Inlander 08/31/2023

EDITOR’S NOTE

Ican’t believe it. It’s still (barely) August and there’s a chill in the morning air. That means it’s time for me to yell, “Are you ready for some football?” like it’s 1989 and I’m back doing algebra homework while watching Monday Night Football

Turns out, this year, college teams in the Pac-12 aren’t ready for some football, at least not in the way they’ve been playing for years. I won’t bother explaining the ins and outs of what happened to the storied college football conference that’s home to the Cougs, Oregon State Beavers and… a couple of other teams. I’ll just say it happened quickly and now we’re left with some thing that’s probably better titled the Pac-4. Maybe the Pac-2 by the time you read this. Ted McGregor, this paper’s founder and publisher, has more on the death of the Pac-12 on page 26. He’s sad, it’s funny.

But there’s more than hand-wringing and gut laughs in this COLLEGE FOOTBALL issue. We also talked to legendary coach Dennis Erickson about his days leading WSU and other college teams. We have an excerpt from The Rise of Washington State University Football by Ben Donahue. And, of course, we have previews of each local team and their seasons ahead.

It’s a lot to read and a lot to look forward to this fall, even if it means saying goodbye to these long, hot and glorious summer days.

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

LEARNING CIVICS AT WSC PAGE 6

SHAKESPEARE IN SPOKANE PAGE 16

NIC HIRES BUNDY ATTORNEY PAGE 14

Entertainment for all!

September 30

first interstate center

OCTOBER 5

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OCTOBER 6

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october 15 the podium

November 17 spokane arena

january 18

first interstate center

january 30

first interstate center

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WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PAC-12 BREAKUP?

JACE FERGUSON

It’s kind of sad. It brought a lot of traction for the smaller teams. The east side, especially the south, has all the powerhouses, and I like to think that the Pac-12 kind of competed with that. But now that’s gone we don’t have much.

CODY GRING

I’m not following this, but it is sad to see them go away because it’s something that’s been around since I was a kid.

What kind of sports do you follow? Boxing.

ANDREW LOWE

I think it’s what differentiates college sports from pro sports. You have the local regional rivalries… whereas, no one’s gonna care about playing Rutgers or Penn State or Maryland as UW moves into the Big 10.

Do you think UW will succeed in the Big 10? Probably no more or no less than they did before.

SAMUEL FITTERER

Now [WSU] is not going to be in a prominent position as far as their opponents. It’s nice when they can play teams like UW and Southern Cal that are bigger programs because then it builds WSU up… The Pac-12 is like a tradition and it’s kind of unfortunate that we’re not gonna have that anymore.

JOHN FORSTER

Well, I think we could see it coming when we first started seeing the kids try and go to the big-name programs. I don’t think the kids have a choice necessarily. They want to play ball, but I think it’s gonna hurt some of the kids who go to the big schools as walk-ons on the scholarship.

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Godfather of Civics

A century ago at Washington State College, citizenship was the curriculum that mattered most

BY WILLIAM STIMSON

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Bill Stimson has been a longtime contributor to the Inlander, writing about history, media and local politics. A former Spokane Daily Chronicle reporter and a trained historian, he has been a professor of journalism at Eastern Washington University for more than three decades. He led the charge to change the name of the old Met Theater to the Bing Crosby Theater and helped found the Friends of the Bing group. In this column from 2016, touching on his research for his 2015 book Instilling Spirit: Students and Citizenship at Washington State, 18921942, he shared the impact of WSU President Ernest Holland (1916-44). This column was first published on April 14, 2016.

Right about now, Dr. Kirk Schulz, who was just appointed the next president of Washington State University, may be looking around for ideas. If so, my advice would be to look way back — a century, in fact — and check out the approach of one of his distinguished predecessors, Dr. Ernest O. Holland,

who became president of Washington State College exactly 100 years ago, in 1916.

Holland’s idea of education was not about job training. Given their own ambitions and a competent faculty, students would learn that. Holland’s aim as president was to ensure that the next generation was equipped to take over the controls of society.

At Columbia University, Holland had been a student of the famous teacher and philosopher John Dewey, who taught that minding one’s own business was not sufficient to living a good life for the simple reason that others often will not mind their own business. Dewey pointed out that, like it or not, we are all inextricably bound together.

Dr. Holland prepared students for that world by operating a virtual academy of democracy down on the Palouse. Freshmen might arrive full of themselves and free of their parents, but then they met the sophomore class. The job of sophomores was to bring freshmen to heel. Of course, freshmen rebelled, but in doing so they welded together into a cohort of lifelong friendships. It

President Ernest Holland (center, in the fedora) celebrates with the Washington State College graduating class of 1922. WSU ARCHIVE PHOTO

was one of the ways students learned.

The WSC campus had a political structure, designed and organized completely by students, which pitted a Fraternity Party against the Residence Hall Party. Every spring, the college erupted into a lively struggle of huge rallies and hilarious speeches. Both sides pushed their constituents hard to do their civic duty. In fact, students became better than the larger society at turning out the vote. In the student election of 1941, 82 percent of students cast ballots. The Fraternity Party candidate president won by just six votes.

Holland himself exemplified the quality he most valued in students, which was civility. He attended their meetings and listened. He invited small groups to the presidential mansion, not to tell them something, but to hear what they were thinking.

One student, Lylia Appel Miller, class of 1929, recalled meeting Dr. Holland for the first time. They almost collided at the library door. Dr. Holland said, “Pardon me, Lylia!” He knew her name! She was so impressed, she started listening closely to his regular talks to the assembled student body. A half-century later, she wrote an article for a newspaper saying that Holland, though he didn’t lead a class, was her most influential teacher.

He attended their meetings and listened. He invited small groups to the presidential mansion, not to tell them something, but to hear what they were thinking.

President Holland gave his last formal speech in May of 1942. (He retired in 1944.) In the speech, Holland quoted a letter sent by a German youth to an American friend. The German boy declared, “Germany is the most powerful state in the world, with the best army, the best leader, the best government, the best idea. No country in the world will be able to defeat us.”

That kind of blind faith, Holland said, was achieved by “contemptible, tyrannous means” of propaganda and terror. Yet, he said, “Something of the spirit itself, rightly fostered and rightly directed, is essential to the life of a great nation.”

By “spirit” he meant civic spirit that leads citizens to lend a hand in a larger cause. He said he just hoped that American youth had that quality.

Holland needn’t have worried. He could hear for himself that one of his graduates, Edward R. Murrow, broadcasting from London, had already become a leading voice in defiance of the Axis powers.

Holland learned soon after the speech that yet another WSC student, Ross Greening, was one of the pilots who volunteered to fly deep into Japanese-controlled territory to bomb Tokyo in March of that year in the famous “Doolittle Raid.” Later, Greening volunteered for the European theater and had led 27 missions over Italy when he was shot down and eventually captured.

When he arrived at a prisoner-of-war camp, Greening was astonished to look up and see Loren G. “Mac” McCollom of Ritzville. They were fraternity roommates at Washington State. While Greening was attacking the Germans from bases in Africa, McCollom was leading a fighter squadron attack from England. Two Theta Chi roommates, it turned out, had Germany surrounded.

In the 1990s, a Harvard political scientist named Robert Putnam made an elaborate study of the changes in civic behavior over generations. He found that young people who came to maturity just before World War II were more likely to vote, to donate, to volunteer and to serve. Putnam dubbed this group “The Long Civic Generation.” Differences in education were the big predictor of civic behavior, he found; by far the most active civically were college graduates.

The Greatest Generation was no accident. They were trained by Dr. Ernest Holland and other early 20th century college presidents. n

MAKING NEW MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Voters overwhelmingly passed a $495 million school construction bond in 2018 — how’d it work out?

BY COLTON RASANEN

When classes begin next week, Spokane middle schoolers should have an easier time — thanks to a $495 million voter-approved bond and a new cohort of sixth graders.

Five years ago, Spokane voters overwhelmingly approved the largest ever Spokane Public Schools bond. With the last of the projects under that nearly half-abillion-dollar bond wrapping up, and middle schools expanded to include sixth graders, district Superintendent Adam Swinyard says middle school will no longer be just one big transitional period.

“These kids spent half of seventh grade transitioning and getting ready for middle school and then the second half of eighth getting ready and ramping up for high school,” he says.

Swinyard says it’s just one of the many successes of the bond, which has $50 million to spare as the district intends to put another bond before voters in 2024.

Between three entirely new middle schools, three replacement middle schools and four other major improvement projects, the district says it has lowered elementary school class sizes and increased student safety.

This 2018 school bond also marked the be-

ginning of a partnership between the school district and the city, since it was done in conjunction with the $77 million public libraries bond, which paid to create three new libraries and modernize four others. The school bond passed with 69 percent of the vote, and the library bond with 65 percent.

Their partnership helped during construction — like when Shaw Middle School’s library doubled as the Hillyard Public Library. But it also updated the library collections at all nine middle schools, and not just the ones undergoing construction.

...continued on page 10

The new Carla Peperzak Middle School cost $76.8 million to build. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

“We gained a vast quantity of opportunities for our students in library education, and books are fresh in all of our systems without spending money because we had a partnership with that library system,” says Greg Forsyth, the district’s capital projects manager.

But this was only the beginning. District officials had to decide who would go to these schools. And that took updating the district’s school boundaries.

Mark Anderson grins as he recalls the exact time and date that the district’s leaders agreed on changes to the boundaries. It was halfway through his final day as associate superintendent — 11:25 am, June 30, 2021.

that held community forums and webinars over two years to reconfigure the boundary.

While Swinyard says there isn’t one perfect boundary map, this one is pretty close.

“The kids who go to elementary school together then all go to the same middle and the same high school,” Swinyard says. “It brings us back to that core value of a sense of belonging now that there’s that continuity of experience for the kids.”

Alongside a committee for boundary decisions, the district hosted a design summit including students, staff, parents and community members.

“Students said they lacked a sense of belonging in the building areas that felt comfortable,” Forsyth says. “So we developed those areas, whether it’s little nooks off to the side or large gathering spaces.”

The district even added playgrounds to the middle schools — something that was once kept solely to elementary schools.

After successfully completing most of these projects, Forsyth says he feels fortunate to have been involved in the process.

CARLA PEPERZAK MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOCATION: 2620 E 63rd Ave.

BUILDING AREA: 150,000 square feet

STUDENT CAPACITY: 850

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET: $76.8 million

NAMESAKE: Carla Olman Peperzak, who was born in 1923, was a Dutch resistance operative and Holocaust freedom fighter during WWII. Growing up in the Netherlands, Peperzak graduated from high school the same year that Germany invaded the country. At 18 she joined the Dutch resistance, first helping to save her family members and later securing hiding places for Jewish people. The education advocate and memoirist has been sharing her story in Spokane since she moved here in 2004.

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE: Expansive views from each classroom and common space in Peperzak are meant to inspire environmental awareness in students as they receive three years of formative education.

DENNY YASUHARA MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOCATION: 2701 N. Perry St.

BUILDING AREA: 140,000 square feet

STUDENT CAPACITY: 750

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET: $70.6 million

According to Anderson, who retired but is now an adviser for the district, the district boundaries hadn’t changed in more than four decades, so there was tons of work to be done.

The district formed a 60-person committee

“The community gave us the opportunity to rethink and really find success for that middle school grade, which for years was neglected,” he says. “We either tried to push high school down, or we tried to pull elementary up, and we didn’t make it its own place, so I think it’s been very satisfying to see that.” n coltonr@inlander.com

NAMESAKE: Denny Yasuhara was a math and science teacher in Spokane for nearly 30 years. As a child in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, during World War II his Japanese American family faced persecution from both neighbors and the government. So they moved to Spokane, where years later “Mr. Yas” would begin teaching at Logan Elementary. He also would found Hifumi En on the South Hill, which he had originally envisioned in 1965 as a home for elderly, disabled or veteran Japanese Americans. When he died in 2002, the Washington Post and Japan Times ran his obituary.

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE: Student commons through the middle of Yasuhara provide a big space for gathering. Nutrition and learning commons connect with special learning classrooms along the full length of the space.

“Students said they lacked a sense of belonging in the building areas that felt comfortable. So we developed those areas.”

PAULINE PASCAL FLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOCATION: 4830 W. Wellesley Ave.

BUILDING AREA: 140,000 square feet

STUDENT CAPACITY: 750

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET: $66.9 million

NAMESAKE: Trailblazing linguist Pauline Pascal Flett spent more than five decades documenting the Spokane Salish dialect once considered endangered. She grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and didn’t begin to speak English until she attended school. In 1992, Flett was granted an honorary master’s degree from Eastern Washington University and then went on to co-write the first Spokane-English dictionary with Barry Carlson in 1996. Many credit her with ensuring that the language did not go extinct. She died in 2020. Her notes are kept at the Smithsonian Institution.

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE: Flett’s design was inspired by the Spokane River and the Bowl and Pitcher rock formation. The interior represents a nod to the natural beauty of the land the school was built on. Forsyth says bringing nature inside the school was a passion of both the staff and students.

SHAW MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOCATION: 4106 N Cook St.

BUILDING AREA: 150,000 square feet

STUDENT CAPACITY: 1,000

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET: $66 million

NAMESAKE: John Shaw was an administrator with Spokane Public Schools who worked many positions including the district’s top spot — superintendent. His namesake school was at one time the largest middle school in Washington state with more than 1,000 students.

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE: Shaw Middle School is also home to the new Hillyard Public Library, effectively connecting the two. This also ties the library system at the school to the city’s library system, meaning if a book can’t be found here, it may be found through the Spokane Public Library.

As with the current decade, the 2010s got off to a bit of a rocky start. The global financial crisis was reverberating locally, and the pages of the Inlander were filled with stories of tough economic times. Evictions. Repo men. An uptick in people selling their own plasma. Inlander Editor Nick Deshais, then a staff writer, previewed the coming opioid crisis with a 2010 cover story on a rise in prescription painkiller overdoses. It was also a time of social change. In Washington state, there was talk of finally legalizing same-sex marriage and recreational weed. In February 2010, the Inlander published the first article in the “INJUSTICE PROJECT,” a yearlong series that explored gaps and inequities in the justice system and was written by Jacob Fries, Deshais, Leah Sottile and Kevin Taylor.

IN THE NEWS

Today, Spokane’s housing market is hot. Too hot. Prices soared during the pandemic, and there simply aren’t enough houses to go around. But a decade ago, Spokane had the opposite problem. The subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 hit close to home, and in a March 26, 2009, cover package called “FORECLOSED,” staff writer Daniel Walters wrote that the housing market had gone from “on fire” to “just ash ash and cinders.”

CULTURE BEAT

On Jan. 28, 2010, Richard Miller reported on the glitter and glam of IDAHO DRAG SHOWS. “There is no gay bar in this rural part of Idaho. The drag show is all there is,” said Kathy Sprague, who organized the monthly drag shows in Moscow with her partner, Tabitha Simmons. Despite a recent resurgence in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and attempts to ban drag shows in Idaho, Simmons and Sprague’s monthly drag shows are still going strong. The program celebrated its 28th anniversary this year.

ON THE COVER

LUD CRAMER MEMORIAL CONCERT PAVILLION PARK

LIBERTY LAKE

SATURDAY

S E P T E M B E R 2 6:00 PM

LABOR DAY CONCERT AT COMSTOCK PARK

SOUTH HILL

MONDAY

S E P T E M B E R 4 6:00 PM

Salish SAVING SAVING

Members of the Spokane, Kalispel, Colville, Coeur d’Alene and Moses-Columbia people have spoken the Salish language since time immemorial. But in 2009, the language was in danger of going extinct. In a May 28 cover story titled “SAVING SALISH,” staffer Kevin Taylor reported on the fight to preserve the language and pass it to the next generation. “There are only four or five elders left who can talk it,” JR Bluff, director of language for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, said at the time. More than a decade later, Salish isn’t dead — it’s growing. Last November, the Inlander published another cover story: “es yoyotwílšm nqelixʷcnm” or “The Salish Resurgence.” And Bluff is still at it. “Now I have 50, 60, 70 kids that can pray in the language,” he said last year.

LOCAL FOLKS

On June 4, 2009, we wrote that Spokane City Council races had “entered the 21st century.” The reason? Lisa Brown (who was state Senate majority leader at the time and is now running for mayor of Spokane) had just endorsed City Council candidate AMBER WALDREF by way of Facebook status update. “Waldref, some say, has a bright future waiting for her in Olympia,” we wrote as Waldref faced off against Mike Fagan in the race for District 1. In the end, Waldref chose to stay in Spokane. After two terms on City Council, Waldref shifted her focus to the county and was elected to a newly created Board of County Commissioners seat last year.

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Kalispel Indians fight to rescue their language

City Hall Shakeup

City spokesman Brian Coddington and finance chief Tonya Wallace are out if Lisa Brown is elected Spokane mayor

BY NATE SANFORD

The general election is still months away, but Lisa Brown already has plans to replace two senior members of Spokane city government if elected mayor in November.

“I’m assuming I’d need new budget leadership, I’ll just put that right out there,” Brown says. “Communications and budget for sure. I think those are two [departments] that probably need new leadership.”

Spokane’s communications department is led by Brian Coddington. He also serves in a semi-official role as Mayor Nadine Woodward’s chief of staff, and is the interim director of CityCable5, Spokane’s C-SPAN.

Brown says she wants to replace Coddington because “it doesn’t seem like there’s been enough transparency, which is what you need from a comms director.” Brown also thinks Coddington’s role as semi-official chief of staff makes him responsible for “a lot of the lack of leadership that’s been shown by the administration in some key areas like budget.”

Coddington, who has worked for the most recent two mayors, defends the administration’s transparency

NEWS | HIGHER

ED

Clinging to Accreditation

North Idaho College board hires fourth-place legal counsel with ties to Idaho’s far right

BY COLTON RASANEN

Sometimes, having the least amount of experience for a job is more than enough — or at least that’s the message that the North Idaho College Board of Trustees sent last week when they voted 3-2 to hire North Idaho-based attorney Colton Boyles as the college’s general counsel.

Boyles has no previous experience representing a higher education institution and has ties to Idaho’s far-right extremists, including Ammon Bundy.

Boyles was up against Spokane-based law firm Stevens Clay, which has more than 30 years of experience in educational law.

and budgeting process, pointing to regular meetings with City Council and drop-in community events at libraries that have given the public a chance to share their budget priorities. In discussions with the City Council, Coddington says, the administration has been “transparent about what the revenues are and what the expenses are and where there’s need.”

In recent months, council members have frequently expressed frustration over the Woodward administration’s handling of the budget. Brown has used the issue to attack the mayor, and she highlights the city’s estimated $20 million deficit.

“You obviously would rather have a smaller number than that,” Coddington says. “It’s a bit larger than we’ve seen in the past, but it’s not anything insurmountable.”

Spokane’s finance department is led by Tonya Wallace, who previously served as Spokane County’s budget director before Woodward hired her in 2020. Brown says she wants to replace Wallace because she doesn’t have faith in Wallace’s handling of this year’s budget process.

“The information doesn’t seem to be very forthcoming,” Brown says. “Budgets are complicated, but from what I can see right now, that budget shop has not served the community or council very well.”

Wallace was caught off guard by the news and says she hopes Brown will reconsider if elected.

“There’s a lot that I do offer to the city, and I would certainly welcome a conversation with her,” Wallace says. “I hope that she would take some time to evaluate that before making any decisions.”

Wallace acknowledges the city’s current budgeting challenges but says they stem from larger economic forces — not mismanagement.

The city’s revenues aren’t growing as fast as expenditures, Wallace says. Inflation is driving up costs, and a tough labor market is making it hard to recruit employees and leading to increased overtime costs and further financial strain.

“I’m here to support the city and do the best job possible. I feel that I do have a very good track record and have implemented a lot of good changes,” Wallace says, highlighting her work filling numerous vacancies, overseeing the city’s fleet department and replacing the city’s outdated Excel spreadsheet system with new budgeting technology.

When it comes to leadership in other city departments — like parks and recreation, fire, police, libraries, human resources and legal — Brown says she hasn’t made decisions. Brown says she’ll sit down with every department head to understand “their competencies and experiences.”

Brown says she doesn’t have specific candidates in mind to replace Coddington and Wallace. She also says she isn’t worried about losing institutional knowledge.

“I’ve been talking with people who have been in positions with various administrations,” Brown says, noting that she’s endorsed by Gavin Cooley, who served as chief financial officer under three previous mayors. “So I think there’s a lot of community knowledge out there that will come into a transition process.”

Coddington spent five years working as communications director for previous Mayor David Condon before leaving to take a communications job with Spokane Public Schools in 2018. Woodward hired him back in 2020.

Coddington didn’t answer when asked if he would have wanted to work under a Lisa Brown mayorship.

“That’s a hypothetical,” he says. n nates@inlander.com

Stevens Clay has represented clients like the Community Colleges of Spokane, Big Bend Community College and more than 100 other educational institutions in the Inland Northwest — now excluding NIC.

Prior to a June NIC board meeting, four legal counsel candidates were evaluated on five criteria including experience, timeliness, cost and proximity to NIC. Overall, Stevens Clay scored a 97 percent, and Boyles Law earned the lowest score, a whopping 60 percent. (Boyles Law did score higher than Stevens Clay in a single category: proximity to NIC.)

As the college clings to its accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one wrong move could impact the future of the college — and its 6,300 students.

“We are one bad board meeting away from losing accreditation,” Trustee Tarie Zimmerman said at last week’s meeting.

In June, the trustees were unable to hire Stevens Clay after a failed motion was made by board member Brad Corkill. Mike Waggoner, who is also on the board, said the evaluation wasn’t enough and requested further information from both Stevens Clay and Boyles Law.

Stevens Clay responded less than a week later. Boyles Law did not respond to questions and instead accused the “group of administrators” that evaluated the firms as being biased.

NIC President Nick Swayne told the board that this unresponsiveness would usually disqualify a candidate from the job.

And outgoing NIC legal counsel Art Macomber said that part of Boyles Law’s agreement regarding conflicts of interest was illegal. Zimmerman encouraged Macomber to review the entire agreement

because she noticed many other areas of suspicion.

In May, Macomber said he was resigning as the college’s attorney because he said “laws are being broken or are in imminent peril of being broken by college personnel,” but he didn’t detail these accusations, according to the Coeur d’Alene Press. But during a private executive session last week, the board extended his contract to focus on college policies, Swayne’s summer 2023 evaluation and an investigation into the personnel matter he tried to quit over.

Board members Waggoner, Todd Banducci and Greg McKenzie voted in unison to hire Boyles.

Last year, Bundy’s campaign for governor paid Boyles $5,000 for legal advice. Bundy is an anti-government activist who led the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Last month, Bundy, his gubernatorial campaign and other defendants were ordered by a jury to pay $52 million in damages after a southern Idaho hospital won a defamation lawsuit against them.

And, according to the Coeur d’Alene Press, Boyles was hired by another 2022 gubernatorial candidate — the Trump-aligned Janice McGeachin — during her effort to withhold information about her education task force. Idaho District Judge Steven Hippler ruled against McGeachin and Boyle in their losing case against the Idaho Press Club, which cost taxpayers almost $29,000 in legal fees.

But at the NIC board meeting, Boyles supporters suggested that if he wasn’t up to the task, they’d deal with it. Moments before the legal counsel vote, Corkill asked if Boyles had any experience with Title IX. No one had an answer, but McKenzie had a quip.

“Well, if after you meet him and you’re dissatisfied in a few months we can easily fire him,” McKenzie replied. n

Brian Coddington YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

Dais addition

Spokane City Council gets a new member. Plus, voters will decide on an anti-camping ballot measure; and where we’re at with last week’s fires.

Say hello to your newest, potentially short-tenured, Spokane City Council member. On Monday, council members voted 5-1 to appoint Ryan Oelrich to fill a vacant council seat representing south Spokane’s District 2 at least until the seat is filled by voters in the November general election. The seat was vacated in July, when Council member Lori Kinnear was appointed to temporarily serve as council president after Breean Beggs accepted a judicial appointment. Oelrich is the executive director of Priority Spokane, which works to identify regional policy issues. Oelrich has also been involved in local homelessness issues through his work with the regional Continuum of Care board. Council members interviewed five applicants for the vacant seat last week. During his interview, Oelrich highlighted his work on local issues and experience mediating conflicts, specifically his advocacy for the Catholic Charities supportive housing project that drew the ire of West Hills neighbors last fall. Council member Jonathan Bingle was the sole vote against appointing Oelrich, saying he was excited to work with him but hoping for someone with more experience. Oelrich may have a shot at staying on the council longer: If Betsy Wilkerson is elected council president, her vacant seat will need an appointment come December. (NATE SANFORD)

CAMPING CHAOS

A ballot initiative aimed at prohibiting camping near parks, schools and homeless shelters in Spokane jumped over a hurdle last week. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel has rejected an attempt to block an anti-camping initiative from appearing on November ballots. In early August, plaintiffs Jewels Helping Hands and former City Council President Ben Stuckart argued in their complaint that the initiative was far-reaching and outside the scope of the local initiative process. While Hazel agreed that enforcement of the initiative may be challenging, he ruled that it was wrong for the court to block it. The case was dismissed with prejudice, and the plaintiffs have filed an appeal, according to court documents. Ballots for the Nov. 7 general election are scheduled to go out in October — with this initiative included. (COLTON RASANEN)

AFTER THE BLAZE

Two weeks after a major wildfire started southwest of Medical Lake, firefighters have the Gray Road blaze mostly contained. As of Tuesday morning, the fire had destroyed nearly 250 homes and was 85 percent contained. Only two fatalities have been reported. According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the fire burned more than 10,000 acres, took 461 personnel in nine fire crews to suppress it. Perimeters around 1,400 structures have been checked for hot spots. Last week’s other major fire, the Oregon Road fire, has burned nearly 11,000 acres and is about 45 percent contained after being fought by 653 personnel. The causes of both fires are under investigation. Now folks affected by the fires are attempting to restart their lives. To find out how you can help, contact organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Innovia Wildfire Emergency Response Fund. (COLTON RASANEN)

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Ryan Oelrich YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

The Play’s the Thing

Braving summer weather and teens on scooters, Spokane Shakespeare Society shares its love of the Bard with the public

BY E.J. IANNELLI

Few theatrical pairings would seem more natural than Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

The first, one of the Bard’s most well-known tragedies, introduced expressions like “to thine own self be true” and “neither a borrower nor a lender be” into the English language. It features famous soliloquies like “To be or not to be,” which have become synonymous with the very craft of acting.

The second, an absurdist comedy by contemporary playwright Stoppard, takes two minor characters from Hamlet and imagines what they get up to when they’re not on stage. Like Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead — or RGAD for short — takes up existential questions and involves the same core characters. What the two plays lack in similarity they make up for in counterpoint.

Since founding the Spokane Shakespeare Society in 2021, the organization’s executive director, Amanda Cantrell, has wanted to

feature the two plays “in rep.” Shorthand for repertory, it’s theater parlance for works staged by the same pool of actors during the same timeframe but in rotation.

This year, she and the Spokane Shakespeare Society (S3 for short) are making good on that — not once, but twice. Following an initial run that took place earlier this summer, from July 20 to Aug. 6, S3 is preparing to bring the plays back to area parks, starting today through Sept. 17. On alternating nights, outdoor audiences can unfold a lawn chair or spread out a blanket and catch RGAD, directed by Pamela Kingsley, or Hamlet, directed by Cantrell herself.

“The crowds really enjoyed it,” Cantrell says of their first three-week outing. “We had lots of people come out for both nights and watch the plays back to back. People thought that Jeffrey St. George as Hamlet was really powerful and amazing. And people laughed a lot with Preston [Loomer] and David [Hardie], who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. We had amazing feedback.”

HAMLET / ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

Manito Park (Aug. 31-Sept. 3), Riverfront Park (Sept. 7-10), Sky Prairie Park (Sept. 14-17)

Thu-Fri at 6 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm Free spokaneshakespearesociety.org

Jeffrey St. George (left) as the titular Hamlet. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

For this second run, things have been altered slightly. Manito, Riverfront and Sky Prairie Parks — in that order — are still the venues on consecutive weeks. But the shows themselves are swapped. RGAD is being staged on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, and Hamlet is on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

“That way, if all you could do was come on a Friday night, you now have the chance to see the other show,” Cantrell says.

Scheduling isn’t the only way that Spokane Shakespeare Society is looking to accommodate its audiences. Along with adding Five Mile neighborhood’s Sky Prairie Park to the mix of outdoor venues and turning both weekend performances into matinees this season, Cantrell and her collaborators have pared Hamlet’s traditionally lengthy running time to just over two hours.

“Shakespeare has a tendency to say things more than once, so we looked for areas where he was describing things multiple times,” she says. “For that I tapped a number of resources. Jeffrey St. George read through the script and helped me cut things. Erick Wolfe, my co-director who’s a Shakespeare scholar, also helped me cut it.”

The part where Hamlet’s ship is attacked by pirates and he then retells the entire story to Horatio? That type of exchange has been snipped. But in a play that’s teeming with quotable lines, they were careful not to excise the more familiar material.

“There are lines in Hamlet that I’m sure 90 percent of audiences would never even think of being in Hamlet but would recognize immediately. Identifying those lines and keeping them was of the utmost importance to us,” says St. George, an actor and set designer who originally hails from Coeur d’Alene and is this year’s artist in residence at S3.

For St. George, staging these plays in repertory was equally important. Like the rest of the troupe, he appears as the same character in both shows. As Hamlet, though, he takes a diminished role in RGAD because Stoppard’s play moves Shakespeare’s bit parts to the fore.

“Rep is somewhat rarely done, and so the opportunity to expose our community members and our artists to the concept of rep and what that looks like, as well as the challenges it poses and the joys it elicits, is something I always wanted to share,” he says.

And on occasion, that act of generosity is met with what St. George describes as an “exciting human element.”

“Doing outdoor theater has always been a different beast. Working outdoors in the public, our rehearsal space is also in the public, and so we interact with the public regularly. Sometimes that’s as innocuous as someone coming up and saying, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing?’ And sometimes,’’ he laughs, “it’s a bunch of teenagers riding around on Lime scooters haranguing us.”

Undaunted, St. George sees “everyone” — even their occasional harassers — as potential satisfied audience members.

“There are a lot of people who think that Shakespeare isn’t for them because they had a bad experience in high school or they’ve been forced to read the text. Shakespeare is meant to be seen, and it’s meant to be performed by those who are capable of performing it. And we fulfill all of those qualities.” n

Spokane Shakespeare Society brings the Bard back to the parks.

THE BUZZ BIN

SOMETHING BREWING IN SEATTLE

The surging Mariners are suddenly baseball’s hottest team

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

Well that turned around fast

For much of the season, the Seattle Mariners looked like they were a bit hungover from the celebration of last year’s team breaking the franchise’s interminable two-decade playoff drought. The new additions to the M’s lineup were listless. Cy Young-winner Robbie Ray had a seasonending injury in his first start. After a Rookie of the Year campaign, young stud center fielder Julio Rodríguez wasn’t mashing the ball in the same way.

The Mariners headed into the All-Star break in early July with a disappointing 45-44 record. Driving the knife deeper, the Mariners were hosting the All-Star Game and had zero starters on the squad, while the division rival Rangers and Angels took up seven of the nine starting spots.

No one could be blamed for thinking the Mariners were simply returning to the prior playoff-free form.

But that was then, and this is now. And now? There’s no team in Major League Baseball playing better than the Seattle Mariners.

After last weekend’s sweep of the Royals, the Mariners had won 11 of their last 12 games (and blew a ninth-inning lead in the lone extra innings loss). Their record after the All-Star game stood at an American League best 29-12. And the hot streak has translated to the standings, as the M’s passed both the Astros and Angels to sit atop the AL West standings. While there’s still another month of games to be played, the last time the franchise was the sole leader of the division this late in the season was 2003 (!).

While the pitching staff led by aces George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert have been stellar all year long, the bats finally waking up has led to the Mariners’ zombie-like resurgence. And to no one’s surprise that all starts with one guy — Julio Rodríguez.

To say Julio has been on somewhat of a hot streak is like saying that the sun has been on somewhat of a hot streak. The young superstar has put the team on his back and dragged them to wins with his bat.

He’s No. 2 in baseball’s go-to value stat — wins above replacement (WAR) — since the All-Star break, trailing only Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts (all stats cited as of Aug. 27). But Julio has done plenty of things Betts has not. Since putting on a show in Seattle during the Home Run Derby, Rodríguez has launched 10 dingers while posting a .352 average and a 1.018 OPS (on-base + slugging percentage). During a four-game stretch earlier in the month, he went fully nuclear — setting the MLB record with 17 hits in a four game span, and tying another all-time record with four straight four-hit games. Julio’s at-bats have become must-see moments.

And the face of the franchise has not been alone in his offensive quest. Cal Raleigh has officially cemented himself in the best catcher in baseball conversation, doing a fantastic job of managing the pitching staff while absolutely mashing the ball (he’s 12th in position player WAR in the second half). Third basemen Eugenio Suárez and outfielder Teoscar Hernández (who seemed like a disastrous pick-up at the start of the year) have also joined the party, each mashing seven second-half home runs.

But most crucially, a bunch of unexpected names have been excelling and working their way into the hearts of Mariners’ fans. Second baseman José Caballero has been a revelation, making a position that had been a black hole for the team into one of stability with excellent base running, timely hits, and good defense. The bat of utility man Dylan Moore has caught fire, posting a stunning 1.097 OPS in the second half so far (higher than even Julio, though in less than half as many plate appearances). Infielder Josh Rojas and outfielder Cade Marlowe have also come out of nowhere to be above-average big leaguers since the start of July.

Will that all lead to the Mariners first AL West title since 2001? It’s far too early to say.

But after watching the flame of the team’s high expectations seemingly fizzle to darkness early in the season, the Mariners’ phoenix-like rise from the ashes has been a sight to behold. n

SONIC SNACKING

While PIG OUT IN THE PARK is obviously a feast for our bellies, the annual smorgasbord can also be a treat for our ears. With loads of mostly local talent showcasing their skills in Riverfront Park at four stages over the six-day fest, the event offers plenty of things to satisfy your tastes (and we’re not talking the tongue kind). Maybe you want to check out some of those names that frequent The Inlander’s music listings so often: Just Plain Darin, Cary Fly Band, Soul Proprietor, Justyn Priest, etc. Maybe check out standout younger local singer-songwriters like Rosie Cerquone or Gabriella Rose. Maybe you want to hear familiar cover tunes from Loudmouth (the Ramones), BC/DC or Victims of Love (the Eagles). Or maybe you just want to have some background noise whenever you’re chowing down. Whatever the case — feast. Visit PigOutinthePark.com for more info. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

A MOTHER’S LOVE

Hospital drama and true crime thriller meet in Serial Productions’ latest podcast, THE RETRIEVALS

In collaboration with The New York Times, veteran This American Life-r Susan Burton narrates a report on suspicious events at Yale’s fertility clinic during which women experienced excruciating pain but were convinced by care providers that it was their own fault. Investigators would later find that a nurse was stealing fentanyl and replacing it with saline. But before the theft was discovered, doctors downplayed and dismissed the extreme pain of unanesthetized egg retrieval, surgery that repeatedly inserts a 12-inch needle into an ovary through the vaginal wall. Burton reports the story with deep sensitivity to the emotional and familial toll of both IVF and drug addiction. All five episodes of this gripping series illuminating how often women are told to distrust themselves, rationalize their pain and suffer in silence are now streaming. (ELIZA

BILLINGHAM)

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST

Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on Sept. 1.

SPEEDY ORTIZ, RABBIT RABBIT. The Inlander’s Scream queen Sadie Dupuis gets back to her day job of being one of the best indie rock shredders on the planet on a stellar album that might be the band’s finest since 2013’s Major Arcana

JEFF ROSENSTOCK, HELLMODE. After taking a skanking detour with a ska version of his last LP (No Dream became Ska Dream), the punk howler delivers a new collection of songs with his knack for capturing the frustrations of our burnout bummer world.

ICONA POP, CLUB ROMANTECH. Get your dancing shoes on as Swedish electropop duo Icona Pop returns for the first time in a decade with a new batch of club-ready jams. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

The Mariners atop the AL West standings?!? Are we sure that’s legal?

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Dennis Erickson, one of the great Coug coaches, turned an epiphany into touchdowns. WSU ATHLETICS PHOTO

BOOK EXCERPT THE RISE OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL

BY BEN DONAHUE

JUST A FEW HOURS DOWN the highway from San Jose State was Jack Neumeier. Neumeier was the head football coach at Granada Hills High School, located in the suburbs of Los Angeles. After a decade at the school, Neumeier’s program was flatlining, and the coach needed a jolt. He was aware of what Mouse Davis was doing up in Oregon at Portland State. Davis was running a passhappy offense with run-and-shoot tendencies. But Neumeier wasn’t really enamored with the run-and-shoot. His vision of the perfect offense meant more passing but with the ability to run by pulling the linebackers away from the middle of the field.

Legendary coach Dennis Erickson stars

BY TED S. McGREGOR JR.

In the late-1970s, innovation covered the Bay Area like the morning mist. By 1979, the fledgling Apple computer team of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak was pushing the envelope of electrical engineering, refining the computers that would lead to the revolutionary Macintosh. Their tinkering was about to change the world.

That same summer, just 10 miles from their modest office in Cupertino, a new coach took the reins of the San Jose State Spartans football team. Head coach Jack Elway wanted to launch a revolution, too — on the gridiron instead of a circuit board. He planned to storm the walls of college football with the designs that high school coach Jack Neumeier had developed in Southern California. It just so happened that Jack’s son — NFL legend John Elway — was starting his quarterbacking career under Neumeier’s tutelage. In the process, Jack Elway also boosted the career of his offensive coordinator, Dennis Erickson. Erickson and Elway were both Washington state natives — Erickson from Everett, and Elway from Hoquiam. Together, they, too, followed the lure of innovation and dreams of glory that powered so many Silicon Valley startups.

In The Rise of Washington State University Football, released this week, author Ben Donahue documents the earliest germs of genius that led Erickson to head coaching stints at Washington State, the Miami Hurricanes, Oregon State, and even the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco

49ers. Erickson is now retired and living in Coeur d’Alene after his storied coaching career.

First-time book author Ben Donahue grew up in Billings, Mont., and even as a high schooler he was surprised to learn that big-time football coach Dennis Erickson had once coached Billings Central Catholic. (Donahue went to Billings Senior.)

“I was kind of stunned,” he says, “like the old song of ‘It’s a Small World.’ And he played at Montana State, and we [eventually] lived in Bozeman, too.”

Donahue now lives in Spokane and is a teacher at Enlightium Academy; as a side gig he writes for profootballhistory.com and the fan sites for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings.

“I’m a really huge football nerd,” he says with a laugh, “boring my wife to death with this stuff.”

As a student of the history of the sport, he became fascinated with Erickson, Mike Price, who features as prominently as Erickson in the new book, and even Mike Leach’s innovations on offense during their stints at WSU.

In this excerpt, Donahue captures exactly when Erickson’s moment of clarity turned from an epiphany into touchdowns. It was a spark that set off an offensive arms race that continues to this day. On the fields of college football across America, that tradition is renewed again starting this weekend. (continues after excerpt, page 23)

It all came together for Neumeier one day when he watched a Granada Hills basketball game. The Highlanders were facing a big, tough, imposing team, and the ability to move the ball offensively was a challenge. While sitting in the stands, Neumeier watched as the Highlanders’ tallest player (who at six feet, one inch tall served as the center for the team) was being guarded by a much taller player. The Granada Hills player would hold his hands up to serve as a target for his teammates to pass him the ball. The passing teammate could get the ball to the center, but after that, the center had to figure out what to do with the ball. It suddenly struck Neumeier that the Granada Hills basketball team was like his football team. Both programs faced opponents who were bigger than them. From his spot in the bleachers, Neumeier watched the action and realized that a player could get open for a pass not just with size and speed but with spacing and timing as well.

“I was watching this the whole time, and it finally hit me,” said Neumeier in the book Football Revolution by Bart Wright. “It wasn’t that hard to get the ball into the post. I’m watching basketball, and my focus was on how difficult it was for the kid to do anything after he got the ball, he was completely mismatched. I was thinking, ‘This is like us in football, overmatched,’ when the whole thing made sense all of a sudden. I thought, ‘Wait a minute, we don’t play basketball, all we’re trying to do is get a few yards.’ I realized if I can get a guy in front of a guy, like that center did down there, and get the ball to him in a hurry for five yards, we win that play.”

Neumeier raced home after the basketball game and started taking notes. Drawing up formations in his notebook, Neumeier eventually came up with his new idea. Neumeier started by taking two receivers and lining them up just inside the sidelines on either side of the field. The tight end would be stationed close to a tackle on either side of the line. Then he moved the tight end halfway between a tackle and a receiver. The quarterback and two running backs were still in the backfield, but one of the backs could go in motion to either side of the field. That meant a member of the defense, either a safety or a linebacker, had to follow the man in motion.

Just like that, there were four receivers and only one pass rusher to worry about.

...continued on next page

in a new book about Cougar football, alongside his old childhood friend, Mike Price

The one remaining back could either stay in to block the pass rusher or receive a pass himself. Neumeier’s idea was to get the ball out quickly to a receiver, thereby neutralizing any pass rush. What was great about this design was that all these receivers and people in motion pulled the defensive coverage to those eligible pass catchers, thereby creating more space. The defense was spread thin, and because of all the receivers, each defensive back had to cover their man one-on-one. The quarterback and receivers would then work together. If the cornerbacks (who cover the receivers) hung back and gave their man some room in front of them, the quarterback would throw a short pass. If the corners lined up in the face of their man, the quarterback would throw behind the corners.

Neumeier worked on his formations a little more and fine-tuned them by designing plays out of the unique formation. He then taught his new system to his team, including his quarterback, Dana Potter. After Neumeier explained his vision to Potter, the quarterback initially thought his coach was nuts.

“He might as well have said, ‘We’re going to all get together and flap our arms and see if we can fly,’” said Potter in Football Revolution “I mean, it sounded crazy to me.”

It didn’t take long before Potter and his teammates picked up Neumeier’s new offense and ran it to perfection. In one season, Potter went from passing for 998 total yards as a junior to 3,100 yards in his senior year. Better yet, Granada Hills came out of nowhere and won the City Section 4-A championship game. Potter went from obscure high school quarterback to prized recruit for the University of Nebraska. “I wouldn’t have been recruited anywhere, had it not been for the spread,” said Potter. “When you throw for more than 3,000 yards, it attracts attention.”

WHEN JACK ELWAY ARRIVED at Cal State Northridge in 1976, he enrolled his young son, John, at Granada Hills High School. John Elway had been a linebacker as a middle schooler in Pullman [while his dad coached at WSU], but his father saw his son’s ability to pass and convinced him to try the quarterback position when they moved to California. As Jack Elway was building the Northridge program, his son was learning a wild new offense with Neumeier as his coach at Granada Hills. John Elway turned out to be a perfect fit as a quarterback in Neumeier’s system.

“When we lined up at Granada Hills, it was just a lot of fun to play, and I just thought everyone had an offense like ours; it didn’t sink in at first that none of our opponents were playing like us,” said John Elway in Football Revolution

Before long, Jack Elway took an interest in what Neumeier was doing and began bending the coach’s ear during impromptu conversations. The elder Elway was so intrigued with Neumeier’s offense that he implemented it himself at Northridge. In three years at Northridge, Elway’s teams went a combined 20-11, including a programrecord eight wins in 1976. Then, in 1979, he relocated to San Jose State, hired Dennis Erickson [from Fresno State] as his offensive coordinator and began showing his staff what Elway called his “one-back” offense.

Elway also brought Neumeier to campus to show his coaching staff how to run the one-back. At first, Erickson was skeptical. But the more Neumeier explained the idea of the offense, Erickson was dumbfounded at the simplicity and effectiveness of the concepts.

“[Dennis] questioned it at first, but once we talked, he took to it immediately,” Neumeier said in 1995. “After a few minutes of general discussion, Dennis saw everything. He started drawing up plays himself like he’d known it all along.”

Elway’s coaching staff found that the concepts of this modern spread offense could be taught to players quickly. Oftentimes, most players had a handle on the system in just a handful of practices. Erickson enjoyed learning the offense and liked how it created mismatches against the defenses of the time. The inordinate number of receivers and men in motion pulled coverage away from the middle of the field. The one-back could hang around to block or go out for a pass himself. Part of the genius of the offense was that the linebackers, particularly the middle linebacker, had to account for a receiver.

Since the middle linebacker was more equipped to handle the run instead of playing pass defense, that left the defense as a whole at a disadvantage. If defensive coordinators pulled the middle linebacker and added a defensive back to compensate for the extra receivers, the offense would then call a running play to exploit the missing linebacker in the middle of the field.

Simple chess moves.

The one-back was far from some type of gimmick offense, and the nation found this out firsthand in 1980. On their way to a 7-4 record that year, which included a 31-26 victory over Washington State, the Spartans played at tenth-ranked Baylor in early November. San Jose State was a nearly 30-point underdog against a Bears team that featured Mike Singletary as its middle linebacker. Singletary would eventually become an All-Pro linebacker with the Chicago Bears and win a Super Bowl with the team.

After a slow start, the Spartans were down, 15-0, in the second quarter. Then, slowly but surely, San Jose State clawed back and eventually prevailed, 30-22. During the contest, Erickson deliberately ran Singletary ragged with a mixture of pass and run plays. Singletary still had a good game, but by the end of the contest, he was gassed.

“We spread [Baylor] out. We had to get Singletary to come out of the box and play in space,” said Erickson in 2022. “We weren’t going to sit around and try to run the ball at him.”

San Jose State’s victory made national headlines that day and put Erickson in the spotlight. He had turned the tables on Singletary and his crew and defeated a top-ten team with a newfangled offense. Singletary himself was flummoxed by the offense and shared his thoughts about the game years later.

“What I remember was how different it was playing against that,” Singletary said. “We did not overlook those guys, we practiced for it, we got off to a good start, it was just so different to play against that kind of football.”

The offense that was designed by Neumeier and shaped by Elway was becoming an art form with Erickson. His willingness to throw convention to the wind and dive into the deep end of football innovation was revealed that day in Texas.

Excerpt from The Rise of Washington State University Football by Ben Donahue. Reprinted by permission from The History Press.

“THE RISE OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL,” CONTINUED...

On his third time as a candidate, Mike Price was hired as WSU’s head coach in 1989. WSU ATHLETICS PHOTO

The rest of the book follows Dennis Erickson as he moves forward with his coaching career — through Idaho and Wyoming — to Washington State for two seasons. Donahue covers the 1988 season in great detail — one of the greatest in WSU history, when the Neumeier/Elway/ Erickson scheme was rolling like a freight train with QB Timm Rosenbach at the controls. Along the way to 9-3, they beat Illinois and Minnesota of the Big 10, Tennessee (SEC) along with rivals UCLA (No.1 at the time, led by Troy Aikman) and UW in the Apple Cup.

That season ended with a barn-burner of a win against Houston and Andre Ware in the Aloha Bowl. Erickson was riding high — too high, for Cougar fans, as he became so successful he was recruited to Miami in 1989. The Hurricanes’ mix of top athletes and Erickson’s innovations became nearly unstoppable. They won two national championships.

But that opened the door to Mike Price, Erickson’s childhood friend from Everett, who had already been passed over to lead the Cougs — twice. The third time was the charm: “Washington State has always been my dream job,” Price said at the time.

Also an early adopter of the newfangled offense, Price took over right where Erickson left off, and in 1997 led the Cougs to their first Rose Bowl in more than 60 years.

Now Price, Erickson and Jim Walden — three former Cougar head coaches — are all neighbors out at Coeur d’Alene Lake. When they’re not fishing, you can bet they’re sketching plays on the backs of napkins. n

HUDDLING UP WITH COACH ERICKSON

INLANDER: Tell me about those early days coaching at San Jose State. Did you know your tinkering would wind up sparking an offensive football revolution?

ERICKSON: I went to San Jose State with Jack Elway, and we just kind of started out of split backs. Jack had done quite a bit with one back by then and got a lot of it from Jack Neumeier — he was really, really innovative. So we’d start with two backs, then send one in motion. If the linebacker moved, we’d hand it off. If he didn’t, then we’d go ahead and throw the ball. It loosened up the box. Then we thought, “Why don’t we just do this with one back, then with three wide receivers?” It’s about mismatches in football — it still is.

And you kept fine-tuning this system as you moved through your career…

Jack went up to Stanford [to coach his son John Elway], and I went to Idaho in 1982, and that’s when we really started to open it up. One back, running him in motion, empty backfield. At that time, we were the only one-back teams around.

Did you guys know you had something special going on?

We knew it was different, yeah, yet we weren’t sure of it. It was fun to coach it — to see it progress. When I was at Idaho, we had coaches from all over come visit to take a look. At San Jose State, Mike Price, he had just gotten the Weber State job. He came down, and then he brought it to the Big Sky.

Then you moved to Wyoming and back to the Palouse for the WSU job, where you paired up with a quarterback who could really run the system in Timm Rosenbach.

We had some great players at WSU: good receivers and tight ends, Timm. Beating UCLA down there in the Rose Bowl [in 1988], it didn’t get any better than that for me.

College realignment and the demise of the Pac-12 have been the talk of the West Coast. You’ve coached at four Pac-12 schools and two NFL teams — you’ve seen it all. What are your thoughts on where college football is headed?

It’s just a sad time. College football, with the transfer portal and the NIL, it’s all down to who has the money. There are no rules right now. The presidents, the NCAA, they need to get some rules in there. As coaches, when we’re talking about academics, about doing this right, it’s hard when the bottom line, right now, is all about money.

One guy who’s doing a really good job is Jonathan Smith at Oregon State. He was my quarterback when I coached there. They’re doing it the right way — sure, they’re doing some in the portal, but they’re about culture, about getting guys who want to be there. Just like in Pullman, they’re in shock in Corvallis, too. Oregon State just finished a new side of their stadium. I just don’t know what’s going to happen.

Now you’re a resident of Coeur d’Alene, with pretty good proximity to some of your old college towns. Do you make it out for some game days?

Oh yeah, I go to watch the Cougars, I go down to OSU. I love to go to [my alma mater] Montana State, and down to Idaho. My son Bryce, he’s coaching at Montana. I love the Big Sky — the rivalries. The purest football right now, in my opinion, is in the Big Sky.

And full circle, the guy who replaced you at WSU, Mike Price — he’s your neighbor on the lake.

Mike, we grew up together, went to high school together; I’ve known Mike since we were little kids in Everett. Both our dads were in coaching.

When I was at Idaho the first time, we got to know this area. We left, then came back, and we always knew we wanted to end up here. It doesn’t get any better than right here.

— INTERVIEW BY TED S. McGREGOR JR.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

HEAD COACH: Jake Dickert

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-6 (4-5 Pac-12)

While conference realignment drama is certainly the story for the Cougars this season, one almost forgets they’re still actually going to play games this season. Picked to finish 7th in the conference in the preseason Pac-12 poll, WSU has the pieces in place to potentially overachieve. That conversation starts with the two guys who line up behind center — quarterback Cameron Ward and running back Nakia Watson, both of whom have garnered some early award buzz. The defensive cupboard isn’t bare either with terrorizing edge rusher Brennan Jackson and DB Chau Smith-Wade leading the charge. Also, the Cougs are rarely gonna lose the special teams battle thanks to the top-flight combo of kicker Dean Janikowski and punter Nick Haberer. If the Pac-12 ship is going down, Wazzu might as well end it with a bang.

KEY GAME: Is Nov. 25 going to see the final edition of the Apple Cup (at least for a while)? While Huskies might be abandoning the Cougars, a pretty good way for WSU to get a measure of revenge on their cross-state rivals would be to proudly claim ownership of the Apple Cup for the foreseeable future. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

IDAHO VANDALS

HEAD COACH: Jason Eck

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-5 (6-2 Big Sky)

SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 at Colorado State

Sept. 9 vs. Wisconsin

Sept. 16 vs. N. Colorado

Sept. 23 vs. Oregon State

Oct. 7 at UCLA

Oct. 14 vs. Arizona

Oct. 21 at Oregon

Oct. 28 at Arizona State

Nov. 4 vs. Stanford

Nov. 11 at Cal

Nov. 17 vs. Colorado

Nov. 25 at Washington

If it wasn’t for TCU going from a losing record to the FBS National Championship Game, there’d be a strong argument that Idaho had the biggest turnaround season in college football last year. After five straight losing seasons, the Vandals became a force under new head coach Jason Eck, putting up an impressive 6-2 record in the fierce Big Sky Conference and earning an FCS playoff berth. Now it’s time to prove 2022 wasn’t a fluke. The Vandal’s high-powered offense is led by wideout Hayden Hatten (the best WR in FCS) and quarterback Gevani McCoy, both of whom made the Walter Payton Award Watch List. If the defense — led by defensive back Marcus Harris — can hold up (the D gave up 31+ points in every FCS loss last year), Idaho has a chance to rise even higher than their No. 13 rank in the preseason Coaches’ Poll.

KEY GAME: To be the best, you gotta beat the best. And for the past few years in the Big Sky, the big dog in the yard… err rather the big cat calls Bozeman home. So when the Montana State Bobcats travel to Moscow for a showdown on Oct. 28, it’s really the Vandals’ chance to announce themselves as a new FCS force. (SS)

SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 at Lamar

Sept. 9 at Nevada

Sept. 16 at Cal

Sept. 23 vs. Sacramento State

Sept. 30 at Eastern

Washington

Oct. 7 at Cal Poly

Oct. 14 vs. Montana

Oct. 28 vs. Montana State

Nov. 4 at N. Colorado

Nov. 11 at Weber State

Nov. 18 vs. Idaho State

Cameron Ward WSU ATHLETICS PHOTO

Hayden Hatten IDAHO ATHLETICS PHOTO

“think pieces,” allow me to introduce the villains.

Villains No. 1 and 2: BIG 10 conference bigwigs and TV execs at FOX Sports. Until you greedy homewreckers stuck your noses in our business, we were one big, beautiful family. Happy

Villain No. 3: Hey University of Spoiled Children! You Angelenos were supposed to be our friend, but a year ago you stabbed your stupid fake sword in our backs on your way out the door. Enjoy your new rivalry with Purdue!

Villain No. 4: Our own Pac-12 leaders: What were you waiting for before doing, like, anything? You know how Ken’s job is “Beach”? Yours was supposed to be “Football.” Do your job! Why did we ever trust you? Oh yeah, it was…

Villain No. 5: The university presidents. Close your eyes and picture in your mind a herd of deer in the middle of the highway, frozen in the headlights. But with Ph.D.s.

Villains No. 6, 7 and 8: Finally, the Buffs, Ducks and, sad to say, my own Huskies triggered the call to abandon ship, creating an every-teamfor-itself free-for-all. Call it the “Me-First, GimmeGimme” System. In the old Pac-12, we used the Buddy System — no flying solo!

The old Pac-12 is soooo worth bringing back. We just need a killer lawyer. Do you think they got everything notarized? People forget to do that all the time. Or we could file a class-action lawsuit. They’re seriously messing with our pursuits of happiness and such.

At the very least, we should definitely start a podcast about all this…

DEPRESSION

watching football? Maybe there are some other channels on TV that don’t show sports? I will definitely be looking into that… after one more Hot Pocket.

THE UPWARD TURN

I woke up with a start — a dribble of that sweet Hot Pocket sauce running down the front of my Pac-12 T-shirt. (Paid full price — idiot!) I was dreaming: ESPN GameDay, with the Cougar flag still flying over the throng of fans. Somewhere, somehow, football would be played.

Turns out, the Pac-12’s not actually dead. It’s kind of how that tree dude in Guardians of the grew back from one of his branches after he got blown apart by dirty backstabbers from outer space. It’s called the Pac-4 now, and just like Pac-12 After Dark, literally anything could happen. (Side bonus: Pac-4 would look very sharp on

WORKING THROUGH IT

As I bargain my way to accepting the unacceptable, I’m landing on this: Misery loves company. So I have a message to all you teams in one of those fancy-pants conferences. Realignment is not done — the monster still lives, and while sated after rampaging out West, the world of big-money broadcasting is nowhere near done a-churning. So while you may feel a little schadenfreude watching the likes of Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State asking, “Brother, can you spare a time slot,” know this: It’s a cold, cold comfort. If you don’t win enough, or dole out too few NIL deals, or fail to get enough people to watch you on like FS3, or even if your unis aren’t edgy enough, they’ll be coming for you next.

Maybe then, when enough of you smug lot feel our pain, Team Sanity can make its comeback.

STAGE SEVEN: ACCEPTANCE, HOPE

Despite it all, the Pac-12 should be epic this year. So many good teams, and maybe the best batch of QBs in the history of the conference. It’s a season-long chance to stand with the Cougs, repping the Palouse and Eastern Washington. Wazzu — the fans, the tradition, Butch — will find a way to keep on waving the flag.

So let’s go crazy. Every tailgate excess, every poorly painted face, every ill-advised stadium hot dog — enjoy it all. We righteous few, we still have hope because in our hearts, we’ll always be part of the Pac-[fill in current number here]. n

The profiteers wrecked the Pac-12, forcing one sad fan on a journey through the stages of grief

EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES

HEAD COACH: Aaron Best

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-8 (2-6 Big Sky)

Before the 2022 campaign, Eastern Washington hadn’t suffered through a losing season in 15 years. But nothing went right last year, as the Eagles defense was atrocious (giving up the third-most points in FCS) while the squad’s normally high-flying offense was mediocre (ranking 67th in points among 123 FCS teams). Coach Aaron Best has some skilled players in his arsenal — including Preseason All-Big Sky pass catchers in wideout Efton Chism III and tight end Blake Gobel — but redshirt sophomore quarterback Kekoa Visperas still has to prove he belongs in EWU’s illustrious QB lineage. Both sides of the ball need to have a rebound season if the Eagles want to soar past their No. 7 ranking in the Big Sky’s preseason polls.

KEY GAME: Tides can turn quickly. Last year saw Idaho ascend while Eastern Washington cratered. The last thing the Eagles want is to suddenly be seen as only the second-best Inland Northwest Big Sky program. In order to regain their lofty perch, EWU needs to protect their home turf when the Vandals visit “The Inferno” on Sept. 30. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 at North Dakota State

Sept. 9 at Fresno State

Sept. 16 vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Sept. 23 at UC Davis

Sept. 30 vs. Idaho

Oct. 14 at Idaho State

Oct. 21 vs. Weber State

Oct. 28 at Portland State

Nov. 4 vs. Cal Poly

Nov. 11 at Montana State

Nov. 18 vs. Northern Arizona

WHITWORTH PIRATES

HEAD COACH: Rod Sandberg

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-4 (4-3 NWC)

Whitworth scraping together a winning record last season was no small feat considering their quarterback turmoil. Due to injuries, the Pirates had to play five different QBs and even had to dip into the Wildcat formation in emergency situations. The 2023 campaign should be better, as coach Rod Sandberg has four viable QBs battling for the starting job: Ryan Blair, Austin Ewing, Noah Stifle and Renat Mamikonyan Jr. But the Pirates depth doesn’t end at the guys taking the snaps. The roster boasts 25 seniors including standouts like captain safety Atticus Templeton, linebacker Dylan Ventress (who led the NWC in tackles in 2022), tight end Isaac Fields and wideout Dillon Kuk. If the secondary and O-line — which only features one returning starter in center Patton Miller — can hold up, there’s wins to be plundered for the Pirates.

KEY GAME: While playing in front of the home crowd is always tops for Coach Sandberg, the team is really looking forward to taking a Cali trip to close out non-conference play against Chapman. Considering how much the team sticks around the Northwest typically, it should both be a test for the team and a chance to further bond before NWC play. (SS)

SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 vs. Pacific Northwest

Christian (Exhibition)

Sept. 9 at Eastern Oregon

Sept. 16 at Chapman

Sept. 30 vs. Pacific Luthern

Oct. 7 at Willamette

Oct. 14 vs. Puget Sound

Oct. 21 vs. Pacific (Oregon)

Oct. 28 at Lewis & Clark

Nov. 4 vs. George Fox

Nov. 11 at Linfield

IN THE

PIZZA GUIDE

PIZZA GUIDE

David’s Pizza

LOCAL PIZZA, MADE BETTER.

From the very start, David’s Pizza, we craft everything with love.

David’s Pizza embodies the spirit of Spokane and of the neighborhood, bound together by our entire sta ’s impeccable attention to detail, commitment to service, and above all, the enjoyment of gathering together with good drinks and incredible food.

Flame&Cork Pizza

Flame&Cork provides a comfortable atmosphere for guests to enjoy delicious food and drinks.

Flame&Cork is proud to o er authentic Italian wood-fired pizza made from only the highest quality ingredients. Our sauces, dressings and dough are made in-house daily. Our sausage, meatballs, soups and desserts are also made from scratch.

Chicken Pesto Pizza

Our Chicken Pesto Pizza is crafted using pesto made in-house, mozzarella, chicken, roasted red peppers, and tomatoes.

Market Street Pizza

TWO LOCATIONS | /marketstreetpizzaspokane

Market Street Pizza is a neighborhood staple.

Serving handcrafted brick oven pizza with fresh ingredients using the highest quality cheeses and homemade dough from locally grown and milled flour and sauce made in house. We have a full bar and 18 taps featuring beer and cider from local breweries. Our salad bar is a perfect excuse to come in for lunch. We also serve pizza by the slice during lunch hours.

You will want to stay connected on Facebook and Instagram for Specials as Chef Aaron is continuously creating something new in the kitchen. Whether you’re with friends, family or even on a date, Market Street Pizza has something for everyone.

The Goodfella

 BEST HAPPY HOUR

Available in the bar and patio only!

Monday - Friday 2:30PM - 5PM

50% OFF all spirits, beer and wine

25% OFF all food (excluding to go)

 Gluten-free options available

 Dough made in-house daily

 Enjoy our full bar!

 Daily Specials and Happy Hour on Tuesday - Friday

 Enjoy the best wings in town while watching NFL Season Ticket

 Come see our new Updated Arcade Room with Party Packages

 Check out our Deep DIsh Pizza served every Monday

When it’s time to join your friends in watching your favorite team, here are some selections from our region’s best pizzerias to share at kick-off.

CENTRAL SPOKANE • 803 W. Mallon | davidspizza.com 509-483-7460

Davinci & Pepperoni

HAYDEN, ID • 8592 N. Government Way | flameandcork.com 208-635-5836

Neon Pizza

WEST SPOKANE • 100 N. Hayford Rd | northernquest.com 509-481-2132

Grab a slice of the ‘80s.

Neon Pizza, located inside Northern Quest Resort & Casino, is dishing out huge slices of cheesy New York-style pizza with a radically retro vibe. Come grab some ‘za and stoke your nostalgia with vintage candy and old-school arcade games, then head back out to discover the fun around every corner at Northern Quest.

Supreme

A pie as loaded as our fanny packs were. Each slice of Neon’s supreme pizza is topped with pepperoni, sausage, green bell pepper, mushroom, olive, and red onion.

River City Pizza

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | rivercitypizza.com

River City Pizza has been serving pizza locally for 25 years!

We make our own dough, grate our own cheese, and put a lot of love into every pizza we make for our customers! We have a large variety of menu items with some very unique pairing of flavors!

We love the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area and work hard to give back to our communities. Giving many high school students their first job is one thing we love most about the pizza business. We are excited to continue to expand to bring River City Pizza to the greater area!

Try

South Hill Grill

South Hill’s Hidden Gem!

Come to South Hill Grill for breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Our diverse menu satisfies every taste, from American classics, like burgers and tots to the freshest sushi on the South Hill! Now serving pizza.

We o er gluten free crust and vegetarian options like the Margarita or the Garden. The Meat Lover is loaded with sausage, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, black olive, mozzarella, garlic cream sauce and marinara sauce.

Es Bellisima!

Versalia Pizza

TWO LOCATIONS | versaliapizza.com

Versalia Pizza o ers the best pizza in Spokane.

Versalia Pizza is proud to serve only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Our handcrafted pizza is prepared in our restaurant daily. We also o er appetizers, sides, and desserts, along with an extensive drink menu and rotating featured items.

Brussels & Bacon

Our Brussels & Bacon starts with our artisan thin crust, drizzled with balsamic reduction and garlic olive oil, and finishes with a topping of our three cheese blend, Beecher’s flagship aged cheddar, Brussels sprouts, and bacon.

| 509-822-7874

| 509-413-2542

 Fast, convenient ooey-gooey pizza by the slice

 A variety of nostalgic arcade games

 Jello shots and brewskis by the can

 Located inside Northern Quest Resort & Casino

 We are a locally owned and family operated company

 New 4th location in Post Falls now open

 We have lots of unique pizzas and o er a gluten free option

 FREE DELIVERY

 Open 8am to 9pm Monday - Sunday

 Seasonal Patio Seating

 Prime Rib Dinner served Saturday and Sunday starting at 4:30pm

 Monday - Thursday Daily Specials New appetizers and entrees featured weekly

 Happy Hour pricing

$2 o draft beers and $1 o slices

 Delivery options available through our website

 We o er catering!

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

AMother’s Heart

“Dear Coco,” it starts.

A love letter to a granddaughter. Not with pen and paper, but with velvet, espresso and pencil.

Celeste Shaw-Coulston — local entrepreneur and owner of Chaps Diner & Bakery, Vinegar Goods, and Lucky Vintage — opened Cafe Coco in downtown Spokane in late July. Known for her beautiful spaces and bleeding heart, Shaw-Coulston has created a haven on East Main Avenue, pairing Chaps’ bakery treats and cappuccinos with moments of peace and rest.

On a recent weekday, across from a case of scones and cinnamon rolls, a group of older churchgoing women chat about the sermon and the first time they saw a Playboy magazine. A business owner pauses for her lunch, a beet salad with greens. A man buys a woman a latte.

The cafe is named for Shaw-Coulston’s blonde, pig-tailed, miraculous granddaughter Coco. But it stands as a testimony to Coco’s mother, Megan Shaw, and the mysterious bonds between women, the pains and rewards of motherhood, and familial love given at all costs.

In the bright foyer at the front of the cafe, the three generations of Shaws talk and laugh. Shaw-Coulston gives Coco a new pair of jeans, while Megan watches her son’s Michael Jackson impression.

Shaw-Coulston is Megan’s mother-in-law, but the two are more like sisters, or maybe best friends, bound by an intangible “magic” most people reserve for soulmates.

“I feel like God really has kind of defined who we are,” says Shaw-Coulston, who named her boutique Lucky Vintage for how lucky she felt when her son married Megan.

The pair sit in green velvet chairs under empty earthen pots nestled in nooks on the wall. Sunlight streams through the front glass, illuminating a weeping fig tree and a distressed window frame hanging in the center of the room. Through thin branches and empty panes, you can see toward the back of the cafe, where

the cowhide chairs and espresso machines are. The space is exactly as Shaw-Coulston intended it to be: transparent. Raw. Sacred.

Three years ago, unbeknownst to doctors, Megan’s pregnancy with Coco became dangerous. Her placenta was attaching itself too deeply to her abdominal muscles. Mortality rates with this kind of complication are high. Megan began bleeding about two-thirds through her pregnancy. Doctors tried to stop it to avoid delivering Coco too early, but weeks of bedrest were not helping. So Coco was delivered prematurely, mostly healthy, but with a little hole in her heart. Her mother, however, was bleeding out on the operating table.

“I was begging them, ‘Please don’t let me die, please don’t let me die,’” Megan says. She pleaded with the doctors to keep her alert. “I’m just envisioning all my kids growing up with my mom.” Megan remembers looking at Coco while she fought to stay awake. Shaw-Coulston remembers dropping to her knees, feeling Megan’s presence as she waited with Megan’s four other kids at home.

Today, Megan and Coco are safe, dancing in the cafe and planning Coco’s third birthday party for Sept. 23.

“Obviously, it’s the biggest celebration,” Megan says. “But her birthday is so bittersweet because it brings this up every year.”

Neither Megan nor her mother-in-law want to remember how it felt being so close to losing so much.

“We love each other so much that it was challenged and jeopardized with Coco,” Shaw-Coulston says. “Maybe my loss became almost like a North Star for me.”

Shaw-Coulston didn’t have a loving mother growing up. After a “really hard, abusive childhood” with her parents, she was sent to live with her grandmother in isolated rural Montana.

Celeste ShawCoulston turns pain into peace at her newest spot, Cafe Coco on East Main Avenue

Cafe Coco serves pastries and lighter fare, like grilled peach, feta and prosciutto toast (front) and vegetarian quiche. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

Her grandmother pushed her to imagine a life beyond what she had. Shaw-Coulston became a teenage Olympic runner, a trauma nurse and an entrepreneur, with the unwavering support of a selfless, generous grandma.

“I think there’s just a kind of pride that she would have, knowing we came from just not having anything, that I took what she did give me and I was able to turn it into something bigger,” Shaw-Coulston says. “So I think everything I do somehow has a golden thread that leads back to her.”

Cafe Coco serves light cafe fare, with croissants, cookies and Danishes from Chaps, plus salads, toasts, sandwiches and savory hand pies. The front case is full of sparkling beverages, alcoholic and not, while standard coffees and seasonal lattes pour out from behind the bar.

Shaw-Coulston’s cafes have always been focused on much more than eating. It was during the pandemic that she first penned the phrase “food is Love.” She printed those words on shirts and aprons, then sold them to support people struggling in the hospitality industry. Currently, she’s selling aprons with the phrase and donating the proceeds to those affected by the fires in Medical Lake and Elk.

“Food is Love represents what we feed into our community,” Shaw-Coulston says. “How am I feeding your soul? How am I feeding your spirit? It’s with compassion, and representation, and sacrifice and love. And whatever, whatever is necessary to help take care of another human being.”

Shaw-Coulston initially thought she’d open Cafe Coco in Vinegar Flats, where both Lucky Vintage and Vinegar Goods are. But she was stymied by the area’s building permit moratorium.

When the storefront on Main Avenue became available, formerly home of Boots Bakery & Lounge (which moved across the street inside the Saranac Commons), she was thrilled. She made sure to ask Alison Collins, Boots’ owner, for her blessing. Collins was only supportive, Shaw-Coulston says.

Today, the cafe’s namesake thinks she owns the cafe, walking straight back to the counter to get herself a cookie. Everyone knows

who she is, and she eats up all the attention.

Shaw-Coulston watches Megan watch Coco.

“If I do anything right in my life,” Shaw-Coulston says, “I want to be a good mother.”

Above them, in handwritten cursive on the wall, “dear coco” is centered in a white frame. It was written in pencil by Coco’s older sister, then traced by another in Sharpie.

But the cafe safeguards the presence of even more mothers, daughters and granddaughters.

“It’s probably not even just my love letter to Coco, but to everyone that has surrounded me,” Shaw-Coulston says. “You are the sum of whose shoulders stood strong for you to stand on.”

Shaw-Coulston turns pain into peace, becoming the mother she never had to anyone who sips a cup of coffee.

“I want to take care of you,” she says. “I want you to take care of each other.” n

Cafe Coco • 24 W. Main Ave. • Open Tue-Sat 8 am-3pm • Instagram: @dearcocoonmainstreet

Celeste Shaw-Coulston named the cafe after her granddaughter, Coco.

Although it was presented in a somewhat heightened style, with a jittery tone sometimes recalling horror movies, writer-director Emma Seligman’s 2020 debut feature Shiva Baby was ultimately a grounded story about a young woman searching for direction while navigating a messy love life. Seligman’s follow-up, Bottoms, reunites her with Shiva Baby star Rachel Sennott, but it’s otherwise a complete departure from her previous film. It’s a goofy, raunchy comedy almost completely divorced from reality, with a cartoonish setting and absurd characters.

It’s also very funny. But fans of Shiva Baby should adjust their expectations for another coming-of-age comedy with Sennott as a queer protagonist. Sennott, who co-wrote the screenplay with Seligman, stars as high school senior PJ, who along with her best friend Josie (The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri) is stuck at the low end of the social hierarchy. Both characters are quick to note that they’re not ostracized because they’re gay, but rather because they’re “ugly and untalented” — their sexuality isn’t what’s holding them back.

Instead, like protagonists in decades of teen comedies past, both PJ and Josie are horny, awkward weirdos, crushing on seemingly unattainable girls and unable to form coherent sentences when they attempt to talk to their objects of affection. Through a convoluted set of circumstances, they find themselves in charge of what they’ve billed as a self-defense class for female students, although PJ views it simply as a way to get physically close to the popular cheerleaders with whom she and Josie want to hook up.

It’s a queer take on the familiar teen-comedy device of the characters’ quest to lose their virginity, and Seligman knowingly draws from teen touchstones like Revenge of the Nerds and American Pie Tonally, Bottoms is closer to the surrealism of dark comedy Heathers or David Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer, set in a high school where football players never change out of their uniforms, the

PRETTY IN PINK TRIANGLE

Bottoms offers an absurdist queer-focused take on the classic teen comedy

BY JOSH BELL

THE EQUALIZER 3

cross-town rivals are literally out for blood, and classes end just minutes after they begin, once a scene has served its comedic purpose.

That level of ridiculousness can sometimes make it difficult to get emotionally invested in the relationships, including the friendship between PJ and Josie and the burgeoning romance between Josie and her longtime crush Isabel (Havana Rose Liu). PJ in particular becomes so abrasive in her efforts to land gorgeous cheerleader Brittany (Kaia Gerber) that she sometimes seems like the movie’s villain, but Sennott is so charming and likable that she mostly smooths over the character’s obnoxiousness.

Even when Bottoms goes so far over the top that it enters the realm of complete nonsense, the humor never falters, and some of the funniest moments are the most unbelievable. Sennott and Edebiri anchor the movie with their strong chemistry and odd-couple dynamic, but the supporting cast is full of amusing performances, including Red, White & Royal Blue’s Nicholas Galitzine as the egotistical star quarterback and former Seattle Seahawk Marshawn Lynch as the club’s surprisingly progressive faculty adviser.

Ruby Cruz also shines in the less showy role of PJ and Josie’s longsuffering sidekick Hazel, who’s apparently the only person lower in the social order than they are, and who not-sosecretly keeps the club running while they’re making fools of themselves in pursuit of sexual conquests. She’s the McLovin figure in Seligman’s riff on Superbad, and she brings the movie back to reality for its twistedly heartwarming conclusion. As screwed up as PJ and Josie may be, their salacious project actually celebrates female empowerment and queer solidarity in the end, and that goes for the vulgar, chaotic movie, too. n

Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua close out their vigilante action trilogy with Robert McCall’s peaceful new life in Italy being upended by the Sicilian mafia. Bad move, the mob. Rated R

BOTTOMS

Rated R

Directed by Emma Seligman Starring Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz

Level Up

The 10 biggest video games still coming in 2023

BY LOGAN PLANT

This has already been one of the most exciting years for video game fans since… well… ever. With new entries in hit franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Diablo, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter, there’s been no shortage of fantastic new releases to play. And as we head into fall — which in the video game industry begins as we turn the calendar to September — there’s still a ton on the horizon for players on all consoles to anticipate. Here are the 10 biggest games still on the way in 2023.

SEPT. 6

STARFIELD

Xbox Series X|S, PC Starfield is the next game from Bethesda Game Studios, the developer that brought us beloved RPGs like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 3. Starfield marks the studio’s first original universe in over 25 years, and it’s certainly set to be a big one, as the sci-fi game will feature over 1,000 planets to explore.

SEPT. 19

MORTAL KOMBAT 1

PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC Mortal Kombat 1 is resetting the Mortal Kombat universe, but don’t worry — all of the bone-crushing and spine-ripping action is still here. The 30-year-old fighting game series made a name for itself with unmatched video game violence, and Mortal Kombat 1 should certainly live up to that legacy.

OCT. 5

ASSASSIN’S CREED MIRAGE

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC After three entries that took the franchise in a bigger, more RPG-focused direction, Assassin’s Creed Mirage marks a return to the franchise’s stealth action roots. Set in Baghdad, Mirage is said to only take around 20 hours to complete (instead of the 100+ some RPGs require these days), which puts it in line with the earlier entries in the series.

OCT. 10

FORZA MOTORSPORT

Xbox Series X|S, PC

Since the Xbox Series X launched back in 2020, fans have been waiting for a true graphical showcase of what the new machine can do. Forza Motorsport appears to be that showcase. The new entry in Microsoft’s long-running racing simulator series will feature hundreds of cars for players to collect and race.

OCT. 17

SONIC SUPERSTARS

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Sonic the Hedgehog is also returning to his roots this fall in Sonic Superstars, a brand-new 2D platformer in the style of the original Sonic games from the 1990s. But this time, up to three friends can join the fun in fourplayer local multiplayer, making this one of the best family games of the fall season.

OCT. 20

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

PS5

You can never get enough Spider-Man, and you’ll be seeing double this October when Spider-Man 2 hits PlayStation 5. The sequel to Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man and SpiderMan: Miles Morales will have players control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales to take on one of the most iconic Spidey villains — Venom.

NOV. 10

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE III

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

What’s a fall video game release calendar without a new Call of Duty? This year’s entry into the enduring first-person shooter franchise is Modern Warfare III, the second sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot. Naming confusion aside, competitive hotshots from around the globe know what they’re getting with the annual Call of Duty release.

NOV. 17

SUPER MARIO RPG

Nintendo Switch

Over 25 years since its original release, Super Mario RPG is getting a full-blown current gen remake. This joint effort between Nintendo and Square marks a lot of firsts for the iconic plumber — including the first time he’s teamed up with archnemesis Bowser. Mario RPG also has a more fleshedout story than we’re used to seeing in Super Mario games, which you can experience with updated visuals when the remake drops this November.

DEC. 7

AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA

PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

OCT. 20

SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER

Nintendo Switch

Sonic and Mario are going head-to-head once again, as Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches just three days after Sonic Superstars. Wonder is the first new mainline 2D Super Mario game in over a decade, and it will feature four-player local multiplayer. But most importantly, Mario can turn into an elephant now!

If you’re a fan of the wildly popular Avatar movies, you may want to check out Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which will set players loose on the wild world of Pandora. The first-person action-adventure will tell a different story from the movies, centering on a new Na’vi character who defends the planet from human invaders. Considering the CGI-heavy movies are often compared to video games, it seems like a near-perfect fit. n

The Assassin’s Creed franchise returns to its roots with Assassin’s Creed Mirage

THE RUB • SEPTEMBER 6 COEUR D’ALENE McEUEN PARK: ALIVE AFTER 5

Still Gouging Away

Trailblazing alternative rock band Pixies keep at it by keeping things simple

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

There are two main schools of influence when it comes to rock and roll music.

The broader category influences individuals. They’re the bands that get other people to become musicians. From massive acts to local favs, this group can be all-encompassing. How many thousands of folks picked up a guitar because they grew up on the Beatles or Nirvana? Far too many to count. But a band no one’s ever heard of can be just as influential — maybe it’s a hometown punk band that your friend was in that never released music but you thought, “Hey if they can do it, I probably can too.”

It’s the type of influence that Brian Eno touched on when he talked about the Velvet Underground: “The first Velvet Underground record sold only 30,000 copies in its first five years. Yet, that was an enormously important record for so many people. I think everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band!”

The rarer influence comes in the form of lasting sonic impact — bands that create a sound that becomes part of the fabric of the genre itself. The heaviness of metal music can be directly linked to Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi having to tune lower to play with fingers he lost the tips of in an industrial accident. Kraftwerk’s early krautrock established electronic music. The power chord simplicity of the Ramones is still being aped. Rock guitar playing forever became more of a technical endeavor thanks to Van Halen. Groups like this also fit the first category, but more importantly they created sonic shifts that are now inherent in music’s DNA.

Pixies certainly fit in the latter category.

Bursting onto the scene with a howling fervor with 1988’s alt-rock touchstone Surfer Rosa, the Boston-formed band set the template for “loud-quiet-loud” rock, where creeping verses explode into massive noisy choruses (or vice versa). That dynamic went on to be key to massive groups like Nirvana and Modest Mouse. The style presented an ideal balance of melodicism and ferocity. The

Pixies still haven’t found where their mind went...

group would go on to perfect that sonic realm on 1989’s classic Doolittle, with tracks like the album-closing “Gouge Away” setting the template while also standing on their own as amazingly overwhelming bursts of angsty rage.

The quartet was a true sum of its parts: frontman Black Francis acting as the barking force of nature hollering out macabre lyrics, bassist Kim Deal serving as heart to counterbalance the fury (Deal departed the band in 2013, eventually replaced by Argentinian Paz Lenchantin), drummer David Lovering was tasked with keeping the chaos in order, and guitarist Joey Santiago employed an uncanny sense for finding his space in a song — could be a sinister little riff, could be huge chords, could be pushing forward the mediant major chord progression (for the music nerds out there).

So what’s been Santiago’s process when crafting such influential guitar work? Honestly? Kinda just winging it.

“The recording process, on my end, it’s always been work for me. Because I’m not really hip on the theory at all,” Santiago remarks. “[Being too theory-based] kind of takes the mystery out of it, you know? It’s almost like looking at a recipe. I don’t cook with a recipe, that’s for sure. I’d rather paint than do math.”

Santiago is particularly fond of the Pixies at its “weirdest,” during early ’90s era of the group’s third and fourth albums, Bossa Nova and Trompe le Monde era. So it shouldn’t come as a shock that when the Pixies hit Europe in spring 2024, the band will be playing both of those records in full.

“I was listening to Trompe le Monde, and there’s a lot of guitar lines there that sound like Middle Eastern stuff,” says the Philippines-born Santiago. “And unbeknownst to me, I was using these scales and modes. It’s like, ‘Oh, no wonder it sounds like that.’”

The latest output from the Pixies comes in the form of the 2022 LP Doggerel. And while some fans of the band automatically discount anything the Pixies do since Deal left the band (Deal rules, but frustrations certainly shouldn’t be directed at Lenchantin), Doggerel shows that Pixies still have some bite. Sure, there’s not the same level of youthful tenacity as found on Surfer Rosa, but that should be a given — Francis, Santiago and Lovering are all 35 years older. While the new stuff might not go down in the Pixies’ pantheon, only the sourest “fans” would cringe listening to it.

“In the end, we just don’t want to suck, you know? That’s always been the goal,” says Santiago. “We’ve never really planned on a sound, and if we do, it just goes by the wayside.”

Pixies also is not one of the acts that’s oblivious to what the fans want from the concert experience. The band has made some iconic albums, and folks frankly want to hear their old favs more than a total onslaught of the new tunes. On a basic level, as a music fan himself, Santiago fully understands that and aims to please.

“We keep it fresh, but it’s really out of our hands after we record it. It’s really what people are gonna think,” says Santiago. “And, hey, I’m biased when legendary bands put out an album. I love the Rolling Stones, but c’mon — give me ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ if I paid $800 to see you. I wanta hear ‘Gimme Shelter,’ you know?”

And while letting the Pixies choose their own set list still seems like a safe and winning proposition, let’s be glad Santiago and Co. aren’t running our city affairs. At some point, Pixies efficiency might overstep its bounds.

“I think Spokane… you guys should drop that e on the end. It confuses me. What the f--k is that e doing at the end, man?” says Santiago. “The Pixies would drop that. We keep it simple.” n

Modest Mouse, Pixies, Cat Power • Wed, Sept. 6 at 6 pm

• $149-$184

• Spokane Pavilion

574 N. Howard St. • spokanepavilion.com

Closing Time

We bid Lucky You Lounge adieu via reflections from one of its staffers

BY ELISSA BALL

On opening night in May 2019, the soda guns at Lucky You Lounge malfunctioned. Thengeneral manager Kent Ueland (the guy always wearing a Bengals cap) shoved a company credit card into my palm and said, “Go across the street to Rosauers and buy every bottle of soda water and club soda you can fit in your car trunk!”

I got odd looks pushing that cart through the checkout. After I returned with the precious bubbles, a pipe behind the bar began spurting water. As fellow newly hired barback Dougie and I mopped up the sudden pool, Kent clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Yeeeah! Rock ’n’ roll!”

That’s when I knew working at Lucky You was gonna be a high-speed log ride, one where I’d definitely get drenched. It has been a thrill ride, and like many in Spokane, I’m grieving the big end (Aug. 31 marks Lucky You’s final night). Though we team members surely got soaked in sweat from adrenaline-filled shifts and plan hiccups, we also had freedom to experiment, fail and adjust — that was true for the bar, the food and the entertainment programming. “Let’s try it and see” became our philosophy.

From my inside perspective — as ticket booth attendant, detail cleaner and official paper towel whisperer — I believe a few key ingredients made Lucky You the kind of oasis where awe-eyed guests would walk through the plant-draped entryway and say, “It’s our first time in. This place is amaaazing!” and where touring musicians would remark, “We’ve played all over, but this venue is our favorite. You have something special here.”

First, the mood lighting and retro brass fixtures worked with the overall sunset color scheme to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Never underestimate the emotional power of great lighting! Second, our stellar sound system. Third, no TVs! A bar without big screens just feels different, makes it easier to be present.

But the absolutely invaluable element to Lucky You’s distinct vibe has been our endlessly creative, down-to-evolve staff. We look out for each other and for our patrons. When some of us queer employees worried that Queer Prom might be a target for hate and violence, one straight, cisgender security guard decked himself out in sparkly makeup and a dress that night to set a certain tone as he checked IDs at the door.

Our inside joke is that Lucky You isn’t actually a bar/restaurant/music venue — it’s more of an adult day care night care center where first dates, breakups, community meetups, and benefit shows happen. We’ve been running a loneliness reduction program that includes booze, trivia, comedy, drag and dance therapy: Alcohol & Feelings, for real.

When we reopened after the long pandemic

shutdown and I switched from barback to box office duties, I’d stamp showgoers’ wrists and say, “Thanks for coming out tonight.” But what I really meant was, “Thanks for supporting live music and, in effect, supporting those of us who perform unsexy music industry tasks like vacuuming the green room and wiping up vomit!”

I’d tell guests heading into the showroom to “have fun,” to which they’d reflexively reply, “You too!” then stammer and say, “I mean, I guess you’re at work, huh?” But honestly? I was having fun too, doing little dances to lift co-workers’ spirits from across the room, chatting with guests about albums and outfits.

From back of house to front, most of us staffers were always ridiculously horny for live music, even though tunes surrounded us every shift. Far from jaded, we were moved by the real magic that could spark between performer and listener. “Go check out this band real quick. I’ll cover your station,” we’d command each other.

I’m grateful I got to work in a music venue that 1) never took merch cuts from bands and 2) took COVID protocols seriously to protect musicians and patrons — even if I received… varied “responses” when I had to enforce those mask-and-vax policies. I’m proud that I pushed to provide guests with free earplugs. I’m forever thankful that we didn’t have to wear uniforms!

Of course I won’t miss everything about the place: From Day 1, I longed to chuck those amber-color water cups that tasted of nasty plastic chemicals directly into the dumpster. And I was always frustrated by the basement level’s lack of accessibility, as it was reachable only by stairs.

I will miss the fragrant mountains of herb fries. I’ll miss watching people hug and catch up with their pals at local hip hop shows. I’ll miss the punk shows that turned into service industry hangs where folks paid cash from their tip stash. I’ll miss cleaning the selfie mirror and seeing the cute pictures it enabled. Mostly I’ll miss being part of a crew of brilliant weirdos who tried to make other weirdos (but not a-holes and creeps) feel welcome. I’ll miss feeling like my job somehow facilitated art and community. Those shiny brass lamps are cool, but the relationships people formed because of Lucky You Lounge will remain the true solid gold. How lucky are we all to have connected there.

Let’s not say goodbye. Let me just say, “Thanks for coming out.” n

Allen Stone plays one of of Lucky You’s many memorable nights. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

HEAVY ROCK BORIS + MELVINS FOLK ROCK BAND OF HORSES

Thursday, 8/31

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Summer Concert Series: KŌSH

J THE BIG DIPPER, Decayer, Saltwound, Inferious, Midnight Drive

J BRICK WEST BREWING CO., Kyle Richard and Friends

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Thursday Night Jam

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

COEUR D’ALENE PARK, Free Whiskey

J HISTORIC DAVENPORT HOTEL, Dr. Don Goodwin

J KNITTING FACTORY, Bryce Vine

LUCKY YOU LOUNGE, Mo Lowda & The Humble, Trash Panda

J MAGNOLIA BRASSERIE, B

MCCRACKEN’S PUB AND BBQ, Austin Carruthers

J PINE STREET PLAZA, Music on Main: Smith & Reilly

STEAM PLANT RESTAURANT, Katie Mae Redl

J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, The Buckley Storms

J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Evan Denlinger

ZOLA, Mister Sister

Friday, 9/1

AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, Frankie Ghee

J THE BIG DIPPER, Made In Basement

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Whack A Mole, Belly Dancers

THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT, Pirate Yacht Party

COLVILLE, WASH, FarmJam 2023

DAHMEN BARN, The Senders

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Dave Matthews Band

J THE GRAIN SHED, Open Mic at The Grain Shed

IRON GOAT BREWING CO.,

Brassless Chaps

J NIGHTFALL LIVE, Nate Ostrander

J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, OutWest

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Mike Wagoner Trio

THE ROCK BAR & LOUNGE, Steve Starkey

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT, Just Plain Darin

Saturday, 9/2

J BECK’S HARVEST HOUSE, Heather and John

J THE BIG DIPPER, Dead Register, Black Locust, Chase The Sun

CHALICE BREWING CO., Son of Brad

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Working Spliffs

COLVILLE, WASH, FarmJam 2023

THE CORK & TAP, Just Plain Darin

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER,

Dave Matthews Band

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Boris, Melvins

NOAH’S CANTEEN, Sean Kavanaugh

J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, OutWest

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Larsen Gardens

ROCKET MARKET, Carter Hudson

J ST. MARIES, Paul Bunyan Days

STEAMBOAT GRILL, Kevin Shay

J WALLOWA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, Juniper Jam 2023

ZOLA, Blake Braley

Sunday, 9/3

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Macey Gard Band

J BECK’S HARVEST HOUSE, Jake Rozier

J THE BIG DIPPER, Snuffed On Sight, Dead Low, Black Force Energy, Cyclone

It’s one thing to meet your idols. It’s another thing to name your band as a reference to your idols. And it’s a completely other thing to go on a co-headlining tour with your idols. The experimental Japanese heavy noise rock band Boris got its name from the song “Boris” off the 1991 album Bullhead by Pacific Northwest sludge metal icons Melvins. Now both bands share the same bill for a night of abrasive, distorted sound that’s sure to be loud (Melvins are the loudest band I’ve ever heard live.) As part of the show, Boris performs its 2002 album Heavy Rocks, while Melvins will fittingly play Bullhead

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Boris, Melvins • Sat, Sept. 2 at 8 pm •  $30-$35 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

While plenty of noteworthy bands broke out during Seattle’s indie folk boom of the early 2000s, Band of Horses had the softest cinematic touch. Led by frontman Ben Bridwell, songs like “No One’s Gonna Love You” and “The Funeral” stood out from the pack with their delicate and emotionally unvarnished, sweeping grandeur. It’s the type of music that you could easily imagine playing over wistful movie credits without seeming like it was written explicitly for that purpose. Many critics hailed Band of Horses most recent album — 2022’s Things Are Great — as a return to that early form. So if you’re looking to tenderly sway the night away, you can’t go wrong by catching the group’s stop at the Knitting Factory.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Band of Horses • Mon, Sept. 4 at 8 pm •  $33 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

COLVILLE, WASH, FarmJam 2023

THE DISTRICT BAR, Bay Ledges, Mishegas

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Dave Matthews Band

HOGFISH, Open Mic

J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin

J ST. MARIES, Paul Bunyan Days

STEAMBOAT GRILL, Take 2

Monday, 9/4

J EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Band of Horses

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 9/5

J D-MAC’S AT THE LAKE, Jake Rozier

LITZ’S PUB & EATERY, Shuffle Dawgs

OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Land of Voices

ZOLA, The Night Mayors

Wednesday, 9/6

J D-MAC’S AT THE LAKE, Chuck Wasileski

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic

J J FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Bonnie Raitt

MCEUEN PARK, Alive After 5: The Rub

OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Joel Haugen

J J PAVILION AT RIVERFRONT, Modest Mouse, Pixies, Cat Power

PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Dwayne Parsons

RED ROOM LOUNGE, The Roomates

J STATELINE SPEEDWAY, Easton Corbin

J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents

ZOLA, Brittany’s House

J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW

J = ALL AGES SHOW

SPORTS UNTIL NEXT YEAR

It pains me to write this, but baseball season is coming to an end in Spokane. I know, I know. It hurts to even think about Avista Stadium closing its doors until next summer. The Spokane Indians’ last home series includes six games against the Everett AquaSox and, by the time this is published, there’ll be four games left. That means four more chances to watch your favorite players run around the bases, to eat a ballpark dog and to shake with Ribby from your seat. Even if baseball isn’t your “thing,” it’s all about the vibes at Avista Stadium. Grab an Indians Dog and feed off of the infectious energy of the fans around you or make friends with Doris the Spokanosaurus, the true superstar of every Indians game.

— MADISON PEARSON

Spokane Indians Final Home Series • Thu, Aug. 31-Sun, Sept. 3 at 6:35 pm; Fri, Sept. 1-Sat, Sept. 2 at 7:05 pm • $8-$22 • Avista Stadium • 602 N. Havana St. • spokaneindians.com

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.

WORDS POET PARTY

Have you noticed the poetry resurgence? I certainly have! Back in 2014 or so, poetry was everywhere: Tumblr blogs, Instagram feeds, and Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey was flying off of bookstore shelves. Sure, some of that online poetry wasn’t exactly groundbreaking, but at least it made poetry cool. Thankfully, excellent poets continue to thrive in Spokane, with local poets releasing new work left and right. Tim Greenup’s newest collection, Crisis Mode, features 21 new poems and was selected as the 2022 Burnside Review Chapbook Contest winner. To celebrate, Greenup and fellow local poets Derek Annis, Kathryn Smith and Fig DePaolo are getting together at Auntie’s for readings and discussion. If you’re looking to dip your toe into the local poetry scene, there’s no better place to be.

— MADISON PEARSON

BENEFIT SMARTY PANTS

Calling all trivia fiends! Brick West Brewing is gearing up to host a new monthlong series, and by the end of September, only one team of (not so useless) fact-filled brainiacs will stand. Qualifier rounds for the Brick West Trivia Fest begin on Monday, Sept. 4, at PRESS Public House, and continue the following nights, Sept. 5 at Backyard Public House and Sept. 6 at Brick West. For three weeks, local teams of up to eight people can test their random knowledge recall skills to try to make it to the final round. The championship round is set for Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Brick West, during which the top nine performing teams (winning teams from each location’s qualifiers) — plus three wildcards — go head to head. The event doubles as a school supply drive for the Salvation Army Spokane’s Burst-A-Bust fundraiser.

— CHEY SCOTT

Brick West Trivia Fest • Sept. 4-27; dates, times and locations vary • More at brickwestbrewingco.com/trivia

COMMUNITY HOP INTO FALL

For 30 years, Schweitzer’s annual Fall Fest has been giving attendees the chance to try over 80 beers, ciders and seltzers from various local breweries. The festival also features a soda station for kids, free live music, food from local chefs and food trucks, plus various activities for all ages. Each year, Schweitzer also offers custom glassware in different styles that can be purchased online in advance or at the festival, and each glass comes with three drink tickets to use in the beer tents. With buses running every half hour, you can also explore the resort’s scenic mountains and hiking trails, plus get to and from the festival with ease.

— SUMMER SANDSTROM

Schweitzer Fall Fest • Fri, Sept. 1-Mon, Sept. 4, times vary • All Ages • Schweitzer Mountain Resort • 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint • schweitzer.com

COMEDY WEEKEND UPDATE

Charming, ageless, a little twisted and… a hiker? Kevin Nealon is everything a comedian should be and more. Anchor of SNL’s mock news desk in the ’80s and a stoned accountant in the early ’00s comedy Weeds, Nealon has gone back to his roots in stand-up comedy and headlines at Spokane Comedy Club this weekend. Besides popping up in his buddy Adam Sandler’s movies, Nealon recently spent time off the silver screen, publishing a book of stories and caricatures called I Exaggerate My Brushes with Fame. He also started bringing a camera along with him and his famous friends as they hiked the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, which became his YouTube show “Hiking with Kevin.” In the wilds of LA or the jungles of American night clubs, Nealon will leave you breathless — from laughter, elevation gain or both.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

E Sprague Ave, Spokane Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm ONE DAY ONLY! SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 10AM - 5PM UP TO 75% OFF *

TinRoofFurniture.com CLOSEOUT MODELS, FLOOR SAMPLES, OVERSTOCK & MORE

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Bring your truck! • Community • Film • Food & Drink

• Music • Sports • Theater

• Visual Arts • Words • Etc.

I SAW YOU

BEACON TOWERS VIEWS A windy but otherwise perfect Friday morning at the top of the trails on Beacon Hill... I was breathing hard, trying to ignore the pain in my legs after a long climb on my mountain bike. You were finishing a hike, beaming about the cooler temperatures and amazing views. You mentioned your healing ankle sprain and your “poser” running vest, I was nearly frozen by your magnetic smile, wishing I could see the eyes behind your sunglasses. You made my leg pain disappear without trying, hope you see this thank you for making my morning!

INCUBUS MAN WITH HIS MOM My friend (a mom of five) and I sat next to you, your mom & sisters(?). You seemed really kind and caught my attention, but I assumed one of the women you were with was a significant other. It wasn’t until we were walking away that my friend told me you were all family members. Me: long dark hair, cuffed capris, black T-shirt. Coffee? If you happen to see this, reply to the “You Saw Me” section here :)

TRADER JOE’S HAND CART WORKOUT I saw you at Trader Joes in a lavender top, black yoga pants, and a dark hair ponytail with a beaming smile and an amazing laugh. You looked like you were lifting weights with a hand cart. I mentioned to you that you probably should have gotten a wheeled cart, and you laughed and agreed. I should have hit on you then, I’m hitting on you now.

I LIKE BEER AND POT Aug. 27, Northwest Boulevard and Ash at about 4 pm, two people thought it nice to hold up 15 cars just so they could give a panhandler a dollar. When I honked, I got flipped off. Next time instead of giving to some panhandler, give me some money. I like beer and I like pot. I bet you went home and patted yourself on the back for giving a dollar to a panhandler and then badmouthed me for honking at you for making how many cars wait and be inconvenienced.

CHEERS

WANT TO MEET MY LIFESAVERS I’m looking for two women who on Aug. 21, 2022, were doing trail maintenance past the gate at Selkirk Lodge on Mt. Spokane. They used a Subaru to get me off the trail to a Life Flight helicopter after I suffered a major heart attack while mountain biking. It’s been almost a year since that happened, and I want to thank them both, share how well I’m doing, and let them know that their actions literally saved my life. One was a nurse, named Lynn. Can anyone help me get in contact with these women?

TO THE BUS RIDERS OF SPOKANE This isn’t for the people for the road diet on Division Street, but rather for the people against it. There are radio ads accusing the city of “forcing” people to take the bus. That is not what it’s about. It’s about reducing traffic to make the street better for people who don’t drive. All the bus-hating is going to do is make more people drive, which will make buses even more inefficient than they already are, which will then hurt poor people, you know, the ones who need buses the most. Contrary to popular belief, not everybody wants to drive. Spokane doesn’t need a six-lane street, we need better public transit. With that and the new freeway, traffic on Division will calm down.

JEERS

RE: DRIVERS IN STRIP MALLS I couldn’t have written it better myself. However, as part of the general theme of being unsafe, disrespectful, and stupid, I would also add the following. Every parking lot in the city has a plethora of horn honking. Remember when the purpose of a horn was to alert someone to a variety of dangers? Now, the inferior car makers have a function in which the horn honks LOUDLY whenever some fool locks the door! Spokane needs to consider adding

that to the noise ordinance/noise pollution ban. For people either smart or considerate enough to do so, it’s possible to reduce the horn noise or silence it entirely, but you do have to either have average intelligence or respect your fellow humans enough to do so. Some areas of the country have banned that unnessary noise as an ordinance. Spokane should too! Spokane: Near Nature - Near Loud Honking in Every Parking Lot.

THE REAL DISASTER RE: The fires: First, did “Climate Change” Inslee use an electric car when he visited Spokane? Why not? Second, how many more fires and homes have to burn before we call “illegal campers” a lethal public health and safety menace? And finally, consider the sheer number of vehicles responding to these disasters: firetrucks and water transports, emergency vehicles, pickups and trailers evacuating livestock, fire fighting planes and helicopters, people fleeing with virtually no warning. What if they were all electric, while the smoke and stagnant air turned solar and wind power generation to zero? If your home was threatened, would you want them all waiting in line at a charging station to be able to respond, or can we agree that gas is still the best fuel available now? “Climate change” is going to get a lot of people killed, but not for the reasons the Inslees of this world would have you believe. It’s not the nature of the situation, but the government’s response to it that is potentially lethal, and they don’t care — just look at Maui.

POMPOUS A** Replying to Aug. 10 “I saw you” directed at the person handing out food to the homeless downtown. You clearly have never been hungry or in need a day of your life. If someone is kind enough to give food out to people who are in need, why would you be so critical? Yes, vagrants can be a problem, and the problem needs to be addressed. But to criticize someone who is trying to do a good deed is coldhearted and pompous. I hope if you ever need a helping hand, a kind soul will take pity on you.

FILL IN THE BLANK? Jeers to The Inlander for posting a blank grid as the solution to the crossword puzzle in the Aug. 24 edition. Guess I will never know if I got it all right. (Editor's note: Sorry! We've included it on this page with this week's answers.)

RE: TALK TO MORE POCS? Not sure what POC means. Do people who use acronyms want to be understood, or only by those in

the know??

CRISIS IN SPOKANE This is in response to the story by Nate Sanford titled Second & Division. It’s no secret that Spokane has a drug & homeless problem. In my opinion divide & conquer has never been

Shea would co-opt a prayer meeting with a political agenda, when that is all the blowhard has ever done, is disingenuous at best. She had an opportunity to walk off stage. Instead she embarrassed a large portion of the citizens of our city, and in so doing validated her support for the

productive. Instead of Mayor Woodward & SPD criticizing the people who are trying to help, why can’t they all work TOGETHER. Woodward was all about getting the homeless shelter set up on E. Trent; does she realize the effect that’s had on my neighborhood? Crime has skyrocketed! My car has been vandalized, broken into and mail stolen. There’s garbage and blatant drug use in my alley day and night. Downtown Spokane has been in crisis for MANY years. Put a cap on the amount landlords can charge for rent so folks can afford a place to live. Seems to me like a lot of our community is giving up. Let’s figure out a way to help each other. That means YOU Mayor Woodward. Your ideas are not working. I’m a senior citizen living on a widow’s pension trying to make ends meet.

NO WORKERS? To everyone complaining about “no one wants to work anymore”: Have you bothered researching a single thing about generations in the workforce? The baby boomer generation was the largest portion of the workforce (hence the name) — and they all were either forced into retirement during the pandemic, or took their golden parachutes, or are so near retirement that they no longer care about a damn thing at work and are just counting down the days. FYI, many of us knew this was coming BEFORE the pandemic. Generations below baby boomers took a leap forward in their career, then no one was left for the crap jobs anymore. People are working, they just don’t want your shit jobs.

MAYOR WOODWARD Nadine Woodward, who was in church praying for the victims of the fire complexes, fell into a stunt with Matt Shea and his armed-to-the-teeth fringe zealots. The on-stage unity morphing into a desecration of the true mission of worship. Her stumbling excuse of not realizing

overt message of Shea and his supporters. She now has the endorsement of the white nationalist, insurrection supporting, Malheur Wildlife Refuge armed standoff against law enforcement, anti-American democracy contingent, of that congregation in lock step with seditionist Matt Shea.

REALLY NADINE? The mayor stood on a stage with a known domestic terrorist and then allowed him to hug her but claims she didn’t know he was going to be there and denounced him as a threat to democracy. Your lack of judgment and character is beyond comprehension. Resign! 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.

BENEFIT

FUNDRAISER CAR WASH & BBQ Enjoy free hot dogs and hamburgers while getting your car washed. Proceeds benefit Union Gospel Mission. Sep. 2, 10 am-3 pm. By donation. K9 Country Club Spokane, 19223 E. Appleway Ave. k9ccspokane.com

WOMEN’S WEEKEND A fundraising event for Girl Scouts of EWNI supporting scholarships, camperships and leadership programs. Ages 21+. Sep. 8-10. $325. Camp Four Echoes, 22270 S. 4 Echoes Rd. gsewni.org

MARCH FOR THE FALLEN Walk, run or ruck to remember post-9/11 fallen military members from the Pacific Northwest. Proceeds benefit the WA State Fallen Heroes Project and local organizations supporting veterans. Sep. 9, 8:45 am-2 pm. $30. Riverside State Park, Spokane. marchforthefallen.com

COMEDY

MADDY SMITH Smith is a cast member on MTV’s Wild N Out. Aug. 31, 7:30 pm. $20-$28. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

KEVIN NEALON Nealon first gained widespread attention during his tenure on Saturday Night Live. Sept. 1, 7:30 & 10:15 pm and Sept. 2, 7 & 9:45 pm. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

THE REAL BLANKS OF BLANKVILLE

An improvised comedy show based on reality TV programs. Sept. 1-29, Fridays at 7:30 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com

SAFARI Blue Door’s version of Whose Line. Sept. 2-30, Saturdays from, 7:30-9 pm. $9. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com

COMMUNITY

LABOR DAY WEEKEND RETREAT Join Geshe Tenzin Chodrak (Dadul Namgyal) as he continues the series on the six bodhisattva perfections. Teachings, discussion, and guided meditations are included. Registration is required. Sep. 1-4, 3 pm. By donation. Sravasti Abbey, 692 Country Lane Rd. sravastiabbey.org

PAUL BUNYAN DAYS A four-day celebration of the history of Saint Maries, Idaho. Sept. 1-4. Free. saintmariespaulbunyandays.com

SCHWEITZER FALL FEST This annual summer season send-off at Schweitzer features four days of live music, craft

beer and kids’ activities. Sept. 1-4. Free. Schweitzer, 10,000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd., Sandpoint. schweitzer.com

SPOKANE VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL

FALL ARTS PREVIEW Learn about the art activities and events happening in the fall across the region. Sep. 4, 3:307:30 pm. Free. Comstock Park, 29th Ave. and Howard St. foxtheaterspokane.org (509-986-8333)

HISTORIC SEVENTH AVENUE TOUR

Walk along Seventh Avenue and learn about the influential families of early Spokane who lived there. Sep. 9, 1011 am. Free. Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. spokanerec.org

HOT ROD BLUES A classic car show featuring live music, a beer garden and food trucks. Sep. 9, 12-5 pm. Free. Browne’s Addition, West Spokane. fb.me/e/1cWeU8Dio

MURDER ON BAKER STREET Sherlock and Watson are hosting a dinner party with an intriguing group of guests Solve this murder mystery. Sep. 9, 6-9 pm. $29-$39. Crime Scene Entertainment, 2775 N. Howard St. crimesceneentertainment.com (208-369-3695)

MAKE COLD-PRESSED SOAP Learn the science and art of making bar soap using the cold-processed method in this Soaping 101 course. Registration is required. Sep. 9, 2-4 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org (893-8350)

SOIL HEALTH FIELD DAY Learn how to determine the state of your soils without equipment or expensive testing. Sep. 9, 10 am-noon. Free. Vetter Farm, 5281 Hattery-Owns Rd., Deer Park. stevenscountywa.gov (509-684-7579)

HOWLING AT HAMILTON Dogs are welcome to take a dip in the pool. Sep. 10, 1-6 pm. $15. Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, 830 N. Mountain View Rd., Moscow. humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

ODESSA DEUTCHESFEST The annual festival celebrates all things German. Sept. 14-17. $5-$20. Odessa, Hwy 21 and Hwy 28. deutschesfest.net

FILM

FREE KIDS MOVIES: MINIONS THE RISE OF GRU Young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader. Sep. 1, 9:30 am. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com

MONARCH GRIND MOVIE NIGHT A screening of a short film by Scott Rulander and the feature film, Breaking

Away. Sep. 8, 7 pm. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org

MOVIES IN THE PARK: TOP GUN MAVERICK Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Sep. 9, 6 pm. Free. Olmsted Brothers Green, N. Nettleton St. and Summit Pkwy.

SAILOR MOON R: THE MOVIE A screening of the 1993 magical girl anime as a part of the University of Idaho’s AsiaPOP! series. Sep. 12, 7-9:15 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. uidaho.edu/class/hias/asiapop

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK The Inland Northwest premier screening of the sports anime feature film. Sep. 13, 7-9 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. uidaho.edu/class/hias

FOOD

BBQ & BANDS A meal consisting of beef kabobs with live music performed by the Jackson Roltgen Trio. Aug. 31, 5-7 pm. $15-$20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com

PIG OUT IN THE PARK Spokane’s annual six-day food event in Riverfront Park featuring over 50 food booths, live entertainment and over 35 public market booths. Aug. 30-Sept. 4, daily from 11 am-10 pm. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. pigoutinthepark.com

WINEMAKER’S DINNER: CELLAR

DOOR COOKING A four-course dinner collaboration between Colter’s Creek Winery and Cellar Door Cooking. Aug. 31, 6-9 pm. $120. Colter’s Creek Winery, 215 S. Main St. colterscreek.com

BBQ & BANDS A barbecue bratwurst meal featuring live music by the Buckley Storms. Sep. 7, 5-7 pm. $15-$20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com (208-277-4166)

NORTH IDAHO WINE SOCIETY SEPTEMBER KICKOFF PARTY Sample several wines along with light appetizers. Sep. 9, 2-5 pm. $30. Lake City Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Dr. northidahowinesociety.org (208-667-4628)

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY A feast of soul food featuring live music by Nu Jack City. Sep. 10, 5:30-7:30 pm. $35. The Daniels Resort, 8125 N. Pine Meadows Rd., Nine Mile Falls. (424-355-3878)

OKTOBERFEST Sample Oktoberfest style beers and ciders from various local businesses. Sept. 15-16. $28-$35. Downtown Coeur d’Alene, Sherman Ave. cdadowntown.com

Neighbors helping neighbors

MUSIC

RIVERSTONE SUMMER CONCERTS: CDA SYMPHONY The symphony performs classical music and Aspire Community Theatre performs Singin’ in the Rain. Aug. 31, 6-8 pm. Free. Riverstone Park, 1800 Tilford Ln. artsandculturecda.org

SPOKANE SYMPHONY: LUD KRAMER

MEMORIAL CONCERT An evening of movie music, patriotic marches, classical music and more. Sep. 2, 6-8 pm. Free. Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Rd. spokanesymphony.org

SPOKANE SYMPHONY: LABOR DAY

AT COMSTOCK Featuring special guest Funky Unkle. Bid farewell to summer with popular classics and favorites from Hollywood and Broadway. Sep. 4, 6 pm. Free. Comstock Park, 3012 S. Howard St. spokanesymphony.org

COUGFEST An evening of live music, food, drinks and games in celebration of the WSU Student Entertainment Board’s 20th anniversary. Sep. 6, 5-10 pm. Free. Thompson Flats, WSU, NE Spokane St. seb.wsu.edu/cougfest

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

2023 GREATER SPOKANE PARKS CHALLENGE Complete challenges using the Outerspacial app to win prizes and be entered into raffles. Through Oct. 31. Free. spokanecounty.org

CDA FULL MOON RIDE Bike around Coeur d’Alene with no set route. See website for starting locations. Aug. 31 at 7 pm. Free. facebook.com/groups/ CDAfullmoonbikeride

SPOKANE INDIANS VS. EVERETT

AQUASOX Promotional events during the six-game series include Armed Forces Appreciation and Fireworks Night (9/1), Fireworks Night (9/2) and Season Finale Fireworks (9/3). Sept.

1-2 at 7:05 pm, Sept. 3, 6:35 pm. $8$22. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. spokaneindians.com

AFTER-HOURS MINI GOLF Play indoor mini golf at the library. Tee times are every 20 minutes for groups of up to 6 people. Registration is required. Sep. 1, 6:30-8:30 pm. Free. scld.org

WALKING ADVENTURES Meet up with a tour guide who lectures about various nature-related topics while guiding participants on a walk. Aug. 23-Sept. 6, Wed from 9:15-11 am. 9:15-11 am through Sep. 6. Free. Coeur

d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315)

THE INLAND EMPIRE GARDNERS

PRESENTATION Jenny Rose Carey, author of The Ultimate Guide to Flower Growing, discusses how to combine various flower shapes, colors and textures. Sep. 7, 4-6 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. tieg.org

SLAMMA JAMMA PICKLEBALL TOUR-

NAMENT Grab a teammate and compete for the title in a series of round robin competition with championship matches. Sep. 9-10, 8 am-5 pm. $50.

HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. hubsportscenter.org

MT. SPOKANE TRAIL RUN Run Mt. Spokane and finish at Ski Mountain Lodge 2. Sep. 10. $50-$95. Mt. Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. runsignup.com

MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND WINE Larkin

Barnett teaches a guided yoga class accompanied by live music from Danny McCullum and Chris Kohut. Registration required. Sep. 12, 5-7:30 pm. $50. Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd. arborcrest.com

THEATER

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK Performances of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in rep with Hamlet being performed one night and Rosencrantz the next. Thu-Sun at 6:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm through Sept 17. See website for location information. Donations accepted. spokaneshakespearesociety.org

TEEN IMPROV WORKSHOP Learn the building blocks of improvisational theater. Each workshop focuses on one main aspect of improv First Sat. of every month, 10:30 am-12:30 pm through Dec. 2. $25. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com

VISUAL ARTS

ART SALVAGE FABRIC SALE The annual fabric sale features a variety of fabric and textiles for $2/pound. Daily from 10 am-5 pm through Sept. 2. Art Salvage Spokane, 1925 N. Ash St. artsalvagespokane.com

RIVER RIDGE ASSOCIATION OF FINE

ARTS SMALL WORKS SHOW This show features the small works by over 15 RRAFA artists. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Oct. 29. Free. Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com (509-327-6920)

MANGA AND WAR This exhibit explores the role of manga in helping humans think about war, with particular attention to post-war Japan. Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm through Sep. 15. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho. edu/class/hias/asiapop

ALEETA RENEE JONES: ANCIENT DREAMS This gallery show features an ongoing series of large paintings exploring the search for commonality and the ancient ties that bind people together. Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm through Sep. 30. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St.

COZETTE PHILLIPS: EXERCISES IN FUTILITY A mixed-media exhibition in response to the affects of the climate crisis and the ongoing battle against climate change. Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm through Sept. 29. Opening reception: Fri, Sept. 1 from 5-8 pm. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net (509-863-9904)

THE ELVIRA ART SHOW Drawings of Giant Nerd Books’ store dog, Elvira, drawn by community members. MonSat from 11 am-6 pm, Sun from 12-5 pm through Sept. 30. First Friday reception Sept. 1 from 5-8 pm. Free. Giant Nerd Books, 607 W. Garland Ave. instagram. com/giantnerdbooks (509-868-0420)

ERIC SANCHEZ: EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE A collection of cubist-style paintings. Daily from 11-6 pm through Oct. 2. First Friday reception Sept. 1 from 5-9 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens St. explodingstars.com

DON HAMILTON: EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AT THE BALLET A collection of photographs featuring dancers from Spokane Ballet, The Ballet Company of Spokane and Ballet Arts Acad-

emy. Reception Fri, Sept. 1 from 6-9 pm. Sep. 1-30 by appt. Free. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave. hamiltonstudio.com

JUN OH: JAEMI The local artist uses non-traditional painting materials to create paintings to represent certain emotions. Thu-Sat from 4-7 through Sept. 30. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St. terrainspokane.com

BEVIE LABRIE The artist’s work is inspired by life and nature in all its forms. Daily from 11 am-7 pm through Sept. 30. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com

RIVER RIDGE ASSOCIATION OF FINE ARTS DISPLAY RRAFA artists showcase art along the inside walls of the coffee shop. Sept. 1, 5-7 pm. Free. Indaba Coffee Roasters, 518 W. Riverside. rrafaofspokane.com

SPOKANE WATERCOLOR SOCIETY: MEMBER’S INVITATIONAL SIGNATURE SHOW This show features art by members of the Spokane Watercolor Society including Janie Edwards, Kim Gardell, Sherri Thies, Dan Earcret and more. Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm through Sept. 29. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net

ALISON WAHL: STELLAR JEWELS

Wahl showcases handmade silver and precious stone jewelry. Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm thorugh Sept. 30. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague Ave. manicmoonandmore.com

CAMPBELL HOUSE 125TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR SERIES Explore the 1898 mansion and its historic neighborhood with museum educators. Saturdays from 11 am-noon through Sep. 23. $8$10. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

#WEDORECOVER ART SHOW This art show highlights Spokane-area artists who are committed to recovery and artistic growth. Portion of sales are donated to local recovery-focused organizations. Sep. 9, 12-5 pm. Free. Chrysalis Gallery, 911 S. Monroe St. theartchrysalis.com (509-991-7275)

DOG SCULPTURE CLASS WITH COLLISTA KREBS An exploration with clay to capture the pose of your favorite dog. Ages 12+. Registration required. Sep. 9, 10 am-12:30 pm. $65. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500)

DROP IN & ZINE Create your own eight-page mini zine using a single piece of paper. Saturdays at 5 pm through Sep. 30. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central. org (509-279-0299)

SKETCHING HISTORIC BROWNE’S

ADDITION This drawing class teaches how to utilize expressive lines and draw houses. Sep. 9, 10 am-noon. $20$25. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

FIGURE/LIFE DRAWING WITH TIM BOVEY Participants draw from a nude model. Ages 18+. Sep. 10, 12-3 pm. $56. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net

WORDS

POETRY WITH TIM GREENUP & FELLOW POETS Celebrate Tim Greenup’s latest poetry collection, Crisis Mode, with fellow authors Derek Anis, Kathryn Smith and Fig DePaolo. Aug. 31, 7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W.

Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

3 MINUTE MIC A poetry open mic where readers may share up to three minutes’ worth of content. First Friday of every month, 7-8:30 pm through Dec. 1. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com

LINDA LANTZY: INCREDIBLE IDAHO

Lantzy, a Coeur d’Alene native, is joined by local photographers Tim Christie, Ralph Kerr, Chris Celentano and Sharon Stadler for a book signing. Sep. 2, 12-2 pm. Free. Linden Coffee, 1502 N. Third St. idahoscenicspublishing.com (208-667-3325)

THE WRITER’S MYTHIC QUEST Local writer Kim Morgan discusses re-visioning strategies for writing in any genre. Sept. 2, 9, 23 and Oct. 7 from 2-3:30 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.com

AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: SCIENCE & NATURE Discuss Under the Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson at the September meeting. Sep. 5, 6 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206)

CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN MIND & IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION

This online presentation covers U.S. public opinion about climate change and challenges and opportunities for communicating with the public. Sep. 6, 5-6:30 pm. Free. gonzaga.edu

NORTHWEST PASSAGES: CRAIG

JOHNSON Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series, discusses his new novel, The Longmire Defense. Sep. 6, 7 pm. $7. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com

MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION LECTURES This event features guest speakers, including Mark Fraizer and Jennifer Riedel, discussing Parkinson’s Disease. Sep. 7, 1-3 pm. Free. Red Lion Hotel Templin’s on the River, 414 E. First Ave. cdaparkinsons.com

AN OVERVIEW OF MANGA PUBLISHING AND LOCALIZATION Ben Applegate, Director of Publishing Services for Penguin Random House, speaks on how the manga industry transcends borders. Sep. 12, 4-5:15 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/ class/hias/asiapop (208-885-7110)

THE WEBTOON AND ITS AFFORDANCES Professor Heekyoung Cho speaks on the rise and the significance of webtoons. Sep. 12, 2-3:15 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho. edu/class/hias/asiapop

MAGICAL GIRL ANIME: EMPOWERMENT OR PROBLEMS? Professor Akiko Sugawa-Shimada addresses the duality of representation within the popular magical girl genre. Sep. 13, 1:30-2:45 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/hias

POETRY AFTER DARK EWU MFA students lead discussions about craft elements, style and form in poetry. Every second and fourth Wed of each month from 7-8 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

ENGINEERING A CAREER IN ANIME AND VIDEO GAMES Filipino-American voice actor Anne Yacto discusses her experience in anime and video games. Sep. 14, 4-6 pm. Free. U of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/hias/asiapop n

SCIENCE

In the Lab

What we’ve learned, or haven’t, from the latest round of studies

BY WILL MAUPIN

For the scientific and medical communities, cannabis news has been coming in a torrent lately. That’s good, because more knowledge is important, and because as the final example shows, this is an industry that still lacks definitive knowledge.

REVELATORY REGULATIONS

A study published Aug. 24 in the Journal of Cannabis Research shows that legal cannabis in Canada is much healthier than unregulated cannabis, at least by one specific, and important, measure.

Legal cannabis is grown with far fewer pesticides than illicit cannabis.

The study found that 92 percent of illicit samples of cannabis contained pesticides, whereas only 6 percent of legal cannabis featured such pesticides. The study found just two different pesticide residues on legal cannabis products compared with 23 different pesticides found on

the illicit cannabis tested.

The takeaway here is that regulated cannabis is just that, regulated, and as a result, often safer than unregulated cannabis.

POTENTIAL FOR PAIN RELIEF

Though not as trustworthy as a medical journal, the folks at NuggMD, a lobbying group for the medical marijuana industry, conducted a study that found cannabinoids are a fair replacement for opioids when treating chronic pain as a result of neuropathy.

Their study, which surveyed only 603 participants, found that cannabis as a pain reliever rated higher than both hydrocodone and codeine, a pair of commonly prescribed opiates, though cannabis did rate below both oxycodone and the combination of a pair of straight over-the-counters in a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

CAUSE OR CURE?

Cannabis has been an easy target as a potential cause of psychosis in recent months, but a new study in the journal Psychiatry Research comes down on the opposite side.

“In summary, continuous cannabis use over 2-years of follow-up was not associated with an increased psychosis transition rate, and did not worsen clinical symptoms, functioning levels, or overall neurocognition,” according to the study, published this month. “Surprisingly, clinical symptoms improved over time despite the medication decreases.”

Many studies have shown the opposite, but here is a study claiming that cannabis use does not show itself as a risk factor for increased potential for psychosis. In fact, it finds the opposite.

Which is to say, we don’t know and we need to know more. We’re still in a contradictory learning period, as we are with everything cannabis-related. n

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 fiveyear sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.

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.

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.

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1. Trim the lawn

4. Wizard’s accessory

9. Demean

14. News inits. since 1958

15. Correo ____ (Spanish airmail)

16. Younger brother of Lucy van Pelt

17. Social media postings from Homer Simpson’s neighbor?

19. Texas A&M student

20. “Bus Stop” playwright

21. Mani-pedi spots

22. Nickname that’s three consecutive letters of the alphabet

23. Third-stringers

25. Winter sport that involves dark beer?

29. Empty talk 31. Lizzy of “Mean Girls”

32. Vigorous campaign 36. “Geaux Tigers!” sch.

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37. “Hold your thought for the moment ...” (or advice for 17-, 25-, 50- and 61-Across?)

41. Sloth, e.g.

42. Style of New York City’s Chrysler Building

43. At its original position

46. High-tech debuts of 1981

50. Newspaper feature penned by “Impractical Jokers” comedian?

54. Mello ____ (soft drink)

55. -y, pluralized

56. España, por ejemplo

58. Animal house?

59. Isn’t yet decided

61. Tattoo that’s easy on the eyes?

63. On the up and up

64. 1961 Heston/Loren epic

65. ____ Friday’s

66. Like 20 Questions questions

67. Active sorts

68. Govt.-issued ID

DOWN

1. 2005 Spielberg movie

2. Up for

3. Doohickey

4. Arborist’s tool

5. Summer tops

6. Grilled cornmeal cake popular in Latin America

7. ____ position

8. Choreographer Bob who popularized jazz hands

9. $7.2 million purchase of 1867

10. Good thing that comes to those who wait

11. Caribbean island whose name means “eel”

12. Fashion designer Anna 13. Suffix with journal or legal

18. Cause of a 1773 Boston revolt 24. Oscar winner Sorvino

26. When, in Act III, Mercutio says “A plague o’ both your houses!”

27. Condé ____ (magazine publisher)

28. Wildebeest

30. Host of the CBS game show “Lingo”

33. Knight’s title

34. Picnic pest

35. Accomplished

37. ____ colada

38. Removes, as a

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 TH

DMISSIONS OPE NS AT 11 AM S ESSI ON BE GINS AT 2 PM

$10,000 progressive guaranteed! Minimum buy-in is $40 & electronic is $50. There will be 20 regular game sessions with a $1,000 payout.

Visit cdacasino.com for more details.

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