Snow Eater Brewery reopens
By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
Five years ago Austin Whitney was building pools in Utah when his father called and asked him if he’d like to help him build the taproom for his new business, Snow Eater Brewing Company. Work was slow, so Whitney packed his bags and headed north. He never went back.
Whitney’s father, Richard Whitney, died last year. After a brief closure, Whitney is now running Snow Eater in the space at 2325 N. McKinzie Lane in Liberty Lake to continue his father’s lifelong dream of owning a brewery.
“We built the patio together,” he said. “My dad and I, every piece of wood you see here, we stained together.”
When the work was done and the brewery was ready to open, his father asked Whitney to stay. “I came up here not looking for a permanent job,” Whitney said. “He asked me if I wanted to start brewing beer with him. I’ve been here since day one. I was in here serving, cooking, brewing, doing it all. When it came to brewing, I learned everything I know from my dad. It was his dream to open up a brewery and he did it.”
The elder Whitney was a pilot in the Army for 26 years, all the while nurturing his passion for brewing beer. “He would homebrew on his time off,” Whitney said. “It was just a passion he had. We got into this because of a love of the brewing industry.”
After leaving the military, the elder Whitney built an airplane hanger in the Tri-Cities. He sold it in order to use the proceeds to launch his brewery. But there was a hiccup two and a half years ago when he was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.
“They told him he had six months to live,” Whitney said. “There wasn’t even a second thought. He
DOCKSIDE
went straight into immunotherapy and targeted radiation.”
Ten years ago he’d had a benign area on his skin on his head that was cut out. He had regular follow ups for years before the doctors told him he was clear. “They said he was good, there was no more cancer,” he said.
The elder Whitney continued to live his life, until the day two and a half years ago when he had a seizure while riding his mountain bike. The doctors determined that not only had the cancer returned, but it had already spread and there were tumors in his brain and chest.
His father was fiercely optimistic that he would beat the cancer, Whitney said, to the point that he didn’t want to talk about any other
possibility. He didn’t even talk to his friends or customers about his diagnosis. “I don’t think he wanted anyone around him to focus on it,” he said. “He’d come in here and wouldn’t tell a soul what was going on. He continued to put his heart into this business.”
But there came a time when it became obvious his health was failing. “He lost motor functions,” Whitney said. “It got to the point where he couldn’t walk by himself. When that happened I knew we weren’t going to beat this thing.”
Richard Whitney died Nov. 30 at the age of 56, surrounded by his family. Since then, Whitney has struggled to keep the brewery running, dealing with paperwork surrounding ownership and finances. Though Whitney is the
one managing the brewery, it’s now owned by himself and his three brothers. “We’re all beneficiaries of the business,” he said. “He wanted me to manage it and run it on his behalf.”
Whitney shut the business down briefly to reassess. He realized that the business was spending too much money on food and staff time for the extensive menu. There were simply too many expenses and not enough revenue, Whitney said. He decided to cut down the menu and temporarily reduce the hours of operation.
“Me closing the doors was just a chance to hit the reset button, because the business model that we had hasn’t been working” he said. “I realized we needed to make a change or Snow Eater wasn’t going to be around anymore. And I couldn’t give up on my dad’s legacy that easily, so I had to make the necessary changes to keep this place alive.”
The brewery reopened quietly with little fanfare on January 17. There was no grand celebration, just a couple regulars heading in as soon as the doors opened for a beer. “We had a great weekend,” he said. “A lot of people came in, a lot of our regulars came in to support us.”
The brewery’s menu is now smaller and is more focused on appetizers like a Bavarian pretzel, fries, chips and dip, chicken wings, chicken tenders and beer cheese macaroni and cheese. There are also a couple pizzas on a cauliflower crust, a house salad and a few items on the kids menu.
The brewery is currently open on Tuesdays from 3 to 9 p.m. when the business hosts a trivia night, Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. Whitney said he hopes to reopen on Wednesdays and Thursdays soon.
Q: Where did the name Snow Eater come from?
A: So it’s based on the Chinook winds that come down over the mountain range. I think it’s a term that the Chinook Indians used, the
Photo by Nina Culver
GET COZY IN YOUR NEW HOME
WHITNEY
Continued from page 2
winds come down and eat away all the snow. The snow eater winds. We thought that was pretty clever, considering we try to relate our brand to being outdoorsy. A lot of our names are named after hiking trails or ski slope trails. If you look at Mount Rainier, the Wonderland Trail, there are a lot of our beers based off the campgrounds that are there. That was my dad’s favorite place on Earth was Mount Rainier.
Q: Was he a hiker or a climber?
A: He was a hiker. We loved to do backpacking. He had all four of us brothers. I’m the third born. I’ll never forget, I was maybe 10 years old, which made Brendan, my younger brother, was 8. Dallon was 12 Jason was maybe 16. We hiked 93 miles all the way around Mount Rainier.
Q: How many beers do you have on tap here?
A: I’ve got 21 beers on tap.
Q: And how many of those are yours?
A: All of them. They’re all brewed in house and we have two guest ciders on tap as well, but we don’t brew the ciders.
Q: So what would you say is your most popular?
A: Oh, by far it’s the Sparkle
Q: That does not sound like a trail, so tell me the story behind Sparkle Pony.
A: Honestly, we just wanted a funky name that stood out, something funny and that’s what we landed on. We said let’s do something that someone might be embarrassed to say the words to order. You know, we get grown
ass men in here with a beard who say ‘Can I get a Sparkle Pony.’ It’s great. Sparkle Pony was my first hazy recipe. My Dad and I built the beer together. It just happened to be a good seller, so we kept it on tap. We’ve been running that one around four or five years now.
Q: So, Deez Nuts (a pistachio nitro cream ale)?
A: That’s our newest beer we just put out. I always try to get creative with our nitro. It’s kind of fun and I always thought NoLi did a good job with their pistachio ale and I thought, hey, we could probably do a pistachio pretty well. We came up with the name on it because that was my dad’s favorite joke, Deez Nuts. It was unanimous. Everyone said, that’s going to be the name. He’s off somewhere, probably laughing about it.
Q: Other than the Sparkle Pony, what are your other top sellers?
A: I would say we get a lot of IPA, the lager, the pilsner. People really like our peanut butter chocolate stout. It’s won two gold medals at the Washington Beer Awards. That might be our best beer, honestly.
Q: What are your goals moving forward for the brewery?
A: My goal is to build this place into something that my dad saw. One of the last projects we talked about together was an expansion of the Snow Eater production facility and distributing our beer on a larger scale and maybe potentially getting it somewhere on the whole northwest coast. That’s the goal, is to see if we can expand outside of the tap room, which is a great thing, we it would be cool to have our beer out on the shelves of the supermarkets. The only way we’re going to get there is just from the support of the community continuing to come see us and support our small business.”
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
Parking Violations 5
Suspicious Vehicles 32
Significant Cases
Intimate Images, 12/10/2024:
Splash news sources
Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 809
Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 14
Citations (Traffic/Criminal/ Non-Criminal) 57
DUI (Driving Under Influence) 4
Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 22
Malicious Mischief 4
Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 9
2024-88009835, Motor Vehicle Theft, 12/05/2024:
Officers took a report of a stolen motor vehicle around the 1800 block of N Pepper Lane. The victim advised they had rented a vehicle and believes that it was stolen a few days ago but he is unsure when or where it was stolen. The vehicle was subsequently recovered by Coeur d’Alene Police Department at a U-haul storage facility where it had been left by the victim while he was moving items from residence to residence.
2024-88010020, Disclosing
Officers responded to the 23600 block of E Broadway Avenue for the report of a subject sharing nude photos of the victim. Officers contacted the victim and determined that the suspect had taken nude photos of the victim without consent and then shared the photos with other individuals. Detectives followed up and the suspect admitted to the crime. Charges were forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutors Office.
apartment and assaulted the resident. Officers investigated the allegations and arrested the suspect for Residential Burglary and Assault 4. The suspect was transported to the Spokane County Jail.
2024-88010158, Residential Burglary & Assault 4, 12/14/2024:
Officer responded to the 21400 block of E Courtyard Lane for the report of a subject who had pushed their way into a neighboring
There were multiple reports of people attempting to steal packages off the residential porches. Officers continued to make proactive contacts with any suspicious vehicles seen throughout the community that may be looking for easy targets. The Liberty Lake Police Department would also like to remind everyone to be vigilant when securing your homes and automobiles. The vehicles and homes that have been reported as being stolen and burglarized in recent cases have been left unsecure.
City’s chief building inspector retires after 23 years
Wayne Hammond is the one person who has been inside nearly every new home and commercial building that has become part of the city of Liberty Lake’s landscape during the 21st century.
“I’ve probably looked at every house in Rocky Hill, and pretty much every structure in Legacy Ridge,” he said.
With his retirement on January 30 as the city’s chief building inspector and plans examiner, Hammond is ending a record stretch of employment with Liberty Lake that began back on Nov. 26, 2001. When he was hired, there were barely more than half a dozen other city employees – all of them working in the downstairs level of the Greenstone building at that time.
Two residents join Liberty Lake Library Board
The Liberty Lake Municipal Library’s Board of Trustees has started 2025 with two new members who were approved by the City Council during its Dec. 17 meeting.
Michael Bota was appointed to fill out the remaining four years of the term previously held by Bob Skattum, who moved out of state in the latter part of 2024. Bota is an endocrinologist with MultiCare Health System in Spokane, and has lived in Liberty Lake for about six years. He previously served as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board of College Station, Texas.
Anna Voloshin has started a five-year term with the Library Board. She works as a human resources generalist for Quality Custom Distribution in Spokane, and has also lived in Liberty Lake for about six years. Voloshin has been a volunteer with Liberty Lake Elementary School’s “Meet the Masters” program and previously worked as a senior claims representative for The Harford in Rancho Cordova, California.
Hammond was the young city’s only building inspector for about six years, doing work that is now split among a team of three people.
Hammond came to Liberty Lake after 11 years as a building inspector with the city of Post Falls. Within only half an hour after interviewing at Liberty Lake, he returned to his office in Post Falls and received the phone call inviting him to join the staff.
“They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he remembers. “It also gave me the chance to build a department from the ground floor.”
In his duties throughout the following 23 years, Hammond has reviewed building applications and plans, ensured that proposed structures comply with building codes,
LLPD’s annual awards go to Powers and Ervin
The Liberty Lake Police Dept. recognized Darin Powers with its 2024 Officer of the Year Award and Logan Ervin with its Employee Excellence Award during a presentation at the Liberty Lake City Council meeting on Jan. 7.
The recently promoted Corporal Powers received the Officer of the Year Award almost exactly a year to the day that he joined the LLPD in January of 2024. This award honors an officer who has demonstrated exceptional courage, integrity, and commitment to duties on behalf of the community. The award recognizes the officer’s bravery and heroism, integrity and professionalism, community engagement, leadership skills,
interacted with project engineers and contractors, and issued permits.
He has also conducted multiple inspections for each building project, from the time that dirt is first moved and continuing through a building’s finishing touches. He has looked at foundation walls, plumbing, insulation, framing, and mechanical work – pretty much everything except for electrical wiring. A new standard home may involve five or six inspection visits, and a commercial structure may require 30 to 40 visits.
The long list of larger buildings in the area that have involved a Wayne Hammond inspection includes R&R RV, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, three Central Valley School District structures, the city’s own Public Works
and problem-solving abilities.
“This accolade reflects his exemplary performance, leadership, and ability to foster positive relationships within the community,” Chief Damon Simmons said during his presentation of the award. “Officer Powers’ recognition not only shines a light on his individual contributions but also serves to inspire his colleagues and reinforces the importance of community-oriented policing as well as good old fashion policing.”
The Employee Excellence Award for Officer Ervin is a new award that is selected through a vote by the police department’s members for someone who represents the core values of the organization and serves as an example for the other officers to emulate.
Since joining the LLPD in May of 2021, Ervin has taken tactical development courses and has been instrumental in developing and providing that training to the department’s officers. He received his certification as a handgun instructor this past year and developed curriculum for department’s staff. During 2024, he also earned advanced training in criminal intelligence investigations, street crimes, active shooter, and supervisor liability.
facility, and just about every Liberty Lake business that exists north of I-90.
“There are a lot of buildings that were really nice, really well done,” said Hammond, who is also a fan of architecture. “Trailbreaker Cider with its multilevel and glass design was really nice. And when Huntwood Custom Cabinets went in, I saw things I hadn’t seen before. I got to learn new things about seismic design with that one that I had not seen for a building that big. That one was pretty interesting.”
Looking back at his time the longestserving employee for the city of Liberty Lake, the Rathdrum resident said: “I’ve enjoyed it greatly. I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve worked with, and it’s been exceptionally good. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”
Have you filled out your 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey?
If you get it done on Groundhog Day, then it won’t still be there the next day. If you get it done on Valentine’s Day, it could be a way to convey your heartfelt appreciation to your city. Or if you get it done on Presidents’ Day, it would be a locally patriotic thing to do, by George.
Invitation cards to participate in the 2025 edition of Liberty Lake’s Community Satisfaction Survey were mailed to randomly selected city residents during mid-January. If you were among those recipients but still haven’t gone online to fill out your survey, February is your month to do so. The survey is your opportunity to influence decision-making at City Hall by giving your viewpoints about local quality of life, public safety, economic opportunity, city services, and more.
And, if you received an invitation card but misplaced it, please contact City Hall to learn how you can access your online survey by calling 509-755-6700.
Help protect our lake
Shoreline and/or Stormwater Permit(s) may be required for your project. ere are regulations governing development activities across the entire Liberty
Council approves Trailhead restaurant, new library board appointments
By John McCallum
Splash contributor
Liberty Lake finally has a tenant for the restaurant space at the city’s Trailhead Golf Course.
The City Council voted 5-2 — council members Chris Dunne and Linda Ball voting no — to approve a contract with Mexican restaurant business Chavelitas Grill and Cantina to lease space at the city’s course at 22302 E. Country Vista Drive. Chavelitas was one of two final bidders for the space, the other being Saranac Public House, a Spokane-based brew pub and restaurant.
After bidder presentations in October and November, council was to approve a contract at their Nov. 19 meeting but was indecisive on which one to choose. Reasons for indecision ranged from a large public support for Saranac to a better return on the city’s investment over 10- and 20-year periods from Chavelitas, along with thoroughness of their individual presentations.
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Cargill summed up the discussion by noting Chavelitas had done the work to make a more thorough presentation than Saranac and would provide a greater return to the city on its investment, while Saranac had received 96% of favorable responses from citizens on the city’s Facebook page.
“This shows why government should not be in the business of owning a restaurant,” Cargill said.
According to the staff report, Chavelitas would need a capital improvement allowance from the city of $200,000, whereas Saranac was requesting $530,007. Chavelitas 10-year return on investment was estimated at $432,507 while
Saranac was $43,383 with 20-year investments put at $1,243,946 and $708,099 respectively.
Councilwoman Linda Ball countered Cargill by saying the city wasn’t in the restaurant business but operating as landlords. She also noted Liberty Lake already has three Mexican restaurants, and that extending the contract to Saranac would pull in customers from Idaho who enjoy the restaurant but don’t want to drive to Spokane.
“Same old, same old does not work for me,” she said.
Chavelitas representatives told the council they had been working on modifying their menu, and would be offering about 75% nonMexican food choices. Council voted to authorize city staff to negotiate with both restaurants in order to obtain more concrete financial numbers.
At the Jan. 21 meeting the numbers and arguments for either didn’t change much, although several residents spoke in favor of Chavelitas. In the end, the financial numbers won out for Chavelitas.
Ball was not surprised by the vote and wished Chavelitas well. She added that people want variety, however, and they also don’t want to feel like the City Council knows what’s best for them.
Library board conflicts continue
Conflicts over council passage of a 2023 ordinance giving it the final say over policy changes proposed by the Liberty Lake Library Board of Trustees continued to play out with several nomination procedures for members of that board.
At the Dec. 3 meeting, council surprised some of its members and supporters of the library by voting 4-3 against renewing the tenure of trustee Kim Girard, who has served since 2021. Council members Wendy Van Orman, Chris Cargill, Mike Kennedy and Jed Spencer voted against Girard, mainly because she had spoken against the ordinance and reportedly made threats to sue the city.
“What we don’t need is competitors, what we need is completers,” Kennedy said.
Mayor Cris Kaminskas was absent from that meeting, but brought her appointment back for
the Jan. 7 meeting.
At that meeting, Girard gave a statement listing her credentials, accomplishments and love for libraries, which she referred to as “her happy places.” The Liberty Lake resident has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of AlaskaFairbanks, a master’s in the same field from University of AlaskaSoutheast, a School Library Professional Endorsement Program certificate from University of Washington and a master’s in educational leadership from Gonzaga University.
Girard spent 31 years in education in rural and urban school districts in Alaska.
Asked by Van Orman and Spencer about her statements regarding the ordinance, Girard denied threatening to sue and said if some of her statements were misinterpreted it was because she is a reserved person and not used to speaking in public. She also said she viewed the board of trustees as an advisory group to the council, a key spot of contention with the council.
The council voted 4-2 to deny her reappointment, with only Dunne and Ball voting in favor. Councilwoman Annie Kurtz was absent.
At the public comment period near the end of the meeting, Library Board of Trustee member Shawna Dean gave the council her immediate resignation because of its treatment of Girard, along with other issues.
“Over the past months, it has become evident that certain members of the City Council are not supportive of the library's mission and autonomy,” Dean said in a prepared statement. “The recent actions taken against trustee Kim Girard, a dedicated and invaluable member of our board, have highlighted a vindictive attitude among some council members. Their decision to remove Ms. Girard, despite her tireless efforts and significant contributions to the library, has underscored a lack of respect and support for the library's role in our community.”
In between these two incidents council appointed two new members to fill vacant board seats.
At the Dec. 17 meeting, council voted 6-1 to name Michael Bota and Anna Voloshin to the board.
Bota, an endocrinologist with four children, listed his education experience as “medical school, postgraduate training, MBA candidate. He said he gained an appreciation for books while growing up in Romania and believes “books need to be publicly available.”
Voloshin, who grew up in Ukraine, received a bachelor’s degree in human resources from California State University Sacramento in 2009 and is a human resources generalist at QCD. She is a volunteer with a number of organizations, including the “Meet The Masters” program at Liberty Creek Elementary.
At the Jan. 21 meeting, the council voted 6-1 to name current Central Valley School District Director of Career and Technical Education Jennifer Chase to a seat on the library board. Chase has bachelor and master’s education degrees from Eastern Washington University and credentialing from Gonzaga, and over 30 years in the education field.
The lone “no” vote on all three appointments was Kennedy. With Bota and Voloshin, he said during council remarks he didn’t think the nomination process was transparent. With Chase, he asked her if she felt the board of trustees were advisory to the council or independent.
Chase said she hadn’t researched the position enough to give an informed response.
“But working together, it is more important than working independently,” she added.
Insights for a healthier 2025
By Giorgio Usai
Splash guest contributor
Ok, this is it. THIS is the year. You are going to do it, totally transform your body and your health! You are going to lose that 10, 20, or 30lbs by summer and be basking in the sun of that perfect swimsuit that fit just right, well.... 10 years ago. All it's going to take is eating ONLY vegetables and protein for EVERY meal, every day, drinking zero alcohol, and daily 4:30 am workouts consisting of cardio, strength training, yoga and a few thousand dollars’ worth special supplements. We are fired up, let's goooo!
There is absolutely NO way for this plan to fail right? If you are like most of us and have been down some semblance of this path (maybe more than once?), then may I suggest something different?
What if you let go of the idea that you need to conquer it all in the next several months and instead set a much smaller goal? Then make the achievement of this goal more probable with a series of little, easy decisions? Your goal should still be compelling, and there will be some willpower required, but make this something you just need to consistently just lean in the direction of rather than a goal requiring a herculean effort with low probability of success.
How about you say, this is the year I am going to actually STOP gaining extra weight and maintain where I am? Or, I want to go down just one notch on my belt buckle. Or, I am going to simply take steps to feel energized in the morning. Try immersing yourself in the feeling of really achieving this more modest goal, and notice the difference you feel in visualization of it, knowing that it is not only realistic, but that you can achieve it by simply being consistent with manageable changes.
Then, set a series of small things you can do towards achieving this goal. The smaller
and easier, the better! Why? Because these aren't things you are going to be doing for 30 days, or 6 weeks, or until summer. They should be changes that are totally sustainable for you.... FOREVER. Alright, don't freak out now with that word, forever. These changes should not be a big deal, and it doesn't mean you will never have a dessert again if you decide you are going to de-prioritize them. These should just be things you can integrate right in the flow of your life without too much pain and resistance.
For your exercise, let's start with the kind you don't actually mind doing. For some it's yoga, for some it's lifting weights, others pickleball, or walking. Start there rather than forcing the type of exercise you hate but you think is required. It would be far better to walk consistently because you enjoy that, than to
force a HIIT workout and give up in 3 weeks because you detest it. For your diet, don't never go out to eat, but maybe you decide to just make it a point to order the salad instead of fries. Better yet, split the meal with your partner (still with the salad!). If you enjoy adult beverages (responsibly of course), how about with soda water instead of a sugar-filled mixer?
If you are already doing some of these things, then just find the next level for you, but focus on a change that doesn't take a ton of willpower. Look for the low hanging fruit! Easier and sustainable beats better but harder to sustain. If instead of NO going out to eat, GRUELLING workouts you hate, and NO drinks, your program is just a walk you enjoy, half a burger and salad, and one glass of wine instead of two, that's doable for the long-haul right?
The point is, if we try to make huge changes that suddenly take away the things we like, or require tremendous effort, we create a high probability of frustration and failure. If you commit to minor, but absolutely sustainable changes you use the power of time and compounding in your favor. Think of this like investing for retirement. We know that the real key to success is automating investing in a way that is sustainable over a long period of time. Aren't our bodies worth the same kind of thoughtful approach toward success?
Now, here is the kicker. It has been said that people vastly overestimate what they can achieve in a year, and vastly underestimate what they can achieve in a decade. So, part of the trick to this approach is to be so committed to 'being' the person that is living these little changes, that you aren't overly focused on 'seeing' the results, because with the small changes, it will take some time. Savor the small joy of knowing you ARE that person walking in nature each week, or confidently passing on the fries. It feels good just to make the little mindful decisions each day, knowing you are not giving up anything major, so you can keep this up, baby!
If you commit to the BEING instead of the SEEING, one day you will notice that first little tangible or visible result, and it will feel great, because it wasn't that hard. And from that feeling you may have now built the mental muscle and momentum to try just a bit more. Maybe that workout that seemed so grueling before seems a bit more doable now that you are on your way. Maybe you just aren't as interested in the burger or the extra drink now that you are down the size in jeans. Give yourself a chance to build momentum and get this point of growing confidence and inspiration! And you can imagine where it could go from here, right?
Remember the perfect swimsuit from 10 years ago... I didn't say you should throw it away :)
Photo by Danica Wick Liberty Lake Fitness opened late last year in the river district. With a long family legacy of fitness and serving the community, the Usai family is excited to serve Liberty Lake.
Tips for Aging Gracefully
Dr Susan Ashley, MD
Splash guest contributor
There are many signs of aging that anyone over 40 is familiar with. Creaky joints, poor eyesight, wrinkles, less energy and more weight gain. Most of us would like to know how to slow down this process, especially with the large population of boomers out thereincluding me. Here are some tips on slowing aging and regaining vitality.
First and most important, is exercise. As we age, we tend to slow down, and after retirement many of us become couch potatoes. There is nothing worse for your health! Our bodies are made for movement, no matter what stage of life we are in.
A sign that you are aging too quickly is your walking stride. Multiple studies have shown that the faster you walk, the longer you're likely to live. Those who walked at an average pace cut their risk of dying from ANY disease by 20% when compared to the slowest walkers.
Not only that, but those who walked at a fast pace reduced their risk of death even further, by 24%. For those over age 60, fast paced walkers slashed their risk of dying by 53%!
How brisk if brisk? A "fast" pace was defined as one that makes you slightly out of breath. Walk at least 10 minutes a day three times a day (or one 30 min walk), 5 days a week.
Other exercise that is crucial is strength training. Our muscles normally atrophy as we age, which contributes to weakness, balance issues, fatigue and low bone density. Resistance training of any kind will help to reverse these issues. Find a personal trainer to help you and start your regimen at least 3 days a week.
We also use a machine called a NeoSculpt which will increase muscle mass quickly by 25%. I have seen dramatic improvements in patients with poor mobility be able to discard their walker and regain energy with this technique.
Nutrition is the next most important element for reducing
aging. We tend to become deficient in many vitamins as we age, and do not eat enough protein, thus contributing to chronic disease. Ensure you are consuming at least 60 grams of protein daily, and eat colorful vegetables and fruit. But even that is not enough. Our bodies do not absorb nutrients as readily from our foods, especially if you are on any medicine that reduces stomach acid. I recommend the following:
Vitamin D - between 5,000 and 10,000 IU daily, take with food for better absorption;
Supplements such as Mitocore or Alpha Base which has your multi-vitamins, extra methylated B vitamins for energy, anti-oxidants, resveratrol, turmeric and help with detoxification. These are especially great for energy.
Omega 3's - 2000-4000mg a day, high quality, without mercury and toxins;
Essential amino acids to ensure adequate protein intake.
IV nutritional's are also great, many of our patients receive these once a month.
NAD - nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide - a coenzyme that helps turn food into energy and repairs your DNA. We offer it in sublingual tabs, injections, patches or IV. There is so much that is in our control to help us maintain our health, strength, and love for life as we age.
Social interaction, reading, hobbies and learning new things are also so important and keep life interesting!
Mental Health
Splash new sources
According to a recent study, more than one in five Washingtonians have a diagnosable mental illness. People with severe mental illness also have a 10-25-year shorter life expectancy than those without a mental health condition.
It’s a stark reality that MultiCare’s Samantha Clark and her team are tirelessly working to address. While the demand for behavioral health needs in the community is wellknown, this need has outgrown the services that are available locally.
To address this need, Clark had a vision to help shore the gap. This vision became a reality in October 2023 when the doors of a new behavioral health clinic opened in the heart of Hillyard at the Northeast Community Center. The project was a collaborative effort that included financial support from the state, Spokane County,
the city of Spokane, MultiCare and philanthropic donations all orchestrated by Clark.
“This clinic was truly born from listening to the community’s need, and by working together in partnership to ensure that need is addressed,” said Clark, assistant vice president of strategy and business development for the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network. “We want the people and the leaders in this community to know that we can create change, we can create positive outcomes, and we can achieve great things together.”
In the first 16 months since its opening, the clinic has served over 2,400 individuals via 16,000 visits, which “illustrated just how great the need for behavioral health is,” Clark said.
“We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community in relation to our new clinic,” she said. “It’s confirmed that we need to keep striving and growing to help meet the needs of our growing population.”
MultiCare has also expanded its behavioral services by embedding specialists in its primary care clinic. The idea behind embedding them inside of a primary care clinic is to care for the person as a “whole.”
“Our goal is to offer behavioral health services in every primary care and pediatric clinic in the Inland Northwest,” Clark said. “By integrating behavioral health in the primary care and pediatric setting, we are offering our community easy access to team-based care that is in a familiar location. We believe this results in whole-person care that helps best address the needs of our patients.”
What Everyone Should Know About Neck Pain
Dr. Kim White Splash guest contributor
Chances are very high that you may have experienced neck pain at some point in your life. In fact, there is a one in ten chance that you are experiencing neck pain at this moment! According to the National Spine Health Foundation, it is estimated that 10% of adults have neck pain at any one time. As a chiropractor who specializes in gentle neck adjusting, it is probably the most common complaint that I see in my office. Some symptoms that are commonly associated with neck pain include headaches, migraines, upper back pain, and numbness or tingling in the hands. It’s a huge problem that as Americans, we spend a lot of money on! Depending on who you ask, that
number ranges from $100 billion to $350 billion dollars in a year.
The good news is that there are changes that you can make in your life to prevent or treat your neck pain at home. Here are some things to consider:
1. Stretch out your chest. For many people, neck pain is attributed to forward head carriage that is related to screen use. That position can shorten the muscles on the front of your chest, which creates tension in the neck and upper back. Stretching out the chest can help alleviate that tension and can also make it easier to sit up with better posture.
2. Limit your computer time. If you can’t limit your total time on the computer, limit the amount of time you spend at the computer at once. Take frequent breaks – every half hour – even if it’s just to stand in place and move your body around.
3. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your back or on your side is best for your neck.
4. Invest in a good pillow – one that supports your neck. If you’re
a side sleeper and find yourself bringing your arm up under your pillow, chances are that you need a thicker pillow. My favorite pillow right now is the original COOP pillow.
5. Spend less time looking at your phone or tablet. “Text neck” is real, and we are seeing neck pain affect a younger population!
If you’ve tried these things, or if you’re at a point that you’re looking to seek out medical care, consider trying chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, or massage. In Washington State, most insurance plans cover all of these treatment modalities. That’s because they work!
The fine print:
*This is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute providing medical advice.
*RED FLAGS – There are some “red flags” to look out for if you have neck pain. In the health care world, a “red flag” would be something that warrants further examination or testing. You should seek out medical care immediately if you have neck pain and any of the following: history of cancer, unexplained fever, changes in your gate or balance, inability to find any comfortable position, decreased fine motor skills in your hands, weakness that is worsening, significant spinal trauma, osteoporosis, or new or severe headaches, or sharp shooting pain.
The Importance of Youth Health and Physical Activity
By Phil Champlin Splash guest contributor
The play-based childhood many adults fondly remember has largely been replaced by a screen-based childhood, leading to significant changes in the lives of today’s youth. According to research by Jonathan Haidt in The Anxious Generation, the rise of smart phones has disrupted essential social and physical development. The decline in face-to-face interactions and the increase in loneliness among youth began with the widespread adoption of cell phones. Children now spend an average of seven hours daily on screen-based leisure activities, leaving little time for physical activity, social engagement, and essential developmental opportunities. Alarmingly, these trends were evident even before the pandemic, which further exacerbated the issue.
Physical activity is critical for youth for several reasons. First, it supports healthy physical development by building strong bones and muscles and maintaining a healthy weight. It also benefits mental well-
being, reducing anxiety and depression while boosting overall mood. Cognitive benefits include improved concentration, memory, and academic performance due to increased blood flow to the brain. Additionally, physical activity fosters social skills through team sports and group activities, encouraging collaboration and friendship. Importantly, it establishes lifelong healthy habits and enhances motor skills, stress relief, and selfesteem. Research from Project Play emphasizes that physically active children experience 40% higher test scores, lower levels of depression, better self-esteem, and are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking or drug use.
Despite these benefits, current statistics reveal a troubling decline in youth participation in sports and physical activities. According to Healthy People 2030, a federal initiative, the goal is to have 63.3% of youth participating in sports by 2030. Achieving this target could lead to profound health and economic benefits, including 1.7 million fewer
overweight or obese children, 147,000 fewer diabetics, and $80 billion saved in healthcare costs and lost productivity. However, the most recent data from 20222023 shows only 50.7% of youth are involved in sports, a decline from the baseline of 58.4% in 2016-2017. This downward trend underscores the need for greater access to physical activity opportunities.
Organizations like HUB Sports Center play a vital role in addressing this issue by creating programs that promote physical activity and engagement. Since opening in 2007, HUB has served over 2.5 million youth and families, offering programs such as HUB 360, Play Unplugged, and Homeschool PE. These initiatives address community needs by providing structured and unstructured play opportunities, often in collaboration with schools and other organizations. For example, the Play Unplugged program encourages children to participate in non-screen activities like hiking, biking, and drawing, fostering creativity and physical activity. Similarly, HUB 360’s after school programs now include enrichment activities such as cooking classes and PE at local middle schools, ensuring students have access to diverse opportunities for growth.
The broader societal benefits of physical activity cannot be overstated. Active youth perform better academically, have better school attendance, and display improved behavior. Yet, with two out of three children classified as inactive and spending over 7.5 hours on screens daily, urgent action is needed. Investments in programming, facilities, and partnerships can help reverse these trends, creating healthier futures for our youth and society.
Promoting youth health and physical activity is essential not only for individual well-being but for the overall health of our communities. The evidence is clear: active children lead happier, healthier lives and contribute to a more prosperous society and a brighter future for the next generation.
East Valley High School’s Annual
Rapid Rabbit Run
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, at 10:00 am
East Valley High School, 15711 E Wellesley, Spokane, WA
The Rapid Rabbit Run is a yearly fund raiser for East Valley High School’s Senior All Knighter.
USATF certified. Run a 5-mile road race (second seed Bloomsday qualifier) or 3-mile (places only) run.
5 mile Road Race: Second seed Bloomsday qualifier
3 mile Run: Places only
TIME: 10:00 a.m.; packet pick up starts at 8:45 on race day
ENTRY FEE: $25 with shirt
$20.00 without shirt. Shirt Only: $15
Visit Us On Facebook: facebook.com/EVHSRapidRabbitRun Register Online: http://eastvalleyhs.wix.com/rapidrabbitrun
By John McCallum
Splash contributor
Boys basketball
Falcons girls basketball looking for showdown with Central Valley
Despite a close, 61-57 home loss Jan. 28 to GSL second-place 4A Mead, the Falcons still find themselves in a good position
to move into an advantages seed for the upcoming district playoffs.
Ridgeline is currently fifth in the GSL at 3-3, 7-10 overall. Their final three games — all on the road — include league opponents below them in the standings: Jan. 31 at University (2-3, seventh GSL, 4-11 overall) and Feb. 4 at Cheney (0-6, ninth, 4-13).
Their final regular season game is a Feb. 7 date with Central Valley, 4-2, 9-8. The Bears are fourth overall as of Jan. 28, and lead the Falcons by one game.
Girls basketball
Quite simply, the Falcon girls
are rolling. Owners of a 14-2 overall record, 5-0 in the GSL and tied with fellow Spokane Valley rival Central Valley for first in the 3A classification, Ridgeline had won 13 consecutive games through Jan. 27 games.
The Falcons are ranked fifth in the state in 3A, and if the wins continue, the Feb. 7 showdown with the top-ranked Bears could be for a lot more than just the GSL regular-season title and No. 1 seed. All this is coming without the services of last year’s 1st Team All-GSL guard Grace Sheridan, who has been out since undergoing shoulder surgery in October.
“(We) have seen great
leadership and team resilience as they've risen to the challenge,” head coach Freddie Rehkow said of his players.
Ridgeline is currently led offensively by senior guard Emma Myers and junior post Madi Crowley. Myers is averaging 17.1 points per game along with four rebounds and five assists per game, averaging and 21.5 ppg over the last 10 games. Crowley averages 16.4 ppg and eight rebounds/game.
Rehkow said they are also getting “key contributions” from seniors Morgan Kelly, Cayce Paske, and Habiba Adam along with sophomore Ryan Libey, all averaging about six ppg. He added the team is getting good bench minutes from junior forward Katelyn Taylor and junior guard Gracie Munro.
“The team has really played great team ball this year and has shown to be a very fun and tight-knit group,” Rehkow said. “I'm super proud of how hard they have worked thus far, how well they've embraced the new staff and system, and I've enjoyed seeing the school and community rally around them and support them at our games.”
The Falcons have some difficult opponents in their final four games. They hosted 4A Mead on Jan. 28, and then travel to University and Cheney before ending the regular season with the showdown at Central Valley.
“All of which could determine our overall placing in the GSL and seeding for the postseason,” Rehkow said.
Boys wrestling
The Falcons are 3-5 in the GSL, seventh place, with wins over Shadle Park, 57-18; Ferris, 52-27 and Central Valley, 44-25. Two league matches remained, both at home against Lewis and Clark, Jan. 29 and Cheney, Jan. 30.
Photo by John McCallum
Ridgeline’s David Colby tries to get a lift on East Valley’s Cooper Brown midway through their match at 165 pounds. Colby gave the Falcons six points with a pin of Brown at the 3:33 mark.
Student of the Month
Ridgeline High School Senior Trynity Van Gelder is often looked up to as a role model for kids of all ages. Trynity is apart of the high school cheer team for both the football squad and last year participated on the competition squad. In addition to cheer Van Gelder has participated on the Ridgeline Varsity Gymnastics team all four years she has been at the school, currently serves as a team leader, and made it to state in the bars event. While maintaining her 4.0 grade point average she volunteers at Liberty Creek with her cheer squad and volunteers weekly with the kids ministry at her church. Outside of school Van Gelder has been with the Bleker School of Dance for 14 years learning tap, jazz, and lyrical; and is a coach at Spokane Gymnastics. After high school Van Gelder plans to go to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix AZ to study Forensic Science. and participate in the college pep band.
Athlete of the Month
Ridgeline High School has a number of star athletes and Preston Wentling is one of them. The high school senior plays as a defensive end, offensive tackle, special teams, and serves as one of the four team captains on the school football team receiving letters for the last three years with the team. However, wrestling is where he truly shines, Preston has been a Ridgeline Wrestling team captain for four years, qualified for state wrestling both as a sophomore and a junior. In 2022, he went on to All American High School nationals and competed at Virginia Beach. Preston also was able to compete at Fargo North Dakota in Free Style and Greco Wrestling. Preston looks forward to continuing to wrestle at the college level and lives by the golden rule. “I live by the philosophy ‘treat everyone like you want to be treated” said Wentling.
Citizen of the Month
Liberty Lake resident Jeff O’Shea, most recently known as the ‘Ice Man’ who has been sharing photos and videos of this years ice opportunities on the lake and even a little mystery tracking down the unfamiliar sounds that the lake makes when covered in ice. O’Shea is also very involved with Liberty Lake activities as the most recent organizer of the 4th of July firework show over the lake. Originally from San Diego California Jeff graduated from San Diego State University. Jeffs career achievements include Co-Founding IntelliTouch a business music and media production and streaming company, Managing Director for UnMask, and for the last year and half has served as the managing partner of Yogi Outdoor a drinkware company that specializes in ceramic lining. Jeff also takes the time to share some of the amazing beauty of Liberty Lake through photography.
Liberty Lake’s Ice Age – The business of keeping things cold
By Ross Schneidmiller Liberty Lake Historical Society
Just imagine ice harvesting was one of the 10 largest industries in the United States at one time. Thirty-two million pounds of ice were consumed in Spokane alone in 1905. This ice was not primarily used to chill beverages but rather to keep food from perishing. Prior to electric refrigerators becoming a common household appliance, ice boxes were used to preserve food.
The typical ice box was made of wood – often oak – and the shelves were lined with tin or zinc. The compartment for the ice block was behind a door or in a drawer at the top of the unit. The nicer ones found in well-to-do households looked like a fine piece of furniture and likely had a pull-out drip tray.
The ice harvest in the Inland Empire usually took place between the latter part of January into the first couple weeks of February. Of course, it was totally dependent on the weather and when the ice was thick enough to harvest. The ice
DID YOU KNOW:
Search: “Pocono Manor Ice Harvest in 1919” on YouTube for a short film on this subject.
companies would send armies of workers to the local lakes, including Liberty Lake. Farm labor trying to make ends meet until spring field work began was a ready source for this trade.
The process was labor intensive. Often snow had to be removed from the ice first. Then men marked lines on the ice in a grid pattern and cut grooves on the grid with a tool. This could be done with a push saw or plow saw pulled by a work horse or mule (the top two saws pictured above). Once a scored grid was established, the cutting tool would go over and over until a deep groove was cut into the ice.
With a plow saw like one pictured it would take about eight passes to make a 12-inch groove in the ice. Eventually gasoline and electric powered circular saws replaced the push and plow saws. For safety reasons the ice cutters used breaking-off bars or hand-held crosscut ice saws to get all the way through the ice. Once the ice block was separated it would be floated down a water channel on to skids and into a wagon. The ice wagons would haul the frozen crop to ice houses where the blocks would be separated by layers of sawdust used as an insulator.
Due to developments in refrigeration, uncertainty of sustaining cold temperatures in the Spokane area and the fear of an ice famine, the Diamond Fuel and Ice Co. (the largest of the Inland Empire’s ice companies) built an artificial ice plant. This manufacturing facility, capable of producing a third of the areas ice needs, opened in 1906.
Developments in commercial refrigeration progressed quicker than innovations for residential use, keeping households dependent on the ice man for many more years. Eventually artificial ice replaced natural ice harvesting. Then with widespread electrification and safer refrigerants, mechanical refrigeration in the home became possible and the need for artificial ice produced outside the home was reduced.
This happened much earlier in the city than it did in rural areas. At Liberty Lake some of the resorts harvested ice from the lake into the mid-20th century. The rental cabins at Dreamwood Bay, Neyland’s Grove and Wayside resorts had ice boxes as well as others. These resorts put up enough ice during the winter time to provide ice all summer long to their guests.
Longtime resident Lloyd Herman, in an earlier Splash article, recalled as a youth working with his brother Gary at Wayside Resort. One of their responsibilities during the summer of 1945 was to go to the ice shed, hose off the sawdust and deliver ice to the cabins using ice prongs, so the resort guests could keep their milk, food and drinks cool.
The late Lyle Stephenson had memories of harvesting ice on the lake in the late 1920s into the 30s at Neyland’s Grove. “Every winter I would be out there cutting ice and putting it up in the shed,” he said. In addition to filling the ice boxes built into the ground near each cabin, he sold ice and delivered it to the summer homes along Wicomico Beach.
Like a scene out of the classic movie “Meet Me in St Louis,” I can close my eyes and see Lyle delivering ice and milk in the horse drawn wagon to the cottages in the summer colony. Children playing about hoping for a broken off ice chip and thinking it was quite a treat. I smile though because today having different standards on what is sanitary, I will tell my grandchildren this year, “It is probably best to not snack on that ice!”
Taken from atop the Liberty Lake School looking southwest you see Neyland’s Grove. Going left to right you see its beach, store, cabins, fields, ice house and farm buildings. Beyond this resort is Liberty Lake Park and then Wicomico Beach Summer Colony. Photo courtesy of Liberty Lake Historical Society
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OPINION
Dear Editor,
After raising $45,000, to date, Liberty Lake Better Together Fund (LLBTF) is now able to support local Liberty Lake voices, priorities, and organizations for decades to come.
The LLBTF has seen impressive growth via contributions from members of the community and corporate matching, including Stryker Medical in the amount of $15,000.
The LLBTF committee is made up of Marla Larson, Emily Shaw Osborne, Ross Schneidmiller, and Kyla Scott. New members are always welcome and can submit their interest to info@ LibertyLakeBetterTogetherFund. org. Grant application requests can be submitted on the website: goinnovia. org/libertylakebettertogether
The LLBTF’s first grant recipient was Bite2Go. Bite2Go used the $5,000 grant to provide backpack meals for children at Ridgeline, Selkirk, Greenacres Middle School, and Riverbend. Our local schools still need ongoing sponsors.
Light Up Liberty Lake (LULL) is a fully separate organization from LLBTF. Two years ago, retired school counselor Marla Larson started LULL to support local families.
On December 1st, 2024, Light Up Liberty Lake personally invited community organizations and groups, including LLBTF committee members and Bite2Go, to attend their first annual tree lighting ceremony. Our local Safeway provided hot cocoa, cookies, and candy canes for the festive event.
d’Alene.
Light Up Liberty Lake (LULL) would like to thank Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary, Emily Osborne State Farm Insurance Inc., George Gee Automotive, and the City of Liberty Lake for sponsoring the tree lighting ceremony. Light Up Liberty Lake plans on growing in size and impact, igniting the idea of donating during the giving season and throughout the year.
In just one year, Liberty Lake Better Together Fund has successfully collaborated with local city representatives, schools, businesses, individuals, and other nonprofits. This all goes to show we really are better together.
For more information about the Liberty Lake Better Together Fund go to our website: goinnovia.org/ libertylakebettertogether
Marla Larson
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick ben@libertylakesplash.com
CO OWNER Danica Wick danica@libertylakesplash.com
CONTRIBUTORS
John McCallum, Ross Schneidmiller
The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 509-242-7752
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ENRICHED LIVING. LASTING VALUE.
Liberty Lake proposes amending emergency housing, shelter standards
By John McCallum
Splash contributor
Liberty Lake is proposing to amend some of its siting requirements for emergency housing and emergency shelters in order to adhere to changes in state law regarding these facilities.
The changes passed by the Legislature in 2021 and effective Sept. 30, 2021 state cities shall not prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in any zones where hotels are allowed “except in such cities that have adopted an ordinance authorizing indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in a majority of zones within a one-mile proximity of transit.”
The changes also prohibit cities from enacting codes limiting occupancy, spacing or intensity of use that “prevent the siting of sufficient number of permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing or indoor emergency shelters necessary to accommodate each code city’s projected need for such housing and shelter.” Cities are allowed to enact occupancy codes required to meet public health and safety needs.
Unfortunately, Director of Planning and Engineering Services Lisa Key told the City Council at a Jan. 21 public hearing on proposed changes that Liberty Lake’s current codes don’t fit the state’s bill. Emergency housing and emergency shelters are allowed in the city’s three mixed use and two commercial zones along with the River District’s mixed use and commercial zone — all of which allow the siting of hotels, which conforms to state requirements.
Where the city doesn’t meet the standards is with occupancy and spacing. The latter restricts these facilities to locations within one-quarter mile of a fixed transit route and must be distanced “at least 3/4 mile from any other stand-alone emergency shelter or transitional and supportive housing, as measured from the nearest points of such properties.”
“We’re a six-and-a-quarter-squaremile city, that’s problematic in a city our
size,” Key told the council.
As for occupancy, Liberty Lake’s current codes limit this “to the general capacity of the building, but in no case shall it exceed 75 residents.” Key said a just completed land capacity analysis indicates the city needs to be able to provide 227 emergency shelter and housing beds by 2046.
“With the limits we have now, there’s no way we would can ever come close to meeting that goal,” she added.
To meet the state requirements, Key said staff is proposing to eliminate the occupancy limitations of no more than 75 residents and remove the spacing requirements regarding proximity to transit and other shelters. The standards still require the facility to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; provide beds or rooms for specific residents, have onsite services such as laundry, hygiene and meals limited to the residents and not for drop-in use of non-residents and meet all applicable state and federal licensing requirements.
Key said since the existing ordinance was put in place in 2021 there has been no movement towards building any of these facilities because land in Liberty Lake is too expensive. Nearly all the existing land has “entitlement” attached to it, “which means it’s already in the process of being developed.”
The amendments have already been through the city’s Planning Commission, who found that they meet specific goals and policies under Liberty Lake’s Comprehensive Plan. The commission
unanimously recommended the amendments proposed.
At the Jan. 21 public hearing, Liberty Lake resident David Clay asked if the standards could define the length of stay for residents using these facilities. Key said it wasn’t clear if this was possible, noting it would depend on the facility and in any case, these definitions are set by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Emergency housing is defined as “Temporary indoor accommodations for individuals or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless that is intended to address the basic health, food, clothing and personal hygiene needs of individuals or families.” Occupants using these facilities do not necessarily need to be under a lease or occupant agreement.
Emergency shelters are defined as “A facility that provides a temporary shelter for individuals or families who are currently homeless.” These shelters may include “day and warming centers that do not provide overnight accommodations.”
Key also said the proposed amendments, if enacted, would eliminate the need for the city to do a capacity analysis of the number of emergency beds.
Liberty Lake’s council gave unanimous consent to move the proposed amendments forward to a future meeting for adoption. Currently, a first reading on the ordinance is scheduled for the Feb. 4 council meeting,
with a second reading and final adoption slated for the Feb. 21 meeting.
