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They knew you were coming, so they baked a cake.
Several in fact.
It was Munson to mirambas last Monday, as the city of Spokane Valley feted itself and the community on its five-year anniversary. The “casual open house,” held at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point, was crowded with civic leaders, children, musicians and local service organizations and a few photographers who mingled, munched on cake and rubbed elbows. A representative of the governor’s office even stopped by to read a proclamation from Christine Gregoire commemorating the event.
“This is fantastic,” said Carolbelle Branch, city of Spokane Valley spokeswoman.
And there was cake. Lots and lots of cake.
But the one of the most interest had five candles, lit promptly at 4:20 p.m., for city leaders to blow out and make a wish for the new year. It took a try or two, but they finally went out with the help of Mayor Richard Munson, former Mayor Mike DeVleming, former Mayor and current Council Member Diana Wilhite, among others.
“I heard it said with all this hot air, it should have been easier to blow the candles out,” Munson quipped afterward.
After the first several pieces of cake were served, Jason Johnson of Buffalo Jones took the stage. Other performing guests included the GreenAcres Miramba Ensemble from Greenacres Elementary School.
With all the fun and frolic, it was easy to forget that just five years ago CenterPlace didn’t even exist – it was part of the bond vote that succeeded in funding the downtown convention center – and that the actual incorporation of Spokane Valley succeeded on a scant 454-vote margin in 2002.
That incorporation effort came to pass in no small way due to the efforts of longtime Spokane Valley businessman Ed Mertens, who led the final and successful campaign to form a city. Mertens said he always believed it would happen one day.
“Sure I did,” he said. “There were successes on the west side of the state. I knew we could do it without raising taxes.”
Mertens was one of 51 candidates who ran for the very first City Council. He made it to the general election where he eventually lost to Steve Taylor.
Another who ran for that first council was Mike DeVleming, who became the city’s first mayor.
“In some ways it seems like yesterday,” DeVleming said. “But I’m real happy where we are today. We’re in good shape.”
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By
Mike Huffman
