Blogroll

Spin Control

By Jim Camden

Nov. 6 – You have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to mark your ballot, place it in the proper envelopes, seal and sign the envelopes, and take the whole thing to a ballot drop box or mail it. If you mail your ballot Tuesday, make sure it will be postmarked that day. Taking it to the post office is a good idea. Dropping it in the neighborhood mailbox in the afternoon – not so much.

The Slice

By Paul Turner

Nov. 5 – Sometimes our neighbor’s cat appears on the front porch as if Scotty beamed her down from the starship Enterprise.

One moment you’re checking the mailbox or whatever and she’s nowhere to be seen. And then, out of thin air, she materializes at your feet. If the door is cracked open, she might just appear as a gray blur on her way in to investigate opportunities for seafood treats.

But last night, I could tell she was coming.

Long after dark, I opened the front door and looked out. That’s when I heard it. The sound out there in the blackness was not really a rustling. It was more like a fast series of little splashes. She was on her way. But because the yard is covered with leaves from our maple tree, I could hear her running. The leaves robbed her of her usual stealth.

I guess it’s about time to do a little raking.

Outdoors blog

By Rich Landers

Nov. 4 – “Take a kid fishing” is an accepted slogan in the outdoors industry. Most people agree that our world would be a better place if everyone took an interest in our children and made an effort to get them outdoors.

But Chelan-area fishing guide Anton Jones (Darrell & Dad’s Family Guide Service) has an observation from his years of experience that’s worth considering. Your kid’s tip of the week is to watch what you say as well as what you do, he says. 

Down to Earth

By Paul Dillon

Nov. 3 – Today was a celebration of the “new conservation area” in Riverfront Park without much evidence of the old YMCA building that was demolished amid controversy.

Was it worth it? The opening of the area is beautiful. I don’t miss the old building. It was a blight. I just wish there had been a better funding mechanism to tear down the YMCA other than diverting $4.3 million of Conservation Futures money. That’s about $200 a square foot. Plus, the demolition went over budget and the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department is already under enough economic duress.