Stefanie Pettit

Stefanie Pettit is a freelance columnist for the Voices neighborhood sections. Her columns include Landmarks, featuring historic buildings and sites, and Front Porch.

Contact Stefanie

Fax: 509-927-2175

Recent stories by Stefanie

‘Family’ is helping with next step for St. George’s Stamper

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V7 Taryn Stamper is one of those students teachers just love. She takes courses because she’s interested in the subject, not just for the grade, and she pushes hard to learn …
Ferris’ Dhital finds joy in learning

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V15 Satya Dhital was born in a refugee camp in Nepal, the son of political refugees from Bhutan. It wasn’t so bad for him there, he said, as the United Nations … 1
MAP High School graduate finds path in personal journey

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S4 When Angela Mosher graduates from the MAP High School this spring, she will be doing something it appears no one thought she would do – except herself. “I will be …
Music helped Shadle Park senior find happiness

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S1 For Jay Jones, it’s all about the music. Mostly self-taught, the 17-year-old Shadle Park senior plays trumpet, guitar, piano, trombone, French horn and flute – and has many kudos and …
Music, science drive North Central senior toward success

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S16 When Ceaira Nichols makes goals for herself, she becomes dedicated to fulfilling them. The 18-year-old North Central High School senior decided in fourth grade that she wanted a career in …
Upper Columbia student eyes World Vision in her future

May 23, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S17 Cheyanne Welch has known what she wanted to do since she was pretty young – and that was to live a life in service to others. There was some thought …
Front Porch: It’s sure no accident how stuff works

May 16, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Have you ever noticed that when you’re late for an appointment, you catch every red light, freight train at a railroad crossing and nearly all emergency vehicles out that day …
Liberty Park church towers over area

May 9, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S8 Liberty Park United Methodist Church – located a block east of the South Perry Street commercial district – has been serving its community continuously since it was built in 1912, …
Front Porch: A mother reflects on losing a child

May 2, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 Karen Buck’s son David Gendron died on St. Patrick’s Day in 1999. He was a bright-eyed young man who entered a room full of strangers and came away with 20 …
Hill Brothers Building has housed saddlery, men’s shop, ad agency

April 25, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S5 The unassuming two-story building at 518 W. Riverside Ave. in downtown Spokane has quite the history. Now the home of Smith Co., a full-service advertising agency (the former WhiteRunkle Associates), …
Front Porch: It’s not right that we bury our children

April 18, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 There’s been too much dying lately. Recently – within a few days of each other, actually – two friends of mine have lost adult children, which has given me new …
Front Porch: Let’s toast everything this month

April 4, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S1 Today is World Rat Day. No really. Oh sure, we know about Earth Day and Arbor Day this month, not to mention the just concluded April Fool’s Day. Those are …
Landmarks: Former owner was local legend

March 28, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V4 Homes are listed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places for two reasons mainly – the significance of the structure or the significance of the person associated with the dwelling. … 1
Front Porch: Just laugh off foibles of the ages

March 21, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 By the time you reach a certain age, you either laugh or cry about your foibles and infirmities. Laughing is better. I laugh a lot lately.
Mausoleum holds pioneer life chroniclers

March 16, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V5 The granite and marble Strahorn mausoleum sits just over a little hill in Riverside Memorial Park, not especially striking at first glance. But up close its two beautiful stained glass …
Front Porch: Miss Chicken aids speedy recovery

March 7, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 This is about good nurses and poultry. Let me explain. I had surgery recently and was hospitalized for a few days. I found in this most recent experience, and in …
Front Porch: We should embrace the ‘epiphunny’

February 21, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page S1 At the end of each year a list of words comes forth, words that have come into prominence or have been over-used during the year. At the end of 2012, … 1
Landmarks: Latah Creek Bridge turning 100

February 14, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V7 The Latah Creek Bridge – that grand span over Latah Creek on Sunset Boulevard, connecting Spokane’s downtown area via Browne’s Addition to the West Plains and beyond – celebrates its …
Front Porch: Will anyone pay to watch road follies?

February 7, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V1 And now it’s time – probably past time – to speak of winter driving. I live just off a steep hill, and every winter we observe fearless folks all invincible …
Landmarks: Jack and Dan’s has deep roots in Gonzaga district

January 31, 2013 in Washington Voices on Page V5 One of just a handful of beer parlors that have remained in continuous operation since the end of Prohibition in 1933, Jack and Dan’s at 1226 N. Hamilton St., may …