In brief: Planning manager resigns position

SPOKANE VALLEY – Spokane Valley planning manager Greg McCormick confirmed this week that he has submitted his resignation. His last day will be Sept. 24 and he will start a new job as planning director for the city of Kennewick on Sept. 27. “They wanted me on board as soon as they could,” McCormick said. “Moving back into the director’s spot is what I want to do.”

McCormick has been with Spokane Valley since January 2003, when he was part of the start up team for the city’s incorporation. He previously worked in the private sector in the Puget Sound area and was the community development director for the city of Maple Valley, Wash.

Acting city manager Mike Jackson said he will ask senior planner Scott Kuhta to take over as acting planning manager in the short term. Jackson said he plans to evaluate the planning department and its workload and determine what to do with the position on a permanent basis by the end of the year. “We are taking this time to evaluate,” Jackson said. “Certainly there’s a need for a planning manager.”

Dog ownership event part of Valleyfest

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Spokane Kennel Club, the Spokane Dog Training Club, the Lilac City Dog Training Club and Valleyfest will sponsor Responsible Dog Ownership Day on Sept. 26 at Valleyfest, held in Mirabeau Point Park, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will include a Spokane Skyhound disc competition, obedience demonstrations, an agility demonstration, a fly ball demonstration and a demonstration from the Kootenai County Sheriff K-9 Unit. Canine Good Citizen Tests for the public will also be offered by Spokane Kennel Club.

City and county shelters, rescue groups, Meet the Breeds, dog clubs and breed clubs will also participate.

For more information, call Jacquie Witham at (509) 892-6465 or visit www.valleyfest.org or www.akc.org/events.

Tour community gardens Saturday

SPOKANE COUNTY – The third annual Community Gardens Tour will be on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eleven gardens will be on display this year, all of which create a sense of community and connection to the environment.

Gardens on the tour are supported by neighborhood groups, a corporate group, a school district, and/or a church or community restaurant. Each garden will have representatives available to talk about how their garden runs.

The tour will feature Northeast Community Center Garden, at East Liberty Avenue and North Lacey Street; All Saints Lutheran Church, 314 S. Spruce St.; corner of North Hemlock Street and West Fairview Avenue; East Central Community Garden, at South Ray Street and East Hartson Avenue; Pumphouse Community Garden, East Hoffman Avenue and North Crestline Street; Commons Community, Garden, East Lamonte Street and 33rd Avenue; Avista Community Garden, 1631 E. North Crescent Ave.; One World Café, East First Avenue and South Pittsburg Street; East Valley School Farm and Community Garden, East Wellesley Avenue and North Sullivan Street; Pumpkin Patch, East Maringo Drive and North Argonne Road; and Riverfront Farms, 2605 W. Boone Ave.

The tour is sponsored by Washington State University Extension and the Spokane Regional Health District’s physical activity and nutrition program. To obtain a map of the gardens visit www.srhd.org/gardentour or call (509) 477-2173.