2016 August Current

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The Valley's New Village

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2 • AUGUST 2016

NEWS

The acreage around CenterPlace has developed into a greenspace gem that rivals anything to the west or east. Mirabeau Point Park encompasses Mirabeau Meadows, Mirabeau Springs (complete with a waterfall) and the Mirabeau Trails Natural Area while Discovery Park – a multi-faceted site with recreational opportunities for kids of all abilities – has become one of the city’s signature landmarks.

The Park Bench

Greenspace Guru – Stone has guided Valley parks since 2008

With his extensive background in parks and recreation management, strategic planning and community collaboration, Stone has been a catalyst in adding to program diversity as well as completing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2013, a document that established a long-term vision for the city.

By Craig Howard Current Editor

When Mike Stone was appointed the director of Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation in March 2008, he took over a greenspace inventory that lacked the good fortune of being associated with the Olmsted brothers.

Since 1982, Stone had been an integral part of the city of Spokane’s Parks and Recreation department, a storied program that owed much of its prestige to the design insight of John Olmsted, a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects along with his brother, Frederick. The pair from Brookline, Massachusetts also helped establish the National Park Service and developed dozens of

The Current

Mike Stone was appointed Spokane Valley’s Parks and Recreation director in March 2008, winning out over 40 candidates. Stone had worked with the city of Spokane Parks and Recreation department since 1982 before transitioning east.

Photo by Craig Howard well-recognized parks across the country. The Olmsted connection to the Inland Northwest goes back to 1908 when John presented an ambitious plan to the city of Spokane for expanding its network of parks.

The Olmsted vision had a farreaching impact and can still be seen today at sites like Manito Park, Finch Arboretum and Downriver

Mike Stone (left) and former Spokane Valley City Manager Mike Jackson take on the Frisbee golf course at Greenacres Park several years ago. Stone spent time as the golf manager with the city of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department before being named full-time director in 2001.

File photo

Park as well as in the footprint of park systems in Seattle and Portland.

Stone’s challenge in the Valley was not to compete with the municipal neighbor to the west, but to continue establishing parks and programs in a city that had only been incorporated five years at the time of his hire. Despite popular parks like Valley Mission, Sullivan and Terrace View, the Valley could not go back in time and set aside land for more public trails, open fields, water features, sports facilities and playgrounds.

The area’s long-standing status as an unincorporated section of Spokane County had meant years of development that did not always put greenspace at the top of the priority list.

Prior to Stone’s arrival, Spokane Valley moved forward with a vision that had been in place for years to build a large-scale community center in the Mirabeau Point area.

The campaign benefited from a $96 million initiative approved by voters throughout Spokane County in 2002 that also supported a renovation of the Spokane Fair and Expo Center as well as the expansion of the Spokane Convention Center. After Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003, the new city generated $3 million of its own to go with $7 million raised through the bond.

Today, the CenterPlace Regional Event Center – overseen by Valley Parks – is recognized as one of the area’s top public venues.

A native of Moscow, Idaho, Stone grew up in Nampa, some 300 miles to the south. He had an interest and aptitude for sports from a young age and remembers being “very competitive” when stepping on to the field or court. Today, his athletic agenda mostly involves recreational golf.

“I had to reluctantly abandon my competitive sports team participation several years ago,” Stone says.

During his high school years, Stone worked summers for the Nampa Parks and Recreation Department, maintaining grounds and cleaning restrooms.

He returned to his hometown after graduation, enrolling at the University of Montana where he earned a degree in Landscape Architecture after considering a career as a teacher and coach.

“Landscape Architecture was a relatively new program at that time and I found it a good fit for me allowing me to work in many different fields all related to the outdoors and the environment,” Stone said.

After earning his undergraduate degree, Stone left Moscow for Spokane where he worked for a landscape architect before latching on with Spokane Parks and Recreation in 1982. Licensed as a landscape architect, he began as a park planner and served as manager of the department’s Operation division and golf manager before being named interim director in March 2000. He took over as permanent director in November 2001. Along the way, Stone returned to school and earned his Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga.

See STONE, Page 3

The Current

STONE

Continued from page 2 After Mary Verner won the race for Spokane mayor in the fall of 2007, changes were on the way at City Hall. By December of 2008, Stone found himself out of a municipal parks job for the first time in 25 years.

He was among around 40 applicants for the Spokane Valley position after inaugural Parks and Recreation Director Mike Jackson was named deputy city manager.

When Stone was hired, he inherited a budget of $2.64 million and an inventory of 10 parks, plus CenterPlace.

Stone and his wife, LuAnn, have been married for 38 years and have two grown children and one grandson. If you want to get on Stone’s good side, talk to him about Gonzaga basketball. His office at CenterPlace is plastered with Zags’ memorabilia and he is a walking encyclopedia of the program’s unique history.

Stone said his job steering the Valley parks ship has “both its challenges and rewards.”

“I hope to make a positive difference in our city and leave our citizens with a better parks and recreation system than when we incorporated,” he said.

Q: What were some of your first impressions of the Spokane Valley parks inventory when you took over as the director?

A: When Spokane Valley incorporated, the city inherited all of the Spokane County parks that were located within its corporate boundary. Therefore, the city had a good start for a parks inventory.

Those inherited parks were well maintained and well appreciated by the citizens. They were however, in need of some upgrades and facelifts. We had a good foundation on which to build and expand our park inventory.

Q: What are some of the main differences between managing parks and recreation in the city of Spokane and Spokane Valley?

A: I feel that the main differences between managing parks and recreation in Spokane and Spokane Valley are available funding for parks and recreation, public support and advocacy and working with the legacy that Spokane has and Spokane Valley is trying to establish. Spokane has a 100-year legacy of parks and recreation.

Spokane’s citizens were very

AUGUST 2016 • 3

aware and proud of the parks and recreation system that has developed over the years. Spokane Valley is a new city and therefore we are working to build and establish a solid foundation. My responsibility, along with my staff, is to educate our citizens on the importance of parks and recreation in their lives and this community. In my opinion, parks and recreation are a critical part of Spokane Valley’s infrastructure and a catalyst for its quality of life. In terms of parks and recreation, Spokane Valley can learn from the history in Spokane and continue to create a lasting legacy for ourselves. We have all of the key ingredients. It just takes time.

Now Open

Q: What sort of feedback do you receive from citizens of Spokane Valley about parks and recreation within city boundaries? Are the parks here well utilized?

A: For the most part, Valley residents are willing to provide feedback to us regarding our facilities and programs. Many of them are passionate regarding their interests and pursuits and they provide us feedback to help us improve or make us aware of issues.

We can always use more feedback, particularly if it is positive. There is never a lack of negative feedback but that shows us that our citizens care. Our staff needs to find ways to engage a broader segment of our city as citizen input is key to any success stories we may have.

Our parks are well utilized. The number of reservations has grown each year that I have been here.

One of the key reasons for growth in usage is due to our emphasis on care and maintenance of our facilities. I would put our quality of maintenance up against any department in the country.

Q: Most people would probably mention the Centennial Trail as one of the signature features of Spokane Valley, yet only a portion runs through the city and it's technically not managed by your department.

How would you say the trail fits into the city's storehouse of recreational opportunities?

A: The Centennial Trail is a region-wide asset. It is one of the few recreational opportunities that tie us together as a region and an attraction that has put our region on the map. That being said, the Spokane River is just as important of an asset yet we have

See PARKS, Page 11

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The Current

4 • AUGUST 2016

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Current Correspondent

Convicted of two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault, the driver was sentenced to 27 months in prison and served 13 months. The driver had multiple convictions for drunk driving prior to the incident.

Thompson knew she needed to do something. One of those things was working on reforming sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders as well as working with the Spokane County DUI Victims Panel.

By Mary Anne Ruddis

The Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) may be downsizing their office space but their work is just as substantial as ever. This June, the organization moved from their 3,200 squarefoot office on Sprague Avenue to an 1,800 square-foot office located at 200 North Mullan Road, Suite 102 in the Spokane Valley.

GSSAC Executive Director Linda Thompson say she is grateful to their previous landlord who subsidized their rent for many years but recently doubled it, necessitating the move to the smaller space.

Property owner at the Mullan site, Arger Company, is helping the noprofit with discounted rent that is crucial for the organization to free up the necessary funding for their programs and operations.

GSSAC was started in 1982 by business leaders as well policy makers and citizens to coordinate collaborative efforts “to reduce the impact of misuse of alcohol, drug abuse, and violence in the Spokane area,” according to the mission statement.

Currently, the organization operates with a staff of four, three full-time and one part-time as well

Thompson, who was previously in the banking industry, began working with the GSSAC in 1993 as a volunteer with the DUI Victim’s Panel before being hired as executive director. A drunk driver killed her 3-year-old son, Trevor, a 23-year-old cyclist and injured Trevor’s grandfather and Linda’s 6-year-old daughter Katee.

“I’m trying to tell Trevor’s story so other people don’t have to go through what we did,” Thompson said. “I’m trying to make a difference.”

The DUI Victims Panel is a court-ordered, fee-based program designed to illustrate the impact of the actions of those who drive drunk and/or impaired by other substances by putting names, faces, and stories to those adversely affected by the actions of convicted drivers. The panel meets on the first and third Thursday each month and the fees generated go back into prevention.

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Linda Thompson, executive director of the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, is transitioning into the agency’s new home on Mullan Road in Spokane Valley. GSSAC was founded in 1982 as a regional resource to reduce substance abuse and violence.

Photo by Mary Anne Ruddis

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 5

Community Norms and WA RX/MJ WATCH Presentations, Community Outreach Partner with Youth Marijuana Prevention Education Program, Washington Drug Endangered Children Awareness/ Education Project, and Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (a founding member).

GSSAC sponsors several programs including Washington Drug Free Youth which has chapters in nearly 30 schools across the region and includes some 2,500 students. Valley chapters are in place at Central Valley, Freeman, East Valley and West Valley high schools. Photo by Craig Howard

MOVE

Continued from page 4 the 24 Hour Jail Alternative DUI Education program. In cooperation with Geiger Corrections Facility, the program seeks to provide education and prevention support to reduce impaired driving as well as reduce the stigma of treatment and recovery.

Staff member Terrie Austin works on the community outreach side, an effort that includes Washington Drug Free Youth (WDFY). Austin coordinates with 26 chapters in area middle and high schools including the targeted high-risk neighborhoods of East Valley and West Central to provide education about impaired driving and drug and alcohol abuse. Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML) donates all of the drug testing for the program.

In addition, GSSAC’s work includes a wide range of programs and partnerships including Spokane County Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse and Violence, Prevention Education,

Funding for GSSAC, a designated 501c3 nonprofit, comes from a variety of sources including a grant from the city of Spokane Valley as well as in-kind support from many partners. With the lessening of federal, state and county funds, GSSAC is tightening their budget and seeking support for operational funds.

The organization is an interconnected hub within the community to “promote the health, safety, and well-being of our community with an emphasis on youth.” As Thompson noted, “Substance abuse is everybody’s issue.” Speakers are available to make group presentations to service clubs, parent groups, neighborhood associations and others.

An open house to celebrate their new location is being planned and the date will be determined once the organization has settled in and unpacked boxes. Check the website for updates.

The second annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Soiree fundraiser is scheduled for Nov. 19, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. According to Thompson, it will be a fun event with food and music designed to provide a good time and raise much needed funds without the inclusion of alcohol.

Anyone who would like to make a donation, volunteer or find out more about available programs and services can contact GSSAC at 922-8383 or online at www.gssac. org.

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The Current

6 • AUGUST 2016

CVSD bond victory leads to state grant, two new schools

By Staci Lehman

Current Correspondent The Central Valley School District is expanding the construction of new schools in response to receiving a state grant. The district was recently notified that it won a $21 million Class Size Reduction Grant through Washington state.

“The grant will help to fund allday kindergarten and reducing class size,” said Marla Nunberg, CVSD director of Communications.

The state’s new kindergarten through third grade Class Size Reduction grant program, administered through the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, is aimed at funding new classrooms for full-day kindergarten and reducing the size of kindergarten to third grade class size to a 17 to one studentto-teacher ratio by the 2017-2018 school year.

“We’ve been overcrowded for several years, not only with elementary schools but with middle schools,” said Nunberg.

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                •   •    •  

   

The grant money will address overcrowding by building two schools in addition to what was included in the district’s original construction bond passed in 2015.

Those schools are a new North Pines Middle School and a yet-tobe-named elementary school at the intersection of Mission and Long in Greenacres.

 



available to apply to projects, a requirement for many grants, although the Class Size Reduction Grant didn’t even exist when the bond was passed in 2015.

“When we were out for this bond, there was no legislation that set that money aside,” said CVSD Superintendent Ben Small.

The initiative collected nearly 65 percent of the vote last February marking the first capital facilities victory for the district since 1998.

Small says the difference was in how the district approached the public to ask for funds this time.

“We created a different format to put information out and were able to get some good input from our

community,” he said. “They said don’t increase the tax structure so we put together a bond that addressed that.”

The resulting bond will fund a number of school renovations and build several new schools.

Chester, Greenacres, Opportunity and Sunrise elementary schools and Evergreen Middle School will be renovated and expanded using bond money and are currently all under construction. The bond also paid for the renovation of Mica Peak High School and the Central Valley Early Learning Center, completed last year.

The bond will build new schools, including Liberty Creek K-2 Elementary and Ponderosa Elementary School, both of which are also under construction now.

Work starts on the Mission and Long school in March of 2017 and the new North Pines Middle School in July 2017. Both those schools were added to the construction schedule when the district obtained the state grant.

A few other projects through the bond include the purchase of land for the new North Pines Middle School, construction of four new classrooms for Summit School, a new gym roof and tennis courts at Horizon Middle School and districtwide safety and security upgrades.

“Overcrowding was an issue,” Small said. “Safety and security was too. Security was something our community really wanted to address.”

With the grant, CVSD has expanded its total construction budget from almost $180 million to over $225 million- a 25 percent increase.

“We get 85 cents from the state for every local dollar invested,” said Nunberg.

Small gives much of the credit for this victory to the CVSD Board, as well as for getting construction moving quickly after the bond passed. Work on the Mica Peak High School and the Central Valley Early Learning Center site started just two months after the bond was approved.

“Our board has been very active in this process,” said Small. “If you look at our meeting agendas, you will see a lot of time was spent on construction.”

CVSD Board Vice Chair Debbie Long gives the credit to citizens though.

“The CSR grant is only because

See CVSD, Page 5

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 7

CVSD

Continued from page 4 of our voters,” she said. “We are so grateful to our community to believe in us and pass the bond that enabled us to accept the grant from the state of Washington which enables us to build two new schools.”

In the big picture, receiving the state grant boils down to more and better buildings for the district’s dollar.

“It allows us to get further ahead in our capital facilities plan,” Nunberg said. “We are always keeping an eye toward being conscientious, maximizing what we have and being budget conscious.”

Superintendent Small agrees.

“I think ultimately it’s a huge win for this entire community.”

To know more: The Central Valley School District wants members of the public to see where and how their tax dollars are being spent. The district will hold a bus tour of all the current construction sites on Thursday, Aug. 25. Visit the CVSD website at www. cvsd.org for more information.

The Liberty Creek K-2 school is under construction in Liberty Lake and expected to be complete in summer of 2017.

Central Valley School District recently announced the construction of two additional schools after receiving news of a $21 million state grant.

Photo by Staci Lehman

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CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Construction

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The Current

8 • AUGUST 2016

Trio appointed to join Spokane Valley City Council

By Derek Brown

Current Correspondent After losing two community pillars in Dean Grafos and Chuck Hafner earlier this year, the Spokane Valley Council was looking to bolster its ranks. Both longtime leaders walked away from City Hall in April citing disagreements with the council majority.

Add to that Bill Bates stepping down due to illness and it was clear that the appointment process would be critical to reinforcing the dais. Bill Gothmann, who served on council from 2005 through 2011, was appointed as a replacement for Bates last year but just recently completed his tenure.

On June 28, the sitting council addressed two of the three vacancies, selecting Caleb Collier and Pam Haley to take over council positions 2 and 5, respectively.

The appointees were among half-

New Spokane Valley City Council appointee Michael J. Munch (second from right) is greeted by sitting council members after being announced on June 26 at City Hall. From left to right: Council Members Sam Wood and Caleb Collier, Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard, Mayor Rod Higgins, Council Members Ed Pace, Collier and Pam Haley.

Photo by Ben Wick a-dozen applicants for the position.

Collier works as a postman with the U.S. Postal Service who has a Bachelor’s degree in History. A follower of history and politics, Collier has pointed to his background in leadership and teamwork from service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Haley is a small business owner who holds Masters degrees in Business and Education. Among the skills and interests she brings to her new role are budgeting, community partnerships, children’s issues, negotiating, consulting and local issues.

Collier and Haley will serve as

interim council members until candidates selected by voters in the November 2017 general election are certified. Both will have the option of running to retain their seat.

As for position 7, the sitting council reviewed the applications of 13 candidates during an executive session on July 12. Later, during the regular meeting, council narrowed down the applicants to three:

Position 7 appointee named

Munch, a self-employed general contractor, whose top three priorities for the city include addressing land use/property rights, getting government out of the way of business and residents and building a better disaster preparedness plan.

After two rounds of casting written ballots in order to achieve a majority, Michael J. Munch was selected to fill the remainder of Bill Bates term in council position 7 on June 26. He will also have to run for election next November to keep the seat.

Council Interviews

Member

Vacancy

Michelle Rene Rasmussen, a parking and transportation services director. Her top three priorities for the city are continued economic development efforts, addressing property crimes and finding funding to complete the Bridging the Valley projects.

David Nathan Starr, a retired fire fighter who lists addressing crime and the law enforcement contract, train traffic affecting traffic flow and emergency services and community growth/rational development are his top three priorities for the city.

During the July 19 council meeting, members of the council interviewed the three candidates for position 7. Each candidate was asked several questions related to city topics, personal political and professional ethics and experience.

All were given 30 minutes to make their case for joining City Council.

Munch, with a 20-year history in the construction industry, was up first. He was asked questions

New Spokane Valley Police Chief Mark Werner takes the oath of office at the July 26 City Council meeting. Werner takes over for Rick VanLeuven who retired after nine years as the Valley's police chief on June 30.City Clerk Chris Bainbridge administered the oath.

Photo by Ben Wick

See SV COUNCIL, Page 9

The Current

SV COUNCIL

Continued from page 8 ranging from land use to medical marijuana.

“What would be your most meaningful contribution?” asked Council Member Pam Haley.

“I analyze things quite a bit and truly try to research the issues without doing gut reactions,” Munch said. “I like to research it and understand what we’re talking about.”

Rasmussen came next and was asked numerous questions as well. A former city of Spokane Valley employee, who now works for Eastern Washington University as their Director of Parking and Transportation Services, Rasmussen was asked questions regarding her views and experience.

“Is conflict something to be avoided?” asked Council Member Arne Woodard.

“I am a forward thinking person,” Rasmussen replied. “I think there can be valuable discussion and decision making in the midst of conflict. It’s how it’s presented and how it’s perceived.”

Last up was Starr, also given his 30 minutes to make his case.

When asked his opinion about the Aug 2 capital facilities bond vote in Liberty Lake for a community center/library/aquatic facility, Starr stated: “I think I’d tend to agree with that. I think that would be a benefit, especially a library and a community center. And I think they can use that over there.”

When asked what the biggest

AUGUST 2016 • 9

challenge facing the City Council, Starr said, “I think repairing its image.”

Department. He is well qualified for what we’re looking for in a police chief in the Spokane Valley.”

Mirabeau Parkway Intersection

City Clerk Chris Bainbridge administered the oath of office to Werner. He takes over for longtime Chief Rick VanLeuven who retired on June 30.

Council moved forward with the Mirabeau Parkway and Pines Intersection Project during the July 12th Council meeting by awarding the construction bid to Cameron Riley LLC for $204,158.17 The city received a TIB (Transportation Improvement Board) grant to construct a traffic light at Pines and Mirabeau Parkway intersection. The money will help improve the intersection by upgrading the curb ramps to meet modern standards. Other upgrades include new pedestrian push buttons, heads, and crosswalk pavement marking.

The intersection is near Trent Elementary School and is slated for completion before school starts up in August. The project is funded by 80 percent TIB funds and 20 percent city matching funds.

Police Chief Mark Werner During the June 28 meeting, Mark Werner was sworn in as the new Chief of Police.

After receiving feedback from three separate interviewing committees, Mark Calhoun, acting city manager, announced Mark Werner as his selection for Chief of Police for the Spokane Valley Police Department (which is a division of the Spokane County Sheriffs department).

“He comes to us with 30 years of law enforcement experience,” Calhoun said. “Including nine years in the Air Force and 20 years with Spokane County Sheriff's

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policy

Pick up a free copy of

Emissions

The council included in its meeting on July, 12 an item concerning greenhouse gas reduction policy.

According to city documents, "Beginning in 2010, when distributing capital funds through competitive programs for infrastructure and economic development projects, all state agencies must consider whether the entity receiving the funds has adopted policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

The city does currently have measures in place to curb greenhouse gas emissions that includes a plan that tries to reduce the need for vehicle use. Also, the city has adopted new LED lights to use less electricity. The city also has in place pavement preservation, where the city recycles pavement when needed in order to use less oil-based products, such as asphalt.

The new greenhouse gas emissions reduction policy would include making buildings more sustainable, consider energy efficient vehicles for city use and helping city employees to carpool, bike or walk to work.

The plan is anticipated to help the city be better qualified for state grant money to fund street infrastructure projects.

The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 150 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations: Albertsons Barlows Restaurant NEW Fieldhouse Pizza and Subs Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt KiDDS Dental Liberty Lake City Hall Liberty Lake Golf Course Liberty Lake Library Liberty Lake Portal Building Palenque Mexican Restaurant Pawpular Companions Trailhead Golf Course True Legends Grill Twisp Cafe and Coffee House Walgreens Washington Trust Bank NEW Yoke’s Fresh Market Would you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact us at circulation@valleycurrent.com.

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The Current

10 • AUGUST 2016

Safety Scroll

By Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich

Remembering the Dream

It is with a heavy heart I write this article. The past two weeks have been emotional for peace officers across our nation. Eight police officers from Dallas and Baton Rouge, collectively, have been assassinated out of hate for the jobs they do for our society and even more sadly, because of the color of their skin. The questions I hear most is why and when will this stop? As a nation, we struggle to make sense of the senseless.

The morning after the assassinations of the five police officers in Dallas, I was contacted by various media groups wanting a comment. I struggled to make myself play the role of the “talking head” concerning this issue because I truly believe “talking heads” are part of the “why?” people are asking. The words they use do nothing more than inflame and sensationalize an issue that, in and of itself, has been politicized.

Words are very powerful - as powerful, if not more powerful, than any weapon made by man; for it is how we use our words that drives us to use those weapons.

I made it very clear that morning I was not going to be a “talking

SVFD reminds residents to take a safe approach to summer

From SVFD Communications Summer is recognized as a fun season with warm weather and plenty of activities, but it is also one of the most dangerous seasons for fire and heat-related injuries and deaths. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones while still enjoying a great summer outdoors. The Spokane Valley Fire Department is urging residents to be safe and smart this season. Here are some recommendations: • Recreational Fires – Burn restrictions due to fire danger happen every summer here in the SVFD service area and in Northwest parks and campgrounds. For safety’s sake, be sure to check the local regulations before you

head” about this issue and pointed out what I have been saying for the past two years – the words and politics of fear, anger and hate had led to the assassinations of police officers. It is imperative our leaders start weighing their words more carefully and perhaps live by the Constitutional principles they all claim to uphold by giving police officers the same due process they demand for others.

How, as a people who are governed by Constitutional principles, can we rush to judgment concerning the actions of our peace officers when we do not know any, let alone, all of the facts? Even more, how can we use these events, based on ignorance of those facts, to justify killing anyone, let alone a police officer.

To the men and women of our nation who put a badge on every day and go out and do one of the most difficult jobs there is, “Thank you.” To your families, “Thank you.”

The toll your job has on you and your families is immense. I’ll never forget the night my 5-year old son ran up to me, grabbing me around the leg, as I walked out the door for my next shift. I’ll never forget his eyes as he looked up at me and said, “Daddy don’t let the bad guy get you tonight.” Why did he do this, you ask? He had heard on the evening news a police officer had been killed by a bad guy.

Words can never thank you and your families enough for what you do for us - your willingness to lay your lives down for ours. We saw that willingness when those Dallas police officers came under fire.

They were there to protect people protesting them. During the protest, they stood there and listened as the crowd spoke against them and their profession and then the shots rang out. Those same police officers were there to protect the protestors’ First Amendment rights and listened to their harsh words against them.

Those officers then began running toward the danger and became human shields for the same protesters who spoke out against them. They threw themselves down on those protesters to protect them from the bullets fired by a man who wanted to kill “white cops.” The men and women of the Dallas Police Department distinguished themselves that night and exemplified to the world and their nation the true nature of those who wear the badge across our great country.

Since that time, the “talking heads” have continued to use words that only divide our nation but yet, something else has happened.

There has been an awakening of the silent majority who are coming to the aid of their peace officers.

I would like to thank all of the everyday people who have stopped by the Sheriff’s Office at the Public Safety Building and the city of Spokane Valley Police Department’s precinct with cookies, pies, letters and cards. Thank you for your outpouring of support. I ask for your continued help and support in healing our country.

I have three people in history who I look towards as examples of how I want to live my life: George

Washington, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. They stand out because they were willing to lay down their lives for others and they knew standing for what they believed in could cost them their lives. Washington could have been king, he was offered the title, and he said no. He had all the power and gave it back to us, to the people, in hopes we would build a free and just society. Reverend King knew his stand for true freedom, equality and justice may cost him his life and ultimately it did. He gave his life in hopes that we would not let his sacrifice be in vain, that we would become the great, just, honorable, and united nation we have the potential to be. What are we doing with their sacrifices, other than tearing ourselves apart?

I hear from all sides of this issue we need to engage in dialogue and talk about the disparities within law enforcement. I say the time for dialogue is over, it is time for true leadership to step in and pull both sides together; instead of talking about the issues, we need to find the root causes of these disparities which are dividing our nation and solve them. We can do this if we hold onto “the Dream” that is America, where, to paraphrase Reverend King, all men and women are created equally, one where little black boys and girls and little white boys and girls will one day join hands as sisters and brothers.

Reverend King gave us a Dream, maybe we should be holding onto it and making it a reality. #HoldontotheDream.

build an outdoor fire where you are living or camping. Before you light any outdoor fire, choose a location where it will not spread. And, be sure you have a way to quickly and completely extinguish the fire.

• Open Burning – Burning yard waste, construction debris, garbage and fields is prohibited in the SVFD service area at all times, which includes Liberty Lake.

• Wildfires – Homes in the wooded, brush or grassy areas of our service area are more vulnerable to brush or wildfires. Reduce your risk by creating at least 30 feet of survivable space surrounding your home that is lean, clean and green.

Use fire-resistant roof and exterior construction on your home. Keep emergency supplies on hand. And, have an evacuation plan in place that includes your pets and large animals.

• Heat-Related Illness – Drink plenty of water or fruit and vegetable juices. Stay in an airconditioned place like a shopping mall or library – even for a few hours a day – to reduce your body temperature. Wear lightweight,

light-colored, loose fitting clothing and limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. And, never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle.

• On the Water – Life jackets are essential when enjoying the rivers and lakes in our area this summer. Swim where there’s a lifeguard and always supervise children in or near water.

For more information about summer safety, visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

By the Numbers - Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 1,535 emergency calls from June 20 through July 22.

• Emergency medical service – 1,179 • Fires* - 116 • Motor vehicle accidents – 122 • Extrication - 2 • Technical Rescue - 1 • Water Rescue - 3 • Service calls – 24 • Building alarms – 66

• Hazardous materials - 24 *Includes commercial, structure, vehicle, brush fires and illegal burning About SVFD - Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Valley and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park and the area surrounding Liberty Lake, with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles. In 2015, SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 15,800 emergency calls.

Established in 1940, the Department operates 10 stations providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, swift water rescue, fire investigation, fire prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fire safety training. The department also offers safety inspections at no charge as well as free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. For more information, call 928-1700 or visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

The Current

PARKS

Continued from page 3 not really tapped into its potential for recreation and tourism. Each jurisdiction that the Centennial Trail runs through is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep working with Washington State Parks as the owner. The trail is over 20 years old now and is in need of repair and upgrades. We are excited to be a part of a major repair project on the trail that will take place this year.

Q: In 2013, your department completed an update to the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan with the help of considerable citizen feedback.

How do you feel this document has been utilized since it was updated?

A: Completing the update to our Parks and Recreation Master Plan was quite an accomplishment. The original master plan was completed in 2006 and it was time to check in with our citizens to not only see how we were doing, but where we need to go. Through a series of surveys and public meetings, we were able to solicit input from our citizens. It was very beneficial to review our goals and policies to verify their relevance or not.

Considerable feedback was provided by user groups representing skateboarders, off-leash pet parks, disc golf, sand volleyball and trail users. Additionally, we entertained discussions regarding park land and recreational facility needs.

This update provided us with a future direction regarding facilities and programs, their prioritizations and a capital cost analysis. Currently this document is used by staff when working with citizens on issues and during our budget process to ensure our requests are consistent with our document.

Q: Your department oversees the CenterPlace Regional Event Center as well as the Spokane Valley Senior Center. What do these features mean to the city's parks and recreation program?

A: For a city our size we are very fortunate to have both CenterPlace Regional Event Center and the Spokane Valley Senior Center available for our citizens and visitors to utilize. CenterPlace has truly grown into a regional venue in the past few years. Events continue to increase each year and draw users from all over the Northwest. This in turn brings visitors into our city spending their dollars at our hotels,

AUGUST 2016 • 11

restaurants and shops. The city’s Senior Center facility is second to none. What a wonderful facility that provides recreational and social opportunities for seniors as well as education programs and a wealth of resource information.

The center is becoming known for its ability to provide a wide variety of information to assist seniors and their families in time of need.

Q: How would you characterize Spokane Valley's investment in parks and recreation since you've been with the city?

A: Slow but steady.

As the director, I of course would want to see a greater emphasis regarding investing in parks and recreation. With that being said, I am appreciative that our elected officials since incorporation have understood the importance and benefits of parks and recreation to our city and have supported improvements when possible. As a young fiscally conservative city there are many demands for the limited available resources.

We recognize that and will continue to work with our elected officials and citizens to make steady improvements to our parks and recreation system.

Q: As a parks and recreation specialist, what do you enjoy most about the Inland Northwest when it comes to amenities and opportunities?

A: We are so blessed to live in the Inland Northwest.

Outdoor recreational opportunities abound in all directions. If you enjoy lakes, rivers, skiing, golfing, trails, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, camping, etc., this is the area for you. Our region is so full of these recreational opportunities on its own, that it can be challenging to area park and recreation professionals to provide programs and services that are of interest and benefit to our citizens.

enjoying our amenities.

I truly believe that the Spokane River and public trails will play a major role in our outdoor recreational landscape.

Our sand volleyball complex at Browns Park will be drawing in visitors and participants from all over the Northwest. The demand for recreational amenities such as dog parks, community gathering spaces, skate parks, etc. will continue to grow. Spokane Valley, from a parks and recreation perspective, will be on the map. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be a part of this growth.

Q: In your opinion, what does the future hold for parks and recreation in Spokane Valley?

A: The future of parks and recreation in Spokane Valley is bright. As a young city, we have many opportunities to grow our facilities inventory to ensure that our future generations will have recreational and open space to enjoy. I envision Spokane Valley creating a legacy of their own which our citizens can be proud of and which visitors will want to come and spend time here

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COVER STORY

12 • AUGUST 2016

Tiny house approach emphasizes simpler, low-cost living

By Staci Lehman Current Correspondent While there is no official definition of what constitutes a “tiny house,” the movement itself is comprised of an architectural and social campaign that advocates simple living in homes under approximately 500 square feet.

Architect and author Sarah Susanka is credited with starting the tiny house movement with the publication of her book, “The Not So Big House” in 1997. She has since published six followup books that expand on the theory of “building better, not bigger.”

While the tiny house trend didn’t exactly take off in the late 1990s, the financial downturn that hit the United States in 2007 made smaller, cost-efficient houses a more realistic option for thousands who lost homes to foreclosure. Depending on the size of the home and materials used, tiny houses typically cost between about $20,000 and $50,000.

In the United States today, the average size of a new single family home is about 2,600 square feet, despite a decrease in the size of the average family. While smaller homes are less expensive to build, heat and maintain, it is the simpler lifestyle they promote and their smaller ecological footprint that appear to have made them popular. Many also appreciate the minimal amount of time they require to clean and maintain, providing more time and freedom for other interests.

They also free up other resources, such as money. The statistics show that 68 percent of tiny house owners have no mortgage. That is compared to 29 percent of other homeowners in the U.S. Tiny house owners are twice as likely to have masters’ degrees, and more women own tiny houses than men – 55 percent to 45 percent.

Overall though, tiny houses make up a very small amount of the housing inventory to date, with only 1 percent of home buyers purchasing homes of less than 1,000 square feet.

Currently, small houses are proving to be more popular as “accessory” dwellings, being used as home offices or to accommodate aging relatives.

The Current

Innovative Estates – New program brings substantial stability through humble homes Staci Lehman Current Correspondent If you build it, they will come. In this case, not baseball players, but people who need safe, affordable homes.

A field behind a Spokane Valley church will soon be home to a village of “tiny houses,” small homes starting at 300 square feet that offer a big step up for those who may not be able to afford a home otherwise – or those who just don’t want the maintenance and cleaning that accompany a larger home.

The Inland Northwest Fuller Center for Housing is coordinating the “tiny house village plan,” working with several area churches. The Fuller Center is a faith-based organization that promotes innovative partnerships to provide shelter for people, especially families, in need in Eastern Washington.

“There are over 3,000 homeless children in Spokane County,” said Pastor Ian Robertson, founder and board president of the Fuller Center.

“The Fuller Center is worried about them.”

The Fuller Center originated when representatives from 80 Spokane congregations met for a Christian Service Summit several years ago.

The result was the identification of key areas to address for the common good, including neighborhood safety, security and emergency preparedness; quality of life for at-risk children and youth; wellness and health inequities; and homelessness, housing, and economic development.

It soon became obvious that housing and economic development were the most urgent needs and improvements in those areas would have a positive ripple effect on the other themes. It was also clear that extensive resources would be needed to tackle a project this large. Organizers formed a group to do so and became a partner with The Fuller Center for Housing of Americus, Georgia, an 501 c(3) nonprofit organization known as a “best practice” model in providing affordable housing.

Since then, the local chapter of

the Fuller Center has put a priority on building simple, affordable tiny houses for families, seniors and others. Several local churches are making land available for tiny house villages, the first of which will include 20 homes located on property belonging to Living Hope Community Church on Broadway in Spokane Valley.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the village was held in June. The first tiny house in the village will be purchased by Dusty (last name withheld by request), a recovering addict who has been clean for almost two years.

Dusty’s son has not been able to occupy the same home as his mom since she has been living in transitional housing. “He can visit but there’s not opportunity for him to live there,” said Dusty.

That will change when Dusty moves into her new home. She currently pays $350 for a single room in the transitional home. Her tiny house will cost her just $300 a month and will also offer more privacy.

According to the Fuller Center website, even a minimum wage worker can afford a quality home in a tiny house village. The standard formula for a mortgage is for the monthly payment to be less than 28 percent of the borrower’s income before taxes. With an average monthly payment of $350, a minimum wage worker would only spend 21 percent of his or her pre- tax income on a tiny house mortgage.

The tiny homes are currently being financed by the Fuller Center one house at a time. When one house is built and sold, it provides money to start working on the next one. Overhead is low because inmates at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell are building parts for the homes, such as cabinets, furniture, walls and more. They are then shipped to the Fuller Center’s Spokane facility to be assembled.

Pastor Ian Robertson (right) of the Inland Northwest Fuller Center for Housing stands with Pastor Nathan Lail of Living Hope Community Church at the June 23 groundbreaking ceremony for the tiny home village to be located on acreage owned by the church on Broadway in Spokane Valley. Photo by Staci Lehman

Construction of the tiny houses teaches inmates carpentry skills they can use when they leave prison. The prison workers are even recognized by the Carpenters Union. Eventually, the Fuller Center would like former inmates to occupy

See HOMES, Page 13

The Current

COVER STORY

AUGUST 2016 • 13

money off the poor.”

A second tiny house village is planned for the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Government Way in the city of Spokane on property occupied by the Ascenda Substance Abuse Treatment Organization.

The villages are expected to cost about $700,000 to build, of which $400,000 will be covered through mortgages. Robertson says he has been in contact with area legislators who say there is money available for projects like tiny house villages that could help his organization in the future.

Until then, the Fuller Center is seeking support from those who believe in the concept of affordable housing. Inland Empire Paper Company has agreed to provide free lumber for the tiny homes for one year. A sawmill south of Sandpoint, Idaho is cutting logs for free and another company has agreed to deliver the wood to Spokane at no charge.

A view from the loft of a tiny home. The first local village will include 20 such homes on the grounds of Living Hope Community Church.

Photo by Staci Lehman

HOMES

Continued from page 12

some of the tiny houses in villages like the one behind Living Hope Community Church. This would move them out of transitional housing and provide a start toward homeownership opportunities and developing credit.

“There are 67 men in transitional housing around the city and there will be 89 by August – we need housing,” said Terri Mayer, CEO of Steps Reentry, an area organization that provides services to people having difficulties due to an arrest or conviction record. “This way they own their own house.”

Representatives from the Inland Northwest Fuller Center for Housing, Living Hope Community Church and Spokane Valley community shovel the inaugural ground for the tiny home village on Broadway.

Photo by Staci Lehman

Robertson, a former pastor at Valley Church of the Nazarene who also served on the Spokane Valley City Council, says it is often hard to rent for financial reasons as well.

“There’s one (transitional home) down the street with five men paying $500 a month each,” he said. “People are making a lot of

Owners of the tiny houses will also help, providing “sweat equity” by either working on the homes or the village sites, similar to the Habitat for Humanity approach. While most villages will be on property owned by local churches, Robertson says the point is not to promote those religious organizations.

“I asked him (the pastor at Living Hope Community Church) if we put 20 families here and not one comes to your church, is that still a success?” Robertson said. “And he said the answer is ‘Yes.’” For more information about the local tiny house effort, visit the Inland Northwest Fuller Center for Housing website at http://www.infullercenter. org/ or call 922-5555.

Attendees at the Jun 23 groundbreaking ceremony joined in prayer at the event.

Photo by Staci Lehman

COMMUNITY

14 • AUGUST 2016

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The Current

Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS Aug. 2 | National Night Out – Various times and sites, including the Spokane Valley Target store at 13724 E. Sprague Ave. from 1 to 3 p.m. Held annually on the first Tuesday of every August, National Night Out is a community event in which neighborhoods across the U.S. join together with law enforcement, city officials, firefighters and local businesses to generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community relations. For more information on a site near you, contact the Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) Neighborhood Watch office at 4773055 or visit www.spokanecounty. org and go to the SCOPE link.

July 30 | Community Shred and Share 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Washington State Employees Credit Union, 12209 E Mission Ave. Shred up to three file-size boxes of old documents containing personal or sensitive information securely and share by donating non-perishable food items for Second Harvest food bank. More at www.wsecu. org/community/out-and-about/ c o m m u n i t y- s h r e d - a n d - s h a r e spokane-valley.

Aug. 16 | Veterans Picnic and Resource Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley.

Free admission, vendor booths and barbecue. Call 444-8387 for more information.

Through Aug. 19 | $1 Summer Movie Express 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Spokane Valley Regal Theater, 14760 E. Indiana Ave. Two movies to choose from each day (Tuesday/Wednesday).

All shows rated G or PG. Tickets available for purchase at the box office with a portion of proceeds going to the Will Rogers Institute.

Aug. 25 | Inland Northwest Hiring Heroes Career Resource Fair – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana, Spokane Valley. Free admission. The region’s premier hiring event for military. For more information, call 532-2795.

Aug. 27 | Millwood Daze, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dalton Street in Millwood.

Gather your family, friends, and neighbors and come out to the

eighth annual Millwood Daze with an agenda that includes the world's largest Red Wagon Parade. Enjoy a full day of fun and activities including the annual Millwood Daze 5k Dash, games, booths, prizes, music, jumping castle and a free outdoor movie at dusk.

Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels of Spokane. For more information, visit www.mowspokane.org.

Through Sept. 3 | FOPP Summer Festival movies and concerts. All events at Pavillion Park at dusk unless otherwise noted – Charlie Musselwhite in concert – July 30; “Goosebumps” – Aug. 12, Half Moon Park; “Jungle Book” – Aug. 13; “Zootopia” – Aug. 19; Montana Shakespeare in the Park, “The Comedy of Errors” – 5 p.m.; “The Sandlot” – Aug. 27; Spokane Symphony – Lud Kramer Memorial Concert, 6 p.m.

(For more information, visit www. pavillionpark.org.

RECURRING ACT 2 senior classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area.

More at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ ACT2.

Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 5 to 6 p.m., third Friday of the month.

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history, and perspectives on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. More at 599-2411 or www.bahai.us.

Café Card Club | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays. On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Hwy., Valleyford.

Play pinochle, cribbage, or hearts.

More at www.onsacredgrounds. com.

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/Catholic-SinglesMingle.

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or

eastpointchurch.com.

Grange potluck and meeting | 6 p.m., first Wednesday of the month, Tri Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake.

A potluck will be followed by a 7 p.m. meeting for this communitybased service organization. More at 481-7447 or geje2@yahoo.com.

Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11: 30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Call Steve at 8934746 for more information.

Liberty Lake Farmers Market | Takes place each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 8 at Town Square Park, 1421 N. Meadowwood Lane. The market features local food and farm vendors, artisan crafts and baked goods, live music and more. For more, visit www. libertylakefarmersmarket.com.

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.

Millwood Farmer’s Market | Runs every Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 28 in front of Millwood Presbyterian Church, 8910 E., Dalton off Argonne.

Featuring food and farm vendors, artisan crafts, music and more.

Market accepts token System, WIC, senior vouchers, EBT and Fresh Bucks programs. For more visit millwoodfarmermar.wix.com/ market.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | 6:30 p.m., the first Monday of each month. Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. More at www.pancan.org or 534-2564.

Rockford Crochet Class | 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. The Harvest Moon, 20 S. First St., Rockford.

Activities include hairpin lace, knit, embroidery, needlepoint, and arm knitting of infinity. More at 8924412 or 291-3722.

Rockford Historical Society | 11:30 a.m. second Friday of the month (Feb. to Nov.). Harvest Moon restaurant, 20 S. First St., Rockford. More at 291-3193.

Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events

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AUGUST 2016 • 15

COMMUNITY

and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs.

More at www.scld.org

Spokane Valley Eagles | 16801 E. Sprague Ave. Breakfast served Sundays 9 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch served Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by bingo from 1 to 3:30 p.m. More at www.foe3433. com.

Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank | Weekly distribution takes place Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10814 E. Broadway by appointment.

Appointments are available during the following days/times: Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Thursday (reserved for advanced-age seniors — age 60 and over — and/or physicallyhandicapped people with limited mobility): 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Address verification is required.

To make an appointment, call 927.1153 ext. 10, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Summer Lego Club | 6 to 8 p.m.

Mondays. Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Recurring Lego nights all summer long are perfect for kids with more ideas than they can build in one hour. All ages are welcome. Children 6 and under must bring an adult.

MUSIC & THE ARTS July 28-Aug. 7 | Oliver! evening performances July 28-30, Aug. 3-6 at 7:30 p.m.; matinee performances July 31 and Aug 7 at 2 p.m. Central Valley Performing Arts Center, 821 S Sullivan Rd. Come see Spokane Valley Sumer Theatre’s presentation of the family musical Oliver! based on Charles Dickens’ beloved novel. Admission is $20-34. Tickets and more at http://svsummertheatre.com.

July 30 | Charlie Musselwhite in concert, dusk at Pavillion Park.

Free admission. Presented as part of the Friends of Pavillion Park 2016 Summer Festival.

Aug. 20 | Montana Shakespeare in the Park presents “The Comedy of Errors,” 5 p.m. at Pavillion Park.

Free admission. Presented as part of the Friends of Pavillion Park 2016 Summer Festival.

Sept. 3 | Spokane Symphony presents the 2016 Lud Kramer Memorial Concert, 6 p.m. at Pavillion Park. Free admission. (The final event of the Friends of Pavillion

Park 2016 Summer Festival.)

RECURRING Country Jammers Dance | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., first and third Sunday of the month. Newman Lake Grange, 25025 E. Heather Lane, Newman Lake. Free (donations welcome). More information at jandg2@comcast.net.

Drop-in Square Dance Lessons | 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (through May 18). Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Road. Square dance lessons for $3 per person; no partner needed. More at 270-9264.

Pages of Harmony | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road.

If you enjoy singing, you will love the four-part, a cappella harmony of this men’s barbershop chorus.

More at www.pagesofharmony.org.

Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:45 p.m., Tuesdays. Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 2184799.

Spokane Novelists Group | Noon to 4 p.m., second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. A support/critique group for writers. Open to anyone with an interest in writing fiction (no memoirs, nonfiction, poetry, etc., please). Participants should bring 5-10 pages to read aloud and 6-8 copies for others to read along and critique. More at 590-7316.

Spokane Valley Camera Club | 7:15 p.m., third and fourth Monday of the month (September through April). Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District building, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops.

More at 951-1446 or www.sv-cc. org Spokane Valley Writers’ Group | 6:45 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440.

Teen Writers of the Inland Empire | 4 p.m., first Thursday of the month (except holidays).

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Teen writers (grade six and older) meet to write and share

See CALENDAR, Page 16

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16 • AUGUST 2016

Creating Healthier ClassCommunities

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

Continued from page 15 their work. More at 893-8400.

HEALTH & RECREATION

Living Well with Diabetes

A free, six-week workshop for those who want to take control of their diabetes.

Learn How To: • Deal with symptoms of diabetes including fatigue, pain, hyper- and hypoglycemia, stress and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration • Exercise to maintain and improve strength and endurance • Eat healthy • Properly use medication • Work more effectively with your health care providers Family members and caregivers are welcome.

Call for more details on workshop dates, times and locations: 509-232-8138

> Register online at courseregistration.inhs.org

This project was supported by funds from the Group Health Research Institute Pathways to Diabetes Self-Care Project wellness.inhs.org Community Wellness is a service of Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS). INHS is a non-profit corporation in Spokane, Washington providing collaboration in health care services on behalf of the community and its member organization Providence Health Care.

July 31 | 4th Annual Cycle Celebration 8 a.m., North Centennial Trail Head at Mirabeau Point Park Meadows, 13500 E. Mirabeau Parkway. Spend the day exploring the scenic beauty in and around Spokane Valley on your choice of 10-, 25-, or 50-mile bike ride presented by Valleyfest.

Register at www.cyclecelebration. com.

Aug. 1- 17 | Sports camps at the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. in Liberty Lake - Advantage Basketball Camp – Aug. 1-5 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Advantage Basketball Camp – Aug. 1-3 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Skyhawks Volleyball Camp – Aug. 1-5 – 9 a.m. to noon; Skyhawks Basketball Camp – Aug. 8-12 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; NBC Basketball Complete Skills Junior Camp – Aug. 15-17 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For costs of each camp and more information, visit www.hubsportscenter.org or call 927-0602.

Aug. 20 | Olympic Bubbleball Tournament, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. in Liberty Lake. This is a 16-team double elimination, coed tournament for those ages 16 and up. Choose a country to represent, dress as that country and come ready to battle it out for the BubbleBall gold medal. Minimum of four players per team, maximum of eight. Cost is $80 per team.

Registration ends Aug. 11. Call 927-0602 for more information.

The Current

Yoga in Rockford | 5:30 p.m.

Wednesdays. Rockford Park, 20 W. Emma St., Rockford. In case of inclement weather, classes will be held at Dave’s Autobody, 8 W. Emma St.

CIVIC & BUSINESS Aug. 2 | 2016 primary election ballots due. This year’s primary voting period ends Aug. 2 and features a U.S. Senate contest and all 10 congressional races. All of the statewide and most legislative seats are on the primary ballot, as well as many judicial and local positions. Primary ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 2 or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. Ballots can also be returned to accessible voting centers during business hours or at local libraries.

RECURRING Flag Museum | Sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution and the Fairmount Memorial Association, details the rich history of the American flag, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pines Cemetery, 1402 S. Pines Road, Spokane Valley. For more information: 926-2753 or www. fairmountmemorial.com/southpines-cemetery Spokane Valley Kiwanis | 6:45 a.m.

Tuesdays.

Valley Hospital Education Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave. More at www. spokanevalleykiwanis.net.

Spokane Valley Rotary | Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesdays. Darcy’s, 10502 E. Sprague Ave. More at www. svrotary.org.

RECURRING HUB Sports Center 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including: • Badminton open gym: 7 to 9 p.m. Tues., $5/person • Basketball open gym: Noon to 1 p.m. Tues. and Thurs., $4/person • Pickleball drop-in: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to noon Tues. and Thurs.; and 7 to 9 p.m. Wed. and Sun. $2/seniors ($4/non-seniors) • Classes including Kenpo Karate, Modern Farang-Mu Sul, and Zumba Aerobics. See website for cost and times.

We are looking for Freelance Writers.

Send inquiries to publisher@ libertylakesplash.com or call us

242-7752

The Current

Making noise with ‘Noiseguy’ Charlie Williams

By Erin Dodge Is that a fly buzzing around your head? Did a door just creak open?

The culprit may be ‘Noiseguy’ Charlie Williams, vocal sound impressionist extraordinaire. Lucky for us, he is performing his show, “Sound Coach: A Reading Relay Read-a-thon,” at all district libraries starting Aug. 1.

I asked Charlie some questions about his craft. And hopefully, just like me, you’ll be inspired to get a little noisy!

Q: How and when did you discover your particular skill set as a ‘Noiseguy’?

A: I discovered I had a flair for performing with comic vocal sound effects in ninth grade when the social director at school asked me to do a showcase of “those funny noises you make.” I went to a private high school in St. Louis, Missouri. Up to that point, I only had experience with parent/teacher conferences and discussions about being noisy in class.

Having a microphone on a stage in the auditorium was a good way to teach me how to use my skills for good and not for trouble. I loved playing with amplified sound,

Prime Time Family Reading: Discovering ideas together

By Gwendolyn Haley Something magical happens when families read together and then talk about the big ideas they encounter. Prime Time Family Reading (http://www.humanities. org/programs/reading) taps into that magic while providing developing readers a powerful boost in their comprehension skills.

Spokane County Library District has been fortunate to work with Humanities Washington to host Prime Time sessions in partnership with elementary schools in Central Valley, Mead, Riverside, Cheney, and East Valley school districts.

Prime Time Family Reading is a six-week program that starts with dinner, followed by reading aloud and a discussion led by a local scholar. Every week, recruited families, with children ages 6–10, take home three books with the

LIBRARY

AUGUST 2016 • 17

SUMMER 2016

Charlie Williams, known better as the ‘Noiseguy’ for his unique inventory of sounds, will be appearing at branches throughout the Spokane Library District this month.

Contributed photo showing my friends and peers something I was good at. My sound showcase got a nice round of applause, which is far better than getting a detention! I enjoyed that positive attention, which helped with my shyness.

Q: What did your teachers, parents and family think of your abilities? Did they ever get you in trouble?

A: Most of the time, my parents, family and teachers thought my noisy ability was neat. They would request certain sounds for their own amusement, but they also knew to reign me back in because once I got started, I would keep on going!

My mom would have me re-enact

scenes from “The Wizard of Oz” for visitors. I can still remember singing the “King of the Forest” like the cowardly lion in that movie. My grandparents applauded politely.

However, as a student in school, I found that sound imitations were fantastic prank opportunities, so yes, I got in trouble. I tried to imitate the school bell to dismiss the class early. Bbbbbbbbbbbring! Like most kids, I found that making startling sounds in a quiet atmosphere produces a funny reaction. I also discovered that there are plenty of boundaries when it comes to pranks!

To read more of our interview with the ‘Noiseguy,’ visit our blog at www.scld.org/all-posts/.

same theme, to read together. At the end of the six weeks, children receive a certificate and several books to keep and their families gain a whole new perspective on what reading together can do for the whole family. A parent shared that his daughter had jumped forward a couple of reading levels over the session, prompting her teacher to ask, “What have you been doing at home?”

All families can begin having discussions about picture books right away. The key to Prime Time success is the discussion after reading. When you talk about books together, ask open-ended questions about the ideas and feelings in the story rather than focusing on the narrative: Why do characters make certain decisions? What would you do in that situation? How does this story remind you of your own life or another story? Ask one another questions, so that everyone gets a chance to share.

Here’s the list of Prime Time books to get you started:

Fairness: “Do the right thing” “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka; “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears”

by Verna Aardema; “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst Greed: “What’s in it for me?”

“The Talking Eggs” by Robert D. San Souci; “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” by John Steptoe; “Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock” by Eric A. Kimmel Dreams: “Dare to dream” “Amazing Grace” by Mary Hoffman;“Wagon Wheels” by Barbara Brenner; Fanny’s Dream”

by Carolyn Buehner Courage: “No guts, no glory” “Lon Po Po” by Ed Young; “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak; “Abiyoyo” by Pete Seeger Cleverness: “Find a way” “Flossie and the Fox” by Patricia C. McKissack; “The Monkey and the Crocodile” by Paul Galdone; “Dr. DeSoto” by William Steig

SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING AT THE LIBRARY! Come for music, magic, electricity, dancing, hiking, stories, entertainment, and to get loud!

Free fun for kids, and grown-ups too.

Visit www.scld.org/summer-16 for details.

#ReadySetRead

The Current

18 • AUGUST 2016

2016 FAMILY FUN HOM E SC H EDU LE Aug 12-16 vs. Eugene Emeralds Aug 26-28 vs. Tri-City Dust Devils Aug 29-Sept 2 vs. Hillsboro Hops

FEATURED GAME -FREE PARKING-

For Tickets: 343-OTTO (6886) .com

MILITARY APPRECIATION & Fireworks Night!

Sat. August 27th vs. TRI-CITY DUST DEVILS Game Time 6:30 pm Special edition game hats will be worn honoring the United States Armed Forces Service, Veterans and Support Organizations.

Plus join us for Fireworks after the game. sponsored by:

PLUS HAPPY HOUR! 5:30-6:30 PM Enjoy $4 pints , Pepsi products and food specials presented by:

Brought to you by

National Honeybee Day Honey bees live in hives or colonies. Each hive has drones, thousands of workers and one queen.

She runs the whole colony and lays all of the eggs. A queen can live up to five years. She can lay between 1000 and 2000 eggs a day. When she dies, the workers create a new queen by feeding a newly hatched larva royal jelly. Worker bees are all females. They are the ones you might see outside the hive. They build the hive, keep it clean and collect food. Most live six weeks or less.

When the worker bee uses her stinger then she will die. Drones are males. Several hundred live in each colony during the Spring and Summer but they are kicked out for the Winter.

FACTS National Honeybee Day was started in 2009 to bring awareness to the important role honey bees play in our food production and the steady decline in honey bees that has been occurring. It honors beekeeping, honeybees and sustainable farming.

Bees are the only insect that makes food for humans.

Honey bees produce five products; honey, royal jelly, propolis, pollen and beeswax.

Ancient Egyptians paid their taxes with honey.

They also placed it in King Tut’s tomb and it was Honey bees are cold-blooded. still edible when found.

Honey bees were not native to the Americas. They Honey is the only food that never spoils. were brought by Europeans.

The Current

20 • AUGUST 2016

August 10 National S’More Day

To celebrate America’s favorite campfire treat why not gather some friends to try some new combinations instead of the traditional graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. You could use a Nilla Wafer, peanut butter, a molasses, a shortbread or a chocolate cookie. Instead of plain chocolate what about trying a peanut butter cup, a thin mint or a peppermint patty. Lots of people think a spread of Nutella or peanut butter is delicious.

No marshmallows? Try using marshmallow crème instead. Your choices are only limited by what is in your cupboard and your imagination.

FAMILY FUN MONTH

Free or almost free activities you can do with your family this month. For more ideas check out the August issue of Have a picnic Do a jigsaw puzzle Go to a park Play charades Have a water balloon fight Blow bubbles Play hide and seek Run through the sprinklers Stargaze Go on a bike ride

Be a tourist and visit a local place you have never been Build a fort Spend a day at the lake Play a board game Take turns reading a book out loud Make No-Bake cookies Sing Finger-paint

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 21

PACE Trait -

Congratulations to Anabelle!

GRADITUDE

She’s the latest

KiDDS Dental

Feeling and expressing thankful appreciation for benefits received In honor of National Coloring Day we are hosting a contest. All entries will be submitted to a random drawing. The winner will receive a $5 Barnes and Noble gift card. Submit your entry to paula@ libertylakesplash.com or mail it to us at PO Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019

No Cavity Club winner!

Anabelle won a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a photo session with

Call our office to schedule an appointment to see if your child is cavity-free!

891-7070

Grow Up Smiling!

1327 N. Stanford Lane, Suite B, Liberty Lake 509.891.7070 www.GrowUpSmiling.com

Animal Facts

Find out about all of our events and contests on Facebook!

Every month we will feature an information on a different animal. Cut them out and collect them all!

ORANGUTAN - Sumatra and Borneo - 4-5’, 75-180 pounds, 30-40 years - Endangered - Only great ape outside of Africa - They have and unusually long arm span so their arms almost touch the ground - Eat fruit, leaves, and insects - Arboreal, 90% of their time spent in trees - Largest living tree mammal in the world - Makes a new nest to sleep in every day

22 • AUGUST 2016

The Current

Author Spotlight

s s e g r u orton B

Th

Thornton grew up in Sandwich, MA. His father died shortly after he was born so he worked very hard as a young man. One of his jobs on Discovery Hill inspired many of his stories. After graduating from high school, he studied business at a college in Boston. What he really wanted to be was an author so he moved and took a job as an editorial assistant at a publishing company.

He wrote stories under the pseudonym W.B. Thornton. His first book, Old Mother West Wind, was written in 1910. This book introduced many characters that the public would grow to love.

Thornton was a conservationist and his love of nature heavily influenced his writing for the next 50 years. In total he wrote 170 books and 15,000 bedtime stories for his daily news column. From 1912-1960, he also broadcast on the radio. His programs were adored by educators and parents. For a spin on the pet rock, we painted rocks to He won several awards and was highly praised look like frogs. for his conservation efforts. He remained active in MATERIALS: both until his death at age 91. rocks paint paintbrush Old Mother West Wind 1910 ages 4-11 Sharpie for details (if you want) This is the book that started it all. Meet Old INSTRUCTIONS: Mother West Wind, her Merry Little Breezes and The most important thing when painting rocks is their animal neighbors that live in the Old Briar to find a smooth one, unless you are going to run Patch and by the Smiling Pool. It is written in it into a toad. You want rocks for this project that chapters that are the perfect size for a bedtime are pancake shaped. read.

Start by washing your rock off outside and drying Mother West Wind’s Neighbors 1913 ages 4-11 it well so your paint will stick.

Mother West Wind “Why” Stories 1915 ages 4-11 Paint the rock entirely with your main color.

We’ve never read a Thornton Burgess book we When this is dry, add spots, stripes or speckles of didn’t love. All of his stories have talking aniyour choice. mals, morals that aren’t really thrown in your Finally add eyes, nostrils, mouth and any other face and are great for read aloud. There is an details that make you happy.

Adventures of___ book for just about every character so pick your favorite and try one of For longevity spray your rock with a clear sealer. these too!

Place for your enjoyment!

Make your own tribute to Grandfather Frog

Books We Recommend

The Current

PACE Trait for August A few thoughts on gratitude

By Rev. Linda Bartholomew

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection One of my favorite contemporary theologians is Paul McCartney.

Don’t you marvel at how being one of the Beatles was only the start of his career and how he has had things to say not only about love and life, but also often even about God all along?

One of his latest albums, “Memory Almost Full,” has a favorite song of mine entitled, “Gratitude.” The opening goes like this: “Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude.

I’m so grateful for everything you’ve ever given me.

How can I explain, oh, what it means to be loved by you, by you, loved by you, loved by you?

Show my gratitude, gratitude.

Show my gratitude. I wanna show

AUGUST 2016 • 23

my gratitude. Gratitude, yeah.”

That about sums it up, doesn’t it? We can and should be grateful.

He says it over and over. And then over again.

“But wait,” you say. “Didn’t even Paul McCartney go through some hard times?” I think I remember that Linda, his first wife and the love of his life died some years ago? Then he remarried, but that relationship took a nosedive and ended in a divorce? Surely this suggests that even one of the most famous, wealthy, adored persons that has ever walked the earth has suffered, so why is he crooning on and on about gratitude? Perhaps Paul is going through another great infatuation (no doubt a possibility).

Or maybe, just maybe, he has grown into a wise and even holy man.

Recently, a sister of mine (I am blessed to have six of them) and I were lamenting how a mutual friend, no matter how much she has, is never happy. It would be so tempting to lecture her about developing a grateful heart. Indeed, our friend has also suffered. But somehow a rebound seems beyond her. That spirit of gratitude is just

not there. Everyone can see it and the tragedy of her life is difficult to bear, for her and for those who love her. Have you ever met our friend?

This reminds me of a true story that has changed my life. Several years ago, a prominent preacher named John Claypool had a 10year old daughter, Laura Lue, who lost her valiant fight with leukemia.

Her parents had been with her every agonizing step of the way.

Her suffering was so bad that they sometimes had to put a cloth in her mouth just so she could bite her way through the pain. At other times, their little Laura would turn to them and ask them if they were praying to God that she would get better. “Oh yes,” they assured her, they were storming the heavens with their prayers. “Then what did God say?” she pleaded. They had no answer for their littlest angel.

I mention their story because at the funeral, her father John preached one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard. One of the truths he clung to, and of which he assures all who have followed in the difficult footsteps of suffering, is that no matter what else, he and his wife would always choose to be

Spokane Transit Authority approves recommendation to phase in fare increase

“Fares are an important part of the funding we need to provide service,” said Al French, STA Board chair and Spokane County Commissioner. “Operating costs are significantly lower than other urban transit systems in Washington State but the cost to provide service increases over time.”

STA has a long-standing objective that customer fares cover at least 20 percent of the cost to provide bus service. That share currently

Gratitude is one of the deepest and most formidable choices we can ever make. G.K. Chesterton said it well, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

God has blessed us with a world of wonder, particularly in the marvel and gift of his own Son who didn’t bypass the suffering at all, but rather entered into to it for our sake. In doing so He sung his own song of gratitude, a song I am spending my own life learning to sing. It has a catchy tune.

Rev. Linda Bartholomew has served the loving, generous and energetic people of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Spokane Valley (Eighth and Sullivan, Spokane Valley) as priestin-charge since 2012. Rev. Linda spends a lot of her time planning the weekly liturgy, praying, leading Bible Study, counseling the sick, searching for ways to help in our community grow and sneaking in a regular nature jog. She is often assisted by her newly retired husband. implemented in two phases. To see a timeline of the new fare structure, visit spokanetransit.com There was also support for a new seven-day pass and for maintaining both the student pass and the summer youth pass for at least one more year to assess the continued demand for these programs.

From Current News Sources

Spokane Transit Authority’s Board of Directors voted July 21 to phase in an increase in passenger fares starting next year. The current fare of $1.50 for an adult two-hour pass will increase to $1.75 in July 2017 and to $2 July 2018. It will have been five years since the last fare increase.

suffused with gratitude for the life of his beloved daughter.

Bus fares across Spokane County will cost more beginning next summer based on a recent vote by the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors. The twophase will put the fare at $1.75 next July and up to $2 the following July.

File photo stands at about 18 percent. The proposed increase would bring the portion riders pay up to about 22 percent after the second increase, still under the national average.

“Our number one objective is to have reasonably priced fares for citizens who want and need public transportation,” said E. Susan Meyer, STA chief executive officer.

“We sought and received extensive public input on the timing and amount of a potential increase.

The plan approved by the board addresses much of what we heard during these public sessions.”

STA officials say most understood the rationale for a 20 percent cost sharing objective during the public outreach process and appreciated that there has not been a fare increase for many years. However, there was a consensus that the increase was too significant to be implemented at one time. As a result, the fare increase will be

STA officials plan to use the time until the fare increase next year to collaborate with health and human service providers to develop comprehensive solutions to lessen the financial impact on extremely low-income customers who do not already have access to free or discounted transit passes.

STA provides public transportation services through fixed route (bus) operations, paratransit operations and vanpool to the cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Spokane and Spokane Valley and parts of the unincorporated county. The organization employs more than 500 people and is overseen by a regional board of nine voting elected officials from Spokane County and cities in the Public Transportation Benefit Area, two non-voting elected officials from area small cities, and a non-voting labor member.

The Current

24 • AUGUST 2016 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors

Couple saluted for commitment to community, each other

By Mary Anne Ruddis

Splash Correspondent In case you were wondering who that distinguished couple in the festive golf cart was at last month’s Alpine Shores Fourth of July Parade, it was no less than Bruce and Marge Johnson – pillars of Liberty Lake for over a half a century.

Bruce and Marge served as grand marshals of the annual procession through the lakefront neighborhood, trailed by an impressive fan club of relatives. The parade committee elected the couple to be grand marshals if they would accept.

One of Marge’s friends jokingly told her that if they didn’t agree to be the grand marshals, then there just may not be a parade. The selection was a tribute and recognition of being longtime residents and active members of the community.

“It was an honor to be chosen,” said Marge. “Quite an honor,” added Bruce. Driving a decorated golf cart, they waved and smiled to those gathered on the side of the residential roads.

The Johnsons lived in Liberty Lake for 54 years before recently moving to Courtland Place in Spokane Valley.

As longtime Liberty Lake residents, they believed that engaging in the community made it stronger. As a team, they volunteered with the Liberty Lake Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) office for 15 years after friends urged them to get involved with the organization. The goal of SCOPE is to promote public safety and crime prevention through citizen involvement.

Both Marge and Bruce believe it is important for members of a community to get to know each other, noting that volunteering brings people together and residents can get to know their neighbors.

“It is a way to prevent crime,” said Marge. ““Volunteering helps you to see the other side of things and also helps you to know how to

Bruce and Marge Johnson volunteered with the Liberty Lake chapter of the Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) for 15 years.

Contributed photo deal with others.”

When community members know each other, it is much easier to spot trouble, Marge adds. With all of the turmoil in the world, the couple has emphasized the importance to find common ground by building community.

The two worked as a team, typically on the night shift from 9 p.m. to midnight. Bruce would check doors and look for suspicious activity at local businesses and Marge would drive and keep records of the places they visited. Both worked during the day, Bruce was in the RV business in Spokane Valley for 62 years and Marge worked as a medical transcriptionist.

Next year the Johnsons will celebrate their golden anniversary.

They married in 1967. Prior to getting married, they lived next door to each other in Liberty Lake.

“I married a younger man,” joked Marge. Bruce is 83 and Marge is 86. Each already had two children when they married, a boy and a girl. Today, in addition to their four children, they have four grandkids, and four great-grandkids. “[Marriage] isn’t always easy.

You have to work it out somehow,” Marge said.

“Even after nearly 50 years, it is still a work in progress,” Bruce added.

Marge believes that it is “important

to stay busy,” noting that individual hobbies and interests can make a marriage stronger.

Marge has been studying and working with ceramics for over 30 years and also taught classes in her home while in Liberty Lake. Bruce helped out with the molds and firing in the kiln. Their apartment is decorated with beautiful artwork that Marge has created over the

years. There are even a few pieces

by Bruce, a self-described “rock hound.” Once he became interested in rocks, Marge bought him his first rock polisher.

Marge also keeps active and involved in the Liberty Lake Garden Club and Beta Sigma Phi Club as well as various activities that are available at Courtland Place.

Bruce’s philosophy of life is simple, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – that’s as good and simple as you can make it,” he said.

While recognizing that he might not always do that perfectly, he works diligently to remember it all the time. He is also fond of remembering that when it comes to the way we treat other people, “an eye for an eye, leave both blind.”

Bruce has three other tried and true philosophies that he lives by: 1) His mother taught him that still waters do run deep, 2) His dad drove home the lesson that if you can’t say anything good about a person, don’t say anything at all, and 3) Don’t judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

In this fast-paced world, he says it’s important to slow down and reflect on these tried and true folk wisdoms that have stood the test of time – just like Bruce and Marge.

Bruce and Marge Johnson were selected as grand marshals for this year’s Alpine Shores Fourth of July Parade. The couple called Liberty Lake home for 54 years before recently moving to Spokane Valley.

Contributed photo

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 25

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26 • AUGUST 2016

New U-Hi football coach brings impressive Titan pedigree

By Mike Vlahovich Current Sports Editor

The story, he says, still hangs in a picture frame on the wall in his son’s bedroom. Twenty-five years ago Adam Daniel was lauded for exceptional two-way play as both linebacker and running back for the University Titans.

“The article mentioned (that the writer) doesn’t usually pick a player of the year unless he’s dominant on both sides of the ball,” Daniel recalled. “I read that probably 100 times in my head. It was the highlight of my senior year.”

Two decades later the 1992 Titan graduate returned to his alma mater and this spring became U-Hi’s seventh head football coach, the second Valley hire this spring to take over at his alma mater.

Ryan Butner, a 1996 Central Valley graduate, is the Bears’ new head coach.

Daniel the running back had spent much of his coaching career overseeing, of all things, the offensive line.

SPORTS

CV grad Pruitt headed to Paralympics with Team USA

By Treva Lind Current Correspondent Austin Pruitt has an unshakable focus on the 2016 Rio Paralympics this September, a journey fueled by four years of rigorous training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

Spokane Valley-raised Pruitt certainly has notched up his preparation toward best U.S. Track and Field times in a racing wheelchair, miles away from earning his first spot on the 2012 London Paralympics as a talented high school athlete. He’s also trimmed down from 240 pounds in London to today’s 183 pounds.

Pruitt, who turns 22 in August, will race in the 100 meter and 800 meter races at the Paralympics in Rio. In London, he competed in the 100 and 200 meter races in his racing wheelchair.

“About three or four months after the games, I was on the fence about wanting to continue,” said Pruitt, a graduate of Central Valley High School. “I went into London thinking I had a good chance of medaling, but quite frankly, I wasn’t as fit as I should have been. Four months after the games, I got a letter inviting me to come to the center to live and

Austin Pruitt of Greenacres first competed for Team USA at the 2012 Paralympics in London. The Central Valley High School graduate will travel with the national squad to Brazil for the 2016 Paralympics later this month.

File photo train.”

Everyone around him, including this parents, Troy and Melisa, encouraged him to take the chance of a lifetime. “Life went from zero to 100,” he said. “It went from a week after sending an email in response to I was in California, basically dropping everything I was doing in Spokane.”

“There’s challenge with any sport,” added Pruitt, who talked during a recent break from his six-day training routine. “Going through high school, I don’t think I completely understood how far the track side of things could go. When I made the

The Current

Paralympics team and it became a reality, it was ‘Wow, I can make it happen,’ but being around high-level athletes showed me how unprepared I was.”

“I was a kid who made a couple of international track meets and thought I could do it with what I was doing. I found out pretty quickly there was a whole other level of preparation. I’m taking track seriously.”

Born with cerebral palsy from the waist down, Pruitt first got introduced to his sport as an eighth-grader when he was invited to a friend’s practice.

He trained with Team St. Luke’s, and then also with Central Valley’s track team.

“When I started in 2009 as a freshman at CV, they fully integrated myself, and my training partner, and a third athlete, to where we were on the track team with everyone else and fully worked out with them, and we did so successfully,” he recalled.

“That was the first time they had that.”

Pruitt’s regiment in recent years has involved his coach Joaquim Cruz, Brazilian champion runner in the 800-meter race and Olympic gold medalist in 1984. He’s guided Pruitt with detailed workouts as difficult as Cruz went through to get to higherlevel competitions. Cruz told him it would be a crazy, four-year ride, and it has been.

“He looked at me and what I was doing for workouts,” Pruitt said.

“He said from the first day, ‘Why do

See PRUITT, Page 28

“I was o-line coach for 19 or 20 years now,” Daniel says. “It’s kind of a funny story, too.”

Even though he’d spent his career in the backfield, when he became an assistant to Bob McCray, Mead’s head coach told him, “You’re going to be the line coach.” Daniel was miffed, but the prescient McCray said he was doing him a favor by having him learn every aspect of the game in order to make him a better coach.

“Most guys want to coach the position they played, but he made me uncomfortable,” Daniel says.

But now that he’s head coach, he’s taken charge of coordinating an entire offense. His younger brother Jason remains the defensive coordinator.

“I told him to hold teams to 40 points and we’d be OK,” Adam quipped, “because we’re going to

See U-HI Page 28

Austin Pruitt emerged as an elite para-athlete at Central Valley High School and with Team St. Luke’s.

File photo

The Current

Sports Notebook

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor Three new assistant coaches will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Central Valley football team.

They replace several longtime aides who hung it up when Rick Giampietri retired as head coach (he still remains on staff as a defensive assistant.)

The new Bears offensive coordinator is Dave Myers, formerly the head coach at Interlake, who moved here when his wife, a Spokane native, took a job in Spokane.

“He actually applied for the (CV) job,” new coach Ryan Butner said.

“I reached out to him in March. He and I have hit it off. He’s fantastic and very, very intelligent.”

CV grad forged career with Olympicquality credentials

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor Brent Harken reached heights that enabled him to span the globe simply because of the ability to arch backward over a bar set more than a foot above his head. He high jumped on every continent except Africa and competed in seven stadiums that hosted the Summer Olympics. But the one thing lacking on an impressive resume was the opportunity to participate in the Games themselves.

The Rio De Janeiro Olympics are about to unfold and I figured it was time to catch up and chat with Brent about his late-blooming career path that began in early 1980 and took him from Central Valley to his globe-trotting high jump experiences.

The last I’d heard from his brother Brad, Brent was living in Tennessee and overseeing a Classical Christian college. I’d run into Brad at the Sullivan Road Noodle Express and while we awaited our orders, I cadged Brent’s phone number.

SPORTS

Not to mention a person with a head coaching background.

A second hire, Travis Harmon, comes from Lake City in Coeur d’Alene where he was defensive coordinator and a finalist for the head job there.

The third is Brian Spencer, who comes from Bothell. He is, incidentally the brother-in-law of RJ Del Mese, who was Butner’s teammate and CV’s quarterback on the unbeaten team in 1995.

“We’ve been able to pick up some really, really good coaches to replace the coaches who have left,” Butner said. “All three of those guys are phenomenal.”

AUGUST 2016 • 27

He said then that his stated goal was to clear 7-foot-6, three inches higher than the 7-3 he reached in the spring. The latter mark qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Trials. He no-heighted in the rain, but took away from the meet a wealth of experience.

During a tournament in Oregon Lacie Hull was named the most valuable player and Lexie Hull and Hailey Christopher were named to the all-tourney team.

In July I wrote about Hunter Wells, the West Valley and Gonzaga University pitcher who was the Miami Marlins pick late in the Major League draft. At the time he was contemplating whether to return to GU or sign with the Marlins if the price was right.

Bears’ softball battery Kelsey Gumm and Macie Reynolds were at it again on their respective summer softball teams. Gumm pitched a 3-0, 10-strikeout shutout for her 18U North Idaho Xtreme, the state titlists. Reynolds hit two home runs during the Crash 16U championship run in a Spokane tournament title.

It was.

Summer fun

Other CV team members are, Mady Simmelink and Camryn Skaife.

University high jumper Noah Martin, who was featured in the June Current, healed fast from the collarbone break that kept him out of the high school post-season.

Ron Adams’ Spokane Stars basketball team might just as well be named the Central Valley Bears.

Much of the traveling team is made up of members of the State 4A champs.

CV third-place state finishing hurdler Ben Craig will continue his track career at Brigham Young University after serving a two-year LDS mission in Russia.

How time flies. By the time the two of us connected, it was two years later and I discovered Brent was back in the Spokane Valley.

meet at the University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome. His official outdoor international best, 2.31 meters, translates to 7-7.

He had taught for seven years at Valley Christian School, moved to Moscow, Idaho for 11 years, earned a Master’s degree at Gonzaga University and spent five years in Tennessee promoting Classical Christian education before returning home.

He participated in several Olympic Trials and says he was at his best in 1988, before bad jumping conditions and an injury thwarted his attempt to make the team.

present career – although he didn’t give up high jumping all together.

Four teaching jobs had opened, including at his alma mater and university and he prayed for guidance about which way to go.

The answer he received surprised him – None, choose the Christian school situated below where your parents live.

Update on featured athletes

“Out of the blue,” Harken said. Today he oversees another program, Spokane Christian School.

The remarkable twist on his international high jumping career is that Harken didn’t even begin high jumping until his senior year at Central Valley.

That spring of 1980, he jumped 7-foot-1.

“My hope and dream was to go to college and play basketball,” he said.

He’d been a baseball player, too, but says “my senior year I said I’ll just turn out for track. When I won state I’d only been jumping for two months.”

That earned him a ride to Washington State where he was a four-time All-American, twice each indoors and out. He spent roughly a dozen years jumping around the world and says his all-time best was 7-foot, 8.5-inches at an indoor

“My worst jump (during the season) was 7-5,” Harken explains.

“The last workout going into the trials I was going to do a box drill and work on going over the bar at 8-feet. My spikes didn’t go into the box.” He thought he’d bruised a foot. “I didn’t know at the time I actually had a stress fracture.”

Next morning he could barely walk and says in hindsight he should have had his dentist father find one there and have his foot shot with novocaine to deaden the pain.

He cleared 7-3, then, hoping to make the Olympic qualifying standard, passed until the bar was set near 7-8. I remember watching the jump on television. He says he took off too close to the bar and tipped it. As he was getting out of the pit he watched the bar wiggle off the uprights.

“At first I thought, ‘I have it,’” Harken recalled. “From that point my whole life took a completely different turn.”

The Lord, he says, led him to his

It was at Valley Christian that he met his wife and they began another nomadic, this time education-based adventure. Altogether they have five children and 13 grandchildren.

While he continued to compete on a limited basis and reached 7-6.5 at a national meet in 1991, “I felt I had to scale it back. I wasn’t able to train. My head wasn’t in it.”

He says what he took from that experience, aside from the opportunity travel all over the globe, were the friends he made whose brains he picked.

“I always was a tinkerer, I tried every method I could,” he says.

“About 1991 I really figured it out. I knew exactly how to make the high jump work for me. The problem was it was at the end of my career.”

Who knows what might have happened had Brent Harken figured it out earlier. Three decades later he must content himself watching on TV instead of competing when Olympic track and field begins in Rio on Aug. 12.

The Current

28 • AUGUST 2016

U-HI

Continued from page 26 score 45. We have some good sibling rivalries, that’s for sure.”

Both played linebacker at Idaho and Adam said he first thought of becoming a football coach after he was done playing and earned his teaching degree.

“I knew I wanted to be around the game in some capacity,” he says.

He eventually left Mead to become head coach at Newport, a team that had scant success. Daniel quickly turned things around.

The Grizzlies won three of their final four games to finish 3-6 his first year and fans were so excited they won a homecoming game that he was doused with Gatorade.

The next year they went 7-2 before losing in the first round of the state playoffs.

He left for U-Hi saying it was an opportunity to get back to his roots. “I didn’t envision being a head coach again.”

But if there were one head coaching spot where he could make a difference, he said, it would be at University.

It took him awhile to decide if he wanted to seek the Titans’ job when Rob Bartlett resigned and went into administration. “There was a time when I thought I might be getting burned out on football and just didn’t want to do it.”

Daniel could be part of football, but only, in his words, with “passion and energy.” As far as the chance to be a head coach in the Greater Spokane League, his wife told him he couldn’t have any regrets and he’d better go for it.

Daniel isn’t much one for X’s and O’s.

“It doesn’t matter what you run, or what your defense is about,” he says. “It’s your chemistry, the bonds you build with your brothers.

We’re going to build relationships, just kind of fight for one another and make it a total team atmosphere.”

Wise words, from a man who was once honored 25 years ago for his singular accomplishments.

PRUITT

Continued from page 26 you think you should do different workouts than what I was doing?

You can probably take a little more punishment because your arms are closer to your heart.’ I bought into that program and here we are now.”

During Pruitt’s six days a week of workouts, he spends about six hours each day completing training regiments. Three days involve track sessions in the mornings followed by hitting the gym for weight workouts. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: he’s on the track for both morning and afternoon sessions.

For Rio, he and the team will head to team processing and to pick up gear in Houston on Aug. 28 for a few days before heading to the Games.

“Then it’s seeing how four years of work pays off,” Pruitt said “I’m looking forward to Rio. I know how much work I’ve done, and I know I’m putting in everything I have.

I’ve literally put on hold parts of my life to do this, but I wouldn’t change anything. Everyone wants to medal.

I think I have a really good chance.”

The 800-meter race requires both sprint speed and endurance. His best time as of July in that event was 1:43.92.

“You need to be able to go fast in the first lap, but then also sprint that final 500 meters,” Pruitt said. He will compete in rounds of heats before the final race, “So potentially I’ll race the 800 twice. I’m scheduled to race my first race on Sept. 13.”

People can follow his races and other events in Rio from Sept.

7-18, through the game’s online streaming. He also puts updates on his Facebook page under his given full name: Troy Austin Pruitt.

During breaks, Pruitt does return home to Greenacres for visits, about twice a year. “My parents are proud,” he said. “They’ve been very supportive along the way. It was really my parents who said the final, ‘You really should go to California.’

They said, ‘How many opportunities will you get like this?’”

He adds, “If I hadn’t gone, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now. I’m in college now because of the Olympic Committee; I have a scholarship. I go to school through DeVry University, an online program.”

When time allows, he takes those online classes from his dorm room at the training center. Along with school, he expects to continue racing.

“After Rio, I would hopefully have the ability to be able to go to Tokyo in 2020,” Pruitt said. “That’s the goal – that’s long-term.”

9th Annual River District Bike Race TUESDAY, AUGUST 16TH

at Half Moon Park

(near Holl Blvd & Indiana Ave in Liberty Lake)

JOIN US FOR THIS FUN, FREE, PUBLIC EVENT!

5pm: Youth Fun Races

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a picnic dinner in the neighborhood park. We'll have food trucks, music and the cyclists will provide the entertainment for spectators.

Open to kids 12 & under check in by 4:45 & bring a helmet

Sign your kids up for a youth fun race and stay to watch professional cyclists compete in the 9th annual criterium bike race.

6pm: Adult Competitive Races Baddlands Cycling Club's closed circuit criterium bike race

Learn more at: ilove.gs/2016BikeRace

HISTORY

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 29

Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit started with Antoine Plante

By Angela Schneider Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Many feet move across the wellkept soccer and softball fields at Plante's Ferry Park on Trent Avenue in Spokane Valley. On any given day in the summer, cheers rise up in the air for goals and home runs.

More than 150 years ago, however, it was a quiet, grassy plain, farmed by the Valley's first entrepreneur, ferry owner Antoine Plante. It was even the site for the region's first apple orchard.

"There was a circular sort of painted effect on the ceiling of the living room," McDonald recounted.

She remembered stacks of grain and potatoes, a garden and an orchard. And apples. Lots of apples.

Plante tended the first orchard in the Valley, ensuring his family and guests had plenty of the state’s signature fruit.

Spokane

Apple orchards became the first economy in Spokane Valley, an area known for its rich soil and mild climate. By the early 20th century, Spokane and the Valley had formed a major fruit distribution center.

Antoine Plante is best known as a hunter, a trapper, the first settler in Spokane Valley and the region's first entrepreneur, ferrying gold miners and explorers over the Spokane River.

Railroad magnate and financier Daniel C. Corbin teamed up with Great Northern Railway employee W.L. Benham to build the Corbin Ditch, an irrigation system to draw water from the Spokane River to the many orchards in the Valley.

The beginnings Valley's economy

of

He came to the Northwest with the Hudson Bay Company, a fur trading and exploration group based out of the land which would become the dominion of Canada.

The son of a French-Canadian discoverer and a Flathead woman, Plante came by his adventuring instinct naturally. He spent his childhood years in British Columbia and quickly learned the skills of trapping, paddling and driving horses.

He signed with Hudson Bay for two years and, when that time expired, he became a freeman with the ability to trap wherever he wanted and sell to whomever he wished.

During his travels through the Northwest, he not only developed a strong bond with the Native American tribes of the region, but also an intimate knowledge of their trails and routes.

That skill garnered the attention of Washington's first territorial governor, Isaac Stevens, who hired Plante in 1853 to guide his survey team sent to explore the northern railroad route.

Plante was already settled in the Valley, setting up camp on the Spokane River. In “The Valley of the Sun” series about Plante, published in the Spokane Daily Chronicle in 1933, his granddaughter, Maggie McDonald, revealed "a nice house" was the home for Plante, his first wife Mary Therese and their two children, Julia and Francois.

The house was large with several rooms and an attic.

The ferryman of Spokane Valley Of course, Plante is primarily known as the owner and operator of the region's first ferry.

The cable-ferry crossing took gold miners, trappers and explorers across the river, just down from the park where so many soccer and softball games are played today. It was a vital part of Stevens' journey through the area. The Plante homestead was also the site for the Spokane Tribal Council in 1855.

Capt. John Mullan, who was on Stevens' survey team, wrote in his diary, dated June 1, 1861: "The ferry at the Spokane is a good one, consisting of a strong cable stretched across the river and a boat 40 feet long. It is kept by a worthy man, Antoine Plante, a halfbreed Flathead Indian, who speaks both French and English. He has a small field under cultivation on the left (south) bank, near the ferry, from which he obtains corn, wheat and vegetables: those with the salmon found in the river form an abundant supply for his Indian family."

Plante charged a pretty penny for each crossing. Any wagon, carriage or vehicle with two animals cost $4 and any wagon led by two horses was charged $3. A man and his horse had to pay $1.50 and each pack animal cost another $1.50.

The ferry became all but unnecessary once the bridges were built across the river. A.C. Kendall opened his toll bridge in 1867 at the area we now know as Spokane

This monument near the Spokane River was dedicated in 1938 under the auspices of the Spokane County Pioneer Society and pays tribute to several historical events involving Antoine Plante including establishment of the first river ferry in 1851.

Photo courtesy of Spokane Heritage Museum The effect on Plante's ferry was immediate. Kendall's bridge was more convenient and the route across the south side of the Valley was much quicker.

Antoine Plante is recognized as the first settler of the Spokane Valley.

His barn, pictured above, was the cornerstone of his homestead.

Photo courtesy of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

News of arable land and space to settle started spreading. Plante continued to operate the ferry but made little profit, keeping it open as a courtesy for friends. Reports say it was gone by 1876 and the family moved away from the Trent area the next year.

Plante's role in Spokane Valley's history is commemorated in two exhibits at the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum: “Under One Sky - A History of the Region's Early Days” and “Young Man in a Hurry,” which recounts Stevens' life.

Bridge, near Stateline.

Plante moved his family back to the Flathead Reservation in Montana, where he died in 1890, but not before he left an indelible mark on Spokane Valley and its entrepreneurial spirit.

A granite obelisk marks the location of the ferry landing on the north side of the Spokane River.

The point of embarkation on the river's south side can be explored at Myrtle Point.

The Current

30 • AUGUST 2016

Journey of Millwood Trail moves closer to completion

By Mary Anne Ruddis Current Correspondent Taking a walk or a bike ride through Millwood will be safer and more pleasant once the Millwood “Interurban” Trail is completed.

Added to the local Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) in 2011 and the regional TIP and statewide TIP in 2013, the program has hit another milestone with the completion of the project design phase.

The design team from Welch Comer Engineers held public meetings in January and April to receive citizen input on preferred themes for the trail and present renditions of a contemporary theme and an historic railroad theme. The final design has settled on a railroad and historic theme

reflecting the historic influence of the railroad through the area and the path of the pedestrian trail that parallels the railroad tracks.

The trail will stretch east to west and pass through West Valley High School, through the downtown corridor and past Millwood City Park just south of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. With safety as a high priority, and “because of the adjacent rail line, a fence is planned between the trail and the active railroad,” according to developers.

With the design phase complete, a grant application is in process with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The proposed total for construction of the project is $1,450,708. The application requests WSDOT funds of $1,350,708 with a $100,000 match from city of Millwood. This is in addition to the $92,700 already funded by Millwood for the planning and design phase. The anticipated completion date is June of 2018 with construction beginning in 2017.

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The trail is part of a much larger anticipated system that will connect with Spokane Valley and Spokane.

Millwood’s approximately one-mile long portion is the first phase of the 6.5-mile long system.

In addition to receiving public input on the theme of the trail, the public identified lighting as its top priority. The lighting will balance user safety, cost and light pollution for the surrounding residences.

Other priorities are adequate trash receptacles, benches and educational signs that tell the story of the region. Those stories include a history of the Interurban Rail (which utilized this corridor), history of Inland Empire Paper Company and possibly a history of Native Americans that inhabited the area.

Landscaping and irrigation will take into account the limited park staff to maintain and will provide “spot locations” with benches and landscaping. Most locations will be constructed to require minimal maintenance and irrigation.

The proposed trail will be on former railroad property that is owned by Spokane County and will be developed with an agreement between the county and city. The city of Millwood will construct and maintain the trail.

The city also worked closely with West Valley High School to provide a safe way for kids to walk and bike to school. A parking lot on WVHS property will be reconfigured for the trail.

The trail will cross two streets – Marguerite and Argonne. The Argonne/Euclid intersection signal was a larger focus to provide a safe crossing for the trail. With hightraffic volume on Argonne, the signal will be modified to address safety concerns.

Once completed, the trail is expected to be the cornerstone of a convenient pedestrian and bicycle culture in Millwood that promotes health and outdoor physical activity. Of the public feedback, exercise and recreation were the most popular stated uses for the trail as well as utilizing the trail as a corridor for transportation.

For updates and additional information, visit the city of Millwood website at www.cityofmillwood.org.

Hearth Homes wins BECU People Helping People Award

From Sentinel News Sources Hearth Homes has been awarded $10,000 as a winner of a 2016 Boeing Employee Credit Union (BECU) People Helping People Community Benefit Award for their work in providing transitional housing to homeless women and their children in the Spokane area.

“The BECU Community Benefit Award will not only sustain Hearth Homes' Volunteer Program, which provides over 5,000 hours of volunteer service annually, but subsequently connect the homeless single mothers and children we serve with a community of support they otherwise would not have,” said Angela Slabaugh, Hearth Homes executive director. “This strengthens our community as well as the outcomes of these families, building promising futures for their children.”

Hearth Homes recently celebrated a major milestone by raising enough money to pay off the mortgage on their second house and become debt free.

“This award will deepen our sustainability and allow us to focus our 2017 efforts on expanding our services to provide long-term housing to graduates of Hearth Homes,” Slabaugh added. “Partnerships that recognize the impact of investing in families make our communities thrive and equip children with stability needed to succeed in life.

We are grateful for BECU and their partnership.”

In its fourth year, the BECU People Helping People Awards were established to acknowledge and celebrate the nonprofits in the community that members support through volunteering or providing monetary contributions.

Over 250 nominations were submitted by members and BECU awarded $170,000 to 13 local non-profit organizations.

BECU has over 971,000 members and can be found across Spokane Valley with ATMs inside Rite-Aid locations. The credit union has plans for building a Spokane Valley branch in the upcoming few months along with two other Spokane-area branches.

Over the last 10 years, BECU has also operated a customer contact center in Spokane Valley employing over 100 people. BECU is the largest credit union in Washington and one of the top four financial cooperatives in the country. All Washington state residents are eligible to join.

The Current

CV girls’ cross county squad rallies for Relay for Life

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent Gabrielle Ford and her teammates on the Central Valley girls’ cross country squad log a lot of miles and spend a lot of time building up team morale for the fall season.

So when the members of one of the state’s top squads, year in and year out, saw a chance to do both and support a good cause at the same time, they jumped at the chance.

“Our coach (Dennis McGuire) heard about (the Spokane Valley) Relay for Life,” Ford, a senior-to-be, explained. “We thought it would be a good, team-building experience and it would support a good cause.

So we did it – and I’m glad we did.”

Ford gathered a group of Lady Bear teammates and the group entered the June 11 fundraising event for the American Cancer Society held at the track of crosstown rival University High.

“It definitely was a fun way to get some work in and get some teammates together,” Ford said. “I spent more time walking that I had planned to, but it was really cool.

I really liked the ceremony and I enjoyed hearing from the speakers there throughout the night.”

“The ceremony” Ford refers to is the luminaria ceremony held as dark falls on the Relay grounds.

Each illuminated bag is decorated in honor of a loved one who has lost their battle to cancer or is currently battling the disease. This year’s ceremony was held at 10 p.m. The Relay itself went from 6 p.m. to midnight. A total of 16 teams participated in the Valley event, raising over $27,000.

Ford said she and her teammates learned a great deal about the work of the Cancer Society and were touched by the stories of the cancer survivors who took part.

“It made me want to be more involved with the American Cancer Society and I definitely want to do it again next year, for sure,” she said.

The Bears finished 10th in last year’s state cross country meet. With senior Briegan Bester, who finished 18th overall, now graduated, Kearan Nelson and

AUGUST 2016 • 31

Ford, who finished 23rd and 35th, respectively, are hard at work getting the team prepared for the 2016-17 season.

“It’s my senior year and I’m excited about the season,” Ford said. “Things like the Relay for Life help get us ready. We had some teammates come out and walk with us that I didn’t know all that well.”

Valley Chamber

HIGHLIGHTS

Ford said the event helped bring runners together as they look ahead to the fall season.

“This wasn’t just the returning varsity that did it,” she said. “The relay was held the day after school ended, so there were girls heading out on vacation and stuff like that.

But I think it’s good that we had got more girls involved.”

Central Valley has a huge annual turnout for cross country and breaking onto the varsity group takes diligent work that starts long before the start of practice later this month.

“It takes a lot of hard work to make the varsity and it takes a lot of hard work to stay there,” Ford said. “We’re working hard. We do weights and we get our mileage in – we’re bumping up the mileage every week.”

As a senior leader, Ford says there’s some extra study needed to help keep the program’s history of success rolling for another year.

“One of the things I try to do is to make sure I know everyone by name,” Ford said. “That sounds like a little thing, but I want all of my teammates to know that I appreciate them for coming out and working hard.”

CONNECT. CONNECT.

EMPOWER. EMPOWER.

INNOVATE. INNOVATE.

Join a BIG 5 Initiative SAVE THE DATE

The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber is leading a collaborative effort among

August 4 | 20th Annual Golf Tournament

business, industry, government and the

September 26 & 27 | Manufacturing Matters EXPO

initiatives to move our community forward.

October 21 | Business Connections Breakfast

draw business and industry to our region,

For more information or to register, visit spokanevalleychamber.org

community to cultivate and drive five

Focused on core values and attributes that the BIG 5 serves as the beacon and the compass for economic prosperity and community vitality for the Greater Spokane Valley region.

Greater Goods

Promoting the Greater Spokane Valley as an emerging leader in high-tech manufacturing.

Greater Cures

Growing medical research from concept to cure.

Greater Outdoors

Promoting and protecting the vitality of the outdoors.

Greater Vision

Building an enterprising identity for the Greater Spokane Valley region.

Greater Learning

Integrating business and education to create the workforce of the future.

The community is invited to join the conversation and get involved.

To participate, email your name, phone number and the BIG 5 Gabrielle Ford will be a senior at Central Valley High School in the fall.

The second team All-Greater Spokane League cross country runner was among a group of CV harriers who formed a team to support the Spokane Valley Relay for Life on June 11, raising money and awareness for the fight against cancer.

Photo by Craig Howard

initiative you want to join: info@spokanevalleychamber.org

1421 N. Meadowwood Ln. Liberty Lake, WA 99019 | 509-924-4994 | www.spokanevalleychamber.org

The Current

32 • AUGUST 2016

Students learn about distracted driving while teaching others Staci Lehman

Current Correspondent Lea Locke knows what can potentially happen when someone doesn’t pay attention behind the wheel of a car.

“I have people drive by me on cell phones all the time,” said the Mica Peak High School student.

The numbers reveal that these motorists and others on their cell phones are taking a serious risk.

Each day in the U.S., eight people die and 1,161 are injured in collisions caused by distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

2016

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Mica Peak, a non-traditional high school in the Central Valley School District, has a mission of empowering students to take ownership of their educational experience through three different education tracks and projects like the distracted driving campaign.

Many of the students choiced into the school after being enrolled in a traditional school setting. Mica Peak offers smaller class sizes, a smaller school overall and more student-teacher interaction than most public high schools. The three programs available at the school have something for everyone.

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As president of the Key Club at Mica Peak, Locke and other students are spreading the word about distracted driving as part of a project they are conducting with State Farm Insurance Company.

ROTARYINMOTION.COM

The Core program offers smaller class sizes, more personalized interaction with teachers and works to re-engage students who may not have felt comfortable in larger schools. Core students take four classes per trimester, can earn six credits or more throughout the year and are on campus four days a week for about six-and-a-half hours a day.

ITRACC is for students working

Students at Mica Peak created posters to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.

Photo by Staci Lehman toward a high school diploma who need either a different instruction model or a non-traditional school schedule. ITRACC blends online learning with on-campus teacher support. Sophomores and upperclassmen usually spend between six to 10 hours a week on campus.

School to Life is a post-high school special needs transition program for students leaving Central Valley High School or University High School. The program helps with daily living issues, communication, transportation and employment.

Many of these students work part or full time.

In the tradition of Mica Peak students directing their own education track, the Key Club is a student-led service leadership program, that partners with the Liberty Lake Kiwanis. Guidance is provided to members by both a teacher at the school acting as advisor and a volunteer member of the Kiwanis. The goal is for students to learn leadership skills through service projects.

As Key Club members, students volunteer in the community, plan and organize dances and other events, conduct fundraisers, mentor elementary school students and take on various other projects like the distracted driving awareness campaign. By completing this project, and finding ways to educate other students at the school on distracted driving, the club will receive a $500 grant from State Farm to fund Key Club activities.

This year members chose to make posters on distracted driving, bring in a guest speaker, provide a presentation to the entire school or a group of students and work with

See DRIVING, Page 36

The Current

New events scheduled for 2016 Valleyfest From Current News Sources

Since 1990, Valleyfest has been Spokane Valley’ signature community celebration, first at Terrace View Park and most recently at Mirabeau Point Park and CenterPlace Regional Event Center. While features like the pancake breakfast, live music, car show and vendor booths have been staples of the schedule over the years, Vallefest has also introduced a number of new events over the years.

The 2016 version of Valleyfest will take place Sept. 23-25, beginning with the Hearts of Gold Parade down Sprague Avenue on Friday night, Sept. 23. This year’s agenda will include several new features, including the following: TotFest will take place on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is a family-fun, educational day full of outdoor activities and a stage with local children’s groups, booths, and informational classes

From the Green – Local golf results

AUGUST 2016 • 33

to develop healthy children from infants to age 6. Interested in being a vendor at TotFest? Call 922-3299 or email info@valleyfest.org.

Multi-Sport Day taking place on Sunday, Sept 25. Get out and get active in your choice of our 5K/10K, Family Bike Ride or Duathlon. What better way to explore the scenic Spokane Valley.

5K/10K Run at 8 a.m. ● Starts and finishes at Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex ● Beautiful run along the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail ● Timed race Family Bike Ride at noon ● Starts at Mirabeau Point ParkNorth Centennial Trail ● Bike along the beautiful Centennial Trail ● Your choice of four routes: 6.8 miles, 8.8 miles, 13.5 miles and 16.5 miles Duathlon at 8 a.m. ● Course: 5K run, 11-mile bike ride ● Starts and finishes at Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex ● Timed race For more information visit www. valleyfest.org.

Paula Heimbigner

From Current News Sources

Second place (69)

Spokane Valley Women’s Evening Golf League scores

Cheryl Hull Mike Mosier

Flight A gross- Linda Dykes 50

Christy Peterson

Flight B gross – Barb Byington 62

Colby Steiner

Flight B net- Maryann Harlow 45

Jake Balogh

Darl Hartnett 45 Flight C gross- Terri Schucht 65 Flight D gross- Margo Schmitz 68 Meadowwood Women’s Golf Club

Third place (72) Rob Carey Lynette Heidenreich Mike Kingsley Liberty Lake Women’s Golf Club July 19 - Game of the Day

July 20 – Greenskeepers’ Tournament (Step-Aside Scramble)

A flight: Jackie Babin, net 28

First place (67) Todd Harper

C flight: 26

Scott Froehlich

Sabina Pinch, net 26

Brittany Heidenreich

D Flight: Terry Jacobson, net 31

B flight: Margie Tibbits, net 26 Tammy Wallin, net 26 Lee Sonderman, net

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The Current

34 • AUGUST 2016

Canine Corner – Spokane Valley trots out new dog park

By Jamie Borgan

Current Correspondent The city of Spokane Valley just got a little canine-friendlier.

At the beginning of June, the city opened the Valley’s first dog park. Located on the corner of Mission and Bowdish, the dog park is situated at the southeast end of Spokane Valley Mission Park, making it easily accessible to both residents and traveling dog owners looking for a place to recreate with their dogs.

The idea for a dog park actually came from Spokane Valley residents around five years ago.

City Parks and Recreation Director Mike Stone said that several citizens had approached the city asking about the feasibility of a dog park. The creation of a dog park was even mentioned in the Valley Parks and Recreation Master Plan update in 2012 and 2013.

The conundrum for the city was finding space to site one; the city of Spokane Valley owns relatively

The dog park is divided into sections for large and small dogs. Much of the design of the site was based on feedback from Valley residents.

Photo by Jamie Borgan

Since opening in June, the dog park has been well utilized by local canines and dog owners.

Photo by Jamie Borgan

latest in dog park technology and invested in durable materials such as appropriate ground cover and good fencing. The park is divided into two sections, one for large dogs and one for small, each with a secure entryway to allow dogs and owners safely in and out.

welcoming curb appeal. Much of the design was also based on input from Spokane Valley residents.

little undeveloped land.

Stone was inspired when he saw McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene where the city had developed a “pocket” dog park on a relatively small plot of land. Stone soon conceived of how the idea could be implemented in Spokane Valley and settled on the small (slightly under one-acre spot) at Mission and Bowdish.

The park’s design is functional, with an eye toward longevity. Stone spent a lot of time researching the

The park is also equipped with watering and washing stations for dogs and picnic tables for their owners to relax at while dogs scamper about. Native plants outside the space give the park a

Despite opening with little fanfare, Spokane Valley residents have found out about this useful new community resource.

On a recent Saturday morning, two Valley residents, Matthew Barbieri and Gilah Messerer, chatted amiably while their dogs Mystique, Bella, and Roxy ran laps on the decomposed granite of the dog park. Barbieri says he lives about “45 seconds away” and started using the dog park immediately when he saw it was open and sees it as great boon to his neighborhood.

Stone has a vision for the future of the park, including adding trees and shade structures so that the site can be a comfortable place for owners to socialize while their dogs do. He envisions that someday citizens will organize a group to plan events and care for the park and that eventually the Spokane Valley could find a site for an even larger dog park. In the interim, the Valley’s first official dog park has obviously made some residents, and their canines, very happy.

If you go:

The city of Spokane Valley opened up its first official dog park in June on the corner of Mission and Bowdish, to the southeast of Mission Park.

Photo by Jamie Borgan

The park is open from dawn until 10 p.m. There is no parking lot designated for the dog park, so users can use off street parking or the parking lots west of the dog park, located at nearby Mission Park.

For more information, contact Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation at 688-0300 or parksandrec@spokanevalley.org.

The Current

AUGUST 2016 • 35

McDonald Road upgrade to improve traffic flow, safety From Current News Sources A project to improve McDonald Road between Mission Avenue and 16th Avenue began July 25 and will continue through early September. In addition to resurfacing the roadway between Mission and 8th Avenue with new asphalt, the project to improve safety and traffic flow includes restriping to a single lane in each direction with a center turn lane and bicycle lanes on each side between Mission and 16th.

Improvements to stormwater drainage will also be part of the project as will signal modifications and curb ramp upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, As the resurfacing work begins, McDonald between Sprague and 16th will be closed to all but local traffic from 7 a.m. through Sept.

2. Intersections at 4th and 8th will also be closed. Signs alerting drivers to detours will be posted.

Signs will also redirect pedestrians during sidewalk closures.

Throughout the project, access to businesses will remain available. Brief interruptions to driveway access can be expected as paving occurs. Those affected will be contacted directly in advance with information on date and times.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution in construction areas and to be particularly alert for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles backing from driveways along detours through residential areas.

The signs of a heart attack can be different in women.

In fact, some women can experience a heart attack with no chest pain at all. So know the signs. If you feel them, get to an emergency room – fast. Call 911 and know that you can count on the Accredited Chest Pain Centers at Rockwood Health System’s Deaconess Hospital and Valley Hospital. For more information, visit RockwoodHealthSystem.com.

To receive free weekly emailed Traffic Alerts with updates on this and other Spokane Valley road construction projects, go to www. spokanevalley.org/signup where you can also subscribe to receive updates on a variety of other topics.

89281_DMC_Q1HAWS_7_33x11_5c.indd 1

1/14/16 10:03 AM

OPINION

36 • AUGUST 2016

The Current

Volume 18, Issue x EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com EDITOR

Craig Howard

craig@libertylakesplash.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Danica Wick

danica@libertylakesplash.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Dean Byrns Stephanie Byrns

CIRCULATION

circulation@libertylakesplash.com CONTRIBUTORS

Derek Brown, Steve Christilaw, Gwendolyn Haley, Craig Howard, Staci Lehman, Treva Lind, Mary Anne Ruddis, Mike Vlahovich The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.libertylakesplash.com The Current is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to over 250 businesses, homes, and drop off locatins in the greater Spokane Valley area.

The Current is brought to you by

Correction In the July issue of the Current, a story appeared on the Spokane Valley City Council referencing the departure of longtime City Manager Mike Jackson. The Current would like to clarify three points made in the article. The story mentioned that Jackson was fired when actually his resignation was requested by the majority of City Council without the council minority being informed of the action until the Feb. 23 meeting when the request took place. The story also refers to Jackson suing the city and reaching an out-of-court settlement. In fact, Jackson did retain legal counsel but did not sue the city. Jackson and the city agreed to mediate, which resulted in the city manager resigning his position and the city paying a severance pursuant to the employment contract.

Aboutthe Opi ni on Page

The Current wants to hear what’s on your mind. Interact with the opinion page with a le er to the editor (350 words or fewer), guest column (700 words or fewer; please send a mug) or via Facebook or Twi er: editor@valleycurrent.com facebook.com/valleycurrent @valleycurrent

As with all content, opinion page submissions may be edited for space, style or clarity. This is a community newspaper, so be relevant to the Valley for the best chance at publica on.

“In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory or an unjust interest. And endeavor to gain, rather than to expose, thy antagonist.”

— William Penn

DRIVING

Continued from page 32 a local media organization for an article on the topic, which was the impetus for this story.

Members of the Key Club work toward these goals during club meetings held at 7:30 a.m. once a week, after school, or during free periods during the day.

Taunya Luckey, Mica Peak teacher and Key Club advisor, says what they learned when researching distracted driving was surprising.

“There are something like 50 deaths a week (due to distracted driving),” she said.

While none of the Key Club members currently have driver’s licenses, this project was timely because four either have driver’s permits or are getting one soon.

Because Mica Peak students come from all over Spokane County, many ride the bus, walk, or ride with family members to school.

Club President Locke says this project has made a difference in her parent’s driving habits.

“My mom, when her phone goes off, we look at it and read it to her

and reply back for her,” she said, instead of letting her look at the phone while driving.

Research shows that sending or receiving a text message while operating a vehicle takes around 4.6 seconds or the equivalent of traveling 100 yards at 55 mph without seeing.

While Key Club is making a difference in the community, it offers some major benefits for members also.

“It’s also really good on your resume,” said Locke.

Luckey adds that it helps from a networking standpoint as well.

“It’s good for the kids to meet people in the community,” she said.

Key Club also gives students, freshman to seniors, credit towards graduation and lets them enjoy two free years in the Kiwanis Club once they graduate.

To learn more about distracted driving research, visit www.

StopTextsStopWrecks.org.

Additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found at www.wtsc.wa.gov.

Wick Enterprizes Submitted materials

Publishing House

Announcements, letters to the editor and story ideas are encouraged. Submit them in writing to editor@valleycurrent.com. Submissions should be received by the 15th of the month for best chance of publication in the following month’s Current.

Subscriptions Subscriptions for U.S. postal addresses cost $12 for 12 issues. Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must

be received by the 15th of the month in order for the subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month.

Correction policy The Current strives for accuracy in all content. Errors should be reported immediately to 242-7752 or by email to editor@valleycurrent.com. Confirmed factual errors will be corrected on this page in the issue following their discovery.

Advertising information Display ad copy and camera-ready ads are due by 5 p.m. on the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Call 242-7752 for more information.

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Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved. All contents of The Current may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

The Current

Spokane Valley deputy honored with award From Current News Sources

Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Deputy Chris Johnston was named the Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year by the Washington State Crime Prevention Association (WSCPA) last month during the WSCPA’s 40th Crime Prevention and Safety Conference in Walla Walla.

WSCPA also honored retired Spokane Valley Police Chief Rick VanLeuven with the Crime Prevention Chief of the Year Award. VanLeuven, who retired on June 30, served as Spokane Valley Police chief for the past nine of his 35-year career with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Johnston received this award for his outstanding work in the community by providing the highest quality of crime prevention outreach to

AUGUST 2016 • 37

community members, and citizens.

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Johnston teaches personal safety classes, active shooter response, identity theft prevention and conducts security surveys for homes, buildings, campuses, private individuals, companies and government entities. He also trains other crime prevention professionals on topics such as dealing with suicidal persons with PTSD. “We are extremely proud of the crime prevention efforts Deputy Johnston provides for the citizens of Spokane Valley,” said Spokane Valley Police Chief Mark Werner. “We are honored the Washington State Crime Prevention Association THE recognized his professionalism and hard work with this award.”

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

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

ENRI CHED LI VI NG. LASTI NG VALUE.

lifestyle

If you would like more information regarding Crime Prevention, please visit http:// www.spokanecounty.org/1376/ Crime-Prevention-Unit. You can contact Deputy Johnston for Spokane Valley crime prevention questions at 477-2592 or Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy David Morris for Spokane County crime prevention questions at 477-6044.

THE

YOU WANT

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commun

Clark’s Tire and Automotive • Family Medicine/Healthy Living Liberty Lake THE

YO U D ES ERVE

Liberty Lake Family Dentistry • Liberty Lake Orthodontics

Financial • Spokane County Library District New homes in Spokane,Thrivent Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls & Coeur gr e e n s t o n e hIndex o m e sof . c oadvertisers m

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

Inland Northwest Health Services 16

Spokane County Interstate Fair

Central Valley School District

7

KiDDS Dental

21

Spokane County Library District 17

Clark’s Tire & Automotive

3

Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary

32

Spokane Indians

18

Spokane OBGYN

6, 38

Amaculate Housekeeping

Cornerstone Penecostal Church

15

Liberty Lake Family Dentistry

CS Motorsports

33

Liberty Lake Orthodontics

Custom Fit Lighting

15

Mail Box Center

14

Evergreen Fountain

25

Michelle’s Dance Studio

40

Family Medicine Liberty Lake

30

Painting With a Twist

Fire District 10 Gary Keller

Spokane Valley Deputy Chris Johnston (right) was honored as the Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year by the Washington State Crime Prevention Association last month.

Contrbuted photo

11

6 15

5 4

3

40

Spokane Realty-Courtney Hanks 16 Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce 31 Tom’s Barber Shop 14

Republicans of Spokane County 11

Valley Hospital

Riverpoint Pharmecy

Valleyfest 4

6

Greenstone 28

Rockin’ B Ranch

32

Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council 14

Simonds Dental Group

40

Service Directory

35

38

Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Current’s advertising team, which works its tail off on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an independent function from The Current’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newspaper possible), email advertise@valleycurrent.com. With story ideas, contact editor@valleycurrent.com.

The Current

38 • AUGUST 2016

Councilman Sam Wood says “..council is showing financial prudence..”(1) but Mayor Rod Higgins, Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard, Councilmen Ed Pace and Sam Wood have spent, given away or authorized: ♦

$452,529.81(2) to terminate City Manager Mike Jackson Feb. 23, 2016 in a secret process that many consider to be both illegal and unjustified PLUS $35,000.00(3) to hire a company to search for a new City Manager PLUS $29, 308.76(4) in salary/benefits for March and April.

A total of $516,838.57 of Your Tax Dollars.

♦

Woodard “gave away” over $551,000 in 2012 and 2016 – Out of the Federal funds allocated to the City of Spokane Valley by the CDBG, Woodard voted to give Carnhope Water District (Chaired by Councilman Sam Woods) $69,000 in 2012 and $73,440 in 2016, a total of $142,440. In the same time period, Woodard voted to send Rockford $184,000 in 2012 and an additional $224,578.00 in 2016, a total of $408,578,00. A total of $551,018.00(5) originally to go to the City of Spokane Valley instead went to Councilman Sam Woods water district and to the City of Rockford. Your Tax Dollars.

Councilman Ed Pace later stated “….nor will I vote for being a

whore for federal funds”.(6)

Federal funds are taxpayer dollars—Your Tax Dollars. ♦

And hired a Denver advertising firm at a cost of $152,000.00(7) to, in their words, determine a city identity. Your Tax Dollars.

TAXPAYERS: IS THIS FINANCIAL PRUDENCE?

TAKE BACK OUR CITY

Spokane Valley Business Association P.O. Box 14402, Spokane Valley, WA 99214 - president@svba.us (1) Spokesman-Review July 20, 2016, (2)Spokesman-Review June 22, 2016, (3) City of Spokane Valley meeting June 28, 2016, (4) Spokesman-Review April 26, 2016, (5) The Current, June 2016 & City of Spokane Valley meeting minutes of ___________, (6) Councilman Ed Pace Facebook posting 2/22/2016, (7) City of Spokane Valley council meeting June 28, 2016.

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The Current

The Cottage Café – Home cooking and strawberry jelly genius

ON THAT NOTE

AUGUST 2016 • 39

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent Sometimes you find inspiration where you least expect it.

There, across from the long line of car dealerships that dominate the Sprague-Appleway corridor, sits a little white cottage, resplendent in summer color thanks to an array of perfectly placed window boxes.

Reclaimed from its original use as an upholstery shop and sitting like the proverbial petunia in an onion patch is the Cottage Café.

That’s not the inspiration, but it’s very good. Early in the morning you can catch a whiff of scratch-made cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven as you cruise past searching for a deal on sedans and pick-up trucks.

Rebranded as a 2,000 square foot, self-described “Unfussy American restaurant” by owner Drew Baker, the Cottage Café opened for business in April 2008

The Cottage Café in the Edgecliff neighborhood on Appleway was once an upholstery shop. The quaint restaurant has featured “home cooking” at reasonable prices since 2008.

Photo by Craig Howard on Appleway Boulevard in Edgecliff proper.

Oh, and a sign out front as you follow your nose inside offers due warning – there is a $5 charge for anyone caught whining The menu hints at the inspiration to follow.

The cinnamon rolls look so good at least one diabetic shed real tears at the thought of having to pass them – and downright wept at

the thought of missing out on the “Picadilly Waffle,” a pecan Belgian waffle served with banana slices and a side of vanilla ice cream.

Alas, health calls.

All-day breakfast fare is prominent on the menu, from chicken-fried steak to biscuits and gravy. Burgers and sandwiches also are on the menu for those arriving late. The place closes each day at 2 p.m.

The restaurant seats 48, and on a late Monday morning, it was still seating all 48 contented customers at noon, with another dozen awaiting their turn at the table.

And that’s where you find the inspiration. At the table. Well, and the counter.

The staff keep the tables full and happily offer suggestions for those patrons who just can’t decide. And they keep that inevitable array of extras in the tray filled – the napkins, hot sauces, ketchup, salt, pepper and the little teaspoon-sized cups of coffee creamer that can occasionally get scattered about half-awake patrons desperate for their first cup o’ joe.

As breakfast arrives, the server leans in close to reveal a secret: the squeeze bottle that sit directly in the middle of the tray assortment is special.

Only breakfast and lunch are served at the Cottage Café, with hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The establishment prides itself in not serving any canned menu items.

Photo by Craig Howard

In fact, it’s downright ingenious.

“It’s filled with strawberry jam,” he says.

We’ve all fought battles with those little single-serving packets of jelly and jam you find at most breakfast establishments. The little brick of grape jelly, the raspberry jam and the orange marmalade that could be fresh or could be a leftover from the Kennedy Administration – you never know.

But this is inspiration! Homemade strawberry jam, a treat in its own right, in a squeeze bottle! This is genius!

No need to pry open a plastic packet, no need for the mental torture of deciding just how to divvy up the spreadable condiment inside: Do you slice your knife crosswise, from corner to corner and scoop out half of the allotment and spread it on your half-slice of toast? You know that’s the proper breakfast-etiquette, but half-apacket of jelly leaves a remarkably thin smear on a triangle of toast.

But if you go whole-hog and take the entire allotment and apply it to the bread, you have that haunting voice of your grandmother playing in the back of your mind chastising you for “being piggy.”

No need with the squeeze bottle solution! Now, at your fingertips, is an applicator perfectly designed to render the perfect amount of strawberry jam onto a piece of toast, be it white, whole wheat, rye or sourdough!

Why, it’s enough to make you rethink your whole day!

The Current

40 • AUGUST 2016

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fall schedule

Fall dance is $40 a month for a once a week class of either ballet / tap combo classes or other combos as described starting the first week in September.

tuesday

9:30- 10:30am 2-3 year olds 10:30-11:30am 3-5 year olds 4:15-5:15pm Advanced Ballet / Lyrical 5:15-6:15pm 2-3 year olds 6:15-7:15pm 4-6 year olds OR Hip Hop Jazz

wednesday

4:15-5:15pm 4-6 year olds 5:15- 6:15pm 2-4 year olds 6:15- 7:15pm Hip Hop / Jazz

thursday

1:00 - 2:00 4-6 year olds 2:00 - 3:00 7-10 year olds 4:15-5:15pm 4-6 year olds 5:15-6:15pm 6-8 year olds 6:15-7:15pm Hip Hop / Jazz

Family discount available

friday

9:30 2-3 year olds 10:30 4-6 year olds 11:30 3-5 year olds 12:30 5-7 year olds