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Cindy Hval

Cindy Hval

Current Position: freelancer

Cindy Hval is a freelance columnist and correspondent. Her "Front Porch" column appears on alternate Thursdays in the Voices section. Her articles appear in the Features section and throughout the newspaper. Visit her at www.cindyhval.com

Email
dchval@juno.com

All Stories

News >  Washington Voices

Teens aspire to make a difference with $100

For $100 you can fill the gas tank on an average sedan twice. Or you can buy two new release video games. Or you can try to change your world. Ten teams of high school juniors and seniors have opted for the latter. They are finalists in Spokane Teachers Credit Union Hundred Dollar Project.
News >  Washington Voices

Getting skills on, off court

The thumping sound of bouncing basketballs echoed throughout the Warehouse on a recent Sunday morning. While a men’s league sank 3-pointers on one court, another group warmed up nearby. “I want to play a game of basketball!” shouted 6-year-old Henry.
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Milo-stone Thor-oughly celebrated

February is a busy month at our house. In addition to Valentine’s Day, we celebrate three family birthdays: Milo’s, Thor’s and mine. The less said about my 40-something-and-counting birthday, the better. But Milo’s third birthday and Thor’s first are truly reasons to celebrate.
News >  Washington Voices

Eagle Scout’s service project is on the wall

A fiery sun burns over mountains that look like they’re made of stained glass. The starry galaxy glows, and a calligraphy inscription reads: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Thanks to 17-year-old Scott Coffey’s Eagle Scout project, a drab hallway in the children’s wing of Northview Bible Church recently received a stunning makeover.
News >  Washington Voices

Love Story: Van Inwegens met at GU orientation

Patrick Van Inwegen will never forget his first day of school at Gonzaga University in 1992. He enjoyed the excitement of exploring the campus, meeting his professors and making new friends – one friend in particular: Victoria Nicacio. After the orientation barbecue, Patrick and Victoria talked late into the night with a small group of students. Patrick was smitten by the dark-haired girl. “She had a beautiful smile and a lot of sparkle,” he recalled.
Cindy Hval
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Tweeter atwitter over notoriety

When Spokesman-Review columnist/blogger Dave Oliveria started bugging me about Twitter, I scoffed at the notion that I needed any more social media in my life. Facebook already ate up too much of my time. Oliveria insisted that Twitter is far more valuable than Facebook when it comes to tracking and reporting breaking news.
News >  Washington Voices

Hard times strengthened couple’s bond

Not all love stories have fairly tale beginnings, no matter how happy the ending may be. When John and Vickie Hershey met, she was still married to her first husband. John, a physician, had undergone a contentious and very public divorce, and though it had been five years, hard feelings still rankled. In addition, John was 20 years older than Vickie. In fact, she was his oldest daughter’s teacher at Mead High School. Despite the odds against them Vickie said, “There was this magic – that’s what we called it and still do. We were crazy about each other.”
News >  Washington Voices

Vanessa Behan haven for kids at risk

It’s been 30 years, but Bill Bialkowsky’s eyes still fill as he recalled reading the coroner’s report. “Fractured skull. Cigarette burns. Pulled hair,” he cleared his throat. “She died a very agonizing, slow, painful death at the hands of her parents.” “She” was 2-year-old Vanessa Behan, and her death prompted Bialkowsky to found a safe haven for children at risk.
News >  Washington Voices

Group helps hoarders, their family come clean

According to the A&E television series “Hoarders,” more than 3 million people in the United States are affected by hoarding. Spokane resident Judi Manuel is one of them. In fact, hoarding almost cost Manuel her life. But the disorder also gave her daughter, Ceci Garrett, a new purpose.
Cindy Hval
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Aye, a toast to all things Scottish

In second grade at Jefferson Elementary, Mrs. Pendergast attempted to teach us about cultural heritage. She explained, “For example, my mother’s family is from Germany and my father’s family came from Ireland, so I’m half German and half Irish.” Excitedly, kids raised their hands to share their family backgrounds. I pondered what I knew of my own history, and when Mrs. Pendergast called on me I was ready.
News >  Washington Voices

Spokane group helps hoarders and their children come clean

According to the A&E television series “Hoarders,” more than 3 million people in the United States are affected by hoarding. Spokane resident Judi Manuel is one of them. In fact, hoarding almost cost Manuel her life. But the disorder also gave her daughter, Ceci Garrett, a new purpose.
News >  Washington Voices

Boys & Girls Clubs provides balanced dinners for youngsters

Since 2001, Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County have offered a safe place for children ages 6 to 18 to spend their after-school hours. And since last January, the clubs have filled more than just empty hours – they’ve filled empty bellies. While the clubs have always served a healthy snack, the impetus to offer dinner came from a conversation Northtown branch director Jason Anderson had with a hungry little boy.
News >  Washington Voices

Love Story: Diluzios married after he left Navy

Almost 70 years ago, Constance Disotell saw a handsome young sailor with a shock of wavy black hair slide into a booth at a Hillyard ice cream parlor where her mother worked. Although they’d never met, she knew who he was. Her friend had shown a picture of her handsome new beau, and there Roy Diluzio sat, having ice cream with a buddy.
News >  Features

Clayton-Hamilton brings the big sounds

Their sound is boisterous, their rhythm infectious. If you think big band music has gone the way of pin curls and shoulder pads, think again. Or better yet, check out the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on Saturday at the INB Performing Arts Center. Unlike fashion trends, smooth swinging jazz never goes out of style.
Cindy Hval
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Riding in the car with boys

I could tell something was wrong the minute he got into the car. His face was flushed and his eyes bright with unshed tears. As I slowly navigated the school parking lot, an avalanche of words tumbled out. “Alex went to California for Christmas break,” said Sam, 12. “And he’s not coming back!”
News >  Washington Voices

Art class teaches creativity with community in mind

On a gray December morning, splashes of color warmed and brightened the Lied Art Center at Whitworth University. The color came in the form of rugs crafted by students in the community arts in practice class taught by Katie Creyts. “We taught ourselves how to crochet using recycled T-shirts from friends,” Creyts said. “Getting started was really hard.”
News >  Washington Voices

Aerial silks classes teach suspended poses

There’s a new fitness class in Spokane Valley that’s taking exercise to new heights. In September, lifelong gymnast Sherrie Martin launched Spokane Aerial Performance Arts and began offering classes at Spokane Gymnastics. Aerial silks is a type of performance in which one or more artists execute acrobatics and tricks while hanging from two long pieces of soft fabric that are suspended from a single point.
Cindy Hval
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Christmas traditions move along

When Tevye and the cast belt out “Tradition” in “Fiddler on the Roof,’ they’re singing my song. I, especially, love the ritual, familiarity and comfort of holiday traditions. For me, it begins on the day after Thanksgiving. While many folks shop til they drop on Black Friday, I decorate til I drop.
News

Camera Club honors Ted Wiley’s photography work

Long before computers and Photoshop, and decades before digital technology, Ted Wiley took pictures. He developed the film in his own darkroom, creating birth announcements and fun family Christmas cards. Over the years, his artistic photos have won multiple awards and blue ribbons. On Oct. 19, his 90th birthday, the Spokane Camera Club honored Wiley with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
News >  Washington Voices

Couple’s feelings lasted through war

Wilson Conaway didn’t care for high school in Youngstown, Ohio. “It was 1942,” he recalled. “The war was on. There were a lot of flags waving, and I wanted to be a pilot.” One thing he did like about school was a pretty girl named Connie. “She was running around with my best friend, and he introduced us,” Wilson said. They went out a few times, but the lure of flying proved stronger than his affection for Connie, and triumphed over the drudgery of schoolwork.
Opinion >  Column

Front Porch: Checking in with Chicken

Friday is a special anniversary at my house – it will be two years to the day that our most unusual Christmas visitor arrived. She appeared in our driveway from who-knows-where, in the form of a young wild chicken whom we (lacking imagination) named Chicken. She stayed with us for nearly a year. Well, in truth, she stayed around us – in trees, under decks, in the bed of a truck, behind crates and wherever she darn well pleased – allowing us to offer her food, in exchange for which she provided us with heaps of attitude and a lot of entertainment. She would resist mightily any attempts at physical contact, but she survived the cold winter and hot summer, the owls and coyotes and everything else that could have killed her.