Today, I accompanied the contractor, engineering firm, and city lead staff on a community walk to visit every business along the Argonne corridor and update them on the Argonne project. The project is scheduled to start on June 9th between Grace and the bridge. My two biggest takeaways from the day are:
I plan to make a targeted effort to support our local businesses! This is going to be a rough summer for the business district, and I plan on making sure all my summer meals out, coffee with friends, haircuts, and after-work drinks are at one of our businesses.
Many of us in Millwood were not enthusiastic about this project! However, it is here, and I plan to do everything I can to promote transparent communication and support our neighbors and project staff as we move forward.
Over 900 people came to visit Millwood over Mother’s Day weekend! We had the opportunity to walk through some of our neighbors’ beautiful homes. Stories about the Paper Mill planting the seeds for a thriving community to bloom were told at every featured home. For the event, Hutton Settlement also opened its stunning campus to visitors and shared its ‘Neighborhood of Care’ model. The Millwood History Enthusiasts presented an exhibit of over 200 historic pictures of Millwood at the Masonic Lodge. It was a weekend long celebration of our hometown!
I have always deeply believed that Millwood is a model community, but now the rest of the region has experienced it firsthand. Deep gratitude to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), the homeowners, and the volunteers for staging a beautiful event!
The Mayor Jeanne Batson Arboretum has grown by one River Birch as of April 25, 2025. I was honored to deliver the city’s official proclamation for the event. At the event, two engaged citizens volunteered to join our Tree Board.
The last Thursday of most months, Millwood gathers to share a community dinner. During April’s dinner, the fifth-grade STAR Club!! gave their presentations! The students updated the community on their Neighborhood Leadership projects. They shared about the Dalton wheelchair-accessible garden they built. They foretold of the chicken coop we are placing in the Millwood Community Garden site off of Argonne (formerly known as Pumpkin Patch Community Garden). Thank you to the West Valley, Spokane Kiwanis Club and Longhorn Barbecue for hosting such a fantastic event!
Millwood Impact remains a positive force that brings our community together. If you are interested in joining one of our dinners, you can register at Millwood Meals.
For 51 years, I have been privileged to call Millwood my home. I got to raise my son under the watchful eyes of a multigenerational village of family, friends, and trusted neighbors. Our streets are a safe place for the neighborhood children to play, grow, and fall in love with the natural beauty that surrounds us
Yet for all the emotional ties I have to this city, there are just as many strategic reasons I believe Millwood is poised to be a city prepared for the future…
* Water security– The Spokane River serves as one of our city’s borders. From the highest vantage point, this represents ultimate water security. Of course, there are rules and processes that govern the use of water, and developing a long-term plan for our water management will be a top priority if elected mayor.
* A walkable city- Everywhere in Millwood is a walkable distance away. Our schools, churches, stores, and the homes of loved ones are all within a short 15-minute walk. Accessible and self-contained community equals resilience for every Millwood citizen.
* Downtown business community & farmer’s market- Millwood has a robust business community and a weekly farmer’s market, all mere blocks away from my front porch. That is rare after the over half-century trend of building suburban developments in locations that create a clear fragmentation between residents and commerce.
* Century old trees and perennial gardens- We love to garden in Millwood! Our tree lined streets aren’t just walkable, they are simply beautiful to walk. All those neighborhood gardens and suburban livestock equal food security. The fact that a good portion of Millwood’s gardens and trees have well established root systems is even better in regards to drought tolerance. Whether it is our community garden, our tree canopy, or our water I will continue to advance policies that protect and invested in the health of our natural resources.
* Self governed- As its own incorporated town/city for almost a century, governance decisions are made by neighbors, people who are dedicated to living with the consequences of their choices. Due to the longevity of our self-governance, there are also numerous opportunities for citizens to participate and be heard. If elected mayor, I commit to continuing procedural reforms that increase our capacity for participatory governance, with transparent and proactive communication from your city officials.
On November 16, 2024, I delivered the inaugural Lyceum presentation at the Concordia Masonic Lodge. The Lyceum tradition is a public lecture series delivered by knowledgeable community members within the communities from which they belong. As a neighborhood health researcher, I was invited to share my thoughts on how we can build stronger communities of health and belonging from the grassroots level. It was a pure delight to have these conversations with engaged neighbors who want to build a stronger community together.
Let’s keep the conversation going…
I am always excited to attend small group events and backyard chats to discuss what kind of city you envision Millwood becoming! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are hosting a Millwood gathering and would like me to attend.
Shawna Beese Mayor-elect Millwood 