Washington Voices

New listings North Central High School Class of 1954 - Sept. 10-11. On Sept. 10 there will be a dinner, reception and program at the Lincoln Center. Picnic at Manito Park Shelter on Sept. 11. Registration requested by July 18. Contact Lee Pennell at (509) 928-8367 or email leepennell@ilinkadv.net.

City leaders have given a green light to a plan that could make Spokane Valley a regional destination for sand volleyball players in the coming years. The Spokane Valley City Council approved on Tuesday the Browns Park Master Plan that seeks to install 16 tournament-quality sand courts in the 8.2-acre park on the corner of South Pines Road and East 32nd Avenue. The plan would also renovate the existing neighborhood park facilities and add new play equipment, picnic shelters and a splash pad.

For the week of July 14-18. Monday – Option 1: Swedish meatballs with rice, roll, steamed vegetables, fruit. Option 2: Deli sandwich on a bun, steamed vegetables, fruit.

Greater Spokane County/Valley Meals on Wheels - Volunteers are needed to deliver hot meals to elderly and disabled people. Volunteers must use their own vehicles to deliver meals and must pass a background check. For more information, call Pam Almeida, executive director, at (509) 924-6976 or visit www.valleymow.org.

Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - The chapter is looking for volunteers to assist the staff in preparation for special events. Call (509) 482-2022 for more information. Inland Northwest Mentoring Partnership - The group is looking for volunteers to open their eyes, minds and hearts to mentoring. Visit www.unitedway.org or www.inlandnwmentoring.org for more information.

Summer has settled in across the Inland Northwest. As of early this week, temperatures were climbing into the 90s in many locations. At Spokane International Airport, we had several 90-degree days with more in the forecast. A very strong ridge of high pressure is building across our region, right around our full moon phase that often produces very warm temperatures during the summer. The latest long-term upper-air forecast models show this ridge intensifying next week. It’s quite possible that we may come near, or even top the 100-degree mark in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene sometime in the next week.

Citizenship Course – Offered by World Relief Spokane, 1522 N. Washington St., Suite 204. For more information call (509) 484-9829. Employment, Education and Training – For Spokane County residents who have been laid off from work or have low income; provided through Work Source Spokane. Call (509) 532-3120 or visit www.workspokane.org and click on “Job Seekers.”

When my son Isaac still counted years in single digits, he often rated days with superlatives. “This was the best day ever!” he’d exclaim. The day he learned to drive his grandpa’s boat, for example, capped all other “best days” before it. It’s a heady joy to be behind the wheel, controlling the direction and speed of a motorized vehicle.

The city of Rockford has received an $11,500 grant from the Department of Ecology to purchase a new chipper. The grant was part of four totaling $265,000 to local governments in Eastern Washington to support waste reduction and recycling projects.

SPOKANE – Arbor Crest is hosting the Stage2Stage Music Fest today from noon to 8 p.m. The lineup includes Pamela Benton, Tracy Kendrick Trio, Monarch Mountain, Alex Mabey and Johnny & the Moondogs.

A surge in complaints has prompted the Liberty Lake Police Department to crack down on golf cart users who are breaking the law. “We’ve had so many complaints about golf carts in general, running rampant in the city,” said Police Chief Brian Asmus.

When, at the behest of a reader, I started focusing on beginning gardening topics this year, I never expected to write about this one. I am having multiple crop failures this year in the vegetable garden. The consolation is that it happens to everyone at some point – even experienced gardeners. The first crop I started having trouble with was my garlic. It emerged from under its blanket of winter mulch in fine shape with 100 percent survival. Maybe that should have been my first clue. I fertilized it with blood meal in late April and thought I was good to go.

Work is set to start on Monday on emergency repairs to an important farm road in south Spokane County. A storm on Feb. 14 sent a torrent of water down Rock Creek south of Freeman, washing out Jackson Road where it crossed the creek.

New listings University High School Class of 1994 Reunion - July 25-26. A Friday night casual gathering is planned. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Terrace View Park, bring your own picnic for the family-friendly gathering. Saturday night Northern Quest Casino Ballroom, 7 p.m., formal gathering with dinner and music is $50 per person. Email UHigh1994Reunion@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/uhigh1994.