In brief: Good Neighbor seeks nominations
Is there a good neighbor in your life? Someone in your neighborhood who goes the extra mile to help others. Let Your Voice share the story in the Good Neighbors feature.
Contact us by e-mail at voice@spokesman.com or call Voices editor Tad Brooks at 927-2174.
– From staff reports
SCRAPS receives $4,250 grant
Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service has been awarded a grant for $4,250 from the Washington State Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies to continue its spay/neuter voucher program.
SCRAPS has offered over $130,000 worth of spay/neuter vouchers to Spokane County residents with licensed pets this year alone. On Dec. 1, the funding for this program, which comes from a surcharge on county pet licenses, was depleted and voucher distribution was suspended because of the lack of funds.
This grant will fill the gap while the SCRAPS spay/neuter voucher fund replenishes from the sale of licenses. The Washington State Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies offers a statewide sterilization program through which it awards grants for spay/neuter surgeries. This program is funded by the sale of Pet Friendly license plates.
“Voluntary pet sterilization is an important component to ending euthanasia of adoptable homeless pets. Our spay/neuter voucher program is an essential key to solving our communities pet overpopulation problem,” said Nancy Hill, SCRAPS director. SCRAPS’ voucher program will be available again Wednesday.
More information is available on the Web at www.spokanecounty.orgor call 477-2532.
MANITO Park
Japanese Garden gets new name
The Japanese Garden at Manito Park was recently renamed the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Memorial Garden in commemoration of the late Ed Tsutakawa and his work on both the garden and Spokane’s Sister City relationship with Nishinomiya, Japan.
The renaming had gained the support from the current mayor of Nishinomiya, Satoru Yamada, according to a Spokane Parks press release.
Tsutakawa was a founder of the Sister City relationship with Nishinomiya in 1961 and he promoted the Sister City movement throughout his later years as well as development of the Japanese-style garden. He died in October 2006.
Born in Seattle in 1921, Tsutakawa as a child lived in Nishinomiya. He came to Spokane in 1944 after being held with his family in an internment camp in Idaho during World War II.
The name change was approved by the city Park Board on Dec. 13.
– Mike Prager
SPOKANE COUNTY
Airports tally more passengers
Spokane International Airport reported that during the month of November, 146,080 passengers boarded planes, a 7.45 percent increase compared with 135,950 in November 2006. Through the first 11 months of 2007, the airport has handled 3,174,382 total passengers, a 7.92 percent increase over 2006’s 2,941,345.
Felts Field Airport’s 4,161 aviation operations during November were an 8.73 percent decrease from 2006’s 4,559. For 2007, 67,364 aviation operations were reported at Felts Field, a 3.4 percent increase compare with 2006’s 65,151.
– From staff reports