By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst would appreciate the heart and dedication of Jami Mauro.
In 1897, McLellan Birney and Apperson Hearst founded the National Congress of Mothers, an organization that would later become the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA). The two women were among a contingent of over 2,000 mothers, fathers, teachers, laborers and legislators who gathered in Washington, D.C. 125 years ago to establish “a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities and a strong advocate for public education,” according to the NPTA website.
Mauro would have been in the nation’s capital that February had she been around. The California native is the proud mom of two boys – Christopher and Jonathan – who attend Greenacres Middle School and Liberty Lake Elementary (LLES), respectively. In her signature uber-volunteer fashion, Mauro serves as PTA president at both schools.
“Nothing can be done without volunteer support, people who give of their time and energy,” Mauro says.
Sales managers may want to ask Mauro for advice considering her accomplishments as an adept fundraiser for a variety of projects. She has led a campaign known as the “Fall Flannel Fundraiser” that has generated over $70,000 since it was introduced three years ago.
“I have an amazing team,” Mauro said of the effort. “Each class makes an (auction) basket and we get all kinds of great stuff.”
Another drive has raised nearly $15,000 for new musical equipment at LLES. Mauro’s latest campaign is focused on an overhaul of the LLES playground with donated funds and a match from the Central Valley School District.
Mauro’s leadership qualities and achievements on the fundraising front have not gone unnoticed. She has had talks with representatives of Trent Elementary in the East Valley School District about assisting with the PTA there.
“We have been so incredibly blessed by Jami,” said LLES Principal Jennifer Tesky. “Over the past two years, she has
worked with an amazing team of volunteers to create unforgettable opportunities for our students. Her fundraising skills are unmatched and she has a true gift for bringing the community together to support our local schools.”
Mauro and her husband Chris moved to Liberty Lake from California nine years ago. She was raised as a foster child in Seal Beach, a quaint seaside community in Orange County that Mauro compares in tone to Liberty Lake, minus the extreme winters. Mauro’s mother was an inconsistent presence in her life, leaving her grandfather as the sole parent-figure who provided a level of accountability and structure.
By 16, after cycling in and out of foster homes, Mauro was emancipated from her mom and put herself through high school and college while working a variety of jobs, eventually earning her Associate of Arts degree When she was 17, Mauro’s grandfather passed away.
“I think my work ethic came from him,” she said. “He’d been in the military and was really the only solid example I had. I learned to follow things through and see them through.”
After emancipation, Mauro kept a demanding schedule, attending continuation school from 8 a.m. to noon, working at an insurance agency until 5 p.m., then wrapping up her day as a waitress at a pizza restaurant.
Mauro met her future husband at a time in her life that she recalls being “off-track.”
“Chris offered a lot more stability,” she said. “Just knowing he was going to be there was reassuring. I could tell he was someone who was reliable and honest.”
Christopher was born in 2009,
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followed by Jonathan in 2013.
“I want to be a good mom,” Mauro said. “I want my kids to try their best. Even if they fail, as long as they give 100 percent, it’s OK. They don’t have to be perfect, I just want them to do their best.”
Jami and Chris first began discussing a move to Liberty Lake after attending a family wedding in the summer of 2010.
“It was beautiful,” Mauro said. “The community itself was just so cute, like Mayberry. As far as the move goes, we went back and forth. It really depended on work.”
Chris was eventually able to sign on with Avista, first in Oregon and later in Spokane.
“There were no huge reservations,” she said. “When I left, I didn’t look back.”
Mauro joined the LLES PTA as a volunteer when Christopher was in first grade.
“I was approaching my 40s at that point,” she said. “It gave me a sense of purpose. This was a whole new world.”
From coordinating book fairs to hosting Family Fun Nights, Mauro immersed herself quickly in PTA culture. She has been a pacesetter for fundraisers that have covered the cost of backpacks and supplies for students in need and established the “Patriot Pad” at LLES, a sensory room where students can, in Mauro’s words, “get a brain break” in the course of their school day. The fundraisers have also paid for teacher training to facilitate the sensory room.
In 2017, Mauro and other PTA members introduced “Meet the Masters” at LLES, focusing on influential artists throughout history. The program has generated student art that is featured on utility boxes across Liberty Lake as part of a collaboration with the city’s Parks and Arts Commission.
Mauro also supports Active 4 Youth, a free running club for kids that promotes the benefits of exercise while calling attention to the risks of childhood obesity.
“There isn’t a day you don’t see Jami’s smiling face at Liberty Lake Elementary,” Tesky says. “She is the first to ask how she can help and goes above and beyond in her position as president.”
Q: You grew up dealing with a variety of challenges on the home front. What do you think were some of the keys to you overcoming those hurdles, staying resilient and making your way in the world?
A: It is hard to define what my experience was like in just a few details. Having been thrown into a world of uncertainty with constant challenges from an early age marked my life experience in a very profound way. It opened up a world of responsibility and selfdirection that I had to navigate through a series of failures to get to the place I am today. I lived that uncertainty over and over again, which in hindsight helped forge the path that shaped my greatest qualities. It helped to develop a strength and confidence that I had a deeper purpose and could truly withstand any challenge and come out on top in the end.
Q: Other than your grandfather’s influences, it seems like stable and supportive parenting wasn’t really patterned for you in your formative years, yet you’ve turned into this remarkable super mom. How did you learn to be such a tremendous parent to your kids?
A: I whole-heartedly believe that wanting to be the best you can and working to break damaging cycles has to come from understanding your self-worth. In my case, being a good person isn’t solely the product of a nurturing environment but can be the result of your intrinsic care for others. You have to want things for yourself and unwaveringly strive to create positive outcomes with those things. This is not because someone or something determined you were worthy, but rather the knowing that you are capable and deserving because of the work that you have done. Having felt the pain of so many doors closed on me throughout my life left me with no other option than figuring out how I was going to open them
back up.
Q: What were some of your initial impressions of Liberty Lake when you came to visit the first time?
A: It was a beautiful small town, the very first time we came to visit was a June afternoon, the hot air balloon was up in the sky and we were headed to the lake for a wedding reception. It was breathtaking! The people were extremely friendly and welcoming.
Q: We hear a lot about the stigma of the “California transplant” to the Northwest. Why do you think there has been such a migration of folks to this area from that state and what have you personally appreciated about living here?
A: I know for us it was a smaller community feeling and the advantages of having family nearby. We moved here nine years ago and we have truly enjoyed raising our boys here. It’s a more wholesome way of life within the community and that will sell anyone to move here.
Q: You have seen the impact volunteers can have at a school. What would you say to parents and others who are considering donating their time and energy but aren’t sure where or how to start?
A: PTAs tend to carry a stigma of being “clicky or exclusionary,” however there is so much more to this remarkable group. Most of what is done at the school cannot be done without the help of volunteers. Whether it’s in the child’s classroom, supporting an art class, Family Fun Nights, or any other type of community student involvement. It’s so easy to volunteer! You can reach out to the front office of any school or contact the teacher directly. Almost every school has a Facebook or social media page that has active volunteers responding and answering questions.
Q: The raising of funds for music equipment at Liberty Lake Elementary is one of several campaigns you have participated in. What do you think have been the keys to the success of this one in particular?
A: The key to success is having a drive to see a mission through. Having an outlet such as music is so important in early education to help give kids a drive to want to commit to something. Being that there was a need, as Liberty Lake Elementary School is an older school and not having enough music equipment for each student to use was extremely important. Each school should have access to these opportunities.
Q: Selflessness is a trait that some kids learn early, others learn later and some kids never really incorporate at all. How do you think the example of parent volunteering sets an example for kids regarding the importance of service and lending time and talents to worthy causes?
A: “Selflessness” is a tricky word because it comes in so many forms. I believe that volunteering shows your children empathy, kindness, compassion as well as selflessness. In its simplest form it shows children that someone wants to be there because someone cares to be a part of their learning journey or life experiences. Moreso, that someone is devoting their time, energy and creative ideas to see whatever the event comes to fruition, that somebody truly cares about them enough to do this with no monetary compensation.
Q: Finally, what have you enjoyed most about being part of the supplemental support system at the schools your sons attend?
A: It’s hard to narrow it down to one thing, I have loved every event that I have supported from the Fall Flannel Auction at Liberty Lake Elementary School to the Flamingo Flocking at Greenacres Middle School along with numerous other programs. Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life with the exception of my children. I enjoy taking on a task and making it come to life such as seeing touchless water bottle filling stations at the elementary school and new football helmets for the middle school. I take away a sense of pride knowing that I committed to something and left it better than I found it.
Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 427
Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 7
Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 13
DUI (Driving Under Influence) 0
Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 15
Malicious Mischief 4
Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 17
Parking Violations 1
Suspicious Vehicles 33
*The above numbers are as of 12/01/2022
Commercial Burglary, 11/09/22:
Officers responded to the 19000 block of Broadway Avenue for a report of an alarm at that location. While responding dispatch relayed there may be a male inside the fence. Officers arrived and determined the fence had been run over and there were several vehicle parts left in the area, but no one was found at the time. Officers later found a stolen Jeep Cherokee matching the description of the vehicle found in the camera systems that broke through the gate. The vehicle was secured as evidence and a search warrant was completed on the vehicle. Investigation continues for the Burglary suspect/suspects.
Commercial Burglary, 11/11/22: Officers responded to an Alarm call in the 19000 block of Broadway Avenue. The alarm company stated there appeared to be a male walking through the south lot. When officers arrived, they noticed a hole in the
fence that could have been from the previous burglary. Officers cleared the area and noticed fresh prints where it appeared someone had jumped over the fence to gain access to the fenced area. Video was later provided to the PD showing a male suspect inside the fence. Nothing was taken at the time, but investigation continues for the male suspect.
Shooting Suspect, 11/16/22: Officers responded to the 18000 block of E. Lindsay Ln. to assist the County with a report of a male shooting from his residence. As officers responded to the location, they realized the male was by himself in the residence taking random shots at other residences around the area. They secured the scene and evacuated the nearby residences to ensure they were safe. The County SWAT team was called to respond to the barricaded suspect, and he was later taken into custody
after several hours of attempted negotiations and the male attempting to flee. County officers were involved with a shooting with the suspect and one of our officers was asked to assist with the shooting investigation. Liberty Lake officers assisted in the investigation but were not present during the shooting incident.
As the hours of darkness get longer and the weather becomes inclement, please remember to drive with caution and use your headlights as necessary. Check your vehicles for winter driving conditions and take additional time to get to your location safely. Please call 911 immediately for emergency assistance when needed and call Crime Check if you see something you feel may need our attention. If you don’t hear back from Crime Check in a timely manner, please call, and request officer assistance.
It’s the time of year when pundits, prognosticators and publicity makers put out their predictions about things that they think happen throughout the next 12 months.
A far more reliable forecast of what’s ahead for residents of Liberty Lake, though, can be found in the city’s 2023 budget, which as adopted by the City Council at its regular meeting on Dec. 6. The year’s new budget has been designed to continue delivering high-quality services for residents without involving any increase in the property tax levy or utility tax rates.
Here are some of highlights that residents can look forward to seeing during 2023 under this year’s budget:
• Trailhead Golf Course improvements. A July grand opening is set for the clubhouse that’s being built and expanded from the basement foundation of the Trailhead’s old building, which was demolished in October. New walls began appearing at the site in mid-December. Visitors to the upcoming facility will find a bigger pro shop, a larger restaurant with a more outside deck space, flex space for meetings on the main level, the added feature of golf simulation bays, and a larger area in the lower level for storing golf carts.
Additionally, upgrades to the golf property are slated to include new poles and netting for the driving range, which could be installed in the
The Liberty Lake City Council on Dec. 6 approved a city proclamation recognizing Ethan Moriniti for his life-saving actions during an incident that occurred at the Liberty Lake Golf Course on Oct. 2.
Moriniti, a Liberty Lake resident and 2020 Central Valley High School graduate, is certified in CPR and AED training from Spokane Falls Community College, where he is taking pre-requisites for
spring. Also happening: The burial of the final phase of underground utility lines at the course, as well as the final connection of the Trailhead water line at Country Vista to replace the 50-year-old connection at Settler Drive and the nearly half mile of associated 50-year-old service line. Plus, new security cameras will be added to the parking lot area.
• Kramer Overpass. After supply delays that occurred during the previous year, construction will resume in 2023 on the Kramer Parkway Overpass that will connect East Mission Avenue and East Country Vista Drive on each side of I-90. Completion is now planned to happen around the middle of the year.
• Public Works Facility. The city’s new public works building at 375 N. Kramer Parkway is expected to start construction in January. Completion is eyed for around April and the area will serve as the storage and maintenance site for the city’s plows, dump trucks, work trucks, striping equipment and work supplies.
• Library upgrades. Allocations will support some room remodeling at the existing site, as well as some additional shelving and furniture. Also budgeted are design costs in setting up the library’s eventual move into its new location at the neighboring building to the east. Plus, another part-time librarian position will be added during the last half of 2023 who will assist with the expansion of the library’s new programs.
• Park upgrades. Pavillion Park
studies in chiropractic and sports medicine.
The city proclamation recognizes Moriniti’s response in observing a person at the Liberty Lake Golf Course’s parking lot who was exhibiting the signs of a possible heart attack. During the situation, Moriniti began applying CPR and used an AED (automated external defibrillator) until an ambulance arrived.
The man he helped rescue, Mark DesRosiers, was on hand for the special presentation during the City Council’s Dec. 6
(727 N. Molter Road) will be gaining some replaced shingles for the main building, some replaced wind screens, as well as updates to the lighting and electrical systems throughout the property. A new shade structure will be installed during the year at Rocky Hill Park (24901 E. Mission Avenue).
Plus, work on a master plan for the undeveloped 4.4 acres of Town Square Park (1421 N. Meadowwood Lane) will be used to develop longrange goals for the future of that site. This process is expected to incorporate community input in creating this plan that will ultimately guide the future budgeting, design and construction of improvements to Town Square.
• Public safety. Two more officer positions are being added to the police department in 2023, which will bring the city’s police to 20 officers when they become hired during the initial part of the year. A third new officer position is expected to be filled at around the midpoint of 2023.
Further technology investments to enhance public safety services will include more locations for the Flock Safety cameras, which have been useful during the past year in documenting information on missing or suspect vehicles. A drone unit will also be purchased to assist in accident investigations.
• Youth Commission and Civil Service Commission. Plans are being made to revive the city’s Youth Commission and Civil Service Commission during 2023. The Youth Commission has been inactive for a couple of years and was designed to involve the voice, teamwork,
meeting at City Hall. During that presentation, Moriniti received a copy of the proclamation from Mayor Cris Kaminskas, a Liberty Lake Police patch from Police Chief Damon Simmons, and challenge coins from Simmons as well as Tom Hatley, the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s deputy chief of Administrative Support Services.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department offers monthly CPR classes for area residents. Details on that opportunity are available at: www.spokanevalleyfire. com/services/programs. Call SVFD at 509-928-1700 for more
interests and opinions of 8th to 12th graders in the community’s life. The three-member Civil Service Commission will be reactivated during the first part of the year and will be focused on personnel matters for the city’s police staff. Budget allocations will support the operational, programming, and supply expenditures for both of these city commissions.
• Traffic improvements. Commuters will see several improvements, including the reconstruction of the slip lane on North Liberty Lake Road just south of East Appleway Avenue, design work for Country Vista Road and East Appleway Avenue intersection upgrades, as well as routine road repairs.
• Stormwater master plan. Findings from the stormwater master plan that is already in its early work stages will help in the city’s ability to maintain current and upcoming water drainageways for rain and snow. The master plan will serve in guiding decisions into necessary infrastructure that will help serve Liberty Lake’s ongoing growth. Initial research for the master plan began in December and will be completed during 2023.
• City staff services. A significant portion of the city’s budget is allocated for staff operations, including a cost-of-living pay increase in order to provide wages that can help keep and attract employees who conduct the services received by the public. The city will also be obtaining new software to make contract management more efficient.
information.
The city of Liberty Lake is also part of the Pulse Point program with the Spokane Valley Fire Department The Pulse Point app is available free on the App Store and Google Play to download. The app alerts CPR–trained bystanders to a cardiac emergency in your area. It then provides direction to the exact location of the emergency, as well as the closest AED. AED machines are available at located all city parks and properties. To learn more, visit www.pulsepoint. org.
• City snow plowing crews have been this winter. The first crew begins at 4 a.m. on a snow day with the second team starting at 6 a.m. The city utilized over 52,000 pounds of salt after the first major snowfall this year. On Dec. 20, that number had reached 82,000 pounds.
• The snow season also brings the need to clear residential driveways and walkways. Liberty Lake’s Snow Angel program is looking for volunteers to help local residents who need assistance creating safe passageways. To learn more, visit www.libertylakewa.gov and click on “Seasonal Help by Volunteers” or call City Hall at 509-755-6700. Residents in need of snow removal are also encouraged to contact the city.
• David Williams told council that the Country Vista/Legacy Ridge traffic signal will be operational this winter. He gave an update on construction of the Public Works Yard, saying it “is coming to fruition.”
The Kramer Overpass project is on hold, Williams said, due to winter weather. He added that works continues on the city’s Stormwater Master Plan with Parametrix serving as a consultant on the project.
• The Salary Commission has recommended that compensation for City Council members be increased by 5 percent next year with the mayor’s salary remaining the same. Council members are currently compensated $750 a month or $9,000 a year. The mayor’s annual salary is $30,000.
• Trailhead Head Pro Chris Johnston told council that sales at the makeshift pro shop will be around $100,000 for 2022. The retail site has been housed in a trailer since construction of the new parking lot and clubhouse began earlier this year. Johnston added that the new fleet of golf carts will not arrive until the fourth quarter of 2023, necessitating usage of the 14 existing carts for the upcoming warm weather season.
• Finance Director Kyle Dixon said the city is looking at a 36-percent increase in property and liability insurance next year. “Right now I’m looking at other alternatives,” Dixon told council.
• Council approved an expenditure of $25,727.63 on Dec. 6 for rapid flashing beacons at three pedestrian crossings.
• Council unanimously approved the lease agreement with the restaurant that will be located at the new Trailhead clubhouse. The 10-year contract with Chef Adam Hegsted’s Eat Good Group will begin at a rate of $19.50 per square foot. Hegsted is known for establishments like Gilded Unicorn, baba Spokane, The Yards Bruncheon and de Espana.
• Council unanimously approved Ordinance 289 on Nov. 15, establishing the property tax levy for 2023 at $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The rate for next year includes no increase from 2023 and the city banking the allowable 1-percent uptick for potential implementation in the future.
• Longtime resident Dave Himebaugh was confirmed to another term with the Parks and Arts Commission, Pos. 3. Himebaugh served for years with the Friends of Pavillion Park.
• Central Valley grad Ethan Moriniti was honored last month for his life-saving efforts to help a resident in cardiac crisis at the Trailhead golf course. Representatives of the city, Liberty Lake Police Department and Spokane Valley Fire Department recognized Moriniti, who is trained in CPR and AED use, at the Dec. 6 council meeting. To read more, see the Lookout page in this issue.
• Mark Saba from the Community Engagement Commission gave an update to council on the group’s efforts, focusing on the development of a city academy, city podcast and technology resources that could be used for public engagement.
• Council agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Library Board of Trustees in January after an emotional and layered discussion on Ordinance 119 B – Establishing the Library –that took place Nov. 1. The central debate centered around establishing gatekeeper authority for book review policies between the library and the city. At the end of the meeting, Trustee Tim Olsen announced his resignation. Olsen said later he would be volunteering with Friends of the Library. Council and trustees will review the ordinance this month. “Council wants to go over the library ordinance, which is something the council has never done before,” said Mayor Kaminskas.
• Council approved the donation
of soccer nets at Rocky Hill Park.
• John Bahr was confirmed as the newest member of the Parks and Arts Commission.
• Paul Brown was confirmed as a voting member of the Planning Commission with a term that expires Dec. 31, 2025. Kimball Bighorse was confirmed an adjunct member of the Planning Commission with an expiring term of Dec. 31, 2024.
• “Light Up Liberty Lake” premiered as a holiday fundraiser this month. Illuminated stars sold at the Liberty Lake Ace Hardware store, 1425 N. Liberty Lake Road. Proceeds will benefit PTA/PTO programs at local schools and support families in need. Founder Marla Larson said the stars make a statement “that we are proud of our community, we treat each other with respect and we demonstrate compassion for all.”
• Opening ceremonies for 2022 Winter Glow took place Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. at Orchard Park. The festivities included an appearance by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, the band and cheerleaders from Ridgeline High School band and “Yeti” the Winter Glow mascot. This year’s exhibit features over 200 illuminated displays and will run through Jan. 1.
• The HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake hosted a gingerbread house fundraiser on Dec. 3 from benefiting the Believe in Me Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping local kids in areas like transitional housing, foster care and adoption, wraparound resources and therapy, education and enrichment.
• City Treasurer Ann Marie Gale was recognized for 15 years of service at the Dec. 20 council meeting. “I cannot say enough of how much she provides as a person and as an employee,” said Finance Director Kyle Dixon. Rhonda Gimlen, library volunteer coordinator, was also honored for 15 years of service with the city. “Rhonda is very warm and friendly and great at customer service,” said Library Director Jandy Humble. Carol McKenny was spotlighted for her work as a library substitute for the past 10 years. The annual Liberty Lake Police Department awards will be handed out in January.
• Mayor Kaminskas said the city will not be contracting with any lobbyists for this year’s state legislative session but said “it is always an option if a project comes up.” The city has previously joined with the Central Valley School District and the
Spokane Valley Fire Department on an agreement with consultants to convey local priorities to lawmakers.
• The city has a contract in place for the netting and poles at the Trailhead driving range. Design could be done as early as the beginning of February with bids going out by the middle of the month. On Dec. 20, Dixon brought up a budget item of just over $17,000 to repair damage sustained to the netting that has caused the driving range to be closed since Nov. 7. “There is a potential revenue opportunity to be lost if we don’t repair this netting,” Dixon said. Council ultimately approved the design contract and net repairs.
• Human Resources Manager Heidi Workman gave an update on the city’s COVID-19 protocol, saying that once an employee tests positive for the virus, she outlines quarantine requirements and masking expectations afterward.
• The Community Engagement Commission has reached a consensus on a public engagement platform called ZenCity after reviewing four options. Representatives of ZenCity appeared at the Dec. 20 council meeting to answer questions about the product. Established in 2016, the company is a provider of local government software specializing in community engagement and currently contracts with over 300 jurisdictions, including several in Washington. “This is about taking a step to have more proactive community engagement in the long term,” said City Administrator Mark McAvoy. Council will have an opportunity to view a demo of the platform before voting on the proposed contract. The city has been quoted an annual cost of $12,000 a year for the service.
• Council approved the Lodging Tax Committees recommendations for 2023 funding. Beneficiaries included Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary, Winter Glow and others.
• Council approved two reappointments to the Parks and Arts Commission. Bob Schneidmiller’s was confirmed to Pos. 1 while Laura Frank was approved as Pos. 5 member. Both were longtime contributors with the Friends of Pavillion Park. Noel Otersen Loparco was confirmed to Pos. 7.
• Council approved a donation of $50,000 from Liberty Lake-based Rudeen Development to the Police Department Capital Fund on Dec. 6.
Budget class was officially in session for the Liberty Lake City Council on Oct. 4, 2022.
That’s when the preliminary municipal budget for 2023 –crafted by Mayor Cris Kaminskas, Finance Director Kyle Dixon and City Administrator Mark McAvoy – hit the desks of each council member. Just a little over two months later, on Dec. 6, the city had an approved budget for the upcoming year.
The financial blueprint for 2023 rings in at just over $30 million, around $3 million less than 2022.
Council Member Tom Sahlberg, who took part in his first budget process as part of the governing board but tuned into many of the city’s previous discussions as an engaged citizen, said he couldn’t recall a process running quite as seamlessly as it did this year.
“I thought it was well-refined, going back to the times where I was sitting out in the audience going through all the iterations,” Sahlberge said. “There really wasn’t a major issue with this budget.”
For Kaminskas, this year represented her 13th budget, going back to her time on the City Council. For the mayor and Dixon, the work begins in the summer when department directors are required to submit their individual budgets by midAugust. The information is then run through the city’s accounting software, evaluated line by line and compared to the previous year.
“It could be positive or negative,” Kaminskas said. “I may have a question like, ‘Do you need more?’ Or, it could be, ‘We haven’t spent that much
A budget workshop was held in October to provide insight to council in the time leading up to approval of the document before the end of the year. Sahlberg said the discussion brought focus to the multi-layered work ahead.
“That made things more understandable,” he said. “The mayor’s version of the budget was very clear. From the discussions we had, the staff’s priorities were the same as the ones we had as council. I think what everyone agreed to is that if we are going to be spending money, we don’t want to lose our reserves.”
On the revenue side, sales tax continued to generate robust numbers for the city in 2022, outpacing the projected total of $4.3 million by a considerable margin. Dixon said sales tax income stood at $5.2 million at the end of November and would likely be around $5.6 million by the end of the year, although the official count would not be available until January.
Dixon said RV and car sales continued to post impressive totals while the arrival of companies like Tesla and Western States in 2022 boosted revenue another notch.
Council revisited another source of funds several times in the past year – the 3-percent utility tax – which was introduced in 2011 as a 6-percent levy on electric and natural gas power, cable TV, phone and garbage collection. Utility tax dollars have gone exclusively to support roads since 2013.
In October, council held a workshop that generated four options regarding the tax, starting with leaving it at 3 percent on all five utilities. The second alternative would be to remove cable and garbage collection, resulting in an anticipated revenue decrease of $170,000.
The third scenario would involve reducing the rate on all five utilities to 2 percent, translating to a dip of $280,000. The final option would drop the rate to 2.5 percent, decreasing
revenue by $140,000.
While the utility tax is part of the 2023 budget, Dixon said the conversation is not over.
“We’ll take another long look at this tax,” he said. “We’re looking at other (funding) scenarios with a goal of reducing or eliminating the utility tax.”
After adding to the police department and brining on a city administrator, city planner, communications specialist and facilities lead position in 2022, the city’s hiring agenda will be less aggressive this year. Dixon said last year’s staffing flurry made sense due to needs at City Hall and healthy revenue.
“It solidified our position to not scale back any positions,” he said. “When I started (in May 2021) we were understaffed. We are a growing city and we’re seeing more than anticipated on the revenue side. It’s clear we can accommodate services.”
Two officers will be brought onto LLPD in the early part of the year with a third to be added later, bringing the departments total to 20.
After refraining from a costof-living increase for employees in 2020 – part of a constrained overall spending approach in light of the COVID-19 pandemic –the city implemented a 3-percent boost in 2022. The amount will be 6.5 percent this year.
“We know inflation has outpaced that,” Dixon said.
Another component of the 2023 is property tax. Kaminskas lobbied for no increase in the rate for this year and won council support. With a construction surge and hike in property valuation, residents will actually pay less this year even with the rate staying at $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. A home valued at $500,000 that paid $630 in property tax to the city in 2022 will pay an estimated $530 in 2023.
The tax generates around $3 million each year, with funds going toward the library and supporting just over half of public safety expenses.
On the capital facilities side, the city is allotting $180,000
toward the design of the new library in 2023 that will be housed in the former site of Legacy Church on Mission Avenue. Construction will begin in 2024. The city will benefit from $82,000 in annual rent from the church before the transition takes place.
Kaminskas has indicated she would like to bring back two groups in 2023 that have been on hiatus – the Civil Service Commission and the Youth Commission. She added that a plan for the remaining 4.4 acres at Town Square Park should also warrant consideration, pointing to possibilities like a year-round public market such as the one in Pasco.
Kaminskas said the budget process for 2024 will begin four weeks earlier than it did last year. The steps to constructing the city’s financial game plan could also be part of the curriculum for a new Citizens Academy that has been mentioned as another mechanism to engage residents. The mayor echoed Sahlberg’s impressions of the 2022 proceedings traveling along a smooth road.
“I think it was the fastest we’ve gotten through the budget with the least amount of questions,” she said.
before, are you sure you need that?’”
2022 has been quite the year. Looking back to last January we were still mostly closed down, travel restricted, and businesses / families trying to survive. 2022 was a year of adaptation as our community adapted to the pandemic and found ways to support each other as we got businesses reopened again and people connected together. We have all grown and changed over the year. Businesses have had to adapt to the change in the workforce and change the way they do business in order to attract talent and employees. We were all forced to figure out remote work and it is having long lasting changes for both companies and communities. Housing and the realestate market continues its difficulty going from small housing inventory to now rising inflation, costs, and interest rates. Familys have had to adapt to each of these and keep up with the increased costs of items at the store and not to mention crazy weather from golf ball sized hail to super cold and mother nature who changed her mind and gave us a warm streak to quickly melt. Its hard to believe all that we have experienced in 2022 and what might be ahead for 2023. While none of us have crystal balls, we have reached out to a number of community members and leaders to see what they forsee in 2023 to help us all set our goals as we welcome in the new year!
the City of Liberty Lake (3rd year as Mayor) and my 50+ year on this earth, there are many things that I am looking to. For the City, you’ll see the completion of the new Trailhead Clubhouse (including a new restaurant), more enhancements to public safety, the start of a Citizen’s Academy, and the completion of the Kramer overpass. Personally, I look forward to spending time with my family, training for a 25K trail race in June and my 2nd Marathon in October! It’s been 8 years since my last one, so I better get started!
I am actually really optimistic about what lies ahead in 2023, but I'm not sure that optimism is going to exist everywhere in our business community. I think there are a number of lingering financial stressors like inflation and supply chain that I really hope we can move past and eliminate from our vocabularies this year, but overall I really think that the Inland Northwest is going to see a lot of success stories and levels of collaboration that maybe haven't existed in quite some time. 2023 is going to be a challenging year for sure, but filled with a lot of meaningful opportunities.
Looking out to 2023 is exciting in so many ways. I look forward to traveling with my amazing wife, Erin, and experiencing other cultures worldwide. I look forward to more opportunities to help my clients realize their dreams of home ownership. We are so fortunate in so many ways; I look forward to my community continuing to grow and want everybody to treat each other with respect and love. It is ok to have different opinions, but we must show each other love, even when we disagree.
Unfortunately, our community continued to unravel from the dark and heavy vail of COVID in 2022. Fortunately, we did it successfully and with style! In 2023, I look forward to our community marching on. From summer events such as the Liberty Lake Farmers Market, to our Christmas Winter Glow Spectacular, we continue to live by our city slogan, “Liberty Lake Together.”
Our mission at the Liberty Lake Police Department for 2023 is to continue to provide our community with the service it deserves through the actions of our vision: “The Liberty Lake Police Department, through highly trained, equipped, and dedicated law enforcement officers and staff, will provide outstanding service to the community, while demonstrating high standards of professionalism, performance, morals, and ethics.”
First, we’d like to thank our community for another amazing year here at Pawpular Companions Pet Supplies. Our community support and loyalty has allowed us to keep our store open into our 13th year of business. As we move into 2023, we understand that our furry companions, more than ever, are part of our families and we care deeply about their nutritional needs and health. We have worked diligently to bring in high quality brands of food for all price points, to accommodate ALL budgets. In addition we stock many options for supplements and overall health care requirements. Our team is knowledgeable and always available to help with your needs or challenges, please come in for a friendly conversation, we’re here to assist. With love from the bottom of our hearts to the tip of our tails, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
As we close out 2022, I would like this opportunity to reflect on what was a very challenging year. There were a lot of changes, including a new fire chief, new deputy chiefs, a Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) reclassification, Covid and vaccination mandates, successful finance audits, increased call volume, new physical program, retirements, promotions, new employees, and a levy lid lift. However, nothing was more challenging to the Spokane Valley Fire Department nor our community than the death of an employee. In 1987, Mike Tyson, while discussing the strategy of his upcoming fight with Tyrell Biggs,
stated, “Everybody has plans until they get hit for the first time.” We got hit twice, and the impact went well beyond our department.
In 650 B.C., Greek poet Archilochus was credited with saying, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.” No one ever trains for the deaths of loved employees; nonetheless, our community, our state, and our fire department rose to the occasion. We must not forget them or their Service, nor the many SVFD retirees we lost this year, including our beloved Arson Dog, Mako.
As we move into 2023
We are proud to announce the 2023 budget was approved by the Board of Commissioners and includes several improvements in the areas of personnel, operations, fleet, and facilities. Additionally, we would like to thank everyone’s hard work and community support for our successful Levy Lid Lift Vote, thus ensuring the Spokane Valley Fire Department is on a more solvent path in the future.
In 2023, the Spokane Valley Fire Department will bring on 32 new Firefighters, five administrative support positions, new Engine 8, complete the Maintenance Facility, complete the Phoenix G2 dispatching system in the stations, order more Apparatus and staff units, stand-up more Advanced Life Support (ALS) stations, and start building a new Training Facility and Tower (completion in 2024).
There will be a lot of other things going on in 2023, but perhaps none more important right now than our Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Levy Vote on the February 14, 2023, ballot. We have come to that time where we need to replace our expiring M&O Levy (4-year term expires at the end of 2023). The M&O Levy is needed to continue to deliver the services we are currently providing. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – VOTE, VOTE, VOTE. This vote requires a super-majority (60%) to pass AND it requires at least 40% of the people that voted at the November 8, 2022 General Election to show up to vote in order for it to pass (there is a formula if it is less than the 40%).
What happens if the M&O Levy doesn’t pass?
Layoffs – 66 positions (58 FFs and 8 civilians) eliminated – these numbers are just for 2024, more layoffs will occur for 2025, 2026, etc. if the M&O Levy Vote does not pass at all.
• Station Closures – Stations 4, 5, and 9 will close.
• Reduction in ALS Services –Advanced Life Support (ALS) will be reduced due to cost and staffing.
• No Auto Aid – Cannot provide or receive Auto Aid.
• Reduced Availability – With only less FFs on duty each day, and increased call volume, availability will be limited for other emergent and non-emergent 911 calls.
• Higher Insurance Costs –WSRB Class 2 rating will rise to a 4/5, resulting in higher fire insurance premiums for homeowners & businesses (expect a 5% to 10% annual increase per each percent point raised).
• We will bring the M&O Levy Vote before the voters again in 2023 (August and November).
That’s just a few of the highlights and needed information as we head into 2023. I am proud and honored to serve as our community’s Fire Chief!
¡Vaya con Dios!
Looking forward to 2023, I’m optimistic about our ability as a community to rise above the predictable national division. Observing the state legislative session, I hope that level heads will prevail in the income tax debate and that we can learn to live within our means without looking for more ways to burden taxpayers. Finally, my hope is that we can avoid any significant recession by allowing businesses to do what they do best, creating jobs now and into the future!
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By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
The road to a second consecutive state slowpitch softball title appeared well-paved for the University Titans this fall.
The squad churned through the Greater Spokane League regular season without a loss and entered the district tournament as the favorite to collect the trophy and advance to the 2A/3A state bracket. That is, until the first playoff matchup when Mt. Spokane plated nine runs in the first inning en route to a 15-12 upset. The Titans now faced a loser-out scenario for the remainder of district play.
The early post-season defeat did little to disrupt the confidence of the defending state champs, according to fourth-year head coach Matt Connor.
“They never panicked,” he said. “This team has never backed down to anyone.”
The Titans passed the character check with a 13-3 win over Hermiston and a hard-fought 15-13 victory against Ridgeline to move onto the eight-team state tournament at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima. There, they routed Juanita 23-1 in the first round, setting up a rematch with Mt. Spokane in the semifinal. This time, U-Hi emerged victorious, 4-3, to advance to the final against Mead.
Against the Panthers, the signature Titans’ defense sparkled while bats delivered in the clutch. The 10-1 victory secured a repeat crown for the state’s premier slowpitch program.
“We had a group that focused on what our goals were as a team,” Connor said. “We talked at the start of the season how we wanted to win the last game of the year.”
The champs were led by a
quintet of GSL first team selections, including MVP Maliyah Mann who played first base and hit .700 with a .779 on-base percentage.), Catcher Jordan Bailey (.429 batting average), Natalie Singer, second base, (.532), designated hitter Tayla Eliason (.542) and outfielder Kaidyn Howard (.625) rounded out U-Hi’s first teamers. Pitcher Autumn Hibbs (.500 batting average), shortstop Abby Watkins (.622) and Katie Travis, third base, (.468) were second-team picks while Averie Hurley (.420) earned honorable mention.
University returns their entire infield and catcher Bailey – all juniors this season – for a run at a third straight state title in 2023.
Central Valley, which placed fourth in the GSL regular season, found its stride in the playoffs and finished runner-up to Chiwana in the 4A bracket after upsetting No. 2 seed Moses Lake and No. 3 Union.
Hofstee churns to 2A championship
East Valley junior Logan Hofstee knew that this season’s 2A girls’ cross country title would likely come down to the homestretch clash with last year’s champ Jessica Frydenlund of Anacortes.
Frydenlund left Pasco in 2021 with
the first-place medal, completing the 5K (3.1-mile) course in 17 minutes, 58 seconds. Hofstee was runner-up, finishing 20 seconds off the pace.
“I knew if I made it to state, Jessica was going to be there,” Hofstee said. “I also knew there was a chance I could win.”
At the 2-mile mark on the winding path at Sun Willows Golf Course on Nov. 5, Hofstee pulled in front of the defending champ and never looked back. Her time of 18 minutes flat was 23 seconds ahead of Frydenlund, a senior.
“It took awhile to set in,” Hofstee said of the victory. “I was definitely surprised by the margin. I just didn’t realize how much winning would mean, not just for me but for my school, my coaches, my family, my teammates. I was just ecstatic.”
Hofstee cruised through the Greater Spokane League season without losing a race. She points to “improvement with each race and each workout” as the key to earning her first state title.
“I came in a lot stronger this season, just tougher mentally and physically,” she said.
Hofstee followed up state with a second-place ribbon at the Nike
Cross Regionals in Boise, featuring some of the best prep runners from the Northwest. She placed 38th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland.
After considering schools like Northern Arizona and Utah, Hofstee said she will continue her running and academic pursuits at Gonzaga. She plans to sign in the fall of her senior year at EV.
“At the end of the day, Gonzaga just felt like home,” she said.
Other Valley cross country runners who excelled at state included: (1A/2A boys): Valley Christian sophomore Micah Bilbruck – (18:01); Valley Christian freshman Wesley Hendrickson – 28th (18:05); (1A boys): Freeman junior Barrett Poulsen – fourth (16:37); (1A girls): Freeman senior Lily Jones – 11th (19:59); (2A boys): West Valley junior Tony Belko – 13th (16:40); (2A girls): East Valley senior Abby Crossley – ninth: (19:34); West Valley senior Roxanne Frederickson – eighth (19:33); (3A girls): Ridgeline senior Alivia Bruno – 29th (19:46); (4A girls): Central Valley senior Nicole Bissell – fourth (18:36). Notable team placings: West Valley – sixth place, 2A girls; Valley Christian – seventh place, 1A boys; Central Valley – 13th place, 4A girls.
Freeman football takes third in state
The Freeman Scotties wrapped up one of the most successful football seasons in school history with a third-place finish in the 1A state bracket despite being seeded 12th.
The run began with a first-round road matchup against perennial power and No. 5 King’s that did nothing to faze a Freeman squad that placed second in an ubercompetitive Northeast 1A League. Senior quarterback Boen Phelps led the charge for the Scotties with three touchdown passes and another on the ground as the visitors defeated the Knights 28-13 on Nov. 11.
“Our players believed in the game plan,” said Freeman head coach Ben Cochran. “We weren’t intimidated.”
Eatonville, seeded fourth, was next in a quarterfinal contest, also on opposition turf. Freeman scored 13 See
As part of the inaugural senior class at Ridgeline High School, Alexandra Tate has excelled. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of National Honor Society. Tate is a volunteer at Liberty Lake Municipal Library with the Teen Advisory Group. She has participated with Diversity Club and competed in cross country at Ridgeline. The Liberty Lake resident is in her third year with the Civil Air Patrol, the nonprofit auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, where she serves as a cadet commander and has learned a variety of applied leadership skills. Tate helped bring another program, The Green Team, over from Central Valley when Ridgeline opened last year and is one of the student leaders. She would like to study aerospace engineering or wildlife biology in college and is also considering the Air Force ROTC program.
Eliot Beal set a goal of becoming a three-sport athlete in high school and is on his way to accomplishing that increasingly rare feat. The Central Valley senior was a threeyear letter winner in football, hauling down 17 catches for 265 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver this season. In a win over Ferris, he had six receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Beal is competing in basketball this season for the first time since seventh grade. He had nine points, three assists and seven rebounds against Coeur d’Alene. Beal has lettered in track for two years and excels at the long jump and triple jump. He maintains a 3.55 grade point average and is part of the Leadership program. He attends Spokane First Assembly of God where he is also a volunteer. Beal plays the guitar and piano.
Neighbors of Bruce Andre will tell you he is always there to help. A volunteer driver for over 20 years with Meals on Wheels, Andre also donates his skills as a photographer to this cause and other nonprofits like SpokAnimal. He has called Liberty Lake home since 1993 and was as a longtime board member of the Eastside Liberty Lake Improvement Club, a utility that served around 300 lakeside residents. He helped out for years with the Liberty Lake Fourth of July fireworks display. A native of Cleveland, Andre earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from Denison University in Ohio and his master’s in Journalism with an emphasis in Marketing and Advertising from Northwestern University. He and his wife Sara take pride in maintaining the trail network throughout the year. Andre is the proud dad of two grown kids.
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The City of Liberty Lake has navigated the snowy winter so far this season with only a few hiccups and some new equipment to make clearing snow from the city’s streets and trails easier.
This year has defied the usual cycle, which is that snow melts soon after it falls and before the next snow storm arrives. Instead, snow stacked up after repeated snow storms with no melt cycle in between. “It’s been an icy year, which is not our normal,” said Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp.
The extended cold weather also included a stretch of frigid temperatures when it was too cold for liquid deicer to work, complicating efforts to keep streets clear. When it’s too cold the city is limited to salt and sand. “It’s a judgement call any given hour or
snow event which product we use,” Camp said.
When temperatures were at their lowest, the fuel tank on the city’s big blow froze, putting it out of commission.
So far this season the city has done a full city plow that includes all residential areas twice, which is about normal, Camp said.
Liberty Lake is unique in that it also plows its trails, which is unusual for many cities. The city, though small, has about 35 miles of trails that go through nearly every neighborhood. “It’s part of the level of service we provide,” she said. “Our level of service is just different than other communities.”
There are also a few areas where the city plows the sidewalks, including near schools and on the Valleyway hill between the two golf courses. “Our priority when we plow is walking routes to school, crosswalks and bus stops,” she said.
It is in the snow removal from
the trails that people may notice a difference this year, Camp said. “We did get some smaller tractors and utility trucks to plow our trails,” she said.
The new tractors and small trucks will help crews clear the snow faster, Camp said. “We didn’t have enough equipment for each staff person,” she said. “And if we had equipment go down, we were short.”
The city’s goal is to have enough snow removal equipment that snow is handled in a timely manner and also be able to accommodate the ongoing growth in the area, Camp said. Though getting the snow removed quickly is a priority, speed is not the only thing the city is looking for, Camp said. “We want to have enough equipment to do a thorough and quality job,” she said. “It’s just as important as the time it takes.”
Though Liberty Lake is responsible for maintaining the Centennial Trail between Hodges
and Molter, that trail is not plowed anywhere along its length. “It’s a decision that has been made by the Centennial Trail Coordinating Council members,” she said.
Also new this year are the small blue name tags attached to each grader and plow. Last summer, at the city’s Touch a Truck event in July, the city asked people to submit name suggestions for the city’s plows. About 20 names were submitted and four of those names were drawn from a bucket during a city council meeting in October.
Naming plows is a tradition that was picked up locally by the Washington State Department of Transportation in the last couple of years, which held contests to name its four tow plows. Voters selected Plowie McPlow Plow, the Big Leplowski and Sir Plows-A-Lot as the first three winners. The fourth plow was named Betty Whiteout after a contest held in March.
After the names were drawn from a hat, the city’s grader is now known as “Big Boy.” One of the city’s loaders is now “McPlow” and the second loader is “Thing 2.” The Freightliner plow is named “Ice Queen.”
The snow removal equipment will keep those names through the 2022-23 season and next year the process will repeat and new names will be selected for next winter.
National Weather Service data shows that December’s snowfall through Dec. 27 was measured at 15.5 inches at the Spokane International Airport, which is above the normal snowfall of 13.8 inches. And while the official low temperature at the airport on Dec. 22, the coldest day of the month, was -10 degrees, it did not beat the record of -15 degrees set in 1983.
Even though the amount of snowfall has been above normal so far this season, the city’s snow removal budget is still in good shape, Camp said. “It’s been a heavier year than normal for sure, but we have the capacity to handle it,” she said.
Setting a snow removal budget is always something of an educated gamble, Camp said. “You never know with Mother Nature,” she said. “You look at past years and historical data and hope for the best.”
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points in the first quarter, gave up 14 in the second but took the lead for good on a touchdown pass by Luke Whitaker, a receiver who caught a 53-yard touchdown throw by Phelps earlier in the game.
The 23-17 win propelled the Scotties into the state semifinal for the first time since 2014 when Freeman captured the state trophy with a 14-0 record.
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Cochran said his team faced similar run-oriented offenses to Eatonville –which boasted four offensive linemen headed to Division 1 colleges – in the regular season.
“We play some really good run teams like Lakeside in our league,” he said. “I think that really prepared us. I knew if we stopped their run game, they were done.”
Clutch efforts on both sides of the ball defined the Scotties’ season before the playoffs began. An 18-13 win at Riverside on Oct. 14 featured a last-minute touchdown drive and a defensive stand near the goal line as the clock ran down.
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In the semifinal against topseeded Royal – state champion five of the last six years – Freeman battled but fell short, 57-21. Royal went on to defeat Mt. Baker, 35-20, in the title game.
“I have a lot of respect for that program,” Cochran said. “I just feel blessed that we went that far.”
Boen finished the season with 2,224 passing yards, completing 59 percent of his throws. He also ran for 1,023 yards. Fellow senior Kanoa Regan was second in rushing yardage at 447. On defense, Boen amassed 150 tackles – 85 solo – as a linebacker. A quartet of receivers – seniors Ryan Delcour, Reed Hicks and Sage Gilbert and junior Whitaker – caught the majority of Boen’s tosses.
Senior Dailyn Poston stood out as another leader on defense, collecting 93 tackles, 46 solo.
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Cochran said the road wins over higher ranked teams in the playoffs were not viewed as upsets by Scottie Nation.
“I think those teams were surprised but we weren’t,” he said. “I’m just grateful for all the work this team put in. This was a great mix of some great athletes with a lot of care and love for each other.”
By Ashley Humbird Splash contributor
The history of Christmas decorations can be traced back to the ancient Roman times when they would celebrate the winter solstice and other seasonal festivals. Green fir trees would be decked out in natural elements including pine cones, berries, and nuts. After hundreds of years, trees made their way into the 15th century where candles and handmade ornaments would be precariously displayed.
The first White House Christmas tree was decorated by President Franklin Pierce in the winter of 1856. The modern-day decorations would not gain wide spread adoption until the late 1800’s and the invention of the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison. In 1895 President Grover Cleveland replaced the candles with electric light strands. Ornaments were made of glass and came in shapes such as stars, globes, and many more.
The much beloved (and safer) electric light bulbs allowed for public displays of decorations. The most famous of all tree lighting events occurs each year in New York city with the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. The tree is adorned with many thousands of light bulbs and topped with a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star which symbolizes hope, unity, and peace.
The community of Liberty Lake began a new tradition this holiday season of decorating their own homes with stars that represent community involvement.
The annual holiday program is called Light Up Liberty Lake and began as an idea Marla Larson had years ago while she was raising her children. After years of being on the back burner, Marla took the idea to the Mayor of Liberty Lake during the summer; her idea was to “show community support for those in need.”
Marla proceeded to present the idea to the Liberty Lake City Council, which was well-received.
During this time the General Store Ace Outpost was gearing up for their grand-opening in November. After speaking with the owner of the General Store Ace Outpost, the idea of a partnership to help both the promotion of the grand opening and those in the community began to take shape.
The partnership decided to decorate with stars. The stars themselves came in three different colors: red, silver, and gold. There are two size options, one of which is a 32’’ lighted star. The initial idea was to have proceeds from the sale of the stars benefit a fundraiser for local families in need for the holiday season.
The General Store Ace Outpost created a “Round-Up” fundraiser where anyone making a purchase in store could round up their total to the nearest dollar with the difference going to the fundraiser. The proceeds from both the sale of the stars and the Round-Up fundraiser were benefit the local PTO/PTSA organizations in the local Liberty Lake area including Liberty Creek Elementary School, Liberty Lake Elementary School, Riverbend Elementary School, Greenacres Middle School, Selkirk Middle School, and Ridgeline High School. The funds raised would be used to assist families through the Trees of Sharing at the different schools.
Sales of the stars and the RoundUp fundraiser began the first of November, but the official kickoff for the Light up Liberty Lake stars and the Round Up fundraiser coincided with the Grand Opening of the General Store Ace Outpost on November 12th.
At the Grand Opening of the store, stars were available for purchase and customers were asked to participate in the Round Up fundraiser. Within a short period of time, stars began appearing all over Liberty Lake.
There were over one hundred stars sold to the residents of the Liberty Lake. Homeowners had displayed them in their yards, on their front porch, on garage doors, and some have made their way into wreaths. One lucky tree was adorned with lights and a large star and displayed on the lake shore for neighbors to see. Community members throughout Liberty Lake creatively displayed their stars while
participating in the new holiday tradition together.
Light Up Liberty Lake is a tradition that Marla hopes to pass on for years to come. She sees growth in the idea and hopes that community decorations will continue.
The Round Up fundraiser ran until December 15th, at which time the different PTO/PTSA organizations would receive a portion of the proceeds to be used for gifts for local families needing
the first year. The members of the City of Liberty Lake donated almost $1,941 for local families in need by simply rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar. The local PTO/PTSAs received the $1,941 customer donation in the form of $25 gift cards that can be spent at The General Store Ace Outposts and their flagship General Store on Division.
“I believe giving back to the community is one of the greatest gifts of all! Christmas is a time for giving,” Marla has a passion for her community and it’s resident and shares her thoughts. “Our community came together and did exactly this with the Light Up Liberty Lake campaign! Thank you Liberty Lake.”
