Inlander 03/17/2022 by The Inlander

SCARY STATS FENTANYL’S RISE TAKES A NEW TWIST PAGE 12

UKRAINIAN VOICES LOST HORSE PRESS’ NEW POETRY SERIES PAGE 30

SONGS WITH CLAWS

SPOKANE BAND ITCHY KITTY HITS THE ROAD PAGE 36

MARCH 17-23, 2022

EXCLUSIVE POSTER INSIDE!

MADNESS! Gonzaga’s quest for an elusive national championship begins anew

PAGE 14

INSIDE

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VOL. 29, NO. 23 | COVER DESIGN: DEREK HARRISON

COMMENT NEWS COVER STORY CULTURE

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FOOD SCREEN MUSIC EVENTS

31 34 36 38

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EDITOR’S NOTE

he Super Bowl is probably the athletic spectacle most likely to draw non-sports fans into its celebration, thanks to the halftime show and afternoon parties. MARCH MADNESS, though, might be a close second, as college basketball fans and their coworkers, friends and family members fill out brackets and track the action for three full weeks. In the Inland Northwest, we’re of course spoiled by the presence of the No. 1-ranked Gonzaga men’s basketball team, and this year we can also root for the women’s teams from both Gonzaga and Washington State University. In our cover section (page 14), you’ll get a big blast of basketball to help you get in the mood before both the men’s and women’s tournaments tip off this week. Also in this issue, music editor Seth Sommerfeld tells you how local band Itchy Kitty landed on a national tour with indie-rock heroes Built to Spill (page 36). News reporter Samantha Wohlfeil delves into some disturbing statistics about fentanyl usage in Washington state (page 12), and staff writer Carrie Scozzaro introduces readers to folks tapping into the sweet syrup lurking in the region’s maple trees (page 31). — DAN NAILEN, editor

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INLANDER

SPOKANE • EASTERN WASHINGTON • NORTH IDAHO • INLANDER.COM

1227 WEST SUMMIT PARKWAY, SPOKANE, WA 99201 PHONE: 509-325-0634 | EMAIL: INFO@INLANDER.COM THE INLANDER is a locally owned, independent newspaper founded on Oct. 20, 1993. It’s printed on newsprint that is at least 50 percent recycled; please recycle THE INLANDER after you’re done with it. One copy free per person per week; extra copies are $1 each (call x226). For ADVERTISING information, email advertising@inlander.com. To have a SUBSCRIPTION mailed to you, call x210 ($50 per year). To find one of our more than 1,000 NEWSRACKS where you can pick up a paper free every Thursday, call x226 or email frankd@inlander.com. THE INLANDER is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. All contents of this newspaper are protected by United States copyright law. © 2022, Inland Publications, Inc.

CANCER HASN’T STOPPED AND NEITHER WILL WE. Community Cancer Fund works collaboratively with existing regional cancer organizations to identify and fund gaps in services provided to cancer patients. We are committed to investing donated funds in local programs that benefit cancer patients, their families, and the Inland Northwest organizations that serve them. Join our fight against cancer across the Inland Northwest at: CommunityCancerFund.org

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COMMENT STAFF DIRECTORY PHONE: 509-325-0634 Ted S. McGregor Jr. (tedm@inlander.com) PUBLISHER

Jer McGregor (x224) GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL Dan Nailen (x239) EDITOR

Chey Scott (x225) ASSOCIATE EDITOR

IF YOU COULD CREATE A NEW PARADE FOR SPOKANE, WHAT WOULD THE THEME BE? ABIGAIL STAPLES

If I could create my own parade, it would be about giving back and helping others no matter what you look like, who you are, what you represent. If you’re willing to help, that’s all that matters.

Derek Harrison (x248) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Samantha Wohlfeil (x234) BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Daniel Walters (x263) SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Seth Sommerfeld (x250) MUSIC EDITOR

Carrie Scozzaro (x232) STAFF WRITER

KERI WHITTEKIEND

Like a Pride, cultural, everything parade. All the pride parade. Every kind of pride parade.

Chris Frisella COPY CHIEF

Young Kwak, Erick Doxey PHOTOGRAPHERS

Madison Pearson EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Alyssa Hughes, Jami Nelson INTERNS

Amy Alkon, Josh Bell, Mike Bookey, E.J. Iannelli, Inga Laurent, Will Maupin, Scott Renshaw CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING Kristi Gotzian (x215) ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carolyn Padgham (x214) SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Adrianne Haunert (x216), Jeanne Inman (x235), Tracy Menasco (x260), Autumn Adrian Potts (x251), Claire Price (x217), Wanda Tashoff (x222)

AMENADIEL FERGUSON

Honestly, a heritage one. So, all of the different heritages, because I know that Spokane is such a diverse area. We need more representation on that diversity. Who would lead the parade? Our most influential people of color in our community.

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Honing Happiness Too often our feelings of FOMO and wanting lead us astray; true contentment can be simple, but it takes lots of work BY INGA LAURENT

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ast month I wrote about the winter of my discontent, so to keep balance in the force I figured I’d best consider the antonym — a spring of contentment. Though I’ve yet to arrive at this particular destination, I consider this a process — more aspiration than actual. Nearly every happiness scientist (yep, that’s a real position) I respect begins a conceptual investigation by breaking the term down into what it is and what it is not. Dr. Brené Brown, the patron saint of “daring greatly” among many fans, tells us to properly reference the emotion as a state, not a trait, and then categorizes the feeling. We are not discussing the euphoric, the elated or the ecstatic — so frequently fleeting and focused on only temporary pleasure. Our aim is far loftier. We are in search of the sturdier, the sustainable, dare I even say superior resting state of well-being, aka “content,” which can be defined as the feeling of completeness, appreciation and “enoughness” that we experience when our needs are satisfied.

While it is true that humans typically have happiness set points from heredity factors, circumstances also play their part. We can influence our stasis to some degree. The data also tells us that we err. What we believe will make us merry usually doesn’t last. (For extra dramatic impact, imagine The Price is Right losing horn here.) We have happiness misconceptions. Yale psychology professor and cognitive scientist Laurie Santos summarizes it this way: “So many of our intuitions about happiness are just wrong.” Social psychologists Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson echo this theory, giving us a handy label — “miswanting.” (See also: “Some Problems in the Forecasting of Future Affective States.”) And this problem is exacerbated because

GOLD STARS AND DEMERITS In the spirit of maintaining the ordinary habits, I listen to the “Happier” podcast by recovering-lawyer-turned-happinessguru Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, who sit down weekly to assess their happiness gold stars and demerits. Here are some of mine:

INGA’S BRIGHT SHINY GOLD STARS  Fan-girling over my bestie’s kiddo at his adorable

kindergarten-second grade basketball game.  Splurging and savoring that good, good soap — that fresh, French triple-milled, aqua and oakmoss squeaky clean scent.  Learning Haitian Kreyòl on Duolingo alongside my soonto-be-mother-in-law. I’m currently on an 18-day streak, baby (pronounced behbeeee).  Premarital Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and committing to building a solid foundation pre-problem.  My daily vitamin habit.  In this house, we call it bedjail, but it’s the establishment of an early, sacred nighttime ritual. Electronics — out. Warm lights, comfy sheets, pear blossom/agave linen spray, and other essential sundry routines — in.  Mini morning meditation and gratitude lists while glancing up to see the sun rise over the ridge.

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 When I formally recognized “Pizza in the Morning, Pizza in

the Evening, Pizza at Suppertime, When Pizza’s on a Bagel You Can Eat Pizza Anytime” as my official theme song.  Moving the laundry basket from in front of the dryer to the couch and then onto the coffee and dining tables (to the window to the wall).  Unconsciously opening apps and doomscrolling.  Making an “executive decision” to abandon the normal morning routine and instead start the day with Covet — a trendy, fun little fashion game — whilst repeating to myself “It’ll be fine, this is fine.”  Replacing “shots” in the Lil Jon song with “snacks” every time I eat one.  Binge watching Henry Cavill The Witcher.  Procrastinating on this Inlander piece (sorry Ted!).

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of the modern social media scene. Our once limited reference points are hyper-expanded, knocking everything off-kilter. We used to have much smaller ranges of comparison, but now it’s virtually endless. Another issue impacting us is Hedonic Adaptation. Essentially, we spend all this time wanting a thing, and then we get it. For a while, our cheer level trends upward. We initially rejoice — in that car or that promotion or in snagging that cool person — and then we recalibrate to our usual baseline. So, what is this hot mess of a human brain to do? There are many strategies, but the tried-and-true tactics are quite simple. You likely will not appreciate this “cure” because you already know the answer. Almost all the research confirms that consistent application of these clichés will move you toward an increasingly stable, joyous state. Get to bed on time. Be grateful. Nourish strong social connections. Move your body. Meditate. Ugh. I know, I too was hoping for something more magical, but it seems it’s the mundane that actually makes it happen. n Inga N. Laurent is a local legal educator and a Fulbright scholar. She is deeply curious about the world and its constructs and delights in uncovering common points of connection that unite our shared but unique human experiences.

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MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 7

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

WE DON’T TALK ABOUT (YOU KNOW) How a Rotary presentation on “racial inequities” helped lead to criminal justice administrator Maggie Yates’ resignation BY DANIEL WALTERS

or three-and-a-half years, Maggie Yates helped lead criminal justice reform efforts in Spokane County. The Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation had contributed nearly $4.5 million in grants to try to safely reduce the inmate population in the county’s jail and to address racial disproportionality. She resigned her position as regional law and justice administrator the first week of January. In her resignation letter to Spokane County CEO Scott Simmons, she expressed pride in launching programs like the Criminal Justice Information Hotline, free rides to court, and court access at shelters but concluded “it’s clear that I’m no longer the right fit for the role given the County’s current priorities.” This wasn’t a resignation about spending more time with her family or about being ready for new challenges. It was about whether she was allowed to do her job. “I wasn’t able to continue to push for the work of the office,” Yates tells the Inlander. “I just wasn’t able to continue to ensure that we were pursuing a criminal justice system that is fair, efficient and equitable.” To some degree, it was inevitable that Yates’ job would become increasingly difficult: We’ve had almost two years of debates about George Floyd and “defund the police” and protests and police brutality and riots and legislative reforms and backlash to that legislative reform. We’ve had a Spokane County prosecutor who’s decried his wife’s White nationalist online comments as “racist,” but argued that his wife was not racist. We’ve had legislators in multiple states clamoring to make even teaching about systemic racism illegal. As Yates navigated this morass, she says it became clear that Spokane County was uncomfortable with a central part of her job: talking about racial disparities. As just one example, the racial inequity is starkly visible in the jail dashboard she helped build: In a snapshot in February, there were 120

8 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

Black people jailed — equivalent to a little over 2 percent of the entire Black population of the city of Spokane. Compared to the population of Spokane, Black people were jailed at a rate over eight times the rate for White people. It’s even starker if you compare it with Spokane County. “We need to acknowledge that this is something worth talking about, and something that is worth solving,” Yates says. Even now, three months after her resignation, Yates is wary about getting into specifics. But public records show that even something as simple as presenting county data on racial inequities to a community group could ignite a firestorm.

BY ANY OTHER NAME

Yates wasn’t the one who wrote the controversial title — or the second also-controversial revised title — for her Oct. 28th presentation to Spokane Rotary Club 21. The Spokane County Bar Association’s Systemic Racism Task Force first proposed Yates’ presentation to Rotary under the title “Solutions to Systemic Racism in our Regional Justice System.” But attorney Janaé Ball, head of the task force, says they quickly got pushback from Rotary over whether the proposed title was polarizing. ...continued on page 10

Maggie Yates: “We need to acknowledge that this is something worth talking about.”

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 9

NEWS | CRIMINAL JUSTICE “WE DON’T TALK ABOUT (YOU KNOW),” CONTINUED... “I remember calling Maggie and just being She remained “a bit perplexed” about how to very upset,” Ball says. “We can’t even agree on do her job, she wrote, “without fully discussing the word. How are we even supposed to have racial disparities, systemic racism, and relevant meaningful discussion if we keep fighting over solutions.” the word to use?” “If you or the Board have additional thoughts “Systemic racism” is one of those phrases or clarity, let me know,” Yates wrote. that gets interpreted like an inkblot test. She never got a response. Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich de“I get 100 emails, and I don’t have a chance cries the term as a simple catchphrase used by “a to go through all of them or respond to all of bunch of people that do nothing more than want them,” Simmons says. He now says he doesn’t to divide a nation,” and suggests the only way even remember seeing her email. it’s possible for a criminal justice system to be racist is if the judges, prosecutors and cops who run it are all personally bigoted. But to someone like Yates, systemic racism is more complicated — combating it is more about looking at ways that seemingly race-neutral policies can have disparate impacts on different populations. Ball says her group, grudgingly, offered a compromise alternative name for the presentation: “Solutions to Entrenched Racial Inequities in our Regional Justice System.” But that was controversial too. Sheriff Knezovich says proposed reforms are driven by “junk science.” YOUNG KWAK PHOTO Kyle Weir, president of Spokane Rotary Club 21, says multiple Rotary members wanted him to pull the plug on the presentation. “I found it unsettling that there was such push“Needless to say, I’ve already received negaback for Maggie’s presentation,” Ball says. “A lot tive feedback just based [on] the title alone,” Weir of the data is not even race-related.” wrote in an email to Mark Richard, then presiIndeed, much of her presentation focused dent of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. “It’s on how COVID created a kind of natural too late to pull the program, and I don’t think it criminal justice experiment: For years, criminal would be fair to all concerned to pull it.” justice reformers in Spokane debated how to Instead, he proposed looking to find another reduce the jail population in Spokane. Then speaker for “some balance.” COVID hit, and suddenly, almost in one fell “These kinds of conversations need to hapswoop, due to lockdowns and social distancing pen. They need to happen in a balanced and fair requirements, the jail population was cut by environment,” Weir tells the Inlander. “It’s easier nearly 40 percent. said than done in this polarizing environment.” And yet, crime didn’t seem to spike — at Richard fired off an email about the proleast not the way you might expect. Reports of gram’s title to Knezovich, thanking the sheriff for serious property crimes fell. Across the country being “willing to speak up.” there was a huge increase in homicides, but when “Are you aware of and do you support the Yates drilled down, she didn’t see any increase in message being presented?” Knezovich wrote in recidivism rates from violent criminals. his own email to Simmons and the county com“What we found was that the rate really missioners. remained stable,” Yates says. “That indicates that County communications manager Jared Wethe folks who were released from jail during the bley remembers his own reaction to the title of pandemic were not accounting for that increase the presentation was that the use of the word “enin violent crime.” trenched” implied a kind of intentionality — that And yet, even that shift raised issues of racial some person or group had created the problem. disproportionality. The White population in the “It sounds purposeful,” Webley says. “‘Enjail fell by a third — the Black population only fell trenched’ is a fiery word. A trigger word.” by 12 percent. Simmons, the county CEO, says he reached “According to Maggie and her studies, they out to Yates, seeing it as a “coachable moment,” didn’t fall across the board the same so therefore, and encouraged her to make sure to communithings are systemically racist,” Knezovich scoffs. cate with the county about information she’d be In January, Knezovich — along with Spokane sharing in future such presentations. County Prosecutor Larry Haskell — presented But public records show Yates saw the a rebuttal to Yates’ presentation, giving Rotary conversation differently. In an Oct. 22 email to the other side they asked for. He accuses her Simmons, she wrote that she understood that, of cherry-picking her data, noting that, for while he wasn’t asking her to cancel her presentaexample, she only looked at violent crime in tion, “I should proceed with an awareness of the Spokane, and not the big 2020 spike in property discomfort at the County around discussions of crime in Spokane County’s data. (The bulk of systemic racism.” the increase Knezovich points to, however, came

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from fraud — unemployment fraud skyrocketed in Washington during the pandemic — instead of more serious property crimes.) Knezovich’s objection to Yates goes deeper than data. He suggests that he was the reason the county commissioners hired Yates in 2018 in the first place. “I am the one that convinced them to give the kid a shot,” Knezovich says of Yates, a 34-year-old woman with a law degree. But he says his view has since soured. “Maggie’s an activist,” he says. “Maggie has drank the Marxist philosophy of critical criminology. And she doesn’t believe anybody should go to jail.” Pressed on his own explanation for the racial disparities in crime data, Knezovich does believe there are lingering systemic socio-economic impacts of racism. A century of slavery and a century of Jim Crow continue to have impact on overall crime rates, he says. “We haven’t exactly always lived up to the creed of our nation,” Knezovich says. He believes the criminal justice system is biased against poor people, that historical racism left more Black people in poverty, but he doesn’t see any reason to believe that the criminal justice system has a racial inequity problem. Instead, he turns the conversation toward Black homicide rates nationwide, toward Black people not showing up for the job apprenticeship program he helped create, toward slamming specific local Black activists for infighting and not creating a solution. “We have people out there that want to keep us drug back into the past, rather than looking at a future that is much brighter than what we’ve ever had,” Knezovich says. He dismisses even the basic premise of comparing, say, the share of arrests of Black people with the share of the population of Black people in Spokane County. “‘Racial proportionality’ is truly junk science,” Knezovich declares. “It doesn’t tell you the ‘why.’ It just gives you the number.” Eastern Washington University professor Ed Byrnes, who has conducted studies on local law enforcement’s racial justice disparities, chuckles at Knezovich calling a key piece of his own work “junk science.” Byrnes says his examinations of the Spokane Police Department in 2015 and 2017, for example, found the kinds of stops where an individual police officer showed statistically significant racial disparities. Most revealingly, when the traffic unit conducted stops — the kind often conducted by officers who were “1,000 feet away, shooting a radar gun,” too far away to see a driver’s race — that disparity disappeared. In 2020, however, the Spokane Police Department told him they no longer needed his services. Both the police and the county sheriff switched to using a company — Police Strategies — that uses a method much less likely to identify possible racial bias. City Council President Breean Beggs, a police reform advocate, argues that overall it’s easier to get traction with conversations about racial disparities than it once was. But he also argues that leaders like Knezovich and Haskell seem to have taken the debate personally. “In order to defend themselves, they’re trying to argue that systemic racism doesn’t exist,” Beggs says. “In their efforts to defend the system — which is kind of indefensible — they have been exhibiting more racist behavior and more racist comments. It’s the worst of all possible worlds.” Beggs used to be on the Spokane Regional Law & Justice Committee with Yates, a group meant to guide criminal justice reform in the county. But even before Yates resigned, Beggs was booted off: At the urging of Haskell, the number of seats on the committee had been slashed. Yet, both Yates and Beggs see flickers of optimism. Beggs and Knezovich both agree they’re not all that far off in terms of their vision for a new criminal justice facility focused on those with mental health and substance abuse issues. “It’s not a zero sum game,” Yates says. “Making sure that our criminal justice system is just for everyone, regardless of race or income is something that makes this the Spokane that I think we all want.” n danielw@inlander.com

You are not alone.

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12 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

entanyl usage is reaching epidemic proportions, as more people tell community health workers that they’re intentionally using the powerful opiate. At the same time, the number of people overdosing with the drug in their system is rapidly increasing. In a survey of needle exchange users across Washington state in September and October 2021, 42 percent of the 995 participants said they’d used fentanyl in the last three months. That’s up from 18 percent in 2019. What’s more, two-thirds who reported using fentanyl said they had done so intentionally, and most of that use involved pills, which are often smoked. Such a swift rise in popularity of a drug that was hardly known in 2015 has been surprising, says Caleb Banta-Green, the syringe survey’s co-author and principal research scientist at the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute in the University of Washington School of Medicine. “The fact that people are smoking is really important,” Banta-Green tells the Inlander. “You have a wonderful syringe services program at the health district [in Spokane]. But now we have something like probably half of the people who are dying [of overdoses] are smoking drugs — fentanyl or methamphetamine — and we don’t really have robust harm reduction programs for that.” Fentanyl contributed to or caused 11 deaths in Spokane County in 2019 and 28 deaths in 2020, according to the 2020 annual report from the Spokane County Medical Examiner. That number exploded from Jan. 1, 2021, to March 8, 2022, when the medical examiner’s office saw 127 cases in which fentanyl contributed to the death, with another 87 cases still waiting on toxicology reports to see which substances may have been involved, according to the ME’s office. For decades, syringe programs have been helping people get safer supplies to reduce the spread of diseases and infections and to get people in the door so they can meet social workers and potentially access medication-assisted treatment and other services.

As fentanyl use explodes, alternative harm reduction may be needed. But Banta-Green says there is little to nothing offered when it comes to safer smoking supplies, which means people aren’t coming in the door to access those other services. And many new fentanyl users are younger people who’ve never injected drugs, he says, meaning they may not think to access needle exchanges. “We are seeing a decrease in clientele,” says Samantha Carroll, an overdose prevention specialist and case manager at the Spokane Regional Health District needle exchange. “We used to have a line out the door, but now people are smoking the pills instead of injecting, and we’ve seen our population decrease.” Now, public health workers across the state are working to figure out if safer smoking supplies could be the next step in harm reduction for those suffering from substance use disorder.

HARM REDUCTION

When many needle exchanges started up about 30 years ago, largely in response to the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, people were skeptical about whether the programs might cause more harm than good. But Banta-Green says the evidence is clear now that the programs not only reduce infections and the spread of diseases, but they also help case workers earn the trust of people who’ve often faced a lot of trauma. Once in the door, many of them get medication-assisted treatment, medical care and more. “Supplies are often what bring people in, but what keeps people coming back are the people,” Banta-Green says. There’s evidence smoking supplies could offer the same entry point. In a pilot project, the Tacoma Needle Exchange distributed smoking supplies at one of their sites starting in late 2020. Over the course of a year they saw 1,146 unique people, including 742 who were totally new to the needle exchange, according to a January 2022 report on smoking equipment that Banta-Green helped write. “Providing smoking equipment allows a person to become engaged in a healthy relationship that could lead to things that would reduce overdose risk,” Banta-Green says. “It’s a public health harm reduction in the short term, but it also helps people who are super traumatized and rightfully untrusting.” Like syringes, safer smoking equipment can also reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis, Banta-Green says. But there are legal barriers when it comes to handing out items used to do drugs. While Washington updated its laws in 2021 so that personal possession of paraphernalia is no longer illegal, distribution of that paraphernalia is still a civil infraction.

Washington syringe exchanges were originally enabled by a 1992 court decision involving Spokane’s health district, which held that health officers have broad powers to stop the spread of diseases such as HIV. But whether that same legal standard would apply to smoking equipment such as pipes, foil and other tools is unclear, according to the January safer smoking supply report. Currently, staff at Spokane health district’s needle exchange aren’t even allowed to give out fentanyl test strips, which were very popular with clients. Even though a pilot project to give out test strips was spearheaded by the state Department of Health from 2018 to 2020, Spokane health district’s legal team has since told staff that it isn’t legal to keep doing so. “We’re kind of in a bind right now, it’s like the law versus ethics,” needle exchange case worker Carroll says. “The only two weapons we had to combat the overdose crisis were fentanyl test strips and Narcan. We’re still handing out the Narcan, but this is a definite crisis.” Hallie Burchinal, executive director of Compassionate Addiction Treatment in downtown Spokane, says that many of the people who drop in for services every day find out they’ve got fentanyl in their systems when they voluntarily take urinalysis tests. Some wonder where they may have been exposed, while others are also voluntarily switching to fentanyl due to its availability and cheap price. “We’ve seen a number of people that were struggling with heroin use have switched to fentanyl use,” Burchinal says, “which is really a hard path, because it’s so much more difficult, the withdrawals are so much more difficult.”

WHAT ELSE MIGHT HELP

Law enforcement agencies continue to try to stem the flow of fentanyl coming into the state as blue pills that are sometimes mislabeled as Oxycontin and cause accidental overdoses for users who don’t know what they’re taking. But for those who do know what they’re using, health experts continue to focus on helping those with deep-set fentanyl addiction as they try to reduce their use. While smoking supplies could get more people through RESOURCES the door to access other SYRINGE SERVICES are open social services, it’s not clear if Monday through Friday, 3 pm to smoking reduces or increases 5 pm, at the health district at 1101 the risks of fentanyl use, W. College Ave., Room 155. People Banta-Green says. With heroin, may drop in and don’t need to there’s more evidence that turn in used syringes in order to smoking is better than injection receive clean ones. as far as reducing the risk of an overdose, he says, but that isn’t COMPASSIONATE ADDICTION likely the case when it comes TREATMENT is at 112 E. First Ave. to smoking meth or fentanyl. in downtown Spokane, and is Another harm reduction open weekdays from 8 am to 6 tactic Burchinal says she’d like pm (except Wednesday when they to see is a free Narcan vending close at 5 pm). Medication treatmachine, but finding the monment is offered from 1 to 5 pm, ey to pay for that may prove Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. challenging. As it is, Compassionate Addiction Treatment, which is provided Narcan through a state program, only received 79 doses for an entire year. The organization, meanwhile, sees 60 to 80 people come through its doors every day, many of whom are homeless and may be there to access a variety of harm reduction services. The 69 people currently in their medication program may be prescribed Narcan by the doctors overseeing their care, Burchinal says, but other subsidized sources of the opioid-overdose reversal drug may be hard to come by. Burchinal, Carroll and Banta-Green all said they wish people understood how effective harm reduction programs are, and that substance use disorder is truly a health issue. “People are suffering from a medical disorder, not a moral failing,” Burchinal says, noting that she wishes officials would stop throwing people in jail for drug-related issues. “I don’t know anyone who’s made true significant changes in their lives through shame and punitive approaches.” n samanthaw@inlander.com

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 13

Anton Watson soars as GU’s super sub. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

14 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

SPOKANE SUCCESS STORY Gonzaga’s Anton Watson is a fan favorite for his on-court play and importance to the community BY WILL MAUPIN

t was midway through the first half of a game back on Jan. 11, 2020, when Anton Watson went for a transition layup. He made the bucket but was fouled in the process and wound up on the deck in some pain. It was the final play of a promising freshman season. A series of shoulder dislocations had been hampering Watson, seemingly every other game, and that moment against Loyola Marymount would be the last straw. He needed surgery. “This is the right thing to do moving forward for his career, and he has a bright future with our program,” head coach Mark Few said in a statement. Few also mentioned Watson’s toughness and love for the team. Now, two years later, it’s clear how much those qualities are valued by Zag Nation. Watson is a rare bird within the Gonzaga program these days, in that he’s from Spokane. “It’s great that they get players from all over the country and all over the world, but it’s special when you get somebody from Spokane,” says Ellen Klohe, a Gonzaga season ticket holder of more than 15 years. “It’s kind of a nod to our roots as a basketball town.” A product of Gonzaga Prep, where he helped lead the Bullpups to two state titles, Watson was a highly touted recruit during his high school days. National recruiting service 247Sports ranked him as the No. 41 player in his class and No. 2 in the state of Washington. He would’ve been a highly sought after recruit as well, but there was really no recruiting to be had with him. Watson committed to Gonzaga after his sophomore season. ...continued on next page

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SIZING ’EM UP An old Gonzaga assistant highlights the potential early opponents for the Zags

M Watson’s calm demeanor keeps his teammates centered.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

“SPOKANE SUCCESS STORY,” CONTINUED... “I remember how electric he was. He was a dominant figure in the Greater Spokane League,” Klohe says. When Watson made the leap from Bullpup to Bulldog, he made his presence known immediately. On opening night of the 2019-2020 season, Watson was named as a starter.

onzaga rosters used to be littered with local players. The 2006 team featured Mead’s Adam Morrison and Ferris’ Sean Mallon in the starting lineup, with Brewster’s David Pendergraft in a reserve role. As the level of the program has risen, though, the Zags have become less reliant on the local area. When Watson made the start in that season opener as a freshman, he became the first player from Spokane or the surrounding area to start for the Zags since David Stockton did so six seasons earlier. Across the first six games of his freshman season, the 6-foot-8 forward was averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and just over a steal a game. Then, in the first minute of the seventh game of the season, Watson suffered an ankle injury that would sideline him for the rest of that game and the three that followed. On top of that injury were the repeated shoulder dislocations, which led to limited minutes, missed games and, ultimately, the season-ending surgery. As a sophomore last season Watson was back in the rotation, but he never seemed to find his footing. Instead of an offseason devoted to working on his game, Watson was dealing with rehab and recovery as well. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds last season, numbers slightly down from where he’d been before the injuries. Midway through the season, Watson was removed from the starting lineup in favor of Andrew Nembhard. It was around that time, though, that Watson became a fan favorite for more than just his local ties. In his reserve role, Watson started to shine. He was doing what was asked of him, things that the team needed, and quickly developed into an exceptional glue guy. “It’s so exciting to see him grow and build his confidence,” says Karin Visintainer, a season ticket holder for the past decade. “The minute he comes into the game he brings in a different spark.” That’s been the case this season, with Watson once again coming off the bench, but playing a bigger role and better basketball than he has at any point in his Gonzaga career. That confidence that fans have seen grow hasn’t been lost on the people inside the program, either.

16 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

Earlier this season, after a game against Pepperdine in which Watson scored 19 points, Few talked about how Watson had been starting to assert himself on the floor. This has been critical for the team as the other two players who get regular minutes off the bench, freshmen Nolan Hickman and Hunter Sallis, have had typical first-year ups and downs. “I’ve seen someone who got their confidence and swagger back and at an all-time high,” teammate Drew Timme said after a game against Merrimack earlier this season. “He’s had to battle some injuries and that’s not easy, and he’s done a great job of putting the work in and coming to practice every day ready. We have to have him score, and we have to have him play hard and do what he does because he’s such an X-factor for us.”

his season, Watson is sixth on the team in scoring (7.7 points per game), fourth in rebounding (4.5 per game), fourth in assists (1.9 per game) and second in steals (1.3 per game). He’s become a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor. With his increased assertiveness and aggressiveness, Watson brings a physicality to the game that Gonzaga’s other bigs lack, relatively speaking. Chet Holmgren is incredibly skilled, and Timme is unbelievably crafty. Watson, though, is flat-out strong. Opposing teams, especially opposing bench players, have struggled to stop Watson all season long. “When he comes into the game I go, ‘Oh, good things are going to happen,’” Klohe says. Now a junior, and looking like the complete package of a player people thought he would be when he first arrived on campus, before the injuries, Watson’s popularity has grown even more. When you watch Gonzaga play on TV, there’s a good chance you’ll hear the announcer mention how Watson would start on just about any other team in the country. He’s that good, and so is Gonzaga. He’s become one of the better players in the West Coast Conference, and he’s getting buzz in some circles as a potential NBA Draft pick after next season, too. Underneath it all, though, Watson’s still the kid from Spokane. The one who led Gonzaga Prep to multiple state titles and then stuck around to help his hometown team in their quest for a national title. His game is really just the icing on the cake to many in Zag Nation who see him as an inspiration. “It gives, especially the kids who are just starting up, that hope that it really can be done here,” Visintainer says. n

aybe the stat that best shows Gonzaga’s consistency in recent years is the fact that they’ve made the Sweet 16 for six straight NCAA Tournaments (the current active record). To continue dancing in the second weekend for the seventh straight time, this is the path for the Bulldogs. The Zags open action on Thursday at 1:15 pm (on TNT) against the GEORGIA STATE Panthers. The champions of the Sun Belt Conference come in with an 18-10 record. The team makes its bones on the defensive end of the floor by creating pressure and forcing turnovers, but lacks a ton of offensive firepower (per ESPN, the squad shot a ghastly 27.4% from 3 in conference play). Gonzaga is 23.5-point favorites. The storyline second-round matchup would be versus BOISE STATE, as the Broncos are coached by former Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice. The Idaho hoopers won both the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles. While the team lacks any marquee nonconference victories, it has been a model of consistency with five players averaging over 9 points per game. While Boise State has a high floor, MEMPHIS has a higher ceiling. Coached by former NBA great Penny Hardaway, the Tigers have fluctuated wildly between playing like garbage and looking super dangerous. They have wins over Alabama (who beat the Zags), ACC champs Virginia Tech, and Houston, but have also lost three straight games multiple times. They’re led by star center Jalen Duren, who’ll likely be a lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft. If they get by Boise and are playing at their absolute peak, the Tigers provide the biggest threat to Gonzaga’s Sweet 16 streak, but their propensity to turn over the ball means Gonzaga’s fast break might feast. — SETH SOMMERFELD

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KEY MOMENTS

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ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

It was just two weeks after Gonzaga’s brutal defeat in the National Championship, and many around Zag Nation were still reeling, when a 7-foot savior came to raise Spokane’s collective spirit. On April 19, 2021, live on SportsCenter, Chet Holmgren announced where he’d be playing college basketball. Like Jalen Suggs had done the year before — the two had been high school teammates at Minneapolis’ Minnehaha Academy — Holmgren announced his commitment to Gonzaga. Not

only was he the highest-rated recruit in Gonzaga program history, he was the top overall recruit in the country.

SPIRITUAL SEASON OPENER

Technically it was the second game of the Zags’ season, but the season really got going when the No. 5-ranked Texas Longhorns came to The Kennel to take on the No. 1-ranked Zags. It was the highest profile contest in Spokane — the Longhorns were the highest ranked team ever to visit McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Kennel was overflowing with NBA scouts and national media, and the postgame press conference had to be held in a larger room than usual to accommodate the crowd. Gonzaga won, and did so convincingly from tip to horn, earning an 86-74 victory behind 37 points from Drew Timme.

THANKSGIVING HANGOVER

Gonzaga got another shot at a No. 5-ranked team the day after Thanksgiving when the Zags faced off against the Duke Blue Devils in front of 20,389 fans in Las Vegas. It was the largest crowd to attend a basketball game in Nevada history, and the 2.8 million viewers made it the most-watched college basketball game on any network since 2019, according to ESPN. Unfortunately, the Zags fell short, 84-81. Eight days later the Zags faced off against Alabama in Seattle and lost again, 92-81. Gonzaga and its fans had grown accustomed to winning, but two losses in barely more than a week served as a harsh reminder that winning isn’t guaranteed.

TRIPLE DIGIT TRIO

The Zags opened West Coast Conference play on Jan. 8 at home against Pepperdine and put up an impressive 117 points in the win. They followed that up in the next game, this time against a much better opponent in BYU, by dropping 110 points. Two days later, on the road against Santa Clara, the Zags scored 115 points. These were some of the highest scoring outputs in Gonzaga history, coming in back-to-back-to-back performances. Gonzaga’s relentless speed was on display as well, as the Pepperdine and Santa Clara games saw the Zags play 90 possessions, a record high for the Mark Few era.

Andrew Nembhard is the key to the Zags’ run.

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DEEP BALL DELUGE

Over the first two months of the season, just about the only thing you could find to nitpick about Gonzaga’s offense was the threepoint shooting. It wasn’t bad, just pedestrian relative to the rest of the country. Then Portland visited Spokane on Jan. 29, and the Zags put any concerns about their three-point prowess to bed. The Zags took 41 threes in that game, and made a McCarthy Athletic Center record 18 of them. From that game on, the Zags have been making 39 percent of their three-pointers. In only six seasons during the Mark Few era have the Zags shot 39 percent or above from three.

RIVALRY AND REVENGE

In the regular season finale, the Zags traveled to Moraga, California, to take on their archrivals, the Saint Mary’s Gaels. Saint Mary’s made a statement, holding the Zags to just 57 points in the loss. It was the Zags lowest point total since the 2019 season when those same Gaels held the Zags to just 47 points. Ten days later, in the WCC Tournament title game, the Zags got their shot at revenge, and they took it well. Gonzaga beat Saint Mary’s 82-69 in the rubber match of the season series. In doing so, the Zags claimed not only bragging rights, but locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. n

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 19

Chet Holmgren’s size scares every opposing guard. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

GETTING TO KNOW GONZAGA How do the Zags compare to the team that made a deep run last March? BY WILL MAUPIN

t’s March in Spokane, which means even the most disinterested sports fans are powerless to resist getting swept up in the Zag madness. If you find yourself in that position, fear not. We’ve got you covered. Haven’t watched the Zags since last March? Here’s a quick primer on how this year’s squad compares to that one. First off, as is the case every season in college sports, there are new names and faces. Jalen Suggs, who hit the iconic buzzer-beater in the Final Four, and Joel Ayayi, the do-everything Frenchman, left early for the NBA. Headband-wearing senior leader Corey Kispert graduated and is in the NBA too — reunited in Washington, D.C., with former Gonzaga teammate Rui Hachimura. Mainstays from last year’s team like Anton Watson (7.7 points per game), point guard Andrew Nembhard (11.7 ppg) and the mustachioed All-American Drew Timme (17.5 ppg) are still around this season. So is sophomore Julian Strawther (12.3 ppg), a bit player on last year’s team turned starter this season. Fresh faces include talented freshmen led by 7-foot big man Chet Holmgren (14.2 ppg), the likely No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, as well as Seattle’s Nolan Hickman (5.4 ppg) and the bouncy, athletic Hunter Sallis (4.4 ppg), both of whom come off the bench but get decent minutes. Then there’s the speedy sharpshooter Rasir Bolton, a senior transfer from Iowa State who rounds out the Zags’ starting five alongside Timme, Holmgren, Strawther and Nembhard. With the change in personnel came some changes in the style of play. Like last season, the Zags are once again an offensive juggernaut. That’s been head coach Mark Few’s calling card

20 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

for more than two decades now. Last year’s team led the nation in scoring at 91 points per game. This year’s team is ever so slightly off that pace at 87.8 per game, but that’s still good enough for tops in the country. The main difference on the offensive side of the ball is how the Zags are scoring their points. Once again, they’re dominant in the paint, but they’re getting more of their points from threes than they did a season ago. That’s in large part due to the addition of Holmgren, who, despite his 7-foot size, is a deadeye three-point shooter. Holmgren alters the Zags more impressively, and importantly, on the defensive end, though. Last year’s team played a ton of “small ball” with Drew Timme as the only real big on the floor and four guards or wings surrounding him. As a result, the Zags weren’t great at protecting the rim. Last year’s squad recorded 90 blocks on the season. So far this season, the Zags have blocked 169 shots, with Holmgren alone accounting for 103 of them. Gonzaga’s block party this season has vaulted the team to the top of the defensive rankings. The Zags rank second nationally in defensive efficiency, giving up 88.6 points per 100 possessions on average. Perhaps the most notable difference between this year and last, though, isn’t something you’ll see on the court. Last year’s team spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in the polls. They entered March undefeated, with a ton of buzz about potentially running the table. This year, the Zags enter March with three losses rather than zero. Though that might not be a bad thing. They’re No. 1 in the polls once again and have been for much of the season, but there isn’t the pressure of the perfect season looming over them this time around. n

HELP FOR LEXI!

Lexi Alfonso recently suffered a broken neck in a severe car accident while delivering the Inlander as an independent contractor. Thankfully, she’s expected to make a full recovery, but she has a long road ahead. A Go Fund Me campaign has been started to help with her medical bills and living expenses. If you’d like to help Lexi, visit gofundme.com and search “Support for Lexi and Frankie.”

It wasn’t a cake walk, but the GU women are dancing again. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

Frankie is Lexi’s beloved dog (pictured with Read more about Lexi by scanning this code.

Lexi), who was in the car at the time of the accident and was unhurt.

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ROAD TRIP! Gonzaga’s women head to horse country to try to make some NCAA noise

t’s strange to think that a team like Gonzaga could win 26 games, go 15-2 in conference play, and still be firmly considered “on the bubble” of the NCAA tournament just a couple weeks ago. Yet that’s exactly where Zags coach Lisa Fortier and her resilient crew found themselves after two disheartening losses to rival BYU. But the team managed to kill any Selection Sunday drama by going on a run through the West Coast Conference tournament in Las Vegas, winning it all with a victory over that same BYU squad to earn the WCC’s automatic bid to the Big Dance. On Sunday Gonzaga learned they’d be a No. 9 seed and face off against No. 8 seed Nebraska on Friday in

10am - 6pm Friday & Saturday • 10am - 4pm Sunday Louisville, Kentucky. The winner will most likely face the Wichita Region’s top seed, Louisville, in what is basically a home game for the Cardinals. It’s a daunting road forward for sure, but perhaps the grind just to reach the tournament will serve Gonzaga as the team plays as an underdog. The team’s been remarkably democratic, with five players averaging between 9 and 11 points per game, but Gonzaga could use a hot streak by a couple of its 3-point shooters like Cierra Walker or sisters Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong. They’ll need to somehow offset the Cornhuskers’ 3-point prowess; Nebraska bombs long-distance shots at an incredible rate. Nebraska plays in the Big 10 conference and is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 after a 24-8 season. Led by coach Amy Williams, they’ve beaten three Top 10 teams this season. — DAN NAILEN

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MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 21

CONSISTENT COUGS IT’S TIME TO BET

ON THE BASKETBALL MADNESS!

Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Cougs to two straight NCAA tourneys. WSU ATHLETICS PHOTO

WSU’s women build on last year’s success with another run at March Madness

year after coach Kamie Ethridge took the Washington State women’s team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly three decades, the Cougars are going back to the Big Dance. WSU earned an at-large bid to the tourney after finishing second in the Pac-12 and going 19-10 on the season. The eighth-seeded Cougars will face ninthseeded Kansas State out of the Big 12 conference. The game will be held in Raleigh, N.C., and the winner has the daunting task of likely playing against home team

(and the Bridgeport Region’s top seed) North Carolina State. The Cougs won’t be afraid if they get the chance to knock off one of the tournament’s top seeds; they’ve already beaten Arizona this year, and the Wildcats finished second to fellow Pac-12 team Stanford in 2021’s national championship. WSU will need huge efforts from leading scorer Charlisse Leger-Walker, her sister Krystal, and inside presence Bella Murekatete to get a win or two this weekend.

WSU coach Ethridge is a former longtime assistant at Kansas State, and WSU school president Kirk Schulz came to Pullman after serving as president at Kansas State. That ought to give the Cougs’ opening game a little added intrigue. — DAN NAILEN

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CLASSICAL

YOUNG AT HEART For more than 70 years, the Spokane Youth Symphony has been cultivating the region’s budding musicians BY E.J. IANNELLI

n Monday evenings throughout much of the year, young musicians from across the Inland Northwest gather by the dozens. They come together collectively as the Spokane Youth Symphony, ostensibly to rehearse the pieces for their next public concert, four of which traditionally are scheduled annually; but the experience is also meant to be much richer than performance prep. “The real goal is making the music itself, the experience of being in an orchestra and doing as well as you can. It’s about the participation and the joy in that,” says Jennifer O’Bannan, the organization’s executive director. The history of the Spokane Youth Symphony extends almost as far back as the Spokane Symphony proper. It was launched in 1949, four years after the “adult” symphony (or philharmonic, as it was known at the time), and both have Harold Paul Whelan to thank for their founding. Then, as now, the SYS fielded young musicians from across the area to augment the lack of orchestral extracurricular opportunities in local schools. “It tends to be the musical achievers — students who feel like the school program is good but not enough, or in some cases, kids who are homeschooled or attend private schools and don’t have another outlet,” she says. “We really do encourage our kids to play in their school programs and not see [the SYS] as something to do instead.” Despite the organization’s long history, there’s still the occasional public misconception. The SYS is not a minorleague feeder for the Spokane Symphony, even if several of its young musicians have gone on to professional careers there over the past seven decades. Nor, as its umbrella name might suggest, is the SYS a single orchestra. Today’s SYS actually consists of four separate groups of young musicians of increasing skill levels: the Strings, the Sinfonietta, the Philharmonic and, finally, the Symphony Orchestra. Each group is led by a different conductor. The first two are strings only, whereas the latter two have dedicated spots for percussionists, brass and woodwinds. ...continued on next page

The Spokane Youth Symphony offers kids a lot more than music lessons. PATTY HENDRICKSON/SYS PHOTO

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 27

CULTURE | CLASSICAL SPOKANE

“YOUNG AT HEART,” CONTINUED... “We really have an entry-level group for kids, although it’s not ‘entry’ in the sense that we teach them,” O’Bannan says. “They do need to have been playing for a couple years already. And then they move up by audition through the program if they desire. Some kids might not start until they’re in high school, and some start when they’re younger and move up over the years.”

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ecent Monday evenings have seen the SYS rehearsing for its joint “Rejoice in Artistry” concert on March 20. Artistic Director Philip Baldwin, who has a lengthy professional music résumé outside of his eight years with the SYS, has been busy conducting the Symphony Orchestra in the first movement of Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G and Lalo’s Cello Concerto in E. Each piece features a soloist selected from the orchestra’s own ranks through a competitive audition process. Cellist Janee Ko, a high school junior who joined the SYS Strings in sixth grade, is leading the Lalo. High school freshman Daniel Thackston, in his first year with the Symphony Orchestra, will perform the Haydn. And the Mozart is in the hands of eighth-grader Jessie Morozov, who started with the Strings at age 7 and now studies violin under Spokane Symphony Concertmaster Mateusz Wolski.

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For Morozov, the SYS has been a valuable creative outlet and learning environment beyond her private lessons. “First of all, there’s the advantage of hearing other people’s opinions and ways of looking at things. And, secondly, you also gain the experience of playing with other people — learning how to listen to each other and communicate effectively,” she says. “This goes for life in general, but if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. That was something that I had to learn. In reality, the people listening to you in the concert are there to support their kids and to hear music.” Although the organization’s merit-based framework still enables exceptionally young, talented virtuosos like Morozov to step into the spotlight, there’s very little institutional pressure to advance. Decisions like that are largely left up to the individual musicians, and those who do compete for soloist spots are typically putting in tens of hours of private practice per week. “Mostly motivation is the biggest thing,” O’Bannan says. “Although there’s competition in the sense of auditions and stuff, we’ve tried to avoid it being a cutthroat type of atmosphere. If the value is only in getting to the first chair or the solo, that’s only going to take you so far.” “We try to put people in the group that matches their talent level and their interest level,” Baldwin adds. “We hope that students enter in at the Strings level and continue all the way through to the Symphony Orchestra level so that they’re getting anywhere between six and seven years of experience. But some students really are comfortable staying in the younger orchestras.” At a concert like “Rejoice in Artistry,” he says, the fruits of that approach are on full display. “One of the great joys of watching the kids at the Spokane Youth Symphony perform is that you get to see the whole progression. You can see this progression of music-making right in front of your eyes. And at every single level, kids are performing at a really high level for their age and for their training.” n Rejoice in Artistry • Sat, March 20 at 4 pm • $14-$18 • Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • spokaneyouthsymphony.org • 624-1200

CULTURE | DIGEST

THE BUZZ BIN HELP AN INLANDER FRIEND LEXI ALFONSO, an independently contracted delivery driver for the Inlander, was recently in a severe car accident while on the job distributing the Inlander’s Feb. 24 Restaurant Week edition in North Idaho. While she’s expected to make a full recovery — Alfonso broke her neck and is now without a vehicle — she has a long road ahead and will be unable to return to her full-time job for months. A friend created a Go Fund Me to help with Alfonso’s medical bills and living expenses in the meantime; if you’d like to contribute, find it at gofund.me/4dcb6d2f or search “Support for Lexi and Frankie.” (Frankie is Lexi’s beloved dog, who was in the car at the time of the accident and was unscathed.) (CHEY SCOTT)

From Super Bowl to super sad. ALL-PRO REELS/CC BY-SA 2.0 PHOTO

YOUR GRIEF IS REAL Russ isn’t dead, he’s just a Denver Bronco

BY MIKE BOOKEY

learned that Russell Wilson had been traded because the editor of this publication texted to ask if I could “write 500-600 words on Russ leaving.” It was like being asked to write an obituary for a beloved aunt who you understood to be very much alive. And because I’m a person whose emotional wellbeing is heavily linked to what happens on Sundays between September and January, this indeed felt like somebody had died. That empty, numb, this-can’t-behappening sort of feeling. Yes, I realize that this reaction is both pathetic and possibly even immoral in this time of war and disease. Russell Wilson, to be clear, is not dead. He’s just a Denver Bronco. But it’s OK to grieve. This was a shock. None of this was supposed to happen. The people in charge of the Seahawks said it wasn’t going to happen. Smart media people said it wouldn’t happen. The guys on my Seahawks text chain (we call it “SeaTalks,” and it’s composed of men with equally misaligned priorities) said it wouldn’t happen. Russell Wilson himself said it wouldn’t happen. But then it did happen, and Seattle sent Wilson to Denver. In return, the Seahawks received draft picks, a good tight end, a very good defensive lineman and a quarterback who is not good at all. What happened? Well, Russ was looking to get out of Seattle far more than he let on. And Seattle leadership, whose recent strategy has focused on trading draft picks for magic beans and disappointing defensive backs, saw a deal they couldn’t refuse. There are many fans who think the trade makes good business sense. Those people have no soul, or perhaps have a healthy and pragmatic relationship with sports. I can’t tell which. Wilson leaving Seattle is a seismic event because over the past decade his cultural impact has outsized

that of his team. On any given day, at any given Washington elementary school, you’ll find at least one kid wearing a Wilson jersey. The guy spent his days off visiting sick kids. He bought a share of the Sounders. He banked enough goodwill that people could ignore his painfully cornball personality, uneven evangelism and investment in a brain-saving miracle tonic containing “nanobubbles.” At the same time, he did things on a football field that we’d rarely seen. The guy has thrown more touchdowns than Joe Montana. He engineered countless comebacks. And he brought home a Super Bowl win. Losing someone who brought that sort of joy hurts. And now, after reassuring us that everything is fine and maybe he and Pete Carroll would try some therapy, he went out for milk and is never coming back. And we’re left wondering if maybe it’s somehow our fault. Almost improbably, the grief got worse just a day later when the organization released future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner, a guy who is currently right near the top of his game. It didn’t help that Wagner apparently learned of his release through word of mouth or Twitter or a true crime podcast or something and not through official team communication. In the span of less than 24 hours, an era of Seahawks football came to an abrupt end after slowly heading that direction for a couple years. It was time for the anger stage of this grief journey, and you’d be forgiven if you hoped the Broncos suffer too many “Russ held it too long” moments and lose every goddamned game before you fell into the depression phase and wondered what the hell is going to happen this offseason. Maybe we’ll get to the hope stage sometime soon. Process this at your own pace. n

CRITICAL HIT Thanks in part to the wildly popular Dungeons & Dragons livestreaming show Critical Role, the role-playing game beloved by nerds of all ages has undergone a massive resurgence of late. Now, D&D’s gone even more mainstream in the new Amazon Prime animated series THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA, a raunchy, rollicking ride alongside a band of misfit adventurers. Based on Critical Role’s acclaimed first campaign, Vox Machina features the series’ eight professional voice actors (plus lots of notable guests) reprising their characters for a 12-episode first season. The Saturday-morning-cartoon generation should relish its retro-styled, 2D animations; however, Vox Machina is definitely adults-only. Viewers do not need to have played D&D to enjoy its boisterous — and often dark — take on the fantasy genre. (CHEY SCOTT) THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online March 18: CHARLI XCX, Crash. The electropop vixen looks to take the early poll position in 2021’s pop star power rankings with bangers like “Good Ones.” CYPRESS HILL, Back in Black. The famed stoner-friendly West Coast rap group might’ve taken one too many hits and forgot this album title is kinda taken. HOT WATER MUSIC, Feel the Void. Led by the deep gruff growl of Chuck Ragan, the veteran punk band reteams with the producer who made its best early-’00s albums. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 29

HOME OF THE SPOKANE SYMPHONY

THE FOX THEATER Spokane Symphony

CARMINA BURANA

James Lowe, conductor • Dawn Wolski, soprano Aaron Agulay, baritone • Christopher Pfund, tenor Spokane Symphony Chorale Sat., March 19, 8pm Spokane Youth Symphony

REJOICE IN ARTISTRY Sun., March 20, 4pm

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SATURDAY

MAR 19 8pm

Powerful soloists and a chorale join the Spokane Symphony onstage for Carmina Burana, a musical exploration of the wheel of fate, drunken monks, and young love. You’ve heard it in movies and TV shows like “The Hunt For Red October” and “GLEE.” See it now in its full glory. A massive production at The Fox!

CARMINA BURANA

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30 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

CULTURE | LITERATURE

Ode to Ukraine

After 25 years in North Idaho, Lost Horse Press moves to Liberty Lake; founder launches Ukrainian poetry series BY JAMI NELSON

hristine Lysnewycz Holbert is a first-generation American whose parents fled Ukraine after World War II. “It’s amazing being the child of refugees,” says Lysnewycz Holbert, founder of the small literary publisher Lost Horse Press, which recently began publishing a series featuring Ukrainian poets. Lysnewycz Holbert was raised as an only child in New York during the 1950s and ’60s by her Ukrainian parents, Stefan Lysnewycz and Marta Kruk Lysnewycz. The two met while working in Nazi labor camps. Her parents escaped the country when they fooled officials into believing Marta was a deaf-mute from Stefan’s village in western Ukraine. That meant if they had questions about her, they’d have to refer to him for the answer. Her true identity as an eastern Ukrainian was masked, and they made their way to freedom. Once again, Ukraine is facing the terrors of war. “At first, I was so stunned that I was immobile, frozen, devastated, but not knowing what to do,” Lysnewycz Holbert says about the Russian war on Ukraine. Stefan and Marta are no longer living, but Lysnewycz Holbert has extended family in Lviv in western Ukraine. She’s in contact with them every day and says they’ve been taking in refugees from the east since Russia’s invasion. Her family members are safe, but she worries about what’s yet to come. Meanwhile, Lysnewycz Holbert is doing everything she can to provide relief for Ukraine, including collecting donations to send overseas. The local community has been so generous that the warehouse she’s volunteering at here is too full to accept more donations. “Something that does give me hope is the way the world has come together to support Ukrainians,” Lysnewycz Holbert says.

ysnewycz Holbert started Lost Horse Press, a nonprofit, independent press, in 1998 after being the first person to graduate with a publishing degree from Eastern Washington University. (She also co-founded EWU’s Get Lit! literary festival.) The press began in her home in Spokane, but moved with her to Sandpoint in 1999. After more than 20 years and some persuading from her son, Lysnewycz Holbert picked up the press and moved back to the area, landing in Liberty Lake. “I just traded a big lake for a small lake,” she says, laughing. Lost Horse Press publishes work by emerging and experienced poets alike. Lysnewycz Holbert is passionate about recognizing the potential in those just beginning in the field and giving them their first published piece so they can move on to bigger opportunities. “My press is so small that I don’t have any illusions that we’re gonna keep [a] poet. I want to be the first step for them,” Lysnewycz Holbert says. For years, Lysnewycz Holbert wished she had a deeper connection to the Ukrainian community and culture. She was unsure how to go about this dream, but a chance finally came after she was introduced by a mutual friend to Grace Mahoney, a doctoral student in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan. Mahoney had some Ukrainian manuscripts in need of a press willing to translate them. After Lost Horse Press published those manuscripts, Mahoney and Lysnewycz Holbert began working on its new contemporary Ukrainian poetry series. “This is my dream starting to come true,” Lysnewycz Holbert says. Not many Ukrainian poets have had their work translated to English. Lysnewycz Holbert knew the series would be the perfect opportunity to strengthen her ties to her family’s native culture and teach the Western world about Ukraine. “They want the world to know about their culture,” she says. “They want the world to know who they are.” Lost Horse Press has published eight collections in the series so far. In 2020, the Ukrainian Book Institute, which provides resources like translators and connections to poets, awarded Lost Horse a grant to continue translating and publishing Ukrainian poetry. With that help, the press was able to publish Mountain and Flower by Mykola Vorobiov and Apricots of Donbas by Lyuba Yakimchuk. “I’m hoping that the series will help Englishspeaking readers understand what is happening and get an idea of what the Ukrainian mind is about,” Lysnewycz Holbert says. n Purchase titles in the Lost Horse Ukrainian Contemporary Poetry Series at losthorsepress.org.

Several species of maples in the Inland Northwest can produce syrup.

LOCAL GOODS

Sweet Dreams A North Idaho couple creates and shares their love of maple syrup at Athol Orchards farm BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

oured over pancakes, stirred into oatmeal or mixed into baked goods. These are just a few ways we like maple syrup, which for the purist must come from actual maple trees versus corn syrup tinted brown (sorry, Mrs. Butterworth’s fans). Picture a thick, amber- to coffee-colored liquid oozing out of the bottle, rippling over surfaces and emitting a sweet, faintly woody aroma reminiscent of the trees that birthed it. That’s what Athol Orchards’ co-founder Nikki Conley had in mind when she saw two maple trees on the North Idaho property she shares with her husband, Erreck, their daughters and a growing assortment of farm animals. “We’ve been tapping our maple trees here since 2016, only producing enough for our own family to enjoy, and only during the maple sugaring season, which for us begins in February and ends mid-March, depending on the weather,” Nikki says. Indeed, making syrup takes copious amounts of sap; between 20 and 60 gallons must be boiled down to make one gallon of liquid sweet enough to be considered syrup. Sap requirements also vary between maple tree varieties. The Conleys’ maple trees are Norway maples, which can grow up to 60 feet tall, adapt well to a range of climates and are considered invasive in some areas. But the sugar content of Norway maples is lower than sugar maples or even the red and black maples abundant in the syrup-making regions of the Northeastern U.S.

Vermont, upstate New York and Maine cumulatively account for roughly 80 percent of U.S. maple syrup output. Canada — surprise — satisfies nearly 75 percent of the world’s sweet tooths when it comes to maple syrup, making America the second-largest producer. In addition to being rich with the right kind of maple trees, the Northeast has a climate conducive to sap production; namely, below-freezing temperatures at night, with daytime highs in the 40s and 50s. The Northeast and Inland Northwest climates are remarkably similar, says Nikki, whose memories of her East Coast honeymoon inspired her to try making maple syrup from her North Idaho trees. In 2002, the newlyweds visited New York City. Then they drove north through New England, and were thrilled to see “covered bridges, the lighthouses along the coast, historical landmarks, the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory, and the sugar shacks along the country roads,” Nikki says. “From that time forward, we knew that someday we’d love to share in a part of the maple sugaring tradition and history.”

irst, though, the Conleys spent several years growing Athol Orchards, founded in 2016. As Erreck finished up his active-duty service in the Air Force, Nikki crafted the orchards’ wildly popular apple cider syrup. She also immersed herself in the world of apples,

from planting trees to building a processing facility and commercial kitchen. Initially, Athol Orchards’ apple cider syrup ($8.95 for 8 ounces) was only available at farmers markets and select Kootenai County businesses. It can now be found at numerous retailers and restaurants like Chomper Café in Hayden, and nationwide distribution is in the works. Athol Orchards has also added other products, including caramel ($17.95 for 16 ounces) and hot spiced apple cider syrup ($13.95 for 16 ounces). It also sells pies, cookies and other baked goods at the Conleys’ homebased farm stand (13467 E. Bunco Rd., Athol). In 2020, Nikki started thinking about maple trees again, envisioning what would become Athol Orchards’ North Idaho Mapleshed Project. Like a watershed collecting water in a given region, explains Nikki, the mapleshed project would collect sap from their trees, and from wherever else they might find suitable trees. The Conleys also geared up the infrastructure necessary to boil harvested sap into syrup. In 2021, the couple sought out private property owners who had sugar, red or silver maple trees (silver maples are similar to Norway maples). “We signed these willing property owners up on our registry, visited their properties and tapped their trees, leaving a sealed collection bucket connected to a clear pipe and spile,” or tap, Nikki explains. ...continued on next page

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 31

FOOD | LOCAL GOODS “SWEET DREAMS,” CONTINUED... Proper tree-tapping includes selecting healthy, mature trees; using appropriate and sanitized tools; proper timing and drilling technique; and knowing how many spiles a tree can handle for its age and size. Improper tapping can kill the tree, at worst, or yield little to no sap. The Conleys visit their tapped trees roughly every other day, often finding buckets overflowing with what looks like water, but is actually clear sap. Last season, Athol Orchards was able to produce between 4½ and 5 gallons of finished maple syrup, Nikki says. “It sounds like a laughable amount,” she says, “until you realize that it took 200 gallons of maple sap, traveling around to different properties harvesting sap every other day or so, hours upon hours of boiling, reducing, filtering, reducing, boiling down, testing with a hydrometer, filtering and a final bottling to produce that finished North Idaho Maple Syrup.”

treated to something called sugar on the snow: a traditional, impromptu confection created when maple syrup is heated to a soft-boil stage and poured over snow to form a kind of instant toffee. Athol Orchards produces two types or grades of syrup ($15 for 4 ounces): Grade A Amber results from the early-season sap, while Grade A Dark is typically from later in the season. Like a light versus dark beer, the darker syrup tastes richer, while the amber syrup has an almost tangy finish. Athol Orchards’ maple syrup, as well as baked goods made with it, like maple-glazed apple fritters ($4) and maple walnut pie ($9/individual; $25/ large), are available in limited supply at Athol Orchards’ farm Athol Orchards produces two grades of maple syrup. COURTESY PHOTO stand through tree-tapping seaand many more here at the farm to learn son, which is weather-dependent. about the history, tradition, science and fun As much as we welcome spring, once behind the maple sugaring tradition,” Nikki the trees start to bud at the end of March or says. early April, that means a bittersweet end to Workshop attendees witnessed Nikki maple sugaring season until next year. n harvesting sap using vintage tools she found in Maine during a recent apple conference Athol Orchards • 13467 E. Bunco Rd., she attended there. Participants were also Athol • atholorchards.com • 208-920-1880

thol Orchards is working to ensure that interest in sugaring season, as the harvest is called, not only endures year to year, but also proliferates through maple sugaring workshops. “During February and March of 2021 we hosted approximately 2,000 homeschoolers, families, private schools, [the Coeur d’Alene] Chamber of Commerce

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ALSO OPENING JUJUTSU KAISEN 0

Based on the manga, this dark fantasy anime follows a high school student who is cursed by his dead girlfriend. But when he meets a sorcerer, he learns how to control the power of the curse and fight against other demonic curses. (SS) Rated PG-13

UMMA

Korean immigrant Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her teen daughter live disconnected from the world on a rural farm raising bees. But when the ashes of Amanda’s estranged mother arrive, spooky things start happening in this supernatural horror flick. (SS) Rated PG-13

REVIEW

I N CO M PA RA B L E Mark Rylance dazzles in a rare leading role in the suspense thriller The Outfit BY SCOTT RENSHAW

or a few minutes there, I was about to make a huge mistake in contemplating Mark Rylance’s performance in The Outfit: I was about to compare him to another actor. It was, I believe, quite a complimentary comparison, in that the East End lilt Rylance adopts for The Outfit made me think of Michael Caine, and the coiled intelligence that Caine keeps behind his eyes. But eventually it occurred to me that Rylance is truly an original, an actor who vanishes inside characters so effectively that he had been working steadily for 30 years before he was “discovered” in his Oscar-winning Bridge of Spies performance. Even the otherwise insufferable Don’t Look Up couldn’t dim Rylance’s ability to bring something utterly singular to the screen. What American audiences generally hadn’t had a chance to see, however, is what Rylance could bring to the table when, rather than being part of the supporting cast, he has to carry a film. That’s the opportunity The Outfit gives him, and it makes me wish he had many more such opportunities. This snappy little chamber-piece of a suspense drama has plenty to offer all around, but gets its biggest kick from watching Rylance build complexity of character over its full running time. In a story set in 1956 Chicago, Rylance plays Leonard Burling, a post-World War II British immigrant who runs a shop making fine bespoke suits for men. Through Burling’s friendship with local crime boss Roy Boyle (Simon Russell Beale), the shop has also become a drop point for cash to Boyle’s operation — and possibly for

34 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

communication from a secretive “underworld United Naall register as distinct individuals, right down to Boyle’s tions” called The Outfit. When Boyle’s son Richie (Dylan mountainous bodyguard who laments that he’s “not good O’Brien) is wounded in a shootout with a rival gang, at riddles.” Boyle’s chief lieutenant Francis (Johnny Flynn) brings Mostly, however, this is a marvelous showcase for Richie to Burling’s shop to lay low, launching a tense everything that makes Mark Rylance such a tremendous night of suspicion and violence surrounding the actor. Though Moore hints at a tragic possibility that an informant in Boyle’s operation backstory for Burling — with nightmare THE OUTFIT tipped off the rival. flashbacks to a fire, for example — RyDirected by Graham Moore Co-writer/director Graham Moore — the lance builds the character through his Starring Mark Rylance, Oscar-winning The Imitation Game screenwriter, reactions to the threatening situations Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn making his feature directing debut — sets virtuthat emerge over the course of that one Rated R ally the entire film within the confines of Burling’s fateful evening. While the structure shop with only a handful of speaking parts, giving might have led to Burling feeling more it the feel of a stage adaptation (which it is not). Moore like a man of reaction than a man of action, every eye takes full advantage of the idea that Burling’s entire world movement and every improvised excuse by Burling makes consists of his shop, and allows the confines of the small it clear that the action is going on in his head as he figures rooms to build the physical and intellectual confrontaout how to keep himself (and Mable) alive. It’s screen tions between the characters, while Alexandre Desplat’s acting at its finest: restrained, magnetic and filled with an prowling score punctuates the sense of consequence at all interior life that only gradually bubbles to the surface. the right moments. At times, The Outfit’s various revelations veer into The Outfit is also a pretty efficient piece of writing for refrigerator-logic territory that doesn’t entirely hold something that ultimately takes the twists and turns of up upon reflection (though one late character appeara double-/triple-/quadruple-crossing heist thriller. Moore ance brilliantly subverts expectations). But despite the and co-writer Johnathan McClain need to establish mulgangster backdrop and the effective crafting of moments tiple relationships — the conflict between Richie and Franwhere lives hang in the balance, this isn’t primarily a cis; Burling’s paternal affection for his secretary, Mable genre exercise. It’s a character piece — and when Mark (Zoey Deutch); the respect Boyle has for Burling — in Rylance is playing that character, you realize that you’re a fairly tight span of time, and they do so remarkably dealing with someone who deserves to have other actors well. Though the performances are spare, the characters compared to him. n

SCREEN | REVIEW

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There are more academic horrors than failing grades in Master.

Campus Horror

MOVIE TIMES on

Master unevenly mixes social commentary with the supernatural BY JOSH BELL

ven the most elite, old-fashioned colleges Diallo contrasts Jasmine and Gail with and universities are seemingly more professor Liv Beckman (Amber Gray), an diverse than Ancaster College, the fictional outspoken Black woman who seems more secure setting of writer-director Mariama Diallo’s debut and confident in her position challenging white feature Master. When freshman Jasmine Moore authority than Gail does, even though Gail is the (Zoe Renee) shows up at Ancaster, it initially one with tenure. Master raises plenty of relevant looks like she may be the only Black student on points about race and privilege in academia, but campus. The same goes for English professor it can’t successfully connect those points to the Gail Bishop (Regina Hall), who’s surrounded vaguely defined supernatural elements, which almost entirely by white faces among the faculty. never rise above a collection of horror cliches. According to Jasmine’s research, Ancaster didn’t Master is filled with red herrings and narrative enroll a single Black student until the 1960s (at dead ends, including multiple major plot points least a century later than some prestigious Ivy that are quickly dropped and never mentioned League-style institutions), and that student died again. Jasmine’s roommate Amelia (Talia Ryder) on campus under mysterious circumstances. seems central to the story and has her own So the environment at Ancaster for students personal problems to contend with, only to sudand teachers of color is already defined by isoladenly disappear from the movie with her subplot tion and barely concealed hostility, and that’s left hanging. before taking into account the supposed curse of Significant elements of the main characters’ a witch who was killed on what would become backgrounds are also left unexplored, and while school grounds in the 1600s. There’s also an Hall and Renee give strong performances, both Amish-like cult in the surrounding area, whose Gail and Jasmine remain underdeveloped. Anmembers live as if it’s still the 17th caster is meant to be century and occasionally show up on a stand-in for a range MASTER the edge of campus to add some extra of upscale institutions, Rated R creepy atmosphere. Master piles on the but there’s so little Directed by Mariama Diallo obstacles and trauma for its dual main specificity to it that Starring Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Amber Gray characters, as if ingrained institutional it feels generic, like Streaming on Amazon Prime starting March 18 racism weren’t bad enough. Jasmine an avatar for Diallo’s gets the unlucky assignment of staying social commentary in the dorm room where that Black student died rather than a real place. The barbed takedown of in the 1960s and where legend has it that the campus culture was handled more effectively in witch, Margaret Millett, finds her victims. recent satires like Justin Simien’s Dear White People Jasmine starts experiencing various standard and the Netflix series The Chair, and the combinahorror-movie problems, including strange dreams tion with horror worked better in Sophia Takal’s and apparitions that may or may not be there. underrated 2019 Black Christmas remake. Gail, who has become Ancaster’s first Black Still, it’s admirable that Diallo has too many house master (a sort of combination dorm moniideas to balance rather than not enough, and tor and faculty adviser), has some of the same Master remains ambitious all the way through experiences in her new home, which is adjacent its abrupt but striking ending. It makes such a to Jasmine’s dorm. In the meantime, they both clear case for the horrors of racism at every level have to navigate condescension and microaggresof American society that the more mundane sions on a daily basis just to get through their horrors of ghosts and witches seem completely classes and activities. superfluous. n

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MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 35

LOCAL

Pussy Cat Riot! Itchy Kitty’s tours with Built to Spill are earning the Spokane punks a new following

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

ecause of the inherent core simplicity and sonic rawness, it can be hard for punk bands to be taken seriously. Having a guitarist dressed like a cat doesn’t help one’s cause. Nor does… you know… the band literally being started as a joke. “I just wanted a band,” says Itchy Kitty guitarist and singer Ami (Itchy Kitty prefers to go by first names), “and I kind of half-serious wanted to just do a band where we covered classic punk songs but just made them about cats. I was 23, and I thought that would be funny.” Despite all that, Itchy Kitty has been carving out its own niche in Spokane since forming in 2013, while slowly starting to build a bigger and bigger profile outside of the city. The band’s sound roots itself in pure unapologetic punk aggression with plenty of frantic wails and weirdo warbling. Itchy Kitty

operates claws out, hissing and slashing away with abandon. Ami enlisted her cousin Naomi (bass/vocals) and fellow Guitar Center employee Sug (drums) to actualize her cat fancy. After a few tunes (Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” became “Kitty Yell,” Bad Brains’ “Right Brigade” became “Cat Brigade,” etc.), the cat theme faded but the Itchy Kitty name stuck. “I found it much easier to write original songs and made them kinda about cats. And then that just stopped, and the songs started being food and sex,” says Ami. “That’s all it’s about now.” In the aftermath of the release of 2016’s debut album Careless Whisker, the Itchy Kitty added a fourth member, the mysterious guitarist/synth player Catman. The group agrees it was this addition that helped unlock the true Itchy Kitty sound on Mr. Universe, the band’s second LP.

Litter box rock. GREG CHOW PHOTO

36 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

UPCOMING SHOWS SPOKANE JAZZ ORCHESTRA WITH JODY GRAVES: RHAPSODY IN BLUE Sat, March 19 at 7:30 pm Bing Crosby Theater $27-$32 SPOKANE SYMPHONY: CARMINA BURANA Sat, March 19 at 8 pm Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox $43-$92 SPOKANE STRING QUARTET Sun, March 20 at 3 pm Bing Crosby Theater $17 KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND Sun, March 20 at 7:30 pm Northern Quest Casino $49-$69 HORSE FEATHERS Sun, March 20 at 8 pm Lucky You Lounge $15 DANTE ELEPHANTE Tue, March 22 at 8 pm Lucky You Lounge $10 MASTERS OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC Wed, March 23 at 7 pm Bing Crosby Theater $25-$50 THE SMOKES: G.O.V.T. GRAFFITI RELEASE SHOW Fri, March 25 at 7:30 pm The Big Dipper $12-$15 BAD RELIGION, SLAUGHTERHOUSE Wed, March 30 at 8 pm Knitting Factory $35-$38 SANTANA Sun, April 3 at 8 pm Spokane Arena $45-$315 For complete music listings, visit inlander.com/events

“[On] Mr. Universe, we found our spot,” says Naomi, “but it’s like the leaping ground, kind of the footing to go further and just experiment.” After releasing two EPs during the pandemic — one originals (Feargasm), one covers (Under the Covers) — Itchy Kitty is prepping another, which the band hopes to record in-studio sometime this year. “We’ve finally gotten really comfortable as musicians with each other, we’ve gotten comfortable in our sound,” says Naomi, “But now we’re branching out, exploring, like, other weird shit. Weird, quiet stuff.” The biggest moment in Itchy Kitty history came when Idaho indie rock stalwart Built to Spill tapped the band to open its West Coast tour in early 2022. The Spokanites got on the radar of Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch years ago when he wandered into a very sparsely attended midday set Itchy Kitty was playing at Moscow’s Modest Music Fest. While they ran in similar circles as BtS, Itchy Kitty’s members were shocked when they were asked to join the tour. “We thought it was kind. Doug was like, ‘Oh, yeah, these guys are great. But like, I’ll have them open for my old, first punkish band (Treepeople),’ says Catman. “We never dreamed we’d be hanging out on tour with Built to Spill.” Playing venues like The Fillmore in San Francisco and Portland’s Wonder Ballroom was somewhat intimidating for the punks who were used to tiny club shows, but Itchy Kitty rose to the challenge. “When you get to the bigger venues and many shows in a row in places you’ve never been, it’s like, ‘OK, is the show going to play to the bigger rooms? Is it gonna happen?’ Because you never know,” says Sug. “I mean, it’s one thing in a 50-seat club, and it’s a way different thing in a 1,000-capacity room that’s full of people who have no idea what you’re about.” To Itchy Kitty’s surprise, the older indie folks that comprise Built to Spill crowds dug what they were putting down. Maybe it was a release of pent-up pandemic energy, but mosh pits got going in what would typically be non-moshing crowds. “I don’t want to make any kind of sweeping generalizations or anything, but there’s usually not that big of a platform for DIY bands that are as fast and WEEKEND loud and stuff as we are,” says C O U N T D OW N Catman. “But I think people Get the scoop on this — either because they’ve been weekend’s events with cooped up or just like generour newsletter. Sign up at ally — people love to f---ing go Inlander.com/newsletter. crazy. When people show up to a show, and they’re not expecting that and they get us? They just went crazy. I think we played some of the best shows we’ve ever played.” Itchy Kitty must’ve made a good impression, because Built to Spill is taking the band back on the road for 18 dates across the Southwest, South, and East Coast in April and May. But before the itchy ones leave us once again, the band will headline a Big Dipper show on March 20 with its “best friend band” and Built to Spill tourmates, the energetic Albuquerque indie rock outfit Prism Bitch. And while it’s been great garnering love from larger audiences on the road, Itchy Kitty is always glad to be back in Spokane and doesn’t see any reason to leave. The group relishes the opportunity to hone its sound in a less pressured music scene than metroplexes offer. The ability to hop into opening spots for fun bands passing through town and experiment without fear of too bright a spotlight suits these humble kittens. “I’m glad we’re in Spokane,” says Ami. “People are always like, ‘Oh, you guys gotta go move to LA or Seattle or Portland or something.’ Why? Maybe I’m wrong, but I always think that there’s so many bands in those places that it’d just be easy to get lost in it. But the music scene here is so unique and cool and different. I like being a part of it. I like coming home to this place.” n Itchy Kitty, Prism Bitch, Reaping Fields • Sun, March 20 at 8 pm • $10 • The Big Dipper • 171 S. Washington St. • bigdipperevents.com

Spokane String Quartet 3 P. M . S U N DAY MARCH 20 Bing Crosby Theater

Music by Higdon Haydn Smetana w w w. s p o k a n e s t r i n g q u a r t e t . o r g

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MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 37

COMMUNITY SACRED TRADITIONS

With the arrival of spring, there is renewal and recognition that another year has passed. After a two-year absence, the 29th Annual Powwow at the Coeur d’Alene Casino is back, offering a celebration of sacred traditions with drumming, singing and celebrations of love, hope, life and revitalization. Coeur d’Alene Tribal Cultural Director Quanah Matheson emcees the gathering, which includes numerous men’s and women’s dances for a variety of ages. All are welcome to this special, one-day event hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Grand entry, in which elders lead a parade of dancers in full regalia and others, is at 1 pm, with a break for dinner at 5 pm, and a second grand entry at 7 pm. — CARRIE SCOZZARO 29th Anniversary Powwow • Sat, March 19 from 1-5 pm and 7-11 pm • Free • Coeur d’Alene Casino • 37914 S. Nukwalqw, Worley • cdacasino.com • 800-523-2467

38 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

COMEDY UTILITY PLAYER

MUSIC HORSE OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER

Tim Meadows • Fri-Sat, March 18-19 at 7:30 and 10:30 pm • $22$30 • Spokane Comedy Club • 315 W. Sprague Ave. • spokanecomedyclub.com • 509-318-9998

Horse Feathers • Sun, March 20 at 8 pm • $15 • Lucky You Lounge • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • luckyyoulounge.com • 509-474-0511

Tim Meadows is what you would call a comedy “glue guy.” During his decade on Saturday Night Live (pretty much the entire ’90s), his time as part of Second City improv troupe in Chicago and in dozens of roles large and small over the past three decades (hail his Principal Duvall in Mean Girls), Meadows always makes a scene more funny, even when he’s not the center of attention. That’s no easy feat when you’re working with the likes of Chris Farley or Molly Shannon. And when Meadows was the centerpiece of sketches and the feature film The Ladies Man, he killed. Expect his standup show to lean on his improv background and stories from his decades in showbiz. — DAN NAILEN

I don’t know if any folk act sounds like the Pacific Northwest more than Horse Feathers. The songs from troubadour Justin Ringle’s Portland-based band tap into the roots of pure folk, but his voice and arrangements do so as if lost in the heavy fog hanging amid a forest of pines. It’s soft banjo-infused beauty with a seasonal affective disorder. In April, Horse Feathers plans to reissue a remastered version of its lovely 2008 Kill Rock Stars debut House with No Home, so longtime fans should expect plenty of old favorites when the group makes a stop for a calming Sunday show at Lucky You. — SETH SOMMERFELD

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WORDS DOCUMENTING WAR

Much of what we know about war — the human sacrifice, emotional toll, death, destruction and suffering — is thanks to the bravery of photojournalists, who risk their lives in the midst of conflict to document its truths for the historical record. French photographer Catherine Leroy was one of those intrepid and, at the time, rare, camera-wielding women who went to the unforgiving jungles of Vietnam to begin her lifelong career as a conflict photographer. Local children’s author and former journalist Mary Cronk Farrell documents Leroy’s captivating story; her grit and determination to be there when battles broke out so that everyone safe at home could see the real costs of war on all sides. It all unfolds in Farrell’s latest book, Close Up on War, which is launching with a special in-person event at Auntie’s. — CHEY SCOTT Mary Cronk Farrell: Close Up on War • Tue, March 22 at 7 pm • Free • Auntie’s Bookstore • 402 W. Main Ave. • auntiesbooks.com • 509-838-0206

PERFORMANCE JUST DANCE

The world is slowly feeling familiar again, and what better way to celebrate than with dance? Vytal Movement presents “Together We Dance” in honor of the city opening back up. Indulge in the concert’s variety of styles, artists and motions, and be among the first to experience two new works by artistic director Vincas Greene. Spokane has a number of youth dance studios but was without an adult dance studio for two decades until Vytal Movement opened in 2016, a moment that Greene is proud to have started. This concert also features a performance by guest company Quiero Flamenco, with the goal to bring Flamenco to the Inland Northwest. That’s not all! Stage Left Theater is also presenting a video screening of a dance inspired by the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and an artist talk-back follows each show. — JAMI NELSON Together We Dance • Fri, March 18 and Sat, March 19 at 7:30 pm • $25$30 • Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center • 211 E. Desmet Ave. • vytalmovement.org • 509-313-4776

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baby girl looks like... My heart aches every second of everyday for her.....

CHEERS CDA MOUNTAIN RESCUE On March 5 my son’s father went on a hike up in the CDA mountains, and he got stuck in the snow waist deep. He texted me to call 911. I want to thank the 911 dispatcher in Kootenai County Sherriff’s Department and the deputies who assisted in the rescue. The 911 dispatcher called me twice to let us know what was happening. Thank you so much for all that you did in helping us through this. God bless first responders. You rock!

I SAW YOU STILL MISSING YOU It’s been a long time since I last saw you, and I still miss you. I miss our special friendship, rapport, sincerity, our unique connection. I miss your uplifting spirit, and how I so looked forward to visiting with you. But when you needed me most, I turned my back on you. You trusted me, and I let you down in the worst possible way. Rather than offering support, I abandoned you. I could not initially comprehend what you were going through, and when I finally figured it out, you had vanished. I was extremely worried for you, but I heard through the grapevine that you were doing OK, and I was so relieved and glad to know that. I see you around the neighborhood sometimes, and when I do, I hug you with my eyes, like I always did. I care about you. You matter to me. Words cannot fully express the depth of my regret, guilt, shame for how thoughtlessly I’ve mishandled everything. I hope you can forgive me, accept my very belated apology. I’m so sad that I’ve lost you. HEART ACHES FOR MORGAN... I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that I named Morgan Renee Lynn on Aug. 6, 2009, at Sacred Heart. I have not seen her since she was about 6 months old. She was adopted by a woman named Amanda. I just want to know what my

PROFITS BEFORE HUMANITY I read that Shell recently bought oil from Putin at an exceptional discount, they say profits will be used to help in the Ukraine humanitarian efforts. Here that China? Just sell your oil to Shell at a discount so they can be considered humanitarians while you slaughter Taiwanese. SUNNY SIDE UPPERS Cheers to the people that make life a bit easier, better, more cheerful in their very existence. People with whom you can share a TV show that makes you happy or the retelling of a life event so meaningless and meaningful simultaneously. People like Sunny, who can make magic with the sound of their laughter and can conjure the highest forces of energy and excitement through their attention and focus. You have no idea the power you hold as you go about your life, not realizing how amazing it feels just to command your attention even but for a moment. I am continually intrigued. SPD PATROLLING S CEDAR Thank you to the SPD for patrolling S Cedar. The rampant speeding, tailgating, passing over the double yellow (or in the bike and parking lanes), and the unwillingness from most motorists to stop for pedestrians is a blight on the neighborhood. The enforcement efforts of SPD are GREATLY APPRECIATED! Please visit often!

3/4/22 NORTH WINCO Thank you to whoever found my silk scarf and gave it to the customer service desk. Thanks, also, to the store employees who helped me in my distress. Future wearings of the scarf will trigger prayerful thoughts of you all!

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question to you is, why don’t YOU want to yell that from EVERY rooftop? LAME DRIVER OF ILLINOIS MINIVAN Whether you’re visiting or new in town, Illinois Dodge minivan driver on Country Homes, keep your cigarette butts & your middle fingers to yourself. Respect the

Wake up people — NOT woke! Aware!

JEERS

PRETEND SOLDIERS AR-15 owners who are not currently serving and never served in the military or in law enforcement. Here is your chance to make a positive difference in both the U.S. and Ukraine. Send your AR15s to the Ukrainians. Body armor too. Make Ukraine more deadly for the Russian invaders and the U.S. safer for our kids. A twofer! You will still be more than well armed with your other guns. THANKS, BENITO So, reading the response to a piece the other day that mentioned Mussolini, I was so dumbfounded by the response I laughed at how far off of the point it was. Actually, it just proved the actual point I was trying to make. That point? That the West side of the state takes advantage of the East side of the state (East side is US BTW) all because we are such dolts that we just follow along like bobbing head dolls in the back window of a VW bug. I don’t care whether Mussolini did or did NOT make the trains run on time! I do care we get screwed by the West side on Everything! Wake up people — NOT woke! Aware! SPOKANE DRIVERS Jeers to the drugheads who can’t drive properly. Recently, I was driving west down Mission when a fool cut between us and the car in front of us (way too close), so

SOUND OFF

they could slam on their brakes and turn right on Hamilton. The car was driven by a female with a male passenger. They promptly stopped at the first red light on Hamilton. She blew a big puff of vape smoke our of her window, and the scumbag passenger opened his door and vomited out something as

1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou by 3 pm Monday. 2. Pick a category (I Saw You, You Saw Me, Cheers or Jeers). 3. Provide basic info: your name and email (so we know you’re real). 4. To connect via I Saw You, provide a non-identifying email to be included with your submission — like “petals327@yahoo.com,” not “j.smith@comcast.net.”

the light turned green. Upon a honked horn or two, they both proceeded to show their tiny middle fingers. He had a bunch of silly looking tattoos over his little hand and fingers. It was rather amusing. I suspect a link between their tiny fingers and their intelligence. I write this for a larger audience because it’s certain they don’t read this. One has to be able to actually read to do so. Regardless, if you are indeed a Spokane driver, don’t be a fool. Give yourself room between cars before switching lanes and nearly immediate turning. Otherwise, someday you may pay for it. ENOUGH JAN. 6 TALK — TIME TO YELL Tired of hearing about January 6th? I can’t see how some don’t or won’t understand how near we came to losing our country on January 6th. I guess we don’t need to hear about it every day as long as all the perpetrators, organizers and participants are held to answer for their treasonous actions. However, do you really suggest we just “let it go?” If your bank account was emptied, would you let it go? If someone kicked you off and took your property, would you let it go? If your parent or child was taken and sold into slavery would you let it go? No? Guess what? Our democratic republic and the rule of law is exactly what was at risk on January 6th, and without it, there’s nothing protecting your money, your property, and the liberty of you and your family members. Without it we don’t have a country. My

”

pretty city you’re trying to escape your Midwest crap hope town in. Super lame and uncool of you to do this. Ever hear of “wildfires”? You’re gross. REF: YOU NEED THERAPY Good advice. Ignore treason aka Jan. 6th. That will keep our democracy strong. DONUTS IN THE PARK? NOT SWEET To the knucklehead who thought it would be fun to drive their car onto park grass in the soft spring thaw and actually do donuts on the grass. I really hope the karma gods catch up with you sometime soon! n

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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.

FAMILY FEAST

& RALLY TOWEL GIVEAWAY Sat. 3/19 vs Tri-City Americans

First 5,000 fans receive a Spokane Chiefs rally towel courtesy of Coca-Cola. Plus, discounted concession items, including $2 hot dogs, Coca-Cola products and more. Presented By:

40 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

Game Time:

7 PM

Buy Tickets @ spokanechiefs.com

Buy Tickets

EVENTS | CALENDAR

BENEFIT

SWEETS BEFORE SUPPER GALA This fundraising event starts with tastings of Girl Scout Cookie-inspired, bite-sized desserts made by local chefs. Dinner is followed by the 2022 Women of Distinction celebration. March 19, 6-10 pm. $100. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. gsewni.org BETWEEN EARTH & HEAVEN A fundraiser to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. March 25, 7 pm. $15-$30. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. sandpointconservatory.org/northidahophil

COMEDY

STATELINE COMEDY PRESENTS: SAM MILLER Sam Miller is a comedian from Olympia, Washington, and was runnerup in the 2021 Seattle International Comedy Competition. Also featuring Jon Hodge and Rob Wentz. March 17, 7-10 pm. $15. The Draft Zone, 4436 W. Riverbend Ave. statelinecomedy.com ALMOST BEST IN SHOW Hobby horses are the vehicle for the BDT players to explore the lengths competitors go to win. For general audiences. Fridays in March at 7:30 pm. $8. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com TIM MEADOWS Meadows was a longtime SNL cast member, appearing on the program until 2000. March 18-19 at 7:30 & 10:30 pm. $22-$30. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998) SAFARI A “Whose Line”-esque, fastpaced short-form improv show based on audience suggestions. For mature audiences. Saturdays at 7:30 pm. $8. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com (509-747-7045) NEW TALENT TUESDAYS Watch comedians of all skill levels work out jokes together. Tuesdays at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm). Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com MICHAEL RAPAPORT Michael Rapaport has appeared in over 60 films since the early 1990s. March 24-25 at 7:30 pm, March 26 at 7:30 & 10:30 pm. $30-$50. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com JULIA SWEENEY: OLDER & WIDER LIVE TAPING From the performer: “My show is observational humor and strewn with funny stories from my life. I’m older and yes, a wee bit wider, but I think you’ll laugh and have a good time. Filming the show means that we may have a few

stops and starts as the show progresses. It also means that there will be people with cameras visible in the audience. It could mean that your face may appear in the special.” March 26 at 4 and 8 pm. $25. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org KYLE KINANE: THE “SO...WHERE WERE WE” TOUR Kyle has been performing for 10 years and has been seen on NBC’s Last Call With Carson Daly and the BBC’s The World Stands Up. March 26, 8 pm. $25. Knitting Factory, 919 W. Sprague Ave. sp.knittingfactory.com (509-244-3279)

COMMUNITY

GOLDEN HARVEST: FLOUR SACKS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION The MAC’s collection of cloth flour sacks offers a unique window into the early development of Eastern Washington’s wheat industry. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm, Third Thu from 10 am-9 pm through May 15. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931) ONLINE STORYTIME: LIVE Children have fun learning as library staff read stories, sing songs and share fingerplays during storytime. Ages 2-5 and their families. Registration required. Thursdays from 6:30-7 pm and Fridays from 9:30-10 am, through May 26. Free. scld.org RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR HISTORIC HOUSE Northwest Room librarian Dana Dalrymple’s talk is illustrated by the Spokane Public Library’s videos on how to use library resources and other online tools to research a building. Hosted by Spokane Preservation Advocates. March 17, 6 pm. Free/members; $10/public. Online: spokanepreservation.org LGBTQ+ SENIORS OF THE INW All LGBTQ+ seniors are invited to join weekly Zoom meetings, Fridays at 4 pm. “Senior” is roughly ages 50+. If interested email NancyTAvery@comcast.net Free. facebook.com/SpokaneLGBTSeniors 29TH ANNIVERSARY POWWOW Grand entries at 1 pm and 7 pm. All dancers in regalia are paid $25 during the 7 pm grand entry. March 19. Free. Coeur d’Alene Casino, 37914 S. Nukwalqw. facebook.com/RiverfrontParkPowwowSpokane (800-523-2467) SPOKANE FOR KIDS The first-ever convention just for kids and their respective grown-ups. March 19, 10 am-2 pm. Free. First Presbyterian Christian School, 318 S. Cedar St. fpchristianschool.org/events-1 LET’S CHAT ABOUT VOTING Members of the League of Women Voters invite

high school students to talk about the importance of voting and tips on registration and getting information. Registration required. March 24, 5-6:30 pm. Free. Online: my.lwv.org/washington/ spokane-area TRIVIA: DOWNTON ABBEY While the Crawleys embark on new adventures in the Downton Abbey movie sequel, test your knowledge of their old family secrets, gossip and happenings both upstairs and downstairs. Registration required. March 24, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Online: scld.org IMPORTANCE OF VOTING SEMINAR Southside Community Center members can ask questions and examine ways to encourage the young people in their lives to vote. In-person or via Zoom. March 25, 11 am-1 pm. Free. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. Online: my.lwv. org/washington/spokane-area CABIN FEVER DANCE The night starts with a salsa lesson taught by professionaliInstructors. Following is general dancing, refreshments and door prizes. Couples, singles and all levels of dancers welcome. March 26, 7-10 pm. $5-$9. Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. (208-699-0421) MORNING COFFEE WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Discuss voting importance, how to get information and Spokane League of Women Voters’ involvement. In-person or via Zoom. March 26, 10 amnoon. Free. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. my.lwv.org/washington/ spokane-area TAKE IT APART Curious about how things work? Using basic tools, gloves and safety goggles, take apart electronics, small appliances and other donated devices. Kids 8 and under must bring an adult. Grades K+. Registration required. Friends and family, of up to four people, may register as a group. March 26, 10 amnoon, April 23, 10 am-noon and May 28, 10 am-noon. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org (893-8350) WASHINGTON STATE QUILTERS ANNUAL YARD SALE Find quilting/sewing items at a good price, features 50+ tables. March 26, 8-11:30 am. Free. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. spokanecounty.org (509-4771766) SPOKANE SMALL BUSINESS CONVENTION An afternoon of networking, learning and more. March 27, 1-5 pm. $20$60. Burbity Workplaces (Sullivan Valley Commons), 2818 N. Sullivan Rd, Ste. 100. eventbrite.com/e/spokane-small-business-convention-tickets-273776672397

FILM

HARLAN COUNTY, USA Women’s History Month programming continues with a spotlight on female directors. Barbara Kopple’s 1976 documentary provides a heartbreaking record of the 13-month struggle between a coal-mining community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line. March 17, 7 pm. $7. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127) THIRD THURSDAY MATINEE MOVIE CLASSICS: BIG NIGHT KSPS Saturday Night Cinema co-host Shaun Higgins continues his popular Thursday afternoon classic movie series. “Big Night,” set in 1950s New Jersey, is about two brothers who run an Italian restaurant. March 17, 1-3 pm. $7. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-363-5357) MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR A collection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and enlightening documentary short films. March 18, 6-10 pm. $25. Archwood Hall, 618 E. Wallace Ave. goldenhourfilmfestival.com (208-964-8800) OSCAR SHORTS Academy Award nominated short films appear in three distinct programs: Live Action (March 18), Animated (March 19) and Documentary (March 20). Please note that the animated shorts contain difficult material and graphic images not suitable for viewers under 17. March 18-20. $7. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org FLY FISHING FILM TOUR From Costa Rica to Australia to Louisiana and beyond, see fishing action and stories of anglers from across the globe. March 19, 7 pm. $15-$18. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida. org (208-263-9191) DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION: From the makers of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Trolls, comes an extraordinary exhibition celebrating over 25 years of DreamWorks Animation. The show includes more than 400 items including rare and never-seen-before concept drawings, original artifacts, interactives, film clips, and more. Opening date TBA (postponed from March 20); Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm (third Thursdays until 8 pm). $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org TOTALLY TUBULAR TUESDAYS The Garland’s cult favorite film series is back. See complete schedule and buy tickets online. Tuesdays at 7:10 pm through May 31. $2.50. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland

Ave. garlandtheater.com (509-327-1050) THE RIDER Women’s History Month programming continues with a spotlight on female directors. Chloé Zhao’s breakout film The Rider (2017) captures the intimate and moving portrait of a Lakota Sioux cowboy (Brady Jandreau, in a semi-autobiographical role) seeking a path forward in his life after a near fatal head injury prevents him from pursuing his dreams as an elite rodeo rider. Awardwinning film editor Alex O’Flinn answers questions about the film, presented in conjunction with the UI Center for Multicultural Affairs. March 23, 7 pm. $3/$7. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

FOOD & DRINK

ROCKET WINE CLASS Rocket Market hosts weekly wine classes; sign up in advance for the week’s selections. Fridays at 7 pm. Call to reserve a seat, or register online. Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. rocketmarket.com (509-343-2253) SCENIC HOT COCOA CRUISES A hotcocoa bar is available on-board with original cocoa for the kiddos and spiked cocoa for the adults. Offered every FriSun, at 12:30 and 2:30 pm, through March 27. $12-$16. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdacruises.com/hot-cocoacruises/ (208-765-4000) BREWS & TUNES Join local businesses, breweries and musicians in downtown Moses Lake for a beer tasting event. March 19, 1-5 pm. $25. facebook.com/ events/652833139402882 (509-770-1700) FREMONT BREWING BEER DINNER Fête is partnering with Nectar Wine and Beer for a beer-focused culinary experience. Executive Chef Steven Swanson has worked with Fremont Brewing to create a five-course, Irish-themed meal. March 19, 6-9 pm. $70. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens St. bit.ly/fremont-dinner SCUTTLEBUTT BEER PAIRING LUNCH Gander & Ryegrass is partnering with Scuttlebutt Brewing for a multi-course beer pairing luncheon. Reservations encouraged. March 19, 11 am-3 pm. Gander & Ryegrass, 404 W. Main Ave. ganderandryegrass.com (509-315-4613) KILL THE KEG & SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT This weekly special includes $2 off select GHP beer, $1 off select guest beer and a 20% discount for service industry patrons. Tuesdays from 3-9 pm. The Golden Handle Project, 111 S. Cedar St. goldenhandle.org (509-868-0264)

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 41

PSILOCYBIN

PSYCHEDELICS Are up for Debate Cannabis is no longer the frontier of policy debate BY WILL MAUPIN

ast week, the Washington Legislature passed a $64 billion state operating budget and sent it to Gov. Jay Inslee to sign into law. The 886-page budget details how those billions will be allotted. Buried across three pages in the middle of the document, surrounded by more common issues like coronavirus relief, transportation development and funding government operations, is an allocation that may concern readers of the Green Zone. Washington lawmakers set aside $200,000 over the next two years for research into psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms. Fiscal year 2022, which runs through June, has an allocation of $50,000 while the remaining $150,000 is to be used in fiscal year 2023. The money will go toward

42 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

creating a working group tasked with producing a report on psilocybin by Dec. 1, 2023. The working group will be looking into three broad areas. First, they’ll look at Oregon, where our neighbors went to the polls to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms and to legalize outright their main psychoactive ingredient — though only for use in mental health treatment supervised by trained professionals. Second, they’ll look at Washington to see whether the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board can apply its cannabis monitoring, testing and tracking procedures to psilocybin. Third, they’ll examine social equity provisions should psilocybin legalization move forward. Those three pages of the budget suggest the Legisla-

Don’t put these on your pizza.

ture is being proactive when it comes to psilocybin, and that’s not unwise. Psilocybin, specifically for therapeutic use in a mental health setting, has been gaining popularity and acceptance within the medical community in recent years, as evidenced by Oregon voters allowing the practice in 2020. Mushrooms more broadly have also seen something of a resurgence. In the wake of cannabis legalization around the nation, some jurisdictions have begun legalizing or decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms for personal and recreational use. Since 2019, cities like Denver, Oakland, Seattle, Detroit and Washington, D.C., among others, have deprioritized enforcement of psilocybin laws if not outright decriminalized it. Earlier this year, the Washington Legislature considered a bill that would have brought the state in line with Oregon, opening up the potential for psilocybin therapy, but that bill stalled out in the Senate. A decade ago, the war on drugs began shifting away from recreational cannabis. Now, it’s begun to pivot away from psilocybin. n

NOTE TO READERS

GREEN ZONE

Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a five-year sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.

Marijuana use increases the risk of lower grades and dropping out of school. Talk with your kids.

GET THE FACTS at learnaboutmarijuanawa.org

MARCH 17, 2022 INLANDER 43

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RELATIONSHIPS

Advice Goddess DEATH MEDDLE

I knew my girlfriend wasn’t right for me, and I was super unhappy. Friends I confided in kept saying “Relationships take work” and “Take the good with the bad.” I listened to them and stayed in the relationship, which led to an ugly breakup. When evaluating a relationship, how much should you take advice and how much should you rely on your instincts? —Peer-Pressured Every year, it happens. Men who love power tools end up effectively celibate for a year after buying their wife a vacuum cleaner for Valentine’s Day. (Sad penis emoji.) This gift-giving fail is a cousin of your friends’ relationship advice-giving fails. Both stem from how bad we humans are at “perspective-taking.” That’s psychologists’ term for a conscious effort to put ourselves in another person’s shoes: trying to see the world from their perspective so we can figure out how they feel and what they need and want. Sounds like a pretty positive thing, right? And it is — in concept. In practice, however, we tend to take the lazy way out, explains psychologist Nicholas Epley. Getting a fix on what would work for another person starts with a good long think about who they are — and takes lots more mental sloggery after that. So, we go with what we’d want, customize it ever-so-slightly for them, and then tell ourselves it’s what they’d want. For example, your friends’ “Take the good with the bad,” applied to your relationship, became “Take the miserable with the miserable.” Chances are your friends aren’t secret sociopaths, plotting to ruin your life. But there’s (often subconscious) selfinterest in advice-giving, like what I call “values-signaling”: the showoffy confirmation of the awesomeness of one’s principles by shoving them on others. And then there’s the “helper’s high,” the buzz we get from do-gooding — or the mere belief our dogooding’s done good. If you find a friend wise and think they fully understand your situation and share your values, it might be helpful to hear them out. However, your best bet is taking stock of your own values and then factoring in what’s made you happy (or miserable) in past relationships, along with the likelihood your current relationship will give you enough “good” to make the “bad” worthwhile. In short, the world’s best expert on what works for you is you — because you don’t have to imagine yourself in your shoes; you just have to go find the one your hellshow of a girlfriend threw out the window.

AMY ALKON

DON’T GOO ME LIKE THAT

My husband’s a great guy: an excellent father and provider, dedicated to our relationship. However, if I text him something emotional, like if I’m having a hard time at work, his response doesn’t seem genuine or heartfelt. Sometimes it’ll be inappropriately robotic, like texting a sad emoji. How can I get him to be more emotionally engaged? —Annoyed You did not marry Oprah. At best, you married Stedman. Men are generally not as emotionally fluent as women, meaning not as able to identify and express their emotions. Say a woman puts her husband on the spot: “Well, come on...how do you feel about this?!” Assuming he loves her, he wants to tell her, but what comes out is “I...um...uhh...um...” (He figures he must have a feeling, but he’s not sure what it is, where it is, or how to find it.) This isn’t to say men are broken or deficient. They’re just different from women. Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen explains that women tend to be feelings-focused “empathizers.” From toddlerhood on, women specialize in identifying others’ emotions and responding “with an appropriate emotion.” This comes in handy for narrowing down why the baby’s howling — instead of going with a wild guess: “I dunno...maybe he wants a beer?” Men, in contrast, tend to be engineering-focused “systemizers,” driven to figure out the workings of predictable, rules-driven “systems,” like an AM/FM radio. “Predictable” because — for example — a radio remains a thing that receives and transmits electromagnetic waves; it doesn’t announce in a teary huff, “It’s that time of the month!” and spend six days acting like a repeating saw. What’s actually making you unhappy is not your husband but your expectation that he be both your husband and Carrie Bradshaw. Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen. Bummer, yes, but consider how you describe your husband: a “great guy,” an “excellent father and provider,” dedicated to your relationship. So...you could continue going around resentful that, well, your man isn’t much of a woman -- or decide to shake your head and laugh at this wonderful man’s lame efforts to “speak chick.” You might also consider that men’s native language (when among men) is often grunting or just silently coexisting — which makes evolutionary sense. A guy gabbing it up on the hunt would’ve scared off the wild boar — and then pissed off the wife when he brought home the tree bark and tried to pass it off as bacon. n ©2022, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. • Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405 or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)

46 INLANDER MARCH 17, 2022

EVENTS | CALENDAR WANDERLUST CHEESE DINNER Gander and Ryegrass partners with Wanderlust Delicato for a dinner of fine cheese and cheese-based dishes. March 23, 5 pm. $100. Gander & Ryegrass, 404 W. Main Ave. (509-315-4613)

MUSIC

PAUL BEAUBRUN The Haitian singer and multi-instrumentalist weaves together Haitian roots music with reggae and rock in his own “roots blues” style. March 18. $22. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. artinsandpoint.org NORTHWEST BACHFEST: VICTOR SANTIAGO ASUNCION Northwest BachFest Live presents Victor Santiago Asuncion, piano. The all-Chopin program features his four ballades and four dramatic Scherzi. March 19, 7 pm. $15$55. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org SATURDAY WITH THE SYMPHONY: A CHILDREN’S PROGRAM A musicthemed story time follows the symphony’s programming. Sat, March 19 and Sat, April 16 at 11 am. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315) SPOKANE JAZZ ORCHESTRA: RHAPSODY IN BLUE: THE MUSIC OF GEORGE GERSHWIN Enjoy classic Gershwin tunes with new arrangements by SJO Music Director Don Goodwin that add jazz flair and big band styling. Guest artist Dr. Jody Graves is featured. March 19, 7:30 pm. $17-$25. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. spokanejazz.org (509-227-7404) SPOKANE SYMPHONY: CARMINA BURANA Based on 24 poems from the medieval collection of the same name, the work explores life’s delights, unpredictability, and excesses. March 19, 8 pm. $43-$70. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. spokanesymphony.org (509-624-1200) TODAY’S SOUND, TOMORROW’S FUTURE Winners of the Annual Young Artist Competition solo with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony. March 19, 7:30-9:30 pm. $10-$20. Schuler Performing Arts Center, 1000 W. Garden Ave. cdasymphony.org (208-765-3833) NORTHWEST BACHFEST: VICTOR SANTIAGO ASUNCION & ZUILL BAILEY Northwest BachFest Artistic Director Zuill Bailey, cello, joins Victor Santiago Asuncion for the second concert with a cello/piano extravaganza. March 20, 3 pm. $15-$55. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org (509-624-1200) SPOKANE STRING QUARTET This spring concert program features works by Joseph Hadyn (String Quartet in D Major, Op. 64 No. 5, “The Lark”), Jennifer Higdon (“An Exaltation of Larks”) and Bedrich Smetana (String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor, “From My Life”). March 20, 3 pm. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. spokanestringquartet.org ECHOES OF AMERICANA The compositions in this concert, all composed by Americans and performed by NIC’s wind symphony, reflect the state of America at various times in our history. March 23, 7:30 pm. Free. Schuler Performing Arts Center, 1000 W. Garden Ave. nic.edu/websites/default. aspx?dpt=52 (208-769-3424) GONZAGA COMPOSERS: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE Original music composed by GU Students, faculty and alumni, performed by the Gonzaga

Faculty Ensemble. March 24, 7:30-9 pm. $11. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/music (509-313-6733) COEUR D’ALENE BLUES FESTIVAL The 12th Annual Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival features local, regional and national blues artists. March 25-27; see complete schedule/ticketing online. Prices vary. Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

CONQUEST OF THE CAGE Grab a ringside seat for a night of mixed martial arts action persented by Excitefight. March 18, 7 pm. $49-$129. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd. northernquest.com JAM 4 CANS MT. SPOKANE CHARITY RAIL JAM A freestyle competition for skiers and snowboarders to collect donations for local food banks. Entry fee is 15 cans of food. See website for full schedule. March 19, 8:30 am-4 pm. Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, 29500 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. mtspokane. com/Jam4cans RELENTLESS WRESTLING 7 Live professional wrestling in Eastern Washington. March 19, 6:30 pm. $22-$33. Trailbreaker Cider, 2204 N. Madison St. trailbreakercider.com (509-279-2159) STATE LAND FREE DAYS The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites visitors to enjoy a state park for free on select days each year. Visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day-use visits to a state park or lands managed by the Washington DNR or WDFW on these dates: March 19, April 22, June 11, June 12, June 19. Free. parks.wa.gov

THEATER

NEIL SIMON’S PLAZA SUITE Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza. In the Studio Theatre. March 11-April 3, Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $10-$20. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com (509-325-2507) WICKED The Broadway sensation looks at what happened in the Land of Oz… from a different angle. March 9-27; TueFri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm. $53.50-$153.50. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. broadwayspokane.com/events/detail/wicked JUVIE: A BOX SHOW Set in a juvenile detention center, Juvie depicts the life of kids who are scared, lonely and locked up. March 18-20 and 25-27, 7-9 pm. $13-$15. TAC at the Lake, 22910 E. Appleway Ave. onthestage.tickets/ show/tac-at-the-lake/juvie-70292/ SOMETHING ROTTEN The hit Broadway Shakespearean spoof musical comes to Whitworth. Through March 20; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. . $5-$18. Cowles Auditorium, 300 W. Hawthorne Ave. whitworth.edu/theatre FUNNY GIRL With unique humor, talent and chutzpah, young Fanny, who “isn’t pretty,” defies the odds and becomes one of the greatest stars of her generation. March 25-April 24, Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $10-$35. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com

SPACE MAN / BROADWAY Two new one-act plays by Molly Allen. March 25-April 10, Thu-Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $20-$25. Stage Left Theater, 108 W. Third Ave. stagelefttheater.org

VISUAL ARTS

PROCESS: INVESTIGATIONS IN FIBER, FORM AND TRANSFORMATION Sculptor Elyse Hochstadt presents new works in felted wool. March 4-25, MonFri 10 am-5 pm. Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through March 25. Free. Spokane Art School, 811 W. Garland Ave. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500) REMNANTS Featuring site specific installation, photography and participatory sculpture work by Annie Cunningham and Jamin Kuhn. March 17-April 21; Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm. Mon.-9 am-5 pm through April 21. Free. EWU Gallery of Art, 140 Art Building. ewu.edu/cahss/ fine-performing-arts/art/gallery ROBERT GRIMES: FINAL WORKS FROM HIS STUDIO After 25 years representing Spokane artist Robert Grimes, the gallery is exhibiting final works from his studio offered to the public for sale. Grimes is known for his intricate, three dimensional “paintings on carved wood” that take on the aesthetic qualities of both oil painting and sculpture. Through March 26; Thu-Sun 11 am-6 pm. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman. theartspiritgallery.com DRAWING TECHNIQUES & SKILL BUILDING WITH MICHAEL LENTZ Create the foundation for fine-arts level drawing techniques or continue to advance your skills over this 5-week course. Feb. 19-March 19, Sat from 12-2 pm. $80. Emerge, 119 N. Second. emergecda.com UKRAINE PYSANKY EGGS WITH LYNN WALTERS This wax and dye process uses a small funnel to draw the design and a candle to remove the wax. Ages 12+. March 26, 10 am-1 pm. $25. Create Arts Center, 900 W. Fourth St. createarts.org (509-447-2142)

WORDS

OPEN MIC NITE All forms of singer/ songwriters welcome, as well as spoken word, monologue and poetry. March 17, 7-9:30 pm. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com (208-930-1876) SUDS & SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES: CANCER CELLS Dr. Diaz-Martinez examines cancer at the microscopic level, including changes that occur in a cell as it becomes cancerous and why this makes it so difficult to treat. March 19, 7-8 pm. Free. Golden Handle Project, 111 S. Cedar St. goldenhandle.org BECOMING PLANETARY: FROM THE PERSONAL TO THE POLITICAL Join Professor Litfin, a pioneer in the field of contemplative education, for a thought-provoking, experiential exploration ranging from deep introspection to the visionary pragmatism of planetary politics. March 22, 5-6:30 pm. Free. Gonzaga Hemmingson Center, 702 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/center-forclimate-society-environment/events MARY CRONK FARRELL: CLOSE UP ON WAR The Spokane author celebrates the release of her new book telling the story of Catherine Leroy, one of few woman photographers during the Vietnam War. March 22, 7 pm. Free. Auntie’s, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206) n

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