Voices

Suncrest can add a fitness center to its growing number of new businesses. With two days of grand opening celebrations, Suncrest Fitness Center officially opened its doors Feb 16. The 9,700-square-foot building houses both a physical therapy facility – Phase 1 Physical Therapy – and a gym equipped with some of the latest technology. Among the gym equipment is a piece called Jacob's Ladder, designed for a rigorous lower body workout. According to business co-owner Joel San Nicolas, it is the only machine of its kind in Spokane area. Another piece of equipment called Viper Rope, for upper body workout, also is the only one of its kind in Eastern Washington, he said.

After five years of infertility treatment, Vicki Sax's yearning for children was both painful and unyielding. "It was ridiculous," said her husband, Ken, recalling the trouble the couple had gone through during those fruitless years. They had always known they would adopt children, even if they had children of their own. Ken's father was an orphan and lived a successful life. "We had always wanted to give a child that same kind of opportunity." he said.

Janet Boyington Janet Boyington is a real asset to Beyond Beads, 12021 E. Sprague Ave., in Spokane Valley.

POST FALLS – Kathy Pierce has never been to Herborn, Germany, but her vision of Post Falls' sister city, culled from photographs of the picturesque town, will be the dominant feature decorating the centerpiece atrium of the new Post Falls City Hall. Pierce has been commissioned to design and create an 8 1/2-by-12-foot stained glass window depicting the city.

Excess growth in Spokane's Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden is being removed this winter under a $35,000 grant from the Friends of Manito organization. The project on the west side of Manito Park got under way recently and will include the removal of 17 trees that are unhealthy, structurally unsound or are being stunted by larger more vigorous trees.

Lewis and Clark High School is taking an intimate theatrical look inside the Vietnam War. The school's theater department is staging the musical "Miss Saigon" starting next week.

There are good reasons to support EVSD bond The East Valley Board of Directors have placed a $33 million bond issue before the taxpayers of the district.

Liberty Lake police issued 11 citations for speeding the week of Feb. 11-19, but police Chief Brian Asmus said that's really not a lot. "We were not as busy with other calls, so it gave us more time," he said. Officers also made four arrests, mostly for traffic offenses. Ryan J. Neeser, 26, of Coeur d'Alene, was arrested on charges of violating a no-contact order and driving with a suspended license. Ty R. Orsborn, 20, of Hayden was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license and also received citations for speeding and failure to show liability insurance. Newman Lake resident Joseph K. Webb III, 46, was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license and failure to show liability insurance. Christopher M. Wolfe, 35, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., faces charges of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

Lottery winners in the Inland Northwest for the week of Feb. 11-17 include: $10,000 – Mike Finch, Dayton, Wash.

The Friends of Manito organization is warming up to a new sales idea: adding a tropical house plant sale to their current lineup of plant sales during the spring and summer each year. The next tropical house plant sale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 8 east of the Conservatory at Manito Park. Plant sale managers are hoping that Spokane gardeners will turn out to support the sale so that it can become an annual event.

Name: Lindsey McAvoy Age: 20

•The Neighborhoods USA 2009 Planning Meeting will be today at 3:30 p.m. at the Office of Neighborhood Services, Sixth Floor, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. •The Whitman Neighborhood Council will meet today at 6:30 p.m. at Whitman Elementary School, 5400 N. Helena St.

Brian Baustert, maintenance manager for Silverwood Theme Park, recently returned from Chicago, where he was supervising the disassembly and shipping of the new and as of yet unnamed roller coaster. That, in and of itself, isn't really news. The news is that he didn't return alone. By his side when he returned to Bayview last weekend, was his wife, Jessica, and 1-month-old Silverwood trainee, Allison. Jessica was at her parent's home in Oklahoma awaiting the birth of their first child. Brian was in Chicago. Needless to say, when Jessica went into labor, he headed for Oklahoma.

To call the North Side of Spokane a hotbed of high school wrestling may be understating the fact. Last weekend during Mat Classic XX, the multiclassification state championships in Tacoma, schools from the area brought home two team championships, nine individual titles and numerous other trophies.

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and members of her staff will be involved in a panel discussion Feb. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre of Weyerhaeuser Hall on the Whitworth University campus, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. Part of the school's Dean's Seminar Series, the discussion will focus on the topic, "Sustaining Our Community: Spokane Initiatives."

POST FALLS – Jenny McVeigh knew it wouldn't be easy the last time she would be with her Post Falls High girls basketball team in the locker room Saturday before warm-ups for the State 5A tournament third-place game. "I was really emotional before the game," McVeigh said, wiping away tears. "I do our team prayers. I could barely get through it." McVeigh and her teammates bounced back from arguably their worst game of the season in a 61-50 semifinal loss to Vallivue on Friday to run away from Twin Falls 69-53 to earn a trophy.

Pothole season in Spokane is about as predictable as spring. Every year as winter wanes, the holes open up as the pavement thaws, giving motorists no choice but to dodge the holes or risk costly repairs.

Crafting for ChristWomen's Ministry workshop – Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. Workshop for beading and sewing projects for mission outreach. Children age 8 and older are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Also collecting single-vision eyeglasses and sunglasses for mission project. For information, call Yvonne at 676-9132. Weekly activities

Post Falls and Lakeland School Districts lunch menus for the week of Feb. 25-29. Post Falls School District