Improved Alley-Watch Program Returning To Neighborhood

When community policing volunteers in the Nevada-Lidgerwood neighborhood first started an alley-watch program, police scuttled the idea because of safety concerns.

Now the new-and-improved program is set to return March 1.

Instead of walking the alleys with flashlights and radios, volunteers will turn on their lights and keep an eye on the alleys from backyards. The idea is to meet neighbors and to use lights and vigilance to deter those seeking to break into garages.

Of course, there will be food for those who participate at the Zion Christian Church, 545 E. Wellesley, which will also serve as the information center and gathering place for the event.

“Of course we never do anything without food,” said Neva-Wood COPS president Deborah Wittwer. “That’s a real helpful tool,” for bringing people together.

The event runs from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. For more information stop by the church that night or call 489-3897.

Leading neighborhoods

The next session of the Neighborhood Leadership Institute gets going at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Northeast Community Center.

There were doubts about whether there would even be a winter session because of the federal government shutdown. But the Americorps/Vista worker who is handling the staff work, Jeff Gombosky, is back on the job.

Six class sessions are scheduled. They rotate between both the Northeast and the West Central community centers.

Topics will include leadership, goal setting, communications, public speaking, government, power structures and citizen advocacy.

For more information contact Gombosky, 487-1603.

Trash rate increase

Waste Management of Spokane wants to increase the amount it charges customers by 3 percent to pay increased tipping fees at the regional trash incinerator.

Waste Management serves 8,200 residential customers and another 1,200 businesses from the Spokane city limits to Deer Park and from Nine Mile Falls to Mount Spokane.

If approved, mini-can service would go from $11.38 to $11.68 a month, and one-can service from $14.78 to $15.18.

Comments about the increase should go to the Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, WA 98504-7250.

The rate request will likely be heard by the utilities commission on Feb. 23 and would be effective March 1.

North Hill meeting

A community meeting is set for North Hill residents at 7 p.m. today at Willard Elementary, 500 W. Longfellow.

The meeting will bring together residents interested in community policing activities and perhaps opening some kind of substation on the North Hill.

For more information call 625-3300.

, DataTimes