and Pavillion Park. Pavillion soils are very sandy, and the turf has an established thatch layer. Rocky Hill is rocky soil and a newer stand of turf. We manage each according to their separate needs. Q: How much wear and tear does your crew deal with from the event schedule at Pavillion? A: The biggest challenge we find is balancing the irrigation schedule with all of the events and activities that occur. During the heat of the summer it can take up to 16 hours to irrigate Pavillion Park in one cycle and that can be tough when we have activity on some weekends that spans early morning through late evenings. It involves a great deal of coordination between the parks staff and people hosting the events to make sure the park receives the water it needs and make sure we don’t have sprinklers going off in the middle of an event. Q: Finally, what do you enjoy about your job as Parks and Open Space director? A: My favorite part of my job is the turf and science side of it. However, it is really satisfying to be at the park on a summer day, early in the morning before a major event and stand at the front of the pavilion stage in the quiet, looking out over the grass in anticipation of the crowds. Crews put special touches on the parks prior to events and in that moment of looking out over the park it is easy to see all of their hard work and efforts, from the striping they do when they mow, to the crisp, trimmed edges along sidewalks. City maintenance staff takes great pride in what they do by providing the community with beautiful and pristine parks.
The Splash
Greenspace Goldmine – Large-scale parks headline Liberty Lake’s recreation terrain By Craig Howard Splash Editor On a brisk, sun-spotted morning last month, Rocky Hill Park featured no shortage of visitors. Preparations for a birthday party were well underway beneath the picnic shelter while tennis players volleyed nearby in layered clothing that spoke to the emerging spring weather scarcely peeking into the upper 40s. On the park’s western slope, a layup line had formed on the basketball hoop. To the north, on a well-manicured soccer field, a man jogged with a rambunctious retriever leading the way. Later that day, with temperatures finally clearing the 50s, Rocky Hill resident Josh Ewing and his kids played Wiffle Ball complete with makeshift bases on the plentiful turf that has defined the park since it became part of the city’s recreation grid in 2010. “You don’t find this blend of nature and urban development in a lot of cities,” said Ewing who moved to Liberty Lake with his family two years ago. “It’s really a great park and we love the proximity to our
house.” On the same day, just a few miles to the southwest, Pavillion Park bustled with a similar level of activity. Families flew kites on the grassy amphitheater above the site’s signature wooden canopy while the skate park to the east echoed with the sound of whirring wheels on concrete. Basketball, tennis, baseball and roller blading all had their place in the greenspace that started it all in Liberty Lake over two decades ago. “If it’s sunny out, chances are there will always be people in the park,” said Ashley Carter who lives nearby and brought her kids on this Saturday to fly kites. “We’re runners and walkers, so the trails and parks were really a selling point for us when we moved here.” When the grass is buried in snow, Carter notes that cross country skiers and sledders utilize the site. When warmer weather arrives, the Carters are among a slew of parkgoers who flock to the
See GREEN, Page 13
Pavillion Park rose out of a community campaign in the early 1990s that generated around $700,000 from residents and local businesses. The park's signature shelter was patterned after the dance pavilion that stood on the shores of Liberty Lake during the area's resort heyday. File photo
The Splash
COVER STORY
MAY 2017 • 13
From a popular summer festival featuring concerts and movies, to amenities like a skate park, tennis courts and a baseball diamond, Pavillion Park is recognized as the area's signature recreation venue. Photos by Craig Howard
GREEN
Continued from page 12 venue for a free concert and movie series recognized as a staple of the summer schedule. The Fourth of July concert is their favorite. While the big crowds and parking challenges during the summer may be a negative for some, Carter says the gatherings at the park “speak more to Liberty Lake’s sense of community than anything else.” Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson is prone to talking about his city’s “clean and green” setting that distinguishes it from other communities. Maintaining and expanding greenspace has been a municipal priority since Liberty Lake incorporated in August 2001. A number of birthday parties celebrating cityhood have taken place at Pavillion Park during the signature Labor Day weekend concert named after the late Lud Kramer, one of the catalysts for incorporation.
area’s emerging neighborhoods. That scenario would change dramatically over the next quarter century. Pavillion Park – “The Flagship” When Margaret Barnes and her husband Gene moved to Liberty Lake from Maryland in December 1990, the acreage that would become Pavillion Park stood as a patch of farmland that hearkened back to the community’s rural past. “It was all open field, all the way up to Boone (Avenue),” Barnes
recalls. “People would ride horses and snowmobiles through there. There was really nothing there.” The idea to create a community park caught on with residents in the early 1990s but Spokane County expressed little interest in funding such a project. So organizers took the initiative to the people. Before long, some 800 residents had signed up to help as volunteers. When policymakers in Olympia learned of the robust civic support, state funding soon followed. “At the time the county did not
see a park in Liberty Lake as a priority,” said Jim Frank, founder of Greenstone Homes, a major contributor to the project. “The community persevered, going to Olympia on their own to seek state grant funds. It showed the power of people working together to achieve common goals. Greenstone was a part of this because we shared the community vision for a neighborhood park and the value it brings.”
See PARKS, Page 14
“Both (Pavillion and Rocky Hill) parks complement and emphasize our commitment to the outdoors and recreational opportunities that we are known for,” said Peterson. “The trails connected us together and the parks gave us a destination to go to.” While the mayor describes the prioritization of greenspace as the city’s “legacy for the future,” it wasn’t too long ago that Liberty Lake was known more for its shortage of park venues. By 1992, with residential development taking hold, Spokane County’s easternmost community found itself without much more than a sprawling county park that was detached from the center of the
Rocky Hill Park became part of the city's greenspace inventory in 2010 after an extensive community feedback process. The site features historical landmarks like a barn dating back to the 1940s and a stone well house that has stood since the early 1900s. Photo by Craig Howard
The Splash
14 • MAY 2017
PARKS
Continued from page 13 Elmer Schneidmiller helped get the project off the ground, donating 14.1 acres of his own farmland. The contribution, valued at $300,000, was used to leverage matching state funds. By 1993, Elmer’s son, Ross, had helped organize the Pavillion Park Association, a resident-led committee that would later become Friends of Pavillion Park. The original committee included Ross, Frank, Jan Harris, Mary Jo Foss, Bob Gamble, Betty Johnson, Tom Specht, Chris Bowers, Scott Bernhard and Barnes, who served as president from 1993 to 1998. Spokane County also got on board, led by Director Sam Angove. As designs came to the drawing board, themes paying tribute to the area’s rich past as a resort locale emerged. The signature marquee on the south end of the park would salute the dance pavilion recognized as a lakeside landmark going back to the early 1900s. “Hundreds of community members were involved in one way or another,” Ross Schneidmiller recalls. “Once the original goal was accomplished they set new ones. Spokane County officials, in charge of the park then, commented they had never witnessed that level of continued community support before.” Quilt raffles, garden tours, sales of cookbooks and other events raised funds for the construction. Approximately $700,000 was raised by local residents and businesses. Greenstone stepped up to donate construction costs, road frontage improvements and design services.
Another $500,000 was generated through grants. “It was a challenge but it was also great and a lot of fun,” says Barnes of the fundraising and building process. “I think there are new residents to this area who think Pavillion Park has always been there, that the county just put it there. They don’t realize all the work that went into it.” Construction kicked off in 1995 and was completed by the summer of 1999 with a grand opening and dedication ceremony taking place that July. In 2003, the city of Liberty Lake took over ownership and maintenance responsibilities of the park from Spokane County with Peterson handing over a ceremonial $5 as payment. The mayor points to Friends of Pavillion Park, with its organization skills and ability to rally community support as “the catalyst for the city yet to come.” The group hosted its first auction in May 1997 that eventually turned into the annual Holiday Ball, raising funds for the summer festival. The city has invested generously in improvements to the park over the years, including the addition of a skate park in 2009, a Fallen Heroes Circuit Course station in 2014 and a permanent concession stand and increased storage space in 2015. Peterson says the Liberty Lake’s flagship park will always be recognized as “a great reflection of our community and a great connection to our historical past.” For those, like Barnes, who were there at the beginning, Pavillion Park remains a proud example of what neighbors can accomplish with an empty field and a dynamic
vision. “It was really such a grassroots effort,” Barnes said. “We were a group of people who came together and had a goal to get the community a park – and what a park it has become.” Rocky Hill Park – “Historical Haven” In April 2004, Jason Wheaton of Greenstone Homes appeared before the Liberty Lake City Council to talk about a new development in the northeast section of town. The Rocky Hill neighborhood would consist of four phases with the first to include 105 homes featuring a range of styles and prices. Wheaton also referred to a largescale park that would be part of the burgeoning residential area. It would be, in Wheaton’s words, “a long-term project” that gathered extensive input from the community and would not be completed in the initial housing phase. Turns out he was right on all counts. It would take until May of 2006 until residents, city officials and developers gathered at Liberty Lake City Hall to discuss the possibilities surrounding a park in Rocky Hill. It was the first in a series of meetings to gather feedback from stakeholders. Well-respected landscape architect Mike Terrell led the conversation that included ideas like walking trails, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a fishing pond and more. A consensus emerged early in the process that the site’s historical features – including a stone well house that dated back to the early 1900s and a vintage red barn built
in 1948 – should be preserved, regardless of how the park played out. The craggy outcropping that formed the property’s eastern border would also be incorporated into the layout as would a natural spring. When the group met in the summer of 2006, more ideas gained traction. Some wanted an amphitheater, others suggested a community garden or possibly a waterfall. Another thought was to construct a café patterned after the Park Bench Café at Manito Park on the South Hill. Terrell noted at the time that the park would “not replace Pavillion Park as a venue for large events.” “There were some great ideas,” Terrell said after a meeting that July. “Now the thing is to organize them into a plan to make this a great park.” After another meeting, landscape architect Will Sinclair observed that a community garden – set against the rustic barn, well house and former homestead terrain – would provide “a neat opportunity here to put gardeners in an historic area that would look back at the agricultural aspect of the community.” Thanks to the generosity of Greenstone, Bill and Judi Williams of Telect and the Meadowwood Homeowners’ Association, the vision of Rocky Hill Park moved beyond whiteboards and Post-Its. In June 2008, the city approved an agreement with Greenstone to acquire 7 acres of the 14-acre site. The city would inherit the other half of the property as long as funding was secured to develop the second
See RECREATION, Page15
Rocky Hill Park is home to a variety of activities, including tennis, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and more. A community garden near the tennis courts is popular in the warm weather months. Photos by Craig Howard
The Splash
RECREATION
Continued from page 14 phase within five years. That July, a groundbreaking took place with 79-year-old Lyle Domrese as a special guest. Lyle's father had purchased 310 acres in the same area for farming in 1946. Domrese told attendees of the ceremony that he was happy a portion of his family’s former farmland was being preserved. In the fall of 2008, the first phase was underway with a basketball court, parking lot and turf installed. The park received a boost from Olympia in April 2009 when the state legislature approved more than $500,000 for the second phase of development that brought tennis courts, restrooms and a community garden. The park was dedicated in October 2010. “Rocky Hill Park has a great design,” Frank said. “It takes advantage of the native landscape in both preserving the rocky knoll for which the park is named and the hillside natural area to the west. The design also preserved the historical buildings on the eastern boundary of the park paying homage to the agricultural and farming heritage of the Liberty Lake community. The community values both the connection to nature and the preservation of our historical roots and it makes Rocky Hill Park
MAY 2017 • 15
unique.” Orchard Park – “North Side Niche” Following the example of the two established parks on the other side of the freeway, yet-to-be-built Orchard Park will be a product of community involvement and a recreation void. While smaller parks have cropped up in the River District development on the north end of Liberty Lake, the area has lacked a more spacious venue that ranks with Pavillion and Rocky Hill as an open space gathering place. “Having a park within walking distance to your home has been a priority for the city since its founding,” said Liberty Lake City Engineer Andrew Staples. “High quality parks and trails are a significant part or what our city is known for. By placing a larger park on the north side we are extending the same benefits those near our existing parks already experience – recreation opportunities, a gathering place for larger events and somewhere to simply relax and spend time with family and friends, all within easy walking distance of a home.” At just over 11 acres, the site is expected to begin construction next spring and be completed in three to four months. While the city is waiting on a grant application for $500,000 in state funding, Staples
said “the project will move forward with or without the funding” with features like picnic shelters placed on hold if the state monies don’t come through. With donated land from Greenstone, Orchard Park has relied heavily on feedback from residents, so much so that Staples said “the design is nearly identical to what was developed through the public process.” The city hosted the first public meeting on Orchard Park in October 2015 and followed it up with a workshop a month later. Around 50 people attended both gatherings. Other brainstorming sessions followed. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy a park in our own area," John Harris, a resident of the River District, told the City Council in December 2015. "It will be refreshing."
Orchard Park, on the north side of Liberty Lake, is scheduled to break ground next spring. The 11-acre park will be built on land donated by Greenstone Homes, a major contributor to Pavillion and Rocky Hill parks. Photo by Craig Howard
Amanda Tainio, the city's Planning and Building services manager appeared before council with an “Envision Orchard Park” presentation at the same meeting
that winter, emphasizing that the site would be designed “to be a fit for the (north side) community.” "It will be a walkable, bikeable park centrally located in the western part of the River District and on the same scale as Rocky Hill and Pavillion parks,” Tainio said. Staples said visitors to Orchard Park can expect to see community gardens, tennis/multi-sport courts, a playground, slide hill, pathways, an amphitheater and more. “The park in many ways is a merging of the two parks we already have,” Staples said. “We are learning over the years what our citizens want most out of their parks.” Frank said he is looking forward to the next chapter in Liberty Lake’s unique open space anthology. “Orchard Park is a continuation of the community commitment to parks, trails and open space,” Frank said. “This park will tie into the trail system on the north side of I-90 and provide a direct trailhead connection to the Centennial Trail.”
COMMUNITY
16 • MAY 2017
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Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS 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. May 29 | Annual Memorial Day Breakfast sponsored by the Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary, 8 to 10 a.m., Pavillion Park. A breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs will be served with a Color Guard and program at 9 a.m. Breakfast by donation. All proceeds benefit the Inland Northwest Honor Guard. Veterans eat free.
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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 | Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or eastpointchurch.com. 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 | 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
COMMUNITY
HEALTH & RECREATION May 19-20 | May Mania Pickleball Tournament, HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. $25 per person; $5/ event. For more information, call 927-0602. May 20 | Dads and Dudes Night, 6 to 9 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. This event is about fathers and sons spending quality time together, having fun, strengthening relationships and making positive memories. We’ll have opportunities for basketball, football, soccer, baseball, pickleball, martial arts and more. There will be relay races, skill competitions and other fun games to play. Door prize give-aways for the dudes. Cost is $10 for a Dad and Dude team; $3 for each additional dude.
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.
May 17 | KHQ and Worksource Job Fair, 11 am. to 2 p.m. – Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. More information at www.khq.com/ jobfair. May 27 | Willow Treasures, 1 to 4 p.m., Willow Song Music Therapy – N. 5005 Harvard Road, Otis Orchards. A display of local artisans featuring original creations, antiques, etc. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www.willowsongmusictherapy. com.
film k c o c h c it H e Alfred h t f f o d e s ba arlow p B m k o r ic r y t d a e P m A co stage by e h t r o f d adapte
7, 2 , 6 2 , 25 May 24, 2 , 1 e n u J Tickets 30, 31 & $8-
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.
7:30pm
Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.
12 Curtain
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.
CIVIC & BUSINESS
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.
May 11 | Open house at Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 2 to 5 p.m. – N. 5005
Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.
CV Performing Arts Center | 821 S Sullivan Rd, Spokane Valley
™
Y
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.
Harvard Road, Otis Orchards. Free to the public. The open house will offer an overview of programs Willow Song provides, along with music therapy for Autism Spectrum, developmental disorders, dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's diseases, mental health, anxiety and depression, and overall wellness for the community. For more information, call 592-7875 or visit www. willowsongmusictherapy.com.
T h e N a t i o n a l ly A w a r d - W i n n i n g C e n t r a l V a l l e y h i g h s c h o o l T h e a t r e D e p a r t m e n t P r o u d ly P r e s e n t s
CE
LE
Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440.
MAY 2017 • 17
NT
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VA L
The Splash
Purchase your seats now at cvtheatre.com CVHS Underwritten in part by:
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18 • MAY 2017
Farmers Market set for latest season of community fun, local food
By Julie Humphreys Splash Contributor After the type of winter we’ve had this year it’s hard to think of anything remotely related to warm temperatures – fruits blossoming, vegetables sprouting and neighbors gathering in the park on a Saturday morning – as anything but an illusion. Yet it will indeed be a reality before we know it, specifically the weekend after Mother’s Day. That’s when the Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market kicks off its 16th season, much to the delight of farmers, growers, and crafters looking to sell their goods to an increasing number of people frequenting this once main means of trade. By state regulation –which was only recently established for farmers markets – half of the vendors must be farmers and
growers. The remaining vendors can be crafters and people selling prepared foods like breads and cheeses or ready to eat foods like pizza and tacos. At the Liberty Lake Farmers Market, about 70 percent of the vendors are farmers. It’s the fresh fruits and vegetables that are mostly responsible for the growth in farmers’ markets in the last decade and more, according to Holli Parker who manages the market. “People want to know where their food comes from, what fertilizers are used,” Parker said. “They want to eat healthy, buy local, and connect with their neighbors.” Parker adds that this farmer’s market is very much a family market with kids on bikes and families with wagons and dogs. Some came to the market as babies are now in high school and still count the venue as a favorite destination point. Local, sustainable and fresh are important to this latest generation. They are right behind the millennials who have done more for back to the basics than most generations before them. The basics include carrots grown in small backyard gardens by people like Paul Puhek. He and his wife Sue have been selling the
vegetables they grow at the Liberty Lake market since the first year it opened in 2002. It allows them to dabble in small-scale agriculture and generate some outside income that they hope will eventually grow to a retirement income. “We’ve always treated this as a business that has to pay for itself,” says Paul. A technical drafter, Paul says a lot of small farmers have outside income, perhaps a military pension or retirement funds. His garden has grown from 300 square feet in 2002, producing carrots, beets, and green beans to an acre to some 43,000 square feet, producing over 10 varieties of vegetables all of which are sold at the market. Even with the growth, Pau and Sue, with the help of their son Joe, are still the only ones who tend the garden and pick the produce. It can be hard work, but Paul says it’s a labor of love, an art of sorts that shouldn’t be lost. “Farmers markets in general are really important for local agriculture,” he says. In the 1970s and 1980s farmers markets had not taken hold, so small producers had fewer places to sell the vegetables and fruits of their labor. Today in the greater
Spokane area, there are a number of viable opportunities and venues, including sites in Millwood, Cheney and Spokane. This year may be the biggest market yet says Parker. The market’s volunteer board reviews all farmer applications which must follow Washington State Farmers Market Association guidelines. The board also screens crafters who want to participate in the market. You can’t just show up with your goods on market day. There’s a vetting process and crafters must fit the guidelines to qualify as a vendor. A main qualification is that crafters’ wares are truly handmade. The vetting process, Parker says, ensures that people coming to the market are getting a true farmers market experience with true handcrafted goods. Since the number of farmers must be at least half of all vendors, as more farmers apply for the market, more spots open up for crafters. This year Parker expects up to 50 total vendors who will pay $300 for a market stand. They participate every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with some extended hours around the market’s three festivals
See MARKET, Page 19
SA VE
FARMERS MARKET L i b e r t y
L a k e
Every Saturday 9am -1pm
SHOP • EAT • CONNECT
TH
ED AT E
OPENING DAY
MAY 20TH Visit us at LLFarmersMarket.com or find us on
The Splash
Farmers Market 101
The Liberty Lake Farmers Market will open its 16th season on Saturday, May 20 at 1421 N. Meadowwood Lane, home of Town Square Park. The market will run every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 14. Special events this year include the Italian Festival (July 15), Pie Festival (Aug. 26) and Art at the Market (Sept. 8-9). For more information, visit www. libertylakefarmersmarket.com or call 290-3839.
MARKET
Continued from page 18 – Italian in July, Pie in August, and Art in September. The market is held in Town Square Park at 1421 N. Meadowwood Lane and is free to the public. The cost of fresh produce at the market is comparable or slightly higher than at grocery stores. However, says Puhek, “You are getting fruits and vegetables that were picked just days, sometimes hours before. My produce travels only four miles from soil to market, that’s pretty cool!” So get ready for some fabulous foods, great crafts, music, and a lively atmosphere where up to 2,000 people gather on a given Saturday. “That’s what it’s all about,” Parker says. “It’s truly a fun, festive celebration of food and friends.”
MAY 2017 • 19
Council votes to continue moratorium on marijuana businesses By Craig Howard Splash Editor It was a case of good news, bad news for residents opposed to marijuana-related businesses at the April 18 Liberty Lake City Council meeting. The good news came in the form of a unanimous vote to extend the moratorium on the growth, processing and sale of the drug for another six months, followed by the announcement that the city was moving toward land zoning changes that would essentially amount to a ban on marijuana retail operations within municipal limits. The flip side had to do with the acknowledgement that a store selling marijuana and marijuanarelated products would soon be part of the Liberty Lake landscape based on a qualifying application that was submitted to the city during a time when land use regulations allowed for such an establishment as long it was outside certain buffer zones. Mayor Steve Peterson made it clear that the city would report diligently to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board on the business and monitor any issues that may emerge. The mayor added that the city had already been in contact with law enforcement in Idaho regarding the site. There have been concerns that the location may draw traffic from across the border where marijuana is still illegal. “We don’t really approve of this retailer, that’s been the council’s position all along,” Peterson said. “We have one retailer out there who can have a business but it’s not because of the support of our community.”
Veraci Pizza is among the many vendors represented at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market. Founded in 2002, the market will kick off its latest season on May 20. File photo
The business will be located in the far eastern section of Liberty Lake in a new, three-parcel commercial structure off Appleway. The marijuana shop will occupy one of the three spaces. Barbara Green was one of many residents who spoke out against the business at the April 18 meeting. She moved to Liberty
Lake 20 years ago and encouraged council to preserve the unique community environment that could be threatened by drug commerce, legal or not. “I’m opposed to this,” Green said. “I just can’t understand why we want to bring that kind of thing here.” Shaun Brown, another resident, said she appreciated the previous efforts of the City Council to keep such businesses away from Liberty Lake. She called the news about the approved retailer “disappointing” and encouraged the city to enact a ban. Resident George Brundt said the city had a responsibility to current and future generations to stand up against a drug known for its corrosive effects. “If we don’t fight it now, we can’t go home and tell our kids they shouldn’t be using this,” he said. “What happens 20 or 30 years from now if we don’t fight it? What happens is that it grows into Liberty Lake.” Initiative 502 appeared on the November 2012 general election ballot in Washington state, needing a simple majority to legalize small amounts of marijuana and marijuana-related projects for adults 21 and over. The production, processing and sale of the drug would also be permissible with any margin over 50 percent. Statewide, the initiative earned 56 percent of the vote. Liberty Lake took a proactive approach to define the parameters of how I-502 would impact the community. In January of 2014, with the first retail sites in the state still yet to open, the City Council approved a six-month moratorium on the sale, production and processing of marijuana. In July of that year, the moratorium was extended another six months. The city closely watched the legal wrangling play out, including the decision by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson who stated that local laws established by towns and cities took precedence over a state referendum. Marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law and subject to federal prosecution even in states where it is legal. In 2014, two applications for marijuana businesses were received by the city but denied due to conflicts with land use regulations. In January 2015, council approved
an ordinance that expanded the zoning restrictions already in place. Any marijuana retailer could not be established within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries, bus stops or trailheads. Around 80 cities in Washington have instituted a ban against marijuana-related operations. Resident Jamie Baird pointed out that the city of Leavenworth goes by the federal law when it involves marijuana use, sales, processing and production. “Liberty Lake is known as a small town with a family friendly reputation,” Baird said. “We don’t need this.” Richard Christiansen, who runs a family support group with his wife, Elaine, for those affected by addiction, told council he has seen how “marijuana destroys families.” Resident Mike Kennedy urged the city to refuse any sales tax revenue generated by the new venue. “You can send a message,” he said. “Let’s say no to the money.” Sherry Paul encouraged fellow residents to speak up and report any drug-involved concerns they see in the community to law enforcement. “If we see something, we can say something,” she said.
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The Splash
20 • MAY 2017
Trailhead trees up to par after winter project By Tyler Wilson
Splash Correspondent Just in time for golf season, Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course completed a winter tree trimming project that will limit wear-and-tear on equipment and speed the pace of play on the course. Approximately 40 evergreen trees have been limbed across the nine-hole course, according to crew lead Trevor Ragan. Most of the impacted trees had low limbs known to have a vanishing effect on golf balls. “If golfers hit a ball into one of the trees or in the general area, they spent too much time looking for their golf ball,” Ragan said. “By taking the limbs up 6 to 8 inches off the ground, it leaves room for mowers and carts to easily maneuver around the trees without causing damage to the vehicles and allows golfers to spot their golf
balls quicker.”
city, Hagan said.
from its winter damage.
Trailhead pro Chris Johnston said the project started a couple years ago and has been steadily addressed in recent off-seasons.
Allen said the reuse program with green material isn’t limited to Trailhead limbs.
“Our course went from dormant brown grass to very green, very quickly,” he said. “The best thing for it is rain water.”
“That was probably our most requested thing from our women’s and men’s clubs and the regulars that played there,” Johnston said. “The trees would go all the way to the ground and it’s just not conducive to playing. You lose the ball, or you can’t get a shot off under there.” The speed-of-play issue was the biggest factor in many of the trees selected, including one that often caused slowdowns off the first tee. “It’s a course where a lot of beginners play, so we want to make it a little bit easier,” Johnston said. The city of Liberty Lake hires licensed arborists to handle structural tree pruning, according to City Administrator Katy Allen. Limbs are chipped into two separate piles – a “clean pile” containing only wood chips and a “green pile” which consists of wood chips, pine needles and other green material. All this material is recycled in some form around the
“Because of wind we get a lot of tree trimmings or when we recycle Christmas trees, we grind those down and make a compost,” Allen said. Much of the material can be used around the city in tree wells and flower beds. Additionally, the city’s “maintenance” goats eat bark and needles. The goats are deployed throughout Liberty Lake for weed control and have already put in some work this season at Trailhead. Trailhead, like many courses in the area, has also had to contend with a wet winter and a near constant stream of rainfall this spring. “The worst kind of winters are where it snows, warms up, then melts, then snows again,” Johnston said. “The back and forth is more hurtful to the grass.” Fortunately, the Trailhead course and especially the driving range drains well, Johnston said, and while there are currently a few areas where golf carts are prohibited, the grass has already recovered well
Several upgrades have been made to the Trailhead in recent years. Completed projects include a new roof on the clubhouse and new, expanded tee boxes throughout the course. Back in 2014, the grass hitting area was improved at the range. The par-33 course includes four par 3s, four full length par 4s and one par 5 with four sets of tees. The club was established in 1973 and the city purchased the course in 2002. While weather has been a factor for those itching to play a round, Trailhead’s covered driving range, open year-round, has filled the golfing gap for many. “We’ve still done good business – you can’t hit balls anywhere else if it’s raining,” Johnston said. For more information on Trailhead, including rates and hours, visit www.LibertyLakeWA. gov/Golf.
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MAY 2017 • 21
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!
COMMUNITY FLAG SPONSORS
Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary
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22 • MAY 2017
Through The Ages : GARDEN Gardening Never Enough Thyme
LIBERTY LAKE KIWANIS COMMUNITY YARD SALES
EXPO 2017
Friday, June 23, 2017
Tons of Vendors, lots of fun, and it’s all free!
SCC Lair • 1810 N. Greene Street
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
24th ANNUAL
Saturday, June 24, 2017
FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING
s, , DemPoriz es r o Do minars, Se Music, Live reat G d Foo
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sign up by June 16 to list your sale and information in the official guide. Registration fees go to the Kiwanis Club of Liberty Lake to support the event and community.
Four registration options
1.
REGIST ER BY J UN TO BE E NTERED E 16 $100 O TO WIN FF OF DONE A ANY SERVICE T CHRIS TIA BROTH ERS AU N TO
Online: $15
Submit your registration and secure credit card payment at www.libertylakekiwanis.org Take advantage of add-on options like a highlight color, a black border or a bold title to help your sale stand out from the rest. Online ads can also exceed the 20-word maximum for a small, per-word fee.
2.
Mail-in form : $20
Complete the registration form below and submit it along with your fee. Remember, registration must be received by June 16 to be included in the official guide.
3.
Commercial Vendors: (online only): $250.00
Join the festivities in the middle of it all at Pavillion Park by being a vendor. Commercial vendors are welcome at the $75 fee and receive a 12-foot by 12-foot section at the park. This registration option is available at www.libertylakekiwanis.org , and it includes a listing in the official guide. Double the space is available for $500.00 Registered Pavillion Park sellers who decide not to come must notify organizers at least five days in advance in order to receive a refund. Contact information is at the bottom of the page.
4.
Artisan Vendors: (online only): $75.00
As a new addition for 2017, join in the fun at Pavillion Park and showcase your handcrafted goods. Artisan Vendors are welcome at the $75.00 price and receive a 10-foot by 10-foot section in the park. This registration option is available at www.libertylakekiwanis.org. Registered artisan vendors who decide not to come must notify organizers at least 5 days in advance in order to receive a refund. Contact information is at the bottom of the page. Name
Organized by
Description (Not to exceed 20 words)
(509) 535-8434 WWW.TIEG.ORG Liber ty Lake
“ IT’S
THE LAW ”
WHAT DOES YOUR REGISTRATION PAY FOR? A supported event: The sales will be advertised and publicized through regionwide outlets, and the Kiwanis Club is working with local authorities and strategic vendors to ensure a safe and well-supported event. Directional signage: Signs will be posted to help guide shoppers into neighborhoods holding sales. Thousands of shoppers: Liberty Lake is flooded with shoppers for this event every June, so timing your yard sale to correspond with the annual sales is just smart business. Please pay the registration fee to ensure the future of the yard sales. After expenses, all proceeds from the event will be reinvested by the Kiwanis Club into the community.
In WASHINGTON Click or Call Two Business Days Before You Plan To Dig
A listing “on the map”: Attract customers before the sale even begins by featuring your sale in the official event guide. A 20-word description of your sale is complimentary with your registration fee, and 10,000 copies of the guide will be distributed to not only every address in Liberty Lake — but at businesses and newsstands throughout the area in the days leading up to and during the sale.
Feature your business in the guide!
PRSRT STD ECRWSS
U.S. Postage Paid Permit #017 ZIP CODE 99019
21 st annu
Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council www.ieucc811.org
al
A limited number of advertising placements are available in PORTAL the annual event guide. Call 242-7752 or email advertise@libertylakesplash.com to put your business and organization in front of thousands of eager shoppers in what is one of The Splash’s most dog-eared and poredover publications of the year. :
Event Organize
at Mission
For registration-related inquiries, contact The Splash at 242-7752 or advertise@libertylakesplash.com.
1-800-424-5555 or dial 811
icipating homes!
Liberty Lake
Questions?
www.CallBeforeYouDig.org
Over 250 part
Major Sponsors
Payments should be made out to the Kiwanis Club of Liberty Lake. Mail them to The Splash, PO Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019 along with the completed registration form. No phone or in-person registration is available.
Over 250 garden related vendors
Presented by the Inland Empire Gardeners
Phone Address
MAY 13
9 am to 5 pm
rs:
& Molte r
Advertising Deadline: May 26, 2017
For general yard sale inquiries or with vendor questions, contact Liberty Lake Kiwanis member John Niece at 509-294-8500. Publishers of the official 2017 Yard Sale Guide
R'n R¦ ¬ ¬ R V¦ ¬ ¬ C enter 23203 ¦¬ E. ¦¬ Knox ¦¬ Liberty ¦¬ Lake,¦ ¦¬ WA See our menu at RnRRV.com 509-927-9000 x190
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A blast through space
Competitive Teams • Parkour, B and Hip Hop Classes • Parent’s • Bitty Bee Academy & Flippin’ Night • Open Gym for All Ages • G Birthday Parties • N
ENROLL TODAY!
Space Day and International Space Day
Our coaches are passionate about gymnastics and focus on teaching quality gymnastics in a fun and safe environment. Classes run year-round three 13-week sessions (Fall, Martin created by withthe Lockheed Winter and Spring) and one 10-week study science summerand session. math. It was
Always celebrated on the first Friday of May, Space Day was Corporation in 1997. The idea was to encourage young people to expanded to International Space Day by former astronaut and Senator John Glenn. This year’s theme is “50 years in space and still having a blast.” It honors the 1957 launch of the Sputnik satellite which was the true beginning of space exploration.
Solar System Facts • The Sun is over 300,000 times larger than earth. • One million Earths could fit inside the sun. • It takes around eight minutes for light from the Sun to reach Earth. • The only planet that spins on its side is Uranus. • Venus spins backwards relative to the other planets. • It would take 800 years to fly a plane to Pluto. • The wind on Neptune can reach speeds of 1,240 miles per hour. It is the stormiest planet. • If earth were flat, the water would be two miles deep all over. • Jupiter is the fastest rotating planet. Its days are only ten hours long.
The Splash
24 • MAY 2017
There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth.
Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system with a surface temperature of over 840 degrees. Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings, it just has the most prominent ones.
Mars has seasons similar to those on Earth.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune have no solid surface. Apollo 11 in 1969, was the first manned Moon landing.
Copernicus proved that the sun is the center of our universe.
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 25
WEEKLY SUMMER CAMPS Join us at one or all of our weekly summer camps with a different focus each week. In addition to our gymnastics and trampoline camp weeks we’ll have Adventure camps, Ninja Zone camps, Cheer camps and Parkour/ Breakdance camps for children ages 3 and up!
Camp pricing starts at $129 (half days) or $229 (full days) for the week, daily rates also available. Registration is now open and can be done in person or by phone.
315-5433 2515 N. Locust Road Spokane Valley 99206
www.spokanegymnastics.com
Animal Facts
Cut them out and collect them all! JELLYFISH - Found in seas and all oceans - 1” to 6’ long - Bloom - 2000 species - 95% water - No blood, brain, nervous or respiratory system - Evolved before dinosaurs - Come in all colors - Some are venomous - Carnivore - Many are eaten by humans - Sea turtles are unaffected by their sting
The Splash
26 • MAY 2017
Growing up in Los Angeles, Tony started drawing at a very early age and created his first book for his boy scout merit badge. As a teenager, he began working on a field guide of fantastic creatures that preceded The Spiderwick Chronicles. After graduating from high school, he attended two art schools in Florida where he received a graphic design degree in 1992. His illustrating job at TSR, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons was a very creative period. In 1996, he moved to New York City and realized his dream of writing and illustrating children’s books for Simon &Schuster. His first book, Jimmy Zangwow’s Outof-this-World Moon Pie Adventure was released in 2000. Critics and kids were wowed. He followed it up with Ted and then The Spider and The Fly, based on the famous poem by Mary Howitt. After meeting Holly Black, they created the chapter book series The Spiderwick Chronicles. It has been published in over 30 countries and was made into a movie. His career has continued with numerous other picture and chapter books including successful collaborations with Mo Willems, his wife Angela and Holly Black. He continues to write and draw at his home in Amherst, MA.
Author Spotlight
Materials: 6 oz. bottle of Elmer’s clear glitter glue 1½ tsp of Baking Soda 1 Tablespoon of Contact lens solution
Directions: Mix baking soda with entire contents of glue bottle. Add contact lens solution. Mix then knead with your hands. Gradually add a few more drops of contact solution if it is still sticky.
Blast off with these Books! Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure 2000, ages 5-8 Jimmy goes on the hunt for his favorite treat and searches the galaxy before getting back home for dinner and dessert, of course. The art gas a really retro kind of feel that is perfect for the story.
WondLa series 2010, ages 10 and up 12-year-old Eva is a human who has only known life in an underground shelter with her robot guardian. She yearns to go aboveground but when she finally does, it isn't what she expected at all. She finds companions to join her in the search for WondLa. Along the way, she makes many discoveries about herself and the world around her. The illustrations are a lovely addition to this creative storyline.
G is for One Gzonk!: An Alpha-numberbet Book 2006, ages 4-7 We love the zany characters, words and illustrations in this book. It is one of our favorite nontraditional alphabet books. It creatively teaches some counting as an added bonus!
PACE Trait Courage
Displaying integrity in spite of obstacles and challenges
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 27
Student of the Month Game-winning goals have become the standard for Central Valley soccer standout Jake Levine. In the summer before his junior year, Levine found the net in a 1-0 victory for the Puget Sound Premier League team in a Surf Cup playoff game against a top-ranked Southern California squad. Last season, he scored the go-ahead goal late in a regional matchup against Pasco, sending the Bears to the state Final Four where they placed third. This season, the senior scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Ferris and tied the game with Lewis and Clark, a contest CV won on penalty kicks. In the classroom, Levine maintains a 3.73 grade point average and has been part of the DECA marketing and business program for four years. He will continue his soccer career on scholarship at Northwest Nazarene University in Boise.
Citizen of the Month
& Thanks you for all you do in our community
Music, track, debate and more have been part of the experience at Central Valley High School for Lyddie Austin. The senior maintains a 3.94 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society where she serves on the board and helps organize community service projects. Austin has played the violin in the school orchestra since her freshman year and with the symphony since her sophomore year. She competed in track as a sophomore and junior, throwing the shotput and discus. As part of CV’s Green Team, she helped map out and establish a community garden. Along with being a standout on the debate team, Austin joined the Knowledge Bowl squad this year. She is looking forward to attending the University of Washington or Western Washington University in the fall.
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Flowers & Gifts
Find the perfect arrangement or gift for Mom this Mothers Day and make her special day one to remember! Mothers Day is Just Around the Corner! Athlete of the Month The phrase “above and beyond” has been used to describe the degree of commitment Cris Kaminskas has to the city of Liberty Lake. A member of the City Council since 2010, Kaminskas has also served as mayor pro-tem and been actively involved in committee work over the years. “I think Cris has been diligent in every facet possibility with the city,” said City Council colleague Shane Brickner. “Whether it’s being there at our Farmers Market booth on Saturdays or making sure she’s at events, Cris has set an example of what it means to be committed as a council member and as a citizen.” A resident of Liberty Lake since 2006, Kaminskas has degree in psychology from Miami University in Ohio. She has spent 23 years in the electronics manufacturing field on the program management side. Cris and her husband Scott are parents to one son, Kyle.
Looking for an inexpensive way to give Mom some love on Mothers Day??? Join us for our Kids Mothers Day Craft event on Saturday May 13th 2017 from 11:00 am - 4:30 pm. $30 includes Vase, flowers, a card and picture of your kiddo with their floral design!
Graduation is coming up! Honor your special grad with gorgeous arrangements, fun gifts. printed roses and ,more! 21950 E Country Vista Drive Suite 500 Liberty Lake WA 99019
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The Splash
28 • MAY 2017 Brought to you by
About and for Liberty Lake seniors
Garden Club nurtures community for nearly 60 years
at the Nature’s Place Arboretum, near Liberty Lake City Hall, most also as memorials. Money also came in, and went back out to help the community, from garden shows around the area that had flower arranging competitions with cash prizes for the winners.
By Staci Lehman
Splash Correspondent There were 254 homes in Liberty Lake when the Liberty Lake Beachcombers Garden Club was formed and nine gardening clubs in the Spokane area. There were only five members and they met in the home of one the members to organize ways to beautify the Liberty Lake community through gardening. That was in 1959.
The Beachcombers Garden Club was formed in 1959 as a way to promote gardening in the Liberty Lake area. The club has supported a variety of nonprofit causes through fundraising efforts over the years. Pictured from left to right (circa 2010): Karen Ruef, Lorna Freeman, Shirley Payne, Alyce Ryan, Patty Guillet, Margaret Barnes, Sunnie Lancaster, Connie Conaway, Margaret Rasmussen and Linda Skadan. Contributed photo
“I believe there are four or five of the original members,” said Margaret Barnes, who is copresident of the group, along with Dona Lettelleir.
While most members don’t actively garden anymore due to age, they still provide a service to the community through their philanthropy efforts. “We’ve had lunches and teas – both had silent auctions,” Barnes said. “And we’ve done craft sales and the annual Liberty Lake garage sale.” Today, the strategy has changed and instead of volunteering their time to raise money for local projects, charities and social service organizations, the ladies donate their dues money to various causes. It goes to the Tree of Sharing during Christmas time at both Liberty Lake Elementary School and Greenacres Middle School. They also make donations to Spokane Valley Partners, the Spokane Valley
“It was a wonderful way to get acquainted with people when I first moved here,” Ruef said. Ruef took some time away from the club when she began working in 1980 but returned in 2005. She is the immediate past president and says the group continues emphasizing ways to make a positive difference.
Today, 58 years later, the Garden Club is still going and maintains some of its early members.
The club has maintained around 20 to 25 members over the years and today has 18. So where did the “Beachcombers” part of the club’s name come from? When it was first started, a contest was held to pick a name and one member suggested the Liberty Lake Beachcombers Club to honor the community’s lake. And it has stuck for almost 60 years.
Karen Ruef moved to the Liberty Lake area in 1965 and joined the Garden Club the following year. She said the group helped with her transition to the community, generating friendships that have continued to this day.
“We try to think of what we can do to support the community,” she said.
The Beachcombers Garden Club donated these rhododendrons to the Nature’s Place at Meadowwood Arboretum near Liberty Lake City Hall. Photo by Staci Lehman Heritage Museum and the annual Liberty Lake fireworks display around the lake. The Beachcombers have given time and money to many local improvement projects over the years, such as planting flowers and helping with landscaping at Liberty Lake Elementary and the Liberty Lake Community Church, which was brand new at the time. To fund the church landscaping project, the ladies compiled a map of all the homes (only 254 but still a major project without today’s technology), businesses and resorts in the area to help visitors find the services they were looking for and friends they were visiting. The maps were sold to tourists and the money used to pay for the church landscaping. The work at the church paid off –
and paid for other projects. It won the club a $100 award (impressive money at the time) from the Sears Urban Renewal Contest, which was put toward other improvement projects. The Beachcombers have stayed active at the Liberty Lake Community Church over the years, caring for the trees, many of which were planted to honor club members who passed on. Other trees planted by the Beachcombers Garden Club around the area include at Greenacres Elementary School (now the Central Valley Kindergarten Center) in the 1960s, Greenacres Middle School (when it was first built and was known as a “junior high”), dogwood trees at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library as memorials for past members, and multiple trees
While the club no longer takes part in flower shows or group planting projects, they still enjoy getting together as a group. The Beachcombers meet at Shari’s restaurant in Spokane Valley once a month from January through June for business meetings, lunch and just catching up. “Anybody is welcome who would like to join.” Said Barnes. If you are interested in participating, information on the monthly meetings can be found in the Splash’s calendar of community events or by calling Karen Ruef, at 255-6318.
This bench, at the Corner of Molter Road and Country Vista Drive in Liberty Lake, was donated by the Beachcombers Garden Club. Photo by Staci Lehman
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 29
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The Splash
30 • MAY 2017
HUB basketball tournament delivers net gain on wheels
hours every week and it gives him something to do. Hinshaw was diagnosed at birth with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, or PFFD, a rare, non-hereditary birth defect that affects the pelvis and can affect one or both sides with deformation of the hip and shortening of the leg. Isaiah Rigo also participated as both referee and coach during the tournament and is on the roster of Parasport’s adult basketball team. The 18-year-old from Cheney has been active in basketball since the age of 6. At birth he was diagnosed with arthrogryposis, a congenital joint disorder, but growing up, his mom looked for opportunities for him to pursue athletic success. Rigo competes both in basketball and track.
By J.R. Conrow Splash Contributor Athletics are an important microcosm of life in today’s America. When someone is physically challenged, what resources are available to them to have the same opportunities as able-bodied individuals? Not every community has an organization that is focused with those who have physical disabilities – but Spokane does.
“My mom searched and one day met Teresa and she told us to come check things out,” Rigo said. “One day I showed up to a practice and have been coming to practices ever since.”
ParaSport Spokane, since its inception in 2013, has been at the forefront to educate the local community about opportunities for those with physical disabilities and to give those individuals the same chance for success in the athletic realm and life in general. Teresa Skinner is the one who developed ParaSport from the beginning and made it a reality. She has been in Spokane since 1996 and first started at St. Luke Rehabilitation Center to develop a sports program for those with disabilities that became known as Team St. Luke’s. She now serves as the ParaSport Spokane executive director. “As an occupational therapist I traveled around quite regularly across the country helping communities to create opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities,” Skinner said. “When I came to Spokane I had planned to stay only one year and then one year turned into two and then eventually I said I would stop saying I would be here only one more year.” On March 11, the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake hosted
A total of 11 teams participated in the March tournament with proceeds going to ParaSport. This event is the second of its kind and Skinner said next year she would like to hold it again but would wait until November when basketball season is ready to begin.
ParaSport Spokane, a program that provides training and competitive sports to residents with physical disabilities, hosted a 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball tournament for able-bodied competitors in March at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake. Photo courtesy of ParaSport Spokane a unique tournament that gave able-bodied competitors a brief opportunity to learn what wheelchair basketball is like for those who participate with ParaSport. The rules of play were similar to Hoopfest with three players a side. Tyler Hinshaw is one of ParaSport’s adult basketball team members and worked as a referee during the tournament. The 18-year-old Spokane native said during the tournament that
the experience of officiating is different but in a good way. “I’d rather be playing and learning directly by doing, rather than practicing and be asked and shown exactly what to do,” Hinshaw said. “I feel like I have more freedom when I’m doing or able to help others have success.” Hinshaw has been involved with basketball since the age of 7 and plans to go on to college to continue with the sport. He practices at least two to four
Madison Mulvaney, a Psychology major at Whitworth University, competed at the tournament. “I had never competed in this tournament before,” Mulvaney said. “I started volunteering with ParaSport in January. In my time at practices and the tournament, I realized that wheelchair basketball is quite difficult.” Mulvaney said she has scrimmaged with the team during its normal weekly practices and until getting accustomed to the game, hardly knew any of the rules. “You have to be coordinated and skilled with the basketball chair and be able to dribble,
See HOOPS, Page 36
The Splash
Sports Notebook By Mike Vlahovich
Splash Sports Editor No sooner are winter sports over, than Central Valley’s spring athletics are in the stretch run as well during a season that encompasses half of the 18 sports activities offered during the year-long high school seasons. By the time of publication, post-season was to be underway. However rain had washed out so many games the Bears were forced to play catchup, particularly in baseball, in order to be done in time. Bears pound baseball Heading into the final week of the Greater Spokane League schedule, CV was the top rated 4A school
Final Point East Valley standout finds direction at new ‘home field’ By Mike Vlahovich
Splash Sports Editor Movie sequels seldom measure up to the original. But a movie made about East Valley star athlete Rodrick (Jackson) Fisher would be the exception. It is, said Knights football coach Adam Fisher, his family’s version of “Blind Side,” the decade-old movie based on the true story of a homeless black youngster who is taken in by a white family and eventually becomes an All-American football player. Rodrick’s story, chronicled excellently by The SpokesmanReview prep sportswriter Greg Lee last fall in three articles, told of the plight of a youngster adrift who dropped out of school early in his sophomore year and the next year sought out help from the coach to straighten out his life. The script: Football coach eventually takes him in, not necessarily because he’s a gifted athlete who can help the team, but a youngster needing structure and
SPORTS
in the standings, although just a game in front of Gonzaga Prep. As the Splash went to press the Bears had games against unbeaten Mt. Spokane and Ferris to determine their placement in post-season tournaments.
against their closest challengers 2-1 over Lewis and Clark and 3-2 in two overtimes against Ferris, senior Jake Levine with the winner. Levine, Connor Wold and Devin Hauenstein had six goals or more apiece.
Central Valley didn’t lack for offense this year, especially from Thomas Edwards. He averaged two hits per game in CV’s first 13 outings with four three-hit games and plenty of power as well.
The 11-2 team had two matches left and barring calamity should have won both.
Jeremy Yelland and Jace Edwards were among the other mashers with the Bears banging out 32 doubles, three triples and four home runs in those games.
Tracksters show mettle Central Valley’s stellar girls program got even better with state placing veterans returning.
Central Valley is a mix of old and new, but the Bears hadn’t missed a beat in the GSL.
Talented Kearan Nelson, Anna Fomin and Katie Hawkins on the track and Hailey Christopher in the high jump and Sydney Johnson in both the high jump and pole vault provide experience. Sierra Bradley threw an early season 125-9 in the javelin.
The team had won back-to-back
Fomin has recorded times of
CV leads soccer
guidance. Like the original movie, but with a twist, coach’s family eventually adopts the youngster. “I was at my wit’s end,” Rodrick told Lee in The S-R story. “I wanted more structure, love and care.” A bargain is struck. A life is salvaged. Football team wins the state tournament. All’s well that ends well. Scroll the credits. But this is hardly a feel-good movie with a fairy tale ending – yet. It’s the story of a work in progress for a youngster in flux. Colleges are knocking on the door of the Fisher residence offering scholarships to the gifted wide receiver and track sprinter. He has the size – standing 6-foot-2 and now weighing over 200 pounds – and the speed as his sizzling times in track this spring attest. But Rodrick dropped out of school as a sophomore and is lacking the credits necessary to graduate this spring. Therein lays the dilemma. The Fishers must undergo a hardship hearing in the fall if he’s to gain eligibility for a fifth year, be able to play football and graduate. “Things unraveled by spring break his freshman year,” recalls Adam of Rodrick’s unusual circumstances. “I knew he was athletic and had off-field issues, but didn’t know the extent. He started school (as a sophomore) and dropped out.” Rodney bounced around pillar to post, surviving the streets, sleeping where he could. “I couldn’t fathom
what he’d gone through,” Fisher said. Remarkably, it was Rodrick who approached Adam for help not, as you’d expect, the other way around. The ground rules were laid for him to live with the Fishers. Adam and his wife Jolene became his parents, Rodrick, the son with all the responsibilities and consequences, living in a family environment. One time following a dispute, he thought the Fishers were kicking him out of the house, Adam said. Fat chance. “I’ll say we had some difficult conversations,” Adam said. “But I say that’s natural for anyone. It’s just what a parent does. You wanted guidelines, here it is.” To this day, Fisher isn’t sure why Rodrick approached him as a potential father figure. “I guess the part I didn’t know is that he viewed me that way at the time.” He was told by others that Rodrick considered him fair, honest and consistent, things you want to be as a dad, parent, coach or teacher in class. Rodrick has thrived going from nearly emaciated street kid to big, fast, sought-after football collegian. His story made national television news and the reporter remains in touch. This spring he’s among the top sprinters in state regardless of classification. His 20- meter time was once ranked ninth in the nation until it was learned the fully automated timer had
MAY 2017 • 31
25.66, 59.70 and 2:19.77 in the 200-through-800 meter runs, the latter behind Erica Pecha’s 2:18.16. Nelson’s best in the 1,600 and 3,200 are 5:08.67 and 10.46.5, respectively. The CV boys have several top competitors in league including Will Grassel and Ryan Kline who have 800 and 1,600 times respectively with 1:58.69 and 4:21.88 efforts. Softball still in contention The experienced Bears up and down year is deceiving. The team’s losses against the top teams have been close and they are the likely second 4A seed come post season. They are led by the battery of Kelsey Gumm and Macie Reynolds, and hitting of veterans Reynolds, Hannah Wampler, Elise Peck, and Jordan Schneidmiller and Hannah Wampler. malfunctioned. The post-season is upon us so there’s yet time to improve. Certainly there’s no guarantee how yet how this movie script will play out. But Rodrick has the size, speed and opportunity to make it a happy one. It’s up to District 7 administrators to do the right thing and grant him hardship eligibility this coming fall. “He was down a path of destruction and now is a productive member of society,” Adam said. “Who doesn’t like that story? It’s been a real joy to see him develop.”
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 Information must be received by Friday, May 12th. Contact 242-7752 or danica@libertylakesplash.com with any questions.
The Splash
32 • MAY 2017
John L. Scott Welcomes Seven of Spokane’s Finest Realtors
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HISTORY
The Splash
Elephants in the lake – A tale fit for a circus By Ross Schneidmiller
Liberty Lake Historical Society History writers are often faced with decisions on how they will pass information along. Having researched the history of Liberty Lake for over three decades I have found facts have not always supported our community’s folklore. This is usually disappointing to me as those stories are usually fun. Having found many inconsistencies over the years, though, I have tried hard to ferret out the truth. Realizing a reader relies on what you write brings with it a responsibility. However, with limits on time and sources, the best you can probably hope for is just improving the information available.
I enjoy tying Liberty Lake’s history to the larger historical community whether it is the Inland Empire, state, country or world. What I have found is that with curiosity and persistence, our history gets more colorful, at least to me, because fortunately as the saying goes: “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Robert Ripley demonstrated this in his comic strip and books. Mark Twain through a character in one of his books said this was so, “… because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t.” The subject of this month’s article changed when my research was inconclusive. I planned on writing about various oddities that happened in the course of our community’s history. That changed when one of my stories fell short of substantiation. Instead, I will present you with the facts and let you decide to Believe It or Not! •
The Western Soap Company
heralded in an advertisement in the June 12, 1912 edition of the Spokane Daily Chronicle that began with the headline: “Washing Elephants! Free Exhibition, Liberty Lake, July 28.” The article went on to state: “The Sells-Floto Circus will wash their elephants July 28 at Liberty Lake. Their advance agent required the finest and best soap he could get for these valuable animals. Medical Lake Wonder Soap was selected as the best he could buy.” • This Spokane business was in its third year of existence in 1912. It was one of only two soap companies in the Northwest. During the year in question their infrequent newspaper advertising was creative and entertaining. • The Sells-Floto Circus was one of the largest of its kind. Among the many features in the show were the performing elephants under the direction of Madame Zora. Lucia Zora was one of a few female elephant trainers at this time. It
MAY 2017 • 33
was claimed there were elephants among the three herds of the circus that no one except Zora could handle. • The only information I found to date about the elephants was the one advertisement shown below. I have not been able to prove the elephants bathed in Liberty Lake nor disprove it. Logistically it was possible. The circus was held at Recreation Park (now Spokane’s Peaceful Valley neighborhood) a short distance from the electric railway terminal. Madame Zora and her crew could have easily taken the elephants in cattle cars over the railway to Liberty Lake Park. One thing we do know, if they did, the elephants large and small would have been refreshed and looking their best. Ready for the following day’s parade, through the streets of Spokane, that began the two-day circus event.
Clockwise from center: Western Soap Company advertisement, 1912; Madame Zora and the little twin elephants, “Kas” and “Mo,” circa 1912; Sells-Floto Circus advertisement, 1912; Circus parade through the streets of Spokane 1911; Madame Zora with one of her trained elephants, circa 1912. Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Historical Society
The Splash
34 • MAY 2017
PACE Trait for May – Courage
By Capt. Joe Schindler Spokane Valley Fire Department I have been in the firefighting profession for 24 years. Currently, I am proud to serve at Station 3 in Liberty Lake with the Spokane Valley Fire Department. During my career, people often comment on the courage it takes to be a firefighter. It is true that often firefighters exhibit tremendous acts of courage when performing their job. I have come to understand courage to be as Knute Rockne (one of the greatest football coaches of all time) said – “Courage means being afraid to do something, but still doing it.” The 343 firefighters who died on 9/11, or the three firefighters that died and one injured last summer on the Twisp River Fire here in Washington State displayed great bravery. Obviously, these cases exemplify courage because these firefighters laid down their lives in the line of duty to protect and serve others. Courage is a character trait
found in adults and children alike. I know a little girl who went to see a doctor one day because she had tremendous pain in her side. Her parents were very scared when they learned this pain was caused by a cancer that was ravaging her liver. The little girl was very scared. With selfless courage she faced her fears. She did not want to come home even after her first 78-day stay in the hospital. Why was this? She loved her home and her brothers and sisters. In the mind of this precious little 6-yearold girl, she was afraid to come home because she did not want to spread this cancer to her family. She was afraid that like a cold, her brothers and sisters could “catch” this cancer. She was willing to bear this sickness on her own to protect the ones she loved. That day, and throughout her five-month battle with pediatric liver cancer, my daughter Anna showed me the true meaning of courage. Her continued bravery was displayed every day throughout her battle by courageously going through numerous tests, procedures and surgeries. In the end she lost her battle
with cancer. The memory of her courage continues to inspire her mom, siblings and I to face our adversities in life with the same spirit she faced hers. Courage does not dictate the outcome of an event, but it does dictate the manner in which you will face it. Courage can be used in our everyday lives as well. Every person has the opportunity to be courageous. It helps us meet adversity in a positive way, with a “can do” spirit. Isn’t it courageous after all for a child to go to a new school and meet new friends? How about standing up to a bully for yourself or a friend by telling a teacher or an adult? Other examples may be trying out for a sports team, a marching band or a school play. All these take a measure of courage. The one virtue that we can use to battle our fears is courage. We can’t change that we are afraid, but we can control how we react to that fear. We were born to be COURAGEOUS! Joe Schindler Joined the Air Force in 1992 serving as a firefighter for four years. During that time he was deployed twice in support of Operation Desert Shield. In 1998,
Does my mom have options besides dentures? A patient of mine who wore dentures once told me how she chose what to order from a restaurant menu. Her question was not, “What looks delicious?” It wasn’t even, “What would be healthy for me?” Instead, she was looking to order the few limited items that she knew she could chew. Her life changed dramatically when we were able to replace her dentures with dental implants instead. While dentures give you about 25% the chewing power of normal teeth, implants provide an actual replacement for natural missing teeth and restore over 90% chewing power. Secured in the gum or jaw, this method of placement makes them the most natural tooth replacement system. In short, they look and feel like your own teeth. You even care for them as you would your natural teeth. While dentures can be initially more affordable, their removable nature not only makes them less reliable, but less functional as well. Dentures require maintenance and care that is both time-consuming and potentially costly over time. We would be happy to visit with you or your loved ones about whether dental implants are right for you.
— Dr. Timothy J. Casey
Liberty Lake resident Member, American Dental Association
he joined the Spokane Valley Fire Department and is a captain at Liberty Lake Station 3. Joe and his wife Polly founded the Anna Schindler Foundation in 2011 in honor of their daughter, Anna, who passed away from pediatric liver cancer in 2010. The mission of the foundation is to support children and their families who are battling childhood cancer here in the Inland Northwest. He will be competing for the first time in the Half-Ironman race in Coeur d’Alene in June as part of the "IRONMAN for Anna" team raising money to fight childhood cancer. The Spokane Valley Fire Department has been a PACE Partner since 2015, promoting good character within our community.
CV students among 25th Spokane Scholars roll call
From Splash News Sources For a quarter century, the Spokane Scholars Foundation has acknowledged the area’s elite academic achievers. On April 17, the 25th annual Spokane Scholars Foundation was held at the Spokane Convention Center with a total of $60,000 awarded to 24 of the 143 seniors from high schools throughout the greater Spokane community. Four students were named in six content areas: English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages. Students complete an application following nomination in one of the six content areas by their high school principal, counselor or teachers. Three judges for each category review the blind applications to determine the four award recipients in each content area. All 143 scholars are awarded a Spokane Scholars Foundation Medal of Academic Achievement and certificate and a congratulatory letter from U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. A total of 14 institutions of higher education in the region will match the monetary awards of $1,000 to $4,000. The following students from Central Valley High School were among the award recipients last month: Fine Arts $3,000 award recipient: Alexis Fox Science $4,000 award recipient: Jonas LaPier Social Studies $1,000 award recipient: Gwyneth Potter
The Splash
Easy-care dahlias add flourish to warm-weather gardens By Melinda Myers
Splash Guest Columnist Plan now for a memorable grand finale in this year’s garden. Dahlias are spring-planted bulbs with colorful flowers that bloom continuously from midsummer to the first fall frost. Early in the season, the foliage of these easy-care plants provides a lush green backdrop for nearby annuals and perennials. Then, as many other plants are waning from the summer heat, dahlias burst into bloom, filling the garden with their impressive flowers for months to come. There are many types of dahlias and many ways to use them. Shorter border dahlias like the “Gallery” or “Melody” series are perfect for planting along walkways, in the front of a flower border or in pots next to the patio. The compact plants support full size flowers for a dazzling display. Dahlias dazzle with their many unique flower shapes and sizes. The brilliant color and rolled petals of the cactus dahlia “Karma Red Corona” are sure to make you stop and take a second look. Or consider the powder puff blooms of “Myrtles Folly” with petals that capture the colors of a sunrise.
MAY 2017 • 35
Suppliers like Longfield Gardens (longfield-gardens.com) offer dozens of dahlia varieties as well as attractive mixes based on color themes and flower styles. A combination like the “Soft Orange” mix, works great in the garden and combines nicely in an arrangement. Don’t be afraid to cut your dahlias. Picking encourages more blooms for you to enjoy. With as few as three to six plants you’ll have plenty of flowers to enjoy yourself and share with friends. Since dahlias thrive in the same great soil as vegetables, consider adding a few plants to your food garden as well. You’ll be able to cut fresh flowers for the dinner table when harvesting the vegetables for your next meal. In northern areas where dahlias are not winter hardy, the tubers can be dug and stored indoors for the winter. Or make it easy and just treat your dahlias like other annuals. With so many wonderful varieties to choose from, it’s fun to try different ones each year. Review your garden plans to identify places that could benefit from a burst of late season color. Order your dahlias early for the best selection, plant them in the spring and enjoy a spectacular show. Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.melindamyers.com
The Splash
36 • MAY 2017
HOOPS
Continued from page 30 shoot and pass from a sitting position,” Mulvaney said. “One of my teammates said that trying to shoot from the free-throw line in a wheelchair is just as hard as shooting from half court while standing up. This says a lot about how skilled the ParaSport athletes are.” Mulvaney said ParaSport hosting a 3-on-3 tournament helps bring awareness to the adaptive sports community. The 22-year-old senior from Billings, Montana transferred to Spokane four years ago to attend Whitworth. After graduation, she plans to go to grad school and study occupational therapy. Skinner said the tournament is just one way to reach out to the community, but challenges remain to get the word out. “If you are one of those who have a physical disability and think you can’t do sports or sports aren’t for you, you should still get
A total of 11 teams competed in the 3-on-3 tournament at the HUB. The event raised awareness for adaptive sports and funds for Para Sport Spokane. Photo courtesy of ParaSport Spokane out and try,” Skinner said. Skinner said during her time working with people with disabilities she has encountered many setbacks from individuals and families to break down barriers and stereotypes.
“Sometimes I do not know how to convince people to step out and try whether it’s due to fear or something else,” Skinner said. “I do believe we all need people to help push us out of our comfort zone.”
For information on helping Parasport’s programs grow in the community, making a donation or becoming a sponsor, volunteer or athlete, visit www. parasportspokane.org or call 9996466.
S P O K A N E VA L L E Y A RT S C O U N C I L
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Willow Song is pleased to announce a NEW addition: The Splash
MAY 2017 • 37
Nia Gentle Movement Class.
Nia is an exhilarating, body/mind practice based with the philosophy that exercise should feel From Splash News Sources good, and movement Spokane Valley Fire Department can optimize health and crews responded to a total of 60 promote emergency calls well-being. in the greater
SVFD Report – May 2017
found a 2-inch gas line had been Firefighters investigated again and ruptured by excavation crews. They found a fine mist with no odor they quickly pulled and charged a water traced to a potential problem with hose in preparation for possible the boiler-fired heating system. fire and waited for Avista to arrive They shut off the gas and power on scene to clamp the leak, which to the boiler and instructed the occurred with no incident. Unlike homeowner to call for service. carbon monoxide which has no Service Call/Lock Out – April color or odor, natural gas gives off 6 –SVFD crews responded to a Liberty Lake area* from March 24 a garlic-like smell. It can also be report of an infant locked in a All photographs provided by Nia Technique (www.nianow.com) through April 19: described as smelling like a rotten running vehicle in the 21300 block • Emergency medical egg or sulfur. This smell is actually of East Mission Avenue just after added to the natural gas by utility 11:30 a.m. Firefighters used tools services - 48 CONTACT INFO open the front passenger • Motor vehicle accidents companies to warn customers to quickly potential BEGINNING MofAYa23, 2017 leak. When a gas door and reached the infant in the –2 Carnegie, MT-BC, NMT leak is present, it can interact backCarla seat, who was unharmed. Song Music Therapy Center • Fire – 0 TUES. EVENINGS : 6:30-7:30 with electrical and fire sources. The Willow baby’s mother explained that E. 21101 Wellesley, #102 • Hazardous materials AFTERNOONS -1 1:00-2:00 THURSDAY Residents should PM immediately the car was a rental and she didn’t Otis Orchards, WA 99027 leave the area and call 9-1-1 when realize the car was still running • Building alarm – 6 a natural gas odor is present. (area code required) locked when 509.592.7875 she unintentionally • Service call - 1 Taught by Holly Pena, as she closed it. Alarm/Smoke Investigation the door carla.carnegie@gmail.com • Dispatched and cancelled certified instructor, and nurse-practitioner Coeurbefore d' Alene – April 3 –from Shortly 11ID.a.m., Motor Vehicle Accident – April www.willowsongmusictherapy.com en route - 2 SVFD responded to an 12 – Just after 4:15 p.m., SVFD Hosted by Willow Song Music crews Therapy Center willowsongmusictherapy *Service area for SVFD Station automatic alarm at a home in the Icons from: http://www.wpzoom.com/ responded to a report of a two#3 in Liberty Lake 300 block of South Sandy Beach vehicle motor vehicle collision on Hazardous Material – March Lane. The residents said there eastbound I-90 near the Liberty 28 – SVFD crews responded to a was hazy smoke in a bedroom. Lake/Harvard Road. Crews arrived reported natural gas line rupture Firefighters investigated but found on the scene to find two cars off smoke or heat inside home. on a construction siteCombining at 21900 no dance, martial artstheand mindfulness, to the side of the freeway. The As they were preparing to leave, occupants were out of their cars E. Country Vista Drive, just after Niafirefighters tones your mind. the body smoke while alarms transforming sounded again. your 8 a.m. Upon arrival, and they reported being uninjured.
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of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Gentle Movement Class. Valley and Nia unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the an exhilarating, communities Nia of isOtis Orchards, Pasadena Park, and the area body/mind practice surrounding Liberty Lake, with based with thea combined population of 125,000 philosophy that across approximately 75 square miles. SVFDexercise firefighters and should feel paramedics good, responded to more and movement than 16,250 emergency calls in can optimize health 2016. Established in 1940, SVFD and is an Accredited Agency by the promote well-being. Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), one of only a handful in the state of Washington. SVFD operates 10 stations providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials BEGIN response, special operations rescue, fire investigation, fire UES EV prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fireHURSDAY safety training. The department also offers free home fire safety inspections and installation of T free smoke detectors. For more information callcertified 928-1700 or visit and instructor, www.spokanevalleyfire.com.
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House! From 2:00 p.m-5:00 p.m. (free) All photographs provided by Nia Technique (www.nianow.com) Learn about Willow Song Music Therapy Center and the programs we are providing, along with music therapy for Autism Spectrum, Developmental Disorders, Dementia, Alzheimers & Parkinson’s diseases, Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression, and overall Wellness for the Community. CONTACT
More than INFO 2017 BEGINNING MAY 23, addressing *Enjoy a Nia Demo Class at our open house! Nia is a playful, integrative, expressive MT-BC, NMT CarlaselfCarnegie, approach to working out that fosters vitality, strength and flexibility. It is adaptable to Therapy Center Music Song Willow INVENTORY SELLERS PRICE $ . EVENINGS: 6:30-7:30 TUES every level of fitness, every age and body type. E. 21101 Wellesley, #102 THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1:00-2:00PM Courtney Hanks Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Managing Real Estate Broker
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The Splash
38 • MAY 2017
O’Quinn resigns as county commissioner to lead local foundation By Craig Howard Splash Editor If there is an occupation that promotes the chance to make a difference, chances are Shelly O’Quinn will find it. On April 12, O’Quinn announced she would be stepping down as one of three representatives on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners to become CEO of the Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF). She began her role as a commissioner representing District 2 after winning in the November 2012 general election.
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O’Quinn worked for INWCF in 2007 and 2008 as a senior program manager. She says there are parallels between her county work and her new role at the foundation which manages endowment funds for nonprofits and charitable causes in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. “There are a lot of the same themes from mental health to homelessness to economic development,” she said. “I’ll be aligning with many of the same issues local governments work on, just in a different way.” O’Quinn, a Republican, earned 62 percent of the vote last November to defeat Democratic challenger Andrew Biviano. She collected 55 percent of ballots in 2012 against Daryl Romeyn to earn her first fouryear term. She also campaigned for state legislative representative in 2010 but lost. O’Quinn will serve as commissioner until June. The Spokane County Republican Party will nominate three candidates as potential replacements and have 60 days from O’Quinn’s departure to select a new delegate for District 2. Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said O’Quinn has made an impact in the time she has served, particularly in terms of creating efficiencies at the county level.
Shelly O’Quinn “Shelly has led the charge in our efforts to implement the lean method of management throughout Spokane County government,” Dalton said. “The lean method has improved and streamlined processes throughout the county and has had a profound positive impact on Spokane County’s organizational culture. Departments throughout the county have broken down significant communication silos and have benefited greatly by Shelly’s encouragement to work together. She has had many accomplishments in the five years she served as commissioner but this will be one of her lasting legacies.” O’Quinn is a graduate of Central Valley High School and Whitworth University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration in 1997. After college, she moved to Honduras where she worked to promote a micro-enterprise program. When a severe hurricane devastated the country in 1998, she turned her attention to restoration efforts. O’Quinn has also worked for a homeless outreach ministry in Florida. In 2004, she returned to Spokane where her career path continued with stops at nonprofits like SNAP and Habitat for Humanity. She also spent time with the George Nethercutt Foundation and as director of education and workforce development for Greater Spokane Inc. O’Quinn and her husband Sean are parents to two sons. O’Quinn said her experience in the nonprofit world will be an advantage as she leads INWCF. “I have an understanding of the
See O’QUINN, Page 39
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 39
O’QUINN
Continued from page 38 challenges nonprofits face,” she said. “It’s not easy to be a nonprofit. They are dealing with cuts on the government side but, at the same time, they’re expected to do more.” As District 2 commissioner, O’Quinn represented an area that includes Liberty Lake, the city of Spokane Valley, Millwood, southeast Spokane County, part of the city of Spokane east of Perry and certain unincorporated sections of the county. O’Quinn said early on in her tenure that she was “here to represent all residents of Spokane County, regardless of where they live.” As she transitions out, she talks about gaining an increased appreciation for the uphill battle towns and cities can face, from building sidewalks to restoring roads to juggling budget uncertainties. “It’s been an honor to serve the people of this county,” she said. Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson said O’Quinn “brought a great deal of collaboration to her job as commissioner.”
“Personally, Shelly, (Central Valley School Superintendent) Ben Small and I would have a monthly meeting to address community issues and how we could work together all of best interests,” Peterson said. “I will miss her at the county but I believe the community will truly benefit from her abilities and leadership in her new job.” Peterson expressed hope that O’Quinn’s successor will continue the trend of “someone who works well with others.” “The commissioner’s job is more than representing the district,” he said. “It is about finding solutions and championing innovative ideas on making county government even more efficient and effective. What the commissioners do for the airports, the health district and air quality is on behalf of all of us. It is important to keep the lines of communication both ways open and productive.”
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O’Quinn she has received positive feedback since making the announcement. “Everyone has been supportive,” she said “They understand it’s a great opportunity.”
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The Splash
40 • MAY 2017
The Water Front
Who to call when you have a water or sewer problem
By BiJay Adams LLSWD General Manager Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD) employees are working hard behind the scenes to assure that water, sewer and water reclamation services are uninterrupted and of the highest quality to our 11,000 customers. District staff handle customer calls and inquires and provide maintenance and operation on eight wells, nine reservoirs, eight booster stations, 75 miles of water distribution piping, 14 sewer lift stations, 60 miles of sewer collection system piping, continuous
operation and daily tests at the water reclamation facility, inspection of new installations and numerous other checks and repairs. All of the water, sewer and water reclamation facility systems are monitored via a radio telemetry system that will notify the staff of potential problems. Operators are required to be state certified to perform water, sewer and water reclamation facility work. LLSWD owns, operates and maintains all of the water and sewer pipelines and appurtenances located within public rights-of-way or on land for which a utility easement has been granted to the district. For the water system, the district is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of water mains and appurtenances through the last fitting of the water meter. All water meters, whether located on private property, in public rights-of-way or in utility easements, are owned and maintained by the district. The protection of all water meters and meter vaults located on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. For the district’s sewer system, LLSWD is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of side-sewers up to the property line. The property owner is
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responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of side-sewers on private property. If you experience a problem and you are unsure if it is your responsibility or the district’s, please give us a call first so we can make a no-charge assessment. If the problem is the district’s, we will take care of it. If the problem is the property owner’s, we will guide you through the proper channels to help remedy the problem. Have a problem after hours or on weekends? District staff are on-call 24 hours per day, seven days a week for water and sewer main breaks, grinder pump alarms, emergency water leaks and other customer water and sewer emergencies. The afterhours dispatch is 623-7920. Billing and Finance Software In September, LLSWD Board of Commissioners awarded a contract to Caselle for the procurement of an Integrated Municipal Finance Software System. Caselle offers a full range of software services specifically developed for municipalities and special purpose districts. The district has procured the utility, accounts receivable, financial and payroll modules for this software. This new system will improve our billing and allow the district to be more responsive to our customer needs. The new system also allows LLSWD to offer an improved on-line payment system, Xpress Bill Pay (www.xpressbillpay.com). It’s easy to pay your utility bill using your checking account, debit card and/ or credit card. It’s fast, easy and secure. Sign up for paperless billing and get your bill delivered directly into your email. These new systems went live April 24. The district appreciates your patience and understanding as we implement this new software and on-line service.
SCRAPS offers ‘amnesty’ licensing throughout May From Splash News Sources
May is “Amnesty Month” at the animal protection agency that serves the city of Liberty Lake and other jurisdictions in Spokane County. Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) will be waiving late fees and and penalties throughout the month for any pet owner who is willing to come forward and license their pets. “Pet licensing is a very important part of what we do here at SCRAPS,” said SCRAPS Executive Director Nancy Hill. “It’s your pet’s phone call home in case they get lost or stolen.” Many pet owners don’t realize that licensing their pet is mandatory in Spokane County – that includes both cats and dogs. It is required by law for all animals over six months of age and owners can face a $200 penalty if their animals aren’t in compliance. In addition to providing owner information for your pet, there are many other benefits to having a licensed pet, including: • Animal Protection Officers can look up a pet license and get owner information 24/7 • Pet licensing funds SCRAPS spay/neuter voucher program Anyone who licenses during the month of May is also eligible for a raffle that includes free meter parking in the city of Spokane for a month along with other prizes. SCRAPS is located at 6815 E. Trent Ave in Spokane Valley. For more information call 477-2984 or visit www.spokanecounty.org/SCRAPS.
Help protect our lake Tales from the Gold Mine tells the story of Gold Mine City, an old west town that was looking for treasure in all the wrong places. Eventually the wicked Big Bad Joe buys up the whole town, including the church, and turns it all into a string of stores to sell stuff! Big Bad Joe advertises that “Stuff is what happiness is made of!” Well, Deputy J isn’t going to let this takeover continue. He rallies the town folk to dig down into the ‘pure gold’ of the Bible. The conflict ends in a showdown as Big Bad Joe comes face to face with truth of God’s Word. This classic cowboy tale helps young and old alike look carefully at where they find real treasure … Pure Gold!
Registration Begins June 1, 2017 www.libertylakechurch.com
Church Office: 255-6266
704 S. Garry Rd. Liberty Lake
Shoreline and/or Stormwater Permit(s) may be required for your project. There are regulations governing development activities across the entire Liberty Lake watershed.
Shoreline*
• Landscaping • Dock/Boat lifts • Modification of any existing vegetation • Anything within 50 ft. of OHWM
Stormwater*
• Landscaping • Paving/Brick work • Additions • Outbuildings *including, but not limited to
Please call 922-5443 and ask for the Lake Manager
www.libertylake.org
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 41
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June 23 – July 9 Yvonne A. K. Johnson Music Direction by Drew Olsen
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July 21 – August 6 Yvonne A. K. Johnson Music Direction by David Brewster
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Make your reservations for Spring Break! We provide mid-day walks, over-night pet sitting and pet taxi to and from the vet or groomer’s.
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LOCAL LENS
42 • MAY 2017
The Splash
LEFT: Serving the local community has been the major focus for the Tri Community Grange members in Newman Lake over the past few months, with 36 pounds of aluminum pull tabs donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Spokane (Judy Nuxoll and Jeanne Englund in photo)
Local Lens
Share your snapshots for The Splash’s photo page. Email photos@libertylakesplash.com with scenes from around town, community events and Splash Travels.
ABOVE: Grange members, Mary Alice Jones, Judy Nuxoll, Christa Katterfeld, Florence Robins, Lucille Mott (sitting and recently deceased), Jeanne Englund, and Eileen Weyrauch.
You are The Splash Want to see your name in print (for all the right reasons, of course)? Or maybe you just want to help point out great ideas for content worth sharing with your neighbors? The Splash is a community newspaper, so if you are part of the Liberty Lake community, we want to know what’s important to you. We like to say there are eight of us, and there are more than 100,000 of you. Maybe one of the questions below applies to you? If so, you can help us out. Do you go on vacation? Maybe you’re heading somewhere fun (and warm) for spring break. If so, pack a copy of The Splash and pull it out to snap your photo in front of your favorite destination or landmark. When you return to the Liberty Lake, drop us a line with the pic, and we’ll share it with readers. Call it “Splash Travels.” Are you part of a club or service organization? Well, what do you know? Let us add you to our list of recurring Liberty Lake events in the near future that will be well-suited for clubs and organizations
that have regular meetings. Send us the info. Do you celebrate? We want people to know about everything from your new baby, to your upcoming wedding or anniversary, to your incredible office or sporting achievement. Photos, announcements, honors — please send! Did you capture a shot? Shutterbugs, unite! If you are capturing great Liberty Lake moments, whether while out and about or in your backyard, e-mail us your photo so we can share it around the neighborhood. Send along names of those pictures and complete caption information as much as possible. Are you a local freelance journalist? The Splash sets aside a budget and great assignments for people like you. Send some clips our way, and we’ll be in touch. Do you eat? We thought so. Perhaps you have a favorite order at
a Liberty Lake eatery? Before you clean your plate, get your picture taken with your order and send it to us. Include the place, order, cost and why you love it. It’s just one more way we can point one another to all the best Liberty Lake offers.
You are The Splash. E-mail editor@ libertylakesplash.com so we can share the things that are important to you.
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RIGHT: Srikar Surapaneni from 6th Grade , Stem charter Academy won SECOND PLACE in the Math Counts competition that took place at North Idaho college on Feb 21st .He advanced to the state competition which was held at Boise on March 11th.
The Splash
MAY 2017 • 43
‘Call Before You Dig’ – a simple, shovelready resource for safety
By Derek Brown
Splash Correspondent With summer right around the corner, the Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council wants to remind the people in our community to contact the “Call Before You Dig” program in order to remain safe before starting any project that requires digging. Even Gov. Jay Inslee is getting into the season by proclaiming April as “Safe Digging Month.” “It’s like they say – if you call 8-11, you might not have to call 9-11,” said Kathy Boykin, executive director at the Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council. Boykin reminds residents that in Washington State, the dig law, RCW 19.122, says homeowner, renters — anyone who is digging more than 12 inches down — must call 8-1-1 in order to place a ticket to dig safely. “If you click or call before planning to dig and then mark your area with white paint and wait two full business days for the utilities to do their locating and dig with care, you have less than a 1 percent chance of digging up a utility line,” Boykin said. There are, however, utility lines less than 12 inches down, so it is best to always call 8-1-1. “Also, some people feel that if they called then everything has been located and that's not true,” Boykin said. “Because if it's your own lines you put in then the utilities have no idea what’s down there.” In all cases, she says, it is best to call 8-1-1, or go to the website and put in a locate ticket. Because all of the Call before You Dig industry is based on whatever your state’s law says, it's important to provide the correct information. There are many differences in the law between Washington, Idaho and Oregon. One important example is that in Washington, the law states that the day a ticket has been placed doesn’t count. It is only after the first day that the two
full business days begin. “If you call on Friday, then Saturday and Sunday don't count,” Boykin said. “So you can't dig until Wednesday – you have to take that into account. And if you call on Saturday or Sunday, that's really considered a Monday call.” One Call Concepts, the company that takes the calls for Call before You Dig, takes thousands of calls a year. Because of this, it can take time to put in a ticket. But there is another, faster way – use the website to place a ticket. “We take over 50,000 calls here the Spokane and Stevens County area in a year, which is a surprise to some people,” Boykin said. “We have 125 different underground facility owners, which is what
they're called, rather than utilities, because it also includes all the colleges, hospitals, and industrial parks.” By going to www.ieucc811.org, a locate ticket can be placed right on the website and in two business days they will come out and locate and mark the ground. Also, homeowners may incur expensive repairs from the utilities if they dig up a line. “That's why homeowners are encouraged to call, because they have the first 12 inches in the law where they don't have to call,” Boykin said. “If they haven't called and they dig something up then they're going to stand the expense of that, but if they have called and it still gets dug up, if they stayed
within those white boundaries, they won't pay for it. So there's no reason for them not to call.” And the best part – all locate services are free to homeowners that are doing their own work. “When I was working at a booth not long ago,” Boykin said. “I actually had a lady say to me, ‘I know who you guys are, you’re that group that does all that graffiti, but you save lives with it.’ I thought, yes, we save lives with those lines out there on the ground, that ‘graffiti.’” The Basics Visit www.ieucc811.org or call 8-1-1 prior to starting any project that requires digging. Within two business days, the property will be marked to ensure safety.
OPINION
44 • MAY 2017
Dear Editor:
On Tuesday, April 18, the City Council voted unanimously to extend a six-month moratorium on the acceptance of or processing of applications or issuance of permits or licenses and approvals and uses or activities associated with the producing, processing or retailing of marijuana and marijuanainfused products. While I am pleased to see that the council took action on this matter, I urge them to permanently close the door on the issue by banning cannabis retail within Liberty Lake. Unfortunately, even with a ban or moratorium, we cannot prevent a cannabis retailer from opening within our city limits, as the application has already been approved. But the citizens of Liberty Lake do not have to sit idly by. As was made abundantly clear at the recent public hearing, the overwhelming majority of Liberty Lake residents do not want marijuana retailers in our city. There is no right to have a marijuana business in Washington and we do not have to support or tolerate a business we find reprehensible on moral grounds. Residents need to unite in opposition of the retailer. We must educate ourselves on applicable laws related to marijuana retail, advertising and consumption. We must report any violations of law to the police. We must report violations to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. We can and should make Liberty Lake inhospitable to marijuana retailers. Let’s work together to keep our town’s “Mayberry” reputation intact. If you would like to join our efforts, please contact me. Jamie Baird jamiebaird12@gmail.com
The Splash
Dear Editor:
opinion, by allowing this facility into our community it will only enhance I would like to have on record the problem with drugs. While my views regarding the marijuana some may disagree, marijuana is a facility that has been approved for gateway drug. I have seen this first construction in the city limits of hand with in my own family and how it destroys people and their lives. Liberty Lake. This facility would be built right We live in a rare, beautiful, clean, serene and peaceful community that by the Liberty Lake trail, as well as is hard to find in these dark times in being so close to the state line of our world. I feel safe here. I look Idaho where this drug is Illegal. around and see a strong familyIt will attract a lot of what we oriented place where people take do not want in our city. Also to pride in keeping our surroundings consider how many big businesses clean and safe. we have here such as Huntwood, Liberty Lake is a city where citizens etc. Just imagine those who partake have chosen to retire in. We have of this drug going to purchase it lakes and golf courses that bring in on their lunch breaks, smoking it good people that have respect for and returning back to their place of employment. Another issue I our community. foresee is adults purchasing this In my opinion if we allow this drug for underage children in our drug facility in our community, it community. will diminish what we have. Stone Being by the Liberty Lake trail it Hill is the new housing development would be so easy for drug deals to that is being built right across the street. How many people do you be made. This is not a good situation figure will actually want to live that and will only escalate over the years close to a recreational store that will and ruin all that is here. sell cannabis, cannabis edibles, and Please keep our city clean by paraphernalia? This will only lower not allowing this drug facility to the property value of their homes. be brought into our wonderful, I live in the Broadwing apartments peaceful, beautiful community. that are lower income“Honoring based. There Sincerely, local communities and encouraging citizen involvement” are a lot of good509.242.7752 people| POthat live Box 363 | Liberty Lake, WA 99019 | www.libertylakesplash.com Kathleen Piper here, however I have seen several Liberty Lake with drug problems and, in my FRE
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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.
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Now Introducing six new The Current now has a signature 25,000burgers copy circulation with over 15,000 being direct mailed to households across the Spokane to our Legendary Burger Lineup! INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSES OFFERED MORNING, AFTERNOON, EVENING AND WEEKENDS Valley area in addition to the 10,000 copies being available for pickup at over 250 business locations. There are 9,000 copies FOR ALL GOALS & ABILITIES THROUGH ADULT in the of The Splash are distributed the end of each month, 5,500 of those through direct mail to TODDLER every home and business Competitive Teams • Parkour, Breakdance Hip Hop Classes • Parent’s Nightgathering Out greater Liberty Lake community. The remaining copies are hand-delivered to approximately 120and businesses, and • Bitty Bee Academy & Flippin’ Fun Move Night • Open Gym for All Ages • Gymnastics places in Liberty Lake, Otis Orchards and Greenacres. The Splash can also be accessed online and has over Birthday Parties 40,000 • Ninja Zone views.
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The Splash
SVFD introduces Medic 7
From Splash News Sources On April 3, Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) launched Medic 7, a single emergency medical services (EMS) unit to respond to lower severity medical calls. The unit will operate for a six-month trial period. Since 2013, calls for service have increased 26 percent with over 80 percent of those responses to medical emergencies. Lower severity medical calls comprise about 53 percent of medical emergencies during peak activity. Among the long list of objectives during the trial period, Medic 7 aims to deliver efficient and effective medical services to the greater Spokane Valley community while reducing the wear and tear on the department’s fire engines and ladder trucks. Medic 7 will:
MAY 2017 • 45
• Respond primarily to lower severity medical calls such as falls, headaches, abdominal pain, etc. • Run a two-person crew consisting of one Paramedic and one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) • Be located at Evergreen Station 7 (1121 S. Evergreen) to serve the area in the fire district with the highest number of calls for service
Love The Splash? Support our partners. The Splash is committed to serving Liberty Lake through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without support from our advertisers. Please thank our business partners and look to them when offering your patronage.
Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their foundational partnerships with The Splash and its partner publications:
• Operate during peak activity hours: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. During the trial period, Medic 7 is responding to calls in a 2008 Ford F250 Crew Cab 4 by 4. The truck was already in the department’s fleet and was formerly used as a tow vehicle. Medic 7 is now repurposed and fully equipped for emergency medical response.
ENR
THE
lifestyle
YO U WAN T
Known in the industry as an Alternative Response Unit (ARU) program, data will be collected and analyzed during the Medic 7 trial period, which runs through September 2017.
THE
quality
YO
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
Index of advertisers
Following are the local advertisers in this issue of The Splash. Adorkable Flowers and Gifts 27 Amaculate Housekeeping 41 Banner Furnace & Fuel 37 Casey Family Dental 34 Central Valley Theatre 17 City of Liberty Lake 7 Clark’s Tire & Automotive 3 Coeur d’Alene Deck 4 Coldwell Banker - Rob Brickett 11 Corkhouse 32 Cornerstone Penecostal Church 45 Custom Fit Lighting 27 Evergreen Fountains 29 Garden Expo 22 Greenstone 20 Gus Johnson Ford 30 Horizon Credit Union 38 Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council 22
John L Scott Liberty Lake 32 John L Scott - Pam Fredrick 9 Kiwanis of Liberty Lake 22 Liberty Lake Athletic Club 39 Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary 6 Liberty Lake Church 40 Liberty Lake EyeCare Center 3 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market 18 Liberty Lake Flag Competition 21 Liberty Lake Municipal Library 6 Liberty Lake Orthodontics 39 Liberty Lake Petsitters 41 Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 40 Liberty Lube 46 North Idaho Dermatology 46 Northern Quest 48 Ott Knott Used Golf Carts 16
R ‘n’ R RV 22 Sarah Hamilton FACE 35 Simonds Dental Group 41, 48 Spokane Gymnastics 25 Spokane OBGYN 8 Spokane Realty - Courtney Hanks 37 Spokane Roofing 3 Spokane Valley Arts Council 36 Spokane Valley Summer Theatre 41 The Friends of Manito 45 True Legends 8 Waste Management 3 Willow Song 37 Windermere 5 WindowWorks 45 Service Directory 46
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
46 • MAY 2017
SERVICE DIRECTORY CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING LOCAL AND EXPERIENCED
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The Splash
ON THAT NOTE
Zag Nation still soaring after historic Final Four journey
By Craig Howard Splash Editor Mary and Don Westerman were around 6,000 miles from Spokane when their beloved Gonzaga basketball team entered into the uncommon stratosphere known as the Final Four. Strolling among the ancient pillars and arches of Greece at the National Archaeological Museum, the couple was sporting their Zags’ gear after the team defeated South Carolina for the West Regional title in San Jose, California, when a man recognized the blue and red apparel and offered congratulations. “He said he watched the Zags play in San Jose,” Mary said. “He said the atmosphere for those two games was electrifying and the crowds were rooting for Gonzaga. It made me so proud to be a Zags’ fan and see that their fame was international.” The Westerman’s trip had been scheduled far in advance of the NCAA Tournament, making it gutwrenching to miss the team’s historic journey into the rare air of college basketball. They caught every game before the Elite Eight but had to rely on emails from family for the results after that. The 10-hour time difference was something they dealt with even if it meant missing sleep to catch the latest team news. “The best we could do was receive highlights and delayed updated scores,” Mary said. The Westermans arrived back in Spokane on April 3, the day of the national championship game against North Carolina. Jet lag turned into Zag lag for the couple after the pride of the Inland Northwest lost a hard-fought contest in the final minutes, 71-65. The “little team that could” ended an historic run as the national runner-up. “It was heartbreaking to see them lose but we are so proud of the season they had,” Mary said. “Our Zags brought the Spokane community together and gave us something to hope for and be proud of. One needs to dream and the Zags gave us a chance to be part of a dream.” From placards in living room windows to well-wishes and congratulations on a slew of
Signs celebrating Gonzaga’s first trip to the Final Four and national runner-up placement cropped up throughout the greater Spokane community last month. Photo by Craig Howard reader boards along local streets, the wave of support for the team throughout March Madness amounted to nothing short of a civic phenomenon. One local restaurant introduced the “Karnowski Burger,” in honor of the Zags’ bearded postman Przemek Karnowski. After the Zags defeated South Carolina to advance to the final that Monday, it was announced that the Spokane City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on April 3 would defer to the city’s most famous export. In Liberty Lake, Zag frenzy was apparent as early as the West Coast Conference championship on March 7. As Gonzaga squared off against league rival St. Mary’s that night, the Liberty Lake City Council carried on with their meeting – although a few council members made it clear that no one at City Hall should reveal the score because they would be watching the Tivo rendition later. When the meeting finally ended, Mayor Steve Peterson closed the proceedings with an enthusiastic rally cry of “Go Zags!” John McFarlane was playing for Central Valley High School in the state basketball tournament when the Zags made their surprising Elite Eight run in 1999. He is now a successful chiropractor in Chandler, Arizona and follows the team from Spokane more than he did when he called this area home. For McFarlane, the Zags’ latest success – including the Final Four appearance in nearby Phoenix – served as another opportunity to teach outsiders about the basics of Zag Nation. “I absolutely have to educate people about it,” McFarlane said. “I would admit, I have learned more about it since moving away than when I was living there. People
constantly mispronounce it and a lot of people don't realize it's in Spokane.” Among other aspects of the school and basketball program, McFarlane says his neighbors in the desert are astounded at Gonzaga’s undergraduate enrollment of just over 5,000 when compared to the campus of Arizona State with nearly 42,000 students. “I think being away from Spokane and seeing the Zags on that stage made me feel closer to home,” said McFarlane of the Final Four spectacle. “That feeling has grown each year I'm away.” The week of the championship game, an ad appeared in the Spokesman-Review picturing residents of Broadway Court Estates in Spokane Valley doing their best impression of GU’s renowned Kennel Club with colorful Zag shirts and signs. Among the sea of Bulldog rooters sat Jean Longhurst who moved to the facility last August and had not followed Gonzaga basketball before the transition. That changed this season as Longhurst joined a group of her Broadway neighbors in cheering the local squad all the way to college basketball’s final game of the 2016-17 campaign. “I thought they could make it to the Final Four,” Longhurst said. “They played so well. I’m very proud of them.” Peggy Cannon became a Zags’ fan in the late 1990s when she was attending Gonzaga. The longtime employee of the West Valley School District cheered for the teams of Matt Santangelo, Richie Frahm and Casey Calvary that set the standard for tournament runs to follow. “The world didn’t know who we
MAY 2017 • 47
were and couldn’t pronounce our name, but watched us make it to the NCAA Elite Eight,” recalls Cannon, now retired from WVSD. Peggy and her husband Rich made the trip to Las Vegas for the WCC Tournament in early March. Little did they know that the trophy there would only be the start of an unprecedented journey. “I was so thrilled for them, for Coach Mark Few and his staff, and for all the loyal fans who have believed in them and supported them for so many years,” Cannon said. “It was a season that once again united our community during those cold winter and early spring months. Total strangers became instant comrades when they would pass each other on the street and proudly say, ‘Go Zags’ when they noticed the other wearing a GU T-shirt or hat.” Cannon also talks about the program representing something bigger than a trip to the national title game. She sees characteristics like integrity, grit and courage – along with the ability to overcome distractions and detractors – propelling the Zags into a unique category. “For me the best part about being a Zags’ fan is more than seeing the team win games,” she said. “It is seeing the character of these young men shining through. They taught us all how to care about each other, to step up when others might be struggling, to keep the hype in proper perspective and keep your eyes on the final goal. Seeing Coach Few and his staff finally getting the recognition we always knew they deserved is the best part, for sure. Go Zags!”
Longtime Gonzaga basketball fans Don and Mary Westerman were vacationing in Greece when their favorite team played in its first national semi-final game on April 1. The couple made it back to Spokane for the championship game two days later. Contributed photo
The Splash
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