Washington Voices

For 01-03-2013

Cribbage – Sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., 212 S. David St. For more information, call (509) 325-3061. Pinochle – Double-deck daily at noon and single-deck Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon at the East Central Senior Center, 500 S. Stone St. Call (509) 625-6693 for more information.

For the week of Jan. 7-11. Monday – Option 1: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, beets, dinner roll, peaches. Option 2: BLT wrap, beets, peaches.

The new year is bringing some big changes for Spokane Valley city employees after the City Council voted unanimously in a special meeting Dec. 19 to enact a new three-year contract. The automatic cost of living increases are gone, as are the automatic step increases. A new merit pay system is now in place. The maximum pay grade for each job description will increase by 3 percent in 2013, 2014 and 2015, but employees may or may not get a pay increase based on performance reviews. “There’s no automatic increases,” said City Manager Mike Jackson.

Life After Loss Support Group – For those who have moved through early grief and need support to move through life after loss; call Eileen Lyons at (509) 456-0438. Lilac Blind Foundation – “Ex-sighted” group for the visually impaired and legally blind meets second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 10-11:30 a.m., Lilac Blind Foundation, 1212 N. Howard St.; (509) 328-9116.

Greater Spokane County/Valley Meals on Wheels - Volunteers are needed to deliver hot meals to elderly and disabled people. Volunteers will also need to check on the well-being of each person on their route. Volunteers may choose to drive a route any day, Monday through Friday, or drive as a substitute on flexible days. Meals will be picked up at 11 a.m. and delivered to approximately 15 people; delivery time is approximately 90 minutes. Volunteers are also needed to help prepare meals for elderly and disabled people. All skill levels are needed. Volunteers must use their own vehicles to deliver meals and must pass a background check. For more information, call Pam Almeida, executive director, at (509) 924-6976 or visit www.valleymow.org. Habitat for Humanity - General construction volunteers, age 16 and older, are needed to build homes. No experience is necessary and on-site training will be provided for people who are interested. For more information call (509) 534-2552.

For 12-29-2012

The city of Liberty Lake will continue its animal control contract with Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service in 2013 after the City Council voted unanimously last week to include funding for the contract in the 2013 budget. The city had been looking into contracting with SpokAnimal to save money. When Mayor Steve Peterson submitted his proposed 2013 budget to the council it did not include any money for animal control.

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

Wednesday Rockford City Council – 7 p.m. at City Hall, 20 W. Emma St., Rockford.

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Evergreen Model Railroaders will host an open house today from 1 to 5 p.m. The club’s members have spent years creating a model with more than 1,000 feet of HO scale railroad with bridges, mountains, towns and many other features. Trains will be running on three lines during the afternoon and there are steam engine sounds and train horns.

‘No’ vote misinterpreted On Dec. 11 at the Spokane Valley City Council meeting, the council members had to decide how to allocate $50,000 of lodging tax monies that were in excess of the $380,000 projected in the 2012 budget. After hearing the suggested allocations by various council members, the council voted for Chuck Hafner’s proposal, passing it by a 5-2 vote. I was one of the opposing votes.

For 12-29-2012

For the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 4. Monday – Option 1: Beef goulash with Mexicali corn, mixed vegetables, dinner roll, pears. Option 2: Chef salad, mixed vegetables, pears.