Washington Voices

Now that we are done with summer garden care, it’s time to think about fall chores. Mid-October is the perfect time to plant garlic for harvest in late July next year. Cloves planted this fall will use the last of the warm soil to grow strong roots. In the spring, the plants will be able to start growing as soon as it’s warm enough. Garlic for planting can be purchased at most garden stores. Prepare a garden bed by mixing in compost. Break the garlic bulb up and plant the largest cloves; large cloves mean large bulbs at harvest. Save the small ones for the kitchen. Plant the cloves at least two to three inches deep and spaced six inches apart in rows eight inches apart. Mulch the bed with clean straw or pine needles to help even out soil temperature and prevent frost heaving.

The former Pratt Elementary, 6903 E. Fourth Ave., will host an evening of “spooktacular” fun at the second annual Edgecliff SCOPE Fall Festival next Saturday, from 5 to 8 p.m. The festivities include candy, games, and prizes for best costumes.

Rename group for clarity Following their endorsement on Thursday, Oct. 15, of Diana Wilhite for Spokane Valley City Council Position 1, The Spokesman-Review printed a retraction stating that they had erroneously reported that Diana had been endorsed by the Spokane County Republican Central Committee, when in fact the SCRP had endorsed her opponent Brenda Grassel.

With smoke coming out of an apartment Monday and no one responding to their knocks, Spokane Valley firefighters were just about to break down the door. Other tenants at the Applewood Apartments, 4403 E. Eighth Ave., evacuated when the alarm sounded, but the tenant of the smoking apartment didn’t respond even when someone telephoned him.

The days are getting shorter, children are back in school and fall sports are under way. 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 favorite outfits and teammates on the field. Think of holiday gatherings, special milestones and outdoor fun. Send us your party pictures and candid photos.

For the week of Oct. 26-30: Monday – Option 1: Polynesian pork, steamed rice, green beans, carrots. Option 2: Chicken sandwich, tomato basil soup.

Garbe has developed into WV team leader

True story. I’m 18 years old. It’s near midnight, and I’m reading Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” alone in our silent home, which is dark except for the pool of light from the lamp beside me. I’m at the part where Eleanor and Theodora huddle terrified in a bedroom as the house comes alive, making horrific sounds as the walls breathe. I’m totally there with them, scalp prickling, as they watch the doorknob begin to quietly turn, back and forth.

Candidates running for mayor and City Council in Cheney had a chance to introduce themselves to the community and answer questions forum last week in the little theater at Cheney High School. There are two contested races for City Council in November. Vying for council position 1 are Fred Pollard and Graeme Webster. Kathleen Warren and incumbent Mike McKeehan are running for council position 3.

Employment, Education and Training – For Spokane County residents who have been laid off from work or have low income; provided through Work Source at (509) 532-3140. Employment and Training – For low-income youths, 16-21 years old, in Spokane County; contact Next Generation Zone at (509) 532-3040.

As the fall continues to advance, the beauty of the Inland Northwest is enhanced by the tremendous autumn foliage. We will likely see the greatest display of color across the region during the next few weeks. During this time of year, the mixture of reds, purples, oranges and especially yellows will dot the landscape. In the spring and summer, the green leaves actually serve as food factories for the tree’s growth. This food-making process takes place in the leaf which contains a chemical called chlorophyll. This amazing chemical absorbs energy from sunlight that used to transform carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, like sugars and starch. Chlorophyll also gives the leaf its green color.

Now that we are done with summer garden care, it’s time to think about fall chores. Mid-October is the perfect time to plant garlic for harvest in late July next year. Cloves planted this fall will use the last of the warm soil to grow strong roots. In the spring, the plants will be able to start growing as soon as it’s warm enough. Garlic for planting can be purchased at most garden stores. Prepare a garden bed by mixing in compost. Break the garlic bulb up and plant the largest cloves; large cloves mean large bulbs at harvest. Save the small ones for the kitchen. Plant the cloves at least two to three inches deep and spaced six inches apart in rows eight inches apart. Mulch the bed with clean straw or pine needles to help even out soil temperature and prevent frost heaving.