Volleyball tourney a boost for area
The Pacific Northwest Volleyball Qualifier will inject some much needed stimulus into the region Friday through Sunday and March 27-29 during one of the biggest junior volleyball tournaments in the country.
Courts will be set up at the Spokane Convention Center and Eastern Washington University each weekend to accommodate girls ages 12 to 18, who will compete for a chance to qualify for the Junior Olympics in Florida. According to Suzanne Boyce, director of sponsorship and communications, the tournament will have an economic impact of approximately $3.9 million and will result in over 7,000 hotel room stays, making this the largest room-night generator in Spokane.
“This is big, especially for this time of year,” said Boyce. “March is typically a slow month for this area. Skiing is nearly over and the tourism season hasn’t really begun.”
Evergreen Regional Volleyball has organized the tournament since its inception in 1997, and the event has grown from hosting 70 teams in its first year to the 366 teams expected this year. The players will arrive from 14 states, and 37 teams from Spokane will be amongst those competing.
Games start Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each weekend, and are free to spectators.
For more information, visit www.pacificnwqualifier.org/ index.html
McManus to speak at EWU
His books may be recognized nationwide, but he’s still a Northwest local. Outdoor writer, humorist and longtime Spokane resident Patrick McManus will speak March 31 at 4:30 p.m. in the JFK Library lobby on the Eastern Washington University campus.
The event, sponsored by the EWU Friends of the Library, will offer a chance for area residents to meet the author of New York Times best sellers like “Real Ponies Don’t Go Oink!” and “The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw.”
“A Conversation with Pat McManus” is free and open to the public. The event will conclude with a question and answer session and a book signing. Members of the public are invited to bring their favorite McManus book or purchase a copy at the event. A number of books will be given away as prizes and refreshments will be provided.
Stephanie Pettit, who is on the executive committee of FOL, said they are honored to have one of the Inland Northwest’s most acclaimed authors speak during what will be the public portion of their yearly meeting. “Pat doesn’t give public appearances too often anymore, so it’s a real treat to have him here,” Pettit said.
McManus has said he will chat about whatever happens to be on his mind that day, but Pettit thinks one topic of conversation might revolve around his latest body of work. “At 70-something years-old, he changed his whole genre over,” said Pettit, “which just goes to show that it’s never too late for a change.”
The author has written 19 books, recently swapping his signature outdoor humor to mystery novels, with the Sheriff Bo Tully series. His most recent book is “The Double-Jack Murders,” third in the series, which will be published by Simon & Schuster this coming September.
Contact Janice at (509) 359-2264 for information.