Voices

Despite a gloomy economic forecast and generally trying times, living a physically, financially and psychologically healthy lifestyle is within reach, said a group of speakers at a Center for New Directions seminar last weekend. Most often the only thing standing in the way, they offered, is you.

West Valley school directors drew up a pair of three-year property tax levies Wednesday for presentation to voters on Feb. 3. The levies, one for maintenance and operation and one for technology, would replace similar levies that expire at the end of next year.

Northwest Academy of Music in Coeur d’Alene is encouraging elementary through high school students in the Coeur d’Alene School District to follow their love of music and visual arts with a Win-a-Luna Art Contest. The Luna Aurora “Imagine” and Neo “Your Space” guitars, designed by a stained glass artist, encourages the students to express their uniqueness by making their own images and collage on the guitar and change it whenever they want. The Academy’s art contest will provide an opportunity for kids to win a guitar to pursue and play music and build and display their artistic talent.

The first Spokane 4-H Talent Showcase will be Saturday in the Phase 1 Auditorium at the Washington State University Riverpoint Campus, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent auction and the show begins at 7 p.m.

The first annual Spokane 4-H Talent Showcase will be Saturday in the Phase 1 Auditorium at the Washington State University Riverpoint Campus, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent auction and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Gang crimes within Airway Heights are now under tighter restrictions, after city officials passed an ordinance Nov. 3 making it illegal for landowners to knowingly allow gang activity on their property. The measure comes in response to a slight increase in gang crimes in both Airway Heights and Spokane County over the past few years.

Kootenai County Susan Smith, Rathdrum, residence, valued at $176,992.

The Camden Grange No. 687 in Elk, just over the Pend Oreille County line, was founded in March 1918 by 30 residents in Elk and Camden. The current 30 members are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Grange with an old-fashioned Community Grange Dance on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Grange dances were popular events from the 1940s through the 1960s, and Granges throughout America have a rich history of being community gathering places.

The cast and crew of “The Diary of Anne Frank” gathered after classes at Central Valley High School one afternoon last week, but not to rehearse. They were listening to the experiences of Carla Peperzak, who lived near the Frank family and attended the same Jewish temple. “Every day you were scared,” she said of her life in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. “You couldn’t relax. When you heard soldiers walking outside you were scared to death. You didn’t know if they were going to ring the bell. You lived literally by the day.”

The St. John’s Lutheran Church building that sat at Third Avenue and Division Street for more than 50 years was recently torn down. The congregation moved to a new location in Latah Valley, but the church will celebrate where it came from in a special ceremony Sunday. The cornerstone of the old building was laid in 1950 and a time capsule was found inside when the building was torn down.

Cheney resident Judy Trigg is worried about her neighborhood. Some of the houses have weeds growing wild and there are abandoned cars here and there. “It’s getting uglier and uglier and it’s starting to get embarrassing,” she said.

Upcoming Friday Night Family Film Fest – Free showing of The Ultimate Gift (PG), Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Community Presbyterian Church, 417 N. William St., Post Fall. 773-2527.

Mayor Mary Verner will speak at this month’s Spokane City Forum Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spokane First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St. Verner will speak on the topic “Ideas for a Vibrant Spokane Economy.”

Believe it or not, the holiday season has arrived and so has Santa Claus! On Nov. 21, Claus will arrive in his second annual holiday parade at 6:45 p.m., followed by classic cars driven by the Inland Northwest Corvair Club, and holiday music from the Sacajawea Middle School Santa Band. The parade will begin at the Davenport Hotel valet parking entrance, 10 South Post St., and will end with the Tree Lighting at the River Park Square main entrance at Main and Post.

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.