Letters To The Editor

Preserving open spaces is role for government

According to county commissioner Phil Harris, purchasing land for conservation purposes should not be the business of government (Valley Voice, Feb 8).

If it is not the business of government, whose business is it? We must preserve open spaces for future generations.

I was 10 years old when my family came to Spokane in 1943. When I was growing up there were several resorts on Liberty Lake where families could go to picnic and swim.

Now there is approximately 300 feet of accessible shoreline - 200 feet of swimming beach at the county park and 100 feet at the boat launch.

Widespread development of waterfront property continues to shrink public access to area waters. Therefore we must avail ourselves of every opportunity to place land, such as the McLellan property on the Spokane River, in the public domain.

Hopefully, our county commissioners will have both the foresight to recognize the enduring value of this land, and the courage to acquire it for the people. Lucille Davis Spokane

Old Country Buffet made the day special

Sometimes, growing older has its compensations. On Valentine’s Day, the Old Country Buffet offered a free dinner to couples who have been married 50 years or more. Instead of our wallets, the only requirement was proof of the year of marriage.

After we showed our marriage license, the management had us sign our names, address, and number of years we had been married. In our case, it was 52-1/2 years. Then, they had us stand in front of a large heart made of red and white balloons, and took a Polaroid picture of us, which they presented to us, without charge. What special treatment!

The food was delicious and limitless. While we were there, many more senior citizens came in and had the same wonderful attention. It was early in the afternoon, so, no doubt, before the day was over, large members of golden years couples savored the Old Country Buffet’s cuisine.

We who were the recipients of Old Country Buffet’s generosity and kindness wish to thank them for making this Valentine’s Day a very special one. Omer and Korra Olson Spokane Valley

It’s not easy to go away from Millwood

I note that once again there is a story about how the Millwood mayor is upset about us uppity Northwood people trucking through her town all day and night. And to make things worse, it is reported that we even want to plug into her sewer, instead of just dribbling it down the hill into the river.

Every day, I flush several of my commodes and leave my comfortable Northwood house, head on down Columbia to Argonne, and then turn north (away from Millwood) to go to work.

Or at least I attempt to make this turn.

Usually I have to wait while a few dozen vehicles whiz past me on the 65-degree slope that Argonne is at that point. These people who are so intent to disrupt Millwood’s rustic life do NOT all seem to live in Northwood. If anything, they live somewhere near Mount Spokane or the Little Spokane River, or at least some place that is NOT asking to pour more crud, other than cars, through quaint Millwood.

If the mayor does want to reduce congestion in her little village, perhaps it would be more effective to barricade Bigelow Gulch Road. Barricading the sewer will not solve her problems. Dennis DeMattia Northwood