Voices

The following students have been named to the second quarter honor roll at Centennial Middle School. Sixth grade

Easter is upon us and numerous Valley churches will be celebrating Christ's resurrection with special services, dramatic presentations, children's activities and other events. •Spokane Valley Assembly of God Church will host performances of the resurrection drama "The Passion" at 6 p.m. today and Sunday. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The church is at 15618 E. Broadway Ave.

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

I've begun to wonder if the City Council has mistaken north Greenacres as the Spokane Valley's Gaza Strip, an ideological war utilizing legal fiat. A focused effort to control this area and drive out existing lifestyles has defied all reason. Zoning is the newest tyranny. We feel held hostage by interests wanting control of the land who don't even live here.

Spokane Valley planning commissioners have extended the deadline for written comments on a major plan to revitalize the city's Sprague-Appleway corridor.

A Neighborhood Watch community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ponderosa Elementary, 10105 E. Cimmaron Drive. Participants will learn crime prevention tools, how to develop a neighborhood skills and equipment inventory and how to map a neighborhood. The event also will address how to respond to a disaster. At least one person from each block in the area should attend.

A donkey basketball game benefiting University Elementary brought together staff and families to raise $1,000 for the school this month. Some 150 people attended the March 5 game at Bowdish Middle School to raise funds for various University Elementary programs through its Parent-Teacher Association. Among the participants, Central Valley Superintendent Mike Pearson joined the game riding a donkey as did CVSD board member Debra Long.

Bookcases needed for donated books On March 8 an article (Valley Voice) was run about a new community center opening up at the Pratt Elementary location in the Edgecliff community.

Marbles the Rat is no more. The furry mascot of Cottage Childcare and Learning in Post Falls didn't recover from a recent severe illness. And is now buried behind the shed, with a flower designating the tiny grave. The pre-schoolers marked their pet's passing by offering their comments, which were duly compiled and sent home to parents on an 8-by-11-inch sheet of paper. Youngster Cooper, for example, believes matters would have turned out differently had Marbles the Rat bothered to get a flu shot. "Now," writes Cooper, Marbles "is playing with Jesus and every other rat in heaven. Maybe they're playing Candyland." Molly also has a fun-and-games view of heaven, where Marbles and God are now playing "Rememory." Tannis, another pre-schooler, sees a silver lining in Marbles' demise: "I don't like it that she died, but she's in heaven with Kelly (my dog). Kelly is licking her." Cadan, meanwhile, commented bluntly, "Marbles is gone and dead." No sugar coating there. Accurate prediction

For Ben Kappen of Northwest Plant Health Care, pruning residential fruit trees, especially those that have been let go for several years, begins with the decision of whether you want the tree as an ornamental or for its fruit production. The decision you make will determine the style of pruning you will need to do. If you want to maintain it as an ornamental tree, Kappen recommends using the same types of pruning you would use on other ornamental trees. Using good International Society of Arboriculture guidelines, start by removing dead limbs, followed by rubbing or crossing branches and those that join the trunk at a steep, upright angle. If the tree has more than one tall dominant leader branch remove all but the tallest one.

This week Easter Sunrise Service at Schweitzer Mountain – Sunday, lift opens at 6:30 a.m. for foot passengers only, no skis. Last ride up the Quad will be at 6:50 a.m., service at 7 a.m. at the top of the Quad in Sandpoint. Pastor Ken Smith of the Sandpoint Baptist Church leads the non-denominational Christian worship. 263-3625.

For the week of March 24-28 Monday – Spanish meatballs over rice, beets, vegetables, whole grain roll, spiced pears.

There's nothing like a healthy dose of grease and oil, or a weighty discussion about air suspension and transmissions, or being surrounded by chrome-laden motorcycles and tools to set a woman's heart aflutter. That's right. Women. Last Friday, a testosterone-drenched field of motorcycle enthusiasts got a hearty heave-ho by 25 women, both riders and passengers, who attended Shumate Harley-Davidson's second Garage Party to learn the nuts and bolts of motorcycles and how to care for the bikes they love.

The goal of Somebody Needs You is to match donors with the specific requests of needy Spokane residents. The list of requests is coordinated by the Volunteers of America in cooperation with recognized social service agencies in Spokane. If you have an item to donate, please contact the social service agency directly. Donors who can deliver items are especially appreciated. If someone you know needs help, contact a local social service agency provider.