2024 January Current

JANUARY

2024

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2

• JANUARY 2024

The Current

RIVER CROSSING

Lead Watch – Conway guides SCOPE into new chapter

By Craig Howard Current Contributing Editor

Growing up in the West Valley community, Chris Conway learned the importance of practicing goodwill as a way to change the world.

Conway saw people of all types and abilities treated with dignity and respect. The example set the tone for her life and career.

“My parents helped me realize that I wanted to help others,” Conway says. “Our whole family is built on helping others before yourself.”

Conway worked at Rosauers while she was a student at West Valley High School and continued there after graduating in 1985.

Eventually her professional path found its way to Goodwill where she had volunteered with her parents as a kid.

all the people all the time.”

Conway carried those lessons to SCOPE, first as a volunteer at the University Station in Spokane Valley in April 2015 and next as the administrative assistant to Rick Scott, longtime director, beginning that July.

When Scott announced in early 2022 that he would be retiring after 25 years with SCOPE, Conway interviewed for the job and began as director that May. Conway leads an organization known as “the extra eyes and ears of law enforcement.” Going into December, SCOPE volunteers had logged over 40,000 hours in 2023.

Over 250 volunteers contribute to a wide array of SCOPE programs, including Operation Family I.D., Neighborhood Watch, Disabled Parking Control, Radar Watch and over a dozen others.

Conway says SCOPE could always use more recruits and points out there is a variety of work to be done. The minimum requirement is

four hours a month. Trainings are held every month.

she said. “This is just about people wanting to make a difference.”

“We have 20 programs,” she said. “We have one volunteer who works at a bank and saw abandoned vehicles and started helping with that program. It’s what you are passionate about.”

Q: What did you enjoy about growing up in the West Valley community?

Conway has made it a point to emphasize the importance of volunteers to the success of SCOPE. “We’re trying to build that appreciation,” Conway says.

“We want volunteers to have that incentive that what they’re doing is important. As a leader, I think you have to lead by example and focus on the positive. Sometimes we just have to be good listeners.

Sometimes people just want to be heard.”

The use of QR codes and other technology are part of Conway’s efforts to stay up to speed on ways to increase efficiencies and promote the organization.

“I believe in what we’re doing,”

In eight years at Goodwill, she worked at the North Nevada store and later the downtown site as manager. It was there that she mentored an employee who came to Goodwill weighed down by the effects of a traumatic past. Conway exercised patience and compassion as a boss and friend, helping the woman overcome a variety of social and emotional hurdles.

Q: Speaking of the Valley, half of the SCOPE stations are situated in the greater Valley area.

Considering this is an organization that covers all of Spokane County, what is it about the Valley that has fostered so much interest in SCOPE? A: The population of the Valley is growing, residents want to make a difference in their community by giving back. We are grateful and appreciative to the residents for choosing to volunteer for SCOPE, helping our law enforcement men and women, being eyes and ears in the community and helping at community events.

Q: How have you tried to expand the brand of SCOPE in the time you’ve been director?

“I just wanted to support her any way I could,” Conway said.

“She knew she had a purpose every day. I made sure my team treated her the same way I did.”

Over five years, the woman’s self-esteem grew like a wellnourished plant.

“When I first met her, she was withdrawn,” Conway recalls.

“She became someone who was laughing, stable and confident. She made a huge impact on me and how I tried to pull the best out of

A: My mom, dad, brother and I all went to West Valley High School. I was born and raised in the West Valley community. I loved the close family community feel and the neighborhood barbecues.

I also loved the fact that so many of my friends and classmates lived close in the neighborhood, when we all used to gather under the streetlights for games throughout the neighborhood.

Photo by Craig Howard Chris Conway took over as director of Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) in May 2022. She began as a volunteer with the organization in April 2015 and was named administrative assistant that July.

A: Yes, since I have been director, we have onboarded 68 new volunteers. We have relocated our CV SCOPE station to the Spokane Valley Mall, which is great exposure for SCOPE and a great place for residents to get questions answered, also a fantastic recruitment tool for us as well. We have reenergized our SCOPE South and SCOPE on Fairchild stations adding more volunteers performing programs in their community.

We are always looking for ways to recruit volunteers and we are currently working on growing and adding programs within SCOPE. Q: Some would say SCOPE offers the sort of volunteer

JANUARY 2024 • 3

The Current

opportunity that is best suited for seniors and/or retirees. What is true about this perception and what part of it is perhaps a stigma you’re trying to change?

A: We have 69 percent of our volunteers that are seniors/retirees, who are always willing to give back to the community, helping law enforcement, giving freely of their time. We do have volunteers that are still working a full-time job or in college. The minimum age is 18 to join SCOPE and we always try to reiterate that whether residents have just a few free hours to volunteer due to work, family or both, this is a great organization to be a part of. Just a few hours make a big difference. We have over 20 programs and are always looking for volunteers. We emphasize to our potential new volunteers to find programs they are passionate about and volunteer for those.

Q: We hear a lot from law enforcement about the importance of being alert and aware to protect our community. Let’s say SCOPE is not a volunteer fit for certain residents at this time. What can

they still do to make a positive difference to promote public safety?

A: Residents can always help by being the eyes and ears in their community/neighborhoods.

We emphasize “See something-say something!” Residents can help by calling any suspicious activity in to Crime Check (509-456-2233).

Residents can start a Neighborhood Watch group in their neighborhood.

For more information on starting a Neighborhood Watch group, they can contact SCOPE Main at 509477-3376.

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Q: Finally, a New Year is upon us. What are some goals and/ or resolutions that you have for SCOPE in 2024?

A: I am excited for the New Year, We, my staff and I, have great plans for 2024. My goal is to continue to foster community spirit, find new innovative ways for recruiting new volunteers and retaining the volunteers we have.

My goal is to continue to work with law enforcement to implement new programs based on identifying the needs in our community.

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4

• JANUARY 2024

The Current

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

Citizen of the Month

Barrett Poulsen has become a regular at the Washington State Cross Country Championships. This fall, the Freeman senior qualified for the 1A state meet for the third time in four years, placing seventh with a time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds in the 5K (3.1-mile) race in Pasco on Nov. 4.

Last year, Poulsen finished fourth. He holds the second fastest 5K time in Freeman program history at 15:54. He has earned first team All Northeast 1A League honors since his sophomore year. In track, Poulsen qualified for state in the mile and 2-mile as a sophomore. He missed his junior track season due to injury. The senior maintains a 3.98 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. He will continue his academic and running pursuits at Western Washington University.

For Ava Semprimoznik, volleyball and success are synonymous. The senior at Freeman High School has been named the Northeast 1A League MVP the last two seasons and earned All-State honors both years. The star setter was part of a Scotties’ squad that placed second at the 1A state tournament in the fall. Freeman has qualified for state in three of Semprimoznik’s four years. “You have to work together to win in volleyball,” she said. Semprimoznik also plays club volleyball for College Prep Academy.

She maintains a 3.4 grade point average and is part of Future Business Leaders of America. She has also volunteered at Ronald McDonald House and on Highway 27 school clean-up projects.

She will continue her volleyball and academic journey at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande where she would like to pursue studies in general business or nursing.

When it comes to the history of Spokane Valley incorporation, Cary Driskell is on the ground floor. The Gonzaga Law School grad served as legal counsel for the effort to establish a city that passed in May 2002. He was co-chair of the incorporation campaign and finance chair. Driskell was named Spokane Valley deputy city attorney in April 2003 and became city attorney in June 2011, a post he held until August 2023. Driskell earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Boise State University. He served on the Spokane Law and Justice Committee for six years and was part of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Board from 2000 to 2002. The Spokane Valley resident has been a guest teacher at Gonzaga Law School. Driskell and his wife Joni have been married for 34 years and have three children.

Come visit your Spokane Valley Neighborhood Financial Center located at

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NEWS

The Current

SVFD Report – Nov. 2023 Current News sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) crews responded to a total of 1,909 emergency incidents for November 2023.

ER Med. Services 1,591 83.34% Fire Suppression 158

8.28%

Tech Rescue (includes 97 Motor Vehicle Collisions) 102 5.34% Other

47

HazMat

11

Of Note: November 1, 2023 Spokane Valley, WASH. - Just before 1:00 Wednesday afternoon, the Spokane Valley Fire Department

JANUARY 2024 • 5

(SVFD) responded to a report of smoke coming from a home on the 4200 block of N. Avalon. Upon arrival, the first SVFD crews on scene saw smoke coming from the attic of the home and began their initial attack.

A fire in the kitchen was quickly knocked down and a search of the home was completed, finding no one inside. Unfortunately, 27 deceased cats were located by firefighters in the home.

There were no injuries, and the fire damage was confined to the kitchen.

Roads in the area were closed for a short time but have since reopened.

The cause of the fire right now is under investigation.

Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) is assisting the homeowner.

See SVFD REPORT, Page 6

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509-465-5001 | 605 E. Holland Ave. Ste 108

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FIRST RESPONDER

Toy Fund Drive Last year Spokane Valley Kiwanis raised $4,000 to support the children of our community to purchasing new stuffed animals (pictured left) for the Spokane Valley Police Department and Spokane Valley Fire District to comfort and enhance relationships with children they come into contact with.

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Sponsors will be invited to participate in a handover ceremony.

FURNACE Includes an annual furnace checkup PLUS covers cost and most parts if you need priority emergency service.

6

• JANUARY 2024

The Current

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel 2023 November Malicious Mischief Hotspots

SVFD REPORT

Published Date: 12/26/2023 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Continued from page 5

Spokane Valley Districts

Incident counts summarizes the events within 1/4 of a mile of each other. The heat map shows the density of events within the area.

nd

s

!2 ( Rodeo

SC09

!3 40th Belle Terre (

McKinzie

Legend

Hotspots Sparse

Simpson

Molter

/ !( ! (

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Chapman

! (

nk e

Palouse

! 57th (

Incidents Within 1/4 Mile =1 ! ( 2-5

Dense

Dosser Reservoir

Thorpe

0

Li

2023 November Theft Hotspots

Liberty Lake

Henry

Adams

reek

24th

Blake

Kenney

Campbell

Flora Marcus

Madison

!3 (

k Sa

44th

Evergreen

McDonald

Bowdish

r h afe

r ee

Sc

Glenrose

st

Saltese C

27

Argonne

University Glenn

32nd

Country V er am Kr

!2 (

!4 (

e ak

SC10

SV05

th

ista

0.5

11-15 >15

1

2 Miles

Published Date: 12/26/2023 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

Incident counts summarizes the events within 1/4 of a mile of each other. The heat map shows the density of events within the area.

27

SC09

Terre

Legend

Hotspots Sparse

Thorpe

/ !(

Simpson

Molter

! (

Quin n amose Cr6-10 eek

! (

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Incidents Within 1/4 Mile =1 ! ( 2-5

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Dosser Reservoir

0

0.5

1

Members of the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a reported manufactured home fire Friday night, North of the river and just East of Barker Road. Upon arrival of the first incoming units, heavy smoke and flames were observed on the backside of the house. All occupants were out of the building except for 5 family cats and a dog in the garage. The fire was extinguished within 14 minutes of the first unit’s arrival. The dog in the garage was rescued and three of the cats were rescued and given oxygen by fire crews. One cat perished, and one was unaccounted for.

Units involved included VE5, VE4, VE3, VL10, VL8, VE8, VE7, VE2, (V22, V21, the Battalion Chiefs), and (V31, the Safety Officer), from the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Automatic Aid also resulted in E85 from Spokane County Fire District 8, being put to work on the fire scene and E94 from Spokane County Fire District 9, being used to backfill the district and run calls from Valley Fire Station 2 off Argonne during the fire.

There were no firefighter or civilian injuries reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Liberty Lake

Henry Rodeo

24th

Bell e

Kenney

Campbell

Flora Blake

Sullivan

Marcus

McDonald

Adams

Evergreen

Pines

s

reek

nk e

r h afe Sc

nd

Saltese C

!2 ( 40th

k Sa

!3 (

Liberty Lake

ista

Country V er am Kr

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Glenrose

32nd

8

!3 (

SV05

th

25

st

44th

Salt

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! ( 2

! (

Cataldo

ltes Sa

Ch e

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Palouse

16th

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57th

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37th

31st

!3 (

9 4th

!3 (

a hm Dis

29th

!4 (

Bowdish

Farr

University Glenn

Herald

Vista

Park

Mullan

Fancher Frontage

BettmDickey an

Carnahan

h

!2 (

7 Appleway

Valleyway

SV06

Liberty

17t

8th

! (

Girard

Havana

Hartson

Fa ncher

3rd

Broadway

!3 Sprague (

!3 (

19

ke

! ( 23

! (

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20

Indiana

! (

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a

Kilde

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! SV01 (

SV02

Mission

Euclid

Michigan

2nd

!5 (

!4 (

Ma riett a

SV04

!4 (

Madison

! (

Knox 9

Sharp

Mirabeau

Barker

Spokane

ntgomery Mo

Garland

ent

Buckeye

r

Spokane Ri v er t Tren

Millwood

Frederick

te Rut

ire

Emp

oad Railr

Harvard

go

Wellesley

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Marin

River Spokane

ert

Gilb

Lynden

er Upriv

Argonne

s

ring

Valle y Sp

Joseph

McKinzie

r

Progress

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SVFD would like to remind everyone as we head into the winter holiday season, this is the time of year we see an increase in house fires. Please keep an eye out for your neighbors. And, if you see smoke or fire call 911 immediately.

November 11, 2023

Liberty Lake

Cataldo

L ltese Sa

Ch e

ese 25

SV03

er C

37th

! (

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nM

31st

16th 2 Salt

!5 ( !2 (

!3 (

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Park

Herald

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Farr

! (

!5 (

Girard

BettmDickey an

Vista

Yardley

!2 Valleyway ( Sprague !2 4th ( 6

SV06

!2 (

Broadway

a hm Dis

29th

7

Sullivan

s

Fancher Fancher Frontage

Havana

Carnahan

Appleway

Indiana

! (

Liberty

17th

! (

!2 !4 8th ( (

Mission

Nora

r ve

Ri

ke

Hartson

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2

8

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a

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La

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SV04

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Sharp

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pire

Em Spokane Ri v er t Tren

Joseph

Lynden

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Gilb

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3rd

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2nd

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The maps provided depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Burglaries, Malicious Mischief and Thefts. The Spokane Valley Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s office analyze this data to determine high crime areas and where to allocate resources.

Citizens who have been a victim of crime are encouraged to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 4562233, if not in progress, to report a crime.

11-15 >15 2 Miles

Residents displaced by the fire will be staying with neighbors and a board-up company was requested to secure the property (covering broken windows, doors, and other fire damaged areas. As always, thanks to American Medical Response for standing by as medical support during the fire operation.

During every structure fire, a standardized series of events occur including, rapidly extinguishing the known fire, checking the structure for fire extension into hidden areas, a rapid primary search of the entire

JANUARY 2024 • 7

The Current

Spokane Valley Districts

Incident counts summarizes the events within 1/4 of a mile of each other. The heat map shows the density of events within the area.

Madison

r h afe

40th

k Sa

nd

44th

s

Simpson

Molter Liberty Lake

Henry

Adams

Rodeo

32nd

st

r ee

24th

Blake

SV03

Sc

Glenrose

Evergreen

McDonald

Pines

Bowdish

th

25

Kenney

Flora Marcus

Herald

University Glenn

ese

reek

27

Argonne

Mullan

Vista

Park Girard

BettmDickey an

Farr

Fancher Fancher Frontage

Yardley

Havana

Campbell

s

Ch e

SV05

16th Salt

Saltese C

Liberty

Carnahan

4th

Bell e

SC09

Terre

Legend

Hotspots Sparse

ke

37th

! (

Valleyway

!2 (

SC10

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2

ke

31st

Liberty Lake

ista

Cataldo

!3 (

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29th

!2 SV06 (

La

h

Broadway

Sprague

r ve

Ri

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! (

Hartson

17t

Appleway

4 8th

Lynden

6

Harvard

! (

3rd

2nd

Barker

SV01

a

Kilde

ad

o Railr

!4 (

Indiana Nora

Mission

Ma riett a

SV04

Euclid

Joseph

McKinzie

Progress

h

Sharp

Garland

!3 (

SV02

!4 (

Wellesley

Mirabeau

ntgomery Mo

Knox

Spokane

ert

Gilb

Sullivan

Thierman

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Gulc

Buckeye

r

E Spokane Ri v er t Tren

Millwood

Frederick

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Chapman

0

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Palouse

/ !( ! (

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! (

Li

2023 November Vehicle Theft Hotspots

Incidents Within 1/4 Mile =1 ! ( 2-5

Dense

Dosser Reservoir

Thorpe

57th

0.5

11-15 >15 2 Miles

1

Published Date: 12/26/2023 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

Spokane Valley Districts

Incident counts summarizes the events within 1/4 of a mile of each other. The heat map shows the density of events within the area.

nd

s

Simpson

Kenney

Campbell

Flora

Henry

Rodeo

Blake

Molter

Marcus

Bell e

SC09

Terre

Hotspots Sparse

Thorpe

Li

Incidents Within 1/4 Mile =1 ! ( 2-5

Dense

Dosser Reservoir

/ !( ! (

Quin n amose Cr6-10 eek

! (

Chapman

44th

Evergreen

McDonald

Pines

Bowdish

40th

k Sa

nk e

r

h afe

Sc

st

Liberty Lake

Legend

ke

Glenrose

32nd

24th

e La

Palouse

th

25

SV03 r ee

SV05

reek

ltes Sa

57th

SC10

Ch e

er C

37th

31st

ese

ica

29th

16th Salt

Saltese C

27

Herald

Mullan

Farr

University Glenn

Girard

BettmDickey an

Carnahan

Vista

Park

Yardley

Havana h

Liberty Lake

ista

Country V er am Kr

Liberty

17t

4th

Cataldo

ke

!2 8th (

Hartson

Appleway

Sprague

SV06

La

!2 (

!3 (

!2 (

Valleyway

r ve

Indiana

Nora

Broadway

a

Kilde

Ri

rty Libe

SV01

Euclid

Michigan

Fancher Fancher Frontage

SV02

3rd

2nd

!3 ( Mission

Madison

Knox

Ma riett a

SV04

Sullivan

ntgomery Mo

Adams

Millwood

Spokane

Sharp

Mirabeau

ad

o Railr

Harvard

Buckeye

r

te Rut

Spokane Ri v er t Tren

Garland

Barker

! (

ire Emp

ent

Frederick 2

go

Wellesley

Cem

Marin

ert

Gilb

Lynden

er Upriv River Spokane

Argonne

s

ring

Valle y Sp

Joseph

McKinzie

r

Progress

For k e

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SC08

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Gulc

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Thierman

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nM

The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 142,000+ over 75-square miles, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and Millwood and surrounding areas.

go

a hm Dis

During the holiday season, as temperatures drop and the number of structure fires increase, SVFD wants to encourage families to use heating sources safely. Leave plenty of space for them in your home and keep any potential fire hazards clear.

Marin

er C

There is extensive damage to the home and the Red Cross will be assisting the family.

er Upriv River Spokane

ica

SVFD would like to remind everyone to only use fire safe heating elements in chicken coops and to keep combustible materials stored away from any potential fire hazards.

For k e

ring

Valle y Sp

nM

Investigators believe a light being used for heating a chicken coop in the back yard caught fire, extending to the deck, some nearby propane tanks, and the back of the home.

SC08

mbi a C o lu

a hm Dis

Initial crews arrived on scene in a matter of minutes and found the back deck of the home on fire with heavy fire and smoke coming from the kitchen. All three children, one adult and a dog had successfully evacuated.

Firefighters were notified of a second dog still inside, which was located and safely rescued.

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November 29, 2023 Spokane Valley, WA - Just before 12:00 pm Tuesday, the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a 911 call on the 1200 block of N Dick Rd. The call came in as a house fire with all occupants evacuated. The Fire was quickly upgraded within minutes, adding more crews and resources to the location, including aid from City of Spokane, AMR, Spokane Valley PD ! ( for traffic control and Avista to secure power.

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The Spokane Valley Fire Department practices “Healthy In, Healthy Out” where firefighters thoroughly hose off their fire gear on scene after a fire and change into a 2nd set of fire gear for the remainder of the shift, all as part of a comprehensive cancer prevention strategy.

Published Date: 12/26/2023 Prepared by Spokane County Sheriff's RIG 9 Unit

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building for occupants, and a more thorough secondary search of the entire building for occupants.

Other actions can include removing or covering valuables that could be damaged during suppression activities, as well as removing debris resulting from the fire. These events can occur more quickly when there are more units on scene, early in the fire operation.

2023 November Burglary Hotspots

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• JANUARY 2024

NEWS

Budget, junk cars, transportation and parks funding headline SVCC final weeks

By John McCallum

48% of the total project costs.

Current correspondent

The City Council also moved forward with creation of a Transportation Benefit District (TBD), discussing its functions at several meetings over fall. The council voted 6-1 on Oct. 24 to form the TBD to handle street funding, and with a similar tally at its Nov. 21 meeting, approved assuming the powers of the TBD rather than form a separate governmental entity.

It was a busy end of 2023 for Spokane Valley City Council members. Besides passing its 2024 budget, the council also created a transportation benefit district to fund residential street work, passed an ordinance banning junk vehicles from property and dealt with other issues of city operations.

Junk vehicles clarified, limited At its Nov. 14 meeting, council unanimously passed an ordinance creating new definitions for unlicensed vehicles and vessels and limited the number of junk and/or unlicensed vehicles that can remain on a single residential lot. The ordinance creates new language in municipal code chapter 7.05 defining an unlicensed vehicle as one that doesn’t display a valid license plate and/or current registration, or one that has a license plate with a displayed expiration date of more than 45 days.

The ordinance changes the limit on junk vehicles in all residential zones from two to one as long as it is “completely sight-screened” by landscaped vegetation or a landscaped berm. The language maintains the exemptions for vehicles stored or parked as part of a licensed vehicle dismantler, dealer or established vehicle repair business.

City attorney Kelly Konkright clarified the new law allows one vehicle under repair and one for parts, but requires clarification for which is which.

“This is the biggest complaint we get from citizens, bar none,” Mayor Pam Haley said.

2024 budget, transportation benefit district powers At the Nov. 21 meeting, the council unanimously adopted the city’s $106.4 million 2024 budget, with the largest expenses being public safety, capital expenditures and street maintenance. Recurring revenues are expected to exceed recurring expenses by about $4.3 million.

The city also expects to receive $9.5 million in state and federal grant funding for capital improvement projects — an amount that will cover

According to the city, Spokane Valley’s Pavement Management Program should spend $16 million annually on road repair and maintenance. It spends $8 million, using money generated by its annual street wear fee and transfers from the general fund, leaving about $8 million in work that doesn’t get covered.

At the Dec. 12 meeting, the council voted 4-3 to implement a $20 vehicle tab fee in Spokane Valley as the first move of the TBD. The fee will raise just over $2.8 million annually, and goes into effect July 1, 2024. Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb said the city wouldn’t see the full effect of the fee until 2025, the first full year of collection.

Council members Laura Padden, Brandi Peetz and Ben Wick voted against the tab fee. Peetz and Wick felt instituting a one-tenth of 1% sales tax was more “equitable” means of collecting revenue since the tax would apply to non-Spokane Valley residents driving city streets.

Using 2022 gross taxable sales for the city, a one-tenth of 1% sales tax would produce just over $3.8 million in revenue for the TBD, with 48% of that coming from non-city residents.

Wick and Peetz also felt the tab fee increase should go to a public vote, even if the vote was advisory. State law allows TBDs to increase tab fees up to $20, and sales tax increases up to one-tenth of 1%, without a public vote. Increases after that must go to the ballot.

Padden has opposed the TBD from the beginning, feeling it is another way government can “separate citizens from their money,” but sided with Wick and Peetz in disappointment over not allowing the public to vote on the increase.

Pools, parks and personnel

At the Nov. 21 meeting, the council unanimously approved a three-year contract with the YMCA to operate the city’s three swimming pools.

The contract increases the annual compensation plus actual expenses (wages, supplies, etc.) to the YMCA from $34,000 to $40,000, and includes an annual adjustment of the compensation not to exceed 3% of the current CPI (Consumer Price Index), whichever is the lesser.

Parks & Recreation Director John Bottelli said the anticipated cost of the new contract was estimated at $597,970 for 2024.

The City Council chose to take a new approach to park landscape maintenance by approving multiple contracts with separate vendors rather than the current single contract with one vendor model. At its Dec. 12 meeting, the council approved by a 5-2 vote three contracts with two vendors — Senske Services and Clearwater Summit Group — for park maintenance at a total cost of almost $1.8 million.

Senske is currently under contract for landscape maintenance with all city parks, it’s $866,255 contract for 2023 accounting for most of the city’s $972,455 annual budget. Under the new model, Senske would maintain “linear parks” and roadways such as the Appleway and Centennial trails along with “designated parks,” which include all parks except Balfour and Mirabeau Point for a cost of $488,450 and $625,800 respectively.

Clearwater would maintain the “signature parks” Balfour and Mirabeau Point at a cost of $669,085. That amount was higher than Senske’s bid of $586,700, but Clearwater scored better in bid analysis in its experience, capabilities and qualifications in this area.

Council gave parks staff approval to utilize the multiple contractor model in August, 2023, for a number of reasons including possible cost savings and inclusion of different services. The 2024 parks budget is slated to increase to $1,618,105, and the three landscape contracts now bring that to $2,286,857 — $668,752 over budget, an amount Bottelli said the Finance Department has told him can be covered through

The Current

estimated 2024 budgeted revenues.

The additional costs also include $219,522 for two new parks employees to manage the multiple contracts, $85,000 for two new staff vehicles and $178,000 for other associated supplies.

Both council members Wick and Peetz opposed the contracts, noting going with one single vendor would likely save the city employees, vehicle and associated supply costs at a time when Spokane Valley is facing the need to hire up to 29 new police officers.

“The additional services gained by splitting the contract up doesn’t seem to be paying out for me,” Wick said.

Finally, the council voted to give regular city employees a 3% pay increase in 2024. The increase will also be applied to the pay scales for each position.

Human Resources Director John Whitehead originally brought a 2.5% pay increase to council, but Councilman Tim Hattenburg moved to amend that and increase it to 3%. Whitehead said increasing the pay bump to 3% would add an additional $70,000 to the proposal.

Total cost for 2024 for the 3% pay increase is $422,685. Finance Director Chelsie Taylor said the increase could be covered out of 2024 recurring revenues, which are estimated to exceed recurring expenses by $4.3 million.

Wick and Peetz opposed the increase, noting while city staff were very deserving of an increase in pay, the city was facing budgeting issues such as paying for additional law enforcement and covering an almost $700,000 deficit in parks budgeting.

Several citizens speaking during public comment also expressed these concerns.

Mayor Hayley noted council is waiting on a report from the police department on how to proceed with the staffing issues, echoing Councilman Arne Woodard’s views that hiring officers is a long-term process and can’t come all at once.

She added that many of the city staff affected by the pay increase are younger and have families, and the added amount will help fill some positions that have been vacant for a while.

“I am obviously for the 3% and would love to give more,” she said.

“It will not put us in a deficit, contrary to what some people say.”

The Current

Two City Council Members’ Terms come to an end

By Ashley Humbird Current contributor

In the heart of our communities, where the decisions that most directly impact our daily lives take shape, the tenure of city council members serves as a pivotal cornerstone of local governance. As the curtains draw to a close on the terms of two dedicated city council members, it is a moment for reflection on the significance of their service and a reminder of the indispensable role that civic engagement plays in shaping the future of our neighborhoods.

The conclusion of a council member's term is more than a mere administrative formality; it symbolizes the culmination of years of dedication, tireless work, and a commitment to the betterment of the community.

The end of their terms prompts us to assess the impact they have had on our communities and to contemplate the legacy they leave behind.

The City of Spokane Valley said its goodbyes to Council Members Brandi Peetz and Arne Woodard on Tuesday, December 19th as they attended their final City Council meeting as council members. Before the call to order at 6pm, Peetz and Woodard had farewell receptions in the hall at Center Place.

Many were in attendance for both their respective receptions and had many kind words to share.

John Hohman presented both outgoing council members with opening remarks and a commemorative plaque that bears their name and years in office.

“I wanted to mention just a couple of the accomplishments Brandi has had,” City of Spokane Valley Manager John Hohman began his opening remarks, “She has worked extensively with the

Photo by Ashley Humbird Councilmember Arne Woodard receives a placque in appreciation of his years of service.

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Parks and Recreation department. She helped acquire the property for the new park which here soon will have a cross-country course. It’s a project that won’t just benefit our Spokane Valley community, but the entire community.

The other Parks and Recreation acquisition of the Ponderosa property will have great future impact. Thanks for always fighting for having a safe outlet for kids!”

After John finished, former Mayor Ben Wick, who Peetz served as Deputy Mayor with, shared some thoughts, “It seemed like it was just the other day that we were trying to figure out how to get you to run. We learned lots and accomplished quite a bit during our time. You will always have your mark on the soft ball fields at Plante’s Ferry, and we took care of the roads, and we took care of the police. Hopefully you’ll stick around cause you’ve done a lot.”

Current Mayor Pam Haley rounded out the final speakers, “I’m sorry to see you go but we had good times and you accomplished quite a bit of things.”

Roughly thirty minutes later at 5:40 Arne’s reception began.

“I’ve known Arne a very long time. It was a pleasure to work with you on the planning community,” the City Manager began at Woodard’s reception, “It was a pleasure to have your insights and years of experience.

Twelve years on the City Council!

Arne always reminded us that he was the senior council member. You’ve had a very distinguished career on the City Council and have accomplished much and it was hard for me to hit just the highlights because you’ve been involved with so much, but I do want to say, that the Solid Waste incentive was a big and Arne pushed for that.

It’s resulted in a number of different positive things.”

Mayor Pam Haley shared kind words for Woodard, “When I first came on the council, I was definitely a newbie to the city stuff and you took me under your wing and taught me a lot. I appreciate all that and the amount of knowledge you have is crazy, so you have to stay a part because of that. You have to still see us occasionally! Thank you, Arne.”

Woodard did not respond to our request for comment before we went to print, but Peetz commented on her years of service and had a positive outlook on the progress she had been involved with.

As a Central Valley graduate in 2004, she has been a lifelong Spokane Valley resident. After high school she joined the workforce, but left her job in early 2010’s to attend Spokane Community college. After graduating with an AA in communication, Peetz

JANUARY 2024 • 9

Photo by Ashley Humbird Councilmember Ben Wick (Left) with Councilmember Brandi Peetz (right) at her farwell party. transferred to Gonzaga and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. “I was tired of working in customer service and felt like I was destined to do something else, I just didn’t know what.” Peetz reflects on making the decision to attend college as an adult.

Her decision to run for the Spokane Valley City Council was influenced by the calls she’d receive while working for 911. “It was a little discouraging.

So then I started paying attention to what was going on locally, and that was when certain people were hitting headlines, and I started going to City Council meetings. I decided I wanted to do something.”

She reached out to the sheriff’s office and learned there was an open position on the Citizen Advisory Board and was appointed to the position in April 2015.

Peetz ran for her first term as a City Council member in the 2017 November election. “I just really wanted to get involved because I didn’t like the way our city was going. There were five positions that were open and so I just had to pick one. Little did I know that that decision would change the trajectory of my life. I just worked really hard and stuck to my morals and values through the adversity of that campaign. I was pretty proud and excited that the community did their research and had faith in me to do the right thing.”

Over the course of Peetz’s terms in office, she has been part of many projects. She reflects that “I’m proud of the leadership in 2020 and 2021.

We worked collaboratively with

everybody during those two years and got so much done and that was during a pandemic. I’m proud of the purchase of Flora Park. Two years later, we’re getting ready to open a cross-county course on the property and it’s going to open so many opportunities for the community. I’m also proud of having worked with Linda Thompson to advocate for co-response teams for our police. We have added a lot of public resources in the last few years and it’s good for both our officers and our citizens. And the thing that I’m most proud of is my ability to create relationships with people and that I have established. Many of our relationships had been broken over the last few years with politics, and my ability to repair those relationships have helped lead to our success.”

Now that Peetz has been on city council for the past six years, she is looking forward to a future full of free Tuesday evenings. Peetz and her husband are looking forward to starting a family of their own and building a home in the Spokane Valley.

“First and foremost I was honored to be able to represent our city and the citizens. I really appreciate those who took the time to get to know me and support me. I wouldn’t have made it these past six years without the support that I’ve received. Although it was never easy, it was always worth it. The city is a really special place and I just appreciate the opportunity and I’m really proud of the fingerprints that I’ve left on the city.”

Peetz is already looking forward to a future with some type of city involvement.

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• JANUARY 2024

COVER STORY

The Current

Spokane Valley services on display at housing and homeless open house

By John McCallum

Current correspondent

Spokane Valley residents got a chance to see how the city is dealing with homelessness and housing issues at an open house Dec. 11 at CenterPlace Regional Event Center.

City staff, law enforcement officers and representatives of six local organizations — five who received almost $4 million in funding from the city — were on hand to answer questions, listen to comments and share opinions and information on homelessness, work force and housing transitions issues facing Spokane Valley residents.

Funding for the five organizations — Family Promise of Spokane, Volunteers of America Eastern Washington, Reclaim Project Recovery, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) and Habitat for Humanity — was provided to the city through the American Rescue Plan.

“It was rewarding to connect with nearly 100 community members who joined the city, police department and six of our community partners for a conversation about housing and homelessness,” Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley said about the open house.

Family Promise of Spokane City Council awarded $1.095 million to help “establish a fast leasing and sustainable housing program for families at risk of homelessness” in Spokane Valley. Started in 1997 as Interfaith Hospitality Network of Spokane, Family Promise provides homelessness prevention, emergency shelter and housing of families experiencing sudden homelessness, stabilization services for families transitioning back into housing and community support in the long term.

Stewardship coordinator AJ Crooks said funding from Spokane Valley has helped Family Promise

Photo by John McCallum Reclaim Project Recovery is hoping to purchase this property on Trent Avenue to use as a transition housing facility for men in its programs that help recover and stay out of addictions while also learning usable work force skills. launch their “Flash Program.” The money will be used for an emergency shelter and transition housing as well as a rental assistance program for Valley residents.

The funding helped Family Promise acquire 0.83 acres of property for the shelter and housing portion at 17103 E. Main, just north of Sprague Avenue on Flora Road. The property, appraised at $319,700 on the county’s SCOUT website, is part of a proposed annual comprehensive plan amendment process that would change its zoning from single-family residential to corridor mixed use.

Crooks said Family Promise is already providing emergency shelter to eight homeless Spokane Valley families. The families are housed at one of the organization’s Spokane shelters.

“There’s definitely a need out here in the Valley,” she said.

Case managers work with Family Promise clients to do keep them out of shelters if possible. If they should need shelter, help is provided to find new housing, and most importantly, training in ways to become stable so as not to risk returning to homelessness.

The organization has a 95% success rate for moving clients to new housing and keeping them there longer than two years.

“Many families never experience stability,” Crooks said. “The case managers help them to not engage in self-sabotaging practices.”

Volunteers of America VOA received $500,000 from the city to construct 18 new emergency shelter beds and 18 college-style dorm living units for young adults

and to extend its Crosswalk program from downtown Spokane to Spokane Valley. The program utilizes professionals from case workers to teachers and chemical dependency counselors to help youth ages 13-18 connect to stabilizing and supportive services that help end homelessness.

VOA human resources specialist Nick Hughes said the Crosswalk program is one of several programs addressing homelessness and transitional housing issues with young adults ages 18-24, older adults and veterans. The organization also operates Hope House women’s shelter, Alexandria’s House program for pregnant and parenting teens 16-20 and Aston-Bleck Apartments transitional housing for women 18-24 with children experiencing homelessness.

According to VOA literature, the care model it employs addresses the “whole person” by providing “health, medical treatment, mental health care, peer support services (and) substance usage disorder treatment.” The first step taken towards these services is through providing housing.

“All the other services are kind of wrapped around this,” Hughes said.

The housing process can be difficult, especially when applying for housing vouchers through the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department.

It’s an involved process requiring paperwork and financial agreements.

Hughes said landlords often use the system to try to keep people out of their properties.

“It’s a really tricky needle to thread,” Hughes said.

Staff clinicians provide support to VOA clients throughout the process, including dealing with behavioral health.

“Homelessness is often caused by mental health issues,” Hughes said.

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity was awarded $471,700 that will be used for acquiring land for housing “designated permanently affordable.”

The organization partners “with qualified individuals and families in need of a safe and affordable place to call home.” Qualified individuals are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) level, must currently be living in inadequate and/or unsafe housing, be able to pay an affordable mortgage and work with Habitat for Humanity in learning homeownership skills.

Habitat for Humanity operations manager Aaron Breen said families in the program undertake a twoyear process to obtain a home. This includes meeting creditworthiness requirements, saving for closing costs and being able to pay an affordable mortgage — generally described as having 30% of monthly income going towards housing.

Breen said they help families work with financial institutions on the funding process. They also go through classes to help them manage their home and finances once the housing is provided.

“We see a lot of opportunity for this kind of assistance in Spokane Valley,” he added.

According to its fall 2023 newsletter, Habitat for Humanity

The Current

ended its fiscal year this summer with 22 homes under construction and five families paying off their mortgages. The goal is to complete 25 homes through new construction or acquisition as the organization currently has 57 families in its program Reclaim Project Recovery The Spokane-based non-profit was awarded $1.46 million to “acquire and startup two sober living transitional homes and a multipurpose business operations facility that will comprise a comprehensive homelessness prevention program.” The latter portion of that is underway with the leasing of space next to the URM store on Sprague Avenue where the organization’s thrift store is currently operational.

Reclaim hoped to implement the transitional housing portion when it purchased a home on the 13000 block of E. 11th Ave. Misinformation and misunderstanding about individuals who would be living in the facility fueled emotional neighborhood opposition, and the organization dropped its plans.

Reclaim Project chief financial officer and business manager Aaron Allen said they have recently entered into a contract to purchase property at 10619 E. Trent for the transitional housing facility. The property, appraised at $446,540 on the SCOUT website, consists of a house, a business and several outbuildings.

Implementation of the contract is contingent upon the sale of the East 11th Avenue property. Allen said they feel it is better suited to their purposes.

URM.

COVER STORY

Reclaim accepts sober men trying to stay that way. About 40% have emerged from incarceration, another 40% exiting substance abuse treatment programs, 15% trying to escape living on the streets and 5% from family settings.

The programs are designed to meet two basic needs: first, shelter and income and second, creating purpose and belonging.

Allen said the majority of men in the program are dealing with charges stemming from addictions. He added very few are in the “upper echelon of crime” and none are sex offenders — two claims made by opponents of the East 11th Avenue house.

“We do have a couple with extensive rap sheets,” added.

“They’re older now, have been with us for a long time and are actually some of the best in the program.”

SNAP SNAP was awarded $471,700 to help with construction of a 60-unit affordable senior housing facility on Broadway Avenue.

The organization provides a variety of services through over 30 programs for people needing affordable housing, assistance with their energy bill or warmer housing, rides to medical appointments, paying rent, buying a first home and wishing to start a business.

There are five offices in Spokane

County, including Spokane Valley at 10814 E. Broadway. SNAP is the only community action agency in Spokane County, and serves between 40,000 – 50,000 clients annually.

Partners Inland Northwest Spokane Valley residents likely know this organization by its former name — Spokane Valley Partners.

The organization’s new name will take effect Jan. 1, 2024. They are also moving to a new location in the Ziggy’s Building on East Sprague Avenue.

“It’s a tough thing,” Partners Inland Northwest community engagement coordinator Hayden Funk said. “The need for expansion corresponds to the needs of the people.”

While not receiving any American Rescue Plan funding from the city, Partners Inland Northwest did have a table at the Dec. 11 open house. The organization has been in existence since the 1960s, beginning with operating a food bank It has subsequently expanded to providing other services such as a clothing bank, Inland Northwest Diaper Bank, emergency utility assistance through partnerships with Avista, Modern Electric and Vera Power and Water, food express deliveries, homeless outreach and weekend meals through Food for Thought — which has now become Bite To Go through a partnership with Second Harvest.

JANUARY 2024 • 11

“We serve over 200 families a day just at the food bank,” Funk said.

Spokane Valley’s homeless plan City staff were present to talk to residents about the recently adopted Spokane Valley Homeless Action Plan (SVHAP). The plan has been in development since 2021 and was slated for adoption this past summer, but was delayed until the Dec. 5 City Council meeting so staff could gather more input from residents and services providers.

According to a news release, the plan “is a systematic, long-term response that accounts for City Council’s explicit goal to prevent homelessness (and) preserves funding for sustainable strategies with actionable outcomes.”

The plan’s intent is to prevent homelessness in the city, but if it cannot be prevented, provide a process so homelessness is “a rare, brief and one-time experience.”

The Spokane Valley Homeless Action Plan along with links to resources for people dealing with homelessness can be viewed online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/HH. “Sharing ideas and working together, we can move issues forward and find solutions that benefit our community,” Mayor Pam Haley said about what took place Dec. 11 at CenterPlace. “I am grateful for the engagement and commitment of everyone involved in this important dialogue.”

“Our goal is to just get 12 bedrooms going in the Valley,” he added Reclaim Project Recovery provides men recovering from addiction, homelessness and incarceration free, life-affirming physical activities along with instruction in developing good life skills. It partners with Pura Vida Sober Living, which teaches skills in sustainable addiction recovery through classes and workshops on wellness, community and peerto-peer relationship building; and Revival General Contracting, a construction company providing commercial and residential renovations.

Revival will also include training in construction of tiny houses, sheds, tilt-up panels and furniture work at the space Reclaim is leasing next to

Photo by John McCallum Over 100 Spokane Valley residents turned out for an Dec. 11 open house at CenterPlace featuring organizations specializing in services for the homeless, families in need and those seeking housing transitions.

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The Crest

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program makes mark

By Nina Cuver

Current contributor

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Spokane County helps out in many areas of the community, lending a hand anywhere from the local food bank to Meals on Wheels. But its biggest project pulls together dozens of knitters, quilters and crocheters to make hats, gloves, scarves and quilts in Project Warm Up. Project Warm Up has existed for 27 years and in that time more than 10,000 items have been made by hand and donated. People work all year to prepare for an annual distribution each November, when the creations are bagged up and distributed to 40 organizations across the county to be given to those in need.

make the top of the quilts and the third woman sews everything together. They use fabric that has been donated to RSVP. “Just this year alone we have donated 750 quilts,” Harris said. “I kind of have my hand in all of them. I’m the coordinator. I do not make them all by myself.”

She loves quilting, but fully recognizes that neither she nor her family members need more quilts in the closet. She enjoys having an outlet for her talents. “This has kind of been a saving grace for me,” she said. “I’m helping someone else and myself. It’s my mental health. I call it my mission work. I love to do for other people. It’s been a joy being a part of that.”

She also loves that she can help others without having to leave her house. “Just because you volunteer doesn’t mean you have to leave home to do it,” she said. “It gives me something to do at home. It doesn’t cost me anything but my time.

Making them is a joy.”

RSVP is an AmeriCorp Senior program. They are chapters all over the country, all sponsored by a local non-profit organization. The chapter in Spokane County is the only one

sponsored by a branch of the YMCA. Outside of Project Warm Up, the goal of RSVP Spokane County is to recruit volunteers to help out other non-profit organizations. Many of the organizations RSVP works with are well known in the community, including the American Cancer Society, the Corbin Senior Activity Center, Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels, Second Harvest, Spark Central, the Spokane County Library District and the Women and Children’s Free Restaurant.

The number of volunteers fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic to 140 from a height of 250. The numbers have rebounded a little, with 189 volunteers currently signed up to help community organizations. “We’re trying to build that back up,” Cook said.

Cook would also like to expand the volunteer opportunities that are available. She’s been in discussions with Spokane Public Schools about starting a reading buddy program. She’d also like to start a buddy program that would pair a community volunteer with a resident of the Spokane Veterans Homes.

There have also been discussions

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about pairing mentors with local high school students.

“We want to create more successful programs where we’re benefitting more parts of the community,” she said.

There are a few benefits to volunteering through RSVP rather than going directly to an organization and signing up. RSVP volunteers are eligible for mileage reimbursement and can get accident insurance while they are volunteering.

There are also a host of other, not as tangible benefits to volunteering, Cook said. It helps people get out and be more active in the community.

“The social part is the biggest part,” she said. “If we do it right, there’s opportunities for education and learning. After COVID, getting out and being out has been hard. This is helping some of them who want to go back out into the community.”

Those interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities can visit www.rsvpspokane.org. An enrollment form is also online. More information is available at (509) 3447787 or by sending an email to rsvp@ ymcainw.org.

“There are six knitting circles throughout Spokane that do it,” said RSVP Spokane County director Cyndi Cook.

But people don’t have to be a part of a knitting circle to create.

RSVP often gets donations of yarn and quilting fabric and also receives a grant from the Avista Foundation that also pays for such supplies.

Those supplies are given out to volunteers, who create the finished product for distribution.

Linda Harris is one of those volunteers. She’s been quilting ever since she retired 30 years ago.

At first she made lap quilts for the police chaplain, then got involved with RSVP 13 years ago. It was just a happy accident. Her parents moved here from Oregon and lived at Evergreen Fountain in Spokane Valley. Harris just happened to be visiting when she ran into a RSVP volunteer who was working with a knitting group her parents were involved in.

Harris works with two of her friends. She and one of the women

Contirbuted photo Project Warm Up one of the many projects the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Spokane County distributes more than 10,000 items each year during its annual distribution each November. Visit www.rsvpspokane.org to learning how you can help contribute next year.

JANUARY 2024 • 15

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www.hubsportscenter.org Gonzaga All American Adam to start his own foundation for Kids, a program that will Team Assist – decided to reach more of Seattle’s inner-city donate $100 for each assist to youth Morrison became an ad-hoc spokesperson for Type 1 diabetes youth who lacked basic necessities. programs at the YMCA. The Give Back Foundation (TGB) Zags dish out has been going strong ever since.

Gonzaga’s priority on selflessness during his playing career and has roots in the school’s namesake, beyond. The Spokane native was community “Growing up, my parents always St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who was born diagnosed with the condition as an taught me to give back to the less into an aristocratic Italian family eighth grader in the Mead School fortunate,” Hickman said. “I try to during the Renaissance but gave up District. difference Like Turiaf and Morrison, Nigel his inheritance to serve the poor and incorporate that in my life.”

By Craig Howard

Current Contributing Editor

Nolan Hickman and Ben Gregg were still donned in perspirationlayered uniforms as they talked shop outside the Gonzaga locker room following the team’s win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Dec. 5.

The teammates had plenty to discuss after the lopsided 111-71 victory but, on this night, the fellow juniors on the Zags’ nationally ranked squad reflected on themes like nonprofit foundations, eradicating poverty and calling attention to worthy causes – even if it meant dressing up like an elf.

Just a few weeks earlier, Gregg ventured out to the Fred Meyer store on Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley with a contingent from The Salvation Army of the Inland Northwest. The spectacle of an elf approaching 7 feet and ringing a bell to generate awareness of a holiday tradition – The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign – was not lost on most shoppers.

“I was a tall elf,” Gregg said.

“They gave me an elf hat and I was ringing the bell out there. It was great, especially this time of the year. Just being able to support a cause that helps people means a lot.

To see the smiles on people’s faces was awesome.”

Brian Pickering, Salvation Army spokesperson, said Gregg brought elevated awareness to a cause that makes the season brighter for those in need.

“Ben is just a nice guy, very humble, and he wanted to give back to the community,” Pickering said.

“We at The Salvation Army can talk about what we do but when Ben talks about The Salvation Army, it helps us reach more people.”

As a junior at Eastside Catholic School in suburban Seattle, Hickman

From school supplies to coats to food and even advice on how to launch a three-pointer, the effort provides kids with an extra layer of support and resources. Hickman is founder and CEO and leans on his parents to help run day-to-day functions of TGB. “We’re going to lead them in the right path for what they need,” Hickman said. “That’s the reason why I do it, to give back to the kids who don’t have what they need.

It makes me so happy to see the impact.”

Hickman said faith is a driver in his work.

“God plays a huge part in my life and my family’s life,” he said. “I think it’s a blessing to be able to do this. I hope it inspires others.”

In September, Hickman, Gregg and junior center Graham Ike joined members of the Gonzaga women’s basketball team, Calli Stokes, Brynna Maxwell and Bree Salenbien, at a free event for kids at the McCarthey Athletic Center sponsored by Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union. The family fun fair was part of Numerica’s CARES for Kids program, “a longterm commitment to build brighter futures for youth and families in our communities.”

Amanda Swan, Numerica’s vice president of Community Engagement and Philanthropy, said the presence of Gonzaga players boosted the event to another level.

“Gonzaga utilizes their platform in a really positive way,” Swan said. “The school has a noticeable commitment to service and their student-athletes are a big part of that.”

Numerica will continue to collaborate with the Zags during the men’s season through Assists

afflicted.

Gregg said he appreciates the modest way Gonzaga goes about making a difference.

“I like that it’s under the radar,” he said. “We’re doing this out of the goodness of our hearts, not for likes or anything like that. It is the culture of Gonzaga, giving back to the community that is so good to us.”

Over the years, the Zags’ community-centric focus has branched out to benefit a variety of causes.

Last October, senor guard Rasir Bolton was honored by Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward for his outreach efforts supporting those experiencing poverty and homelessness across the region. A transfer from Iowa State, Bolton plunged into volunteer initiatives like Spokane Quaranteam and Giving Back Packs, spearheaded by GU grad Rick Clark.

Over the last 21 years, Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few and his wife Marcy have been at the helm of the most successful branch of the Coaches vs. Cancer program in the country and, in 2014, were part of a local initiative to launch the Community Cancer Fund. The nonprofit has raised nearly $17 million for cancer-fighting causes since its inception.

Some GU players have turned their own challenges into missions to help others in similar straits.

Ronny Turiaf was diagnosed with an aortic root in his heart not long after being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. A fouryear standout at GU, Turiaf made a complete recovery and launched a foundation to make a procedure called echocardiography available to underprivileged youth with heart struggles.

Williams-Goss continues to make an impact on a region he called home as a Zag. A guard on GU’s national runner-up team in 2017, WilliamsGoss has hosted a youth basketball camp at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake for the last five years.

“I appreciated the way this community embraced me and I thought this was a great way to give back,” Williams-Goss said.

Dr. Arnold Peterson has seen the ripple effect of Zag culture as part of the Gonzaga inner circle and through his volunteer work with a local nonprofit. Peterson served as GU team doctor for nearly 30 years ending in 2017 and said the emphasis on service “is part of the university’s focus on teaching students to care for others, particularly the underprivileged.”

Peterson tells the story of being in an airport lobby with the men’s basketball team when a traveler stumbled and spilled all she was holding onto a walkway.

“All the players jumped out of their seats immediately and helped her,” Peterson recalls. “It made you proud to be with them.”

These days, Peterson serves as board chair at Family Promise of Spokane, a nonprofit committed to ending the cycle of family homelessness. The organization has benefitted from Gonzaga support, including the Team Up with Timme campaign through Walker’s Furniture that featured All American Drew Timme and now showcases senior Anton Watson as ispokesperson.

“These players learn the importance of looking beyond themselves,” Peterson said. “If you can make other people’s lives better, that’s a lesson that’s going to last way beyond basketball.”

The Current

Play with Color events help kids learn and develop schoolready skills while they play

By Tammy Henry, librarian Spokane County Library District

Winter in Spokane can be gray and dreary, but you can add some color to the day for preschool children by attending the library’s Play with Color events in January.

Children learn best through play, as research has shown.

This means that learning is not a separate activity from playing.

Children learn about colors through playing and spending time with interactive materials and by experimenting with colors.

During the library’s Play with Color events, children will enjoy our colorful toys, which include blocks, balls, balance bears, and wooden beads. They can also play

Track your reading and compete in the “Where We Come From” Winter Reading Challenge

By Gwendolyn Haley, Public Services Manager Spokane County Library District

As we usher in the new year, Spokane County Library District is thrilled to announce our enthusiastic participation in the “Where We Come From” Winter Reading Challenge, sponsored by Beanstack.

We invite you to sign up for this exciting literary journey, happening January 1–31.

You’re challenged to read at least 300 minutes throughout the month. Track your reading minutes either on our dedicated Beanstack site at https://scld.beanstack. org/reader365, or through the convenient Beanstack mobile app.

LIBRARY with colors in an open-ended art project and participate in a simple science experiment using baking soda and vinegar to experience the colors mixing together to make new ones.

Drop in any time during Play with Color events at Spokane Valley Library (22 N Herald Rd) on Saturday, January 13, 9:30 to 11:30am; Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Rd) on Thursday, January 18, 10am to 12pm; and Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave) on Tuesday, January 23, 10am to 12pm. No registration is required.

When discussing how children develop skills to get ready for kindergarten, you may have heard educators and librarians talk about the importance of cognitive, language, and math skills that develop as children learn about colors. This starts with the ability to distinguish between items that are the same and different.

As kids play, they practice this by sorting items together that are alike, and color is one of the first

Our recommended read for this challenge is the poetic picture book “Where We Come From,” crafted

by John Coy, Shannon Gibney, Sun Yung Shin, and Diane Wilson, with exquisite illustrations by Dion MBD. In this unique, literary collaboration, four authors lyrically explore where they each come from―literally and metaphorically―as well as what unites all of us as humans. Richly layered illustrations connect past and present, making for an accessible and visually striking look at history, family, and identity. The publisher has designated “Where We Come From” for readers ages 5–10, but all kids, teens, and adults alike will find a lot to enjoy on each page, from the beautiful illustrations to the thoughtful, poetic language.

While reading this book and others, be sure to log your reading minutes, reflect on your unique story, and earn badges on your virtual bingo card! For every logged

JANUARY 2024 • 17

ways children sort. Learning that color words, such as red, yellow, and blue, are not things but words to describe an object takes time for children to develop.

Often, they learn and say color words before being able to distinguish between all the colors, and this can show a depth of understanding about colors as they learn. After children learn basic colors, they begin to understand nuances, such as light blue and navy blue, and that both are blue.

The Science of Self-Care

The surprise and amazement in a child’s eyes is a joy to see as they realize that mixing colors together makes new colors. You can say to them that yellow and blue make green, but it isn’t until they actually mix yellow and blue together that this color concept really forms in their minds and they learn it.

And all this learning is done while playing.

We are continuing with similar drop-in play events in the coming months. Watch for Play with Science in February and Play with Math in March at your library!

minute and completed activity, you’ll earn badges adorned with stunning artwork from “Where We Come From.”

The competition for winter reading is between the participating libraries and schools.

You can help our libraries win prizes sponsored by Lerner Books, including virtual visits from the authors, signed books, or even personalized video shoutouts.

Winners will be selected based on active participation, logging stats, and community sharing.

This competition includes two grand prizes for schools or libraries of a virtual author visit and signed books. The prizes for six runners up include video shoutouts from authors and signed books. And 25 libraries or schools will receive honorable mentions along with signed copies of “Where We Come From.”

Happy reading! Let’s leave our mark on the Winter Reading Challenge and celebrate the stories that shape us into who we are.

For adults Explore the benefits of regular self-care, relaxation, and aromatherapy with nutritional health coach Katherine MacNair.

Plus, create an herbal tub sachet (supplies provided).

ONLINE Monday, Jan 8, 6–7pm Sign up at scld.org/self-care-events

www.scld.org

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• JANUARY 2024

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Catching People Before They Fall; Kevin Finch and Big Table

By Ashley Humbird Current contributor

In the bustling world of the restaurant and hospitality industries, where the aroma of culinary delights mingles with the energy of a fastpaced environment, there exists a silent support system that goes beyond the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation. Big Table, a local non-profit organization, has been quietly making a profound impact by extending a helping hand to those who often serve with a smile but may find themselves facing unexpected challenges.

Big Table's motto, "Catching People Before They Fall," encapsulates the essence of their mission. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves dignity and care, this non-profit organization focuses on providing support to individuals in the restaurant and hospitality industries who may be grappling with personal crises, financial hardships, or mental health challenges.

CEO and founder of Big Table, Kevin Finch, has seen the direct impacts the non-profit provides to the individual and the community at large.

Raised near Flat Head Lake in Montana by a pastor father and active community member mother, Kevin recognized the importance of giving at an early age. Food has been an important piece of his life that has continually brought him comfort and joy. “I have always loved food. As a kid it was for quantity, but I’ve since moved the needle to quality. I had a huge appetite as a kid. I grew up with my dad as a pastor in the local church,” Kevin remembers about his origin story, “the one part of life that wasn’t serious and not about faith was food. You need to eat. And so that became an outlet for me to love it and the part of me that just delights in it. Theres always been a lot of joy around food for me.”

During his time in college in Seattle, he developed a habit of gathering local reviews and

The Current

promptly sampling the dishes highlighted by reviewers before the crowds could. This practice persisted into his graduate school years, earning him the informal title of the "Foodie Pastor" as he continued to personally review restaurants and their offerings.

In 1999, he came to Spokane and assumed the role of an associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane. Two years later, he delved into food critique, starting with his inaugural review of the Wolf Lodge Inn for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Living newspaper.

He found a joy and creative outlet writing reviews of local restaurants for The Spokesman Review and Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Living newspapers. “As the things at the church were intense, both good and challenging, this just felt like a respite and reset,” Kevin recalls about the mid 2000’s.

“In 2006, what I would describe as my pastoral ‘spidey sense’ went off and I thought gosh there seems to be a lot of folks in the hospitality and restaurant industry that live right on the edge of falling off.” Kevin had spent years talking to local chefs, servers, and others in the industry.

He started looking into industry statistics and realized it’s one of the largest working industries in the nation, but also has one of the largest quantities of people suffering and recovering from addiction, mental health struggles, homelessness, and many other societal issues. “Once I discovered all this information, I began to feel guilty that I would get to go out and eat these great meals.

I decided I was going to tithe the money that I made from writing as a food critic to the organization that was caring for this industry. And I couldn’t find any in Spokane or across the nation.”

Unable to identify a non-profit

The founder and CEO of Big Table, Kevin Finch

ON THAT NOTE

JANUARY 2024 • 19

specifically aiding the service industry, he started looking into ways to help and solve this problem.

Formally inaugurated in January 2009, Big Table attained non-profit status in 2011. The organization is dedicated to assisting individuals in five key aspects of their lives where they may encounter challenges: job readiness, home stability, mental and emotional health, medical support, and addiction support.

When asked what he does, Kevin replied, “the highest concentration of need in our nation is hidden behind the smiles of the people who work in restaurants and hotels.” Big Table can accomplish this by providing a unique approach to the approval process for potential clients.

As a faith-based nonprofit, Big Table doesn’t have to ask people referred to them to provide documentation of income, as the IRS requires for nonreligious social service nonprofits and as such, they work on a personal referral structure, “catching people before they fall,” as Kevin puts it. Big Table recognizes the importance of giving in creating a safety net for those facing difficulties. By offering a helping hand at the right moment, this organization strives to prevent the fall that can happen when life's challenges become overwhelming.

Personal referrals can be made by family members, co-workers, employers, and friends who recognize a person in need by either filling out a short form on-line through their website big-table.com or by contacting their office directly.

Once the initial referral is received, a Care Coordinator from Big Table will reach out to the applicant and meet in person to listen and ask questions. But their initial outreach is just the beginning. Once they have established the type of need for the person, care coordinators will keep in touch with recipients, and provide additional support. For needs that require greater assistance, Big Table partners with a network of service providers and other charitable organizations that include doctors, dentists, therapists, auto mechanics, and lawyers.

A recent success comes from Big Tables’s website and tells the story of Anastasios: “Anastasios has been pouring his heart and soul into various server positions in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. Even though life dealt him a history of violence and trauma that led to substance abuse and other

Contributed photo At Big Table's annual fall fundraiser, Big Table Eats Around the World, guests are invited from the restaurant and hospitality industry. A silent auction and live auction is hosted during the event to help support the various needs presented by recipients. CEO Kevin Finch has provided a unique network of resources aimed to "catch workers before they fall." struggles, he was determined to rewrite the narrative. Now two years sober, he bravely shares his story to ignite hope to those around him.

While working full-time, he also takes care of his aging parents and volunteers at Big Table events. He was referred to Big Table to help with his deteriorating teeth, resulting from years of drug abuse. Our dental care partner, Dr. Ryan Love, stepped in to give Anastasios a full dental transformation, simply blowing him away. Anastasios asked Dr. Love to pause for a few moments before his full mouth extraction, so he could reflect as the whole process was very emotional for him. It wasn’t just his teeth that he was removing, this represented the release of so many barriers preventing a life of emotional freedom from his past.

After healing up and being fitted for dentures, he lights up the room with a smile full of life as he generously serves others. He hopes to continue to pay it forward and honor his family heritage by opening his own Greek restaurant.” (https://bigtable.com/care-story/new-life-newsmile/) Big Table has had a large impact on the local region and has been able to branch out and open additional offices to serve communities with a need including San Diego, Colorado Springs, and Nashville. The success achieved in the regions they serve stems from the fact that Big Table's influence goes well beyond the individuals directly benefiting from their work. By supporting those in the restaurant and hospitality industries, Big Table contributes to the overall well-being of the

community. A thriving hospitality sector is not only about delicious meals and welcoming atmospheres, but also about the people who make it all possible. When those individuals are supported and cared for, the ripple effect is felt throughout the community.

Big Table is funded through sources including restaurants, distributors, food service suppliers, private monthly donors, and a very small portion of grants. They host an annual fall fundraiser called “Big Table Eats Around the World” and is a fully donated based nonprofit.

Private citizens can make monthly donations or single donations through their website.

Big Table further contributes to community support through the promotion of spontaneous generosity. They initiated the Unexpected 20's program, enabling individuals and small groups to discreetly hand a $20 bill to someone in the restaurant or hotel industry without drawing attention.

Participants are urged to clarify that it is not a payment or tip but a straightforward gift. Small envelopes can be obtained by visiting their website at big-table.com/requestunexpected-20s or by following the provided template and printing them out for personal use.

“We get to embody love and walk alongside people in a way that some of them have never had. We get to tell people how loved they are by showing up in their lives and supporting them in a way that often no one else has with no conditions.

There are no strings attached.”

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• JANUARY 2024

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