November 2015 Current

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NOVEMBER

2015

Leading Meals on Wheels a dream job for Almeida PAGE 2

Teacher serves for school and for country PAGE 8

Senior standout powers Freeman football

Five Valley intersections that tell a community story — then and now | page 12

PAGE 27

CV group paints with circus elephants PAGE 31

NEWS

2 • NOVEMBER 2015

The Current

Nourishing mission Almeida has steered Meals on Wheels since 1998

By Craig Howard

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

On her third day as executive director of Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels, Pam Almeida faced a challenge that hadn’t quite been spelled out in the employee handbook.

The grown son of an elderly local resident dropped by the office on Pines Road where Almeida and a small staff worked. It seemed his mother wanted to remain in her home but the son wasn’t sure how that would be possible and — to top things off — the man was headed in a hurry back to Portland where he lived.

“He didn’t know what to do because he had to leave to get back to work,” Almeida recalled. “We were able to start his mom on meals and reassure him that we would check on her every day when we delivered the meals. We could let him know if there were any problems. Such a simple thing. It’s what we do, but it makes all the difference in the world. I knew then that I was in the right place. I tell people that this was what I wanted to do when I grew up, I just didn’t know it.”

A Cup of Joe Since 1998, Almeida has been in charge of an agency that delivers food and support to homebound residents. Most are seniors, some are dealing with disabilities. All appreciate the daily visits of volunteers who take the worry of shopping and cooking off their plates. For many, the program allows them to remain in their homes.

In late 2010, Almeida’s duties shifted to a larger stage when the program was awarded the contract held for nearly 30 years by the Spokane Regional Health District. The transition took effect in 2011 and would see the agency deliver meals to sites throughout Spokane County with help from federal funds through Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington.

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Pam Almeida began as executive director of Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels in 1998. The Colorado native has directed the agency through a variety of transitions over the years, including the shift to Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels in 2011.

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CURRENT PHOTO BY CRAIG HOWARD

These days, Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels covers a broad area that still includes greater Spokane Valley but also spans from the city of Spokane, north to Deer Park, up to the West Plains and south to Fairfield. The agency dishes up over 275,000 meals a year, all of which are cooked fresh daily in the organization’s own kitchen. In addition to catering, Meals on Wheels operates 13 congregate meal sites known as Silver Cafes.

With a dad who worked as a baker, Almeida grew up around the food industry. She was born in Colorado, but raised in Coeur d’Alene. After high school, Almeida earned a degree in psychology/sociology from George Fox University in Oregon and began her career working with people diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Later, she transitioned to helping inpatient and outpatient clients coping with mental illness.

Almeida returned to the Inland Northwest 19 years ago to care for her parents.

She has remained here ever since, raising three children with her husband, Jim.

Q. A.

How did you first start working for Meals on Wheels? Did you know much about the organization before you were hired?

In 1998, there were major cuts to mental health services. My position was one of the first to go, and I think that I was ready for a change. I answered an ad in the newspaper — “looking for an executive director for a small nonprofit.” It didn’t say what type of nonprofit or much about the job, but I applied. While over the course of my career I had worked at several different nonprofits in various capacities, this job was quite a bit different than anything I had done before. It still surprises me that I got the job. I had vaguely heard of Meals on Wheels and thought it

was a good program, but didn’t know that it existed in Spokane. In fact, I remember that I looked it up on the Internet before my interview to learn more about it.

Q: What were some of your first impressions of the agency when you began there?

A: It was pretty overwhelming at first.

We were just a small, two-person office. The other person in the office had only been there for a month when I started, so we had to rely on the volunteers to help us figure everything out. There’s a tremendous number of details. What can be so hard about delivering a meal to someone, right? But multiply that by 125 to 200 and then do that with 150 volunteers. It changes the picture.

Q: When Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels made the transition to Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels, what were some of the most significant changes?

A: The transition actually happened over the course of several years. I was sitting in a community meeting, and we were talking about how funding for feeding seniors was shrinking. I remember saying that the need was growing and the funds were shrinking so something had to be done. Somehow we had to work smarter. Then I realized I had to work smarter. So the first move was to start our own kitchen. We felt that we could prepare better food for less money. We were right. In 2008, we started our own kitchen.

Not only are we able to prepare better food for less, but also we can supplement with donated food which helps us save as well.

The next step was to reduce management costs. We get about a third of our budget from the Federal Government’s Older American’s Act. It passes through several layers before it gets to the direct service of providing meals. Money comes out at each layer for administration. We felt that removing a layer of management would allow

See ALMEIDA, page 4

The Current

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The Current

4 • NOVEMBER 2015

NEWS

ALMEIDA Continued from page 2

us to provide more meals, so we bid against the Spokane Regional Health District on the contract to oversee Spokane County Senior Nutrition. We were successful in that bid, so became responsible to provide meals to seniors throughout all of Spokane County, including the city of Spokane. This was an enormous undertaking. So in the course of three years, we went from just delivering approximately 200 meals per day to seniors within a 60 square mile area with a staff of five and volunteer force of 150 to preparing and serving over 1,000 meals per day in an area of 1,781 square miles with 30 staff and 350 volunteers. We now also have 13 senior dining sites, which we call Silver Cafes.

Q: What do you think are some of the most common misperceptions when it comes to senior nutrition?

A: The most common misperception about senior nutrition is that a senior has to be low-income in order to receive meals.

It’s not based on income at all. For someone to dine at one of our Silver Cafes, the only criteria is 60 years of age or older. For homedelivered meals, they need to be 60 years of age, essentially homebound and having difficulty preparing meals for themselves, or the spouse of someone receiving meals. Seniors pay what they can of the $3.50 recommended

donation. Probably the other misperception is that the food is not very good. We work really hard to provide not only nutritious meals, but delicious meals. We have a great chef who prepares the food fresh each day.

While it is impossible to please everyone all of the time, I have to say that I get very few complaints. I’m not sure how she does it, but most of the meals taste like home cooking.

Q: How has your funding picture changed over the years?

A: The biggest problem is that the funding picture has not changed a lot in the last several years. As everyone knows, the senior population is burgeoning, but funding is not keeping up. The (federal government) sequester (in 2012) hit us hard, wiping out our reserve fund. I am committed to never having a waiting list for seniors to receive meals, but it is getting harder. I find that we have to rely on local support, donations and grants, even more than in the past — and I’m worried. We can’t let seniors in our community go hungry. I recently talked with a lady who said that since she has been on Meals on Wheels she has lost 80 pounds.

I asked her why that was and she said that it was because she only has one meal a day.

That’s just not right. But right now I can’t do anything about it, because I am struggling to make sure that everyone gets at least that one meal a day.

Q: We know that a big portion of your mission relies on volunteers. How would

you describe the type of people who donate time and energy to your cause?

A: Smart. Every single one of them would say that they get more out of volunteering than they give. Yes, they are kind, caring, generous, compassionate people, but they are smart, because they know if you want to feel good about yourself and about your own life circumstances, help someone who really needs it. There are a lot of bad things in this world. The news is filled with it every day. The only way to not feel powerless in the face of all the bad news is to do something good. Our volunteers know that and they are changing their corner of the world, one meal at a time.

Q: Tell us about the Silver Cafe concept.

How do you think it has added to your overall mission?

A: The Silver Café concept is mostly about rebranding senior nutrition. We want people to know that the food is good and we want seniors to have a choice. So, one of the things that we did at our Silver Cafes was provide two different options for lunch.

For example, if you do not feel like meatloaf on a particular day, then maybe you would prefer the chef salad. Where we were able to, we extended the meal serving time, so that seniors had some flexibility of when they ate. So often as we age, choices become more limited. It is important to provide the opportunity for small choices in everyday life. Across the country, senior nutrition

programs are seeing a decrease in participation. We are seeing the opposite. We’ll serve about 17,000 more meals in our Silver Cafes this year than I had planned, and I have requests for three additional sites.

Q: How can people help make a difference for your clients?

A: We need the community’s support both in volunteering and with donations.

People can volunteer in a number of ways.

They can deliver meals, help in the kitchen, serve at a Silver Café, work in the office or serve on a committee. If they can’t volunteer for us, they can help a senior in their neighborhood with shopping or yardwork, or just checking in on them. People can help by donating. For just the cost of a latte, someone can make sure that a senior has a meal and someone to check in on them. We can accept food donations as well. Something many people don’t now is that we also cater.

All of the profit from our catering goes toward feeding seniors.

Q: Finally, what do you enjoy most about leading this cause?

A: Two things — first, the people. The volunteers, the people we serve and the staff. They are awesome. I am so fortunate to be part of such an amazing group of people. Second would be that at the end of the day, I know that I have made a difference in my little corner of the world. No matter what happened, people got fed.

Public History Program

“1858: War Time & the Horse Slaughter Story” Photo courtesy of the Peltier Collection, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Chief Joseph Seltice of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe represented his people at the Oct. 6, 1946, unveiling of the horse slaughter monument along the Spokane River near Liberty Lake. The monument recalled nearby events that took place in the same area in 1858 during battles between U.S. government troops and local Indian tribes, which will be the subject of the Spokane Valley Heritage Musuem’s 11th annual Heritage Program & Luncheon.

Saturday, November 7th, 2015 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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Please RSVP to 509-922-4570 ... seating is limited!

A fabulous luncheon, informative presentation and silent auction!

Your support of the event and auction benefits the Museum!

The Current

NEWS

SVFD Report A total of 1,320 emergency calls were reported by the Spokane Valley Fire Department between Sept. 24 and Oct. 24: Fires* 91 Emergency Medical Services 1,073 Hazardous Materials 10 Motor Vehicle Accidents 72 Extrication 3 Water Rescue 1 Building Alarms 52 Service Calls 18 *Types of fires include brush, commercial, residential, rubbish, vehicle and unauthorized burning calls

Highlighted calls • Extrication — An early morning twocar crash in the 11500 block of East Upriver Drive sent one car into the concrete barrier next to the Spokane River, trapping the driver. Firefighters responded at 5:54 a.m.

Sept. 26 to the accident scene and worked to extricate the trapped driver through the roof of the car. The driver was stable and did not have life-threatening injuries.

• Motor vehicle accidents — SVFD crews responded to a series of early morning incidents on I-90. At 7:35 a.m. Sept. 28, a four-car accident westbound at Appleway was reported, blocking the inside lane of I-90 with one car in the median. One person was transported to the hospital. At 8:25 a.m., a three-car non-injury accident was reported just east of Barker. At 8:52 a.m., a third call came in from the accident scene, reporting a male driver in medical distress. An ambulance was dispatched and the driver was transported.

• House fire — At 6:09 a.m. Sept. 30, SVFD crews responded to a reported structure fire at 4111 S. Conifer Court, in the Ponderosa neighborhood. As crews arrived, heavy smoke and fire were coming from the back of the two-story home. The elderly residents were alerted by smoke alarms and made it out safely. Fire crews made an aggressive attack on the rear of the structure, battling the fire which had spread to the basement and attic. A total of 19 apparatus and support vehicles responded to the fire, including one engine from SCFD 8. One firefighter was injured.

The cause of the fire was undetermined although investigators highly suspect an electrical issue. The house was a complete loss.

• Vehicle fire — SVFD crews responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the 2000 block of North Argonne Road at about 9:15 p.m. Oct. 8. Upon arrival, crews found a Suburban well involved with fire. It was parked next to a truck, and the tree near it was on fire. Crews quickly put the fire out before it spread to the truck. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental.

• Kitchen fire — Shortly after noon Oct. 10, SVFD crews responded to a reported

fire in the Fox Glen Apartments in the 600 block of South Woodruff. The kitchen fire was extinguished prior to arrival by a neighbor who was alerted by a smoke alarm. The neighbor also assisted the resident with safely evacuating the apartment. She had fallen out of her wheelchair and was on the floor in front of the stove, which was on fire. The resident was transported with smoke inhalation. Just three days earlier, this same resident was in medical distress.

A responding SVFD firefighter noticed that the smoke detector was not in place and the battery had been removed. He replaced the battery and reinstalled the smoke detector, which alerted the neighbor to the fire.

• Service call/animal rescue — A man called for help to get his dog’s head out of a reclining chair in the 9400 block of East Montgomery Avenue, shortly after 10 p.m. Oct. 10. The dog had pushed its head through the support bars and could not get out. The chair was motorized, so SVFD crew members carefully moved it into a position that allowed them to free the dog’s head.

• Apartment deck fire — SVFD crews responded to a reported fire at the Parkside Apartments, 2820 N. Cherry Street, just before 4 a.m. Oct. 11. Crews arrived to find a working fire on the deck area of a secondfloor apartment. The building’s sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading into the surrounding apartments. All residents were safely evacuated, including the two adults and two children residing in the second-floor apartment. A total of 13 apparatus and support vehicles responded to the incident. The fire was caused by cigarette embers that blew inside a storage closet on the deck.

• Brush fire — A grass fire was reported in the 1000 block of South Sullivan Road shortly after 2:30 p.m. Oct. 13. The 20- by 30-foot fire had spread to a small, old wooden shed, which was partially damaged. The fire was intentionally set, and charges have been filed.

• Modular building fire — SVFD units responded to a reported fire behind the Zip’s Restaurant at 15808 E. Sprague Ave at 6:23 p.m. Oct. 19. Crews arrived to find three double-wide modular structures on fire. The modular structures were vacant, boarded up and being stored on the land leased by The Home Boys. A total of 16 apparatus and support vehicles responded to this incident, including two engines from SCFD 8. The cause was determined to be arson. Investigators are following up on leads.

• Burn ban lifted — SVFD and the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood and unincorporated Spokane County lifted the burn ban on Oct. 23 that had been in place since June 17. This means outdoor recreational fires are legal again.

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NEWS

The Current

News Briefs County acquires land for Conservation Futures Program

Check in here.

Spokane County recently added 44 acres to the McKenzie Conservation Area on the northwest shore of Newman Lake. The land was purchased for $275,000 from the the voter-supported Conservation Futures fund.

According to a press release, the land will provide an expansion of the trail system as well as a protected habitat for area wildlife.

The County will work with volunteers and local residents to design and build the trail expansion.

Trailhead parking is available at 15898 N. West Newman Lake Road for those wishing to take part in non-motorized recreation including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.

For more, visit www.spokanecountyorg/ parks and click on “Conservation Futures.”

Skip here.

Mansfield Connection completed The city of Spokane Valley recently wrapped up a road project connecting Mansfield between Pines Road and Mirabeau Parkway.

This section of Mansfield is now a threelane roadway, with one lane in each direction as well as a center turn lane, a press release said. In addition, there are bike lanes on each side of the roadway eastward from Cherry Lane, as well as newly added or upgraded sections of sidewalk.

The speed limit on Mansfield between Pines and Mirabeau Parkway is now 35 miles per hour. Motorists are reminded that there is no on-street parking nor parking in the bike lanes. Violators will be subject to citation and vehicle removal. For more, call 477-3300.

Make your urgent care wait as short as possible.

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Ballots for the 2015 General Election were mailed mid-October by the Spokane County Elections office. Voters have until 8 p.m. Nov. 3 to return their ballots either by mail or via drop boxes, such as the ones at local libraries.

Any registered voter who did not receive a ballot can contact the Elections office at 477-2320. For information on local candidates, visit spokanecounty.org/elections.

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The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking comments on a proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to include Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency's updated PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan in the Washington SIP. Citizens have until Nov. 9 to review and provide comments on the plan. Public comments can be submitted via email to aqcomments@ecy.wa.gov or mail to Laurie HulseMoyer, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504-7600.

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10/5/15 5:44 PM

The Current

Resource Review

Tune up your tech skills

By Gwendolyn Haley

SPOKANE COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT

As a parent of a high school student, I’m inundated with messages about the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills and current technical skills. For anyone in the process making a career change or looking for a job, you are no doubt finding that to be the case for adults as well.

In the time since I completed my formal education (and we won’t talk about how long ago that might have been), the technical skills necessary in my field of librarianship have changed dramatically. With post-secondary education looming on the horizon for one child, enrolling in formal education to upgrade my skills is simply not in the budget right now. Fortunately for me — and for you — Spokane County District Library offers several different free, selfpaced online learning options.

Now is a great time to invest in yourself and upgrade your skill set. Check out some of the resources offered below — all you need is a current library card!

Microsoft IT Academy: This program offers a full digital curriculum of technology courses including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. IT Academy e-learning is all self-paced and available wherever you are whether that be at the library, office or home. Even better, we have the MOS Study Guides available to check out so you can prepare for the certification tests. Contact any of our libraries to find out how you can take the test at a reduced rate.

Lynda.com: This premier online learning tool provides access to thousands of video tutorials on hundreds of topics. Classes are taught by industry experts and are selfpaced. Topics include Google Analytics, design and development and Quick Books, just to name a few. Starting this month, all library members can now access Lynda.com for free.

Gale Courses: Offering a range of interactive, instructor-led classes on a variety of topics, these classes start each month and last six weeks. Course subjects include computer applications, design and composition and technology.

Gwendolyn Haley is a library resources manager at Spokane County Library District.

LIBRARY

NOVEMBER 2015 • 7

New learning resources soon available at SCLD Agreement with Lynda.com will take effect Nov. 9

By Lauren Campbell

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

The library has an almost endless supply of resources to offer. Books, magazines, music, reference works, online databases — and now, additional online education.

As of Nov. 9, the Spokane County Library District offers free access to Lynda. com, a respected digital resource with lessons on a wide variety of topics, including design, photography, programming and many others.

Typically, a membership to Lynda.com costs $25 per month for an individual, but a SCLD library card will get members access to all of these resources for free. That means that this valuable resource is available to anyone who wants to update his or her skills, regardless of income.

Most of the courses are video lessons that allow users to either progress slowly through the material or just watch the video that closely relates to their interests.

Many of the topics are related to technology, but more are added all the time. The courses are taught by experts, and the videos have a high production value to make sure the information is clear.

“This is a great resource for people in the workforce to learn new skills, or to beef up their skills to help them find a new job,” said Library Services Manager Carlie Hoffman.

The website is already a highly popular resource among librarians and cardholders. In fact, a few people have already told Hoffman the library agreement will allow them to cancel their own monthly Lynda. com membership.

“I’ve talked to people who use this constantly, and so many others are really excited for the opportunity,” she said.

Each video stands alone, and courses can be worked through at the user’s own pace. The library also offers Gale Courses, which is a similar resource offering six-week courses in a variety of topics.

However, Gale Courses are taught on a timeline with other students in a class and include homework assignments. Lynda. com’s video courses are not on a timeline, and there is no need to worry about others distracting the teacher.

“You can really make it work for your and your schedule,” Hoffman said.

BY THE NUMBERS: LYNDA.COM 1995

Year the company was founded

250+

Contributing authors

144,000+

Individual videos available

60

Average number of courses added per month

500+

Employees worldwide

40

Percent of all U.S. colleges and universities that are members

11/9

Date it will be available via SCLD Source: www.lynda.com Anyone with a library card will have access to Lynda.com through the SCLD website — no need to visit a branch to use this resource. However, librarians are available to help the community get the most out of the website. The Spokane County library system has ten branches, serving what Hoffman describes as “the donut around Spokane,” including Spokane Valley Library at 12004 E. Main Ave., Argonne Library at 4322 N. Argonne Road, and Otis Orchards Library at 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. With such a wide variety of high-quality educational videos at your fingerprints, Lynda.com makes it possible to be a lifelong learner. Local residents can now pick up a valuable new skill on a cold winter evening from the comfort of home or view all the courses available from their website.

Hoffman is looking forward to taking advantage of this resource herself.

“I’m excited to try a lot of the lessons, especially in web development. They have courses in java script and mobile development that look really interesting,” she said.

With nearly 4,000 courses available, there is certain to be something that will be of interest to everyone.

8 • NOVEMBER 2015

PROFILES

The Current

Age

MASON FLEMMER

37

Favorite hobbies Central Valley High School orchestra teacher Mason Flemmer instructs students earlier this school year.

Flemmer is also a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. He has been deployed to Afghanistan twice.

CURRENT PHOTO BY TREVA LIND

Serving students — and his country Orchestra teacher also a captain in Army Reserves

By Treva Lind

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

A pivotal day led Central Valley orchestra teacher Mason Flemmer to a life of music rather than in the military, but he never forgot his desire to serve.

Prepared to enlist after high school, Flemmer thought he couldn’t afford higher education when the Monday following graduation brought unexpected news. He received an offer of a violin scholarship from Spokane Falls Community College.

“I took that fork in the road,” Flemmer said. “I thought I couldn’t go to college, that the military was my only option. But that choice was always in the back of my

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mind that I didn’t serve. I got frustrated later when I had students graduating and being deployed.”

So in March 2009, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army Reserve engineer officer. He’s since served two tours in Afghanistan, with both deployments in the Kandahar Province. The first ran yearlong January 2011-12, and the second tour covered nine months during 201314.

Serving country runs in Flemmer’s family back to the Civil War. An uncle was in the 101st that jumped in Normandy on D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His grandfather, a radioman, was at Pearl Harbor on leave when the bombs hit and later was the first person on his Navy ship to learn World War II had ended. His grandmother was a “Rosie the Riveter,” helping construct B-17 bombers.

“When they talk about ‘the Greatest Generation,’ my family was part of that,” Flemmer said. “My dad’s a Vietnam veteran. My cousins are Desert Storm veterans.

We have the blood line on my mother and father’s side. They fought in wars, stood up for what they believed in. There’s always been this sense of duty in our family.

“I decided the only way to be both a music teacher and soldier is to be a fulltime teacher and part-time soldier.”

Daily, he instructs over 300 in orchestra, including students of Central Valley High and Greenacres Middle schools, and elementary-aged kids who come to CV. He also coaches middle school football. A Spokane Valley resident, he also plays in the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.

During deployments, Flemmer asked retired orchestra instructor Michael Delaney to be substitute teacher for his students. Delaney did so during 2011-12 at both CV and Greenacres, and the second time at just CV, while retired Sacajawea orchestra teacher Karen Bart was the sub for Flemmer at Greenacres.

Delaney was Flemmer’s eighth-grade orchestra teacher, and later at Ferris High.

Delaney recalls Flemmer wavering between a military or teaching path.

“It just happened to be that I had a duel career at the time because I was in the Air Guard and a teacher,” Delaney said. “We developed a really nice rapport.”

“I’m extremely proud of Mason and the care he gives his students,” Delaney added. “He’s a very skilled violinist, and he’s concentrating that into teaching his students.”

Entering military service, Flemmer was attached to 455th Engineer Co. in Hayden but was cross-leveled and deployed the first tour with 322nd Engineer Co. of Decorah, Iowa, on mission to construct buildings, roads, landing zones and guard towers. Asked to describe dangers, Flemmer said unit members had outer military security as they worked jobs and wore body armor.

“I led a platoon of 46 soldiers,” he said.

“We came back with everyone I took over there. We saw a lot of combat; we saw stuff, but we were just lucky every time. If we got in a TIC (troops in combat), we’d turn to fight.”

For the second deployment, Flemmer was 455th’s commander of 134 soldiers

Sports: football, basketball, softball. I love cars and motorcycles.

Rank in Military Captain in Army Reserve

Who is someone you admire?

Mr. Mike Delaney, retired Air Force colonel and my orchestra teacher

Number of Afghanistan tours Two

for a mission to clear routes of any bombs or IUDs. His job required leading the unit while coordinating helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery and additional members from infantry, cavalry and explosive ordnance disposal units.

“I coordinated between all those elements, and my job was to make sure they worked as a team,” he said. “That’s a lot of moving parts.”

The 455th returned after clearing 15,000 kilometers of routes without any strikes on coalition forces, he said.

“We never lost a coalition force on our route,” he said. “I did my duty as best I could. I had failures personally. I consider it a success that I never lost a soldier, and we never failed a mission.”

His military commitment ends in a year and a half, currently with Boise’s 321st Engineer Battalion as an operations assistant. While unsure about longer military time, he said playing violin and teaching are life-long.

He first picked up a violin at age 6, grew up on the South Hill, and joined Spokane Youth Symphony. With CV since 2005, he jokingly refers to his “orch dorks” but also talks about pride in orchestra. As CV strings teacher, he describes students who gain high marks both in academics and music competitions.

Flemmer was the first in his family to graduate from college and to be commissioned as a military officer.

“With kids, I tell them you can set your mind to anything. I always wanted to teach music, play in a symphony and be in military. I’ve had these goals and never stopped until I got them. Kids can come to a wall, and they stop. I tell them instead of seeing it as a wall, see it as a speed bump. Get over it and march on.

Do your best.”

While some kids have had military parents, he believes it was a good experience for students to witness his deployments.

“I think it’s good for kids to be attached emotionally to someone who served instead of seeing it on television or movies,” he said. “All these kids at both schools knew this is what I did, and I came back.”

The Current

NOVEMBER 2015 • 9

COMMUNITY

Community Briefs EV craft fair to be held in Dec. The East Valley High School Band will present its annual winter craft fair Dec. 5 and 6 at the school, 15711 E. Wellesley.

The show, which will feature homemade items and food, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $1. For more, call 850-5714 or email evbandboosters@yahoo.com.

Stop searching.

Hip and knee pain relief starts here.

Save the date for Hearth Homes fundraiser on Dec. 16 A festive performance of “White Christmas” will serve as the annual fundraiser for Hearth Homes this year. A silent auction, wine, hors d’oeuvres will also accompany the Dec. 16 performance that will run from 6 to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $45. All proceeds go toward housing homeless women and their children.

Hearth Homes has provided safe and supportive housing to 19 women and 26 children so far this year. For more, visit www.hearth-homes.org.

Applicants sought for Miss Spokane Scholarship Pageant The Miss Spokane Scholarship Organization is currently accepting applications for the 104th anniversary Miss Spokane Scholarship Pageant.

The Miss competition is for young women at least a senior in high school and ages 17 to 24. The teen competition is for ages 13-17 (and not yet a high school senior), the ambassadors is for girls 10-12, and the princess category is a mentoring program for girls 5-9.

The pageant is an official preliminary of the Miss America Organization, the nation’s largest provider of scholarships for women.

Applications are available at missspokane. org, and the deadline to submit is Nov. 8.

Serving the greater Spokane Valley since 1985 Residential and Office Cleaning Licensed and Insured Hourly Rates

Join us for a FREE orthopedic seminar: “Hip & Knee Pain Causes and Treatments” Thursday, November 5 | 6 p.m.

Valley Health & Education Center Thursday, December 10 | 6 p.m.

Deaconess Health & Education Center For a seminar reservation, call 509-473-5755.

If you’re looking for relief from knee or hip pain, Deaconess and Valley Hospitals are here to help.

We’ll help you learn about your treatment options including exercise, weight control, joint replacement and more. We’re the only Inland Northwest hospitals to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Hip & Knee Replacement*.

Deaconess Hospital & Valley Hospital *As of July 2015

Find us on Facebook!

85973_ROCK_MarshallSteele5nov_7_33x11_5c.indd 1

8/18/15 3:04 PM

The Current

10 • NOVEMBER 2015

COMMUNITY

Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS Nov. 1 | Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m.

Nov 1-20 | Newman Lake Fire Auxiliary Poinsettia Sale Cost is $25 for high-quality

Signs of a heart attack are rarely this obvious.

plants with proceeds going toward the volunteer fire district. Order deadline is Nov. 20. To purchase or for more: 226-0187

Nov. 2 | Candy Buy Back 4 to 8 p.m., KiDDS

Dental, 1327 N. Stanford Lane, suite B, Liberty Lake. Candy can be exchanged for $1 per pound during this event. Candy must be unopened, and children must be accompanied by an adult. For more: www.growupsmiling.com

Nov. 3 | Election Day Nov. 3 | Navigating Your Credit 2 to 4 p.m., Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. Learn how to get free access to your credit report and understand what it means. Explore ways to increase your credit score, establish good credit, and deal with collection agencies. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 3 | Too Fun Tuesdays: Build It 4 to 5

p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Build to your heart’s content with Keva Planks, straws and connectors, and other construction materials. All ages welcome. For more: www. scld.org

Nov. 4 | Give Yourself a Raise 2 to 4 p.m., Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. Discover ways to succeed with your budget, avoid money troubles, and protect yourself with tips on how to recognize financial predators. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 4 | Tween Club: Stamp It! 4 to 5 p.m.,

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Tweens in grades 4 and up are invited to come design their own stamps. For more: www.scld.org

Nov. 4 | Grange potluck and meeting

6 p.m., Tri Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. A potluck will be followed by a 7 p.m. meeting for this community-based service organization. For more: 481-7447

Nov. 5 | 8th annual Ladies Night Out

During a heart attack, every minute matters. So, know the warning signs.

If you experience them, call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room.

And know that Rockwood Health System is here to help when you need us.

RockwoodHealthSystem.com

5:30 p.m., Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. Presented by Spokane Valley Partners, this annual fundraiser includes dinner, dessert, complimentary wine, a live marimba performance, video presentation, a balloon poke and silent auction. Tickets are $50. For more: www.svpart.org

Nov. 5, 8, 14 & 19 | It’s Electrifying! Nov. 5: 4 to 5:30 p.m., Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave.; Nov. 8: 2 to 3:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave.; Nov. 14: 3 to 4:30 p.m., Fairfield Library, 305 E. Main St.; Nov. 19: 4 to 5:30 p.m., Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne. Kids ages 8 to 14 are invited to learn how electricity works and explore with snap circuits to build things that buzz, light up and spin. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 5 & 25 | Zentangle 7 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 5: Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave.; Nov. 25: Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne.

Loretta West will teach how to express your creative visions through this popular method of drawing structured patterns. For more: www. scld.org

Nationally Accredited Chest Pain Centers

See CALENDAR, page 11 82742_DMC_HAWSh_7_33x11_5c.indd 1

2/23/15 11:09 AM

The Current

Halloween lineup

COMMUNITY include a presentation and silent auction. Tickets are $20 and are available at the museum. For more: 922-4570

Nov. 10 | Too Fun Tuesdays: Art 4 to 5

p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. The library will have the supplies to make your artistic masterpiece, but bring a smock or old t-shirt. Children 6 and under should be accompanied by an adult. For more: www.scld. org

In case you missed the list in our October issue, here’s a recap of what’s happening on Oct. 31 in the Valley.

Nov. 11 | Veterans Day

Howliween Pawty 1 p.m., SCRAPS,

Nov. 12 | The Triple Nickel presentation

6815 E. Trent Ave. Pets along with their owners are invited to this party featuring a pet parade, games, photo booth, pet and people treats, Halloween recipes and tips for keeping pets safe. For more: 4772752 or info@scrapshopefoundation.org

6 p.m., Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. In partnership with Humanities Washington, EWU Professor Robert Bartlett will talk about the first all-black Airborne Infantry Fire-fighters in Washington State during WII. For more: 232-2510 or www.humanities.org

Trunk or Treat 5 to 7:30 p.m., ONE* Church, 15601 E. 24th Ave. This familyfriendly event will have lots of candy, bouncy castles, treats and photo booths for all ages to enjoy. For more: 926-3254 or onespokane.com

Nov. 12 | It’s in the Bag! 6: 30 to 8:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Participants will make sever-al different busy bags that teach important skills for kindergarten.

Sample busy bags will be on hand to keep kids occupied during the workshop. For more: www. scld.org

Halloween in Rockford 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Rockford Lions Club will host a bonfire in Rockford Park with hot dogs and cider, and the McIntosh Grange will have a cake walk, games and prizes for kids 12 and under. The Rockford United Methodist Church will also be spooking up the churchyard and handing out candy.

Malloween Trick-or-Treat 6 to 8 p.m., Spokane Valley Mall, 14706 E. Indiana.

Children 12 and under are invited to trick-or-treat at mall stores. For more: 458-8800.

Mira-BOO Halloween Party 8 p.m. to midnight, Mirabeau Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. This 21 and over party will feature DJ Dean Jaxon from KEY 101 FM, over $2,500 in cash and prizes, drink specials and more.

Admission is $10. For more: 924-9000 or www.facebook.com/MAXmirabeau

CALENDAR Continued from page 10 Nov. 6 | Grange spaghetti feed 4 to 7 p.m.,

Tri Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake. The public is invited for an all-youcan-eat dinner including spaghetti, salad, bread and dessert. Adults are $8, children 5-12 are $5, and under 5 are free. For more: 481-7447

Nov. 6-7 | Fall Book Sale 3 to 6 p.m. Fri. and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. Friends of the Liberty Lake Library will have thousands of books for sale as we well DVDs and movies.

Nov. 7 | Family Game Day 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Play and test out a variety of board games provided by Uncle’s Games. You can even purchase a game to add to your family’s collection or check someone off your holiday gift list. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 7 | “1858: War Time & the Horse Slaughter Story” 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,

Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines.

The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum’s 11th annual program and luncheon fundraiser will

NOVEMBER 2015 • 11

Nov. 14, 28 | North Palouse Food Bank 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., behind the Fairfield Fire Station, Railroad Avenue. The North Palouse Food Bank serves the communities of Waverly, Latah, Fairfield and Rockford. For more: 283-4250

Nov. 14 | Chili Feed Fundraiser 4 to 6 p.m., Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave. The women’s ministry is sponsoring this event to benefit local families at Christmas and send items to military mem-bers in Iraq. Donations will be accepted. For more: 926-9552 Nov. 18 | Spokane Valley Book Club 2 to 3:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Join fellow book lovers to discuss Winston Churchill biographies. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 18 | Organize Your Finances workshop 6 to 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Library,

12004 E. Main Ave. STCU experts will share the benefits of getting your money files organized, as well as how to develop an efficient bill-paying system, how long to keep records and what to keep handy in case of disaster. A light meal is provided; preregistration is required. For more: www.stcu.org/workshops

Nov. 21 | Ugly Holiday Sweater Soiree and Fundraiser 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., SNAP Mission

Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. For more: www.pancan.org or 534-2564

Support Center, 3102 W. Ft. George Wright Drive, Spokane. The Spokane Valley-based Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council will host this inaugural event featuring non-alcoholic drinks, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction items, including memorabilia signed by Gonzaga basketball players. For more: 922-8383

Rockford Crochet Class 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. The Harvest Moon, 20 S. First St. Hairpin Lace, knit, embroidery, needlepoint and arm knitting of infinity scarves are some of the activities. For more: 892-4412 or 291-3722

Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving

Friday of each month (Feb. through Nov.), Harvest Moon, 20 S. First St. For more: 291-3193 or 838-4173

Recurring

Rockford Historical Society 11:30 the second

ACT 2 senior classes Affordable classes are offered through 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. For more: www.sccel. spokane.edu/ACT2

Spokane County Library District Valley branch locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. For more: www. scld.org

Café Card Club 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Hwy., Valleyford. Play pinochle, cribbage or hearts. For more: www.onsacredgrounds.com

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. For more: www. foe3433.com

Catholic Singles Mingle This group with no dues is for single adults of all ages. For more: www.meetup.com/Catholic-Singles-Mingle

Spokane Valley Kiwanis 6:45 a.m. Tuesdays, Valley Hospital Education Center, 12606 E. Mission. For more: www.spokanevalleykiwanis. net

Liberty Lake Library 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club and more. For more: www.libertylakewa.gov/library Pancreatic Cancer Action Network 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month, Liberty

Spokane Valley Eagles 16801 E. Sprague.

Spokane Valley Writer’s Group 6:45 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of every month, Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. For more: 5704440

See CALENDAR, page 14

November 20-21-22, 2015 Custer’s

39th Annual Christmas Show

Nov. 19 | Random Fandom 4 to 5:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Whovians, Bronies, Otakus, Trekkies and more are invited to geek out on all things fandomrelated. Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to make crafts, play games and checkout the original books, comics and DVDs that sparked the excitement. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 20 | Pandemic tournament 5 to 9 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Recreate the panic of “Station Eleven’s” Georgia Flu with the board game, Pandemic, where players work together to eradicate four diseases threatening to overwhelm the world. For more: www.scld.org Nov. 21 | STARS Training: Sing Into Reading 10 a.m. to noon, Spokane Valley

Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Learn how singing and reading go together, as well as how to incorporate singing into your daily routine and for family engagement activities. Preregistration is required; participants receive two STARS credits. For more: www.scld.org

OVER 300 NORTHWEST ARTISANS FINE ART | HAND CRAFT | SPECIALTY FOODS

Spokane Fair & Expo Center 404 N Havana Street | Spokane, WA FREE PARKING

Friday 10AM—8PM Saturday 9AM—6PM Sunday 10AM—4PM

Admission $7 | Kids 12 and under free!

CusterShows.com

509.924.0588

COVER STORY

12 • NOVEMBER 2015

The Current

A historical look at five intersections where the Valley lived and moved Story and present-day photos by Treva Lind | CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR Historical photos courtesy of Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Major crossroads in Spokane Valley have morphed from dirt beginnings to the signaled, multi-lane thoroughfares of today taking commuters to homes, schools and commerce.

By 1929, Argonne was paved from Dishman to Millwood as were a few other major roads. A decade later in 1939, Appleway

became Sprague Avenue named for General J.W. Sprague, a Northern Pacific Railroad superintendent.

More lore about Sprague-Appleway’s legacy emerged seven years ago during road construction. Sprague Avenue is one of the last remaining sections of old U.S. 10, which connected Seattle to Minne-

Today, an Albertsons grocery store anchors a busy commercial center on the northwest corner of Argonne and Trent. Until the 1960s, however, that site was home to a statelylooking West Valley High School (pictured), before it moved to its present location on Vista and Buckeye.

apolis, and continued through to Detroit.

Spokane had some of the first concretepaved portions. In 2008, when the city was reconstructing old Appleway Avenue between Tschirley and Hodges, crews found sections in the concrete of the old roadway dated “10 9 1919.”

Two pieces of that dated section were

The unique shape of the modern-day Otis Grill is steeped in the history of Harvard and Wellesley. Pringle’s Garage was built in 1917, and the next door Triple XXX Rootbeer truly added to the intersection’s landmark status.

Harvard and Wellesley

An early photo shows the two side-byside buildings, while other corners still had agricultural land with a few homes.

Remnants of very old orchards remain west of Harvard.

was built in 1917 by George Pringle with a garage and service station. In early days, he had a dealership for Model T Ford cars and at the rear of the building was a spacious repair shop. Around 1925, Pringle’s Garage was remodeled, and by about 1950, the garage was closed.

It reopened in the mid-1970s as Ed’s Country Garage, and later as Otis Orchards Ice Cream Parlor. For many years, traffic flowing through the intersection came from primarily apple orchard workers, area residents, and perhaps some railroad workers, Singleton said.

“There might have been some traffic to Newman Lake, too,” she said.

Today, three of the four corners have some commercial use, including a small retail strip to the southwest across from Otis Grill.

Records indicate that Pringle’s Garage

See CROSSROADS, page 13

(Otis Orchards)

Argonne and Trent (Millwood) In 1908, a north-south road was built through Woodard Station, modern-day Millwood, and the following year a bridge over Spokane River linked the area to regions in the north.

The transportation and river attracted industry, including a paper mill that started producing in September 1911, according to the city of Millwood. Soon the new town’s name came forth as a way to represent both the mill and the pioneer Woodard family.

Inland Empire Paper Co. continues to produce paper in the town’s center.

Early landmarks for Millwood’s Argonne and Trent intersection included an old gas station, and the first West Valley High School was built on the northwest

corner in 1924.

“The most exciting thing about that corner was the West Valley High School building on the northwest corner of Trent and Argonne, where Albertsons is now,” said Jayne Singleton, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum director.

A new high school was built at Vista and Buckeye in the 1960s, and that site was later modernized in 2006-07. As part of that, the project also brought back and restored the old school’s original entry archway, a 26foot granite and marble piece that was preserved through the efforts of retired West Valley Superintendent Dave Smith.

Trent-Argonne traffic is likely heavier today, with the east-west commuter traffic on Trent, and even north-south on Argonne for traffic heading to the freeway or to areas north of Millwood.

donated to Spokane Valley Heritage Museum.

As small shops and agricultural businesses gave way to modern box stores, crossroads marked time with landmarks and people who shaped them. Here are five of those Spokane Valley intersections and a snapshot of their significance over time.

History buffs recall the Otis Orchards crossroads of Harvard and Wellesley for the landmark Pringle’s Garage. That structure is recognizable today, although remodeled significantly into restaurants over the years from Norma’s Burger Barn to the now long-time Otis Grill.

A bygone landmark once stood nearby, a stand for Triple XXX Rootbeer, which had a barrel shape.

“It used to be you’d get coke and root beer delivered in the barrel,” Singleton said.

The Current

COVER STORY

NOVEMBER 2015 • 13

The view looking west down Sprague from Argonne has widened over the years by a couple lanes, but has a long tradition of commercial use.

In some ways, it’s hard to believe this aerial view of Sprague and Sullivan is less than 50 years old. Now one of the Valley’s busiest intersections, for many years it was considered “out in the boonies,” as Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Director Jayne Singleton put it for this article.

CROSSROADS

of the granite that was used to rebuild came from a Dishman-owned quarry.

Known as a generous man, he lived on Continued from page 12 Willow, close to present-day Argonne.

Sprague and Argonne Some history about Dishman in a Spokesman-Review article said Addi(Dishman area) Near this corner of Sprague and Ar- son T. Dishman moved to Spokane in gonne during the 1940s, travelers found 1887. He and his brother ran a livery Jacklin Seed, a cinema, the viaduct and stable in Spokane until it was lost in the 1889 fire. nearby Dishman Depot (today a white Addison also built building just around the Dishman Trading the curve that holds a Post in 1895, and his MORE LOCAL produce stand). brother operated that store near the corHISTORY Just south of the ner of Mullan Road crossroads, a huge Spokane Valley Heritage and Sprague Avenue. open-air boxing ring Museum’s 11th annual The area was sparsely once held events. SinHeritage Program and Silent populated then, but gleton said historical Auction is this month. It eventually a business figures include Dick will feature the program, district grew. SingleBehm of Behm’s Val“1858: War Time & the Horse ton said that district’s ley Creamery.

Slaughter Story.” traffic would be simi“They’d load their lar to patterns now. cans of cream at the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. depot there,” Single“It was one of the Nov. 7 ton said. “When I few roads that went Opportunity Presbyterian think of that intersecall the way through Church event room, N. 202 tion, I also think of the Valley to the Pines Rd. Mr. Addison Dishnorth,” she said. “I’d man, who the area say it’s pretty much Cost is $20 for luncheon was named for.” the same (type of) and presentation, proceeds traffic, as main thorAfter the fire of benefit the museum oughfares going to 1889, most of downFor more: 922-4570 town Spokane was the store, work, erdestroyed, and much rands.”

Sprague and Sullivan (Veradale area) Sullivan stayed a dirt road up until the early 1960s, Singleton said. A few homes were scattered along the way. A 1965 aerial photograph at the museum shows key landmarks of True’s Oil Co. near the intersection with Sprague.

“Where Fred Meyer is today was the Vera Feed Store,” Singleton said. “There was a private home on the southwest corner; same with the southeast corner.”

The Gillespie Orchard Warehouse sat back a bit but was located close to the northwest side of the intersection. Gillespie handled apples from Valley orchards.

“Earlier, there were even more apple orchards both directions. You can see the Inland Empire Electric Railroad (in photo); it’s just north of the intersection.

You can still see the pieces of the rail bed

today from Broadway.”

Sullivan Road itself is named after an early settler. John P. “Jack” Sullivan was originally from Ireland and arrived in the U.S. in 1860. After working jobs around the West, he arrived in the Spokane area in 1884 and fenced off his homestead.

That land stretched from what is now Sprague north, almost to the Spokane River, including what the local stagecoach drivers called the Mullan Road, near the current route of I-90, a Spokesman article said. Sullivan died in 1930.

Added Singleton, “When they built the mall, the retail core really shifted to Sprague and Sullivan, but up until the early 1960s, Sullivan was a dirt road and people would think, ‘That’s really out in the boonies.’ You juxtapose that again with what’s there now, and that’s really quite a change.”

See CROSSROADS, page 14

The Current

14 • NOVEMBER 2015

COVER STORY/COMMUNITY

CROSSROADS

CALENDAR

Continued from page 13

Continued from page 11

Park and Trent

MUSIC & THE ARTS

(Orchard Avenue area) Another shadow of a past building that carries a partial namesake sits at this intersection of Park and Trent: Corner Club Bar & Grill. Back around 1925, John’s Corner Club stood there as a beer parlor that occupied the northeast corner, and in front was Orchard Avenue Gas Station.

Singleton said the area served as a gateway to Orchard Avenue, a beautifully landscaped residential area with a water fountain. Orchard Avenue was platted in 1908 and included 440 acres originally. A school and grocery store were developed for the growing area, and residents formed the Orchard Avenue Community Club that had its own hall facing Park Road just south of another set of railroad tracks closer to modern-day Felts Field.

Of course, trains ran on the railroad nearby Park and Trent, as they still do today. Auto traffic then wasn’t as busy in Orchard Avenue’s early days as today’s busy highway, Singleton said, with Sprague then drawing more Valley traffic in the 1920s and 30s.

“This was mainly residential,” she said.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | University High School craft fair 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat.), 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. (Sun.), University High School, 12420 E. 32nd Ave. There will be 150 vendors with oneof-a-kind items plus a Halloween Carnival for children on Saturday for $2. Admission is $2 for adults; children under 14 are free.

Nov. 7-8 | Central Valley High School craft fair 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Valley High

At the intersection of Park and Trent stands one of the most clear nods to a location’s history, with the Corner Club Bar & Grill honoring its 90-yearold namesake, John’s Corner Club.

Nov. 13-14, 20-21 | “Rumplestiltskin”

Liberty Lake Community Theatre, 22910 E. Appleway Ave. Tickets cost $7 for this reader’s theater production. For more: www. libertylaketheatre.com

Nov. 13-14 | “To Kill a Mockingbird” 7:30

p.m. Fri. and Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun., Spokane Valley Partners Building, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. Ignite! Community Theatre will bring Harper Lee’s novel to life in this reader’s theater production. Admission is $5. For more: www. igniteonbroadway.org

Nov. 14 | West Valley High School Craft Fair 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., West Valley High School,

8301 E. Buckeye Ave. This event benefits the school marching band and color guard. Free admission. For more: 710-1467 or samroderick@ aol.com

Nov. 14 | Valley Christian School Art & Craft Fair 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 10212 E. 9th Ave.

Modern times

Today, a glance at Spokane Valley’s highest-volume traffic zones includes many intersections along both Sprague and Sullivan.

City of Spokane Valley staff gave estimated figures for the top five busiest intersections, based on approximate traffic counts conducted along the roads leading into the crossroads.

Rank

Intersection

Estimated Daily Vehicles

1

Broadway Ave./Sullivan Road

46,871

2

Sprague Ave./Pines Road

46,248

3

Sprague Ave./Sullivan Road

45,256

4

Argonne Road/Knox Ave.

43,044

5

Argonne Road/Montgomery Ave.

42,599

Carolbelle Branch, city public information officer, said the volume of traffic at Broadway and Sullivan would be the most challenging to manage today were it not for current traffic controls.

Two left turn lanes from southbound Sullivan onto eastbound Broadway accommodate the heavy traffic headed for the commercial area east of Sullivan, while another three lanes of traffic continue southbound.

In each of the other directions, a single left turn lane helps keep those vehicles from slowing or stopping through traffic. In addition, traf-

School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. This sale of crafts and baked goods is sponsored by CVHS Band Boosters to benefit band and color guard.

Admission is $2. For more: cvmbPublicity@ hotmail.com

fic signals are adjusted during peak travel periods to maximize traffic flow, Branch said.

Other interesting facts about Spokane Valley intersections: • The first intersection in Spokane Valley to have flashing yellow left-turn arrow signals was at Broadway and Evergreen.

• The first roundabout in Spokane Valley was at the intersection of Mansfield and Montgomery.

• The intersection with the first LED street lights: Appleway and University.

Local artists, crafters and small businesses will be selling products. Admission is $2. For more: www.valleychristianschool.org

from across the U.S. Admission is $7 (good all weekend); kids 12 and under are free. For more: www.custershows.com

Nov. 21 | This, That or the Other 8 p.m., Liberty Lake Community Theatre, 22910 E. Appleway Ave. Tickets are $7 for this PG13 improv comedy. For more: www. libertylaketheatre.com

Recurring Pages of Harmony Wednesdays, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road. If you enjoy singing, you’ll love the four-part a cappella harmony of this men’s barbershop chorus. For more: www. pagesofharmony.org

Spirit of Spokane Chorus Tuesdays, 6:45 p.m., Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. For more: 218-4799 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. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops. For more: 951-1446 or sv-cc.org — Next meetings are Nov. 16 and 23

CIVIC & BUSINESS Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 | Mt. Spokane Ski Swap 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat.) and 9 a.m. to noon

(Sun.), Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. Buy new or used gear or sell your used gear.

More than 22,000 items. Admission is $5. For more: www.skipatrolskiswap.com

Nov. 5 | Community input meeting 5 to 7 p.m., Ness Elementary School, 9612 E. Cataldo Ave. Share questions and comments with the city of Spokane Valley regarding improvements planned for Broadway’s intersection with Mullan and Argonne. For more: 720-5010 Nov. 6-8 | Spokane Gun Show & Flea Market Noon to 6 p.m. (Fri.), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Sat.), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sun.), Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. Admission is $8 per day ($4 per day for Flea Market only). For more: 208-746-5555

Nov. 7 | Free Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification Test Day Argonne

Library, 4322 N. Argonne. Take tests for either Office 2010 or Office 2013. Preregistration is required. Email nsstaff@scld.org to receive Microsoft Study Guides. For test times and more: www.scld.org SUBMITTED PHOTO

 Nov. 14 & 15 | Spokane Fall Folk Festival 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sat.) and 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m. (Sun.), Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene Street. The Spokane Folklore Society will present the 20th annual festival featuring tradi-tional and ethnic dance, musical entertainment and crafts. For more: www. spokanefolkfestival.org

Nov. 20-22 | Custer Christmas Arts & Crafts Show 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Fri.), 9 a.m. to

7 p.m. (Sat.), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sun.); Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. The 39th annual show will feature 300 artists and crafters

Nov. 12 | North Palouse Chamber meeting 6 p.m., Zythum Brewery, 101 N.

Railroad Ave, Fairfield. For more: www. hangmancreekchamber.com

Nov. 13-14 | Trellis holiday event

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Trellis Marketplace, 4102 S. Bowdish Road. For more: 928-6158

Nov. 13-14 | Hurd Mercantile open house 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 30 S. First St.,

Rockford. Enjoy shopping with lattes and cookies, wine and the earning of Hurd cash to redeem in January. For more: www.facebook. com/hurdmercantileandcompany

See CALENDAR, page 19

Brought to you by

Before husking the corn, Food Sense Educator Wendy Aguilar explained how corn grows on stalks and shared interesting facts such as there is one strand of silk for every kernel on the cob (an average of 800).

DAY 1:

Photos and story by Tammy Kimberley | CURRENT STAFF WRITER

First and third grade students at Broadway Elementary got their hands dirty this fall when they were provided the opportunity to learn about sweet corn through WSU Food Sense. This farm-to-school activity taught students how food grows and where it comes from. The corn was purchased through LINC Foods, a local farmers co-op.

Students watched as Terry Perry, manager of the Food Sense program, explained how to husk the corn and what to do if the students found caterpillars inside.

DAY 2:

Food Sense workers came back the next day to assist Broadway Elementary kitchen staff in preparing and serving the corn on the cob. Every student was offered an ear of corn, regardless if they had hot or cold lunch.

Wendy Aguilar got in the spirit of the day by dressing up as an ear of corn to encourage students to give it a try. Her role at the school includes teaching students about good nutrition and developing healthy eating habits.

Students had the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor by tasting a freshly-cooked ear of corn during lunch. Some first-graders found it a bit challenging due to missing front teeth. Several commented that this was the first time they tried corn on the cob, and they found they liked it much better than canned corn.

Myah Peone enjoyed the first bite of her corn during lunchtime.

Lillian Graves showed how well she cleaned the corn off her cob.

16 • NOVEMBER 2015

The Current

COMMUNITY

True of a turkey?

1. A male turkey is called a Bob. 2. A wild turkey can run up to 25 miles per hour.

3. Turkeys’ eggs are tan and speckled brown.

4. The two main turkeys’ names in

Solve the riddle about this notorious November bird

the movie “Free Range” are Reggie and Jake.

By Chad Kimberley

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and with that a day full of eating turkey followed up by several days munching down the leftover turkey on sandwiches — plain, cold and warmed up.

Of course, not all turkeys end up in our stomachs. Take the turkey quiz below to learn more about turkeys. Color in the feathers for all the questions you believe to be true. Then write the letters in order in the spaces below to solve this turkey riddle. The answer to the riddle can be found at the bottom of page 17.

5. Wild turkeys sometimes sleep in trees.

6. The long, loose skin that hangs down from a turkey’s neck is called a wattle.

7. There are 70 million turkeys in North America today.

8. An adult wild turkey has over 5,000 feathers.

9. The average life span of a

turkey in the wild is 20 years.

10. Benjamin Franklin wanted the

turkey to be the U.S. national bird.

What is the most musical 11. A female turkey is called a hen. part of a turkey?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

RECYCLING

101 Compiled by Chad Kimberley CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

In honor of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, find out more about the facts, stats and realities of a world where more recycling is needed to reduce trash and waste.

Too much trash?

• The average person creates about 4 pounds of trash every single day.

• For every $1,000 of fast food bought, almost 200 pounds of trash is created.

• Americans throw away 28 billion bottles and jars each year which can be recycled. Of the 2.5 million plastic bottles used by Americans every hour, most of them are thrown away.

• Each year enough steel is thrown away to build all the new cars made in America.

Sources: www.almanac.com/turkey-trivia, www.holidayinsights.com/tday/turkey, www.smithsonianmang.com/sciene-nature

12. Americans consume over 675 million

pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

Recycling life cycle • In 1874 the first curbside recycling program began in Baltimore, Md.

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy equivalent to listening to 10 songs on an iPod. • Recycling 100 cans could light a bedroom for two weeks.

• Once an aluminum can is recycled, it can become part of a new can within six weeks.

• Glass never wears out; it can be recycled forever.

• 99% of all asphalt is recycled and used to fix and build more roads.

Plastic, oceans don’t mix

• Shoppers worldwide use 500 billion single-use plastic bags per

year or 150 bags a year for every person on earth. If you put all the plastic bags together they would wrap around the globe 2,400 times.

• Current estimates say there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean.

• 100,000 sea creatures a year die from getting tangled up in plastic in the water.

• Around 1 million sea birds also die from plastic pieces.

• Plastic bags have been found in the deepest parts of the oceans including along, and buried in, Arctic ice.

Reducing paper usage

• The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. That’s about 680

pounds of paper per person each year.

• To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down. If all newspaper was recycled each year, 250 million trees could be saved.

• The average household throws away 13,000 pieces of paper each year which includes a lot of junk mail and packaging materials.

Top 10 in the Bin

These 10 common household items can all be placed in blue recycling bins: Cardboard Paper Food boxes Mail Jugs Food cans Glass bottles Beverage cans Jars (glass and plastic) Plastic bottles and caps Sources: www.ecy.wa.gov; www. oceancrusaders.org; www.dosomething. org/facts/11-facts-about-recycling; www. recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts. html; www.americarecyclesday.org

The Current

NOVEMBER 2015 • 17

COMMUNITY

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

By Tammy Kimberley

CURRENT STAFF WRITER

Kids Tell It Like It Is What is the best thing about your family’s Thanksgiving celebration?

Mad Libs is a word game where one person asks another for a list of words to write into the blanks of a story before reading it aloud. The result is a comical tale that oftentimes makes little sense. Gather a few family members or friends this month and see what kind of crazy Thanksgiving tale you can spin using the format below!

Compiled by Tammy Kimberley at Orchard Center Elementary

I awoke from dreaming about _______________ on Thanksgiving morning, (NOUN)

and I couldn’t wait to get to _______________’s house. After changing (RELATIVE)

“Turkey pie.

My mom and dad cook it up.”

“Hikes after lunch with my cousins and my brother.”

Ally Parker, 6, Kindergarten

Rowdy VanHees, 5, Kindergarten

out of my _______________-footy pajamas, I gobbled _______________ for (ANIMAL)

Adam Anselmo, 7, 1st grade

(FOOD)

breakfast and then joined my family in the _______________ for the short trip.

(TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION)

When we arrived, we all were _______________ to see the _______________ (FEELING/EMOTION)

“We get to go to our cabin and ride 4-wheelers and play around the lake and park.”

(ADJECTIVE)

outside of the house. _______________ hung from the roof and (HOLIDAY DECORATION)

_______________ were all over the yard. It certainly appeared they were

“I love sweet potatoes with marshmallows.”

“I like the food, especially turkey legs.”

Kaden Quenzer, 8, 2nd grade

Clayson Osborn, 10, 5th grade

“We watch football while eating turkey and salads.”

“My mom, brother and sisters play board games.”

Hero Carino, 9, 4th grade

Leila White, 8, 3rd grade

“I go to my sister’s house and we eat chicken nuggets.”

Lucas Bjur, 6, 1st grade

(PARTY DECORATION)

ready for _______________! My aunt greeted me with a _______________ kiss, (HOLIDAY)

(ADJECTIVE)

as my uncle yelled out “Hey _______________,” his special nickname for (TYPE OF BUG)

me. I went into the _______________ where everyone was _______________ (ROOM IN A HOUSE)

(ADVERB ENDING IN —LY)

“We go to a big neighborhood Thanksgiving Dinner in Seattle where my cousins live.”

Jamie McMurtery, 10, 4th grade

cheering on the local _______________ team. Soon the table was set for (SPORT)

Thanksgiving dinner, and _______________ started carving the turkey with a (FAMOUS PERSON)

_______________. Everything smelled so _______________, and I couldn’t wait (KITCHEN UTENSIL)

(ADJECTIVE)

to have _______________-filled pie for dessert. After we finished, I was so full

Congratulations to Hannah!

(FOOD)

and my stomach was as big as a _______________.

Festive reads

(ANIMAL)

She’s the latest

KiDDS Dental

No Cavity Club winner!

Check out these Thanksgiving-related books that are available through the borrowing systems at Spokane County Library District and Liberty Lake Municipal Library.

Hannah won a $25 Build-A-Bear gift card and a photo session with

“Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper”

By Victoria Kann “Turkey Trouble”

By Wendi J. Silvano

tanyasmith.net

“Thanksgiving is…”

By Gail Gibbons

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

“Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving”

By Kimberly Dean

891-7070

“Turk and Runt”

By Lisa Wheeler

1327 N Stanford Ln, Ste B, Liberty Lake

“The Thanksgiving Door”

By Debby Atwell

Find us on Facebook for more fun!

www.GrowUpSmiling.com

“’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving”

By Dav Pilkey

Annual

“Thanksgiving Mice!”

By Bethany Roberts

NOV. 2

8th

4

to

8 p.m.

KIDS! Bring your candy to KiDDS Dental Earn $1 per pound • Win prizes • Support our troops The candy must be unopened and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Answer to “True of a turkey?” riddle: Drumstick

18 • NOVEMBER 2015

Posting Date October 5, 2015 The Current PostingDate DateOctober October26, 5, 2015 2015 Posting COMMUNITY Posting Date October 5, 2015

The Current

NOVEMBER 2015 • 19

COMMUNITY/LOCAL LENS

WVSD joins forces with community agencies

CALENDAR Continued from page 14 Nov. 14 | Winter Knights Snow Show

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. This snow and ATV show and swap meet is presented by Spokane Winter Knights Snowmobile Club. For www.winterknights.org

Nov. 20 | Chamber annual meeting 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. Dr. Edmund Schweitzer, president of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Cost is $45 for members and $55 for future members (price goes up $10 after Nov. 13). For more: www. spokanevalleychamber.org

HEALTH & RECREATION Nov. 7 | Sugar Rush Spokane 8:30 a.m.,

Pasadena Park Elementary students participated in the recent Farm to Table project in partnership with FoodSense and Link Co-Op. In addition to learning how food is grown and prepared, students shucked fresh local corn and had the opportunity to eat it for lunch the next day.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

West Valley School District partnered with Hutton Settlement Children’s Home, Argonne Library and Millwood Community Center to host a Family Connections Day. Various agency vendors attended to share information about how they can be of help to families in the community.

At left: Seth Woodard Elementary students and staff participated in the recent Walk to School day in conjunction with the Spokane County Health District and the Safe Routes to School program.

Shutterbug Snapshot

Gonzaga University, McCarthy Athletic Center Lawn, Spokane. There are 5K and 10K run/ walk options for this race that benefits Inland Northwest Baby. Registration is $35. For more: www.inlandnwbaby.org

Nov. 11 | Fall Multi-sport Camp 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Boys and girls in first through sixth grade can sample a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, whiffleball, dodgeball and pickleball. Cost is $30 for morning or $55 for full day; register by Nov. 4 to guarantee enrollment.

For more: www.hubsportscenter.org

Nov. 13 | Built It Athletix Cheer Fall Showcase 6 to 8 p.m., HUB Sports Center,

19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids; bring a canned food and receive $1 off. For more: www.hubsportscenter.org

Nov. 19 | Pediatric First Aid and CPR/ AED class 5 to 9 p.m., Providence Medical

An undefeated squad

Park, 16528 E. Desmet Court. Cost for the 4-hour course is $55. For more: washington.providence. org/events/phc/pediatric-first-aid/

Nov. 21 | ParaSport 3v3 Wheelchair Basketball 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Help raise funds and build awareness for ParaSport Spokane. Team fee of $250 includes t-shirts; entry deadline is Nov. 9.

For more: www.hubsportscenter.org

Nov. 28-29 | Turkey Shoot-Out Futsal Tournament 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., HUB Sports

Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Boys and girls U7 through U14 divisions are invited for some indoor futsal action. Team fee is $275; entry deadline is Nov. 13. For more: www.hubsportscenter.org SUBMITTED PHOTO

Michael Hassett photographed this belted kingfisher on the Centennial Trail in October.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Central Valley High School girls C squad soccer team went undefeated this season. The team is coached by Aaron Gruis.

A walk down memory lane Over 70 former classmates and their guests gathered for the West Valley High School 50th class reunion Sept.

25-27. The weekend began with a Friday night football game and tour of the high school. Saturday featured an evening of celebration at the Coeur d’Alene Inn followed by pizza in Millwood Park on Sunday. Gwyneth Cadwell said the reunion committee would like to thank all who joined in to make this such a special gathering.

Recurring KidFIT Spokane HUB Sports Center, 19619

E. Cataldo Ave. This children’s movement and fitness program offers classes in dance, gymnastics and cheerleading for girls and boys ages 3 and older. For more: 953-7501 or www. kidfitspokane.com

Sports opportunities HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Badminton, basketball open gym, pickleball, Zumba and other recreational options available. For more: hubsportcenter.org Yoga in Rockford 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Rockford Park. When the weather doesn’t allow, classes will be held in Dave’s Autobody.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

All calendar listings were provided to or gathered

by Current staff. Submit items for consideration by the 15th of the month to calendar@valleycurrent. com.

The Current

20 • NOVEMBER 2015 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors

Rousseau’s 90th birthday a celebration of a selfless servant

Spotlighting timely needs our community can meet together

By Craig Swanson

SPOKANE VALLEY SCOOP

Elaine and I got to know Tom Rousseau when we operated the Rock Inn, located at the corner of Sprague and Vista, nearly 10 years ago. During our four years there, he often walked the short distance from his office to have lunch. It was fun to get to know the guy who had been putting up witticisms for the whole Valley to ponder for years and years on the reader board sign in front of Rousseau's Insurance.

After the Rock Inn, when I began writing one-page biographies on local interesting people, I looked up Tom because I thought it would be interesting for people to learn about the guy who had been getting into the heads of hundreds every day if only for a passing moment.

I always liked this soft-spoken, dapper elderly fellow with a twinkle in both eyes, but I had no idea of his amazing depth of character nor his equally amazing breadth of experience until I sat down and asked him to give me his story. That is when I discovered that I had never met anyone like him.

After graduation in Dearborn, Mich., in 1943, Tom was ready to serve his nation at the age of 17 but his father refused to sign for him, and so he went to New York to study photography until he was old enough

Tom Rousseau shares photos he took during the Korean War with Elaine Swanson.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

to sign up on his own, which he did the day he turned 18. His father's reluctance kept Tom out of harm's way during what little time was left of World War II because the training he received in New York landed him an instructor's job after he completed Marine bootcamp.

"They sent me to the Naval photography school because the Marines did not have one," Tom told me as we sat alone in his office after hours. "Pretty soon, my instructor realized that I already knew the stuff and said that I would be more useful to him as a teacher."

It turns out his instructor was actor Leif Erickson, who many years later played Big John Cannon in the 1960s western, “The High Chaparral.”

When the war ended, Tom prudently sent out job query letters to small companies in several cities with populations around 100,000.

"I figured they would have more opportunity for me," he said, adding that he chose Spokane because of the falls.

Tom rode the train out alone, bunked at the YMCA and quickly found work as a Culligan man. Then he sent for his wife and their small child.

While Tom continued to serve his country in the reserves, work full time and attend Kinman Business University, he also began serving his new community by coaching American Legion baseball, which he would do for 22 seasons.

At the outset of the Korean War, Tom went back into full-time military service.

Tom went to Korea, serving this time as a combat Marine photographer, an experience he politely refused to talk about that evening.

At his wife's insistence, Tom left the Marines for good with the rank of sergeant major in 1955. Before discharging, he again wrote back to Spokane concerning his future.

"I knew I needed a job," Tom said, "and so I wrote Early Dawn Dairy, and they said, 'come to work.’"

For the next 11 years, he worked delivering milk in the Valley.

In 1963, he went to work nights at the post office while teaching himself the insurance business, which he also began in 1963 out of his basement.

Meanwhile, Tom and his wife were raising their three children in Edgecliiff, and he saw that the neighborhood could use his service. Tom was instrumental in the establishment of Edgecliff Park, serving on the committee and volunteering his labor.

He also noticed that Pratt Elementary had little to offer the kids after school, and so he worked to get a Cub Scouts organization established.

"I worked with the principal, and we sent out a letter to all the parents," he said.

"We got enough people to organize 14 Cub packs. It was a great success."

After leading the group for three years, Tom was awarded the rare Acorn Award by District 81.

See SELFLESS, page 21

To our friends and neighbors in the greater Spokane Valley: The holidays are a time of celebration, and Spokane Valley Partners works hard every year to share this celebratory spirit with the food bank clients served.

Specifically, the organization provides “holiday food baskets” for Thanksgiving and Christmas to help all of our neighbors celebrate this special season.

As with everything Spokane Valley Partners does, these efforts are only as successful as the many partners who contribute to the cause. Would you consider making a special effort to focus on donating food basket items like instant mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy, green beans, corn, muffin or cornbread mix, fruit, dessert mixes or other similar holiday items as Spokane Valley Partners gears up for the holiday season?

Donations can be dropped off at 10814 E. Broadway Ave., or call Spokane Valley Partners with any questions at 927-1153.

Thanks for joining us in helping to make this season bright for our entire community.

Sincerely,

The Arger Family

Investing in Spokane Valley since 1979 Local owners of Evergreen Fountains, sponsor of The Fountain senior spread in The Splash and The Current

The Current

NOVEMBER 2015 • 21

COMMUNITY

Trivia Test 1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital city of Australia?

2. MOVIES: Who won the 1961 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “West Side Story”?

3. MUSIC: Who is honored in the song “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John?

4. HISTORY: Who called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”?

5. NATURAL WORLD: What are the seeds of castor bean plants used to produce?

6. LITERATURE: Who wrote the novel “Barry Lyndon”?

7. ENTERTAINERS: What famous actor who once played James Bond also was a contestant in the 1950 Mr. Universe contest?

8. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: In “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, what present was sent on the 11th day?

9. TELEVISION: When did the awardwinning kids’ show “Sesame Street” go on the air?

10. DISCOVERIES: Who is credited with discovering quarks?

— 2015 King Features Syndicate Inc.

SELFLESS

albums, Tom told me about how he had established the Spokane chapter of the Shriners’ 10-Gallon Club, 30 years before. Since then he had given 105 pints, or 18-plus gallons, of his blood — one pint at a time.

When I left that night, I was in awe by how much he had given all through life, serving country, community, family and friends. Before learning his story, I had only known that he was a Shriner but not much else other than he was a supportive customer. He never talked about himself.

This Nov. 24, Tom turns 90. He is about as young as a World War II veteran can be, having enlisted at the youngest possible age a year before the war's end, but he is certainly a part of the quickly disappearing "Greatest Generation." In fact, he is the embodiment of what was special about that generation that humbly and courageously and repeatedly served their nation and their communities.

I just wish we could all go to his birthday party and wish him a happy birthday and tell him thanks for the decades of tireless, selfless service. After all, he deserves so much more, and all of us in the Valley and across America are in his debt.

Continued from page 20

In 1965, Tom had established his insurance business enough to open an office on Sprague next to Taco Time near the freeway.

Luckily for the rest of us, it had a reader board sign, on which he began his writing career.

It wasn't long before Tom found a new way to serve. In 1972, he became a Shriner and when they discovered his photography background, they put him to work. At the time of my story, Tom, who still worked full-time at age 81, traveled more than 30 days a year doing volunteer work photographing such events as the Shriner EastWest senior all-star game, which he hadn't missed since 1984.

As chairman of the Shriner International Photographers, with 22 photographers to keep track of, Tom earned the highest award that can be given a Shriner. That night in his office he showed me his small clustered work area with scissors and paper cutters and hundreds of small wooden cubicles containing thousands of photos from all 191 Shriners organizations and 22 hospitals. These were just the photos Tom did not use when he put together thick keepsake albums for each organization and hospital.

As I sat there trying to comprehend the hours of work involved in creating all those

Craig Swanson is a lifetime resident of Spokane Valley. He writes about Valley personalities and happenings on his blog, spokanevalleyscoop.wordpress.com.

Answers to Trivia Test

1. Canberra 2. Rita Moreno 3. Marilyn Monroe 4. Franklin Roosevelt, asking for a declaration of war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 5. Ricin, a toxic poison 6. William Thackeray 7. Sean Connery 8. 11 pipers piping 9. 1969 10. Murray Gell-Mann

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Daily Tours Locally Owned and Operated by the Arger Family

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• 509-922-3100 • 1201 N Evergreen Road, Spokane Valley • www.evergreenfountains.com

22 • NOVEMBER 2015

HISTORY

The Current

Valley rose to occasion during time of war

By Tyler Robbins and Jack Garrison SPOKANE VALLEY HERITAGE MUSEUM

From December 1941 until August 1945, the United States found itself in the middle of its second World War in just over 20 years. The “Greatest Generation” made their debut, and Americans came together to fight a war in Africa, Europe and Asia that cemented our stake as one of the world’s super powers. Communities across the nation pitched in servicemen, nurses, supplies, sold war bonds — anything that would help in the war effort.

“No family was left untouched,” longtime Spokane Valley resident (and co-author of this article) Jack Garrison remembers.

The Spokane Valley left its own, personal mark on World War II. Scrap metal and rubber recycling drives were organized all over the city. Schools and clubs ran fundraisers for money to buy war bonds. Kaiser Aluminum opened its doors at the Trentwood location, and housing developments popped up around the city to accommodate all the new defense workers moving into town. The Valley Herald paid to have copies of the weekly newspaper sent to the men and woman at the front. Those who could not fight did everything required on the home front to make the men and women overseas as safe as possible.

Being as thorough as possible, the Valley prepared its citizens for possible attacks at home. A six-part series appeared in The Valley Herald with tips to follow if an enemy gas attack were to occur. Valley schools ran the children through air raid drills, and citizens were urged to not have open fires after dark in case of aerial attacks. During the hunting season, hunters were urged to conserve ammunition in the event of an attack. The Valley was prepared for almost everything.

One thing that comes with war is something no one can fully prepare for, and that’s having members of your family and friends across an ocean paying the ultimate price.

Many brave Valley men took part in many pivotal battles during the war. AJ Whearty of Pasadena Park survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Clarence Herrmann of Millwood died in the Battle of Midway as a gunner on the destroyer “Hammond.” Valley boys fought in the South Pacific at places like Bataan, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and New Guinea. Lt. Marybelle Filer, Central Valley, described her daily routine as a nurse in New Guinea in a letter that was published in The Valley Herald. Former West Valley football coach and history teacher, Paul Radke, quit his job to enlist with former students. In Europe, Donald Nelson of Pasadena Park received the Silver Star in Italy as a medic. He dragged two wounded soldiers 75 yards under enemy fire back to an aid station. Archie Haugen of Greenacres took part in the invasion of Normandy on

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPOKANE VALLEY HERITAGE MUSEUM

This war surplus plant at Trentwood served a role during World War II before being repurposed by Kaiser Aluminum following the war as a sheet and plate-rolling mill.

Marybelle Filer, Central Valley High School class of 1938, served as a nurse in New Guinea.

Among many Valley-area residents who served during the war, Paul Radke left his teaching post at West Valley High School to enlist alongside students.

D-Day. While some died, others returned home with their experiences and propelled the United States into a position our country had not yet seen.

The Spokane Valley’s war years story may not be unique compared to other communities, but it is no less important. If it wasn’t for communities like the Valley making sacrifices, our nation’s history may be told differently. In honor of Veterans Day, remember these sacrifices made by our young city, leading out the Great Depression and into an era of the American Dream.

Paul David Okert, CV class of 1943, was among the thousands of young servicemen who were killed in action.

Tyler Robbins and Jack Garrison are volunteers at the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, 12114 E. Sprague Ave. Robbins is a history graduate of Eastern Washington University. Garrison moved to Greenacres in 1938 and has spent most of his life in the Valley.

Yearbooks, such as these from Otis Orchards (1942), above, and West Valley (1945) high schools, paid tribute to alumni serving in World War II.

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The Current

COMMUNITY

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Education Briefs SCC awarded grant Spokane Community College was awarded more than $2 million over five years to support college initiatives devoted to increasing student success and completion.

The grant, entitled the EPIC Project: to Engage, Prepare and Intrusively Advise Students to Completion, is part of a U.S. Department of Education Title III program that helps higher education institutions expand capacity to serve low-income students. According to a press release, the majority of SCC students are low-income (63 percent) and first-generation college students (65 percent).

This is the second Title III grant received by the Community Colleges of Spokane, as Spokane Falls Community College received a Department of Education Title III grant in 2006. For more information, call 434-5160.

Getty awarded scholarship Rachel Getty, a freshman at Biola University and resident of Spokane Valley, was among 47 students who received the college's highest scholarship, the Trustee's Scholarship, for the 2015-16 academic year.

Freshmen are eligible for the $12,000 per year scholarship based on a combination of their GPA and SAT, both math and English, scores. According to Biola's admis-

NOVEMBER 2015 • 23

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The Current

COMMUNITY

Brave heart, kind heart Remembering my real hero

Everywhere Nathan Howard called home, he shed a positive, nurturing light — and Spokane Valley was no exception.

My dad spent several years as a volunteer with Valley Meals on Wheels, driving a route with my mom, JoAnn, as they delivered warm food and warmer smiles to homebound residents. He always had an uncanny way of making people feel valued, like a wise appraiser who recognizes a partially obscured treasure.

When those on the route sometimes had trouble hearing a simple greeting, my dad would patiently lean over and offer another “hello,” aware that he and my mom would be the only visitors that most clients would see that day. My dad cared in a way that was genuine and, like a gifted point guard in basketball, seemed to make everyone around him better.

My folks moved to Veradale in 1999, leaving behind the traffic and high cost of living in the Puget Sound area. They never looked back. My dad acclimated quickly to the Inland Northwest, finding the best rivers and lakes for fishing while tinkering on an old RV that looked like something off the set of “The Beverly Hillbillies.” He quickly adopted the Gonzaga Bulldogs as his team and followed each March Madness by fastidiously filling out his bracket.

My parents first made the transition to Washington in 1970, when my dad took a job with Lone Star Concrete in Seattle. A well-respected quality control engineer, my dad would go on to earn national acclaim in his field, though he rarely talked about any personal accolades, preferring instead to simply work hard and provide for his family.

He started his own consulting company and had a thriving profession until 1993, when a congenital heart defect derailed his career. He would require a heart transplant, according to physicians at Oregon Health Science University in Portland.

When consulting with doctors there, he managed to reach back for some of his signature dry wit

By Craig Howard

CURRENT COLUMN

during a somber overview of his condition.

When told that he would die without a transplant, my dad paused for effect and said, with a straight face, “Could you be more specific?”

On Sept. 13, 1993, he was fortunate to receive a new heart. For 22 years, he savored his “second chance” while acknowledging that many in the same position are not so lucky. As a longtime volunteer with LifeCenter Northwest, he would speak on the importance of organ donation to anyone who would listen.

On the day of my dad’s transplant surgery, my mom drove him to the hospital, understandably nervous and in a bit of a hurry. Once again, my dad’s unique humor surfaced as a way to put those around him at ease.

“JoAnn, slow down, it’s me who’s having the baby!” my dad said.

In the years following his operation, my dad participated in several U.S. Transplant Olympics, competing in sports like basketball, tennis and, his favorite, volleyball. Some of my most cherished memories are of the two of us playing golf, walking the freshly cut fairways at Meadowwood, Trailhead or Painted Hills on bright summer afternoons. It didn’t matter who won — although my dad usually did — it was about spending quality time that you can never recapture.

My dad was always there for my mom, my brother, Stephen, and I. His nourishing, encouraging presence motivated and sustained me at all stages of my life, from the first day of school to my college years to when I started my own career path and family. When distressing storms

arose, my dad was inevitably the lighthouse that guided me back to safe ground.

My parents were remarkable examples of collaboration and commitment in marriage, caring for each other with the utmost love and attention. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 16.

Faith served as my dad’s unwavering foundation. He served a 30-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in Central America when he was 19 and would retain his grasp of the Spanish language his entire life. He and my mom would serve five missions together and volunteer at the Spokane LDS Temple on the southern outskirts of Spokane Valley.

For the past three years, my dad battled lymphoma. Once again, he saw the experience as a learning opportunity, a way to mold his character with faith as the catalyst. Throughout his treatment, he still made and gave away his trademark beeswax candles and healthy fruit smoothies. When strong enough, he even made his way to the Valley YMCA to play volleyball.

One of my dad’s favorite scriptures is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 and seems to sum up the optimism he wielded throughout his life: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.”

One of his Veradale neighbors may have put it best when he said, “I have used a line about Nathan now for some years: ‘When you are around Nathan Howard, he makes you feel like a better person — never a complaint, always a smile or one of his ‘Nathanisms.’”

I once asked my dad why he always took the high road in responding to his many challenges.

His answer was simple: “I don’t want to complain because I don’t want to be ungrateful for all I’ve been blessed with,” he said. “Also, I think about others that are worse off than me. If I’m bitter, I’m not making a positive difference.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Nathan Howard passed away on Aug. 30 following a valiant three-year battle with lymphoma.

Nathan and JoAnn Howard celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. The couple moved to Spokane Valley from the Seattle area in 1999.

On Aug. 30, the day my dad passed away, Spokane Valley and the surrounding region received the first rainfall we had seen in well over a month. The muchneeded precipitation left the air and landscape invigoratingly renewed. I later thought the effect closely resembled the impact my dad had on people. We all felt rejuvenated in his wake.

The last words my dad spoke to my brother and myself — through a severe cough and fading voice

— will always stick with me: “I’m proud of your accomplishments.”

Growing up, my heroes were always famous athletes, musicians or writers — but as I’ve grown older, that perspective has shifted. I know now that my real hero, for many reasons, is my dad. Reflecting back, I couldn’t be prouder of him.

Craig Howard is a veteran journalist and frequent contributor to The Current and The Liberty Lake Splash.

The Current

BUSINESS

Biz Notes Rockwood launches virtual visits Rockwood Health System recently introduced an innovative service that allows patients to a see a doctor for non-emergency health conditions.

The online service called VirtualHealthNow can be accessed via a free app from Google Play or the App Store or Rockwood’s website. It is intended for patients who have an urgent need to see a physician for minor health concerns. The doctor will evaluate and diagnose the patient as well as send prescriptions to the pharmacy, if necessary.

Visits are $39 and can be paid via debit or credit card. In addition, customers who sign up for a free VirtualHealthNow account by Nov. 25 will be registered to win a Fitbit Flex fitness tracker. For more, visit www. rockwoodhealthsystem.com.

Senske installs holiday décor Home and business owners looking for ways to use products that have less impact on the environment can turn to professional holiday decorators to help keep the “green” in the holiday season.

Specialists with Christmas Decor by Senske Lawn &Tree use versatile LED lights for eco-friendly outdoor displays, a press release said. In addition, clients receive input on the latest trends in exterior greenery and holiday decorating services, offering customized lighting displays, garlands, wreaths and bows. Installation, maintenance, removal and storage of all decorations are included in the package.

“Our décor specialists are already gearing up for early installations so that our clients simply need to ‘flip the switch’ to start the holiday season,” said Doug Warner, owner of Christmas Decor by Senske Lawn &Tree.

For more, call 535-3591 or visit www.christmasdecor.net.

Hennessey celebrates 20 years at Valley location Hennessey Valley Funeral Home celebrated 20 years at the 1315 N. Pines Road location in October. Hennessey Funeral Homes has been serving the Spokane area for over 95 years. For more, visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.

INB acquires Bank of Fairfield Northwest Bancorporation, the holding company of Inland Northwest Bank (INB), announced in October that it completed the acquisition of Fairfield Financial Holdings Corp. and its subsidiary, Bank of Fairfield.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Bank of Fairfield’s employees and customers to Inland Northwest Bank,” Randall Fewel, president and CEO of Northwest Bancorporation, said in a press release. “Fairfield has the same outstanding reputation for delivering great customer service as we pride ourselves on at INB, so we expect the cultures to mesh very well.”

As of closing, the combined entity had approximately $600 million in total assets.

The release said the company expects to operate 15 branches in eastern Washington and Idaho. For more, visit www.inb.com.

Providence gives to fire relief Providence Health & Services recently made a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross Northwest Region. The donation will support recovery efforts for residents living in the path of wildfires that affected communities served by Providence Health Care, as well as help the region prepare for future emergencies.

Others wishing to make a monetary donation can still do so by visiting www. redcross.org.

Uncle Sam's moves to Valley Uncle Sam’s Flag & Gift relocated to 14109 E. Sprague Ave., suite 6 in Spokane Valley last July.

Formerly located in Spokane’s NorthTown Mall, the store specializes in commercial and residential flagpoles, flags, sports and military caps, apparel and gifts.

The business also participates in area fairs, festivals and trade shows.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more, visit www.usflagspokane.com.

Local builders receive Festival of Homes awards New home construction awards were recently presented to builders who participated in 11th annual Fall Festival of Homes.

A number of Valley-area builders received awards in multiple categories including Camden Homes, Eric Madsen Homes LLC, Greenstone, Hayden Homes LLC and Markham Homes Inc. A number of the homes from the show have sold, and all homes in the Festival are still featured at www.SpokaneFestivalofHomes.com.

Current, Splash to publish holiday gift guide Local businesses are being offered an opportunity to showcase local gift ideas and menu items in the "Eat, Shop and Be Merry" holiday guide. Deadline to reserve an ad in the guide is Nov. 12.

The guide will be included in the December issues of The Splash and The Current, a combined 18,000 copies. It will be distributed Nov. 23-24 throughout the greater Valley area and will remain on newsstands until Christmas.

The Current is also soliciting input on the best gift ideas and menu items that can be found in the Valley area. Email editor@ valleycurrent.com with your recommendations for Valley dining and gift-buying.

NOVEMBER 2015 • 25

Valley Chamber Valley Chamber

HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

CONNECT.

EMPOWER.

INNOVATE.

Annual Meeting:

“The best way to predict your future is to CREATE it” Friday, November 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

CONNECT.

EMPOWER.

INNOVATE.

Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N Sullivan Rd, Spokane Valley

Building a Plan for Keynote Speaker: Business We are honored to welcome as our keynote Tourism in Washington Connections

speaker, Edmund Schweitzer III, President Washington remains the only state that does notDr. have of the Schweitzer EngineeringOct. Laboratories.

Schweitzer 16, 7-9 a.m. a state-wide tourism program. In 2011, Washington Engineering Tourism Office closed and a grassroots effort was Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) has been Mirabeau Park Hotel launched by tourism industry leaders making to advocate electric power safer, more reliable, and 1100 N Sullivan Rd, on creating a sustainable funding model for economical tourism more for overSpokane 30 years. SEL has Valley promotion. grown from half a dozen employees working in Dr.

$25 - Members

Schweitzer’s basement to($35 overafter 4,000October employees 12)

The Washington Tourism Alliance was established world-wide, meeting the complex and unique as a not-for-profit organization. The WTA worked to $35 - Future Members needs of session their customers with the highest levels of introduce legislation during the 2015 legislative ($45 after October 12) andalive, service in the industry. As a company, and progress was made. Although thequality bill is still funding has not yet been secured. SEL employee owners endeavor to incorporate UNDERWRITTEN BY:

innovation and creativity into the work that they do In this program, for an informative industry that moves energy at the speed of light. Dr. Schweitzer will share his our speaker, Cheryl Kilday, passion for creativity and innovation, and the importance of “grit” in driving prosperity.

President & CEO of Visit Spokane and current Board For more information, visit spokanevalleychamber.org Chair for the Washington S AV E T H E D AT E Tourism Alliance, will present UNDERWRITTEN BY: November 20 information about the plans for a Annual Meeting state-wide tourism program and Keynote by Dr. Edmund what it means to your business: O. Schweitzer, III

»

• Update on the legislative plans for the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) • What challenges need to be addressed in the next legislative session

»

December 18 Business Connections Lunch “Stories of Good Will”

For more information • Determine whether you’d like to join the or to register, visit: cause to establish a state-wide tourism S AV E T H E D AT E spokanevalleychamber.org program for Washington state December 18 | Business Connections Lunch: Stories of Good Will An inspiring to initiatives honor our nonprofit members.Spokane Valley Theevent BIG 5 for the Greater For more information or to register, visit spokanevalleychamber.org were announced in September.

FOR

T HE

GREAT ER

SPOKANE VALLEY

Learn more at spokanevalleychamber.org

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

26 • NOVEMBER 2015

The Current

BUSINESS

Challender still enjoys putting ‘Books in Motion’

By Valerie Putnam

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

During a routine road trip in 1978, Gary Challender made a discovery that changed the course of his life.

“I was traveling to Pasco for my insurance business,” he recalled. “I tuned the radio to PBS. Dick Estelle from the University of Michigan was reading a book on the air.”

After listening intently to the story, Challender found himself 30 miles further down the highway and wanting more. After conducting a failed search for audiobooks, Challender decided to create his own. He bought the rights to three books in the Executioner/Mack Bolan series and hired a reader from the EWU drama department.

Two years and 20 book titles later, Challender converted his hobby into Books in Motion (BIM) in 1980, which at the time was one of only three American companies producing audiobooks. The company is based in Spokane Valley.

Today, Challender is still hard at work, releasing two new titles each week with a backlog of over 80 titles. During this time, Books in Motions competition has increased to over 600 companies nationwide.

The books Challender selects to convert have to pass his reading test.

“We will publish any book that I read and can’t put down,” Challender said. “If it doesn’t capture me in the first two chapters, forget it.”

Challender says about 50 different voices have been used to read chosen selections over the years. Gene Engene from the Eastern Washington University Drama Department has been with Challender from the beginning.

“Gene has been instrumental in helping us gain popularity with his wonderful reading,” Challender said. “Both the LA Times and The Philadelphia Enquirer named Gene one of the best readers in the country.”

Books in Motion operates out of an 8,000-square-foot office space on Montgomery Avenue.

The business features two studios and a large audiobook store

inside.

“We opened the store to the general public,” Challenger said about the 2011 opening, “and offer 40 to 60 percent discounts if they come into the store to buy audio books.”

Challender further markets his books wholesale to Amazon, Audible, Overdrive and a dozen other dotcoms worldwide.

“We are currently entertaining an offer from a Russian company to provide audiobooks to their website,” Challender said.

Over the years, BIM has grown through adversity while adapting to survive technologic advances such as the invention of CDs in the ’80s and the digital world of today.

Challender founded the business at the same time he owned and operated a Life and Health Insurance Brokerage Business.

His wife, Connie, helped manage both businesses, which operated out of the same location.

At the beginning, skeptics scoffed at Challender’s unique business idea.

“Word got back to me that the manager of the studio (he was using to record his books) was laughing at me,” Challender said. “Even Connie was skeptical. But true entrepreneurs persist and usually win.”

Not phased by the skeptics, he began publishing unabridged books.

“We recorded a number of nonfiction business-related audiobooks that did quite well,” Challender said. “We also provided audio tapes for Stanford University’s Alumni Continuing Education Program.”

However, three years later, Challender found his business failing and financially bankrupt.

Business turned around after Challender convinced author Ben Gay III to publish his book, “The Closers,” in an audio version. BIM sold a high quantity of copies and suddenly there was money in the bank.

He followed that series with Russ Von Hoelscher bestselling books, including “Selling Information by Mail,” and the business began to thrive.

In 1988, BIM published its first original fiction manuscript,

“Texans on the Powder,” written

by M&M Lehman. Originally offered to Challender through an agent, the manuscript languished on his desk until a surprise visit by the author.

“Unannounced into my office comes an elderly lady in a wheelchair pushed by her husband,” Challender said about Marietta and Maynard (M&M) Lehman’s visit. “She wheels up to my desk and puts a fist down and says, ‘Are you going to publish our manuscript or not.’”

Challender published the manuscript, and it became BIM’s No. 1 bestseller in the late ’80s.

“We went on to publish 28 audiobooks by M&M Lehman,” Challender said. “They were all well received by the public and public libraries.”

In the early ’90s, Challender ventured into truck stops with a nationwide audiobook rental program. It was in 600 locations with over 100,000 drivers enrolled in the program.

“Truck stops loved the program,” Challender said. “The audiobooks moved so fast we had a hard time keeping the display racks filled. We were sending out 26,000 audiobooks a month.”

Then along came the invention of CDs, and the truck stop program came to an end.

“They ruined the program,” Challender said about the introduction of CDs. “We could only get about three rentals before they got scratched and damaged.”

Challender closed the truck stop program in 2006 and sold Books in Motion. When he took the business back a year later, it had a $46,000 deficit.

“I took it back so I could unretire,” Challender said. “I was more than happy to get it back and love the new challenge of reviving it.”

By the end of 2008, Challender grew it again to an $80,000 gain. Now 77, Challender has no retirement plans in his future.

“To some folks, running a business can be a real chore,” Challender said. “For me, there is nothing I would rather do; it’s fun and challenging.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A pioneer in the audiobook industry, Gary Challender first got the idea for Books in Motion from hearing a book read on the radio.

BOOKS IN MOTION 9922 E. Montgomery #31, Spokane Valley

actresses or radio announcers to meet criteria. Each reader makes an estimated $50-65 per hour.

Established: 1980

Most popular book: BIM’s alltime best-selling series was “The Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, selling tens of thousands of copies. Challender also published 16 books in the J.P. Beaumont series written by J.A. Jance, which too became a big seller.

Employees: Currently nine employees. During the 1990s Truck Stop Rental Program, BIM employed 17.

“Left Behind still sells well,” Challender said. “Jance and David Eddings’ fantasies run at about the same pace.”

Audio book market: Spokane and worldwide including Japan, Netherlands, Australia, England and Germany.

Current popular genres: Fantasy, Christian, fiction and mystery

What: Spokane Valley audiobook publisher, going from one audiobook to an estimated 4,000 titles with 2,000 in digital format.

Owners: Gary and Connie Challender

How books are selected: Any book Challender reads and “can’t put down.” It takes roughly 20 hours to produce. A typical book is 12 hours in length and costs an average of $15.

Entire catalog can be viewed at www.booksinmotion.com. Many free audiobooks are available.

Challender auditioned hundreds of readers, but only 50 qualified. Readers had to be actors,

Cost to publish: Gaining the rights to publish fiction titles, Challender pays royalties to the author. The royalty for publishing Jance’s work was the highest at $20,000.

Interesting facts: Challender grew up in Centralia. He attended SFCC and EWU. He was 40 years old when he started Books in Motion. His favorite book is “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” by John Fox Jr.

The Current

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 2015 • 27

Polls, seeds and other suspect sports barometers

By Mike Vlahovich THE FINAL POINT

I don’t put much stock in high school sports ranking polls other than perhaps as barometer for end-of-season tournament seeding — which tourney administrators tend to ignore anyway.

I cringed when charged with voting, wondering how you could trust the vote of a prep writer 300 miles removed from teams he never gets to see.

Other than the record, there’s not much else to go on. Unless it was, say, Ferris during its back-to-back unbeaten basketball seasons, you won’t get much loving here from the majority of pollsters whose teams are from the other side of the state.

You could skew the poll by placing a local team unrealistically high, but I didn’t

want to appear biased so usually picked my teams somewhere in the middle of the state poll unless they were dominant.

Pity, therefore, those volleyball coaches statewide trying to choose who to rank from among a quartet of teams in the Greater Spokane League, let alone throughout the state.

Ultimate champion Central Valley, University, Mead and Gonzaga Prep at one point were separated by a game heading into the home stretch of the GSL. University at one time was ranked ninth in the 4A poll before the Titans went down in straight sets to the rival Bears. Afterwards, U-Hi moved up to seventh while CV slipped into the rankings at 10th.

Last month’s 64-team Linda Sheridan Classic here annually features many of the state’s finest teams and typically is a good benchmark if you’re in a polling mood. But the way it was seeded in several instances didn’t do poll voters any favors.

Indeed, if the final results were to be believed, Gonzaga Prep’s junior varsity is bet-

See FINAL POINT, page 28

Scores of Valley teams enter postseason play

By Mike Vlahovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Central Valley iced the cake in football this year, accomplishing what it set out to do by righting last season’s uncharacteristic losing season with a 6-2 record and second 4A Greater Spokane League playoff seed. A win Oct. 30 in the Greasy Pig rivalry game with University would be the icing on the cake heading into the following week’s playoffs.

A golden opportunity for the Titans slipped through their fingers, and a season of promise ended on a dismal note. But a victory at CV offers a chance to salve the hurt.

“Our first goal was to make the playoffs,” CV coach Rick Giampietri said, recalling preseason ambitions. “Just getting in is important, and it’s important to get the second spot.”

The offense has done its job, but it’s been defense that spurred the Bears. Since giv-

ing up 467 yards in their season opener, the Bears have allowed only one other team to amass more than 300 (GSL champ Gonzaga Prep).

They lead the league in total defense, holding four other teams to an average of 175 yards total offense per contest.

“The linebacker core and secondary have been solid and our defensive line (led by Jordan Talafili) is having a good year,” Giampietri said.

He ticked off the names of most of his defensive crew, including fellow D-linemen Terrell Harrison, a junior, and freshman 260-pounder Wyatt Wickham.

Junior linebackers Travis Hawkins and Chase Gilbert have played well, Giampietri said, along with Adam Alvarez.

In the defensive backfield, Tanner Gummersal has been lights out.

“I don’t know how the little guy gets it done, but he just makes plays,” Giampietri said.

Ben Craig and Christian Williams at the corners have done their job and sophomore

See NOTEBOOK, page 30

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jack Paukert is a three-sport standout at Freeman High School. This year, he has been a go-to contributor for the Scotties’ offense, scoring 17 touchdowns in the team’s first six games.

CURRENT PHOTO BY MIKE VLAHOVICH

Sandwich-fueled Paukert driving Freeman football

By Mike Vlahovich

CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR

Jack Paukert’s game-day ritual that began his sophomore year playing on Freeman’s state championship football team remains the same.

A trip down to Subway on 32nd Avenue in the Spokane Valley before home games for an Italian BMT on Italian herbs and cheese bread fuels him much like Popeye, who downed spinach to pump up those mighty forearms.

“A couple of guys before our first game said, ‘do you want to get a bite to eat?’”

Paukert recalled. “So after the championship game, I had to keep doing it. You can’t mess with tradition.”

Particularly when it works. This senior season, his first as a full-time running back, Paukert had carried the ball roughly 25 times per game for some 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in the Scotties’ first six games.

“I grew up a running back, so I wanted that,” said Paukert, a four-year, threesport varsity letterman who carries a near-perfect grade point average.

The previous two years he played

mainly receiver and was a mainstay defender. Once given the chance to carry the ball, Paukert has made the most of it.

“If it’s working, you stay with it,” Freeman coach Jim Wood said. “Jack has pretty much carried us on the offensive side.”

Back-to-back games early in the season is a case in point: Paukert rushed a combined 51 times for 450 yards and eight of his touchdowns.

Paukert’s dad, Rob, was a middle linebacker at Gonzaga Prep 35 years ago and his son’s coach when Jack began playing Grid Kids in the fourth through sixth grades.

Rob said that when he was in diapers, Jack already had a knack for sports. He told the story of how, when he was 18 months old, he hit a plastic ball that flew across the room and clipped his greatgrandmother.

By the time he began organized football, “he dominated,” the University High English teacher said. “He was all over the field, would score three or

See PAUKERT, page 29

OPINION

28 • NOVEMBER 2015

Citizenship comes with duty attached

By Ozzie Knezovich

CURRENT GUEST COLUMN

The PACE character trait for November is citizenship. Citizenship is often thought of in two ways. The first way people may think of citizenship is one’s legal status of being a citizen of a country. In looking at citizenship in this way, the mere fact that you live in a country and have sworn or affirmed your allegiance to the country makes you a member of that country’s society. In this respect, citizenship is belonging to the collective community or society. However, citizenship is much more than just living in and belonging to a country.

Citizenship is also accepting that there are duties and responsibilities that come with being a member of a community or country. As citizens, we have duties and responsibilities to ensure that our communities are safe, that all members of our country are treated fairly and respectfully, that we protect those members of our society that may not be able to do so on their own and to make our communities and country a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed based on their honest efforts.

When I was going to school, we were graded on our citizenship skills. We were graded on how well we worked with fellow classmates, teachers and other members of our school community. Our grades depended on if we actually treated each other with respect, the amount of help we gave others, how well we followed the rules and if we contributed positive ideas and behaviors within our classrooms and school.

We were taught that we had a responsibility to make sure that our schools were clean, safe and that others felt respected. There was an expectation that we would follow the rules and to let those in authority know if

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

rules were being broken. It was really up to us to make sure that our school was a place that everyone wanted to attend and be part of, and to help those in need.

These are the same things that our community and our country expect of all its citizens. As a community and country, we have the same responsibilities. It is our job as citizens to ensure that our communities are safe, to obey the laws, to help others in need and to make our community and country a place where everyone feels that they belong.

My great grandfather was very proud to be a citizen of the United States of America.

When he received his citizenship, he stated, “I am finally a citizen of my country.”

He considered the United States to be his country long before he was actually granted his citizenship. He worked hard and became a citizen of the country he loved and worked to make our country the best place he could.

Our forefathers gave us a great nation, which is guided by one of the greatest documents ever written, the Constitution of the United States of America. The Constitution lists the rights granted to the citizens of the United States. With those great rights come great responsibilities. It is the efforts we all put into making our country a great place to live for all our people that will determine how well we honor those great rights we were given.

The Current

Letter to the Editor

RIM rides to success The Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who participated in the fifth annual Rotary in Motion (RIM) ride. We would especially like to thank all of the volunteers for their help and support to make this event a success.

Volunteers included the Christian Motorcycle Club, the Bike Hub, Nancy Brubaker and all of our Liberty Lake Rotarians.

Momentum Ink printed our very cool long sleeve Tech-shirts. The Liberty Lake Jimmy John’s sandwiches were enjoyed by everyone.

We appreciate the support from our major sponsors, including the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, Washington Trust Bank, Greenstone, Meadowwood Technology Campus, Avista, Baker Construction, Liberty Closing & Escrow, Vista Window Cleaning, Mountain Dog Sign Company, Storage Solutions, Inland Insur-

ance, Blue Bunny, Haggen, the Bike Hub, the Kitchen Engine and State Farm.

This year’s family five-mile RIM ride was held on Saturday, Sept. 19, and the 15-, 25-, 50- or 100-mile routes were held on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Liberty Lake Rotary Club was thrilled to have over 300 cyclists participate this year! Each route included supported rest stops with great snacks, some of which were donated by Haggen. We had 49 riders complete the 100-mile challenge ride and 105 riders completed the 50-mile scenic ride around Hauser and Newman lakes.

The proceeds from this year’s ride will benefit the Liberty Lake Rotary Club, including various projects in our local community.

Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Rotary in Motion (RIM) Ride on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.

Mandy Desgrosellier

Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary

Ozzie Knezovich has been sheriff of Spokane County for the past nine years and in law enforcement for 25 years. He wrote this column as part of a series highlighting the Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE) trait of the month.

FINAL POINT Continued from page 27

ter than the Bullpups’ A team. (Hmmm.

What’s wrong with this picture?)

The baby Bullpups reached the Platinum or championship bracket through fortuitous seeding by winning one of 16 fourteam pools. Understandably, they finished last among the top 16 teams.

Their elders were lumped into a pool that included the coaches’ fifth ranked 4A school, Battle Ground, lost, thus finishing as runner-up and were relegated to a second-tier bracket.

Likewise, CV was unceremoniously tossed into a pool with the coaches’ thirdranked and ultimate Linda Sheridan runner-up Eisenhower of Yakima. CV thus

finished lower than the Bullpup JV as well.

Such pool seeding was odd considering in an earlier Sun Dome Volleyball Festival in Yakima, CV beat Ike to reach the finals against West Valley-Yakima, the state’s top-ranked team and eventual Sheridan champ. Bears coach Laurie Quigley was unconcerned since several varsity regulars were taking SATs and she got to play against her mom Julie Yearout’s West Valley team.

“It was good for our team,” she told me.

“We don’t look at (the poll).The only stat I care about is did we win and what can we do to get better.”

Mead also had a rugged draw that included fourth-ranked 3A school AuburnRiverside, but won its pool and thus was the highest GSL finisher, taking seventh in the championship bracket that not only in-

cluded Prep’s junior varsity, but also Ferris, which was winless in the GSL at the time yet placed 13th overall, higher than University, second in league at the time, the Bears and Bullpups.

We can quibble over the reasons why the pairings seemed skewed, but that’s beside the point. Regardless, the Linda Sheridan Classic is a great venue for teams to test themselves against the state’s best regardless of pool.

And I continue to believe that in all sports that ultimately the polls are irrelevant. It comes down to the athletes in the field of battle.

That’s why they play the game.

Mike Vlahovich is a longtime Spokane Valley sportswriter and member of the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame Scroll of Honor.

The Current

SPORTS

Volume 4, Issue 11 EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Josh Johnson

GENERAL MANAGER

Tammy Kimberley

Sarah Burk

josh@valleycurrent.com tammy@valleycurrent.com GRAPHICS EDITOR

sarah@valleycurrent.com

CIRCULATION Dean Byrns Stefanie Byrns Mike Wiykovics

circulation@valleycurrent.com CONTRIBUTORS

Lauren Campbell, Jack Garrison, Gwendolyn Haley, Craig Howard, Bob Johnson, Chad Kimberley, Treva Lind, Valerie Putnam, Tyler Robbins, Craig Swanson, Mike Vlahovich

On the cover: Current design concept by Sarah Burk

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PAUKERT Continued from page 27

four touchdowns a game and tackled everybody. He’d tear the ball out of a guy’s hands and run for a touchdown.”

His freshman year at Freeman, Jack played on the frosh, jayvee and varsity teams, the latter mainly in blowout games.

During the magical unbeaten state championship season in 2013, the Scotties had plenty running backs, but Jack found his spot defensively and occasionally as a slot receiver. He scored a couple touchdowns, one on a 68-yard punt return, and recovered a fumble to preserve Freeman’s 28-20 comeback semifinal victory after being down 20-0 at half.

And the Italian BMT ritual was born and carries on (“I have to do that; I’m very superstitious.”)

“That team was absolutely stacked,” Paukert recalled of the title team. “Our scout team was probably better than half the teams we played. (But) I never knew how good of a team we had (at the time) because I was a sophomore.”

Last year the team needed a receiver and Wood’s theory is that you put the best 11 kids on the field, “somehow, some way.”

So that’s where Paukert played, as well as at defensive back. He had eight receiving touchdowns and another punt return TD. This year, Freeman has taken the air out of the ball, and Jack is focused at the position Wood always envisioned for him.

“I figured it would probably be the way it ended up,” Wood said. “He is a high-intensity, hard-nosed football player.”

That carried over into other sports.

He had a 12.7 points per game average last year as point guard in basketball and played catcher on Freeman’s state fourthplace baseball team.

“Wherever I can get on the field, I’ll do my best,” Paukert said, “whether special teams or whatever.”

His parents are as proud of his record in the classroom as on the field, maybe more so, Rob said.

The academically driven youngster is taking four Advanced Placement classes and two college level courses.

Jack has followed in his sister Emily’s footsteps. Four years older, she was a standout during Freeman’s state basketball dynasty and, like her, he plans to become an accountant.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder expects to enroll at Washington State, where he has applied to be a manager for the Cougars and remain close to football.

“The thing I’m most proud of,” said Rob, “is he gives his all in everything. When he wants something, he really goes for it and he’s really determined.”

Italian BMTs beware.

NOVEMBER 2015 • 29

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SPORTS

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Continued from page 27

Chase Edwards — who had a 105-yard interception return TD against Gonzaga Prep — “is a real talent.”

Offensively, quarterback Tanner Sloan is second in the GSL in passing and heading into CV’s final two games had gone 102-for178 for 1,185 yards.

Gage Connole had rushed for 407 yards and nine touchdowns.

U-Hi jumped to a 5-0 start, outscoring its opposition 214-44. Stats were deceiving.

The Titans dropped three straight against fellow GSL 4A teams, including a late loss to Lewis and Clark and mistake-plagued defeat in a shootout with Mead that spoiled the season and denied them the playoffs.

But it couldn’t overshadow the efforts of junior Tre’von Tuggles, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound tailback who rushed for a whopping 173 yards against Mead and leads the league with 541 going into CV, plus another 262 in two non-league games, including 206 in Sandpoint.

Quarterback Logan O’Neill also leads the GSL in passing with 1,272 yards — including 312 against Mead — 15 passing touchdowns, 1,716 yards overall and four rushing touchdowns.

And Griffin Thorson led the league in receiving with 28 catches for 494 yards heading into the CV game.

The Great Northern League looks like a repeat of last year, with a wild and wacky season going down to the final week.

With a game to play, West Valley (5-3 overall) shared the league lead with three other teams, and East Valley completed its league season at 2-2 (4-4 overall).

The Eagles travel to Clarkston to decide a playoff spot. Johnny Sage has been a jackof-all-trades this season, rushing, catching and throwing for touchdowns. Quarterback Hunter Wright has thrown to several receivers for scores, including Hunter Ferguson and Tevin Duke.

The Knights, as expected, were anchored

by QB Dante Clayton, with Colin Spendlove among his favorite targets.

In the Northeast A League, Freeman’s two losses in league and a 5-3 record overall have the team scrambling to reach postseason. Jack Paukert has scored 20 times this year, and quarterback JT Neely has thrown for nine scores and rushed for another.

Volleyball Central Valley volleyball players successfully negotiated a three-team gauntlet that secured its second straight Greater Spokane League championship, but the first for rookie coach Laurie Quigley.

CV’s senior-laden team took up where it left off, led by All-GSL selections KeAnn White, the Bears top hitter, and setter Jade Rockwood. Morgan Ness, Hannah Rei-

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man (plus junior Sydney Johnson, one of just four varsity underclass members), have been tough at the net as well, and libero Meghan Rockwood anchors the back row.

University placed third in league behind the Bears and Mead. Sophomore Rachael Schlect averaged 15 kills per GSL match and led the team in blocks, with ample help from Daryn Griffith. Kendall Collins took over setter duties and averaged some 34 per match.

Playoffs begin Oct. 29.

East Valley’s Jordan Phelan continued to carry the Knights, who were third in league.

Building West Valley won one match in league, but took several to four and five games, including the league’s top two teams.

Jordyn Rauer and Taija Williams provided the power.

Freeman was undefeated with two matches left in the Northeast A League, and everyone had a hand in the success. Alisha Straw had 22 kills in a five-set match in Colville. Hayley Damon, Bayley Stejer, Hannah Hansen, Taylor Rice and Helen Forman all did their parts in the outcomes.

Soccer The University Titans finished second in a taut four-team GSL scramble behind unbeaten Gonzaga Prep. The Titans finished 7-2, both losses coming by 1-0 scores, including against Central Valley in a shootout.

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As young as CV’s girls soccer team is, there were bound to be some bumps along the road, but the Bears were 6-3 and squeezed into the postseason.

Sophomore Kaelyn Barnes remained the team’s leading scorer with 14 goals, and freshman Kailyn Labrosse was up to eight as CV’s main offensive threats.

East Valley and West Valley tied for the GNL lead at 10-2, each of their three matches decided by a goal. The Eagles won twice.

Ashley Meyer was a scoring machine, tallying 13 goals during the regular season. Several others scored four, including veteran Jenna Sullens.

The Knights had plenty of firepower. The Bastins, Maddie and Skylar, divvied up 22 goals evenly, Hannah Burland and Micaela Verdal each scored six.

Freeman was second in the NEA behind Deer Park with two matches remaining, including one against the Stags. Freshmen Brynn Van Orden with 10- goals and Lindsay Balkenbush with nine, led the way, with support from several teammates including, Alisa Miller’s six.

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Cross Country Postseason competition is on deck with several state aspirants.

University returns virtually its entire boys lineup from last year’s state qualifer, led by Isaac Barville and Hunter Simpson. Titan Claire Dingus is among the GSL’s best girls.

Kearan Nelson and Briegan Bester have paced the veteran Central Valley girls team chasing a state return. Gabe Romney and Isaac Nicholls are state vets as well.

East Valley’s Brittany Aquino is among the State 2A title contenders, and West Valley junior Jacob Nicholson was undefeated in league and placed second in district.

Slowpitch softball Softball is a continuing case of déjà vu.

University and Central Valley ride high atop the league.

University defended its regular season championship, its only hiccup a loss to the Bears, who won 14 of their final 16 games.

Sixteen Titans hit safely during the year, led by Gracee Dwyer, Kirsten Anstrom, Makala Marshall and Courtney Awbery, who all had 30 or more.

There was a stretch of nine games in which CV’s Macie Reynolds had three or four hits in each. Jordan Schneidmiller, Hannah Anderson, Aubrey Williams and Maci Peha were others with big bats.

The Current

PARTING SHOTS

NOVEMBER 2015 • 31

Painting with pachyderms

CURRENT PHOTOS BY BOB JOHNSON

A holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas

Manny Garcia, above, gets an up close session with one of the show horses, while Brittany Sisco, below, visits with a horse and his handler.

A circus visit to Spokane brought a special opportunity for some Central Valley School District students. CV special-needs students were invited to paint ‘Pachyderm Picasso’ portraits with Asian elephants from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Asia, the elephant on the left in the photo above, is 47 years old and April, on the right, is five years old. The event took place Oct. 9 at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena prior to the Spokane engagement of the allnew circus show “Built To Amaze!”

“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will champion what the Valley area has to offer in the way of gifts and food. Advertise in this holiday guide aimed at area consumers and businesses — and as a bonus we’ll include your idea as part of our story featuring can’t-miss local gift ideas. Restaurants are encouraged to advertise and contribute a tantalizing menu item for our article on dining out.

Gabe Martelle shows off his painting of an elephant, while Luke Chilberg, below, works on his own masterpiece. Asia, at left, also displayed her skills by painting a self-portrait.

Instructors from the CV program use art as a way to teach students how to express themselves.

At the conclusion of the circus event, students showed off their own paintings.

On November 23 and 24, the guides will be distributed throughout the greater Valley area via The Splash and The Current. The December issues are strategically scheduled to land before Thanksgiving, just in time to remind residents about supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28) and throughout the holiday season.

The Current

32 • NOVEMBER 2015

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