Family

When astronauts leave Earth, a spacesuit can help them stay safe in places that are quite different from their home planet. I learned all about it from my friends Stasia Kulsa, Lauren Reising and Ian Wells, a few members of a team at Washington State University researching how to clean moon dust from spacesuits.

Why men collect objects is a mystery. Perhaps it goes back to the days of hunting and gathering, and it's connected to a survival mechanism. Many of my friends collect things. My friend Joe, who is my daughter Jillian's godfather, has an enormous collection of "Star Wars."

“What project are you working on?” the friendly craft store cashier asked as she rang up my purchase of 1½ yards of sturdy, checkered canvas. My daughter Lucy and I looked at each other, unsure how to explain.

The loss of academic progress for students during summer break, commonly referred to as “summer slide,” “summer brain drain” or “summer setback,” continues to be a hot topic year after year.

Jake Ash died at age 31 in Spokane after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29. He'd marked organ donor on his driver license, an act changing the lives of at least six people – separately receiving his liver and tissue, kidneys, corneas, and heart.

There were many things I didn't see coming during the coronavirus pandemic; among them, that human hair would be the channel through which I learned to be less uptight. The first hair moment was when I chopped off about eight inches in less than two minutes.

My friend John Haugen, the creamery manager, was happy to help with your question. He said a big part of the answer has to do with something called matter. All things in our universe are made up of matter, even ice cream and popsicles.

I ran a marathon last Saturday. Not an actual marathon, mind you. It was more of a day-that-never-ends kind of marathon. In the morning, Logan and I, along with some brothers- and sisters-in-law, drove to a campground in Idaho to help my parents pack up.

I couldn't help but read "The Hockey Sister," a breezy piece in a recent edition of the New Yorker. The feature was what I expected, which is about how younger sisters are slighted by their older ice hockey-playing brothers.

The Spokane Humane Society’s 18th annual Parade of Paws promises music, shopping and furry fun for all ages. All pledges and donations raised will give homeless dogs and cats life-saving resources toward forever homes.

With homework on pause for summer vacation, it’s a great time for kids to dive into recreational reading. Here are a few suggestions to start with, but don’t forget to check with your local libraries and bookstores for additional suggestions and summer reading programs.

WASHINGTON – Starting Thursday, families across the United States will receive the first in a series of monthly payments of up to $300 per child that could dramatically cut child poverty and offer a preview of what might become a major part of the American social safety net for years to come – if Democrats get their way.

New legislation affecting child care in the state became effective July 1. For one, the law now authorizes the Department of Children, Youth and Families to license outdoor, nature-based child care programs. Secondly, SB 5151 waives providers' licensing fees.

You can invite the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology into your home this week. The Spokane County Library District is hosting the Traveling Lantern Theatre Co.'s virtual performance of "Legends and Myths From Mount Olympus." 

There are all kinds of things to think about, along with a few challenges, when it comes to growing organic food. My friend Lynne Carpenter-Boggs is a soil scientist at WSU who works with farmers and knows a lot about what it takes to produce organic food.

“Dare to dream” was the response when my daughter Jillian asked what I thought of her possible college major and potential vocation when she was a high school freshman. The conversation was during autumn of 2014. I had recently interviewed comic Lewis Black, which had quite an impact. His close friend, the iconic Robin Williams, had recently committed suicide. The subject of money was bandied about since many choose their careers based on compensation, which is fine for many but, it didn’t save the brilliant actor-comic.

Celebrating its inaugural season, the Spokane Shakespeare Society will present two plays in Riverfront Park this summer in partnership with Spokane Parks & Recreation. Both productions will be free and family-friendly.

When you write a column every week detailing the foibles and hilarities of your family life, people are bound to get ruffled feathers about something that you or your family has done or said.

Summer is in full swing, and with the reopening of Washington’s restaurants, bars, theaters and more in-person events, summer fun is in full swing, too. Especially this year as we get back out there, we need to dust off our summer safety reminders.