Join us as we fight to make our city a better place! One Day Count of the Homeless Planned for Jan. 24 |
Every One Counts-a one day count of people who are homeless in our community-has been set for Thursday, Jan. 24. The count is needed to determine what's needed to reduce homelessness in our community and is mandated to access new state funding for such needs. "We continue to work very hard in Spokane to address the needs of people who are homeless," says Amy Jones, chair of the Every One Counts steering committee. "This is the third annual winter count which provides us with essential data to be able to streamline our programs and services to better meet the needs of the homeless persons as well as bring additional money to pay for them." On Jan. 24, count stations will be set up at various non-profit organization sites throughout the City of Spokane and Spokane County. People will be asked to provide some basic information to ensure an unduplicated count. But those locations won't reach all of the homeless persons in our community. People are being asked to call in with information on folks who are staying with family or friends because they don't have homes of their own. These people are often forgotten, and they are considered homeless. This information is critical for an accurate count and determination of needs. This information can be provided by calling the City Human Services Department at 625-6130 or the One Day Count Hotline 228-3200. The City of Spokane, Spokane County, state agencies, and non-profit organizations who serve low-income and homeless families and individuals are working together on the count. Since 2005, an annual count of homeless families and individuals has been needed to comply with requirements to access state money for housing and services for homeless persons. In 2005, the Legislature passed the Washington State Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act, which will provide an estimated $12 million a year for homelessness assistance. The act requires the count and a 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness with a goal to reduce homelessness by at least 50 percent in 10 years. The City of Spokane and Spokane County adopted its regional 10 year plan in 2005. The information obtained through the count also will be used to apply for Homeless Assistance Grants through the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). More information on the count is available by calling the City of Spokane Human Services Department at 625-6130. |
| City Closures Planned for MLK Day Release Date: 1/14/2008 12:00:00 AM
|
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 21, City Hall will be closed along with other City facilities, including Municipal Court, the Prosecutor's Office, the Public Defender's Office, East Central Community Center, the golf courses, and Central Park Maintenance. Parking meters don't have to be plugged on Monday. Spokane Public Library branches also will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21. The Spokane City Council briefing session and legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively in the City Council Chambers in the lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Other City departments, including Police and Fire, will operate on normal schedules on MLK Day. Garbage pickup and curbside recycling will proceed as usual. The garbage transfer stations and the waste-to-energy facility will be open. Meanwhile, the Riverfront Park attractions, including the Ice Palace, Imax Theater, and Spokane Falls Skyride are open on Jan. 21. Check http://www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com/ for hours of operation. The Carousel is closed for annual maintenance through Feb. 28. |
Attention sad homeowners!!!! Is all the negative press about the national housing crisis scaring you? Don't listen. The Spokane housing market is still healthy and well. Well priced homes with extraordinary marketing still are selling at 98% of the asking price within 45 days. I would love to meet you and have some coffee! Let me have the opportunity to chat with you and set your mind at ease. I can be reached anytime at (509) 230-4153. Or, email me at sarah@sarahspokane.com. My name is Sarah and I would be honored to speak with you :)
Could you imagine having a magic wand in real es? Wow, the fun I could have!!! "Ugly knee high green shag carpet....(poof) beautiful mahogany teak aged plank flooring." "Sagging, peeling, 78 year old rotten wallpaper on moldy plater walls (poof) custom rounded edged faux painted textured Sheetrock painted the tasteful hues of Starbuck coffeehouses everywhere! How about you? Could you use a magic wand in your job?
Anyway, I saw Stardust and really enjoyed it. It was surprisingly wonderful and I loved the creative plot and characters. My daughters are 3 and 5, and I will be the first to admit the sin of Disneyification. I have seen ALL the princess movies more times than would ever be polite to mention in public, polite company. So, for me to sit down to watch a "fairytale" on purpose alone, was shocking and brave.
I loved the Star and the spunky way the normal characters (witches, princes, kings, and pirates) were "tweaked". (Imagine Depp as the pirate and I promise you will laugh). I thought the plot was quirky and innovative. Fishing for lightning sounds exciting, and I loved the witches because it reminded me of high-school all over again.
So, rent this one and enjoy!
Soooo, what do you get when you cross a X Gen groupie who grew up idolizing Harrison Ford, with lots of money and Disney???? National Treasure...Book of Secrets (lame name BTW). Now, I will say that Nicholas Cage is great in his role. And, I have to admit it was fun to watch all the rolling rocks. However, the Disney script writers made the plot too "tidy". Now, I don't want Blade, but Bambie....Come on! The car chase was cool and the special effects were big and splashy (quite literally). Overall, this was a fun movie to go to for the purpose of unplugging your brain. I did just that and enjoyed myself. You will too :)
Saving the World from Ordinary Service™
At Friendship Based Real Estate ® we live outside the "Box"! We excell at professionally caring for your real estate needs while creating cutting edge marketing to give you the advantage as you sell in this tough environment.
The days of hiring an agent to simply hang a sign, wear a nametag, and wait for the phone to ring is over! We will create a fresh, new and memorable advertising plan that showcases the most marketable aspects of your home. Bad advertising costs you money! We promise to treat you with the respect and care you deserve while giving you a reason to smile!
Have you ever had a experience that only took a moment of time, but changed your life forever? I have....
Here is the story: My adopted grandfather, Ray Murphy, passed away last year in Spokane, WA and I was the one who ended up packing up his belongings and cleaning out his condo. My children were aged one and two and I was already tired to the bone. (With children only 19 months apart...I had not had a full nights sleep in several years.) The stress and grief of the situation combined with my chronic sleep deprivation to create a brittle and ugly layer over my mood and attitude.
So, here I am surrounded the natural chaos of small children packing and cleaning the home of a ailing loved one. They are running through the 50 years of accumulation and clutter while howling like two monkeys on steroids. To escape the noise, I closed myself in his bedroom and started cleaning out his dresser. Among the many bits of paper and mismatched buttons, I found a men's wedding band. I stared at it in the light of that autumn afternoon and time stood still....It took me a moment to realize what I was looking at. My grandfather had never married until he fell in love with the love of his life, Dorthea, in his late 30's. Dorthea had passed away in 2000 and I had forgotten that Ray had stopped wearing his wedding band.
As I stared at that ring, my life focused. I saw a flash of the future and envisioned my daughter holding my wedding band in her hand as she was organizing the final details of my life. In a moment, I knew mortality. I knew death with a finality that was stunning. I was forever changed.
I decided in that moment to live. To truly live. To stop focusing on the parts of life that are stressful, mundane, and unproductive, and to live a live of focused purpose. To laugh with my children and chase them around the living-room with their toothbrushes rather than stressing that they are past their bedtime. I decided to be brave and try a career I could love rather than one I worked 7 years going to college for. I made a determination with myself that I would find beauty and joy in the small moments of magic that everyday life creates. That I would sing and dance without being embarrassed, and cry when I wanted to.
Since then, I have always worn Ray's ring on the pointer finger of my right hand. There have been many times that I have been in the middle of the drama and chaos that is residential real estate that I have consciously looked down at my right hand and re-centered myself.
I know now that the moment that I am in now will be lost in the next. I choose to live.
Sarah Reinhart with Friendship Based Real Estate is one of the most energetic, pleasant and delightful REA's I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I have worked with several through the last few years and none has ever been this delightful and with it. She's efficient and quick she has a knack and what seems to be a God given ability and special talent to work with people as well as very smart and extremely creative. It seems even though one would need money to pay the bills she will most assuredly put the interests and special needs of her clients before hers. My husband & I had one of the most creative and difficult needs as far as combining a residence and a special commercial business property. We had to make sure it was presentable, complete and allowed for a reputable business to be ran from. I believe with the help of the almighty and Sarah who was given direction, grace and favor pulled this off. We found a much desired very peculiar piece of property and it had some extra extra special needs and requirements that had to be full filled in order to get a loan and get it acceptable and wow with her expertise we all did. So hats off to Sarah and her team. She would be an excellent Real Estate Agent for anyone needing or wanting any type of property and I believe she will accomplish it for you. Thanks again Sarah you are great!!!!!!!!! Sincerly, Brenda Liggett.
Sarah is outstanding! She has a unique combination of "caring" and "competence" that makes her shine. She sold my house in 3 hours at full price! -G
Sarah put my worries to rest. She talked me through my concerns and then held my hand through the process. We got full price on our home and sold it in less than a week! -CB
Sarah is a wonderful example of Christ in her business. She follows the golden rule and puts others before her self. She truly cares about my well being and goes the extra mile for my sake. Don't settle for just any agent. Choose wisely. Choose Sarah! - Pastor Mark Hamilton
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
