The end of an era: Lakeland Village CIRV program to close permanently after half century of service

They came to Waterfront Park in Medical Lake on Saturday from across the country to celebrate the end of an era.

About 100 current and former Lakeland Village College in-Resident Volunteers (CIRV) alumni gathered to remember their work in the program that has served the residents at Lakeland Village since 1970.

The nearly half-century old program is the latest victim of budget cuts.

The program originally started as a high school program that brought kids from the Tri-Cities to Lakeland, according to long time CIRV coordinator Leroy Lemaster.

That soon morphed into a college level program in w...