Voices

The boulder in downtown Riverfront Park commemorates the birth of a holiday that was initiated not far from that spot and celebrated nationwide – Father’s Day. It sits between the blue Howard Street Bridge and the YMCA building, and it bears two plaques commemorating the founding in Spokane of Father’s Day, the story of which is pretty well-known in the community.

Kootenai County Mike Moen, Post Falls, commercial structure, valued at $86,366.

CHENEY – The city of Cheney is expected to collect around $6.7 million in tax revenue during the 2009 budget year. City Clerk Cindy Niemeier presented the revenue sources to the council Tuesday night during a public hearing to discuss where the city gets its funds.

OLYMPIA – Despite a recent USA Today headline, state environmental officials say, the state has not banned washing cars in driveways. The Department of Ecology says it “provided guidance” to cities and counties last week, warning about the problems caused by polluted runoff from streets.

Mother Nature made a drastic change from warm days and cool nights to cool days and cold nights. Fall brings a beautiful palette of color over the landscape and some fun, seasonal events to the Elk-Chattaroy communities. The Elk Community Park Association will sponsor the second annual Fall Fun Family Festival at Elk Park Oct. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. The Family Festival will include carnival-type games with lots of prizes. There will be kiddie train rides with engineer Tony; pumpkin bowling; face painting and music. Tickets for the games will cost $1 for five and, if you bring a can of food, you will receive 10 free tickets. The food will be given to Elk’s local food bank. The park concession stand will offer hot chocolate and hot cider. Murphy’s Corner Celtic Food Wagon will be there with hot dogs and sausages, as well as other goodies.

Attendant Care Registry – Free service matching disabled adults and children with personal-care providers; sponsored by Coalition of Responsible Disabled; 326-6355. Change Point! program – Ideal for women who are separated, divorced, or widowed, have a disability, or who have been incarcerated; provides free training in computers, resume preparation, job interviewing, communication skills, and conflict resolution techniques; sponsored by the Washington State Displaced Homemaker Program; contact Denise McKinnon at 279-6065.

While most folks hang up their gardening tools at the end of September, garlic lovers are just breaking out the organic matter and getting ready to plant next year’s crop of the pungent bulbs. The Inland Northwest is perfect for growing garlic; we have cool to cold winters with snow for insulation, fall and spring rains, followed by drier June and July weather.

The Central Valley High School Theatre Department will perform “Murder Most Foul,” on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The murder mystery Halloween dinner theatre will be held at the Zephyr Lodge, 1900 S. Zephyr Road in Liberty Lake. The frightful evening includes hors d’oeuvres, “spirits,” dinner, and more. The “haunted” lodge will also feature a murder or two.

For 10-16-2008

Fall leaves. Beautiful, but what do you do with all of them? Compost them, silly.

Today After-school Specials (North) - Celebrate children’s book author Doreen Cronin through stories, crafts and games. A different author will be celebrated each month. 4 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road. Free. 893-8350.

Gonzaga University students are inviting residents in the surrounding Logan Neighborhood to join them Saturday in a volunteer cleanup project in the neighborhood adjacent to the university. The group is meeting at 1 p.m. at the traffic circle on Desmet Avenue east of the Administration Building. The university is supplying bags and gloves for the two-hour effort, intended to build relationships between the campus and community. The project is being called “take back the neighborhood,” according to Karen Byrd, chair of the Logan Neighborhood Council.

CHENEY – The Cheney- Spokane Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute is offering a choice: a difficult hike or a comfortable lecture. Choose both if you like.