Voices

Spokane County Fire District 8 is bringing Santa Claus to town to visit the good girls and boys and their families to the South Hill on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Santa and the firefighters also also will be collecting nonperishable and canned food donations for the Food Bank. •On Monday, Santa and crew will visit the area west of the Palouse Highway to Regal Street, south of 57th Avenue to 65th Avenue.

Post Falls and Lakeland School Districts lunch menus for the week of Dec. 15-19. Post Falls School District

Rathdrum’s Secret Santa program is looking to make wishes come true for those in need during this holiday season. “We are asking for people with needs to share them with us so we can help give them a better Christmas,” said one of the Secret Santas.

For the week of Dec. 15-19 Monday – Spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetables, sourdough bread, pineapple upside-down cake.

Cheney The city has been growing steadily over the last 10 years. Community development director Brian Jennings said the city is on track to grow by 3,285 people by the year 2030. The city’s current population is listed at 10,180.

The students at St. Patrick School, 2706 E. Queen Ave. in Hillyard, invite the community to their annual Christmas program, “Making a Joyful Noise.” The holiday event will be held in St. Patrick Church, 5021 N. Nelson St., on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. All 150 of St. Patrick’s students will participate in the program, from preschool to eighth grade. Refreshments will be served after the performance.

Tippy was brought to the shelter by her owner because of Tippy’s separation anxiety. Tippy would like to be part of a family with someone home during the day. She is very nice and sweet; it’s easy to fall in love with her. She has been SAFER tested and rated ones on everything except for the look, on which she rated a two. She is perfect for the first-time dog owner. Adoption fee is $84.02. If you are interested in this or any other animal at SCRAPS please call 477-2532 or visit the shelter at 2521 N. Flora Road.

A holiday tour of historic homes on the South Side last Saturday raised more than $8,000 for Spokane Preservation Advocates, a nonprofit group that works for historic preservation, said Linda Yeomans, chair of the tour. About 650 attended the tour, which included four homes in the Booge’s Addition Historic District, two of which are at 12th Avenue and Adams Street. Tickets were $15 per person.

Recent news reports indicate the country has been in a recession for the past year. Cities in the West Plains, however, continue to experience growth, even if it has been at a slower rate than recent years. “The interest in this region is still out there,” said Jim Huttenmaier, regional public affairs director at Greater Spokane Inc. “There are many attributes that good companies, well-managed companies are looking for.”

Whitworth University will present “Gaudete! Rejoice! Heaven and Earth are Full of Thy Glory” Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St. The annual Christmas Festival Concert will feature the Whitworth Choir and the Whitworth Women’s Choir, accompanied by brass and wind student ensembles and organ.

Children will once again be racing through the streets of downtown Cheney on Saturday, this time to collect candy at downtown businesses for Winter Fest. Local businesses will be passing out colorful candies, as well as holding coloring contests and craft stations for the children.

Anticipating the renovation of Midtown Coeur d’Alene, Mike Kempf and Dana Musick are opening the Fourth Street Cafe this coming week at 726 Fourth St. Located in the space of the former Bambino’s, the new eatery will offer breakfast and lunch in a relaxed, European atmosphere. The cafe holds 40 customers at tables with tablecloths, four at a counter fronting the open kitchen and a few in the “library” area with cookbooks (also for sale) and newspapers.

December always brings a flurry of activity to Valley churches, and the Veradale United Church of Christ is no exception. Three different events are on the schedule for this week, two of them continuing long traditions. During the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, the Rev. Linda Crowe will present her annual “Spokane Valley Christmas Story.” Every year she writes a contemporary Christmas story to be shared during worship.

Attendant Care Registry – Free service matching disabled adults and children with personal-care providers; sponsored by Coalition of Responsible Disabled; 326-6355. Change Point! program – Ideal for women who are separated, divorced, or widowed, have a disability, or who have been incarcerated; provides free training in computers, resume preparation, job interviewing, communication skills, and conflict resolution techniques; sponsored by the Washington State Displaced Homemaker Program; contact Denise McKinnon at 279-6065.