Washington Voices

Everyone step away from the pool. It’s time for Fido to get wet. The city of Spokane Valley will host a Paws in the Pool event for the first time Thursday by opening up Valley Mission Pool, 11123 E. Mission Ave., for swimmers of the canine variety. Dogs of all sizes are welcome, though dogs will swim at separate times based on their weight – that way a Chihuahua doesn’t have to worry about getting swamped by a Great Dane.

The Commons Community Garden, just across the street from Sacajawea Middle School on the South Hill, is an excellent example of creative use of space. It’s located on a triangular piece of land next to the water tower there, and although it’s a smaller space than many other community garden sites, it holds 35 raised garden beds.

The Mission Community Outreach Center, 1906 E. Mission Ave., has collected 400 pairs of new shoes in a back-to-school shoe drive. The shoes and socks will be distributed to children in kindergarten through 12th grade from low-income families Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday Free Outdoor Movie - Liberty Lake - “How to Train Your Dragon” (PG). Part of the Friends of Pavillion Park Summer Festival Series. Show starts at dusk. Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Road. Free.

MANITO/CANNON HILL – Master Gardner Janis Saiki will give a presentation on the best available plants in the market on Saturday in the Manito Meeting Room east of the Gaiser Conservatory in Manito Park at 1 p.m. Saiki will discuss some of the year’s award-winning plants and explain why the plants are good choices for a garden. Visitors can learn about which plants would be best for long bloom, hummingbirds, bold and colorful foliage, berry producing and winter interest.

Rockford – The Freeman School District in Rockford will host a dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Monday to celebrate completion of its newly remodeled elementary school, kindergarten through eighth-grade multipurpose room and the new Palouse Regional Transportation Cooperative. The event will be at the campus, 14815 to 14917 S. Jackson Road, beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a districtwide barbecue and an open house. At 6:30 p.m., the district will celebrate the dedication of the elementary school and transportation cooperative.

EMERSON/GARFIELD – Community members are invited to the North Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers family event from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, to benefit the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant. The canned food fundraiser will be held in the businesses from 2901 to 3036 N. Monroe St. For admission of two cans of food, visitors can have their faces painted, enjoy hot dogs, view vintage cars and motorcycles on display and play with a kitten or puppy from the Humane Society – and even take one home. Attendees may also purchase raffle tickets for $3 each to win original artwork from local artist Cecile G. Charles.

It’s going to be a tiger of a day when Lewis and Clark High School celebrates its 100th year with a big open house Saturday. The downtown school is the alma mater of thousands, a small group of whom have dedicated countless hours to put on Saturday’s gala event.

Lottery winners in Spokane County for the week of Aug. 13-17. $50,000 – Robert Shive, of Mead.

Officers from the Liberty Lake Police Department pulled over a driver they say was speeding in the area of Barker Road and the Spokane River Aug. 14. Officers said they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and the K9 was called, but the suspect gave the officers permission to search the vehicle.

The Peaceful Valley Community Center has always been different from the other community centers in town. It’s crammed full, and located in a small temporary building from the 1970s; for years it was operated by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. The building and property, as well as nearby Glover Field, is still owned by the Parks Department, but the Peaceful Valley Community Center is now operated by its own nonprofit organization.

New computer models and satellite data were recently used to examine climate changes over the United States during the past century. The study was performed by NASA scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The study indicated that major climate changes at least partially resulted from cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean regions combined with warmer than usual sea-surface readings in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean waters.

• The Administration Committee will meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Office of Neighborhood Services, Sixth Floor, City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • The Manito/Cannon Hill Neighborhood Council will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Wilson Elementary School, 911 W. 25th Ave.