Voices

So many worthy causes. So many organizations volunteering to help. And they all want your dollars. But what do you know about those organizations and how the dollars they collect are used? What do you know about the people and organizations sponsoring those requests? Allow me to clue you in on one group that works behind the scenes to do good things to help others – an old organization that for too long has had its light hidden beneath a basket, the Philanthropic Educational Organization, or PEO.

Scoop Reporter was spotted hiding among advertisements in last week’s Voices by the following six winners who are this week’s Honorary Cub Reporters and are eligible to receive free ice cream. This was the last week of the contest. Congratulations to:

The YWCA/Alternatives to Domestic Violence and Faith Partners Working Against Family Violence will present a day of activities to kick off October as Domestic Violence Awareness month Saturday. The day will begin at 1 p.m. with a three-hour workshop for youth pastors and others who work with youths that will discuss dating violence, recognizing the signs of teens who are experiencing violence and helping to address the problem at the YWCA, 829 W. Broadway Ave.

Re: “Cat Tales mourns loss of Kimber” (Sept. 18 Voices)

Spokane Valley firefighters had only to walk behind their main station for one of 228 calls in the seven days that ended Wednesday. Firefighters went to Balfour Park, behind Station 1 at 10319 E. Sprague Ave., about 7 p.m. last Saturday when someone walked into the station to report transients were harassing children in the park.

A few weeks ago, I was asked if I thought we were going to have an Indian summer. At the time, we were still technically in the summer season, so an answer to that question would have required somewhat of a long-range forecast on my part, which I generally don’t try to do.

Going green. It is the new trend. Organic food sections are popping up in grocery stores everywhere. Home builders are implementing green technology using paints and stains with fewer chemicals as well as formaldehyde-free carpet, cabinetry and insulation. But what if a business, school or family wants to eliminate or minimize production of waste, conserve energy or recycle materials, but does not know where to start?

“Athol? There’s a restaurant there? For reals?” Q. grumbled into the phone after my urgent Sunday morning breakfast call shattered his peaceful slumber. “Uh yeah,” I shot back. “I Googled it. “Athol’s got at least three places to eat. It’s positively urban. I’ll pick you and Miss A. up in 30.” The rain was coming down hard from the brutal gray clouds above and the loud rumbling coming from our food-deprived tummies was a tribute to absent thunder.

Hey kids! Be the first in your neighborhood to find where Scoop Reporter is hiding inside today’s Voice and win free scoops of ice cream for you and your family. The cute little bear cub reporter is hot on the trail of a news story. Look for him among the advertisements in today’s paper. Is he on page 3? Is he on page 5? Find Scoop and win ice cream scoops!

Days of the quiet, uneventful evenings after supper, when families gathered outside on the front porch to talk about the day’s this ’n’ that’s, are a thing of the past. Today’s families are out and about working swing shifts and second jobs while the children are involved with their activities be it sports, academics or video games. Just sitting down together at the supper table would be a novelty in itself, consequently sitting together after supper would be a bonus. Unfortunately, those days are just a memory.

Tuesday Spokane Valley City Council – 6 p.m. at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.

HAYDEN – The Idaho-Montana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recently honored Panhandle Health District’s two-year-old building in Hayden for its landscaping with native plants and inventive storm-water management, receiving the highest honors for Landmark Landscape Architects. The 6.7 acres surrounding the building were developed to become a self-sustaining site by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Landmark Landscape Architects, a division of Architects West, community members and agencies, and Panhandle Health.

In a sharply worded letter to City Hall critic Matt Roetter Sept. 16, City Administrator Wendy Gabriel claimed that Roetter started a rumor that the city had falsified a wastewater risk management report sent to the EPA. The remark was made in an anonymous comment posted on the CdA Press online edition. However, Gabriel noted in the letter that state Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Post Falls, and Roetter were the only ones who’d asked for a copy of the document. In the letter, she said she and Nonini had reviewed the paperwork, which is protected under homeland security rules, and she even contacted an EPA rep to clarify certain points. She noted that she’d also asked for a face-to-face meeting with Roetter to clear up any misunderstanding about the document. But was told that she would have to deal with Roetter’s personal attorney, Duane Rasmussen, instead. In Washington state. Or submit the reasons why she wanted the meeting in writing. “I must say I was quite stunned,” Gabriel continued, “and it only supported in my mind my belief that you authored the public comment discussed above. I questioned why you may have thought you needed a lawyer to meet with me.” Gabriel concludes by saying that she can easily prove that the claims made in the anonymous post were false. She was angry that the allegation had damaged city staffers. She said she was trying to be “open, honest and transparent” – a slap at Roetter and others who claim the city isn’t. Fancy gizmo

While paying property taxes, think of city’s spending On Oct. 31, the taxpayers of the city of Spokane Valley will pay their second-half property taxes. As you look at your statement in these perilous economic times, be aware of the following:

Three empty commercial spaces in Coeur d’Alene will be filled with new or expanding businesses in the next few months. Since food places seem to garner the most interest, possibly the most obvious change will be in the 4,800-square-foot building that first housed America’s Cheesecake Cafe at 405 W. Canfield, just south of Olive Garden.