The Slice: What will 2013 bring? No, really, tell me

We cannot always foretell the future.

But that doesn’t stop us from trying.

With that in mind, The Slice would like readers to gaze into their crystal balls and then predict the local headlines we will see in 2013.

Please submit two. One should be a headline you hope to read next year. The second should be a headline you feel certain we actually will see.

Remember, your heds (as they are known in the biz) should have local themes and be in newspaper style. But it is up to you whether your glimpses of the future deal with news, sports, lifestyles, business, travel, outdoors, letters to the editor, a column, an obituary or an editorial opinion.

The submissions deadline is 9 a.m., Dec. 26. Be sure to include your name and daytime phone number.

This isn’t really a contest. My hope is to print a lot of readers’ 2013 headlines. Extra space has already been booked. But to help stoke the creative fires, in the spirit of a year-end closeout, I will be sending coveted reporter’s notebooks to more than a few entrants.

Good luck.

One of Joan Williams’ third-graders had a Christmas music question: “What the heck is a parson Brown?”

Middle-age woman overheard talking to a man at Huckleberry’s: “You know moving here would mean no Neiman Marcus store, don’t you?” — submitted by M.J. Wilde

Party planning tip: Friends and family gathered at the Steam Plant Grill recently to celebrate Phil Slater’s 70th birthday. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

But near the end of the dinner, Slater’s 6 ½-year-old granddaughter offered him some advice.

“Next time you have a party, swimming or roller skating or bowling would be a lot more fun.”

Slater assured her he would keep that in mind.

Slice answers: Lots of readers told about encountering Patty Duke, in settings ranging from a bowling alley to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

Not one had anything but nice things to say.

A few readers’ stories are posted on The Slice Blog today.

Today’s Slice question: What Spokane area resident holds the record for using the most tape when gift-wrapping a present?