Annual Literacy Fair Happening In Hillyard

Storytelling, peanut-butter art, puppet shows and inspiration will be the staple of the third annual literacy fair at Hillyard’s Institute for Extended Learning, 4410 N. Market.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and is sponsored by Spokane County Head Start.

It’s free and will feature hands-on activities for parents and kids, and information on how parents can read to their children.

Watching alleys

Nevada-Lidgerwood COPS has resurrected the alley watch program.

Last Friday, neighborhood residents got together and lighted up their alleys in an effort to deter crime.

As many as 35 people gathered for dinner at two houses.

One group of senior citizens gathered all night to keep watch while playing gin rummy, said Deborah Wittwer, organizer for the neighborhood.

Wittwer said they went through the food, always a good indication of fun, and even got information on a drug house on Wellesley Avenue.

Alley watch was tried last year but nixed by the Police Department because of safety concerns. This time around, volunteers didn’t walk the alleys.

Instead, they handed out more than 500 fliers on crime prevention efforts, and organizers put 47 miles on their vehicles going among the nine command posts.

, DataTimes