Washington Voices

Newman Lake Fire & Rescue commissioners will conduct a public hearing Monday on their proposed 2010 budget. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Station 1, 10236 N. West Newman Lake Drive. The $575,415 budget is up 2.7 percent from this year’s total of $560,098.

Monday Millwood City Council – 7 p.m. at City Hall, 9103 E. Frederick Ave.

I urge Spokane Valley voters to reject the character assassination directed toward Dean Grafos in the closing days of this election campaign. I am appalled and disappointed to learn that this has been perpetrated by Rev. Ian Robertson, a self-professed man of God, who should know better than to spread half-truths and innuendo. Dean is an honest businessman, citizen, husband and father who cares deeply about the Valley and possesses the commitment and intellect to serve all its residents well.

It’s all about community events this week at greater Spokane Valley churches as several host Halloween events and a few more get ready to launch the annual bazaar season next Saturday. All the events are open to the community and several are fundraisers to support the churches and their projects. •Foothills Community Church is having a full schedule this weekend. Today from 6 to 8 p.m., the church will host a Harvest Fun Night with carnival games for kids, a pie social, live music and a quilt show. There is no admission charge but attendees are asked to donate a nonperishable food item for the Union Gospel Mission.

City politics have some feeling like they’re caught up in a bad Western. Oddly enough, our state is under what’s called Dillon Rule. Judge Dillon in 1886, distrusting local government, ruled to grant them only those powers expressly granted by the state. Our city is organized as a weak council-manager form of government. Structural change is limited to city-countywide charter or to strong-mayor government. These limited choices hold “Death Valley,” aka Spokane Valley, hostage.

VERADALE – The Central Valley Band Boosters will have the annual arts and crafts fair and bake sale next weekend to raise money for the CVHS band and color guard. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8, at the school, 821 S. Sullivan Road. Admission is $2 per day.

When Spokane Transit Authority changed two westbound routes on Sept. 20, some Browne’s Addition residents were in for a surprise. After the old Browne’s Addition bus number 40 was eliminated, two new routes – 60 and 61 – were taken through the neighborhood in an effort to provide better and more frequent service to one of the more densely populated neighborhoods close to downtown.

For 10-31-2009

For the week of Nov. 2-6 Monday – Option 1: Baked ham with pineapple, creamed potatoes, broccoli, fresh fruit, bread, cookie. Option 2: Baked potato casserole, broccoli, fresh fruit, bread, cookie.

Now that disincorporation has been taken off the table, it’s time to look at the quality services that the residents of Spokane Valley have lost. The No. 1 service that comes to mind is snow removal. In a normal snow event, six trucks and two graders are hardly adequate.

WV players grateful for bye week to heal

As the election of our new City Council members draws near, I feel compelled to write in and place some important facts before us all.

For 10-31-2009

For 10-29-2009