Nothing Bundt Cakes Owner Annamarie Megrdichian hooked at first bite
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
It was a simple cake sample that made Annamarie Megrdichian decide on the spot decades ago that she wanted to own a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise, but it would take years for her dream to become a reality.
Megrdichian was living in Riverside, California, working as a 911 dispatcher when she happened to visit a Nothing Bundt Cakes location in Costa Mesa while getting her hair done. “It was bright and cheery and they had a sample of lemon bundt cake,” she said. “It was the best cake I ever had.”
They also had flyers advertising franchise opportunities, so Megrdichian took one. She called the corporate office, only to be told that they were not looking to expand into the Riverside area at that time. Then one day they called her out of the blue to ask if she was still interested.
“They kept my information for four and a half years and then they called me,” she said.
She and a friend, Misty La Force, partnered to open the first Nothing Bundt Cakes location in Riverside in 2016. With no projected sales numbers to work from, the two ended up guessing how much they might make in sales. They would sit in parking lots of other Nothing Bundt Cake
DOCKSIDE
locations and count the customers coming out and what they appeared to have purchased.
“I based everything on selling 30 $30 cakes a day,” she said. “That was my entire business plan. We’ve far exceeded that.”
When they opened a second store, Megrdichian retired from her job as a dispatcher. “It was the hardest job I’d ever had in my life, physically and emotionally,” she said.
Megrdichian’s in-laws moved to Hauser, Idaho, 20 years ago and Megrdichian and her husband came to visit often. They decided they wanted to retire here and when she became aware that the South Hill Nothing Bundt Cakes store on 29th Avenue was up for sale in 2019, it seemed natural to buy it.
Megrdichian fully intended to stay in California while only occasionally visiting the South Hill store, but that’s not how it worked out. “I didn’t think I would be up here in 2019,” she said. “I thought we’d go up occasionally and get it up and running.”
Soon after she and her business partner took over the South Hill store, the manager wanted to quit. Megrdichian moved in with her in-laws for nine months and worked at the South Hill store while her new home was being built in Liberty Lake.
Even then Megrdichian had an idea that she wanted to open a location in Coeur d’Alene and wanted to live somewhere in the middle. She hasn’t regretted her decision to live in Liberty Lake.
“It’s just nice and clean,” she said. “I know my neighbors and they know me. We love it up here. The Inland Northwest reminds me of California when I was growing up.”
The business partners opened a second location at Northpointe on Newport Highway and in 2025 the duo sold their locations in California to focus on their shops here.
Megrdichian said the South Hill location has been doing very well, but the Northpoint store, set well back from the road in a strip mall, has been struggling a bit because they haven’t been able to put a sign on the highway yet. “I’ve been trying since last January,” she said.
Both locations sell gifts as well as bundt cakes of various sizes, including mugs, cards and candles. A surprising best seller is aprons, which come in matching designs in adult and child sizes. “We sell so many aprons,” she said.
People can choose between a full size bundt cake, small individual Bundtlets or bite-sized Bundtinis. They come in a wide variety of flavors, some of them seasonal, and there are gluten free options. Red velvet is a popular option, but Megrdichian said the white chocolate raspberry is the top seller. The current specialty flavor is banana, made with banana puree with vanilla pudding filling and topped by a Nilla wafer.
There are decoration options for everything from birthdays to holidays for the full-size cakes. “We have over 40 different decorations,” she said.
The two locations have different clientele, which shows in the purchases. “This store loves Bundtinis, because they’re sold by the dozen,” she said. “The north
Photo by Nina Culver
Nothing Bundt Cakes owner Annamarie Megrdichian with one of the newest specialty cakes, banana flavored with Nilla Wafers on top. Megrdichian moved to Liberty Lake after buying the Nothing Bundt Cake store on the Spokane South Hill in 2019 and now has two stores in the Spokane Region, one in construction in Couer D' Alene, and one more planned in Spokane Valley or Liberty Lake.
An Enchanted Evening
Central Valley School District (CVSD) is connecting with our Central Valley community through this monthly Link.
Unified programs strengthen schools...
Unified Sports programs are strengthening inclusion across Central Valley schools by bringing students with and without disabilities together on the same teams. The program is modeled after Special Olympics Unified Sports, creating shared athletic experiences and moments of courage, connection and belonging in our schools.
Participation continues to grow, with 26 middle school and 287 high school students stepping onto courts, fields and lanes to compete in arts, basketball, bowling, kickball, pickleball, soccer, track & field and volleyball. However, the real victories aren't
measured on scoreboards. They are found in the quiet high-fives after a play, the laughter during practice, and friendships that form, where barriers once stood.
Coaches say the change is immediate and profound. UHS Unified Coach Julisa Green reflects on the program, “It’s transformed what it means to be a Titan,” creating a space where every athlete is seen, celebrated and valued. Students learn that teamwork is not about ability—it's about trust. Empathy grows. Confidence thrives. Students who perhaps went unnoticed, now walk the halls as proud athletes, knowing that they belong. “ We've built belonging. Our school culture is stronger, more inclusive and filled with Titan pride.”
CVHS Unified Coach Adrienne Williams sees the same transformation. Unified Sports, she says, “creates opportunities for students who might not otherwise participate in school athletics,” while also
building genuine friendships rooted in understanding. Participants become daily “ambassadors for inclusion, whether stepping onto the court or field, tying up their bowling shoes, sharing a high-five in the hallway or sitting together at lunch. The energy and support reflects the culture of belonging that Unified helped build for all Bears,” showing what acceptance truly looks like.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." - R yunosuke Satoro
The impact reaches far beyond athletics. Evergreen MS Principal Tim Teterud notes that “Unified Sports fosters empathy, builds pride and reinforces the belief that every
student plays and important role.” It reshapes school culture into something warmer, kinder and more connected. In CVSD, the message echoes through every game and every cheer: together… I… you… we… belong—creating infinite possibilities for every student who courageously steps onto the field, court or lane.
CAKES
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store, it’s definitely Bundtlets.”
A manager helps Megrdichian and her partner run both locations. “We have a great staff,” she said. “The people are the best.”
Plans are underway to open a Coeur d’Alene location by the end of the year. Construction is expected to start soon on a building near the At Home store in Coeur d’Alene on Neider Avenue.
In the interim, Megrdichian has been doing pop-up locations in Spokane Valley at schools and community events. She brings bundt cakes on the second Saturday of every month to Adorkable Flowers and Gifts in Liberty Lake.
Megrdichian said she’d eventually like to open a Nothing Bundt Cakes location in Liberty Lake or Spokane Valley. “We’ve got to get Coeur d’Alene going first,” she said.
Q: What made you decide to move from California to Liberty Lake?
A: My husband Gerry and I always knew we were going to retire in the Inland Northwest. When the South Hill bakery went up for sale in 2019, it simply moved up our timeline. We purchased the South Hill location in May 2019, just before Covid.
Q: How did you first get involved with Nothing Bundt Cakes?
A: In 2015, my business partner, Misty La Force and I, signed to open a bakery in Riverside, California. That bakery opened in July of 2016. Eighteen months later we opened our second location in Redlands, California (Southern California) and in May 2019 we purchased the Nothing Bundt Cakes on 29th. Since then, we have owned four additional locations and sold our California operations in April of 2025 to focus on the Inland Northwest. We have a location going to be built in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, by the end of this year and then possibly one in Liberty Lake or
Spokane Valley in the coming years.
Q: What is your favorite part of owning bundt shops?
A: Basically, bringing joy every day to the communities which we serve. I take cake everywhere I go, sharing our bit of deliciousness and simply making someone’s day better. I retired from law enforcement at the end of 2017, where I was a police and fire dispatcher. I went from talking to people on their worst day to sharing joy with new people on their best days.
Q: Do you have a favorite menu item?
A: My favorite flavor is our Chocolate Chocolate Chip, however, we have been doing some amazing seasonal and popup flavors that have tilted my head their way. The Biscoff Cookie Butter cake that just finished on Valentine's Day was a fantastic flavor, and I am looking forward to Dubai Chocolate to premier the beginning of March.
Q: What is your advice for anyone considering opening a bakery or cake shop?
A: Business can be hard and challenging at times. Our people (guests and team members) are the best. I love interacting with all of them and sharing "bundt joy" every day. I would say always make an attempt to try something new, when attempting any sort of business. If you never try it out, you will never know if you'll succeed. If you try it out and it's not for you, at least you gave it a try. Be proud that you took the step. Stay positive and love what you do. It will beam through to others.
Q: What do you like to do to relax?
A: I love to cook and bake. It is like therapy for me. I entertain a lot and Sunday dinner at our house is always an occasion. Spending time with family and friends is the most important. A relaxing day would be both my husband and I not working, either cooking together or taking our two dogs, Rocco and Charlie, on an adventure.
WE TREAT EYE EMERGENCIES
City Council Puts a Wrap on 2025 recapping Police Activities and Budget
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council took a quick look back at 2025 in February as city staff and the police department presented information on their numbers for the year.
Police Chief Damon Simmons reported that his growing staff has been doing proactive work and strengthening their communityoriented policing efforts. Events that the department has put on or participated in included a Liberty Lake Citizen’s Academy, special storytimes with officers at the Liberty Lake Library, a “Tood Good for Drugs” fifth grade education program and the Cops, Cars and Cruisers Special Olympics event.
Last year the department added three officers and one crime analyst. Data, including information from the license plate cameras in the community, has helped the department deploy resources where needed and be more effective, Simmons said.
Last year officers responded to 13,170 calls for service, which Simmons said was a substantial
increase over the 10,520 calls in 2024. Simmons attributed the increase to Liberty Lake’s rising population, the increased number of police officers and data from the Spokane County Real Time Crime Center that has helped solve crimes. “I think a lot of this is the result of proactivity,” Simmons said.
The category with the highest number of calls, with 448, was for reckless driver/road rage incidents. Other categories included at the top of the list were suspicious vehicles, traffic enforcement, commercial alarms and 911 hang up calls.
Certain crimes have to be reported to the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and Liberty Lake had 711 incidents in those categories in 2025. Those included 373 crimes against property and 105 crimes against a person.
The 373 property crimes, which includes vandalism, theft, and burglary, compares to the 491 property crimes reported in 2024. Crimes against a person includes simple assault, intimidation, aggravated assault and rape. Liberty Lake Police responded to 105 of those calls in 2025 compared to 101 in 2024.
Officers in the department made 131 arrests in 2025, with nearly 30 of those for fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and around 20 for driving under the influence. The third highest category was shoplifting and the fourth was criminal trespass.
It wasn’t only arrests that kept the department busy. Officers
made 2,301 traffic stops in 2025, though only 296 of those resulted in a citation. Officers typically responded to a handful of traffic accidents each month, except for a spike to 30 crashes in February 2025.
The department six reported use of force incidents in 2025. Use of force can include everything from pointing a weapon to using a simple restraint hold. “This is a testament to our officers’ ability to de-escalate,” Simmons said.
The department has also seen an increase in complex and high priority cases, Simmons said. Some examples include a two-state organized ring that used rental vehicles to do “smash and grab” thefts from vehicles at parks and recreational facilities in March 2025 and several investigations involving child sexual abuse. An investigation in October also uncovered a scam where criminals would entice homeless individuals to attempt to cash stolen checks.
Finance Director Kyle Dixon presented final budget data to “put a bow on 2025.” He noted that the city’s property tax income came in within $5,000 of what was budgeted. The city was projecting $2.65 million in property taxes and received $2.655, Dixon said. “Normally we are exactly on or just a little under,” he said.
The city’s largest source of revenue last year was the sales and use tax. The city budgeted $6.62 million in income and received $6.99 million. This money is typically used for public safety, parks and administrative services, Dixon said.
more than they received in the area of permits and plan reviews, but that isn’t unusual, Dixon said. “This is completely developer driven so every once and a while we’ll get more than Community Development spends,” he said.
The estimated income from shared revenue received from Washington State was also on target, he said. “This is all very encouraging,” he said.
Dixon said he was happy to be able to report that income from the tax on golf services, such as when people buy a bucket of golf balls to hit, has been going up steadily. That money is also used to fund city parks. “That activity is still growing and we’re benefitting from that,” he said.
The police department expenses came in slightly higher than budgeted because some cars budgeted for in 2024 were not billed to the city until 2025, he said.
A couple of things skewed the year-end numbers slightly. There was little snow this winter, which means the city spent less than budgeted on snow removal. That’s the sort of thing that can quickly change, he said. “One of these years we’re going to get walloped,” he said.
There were also a few street projects that did not happen as scheduled because of the asphalt worker strike last fall, Dixon said. That meant money was left over in the public works budget, but those projects were deferred to 2026 and will be completed this year, he said.
1.
3. Consider our climate:
• Spring is a rainy season (March-June) • Water between 7p and 9a to avoid evaporative losses • Turn o system during high winds • Established lawns only need 1.5” per week — www.epa.gov/watersense
In 2025 the city spent a little
Overall, general fund expenses were 82 percent of revenue, Dixon said.
Enjoy the new animal art this spring at Orchard Park’s splash pad!
As area residents enjoy the local outdoors a bit more with the coming of spring, some visitors to Liberty Lake’s Orchard Park may be getting their first look at the solidly interesting wildlife creatures that started taking up residence last October around that site’s splash pad.
Under a project from the city’s Parks and Arts Commission, 24 of the small boulders around the splash pad were painted into a granite nature preserve that now depicts such things as birds, beavers, apples, and insects.
“This project has exceeded expectations,” said Parks and Arts Commission member Laura Frank. “Stacie and Jennifer did an amazing job with vibrant colors and images of plants and animals well known to our region.”
The art enhancements are the creation of artists Jennifer Batey and Stacie Boyer, whose names are acknowledged near the large frog on the west side of the previously unpainted collection.
“The artists did an incredible job in bringing the area to life,” agreed Parks and Arts Commission chair Nancy Hill. “The boulders are kid friendly and fun. The art has been well received by the community, especially the kids.”
Community Engagement Commission adds two new members
Ralph Carlberg and Brittany Sitton are among the newest members of Liberty Lake’s Community Engagement Commission. Carlberg and Sitton were appointed by the City Council just in time for the commission’s December 2025 meeting.
Carlberg moved to Liberty Lake last May and previously served on community boards in Winthrop, including the Shafer Historical Museum and the Okanogan Fire District. Prior to that, he was an HOA president in Gig Harbor. Carlberg earned his B.A. in business economics from Western Washington University, and his
resume includes time as a vice president for a neural networks business in Redmond and as a vice president of finance for a boat trailer company in Spokane.
Brittany Sitton has been a Liberty Lake resident for 14 years and may be familiar to some spring
sports enthusiasts for her service as a softball coach for the team at Ridgeline High School. She has a B.A. in business management from Eastern Washington University and currently works as a realtor and broker with The Legacy Gorup of Keller Williams Realty in Coeur d’Alene.
https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa
Trailhead Golf Course Highlights Simulators, League Sign-Ups Now Open
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun way to spend time with family and friends, Trailhead Golf Course in Liberty Lake offers more than just beautiful fairways. Inside the Liberty Lake clubhouse, two Full Swing Simulators offer year-round fun — and five residents will win a free one-hour session by completing the city’s 2026 Community Satisfaction Survey.
Associate Golf Pro Ty Burns says the simulators feature an overhead camera and four infrared sensors for accurate club and ball tracking. Players can choose from 63 courses, practice on driving ranges, or work on their short game. Not a golfer? The multi-sport simulators include 13 game options, from football field goals and soccer penalty kicks to basketball, hockey and even zombie dodgeball. Food and drinks can be ordered directly to your bay.
Residents must complete the survey by Friday to be entered to win. Access details were mailed in January. Need help? Call City Hall at 509-755-6700. League registration at Trailhead is also now open. Spring and summer leagues provide a great way for golfers of all skill levels to meet neighbors and enjoy friendly competition throughout the season.
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
LLPD Crime Analysis
Property Crimes Calls for Service: 25
Police Report - Jan. 2026
Splash news sources
Significant Cases THEFT
• 2026-88000060: On 1/1/2026, a coin-op machine was stolen from Country Vista Car Wash. The suspects used a tow strap and vehicle to pull the machine out. Photos of the suspect vehicle were distributed to help identify the suspects.
• 2026-88000068: On 1/2/2026, a diamond ring was stolen from inside a residence by
an overnight guest of the owner. The suspect was identified.
• 2026-88000672: On 1/20/2026, multiple unidentified suspects stole packages along E Deschutes Ave. They were riding bikes and one appeared to be acting as a lookout while another took the packages. This is possibly linked to 2 construction site thefts.
• 2026-88000671: On 1/20/2026, approximately $4,100 worth of lumber was stolen from vacant lots at the Trutina home construction site.
VEHICLE PROWL
LLPD Crime Analysis
Traffic Stops: 289 / Citations Issued: 25
• 2026-88000467/202688000469: On 1/5/2026, two vehicles were prowled at the Lagacy Villas Apartment. Both vehicles had windows smashed. There was no available surveillance.
ARRESTS: LLPD made 15 arrests in January, 4 of which were DUIs
• 2026-88000560: On 1/17/2026, officers responded to a mental health crisis that escalated into multiple criminal charges. A male subject was found naked on his apartment balcony threatening suicide and throwing objects, including a samurai sword. Officers discovered he had discharged a firearm multiple times inside his apartment, with bullets penetrating neighboring units and damaging property. A
search warrant execution revealed significant drug evidence suggesting intent to distribute.
• 2026-88000161: On 1/7/2026, a suspect sold a fake 1961 Wilt Chamberlain rookie card for $700 through Facebook Marketplace. The victim discovered the card was counterfeit after purchase and reported the crime.
Officers have encountered several suspicious vehicles and a variety of suspicious people within the community. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to lock your vehicles and to secure your property where it can’t be seen to avoid any vehicle prowlers.
Stay well and be safe!
Vision takes shape as North of Liberty Lake Community Expands
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Hammers are flying as walls go up on new buildings and nearly complete buildings get finishing touches in the North Liberty Lake (NoLL) neighborhood at Indiana Avenue and Harvard Road.
The neighborhood, being developed by Greenstone Homes, has been in the company’s development plan for Liberty Lake since 2007, said Jim Frank. Frank, who is semi-retired, passed dayto-day control of Greenstone to his son, Joe, several years ago, but is still involved in some aspects of the business.
The goal is to turn NoLL into a walkable community with a mix of retail and residential spaces, much
like Kendall Yards near downtown Spokane. “We’re committed to building these walkable mixed-use communities,” Frank said. “We needed to have enough people living on that side of I-90 to justify the commercial use.”
Frank said most retail businesses are in strip malls and the only way to get there is to drive. He wants people to be able to walk or ride their bike to businesses in their neighborhood.
“There’s evidence that walkable neighborhoods reduce vehicle miles traveled by 30 percent or more,” he said.
NoLL started small, with a single commercial building on the south side of Indiana at Harvard with several businesses and a Greenstone leasing office. One of the first businesses was New Love Coffee, which helped anchor the development. The coffee shop now includes some co-working space that has become well used, Frank said.
“It’s become quite a little gathering place,” he said. “It’s become kind of a community space.”
After New Love Coffee opened, other businesses followed. 3 Ninjas, a restaurant known for its flavorful tacos, opened next door to the coffee
shop. Emrys Beer and Mead Works opened a little further north on Harvard Road, next to the Spokane River. More recently, Tamale Box, which sells handmade tamales, opened near the Meadery, as did Liberty Lake Fitness.
Across Indiana from the original structure, a new three-story building is in the final stages of completion. It has retail space on the bottom floor and residential space on the top two
floors. In an attempt to make the neighborhood more walkable, the buildings sit right next to the street.
“We moved all the parking to the back,” Frank said. “The buildings themselves face the street.”
When the newest building is complete in two months, the Greenstone leasing office will move in. That will free up space for New Love Coffee to expand, including its co-working space. The second floor above the coffee shop will also feature rooms for meetings and events. “It also serves as a community center,” Frank said.
The new building being finished on the north side of Indiana is expected to house a dress shop, a Pilates studio, a spa and a bookstore. The apartments above are either studio or one-bedroom apartments. “We’re starting to do the tenant improvement work,” he said.
Nathan Hansen and his wife Stephanie are the owners of the bookstore, called Paragraphs & Pages. Hansen currently works for the Community Library Network at the Post Falls Library, which pairs nicely with his degrees in creative writing and business administration.
“It’s kind of a natural evolution,” he said of owning a book store. “It’s just time for a new chapter. We’re just really looking forward to creating a literary community and being a part of what’s happening in NoLL.”
Hansen said he likes the idea of being located in a walkable community. He was looking at
Contributed photo
Looking West down Indiana from Harvard, the first phase of the North of Liberty Lake Development as seen earlier this year.
Contributed Image
Jim Frank.
COVER STORY
Contributed Image
Renderings of Cinema Quattro the small cinema that is currently under construction in North of Liberty Lake. The Cinema will feature four screening rooms each with 45 seats and is going to be located just west of 3 Ninjas on the south side of Indiana and is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
other commercial spaces, but settled on NoLL. “We just thought this was a better fit for our community,” he said.
While the building should be done in two months, Hansen said they’ll need time to fill the shelves before they can open, hopefully by the end of spring. He said waiting for the building to be finished has been an exercise in patience.
“We’re look at this as our prologue,” he said. “This is just the set up.”
Hansen said he will make Paragraphs & Pages his full-time job, while his wife will help out in the evenings and on the weekends. They’ll likely need other part-time help as well, he said.
The couple envisions hosting author events, writer’s groups and workshops. While there will be space in store for small groups to meet, Hansen said he anticipates using the community rooms above New Love Coffee for larger events. “Being a part of NoLL really gives us an opportunity for resource sharing that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” he said.
Hansen said he also hopes to be able to partner with the new theater on events as well. “We’ve done a lot of reaching out to the community,” he said. “We’re looking forward to being a real part of it.”
people love the opportunity to meet and gather.”
Residents of NoLL will also have access to the River District Farm, which sits on five acres across the street from Orchard Park. The land is owned by the homeowners association and a non-profit organization, run by volunteers, manages it. There’s a greenhouse and the volunteers use that to create plant starts in the spring to be sold at the farm stand on site. Fruits, vegetables and flowers grown on site are also sold at the farm stand during the growing season. Honey harvested from on-site bee hives is also sold.
“People love it,” Frank said. “It’s really taken off and been wonderful.”
Residents have the opportunity to reserve raised beds on site, very much how the City of Liberty Lake offers reserved garden beds in city parks, Frank said. “This is on a much larger scale,” he said.
The farm also offers a wide variety of classes. People can learn about seed starting and soil basics on April 11, how to grow Dahlias on April 18 and a ravioli making class on May 3. A full schedule and registration information is available at www.farmrd.com.
A third building, this one a mixed-use building anchored by a real estate office, is also under construction on the south side of Indiana near Harvard. The residential units in that building will be larger, either one or two bedrooms, Frank said.
Walls are going up for what will be a small boutique theater just to the west of 3 Ninjas on the south side of Indiana. Cinema Quattro will have four screening rooms with 45 seats each, one of which will have LED technology, Frank said.
“The best technology in the country is going to be in these cinemas,” he said. “It’s going to be the first small cinema in the United States using an LED screen. It’s probably the future of cinema. The color saturation is much better.”
People will be able to order food and drinks in-house and take it into the theaters, Frank said. The owner, Jeremy Whittington, has announced plans to hold special events such as poetry slams as well, Frank said.
“The intent is to provide more of a family friendly elevated experience than what you get at a multiplex,” he said. “He plans a range of entertainment, not just movies. It provides an entertainment venue in Liberty Lake, which we really don’t have yet.”
The theater building is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Frank envisions a neighborhood where residents walk to local shops, meeting their neighbors along the way. “People really want the opportunity to have social connections,” he said. “I think
Residents are also allowed to u-pick fruit from the 60 tree orchard as well as pick their own flowers from the flower garden to make arrangements with.
“It’s all open to the public,” Frank said of the garden, which includes a gazebo. “People can wander through the gardens. It teaches families and children where their food comes from and how it’s grown.”
Several future buildings are also in the planning or design stages, including a residential building next to the theater that could include one to three bedroom condos instead of apartments. A dirt lot just to the north of the mixed-use building on Indiana that is nearly ready to open will remain vacant for a while, Frank said, but he envisions a small commercial building there along with more residential units. “It’s probably going to be four or five years before it all gets built out,” he said.
While the neighborhood will be similar to Kendall Yards, it will be much more compact, Frank said.
“We’re trying to create higher (residential) density around the Town Center,” he said. “It’s going to have the look and feel of Kendall Yards, but with different uses. It’s going to have its own unique feel.”
Contributed image Rendering of the envisioned Town Center area at the heart of the North of Liberty Lake community. While construction is a little further out the concept is to support the walkable community and first floor commercial spaces as the density of housing grows.
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About and for Liberty Lake seniors
City Council looks towards the future of streets for both cars and pedestrians
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council started the month with a proclamation honoring the life and public service of former Mayor Shane Brickner, for whom a memorial service was recently held.
Mayor Cris Kaminskas spoke about her relationship with Brickner before reading the proclamation. “I considered Shane a friend, not just a colleague,” she said. “He was the big little brother I never had.”
She said Brickner was deeply invested in the city and pointed to his efforts to help the city through a water emergency after he had been elected mayor but before he took the oath of office. Kaminskas said Brickner spent his own money on cases of bottled water to be distributed to residents who were under a boil water order.
“It was Shane who was behind the Liberty Lake Together logo,” she said. “He paid for it.”
Brickner had an ability to lift people up, Kaminskas said. “I’m better for having known him,” she said. “He’s deeply missed.”
During the February 3 meeting, the council heard a report from Mitch Hadfield, traffic operations and safety engineer with Parametrix, who did a survey on city streets and rated how 23 major intersections are performing. Traffic counts were collected in nearly a dozen locations and turning movement counts were collected at all 23 intersections during peak morning and afternoon traffic times.
The number of pedestrians and
bicyclists using those intersections at peak traffic hours were also counted, with by far the highest numbers reported at Molter Road and Country Vista Drive. The intersections of Mission Avenue and Country Vista Drive as well as Mission and Country Vista Boulevard also had higher numbers.
The intersections were rates by delay time, with an ‘A’ rating being an average delay of up to 10 seconds and an ‘F’ rating being a delay of more than 50 seconds. Most intersections rated at a C or above for their current level of service. The lowest rated intersections were Mission Avenue and Signal Drive, which has a stop sign, with an F rating for afternoon peak hours. The intersection of Mission Avenue and Country Vista Drive, which also has stop signs, earned an E rating with a delay of 36 seconds during afternoon peak hours.
But as soon as 2028, those numbers get worse. Mission Avenue and Signal Drive is expected to have an F rating in both the morning and the afternoon and Mission Avenue and Country Vista Drive is expected to have an E rating in the morning and drop to an F rating in the afternoon. Wait times are also expected to increase at the Interstate 90 westbound off ramp to Country Vista Drive.
Solutions to these problems include everything from adding traffic signals or roundabouts to adding additional turn lanes or extending green traffic signal length on some turn lanes. “When those mitigation measures are applied, levels of service improve,” Hadfield said.
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Dunne asked city staff how those suggested solutions fit in with the city’s existing capital facilities plan.
“These are not included because they came in after the bell,” said Public Works Director Ben Turner.
The council voted to approve the analysis at the February 17 meeting.
In related news, the council also reviewed a draft pavement
master plan that analyses the condition of city streets and where improvements are needed. A survey of the city’s 55 miles of streets was done last summer, Turner said. “I would estimate we own over $100 million in pavement,” he said.
The average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating for the city’s streets is 77.28, Turner said, and any score above 77 is considered good. However, that average number is bolstered by quite a few brand new streets recently paved in new housing developments. At least one street in the city has a PCI rating of 31, which is considered poor, Turner said.
“Our arterials and collectors tend to wear out a little faster,” he said. “A lot of them are older as well.”
In the city’s older neighborhoods, such as Meadowwood, the streets are approaching their 20 year lifespan. Turner said city crews have been doing crack sealing to maintain streets. “You can extend that life by doing periodic preventative maintenance,” he said. “Early investment avoids major reconstruction projects.”
The city simply has more projects needed than money to fund them, Turner said. “If we were to repair everything today, we would need to spend $20 million,” he said.
As an example of a road in poor condition, Tuner pointed to Sprague Avenue. At this point, the street needs a complete reconstruction, he said. “That does cost significantly more than a mill and overlay,” he said. “That’s not an option we prefer.”
The city has a shortfall every year in street funding, Turner said. The longer that continues, the worse the backlog will get, he said.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to be in major trouble in a few years,” he said.
By 2041, the city’s average PCI rating would drop to 57, more streets would be in need of the more expensive reconstruction option and the city’s street maintenance backlog would rise from $20 million to $62
million, Turner.
The city needs $3 million in funding a year in order to maintain an average PCI of 71, Turner said. Current funding is about $1.6 million a year. “We need to figure out where we want to be,” he said.
As an example of what a road with a PCI of 57 looks like, City Administrator Mark McAvoy pointed to the piece of Country Vista near Kramer Road. “The entire city becomes that stretch in front of the fire station, which is a 55.”
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Kaminskas said.
“It is, but we have to start somewhere,” Turner said.
The council once again discussed a proposed Rainbow Bridge donation from Pawpular Companions that would act as a memorial for people’s pets. Council members have expressed concerns about people having to buy special memorial tags from Pawpular Companions, as well as other items.
“We will not discourage people from bringing their own tags,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jen Camp.
Kaminskas said that the council only needed to approve the donation, not each detail. “Typically, details like that are ironed out after the donation,” she said.
Councilman Hugh Severs said he still had some concerns, even though he likes the idea of the donation. “I think it’s all in great faith, I’m just concerned about the details,” he said.
McAvoy said once there is a specific plan in place on how to manage the Rainbow Bridge, it will come before the council for approval. With that reassurance, the council unanimously voted to accept the donation.
Councilwoman Linda Ball expressed concerns about the police department's request to spend $85,000 on new security cameras for city parks with a company called Verkada. Police Chief Damon Simmons previously spoke about
the request before the council and said he had done extensive research before selecting Verkada.
Ball said she did some research and found that Verkada was once fined several years ago for not properly securing videos and other data. She said she also heard that they used high pressure sales tactics.
“That makes me very uncomfortable,” she said. “They’re only a four year old firm, so they don’t have a very good track record,
in my opinion. I cannot support hiring this company. I feel pretty passionate about it.”
Simmons pointed to his research, which included talking with other agencies in Washington State that already use Verkada’s system. “I would have to disagree,” he said.
“The list of Washington customers alone is a testament to what they bring. I haven’t heard anything negative.”
He said he never experienced any pushiness from the sales team and
representatives of the company flew to Liberty Lake at their own expense several times to do walk-throughs of the city parks.
The city’s IT Manager, Shane Miller, spoke to Ball’s security concerns. “I definitely do understand your concerns,” he said.
“I’m actually extremely comfortable moving forward with them for a variety of reasons, despite that black mark.”
The vote to purchase the cameras
was 6 to 1, with Ball voting no.
During the month of February, the city council voted unanimously to confirm several appointments to city boards and committees. Those appointed were: Laura DeMott, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee; David Stuhlberg, Civil Service Commission; Jacob Vanlandingham, Civil Service Commission Adjunct; Lori Merkel, Community Engagement Commission; and Abigail Sprague, Planning Commission Adjunct.
Student of the Month
Kalina Chanel Bolter is an outstanding senior at Ridgeline High School with an impressive 3.97 GPA who exemplifies dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm. She has a deep passion for theatre and has thrived in Ridgeline’s program, performing in productions such as Radium Girls and earning the role of Mayzie LaBird in Seussical, which will run from April 30 through May 8. Her love for performing began early—after moving to California at age six, she took acting classes that helped shape her dream of becoming a movie actor. Kalina recently showcased her confidence and talent in a school variety show, where she entertained audiences with jokes and singing, and she is well known for her spirited school involvement. After returning with her family to Liberty Lake during her junior year, she has continued to excel academically by taking college classes through Eastern Washington University. Outside of school, she enjoys anime, values her close-knit family, and takes pride in being an older sister. Following high school, Kalina plans to fully pursue acting and auditions, with a dream role of portraying Aphrodite in the Percy Jackson television series.
Lance Hilton is a senior at Ridgeline High School and a dedicated member of the Falcon wrestling team, demonstrating commitment, perseverance, and growth throughout his ath-letic journey. Lance began wrestling in his sophomore year and trains year round with both the Ridgeline Wrestling Team and the Sasquatch Wrestling Club at the Inland Northwest hosted by Gonzaga. Through hard work and discipline, Lance transitioned from the 285 pound weight class to 180 pounds in just five months. His dedication has earned him the Growth Award each year he has participated in Wrestling, with expectations of receiving it again this season.
Lance has lettered in wrestling twice and advanced to the State Tournament this year. Beyond athletics, Lance shows strong leadership and character by helping host a weekly Bible study during lunch and plans to join the Environmental Science Club. After high school, Lance intends to attend college at Washington State University, Grand Canyon University, or Northern Arizona University to continue wrestling at a nationally competitive level while pursuing a business degree and participating in the ROTC program with the goal of becom-ing a U.S. Air Force officer. He is grateful for the continued support of his parents and coaches.
Citizen of the Month
Giorgio Usai’s story is rooted in a lifelong connection to fitness, family, and community. Inspired years ago while walking the Centennial Trail near what would later become Liberty Lake Fitness, he imagined a bright, welcoming place where people could train, feel inspired, and leave in a better place than when they arrived. That vision was shaped by deep family roots in the Spokane Valley fitness community—his parents’ gym, Giorgio’s Gym, founded in 1980, served as a local staple for nearly 40 years. As a teenager, Giorgio set a national deadlift record, and his passion for fitness continued as he joined his father’s commercial exercise equipment business in the 1990s, traveling the world and gaining invaluable industry experience. In 2003, Giorgio became a partner in his family’s gym. In 2024, that lifelong journey came full circle when he opened Liberty Lake Fitness, creating the kind of gym he once imagined—one built to support people of all experience levels, on their best days and their toughest ones, with the goal of helping everyone leave a little stronger and smiling.
Athlete of the Month
By John McCallum Splash contributor
Boys basketball
Falcons winter sports action continues
Ridgeline’s boys swimming team and girls wrestling team posted some good results at 3A state competition Feb. 20-21 at Federal Way and Tacoma respectively. While the boys basketball team’s season came to an end with a good playoff run, the Falcon girls still were in the hunt for a state title as of press time, Feb. 25.
The Falcons finished the Greater Spokane League regular season at 5-4, sixth overall and fifth among 3A schools — helped by wins over 3A third-place University, Shadle Park and 3A runner-up Central Valley in their final three games.
Ridgeline earned a No. 5 seed to District 6 postseason competition where they opened at No. 4 Sageview from the Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC). After ending regulation tied at 65, the Falcons were outscored 12-9 by the Lions in overtime in the 77-74 loss, with senior guard Caden Andreas leading Ridgeline in scoring with 21 points.
Knocked into the bracket for the district’s third and final seed to state,
Girls basketball
Andreas hit key shots in double overtime for a 73-71 home win over No. 8 seed Walla Walla. Needing two more wins to move on to the 20team state field, the Falcons found themselves facing a familiar foe — CV.
The Bears built a 34-23 halftime lead and Ridgeline couldn’t close the gap, ending their season with a 66-52 loss. Andreas had 20 points for the Falcons, who finished 10-13 overall.
After winning the GSL’s 3A title with an 8-1 record — their only loss to GSL title winner and 4A fifth-ranked Gonzaga Prep — the Ridgeline girls blitzed their opponents on the way to a District 6 title. The top-seeded Falcons average margin of victory in their three games was 24 points, opening with a 65-36 blowout of No. 8 seeded Mt. Spokane, followed by a 7253 demolishing of No. 4 Southridge from the MCC and capped by a 65-40 win over GSL rival University.
The Falcons got balanced offense in the three games from senior Maddie Crowley, junior Grace Sheridan and freshman Noelia Axton, all scoring in double digits.
In the 3A state draw, Ridgeline — ranked No. 4 in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Feb. 23 poll at 19-4 — earned a No. 3 seed. They were to host sixth-seeded and seventh-ranked Eastside Catholic, fourth place in Seattle’s Metro League at 17-7, in a second-round game on Feb. 28 at West Valley High School, with both schools advancing in the double elimination portion of the tournament.
Boys swimming
The Falcon’s fledgling program may have sent a small contingent to 3A state competition in Federal Way, Feb. 20-21, but they made a big splash in the team field. Ridgeline placed 12th out of 41 teams with 62 points, thanks to three top-5 finishes by senior Ethan Gingras and sophomore Ari Teske.
Gingras placed fourth in the 200yard individual medley and fifth in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing
www.hubsportscenter.org
with a time of 1 minute, 56 minutes in the former and 52.47 seconds in the latter. Teske was third in the 500 freestyle, posting a time of 4:39.04, while also finishing 10th overall, second in the B Final of the 200 free with a time of 1:45.30.
Also scoring points for Ridgeline was the 400 free relay team of Ethan Gingras, Teske, sophomore Joshua Kautzman and sophomore Liam Gringras. The team placed 12th overall, fourth in the B Final with a time of 3:23.18.
Liam Gingras also competed in two individual events, placing 18th in the 50 free and 21st in the 100 free. The 200 free relay team of Ethan Gingras, Teske, freshman Keagan Scandalis and Liam Gingras was 19th overall, but missed the finals.
Bellevue took the 3A state title with 332 points. Walla Walla was the only other Eastern Washington team to place in the top-20, coming in 11th, 24 points ahead of Ridgeline.
Falcon state qualifiers, including relay teams, had to win their respective events at District 6 competition in Walla Walla, Feb. 6-7, as Eastern Washington schools only received one allocation to Federal Way. The district titles led Ridgeline to a thirdplace district finish with 247 points, 103 points back of second-place Cheney and well behind champions Walla Walla.
Wrestling
The Ridgeline girls placed 16th overall among 71 3A teams at Mat Classic XXXVII, Feb.19-21, not a bad feat for sending only five competitors to the Tacoma Dome competition. The Falcons brought home a pair of top-three placers — including a state champion in senior Hailee Argaw in the 140-pound bracket.
Argaw began her second state appearance, placing fourth in 2025, with a first-round fall in 15 seconds of Bellarmine Prep’s Darcy Mince. She topped that with a second-round pin of Snohomish’s Tatum Briels at the 3:42 mark, and advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 decision over Kelso’s Alexis Escobar.
In the semifinals, Argaw broke a 7-7 tie with a late third-round pin of Sedro Wooley’s Micayla Yates. She then defeated Hermiston’s Emily Stone with a 6-4 decision for the championship.
Ridgeline’s other placer was first-time state qualifier Zoe Grishko. Wrestling at 135 pounds, the freshman opened with a pin of Auburn-Mountainview’s Isabella Lauer, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 50-second pin of Peninsula’s Paige Powers.
In the quarters, she lost in a firstround fall to eventual state champion Kylie Whitaker of Walla Walla. In the consolation bracket, Grishko earned an 18-2 technical fall win over Oak Harbor’s Naomi Francisco, a 16-1 technical fall in a rematch with Powers, a pin of Lynnwood’s Briana Williams and another pin of Cheney’s Paige McGee in the match for third.
Both Argaw and Grishko placed third at District 6 competition Feb. 6-7. Also advancing to state were senior Maelia Amen, her second appearance and district runner-up at 110 pounds; two-time state qualifier sophomore Perla Owen, fifth in districts at 135 and sophomore Kaydence Jolley, fourth in districts at 145.
“Qualifying five athletes for State is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to their hard work and dedication,” Ridgeline girls head coach Nicole Sternod said in a news release. “We are incredibly proud of how they represent our school and community and hope more girls join us on the mat next year.”
Sternod said Argaw’s state title and Grishko’s freshman finish are firsts for both the Ridgeline girls and boys wrestling programs.
The Falcon boys qualified nine wrestlers out of District 6 for Mat Classic: Judah Eck, Zach Joyner, Wyatt Risken, Torren Northcutt, Kaedyn Aurand, Lincoln Edminster, Jeshua Jolley, Lance Hilton and Pace Greenup. Only Eck, district runnerup at 165 pounds, made the podium, defeating Sedro Wooley’s Paxton Jackson in 28-7 technical fall for seventh.
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Central Valley School District celebrates academic growth in 2025
By Brooke Masters
Splash contributor
On Jan. 29, 2026, Central Valley School District used its State of the District meeting to highlight academic growth and outlined next steps for the years ahead.
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Superintendent John Parker presented the district school year report card and talked about what CVSD is focused on for the future. The district is pleased with the progress that has been made as part of the ongoing rebound from the COVID pandemic, but also noted that the work ahead will require a focus on belonging and access. One indicator CVSD highlighted was kindergarten readiness. The district reported a 63.8% kindergarten readiness success rate on the WAKids assessment, placing Central Valley among the highest-performing districts in the state. WAKids measures early literacy and math, but it also considers social-emotional development and physical skills. Parker noted that early childhood growth often reflects support from both schools and families, and he encouraged community members to keep investing time in the youngest learners by reading to them and asking about what they are learning in the classroom.
The report card also showed a rise in on-time graduation. Central Valley reported a 4.6% increase in its on-time graduation rate this year, a metric the district views as a key sign that students are staying on track through high school.
In addition to academics, Parker also emphasized the link between student involvement and belonging. The district highlighted increased participation in athletics and activities, along with growing interest in clubs such as debate and robotics. Parker stated, "All these different extracurricular activities are important in the big mosaic of what
LIBERTY LAKE
ENRICHED LIVING. LASTING VALUE.
rounds out our kids' education."
Parker said the district is “very pleased” with state comparisons for English Language Arts, math, and science. The district’s message was not that perfection was achieved, but that the overall trend is moving in the right direction.
A major piece of Central Valley’s improvement strategy is investing in Professional Learning Communities. The district has committed to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) every Thursday morning, which provide structured time for educators to discuss strategies to best address student needs. Parker was particularly proud of the work being done on school improvement plans and the meticulous look at school data.
Looking ahead Parker outlined plans aimed at both academic opportunity and family support. One of the district’s major priorities is expanding “AA in the High School,” a program that allows students to earn an Associate of Arts degree without leaving their high school campus. For many families, the appeal is obvious: students can begin college-level work while still having the full high school experience, including sports, clubs, and other activities.
Parker said the program is intended to reduce barriers that can make other early-college pathways hard to access. A key goal is helping students avoid the need to travel to college campuses, which can be a challenge for some students.
Central Valley is also working to make things more affordable for families, particularly related to participation fees and basic school costs. The district has allocated a $150,000 budget to reduce athletic and activity fees for students and families. Reductions include high school and middle school athletics, and the district is waiving fine arts class supply and instructional rental fees. This aligns with the district's goal of pursuing a culture of belonging and equitable opportunities.
In addition, the district is planning to budget for school supply kits to reduce family burden. Implementation is planned for next school year, pending Board approval. This would likely reduce stress for families who may be stretching dollars across multiple children.
During the Q&A portion of the State of the District, parents asked about the district’s approach to new technology. Parker addressed a question about Artificial Intelligence in the classroom and said the district is actively developing flexible guidelines so AI tools can be used safely and thoughtfully without compromising academic integrity.
Technology also came up in discussion of the district-wide cell phone ban, which Parker described as a positive shift for classroom engagement. The ban has increased student focus and reduced the constant distraction that phones can bring into learning spaces. Parker framed this as part of a broader effort to protect instructional time and encourage face-to-face interaction.
“This is sacred time for teaching and for learning and for students and staff to be interacting with one another and I believe we are reaching that goal,” Parker said.
As the State of the District wrapped up, Parker returned to the theme of how this progress was possible through not just school, but parents and the larger community. Central Valley’s progress is not only the result of programs and policies, but of community involvement. He urged parents and caregivers to stay engaged, especially in the early years, by reading with young students and asking questions about what they are learning.
The district’s message emphasized a hopeful future, with a focus on getting students ready for further education and getting them excited about their future careers.
A recording of the full state of the district webcast can be found on the districts website at www.cvsd.org
