DOCKSIDE
Personal Stamp – LL
Business Owner pens book on branding for introverts
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributing Editor
Tanya Goodall Smith will tell you that, as a student, she would typically shuffle to the back of the class and settle into an obscure seat to avoid attention.
A lifelong introvert, Goodall Smith was at the front of the class on Aug. 1 as she held court at MODE in Liberty Lake to promote her first book -- “The Introvert’s Guide to Personal Branding – How to Put Yourself Out There Without Changing Who You Are” at a launch party.
“I’ve come so far in terms of selfconfidence and being able to talk with people,” Goodall Smith said. “I also love to teach people. I wrote this book to be an easy read. I wanted it to be entertaining and help people building a personal brand.”
The founder and owner of WorkStory Creative, Goodall Smith is out to make a point that introverts don’t need to change their personality to create an effective, personal brand. She brings over two decades as a successful writer, photographer and branding strategist – as well as multiple awards for design – to the book, now available on Amazon.
A native of Utah, Goodall Smith grew up in Wyoming and Western Washington, showing an early aptitude for art. In high school, she was part of the yearbook staff and wrote for the school paper. As she grew her skill set, Goodall Smith kept up with advances in technology that impacted her craft, from digital cameras to software that made the long-held tradition of paste-up layout for publications obsolete.
While the tools of design, publishing and branding have come
a long way since Goodall Smith began her professional journey as a student, she says the fundamental approaches of the past, along with a critical eye, have stood her in good stead throughout her career – even when utilizing the latest in high-tech implements.
“I feel like I have the benefit of oldschool thinking and knowledge,” she said.
After high school, Goodall Smith attended Ricks College (Now Brigham Young University-Idaho)
and studied visual communication before leaving on an 18-month Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston.
“I learned so much about compassion and how blessed my life was,” said Goodall Smith of the experience. “It changed my perspective on life and the value of all humans.”
After returning from Boston, Goodall Smith enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and
Merchandising in Los Angeles. While there, she plunged into a world of pictures, words, brands and design. She also met her future husband Ryan while in Southern California. The two were married in 2004.
After graduating from design school, Goodall Smith began work with a dental practice marketing firm. That led to more freelance opportunities with well-established ad agencies and brand consulting with major companies like Guess, HP and Microsoft. By this point, Tanya and Ryan had moved to Santa Rosa in Northern California where they spent two years.
A transition south to San Diego came next where Goodall Smith expanded her freelancing world, working largely for companies she had connected with in the Bay Area. A move to the Puget Sound area followed where a family blossomed. Tanya took a leave of absence from work after her son, Calvin, was born. A daughter, Clara, and another son, Cyrus, followed.
In 2008, the family moved to Spokane Valley but within a year, they had relocated to a growing community just to the east.
“We fell in love with Liberty Lake,” Goodall Smith said.
Goodall Smith founded WorkStory Photography in 2013 and morphed the company into WorkStory Creative, a full-service branding business, six years later. Coaching businesses through the process of establishing a unique, successful brand with strategic approaches like “brandstorming” has become one of Goodall Smith’s niches as a Certified Branding Strategist.
Kelsy McHenry of Liberty Lake calls Goodall Smith a friend and mentor, crediting her with providing the support and encouragement to tackle a book of her own which she just completed. The two have also worked together on direct sales projects.
“Tanya comes across as quiet but
Contributed photo Liberty Lake resident Tanya Goodall Smith is the founder and owner of WorkStory Creative, a company specializing in non-traditional branding strategy. An accomplished writer, photographer and entrepreneur, Goodall Smith recently released a book, “The Introvert’s Guide to Personal Branding –How to Put Yourself Out There Without Changing Who You Are” that includes reflections of her own experiences utilizing individual strengths as an introvert to create a successful brand. See GOODALL, Page 4
GOODALL
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she’s a powerhouse,” McHenry said. “She has wisdom and information to share.”
As for the book on introverts and branding, McHenry said it’s an enriching read.
“I was able to take a ton of stuff from Tanya’s book,” she said. “I don’t think it matters whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, you’re going to glean something from this book that will make you a better brand owner and a better business person.”
Q: You recently held a launch party for your new book at MODE in Liberty Lake. How did the event go and how are sales progressing to this point?
A: It was great! About 30 people attended. I did a little reading from the book, Q&A and then greeted my friends and signed their books. I was so grateful for everyone’s support and a few new people I hadn’t met in person came, too. We reached No. 1 best seller in four categories on Amazon on the day of the launch and sales have been trickling in ever since. It’s a self-published book so promoting it is up to me.
Q: What prompted you to write a book about helping introverts like yourself create successful approaches to personal branding?
A: I had been wanting to write a book on personal branding, since that’s what I help my clients with, but wanted it to include some of my personal story. Many of the challenges I had in growing my own personal brand and business through the years have been related
to being an introvert. Much of the business world caters to those who thrive in group settings, events, golf tournaments and award ceremonies. For introverts who prefer more intimate connections and lots of alone time to recharge, it can be difficult to get noticed and meet people. Through the years I learned a lot of strategies to use my strengths to build my business and become well known in the business community. I met so many other business people who have had similar struggles so writing about it seemed like a great way to help. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback so far. The introverts really feel seen and more extroverted readers are learning a lot about personal branding in general.
Q: As you were growing up in places like Wyoming and Washington, did you ever imagine you would end up in L.A. at a school like the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising? How did your experience at this school set the stage for the rest of your career?
A: I always had big dreams for myself as a child. Thankfully my parents were supportive facilitators of creativity in our home and the idea of pursuing a creative career was never discouraged. I loved the creative energy in L.A. but knew I didn’t want to live there forever. It’s not a great place to have a family and it’s a very competitive place where your worth is tied to awards and how far you can climb up the entertainment ladder. I’m glad I had that experience to develop my creative skills in a cutting-edge school where there was so much innovation and freedom to explore. I also had an amazing internship at
Help
Shoreline and/or Stormwater Permit(s) may be required for your project. ere are regulations governing development activities across the entire Liberty Lake watershed.
• Landscaping • Dock/Boat lifts
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an advertising agency that gave me experience I wouldn’t have had in a different city. But I always knew I wouldn’t stay there. I’m a smalltown girl at heart.
Q: Long before the worldwide pandemic, you made remote work a bedrock of your career. What have you enjoyed most about being a freelancer with a home office?
A: I knew I wanted to have kids and be at home with them but also work. In the early 2000’s that wasn’t a common thing and it was difficult to find people willing to hire me remotely. But once I did, it was so convenient and as an introvert, I thrived. Many people can’t stand being alone all day but it’s no problem for me. I love the flexibility to work when it suits me and the schedule of my family. I’ve always been highly motivated and disciplined so it works for me.
Q: You have been an innovator in the field of personal branding photography. How does this approach work and how can it impact a personal brand?
A: I worked for years for a dental practice marketing firm and was always so annoyed that we never had great photos of the doctors, their staff or offices. Creating websites and newsletters with the same three stock photos for hundreds of dentists seemed like branding suicide to me. With the popularity of social media, I could see the need for custom photos more than ever. When I begged clients to hire a photographer, they usually still came back with photos unsuitable for marketing because they hired their family photographer, not someone who specialized in visual
communications. At the time, commercial photography was way out of reach for small businesses. I started offering photography to local businesses before the term “branding photography” existed and was a little ahead of my time. Convincing them it was a necessary branding and marketing expense was tough. More and more businesses are seeing the need for it now, especially personal brands like real estate agents, authors and service providers, who are making connections and building trust with their audience online more than in person. When you want people to know you, your face is more important than a logo. I help them plan to create a library of photos that become assets they can use in any marketing and advertising medium. We start with what they want to communicate and to whom and create the visuals from there. It’s not just photography, it includes branding and marketing strategy as well, from someone with over 20 years of experience.
Q: How do you go about telling the story of a person, a business or a brand in the most effective way?
A: We always start with words and a strategy. Even though I’ll be creating visual assets like logos, colors, photos and websites, we always begin by laying everything out on the table. Who are they, who are they talking to, what makes them and their offering unique? Then I go to work thinking up the best ways to tell that story with words, sounds and pictures. There are rules to great storytelling and design. You just have to listen and observe carefully to find the story and then follow the rules.
Assault DV / Simple Assault / Weapon 6
Violations
Police Report - July 2024
Vehicles
DUI (Driving Under Influence) 4
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
12
Splash news sources
Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month
Injury Collisions
Criminal)
Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle
Theft / Burglaries 19
Malicious Mischief 13
Argument / Assault DV / Simple
Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 6
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block of E Nora Avenue for two subject screaming and yelling. During the argument, one of the subjects had hit the other subject’s vehicle with a piece of wood causing damage to the vehicle and knocking the driver’s side mirror off. Officers subsequently arrested
contacts throughout the community. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive slowly and safely in all marked construction areas. The Liberty Lake Police Department has had an increase in speeding violators and are proactively enforcing those marked construction zones. Remember to secure your belongings inside your residence and out of your vehicles to prevent vehicle prowlers. Stay well
“Engage Online!” at the city’s homepage
As the Liberty Lake City Council directs more of its focus this fall on the city’s budget for 2025, city residents can voice their funding priorities for that budget through the “Engage Online!” button now available on the city’s homepage at www.libertylakewa.gov.
That button will take users to the city’s public engagement resource, which includes an online forum dedicated to residents’ input on the upcoming budget. The public can also respond via the weekly “Talkback Tuesdays”
Cops, Cars and Cruisers revs up again Sept. 14
The Liberty Lake Police Department’s annual Cops, Cars and Cruisers event returns on Saturday, Sept. 14, for a full day of activities at Meadowwood Technology Park. This community outreach event at 2110 N. Molter Road will feature a car show, craft show, community displays and a food court. Activities will run that day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All registration fees and donations from the event will benefit local Special Olympics programs. Further updates are posted the Liberty Lake Police Cops, Cars and Cruisers’ Facebook site.
postings that focus on specific budget topics.
Additionally, visitors to the public engagement resource can find details and a timeline for the Appleway Avenue and Country Vista turn lane construction project that will be occurring throughout September and October.
Plus, later in September, the site will offer attendees of the Sept. 14 Cops, Cars & Cruisers event a postevent survey to provide feedback about that day’s activities.
The public engagement resource will be updated regularly as new city projects and outreach opportunities develop.
Survey open from Spokane Regional Transportation Council
The Spokane Regional Transportation Council is seeking input from area residents for the statewide Commute Trip Reduction survey on planning strategies related to public transit. To take this survey, go to www.bit.ly/CTRSRTC.
LLPD’s Derek Arnold receives VFW Public Service Award
Corp. Derek Arnold of the Liberty Lake Police Department was presented the VFW Public Service Award during a special presentation on Aug. 14. Three members from the Spokane Valley-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1435 – Tom Pauley, Jim Devaney, and Darren Hughes –awarded Arnold a certificate display and three military challenge coins during the gathering at the LLPD station.
Arnold is an Army veteran who currently serves as a primary instructor for the LLPD as well as an armorer for the department. He conducts trainings that have helped enhance the marksmanship skills of his fellow officers. He also has duties as the crew chief for the Spokane County Air I helicopter unit and has been part of several rescue and search operations this past year.
Events, programs, commissions speak to city outreach efforts
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
Judi Owens can remember a well-attended meeting at Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District headquarters over two decades ago that set the tone for a new city.
After the vote for incorporation of Liberty Lake passed on Nov. 7, 2000, city advocates like Lud Kramer, former Seattle City Council member and Washington Secretary of State, helped establish a framework for the first new jurisdiction in Spokane County since Airway Heights incorporated in 1955.
Kramer held court at LLSWD in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 50 attendees ready to trade in their status as residents of unincorporated Spokane County for the proud mantle of citizens pouring the foundation of a new city.
“It was our first transition team meeting since the vote,” Owens recalled. “Lud talked about what we needed to do now that incorporation had passed.”
Owens plunged into the work ahead, signing on with steering committees in areas like finance,
public safety and public works.
“There were sign-up sheets for the different committees,” Owens said. “I signed up for way too many.”
The encouraging turnout came as no surprise to longtime residents of the community. Well before incorporation, grassroots efforts rallied to fund and build a world-class trails system and a greenspace haven in Pavillion Park.
Owens would go on to be elected to the inaugural City Council and serve 10 years. Despite the excitement surrounding incorporation, she remembers citizen involvement in local government rarely reaching a fever pitch.
“For most of the (council) meetings, we had some interest,” she said. “But I don’t think we ever had a standing-room only crowd.”
Nearly 25 years after that first meeting was held to map out the future of Liberty Lake, efforts to engage citizens continue in earnest.
On a sunny Saturday last month, Mayor Cris Kaminskas fielded questions from a steady flow of visitors to the city’s booth at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market. The space has become a popular stop for citizens and non-citizens grateful for an informal setting where organic conversations with city officials break down walls – perceived or real – that sometimes accompany municipal government.
“The joke is that people stop by the booth without a question
The city of Liberty Lake booth has become a staple at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market from May to October. Residents can drop by to ask questions of the mayor, City Council members and volunteers like Mark Saba (above) on a wide range of topics. Saba, a member of the city’s Community Engagement Commission and Salary Commission, said the most frequent questions these days have to do with rumblings about the possibility of a big box store and golf megaplex planting roots on the north side of town.
but leave with one,” Kaminskas said. “We talk about so much. I get to meet new people and talk to others who are thinking about moving here from other areas.”
Kaminskas has offered ideas to some booth visitors about what part of town may be the best fit.
Other times, she is alerted to issues one booth visitor who brought up shabby landscaping in front of a local business. After hearing of that concern, Kaminskas followed up with a visit to the company. When Kaminskas began serving with the City Council in
Photo by Craig Howard
January 2010, talk of how to more effectively engage the community came up at one of the first meetings. As mayor, she said the city “does a good job of putting information out but can do better when it comes to collecting a wide spectrum of input.”
Citizens will have a chance to offer feedback and ask questions at a Town Hall meeting this month with a theme of transparency featuring representatives of the City Council, Library Board and a trio of commissions – Parks and Arts, Planning and Community Engagement. The event in the Rotary Room at the Trailhead Clubhouse is set for Tuesday, Sept. 10 and will start with a meetand-greet at 6 p.m., followed by an open forum with Q-and -A at 7.
Mark Saba, a member of the Community Engagement Commission and Salary Commission, says city outreach has improved since he and his wife Karen came to Liberty Lake in 2003. Despite being one of Washington’s fastest growing cities, Saba says the community they settled in has retained its provincial charm.
“When we moved here there were 5,000 people and there are almost 14,000 now – and it still feels like a small town,” Saba said.
Saba, who has also been one of the catalysts for the annual Winter Glow holiday light festival, says he volunteers for community causes as a way to stay busy after retirement. He said the Community Engagement Commission had “a very big learning curve to start” but has found its niche.
“Community engagement sounds simple but it’s really vast,” Saba said. “Luckily, we have a group of people who are not afraid to talk.”
Saba added that avenues to engagement – from surveys to social media to simple conversations with neighbors – strengthen the lines of communication between citizens and City Hall.
“By having more input, you have a better chance of coming up with ideas and answers to different situations in your community,” Saba said.
David Goehner was brought on two years ago to serve as Liberty Lake’s first full-time communications specialist. The former reporter has introduced features like a city podcast that continues to garner positive reviews and gain a loyal following.
“To me, the focus is about letting people be informed about what’s happening in Liberty Lake and making it relevant to them,” Goehner said. “We’re providing a sense of what this community is all about. There’s also an entertainment factor.”
From sending out press releases to increasing the city’s social media presence to being a conduit between City Hall and local media, Goehner’s efforts are part of a snowball effect designed to showcase Liberty Lake as what former Mayor Steve Peterson would often refer to as “Spokane County’s premier address.”
Other innovations, like the adoption of ZenCity software to improve city engagement, online notifications and the success of the City Academy – a multi-week training program for residents outlining the basics of municipal government – have ramped up the emphasis on bringing City Hall to the people. Resident who want to chime in on 2025 budget priorities can provide input through a program called “Engage Online” on the city’s homepage at www. libertylakewa.gov.
For members of the City Council like Jed Spencer, engaging citizens is on ongoing process.
“I think a lot of people in Liberty Lake still don’t quite know what’s going on with their local government, but it’s not for a lack of the city trying to get residents involved,” Spencer said.
When he was campaigning for election last year to the council seat he was appointed to in 2022, Spencer said he “had lots of great conversations with people” and found that many were interested in finding out more about how their city is run.
“The common theme I found was that people knew they needed to get more involved and find out what’s going on in their city,” Spencer said.
Destination: Learning –Liberty Lake thrives as public education hub
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
As superintendent of the Central Valley School District (CVSD) over two decades ago, Wally Stanley wasn’t the only one who could see the burgeoning community of Liberty Lake needed more classroom space.
In October 2002, Stanley acknowledged the district should consider a second school in Spokane County’s easternmost jurisdiction, perhaps another grade school to complement Liberty Lake Elementary (LLES), built in 1996 to house 600 students. The fact that LLES had an enrollment of 650 at the time helped spur the discussion along with the fact that Liberty Lake had incorporated as a city the previous August.
A new middle school in Liberty Lake was also on the table but, as Stanley told a group of residents during a meeting held at LLES in January 2003, the results of an upcoming construction bond would determine the district’s approach moving forward.
“The long-term vision is to build a middle school,” Stanley said. “But for the near future, if the bond passes, it will build an elementary school with 12 classrooms.”
At the time, LLES featured 25 classrooms, prompting some at the meeting to ask Stanley why
the district was planning on only building “half a school.”
When a $25 million capital facilities bond fell short of the required 60-percent supermajority that March, rumblings grew louder in Liberty Lake about the community forming its own school district. After all, residents had managed to start their own library, separate from the Spokane County Library District, forged a world-class trails network through a self-taxing mechanism and built one of the region’s most popular recreation sites – Pavillion Park – through a grassroots effort.
As Liberty Lake grew, schools like Greenacres Middle School and Greenacres Elementary experienced
the impact on enrollment. Bussing kids to other schools in the district became an increasingly utilized option, much to the chagrin of parents.
“The need was there,” recalls Dr. Keith Clark who served on the CVSD School Board from 2007 to 2023. “You had kids being bussed to Broadway Elementary and other schools but families wanted their kids in neighborhood schools.”
In 2006, CVSD ran two wellpublicized bonds that would have funded a new grade school and middle school in Liberty Lake. Both failed. In 2011, another bond for nearly $70 million appeared on the
ballot, this one with no plans for any Liberty Lake schools. The initiative resulted in the lowest margin of “yes” votes – 45 percent of any recent bond. District officials emerged discouraged and perplexed.
Like Stanley and Mike Pearson before him, CVSD Superintendent Ben Small was left trying to rally voters to pledge their support toward schools. After the dismal showing at polls that February, Small recommended a reconvening of the district’s Capital Facilities Committee. A new strategy was needed. Clark recalls the district doing what they could to manage enrollment without new schools.
Photo by Ben Wick Ridgeline High School looks to start the year with 1,597 students the largest of the three Central Valley School District High Schools. Originally opening in Sept of 2021, this year will graduate the first class of students who have been able to attend Ridgeline for all four years of their high school career.
Photo by Craig Howard Liberty Creek, K-2 school will welcome 450 students this September and looks to add a Lego Robotics program.
Photo by Craig Howard Liberty Lake Elementary which serves 3rd through 5th grades expects to welcome 525 students this fall and also looks to add before and after-school activities and clubs including a garden club and partnering with Liberty Creek on a Lego Robotics club.
“We had 12 portables at CV, Adams (Elementary) had portables,” he said. “Ben Small came along and was really a visionary.”
By the time a $121.9 million bond hit the ballot in February 2015, voters were as informed and educated as ever. A $58 million state match was emphasized by bond supporters – an amount that could only be secured if the bond passed. Also working in favor of the latest proposal was the fact that property tax obligations from the district’s last successful capital facilities vote –a $78.1 million initiative in 1998 that built Central Valley and University high schools – were about to be retired, meaning the tax rate would remain the same even if the new bond passed.
It did. Nearly 65 percent of voters gave the green light and, soon, designs were in place for renovations at eight schools and a new K-2 campus in Liberty Lake. It wasn’t long before construction was underway.
“We were just elated,” Clark said. “It was a real team effort, from the principals and the teachers who taught while schools were being built, and of course the community for putting the money forward.”
Just three years later, the margin was even more convincing – over 70 percent – for a $129.9 million bond that set the stage for two major projects in Liberty Lake – Ridgeline High School and Selkirk Middle School.
When the school year opens this month, Liberty Creek will have 450 students in K-2 while Liberty Lake Elementary will feature 525 kids in grades 3-5. Just to the west, at Selkirk Middle School, over 600 students will call that campus home. Just across the Kramer Parkway to the south, Ridgeline High School will start the year with 1,597 students, the largest enrollment among CVSD’s three comprehensive high schools.
Clark said board interviews and tours of the district that produced the latest superintendent, Dr. John Parker, in spring of 2022, included sparkling reviews from every candidate about the state of CVSD buildings.
“I remember hearing comments like, ‘Wow having this many wonderful new schools and remodeled schools throughout a district is not normal,’” Clark said.
COVER STORY
Matter of Principal –LL leaders chime in on start of school year
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
Ty Larsen knows that he could be sitting in the principal’s office at River Rock Middle School or Telido Station Middle School if not for a steering committee that opted for Selkirk as an homage to the mountain range visible from the campus that ambles up to Sandpoint, Schweitzer and beyond.
Alisha Alsaker was working as an assistant principal at Liberty Creek when the school opened for the 2017-18 academic year but transitioned to principal in the fall of 2021 after serving as interim principal at Progress Elementary where she once worked as a teacher and instructional coach.
Jesse Hardt learned the value of patience when he was named principal of Ridgeline High School in March of 2018, over three years before the school opened in September 2021.
Jennifer Tesky oversees Liberty Lake Elementary, the cornerstone campus of the community. The school opened in 1998, three years before the area incorporated as a city.
The Splash caught up with all four local principals before the start of the 2024-25 school year to collect some thoughts on new programs, goals, community support and other topics. While answers varied, one common theme emerged – each leader places a priority on students thriving at their respective school and well into the future.
The class bell is about to ring, Liberty Lake. Time to flourish.
Q: What will the staff count be at your school as the 2024-25 academic year starts?
Alisha Alsaker (Liberty Creek): We currently have around 65 staff members in the
building, 35 are certificated teachers and 30 are classified members.
Jennifer Tesky (LLES): We have a dedicated team of 35 certificated staff and 15 classified staff who contribute to making Liberty Lake Elementary a truly joyful place to be.
Ty Larsen (Selkirk): We’ve got just over 50 staff members in the building, 30 are teaching staff and about 20 are classified and administrative staff.
Jesse Hardt (Ridgeline): We have 83 teachers and 53 classified/ administrative staff.
Q: Are there any new programs in place at your school for this academic year?
Alsaker (Liberty Creek): This year, we will be adding additional before and after school activities based on student interest. We are also collaborating with Liberty Lake Elementary. We are in the early stages of planning a Lego Robotics program to be held after school. This program aims to prepare our students for success as they move through Selkirk and Ridgeline High School. If you're eager to contribute to the launch of this initiative, please contact us.
Tesky (LLES): Yes, we’re excited to introduce a new extended resource program to our building this school year, which will support a seamless peer transition from our K-2 program. Additionally, we are expanding our before and after-school activities and clubs, with a focus on STEM and outdoor experiences. This includes launching a garden club and partnering with Liberty Creek for a LEGO Robotics Club.
Larsen (Selkirk): We’re adding Robotics as part of our CTE program. We’ll also be starting our new science curriculum, OpenSciEd.
Hardt (Ridgeline): We offer a wide range of academic programs and athletic activities that allow for opportunities for all our students to thrive. At Ridgeline our mission is clear and simple to apply. Belong. Inspire. Grow. When we focus our efforts through this lens it allows us to take care of nearly all our student’s needs – social, emotional, physical, academic and enrichment. Specific programs that support these areas can be found across all
aspects of our school. Our main office staff ensures policies and procedures are in place. Our students services counseling team provides the necessary support and interventions to keep students on track to graduation. Our faculty and support staff provide high quality learning experiences while ensuring a safe and welcoming classroom environment. Courses that support our student’s growth are a rigorous AP (Advanced Placement) schedule, college in the high school courses where students can work toward an AA degree at no cost to them and the “Success Seminar” where students who are atrisk of failing or have poor attendance can go for a semester to get the intervention and support they need to get back on track. Another fun program coming this year is a partnership with Gesa Credit Union where we will have student tellers handling banking transactions with student members. Finally, outside of the regular school business we have a vibrant extracurricular program where nearly 80 percent of our students access clubs, athletics and performance groups to round out their day.
Q: What are some of the goals for your school this year?
Alsaker (Liberty Creek): In the upcoming year, our school will build upon the foundation we have established in recent years. Building a sense of belonging for students, staff and the community as we help our youngest students in their early years of education feel connected to their school and community while forming positive friendships. Teachers will continue to collaborate in professional learning communities to identify essential standards and use data-driven conversations to best support all students through differentiated instruction. We remain committed to promoting student attendance and ensuring that all students arrive on time and ready to learn.
Tesky (LLES): This school
See LL LEADERS, Page 15
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Sept 6-15 | Spokane County Interstate Fair –Join us for the 2024 Spokane Fair, Sept. 6-15 as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Expo 74!
Sept 14 | Liberty Lake Fall Festival – 9 am - 4 pm. Join us for the 2nd annual Liberty Lake Fall Festival! Enjoy shopping with local, high quality vendors and great food in Liberty Lake’s beautiful Town Square Park. ***Vendor applications now closed.***
Sept 14 | Liberty Lake Cops and Cruisers – 9 am - 3 pm. Spokane based group “River City Dodge Challengers” have invited us to an event up there supporting Special Olympics called Cops Cars & Cruisers! I wanted to see how many of you might be able to join them with me! They get escorted to the racetrack by local police and then take some laps around the track!
Sept 16 | Lights Recycling Event–10 am - 2 pm. Recycle mercurycontaining lights.
Accepted items: Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), Fluorescent Tubes, High Intensity Discharge (HID), Accidentally broken lights, in sealed containers, such as a plastic bag
Ace Hardware 1326 N Stanford Ln, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Learn more at: https://www. lightrecycle.org/
Sept 16| Spokane Valley Resource Fair – 10 am - 2 pm. Local businesses from around the community will be providing informational booths to help seniors get the resources they need. Taking place at CenterPlace, 2426 N Discovery Pl.
Sept 27 | HUB Family Fun Festival – 4 pm - 7 pm. AJoin us at HUB Sports Center for our 17th birthday with an evening full of fun activities and games! This is
a terrific opportunity to bring the family to HUB Sports Center and sample a variety of events. Learn more about HUB Sports Center and what we do for the community.
From cornhole to pickleball to a batting cage and so much more there will plenty of activities for everyone!
All ages are welcome and this event is FREE to attend and participate.
https://www.hubsportscenter. org/events/hub-family-funfestival/
Various dates in September | Storytimes for infants to age 5 -10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Includes “Move & Groove” Mondays, “Book Babies” Tuesdays, “Toddler Tales” Wednesdays, “Preschool Tales” Fridays.
RECURRING
TLC- The Lactating Club | Find support and community with your fellow breastfeeding mommas with Alicia Burgett, Lactation Consultant from Mothering with Heart. She leads a FREE breastfeeding support group from 2-4 PM at Arrowleaf Family Chiropractic in 23403 E Mission Avenue, Suite 228, 99019 every 2nd Friday of the month. Mommas and babies are welcome from third trimester of pregnancy, to one year post-partum. Come and go as needed between 2-4 PM. A scale is available to weigh your baby. RSVP or contact us with questions at 509-645-2721, or send us an email at arrowleaffamilychiropractic@ gmail.com.
ACT 2 Senior Classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire, though there is no age limit. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the
area. For more, search for “Act 2” at scc.spokane.edu.
Next Gen REI Club | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., third Thursday of the month, The Arcadia Building, 12929 E. Sprague Ave. Monthly real estate investing support group. All are welcome. For more, call 509.768.4357.
Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 7 to 8 p.m., third Thursday of the month, Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history and perspectives on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. For more, call 5992411.
Catholic Singles Mingle | Meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www.meetup.com/CatholicSingles-Mingle.
Grange Meeting and Dessert | 6:30 p.m., third Wednesday of the month, Tri-Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. The public is welcome for this community-based service organization. For more, call 2262202.
Liberty Lake Library | 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club, and more. More at www.libertylakewa. gov/library
Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org.
Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events
and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. More at scld.org.
Spokane Valley Quilt Guild | Meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October and December at Valley Assembly of God Church, 15618 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. Open to all interested in sharing ideas and skills of our quilting craft. Participants can access a comprehensive library, engage experienced teachers and participate in community service projects. More at svqgspokane. com
MUSIC & THE ARTS
HEALTH & RECREATION
RECURRING
Book Babies | Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Community Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. This story time is geared toward children 0-2 years old. Play time follows from 11-11:30 a.m.
Decreasing Anger Group |The Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Eligibility: combat veteran from all eras, military sexual trauma survivors. For more, call at 509444-8387 to make an intake appointment.
HUB Sports Center | 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including:
• Pickleball drop-in: 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. $5.50/ person online $7/at the door.
COMMUNITY
• Classes including Kenpo Karate, Homeschool PE and Fit for YOUR Life. See hubsportscenter.org for cost and times.
Fly Tying Group| 9 to 11 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Veterans, Active Buty, Reserves, and Guard are welcome! For more, call 509-444-8387.
Drumming for Wellness and JOY!
| Class offered at Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 21101 E. Wellesley #102, Otis Orchards on Fridays at 10:45am-11:45am, for adults desiring a social experience that is designed to support wellbeing--- emotional, physical and cognitive, in a fun and social setting based in rhythm. $10 or $5 pp if you bring a friend. All instruments provided, and adaptable for all abilities. For more, visit willowsongmusictherapy. com or call/text 509 592 7875.”
Move and Groove | Mondays, 10:30 a.m., Liberty Lake Community Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Music and dance time for children ages 0-5.
CIVIC & BUSINESS
host of TVW’s “Inside Olympia.”
In addition to the gubernatorial debate, the AWB Policy Summit will include debates for other statewide races including attorney general, commissioner of public lands and superintendent of public instruction.
Thursdays| Liberty Lake Entrepreneur Club
Thursdays, 5 pm - 8 pm. Food Truck: One Nigth Stand BBQ Live Music. Rocky Hill Park 24901 e mission ave liberty lake wa Liberty Lake, WA 99019
RECURRING
Central Valley School Board
6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 2218 N. Molter Rd, Liberty Lake.
Liberty Lake City Council on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive
Liberty Lake Kiwanis each Wednesday of each month, Liberty Lake Library.
Friends of Liberty Lake Municipal | 1pm Last Thursday of the month, Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave.
Sept 15 | Splading Auto Parts 90th Anniversary 2 pm - 6 pm. Spalding Auto Parts has been serving the Inland Empire for over 90 years. We are on our third generation of family ownership. We will be celebrating by hosting a car show t our location in Spokane Valley. At the car show we will be raffling of items/accepting donations for The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.
Sept 18 |AWB and GSI Gubernatorial Debate 6 pm. Debates will feature top two candidates for governor, attorney general, lands commissioner and superintendent of public instruction at the annual Policy Summit in Spokane in partnership with Greater Spokane Inc.
NonStop Local KHQ-TV will serve as broadcast partner for the 6 p.m. gubernatorial debate airing on TV and streaming at nonstoplocal. com. Moderators will include KHQ news anchors Sean Owsley and Kalae Chock, and Austin Jenkins, staff writer for Pluribus News and
Liberty Lake Lions Club | 5:30 pm, every second and fourth Thursday of each month at Barlows, 1428 N. Liberty Lake Road.
Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club | Noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at Trailhead Holf Course, 22302 E Country Vista Dr, For more, visit LibertyLakeRotary.org.
Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, 22710E Country Vista Dr.
Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.
Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.
Submit items for The Splasah Community Calendar by the 10th of the previous month by emailing editor@libertylakesplash.com. Priority is given to noncommercial local events open to the public.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $32.00 per month and business services are $48.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.
CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.
A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.
If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https:// .centurylink.com/aboutus/community/commu nity-development/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.
LL LEADERS
Continued from page 11
year, one of our primary goals aligns with our district's vision of fostering a strong sense of belonging among our students. Our theme for the year is centered on kindness, encapsulated in our motto: "We RISE by lifting others. Be Kind!" To launch this initiative, each grade level has selected a read-aloud book that emphasizes kindness as a key value. Throughout the year, we will continue to reinforce this theme through various awards and activities that celebrate and encourage acts of kindness. Another important goal for this year is to enhance academic achievement by providing differentiated learning experiences that ensure all students make measurable progress in ELA and Math. Our staff dedicates significant time to collaborating in professional learning communities, where they focus on essential standards, analyze data, and develop strategies to provide students with targeted interventions or enrichment opportunities.
Larsen (Selkirk): Goals for this year include a continuation of helping students, staff and community feel a sense of belonging. We strive, in these adolescent years, to help our students be part of the school and their community. Also, to form positive friendships and stay involved in their schools. We are looking to improve our academic achievement through continued implementation of professional learning communities. Staff will be identifying essential standards, facilitating common assessments, and determining interventions and differentiation to support students in the achievement. We’ll review our growth on state assessments in the areas of math and ELA but we’ll also be paying close attention to all areas of a student’s academic experience. As a district, we are looking to increase student engagement through the improvement of student attendance. We also promote an increase in student participation in extracurricular opportunities, such as athletics and after school clubs.
Hardt (Ridgeline): Centered around our mission and focus on a positive culture, we will always work to create a sense of belonging for our students and staff. Student
NEWS
engagement is also a critical goal and in addition to always refining our instruction we will also be working to reduce distractions and barriers such as cell phones and attendance. We are launching into professional learning communities, which is a way for our staff to grow our collective skills and knowledge. It provides a framework for the adults to collaborate on the work that matters most and to increase student achievement.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about this school year?
Alsaker (Liberty Creek): We are excited to welcome new and returning students to our school. We look forward to creating joyful and memorable experiences throughout the year, filled with laughter, friendships and fun.
Tesky (LLES): This school year, we are once again undertaking a school-wide service project. We believe it's essential for our students to learn the value of giving back to the community, and this project allows every student to actively contribute to something meaningful. Last year, every student in our school packed and provided over 10,000 meals for Spokane Valley Partners through Generation Alive, a feat made possible with the generous support of Liberty Lake Smile Source.
Larsen (Selkirk): Working with students and the events and traditions that make up a school year.
classrooms, and Valley Real Life consistently goes out of their way to show appreciation for our staff. Our PTSA board and parent volunteer group are incredible, continually going above and beyond to support our staff, students, and the broader community. Liberty Lake is a gem of a community, and we are blessed to be part of what makes this such an amazing place to live.
Larsen (Selkirk): Support from our parents and community is positive. We have a large number of area businesses that donate to our school and participate in our career fair. We also hear positive comments from our parents. We always strive to create an environment where our students feel safe and can learn but also a place where our community feels welcome.
Hardt (Ridgeline): Now that we have three full years under our belt, we have a lot fewer things to create, add, or establish for the first time. Now we have routines and activities that are more predictable and we have a plan for! We were acutely aware when we opened in 2021 that we needed to give our students the best high school experience possible from day one. We achieved that goal and now our best has grown into getting better. It’s another milestone year in the establishment of Ridgeline High School. This June we will graduate our first four-year class, the class of 2025!
Q: How would you describe the support your school receives from parents and the community?
Alsaker (Liberty Creek): Throughout the years, our community has shown tremendous support. Parents, community members and local businesses have volunteered their time in classrooms and at school events, served on our PTO Board and led different committees. Additionally, local businesses have generously sponsored a variety of events, significantly benefiting our school activities through their donations.
Tesky (LLES): The support Liberty Lake Elementary School receives from parents and the community is truly outstanding. We are fortunate to have a wonderful network of parents, grandparents and community members who actively engage with our school. Many grandparents volunteer in
Hardt (Ridgeline): I remember so many of the feelings and emotions from the community, as well as staff, when the bond passed in 2018, paving the way for construction of a “third comprehensive high school.” For almost a year we were just a “concept,” something coming in the distant future. You could see a shift when we put a name on the school and we started branding our new identity. The shift to excitement and anticipation was palpable. Ironically, we opened our doors at a time when the world was struggling with a pandemic. This created some new barriers but also established a new beginning and opportunities for the future. We, Ridgeline High School, would be the gateway to the future for the next generation of students starting that fall. Parents and the greater community experienced this as well and recognized that we all have an opportunity to start something new together. The community took a lot of pride in establishing Ridgeline High School. It shows every day through tremendous support of our students and for our staff. Support is demonstrated in many ways such as time, money and showing up. However, our greatest strength as a community is the willingness, by all, to work together, to create an environment and culture in our new high school where families want to be – a place where the younger siblings come and watch big brother and sister with a sense of awe and pride—and they can’t wait to be a Falcon! We’re all looking forward to an outstanding year!
Photo by Craig Howard With over 600 students Selkirk Middle School is ready to welcome students back on Sept 5th as the school looks to expand its Career Technical Education Program by adding Robotics as well as starting a new science curriculum called OpenSciEd.
Student of the Month
In three years at Ridgeline High School, Lola McKay set a high standard as a student, soccer player and member of the cheer team. McKay graduated in June with a 3.9 grade point average. She was also a member of National Honor Society. McKay was a cheerleader for two years and part of the first RHS squad to qualify for state. She was also selected as homecoming queen her senior year. In soccer, McKay played her freshman year at Central Valley and three years as a Falcon. She was a co-captain last season and contributed to three post-season runs as well as Ridgeline’s first state appearance her junior year. McKay was a three-year volunteer for Link Crew, mentoring and supporting freshmen students. McKay will continue her academic pursuits at Grand Canyon University this fall where she will major in nursing.
Few high school athletes can say they completed their careers as a state champion. Jacob Nicholls is among that select group. Nicholls was part of Central Valley’s firstplace 4 x 400 relay team at the state meet in May, the crescendo of a journey that saw the senior overcome a slew of injuries. “I didn’t know how I was going to do it but I just kept going,” Nicholls said. A four-year letter winner in cross country and track, Nicholls registered a personal record of 1:57.7 in the 800 meters. In 2021, he was on a team that won gold at the National Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships. “I have the utmost respect for Jacob,” said CV boys’ head track coach Chuck Bowden. “He finished as a state champion and one of the best 800-meter runners in school history.”
Citizen of the Month
Jamie Hudson began his banking career while enrolled at Southern Oregon University. Over two decades later, the Liberty Lake resident is Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer at Wheatland Bank with career stops at places like STCU, Umpqua Bank and Washington Mutual. Hudson has been a volunteer with the Junior Achievement program since 2001, teaching workplace readiness and financial literacy to youth. He is also on the board of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. Hudson has his MBA in Finance from Gonzaga and a master’s in Banking from the University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School. He served a two-year mission in Russia and Finland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has held various leadership roles in his church. Jamie and his wife Carynn are proud parents of two sons, 16 and 13, and a daughter, 12.
Extensive Changes Coming to Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley Transit
By Colette Buck Splash contributor
Mass transportation services for Liberty Lake neighborhoods are expanding on Route 74 along the I-90 corridor, enhancing access to the greater Spokane area.
Stretching along the region’s major pulse, Route 74 within the Spokane Transit Authority bus system connects the Liberty Lake to Downtown Spokane, but only operates on the weekdays between five a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
In September, Route 74’s schedule will expand to all day service Monday through Saturday until 10 p.m. with a future expansion on Sunday in September 2025. STA Chief Planning and Development Officer Karl Otterstrom said the changes to service schedules are the first of many updates and improvements that Route 74 will undergo soon.
“That route will become route seven next year and have additional amenities like…more stops and real time information at the stops,” Otterstrom said, referring to plans for a high performance line to replace Route 74 sometime in 2025. “The net result will be easier to understand and more reliable for customers to use throughout the day.”
These particular improvements came from feedback the authority received from 11 citizens during a month-long public comment period earlier this year on its transit development plan for the next five years. The plan is one half of a larger strategic development framework for regional transit over the next ten years called Connect 2035.
STA is close to completing its previous 10 year strategic development plan, STA Moving Forward, which culminated in the launch of the Central City Line in July 2023. The line utilizes high
NEWS
performance transit principals and runs from Browne’s Addition to Spokane Community College, passing through downtown Spokane, the University District, and Gonzaga University.
Connect 2035 centers its goals and initiatives around improving the customer experience when riding the bus to include more frequent and increased access, ease of use thanks to technology, and diverse fare options. The plan’s contents would also chart a response to future community needs and environmental concerns.
“Growth of the region and traffic congestion; those are all realities that you have to confront in an area where people want to be, and what I think we all want in this community is that we…still enjoy it even as more people move here,” Otterstrom said. “The opportunity to establish transit as a cornerstone to community development sets us up for larger investments in the future and makes the community a great place to be.”
The Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors adopted the plan in late 2022, concluding the foundational stage of development. STA entered phase two in 2023, working over the last year to identify specific initiatives, projects, and performance measures to shape future regional transit development and build on previous improvements.
“We’re building up highperformance transit corridors, places where we can support not only good connections and accessibility, but also support cities in developing places where people want to be,” Otterstrom said. “As Liberty Lake grows out, the idea is to have (neighborhoods) that are dense and connected by transit so people can enjoy that without having to suffer through finding a parking spot.”
There are three different park and ride locations serving the greater Spokane Valley; the PenceCole Valley Transit Center along University Road, the Mirabeau Point Park and Ride along Indiana Avenue, and the Liberty Lake Park and Ride along East Mission Avenue.
Under Connect 2035, STA would add at least one more transit center near Argonne Road and I-90 that’s funded and scheduled for
construction in 2027. The Argonne station and a proposed fifth station south of I-90 along Appleway Boulevard would service future Route 7. Mirabeau Park and Ride is already closed while undergoing improvements to become a new state-of-the-art multimodal transit center.
“We envision that transit center in particular being an important connection point for…Northeast Spokane Valley, and…we’re looking at restructuring of routes in a way that we could serve more of North Spokane Valley,” Otterstrom said.
The authority is also exploring a pilot on demand mobility service like Lyft or Uber that would take passengers from anywhere within a designated zone to the nearest transit connection point for your forward journey. Although a more costly option per passenger, Otterstrom said the app-based service could help cover more neighborhoods for last mile connections.
Funding for these proposals is coming from a mixture of fare revenue collected by STA, government grants, and a pool of local sales tax revenue from 2021. Used to cover the authority’s operational costs, those tax dollars were set aside when STA received COVID relief funds instead.
Beyond the windfall of unutilized tax revenue, Liberty Lake Council
Member and STA Board Member Dan Dunne said the authority’s policy of fiscally conscious business practices also plays a role in its ability to pursue possible Connect 2035 projects. In total, funding ranges between $85 million to $130 million dollars depending on how STA leverages its grants, Otterstrom said.
“When we look around the state, there are so many other transit agencies burdened with unbearable debt that constantly produce projects that are way over budget and behind schedule,” Council Member Dunne said. “As I observe execution from STA, every one of these projects that come down are ahead of schedule and under budget, and they consistently meet the targets that are set as far as ridership and participation.”
With cash in hand, Otterstrom said the authority now looks toward the future and is assessing what a future Spokane Region might need from its mass transportation system. You can help STA as it continues to chart a path forward.
If you’re interested in shaping public transit plans, you can engage in several community participation events scheduled for September across Spokane and Kootenai Counties. Dates and locations for the events will be available on STA’s project website, STAConnect2035.org, and STA’s social media pages.
By John McCallum
Splash sports correspondent
Cross country
Ridgeline fall sports teams hope to continue upward momentum
Ridgeline High School fall sports teams look to build off of the success experienced during their 2023 campaigns — success that included several firsts. The Falcons girls soccer team notched the program’s first Greater Spokane League 3A title while the football team — which went 4-16 in their first two seasons — finished 6-2 in the GSL to earn their first postseason appearance.
The Falcon men’s and women’s teams are led by Nico Cisneros and Paige Huntsinger. The two seniors were the sole Ridgeline qualifiers for 3A state competition last fall as juniors, with Huntsinger 69th in the women’s field with a time of 20 minutes, 21 seconds while Cisneros was 102nd in the men’s race in 17:28.2 — with 193 runners in both fields.
According to the rosters listed on Athletic.net, all seven varsity runners return for the men’s team while five of seven varsity runners return for the Falcon women. Besides Huntsinger, back is senior Courtney Jeppson, juniors Gretchyn Carter and Sierra Tate along with sophomore Lily Bulkley.
For the men, Cisneros is joined by fellow seniors Oliver Bruck and Nolan Rabe, junior Landon Spinning and sophomores Keean Huntsinger, Oliver Taylor and Zachary Joyner.
All of these will be challenged by a good group of returning runners and newcomers that hope to better
Football
the men’s ninth-place finish and women’s sixth-place at last year’s District 8 competition.
Ridgeline looks to continue its upward momentum by improving upon a 2023 season that was itself a huge improvement on the previous 2022 campaign. Last year the Falcons finished third in the Greater Spokane League at 6-2, 8-3 overall and notched a pair of firsts — their first trip to the post season and their first post-season win, knocking off visiting Seattle Prep 38-14.
Unfortunately, that first was followed by another first, their first post-season loss which came on the road at 3A third-ranked and undefeated Arlington, 35-13.
Ridgeline graduated 14 seniors from last year’s team, but returns an experience core this season with 16 seniors and seven juniors, along with nine sophomores. Key returners who could factor into the success formula are senior quarterback Landon Garner and senior running back Camden Haddad.
Girls soccer
Like their pigskin counterparts, the Falcon girls soccer team notched a first for the three-year-old program last year — their first 3A GSL title. Unfortunately, success eluded them in the postseason where they went 1-2, notching a first-round win over Ferris but then falling to fourthseeded Mt. Spokane and then second-seeded Southridge where a win would have sent them on to the
state tournament.
While the Falcons lost the services of scoring threat Presley Young to graduation, they return some key players in important positions and look to improve on their 8-1 GSL record, 12-3 overall finish.
Slow pitch softball
The Falcons fell just short of making an appearance in the 3A state tournament, finishing 9-3 in the GSL and 14-6 overall. The GSL record earned Ridgeline a No. 4 seed in the District 8 tournament, which began with an 11-7 loss to league-champion University.
The Falcons followed this setback with a pair of wins, eliminating Shadle Park 11-9 and then thirdseeded Mead, 9-7, before ending their season with a 17-6 loss to Walla Walla.
Ridgeline graduated four seniors, including team leader and lead-off hitter Maggie Carvo, but should return a solid and experienced group of players that includes seniors Lilley Triplett and Eliana Thompson along with juniors Emma Myers and Quincy Coder and sophomore Millie Dobyns.
Volleyball
Ridgeline finished 2023 with a 10-7 overall mark, 5-4 in the GSL, a mark that landed them a fifthseed into the District 8 playoffs. The Falcons opened with a 3-0 sweep of Walla Wall before getting swept themselves by 4A Mead.
Ridgeline then proceeded to upset second-seeded Kennewick, 3-1, before falling a match short of state, ending their season with a 3-1 home loss to seventh-seeded Ferris.
The Falcons lost only two seniors, but should return an experienced lineup of seven seniors and three juniors — eight of whom were part of the 2022 squad that finished third in the GSL at 6-3, 11-6 overall.
The information above is based upon results, rosters and stories from 2023. Questionnaires regarding the 2024 teams were sent to all head coaches, but none were returned at press time.
Photo by John McCallum Falcons midfielder/defender Izzie Olson (16) tries to get past a Mt. Spokane defender during action in 2023.
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Manufacturing Connect launches at Spokane Valley Tech
By Nina Culver
Current contributor
The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Central Valley School District to create opportunities for students to build future careers in the manufacturing industry.
A new program, called Manufacturing Connect, will bring engineering and advanced manufacturing students at Spokane Valley Tech to visit three manufacturers a month to get tours and learn about the products each company makes. The school was selected because it already has a program for students interested in technical fields, Beck said.
“It’s a career path not every student is interested in,” he said.
While the monthly field trips will start in September, the preparation and planning started last year. “We’ve been working on this for a little over a year now,” said Chamber CEO Lance Beck. “It builds on a partnership we’ve built with the manufacturers here. It’s kind of a natural step.”
Manufacturing jobs typically pay well, but until recently the mantra that high school students heard was that they needed a college degree in order to get a good job. The tide has begun to turn in the last few years, however, and students are being exposed to alternate career paths that call for an apprenticeship or training program instead of college.
Spokane Valley Tech teacher Salvatore Lorenzen said it used to be that there weren’t many jobs available in the manufacturing industry. “A lot of manufacturing went offshore,” he said. “My generation, we were told to get a degree. Now, with the uptick in manufacturing, there’s new opportunities.”
He wants to introduce his students to new career opportunities and let them know that there are
plenty of well-paying jobs available in their backyard. “If they don’t see it, they don’t know they can be it,” he said. “There’s a lot of local companies with a global presence. They don’t have to leave the area to work on interesting things.”
His job, in addition to exposing students to career options, is to prepare them to work in the industry. “My goal is to have my kids be entry level employable during the school year,” he said. “The kids can do some amazing things.”
Beck said that many manufacturers are located on large, nondescript buildings that don’t offer any clues about the work done inside. Many students pass by these businesses daily but don’t realize the companies are involved in manufacturing key components for a wide variety of products and businesses.
“They don’t know what’s here,” he said. “There’s some really good products that are made here. Unless you go inside and see what’s being done there, you don’t know what’s happening.”
The Chamber received a Career Connect Washington Grant to pay for staff time to create and organize
the program, Beck said. Staffers have been reaching out to manufacturers to gauge their willingness to host groups of teenagers for tours, Beck said. “We were able to pay for significant staff time to plan the program,” he said. “We had to learn who to ask, how to ask. We’ve got our first quarter of tours slated.”
Students will visit three manufacturers on each monthly field trip, which means that a student who participates in Manufacturing Connect will visit 50 companies over two years, Beck said. “They don’t know there’s that much volume of opportunity,” he said. “We do have well over 50. We really want to highlight the diversity.”
The grant does not, however, cover the cost of transporting students on the monthly field trips to visit local manufacturers. Beck said the Chamber is working on fundraising opportunities to pay for the operating costs.
Companies will likely be willing to participate in the Manufacturing Connect program because the manufacturing industry has been hurting for workers. Some businesses have gone as far as renting billboards to advertise vacant positions and
many companies offer in-house training. Companies are automating where they can, but they still need skilled workers, Beck said.
“The workforce challenge for manufacturers hasn’t changed,” he said. “We’re not going to completely automate our way out of the workforce issue.”
The Chamber organized a pilot program, sending a group of 25 high school juniors and seniors to visit three manufacturers in May. The students visited ASC Machine Tools Inc., HDT Global and Spokane Seed Co. The businesses were selected because they are all market leaders in their respective industries, Beck said. All three are also located in Spokane Valley.
Beck said that while he hopes the program will be effective, it will probably take up to three years to be certain. The result he hopes to see is students in the Manufacturing Connect program being hired by local companies. “This will have an impact on quite a few students in a direct way,” he said.
If the program is effective, Beck said he hopes to be able to expand it to include students in other school districts in the future
Contributed photo
ASC Machine Tools located at 900 N Fancher in Spokane Valley was founded in 1949 as a Aluminum Supply Company but now spans the world with customers in over 60 countries focusing on state of the art manufacturing solutions for C/Z purlin, panel, trim, door and decking production as well as high-production grain bin roof, wall, and stiffener lines.
