Jill Barville

Jill Barville is a free-lance reporter for The Spokesman-Review in the Voices department. She writes for The Spokesman-Review Voices neighborhood sections.

Contact Jill

Fax: 509-927-2175

Recent stories by Jill

St. George’s Gimbel leads pack with her dedication

May 24, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page S17 It’s hard to keep up with Hope Gimbel. From the time she gets up she’s running. She runs before school and, during cross country and track season, after school as …
St. Michael’s student’s positive outlook forged from serious illness

May 24, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V11 As a high-achieving senior at St. Michael’s Academy, Rosie Urann’s days are packed. The valedictorian is involved in every aspect of school life while also working part time at her …
Ivory keys to success

May 12, 2012 in Features on Page E1 When Pierce Emata played the piano as a child at the Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival, now Musicfest Northwest, he hoped to eventually become an adjudicator. “When I was …
Soccer mom strives to keep perspective

May 12, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 I’m a soccer mom. This title, just one of many mom titles I wear, used to conjure images of a cheerful mother giving a high-five and a snack to her …
Orchard Prairie wins art, science grant

April 19, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 When Kirsten Schierman found a small online grant for an educational project that combined art with science, the Orchard Prairie art and kindergarten teacher knew she had to apply. She …
Cherished chair born of frugality

April 14, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Some call it frugal. Some call it penny-pinching. Others call it cheap. My family calls it responsible. Whatever you call it, living by a budget is the new black, the …
Front Porch: Cherished chair born of frugality

April 14, 2012 in Washington Voices Some call it frugal. Some call it penny-pinching. Others call it cheap. My family calls it responsible. Whatever you call it, living by a budget is the new black, the …
Walk draws attention to bone marrow donation

April 14, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V6 Jeana Moore walks with purpose. She walks to talk about her granddaughter, Jada Bascom, and move as many people as she can to take one step toward saving a life. …
Long, rich love affair with Joe

March 10, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 I love coffee. My affair with java began as unrequited longing during childhood. My dad made it black every morning as he headed to his home office, its aroma a …
Flying Irish Runs from New Venue

March 8, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page S1 Just after sundown last Thursday, the bridges in Riverfront Park shook under the pounding feet of more than 400 runners who braved a snowy forecast to attend the Flying Irish … 1
Globe-trotting service teaches much

March 8, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page S10 After tracking jaguars in Brazil, collecting data about dolphins in the Amvrakikos Gulf of Greece and observing black rhinos in Kenya, Jan Boal has a photo album that could come …
Learning to run away from fears

February 11, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Sometimes the news hits home like a sucker punch. I felt that blow last month when I read about Sherry Arnold, the Montana mother and teacher who went for a …
Monthly gatherings combine socializing, food and art

February 9, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V2 For friends Shauna Kennedy-Carr and Jessica Breeze, there’s nothing more fun than creating delightful home décor out of old objects. Unless it’s hanging out with other women.
Go Red luncheon is all about heart

January 28, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Three years ago, when Corinne Kubena had a heart attack at age 23, she didn’t recognize the symptoms, although she’d known for years something wasn’t right with her body. “I …
Mead woman in it for long run

January 19, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V3 Lisa Bliss, 42, started running for fitness when she quit smoking in her early 20s. Since then she’s gone a lot further. The petite North Side physician runs between five …
‘No’ still a powerful, useful word

January 14, 2012 in Washington Voices on Page V1 According to my mom, when I was about 2 years old I discovered the ultimate power word: “No.” If you asked me any question I’d answer with emphasis. “No!” In …
Front Porch: A cry for more story problems

December 3, 2011 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Some things don’t add up. Such as, how a journalism major and an English major could meet and marry, then have three mathematical kids. What are the odds? Actually, I …
Soirees get women to mammograms

December 1, 2011 in Washington Voices on Page V1 If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, it follows that a party can make a mammogram manageable. While many women over 40 intend to get an annual … 8
Goal of becoming doctor started with help as child

November 24, 2011 in Washington Voices on Page V1 When Tim Gay was born, it became immediately evident that something was wrong. He was blue. Within minutes the doctors whisked him away for his first heart surgery, one of …
Ron, Julie Wells continue to put stamp on local architecture

October 30, 2011 in Business on Page E1 Ron and Julie Wells are the husband and wife team and architect and interior design duo that founded Wells & Company, the award-winning development firm behind some of downtown Spokane’s … 7