Washington Voices

Spokane County’s West Plains bears the scars of ancient flooding that funneled out of the Spokane Valley as a 1,200-foot-tall wall of water. Even though the series of massive floods occurred 12,000 to 18,000 years ago, scientists say lines from the largest “ripple field” ever discovered are still visible near Spokane International Airport.

Very smell-sensitive, but what an inquisitive creature. Lily is about 1 to 2 years old and is already spayed. If you are interested in this cat or any animal at SCRAPS, please call (509) 477-2532 or come by the shelter at 2521 N. Flora Road, Spokane Valley. Cat adoptions are $62.70 and include spay or neuter, first set of vaccinations, health check, microchip and first year’s license.

The Spokane Camera Club, founded in 1932, recently awarded local photographers for their talents in the club’s annual competition at the Salon and Awards Banquet at Mukogawa Fort Wright on April 25. Marilyn Bashore was recognized for a number of her pieces at the banquet. “Alpine Mist” received Scenic Print of the Year; “String Theory” was awarded Talbot Trophy for Creative Monochrome Print of the Year; “Sulphur Falls” was awarded the John Sparkes Trophy for Monochrome Print of the Year; “Modesty” received the Eldon Griffith Trophy for Color Print of the Year; and “Florabundance” was awarded Creative Color Digital Image of the Year.

Wine lovers headed out this weekend to sample what the Spokane area has to offer are likely to taste wines that rank well against some of the best wines in the country, especially in terms of price. Spokane’s Spring Barrel Tasting weekend starts Friday and continues through Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.

It was the night before Bloomsday, and rain was falling gently in the South Perry neighborhood. Neighbors gathered on the west side of the street for a party. The Lantern tavern opened on South Perry last Thursday, and Saturday evening the place was hopping as much as possible in the tiny storefront that formerly was home to the Pop Shoppe.

The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is going ahead with plans for outside exhibits and landscaping in its back parking lot even as surrounding business owners continue to complain that blocking off the museum’s parking lot has impacted their business. Last week the museum ripped up a huge triangle of asphalt in the parking lot behind its historic building at 12114 E. Sprague Ave. The area will be planted with grass, trees and shrubs, said museum director Jayne Singleton. “It’s to give it more of a parklike feel,” she said.

People have different opinions about what is or is not art. Someone might look at an abstract painting and consider it nothing more than a mistake, while someone else might be in awe of the artist’s ability to turn random colors and shapes into emotion. Whatever one’s opinion, it is fair to say that creating is creating and when a creation is paired with passion, a work of art is born.

There’s never been a better time to be a screenwriter, according to Paul Castro, one of America’s rising stars in the screenwriting field. “If you have talent and a story,” he said, “it’s economy-proof.” Castro will be in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday to share his expertise and advice on writing and selling screenplays through his workshop “Screenwriting Essentials for your Successful Movie.”