Washington Voices

Tuesday Spokane Valley City Council – 6 p.m. at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.

SPOKANE VALLEY – There are plenty of familiar names among the applicants for the vacant Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioner position, including two former Spokane Valley mayors and a former school superintendent. The vacancy was created by the resignation of commissioner Monte Nesbitt. The four remaining commissioners will hold a special meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 to interview the seven candidates.

Did you grow Blue Lake pole beans this summer? Did you end up with stringy, flat beans instead of nice tender, plump ones? You aren’t alone. And no one really knows why. The Blue Lake bean has been a mainstay of both commercial canning production and home vegetable gardens for decades. It was originally cultivated in the Blue Lake District outside Ukiah, Calif., in the early part of the 1900s. By 1923 the bean had found its way to Oregon where researchers refined the hybrid. In 1962, the first commercial stringless variety of Blue Lake was released. Further research created more hybrids and subvarieties with increased yields, disease resistance and adaptability to different climates. It was the bean every other variety was compared to and the most widely sold to home gardeners.

Lottery winners in Spokane County for the week of Oct. 15-19. $5,000

As the deadline for Comprehensive Plan amendments approaches, Spokane Valley staffers proposed several amendments during Tuesday’s council meeting. Some were warmly received while one or two drew the ire of council members. Councilman Dean Grafos said he didn’t like the suggestion to consider adding policies and goals to support Auto Row. “We kneecapped that whole district down there and now we’re talking about sub area plans,” said Grafos, referring to the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan that the council killed in 2011.

The days are getting shorter, children are back in school and fall sports are under way. We’d like to see your best seasonal photographs for Picture Perfect, our community scrapbook of photos from Spokane Valley readers. We want the type of pictures that show why this season is one of the best in Spokane Valley. Just send them in via email and include caption information, such as names, ages and locations, and provide a daytime phone number in case we have questions.

For the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 2. Monday – Option 1: Marinated beef and vegetables, rice pilaf, steamed baby carrots with basil, whole grain roll, cinnamon apple slices. Option 2: Creamy dill tuna salad, steamed baby carrots with basil, cinnamon apple slices.

Halloween is approaching and several Spokane Valley churches are planning events for children who don’t want to walk around in the dark and the cold. • Spokane Valley United Methodist Church will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat event today from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Decorated cars with trunkfuls of goodies will be set up in the church parking lot at 115 N. Raymond Road.

A call to help a woman having a seizure Monday took a turn when an intoxicated man reportedly assaulted one of the paramedics treating her. A Spokane Valley Fire Department crew from Station 1 responded to the 9500 block of East Fourth Avenue to help the woman. “The male occupant, for some reason, decided he didn’t want our guys touching her,” said assistant fire marshal Bill Clifford.

SNAP - Volunteers, ages 25-55 or older, with basic carpentry/maintenance skills are needed to help staff with upkeep and special projects, including building shelving, repairing office furniture, cleaning/maintaining outside grounds and upkeep of lawns/parking/buildings, as needed. For more information and other volunteer opportunities call (509) 456-7111 or visit www.snap.org. SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. - Volunteers who are at least 15 years old are needed to help maintain a healthy and sanitary environment for SpokAnimal’s cats. Includes assisting in cleaning litter pans, thoroughly disinfecting cages, feeding and taking time to hold, brush and play with the cats. Call (509) 534-8133 for more information.

Fairfield City Council – Council members discussed the failing concrete in a driveway that was part of the Main Street Rehabilitation Project. An investigation showed that the rebar was not installed properly and the contractor will replace it. The town will discuss an easement with the Union Pacific Railroad so the town can move a sewer line. The council voted to approve a new water system ordinance and a new sewer system ordinance. (Source: Town clerk Cheryl Loeffler)

For 10-25-2012

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.’