Play mixes intrigue, laughs
The drama department at West Valley High School will present “A Bad Year for Tomatoes,” a play by John Patrick, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Dec. 10 and 13 at 7 p.m. There will also be a special matinee performance Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
The play revolves around an actress looking to get away from it all by leasing a house in New England and writing her autobiography. She finds her neighbors are very nosy and always knocking on her door and in an attempt to scare them away, creates a fictional homicidal sister.
The cast includes Brooklyn Robinson as Myra Marlowe. The understudy for that role is Sierra Geaudreau. Micelli Olmstead plays Tom Lamont, Linda Juitt plays Cora Gump. The understudy for that role is Lexi Forster. Allison Price plays Reba Harper; the understudy is Brianna Stansberry. Jacque Swanson plays Willa Mae Wilcox; the understudy is Caya Berndt. Adam Maddox will play Piney; Noah Berndt is his understudy. Madelyn Stiles plays the Sheriff.
Additional actors and the crew are Sabrina Arnold, Casey Hellman, Josh Swanson, Jason Long, Cindy Kunz, Jeffrey Long, Tara Carpenter, Jamie Gray, Ashley Maddox, Sierra Sevy, Katie Preston and Morgan Ott.
The stage manager is Kayla Gariepy. The director is Delvone Bullis.
Tickets are $5. For more information, call the school at (509) 922-5488.
Anti-bullying campaign
Leadership students at Freeman High School visited with fourth- and fifth-graders at Freeman Elementary School recently to discuss bullying. The high school students showed the younger ones skits, videos, PowerPoint presentations and played interactive games.
“The elementary students were very grateful for reinforcing the techniques of how to handle a bullying situation,” said Scott Moore, leadership teacher at the high school. “While the elementary students learned a lot, so did the high school students.”
The leadership class is also taught by Kathryn O’Connor.
National Board Certification
Cheryl Perry, a professional technical teacher and DECA adviser at West Valley High School, has earned her National Board Certification.
“We are very proud of this dynamic instructor and value her as an outstanding asset to WVSD,” wrote Sue Shields, public relations director for the district.
Levy certification
• The East Valley School District voted unanimously to certify its levy for 2012 at its meeting Nov. 22.
The new tax rate will be $3.68 per $1,000 of assessed property value – an increase of 15 cents from 2011 based on preliminary assessed valuation provided by the Spokane County assessor.
The district will not collect $720,352 of what it could collect in 2012.
• The Central Valley School Board approved its certification of levy funds for 2012.
Financial director Jan Hutton told the council the district will collect $22.9 million next year. In 2009, voters approved a three-year levy to collect $27.3 million.
Residents in the district will pay $3.54 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2012, up from $2.92 per $1,000 in 2011.
The board also approved its tax rate for its debt services fund – the voter-approved bond from 1998. Taxpayers will pay $1.67 per $1,000 in 2012, up from $1.57 per $1,000 in 2011.
Craft fair
The Parent-Teacher Association at University Elementary School, 1613 S. University Road, will present a Christmas Craft Fair today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The proceeds will benefit the PTA.