Youth Issues Forum planned for Monday
SPOKANE VALLEY TEENS can ask City Council candidates next week about issues that affect them.
A Youth Issues Forum hosted by the Chase Youth Commission and the Teen Advisory Council is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Spokane Valley Community Center Auditorium, 10814 E. Broadway Ave.
All youth are invited to hear from the candidates, said Joanne Benham, Spokane Regional Youth Department director. Some students involved in planning the forum will have prepared questions, and audience members also will have an opportunity to ask questions.
“It gives candidates a chance to hear more about (youth) issues,” Benham said, adding that other political forums tend to focus on the economy or city planning. The students involved with organizing the forum also run the event.
“The students do a lot of research before they write the questions.”
One of those students is Anna Gibson, 16, an Oaks Academy student and Spokane Valley resident. A Teen Advisory Council member, Gibson said teens should know about political issues and what is going on in their community.
“Even though we’re not involved in the voting process, what the politicians do affects us. I think last year we made candidates more aware of the issues we’re interested in.”
During a previous youth forum, Gibson said teens asked about such issues as parking and safety, bullying inside schools and after-school programs.
At the end of Monday’s forum, County Auditor Vicky Dalton is planning to offer audience members mock ballots that will be scanned for immediate results, Benham said.
“We’ll actually have a mock vote. The candidates will have a chance to see how well they impressed the audience right away.”
For more information, call the Spokane Regional Youth Department at 625-6440.
Fall Harvest Carnival next week
The East Valley High School National Honor Society group will continue a tradition of hosting a Fall Harvest Carnival for young children next Friday.
This year, the Fall Harvest Carnival at the high school, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave., will run from 6 to 8 p.m. for kids up to fifth grade.
Children are encouraged to wear costumes during the carnival, which offers games, treats and a haunted house. The cost for students is a donation of canned food items for the Spokane Valley Food Bank. Last year, more than 1,200 children attended.
Hundreds join walk to school day
Hundreds of students at Adams Elementary and Chester Elementary walked to school together on Oct. 5 to mark International Walk Your Child to School Day. The students were joined by parents, grandparents, teachers, siblings, school board members and local dignitaries.
Many children and adults gathered at predetermined locations to walk to school in groups. Celebrations for participants, including refreshments, were held at each school, prior to the start of the school day. The event is organized by the Spokane Safe Kids Coalition, the Spokane Regional Health District and the Parent Teacher Student Association in each school.
EV yearbook honored again
For the second year in a row, the East Valley High School 2005 Yearbook was selected by Walsworth Publishing Co. for its Gallery of Excellence. This honor is presented to yearbooks consistently demonstrating “superior quality.”
Those who worked on the project include Don Krueger, EVHS yearbook adviser, and the following students: editor-in-chief Tera Maki, assistant editor-in-chief Polly O’Connor, business manager Madison Lowell, student life editor Carrie Fraser, underclassmen editor Cassi Lee, clubs editor Kylie Davis, and sports editor Anja Goetzinger.
EV sets fall play
The East Valley High School Drama Department has scheduled the fall performance of “The Nit Wits.” This comedy/farce will run Thursday through next Saturday and Nov. 2 through 4.
All of the performances at the EVHS Theater will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is as follows: adults, $5; senior citizens, $3; students without ASB card, $3; students with ASB card and all children under 12 can attend free of charge.
Twenty-five students have worked the past two months to prepare. The cast includes: Jared Jolstead as Tommy Winter; Casi Anderson as Mrs. Winter; Wayne Yocom as Mr. Winter; Elizabeth Rogers as Nellie the housekeeper; Seth Christianson as Steve Grinnell; Angela Shearer as Tommy’s girlfriend Jean Hammond; Sara Miskin as Steve’s girlfriend Louise Prentice; Ashley Saffle as Miss Constance Dinwiddie; Dean Eagleburger as Henry Short; and Samantha Pankey as Mrs. Short.
Others cast members are: Malcolm Turner, Courtney VanWinkle, Austin Way, Kelleene Jolstead, Rodney Lookebill, Ame Evey, Kelsey Mahl, Sara King, Chris Walker, David Scott; Rayce Reed, Karen Stern, Samantha Willoughby, Rebecca Silva and Keesha Harms.