We received an email from Cathy Gunderson, co-chair of the Chief Garry Park neighborhood council. She says this year's Summer Parkways will take place in the Chief Garry and Logan neighborhood on June 3rd from Noon to 3 p.m. Event planning is getting a head start. The route for the parkway is already mapped out.
That's a little ways out, but that means you have time to mark it on your calendar and get all excited for bicycling on closed off roads. Also, thinking about summer is a little more pleasant than the lousy weather we've been having recently.
Submitted by Kristy Mylroie, Spokane Public Schools Blogger
Saturday, February 18th, 2012, 1:25am
Looking for a new ride while you coast the Centennial Trail? Check out the 1st Annual Spokane Bike Swap. You can sell your bike, upgrade it, or buy a new one.
The event is a collaboration between the Spokane Bike Swap team and the Friends of the Centennial Trail. It's part of an effort to enhance the biking community in Spokane.
The event is March 24th and 25th at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center. It's $5 per person. Kids 12 and under get in free.
(Updated 11:10 a.m.) - Republican presidential candidate, Ron Paul, addressed a crowd of 2,577 in downtown Spokane on Friday night, hoping to earn their vote for the upcoming Washington State Republican caucus on March 3rd. The first to arrive lined up outside the convention center doors at 2:30 p.m. waiting for five hours until the doors finally opened. Crowds lined Spokane Falls Blvd. waving signs until for support of the candidate until the last minute.
Paul says he thought the crowd size was much better than four years ago, two or three times as many people as his previous visit.
He spoke to media after the rally saying the crowd verified one of his many talking points:
"I've always been told this part of the country and this state is very supportive of liberty. I think that was verified tonight," Paul said.
Paul has yet to win a state caucus, always placing in second or third, but he believes he's still in a good race right now.
"We believe we're doing a very good job even in the states that we don't come out on top on the popular votes," Paul said. "In other states we're going to do well for the delegate vote and that's what really counts for a campaign like this."
If Paul does not make the primary later this year, he says he does not have any intention to run as an independent.
Neighbors of Chief Garry Park are some of the latest concerned citizens taking action to protect their homes. After a concentration of burglaries started popping up on police reports, neighbors are hoping to take care of the problem by forming a block watch to keep tabs on what’s happening around them.
Spokane C.O.P.S. is the non-profit group that organizes block watches in the city. Christy Hamilton, C.O.P.S. director, says block watches teach neighbors to start identifying who and what doesn’t belong in their neighborhood.
“We train the neighbors to start being observant and getting them in that mindset,” Hamilton said.
When neighbors apply for a block watch, a C.O.P.S. volunteer or Hamilton herself trains them to share communication information with each other including phone numbers, email and home addresses.
“We train that neighborhood on how to talk to each other. Find out who belongs and who doesn’t. If they’ve seen a car that doesn’t look right or someone that looks like a prowler, we train them to call that in immediately,” Hamilton explained. “If your instincts tell you it isn’t right, call it in.”
C.O.P.S. Southeastis reporting a prolific con artist is at it again on Spokane's South Hill. He knocks on your door looking for money saying he's a neighbor and he needs cash immediately. Though he says he'll pay you back within a hour with interest, well... I bet you know what happens next.
He's described as a white male, in his mid to late 20s or early 30s. He's about 5'8" to 5'9" and has dark hair. He may be driving an older style white jeep.
If this guy comes to your door, call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
Get those kids in school! Kindergarten registration for Spokane schools starts next month. If your child will be five-years-old on or before August 31st, you'll need to register them for classes. Don't worry, it's not like sending them away to college.
To register, starting March 5th, head to your neighborhood elementary school between 8:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Spokane Public Schools has a school locator map online that will help in case you're not sure what school is closest to you.
You will need a birth certificate or other age verification when you register them in case they've never been enrolled in school before.
Speaking of kindergartners, did you see what these students in Chattaroy did for the past few weeks? They learned all about making friends all around the world.
The state of Washington continues to be the largest U.S. exporter of goods on a per capita basis. Export increased to a record $64.6 billion in 2011, 21% more than last year.
The biggest market for Washington-made goods continues to be China with exports rising to $11.2 billion, 9% more than 2010. Exports to Europe also lead with $6.4 billion produced.
The leading exported industries are aircraft and parts, as well as soy and grain which ranked second among Washington goods shipped to China. According to a news release from Gov. Chris Gregoire, those numbers do include some crops originating outside of the state.
This leads the way for Gov. Gregoire’s Washington Export Initiative launched in 2010 to increase state exports by 35% by 2015.
The State’s Department of Commerce says they’re on track for the 2015 goal. If export growth were to continue at this rate, the state would be at $100 billion by 2017.
The data was compiled by the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research using information from the U.S. Census Bureau.
