June 2020 Splash

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2 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

DOCKSIDE The Art of Caring – CV senior casts light on mental health

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

It was a shining moment for Autymn Wilde.

Selected to speak before a crowd of 800 at the Association of Washington Student Leaders Conference in October 2018, the junior at Central Valley High School delivered a dynamic address. She had served with the program since her freshman year, a rare honor for a prestigious statewide organization.

Yet as Wilde concluded her talk, she began coughing. As she exited the stage, it continued and grew worse. Before long, it was clear that something was wrong.

She was rushed to an Emergency Room where it was determined that her left lung had collapsed. A tube was inserted and she was permitted to return home to Spokane Valley – but uncertainties remained.

That December, a similar scenario occurred. She was scheduled for surgery in early 2019 where doctors removed a small top portion of her affected lung. The challenges would erase around three quarters of her junior year.

“I was just thinking what I could do to bring something positive when I wasn’t at school,” Wilde said.

Wilde’s lung ailment wasn’t the first time she had dealt with a traumatic diagnosis. At 14, she learned she had Type 1, or juvenile diabetes. The chronic condition is characterized by the pancreas producing little or no insulin and involves regular maintenance to stabilize normal blood sugar levels. For Wilde, that meant an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. The diagnosis was accompanied by the news that Wilde had celiac disease, meaning no more gluten and cutting out many of her favorite foods.

“I struggled to learn how to deal with it,” Wilde recalls. “I realized that physical issues can take their toll mentally. I’d never had any depression or anxiety before but I’d heard about it. When this happened, I wanted to self isolate. It took me

awhile to say, ‘I’m not OK mentally and I’m going to get some help and be honest about it.’”

Not long after her lung surgery, Wilde was scheduled to address a gathering of the Washington State Board of Education at the end of January. She decided to write the talk in her hospital bed. At the time, she was serving as one of two youth representatives on the board.

Pondering a potential topic, Wilde had an epiphany.

“I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’” Wilde recalls. “Then I started thinking about awareness of mental health and how we needed to do something about this – students helping students.”

Wilde presented via Zoom and spoke of the need for a statewide resolution that would endorse student-led mental health campaigns. The concept would include the creation of a database where students could enter ideas.

At the start of her senior year, Wilde introduced her own campaign to promote mental wellness.

Teaming with art students at CV,

“The goal was to create small moments where a student could feel seen and feel less alone,” she said. “I wanted to help break the stigma of talking about mental health.”

Wilde was later honored with a Chase Youth Award for her efforts to promote mental and emotional well-being among her fellow students. It’s a message that has not been lost on those close to her.

“When she played soccer, she would run over to help someone who had fallen whether they were on her team or not,” Shawna said.

“She’s always been caring and compassionate. She makes it a point to compliment people.”

Reintegrating back to school as a senior came with its challenges for Wilde. She has found reassurance and calm through rapid eye movement therapy, utilized by many soldiers dealing with PTSD. At CV, Wilde maintained a 3.7 grade point average and participated in symphonic and A cappella choir and was set to be part of the jazz choir before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down school. She also competed in tennis.

This fall, Wilde will begin her freshman year at Gonzaga University with plans to study education and eventually become a teacher. She is the recipient of the school’s Dussault Scholarship and will also benefit from the state’s College Bound program offered to students from lower-income families.

Despite the unusual setback, Wilde remained resolute in her optimism. Her focus on helping and encouraging others – a longtime priority – never wavered.

“She was in the hospital texting these positive messages,” recalls Shawna Wilde, Autymn’s mom.

“I told her she needed to stop and take care of herself. She said, ‘Mom, it helps me and this person needs me.’”

As a sophomore, Wilde had been a door greeter at CV, welcoming fellow students as they arrived in the morning. As her health issues took her away from school, Wilde began texting hopeful impressions and quotes – some of her own and others borrowed. The inspirational thoughts were also posted on social media.

Wilde oversaw a project to produce and place dozens of posters with encouraging messages throughout the school.

“She’s pretty awesome,” said Shawna. “I’m proud of her. She’s made me realize there are other people in the world beside myself.

She’s taught me to be a better person.”

Contributed Photo Central Valley senior Autymn Wilde has made it a priority to generate awareness of mental health issues during her time in high school. She has also been part of two distinguished programs while at CV, volunteering with the Association of Washington Student Leaders since her freshman year and serving as one of two youth representatives on the Washington State Board of Education the past two years.

Q: I’m guessing this is probably not the way you envisioned your senior year playing out. What has the adjustment been like for you and your fellow seniors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?

A:

The adjustment has been

Sprin Now i

JUNE 2020 • 3

The Splash tough, to accept that we will never get to have the milestones we have spent most of our life dreaming about. Seniors don’t get a celebration or a sense of closure for all of our accomplishments and on behalf of the class of 2020, I can say that we are pretty heartbroken right now. However, most of us are trying to make the best out of this unprecedented situation we have found ourselves in. From doorbelling ditching gifts to teachers, social distancing parking lot gatherings with friends, to eightperson ‘proms’ in our garages, seniors are trying to make memories however they can. They aren’t the memories we all planned for, but they are cherishable nonetheless.

Q: You’ve faced your share of challenges during high school and risen above them in an inspiring way. How do you think these previous hurdles -- and your response to them -- may have helped you stare down the ripple effects of a worldwide pandemic?

A: Every hardship that I have faced during these past four years has always led to an opportunity.

For example, through my multiple lung collapses, I’ve been able to gain a first-hand perspective on what it’s really like for my fellow students who experience mental trauma, physical impairment and/or chronic absenteeism. That perspective has made it possible for me to truly advocate, not only for myself, but for students who have previously never had a voice. At the time I wished I had never experienced the life-threatening situations I did – but in hindsight I wouldn’t change a thing because it equipped me to help others. I believe that there are hidden opportunities for good during this pandemic and I am readily awaiting to find them.

Q: You’ve spoken out about the importance of securing rights for students who may be dealing with chronic absenteeism due to a variety of reasons. How do you think the impact of the pandemic may bring this issue into even greater focus?

A: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the education system.

This federal law provides a right to accommodations for students with mental or physical impairment both which have been proven linked to chronic absenteeism. Regardless,

there is a blatant discrepancy in that the majority of students who suffer from these things still do not receive adequate supports. This pandemic has caused a shutdown of schools worldwide and now all students are considered chronically absent. But learning is still required and teachers are finding innovative ways to engage with students nonetheless. I believe that the time given to build these newfound teaching techniques will one day help chronic absentee students in securing accommodations.

Q: You’ve been open about dealing with PTSD, depression and anxiety after the physical trials that would have taken a toll on anyone.

What are some of the ways you’ve been able to effectively restore and maintain your mental health?

A: The most effective way I have been able to restore and maintain my mental health is imagining someone else going through what I did. What would I think about them? How would I treat them? What words would I say to them? More often than not, I can be so unnecessarily cruel and harsh on myself by setting impossible standards. By envisioning how I would treat another in the same situation, I have been able to show myself grace and kindness.

Q: Not many high school students can say they’ve been part of statewide groups like the Association of Washington Student Leaders and the State Board of Education (SBE). What have you enjoyed most about being part of these efforts?

A: The Association of Washington Student Leaders is made up of the most diverse and bright student leaders in our state. The State Board of Education is composed of adult visionaries who not only change and implement statewide school policies but do so with attentiveness to student voice. These organizations are esteemed simply in name but what gives them their true power is the people that are a part of them. I have had inspiring mentors like MJ Bolt, the vice chair on SBE as well as my travel buddy and made lifelong friends like Margarita Amezcua, one of the most compassionate individuals I have met. It’s been fun being able to shock people with the titles of the positions I have earned but the most enjoyable aspect has been the privilege to work, learn, See WILDE, Page 5

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4 • JUNE 2020

Liberty Lake SVFD Report – April 2020 Splash news sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 116 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area* from April 1 - 30, 2020 • Emergency Medical Services 69 • Fires 6 • Building Alarms 6 • Dispatched and cancelled en route

4 • Motor Vehicle Accidents 2 • Technical Rescue 1 • Auto vs Pedestrian 1 • Hazardous Materials 1 The *Service area for SVFD Station #3 in Liberty Lake Calls are up from 98 last month to 116 this month.

April Incidents: Structure Fire – April 27 - 9:21 p.m Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) firefighters responded at 9:21 PM last night, April 27th 2020, to a report of smoke and flames seen at the Pentagon Bistro, 1421 N Meadowwood Ln, in Liberty Lake.

Several callers alerted 911 to flames on the exterior of the building, and getting up into the roof eaves.

The first units (Engine 3 and Battalion Chief V22) arrived in 4 minutes to find heavy fire on the northeast corner of the restaurant in the vinyl siding and underside of exposed wood eaves, and began stretching hose lines for fire attack.

Next arriving firefighters from Ladder 10 checked the attic space for fire extension and assisted with overhauling the burned out area, searching for hidden fire. Firefighters had the fire knocked down in under 7 minutes from arriving on scene.

Fire damage was kept primarily to the exterior siding, soffit, and fascia.

There was smoke throughout the building that was evacuated with high pressure fans, and damage inside was kept to a minimum. The restaurant was closed for the evening at the time of the fire, and no employees were present. One firefighter was injured when a portion of the interior ceiling fell on him during overhaul operations. The firefighter was taken to the emergency department for precautionary evaluation.

The cause is under investigation, and the restaurant is expected to

have a short-term closure for cleanup before resuming take-out service during the current COVID-19 Stay at Home time period.

A total of 2 ladder companies, 5 engine companies, a Rescue, 5 staff officers responded, including one auto aid fire engine from Fire Dist. 8, bringing 31 firefighters to the scene.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents and businesses to monitor exterior storage including trash, cardboard and other combustible products. Keeping these items stored away from your building in proper containers can deter arson, and reduce vandalism.

Possible Illegal Burn – April 6 - 3:09 p.m. – Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a call on East Valley Way. A caller identified yard waste and garbage being burnt at a neighboring location.

Valley Engine 3 responded and the homeowner extinguished the home.

HazMat – April 30 – 8:25 a.m.

- Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a call to check on the atmospheric conditions at a residence where cleaning solution and bleach were mixed. Crews checked on possible air quality issues inside home due to mixing cleaning chemicals inside the home yesterday.

Caller said they were using bleach and toilet bowl cleaner. Upon arrival, it was determined that the incident occurred while the resident was cleaning a bathroom in the morning on the previous day. Homeowner had been ventilating the bathroom with a fan and had opened windows since calling. There was a residual bleach (clean) odor remaining.

Crews advised the homeowner to continue to ventilate and if the odor was too strong to dilute with soap and water. E3 returned to service.

Of Note: • With construction and permit inspections being opened up by Governor Inslee, Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) is implementing some changes to keep everyone safe and healthy.

We are striving to accommodate construction/permit inspections while ensuring the safety of our staff, citizens, and customers. On Tuesday, April 28th we implemented additional precautions when conducting construction/permit inspections.

Changes include: • No

more

than

two

individuals will be allowed to accompany SVFD’s inspector while on site.

• Social distancing will be maintained at all times, face coverings are required, and pens will not be shared.

• SVFD inspectors will wear face coverings and eye protection throughout the inspection.

• SVFD inspectors will wear gloves when handling paperwork and pens will not be shared.

To schedule a construction/ permit inspection or if you have any questions please call (509) 8924153. We will make every effort to accommodate your inspection request within 48 hours. Please have all required paperwork on site at your scheduled inspection time.

• If you are looking for activities for your children, Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. on facebook we post a Fire Safety activity for young children. On Fridays, we have a facebook live event at 10 a.m. called, “Fire Science Friday with SVFD Firefighter, Rick Freier.

• We continue to have a large number of illegal burn calls.

Make sure you know the facts before burning. https://www. dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention; https://spokanecleanair.org/ current-burning-conditions • May is Wildfire Awareness Month – each day at noon we post a tip on facebook on how to recognize and mitigate ignition points around your home and other ways to reduce your wildfire risk. On Fridays, a facebook live presentation is done to show easy ways to make changes around your home. Studies show that as many as 80 percent of homes lost to wildland fires may have been saved if brush and yard debris around the homes were cleared and a defensible space created around the structures.

• This incident is not in Liberty Lake but it is something we feel everyone should be aware. Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) Ladder 10 and Engine 7 responded to an EMS call and a potential cardiac arrest on April 18. A 45 year old man was in cardiac arrest. A neighbor returning from having her tires changed, stopped when she saw him on the ground. She began yelling for help and started CPR. The patient and his family had just recently moved here from Montana.

On April 18, he was teaching his 4

The Splash year old son how to ride a bike. He was running after him and as he made a turn, he fell down in cardiac arrest. Ladder 10 received the 911 call and arrived first. They took over for the neighbor and delivered a shock while performing CPR. Engine 7 showed up and began ALS care He was quickly transferred to the hospital where they discovered 90% blockage on the left side of his heart. He ended up with a couple of stents being put in and spent two days in the hospital. He has been at home recovering ever since. He says he is still a little sore, feeling “like a donkey kicked him” but every day he is feeling better.

On April 25th, masks on, he and his son brought cookies to both stations 10 and 7 to thank them for saving his life. He is still very emotional and very thankful to be alive. He wants everyone to take a CPR class to be able to save others like him. He is young and has 2 very young children and can’t imagine leaving them without their father so soon into their life.

SVFD asks everyone to download Pulse Point, take a CPR class, and help save the lives of people around you.

Citizen bystander assist dramatically increases the chance of a person surviving cardiac arrest. Seconds matter in these circumstances.

Thank you Ladder 10 for your quick response. Thank you Engine 7 for being there. And, thank you to the neighbor who stopped and made it possible for this man to still be here to enjoy his family for many more days to come!

It is because of bystander assist, like this neighbor who helped, that SVFD is nationally known for their CPR practices that yield above the national average cardiac arrest survival rates. With citizen help, meaning, someone starts CPR before crews arrive, the national cardiac arrest survival rate average is 37.3%.

For SVFD, that survival rate is 75%.

This is how important our citizens are to saving the lives of the people in our community as witnessed in this incident of a young man saved who has two young children he can go home, see, and love for many days to come.

• Lastly, Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) Fire Chief, Bryan Collins, announced plans to provide the Spokane Valley Fire Department with a Firefighter wellness App to See SVFD REPORT, Page 13

The Splash

WILDE

NEWS

Continued from page 3 and grow alongside phenomenal people.

Q: Between texts, social media and a schoolwide poster campaign, you have made it a point to try and encourage other students and emphasize the positive. Why do you think this idea of a culture of support is so important?

A: Every student needs and is worthy of support. It’s as simple as that.

Q: Do you feel there are still uninformed stigmas attached to mental health? Do you find that your peers are more comfortable talking about conditions like depression and anxiety and seeking help?

A: Undeniably, talking about mental health still has that stigma, yet my peers and myself have found it a necessity. Mental health is so deeply intertwined with overall well-being that when a student does suffer from mental health issues it can affect every aspect of their life. We are already experiencing a suicide and mental health crisis in our generation and, with limited known resources, talking about it and seeking help wherever we can is the only way to prevent it from worsening.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who may be feeling isolated by their mental health condition and is wondering where to turn?

A: Here is my advice: First, the way you are feeling, you’re not alone in it. The situation we are currently in, being socially isolated with no sense of structure, is a catalyst for a poor

JUNE 2020 • 5

PATIENT

FOCUSED

mental health state. Many people are experiencing the same struggles you are. Second, what I have found that helps me is doing the things I don’t really want to do but should.

Wake up at a certain time every day, take a shower, brush your teeth, go outside for five minutes, say “hi” to a friend or family member, turn off the TV, etc. These small things can provide structure and relief from depression and anxiety. Third, I was very skeptical about virtual therapy appointments at first, but after a few I realized that they truly can help. So, if you are feeling that your depression, anxiety, or poor mental health has worsened and you can’t seem to get a handle on it, IT IS OK AND PLEASE DO REACH OUT FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP.

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Q: What are your career aspirations?

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A: I have committed to attending Gonzaga University! I hope to pursue a major in teaching, and minors in social justice and vocal performance. I’m not sure what subject or age group I will end up teaching, I just want to be a teacher, more specifically, that one crazy teacher who pushes you academically as well as being someone you can always turn to for advice, inspiration, and or help.

Q: Finally, how will you celebrate your graduation this month?

A: I am celebrating my graduation by writing letters to past teachers and the most influential people in my life. I think graduation should not only be a celebration of my success of earning a high school diploma, but a recognition of all the support I have been given throughout my life from those around me!

The 32nd Annual Liberty Lake Community 4th of July Parade & Over the Lake 4th of July Fireworks have been postponed until a later Liberty Lake Community Day can be celebrated! Date still pending. God Bless America and keep everyone safe!

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6 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

City maps out strategy for pandemic-relief funds

By Craig Howard

most commonly asked questions.”

Splash Contributing Editor

Brickner said in his discussions with local restaurant owners, business is down 70 to 80 percent, even with delivery and takeout available.

As Liberty Lake works its way back from the effects of a worldwide pandemic, a hefty helping of federal funding will serve as a boost.

City officials learned last month that $330,000 will be allotted to Liberty Lake as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. The funds are in addition to the $90 million approved for Spokane County to assist businesses, agencies and jurisdictions in addressing COVID-19 related expenses.

Spokane County was one of five in Washington large enough to qualify for the federal support.

“It opens up a few more things in terms of our local businesses but there are still quite a few restrictions,” said Liberty Lake Mayor Shane Brickner.

Brickner said the city’s funds will be used to help local businesses gear up for the return of customers by covering the costs of PPE (personal protective equipment) such as face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

The influx of money will also help the city address sanitation of public facilities as well as staff time devoted to the cleaning.

“We want to use it to help restart our businesses and get things going again,” said Brickner.

The plan includes the city making PPE items available to businesses this month at the Liberty Lake Police Department with assigned pickup times. The city will also be distributing a flyer to business owners that will include an overview of available resources and, in Brickner’s words, “answers to the

The federal funding will be in the form of a contract between the city and the state Department of Commerce. The contract will be presented to council at the June 2 meeting. The mayor and council held a special meeting March 26 (after presstime) to discuss implementation of the federal money.

On May 22, Gov. Jay Inslee approved Spokane County’s COVID-19 variance application to implement Phase 2 of the state’s phased approach to the Reopening Washington plan under specified conditions (See details at the end of this story.)

Brickner was part of a conference call on May 5 with Gov. Jay Inslee that also included mayors of Spokane, Spokane Valley and Pullman.

“We talked to him about our numbers in Spokane County,” Brickner said. “We told him about some of the challenges we’re seeing in our communities with our businesses. He said he was interested in looking at regional openings and he had picked counties with less than 75,000 in population to move a little quicker in those phases.”

Brickner said he told Inslee about the exodus of commerce to Idaho that has taken place.

“I talked specifically about the numbers we’re seeing in Liberty Lake,” Brickner said. “The governor said he was concerned about the

Photo by Nina Culver Artist Rolf Goetzinger does final prep work before starting the new mural that will showcase Liberty Lake’s history. Full details of this story can be found in next month’s edition of The Splash. size of our county and it spreading more here.”

Bricker has sent a letter to the governor requesting that Liberty Lake be moved to Phase 3 of the plan.

He has also requested a discussion of his request with the governor’s chief of staff.

“Our intent is to get us moved up in the phased process as swiftly as possible while being as safe as possible,” he said.

Brickner’s appeal to the governor includes an overview of Liberty Lake’s business terrain, emphasizing that “there are a lot of smaller, family-owned businesses that are just getting off the ground.”

Brickner said Liberty Lake’s low count of COVID-10 cases should warrant an ease of restrictions by June 1. To this point, the city has not heard back from the governor’s office.

In other news related to the pandemic, it was announced that the 32nd annual Liberty Lake Community Parade and Fireworks Over the Lake on July 4 has been postponed. Parade Chair Annie Tichy and Fireworks Chair Denise Coyle release the following statement last month:

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Brickner said the city has not made a final decision on its Fourth of July event at Pavillion Park. The agenda has traditionally featured a concert hosted by Friends of Pavillion Park (FOPP) and citysponsored fireworks. He added that there is a possibility of the city working with the community parade and fireworks over lake group to blend those activities with the annual Labor Day concert at Pavillion Park.

FOPP President Joe Frank said the annual Summer Festival of movies and concerts could still move forward with transitions although nothing has been confirmed to this point.

“We’ve told the city our plans,” Frank said. “We’re waiting to make a final decision based on the governor’s guidelines. Our opinion is that we have the ability for people to separate by a significant distance at the park.”

The Liberty Lake Farmers Market plans to open its 2020 season on Saturday, June 6 with social distancing protocols in place. The market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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“Due to the coronavirus and obvious safety crowd factors, it is with sadness that the 32nd annual Liberty Lake Community Parade and Fireworks over the Lake have been postponed until a future Community Day event. Our community will celebrate together at a future date when it is safe.”

For more information please call: 509-922-5443

The city plans to resume its tradition of having a booth at the market.

“To start it won’t be the typical See CITY COUNCIL, Page 8

JUNE 2020 • 7

The Splash

The Lookout The Community Corner

By Jennifer Camp

Operations and Maintenance Director “Behind the Scenes” Flowers, grass, trees, roads, snow, golf – ever wonder what goes on to keep these looking pristine around the city? An incredibly hard-working maintenance crew is the answer!

From mowing grass, to tending goats, to pruning and cleanup and weed control and more, our city maintenance crews are some of the hardest working and most humble people I know.

Little known fact that many of our seasonal staff have been returning

to our crews year after year, asking to come back because they want to be here. I think that is a tell-tale sign of how wonderful they are and the camaraderie they have with each other.

Over the years, our crew has grown along with our responsibilities as expectations to produce beautiful grounds and infrastructure remains high. There has been amazing support from our City Council, mayor and city administrator to provide our staff with the tools necessary to be able to keep these amenities in mint condition.

One of the key successes of our

maintenance crew is that they have had the ability to accommodate the numerous changes this city has experienced and their adaptability to do so is tremendous. Keeping an open mind to constant change is our norm as the city continues to accumulate new spaces. These uncertain times only add to that need to adapt and our crews have risen to the challenge without hesitation.

The leadership our three crew leads provides to the staff is second to none. The hard work and examples they set prove we have the best of the best on staff. Many of our city maintenance workers have been here for years, bringing ingenuity, work ethic and pride in what they do every day for the city,

Remembering Rudy Torres

We’ve all worked with people like Rudy. They are the guys that come to work every day with a smile on their face and a positive outlook on life. Lisa Key, director of Planning and Engineering, remembers Rudy not only for his

and two of our newest hires are some of the best in the business!

The administrative staff does a fabulous job keeping reservations going and planning for events and I know for a fact our mechanics can fix or fabricate anything!

And the seasonal staff are truly the “many hands” that do “great work.”

So, the next time you are at a park or walking along a trail and you see a “yellow hi-vis” jacket, say “Thank you.” Tell them they are doing a great job. Or simply say “Hello.” They will certainly take it to heart and appreciate it.

They truly are some of the kindest, nicest people you will meet.

Liberty Lake Together

City of Liberty Lake Mayor Shane Brickner has kept a vision of support, the positivity people can bring to each other, and compassion during these times we are faced with COVID-19. He has lived here for over 15 years, served on City Council for 8 years, and served as a volunteer police officer for 12 years. And through those years he has seen our city prosper and grow with such community support for local businesses, charities, events, projects, and so much more.

When things took a turn in March with COVID-19 Mayor Brickner immediately began looking for the positive things City leaders, staff and the community could come together to do and keep us strong, compassionate and offer help and resources for those in need.

A few weeks ago, Rudy Torres, our building inspector here at Liberty Lake City Hall, passed away. Rudy was a legend and contributed to the buildout of many communities in our region in the eight years working for Liberty Lake, along with nearly 25 years as an inspector. Just as important, he was a man of great character, talent and compassion.

He worked behind the scenes to solve problems and add solutions to the construction industry.

Rudy was very good at what he did AND he was much more than a building inspector. Here at City Hall, Rudy was bigger than life.

Mayor Shane Brickner speaks for so many others about the mutual respect held for Rudy: “He was so dependable, positive and such an integral part of the growth of Liberty Lake with his hard work ethic, friendly demeanor and he always willing to find solutions to problems instead of just doing an inspection.”

June 2020

work ethic but his personal side too: “Rudy was well-known and wellrespected throughout the city and within the construction community for his knowledge and expertise, his work ethic and his customer service touch,” Lisa said. “But what he is most remembered for is how he made people feel. Rudy loved to make people laugh. He always had a smile on his face, a joke on his lips or a silly prank up his sleeve. Rudy, we miss you!”

Rudy was a family man. His wife, Linda, his two children and his four grandchildren were the “apple of his eye.” He loved his vintage cars; he loved his country and he loved life.

Today, we want to publicly share our love for Rudy with you, our community. We are working on other tributes to this great man.

Thank you, Rudy, you made Liberty Lake a better place and touched our lives here at City Hall.

With help from anonymous donations to bring his newest “community support” project together, “Liberty Lake Together” was formed.

“Through amazing teamwork and collaboration, we want to bring a unifying message to our community called “Liberty Lake Together”. It is motivational to see our Liberty Lake residents, businesses and volunteers come together in a spirit of support and understanding, to volunteer to help each other, both realistically and figuratively”.

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

8 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

CITY COUNCIL

Continued from page 6 Farmers Market you’re used to,” Brickner said. “The Farmers Market group is still finalizing their policies and that process.”

In other city news: • Resident Holly Woodruff had a thank-you letter read during the public comments portion of the council meeting on May 19.

Brickner, Police Chief Brian Asmus and several city staff honored Woodruff’s daughter, a local nurse, with a drive-by birthday celebration last month, one of several such efforts undertaken by the city since the pandemic hit. “To say that this act of kindness made this day a special day is an understatement,” Woodruff wrote. “This is just another example of what makes Liberty Lake such a special community.”

• Council Member Dan Dunne said that the Liberty Lake Kiwanis has awarded 14 local students scholarships in the amount of over $9,000. “These are our leaders of the future,” Dunne said.

• Dunne said he had recently been the victim of fraud through a false unemployment claim and warned residents to be on the lookout.

“Be careful out there and respond immediately when you suspect fraudulent activity,” Dunne said.

“It’s just a matter of your mitigation and your personal strategies in response.” Chief Asmus said there have been around 75 complaints of similar fraud in Liberty Lake. For more information on how to identify and report unemployment fraud, visit the Washington Department of Employment Security Department website at www.esd.wa.gov.

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97th

• In related news, Avista warned customers on May 19 to beware of scams related to the pandemic. A portion of the official statement follows: “Avista customers throughout its Washington and Idaho service territory are the current target of utility scammers. Scammers typically move quickly from region to region, looking to trick as many people as possible into complying with their demands, for financial gain. Hundreds of customers have reported scams this week, both phone and in-person scams. The in-person scam attempts have included someone impersonating an Avista employee or contractor and demanding to discuss a customer bill. It’s important to note that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, Avista has stopped all utility disconnects. Avista urges customers to be on alert and to continue to report any suspicious requests or interactions with anyone who may be impersonating the company.

Additionally, customers should not grant a suspicious person or suspected scammer access to their homes. Visit Avista’s website at myavista.com/scams for additional tips on how to avoid falling victim to a scam. If something feels odd, it probably is. Customers should call Avista directly at 800-227-9187 to confirm the actual status of their service and account, as well as any planned utility activity on their property.”

• The Parks and Arts Commission held a Zoom meeting last month with a focus on upcoming events.

The city has given the commission the go-ahead for additional utility box art wraps.

• The design standards for citywide pedestrian crossings should be ready for council review,

WITH DAIKIN!

according to City Administrator Katy Allen.

• The city’s Parks and Maintenance department has been focusing on “best practices in cleaning and disinfecting” when it comes to city facilities, Allen said.

• Library Director Jocelyn Redel gave an update on the library at the May 19 council meeting announcing that contactless hold pickup service would begin May 20, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with residents being able to drive by the library for curbside pickup of materials. The library continues online programming and is gearing up for summer reading.

• On May 5, council opted against a capital project that would have brought upgrades to the public safety/library building on Mission Avenue. The plan would have meant adding an HVAC rooftop unit at cost of $161,000, a backup generator ($81,000) and new exterior lighting ($6,700) with money coming from the city’s REET (Real Estate Excise Tax) fund. The consensus on council was the project is still worthwhile but could wait based on the city’s current financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• On May 19, council authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with Continental Contractors Inc. for the Pavillion Park irrigation system upgrade in the amount of $174,488.29 with a 10 percent contingency to be managed by staff.

• Council also accepted the donation of $15,410 worth of Estey picture book shelving provided by the Friends of the Liberty Lake Library.

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• The city and Scott Bernhard,

who had been serving as city engineer since September 2018, have parted ways. Prior to being hired as city engineer, Bernhard served on the inaugural Liberty Lake City Council and was the first mayor pro tem. In related news, the council approved a task order for Parametrix to provide on-call city engineer services in an amount not to exceed $20,000. Brickner said the effort to recruit a new full-time city engineer has begun.

Spokane County Reopening Washington Phase 2 Conditions Courtesy of Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Spokane County’s COVID-19 variance application requesting approval to fully implement Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington Plan has been approved with the following conditions: • An individual business is only allowed to reopen after it can implement the state guidelines for a safe start. The guidelines can be accessed at: https://coronavirus. wa.gov/what-you-need-know/ safe-start.

• The Spokane Regional Health District must notify the Washington State Department of Health 24/7 on-call communicable disease duty officer at (206) 418-5500 of any COVID-19 outbreak within your jurisdiction and must do so within six hours of your notification.

• The Spokane Regional Health District is required to monitor the pandemic in our community for signs of community transmission or any concerning acceleration. If such condition(s) are found, they must promptly notify the Washington State Department of Health 24/7

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JUNE 2020 • 9

The Splash

Pick up a free copy of

The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 250 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations:

Photo by Craig Howard The Liberty Lake City Council approved an upgrade to the Pavillion Park irrigation system at its May 19 meeting. The project is expected to run just under $175,000. older on-call communicable disease duty household per week. officer at (206) 418-5500 and request • People of all ages with Travel: Essential travel and a consult with the state’s infectious limited non-essential travel for underlying medical conditions disease epidemiologist or health Phase 1 and 2 permissible activities (particularly not well controlled), officer. including: People with chronic Businesses/employers: lung disease or moderate to severe Spokane County may not proceed asthma; people who have serious • Remaining manufacturing to Phase 3 of Gov. Inslee’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington • Additional construction phases heart conditions; people who are immunocompromised; people with Plan without further authorization • In-home/domestic services severe obesity; people with diabetes; to do so from the state. In no case (nannies, housecleaning, etc.) people with chronic kidney disease will authorization to move to the • Retail (in-store purchases undergoing dialysis; people with next phase be given without at least allowed with restrictions) liver disease and people who live a three week monitoring period. in a nursing home or long-term care • Real estate • Subject to the conditions in facility.

• Professional services/officethis variance, the activities and This variance could be revoked business services listed in Phase 2 based businesses (telework remains if circumstances change within strongly encouraged) of Gov. Inslee’s Phased Approach Spokane County, such as a to Reopening Washington Plan • Hair and nail salons/barbers significant community transmission, are now permitted in Spokane • Pet grooming no or minimal access to CVOID-19 County and exempt from the Stay testing, inadequate surge capacity • Restaurants/taverns <50 Home – Stay Health Proclamation’s in the hospital system, inadequate percent capacity and table size no prohibitions. These activities and larger than five (no bar-area seating) PPE supplies, inadequate case and business services are: People in high-risk populations contact investigations, inadequate Recreation: Outdoor recreation isolation or quarantine facilities involving five or fewer people are strongly encouraged to limit or other conditions warranting outside your household (camping, their participation in these Phase significant concern. The governor 2 activities and business services. beaches, etc.)

High-risk populations are currently also retains the right to re-impose restrictions upon our jurisdiction Gatherings: Gather with no defined by the CDC as: under his authority. more than five people outside your • Persons 65 years of age and

Adorkable Flowers and Gifts Anytime Fitness Barlows Fieldhouse Pizza and Subs Greenstone Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt KiDDS Dental Liberty Lake City Hall Liberty Lake Portal Building Liberty Lake Smile Source Safeway Trailhead Golf Course True Legends Grill The WELL Coffee House Walgreens Washington Trust Bank Yoke’s Fresh Market Would you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact Paula at paula@valleycurrent.com.

GREATER SPOKANE VALLEY

A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

The Future is Bright

Youngest leadership team since the Spokane Valley’s incorporation, page 10

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10 â&#x20AC;¢ JUNE 2020

Congrats Class of 2020

The Splash

The Splash The following local residents have earned a degree from Western Governors University (WGU).

Theresa Bowden of Greenacres, Wash. (99016) has earned a Master of Science, Nursing - Education (BSN to MSN) degree.

Christopher Miller of Greenacres, Wash. (99016) has earned a Master of Science, Management and Leadership degree.

Kayla Burtenshaw of Liberty Lake, Wash. (99016) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree.

JUNE 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ 11 Melanie Shanks of Liberty Lake, Wash. (99019) has earned a Master of Science, Management and Leadership degree.

Joan Stewart of Mead, Wash. (99021) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree.

Kendall Steiner of Newman Lake, Wash. (99025) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree.

Trisha Stevenson of Newman Lake, Wash. (99025) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree.

Monica Bannon of Liberty Lake, Wash. (99019) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Accounting degree.

Mariah Hoadley of Otis Orchards, Wash. (99027) has earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Management degree.

Joanie Buck of Liberty Lake, Wash. (99019) has earned a Master of Science, Curriculum and Instruction degree.

Sophie Kaatz of Otis Orchards, Wash. (99027) has earned a Master of Science, Curriculum and Instruction degree.

Angela Paras of Liberty Lake, Wash. (99019) has earned a Bachelor of Arts, Special Education degree.

Erin Kinney, of Veradale, received a bachelor of arts degree from College of the Holy Cross on May 22, 2020.

12 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2020

Tiffany Abrams • Jacob Abshire • Grace Acre • Aliyah Adams • Analeah Adams • Juan Aguilera • Joshua Aguirre • Boden Albright • Kawthar Ali Al Abdullah • Dori Ames • Andrew Amusavi • Katelyn Anderson • Michael Anderson • Zachary Anderson • Felipe Andrews • Madison Anglin • Gabriel Araiza • Addison Arlint • Seth Arthur • Abigail Austin • Eloise Austin • Julissa Avila • Victoria Axtell • Spencer Ayer • Josie Babington • Cameron Bailey • Jacob Ballard • Jeremy Baum • Jeff Bays • Drake Beale • Jacquelyn Beckford • Kylee Behar • Tenya Benjamin • Bryce Benzel • Violet Benzie • Conrad Bertone • Alexander Beverlin • Brooklyn Bilbruck • Nicole Bippes • Jennifer Bissell • Annika Bliesner • Hunter Bly • Megan Bodily • Andrew Bollinger • Bonnett Mallory • Brooke Bos • Alyssa Bradley • Elijah Brandal • Brenna Brantner • Paige Bridgens • Cameron Bringhurst • Joshua Burk • Garrett Burns • Audrey Busch • Talitha Call • Payton Campbell • Joshua Cannon • Chad Carlson • Gracie Carlson • Kobe Carter • Daniel Cathey • Nuala Caughie • Arlette Chacon • Simranjit Chahal • Anika Chalich • Askia Chalich • Eric Chandler • Adre’ Charvat • Julianna Chase • Natalya Chicks • Carter Childress • Charisma Chitwood • Logan Chodorowski • Kamry Christensen • Owen Christensen • Hunter Clark • Kieleen Clark • Wyatt Clark • Quinn Clark-Lojek • Aidan Coate • Sera Coate • Holt Connole • Noah Connors • Clayton Conrad • Elizabeth Conrad • Katlyn Cooper • Tate Cornell • Brandi Cozino • Ashleigh Creeger • Briana Creeger • Kaitlin Creeger • Jason Crigger • Clayton Crockett • Reagan Crosby • Daniel Cross • Jake Culpepper • Mikayla Cummings • Isaiah Cunningham • Maritza Cutino Leyva • Colton Dauenhauer • Shelbi Dawkins • Savannah Dayton • Cesar De la O • Edgar De La O • Milka De La O • Emma DeBoer • Josiah DeJulia • Gianna DeMaderios • Kimball Demars • Kyrsten Denny • Gabriel Doering • Levi Drager • Jennifer Drinkwine • Teah DriverConner • Jorren Dumo • Jennifer Duong • Kevin Edwards • Robert Edwards • Benjamin Ely • Michael Emerson • Jade Eng • Alessa Eoff • Brett Ernst • Alaura Erwin • Amabelle Erwin • Ira Etzel • Alissa Evans • Rachel Ewers • Andrew Fightmaster • Benjamin Fillis • Bradley Fillis • Madisyn Findley • Samantha Finley • Jared Fisher • Alora FitzGerald • Henry Flint • Jared Folsom • Cooper Foote • Marie Ford • Keegan Forney • Kylie Forsyth • Lea Foster • Monique Foster • Sawyer Foucault • Hannah Fountain • Kolby Franks • Rylee Freelander-Ward • Sky Freer • Jeremy Fuhriman • Xavier Fulkerson • Matthew Gabbert • Wendy Gallegos Martinez • Jamison Galloway • Sydney Gannon • Nathaniel Garza • Paulette-Josephine Gass • Julia Gaydarzhi • Karissa Geissinger • Dylan Gibson • Alexis Gist • Taylor Glenn • Georgia Goldfeldt • Esha Gollapalli • Eunice Gonzalez • Randolph Grant • Sophia Grassel • Jules Greenberg • Ava Gress • Gurkirat Grewal • Noah Gribble • Zachary Griffin • Luke Grisafi • Taylor Grizzle • Preston Grote • Jaden Guinn • Ryan Hagerty • Leah Hamilton • Grace Hampton • Rachel Hamry • Katelyn Hansen • Sunny Hansen • Grace Hanson • Christi Harms • Connor Harnack • Emil Haroldsen • Ryan Harper • Andrew Harter • Morgen Hartshorn • Taryn Harvey • Xander

Central Valley High School Haugen • Caeleb Haulet • Lindsey Hayes • Daniel Haynes • Adeline Haynie • Haley Heck • Joshua Hermes • Johnathan Herrera • Emily Heskett • John Heskett • Essence Hiatt • Lindsey Hickson • Aaron Hobbs • Alexandria Holland • Riley Holman • Abigail Houchin • Calli Howard • Peyton Howard • Scott Howard • Breanna Hronek • Karina Hronek • Natalie Hulvey • Hayden Humphries • Tyler Hunter • Vierna Jabuwe • Olivia Jackman • Carolyn Jackson • Ricky Jankord • Mike Jarmin • Tyler Jarvis • Cameron Jayne • Josie Jennings • Fantasia Jensen • Isabella Jeppson • Caleb Jerdon • Brelin Johns • Caden Johnson • Faith Johnson • Kayanna Johnson • Quinn Johnson • Adam Jones • Collyn Jones • Kyle Jones • Tyler Jones • Abbie Judd • Carson Judd • Mohammad Kaddoura • Kaitlyn Kaluza • Kyle Kaminskas • Marisa Karns • Kylie Keller • Madison Kelley • Griffin Keys • Salsabel Khalid • Hannah Kiehn • Madelyn Kiourkas • Ayden Klontz • Madelynn Knight • Alexander Knudsen • Artem Kolesnikov • Emilee Kopelson • Olivia Kory • Asmaa Kourma • Miranda Kuhlmann • Mykola Kushnir • Dartanian Kutz • Velana (Aj) Lakjin • Aidan Lamkins • Haley Lance • Justin Lance • Ally Lang • Jared Laws • Ashley Lawson • Karma Lazzeri • Adam Lemley • Myah Lemons • Sydney Levine • Garrett Lidman • Theodore Linde • Nicole Livingston • Mackenzie Longwill • Fernando Lopez • Joseph Lopez • Andrew Luck • Micky Lutes • Haylee Lynch • Kayla MacKelvie • Jessie Marshall • Jacob May • Timothy McCrea • Sara McGill • Addison McLelland • Bridger McMahon • Ryan McMahon • Bryce McManus • Kimberly McManus • Brock McNeilly • Mason McNeilly • Madison McVey • Jacob Measel • Gustavo Mendoza • Colin Mercer • Nathan Mercer • Jake Merrill • Nisa Meshal • Aidan Meyer • Braxton Mikesell • Owen Miley • Olivia Minnick • Dalton Mitchell-Rising • Ryan Mobley • Mia Morales • Ethan Moriniti • Kiara Morse • Josef Mueller • Madeline Mularski • Alivia Mulligan • Shawn Mulligan • Emily Munn • Dominick Nason •

Rebbecah Natimama • Jonas Naumann • Brandon Neer • Ashley Nelsen • Alexis Nelson • Nicholas Nelson • Nathan Ness • Madelyn Newcomb • Garrett Newell • Brenna Niemi • Emma Nigh • Ethan Noakes • Colby Nootenboom • Claudia Norczyk • Sara Nyffler • Emma O’Donnell • Lily O’Neel • Madelynn Ochse • Emma Ohlsen • Ethan Oliver • Michael Olson • Erik Osipenko • Reese Overly • Ryan Ovnicek • Terran Ovnicek • Kyle Page • Bekah Palmer • Amanda Parker • Christopher Parrish • Adria Paul • Alaina Paul • Taylor Pearson • Nick Perez • Jasmyn Persicke • Alexander Pesina • Carly Petersen • Anna Peterson • Caleb Peterson • Haley Pfau • Jonathan Phelps • Michael Pitts • Blake Pleasant • Angelyna Plybon • Tim Polishchuk • Austin Porter • Skye Suraja Potter • Aiden Powers • Dallin Prince • Colby Putnam • Cody Quirico • Carsen Raab • Makenzie Raab • Olivia Rachoy • Hannah Rappold • Rylan Redden • Meaghan Redmond • Haley Regalado • Landon Rehkow • Gavin Renzi • Ruben Reyna-Romero • John Rhodes • Ashley Rich • Kole Richardson • Lucas Richardson • Korbyn Rider • Hunter Roberge • Melissa Robinson • Skylar Robles • Roseanna Rodden • Ashlyn Rogers • Joshua Rogers • Mia Rogers • Evan Rohm • Dawson Rubino • Conner Russell • Mirlinda Salihu • Gustavo Salinas • Lynae Sanders • Noah Sanders • Marissa Sannes • Alexander Sayrs • Clare Scherer • Amy Schlomer • Hailey Schmedtje • Gabrielle Schmidt • Arriel Schmitz • Daisy Schoonover • Gavin Schulhauser • Drew Scott • Cameron Sheley • Taylor Shepard • Jensen Shypitka • Benjamin Sides • Jayce Simmons • Johnny Simmons • Jeana Simpson • Julia Simpson • Olivia Sine • Kaliyah Singsavaddy-Carter • Cody Smith • Jaylen Smith • Jocelyn Smith • Madison Smith • Noah Smith • Brandon Snider • Tyler Snider • Kedrik Solis • Alexandra Solorio • Logan Sommer • Jenna Sotin • Carson Spence • Seth St Clair • Emily St John • Brayden Stafford • Benton Stephens • Mariele Stockman • Natalie Stretch • Marissa Suarez • Luke Sukut • Nikita Susin • Sydney Sutton • Galbhar Suwaed • Gannon Swain • Matthew Szymanski • Tyson Talbot • Devin Tanak • Suheyla Tanak • Spencer Taylor • Kyle Telkamp • Devin Thelen • Kohlton Thielen • Joseph Thomas • Braden Thompson • Brooke Tiffany • Tyler Todd • Igor Topov • Thanh Binh Tran • Kalani Trotter • Katelyn Troyer • Tracy Tulensa • Taylor Turner • Julie Ulyanchuk • Kellen Ungaro • Ryan Ungaro • Chase Urbiha • Kaleb Vakaloloma • Sol Vandeman • Jonny Vannavuth • Jessica Vargas • Dakota Vasquez • Darci Vasquez • Kody Vaughn • Aubri Velazquez • Ezra Verlinde • Jonavan Villagomez • Saidu Ville • Denys Vinnikov • Cole Vinson • Tien Vo • Lilly Wagner • Tiara Walker • Ethan Walters • Robert Warnock • Sailor Watson • Serena Watters • Abbey Webb • Kiersten Webb • Evelyn Wehrlie • Korbin Weiler • Savannah Weiler • Claire Westby • Benjamin Wicker • Matti Wickham • Maxine Wigen • Autymn Wilde • Tavin Wilhelm • Emma Wilkerson • Dylan Williams • Isaak Williams • Spencer Wilson • Mitchell Wing • Simon Xiong • Danielle Yelland • Anessa Yim • Olivia Yoseph • Brittany Zamora • Cameron Zanol • Emely Zavala • Aubrey Zeutschel • Christopher Zeutschel

JUNE 2020 • 13

The Splash

SVFD REPORT

Continued from page 2 support their mental health and well-being. The wellness tool will be an App installed on phones to help Spokane Valley Firefighters with their personal health and wellness needs. Many Firefighters experience PTSD after years of service in traumatic situations.

“Our firefighters face tremendous mental and physical stressors, pressures, and demands throughout the course of their careers,” said Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire Chief, Bryan Collins. “We need to make sure that they are healthy and well, and always present for our communities when called to serve.”

The Cordico App is a tool that allows Firefighters a place to leave their work at work, go home and be present there, and most importantly have a chance at that work-life balance.

“Sometimes Firefighters can’t unsee, unhear, or unsmell some of those 911 calls they go on. Some of them are heart wrenching. Some of them are painful. All of them become memories that as a Firefighter, we have to manage and set aside to meet each new day’s emergency call,” said Firefighter and Local 876 President, Shawn Pichette. “This Wellness App provides First Responders confidential access to therapists, peer support, help with emotional stress,

stress management, PTSD and other needs.”

The Wellness App provides access to therapists, peer support, and the leading Firefighter wellness solution available nationwide offering confidential, in-hand, on-demand 24/7 access to 30+ modules on topics such as alcohol, depression, emotional health, family support, financial fitness, mindfulness, psychological first aid, sleep optimization, and stress management.

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“First responders tend to build walls in order to separate themselves from the harsh reality of their job,” said SVFD Fire Commissioner, Mike Kester. “In doing so, some take it home and keep up those walls with their loved ones. There’s no way to decompress as it were.”

Dr. David Black, CEO of Cordico emphasized, “No one should ever feel blocked from accessing help at times of need due to their schedule or location or concerns about confidentiality, and that is especially true for our public safety personnel who dedicate their professional lives to responding to others’ emergencies.”

Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com.

For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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14 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

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Student of the Month

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There’s no debate that Jasmyn Persicke has been an outstanding student at Central Valley High School.

The senior maintains a 4.0 grade point average and was selected as salutatorian for the Class of 2020. She earned varsity letters in speech and debate and has been part of Junior Statesmen of America since 2018. A Commended National Merit Scholar, Persicke qualified for state in debate, earned two speaker awards and won first place in a Lincoln Douglas tournament. She was selected as CV’s Spokane Scholar in English. Persicke has participated in marching band and pep band since her freshman year. She earned varsity letters in track and field as sophomore and junior, competing in shotput and discus. In her four years at CV, Persicke donated 130 volunteer hours toward various community service projects. She will attend the University of Washington this fall.

Cameron Sheley was set to patrol center field for the Central Valley baseball team this year. Instead, the senior will be looking forward to his freshman year in football at Whitworth University. Last season, Sheley hit over .300 for a Bears’ squad that lost only two league games and qualified for state. In a non-league game against Kennewick, Sheley collected three hits and drove in every run in a 3-2 CV win. Sheley joined the Bears’ football program as a junior and quickly established himself as one of the team’s best receivers. He caught the gametying pass and hauled in a go-head 81- yard touchdown catch in a 4039 win against Garfield, totaling over 200 receiving yards for the game.

He was named to the All Greater Spokane League second team. In the classroom, Sheley maintains a 3.7 grade point average.

When asked to describe her connection to the community she has called home her entire life, Denise Coyle summed it up – “People say that I bleed Liberty Lake,” she said. Coyle served as manager of the Eastside Water District for over 30 years and has been the longtime director of the Fourth of July fireworks show over the lake. She has managed the Sandy Beach Mobile Villa for 35 years. She volunteered with the Central Valley Booster Club in the late 1990s when her kids were in school. She was also part of the PTA at Greenacres Elementary and Greenacres Junior High and was honored with the Acorn Award for her contributions. A fifth generation Liberty Laker, Coyle is the proud mother of two grown daughters. She and her husband Tim have been married for 42 years and have seven grandchildren.

THE

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JUNE 2020 • 15

The Splash

Setting Their Personal Losses Aside CVSD Students Rally to Help Local Food Bank

By Tie Lemerond Splash contributor

Knowing the right thing to do is one thing but coming up with a plan to do the right thing and executing that plan, can be vastly different stories.

Each fall, the Central Valley School District (CVSD) Leadership students hold an annual food drive to support the local Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank. Knowing that nearly 650 students were not getting the meals they normally received while attending school and knowing the strain Covid-19 was playing on the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank supplies, the CVSD Leadership students leaped into action early.

A small group of 5, chaired by Izabella Jeppson, organized a drive thru food drive. With the help of 25 students, social media, Live at 5 with Kris Kilduff and Hang in There World with Ethan Harrison, the group was able to collect 2700 pounds of food and over $1100 in monetary donations. “The planning was easy. It’s what we do in our Leadership Team,” commented Leanne Donley, teacher at CVSD. “The safety measures were the most difficult. How could we keep everyone safe and still help our community?”

Spokane Valley Partners Mission and Core Values: With roots dating back to 1951, the Spokane Valley Partners (SVP) mission is to “Prevent hunger and poverty alongside great community partners.” By holding true to their core values of service, compassion, community, stewardship, and communication, they have become the largest social services agency in Spokane Valley.

SVP provides over $330,000 in services every month and distributes approximately 2 million pounds of food annually. With the food bank service line being their largest service, Spokane Valley Partners provides full wrap around services for those in need, including a clothing bank, weekend food for youth in school, a diaper bank, payee services, the food bank and emergency assistance.

Partnering with CVSD: “Our partnership with Central

Valley High School is amazing,” states Angie Kelleher, Spokane Valley Partners Development & Communication Manager. “The students work toward a major food drive every fall. In 2018 they received 19,990 pounds of food and raised over $12,000. They are committed to preventing hunger and poverty and deeply care about the families we serve.”

Prior to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Spokane Valley Partners Food for Thought program provided weekend meals to over 500 students each week to help improve school performance, academic success, and cognitive development.

SVP’s websites states that 1 in 5 children live in “food insecure.”

Meaning that families do not have enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life.

Parents may not be able to purchase nutritious foods; portions may be smaller, or meals may be skipped.

“This food insecurity threatens a child’s well-being and potential for success.”

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the program has seen an increase in over 40%

in youth food insecurity. This increase sparked the Central Valley School Districts Leadership team and set a fire under them to help their community and their fellow students.

Despite everything the CVSD students personally lost in terms of their school year, the leadership team knew it was their time to set aside their losses and to help their fellow classmates and their community.

Knowing this, Jeppson led her team and classmates in their efforts to restock the food bank for the SVP’s Food for Thought program. “They laid their loss aside for what was best for others. I am so proud of them,” commented Donley.

By working closely with the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank, this remarkable group of students was able to collect items such as individually packages oatmeal servings, granola bars, ramen noodles, soups, cans of vegetables, loaves of bread and many other requested items needed to provide weekend food security for youth.

“Through

the

Covid-19 response, we are grateful for their food drive efforts and volunteerism. In the absence of our aging volunteer force, the Central Valley DECA students have stepped up and are volunteering in our food bank,” states Kelleher.

The Spokane Valley Partners is committed to assisting families in their time of need and is currently in need of donations. At least 1 in 5 people in the Spokane Valley community are struggling to put food on the table for their families and making ends meet. There are numerous ways you can donate: Donate diapers or food, donate funds, sponsor an event, volunteer, or host a food & fund drive. Remember, $1 can buy a can of soup and provide a meal. By going to www.svpart.org/ volunteer you can view a current list of needed volunteer services.

Kelleher states, “We are always grateful for food donations and in this time of uncertainty for so many families, food will go even further.” *As a result of Covid-19, SVP is not currently accepting clothing donations*

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Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market

By Nina Culver Splash Contributor

It took a little longer than normal and things will look different, but the Liberty Lake Farmers Market is set to open to the public on June 6.

Parking at Town Square Park at 1421 N. Meadowood Lane will remain the same, but there will be one entrance on the Appleway Avenue side, said vendor coordinator Holli Parker. Vendors will be spaced six feet apart and on only one side of the row.

“It’s going to look a lot different for folks,” she said.

The number of shoppers will be monitored to make sure there isn’t more than 100 at a time, Parker said.

That may be a difficult adjustment at a market that typically drew thousands between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Saturday. “It won’t be the 3,000 people a week,” she said. “Those kinds of numbers can’t happen. Not all at once, anyway.”

food. The recent advancement of Spokane County into Phase 2 of the reopening process might mean that craft vendors are now allowed, but Parker said the board decided after hours of discussion to limit the vendors to food related ones only.

“We decided to limit it,” she said. “For right now, we’re going to continue to not have them. It was so hard. We’ve got crafters we’ve had for years we had to say no to.”

That decision may be reevaluated later in the summer, Parker said. People can look at www. libertylakefarmersmarket.com for updates.

Parker said the market is still making plans on how everything will be organized, including putting all the prepared food vendors off to one side. “We kind of came up with a plan A., plan B, plan C, plan D, plan E,” she said.

The vendors will wear gloves and masks. Customers also won’t be able to select their own produce, Parker said. They’ll either have to select pre-packaged items or tell the farmer which items they would like. “That’s all from the

health department and state, so the touching is less,” she said.

There will be hand washing and sanitizing stations on site. The bathrooms, however, will be closed.

“You would have to clean them after every person,” she said. “We can’t keep them clean.”

There are a few new farmers joining the returning vendors.

“Definitely the old faces are coming back,” she said.

Paul Puhek sells produce and eggs from his farm, S&P Homestead, at the market. He’s been a vendor at the market for 18 years and a member of the board of directors for nearly a decade.

“We were there right from the beginning,” he said. “It think there were eight of us at the beginning.”

As a farmer, Puhek said he’s been worried about whether customers will come to buy his peas, green beans, cabbages, beets, onions and sweet corn. But he said he’s been encouraged by conversations he’s had with vendors at other farmers markets that have already opened.

“It seems like that’s not really an issue,” he said.

The emphasis will be on getting people in to make their purchases and then having them leave without lingering. It will be a much different than when people were able to sit and listen to music and have some lunch or a snack. This year no seating or live music is allowed.

There will be food trucks, but people will be asked to get their food to go.

The changes will be an adjustment for many, Parker said. “Our whole thing is Eat, Shop, Connect,” she said. “Come, connect with your neighbors and hang out.”

But that won’t be possible this year and Parker knows that the atmosphere will be different. “For this year, it will just be the new normal,” she said. “It’s just going to be a new flavor.”

When the market opens some of the familiar vendors will be missing. When farmers markets were first approved, it was for essential services only, which means

File photo The Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market will have their opening day June 6.

He’s making plans to make his produce safer for consumers. “I know this year we’re going to prepackage most of our produce,” he said. “No reaching into the box and digging around for the best green beans. I know that’s a lot of the fun of the market, selecting and picking your own.”

People have been noticing shortages in the grocery stores and will probably be more receptive to local suppliers like himself, Puhek said. “I think the demand for eggs and produce and meat is going to be more than we expect it to be,” he said. “People are looking at the local supply chain more. Instead of going thousands of miles, it goes four and a half miles in the back of a truck.”

He’s optimistic that this will be a good season for him and other growers. “It’s all unknown,” he said. “We’re excited to be there on opening day and see what’s going to happen.”

Parker is also looking forward to seeing customers come back to the market. “We’re excited to have at least a little bit of that normalcy back,” she said.

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Integrity

By Ron Jacobson

Dean of the School of Education at Whitworth

My dad will turn 91 this June. I have had the privilege of knowing him for two-thirds of those 90-plus years. And, of the many things I could say about my dad, one of the most profound descriptions I can offer is this: my dad is my dad. Let me explain. Years ago, I found a copy of my dad’s senior year high school yearbook. As is typical of yearbooks, I found a section where graduating seniors bequeathed items or gave advice to those underclass men and women who would soon follow in their footsteps. What my father offered surprised me. He gave simple words of advice: “Don’t think too highly of yourself. Be humble.” I don’t know what I expected, but it was something other than ‘be humble’.

As I reflected on that advice, I came to realize those weren’t just words of advice, they were words that described my dad. Even into his 90th year, my dad exemplifies the ethic of ‘not-thinking-too-highlyof-oneself’. In fact, he has been incredibly, consistently humble.

The character trait I was asked to address in this article is ‘integrity’.

There are so many things that could be said about integrity.

But, considering the concept over the years, I have regularly come back to the notion of consistency.

Integrity as a character trait, at least in some measure, points to a person who is consistent; not perfect, but consistent. When we interact with an integrous person, we know what to expect. Why? Because, what they do is tied to who they are. For example, my dad doesn’t just ‘do’ humility, he is humble. I can count on that. Of course, there are loopholes in my case, cracks in my argument. Some might ask, “if a person consistently lies, does he have integrity?” Good question, but one we can’t fully explore in this short article. We can work to determine ‘good’ consistency from ‘bad’ later, but nevertheless, I would argue that consistency is integral to integrity.

I now come to my last point: teachers. As I have observed over the last couple of months living under

a declared pandemic, specifically how P-12 educators (teachers, principals, school counselors, and school staff) have responded to an unknown world, I have continued to come back to the notion of integrity.

These P-12 professionals, and I employ the word ‘professionals’ intentionally, have risen to the occasion. We have all witnessed the food distribution sites set up by schools to serve families (this wasn’t required). We have become aware of schools serving as child care providers for first responders and medical professionals (when was that in their job description?).

We have witnessed countless teachers standing out in front of their students’ houses, answering math questions on white boards, putting up congratulatory signs in the yards of graduating seniors, leading drive-by parades through their students’ neighborhoods to cheer them on, etc. And, of course, we are cognizant of the hundreds of hours these professionals have put in translating lessons from inperson to remote instruction. Why do these teachers do it? My premise is this: not because they are forced to, not because it is their job, but because it is who they are.

Our educators are professionals and that work flows from consistent integrity. What I have witnessed, which is what I’ve always known, is that our P-12 educators are passionate about the work, love the kids in their classrooms, and are unbelievable good at what they do. Do I worry what will happen when this pandemic is over and our kids head back to school? Am I afraid that they’ll be permanently behind in their studies, worried about a generational deficit? Not in the least. Their teachers, principals, school counselors and school staff have got this. Not because of how

well they get paid, but because it’s who they are. In these days we are witnessing the very definition of integrity all around us. It was always there, we just may have missed it. But now, as we watch our teachers rise to the challenge, it is even more poignantly on full display.

Ron and his wife, Michele, moved into the west central neighborhood of Spokane last summer. After serving as Executive Director of the School of Education at Central Washington University and, before that, the dean of the College of Education at Northwest University, Ron joined the Whitworth community as the dean of the School of Education in July of

2019. Ron’s educational background is in economics, applied theology, educational leadership and policies studies. His research interests have largely been focused in the motivations surrounding school bullying (i.e., why kids choose to publicly target their classmates).

His new home, Whitworth, was one of the founding partners of the PACE organization in 2009 and since that time has been actively supporting the organization through participation on the executive board, in the annual Educator Workshops, as coordinator for the PACE School of Character applications and through sponsorship in events such as the annual PACE Awards Banquet.

20 • JUNE 2020

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Spring Sports Soliloquy – CV coaches salute teams

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

It is a season characterized by the bright, green turf of softball, soccer and baseball fields, sun-speckled tennis courts and the perfect symmetry of a track oval lined in white chalk.

Yet this year, the venues remained quiet as the athletes were unceremoniously sidelined.

Spring sports at high schools throughout Washington began normally enough with turnouts and practices in early March. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt across the state and nation, however, academics and athletics veered from the anticipated schedule.

after a discouraging meet, game or match.

“I’m doing more coaching now than I ever have,” Bowden said.

For this issue, the Splash reached out to Bowden and the other head coaches in CV spring sports for some thoughts and impressions on their respective teams. The result is a blend of salutes, appreciation and sentimental farewells leaving no doubt that Bear Nation – whatever the scenario – remains proud.

Due to space constraints, boys’ soccer, fastpitch softball, girls’ golf, baseball and boys’ track and field will be featured in this issue with girls’ tennis, boys’ golf, girls’ track and field and boys’ tennis running in the July Splash.

Boys’ soccer Monrroy

–

By

Andres

After a very impressive 2019 regular season in which the Central Valley boys’ soccer team won the GSL but ended with a disappointing

loss in the third place district game and one game away from state, this year’s senior class was determined to return to the final four state soccer championship once again. Led by last year’s league MVP and senior captain Clayton Crockett, first team GSL defender Josh Hermes, first team GSL midfielder Nikita Susin and first team GSL forward Adam Jones, the team had plenty of talent to reach the goal. Along with returning seniors Hunter Clark and Jensen Shypitka and new senior additions Kaleb Vakaloloma, Korbyn Rider and Cameron Bringhurst, the Bears had a great mixture of experience and talent to take us to a championship. They trained during the off-season to prepare for the regular season and all of them came ready to play the first day of practice. They had commitment, perseverance, determination and a desire to win. The leadership from the seniors is going to be missed next year. They were ready to lead this team to victory. Next

By April 6, the word from Olympia was that all public and private schools would be shelved for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. As campuses closed, so did the campaigns for sports like tennis, golf, fastpitch softball, track and field, baseball and boys’ soccer.

At Central Valley High School, the announcement meant that programs traditionally among the elite in the Greater Spokane League as well as on regional and state stages would be left wondering what could have been. Seniors who had prepared year-round for their opportunity to shine would instead be clearing out their lockers and dwelling on memories from past years as solace for a season lost.

For coaches like Chuck Bowden, longtime leader of the CV boys’ track program, there are still lessons to be taught, even if the competition has been called off. Teaching resilience, optimism and courage in the face of adversity now takes on a bigger meaning than a motivational speech

year’s class will not only miss the experience from this year but the leadership and competitiveness the seniors would have brought to the season. Selfishly, I will miss this the most because you can’t coach this, the underclassmen have to learn by example.

Fastpitch softball – By Joe Stanton Our three seniors – Madison McVey, Suheyla Tanak and Haley Lance – were great workers and the nicest kids, great both on the field and in the classroom! All three played all four years of fastpitch.

This would have been Madison’s first year of full-time varsity detail, Haley’s second year and Suheyla’s third. Madison was my muscle!

Whether it was hitting monstrous homers or working on the field, she was such an amazing kid to have around. Hayley was clutch.

It always seemed that she would come through when we needed big hit to extend an inning. The best was last year during regionals when she had an extra- inning double off the league MVP to tie the game which we ended winning. Suheyla was consistent both offensively and defensively. She was always at the top of our team in terms of batting average, hits, runs scored, etc. And I can honestly say that I cannot think of a single error she committed in the field. I am sure there were some, but so far in between them that none can come to mind.

Boys’ track and field – By Chuck Bowden

Photo by Erik Smith Central Valley senior Clayton Crockett was set to return for his fourth year of varsity soccer before the 2020 season was canceled. Crockett came back from a broken leg suffered as a sophomore to earn Greater Spokane League offensive MVP honors last year. He will continue his soccer career at Stanislaus State in Turlock, California.

All spring sport athletes in the state had their season cancelled!

The young men on the CV track and field team lost lifelong memories created during a normal season! The “would have” moments are many!

For the seniors, it would have been their moment, one they have worked toward over four years! United together as a team, it would have been a GSL championship! Bradley Fillis would have won a state title in the shot put! Tyler Hunter and Ethan Oliver would have set school records in their events! Jeremy Fuhriman, school record holder in

JUNE 2020 • 21

The Splash the decathlon, would have been the best multi athlete in the GSL! Austin Porter would have defended his GSL title and returned to state in the 100!

Devin Tanak and Even Rohm would have seen their winter training lead to break out performances! Jaylen Smith, Preston Grote, Brandon Snider and Aidan Meyer would have had a great senior season! Carson Raab and Tate Cornell would have taken the league by surprise! Carter Childress and Ski Chalich would have shined after taking time off from track! Caleb Jerdon, Adam Lemley, Joseph Lopez, and Dallin Prince – key members of the cross country team – would have set PR’s! Isaiah Cunningham, Robert Edwards, Jeff Bays, Benjamin Fillis, Hayden Humphries, Connor Russell and Jonas Naumann, all seniors who would have had a great season! It would have been our year! This team will forever be remembered as champions! Bonded by a purpose greater than simply winning! They

Final Point

By Mike Vlahovich Splash Sports Editor

When you’ve been doing this job for half a century and Ebenezer Pandemic mutters “Humbug!” wiping out local high school sports you’re at a loss about what to do.

You can’t even go into your local watering hole where you’d likely run into a former high school athlete or coach you knew and wrote about.

Pandemic has robbed you even of that guilty pleasure.

You can’t go to watch a spring game, set, match on the Ides of March (April and May) when baseball, softball, boys soccer, boys and girls track, tennis and golf are wiped out. Old Man Scrooge has robbed you of exactly half the fun of playing of watching high schools’ sports.

So, you write nostalgically.

Although at this age it’s difficult for me to recall what nostalgia means.

Colleague Steve Christilaw wrote an article about University High principal Ken VanSickle retiring this year, ironically, on the year of the Covid-9 crisis. He was born a Titan. I was covering sports for the Spokane Valley Herald then, working at my dad’s newspaper he

are brothers….always!

Girls’ golf – By Rob Rowe The 2020 varsity girls golf team was comprised of junior Kami Twining who was the returning district champion, placing 14th at the state tournament. She was joined by fellow returning letter recipients, junior Brooklyn Shumway and sophomore Paris Teterud. The new additions to the varsity team this year were sophomore Kathrine Stenfors, freshman Darbie Anderson and freshman Taylor Waltermire.

This year was shaping up as an exciting year as the Lady Bears.

We were going to be able to field a full varsity team for all of the GSL matches which we were unable to do last year. Kami Twining was looking to defend her district championship and once again advance to the state tournament and Brooklyn Shumway was looking to advance to the state tournament having missed a state spot by one stroke last season. The

owned from 1948-92 (if I remember correctly). I was single and fancy free back then, writing and shooting pictures at a sporting event almost daily.

As Christilaw pointed out, VanSickle was an elementary school student who became the Titans’ batboy. His senior year in high school, Central Valley teachers went out on strike. Fortunately, the strike was short and the games went on, but until that time off coaches couldn’t be with coach the kids. Coach Dave Holmes entrusted his quarterback, VanSickle, to run the show and conduct practice. At season’s end Holmes told me Ken’s leadership during the strike was what he admired most about that season and he proved prophetic.

After college, VanSickle would come back as a teacher, coach and administrator instrumental as softball transitioned from slowpitch, to modified and fastpitch where the Titans became a state powerhouse, as Christilaw pointed out. *A friend of mine, Tom Psomas, is a basketball fanatic and was a pumpkin entrepreneur who originally was going into education for one reason only - to coach basketball. He played at East Valley in the early 1970s, and to this day is fulfilling his “Basketball Jones” being involved in AAU basketball

future looks bright for the 2020-21 season as the Lady Bears will return all varsity players next season.

Baseball – By Jeramie Maupin With high expectations entering the season I can honestly say this team took nothing for granted and worked harder than any team I have ever seen this off-season.

The fact that this season was taken away from them makes me extremely sad and disappointed but especially for the seniors. Matt Gabbert, Cameron Shelley, Ethan Moriniti, Rylan Redden, Carson Judd, Chris Zeutschel, Kobe Carter, Eric Chandler and Dawson Rhodes have given a lot of themselves these last four years and I as a coach, I am extremely grateful for all their hard work and sacrifices. However, even though this season was lost, I know that the best is yet to come! All of them are great baseball players on the field but even better people off the field!

(with younger brother Jim, a Valley dentist also basketball (consumed) and Hoopfest. Tom and I still meet every once-in-a-while at Red Robin near the Valley Mall and rehash those good old days. *To say Jim McLachlan is consumed with track and cross country is to understate. Nicknamed “Otis” because of his upbringing in the rural community that feeds East Valley. His late father-in-law, Knights coaching legend Howard Dolphin, influenced his future sonin-law at EV and the apple didn’t fall from the tree.

Otis, a bit younger than I, was a Knights athlete, had a Hall of Fame coaching career in track and cross country at West Valley. I covered his teams from the beginning of my writing career. He is now compiling an almanac of all of Spokane athletes’ best track and field individual times and distances. When we yack on the phone, the conversation stretches for hours.

We still meet occasionally at a restaurant in Otis Orchards with a group of “legend in their own minds” athlete old-timers’ rehashing the “good old days” of sports and growing up.

Recently Bob Barbero hooked me up with a table full of long-inthe-tooth cross country coaching

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1-800-424-5555 or dial 811 Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council www.ieucc811.org standouts from everywhere who gather monthly at IHOP where they meet monthly. I’ve known him as a WV distance runner and who coached state individual and team championships in track and cross country at U-Hi. CV’s Dennis McGuire, former EV distance runner and Knights coach Dave McCarty, who got his start there as a baseball coach, were both successful. Ferris legend Herm Caviness, who is in his 80s and whose son, Chris, tragically, rently died of cancer. Your children are supposed to outlive you. Chris followed his dad as a coach at Ferris.

Linda Lanker was a fixture at Valley Christian remains active with area track and field organizations.

Barbero and McCarty were star distance runners at their respective high schools who I wrote about when they in were high school at WV and EV respectively.

Now we are gray-haired (for those who still have hair) has beens.

But it’s better to be a has-been than a never was.

Their tales, like legendary Paul Bunyan, get taller with the telling.

And yet, they are all true.

BUSINESS

22 • JUNE 2020

Boating tradition turned small business

The Splash

By Linda Ball Splash Contributor

Chad and Melanie Bixey are lifelong boaters, growing up in Southern California with boating families who frequented the waters of the Colorado River, Lake Havasu, Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

Chad has been in the boat business as a mechanic for 26 years, doing everything from sales to training others on how to drive a boat. In 2009 as the economy was plummeting during the recession, the Bixeys took a trip to the Spokane area, looking for a new place to settle. He liked the idea of four seasons and bodies of water nearby.

He was offered a job with Carstens Marine in the Valley, so they made the move.

Business was slow, so he applied with StanCraft as its lead mechanic and service manager, where he worked until last year when along with business partner Kevin Rudeen they opened Legend Performance Marine in Liberty Lake. The business is the first and only marine services company in Liberty Lake. They moved into a brand new building in July 2019 on E. Knox Avenue, between Appleway and I-90, which is owned by Rudeen Development. The business has three bays, two serving as a showroom for new boats.

The boats that Bixey carries are Hallett and Nordic, which have both been around since the 1960s. Hallet’s moniker was “Live the Legend,” and as long time fans of Hallett boats the couple came up with the idea of using legend in the name of the business. The Hallett boats are what are considered

THE

Photo by Linda Ball Legend Performance Marine is full service for all your boating needs, including on water service calls. family performance day cruisers, while Nordic are built for speed, appealing to a sportier, younger crowd. Nordic purchased Hallett in 2017.

Bixey said the company has done a great job of appealing to different tastes. The Hallets are roomier with more storage for example.

Legend Performance Marine is an authorized Mercury Marine Dealer and is certified as a full repair facility for Mercury engines, outboards and accessories. Bixey said that 70 to 80 percent of boats have Mercury Marine power. He said “it’s a big deal to become a Mercury Marine dealer.” As such they can also do warranty work on any Mercury engine. This enables them to have all the latest diagnostic tools.

He said boat engines have become as complicated as automobiles. “It’s

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all digitally controlled now, so you really need the designation to work on them,” Bixey said.

But that doesn’t mean that Legend Performance Marine won’t work on your older boat. Right now he has an engine from a 1956 Chris-Craft in the shop.

If you need upholstery or fiberglass repair, Bixey contracts it out.

Legend Performance Marine also prides itself in keeping the boats clean while they are being worked on.

And if you need to store your boat in the winter, the company has an offsite storage facility in Cheney.

All of the engines have a standard one-year warranty, with the option of purchasing an optional extended warranty for up to eight years. With boats as complicated as they are now,

Bixey said the extended warranty is recommended.

With a reputation for doing a good job and a passion for fast boats, Bixey is where he should be. He and his wife still love boating and their best times have been when they are boating he said. Now most of their boating is on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Lake Roosevelt, Lake Chelan, Lake Pend Oreille, and Priest Lake.

Bixey said the business was going pretty good up until Covid-19 disrupted all of our lives. Right now they are offering curb side pickup.

Unfortunately their open house was postponed with the current Covid-19 guidelines.

Whether or not he has a successful summer will depend on the ability for potential boat buyers to get financing.

“It’s up to the banks,” he said.

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JUNE 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ 23

OPINION

24 â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2020

REPEAL ESSB 5395 AND STOP THE RADICAL K-12 SEX ED LAW Referendum 90 HELP QUALIFY REFERENDUM 90!

Request Petition at parentsforsafeschools.com Or call 253-260-3642 Petitions can be signed in Liberty Lake at The Well Coffee Shop, 22180 E Country Vista Drive 9am-4pm

Petitions need to be mailed back no later than June 2nd

EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS

Parents for Safe Schools, 218 Main Street #494 Kirkland, WA 98033 Paid for by Mike Padden Parents for Safe Schools, 218 Main Street #494, Kirkland, WA 98033 Top 5 donors, The Reagan Fund, Jack Connelly, Joshua Freed, Suzanne Burke Joan Wallace. Top 3 donors to PAC, Kemper Holdings, BIAW, Altria Client Services

needs your support

By Sen. Mike Padden Washington 4th Legislative District

ESSB 5395, passed in the last legislative session and signed by the governor into law, mandates graphic sex education starting in elementary grades. The curriculum bypasses local school boards and local parental input. Unelected and unaccountable Olympia bureaucrats will enforce this sex education curriculum. No other subject, be it mathematics, English, social studies or any other study area, has a statemandated curriculum.

ESSB 5395 also decrees that this Olympia-based K-12 curriculum be comprehensively included in all subject areas such as math, English and computer science.

Both the Mead and West Valley school district boards asked the governor to veto the legislation, which he did not. There is not one school superintendent in Spokane County that supported the bill (now law). A number of other school districts in other parts of the state formally opposed the legislation.

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Of 10,200 participants in a survey conducted by the state superintendent, 58 percent opposed this bill. Legislators received overwhelming opposition to the bill from their constituents yet many still voted for it.

The testimony in favor of the legislation from proponents such as Planned Parenthood favored a no-values, no-judgement approach.

Planned Parenthood has stated they favor a curriculum encouraging sexual expression, sexual fulfillment and sexual pleasure. The curriculum includes teaching young students how to say yes to sexual activity.

This approach runs contrary to the values of many families and many communities throughout the state.

While there is an opt-out provision for classroom instruction that is specifically labeled comprehensive sexual education, the legislation demands so-called comprehensive sexual education to be integrated into other subjects where students cannot opt out.

Petitions are circulating now to give voters a chance to reject ESSB 5395 in November. Signature petitions need to be mailed in no

As we adjust to the new normal the market is making changes for the health and safety of our customers and vendors. For the complete list of changes

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later than June 6.

A total of 129,811 valid signatures must be turned in by June 10. In order that there are enough valid signatures from registered voters about 160,000 signatures are needed.

It is vitally important that voters be given a chance to accept or reject this extreme legislation. If everyone does their part, the goal of signatures gathering can be realized.

Petitions are available from the parentsforsafeschools.com website. There are signing locations throughout Spokane County where folks can go to sign the referendum petitions. These locations are listed on the Parents for Safe Schools website.

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

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Ball, Nina Culver, Pia Hallenberg, Craig Howard, Tie Lemerod, Ross Schneidmiller, Mike Vlahovich

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Amaculate Housekeeping

25

Index of advertisers

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

Inland Empire Utility CC

21

Banner Furnace & Fuel

8

John L Scott - Pam Fredrick

3

City of Liberty Lake

7

Kathrine Olson, DDS

8

Eagle Rock Storage

26

Liberty Lake EyeCare Center

3

Estates and Elders

17

Liberty Lake Family Dentistry

5

Evergreen Gymnastics

26

Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market

24

Friends of Mary Kuney

Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District 6

ingly accepted. Complaints about advertisers should

Greenstone 28

Liberty Lake Smile Source

26

be made in writing to the Better Business Bureau and

Gus Johnson Ford

Mike Padden

24

Inaccurate or deceptive advertising is never know-

20

Simonds Dental Group

28

Spokane Family Dental

13

Spokane Gymnastics

19

Spokane Valley Farmer’s Market

14

Windermere

5, 14

Service Directory

25

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26 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

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The Splash

Helping Hands

ON THAT NOTE

JUNE 2020 • 27

Contributed photos Adalyn, a 15 year old with Autism, turned what was once her dog scarf business to sewing masks to help the community. They are available for purchase at Pawpular Companions Boutique.

By Pia Hallenberg Splash contributor

It began as a dog scarf business – with proceeds being saved to fund the purchase of a service dog – but when COVID hit it turned into something entirely different.

Meet Adalyn Soderquist, a sparkling 15-year-old who will be a sophomore at Spokane Valley’s University High School come this fall, or if school ever starts again as she likes to put it.

Adalyn with her new puppy, Ceecee; a Bernedoodle that they will be training to do pressure point therapy to help with Adalyn’s anxiety.

Adalyn lives with Autism and said she sometimes have severe anxiety or panic attacks at school.

“I just feel really overwhelmed when there are a lot of people around me,” she said. Lots of are people are everywhere at a busy high school, so getting through the day can sometimes be tough. “It happens in debate class and sometimes in choir.

It’s just kind of hard.”

Someone suggested a service dog may really help Adalyn but service dogs are expensive both to purchase, train and maintain.

Determined to save up for a dog and its training, Adalyn began making dog bandanas that she sold at Pawpular Companions Boutique in Liberty Lake.

Her goal: to make enough money so she could buy a service dog.

And just before COVID hit and shut everything down, she was able to bring CeeCee – a mini Bernedoodle home.

“She’s just a puppy, she is so cute and fluffy and very, very soft,” Adalyn said. “We are going to train her to be my companion and to do pressure point therapy on me when I have an anxiety attack.” Research show that dogs can be trained to sit or lay in a certain position on top of their owner, when an anxiety attach hits.

“There are deep pressure points on your body that can really help with this,” Adalyn said, adding that she likes school and she just wants to do well.

Everything was lined up for

CeeCee and Adalyn to start training and then the quarantine began.

“When COVID hit everything just sort of came to a stop,” said Adalyn’s mom, Natalie Soderquist.

“We had the dog at home, we were ready for training and then suddenly we couldn’t do anything.”

On a trip to Pawpular Companions Boutique they got to talking about facemasks which gave Adalyn the idea to swiftly change her production from bandanas to masks.

Now that Spokane County has been approved to enter Phase II of the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy plan, Adalyn has no plans to stop her mask production. She gives many away so no one knows just how many she’s made.

“We give them away to people who are nurses or immune compromised or otherwise need

them,” said Natalie Soderquist.

“We still sell some at Pawpular Companions but they sell for two or three bucks.”

Natalie Soderquist said that sewing is a great activity for Adalyn because it requires focus, attention to detail and it’s very rewarding.

“I learned to sew from my mom and my grandmothers,” Adalyn said. “it’s been really cool. I think we will just keep sewing.”

Adalyn isn’t the only Spokane Valley resident who’s making masks.

On the other side of town lives Linda Sanders, who’s a lifelong quilter. She said she had all this fabric sitting around, samples that

were too small to use for quilting and too big to just throw out.

“I talked to the foodbank and asked if they needed any facemasks,” said Sanders. “They didn’t need any but suggested I reached out to SNAP.” SMAP was delighted to hear from Sanders.

“I made them 15 or 20 masks – it was great,” Sanders said, adding that a young man came to pick them up in a safe manner at her door.

A friend who lives in St. Maries, Idaho, told Sanders that the hospital there was short 500 masks.

“So I made a whole stack for them, too,” Sanders said. “It’s just a little thing I could do to give back.”

28 • JUNE 2020

The Splash

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