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Pia Hallenberg

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News >  Washington Voices

Creative crime fighting

Until recently, there were two things one could be sure to encounter at Shalom Ministries at the beginning of the day: hungry people and fresh graffiti facing the alley behind Central United Methodist Church. Shalom has been feeding homeless and low-income downtown residents in the basement of the church at Third Avenue and Howard Street since 1994, and program coordinator Holly Chilinski was getting more and more frustrated by the constant graffiti problem.
News >  Washington Voices

Loulou’s chalet now a museum of ski treasures

Some people are patrons of the arts, but Louis Kneubuhler is a patron of skiing. Affectionately known simply as Loulou, this native of France has been a fixture on Spokane’s ski scene for more than 40 years. And now he’s opened a ski museum at his original ski chalet on East Pacific Avenue, just off South Sherman Street.
News >  Washington Voices

Outdoor classroom sprouting at Y

To the untrained eye it looks pretty much like a playground, but there’s much more to the play fort and sandboxes that are being constructed on the south side of the central YMCA facility on North Monroe Street. “The correct term to use about it is a nature exploration classroom,” said Kelly Calligan, early childhood development director with the YMCA. “Essentially, you take your classroom outside.”
News >  Washington Voices

The horsepower of healing

It’s a chilly Friday morning, and the forecasters are talking about snow. Inside the big, bright riding arena at Westar Ranch just south of Spokane, a couple of horses are being warmed up. Waiting riders stay bundled for warmth, hands deep in pockets, chatting until they can climb aboard the horses. Among the riders is Kendyl Caro, a 19-year-old East Valley High School senior who has cerebral palsy, but that’s not going to keep her from riding.
News >  Washington Voices

Volunteers needed for help hot lines

Everyone knows to dial 911 in case of an emergency, but there’s also a number to call in a social-service emergency: 211. The 211 service is meant to be a clearinghouse of social services, where one call can connect a needy person with exactly the right kind of help. There are eight 211 call centers in the state of Washington, but none of them is in Spokane. Calls originating in Spokane are answered by 211 staff in Yakima. Jan Dobbs, director of crisis response services in Eastern Washington, would like to change that by bringing 211 back to Spokane in January. Dobbs has secured some funding; now all she needs are some dedicated local volunteers.
News >  Washington Voices

Drainage draws interest

Mike Jackson got pretty excited when he noticed a new park being constructed in his South Hill neighborhood. Well, at least he thought it was a new park. It turns out it’s actually a stormwater project. “It just looks so neat,” Jackson said. “There’s a little pond and trails and wetlands.”
News >  Washington Voices

Outdoor classroom sprouting at Y

To the untrained eye it looks pretty much like a playground, but there’s much more to the play fort and sandboxes that are being constructed on the south side of the central YMCA facility on North Monroe Street. “The correct term to use about it is a nature exploration classroom,” said Kelly Calligan, early childhood development director with the YMCA. “Essentially, you take your classroom outside.”
News >  Washington Voices

Park planned near Long Lake

It was Scott Chaney of Suncrest who first eyed the 40 acres of state Department of Natural Resources land just a short walk from where he lives on the shore of Long Lake, also known as Lake Spokane. The parcel doesn’t have water access, but it’s flat and close to state Highway 291, and Chaney thought it would be perfect for a recreational park, perhaps with a baseball diamond and a soccer field.
News >  Washington Voices

Drainage draws interest

Mike Jackson got pretty excited when he noticed a new park being constructed in his South Hill neighborhood. Well, at least he thought it was a new park. It turns out it’s actually a stormwater project. “It just looks so neat,” Jackson said. “There’s a little pond and trails and wetlands.”
News >  Washington Voices

Ministry turns to graffiti art to counter tagging

Until recently, there were two things one could be sure to encounter at Shalom Ministries at the beginning of the day: hungry people and fresh graffiti facing the alley behind Central United Methodist Church. Shalom has been feeding homeless and low-income downtown residents in the basement of the church at Third Avenue and Howard Street since 1994, and program coordinator Holly Chilinski was getting more and more frustrated by the constant graffiti problem.
News >  Washington Voices

South Side trees get funding

The Moran Prairie Trees Project – kicked off 10 years ago with plantings near the Regal Street Post Office – has donated $1,603 to the Spokane County Conservation District, reimbursing the city for new trees planted along 37th Avenue between Regal and Perry streets. “Originally this area was part of the Moran Prairie Neighborhood, until Southgate was created,” said Carrie Anderson, who is in charge of the Moran Prairie Trees Project. “I’ve tried several times over the past five or six years to provide trees for citizens on Moran Prairie with this money and found no takers.”
News >  Idaho Voices

Barefoot runner hits stride

When Hank Greer goes running on a downtown Spokane street, he’s an unusual sight. Obviously in good shape, he runs light and effortlessly, wearing neutral running gear and a cap on his head. Yet look down toward the ground and you’ll see no fancy sneakers, no $300 track shoes or hikers. You’ll see nothing at all: Greer does his running barefoot.
News >  Idaho Voices

Shoeless half-mile a promising beginning

I’ve been a runner, on and off, since I was 12 years old – my favorite distance is 5K and I don’t run anything farther than Bloomsday. I’m at best a recreational runner, and I haven’t run a mile in a year. I figured if I was writing about barefoot running, I had to try it, so on Friday I met up with Hank Greer, a dedicated barefoot runner.
News >  Washington Voices

Barefoot runner hits stride

When Hank Greer goes running on a downtown Spokane street, he’s an unusual sight. Obviously in good shape, he runs light and effortlessly, wearing neutral running gear and a cap on his head. Yet look down toward the ground and you’ll see no fancy sneakers, no $300 track shoes or hikers. You’ll see nothing at all: Greer does his running barefoot.
News >  Washington Voices

Shoeless half-mile a promising beginning

I’ve been a runner, on and off, since I was 12 years old – my favorite distance is 5K and I don’t run anything farther than Bloomsday. I’m at best a recreational runner, and I haven’t run a mile in a year. I figured if I was writing about barefoot running, I had to try it, so on Friday I met up with Hank Greer, a dedicated barefoot runner.
News >  Washington Voices

Museum recounts prairie’s past

A typical farm museum is home to a collection of diesel-burning, gas-steaming and horse-powered pieces of farm equipment in various stages of working condition. Sometimes a few farm animals are part of the collection, and often visitors will find peculiar looking hand tools – no batteries required – from a couple generations ago. What most people don’t expect is a huge collection of ironstone china, a heavy-duty variety of dishware, painted in classic, beautiful patterns of thistle, morning glories and tea leaves, but that’s what can be found at the North Spokane Farm Museum.
News >  Washington Voices

New routes rile neighbor

When Spokane Transit Authority changed two westbound routes on Sept. 20, some Browne’s Addition residents were in for a surprise. After the old Browne’s Addition bus number 40 was eliminated, two new routes – 60 and 61 – were taken through the neighborhood in an effort to provide better and more frequent service to one of the more densely populated neighborhoods close to downtown.
News >  Washington Voices

Couple find comfort in friends during illness

Sean Stanelun was feeling sick. The owner of Manito Video Productions was at work shooting a wedding video, but wasn’t sure he could make it through the cutting of the cake. He did. At home, his wife, Dawn Picken, put him to bed in a cloud of disinfectant spray, admonishing the couple’s two young children to stay away from dad because he had the flu and was contagious. That was on Sept. 9. Five days later, Stanelun was admitted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center with kidney failure and practically no blood pressure. At 4 a.m., someone woke Picken to ask permission to put her husband on a ventilator.
News >  Washington Voices

Freeway displaces congregation

It’s been there for 100 years and most people know it as “that church with the sign” that grabs motorists’ attention with its pointed messages. Bethany Presbyterian Church is moving from the corner of South Freya Street and East Third Avenue because the Washington State Department of Transportation has purchased the land the church sits on for an expansion of Interstate 90.
News >  Washington Voices

New routes rile neighbor

When Spokane Transit Authority changed two westbound routes on Sept. 20, some Browne’s Addition residents were in for a surprise. After the old Browne’s Addition bus number 40 was eliminated, two new routes – 60 and 61 – were taken through the neighborhood in an effort to provide better and more frequent service to one of the more densely populated neighborhoods close to downtown.
News >  Washington Voices

Obstacles overcome

For many equestrians, the height of horsey delight is a trail ride. Horse and rider enjoy expansive views, and the gentle plodding transports them far away from the daily training grind. The rider reflects on how trail riding is what it’s all about. Birds chirp, the horse is relaxing, stretching his neck, looking around and, oh dear, what is that? Someone is shaking out a blue tarp in front of a tent just off the trail. The horse stiffens, stops, turns and bolts, going from shuffle to breakneck gallop in a split second. Nerves completely frazzled, the two hopefully manage to end the trail ride together.
News >  Washington Voices

West Central works to spruce up

The city of Spokane and the West Central neighborhood are joining forces to encourage property owners to clean up the neighborhood. If the program is successful, it may be extended to other neighborhoods. Last Wednesday city code enforcement officers and West Central volunteers walked the streets looking for yards with too much trash and buildings that showed signs of neglect.
News >  Washington Voices

Trails to adventure

When it comes to cool jobs in Spokane, Peter Jantz pretty much has it made: He takes care of the Camp Sekani mountain bike park at the bottom of Beacon Hill, just off Upriver Drive. What could be more perfect for someone who loves to ride his mountain bike? “It’s pretty nice out here,” Jantz said, straddling his bike outside the little house where he lives. “Most people are very nice and there’s really not a lot of trouble here.”
News >  Washington Voices

Charting trails to adventure

When it comes to cool jobs in Spokane, Peter Jantz pretty much has it made: He takes care of the Camp Sekani mountain bike park at the bottom of Beacon Hill, just off Upriver Drive. What could be more perfect for someone who loves to ride his mountain bike? “It’s pretty nice out here,” Jantz said, straddling his bike outside the little house where he lives. “Most people are very nice and there’s really not a lot of trouble here.”
News >  Washington Voices

Congregation moves uphill

It’s been there for 100 years and most people know it as “that church with the sign” that grabs motorists’ attention with its pointed messages. Bethany Presbyterian Church is moving from the corner of South Freya Street and East Third Avenue because the Washington State Department of Transportation has purchased the land the church sits on for an expansion of Interstate 90.