Washington Voices

The Spokane Valley Chamber Foundation announced the finalists for the Miss Spokane Valley Ambassadors Scholarship Program. Lauren Archibald, Kathleen Boyle, Sulamita Barbuz, Caylee Lamm, Jessica Moon, Amy Thornton and Madeleine Walsh, of University High School; Kaleigh Fox, Hanna Robb and Penny Zhang of Central Valley High School; Becky Fraser and Emmalee Ohlstrom of East Valley High School; Callie Johnson and Grace Tiffany of Valley Christian High School; and Jaymee Vaughn of West Valley High School were among the 28 Spokane Valley high school students interviewed recently by judges from the business community.

For 03-27-2010

Holy Week, the last week of Lent leading up to Easter, begins this week with Palm Sunday. Many Valley churches will have special worship services and other events this week to mark Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. •The Spokane Valley Adventist Church will host its third annual “Journey to the Cross” performance. More than 250 actors will reenact portions of Christ’s life, outside the church at 16th Avenue and Sullivan Road. Performances are free and will run concurrently, beginning every 15 minutes and lasting about 30 minutes. Performances will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, 4 to 9 p.m. next Saturday and from 4 to 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

Attendant Care Registry – Free service matching disabled adults and children with personal-care providers; sponsored by Coalition of Responsible Disabled; (509) 326-6355. Change Point/Displaced Homemaker Center – Ideal for women and men who are making the transition from the home to the workforce because of a separation, divorce, loss of a spouse or partner, or because a spouse or partner is unable to work. Free training is provided in computers, resume preparation, job and communication skills, and conflict resolution techniques. The Change Point/Displaced Homemaker Center program is sponsored by the Institute for Extended Learning. Call Denise McKinnon at (509) 279-6065 for more information or visit www.iel.spokane.edu, click on Improve Your Life and Change Point.

Let’s put aside the obvious criticism that campaign promises are made to win elections, but governing is the place where grown-ups must deal with the realities of the law. Instead, let’s discuss what happens next. A recent Spokane Valley City Council meeting saw a presentation from City Attorney Mike Connelly that clearly gave the “Positive Change” gang information that should make them consider “carefully” just how they will attempt to change or repeal the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan. As the next few months pass, the method of how they will try to accomplish their stated goal of repealing this forward-looking vision of the future will become clearer.

The Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan was again a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting. A motion to add SARP to the Planning Commission’s agenda for 2011 Comprehensive Plan amendments was approved by five council members, with Council member Rose Dempsey voting against it and Council member Bob McCaslin absent.

Tuesday Spokane Valley City Council – joint meeting with City of Spokane City Council, 2 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague.

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has approved funding for median barriers at two railroad crossings on Park Road. There have been incidents involving people driving around lowered crossing gates on Park in recent years, according to a press release from the UTC. The $40,000 approved will pay for median barriers at the crossings so people will no longer be able to drive around the crossing arms. There are about 50 trains a day on the track and the trains can reach 79 miles per hour, according to the release. Breakfast, egg hunt next Saturday

An interim report by the Central Valley School District Capital Facilities Committee includes recommendations for a new elementary school and returning kindergarten center students to their neighborhood schools. The committee made its recommendations to the Central Valley School Board on Monday after a year of meeting, visiting schools and holding community forums to gather input from parents and residents.

Monday – Option 1: Chicken and dumplings, broccoli, fresh fruit, dinner roll, gingerbread with topping. Option 2: Tuna salad sandwich, broccoli, fresh fruit, dinner roll, gingerbread with topping. Tuesday – 1: Pot roast, roasted vegetables, green beans almondine, dinner roll, cake. 2: Chicken salad wrap, green beans amandine, dinner roll, cake.

Author/cop releases new crime novel

Two kittens were rescued from a duplex fire in the 2200 block of North Marguerite Road at 2:30 a.m. on March 20 and revived by Spokane Valley firefighters. “We were able to use our pet oxygen masks,” said assistant fire marshal Bill Clifford.

AARP Tax-Aide Program – Tax Counselors are needed for the AARP Tax-Aide Program, which provides free personal income tax form preparation to middle- and low-income wage-earners. Counselors will assist individuals with the preparation of their tax returns in accordance with the guidelines established between the IRS and the AARP Foundation. In addition, greeters are also needed to welcome the individuals and review their paperwork prior to meeting with the counselors. And, a local coordinator is also needed for tax sites, to recruit, appoint, ensure adequate training, supervise and evaluate counselors. Training is provided for all positions. United Way is sponsoring this volunteer opportunity. For more information call Lucille Simmons, community impact manager, at (509) 838-6581 or visit www.unitedwayspokane.org. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop – Volunteers are needed for the Discovery Shop, located at 905 W. Garland Ave., for help with a number of duties. For more information, call Judy at (509) 328-9373.