Washington Voices

Jon Swanstrom is a fringe artist with a strong aversion to 9 to 5 and societal confinements. Creating outside the perimeter of mainstream art, Swanstrom is free to express himself without restraint, staying far from the spoon-fed ideals offered by the media and the masses. As society is urged to consume more and upgrade often, Swanstrom is fiercely loyal to what’s left behind; taking the old and discarded and giving it aesthetic purpose. “There’s a lot of beauty in old stuff,” he said.

Q: Five people having lunch in Liberty Lake were asked: “Have you seen ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2’? If not, do you plan on it?”

Medical Lake’s only contested race in the Aug. 16 primary election is for incumbent City Councilman Howard Jorgenson’s position. Jorgenson faces two challengers who are making their first bids for public office: attorney Donald Kennedy, 60, and state Transportation Department worker Kent Reitmeier, 48.

Plants thrive and grow best with fertile soil, sunlight, water and care. But if people were plants, abused and neglected children would be the flowers sown in barren soil where they’re stepped on and left unwatered. They’re the plants that need nurturing the most. At CASA Partners’ Bee Kind Garden, each summer about 50 foster children receive the equivalent of sun, water and care to help them heal and thrive.

Millie came to SCRAPS July 2. She is a young female pit bull mix around 9 months old.  She knows “sit,” loves tennis balls and likes to cool off in the kiddie pool. She tested well with cats and dogs. Leashed introductions are appropriate. She is young and willing to learn. Please refer to the pet’s ID number when contacting SCRAPS with questions about one of the adoptable pets. If you are interested in this dog or any animal at SCRAPS, call (509) 477-2532 or come by the shelter at 2421 N. Flora Road, Spokane Valley. Dog adoptions are $87.04 and include spay or neuter, first set of vaccinations, health check, microchip and first year’s license.  

Artist Larry Ellingson’s color wheel is three-dimensional and filled with “stuff,” including lawn sprinklers, buttons, rusty hinges, weathered wood, pool balls, tire pumps, old toys and “whatchamacallits,” you know, those things you absentmindedly slide into the junk drawer or flick off the counter for the cat to swat across the kitchen floor. Simple banalities or once useful items, they become something entirely different when Ellingson is done with them.

Everything about my father-in-law Aage (Au-gee) Hval was larger than life. His hands. His broad back. His warm smile. His generous heart. And Thursday afternoon, without warning, that big heart stopped beating. He’d spoken with my husband, Derek, several times that morning. My sister-in-law, who lives on the adjoining property, saw him walk from his office into the house around 12:30. A few hours later her 13-year-old son ran over to talk to Papa Aage and found him on the bedroom floor.

Don’t be alarmed if you see dozens of miniature Mel Gibsons running around town on Aug. 6. Chances are the kids have just come from the 2011 Spokane Highland Games. Braveheart face-painting with accompanying balloon swords is just one of the many family-friendly activities offered at this year’s Games. However, those who prefer real sword action won’t be disappointed. “We’re going to have a Claymore demonstration,” said Ruby Devine, co-chair of the Spokane Highland Games. A claymore is a Scottish broadsword. “It’s a very large sword,” Devine said. “Mike Winderman and Eric Slyter will offer sword-fighting instruction as well as a demonstration.”