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A VALLEY-WIDE COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE
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2
• FEBRUARY 2021
The Current
RIVER CROSSING
Voice for the voiceless –
“There are avenues out there to help all the people who don’t know how to get help and need to know,” Gangitano said. “I want to have that connection with people so they know they’re not just getting dropped off. It’s so important that you have that follow-through and see they get what they needed.”
By Craig Howard
The launch date of SVCA was Jan. 5. Gangitano was also active as a volunteer with the Tenants Union of Washington before she branched out with another group – Spokane Area Tenants United – in early 2020. For now, SVCA is the focus. The effort, Gangitano says, “is about supplying the people with power to raise their voices while promoting hope and opportunity.”
Gangitano rallies on behalf of disadvantaged Current Contributing Editor
When she was a student at University High School, Sherri Gangitano participated in marching band and Spanish Club while earning high marks on her report card. In her spare time, the Spokane Valley native volunteered at St. Luke’s Hospital – later known as St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center. The focus on service – Gangitano aspired to be a teacher or healthcare worker – could be traced to her grandmother, Betty Burger, known to Gangitano as “Nana.” “I’ve always wanted to help people,” Gangitano says. “I’ll give credit for that to my grandma.”
“We need to get the community voice out there,” she said. Gangitano speaks from experience when it comes to navigating the social services network. A single mom who has
raised a daughter with a disability along with three sons, Gangitano has become well-informed on housing rights and other issues that affect low-income families and individuals. She once had a judge thank her for a personal letter she wrote in an appeal for Social Security/disability benefits related to injuries suffered after a collision with a drunk driver. “He could see the trouble I went through,” she said. “He thanked me for going into detail on how my condition was affecting my ability to take care of my household and my kids.” After graduating from U-Hi in 1988, Gangitano enlisted in the Army Reserves and reported to boot camp in New Jersey where she spent 10 weeks. She transitioned to Texas after that, going through medical training at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio for a year. Her studies centered on becoming a combat medic and respiratory
A devoted member of Millwood Presbyterian Church, Burger set a standard for Gangitano to follow, always looking out for others, particularly the less fortunate. Burger will turn 99 this May.
Gangitano later married an active duty enlisted soldier who was assigned to a base in Germany. The couple spent 14 months there before returning to the States in 1990 when Gangitano was pregnant with her first child. Gangitano later enrolled at Spokane Community College where she earned her associate’s degree in pre-physical therapy in 1992. She moved to Montana with her two children with a goal of a bachelor’s degree in the same field but the University Montana transitioned the major to a master’s program after she became a student. Gangitano pivoted and pursued a sociology degree with an emphasis in juvenile justice. She graduated in 1998. A move to Colorado followed where Gangitano was hired by Moffat County Juvenile Court. She remained in Colorado until 2001, also working as an airport radio operator and at a transitional facility for at-risk youth. Within a month after returning to Spokane, Gangitano’s father passed away following a battle with cancer. Home again, Gangitano went searching for work and was initially optimistic.
Gangitano has made her grandma proud over the years, graduating from college, serving in the military, helping wayward juveniles get back on track and, most recently, helping to establish an organization called Spokane Valley Community Advocates (SVCA) that steps up the plate for those in need. The group has already proven adept at advocating for tenant rights, helping with applications for disability benefits and much more. Alisha Reinbolt is the co-founder of SVCA which is pursuing 501c3 nonprofit status. Gangitano said the hub for resources and support makes it a point to circle back with those they serve – and always asks about immediate needs like food and clothing.
therapy technician.
“When I came back here, I thought I could get a decent job,” she said. “I figured I have a degree and experience.” Things didn’t work out as hoped, although Gangitano eventually found a job as a home health aide. The minimum wage salary qualified her for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
Contributed photo Sherri Gangitano is the co-founder and executive director of Spokane Valley Community Advocates, a new organization focused on helping residents secure resources and assistance in areas like housing, food security, disability benefits and more. Gangitano is a graduate of University High and the University of Montana who served in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard.
When Gangitano went back to school in 2006, she fought and won her appeal with DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) for paid child-care. She also tireless researched the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) in a successful campaign to maintain her housing through the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Section 8 See GANGITANO, Page 4
FEBRUARY 2021 • 3
The Current
Thank you. Everyone at Avista would like to thank you for your
crews and 19 vegetation-management crews worked to clear
patience and support while our crews restored service
debris and restore power to thousands of homes. Joining in these
following the powerful windstorm that recently hit our
efforts were an additional 21 mutual-aid crews from utilities
community. At the peak of the storm, wind speeds reached
outside of our area to whom we also owe our gratitude.
71 miles per hour, matching those of the record storm
Lastly, we do not want to forget to thank the many area
that caused a major disaster in our region in 2015.
residents who warmly opened their homes to family, friends
Significant damage from trees falling on power lines and
and neighbors during this crisis. Our region’s generosity is
blocking roadways presented challenging conditions for
a blessing that we can all be proud of. Thank you all.
restoration efforts. More than 60 Avista line crews, 44 contract
myavista.com
4
NEWS
• FEBRUARY 2021
GANGITANO
Continued from page 2 voucher. “We could have ended up homeless,” Gangitano recalls of the experience. These days, among her other duties, Gangitano is active with the Spokane Homeless Coalition, connecting resources to needs that range from bus passes to wheelchairs to bed bug-free furniture and more. When her daughter turned 18, Gangitano became a DSHS parent provider and was paid to continue caring for her adult child coping with a disability. She would later join SEIU 775, the state union representing long-term healthcare workers. Gangitano is no stranger to emotional and physical tribulation, a fact that strengthens her connection with the embattled individuals who reach out through SVCA. She suffers from EhlersDanlos syndrome, which affects connective tissues — primarily the skin, joints and blood vessel walls. The car collision left her with back pain, migraines and another syndrome – Thoracic Outlet – that affects the space between the collarbone and first rib. She lost a son to suicide in 2018 and is currently helping another son in his fight against cancer. Gangitano’s oldest son serves in the Army as an Apache helicopter mechanic and is currently stationed in Asia. The unique journey has brought Gangitano to place where she serves up compassion and understanding to those facing the sort of adversity that rings familiar. As her track
record resolutely proves, Gangitano is ready for the challenge. “It’s all about the empathy,” Gangitano says. “I want SVCA to be a central resource hub, like 211 but more localized. We want to empower people and emphasize accountability and responsibility. It’s all about giving them the voice they need to succeed.” Q: What did it mean to you to be the first person in your family to earn a college degree? A: My biological mother barely graduated high school and was unable to hold a job. My dad was very smart but 75 percent nerve deaf. As the oldest child and a gifted student, I swore I would have a better life than I experienced growing up. To be the first to graduate from college and volunteer for military service gave me a huge boost in self-confidence, showed my kids what is possible no matter their socio-economic situation but most of all made my dad and Nana immensely proud of me. Q: The military didn’t seem to be on your radar until you were quite late in high school. What lessons did you glean from your service in the Army Reserves, and later the Army National Guard, that you’ve drawn upon later in life? A: I started looking at the military when I was 16 and was prepared to sign up right after my 17th birthday in May. I had some injuries in early 1987 that delayed entry by four months. I didn’t leave for boot camp until after graduation in June 1988. Being in the military taught me to “hurry and wait,” especially with four kids. I have
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Deana Roberdeau Practice Manager
The Current
some amazing patience but can move mountains when pushed too far. I learned how to super pack – i.e., suitcase, downsizing, for camping. It taught me to never give up even when the odds are not good. Those ideals helped me through domestic violence, raising and secular homeschooling my special needs daughter along with three older boys. The biggest lesson learned was that “I” isn’t in “TEAM” and accomplishments in life come from working with others for a common goal, whether that be tenant protections, advocating for special need services or meeting the needs of various community members during a pandemic. Q: Your grandma seems to have played a major role not only in your youth but throughout your life. What kind of influence has she had on you? A: My Grandma, Betty “Boop,” now known as Nana, and I are kindred spirits. Her childhood was harsh, widowed young with three kids and was a working mom when it wasn’t popular. Nana always taught me to seek out my own spirituality, values and goals in life and aim for the sky. She taught me to help others even when I was impoverished myself and that being a voice for those incapable or without the knowledge to do so would lead to positive change for many. Nana was my confidante, a shoulder to cry on and someone who pushed me to be, do and act selflessly for myself. She was my mom when my biological mother wasn’t. With all the advocacy work I’ve done, she has always been my cheerleader. Her pride in my work has kept me pushing to do more.
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Q: Having grown up in the Valley and now living here for many years as an adult, what are some of the major changes you’ve seen in this area? A: Over the last 40 years, I’ve seen it change from a rural area where everyone knew your neighbors and “community” was still an ideal people cherished to a typical “city-like” suburb. When I was in the high school marching band, everyone came out for the fundraisers, helped with cutting out and taping coupons, etc. Now, it’s a small core of parents who do all the work. While we had the poor, they could still find shelter at a reasonable rate. Now, it’s more about beautifying the Valley for business investors than truly addressing the issues, such as the lack of affordable housing. I miss the sense of community we once had. Q: Would it be fair to say that most tenants are not aware of the rights they have? A: Absolutely! The state laws currently in place protect both tenants and landlords but are lopsided, are confusing, hard to enforce at a local level and with burden of proof on the tenant. Without a lease and the knowhow, a tenant’s ability to maintain stable housing rests on the control of someone able to take it away with just a 20-day no-cause order. Understanding new legislation and especially the emergency eviction moratoriums temporary protections, is critical in ensuring you know your rights. This is where tenant right workshops, tenant advocacy groups (Tenants Union of WA and SATU) and mediation
Danielle Palm Attorney Estates & Elders Law 23403 E. Mission Ave #113, Liberty Lake, WA 99019
The Current
NEWS
works in keeping families in a stable home. Read the RCWs, call us and ask questions because knowledge is power!
Q: What are some of your priorities in establishing Spokane Valley Community Advocates? A: By creating a Greater Spokane Valley resource hub, we will be filling the void and helping our consumers connect with the correct services and then followup to ensure their need were met. This is critical for consumers in crisis in supplying them with the power so they don’t give up! We believe in raising your own voice to gain change. We want to support and encourage this through self-advocacy tools while empowering those voices to work together (community advocacy) in making local policy changes. Our mutual aid program is intended to provide hope and opportunity. There are several Facebook groups and organizations trying their best to match up need with community help and we want to be a big part of that out here. We want to create a community network of individuals, businesses, organizations and area agencies to coordinate immediate mutual aid response. Need a bus pass? We’ll find you one. Need help getting groceries or pet supplies because you are homebound? We will find someone to help. Again, the difference with us is that we will follow-through to ensure the need was met. Q: There are some who say the Valley doesn’t have a homeless problem. Yet the HEART program (Homeless Education and Resource Team) at local school districts points toward a very real “hidden homeless” issue that affects hundreds of kids and families without permanent homes. How would you characterize concerns like poverty and homelessness in the Valley? A: SVCA believes that housing is human right and the foundation of success. The Valley needs to do better. Simply put, the local attitude is “We don’t have homeless in the Valley” and “Not in My Backyard” (NIMBY). While there is concern, there are many long-term residents that are resistant to progress and change, especially when helping those negatively stigmatized.
An example: There is stagnation when addressing social issues; but pushing business opportunities, despite lack of affordable housing and overloaded schools, is in full force. There is also an incorrect view that homelessness should be criminalized, that most homeless are drug addicts or mentally ill and they chose to end up homeless through poor decision-making. The homeless include families who lost income and then their homes, elderly, veterans, disabled and mentally ill, LGBTQ+, foster kids kicked out on their 18th birthday when the checks dried up and women who have escaped domestic violence. Q: Along those same line, why don’t we see any homeless shelters in the Valley? They all seem to be located in the city of Spokane. A: Again, NIMBY – Not in My Back Yard. Very simply put, folks might be all for helping those in need, but they don’t want a shelter etc. in their neighborhood. Need a permit to build apartments that go for $1600 for a three-bedroom? Great! Wanting a permit for a warming shelter in a church so people are treated with dignity despite their situation? Forget it. We could have had a centrally located 24/7 wrap-around service-based shelter on Havana and Sprague but the neighborhood and businesses said NIMBY and those in command dropped the ball. Q: In your view, what effect has the COVID-19 pandemic had on housing resources in our community? A: Simply put, housing has dried up because nobody is moving. When tenants do move out, the landlord jacks up the price by 20 to 40 percent simply because of supply and demand. Folks getting vouchers can’t find homes for the low amounts allowed and end up waiting months before finding something or even losing their vouchers because of time limits. The ethical landlords are working with their tenants and even helping them access rental or utility assistance. Non-ethical landlords are harassing their tenants and doing everything they can to make them miserable, thereby forcing them out. Since there is an eviction moratorium in place with only certain exemptions
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CALL OR REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE for eviction right now (i.e., goodcause evictions), that’s just one way they’re getting around the rules. More homeless but less shelters… police camping sweeps when there’s no place to go. We need to do better! Q: Finally, what can local residents do to help their neighbors who may have fallen upon hard times? A: Check on your neighbors, help the elderly, be that person that pays the extra if someone is short at the register and respect other’s humanity. We need folks of all
kinds to step up and fill the void by creating a network of mutual aid. Maybe you can’t provide a specific need, like delivering a food box for a homebound family or donating a sleeping bag, but you know folks who could. Be that person who helps another simply because you can. Help give them a voice because “community” is what it’s all about. Want to find out more? To contact Spokane Valley Community Advocates, call 509-312-7869 or email sv.communityadvocates@gmail. com.
• FEBRUARY 2021
The Current
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FEBRUARY 2021 • 7
The Current
Introducing the
Safety Awareness Channel 2020 December Malicious Mischief Hotspots Spokane Valley Districts
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The maps provided below depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Thefts from a Vehicle (also known as vehicle prowling), Burglaries and Thefts. As you view the map each circle will contain a number indicating how many instances of a particular crime were reported at that location. Thefts from a vehicle is often under reported as people often feel nothing can be done or they only lost a small quantity of loose change. However, the Spokane Valley Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s office analyze this data to determine high crime areas and where to allocate resources. I encourage citizens who have been a victim of crime to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 456-2233, if not in ! ( progress, to report a crime.
11-15 >15 2 Miles
With COVID-19 making its way through our community, we would like to remind you to please “Stay home and stay healthy.” If you do need to go out, please remember to;
1. Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet away from other community members. 2. Only buy what you need. The recent onslaught of over buying of items has caused shortages in the immediate food supply in our community. The only way for those to replenish is to give them time to transport and restock those items. Please only purchase what you need. 3. Wash you hands! Remember to wash your hand after each outing you may embark on. 4. Keep surfaces clean. COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time. Wipe frequently used surfaces daily to contain contamination.
8
• FEBRUARY 2021
NEWS
Street maintenance and designated funding source a hot topic for city council By Bill Gothmann Current Contributor
Committee Proposed to Examine Street Quality and Funding At Council’s request, staff brought forth a plan to form a citizens committee to examine the level of street quality citizens want for their roads, the cost of that level of quality, and the funding source for that level. When the City was incorporated in 2003, the City recognized that three categories of street funding were necessary: funds to build new streets, funds to maintain existing streets (such a snow plowing, minor repairs, striping, street sweeping, and grass trimming), and street preservation (extending the life of the street). Council learned that one dollar spent for street preservation can prevent spending eight to twelve dollars for future street reconstruction. Funds for new streets were to come from developers (for new developments). Funds for arterials would come from state and federal grants with the city matching such grants, usually from 10% to 40% of the project costs. The city match for these arterial grants was to come from the Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) imposed by the City. Funds to maintain the streets and for street preservation were to come from the gas tax. When Council found these sources inadequate, they adopted a phone tax in 2008 to partially fill the street preservation gap. However, there was considerable blow-back from citizens when the phone tax was adopted. In fact, the gap was never fully filled with a steady, reliable source of funds. Rather,
each year the City took some funds from REET (reducing these funds being available for grant matching), or from the General Fund (used for public safety, parks, public works, general government). They also took from excess general funds which are available in good economic years but not available in bad years. These fund one-time, large projects such as rebuilding the Barker and Sullivan Bridges. Council also fully depleted a depreciation fund that was to be used for rebuilding City buildings when they reached their end of life. Not only was no reliable stream of funds developed for street preservation, but in recent years gas taxes were decreasing due to increased auto fuel efficiency and phone tax receipts were plummeting because people were eliminating their house phones. After considerable discussion last summer, Council proposed having a citizens committee to study the desired street quality, the cost, and possible funding sources. Staff would work on the details. On Jan. 19, staff presented their proposal. The Sustainable Committee would have several tasks: Evaluate citizens’ interest and support for maintaining city streets. (i.e. Setting Pavement Condition Index goals); Identify preferences for maintaining various street types, types of treatment to be used, and levels of service targeted for the next 5-10 years and beyond; and Investigate and recommend funding sources for maintaining city streets. The Committee would have 18 members: two City Councilmembers, two Greater Spokane Valley Chamber
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of Commerce representatives, one utility representative, two public services representatives, two regional transportation representatives, three large facility/industry representatives, two general/small business owner representatives, one social services or nonprofit representative, and three citizen representatives. The Committee would have a number of public meetings with various audiences, a web site with links to an on-line survey, and would promote out-reach through various media. There was considerable Council discussion that all sectors of the City provide input. Staff will bring forward a motion for consideration to create the Streets Sustainability Committee, including a proposed Committee membership roster, for consideration and appointment. New Library on the Horizon The Spokane County Library District (SCLD) is well on its way to meet funding goals to build a new Spokane Valley central library adjacent to Balfour Park. In 2012, shortly after purchasing 8.4 acres of land adjacent to Balfour Park from the Ping Corporation, the City sold 2.82 acres to SCLD with the provision that the District would build a new facility within five years. Otherwise, the land would be re-sold to the City for the same amount as it was sold to SCLD. SCLD submitted bond proposals in 2014 and 2015 to the voters, both of which failed to reach the required 60% approval rate to pass, although the last effort received a 57.57% positive vote. In 2017 the City extend the fiveyear provision to 2022. SCLD’s present plan will not require a public vote. Their budget calls for a 30,000 square-foot, $14-$15 million facility designed for efficiency and flexibility of spaces. Thus far, they have secured a $12 million loan from Washington State’ LOCAL program, the District’s capital project funds of $3.2 million, and $1.3 million from the City in the original 2012 agreement for joint site areas and frontage improvements. In addition, there is a pending $2 million Library Capital Improvement Grant awaiting legislative approval in the current session. A capital campaign may also be planned. The District sent out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural services and expects to complete selection in March. Design would occur in the March/April time frame with the goal of asking for construction bids in December of 2021 or January of 2022. Construction
The Current
would start in 2022. Upon completion of the new library, the old building will be sold. Editor’s Note: See the cover story this month on page 10 for more information in this topic. Planned Development Approved
Residential Moratorium
Council moved to suspend the rules and approve an ordinance that provides a moratorium on planned residential developments (PRD). A PRD is a type of development that “significantly increases flexibility in developments within the City by allowing more diverse types of development within each zoning district by allowing for more permitted types of development with fewer design and development restrictions, while still maintaining the same protections for existing neighborhoods and uses by incorporating transitional standards and rezoning many areas of the City.” With the adoption of the new R-4 zone in September and permitting other types of housing, staff found “the range of housing allowed within the PRD regulations is inconsistent and incompatible with surrounding existing uses in single family zoning districts.” This is especially true of multifamily housing. Time is needed to analyze the existing code to come up with a comprehensive, cohesive plan for PRDs. Meanwhile, the City is halting processing of new PRDs until the code can be developed. The moratorium is for a maximum of one year. CARES Act Allocations Cited The City was allocated $4,352,400 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) act funds through the Washington State Department of Commerce. The City provided grants from these funds to various agencies having COVID-related expenses. As a result, SNAP provided $901,647 for rental, mortgage, and utility assistance. Greater Spokane Meals on Wheels and Spokane Valley Partners provided $415,617 in food security/ insecurity, clothing, diapers, toiletries, etc. Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce provided $2,349,137 in small business and non-profit grants. Central, East, and West Valley School Districts used $415,603 for COVID related expenses, and the City and KREM spent $75,000 on a Phase 4/ Hospitality media campaign. In addition, the City spent $195,396 in COVID related expenses such as PPE, cleaning supplies, equipment
The Current
and software for virtual and remote facilities, equipment for proper distancing, and law enforcement payroll costs. Spokane Regional Health District Update Spokane Regional Health Department (SRHD) presented an update on its COVID 19 vaccination program. The State Department of Health takes the lead on the statewide program, with the SRHD encouraging providers to enroll in the system, participate with providers in planning and engagement to ensure equitable access to vaccinations, and increase opportunities for community vaccinations. The State’s program consists of five phases, December through April, and a future phase from May to December. Each phase will make additional clients eligible for vaccinations with the most critical being treated first. See updated information from the State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov and SRHD at srhd.org. Retail Consultant Reports to Council In 2017, the City contracted with Retail Strategies on retail recruitment. They reported that retailers currently interested in Spokane Valley include major entertainment entities, sitdown and casual restaurants, national fitness chains, farm and ranch suppliers, home improvement and supply firms, and fashion apparel retailers. Reasons they are not here include economics, COVID-19 delays, stalled expansion plans, and those who have not found a fit site. Mission Bridge Grant to be Submitted Council approved staff submitting a grant application to Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for Federal Local Bridge program funds to resurface the Mission Ave. bridge over Evergreen. Workers on the proposed project would sandblast the existing bridge deck’s top surface to roughen it up and remove grime and grease. They would then apply a primer and polymer surface seal, immediately followed by an aggregate application to provide traction and added strength to the sealed surface. The anticipated project duration is two to three weeks. The project would cost $261,075 requiring a 13.5% match ($32,245) from the City. Montgomery and Bessie Street Vacation Diamond Rock/TCF Properties
FEBRUARY 2021 • 9
NEWS
has requested the vacation of Bessie Road from Mansfield north to Montgomery Ave. and Montgomery east from Bessie Rd. for about 500 ft. The Planning Commission approved the proposal provided ten conditions are met. Usually, the land underlying such street vacations is split between owners on each side of the road. However, upon closer examination of this vacation, staff suggested that the Bessie Rd. underlying land should all go to Diamond Rock, the owner of the property to the east, because property for the road was originally carved out of this same development. The Montgomery Road area would all go the Montgomery Apartments south of the road, since the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railway, which abuts to the north, does not want the land. Staff computed the appraised value of the vacated land to be $55,041. The City will require an amount equal to one-half of this amount minus that paid for applicant processing, or $26,156, from the applicant. Council suspended the rules and adopted the vacating ordinance on the first reading. MayorAppointsCouncilmembers to Boards and Committees Mayor Ben Wick, with Council’s consent, made the same Councilmember appointments to existing boards and committees as was in 2020. Council Member Arne Woodard will continue his term on the County’s House and Community Development Advisory Committee. Deputy Mayor Brandi Peetz will continue her term on the Tourism Promotion Area committee. Woodard and Council Member Rod Higgins will continue their terms on the Wastewater Advisory Board. Other appointments were: Aging & LongTerm Care of Eastern Washington, Higgins, with Councilmember Pam Haley as alternate; AWC Center for Quality Committees Scholarship Committee (this is a new committee), Wick, Peetz, and Council Member Linda Thompson; Valley Chamber of Commerce Board: Peetz; Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, Higgins, with Woodard as alternate; Spokane County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, Haley; Spokane Valley Finance Committee, Wick, Peetz, and Thompson; Growth Management Steering Committee of Elected Officials, Wick and Council Member Tim Hattenburg; Governance Manual Committee, Higgins, Hattenburg, and Thompson; Greater Spokane Incorporated, (must be the Mayor), Wick; Spokane Regional Health District Board, Thompson and Wick;
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Wick; Mayors’ Association of Northeast Washington (must be the Mayor), Wick; Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Wick; Spokane Transit Authority, Haley and Hattenburg, with Wick as alternate; Visit Spokane, Peetz, with Haley as alternate. Three Appointments to Planning Commission Mayor Wick, with Council’s consent, appointed Walt Haneke and Nancy Pete Miller to the Planning Commission for terms beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2023, and Paul Rieckers to complete the unexpired term of JJ Johnson, effective immediately and ending December 31, 2021. Council Briefs
• City Manager Mark Calhoun noted that there are moves within the Legislature to ease marijuana regulations and to introduce a payroll tax on some citizens. Council expressed opposition to both of these initiatives and the City’s legislative lobbyist will relay the City’s opposition to the Legislature. • Mayor
Wick
appointed
Spokane County Fair Board member Wayne Brokaw and GL-8 Hospitality Managing Partner Grant Guinn to the Lodging Tax Advisory Board. • Council approved the City applying to WSDOT for National Highway Performance Program funds for one of two projects: Broadway from Yardley to Fancher or Sullivan from Sprague to Eighth Avenue. The Broadway project would cost about $1 million and require no matching funds, whereas the Sullivan project would cost $1.8 million and require $360,000 from the City. Staff will return to Council with final details. • Council agreed to oppose House Bill 1069, which would allow revenues received by the City to be used for other than their original purpose. • Councilmember Arne Woodard noted the City is entitled to one more committee member when it reaches a population of 100,000, which may have already occurred. • Councilmember Linda Thompson has been appointed to the National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee.
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10
• FEBRUARY 2021
Balfour Park Library is a go, no bond needed By Nina Culver
Current contributor
After years of false starts, a new Spokane Valley Library branch is finally on the drawing board, with construction scheduled to begin in 2022. The new library will be built on 2.8 acres on the northeast corner of a vacant parcel at the corner of Sprague Avenue and Herald. The rest of the vacant land, 5.6 acres, is slated for an expansion of Balfour Park, which sits on the eastern border of the property. The city of Spokane Valley purchased the land and sold a portion to the Spokane County Library District under an interlocal agreement in 2012. The agreement called for the district to build a new library within five years or sell the land back to the city if unable to do so. A series of public meetings followed and the public gave input on what park amenities they wanted to see added and what they wanted to see in a new library, culminating in a conceptual site plan approved by the City Council and the Library District Board in 2013. That’s where things stalled. The city was unable to locate funding to expand the park and construction bonds proposed by the library district, which included the $12
COVER STORY
million needed to build a new library branch, failed in 2014 and 2015. With the five-year interlocal agreement expiring in 2017, it was renewed for another five years, said Spokane County Library District Director Patrick Roewe. “It was always the district’s plan to go forward with another bond,” he said. But when the pandemic hit last spring, the district rethought its plan in the face of the economic upheaval it caused. “We anticipated a bond would be a heavy lift, a heavy ask in the best of circumstances,” he said. The Washington State Department of Commerce launched a new Library Capital Improvement Program last year and the district applied for funding. The district has been told that it’s been recommended to receive a $2 million grant. “It’s not finalized yet,” Roewe said. “It has to be approved by the legislature.” The district also applied to borrow up to $12 million from a new Washington State Treasurer’s local government financing program and has been approved. The district has been saving up surplus money that will be used and the city has committed to spending $1.3 million in street frontage improvements, Roewe said. The district also plans to run a capital campaign to raise money as well to keep the amount they borrow as low as possible, he said.
The Current
sides of the expanded park that do not include Sprague Avenue in 2021, Kleingartner said.
“That’s how we realigned the funding,” he said. The district plans to build a 30,000 square foot single story library, as discussed in 2013, but Roewe said he’s not sure how closely the plans will match what was discussed then. “Those certainly will inform our process here,” he said. Enough time has passed that the district needs to take a fresh look at the design, particularly in light of everything learned during the pandemic. “We wanted to make sure our spaces are flexible,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good sense of how our libraries are used now.” Roewe said he hopes to be able to get additional public input on the new library, but it’s difficult during a pandemic. “I’m not quite sure what that process looks like right now,” he said. The city still has not been able to secure funding to pay for the estimated $6 million in improvements to expand Balfour Park, said Spokane Valley spokesman Jeff Kleingartner. Features discussed for the new space have been a picnic shelter, play structure, splash pad, basketball court and an amphitheater with a stage, Kleingartner said. The city has discussed the possibility of making street improvements to the three
The current Spokane Valley Library branch on Main Street, which was built in 1955, will be sold once a new library is built, Roewe said. The building is known for its leaky roof and small basement meeting room accessed by a single elevator. The estimated cost of building the new library is $12 million, but an architect has not yet been hired to complete the design, Roewe said. “We won’t know the real cost until we get further along in the process,” he said. The hope is to get the project out to bid by January 2022 with construction to start soon after. The library should be done within the year, he said. “We’re very excited about it,” he said. “It’s been a priority of ours for years. I think the community will be excited, too.” The new library will be across from the Spokane Valley City Hall built a few years ago. “The city has been a great partner to work with,” Roewe said. “We’re excited to be the next anchor in that space.”
The Current
Library and Park by the numbers. By Ben Wick
Current Publisher
The talk of expanding library services in Spokane Valley has had many different faces and proposed sources, lets look back over the years to see how they have compared. In 2014 and again in 2015 the Spokane County Library District sought $22 million to construct a 30,000 sq ft facility adjoining Balfour Park. The proposal also included a 10,000 sq ft library on Conklin Road, a 6,000 sq ft expansion of public space at the Argonne Library, and re-purposing of the 60 year old Spokane Valley Library building on Main. This ballot measure failed to receive the necessary 60% voter approval receiving 55% approval in
COVER STORY
2014 and 57% approval in 2015.
The 2021 plan while focusing on the construction of the 30,000 sq ft facility at the Sprague location which will adjoin the Balfour Park and across the street from City Hall is estimated to be between $12 and $15 million and features a new funding plan. The proposal is being funded by a varity of sources including $3.2 million from the Spokane County Library Districts own Capital Projects fund, $1.3 million from the City of Spokane Valley which was pledged back in 2017 when the City Council pledged to use the money collected from the district, for the acquisition of the land, back into the development of joint site areas as well as frontage improvements so long as the Library District constructed the facility before the year 2022, $2 million pending approval from the state legislature for a Library Capital Improvement Program grant, some level of funding from a capital campaign
which is still to be determined, and approval from the Washington State Treasurers LOCAL program giving approval for the district to borrow upto $12 million for the project. Similarly on the Park Development side back in 2013 when the original joint Balfour Park / Library Master Plan was adopted the cost estimate for the development of the parkland was $3.8 million. In the fall of 2019 when the City of Spokane Valley updated the Balfour Park Master Plan the cost estimated increased to $6.2 million. The City had prior to 2021 the City had allocated just under $2 million of their capital reserves towards the Balfour Park project but then utilized $1 million of the total for the acquisition of the additional park land along the north bank of the Spokane River just east of Flora Rd. The discussion amongst council members at the time was to return the $1 million to the project if successful for the $1 million grant from the
FEBRUARY 2021 • 11
WA State Recreation Conservations Office (RCO), which the city was in the Govenor’s proposed budget but is still pending the results from the WA State Legislatures Budget adoption to know for sure. But either way the City has a $4 to $5 million gap to close before the park can be fully built out. On a slightly different note, interestingly on both the Library and City side the key leaders for this project have both moved on since the initial adoption of the master plan. The then Executive Director for the Spokane County Library District was Nancy Ledeboer and Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Director Mike Stone, both have moved on from their roles in 2017 and 2021 respectively. Will the project have some tweaks with Patrick Roewe at the helm of the Spokane County Library District or from John Bottelli the incoming Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Spokane Valley.
File photo This concept for Balfour Park was presented to Spokane Valley City Council, after several community input meetings, for approval in 2013.
12
• FEBRUARY 2021
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Leadership is a priority for East Valley senior Zach Thornton. The ASB president is focused on “making school the best it can be for students.” The effort has resulted in creative virtual and socially distanced events this year. Thornton served as ASB vice president as a junior. He maintains a 3.8 grade point average and has participated in debate since his sophomore year. He is also part of EV’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter. Thornton has also played baseball since his freshman year. He has applied for the Act Six scholarship offered by Gonzaga University and Whitworth University, an academic grant emphasizing leadership. Unsure about career avenues before participating in ASB, Thornton says the experience has encouraged him to pursue studies in law, politics and government. The senior attends Millwood Presbyterian Church and serves as a volunteer there.
If you have wondered if cheerleading is a sport, just ask Sofia Morales. The East Valley senior practices three hours a day as part of the Knights’ cheer squad and has battled through a variety of injuries, including serious wrist ailments. She helped EV win the annual rivalry competition against West Valley last year after a six-year hiatus. She played volleyball as a sophomore and junior. Morales maintains a 3.97 grade point average and is part of National Honor Society. She is currently the chapter’s PR officer and helps organize community service projects like writing letters of appreciation to first responders at local hospitals. She is the EV representative for the Lilac Festival this year and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity as part of the program. She would like to pursue studies and a career as a marine biologist.
As director of the Greater Spokane League, Ken VanSickle is uniquely qualified to navigate athletic programs through all sorts of storms. VanSickle spent 38 years in the Central Valley School District, retiring from University High last year as athletic director and assistant principal. A 1978 U-Hi grad, VanSickle worked at his alma mater for 21 years. He was named District 8 Athletic Director of the Year twice and, in 2014, was honored as the Washington State Athletic Director of the Year. He was also GSL Coach of the Year in softball four times. A past president and conference chair of the Washington Athletic Directors Executive Board, VanSickle has a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Washington University, a master’s in education and a degree in education administration. Ken and his wife Lisa are proud parents of two grown sons.
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SVFD REPORT Continued from page 5 Media Release
SVFD is one of several local Fire Agencies that will participate in the Sound Off Program. The program is designed to teach elementary school children how to stay safe from fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is a FEMA grant sub-recipient and will participate in the Sound Off Program. “Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol is a school-based fire safety program created through a grant to the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), a nonprofit organization,” said SVFD Fire Marshal, Greg Rogers. “The program teaches children in grades 2-3 and their caregivers how to stay safe from fire and offers home safety visits to install free smoke alarms in homes that need them.” Spokane Valley Fire Department is extremely proud to be a part of this program that helps educate and create a safe community for children and their families,” said SVFD Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Specialist, Caroline Kusher. “This program upholds CRR practices and promotes fire safe communities as a way of life for everyone. To learn about some of our other CRR efforts, join us on social media during the 2nd Annual CRR Week, January 18 -24. This year’s theme is “Getting Ahead of the Call”. If classroom visits are not possible due to COVID-19, some virtual tools have been developed and more will be developed during the grant period. Local teams in Washington include Lacey Fire District 3, North County Regional Fire Authority, Pasco Fire Department, Spokane Fire Department, and Spokane Valley Fire Department. Over the next few months, representatives from these agencies and the SFMO will receive virtual training from MPHI project managers. The training will cover Sound Off history, best practices, and development; the teaching kit and other printed materials; and review online videos and virtual materials. The SFMO is excited to participate in this proven and worthy program as it works towards making Washington a safe place to live, work, and play. Media Release SVFD has been selected by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to participate in the second
phase of a pilot program to build a Community Risk Assessment (CRA) dashboard tool. “This tool will assist fire department leaders in recognizing the conditions that impact the health, safety and resilience in their communities,” said SVFD Fire Marshal, Greg Rogers. SVFD is one of 250 US fire departments chosen to fill the slots during this phase of the pilot which will run through June 2021. Fire departments were chosen based on a variety of factors including the size of their department, size of the community they serve, the services provided by the department including EMS, fire prevention, inspections, public education, and the status of their Community Risk Reduction (CRR) efforts. According to the NFPA “CRR is a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. In other words, it is a process to help communities find out what their risks are and develop a plan to reduce the risks viewed as high priority.” The CRA is the evaluation step that precedes the building of the CRR plan. CRR is a proactive process many Fire Departments have adopted throughout the nation. Each year during the month of January Fire Departments support a national CRR Week awareness campaign. This year CRR Week is January 18 – 24 and the theme is, “Getting Ahead of the Call.” Spokane Valley Fire will be demonstrating each day of CRR Week the community impact and benefits from its CRR practices and why this pilot program is a win for our community. Incidents: Motor Vehicle Accident and Extrication, December 27, 2020 – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) VS8 arrived to find one vehicle on its side in the southbound lanes of Pines just south of Montgomery. WSP and the Sheriff’s Office were already on scene. The objectives were to investigate, triage patients, and check for vehicle stabilization. Alarm System – December 31, 2020 - Spokane Valley Fire responded to a report of an alarm going off at UPS. Upon arrival crews heard a water gong sounding with no water visible. VE6 tied in with security officer that assisted with opening the door for access. VE6 crew located the panel and found it to be in fault showing a water flow on the East side. No water
flow was found, and the panel was put into default and silenced. Gauges on the risers were showing pressure. A sprinkler company had been on site earlier in the day for annual testing. The company was called back to recheck and repair the system. A fire watch was established with the security personnel afterward VE6 returned to service. Brush Fire, January 2, 2021 – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a brush fire on East Guthrie Drive and East 32nd. Crews found an overloaded extension cord that had shorted out and burned where Christmas lights were out on a bush. The cord was pulled and set aside to throw away by the homeowner. Solo Service Lock Out, January 8, 2021 – Spokane Valley Fire responded to the call of a child locked in a car near South Chronicle Road and South Carnahan Road. Their initial objective was to open the locked vehicle with a child in it. On arrival crews found the vehicle owner standing next to the rear passenger door trying to keep the child calm. Crews parked the engine behind her vehicle and immediately checked the condition of the child for consciousness. They found the child to be alert and unharmed. Crews proceeded to get the vehicle lock out waiver form filled out and signed with the vehicle owner to unlock the vehicle. Once the paperwork was signed the crew quickly opened the driver’s door using plastic wedges and the “Griffiths tool”. Once the vehicle was unlocked the mom was able to get her child out and confirm that she was unharmed. Crews then returned to service. Possible Illegal Burn, January 9, 2021 – Spokane Valley Fire responded to a call of a possible illegal burn. VE9 arrived in the East 4th Avenue area to a report of fireworks being lit and a car being set on fire with fireworks. No fireworks were seen in the area and no odor of fireworks were present. There
was nothing burning in the street and no evidence of a previous fire. VE9 made a lap of the apartment complex and then returned in service. Power Line Problem, January 13, 2021 – Spokane Valley Fire was called to the scene to investigate a potential hazard in the area caused by a tree that had fallen on a house and damaged a power line. Crews parked on University, facing south, in front of a small single-story residence in the 2200 block of S. University. The house had a large evergreen tree that had fallen on the Charlie/Delta corner of the roof, which caused significant damage to the home and caused the nearby power pole to lean to the east. Contact was made with the resident inside the home which the tree had fallen on. Crews checked on the elderly resident and asked if he was OK, and he said he was uninjured but “shook up”. The tree had fallen on top of his bedroom, but he was able to get himself out of the room. There was not any debris or anything blocking the roadways in or around the intersection of 22nd and University. Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 125,000, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas within the 75-square miles of Spokane County Fire District 1. In 2019, SVFD firefighter crews, including its paramedics and EMTs, responded to more than 18,326 emergency calls. Established eighty years ago in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and by fire district’s ISO Class 2 rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau. Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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• FEBRUARY 2021
The Crest
East Valley Superintendent to retire at conclusion of current school year By Nina Culver
Current Contributor
Though East Valley Superintendent Kelly Shea would have been content to slip out the door quietly in June to begin his retirement, he felt he needed to announce his plans last year to allow the school board plenty of time to find his replacement. Shea, a Spokane Valley native, began his position with the district in 2015. “When I came to East Valley, I knew it was my last stop,” he said. “It was my personal and professional goal to be a superintendent in Spokane Valley.” Shea is 56 and will turn 57 a week after he retires. He originally envisioned retiring at 62, but recent events changed his mind. It began last spring, when schools shut down in March. It left Shea with time to reflect on his life and career and the message he has taught his staff.
attending schools in each of the three school districts but spending most of his time in Central Valley. He earned his teaching degree at Whitworth College, working as a work study tutor at Balboa Elementary for three years while he did so.
After he graduated, he took a job with Spokane Public Schools. He taught at Stevens Elementary for four years and Sheridan Elementary for seven, teaching everything to third grade to sixth grade. “I was always game to do something new and different,” he said. He moved to the Mead School District to be the principal at Meadow Ridge Elementary for five years, then at Shiloh Hills Elementary as principal for a year. Then an opening came up for the principal job at McDonald Elementary in Central Valley. Shea said the district tends to “grow its own principals” and it was rare to
have an opening be available, so he jumped at the chance to apply. He was at McDonald elementary for three years while also completing his superintendent certification. Then he got a call asking him to apply be the executive director of human resources in the Mead School District. “As much as I loved McDonald and being an elementary principal, if I was going to be a superintendent, the opportunity to go to Mead and work in the central office was essential,” he said. He was in Mead for five years before taking a job as superintendent in Sequim, Washington. Shea said he loved living there and had been there three years when he heard about an opening back in Spokane Valley. “At the time the East Valley job opened up, I wasn’t really looking to leave,” he said. But the job was the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong goal of being a superintendent of a Spokane Valley school district and Shea wasn’t about to pass that up. He applied.
“Rule number one is we take care of ourselves and our family first,” he said. “I believe life is too short and can’t be taken for granted.”
“It’s been wonderful to be here,” he said. “I truly love the work. I love being superintendent of East Valley.” Shea said he knew when he took the job that East Valley had had a rocky few years, with several shortterm and interim superintendents leading the district. “East Valley was coming off quite a bit of controversy with the K-8 decision and the divisiveness that seemed to cause,” he said. “Emotions were pretty raw. It felt like we needed a chance to just step back and breathe, give this district a chance to heal.” Before Shea arrived, support for school levies had dropped to just above the 50 percent required to pass and several capital bond measures, which require 60 percent supermajority approval, failed to pass. “We had just lost some of the community’s confidence and trust,” he said. Shea said he saw it as his job to regain that trust and support for school levies is back above 60 percent. “Have we restored that confidence and trust?” he said. “I feel as if we have. That, for me, was the most important thing to do when I came here.”
The school board has begun the process to find a new superintendent and is working to organize Zoom meetings to get input from stakeholder groups about what qualities the district should look for in its next superintendent.
“We could tell her time was coming to an end,” he said. She died in December, only three months after his step-mother, who had been married to his father for 34 years, also died of cancer.
Shea grew up in Spokane Valley,
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Shea is proud that some of those levies, including an infrastructure levy in 2018, paid for safety improvements at the schools. “Through all those things, we have made our schools safer and more secure,” he said.
That concern came to the forefront last year for Shea personally. His mother, who was only 16 years older than he, was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago. She was strong for years and went through several rounds of chemotherapy, but it became clear last year that she was losing the fight.
Those losses just cemented Shea’s desire to live his life to the fullest. “There’s things I want to do and people I want to see,” he said. “I just decided it was a good time to step back from it all.”
The Current
Contributed photo Superintendant Shea has been at the helm of East Valley School District since 2015 and will retire this June from the position.
Whoever is hired will have to navigate the changes wrought by the pandemic, including financial challenges and determining how much learning, including socialemotional learning, has been lost by students doing online classes and figuring out how to fix those problems, Shea said. “That’s going to be the challenge for the next person to take,” he said.
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• FEBRUARY 2021
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Defense, teamwork propelled CV on improbable run By Craig Howard
Current Contributing Editor
When it came time for the Central Valley boys’ basketball team to travel across the mountains for the 4A state tournament in March 2006, the Bears opted against an upscale charter bus for their mode of travel. “We just took a regular, yellow school bus over there,” said Kevin Cameron, the starting junior point guard. “That’s just kind of who we were, just a blue-collar team.” The fact that CV was even one of the 16 teams to qualify for the bracket in the Tacoma Dome came out of the blue for most observers. The Bears had finished a solid, but unspectacular 15-5 – fifth overall – in a strong Greater Spokane League featuring state-ranked programs like Ferris, Gonzaga Prep and Mt. Spokane. CV never snuck into the 4A poll during the season. “Like any high school team, the goal was to get to state,” recalls Brad Johnson a senior forward. “But honestly, I think for us it was wishful thinking.”
but improved to 43 percent in the playoffs. Sophomore guard Luke Clift led the scoring with just over 11 points a game followed by junior post Nick Ambrose at 10. Cameron and Johnson contributed around 8 points each. Clift, now an assistant coach at Viterbo University in Wisconsin, said Sloan was the key to the team’s steady work ethic. “He really leans on the defense,” Clift said. “It was all about attitude and effort. I don’t know too many other coaches who could have gotten so much out of that team.” The Bears took on Davis of Yakima in the first round of the regional tournament, defeating the Pirates 70-64. GSL nemesis Gonzaga Prep was next. A hard-fought game at the Toyota Center in Kennewick boiled down to the last 10 seconds as the Bears found themselves trailing by one with the ball. Sloan called an inbounds play that had produced a basket earlier. This time, the lob
pass went to Clift who scored on a layup and secured a CV win and a ticket to state. Upon arriving in Tacoma, the Bears received anything but the redcarpet treatment from local media and fans. The Seattle Times placed CV dead last out of 16 schools in the bracket preview. Despite the skeptical coverage, Cameron said he and his teammates remained focused on the opportunity before them. “We couldn’t have cared less where they ranked us,” he said. “We were just like, ‘OK, now we’re here. Let’s go.’” Clift said being a long shot was secondary to a season-long focus on teamwork. “We knew we were overmatched but we also knew that five guys working together can make a lot of things happen,” he said. The Bears took on Bellarmine Prep in the first round, a game considered a formality by most pundits for the talented Lions. Playing in their own backyard, the team was led by the state’s leading scorer in Vaughn Gaines, University of Washington-bound
That changed when the Bears upset Ferris in overtime on their way to a district title. Head coach Rick Sloan remembers defense being the catalyst for a team known for playing deliberately on the offensive end.
“Our goal was to score 40 points a game,” Sloan added. CV only shot 39 percent from the field in the regular season
Cameron remembers teams at state literally overlooking the underdog from Veradale. “You could see it in the layup lines before the game,” he said. “Just the laughing and the joking. It was pretty evident.” Things turned more serious as CV’s pressure defense wore teams down. The Lions also pressed but CV was ready. “We had a whole week to prepare,” Sloan said. “We just needed to have good spacing and not get sped up.” The strategy worked as the Bears stunned the Lions, 59-53 to earn a berth in the quarterfinals. Gig Harbor awaited with a towering roster that included two players at 6-8 and another pair at 6-5. Johnson drew the task of guarding 6-8 sophomore Clarence Trent, another Husky recruit. Trent would only manage six points as CV stifled the Tides in a 46-34 win. Senior reserve Mike Morgan paced the victors with 14 points. “We were just patient against their zone and got the shots we wanted,” Sloan said. “On defense, we were just a bunch of little gnats out there.” The win pitted CV against second-ranked South Kitsap in the semi-final, a team that had only lost once all year. The Wolves took the lead into half-time but the Bears began the third quarter with a trio of unanswered three-pointers by Johnson, Clift and Cameron.
“Even in the games we lost, we played good defense,” Sloan said. “We were the best defensive team in the area, if not the state.” Sloan said he knew high point totals would not be the trademark of a squad that had finished .500 the year before. He said a workmanlike 36-32 win over rival University in the season opener “encapsulated what our year was going to be like.”
Abdul Gaddy and future NBA first-round pick Avery Bradley, currently playing for the Miami Heat.
Photo by Bob Johnson The 2005-06 Central Valley boys’ basketball team placed fifth in the Greater Spokane League regular season but hit their stride in the playoffs, winning a district title (pictured above) and advancing to the state 4A tournament where they defeated three heavily favored opponents before falling to powerhouse Franklin in the championship.
Later in the period, Clift dove on the floor, beating a South Kitsap player to the ball. Cameron retrieved it and drove the length of the court for a layup, part of a 20-4 CV run. “That intensity was always there with us, especially on defense,” Johnson said. CV rode the momentum in the
FEBRUARY 2021 • 19
The Current
Final Point By Mike Vlahovich Current Contributor
By Mike Vlahovich When then-Freeman boys basketball coach Marty Jessett was taking the Scotties to a pair of 1A state finals tournament, he didn’t know who Corey Kispert was. He learned in a hurry.
shooting and some 5 rebounds per contest. Jessett, who coached girls basketball at his alma mater in Cheney and later boys basketball at University, was in on the ground floor.
“I wasn’t paying any attention to the west side,” Jessett said, “because we were just trying to get back there, so I was worrying about our teams in Eastern Washington.”
In two meetings with King’s at the 1A state tournament in 2016 and ‘17, he saw how good an athlete Kispert was the first time and how supportive of his team the year injury kept the star off the floor. “I saw him once on the floor and once when he was on the bench,” he said. By happenstance, Jessett also got to know Kispert’s mom and dad.
At the time, this side of the mountains had extremely strong teams he said and couldn’t looking ahead.
When he first scouted Kispert, Jessett was stunned to see the entire Gonzaga University coaching staff in the gymnasium.
It was 2016. Five years later, Gonzaga University’s prolific Kispert is now known by everyone. He’s a favorite son in Spokane. He’s been on the draft board for NBA teams, but demurred this year in order to complete college first, and is piling up gaudy statistics for the Bulldogs. He averages more than 21 points per game on 60.2 percent
“I was shocked that GU was there,” said Jessett. “I hadn’t seen him play. It definitely made me think he was a heck of a player. I didn’t think he would go to Gonzaga as a freshman.”
second half to a 58-48 win and a trip to the championship game. Stunned South Kitsap post Josh Monagle told the Spokesman-Review after the game, “We thought we had a cakewalk.” Clift, who led the Bears with 18 points, recalls getting to the final against powerhouse Franklin as “surreal.”
lost but we were proud of ourselves too.”
“It was like, ‘Holy cow, we’re playing for a state title,’” he said. “At that point, we said, ‘Why not us?’” Franklin had its share of Division 1 recruits including Peyton Siva who would go on to play for the University of Louisville and be drafted by the Detroit Pistons. Yet again, the Bears came out undaunted, taking a 16-13 lead after one quarter. Turnovers and foul trouble plagued CV the rest of the way as the Quakers outscored the Bears 22-7 in the second period en route to a 70-51 win and their fifth state crown in school history. “Franklin did to us what we did to Bellarmine Prep,” Sloan said. “Everybody was bummed that we
As it turned out, while he was scouting, Jessett was seated in the stands in front of Kispert’s mom and
Clift remembers the Bears “running out of gas” against the Quakers’ 10-man rotation and fullcourt press. “It just slowly got away from us,” he said. “It was sad in the locker room, definitely. There were tears going around but not tears of failure.” Cameron, Johnson and Clift would all go on to play for Spokane Community College while Ambrose competed for Eastern Oregon. Cameron and Johnson also coached at SCC. Nearly 15 years after their improbable quest, this group of determined Bears are still remembered for a level of grit that set a gold standard. “I’m just proud of the way they never gave up,” Sloan said. “They stuck with it the entire time. These guys really epitomized the word ‘team’ and played for the system. They checked their egos at the door.”
“she was such a kind person and wonderful.” King’s won that game on a disputed buzzer beater. “They got the ball upcourt,” said Jessett. “He was triple teamed, gave (the ball up) and a teammate laid it in.” They couldn’t determine if the time had expired, the score was upheld. Facing King’s, a private Christian school in Shorecrest north of Seattle, had a huge lineup, Jessett recalled, with players standing 6-foot-7 (Kispert), 6-9 and 6-6.. Freeman 8039 in the title game. Kispert scored 29. But what impressed Jessett more was the next year when Freeman and King’s played in the semifinals. Kispert had been relegated to the bench with a broken foot and was on crutches. “He was such a motivator,” Jessett said. “He stood on the court in the circle. He gave them good advice from the bench.” Without Kispert on the floor, Freeman beat King’s 43-34 before
losing in the title game to Zillah. “After the game, I told him I’m glad I didn’t have to face him anymore,” Jessett said. “I told him, ‘when your playing days are over, you’ll make a great coach if you want to be one.’ He just set the tone for them I think.” He added that at the time he couldn’t envision Kispert in the Zag’s lineup as a freshman. Wrong. A couple years ago Jessett was in the Kennel for a game and, just like at state, sitting behind him were Kispert’s mother and father. It was about a month after the Freeman shooting. There had also been a shooting at Seattle Pacific where Kispert’s dad is employed. Again, Jessett said, they were so kind. I really appreciated that about them.” You don’t get to coach with or play against kids like that. Now a senior, Corey Kispert is fun to watch and will be playing in the National Basketball Association NBA next year. You can bet Marty Jessett will say he knew him when.
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LIBRARY
• FEBRUARY 2021
INTRODUCING
BOOK BUTLER
New assistance from JobNow helps you with unemplyment By Crystal Miller, librarian Spokane County Library District
You may know JobNow as an online resource to help you with a job search. But now they can help you with your unemployment benefits. You have access to a live unemployment benefits navigator, Monday–Thursday, from 3pm to 9pm, as part of JobNow’s unemployment assistance. Spokane County Library District offers JobNow and these services at no cost to library customers. With your library card, you have access through our website at www.scld.org/jobnow. For job hunting, JobNow has live, online job coaches available every
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Aren’t sure what book to read or listen to next? Select your options by genre, author, audience, or topic. We will hand-pick a selection for you. Get your books with Curbside Pickup. And see what Book Butler finds for your next read! Try it today at www.scld.org/ book-butler
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Try something new with online library programs By Erin Dodge Current Guest Correspondent
This month, Spokane County Library District offers online programs to help you save money, tempt your taste buds, and keep busy. You get a chance to show your creativity and take on a themed cake-decorating challenge in “Nailed It! Valentine’s Day Edition” for all ages on Saturday, February 6, at 2pm. The “Stay Fit at Home” program is an all-ages, all-levels class led by Amy Cathey from The Barre Code Spokane on Tuesday, February 9, at 6pm. Modifications and challenges will be offered throughout the class for adjustment to all fitness levels. For adults with money on their minds, the information session “Medicare-related cost savings programs” may be of keen interest. This unbiased webinar presented by SHIBA and ALTCEW will help you see if you qualify for cost-savings programs, look at wellness and preventative benefits, and more. It takes place on Wednesday, February 17, at 3pm. In “Creativebug: Embroidery Sampler Challenge,” you can learn embroidery stitches by following tutorial videos, and then socialize with others who are also learning to embroider at online interactive meetings. The kick-off is on Saturday,
day from 2pm to 10pm to help you with resumes, cover letters, and interview techniques. The resources are organized in three categories with a direct link to coaches for each one: Resumes, Job Interviews, and Career. In the Resumes section, you also have access to downloadable templates for functional, chronological, and combination resumes. You’ll find guides and links to help you write a resume that stands out. You also have access to the Resume Lab, where you can submit your resume for expert analysis within 24 hours. In the Job Interviews section, you can connect with a live interview coach to brush up on your interview skills and explore interview tips including questions to ask, ways to prepare, and more. Within the Career section, you’ll find many resources to help you no matter your stage of job search or career. If you are new to the job market February 20, at 2pm. Sample exotic spices with the experts from Elz Tastes & Tea Market, a local Spokane Valley business, on Wednesday, February 24, at 7pm. Supplies for this program and the embroidery challenge will be available for curbside pickup for registered participants. The library is back with virtual trivia for adults only. You can relive all of the twists and turns from the series “Game of Thrones” on Friday, February 26, at 7pm. For kids ages 8 and older and their families, “Science from Home” is a weekly video series offering science experiments that you can do at home with common household supplies. View it on Mondays at 2pm on the library’s Facebook page at www.scld. org/facebook. Two programs for kids and families celebrate Black History Month in February. For kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families, “Connecting Stories & Music,” on Monday, February 22, at 6:30pm, highlights children’s books about fantastic African American musicians who put heart and soul into their music. During “Evening Storytime Online: Black History Month” on Thursday, February 25, at 6:30pm, the library shares African American picture books during this storytime celebration geared for kids ages 2 to 5 and their families. For this same age group, “Evening Storytime Online” takes place every Thursday in February at 6:30pm.
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or looking to change careers, check out the career assessments to see what types of jobs would be a good fit. If college is in your future before your next job or career move, try out SkillSurfer for lessons and test preparation. Or click on Adult Learner to head to HelpNow, a companion resource, for more options. You can delve into eParachute to discover college majors that match your skills, talents, and career interests. As the economic effects of this pandemic continue to unfold, you have 24/7 online access to our library resources to help you navigate your job-search related needs. For a full list of our career and job help resources in our Digital Library, you can visit www.scld.org/job-help. If you have a question about one of our digital resources, you can contact our librarians using our Ask a Librarian form, found at www.scld. org/ask-a-librarian. The all-ages program “Building with Books: A LEGO Storytime” is back on Tuesdays at 4pm in February. You can listen to a fun read-aloud story and then recreate a part of the story using LEGO bricks or other craft materials in your home. Nearly all online library programs require registration. You can learn more and sign up on the Library District’s event calendar at www.scld. org/events.
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The Valley Current P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752; Fax: 927-2190 www.valleycurrent.com The Current is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Spokane Valley area. Copies are located at drop-off locations in Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and the surrounding area.
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OPINION
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The West Valley School District is a place where community is number one, students and families drive decision making, and staff is like family. When you walk the halls of each of our schools you will meet a proud West Valley graduate. Whether it be teachers, kitchen staff, a member of the maintenance crew or a para educator, you will find us. Many of our families have multigenerations of West Valley grads. My family began graduating from West Valley in 1966. The small community feel of West Valley and the care it brings to its students and alumni, is why I decided to both teach and live here. I have coached multiple extracurricular activities both at the elementary and high school level. These are some of the most rewarding parts of my job. Without these extracurricular activities, clubs, and experiences many students would go unnoticed and would not have the opportunities to find and develop their true gifts and talents. This is why I am asking you to please vote yes for our replacement levy on February 9th. This Levy will fund these opportunities for our students for the next 3 years and will be the lowest tax rate in 25 years.
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A replacement levy supports safety teams, nurses, counselors and technology. Now more than ever we need technology to provide high quality education to our students. Please join me in voting yes, an investment in our students is an investment in our community.
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FEBRUARY 2021 • 21
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OPINION
• FEBRUARY 2021
Letter to the editor, I am writing in support of the two upcoming West Valley School District replacement levies. They are very important to provide quality education for our community. I have two kids in the West Valley School District, and I have been highly impressed with the teachers and staff that we have worked with. They are so supportive of our kids, and provide a quality education. They teach not only the required subjects, but also lessons about having strong character. I love seeing the respectfulness and kindness of the kids as I walk through the school. Support staff members are available to students who need or would like additional help. This last year, the district did a great job transitioning to virtual classrooms. Each student was issued a Chromebook to use, and they were provided with learning materials as well. The teachers have done an amazing job keeping the kids engaged and learning. They have been encouraging and supportive, and available to help their students and the parents. The replacement levies would
provide the money needed for smaller class sizes, curriculum and textbooks, as well as other needed programs like transportation, nurses, and security. If approved, the new tax rate would still be lower than it was for the 2020 tax year. The levy funds are valuable to the schools, and to the education of our kids. Our district needs our support to continue providing this high quality education.
since Benjamin Franklin established the first Lending Library in 1790, the American public has benefitted from the privilege of borrowing books — for FREE! We are so lucky. Library books are shared public property, and as such they should be cared for, kept safe, and returned in good condition so that others may enjoy them. For the most part, the books ARE handled with care — but some (too many) have dog-eared pages.
Please join me in voting yes on February 9th!
Everyone agrees that it is not okay to desecrate shared public property. Obviously the act of damaging Public Library books is not equivalent to throwing paint on the Lincoln Statue. But it’s still not okay to deface them. This includes dog-earing pages to keep one's place.
Brenda Poer Dear Fellow Library Patrons: Born and raised Catholic, I attended Catholic school, at a time when nuns sported black head-totoe habits and wielded large rulers for disciplinary purposes. This may explain my propensity for being an adament rule follower. I always come to a full stop at a stop sign. I recycle religiously. And I take very good care of Library books. Libraries are one of the most important and most utilized resources in our community. Ever
There are so many “BOOKMARKS” available for readers to use. Anything can be a potential bookmark: a grocery store receipt; a postcard from your cousin;your to-do list; a piece of ribbon or yarn; the appointment reminder card from your cat’s vet; a boarding pass; a travel brochure for post-pandemic times; an autumn leaf; a playing card (joker’s best);
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a post-it; the menu from that new pizza place; a kleenex tissue. Heck, a square of TP works in a pinch— very à propos these days... We are so lucky to have easy access to books. Maybe I’m alone in my objection to dog-earing library books? But I think we would all like to avoid damage to them. While not the worst “crime” in the world, it’s a funny pet peeve of mine. Perhaps this only bugs me? But I would like to offer up a suggestion. In order to protect and preserve this valuable and much loved ressource for everyone, let’s avoid all forms of unnecessary wear and tear on Our Books. Books borrowed from a Library, any Library, should be treasured, handled with care and returned in good condition. Every time. No one thinks of drawing on or tearing out pages, or damaging the covers of Library books. Let’s use bookmarks instead of dog-earing pages. We’re all on the same team here. We are so lucky. Let’s strive to keep our Library books in tip-top shape. Thank you. Leslie Anne Smith
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The Current
As it nears it’s 100 year anniversary, The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber makes log was just a blender,” she own 15 second spots posted on social major changes said“The of the previous design. “It wasn’t media. By Nina Culver
Current Contributor
Last year was a year of transition for the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce as it worked to move its headquarters from Liberty Lake to Spokane Valley while simultaneously trying to help its members keep their doors open during the pandemic. The physical move was aided by the fact that chamber staff has been working remotely because of the pandemic, said executive director Lance Beck. The staff moved out of their old location at the end of August even though finishing touches are just now being completed at the new location, the former Banner Bank on Sprague Avenue just east of University Road. “We weren’t in any rush to be in the office because of the current situation,” he said. The move was made to bring the chamber to a more central location, Beck said. “A big piece of this is being visible and being more centrally located to our entire members,” he said. “There are more businesses in Spokane Valley than there are in Liberty Lake.” There simply wasn’t much signage at the old Liberty Lake location, Beck said. “We were in a basement environment with no road signage visible to the public,” he said. “If you didn’t know we were there, you wouldn’t know to look for us there. That was a long trek to come out and visit us.” It felt like the Valley Chamber was out of sight and out of mind for most people, Beck said. “General walk-in traffic in our old location was next to nothing,” he said. The building should be ready to occupy by late February or early March. The building features a conference room that will easily accommodate meetings of up to 40 people, which the chamber didn’t have before, Beck said. Exterior signs are being installed at the new building and those paying attention will notice a new logo as well. It features a bright orange “c” with a white letter “v” in its center. Board member Bonnie Quinn, who also owns the QUINN advertising agency, worked on the rebranding. She said the new logo is more modern and simplistic than the old one.
a modern, standout logo.” Incorporating the bright color orange is a nod to the chamber’s informality. “We’re more casual, more fun,” she said. “Orange was a color we wanted to own.” The new logo has been featured in ad, television commercials and videos highlighting local businesses in a “Shop the Valley” campaign that just completed. The ads were part of a marketing campaign designed to support local small businesses during the pandemic that was funded by CARES Act money distributed by Spokane County, Beck said. The goal was to highlight businesses in Spokane Valley, Millwood and Liberty Lake. “We were targeting small businesses in eastern Spokane County,” he said. The ads and commercials featured businesses that the Valley is known for, including Nick’s Boots, Simply Northwest and Dishman Dodge. Many other businesses were featured in their
Contributed photo The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber has relocated to the old Banner Bank on Sprague and University.
“It’s been very well received,” Beck said. “It definitely has moved the needle across the board for all those businesses. That was a really great way to end the year. This is just a great example of who we think we are as an organization.” The recent ad blitz was just one of the ways the Chamber has tried to help local businesses during the pandemic. Chamber staff have become experts on video communication, using it to host networking events and virtual forums, including one last spring featuring all four Spokane Valley area school superintendents. “This is what we do all day every day,” he said. Beck said he’s been impressed by the virtual networking the Chamber hosts once a month. “It’s not the same as it was, but it’s functional,” he said. “Our attendance is about the same or even better than what it was.” The Chamber has also spent a significant amount of staff time on
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small business grant opportunities. The Chamber partnered with Spokane County and Greater Spokane Inc. to distribute just under $11 million in “Open Together” small business grants. They later partnered with GSI and Innovia in a $12 million hospitality industry grant relief program. The Chamber also ran two rounds of small business grants for the City of Spokane Valley with $2.5 million in funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce. “That took up the lion’s share of our capacity,” Beck said. “For us, that helped keep us afloat.” Beck said there have been casualties in local businesses, but hopes that what the Chamber has done has helped stem the tide. “We made a conscious decision not to limit service based on whether they were a Chamber member or not,” he said. As the pandemic drags on, Beck said he hopes there will be more assistance for businesses. It was difficult to read so many grant applications begging for help, he said. “Every one of those applications was just a heartbreak story,” he said. “I hope there’s another round of help, because the closures are still there.”
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• FEBRUARY 2021
The Current
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