Washington Voices

Recent heated debates about multi-family housing next to single-family homes has the Spokane Valley City Council considering a change to the city’s development code to head off such conflicts in the future. This year, residents living next to a parcel under consideration for high-density residential zoning complained loudly and often that the rezone would allow tall apartment buildings only 5 feet from their property. The city negotiated a development agreement with the property owner that limited building height in response to their concerns.

Area libraries offer storytimes for different ages. Here’s a look at some of the options: Baby lapsit

Second Harvest Inland Northwest - Second Harvest is in need of volunteers to help sort and pack produce, food drive or bulk food items in preparation for delivery to the food bank’s emergency food outlets. Volunteers must be 14 years old or older and be able to stand for two hours. For more information call Deb Clemens at (509) 252-6257 or visit www.2-harvest.org.

Today 16th Annual Bead Stampede – Vendors with varied beads, beadwork from local artists and beads and gifts from around the world. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Ag B Building, 404 N. Havana St. $3. (208) 661-2911. Continues Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free GED Preparation and Testing – For low-income dropout youths ages 16-21 in Spokane County; call Next Generation Zone at (509) 340-7800 or visit www.nextgenzone.org. GED Preparation – Age 19 and up at many sites in Spokane; call the Community Colleges Institute for Extended Learning Adult Basic Education, (509) 533-4600 or visit www.iel.spokane.edu.

Central Valley High School’s government club will present “Rally in the Valley II,” moderated by students Michael Butler and Zack Termath, Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. in the school theater at 821 S. Sullivan Road. The event is a student-led debate with candidates in state, federal and county elections. Scheduled to appear will be Amy Biviano and Rep. Matt Shea running for state representative in the 4th District; Rich Cowan and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers ( state Rep. Kevin Parker may stand in for McMorris Rodgers if she can’t make it) running for office in the 5th Congressional District, Daryl Romeyn and Shelly O’Quinn running for District 2 county commissioner, and John Roskelly and Todd Mielke, running for District 1 county commissioner.

Fairfield Care recently announced it has received a $100,000 donation from retired Fairfield wheat farmer Jack Felgenhauer. Fairfield Care is a nonprofit organization created to take over a senior apartment and nursing home facility in Fairfield after it closed. The community was concerned about the loss of jobs as well as forcing its senior citizens to move farther away from family members.

Monday Spokane Valley Fire Department – 4 p.m. at the Administration building, 2120 N. Wilbur Road.

The week of Oct. 11 to 17 was busy but fairly uneventful for Spokane Valley Fire Department crews. “I think the biggest issue was the wind we had going on,” said assistant fire marshal Bill Clifford. Firefighters responded to 260 calls, which is more than is typical. Emergency medical services calls accounted for 208 of those. “That’s a bunch this time,” Clifford said.

Lottery winners in Spokane County for the week of Oct. 8-12. $1,000