Bethany Home Celebrating 75-Year Mark

This year marks the 75th since members of the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination dedicated Bethany Home to service. Since then, the boarding home at 9111 E. Upriver Drive has become a Valley landmark.

“Some people who grew up in this area move away, but remember it. When a time comes in their life that they need a place like this, they come here,” said Sylvia Smith, administrator of the facility.

On Sunday, residents and staff will celebrate Bethany’s 75 years of service with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. The general public is invited. At 2:30, there will be a commemorative ceremony. Music will be provided by members of Spokane’s Covenant churches, and refreshments will be provided.

“We’re just inviting people to tour, look and remember,” Smith said.

To that end, Smith dug up all the photos she could from years past. Those will be passed around at the 2:30 ceremony.

There’s a lot of history to go over, too. Bethany Home opened its doors when the Valley was undoubtedly a rural area. It once maintained what was practically its own farm - cows and chickens were raised there to provide milk, butter and eggs for residents.

“Those people were of the doyour-own-work ethic,” Smith said of the pioneers that made up the first generation of Bethany staff and residents.

Some residents still help grow vegetables. Bethany is a place where being active is encouraged. It’s a not nursing home. Smith said it’s labeled as a congregate care facility by the state, meaning that there is always assistance available to residents who need help sticking to special diets or remembering medicine. There isn’t, however, a hospital-like atmosphere.

For more information on the Bethany Home anniversary, call 924-0580.

Redeemer schedule change

If you head off Sunday to catch Redeemer Lutheran Church’s latemorning church service, you’ll find yourself all alone.

That’s because the church, 3606 S. Schafer Road, has a new summer schedule. Redeemer’s 10:45 a.m. services have been canceled until September.

Morning worship will now be held at 8 and 9:30 a.m.

Don’t drop off the tykes for Sunday school, either. Adult and children’s Bible classes have been canceled until fall as well.

, DataTimes