Washington Voices

The Spokane Cork and Keg Festival will be Nov. 13 at Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road, from 7 to 10 p.m. The event will include more than 100 wines and 30 handcrafted beers, hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Curtis Smith and the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy, a silent auction, live music and a wine store.

The Spokane Valley City Council agreed to move ahead with several proposed text amendments for the Community Boulevard zone of the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan even though they are moving forward with plans to scrap the entire SARP. Councilman Dean Grafos reaffirmed his desire to do away with the plan. “I think the situation has changed with the economy,” he said.

Star came to SCRAPS Oct. 5. She is about 7 years old and gets along well with cats and dogs. She is a little nervous in the shelter environment and is looking for a mellow home. When contacting SCRAPS with questions about one of the adoptable pets, please refer to the pet’s identification number. If you are interested in this dog (ID No. 5703) or any animal at SCRAPS, call (509) 477-2532 or come by the shelter 2421 N. Flora Road, Spokane Valley. Dog adoptions are $82.04 and include spay or neuter, first set of vaccinations, health check, microchip and first year’s license.

Spokane County District No. 4 fire commissioners are taking a conservative approach in asking for renewal of the district’s six-year property tax levy for emergency medical services. State law allows the district to seek up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation annually for EMS, but the district is seeking a new six-year levy of 33 cents per $1,000 of value.

Today Toddler Play and Learn Storytime (Valley) - For ages 18 months-3 years. Enjoy stories, songs and fingerplays that explore the concepts of math, science, art and literacy. Parents and caregivers are asked to join in for the entire 60 minutes. 10:30 a.m. Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., Spokane Valley. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Students from Gonzaga Prep recently earned AP Scholar status for their academic excellence on their college-level Advanced Placement Program exams. AP Scholars with Distinction, given to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3.0 or higher on five or more of the exams, include Evan Anders and Emma Irwin, of Colbert, Anthony Cossette, Margaret Cressey, Benjamin Dart, Mariah Harvey, James Heusner, Katrina Marcinkowski, and Brian Tully, all of Spokane.

SPOKANE – Spokane COPS. is holding a fundraiser to help supplement its 2011 budget, in light of proposed cuts, and keep local children safe. COPS is selling the safety DVD, “Kids and Strangers and Acquaintances,” produced with the assistance of the FBI, Los Angeles Police Department and other experts, to show parents and children how to prevent abduction, molestation and worse by people they may know, strangers, internet predators and registered sex offenders. The DVD is being sold for $10 each, and a second DVD is free.

VERADALE – On Wednesday and next Thursday, local vehicles can receive free lube, oil filter, wiper blade replacement and tire rotation, along with a free complete winter inspection, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Clark’s Tire and Automotive, 16010 E. Sprague Ave. The timely event is also a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels and will include a barbecue with free hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. For more information call (509) 924-1681.

SPOKANE – Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest recently received a $5,000 grant from Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, Washington State Mentors and Bank of America. COPS selling DVD

SPOKANE – Author Terry Tempest Williams will speak at a luncheon fundraiser to benefit Inland Northwest Land Trust on Nov. 1, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. Williams’ books include “Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family” and “Place, Red, and Finding Beauty in a Broken World.”

SPOKANE – On Sunday, members of the community interested in learning about Spokane’s history through its oldest resting places are welcome to join the cemetery tour of Spokane. From 1 to 5 p.m., the tour will take attendees to the burial sites of Spokane’s founding fathers, along with a tour of Spokane’s military cemetery.

Rabbi Yisroel Hahn of Chabad of Spokane, 4116 E. 37th Ave., will lead a six-week course, “Medicine and Morals: Your Jewish Guide Through Life’s Tough Decisions” Wednesday evenings, starting Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The course is from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and will cover the topics “Choosing Life: The Obligation to Seek Healing,” “Flesh of My Flesh: Organ Transplants in Jewish Law,” “Rolling the Dice: Risky and Experimental Treatments,” “New Beginnings: The Ethics of Reproductive Technologies,” “With You in Mind: Ethical Treatment of the Mentally Disabled,” and “Secret Code: Genetics and the Ethics of Patient Confidentiality.”

Author Terry Tempest Williams will speak at a luncheon fundraiser to benefit Inland Northwest Land Trust on Nov. 1, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. Williams’ books include “Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family” and “Place, Red, and Finding Beauty in a Broken World.”

In front of a standing room only crowd in the council chambers Tuesday night, the Liberty Lake City Council unanimously passed a 6 percent utility tax to take effect on Dec. 26. The tax will be charged on utilities that include gas, electric, solid waste removal (trash), telephone and cable television services in the city. In an unusual twist, the approval of the tax increase was greeted by applause by most of those in attendance at the meeting.

Last weekend, we finally saw temperatures fall below the freezing mark in the Spokane area. The coldest morning was 30 degrees on Sunday. Despite the chilly mornings with occasional fog, the weather has been nice across the Inland Northwest. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The full moon lunar cycle of Oct. 23-29 is expected to bring some major weather changes to our region.