When Betty Adams planned her 100th birthday, she wanted a party in a special place, one tied to fond memories and her start in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. This past Saturday, nearly 100 people joined Adams at Providence St. Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center.
Kathy Keppel-Colkitt wrote a book to help people be effective medical advocates for someone facing a health crisis. "Will They Hear Me Now?" carries the story of her daughter, Brandi Colkitt, 26, who suffered from provider missteps, delayed cancer diagnosis, and then a chemotherapy drug reaction compromising her lungs. She died June 18, 2009.
Seen online as a Thai food blogger, Spokane cook Suwanee Lennon landed a spot among eight contestants in "The Great American Recipe" on PBS. Raised until age 13 in a leprosy village in Thailand, Lennon shares Thai cuisine on her blog, Simply Suwanee. The PBS show is scheduled locally at 6 p.m. Friday, with weekly segments through August 15.
Savanna Oberg describes her start at East Valley High School as "rough," when she lacked credits to graduate. Entering junior year, Oberg said she decided to make changes, with more focus on school, positive relationships and improved grades – all leading to her graduation.
Ridgeline High School graduate Mackenzie Rosner often takes on leadership roles that serves others. Her gains at Ridgeline came after earlier challenges, including prior foster care. Before her freshman year, she was adopted by her aunt, a nurse, and now Rosner plans on that same career path.
Ava Morris keeps a sizable collection of classical literature at her Post Falls home – with Shakespeare, Dante, Austen and T.S. Eliot among her favorite authors. Graduating from the Oaks Classical Christian Academy, Morris plans this fall to attend Hillsdale College with a goal to become a teacher.
Valley Christian's Mya Desgrosellier pursued a love for aviation after an early sports injury derailed plans for playing volleyball in college. With her pilot's license and a future in flight, she's now grateful for that setback.
A leap from Spokane to Broadway came fast for Christopher Tamayo. The Central Valley High School graduate recently performed twice in a lead role for the musical comedy, "Maybe Happy Ending," at the Belasco Theatre. In the show centered on two lifelike robots, Oliver and Claire, Tamayo played Oliver March 29, stepping in for Darren Criss of "Glee" fame.
Inside an iconic 1910 building, Spokane neon history now shines among layers of memorabilia and vintage prints of regional landmarks. It's a dream of artist Chris Bovey, who moved from a Garland District store to the Boulevard Building's larger space, 1905 N. Monroe. Bovey's Vintage Print + Neon and the Spokane Neon Museum hold a grand opening Saturday.
When Byron and Kim Brown sought a mainland site to expand Akamai Coffee Company and Maui restaurants, they settled on Coeur d'Alene. The couple opened The Lanai Feb. 7 in the city's midtown to bring the same food, vibe and decor of its Hawaiian counterparts.
Chef Adam Hegsted kept a busy pace with his regional eateries, but that was interrupted more than a year ago. A September 2023 open heart surgery repaired a life-threatening aortic aneurysm and leaking aortic valve – a congenital issue. After recovery and slow return, Hegsted has hit reset, with more time back in the kitchen.
A Washington State University Spokane research team has made a breakthrough at the cellular level in studying the secrets of helping people live longer.
Theresa Fall of Otis Orchards first saw the dog Liberty in an online post about how the pup was left abandoned in a California almond orchard for about a month until her rescue. Wings of Rescue, a flight nonprofit for rescue pets to go to shelters with room, was helping Liberty as its 75,000th animal, and she was on her way to Spokane. Now, Liberty is an "early Christmas gift" for Fall and her husband Ed.
Syrian refugees in Spokane, who fled civil war that erupted in their country in 2012, have closely watched news unfolding since the Dec. 8 power shift in Syria by rebel forces. They're happy rebel fighters successfully advanced into capital, Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee and ending 54 years of tyranny under Bashar and his father beforehand.
Local therapy dog Rocket just took a ride to national recognition for his service in the Kootenai County Sheriff’s K9 unit. In a First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award contest, the U.S. vote results just came in for the Brittany spaniel and his handler, John McSwain, a department chaplain. Rocket earned a rare honorable mention nod.
Danielle “Dani” Golay, The Bohemian co-owner, met Stacia Garmon at the dentist when they learned of something painfully in common, a baby's death. Garmon cherises a blanket gifted by the hospital for her son. Now, she keeps her mind busy sewing and is selling her own crafted baby blankets and related items at in the Bohemian, with proceeds to donate baby blankets for parents experience such a loss.
Women of the Year Marlene Sullivan regularly takes behind-the-scenes roles that make others shine or uplifted. Her quiet volunteer positions range from being a chaplain to helping veterans hear the calming tones from crystal sound bowls she plays using mallets.
Jenny Shotwell first joined forces with Ellen Travolta in 2021 as a pianist. Now, it's an all-Shotwell family affair for "The Sound of Christmas" at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, with Travolta as producer. Shotwell has extensive musical experience, but her costars have stage merits, including husband Dalton and children Clark, 9 and Skye, 6. They'll do nostalgic songs and touch on Coeur d'Alene's holiday history.