Washington Voices

For 04-18-2009

Fire District 2 (Fairfield) – Commissioners met with a representative from Advanced Communications to discuss different radio options available when the district uses grant money to purchase new radios. No decision was made. (Source: Chief Jason Laulainen) Fire District 8 – Commissioners recognized Capt. Michael Lightfoot, who has 25 years of service, with the 2008 Commissioners Award. Work is ongoing at Station 82 and includes mold remediation. A rescue pumper ordered is nearly complete. The district plans to hire two new paramedics this month. (Source: Administrative Assistant Carol Trescott)

The local ALS Association will honor Jenny Hoff, a Spokane Valley woman who has lived with the disease for three years. Hoff has made public speaking engagements to area schools and on local radio and television stations, educating students and the community about the neurodegenerative muscular disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Free GED Preparation and Testing – For low-income dropout youth age 17-21 in Spokane County; call Next Generation Zone, 532-3040. GED Preparation – Ages 19 and up at many sites in Spokane; call the Community Colleges Institute for Extended Learning Adult Basic Education, 533-4600.

Just Between Friends Franchise Systems will have a consignment event at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St., on Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundayfrom 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale will include clothing for infants through juniors, layette items, baby equipment, children’s furniture, toys, hats and shoes.

After lengthy discussion and a last-minute amendment the city of Cheney’s new business license ordinance was passed 6 to 1 following a third reading during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Under the ordinance, business licenses will be free in 2009. Businesses registering this year will pay $15 in 2010 and $30 in 2011. Certain businesses will be exempt, such as temporary craft booths, and accredited public or private schools and universities, and a reduced fee will apply to businesses making less than $12,000 a year.

A divided Spokane Valley City Council agreed Tuesday to relax tough airport zoning restrictions they adopted in 2006 to protect Felts Field. The regulations, based on state guidelines, were the most restrictive in Spokane County and essentially prohibited fill-in construction in residential areas close to the airport. Some property owners complained that they had paid for sewer and water stubs for houses they could no longer build.

The budget deficit clouds were looming Monday night as the Central Valley School District board of directors examined information about coming budget cuts. New estimates put the cut somewhere between $1.2 million and $3.4 million for the 2009-’10 school year. The district held four community meetings and two staff meetings in March to ask the public to rank what’s most important to them. With input from a total of 369 people, the clear winner was classroom instruction .

Maybe you have been one of the unfortunate adult children who have had to consider moving your parent to a care facility against their will. Or, maybe you will be in that boat someday. You can read up on doing the dirty deed, get advice from others who have done it or even watch it being done by others. Nothing will prepare you sufficiently for the task. Parents are all different. Moods are different. Relationships are different.

The advanced musical theatre class at Lewis and Clark will entertain one and all when they perform “Seussical the Musical,” April 30 through May 1 at 7 p.m. The entertaining show includes storylines from more than 20 of Dr. Seuss’s works with music and songs by his most memorable characters, such as the Cat in the Hat, Horton, Thing 1, Thing 2, and more, while visiting the houses in Who-Ville and the Jungle of Nool.

OLYMPIA – Would you pay more to keep local state parks open? That’s the question lawmakers and parks supporters are trying to answer.

Today Breakfast of Champions - Third annual event presented by the Chase Youth Foundation in cooperation with Our Kids, Our Business. Celebrating the accomplishments of the Commission, honor champions of youth and raise funds to support programs that empower the youth of our community. Featuring speaker Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO of America’s Promise Alliance. Contact chaseyouthfoundation@gmail.com for more information. 7-8:30 a.m., The Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. $35. (509) 473-4827.