Washington Voices

• The East Central Neighborhood Council will meet Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. • The Logan Neighborhood Council will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Fourth Memorial Church, 2000 N. Standard St.

Kevin Brown paints pictures with music. The Chattaroy musician sings of tall grass moving like water and golden fields shining in the sun. Colbert artist Katherine Nelson creates landscapes with charcoal. Her work often depicts the endless rolling hills of the Palouse and the shaded striations of just-plowed farmland.

The Women of Faith conference is coming to the Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave., Friday and Saturday. This year’s theme is Celebrate What Matters and the event includes a worship band, a ballet and 27 speakers, authors and musicians.

For 08-16-2012

For the week of Aug. 20-24. Monday – Option 1: Sweet and sour pork and steamed rice, coleslaw, dinner roll, cookie. Option 2: Tuna pasta salad, coleslaw, dinner roll, cookie.

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. Share photos of family feasts, children in their best summer outfits, teammates on the field. Think of holiday gatherings, special milestones and outdoor fun. Send us your party pictures and garden snapshots.

The Spokane County Library District’s plan for a new Spokane Valley library has changed, but it’s unclear if the changes will affect a proposed partnership with the city of Spokane Valley to buy land for a new library and expansion of Balfour Park. The district wants to put a library at Sprague Avenue and Herald Road but can’t afford to purchase the entire eight acres owned by businessman Jack Pring. They proposed purchasing the land with the city, which would allow the city to expand the adjacent park. The original plan was for a 50,000-square-foot, two-story library on the site, but new plans call for a 30,000-square-foot, one-story building instead.

There were more than a few sighs of relief at some local fire stations after the results of last week’s primary election were announced. Spokane County Fire District 9 and the Spokane Valley Fire Department both had replacement maintenance and operations levies on the ballot that accounted for more than half their annual budget. Both levies passed with flying colors, getting about 68 percent of the vote.

Ask any longtime Spokane resident what comes to mind when they hear the name Hillyard. Chances are the words aren’t the most flattering. Hillyard isn’t affluent, but what it lacks for in money, it makes up for with spirit and community pride. Take, for instance, a handful of men that faithfully coach kids in the Grid Kids football program. Kids are assigned to a team based on their neighborhood high school, with the idea that there will be a cohesive team ready to be incorporated into the high school sports program.

We haven’t received any measurable moisture at the Spokane International Airport since July 20, when .25 inches of rain fell. Temperatures have also climbed to above normal levels. For July through the middle of August, the average reading at the airport was about 2.5 degrees above normal. For the summer, we’ve already seen 16 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees. It looks like we’ll see a few more by early next week.

For 08-11-2012

Sunday Liberty Lake City Council – Council retreat, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Spokane Valley Fire Department administration building, 2120 N. Wilbur Road.

SPOKANE VALLEY – Daley’s Cheap Shots, 6412 E. Trent Ave., will host “Blues for Yo,” a benefit for Gary Yeoman on Sunday, from 3 p.m. to midnight. The event will feature live music from Sammy Eubanks, Bakin’ Phat, Pat Coast and Cary Fly. Attendees can also enjoy food, drinks and raffles.

WEST HILLS – Holy Names Music Center, 3910 W. Custer Drive, will host Community Music Day on Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community members are invited to a day of musical fun, free music lessons and an opportunity to play a new instrument. There will also be Music Together class demonstrations for kids 6 months to 6 years old. For more information, call (509) 326-9516.