Voices

I am always attracted to interesting words and anticipate at year’s end the annual listing of the words of the year. Not so much this time around.

This year’s event features Mary Robson of Port Townsend, Washington, as the keynote speaker. Robson will be telling the story of how roots work with a little help from their friends, soil fungi and bacteria. Robson is a master storyteller when it comes to explaining how things work in the garden. She combines her years as a WSU extension horticulture specialist, author, writer and gardener to narrate the story behind the science and the beauty of the microorganisms in the soil’s rhizosphere.

The tall red barn out on Pleasant Prairie can easily be seen from a distance, not just because of its sharp contrast to the snow on the ground but also because it stands atop a rise and serves as a visible landmark for those driving along Bigelow Gulch Road. The Koch Barn, on the Spokane County Heritage Barn Register, was constructed in 1892, two years after the large farm house just north of it was built. The 400-acre property on which the barn sits was originally railroad property.

A new seed pellet is being used to help restore steep forested land devastated by a wildfire last summer

Chico is available for adoption from the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service. Shelter workers said Chico is a high energy dog who needs an active owner.

Central Valley girls again undefeated as they win their second straight GSL title.

Cheney School District voters will be asked to approved a $52-million bond on Feb. 14. The money would pay for high school and elementary school renovations and expansions.

Like most Seahawks fans we rooted hard for the Atlanta Falcons during the Super Bowl on Sunday. Birds of a feather flocking together, united in Tom Brady disdain. Well, we all know how that turned out.

In late November, the Spokane Community Gardens Association was created in partnership with the Spokane Associated Garden Clubs. The Associated Garden Clubs have been supporting community beautification projects for decades and wanted to expand their mission to growing food. The new group will bring the more than 20 community gardens in the area under one network that will help marshal resources, develop gardens and provide an advocacy voice for community food production.