Washington Voices

Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to suspend a firefighter without pay for two 24-hour shifts for continuing to use his department account to send religious emails to fellow firefighters after being ordered to stop. But Capt. Jon Sprague said he plans to continue sending the emails, arguing that orders to stop violate his First Amendment protections.

The Spokane Valley City Council on Tuesday took another look at the proposed 2013 city budget. And while a hearing on the subject didn’t draw any comments from the public, council members weighed in.

Liberty Lake Police officers had a fairly quiet week from Aug. 21 to 27, with thefts and three arrests for driving with a suspended license topping the week. Two cars were prowled on North Cavalier on the same night. About $3,000 worth of firefighting equipment was stolen from one car and about $300 in personal items were taken from a car at the house next door. A homeless couple left all their belongings outside the Albertsons while they went inside to make a purchase. When they returned all their items were gone.

St. David’s Episcopal Church, 7315 N. Wall St., will present a Celtic Communion service today at 7 p.m. The theme for this service will be “Music for the Journey” and includes music by Brett and Janet Dodd. There will be sung chants, Celtic prayers and a special reading by John O’Donohue. A potluck snack reception will follow the service.

More than 200 hundred residents call Spokane Valley’s Orchard Crest Retirement Community home. Many of those residents are grandparents, great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents. That’s why activities director Tami Cheyney each year organizes a special celebration just for them Although Grandparents Day is traditionally celebrated in September, Cheyney chooses to hold Orchard Crest’s event at the end of August. “We had it in September one year and it rained,” she said.

When Gonzaga Preparatory School opens its doors to students today, it also introduces its new principal. Cindy Reopelle is the school’s 19th principal. She takes over for the Rev. Kevin Connell, who left in July for a post at Jesuit High School in Portland. She’s also the first lay woman to fill that role, although she quickly dismisses the importance of that. “There are other women who are principals so I’m not that unusual,” Reopelle said. “When you work in Catholic education there are a lot of men simply because priests have to be men.”

Like many Spokane County residents, my summertime conversations are peppered with references to “the lake.” I’m usually referring to Diamond Lake, where my brother-in-law owns a home. I love being on the lake.

Grandparents Day set at CenterPlace SPOKANE VALLEY – Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels will host a Grandparents Day celebration Sept. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at CenterPlace Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place.

SPOKANE VALLEY – Wishing Star Foundation will have a rummage sale Friday, from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in a parking lot located at 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Bargain shoppers can find deals on furniture, appliances, household items and clothing. 

Lottery winners for Spokane County for the week of Aug. 20-24. $10,000

The Manito/Cannon Hill Neighborhood Council has asked the city to put in a crosswalk at the intersection of Manito Boulevard and 29th Avenue. It’s the second time the neighborhood council has made the request, and at its meeting Tuesday evening at Wilson Elementary School that crosswalk was at the top of the agenda. The neighborhood council suggested that adding the crosswalk now, while that part of 29th Avenue is under reconstruction, seemed prudent.

• The Browne’s Addition Neighborhood Council will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First St. • The Peaceful Valley Neighborhood Council will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Peaceful Valley Community Center, 214 N. Cedar St.

The 20th anniversary celebration at Odyssey Youth Center – a nonprofit organization that works with lesbian, gay, transgender and questioning youth – spilled onto the sidewalk in front of the center and into the parking lot and side street out back. Just a few years ago such a big public celebration was unthinkable.

The 2012 fire season has been one of the worst in recorded history for the western U.S. Searing heat for days on end, dry weather and strong winds have fueled thousands of fires. As of late August, nearly 43,000 fires have been reported in the U.S. for the 2012 season and more than 7 million acres have burned. The 10-year average is 52,000 fires with 5 million acres are burned.

For the week of Sept. 3-7. Monday – Kitchen closed for Labor Day.