Inlander 09/05/2024

Advocates for the Aging

FRANK FRIDAY

for First Friday PAGE 30

As the Inland Northwest continues to get older, the need for long-term care is growing. But who makes sure that care is adequate?

By Colton Rasanen

Page 16

Sculpture of Native fishing rights activist Billy Frank Jr. unveiled

EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s stressful to plan for the worst, like an illness or accident that could put your health, family or career at risk, but most of us know it’s the smart and rational thing to do. Whether we’ve planned for it or not, however, the majority of people will eventually require skilled nursing in a long-term care facility in their senior years, and that facility may be far away from loved ones who could advocate for your best interests.

As this week’s cover story on LONG-TERM CARE illustrates, there’s a great need in Washington state for long-term care ombudsman volunteers to help ensure vulnerable adults in nursing homes and other facilities are receiving adequate care. Washington’s volunteer ombudsman roster has shrunk dramatically in recent years. Here in Eastern Washington there are only 24 ombuds to check on more than 1,000 long-term care facilities — not nearly enough. It’s a serious concern, and this week Inlander staff writer Colton Rasanen uncovers how it impacts the ill and elderly in our community, including the ways long-term care ombudsmen like Bonnie Gow can make a big difference in their clients’ lives.

— CHEY SCOTT, Editor

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WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE LAST 10 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE WILL LOOK LIKE?

ANITA JANKE

Lots of dancing, lots of snuggling with my grandkids, and holding my husband’s hand.

RACHEL AYRES

I hope the last 10 years of my life are full of family and friends and that I’m able to be around those I care about most, and able to pour into those lives of people in my community that have been pouring into me all my life.

Any current retirement plans? I think lots of international travel mixed with some community service.

KATE WHITT

I hope I’ll be retired and just be happy and traveling the world and just happy with chilling.

Any current retirement plans? No, not right now. I’m switching careers.

JEFF DEUCHLER

It’s a big question. I guess I hope that when I look back at them, I’ll be proud of how I survived.

Any current retirement plans? No. It feels like a long ways away, like 30 years.

TAMARA MILLIKEN

Healthy and happy.

Any current retirement plans? Adopting more dogs and having a bigger garden.

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Pave Less, Walk More

Instead of requiring acres of parking for new development, Spokane is making a push for more dynamic neighborhoods

BY ANTHONY GILL

Perhaps no code requirement has more fundamentally shaped our cities since the 1940s and ’50s than the off-street parking mandate. Put simply, these local rules generally require new developments to provide a certain number of off-street parking spaces, and they have dramatically changed the North American environment — leading to everything from strip malls to office parks to big-box stores. Over the past decade or so, advocates have begun to recognize the harm of these one-size-fits-all mandates and have pushed planners in some cities to dial them back. Spokane had already made parking optional

for new housing, in recognition that costs often get passed on to the renter or buyer of a home. But on Aug. 12, Spokane joined forward-thinking cities from across the country — like Austin, Portland, San José and Minneapolis — by making parking optional for all remaining uses across the city, including retail, office, industrial and entertainment.

In my view, this move has the potential to make Spokane more walkable, pleasant and business-friendly all in one fell swoop.

Let’s look more closely at what it all means, starting at the macro level. First, consider our neighborhood commercial districts, like Garland or South Perry. These shopping streets were generally built during Spokane’s streetcar era, and if off-street parking exists here, it’s generally

In the 1940s and ’50s, America wanted every car to have its own parking space; new parking-optional building codes in Spokane have changed that paradigm.

on lots where old buildings were torn down. Today, these are some of Spokane’s most sought-after, because you can easily walk to grab a bite to eat, a coffee or a beer, or in some cases even your weekly groceries. But if someone wanted to build something similar today, under the old rules, they couldn’t, because they’d be required to provide one parking stall per 250 square feet of retail space. Geometrically, that means the parking would take up just as much land as the building itself — hardly the walkable experience you expect from Garland, Hillyard or South Perry.

Now, with optional parking, an enterprising property owner could conceivably construct a new urban district with similar “bones” to South Perry or Garland — or extend these districts with much less distinction between the old and the new. That could mean more Garlands across the city, and it could finally allow these existing districts to grow.

Next, consider your favorite neighborhood café, like the Scoop or Rockwood Bakery. These small, older buildings generally served as waypoints on the streetcar network. In each case, sometime long after the streetcar shut down, the buildings were reactivated and have become attractions for residents within walking distance. Despite their lack of on-site parking, the city has had rules allowing the cafés to open and stay, but if you wanted to build a new one (or if, say, the building were structurally deficient and had to be replaced), you’d be held to the same standard referenced above — one stall per 250 square feet of space.

“…we could finally see new neighborhood commercial spaces across the city, providing walkable amenities to more residents.”

That means building new neighborhood commercial spaces has been impractical.

Now, with optional parking, we could finally see new neighborhood commercial spaces across the city, providing walkable amenities to more residents.

Finally, consider a small restaurant that wants to grow business over the summer by adding outdoor dining on the sidewalk or on a patio adjacent to their space. To date, unless the restaurant was located downtown, the business would be required to ensure that it had enough parking not just for their indoor space, but for their outdoor space as well. If a restaurant is already “parked out” (that is, has the minimum number of required stalls for its indoor space), then it wouldn’t be allowed to add a sidewalk café or patio.

Now, however, with optional parking, these outdoor spaces will no longer be disincentivized. Restaurants (which famously survive on a minuscule 3-5% profit margin) will have more freedom to get creative, and can offer new experiences for their customers. For both for diners and for the restaurants’ bottom lines, that’s fantastic!

To be clear, developers and business owners can and will still provide parking, but they’ll do so only to the extent they are demanded. Onerous parking mandates make many of the things we most love about our city — walkable districts, friendly neighborhood cafés and creative restaurants — less viable. They are hostile to business and stifle creativity. To the extent that these experiences have thrived in Spokane, they have done so because City Hall has offered some flexibility and relief.

Now, however, this freedom and flexibility is available to everyone, and we have lifted another big barrier to the type of walkable, inclusive, economically sound and vibrant city we hope to build. Personally, I can’t wait to see what types of small businesses, cafés, shops and experiences this change will bring to Spokane. n

Anthony Gill is an economic development professional, Spokane native and writer of Spokane

TRANSITION TIME

The

Spokane wants to finish joining the regional 911 center, but finance and governance questions remain

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

In the coming weeks and months, the city of Spokane will negotiate with the Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) board to have the Spokane Police Department join the regional 911 dispatch center.

The move follows a somewhat tense meeting of the SREC board last week, where the members responded to an Aug. 24 letter from Mayor Lisa Brown and agreed to form a transition committee to hammer out the details.

SREC (pronounced “shrek”) currently takes 911 calls and provides dispatch as the “primary public safety answering point” for all of the other 21 fire and law enforcement agencies in the county aside from the Spokane Police Department.

The Spokane Fire Department joined the regional dispatch center in 2022 amid a staffing crisis that left the city department without enough dispatchers to handle its own calls. But over the last five-plus years, the Spokane Police Department has been the lone holdout, continuing to provide its own dispatch services from a building shared with SREC’s dispatchers near Spokane Community College.

The city’s continued half-in, half-out relationship has been frustrating for those who work in public safety and for elected officials. More than half of the calls for fire or law enforcement originate inside city limits.

So, in mid-April, the SREC board sent the city an ultimatum, giving Brown one month to decide: Is the city in or out? Should the city opt out, the SREC board requested that Spokane resume handling dispatch for the Spokane Fire Department on its own by January.

Brown requested a three-month extension, during which the city paid a consultant to answer lingering questions about SREC’s finances, governance and service. With that consultant’s report in hand, Brown sent the board a letter on Saturday, Aug. 24, stating that the city would like to fully commit to the regional system, so long as a few remaining differences can be worked out.

“I would like to move forward with a regional [public safety answering point] for both of the City’s public safety agencies if we can satisfactorily address the critical recommendations outlined in the report,” the mayor’s letter states.

At a SREC board meeting on Aug. 29, board Chair Cody Rohrbach, who is also the fire chief for Spokane County Fire District 3, said he thinks there are more points of agreement than disagreement, and he anticipated remaining issues could be worked out by a transition committee.

“We always look to say, ‘What’s the greatest good for the community? And is this good for all of us?’” Rohrbach said.

GOVERNANCE

One of the main points of contention has been about how many seats the city has on SREC’s board.

Currently, the city is represented on the board by Deputy City Administrator Maggie Yates and Spokane Fire Assistant Chief Tom Williams. Seven other board members represent various EMS, fire, and law enforcement agencies, and small cities, plus there’s one nonvoting citizen member. All votes require a 5/7 majority to pass.

The city hired ADCOMM Engineering, a public safety consultant that has also conducted work for SREC, to look at the city’s relationship with the dispatch center over the last three months.

ADCOMM’s report, which was included as an attachment with Brown’s Aug. 24 letter, states that the city makes up more than 42% of the county’s population as of 2020, and should share more power on the board.

“Given the City of Spokane’s significant population and service demand, it would be beneficial to enhance its representation on the SREC Governing Board,” ADCOMM’s SREC Analysis Report states. “This could involve increasing the number of seats allocated to the city or providing

additional voting weight to its representatives.”

At last week’s board meeting, Rohrbach and others acknowledged that when SREC was created in 2018, the original plan was for the city of Spokane to have three seats, including one for the fire chief, one for the police chief and one for the city administrator.

The SREC board agreed to recommend that the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners, who oversee the structure of the public development authority, add a seat for the Spokane police chief.

That would bring the city’s representation to 30% voting power, but it’s unclear whether that would be enough for the city to agree to fully bring Spokane Police Department on board.

ADCOMM’s report pointed to another weighted voting option that’s used by King County, which requires that decisions must be approved by both at least 40% of the board members present at a meeting and members representing 60% of the call volume in the county. Essentially, members who represent larger populations receive a larger weight to their vote.

“Ultimately I think it’s the county commissioners that we need to and want to be engaged with on governance issues,” Brown tells the Inlander. “Governance is not just about control. It’s really about policy review and having the city really able to fully participate in the policy and the service quality of the organization.”

She also says there’s plenty of time to sit down and have those conversations.

“I believe there was somewhat of an artificial sense of urgency created by the original one-month deadline that was given to my administration,” Brown says. “The situation of having our fire integrated and police not has been … the case throughout the last administration, and I don’t believe any such ultimatums were delivered.”

However, SREC Executive Director Lori Markham

SREC Governing Board met last week to talk about Spokane Police Department joining the regional dispatch center. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

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says the deadline was necessary after five years of uncertainty, as the center intends to build a new facility and needs to know how large that should be.

“From our perspective, we have some pretty large projects on our horizon,” Markham says. “We are in the process of needing to move out of our current facility and move towards a new, larger facility to meet the current needs, but also our future needs.”

If the city’s in, that facility will need more staff, Markham says. Already, 104 people work in dispatch or reports there.

The future facility has played a large role in another point of contention: finances.

FINANCE

The city-requested ADCOMM report notes that both at the city of Spokane and at SREC, there’s “a significant and pervasive focus on financial matters at all levels of each organization.”

“This concern is particularly evident in how staff are preoccupied with either SREC receiving its fair share of funding from its member agencies and/or the member agencies concerned that they are being overcharged for services,” the report states. “This intense focus on financial aspects appears overly emphasized, especially at the operational level, potentially detracting from the core mission of providing efficient and effective emergency communications.”

In previous responses to the board, Brown noted that SREC has built up more than $33 million in reserves in just the last four years.

to Your List

SREC leaders have said those reserves are necessary to fund a new building, which likely will need to be built in a different area. Markham says a previous report found various security risks for the current building off North Rebecca Street, including its proximity to railroad tracks where hazardous materials are transported.

Somewhat complicating the financial discussion is the fact that in 2021, state lawmakers required large counties that levy the 911 sales and use tax to create an interlocal agreement to share that revenue. If they didn’t come to an agreement within a year, the city or county could seek “equitable apportionment” of that revenue, retroactive to the effective date of the 2021 law.

Spokane and Spokane County have not reached an agreement on how to share the money.

During last week’s SREC board meeting, Spokane County CEO Scott Simmons specifically said that “apportionment” element needs to be worked out.

“I do think that there has to be some robust discussions with this board to determine what are our conditions in order for the city to join,” Simmons said. “Because I don’t think that under any scenario, should this board contemplate bringing the city on when apportionment of the revenue sources continues to be out there [and] without some agreement that says the city will forgo apportionment.”

TENSION

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told his fellow SREC board members that he didn’t think hashing out details in a public meeting was the right move.

“We’re going to have to have some really hard negotiations, where we’re all going to have to be unhappy with each other,” Nowels said. “We’re going to have to really air our grievances with each side, but we shouldn’t be doing it here.”

Spokane Valley Fire Chief Frank Soto Jr. said he felt “there’s one group here playing by the rules and another that’s” using the media, noting that while news stations received the city’s letter and ADCOMM report on Aug. 24, he didn’t receive it until Aug. 26.

Brown’s administration has argued that not only is $33 million plenty to have tucked away for a new facility, there’s a question of whether user agencies realize that their required user fees may be adding to reserves.

In her Aug. 24 letter, Brown stated, “The [ADCOMM] report corroborates the City’s preliminary finding — which my team and I have repeatedly identified — that SREC’s tax revenues alone are sufficient to cover SREC’s expenditures. Therefore, as we have consistently maintained, the user fees charged to the City and other jurisdictions are unnecessary and excessive.”

However, SREC Chair Rohrbach pointed out that $14 million of those reserves were transferred over from Spokane County at the end of 2021 and early 2022, from various tax sources that previously went to the county government to provide 911 services.

SREC is funded by a countywide 0.1% public safety sales tax (10 cents per $100 purchase), a 911 excise tax that charges Spokane County residents $0.95 per month on their phone bills (landline or mobile), and user fees charged to each member agency based on their call volume.

Markham says that the other $19 million in reserves did not come from user fees, but from the public safety and 911 taxes.

“Those two tax revenues can only be used for certain specific reasons, according to [state law],” Markham says.

“I’m frankly tired of the gamesmanship,” Soto said.

Later in the meeting, he also took issue with the city questioning SREC’s financial stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

“With all due respect … continually pointing the finger at us like we are mismanaging our moneys, that we’re hoarding money, is ridiculous coming from a city who’s $50 million in debt,” Soto said. “We have done our due diligence with our moneys here to make sure this facility is here now for everyone and for the future.”

Yates, the deputy city administrator, noted that Brown’s administration inherited that $50 million deficit and is trying to do everything possible to address it, including examining the costs and benefits of SREC.

Yates moved to have SREC’s finance committee look at other methods to fund the dispatch center (such as not charging user fees), but the motion failed to gain support. Other board members said that the finance committee already does that.

The board did, however, agree to create a transition committee, to request that two county commissioners join that team and to draft a formal response to the city.

“At times I feel like we’re almost in violent agreement on some of these topics,” Rohrbach said. “How do we listen to the various perspectives here and overcome the barrier before us?” n samanthaw@inlander.com

Battling Screen Time

Spokane schools seek to engage kids IRL. Plus street medicine is expanding; and Coeur d’Alene schools will ask voters to fund a supplemental levy.

BY INLANDER STAFF

As schools across the nation have joined the fight against student cellphone usage, Washington stands out among the pack. Last week, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidance for all school districts in the state to prohibit phones in the classroom by the 2025-26 school year. But Spokane Public Schools is already one step ahead, as its school board voted unanimously on Aug. 28 to institute a smart device ban for the 2024-25 school year. In fact, SPS is a few steps ahead, as the district also revealed a plan last week to engage students when they’re not on the phone. The Engage In Real Life initiative, aka EngageIRL, will see the district partner with the Innovia Foundation’s LaunchNW to increase “access and opportunities” for all students to engage in some type of activity outside of school. This includes clubs, sports, arts activities and other community events. To learn more about the initiative, visit engageirl.com. (COLTON RASANEN)

STREET HEALTH

Unhoused people in Spokane will soon have more access to medical care. Last week, the city of Spokane announced that it is using a $1 million appropriation from the Washington State Legislature to partner with CHAS Health and expand the organization’s medical outreach to people living on the street. The CHAS Street Medicine team provides mobile primary care, wound care, foot care, referral coordination, resource navigation and emergency services coordination to people who are homeless, and has done so since 2021. “They stepped up when there wasn’t a request for their services and have been filling that gap,” City Council President Betsy Wilkerson said last week when voting to approve the contract. The state funding — which CHAS Health asked for in collaboration with Challenge Seattle, an alliance of organizations focused on civic issues — will expand the Street Medicine team’s hours to possibly include Saturdays and evenings. “The CHAS Street Medicine team does incredible work and provides crucial services for those experiencing homelessness, battling substance abuse disorder and suffering from mental health challenges,” Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said in a statement. “We are incredibly excited to partner with CHAS so they can expand the powerful work they already do.” (NATE SANFORD)

ANOTHER ASK

Last Wednesday, the Coeur d’Alene School Board voted unanimously to put a two-year $50 million supplemental levy on the Nov. 5 ballot. School board trustees first considered a $25.75 million-per-year levy to increase the district’s funding in the face of an expected deficit, but ultimately chose a smaller option. The $25 million-per-year ask would replace the current levy that’s set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The tax impact is expected to remain the same as the previous levy, the Coeur d’Alene Press reported. A supplemental levy pays for the district’s expenses that aren’t fully covered by state or federal funding, which often include extracurricular activities, teacher salaries and technology upgrades. A forum to inform the public about the levy and its impact is scheduled from 10 am to 11:30 am on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Ramsey Park Picnic Shelter, 3525 N. Ramsey Rd., Coeur d’Alene. (COLTON RASANEN) n

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Challenges for the Chief

Community leaders share their priorities for Spokane’s new police chief

BY NATE SANFORD

To say that new Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall has a lot on his plate is an understatement.

“We’re trying not to overwhelm him,” says Dave Dunkin, president of the Spokane Police Guild, the union that represents city police officers below the rank of sergeant. “This is a lot of pressure for one man to bear on his shoulders.”

Hall, a 32-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department, was chosen to lead the Spokane Police Department after a national search. He was sworn in last Monday at a ceremony in the Tribal Gathering Place outside City Hall.

weeks after they’ve shot someone.

“Because of our staffing issue, they are kind of forced to have these officers stay on the streets,” Peace says.

Peace stresses that he doesn’t just want platitudes. He wants to see Hall produce a concrete plan to lower the number of police shootings.

“With the amount of money that he is making, I’m giving him 100 days,” Peace says. “I need to see some action.”

STAFFING AND BUDGET

“In the days ahead we will face challenges, no doubt,” Hall said at the ceremony. “But we will face them together as a department, as a city and as a community.”

The police department is Spokane’s most expensive department. It’s also one that may face steep cuts if the city fails to address its $50 million structural budget deficit.

Community leaders say they have high hopes for Hall — and numerous challenges they hope he can tackle. Here’s a look at some of them.

THE SHOOTING PROBLEM

The Spokane Police Department has the second-highest rate of officercaused deaths, by population, in the country, according to Mapping Police Violence, a police accountability group that tracks fatal police responses across the country. (Tucson Police Department has the sixth-highest rate.)

It’s a stark statistic, and bringing the number down has to be Hall’s top priority, says Anwar Peace, a longtime police accountability activist who also chairs the city’s Human Rights Commission.

“It’s because of their flawed training philosophy that this has taken place,” Peace says. “I remember I was hopping mad when we were fifth” in the country.

In addition to overhauling officer training, Peace wants to see Hall implement better mental health protocol for officers. He’s concerned about the fact that officers are often cleared to go back on patrol just

To address the shortfall, Mayor Lisa Brown has proposed a “community safety” sales tax increase that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. The proposed 0.1% sales tax would cost an additional 10 cents for every $100 people spend.

Brown says Hall is digging into the department’s budget and looking at recommendations that former Interim Chief Justin Lundgren made, “should there be a need for reductions.”

To save money, the department has instituted an early retirement incentive program for officers with at least 20 years on the force. The idea was proposed by Dunkin, the police guild president, in an effort to “lower personnel costs and also help some of my members retire with some dignity.”

“I’d like to counter the narrative that the mayor is defunding the police,” Dunkin says. “That was my idea, and I really am thankful that they chose to do that.”

Eighteen officers have taken the offer so far. Dunkin says he thinks the change will be good in the long run, but he acknowledges that “those of us that are left behind are going to have to pick up even more slack.”

Even when fully staffed with 356 commissioned officers, Spo-

New Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall (right) was sworn in last week. He’s inheriting complex issues to deal with. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

kane’s number of officers per capita is lower than the national average.

“There are not enough of us to do what the citizens are asking us to do,” Dunkin says.

FENTANYL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Hall has experience fighting fentanyl. The drug “changed everything” when it arrived in Tucson, he said during his swearing in ceremony.

“Nobody has cracked this nut yet when it comes to unsheltered and the fentanyl epidemic,” Hall said. “We’re going to need a little bit of latitude and time to figure this out with the community.”

Peace, who sat on the search committee, says he was impressed with Hall’s treatment-oriented philosophy. Hall has stressed that addiction itself is not a crime, and police can’t be the only solution for people experiencing substance use and mental health issues.

“When he started talking about [overdose] response teams, he was speaking to my heart there,” Peace says. “Trying to engage with that population in a way that is not ‘I’m going to book you.’”

Sheldon Jackson, a local developer who regularly voices his frustrations with the city’s response to drugs and homelessness, says that enforcing drug laws will be key to the new chief’s success. He adds that the goal should be to put people in treatment — not jail. He’s interested in some sort of facility that has “mental health and drug addiction right there at the front door.”

Hall will also play a key role in the city’s response to homeless encampments. After a June Supreme Court decision gave cities across the country broad flexibility to crack down on camping, Spokane leaders have struggled to choose an enforcement plan. Many conversations have ended with some variation of “Let’s wait for the new chief.”

“Definitely looking forward to hearing his insight,” Spokane City Council member Zack Zappone says. “Hopefully he can help move the needle on that.”

TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY

Luc Jasmin III, the chair of the city’s Police Ombuds Commission, says building trust should be a top priority for the new chief.

“What I’m hearing a lot from [people] is getting back to that community policing model,” Jasmin says.

Spokane’s neighborhood resource officers were reassigned to patrol in January last year amid staffing challenges. Constituents regularly tell city leaders they should be brought back.

If her proposed sales tax passes, Mayor Brown says the city could relaunch the neighborhood resource officer program and bring back the dedicated traffic unit. Staffing issues have severely limited the department’s ability to enforce traffic laws in recent years, and traffic enforcement is another priority city leaders regularly hear about from constituents.

The department used money from automatic traffic camera tickets to reassign four patrol officers to traffic duty earlier this summer, but Zappone notes that the officers are still called off traffic duty to deal with other calls.

“That’s something that we’re looking for the chief to deliver on,” Zappone says. “A robust, standalone unit that is dedicated to traffic enforcement.”

Jasmin says it will be especially important for the new chief to build relationships with disenfranchised communities. He wants to see more programs like the department’s Police Activities League, an outreach program where officers engage in sports and other activities with young people to build trust and relationships.

“Police officers are humanized so community members are like, ‘Oh, this is not something to fear,’” Jasmin says. “We really need that.”

To build transparency and trust, Jasmin says it will also be important for the new chief to work closely with the city’s Office of the Police Ombuds, an independent police oversight body.

“We send recommendations on a regular basis,” Jasmin says, “so honoring those recommendations instead of brushing them off, that’s going to be very important as well.” n

nates@inlander.com

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Spouses in Limbo

President Biden’s Keeping Families Together immigration program is on hold as Idaho and other states challenge it in court

BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ

Last week, a Texas judge approved a pause of the Biden administration’s new Keeping Families Together program, which creates a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who are married to United States citizens but don’t have permanent legal status.

In response to a legal filing made by Idaho, Texas and 14 other Republican-controlled states, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District of Texas filed an Aug. 26 order pausing the program, and preventing applications from being approved or processed for two weeks.

“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Barker wrote in the order. He may extend the pause as the case advances.

The lawsuit affects more than 500,000 immigrant spouses who would qualify for the program, along with 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens.

The Keeping Families Together program exercises authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which states that an applicant for admission who is in the country without permission and is married to a citizen can remain in the country under “parole in place” status. The applicant must not have a disqualifying criminal history that would make them a threat to national and public safety. They must have been legally married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, 2024,

and have been physically present in the U.S. since before that date.

U.S. immigration law is complex. In 1996, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which prohibited immigrants living here without permission from adjusting their legal residency status for 10 years if they had been present in the U.S. for more than a year.

The 1996 change requires people to obtain a visa before applying for an adjustment of status to receive a green card, but legal experts say it’s difficult for some immigrants to apply, because the green card allotments are equal for each country.

A neighboring country like Mexico has stronger economic and historical ties, and would logically require more green cards in comparison to a European country, says Geoffrey Heeren, director of the Immigration Litigation and Appellate Clinic at the University of Idaho’s College of Law.

“It doesn’t really make sense to allot the same number of visas to Mexico that we do to Liechtenstein,” Heeren says.

The result is an enormous backlog for people coming from nearby countries.

The lawsuit accuses Biden’s new Department of Homeland Security program, which began on Aug. 19, of bypassing the current immigration system.

Idaho and 15 other states are suing to block a new immigration program.

Idaho argues that the parole-in-place program will cost the state “significant” amounts of money as agencies will need to provide services to “paroled and illegal aliens.” Idaho lists Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as programs that could be misused.

Programs like SNAP are not available to noncitizens without legal status, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, though after a five-year waiting period SNAP may be available to immigrants who receive parole. Medicaid may be available to immigrants who receive parole status.

Estefania Mondragón is the executive director of the Latinaled nonprofit PODER of Idaho, which focuses on issues of immigration, education, economic mobility and gender in Idaho. The organization hosts workshops on pathways to citizenship and advocates for driver’s licenses for undocumented Idahoans.

Mondragón says the claims in the lawsuit are baseless, politically motivated and harm undocumented communities.

“I think it’s important to see that immigrants are not a drain on the state,” Mondragón says. “Undocumented immigrants actually pay more in taxes than they take from the state.”

In the lawsuit, Idaho claims that providing services to immigrants who don’t have permanent legal status also puts a strain on other resources, such as education, public safety and medical care. Approved applicants to the new program would be allowed to work in the state, which Idaho claims would drive down wages.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that he and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are leading the lawsuit against what they view as an inappropriate expansion of a program that “is traditionally administered on a case-by-case basis to allow aliens who entered the country without authorization to remain in the United States, specifically for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

“The new interpretation of the Parole in Place program further encourages illegal immigration and imposes undue financial burdens on our states,” Labrador stated in a press release last week.

Yet Heeren says many noncitizens contribute significantly to Idaho’s economy.

“Immigrants are doing some of the most important work… in Idaho, particularly within the agricultural sector,” Heeren says.

According to a University of Idaho report released in February called “The Unauthorized Immigrant Workforce and Idaho’s Economy,” there are 35,000 unauthorized immigrants in Idaho, with 86% currently working and making up 3% of the state’s labor force.

The report also states that most unauthorized immigrants in Idaho pay income, sales and other taxes but don’t benefit from the public programs funded by those taxes.

The nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute estimates that Idaho has 4,000 unauthorized immigrants who are married to a U.S. citizen. The think tank also estimates that Washington has 32,000 unauthorized immigrants married to a U.S. citizen, with countries of origin including Mexico, India, the Philippines, China/Hong Kong and Guatemala.

According to Homeland Security, immigrant spouses without permanent legal status have been in the country for 23 years on average. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 69% of Idaho’s unauthorized immigrant population, and 61% of Washington’s unauthorized immigrant population have lived in their respective states for a decade or longer.

The new program has the potential to create meaningful change for over half a million unauthorized immigrants in the country, especially those desperate to be “legal” in the eyes of their neighbors and the government, Heeran says.

The U.S. is a place for all people, Mondragón says. Despite the lawsuit, she remains optimistic about the future of the program.

“We’re all part of Idaho, and this dangerous rhetoric can really take us back to a place that we don’t want to go to,” Mondragón says. “There’s some uncertainty with what’s going to happen … but I think folks are still interested in applying and getting more information.” n

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Help at the Door

Devoted volunteers check on those in long-term care, but there aren’t enough of them

Bonnie Gow, a long-term care ombudsman, walks the hall on her rounds at the Cheney Care Community.

STORY BY COLTON RASANEN

PHOTOS BY ERICK DOXEY

On a white-hot Wednesday afternoon in mid-August, Bonnie Gow wanders the air-conditioned halls of the Cheney Care Community’s nursing home. She’s not a resident or member of the facility’s staff, but a volunteer long-term care ombudsman working to ensure residents are being properly cared for.

She walks at a steady pace down the hall, leaving enough time to read the name cards on each door she passes until she stops at the room of Michael Walsh. Gow knocks three times and waits for a muffled response through the door before she enters.

Moments later she retrieves a nurse to prop up Walsh, a resident with quadriplegia, so he can be comfortable while the two chat. Walsh doesn’t have any issues he needs Gow’s assistance with today, so they spend time catching up instead. In one moment Walsh tells her about the shows he’s watching (The Umbrella Academy and Schitt’s Creek), while in the next he’s reflecting on what Gow’s presence over the past two years has meant to him.

“Ever since I’ve been here and met Bonnie, my life has gotten better,” Walsh says. “When I talk to her, things get done.”

For example, when he was unable to press a call button to get the attention of the staff, she worked with the facility’s administrator to install a call button he can activate by breathing into a strawlike device.

This basic kind of advocacy hasn’t always been offered to Walsh, who says he’s been in nursing homes for almost a decade. A few years ago, at another facility, he suffered from a pressure ulcer — also known as a bedsore — on his back that was not treated properly by staff. Due to further neglect, Walsh says the ulcer got so bad it nearly killed him.

...continued on next page

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LONG-TERM CARE

Had there been a volunteer ombudsman like Gow regularly visiting that facility, he says, they could have ensured that Walsh was being moved around throughout the day or even being bathed regularly — ultimately, preventing a near-death experience. As it was, Walsh says he was hospitalized in a wound-care unit for 16 months before he was able to move into the facility in Cheney.

Walsh’s story of neglect isn’t an uncommon one. Many residents in long-term care facilities have no friends or family to check in on them. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 60% of longterm care residents nationwide don’t receive regular visits.

As the only independent check-and-balance system for these facilities in the state, that’s where the long-term care ombudsman program is supposed to come in. But currently, there are only 24 volunteers to check on more than 1,000 long-term care facilities in Eastern Washington.

Most of these volunteer ombuds are retirees spending a handful of hours each week checking on residents at one or two facilities they oversee. The shortage in volunteers has left the region’s ombuds unable to regularly check on every facility to ensure that residents are being properly cared for.

WHAT’S AN OMBUDSMAN?

Most residents in long-term care facilities — which include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes and any similar residential care facility — have no

idea what services they’re legally entitled to or even what an ombudsman is, Gow says.

Before she became a volunteer ombudsman, Gow says she also didn’t know the program existed, but after watching her mother suffer in care facilities that prescribed the wrong medication and didn’t provide adequate bathing or eating assistance, she wishes she did.

Long-term care ombudsman programs have been federally mandated in each state since the 1970s. Prior to that, Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965, which was the first national initiative meant to provide funding for the comprehensive care of older and aging Americans.

As amended in the ’70s, the OAA requires each ombudsman program to: identify, investigate and resolve resident complaints; provide residents with information about long-term services and supports; ensure that residents have regular and timely access to ombudsman services; represent the interests of residents before governmental agencies; seek administrative, legal and other remedies to protect residents; and analyze and recommend changes in laws and regulations pertaining to residents’ rights.

“[Long-term care ombuds] have no actual enforcement authority. We don’t issue fines. We don’t do what the state would do for people who violate the regulations,” says Richard Danford, the regional ombuds for Eastern Washington. “Our goal is to represent the residents and their family members in advocating for services that they

need and addressing problems and complaints with the services they are being provided.”

As the regional ombudsman, Danford is paid to oversee the activity and training of volunteer ombuds in Eastern Washington.

While federal law requires ombudsman programs, it allows states to decide how to run them.

In Washington, the long-term care ombudsman program is comprised of 13 regional entities that partner with nonprofits, and the program is independent of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). DSHS oversees long-term care in the state, setting the regulations for how care facilities must be run and handling official complaints and enforcement actions.

Overall, there are about 25 full-time employees between the ombudsman staff at the state level and the program’s 13 regional entities, according to a 2023 annual report. The Eastern Washington region, which encompasses Spokane, Whitman, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Ferry counties, has 2.5 of those staffers, including Danford.

Operating the program independently of any state agency makes it easier for an ombudsman to advocate for residents, Danford says.

“You can’t really be an advocate unless you are independent,” he says, noting he had different experiences as a long-term care ombudsman in New York, where the program is housed within the New York State Office for the Aging.

Bonnie Gow (left) speaks to resident Michael Walsh at Cheney Care Center.

“LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM” CONTINUED...

While Washington’s long-term care ombudsman program is one of the few in the nation to be fully independent, it struggles to meet the demand due to its volunteer-based model, Danford says.

Since residents are entitled to “regular and routine visits,” Danford says he’d actually need more than 100 volunteers to feel like his region was fully covered — right now they’ve got fewer than 30 volunteers.

He says the volunteer model has been “undeniably proven to be inadequate.”

“Our volunteers are wonderful, but we need lots and lots more,” Danford says. “It’s just not the right model.”

Idaho’s long-term care ombudsman program operates similarly, but its staffing structure is different. Instead of working entirely independently, Idaho’s program falls under the Idaho Commission on Aging — a state department that oversees long-term care in the state — but maintains independent authority to carry out its work.

Idaho’s State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Fanny RodriguezMelnikovsky says their program is supplemented by volunteers, rather than nearly all volunteer-based as Washington’s is.

“We have hired full-time ombudsmen in each area — Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Boise and Twin Falls — and we feel that we’re pretty close to staffing needs,” she says.

TERMS OF THE TRADE

Washington’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is tasked with advocating for residents at thousands of facilities throughout the state, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family homes. While these facilities are lumped together under the long-term care umbrella, each provides distinct services.

NURSING HOMES: These are mainly inhabited by residents who need help with personal and medical care. Nursing homes usually provide 24-hour supervision, nursing care and assistance with day-to-day activities, such as bathing, getting dressed or eating. Many offer rehabilitation services, allowing some residents to move into assisted living facilities once their health has improved.

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES: Folks in these facilities are often unable to take care of themselves alone, but only need minimal support. The assistance is varied, but usually includes help with housekeeping, cooking and administering medication. Residents normally live in their own apartments, retaining some form of autonomy, and share common areas with others.

ADULT FAMILY HOMES: These facilities are about as close to living at home as long-term care residents can get. Adult family homes are only licensed for six residents at a time, setting them apart from assisted living facilities, even though the two provide similar levels of care.

PROGRAM IN NEED

Washington’s population of older adults is growing each year, and there’s no sign it’ll slow down anytime soon. As of 2022, 23% of the state’s adult population was age 60 or older, according to the DSHS “State Plan on Aging.” That’s 1.8 million Washingtonians who are eligible for Older Americans Act programs, such as home-delivered meals, transportation assistance and in-home caregiving. By 2050, it’s expected that nearly a third of the state’s adult population will be in that age range.

Much of the country is forecasting similar growth in its elderly population. That worries Danford, who says that Eastern Washington’s ombuds already can only ensure regular visits at about 60% of the region’s long-term care facilities. Without more volunteers (or a change in the model), it may get even harder to catch issues with inadequate or neglectful care as the state’s population gets older.

“There’s a huge population of folks that we aren’t reaching or who don’t even know about our services right now,” Danford says. “When you weigh that against the kinds of issues that we are coming across in those facilities we are covering, it automatically causes a great deal of concern, because they’re not all just complaints about the food. Conditions aren’t the greatest, so when

FaLl ArTs

LONG-TERM CARE

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“LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM” CONTINUED...

you think about the 30% to 40% of [residents] not having access to our services, it’s just unacceptable.”

Washington’s long-term care ombudsman program receives thousands of complaints each year, according to its annual report. In 2013, the state’s 347 volunteer ombuds received 4,835 complaints. A decade later, the number of volunteers and complaints fielded were both down, with only 154 volunteers statewide receiving 2,765 complaints in 2023. Each year, the state’s volunteers close about half of the complaint cases they receive.

While the quantity of complaints and pool of those responsible for responding has shrunk, the types of complaints that residents made were unchanged. The most common complaint over the past 10 years was about facilities discharging or evicting residents. Lack of proper care, staff attitudes and food were also common complaints.

While the ombudsman program in Washington advocates for residents, and can ask staff at their facility to address any issues, DSHS has direct oversight and the authoritative regulatory power over care facilities.

Unlike the state ombudsman program that requires volunteers to visit each of the state’s facilities quarterly (volunteer ombudsman Gow often visits her facilities weekly), DSHS staff are required to visit nursing homes only once every nine to 15 months and to visit all other residential care programs every 12 to 18 months.

“Our complaint system is separate from our required visits,” says Amy Abbott, director of residential care services at DSHS. “We don’t wait until [required] visits to deal with resident complaints. We’re always going out to these facilities.”

Each year the state agency receives more than 10,000 complaints, Abbott says. Those complaints are triaged based on severity. Im-

mediate concerns, such as complaints of abuse or severe health problems, are often responded to within a couple of days. Some complaints where there is a potential for harm, but it’s not an immediate threat, are responded to within a week. Abbot says this second category can include situations where there’s been an altercation between a resident and staff, but the aggressor has already been removed from the facility. Many common complaints about food or staff attitudes are sorted into a third category that requires a visit within a month.

“Just having an ombudsman’s presence in a facility makes a huge difference.”

While DSHS is separate from the state ombudsman program, the two entities work in tandem to ensure that all residents are having their needs met and their rights respected.

“Ideally, we would like to see residents in facilities working with the ombuds, which is often the lowest level of mediation, so they can mediate to find a solution,” Abbott explains. “[The ombudsman] can always ask a resident to file a complaint and then we can get in there to regulate.”

MAKING AN IMPACT

“Just having an ombudsman’s presence in a facility makes a huge difference,” Gow says. That’s been the case in the facility that she checks on. Since Gow began her volunteer

...continued on page 22

Gow makes her contact information readily available for residents.

LONG-TERM CARE

“LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM” CONTINUED...

work at the Cheney Care Community two years ago, the number of complaints from residents has shrunk, the facility’s Executive Director Ashley Healey says.

While Healey has been in charge for about two years, she’s been working as a licensed practical nurse there since 2016. Before Gow began visiting in 2022, Healey says an ombudsman was a rare sighting.

“The fact that we have an active ombudsman is so unique, and I think it’s made our care better,” Healey says.

If staff are the issue, residents might be afraid to speak up to other staff, she says. “Just having someone here once a week that they can talk to has been great.”

Gow assuages any resident concerns about retaliation by serving as a sort of arbitrator. With the explicit consent of the resident or their family, she has the ability to file complaints with DSHS, but she isn’t required to. More often than not, she’ll work to fix the issue herself.

When Charlie Meye, a Cheney Care Community resident, told Gow that he probably needed to be on antidepressants, he says she promptly worked with the facility’s staff to get him a prescription. And when Walsh, the resident with quadriplegia, had trouble using the remote for his TV because he’s unable to use his arms or legs, Gow was able to help set up voice-activated controls.

“I work closely with the administrator of the facility to address any issues at the lowest level possible,” Gow says.

IT’S PERSONAL

Gow’s work as a long-term care ombudsman is important to her because she’s seen firsthand what happens when that oversight is missing. Her mother was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, the most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, and was admitted to a nursing home after a fall about a decade ago.

However, due to her mom being combative with staff — a common symptom for those with dementia — she was discharged from the nursing home without a 30-day notice. Since she had been at the facility for more than a month, she was legally entitled to that notice, but without an ombudsman around, Gow wasn’t aware that her mother’s rights were being violated.

“That was the beginning of a nightmare for my sister and myself,” she says.

HOW TO HELP

Gow and her sister eventually found another nursing home for their mom, but that sense of accomplishment was short-lived. Soon after their mom’s second admission, they learned she wasn’t being taken care of properly after a physician assistant at the new facility prescribed an antipsychotic medication with detrimental effects on dementia patients. This, along with infrequent bathing, denture-less meals and a lack of privacy for their mother, left Gow and her sister emotionally distraught as they saw her health decline.

Washington residents interested in volunteering can fill out an interest form at waombudsman.org/support-us/volunteer Idaho residents can contact State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Fanny Rodriguez-Melnikovsky at frmelnikovsky@aging.idaho.gov or volunteer coordinator Sherry Young at sherry.young@aging.idaho.gov

“Instead of filing a formal complaint with a state department and waiting for it to be addressed, I can just talk to [Healey] about the residents’ complaints.”

Other issues take more time to address, such as the constant complaints she hears about the facility’s food. Although Gow doesn’t yet have any concrete answers for the residents who bring it up, she calmly updates them that she’s still working for some improvement.

The sisters complained to the facility administrator about the issues, and they even visited daily to make sure their mom was receiving proper care, but they didn’t know what else to do.

“My sister and I left [the nursing home] crying almost every day because of the lack of proper care,” Gow says. “We felt alone, distraught and emotionally drained.”

She eventually got her mother into a nursing home that provided proper care until she died in 2020.

“I became an ombudsman because of what I experienced with our mom,” Gow says. “I do not want the residents or their families to have to experience what we went through.” n

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David Lyden, who lives in assisted living in Cheney, tells Gow about his dreams of returning to the desert.

The Longevity of Long-Term Care in Washington

ELECTION 2024 Initiative 2124 will ask voters if they want to make longterm care insurance optional, which could doom the WA Cares Fund

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

About 70% of Washingtonians will need long-term care at some point in their lives, according to research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Long-term care might not be a stay in a nursing home. It could involve transportation help and grocery delivery for a middle-aged adult recovering from an injury. It could include in-home safety renovations for someone fighting an illness. It could be a part-time caregiver helping ensure someone gets showers and medications on time.

However, most people in the state are not planning for long-term care costs.

“There’s a little bit of a misconception that Medicare covers long-term care, but it only covers short-term nursing facility stays. Most long-term care is usually in people’s homes with family caregivers,” says Lynn Kimball, executive director of Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW).

“The other biggest public program is Medicaid. Medicaid will cover long-term care in in-home settings, assisted living, adult family homes and nursing facilities, but it requires people to spend down their income and assets in order to qualify,” Kimball explains.

Washington state lawmakers created another payment option called the WA Cares Fund in 2019. Via a payroll tax that started in July 2023, workers in the state are required to contribute 58 cents for every $100 earned into the fund.

After contributing for 10 years, state residents, regardless of how old they are, can access total benefits of up to $36,500 (an amount that’s expected to increase over time with inflation) should a long-term care need arise. According to ALTCEW, that amount would currently be enough to pay a part-time caregiver for one to two years or cover the cost of a wheelchair and a few modest home renovations.

The WA Cares Fund has been unpopular with many residents. In November 2019, about 63% of voters who weighed in on an advisory measure told state lawmakers to repeal the bill that created the fund. The program’s original start date was then delayed 18 months, during which time workers were given the choice to opt out. Close to half a million Washingtonians chose not to participate.

At the end of 2023, the citizen action group Let’s Go Washington (financed by hedge fund manager and part-time farmer Brian Heywood) collected over 400,000 signatures to put an initiative on the upcoming Nov. 5 ballot that would alter the WA Cares Fund rules.

Initiative 2124 will ask voters if the WA Cares Fund should instead be an elective, opt-in program that also gives workers the option to opt-out at any time.

Supporters of the initiative, including Republican state Reps. Mary Dye of Pomeroy, Leonard Christian and Suzanne Schmidt of Spokane Valley, Mike Volz and Jenny Graham of Spokane, and Joe Schmick of Colfax, say that the tax puts too much financial burden on someone living paycheck to paycheck.

Currently, someone making $50,000 a year pays about $24 a month into the fund, or $290 annually.

Critics of WA Cares Fund also say the current lifetime maximum benefit of $36,500 per person is inadequate. According to AARP, the average cost for a year of in-home care in 2021 was $42,000. Plus, the benefits are not portable, meaning people who work in Washington but live in or move to another state will not be able to access them. Organizations opposed to I-2124, like the AARP and the Washington State Nurses Association, say that making the contribution voluntary would effectively eliminate the program.

According to an actuarial assessment by Milliman, an independent risk management firm, a large pool of people paying in is necessary to keep the WA Cares Fund solvent and its premiums low.

The more people who opt out, the higher the cost to participate becomes, which encourages even more people to drop out, Kimball says.

If the WA Cares Fund were eliminated, private long-term care insurance would be the only other option. Less than 10% of adults can afford it, according to the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Those who buy private long-term care insurance are usually 50 to 79 years old. A 65-year-old single man pays an average of $1,700 annually for $165,000 in benefits, while a 65-year-old single woman pays $2,700 on average, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

For those unable to pay for insurance or professional care, long-term caregiving often falls to friends or family members who bear the financial burden in other ways. Caregiving most often falls on women, many of whom give up their jobs to care for aging family members, says Ai-jen Poo, executive director of Caring Across Generations.

AARP Washington reports that there were nearly 820,000 unpaid caregivers in Washington in 2021. They worked nearly 770 million hours for free, valued at $16.8 billion.

Cynthia Stewart of the League of Women Voters of Washington worries that eliminating the WA Cares Fund will not only decrease women in the workforce and widen the gender gap, but “harm the majority of voters,” who, even if they are part of the 30% who never needs longterm care, will probably end up shouldering the burden for someone else. n

Annual Manual

VISUAL ART

Asked and Answered?

Artist Tom Askman embraces ambiguity in his teaching, artmaking and recently released book, with sage advice not just for artists

BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

At 83, artist and longtime art teacher Tom Askman has these wise words for wouldbe artists: “There are no rules in artmaking except for the one rule that there are no rules.”

Don’t get hung up on technique or trying to emulate a certain style, says Askman, who taught studio art at Eastern Washington University from 1972 to 2022. Instead, “just be able to explore everything that you can come up with from your intuition and use your imagination to step beyond.”

It’s an approach Askman has taken to heart over his 60-year career, highlights of which are included in his solo retrospective appropriately titled “Convoluted Ambiguities,” on display Sept. 6 to 28 at Kolva-Sullivan Gallery in downtown Spokane.

The exhibition features a mashup of Askman’s paintings, drawings and mixed-media sculpture, as well as poster images from his four decades creating art for public spaces locally and nationwide.

Seattle visitors, for example, might be familiar with the “Ballard Gateway,” eight metal sculptures celebrating Native American and Scandinavian culture, fishing, and boatbuilding, which Askman co-created in 2003 with the late Lea Ann Lake. For “Velocity” on the façade of Spokane’s Fire Station No. 3 on West Indiana Avenue, Askman combined custom brickwork and cast bronze to make it appear that two fire hoses are bursting through the building’s entrance.

“Part of the joy of doing public art was going to meet all these people around the country,” says Askman, who sought out Spokane artist Harold Balazs to help him master the welding and fabrication skills he knew he’d need to continue making public art.

“Another reason I thought I wanted to make public art was because it’s visible all the time [while] you do a painting or a drawing, and it might be shown once every 10 years in the museum, and nobody ever sees it,” he says.

The Kolva-Sullivan exhibition coincides with Askman’s first book, the Way Back to BEing, a self-guided workbook he compiled as an outgrowth of an EWU class he created several years ago called “How to Access the Sacred Gift of Your ‘Intuitive Mind’ by Reconnecting to Your Authentic Self.”

The Way Back to BEing is divided into two sections. The first part shares details of Askman’s personal journey, including how he left his hometown in Casper, Wyoming, in 1962 for art school in San Francisco and developed a lifelong toxic relationship with alcohol.

While in San Francisco, Askman initially earned a bachelor’s degree in education, enabling him to teach art at the K-12 level, but quickly returned to California College of Arts and Crafts to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts. He followed that with a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Colorado, while also serving in Wyoming’s Air National Guard, which kept him from being shipped to Vietnam.

Two brief college teaching gigs followed — University of Minnesota and Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana — before Askman joined a friend on a long-distance ...continued on page 26

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

• Your design can include up to 4 colors.

• Incorporate the words “Lilac Bloomsday Run” (or “Bloomsday”), “Spokane, Washington,” “2025” (or ‘25) and “Finisher.”

• Size: No larger than 13 inches high and 11 inches wide.

• Artist’s name, postal address, email address and phone number must be on the back of each design.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Provide a hard copy of your design. Do not send thumb drives, PDFs or other electronic files.

• Multiple designs can be submitted and are encouraged.

• Artwork cannot be returned.

Sept. 20, 2024

Tom Askman at his home studio.

road trip to the Pacific Northwest for a college art teaching job fair. He offhandedly submitted his résumé to the small agricultural college in Cheney still known as Eastern.

Thirteen years into his tenure at EWU, Askman had a life-changing suicidal moment, and has been in recovery ever since. More than just stopping drinking, however, Askman describes starting something: “Experiencing love, contentment, intuitive knowing, purpose, community, happiness, deep connections with others and bliss.”

The second half of the Way Back to BEing offers hands-on activities to bring about the kind of transformation Askman himself experienced, including intuitive artmaking that is spontaneous, nonrepresentational, and guided by something innate yet unnamed.

Examples of Askman’s intuitive paintings and drawings are included in the KolvaSullivan exhibition.

“The title of the show is ‘Convoluted Ambiguities,’” reiterates artist Ellen Picken, one of Askman’s former students. That means “not only being comfortable but encouraging, [even] welcoming, the unknown and being OK with ‘never knowing’ … letting life be ambiguous,” Picken says.

Picken was majoring in environmental sociology when she took her first art class — painting — with Askman to fulfill a liberal arts requirement. She enjoyed it, realizing that its focus was personal development and the creative process.

“[Askman] can tell when somebody is really getting a lot out of creating,” says Picken, who eventually switched her major to art and built a successful career painting murals locally and nationwide. “He’ll start just guiding that student and by his own actions, too, showing them how you can really dive into a deeper sense of wonder in the world through art.”

In addition to providing a testimonial for his book, Picken stays in touch with her former teacher, attending gatherings in a unique space Askman created on his Spokane property, which he calls HeartSpace.

At 30-feet across, HeartSpace is a yurt or rounded, tent-like structure that Askman bought and installed for any groups “based on conscious evolution, meditation, drumming, yoga, ecstatic dance, vibration therapy, AA, Alanon and other holistic endeavors,” according to the limited advertising he does for it on Facebook.

It’s been home to poetry workshops, a drum circle that usually meets in Manito Park, intuitive art classes and more. Although the space is free to use, Askman accepts and redirects any donations to local nonprofits.

But why would someone open their home to strangers that way? Askman just smiles. “The universe just said, ‘Tom, part of your function in life is to create a space for connection.’” n

Convoluted Ambiguities • Sept. 6-28; artist reception Fri, Sept. 6 from 5-8 pm; gallery open Thu-Sat from noon-6 pm or by appointment • Free • Kolva-Sullivan Gallery • 115 S. Adams St. • Facebook: Kolva-Sullivan-Gallery • 509-458-5517

Askman’s solo show at Kolva-Sullivan is a career retrospective. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

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Like chips and salsa.

There are plenty of checking accounts out there, but only one STCU free checking. It has all the convenience and security you’d expect from STCU, plus free debit cards with tap-to-pay technology, 24-hour online, mobile, and ATM access, and more.

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Crafting a Dream

Andrea Lawrence brings her childhood vision to life with quirky new shop Miss Bipps

BY CARRIE SHRIVER

As shoppers descend a flight of bubblegum pink stairs to the doorway of Miss Bipps Handmade & Vintage on the north edge of Kendall Yards, they enter into a bright, cheerful space. The shop is filled with a variety of items like twinkling string lights, plush pillows, colorful pompoms, vintage home decor and kitschy tableware. Oldies music by Lawrence Welk might be playing to set the tone.

“It’s like being inside a piñata,” as a customer once told owner Andrea Lawrence.

At Miss Bipps, Lawrence sells handmade yarn pompoms in all sizes and colors. Some decorate ponytail holders, while others are strung together as fuzzy garlands. She also makes all those colorful throw pillows, in traditional squares, yes, but also shaped like plump strawberries. Other candy-colored inventory ranges from puffy heart keychains and paper chains to aromatic bath salts and retro bunting.

All the handmade items on display were crafted by Lawrence, her mom, sister and sister-in-law. Among the quirky vintage items throughout Miss Bipps’ cozy basement space is everything from porcelain bells to Barbie trading cards, patterned blankets and crockery of all shapes and sizes, including a tomato teapot.

Tucked in a back corner, an area Lawrence envisions as a community space, there’s a table for four. It’s where she plans on hosting workshops teaching how to make bath salts or pompoms.

Each Sunday, this craft corner is available to local artisans of all types to teach workshops or hold a pop-up shop with their crafts and art (it’s free for them, and they keep all their proceeds).

“I always wished I had a place I could go and do that,” Lawrence says.

People are also welcome to simply hang out on Sundays while working on their own creative projects, hopefully making some new friends at the same time.

Crafting with objects normally recycled or tossed, like paper towel rolls and yogurt containers, is important to Lawrence. One of her workshops takes inspiration from the Shitty Craft Club book by comedy writer and content creator Sam Reece. The book’s aesthetic embraces lots of glitter, bedazzling and a healthy dose of kitsch.

“Not like a high-taste level, not a fancy aesthetic, just fun and practical — doable for all ages,” Lawrence says of the vibe.

Andrea Lawrence brings joyful color and oodles of nostalgia to Miss Bipps. ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

Miss Bipps is the culmination of Lawrence’s childhood dream of owning a store. Although it often seemed out of reach, she got a lot of practice visualizing what her someday shop might look like, frequently setting up imaginary stores as a child.

“I would go to the pantry, and I would pretend I had a grocery store for one week,” she says. “I would stage my room like it was a department store, and it was rotating seasonally. I was always rearranging my furniture.”

Like her imagination, Lawrence’s creativity also blossomed at an early age. She liked making things with her hands, following her mother’s example of using materials on hand for decorations and games. Presentation played an important part in these creative outlets, like in prizes she gave to her younger sisters.

“We’d have charms from charm bracelets and little things like that,” she recalls. “I would put them on paper plates and cut them out into pie shapes and put Saran wrap around each one, so it was shaped like a pie.”

Considering these personal anecdotes, it’s not surprising that Lawrence has spent most of her life so far working in retail, starting with a job at Safeway as a teen. She went on to work at places like REI and Nordstrom, that dream of opening her own shop persisting throughout each stint.

“My friends and family all know I have a pretend shop in my house, in my head, in my garage,” she says of the days before Miss Bipps became a reality. “It was just this pipe dream, and I had to set it down sometimes so I would stay sane and be in the present moment, and do a good job at my job.”

Crafting has remained a therapeutic and creative outlet for Lawrence, especially during struggles with her mental health.

“I wasn’t functional enough to keep a full-time job, and it was before I was diagnosed with bipolar [disorder]. I just wanted to make pompoms all day, and I did,” she says. “Now there’s a reason, and it really helped me handle my mental state.”

The right circumstances aligned at last for Lawrence, who opened Miss Bipps in June.

The shop’s name also dates back to a fond childhood memory — a nickname from one of her sisters.

Lawrence hopes visitors to Miss Bipps are surprised and delighted by their surroundings, prompting them to reminisce about happy memories, leave inspired to add some cheerful whimsy to their home, or unlock their own creative potential just as she has over the decades.

“There’s this element of following your dreams, no matter what, no matter how many times you have to set them down and pick them back up,” she says. “You’re not a failure if you give up on it, it will come back to you.” n

Miss Bipps Handmade & Vintage • 707 N. Cedar St., Suite 3 • Open Wed-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm • miss-bipps.company.site • 206-495-5431

Many items at Miss Bipps are handmade by Lawrence and her family.

BILLY FRANK JR. AT MARMOT ART SPACE

REMEMBERING BILLY FRANK JR.

A bronze statue of the Nisqually tribal fishing rights activist heads to D.C. next year; first a model of the piece stops in Spokane

BY TOM KEEFE JR.

It’s a long road from the little patch of Indian trust land called Frank’s Landing on the lower Nisqually River to Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., but Billy Frank Jr. blazed his own trail to Congress and is about to be recognized for that epic journey. The Nisqually fishing rights activist and environmental crusader will be enshrined as one of Washington state’s two representatives in the 100-person gallery of historically significant Americans.

To understand Frank, it’s useful to understand his father, Willie, whose own life was the guidepost for Billy growing up. Born in 1879, 10 years before statehood and less that 20 years after the hanging of his uncle, Nisqually Chief Leschi, Willie was raised by his aunt Sally Jackson, the Nisqually Tribe’s last tamanawus woman, said to have had special powers and knowledge of Indian medicine. After Pierce County illegally condemned the Nisqually Reservation in 1916 to build Fort Lewis south of Tacoma, taking Willie Frank’s 205-acre allotment, he refused to “take the money and go away,” insisting the government purchase a six-acre wagon crossing on the bank of the Nisqually for his benefit. That land became Frank’s Landing, the epicenter of historic battles over Native fishing rights that led to the 1974 Boldt Decision allocating 50% of each returning salmon run to the tribes, whose treaties with the U.S. preceded statehood. Tear gas and billy clubs became frequent invaders at Frank’s Landing over the years leading up to the ruling, as did movie

stars, camera crews and arrests.

Willie Frank’s first arrest for fishing at Frank’s Landing came in 1916, and over the years many more arrests followed. By the time Billy was born in 1931, going fishing and going to jail was a well-established part of life for the Frank family — a rite of passage for a Nisqually Indian fisherman. Billy experienced his first fishing arrest at 14 in 1945. Over the next 40 years, 50 more arrests followed, often accompanied by a beating at the hands of a state game official.

One of the great ironies of our modern era is that it took the testimony of Willie Frank as he was approaching his 100th year to help federal Judge George Boldt understand what the 1855 Treaty of Medicine Creek meant to the people whose lives would be altered forever by its signing. Their need to be allowed to fish, hunt, and gather seasonal roots and berries at their “usual and accustomed places” was the key to their survival.

Willie once observed: “I always say, the Nisqually Indian was living in paradise before the white man came. Everything grew just natural. There were lots of roots, wild onions, turnips and wild carrots. And one little black root that made all the others taste sweet. There was game, grouse, wild berries and everything.”

Billy Frank Jr. continued that family tradition of helping us understand that it wasn’t enough just to bring 100 years of “fish wars” to an end. Billy

See a half-scale model by renowned Washington sculptor Haiying Wu for the 9-foot-tall statue of Billy Frank Jr. to be unveiled in 2025 in the National Statuary Hall. Wu’s model will be on display through September at Marmot Art Space in Kendall Yards, beginning with a First Friday reception on Sept. 6 from 5-9 pm Frank’s likeness in bronze will replace one of Washington’s two existing figures in Statuary Hall, depicting the missionary Marcus Whitman, after state legislation was passed in 2021. A second statue of Frank is also planned to be installed in Olympia. Learn more about both the activist and artist — and the process to bring Frank to Statuary Hall — at arts.wa.gov.

believed a new era required a new attitude by all stakeholders who cared about the salmon and its survival for our present and future generations. “Time is running out for the salmon” was his frequent refrain.

Billy adapted by leaving the river he loved to spend years trolling the halls of power in D.C., searching out allies who would join his quest to save the natural salmon runs for future generations.

He once said to me: “Thomas, when those politicians see me coming, I always want them to know that I’m coming to talk about the salmon.”

And he always was.

Like his father, Billy Frank’s life journey ended in the spring, in March 2014, when the mighty spring Chinook return to the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. For all of his 83 years, Billy never slowed down or rested, any more than the Nisqually River could ever stand still.

Now, Washington state has chosen to share the inspiring story of Billy Frank Jr. and his devotion to protecting the quality of life we treasure in the Pacific Northwest, by installing his statue in the U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall.

For future generations who want to hear his story, Billy Frank Jr. will be waiting there. n

Tom Keefe is a retired Spokane lawyer. His friendship with Billy Frank began while serving as legislative director for U.S. Sen. Warren G. Magnuson, in the late 1970s in the aftermath of the Boldt Decision.

— CHEY SCOTT

Haiying Wu’s model for the Billy Frank Jr. statue is coming to Marmot Art Space. MARSHALL PETERSON PHOTO

From left: Billy Frank Jr., David Sohappy and Tom Keefe, photographed in the 1970s at Yakama Tribal Court during the “fish wars.” PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM KEEFE

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Home Sweet Spo’

Pure Northwest, a PNW-inspired lounge, replaces the Red Lion Pub with sophisticated but affordable plates and cocktails

BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Pure Northwest’s breakfast board, meant for sharing.

Four years ago, Darin Talotti left Spokane. The experienced restaurateur, whose family owned the Red Lion Pub and Barbecue for almost two decades, had co-owned or renovated plenty of other local icons like The Viking, Pacific Avenue Pizza, North Hill on Garland, and the tiny downtown whiskey bar Whisk.

But then, Talotti headed south to do his thing in sunny San Diego. Why would he leave his hometown?

“Have you ever been to San Diego?” he asks.

It’s 70 degrees every day. It’s near the ocean. It’s got a killer food scene. What more explanation do you need?

Talotti’s not the only Spokanite who feels this way. San Diego streets are full of Coug hats, says Kelly Brown, a local who was recently working there. Brown and his wife, Frances, bumped into Talotti last year while exploring the city’s exciting cocktail culture.

The three already knew one another from the Spokane restaurant scene — Frances had been a host, server or bookkeeper for most of the 23 years she’d lived here. She’d been secretly dreaming of owning her own bar for years.

Talotti, it so happened, had recently gotten a call from Red Lion’s landlord. After his family sold the pub, the new owner wasn’t paying the bills. The landlord wanted Talotti to come back and salvage the place.

The three Spokanites started brainstorming. They looped in friend and bartender Scott Hooper.

Talotti eventually agreed to come back to the Northwest when the four friends decided to redesign the classic pub with some of their favorite San Diego details — beautiful cocktails, sophisticated atmosphere, and tasty, trendy bites — but with a decidedly local feel.

Together, they’ve created Pure Northwest, an homage to home sweet Washington that opened this past June where Red Lion used to be. The big antique bar and built-in booths are still there, but gone are the darkened windows, the bison head, and the Sam Adams banners. Instead, a cascading wall of ivy and hanging planters give the space a refreshing, welcoming vibe.

Not only is the new spot clean and comforting with a cozy new patio, but it’s open for lunch in addition to dinner — a food-centric option on a corner that’s typically dominated by drinks and nightlife. For daytime downtown employees, convention attendees, or teachers from nearby campuses, an elevated hangout space with affordable sandwiches, shareables, and spritzes might just hit the spot.

What’s more, Pure Northwest launches its brunch menu this Saturday, just in time for the NFL season kickoff. It’s not a sports bar anymore, but the TVs will still have the games on for anyone trying to keep tabs on their fantasy league between mimosas.

The biggest thing at Pure Northwest that’s decidedly not inspired by San Diego are its prices.

“We’re trying to do something that’s affordable and approachable, so you can actually go out and enjoy your time out,” Talotti says. “Your money goes further, so you feel like that was a good time and it’s worth it.”

All the cocktails are specially curated by Talotti and Ryan Kuntz, another San Diego frequenter, and are either $11 or $12. Except for the Low Life Spritz — you can get the Miller High Life, Aperol and lemon spritzer for just $8.

Snack on a smash burger for $9 or a smoked salmon sando for $14. There are also vegetarian or vegan options, like an Impossible smashburger ($11) or a tofu banh mi ($14).

Shareables like fried pickles and sausage ($12), crab cakes ($14) or the Red Lion’s famous fried bread ($5) are definitely a large size. Other group-friendly plates like the Mediterranean platter ($17), tuna tostadas ($14) or poutine ($12) are $4 off during happy hour, which runs daily from 3 to 6 pm.

...continued on next page

“HOME SWEET SPO’,” CONTINUED...

“We call it ‘happiest of hours,’” Talotti says. “It’s not just one hour.”

Red Lion frequenters might recognize the Combo Bits in the shareables column — Pure Northwest is not only keeping the pile of tri tip, ribs, blackened chicken and sausage on the menu, but the kitchen is also using their beloved, old-time barbecue sauce recipe on the ribs. It’s good to be home.

For their brand-new brunch menu, the team is planning fun spins on morning classics, like an eggs Benedict flight and creative breakfast boards. Frances is making sure there will be plenty of different breakfast boozes to try, too.

“I always do the espresso martini, but I do that with tequila as well,” she says.

The booze behind the bar at Pure Northwest is worth more attention than a quick shot. It’s geared toward sippers who want to savor their drink and their evening.

“We’re trying to give the not-so-party crowd a fun environment to hang out, relax and enjoy their time,” Talotti says. “We want you to enjoy cocktails, talk to friends and be able to actually enjoy each other’s company.”

It’s the kind of thoughtfulness that might help you discover things about yourself you never knew before.

“When we first started this, I thought I was a vodka person,” Frances says. “But then we started having all the good tequilas. So I am now absolutely a tequila person.”

Special touches on the menu mirror special touches around the restaurant, too.

The art deco wallpaper in the second room has hidden martini glasses if you look closely enough, and the adventurethemed wallpaper in the back game room has humorous scenes of campers getting beamed up by UFOs.

Outside on the patio, there’s a hand-painted mural by Talotti’s daughter that also riffs on alien abduction, but in a cutesy photo-op way. Even though the patio is hemmed in by two busy streets, the asymmetrical, Pinterest-inspired fence built by Kelly and Talotti keeps the noise to a minimum. Wicker egg chairs and fire tables finalize the perfect ambience for an autumnal catch up with friends.

For the four friends running Pure Northwest, it’s been a long journey to opening day. It’s going to take even more time and effort and community support to turn it back into the watering hole it once was. But it’s a rewarding process, they say — and a lot of the reward comes from giving back to the place they’ll always call home.

“Really, truly, it is service,” Frances says. “If you’re not in it for that, then you shouldn’t be part of this industry.” n Pure Northwest • 126 N. Division St. • Open Mon-Thu 11 am-10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-12 am (brunch hours to come) • purepacificnorthwest.com

PATIO on the

Owners Scott Hooper, Kelly Brown, Frances Brown and Darin Talotti. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

ESSAY

ALSO OPENING

FOR WHEN YOU GET LOST

A middle-aged woman drags her estranged sisters on a Pacific Coast road trip to try to bring the family together and visit their ailing father in this emotional indie comedy. Rated R At the Magic Lantern (Cast and Crew Q&A on Sept. 8)

THE FRONT ROOM

A24’s latest psychological thriller finds a pregnant woman’s life turned upside down when her malicious mother-inlaw moves in and begins trying to terrorize and replace her. Rated R

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

A former James Bond-esque super special agent gets pulled out of his retirement for over-the-top action in this Indian action blockbuster. Not rated

IT’S SHOWTIME

Tim Burton’s original Beetlejuice remains a deadly delight that he’s increasingly found himself chasing

BY CHASE HUTCHINSON

For a filmmaker who’s conjured up vibrant visions of death like no other, it’s perhaps fitting that Tim Burton has felt like he’s recently been fighting tooth and nail for a spark of life in his cinematic creations. If you’ve ventured out to the theaters to see one of his films in the past decade or more, there’s a good chance you’ve been baffled by his more perplexing takes on everything from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the recent Dumbo. It’s been like seeing a filmmaker keep making the “one for them” only to forget the subsequent “one for me” of the saying. And yet, perhaps despite ourselves, out we go, the faithful holding out hope the Burton of old would make an appearance. Instead, too often, we’ve endured a rough run of films that were all the wrong type of odd in how obligatory they felt. Yet we still go out, hoping for a resurrection. For those of us who remain believers in Burton, much of that faith has remained because of one word (which you mustn’t risk saying more than once) that still echoes in our minds: Beetlejuice

Yes, it was Burton’s 1988 film, his second feature after the similarly classic Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which is still his most funny, visually inventive and playfully macabre work to date. Revisiting it now on the cusp of a sequel, the cheekily titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, only reaffirms its genius. It’s a film that makes the most of a confined setting through boundless creativity and plenty of darkly

clever scenes that, much like the ghosts that populate it, haven’t grown old. More than that, there is a madcap and anarchic energy to the entire experience with Michael Keaton’s titular trickster operating on just the right wavelength to make it all sing. Taking us deep into the great beyond and back again, it’s so wonderfully joyous you almost forget what Burton’s films have been like of late. Almost... but not quite.

For those who think this is harsh, the filmmaker himself has spoken of his recent work in similar terms. At the Venice Film Festival press conference for the world premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Burton said he had “sort of lost myself a bit” and that his latest was “a kind of getting back to the things I love doing, the way I love doing it and with people I love doing it with.” While this could be dismissed by the more cynical as merely a way to sell a cash-grab sequel, there was a frankness to the filmmaker’s words that felt like he too had been right there with us in the theater wondering what had happened to him. We too have seen all the trappings of his recent works and have felt lost wondering where was the Burton who went from Beetlejuice to helming the best duo of Batman movies? Where was the filmmaker who never once let the fact that he was working with established intellectual property hold him back from leaving his mark? We’ve always remembered, and it seems Burton has too.

Whether we may see him again or just get burned again, we can always be glad we’ll have Beetlejuice. From the way it dances through a world of death to the close when it levitates to the music of the late Harry Belafonte, it’s an all-timer that’s worth keeping the faith in. Regardless of whether Burton and company can recapture its glory, it’s just about as good of a film to chase after as one could hope for. It’s a powerful thing for a film to keep us venturing out to see his works because of the magic on display from decades prior. With all the practical effects and gleefully mean-spirited jokes, it’s a true wonder that feels like it couldn’t be made in quite the same way by anyone now, maybe even including Burton himself.

In a movie landscape where so much can feel disposable in how it plays safe and toes the line, we can be glad that we’ll always have the maniac that is Beetlejuice No matter how many new releases can feel dead on arrival and then vanish completely from the mind, it is there to give movies new life by guiding us back through the darkness. Hell, it may even reinstill that same love of creation in Burton himself as he returns to its world. If there’s one film with plenty of spirit to spare, it will always and forever be this one. n

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opens in theaters on Sept. 6.

Tim Burton returns to his old stomping grounds with the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Gaybraham Lincoln?

Documentary Lover of Men makes a semi-convincing case for the queerness of our 16th president

BY JOSH BELL

Was Abraham Lincoln gay? That’s the central question of director Shaun Peterson’s documentary Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln, but it’s also a question that the documentary declares essentially unanswerable, since the modern concept of sexual identity didn’t exist during Lincoln’s time. There are a lot of experts making confident assertions that Lincoln had romantic and sexual relationships with men, but what exactly that means is never entirely clear.

Lover of Men opens with a disclaimer that states, “All of the letters featured in this film are authentic, and wherever possible, the filmmakers photographed the original locations where the following events occurred.” That gives the movie a tone of defensiveness before anyone has even started speaking, and part of its mission is to rebut any skepticism over Lincoln’s alleged homosexuality.

Not rated

Directed by Shaun Peterson

That’s not to say that Peterson’s case is disingenuous, or that Lincoln’s potential sexual fluidity isn’t significant. “We worship at the altar of Abraham Lincoln,” says one historian at the beginning of the movie, and if the man often considered the greatest American of all time is recognized as gay, that’s meaningful for the present-day struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The movie’s final stretch clumsily attempts to bring that point home in a sequence that begins with a Google search for “sexuality 2024” and throws a lot of chaotic news snippets at the audience without coalescing into a clear message.

Screening Sept. 6-8 at AMC River Park Square

To that end, Peterson puts together an often dry PBS-style documentary, with commentators from venerable academic institutions like Harvard, Columbia and Brown, and his case largely sounds convincing. It’s not, however, a particularly cinematic presentation, and there’s little to be gleaned from Lover of Men that couldn’t be conveyed in a concise magazine article or the “Sexuality of Abraham Lincoln” Wikipedia page. The movie provides an incomplete biography of Lincoln while emphasizing his connections with four particular men from different periods in his life.

Lover of Men spends most of its time on Lincoln’s friendship with Joshua Speed, a man one expert deems “the love of his life.” Lincoln and Speed lived together for four years during Lincoln’s early legal and political career, sharing the same bed — a practice that the movie acknowledges was common at the time. But the film also touts it as evidence of their passionate romance. A lot of Lover of Men similarly tries to have things both ways, highlighting the intimacy and physical affection of same-sex friendships in the 19th century while claiming that Lincoln’s close friendships must have gone beyond that.

By that time, Lincoln has nearly been left behind, making the earlier focus on minutiae like single turns of phrase from various letters seem irrelevant. It’s sometimes striking to hear what sound like ardent declarations of love from Lincoln to his male companions or bits of gossip that imply sexual relations, but they’re all lines pulled from their larger context to bolster Peterson’s argument. Even more specious is Peterson’s copious use of cheesy, overstated re-enactments, full of soft lighting and longing looks through lace curtains.

An emo-looking young Lincoln is introduced sulking after his mother’s death, and subsequent scenes come off like some kind of gay-themed historical Hallmark movie. Lincoln and Speed (who looks a bit like Harry Styles) demonstrate their “lust at first sight” by making eyes at each other while Speed licks his lips suggestively. Later, Speed lays his head on Lincoln’s shoulder when they’re in bed together. After introducing Lincoln to his future wife Mary Todd, Speed lurks in a doorway, seething with jealousy. Those scenes have about as much believability as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Peterson lacks the sense of humor of current Broadway sensation Cole Escola, whose hit play Oh, Mary! offers a more fictionalized but more entertaining queer take on Lincoln. There’s no reason to doubt the sincerity of Lover of Men, but there’s not much reason to head to a theater to see it, either. n

Subpar dramatic recreations drag down Lover of Men

Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln

Still Remembering to Write Home

The Get Up Kids tour in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their seminal album, Something to Write Home About

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

“What became of everyone I used to know? / Where did our respectable convictions go?”

The Get Up Kids frontman Matt Pryor bellows those two questions as an opening salvo and tone-setter on “Holiday” to welcome listeners to the band’s 1999 album, Something to Write Home About. The sentiment in those rhetorical questions and the album as a whole offer a succinct distillation of where the guys in the Kansas City-based band were when writing the record — the nebulous, often profoundly confusing and emotionally treacherous time in your late teens and early 20s when you no longer feel like a kid and certainly don’t feel like an adult yet. When you’re trying to figure out what to do with your life. When you’re meeting a bunch of new people and dealing with people you thought you’d be friends with forever beginning to grow distant. When you’re kind of a complete mess.

“Some of us were literally still teenagers when we were writing these songs, and I think we were singing about universal things,” the Get Up Kids lead guitarist Jim Suptic says. “We were deciding to drop out of college to go tour and having to make these kind of big decisions for our future and our lives and breakups and all these

things. So we were just singing everyday things that a 20-year-old kid is going through — where every emotion is the biggest, every breakup is the biggest ever — and they were listening to it at that same age. If the Get Up Kids are anything, we’ve always been sincere in our music… sometimes to a fault.”

That sincerity seeps into every note across Something to Write Home About. With an iconic double pick slide by Suptic to start things off, “Holiday” launches into an angsty anthem for relationships growing ever further apart where one might “say goodnight / mean goodbye.” Things keep rolling with the start-and-stop opening riff on “Action & Action,” which showcases the sonic tightness of the full band — including Ryan Pope on drums, Rob Pope on bass and James Dewees on keys — and one of the best guitar tones of the era.

And while the frustrated and skeptical youthful edge comes across in tracks like “Ten Minutes,” part of what sets the album apart from many of its contemporaries is the way it conveys soft heartache with a level of somber composure. Compared with other emo classics, it’s not wrapped up in as much melodrama. Songs like the tender “Valentine,” the sparse “Out of Reach,” or the anthem for the heartbroken overthinkers that is “My Apology,”

the Get Up Kids had the ability to musically rip your heart out with a gentle caress.

To say the feelings expressed across Something to Write Home About resonated deeply with a wide swath of young folks who were into indie, pop punk and emo music (specifically, Midwest emo) would be a pretty big understatement. While the album was a success at the time of its release (selling over 100,000 copies), the longevity of its resonance couldn’t have been predicted. The LP is now a given staple on any publication’s “Best Emo Albums Ever” list. Like sentimental parents who don’t want to change a thing about their child’s old room, emo fans have kept Something to Write Home About’s room in their heart pristine and untouched.

Perhaps most significantly, the album imprinted on the generation of similar bands that immediately followed in the early 2000s. Something to Write Home About is a foundational text for many of the artists that would take emo from an underground scene to an arena-filling genre.

Acts like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, The Wonder Years, and Coheed & Cambria will go out of their way to heap praise on the Get Up Kids and what the band meant to them during their formative musical years. In a 2010 oral history of the Get Up Kids in

The Get Up Kids will lead an adult emo sing-along at The Knit. SHAWN-BRACKBILL PHOTO

Alternative Press, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz went as far as saying, “There should be a ‘How To Be a Pop Punk Kid’ starter kit with bands like Get Up Kids, so kids would know whose shoulders bands like us are standing on. Fall Out Boy would not be a band if it were not for the Get Up Kids.”

To mark Something to Write Home About’s 25th anniversary, the Get Up Kids are touring in support of the record once again (including a Sept. 6 stop at the Knitting Factory) and playing the album front to back. While the band admittedly has some reservations with the navel-gazing aspects of anniversary tours, the timing just made too much sense.

“Nostalgia can be good and bad,” Suptic says. “We never wanted to be stuck in nostalgia. So we’ve never done a full tour on this album. And we figured, if we’re gonna do it, this is the time — 25 years. It’s crazy that it still matters to people 25 years later.”

Plus, there’s a literal whole new generation of the Get Up Kids fans who didn’t get to see the band support the album when it was released. Seeing rooms full of both 40-somethings and teens now passionately singing along with every word of a quarter-century-old album has been a thrill for the Get Up Kids, especially considering how incremental the band’s success seemed during the era when it initially came out. After all, it’s impossible to see the longtail of meaningful influence in the moment.

“It was like a slow burn kind of thing, really. Our success was always kind of a gradual hill,” Suptic says. “I think there was a core group of Midwest emo/emo pop records that came out right about that time, before whatever is considered emo that we know now. Before My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy blew up, there was Jimmy Eat World Clarity; Braid Frame & Canvas; Promise Ring Nothing Feels Good; Get Up Kids Something to Write Home About. There was definitely this sort of sea change happening in the punk rock world.”

With the Get Up Kids’ sound dipping its toes in the punk, emo, pop punk and indie rock pools, it wasn’t clear at the time exactly where the band fit into the rock landscape. But rather than feeling like total outsiders, the group’s sound kind of allowed them to fit in with lots of various sounds, playing shows with hardcore bands like Avail and Snapcase or with Christian pop punk bands like MxPx.

“I think part of it was that we’re from the Midwest, and we sort of didn’t fit in the pop punk scene in Southern California or the kind of macho hardcore scene in upstate New York or something. We kind of took elements from all the punk scenes and created our own thing,” Suptic says. “We had a lot of girls at our shows early on, so a lot of the tough guys were like, ‘My girlfriend likes your band.’ We heard that a lot. [Laughs]”

The band has remained tight after all these years — making it through a yearslong breakup in 2005 and another hiatus in 2012 — in part because they’re just a bunch of Midwest dudes who grew up going to school together. While there have been points of burnout, that core has never fully soured.

“There’s the LA trope of like, ‘I’m going to go out to make it!’ You put up an ad, and you meet guys because he’s the best player or he’s got this look,” Suptic says. “We literally were just buddies who all got into punk rock at the same time and loved music and started that way, never in a million years thinking I’d be doing an interview 25 years later and touring the world on some music I wrote when I was 19, you know? So there’s a purity and innocence to it. I think usually, the bands with longevity, that’s usually how they start.”

Something to Write Home About still resonates because it poetically nails the core of youth’s romanized bliss, the tangible ache of feeling that begins to fade and the realization that some of those teenage emotions never go away despite our attempts to suppress them. To paraphrase “My Apology,” We might now be old enough to keep routines, but we’re still child enough to scream. n

The Get Up Kids, Smoking Popes • Fri, Sept. 6 at 8:30 pm • $30 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

Heart of Glass

Here’s why I love Glass Animals so f---ing much

BY COLTON RASANEN

Do you ever think back to the artists you listened to as a teenager and cringe a little? I do. I can probably count on one hand how many of them I still regularly listen to today: Lorde, The Front Bottoms, the various artists of the Shrek 2 soundtrack. But the band that tops that exclusive list remains Glass Animals.

For the longest time I’ve been unable to understand why this band has had such a hold on my ears. I mean, obviously, I think the music sounds lovely. Lead vocalist Dave Bayley’s knack for emotional lyricism is a huge draw for me, and the band’s instrumentalists — Drew MacFarlane on guitar/keys, Edmund Irwin-Singer on bass/keys and Joe Seaward on drums — know just how to back each track. But that still doesn’t explain the band’s longevity on my playlists.

But while listening to Glass Animals’ album I Love You So F***ing Much when it dropped in July, I finally began to comprehend. As the band’s sound evolved over every single record, I realized I was hearing exactly what I needed to in that moment. I understand that we all create meaning in media where we need it most, so it’s not shocking that I’d feel that way about a song or an album. However, the ability of an entire artist’s discography to resonate so deeply within me feels rare.

When Glass Animals debuted with Zaba in 2014, I was finishing up my first year of high school and had

this very narrow view of what music could be. I’d obviously bopped to every top pop song of the time, but anytime I was faced with a new or uncommon sound, I was turned off.

That changed though when I first heard a clip of “Pools” on some cringey Tumblr post while I was in bed scrolling. I was hooked on those groovy psychedelic sounds and wanted more. I immediately downloaded the album and spent the rest of the night, and the rest of the school year, with it blaring in my ears.

When the group released its second album How to Be Human in 2016, I was entering my final year of high school and very much learning how to be human. While Glass Animals’ previous album taught me to love all types of music, this one spoke to my budding love for storytelling.

This album is pretty conceptual, as Glass Animals created a gaggle of 11 characters and told each of their stories through a song. It was basically this master class in how to write about a character in a compelling way.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the band’s breakout third album — 2020’s Dreamland — until a few months after it was released. But, I guess that’s probably exactly when I needed it, given… you know… 2020

We were all in this weird liminal space during the first year of the COVID pandemic. I had time to think about the past and really try to look at the moments

that made me who I am today. This was also the first album where the guys pulled from their own lives for each song, so we’ve got both these wonderful moments of nostalgia (“Dreamland” and “Space Ghost Coast to Coast”) and these moments of real trauma (“Domestic Bliss” and “It’s All So Incredibly Loud”). Imagine Bo Burnam’s musical special Inside, but replace the depression with nostalgia.

But a funny thing happened while we were all locked inside — Glass Animals blew up. The single “Heat Waves” became a trending sound on TikTok. Following that trend, the band began a 59-week climb to eventually reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding that spot for five weeks and staying on the charts for a record 91 weeks.

It was a moment of well-deserved recognition that I think should have been extended to the band back when its first album dropped.

Now as Glass Animals kicks off its fourth era with I Love You So F***ing Much I’m again astounded by the band’s ability to just make me feel something deep. In an interview with Forbes, lead singer Bayley says this album came to fruition while he was trying to find some understanding of our place in the universe, especially after so much weirdness in the last few years.

And as I’m finally settling into life in the Inland Northwest, I too am trying to process where I am in life — where I’ve been and where I’m going… well, at least where I’m going in life. I know where I’ll be going this weekend — heading over to the Gorge to see Glass Animals for the first time. Now I don’t really believe in fate, but maybe, this connection between the band’s growth and my own is exactly how it’s meant to be. n

Glass Animals, Eyedress, Blondeshell • Sat, Sept. 7 at 7:45 pm • All ages • $68-$180 • Gorge Amphitheater • 754 Silica Rd., Quincy • gorgeamphitheatre.com

Seeing Glass Animals at the Gorge may be a gift from fate. DREWBY PEREZ PHOTO

PUNK GAYTHEIST

ALT-ROCK DOGSTAR

Thursday, 9/5

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Kyle Richards

J THE CHAMELEON, Apes of the State, Sister Wife Sex Strike

CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds

J PONDEROSA BAR AND GRILL, Gil Rivas

J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin

J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, The Buckley Storms ZOLA, TPA, Aspen Lockwood

Friday, 9/6

J THE BIG DIPPER, Vana Liya

THE CHAMELEON, Dolly Parton Tribute Night

J CHASE GALLERY, Front Porch Rockers

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Keith Wallace

GARDEN PARTY, Storme

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Hozier, Allison Russell

J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire

J J KNITTING FACTORY, The Get Up Kids, Smoking Popes

PAVILION AT RIVERFRONT, Switchfoot, Blue October, Matt Nathanson

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Kosh

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Bigtooth, Indy Heyer

J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Thunder Honey

J J SPOKANE ARENA, Def Leppard, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening

SPOKANE EAGLES LODGE, The Black Jack Band

ZOLA, Nathan Chartrey ZOLA, The Rub

Saturday, 9/7

THE CHAMELEON, Lumasi

CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Keith Wallace

J THE DISTRICT BAR, Itchy Kitty, Gaythiest, Blunt Skulls

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Glass Animals, Eyedress, Blondshell

J HUCKLEBERRY’S MARKET, Into the Drift Duo

J KNITTING FACTORY, Randy Rogers Band

J LIVE AT ANDRE’S, Michelle Malone

J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Andru Gomez

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs

ROCKET MARKET, Justyn Priest SPOKANE, Porchfest 2024

ZOLA, Joshua Belliardo ZOLA, Scablands

Sunday, 9/8

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, David Raitt & the Baja Boogie Band

J THE BIG DIPPER, Anthony Green

CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Too Slim and The Tail Draggers

HOGFISH, Open Mic

J JAGUAR ROOM AT CHAMELEON, Opliam, Richard Tripps, Matt Nice

J KNITTING FACTORY, Extreme, Living Colour

Ihadn’t dived into Gaytheist before seeing the Portland punk trio play a show with Itchy Kitty last November at Berserk, so as the band was setting up the only thought was running through my head was “God, I hope these guys don’t suck… it’d be such a waste of a good band name.” Thankfully, it turns out Gaytheist does — in fact — rock, mixing big, old-school hardcore punk riffs with a melodic sensibility and a clear dose of humor. The fact that bowtie-wearing singer/guitarist Jason Rivera (himself a gay atheist) resembles a friendly high school guidance counselor while drummer Nick Parks and bassist Tim Hoff look like intense metal dudes, only ups the aesthetic fun factor. Thank the nonexistent queer Lord for Gaythiest.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Itchy Kitty, Gaythiest, Blunt Skulls • Sat, Sept. 7 at 9 pm • $30 • 21+ • The District Bar • 916 W. First Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com

Most actors trying their hand in the musical realm attempt (and usually fail) to be singers. That logically tracks since it’s the star role in the band, but there’s something to be said about the humility of someone who’s a legit superstar and knows they need to be more of a character actor in the musical realm. That’s the case with the bassist for the alternative rock group Dogstar — a guy you might recognize from the big screen named Keanu Reeves. He and his pals Bret Domrose (guitar/vocals) and Robert Mailhouse (drums) started the group back in the early ’90s, but it’s hard to keep momentum with a movie star schedule. After over 20 years, the band got back together in 2023 and put out its third LP, Something Between the Power Lines and the Palm Trees. It should be said that Dogstar is actually a good rock band, so if you go to the show, please enjoy the music and don’t just yell Bill & Ted and The Matrix lines at the bass player. — SETH SOMMERFELD

Dogstar • Tue, Sept. 10 at 8 pm • $50-$300 • All ages • Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino • 14300 W. SR-2 Hwy., Airway Heights • spokanetribecasino.com

J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin ZOLA, Lucas Brown Singer-Songwriter Showcase

Monday, 9/9

EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night

Tuesday, 9/10

J SPOKANE COUNTY FAIR, Clay Walker, Eddie Montgomery

J J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Dogstar

SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays

ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam

Wednesday, 9/11

THE BIG DIPPER, Black Tusk, Somnuri, Horseburner

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Buffett’s Margaritaville

THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Kelly Hunt

J KENDALL YARDS, Rock the Nest: Betsy Rogue, Ron Greene, Wiebe Jammin’, Happyfeet

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Pentatonix

RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam

J SPOKANE COUNTY FAIR, Ian Munsick

J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents

Just Announced...

J THE PODIUM, That Mexican OT, Sep. 21.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Those Damn Kids: Beautiful//Chaos Albume Release Show, Oct. 4.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Earthworks, Oct. 5.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Mexican Coke, Oct. 7.

J SPOKANE ARENA, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Nov. 22. THE CHAMELEON, Desperate Electric, Dec. 13.

Coming Up...

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Michael Vallee, Sep. 12, 4:30 pm.

COEUR D’ALENE CASINO, Parmalee, Sep. 12, 7-10 pm.

J PANIDA THEATER, Ty Herndon, Jackson Roltgen, Sep. 12, 7 pm.

J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Wayne Worthen, Sep. 12, 7-10 pm.

J SPOKANE COUNTY FAIR, Flo Rida, Sep. 12, 7 pm.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Calling All Captain, Good Terms, Sep. 12, 7:30 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Mother Mother, Winnetka Bowling League, Sep. 12, 8 pm.

J DOWNTOWN SPOKANE, Volume Music Festival, Sep. 13 & 14.

J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Everything Always: Dom Dolla & John Summit, Sep. 13, 4 pm.

THE CULINARY STONE, BBQ & Bands: Brittany’s House, Sep. 13, 5-7 pm.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Walker Hayes, Sep. 13, 7:30 pm.

THE CHAMELEON, Sleeping Jesus, Uh Oh And The Oh Wells, Timeworm, Sep. 13, 8 pm.

SPOKANE TRIBE RESORT & CASINO, Live Band Karaoke, 8 pm.

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Sep. 14, 6:40 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Mike Ryan, Sep. 14, 9 pm.

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Christie Lenée, Sep. 15, 6 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Red Shahan, Sep. 17, 9 pm.

J KENDALL YARDS, Rock the Nest: Daniel Hall, Hannah Boundy, Gil Rivas, Katie Marabello, Sep. 18, 5-8:30 pm.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Father John Misty, Omar Velasco, Sep. 18, 8 pm.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Lindsay Lou, Maya De Virty, Sep. 19, 8 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Peekaboo, Tripp St., Sep. 19, 8 pm.

J J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Sturgill Simpson, Lord Huron, Sep. 20, 6 pm.

J J FIRST INTERSTATE CENTER, Experience Hendrix, Sep. 20.

J BING CROSBY THEATER, Prince Again: A Tribute to Prince, Sep. 20.

J HAMILTON STUDIO, Desafinado, Sep. 20.

THE DISTRICT BAR, FUEGO!, Sep. 20.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Tycho, Sep. 20.

J SPOKANE, Boomjam, Sep. 21.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Wynonna Judd, Sep. 21.

BING CROSBY THEATER, Paper Flowers: Remembering Fleetwood Mac, Sep. 21.

J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Pop Goes the ‘80s:

A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Naked Eyes, When in Rome, Sep. 21.

J THE PODIUM, That Mexican OT, DRODi, Hogg Booma, Sep. 21.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Ballroom Thieves, Sep. 21,. THE DISTRICT BAR, Sub-Radio, Doublecamp, Sep. 22.

J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Steve Miller Band, Sep. 23. THE CHAMELEON, Shadowlands, Sep. 23.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Glitterfox, Sep. 24.

J J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Glorious Sons, Sep. 24.

J BARRISTER WINERY, Jason Paul, Sep. 25.

THE CHAMELEON, Mamas Broke, Sep. 25.

J J KNITTING FACTORY, Ricky Montgomery, Ray Bull, Sep. 25.

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Sydney Dale Band, Sep. 26.

THE CHAMELEON, Derek Frank, Jason Perry Band, Sep. 26, 8 pm.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Midnight Tyrannosaurus, Sep. 26.

J THE CHAMELEON, Amelia Day, The Bed Heads, The Holy Broke, Sep. 27.

J PANIDA THEATER, Lucas Stricagnoli, Sep. 27.

THE DISTRICT BAR, Tyrone Wells, Sep. 27.

J GORGE AMPHITHEATER, Imagine Dragons, Sep. 28.

J KNITTING FACTORY, The Movement, KBong & Johnny Cosmic, Aurorawave, Sep. 28.

THE CHAMELEON, JUL!ET, Surname, Justin Harden, Sep. 28.

ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Common Ground, Sep. 29.

J THE BIG DIPPER, Oceano, To The Grave, VCTMS, Half Me, Sep. 29.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Movement, Turnover, Sep. 29.

J J THE FOX THEATER, Indigo Girls, Sep. 29. BING CROSBY THEATER, Rodrigo & Gabriela, Sep. 29.

J KNITTING FACTORY, Prof, Grip, Norman Sann, Willie Wonka, Sep. 30.

MUSIC | VENUES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CHAMELEON • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPOKANE ARENA • 720 W. Mallon Ave. • 509-279-7000

SPOKANE TRIBE RESORT & CASINO • 14300 US-2, Airway Heights • 877-786-9467

SOUTH PERRY LANTERN • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-473-9098

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S SHIPFACED SALOON • 12303 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-862-4852

TRANCHE • 705 Berney Dr., Wall Walla • 509-526-3500

ZOLA • 22 W. Main Ave. • 509-624-2416

THEATER BEING ALIVE

When Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company debuted in 1970, its frank conversations about modern love, marriage and divorce — told via a series of vignettes revolving around a bachelor’s 35th birthday party and his friends wanting him to find a mate — sent a jolt through the musical theater world. Since the show wouldn’t hold up perfectly in its original form over a half-century later, Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott made some modernizing revisions — including swapping the lead to be a woman — for a 2018 revival in London and later on Broadway. This new Sondheimapproved version proved to be a revitalizing critical smash, taking home five Tonys including Best Revival of a Musical. Turns out, if there’s one thing that’s timeless, it’s the complications of finding love.

— SETH SOMMERFELD

Company • Sept. 11-15, Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm; also Sat at 2 pm, Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm • $54-$109 • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • broadwayspokane.com

COMMUNITY FAIR ENOUGH

Few things are certain in life. Death, taxes and the annual county fair. Ten full days of carnival rides, food, live music, livestock showings and much more await Spokanites starting this week. From hypnotist shows to sheepdog herding, the fair’s schedule is chock full of activities enjoyable for the whole family. Music lovers can get their fill by buying tickets to see Clay Walker, Ian Munsick and Flo Rida perform. Head over to the fairgrounds to experience the quintessential offerings like mutton bustin’, demolition derbies and all the fried food your heart could possibly desire!

— CASSANDRA BENSON

Spokane County Interstate Fair • Sept. 6-15, open from 8 am10:30 pm daily • $9-$12 • All ages • Spokane County Fair & Expo Center • 404 N. Havana St. • thespokanefair.com

THEATER SPIRITED ARRIVAL

Do you feel that chill in the air? Some might say it’s a sign of the inevitable end of the summer, but I think there’s something ghastly about it. As Long Island medium Theresa Caputo prepares to take the stage in Spokane, the ghosts of the Inland Northwest are gathering to finally talk to someone. (It’s their equivalent of getting a representative on the phone after parsing through automated responses for an hour). Caputo has been one of the most recognizable mediums in pop culture (aside from Patricia Arquette in Medium) for more than a decade. Now, for the first time in her career, she’s raising spirits across the country as she uses her gift to share messages of comfort and healing to live audiences of those who have lost a loved one. The only thing raised higher than the region’s spirits, is Caputo’s gravity-defying hairdo.

— COLTON RASANEN

Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience • Sun, Sept. 8 at 3 pm • Fox Theater • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • foxtheaterspokane.org

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.

COMEDY ROAD RAGE

The life of a traveling entertainer can be pretty strange — constantly on the road touring cities and venues, but also touring an endless onslaught of hotel rooms, fast food, weird bars and weirder crewmembers. Fortunately for audiences, the life of an entertainer can be rather, well, entertaining. So make sure to plan a pit stop at the District Bar for the Comedy Road Story Slam, where veteran comedians compare notes on the weirdest, wildest, wackiest experiences on the road. Nick Theisen, Susan Rice, Art Krug, Vince Valenzuela and Rod Long (pictured above) have decades of touring experience between them. Listen as they try to one up each other with the strangest story, but be prepared — they’re not gonna pump the brakes. If you’re looking for a reason to be thankful you’ve got a boring 9-5, this might just be your night.

— ELIZA BILLINGHAM

Comedy Road Story Slam • Thu, Sept. 12 at 7:30 pm • $15-$20 • 21+ • The District Bar • 916 W. First Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com • 509-244-3279

MUSIC DO A DUET

You know what they say: Two is better than one. That sentiment will be proved correct this Thursday as Eckart Preu, former music director of the Spokane Symphony, and Dawn Wolski, former artistic director of Inland Northwest Opera, take the stage at Hamilton Studio’s Listening Room, a new venue for all sorts of live music. Preu and Wolski’s annual duet recital boasts selections by R. Schumann, Schubert, Wolf, Hahn, Faure and Argento. The dynamic duo only perform together once a year, so bear witness to this sonic rarity taking place in a brand-new local venue while you can. And don’t miss out on their friendly banter — all the best musicians can turn into comedians in a pinch.

— MADISON PEARSON

Dawn Wolski and Eckart Preu • Thu, Sept. 5 at 7:30 pm • $25-$40 • All ages • Hamilton Studio • 1427 W. Dean Ave. • hamilton.live

HAYDEN

I SAW YOU

RE: I SEE YOU NOW Do you? When you love someone, you make amends in real life. You say sorry, you listen and validate their feelings, you avoid justifying or making excuses or blaming, and you ask how you can make it right. You make it right to show that you truly feel regret for the pain you caused, show that you’re not saying empty words, show respect, care, compassion for their experience. Weak whispers into the ether of the internet only serve you.

WHO WAS THAT GUY? “WHO WAS THAT GUY?” I heard someone say, “I’ve never seen anyone play guitar like that.” As I walked out of The Great Outdoor Comedy Festival on Sunday night. That was Nathan Chartrey and I saw you! The very first local talent to play at the One Stadium and YOU ROCKED THE HOUSE! A local paper wrote a piece on the festival but missed the boat by missing this local talent! I still love you though. Look him up: Nathan Chartrey and “Follow Your Love.”

ICE MAN MAKES ME HOT I see you filling them boxes around town. Bringing out my daddy issues

CHEERS

HOW TO SOLVE THE SOUTHERN BORDER PROBLEM…. Solve two problems at once. The prophecy of the eagle and the condor from the time of Christopher Columbus over 500 years ago is the answer. Mesoamerica is Greek for “Middle America,” which is now known as “Central America.” These pre-

Columbia civilizations were the Aztecs and the Maya. The center of cultural life were the many flat pyramids they built which are now overrun and obscured by the jungle. Using ground penetrating radar from a drone, we can look under the canopy to find their location. These flat-top pyramids have many levels that can be used like an office building, giving jobs to thousands. The hightech companies like Apple and Microsoft can do research and development for advanced chips for future quantum computing and not have to depend on Taiwan, since it is the world’s leader in the semiconductor industry.

INTEGRITY AND HONESTY IS STILL ALIVE

A special thank you to Ben at Power City Electric for showing me that companies do care. Your word and your quick response to me was very refreshing and helped me still see that there are quality companies out there that still value their word and stand behind it. THANKS BEN..........Jon

WHO NEEDS LEASHES? Cheers to you for having a perfect dog who doesn’t need a leash in Corbin Park because they’re just a perfectly trained little buddy. I get it, I love my dogs. I would probably cross a busy street just to pet your dog, too. That said, and what I know about my dogs who are on leash is that they are not perfect, they do get excited, and they will default to protect me from dogs they don’t know who run up on me or them quickly. You want to have your dog off leash? Go to a dog park where there aren’t signs that clearly state that all animals must be on leash. Be a better neighbor to your fellow dog owners and recognize that one bite from either could be a catastrophic loss to us both.

RE: TRAFFIC Hooray for our city’s public transportation! Buses and para transport vans that, incidentally, are not free for disabled persons. What would be a 10-minute trip to pick up an item for a person with a car becomes an hours long journey for the disabled /carless. Aside from pre-scheduling, van riders must wait upwards of 40 minutes from their scheduled pickup time at home and again at their destination. If they are not waiting and watching (blind persons may need extra help), the van will leave after 5 minutes or less. Long delays are common. As for the bus... never having had a cold, the flu (or COVID) in over 4 decades since the one time I rode the bus, I say: Public Transportation Great! Public pathogens - no thank you!

DREAMIN’ WILD Thanks to the organizers of a fun and meaningful event: bracelets; Q&A with

Donnie, his wife Nancy, their adult children, and another musician; trivia quiz about the story and movie; and the 2022 film with its depth of feeling and local settings shown under the stars in the Riverfront Park Pavilion. Mega-thanks for a wonderful evening and to the Emersons for sharing their story!

“

traffic flow due to the Market Street closure. Because you’ve closed it, you’ve got too much traffic for Mission to hold. During the evening commute, it takes an hour to drive a few miles and even more when a train closes everything down. How is this legal? I see frustrated drivers cutting down side

whispers into the ether of the internet only serve you. ”

JEERS

WHY BOTHER To the &*%HOLE that went to the Northside Recycling last Sunday and contaminated an entire load of newspaper with your paint and oil. Hundreds of people who care about leaving the planet better spent their time correctly recycling their newspaper and you come along. 50 feet away they would have taken your paint and oil and correctly disposed of it. By opening the containers and tossing them on the newspapers you contaminated the entire bin. Were you in a hurry, or are you always a jerk?

CITY LINE Your times on your electronic boards at the stops and in the bus are always wrong and inconsistent! They glitch out and go black all time. You guys are great but it sucks missing buses all time time because you guys have shitty software or something!

JEERS TO THE TALIBAN On August 14th, the Taliban celebrated the 3-year anniversary of the horrifically executed withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and our current administration that gifted the $7.2B worth of military equipment for the parades. Sitting in the review stands were emissaries from Iran, China and Russia. While the current administration lauds their support of women’s and immigrant rights, they had little issue condemning 14.2M Afghan women to obscurity—no education, no voice, no rights, no hope—and those men and women that worked with the U.S. to death. The effort to get the latter safely out of the country has been solely due to individual efforts, frustrated at every turn by the U.S. government, while our administration’s efforts can be summed up by, “Ain’t nothing to see here folks!”

MARKET STREET ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Jeers to the poor planning when it comes to

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

streets that are dead ends. I see people crossing barriers illegally to do the same. What about emergency vehicles getting to those homes or businesses when traffic is backed up from Division all the way up Mission and Trent? This is just ridiculous. Instead of closing all of northbound traffic for two weeks, why don’t you just close it after 7:00 pm? In other states, when traffic flow is going to be restricted so that dangerous conditions arise, they work at night. Not in Spokane. How truly dumb! Certainly, someone must be smart enough to figure out how to improve the road while not shutting it down for 24 hours a day.

RE: CHOOSE You very proudly proclaim, “It IS your choice. Pregnancy is 100% preventable! It is! If you don’t want a pregnancy, don’t...get...pregnant” while standing on your moral high ground. It makes me cringe. First, I should say that I am very glad you are allowed the privilege to be this delusional. Second, I hope you never encounter the events that would rip apart this delusion. What you are failing to calculate is all the pregnancies that are the result of rape. If you don’t recall, rape is violently forced on others and not a choice.

ENOUGH! “The Grifter General Bone Spurs using Arlington National Cemetery as the backdrop for a photo shoot is an insult to the 400,000 buried there. He disrespects Senator John McCain’s service. He calls our dead and wounded suckers and losers. Please read the Congressional Medal of Honor Citation for Sergeant Major Thomas Payne and then compare it to the award he gave to a billionaire for giving him money. We know what he thinks about those who serve. ENOUGH. In my time in the Marine Corps I was present at many funerals. What still haunts me is the memory of young children crying.”

RE: RE: TRAFFIC Your tired arguments and straw men about “Grandmas not getting to the grocery store” have been solved around the world in car lite or free societies. No, the U.S. is not Europe, but great cultures and nations stay great by incorporating novel and forward-thinking ideas from other places, not by assuming that they’re always right. Europe learned that every traffic and city study not funded by automakers or oil companies clearly shows that car-only communities are an abject failure. They’re building new ideas and approaches to ways other than “let’s add more cars” that solve everybody’s needs, including those of our grandmothers. Let’s take those ideas of smaller roads, more bike routes, people-oriented communities, community centers, modern railed transit and high frequency transit. Let’s incorporate them for our needs. If we’re truly a great culture and nation we shouldn’t espouse fear of these already in-use ideas.

SANE CITY COUNCIL? Last time I looked Spokane was $50 million in debt. How can a sane council and mayor propose to spend $9 million more on worthless low income housing. The council and mayor are grossly irresponsible. I don’t think they manage their personal finances in this manner. And if they do, it hammer’s home the gross incompetence previously mentioned. Pay off your damn debt!! Time to think recall. Or torches and pitchforks.

RE: CHOOSE What planet are you from? Certainly not the Earth where women and children are daily assaulted and raped! You don’t mind carrying and caring for your father’s or brother’s incestuous child? A 100 lb little girl should just say “no” to the 250+ lb man raping her? It’s her choice! Feedback from this will surely flood the inbox! I can’t believe you published this ignorance, Inlander. Perhaps to show intelligent people what we’re up against - 100 percent stupidity! AND from a woman! n

BENEFIT

NURTURE OUR NATURE FUNDRAISER AND AUCTION A fundraiser for Campfire Inland Northwest featuring live music, auctions, a dessert dash and more. Proceeds go toward camp scholarships and camp upgrades. Sep. 7, 4-7 pm. $75. Camp Dart-Lo, 14000 N. Dartford Dr. campfireinc.org (509-747-6191)

CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF CURE

The Shriners Children’s Spokane 100th Anniversary Gala features a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment and more. Sep. 7, 6-10 pm. $175. Historic Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. shrinerschildrens.org (800-899-1482)

GAME DAY A fundraiser for the Riverside State Park Foundation featuring various runs and hikes, a bean bag toss and other games at stations. Sep. 7, 9 am-1 pm. $25. Seven Mile Airstrip, Riverside State Park, 7904 W Missoula St. riversidestateparkfoundation.org

FRIENDS OF THE DEER PARK LIBRARY

WAREHOUSE BOOK SALE Gently-used books of all genres plus movies, music, puzzles and games. Proceeds support the library and community. Sept. 16. from 9 am-4 pm. Reilly Family Storage, 2405 E. Crawford St. scld.org

DINNER ON THE FARM Chefs Courtney Wright, Joseph Bonavita, Chad White, Joseph Morris and pastry Chef Ashlee Santiago create a five-course meal benefitting the Women & Children’s Free Restaurant. Ages 21+. Sep. 13, 6-9 pm. $245. Owens Farms, 11010 S. Sharon Road. wcfrspokane.org

SEQUINS AND VELVET A gala benefitting Mujeres in Action’s mission to advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The night features live music, auctions and dancing. Sep. 13, 6-9 pm. $150-$175. Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, 14300 W. SR Highway 2. miaspokane.org

ALSSO AUCTION FUNDRAISER A fundraiser for local families battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrigs disease). Socialize, bid on numerous silent auction items, enjoy food trucks, live music and brews on tap. Sep. 14, 2-7 pm. Free. Big Barn Brewing Co., 16004 N. Applewood Ln. alsso.org/ fundraising (509-467-8761)

JULIE MORRIS MEMORIAL BENEFIT

BRUNCH This brunch celebrates the life of Julie Morris as well as the 25th anniversary of Spokane Area Jewish Family Services. The event honors Leslie Huppin and Sue Windham and feature a performance by Heather Villa. Sep. 15, 10-11:30 am. $80. Gonzaga Cataldo Hall, Addison and Sharp. sajfs.org

SPALDING AUTO PARTS CAR SHOW

A car show with raffles supporting the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Sep. 15, 2-6 pm. Free. Spalding Auto Parts, 10708 E. Knox Ave. spaldings.com

COMEDY

DANE COOK Cook is known for his stand-up specials, stage presence and observational humor. Sep. 5, 7 pm. $45$245. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY JOKE JOKE JOKE A comedy experience that combines stand-up, live sketches and other mixed-media comedic bits with a rotating lineup of comedians. This month features Jeremiah Coughlan, Michael Markus and Anthony Singleton. Hosted

by Josiah Carlson. Sep. 5, 7:30-9 pm. $15. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org

JASON MEWES Mewes is known for playing Jay, one half of the duo Jay and Silent Bob in Kevin Smith’s films. Sep. 5, 7 pm, Sep. 6-7, 7 & 9:45 pm. $28-$35. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

NATE JACKSON Jackson is known for his high-energy performances, crowdwork and role as The Junk Yard Dog on NBC’s The Young Rock. Sep. 5, 7-9 pm. $57-$244. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com

ROB SCHNEIDER Schneider is bestknown for his tenure on Saturday Night Live and appearances in multiple modern comedies such as Grown Ups, Big Daddy and The Waterboy. Sep. 7, 8 pm. $99-$140. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

SAFARI The Blue Door Theatre’s version of Whose Line where players improv short comedy skits from audience suggestions. Saturday at 7:30 pm through Dec. 28. $9. Lumberbeard Brewing, 25 E. Third Ave. bluedoortheatre.com (509-747-7045)

OPEN MIC MONDAY Hosted by local comedian Anthony Singleton, this open mic welcomes artists and entertainers of all genres. Open to all ages. Every second and fourth Monday from 7-9 pm. Free. Lyyv Entertainment, 8712 E. Sprague Ave. lyyv.tv

NEW TALENT TUESDAYS Watch comedians of all skill levels work out jokes together. Tuesdays at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm). Free. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com/

IMPROV An all-ages improv session hosted by John Connelly. Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm. Free. Pend Oreille Playhouse, 236 S. Union Ave. , Newport. pendoreilleplayers.com

COMEDY ROAD STORY SLAM Comedians Nick Theisen, Susan Rice, Art Krug, Vince Valenzuela and Rod Long dish the dirt on the good the bad and the ugly of life on the comedy road. Sep. 12, 7:309:30 pm. $15-$20. The District Bar, 916 W. First Ave. sp.knittingfactory.com

DALE JONES Jones was a semi-finalst on the sixth season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Sep. 12, 7 pm. $20-$28. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

THEO VON Von is a comedian, podcaster and internet personality best known for hosting the This Past Weekend podcast. Sep. 12, 7:30-9:30 pm. $35-$129. Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. spokanearena.com (509-279-7000)

COMMUNITY

2024 FALL GRAD OPEN HOUSE Prospective graduate students, applicants and admitted students are invited to learn more about Gonzaga graduate program offerings, as well as campus resources for graduate students. Sep. 5, 4-6:30 pm. Free. Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave. gonzaga.edu

DRIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1970S CARS Learn about the changes in the world that heralded a new era of auto making in the U.S. through automobiles of the 1970s. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm. . $8-$12. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ‘74 FIFTY YEARS LATER This 50th anniversary

exhibition revisits the historical roots of Expo ’74’s legacy. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

MINECRAFT CLUB Drop in and explore architecture, engineering and art through Minecraft. Participants are given a building prompt related to one or more of these fields. Grades 3-8. Every Thursday from 4-6 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. sparkcentral.org (509-279-0299)

MOORE-TURNER HERITAGE GARDENS SELF-GUIDED TOURS A guided tour of the gardens, restored in 2007 to look as they did when in use in 1915. Learn about the discovery, the restoration and the two influential families of early Spokane who enjoyed them. TueSun from 9 am-3 pm through Sep. 21. Free. Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens, 507 W. Seventh. heritage-gardens.org

SMALL BUSINESS BINGO Pick up a bingo card at a participating business, get stamps and redeem bingos to win a prize. Sept. 1-30, daily. Free. Page 42 Bookstore, 2174 N. Hamilton St. page42bookstore.com (509-202-2551)

ART CLUB EXTRAVAGANZA Youth and families are invited to create together and explore the world of art with activities ranging from cave paintings to collages and beyond. Sep. 6, 4-6 pm. Free. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. spark-central.org

BEAR TOTEM TABLETOP DROP-INS Play various tabletop role-playing games. Fridays from 6-10 pm through Sep. 27. $5. Bear Totem, 5016 N. Market St. instagram.com/beartotemspokane

SCENIC CHAIRLIFT RIDES Ride a chairlift to see views of the Bitterroot mountains, pick huckleberries and more. FriSun from 10 am-3:30 pm through Sep. 29. $12-$16. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, I-90 Exit 0. skilookout.com

SPOKANE COUNTY INTERSTATE FAIR

A traditional fair with carnival rides, agriculture and animals, and concerts throughout the week. See website for schedule. Sep. 6-15. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. thespokanefair.com

ART DROP DAY Riverfront invites the community to drop their art in the park for someone to find and keep. Art Drop slips with instructions will be available at the Skate Ribbon & SkyRide and Visit Spokane Info Center. Sep. 7, 11 am-7 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

BEGINNING HAND SEWING BYO piece of clothing and patch or use provided materials to practice sewing. The library provides needles and thread. Training is provided by Creativebug, an online resource in our Digital Library. Ages 10–14. Registration required. Sep. 7, 2-4 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org

BOOKS & BREWS BOOK FAIR Relive the book fair experience while sipping a beer and browsing a selection of books from Auntie’s. Sep. 7, 11 am-5 pm. Free. Brick West Brewing Co., 1318 W. First Ave. auntiesbooks.com

CHICAGO TO SEATTLE: WORLD’S FAIRS AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

Celebrate Expo’s 50th during this special guided tour of Campbell House. Learn about the experiences at World’s Fairs at the turn of the 20th century. Sep. 7, 11 am. $8-$10. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

GET IN THE WAY

• Get past stage fright & performance anxiety.

• Learn about vocal fatigue & the risks of ignoring it.

• Regain your voice after illness or surgery.

• Learn what foods & habits are unhealthy for vocal wellness.

SPEAKERS: Scarlett Hepworth, voice coach & actress; Lynette Norton, speech-languagepathologist

SPOKANE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATES PRESENTS A WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE ISSUES THAT AFFECT SPEAKING & SINGING $40 FEE SCAN QR CODE TO REGISTER or pay at the door.

Beverages served during the workshop. Free parking & handicapped access info@spokanesymphonyassoc.org Saturday, October 5 • 10AM - 1:30PM St. Aloysius Church, O’Malley Hall 330 E. Boone, Spokane

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION WEEK-

ENDS For each general admission sold, $4 is donated to help local food banks. For each youth/senior ticket sold, $1 will is donated. Sept. 7-22, Sat-Sun. $27-$44. Silverwood Theme Park, 27843 U.S. 95. silverwoodthemepark.com

DROP IN & RPG Stop by and explore the world of role playing games. Build a shared narrative using cooperative problem solving, exploration, imagination and rich social interaction. All ages. First and third Saturdays of the month from 1-3:45 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

GRANDPARENT’S WEEKEND For each grandchild who purchases a ticket to Silverwood, get one free ticket for grandpa or grandma. Sep. 7 and 8. Silverwood Theme Park, 27843 U.S. 95. silverwoodthemepark.com

HOT ROD BLUES An annual classic and muscle car show with live music and a beer garden on Cannon Street in Brownes Addition. Sep. 7, 12-5 pm. Free. facebook.com/blackcannonevents

SUMMER DANCE MARKET This market takes attendees on a world tour through different dances. Watch and learn dances from expert. Enjoy a variety of foods, crafts and local vendors. Sat from 5-9 pm through Sep. 28. Free. Downtown Spokane. downtownspokane.org

TELEPORT BLOCK PARTY The road outside of Teleport Vintage + Co. is closed and filled with vendors selling vintage items, art, plants, records and more. The event also features food, live music, a photo booth and live tattoos. Sep. 7, 11 am-6 pm. Free. Teleport Vintage + Co., 917 W. Broadway. teleportvintage.com

CDA FLEA MARKET A market with over 45 vendors including vintage and antiques, local handmade goods and artisan food. Second Sundays from 10 am-3 pm through October 13. Roosevelt Inn, 105 E. Wallace, CdA. cdaflea.com

HOWLING AT HAMILTON On the last day of the season, local dogs can enjoy the pools. Proceeds benefit Humane Society of the Palouse. Sep. 8, 1-2 pm. $15/dog. Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, 830 N. Mountain View Road. humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

INDIAN KITE MAKING Create and decorate kites with professional Bharatanatyam dancer and Natanam Dance School owner Devika Gates. Sep. 8, 1-2 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390)

ROCK THE DISABILITY VOTE Join SelfAdvocates from The Arc of Spokane and

AtWork! to learn about the disability vote, legislation that affects you and have the opportunity to register to vote. Sep. 9, 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. Hillyard Library, 4110 N. Cook St. spokanelibrary.org

TRANSFORM YOUR TROUBLES Buddhist nuns from Sravasti Abbey offer a series of talks aimed to bring peace of mind through meditation and other techniques. Sept. 9-30, Mon from 6:30-8 pm. Free. Create Arts Center, 900 Fourth St. sravastiabbey.org (509-447-9277)

BEAR TOTEM WEEKLY BOARD GAME

NIGHT Free board game library access with games like Catan, Dominion, Dune Imperium, Betrayal at the House on the Hill, Azul, Splendor, Villainous and many more. Tuesdays from 6-10 pm through Sep. 24. Free. Bear Totem, 5016 N. Market St. instagram.com/beartotemspokane

DROP IN & ZINE Drop in and learn how to make your very own eight-page minizine using a single piece of paper and Spark’s art supplies. Every Tuesday from 5-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org

MOON CRUNCH: A TASTY LUNAR ADVENTURE Learn about the Earth’s moon and make an edible model of it. Sep. 10, 4-5 pm. Free. Hillyard Library, 4110 N. Cook St. spokanelibrary.org (444-5331)

COFFEE & CONVERSATION This event aims to help people feel seen and heard within the community. The conversation is free form and the event includes lowkey activities like coloring, puzzles and more. Every Wednesday from 10:30 amnoon. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5336)

FRANK E. EVANS ASSOCIATION RE-

UNION A reunion of the men who served aboard the USS Frank E. Evans during WWll, including those who were lost on June 3, 1969. Sep. 11-14, times vary. $42. Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. ussfee.org (509-924-9000)

MAKING PRESSED MEADOW FLOWERS

Press flowers from the library’s meadow using premade flower presses, laserprinted on the Glowforge. Sep. 11, 5:306:30 pm. Free. Spokane Valley Library, 22 N. Herald Rd. scld.org

ILLUMINATIONS: FLORA & FAUNA

Drop-in to see an exhibit of rare and precious items from the Spokane Public Library archives under the theme of “flora and fauna.” Sep. 12, 11 am-noon. Free. Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5336)

SPOKANE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL DINNER A dinner for networking and advocating for all Spokane busi-

nesses large and small. Sep. 12, 5-7:30 pm. $150. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. spokanebusinessassociation.com (509-343-9076)

FRIDAY THE 13TH TATTOOS Friday the 13th-themed flash tattoo and piercing specials. Sep. 13, 12-9 pm. $40-$50. Heartbreaker Tattoo & Artist Co-op, 830 W. Sprague. heartbreakerspokane.com

21ST ANNUAL SPOKANE RIVER CLEANUP A large group clean-up at High Bridge Park. Volunteers and Lands Council staff remove garbage from the Spokane River. Also at various locations in Spokane Valley; see website for details. Sep. 14, 10 am-1 pm. High Bridge Park, Riverside Ave. and A St. landscouncil.org

FILM

EXPO ’74: FILMS FROM THE VAULT A selection of recently digitized film footage from the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 8. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)

GARLAND FREE KIDS MOVIES Screenings of free kids movies every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 11 am. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org

CINEMA CLASSICS: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Conservative young lawyer Paul Bratter marries the vivacious Corie Banks. Their highly passionate relationship descends into discord when they rent their first apartment, a rundown five-flight NYC walk-up with eccentric neighbors. Sep. 6, 2-4 pm. $6. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

JURASSIC PARK Paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs. Sep. 6, 7 pm. $5. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. panida.org (208-263-9191)

AFI CONSERVATORY SHORT FILM

SCREENING A screening of A Faded Yellow and Martha, Martha, two short films made at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles. Sep. 7, 3 pm. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127)

GARLAND FREE SUMMER MOVIES Free movies at the Garland Theater every Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org

CINEMA UNDER THE STARS OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone outdoors. Sep. 8,

8-10 pm. Free. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second. cdaresort.com/cinemaunder-the-stars (208-765-4000)

MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: GODZILLA X KING KONG A screening under the Pavilion in Riverfront Park. Bring your own seats, snacks and beverages. Sep. 8, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com

K-PUNK A screening of the 2015 documentary Us & Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World. After a short intermission, be treated to the fun and speedy punk energy of Seoul’s own God of Universe. Sep. 10, 7-9 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. uidaho.edu

SILENT FILM FESTIVAL: THE UNKNOWN Carnival performer Alonzo The Armless Wonder throws knives with his feet in a daring act featuring the alluring Nanon Zanzi. Sep. 11, 7-9 pm. $15. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org

FOOD & DRINK

BRING YOUR OWN VINYL NIGHT Bring your own vinyl to spin while sipping on craft cocktails and listening to music. Thursdays from 3-10 pm. The Boneyard - Side Hustle Syrups, 17905 E. Appleway Ave. sidehustlesyrups.com

BBQ & BANDS Live music by The Buckley Storms. Dinner is bratwurst. Sep. 6, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com

CAMP MOCKTAIL An alcohol-free, campout-themed event hosted by Diversion Events featuring games, snacks, activities, photo opportunities and music by DJ Davey Dave. Sep. 7, 8-11 pm. $30. Coeur d’Alene Chamber Visitors Center, 105 N. First St. facebook.com/diversioneventspnw (208-664-3194)

NORTH IDAHO WINE SOCIETY SEPTEMBER SEASON KICKOFF PARTY Learn about the society while sampling wines and meeting current members. Sep. 7, 2-5 pm. $30. Lake City Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Dr. northidahowinesociety.org

CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL WINES SMALL PLATES TASTING A wine pro presents two wine samples with three small plate offerings from Manito County Club’s chefs. Sep. 10, 6-8 pm. $95. Manito Country Club, 5303 S. Hatch Rd. vinowine.com

CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL WINE EDUCATION CLASS Hear stories behind the creation of each wine, with a question-

and-answer opportunity to learn about current releases. Reservationsare required. Sep. 11, 6-8 pm. $25. Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington. vinowine.com

BBQ & BANDS Live music by Brittany’s House. Dinner is brisket. Sep. 13, 5-7 pm. $30. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com

MUSIC

DAWN WOLSKI & ECKART PREU: THEY’RE BACK A program of selections by R. Schumann, Schubert, Wolf, Hahn, Faure and Argento, with Eckart accompanying Dawn on a grand piano. Sep. 5, 7:30-8:45 pm. $25-$40. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave. hamilton.live

JAN HARRISON & BARRY AIKEN Jan Harrison, vocalist, and Barry Aiken, keyboardist, perform standard jazz and contemporary music. Sep. 6, 6-9 pm. Free. Studio 107, 503 Sherman Ave. studio107cda.com (208-664-1201)

AWADAGIN PRATT: PIANISSIMO! Grammy-award winning artists Awadagin Pratt (piano) and Zuill Bailey (cello) present a program that includes works by Arlo Part, Franz Schubert, Olivier Messiaen and Fran Liszt. Sep. 7, 7-9 pm. $10$40. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. nwbachfest.com (509 326-4942)

AWADAGIN PRATT & ZUILL BAILEY Grammy-award winning artists Awadagin Pratt and Zuill Bailey, cello, perform music by J. S. Bach, Franz Schubert, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and more. Sep. 8, 3-5 pm. $10-$45. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. nwbachfest.com

JACK PURDIE Purdie plays jazz, blues and ambient music on the piano. Sep. 10, 5-7 pm. Free. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com (877-452-9011)

PETER LUCHT Lucht plays music on the grand piano. Sep. 11, 5-7 pm. Free. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine. com (877-452-9011)

THE LOWEDOWN Spokane Symphony Music Director James Lowe gives an indepth preview of the next Masterworks, complete with visuals, insight from a musician and a Q&A. Get to know the composers and understand the historic and modern relevance of the compositions. Sep. 12, 12-1 pm. Free. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org

THAT’S LIFE: A NIGHT OF FRANK SINATRA Local musician Shawn Stratte and his band pay tribute to Frank Sinatra. Sep. 13, 7:30-9:30 pm. $33. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague. bingcrosbytheater.com (509-227-7404)

EVENTS | CALENDAR

SPOKANE SYMPHONY MASTERWORKS

1: THE TURNING WORLD The Symphony, along with Awadagin Pratt, perform Max Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and more. Sep. 14, 7:30 pm and Sep. 15, 3 pm. The Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. spokanesymphony.org (509-624-1200)

COUNTRY NIGHTS Live music and line dancing. Every Thursday at 7:30 pm. Free. Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, 14300 W. SR Highway 2. spokanetribecasino.com (1-877-786-9467)

STORME Laid-back beats every other Thursday from 9 pm-2:15 am. Free. Red Room Lounge, 521 W. Sprague Ave. (509-838-7613)

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

GARDENING FOR POLLINATORS Bring native pollinators to your yard and learn easy stewardship strategies you can implement immediately. Sep. 5, 6-7 pm. Free. Spokane Valley Library, 22 N. Herald Rd. scld.org (509-893-8400)

OPEN PLAY PICKLEBALL Play pickleball at the HUB. Every week, Mon-Thu from 10 am-noon or 1-3 pm. $5.50-$7. HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave. hubsportscenter.org (509-927-0602)

BEGINNER FRIENDLY HOUSEPLANTS

Learn about easy-care houseplants. Sep. 7, 2-3 pm. $10. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com

WSU SPOKANE COUNTY MASTER

GARDENERS PLANT CLINIC Get advice about plant selection, maintenance, environmentally friendly practices, pest management, effective landscaping practices and more. Sat from 11 am-3 pm through Sep. 28. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org

RIVERFRONT MOVES: POWER BEATS A class led by Eclipse Power Yoga featuring invigorating playlists designed to uplift and generate energy. Sep. 7, 10-11 am. Free. Spokane Tribal Gathering Place, 347 N Post St. riverfrontspokane.com

SPOKANE VELOCITY VS. CENTRAL VALLEY FUEGO A League One cup competition. Sep. 7. $21-$41. ONE Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. spokanevelocityfc.com

BUILD A FALL CONTAINER Create a fallthemed container. Sep. 8, 1-2 pm and Sep. 15, 1-2 pm. $10. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com

HOUSEPLANT MASTERY SERIES Learn everything you need to know about houseplants including when to water and light needs (Sept. 8), all about soil and pots (Sept. 15), pest control (Sept. 22) and propagation (Sept. 29). Sun from 2-3 pm through Sep. 29. $10-$30. Ritters Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division St. 4ritter.com (509 467-5258)

LILAC CITY ROLLER DERBY BLACK AND WHITE SCRIMMAGE An event for new skaters to get comfortable with gameplay and for new officials to learn and practice officiating. Sep. 8. Free. Roller Valley Skate Center, 9415 E. Fourth Ave. lilaccityrollerderby.com (509-924-7655)

MT. SPOKANE TRAIL RUN A trail run with three scenic course options starting and finishing at Selkirk Lodge. Updated 25k and 10k courses for 2024. Sep. 8. $45-$95. Mt. Spokane State Park, 26107 N. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. nsplit.com

SPOKANE ZEPHYR VS. BROOKLYN FC Regular season game. Sep. 8, 6 pm.

$24-$44. ONE Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. uslspokane.com

A WALK THROUGH THE NIGHT GARDEN This talk focuses on how to create a night garden, including fragrant plants, white flowers, lighting and moon gardening. Presented by Steve Nokes, Spokane County Master Gardener Volunteer. Sep. 10, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org

CITIZEN SCIENCE Collect samples to view under the microscopes, or borrow supplies and a community log to look for the numerous species of birds that call the woods home. Sep. 11, 10 am-2 pm. Free. Pine Street Woods, 11915 W. Pine St., Sandpoint. ebonnerlibrary.org

SWANS & SNOW GEESE: WASHINGTON’S WHITE BIRDS OF WINTER Learn about swan and snow geese history, biology, distribution, lead poisoning problems, winter habitat issues, avian flu impacts and more. Sep. 11, 6-7 pm. Free. Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. spokanelibrary.org (509-444-5390)

GRIZZLY BEARS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES: RECONNECT, REPOPULATE, AND RECOVER Learn about the natural history and conservation biology of grizzly bears in North Idaho and Western Montana, including their habitat needs, threats to their recovery and conservation challenges. Sep. 12, 7-8:30 pm. Free. Sandpoint High School, 410 S. Division Ave. lposd.org (208-263-3034)

CASCADE CHAOS Wrestling matches, including a match between Big Nasty Logan and Jakari Frost in a no-holds-barred rematch. The event also features a triplethreat championship bout and a tag team open challenge that promises unexpected surprises. Sep. 14, 7-9:30 pm. $25. Riverside Place, 1108 W. Riverside Ave. rogueattractions.com (360-593-7761)

MARCH FOR THE FALLEN A walk/run honoring post-9/11 fallen military members. Also features a barbecue meal, beer garden, climbing wall and more. Sep. 14, 9 am-2 pm. $35. Seven Mile Airstrip, Riverside State Park, 7904 W Missoula St. marchforthefallen.com

SPOKANE VELOCITY VS. SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC Regular season game. Sep. 14, 6 pm. $21-$41. ONE Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. spokanevelocityfc.com

THEATER & DANCE

MORTAL TERROR The play explores the tumultuous political climate of London in 1605, specifically, the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to blow up the houses of parliament. Aug. 29-Sept. 15, locations vary see website for details. Free. spokaneshakespearesociety.org

FREE KIDS & TEENS DANCE DAY A day of Latin and hip-hop dance classes, games, prizes, raffles and free food. Open to dancers of all experience levels. Ages 7-15. Sep. 7, 10 am-4 pm. Free. SoulBarre Studio, 12019 E. Sprague Ave. soulbarrestudio.com (509-404-0554)

THERESA CAPUTO LIVE! THE EXPERIENCE The Long Island Medium delivers healing messages to audience members through loved ones that have passed on. Sep. 8, 3 pm. $50-$85. Fox Theater, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

CHOREOGRAPHED BALLROOM LESSONS Learn how to ballroom dance by learning verbal cues and steps associated with the sport. Sep. 9, 7-9 pm. Free.

Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Rd. SquareDanceSpokane.org

COMPANY A bachelorette contemplates her unmarried state. Throughout a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, her friends explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. Sept. 11-15; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat also at 2 pm, Sun at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. $54-$110. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. broadwayspokane.com

SPOKANE FOLKLORE SOCIETY CONTRADANCE Try out contra dancing in a welcoming environment with live music and callers. No experience necessary. Sep. 11, 7:15-9:30 pm. Free. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. womansclubspokane.org (509-838-2160)

CAMELOT King Arthur’s ideals are tested when his queen falls in love with the young Knight, Lancelot and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. Sept. 12-22; Thu-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1:30 pm. $30-$35. Regional Theatre of the Palouse, 122 N. Grand Ave. rtoptheatre.org (509-334-0750)

CAROUSEL In May 1873, a bustling carnival enlivens a small fishing village in New England.Charming but troubled Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan who works in the mill, fall in love, marry and have a relationship that leads to tragedy. Sept. 13Oct. 13; Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. (Sept. 14 and Oct. 12 performances at 2 pm.) $15-41. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. spokanecivictheatre.com

RUNWAY Spokane’s premier drag experience. Hosted by local queen Sativa St James. Every Sat from 8-10 pm. 8-10 pm. $5. Globe Bar & Kitchen, 204 N. Division. globespokane.com (509-443-4014)

VISUAL ARTS

THE GREAT NORTHWEST WOOD SHOW & SALE An open exhibition and retail event for both established and emerging wood artists. Thu-Sun from 10 am-6 pm through Sep. 29. Free. Dahmen Barn, 419 N. Park Way, Uniontown. artisanbarn.org

YOUR COLLECTION: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS EXHIBITION An exhibition examining the museum’s evolution through a carefully curated selection from the permanent collection. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through Dec. 13. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson Rd, Pullman. museum.wsu.edu

BE AN ART: DERIVATIVES OF SOM A group show tribute to the late Isamu Jordan curated by Rajah Bose, Thuy-Dzuong Nguyen, Justyn Priest and Caleb Jordan. Sept. 6-28, Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St. terrainspokane.com

LEELA FRANCIS & EMILY WENNER: EARTH MYSTERIES Paintings by Leela Francis and Emily Wenner embodying the healing power of trees and nature. Sept. 6-28, Wed-Sat from 11 am-5 pm. Free. New Moon Art Gallery, 1326 E. Sprague. manicmoonandmore.com

MESSAGES FROM THE LAMMERGEIER Paintings and mixed media works by artist Ellen Picken. Sept. 6-30, daily from 11 am-6 pm. Free. Entropy, 101 N. Stevens. explodingstars.com

FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane and beyond host monthly receptions to showcase new displays of art. Fri, Sept. 6 from 5-8 pm. Details at firstfridayspokane.org.

M E WILLEMSEN & PAULA LEWIS Avenue West showcases the art of M E Willemsen and Paula Lewis during the month of September. The event features live music, refreshments and more. Sep. 6, 3-7 pm and Sep. 14, 12-5 pm. Free. Avenue West Gallery, 907 W. Boone. avenuewestgallery.com

INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM IN AMERICA Seventeen international artists are featured in this showcase including Spokane artists Roch Fautch and Dara Debast, along with Portugese artist Santiago Ribeiro. Sept. 6-Oct. 10, Fri from 5-9 pm. Free. Shotgun Studios, 1625 W. Water Ave. shotgunstudiosspokane.com

LENORA J. LOPEZ SCHINDLER: SLIGHTER, SING, POUNCE, POP, PAUSE Each artwork is loosely structured around an environment within 50 miles from the artist’s backdoor. Sept. 6-28, Fri-Sat from 12-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

LITHO PRESS LAUNCH Celebrate the newest addition to the Spokane Print & Publishing Center: a lithography press. Kevin Haas offers a plate lithography demonstration and Bellwether Brewing Co. offers drinks. Sep. 6, 5-7:30 pm. Free. Spokane Print & Publishing Center, 1921 N. Ash St. spokaneprint.org

ARRANGED OBJECTS Works of Coeur d’Alene ceramic artist Maya Rumsey and Montana residents Laura Dirksen and Austin Coudriet. Sept. 6-27, Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams. tracksidestudio.net

STATIC MY SENSES MAKE This new mixed media collection from Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton contrasts imagery of mycorrhizal networks with urban constructivist scenes in response to the fractured relationship between humans and the natural world. Sept. 6-28, Fri-Sat from 12-8 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

RICK SINGER RETROSPECTIVE A collection of photographs by Rick Singer spanning his 43-year career. Sept. 6-Oct. 28, Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm. Free. Chase Gallery, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. spokanearts.org (509-321-9416)

SPOKANE WATERCOLOR SOCIETY SHOW Members display new works. Sept. 6-27, Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm. First Friday: Sept. 6 from 5-8 pm. Free. Spokane Art School, 503 E. Second Ave., Ste. B. spokaneartschool.net

CONVOLUTED AMBIGUITIES A collection of works by artist Tom Askman including drawings, paintings, videos and public art displays. Sept. 6-28, Thu-Sat from noon-6 pm. Free. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. mobile.kolva. comcastbiz.net (509-458-5517)

PLACES Abstract topographical art by Spokane-based artist Ben Joyce representing certain locales that have played major roles in Joyce’s life. Sept. 7-Jan. 4, Mon-Sat from 10 am-4 pm. Free. Jundt Art Museum, 200 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu/jundt

RUMINATION An exhibit featuring artists Mary Farrell, Sam Scott, Jacqui Masterson, Sara Taylor, Victoria Brace and Brittany Finch. Sept. 7-30, Wed-Sun from 11 am-6 pm. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. theartspiritgallery.com

ART BITES Explore art exhibits from talented local artists, eat dishes from a variety of food trucks, and enjoy music from Rosethrow throughout the day. Downtown Spokane, North Wall St. alley. Sep. 8, 2 pm. Free. spokanearts.org

MAKE YOUR OWN BEADED SHOES Learn how to create geometric designs and block patterns guided by Coeur d’Alene Tribal member artist Bobbie White in this 6-hour class. All materials provided. Ages 15+. Sep. 8, 1-6 pm. $150. Coeur d’Alene Casino, 37914 S. Nukwalqw. cdacasino.com (208-769-2464)

WORDS

PIVOT OPEN MIC: TESTED Participants are invited to tell a five minute story falling under the theme. Prize is awarded to best story. Sep. 5, 7-9 pm. By donation. Whistle Punk Brewing, 122 S. Monroe St. pivotspokane.com (509-315-4465)

3 MINUTE MIC Auntie’s first Friday poetry open mic. Readers may share up to three minutes’ worth of poetry. Open to all ages. Sep. 6, 7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206)

GONDOLAS & GARBAGE GOATS: BOOK RELEASE PARTY Throughout three workshops, participants explored the history of Spokane and what the city means to them. From the Pavilion to the Clock Tower, these stories, poems and works of art reflect and celebrate Spokane. Sep. 6, 7-8 pm. Free. Numerica Skate Ribbon, 720 W. Spokane Falls. spark-central.org BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD (509-847-1234)

K(Q)UEER-POP: QUEER (IN)VISIBILITY IN KOREAN POPULAR CULTURE Jungmin Kwon, an associate professor of digital culture and film studies at Portland State University, presents her recent research into how K-pop spaces encompass multiple configurations of gender and sexual identity. Sep. 11, 2:30-3:45 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building, 875 S. Line St. uidaho. edu/class/hias/asiapop (208-885-7110)

CHRIS BIEKER & ELENA HARTWELL TAYLOR: WHO DUNIT & WHY? The local mystery authors discuss their books and writing process. Sep. 12, 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. spokanelibrary.org

THE EVOLUTION OF K-DRAMA ROMANCES Ji-yoon An, an assistant professor of modern Korean popular culture at the University of British Columbia, speaks on the evolving nature of K-drama romances, with attention to how “classic” tropes are altering to suit the post-feminist generation. Sep. 12, 2-3:15 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building, 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/ hias/asiapop (208-885-7110)

EXPLORING HONESTY IN REPRESENTATION Justin Chon delivers the Habib Institute for Asian Studies AsiaPOP! keynote address, and considers how the Korean Wave, and the expansion of other Asian media in the West, impacts Asian Americans in the entertainment industry and representation more broadly. Sep. 12, 4-5:30 pm. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building, 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/hias/asiapop

AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: NEW FICTION Discuss I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman at the September meeting. Sep. 12, 6-7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206) n

POLITICS

Presidential Pot

Cannabis is the rare common ground between Harris and Trump

BY WILL MAUPIN

There are a lot of reasons to vote. Frankly, you shouldn’t make cannabis your No. 1 issue. You should vote regardless, but what if cannabis were your main reason to vote?

Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, so where do our presidential candidates stand when it comes to weed?

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s an issue where both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump can find common ground.

Both candidates have come out in support of legalization. Though, like many Americans, they weren’t always this way.

Prior to her time as vice president and as a senator, Harris was a district attorney in California. During her time as the state’s attorney general, Reuters reports that more than 2,000 people were incarcerated for cannabis-related crimes.

The Golden State was one of the first, after Washington, to legalize recreational cannabis (in 2016), but Harris was publicly opposed to such a policy as recently as 2010.

In the years since, like Americans in general, her attitude has shifted.

“Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed,” Harris said on X (formerly known as Twitter) in a post at 4:20 pm Eastern time, on April 20.

As vice president, Harris has helped oversee

the most progressive federal cannabis platform of modern times, even if it has fallen short of legalization.

Her opponent in this presidential race, Trump, has a similarly unsteady background when it comes to cannabis, but has also solidified his stance as a pro-legalization candidate in recent years.

However, Trump was president for four years and did not legalize cannabis during that time. Federal cannabis policy really did not advance in any meaningful way during his time in office.

He had an opportunity to make change, but didn’t. Though that’s not to say he will stand in the way should change come.

Over the weekend, Trump signaled his support for a Florida ballot measure that would legalize recreational cannabis in the state.

“Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the voters, so it should be done correctly,” Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social.

When it comes to cannabis policy at the federal level, hoping for change is a fool’s errand. But it is notable that both of these candidates have come out in support of cannabis legalization. Come November, there may not be a vote outright for cannabis, but there certainly won’t be a vote against it. n

This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

BE

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

NOTE TO READERS

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

Both major party presidential candidates support cannabis legalization. LESLIE DOUGLAS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

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In ___ (existing) 11. Contemptible

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