In brief: Residents asked to clear leaves in streets

SPOKANE VALLEY – City officials are asking Spokane Valley residents to keep their leaves and pine needles out of streets.

Crews are sweeping the streets to keep storm drains clear, and officials don’t want the work to be undone.

Residents are encouraged to haul yard waste to a composting center or to make their own compost piles. Or they could simply mow their leaves and grass clippings several times and leave them in place as mulch, city officials suggested.

John Craig

Program will cover investment fraud

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Washington State Crime Prevention Association will host “Tricks of the Trade,” an hourlong documentary on preventing investment fraud, on Wednesday at Regal Spokane Valley 12 Theaters from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The program will cover basic principles of fraud risk, persuasion and prevention to understand risk factors associated with investment fraud victimization, how to recognize common persuasion tactics used by fraud suspects, and effective prevention strategies to avoid becoming an investment fraud victim.

For more information, call Spokane Valley Crime Prevention Officer Greg Snyder at (509) 477-2592.

Rainey Coffin

‘Candy Buy Back’ netted 1,000 pounds

LIBERTY LAKE – More than 1,000 pounds of candy was collected in “The Great Candy Buy Back,” held at KiDDS Dental, 1327 N. Stanford Lane, on Nov. 2. Area children visited the dentist office and received $1 per pound for the Halloween candy, a dental goody bag, and a free meal to a local restaurant.

The candy will be shipped to Operation Gratitude, a charitable organization in California, and will be added to individual care packages sent to soldiers during the holidays.

Rainey Coffin

Meetings planned for new homebuyers

SPOKANE VALLEY – Community Frameworks will hold informational meetings about home ownership opportunities and affordable mortgage lending for first-time homebuyers on Wednesday at the Spokane Valley Branch Library, 12004 E. Main, at 6 p.m. and Nov. 23 at the Community Frameworks office, 315 W. Mission Ave., at 6 p.m.

The meetings will provide information about services provided by Community Frameworks including homeownership, down payment assistance, classes about credit, money management and mortgage basics and credit and debt counseling.

The meetings are free. For more information, go online to www.communityframeworks.org.

Rainey Coffin