Voices

Whiners! That’s what visionaries think of all this negative press about the Sprague revitalization plan. It’s all perspective. Frankly, we’ve neglected to focus on the plan’s winning aspects. University business district will be big winners, so let’s get on board.

Monday Millwood City Council – 7 p.m. at City Hall, 9103 E. Frederick.

Think about smiling country folk, white scarves on their heads, gleefully stomping grapes with bare feet and making wine the old-fashioned way. Think about heaping plates of fresh pasta piled with rich sauces stewed all day long, just like Mama used to make, and served with loaves of oven-warmed bread.

It was a warm start to the month of October, with both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene seeing high temperatures into the 80s. No records were broken locally, but on Oct. 1 record highs were reported in Lewiston (88 degrees), LaCrosse (92 degrees) and Colville (87 degrees). Despite the month’s balmy beginning, it is probably wise to start thinking about wintry weather. October has historically been the month of what I would call a free fall into the cool season. In both 2003 and 2006, October saw nights when the low temperatures dropped into the teens. By the end of this month, we will likely have experienced several days with highs only in the 40s.

You missed some great theater if you failed to attend the latest in a series of community forums about the proposed education corridor. Huckleberries Online didn’t – thanks to local Demo chief Thom George, who provided the blog with real-time, blow-by-blow commentary from the Midtown meeting, including 30 minutes of intense interaction with the usual suspects who have fought urban renewal for the last two years. Take it away, Thom: 1:20 p.m. – “The meeting has been cordial, for the most part. As I said earlier, (NIC trustee wannabe Richard) Phenneger is a bit in your face, Mary (Souza) has been polite. (Ed corridor opponent Dan) Gookin is speaking for the first time, and he’s reading from an NIC board resolution. Mary is commenting now. She rolled her eyes and is now grimacing. 1:23 – “Gookin is on a roll. He’s attacking the appraisal and now the wastewater treatment plant. Mary, Phenneger and Dan are tag-teaming now.” 1:30 – “Gookin is getting theatrical, almost hysterical, about chlorine being stored at the wastewater treatment plant. Gary Ingram is interrupting Mike Kennedy, Gookin is complaining about being ‘browbeaten.’ … Opponents are angry and now standing up and shouting out.” 1:36 – “Gookin and Ingram tried shouting down Mike Kennedy, and Ron Edinger called out to Mike, ‘Keeping going, Mike!’ ” 1:40 – George Sayler just asked that people respect the ground rules and remain respectful.” 1:47 p.m. – Gary is now being rude. He just told the gentlemen trying to run the meeting, ‘I’m not going to accept you as moderator.’ ” Democracy in action and sausage making have much in common. Fanning Ill Will?

North Idaho’s ninth Les Schwab Tire Center should open in February. Located in the southeast corner of the intersection of Highways 53 and 41 in Rathdrum, construction started last week on the 11,610-square-foot building. Access will be from Highway 53.

Call Sprague-Appleway plan ‘bailout’ It is fairly obvious that the momentum on Sprague Avenue has shifted to the area east of Pines Road and is headed toward the Sullivan area. The auto dealers fought back by joining ranks and reinventing themselves as a destination complete with their own marketing plan. They serve as an example of what can be done when individual businesses, competitors no less, put their heads together for their mutual benefit.

A Spokane Valley man was bitten by a rattlesnake near his apartment Monday. The 31-year-old victim said he was walking past a bush about 200 yards from his apartment building at 12423 E. Mansfield Ave. when the snake bit him.

One mom told Kootenai County commissioners that the Parent Project saved her son’s life. “She says we saved her son,” said Carolyn Peterson, one of four volunteers who teaches parenting classes through the county’s Juvenile Diversion program. “Really we didn’t. She did. We gave her some of the skills.”

Tom Luna, the Idaho Superintendant of Public Instruction recently announced that 30 Idaho elementary schools will receive grants to fund Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs to provide nutritious snacks for school children throughout their school day. The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Schools receive reimbursement for providing the fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day, but they must be provided at a different time than at the lunch or breakfast programs.