Poor guy! In true military form, he patiently and respectfully listened to my woes and offered to buy me a drink. He then retreated back to his fellow soldiers and I enjoyed my beer at the bar by myself. After another hour he came back and explained my problem. Suddenly, a familiar Top Gun song started to play and I was surrounded by a bunch of dudes in duds confirming that I had indeed lost that lovin’ feeling.

Call me old fashioned, but there is nothing quite as arousing as a room full of uniformed men belting out the reason for my heartache. God Bless America! If young folks in uniform are your style, check out some of Spokane’s sexy single soldiers. There are thousands more where these two came from, so salute your friends in uniform today and blow them a kiss from me.

Name: Will Worrall, pictured far right.
Position: Environmental Engineer
Division: 92d Civil Engineering Squadron at Fairchild AFB
Status: Sexy and single!

Name: Jordan Barber, pictured far left.
Rank: Second Lieutenant, Civil Engineer
Division: 92d Civil Engineering Squadron at Fairchild AFB
Status: Sexy and single!

Go on a personal recon mission this patriotic weekend, you just might find your next great love under those military greens. Take advantage of the romantic fireworks and see if you can get something more than just sulpher, charcoal and nitrate to burst into flames.

Outstanding examples of rooftop agriculture can be seen in cities like New York, Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The Eagle Street Farm in Greenpoint Brooklyn is possibly one of the best examples of rooftop gardening in the nation. This farm sits on top of an old warehouse covering 6,000 square feet. Kale, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, peas, and herbs all grown on the roof are delivered to residents and local restaurants through a community supported agriculture model.

What about the rooftop farm possibilities right here in Spokane? Our built environment boasts a variety of roofs and walls that could support urban farm operations. There are a few rooftop container gardens and the Main Market Co-op greenhouse, but there are yet to be any food growing endeavors that produce on a large enough scale to regularly supply residents and restaurants. Imagine an urban farm on top of the Jensen-Byrd building, the Wonderbread building on Lincoln and Broadway, or even on top of the Spokane Transit Authority storage and maintenance center!

Local developers, property owners, universities and community colleges could be engaged to assist in developing rooftop farms and other forms of urban agriculture in our city. Supportive developers and property owners are essential to the success of urban farming; they hold the keys that open onto the roofs of Spokane. The City and the County could help by writing or re-writing ordinances that are conducive to urban agriculture.

The universities could bring their programs together to develop an “Urban Agriculture Institute of Spokane” which would research and develop best practices and models that could be applied in other cities. Urban farming would greatly benefit the people, natural environment, food culture, and local economy, as well as reinforcing Spokane’s reputation as an innovative and creative city.

“I’ve done it all,” he said, waving to a broken cheekbone.

Pick-up line: “You’d make a good jockey with that slim figure of yours.”

Another verbatim quote: “I love Spokane. I live in that tower there and have a great view out over the river. I’ve been riding for thirty years. When they tore out the track I was through. That was it for me.”

Spokane College

The first non-native settlers pitched their tents in 1871, and barely twenty years later the bustling town of 1,500 felt that Spokane was permanent enough to warrant an institute of higher education. The first such school was Spokane College, founded by Civil War veteran and lawyer Colonel David P. Jenkins. After a donation of land on the north bank of the river and working with Methodist ministers in the area, Spokane College opened its doors on September 19, 1883 in what was then still the Oregon Territory.
Tuition was a staggering $15.

Photo from the Spokesman-Review, Thursday, April 24, 1969.

Death by Encroachment

The school grew slowly, gaining a maximum of 200 students by 1890, but by this point, new competition had risen. Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school, had begun admitting students three years prior in 1887.

The Morrill Act, a federal bill signed into law by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, had created a land grant university in Pullman that opened in 1890. This would become Washington State University, and it siphoned more potential students away from Spokane College.

A school to train teachers was founded in Cheney in 1882, eventually becoming a public school in 1937. This school, named State Normal School, was renamed Eastern Washington College of Education. By the fall of 1891 enrollment at Spokane College had shrunk to 60.The nascent Spokane College closed its doors in May of 1892. Too bad, so sad.

Norwegians to the Rescue

In 1906 a new school bearing the same name was founded by the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and built a building on the east side of Grand Avenue between 29th and 31st. The School severed ties with the church in 1908 and operated until 1929. After being vacant for a few years it was turned into Spokane Junior College in 1935. That too ceased operation in 1942, and was finally absorbed by Whitworth.

While Gonzaga and Whitworth thrived, the state of local public education remained barren until 1963 when the Spokane Community College was finally established. The Spokane Falls campus followed four years later in 1967. It was not until 1977 that Eastern was accredited to award four year degrees and the possibility of getting a complete local undergraduate public education became impossible.

In spite of this glaring historical absence, there is now hope that expanding medical programs on the Riverpoint Campus will further make up for lost ground. I read that Seattle has one of the highest concentrations of people with four year degrees in the country, with one in four residents having obtained a bachelors degree or higher. In Spokane County we are still lagging behind the state average of around one in five earning a four year degree.

Don’t get me wrong, the University District is a huge boon to this city and is a good start. But I think an independent research institution and facility headed up by one office rather than three would be better. Currently our U-District has all the charm and culture of a parking lot. I would love a large group of undergraduates in the area, so that things like hip bars and used clothing stores and coffee shops are more viable. Go fightin’ Marmots!

Photograph by Old Timey Dave

As time moved on and the scar tissue started to build where my previous boyfriend had so willingly ripped my heart out, I started to yearn for something more, but alas, where does one go to find love in the Lilac City? I needed to veer away from the security of the dark lit, drunken dens of seduction I had become fond of, take a step out into the sunlight and open my eyes to all the potential mating grounds Spokane has to offer.

With this in mind, I was flipping through The Inlander, when I came across an article about the community gardens program in Vinegar Flats. While the article was heart warming, the photo of the guy who ran it was hormone warming and it dawned on me – if I took care of the community, maybe it would take care of me.

I shot Farmer Joe an email explaining that I was new to town and was interested in volunteering at the garden. He suggested that I help him glean plums one evening. Now, I’m not normally one to glean anyone’s plums on a first date, but I was curious so I agreed to meet him.

To my relief I discovered “gleaning plums” was the agrarian equivalent of picking plums. We met later that week on a warm, sunny evening. The smell of ripe fruit was intoxicating, the warmth of the sun comforting; things were wonderful. After a couple of hours of working we retreated to The Lantern for a pint. We chatted about me living in West Virginia and he told me about all the wonderful non-bar related things to do in Spokane. I was impressed to say the least.

No, this ambitious journey of plum gleaning love did not end in the happily-ever-after way, but it did introduce me to all the awesome ways to meet people in Spokane. This town is littered with groups and clubs for every interest. If you’re serious about finding someone, wouldn’t you want something more in common than the cheap beer you both prefer?

Take it upon yourself to seek out groups in Spokane that share your interests. Meetup.com is a great resource. With the weather warming up there are plenty of opportunities to get involved outside through trail or community clean ups. If you’re not one for physical labor, just getting out to one of the beautiful parks around the area might be more your style. You never know who you’ll meet. Or kill two birds with one stone and head to Spokane’s new Main Market Co-op. While you peruse the aisles for yummy local foods, let your eyes feast upon potential soulmates as well.

I’ll be the one with a six-pack of PBR in my basket.

Many are understandably skeptical that any particular elected official can make a difference in the quagmire that is Olympia. Delivering on campaign goals can prove difficult, especially when systemic change is what is actually needed. So if you want those jobs people keep talking about, or have a hankering for something like comprehensive tax reform, it is best to bet on the candidate who has proven their ability to articulate a vision, get people in alignment, and work like a maniac to make it all happen.

I am pleased to argue that this candidate is Andy Billig. Through the year I’ve served with him on the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Council to the Mayor, I’ve watched Andy repeatedly nail nuanced concepts that the group was searching for the just the right balance around. When needed, he easily takes on the role of conciliator, articulating what one party has stated in a way that is palatable to another so the process can move ahead. Through his steadfast participation, Andy has helped create consensus among a diverse citizen panel on recommendations for helping to balance the City budget.

Part of effective governing is reaching out and appealing to a variety of constituent groups. As far as young people are concerned, I have never seen a more compelling call to participate on behalf of a local politician. First Andy made sure that bright young people were well represented on his campaign team. Then he showed up at the Shrinking Violets Birthday Bash, a social event chalk full of younger folks who weren’t necessarily your usual political suspects. Then he asked local leaders what would be an effective introduction to his campaign. After seeking and responding to this feedback, his team hosted a knockout younger-person-focused event that offered plenty of opportunity for questions and constructive feedback.

All this and we haven’t even reached the filing deadline, which brings us to good old fashioned hard work. Andy has received financial support from more than 310 individual donors. This is among the highest in the state for any House of Representatives candidate, including incumbents, and demonstrates the broad, grassroots support of this campaign. Andy has already motivated 147 volunteers who are willing to lend their energy to his campaign. These volunteers have distributed literature to over 5,500 homes, and Andy has personally knocked on over 1,550 doors so far.

With all this mounting enthusiasm in the air some might ask “What is the point?” The point is that a surprising number of people in Spokane are willing to get involved to back something they believe in. They are willing to look around at their options, and contribute to their own success. Now that is what I call a point of civic pride.

• Learn how you can help Andy help Spokane on his campaign website.
• Show your support for this outstandingly qualified candidate on Facebook.

Bloomsday spirit down in Peaceful Valley.

One thing I love about Bloomsday is all the funny shenannigans people come up with to grab each others’ attention. For the majority of people doing Bloomsday it isn’t about setting a record, its all about getting outside to stretch your legs and be a part of something fun and kind of silly.

Many folks are on no kind of exercise routine whatsoever, and Bloomsday is an annual tribute to something they know they should be doing year round. It is humbling to walk through a river of imperfect bodies and be reminded that we all suffer from the same mortal ailments.

Home embankment on Doomsday Hill overlook.

Wouldn’t it be rad if the Spokane Arts Commission (or some other similar entity) obtained permission from the home owners to pay a local artist to do some kind of Bloomsday themed mural on this wall? It must be at least 10×50 feet in area. Just an idea.

The Rocks of Sharon at Iller Creek.

Up in the hills behind childhood homes, we noticed signs of runoff washing soil down into the creek bed below. Could these ruts somehow be prevented? Were our footsteps adding to the erosion? Then, as if by miracle, we ascended the next ridge to find a crew of several dozen Washington Trails Association volunteers addressing this very issue.

Clearing brush for new “water stable” trail (left) and old trail gulley (right).

We thanked them for their generous public service, and ventured on as the very first group of recreational hikers to set foot on the new, breathtakingly scenic erosion-resistant trail.

From I-90:

Take Argonne Road exit, #287
Drive south on Argonne Road
Continue past Sprague Avenue onto Dishman-Mica Road
Turn right at Schafer Road stoplight
Turn right at stop sign on 44th Avenue
Turn left on Farr Road, continue to stop sign
Turn right on Holman Road, drive 0.75 miles to switchback
Park right before the switchback at the conservation area entrance
Iller Creek Conservation Area is on both the right and left of the creek

For more information about this location, visit Spokane County Parks and Recreation, sign up for a tour, or volunteer with the Dishman Ridge Dream Trail Team.

Crystal Gartner

Crystal has done an amazing job working for Conservation Northwest for many years now to promote collaborative processes that will ultimately lead to wilderness designation and other protection for wild places in Eastern Washington. Just last night she organized, on very short notice, a meeting of the Northwest Forestry Coalition that was attended by about 100 people, including political figures from liberal to conservative persuasions.

Jace Bylenga

Jace represents a whole new crop of pioneering young men in Spokane that like to get out into the great outdoors and do what they can to protect our natural areas. He was an Environmental Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Community Action and Service Learning at Gonzaga, and helped connect students with local organizations such as the Spokane River Clean-up, Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings, and many more.

Green Drinks Girls

Tracy, Alli and Cassie (pictured in that order) are the life of any Green Drinks gathering in Spokane. Every month people who are interested in the environment meet up at these informal social events to catch up with people they know and make new contacts. They include a lively mixture of people from nonprofits, academia, government and business. The next Spokane Green Drinks will be held at Herbal Essence on May 11, 5:30 to 7:00+pm. Come along and you’ll be made more than welcome by these lovely ladies!

Adam Brown

Adam needs no professional titles to shore up his status as a crazy loving local hippy. Let’s have his favorite quote do the work for him instead.

“If we grew our own food, we wouldn’t waste a third of it as we do today. If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn’t throw them out the moment we changed the interior decor. If we had to clean our own drinking water, we probably wouldn’t defecate in it.”
-Mark Boyle, Freeconomy

Kitty Klitzke

Kitty is a local environmental and social justice advocate who also happens to be a fourth generation Spokanite. Her service in the US Army inspired her to seek out other ways to serve her country and the planet. After studying art in college, she got involved in the Fair Trade movement and then went to work as a Program Outreach Director for The Lands Council. Now she is a Field Organizer for Futurewise, and is currently exhibiting a show called Blueprints in the room in which she is pictured (Saranac Building lobby, 25 W. Main).

Shallan Dawson

Shallan is wearing a sexy Sustainable September Spokane T-shirt at last year’s Kickoff Luncheon. As the Strategic Coordinator for this year’s program, she’ll be doing more than just serving you delicious food from Sante. She’ll be slinging sponsorships and offering up a lot of other ways to get involved with this month-long affair. Click here to read more about Shallan’s, ahem, Fields of Gold, and her amazing work at the Gaia House in West Central.

If you are a local Earth Lovin’ Hottie and you are not pictured above, my apologies. There are simply too many of you to list!

Spokane’s P-Jammers at the last MLK Jr. Day march.

The P-Jammers (or PJAMRS, standing for the Peace and Justice Activist Musical Rascals of Spokane) are a rag tag bunch of folks that love to get out and be the life of any social or economic justice party. They often accompany events organized by the Peace and Justice Action League, and can also be heard at a smattering of other relevant political gatherings.

In no small part due to our vigorous sports culture and our position as  a hub to hundreds of small rural towns, marching bands are actually still a pretty big deal around Spokane. But they tend to be of a stiflingly traditional nature that emphasizes militaristic uniformity to the detriment of personal creativity and expression. Not so with the P-Jammers! This funky bunch fashions itself after the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band, and members often make their own uniforms by hand out of reused materials.

While I might cringe a bit at some of the comments made by the crazier bards in this video, you’ve got to hand it to them for entertainment value. When people talk about a city being “vibrant,” for me this is the pinnacle of good old fashioned public fun.

Apparently these Honk! Fests aren’t unique to Seattle, they take place in a small number of cities all around the country. Not to wax nostalgic about Portland or anything, but in the brief time I lived there I encountered several Honk! style groups. There was the No War Drum Corps, a percussion booster band that often plays for the Rose City Rollers, and the unforgettably talented March Fourth, to name a few.

If we ever made a cultural asset map in Spokane and came up with indicators to measure our local creative health, I think the number and vitality of Honk! bands could be used as one of the canaries in our culture mine. They require a high degree of coordination dedication and guts, and thus would do well in reflecting our creative surplus. So cheers to the day when our people can go to Seattle to represent without the inevitable comment, “I didn’t know you had [insert cultural/social whatever it is] in Spokane!”

• Apologies for not mentioning the recent Musical Freedom Rally in Riverfront Park. Apparently it was a big success.