April 2016 Current

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APRIL

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Pickle at Painted Hills A look at the sublime past and uncertain future of Spokane Valley’s once-cherished golf course - page 12

PICKET SIGNS AT SV CITY HALL PAGE 7

STATE PROGRAM MAKES COLLEGE A REALITY PAGE 33

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH SPOKANE UNIVERSITY PAGE 29

CV GIRLS NET STATE HOOPS VET PAGE 24

NEWS

2 • APRIL 2016

The Park Bench

Earning his chops – Taylor began career path on first Valley council

By Craig Howard Current Editor The list of candidates for Spokane Valley’s first City Council looked more like a jar of sardines than a traditional ballot back in September of 2002.

A total of 49 council hopefuls lined up for the primary election that fall, only five months after the vote for incorporation passed by the slender margin of 51 percent.

It had been the fifth campaign for cityhood since 1990 – but unlike every previous initiative, it had passed and the Valley finally had its city.

Steve Taylor was part of the campaign for cityhood, getting the word out among residents about the initiative to define the Valley as its own jurisdiction. As a field representative for U.S. Congressman George Nethercutt, Taylor understood pre-election strategies to influence opinion. The community canvassing would serve him well later that year when he ran for the inaugural City Council.

At only 26, Taylor was aspiring for one of seven council seats.

In addition to his work in Nethercutt’s office, he brought a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics and a master’s in public administration from Eastern Washington University. He made it past the crowded primary that fall and faced well-known local businessman Ed Mertens in the general election. Mertens had led the charge to gather 5,000 signatures to put incorporation on the ballot.

Taylor knocked on approximately 11,000 doors leading up to the November vote. The determination paid off. He was elected to the governing board with 57 percent of the electorate and joined a group around the dais that included Rich Munson, Diana Wilhite, Mike DeVleming, Gary Schimmels, Mike

city manager in nearby Vancouver.

The Current caught up with Taylor recently to talk about the early days of Spokane Valley, his memories of the original City Council and the road of municipal leadership he has taken since leaving the Inland Northwest.

Q: How involved were you in the Spokane Valley incorporation campaign that led to the successful vote in May of 2002?

Steve Taylor was part of the inaugural Spokane Valley City Council that formed after the vote for incorporation passed in May 2002. Taylor now serves as city manager in Kelso, the seat of Cowlitz County in southwest Washington.

Contributed photo Flanigan and Dick Denenny.

Taylor would later say he earned “the equivalent of a graduate degree in local government” in the seven years he served with the Spokane Valley City Council. He listened, learned and contributed in a way that would set the stage for future roles in municipal government.

A native of Michigan, Taylor moved with his family to Florida right before high school. After graduation, he entered the Air Force, which brought him to the Inland Northwest and the Fairchild Air Force Base. He would go on to earn his associate of arts degree from Spokane Falls Community College before enrolling at EWU.

A: My interest and involvement with the incorporation campaign began with the approval of the measure for the May 2002 ballot.

The ability to vote on incorporation, again, was up in the air due to the city of Spokane’s lawsuit pertaining to the inclusion of the sale taxrich Yardley area within the proposed city’s boundaries. When the Supreme Court ruled against Spokane’s ability to annex areas to which it had previously extended utilities without first having a public vote, the road was open to incorporation. I knocked on doors, waved signs and phone-banked for the effort – the sort of retail politics I had been well-accustomed to as a campaign volunteer and staffer for Congressman Nethercutt. I’m still amazed by how close the vote was in the end, but I believe it was the right decision and provided the opportunity for greater service levels and focused citizen engagement.

Q: Why did you decide to run for the inaugural City Council and how daunting was it to see

The Current

49 candidates vying for seven spots around the dais?

A: Just days after the incorporation vote, I announced my candidacy for the council and ran as a candidate who could provide a clear vision for the new city and ensure a smooth transition from county governance.

I had just turned 26, and I felt the city needed a candidate that could relate to younger residents with families. As one of the first out of the gate, I had no idea that so many candidates would ultimately file. There was even a faint glimmer of hope that I wouldn’t have any opposition because there were so many races to choose from. Boy, was I wrong. I ended up with six primary opponents including Ed Mertens, the longtime Valley business owner and city booster who helped lead the effort to place incorporation on the ballot.

However, through hard work, 11,000 doorbells, buckets of sweat and four instances of sunburn, I was honored to be chosen to serve on the inaugural council.

Q: What are some of your general recollections of the city's first year?

A: The naming of the city – I wanted to be called “Opportunity” – I lost on a 6-1 vote. Adopting the foundational ordinances of the city including hiring a city manager and city attorney as well as levying the initial taxes.

Working with city management veterans like Lee Walton and Stan

See TAYLOR, Page 3

While on the Valley council, Taylor spent two years as deputy mayor. From experienced leaders like Munson and then-City Manager Dave Mercier, Taylor gleaned the knowledge, skills and political savvy that would stand him in good stead at his next stop around 100 miles to the southwest in Connell.

Taylor took over as city administrator in the town of 3,200 in June of 2009 at the age of 33. By September of 2012, he was hired in the same role by the city of Kelso, the seat of Cowlitz County, WA., 50 miles to the north of Portland.

In Kelso, a city of 12,000, Taylor is tasked with a myriad of duties, from preparing the budget to carrying out policies and directing day-to-day operations. The city has over 70 employees and an annual budget of $34 million. Every month or so, Taylor crosses paths with Mercier, his old friend from the Valley, who now serves as deputy

Taylor helped forge the foundation for Spokane Valley as one of the “original seven” on the first City Council. From left to right: Rich Munson, Dick Denenny, Gary Schimmels, Diana Wilhite, Mike DeVleming, Mike Flanigan and Taylor.

Contributed photo

The Current

TAYLOR

NEWS

Continued from page 2 McNutt to set up the nuts and bolts of the government. Council meetings twice a week for two to three hours and spending the other evenings reading through reams of ordinances and contracts. Mike DeVleming’s top hat and scissortailed tuxedo at the first Spokane Valley Mayor’s Ball. The institution of cat licensing, another 6-1 loss.

I’m still proud of that vote. The camaraderie formed by our team of the “Magnificent Seven.” If only all City Councils could be as effective.

Q: As you look back on your service with that first council, what would you list as some of your proudest accomplishments?

A: Establishing a contract city that met and improved service levels for the residents including expanded police coverage and the institution of an effective code enforcement program. The Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan – not without controversy, but the design principles within the plan are reaping “quality of life” dividends through their incorporation in Spokane, Liberty Lake, Coeur d’Alene and many other communities in the Pacific Northwest. I was elated to see the approval of a new City Hall near the site that was proposed in the original plan. Building up healthy financial reserves which allowed Spokane Valley to weather the Great Recession without general service cuts or layoffs. Construction of CenterPlace and the development of Mirabeau Point. Adoption of the comprehensive plan and unified development code.

Q: How did your time on council forge the foundation for your subsequent roles in municipal government?

A: My time on the council gave me the unique opportunity to help build a brand new municipal organization from scratch. It’s an educational experience that few people will ever be honored to have in their lifetime. I saw how you stand up new departments, develop and consider proposals for services, partner and negotiate with other levels of government and hire qualified, experienced staff. Most importantly, you learn to appreciate the vast array of public participation and share in the excitement generated by meaningful community engagement.

Without question,

APRIL 2016 • 3

my years on the council laid the foundation for my subsequent professional transition to city management.

Q: What are some of your thoughts about the city of Spokane Valley in 2016? Is it the city you hoped it would become when incorporation became a reality?

A: I haven’t been back as often as I’d hoped to be in recent years, so my recent observations are somewhat limited. The city continues to be managed very well and in a lean fashion. The council remains conservative in its decision-making and has maintained its commitment to ensure the provision of a consistent service level for its residents.

While I was disappointed to see the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan overturned after my departure from the council, I think the decision reflected the general temperament of the Spokane Valley community.

All gains are incremental, but not all increments are gains. Growth, change and deviation from tradition take time, but the new City Hall at U-City has revived the spirit of the original council’s hopes and dreams. I would have hoped to see the extension of Appleway down to Sullivan Road take place, but the development of the trail was a useful alternative that can enhance the Valley’s quality of life.

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Q: What do you miss most about living in Spokane Valley?

A: I miss my friends and all the people I built relationships with in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene region. There was and always will be quaintness about the Valley that has its innate appeal. How such a large community can feel like such a small town is one of its best qualities. However, I don’t miss the snow and chill of the winter months.

Q: Finally, are there specific lessons and experiences from your time with the Spokane Valley City Council that you draw from in your day-to-day responsibilities in Kelso?

A: The main lesson is to listen to others. Listen to what the residents are saying and keep your council members informed. Listen to your staff, ask the right questions and communicate the vision, keeping the community as the central focus.

Be humble, responsive and deferential, but firm in your convictions as they are bolstered by facts and experience. And don’t forget to smile.

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NEWS

SVP open house showcases renovations, collaborations

By Derek Brown

Current Correspondent When it comes to the Valley’s signature community center, the framework is formed by a network.

Spokane Valley Partners (SVP) held an open house on March 10 at its headquarters on Broadway Avenue to showcase recent renovations as well as partnerships with local companies that will help the agency better facilitate its mission of serving the community.

SVP CEO Ken Briggs joined other community leaders to show the public the updated facility, which includes a new energy efficient boiler, new roof, career clothing bank and dedicated kitchen and classroom which can be used for teaching and cooking, among other things.

The community center offers a myriad of services and is shared by many other nonprofits, including SNAP, Valleyfest, Steps Reentry, Ignite! Community Theater and the Arc of Spokane.

“This is a central place for a lot of agencies,” said Briggs. “We have probably a dozen other agencies

The Current

housed Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene. The building itself is 22,000 square feet. SVP operates with a streamlined staff of eight employees and incurs less than 8 percent administrative and fundraising costs each year.

An open house at Spokane Valley Partners on March 10 highlighted upgrades like a community kitchen and classroom which the agency will utilize to teach approaches to healthy nutrition. The addition is sponsored by STCU. Photo by Derek Brown that use this for day use. They will set up in the lobby and we’ll have a community fair.”

sponsored by STCU, will serve as a place of education for both staff and clients.

The career clothing bank, sponsored by Humanix, has also been added to the layout.

“The room will help people to learn more about how to prepare for themselves, as well as other nonprofits and community members can actively utilize it to further their missions as well,” said Traci McGlathery, STCU Community Relations manager. “I think it’s a place they needed but didn’t have before.”

“Spokane Valley Partners has been our company’s designated nonprofit for over seven years,” said Nancy Nelson, president of Humanix. “This year they launched the career clothing bank, so we thought this is just a great opportunity for us to sponsor it. Being in the staffing industry ourselves, we’re all about jobs.”

The career clothing bank is open for anyone that needs it and features a variety of clothing suitable for finding employment.

“One of the things we hope to do is connect to our clients to do a clothing drive,” Nelson said. “Really connect to businesses and say ‘Clean out your closets.’”

The

kitchen

and

classroom,

STCU is backing SVP with a fiveyear pledge and has committed $25,000 to the education classroom and kitchen. The venue will help clients to have a better grasp of the food they receive at the agency’s adjoining food bank and be able to learn how to cook and prepare it.

“It’s a great pleasure for us to be able to help Valley Partners with the same kind of resources for the people of the Valley,” said Tom Johnson, president of STCU. The

site

on

Broadway

once

The center accomplishes the low overhead with the support of 22,000 volunteer hours per year, equivalent to 11 full-time employees. SVP relies on funding from grants, donations, sponsorships and rent from building tenants. A pair of fundraising events are held each year – the Golf Scramble in July, and Ladies Night Out in November.

Spokane Valley Partners provides food to more than 10,000 families through its food bank. The Food Express Program delivers food to nearly 90 families. More than 6,000 families receive help through the clothing bank. The agency also helps more than 800 families through its Emergency Assistance program and more than 100 individuals access support with their finances through the Protective Payee program.

Nearly 400 homeless students receive food each weekend through Food 4 Thought which assists students on the free and reduced lunch program. SVP also facilitates community gardens which allow residents to maintain and cultivate their own garden plot.

“If you’re homeless it’s really hard to know where the services are out here,” Briggs said. “Almost everyone’s downtown and people are freaked to go down there for good reasons, so we try to do as much as we can.”

The renovations at Spokane Valley Partners cost a total of about $363,000, but the agency only managed to raise $313,000, leaving them with $50,000 still to pay.

“We’re applying for several grants,” Briggs said.

“We’re scrambling right now for funding.

If people want to give to our operational or capital campaign, all are welcomed. Our reserves are at an all-time low and it’s making a lot of people nervous.”

Briggs does look to a brighter future.

“The next move we’re going to make is a mobile market where we take food out to some of the more unreachable areas,” he said.

“Those people aren’t getting here and they need services. We really want to do much more outreach.”

A career clothing bank, sponsored by Humanix, is new to the terrain at SVP. The resource will provide professional attire for interviews and workplace settings.

Photo by Derek Brown

Learn more about Spokane Valley Partners by visiting www.svpart. org or by calling 927-1153.

The Current

NEWS

Spokane Valley deals with ripple effect of city manager dismissal

investigation to see if this was done legally or illegally,” Council Member Dean Grafos said. “That’s what I’d like to see.”

Current Correspondent

“I don’t see why we cannot make sure that that happens,” Hafner added.

By Derek Brown

It’s been over a month since a majority on the Spokane Valley City Council ushered out longtime City Manager Mike Jackson. Now questions linger on how to process the most publicized dismissal at City Hall since another city manager, Dave Mercier, was given his ticket out of town by a new council majority in early 2010.

City Attorney Cary Driskell discussed the possibility of an independent investigation with council members regarding the forced resignation of Jackson during the March 22 council meeting.

Outside City Hall, residents carrying picket signs expressed concern with the lack of transparency among the council majority who dismissed Jackson. Inside, during the public comments portion of the meeting, more disgruntlement was heard.

Driskell outlined points for consideration for moving forward with an investigation, including hiring of the investigator by staff rather than by council; the investigator having no prior history with Spokane Valley and the investigator being based outside the Spokane region to avoid any bias.

However, no consensus could be reached as the council deliberated.

“It’s not appropriate for any of us to even make comments at this point,” Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard said.

Council Member Chuck Hafner was more concerned about having “an investigation to see whether we were right or wrong.”

Mayor Rod Higgins stated that it would be inappropriate to speak about Jackson’s resignation with ongoing legal negotiations.

After the administrative report, the issue was placed on the pending agenda, meaning it is at the discretion of the mayor and deputy mayor (both part of the council majority) to bring the topic back for further discussion.

Approval of City Hall plan A project the City of Spokane Valley has been working on since incorporation is now moving closer to being finalized.

During the Feb. 23 meeting, council passed a motion which would allow the city to move forward with the bid process for a new City Hall.

“We’re paying $400,000 to 500,000 per month to house our staff,” Council Member Bill Gothmann said. “So is there a reason for the City Hall? Yeah, you either pay it in rent or pay it to

APRIL 2016 • 5

a City Hall. I think it’s a very good investment and I also think it’s a good addition to our city.”

The anticipated cost of a new City Hall building is estimated at $14.4 million, which includes land requisition, design services and construction. The City Hall site will be located on the site of the old U-City Mall, a 3.38-acre property. Architects West helped with the initial design.

Historic Preservation The new council majority put the kibosh on any city support of historic preservation at the Feb. 23 council meeting with no public input and before receiving recommendations from the planning commission.

Woodard shed light on the prevailing opinion, saying he was not opposed to saving historic structures but maintained “there are other options.”

“It’s not that I don’t like historic preservation, quite the contrary,” Woodard said.

Woodard emphasized it should be up to the homeowner whether or not a property is preserved, a theme that wove consistently through council’s opinion last year. Woodard opposes being part of the state preservation program.

“Maybe it’s just a city-sponsored type of plan,” Woodard said.

Grafos disagreed, emphasizing the value of preserving buildings for history, culture and tax incentives.

He added that preserving historic

See COUNCIL, Page 12

Driskell advised that the investigator should deliver his or her report in open session and that all discussion between council members and the investigator remain confidential until the report is delivered publically.

Finally, the investigator should deliver a copy of the report to each council member the day before the open session and should work with the investigator to ensure facts are made part of the report.

“Does the council majority want to move forward with an independent

The Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 150 high-traffic places around the Valley, including the following locations: Ben’s Yogurt and Deli Broadway Diner Caruso’s Casa De Oro Chan Bistro Cottage Cafe Jenny’s Café La Cabana Longhorn BBQ McDonald’s (Argonne) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Skyway Cafe Smacky’s on Broadway Spokane Club Terry’s Breakfast & Lunch Valley Bowl Yoke’s Fresh Market Would you like to carry The Current in your place of business? Contact Circulation Manager Mike Johnson at mike@valleycurrent.com.

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Shake - Up

The sudden and puzzling dismissal of Spokane Valley City Manager Mike Jackson page 12

“The council may want to consider delaying the start of the investigation until such time as the city has resolved all outstanding issues with Mr. Jackson’s separation from the city so that these two issues are kept separate,” Driskell said.

The council disagreed on whether they wanted to move forward with the investigation.

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Picketers rallied outside Spokane Valley City Hall before the March 22 City Council meeting, expressing their concern with the dismissal of City Manager Mike Jackson and the lack of transparency shown by the current majority on council.

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The Current

Dryer lint pointed to in Newman Lake fire

From Current News Sources Spokane Valley Fire Department units responded to a reported structure fire on March 2 around noon in the 7300 block of North Moose Lane near Newman Lake.

One resident was home at the time and sleeping in a back bedroom. He was alerted to the fire by his son who had just returned home. All residents and pets escaped injury.

A clothes dryer inside the mobile home had caught fire but was quickly contained. The SVFD fire investigator reported the probable cause of the fire to be a mechanical malfunction in the dryer. Lint buildup inside the dryer contributed to the fire.

Damage is estimated at $800.

SVFD reminds citizens to routinely clear lint from inside clothes dryers and to change smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year.

A total of 15 Spokane Valley Fire Department apparatus and support vehicles responded to this incident. No firefighter injuries were reported.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department offers free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. For more information, call 928-1700 or visit www. spokanevalleyfire.com.

SVFD Report – April 2016

Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a total of 1,282 emergency calls from Feb. 18 through March 17. The following incidents were included in that time period: Service call/Lock out – Feb. 19 – SVFD crews assisted a mother in gaining access to her car in the 1200 block of North Elton Road at approximately 4 p.m. The woman’s 2-year-old daughter and keys were locked inside the car, which was not running. Crews were able to release power lock and rescue the child who was unharmed.

Apartment fire– Feb. 21 – Shortly before 4:30 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported fire in the Aspen Village Apartments, 15821 E. Fourth Avenue. Crews arrived at the three-story apartment building to find smoke showing from a ground floor unit window.

They quickly accessed the apartment and put out the fire which was contained to one bedroom. A dog and a cat died from smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Damage is estimated at $4,600.

APRIL 2016 • 7

SVFD honors local trio as rescue heroes

By Steve Christilaw Current Correspondent Holt Ayles insists it was “just dumb luck.” But he’s hard-pressed to find people to agree with him.

Ayles, Boe Hooley and Chris Hawkins make up a crew for Spokane County Water District No. 3, and on the morning of Jan. 18 the trio were driving down 16th Avenue when they saw plumes of smoke emerging from a house.

“There’s a home a block east of University at 16th and Charles, and as we drove by we saw that very heavy smoke was coming out of it,” he explained. “It was more than you would normally see coming out of a fireplace. We stopped and I said we needed to go back and knock on the door and see if anyone’s home.

Boe and Chris split up – one went to the back door and one went to knock on the front – and Ayles called 9-1-1.

“When I got off the phone with 9-1-1, I grabbed the fire extinguisher off the truck,” he said.

About that time, the owner came out of the house and started throwing snow on the chimney to get the visible flames out right above the fireplace.

Motor Vehicle Accident – Feb. 24 – Shortly before 4:15 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a fourcar motor vehicle accident near the intersection of Argonne and Liberty at 3300 N. Argonne Road. Four drivers were treated and released.

SVFD crews also evaluated the vehicles for any safety issues.

Vehicle Fire – Feb. 26 – Two cars and a semi-truck burned in an early-morning fire at 5823 E. Railroad Ave. Crews were called to the scene just after 4:30 a.m. and arrived to find the semi fully involved and the flames spreading to cars parked on either side.

Crews used bolt cutters to gain access to the locked parking area and put out the fire. The cause is under investigation.

Stove Fire – Feb. 28 – SVFD crews responded to a reported fire in the 400 block of South Chronicle Road at about 7:40 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the homeowner had already put out the stove fire with a dry chemical extinguisher.

Crews checked the oven hood and flue to ensure the fire was out.

Illegal Burn – Feb. 28 – Just before noon, SVFD crews were dispatched to a reported illegal burn in the 18900 block of East Buckeye

“Fire dispatch called me back to verify the call,” Ayles said. “The customer said he thought he had the fire out, but it obviously was a chimney fire and it flared up again.

It had gotten into the wall and had gotten into the eaves.

“It really was dumb luck on our part to be in just the right spot.”

Ayles said the fire department arrived and got things under control, so he and his crew climbed back into their truck and went back to work.

“We really didn’t talk to (the fire crews),” he said. “We stood back and let them do their thing.

They arrived with about five fire trucks because they take house fires seriously. But ultimately we decided we were just in the way.”

Despite the self-deprecation, the

crew did something special and the fire crew recognized that fact.

A few weeks later the Spokane Valley Fire Department called to invite all three men to attend the Feb. 22 meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Spokane Valley Fire Chief Bryan Collins presented all three men with Outstanding Citizen awards for their actions.

“They took extraordinary action to prevent the spread of fire to the home and notify the residents of the fire,” Collins said. “We are proud to honor these outstanding citizens.”

But Ayles still remains pretty “Aw, shucks” about the whole thing.

“I think we just did what anyone else would do in that situation,” he said. “I still say it was just dumb luck.”

Workers from Spokane County Water District No. 3 were honored at the Feb. 22 Spokane Valley Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners meeting for their role in a fire rescue a month earlier. From left to right: SVFD Chief Bryan Collins, Holt Ayles, Chris Hawkins and Boe Hooley.

Contributed Photo Ave. The crew found the resident illegally burning his Christmas tree.

The resident quickly complied with SVFD’s request to put the fire out.

Extrication – Feb. 29 – An early evening two-vehicle high speed crash on westbound I-90 near the Sullivan Road off ramp blocked the freeway and trapped two people. At about 7:20 p.m., a car rear-ended a highway cleaning truck. Upon arrival, SVFD crews gave medical care to two patients in the car while working to extricate them from their vehicle. Both were extricated and transported with non-life threatening injuries.

Motor Vehicle Accident – March 3 – An elderly woman was hit by a car in the Rosauers parking lot at 100 S. University Road just before 11:45 a.m. SVFD crews responding to the scene provided patient care. She was conscious and bleeding from the mouth and nose. The patient was transported to the hospital.

Structure Fire – March 11 – Shortly before 5:30 a.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 18700 block of East Jackson Drive. Crews arrived at the one-story manufactured home to find the resident outside.

He awoke to the smell of smoke and found the ceiling around his woodstove was on fire. The flue pipe from the woodstove had been improperly installed and the fiberboard surrounding it was smoldering. Damage was estimated at $5,000. There were no working smoke detectors in the home so SVFD crews installed two smoke detectors before departing.

By the numbers: • Fires* - 89 • Emergency Medical Services – 1,043 • Hazardous Materials - 14 • Motor Vehicle Accidents - 84 • Extrication - 1 • Water Rescue - 2 • Building Alarms - 40 • Service Calls - 9 *Brush, commercial, residential, rubbish, vehicle and unauthorized burning Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park and the area surrounding Liberty Lake, with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles. Established in 1940, the Department operates 10 stations providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, swift water rescue, fire investigation, fire prevention, commercial property inspection, CPR and fire safety training. SVFD also offers free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. For more information call 928-1700 or visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

The Current

8 • APRIL 2016

Bolt welcomes new role with state education board

Bolt adds, “We have some glaring gaps in our state. There’s a lot of information. I’m working hard to go back and review older information.

I’m doing a lot of learning.”

Bolt has a varied background from PTA involvement and co-founding community programs. She studied at the University of Iowa and Eastern Washington University.

A school golf team member, she traveled frequently, making it difficult to pursue Russian studies, a longtime goal. She transferred to EWU to pursue general studies.

By Treva Lind

Splash Correspondent Spokane Valley resident MJ Bolt will cover plenty of miles across Eastern Washington this year to visit with school leaders.

After spending four years on the Central Valley School District board, Bolt began a new role in January as one of two elected Eastern Washington representatives on the 16-member Washington State Board of Education. Bolt will serve a four-year term with the panel meeting every other month for two full-day meetings.

More than 600 members from Eastern Washington school boards elected Bolt to the position Jan. 6.

The ballot included Anita Boyum, who served on the Ellensburg school board for 24 years, and former CVSD Superintendent Mike Pearson. Bolt said she’s now focused on meeting leaders in education from across the region.

“I’m enjoying working with the superintendents in the area and with school board members,” said Bolt, 43. “Now I represent all the Eastern Washington schools.”

Upcoming trips will take her to Wenatchee, Olympia and Yakima.

“I’ll be going to Pullman and Tri Cities later and Walla Walla,” she said. “It’s what I like to do. I value highly the relationships.”

Bolt said she is looking forward “to spending the time to build the rapport.”

“We have large school districts like Spokane Public Schools and very small rural districts,” she said.

“They all have differing needs, not unlike our kids, so I want to hear what those are. My big focus is I want to go and hear how policy is affecting them, the schools and the kids.”

Bolt recently returned from her second state board meeting in March and also attended the January gathering. She served on the CV board from December 2011 through 2015, the year she was board president.

Even with school board experience, Bolt’s new position has required detailed on-the-job learning. State board members include Superintendent of Public

MJ Bolt Instruction Randy Dorn, two non-voting student members, five governor-appointed representatives and others who are elected by school board members for their regions.

Among its roles, the state board works on development of policy, advocacy and strategic oversight of public education, implements a standards-based accountability system to improve student academic achievement and leads in creating a system that personalizes education for each student while respecting diversity.

The board also considers state and federal legislation affecting public education. For system oversight, the panel also reviews complex data measuring student achievement and overall K-12 system health in different demographics. It reports to the state legislature.

Bolt took a job offer in the golf business before starting her fourth year at EWU. She worked as a longtime golf instructor at courses that included Meadowwood, The Links in Post Falls and Painted Hills.

She hasn’t worked as a teaching golf pro for at least a couple of years.

Today, she and husband Brandon live in the Ponderosa area and have two sons – Austin, 20, who attends Spokane Falls Community College and Preston, 18, a senior at University High School. Bolt has been an advocate many years supporting Preston’s educational needs as a student dealing with high-functioning autism.

While on the CV board, Bolt served on the Washington State School Directors’ Association legislative committee, where she built relationships with statewide school directors. She co-chaired her district’s Citizen Levy Campaign.

In 2009, Bolt also co-founded HEART in Hand Outreach of the CV PTA/PTSA, to help students who are homeless or in transitional

housing. The council partners with CVSD’s HEART Program, a nonprofit outreach group that raises funds to help families secure stable housing and cover fees for school programs, transportation, utilities and college applications.

Bolt also co-founded the Greater Valley Support Network, a group that cultivates awareness and resources for less fortunate residents. The network includes representatives from various nonprofits, school districts, local governments, churches and other entities, all dedicated to addressing ways to combat issues like homelessness and hunger.

In 2010, Bolt received a CVSD Meritorious Award.

She was encouraged by some educators to consider the state board, in part because of her background supporting special education and outreach to needy families.

“I have an understanding of the obstacles that our children in need face and also that our kids have different abilities,” Bolt said, adding that she has a passion to advocate for students from all different backgrounds.

Bolt said her CV board experience helped prepare her current role.

“It did help me to better understand how truly amazing our teachers and staff are, and the amazingly hard and complex work our legislators and other policy makers are increasingly being asked to do, with all the increased regulations,” she said. “Our schools and the opportunities for our kids in the entire Spokane Valley are top-notch.”

“We also work closely with the legislative process just advocating for the best for students,” Bolt said.

“A couple of other things we’re working on is policy to close the achievement gaps.”

The board also has worked to create a 24-credit framework for graduation to be required of 2019 graduates, compared with 20 credits as the current state standard.

“I’m very impressed with the level of discussion that’s on this board, and the willingness to hear all points of views,” Bolt said of members who have broad experience and knowledge, but also possess “a willingness to have an open dialogue on some pretty complex issues.”

MJ Bolt (right) chats with Tom Green and Janet Crossen at a meeting of the Greater Valley Support Network. Bolt was instrumental in organizing the group which works to mobilize resources for low-income residents throughout the Valley.

Photo by Craig Howard

The Current

BUSINESS

Giant flag, new sign draw attention along I-90 Staci Lehman

Splash Correspondent You can’t miss it when you drive through Liberty Lake on Interstate 90. The giant American flag unfurled above the parking lot of Camping World is not easy to ignore at 130 feet tall and 40 by 80 feet in dimension.

The flag was made by a company out of Texas and put up in January.

It has been a topic of conversation in the community ever since.

Camping World Store Manager Terry Dronen said plenty of folks have called the store “to say how neat it is.”

A trademark of the Camping World stores, the mammoth flags are being installed at all 100 of the chain’s stores across the nation.

Camping World management says the flags are not a political statement, but another kind of statement.

“It’s just to say that we’re proud to be Americans,” Dronen said.

Dronen added that the flag is not a marketing gimmick. A Camping World competitor, R’n R RV Center, located almost directly across the freeway on the south side of I-90, recently put up a large sign with electronic scrolling messages under a newly revised sign code recently enacted by the city of Liberty Lake for businesses along I-90.

Dronen says Camping World will not be following suit. Instead, their flag identifies their store and the company has no plans to add more signage at this time.

“Ours is the real thing,” he said.

“It’s not going anywhere.”

Camping World had to go through a permitting process to have the flag and pole installed.

Normally, Liberty Lake’s land use requirements do not prohibit or address American flags but the dimensions of this particular one meant some paperwork.

“Our focus (with the flag) was to make sure it’s safe, buried to a safe depth, and it is,” said Liberty Lake City Administrator Katy Allen of the permitting process.

Allen says City Hall phones have not been ringing regarding the flag,

APRIL 2016 • 9

but she has heard many comments in passing about it.

“When it was half-mast it was spectacular, especially lit up at night,” Allen said. “The vast majority have said it’s majestic. We love it.”

Allen also says City Hall hasn’t received calls about the new R ‘n R RV sign.

“We have not received one phone call at City Hall about whether it’s a good thing or it’s a bad thing,” Allen said. “Our City Council members have mentioned they’ve seen it, our police chief has seen it, but no one has said much besides that.”

While the sign code is less restrictive than in the past for businesses along I-90, there are still provisions that regulate aspects of signs that could cause complaints. For instance, the R ’n R sign was recently calibrated to make sure it is between a certain scale of lumens (a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source) and that sensors – which adjust the sign’s brightness depending on whether it is day or night – are working.

Since the new sign code took effect in January, a couple of other businesses have expressed interest in putting up similar signs but so far none have moved ahead with doing so. The city of Liberty Lake itself has $20,000 in the 2016 budget to install two changeable electronic signs to announce community events such as the Farmers Market, movies at Pavillion Park, City Council meetings and other activities. An effort will soon be under way to determine where to place those signs.

In the meantime, the Camping World flag acts as a kind of community billboard of its own.

“It’s pretty neat when you can see that coming to work each day,” said Dronen.

At the top of the flagpole is a gold sphere that looks no bigger than a baseball from the ground, Dronen says it is actually larger than a basketball and each Camping World employee was able to sign it before the flag was put in place.

As for the public’s take on the flag, Dronen says he gets many comments from customers, as well as calls from the public.

“All positive,” says Dronen. “We hear from people about it all the time.”

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10 • APRIL 2016

The Current

Mapping out a course – The perplexing prospects at Painted Hills

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent There’s a haunted quality to a golf course after the owners, golfers and greens keepers leave and the lush, manicured fairways follow suit.

Things turn a sickly brown, as if all that luscious green has followed into that other-world where golf balls and missing socks from the dryer go, never to be seen again by human eyes. Before long, the birdies and bogeys of rounds past are forgotten and duffers head off to another course to find those stubby little pencils no one can actually write with.

The last golf swings at Painted Hills Golf Course on Dishman-Mica Road were made in 2012. The ownership, IWILL70 Properties, LLC, which purchased the course in 2006, declared bankruptcy in August 2012 and the course did not open for the 2013 season. It was sold at auction in October of that year.

Whether or not they were the final swings ever on those 91 acres is another story. What happens next with the property is a very different game that will play out over a much different kind of

course.

Here is an overview of the story, played out over nine holes: No. 1 Greater Spokane prides itself on its golf courses, but from 1986 when it opened, until 2012, there was but one golf course in all of Spokane Valley – Painted Hills.

That still put Spokane Valley two courses behind Liberty Lake, but who’s counting.

In many ways, the course was a small gem. It boasted a driving range, a challenging par-3 course (Chester Creek) and a 3,244-yard, par-36 course. Golfers looking to play 18 holes could cover the course twice – once from the white tees and once from the blues, for a total course length of 6,532 yards.

It was a course designed for golfers looking to practice their game.

It wasn’t dynamic in the way Hangman Valley or Indian Canyon is to a golfer with a descent handicap. It wasn’t as convenient as an Esmeralda or Downriver can be to Spokane golfers – but it fit into the golfing landscape in a very utilitarian way.

There are plans to turn the old clubhouse at Painted Hills into a restaurant as part of mixed-use development along Dishman-Mica Road.

Contributed photo No. 2 The course was purchased by IWILL70 Properties, LLC in 2006.

The property was put up for sale, but in 2012 the company declared bankruptcy, with an outstanding debt owed to AmericanWest Bank of $797,000. A public auction was set for September 2013 at the Spokane County Courthouse.

Prior to the auction date, a group of concerned area a residents approached the Spokane Valley City Council, requesting that it purchase and continue to operate the golf course. Short of that, the city was asked to purchase the land and turn it into a city park.

Spokane Valley City Council Member Dean Grafos recalls there being considerable interest at City Hall in buying the property. Prior to the auction involving the land, however, a group of local dentists talked to city officials about their intentions to buy the land.

“We were ready to go,” Grafos said. “We felt it was important for us to be at the table, then we backed off because of the dentists.

It was disappointing. It could have completely changed the character of that area.”

Council Member Chuck Hafner said the contingent of dentists “had the right idea.”

Situated on the Chester Creek flood plain, the Painted Hills property has always dealt with the challenge of soggy terrain. A marsh directly across the street from the former golf course is pictured above.

“I really feel badly on what is happening,” Hafner said.

“Hindsight is much easier now and I wish we had somehow come up with the resources to purchase the property. It would have made a great recreational park for our

city.”

No. 3 Dave Black of Black Realty bought the 91-acre site at auction for $1.1 million. The dentists could not match the opening bid. Black announced that he was open to keeping Painted Hills as a golf course along with his residential plans for the area.

No. 4 In December 2013, real estate broker Bryan Walker presented a group of Painted Hills neighbors with a plan to develop the property. It was described as a “brainstorming session” so the developer could hear neighbors’ concerns.

The plan is to keep the clubhouse, turning it into a restaurant and lease the par3 course. The remainder of the property would be developed with a mix of housing, potentially in a mixed-use concept similar to Kendall Yards. Final plans are still a year off.

No. 5 The final plans were unveiled late last year and can be viewed on the Spokane Valley’s website at www.spokanevalley.org.

The plan calls for 580 total units, 228 apartments, 26 single family homes and 52 “empty nester” ranchers on a three-hole chipand-putt course, and 40 estate homes plus permission to add 52 loft units on top of commercial

See GOLF, Page 13

The Current

APRIL 2016 • 11

Why Painted Hills worked and why I miss it

By Steve Christilaw Current Correspondent I used to tell people that I don’t really play golf; I play AT golf.

And truth be told, I don’t even do that anymore.

But back in the day, I like to think I was the kind of golfer Painted Hills Golf Course was created for – the target audience, if you will.

When it opened in 1986, Painted Hills became the only golf course in the greater Spokane Valley area. The well-manicured grounds included a 3,244-yard set of links, a par-3 course and a spacious driving range (pictured above).

Photo by Craig Howard

GOLF

Continued from page 12 development facing DishmanMica Road. Home prices start at $300,000.

The clubhouse restaurant is scheduled to open and has a 10year lease. Additional commercial development could move into an area designated for mixed-use retail along Dishman-Mica Road.

The development is designed so that it does not require a zoning change.

Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn, who has followed this land equivalent to musical chairs, said the current design for the acreage “has a lot of good aspects,” including setbacks with sidewalks and plenty of greenspace.

O’Quinn has been discussing the latest plans with Spokane Valley officials “to ensure that we have the least amount of impact on the surrounding community.”

No. 6 In response to the development, a group of concerned citizens launched the Painted Hills Preservation Association and have introduced a fundraising website at www.gofundme.com/SavePainted-Hills.

The association hired The Tilghman Group to review the traffic study submitted to the city by the developers and found several problems, not the least of which is the fact that the property

sits atop the Chester Creek flood plain.

And the association promises to challenge the development every step of the way.

No. 7 The city of Spokane Valley has a nine-step process for approving a development such as the Painted Hills project. Painted Hills is currently on step three, which calls for staff and agency review of application materials.

The city is expecting a report back on the traffic study and a report on the flood plain issues.

No. 8 Questions have been raised about how area schools will handle the anticipated increase in enrollment related to the new development. The Central Valley School District has indicated that, because of the passage of school levies and a recent bond, it can handle the increased number of students. But it will have to be creative about which schools take on the new students.

To understand what made this nine-hole gem on Dishman-Mica Road work is to understand where it fit into the rich and varied landscape of Greater Spokane area golf.

In many ways, we live in an area with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the royal and ancient game, with 18-hole courses designed to challenge any golfer, no matter the skill level. If you live here, the game is as affordable as it is challenging.

If you don’t live here, you want to come here and you definitely want to bring your clubs.

Painted Hills wasn’t one of the courses on that list of destination locales. The problem with sitting between Hangman Valley to the west and Meadowwood to the east is that golfers will go either east or west and have a great time playing.

You played Painted Hills to work.

Painted

Hills

is

where

you

“I like a lot of the pieces they are putting in place,” O’Quinn said. “We’ll see what the actual development design turns out to be.”

It’s where you went for those first few rounds of the season, just so you could work out the kinks. Or where you went when just needed to stretch those golf muscles out.

It’s where you spent an unhurried hour honing your short game on the practice green, or better still playing the Chester Creek par-3, so you could keep your score under control. And it was definitely where you wanted get in your practice swings before trying to find that famous floating green to the east. No sense sending a couple sleeves of good Top-Flites, or heaven forbid those expensive Nike golf balls your sprung for, to a watery grave when everyone is watching you and there’s a lady with a boat waiting to take you out to putt out.

You teed off at Painted Hills with the idea honing an aspect of your game, whether it was being consistent off the tee or managing your approach. The course was long enough that you had to use most of the clubs in your bag. While it was an actively used course, you could usually drop in a practice ball now and then without causing a traffic jam.

No. 9 The approval process is going to take time working its way through the system and there are some significant challenges to be overcome, especially with regards to the flood plain.

worked on your game so that you could go to one of the other great courses and not be embarrassed. You worked the illuminated driving range so you could hit it straight off the tee and down the tight, tree-lined fairway at a Hangman Valley or Indian Canyon. It’s where you went to get rid of that awful duck-hook you picked up over the winter or that ugly, how-didthat-happen slice you didn’t want your regular playing partners to see. It’s where you secretly went to take in a lesson or two without advertising the fact that your game needed help.

For 26 years, Painted Hills was a hub of golfing activity in the spring, summer and early fall. These days, only faded features, like the first tee marker, remain as reminders of the site’s glory days. Contributed photo

That’s why three area high schools called Painted Hills home.

And why it had a solid men’s and women’s club. It was a useful course.

And that’s why it is well and truly missed.

The Current

12 • APRIL 2016

COUNCIL

Continued from page 5 buildings helps to bring in businesses that look for progressive areas.

“Why would we deny our property owners and our citizens that have invested in our city the same economic benefit that they have in the city of Spokane or Spokane County?” Grafos questioned.

Uncovered and unsecured loads Deputy City Attorney Erik Lamb and Legal Intern Caleb Hatch presented council with a plan to adopt an ordinance that would reduce litter from vehicles, making it unlawful to transport waste materials unless they’re covered and secured.

The ordinance would allow police to cite offenders and staff at transfer stations to impose fees on those having unsecured and uncovered loads According to the Hatch, state law requires that cities with transfer stations adopt an ordinance to reduce litter from vehicles. As part of the ordinance, cities could adopt a fee at the transfer station to be paid by anyone who does not cover or secure a load.

Fees for uncovered loads in other jurisdictions range from $5 to $25.

32nd Avenue preservation project Inland Asphalt was the lowest bidder on the 32nd Avenue overlay project, with a bid for $1,249,229.49.

The project will include new overlay, sidewalk and conduits for cabling.

The bid was $190,000 less than the other estimates from other companies bidding on the project.

The motion passed.

Argonne Widening City Council passed a motion to apply for a FMSIB (Freight Mobility

Strategic Investment Board) grant to widen Argonne at I-90. FMSIB grants award $18 to $22 million in a five-year period beginning in 2017 through 2021.

The council recommends adding a lane, shoulder and sidewalk on the west side of the overpass. The work is intended to alleviate traffic in that area.

Retail Improvement and Tourism Enhancement Study Community Development Director John Hohman introduced Mark Goodman from Community Attributes, Inc., to look at trends, demographics and the spending demands of Spokane Valley.

The city wants to understand the retail needs and assets in the Spokane Valley to help with its retail sectors.

“We want to create a tool that will help attract businesses,” Goodman said.

The overall plan is to identify retail recruitment strategic work program actions and also work on tourism strategy. A retail trade area is also being proposed. Council passed a motion to apply for the FMSIB grant.

SCRAPS update The city of Spokane Valley also updated its costs for Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services (SCRAPS).

The city spent $290,228 for the year of 2015 with an estimate of $291,209 for the upcoming 2016 year.

The update was provided to the council as a warning based on SCRAPS operating in the red and now pulling from its reserve account to stay afloat.

If things don’t change, the city could see costs go up. SCRAPS has also mentioned citizens will see some sort of increase in fees. A modest increase of just over 1 percent did occur from year to year.

Patrols call attention to dangers of distracted driving From Current New Sources

Turns out the admonition to “keep your eyes on the road” is more than just a cliché for motorists.

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

In 2013, 18 percent of injury crashes and 10 percent of fatal crashes were attributed to distracted driving.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month. Motorists are urged to make a commitment to leave cell phones alone while driving. Not only is it dangerous, but with extra officers looking for cell phone violators, drivers risk a costly ticket.

While many things can distract a driver, cell phones are the most dangerous.

“Holding a phone in your hand takes your hand off the wheel,” said Angie Ward, Washington Traffic Safety Commission program manager. “Reading or entering data into your phone takes your eyes off the road. The biggest problem is that it takes your mind away from the tasks of driving.”

Cell phones cause crashes because they connect us to social and informational interchanges, explains Ward. This complex mental task creates a situation where a driver “looks” but doesn’t “see.”

Recent AAA research has shown

that it takes nearly 30 seconds after ending the call or text for a driver’s mind to return its focus to driving.

One in 10 drivers and one-third of pedestrians were distracted by cell phone use, according to two studies conducted by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle.

“Taken together, this research has serious implications for people who think it’s safe to dial or send a text message at a stoplight” said Dr. Beth Ebel lead author of the Harborview studies. “Even if drivers stop talking or texting before the light turns green, they still don’t take in all the important elements in their surroundings for another 30 seconds. Couple this with pedestrians who may also be distracted and it’s a recipe for a trip to the emergency room or worse.”

One out of five deadly crashes and one out of three serious injury crashes happen at or near an intersection, Ward notes.

For the third consecutive year, Washington law enforcement officers will join the national campaign aimed at curbing drivers from using their phones. Extra patrols will run from April 1-14.

These extra patrols are part of Target Zero, a program striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.

For more information, visit www. targetzero.com.

To learn more about distracted driving research, visit www.

StopTextsStopWrecks.org.

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

Honoring local communities and encouraging citizen involvement

Liberty Lake’s Community Newspaper

A Valley-wide Community Newsmonthly

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The Current

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Calendar of Events COMMUNITY EVENTS

APRIL 1 | ROCKFORD, FREEMAN, LINDBERG SCHOOL REUNION REGISTRATION CLOSES THE REUNION WILL BE HELD AT ROCKFORD CITY PARK ON JUNE 18, 2016. TO REGISTER OR GET MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JIM BURTON (291-4861), DONNA DAVEY (291-3261), OR LINDA JONES (291-3193).

APRIL 4-8 | SPRING BREAK FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS APRIL 2 | YWCA SPRING FLING 10 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M., ANTHONY’S RESTAURANT, 510 N. LINCOLN ST., SPOKANE. ENJOY A CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH OVERLOOKING THE SPOKANE FALLS TO BENEFIT 16,000 LOCAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN. $55 PER TICKET. SEATING IS LIMITED. REGISTER AND LEARN MORE AT WWW.YWCASPOKANE. ORG. APRIL 8-10 | RENOVATION EXPO NOON TO 7 P.M. (FRI.); 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. (SAT.); 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. (SUN.), SPOKANE COUNTY FAIR AND EXPO CENTER, 404 N. HAVANA ST. THE SPOKANE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS IDEAS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR EVERY ROOM AND LIFESTYLE. ADMISSION IS $8 (KIDS 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE). MORE AT WWW. RENOVATIONEXPO.NET. APRIL 13, 20 | UNDERSTANDING ISLAM 7 TO 8:30 P.M., ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, 4521 N. ARDEN RD., OTIS ORCHARDS. DR. SHANNON DUNN, PH.D. FROM THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT GONZAGA UNIVERSITY GIVE A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON ISLAM, HIGHLIGHT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM AND DISCUSS THE NEED FOR CONVERSATIONS TO ADDRESS THE MISUNDERSTANDING, FEAR, AND ANGER THAT MANY DIRECT AT THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND MUSLIMS. MORE AT 926-7133 OR INFO@STJOEPARISH.ORG. APRIL 14 | SPOKANE VALLEY SENIOR CENTER RESOURCE FAIR, 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M., CENTERPLACE GREAT

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APRIL 15 | VALLEYFEST “MARDI GRAS MADNESS” DINNER AND AUCTION 5:30 TO 9:30 P.M., CENTERPLACE REGIONAL EVENT CENTER, 2426 N. DISCOVERY PLACE. COME IN COSTUME TO SUPPORT THE 200 VOLUNTEERS WHO STRIVE TO KEEP THE SPOKANE VALLEY’S PREMIERE EVENT FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TICKETS START AT $45 AND CAN BE PURCHASED AT WWW. VALLEYFEST.ORG. APRIL 16 | HEARTH HOMES’ RED CARPET GALA 6 TO 11 P.M. MIRABEAU PARK HOTEL, 1100 N. SULLIVAN RD. DINNER, DANCE, AND SILENT AUCTION WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND A NO-HOST BAR. BENEFITS VALLEY HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN. TICKETS START AT $54. MORE AT WWW. HEARTH-HOMES.ORG APR. 16 | HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORKSHOP 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. (INCLUDING LUNCH BREAK), MILLWOOD CITY HALL, 9103 E. FREDERICK AVE., MILLWOOD. ARCHITECT ERNIE ROBESON TEACHES ABOUT REHABILITATION PROJECTS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES AT THIS FREE LECTURE SPONSORED

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RECURRING ACT 2 SENIOR CLASSES AFFORDABLE CLASSES OFFERED BY COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE TO THOSE WHO ARE RETIRED OR PLANNING TO RETIRE. A WIDE RANGE OF COURSES FROM GEOLOGY AND HISTORY TO EXERCISE AND ART ARE OFFERED AT CENTERPLACE, 2426 N. DISCOVERY PLACE, AS WELL AS OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. MORE AT WWW.SCCEL.SPOKANE.EDU/ ACT2.

BAHA’I FIRESIDE CONVERSATION 5 P.M. TO 6 P.M., THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. SPOKANE VALLEY

LIBRARY, 12004 E. MAIN AVE. DISCUSSION OF BAHA’I TEACHINGS, HISTORY, AND PERSPECTIVES ON RESOLVING THE CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITY. ALL ARE WELCOME. MORE AT 599-2411 OR WWW. BAHAI.US. CAFÉ CARD CLUB 5:30 TO 7:30 P.M., TUESDAYS. ON SACRED GROUNDS, 12212 E. PALOUSE HWY., VALLEYFORD. PLAY PINOCHLE, CRIBBAGE, OR HEARTS. MORE AT WWW. ONSACREDGROUNDS.COM. CATHOLIC SINGLES MINGLE MEETING TIMES AND LOCATIONS VARY. THIS GROUP, WITH NO DUES, IS FOR SINGLE ADULTS OF ALL AGES. MORE AT WWW.MEETUP.COM/CATHOLICSINGLES-MINGLE. DIVORCECARE RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP TUESDAYS 6:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. EASTPOINT CHURCH, 15303 E. SPRAGUE AVE. LEARN HOW TO HEAL FROM THE DEEP HURT OF DIVORCE AND DISCOVER HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE. DIVORCECARE FOR KIDS (AGES 5-12) MEETS AT THE SAME TIME AND LOCATION. COST IS $25 FOR WORKBOOK. MORE AT 8925255 OR EASTPOINTCHURCH. COM. GRANGE POTLUCK AND MEETING 6 P.M., FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, TRI COMMUNITY GRANGE, 25025 HEATHER ST., NEWMAN LAKE. A POTLUCK WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A 7 P.M. MEETING FOR THIS COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE ORGANIZATION. MORE AT 4817447 OR GEJE2@YAHOO.COM. INLAND NW FREETHOUGHT SOCIETY 2 P.M., SECOND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. SHARI’S, 240 N. SULLIVAN ROAD. A SECULAR SOCIAL GROUP. MORE AT 216-4788.

LIBERTY LAKE LIBRARY 23123 E. MISSION AVE., LIBERTY LAKE. VARIOUS CLUBS AND WEEKLY MEETINGS INCLUDING BOOK CLUBS, CHILDREN’S STORY TIMES, LEGO CLUB, COMPUTER DROPIN CLASS, KNITTING CLUB, AND MORE. MORE AT WWW. LIBERTYLAKEWA.GOV/LIBRARY. MEN’S WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY 7 A.M. TUESDAYS.

MILLWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 3223 N. MARGUERITE ROAD, MILLWOOD. THE MEN’S WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY MEETS IN THE RECEPTION HALL WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS SHARING IN THE LEADING OF THE STUDY. ALL MEN ARE INVITED TO JOIN. MORE AT WWW.MILWOODPC. ORG. PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK 6:30 P.M., THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH. LIBERTY LAKE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY, 23123 E. MISSION AVE., LIBERTY LAKE. MORE AT WWW.PANCAN.ORG OR 534-2564.

ROCKFORD CROCHET CLASS 10 A.M. TO NOON, SATURDAYS. THE HARVEST MOON, 20 S. FIRST ST., ROCKFORD. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HAIRPIN LACE, KNIT, EMBROIDERY, NEEDLEPOINT, AND ARM KNITTING OF INFINITY. MORE AT 892-4412 OR 291-3722.

ROCKFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 11:30 A.M. SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH (FEB. TO NOV.). HARVEST MOON RESTAURANT, 20 S. FIRST ST., ROCKFORD. MORE AT 291-3193.

SPOKANE COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT LOCATIONS INCLUDE ARGONNE, FAIRFIELD, OTIS ORCHARDS, AND SPOKANE VALLEY. SPECIAL EVENTS AND WEEKLY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES INCLUDING BOOK CLUBS, CHILDREN’S STORY TIMES, CLASSES, LEGO CLUB, TEEN ANIME CLUB AND WRITING CLUBS. MORE AT WWW.SCLD. ORG SPOKANE VALLEY EAGLES 16801 E. SPRAGUE AVE. BREAKFAST SERVED SUNDAYS 9 TO 11:30 A.M. LUNCH SERVED THURSDAYS 11:30 A.M. TO 1 P.M. FOLLOWED BY BINGO FROM 1 TO 3:30 P.M. MORE AT WWW.FOE3433.COM.

MUSIC & THE ARTS APRIL 16 | SULLIVAN BRIDGE ART UNVEILING 10 TO 11 A.M., BELOW THE SULLIVAN ROAD BRIDGE ON THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL (PARKING AND TRAIL ACCESS AT NORTHWEST CORNER OF SULLIVAN AND INDIANA).

CELEBRATION RECOGNIZES THE SPOKANE VALLEY

The Current

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO CREATED 23 ART PANELS TO BRIGHTEN THE AREA. MORE AT 720-5411.

APRIL 23 | INDA PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL 10 A.M. TO 6 PM., WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 8301 E. BUCKEYE AVE. ARTISTS, AFICIONADOS, AND TOURISTS FROM WASHINGTON, MONTANA, OREGON, IDAHO, AND CANADA ARE INVITED TO PARTAKE OR PARTICIPATE IN VOCAL, THEATRE, MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES. THE EVENT, PRODUCED

BY INLAND NORTHWEST DANCE ASSOCIATION, IS FREE. DETAILS AT WWW. INDASPOKANE. RECURRING COUNTRY JAMMERS DANCE 1 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M., FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. NEWMAN LAKE GRANGE, 25025 E. HEATHER LANE, NEWMAN LAKE. FREE (DONATIONS WELCOME). MORE INFORMATION AT JANDG2@ COMCAST.NET. DROP-IN SQUARE DANCE LESSONS 7 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. (THROUGH MAY 18). WESTERN DANCE CENTER, 1901 N. SULLIVAN ROAD. SQUARE DANCE LESSONS FOR $3 PER PERSON; NO PARTNER NEEDED. MORE AT 270-9264.

PAGES OF HARMONY 6:30 TO 9:30 P.M., WEDNESDAYS. THORNHILL VALLEY CHAPEL, 1400 S. PINES ROAD. IF YOU ENJOY SINGING, YOU WILL LOVE THE FOUR-PART, A CAPPELLA HARMONY OF THIS MEN’S BARBERSHOP CHORUS. MORE AT WWW. PAGESOFHARMONY.ORG. SPIRIT OF SPOKANE CHORUS 6:45 P.M., TUESDAYS. OPPORTUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 202 N. PINES ROAD. MAKE NEW FRIENDS

BY JOINING THIS WOMEN’S CHORUS, SPECIALIZING IN FOUR-PART, A CAPPELLA HARMONY IN THE BARBERSHOP STYLE. MORE AT 218-4799.

SPOKANE NOVELISTS GROUP NOON TO 4 P.M., SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. OTIS ORCHARDS COMMUNITY CHURCH, 23304 E. WELLESLEY AVE., OTIS ORCHARDS. A SUPPORT/ CRITIQUE GROUP FOR WRITERS. OPEN TO ANYONE WITH AN INTEREST IN WRITING

APRIL 2016 • 15

FICTION (NO MEMOIRS, NONFICTION, POETRY, ETC., PLEASE). PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING 5-10 PAGES TO READ ALOUD AND 6-8 COPIES FOR OTHERS TO READ ALONG AND CRITIQUE. MORE AT 5907316.

SPOKANE VALLEY CAMERA CLUB 7:15 P.M., THIRD AND FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH (SEPTEMBER THROUGH APRIL). LIBERTY LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT BUILDING, 22510 E. MISSION AVE., LIBERTY LAKE. ALL LEVELS OF ABILITY—STUDENTS THROUGH EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHERS—ARE INVITED TO LEARN. SOCIAL EVENTS INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS AND WORKSHOPS. MORE AT 951-1446 OR WWW.SV-CC.ORG SPOKANE VALLEY WRITER’S GROUP 6:45 P.M. THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS OF THE MONTH. LAKESIDE CHURCH, 23129 E. MISSION AVE. THIS SUPPORTIVE CRITIQUE GROUP WELCOMES ADULT WRITERS. MORE AT 570-4440.

TEEN WRITERS OF THE INLAND EMPIRE 4 P.M., FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH (EXCEPT HOLIDAYS). SPOKANE VALLEY LIBRARY, 12004 E. MAIN AVE. TEEN WRITERS (GRADE SIX AND OLDER) MEET TO WRITE AND SHARE THEIR WORK. MORE AT 893-8400.

CIVIC & BUSINESS APRIL 4-27 |CITIZEN’S ACADEMY: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING INCIDENTS MON. AND WED., 6 TO 8 P.M., SPOKANE POLICE ACADEMY, 2302 N. WATERWORKS ST., SPOKANE. SEE THE TOOLS DEPUTIES CARRY, PARTICIPATE IN HANDSON DEFENSIVE TACTICS TRAINING, LEARN ABOUT THE LAWS AND PROCEDURES THAT GOVERN USE OF LETHAL FORCE, AND HEAR FROM REGIONAL INVESTIGATORS. HOSTED BY THE SPOKANE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND SPOKANE VALLEY POLICE. FREE. CLASS SIZE LIMITED. TO SIGN UP CONTACT DEPUTY CHRIS JOHNSTON AT 509477-2592 OR CRJOUNSTON@ SPOKANESHERIFF.ORG. APRIL 18 | SPOKANE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION BANQUET 6 P.M., SPOKANE CONVENTION CENTER, 334 W. SPOKANE FALLS BLVD., SPOKANE. THE FOUNDATION

WILL HONOR 143 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARD $ 60,000 IN MONETARY GRANTS RANGING FROM $1,000 TO $4,000 TO TWENTY-FOUR OF THE SCHOLARS. MORE AT WWW.SPOKANESCHOLARS. ORG. RECURRING SPOKANE VALLEY KIWANIS 6:45 A.M. TUESDAYS. VALLEY HOSPITAL EDUCATION CENTER, 12606 E. MISSION AVE. MORE AT WWW. SPOKANEVALLEYKIWANIS.NET. SPOKANE VALLEY ROTARY NOON TO 1 P.M., TUESDAYS. DARCY’S, 10502 E. SPRAGUE AVE. MARCH TOPICS INCLUDE: “SECRET SERVICE” (MARCH 8); PARENT’S ADVANCING ( MARCH 15); CHARACTER EDUCATION (MARCH 15); TERRY FOSSUM (MARCH 22); MAYOR ROD RIGGINS (MARCH 29). MORE AT WWW.SVROTARY.ORG.

HEALTH & RECREATION APRIL 2-3 | VOLLEY4FOOLS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M., HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. PRESENTED BY INLAND NORTHWEST TOURNAMENTS AND EVERGREEN REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION. $165. MORE AT WWW. HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. APRIL 4-7 | HUB SPRING BREAK CAMP 9 A.M. TO NOON, HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. LEARN AND/OR REFINE BASIC SPORT SKILLS AND PLAY FUN GAMES WITH FRIENDS. FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES FOUR THROUGH EIGHT. $100. MORE AT WWW. HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG APRIL 4-7 | PICKLEBALL CLINICS 10 A.M. TO NOON, HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. LEARN THE BASIC SKILLS AND RULES OF PICKLEBALL FROM EXPERT INSTRUCTORS. MON./TUES. CLINIC IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 8 TO 18. WED./ THURS. CLINIC IS FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS. $20. MORE AT WWW.HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. APRIL 5 | LIBERTY LAKE WOMEN’S 18 HOLE GOLF CLUB OPENING DAY BREAKFAST 8 A.M., LIBERTY LAKE GOLF COURSE, 24403 E. SPRAGUE AVE. NEW MEMBERS WELCOME. GOLF WILL FOLLOW THE BREAKFAST. TO ATTEND, CALL JOYCE SKIDMORE AT 448-

1097.

APRIL 8 | WARRIOR CAMP MIXED MARTIAL ARTS EVENT 7 P.M., HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. THE COST OF ADMISSION FOR THESE LIVE MMA CAGE FIGHTS IS $20-30. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT WARRIOR CAMP, 5027 E. TRENT AVE., SPOKANE. MORE AT WWW. WARRIORCAMPFITNESS.COM APRIL 9-10 | INLAND NORTHWEST KLASSIC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M., HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. MORE THAN 175 TEAMS (AGES 12 TO 18) COMPETE. MORE AT WWW. HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. APRIL 15-17 | EVERGREEN REGION VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M., HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. TEAMS FROM U12 AND U18 DIVISIONS COMPETE TO REPRESENT THE REGION AT THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. MORE AT WWW. HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. APRIL 22-24 |BREAKTHROUGH BASKETBALL ELITE GUARD CAMP 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. (FRI., SAT.), 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. (SUN.), HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. A THREEDAY BASKETBALL CAMP FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS OF ALL POSITIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR BALL HANDLING, SHOOTING, PASSING, ATHLETICISM, DECISION-MAKING, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND SCORING. $265. MORE AT WWW.HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. APRIL 22 | WORLD RECORD LONGEST BUBBLEBALL GAME 6 A.M., HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. BE PART OF THE LONGEST BUBBLEBALL GAME ON RECORD AS CORPORATIONS, COMPANIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR A WORLD RECORD. FUNDS RAISED WILL GO THE HUB’S 360 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ATRISK YOUTH. MORE AT WWW. HUBSPORTSCENTER.ORG. RECURRING HUB SPORTS CENTER 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

See CALENDAR, Page 16

The Current

16 • APRIL 2016

The Nationally Award-Winning Central Valley H.S. Theatre Department Proudly Presents

The Inland Northwest Premiere of

G

The

reat atsby

CALENDAR

Continued from page 15 OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK INCLUDING: • BADMINTON OPEN GYM: 7 TO 9 P.M. TUES., $5/PERSON • BASKETBALL OPEN GYM: NOON TO 1 P.M. TUES. AND THURS., $4/PERSON • PICKLEBALL DROP-IN: 12:30 TO 2:30 P.M. MON. THROUGH THURS.; 7 TO 9 P.M. WED. AND SUN. $2/SENIORS ($4/NONSENIORS) • CLASSES INCLUDING KENPO KARATE, MODERN FARANG-MU SUL, AND ZUMBA AEROBICS. SEE WEBSITE FOR COST AND TIMES. KIDFIT SPOKANE HUB SPORTS CENTER, 19619 E. CATALDO AVE. THIS CHILDREN’S MOVEMENT AND FITNESS PROGRAM OFFERS CLASSES IN DANCE (BALLET, TAP, JAZZ, HIP HOP), GYMNASTICS AND CHEERLEADING FOR GIRLS AND BOYS AGES THREE AND OLDER. MORE AT 953-7501 OR WWW.

LIBERTY LAKE KIWANIS COMMUNITY YARD SALES

KIDFITSPOKANE.COM. WINDERMERE MARATHON REGISTRATION OPEN REGISTRATION FOR THE JUNE 5 MARATHON OR HALF MARATHON FROM THE VALLEY AREA TO SPOKANE IS OPEN. REGISTRATION AND MORE AT WWW.WINDERMEREMARATHON. COM. YOGA IN ROCKFORD 5:30 P.M. WEDNESDAYS. ROCKFORD PARK, 20 W. EMMA ST., ROCKFORD. IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT DAVE’S AUTOBODY, 8 W. EMMA ST. CALENDAR LISTINGS WERE PROVIDED TO OR GATHERED

BY CURRENT STAFF. IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR EVENT CONSIDERED FOR THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR PLEASE SUBMIT INFORMATION BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH TO CALENDAR@VALLEYCURRENT. COM.

June 9, 2012

.

• 8 a.m.-4 p.m

23RD ANNUAL

Tickets $8-$12 7:30pm curtain

PRSRT STD

ECRWSS Paid U.S. Postage Permit #017 99019 ZIP CODE

ual 21st ann

CVHS Performing Arts Center Located on the CVHS Campus

pating homes!

Over 250 partici

Purchase tickets at CVTheatre.com

May Underwritten in part by:

12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 CVHS Theatre Boosters

izers: Event Organ

sors: Major Spon

Save the date:

Liberty Lake

PORTAL at

& Molter Missio n

The 23nd annual Liberty Lake Community Yard Sales will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10-11, 2016.

Registration will open in May. For vendor or general information, contact Liberty Lake Kiwanis member Cyndee Furukawa at 509-315-5471. To advertise your business or organization in the annual guide, contact Joy Katt at joy@libertylakesplash.com or 242-7752.

The Current

The travails of middle school math – and the help available

LIBRARY or submit a full paper for more extensive review and comments.

During the offline hours, students can access the Skills Building Center to reinforce core concepts and take practice tests in the Test Center (including the Smarter Balance tests Washington schools administer every spring).

By Gwendolyn Haley

It started when our oldest daughter hit seventh grade and started algebra. During the first open house of middle school, the wise and kind math teacher warned all the parents that the first semester was going to be an uphill challenge.

I spent one harried evening working on a particularly difficult problem with her and trying to relearn concepts I haven’t used in over 20 years. When her dad got home, he looked over both our work and commented, “I don’t know what you did, but you two came up with completely different answers and you’re both wrong.” That was the moment when I realized we needed expert help.

Fortunately for my family (and

Civility – An appropriate conversation

By Jane Baker

SCLD Communication Officer "Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none" said Benjamin Franklin. This quote causes one to wonder about the election debates during the time of our Founding Fathers.

Is it possible, or even necessary, to engage in political discussions and campaigns during an election year and maintain civility? Is the trend toward incivility helping our hurting our political system? Can we agree to disagree with civility?

The Spokane County Library District and Humanities Washington explore these questions and more with an election year lecture series. A quartet of featured guest speakers will address the topics of political incivility, Islam, racism and political cartooning.

Cornell Clayton is the Director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University.

Clayton will begin the series with “Political Incivility and Polarization in America.” He will lead a lively discussion about some of the

APRIL 2016 • 17

yours) Spokane County Library District offers free access to Bra infuse HelpNow and free online tutoring every day, from 2 to 10 p.m. The tutors are all certified teachers. While we’ve used the online tutors for math, in particular (in fact, that’s the subject most often requested by Spokane County users), the website (or app for Android or iOS platforms) provides access to a host of other homework help, 24/7.

You can submit a question anytime and receive a response within 24 hours. The Writing Lab allows students to get real-time feedback on their writing process connections between incivility and productivity, charting changes over the last 30 years.

The second lecture in the series takes on the topic of racism with speaker Eva Abram. Abram is an actress, public speaker and avid follower of history. She writes and performs stories about people and events that have shaped our state and our nation. Abram talks about the history of racism and how it affects specific groups in our society today. She also discusses how the invisible divide of racism – fed by both knowledge and ignorance – continues to exist despite progress to eradicate it made in recent decades.

Speaker David Fenner will discuss the perceptions, misconceptions and the 21st century context for Islam. Fenner retired from the University of Washington as the assistant vice provost for International Education, following a successful career that included establishing exchange programs with universities in Egypt, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Pakistan.

Fenner will provide a view of Islam, its history and its place in the modern world.

The final presenter of the series is Milt Priggee. Priggee has been drawing political cartoons for local newspapers since 1976, including many years at the Spokesman-

Once a student takes a diagnostic quiz, LEAP (the learning platform within HelpNow which stands for Learn and Prepare with friends) creates a personalized plan to help master academic skills through lessons, quizzes and live tutoring while tracking the progress made. If your kids like to study with friends, they can use the collaborative tools to create and utilize flashcards or other study aids, and even schedule a time to study online together.

Now we have the middle daughter in algebra while the oldest has moved on to high school and, with that, chemistry and calculus. I can still supervise the kindergartener with math, thankfully. But now when the older girls need help I hand them a library card and learn alongside them.

Review.

In an entertaining presentation designed to invite debate, Priggee challenges audience members’ personal beliefs on local issues by sharing a collection of images specifically to explore what is considered acceptable commentary in the 21st century.

Political Incivility and Polarization in America Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m.

North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road Defeating Racism Today: What Does it Take?

Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m.

North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road Islam 101: Perceptions, Misconceptions and Context for the 21st Century Thursday, May 19, 7 p.m.

North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road Cartooning in the Evergreen State Wednesday, June 8, 6 p.m.

Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Road Thursday, June 9, 3 p.m.

Cheney Library, 610 E First St., Cheney Thursday, June 9, 7 p.m.

North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road

Celebrate National Library Week with a donation of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank and reduce your overdue fees!

April 10–16, 2016, bring in a non-perishable food item and receive $2 off any overdue fees for each item.* Donations benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank and their networks in Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, and Medical Lake. *$20 maximum forgiven per library account. Food for Fines can only be applied to overdue and/or damaged items fees. Cannot be applied to lost item charges or accounts referred to collection.

www.scld.org

The Current

18 • APRIL 2016

New Valley venue pins hopes upon a star Enchanted Event Center was born.

From Current News Sources Laughter fills the air and smiles abound at the Wish Upon a Star Event’s new Enchanted Event Center in Spokane Valley.

Self-defined as a “character entertainment company that specializes in children’s birthday parties and special events,” Wish Upon a Star officially began in October 2013, with attending parties in people’s homes and throwing large-scale special events, such as the “Enchanted Evening Ball.”

Owner Hayley Schmelzer recognized the need for reserved events and a larger setting for parties to help parents spread out and enjoy the day. That is when the

Opening in early February 2016 on the corner of Sprague and University, the Enchanted Event Center is nearly 3000 square feet of sparkles and fun.

The new venue features two party rooms, a gorgeous princess parlor decorated in grey and white stripes with a huge velvet princess throne and a mini salon.

The second party room is an Enchanted Garden complete with toadstools, flowers and logs as seats, a tree growing up one corner and flowers on the walls. In the middle sits a parent lounge where grown-up guests can sit back and relax in style, complete with a complimentary coffee bar.

At parties with Wish Upon a Star Events, the birthday child and his

Hayley Schmelzer with her husband, Adric. or her guests will enjoy a magical two-hour visit with their favorite fairy tale character(s) while getting their hair styled like a princess complete with a princess tiara, coloring or a craft, story time and sing-a-long, gift opening, special wishing ceremony, princess games, birthday song, dessert presentation and time for photos.

Wish Upon a Star Events also hosts fun and affordable events like daddy daughter dances, tea parties and more. The company has nearly every princess and fairy you can think of, as well as many beloved cartoon characters and

super heroes.

“We are here to make magic and spread joy in Spokane,” said Hayley. “We are blessed to be able to give back to the community in many ways and our hearts are touched at every single birthday party and special event. We love having the opportunity to grow with the families we meet and see them year after year for these special moments in their families lives.”

For more information on booking a party or attending a special event, check out Wish Upon a Star Events at www.wishuponastarevents.com.

The Current

APRIL 2016 • 19

Brought to you by

National Parks Week

National Park Week is April 16-24 in celebration largest and oldest trees in the country and the of their 100 year anniversary. To commemorate Hall of Mosses is not to be missed. the National Park Service is giving free admission.

The park also protects What a great time to go explore one! We are lucky 73 miles of Pacific Coast to have one of the most unique parks right here that you can explore. in our own state.

Tidepools, beaches, Olympic National Park was established in 1937 hiking, and don’t forget

by President Franklin Roosevelt. It encompasses the banana slugs - The nearly one million acres and has 3 different Olympic National Park ecosystems; a wild pacific coast, glacier capped has something for everyone! mountains, and temperate rain forest.

Mount Olympic is the tallest peak on the In observance of Olypmic Penninsula. It is one of three mountains in Washington to have glaciers. It receives more precipitation than any other glacier in the country.

The Hoh Rainforest is all paid admissions are FREE at any a temperate rainforest.

It gets a total of 140national park opperated property.

170 inches of rain per year. It ha some of the

National Park Week April 16-24th

The Current

20 • APRIL 2016

Recipe Box

Cheesecake in a Mug INGREDIENTS: 1 egg white 6 T cream cheese 4 T sour cream 4 T sugar 1/2 t vanilla 1 t lemon juice 1 t cornstarch DIRECTIONS: 1. Wisk egg white with cream cheese and sour cream until fluffy.

2. Add remaining ingredients and divide into two mugs. Microwave for 2 minutes.

4. Sprinkle with crushed ginger cookie or graham cracker is desired.

5. Refrigerate to set.

Optional: 2T raspberries, chocolate chips or jam

EGG CARTON TURTLE

MATERIALS - Egg Carton - Scissors - Glue - Paint - Pom Pom - Googly Eyes - Embellishments (buttons, glitter, beads, stickers) - Paper, felt or foam for legs DIRECTIONS 1. Cut shells from carton and paint them the color of your choice.

2. Cut out 4 legs and a triangle tail. Glue to the underside of the shell.

3. Add a pom pom for the head. Glue on eyes and draw mouth.

4. Decorate shell with embellishments or draw a design.

NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT 1. 5 different kinds of leaves 2. A piece of litter 3. A piece of moss 4. A “Y” shaped stick 5. A piece of tree bark 6. Something round 7. Something with a hole in it 8. Something NOT brown or green 9. Something flat 10. Something smooth 11. Something prickly 12. A fern (make sure to check with an adult before picking any flowers or plants) 13. Animal tracks (don’t follow them) 14. Something brittle 15. A feather (Be careful, feathers have germs) 16. Wildflower (make sure to check with an adult before picking any flowers or plants) 17. Spiderweb (don’t touch it, there might be a spider waiting for a snack!)

18. 3 different bugs 19. A bird nest (remember to NOT touch it unless it is on the ground abandonded) 20. A stump

The Current

PACE Trait Trustworthiness Inspiring complete reliability and confidence in his/ her truthfulness, integrity and discretion

APRIL 2016 • 21

Congratulations to Ariella!

She’s the latest

KiDDS Dental

No Cavity Club winner!

Ariella won a Toys R Us Gift Card and a photo session with

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

509.891.7070 1327 N. Stanford Ln, Ste B • Liberty Lake • www.GrowUpSmiling.com Check out our Facebook page for contests and events!

Animal Facts

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

MOUNTAIN GOAT - Alaska to the Rockies - 100-300 lbs. 9-12 yrs.

- Billy-nanny-kid- hear or band - Endangered - Eats plants - Can jump 12 feet - Known for its white coat and beard - Tell age by rings on horns - Best rock climber in America - Cougars are its main predator - They have an extra thick layer of skin on their bottom to protect from rival horns

The Current

22 • APRIL 2016

Author Spotlight

t r e l h E s i Lo Lois Ehlert was born in 1934. She grew up in Beaver Dam, WI with parents that encouraged her artistic nature. She is the author and/or illustrator of over 50 children’s books, most are about nature and animals. She worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for others

while perfecting her own individual style. Lois makes colorful collages.

She utilizes scraps of fabrics, random objects, cut-outs, and die cut pages to create her unique art. She has won many awards including two Caldecott Honors.

She illustrated “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” one of the best selling children’s books of all time. To learn more about her process read “The Scraps Book.”

Check out these books!

Plant a Rainbow (1988) Ages 3-8

Teach children their colors and names of flowers with this book. They plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings to create the perfect rainbow to enjoy.

Growing Vegetable Soup (1990) Ages 2-7 The entire gardening process is covered in a very simple, kid-freindly way. Then we see what is involved to turn all those fresh vegetables into soup, recepie included!

Eating the Alphabet (1996) Ages 1-4 This brightly colored alphabet book is a fun aid to teach 74 fruits and vegetables. Yes, there is an x, xigua, but most of us know it by a more common name. Can you guess what it is?

Waiting for Wings (2001) Ages 4-7 The story of the metemorphosis of butterflies if explained in an easily understood way. As always, Elhert places an explosion of color on the page to hold your interest.

All of these books are available in both English and Spanish

Tree Collage er Picture n r o tC Craf

SUPPLIES - Construction paper or sturdy paper as backdrop - A thin paper bag, packing paper, or paper bag - Green tissue or crepe paper - Colored tissue or crepe paper (we repurposed used tissue paper from the holidays) - Glue - A pencil - Paint, crayons, markers, stickers, glitter (any additional supplies you may want to add extra elements to your picture DIRECTIONS 1. Rip brown paper into strips (can be as thick or thin as you would like.

Twist the strips. Glue on to your backdrop paper to create a tree trunk and branches.

2. Cut green and colored papers into 1-1 1/2 inch strips. Then cut strips into squares.

They don’t have to be perfect or exactly the same.

Not all leaves are the same. Take your square of tissue shape it over the eraser end of your pencil. Dip in to glue and then place onto the paper. Continue until you have placed as many “leaves” and “flowers” as you would liike on your tree.

3. Use your other craft supplies to complete the picture with any other embellishments you might like. We used paint to add a sun, grass craft paper at the bottom, and made a bug on our tree.

The Current

Student of the Month

West Valley junior Emily McLaughlin maintains a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is part of the school’s award-winning Robotics program that recently won first prize in the entrepreneurial division at competition hosted by WVHS. The junior has participated in Robotics for the past two years and coordinates the program’s marketing efforts. McLaughlin is also part of Eagles’ soccer and club soccer.

APRIL 2016 • 23

West Valley junior Drake Ferguson won the 2A state wrestling title in the 152-pound division at the Mat Classic in Tacoma last month. Ferguson advanced to state by winning district and regional championships.

He finished with a record of 34-4 in the Great Northern League regular season.

Drake’s older brother, Hunter, a WVHS senior, brought home second place in state at 170.

Drake also plays football for the Eagles as a cornerback and wide receiver. The junior maintains a 3.43 grade point average.

Citizen of the Month Volunteering is a way of life for Stephen Aspinwall. The Spokane Valley resident has been driving a route with Meals on Wheels for

20 years, delivering food and encouragement to homebound clients. A retiree from Washington Mutual Bank, Aspinwall also helps out at the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank and is the secretary of the Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club where he has been a member for two decades. As part of the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club, Aspinwall has helped to restore streams in the area. He also volunteers through his church supporting causes like Habitat for Humanity. “It makes you feel good contributing to something worthwhile in your community,” Aspinwall said.

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The Current

24 • APRIL 2016 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors

World War II veteran stays enlisted on community front

By Jamie Borgan Splash Correspondent It’s fair to say that Gene Domanico maintains a daunting schedule – cardio exercise classes three days a week, Texas Hold ‘Em games every Friday, a few games of pool every Tuesday, regular meetings of both the Central Lions Club of Spokane and the Liberty Lake Lions Club (of which Gene is a charter member) and service on the board of Lilac Services for the Blind. Add his participation in every social event offered at his manufactured home development in Spokane Valley including, of course, karaoke, and you have a full agenda for anyone, let alone a 93-year-old.

With a gentle self-deprecating humor, Domanico relates that he’d never even sung in public until a couple years ago when some neighbors encouraged him to try karaoke.

Afterward, Domanico asked his neighbor, a musician, which key he’d sung in to which his neighbor replied, “All of them.”

Domanico was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1923. His father had immigrated to the U.S. from Italy at the age of 13 and eventually married (as Domanico puts it) a “farm girl from Iowa” after dancing with her to Lawrence Welk at the Tromar Ballroom in Des Moines.

Domanico’s parents owned a restaurant and nightclub in Des Moines called the Green Parrot, which Domanico managed after serving in World War II. A decorated Air Force veteran, Domanico flew 18 combat missions in the 447th Bombardment Group out of Rattlesden Air Base in Suffolk, England during World War II. Along with other World War II veterans, Domanico was honored for his service three years ago with participation in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. After the war, Domanico returned to Iowa and started managing the Green Parrot while raising his six children. His success in the restaurant industry led to a job as a restaurant consultant which eventually got him a job creating training opportunities in kitchens for

individuals with sight impairment for the Iowa Commission for the Blind. Domanico had always had a passion for public service, largely based on his upbringing and had volunteered for the commission before being hired.

It was his work training people with blindness in vocational skills that would bring him to Spokane.

At that time, his wife also worked for the Iowa Commission for the Blind as a dietician and was invited to interview for a job with the Lilac Blind Foundation in Spokane.

During the visit to the Inland Northwest, the couple went to dinner at Beverly’s in Coeur d’Alene.

A lifelong enthusiast of boating, Domanico was struck at the sight of all of the sailboats on the lake.

He had always enjoyed boats, but had never had an opportunity to sail. Realizing that a move west would mean learning to sail and not having to deal with the tornadoes and humidity of Iowa, Domanico and his wife both took jobs at the Lilac Blind Foundation.

“If you can sit in a chair, you can ride a recumbent” he says.

In his characteristic communitybuilding fashion, Domanico organizes an annual bike parade in his community and frequently goes on rides with his neighbors, who he repeatedly says are “like family.”

Despite his obvious artistic talent, Domanico says the drawings have been difficult to finish.

“I’m just too busy to get them done,” says the retiree.

Domanico’s community engagement is just one of the pillars he points to for keeping him healthy and happy. He says that relationships, humor and a positive attitude keep him moving forward and have made him an inspiration for many. His whirlwind of activities comes naturally and simply seems to be an extension of his joy and exuberance about experiencing the fullness of life in many settings, from the deck of a sailboat, seat of a bike or the sidelines during the Lion’s Club bed races.

Domanico doesn’t seem at all interested in slowing down and continues to add new hobbies or activities as they arise. These days, beautiful color pencil drawings of songbirds line his counter. He explains that he saw some sketches like that at the senior center and thought he’d try his hand at it.

Domanico served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, flying close to 20 combat mission out of Suffolk, England.

Contributed photo

Domanico brought his dedicated ethic of service to his community and passion for boating and cycling to his work in the Northwest.

He spent the remainder of his professional career at the Lilac Blind Foundation (now called Lilac Services for the Blind), helping people with sight impairment learn how to live independently.

Domanico says the work was creative and fulfilling as he and his team helped individuals learn how to use adaptive technologies like braille ovens so that they could live alone in their homes.

Domanico also developed a love and command of sailing on the lakes of the Inland Northwest, eventually captaining his own 30-foot sailboat on voyages throughout the world.

An avid cyclist from a young age, he also gravitated to all the scenic bike trails in the area and continued to go on long distance trail rides well into his 80s.

Domanico still loves riding his bike whenever the weather is good.

He switched to a recumbent two years ago and extolls its virtues.

Gene Domanico, 93, stays involved in a variety of community groups and activities, including the Liberty Lake Lions Club and Central Lions Club of Spokane. The Valley resident also serves on the board of directors for Lilac Services for the Blind.

Photo by Jamie Borgan

The Current

APRIL 2016 • 25

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26 • APRIL 2016

CV girls complete undefeated season with state hoops title

SPORTS “She’s our 5-11 post, just super athletic, a shot blocker, willing to take on every team’s biggest player,” Rehkow said of Christopher.

“Kalle was kind of a 3-point shooter,” Rehkow said. “She came off the bench to give the starters a breather and knock down shots.”

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor Over a decade before members of the current Central Valley girls’ basketball team were born, the program made history by bringing home the school’s first state 4A championship in 1993.

They were toddlers and likely oblivious when the Bears added two more during a 56-game winning streak and three trips to the finals.

Callow in age, yes, but gifted beyond their years, these ladies today have positioned themselves to perhaps equal or even surpass what their predecessors first accomplished. Just don’t tell that to CV Head Coach Freddie Rehkow, who isn’t about to put the cart before the horse after leading these sophomores and freshmen to a perfect 28-0 season and the school’s fourth state title.

“I have no grand elusions we’re going to win two or three,” Rehkow said. “If we (do) that’s awesome.

If we don’t, I’m not going to worry if we’re (considered) successful or not.”

Rehkow said he asked the team prior to their first state game in Tacoma if they would still consider it a successful year if they didn’t win state.

“Every one of the girls said, ‘Yeah, we’re successful,’” he says. “But they wanted that state championship and went out and got it.”

The reality is that the champs are essentially a team of sophomores and freshmen and were unlikely to have completed a perfect season, let alone win a state championship.

But this group was seemingly impervious to pressure.

In 20 regular season games their average victory margin was 31 points. That average understandably dropped to 18.5 in post-season but remains impressive. They weathered more experienced and potential Greater Spokane League roadblock Lewis and Clark four times, three of those by five or fewer points, displaying poise generally associated with teams like the Tigers.

The win over Snohomish in the 4A championship game represented the fourth state girls' basketball title in CV history.

Photo by Erik Smith

The squad didn’t flinch when pitted inexplicably against fellow unbeaten Moses Lake in the first round of state, 47-39, by outscoring the Chiefs 26-17 in the second half.

After rolling past Todd Beamer, 55-37, courtesy of another big second half, CV topped Snohomish, 57-48, for the crown, just their fifth single digit outcome all year.

“We never once talked about our record,” Rehkow said. “This group went out and played with no worries.”

Freshmen and sophomores. No worries. Indeed.

Lexie and Lacie Hull were veterans, if you can call sophomores that. The Bears returning scoring leader, Lexie, averaged 19.1 points per game during this regular season and 15.3 in post-season.

She also hauled down 8.6 rebounds per game.

Burns, CV’s lone senior, was injured 13 games into the season and sat out the rest. The Bears were also without varsity junior veteran Courtney Carolan due to a knee injury. “Hopefully she’ll come back,” Rehkow said.

CV also had double figure scoring from 5-11 Katy Hawkins, and first off the bench, plus Machaela Laabs inside.

“Katy gave breathers and scoring punch who could rebound and take the pressure off when others were in foul trouble,” Rehkow said, “Machaela had a knack for finding anything loose and just works extremely hard.”

The Current

2002 when he was a CV assistant during the streak and verged on three state titles before coming up short. It was a team whose run started with six juniors and three sophomores and ushered in the freshman era in 2003. He’s loathe to compare. Both played different styles. Suffice to say this is CV’s third unbeaten girls team (the first in 1993) and youngest.

Rehkow was ready to leave the game for good after five years at East Valley. Then Central Valley came open. His sons, Austin and Ryan, have had a sports impact current and beyond.

“I wouldn’t have looked at a job other than CV,” he said. “For me it was an opportunity to go back and have my kids go there that outweighed my wanting to walk away.”

Then there were the freshmen guards, Camryn Skaife and Mady Simmilink.

“Mady was our rock,” Rehkow said. “She pretty much came in as the point guard and I thought about as poised as a junior or senior. In 28 games I want to say she had 38 turnovers,” Rehkow said. “Skaife played defense well and knocked down huge 3-pointers, especially at state. She played bigger than her (5-4) size. And, man, she’s tough.”

Two others, freshmen Tamekia Watson and Kate Sams saw state playing time.

Rehkow thought back to 2001-

“She was our inside threat,” Rehkow said of the tourney MVP and All-State selection, adding that Lexie “plays more physical” than her wiry 6-foot-1 frame might imply.

Point guard Lacie scored at an 8.5 clip during regular season, but boosted it to 10.8 in eight playoff games. She also averaged six rebounds, more than four assists and three steals per game.

“She’s a totally different player (than her sister),” Rehkow said.

“She does the stuff not in box scores, getting deflections and steals, getting us out on the break and getting the ball to people in good position.”

Other returning sophomores include third-leading scorer and rebounder Hailey Christopher and Kalle Crouch.

The Central Valley girls’ basketball team defeated Snohomish 57-48 for the state 4A title on March 5 at the Tacoma Dome. The Bears finished 28-0 on the season.

Photo by Erik Smith

The Current

Valley Sports Notebook

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor Bringing home state basketball hardware to the Spokane Valley was easy as one-two-three.

Not only did Central Valley’s youngsters finish first at the 4A girls tournament, Freeman’s boys were second in state 1A and East Valley’s girls finished third in 2A. Additionally, the Bears boys were a top-eight placer in the 4A tournament. A look back: Scotties play beyond years The first thing that strikes you is the Freeman roster. Seven of 11 players are either sophomores or freshman on a team that had the school’s best finish at state in the 1A ranks and now share a place in Freeman history with its 2B state placer 41 years ago.

There were only three seniors on this Scotties’ squad – Jack Paukert, Nate Jacobus and Christian Phillips.

What makes the finals run remarkable is the fact injuries had left Freeman short-handed for the first month of its season.

Final Point -

Catching up with a local sports encyclopedia

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor Bill Pierce and I discovered we are kindred spirits. Born just days apart, I never thought I’d find another Taurus as immersed in Valley high school sports as me, but I met my match.

The irony is we would have been classmates at Central Valley had my family not moved following my sixth grade year at Opportunity Elementary. Heck, we might have sat together in the stands at the University of Washington’s Hec Edmundson Fieldhouse had I not been there with West Valley’s state basketball qualifiers while he was there rooting for the Bears.

We didn’t meet until 30-plus years ago while I was covering

SPORTS

Paukert was coming off a broken ankle from football and missed the season’s first three games. Then sophomore backup Rhys McKay broke his ankle the second day of practice and was out for five games.

Varsity veteran Michael Coumont, another sophomore, filled in admirably.

Scoring leader junior Ryan Maine missed a couple of games while at a golf tournament, but when all the pieces were in place in January, Freeman won 16 straight games, a run that wasn’t halted until the championship final.

“I knew we were going to be really solid,” head coach Marty Jessett said. “We were bringing back some great senior leadership and experience and we had a really good junior varsity group that (had been) mostly freshmen so I knew we had young talent.”

Beginning on Jan. 5, after a 6-3 start, the streak began with a 6445 win in Newport fueled by a 28-point third quarter.

rallied from 17 points down in the first quarter to beat Northeast A League favorite Lakeside, 83-80 in overtime. By the third quarter three starters were in danger of fouling out, with four apiece. Then Freeman went to a zone defense and rallied.

A 3-point basket at the buzzer by Phillips sent it to overtime. Another

by Jacobus in OT keyed the win.

“That night everyone knew we had something special,” Jessett said. “There was always someone stepping up.”

The team won five straight playoff games before running afoul of private school state power King’s in the final.

Six players scored in double figures during the season. The offense ran through Maine, a junior who averaged 19.1 per game during the season and 17.8 in the playoffs. Coumont averaged 12.3 and 11.

“We knew we had a special team,” Jessett said. “We came out and ran them out of the gym. We could score, we could defend.”

“I’m incredibly proud of the guys,” said Jessett, who savored his trip to the finals. “They’re a great team and great individuals. I couldn’t have written it any better.

And we’re definitely excited about next year.”

Two weeks later the Scotties

Third straight trophy for EV

sports for my dad’s paper, the old Spokane Valley Herald, and he was beginning his long tenure as CV’s basketball scorekeeper. I eventually moved to The Spokesman-Review.

He has every CV roster and record archived and currently also writes a weekly nostalgia almanac on Spokane high school sports in the same newspaper.

He did Dale Poffenroth’s books his first year and last year Poff coached the girls and took over both teams for the past dozen years.

His story fascinates.

Bill’s mother had died and he told me, “I was taking care of my homebound dad,” when I asked him to dig up some history for a story on CV girls basketball.

“Just for a break in the evenings I’d go up to CV for basketball,” he said.

The girls didn’t have a regular scorekeeper so he volunteered to help then-coach, the late Jack Blair who began what is now a dynasty.

“He called me back before the very next game,” Pierce said. The rest is history.

A few years later, boys coach Terry Irwin recruited Bill and his tenure as the Bears’ record-keeper had begun.

He was quick to point out that Central Valley has the best girls’ record among all schools in the Greater Spokane League with 514 wins against just 155 losses. This was the seventh team to finish unbeaten during a GSL season and the third Bears’ unbeaten of four state champions.

When he was in high school, Pierce was more yearbook designer than sports guy.

“I liked to keep track of things, I did it even back then,” he says.

Which led to a fascinating hobby.

The past couple of decades or so he began ferreting out the records of the Valley sports teams from when they were in the Border League and has all their records on thumb drive. He pored over Valley Herald archives and library microfilm, cross-referencing his research. It expanded to encompass all current Greater Spokane League schools.

He googled the Spokesman-

APRIL 2016 • 27

girls A quartet of seniors ended their careers with flair and their third straight top-six trophy finish.

Fourth-year varsity regulars Hannah Burland, Jordan Phelan and the Bastin twins, Madison and Skyler, took incremental steps with sixth and fifth place finishes before completing their landmark 23-4 season that nearly resulted in the school’s first basketball state championship appearance.

The team lost its opener during a 1-2 record for sixth place at the 2014 2A tournament in Yakima.

Last year they won the first day before losing the next two games and took fifth.

This year an off-shooting first half in which the Knights shot just 17 percent, undid them in the semifinal, against eventual champion Shorecrest.

“They were getting good looks and didn’t do anything different than all year,” head coach Rob Collins said. “Sometimes they fall and sometimes they don’t. It happened to be in that one game.”

The

Knights

bounced

back,

See NOTEBOOK, Page 31 Review and defunct Spokane Daily Chronicle.

“Lucky for us the Chronicle and Review are all on-line,” he says with obvious pride. “To the best of my knowledge, I have all the football games for the city schools since the beginning and basketball since 1925. I’ve got an awful lot of info.”

I grew up reading high school sports in the various newspapers and have institutional knowledge from writing about them for nearly half a century. It pales in comparison to what Bill has wrought.

Who would have thought that we might have been sitting in the same stands back in 1962, witnessing a moment in time when two Valley schools were playing in the same tournament at the same time. As spectators born virtually at the same time who attended rival schools, our paths ultimately crossed because of a common obsession.

Like the album by musicians Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg, we must be “Twin Sons of Different Mothers.”

The Current

28 • APRIL 2016

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HISTORY

The Current

Spokane University – A school that left its mark on the Valley

By Angela Schneider

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Spokane Valley's secondary school community spirit.

first postsymbolized

Its doors closed, however, just as its most famous graduate embarked on his art career.

Tucked away in a corner of Denver, CO., a small museum showcases the work of Clyfford Still. A member of Spokane University’s class of 1933, Still was an acclaimed American artist, one of the pioneers of abstract expressionism. He even considered Jackson Pollock a close friend.

Born in Grandin, ND., to Canadian parents, Still found his way to Spokane Valley, where he majored in public school art. He was a member of various school clubs and took on the role of leadership, elected president of the Student Executive Council his senior year.

Much of his art training came from teacher Maude Sutton, described as "a great moral philosophical influence upon her students and was a real friend to them" by Robert Sandberg, as quoted in Florence Boutwell's “The Spokane Valley: A History of the Early Years, Vol. 1.”

Still's early works—often completed during his time as a student and teacher at Washington State College—depicted American regionalism and social realism.

He painted train yards, wheatfield gleaners and farm families rendered destitute by the Great Depression.

Of course, it was the Depression that closed the doors of Spokane University but not before Still could graduate to leave a legacy of brilliant art and vision.

Spokane University’s legacy of community spirit In 1912, Rev. B.E. Utz became concerned with the lack of pastors in the Spokane area. Of the 80 churches operating in the city and the Inland Empire, about half had vacant pulpits.

Utz, the pastor of Spokane's Central Christian Church, became determined to resolve the issue by establishing Spokane Bible College.

In its first year located in the city’s downtown, the college graduated

18 student ministers and Utz's school took on a grander vision.

He wanted more space and a more permanent location.

With O.A. Adams, pastor of Spokane Valley Christian Church, he secured 33 acres a half mile south of Apple Way and three miles east of Spokane's city limits.

The school was most welcome in the Valley. People living nearby opened their homes to students, although many students lived in tents on campus until dormitories were built. Spokane University's neighbors brought fruits and vegetables from their orchards and gardens to feed the students.

Sisters Mary Fenstermacher, class of '33, and Martha Brookhart, a freshman in the school's final year of operation, told Boutwell, "The whole community functioned around the university, attending games, operettas, debates and receptions."

While much of the land remained undeveloped through the university's lifespan, necessary buildings were built over time to house classes, dormitories, athletics and more.

in the museum archives shows a drastic cut in tuition prices to accommodate students affected by the Depression, but to no avail.

After conferring degrees on 112 men and 100 women, what had become a prominent and storied liberal arts institution closed its doors.

The facilities were sold to Spokane Junior College, which moved the school back to downtown Spokane and merged with Whitworth College. The main class building became University High School until it moved to its new location on 32nd Avenue.

The remaining buildings today house senior care facilities and the school's memory lives on with the street names in the area, especially University Road.

APRIL 2016 • 29

Arts at the institution, was Sam Sutton’s sister. Sam built a cabin around 1895 at Sutton Bay and eventually opened a resort on Newman Lake. Many a summer day found students enjoying the lake and the resort cabins.

They were all part of building the Spokane Valley community we know today.

The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is home to hundreds of archival documents and photographs. Visit the museum at 12114 E. Sprague to start your research and find your parents or grandparents in the Spokannual yearbooks.

Its legacy, too, lives on in Still's artwork, Oestreicher's photographs, the many local businesses built by its graduates and the 46 ministers that stood behind church pulpits.

Maude Sutton, who taught Fine

The students were incredibly involved in the school's success.

According to the university's 1917 yearbook, Spokannual, they "cleared and made the athletic field, and erected the splendid gymnasium."'

The school churned out young ministers, artists, teachers, musicians and businessmen. Leo Oestreicher started his well-known photography business while he was still a student.

When the boys’ dorm burned down in 1930, Oestreicher bought the house at 920 N. Walnut that became his studio. He gave classmates jobs at the studio and became known for the class portraits he did for area schools.

He took wonderful photographs of Valley development in the 1930s and 1940s, many of which are part of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum's archives and available for research and reprints.

Closing the doors Like many businesses and organizations across the U.S., the Great Depression caught up with Spokane University.

By 1933, it built up liabilities of $120,000. Administration sold off almost 15 acres of the property in the late 1920s but the school was still left in dire financial straits. A 1932 school bulletin

Spokane University was recognized as the Valley’s first and most respected post-secondary school from 1913 to 1933. Students helped in efforts to build many of the college’s distinctive buildings, including the gymnasium pictured above.

Photos courtesy of Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

The Current

30 • APRIL 2016

PACE Trait for April – Trustworthiness

experienced before, I was not at all impressed. My little sister was cute, sure – for the first day or two. After that she was just annoying, crying all the time and screeching and hogging my mom. Hey, remember me, parents? I’m still here! Over here! Your daughter! Remember?

By Jenna Mark

West Valley City School “Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks.” - Isaac Watts As a child, I was relatively outgoing and energetic, often playing in the dirt on the playground all by myself, perfectly content. I didn’t mind friendship, but I was perfectly OK on my own.

I was that one little girl always running around and whooping.

The other girls wanted to play princesses, and I wanted to play wolves. See the contrast? Because of this, I didn’t form very many solid friendships and I was usually off in the corner of the classroom writing on a scrap of paper in my free time.

Like most first-grade kids, I trusted my parents more than anything. My friends at school were OK, but most of the time I’d rather be alone. With my parents, though, it was different. Parents

were great! They’ll play with you and tell you stories and help you with whatever you need. At least that was what I thought, until my little sister entered the equation.

I was my parent’s kid, I was their daughter and then, all of a sudden, they pushed me aside and started pampering this new kid.

What was she, anyway? She was just a tiny gurgling baby! There was nothing cute about her! What was wrong with my parents? As a 4-year-old dealing with entirely new happenings in life I’d never

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Of course, I didn’t say any of that, but to this day I remember exactly what it felt like. It was as if, at all times, I was staring through a window with my mom and dad on the other side, with them obsessing over my new baby sister and how perfectly angelic she was.

Meanwhile, I was left on the other side of the window, looking through the glass – invisible. It was the first time I’d ever felt that. Betrayal of trust. For those of you with little siblings, you might know what I’m going through.

Call me jealous, self-centered, whatever you want – but this little story just proves how important trust really is. Especially to young children! They’re so small and their brains are so underdeveloped that the way they see it, their loving, trusting parents just replaced them with a new kid, a cuter one, a better one.

Now, I don’t mean to be blunt,

but when I was younger, I hated my sister. I didn’t trust her, not at all, and I didn’t trust my parents either, not after tossing me aside for a bundle of swaddling clothes with less than half of my own intelligence. For the next few years, I was usually alone, drawing. The only person I knew I could trust was myself. If I was having a bad day, I would close my eyes and dive into the realm of my imagination, where I was loved and cared for by my imaginary friends.

My world was so much better than the real one! I could have all the adventures I wanted, and even the perfect parents!

What’s the point of this long monologue about my early childhood? That trust can make an imprint on us far, far into the future.

It’s taken me a while to recover, but I know my parents still care about me – and, after everything, I still care about my family. Trust comes in many different shapes and forms and it doesn’t always come easily.

But in the end, it does, even if it’s not apparent at first. So even if you’re afraid of trust, give it to the people who deserve it and, if they’re good people, you’ll know by the way they treat it. So never be afraid to trust.

The Current

APRIL 2016 • 31

NOTEBOOK

Continued from page 27 however, to win on the tournament’s final day, beating Ellensburg by 15 points in its third-place effort.

“The seniors have a lot to be proud of,” Collins said. “I tell them, ‘You don’t know how much of an accomplishment this is. There are a lot of really good basketball players around the state that aren’t here.’

Third place is nothing to sneeze at.”

Hannah Burland averaged a dozen points per game over the final three years of her career and averaged 19.7 during this year’s playoffs with four 20-plus point outings.

Volleyball standout Phelan averaged eight points during the run (10.5 during the playoffs). All four will play beyond high school, the Bastins in soccer.

“They are a very athletic group that plays a lot of sports,” Collins said of his seniors. “They are just

great kids, great citizens and are leaders of the school.”

Next year bodes well. EV will field a veteran team including Elle Burland, who, in three years, has averaged more than 8 points per game and upped that to 10.7 in the playoffs.

“We’ve got good kids who respond well to what we do,” Collins said.

“They’ve had some good mentors.”

Bears maintain tradition The CV boys’ basketball season can be summed up in the simplest of terms. Defensively you can control your destiny. But offense is out of your hands when even good attempts don’t drop.

“I thought we were a really solid team, but we were a little up and down on offense during the year,” said head coach Rick Sloan of the Bears’ state tournament campaign.

“Because we played good defense we were able to finish 16-4 (during the regular season.) During the playoffs we got a little more offensive rhythm and played two of

our best games in regionals.”

been a load inside.

That effort got the Bears to Tacoma, but there was a lid on the basket there and they lost two straight.

“I knew it was a good group coming through,” Sloan said. “This group was special at a young age.”

Sloan preferred to look on the bright side. “We had a place,” he said. “We got seventh, in my mind.”

Boys basketball has been a big part of Central Valley lore and the Sloan era has played its part including state second and fourth place finishes twice.

This year’s team joined that grouping by following the fourth place team in 2013 when they were freshmen. The year before they likely witnessed the finals appearance.

“This group made it to state three of the last four years,” Sloan pointed out. “That’s all they know. This team knows a lot about success.”

The eight seniors included his son Tanner, so Rick was well aware of their potential. The one they missed was football star Scott Peck, who gave up the sport and would have

Two – Josh Thomas and Cameron Tucker averaged 12.8 and 12.6 points per game during the regular season. Ryan Rehkow added 10.1 points per game. During seven playoff games, Rehkow led the team at 13.5, with Thomas and Tucker right around their regular season averages.

Point guards Justis Simmons and Eli Emerson fit the profile of CV’s perimeter shooting when on all cylinders got them to state.

Simmons had four huge games in the playoffs, averaging 11.6. He scored six a game during regular season.

“When the shots fall at the right time you make runs,” Sloan said.

“They didn’t in Tacoma. We tell them all the time you can’t control what shots do as long as they’re good shots, but you can control defense. They bought into that and gave us a chance to win.”

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32 • APRIL 2016

Capital improvement projects top priority list in Rockford

By Benjamin Shedlock Current Correspondent If the town of Rockford was a college basketball team, it would be a mid-major contender scrapping its way through the bracket.

Town Hall is rebounding from losing key personnel last summer and the Town Council is spending a lot of time on the fundamentals, making sure there is a strong infrastructure in place for future stability. Put another way, Rockford is in the middle of a rebuilding year, putting together the team and the strategy to ensure long-term success.

Last May, the mayor, billing account specialist and town clerk resigned over disagreements with members of the Town Council surrounding enforcement of utility billing ordinances. Since then,

Rockford has hired new staff while Carrie Roecks, a previous member of the Town Council, has been serving as mayor.

Roecks’ chair at the dais has been taken through appointment by William Benson, who subsequently won a full four-year term on a different seat in last fall’s election.

He began his term on Jan. 6 and the seat he vacated was recently filled with the appointment of Jim Oshanick for the remainder of Roecks’ term.

While the rapid changes have meant a big transition for an otherwise quiet Rockford, the town has handled it well, according to Roecks.

“We’re moving forward and keeping it positive and keeping the doors open and everyone’s working together really well,” Roecks said.

The mayor noted that Benson simply changed seats once he was appointed. Moreover, Oshanick, who filled his seat, made a smooth transition because he is no stranger to the role, having served previously on the Town Council.

“I sat down with Jim and brought him up to speed with what’s going on,” Roecks said.

As a result of its staffing changes last summer, Rockford has been

The town of Rockford is discussing several capital improvement projects this year, including a new well, liner replacement for wastewater lagoons west of town and street lights on First Street.

Contributed photo reviewing its personnel policy. On March 9, the Town Council held a special session to share its work with the public and discuss the changes it has made.

“A lot of it is catching up with state law,” said Council Member Micki Harnois.

According to Roecks, most of the pertinent changes had to do with insurance and holidays.

“There will be another meeting before we can adopt it,” she said.

With staff and council members now in place, Town Council has turned its attention this year to a slate of capital projects. Council members are hopeful that they will accomplish several major projects by the time winter rolls around.

“The biggest thing in Rockford is capital improvement,” Roecks said.

Most pressing for Rockford is the construction of a new well. The town is drawing its water from a single well because its second well has been continually clogging.

“It’s been rehabbed in the past, but we need to start over,” Roecks said.

Rockford has already secured a $224,000 construction grant through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Because Rockford is located in Spokane County, it was able to through the county rather than applying directly through the Washington State Department of Commerce, a process that helped secure the funding faster.

The town still needs to secure planning funding for the well.

On March 16, Town Council held a special session to discuss its options. Rockford has already been approved for a loan package through the Washington State Department of Health, but the state would require some of that funding to go toward construction.

As of press time, Rockford has not decided on its planning funding source.

Roecks plans to get the well in

soon because the town needs the water for the end of the summer.

“Once we get the funding, we’ll be ready to go,” she said.

The town has also been working on a liner replacement project for its wastewater lagoons west of Rockford and in early March opened bids for the second and final phase of construction. The bids, which will cover all of the construction required for a third pond, all came in under the engineer’s estimate.

The work will be done this spring and summer and Roecks expects that the project will be complete before the end of the year.

Some projects are just beginning, like the town’s plan to illuminate First Street along the park.

“It’s really dark in front of there,” Harnois said, referring to the park.

She said the town is concerned both for the safety of people who walk in and along the park and also its curb appearance. Rockford is a major thoroughfare between Washington and the Coeur D’Alene Casino.

The town’s plan calls for four lights and the project would be relatively cheap. Avista has reported to the Town Council that electrical can be run from the restroom building already in place in the park, so Rockford only needs posts and lights.

“They can run seven grand a piece depending on how extravagant you get,” Harnois said.

The small price tag has been a challenge. Street lighting has been on the books as part of highway projects since the beginning of the Great Recession, but bids have not come in low enough.

Harnois said there might be some help on the way. She recently spoke with the director of the Transportation Improvement Board, who told Rockford to send him information about the project.

“Since it’s only four lights, he might be eager to help,” Harnois said.

The Current

College Bound program paves way for continuing education

By Treva Lind

Splash Correspondent Central Valley High School senior Shane Whitecotton has his pick of colleges right now, but he credits that wider window in large part to the state College Bound Scholarship program.

Whitecotton, 18, signed an agreement about five years ago at Greenacres Middle School to take the College Bound pledge.

That meant he agreed to graduate from high school with a 2.0 GPA or higher, stay out of legal trouble and apply for college and financial aid.

Now upon high school graduation, College Bound will cover the tuition costs at an in-state university.

The senior’s efforts far exceeded that earlier pledge. Whitecotton today holds a 3.78 GPA. He’s now choosing between Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University to complete a four-year degree.

APRIL 2016 • 33

Also, students who are in foster care are automatically enrolled.

The deadline to sign up is June 30 of the students’ eighth-grade year.

Washington Student Achievement Council reports that in 2015, 91 percent of the eligible Class of 2019 completed applications.

Three-quarters of the students who signed up for the College Bound Scholarship by the end of their eighth-grade year in 2010 graduated from high school in 2014. In comparison, the 2014 four-year graduation rate for lowincome students who were eligible for the program but didn’t sign up was 62 percent.

Since the program’s start, about 215,000 students have applied.

Dave Rovick, College Bound northeast Washington regional officer, said middle school is a time when a majority of students begin making decisions about their future but also when they might start seeing barriers.

“This scholarship is a reason to keep going,” Rovick said. “If you keep going and keep that promise you pledged to, the state of Washington will help you get to a point past high school graduation.

This helps fill a gap. Perkins Loans,

state need-based grants, still exist and we encourage that they apply for other financial aid, but it covers all tuition, some fees and book allowances.”

program’s goals include raising high school graduate rates and increasing the number of lowincome students entering postsecondary education.

A student has to cover his or her own living expenses and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“If we can remove a barrier of costs and offer incentives, maybe they’ll keep their options open rather than opting out of postsecondary education,” Rovick added. “We’re graduating students from high school at much higher rates.”

The statewide average 91 percent of eligible students signing up last year far eclipses 2007, when the program saw about 57 percent of qualified students sign up, Rovick said.

“That means the end of last school year, last June, 33,147 eighth-grade students statewide signed up and took the College Bound pledge,” he added. “We’ve come pretty far getting the word out and with involvement at middle schools. In our region, we finished with 88 percent of eligible eighth graders signing up, but it increased five percentage points over the prior year.”

Rovick gets the word out about College Bound to the entire ESD 101 region and covers 176 schools.

“I tell students it’s one of the easiest applications they’ll fill out for college,” he said.

Simply

put,

the

scholarship

Future jobs increasingly will require a certification or degree beyond high school, he added.

“There are a number of opportunities available through College Bound,” Rovick said. “I was a low-income student. College for me was a very eye-opening, great experience and I didn’t think it would be that way. I think this gives hope to students and may be a way to realize hopes and dreams. They hopefully will find a career, but also find something that will become a passion for them.”

For basic information about College Bound, Rovick encourages parents and students to check with school counselors or administrators.

A wide range of information is also available on the website, http:// www.wsac.wa.gov/college-bound.

“It reminds me of car insurance because I have a safety net,” Whitecotton said about College Bound’s support. “Loans were a worry. Now, I won’t have to take out as large of a loan. The application process was easy.”

Established by the Washington State Legislature in 2007, the College Bound Scholarship supports low-income students who sign up either in their seventh- or eighthgrade year. With requirements met, the state covers tuition costs, some fees and small book allowance for students attending an in-state postsecondary institution — whether a technical school, community college or fouryear university — at public-school tuition rates after other financialaid awards are considered.

The early promise of financial aid is intended to alleviate economic barriers that might prevent students from considering higher education as a possibility. It’s available to middle schoolers based on family household income guidelines.

Another eligibility standard is if the student’s family receives basic food/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF) benefits.

Shane Whitecotton, a senior at Central Valley High School, signed up for the College Bound program while a student at Greenacres Middle School. The state-sponsored program covers tuition at colleges, universities and technical schools in Washington for students who maintain certain requirements through high school.

Photo by Treva Lind

34 • APRIL 2016

LOCAL LENS All photos on this page were provided by Erik Smith photography. To see more pictures of these events and more go to his facebook at www.facebook. com/ErikSmithPhotography.

Bowdish Middle School VS Greenacres Middle School 8th grade girls basketball

CV Theatre Department’s production of “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat”

The Current

Local Lens

Share your snapshots for The Current’s photo page. Email photos@valleycurrent.com with scenes from around town, community events and group photos.

The Current

The 38th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade took place in downtown Spokane last month, featuring representation from several Spokane Valley-based businesses and nonprofits. Above, a concrete mixing truck from Central Pre-Mix rolls down the parade route in green holiday regalia. Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels also participated in the March 12 procession.

Photos by Craig Howard

APRIL 2016 • 35

OPINION

36 • APRIL 2016

The Current

Dear Editor: I speculate the reason for Mike Jackson’s forced resignation is so Pace, Higgins, Woodard and Wood (The 4), could appoint Josh Kerns as city manager. See http://www. joshkerns.com/#!endorsements/ rsok0 Josh Kerns ran for a seat on the Spokane County Commission and learned on Feb. 22 he had lost to Nancy McLaughlin. Mike Jackson was asked to resign the next day on Feb. 23. And, Mike was given notice this could occur on the Friday prior, Feb. 19.

If Josh Kerns won the election to have a seat on the SCC, I believe Mike would not have been asked to resign at that time.

Sally Smith Spokane Valley

Dear Editor: How far to the right can the Valley City Council go before it negatively impacts its citizens?

Since the election the council seems to be on a dictatorial rather than free and open discussion path. The area incorporated into an independent city so that the people that reside and do business here would be heard and that the ordinances that were enacted would insure a safe and secure city.

The people were at peace knowing that they would have input into decisions and that their representatives would reflect their

philosophies and values. Diversity would be honored and the needs of the citizenry would take priority over the political leanings of the electorate.

This moderately progressive attitude pervaded the Valley system of government until 2016. Now we are TOLD that we need a law enforcement oversight committee to oversee the one that already exists. We are TOLD that we are not and never will be a Sanctuary City. We are TOLD what state legislation we will endorse or not.

We are TOLD who the city will and will not employ. We are fearful that

this severe right turn will create a city that is for the few and ignores the many. Who are the QUATTRO POTENTI really representing?

Thomas Jefferson said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Well, he must have foresaw what was going to happen to the city of Spokane Valley. (A total of) 99 VOTES turned our council into a DICTATORSHIP. An election by district would increase the diversity of ideas and representation. The next election can’t come soon enough.

Karen Montecucco Spokane Valley

Volume 18, Issue x EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com EDITOR

Craig Howard

craig@libertylakesplash.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Danica Wick

sarah@libertylakesplash.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Joy Katt

joy@libertylakesplash.com

CIRCULATION Dean Byrns Mike Wiykovics

circulation@libertylakesplash.com CONTRIBUTORS

Steve.Christilaw, Treva Lind, Jamie Borgan, Angela Schneider, Mike Vlahovich, Derek Brown, Staci Lehman, Jenna Mark, Gwendolyn Haley, Jane Baker, Benjamin Shedlock The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.libertylakesplash.com The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area.

Additional copies are located at drop-off locations in Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

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

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Send a check and subscription address to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. Subscriptions must be

Dear Editor As official campaign chair for Councilman Dean Grafos in three elections for Valley Council, I must correct revisionist history put forth

by Council Member Ed Pace. His spin and justifications for firing Manager Mike Jackson are breathtakingly inaccurate.

In 2008-2009, there were Valley protests to rid the city of a multimillion dollar zoning revision running alongside a disincorporation drive expressing great dissatisfaction toward city leadership and the city manager. We had a high-priced manager who flew in from Western Washington, stayed a few days in Liberty Lake and then flew home, while exercising heavy-handed authority.

By summer 2009, Chuck Hafner

received by the 15th of the month in order for the

and the late Senator Bob McCaslin recruited three candidates for City Council as the “Positive Change” slate.

Two were somewhat unfamiliar with exact specifics regarding zoning, the budget and the city manager. Senator McCaslin then persuaded Grafos to run for a vacated seat on the promise the protests would become campaign goals. Senator McCaslin also ran.

The relevant fact of this story is that the election was about the misuse of power, the zoning and the city manager. That manager understood electoral consequences.

And Pace was present for it all, as Grafos’ election opponent and opportunistic “friend.”

Elizabeth Grafos Spokane Valley

About the Opinion Page The Current opinion page is intended to be a community forum for discussing local issues.

Please interact with us by sending a le er to the editor or Spokane Valley Voices guest column for considera on.

Le ers to the editor of no more than 350 words or guest columns of about 700 words should be emailed to editor@libertylakesplash.com or mailed to P.O. Box 363, Liberty Lake, WA 99019.

A full name and telephone number must be included for purposes of verifica on. A photo of the author must be taken or provided for all Spokane Valley Voices guest columns.

The Current reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. Business complaints or endorsements will not be accepted, and poli cal endorsement le ers will only be accepted if they interact with issues of a campaign.

Views expressed in signed columns or le ers do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or its staff. Editorials, which appear under the heading "Current Editorial," represent the voice of The Current and are wri en by Editor/Publisher Ben Wick.

subscription to begin with the issue printed the end of that month.

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

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

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

The Current

Preserving our past not a Spokane Valley priority

The new majority on the Spokane Valley City Council ended the conversation on a program that could have helped preserve historic sites, thereby ending the idea before the process to gather public input could even start.

The proposal which could have implemented a statewide program giving property owners within the city of Spokane Valley the ability to not only recognize their historic structures and sites but also provide a financial incentive to maintain them, and allow the city of Spokane Valley to compete for grant dollars to promote its historic properties, was rescinded

by Council Members Woodard, Wood, Pace and Mayor Higgins after having been forwarded to the Planning Commission in a 4 to 3 vote last December before Council Member Wood joined the council.

The statewide program which falls under the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation program is already being utilized by numerous localities across the state but specifically in our region by the unincorporated areas of Spokane County, the city of Spokane, the city of Millwood and the city of Cheney.

The program, while created at the state level, still provided many options and could have been tailored to fit any direction that the citizens of Spokane Valley or the City Council desired. The program is fundamentally based upon a property tax option that would have allowed historically agreed upon sites which, maintaining their historic integrity through significant renovations, the ability to recover renovation costs by deducting the expenses from their property taxes over a 10-year period. The amount reduced from the historic property would be instead redistributed the remaining property owners within the city.

While most people don’t associate Spokane Valley with historic structures or landmarks.

The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum (which at one point offered to help run the historic preservation program for the city of Spokane Valley) has identified approximately 120 properties on

APRIL 2016 • 37

its registry and its speculated that approximately half of those could have qualified for the historic property designation depending on how the program would have been structured.

A recent property that this program could have played a role in is with the Plantation Building on Sprague and Vista. If the owner had the option to offset the renovation costs when considering renovation, would they have been able to save the Plantation building?

Arguments from those against the measure cited that the planning commission has too many issues to consider currently and that there are more important priorities that need city attention, such as the major update to the comprehensive plan. On March 17, less than three weeks after the City Council’s decision to stop the consideration of the Historic Preservation program, the city of Spokane Valley issued a public notice citing “Due to lack of Planning Commission business, there will not be a [Planning Commission] meeting.”

The Historic Preservation program was not just about preserving history, it is an economic development tool. A tool that encourages redevelopment with the mutual benefit of preserving our history. Having been involved with local economic development around our area and visiting other economic development projects from around the state I can tell you, there is not a “one size fits all model.” Businesses and landowners all have their own unique needs, priorities and plans.

When cities or regions try to attract new businesses or retain others their goal is to facilitate matches and provide options on how they can make a situation in their area work. The Historic Preservation program could have been an economic development tool that the city of Spokane Valley added to our toolbox to help recruit or retain a business in our area.

While government shouldn’t be creating jobs itself, it can and should be providing the infrastructure and tools so that our businesses, land owners and citizens can. This program is something our city could have done, but is now one more tool that other communities have the ability to use and we don’t.

How many historic locations are we going to lose or grant dollars are we going to let go to other communities before this becomes a priority for our city?

Ben Wick

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

The Current

38 • APRIL 2016

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The Current

ON THAT NOTE

State of the County – Navigating the way to an effective address

By Craig Howard Splash Editor If you think Spokane County encompasses a broad territory these days, try going back to 1885 when the same region included the equivalent of 22 counties spanning parts of Washington, Idaho and Montana.

Census takers back then must have been a blend of explorers, ultra-marathoners and sleuths, traveling days upon end to tally up a citizenry spread out over mostly rural terrain. The tribes native to the land didn’t need a census – to them all things were living and honorable and didn’t need to be counted. The census smelled of bureaucracy and red tape, even before tape had been invented in 1902.

By 1889, when Washington officially became a state, the official population of Spokane County was at 55,000 and the boundaries of the county had been reined in. Census takers would no longer need to impersonate Lewis and Clark to compile an inventory of citizens. The rate of foot blisters and picketing horses also dropped correspondingly.

The Spokane County seat was another story. In 1875, the territorial assembly declared that Spokane Falls would be the region’s command post. The site never quite stuck. Over the next decade, the county seat bounced between Spokane Falls, Colville and Cheney.

Visiting dignitaries weren’t quite sure where to book their stay.

These days, Spokane County boasts just under 490,000 residents in both unincorporated areas and 13 jurisdictions that vary in scale from the town of Waverly at 106 inhabitants to the city of Spokane, which checks in at nearly 210,000. Liberty Lake takes the prize as the fastest growing city in the county with a population now hovering near 9,000 while Spokane Valley trails only Spokane with a community of some 92,000, 10th largest in the state.

Every year around this time, Spokane County makes it a point to file its own report card.

The latest “State of the County” address was delivered eloquently

by Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn on March 11 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel on Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley under the banner of “Leading

Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O'Quinn delivered the State of the County address in Spokane Valley last month. The Central Valley High grad was elected in November 2012 to represent District 2 which includes the greater Spokane Valley area.

Change – Producing Results.”

O’Quinn, a Central Valley High School alumnus who has a BA in accounting and business administration as well as an MBA, took on her second “State” speech with the focus grad students give to a thesis. No ghost writing here. “I want them to sound like me,” O’Quinn says. She begins preparing her talk two months from the event date, knowing that the task of covering all of the county’s achievements over the past year – as well as its priorities for the future – in 40 minutes can be like capsulizing the poems of Ezra Pound on a drive to Fairfield.

The State of the County process starts in January with a request for information for the annual reports from all county departments and elected officials. Around the same time, the commissioner who is scheduled to give the address picks a theme for the year.

“In 2013, I chose ‘Leadership and Innovation,’” O’Quinn said. “Since that was my previous theme, I wanted to be able to build upon it and show the results of that innovative leadership. That is how I chose my theme.”

Once a topic is selected, the commissioner continues to prepare by sorting through the annual reports of each department and coming up with areas to emphasize. O’Quinn opted to shed light on issues she has been particularly focusing on, including lean management, public safety reform, utilities, veterans’ affairs and community services.

Mark Richard, who once served as county commissioner and now works as the executive director of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, remembers each State

APRIL 2016 • 39

of the County assignment being anything but a walk in the park.

nothing to do with the Atkins Diet or joining a health club.

“As much public speaking as we did, It was still a bit intimidating,” Richard said. “For one, you need to convey the priorities for the county that may or may not align with all three commissioners and you likely are talking about some things that some do not agree with the county on.”

In 2013, the county launched the lean management initiative designed to improve efficiencies and save costs. The campaign featured the hiring of John Dixon as the county’s chief operating office while the curriculum included a guidebook called “Extreme Government Makeover” by Ken Miller, a book that O’Quinn said “provides a leadership perspective on process and systems change and improvement.”

Despite the anxiety-provoking scenario, Richard said he appreciated the opportunity to prepare and carry the county megaphone during the year’s most anticipated meeting. It was, he said, a unique opportunity “to have that moment with the community.”

“It was about gathering information, building a file, recapping important milestones and beginning to put thoughts around challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.

In introducing the keynote speaker on March 11, another former commissioner and current head of Greater Spokane Inc., Todd Mielke, described O’Quinn as “a common sense elected official who understands the business community and is thoughtful in her approach.”

In emphasizing the county’s attentive strategy and cost-saving measures, O’Quinn pointed to what she described as “two culture changing initiatives,” namely the implementation of a strong strategic plan and adoption of something called “lean management” that has

Fun factoids from 2016 State of Spokane County address

• Recently appointed Nancy McLaughlin is the fifth woman to serve as a commissioner in Spokane County. McLaughlin’s appointment represents the first time in the board’s 155year history that two females have been part of the board concurrently.

• Spokane County is home to more than 2,500 farms that generate approximately $775 million annually and employ over 1,300 people.

• The county elections department issued over 1,057,000 ballots last year.

•

The

county

parks

and

It appears to be working. The svelte standards are now saving the county between $1 million and $1.4 million a year.

“Our successes in 2015 and beyond are the result of our intentional work over the last three years,” O’Quinn said. “County employees are empowered to make change and they are producing amazing results.”

Since the project began, almost 500 lean projects have been identified, developed and implemented with a total of 358 being completed and another 150 projects underway.

For O’Quinn, one important project can be checked off for 2016 – the harrowing, yet informative, State of the County speech.

“It is always a challenge trying to figure out how to include humor and make the content interesting so as not to lose the audience,” she said. “I am very happy I only have to do this every three years.”

recreation department and golf manages over 150 miles and 13,000 acres of greenspace and conservation futures land.

• More than 85 percent of the county’s responsibilities are regional and serve all the residents in the county, not just in the unincorporated areas.

• The county provided free disposal of over 1,000 tons of debris after last November’s windstorm.

• Unlike city and state partners, county government is limited in revenue sources to sales tax and property tax and cannot leverage utility tax and business and occupation tax.

• While wheat is the county’s leading crop when it comes to acreage, mixed grains, oil seeds, dry beans and dry peas bring in almost $98 million each year.

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