Voices

After months of planning and preparation, the Central Valley board of directors passed a resolution to place the renewal of the school district’s maintenance and operations levy on the ballot with little discussion. The measure, which the district calls a replacement school programs and operation levy, will appear on the Feb. 3. ballot.

Donations of cash and food are needed so local police officers and firefighters can sponsor needy children through their annual “Holidays and Heroes” programs. Local emergency responders will volunteer their time to take children in Spokane County, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum shopping on Dec. 14. The children will be picked up in a patrol car and taken to either the Spokane Valley or Post Falls Wal-Mart to pick out Christmas presents for themselves and their families. The kids will also get a visit with Santa at Greyhound Park and a large food basket to take home.

Donations of cash and food are needed so area police officers and firefighters can sponsor needy children through the annual Holidays and Heroes programs. Area emergency responders will volunteer their time to take children in Spokane County, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum shopping on Dec. 14. The children will be picked up in a patrol car and taken to either the Spokane Valley or Post Falls Wal-Mart to pick out Christmas presents for themselves and their families. The kids also will visit with Santa Claus at the Greyhound Park and get a large food basket to take home.

Donations of cash and food are needed so local police officers and firefighters can sponsor needy children through their annual “Holidays and Heroes” programs. Local emergency responders will volunteer their time to take children in Spokane County, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum shopping on Dec. 14. The children will be picked up in a patrol car and taken to either the Spokane Valley or Post Falls Wal-Mart to pick out Christmas presents for themselves and their families. The kids will also get a visit with Santa at the Greyhound Park and a large food basket to take home.

Celebrating its first successful decade, Eastern Washington University’s annual Jazz Dialogue Festival will once again welcome middle school, high school and college jazz combos, choirs and bands from across the Northwest to learn the language of jazz. The Nov. 14 and 15 event will also feature the very first All-Years EWU Jazz Alumni Reunion Big Band. Additionally, there will be clinics, ensemble critiques, workshops, open rehearsals and master classes with the guest artists – professionals from as far away as Boston and faculty from Eastern.

Today Community Halloween Party – Costume contest, fun games, activities, prizes and treats for children. Hosted by Dads Helping Dads. 6-9 p.m., Fowler Church, 3928 N. Howard St. 290-6494.

The grand opening of The Renewal Room and Jezreel Fitness, 321 W. Hastings, is Saturday and Sunday, featuring free classes and special discounts. For a complete open house schedule and details visit www.jezreelfitness.com and www.therenewalroom.com.

OLYMPIA – Turn on your TV these days and you’ll see campaign ads suggesting that Gov. Chris Gregoire is out there beating the drum for a state income tax. And then you’ll see Gregoire’s ads, in which she claims she doesn’t support an income tax “and never have.”

“The Phantom of the Opera” is an amazing production. However, sitting at the backstage door, I observed the work of four local groups that deserve recognition. First is West Coast Entertainment, led by the dedicated and tireless effort of President Jack Lucas and his staff. Jack has been the catalyst for bringing high-quality shows to Spokane and tends to the details, which causes them to run so smoothly.

The following is a list of North Idaho Halloween events. ‘Amaizing’ Corn Maze – 4-11 p.m., haunting begins at 6 p.m. on Beck Road in Hauser. Over 12 acres of family fun with mazes, food court and free parking. No pets, no purses or backpacks in maze, strollers and wheel chairs enter at own risk. $10/adults, $7/ages 5-12 and seniors age 60 and older, free/age 4 and younger. (509) 242-CORN (2676).

It’s almost Halloween. It’s that one day of the year when ghosts, goblins and witches appear in grocery store lines and tiny fairies visit your doorstep in the arms of their fathers. It’s the one day of the year when a miniature Power Ranger might race up your front steps, while a shy Winnie the Pooh holds back, patiently awaiting a honey treat. During my childhood, Halloween was a big deal. I would spend hours wondering what I was going to “be” this year, and how I was going to make my costume. There was the excitement of costume parades during our school party and going trick-or-treating after dark.

CHENEY – The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute is offering a choice: a difficult hike or a comfortable lecture. Choose both if you like.

In the 1940s and ’50s a black-owned and operated barbecue restaurant was nestled in the pines a mile north of the NorthTown Mall before there was a NorthTown Mall. The restaurant was a frame structure with tables set up in the various rooms.

Mann article well-written Thank you for printing Lisa Leinberger’s excellent article about the ceremony at Greenwood Memorial Terrace for Congressional Medal of Honor winner Joe E. Mann.