Pines project may cause traffic delays

Construction resumed this week on a project to relieve traffic congestion on Pines Road north of Interstate 90, and city officials say signal work may cause brief lane restrictions between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

When the project is completed, the on- and off-ramps north of the freeway will be reconfigured to eliminate a crossing at Pines.

The westbound off-ramp will be redirected to a signal- controlled intersection with Indiana about 300 feet east of Indiana’s intersection with Pines.

A new westbound freeway on-ramp will take off from Montgomery, just west of Pines. To prevent a new bottleneck where the on-ramp traffic would have to cross Montgomery’s eastbound traffic, Montgomery will become one-way westbound between Pines and the I-90 on-ramp.

Eastbound motorists who want to reach Pines Road will be redirected from Montgomery to Mansfield Avenue via a roundabout that opened late last year. The roundabout is at the intersection of Montgomery, Mansfield and Wilbur Road.

More information about the project is available under the “What’s New” link on the city’s Web site, spokanevalley.org.

Spokane County

ALS group to honor Valley woman

The local ALS Association will honor Jenny Hoff, a Spokane Valley woman who has lived with the disease for three years.

Hoff has made public speaking engagements to area schools and on local radio and television stations, educating students and the community about the neurodegenerative muscular disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The ALS Association’s Evergreen Chapter has proclaimed Hoff and Jeff Swartz, Hoff’s partner and caregiver, the family that best exemplifies the spirit of “ALS Across America” for the chapter in the Spokane and Greater Inland Empire during ALS Awareness Month in May.

Hoff ran her own lunch bistro for two years, and although she has limited use of her hands, she continues to cook, with the assistance of friends, volunteers and neighborhood children she has called “Angels on Empire,” once a month for elderly neighbors and friends living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

She serves as a mentor for young people suffering from the disease, encouraging them to excel in their homework, assisting them in their daily needs and helping them with special projects.

Hoff has also participated in ALS Awareness Month locally, organizing a candlelight vigil to celebrate the lives of those who have died from ALS.

For more information, call (866) 786-7257 or visit www.alsa-ec.org.

Consignment event features kids items

Just Between Friends Franchise Systems will have a consignment event at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St., on Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Items featured in the sale include clothing for infants through juniors, layette items, baby equipment, children’s furniture, toys, hats and shoes.

Cost is $3 per person on Friday and Saturday; children 12 and under are free. On Sunday admission is free for everyone.

For more information, visit www.jbfsale.com.