Washington Voices

New Listings Colfax Alumni Luncheon – Everyone is welcome. Monday, noon, Timber Creek Buffet in the Argonne Village Shopping Center, 9211 E. Montgomery Ave., Millwood. Email sconti56@gmail.com or call (509) 995-7192.

For 05-03-2014

For the week of May 5-9. Monday – Option 1: Cheese ravioli, roll, steamed vegetables, fruit. Option 2: Chicken salad wrap, steamed vegetables, fruit

When University High senior Ben Hutchens thought about the prospects for a return to the state Class 3A track and field meet in the 4x400 meter relay, his thoughts turned depressing. “I really thought we were going to suck in the 4x400,” he said. “I was the only one coming back. We had three seniors on last year’s team and the juniors who ran No. 5 and No. 6 weren’t going to turn out. So there was no one with any experience whatsoever to run it.”

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop - Volunteers are needed for the Discovery Shop, 805 W. Garland Ave., for help with a number of duties. For more information, call Joanne at (509) 465-1607. Anna Ogden Hall Long Term Recovery Shelter - Volunteer opportunities include in the nursery and kitchen; various program class teachers; reception work; and help in the medical clinic. Required introductory classes are offered three times per month. For more information, call (509) 535-8510 or visit www.ugmspokane.org.

Computer models suggest that a new El Nino will form later this year. According the U.S. Climate Prediction Center, we’re still in a La Nada, in between the cooler La Nina and the warmer El Nino sea-surface temperature patterns.

Citizenship Course – Offered by World Relief Spokane, 1522 N. Washington St., Suite 204. For more information call (509) 484-9829. Employment, Education and Training – For Spokane County residents who have been laid off from work or have low income; provided through Work Source Spokane. Call (509) 532-3120 or visit www.workspokane.org and click on ‘Job Seekers.’

The East Valley School District is sending out layoff notices this week to 66 certificated employees. Human Resources Director Neale Rasmussen believes many of those individuals will be asked back, but by the beginning of next school year there should be 12 to 15 fewer full-time employees than this school year. Rasmussen and Interim Superintendent Tom Gresch described the process and rationale to the school board Tuesday during a work session.

Today Get Ready to Ride - Join Mic Woodruff from the South Hill’s Wheel Sport as he covers how to do a pre-season bike inspection, bicycle maintenance and more. 2-3:30 p.m. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509) 444-5385.

Downtown Spokane visitors will finally be able to see what’s been hidden behind the tall chain-link fence on the north side of City Hall on Friday when Mayor David Condon and Avista CEO Scott Morris unveil the new City Hall Plaza and its terraced connection along the riverbank, down to Huntington Park. Events begin at 10:30 a.m. on the plaza and continue with a celebration in Huntington Park at 11:15 a.m. “The construction of City Hall Plaza is a gift from Avista to Spokane celebrating our 120 year anniversary,” said Jessie Wuerst, Avista spokeswoman. “The land below the plaza belongs to the city.”

Last week I discussed planting onions. That brought questions from readers about the timetable for planting other vegetables. Most vegetables that you seed into the garden germinate when the soil gets to the right temperature. A month ago I measured the temperature in my garden at 45 degrees. Saturday it was up to 50. Not much of a shift but enough that more cool season crops are able to germinate.

NORTHEAST SPOKANE – Organizations of Northeast Spokane are having a fundraiser at Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St., from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Noodles for the Neighborhood pits celebrity chefs, including City Council members Amber Waldref and Mike Fagan, against each other in a pasta sauce cook-off. Tickets are $5; $3 for children between 5 and 12; free for children younger than 4.