Three things we’ll be talking about this week

1In Coeur d’Alene, the 24th annual Wooden Boat Festival will be held along the Coeur d’Alene Resort boardwalk Friday through Sunday. Besides the boats, there are food vendors and entertainment. New this year: a dock featuring boats for sale.

2After six years of construction – and decades of planning – the first leg of the north Spokane freeway will open to traffic Saturday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick things off before drivers can take to the road from the Francis /Freya interchange 3 miles north to Farwell Road.

3They’re Vegas-bound, baby. The Spokane Shock will return to the ArenaCup championship game Saturday to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. Since losing in the big game last year, the Shock have had their eye on the prize, finishing the regular season with only one loss.