Voices

The Community Assembly Building Stronger Neighborhoods meeting will be Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Frontier West Restaurant, 2121 N. Division St. The Logan Neighborhood Council will meet on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Fourth Memorial Church, 2000 N. Standard St.

Residents in Cheney now have a new Crime Check number for nonemergency police responses such as vehicle unlocks, parking complaints, noise complaints and crimes that are not in progress. The new number is 535-9233, and for a short time, the old number will be forwarded to this new number.

On Oct. 9, Rathdrum’s Dogwalk Musings explained on her home computer “Why I’m for Obama.” Seems she was impressed by something Michelle Obama said in an interview with Larry King re: that presidential debate question fielded by her hubby: “What don’t you know?” Quoth Dogwalk: “She turned serious after a few quick quips and said, basically, Barack knows what he doesn’t know and surrounds himself with those who can educate him. In other words he doesn’t surround himself with ‘yes’ men. That is important to me.” So why do a few cyber paragraphs typed a month ago or so amount to much here? Well, Dogwalk’s post was picked up by the Web site of the Chicago Times, Obama’s hometown paper, and Reuters. In September, Dogwalk joined a blog aggregator that collects material to be posted online for the Times, Reuters and Computer World. At least 10 of her posts landed on these major Web sites. “Why I’m for Obama” collected more than 16,000 page-views. Which thrilled Dogwalk, a long-time contributor at Huckleberries Online. She told Huckleberries: “I always feel good when one of my posts is picked up in a locale other than my own, but to have this particular one picked up by a Chicago paper (that) close to the election was exciting. It’s no big deal in the grand scheme of things but it’s a little sign of recognition and that keeps blogging fun.” Dogwalk Musings is one of the 60 million citizen bloggers who make a difference.

Veterans activist Carla Street has the town of Spirit Lake geared up to send cookies and care packages to local troops. Residents are being asked to drop off cookies during a cookie party to be held at the Linger Longer Lounge from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A jam session and raffles to benefit the project will follow the cookie party, from 4 to 8 p.m.

For 11-13-2008

For the week of Nov. 17-21 Monday – Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, dinner roll, mandarin oranges.

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.

Spokane County residents who live in mobile home parks don’t have to pay sewer construction costs when their neighbors do, a court has ruled. The decision shifts hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs to other Spokane County residents until failing septic systems force mobile home parks to connect to the county sewer system.

OLYMPIA – As Dino Rossi and this year’s crop of unsuccessful statehouse contenders recede into election history, here’s something to cheer them up. Congratulations. It will not be your job to try to steer the ship of state through some very stormy waters ahead.

Heavy, wet snow blanketed London on Oct. 29 as the House of Commons debated the global warming issue. It was the English city’s first measurable October snowfall since 1922 and only the third time prior to Nov. 1. In the chilly Northern Hemisphere, all-time record October snowfalls were also measured in parts of Scandinavia, Tibet, southeastern Canada and the northeastern U.S., where some farmers still had crops left in the fields that were planted late in the spring season due to record cold and wet conditions, the worst in decades in some areas. In northern Ireland, readings were the coldest since 1934 as snow made some roads practically impassable.

Students in the Coeur d’Alene School District will honor veterans on Monday with chorus performances, special flag presentations and patriotic assemblies. The American Legion will visit Coeur d’Alene High School, along with veterans, and will begin with a flag presentation at 9 a.m. The Legion also will present the colors at 9:25 a.m. at a special assembly. The students will offer a moment of silence to honor those killed in action, and musical groups will perform. The public is welcome to attend.

With winter weather in the not-so-distant forecast, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists to modify driving habits. The first Spokane-area snowfall usually features news accounts of drivers who found themselves in ditches, up against highway barriers or inside another motorist’s trunk, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

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 in Spokane at 279-6065.

. The rain-drenched Sandpoint streets were as eerily absent of people as the town’s creeks and beaches were lacking in water.