Washington Voices

Class of 2009

Class of 2009 James W. Bennett

Story ideas We want to expand our coverage of Valley neighborhoods and we need your help. Let us know when something interesting is happening in your neighborhood.

For 05-30-2009

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.

The East Valley School District won’t have to lay off teachers or cut popular programs as originally feared if residents give their blessing Monday to an alternate proposal for closing a $1.5 million revenue shortfall. The school board has scheduled a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss a plan Superintendent John Glenewinkel presented to the board earlier this week. The meeting will be in the district office at 12325 E. Grace Ave.

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

When most people hear the word meteorologist, the first image that comes to mind is probably one of the person on television who delivers the daily forecast. While televisions jobs may be the most well known private-sector career choice for a meteorologist, it certainly isn’t the only one. Because weather impacts people and businesses, there are several industries outside of television that benefit from getting accurate forecasts, and go so far as to hire their own meteorologists. The energy industry is one of them. Offshore oil companies need critical weather information when it comes to dangerous storms such as hurricanes, that can affect their crews and equipment. The price you pay at the pump can skyrocket when storms are forecast to impact coastal refineries or offshore rigs. Gas and electric companies use meteorologists to help them balance supply and demand, increasing efficiency. When power companies know a heat wave is forecast, they can prepare in advance to make sure enough juice is flowing to keep people’s air conditioners on. Companies that want to profit from wind energy may consult with meteorologists to determine prevailing wind speed and direction, in order to scout out the best location and positioning of wind turbines.

Short on garden space or don’t have or want to spend a lot of time gardening? Container gardening may just be for you. You can even grow vegetables in large containers in whatever space you have. Use the largest pot you can. Containers 14 to 16 inches in diameter or larger are easier to keep watered in the hot summer weather than smaller ones. Vegetables often need large pots for their root systems. The pot should be made of plastic, high density resin, hard fired ceramic clay or lightweight Styrofoam. Terra cotta and fiber pots made of pressed paper, coco fiber or peat are porous and allow water to evaporate quickly. The popularity of container gardening has resulted in a broader selection of good looking pots at reasonable prices.

When I was younger, I heard that women after the age of 50 become invisible. With retired wombs, women no longer dewy and glossy became sexless has-beens. Seen somehow only around their softening edges, out the corner of the eye, they quietly faded, dismissed as irrelevant.