Inlander 04/27/2023

BY NATE SANFORD

�efried

EDITOR’S NOTE

It may sound odd to our modern ears, but for thousands and thousands and thousands of years walking was our primary mode of transportation. Our cities were smaller back then, of course, and a physicist named Cesare Marchetti says their size was determined in part by the lingering human preference to only want to commute a half hour each way. Back in the day, and for most of human history, a half hour commute translated to about a mile and a half of walking. Nowadays, we can get pretty far in a half hour, which is why we see so many Idaho plates jammed up in our morning rush hours in central Spokane.

Cities were retrofitted to accommodate this new technology called the automobile, Spokane included. Our handsome town built around the waterfall-powered (and pedestrian-friendly) streetcar lines saw its rails torn from the ground in favor of the gleaming new machines. In the race toward modernity, the ancient form of human mobility was forgotten. To this day.

As staffer Nate Sanford reports in this week’s cover story — RECLAIMING THE STREETS — it’s dangerous to be a pedestrian in Spokane. The city, thankfully, is working to make crosswalks safer, but it has a long way to go. For us, the people of Spokane, it’s time to remember that, whether we drive or bike or take transit, we’re all pedestrians, and always have been.

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

Entertainment for all!

april 28

first interstate center

MAY 11

first interstate center

june 2-4

july 6

JULY 14 the podium

JULY 17

First Interstate Center

SPOKAnE ARENA

SPOKAnE ARENA

COMMENT

STAFF DIRECTORY

PHONE: 509-325-0634

Ted S. McGregor Jr. (tedm@inlander.com)

PUBLISHER

Jer McGregor (x224)

GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL

Nicholas Deshais (x239) EDITOR

Chey Scott (x225)

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Derek Harrison (x248)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Seth Sommerfeld (x250)

MUSIC & SCREEN EDITOR

Samantha Wohlfeil (x234)

BREAKING NEWS EDITOR

Daniel Walters (x263)

SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Madison Pearson (x218)

LISTINGS EDITOR

Nate Sanford (x282), Summer Sandstrom (x232)

STAFF WRITERS

Chris Frisella COPY CHIEF

Young Kwak, Erick Doxey

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ellie Rothstrom INTERN

Josh Bell, Knute Berger, Chase Hutchinson, Will Maupin, Carrie Scozzaro

CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING

Kristi Gotzian (x215)

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Carolyn Padgham (x214), Autumn Potts (x251)

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie Grinols (x216) , Tracy Menasco (x260),

Claire Price (x217), Skip Mitchell (x247)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Tamara McGregor (x233)

COMMUNICATION & EVENTS DIRECTOR

Kristina Smith (x223)

EVENT & SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Colleen Bell-Craig (x212), Raja Bejjani (x242)

ADVERTISING ASSISTANTS

PRODUCTION

Tom Stover (x265)

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Ali Blackwood (x228)

CREATIVE LEAD &

MARKETING MANAGER

Derrick King (x238)

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

OPERATIONS

Dee Ann Cook (x211)

BUSINESS MANAGER

Kristin Wagner (x210)

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

CIRCULATION

Frank DeCaro (x226)

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Travis Beck (x237)

HOW SAFE DO YOU FEEL WHEN CROSSING THE STREET IN SPOKANE?

BRIELLE DILLON

Pretty safe. I mostly walk around closer to campus, and since I’m up at Whitworth, it’s a little less busy. I will say walking anywhere on North Division is hard just because it’s so busy and the crosswalks are kind of few and far between.

RED AMBROSE

The last town I was in had a population of 76 people. I pay way more attention to my environment than most people from here.

BRIGIT WENDT

In terms of the cars? I think mostly safe.

Have you ever had any ‘Oh crap’ moments or close calls?

Yeah, a couple but not super often.

RICK PENCA

I can feel safe, but I exercise extreme caution. I won’t walk just because I have the right of way.

Do you usually check and make sure the driver’s looking?

Yeah, I try to. I notice that in front of the library there, that’s a really bad intersection.

CHELSEA STILTZ

I’m actually not downtown very often. Most places I feel okay.

Is there anything drivers should do to make things a little safer for people out walking?

I’d say maybe just considering people with disabilities or older folks who are crossing and they don’t cross as fast.

FDR’s Coattails

The Civilian Conservation Corps gave people a job when they needed it, but it also left a vast legacy across the Pacific Northwest

BY KNUTE BERGER, CROSSCUT

Ninety years ago, times were tough. The stock market crashed, banks were unstable, unemployment soared. The world slid into an economic depression. Northwest farms, timber camps and mines were hard-hit. Hoovervilles sprouted on Puget Sound; the hungry and unemployed marched on capitals in both Washingtons; climate refugees fled the Dust Bowl.

But in 1933 an ambitious effort to turn things around began, and it set off a decade of change that utterly transformed the Pacific Northwest.

Every day we in Washington state are still impacted by the New Deal, a multi-pronged program to lift America out of the Great Depression. In 1933, the newly elected president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, initiated a series of federal programs and agencies to provide jobs and build the country’s physical and social infrastructure. In the West, it sought to pull the region from the frontier period into a new, modern century.

Its scope covered projects great and small, from building the massive Grand Coulee Dam to constructing outhouses for farmworkers. The New Deal’s water projects resulted in irrigation that caused deserts to bloom into more fertile land. Power generated by the Columbia and Snake River dams boosted the region’s industrial capacity, which would help produce cheap aluminum for Boeing and plutonium at Hanford. Millions of acres of land were remade

or reclaimed, lakes created, towns and villages relocated or inundated.

The list of New Deal infrastructure work seems endless as the government sought to employ as many of the unemployed as possible, with jobs generated by local project needs. According to the University of Washington, the New Deal built or funded “28,000 miles of road, 1,000 bridges, 26 libraries, 193 parks, 380 miles of sewers, 15,500 traffic signs, 90 stadiums and 760 miles of water mains in Washington” alone. The bridges included the first Lake Washington floating bridge, the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the Deception Pass bridges, and rebuilds of Seattle’s Ballard and Fremont bridges, to name a few.

The Civilian Conservation Corps provided manpower to build roads, campsites, shelters and trails for national, state and local parks. A military-style organization, the CCC sent mostly young men into the wilderness to make it more accessible to the public, improve the environment, and provide unemployed youths with work and income. CCC crews fought forest fires, built lookouts and rebuilt the dikes which had been breached, displacing thousands, during the great Kelso flood of 1933. They planted millions of

Along with projects like Riverside State Park, Heyburn State Park and the massive Grand Coulee Dam in the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration built Vista House in Mount Spokane State Park. WASHINGTON STATE ARCHIVES PHOTO

The Civilian Conservation Corps arrived in the Inland Northwest in May 1933, headquartered at Fort George Wright. By 1938, the Ft. George Wright District of the CCC was home to 260 companies stationed in camps across four states — Eastern Washington, Idaho, northeastern Oregon and western Montana — with roughly 42,000 members. Each company had a different “Work Project” aimed at improving the landscape, infrastructure, wildlife and forests adjacent to their camp.

— Elisheba R. Gearhardt, spokanehistorical.org

trees and installed utilities in places like Mount Rainier and the brand-new Olympic National Park, which Roosevelt signed into existence. An all-Indian division of the CCC was recruited to improve tribal lands. Black workers were hired too, though they worked on segregated crews.

New Deal agencies built schools, community centers, playgrounds, field and bath houses, post offices, waterworks, and sewer lines. They produced artistic murals and formed a Black theater troupe that put on plays in Washington. Writers were hired to produce detailed histories and guidebooks for each state. They landscaped the University of Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum and the Woodland Park Zoo.

They funded racially integrated low-income housing projects like Seattle’s Yesler Terrace, among the first of its kind. They built airports in Spokane and Everett. They raised transmission lines for rural electrification. They built housing for migrant workers and helped resettle climate refugees.

Their work was not without critics. A Republican candidate in Grays Harbor called the New Deal “Hitler in the Woods,” claiming it would bring socialism to the timber business. The Communist Party argued that the New Deal was an attack on living standards and would fuel more imperial wars. Republicans criticized the spending and government overreach. Private power companies opposed public power projects like Grand Coulee Dam.

In 1937, Roosevelt came to the Northwest to see his New Deal in action. After a tour of the Olympic Peninsula, he visited Grand Coulee, the federal projects’ colossal centerpiece. FDR believed hydroelectric power would transform the West’s “wasteland.” Whole new communities had been built for the dam’s workforce, and the boomtown of Grand Coulee itself became known for sin and vice, earning the title “Cesspool of the New Deal.” Nine towns along the river had to be relocated because of the project. An estimated 8,000 workers were employed building the dam. Twelve million cubic yards of concrete, enough to build a sidewalk that could circle the globe twice, went into it. Seventy-seven lives were lost in its construction. Today it irrigates 670,000 acres of land and produces 21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

Smithsonian magazine has called Grand Coulee “the greatest monument to the New Deal’s epic remaking of the American landscape.” Folk singer Woody Guthrie was hired to sing the praises of New Deal dams. He wrote 26 songs in 30 days for $266.

But despite Woody’s theme music, the New Deal had its downsides. Its dams did enormous damage to once-robust salmon runs, blocking the fish from returning to their spawning grounds. They flooded tribal lands and sacred places like Kettle Falls where Indigenous people had gathered for millennia. The environmental impact of large projects was largely ignored as ecosystems were disrupted. “Roll On, Columbia” today is about tragedy as well as triumph.

Grand Coulee enabled Hanford, which produced fuel for the bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. Its waste will pose a threat for centuries to come. The atomic age and the industrialization of the Northwest have had impacts that will test our adaptability and quality of life for generations — perhaps even our survival.

Still, one wonders where we would be without the New Deal’s upsides. We can take heart that we’re capable of rising to huge challenges when crises arise, even those that were, and are, mostly manmade. n

Knute Berger is editor-at-large at Crosscut, where this article first appeared. Visit crosscut.com.

Final weekend – ends April 30

DOG WALKERS WALK OUT

For the last year and a half, new leadership at Spokane Humane Society has changed how the nonprofit animal shelter operates, trying to stabilize the institution after years of turnover. But change isn’t easy.

Last week, tensions between paid executives and some of the shelter’s unpaid volunteers hit a breaking point. Sixteen volunteers walked out. In a joint resignation letter, they said “the hostile, adversarial treatment of volunteers by the current administration is our sole reason for leaving.”

The volunteers’ concerns vary. Some dislike a new “chain of command” structure that prevents volunteers from reaching out to specific staff members, and say they’ve been reprimanded for repeatedly asking about needed kennel repairs. They say a lack of coordination prevents every dog from getting a meaningful walk (above a brief potty break) every single day. Some worry about a lack of training for new volunteers and disagree with the shelter’s use of behavioral tools such as prong collars.

Those who quit, including several very active dog walkers, met with leadership repeatedly in recent months. They sent a petition to the staff in March asking for the reinstatement of Phillip Broadbent, a volunteer widely respected for his ability to work with difficult dogs and new volunteers, and who also regularly voiced his concerns. After the shelter dismissed Broadbent in February, others felt they could also get fired for speaking up.

Humane society administrators say the nonprofit is going through growing pains as Kim Reasoner-Morin — the society’s executive director who started in September 2021 and previously worked for Morning Star Boys’ Ranch and

Bozzi Media — and her team implement a new “Entrepreneurial Operating System.” They note the resignations represent a small portion of their more than 300 volunteers, and say none of those who quit filed formal grievances.

“There was a lot of turnover of executive directors and leadership members in the last several years, and that’s an issue that destabilizes an organization,” says Briana Berner, director of development for the society. “We’re very grateful for a lot of the things that [the volunteers] did during that time. But there also comes a time where the realities of stabilizing and restructuring an organization mean that we’re going to retake control of certain things.”

Brenda Wright, a long-standing volunteer who resigned, served under several executive directors and worked with thousands of volunteers. She says the new leadership has created an uncomfortable, depressing environment.

“This is the worst climate I’ve ever seen. It’s like a black cloud has opened up,” Wright says. “There’s a lack of appreciation and respect for volunteers. … They just want us to walk dogs and go home.”

TIME OUTSIDE & SCHEDULING

The society had $2.7 million in expenses and more than $3 million in income in 2021, the most recent year figures were available. Its 46 paid staff include veterinary medical staff, kennel techs, paid dog walkers and administration.

Not including foster animals, the shelter averages 228 dogs and 196 cats in its care, according to staff, with 98 dogs and 82 cats adopted out each month. The shelter

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

does not euthanize animals for long stays or lack of space, and more than 98 percent of animals that go to the shelter are saved. The rare euthanizations involve severe medical or behavioral issues.

The nonprofit relies on volunteers to help care for animals. Dog walks take about 20 minutes, meaning a single volunteer can take three dogs out per hour. Knowing that, volunteers developed playgroups to help get more animals out at a time.

“I’d put in three or four hour shifts and still leave a lot of dogs in the kennel not walked,” says Yvonne Higgins Leach, one of the volunteers who resigned. “It really bothered me.”

So, four years ago, she applied for a grant and received training to lead a program called Dogs Playing For Life. Under that model, four or more volunteers equipped with tools like air horns and treats can take out 14 dogs at a time. Since 2019, they’ve led the program at the shelter up to four days a week, enabling dozens of dogs per shift to make friends and get more intense exercise, Higgins Leach says.

“They’re now starting to clamp down on this program in particular, with more rules and mandates,” Higgins Leach says. She’ll soon be leading that program at SpokAnimal instead.

Volunteers report any incidents between the dogs or between dogs and humans. Staff say that several dogs have been injured during playgroups and not every injury has been adequately reported, sometimes resulting in emergency vet visits.

Sixteen volunteers at Spokane Humane Society resign over disagreements with new leadership

Former volunteers Yvonne Higgins Leach, Brenda Wright and Freddie Bommer say leaders at the animal shelter dismissed their concerns. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

“DOG WALKERS WALK OUT,” CONTINUED...

Mindy Hayes, who helped lead Dogs Playing For Life before joining in the resignation letter, says that volunteers don’t feel staff work with them to communicate when an animal can no longer go out with the playgroup, needs a muzzle, or gets restricted to only staff for walks.

“Critical changes were typically communicated through a game of telephone,” Hayes says. “It’s clear that we’re not working together.”

Some recent restrictions were made due to insurance liability concerns. After someone was severely bitten, volunteers were told they could no longer enter kennels alone to work with fearful dogs.

Even with playgroups and paid dog walkers, not every dog gets out for enough time, something that fired volunteer Broadbent repeatedly brought to staff attention.

“There’s nothing worse than being a volunteer, you work the kennel and get out five dogs, 10 dogs, 20 dogs, and it’s time for you to go, and there are still dogs that didn’t get out,” Broadbent says. “Those dogs stay with you all night.”

Broadbent, who started volunteering in late 2016, advocated for an organized volunteer schedule to ensure each animal gets quality time outside. He also created a program in 2018 to mentor new volunteers who typically don’t have staff to guide them after they finish orientation.

Staff say they parted ways with Broadbent for swearing at them, interfering with operations, and displaying aggressive and threatening behavior. Broadbent says he was not officially given a reason for his dismissal.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

Dozens of volunteers who did not resign have also met in recent weeks to discuss concerns about leadership.

Broadbent says there’s an overall lack of morale.

“It’s not an enjoyable place to go to because management has become very authoritarian,” Broadbent says.

The former volunteers say they have good relationships with many dedicated shelter staff members, and they worry some feel unable to speak up. Multiple current and former employees declined to go on the record for this article for fear of retaliation.

While previous administrations had an open door policy, volunteers feel like the current administration shuts people down and doesn’t care about their other skills, says Wright, the longtime volunteer.

“We are an intelligent group of people with a wealth of experience and a lot of things to offer, and they’re treating us like children,” Wright says. “They’ve come right out and said, ‘You do not need to share your opinions and information with us.’”

Administrators say that sometimes decisions need to be made that not everyone will understand or agree with.

“It’s just not the role of a volunteer to make those

decisions,” says Ryan Rodriguez, manager of human resources and facilities. “A lot of us have been here less than a year, right? So we’re really understanding our own role on top of creating structure to then provide support and feedback to the volunteers.”

Several who resigned say there hasn’t been a consistent volunteer coordinator in years, making it hard to follow a chain of command.

“They want us to establish a rapport with a volunteer coordinator to reach them,” says Jeff Sandler, a volunteer

Volunteers say they were reprimanded for asking for repairs to the shelter’s kennels. SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

who left. “In the one-and-a-half years I’ve been there, the current [volunteer coordinator] is the fifth one.”

The new coordinator was hired in February, and staff say she’s starting to take on scheduling and training, as volunteers have requested. Staff also say that at least one prior coordinator left due to intimidation from volunteers, and it took awhile to find the right person.

“What I’m hearing from that is, from both sides, there’s the same goal. They’re saying they want more structure,” says Judie Wozniak, vice president of the nonprofit’s board of directors. “It’s not an easy position to fill, so it goes back to the time it takes to do that, to get the right person.”

A lead volunteer also helps coordinate messages to and from staff.

Some volunteers like Freddie Bommer, who is a certified dog trainer, don’t feel the organization allows them to fully use their skills. Bommer, who also quit, is a “force free” trainer with concerns about using prong collars for difficult dogs.

“My whole thing was, ‘Let me help transition them off the prong collar,’” Bommer says. “Their argument was, ‘No, these dogs need consistency.’”

Shelter Manager Sheena Bryant says that volunteers need to follow the staff’s disciplinary structure, which is intended to save animals’ lives. Only a handful of dogs at a time are on prong collars, she says.

“You can’t bring in your own training style and go against our program style,” says Reasoner-Morin, the executive director.

SHELTER STATUS

The shelter near Bigelow Gulch Road operates out of a 50-yearold building in need of repairs.

Volunteers have repeatedly asked staff to fix issues with the ...continued on page 13

Cinco de Mayo

Watching the Watchmen

Spokane City Council urges the mayor to launch an investigation into the police chief’s “concerning” emails with property owners — but she’s not interested

BY NATE SANFORD

Spokane City Council members are proposing a resolution urging Mayor Nadine Woodward to order an investigation into allegations of “concerning and unusual communications” between Police Chief Craig Meidl and a group of commercial property owners.

She’s not having it.

“This is a whole organized attempt to disparage the police chief and our police department, and this community won’t stand for it,” Woodward said while visiting the new East Central neighborhood police precinct on Monday.

The resolution follows revelations of a “prolific email relationship” between Meidl and the property owners that a police ombudsman investigation uncovered in December. Progressives have criticized Meidl, saying he crossed a line by releasing preliminary police reports to the property owners that they in turn used to lobby against police reform efforts.

Meidl has so far said he’s done nothing wrong and was simply communicating with concerned citizens.

Spokane’s municipal code requires that all complaints against the police chief be directed to the mayor and investigated by human resources. Council President Breean

Beggs said in a Monday committee meeting that, despite the city receiving a number of complaints about the behavior outlined in the ombudsman report, the mayor has yet to launch an investigation.

“This resolution is basically just calling out the mayor to do what’s required under the code,” Beggs said.

On Monday, Woodward described herself as a “law and order mayor” who follows city code and orders investigations — when the complaints come from the community.

“But when it’s political and when it comes from City Council, I’m not obligated to do anything,” she said, adding that the ombudsman has looked into the issue.

But it’s not just council members who have something to say about the chief’s behavior. Almost two dozen community organizations have signed a letter calling for Meidl’s resignation. More than 2,000 people have signed a counter petition in support of the chief.

The proposed resolution urges human resources to bring in an investigator from outside city ranks. Beggs says that’s because the issue has been so politicized that HR and the City Attorney’s Office may want to avoid doing it.

In addition to concerns about the possible violation of laws surrounding the public release of police records, the resolution also asks that investigators look into whether Meidl’s communications violated laws or policies relating to electioneering and anti-harassment. The property owners are politically active, and council members worry that the police information was used to lobby for tougher laws — and attack progressive politicians.

The resolution, which has yet to be scheduled for a vote, is sponsored by Beggs and City Council members Betsy Wilkerson and Lori Kinnear. Wilkerson says the revelations about Meidl’s communications have opened a rift in the community, and that she hopes an investigation will bring transparency and closure.

“When there’s something this high profile out there, the citizens deserve to know,” Wilkerson says. n nates@inlander.com

Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

“DOG WALKERS WALK OUT,” CONTINUED...

dog kennels, some of which have problematic latches, pieces of broken wire fencing, sharp edges on sheet metal dividers, and missing or broken grates above drains. Some dogs have cut themselves, and volunteers say they’ve been pinched or scraped.

Until a new shelter is built, volunteers say those fixes are needed as soon as possible, as the animals can’t wait years for solutions. Rodriguez says staff have to prioritize maintenance requests, and things like clogged drains take priority over sticky latches. He says the shelter is in the process of putting covers over sharp metal corners.

A “Big Red Barn” on the property was renovated by the KXLY Extreme Team and a grant from Washington Trust Bank, opening in 2020 as a space to take dogs in inclement weather and hold volunteer gatherings. But staff say it was only used a few hours per week, and as administrative staff outgrow the trailer where they work, they’re renovating the barn again to house their offices.

Some volunteers questioned using money for that renovation, as well as the board’s choice to spend $250,000 on a new dog park in Riverfront Park, as they felt that money could be better used making animal enclosures safer. (The dog park funding is part of the $750,000 fundraising campaign run by the Spokane Parks Foundation. Ted McGregor, the Inlander’s publisher, sits on the foundation’s board.)

But board members says the dog park money ultimately came from a restricted donation that could only be used for the park, and staff say they’re working through a list of repairs at the current facility.

“It is an old building, but once you start fixing things, you have to bring it up to code,” says Heather Bafus, the shelter’s finance manager. “Because nobody took care of the maintenance for years, everything is starting to fall apart now. So now we have to make choices.” n

samanthaw@inlander.com

MORE MOUNTAIN. MORE VALUE.

23-24 SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW

Building Bills

Washington lawmakers passed a flurry of bills this session to reform housing regulations, and increase supply for renters and homebuyers

BY SUMMER SANDSTROM

Washington state lawmakers made housing a priority this legislative session as the cities and counties they represent endure housing shortages, rising rent prices, and a lack of support for renters and potential homebuyers.

The Legislature passed 19 bills on an array of housing issues, from legalizing middle housing options to streamlining development processes that take up a majority of time in construction projects. Both the House and Senate have passed the bills, which await Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature.

According to a recent article from Sightline, a sustainability-focused think tank in Seattle, three things are needed to address a housing crisis: increasing the quantity of available homes, increasing the amount of stable housing, and providing assistance to those who can’t afford available housing options.

Efforts to confront the nationwide housing crisis do have detractors. Critics like state Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, argue that the issue should be addressed by the market, or local communities, rather than by the state.

“I have more faith in the folks in the cities in my district to make these decisions than people in Olympia,” says Padden.

Yet lawmakers like state Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, say it’s time for bolder action.

“We have a crisis right now, so the status quo is not working,” he says. “So that, I think, necessitates a change, which means one of those changes is the state being a little more involved.”

About 14,000 people moved to Spokane between 2010 and 2020. Two in five households in the region have trouble paying rent. There’s short supply of affordable housing options, and rent prices increased last year by 5.1 percent on average.

The problem is unavoidable in Spokane, and across the state.

“We’re short about 150,000 to 250,000 units, and we have to build 1 million more homes to meet demand,” says state Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, of the state’s housing supply.

$299 ADULT $489 SENIOR $359

Six zoning reform bills passed this session will, among other things, allow construction of more types of housing as well as encourage greater housing density in established neighborhoods rather than incentivizing sprawl on a city’s fringe.

Three measures that originated in the state house — House Bills 1110, 1337 and 5058 — aim to increase housing density by permitting socalled middle housing options such as duplexes, fourplexes and six-plexes — regardless if a city has more restrictive zoning laws. Homeowners also would be able to construct accessory dwell-

ing units, sometimes known as “inlaw” apartments, without the barriers that up to now have prohibited property owners from building and renting them out.

Other bills — HB 1042 and Senate Bill 5491 — changed requirements around residential building height, which will allow buildings up to six stories.

SB 5058 streamlined design and inspection requirements for buildings with less than 12 units and no more than two stories.

And a trio of bills — HB 5412, HB 1293 and SB 5290 — streamlined environmental and design review, and permit processes to allow for faster construction.

When renters and homeowners don’t have adequate protection and support, maintaining or acquiring housing can become difficult.

Two bills, HB 1074 and SB 5197, created additional protections for renters by limiting the power of landlords to charge unreasonable damage deposits or unfairly evict someone.

With rising rent prices, many housing options around the state, including in Spokane, aren’t affordable for a majority of people. HB 1695 clarified the definitions of affordable housing to allow the governments to sell surplus property for affordable housing development.

SB 5301 made changes to affordable housing subsidy programs, such as requiring that at least 10 percent of funds from the state’s Housing Trust Fund go to organizations supporting communities disproportionately impacted by homelessness.

SB 5045 creates property tax exemptions for accessory dwelling unit owners so they can rent the property to low-income tenants, and HB 1326 reduces utility costs for affordable and supportive housing that are owned by nonprofits or housing authorities.

In addition to the flurry of newly passed bills, the state devoted $400 million to the state’s Housing Trust Fund over the next two years. The trust fund is the state’s primary way of financing affordable housing projects through grants and loans, and this allocation marks a record high investment in the program.

According to Riccelli, none of these bills are a silver bullet solution, but they will streamline many of the barriers preventing increasing housing supply and equity in the state.

“It’s the passing of bills that always gets the headlines, but the real measure of the effectiveness will come from the implementation,” Billig says. “There’s going to be a lot of focus on making sure that these bills are implemented in an effective way and in a timely way. That will be the next step.” n

summers@inlander.com

The Boxcar apartments in Spokane’s U-District. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Monsanto’s Millions

Spokane gets $6.7 million from international polluter. Plus comics for the incarcerated; a homeless advocate dies; and the Snake River’s damless future.

Spokane has received its expected multimillion-dollar windfall from a yearslong lawsuit against a chemical manufacturer whose products have polluted the Spokane River. As one of a dozen named plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Monsanto, which focused on toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the city of Spokane received $6.7 million last week in a settlement. Spokane County and Spokane Valley could also get a combined $6 million or more. “It isn’t often that polluters are actually held accountable, and I commend the City’s legal team and public works staff for their efforts in supporting a cleaner Spokane River for all people,” said Council President Breean Beggs in a statement. (SAMANTHA

WOHLFEIL)

JAILHOUSE COMICS

Prison can be a frightening, disorienting and confusing experience. But in Idaho, people facing incarceration have a new guide to help make sense of it all. Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho published a graphic novel to help incarcerated people understand their legal rights. The guidebook “Your Rights on the Inside: A Handbook for Incarcerated Idahoans’’ contains information about medical care, dietary requests, voting, LGBTQ+ rights and education. Dina Flores-Brewer, an attorney for the Idaho ACLU, said in a statement that the book aims to cut through the jargon by giving people an easy to understand guide to their rights. Incarcerated people can request a free copy from the Idaho ACLU or look for a copy in their prison law library. (NATE SANFORD)

RIP MIKE SHAW

Mike Shaw, CEO of the Guardians Foundation, the nonprofit running two of the city’s major homeless shelters last year, was found dead at his organization’s headquarters last month. “His heart finally gave out,” says Howard Ricco, a close friend. Shaw wasn’t originally intending to run homeless shelters — just help homeless veterans. But he repeatedly stepped up when the city needed someone to wade into shelter operations. That ended late last year after Shaw alleged that a trusted employee confessed to stealing money from the organization. He was “a gruff old man,” says Chauncy Welliver, a local boxer who’s worked with the Guardians, but ultimately, “he pulled a lot of people out of the shelter situation and helped them.” (DANIEL WALTERS)

RESTORING THE SNAKE

American Rivers, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers, says the Snake River, which serves as a vital habitat for the region’s native salmon and steelhead populations, is the nation’s fourth-most endangered river. Activists and environmentalists have been calling for removal of the Snake’s dams for decades. This year, Washington state lawmakers devoted $2 million to look into replacing the energy, irrigation and transportation services the dams currently provide to the area, as well as to research future effects dam removal would have on grid reliability, consumer pricing and pollution. “We’re running out of time to save these species,” says Kyle Smith, who focuses on the Snake for American Rivers. (SUMMER SANDSTROM)

Get the latest on Inlander.com

May Spa Special SPEND $200, GET A $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE

Treat yourself to some self-care this May at Spa Ssakwa’q’n. Stop by our spa boutique this May to stock up on all your favorite products and get a $20 gift certificate to use in June when you spend $200 or more in May.

Offer is valid May 1ST to May 31ST, 2023. Qualifying purchase of $200 or more must be in one single purchase transaction.

The Spokane River.

RECLAIMING THE STREETS

Since 2014, 1,500 pedestrians and 750 people on bicycles have been struck by cars in Spokane County, and 78 of them were killed — can we stop the carnage?

STORY BY NATE SANFORD PHOTOS BY YOUNG KWAK

It only takes a second for everything to change. In 2018, Benjamin Gedeon was walking back to work after a late afternoon lunch break. It’s a short, half-mile walk between the Panera Bread in north Spokane and Royals Cannabis, where Gedeon worked as a budtender.

But there’s a nasty obstacle: Division Street.

The intersection of Division and Rhoades Avenue has seven lanes of north-south traffic, three in either direction and a center turn lane. There’s a crosswalk, but no traffic signals.

That afternoon, Gedeon made it halfway across the street without any issues. He paused at the pedestrian refuge, an island of relative safety in the middle of roaring traffic, to wait for a break in the platoon of cars heading southbound. A truck in the lane closest to him and a car on the outside lane both stopped and their drivers made eye contact with Gedeon. He ventured out into the street.

But there was a Honda Element in the middle lane. He couldn’t see it, and the motorist, a college student at Whitworth University, didn’t see him. She would later tell police her phone was in her back pocket, and that she was going slower than the posted speed limit of 35 mph.

But the car weighs more than 3,500 pounds — more than a black rhinoceros, among the heaviest land mammals on Earth.

She hit him. His body was thrown 51 feet.

Gedeon survived, barely. Doctors had to remove part of his skull. Gedeon, who was 22 at the time, underwent months of recovery, but he still struggles with emotional

and cognitive problems, disturbed sleep and depression.

Gedeon sued the driver who hit him and the city of Spokane itself, alleging that its failure to build a safe pedestrian crossing led to his life-changing injuries. His lawyers pointed to the intersection’s history of collisions — including one death — and argued that the city was well aware of the intersection’s flaws. It had, in fact, commissioned a study in 2008 that said as much. Last month, the city settled the lawsuit with Gedeon for $3.1 million.

Gedeon’s story isn’t unique. Since 2014, nearly 1,500 pedestrians and more than 750 people on bicycles have been struck by cars in Spokane County. At least 305 of those collisions resulted in serious injuries. Seventy-eight of the people who were hit died.

So in some ways, Gedeon is lucky. He wasn’t one of those 78 people. But he’s still a victim — and the intersection at Division and Rhoades isn’t the city’s only dangerous crossing.

SUVS, SMARTPHONES AND COVID

For a while, it seemed like the U.S. was making progress. After peaking in the early 1980s, the number of people getting struck and killed by drivers steadily declined for decades. But in 2009, something flipped, and the numbers started going back up. Researchers have pointed to a number of factors, like increasingly larger cars or the introduction of smartphones. The deaths kept rising, and by 2019, the number of annual pedestrian fatalities was back to what it was in the 1980s. ...continued on page 18

Between 2013 and 2021, eight people were struck by cars near the intersection of Division Street and Rhoades Avenue, seen above.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MICHAEL GRAY

hello

good, a coalition of private businesses committed to positive change, invites you to:

featuring Michael Gray, director of advocacy at the Treatment Advocacy

FEATURED SPEAKERS: GAVIN COOLEY AND RICK

Gavin Cooley and Rick Romero will provide an important update on the 90 day due diligence process currently underway exploring a Regional Integrated Authority in Spokane County

SCAN

“RECLAIMING THE STREETS,” CONTINUED...

And then the pandemic hit, and everything got dramatically worse.

“Things just exploded,” says Rhonda Kae Young, a professor at Gonzaga’s civil engineering department.

In 2021, nearly 7,500 pedestrians were killed by cars nationwide — the highest number in four decades. Preliminary data from last year indicates that the trend has only worsened. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described it as a “national crisis.”

In Spokane County, 15 pedestrians were killed in Spokane County in 2021, the highest number on record since 2014, the earliest available local data.

It’s not just pedestrians. Drivers are also dying in record numbers. But when you look at the total number of deaths, pedestrians are vastly overrepresented. Between 2010 and 2020, pedestrian deaths increased by 54 percent, while all other traffic deaths increased by just 13 percent.

Numbers for last year are still rough, as death certificates for people who were struck by cars and later died at hospitals are still coming in. But the preliminary data isn’t looking great, and it appears another record year will be on the books.

There’s no single explanation for the dramatic uptick in deaths during the pandemic. People were driving less, and fewer cars on the road should lead to fewer deaths, but researchers now suspect that the emptier roads encouraged people to drive faster.

There are other possible factors, but they’re really all just educated guesses, says Mark McKechnie, a spokesperson with the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. The pandemic was a stressful, destabilizing time, and there’s evidence to suggest that the people started engaging in all sorts of risky behaviors: gambling, drinking, fighting and — crucially — aggressive driving.

Also, in Washington the number of crashes involving drivers under the influence of two or more substances also spiked. McKechnie notes that law enforcement eased up on traffic enforcement during the pandemic.

Regardless of what caused the recent spike, it’s clear that the

problem is decades in the making. And while human decision making certainly plays a role, we’re still beholden to the physical, built environments through which we move.

When a car hits someone, there’s a tendency to assign blame. Was the pedestrian wearing dark clothes at night? Were they crossing without looking? Was the driver on their phone?

But questions like that overlook the broader problem, says Gonzaga’s Young. In recent decades, researchers have moved away from the word “accident,” because it assigns fault to an individual, instead of examining the larger structural changes that could prevent something like that from happening again.

Those structural changes don’t have to happen all at once — many pedestrian safety improvements are relatively quick and simple, Young says.

Curb bumpouts, for example, extend sidewalks near crossings into the street, making it so pedestrians aren’t shielded from view by parked cars. Bollards — those vertical posts that act as a protective barrier between vehicles and pedestrian-only streets, for example — have a similar effect, and are even easier to implement, Young says. Little plastic “armadillo” lane dividers can be installed to separate cars from bike lanes and act as little speed bumps to keep drivers in their lane.

Pedestrian hybrid beacons, a flashing yellow-then-red traffic signal that is triggered by the push of a button designed for midblock crossings at uncontrolled intersections, are more costly. The city has installed a number of them around town — on Grand Boulevard near Manito Park, for instance — and is putting three of them on Division this year, for a total cost of $1 million.

They’re generally pretty effective, Young says. Studies from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration show that they can reduce collisions involving pedestrians by up to 55 percent.

Each year, Young takes her students to the Netherlands, which has for decades served as a sort of near-perfect vision of pedestrian- and bike-centered streets. Its rate of pedestrian fatalities

SPOKANE’S TROUBLED INTERSECTIONS FROM 2013 TO 2021

PACIFIC AND BROWNE

14 people hit by drivers

(Ten pedestrians and three cyclists hit; one pedestrian death)

SECOND AND BROWNE

12 people hit by drivers

(Nine pedestrians and two cyclists hit; one pedestrian death)

BROADWAY AND MONROE

8 people hit by drivers

(Seven pedestrians and one cyclist hit)

WELLESLEY AND CRESTLINE

12 people hit by drivers

(Seven pedestrians and four cyclists hit; one pedestrian death)

INDIANA AND DIVISION

9 people hit by drivers

(Five pedestrians and four cyclists hit)

RHOADES AND DIVISION

8 people hit by drivers

(Seven pedestrians hit; one pedestrian death)

In 2018, the city of Spokane adopted a new Pedstrian Master Plan, but city leaders say they haven’t priortized the plan’s goals.

is among the lowest in the world. It’s shocking how bad America’s looks in comparison.

Young says it all comes down to a philosophy of cooperation and a “streets are for everyone” approach. People on bikes, on foot and behind the wheel all share the roads equally. A person driving a car near bicyclists is likely to be more cautious because they also ride a bike regularly and have a shared interest in keeping the roads safe.

That’s not the case in America.

“I think if you talk to people here about the multimodal aspect, I think they would probably talk about conflict and hostility,” Young says. “There’s a fundamentally different approach.”

In the Netherlands, that philosophy translates to massive investments in infrastructure that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists.

Other northern European countries, like Denmark, have similar approaches to traffic planning. When former City Council President Ben Stuckart traveled to Copenhagen in 2018, he was inspired to introduce an ordinance to formally adopt Spokane’s Pedestrian Master Plan into the city’s municipal code and ensure that the city prioritizes “transportation systems that protect and serve the pedestrian first.”

It seemed like an easy enough goal.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Four years after his ordinance passed, Stuckart is still skeptical of the city’s commitment to prioritize pedestrian safety.

“Little tiny things that I was always frustrated with that they wouldn’t do, I still don’t see those getting done,” Stuckart says.

Breean Beggs, the current City Council president, says it’s probably time for the council to revisit the topic.

“Frankly, even though we passed the law that Ben proposed, we haven’t asked for a report on it,” Beggs says. “Like, are they really doing it?”

Money is always a problem. The city’s pedestrian master plan acknowledges as much, warning that the many programs and solutions it proposes require funding, and that “there will likely never be enough money to do everything.”

When constituents come to Beggs with concerns about unsafe intersections, he generally tells them to go to their neighborhood council so the problems can be addressed through the city’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. The program began in 2010, and uses revenue from the city’s speeding and red light cameras to fund traffic calming projects based on neighborhood input.

The program has been really effective, Beggs says, and gives neighbors a direct voice in the process. There are $3.6 million worth of traffic calming projects slated for this construction season — mainly in the form of rapid flashing beacons, curb extensions that bump out into the street, and crosswalks with center refuge islands. People can help decide future projects at three town halls scheduled at the downtown Spokane Public Library on May 16, 17 and 18.

But the program isn’t without its drawbacks. It operates on four-year cycles, which means projects chosen this year will be installed gradually over coming construction seasons. It’s a great long-term vision, says City Council member Zack Zappone, but the cycle makes it difficult to react quickly when new hot spots are identified.

“If there’s an issue that comes up this year, you couldn’t see any change until 2028,” Zappone says.

If that sounds like too long to wait, Beggs says your second-best option is to go to the city directly and try to make the case that the intersection is dangerous and that someone is going to get sued if they don’t do something quickly.

But the voices of pedestrians worried about some-

thing that might happen are often drowned out by the voices of drivers worried about something that definitely happens every winter and spring. Potholes, Beggs says, put the city under a lot of pressure.

“We know if we don’t pave Riverside we’re going to hear about it,” Beggs says. “That’s politics.”

The city has roughly $27 million budgeted for grind and overlay projects to replace aging street surfaces this construction season. Total sidewalk and pedestrian crossing projects total around $6 million, not counting the projects funded by the Traffic Calming Program.

Funding pedestrian infrastructure projects can be really complicated, with a maze of federal and state grants that all have different criteria.

“So it’s not preventative in any way,” Zappone says.

When it comes to pedestrian safety, city spokesperson Kirstin Davis says it’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture. The city has, in many areas, made genuine progress. Jason Lien, a transportation planner with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, cites the Garland and Perry districts as two examples of neighborhoods that have seen significant improvements through lower speed limits, curb bump outs, and buffers between the sidewalk and the street.

Anthony Gill, who runs the urbanist website Spokane Rising, says the city’s traffic calming work near Gonzaga’s campus — specifically the roundabout and the Cincinnati Greenway — have also been really effective.

“That’s a good example of a place where concentrated investments have really helped make the neighborhood a better place to walk around,” Gill says.

But other areas still need a lot of work. Crash data from the state transportation department shows a number of Spokane intersections that continue to see a high number of pedestrian collisions year after year.

For example, a pedestrian hybrid beacon the city is installing on Nevada Street and Joseph Avenue this year at the cost of $800,000 is funded by the state through the Safe Routes to School program. The state program is paying for the project because of the crossing’s proximity to Whitman Elementary School, as well as its history of collisions, busy traffic and neighborhood demographics.

A similar hybrid beacon slated for the intersection of Greene Street and Carlisle Avenue is funded by the state’s bicycle and pedestrian program, based on its history of collisions, traffic volumes and speeds, transit use, and connectivity to the Children of the Sun Trail, which runs near the unfinished north-south freeway.

The series of pedestrian beacons along Division are funded through a federal safety grant, also due to the street’s history of collisions.

Zappone and Beggs credit city staff for aggressively pursuing grant opportunities. But the problem with the whole process, Zappone says, is that applications for competitive grants are more likely to be successful if you can show that some horrible incident happened at the intersection.

The worst intersection appears to be the one at Browne Street and Pacific Avenue on the eastern edge of downtown. Since 2013, 11 pedestrians and three bicyclists have been hit by cars there. Five of those collisions resulted in serious injuries, and one resulted in a death. The area sees a lot of foot traffic, and Browne is a one-way, four-lane road where cars often drive fast. One block south, the intersection of Second Avenue and Browne is also a hotspot — with 12 crashes and one death since 2013.

Davis says city staff are aware of the collision patterns at the intersection, and that the city recently received funding to build a greenway bike route along Pacific that will include new traffic signals at the intersection. Design should start late this year. The city has also received funding for pedestrian hybrid beacons at collision hot spots like Regal Street and Thurston Avenue, and Nevada and Cozza Drive. Those should be built by 2025, Davis says.

And then there’s Division.

“It’s a brave soul that wants to cross,” Young laughs.

Pedestrians are often an afterthought in American transporation planning, as seen at the tangled intersection on the south end of the Monroe Street Bridge.

Spokane will spend $27 million on basic road maintenance this year, and just $6 million on sidewalk and pedestrian projects.

“RECLAIMING THE STREETS,” CONTINUED...

A LETHAL GAME OF FROGGER

Today, the intersection where Gedeon was hit is still really scary.

Five years after the collision and 15 years after the study found that the intersection is dangerous, the crossing still lacks any form of pedestrian beacon. The only signal to drivers that someone might cross is a white crosswalk and a pair of yellow signs with stick figures on them, as if to remind drivers that humans exist. The nearest crosswalk with a light is more than a thousand feet away.

The sidewalk is narrow, and you can feel gusts of air as each car whips by. The posted speed limit, 35 mph, doesn’t feel like much when you’re driving, but it’s a whole other story when you’re on foot, standing less than a meter away from traffic.

As you wait for a break in cars so you can cross — sometimes for a minute or more — you can’t help but feel like you’re in the wrong place, and unwelcome. The cars have somewhere to be, and you’re getting in their way. This wasn’t built for you.

When a break in traffic finally comes, it’s almost impossible to walk across the street at a normal pace. The gap in cars might only last a few seconds, and everything about the street’s design screams — run, run, run! — like it’s a game of Frogger. You inevitably find yourself breaking into an awkward speed-walk/jog as you begin to cross.

After making it across the first three lanes, there’s an island of relative safety — three lanes of traffic moving at a lethal pace on either side of you. You wait, and the problem that almost took Gedeon’s life immediately becomes clear: if a car in the lane closest to you stops to let you pass, it blocks your view of the lanes farthest from you. If there’s a car coming, you can’t see them and they can’t see you.

The massive size of modern cars doesn’t

exactly help. The pickup truck driver who stopped in the inside lane to let Gedeon cross acknowledged as much in a statement for the lawsuit, saying that he drives a “good size vehicle” and blocks “a lot of views.”

There’s also social pressure. An ever-growing line of cars is now stopped to wait for you, and it feels like you have just seconds to make a decision. You hope there aren’t any cars in the other lanes, and venture out into the street.

Researchers have a word for that: double jeopardy.

“The pedestrian feels compelled to go because now they’re delaying someone, and so their decision process gets a lot more hurried,” Young says. “And then that stopped car is shielding the car that’s coming up behind it from seeing what the car is stopped for.”

It’s a really vulnerable situation for pedestrians, Young says. The best thing to do is to stop in front of the first car and then peer over to check the middle lane — but human nature kicks in, and that fast-paced walk/jog game of Frogger begins.

...continued on page 22

The intersection of Browne and Pacific is the city’s most dangerous intersection. Browne is a one-way road, which encourages fast driving.

This year, Spokane is installing several pedestrian beacons along the Division corridor, including at its intersection of Longfellow.

Members Michael F., Matt N., & Christa S.

Things will be different this fall, when the city plans to install a flashing pedestrian beacon there. Davis, with the city, says the project is funded with a federal safety grant the city applied for in March 2020, before the lawsuit was filed. Being able to show the history of collisions helped secure the grant.

Cindy Schwartz, one of several lawyers who represented Gedeon in his lawsuit against the city, says Gedeon is thrilled about the news. He still struggles with memory issues, trauma, a seizure disorder and a lifetime on medication because of the crash. People at his former workplace have told him about close calls, and he’s glad they’ll be out of danger soon, Schwartz says.

“He’s very happy that they’re going to do that, because he’s worried about other people getting hurt as he did,” Schwartz says. “Maybe not as bad, but any kind of injury can affect your life.”

Division as a whole has long been a hot spot for pedestrian collisions. It’s a major transit corridor that puts cars at the forefront. Humans are an afterthought.

“It’s a terrible experience, completely miserable,” says Gill, with Spokane Rising

The entire street is slated for an overhaul, one day. If and when the north-south freeway is finished and Division’s traffic is diverted to it. In December, the Spokane City Council voted in support of a plan to transform the street. The plan, outlined in a multiyear study called DivisionConnects, would include a rapid bus route along the street, along with other pedestrian improvements.

The plan is a step in the right direction, Gill says, but it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem: Division is simply too wide for pedestrians to safely cross.

U.S. PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES BY YEAR FROM 1988 TO 2021

In a perfect world — with political willpower and highway-level funding — Gill says he’d be interested in seeing Division completely transformed.

There’s a similarly troubled transit corridor called Aurora Avenue in Seattle, where a group has proposed a radical transformation that would see parts of the street shrink down from seven to just one lane for cars in each direction. Other parts of the street would be repurposed for buses,

bikes and maybe even a light rail. A true pedestrian utopia.

“It would be fundamentally rethinking the street with safety in mind first, as opposed to, ‘What safety retrofits can we make to Division?’” Gill says. “It’s a different mindset.”

Gill acknowledges that a radical transformation like that isn’t likely anytime soon. But it’s nice to imagine. n nates@inlander.com

Compensation packages include:

• Competitive bene ts package

• Long-term career advancement opportunities

• Paid time o , holidays, and sick leave

• Health and retirement plans

Do you have student loans? As a state employee you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for student loans.

Help transform behavioral health across Washington state.

CRAFTING AN ESCAPE

A Spokane family lands big with their book series set in the popular video game Minecraft

Benny Billiau used to hate reading. He didn’t struggle with comprehension, but he couldn’t find anything that captured his attention for more than 10, maybe 20, minutes at a time according to his parents, Rob and Kristin.

About three years ago, though, Benny’s attitude toward reading suddenly changed. The magical book that finally hooked the reading-averse 9-year-old? A story based on Minecraft, the open-world, exploration and resource-gathering video game enjoyed by millions of players of all ages.

Then, another problem arose. Benny’s imagination was now so fully captured, Rob and Kristin could barely get him to stop reading. He was breezing through the books, finishing several a day, and quickly ran out of material. That’s when his parents had an idea: What if they wrote their own Minecraft stories for Benny?

It was spring 2020, the start of the pandemic, and Rob had just lost his job working in restaurant sales. He’d always enjoyed writing, though, and even self-published a sci-fi trilogy for adults some years before.

“We were like, we’re not just going to watch shows all day, let’s do something together,” Kristin recalls. “So let’s sit down and write a book that you would want to read.”

The Billiau’s two eldest children, 13-year-old Reagan

BY CHEY SCOTT

and now 11-year-old Benny, had always wanted to play Minecraft together, too, so the family teamed up to start exploring the blocky world filled with explosive Creepers, adorable animal companions, and deep, dark, ore-filled mines.

“We started playing at the very beginning of COVID, because one of my best friends had told me a lot about it, and I really wanted to play it,” Reagan says. “So we were like, well, if we can play together that’s a way to connect.”

“We’ve always been very cautious about any online games,” Kristin adds. “But in Minecraft you can invite people, so when we learned that, and school immediately got shut down, that was when we finally let them because it was actually where they could still play with their friends and interact. And immediately they became obsessed, and we were writing the books months later.”

With inspiration from these play sessions, the Billiaus named their new series The Accidental Minecraft Family Their first three chapter books, aimed for kids ages 8-12, were published that fall under their collective pen name, Pixel Ate.

“We put them on Amazon and, I mean, it didn’t even take that long — they went wild,” Kristin says.

The series is now up to 34 installments, with a new book releasing each month.

Book one of The Accidental Minecraft Family opens with its protagonists, the Smith family, waking up inside a new “seed.” In Minecraft lingo, this is the world map that’s randomly generated when you start a new game in survival mode. In the game, players must collect resources to then craft items like tools, armor and shelter while staving off attacks from the game’s nighttime enemy “mobs,” like skeleton archers, zombies, Creepers and spooky Endermen.

Mom, Dad, Kate, Jack and the family cat, Bruce, are suddenly thrust into figuring out how to navigate this strange, pixelated landscape. The characters are stand-ins for Rob, Kristin, Reagan and Benny. For lots of kid-level comic relief, Bruce is always causing mischief, getting into sticky situations and producing super-stinky farts.

“Benny loves ninjas and weapons and fighting and stuff, and Reagan, when she plays Minecraft, she’s making farms and doing horse stuff,” Kristin says. “And I’m very anti-violence and like, ‘Everyone needs to be kind,’ and [Rob’s] into barbecue and dad jokes. So we just went with that. And it’s funny, because we get emails and messages daily, and kids all the time say, ‘You guys act just like my parents would if we went into the game!’”

In addition to coming up with fun plot points they think other kids would want to read, Benny and Reagan

Rob and Kristin Billiau accidentally became full-time authors. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

are the first readers of each new installment in The Accidental Minecraft Family, acting as quality control for the schemes Rob dreams up.

“The kids, they’ve got all their stories, and then I can be like, ‘Hey, how do I do this?’ or ‘Can you make this in here?’ and then have them go and try to duplicate what I want to have happen in the books,” Rob says. “It’s so neat.”

The Billiaus have been so successful with the books, which are available in paperback ($8 each) and for Kindle ($4 each), that Rob and Kristin were able to transition full time to book writing, a gig that fully supports their family of seven (the three youngest children are ages 4, 6 and 8) living in northwest Spokane.

While The Accidental Minecraft Family books aren’t official Minecraft products, the Microsoft-owned game allows its fans to make derivative content including mods, or custom add-ons.

“Part of the reason I think Minecraft has lasted this long is that they have an open artistic license, which the original purpose was for people to be able to make mods for the game,” Kristin says. “But we’re not the only people who write Minecraft books. And all of these things — the YouTubers, the books — that just pours into this culture and makes it bigger and stronger.”

Last year, the Billiaus introduced a second Minecraft-inspired series called Hatchamobs, which takes inspiration from another game widely loved by kids: Pokémon

“If you go anywhere and you observe kids, I feel like they’re either wearing Minecraft shirts or Pokémon shirts, and so we were like ‘How can we mesh the two?’ and actually it’s been really, really popular,” Kristin says.

Now up to six titles, Hatchamobs is set inside a Minecraft-like world where some creatures can attain powerful battle skills and abilities while being nurtured by their handlers.

A third series for slightly older kids launched in late 2022, called Videogame Agents, Rob describes as kind of like the film Men in Black, but instead of aliens, video game characters have invaded our reality and a team of elite gamer kids is tasked with saving the world.

THE ACCIDENTAL MINECRAFT FAMILY

On Facebook: Pixel Ate Books

Web: pixelatebooks.com

Amazon: Pixel Ate

The Accidental Minecraft Family continues to be the Billiau’s most popular project, with fans reaching out regularly to share their positive feedback. Some have even written their own fanfiction inspired by the series, while others created a wiki for the series’ characters and plot points.

While writing books is now a successful, fulfilling career to which every family member contributes, Rob and Kristin remain true to their initial goal of captivating and inspiring reluctant readers just like Benny once was.

With that in mind, they begin each book of The Accidental Minecraft Family with this preface:

“Here’s the deal. Some kids seem to love reading and others just don’t. But the secret is, everyone can love reading. It’s true. All it takes is finding the right book. We hope it’s these. But more than that, we hope whatever it is, you find it. Because reading is the best way to explore other worlds, stand in other’s shoes, and learn about things you would otherwise never get to experience. Keep reading until you find your book. And then never stop.” n

Benny Billiau is the reason the family’s Minecraft tales took off.

THE BUZZ BIN

HARRY’S WONDROUS WORLD

BY MADISON PEARSON

It’s hard to deny the cultural impact of Harry Potter.

The book-based franchise is a bastion of popular culture, inspiring movies, theme parks, merchandise and an entire generation of young readers. Even as lifelong fans morally grapple with author J.K. Rowling’s recent trans-exclusionary comments, they choose to bask in nostalgia rather than support the author directly. And so, the magic of the franchise continues to endure. The wonder of the Wizarding World visits Spokane on May 5 and 6 as the score of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is performed live alongside the film.

The event is put on by CineConcerts, a company founded by composer/conductor Justin Freer in 2013. Ahead of the performance, we talked with Freer about his love of film scores, the impact of John Williams and more. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

INLANDER: How did the idea for CineConcerts

come about?

FREER: Well, we’re already a decade into this thing. The concept, or the form, was born out of a lifelong love and passion for music and film. Playing these film scores live is perhaps the best, and most pure way, to deliver the film’s original intentions. This was done during the silent film era as well, but they were never rehearsed. The orchestras just improvised as the movie played. CineConcerts is much more complex and robust than that. It’s also a great way to get local talent involved. In this case, we have musicians from the Spokane Symphony performing for this show.

Where did your love of music and film begin?

I started studying music when I was really young. I composed for the first time in middle school, and I had a band director that was really supportive of me. Looking back, I can safely say that I was given a really rare experience where I could compose for an entire band at such a young age. I went on to study music composition at UCLA.

Why the Harry Potter films?

The sheer grandness of an eight-film franchise is a great challenge. I continue to love the way that the movies tell the stories with the cinematography and the music. It’s also a beautiful opportunity to bring new life to that franchise, because the Potter franchise not only connects with millions of people around the world, but allows people to relive that adventure all over again. It’s an opportunity to create a new shared experience and feel the power of the music.

Do you have a favorite part of the Sorcerer’s Stone score?

I happen to have a lot of favorite moments [laughs], but the Quidditch match is fun just because of the sheer challenge. It’s packed with power and a fanciful sense of flight — all of the characters are overcoming great odds, I just love that scene. I think John Williams does that well. He also does an incredible job with the more intimate parts of the score. Like when Harry sees his parents in the Mirror of Erised. He captures the loneliness and isolation so well.

Are you a big John Williams fan?

It’s safe to say that John Williams is responsible for so many young musicians becoming inspired to create music. They might not know it, but that’s the beauty of music and film — you’re often moved in ways that you’re completely unaware of. Williams is a treasure that we all cherish. He’s a part of my earliest music memories. He taught me that music is so much more than notes on a page. He uses musical color, timbre and texture to tell a story like none other. He created the soundtrack to my life. n

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert • Fri, May 5 at 8 pm and Sat, May 6 at 2 pm • $39-$115 • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • firstinterstatecenter.org

SYMPHONIC CELEBRATIONS

Don’t be fooled by preconceptions of symphony orchestra concerts. They’re some of the most fun and interesting events that Spokane has to offer. THE SPOKANE SYMPHONY recently announced its 2023-2024 season and it’s stacked with special guests, nerdy celebrations and fun for the entire family. Highlights include a performance by world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma in September; a show dedicated solely to Looney Tunes’ scores; a cosplay-friendly evening of pop-culture favorites from movies, TV, and videogames; the annual Beethoven’s Ninth performance and much more. Head to the Symphony’s website for the full calendar, season tickets and more: spokanesymphony.org.

(MADISON PEARSON)

PORTAL COMBAT

After a rocky start to the offseason that saw the departure of players like guard Hunter Sallis, GONZAGA BASKETBALL seems to have fully retooled with a talented incoming class of transfers. Headlining the group is Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard, brother of former Zags standout Andrew, who was arguably the best available point guard in the transfer pool. He should provide the true, traditional point-guard play the Zags were sorely missing last season. The Zags also took a short trek to Cheney to pick up a guard/forward who won Big Sky Player of the Year last season, Eastern Washington’s Steele Venters (pictured). The Bulldogs also brought in Wyoming big Graham Ike, who was the Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year before missing the whole season with a foot injury. The trio instantly vault next season’s GU squad from a fringe Top 25 team to one that might be preseason Top 10. The Zags, once again, got dudes. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST

Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on Apr. 28.

ILLENIUM, ILLENIUM. The EDM headliner who’s likely to make you dance and cry releases a new album before kicking off his North American tour at the Gorge over Memorial Day weekend. Sunglasses may help, but we’ll still see those tears streaming down your face. (SW)

THE NATIONAL, FIRST TWO PAGES OF FRANKENSTEIN. The National: Because 30-to-50-something white guys are brooding and emo, but think listening to “actual” emo music is uncouth. (SS)

FOURPLAY STRING QUARTET & NEIL GAIMAN, SIGNS OF LIFE. Enter, Sandman. Or, rather, the author of said title pens lyrics and stories to be set over the Aussie quartet’s orchestral sounds. (SS)

The magic of Harry Potter comes to Spokane via an enchanting performance of the first movie’s score

John Williams brought even more magic to the Potter saga.

Designed to Kill

public lands and waters that were dispossessed and stolen from Native Hawaiians.

BY SUMMER SANDSTROM

On the isolated islands of Hawaii, many crops thrive in year-round growing seasons. However, as successful as this climate seems for many plants, from papayas to corn, the big agricultural-chemical companies helping them grow don’t want people to know much about their operations.

Examining the corruption in such companies is the focus of Gonzaga University professor Andrea Brower’s book, Seeds of Occupation, Seeds of Possibility: The Agrochemical-GMO Industry in Hawai’i. Brower also explores the success of grassroots activists in passing local and federal legislation to protect their home from harmful agricultural chemicals.

Brower is set to discuss her book during an April 28 event at Gonzaga. Afterwards, she’ll discuss systemic and racial injustices and the intersection of environmental activism with Wendy Thompson, director of Gonzaga’s Office of Tribal Relations, and Noralis Rodriguez-Coss, an assistant professor of women’s and gender studies.

Born and raised on Kauai, the northernmost Hawaiian island, Brower knew of the agrochem giant Monsanto’s presence there, along with other producers of genetically engineered seeds and herbicides like Corteva, ChemChina and BASF.

“All you know is there’s pesticides blowing into your house every day, and that’s where we started, really, with this struggle,” Brower says. “We didn’t even know what was being sprayed.”

Upon returning to Kauai in 2013, Brower learned of a city council measure seeking to better inform locals of the environmental and health impacts of these companies’ projects.

“Our bill asked for very simple things: For them to tell us what they were spraying, for them to put very modest pesticide buffer zones around schools and homes, and to do an environmental impact statement eventually on their operations,” she says.

In Seeds of Occupation, Seeds of Possibility, Brower offers an in-depth history of agrochem industries in Hawaii and their dominance over genetically engineered seed production across the U.S.

“The vast majority of what’s happening in Hawaii is field tests on herbicide-resistant crops because as these crops are failing, weeds are evolving to be resistance to these chemicals,” Brower says. “The industry’s response has been to engineer new crops that are able to withstand multiple pesticides put into the same mixture, and more toxic pesticides.”

Many of the companies operating in Hawaii are based near marginalized communities and on

“On the west side of Kauai where they occupy thousands of acres, 6,000 of those acres being so-called public lands, that is one of the largest Native Hawaiian communities in the state,” Brower says.

One chemical used regularly is 2,4-D, an active ingredient in Agent Orange, which was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War and is linked to Parkinson’s disease and reproductive issues. Dicamba, linked to multiple cancers and known to be highly prone to drift, is also used.

“The regulatory system in the United States, it doesn’t rest on the precautionary principle like in many other places in the world,” Brower says. “It doesn’t acknowledge that these things are meant to kill and thus we should be cautious with them.”

These big agrochem companies have caused health and environmental damage in other states. Monsanto, for example, is responsible for contaminating the Spokane River with PCBs, which led to a recent class-action settlement against the company (see page 15). In Hawaii, though, these chemicals are used year-round, rather than only seasonally in cooler climates.

Brower says much of the research surrounding these pesticides is often skewed, partly due to the agrochemical industry’s financial influence over researchers and universities.

“They study only active ingredients from a single pesticide on its own, but in reality, the way they’re experienced in the world, they’re stacked with many pesticides,” she says.

During Brower’s work with activists in Hawaii in 2013 and 2014, Monsanto and other corporations poured millions of dollars into advertising campaigns against activists and politicians, and sued to block three ordinances proposed in that time frame in federal court.

Even with all that pushback, in 2018 Hawaii became the first state to ban the neurotoxin chlorpyrifos, linked to a multitude of dangerous health issues. Activists also helped pass rules relating to pesticide disclosure and buffer zones. Multiple states followed suit, and in 2021 the EPA banned chlorpyrifos from being used on food products.

Brower wants her research to be accessible to people advocating for social change in other spheres.

“I think beyond just focusing on this industry,” she says, “my hope is that the book is going to inspire a conversation about the root conditions that produce this situation and how we fundamentally challenged those and why social change is absolutely possible.” n

Andrea Brower: Seeds of Occupation, Seeds of Possibility

• Fri, April 28 at 5 pm

• Free and open to the public

• Gonzaga Humanities Building

• 1002 N. Astor St., Room 153 • gonzaga.edu

Gonzaga sociologist’s new book examines the dangers of industrial agriculture development

Source Materials

Vantage Point Brewing opens in Coeur d’Alene, focusing on authentic German-style beers and a community atmosphere

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

Coeur d’Alene’s newest brewery has a unique perspective on beer making that emphasizes the importance of brewing fundamentals and beer history.

“A lot of American breweries, they Americanize other countries’ beers,” says Kevan McCrummen, Vantage Point Brewing Co.’s co-owner and head brewer. These beers, he adds, are “usually more hoppy, they have more flavor, aroma or bitterness” than the original version that inspired it.

McCrummen starts by looking into a beer’s history, including where it first came from, before building his brewing plan.

“All the beers that I brew I try to brew true to the origin of the beer style,” McCrummen says.

To master the nuanced craft of brewing, he attended the 151-year-old Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago and spent a month in Germany. In addition to using traditional German, continental European, and English hops and grains, McCrummen is very particular about the water he uses.

As your bladder is well aware, beer can be upwards of 95 percent water. The remaining ingredients are a variation of hops, malted grain and yeast, not including flavor additives like coffee or fruit. That makes water crucial to the process. McCrummen’s brewing regimen starts with transforming tap water to specific, exact standards based on the country of origin that birthed the beer he’s making.

“I carbon filter the water, dechlorinate it, soften it and put it through a reverse osmosis system — it pulls all the minerals out — and then I rebuild the water based on the water profile of the origin beer,” McCrummen says.

Pilsner, for example, has a soft water profile, so he adds magnesium and calcium back in before brewing. That ensures a chemical profile as close to what might have been used in Czechoslovakia, where pilsner originated more than 180 years ago.

“Theoretically the goal is to have, like a true Munichstyle Helles lager when you come here. And a true Mexican lager profile. Or a true London porter experience,” McCrummen says.

The beer lineup will vary at Vantage, which opened this February with a 15-barrel system. Its current lineup includes several beers of German and Celtic origin, and a variety of IPAs, all with straightforward names and none higher than 8 percent alcohol by volume.

The Helles lager, for example, lives up to its name — helles is German for bright — and translates to a crisp, refreshing beer with just a hint of hoppiness. At 5 percent ABV, it’s eminently drinkable, while a hoppier punch can be found in either the West Coast or Hazy IPAs.

Vantage Point’s porter has all the necessary roasted, slightly sweet notes, yet if you’re used to drinking an American brand such as Black Butte, you might find the mouthfeel of Vantage’s version a bit thinner.

Try a single, 5-ounce taster ($3), a flight of five tasters ($2 each) or an 8-ounce pour ($4). For non-beer drinkers, Vantage Point also serves a draft cider ($7) like 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s BrightCider, along with canned cocktails ($8), or wine by the glass ($6-$9).

Located in Coeur d’Alene’s burgeoning east end, Vantage Point offers a spacious venue for anyone looking for a less “pubby” brewpub.

“I lived in Portland, Seattle and Chicago,” McCrummen says, noting that he wanted a more urban vibe that still conveyed aspects of the Northwest.

The entryway features large glass doors and a vertical arrangement of squared timbers in a gentle S-

curve separating the entrance from the main seating area. Reminiscent of Spokane’s Uprise Brewing, the two-story space has an industrial feel with concrete floor and assorted seating. Behind the bar, a wall of Japanesestyle charred wood known as shou sugi ban is a nod to McCrummen’s connection to firefighting and the region’s history with fire lookout towers. A fire lookout tower is also incorporated into the brewery’s logo.

Vantage Point is family friendly, with a large outdoor space and kids’ play area stocked with toys, games and books.

“Our whole thing was that we wanted to be a center in Coeur d’Alene for recreation and entertainment,” McCrummen says.

At a whopping 7,800 square feet, with ample free parking, Vantage Point can accommodate around 100 people indoors, plus another 100 or so out-of-doors. An upstairs space can be rented for private events.

When the weather warms, Vantage can open up its two massive garage doors to bring the outside in. Or visitors can enjoy the brewery’s greenspace, complete with a fire pit and regulation-size cornhole game area.

The food menu is in transition as Vantage Point fine-tunes its offering, McCrummen says. For now, try the Bavarian pretzel ($10), smoked salmon dip and baguette ($14), or the Reuben ($16).

Both desserts ($12 each) feature its beers in some way, including the spent grain brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel sauce. The Beeramisu is Vantage’s riff on the Italian dessert using its own porter in the coffee-infused cakes. n

Vantage Point Brewing Company • 208 E. Coeur d’Alene Lake Dr. • Open Sun-Thu 11 am-8 pm, FriSat 11 am-9 pm • vantagepointbrewing.com • 208-551-2653

Vantage Point’s spacious operation is located in Coeur d’Alene’s east end. COURTESY PHOTO

May 2023

Join us as we celebrate our 30-year anniversary where it all began—with Bingo!

May 5TH – 8TH

FRI Regular Session – Pick a Piñata

$5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25), all regular games pay $1,000.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session – Pick a Piñata

SUN No Bingo

MON No Bingo

May 12TH – 15TH

FRI Regular Session

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session – Mother’s Day Bingo All mothers receive $15 off buy-in. $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25), all regular games pay $1,000.

MON Monday Night Bingo – Dauber Day

May 19TH – 22ND

FRI Regular Session – $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25), all regular games pay $1,000.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session

MON Monday Night Bingo

May 26TH – 29TH

FRI Regular Session – Anniversary Bingo T-shirt One per buy-in, while supplies last.

SAT Matinee Session

Regular Session

SUN Regular Session

MON Holiday Session – Memorial Day Bingo Pick 8 Guaranteed for $5,000. $5 Buy-in (minimum electronic buy-in $25), all regular games pay $1,000. Sales at 1 pm. Session starts at 4 pm.

Session types and hours are subject to change on holidays and during other special event celebrations. Please see the Bingo venue for more details.

WORTH THE WAIT

Author Judy Blume reportedly spent 49 years turning down offers to adapt her landmark 1970 novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret into a film, and the version finally hitting theaters this week proves that she was right to hold off. Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig already created a modern teen classic with her 2016 debut film The Edge of Seventeen, and with Are You There God? she makes another invaluable contribution to the coming-of-age genre. Some of Blume’s themes may seem quaint now, more than 50 years after the book was first published, but her story of adolescent identity and insecurity remains mostly timeless.

Craig preserves Blume’s intentions by setting the movie in 1970 and remaining faithful to the plot, tackling challenges of the time period that still resonate. Abby Ryder Fortson is excellent as 11-year-old Margaret Simon, whose life is upended when her father Herb (Benny Safdie) gets a promotion, and her parents decide to move the family from New York City to New Jersey. Living in the suburbs is just one of many adjustments for Margaret as she faces down adolescence and begins to question her place in the world.

Blume’s novel is remembered most for its frank depictions of puberty, which becomes a constant focus for Margaret and her new friends. Margaret’s assertive,

Classic coming-of-age novel Are You There God?

It’s Me, Margaret gets the stellar adaptation it deserves

outgoing neighbor Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham) takes Margaret under her wing immediately, initiating her into the so-called secret club that also includes Gretchen Potter (Katherine Kupferer) and Janie Loomis (Amari Price). The four girls obsess over which one will get her period first and engage in silly exercises meant to help them fill out their brand-new training bras.

Like Blume, Craig approaches the subject with gentle humor, never mocking the characters for their occasional cluelessness, which makes the instances of raw vulnerability all the more affecting. Graham in particular is an absolute firebrand as Nancy, whose blithe overconfidence clearly masks some serious self-doubt. She may be a proto-mean girl, but she’s never villainous, and Graham finds notes of sympathy even when she’s at her most insensitive.

BY JOSH BELL

ligious affiliation, leaving her to make her own choices, as she explores temple with her Jewish grandmother (Kathy Bates) and churches with her friends. Craig and Fortson show what a burden that is for a young girl who’s desperate for any definitive direction in life.

ARE YOU THERE GOD?

IT’S ME, MARGARET

Rated PG-13

Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig

Starring Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham

It’s a burden for Barbara as well, and Craig makes time to tell her story, as a woman who’s left behind her conservative Midwest Christian family to marry the man she loves, then has further left behind a career in the city to follow that man to suburbia. McAdams conveys all of Barbara’s hopes and regrets, which are reflected in the way she raises her daughter. Margaret is the main character, but Barbara provides a counterpoint to demonstrate that coming of age never really ends.

As its title implies, Are You There God? is about more than just changing bodies, and it treats religion and spirituality with a level of nuance and care rarely seen in mainstream American movies. Margaret’s father is Jewish, while her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams) is Christian, and they’ve sacrificed a lot as an interfaith couple in 1970. They’ve raised Margaret without any re-

By sticking to the novel’s structure, the movie ends up a bit episodic, and some subplots fall by the wayside as the story progresses. Are You There God? doesn’t build to a major climactic confrontation or a culminating event like a prom or a graduation. It’s a small movie about small moments, but those moments are what add up to a life. That’s as powerful now as it was 50 years ago. n

Refusing to Die

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

In Sisu, a gory action romp set in World War II, writer-director Jalmari Helander delivers on the basics of just about everything one could hope for with a film like this. Kills grow increasingly creative without losing any of their unrestrained bloodiness and the survival story being told of a determined character facing down immense odds is efficient to a fault. Just as the film’s protagonist is a lean, mean, fighting machine, the Finnish film itself is a propulsive force that just keeps pushing onward through the muck. Getting better as it goes along, it is a work whose playful spirit helps to smooth over some of the shortcomings that continue to linger underneath it all. Even as it ends up leaving much to be desired — the force of its many fights would have benefited from more flair in their execution — there is still more than enough proper fun to be had in the bloody carnage Sisu throws itself into.

Jorma Tommila, who starred in Helander’s delightful feature debut Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, plays a grizzled war veteran turned lonely miner on a perilous journey through a desolate war zone. After discovering gold in the wilderness of Lapland, a northern region of Finland, he sets out to the nearest town to convert his find into cash. His name is Aatami Korpi, though he has become more of a towering myth than a mere man. Embodying what is known as “sisu” (a Finnish word we are informed has no direct translation though is essentially the concept of courage and determination to just keep going), he will have to fight his way through a group of Nazis who want the gold for themselves.

Rated R

It is not just the brutality that he brings down on the heads of his pursuers, but the ingenuity in how he does so. This begins with a sudden knife through the head of one that — while a strong yet simple start — is but an appetizer for the many violent courses to come. Even as its violence grows more and more absurd, it doesn’t diminish the tension. Rather, it feels like a more grimy riff on a film like Mad Max: Fury Road. It isn’t ever as outstanding as that, prioritizing bloody spectacle over visual splendor, but it still mostly succeeds at all it sets out to do. Tommila is terrific in the role despite barely saying a word, conveying all we need to know with a piercing stare that remains even when his face is covered with blood.

ALSO OPENING

BIG GEORGE FOREMAN

This biopic about the former boxing champ details his rise from poverty, giving up the fight game to become a preacher, and his improbable comeback to the ring. Rated PG-13

POLITE SOCIETY

A mix of Bollywood action and British humor, Polite Society follows an Indian/British girl in London who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman and believes she must save her older sister from an impending marriage, even if it takes an action-packed wedding heist. Rated PG-13

SISU

Directed by Jalmari Helander

Starring Jorma Tommila, Mimosa Willamo

What feels less impactful is how the film introduces a group of women held captive by the Nazis then seems to completely forget about them until the end. Though there is plenty of joy to be had when they strike back at their captors, it is undercut by the failure to build up their characters. While the film clearly values efficiency over all else, this element of the story feels undercooked.

Credit must be given to Mimosa Willamo as Aino, the group’s informal leader, who brings gravitas and grit that makes one wish she had been made more central to the experience.

RETURN OF THE JEDI

Yub nub! To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the classic conclusion of George Lucas’ space fantasy trilogy returns to the big screen. Crazy how they showed restraint and never made any more Star Wars content! Rated PG

SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS

And my goodness does he fight. From the very first moment he sends away his adorable canine companion before getting his hands dirty, it is clear that he is a man who is not to be trifled with.

What makes up for this is how much Sisu lets loose in its finale. Though the majority of the film could hardly be called restrained, the conclusion is where it really takes flight. This helps to not only elevate the film above its lesser components, but ends it on a high note. Though its punches didn’t always hit as hard as they could and should have, Sisu brings the type of cinematic experience where its buckets of blood manage to largely wash away any flaws. n

Ray Romano writes, directs and stars in this dramedy about an Italian-American dad who strives to keep his high school son out of the family construction business when a basketball scholarship possibility opens up, only for those plans to be derailed by a teenage heartbreak. Rated R

Though it’s slow to let all its players in on the fun and not as audacious as it could have been, Sisu keeps pushing to new heights of bloody fun

Finnish hyper-violence comes to the big screen in the form of Sisu

That Does Impress Me Much

Country pop singer Lindsey

Ell is living her dreams by opening up for Shania Twain

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

Lindsey Ell was the target demographic. She was a young girl… growing up in Canada… in the ’90s… who had a passion for pop country music…

There was simply no way she wasn’t going to be a massive Shania Twain fan.

“To say she was my idol growing up is honestly an understatement,” Ell says. “I remember dancing in the mirror when I was 10 years old with a microphone my mom got from the dollar store, like practicing my Shania moves. Watching her music videos and just being like, I want to do that one day

Lindsey Ell has become an ace opener for country superstars.

I want to be Shania. And if you would have told that 10-year-old little girl that she is now going on tour with Shania and opening up for her and being on the road with her for a few months, I would have probably said you’re crazy. And the fact that that’s real life right now, it still feels so surreal.”

A standout talent since she was a teen, Ell has made a name for herself in the pop country realm. She’s released five albums (including her 2017 breakout record The Project, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard country charts), won multiple Canadian Country Music Association Awards for Interactive Artist of the Year (her social media game is on point), and even landed a gig as the TV host of Canada’s Got Talent Ell’s most recent LP Heart Theory came out in August 2020, which was a timing bummer because of COVID, but in a way it also felt fitting. The album conceptually explores the seven stages of grief, which Ell was wrestling with after a bad breakup. The album certainly leans more into the pop rock realm than a hard country twang, but the genre’s fingerprints are evident in Ell’s approach. The greatest tool in her arsenal is the emotive quality of her voice, which rings with an authenticity as she sorts through her feelings of anger, depression and acceptance. Her songwriting certainly carries a hint of that whisky-drenched country sadness, and Ell feels grateful to have the chance for Heart Theory to be an empathetic vessel for those dealing with grief.

“I wrote Heart Theory as an album to be there for anyone who was going through anything. For me, it was a breakup. But whether somebody was going through the loss of a loved one or loss of a job or moving across the world or whatever it may be — going through a global pandemic,” Ell says. “It was just my healing process. And I really hope that that album can be there for anyone else who’s looking to heal.”

In a certain sense, it does feel like all Ell’s hard work and heartbreak have led her to this perfect spot — opening for her hero Shania Twain on the Canadian country superstar’s upcoming arena tour, which kicks off with a sold-out show at Spokane Arena on April 28. Ell fondly recalls going to see Twain on tour as a little kid and essentially seeing all of her dreams materialized in real life on that stage.

“I look up to her so much. And not only did she inspire me so much back then when I was just starting out and deciding I wanted to be an artist, but she still is so inspiring to this day,” Ell says. “It’s difficult to find a female artist who fearlessly stands up for what she believes in, and says the hard thing or supports the hard thing, and does it with grace, and feminism, and is sexy while doing it. Shania — she’s just the GOAT of all things, you know? And I think it’s always hard for female artists to walk that line in between saying what you mean, and still being a sexy feminine woman while doing it, and she just does it so effortlessly.”

Heck, unbeknownst to Twain, one of Ell’s big breaks might not have come without the Queen of Country Pop.

“I went to Nashville 12 years ago to sign my first record deal. I remember walking in the boardroom of Broken Bow Records. The first

CEO of that label, Benny Brown, was like, ‘Who are your influences?’ And I was like, ‘Well Shania Twain, obviously.’ And he was like, ‘OK, play a Shania Twain song,” Ell recalls. “And so on the spot, in order to get my record deal in Nashville, I needed to pull out a Shania Twain song. Which of course was easy for me, because I grew up on that music. But I played ‘No One Needs to Know’ in a conference room with 12 people deciding if they were gonna give me a record deal or not. And when I finished that song, he was like, ‘We want to sign you.’ And so Shania has been with me from the very, very beginning to basically helping me get a record deal.”

This will hardly be Ell’s first rodeo opening up for a country megastar, however. She’s also warmed up the crowd for big names like Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton. It took her awhile to figure out how to best approach playing for a massive audience consisting mostly of folks who don’t know her music, but at this point she’s a seasoned vet.

“I definitely have learned what my job is as an opener,” Ell says. “It isn’t always doing the thing that feels most artistic to me in my heart, it’s kind of molding those worlds. I just try to create moments in every song so that even if someone is familiar or not familiar with my music, they still really enjoy it.”

That ability to adapt has become crucial in the modern country landscape. Like many top female country acts (Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, etc.), Ell’s sound has shifted more and more into a pop direction as the years have gone on. That shift can be heard on her new single “Sweet Spot,” where Ell optimistically grapples with finding the perfect place between life’s highs and lows over a deep, shoulder-shaking pop rock groove. And that artistic malleability has sort of become the norm in the modern country world.

“I feel like I have been leaning into all of my influences, more so now than I ever have in my life. Country music is who I am as a person, but I think that country’s such a wide definition right now,” Ell says. “You know, you see all things being welcomed into the format — anything from Sam Hunt on the pop side of the format to Jon Pardi and even Morgan [Wallen] and Hardy being really country/hard rock. The fact that you can have sonically all of these different things happening in one format, I think it’s really exciting.”

“Because if you aren’t growing, then what’s the point of releasing new music?” Ell rhetorically asks.

For now, she’s content just to bask in the warm joy of getting to hang with her childhood hero on a nightly basis.

“You know, they say never meet your idols, but I will say Shania Twain is an exception to that rule, because she’s just so awesome,” Ell says with a laugh. “And so down to earth. And she likes to hang out for the show and talk about life and fashion and has a really cute Pomeranian dog. And I have a Pomeranian. And so I just feel like so many of these things are just meant to happen in life.” n

Shania Twain, Lindsey Ell • Fri, April 28 at 7:30 pm • Sold out • All ages • Spokane Arena • 720 W. Mallon Ave. • spokanearena.com

POP PUNK THE PINK SOCKS FOLK THE WALLEYE

Thursday, 4/27

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Luke Yates Trio

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Thursday Night Jam

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Riley Grey

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin

THE STEAM PLANT, Sean Kavanaugh

ZOLA, The Desperate Eights

Friday, 4/28

AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Pamela Jean Unlimited

BACKWOODS WHISKEY BAR, Into The Drift Duo

BARRISTER WINERY, Sean Owsley and The Rising

J J THE BIG DIPPER, The Pink Socks, College Radio, City of Ember, Fine Line

BIGFOOT PUB, The Happiness

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Bruiser

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Cary Fly Band

CHINOOK STEAK, PASTA & SPIRITS, Kyle Swaffard

CURLEY’S, Dangerous Type

J GOLDEN HANDLE BREWING CO., Tyler Alai

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Don Goodwin

IRON HORSE (CDA), Royale

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Fun Ladies, United F---ing States

MOOSE LOUNGE, Rock Candy

NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Theresa Edwards Band

OLD MILL BAR AND GRILL, Gil Rivas

OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Son of Brad

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Truck Mills and Carl Rey

THE RIDLER PIANO BAR, Just Plain Darin

J J SPOKANE ARENA, Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell ZOLA, Blake Braley

Saturday, 4/29

J THE BIG DIPPER, Hidden Rap Village Pt. II: brantDemetri x k!dJudo, Wise Owl, Crystal Aragon, ELEMENO-P x Prodsynesthete, Bendi, YP

BIGFOOT PUB, The Happiness

BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Bruiser

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Eternal Jones

CHINOOK STEAK, PASTA & SPIRITS, Kyle Swaffard

CURLEY’S, Dangerous Type

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Sacha Boutros, Brent Edstrom

Quartet

J HUCKLEBERRY’S NATURAL MAR-

KET, Dallas K

IRON HORSE (CDA), Royale

J KELLY’S UNDERGROUND,

Faddis-Adkins Duo

J KNITTING FACTORY, Nothing More, Crown the Empire, Thousand Below

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Alcohol & Feelings

J LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, The Walleye: Songs for a Ghost Album Release Show

J LYFE COFFEE ROASTERS & PUBLIC HOUSE, Dave & Friends

MOOSE LOUNGE, Rock Candy

NEATO BURRITO, Crazy Eyes, Pit, Came

NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE (CDA CASINO), Theresa Edwards Band

OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Ron Greene

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, John Firshi

J PONDEROSA BAR AND GRILL, Lyons & King

POST FALLS BREWING COMPANY, Wiebe Jammin

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Blue Stamps feat. MC Eiht

J SIRINYA’S THAI RESTAURANT &

The Spokane pop punk scene isn’t exactly robust, but that also makes it easy to take in some of the best offerings in a single night. Such is the case when the Pink Socks, College Radio, City of Ember, and Fine Line converge for an all-ages gig at the Big Dipper. As the headliners, the Pink Socks offer up plenty of high-energy power chords and catchy melodic tunes, as can be heard on the band’s 2022 EP Still Waiting…. To up the fun quotient, the band is theming the show as “Heroes & Villains” and asking concertgoers to bust out some cosplay to make the show even more of a pop punk party.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

The Pink Socks, College Radio, City of Ember, Fine Line • Fri, April 28 at 7:30 pm • $13 • All ages • The Big Dipper • 171 S. Washington St. • bigdipperevents.com

Spokane folk group the Walleye don’t pop up that often, but the band’s rare appearances are a chance to take in some quality local folk tunes. As the group displayed in last year’s Inland Sessions performance for KSPS, frontman Ben Menard crafts slowburning storytelling songs with rich Hammond organ support from Auston Ulmer and a slight hint of country flavor. Grab a whisky for sipping at the Lucky You bar and catch the Walleye when the band celebrates the release of its new album, Songs for a Ghost

— SETH SOMMERFELD

The Walleye: Songs for a Ghost Album Release • Sat, April 29 at 8 pm • $10-$12 • 21+ • Lucky You Lounge • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • luckyyoulounge.com

LOUNGE, Gil Rivas

ZOLA, Brittany’s House

Sunday, 4/30

CURLEY’S, Luke Yates Trio

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Paul Grove

HOGFISH, Open Mic

J KNITTING FACTORY, Clutch

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Terrapin Flyer

J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin

Monday, 5/1

J EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 5/2

LITZ’S PUB & EATERY, Shuffle Dawgs

ZOLA, The Night Mayors

Wednesday, 5/3

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Wednesday Night Jam

THE DRAFT ZONE,

The Draft Zone Open Mic

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Don Goodwin

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Ryan Montbleau

RED ROOM LOUNGE, The Roomates

ZOLA, Brittany’s House

Coming Up

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Pretending We’re Just Like Them, May 6, 9 pm.

J LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Mannequin Pussy, May 8, 8 pm.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Hippo Campus, Charly Bliss, May 10, 8 pm.

J J EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE, Dario Ré: Colorwise EP Release, May 12, 7 pm.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Joseph, Flyte, May 16, 8 pm.

J LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, TS the Solution, Truehoods, May 19, 8 pm.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Monke Business, June 2, 8 pm.

MUSIC | VENUES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LEFTBANK WINE BAR • 108 N. Washington St. • 509-315-8623

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. • 509-474-0511

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

THE MASON JAR • 101 F St., Cheney • 509-359-8052

MAX AT MIRABEAU • 1100 N. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-922-6252

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

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

MOOTSY’S • 406 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-838-1570

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

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

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

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

THE PODIUM • 511 W. Dean Ave. • 509-279-7000

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

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

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

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

SEASONS OF COEUR D’ALENE • 1004 S. Perry

FILM DOCUMENTING CHANGE

For more than 50 years, New York photographer Corky Lee, above, documented his home in Chinatown along with other Asian American communities throughout the country, primarily focusing on social justice issues. Lee died in 2021 from COVID as he was working to document the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes coinciding with the pandemic, but his legacy lives on in the short film Dear Corky. Writer, director and producer Curtis Chin leads a panel discussion following this screening, cohosted by Eastern Washington University and APIC Spokane, a nonprofit that celebrates and promotes equity and acceptance of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This screening is one of many local events celebrating May as Asian & Asian American Heritage Month; find more at the link below.

—SUMMER SANDSTROM

Dear Corky • Mon, May 1 at 6:30 pm • Free • Magic Lantern Theatre • 25 W. Main Ave. • apicspokane.org

MUSIC METER MAKERS

Though two completely different art forms, poetry and music are similar in myriad ways. Both involve rhythm, flow, expression, and emotions and require an understanding of form in order to create.

For the fifth iteration of Poetry to Music, sponsored by the Cantabile Chapter of the Spokane Symphony Associates, students from Eastern Washington University studying under professor Jonathan Middleton explore the relationship between music and poetry by composing works based on poems. At the concert, attendees hear the stories behind the compositions from the student composers themselves and see how the worlds of poetry and music collide to create beautiful movements that inspire a new generation of composers and musicians.

— MADISON PEARSON

COMMUNITY CIVIL CIVICS

It’s pretty well known that some journalists love Twitter (well, except when certain billionaires start running things). I have a few personal favorite local Twitter accounts, and Shane Gronholz, the host of this monthly civics salon, just so happens to be near the top of my list. These salons focus on bringing the community together to exchange ideas and discuss what it’s like to live in a democracy in the United States. At this month’s iteration, Gronholz leads a discussion on what the terms “the right” and “the left” mean in a political context. If you can’t make it or your interest is piqued, follow Gronholz on Twitter (@LibraryShane) for daily musings and interesting chatter from the Spokane Public Library’s current affairs specialist.

— MADISION PEARSON

GET LISTED!

Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.

COMMUNITY EQUAL FOOTING

Join the YWCA Spokane for its annual event fostering bold and courageous conversations. Equity for All (formerly called Stand Against Racism) provides opportunities to learn from others’ experiences and come together to build pathways toward racial equity and justice in Spokane. Kicking off the event is a performance by Ferris High School’s step team, followed by a panel discussion on mental wellness in local communities of color, which is the focus of this year’s event. The evening is hosted by Claudine Richardson (left), moderated by Charina Carothers (right), and feature panelists Mariah Brigman, Deekon Jones and Ciara May. Equity for All can be attended in person and virtually, and aims to provide attendees with new knowledge and tools to create greater equity in Spokane.

—SUMMER SANDSTROM

YWCA Spokane Equity for All • Fri, April 28 from 5 pm-7 pm • Free • Woman’s Club of Spokane • 1428 W. Ninth Ave • ywcaspokane.org • 509-378-5804

COMMUNITY SALUTE!

Locals can celebrate and experience the many cultural facets of Italy during the second annual Festa Italiana, an afternoon street fair in downtown Spokane. Hosted by the Spokane-Cagli Sister City Society and Spokane’s American-Italian Club, this year’s event theme is the “Four Fs of Italian Culture: Food, Fashion, Film and Fun!” Among many activities planned is the release of a special collaborative beer, the Sister Cities Kellerbier, made by Spokane’s Whistle Punk Brewing and Birrificio del Catria near Cagli, Italy. There’s also a pasta eating contest (which speaks for itself) plus a classic Italian car show, music by Italian singer Adriano Ferrante and a dance group performing the tarantella, a traditional Italian folk dance. A beer garden, food trucks, games and more round out the afternoon.

—

CHEY SCOTT

Festa Italiana • Sun, April 30 from noon-5 pm • Free • All ages • Downtown Spokane • Wall Street between Main and Riverside • spokanesistercities.org

lay ahead.

I SAW YOU

HOBBY LOBBY & GROCERY OUTLET I noticed you on April 17 when I was walking toward the checkout at Hobby Lobby, you noticed me too. We were at different registers but checking out at the same time. Then I drove over to Grocery Outlet, and as I was walking in, I saw you walking there from Hobby Lobby. I didn’t know you were actually in the store until I saw you by the cheeses. It flustered me. I got what I needed and went to the checkout. You were in front of me there. Look, you’re really handsome, and you smelled nice. I feel like I should have said something witty about running into you there. I saw you take your groceries to an Audi parked between the two stores, a TTS maybe? Idaho plates. Are you intrigued by me? I’m definitely curious about you. Would you like to go have a drink at El Que, or see a movie at the Garland? Tell me what you were buying at Hobby Lobby so I know it’s you. denimdoll@post.com

FLYTIPPING! Yes, I SAW YOU woman in the white Honda Pilot April 19. Nonchalantly driving straight to the dumpster in the Corbin House parking lot. The large gray piece of furniture you left next to the dumpster will surely be welcome by the city!

DOUBLE RAINBOW Sunday evening, April 23. You appeared out of nowhere and lifted the spirits of countless people. Thanks to the setting sun and rain, but the real heroes were the two of you spanning the spring sky in unison, reminding us all that winter isn’t forever and good times

CHEERS

COMMON SENSE.. ....Motors. Bastian and Dezirae, thank you SO much for stepping up, instantly, with zero question, to answer a call for help. In the wake of a scary, lifechanging emergency, you said “YES” when we asked for empty backpacks. You have forever, positively, changed the life of a young, hard-working family who narrowly escaped permanent detriment. Your kindness and goodness shine so brightly on what can be the scary path of life. Their transition back to their beautifully built, humble life is blessed immeasurably by your answering the call. (We know you sell reliable, dependable vehicles on that little corner of our city, but who knew how awesome your shining light is and how far-reaching?) You have blessed us, and so many, in countless ways. God is good, always, and so is a little red wagon.

STA PARATRANSIT Cheers to the STA Paratransit drivers, schedulers, dispatchers and supervisors! The Paratransit service is the only way that many people in Spokane can get around. They all do their best to get us where we need to go and to do it on time! Sometimes people are rude, unappreciative, and unkind to them and seem to think that they are the only ones that matter. Every single person that I have dealt with at Paratransit has done their very best to help me, even when they are short-staffed and working overtime. Please be kind! Especially to people that are doing their best to help customers with disabilities with their transportation. The people that work at Paratransit are some of the best people I have ever dealt with.

RE: SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS To the person who wrote the solution to the homeless problem in Spokane is to build more libraries, that’s hilarious!! Unfortunately, based on the stupidity of the cheers/jeers section in recent weeks, I’m betting more than a few people are in agreement. The motto for Spokane should be changed from “Near Nature, Near Perfect” to “Near Nature, Near Tents.” The Centennial Trail used to be such a nice place to visit. Now, there are so many tents and so much garbage on it that it’s hard even to veer off of it to get a nice view of the beautiful river. So, let’s build more libraries!!

CHEERS TO THE INLANDER!! Congrats to the Inlander for being credited in this week’s episode of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver!” Bravo!!!! Thank you for your

his resignation, interviewed Meidl for the statement “I’m not resigning,” AND THAT’S IT. No background into the reason WHY they were calling for his resignation.

it is: a cynical move to terrify teachers and students and to distract voters. Shame on whoever came up with and supported the idea to panic the community ahead of

dedication to excellent journalism. You’ve been a part of my life since I was a kid, and I love seeing how you’ve grown. I’m proud of you! Thank you for everything.

DOWNTOWN BIKE LANES Yay to the city for building a nice new bike lane on Riverside in downtown Spokane. It looks great and is a big step in the right direction. But it only took a couple of days for people parking their cars to knock down a bunch of plastic bollards that were barely glued down. How about twice as many bollards, this time bolted down?

GET LIT! From Pie and Whiskey to the poetry readings to the discussions of writing craft, it was a great time! Keep it up, and Happy 25th!

JEERS

SHERIFF PARROTS Now that Washington has banned the sale of assault weapons we’re going to hear the same old dishonest calls for “focusing on mental health” instead of getting rid of the most murderous firearms. The sheriff of Spokane County was out of the gate with this predictable ploy even before the governor signed the ban. This is the go-to argument of folks who just love those big guns, especially when they’re staring down the barrel of a gun reform law. When it IS law, will the sheriff enforce it?

RE: VOTERS Communists! Marxists! Socialists! THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING! Signed, C. Little JEERS TO A LOCAL TV STATION I recently wrote an email to a local TV station expressing my disappointment with their segment on Police Chief Meidl’s inside dealings with Chud Wendle. They reported that activists were calling for

SOUND OFF 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 station did not respond to my email, however quick to send me links when requested. Shame on them, and anyone else who calls this unbiased journalism. I advise locals to take their stories with a grain of salt and investigate further to get the whole story. The station will only give you what benefits their owners.

KILLER DRIVER You were speeding, at least 10 mph over the speed limit, westbound on East 10th in Spokane Valley on Wednesday, April 20. You struck and killed a cat. She was the pet of an elderly widow who was devastated. You didn’t even attempt to brake and didn’t have the courage to stop and at least say you were sorry! This neighborhood has many young kids who ride their bicycles in the street. Many drivers, including YOU, drive too fast. I hope your conscience, if you even have one, bothers you.

NO 4-PLEXES ON FIVE MILE Spokane may be short on housing, but allowing seven fourplexes to be built on Five Mile Road is not the answer. To even think the city would allow this makes me realize the city doesn’t care to keep good neighborhoods intact, putting fourplexes in the middle of beautiful neighborhoods only will allow home values to decline and bring crime to our area. Please help Five Mile Neighborhoods fight to keep this from happening.

CDA SCHOOL DISTRICT CREATES PANIC

AHEAD OF LEVY VOTE The premature and unprecedented move by the CDA School District to declare a “financial emergency” two weeks before the levy election is obviously intended to scare voters into approving another property tax increase. This “declaration” shows just how little respect school administrators have for the people who pay their bills with everincreasing property taxes, and how low they’re willing to go to win. This heavyhanded tactic must be called out for what

the levy vote. If they succeed, this will be not be a win for education, but for dirty politics.

CONSERVATIVE VOTER Wake up! Open a dictionary and learn what ‘Freedom’ really means. Gen Z (and most other generations for that matter) do not want to be enslaved by a Communist Regime. We also do not want to be persecuted by a Fascist Theocracy. We don’t care about Tiktok. We do not condone slavery anywhere in the world. We also are very troubled by the number of conservative voters who fly the Confederate flag and want to bury the truth of the American Civil War. We do Want: Life - To not die because conseervative voters choose to ignore the “well regulated” part of their favorite amendment. Liberty - For consenting adults to marry/engage in relations with whomever they please. To Pursue Happiness - See Liberty above. Freedom - To worship or not worship as we choose. Truth - An America with a news media that values truth over ratings. Justice - For ALL Americans to be held accountable before the law. We the People are diverse and should not be legislated and coerced to conform to your narrow worldview. n

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.

“ Bravo!!!! Thank you for your dedication to excellent journalism.

EVENTS

CALENDAR BENEFIT

MULTICARE HEART STRINGS This fifthannual concert benefits Deaconess Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. VIP ticket includes dinner. April 29, 4:30 pm. $50-$150. Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. multicare.org

SPARKLE & SPEND This annual gala, benefitting Spokane Preservation Advocates, includes silent/live auctions and a meal from Beacon Hill. April 29, 6 pm. $100. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. spokanepreservation.org

SPOKANE CIVIC THEATRE’S 75TH SEASON CELEBRATION An evening of live entertainment, dining, history, fundraising and community hosted by Molly Allen and Randy Schwaegler. April 29, 6 pm. $100. Northern Quest Resort, 100 N. Hayford Rd. spokanecivictheatre.com

SPARK SALON: LIBRARY OF VOICES

This annual event features a silent auction, live music and conversations with local writers including Jess Walter and Laura Read. April 29, 6:30 pm. Sold out (stream for free online). Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spark-central.org

WOMEN WITH BALLS BOWL Register

as a team and play to win trophies and prizes. All proceeds benefit Every Woman Can, an organization that supports cancer survivors and co-survivors. April 30, 11 am-4 pm. $50. Valley Bowl, 8005 E. Sprague. everywomancan.org

IMPROVAGANZA This 8th-grade improv team performs to raise funds for their trip to the Global Improv Finals in Missouri. May 2, 6:30-8 pm. By donation. Trent Elementary School, 3303 N. Pines Rd. evsd. org (509-927-3228)

COMEDY

KELLEN ERSKINE Erskine is best known for him appearances on Conan, Comedy Central and America’s Got Talent. April 27, 7:30 pm, April 28, 7:30 & 10:15 pm and April 29, 7 & 9:45 pm. $20-$28. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)

TREVOR NOAH Noah is the host of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, author of the memoir Born a Crime and has multiple Netflix specials. April 27, 7:30 pm. $47-$97. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org (509-279-9000)

DANIEL TOSH Tosh is a comedian, writer and producer best known for his show, Tosh.0. April 28, 8 pm. $45-$85. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spo-

kane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org

YOU’VE BEEN CONN-ED Bring ideas for quirky conventions and characters, and the Blue Door Players create a show around them. Reservations recommended. April 28, 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com (509-747-7045)

JEFF DUNHAM Still Not Canceled features his many ventriloquist puppets. May 1, 7 pm. $55-$155. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org

COMMUNITY

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE

Visit the library, browse the selection of books and buy them at a discounted price. April 27-29; Thu from 4-6:30 pm (members only), Fri from 19 am-4:30 pm and Sat from 10 am-1 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390)

SMALL BUT MIGHTY: A CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE Panels on cyber threats, women in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and more. Registration required. April 28, 8 am-1 pm. Free. Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Whistalks Way. ccs.spokane.edu

MASTER GARDENER GARDEN FAIR & PLANT SALE

This fundraiser provides gardeners with a selection of thousands of quality plants while raising money to support community education about gardening in Spokane County. In-person shopping by appointment only. April 28, 1:30-5:30 pm and April 29, 8 am-3:30 pm. Free. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. mgfsc.org

YWCA SPOKANE: EQUITY FOR ALL

This annual event features an art performance, a panel discussion about mental health in the community and more. April 28, 5-7 pm. Free. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. ywcaspokane.org

ACCEPTANCE SPOKANE A peer-supported safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth (16-19) in the Spokane area to meet and discuss issues and topics, and promote mental health awareness and acceptance of oneself. The last Saturday of every month from 3-4 pm. Free. Atomic Threads Boutique, 1905 N. Monroe St. fb.me/e/3cxf4vKyL (509-280-9120)

BRICK BUY BRICK GRAND OPENING

The grand opening of a buy/sell/trade Lego store. This event features games, and a surprise for the first 100 people. April 29, 11 am-7 pm. Free. Brick Buy Brick, 3915 N. Monroe St. brickbuybrickspokane.com (616-808-6555)

EL MERCADITO A Latino cultural market featuring fresh food, cleaning supplies, local vendors, a free health clinic, immigration resources and more. Last Sat of each month from 11 am-3 pm. Free. A.M. Cannon Park, 1920 W. Maxwell Ave. latinosenspokane.org/mercadito

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE ARBOR DAY DRIVE-THRU Pick up a free Eastern Red Cedar or European Bird Cherry tree, enter to win prizes, learn about proper tree planting technique, selection and location considerations. In the Molstead parking lot. April 29, 12-2 pm. Free. nic. edu (208-769-5904)

PAGE 42 SPRING VENDOR SALE This parking lot vendor fair, in partnership with On the Level Tattoo, features 20+ vendors selling wares, art, food, gifts and more. April 29, 10 am-7 pm. Free. Page 42 Bookstore, 2174 N. Hamilton St. page42bookstore.com (509-202-2551)

SPRINGTIME QUEER CLOTHING EX-

CHANGE This second annual clothing swap is a queer-friendly shopping experience with opportunity to put together a gender-affirming outfit. Bring your own bag. Clothing can be dropped off prior during the store’s regular hours. April 29, 11 am-4 pm. Free. Atomic Threads Boutique, 1905 N. Monroe St. atomicthreadsinc.com (509-280-9120)

SPOKANE CIVICS SALON Join Current Affairs Specialist Shane Gronholz for a monthly salon centered around discussions on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the U.S. April 30, 2-3:30 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5358)

WELCOME INN A networking night put on by HaveYouHeard Live to help the local arts scene grow by providing free education. This month’s guest speaker is Shantell Jackson. May 1, 7-9 pm. Free. Black Label Brewing Co., 19 W. Main Ave. haveyouheard.live (509-822-7436)

FILM

BEING 97 This documentary is followed by reflections on life and death by local philosophers Wayne Pomerleau, John Wagner, Rosemary Volbrecht and Anna Nowland. April 27, 6-7:30 pm. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5358)

KINO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL This event showcases short films from filmmakers in the Northwest and students at the University of Idaho. April 28, 6:30 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

MOONLIGHT A look at three defining

chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. April 29, 6:30 pm. $7-$10 Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org (208-263-9191)

THE RACE TO ALASKA A film that focuses on a boat race to Alaska that attracts only the most unhinged sailors. Hosted by the Sandpoint Sailing Association. April 29, 7-9 pm. Free. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org

MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA Montopolis performs a live score to this 1929 silent film depicting life in the cities of Odesa and Kyiv, Ukraine. April 30, 7:30 pm. $10. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com (509-327-1050)

NT LIVE: OTHELLO A new production of Shakespeare’s tragedy directed by Clint Dyer. April 30, 4-7 pm. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

DEAR CORKY For over 50 years, New York native Corky Lee photographed his hometown’s Chinatown and Asian American communities around the country. Screening followed by a talk with Curtis Chin. May 1, 6:30 pm. Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. apicspokane.org

STAR WARS DAY: MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU A screening of The Return of the Jedi with interactive elements before/after the show. May 4, 7:30 pm.

$5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com (509-327-1050)

FOOD & DRINK

WHISTLE PUNK 6TH ANNIVERSARY

This event features 14 Whistle Punk lagers and 14 guest taps. Each ticket comes with a commemorative mug. April 28, 3-10 pm and April 29, 1-10 pm. $25. Whistle Punk Brewing, 122 S. Monroe St. whistlepunkbrewing.com (509-315-4465)

WINE TASTING Taste a selection of wines from Walla Walla’s Eternal Wines with winemaker Brad Binko. Includes cheese and crackers. April 28, 3-6:30 pm.

$15. Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St. vinowine.com (509-838-1229)

ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE BREAKFAST A breakfast including pancakes, sausage, eggs and drinks. April 30, 8-11 am. $4-$6. Green Bluff Grange, 9809 Green Bluff Rd. greenbluffgrowers.com

BOTTOMLESS(ISH) MIMOSA SUNDAY

BRUNCH This buffet-style brunch includes various breakfast food options and a mimosa bar. Sundays from 10 am-2 pm. $25. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens St. bit.ly/mimosa-brunch

FESTA ITALIANA This event celebrates Spokane’s sister city of Cagli, Italy, with food, fashion, films and other Italianrelated activities. Takes place on Wall St. between Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main Ave. April 30, 12-5 pm. Free. Downtown Spokane. spokanesistercities.org

CINCO DE MAYO TEQUILA DINNER Don

Julio spirits are paired with an exclusive five-course menu crafted by Beverlys’ food and beverage team. May 5, 6-9 pm. $125. Beverly’s, 115 S. Second St. beverlyscda.com (208-292-5678)

MUSIC

THE CHELSEAS & BIGGER BOAT Bigger Boat, an acapella group, sings sea shanties and maritime songs. The Chelseas perform acoustic folk. April 29, 9-11 pm. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

SPOKANE SYMPHONY POPS 5: JURASSIC PARK Experience the magic of Jurassic Park, projected in HD with a live performance of John Williams’ score by the Spokane Symphony. April 29, 7:30 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. spokanesymphony.org (509-624-1200)

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY CHAMBER SINGERS SEND-OFF CONCER Celebrate the Gonzaga Chamber Singers as they perform the music they’re taking to Italy on their choir tour. April 30, 3-4:30 pm. Free. St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave. gonzaga.edu/mwpac (509-313-6733)

POETRY TO MUSIC This event features the performance of poems converted to music by student composers from Eastern Washington University. April 30, 3-5:30 pm. $20. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave. spokanesymphonyassoc.org

WHITWORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: PORTRAIT OF PORTUGAL The final concert of the season features overlooked corners of symphonic repertoire. April 30, 7:30 pm. $10-$12. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org (509-624-1200)

GONZAGA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT The orchestra, conducted by Kevin Hekmatpanah, presents its season finale. May 1, 7:30-9 pm. $14-$18. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/mwpac

GONZAGA FACULTY RECITAL Professor Kevin Hekmatpanah performs a cello recital featuring Sonatas by Debussy, Franck and others. May 2, 7-8:30 pm. Free. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/ mwpac (509-313-2787)

...continued on page 42

DRINKABLES

Springtime Sips

Recipes for infused mocktails to help you welcome warmer weather

BY WILL MAUPIN

It’s been a cold spring so far, but warmer weather is finally in the forecast. Celebrate the turning of the seasons with some fruity and floral infused mocktails that are sure to push you out onto the patio to enjoy some time in the sun.

Each recipe below calls for infused simple syrup, which is easy to make at home from countless recipes available online. If you’re feeling lazy, like I was, consider using the infused simple syrup by Cedar Creek, which I found for $15 at Mary Jane’s in Hillyard.

The recipes below each make one mocktail with roughly 10 milligrams of THC. All three are easily scalable if you’re bartending for a crowd.

PALOMA

Juice of 1 2 lime

Juice of 1 2 grapefruit

1 tablespoon agave nectar

1 serving infused simple syrup

1 sprig of rosemary

Club soda

Sea salt

Ice

1. Salt rim of a rocks glass with sea salt.

2. Combine fresh squeezed lime and grapefruit juice with agave nectar and simple syrup in rocks glass and stir until well mixed. Agave nectar should be fully dissolved.

3. Add ice and top with club soda until full.

4. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

FRENCH 75

Juice of 1 2 lemon

3 ounces sparkling grape juice

1 ounce elderflower cordial

1 serving infused simple syrup

Splash of grapefruit juice

1. Peel a spiral of lemon zest and set aside.

2. Squeeze juice of 1⁄2 lemon into a champagne flute.

3. Add elderflower cordial, simple syrup and a splash of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice to the flute.

4. Add sparkling grape juice to the flute.

5. Garnish with lemon zest spiral.

BLACKBERRY SMASH

2 ounces blackberry syrup

Juice of 1 2 lime

Juice of 1 2 lemon

Club soda

1 serving infused simple syrup

2 mint leaves

Ice

1. Add 3 ounces (1⁄2 of a small grocery store container or roughly 10 berries) of blackberries to a saucepan on medium heat along with 1⁄8 cup sugar and 1⁄8 cup water. Cook, stirring and smashing the berries with a fork, for 5-8 minutes until slightly thickened.

2. Strain blackberry syrup through a fine metal sieve, collecting the liquid but discarding the flesh and seeds.

3. Add blackberry syrup to a highball glass along with freshly squeezed lime and lemon juices as well as simple syrup.

4. Add ice to fill, along with two fresh mint leaves, and pour club soda over the top. n

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

NOTE TO READERS

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.

GREEN ZONE

64,000

Inlander readers that have BOUGHT OR USED CANNABIS in the past year and live in Eastern WA.

INLANDER’S GREEN ZONE • GREEN ZONE GIFTS

EVENTS | CALENDAR

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SPOKANE INDIANS VS. EVERETT

AQUASOX Promos during the sixgame series include Education Day (April 25), Ribby’s Birthday (April 26), First Responder Appreciation Night (April 27), Fireworks Night (April 28), Family Feast Night (April 29) and Pajama Party Day (April 30). April 27-28, 6:35 pm, April 29, 5:09 pm and April 30, 1:05 pm. $8-$22. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. spokaneindians.com

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION Celebrate Spokane’s 20th year as Tree City U.S.A with a tour of John A. Finch Arboretum and opportunities to learn about tree care, the environment and plant life at the arboretum. April 29, 11 am-2 pm. Free. John A. Finch Arboretum, 3404 W. Woodland Blvd. fb.me/e/Xi8BGm01

KAYAK FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

This tournament features veterans playing multiple games of kayak football, a game that combines the rules of football with the techniques of water polo and hockey. April 29, 1-6 pm. Eastern Washington University, 526 Fifth St. trrspokane.indvsa.org

SPRING DASH Participate in a 5k, 10k, half marathon or a Tot Trot along the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. All proceeds go to the United Way of North Idaho. April 29, 8 am-1 pm. $5-$75. McEuen Park, 420 E. Front Ave. springdashcda.com (208-597-3016)

THEATER

MEASURE FOR MEASURE This reimagining of Shakespeare’s original play takes place in the 1970s and explores the boundaries between authority and authoritarian, righteousness and corruption, justice and mercy, and cancel culture and forgiveness. April 28-May 7; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. $8-$20. Hartung Theater, 625 Stadium Dr. uidaho.edu/theatre

SUNDAYS IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Inspired by the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat, this play merges past and present into poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. April 28-May 7; Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm and Sat-Sun at 2 pm. $15$28. Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Rd. aspirecda.com

MET LIVE IN HD: THE CHAMPION

YOUR TEEN ASKS WHY IS LEGAL FOR YOU, BUT NOT HIM. AND YOU SAY?

Now that marijuana is legal for those 21 and over, it’s more important than ever to talk with your kids.

Six-time Grammy award–winning composer Terence Blanchard brings his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021. April 29, 9:55 am and May 1, 6 pm. $15-$20. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

VISUAL ARTS

Sat from 10 am-3 pm. Free. Gonzaga University Urban Arts Center, 125 S. Stevens St. gonzaga.edu/gonzagauniversity-urban-arts-center

SHEILA EVANS: OF LEAST CONCERN

This solo exhibit celebrates the beauty of birds, even birds classified “of least concern.” A portion of all sales benefit The Audubon Society. April 28, 5-8 pm. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. kolva-sullivangallery.com

CLIMBING EROS CLOSING RECEPTION A book signing with Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton and Damon Falke along with the closing reception for the exhibition. April 28, 6-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. fb.me/e/2teFkEXQs (509-350-3574)

ATELIER: FASHION, FUNCTION & DESIGN This exhibit showcases French doll designers from the 19th century: François Gaultier, Casimir Bru, Emile Jumeau, Eugene Barrois & contemporary doll artists Hildegard Gunzel, Annette Himstedt, American designers and others. April 29, 11 am-4 pm. $10. The Bank Left Gallery & Bistro, 100 S. Bridge St. facebook.com/BankLeftBistro (509-878-8425)

WORDS

PIVOT STORYTELLING EVENT: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Hear seven local storytellers tell their 8-minute true stories, without notes, about close encounters with their past, with fame, with their heritage and with mortality. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10. April 27, 7-9 pm. Free. Washington Cracker Co. Building, 304 W. Pacific. linktr.ee/pivotspokane

10TH ANNIVERSARY INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY This celebration features a selection of new and used books for purchase, raffle drawings and more. April 28, 10 am. Free. The Well-Read Moose, 2048 N. Main. wellreadmoose.com (208-215-2265)

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY

This national one-day party celebrates independent bookstores across the country. Auntie’s event features ARC giveaways, book roulette, a golden ticket hunt, crafts, special merch and more. April 29, 9 am. Free. Auntie’s, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR CREATING WORK? This artists’ panel facilitated by the Human Rights Education Institute discusses the purpose for creating and selling artwork. April 29, 2:304:30 pm. Free. Human Rights Education Institute, 414 W. Fort Grounds Dr. emergecda.com (208-930-1876)

MÓNICA GUZMÁN: I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY A community conversation and author event with acclaimed Pacific Northwest journalist and author, Mónica Guzmán. May 2, 7-8:30 pm. Free. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. innovia.org/ communityconversations

POETICS OF SPACE

The exhibition takes inspiration from French philosopher Gaston Bachelard’s book of the same name which explores the phenomenology of architecture in relationship to the lived experience. April 25-May 18, Mon-Fri from 9 am-4 pm. Free. SFCC Fine Arts Gallery, 3410 W. Whistalks Way. sfcc.spokane.edu

A PIECE OF ME: SENIOR ART EXHIBIT

This exhibition features work by current BFA and BA senior candidates. April 28-May 12; Fri from 4-7 pm,

BROKEN MIC Spokane Poetry Slam’s longest-running, weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD

SILENT BOOK CLUB Get caught reading or studying silently at the library and get a free beverage. Ages 12+. Wednesdays from 4-4:30 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org n

1. 1986-2001 Earth orbiter

4. Really bothered

9. Enliven

14. Suffix with labyrinth

15. Froths

16. QB protectors, collectively

17. 1990 Warrant hit

19. “Go ahead, ____ you!”

20. Hindu goddess of power

21. Canon SLR camera

22. Soccer score after the first goal

23. Oliver’s lover in “Call Me by Your Name”

24. 2000 Sting hit

26. Film in which Streisand plays a yeshiva boy

28. ____ Haaland, Biden’s Secretary of the Interior

29. Plop or plunk preceder

30. The “G” in a G&T

32. Apt name of one of the

PHONE:(509)444-7355

E-MAIL:BulletinBoard@Inlander.com

INPERSON: 1227WestSummitParkway Spokane,WA 99201

to advertise: 444-SELL Available at more than 1,000 locations throughout

characters on the animated show “Bubble Guppies”

33. Chick tenders

34. 1967 Rolling Stones hit

37. FBI agent, informally

39. 1980s TV star whose haircut was inspired by Mandinka warriors

40. “A” in German 101?

41. River islet

42. Big name in nail polish

43. Sydney salutations

47. 1977 Commodores hit

52. Fanzine figure

53. Is suitable for

54. Coll. dorm figures

55. He steals the Tesseract in “Avengers: Endgame”

56. “Revenge is ____ best served cold”

57. “Holding Back the Years” band ... and this puzzle’s theme

59. Sofia Coppola, to Talia Shire

60. GPA booster

61. “Do Ya” rock grp.

62. “____ the seventh day ...”

63. Longtime New Yorker cartoonist Roz

64. Nine-digit ID

DOWN

1. Figure around which Pluto orbits?

2. Clinton said he didn’t do it

3. Successfully lure

4. What one of the Olympic rings represents: Abbr.

5. Played (with)

6. “The Pit and the Pendulum” author, in brief

7. A little off

8. Mao ____-tung

9. End of a figurative journey

10. Church leader

11. One of 52 whites and 36 blacks

12. Still below the horizon

13. Utensils for potatoes

18. Tear gas weapon

22. Ultimatum words

25. Falco of “The Sopranos”

27. Women’s ____

31. Mythological maidens

32. “Trust

Play where the big winners play.

30 WINNERS OF UP TO $4,000!

You could be one of 30 winners to hook between $1,000 and $4,000 in cash. That’s one knockout of a giveaway!

On April 29TH starting at 7 pm, 30 tickets will be electronically drawn. Winners will get to “punch” a square on the punch board game for a chance to win up to $4,000 cash!

Earn entries starting April 1ST at 12 am. Play your favorite video gaming machines with your Coeur Rewards card and get one entry for every 500 points earned.

Cage