Inlander 02/06/2025 by The Inlander

ICE ALERT

Spokane leaders respond to immigrant enforcement

PAGE 8

SWEET EATS

Valentine’s Day dinner, desserts, activities + more!

PAGE 30

FEBRUARY 6-12, 2025 | A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

MANUFACTURING A SOLUTION

Rent at Inland

Northwest mobile home parks is skyrocketing, but some homeowners are taking control

By Eliza Billingham

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or many of us, life lately has been feeling pretty… bleak. Deportations. Rising rent. International trade wars. Gun violence. The drug crisis. Other chaos resulting from the ongoing transition of U.S. presidential power. It’s all been top of mind for the Inlander’s editorial team, and we’ve been working hard to cover how it impacts the local community, as you’ll read in this week’s edition.

On the cover, Eliza Billingham looks at one facet of the continuing housing crisis and how MANUFACTURED HOMES, long considered a reliable and affordable path to home ownership even though most residents pay rent for the land under their floors, are being impacted. On the positive side, some local communities are becoming resident-owned, offering long-term protection from drastic rent increases. Others, though, worry they could lose their homes.

And in News, Victor Corral Martinez reports on how President Trump’s plans for a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants is impacting the Spokane area as immigration officials have been increasingly spotted around the community.

— CHEY SCOTT, Editor

COMMENT

STAFF

RON MARLEY

In general, I feel that a free market should make the rents reasonable. But in order to enhance the availability of housing, seems like some government intervention is in order — but that should be limited to low-income housing specifically.

MARY NABER

My Social Security and retirement will not cover an apartment … [But] it’s not just a simple thing, like, vote for a different president. This is a rich get richer, and the poor get poorer [situation]. There’s no awareness from people who have the wealth that we are all in this together.

BRAD VANDOURIS

There shouldn’t be rent at all. Mother Earth doesn’t charge us anything, and we’re here. It’s greedy people that charge rent. My brother owns 20 houses, and he rents them out. He just sold my house, and now I’m homeless. Greedy people just want to make more money. Yeah, rent is way too high.

MARY SPENCER

I do, because we budget for that amount. If they suddenly come up with, “Oh, we need to add to it,” I think there needs to be a limit.

Have you ever lived in a place that had a cap like that?

No, but I rent from my son, so I can’t really say too much.

INTERVIEWS BY ELIZA

“I

Dear Friends from Outer Space:

There are a few things the alien invaders should know before they land and make first contact

BY TARA KARR ROBERTS

An open letter to any friendly aliens who are considering making first contact with Earth soon:

If I’ve learned anything from the movies, it’s that you’ll be landing in the United States, either out in the desert or directly over the White House. Either way, you’re in for some surprises. As America’s self-designated extraterrestrial ambassador, I’m here to prepare you.

You’ve undoubtedly been watching our broadcasts to brush up on things before you arrive — but since even Alpha Centauri is four light-years away, and I assume you’ve been on the road for a while,

you need a few updates. If you’ve been relying on Star Trek to understand us, I’ve got some bad news: Harmonious societies in which beings of diverse identities and talents band together to explore and protect the universe are now banned in 27 states. (Not really. But, like, maybe.)

If you’ve been tuning into some newer stuff, say 2021’s absolute banger of a reality show FBoy Island, you’re getting a little warmer.

But if you’re close enough to Earth that you’ve been watching people who are famous on YouTube for being creepy dudebros, and subsequent livestream boxing matches featuring dudebros who are famous on YouTube for being creepy, I regret to inform you that preeeeetty much captures the vibe around here right now.

If you’re like, “I am sorry, Ambassador Tara, what is YouTube? What are dudebros? What’s an FBoy?” you should probably just turn around right now. (You can take me with you if you want.) But if you’re really determined, let’s carry on.

We’re in a bit of an awkward stage as a culture, and not just when it comes to our taste in “event television.” We spend most of our free time huddling over tiny screens, either arguing about politics or distracting ourselves from arguing about politics.

I wish I could tell you that the arguments are over things like “How happy and comfortable can we make our elders?” or “How delicious can we make the free lunches for our children?” But the latest controversies have been things like “Is mercy a good thing?” and “Was that motion that definitely looked like a Nazi salute actually a Nazi salute?”

(For the record: I’m Team Mercy and Team Even the Aliens Know What a &!%$ing Nazi Salute Looks Like.)

To make things worse, we’re cramming our tiny screens with destabilizing technology as fast as we possibly can. We’re simultaneously sucking down propaganda that tells us not to believe what we see with our own eyes (even though most of us were supposed to read a novel in high school that literally warned about that) and pouring billions into apps that allow us to make really real-looking fake stuff.

So basically, it’s a blank check for you guys. Go nuts! Half of us will think you’re a deep-fake prank video that’s trying to trick us into voting for something, and the other half will skip over the breaking news to watch more AI-generated videos of capybaras taking baths.

(For the record, again: I am pro-capybaras taking baths; I just prefer human-generated capybara content.)

“Humans have been known to jump into an ice-cold river to save a total stranger’s dog…”

If you’re not already hightailing it back across the galaxy, I’ve got one more thing we need to talk about.

Our country is messed up right now. And if we’re being honest, it’s always been messed up. The U.S. doesn’t have the hottest track record for peace and justice. Humanity doesn’t. We’re fantastic at blowing each other to smithereens and wearing each other down with a thousand tiny cuts.

But we want to be better. We try.

We invented basketball and libraries and ice cream sundaes and zippers and Jeopardy! and the polio vaccine.

Humans have been known to jump into an ice-cold river to save a total stranger’s dog, and to offer to split the last donut with our coworker even though we love donuts and we have mixed feelings about our coworker.

Once I mentioned on the first day of a class I was teaching that I sometimes need to sit down because I have ridiculous wobbly painful joints, and when I arrived the next day there was a nice tall chair waiting for me at the front of the classroom — which meant one of my students heard my comment, saw my need, figured out who to talk to, and requested it, all without saying a word, after knowing me for 45 whole minutes.

Humans try so damn hard to be better. That’s why we keep having children and making new spinoffs of Star Trek. We can still see the possibilities, in spite of everything. I hope you can, too.

Welcome to Earth, friends. See you soon.

~ Tara

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Spokane leaders reaffirm their commitment to the Keep Washington Working Act amid uncertainty for immigrants and refugees

BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ

You park your car before you go into work, but as soon as you’re about to enter the building, U.S. Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents approach you to ask if you’re “legal” and have proof of citizenship.

At home, you witness an unmarked vehicle nearly hit your parked car. When you go out to assess potential damage, you discover the culprit is a federal agent who tricked you into leaving your home to question your residency status and anyone else in your home.

You visit the local park to walk your dog. As you walk back to your vehicle, you’re approached by officers armed with rifles who don’t identify themselves before asking for your identification or “papers” while telling you to get your dog under control.

Spokane residents have reported these exact scenarios in recent days, but many are unprepared to document or record the entirety of the events because of how unexpected these interactions are. They’re just some of the recent ICE sightings across the state.

Currently, President Donald Trump, who campaigned on immigration issues, has released a flurry of executive orders targeting immigrants in the United States. His goal is to deport an estimated 12 million or more undocumented immigrants, primarily from Mexico, El Salvador, India and Guatemala.

Trump has issued executive orders seeking to end birthright citizenship (which has been challenged in court as unconstitutional) and to make it easier for state and local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws. Trump’s orders have also threatened to withhold federal funding from states and municipalities operating as sanctuaries for immigrants.

States like Washington have led the charge in chal-

lenging unconstitutional laws presented during Trump’s current and previous administrations. The Keep Washington Working Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, and the Family Separation Rapid Response Team recently created by Gov. Bob Ferguson are all obstacles to Trump’s mass deportation plans.

Organizations like Latinos en Spokane are also mobilizing support for undocumented immigrants, and local law enforcement agencies have confirmed their respect for state protections. Local hospitals, schools and churches have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the vulnerable under the laws that govern Washington.

Here’s some more context on those policies and what’s happening in Idaho.

KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING

The Keep Washington Working Act, enacted in 2019, established a statewide policy that bolsters Washington’s immigrant economy and acknowledges the contributions of immigrants to the workforce. The policy prevents local law enforcement from diverting resources to help investigate and support federal agents with immigration detainments.

Washington State Patrol, county sheriff’s offices, police departments, the state Department of Corrections and school resource officers are all prohibited from collecting immigration status information, detaining Washingtonians to determine their immigration status or entering into contracts with immigration agencies to detain immigrants.

State agencies, including the Department of Labor, are obligated to limit the collection and dissemination of personal data, particularly with immigration entities, and to deliver services irrespective of immigration status.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels says his department and other law enforcement agencies in Washington

don’t have the authority to enforce civil federal immigration law, and state policy prevents them from doing so.

“I can’t arrest somebody for being in this country illegally. I can’t detain someone lawfully for being in this country illegally,” Nowels says, “We don’t have the authority to do it, and so we don’t.”

However, Nowels says law enforcement officers are allowed to identify someone’s residency status if they’re being investigated for a crime.

But to enforce federal immigration laws, his officers would need to be specially deputized by federal authorities. Special deputation grants federal law enforcement authority to individuals. The U.S. Marshals Service is one federal agency that uses special deputation.

ICE’s law enforcement volunteer program allows federal agents to delegate authority to participating state and local law enforcement officers to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight.

However, Nowels says he doesn’t have enough resources to help federal agents and would need to evaluate the impacts on the ability to address local crimes within Spokane County if federal agents were to attempt to use special deputation.

“I don’t have the manpower if we have to deal with that stuff,” Nowels says. “We have to spend our time enforcing those state laws and keeping our community safe.”

LOCAL ENFORCEMENT

Jorge Guerrero is an immigration and environmental justice organizer for Latinos en Spokane, a grassroots nonprofit that began in 2016 with a primary focus on immigration advocacy.

Guerrero says the nonprofit’s legal department, Poder Legal, has inquired about different immigrants being picked up within Washington and taken to Idaho, where law enforcement agencies will hold detainees.

“They are also being taken out of Washington because our state has the Keep Washington Working Act, which is

on page 10

Latinos En Spokane organizer Jorge Guerrero is helping share information with affected communities. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO ...continued

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“KNOW YOUR RIGHTS,” CONTINUED...

more favorable towards our community than Idaho,” Guerrero says. “So the people that are right now being detained are taken to Idaho.”

Over the past year, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris has publicly opposed the idea of giving undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses, and he asked the Idaho Legislature to strengthen laws against undocumented immigrants.

In August 2024, Norris said in a press release that the “Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has an excellent working relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove criminal aliens from our county.”

Kootenai County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard says the department has an agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service to hold federal detainees. He says many federal detainees will eventually go to ICE’s Tacoma Northwest Detention Center.

As of Jan. 31, there were 33 individuals being held by U.S. Border Patrol in the Kootenai County Jail, including 23 new detainees since Jan. 20, when President Trump was sworn into office.

Howard says the Kootenai County Jail is reimbursed $112 per day for each federal detainee held in the county jail, which he notes does not fully cover the costs to the county. When asked about the complete costs, Kootenai County officials were uncertain of the per diem expenses per detainee.

Many Idaho lawmakers share Norris’ stance toward undocumented immigrants. House Bill 11, introduced by state Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa, would allow local police to check peoples’ documentation status.

ICE ACTIVITY

Many reports on social media have claimed to spot ICE agents throughout Washington, including in Seattle, Toppenish, Sunnyside and other locations as confirmed by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, or WAISN. Spokane is not on WAISN’s list of confirmed sightings.

Immigrant organizations around the country are working to confirm ICE activity and separate valid reports from false ones. This is a challenge because of how fast information travels on social media, but WAISN says it’s important to “spread power, not panic” and to only share verified, documented reports.

Guerrero believes that many posts on social media have good intentions of getting the information out there to those who are vulnerable.

“I think it’s coming from a good heart for the ones that are posting and trying to create awareness of where those checkpoints are happening,” Guerrero says.

WAISN’s deportation defense hotline (1-844-724-3737) will post on social media if they confirm reports of immigration enforcement raids. WAISN’s rapid response team members collaborate with witnesses and verify the identities of ICE agents in unmarked vehicles using recordings.

In Spokane earlier this week, the Inlander was told about officers approaching someone at a park to ask for their identification or “papers,” with some officers reportedly wearing civilian clothing and driving unmarked vehicles. The individual asked not to be named for fear of retribution. There is also a video making the rounds on local social media of U.S. Border Patrol agents in unmarked vehicles questioning individuals about citizenship at their house in Spokane.

From what he’s heard, Guerrero says that federal agents are watching individuals go to work and studying their whereabouts. He says that some people may be picked up before they can even enter the door of their workplace.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Even with the uncertainty of what is confirmed or merely rumored to be happening, many community leaders have

WHAT’S LEGAL?

Even with the many legal protections in Washington, Latinos en Spokane organizer Jorge Guerrero wants immigrants and employers to know their rights. Latinos en Spokane is organizing workshops and can answer questions.

Guerrero says concerned business owners can ask questions when agents show up, and must be assertive and clarify that agents aren’t allowed in private spaces without a signed judicial warrant.

“Become like a barrier and say, ‘Hey, do you have a warrant, and who are you looking for?’ And if they don’t have anything like that,” Guerrero says they can ask them to leave.

WAISN’s advice for how to address ICE includes:

• Don’t open the door, but communicate through a window or closed door. Agents can only enter your home with a search warrant issued by a court and signed by a judge.

• Remain silent and don’t sign any documents. You have the right to remain silent but can say that you will not answer questions or sign anything without an attorney present.

• Don’t consent to a warrantless search. You don’t have to give ICE permission to enter your house or search your car unless they have a judicial search warrant.

• Take photos, videos and write down details. Inform agents you will exercise your right to record.

— VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ

made it clear that there are still legal protections in place for undocumented immigrants.

In January, Gov. Ferguson signed an executive order to create the Family Separation Rapid Response Team. The task force includes Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families, State Patrol, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, Attorney General’s Office, and representatives of the Governor’s Office, who will develop policies to help children with mixed-status families through potential separation from their parents or caregivers.

Spokane Public Schools follows state guidelines from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which aims to protect students by denying engagement with federal agents.

“State law prohibits Washington’s public schools from initiating engagement with immigration authorities for the purpose of sharing student information and underlines that public schools must have policies in place for appropriately responding when immigration enforcement authorities visit

a school campus,” district spokesman Ryan Lancaster says by email.

Nowels says that no one in his department is actively asking for proof of residency, and if they do, they will have to explain themselves for violating state law. He wants to reassure immigrants who are victims of a crime that they shouldn’t fear local law enforcement.

“Their immigration status is not a question we’re going to be asking if they’re a victim of a crime, we’re not, by course of conduct, going to ask what your immigration status is,” Nowels says.

Providence, which owns Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital, says health care is a fundamental human right regardless of socioeconomic or legal status. Providence spokeswoman Beth Hegde says medical facilities are a sanctuary for all, where individuals can be treated with compassion and respect.

“We will continue to follow state and federal laws,” Hegde says. “Enforcement agents do not have access to patient care areas and may not conduct enforcement activity on our campuses. We do not report our patients’ personal information, including legal status, to enforcement authorities.”

Kevin Maloney, spokesman for MultiCare Inland Northwest (including Deaconess Hospital, Rockwood clinics and Valley Hospital), says no officers can enter private areas within MultiCare facilities without a judicial warrant. He affirms the HIPAA doesn’t allow immigration status to be reported to any government or private entity by MultiCare.

“The laws governing patient privacy and the protection of personal health information remain the law of the land,” Maloney says by email.

Jean Hill, executive director of the Washington State Catholic Conference, a public policy advocacy group representing the Dioceses of Washington, says that churches are not public property. A signed judicial warrant must be obtained before law enforcement can enter a Catholic church.

Latinos en Spokane has drafted a resolution for the Spokane City Council that would allocate funding for legal immigration defensive services and educate city employees on the Keep Washington Working Act.

In anticipation of the council voting on the resolution, Latinos en Spokane is organizing a rally for immigrant rights, which will occur outside City Hall before the 6 pm meeting begins on Feb. 10. n

victorc@inlander.com

Spanish language “Know Your Rights” flyers are being handed out in Spokane. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Anti-Vice Action

Spokane targets alcohol and paraphernalia sales downtown. Plus, a WA lawmaker will serve dual roles; and Spokane Valley gets millions for botched City Hall.

BY INLANDER STAFF

Changes are coming for downtown convenience stores. On Monday night, the Spokane City Council voted 6-0 (Council President Betsy Wilkerson was absent) to establish an alcohol impact area and a community health impact area in the downtown police precinct. The alcohol impact area will ultimately restrict the sale of off-premises alcohol in downtown after midnight. This does not include bars or restaurants, and will start with a six-month voluntary compliance period for retailers. “This is something that we had for over a decade,” Council member Paul Dillon said during Monday’s meeting. “We saw really positive results. When it did lapse, we saw a large spike in violent alcohol-related crimes.” The community health impact area, a new idea, will require downtown retailers that sell drug paraphernalia to buy the overdose reversal drug naloxone, or Narcan, and provide it free to anyone who buys paraphernalia. Store owners may now opt to stop selling pipes rather than provide naloxone. Local medical students testified that the move would have negative public health impacts. “The provision of clean glass is a form of harm reduction that reduces communicable diseases and overdose deaths,” said Katelyn Costanza, a medical student at Washington State University. Council member Kitty Klitzke expressed hesitation, too. “I do hear … this is a risky path that we’re taking,” she said. “However, the city does have limited tools to use.” Klitzke suggested CHAS and Spokane Regional Health District should supply safe smoking supplies. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)

VOTES FOR VOLZ

This week in a special meeting, the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners heard from the three candidates nominated by the Spokane County Republican Party to become the county’s top financial officer. The party got to pick who might replace previous Republican Treasurer Michael Baumgartner, who vacated the position after he was elected to Congress. After more than two hours of interviews and private deliberation, the Spokane County commissioners unanimously voted to name state Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, county treasurer. Volz has been the county’s chief deputy treasurer for more than a decade, and he’s also represented District 6 in the state House since 2017. “It’s been an honor to serve with you over the years, you’ve been not only a great steward of taxpayer dollars, but you’ve been a good ally, and I deeply appreciate your friendship,” Commissioner Al French said before Monday’s vote. Volz will serve in both roles and run for treasurer this November. If elected, he can finish the final year of Baumgartner’s term and continue the second year of his own term as a state lawmaker. Since Washington state law doesn’t allow candidates to appear on the ballot twice, Volz says he plans to seek election to only the county treasurer position in 2026. (COLTON RASANEN)

FOUNDATIONAL IMPROVEMENT

At the Spokane Valley City Council meeting on Jan. 28, City Manager John Hohman presented the history of the city’s litigation over City Hall’s improper construction and brought forward the final agreement from a lawsuit that began in 2020. City officials found structural problems shortly after staff moved into the completed $14 million building in 2017. The Spokane Valley City Council unanimously approved an $11.75 million settlement with Meridian Construction, which was the general contractor for the City Hall’s construction. Spokane Valley previously received a combined $2.18 million in settlements with the architectural firm Architects West and the project management firms Allwest Testing & Engineering and Eight 31. “We are thankful to recoup taxpayers’ dollars and to see this process come to a close, as this settlement not only reimburses the money spent on critical repairs but also ensures that we can address all remaining work needed for our City Hall,” said Mayor Pam Haley in a press release. “It’s a significant step forward for Spokane Valley as we move on from these challenges and focus on our 2025 city priorities.” In 2023, Spokane Valley awarded Garco Construction a $4 million contract to repair critical infrastructure issues. That work was completed in August 2024. (VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ) n

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‘New War’

Spokane

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

Those who receive federal grants or loans were sent scrambling last week after the Trump administration issued a memo attempting to temporarily pause all such funding on Monday night, Jan. 27.

The memo was quickly rescinded after public outcry, but by Friday, a federal judge issued an order protecting 22 Democratic states (including Washington) from a pause on federal funding after those states filed a lawsuit seeking to find the memo unconstitutional.

“The evidence shows that the alleged rescission of the [Office of Management and Budget] Directive was in nameonly,” the order from U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island says. “The substantive effect of the directive carries on.”

So, under the temporary restraining order, McConnell ruled the Trump administration “shall not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate” access to federal grant awards and funding, or issue another similar order.

However, those moves didn’t quell concerns among those who know that everything from food assistance to

health insurance could be taken away from millions of people as the administration attacks anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ issues, environmentalism, and other topics falling under the president’s idea of “woke.”

Spokane nonprofit law firm The Way to Justice, led by and for people of color, was immediately concerned for its clients, many of whom receive help obtaining food assistance or affordable housing, in addition to legal aid.

“This is an all-out war on poor people, on Black and Brown communities, on all people,” says Virla Spencer, The Way to Justice co-founder and CEO.

The nonprofit’s staff is concerned that what’s playing out under Republican leadership federally is in some ways being quietly echoed under the proposed budget in Washington state’s Democrat-controlled government.

Specifically, they’re concerned about the Community Reinvestment Plan, which state lawmakers created in 2022 to help communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, allocating $200 million of one-time funding.

Penny Thomas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Commerce, which oversees the account, says all of the original funding has been allocated and is expected to be spent by June.

While Commerce requested $231 million to sustain that work, former Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed operating budget for 2025-27 includes only $85,000 for the Community Reinvestment Account, to cover bargained salary increases, according to the state Office of Financial Management, or OFM.

“Those costs will likely be moved to another account if there are no funds transferred into the Community Reinvestment Account,” OFM spokesman Hayden Mackley writes by email.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bob Ferguson (who has not released a

full budget proposal) included $100 million to hire more law enforcement officers on his list of budget priorities. Ferguson’s spokeswoman did not provide comment for this story.

“What kind of damage are we causing to our communities through this new cycle of austerity, but then investment in law enforcement? What’s the priority?,” asks Camerina Zorrozua, co-founder of and legal director for The Way to Justice. “It just feels like they want to keep filling jails with people who are different, who don’t fit in, the marginalized people.”

The Way to Justice received the largest grant locally from the Community Reinvestment Plan in late 2023, obtaining $2.5 million to help people vacate simple drug possession convictions that the Washington Supreme Court found to be unconstitutional under the Blake decision.

“The Community Reinvestment Plan was to address the harm from the War on Drugs, right? Now, we have a new war,” Zorrozua says of recent actions at the federal level. “We have a war on people who are undocumented.

Virla Spencer and Camerina Zorrozua. SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL PHOTO

We have a war on people who are living in poverty, people who are unhoused, people who have unmet behavioral and mental health issues, and we’re criminalizing all these folks. We’re threatening them with deportation, incarceration, fines.”

Only $8 million of the Community Reinvestment funding was directed toward legal assistance. The majority ($138 million) was directed to help minority communities with economic opportunities, providing small business loans and loan guarantees, helping people save and invest their money, and providing financial education and assistance.

“Thinking about the possibility of not renewing those funds … what happens to the momentum that we have built and all the infrastructure that we have built to get to this moment?” Spencer asks. “When you talk about the $200 million for the Community Reinvestment [Account], why in the hell was it even created if this is what the outcome was going to be?”

Alethea Dumas, director of community engagement for The Way to Justice, says that Black and Brown communities need stronger support.

“We need co-conspirators. I feel like allyship is just not enough,” Dumas says. “We need people to be willing to risk their privilege, use their privilege. … What risks will they take to actually help?”

Spencer and Zorrozua agree.

“It takes more than just words. It takes action,” Spencer says. “It means that if you don’t want to stand with us on the front lines, then that means you support us with your finances.”

Spencer lobbied lawmakers in Olympia two weeks ago and planned to be there again this week seeking funding. But she says the nonprofit will persist either way.

“We will continue to do the work. … We are also going to rely on the community to support us,” Spencer says. “We shall overcome. We have to stand together in solidarity to be able to fight. You know, it’s nothing new. We’ve been having to fight all of our lives.” n samanthaw@inlander.com

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DRINK LOCAL The Issue

On Stands

Disparate Discipline?

Recently released Central Valley discipline data shows minority and low-income students face longer suspensions. District officials say those numbers are just part of the picture

BY COLTON RASANEN

February 20

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Last week, the Central Valley School Board received an annual report detailing how many students received exclusion days (school district lingo for suspensions) during the 2023-24 school year. This discipline data indicates some populations within the district, including low-income students and students of color, are facing longer suspensions than their peers.

The written report was on the School Board’s agenda for its Jan. 27 meeting. But other than reading the bullet point aloud, there was no discussion on the topic. Board President Stephanie Jerdon says that’s normal for reports, especially when there isn’t a presentation scheduled.

“My initial thoughts, and for most board members, is that we understood that this was just one piece of a much bigger picture,” Jerdon says. “This is a standard report that’s given every year from [the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction], and it’s very helpful if you take it and look back at the trends over time so that you can understand in context.”

The district’s administrators agree, says Matthew Lambert, Central Valley’s executive academic officer. Though he says this type of report can highlight discipline disparities in a school district, the most recent data doesn’t show any significant issues in the district.

Overall, 824 of the school district’s 15,208 students, or about 5.4%, faced a suspension in the 2023-24 school year. Nearly 60% of these students saw less than three days out of the classroom, while the rest were suspended for four or more days.

That percentage of students facing suspension is normal for school districts, Lambert says. For example, Spokane Public Schools disciplined approximately 5% of its students in the same school year.

“I’m passionate about keeping kids in school and really trying to not exclude students whenever possible,” says Lambert, one of three academic officers who oversee student discipline in the district. “We are also making sure we’re looking out for all of our students, and often the actual behaviors that lead to an exclusion are at the expense of another student.”

However, for Deekon Jones, CEO of New Developed Nations, a Spokane nonprofit that provides music therapy to help at-risk youths who face discipline at school, the Central Valley data shows that students of color are being disciplined disproportionately to their white peers.

“What stands out immediately is the disparity in how long Black and Brown students are suspended compared to their white peers,” Jones says via email. “While the total number of stu-

dents disciplined might seem proportional to the district’s demographics, the length of suspensions tells a different story — students of color are more likely to face long-term exclusions from school.”

24% OF SUSPENDED BLACK STUDENTS GOT 10+ DAYS

During the 2023-24 school year, 12.9% of Central Valley’s students who were suspended faced more than 10 days outside the classroom, often split up between multiple suspensions.

For example, if a student received four threeday suspensions, they would fall under the 10+ days category.

While 24% of Black students who were suspended got 10+ days, only 12.6% of suspended white students got exclusions that long.

That figure for Black students, which increased from 13.5% in the 2022-23 school year, is higher than it’s been the previous five years.

Additionally, 50% of American Indian and Alaskan Native students who were suspended faced more than six days.

However, district officials say these percentages can be misleading due to the number of students in each demographic.

“Sometimes you see something that looks like, ‘Oh, wait a minute, we have a real problem in this demographic or that demographic’ when you look at the whole,” Lambert says. “Because of the numbers of various constituents in each one of those subgroups, sometimes that can throw us off: ‘Oh, it looks like there’s a problem, but there were only three students in that subgroup, so it’s a large percentage.’”

“I understand that data only tells part of the story, but we must ask: ‘If it’s not bias, then what explains these disparities?’” Jones says via email. “If Black and Brown students were being disciplined at the same rates and receiving similar consequences as white students, then you could argue there’s no disparity. But that’s not what the data shows. Instead, students of color are suspended for longer periods of time, meaning they’re being punished more harshly.”

Unlike some other school districts in the state, Central Valley is suspending students of different races somewhat proportionally to their total populations in the district.

In the Seattle School District, even though the population of Black students (7,186) is one-third the population of white students (23,091) the district disciplined twice as many Black students (454) as white students (210).

Meanwhile in Central Valley, 602 of the district’s 11,646 white students (5.2%) faced suspension while 25 of the district’s 327 Black

students (7.6%) and 22 of the district’s 184 American Indian and Alaskan Native students (11.9%) faced suspensions.

“Both situations are problematic because they show that race influences discipline outcomes, whether in frequency (Seattle) or severity (CVSD),” Jones writes. “The common thread is that students of color experience discipline in ways that push them further from academic success.”

Spokane Public Schools disciplined 24 of 335 American Indian and Alaskan Native students (7.2%), 64 of 1,050 Black students (6.1%) and 840 of 19,394 white students (4.3%).

To address these outcomes, Jones thinks the school districts could increase teacher training on bias and culturally responsive discipline, shift to restorative justice, and hire more educators and counselors of color.

47% OF SUSPENSIONS AFFECT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

Though they make up less than a quarter of the school district’s population (3,250 students), nearly half of Central Valley’s suspensions are given to middle school students. In total, 388 of the 824 students facing suspensions were in middle school.

While it might appear disproportionate compared to students in elementary or high school, North Pines Middle School Principal Jeremy Vincent says it’s normal for middle schoolers to act out more often.

“There’s two times in a person’s life where their brain is growing at a rapid pace, from the ages of 1 to 3, and then from the ages of about 12 to 14,” he says. “One of the things that we do here is we go over expectations, the exact same expectations every quarter four times a year, because we don’t expect them to remember everything, because they don’t. Their brains aren’t capable of doing that yet developmentally.”

While dealing with discipline many school districts, including Central Valley, use a method called positive behavioral interventions and supports, or PBIS, Vincent says. Under this model, teachers ensure that students know which behaviors are expected in the classroom, rather than punishing them for misbehaving.

“When a kid doesn’t know how to read and write, what do we do? We teach them how to read and write,” Vincent says. “When a kid doesn’t know how to behave, what do we do? Traditionally we would say we discipline them, but when a kid doesn’t know how to behave, we teach them to behave.”

At North Pines there’s a full-time staff member whose job it is to ensure those behavioral expectations are being taught, but Vincent says teachers also practice this in their classrooms. For example, instead of chastising a student who is being disruptive, a teacher might compliment another student who is quietly listening to the lesson.

3 OUT OF 4 SUSPENDED STUDENTS ARE LOW-INCOME

Less than half the students in CVSD are considered lowincome. However, of the students suspended, nearly threefourths are low-income. This isn’t a shocking statistic, Vincent says, as most kids who face any kind of disciplinary action are working through other issues.

“I’ll tell you nine times out of 10, something is going on at home,” he says.

That’s why North Pines Middle School has reintroduced something called the Champion Program. This pairs students with an adult in the building who checks in with them each day for six weeks. In these meetings the pair review goals for each class and reflect on changes they’ve been making.

So far, Vincent says this program has been wonderful for his students.

“Every time we get to the six-week mark on a kid where we exit them [from the program], both the kid and the champion say, ‘Can we keep doing it?’’’ Vincent says with a smile. n coltonr@inlander.com

PLAY HARD & EARN POINTS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

LUCKY SQUARES GAME STARTS AT 2 PM

You could score a big screen TV, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X, or Extra Play Cash! Huddle up to your favorite video gaming machine and play with your Coeur Rewards card to receive one entry for every 100 points earned on the day of the drawing. Drawing will take place immediately after the big game ends.

members

$10 Extra Play

Earn points from play, participate in drawings and promotions, redeem points for cash, dining, shopping & more!

The Quirks of Art

Kristin Robbins creates characters that are fun and funny, for herself and an expanding fan base

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

Funny haha, funny awkward, funny weird — find it all in artist Kristin Robbins’ idiosyncratic images of everyday people doing everyday things.

Dead pet portraits on the wall of an elderly couple’s living room in a painting inspired by a documentary on pet cemeteries. A dollhouse-like painting inspired by Grey Gardens, a morose film about Jacqueline (Bouvier) Kennedy Onassis’ reclusive relatives living in squalor with their countless cats. A laundromat, but with tiny canvases painted to look like washing machine doors, and hinged so they open and close.

Literally anything can be a jumping off point for the artist, whose solo exhibition at Entropy titled “Painted Frames” runs through Feb. 28. It just has to be funny, interesting or both.

“That is one thing I love about drawing and painting, which, I know this isn’t a new idea, but I look at things so closely now,” Robbins says. “I just pay attention to things so much more, and if I see a person wearing an interesting outfit or a character that’s walking down the street, I’ll try to sneak a picture.”

outfits and accoutrements are always the same: One girl wears a Walkman, while the other sports retro robot shades and puffy pigtails — a less crude, female version of Beavis and Butthead

“My favorite thing is if I’m laughing while I’m painting it,” says Robbins, laughing as she points to a painting she’s been working on.

It’s about a naked woman climbing a tree, based on the tree Robbins can see from the sliding glass door outside her “studio,” a rolling cart packed with painting supplies alongside the kitchen table in her lower South Hill condo.

The midcentury modern space also showcases artwork by local artists like Tiffany Patterson, Matt Smith and Jon Swanstrom. There are also paintings a friend did of the family dog, Stamos, the schipperkechihuahua mix indirectly responsible for Robbins’ initial foray into making art.

“My favorite thing is if I’m laughing while I’m painting it.”

Robbins isn’t trying to capture specific people, although she might have a specific inspiration in mind, like two ’80s-era BFFs. Whether waterskiing, disco dancing, birdwatching, bowling or roller skating, the characters’

After Stamos died, a friend suggested Robbins draw the little pooch in a sailor suit in front of a fireplace. The absurdity of it tickled the artist’s funny bone.

“I had so much fun that then I did probably 80 to 100 drawings of my dog Stamos in different situations,” she says.

Encouraged by the Stamos drawings, Robbins tried rendering him with a paintbrush and had an aha moment. Now, she says, “I paint all morning because I have [my home] to myself, and then I’m tired of sitting, and so I get to go walk around a school and clean and think about what I want to paint,” says Robbins, who works part-time as a custodian for Spokane Public Schools.

“I finally found the job that works so that I can focus on what I want to do a lot.”

Although Robbins took art classes in high school and enjoyed doing art projects with her kids as they were growing up, she didn’t pursue it as a vocation or hobby until about 10 years ago.

After high school, she and husband, Mark, moved to the west side where both attended different colleges. He pursued education (and teaches at nearby Lewis and Clark High School), but she was still “trying to figure it out,” she says of those early years. “And I never did.”

Well, not until she discovered her passion for painting. In the meantime, Robbins had figured out the importance of music in her life. Inasmuch as she’s making a name for herself as an artist, Robbins is already exceedingly well known in the local music scene.

For more than 20 years, she’s played bass for several bands: Heavy Seventeen, The Camaros (with husband Mark), Holy Cows (with husband Mark and son Norman) and BaLonely (with son Norman).

You’ve seen her play bass in local bands, now get a chance to see Kristin Robbins’ delightful art. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

VISUAL ARTS

“You know, he really is like one of my best friends,” she says about Norman, who’s also slated to perform at his mother’s upcoming art opening, accompanied by another family musical talent, sister Mertie.

There’s another music-art connection via Spokane’s Baby Bar. Co-owner Patty Tully was already plenty familiar with Robbins’ musical talents, and as bars and restaurants recovered from COVID-related closures, she gave Robbins’ art career a little nudge.

“[Patty] knew I was painting, but I had never shown anyone my stuff, so she asked me to do a map of the different bars in town and so I did,” Robbins says. It was a hit, and although she didn’t do it for money, she ended up selling it to an acquaintance.

Robbins has since participated in three of Terrain’s annual art show pop-ups and its annual fundraiser in its Monroe Street gallery space. She’s also shown her work at Berserk bar, but is super chill about selling her art.

“It’s not about making money,” she says, “‘Cause I also like the idea of, not only wealthy people [can] buy art. That’s a big thing for me.”

Another big thing for her is learning to trust her gut, letting the painting dictate what it needs to be, rather than trying to stick to the image she first envisioned at the outset.

“And all of a sudden, it’s like, ‘Oh, this [painting] was gonna be a woman with a braid, but I guess it’s a guy with a mullet,’” she says.

When she begins to second-guess herself, Robbins reads a quote by pop art innovator Andy Warhol that she saved to her phone: “Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”

And so she does.

“Even if I never sold one piece, I would still work as many hours on it,” Robbins says. “I would still make as many paintings.” n

Painted Frames • Feb. 7-28, reception Fri, Feb. 7 from 5-9 pm; open daily from 11 am-6 pm • Entropy • 101 N. Stevens St. • Instagram: EntropyGallerySpokane • 509-414-3226

The artist finds inspiration in pop culture and everyday people watching.

Putting on a Show

Washington community theaters convene in the spirit of competition and collaboration as Kaleidoscope comes to Spokane

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Two years ago, Stage Left Theater sent a production of Pass Over westward to the Kaleidoscope festival in Tacoma.

Their staging of Antoinette Nwandu’s sociopolitically charged play, which was directed by Malcolm Pelles and featured local actors Danny Anderson, Dahveed Bullis and Matt Slater, ended up taking top honors at the biennial statewide community theater competition.

Pass Over’s success didn’t stop there. It quickly went on to win the regional competitive leg in McMinnville, Oregon, and finally the national round at the American Association of Community Theatre’s AACTFest in Louisville, Kentucky. More recently, the same production of Pass Over was selected to represent the United States at the noncompetitive World Festival of Amateur Theatre in Monaco this coming August.

In hopes of repeating that journey toward national and even international accolades, theater troupes from across Washington state are converging on Spokane next week when Stage Left hosts this year’s Kaleidoscope.

“It’s kind of a full circle moment for us,” says Jeremy Whittington. He was the artistic director at Stage Left during Pass Over’s ascent and is now chair of the current Kaleidoscope festival.

“With Pass Over being the current reigning national champion, I think one of the things that having it here in Spokane and hosted by Stage Left Theater does, is it points out to smaller theater companies that it’s a real possibility that your little theater production can take something all the way to nationals and actually win.”

To underscore that possibility, Stage Left is concluding this year’s festival with a showcase performance of Pass Over

Leading up to that moment, eight productions from as many statewide community theaters will vie for the adjudicators’ favor: Lord of the Flies (Bright Comet Theatre, Spokane), Constellations (Theatre33, Bellevue), The Case of the Crushed Petunias (Resonance Studio Theatre, Redmond), Fool for Love (Richland Players), Sweeney Todd (New Prospect Theatre, Bellingham), My Name is Rachel Corrie (T...NADA, Walla Walla and Prosser), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Tacoma Musical Playhouse) and You Didn’t Hear This from Me (Bellingham Theatre Guild).

The top two Washington-based troupes will then go up against productions from Oregon, Alaska and Idaho at the regional competition in Boise next month. From there, one entry will advance to Des Moines, Iowa, for AACTFest in June.

Chris Serface is a past president of AACT and the artistic director at Tacoma Little Theatre, which hosted Kaleidoscope in 2023. He says that the festival is more than just an opportunity for local community theaters to show their mettle.

“From a patron standpoint, it’s giving them exposure to more shows than they would probably see in a threeday period. They’re like, ‘Wow, I can see several shows for the cost of one, and they’re hourlong snippets of it? That’s great.’ And so it really draws even your armchair theater enthusiasts,” he says.

“The festival process is the other thing that makes it fascinating to see. It’s a 10-60-10. What that means is that you have 10 minutes to set up, 60 minutes to do your show, and 10 minutes to strike everything. And everything used in the show must come out of a 10-by-10-foot square on stage. Watching what people create out of that square is amazing.”

Those strict requirements introduce an element of tension and risk. If a production exceeds any of those time limits by even a second, it will be disqualified. But the performers won’t be told that they’ve gone over time until their show is completed.

Kaleidoscope isn’t all high-stakes drama, though. During the three days of performances, there are also workshops that are free and open to the public. This year’s topics include youth safety, writing and publishing, monologues, critically assessing plays, body diversity and casting.

With Pass Over now such a “a well-oiled machine,” according to the show’s lighting designer and interim artistic director of Stage Left, Alana Shepherd, the theater has been able to concentrate fully on organizing those workshops and playing the host.

“For us, the festival is the production,” she says. That’s one reason why the Kaleidoscope performances are taking place at Gonzaga University’s Magnuson Theatre instead of Stage Left. The Magnuson offers more space for storage and setup, and its 218 seats provide

almost four times the capacity.

And despite the competitive basis of the festival, Whittington and Shepherd are continuing Kaleidoscope’s long tradition of support and creative collaboration. Each theater will be assigned a personal ambassador to act as an adviser and tour guide, and there will be nightly opportunities for social gatherings and conversation.

“I feel like it’s in our nature to be welcoming and warm,” Shepherd says. “[Kaleidoscope] doesn’t often come to the east side, so we want to make sure everybody’s taken care of.” n

Kaleidoscope 2025 • Thu, Feb. 13-Sun, Feb. 16, show times vary • $15-$25/show; $45/festival pass • Magnuson Theatre at Gonzaga University • 502 E. Boone Ave. • stagelefttheater.org • 509-838-9727

From left: Stage Left’s Joy Simmons, Jeremy Whittington, James Landsiedel and Alana Shepherd. ASHLYN WIKER PHOTO

From left: Matt Slater, Dahveed Bullis and Danny Anderson prepare Pass Over for competition. JEREMY WHITTINGTON PHOTO

But, if you’re lucky, sometimes you’ll be greeted by an adorable, furry face betwixt the vintage discs. That would be Major Tom, the Long Ear’s store cat.

Named for a character in the opening line of David Bowie’s iconic song “Space Oddity,” Major Tom was rescued by longtime Long Ear employee Ben Schoelen just over a year ago.

“We found him behind my house,” Schoelen says. “There are a lot of stray cats in my neighborhood up in Garwood. He was a kitten, teeny tiny, and we happened to become well-versed in cat trapping to give them to the local shelter.”

Schoelen managed to corral Major Tom and his mother. He found a home for Tom’s mom but struggled to find one for the kitten.

“We tried a few different places,” he says. “But he eventually just kind of ended up [here].”

Now, Major Tom lives full time at the record store, where he has his very own kitty digs in the back room and plenty of cozy spots throughout the store to cat nap as he pleases.

The Long Ear’s employees are no strangers to having a store cat. Before Major Tom, there was Boots, a beloved grey cat named so for her all-white feet.

Boots lived at the shop for several years after being adopted from the Kootenai Humane Society. She even moved locations with the store and was featured on plenty of Long Ear merch, including T-shirts and slipmats. Her death in March 2023 was an emotional time for owners Terry and Deon Borchard and all the staff who spent most of their days working alongside Boots.

Both Schoelen and Nic Fritze, another longtime Long Ear employee, mention that Major Tom’s personality is a complete 180 from Boots, who had a sweet, agreeable disposition. When Major Tom isn’t chilling

“He has been on every case, and he’s knocked over quite a few of our displays,” Schoelen says. “He hasn’t broken as much product as I expected him to, but he loves to get in the cases. I’ve accidentally locked him in a case before without realizing he snuck in there underneath me. He’s a little too curious for his own good. He will be damned if we don’t let him get in the trash can, especially if we throw something he thinks is interesting in there.”

“He did climb a ladder once,” Fritze adds. “He made it to the attic.”

Major Tom loves to lure customers by lying on his back and exposing his soft tummy, which Fritze and Schoelen stress is a devious trap — he will swat at anyone who tries to indulge in some belly rubs.

While there are often cat toys scattered around the sales floor, they’re mostly ignored by the intended audience.

“Out of all the toys we get him, ballpoint pens are his favorite,” Fritze says. “He really loves pens.”

Despite his spicy side, Schoelen and Fritze say Tom is a true joy to have around the store for customers and employees alike, and that the feline even gets along with kids.

“He loves to greet customers at the door,” Schoelen says. “He comes to the counter to greet customers, too. He knows exactly where pets are going to come from and the most active points to get attention.”

Just like the man who penned his namesake song, Major Tom is confident, quirky and widely loved.

“I could see him being an astronaut,” Schoelen says.

“He even has the Bowie zig-zag stripes,” Fritze adds.

Next time you’re in the Long Ear searching for some new vinyl to add to your collection, make sure to shout “Can you hear me, Major Tom?” and dole out some pets to the ever-feisty, but always loving, Major Tom. n

THE BUZZ BIN

HAVE A SEAT

The Bing Crosby Theater is a treasured Spokane landmark. Since 1915, the theater has brought audiences everything from local dance shows to big-name music stars and now, it’s time for an upgrade. The Friends of The Bing invite community members to show their love for the cherished building by donating to its “Save a Seat” campaign created to fund new theater seating. Those who donate $500 or more will be recognized with a personalized, engraved brass nameplate on one of the new theater seats, becoming part of the theater’s lasting legacy. For more information, visit bingcrosbytheater.com/donate or call 509-227-7638. (MADISON PEARSON)

SOUNDS OF A CITY

When it comes to community building, few others do it quite like KYRS Thin Air Community Radio. Since moving its offices into the downtown Central Library in late 2022, KYRS has been busier than ever bringing unique, quality radio shows to Spokane airwaves. Its newest venture is Lilac City Sounds, a radio show that taps into the heartbeat of the local music scene. Each session spotlights local talent through live performances and conversations about artists’ musical journeys. The first installation featured the everjazzy David Larsen Quartet and the most recent featured folk-rock outlet The Bed Heads. Catch the show live on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 3 pm at KYRS.org. (MADISON PEARSON)

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST

Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on Feb. 7.

SHARON VAN ETTEN & THE ATTACHMENT THEORY, SHARON VAN ETTEN & THE ATTACHMENT THEORY

After putting out many of the best singer-songwriter albums in recent decades, Sharon Van Etten let her longtime band in on the ground floor of the writing process for her seventh studio album (and rebranded to include them).

JINJER, DUÉL

The much-buzzed-about, femalefronted Ukrainian progressive metal band releases more cathartic fury on its fifth LP.

DREAM THEATER, PARASOMNIA

The prog-metal stalwart’s original drummer Mike Portnoy returns after nearly a decade-and-a-half hiatus to give Dream Theater a propulsive jolt. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

PARADE OF LIGHTS kicks off the carnival with the annual parade through downtown @ 5:30 p.m. All day enjoy a host of Valentine's Day happenings and specials from downtown businesses.

POST-PARADE PARTIES. Just following the parade, the Pend d'Oreille Winery hosts music, hot cocoa, and live performances outside on Third Avenue. Also, Connie's Cafe & Lounge has live music and community fun inside

SLEIGH RIDE, DINNER & CONCERT. It's an annual Valentine's Day happening at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Horse-drawn sleigh ride, ﬁne dining and Maria Larson in concert Reserve in advance!

PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND AT SCHWEITZER. Mountain activities all day, with snow bar, scavenger hunt, tubing, twilight skiing, live music and more.

LIVE MUSIC WITH PAPER FLOWERS @ THE HIVE. Multi-media concert and show reprising legendary Fleetwood Mac’s heyday, 7-11 p.m. at The Hive downtown 'CONFUSIUM' COMEDY MAGIC SHOW. Laughs and amazement from International Champion of Magic David DaVinci with a host of others, 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

FEBRUARY 16

PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND AT SCHWEITZER. Carnival action moves onto the mountain with skiing, riding, food and drink samples, live music and more, capped by the Let it Glow night parade and ﬁreworks at 6 p.m

EVENTS AT SCHWEITZER. Ski and ride, including twilight hours. Highlight for snowboarders: Free Never Summer Snowboard Demo

SPOKANE IS DEAD Acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute band plays classics by Jerry Garcia and pals. 7:30 pm at the Panida Theater

TOASTYFEST @ MATCHWOOD. New carnival event at Matchwood Brewing includes a run/walk, mobile saunas and disc spinning by DJ Lady Oda. 10 am - 3 pm

FEBRUARY 22 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

EICHARDT’S K9 KEG PULL. Capstone carnival event, as owners race their canines down a snowy course pulling appropriately sized kegs – for a St. Bernard, it’s a full-size keg, but for a chihuahua it’s a beer can. Heart-warming fun for the Winter Carnival ﬁnale!

The New Year Strikes

The Spokane Chinese Association celebrates Lunar New Year with culture fair and performances at The Fox

BY DORA SCOTT

TDo kick off Saturday’s festivities, a free cultural fair starts at 1 pm. There will be a number of family-friendly activities, including calligraphy, board games, storytelling, magic shows, traditional Lunar New Year snacks and a photobooth.

Zhu says that after moving the event to the Fox in 2023, even with very little advertising, around 5,000 people attended the past two years. Free snacks were gone in 30 minutes, and calligraphy supplies were exhausted within the first hour.

“We are a nonprofit, our goal is not to make money, but our goal is to be able to provide affordable access to our public,” she says.

This year’s 4 pm performance is free for children under 12 thanks to community sponsors. Additionally, each ticket holder is entered into a raffle for $1,000 worth of gift cards, also provided by various sponsors.

ig out your brightest red clothing, it’s time to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Though the holiday was officially observed on Jan. 29, the Spokane Chinese Association is hosting its annual cultural fair and performances this weekend.

Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon, unlike the Western solar calendar that’s determined by Earth’s cycle around the sun. Commonly celebrated in Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and Korea, each culture has its own traditions but largely follows the Chinese zodiac system.

This year ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake, symbolizing wisdom, charm, elegance, intuition and transformation.

Due to its large Asian diaspora, Washington state declared the Lunar New Year as an official state holiday in 2024.

Holding Lunar New Year celebrations locally since 2004, the Spokane Chinese Association aims to share its Chinese heritage with the Inland Northwest.

“Through vibrant dance, inspiring music and a sense of community, we honor the traditions that connect us and celebrate the shared values that bring us together,” says Weiling Zhu, president of the Spokane Chinese Association.

Up until 2023, the group hosted its annual cultural fair and Lunar New Year performances at local school auditoriums. Yet due to growing demand over the years, there’s now enough support and interest to host the event at the Fox Theater.

“The population has changed quite a bit for the Chinese population in this area,” Zhu says. “I mean, I can’t say for the Asian [community] as a whole, but my observation is that even the Asian population has grown significantly over the years.”

“Whoever wins, they are going to be busy taking their friends or family out,” Zhu says.

The performances are a culmination of over 10 months of practice and hard work by community members and volunteers who are presenting a professional show with traditional costumes purchased directly from China. That includes the crowd-favorite dragon dancers, led by Master Li, a fourth-generation apprentice of kung fu legend Master Huo Yuan Jia.

Martial arts and taichi performances are shared by the Spokane Taichi Team, plus there’s musical performances from the Spokane Chinese Choir, featuring local composer Steve Chen’s original arrangements. Other musical acts include the 60-person ensemble of the Spokane Chinese Church Grand Choir.

“We always try our best to invite one or two other Asian groups to be on this stage of the Fox,” Zhu says. “This year we have, for instance, the Hmong community — their dance was so vibrant and happy and just full of spirit.”

A 90-year-old calligrapher who’s guiding the calligraphy booth at the cultural fair will also showcase the art live on stage.

World-renowned pianist Archie Chen is a highlight of the evening. Spokane born and raised, Chen has performed on some of the most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall and the Vatican Auditorium.

“How often would you get to see all these precious moments live in Spokane?” Zhu says. n

Lunar New Year Fair and Show • Sat, Feb. 8; culture fair at 1 pm, show at 4 pm • $13-$23 • All ages • The Fox Theater • 1001

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with dragon dancers and more. PHOTOS COURTESY SPOKANE CHINESE ASSOCIATION

New Look, Same Values

Katy Bruya received lifesaving cardiac care after the birth of her second child. But her care team didn’t just save a heart – they saved a mother, a wife, a friend.

“They focused on caring for me as a whole person, not just this one organ that was going against me at the moment,” said Katy. “I really appreciated them seeing me for me.”

Katy joyfully gives to the Follow Your Heart campaign to help modernize Providence Heart Institute.

“I want to make sure our community has access to the very best heart care for decades to

‘FED UP’ HOUSING

Manufactured home owners are reimagining stable housing as local communities face untenable rent increases

Story by Eliza Billingham

Photos by Young Kwak

Jinny Curtiss’ home is beautiful. It has cream siding with forest green trim around the windows. Inside, songbird knickknacks perch atop a vintage wooden hutch that separates the kitchen from a tidy, cozy living room.

Curtiss keeps a small garden fountain outside and changes the flowers around it every spring. One year they’re red and yellow, another year blue and purple, another year completely pink for breast cancer awareness.

The 82-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. That was 13 years after she moved here. She’s always planned to die here, too.

“Take me out of here in a box,” she says.

But now, that might not be possible.

Like many mobile home residents, Curtiss owns her home, but she doesn’t own the land underneath it. She lives in Bona Vista, a community in Otis Orchards. She’s rented the 14-by-70-foot lot where her home sits since 2007.

When Curtiss first moved in, her lot rent was $300 a month. For more than a decade, it barely increased. But in the past five years, rent in manufactured home communities have been catching up with the rest of the housing market. Curtiss’ rent is set to hit $875 per month this spring.

Curtiss is on a fixed income of about $2,000 a month, thanks to Social Security and a regular check from Labor & Industries due to a fall she suffered when working as a caretaker. She’s currently paying $635 a month for her lot, but in September she received notice of the $240 increase set to take effect on her anniversary date in May.

“I don’t have a clue yet what I’m gonna do,” she says. Even though Curtiss has paid off her house, the most recent rent increase means that she would be spending nearly half her income to stay in her own home. There’s no guarantee it won’t keep going up. She says she can’t afford to keep living at the park, but she also doesn’t know where she could afford to live if she decided to get rid of her home.

“Can’t afford to pay,” Curtiss says. “Can’t afford to sell. I feel trapped.”

Her case is not the exception. It’s the rule.

More than half of all renters in Washington are rent-burdened, meaning their housing costs are more than the recommended 30% of their income, according to the state Department of Commerce.

According to the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, about 47% of renters received a rent increase of $100 or more per month in the last year. Eviction filings last year in Spokane County were about double what they were in 2019, according to the

Eviction Research Network out of the University of California, Berkeley.

Mobile or manufactured homes used to be one of the cheapest options for someone looking for a stable living situation. But now, mobile home parks across the country are facing unprecedented rent increases. Manufactured homes themselves are skyrocketing in value.

There aren’t enough affordable options to fill the gap left by these upwardly-mobile mobile homes.

Lot rents are increasing mostly because of a “frenzy of investment” in manufactured housing communities during COVID, says Victoria O’Banion, an affordable housing expert at Northwest Cooperative Development Center. The center is a nonprofit that, among other things, helps manufactured home owners in the region work together. Increased prices are also a response to increased demand from homebuyers, signaling a destigmatization of communities that O’Banion says have been “otherized” in the past.

But parks that are privately owned also put residents and their greatest financial assets at risk.

“It really puts people in a position where they’re not able to negotiate in a normal sense,” says Denver Mickali, a mobile home owner in Pullman. “If they were a renter, they could just move to another apartment. But we can’t. These are our homes, but we can’t move them.”

A rent stabilization bill is currently making the rounds again in the Washington Legislature. It aims to limit rent increases to 7% or less per year. Similar bills failed in 2023 and 2024.

Yet affordable housing advocates did celebrate a legislative win recently. Thanks to an update to state code in 2023, mobile home park owners must notify park residents if they intend to sell the land. Now, homeowners in the community get the first chance to buy it for themselves.

If they choose to do so, residents can form a cooperative to pool resources, buy the community where they live and control their own rent. So far, there are nearly 30 resident-owned manufactured housing communities in Washington out of about 1,200 parks statewide. The most recent cooperative is set to close its purchase deal this February just outside Spokane.

“In commercial banking, they talk a lot about ‘We want to help with affordable housing, so let’s build apartment complexes,’” says Tina McKinstry, a member of Takesa Village, a resident-owned mobile home park in Mead. “You’re making a landlord rich. You’re not making the people rich. With [co-ops], you’re making the people rich.”

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Meadowlark Homeowners Cooperative, the state’s newest manufactured home co-op, is in Mead.

HOUSING

MOBILE, MANUFACTURED, MISJUDGED

McKinstry bought her four-bedroom manufactured home for $25,000 in 2015. She had never considered a manufactured home before. But she hated living in apartments and was shocked to find anything with that much space for that small a price tag.

So she maxed out her credit cards to quickly pay the full amount. A banker by trade, she assumed she could get a line of home equity credit to swap out the credit card debt for a lower interest loan.

What McKinstry didn’t know is that manufactured homes aren’t usually eligible for home equity loans. Manufactured homes, often called mobile homes, aren’t considered “real property” by most banks. They’re titled like a car, not a house, and therefore not eligible for traditional home financing.

This thinking is a holdover from mobile homes built before 1976.

“Prior to that, you can see some really funky [mobile] homes being built,” housing expert O’Banion says. “Google search it, and you can see, like, people driving around with three stories on the back of a camper. It gets really crazy. It was unregulated prior to 1976 and probably not a great idea.”

So nearly five decades ago, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, set strict regulations for mobile homes concerning things like fire safety, natural disaster readiness, and energy efficiency, plus requirements for the factories where they’re made. Technically, anything built before ’76 is a “mobile” home, but anything built after ’76 is a “manufactured” home.

Even though manufactured home is usually the proper term for homes that residents live in today, mobile home is still a popular term among renters and parks. Most people use them interchangeably, in part because “manufactured” doesn’t seem very specific.

“I really don’t like that we use the word ‘manufactured

homes,’ because everything is manufactured,” O’Banion says. “Manufactured just means to be built, right?”

Factory-built houses still sometimes get a bad rap, but McKinstry doesn’t know why. Her home is probably more up to code than most 100-year-old craftsman homes, she says, and she’s relieved its steel frame was put together in a climate-controlled space.

“I’m not living in a metal can with a propane heater plugged into the back and my hose for water,” she says. “But with that stigma, nobody really acknowledges them as homes. But my home wasn’t built in the rain, and my wood wasn’t exposed to the rain while it was in the process of being built.”

Despite the common moniker, manufactured homes built after 1976 are not much more mobile than stick-built houses. Once a manufactured home is delivered to a lot, it must have all wheels and axles removed before it’s placed on a permanent foundation. Sure, you can raise it again and roll it off a lot, but you can also do the same thing to a small stick-built house, McKinstry says.

But the stereotype of homes on wheels has prevailed. For a long time, banks wouldn’t give loans for manufactured homes, McKinstry says, which opened the market up to unsavory lenders.

“Predatory individuals fill the gap where decent businesses fail,” she says.

Since the 1970s, manufactured housing communities have typically been owned by large investor owners.

“They’ve been a quiet secret of a quick cash cow for investors,” O’Banion says. “They’ve been very quiet about it, and they historically have not really publicized it.”

Society and city planners have also ostracized these communities as substandard housing, she says. They’ve built walls — both literally and figuratively — around mobile home parks.

In the early 2000s, a few books and investment courses started popping up drawing attention to investing

in manufactured housing communities. But it wasn’t until COVID-19, and the eviction pauses that came with the pandemic, that the frenzy really started.

“You have investors who invested in multifamily apartment housing who quickly saw a decline on their return of investment — because residents stopped paying their rent because of moratoriums,” O’Banion says.

Residents in manufactured housing communities typically continued to pay their lot rent regardless of the moratoriums, O’Banion says.

“They knew there was going to be a point where that money would be owed, and those residents could not afford to lose their home — that is their single greatest asset,” she says. “Whereas in apartment buildings, [people might say,] ‘Fine, kick me out of the apartment,’” because they don’t own it.

Competition to buy manufactured housing communities took off. By the end of 2020, O’Banion and her colleagues started seeing parks being sold left and right, sight unseen, sometimes for a million dollars over the asking price.

But in order for those investors to see a return on their investment, they need to sell it for more than what they bought it for, she says. Thus commenced beautification projects, infrastructure updates and lot rent increases, since much of an assessor’s appraisal depends on how much money a park makes.

“What that did was permanently alter the value of manufactured housing communities,” O’Banion says.

LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS

Bona Vista in Otis Orchards is operated by Three Pillars Community, an investment company out of California that also owns 10 other mobile home parks in Washington and more than 75 manufactured housing communities across the U.S.

Long-distance ownership was a shock for Curtiss and

Jinny Curtiss doesn’t want to leave the home she’s loved for almost two decades.

others, who were emotionally attached to the former longtime owner and property manager before he died in 2016. Since Bona Vista was sold to Three Pillars soon after, there have been eight property managers in eight years, Curtiss says.

Investor owners often get a bad reputation for being distant and greedy. It doesn’t help that the investors who get the most attention are often businesses like Hurst and Son, which owns about 60 manufactured housing communities across Washington. That company was investigated in 2023 by the state Office of the Attorney General after accusations of predatory rent practices and inhumane living conditions, including E. coli found in tap water and raw sewage leaks. By the end of 2024, the Attorney General’s Office required Hurst and Son to refund tenants about $5.5 million. Cascade PBS reported the average reimbursement was $2,000 and doled out in rent credits.

But not all investment owners are necessarily predatory.

“It’s like any business, even a bakery,” says McKinstry, who bought her Mead mobile home when it was part of an investor owner’s park. “You’ve got the good and the bad. Know what you’re buying and who you’re dealing with.”

Three Pillars Community founder Daniel Weisfield was recently featured in the Los Angeles Times for trying to let people displaced by the Eaton fire stay in the company’s nearby RV park. And while the notice that Bona Vista sent out increased the rent in Otis Orchards to $875, the company says that most people won’t pay that much.

Historically, Three Pillars has allowed certain residents, often elderly ones, to pay less than market rate in order to keep them housed. Last year, the max rent at Bona Vista was $750, but some residents only paid $600. After this next cycle of increases, the park says most residents will pay $697 or $726.

“You’ve got the good and the bad. Know what you’re buying and who you’re dealing with.”

Additionally, Bona Vista offers the Washington Mobile Home Rental Assistance Program, which is privately funded by the state’s mobile home park owners. It offers a 10% discount to residents who apply and qualify due to financial need.

Among other rules, applicants need to meet HUD’s very low income guidelines (in Spokane, that’s a yearly income of $31,150 for one adult), plus be elderly or disabled, not receiving any other rental assistance, not have personal property exceeding $40,000 (excluding a manufactured home), not have real property exceeding $25,000, and be in compliance of all park rules.

Bona Vista declined an interview request, but sent the Inlander a statement about the recent rent increases.

“Bona Vista’s owners are doing exactly what the owners of rental housing should do,” the statement notes. “They have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to repave potholed roads and fix failing septic systems to continue the life of the property. They

Jinny Curtiss’ garden fountain is surrounded by snow, not flowers, in the winter.

have beautified the park. They run a clean, well-managed community that charges fair rent in relation to high costs to operate rental housing properties in Washington. Fixing an old mobile home park to make it safe and habitable costs money — which is why the residents are paying higher rents than they used to. Paying increased tax and extremely high construction and materials costs is not easy. Sadly, there’s no easy way to keep rents what they used to be and provide the safe, quality housing our residents need.”

But Curtiss doesn’t feel taken care of. She didn’t know about the rent range and has received multiple notices that she’s out of compliance with park rules. Notices have cited her for feeding the birds in the street or spraying neighbors with her sprinkler, both of which she denies.

She feels harassed by people she doesn’t know and stuck in a situation she doesn’t want to be in. When neighbors come over, they talk about the dreaded “blue tape,” referring to the painter’s tape that the property manager uses to stick notices about park rules and rent increases on their back doors.

“People are fed up with it,” she says, “and I’m fearful.”

STABILIZATION

Denver Mickali is a first-year law student at the University of Idaho in Moscow. He lives in Campus Vista Mobile Home Park across the state border in Pullman. He bought a home there for $10,000 when he moved to Pullman in 2022 to finish a political science degree at Washington State University.

“I figured that if I was going to move here, and I had been working for a couple years outside of high school before I came back into school, that I could take some of my hard work and set that aside into something that

would allow me to live in a more affordable and secure way,” he says.

There’s something very special about living in a mobile home park, he says. People in his community are mostly veterinary students who can keep a few animals on their lot, or they’re disabled or elderly people.

Unlike many manufactured housing communities nowadays, Campus Vista is owned and operated by a local resident, Melissa Finch, the director of WSU’s Children’s Center. Her family has owned the park for years.

When Mickali first moved to Campus Vista, his lot rent was $405 per month. In 2023, it increased to $420 per month, and in 2024 it went up to $465 per month. But in September, residents received a letter notifying them that rent would increase to $600 in 2025, and they’d have to start paying for parking.

Mickali questioned the legality of the rent increase, not because of the amount, but because of how the amount was justified.

The first notice said the increase was due to a property tax increase on the community from $4,400 to $37,000. Whitman County is in the midst of a revaluation cycle and many properties saw tax increases anywhere from 15% to 200% in 2024, according to the communitysourced website whitmanpropertytax.site.

But when Mickali did the math, a $135 per month increase across about 80 units equaled roughly $130,000 more in yearly revenue for the park, a surplus of more than $92,000 after the tax increase.

Mickali contacted the state Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program in the Attorney General’s Office, claiming that the rent notice had been misleading.

Campus Vista’s legal team responded, saying that they appreciated the financial difficulty residents were

facing but also noting the park’s expensive upgrades to sewer infrastructure and the increased costs of necessary maintenance staff.

“My clients cannot simply absorb these costs while also enjoying a reasonable return on their capital investments,” the response continued.

As to the legality of the increase, the park’s legal team cited the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, which states that any rent increases are legal as long as tenants are notified three months in advance.

This motivated Mickali to actively support this year’s rent stabilization bills, House Bill 1217 and Senate Bill 5222, which, among other things, would limit rent increases to 7% each year, far lower than the 29% increase he’s getting this year.

Mickali submitted testimony to his House representatives, writing that “good business practice in mobile home communities involves stable housing and rent increases … If we don’t secure mobile homes as a viable low income housing opportunity, which should serve to keep humans off the streets, then our alternatives will be narrow and non diverse, failing to solve the issues at hand.”

But if Campus Vista limited its rent increase to 7% this year, or about $30 more per month, the overall revenue increase would be about $29,000. That wouldn’t even cover this year’s property tax increase.

Finch sent out a second notice to residents providing contact information, explaining a bit more about the park’s finances and offering a $30 voucher for garbage disposal fees so residents would end up paying $570 a month.

In a statement emailed to the Inlander, Finch writes, “The operations costs … have increased dramatically. Most notably due to property taxes that have hit Pullman. As a result we were forced to raise rent for our business

Christine Halland is a resident and involved member of the brand-new Meadowlark Homeowners Cooperative.

to remain viable. The notification of this increase was published in September and is lawful.”

COOPERATIVE NEIGHBORS

Things turned out well for McKinstry. Thanks to changes in the financial world, she was eventually able to get a lower interest loan to replace her credit card debt. Her home was recently appraised at $160,000, which means she more than sextupled her money. (And if banks start making standard loans on manufactured homes so buyers don’t have to pay out of pocket, the price could skyrocket even more, she says, guessing that if financing catches up with demand, they’ll probably cost as much as stick-built homes.)

What’s more, McKinstry is now in charge of how much rent she pays.

A year after she moved in, more than 200 homeowners in the community formed a nonprofit to purchase the land for $5.5 million, and rebrand as the Takesa Village Homeowners Cooperative.

“Now, I’m sure our property is valued way more, but we pay $380 a month for our [lot] rent,” she says. “It’s locked in. Nobody can raise it, unless we choose to raise it.”

In addition to controlling rent, everyone in the co-op elects members to the board, who vote on how to cover park maintenance costs, infrastructure improvements and the salary of a property manager. The board must also approve new residents. In the midst of all these responsibilities, they’ve ended up building a stronger sense of community.

Late last August, residents of Meadowlark Manufactured Home Park received registered letters saying that the park was going to be sold. Soon after, ROC USA held a community meeting in the open greenspace inside Meadowlark. They brought representatives to talk about the process, plus McKinstry from Takesa, which happens to be just down the road.

Christine Halland was one of the Meadowlark residents at that meeting. When Halland bought her mobile home in 2020, the lot rent was $365. It increased only modestly over the past four years to $430 in 2024.

But the residents of Meadowlark — which has about 30 households — were excited by the prospect of owning their own park. They decided to form the Meadowlark Homeowners Cooperative to buy the park. The deal should close in mid-February, and will require a rent increase to $585 a month.

The $155 increase in rent is the steepest that residents have ever seen. Many are on fixed retirement income.

“It is gonna be something they have to budget for,” Halland says.

But after hearing about Takesa’s great experience, plus horror stories from other parks nearby, Halland says residents decided they wanted to be in charge of their own property, even if it meant charging themselves more in rent initially.

“I think owners raise lot rents because they can. ... We would not want to do that to ourselves.”

“I think owners raise lot rents because they can — because there’s nothing to say they can’t,” she says. “We would not want to do that to ourselves, and we would not want to do that to our neighbor.”

Heart Health Tips for Older Adults

As we age, maintaining a healthy heart becomes even more important. Cardiovascular health can significantly impact overall well-being, but the good news is that with the right habits, older adults can continue to enjoy a vibrant and active life. Here are some heart health tips to consider:

STAY ACTIVE

Regular physical activity helps improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, such as walking, swimming, or yoga.

EAT A HEART-HEALTHY DIET

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. Try to limit salt, sugar, and processed foods.

MONITOR BLOOD PRESSURE

“Prior to becoming a cooperative, we did not have social or community events,” McKinstry says. “Since becoming a cooperative, we have a church that comes in every summer and does a lunch program for all the kids that live here. We have a craft fair that members here love. We do trunk-or-treats. We have Christmas parties, volunteer days, annual barbecues. It’s just an amazing place to live.”

Takesa Village was able to do this with the help of Resident Owned Communities, or ROC USA, and technical assistance from Northwest Cooperative Development Center. Both organizations are experts in cooperative mobile home communities. Paul Bradley started ROC USA in 2008 in New Hampshire in part to help his mother, who was worried about rising rent in her manufactured home park.

Now, they’ve helped more than 320 communities across the country form cooperative nonprofits. They train groups of neighbors, who often have no experience running a business, how to run a board meeting and navigate complex loan language.

In 2023, Northwest Cooperative Development Center was able to help pass a law in Washington requiring property owners to notify residents if they intend to sell and to give them the first right of refusal.

A manufactured housing community in Mead is the latest community to benefit from that law.

Sometimes a cooperative model isn’t feasible because the cost of buying the land would drive rents up too much. But O’Banion says that residents are usually willing to pay a rent increase of up to 40% to buy their property, because the likelihood of an investor owner increasing rent more than that over the next few years is pretty high.

At $585, rent at Meadowlark is still cheaper than most parks around the state. But the park doesn’t feel cheap. The streets are wide and paved with gravel parking on one side. Three rows are lined with a neat collection of single and double wides, most with porches or garages built on. Cream and grey houses are interrupted with purple, teal and green homes, which gives the tiny neighborhood a bit of a European flair.

Because of her work, Halland gets home most nights around 12:30 am. She always feels safe. She knows her neighbors, recognizes their dogs, families, and cars, and trusts them to watch her house when she’s away. The co-op only reinforces that connection.

“We’re more connected to one another because we’re on the ground with each other,” she says. But forming a co-op is only an option if the community goes up for sale. For Mickali and Curtiss, they have to hope to find a more immediate solution.

“What rights do we have?” Curtiss says. “Show me. Help me.” n

elizab@inlander.com

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, so it’s essential to regularly monitor your blood pressure and keep it in a healthy range. If needed, work with your healthcare provider to manage it effectively.

QUIT SMOKING

Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease. Quitting can significantly improve heart health, no matter your age.

MANAGE STRESS

Chronic stress can take a toll on the heart. Try relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or spending time in nature to reduce stress levels.

For our Warm Hearts, Warm Homes Open House and

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Sweets, Eats & V-Day Treats

Consider these Valentine’s Day specials to fill your loved one’s heart and stomach

BY DORA SCOTT

While birds do a little dance to woo their partner, we humans treat our loved ones to a nice meal or dessert when Valentine’s Day rolls around. Whether you have a partner or if you wish to wine and dine with a friend, here are some local eateries with special menus and sweets for the holiday of love.

DINNER

To make your valentine feel extra special, take them on an exclusive dinner date during Lorèn’s Mon Amour event on Feb. 14, with two seatings available at 5 and 7:30 pm. The French-inspired four-course meal ($199/ person), paired with wine and cocktails, is enough to win their stomach over, but also their heart, as it comes with long-stemmed red roses and decadent housemade chocolate truffles. Reserve at lorenbistro.com.

Located in the historic Old City Hall building across from Riverfront Park, Tavolàta is serving a special fourcourse menu ($85/person) Feb. 14-16. For the starter, choose between a castelfranco or Caesar salad. For the pasta course, there’s shrimp-stuffed ravioli or potato gnocchi, followed by an entree of ribeye, salmon or risotto. End the meal with a chocolate torte or berry compote. Visit ethanstowellrestaurants.com for reservations.

Spice things up this Valentine’s Day, and head to

Cochinito Taqueria for a shared, three-course dinner ($59/couple). Warm up your tastebuds with a prawn ceviche appetizer. For the main course, choose four tacos; and then it’s finger food galore with carnitas totchos (tots topped with all the nacho goodness) and four-piece wings. End your meal with chocolate hazelnut terrine. Visit cochinitotaqueria.com for more info and reservations.

Arguably the most romantic drink is wine, aesthetically and because you can show how much you know about someone’s tastes via the bottle you choose. Commellini Estate in North Spokane is partnering with Latah Creek Winery for a five-course winemaker’s dinner ($105/person) served Feb. 14 at 7 pm and Feb. 15 at 6 pm that’s paired with Latah’s wines. For an aperitivo, munch on focaccia with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then move on to basil shrimp, linguini, New York steak and seared salmon. For dessert, there’s chocolate marquesa paired with a raspberry port wine. Visit commellini.square.site to purchase tickets.

Whether you’re celebrating a longtime or fledgling love this Valentine’s Day, Clinkerdagger, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is another perfect place. The fine dining restaurant with stunning views of the Spokane River is offering a three-course menu ($120/ couple) Feb. 10-17. Among the choices, there’s clam chowder, salad, prime rib, salmon oscar, lobster and scallop pasta. For dessert, enjoy cheesecake, chocolate cake or crème brûlée. For reservations, visit clinkerdagger.com. Simple and intimate, fondue makes for a romantic dining experience. Have a fondue date over Valentine’s Day weekend at The Melting Pot in downtown Spo-

Treat a loved one to a four-course dinner at Tavolata this V-Day. PHOTO COURTESY TAVOLATA

kane. With different levels of experiences and add-ons, completely customize your four-course dinner ($190-$280/couple). Choose your starting cheese fondue, served with seasonal vegetables and artisan breads. The entree includes lobster tail, filet mignon, spicy Thai teriyaki sirloin, honey dijon chicken, shrimp, and ravioli. Then enjoy chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, pound cake and more. Visit meltingpot.com for reservations.

From Feb. 9-16, Beverly’s at The Coeur d’Alene Resort is serving specials like oysters Rockefeller, seabass, wagyu striploin, a seafood skewer and a dessert sampler for two that includes chocolate-dipped strawberries, macaroons, truffles, cake and other confections. Also available Feb. 13-15, Beverly’s has a four-course couple’s dinner ($75/person). For more info and reservations, visit cdaresort.com.

On Feb. 14 and 15, Inland Pacific Kitchen is serving a romantic three-course dinner ($95/ person). For the first course, choose shrimp and crawfish terrine, mushroom soup or a grilled wedge. For the main, there’s halibut, ribeye or winter squash risotto. Dessert is chocolate cake or mascarpone gelato. Reserve at ipkspokane.com.

Latah Bistro also has a three-course Valentine’s Day menu ($65/person), available Feb. 13-15. The first course is lobster bisque and beet salad, the second is ribeye, risotto or paccheri. For dessert, choose poached pear or gelato. For reservations, call 509-838-8338.

SWEETS

Made With Love Bakery offers a variety of Valentine’s Day preorders. For something simple but sweet, get a large cookie heart ($4) or a cookie pack ($10). For a memorable experience, there are Valentine’s Day cookie decorating kits to enjoy at home ($30). If you prefer cake, get single chocolate or red velvet cupcakes ($3.75) or a whole box ($15). Order at mwlbakery.com.

Dane Joe Espresso on South Hill is partnering with House on a Hill Bakery for a fun Galentine’s event on Feb. 8 (4 pm) and 9 (10 am or 1 pm). They’ll be serving special bubbly drinks

and mini cupcakes while guests take part in a cupcake bouquet decorating class ($60/person). Show your love with one of miFlavour’s specialty Valentine’s Day gift boxes. Available for preorder, there’s a package of four eclairs ($36): strawberry mascarpone, espresso, passionfruit raspberry and classic flavors. The French-style bakery also offers a box of four mirror mousse heart cakes ($34) in raspberry vanilla, chocolate hazelnut, white chocolate passionfruit and strawberry champagne flavors. Order at miflavour.com.

Partnering with Christ Kitchen, Meals on Wheels is making this Valentine’s Day even sweeter with their annual Cinn-A-Gram fundraiser. Each $45 Cinn-A-Gram includes two cinnamon rolls, a ceramic mug, Roast House coffee, Revival Tea, Hallett’s chocolates and more, to be delivered on Valentine’s Day with a personal note. Orders close on Feb. 9; call 509-456-6597 or visit mowspokane.org.

EXPERIENCES

If you’d rather get your hands messy alongside a loved one, cooking classes are another great date idea this Valentines Day! From Valentine’s cookie, cake and cupcake decorating sessions to a classic Italian lunch date or learning how to cook filet mignon and other sides, the Kitchen Engine has got you covered. Head to thekitchenengine. com to reserve a class before it sells out.

Some say to never eat pizza on a first date, but that shouldn’t count for Valentine’s Day, right? Chaos Arcade in North Spokane is bringing several specials for the holiday of love. Split one of their heart-shaped pizzas with your sweetie or pals, and enjoy BOGO game cards (offered at $20, $30 or $50) to spend in the arcade. For more info, visit chaosarcade.com.

Local nonprofit Odyssey Youth Movement and nYne Bar & Bistro are partnering for a Valentine’s Day drag show on Feb. 14 from 5:308 pm at nYne. Included in the $20 admission are appetizers and a dessert.

Looking for more Valentine’s Day activities? Check out the Inlander’s events calendar at Inlander.com/events. n

MAX RICHTER

JAMES LOWE CONDUCTOR

ELECTRONICA AND VISUAL ARTIST

YVETTE KRAFT VIOLIN

VALENTINE’S DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 | 7:30PM

Richter’s cool hypnotic minimalism combines with rosethrow’s electronica and visuals to give a new spin to Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons.

Join us for an afterparty with rosethrow spinning tunes and delicious bites. Afterparty is included with ticket.

Heart-shaped sugar cookies are a sweet way to show you care. PHOTO COURTESY MADE WITH LOVE BAKERY

Sponsored by:

Michael Sharapata

ALSO OPENING

BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN

One of the most iconic rock bands of all time gets a new IMAX-exclusive documentary chronicling the group’s early rise to fame. Rated PG-13 At AMC River Park Square

LOVE HURTS

Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) gets his first leading role in the action comedy about a Realtor who must use hidden skills from his days as a hitman after his brother begins hunting him. Rated R

Still Here proves relevant and worthy of its

REVIEW

STAYING POWER

Oscar-nominated Brazilian drama I’m Still Here is a moving tribute to persistence in the face of oppression

BY JOSH BELL

Nominated for three Oscars this year including Best Picture, the gripping Brazilian drama I’m Still Here may look back at a particularly unpleasant period in its country’s history, but it also feels uncomfortably relevant to the current moment in our own country. Best Actress nominee Fernanda Torres gives a powerful, emotionally resonant performance as a woman who endured years of uncertainty after her husband was seized by forces of the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1971. I’m Still Here has been a massive box-office hit in Brazil, where memories of that time period linger, and it serves as a potent reminder of how easily a seemingly calm everyday life can be shattered by political violence and repression.

That seemingly calm existence unfolds over the course of the film’s first half-hour, even as a sense of dread builds in the background. Eunice (Torres) lives with her husband, engineer and former congressman Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), in a lovely house in Rio de Janeiro with their five boisterous children. They spend family time at the beach and the ice cream parlor, play games, and make plans to move into a new house that they’re preparing to have built. Director Walter Salles captures the warmth of the family interactions as well as the reality of living in a nation under authoritarian rule.

Rated PG-13

daughter Vera (Valentina Herszage) and her friends are stopped at a checkpoint on their way home from the movies, and only saved from further harassment because one of them is able to verify his father’s credentials as a lawyer.

Rubens seems unafraid of the potential danger to himself, and he rejects entreaties from friends to join them in relocating to England. Eunice convinces him to at least send Vera along to study abroad, just a short time before mysterious armed men come to the Paiva house and whisk Rubens away. Soon afterward, they take Eunice and her daughter Eliana (Luiza Kosovski) as well, subjecting Eunice to 12 days of interrogation before letting her go.

I’m Still Here

Directed by Walter Salles

Starring Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Luiza Kosovski

Daily activities continue as normal, while occasional military transports rumble by on the street outside, and the news offers reports about rebel groups kidnapping foreign diplomats. In a harrowing early scene, eldest

Thus begins the family’s long period of instability, as Eunice engages in futile efforts to find out what happened to her husband, while also taking care of her children and shielding her youngest kids from the full truth. Torres conveys the anguish and determination that Eunice deals with every day, never giving up the fight, but also never losing sight of her responsibilities as a mother. The children are slightly less distinctive as characters, and it takes a little while to differentiate the three teenage daughters. But over time, Kosovski gives Eliana a level of determination similar to her mother’s after her own briefer ordeal, and Herszage finds the balance between Vera’s rebelliousness and vulnerability.

Vera is also the source of the family’s lovely 8mm home movies, which Salles intersperses during tender as well as tense moments. He shoots the rest of the movie

in equally gorgeous 35mm, giving it a mix of gritty immediacy and glowing nostalgia, which reflects the dichotomy of the family’s experience. In his first narrative feature since 2012, Salles shakes off the blandness of his previous true-life social-issue dramas The Motorcycle Diaries and On the Road to deliver a story with more urgency and nuance.

That urgency fades a bit during the movie’s last halfhour, with two lengthy epilogues that fast-forward first to 1996 and then to 2014. These segments depict follow-up events that might have been relegated to closing title cards in other docudramas, and they emphasize the way that in reality, stories like this don’t have definitive endings.

At the same time, the final act struggles to make the adult versions of the Paiva children (including Eunice’s son Marcelo, who wrote the movie’s source material) compelling to watch, and the tension in the story has almost entirely dissipated. It’s sweet to see Torres’ real-life mother, Fernanda Montenegro, as the elderly Eunice, although her role is little more than a cameo. It’s a nice nod to Montenegro’s own Oscar-nominated work with Salles in 1998’s Central Station, but it doesn’t add much to the narrative.

Even if that closing stretch is a little underwhelming, it still adds to the overall sense of the injustice that Eunice and her children faced, and it speaks to their resilience in the face of that adversity. As the title indicates, they prevailed by persevering, by not giving in to despair or hopelessness. There’s beauty in that perseverance, along with the pain, and it’s worth holding onto, as much now as it was then. n

I’m

accolades.

A Broken Heart

The passionless horror rom-com Heart Eyes is one of the worst Seattle-set movies ever

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

Rushing back from a week of seeing a whole bunch of great films at Sundance to watch a screening of Heart Eyes — a grim sentence already infinitely scarier than anything that happens in this sad excuse for a slasher — I must have missed something at Sea-Tac in my post-festival sleep-deprived haze...

Did you know that the bustling Washington airport that millions travel through every year now has what seems to be giant palm trees right by its entrance? No? Well in the upside down world of the Seattle-set but New Zealand-shot Heart Eyes, a painfully slight horror rom-com lacking in basic chemistry or chills, these trees tower in the distance in a way that will elicit a laugh not just from Washingtonians, but anyone who has even the

vaguest concept of the region.

The trouble is that this moment elicits the film’s biggest reaction, while the rest of the forced proceedings are guilty of faking not just its Seattle location, but anything resembling genuine charm. Despite it trying so hard to be something close to Wes Craven’s classic Scream and its modern sequels, Heart Eyes is a meandering, halfhearted horror comedy neither clever enough to be a sharp genre spoof, nor creative enough to work as a sendup of the other, much better films it’s drawing from.

Rated R

next to nothing to work with as the script by a trio of writers — Michael Kennedy (Freaky), Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day 2U) and Phillip Murphy (Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) — is so broad it undercuts the brief flashes of more fun bloody brutality. By the time all the pieces of its romance and horror tepidly come together, there is no pulse to be found.

After a promising opening sequence with where a masked killer known as Heart Eyes brutally butchers a couple and their photographer after they went through a staged proposal with a vineyard as the backdrop, the film picks back up with the struggling young marketing executive Ally. Played by Olivia Holt (Totally Killer), she is having a hard time with a breakup that seems to have spilled into work via an advertising campaign that centers on couples dying. This is one of the few humorous bits that work in the film, but it also means Ally is in trouble as people online view it as rather insensitive considering there is a killer on the loose who is stalking couples in Seattle with Valentine’s Day fast approaching.

It’s when she’s about to go into work to face the music from her boss that she literally bumps into the handsome Jay, played by Mason Gooding (of the solid recent Scream reboot and its sequel Scream VI), at a coffee shop.

Of course, he turns up at her work as he has been brought in to clean up the situation. This awkward and oddly chemistry-free meet-cute then takes a murderous turn, becoming about the duo having to stop Heart Eyes over one romantic evening after the killer gets them in their sights.

Heart Eyes

Watching as the film drags from one empty encounter to the next, taking place everywhere from Ally’s apartment to the Seattle police station (both of which never feel like actual places as much as they do sets) my mind drifted to the recent Malignant and what made that work. Yes, it was a film that also wasn’t actually shot in Seattle, but it was so playfully bonkers that you didn’t care. It may too have been faking the setting, but the energy that went into everything else grabbed you and didn’t let go. Heart Eyes, on the other hand, just goes through the motions of classic slasher films and modern romantic comedies. It does so not to skewer them, but just to lightly mimic them, betraying how few ideas it has of its own with each obvious reveal falling flat.

Directed by Josh Ruben

Starring Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding

Directed by Josh Ruben, who previously made the wonderful Werewolves Within, it’s a film that gives him

There are some gruesome kills here and there that provide a jolt of energy to the otherwise lifeless film. The most fun part of the affair is when the duo goes to a drive-in theater that is playing the hilarious love story His Girl Friday, and you realize you’d just rather be watching that instead. Love, much like Seattle, is something you can’t ever fully fake, but Heart Eyes just never feels like it is trying. The only thing it cuts to pieces is your investment in it. n

Swipe left on this “Seattle” slasher.

お菓子 AT MIDNIGHT

Spokane band Snacks at Midnight shares its tour diary after rocking the Japanese punk scene

BY RORY BABIN

It is often said in the music industry that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. In the case of my band Snacks at Midnight touring Japan, the same was true. Snacks has been a part of the Spokane music scene since 2020, and thinking back to our first shows, I never would’ve imagined that our small ragtag group would become an internationally touring band. By the beginning of 2024, we really felt as though Snacks was starting to make a serious impact. All in the same year we were voted by Inlander readers as Spokane’s Best Band, written up in articles and interviewed on television. We became Knitting Factory regulars, had our first PNW tour and released our best album yet, What You Think You Want

The true cherry on top of 2024 was connecting with tour manager David Isaac, whom we reached out to through a friend in a band called Quor. David works specifically in getting bands (such as The Fall of Troy and Chon) back and forth between Japan and the U.S., working out all the logistics to make touring the country without being fluent in Japanese possible. Our crew — four band members, a photographer (my wife, Abbigail), a merchandise sales person and a tour coordinator —

couldn’t have done it without him.

As for how it was possible to afford such a tour, we’d spent all of 2024 playing live shows and saving up the necessary funds to not only stay, travel and eat in Japan, but to rent venue equipment and pay for professionals to run the sound and lights. (A common practice over there for bands not personally invited by venues.) In truth, this was not a profitable tour for us, but we never expected it to be. The plan from the beginning was to continually return until it became worth it for venues to pay us to come across the Pacific.

Here’s a taste of what it’s like for a Spokane band to rock out in Japan. (For an unabridged tour diary, head to Inlander.com.)

JAN. 7 & 8

While getting to Japan is significantly easier than it would have been 100 years ago, it was still an uncomfortable prospect. Twenty-one hours of travel door to door. Brutal

We arrived in Tokyo, went straight to our Sky Capsule (small hotel room), and then had to figure out dinner. As weird as it sounds, we’d heard numerous rumors about the excellence of Japanese 7-Eleven, and decided to try it for ourselves. We were all shocked at the cleanliness and quality of the food. I joked several times throughout the tour that if someone told me they bought sushi from 7-Eleven in the U.S., I would advocate for its immediate disposal, if not destruction. However, in Japan, it was not only delicious but left no one with upset stomachs.

JAN. 10

My wife and I spent our day wandering around little shops and drinking matcha while people-watching. After a quick nap and a difficult time figuring out the Tokyo Metro, we made it to the venue for the first show.

Having played music professionally for many years now, I found the differences between Japan’s music culture and the United States’ shocking. We met at the venue five hours before the show started. Had I not known it was a venue, I would have walked right by without thinking twice. The entrance was an inconspicuous staircase buried behind rows of bicycles and plastic milk crates. After following that staircase — which would have certainly violated American building codes — down to the basement, we took a narrow hallway into a small venue that one would expect to see in the U.S.

Well, almost.

Two major differences were immediately evident:

1. People were smoking indoors.

2. The sound and lighting equipment, while typically older, was close in quality to that which you’d see in venues such as the Knitting Factory.

Even though the venue (live houses, as they’re called) would have made any American punk fan feel right at home, the production crew (usually three or more) approached the show with an admirable level of care and respect.

Finally, in Japan, they don’t ground their electricity. Every venue we played literally shocked me when I would sing. However, it was clearly a common problem as each venue came ready with a jumper cable, which was clamped at one end to my guitar cable and the other

to the amp microphone. I quickly learned the word: asu (アース) meaning electrical ground or earth.

JAN. 11

Today, after a dinner of convenience store rice balls, we took an hourlong subway from our hotel to the live house, Babel Rock Tower, and played our second show.

JAN. 12

On our off day, we took the three-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka across an impressive metropolitan spread. As car-driving Americans, something we hadn’t anticipated about Japan is that taking the train means a lot of walking and an unfortunate amount of stairs. Which, when there are 10 suitcases (three for merchandise) for seven people and at least one backpack per person, makes for an awkward travel situation, not counting how crowded the trains typically are.

JAN. 13

Our venue tonight, HOKAGE, was two floors underground and is certainly a sacred place for punk lovers: A grungy, stageless room with the lighting and sound system built of lashed together metal pipes hanging precariously over the band. This gig sticks out in my mind for the feeling of appreciation from the audience and other performers, represented by the fact that two of the bands brought us bags of Japanese snacks because of our name.

Sad realization: Japan does burgers better than the U.S. The only downside is they only come with six to eight french fries.

JAN. 15

After trekking from Osaka to Nagoya we arrived at Jammin, easily the most modern live house we played. Equipped with changing rooms, showers and two green rooms, Jammin was especially impressive for its cleanliness and professionalism. I even joked during our set that the stage carpet clearly had been vacuumed, something that rarely (if ever) happens in the U.S.

JAN. 16

After traveling to Nara (south of Kyoto) and doing our sound check, we made time to go see its temples’ famed small deer who bow when asking to be fed. They truly did

bow, however, they’d also headbutt and bite when they knew you had food. At past venues, our audiences spoke enough English that they often understood the things I said on stage, but the farther away from Japan’s metropolitan centers, the language barrier became significantly stronger.

JAN. 18

Compared with the rest of the tour, our show at the Tokyo basement venue The Wall stood out. One could barely see from one side to the other of the long narrow venue due to the thickness of cigarette smoke. It was a miracle that any equipment on stage still worked; speaker grills smashed in and amplifiers were missing knobs. The halogen lights had us all sweating the moment we walked onto stage. The monitors surprisingly had rebar welded onto where their grills had been so artists could stand on them.

JAN. 19

Our last day off in Tokyo, so everyone went their own way. My wife and I bought ridiculously cheap clothing and, as usual, ate out at half the price you’d see in the U.S.

JAN. 20

The last true day of the tour. We played a live house called The Basement Bar, another grungy basement that we’d be lucky to have in Spokane. There was a surprising amount of people for a Monday night, and as was usual, it took some time for the Japanese crowd to warm up. But by the time I was soloing on the tables, they were head banging and dancing as eagerly as any American audience. By the end of the night, the energy in the room — just like a Japanese microphone — was electric.

JAN.

21

We woke up and went straight to the airport. Once landing, we said our goodbyes in the GEG baggage claim.

As is usual when returning home from such ventures, we all felt a mixture of sadness and readiness to be back in Spokane. Over the tour I learned a great deal from the Japanese, however one thing specifically that I find most admirable was their constant and deep appreciation for the arts.

Arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much), Japan! n

SUNDAY, MAY 4

Snaps from Snacks. COURTESY OF BABIN MEDIA

CHRISTIAN POP AMY GRANT

DJ THE TRVST OPEN DECKS

Thursday, 2/6

J THE BIG DIPPER, Joshua Josué: Not Fade Away -

A Tribute to Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens

J BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Abe Kenney

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Grieves, Horrorshow, The Street Sweepers

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Sawyer Brown

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin

ZOLA, RCA and the Radicals, The Ronaldos

Friday, 2/7

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Sean Patrick Urann

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Pastiche

BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Whack A Mole

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Jojo

THE DISTRICT BAR, The Sizzle: DJ Trizzle, Pesky Penguin

GARDEN PARTY, Storme

J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Lucas Brookbank Brown

IRON HORSE (CDA), Zach Cooper Band

MOOSE LOUNGE, Agents of Rock

NIGHT OWL, DJ Felon

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, The Cole Show

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin

TRVST, DJ Exodus

ZOLA, Austin Miller Band

Saturday, 2/8

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Pamela Benton

J THE BIG DIPPER, RockFest Battle of the Bands

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Pastiche

J BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Carson Floyd

BULLHEAD SALOON, Neon Interstate

THE CHAMELEON, Good Kid, M.A.A.D Party

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, D.A. & The Bluenotes

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Jojo

CORBIN SENIOR CENTER, Ben Klein as Elvis: Love Me Tender

J EICHARDT’S PUB, Heat Speak

IRON HORSE (CDA), Zach Cooper Band

KNITTING FACTORY, Shrek Rave

J MIKEY’S GYROS, It’s a Setup, Public Apology, Violent Abuse, Big Knife

MOOSE LOUNGE, Agents of Rock NIGHT OWL, Priestess

J OLD SCHOOL LIQUOR BAR, Just Plain Darin

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Brian Jacobs

TRVST, KosMos the Afronaut ZOLA, Blake Braley

Monday, 2/10

J KNITTING FACTORY, Palaye Royale, Johnnie Guilbert

Tuesday, 2/11

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Jonathon Nicholson

SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays

J J THE FOX THEATER, Amy Grant

Apart from religious-centered Christmas tunes, Christian music was largely relegated to churches for millennia. Black gospel music (and its influence on rock and roll) changed the landscape, but straight Christian pop didn’t fully arrive on the national stage until Amy Grant’s breakout in the 1980s. “The Queen of Christian Pop” crossed over to the mainstream with Billboard Top 100 singles like “Find a Way,” “Every Heartbeat” and “Baby Baby,” the first Contemporary Christian single to hit No. 1 on the main charts. Grant has remained prolific, putting out 19 studio albums, winning six Grammys, earning Kennedy Center Honors and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and more. Grant returns to Spokane to continue giving (and getting) praise.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Amy Grant • Tue, Feb. 11 at 7:30 pm • $69-$91 • All Ages • The Fox Theater • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • foxtheaterspokane.org

While singer-songwriters and instrumentalists have long had open mics to get their foot into the live performance world, those spaces aren’t exactly conducive to DJs. But the TRVST Open Desk, a new weekly showcase that launched the final week in January, is essentially an open mic for DJs. Hosted by KosMos the Afronaut and SAV, local performers are given 30-minute blocks to showcase their sound — all styles and genres welcome (interested DJs can reach out to KosMos and SAV on Instagram to claim a spot on the lineup). The hope is that Open Decks can become a go-to spot where DJs can showcase what they’ve been working on while mingling with their peers in the scene and creating a free dance party anyone can enjoy.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

The TRVST Open Decks • Every Wednesday at 9 pm • Free • 21+ • TRVST • 120 N. Wall St. • instagram.com/_trvst.no.1_

ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam

Wednesday, 2/12

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic

J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents

J TRVST, The TRVST Open Decks

Just Announced...

J JAGUAR ROOM AT CHAMELEON, Forty Feet Tall, Feb. 23.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Atrae Bilis, Mar, 20.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Steelheart, Mar. 21.

THE DISTRICT BAR, The Swaggerlies, Mar. 22.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, LoCash, Mar. 29.

THE DISTRICT BAR, I Speak Machine, May 11.

J KNITTING FACTORY, G-Eazy, Apr. 22.

J J ONE SPOKANE STADIUM, Outlaw Music Fest: Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, May 22.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Hippie Sabotage, May 25.

J J FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT, Sierra Ferrell, July 25.

J FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT, Brothers Osborne, July 31.

J J FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT, Kansas, Aug. 1.

J FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT, Dispatch, Aug. 2.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, Aug. 23.

J GORGE AMPITHEATRE, Dave Matthews Band, Aug. 29-31.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Train, Sept. 16.

J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW J

ALL AGES SHOW

DAVID ABBOT PHOTO

MUSIC | VENUES

219 LOUNGE • 219 N. First Ave., Sandpoint • 208-263-5673

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS • 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-927-9463

BABY BAR • 827 W. First Ave. • 509-847-1234

BARRISTER WINERY • 1213 W. Railroad Ave. • 509-465-3591

BEE’S KNEES WHISKY BAR • 1324 W. Lancaster Rd.., Hayden • 208-758-0558

BERSERK • 125 S. Stevens St. • 509-315-5101

THE BIG DIPPER • 171 S. Washington St. • 509-863-8098

BIGFOOT PUB • 9115 N. Division St. • 509-467-9638

BING CROSBY THEATER • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-227-7638

BLACK DIAMOND • 9614 E. Sprague Ave. • 509891-8357

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL • 116 S. Best Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-891-8995

BOOMERS CLASSIC ROCK BAR • 18219 E. Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-368-9847

BUCER’S COFFEEHOUSE PUB • 201 S. Main St., Moscow • 208-596-0887

THE BULL HEAD • 10211 S. Electric St., Four Lakes • 509-838-9717

CHAN’S RED DRAGON • 1406 W. Third Ave. • 509-838-6688

THE CHAMELEON • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.

CHECKERBOARD • 1716 E. Sprague Ave. • 509-443-4767

COEUR D’ALENE CASINO • 37914 S. Nukwalqw St., Worley • 800-523-2464

COEUR D’ALENE CELLARS • 3890 N. Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-2336

CRUISERS BAR & GRILL • 6105 W Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-446-7154

CURLEY’S HAUSER JUNCTION • 26433 W. Hwy. 53, Post Falls • 208-773-5816

THE DISTRICT BAR • 916 W. 1st Ave. • 509-244-3279

EICHARDT’S PUB • 212 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-263-4005

FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • 509-279-7000

FOX THEATER • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-624-1200

IRON HORSE • 407 E. Sherman, Coeur d’Alene • 208-667-7314

IRON HORSE BAR & GRILL • 11105 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-926-8411

JOHN’S ALLEY • 114 E. Sixth St., Moscow • 208-883-7662

KNITTING FACTORY • 911 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-244-3279

MARYHILL WINERY • 1303 W. Summit Pkwy. • 509-443-3832

MILLIE’S • 28441 Hwy 57, Priest Lake • 208-443-0510

MOOSE LOUNGE • 401 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene • 208-664-7901

NASHVILLE NORTH • 6361 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls • 208-457-9128

NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO • 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights • 877-871-6772

NYNE BAR & BISTRO • 232 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-474-1621

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY • 301 Cedar St., Sandpoint • 208-265-8545

POST FALLS BREWING CO. • 112 N. Spokane St., Post Falls • 208-773-7301

RAZZLE’S BAR & GRILL • 10325 N. Government Way, Hayden • 208-635-5874

RED ROOM LOUNGE • 521 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-838-7613

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR • 718 W. Riverside Ave. • 509-822-7938

SEASONS OF COEUR D’ALENE • 1004 S. Perry St. • 208-664-8008

SPOKANE ARENA • 720 W. Mallon

WORDS RISE UP

Local poet Stephen Pitters has been an advocate for the Spokane poetry scene for over 20 years. He formerly ran a poetry radio show on KYRS and has published many poetry collections over his years in the Lilac City. Pitters’ signature event, Poetry Rising, constantly takes on new forms when he invites friends new and old to join him each quarter in celebrating the written word, music and other forms of creative expression. This month Pitters has put together a program commemorating Black History Month. Pitters is joined by poets Gaye Hallman and Stephanie Nobles-Beans, as well as visual artist Olivia Evans, jazz singer Inez Rahman, and author Teresa Brooks for a special edition of Poetry Rising that’s sure to fill the audience with hope, joy and a sense of belonging.

— MADISON PEARSON

Poetry Rising: Black History Month • Mon, Feb. 10 at 6 pm • Free • South Hill Library • 3324 S. Perry St. • spokanelibrary. org

DANCE LIKE NO ONE’S WATCHING

What does it mean to be human? It’s a hard question. It’s even harder to answer only through a filmed dance. The 5th Annual Celebrate EveryBODY Screendance Festival tries to dive deep into the essence of humanity through eight to 10 short dance films from around the world and the Gonzaga community. While live performances are restricted to a stage, these films have the creative freedom to transport the audience wherever they choose. One film touches on the Gonzaga dance department’s longstanding partnership with Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation. Though the event is free, donations are appreciated and will directly benefit Dance for Parkinson’s, hosting regular classes for those with the condition. The screening is 45 minutes, with a paneled discussion afterward.

— DORA SCOTT

Celebrate EveryBODY Screendance Festival • Wed, Feb. 12 from 6-7:30 pm • Free, donations accepted • Jundt Art Museum • 200 E. Desmet Ave. • gonzaga.edu

MUSIC COLLEAGUE COLLAB

Sometimes, the most beautiful things are the result of friendship. Take for example The Garment of Praise, a new opera composed by Gonzaga University Jesuit priest Father Kevin Waters. After plenty of visits to Waters’ office and moments spent bonding over their shared love of arts and music, Gonzaga leadership studies Professor Shann Ray Ferch wrote the libretto (text to the opera) to his friend Waters’ composition. The pair now have recruited a talented group of singers and dancers to perform the opera after working on it for seven years. The opera’s premiere takes place this Friday, and tells a story following John the Baptist’s parents as they navigate the difficulties of being unable to conceive. Waters, 91, is a world-renowned composer, and Ferch a prolific writer with many accolades, including an American Book Award.

— MADISON PEARSON

The Garment of Praise • Fri, Feb. 7 at 7 pm • $10-$35 • Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center • 211 E. Desmet Ave. • gonzaga.edu

BENEFIT FOR FRODO!

How much do you love The Lord of the Rings? Test your knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s intricately detailed fantasy epic at this themed trivia competition that doubles as a fundraiser for Eastern Washington University’s Get Lit! Festival. Teams of two to four players go head-to-head during the two-hour event hosted at Iron Goat Brewing Co., which offers chances to win prizes from free books to food. (Trivia is also planned to wrap up before the Super Bowl.) In the meantime, brush up on your LOTR facts, such as the name of Gandalf’s sword, where the pivotal Breaking of the Fellowship happened, and all that. Questions will be based on the books, not the films, so don’t overlook those movie-omitted chapters and scenes, especially the fan-fave Tom Bombadil.

— CHEY SCOTT

Lord of the Rings Trivia • Sun, Feb. 9 from 12-2 pm • $10/person • Iron Goat Brewing Co. • 1302 W. Second Ave. • events.humanitix.com/host/get-litprograms

THEATER SHOWCASING SUFFRAGE

For more than half of this country’s existence, women were denied the right to vote. In 1920 Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving women the vote, although widespread suppression tactics forced many Black American women to wait another 45 years, until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In commemoration of the 19th Amendment’s 105th anniversary this year, Gonzaga University Theatre is hosting “I Wish Ma Could Vote: An Evening of Women’s Suffrage Plays.” The staged reading features a student cast presenting a collection of plays from suffragettes, as well as those who were opposed to the movement. Directed by Theatre Department Chair Leslie Stamoolis, the production includes works from Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Marie Jenney Howe and Cicely Hamilton. The show is meant to illustrate that the fight for women’s voting rights often happened in places like parlors and theaters, where people gathered to share stories and connect with one another.

— COLTON RASANEN

I Wish Ma Could Vote: An Evening of Women’s Suffrage Plays • Thu, Feb. 6 and Fri, Feb. 7 at 7:30 pm • $12 • Gonzaga University Magnuson Theatre • 502 E. Boone Ave. • gonzaga.edu/theatreanddance

I SAW YOU

GARLAND THEATER It may be because of my Zendaya height that it took me 12 years to see the Tom Holland in you. But I saw you and I see you now. My short king. You’re fire arms of muscle. You’re jocose vibe. I hope you never stop reaching for this tall queen. Will you meet me again for pinball at the Garland Theater?

CHEERS

HUGE THANKS TO MAVERIK CUSTOMERS

I want to thank the AWESOME customers who helped out with a medical issue with one of my coworkers. The wonderful lady who found my coworker in the restroom THANK YOU!!!! You came and told me and climbed on the floor to get the stall unlocked to get her help. Bless you. To the regular who is an off duty fireman THANK YOU. You all helped out and got her the care she needed.

YOKES AIRWAY HEIGHTS Cheers to the guys that make the sushi...they are artists

OUR KHQ FAVORITES In our building south of the river, a 15-floor building that is also caddy corner from KHQ, are 150 senior apartments. Those of us who watch TV in the community room have our favorites & not so favorite local news anchors & weather reporters. However there are two KHQ reporters that we all agree on: Cory Howard & Leslie Lowe. Leslie, the smartest weather reporter with the most

sophisticated attire & Cory who delivers the news with enough information so that we understand the story. Cory’s quips, his clever remarks always cause us to laugh. Thanks to both for their cheerfulness.

BYE BYE BADDIES I am happy that some people that have caused chaos in the community are going to be taken away from here. Fear not those that are here to escape a terrible life, I support you and will help. The ones that have ruined my daughter’s life and given all around her so much stress and grief, I am happy to see you run away. I know who you are now. Please community help drive out the ones causing all this heartache.

BIGGEST RIZZLER Shout out to the biggest Rizzler I know! You’re one of my bestest friends and I’m blessed to have you and your beautiful family in my life! You exude sunshine everywhere you go!!! Love, your Cornwoman

JEERS

“PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS” ... just a saying & not something you should literally do. Yet I see customers literally holding their cash payments in their mouth while digging through wallets, purses, pockets, etc. Gross! Now I have to touch it to put it in the register. Also why on Earth is your money damp in the middle of winter?

LUNATICS @ 29TH AND FREYA Sunday morning, 8:50 am. I’m heading east on 29th, about to cross the intersection when two cars southbound on Freya blew past the stop sign at over 50 miles an hour.

Had I paid less attention my wife, who is pregnant with our first child and sitting passenger side, could have been severely injured or killed. Shame on the drivers with zero regard for the lives around them.

MARY DYE, JENNY GRAHAM, MIKE VOLZ AND HOUSE BILL 1584 I’m

SOUND OFF 1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou

writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with your recently proposed bill to eliminate voting by mail as the norm in Washington. Quite frankly, this idea is not only impractical but also a huge step backward for our democracy. Calling it “dumb” might sound blunt, but I struggle to find any other word that accurately describes such a pointless

E-bikes reduce traffic, lower pollution, and decrease wear on roads — saving money on health care and infrastructure in the future. These rebates aren’t handouts, they help lower-income residents access affordable, eco-friendly transportation. It’s not wasteful spending — it’s an investment in cleaner, more equitable mobility. As for battery safety, e-bikes are

hospitality setting, over familiarity is totally unprofessional, annoying and quite uncomfortable. Suddenly casual terms of endearment are the norm, all while the price of casual dining out has increased exponentially. If you want me to pay $22.00 (plus 20% tip) for a sandwich, am I not entitled to some professional decorum. If I wanted to be called “Honey,”

initiative. Mail-in voting has proven time and again to be safe, secure, and highly convenient for voters — especially in a state like ours, which has successfully relied on this system for years. Rather than throwing away a reliable process and undermining the confidence people have in our elections, you should be focusing on real work that benefits your constituents: addressing pressing issues like education, health care, infrastructure, and economic growth. Moreover, it’s frustrating to see continued efforts to cast doubt on legitimate election results. Denying or casting suspicion on well-verified outcomes does a disservice to our state’s reputation, sows unnecessary distrust among the public, and wastes precious time and resources that could be spent tackling real problems. Please, for the sake of Washington’s citizens, reconsider this bill. Listen to your constituents, respect our proven election system, and direct your attention to substantive policies that truly help people. It’s time to stop the

no more dangerous than other lithiumpowered devices when used responsibly. Calling them “ticking time bombs” is just fearmongering. Your criticism of the “Democrat majority” also ignores the real value of supporting healthier, sustainable transportation. Cutting programs just because they cost money now ignores the long-term benefits. E-bike rebates won’t solve every budget issue, but they’re a step toward economic, environmental, and public health gains. That’s not lunacy — it’s smart policy.

REDUCED EGG PRICES ...not now, the disrupter is busy creating chaos and mayhem...in other words, he’s disrupting what he wants, not attending to your needs...psyche!!

RE: HALL MONITOR So, let me get this straight. You don’t think people from Spokane should have to pay the tabs for licenses on cars because the cost is too high? I would implore you to take a look at the cost of tabs in states that do enforce the law. The tabs in Washington state are quite cheap by comparison. Then again, if you haven’t ever been anywhere but Spokane, you wouldn’t know. Your “karen” statements are really inane. Oh I forgot. Inane means lacking significance or a point. I shouldn’t use such big words so you can understand. Like “karen.” How incredibly dumb.

nonsense and get back to doing the jobs you were elected to do.

RE: STATE FISCAL LUNACY Criticizing Washington’s budget and e-bike rebates misses the bigger picture. Yes, the state has a deficit, but cutting programs with long-term benefits is shortsighted.

I would have headed to my mom’s house for lunch. Not to mention the gross double standard that surely exists. I would be severely chastised (understandably so) if I beckoned my server over by calling her, “Sweetie.” Please don’t pretend we are friends. I’m not your “Love,” you don’t even know me. Our relationship is purely transactional and either party ignoring this fact is a failure in the preconceived arrangement we entered into when I sat down. While Ma’am or Sir may be considered old-fashioned, I’m not sure intimate nicknames are an appropriate substitute.

NAME SHAMING What’s the point of the derogatory, schoolyard juvenile bullying name calling? Does it make you feel superior and above reproach? Narcissism, racism, misogyny, fascism and bullying are encouraged if not called out. Would you like YOUR name to be a descriptive negative adjective also? (Still better a Dick than a Karen?) Karen is now a name in decline for newborn girls. (Who Kares?) We are far better as people when we come together with compassion for one another. n

STRANGER TERMS OF ENDEARMENT “Hey there, Honey,” “What can I get you, Love?” “Would you like a box, Sweetie,” “More Coffee, Doll?” Seriously! What is up with all the pet names offered to guests, by servers in this town? While friendliness is clearly of value in a restaurant and

NOTE: I Saw You/Cheers & Jeers is for adults 18 or older. The Inlander reserves the right to edit or reject any posting at any time at its sole discretion and assumes no responsibility for the content.

BENEFIT

THE BASH 2025 Emerge CDA’s annual fundraiser featuring a multicourse dinner, auction, raffles and a disco dance party. Feb. 7, 5:30 pm. $125. Vantage Point Brewing Co., 208 E. Lake Coeur d’Alene Dr. emergecda.com

LORD OF THE RINGS TRIVIA FUND -

RAISER A Lord of the Rings-themed trivia competition fundraiser for the 2025 Get Lit! Festival. Gather teams of up to four players and answer question based on the Lord of the Rings books. Winners will earn prizes ranging from books to free appetizers. Feb. 9, 12-2 pm. $10. Iron Goat Brewing Co., 1302 W. Second Ave. inside.ewu.edu/getlit (509-474-0722)

HEARTS FOR HOMES SWEETHEARTS

BALL A ball featuring a surf-n-turf dinner, live and silent auctions, a cocktail hour, raffles and live music serving as a fundraiser for Habitat of Humanity of North Idaho. Feb. 14, 5-11 pm. $80. Best Western Coeur d’Alene, 506 W. Appleway Ave. northidahohabitat.org

COMEDY

FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY JOKE JOKE

JOKE A unique comedy experience that takes full advantage of the Garland Theater’s projector system, combining standup comedy, live sketches, and other mixed-media comedic bits. This month’s show features Jordan Cerminara. Feb. 6, 7:30-9 pm. $15. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org

ART MEETS COMEDY An art show by Audreanna Camm coupled with comedians

Beth Brese, Blade Frank, Josh Teaford, Harry J. Riley and Jenni Watson unleashing wit and humor on the artwork, Feb. 7, 6-9 pm. By donation. Shotgun Studios, 1625 W. Water Ave. ShotgunStudiosSpokane.com (509-688-3757)

JOSH FIRESTINE The Tacoma native draws from his experiences as a husband, father and veteran for a silly, light hearted take on everyday life. Feb. 7-8, 7 & 9:45 pm. $22-$30. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

LAUGHING GNOME COMEDY Local and regional talent, including Andrew Frank and J Berg. Ages 18+, drinks with ID. Feb. 8, 7-9 pm. $15. Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. magiclanternonmain.com

KELSEY COOK Spokane native Kelsey Cook turns her most embarrassing moments into relatable conversation. She’s appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, After Midnight and has her own comedy special. Feb. 13-15, 7 pm, Feb. 14-15 also at 9:45 pm. $28-$35. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

COMMUNITY

BREAST REDUCTION FORUM An informational forum on breast reduction surgery. Inludes time for questions and answers. Feb. 6, 5:30-7 pm. Free. Plastic Surgery Northwest, 530 S. Cowley St. plasticsurgerynorthwest.com

THE EVOLUTION OF THE JAPANESE SWORD This exhibition showcases Japanese swords as more than a mere weapon of war. The iconic samurai sword

of Japan and its accompanying fittings were elevated to works of high art that were, and still are, treasured and collected for their beauty and craftsmanship. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through May 4. $9-$15. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

GALENTINE’S NIGHT OUT A pop-up featuring local vendors from around the Coeur d’Alene area selling clothing, jewelry, flowers, candles, art and more. Feb. 6, 4-6 pm. Free admission. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com

SAMURAI, SUNRISE, SUNSET Step into the world of a samurai and experience armor, weaponry and personal items from the powerful military class that ruled Japan for nearly 700 years. TueSun from 10 am-5 pm through June 1. $9$15. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

TRAVIS HOLP Psychic Medium Travis Holp presents an evening of hope, healing, and joy. Feb. 6, 7 pm. $37-$47. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

BUSINESS BREW Business owners and entrepreneurs can ask questions and get answers and feedback from a business expert. Feb. 7, 7:30-9 am. Free. The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. spokanelibrary.org

UPCYCLE FASHION LAB Turn thrifted clothes into unique new fashions. Expert sewists from Spokane Zero Waste’s Mend-It Cafe offer assistance, attendees are encouraged to bring garments. Registration encouraged. Feb. 7, 3:30-5 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

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EVENTS | CALENDAR

CHEWELAH WINTERFEST A daylong community event featuring an art show, live music, the annual rail jam and a beer garden plus more activities around town. Feb. 8. Free. Chewelah, Wash. chewelah.org/winterfest

FAMILY DAY AT THE MAC Experience the newly opened “Samurai: Sunrise, Sunset” and “Evolution of the Japanese Sword” exhibitions, then visit the Art Studio for a Gyotaku Fish Print Workshop and Create Space for storytime and crafts. Feb. 8, 11 am-3 pm. $9-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.or

GALENTINES DAY ON PERRY STREET

alized trucker hat crafting. Includes instruction, hat, supplies and one glass of wine. Feb. 13, 5:40-7:30 pm. $40. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine. com (208-265-8545)

WINTER CARNIVAL BLOCK PARTY A community event following the parade featuring dance performances, music, s’mores, hot cocoa, food and more. Feb. 14, 6-8 pm. Free. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com

FILM

nique and skills. Feb. 6, 6-8:30 pm. $85. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commellini.com

VALENTINE’S VINTAGE CAKE DECORATING CLASS Join Christina from Baking Me Crazy for a romantic, Valentine’s Day-themed vintage cake decorating class. Feb. 6, 5:45-7:45 pm. $90. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com

This community event highlights women-owned businesses and creators, featuring talented local artists and makers at four locations along Perry Street. Explore exclusive specials, discounts and promotions while supporting and connecting with female entrepreneurs. Feb. 8, 10 am-noon. Free. South Perry Business District. titlenine.com

SPOKANE LUNAR NEW YEAR CEL-

EBRATION A celebration featuring performances of traditional Chinese folk dances, choirs martial arts, dragon dances, a cultural fair and more. Feb. 8 1-4 pm. $15-$26. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

GEEKY LOVE QUEST: A NERDY SPEED

DATING ADVENTURE A speed dating event tailored to people with nerdy dispositions. Engage in conversations with fellow nerds for 5 minutes and then switch. Feb. 8, 3 pm. $15. Natural 20 Brewing Company, 1303 N. Washington St. natural20brewing.com

GIRLCONNW This annual event aims to inspire the next generation of women leaders. Through breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and professional development, girls learn about various careers and make connections to help them cultivate their futures. Feb. 8, 12-5 pm. Free. The Community School, 1025 W. Spofford Ave. girlconnw.com

$25 SPAY & NEUTER DAYS The Spokane Humane Society is offering $25 spay/neuter appointments for canines and felines. On Feb. 13, there are 20 appointments available for cats. Feb. 3, 5, 10, 19, 24 and 26 each have four appointments for dogs. Make an appointment online. $25. Spokane Humane Society, 6607 N. Havana St. spokanehumanesociety.org

SOCIAL CHESS NIGHT Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious beginner, this weekly event offers something for everyone. Play casual games, learn new tactics and connect with fellow chess lovers. Mondays at 5:30 pm through March 24. Free. Lumberbeard Brewing, 25 E. Third. blitzandblunders. org (210-580-4929)

SWIFTIES CELEBRATION: FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS Drop in anytime during this Taylor Swift party to create and exchange friendship bracelets, test your Taylor Swift trivia knowledge and enjoy other fun crafts and activities. Ages 1014. Feb. 11, 3:30-5 pm. Free. Moran Prairie Library, 6004 S. Regal St. scld.org

BITCH ‘N’ STITCH Grab your crochet, knitting, embroidery, weaving, cross stitch, felting, looming, macrame, and more and craft casually with others. Every second and last Thursday at 6:30 pm. Free. Lunarium, 1925 N. Monroe St. facebook.com/Lunarium.Spokane

GALENTINE’S TRUCKER HAT PARTY

An evening of wine, food and person-

MOSCOW FILM SOCIETY: THE LIGHTHOUSE Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. Feb. 6, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN An unknown 19-year-old named Bob Dylan arrives in New York with revolutionary talent. He forms relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his rise, culminating in a performance that reverberates worldwide. Feb. 7, 2 pm, Feb. 8, 3:30 pm and Feb. 9, 7 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main. kenworthy.org

FROM GROUND ZERO A powerful collection of short films by 22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war in Gaza. Feb. 8, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

PRINCESS BRIDE INTERACTIVE

MOVIE NIGHT This interactive screening is a fundraiser for Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition. Costumes encouraged. Feb. 8, 4:30-8 pm. $15. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. endtheviolencespokane.org

CINEMA CLASSICS: THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG A beautiful young Frenchwoman who works at a smalltown boutique selling umbrellas falls for dashing mechanic Guy. Their brief romance is interrupted when Guy is drafted to serve in the Algerian War. Feb. 9, 4-6 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

CELEBRATE EVERYBODY SCREENDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Films about dance from students and faculty from Gonzaga as well as from around the country. Proceeds benefit Dance for Parkinson’s. Feb. 12, 6 pm. $8-$10. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/dance

SCIENCE ON SCREEN: STAND BY ME A writer recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy. Feb. 12, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy. org (208-882-4127)

VALENTINE’S BABYSITTING MOVIE NIGHT Children ages two and over are invited to a movie night with themedcrafts and popcorn. Feb. 14, 5-9 pm. $30-$40. Nest Community School, 4418 E. Eighth Ave. spokanenest.com

OSCAR SHORTS A two-day screening of Oscar-nominated short films in three categories: live action, animation and documentary. Feb. 15, 1 pm and Feb. 16, 4 & 7 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

FOOD & DRINK

PUBLIC COOKING CLASS Learn how to cook with Commellini’s chef Frank in this hands-on class focused on tech-

THE CHOCOLATE AFFAIR Wander through downtown businesses and sample an assortment of locally handcrafted sweet treats as they become pop-up chocolate shops. Feb. 8, 2-6 pm. Downtown Coeur d’Alene, Sherman Ave. cdadowntown.com

KIDS PIZZA CLASS In this hands-on cooking class, kids learn how to prepare three different kinds of pizza: ham and pineapple, pepperoni and a dessert pizza. Feb. 8, 2-4 pm. $50. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main. culinarystone.com

FLAUTAS COOKING CLASS Learn the techniques for roasting meat, rolling and filling, frying and slicing/dicing, and discover the unique twist that Vira’s family has put on this classic recipe. Feb. 11, 12-2:30 pm. $85. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)

BEVERLY’S SWEETHEARTS COUPLES DINNERS A romantic evening featuring a four-course meal with optional wine pairings and breathtaking views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Feb. 13-15, 5-9:30 pm. $75. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. beverlyscda.com

VALENTINE’S LUNCH DATE FOR TWO Learn how to create a delicious and visually stunning five-course dinner with your partner and take home your own personal pan of lasagna. Feb. 14, 122:30 pm. $190. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com

VALENTINE’S WINEMAKERS DINNER Immerse yourself in a night of Italian cuisine paired with local wines from Latah Creek. Feb. 14, 7 pm and Feb. 15, 6 pm. $105. Commellini Estate, 14715 N. Dartford Dr. commellini.com

MUSIC

BROADWAY’S BEST: A SINGER SERIES CONCERT Experience an evening of Broadway performances from classic showtunes to contemporary favorites. Feb. 7, 7-9 pm. $20. Chewelah Center for the Arts, 405 N. Third St. chewelahcenterforthearts.com (509-936-9333)

THE SOUND A pop-up event featuring ambient sound, noise, and music, with performances by Saxtooter (Meg Vermilion), Tim Greenup and more. Feb. 7, 3-6 pm. Free. Patera Temperance Lounge, 1507 E. Sprague Ave. instagram.com/foray4thearts

THE GARMENT OF PRAISE OPERA WORLD PREMIERE Experience the world premiere of an opera by internationally renowned composer Kevin Waters featuring a full professional symphony orchestra, dance troupe, professional chorale and singers. Feb. 7, 7-8:30 pm. $10-$35. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu (509-313-4776)

SPOKANE STRING QUARTET Selections by Shostakovich, Beethoven and Glazunov with special guest cellist Michael Palzewicz. Feb. 9, 3 pm. $20-$25. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

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MAKE YOUR OWN

ENTERTAINING

Big Game Bites

Adding cannabis to your spread this Sunday is a super idea, and easier than it seems

BY WILL MAUPIN

Sunday is a big day not only because of the Big Game that will crown an NFL champion, but a big day for the spread of food and drinks that will accompany watch parties around the nation.

That’s not to say you can’t invite cannabis to the party. In fact, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce estimated in 2023 that somewhere between 50% and 80% of NFL players consume cannabis, as he told Vanity Fair

Here are three tips for those looking to include cannabis edibles in their Sunday spread.

FIND THE DEALS

Almost every dispensary in the region offers regular deals on edibles. There’s “Snack Sunday” at Greenhand or “Munchie Monday” at TreeHouse Club, though the

Consider edibles as you plan Super Bowl snacks.

latter will come too late for the game. Just about every day of the week there is an opportunity to find anywhere from 15% to 30% off on edibles.

A few examples before Sunday’s game include Cinder’s Tailgate Days special this Thursday and Sunday with 20% off edibles and The Green Nugget’s impressive 30% off everything every Saturday.

For those who are adventurous in the kitchen, the option to run wild with an infused recipe is always on the table.

The Inlander’s Green Zone archive features numerous recipes from over the years, from spicy jalapeño poppers to sweet and savory bacon and banana muffins, and of course traditional favorites like gummies and cookies.

The archives also include recipes for staple ingredients like cannabutter, infused oils, infused cream and even tincture for those home chefs who want to go their own way with what they’re making this weekend.

KNOW YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTY

If you’ve been on social media in the years since legalization, you’ve no doubt seen a version of the “when the edible hits” meme.

Edibles take longer to come on than inhaled cannabis, last longer and often hit harder. If you’re making something from scratch, it’s important to have a good idea roughly how much THC is in each serving — store bought products cannot contain more than 10 milligrams per serving, for comparison.

It’s also important to know who will be at your party. Kids or cannabis-averse adults could easily mix up the infused jalapeño poppers with the regular ones at the other end of the table. For a smooth Sunday, make sure to keep your infused items out of reach of anyone who shouldn’t get their hands on them. n

LESLIE DOUGLAS ILLUSTRATION/ADOBE STOCK

GREEN ZONE

BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.

EVENTS | CALENDAR

GONZAGA WIND ENSEMBLE: THEMES AND MOTIFS Music by Gustav Holst, Ryan George, David Maslanka andArturo Márquez with guest soloist Dr. Kevin Hekmatpanah. Feb. 13, 7:30-9 pm. $10$15. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu A WHIMSICAL WANDERING AROUND THE WORLD WITH A CONGENIAL CLARINET FOR A COMPANION A faculty recital featuring clarinetist Tom Shook, pianist Joy Zickau, and cellist Roberta Bottelli performing music from around the world. Feb. 15, 3-4:30 pm. Free. Whitworth University, 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. whitworth.edu/music

Theatre, 502 E. Boone Ave. stagelefttheatre.org (509-313-6553)

VISUAL ARTS

LOCAL COLOR A group exhibition featuring local artists Wes Hanson, Megan Perkins, L.R. Montgomery and Teresa Rancourt. Wed-Sun from 11 am-6 pm through Feb. 23. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. theartspiritgallery.com (208-765-6006)

PAPER AS WATER: CONTEMPORARY

business and art exhibition featuring the works of married artist duo, Sonny and Lisa Moeckel. Feb. 8, 12-5 pm. Free. Moeckel Studio, 154 S. Madison St. moeckelstudio.com (509-217-6831)

WORDS

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

INDIGENOUS PRINTS An installation of works by Indigenous artists of Washington state from the collection of Helen Carlson and Paul Nicholson. MonFri from 10 am-4:30 pm through March 21. Free. Whitworth University, 300 W. Hawthorne Rd. whitworth.edu

HOW TO TALK (OR NOT) TO ALIENS: SOCIALIST VS. CAPITALIST SCIENCE IN KOREAN SCIENCE FICTION Dafna Zur, Associate Professor of Korean Literature at Stanford University, speaks on her new research on the approaches to science and technology seen in North and South Korean sci-fi. Feb. 6, 4:30-5:45 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building, 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/hias

LADIES’ DAY CLINIC A ladies-only clinic led by mountain instructors. The daylong event also features a morning stretch, coffee, lunch and a social hour. Ages 18+. Feb. 7, 8:30 am-3 pm. $149. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. mtspokane.com (509-238-2220)

KRISTIN ROBBINS: PAINTED FRAMES

Kristin Robbins is an artist, musician and part-time custodian for Spokane Public Schools. Her work portrays characters caught in everyday activities. Feb. 7-28, daily from 11 am-6 pm. Feb. 7, 5-9 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. instagram.com/entropygalleryspokane

ALPHABITS STORYTIME Share picture books, songs and get your child ready for school. Every Thursday at 10:15 am. Free. Moscow Public Library, 110 S. Jefferson St. latalibrary.org

LINES OF SIGHT An immersive virtual reality experience featuring a heliskiing adventure. Ages 13+. Feb. 7-9, all day. Free. Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Road. schweitzer.com

2025 REGIONAL FACULTY INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION A group exhibition featuring faculty art from: Gonzaga, EWU, Whitworth, Spokane Falls Community College and North Idaho College. Feb. 7-March 8; Fri from 4-7 pm, Sat from 10 am-3 pm. Free. Gonzaga University Urban Arts Center, 125 S. Stevens St. gonzaga.edu

MASTER GARDENER WORKSHOP: BULBS An overview of bulbs, seasons and planting times and more, presented by Spokane County Master Gardeners. Feb. 8, 10-11:30 am. Free. Liberty Lake Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave. scld. org (509-232-2510)

CHRIS KELSEY: ALTERED CONNECTIONS Ceramic artist Chris Kelsey showcases themes of change in the form of geometric shapes and geologic forces. Feb. 7-28, Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net

DROP IN & WRITE Aspiring writers are invited to be a part of a supportive writers’ community. Bring works in progress to share, get inspired with creative prompts and spend some focused time writing. Hosted by local writers Jenny Davis and Hannah Engel. Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org WRITE TOGETHER: A COMMUNITY WRITING SESSION Bring your current writing project and your favorite writing tools and prepare to hunker down and write with local novelist Sharma Shields. Feb. 7, 10 am-noon. Free. Hillyard Library, 4110 N. Cook St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

SPOKANE CHIEFS VS. VICTORIA ROYALS Regular season game. Promo: Coca-Cola Berkly Catton Bobblehead Giveaway Night. Feb. 8, 6:05 pm. $12$40. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanechiefs.com

THEATER & DANCE

I WISH MA COULD VOTE In celebration of the 105th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, this is an evening of plays by activists, suffragettes, and critics of the movement both in the U.S. and abroad. Feb. 6-7 at 7:30 pm. $12. Gonzaga University Magnuson Theatre, 502 E. Boone Ave. gonzaga. edu/theatreanddance (509-313-3606)

LEND ME A SOPRANO Lucille Wiley, Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is ready to welcome worldclass soprano Elena Firenzi for her onenight-only starring role in Carmen. ThuSat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Feb. 8 performance at 2 pm) through Feb. 16. $15-$39. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com

AMÉLIE Amélie finds a child’s box of treasures in the floor of her apartment, and sets out to return it. After her success, and the joy it brings to Bretodeau, the owner, Amélie resolves to anonymously do good for those around her. Feb. 7-17; times vary. $22-$28. Aspire Community Theatre, 1765 W. Golf Course Road. aspirecda.com

KALEIDOSCOPE Hosted by Stage Left Theatre, this biennial event features theater organizations from all over Washington state performing productions and competing for prizes. Feb. 1315, 3:30 pm, and Feb. 15 also at 7:35 pm. $15-$45. Gonzaga University Magnuson

FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host monthly receptions to showcase new art. Fri, Feb. 7 from 5-8 pm. Free. firstfridayspokane.org

ED & KAREN ROBINSON: PLACES, FACES, & SPACES An exhibition featuring the works of local artists Ed and Karen Robinson. Themes range from serene landscapes to viid portraits. Feb. 7-28; Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm, Sat from 10 am-4 pm. Free. Pend Oreille Arts Council Gallery, 313 N. Second Ave. artinsandpoint.org (208-263-6139)

JUDY KLIER AND MARCIA MCDONALD: WE ARE FAMILY Sisters Judy Klier and Marcia McDonald showcase diverse paintings of animals, human beings and abstract shapes. Feb. 7-28, WedSat from 11 am-5pm. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. newmoonartgallery.com (509-413-9101)

OUR TIME, OUR VOICE This show features artwork from Spokane Public Schools’ five high schools (Ferris, Lewis & Clark, North Central, Rogers and Shadle Park) exploring themes of culture, the environment and social issues. Feb. 7-March 1, by appointment. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. mobile.kolva.comcastbiz.net

KAREN KAISER: THEN AND NOW This show features oil paintings reflecting on the artist’s childhood memories. Feb. 7-28, Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through Feb. 28. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500)

MOECKEL STUDIO GRAND OPENING Celebrate the grand opening of Moeckel Studio, an Indigenous-owned

3 MINUTE MIC Auntie’s long-running First Friday poetry open mic. Readers may share up to three minutes worth of poetry. Feb. 7, 7-8:30 pm. Free. Auntie’s, 402 W. Main. auntiesbooks.com

JOSEPH EDWIN HAEGER: STRINGS BOOK RELEASE AND READING Listen to Haeger read from his new novel along with other local authors Mark Anderson and Charlie Byers. Feb. 7, 4-7 pm. Free. Jupiter’s Eye Book Cafe, 411 W. First. jupiterseyebookcafe.com

ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS SERIES: JORDAN & EGYPT Cecilia McGowan shares her adventures from Egypt and Jordan. This series is designed for adventurous travelers who want to share their journeys and relive experiences allowing participants to explore destinations from the comfort of a chair. Feb. 8, 1-2 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org

POETRY RISING: BLACK HISTORY MONTH Celebrate Black History Month with poets Stephen Pitters, Gaye Hallman, Stephanie Noble-Beans, jazz singer Inez Rahman and author Teresa Brooks. Feb. 10, 6-7 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5300)

TEEN WRITE CLUB Teens are invited to get feedback on their work and explore all things prose and poetry. Tuesdays from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD

HARMONY WRITERS GROUP A writing group focused on memoir and craft. Every other Thursday from 5:15-7 pm. Free. Liberty Park Library, 402 S. Pittsburgh St. spokanelibrary.org n

1. “Severance” rating 2. “Muy ___” 3. Teensy

4. Telugu-language 2022 movie that was big in the U.S.

5. Thingamabobs

Wheelless vehicle

Salsa holder

Surprised cry 49. Not as frequent

50. “Let’s Make ___” 53. ___ Lankan

Cliched

Badminton divider 64. Clear, as a whiteboard 65. Striped equine

Pretentious manner

Progressive Field team, on scoreboards

“Agatha All Along” star Hahn

Book opener?

“___ diem”

Lingers

Without help