November 2016 Current

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A Soldier's Backup Valley-based Veterans Outreach Center rallies to help vets, page 12

WV ALUM LEADS BECU MIGRATION PAGE 2

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE PAGE 30

U-HI GRAD KICKS CANCER PAGE 23

2 • NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS

success beyond high school. My debate coach did an excellent job and invested a lot of time in giving us many opportunities.

The Park Bench

Q: You and your wife currently live in the general West Valley area. How has the community changed since you grew up there?

A Credit to the Valley – WV grad Hauschild takes local lead for BECU

A: The West Valley community has many of the fine qualities it had as I grew up. The community supports its students, the facilities are well maintained and the teachers/staff in the district work very hard to help each student on an individual basis. The community is very much committed to helping students be successful lifelong learners. It is the caring qualities of this community that caused my wife and I to choose to have our three sons also be West Valley Eagles.

By Craig Howard Current Editor

When the nation’s fourth largest credit union was looking for someone who could lead the ambitious premiere of its banking model on the east side of the state, Steve Hauschild seemed like the right person for the job.

Boeing Employee Credit Union, better known as BECU, has planted deep roots in the Puget Sound area, growing to over 950,000 members and $15 billion in assets.

Yet the financial heavyweight had not ventured east of the Cascades, other than a contact center that has been operating in Spokane Valley since 2004.

Enter Hauschild, a respected veteran of the local banking scene who started out in the farm credit system and spent time in leadership roles with banks like Washington Mutual, Sterling and Umpqua. A graduate of West Valley High, Hauschild stuck around for college, earning his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University in business/accounting before shifting to Pullman where he received a Master’s in business management.

Since starting with BECU in early April, Hauschild has helped his new colleagues scout out the territory leading up to the opening of a pair of branches in September. His business background and grasp of the community has proved valuable as BECU has worked to break into a market that already includes major credit union brands like STCU, Numerica and Horizon, among others.

When Hauschild was hired, BECU CEO Benson Porter said he would be a good fit.

“We are delighted to have Steve

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Steve Hauschild serves as market manager and director of Business Services on the east side of the state for Boeing Employee Credit Union (BECU). The nation’s fourth largest credit union opened up its first two branches in Eastern Washington this September.

Photo by Craig Howard join the BECU team,” Porter said.

“His integrity, experience and local knowledge will be invaluable as we grow our presence in Eastern Washington. He truly believes in the power of people helping people and our commitment to the communities we serve, both core principles of our credit union philosophy.”

While the contact center and a sprinkling of ATMs in the Spokane Valley had brought some recognition to BECU among eastsiders in the past, the launch of branches on Sullivan Road in the Valley and on Division just west of Gonzaga University has made it clear that BECU is not just a Seattle credit union any longer. A third location is already in the works. On the community giving side, BECU has already reached out in support of local nonprofit causes like SNAP and Hearth Homes.

Hauschild appears well-suited for the challenge of being BECU’s face in its new market. He learned the importance of hard work and accountability on a family farm in the Pleasant Prairie-Bigelow Gulch area where he and his two siblings fed chickens, milked cows and cleared crop fields of rocks. His dad and brother still farm in the community.

In addition to 36 years in the banking industry, Hauschild has

served on the board of Boise-based co-op United Heritage Insurance since 2000. He has volunteered with the American Legion baseball program and through his church, Fourth Memorial in Spokane.

Steve and his wife, April, a graduate of University High and Eastern Washington, will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary in December. They are proud parents of three sons – Tyler, David and Michael.

Q: It sounds like you had quite a few responsibilities as a kid. How do you think growing up on a farm in the West Valley area influenced your work ethic and character?

A: My brother, sister and I were given a lot of responsibilities at an early age. We had to take care of livestock and we played an important part in getting field work and chores done. There was no question that we were expected to get things done and they needed to be done right.

Q: What were you like as a student at West Valley High School?

A: I was a good student and enjoyed debate and was actively involved in student government.

I had a lot of good teachers that cared about the students and wanted to make sure we had

Q: I'm guessing you had a number of options when it came to picking a college. Why did you decide to stay local?

A: I went to GU and felt it would give me a solid education and they provided me a scholarship. It was a good fit.

Q: How did you wind up in the banking business and has it turned out to be the career you hoped it would be when you started?

A: I was getting my MBA at WSU and was interviewing with a number of on-campus businesses that were recruiting.

The farm credit banks were recruiting on campus and I had a great interview with all three banks and liked what they did. They were focused on agriculture and rural America and both were areas I knew about and was committed to helping. I also liked the cooperative structure of the system, since we had grown up with a number of cooperatives providing services to our family farm.

Q: Do you think the image of financial institutions has recovered from the Great Recession?

A: The banking sector's public image continues to struggle from the events and images that remain vivid in all of our minds from the Great Recession. The public's trust of the banking sector has again become part of our public discourse with recent congressional hearings and news stories that the industry

See WV GRAD, Page 3

The Current

WV GRAD

Continued from page 2 is dealing with again.

Q: Why is BECU a good fit for you at this point in your career?

A: BECU is a great fit for me.

When you become a member of BECU, you become an owner of the credit union. Our focus is making sure we place the needs of our members first. Our members are our owners and we are responsible to them and to make sure they are well served. The values of BECU are the values I have grown up with and embrace. BECU is about "people helping people.”

Q: BECU has had a contact center in Spokane Valley for 12 years but is known primarily as a credit union well established on the west side of the state. How do you think that perception might shift with the branches now open in this area?

A: Spokane is a great credit union community that understands the importance of credit unions.

Spokane and Eastern Washington are excited and pleased with BECU's expansion. We are about being good community partners and being an additive to the growth and success of our community. We have about 5,000 members in the community and it is growing each day. We could not be more pleased with how our entire area has welcomed BECU to the community.

Q: What can people expect from BECU as it plants roots here?

A: BECU has been around since 1935 and is Washington's largest credit union. We have five values that we try to live each day as we help our members and our community: ‘Members First,’ ‘Do the Right Thing.’ ‘Own It,’ ‘Know Your Stuff’ and ‘Be Real.’ Stop by our Neighborhood Financial Centers at 615 North Sullivan or 916 North Division or check us out at BECU. org and you will see first-hand the value BECU delivers each day to our members and our community.

Q: Finally, you're a Zag and a Coug. When the two schools face off as athletic foes, which side of the arena are you sitting on?

A: I am there supporting both schools. I want to see good sportsmanship, teams that are prepared and athletes that are truly students first and representing their respective schools well.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 3

Calhoun named Spokane Valley’s newest city manager From Current News Sources

The Spokane Valley City Council appointed Mark Calhoun to serve as the new city manager at its Oct. 25 meeting and authorized Mayor Rod Higgins to enter into negotiations for an employment agreement subject to final approval by the council.

Calhoun was selected from a field of 42 applicants for the position.

Calhoun has already been functioning in the role of acting city manager since May of this year, after having held the position of deputy city manager since August of 2014. He originally joined the city as Finance Director in June of 2011.

A graduate of the University of Montana, Calhoun holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Finance. Of the 30 years’ experience he brings to the position, 28 years have been in municipal government, including 19 as a finance director.

Before they served our community, they served our country.

Our appreciation for veterans goes deeper than a pat on the back.

In fact, Waste Management is a champion for veterans—one of the nation’s top employers of veterans.

It makes sense. Vets have years of training in leadership, safety and teamwork—the same core values that unite WM employees as we serve our customers and our communities.

So to our veterans—thank you for your service to our country, and for the leadership, safety and teamwork that you bring to Waste Management – Spokane Valley.

For more information, contact Jesse Granado at 509.944.3116 or jgranado@wm.com

Once the terms of employment have been negotiated, the proposed contract with Calhoun will come back to the council for review/approval in an open public meeting. A date for that meeting will be announced.

Under Spokane Valley's CouncilManager form of government, the city manager serves the citizens under the direction of the City Council. The city manager is the chief executive officer responsible for implementing the policy directives of the council, supervising all departments, and providing leadership and direction in development of short and long range plans for the city organization.

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4 • NOVEMBER 2016

SRTC seeks advisory committee members

From Current News Sources Are you looking for a volunteer position that gives you a voice in developing local policies, works closely with area policy makers and lets you help shape and develop the area transportation system?

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) is seeking members for its Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), a citizen’s advisory group that provides transparency and a community perspective to the transportation planning process.

SRTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Spokane County. MPOs ensure that transportation expenditures are based on a cooperative and comprehensive planning process.

Federal funds for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process and awarded to local agencies and jurisdictions that deal with transportation.

The TAC advises the SRTC Board regarding plans, programs and activities to determine consistency with SRTC policies, makes recommendations on regional transportation policies and serves as a conduit for information between the board and the public.

TAC members represent the general public and groups including, but not limited to, people with disabilities, senior citizens, youth, the business and freight moving communities, traditional automobile users and advocates for non-motorized transportation or public transit. It is important that the TAC has representatives from the populations listed above to represent as many sectors of society as possible.

Millwood turns 89

NEWS

By Mary Anne Ruddis Current Correspondent Happy Birthday Millwood! On Oct. 26, Millwood celebrated its 89th birthday with an open house at City Hall. The public was invited to meet Mayor Kevin Freeman, City Council and staff and enjoy birthday cake and ice cream. The annual birthday celebrations will build to the 100-year anniversary of the city in 2027.

The Oct. 11 City Council meeting included a presentation from the Spokane County Library District highlighting the many programs available through the library. From business and career development to after-school programs to providing free meeting and conference space, the library is a vital part of the community. The library encourages participation and hopes to expand its programs. Additional information can be found at www. scld.org.

Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services (SCRAPS) also provided information about their regional service for Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Rockford and unincorporated Spokane County.

In 2015, SCRAPS took in 10,095 animals – the majority of which were cats at 6,097 and dogs at 3,718 with another 280 other animals. The majority of dogs, 63 percent, were returned to owners.

Cats were only returned at a rate of 4 percent. Find out more about SCRAPS at www.spokanecounty. org/567/SCRAPS. Previously, the Millwood City Council adopted Resolution 201611 stating its support for Spokane

Transit Authority's Proposition 1 which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

If approved, the proposition would increase the sales tax 0.1 percent in April, 2017 and another 0.1 percent two years later to fund improvements and services spelled out in STA's Moving Forward program.

Resolution 16-12, approving an agreement between the city of Millwood and Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission(WUTC) regarding the installation and partial funding of improvements and upgrades to the railway crossing at Marguerite Street was approved. The project involves installation of shouldermounted flashing LED lights and gates, replacement of the existing concrete crossing surface and installation of additional crossing panels, installation of curb and gutter and construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side of the Marguerite Street crossing in Millwood. Total grant funding awarded by WUTC is $254,333 which is the cost of installing the active warning devices. The total approximate cost of the project is $445,810. The project must be completed no later than June 15, 2017.

Council Member Dan Sander will continue to serve on Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) as a representative for small cities. Fellow Council Member Andy Van Hees will provide back-up representation.

The SRTC is governed by a policy board consisting of 14 voting members and three ex-officio nonvoting members, including one person representing the Spokane Transit Authority, one representative from the Spokane Airport Board,

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an elected official from a small town to represent jurisdictions with populations fewer than 5,000 and three elected officials from a small town to represent jurisdictions with populations between 5,001 and 50,000 people. The board also includes one elected official from each respective governing body with a population between 50,001 and 100,000, two elected officials from each respective governing body with a population over 100,001 and two State Transportation representatives, one from the Washington State Department of Transportation appointed by the Secretary of Transportation and one from the Washington State Transportation Commission appointed by the chair of the Commission. The board is completed by one person representing a major employer, with preference for a provider of private sector transportation services within the region, the chair of SRTC’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), one representative of the rail industry and the chair of the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC).

Installing the radar sign on Argonne seems to be working to slow the traffic through Millwood and will be continued and possibly expanded.

The city attorney is also drafting an amendment to address begging and panhandling with careful consideration to the legal protections involved concerning free speech issues.

The budget presentation was continued to the regular November meeting to present the 2017 budget because the numbers were not yet available. There will be a final reading of the 2017 budget at a special meeting on Nov. 29 to prepare for approval on Dec. 8.

Those chosen for the TAC will serve three year terms, starting in January 2017 and finishing at the December 2019 meeting.

For more information, call 3433670 or visit www.srtc.org/tac.

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NEWS

Briggs retires after a decade of leading Valley Partners

Staci Lehman Current Correspondent Ken Briggs is the ultimate team player – so he’s decided to take one for the team.

“I knew I was going to step down at some point,” Briggs said of his decision to walk away recently as CEO of Spokane Valley Partners. “I was on a reduced schedule to save some money.”

After 10 years, Briggs has left his position as lead administrator of the Valley’s best-known community center to look into new opportunities and take some stress off the organization’s budget. About a year ago, he began donating $1,000 of his pay each month back to the agency.

“I hung on for a while to make sure the transition was smooth,” he said. “Jen knows she can call me anytime.”

“Jen” is Jennifer Schlenske, who is succeeding Briggs as Spokane Valley Partner’s new CEO. Spokane Valley Partners is a nonprofit hub of social and emergency services for families facing obstacles such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness and hunger. The organization serves a large area, from Havana Street to the county lines on each side and provides as many services as possible in a onestop, central location at 10814 E. Broadway Ave.

Ken Briggs retired as CEO of Spokane Valley Partners on Oct. 11 after a decade with the social service agency.

For the last year, Briggs was donating back $1,000 each month to help the cause.

File photo

Spokane Valley Partners’ campus includes a food bank, clothing bank, a weekend meal program for children on the free-and-reduced lunch program, a community education classroom, community gardens and other nonprofit agencies such as SNAP, the Arc of Spokane, Steps Re-Entry program, Valleyfest and Ignite! Community Theater.

The organization, staffed by just five full-time employees and volunteers who log about 25,000 hours a year, is funded primarily by donations and a few small grants.

One thing Briggs says his staff was skilled at was making funds stretch.

“The food bank serves well over 1,000 families a month,” said Briggs. “We raise our own food too with a two-and-a-half acre urban farm on land donated by Modern Electric.”

In his ten years at the helm of the agency, Briggs was responsible for many infrastructure upgrades that helped the organization to grow.

“We built a new warehouse,” he said. “We put a new roof on, put new boilers in the building. We did a lot to expand the organization’s capacity to serve.”

Valley Partners Board of Directors President Nancy Ledeboer says she and other board members recognize the time and dedication Briggs put into his job.

“We’re very grateful for the years of service,” she said. “I know when he came to the organization it was in a transition and he saw it through that,” she said.

Ledeboer says the new leadership will take a little different direction.

“Ken helped to create the name of Spokane Valley Partners and now Jennifer is going to take it forward,” she said. “Raising the visibility of Spokane Valley Partners has always been one of the organization’s goals. We hope with Jen in the new role she will be able to do that.”

With Spokane Valley Partners in good hands, Briggs says he is ready to move on to something new, but not ready to retire yet. He is looking for a new position, but would prefer to stay in the nonprofit sector.

“I want to make a contribution to something,” Briggs said. “It’s hard to get away from that after so many years.”

In the meantime, Briggs has plenty to keep him busy. He is part of the adjunct faculty in Sociology at Whitworth University, teaching one night a week. He also volunteers on several area boards and uses his journeyman carpenter skills from his pre-Spokane Valley Partner days for household projects. An avid

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CALL OR REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE runner, he covers 25 miles a week for exercise. When not running, Briggs makes stained glass and stained glass lamps, gardens, cooks and plays the Scottish bagpipes.

Even with this wide array of hobbies to fill his time, Briggs says it’s still important to find a job, even if it’s only part time.

“If I stay home alone, I’ll just get in trouble,” he said.

While Briggs is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, he says there are some things he will definitely miss about his longtime professional home.

“First and foremost, I miss the

staff and volunteers,” he said. “They are incredible people. Volunteers are the heart and soul of this organization.”

Want to help?

Additional volunteers are needed at Spokane Valley Partners. It takes over 100 people alone to run the food bank. People are needed in all areas – to sort clothes for the clothing bank, pick up donated grocery items, help with administrative and marketing duties and even carry out small maintenance duties and repairs. If you can help, call Valley Partners at 927-1153 or email devdir@svpart. org.

6 • NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS

SVFD Report – November 2016

the pile of cardboard until it was completely out.

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 1,310 emergency calls from Sept. 20 through Oct. 20, 2016. Incidents include: • Motor Vehicle Accident – Sept. 22 – A 21-year-old man was found lying by the side of the road in the 13900 block of East Trent shortly before 2:30 am. He appeared to be the driver of a vehicle that collided with a light pole with airbag deployed. SVFD crews stabilized the patient and a SVFD paramedic continued to provide advanced medical treatment in the ambulance as the patient was transported to the hospital.

• Hazardous Materials Investigation – Sept. 24 Shortly after 12 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a report of a red biohazard container with needles on the ground around it in a public parking lot in the 14000 block of East Sprague Avenue. They retrieved the container and spilled contents for safe disposal.

• Service Call – Sept. 26 – Shortly

before 9 p.m., SVFD crews assisted a family in gaining entry into a locked vehicle with a 6-month-old baby trapped inside. The incident occurred in front of a house in the 500 block of North Homestead Drive • Recycle Truck Fire – Sept.

27 – SVFD crews responded to a reported vehicle fire in the 6400 block of East Broadway shortly before 10:30 a.m. Upon arrival, they found a Waste Management truck that had pushed a burning load of packed cardboard out onto the ground. Smoke and fire were still coming from the rear compartment of the vehicle.

Firefighters extinguished the flames and continued to overhaul

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• Attic Fire – Sept. 27 – SVFD crews responded to a reported residential structure fire in the 14600 block of East Longfellow Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. Upon arrival, they found smoke coming from the back of the home. Crews cut out a portion of the back wall of the house to gain access to the attic space where they quickly extinguished the fire, minimizing fire damage to an exterior gable and a small portion of the attic. The homeowner, who had attempted to put the fire out with a garden hose, was transported to the hospital for evaluation due to smoke inhalation.

The fire originated in the attic vent fan. Estimated damage totaled $12,000.

• Vehicle Fire – Sept. 29 – Shortly after 5:30 p.m., SVFD crews responded to a reported vehicle fire on the shoulder in the 9400 block of East Trent. Firefighters arrived to find a four door sedan in flames.

They quickly extinguished the fire.

The vehicle was a total loss.

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block of South Virgil Court were outside when SVFD crews arrived in response to a reported garage fire just after 8 p.m. Light smoke was coming from the attached garage. Crews quickly located and extinguished a small fire that was contained in the garage. Although the fire did not extend into the home or attic, there was extensive smoke damage throughout the residence. The cause of the fire was undetermined. Damage to the structure was estimated at $25,000. Estimated damage to the vehicles inside the garage totaled $45,000.

Outdoor Burn Ban – The Fire Danger Burn Restriction issued by SVFD on July 29 was lifted on Oct. 3. This means outdoor recreational fires that comply with regulations are now allowed, including woodburning backyard fire pits and campfires. However, open burning of yard waste, garbage and fields is prohibited at all times. Violators may be fined.

By the numbers: • Fires* - 67

• Gasoline Spill – Oct. 5 – SVFD crews investigated a hazardous material spill in the 14500 block of East Trent at about 8:15 a.m. Upon arrival, they used an absorbent to contain the three to five gallons of gasoline that had spilled in the bed of a pickup truck. The driver was instructed about proper disposal of the contaminated absorbent material.

• Emergency medical service calls - 1,044

• Unauthorized Burning – Oct. 10 – SVFD crews responded to a report of unauthorized burning in the 23600 block of East Sharpe Court shortly after 4:30 p.m. They arrived to find the homeowner burning in a burn barrel outside his home. They assisted with extinguishing the fire and provided education about approved outdoor recreational burning devices and fuel. Burn barrels have been banned for decades.

*Brush, Commercial, Residential, Rubbish, Vehicle Fires and Unauthorized Burning

• Motor vehicle accidents 117 • Hazardous material investigations - 14 • Building alarms - 59 • Service calls - 8 • Water Rescue - 1

About SVFD - Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane Valley and unincorporated areas of Spokane County including the communities of Otis Orchards, Pasadena Park, and the area surrounding Liberty Lake, with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square Make Appointment Today 509.892.9284 • Your Motor Vehicle Accident – miles. In 2015, SVFD firefighters Oct. 11 – SVFD crews responded and paramedics responded to more to an auto-pedestrian accident and than 15,800 emergency calls. administered emergency medical Established in 1940, the Department aid to a female on the scene. At operates 10 stations providing fire 7:30 a.m, the victim was hit by a suppression, emergency medical pickup truck and dragged under services, technical rescue, vehicle the vehicle near the intersection extrication, hazardous materials of Argonne Rd and East Liberty response, swift water rescue, fire fire prevention, Avenue. She sustained serious investigation, but not life-threatening injuries commercial property inspection, and was transported to the CPR and fire safety training. SVFD hospital. The Spokane County also offer free fire safety home Sheriff Department conducted LIBERTY LAKE: E. 23505 Appleway Ave. Ste. an #204 inspections and smoke detectors. investigation.

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NOVEMBER 2016 • 7

NEWS

Rockford gears up for 2017 capital improvements

By Benjamin Shedlock Current Correspondent While construction projects wind down in Rockford this season, the Town Council has been seeking public input as it prepares to apply for state funding for next year’s capital improvements.

To help guide the raft of projects that the town has been undertaking, the council hired long-term Council Member Dave Thompson as its new public works director. Tim Fricke was appointed to complete Thompson’s term.

Fricke is a first-time council member and he began his new tenure Oct. 3. His first meeting in office was Oct. 12 for a public hearing to discuss Rockford’s 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the state Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Municipalities seeking CDBG funding are required to hold public hearings to gather input from the community on potential projects. The goal of the meeting was to generate project ideas for the fiscal year 2017 application. CDBG applications are due Nov. 10.

The meeting was attended by all but one council member, Thompson, as public works director, and by Rockford’s engineering consultant, Lane Merritt of JUB Engineers. Although only one nonmedia member of the public was in attendance, Council Member Jim Oshanick reported that in his conversations with town residents, people most wanted Rockford to pave its roads, many of which are gravel. He said other residents wanted sewer improvements.

Council Member Clint Stevenson said that “paving new streets would be great,” but that it was more important to preserve the streets that are currently paved and beginning to gator. He cited the closure of Missile Base Road as a cautionary tale of deferred maintenance and noted that Pacific Street and the intersection of Sprague and Third streets were rapidly deteriorating. He suggested that approach pads could be installed at intersections to keep down dust from accelerating cars.

When Merritt clarified that CDBG funding could not be used for roads, the discussion turned to sewers.

“We’re trying to cut down on sewer leaks that contribute to lagoon discharge,” Mayor Carrie Roecks said.

The town must also address recent problems it has had with rocks and chunks of concrete depositing into the lagoon, which may indicate that large cracks have formed in some of the pipes. The council discussed several high-priority areas for repair, especially along Rock Creek where leaks could contaminate the water.

According to Merritt, CDBG applicants must identify specific projects in their applications and have current planning documents.

Rockford last updated its Small Water System Plan in 2007 and must incorporate the significant changes to its water system since then, including the new well and replaced lagoon. The engineer said that Rockford’s Small Water System plan can easily be updated.

Merritt, Stevenson, and Thompson will work together to update the plan.

To identify the extent of repairs that the sewers need, the council plans to conduct video inspections. The inspections will take place in the spring, when rains make it easy to identify any cracks where runoff may be infiltrating. If the sewer is mostly intact, it can be sliplined, but pipes that are broken or misaligned will require digging. According to Stevenson, the documentation requires pipes to be cleared of roots, which will also help the system.

Rockord’s chances of winning CDBG funding for fiscal year 2017 are low.

According to Merritt, only $600,000 is available for Spokane County. Rockford has benefitted from about a half million dollars through the fund over the last five years.

“It’s challenging to make the case for Rockford again,” Merritt said. However, he recommended Rockford keep its needs in front of the CDBG board to position Rockford for future funding.

The council is clearing the way for next year’s construction season by overseeing the last pieces of this year’s work.

Thompson said that Phase I of the town’s well project will be completed this month. The project, which is critical to the town’s water infrastructure, is replacing one of the town’s two existing wells, which began to fail last summer. The first phase included drilling the new well. The second phase includes pump installation, and the town expects to put the project out for bid in November, according to Roecks.

The town opened Missile Base Road in mid-October after it was closed for an emergency repaving project, Thompson said. Last July, council voted to close the buckling road because it was no longer fit for the heavy traffic it supports. Freight trucks and emergency vehicles use the cutoff to avoid the tight intersection of Highway 27 and Emma Street. Because of the road’s regional importance, Washington’s Transportation Improvement Board provided emergency funding to repave the road, according to Council Member Micki Harnois.

Rockford is addressing a small setback before it completes its First Street sidewalk project. The new sidewalk on the south side of First Street connects the walkway next to the park with the path that had previously stopped at the baseball diamond on the east end of town. The wheelchair ramp at the east end of the sidewalk needs to be repoured after someone apparently walked on the wet pavement, which had not been taped off. Most of the paving took place in front of the Rockford Minimart.

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8 • NOVEMBER 2016

Valley Council votes against property tax increase

NEWS

Current Correspondent

Allocations to social service and economic development agencies The City Council sets aside money in during the budgeting process each year to help support other agencies providing social services and economic development assistance within the Spokane Valley community. The council decided to increase the total amount awarded to outside agencies by $43,000 by transitioning the Economic Development efforts of Greater Spokane Inc. (which is the region’s designated Economic Development Council) to a different budget line.

The Council received applications from 22 different agencies with requests totaling just over $418,000. After hearing presentations from each of the agencies on how they would use the funds, the council allocated the 2017 funds totaling $150,000 to the following: $17,143 to the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce to support their Big 5 initiative; $48,601 to the Spokane Valley Arts Council in support of their upcoming bronze sculpture, scholarship program and other operational expenses; $3,495 to the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum to help support their initiative of digitizing the archives of community records with the purchase of a large format scanner and storage containers and $22,685 to Valleyfest for marketing and advertising Valleyfest and Spokane Valley across the Inland Northwest Region.

Also receiving funds were the Arts Academy of Spokane ($2,500) for their after school program focusing on introducing arts and culture to elementary students within the Central Valley School District; Baskets for Babies ($784)

New city manager named On June 28, the City Council authorized John Whitehead, Human Resources manager for the city to hire an external firm to recruit applicants for the position of city manager. From a press release issued by the city “Those applications were screened by a selection committee of councilmembers and city staff, and were presented to the full City Council during a closed special executive council meeting on Sept.

27. At that meeting, a slate of candidates to be interviewed was confirmed.”

By Lincoln Dowright

Each year, the Spokane Valley City Council has the ability to raise their portion of the amount collected via property tax by up to 1 percent (or approximately $150,000). The City Council unanimously agreed to forgo the increase again for 2017 making it the eighth straight year the city hasn’t raised their portion of the property tax assessment.

The Current

to support their crib assistance program for expectant families in need; Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels ($21,821) to help provide meals and support to seniors across Spokane Valley; Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council ($4,143) for support of the local Washington Drug Free Youth (WDFY) chapters and a community engagement event to provide information on how alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other dugs affect our youth. Spokane Valley Partners received $13,429 to support continued operations and $15,399 went to Windows Might to provide assistance to widows and their widow housing relief project.

Other worthy organizations who presented but didn’t get enough votes to receive funding included: The Spokane Area Workforce Development Council, SNAP Financial Assistance, ALS Association Evergreen Chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest, Vietnam Veterans of America and the YWCA.

estimated at $522,000 and Mission Ave sidewalk from Union to Bates (north side of the street only) with the total project cost estimated at $285,000.

Last year the project selected for CDBG funds received feedback from the neighborhood protesting the sidewalk and the city chose to return all of the funds.

Browns Park Water Well With the addition of the new Splash pad water feature in Browns Park earlier this year the City of Spokane Valley found that the lease agreement between Water District #3 and the City of Spokane Valley had expired and was time to renew.

The water district was requesting that the renewal be an easement on the city property to allow the water district to have permanent rights to access their investment. The City Council was less than receptive to the idea of an easement and has offered the water district a 50-year lease instead.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects The city of Spokane Valley participates with the Spokane County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consortium and gets a 20 percent set-aside of federal funds for infrastructure projects. Spokane Valley’s share is generally around $270,000 for eligible projects. Note only projects within areas designated as lowto-moderate income areas which primarily benefit the residents are eligible. This year the City Council held public hearing on the potential applications to submit for funding and ultimately decided to apply for two different projects: Eighth Avenue Sidewalks from Dickey to Thierman (north side of the street only) with a total project cost

It went on to announce that the interviews will be conducted during closed door executive meeting on Oct. 21 where certain city staff and individuals from fields like business, education, government and law were invited to also interview and provide their feedback to the City Council.

After the interviews were conducted, the City Council approved a motion at the Oct. 25 meeting to authorize Mayor Rod Higgins to negotiate an employment agreement with Mark Calhoun, who was the former deputy city manager and has been serving as acting city manager since May. Sullivan Bridge Update The Sullivan Bridge is overall 98 percent complete and is on track to be finished in early December provided weather conditions hold out long enough to finish the final landscaping and painting. The public should have unrestricted use of the bridge in mid-November.

Total project is ending $616,000 over the $12.3 million original contract.

The total includes $510,000 for the Centennial Trail realignment, $51,300 for additional sewer work funded by Spokane County and $54,500 from the city street preservation fund to connect the new construction on Sullivan around the bridge to the area recently improved just to the north.

Details regarding the project dedication ceremony targeted for just before Thanksgiving will be announced soon.

False Alarm Program Update

Mark Calhoun was named city manager Oct. 25 after holding the position as the interim city manager since February.

Photo by Ben Wick

The program which has the goal to reduce the number of responses to false alarms to increase the availability of police service to the general public and to encourage alarm businesses and alarm users to maintain the operational viability

See VALLEY, Page 9

The Current

NEWS

contact information when a request for response call is initiated. Also, instead of trying to force fee collections the police department would simply stop responding to calls initiated by alarm companies if the resident has a past due alarm fees.

Continued from page 8

The proposal was met with excitement by the City Council but still requires approval from the Spokane County Commissioners before moving forward.

2017 Budget

Sullivan Bridge project as of October 26, 2016. The project is on track to be fully completed in December of 2017.

Contributed Photo

VALLEY

the alarm registrations and fee payments.

of their security alarm system to reduce or eliminate false alarm dispatch requests made to the police department.

The current proposal is to have a system hosted internally by the police department (or in this case the Spokane County Sheriff’s office) and instead of requiring registrations alarm companies would be required to provide the

Continued from page 8

Currently the program requires registration with a contracted third party annually and they manage

The Proposed 2017 City Budget, which is scheduled for final adoption at the Nov. 8 council meeting, includes expenditures totaling $80,739,873 with over $23.5 million in capital expenditures a 12.5 percent increase from the 2016 budget (originally approved at $70,683,872).

Within the proposed budget is a recurring revenue estimate of $41,462,500 which is 4.38 percent greater than the latest 2016 revenue projections. A total of $40,053,822 of recurring expenditures which is less than 1 percent greater than the 2016 recurring expenditures.

Included in the budget is also an increase of one employee position

A Community Event Honoring Those We Have Lost In Impaired Driving Crashes and Alcohol/Drug Involved Tragedies

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Community Awareness Gathering 6:30pm Candle Light Vigil beginning at 7:30 pm With Underage Drinking/Drug Use Prevention Education

Held at the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) 200 North Mullan Road, Suite 102 Spokane Valley, WA 99206 Please call 922-8383 to have your loved one honored or for more information about the event.

Thank you for your support from Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, the City of Spokane Valley, and the Spokane County DUI Victims Panel.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 9

for City Hall operations and maintenance taking the total city full time equivalent employee (FTE) count to 88.4.

Notable expenditures within the proposed budget include: $1,970,000 to complete the design phases of the Barker Road and Pines Road Railroad Grade Separation projects; a little more than $10 million in street capital/ preservation projects and $3.9 million for continued construction of the Appleway Trail (Pines to Evergreen and Sullivan to Corbin).

Hot topics November

coming

up

in

There will be discussion and public hearing on the possibility of a utility tax on electricity, natural gas, water, solid waste or sewer to help fund transportation and infrastructure projects. The public hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.

Final approval of the 2017 city budget – currently scheduled on the Tuesday, Nov. 8 meeting starting at 5 p.m.

Draft comprehensive plan and development regulations – Public hearing currently scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.

The Current

10 • NOVEMBER 2016

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Federally insured by NCUA *The rate for the Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is based on the highest Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal as of the date of any rate adjustment plus a margin (3.74% APR as of 9/1/2016). APRs do not include costs and rate may vary monthly (maximum 18% APR) and are subject to increase after account opening upon default. During the credit advance draw period, payments equal monthly payments of interest, subject to lesser of $100 or your balance and principal is not reduced. At the end of the draw period, your monthly payment will increase equal to the principal and interest amount necessary to pay the loan balance over the remainder of the loan term amortized over 180 months. The actual rate may be higher than the advertised rate for loans exceeding 70% combined-loan-to-value (CLTV) or if you have lesser creditworthiness. Not every applicant will qualify.

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The Current

Free Handyman Service stands on guard to help disabled veterans

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent It doesn’t look like a haven. In fact, it’s a challenge to accurately describe the crowded lot on the corner of Trent and Pines.

It’s kind of a hodgepodge.

There’s a part that sells wooden sheds and another that’s an openair thrift shop. In a few weeks it will transform into a lot selling Christmas trees. And that’s all in addition to the sign above the main building that proclaims Free Handyman Service for Disabled Veterans.

But when you consider that the nonprofit operation does a little of everything, the surroundings are a reflection of purpose.

For Kevin Oxley, it’s a mission to help disabled veterans, the widows of veterans, Gold Star families and veterans in need of assistance.

Free Handyman Service for Disabled Veterans opened its doors in early May and discovered a substantial need within the community.

“Right away we had 200 requests for help,” Executive Director Cecilia White said. “We’ve been able to do, probably, 150 of them and we’re still working on the rest. And we have two or three vets come through our doors every day looking for help.”

NOVEMBER 2016 • 11

But, like the proverbial iceberg, there’s more underneath the surface.

“I have a large basement and that’s where we keep the stuff that can get damaged in the rain,” he said. “And that’s where we keep the coats, the sleeping bags, the winter clothes that people have donated.

Winter hasn’t started yet and we’ve already gone through most of what we have.”

A good deal of what they do is covered by donations. Clothing, tools, supplies, whatever helps. A phone bank helps raise both cash and awareness.

“The thing we are asked to do more than anything else is build ramps,” Oxley said. “They just need some help getting in and out of their home. A lot of them say ‘Hey, I’ll supply the materials if you can just get someone to come build it for me.’ Yeah, we can get someone to come build you a ramp.”

Oxley worked and volunteered with the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles, he said. But there’s a big difference in size and scope of what the VA is able to accomplish in Spokane.

“In L.A., they’re able to respond faster in and in ways they can’t here,” he said. “Down there if you need a ramp, for example, someone is there the next day to build you a ramp. But in VA campus down there is so much bigger than the one here.”

Here, he said, the lag time is longer and the need is substantial

Kevin Oxley opened Free Handyman Service for Disabled Veterans at the corner of Trent and Pines in early May. The establishment sells a variety of products and provides home repairs for disabled veterans at no charge.

Photo by Craig Howard for someone to, well, just help out.

Even just a little.

Mow the lawn. Haul away that stuff in the backyard. Help with a pet. Fix something that’s broken – doors, windows, fences, gates.

Install safety rails in bathrooms and showers. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Do a little painting or move something heavy. If it’s on your to-do list, it’s on a disabled vet’s list, too.

“We have people come in every day asking for help,” White said.

“It’s one thing for them to call

“I’m here to help them. I’m safe and my children are safe thanks to the sacrifices these men and women have made to keep us that way. I want to pay them back. And pay it forward.”

Oxley paid for much of the startup out of his own pocket, White explained. He just doesn’t want to hear the number for how much. The application process for 501 c(3) status is underway, which will turn the operation into an official charity.

Some people asking for help assume there’s government funding behind what Free Handyman does, and Oxley has to explain that there isn’t. If folks are able, he asks that they contribute something to the effort.

A veteran of America Online and the greater Los Angeles real estate market, Oxley has pulled together an impressive array of allies in a short amount of time. Lumber yards and builders donate leftover supplies and volunteers supply manpower.

Donation boxes are set up around town and Oxley said he wants to expand that. Already people see what Oxley and his people are doing and stop by to make a donation.

The lot full of sheds?

“We get 10 percent off the top on every shed we sell,” he explained.

“That goes right into what we’re doing.”

“Mostly I want people to just see what we’re doing and understand that there’s a need out there,” he said. “I want them to understand that there’s a need out there.

The thrift shop, which offers a little bit of everything?

“Is there a tool you need? Make me an offer,” Oxley said. “Are you a veteran? How about a dollar? Are you a disabled vet? Then it’s free.”

and to talk to them on the phone.

But when you’re talking to them in person, you get a feel for what they’re going through and it’s hard to say no to them. You just want to help.

High-quality sheds line the parking lot at Free Handyman Service for Veterans.

For every shed sold, 10 percent goes toward efforts to support disabled veterans.

Photo by Craig Howard

“There’s a wonderful, helpful spirit to people here. We can make a difference.”

COVER STORY

12 • NOVEMBER 2016

Reliable Refuge – Veterans Outreach Center helps vets transition to everyday life

“Women, percentage-wise, make up the most of our MST population,” said Dumlao. “Although only 25 percent of military members are women.”

Overall, Vietnam veterans are the largest demographic of clients seeking counseling and other services at veterans centers, both in Spokane and around the country.

Dumlao says there haven’t been any definitive studies as to why, 50 years later, Vietnam vets are seeking help in large numbers, but there are theories.

Staci Lehman

“They’re reaching retirement age and have more time,” he said.

“Their family’s not there to keep a lid on their issues.”

Current Contributor With Fairchild Air Force Base nearby and the area being known as a haven for retirees, our community has a large number of both active military members and veterans – over 45,000 veterans at the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent count in 2014.

“Roughly 10 percent of the population of Spokane County is veterans,” said Veterans Outreach Program Specialist and Counseling Intern Eliseo "Joe" Dumlao.

“Nationwide it’s 7 percent so we’re above average.”

That makes Veterans Day a big deal in our area. That also makes for a lot of need in the community a need to support vets as they deal with experiences related to military service. According to the most recent report published by the Veterans Administration in 2016, suicides continue to be an issue among veterans with many of these deaths associated with PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and the fallout from sexual assault.

Help transitioning back to civilian

The Current

The Spokane Veterans Outreach Center has been located near Mirabeau Point Park in Spokane Valley since 2012. Prior to the move, the center was located on Mullan Road in Spokane Valley.

Photo by Staci Lehman life Dumlao works at the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane Valley. Along with other staff there, he is working to reduce these numbers. One of 300 veteran centers across the country, the Spokane center, located at 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway since 2012, has the distinction of being one of the first Veterans Outreach Center in the U.S., and the largest.

The center’s mission is to guide veterans and their families through the major adjustments required when a vet returns from combat or deployment. This is done through counseling, alcohol and drug assessment, bereavement support, suicide prevention tactics and

compassion. The compassion piece comes easy to staff at the Spokane Veterans Center, as they have all gone through the transition process at some point.

“All but one are veterans,” said Dumlao. “And the one who isn’t is the proud mother of two vets.”

The number of clients at the center is testament to the need for local veterans’ services. The center’s seven counselors had 13,000 counseling visits over the past fiscal year, the majority of them to address one issue.

“Overwhelmingly our counseling is for PTSD and combat vets,” said Dumlao.

PTSD and sexual assault in the military PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, frightening or dangerous event. While many people recover from the trauma associated with these events, others continue to experience problems and feel stressed or frightened years afterward. It is estimated that about 30 percent of men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD (see sidebar).

The Spokane Veterans Center’s seven counselors had 13,000 counseling visits over the past fiscal year, the majority of them to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Photo by Staci Lehman

Military sexual trauma (MST) is the second most common issue veterans seek counseling for at the Spokane center. About one in four women and one in 100 men selfreport as having experienced MST. MST is considered to be sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred during military service.

He also feels therapy is more mainstream and accepted today than when most of these veterans left the military. PTSD wasn’t considered a really serious issue until 1990, although prior to that, many recognized that people coming back from war weren’t the same as when they left. The disorder was known by many different names, such as “soldier’s heart” during the Civil War, “shell shock” in World War I, “battle fatigue” in World War II, and “war neurosis” or “Vietnam Syndrome” following Vietnam. No matter what the name, there was no emphasis placed on treating PTSD until recent decades.

Help for those needing benefits For veterans who require more than a counselor to deal with the effects of war, the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center works closely with the Spokane VA Medical Center to make sure their clients’ needs are addressed. While veterans centers are not formally a part of the VA mental health care system, the two entities collaborate and refer clients to each other. Veterans centers primarily offer counseling services while VA medical centers can diagnose illnesses and prescribe medication.

Not everyone comes to the Veterans Center for mental issues from combat or military service.

Some come for help with physical issues. Newman Lake resident Dan Sowell served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1981 and is the father of a veteran who served in Iraq and was recently discharged.

During his military career, Sowell worked inside tanks and armored vehicles while at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Carson, Colorado. He was subjected to loud noises on a daily basis and cramped

See VETS, Page 13

The Current

COVER STORY

PTSD treatment emphasizes steps to healing

By Staci Lehman

Current Correspondent The majority of counseling clients at the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center are there for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder issues. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: • About 11 to 20 out of every 100 veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and/or Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year

A quilt hangs in Veterans Outreach Program Specialist Joe Dumlao's office, depicting much of his military career.

Photo by Staci Lehman

VETS

Continued from page 12 conditions. Today he suffers from chronic hip, neck and back pain; has had multiple shoulder and carpal tunnel surgeries; bursitis and hearing loss of both high and low frequencies.

Sowell has long suspected that at least some of these health issues are related to his military service but until recently didn’t know there were VA benefits available to him or how to apply for them. When he was discharged from the Army, Sowell says no one explained his rights to him.

“Nobody ever said anything to me,” he said. “They didn’t do a medical evaluation on me. I was young and unaware. I didn’t know that because of the nature of what I did that it would be possibly worth something down the road benefitwise.”

Today, Sowell is working with one of two Veterans service officers from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) that are based out of the Veterans Outreach Center. They help vets identify benefits they may be eligible for and apply for them.

Sowell heard about this service, and the outreach center, through a co-worker.

“I actually didn’t know that I would qualify for VA medical,” he said. “A friend from work was telling me about it. He was telling me this guy at the outreach center was helping him. He said ‘You’re a veteran, aren’t you? You should go in and talk to him.’”

Sowell says the process was as

simple as walking in and saying he needed to meet with someone.

“You give them information about your military background, they ordered my medical records from the military,” he said. “They just do the paperwork and get the ball rolling.”

It’s something Sowell says he wouldn’t have known how to do on his own. Dumlao says Sowell is far from alone; applying for benefits can be difficult for many people, as the government changes the requirements often.

“They’re always adding benefits and taking away benefits depending on the political landscape,” he said.

• About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War veterans suffer from PTSD in a given year • Approximately 30 out of every 100 Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime Sexual assault is more likely to result in PTSD than other types of trauma, including combat. In the general population, women are twice as likely as men to experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime.

PTSD symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, fear of crowds, chronic pain or other physical health symptoms, nervousness driving, remoteness from loved ones, anger, irritability, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, alcohol and/or drug abuse, and extreme reactions to loud noises.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 13

Symptoms can come and go over many years, which could explain why many Vietnam veterans are only now seeking PTSD treatment.

Family members of veterans have also been known to suffer from PTSD after a loved one is injured or killed. Because of this, the Spokane Veterans Center offers PTSD counseling to family members of veterans.

The most common treatments for PTSD are therapy and medications, usually antidepressants that help control sadness, worry, anger and feeling numb inside. Some things PTSD sufferers can do on their own to help with recovery include: • Taking part in light physical activity or exercise to reduce stress • Setting realistic goals for recovery • Breaking up large tasks into small ones that are more easily accomplished • Spending time with other people, including talking with others about things that may trigger symptoms • Expecting symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately • Recognizing that getting help for PTSD is problem solving, not a sign of weakness To learn more, visit: www. ptsd.va.gov.

Other services for area veterans Every veteran has a different need and some are as simple as activities to keep them busy or take their mind off their struggles.

For these people, the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center offers a variety of classes and activities.

Volunteers teach fly tying classes, sobriety groups, Tai Chi, Quigong, and more. There is also a Veterans Health Garden where vegetables and flowers are grown by vets to supplement their own food supplies and to feed the homeless.

have residual mental health issues as a result of military service, he does credit the center with reducing the stress of figuring out how he to deal with chronic health problems and would recommend it to any veteran.

A quiet room is available for those who want to relax away from the stress of everyday life or wait for their appointments in a place where they feel comfortable and can see all windows and doors.

Counseling and other services at the Spokane Veterans Center are open to anyone who has served on active military duty in any combat theater or area of hostility, or experienced a military sexual trauma. Family members are also eligible. Call 444-8387 if you are interested in any of the services they offer or to set up an appointment.

“They don’t want their back to the door,” Dumlao said. “That’s one of the biggest issues vets have.”

While Sowell says he doesn’t

“Absolutely, no questions asked,” he said. “If it’s a matter of a soldier or a veteran being able to go in there to get something that maybe they weren’t aware of. I was just dumbfounded by what is available to me.”

Turn to page 30-31 to see our salute to service people and veteran services

COMMUNITY

14 • NOVEMBER 2016

The Current

Calendar of Events Serving the greater Spokane Valley since 1985 Residential and Office Cleaning Licensed and Insured Hourly Rates

For Income-Eligible Children 3 or 4 Years Old by August 31

Call us to enroll today!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD: Central Valley School District .............. 228-5810 East Valley School District .............. 924-1830

Learn more! www.del.wa.gov/care/find-hs-eceap/

COMMUNITY EVENTS Nov. 5 | Otis Orchards Fire Station #4 Open House, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 22406 E. Wellesley. The Spokane Valley Fire Department invites the community to drop by for free family fun. Meet your firefighters and check out the fire engines. Tour the fire station, try on firefighter gear, take pictures and enjoy tasty treats and cool giveaways. We’re also collecting donations for the Otis Orchards Food Bank. More at 892-4155 or www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

Nov. 5 | Farm and Food Expo, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene Street, Spokane. More than 90 classes will be offered in this full day of farm and homestead education that every small acreage farmer, garden enthusiast and foodie will want to know. Tickets are $65-$75. For more information, call 535-7274, ext. 214.

Nov. 5-6 | Central Valley High School Fall Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley. This annual community event features local vendors and benefits the CV Marching Band and Color Guard.

Nov. 15 | West Valley Early Learning Center Open House, 4 to 6 p.m., 2523 N. Park Road, Spokane. The WVSD Early Learning Center official opened Sept. 7. The community is invited to tour the updated building at this event. For more information, call 340-7204.

RECURRING ACT 2 senior classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area.

More at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ ACT2.

Paid for by Mumm for County Commissioner (D) PO Box 18526 Spokane, WA 99228

Baha’i Fireside Conversation | 5 to 6 p.m., third Friday of the month.

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Discussion of Baha’i teachings, history, and perspectives

on resolving the challenges facing humanity. All are welcome. More at 599-2411 or www.bahai.us.

embroidery, needlepoint, and arm knitting of infinity. More at 8924412 or 291-3722.

Inland Empire Blues Society monthly meeting | Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Bolo's 116 S. Best Road.

Rockford Historical Society | 11:30 a.m. second Friday of the month (Feb. to Nov.). Harvest Moon restaurant, 20 S. First St., Rockford. More at 291-3193.

Café Card Club | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays. On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Hwy., Valleyford.

Play pinochle, cribbage, or hearts.

More at www.onsacredgrounds. com.

Catholic Singles Mingle | Meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www. meetup.com/Catholic-SinglesMingle.

DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or eastpointchurch.com.

Grange potluck and meeting | 6 p.m., first Wednesday of the month, Tri Community Grange, 25025 Heather St., Newman Lake.

A potluck will be followed by a 7 p.m. meeting for this communitybased service organization. Call Jerry at 509-226-2202 or email jerrylpeterson@comcast.net.

Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11: 30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Call Steve at 8934746 for more information.

Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m.

Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | 6:30 p.m., the first Monday of each month. Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. More at www.pancan.org or 534-2564.

Rockford Crochet Class | 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. The Harvest Moon, 20 S. First St., Rockford.

Activities include hairpin lace, knit,

Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs.

More at www.scld.org Spokane Valley Eagles | 16801 E. Sprague Ave. Breakfast served Sundays 9 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch served Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by bingo from 1 to 3:30 p.m. More at www.foe3433. com.

Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank | Weekly distribution takes place Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10814 E. Broadway by appointment.

Appointments are available during the following days/times: Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Thursday (reserved for advanced-age seniors — age 60 and over — and/or physicallyhandicapped people with limited mobility): 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Address verification is required.

To make an appointment, call 927.1153 ext. 10, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

MUSIC & THE ARTS Nov. 11-12 | “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Junior,” Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.

Kroc Center, W. 1765 W Golf Course Road, Coeur d'Alene. Presented by Out of the Shadows Theater, this production features actors with disabilities who are accompanied onstage by able-bodied shadow actors. Molly Allen Jack Bannon will be on stage as narrators This is a new theatre company under the umbrella of Specialized Needs Recreation, a non-profit 501 c(3) organization. For more information, call Wendy Carroll at 208 765-

The Current

2764.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 15

COMMUNITY

RECURRING Country Jammers Dance | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., first and third Sunday of the month. Newman Lake Grange, 25025 E. Heather Lane, Newman Lake. Free (donations welcome). More information at jandg2@comcast.net.

Drop-in Square Dance Lessons | 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (through May 18). Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Road. Square dance lessons for $3 per person; no partner needed. More at 270-9264.

Pages of Harmony | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road.

If you enjoy singing, you will love the four-part, a cappella harmony of this men’s barbershop chorus.

More at www.pagesofharmony.org.

Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:45 p.m., Tuesdays. Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 2184799.

Spokane Novelists Group | Noon to 4 p.m., second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. A support/critique group for writers. Open to anyone with an interest in writing fiction (no memoirs, nonfiction, poetry, etc., please). Participants should bring 5-10 pages to read aloud and 6-8 copies for others to read along and critique. More at 590-7316.

Spokane Valley Camera Club | 7:15 p.m., third and fourth Monday of the month (September through April). Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District building, 22510 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. All levels of ability—students through experienced photographers—are invited to learn. Social events include field trips and workshops.

More at 951-1446 or www.sv-cc. org Spokane Valley Writers’ Group | 6:15 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lakeside Church, 23129 E. Mission Ave. This supportive critique group welcomes adult writers. More at 570-4440.

Teen Writers of the Inland Empire | 4 p.m., first Thursday of the month (except holidays).

What’s happening at

Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Teen writers (grade six and older) meet to write and share their work. More at 893-8400.

HEALTH & RECREATION Nov. 1-Dec. 31 | Fall Futsal League. The HUB Sports Center runs two sessions of a fiveaside futsal league for ages 9-14 with session one taking place November/December each Tuesday night and session two running January/February on Fridays. Each session is six weeks. Sign up for both sessions online to receive a discount. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www. hubsportscenter.org.

Nov. 9 | Beginner’s pickleball clinic, 10 a.m. to noon, the HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo, Liberty Lake. Come and learn the game of pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, ping pong and racquetetball.

The HUB’s expert instructors will teach you the basic skills and rules of this exciting game. Clinics take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Registration is just $10/person. All participants will have the option to stay for our drop-in play from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. each day for free. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www.hubsportscenter.org.

Nov. 11 | Multi-sport clinic, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the HUB Sports Center, Liberty Lake. This day of fun and games will feature instruction in basketball, volleyball, futsal/soccer, wiffleball, dodgeball, pickleball and more. For kids in the first through sixth grades. The 9 a.m. to noon option is $30. The 9 to 3 clinic runs $55 and attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch. For more information, call 927-0602 or visit www.hubsportscenter.org.

Nov. 18 | Finding Your Balance and Igniting Your Joy, 6:30 p.m., Willow Song Music Therapy, E. 21101 Wellesley, Otis Orchards.

This is a mindfulness-based class, exploring the connection with the physiology of stress and tension and well-being. Includes a guided progressive muscle relaxation.

Understand how to use music mindfully to support body, mind and soul optimum function,

See CALENDAR, Page 16

As we near the end of our first year under new leadership, we would like to say “thank you” to all of you for your continued support. We have learned a lot this year co-hosting a candidate forum, creating the 1st Anuual Election Guide, and continuing to support other organizations that benefit our community. We will continue our mission of “Honoring local communities and encouraging citizen involvement” as we look toward 2017.

Here are a few things we have in the works for 2017 • • •

•

In the coming months will be expanded to being delivered directly to 20,000 homes and businesses in the Spokane Valley area.

February’s issue will spotlight a special valentine’s section for those of you who would like to send your loved ones personal messages to show how much you care all month long.

Due to increases in costs, we will be implementing new pricing for advertising beginning January 2017. We are currently offering advertisers the opportunity to lock in current prices for the next year before these increases take effect. Our sales department would be happy to assist you with all your advertising needs. Call or email scott@libertylakesplash.com We are now offering advertising gift certificates.

Call for more details 701-7126 or 242-7752

The Current

16 • NOVEMBER 2016

CALENDAR

Continued from page 15 discover your rhythm and learn how to reduce stress. $25 per person. For more information, call 509-592-7875 or visit www. willowsongmusictherapy.com.

RECURRING

A holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas

HUB Sports Center 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including: • Badminton open gym: 7 to 9 p.m. Tues., $5/person • Basketball open gym: Noon to 1 p.m. Tues. and Thurs., $4/person • Pickleball drop-in: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to noon Tues. and Thurs.; and 7 to 9 p.m. Wed. and Sun. $2/seniors ($4/non-seniors)

“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will champion what the Valley area has to offer in the way of gifts and food. Advertise in this holiday guide aimed at area consumers and businesses — and as a bonus we’ll include your idea as part of our story featuring can’t-miss local gift ideas. Restaurants are encouraged to advertise and contribute a tantalizing menu item for our article on dining out.

On November 21 and 22, the guides will be distributed throughout the greater Valley area via The Splash and The Current. The December issues are strategically scheduled to land before Thanksgiving, just in time to remind residents about supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26) and throughout the holiday season.

1/4 PAGE: $325 1/2 PAGE: $650 1/2 PAGE: $650 (normally $496) (normally $992) (normally $992)

Display ad with submitted menu item or gift idea: Display ad (submitted gift idea or menu item will be printed if space is still available):

* Contract discounts apply

FULL PAGE:

$1300 (normally $1984)

• Classes including Kenpo Karate, Modern Farang-Mu Sul, and Zumba Aerobics. See website for cost and times.

Yoga in Rockford | 5:30 p.m.

Wednesdays. Rockford Park, 20 W. Emma St., Rockford. In case of inclement weather, classes will be held at Dave’s Autobody, 8 W. Emma St.

CIVIC & BUSINESS Oct. 5-Nov. 16 | Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children, noon to 2 p.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley.

A free, seven-week class based on the book co-authored by Jean Illsley Clarke and Connie Dawson. This course offers information about ages and stages of development, ways to nurture our children and ourselves, as well as tools for personal and family growth. This class is offered to veterans and their significant others in any stage of parenting. Veterans hoping to reflect on how they were raised in an effort to resolve current issues stemming from childhood are also encouraged to attend. Call 4448387 for more information.

Nov. 7-13 |The Central Valley High School Key Club is sponsoring a blanket drive the second week in November. Last year the group gathered 600 blankets to be distributed to low-

income and homeless residents served by Valley-based Blessings Under the Bridge. The goal is to eclipse that number this year. For more information, call CV at 2285100 or Blessings Under the Bridge at 869-6697 or visit www.butb.org.

Nov. 12 | 12th Annual Heritage Luncheon Fundraiser, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Eagles, 16801 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley. This year’s luncheon program is “Electric Transportation – Early 1900s” presented by Dr. Charles Mutschler, EWU history professor. Included in this program are the annual Heritage Preservation Award, a silent auction and a themed meal.

Proceeds benefit the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum. Tickets are $20 and are available at the museum. Call 922-4570 to RSVP. Nov. 19 | GSSAC Ugly Holiday Sweater Soiree, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Family of Faith Community Church, 1504 W. Grace, Spokane.

Valley-based Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) is hosting its second annual safe and sober celebration supporting prevention and awareness. Wear your zaniest holiday sweater for a chance at prizes. Coffee, spiced cider and hot cocoa will be served along with light festive food and desserts. Proceeds from a silent auction will benefit Washington Drug Free Youth (WDFY) and the annual drug-free youth scholarship.

For more information, call Linda Thompson at 922-8383 or visit www.gssac.org.

RECURRING Flag Museum | Sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution and the Fairmount Memorial Association, details the rich history of the American flag, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pines Cemetery, 1402 S. Pines Road, Spokane Valley. For more information: 926-2753 or www. fairmountmemorial.com/southpines-cemetery Spokane Valley Kiwanis | 6:45 a.m.

Tuesdays.

Valley Hospital Education Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave. More at www. spokanevalleykiwanis.net.

Spokane Valley Rotary | Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesdays. Darcy’s, 10502 E. Sprague Ave. More at www. svrotary.org.

The Current

SCLD promotes STEM with educational kits

LIBRARY

NOVEMBER 2016 • 17

FALL 2016

By Gwendolyn Haley

g n i k n i Th Money

STEM is a hot topic right now. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields are the fastest growing sector of the economy and businesses in Washington state are among the leading employers in these fields.

As a parent, I want to make sure my daughters are aware of all the opportunities available to them and to foster love of learning in all subjects. By beginning with our preschoolers, we can create a solid foundation for their future. The best part? The library has made it free, easy, and fun with ‘Ready for School with STEM’ kits that you can check out.

I recently checked out a ‘Ready for School with STEM’ kit on the topic of construction. My youngest daughter and I had a great time using the construction materials to build some sturdy towers, which we then tried to knock down with gusts generated by our lungs and the hair dryer. As we played, we talked about how she would design her buildings, hypothesized about which materials would stand in the wind and why.

Afterwards, we read “The Three Little Pigs” and another story from

Writing your story: The NaNoWriMo Readiness Conference

By Erin Dodge

For many years, I didn’t call myself a writer. Somehow I got it in my head that only once I wrote and published a book could I call myself a writer. I’ve since changed my myopic definition. Now I view a writer as someone who is brave enough to write anything – themselves, for family, for business, for coffee shop signs.

Being published is something that I hold apart from the word “writer.” This may just be a coping mechanism to protect ego and muse, but it frees me up to write no matter how much my little inner voice tells me no one will want to read it.

Lessons in science, technology, engineering and math comprise the curriculum of STEM. The Spokane County Library District received a grant this year to create STEM kits on a range of topics.

Contributed photo the kit. My daughter didn’t realize that she was learning about making hypotheses and designing a test for them or about the various physical properties of the building materials.

This year, Spokane County Library District received a grant from Thrive Washington to create STEM kits on a range of preschool topics with materials and books to support the lesson. The topics include math, wind, water, dirt, construction and dinosaurs. The activities are short – just 10 to 30 minutes. If you’re short on time, try the Quick Start lessons. If you want a challenge, try the Deeper Dive ones. You’ll also find vocabulary words and open-ended questions to help start With this altered view, I am looking forward to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I will delve into the stories I write.

I will connect with other writers who brave the blank page (aka their own fearful inner voice).

Every November, writers take on the NaNoWriMo challenge to write at least 50,000 words, or about the length of a novel. At www.nanowrimo.org, you’ll find preparatory guides, forums, local write-ins, and tools to keep you motivated and help you succeed with the month-long challenge.

So imagine my joy when I learned that the Spokane County Library District is putting on the NaNoWriMo Readiness Conference at Moran Prairie Library on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 29. The lineup is so good that it can be hard to imagine the panels and discussions are free – but they are!

Saturday, Oct. 29: 10–11 a.m.: Publishing Toolkit for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction with Mary Cronk Farrell, Kelly Milner Halls, Maureen

conversations with your preschooler.

‘Ready for School with STEM’ kits are available for checkout at your local library—look for the bright red bags in the children’s area. You can reserve them online too by searching ‘Ready for School with STEM’ in the online catalog.

The kits have been developed with the help of these great organizations: Spokane County Library District, NEW ESD 101, Spokane Public Library, Mobius Science Center, Spokane STEM, Spokane Public Schools, Herzog Family Center, Community Minded Enterprises, Rural Resources Community Action and Valley School District in Stevens County.

A traveling exhibit designed to teach tweens, teens, and adults about financial literacy in an understandable and fun way.

McQuerry and Stephanie Oakes 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Getting to Know Your Imaginary Friends with Kris Dinnison 1–2 p.m.: Where Are We Again? with Bruce Holbert 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Crafting a Nonfiction Book Proposal with Rachel Toor 4–5 p.m.: To Outline or Not? with Stephanie Oakes 5:30–6:30 p.m.: The Power of Empathetic Writing with Eli Francovich Sunday, Oct. 30: 1:30–2:30 p.m.: Nonfiction Interviewing with Kelly Milner Halls 3–4 p.m.: The Writing Life: How to Thrive and Survive with Claire Rudolph Murphy and Sarah Conover You may have heard the famous quote from the 2008 Guardian interview with Jodi Picoult in which she said, “Everyone has a book inside of them—but it doesn't do any good until you pry it out.” May this November be when you pry it out!

SPOKANE VALLEY LIBRARY Oct 22–Nov 26, 2016 Visit scld.org/thinking-money for details.

Made possible by: American Library Association with FINRA Investor Education Foundation

The Current

18 • NOVEMBER 2016 T h e N a t i o n a l ly A w a r d - W i n n i n g C e n t r a l V a l l e y h i g h s c h o o l T h e a t r e D e p a r t m e n t P r o u d ly P r e s e n t s

November 18-19-20, 2016 40th Annual Christmas

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Brought to you by

Leaf Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving

MATERIALS: Various Leaves Paper School Glue Eyes Marker or twig for feet Other decrations Gather an assortment of different sizes of leaves.

Make a fan shape starting with the largest first.

Layer smaller ones on top. Place two small leaves to create the body. Take a small leaf tip to make the beak. Add eyes and draw feet unless you’d like to use twigs.

If I Ran for President

by Catherine Stier 2012 ages 6-9

The cover of this book, which has Ben for President signs on it, drew us in because doesn't everyone know a Ben that wants to be president? But seriously, this book does a good job of explaining our country's election process and the electoral college.

It only addresses the two party system so it won't make everyone happy but it is engaging for a serious subject.

20 • NOVEMBER 2016

The Current

Homemade Bread Day November, 17, 2016 This day was started in the 1970's as a protest to a rate increase for store bought sliced white bread. We don't really need an excuse though. Baking bread is a great family activity that engages all of your senses. Remember, bread might be the only food enjoyed by every race, religion and culture. Don't forget that whomever eats the last piece of bread must kiss the cook. Happy Baking!

Washington State Wheat Facts

• Washington state ranks 4th in wheat producing states • There are over 3700 Washington wheat farmers who grow mostly winter wheat.

They harvest over 100 million bushels worth over one billion dollars. Over 85% is exported. More land is devoted to wheat production than any other crop • One bushel weighs about 60 pounds and can make: 42 pounds of white flour and 60 pounds of whole wheat flour

Nanette's Baguette, Mo Willems 2016 ages 4-8

This book has only been out for a few days but we really enjoyed reading it. A frog named Nanette is sent to get a baguette by her mother. As usual, plans go awry but her mother still loves her. The entire book is told in words that rhyme.

Who knew so many words rhymed with baguette?

Willems illustrations capture so many details that it is a visual delight

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 21

PACE Trait CITIZENSHIP

Positively contributing to society and community as well as dutifully respecting authority and the law Recipe Box

Buttermilk Bread INGREDIENTS:

2 packages of Yeast 1/4 cup warm water 1 3/4 cup Buttermilk 5 cups of Flour 2 T. Sugar 2 tsp. Baking Powder 1 tsp. Salt1/4 cup Shortening

DIRECTIONS:

1. Proof 2 packages of Yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.

Warm 1 3/4 cup Buttermilk.

2. Mix 3 cups of Flour, 2 T. Sugar, 2 tsp. Baking Powder and 1 tsp. Salt. Add Yeast mixture and Buttermilk.

Mix well then add 1/4 cup Shortening. Beat for two minutes.

3. Gradually add up to 2 additional cups of Flour. The dough should be slightly soft and just barely sticky.

Knead for at least five minutes.

4. Roll into a rectangle the width of your loaf pan then roll into a loaf. Place seam side down into a greased loaf pan. Let rise until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes.

Turn temperature down to 350 degrees. Bake for an additional 30-35 minutes or until the center is 190 degrees. Brush with melted butter for a soft crust.

Congratulations to Landon!

He’s the latest

KiDDS Dental No Cavity Club winner!

Landon won a $25 gift card to Toys R Us and a photo session with

Call our office to schedule an appointment to see if your child is cavity-free!

891-7070

Grow Up Smiling!

1327 N. Stanford Lane, Suite B, Liberty Lake 509.891.7070 www.GrowUpSmiling.com

Find out about all of our events and contests on Facebook!

Animal Facts

Every month we will feature an information on a different animal. Cut them out and collect them all!

Raccoon - Native to North America - 24-37”, 4-23 lbs - Lives 2-3 years - Boar, sow, kit, nursery or gaze - Eats anything, love water - Nocturnal - “Masked Bandit - Front paws have a thin horny layer for protection - smart enough to open some types of door latches

The Current

22 • NOVEMBER 2016

Author Spotlight

Materials: A variety of dried beans School Glue Construction or other sturdy paper Outline of a dog head

o

ll i m a c i D Kate Katerina DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia in 1964 but was raised in Florida. She earned an English degree from the University of Florida. While working at a book warehouse she submitted her draft which became Because of Winn-Dixie.

Kate writes books that usually feature animals for children of many different reading levels.

She is one of only six people to win two Newberry Medals. In 2003, she won for The Tale of Despereaux.

In 2013, she received her second for Flora and Ulysses.

There have been numerous other awards bestowed upon her including the appointment of "National Ambassador for Young People's Literature," by the Library of Congress.

Her books Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux have been made into family friendly movies, so over Thanksgiving break have a read-aloud and then watch the movie to decide which version you like best.

Many of Kate Di Camillo’s books prominently feature a large eared dog, so we thought this dog mosaic would be the perfect craft. We just drew a quick outline, but you could print one if you prefer.

Directions: 1. Start with the outline of the dog’s head that you have either chosen or created.

2. Decide how you would like the beans to be arranged. We recommend that you start gluing at the eyes and working your way outward.

Have fun making “markings” to create your unique dog.

Books We Recommend

Kate DiCamillo is another of those writers where it is hard to choose which book to recommend so we've chosen two of her lesser known books

Tales from Deckawoo Drive (Series) ages 6-9

This is a spin-off series to her hugely popular Mercy Watson series which currently includes three books. You'll find many of the same quirky characters that made you giggle in the original series. The illustrator, Chris Van Dusen's cartoon artwork makes a great addition to the story.

Raymie Nightingale, 2016 ages 10 and up

Another set of quirky characters but this book is sad. It is also inspiring.

A story of three girls in a baton twirling competition and their unlikely friendship helping them each to deal with problems n their lives.

Bink and Gollie, 2010 ages 6-10

This book won the Theodore Geisel award in 2011. This book contains three funny related stories about a pair of odd couple friends and their adventures. Its cartoon illustrations by Tony Fucile add to the humor.

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 23

Mitch’s Miracle – U-Hi grad battles back to overcome cancer

By Mary Anne Ruddis Current Correspondent Sometimes an individual seems to be born for a role.

It is not necessarily a chosen role but one that circumstances appear to create just for that person. For all events that have the potential to change the trajectory of the world, the individual does not do it alone.

It takes a strong united family and a caring community.

Mitchell Carbon became a symbol of hope and determination for his school, community and now the entire country.

Mitch boarded a plane on Sept.

7 from Spokane to Los Angeles to appear on the national stage as a medical testimony to the advances being made in pediatric cancer research. It was five years nearly to the day when he was first diagnosed with leukemia. The significance was not lost on him or his family. It was also the first day of classes at Whitworth University where Mitch was beginning his first year of college – a hard fought victory that was never certain.

Five years ago, it was a very different first day of school for

Mitch Carbon was diagnosed with leukemia five years ago as a student at University High. Contributed photo Mitch. Instead of bustling to find his classroom, juggling a backpack and books, Mitch was in the emergency at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

In the middle of the night, Mitch began having unbearable pain and his mom, Kari, rushed him to the hospital. The staff worked to get his pain under control and ran some tests. Kari recalls, “I heard the words that broke my soul into a million pieces. We think Mitch has leukemia.” Their lives were forever changed.

As the initial shock began to sink in, Kari knew that she needed to have her husband Rob with her before they could deliver the devastating news to Mitch. She

Mitch’s family rallied to his side during a rigorous treatment schedule. Mitch’s dad, Rob, is pictured about during a hospital visit.

Contributed photo

also needed to take care of her daughter Mallory who needed to get to school for her first day. She picked up the phone and called her best friend to ask for help getting Mallory to school. She knew her friend was also busy getting her own three children ready for school.

“We should all be blessed with friends who will drop everything in your time of need to help you,” she said.

Mitch was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive type of leukemia known as Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The allconsuming task of caring for a child with cancer began. The road was riddled with triumphs and setbacks, with moments of humor and laughter and many decisions and choices.

Meanwhile, the community rallied to support the entire family.

Mitch’s five years of treatment spanned his last year of middle school and his entire high school years. Horizon Middle School Principal Jesse Hardt said, “We knew Mitch would have to do school a different way.”

School counselor Connie Mott was a deciding influence in Mitch’s life. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without her,” Mitch said.

Mott not only helped Mitch during that first year keeping up with his unconventional schedule, but also paved the way in connecting him with his University High School counselor.

“Everyone in our community came together to support Mitch and his family as one of our own,” said Mott.

His diagnosis affected the whole school. Mott helped arrange a schoolwide art project with the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest and an art therapist from Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

“The kids felt like they were contributing and it was a way to help relieve their angst and fears about Mitchell,” she said, “It really rocked their world and the painting was a way for the students to be a part of something much bigger than them and to express what they were feeling.”

Mitch’s sister, Mallory, who also attended Horizon, was supported too and created panels with her classmates. “Every battle that Mitch conquered instilled hope in all of us,” Mott said.

Mallory had her own challenges and she tried to live as normal a life as possible. “I gained a lot of independence. I found I could take care of myself,” she said.

At first, she didn’t want to talk about Mitch’s illness because she was scared. As she got older and

matured, she immersed herself in learning more about his treatment.

She and Mitch’s relationship changed. “He’ll always be my big brother and that’s important,” she said. “Normal for our family wasn’t the same.”

Mallory found that talking with Mitch about what was happening in her life while he was stuck in a hospital room with horrifying treatments created uncomfortable feelings of guilt and they needed to find a balance. “Our Jack Russell chihuahua, “Chili,” became our bond. We could find common ground. When Mitch woke up from his coma in Philadelphia, I sent him a picture of Chili and it was a topic that we both wanted to talk about.”

Mallory was quick to recognize the strength and endurance that Mitch exhibited throughout his treatment. “If anyone deserves recognition, it is Mitch,” she said.

For Mitch, one of the most important things that got him through the tough times was finding something to laugh about every day. Another was keeping a positive attitude. But what was essential to him being where he is today – starting classes at Whitworth – is the support that he received from his school community. He credits Kara Twining, his high school counselor, for helping him achieve his goal of earning nearly straight A’s even during some very difficult times. He also earned a scholarship for college through College for Cancer.

During his senior year, Mitch started out the year as one of managers on the soccer team.

Coach Mitch Weller was a first-year coach and new to the school and did not know Mitch’s background.

He describes his recollection of Mitch during their first away game to Mead: “Mitch brought along a brand new pair of boots (cleats),” Weller said. “I thought that it was kind of surprising that a manager would do something like this, not being a player and not required to wear them. On the bus trip home, I asked him why he brought them.

He then mentioned that he used to be a player and that he missed playing so much.

“I could see on his face how much he loved the game and a genuine sadness that he was not playing.

This led me to ask why he was not playing this year. He explained his story to me, leaving me speechless and emotional in the process.

Fighting back the tears, I asked him if he would be interested in playing again for our Senior Night.

He told me he would think about it and would talk to his parents.

When Mitch got back to me, being the person he is, he insisted that

See MITCH, Page 28

The Current

24 • NOVEMBER 2016 Brought to you by

About and for Valley seniors Striders set healthy pace for constructive exercise, friendship

By Jamie Borgan Current Correspondent Carol Stobie and Judy Lanphear have a congenial rapport and warm sense of familiarity as they talk about their participation in Striders of the Inland Northwest.

The two easily finish each other’s sentences and can fill in the gaps in one another’s stories.

Their familiarity is built upon having walked thousands of miles together as members of the Striders over the years. Striders are a robust group of walkers who meet several times a week for fitness walking and exercise.

Lanphear, 79, has been a Striders’ member since moving to Spokane from California in 2002 and Stobie, 78, joined the organization shortly after they started a Spokane Valley chapter and has now been walking with the group for nearly 20 years.

Neither had ever been a part of a fitness club, nor had a regular regime of exercise before joining.

In fact, Stobie recalls thinking she’d never be interested in joining a group like the Striders upon seeing them exercising at Spokane Valley Mall. She says wryly, “a few months later, I was a member.”

For Lanphear, her introduction to Striders came when she attended the Senior Wellness Conference in Spokane. She sat down for lunch

There are around 30 members of the Valley Striders group that gather for walks at scenic sites like Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill. Over 70 members are part of the group. The age range of the local Striders organization spans from 60 to 92. Those who participate say the social aspect of the group can be just as important as the exercise element.

Photo by Judy Lanphear with some Striders members and joined shortly thereafter.

Watching Stobie and Lanphear interact, it’s easy to see how the camaraderie of the Striders could be infectious and easily draw others to membership. In addition to their regular Tuesday, Thursday and Friday walk at 8 a.m., the group meets twice a week at the Valley YMCA for exercise classes, taught by long term instructor Shari DeGuire, to focus on strength, stretching and balance.

“We do all kinds of exercise, but we don’t get on the floor,” Carol says. “Otherwise, we might never get up.”

Striders don’t have to be members

Along with treks on picturesque trails at Mirabeau Point Park (above) Striders meet weekly for breakfast, hold awards ceremonies and participate in fundraisers for local nonprofits. While refreshing walks at locales are ideal in spring and summer, the Striders move their jaunts inside to the Spokane Valley Mall in the winter.

Photo by Carol Stobie

of the YMCA to participate in the classes. Each Strider pays $15 for annual dues and $2 fee per session at the YMCA. In the winter months, walks are moved inside to the Spokane Valley Mall. If the weather is not as harsh, groups stride along the Centennial Trail near the mall.

There are over 70 members of the Valley Striders group and a large group that walks in Coeur d’Alene.

While Striders is not specifically limited to seniors, their youngest member is “around 60” Lanphear says and their oldest is 92. Both Lanphear and Stobie agree that the 92-year-old is a dynamo and able to outwalk members 20 years younger.

The group is open to people at all fitness levels; many have never been regular exercisers, but understand the importance of staying active as they age. Some walk with canes or oxygen tanks.

Members can walk as far and as fast as they want and each member is responsible for tracking their own mileage.

While the main purpose of Striders is related to physical health, seeing the friendship built between members like Stobie and Lanphear, it’s easy to understand the large role community plays in the group’s success. In addition to all their physical activities, members meet weekly for breakfast, hold regular awards ceremonies to celebrate each other’s mileage achievements and participate in fundraisers for other Valley organizations, like

Meals on Wheels.

Stobie asserts that the friendship and camaraderie of the group is absolutely key to keeping members coming back; it’s so much easier to do regular exercise “if people are waiting for you,” she says. Both assert that their members are healthier than non-active seniors and heal more quickly from falls and surgeries.

In addition to their participation in Striders’ activities, both Lanphear and Stobie contribute other talents to keeping the group going. Both serve on the board of the organization and Stobie helps organize walking events in the summer while Lanphear puts together the group’s newsletter and helps with any computer work that needs to be done. They serve as energetic ambassadors for the group, fielding calls from new members and keeping members up to date on organizational happenings.

Despite being self-described as “engulfed” in the Striders, both Lanphear and Stobie also participate in other community events. Until recently, Stobie was on the board of Monarch Arts in the Valley, an organization that brings art to seniors in retirement communities, who might not otherwise be able to experience it. Both also have an interest in photography and have had their photography displayed at the Senior Wellness Conference.

They took turns winning first place though, so each of them would have a chance.

The energy Stobie and Lanphear have for Striders and the benefits it brings to the senior community is inspiring and palpable. As Stobie says, “there’s no reason to be bored” as a senior. She says there’s so much to do in the community and so many ways to be involved and so many talents for seniors to share. These talents, she adds, not only benefit the community, but also those participating.

Lanphear and Stobie are a delightful testament to how much one can give – and the strides one can make – with a little help from some friends.

Want to learn more?

If you are interested in learning more about Striders of the Inland Northwest, call Judy Lanphear at 8921293 or Carol Stobie at 926-1697 or visit www.striders-inw.org.

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 25

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SPORTS

26 • NOVEMBER 2016

Local athletes soar at Paralympic Games and beyond

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor For two weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Paralympians were rock stars, basking in the limelight of crowds often larger than those at the Olympiad that preceded them.

When out in public they were besieged by adoring denizens who sought the competitors out for pictures and autographs.

Teresa Skinner, director of ParaSport Spokane and a Team USA coach for her third straight Paralympic Games, absorbed the scene too, as the competition – and the attention – spanned from Sept.

7-18.

“Rio was unbelievable in positive ways,” said Skinner, perhaps best known as the founder and longtime director of Spokane-based Team St. Luke’s before starting ParaSport Spokane three years ago. “They did an incredible job. Everywhere we went in Rio, if any of us had our gear on, people knew we were athletes.”

is largely societal.

“Returning home can be discouraging just based on the way they are treated,” Skinner said. “I wish Americans would see them as the amazing athletes they are and not focus on the disability.”

She and her husband, David Greig, run nonprofit ParaSport Spokane which had two wheelchair athletes at the Paralympic Games, among them world-record setting wheelchair discus gold medalist Rachael Morrison.

Morrison came here two years ago from Michigan to train under Skinner and Greig. She competes in the F52 category for athletes with limited shoulder, arm and hand functions and no leg or trunk function, hers the result of a form of transverse myelitis that attacks the spinal cord.

Also competing in Rio was former Central Valley High standout Austin Pruitt, who set state wheelchair meet records in every event from 100-through-1,600 meters while in high school. He raced in the 800 meters, finishing sixth in the finals at Rio. Though ambulatory,

Sadly, she added, that level of appreciation and respect ended when American athletes came home.

“As soon as we were back in the U.S., every single one of those athletes became invisible again,” she said. “I think honestly that was the hardest part.”

Unlike, perhaps, their able-bodied counterparts, the Paralympians don’t often return to ticker tape parades. Skinner said the challenge

he has cerebral palsy which puts him in the T34 category (Like Pruitt, University graduate Trayton Dwyer also has cerebral palsy and is playing wheelchair basketball at Southwest Minnesota State University.)

Josh Brewer, another Paralympian with local ties, was a major contributor to the Team USA rugby squad that earned a silver medal in Rio. Brewer, a triple amputee, attended University High School as a freshman and sophomore before moving to the Vancouver area. He began his adaptive sports career with Team St. Luke’s.

Skinner arrived in Spokane in 1995, initially coordinating sports for St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center, overseeing activities for youth and adults. After 17 years she decided to go in a different direction and, with Greig who came here from Canada where he ran a similar program, started ParaSport in August 2013.

University High graduate Trayton Dwyer has not let the effects of cerebral palsy get in the way of his journey to becoming an elite adaptive athlete. Dwyer trains with ParaSport Spokane, a program founded in 2013

by Teresa Skinner who founded a similar program, Team St. Luke’s, in 1995.

Contributed photo

“I started with wheelchair rugby, then added a junior basketball program and track and field, swimming, power soccer, strength and conditioning, a whole lot of stuff,” she said.

Skinner says. “There is no difference between you and me athletically. If they have the competitive drive, we provide the opportunity and the chances to compete at the national level.”

As the program expanded, she became involved with the Paralympics beginning in 1996. It was seeing the athletes perform in Atlanta, she says, that influenced her to up the bar here.

She admits the competitive drive doesn’t come easily for youngsters burdened by disability. That’s what Skinner, Greig and ParaSport Spokane are there for.

“I knew we were decades behind in Spokane,” she said. “After that experience, oh my gosh, I said, ‘We need to do something back there.’”

Rachael Morrison, a local adaptive athlete who trains with ParaSport Spokane, set a world record in the discus throw on her way to a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Paralympic Games in September.

Contributed photo

The Current

She works with high school coaches in various capacities as the sport expanded into the WIAA Star Track competition that sent Pruitt on to international recognition. He currently is in his fourth year at the U.S. training center in California.

“The biggest thing is, everybody should have access to sports,”

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“There’s not a level playing field,” Skinner said. “Driving that drive and spirit makes you a success in life, not just in sports.”

Want to find out more?

To learn more about ParaSport Spokane and how to get involved or donate, contact Teresa Skinner at 999-6466 or visit www. parasportspokane.org.

(There will be further stories about the journeys of Dwyer and other adaptive athletes in upcoming issues.)

The Current

Valley Sports Notebook

By Mike Vlahovich

Current Sports Editor There’s enough at stake when rivals clash. Particularly so when West Valley and East Valley meet.

The Eagles improved to 7-1 (2-1 in the Great Northern League) this season with their 38-21 victory that kept their drive for the postseason alive, needing a win over Clarkston for a State 2A playoff.

The loss dashed the Knights (3-4, 1-2) hopes.

WV’s loss was by three points to league leader Pullman.

The Eagles three-headed attack featured quarterback Hunter Wright who threw 15 touchdown passes, 11 to Colin Sather and four to Connor Whitney. Wright rushed for five more scores. Sather had two rushing touchdowns and Whitney returned an interception for a touchdown.

In the Valley’s other rivalry game, CV blasted rival University 55-16,

Final Point Sports teaches life lessons about a level playing field

By Mike Vlahovich Current Sports Editor Growing up, my mother would admonish us, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all,” and “keep your opinions to yourself.”

Sage advice, but falling on deaf ears as witnessed by the polarizing cacophony that passes for discourse these days.

It includes partisan party politics venom, gender bias, religious intolerance and gun slingers versus those who want guns left outside the tavern doors, all egged on by its plethora of sophomoric Facebook eviscerations of those they consider unenlightened.

The most divisive of late – apart from the idiocy of The Donald versus Hillary – is race. Fifty-plus years after the Civil Rights Act, though much has changed for the

SPORTS

improving to 7-1 overall and sharing first at 4-0 in the 4A portion of the Greater Spokane League with an eye on post-season.

Defensively, following a season opening 48-11 battering from Coeur d’Alene, only once did the Bears allow over 17 points in a game.

Braeden Orrino, the Bears’ second leading pass receiver last year who had with a handful of carries, has filled the bill as CV’s leading rusher.

Orrino slipped seamlessly into a full-time role in the backfield this year and heading into its season finale, a game against co-leader Gonzaga Prep, is on the cusp of a 1,000 yard rushing season overall with a league leading 976 yards.

Quarterback Conner DeGeest was second in the league in passing and overall had thrown for 1,529 yards and 12 TDs. Freeman, after dropping two games, battled back into a threeway Northeast A second-place tie with one game remaining.

The Scotties beat Colville on Ben Darcy’s three touchdown runs of a combined 114 yards, one traveling 80.

better, rancor between whites and blacks, it seems, has us tramping back to the era of Jim Crow.

Short of sending all politicians to Jupiter (I jest, although real donkeys and elephants in the White House and Congress might be able to get more done) how do we bridge this divide? Being a onedimensional guy my theory is that sport is the best place to start.

Black and white thrust together in an atmosphere requiring teamwork in order to succeed, is proof that the races can co-exist and if nothing else a place them where they might learn to understand one another.

Roughly 80 percent of NBA basketball players and nearly 70 percent of NFL football players are black enabling them to see a world through the eyeglasses of the majority, a vastly different view for those who grew up in poverty and discord. Whites can better understand the minority plight and empathize.

Working side-by-side with a common goal can show how much they need each other and have each other’s backs. The locker room can be a means for meaningful discussion about how we resolve divisiveness in a country that is constantly being bombarded with hate. In constant contact, they

Quarterback J.T. Neely’s passing and rushing produced several touchdowns in the teams four games.

U-Hi softball dominates University’s slowpitch softball team usually has its way with the Greater Spokane League. This year might have topped them all.

Not only did the Titans win the league with a perfect 20-0 record, but they did so with a mindboggling effort.

In going unbeaten, U-Hi allowed but 32 runs, winning seven times by shutout in what is allegedly a hitter’s game. Only four times did an opponent score three or more.

In contrast, the team plated 276 runs, a near 14-run per game average. In only two games were the Titans tested, a 9-7 win over Mt. Spokane and 3-2 squeaker against Mead.

Hannah Click did the majority of the pitching with backing by Courtney Richardson.

They were aided by a defense that committed zero or one error in 13 of the games.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 27

Veteran Kirsten Anstrom and Natasha Nelson were among the many offensive standouts.

CV finished fourth this year, including a shutout loss to the Titans.

Freeman volleyball rocks Freeman is a state A perennial volleyball power and this year is no exception. The Scotties compiled a 13-1 Great Northern League record, their only loss coming early in the season by co-champ Lakeside.

Hayley Damon, setter Justis Wells, Alisa and Hanna Hanson are among the reasons for the Scotties’ success.

The Valley’s other teams have been scrambling.

East Valley is third in the Great Northern League and West Valley is fourth. A late-season surge moved the Knights up, with big efforts from Richel Hartshorn, Chloe Chalfant, Sydney Frogge and Gillian Garcia.

University and Central Valley were likely to finish in a tie for third place in the Greater Spokane League. The young Titans knocked

See NOTEBOOK, Page 37

have the best chance of conveying publicly that perhaps we aren’t so different other than for the colors of their skins.

other than my own. As she got older Sydney became self-conscious about her ebony skin living as she was in a white environment.

My nephew-in-law, Jason Wilson, is black. East Valley’s boys’ basketball coach and my niece Tracie have three intelligent, beautiful/handsome and athletic mixed-race children, two daughters and a son I like to claim as surrogate grandchildren. They all play sports, although the eldest, Sophia, a freshman at EV takes after my late folks, preferring music and reading.

The other two are in elementary school.

Gabbie, is advanced athletically, a terror in youth soccer and basketball. Their son, JJ, was slower out of the blocks, but is becoming fearless day-by-day and shows athletics hops.

In this contentious world, we don’t see color, just a beautiful loving family that gathers sometimes 20 strong and enjoys each others’ company.

At family gatherings, Jason and I usually huddle up and talk – what else? – basketball.

Our best friends’ daughter adopted an infant girl from Ethiopia.

She is my other granddaughter.

She’s impish, but exceptionally bright and athletic. I have a picture of her striking a soccer ball with form that would make a World Cup player envious and she’s in early elementary school. We bonded instantly.

I can’t presume to walk in shoes

My daughter, Linse, taught P.E. and Health three years at Cleveland High, an inner city Seattle school with a substantial black enrollment.

She empathized learning about the poverty and hardships those students face. They were drawn to her, some begging her to stay when she transferred to another school.

Sports bridges racial divides, she says, and stress teamwork among youngsters who normally wouldn’t mingle. She recognized that if you want to, whether in poverty or wealth, you can still play the game together.

Rather than polarize a country by vilifying people who don’t share our beliefs, we need to come together, resolve our differences and compromise. I may be a cockeyed optimist, but given the nature of athletics, I believe the best place to start can be in the locker room where you can say something nice about someone else regardless of race.

The Current

28 • NOVEMBER 2016

MITCH

Continued from page 23 he did not want to take away from the other players and seniors who have put in all this hard work to earn time, but said he appreciated the offer.”

That led to Weller coordinating an event called “Mitch Night” that would be a celebration of Carbon.

“He truly is an inspiration for his teammates, coaching staff and the entire community,” Weller said. “For us, he embodied what it means to be ‘Titan Strong’ and his character, commitment, passion for the game and joy for life exemplifies what we stand for as a soccer program.”

Mitch was able to participate in the last couple of games on the schedule, including Rogers (Mitch Night) and getting in for the last few minutes against Mt. Spokane (Senior Night). Every time Mitch made a play, he was cheered exuberantly from the sidelines.

“It was really encouraging for me as a coach,” Weller said. “This defined what it means to be a team, a family as we preached throughout the season and supported my belief that soccer is more than a game and that so much can be learned and taken away from being a part of a team. Our goal was to make it a special night for him, and to give him memories that he will enjoy and be able to share for the rest of his life.”

By the end of the year, Mitch was the U-Hi team captain and voted “Most Inspirational” at the team awards banquet.

Mitch received his initial treatment at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and spent months in the hospital where he was enrolled in a clinical trial. Unfortunately, he relapsed and the only treatment option open to him was a bone-marrow transplant. In 2013, Mitch and his mom traveled to Seattle for treatment. A year later, he relapsed again. Out of treatment options, his local oncologist told him there wasn’t anything else that could be done. He had to face the fact that he may not survive. The support he received from his community helped to fuel him to not give up.

“I was not ready to go,” Mitch said. “My hope was to get to college. I thought if I get to college, it will be a passage into a normal life.” Now he is living that dream.

His classes at Whitworth started the day he flew to Los Angeles to tell his story of hope and inspiration on the national stage at Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C) (http://www. standup2cancer.org) so that others can have that same hope.

Rob’s role as father was to protect his family and his child. They were facing something that he could not

Mitch and his family maintained a positive attitude while battling the challenges he faced over five years.

From left to right: Mitch, his parents Rob and Kari and his sister Mallory.

Contributed photo

fix. He remained focused on always moving the family forward to the next thing. Kari’s daily role was to be with Mitch in the hospital and his was to provide financially for the family. The financial aspect of dealing with childhood cancer is intense. The pressure to continue to work to keep a roof over your head and your mind on the job while your child is in the hospital is extremely difficult. When the household went from two incomes to one, that pressure was even more elevated.

Getting Mitch into the clinical trial that saved his life was not an easy task and a testimony to Kari’s tenacity and determination. As she began researching clinical trials, a background in medical management helped her navigate the detailed information she found online. She was also part of an online parent support network. “When I learned of Emily Whitehead’s story,” said Kari, “I knew that there was hope for Mitch.” Emily Whitehead is the first pediatric patient to receive the groundbreaking CART19 immunotherapy treatment that Mitch was eventually able to receive.

Mitch is the first patient in the trial to receive the treatment who had extensive central nervous system (CNS) and brain involvement with his disease. Stephan Grupp, head of the St. Baldricks Pediatric Dream Team funded by SU2C, was reluctant to allow Mitch into the study.

The therapy removes the immune cells, re-engineers them to attack the cancer and puts them back into the body. There is a risk to the areas involved and things will get temporarily worse while the re-engineered cells do their work. They had no idea what would happen with a patient like Mitch with so much disease in his brain.

They knew the brain would swell and that there was a risk of brain damage or death. When confronted with this scenario, Mitch asked, “Will you be able to use my data

even if I don’t make it?” Grupp told Mitch that, yes, they would learn from him but that was not why he was there. He was there to save his life. After getting the treatment, Mitch was in a coma for four to five days before waking up.

When SU2C asked to tell Mitchell’s story on the national broadcast, (a video can be found on the “Momentum for Mitchell” Facebook page), the decision was agreed upon by the whole family.

Rob reflected that at diagnosis, the family needed to turn inward to protect themselves and focus their efforts and energy on the biggest fight of their lives. They lived with cancer 24/7 for five years. The fear and sorrow, the ups and downs focused around Mitch’s treatments. Now they are reuniting as individuals – not as Mitch’s father, mother and sister, but as individuals. They look forward to moving out from under the cancer cloud. They see the SU2C and Hollywood experience as a great send-off to their new chapters.

There are four reasons that the family decided it was their responsibility to tell Mitch’s story.

First, they were so inspired by Emily Whitehead’s story and they knew that without her story, they might never have connected Mitch with the treatment that saved his life. Going public would provide a story of hope for others. Mitchell’s story is leading the way for others to follow.

Second, they wanted to bring awareness to the lack of a system to connect patients to clinical trials.

There are thousands of trials on clinicaltrials.gov. To understand the trial, a person needs to understand the disease on the molecular level. With the explosion of immunotherapy and the rapid advancements that are happening right now, it is extremely difficult for patients and even doctors to keep up with the latest advancements and trials. There needs to be a system to help physicians and patients navigate the world of

clinical trials.

Third, there needs to be increased funding for clinical trials.

If telling Mitch’s story could help to fuel funding, then they felt a responsibility to open up access to care for all patients.

Fourth, there needs to be overall awareness of pediatric cancer.

September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. There are approximately 15,780 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.

Treatment protocols include toxic modalities that create life-long medical consequences from the treatment.

Because Mitch was given an amazing opportunity at life and to be able to impact another family, they felt a responsibility to give back. It alleviated any victim mentality to an attitude of “I can help other people.”

“It redefined who he is – not a cancer victim, he’s a pioneer with an opportunity to change the paradigm of childhood cancer treatments for kids,” said Kari.

Mitch is extremely grateful to the entire community that rallied to support him.

“Mom fought to get t-cells, dad worked to keep the medical insurance, Mallory had a tough time and did all she could to be in his corner,” he said.

He acknowledges kids who have it worse than him – those who survived and those who did not. He is grateful for all of his friends who stood by him, his family, nurses, social workers, child-life, and the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest (www.acco.org/inlandnw) who became part of his extended family.

“I was in a coma last summer,” said Mitch. “My future was so uncertain for so long that you learn to just not think about it. I don’t know what is in my future but I know it’s not cancer. That’s all I can ask for.”

Mitch served as manager of the U-Hi soccer team his senior year. After the season, the squad saluted him as “Most Inspirational.” He played for the Titans on Senior Night.

Contributed photo

The Current

Former missile silos serve as stark reminders of Cold War

By Alivia Stenson, Lindsay Chermak and Tyler Robbins At the time of the Cold War, Washington state was home to many significant military and industrial facilities that needed to be defended. Because of this, many missile silos were built in the state, particularly around Eastern Washington and nuclear missiles were shipped over from California in large semi-trucks.

When they arrived, hundreds of people gathered on the streets to watch he trucks slowly pass by. Many people don’t know this, but there are several silos here in the greater Spokane area, home to Fairchild Air Force Base, as well as other bases. They are

HISTORY located in Deer Park, Newman Lake, Rockford, Sprague, Lamona, Davenport, Wilbur, Egypt and Reardon.

They once accommodated Atlas E intercontinental ballistic missiles that served as warnings to the Soviet Union. If they attacked the U.S., there would be complete and utter destruction. The Fairchild base was very strategic because it was close to the Soviet Union, but was also inland enough to not be as vulnerable as some of the other missile silos in Washington state. These missile silos were no ordinary military bases; they were huge cylindrical bunkers with multiple levels, encompassed with layers of concrete 60 feet underground.

The top of the bunker itself has four feet of concrete; the entire silo was built to withstand a nuclear blast. For instance, the floors float on huge shock absorbers and everything inside was bolted down. The silos were protected by a “blast door,” which was a huge amount of concrete

that was resistant to practically anything; so no one and nothing can get inside.

The only time that the Atlas E nuclear missile silos near Spokane were put on full alert was during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962. They were one of the few missile bases in the U.S. that had a clear shot of Cuba; everyone else would have either overshot them or landed short.

At one point, an Atlas E was 15 minutes away from pressing the launch button. Had this been carried out, today as we know it would have been completely different.

After America and the Soviet Union made negotiations to shut down their missile silos, the Spokane missile silos were decommissioned in 1965 and other silos soon followed.

Although they still stand, they are not active; all but one have been sold as private property.

Near the community of Lamona in Lincoln County, the Kramer family owns one of these 20-acre silos.

NOVEMBER 2016 • 29

It was originally purchased by Bob Kramer in 1969 for $2,500, but was then passed down to his son, Mark Kramer, who now stores his family’s farm equipment in it.

Many people have attempted breaking into it, but none have succeeded so far. The Kramer family says they are perfectly happy with showing people around the silo if asked and are considering having an annual open house to discourage people from wanting to break in.

The Cold War may have been a terrifying experience, but it did bring us some very interesting historical monuments to learn from. It shows us that nuclear war is a very real problem, that needs to be addressed. To this day, we have even more nuclear weapons than we did during the Cold War. We should be more educated about them before we decide to use them irrationally. Most of all, the missile silos remind us of a time when a harsh decision and a push of a button could have drastically changed the world for the worse.

Red dots show missile silo sites located in Eastern Washington during the Cold War era. The bunkers stored missiles that were intended as warnings to the Soviet Union.

Contributed image

The Current

30 • NOVEMBER 2016

SSG Virginia Adolfson US Army (Still serving) 10 1/2 years

SSG Charles Adolfson

US Army Technically still in, 14 1/2 years

Retired Captain Art Taylor US Army 24 years

Veteran Services

VetsGarage

Financial Aid for Veterans through Spokane County Veterans Services

The VetsGarage helps veterans succeed in the civilian world – whether on the job, in college or www.spokanecounty.org/1122/Veteransstarting a business of their own. In addition to Services/ learning meaningful skills, it creates a positive environment.

Veteran’s Housing | Volunteers of America Our programs offer assistance with technical www.voaspokane.org skills, business knowledge and interpersonal Transitional housing for homeless veterans. Who relationships. We provide a creative outlet and We Serve thanking our vets Volunteers of America’s genuine camaraderie. transitional living program provides support 1102 W. College Ave. Veteran Services | Spokane County, WA Spokane, WA 99201 www.spokanecounty.org Phone: (509) 919.3176 Veteran Services provides counseling and Dr. Pollack, Director – dr.pollack@comcast.net emergency financial aid to honorably discharged indigent veterans and their families for rent, utilities, food, gas, and limited prescription assistance.

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 31

Would like to say “Thank You” to all those who chose to serve our country.

John Paul Crossann

SSG Dannetta Garcia

US Air Force 7 1/2 years Distinguished Pitsenbarger Award Recipient for heroism, USAF 1986

SPC Heaven Frerichs US Army 6 years

VA Suicide Hotline

1-800-273-8255 If you are a Veteran considering suicide, please call this number and press 1 to speak to a VA Counselor

Behavioral Health Center Spokane Veteran's Affairs Medical Center

4815 N. Assembly St. Spokane, WA This facility, dedicated in August 2012, can help veterans with mental health, addiction and socialservice needs. It offers both group treatment and oneon-one counseling. It provides a neuropsychology clinic for brain injuries, PTSD, or other cognitive deficits, as well as a nationally recognized program for homeless veterans.

1st Battalions 54th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division Mechenized Mos 11 Bravo Served 1977-1987 Stationed Bamberg, Germany

Border Patrol

A helping hand for Veterans through GoodWill of The Inland Northwest http://discovergoodwill.org/Veterans

Free Handy man For Disabled Veterans

Address: 12213 E Trent Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99206 Phone: (509) 329-6864 freehandymanservicesforwoundedordisabledveterans.org Free Handyman will help disabled veterans with: Accessibility—installing wheelchair ramps, grab bars, safety rails, shower extensions.

Painting – exteriors .

Homes for Homelss Veterans

https://www.voaspokane.org/veteranshousing

The Current

32 • NOVEMBER 2016

PACE Trait for November – Citizenship

By Ned Fadeley Of all the PACE character traits, perhaps none engender more consternation, sanctimony or passion than citizenship. Inherently subjective in nature, the concept itself has been bandied about and debated since the very dawn of the western democratic ideal amongst the sixth century BCE city-states of ancient Greece.

From Solon to Pericles, from Socrates to Cicero, from Machiavelli to Montesquieu, from John Adams to Patrick Henry, from Reagan to Chomsky, from even from Donald Trump to Colin Kaepernick, the definition, and perhaps more importantly, the practice of the virtue of citizenship has been as fluid as it has been timeless.

One thing all Americans can agree on, however, is that citizenship is vital both to the health of the republic and the education of her youth. To that end, civic leaders like Sandra Day O’Connor, the board of Spokane Valley’s PACE initiative or our own

George Nethercutt, in the spirit, unwittingly or not, of the early 20th century philosopher John Dewey who argued that the connection between a strong education system and a vibrant, just democracy cannot be ignored, have bravely devoted their energies to bringing the subject of civics to the fore of public school curricula in a period defined by the shift toward more vocational educational programs like STEM or even the specific kinds of literacy codified and mandated by the Common Core.

To clarify, two truths appear to be self-evident: one, the definition of citizenship means different things to different people at different times; and two, despite this all Americans, if not all global citizens, regardless of political affiliation or ideology, agree that an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are critical to the health of our schools and our polity. So where does that leave us? And more importantly, where does that leave our students?

As a teacher who has had the privilege to engage students in discussions about the meaning, importance and application of citizenship during my tenure with the West Valley School District, this same tension between

ambiguity and urgency regarding the application of citizenship is also manifest. In my mind, it is precisely this tension that should be identified, celebrated and nurtured as the very soul of American citizenship in the twenty first century. That is, rather than attempting to pin down absolutes and then chastising or ostracizing those that fail to live up to them, all citizens, let alone formal educators like myself, should take pride in the fact that multiple definitions of citizenship are able to co-exist and thrive in what 19th century utilitarian philosopher John Stuart Mill described as something akin to “a great marketplace of ideas.”

This is the essence of civic education. As Bertrand Russell put it in a 1951 article on the 10 timeless commandments of teaching and learning, “Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.” Through the dual lenses of citizenship and education, this assertion implies that teachers model for and demand of their students a civic ethos premised on empathy for the differing opinions and the life experiences of others that produced those opinion, and an ongoing commitment to rationally re-examining their own biases and prejudices in regards to what does

or does not constitute the definition of citizenship in 2016.

Long story short, citizenship is not about being judgmental nor is it simply about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the day’s first class. Instead, true citizenship is about a commitment to critical thinking concerning our society’s most pressing issues with an understanding that ambiguity, uncertainty and the concomitant discourse are ends unto themselves that are to be embraced, rather than shunned for the cold comfort of what we fleetingly belief to be “true.” After all, if I may borrow again from the corpus of Mr. Russell, civic-minded students and citizens would be wise to consider that they might, “find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.”

Ned Fadeley is a fifth generation Spokanite who has taught English and History in addition to serving on the Civic Thinkers Committee in the West Valley School District since January of 2007. He holds a Master’s degree in American History and hopes he can live long enough to see the Mariners win the World Series.

Tickets: $20 at the Museum or at the event

Festivities include: silent auction, luncheon and music!

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

Proudly presents the 12th Annual Heritage Program and Luncheon

“Electric Transportation ~ Early 1900s” Presented By Charles Mutschler, EWU History Professor

Saturday, November 12, 2016 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Spokane Valley Eagles 16801 East Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley Please RSVP to 509-922-4570

The Current

Second Harvest of the Inland Northwest

By Julie Humphreys It’s not your grandma’s food bank.

People who use local food banks are well aware of the stereotypes they face. Perhaps that’s why many of our clients are willing to talk about the circumstances that have them accepting free food.

They hope to break the stereotype.

Nobody stands in a food bank line on a Tuesday afternoon because they have nothing better to do. It’s hard and humbling to ask for help.

The faces of hunger may look different than you imagine. Picture this.

Second Harvest and our partner food pantries are frequented by single working moms seeking good food for their children, the elderly who have run out of retirement and social security funds, young adults making a little too much money to qualify for food stamps but not enough to pay their bills and business professionals who have lost a job or run into a medical emergency. That’s an accurate picture of today’s food bank client.

Picture something other than expired boxes of macaroni and cheese and endless packages of Top Ramen when you picture what clients receive at food banks.

More food pantries are being set up like grocery stores with shelves marked “whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables” with volunteers guiding clients to make healthy choices and giving them recipes. Picture beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, milk and other dairy distributed at elementary schools and community centers to grateful families and children. Picture scratch cooking classes where clients learn to use those fresh ingredients and also

NOVEMBER 2016 • 33

learn how to stretch their limited food budgets. That is the accurate picture of today’s neighborhood food banks served by Second Harvest.

In the past, food banks often gave out whatever free, cheap commodities were available to people who needed them. Today, Second Harvest and food banks around the country are increasingly focused on providing healthy food.

Why? It’s a good investment in the fight against hunger and poverty.

Multiple studies show poor diets, over time, lead to increased spending on medical care and low performances at work and in school for children and adults.

Second Harvest was founded in 1971 as a central warehouse for a handful of emergency food pantries in Spokane. Today, hunger solution centers in Spokane and the Tri-Cities partner with 250 neighborhood food banks and meal centers – including 100 in Spokane County – to feed more than 55,000 hungry people each week in the Inland Northwest.

Jammie, a single father of five, works full time and struggles to afford enough groceries for his kids.

“Feeding them the right food is hard and really expensive,” he admits.

Second Harvest’s partner agency, Mid-City Concerns, serves some 500 meals a day to the homeless, seniors and low-income residents.

“People don’t want to see them”, says Ramona Pinto of Mid-City. “[But] they are people who need love and concern and care and a good meal, just like the rest of us do.”

A good meal and good food is exactly what people who use the Second Harvest network of meal sites and food banks get. Half of all food resourced and distributed

by Second Harvest is fresh fruits and vegetables. People on limited budgets don’t often purchase these foods because they are expensive yet they are critical for good health.

Since we live in one of the most productive growing regions in the nation, we have access to an incredible amount of nutrient-rich fresh produce.

Second Harvest has cultivated strong partnerships with the local agriculture industry. resulting in bulk loads of seasonal, farm-fresh produce donations. In the 200-member Feeding America national food bank network of which Second Harvest is a member, only three distribution centers provide more fresh produce than Second Harvest (San Jose, San Francisco and New York City).

Darrell George is the director of community services at the Otis Orchards Food Bank located at the

Seventh Day Adventist Church on Harvard Road. His location serves about 150 people every month. Two times a month food distributions consist of produce only.

“Hardly anything is left, it goes pretty fast,” says George, who adds they have distributed some unique produce items like jicama and cactus.

Food literacy and exposure to different fresh foods is part of the mission of Second Harvest’s newest program, The Kitchen. Built in the back of the Second Harvest warehouse, The Kitchen opened a year ago. It became increasingly apparent that providing groceries for people isn’t always enough when people don’t know how to prepare and use the food they receive. Often, when you hand someone a butternut squash or a bag of lentils, they say no thank you because they aren’t sure how to cook fresh produce. Meanwhile, obesity and diabetes rates are on the rise, especially for low-income families. Those, and other chronic diseases are directly related to diet.

The Kitchen at Second Harvest gives people tools to take their health into their own hands. We are going a step further in hunger relief and investing in long-term health through nutrition education and hands on scratch cooking lessons.

Cooking from scratch results in lower cost, more nutrient-dense meals. Clients often say they have more confidence to prepare and serve a meal after attending a class.

“I’ve gotten some excellent recipes our kids just love,” class participant Marie said. “I can even get my sons to eat spinach because they gave me a spinach smoothie recipe.”

The Kitchen often takes nutrition education on the road, traveling to schools and community centers where nutrition ambassadors do live cooking demonstrations and provide recipes and samples throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Food banks and pantries have always depended on the generosity of volunteers to help feed hungry people. Today, volunteers are even more critical, as the number of people accessing food assistance and the volume of food distributed increases yearly. Second Harvest distributed 28 million pounds this year. Not only do volunteers sort and help distribute food, they help staff food drives and fundraising events, deliver food, and even help teach cooking classes. For more information on volunteer opportunities visit 2-harvest.org, where you will see it’s truly not your grandma’s food bank.

SPOKANE FALL FOLK FESTIVAL

21 years of celebrating our cultural diversity

Nov. 12 - 13 Saturday - 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Sunday - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Lair – Spokane Community College 1810 N. Greene FREE PARKING Free Family Fun All Day! Dance • Music • Workshops Jam Sessions • Craft Sales • Children’s Activities 8 stages • 100 performers

Folk, Bluegrass, Old-time Celtic, Hawaiian, Blues, Scottish, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Native American, African, Klezmer, English Contra Dances Performers’ schedules & info at www.spokanefolkfestival.org.

The Fall Folk Festival is sponsored by the Spokane Folklore Society

34 • NOVEMBER 2016

LOCAL LENS

The Current

Local Lens

Share your snapshots for The Current’s photo page. Email photos@valleycurrent.com with scenes from around town, community events and group photos.

​ utumn in the Valley is a time A indoor and outdoor events.

Clockwise, from top left; Local students gather at University High for the candidate forum last month sponsored by the Splash/Current, the littlest member of the Splash/Current team, the debut of a new sign at the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, plenty of great items at the East Valley Auction, East Valley cheerleaders at the EV Auction and mutton busting at the Spokane Interstate Fair

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 35

Local Ford dealer drives campaign to support local vets

paste, deodorant – everyday stuff.

It’s all needed and it all helps.

Same with socks and underwear.

“And cash always helps. You can make a cash donation.”

When the clothing drive began eight years ago, Johnson said, there were between 750 and 800 homeless veterans in the greater Spokane area. He hasn’t seen recent numbers, but for this businessman with a big heart, one homeless vet is too many.

By Steve Christilaw

Current Correspondent Gus Johnson has a goal.

Beginning on Veterans Day, the Spokane Valley Ford dealer plans to park a one-ton Ford pickup truck in front of his service bays and set up a donation point inside his showroom. By the end of November, he plans to fill six such pickups with donated clothing and essentials for homeless vets.

“I’m not a veteran,” Johnson said. “But I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t them.”

With cold and colder weather looming, there’s an emphasis on warm clothing – coats, hats,

Longtime Ford dealer Gus Johnson has sponsored a clothing and supply drive for veterans at his car lot on Spokane Valley’ Auto Row for the past eight years. The event will kick off again this year on Veterans Day and runs through Nov. 30.

Photo by courtest of Quinn Advertising gloves, sweaters and boots. But all clothing donations are needed and welcome.

But, Johnson said, there are more needs out there that can be met through donations.

“There’s a need for essentials, too,” he said. “Tooth brushes, tooth

Johnson recalls the story of one particular vet who needed help but hated to leave the woods near Colville. Volunteers would take him to a nearby Wal-Mart at 3 in the morning so he could get in and out in the shortest amount of time and get back to his home in the forest.

“That’s one thing I’ve come to understand,” Johnson said. “There are vets out there who are homeless by choice. They don’t want to have anything to do with society. But they still need our help.”

The annual clothing drive started through a partnership with a radio station.

And they’ve hit their goal seven out of eight times.

“There was one year where we didn’t advertise as heavily as we should have and we came up short,” Johnson said. “We learned from that mistake. This year we’re really going to hit it hard and get the word out there.”

Johnson said he’s always been impressed by the way the Spokane community comes together to help those in need.

“We’ve had truck drivers stop on the street in front of our showroom and run inside to give us $500,” he said. “And then they get on the air to their fellow truckers and challenge them to match or beat their donation. I am constantly amazed by how this community comes together to help each other.”

Want to help?

The veterans’ clothing and supply drive at Gus Johnson Ford – 8300 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley – begins on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and runs through the end of the month. For more information, call 924-1000.

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36 • NOVEMBER 2016

OPINION

Open government should be more than words

Listening to members of the Spokane Valley City Council, we often hear speeches about how they are for smaller, more efficient government that is open and responsible to the citizens – but their actions tell a different story.

Back in February of this year, the City Council abruptly asked for the city manager’s resignation with no public discussion nor reasoning other than a statement from Mayor Rod Higgins saying, “We are going in a different direction.” Requests as to what the new direction was or for an investigation into how the city manager knew to clean out his office before the public meeting asking for his resignation were declined with statements saying they weren’t at liberty to discuss the issue.

Last week an email notified the public that the City Council, in conjunction with a predetermined group of individuals, would be interviewing an undisclosed number of candidates in closed session (i.e. secret) to select a new city manager. The city manager is the executive officer of the city in charge of the daily operations and the executive branch of the city government. They have a major role in how our city government works yet the public cannot even

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“In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory or an unjust interest. And endeavor to gain, rather than to expose, thy antagonist.”

— William Penn

The Current

know who as interviewed? Nor what backgrounds they had or questions they were asked? Nor were we allowed to even comment on the selection of those chosen to meet secretly with the City Council to interview the candidates.

Candidate Forum Mock Election Results

To be fair, are these the standard hiring practices for a position like this or what are other organizations doing?

The city of Liberty Lake openly discussed candidates and publicly held interviews for the selection of their city administrator (a position similar to the Spokane Valley city manager but since they are a strong mayor city, it reports directly to the mayor of Liberty Lake).

The Spokane Valley Fire Department, when selecting their current fire chief, the equivalent position of the city manager within their organization, sent out invitations discussing publicly the finalists who were going to be interviewed. SVFD published their resumes, as well as set up a reception for the public to attend, meet the potential candidates and provide the fire commissioners with their feedback.

Even the East Valley and Central Valley school boards in their latest searches for their current superintendents, the equivalent position within their organizations to the city manager position, allowed community involvement which involved open interviews and, even in some cases, had candidates answer questions in forum style meetings where anyone could attend and provide their feedback or public receptions to be able to meet and talk with the candidates.

Public processes aren’t new; in fact, they are the standard and norm for all other public organizations.

Why were the citizens of Spokane Valley not offered the same opportunities?

When the government we set up and officials we elect start making decisions without public input or discussion it shows us they don’t respect us, nor our opinions and, to me, that’s when we should be afraid. If they are willing to make this kind of a decision without our input, what will they decide is in our best interest next?

Ben Wick

President Total Percent County Commissioner District 2

Hillary Clinton 34 50.0%

Shelly O’Quinn 28 41.2%

Donald Trump 20 29.4%

Andrew Biviano 39 57.4%

Alyson Kennedy 0 0.0%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Gloria Estela La Riva 0 0.0%

Under Votes 1 1.5%

Jill Stien 1 1.5%

Darrell Castle 0 0.0% Supreme Court Justice Position 1

Gary Johnson 5 7.4%

Over Votes 1 1.5%

Mary Yu 31 45.6%

Under Votes 7 10.3%

David DeWolf 13 19.1%

Over Votes 0 0.0% US Senator

Under Votes 24 35.3%

Patty Murray 34 50.0%

Chris Vance 16 23.5% Supreme Court Justice Position 5

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 18 26.5%

Barbara Madsen 15 22.1%

Greg Zeppel 20 29.4% US Representative, 5th District

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 33 48.5% Cathy McMorris Rodgers 24 35.3%

Joe Pakootas 32 47.1% Supreme CourtJustice Position 6

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 12 17.6%

Charles Wiggins 18 26.5%

Dave Larson 14 20.6% State Senator

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Mike Padden 40 58.8%

Under Votes 36 52.9%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 28 41.2% Superior Court Judge Position 10

State Representative Position 1

Linda Tompkins 22 32.4%

Ward Andrews 19 27.9%

Matt Shea 23 33.8%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Scott Stucker 26 38.2%

Under Votes 27 39.7%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 19 27.9% Superior Court Judge Position 11

State Representative Position 2

Greg Sypolt 18 26.5%

Tim Fennessy 22 32.4%

Bob McCaslin 38 55.9%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 28 41.2%

Under Votes 30 44.1%

STA Proposition 1 County Commissioner District 1

Yes 31 45.6%

Candace Mumm 43 63.2% No 9 13.2%

Josh Kerns 25 36.8% Over Votes 0 0.0%

Over Votes 0 0.0%

Under Votes 28 41.2%

Under Votes 0 0.0%

The Current

NOVEMBER 2016 • 37

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

NOTEBOOK

Ben Wick

ben@libertylakesplash.com EDITOR

Craig Howard

craig@libertylakesplash.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Danica Wick

danica@libertylakesplash.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR for information contact

advertise@libertylakesplash.com

CIRCULATION Dean Byrns circulation@libertylakesplash.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Jamie Borgan, Steve Christilaw, Craig Howard, Staci Lehman, Mary Anne Ruddis, Benjamin Shedlock, Mike Vlahovich The Valley Current P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.valleycurrent.com of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Spokane Valley area.

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off the Bears in a key match.

The Titans lineup is primarily made up of juniors, sophomores The Current is committed to serving the Greater Spokane Valley and a freshman. Rachael Schlect area through excellent community journalism. We can’t do it at is again among the top hitters in league. Brooklyn Thomas is the all without you, our readers, and we can’t do it for long without senior citizen, while junior Alana support from our advertisers. Please thank our business Chester, sophomore Rochelle Koepke and freshman Kristah partners and look to them when offering your patronage.

Tiffany have been key contributors.

Sydney Johnson and Paige Wollan Our sincere appreciation to the following businesses for their were most likely the point scorers at the net. Wollan, a junior, led the foundational partnerships with The Current and its partner publications: team in blocks.

Setter Hannah Wampler, another junior, set the table, one time credited with 44 assists. And ENRI CHED LI VI NG. LASTI NG VALUE. sophomore Sami Smith, was a digs leader, along with Johnson who factored in nearly every category.

Soccer back in hunt THE Central Valley provided THE consistent YOU WANT power from all over and East Valley dominated, both headed to the post-season again.

The Bears tied Mead for the Greater Spokane League championship. The Knights rolled to an 11-1 Great Northern League title and three-game advantage over second place.

CV and Mead went 12-1 overall, but the Panthers won 2-1 their league clash.

Any number of players scored, Clark’s Tire and Automotive • Family Medicine/Healthy Living Liberty Lake led by sophomores Maggie Ames THE YO U D ES ERVE and Kailyn LaBrosse with nine Liberty Lake Family Dentistry • Liberty Lake Orthodontics each. Senior Natalie Cabiad and sophomore Kaelyn Barnes scored Financial • Spokane County Library District New homes in Spokane,Thrivent Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls & Coeur five apiece.

The Knights got the bulk of their goals from Shannon Frucci, gr e e n s t o n e h oIndex m e s . of c oadvertisers m Micaela Verdal and Chloe Gellhaus.

Following are the local advertisers in this Kari Bromley was in goal for eight issue of The Current. shutouts, six of them in succession.

Cross country thrives Amaculate Housekeeping 14 Spokane Fall Festival 33 Healthy Living Liberty Lake 26 Central Valley girls’ and boys’ cross country teams were both in Andrew Biviano 4 Hearth Homes 15 Spokane Realty-Courtney Hanks 18 the top three in Greater Spokane BECU 10 Jim Cuser Enterprises 18 League competition.

Spokane Roofing 38 The girls shared second place Central Valley Theatre 18 KiDDS Dental 21 Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce 38 with North Central with one-loss records, but CV beat the Indians on Cornerstone Penecostal Church 4 Liberty Lake Family Dentistry 5 Spokane Valley Heritage Museum 32 a tiebreaker.

Kearan Nelson, led the nine-deep Custom Fit Lighting 18 Liberty Lake Orthodontics 6 Stauffer and Associates 3 team winning most of the races Mumm for County Commissioner 14, 38 East Valley ECEAP 14 and finishing second twice to lead Waste Management 3 the veteran team. Anna Fomin, ran Simonds Dental Group 40 Evergreen Fountain 25

number two for the veteran team.

The boys were 7-2 and third in Spokane County Library District 17 GSSAC 7, 9 Service Directory 38 league. As many as 11 runners completed in a varsity race. Evan Of note: This thank you message was produced by The Current’s advertising team, which works its tail off Peters, Joey Nichols and Ryan Kline on behalf of partner businesses, helping them share their messages through advertisements. This is an indewere steady presences. pendent function from The Current’s editorial team, which has its own evaluation process to determine the University’s Claire Dingus and community news stories and features it pursues. For more information about a win-win partnership that West Valley’s Jacob Nicholson are expertly markets your business to thousands of readers (while making this home-grown community newstop runners in their respective paper possible), email advertise@valleycurrent.com. With story ideas, contact editor@valleycurrent.com. leagues.

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38 • NOVEMBER 2016

Valley Chamber

HIGHLIGHTS

SERVICE DIRECTORY EVENT & MEETING FACILITY HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP?

The Tri Community Grange Event Hall is an affordable and ideal location for parties, receptions, dances, reunions and meetings. Full kitchen, stage, piano, tables and chairs, NEW AC, handicap accessible, large parking lot and free signage. Call Jerry at 226-2202 or email jerrylpeterson@comcast.com.

MUSIC CLASS WWW.KIDSMUSICROUND.COM

Come and enjoy a fun filled class where you and your child will enjoy the wonderful world of music.

This is a 45 min class and runs for 10 weeks.

Multiple age levels available. Call to attend a free preview class. Located at N. 12 University (Michelle’s Dance Studio). 509-599-1900

Martin (Marty) Dow Owner and President of Glen Dow Academy in Spokane, Washington passed away on 10/26/2016 at the age of 59. He was a friend, neighbor, and a nice guy. You will be missed.

CONNECT. CONNECT.

EMPOWER. EMPOWER.

INNOVATE. INNOVATE.

Envisioning the Future of Health Care In his keynote presentation, John Tomkowiak, M.D. will describe the upand-coming trends in health care and the impact those trends have on the research, education and clinical missions of a new medical school.

Paid for by Mumm for County Commissioner (D) PO Box 18526 Spokane, WA 99228

As the Founding Dean of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at WSU-Spokane, John Tomkowiak, M.D. is instrumental in creating a college that will bring practical healthcare solutions to residents throughout the state.

With his extensive expertise in the areas of medical education, accreditation and transformational leadership, Dr. Tomkowiak brings a comprehensive perspective on building and growing a medical school in our

Friday, November 18, 11:30-1:30 p.m.

Mirabeau Park Hotel Speaker: John Tomkowiak, M.D. Dean, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU Spokane

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The Current

Happy Birthday Hank – Lessons from a real-life American hero

ON THAT NOTE

NOVEMBER 2016 • 39

By Craig Howard Current Editor

I first met Henry Hoyer Mumaw when I was volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

The warm lunches I delivered to the pastel-yellow home in Spokane Valley were always greeted with gratitude and small talk about local weather patterns or the latest news from politics or sports. Henry and his wife, Eudora, would clear out a patch on the small Formica table in their kitchen for the trays of food.

To me it seemed like the humble meal – and the accompanying conversation – represented the highlight of their day.

When Eudora passed away in 2009, Henry forged on bravely, although he would often drop down a few tones and talk about how much he missed his sweetheart.

Over the years, I learned more about Henry, known by most as “Hank.” Born and raised in Michigan, he enlisted in the Army at the late age of 29 and shipped off to join other U.S. troops during the height of World War II. After starting as a second lieutenant, he rose to the rank of captain.

I’ve read about the “Greatest Generation” in history books and seen grainy footage of World War II

A native of Michigan, Henry Mumaw enlisted in the Army at the age of 29.

He was born on Nov. 11, 1911. The day was later declared Armistice Day

by President Woodrow Wilson and is now known as Veterans Day. Contributed photo on PBS, but Hank lived it. He led a battalion, was wounded twice and dodged land mines in the forests of Italy and North Africa.

Hank sometimes talked about fellow soldiers who lost limbs or did not make it back to the states at all. He knew he was one of the lucky ones. Between 1941 and 1945, over 290,000 U.S. soldiers lost their lives in combat. Hank was among a list of American wounded that numbered over 670,000.

While over 16 million Americans were part of the armed forces during World War II, the Veterans Administration estimates that just over 850,000 of those real-life heroes are still with us.

Talking with Hank, I wondered if we truly take the appropriate time to stop and appreciate the sacrifices made by those who left their homes and fought for our freedoms in the humid jungles of Guadalcanal or the teeming beaches of Iwo Jima.

When we cast a ballot, worship at church or attend a City Council meeting, do we acknowledge the role played by Hank and other veterans to secure our everyday rights and privileges?

Henry “Hank” Mumaw was a longtime Spokane Valley resident and World War II veteran who passed away in 2012 at the age of 100.

Contributed photo

Getting to know Hank gave me an increased appreciation for the essential contributions made by those who served our country with courage and selflessness. Like others from his generation, Hank was quick to deflect credit for his efforts. He never once brought up the medals he won, saying his service was simply a matter of

Approximately 850,000 U.S. World War II veterans are still alive today. Over 16 million American soldiers served in the war that ended on Sept. 2, 1945.

Photo by Craig Howard stepping up to defend his nation, doing his part like anyone else.

Yet to me, Hank was one of the few genuine heroes I’ve ever known. Of all things, he was born on Nov. 11, 1911. Eight years later, the day was declared Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson in observance of the end of World War I a year earlier. In 1954, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day. In 2011, Hank celebrated his 100th birthday. When I asked him his secret, he’d talk about exercising every day – usually on a rowing machine or treadmill – eating an apple with dinner and swearing by his multi-vitamin. He reminded me, in some ways, of another World War II veteran, my wife’s grandfather, Stu Jardine, who was part of a Navy fleet in the Pacific and ran marathons in his later years.

Hank lived a quiet life for the most part, but welcomed visitors and always had an interesting story to

tell. One year, during the Christmas season, our family brought by some cookies and lingered for a while, singing carols. While delivering our rendition of “Silent Night,” Hank joined in unexpectedly on the final verse. He said later that such holiday songs had served as reassuring reminders when he and his fellow soldiers were stationed far from the festive traditions back home.

Hank passed away on a cold February day in 2012. I was asked to say a few words at his memorial service, held on the frozen grass of Pines Cemetery. The American flag that furled in the wind that morning seemed to fly with added meaning.

On Veterans Day and the 364 days beyond, I feel blessed to have called Hank a friend. He helped me see more clearly how sacrifice and integrity form the content of a person’s character. The lesson is even more remarkable when you consider for the last 40 years of his life, Hank was completely blind.

The Current

40 • NOVEMBER 2016

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