Washington Voices

As patrons roamed the inside of Southside Community Senior Center's dining room, they were in celebration: several Spokane residents had reached their 100th birthday, and they were honored in one of the center's first post-pandemic in-person events.

The former KXLY weathercaster was inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' northwest chapter on Saturday. He delivered Spokanites a nightly forecast from 1985 to 1996. 

On Saturday, Pope Francis arrived in Cuba, hailing the detente between the United States and Cuba as a model of reconciliation. But for Cuban national Denia Correa, who came to the United States as political refugee, the Pope’s visit is just one more sign that after 19 years, she may soon get to see her family again. “My childhood was very good. I grew up in the country, rode horses and learned to drive a tractor,” Correa said. “But I always knew I wanted to leave Cuba.”

Lamont Thompson was one of those athletes you admire easily. His play on the field spoke volumes about his character and his talent. Simply put he’s probably the best safety ever to play football for Washington State University. His 24 interceptions remain a Pac-10 record, and his stellar play in Pullman earned him a second-round selection in the 2002 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Spokane Watercolor Society’s annual juried show has a new home at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Starting Sept. 30, paintings will be on display in the Helen South Alexander Gallery in the Cheney Cowles Center.

Work on an octagonal gazebo is nearly complete on Rose Hill at Manito Park. The $60,000 structure was a gift from the Friends of Manito. It’s located near the dahlia garden and midway between the formal hybrid roses and the less formal old-fashioned roses.

Above: Sarah Nelson, 13, of Moses Lake, beams after accepting the ceremonial millionth pillowcase made by Ryan’s Case for Smiles on Sept. 17 at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane. Right: Ryan’s Case for Smiles volunteers from the Spokane chapter, including, from left, Dawna Hatcher, Janet Payne and Betty Higley, set up shop in the Sacred heart Children’s Hospital Inpatient Pediatric Unit on Sept. 17 as they sew pillowcases for the floor’s children. About the program: Ryan’s Case for Smiles delivered its millionth pillowcase to a child somewhere in the United States on Sept. 17. Locally, the lucky recipient was Nelson. “No one knows exactly who got the millionth pillowcase,” said Spokane chapter coordinator Joyce M. Beach. “All 120 chapters just did their delivery on the same day.” Ryan’s Case for Smiles is a nonprofit organization that aims to make fun, colorful and personalized pillow cases for and with children dealing with serious illnesses. The simple sewing project provides a break from medical treatment and produces a personal keepsake. “We also made 51 pillowcases with the kids at the hospital that day,” Beach said. To learn more and to make donations to the local chapter visit http://caseforsmiles.org