Washington Voices

For 11-07-2009

Central Valley School District parents, residents and community members are invited to attend a Capital Facilities community forum Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at North Pines Middle School, 701 N. Pines Road. It is the first of three forums scheduled to allow district patrons to give input on current and future school buildings and what the district should be doing in terms of repair, remodeling and new construction. The district formed an 18-member Capital Facilities Planning Committee in May to develop a six-year capital facilities plan, including a 25-year bond plan. The committee includes parents, administrators, government officials and industry experts.

Money Management – Sponsored by Consumer Credit Counseling Service, second Tuesday of each month, 6:30-9 p.m., Teamsters Building basement, 1912 N. Division St.; call (509) 327-3777 to register. Spokane Human Rights Commission – Responds to discrimination complaints based on race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, familial status and other factors; (509) 625-6110.

It would seem unlikely for someone with asthma and sensitive skin to be in the dry cleaning business, but Sonja Zimmerman has found a way. Zimmerman has owned and operated Sonja’s Cleaner by Nature with her husband Frank for the past 12 years. The name reflects the Hayden, Idaho couple’s desire to offer dry cleaning options that are less volatile for the environment.

I have been seeing a rainbow of colors in the sky lately, but they haven’t been the result of a passing rain shower. Late in the afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky and cirrus clouds are present, one can often make out this colorful display right through the cirrus clouds themselves. The phenomenon is called a “sun dog,” and occurs when sunlight is refracted, or bent, by ice crystals. Cirrus clouds are those clouds that are often wisplike in appearance, and reside high in the atmosphere beginning around 16,000 feet. They are made up entirely of ice crystals. When light passes through these ice crystals, many different optical effects can occur, depending on the angle of the sun, and the shape and orientation of the ice crystals.

Monday Fire District 2 (Fairfield) – 7 p.m. at 17815 E. Truax Road.

SPOKANE VALLEY – There will be no Spokane Valley City Council meeting Tuesday because most members will be attending a National League of Cities conference in San Antonio. Mayor Rich Munson and council members Rose Dempsey, Bill Gothmann, Gary Schimmels and Diana Wilhite will attend the conference, which runs Tuesday through Saturday.

SPOKANE VALLEY – Thursday’s Spokane Valley Planning Commission meeting has been canceled for lack of business. The commission’s next meeting will be Dec. 10.

The Millwood City Council unanimously approved three ordinances amending municipal code on land use, subdivisions and zoning on Monday night. City Planner Tom Richardson presented the new ordinances to the council and highlighted specific amendments to each.

There is something to be said for the hush in the garden after the killing frost. There are no more ripe tomatoes to keep track of. No more zucchini to bushwhack through to find the monster you missed. Just the twitter of finches and nuthatches as they clean out sunflower seeds and the smell of moist earth and leaves. Mother Earth and I are taking a deep breath together.

For the week of Nov. 9-13 Monday – Option 1: Salmon loaf with dill sauce, mashed potatoes, orange glazed carrots, biscuit, fruit. Option 2: Beef stew, orange glazed carrots, biscuit, fruit.

For 11-07-2009

Spokane Valley Fire – The proposed 2010 budget of $29.5 million was presented and next year’s projects were discussed. The number of calls are down slightly over this time last year. The Commissioners will have a special meeting Monday at 5 p.m. to open rescue truck bids and a joint meeting with the Civil Service will follow at 6 p.m. (Source: Administrative director Debbie Cox) Fairfield City Council – Council members discussed the preliminary 2010 budget, but discussion of the property tax levy was postponed to the next meeting. They also decided to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to help pay for work on the sewer system. (Source: Town clerk Cheryl Loeffler)

For 11-05-2009