The Slice: The readers always write

You might want to step back.

I’m about to dump out the Slice mailbag.

Terrie Roberts, Mike George, Dennis DeMattia and others said Cascade was their favorite name for a now defunct airline that served the Northwest. All noted that it came to be known as Crashcade, for reasons I probably don’t need to go into.

Patricia Garvin answered the question about having to replenish the household supply of Halloween candy.

“Despite the fact that our five children have been on their own for years, we do have problems keeping the trick or treat candy on hand. We buy early for the large bags, but usually have had to do so at least twice. Putting the candy in the basement freezer did not solve the problem; we would find ourselves passing each other coming to and from the basement and discovering that the supply was steadily dwindling.”

After The Slice asked about occupations that open your eyes, Herb Postlewait wrote “Driving a school bus is certainly a learning experience.”

Readers weighed in on growing up in two-newspaper households.

“My dad called the Spokesman ‘That Republican rag’ and thought the Chronicle was a little less biased,” wrote Bob Johnston.

(Bob’s dad, a staunch railroad union man, thought it was important to get all points of view.)

Gayle Ray’s family took two papers when she was growing up in Oregon.

Patty Hostetter got home delivery of two daily newspapers in Alaska.

Sue Kassa’s family got both the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Seattle Times.

David Dodson’s family received The Spokesman-Review and the Coeur d’Alene Press.

Growing up in Montana, John Kafentzis saw three morning papers arrive at his home – The Missoulian, the Great Falls Tribune and The S-R.

And Donna Clellen recalled subscribing to both Spokane dailies. This started, she made a point of noting, back before yours truly was born.

In another matter, Greg Staples made an emphatic but good-natured case for referring to Seattle as being on “the coast.”

Jack Goodwin said you’re not a newcomer here if you remember the old brick Sacred Heart Hospital.

Laura Ott said you’re not if you visit the local graves of your parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

Grace Nelson said you’re not a newcomer if you remember going to John Denver’s second show (the first sold out) at Expo ’74.

And Anne Chamberlain said you’re not a newcomer “If you still call the stream Hangman Creek.”

Today’s Slice question: Have you ever heard a football coach say anything surprising on camera?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Bill Brock recently encountered warnings about “aggressive marmots” at a national park.