Health & Home 08/01/2022 by The Inlander

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2022

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A Perfect Fit A Spokane home incorporates classic design elements for a modern family of four Page 22

ALSO: THE

Adaptable Page 28

HOME

FOOD • 36 Healthy and Delish!

FAMILY • 42 The Power of PTOs

PEOPLE • 46 Meet Massoud Emami

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WALLACE HUCKLEBERRY FESTIVAL SATISFYING SHORTS • ROLLIN‘ ALONG

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ADAPTING TO STRESS • WILD AND FREE CALORIE COUNT • MEDS ON THE GO

Food

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DURABLE, PRACTICAL AND BEAUTIFUL THE ADAPTABLE HOME • SURFACE STRUCTURE

LESS IS MORE • A LOVE OF GROWING RECIPE: GRILLED VEGETABLE PASTA SALAD

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SCHOOL TIES

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PG. 46

CHILDLIKE WONDER MEETS GROWN-UP FUNDER

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KORN X EVANESCENCE Tuesday, September 13 Spokane Arena

JUSTIN MOORE: COUNTRY ON IT TOUR Saturday, September 17 First Interstate Center for the Arts

IRON MAIDEN: LEGACY OF THE BEAST Friday, September 30 Spokane Arena

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

FROM THE EDITOR SPOKANE • EASTERN WASHINGTON • NORTH IDAHO also at inlander.com/health&home

Stay Connected Email Health & Home Editor Anne McGregor at annem@inlander.com. The conversation continues on the Inlander Facebook page, and stay in touch with us at Inlander.com/Health&Home.

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Changing It Up

1227 W. Summit Parkway, Spokane, Wash. 99201 PHONE: 509-325-0634

EDITOR Anne McGregor

annem@inlander.com

ART DIRECTOR Ali Blackwood STAFF WRITER Carrie Scozzaro MANAGING EDITOR Dan Nailen ASSOCIATE EDITOR Chey Scott

BY ANNE McGREGOR

etting comfortable with change is something that takes practice. And since we’ve all certainly had a lot of practice in recent years, we should pretty much be experts at this point. I’ve learned that while change can most certainly induce fear, there’s no real choice but to acknowledge the fear and then move on forward — probably best described as “name it and tame it.” In this issue we feature a whole array of situations — sometimes scary — that prompt positive changes. There’s chef Duane Sunwold (page 36), whose discovery that he had chronic kidney disease led him to work with Spokane-based Spiceology on a whole new array of no-salt seasonings in order to make a “restricted” diet into a fresh and delightful one. We also chat with Massoud Emami (page 46), fundraiser extraordinaire, who decided Spokane needed a playground that was accessible to kids of every ability and went to work to make it happen at Riverfront Park’s Providence Playscape. And we have a special Adaptable Home section (page 28), exploring practical ways to make our homes work better for us, even as our health and lifestyle situations change. And if all that change is just making you feel stressed, Nate Sanborn takes a look at adaptogens (page 10) — plant-based substances that, used wisely, may be able to offer some help.

CONTRIBUTORS Stacey Aggarwal, Jessica Bell, LeAnn Bjerken Erick Doxey, Jonathan Hill, E.J. Iannelli, Young Kwak, Madison Pearson, Lexie Powell, Nate Sanford, Seth Sommerfeld ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kristi Gotzian EVENT & SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Kristina Smith SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Carolyn Padgham ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jeanne Inman, Tracy Menasco, Autumn Adrian Potts, Claire Price, Sklyler Strahl, Stephanie Grinols, Wanda Tashoff ADVERTISING ASSISTANTS McKenna Fuhrman, Colleen Bell-Craig PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom Stover SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Derrick King

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER Todd Goodner CIRCULATION Frank DeCaro, Travis Beck BUSINESS MANAGER Dee Ann Cook CREDIT MANAGER Kristin Wagner PUBLISHER Ted S. McGregor Jr. GENERAL MANAGER Jeremy McGregor

SETH SOMMERFELD is the Music Editor for The Inlander, and an alumnus of Gonzaga University and Syracuse University. He has written for The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Fox Sports, SPIN, Collider and many other outlets. He also hosts the podcast, Everyone is Wrong. For this issue, he journeyed to Providence Playscape to chat with Massoud Emami about his fundraising wizardry, through which he’s helped transform Riverfront Park and more.

For this issue, CARRIE SCOZARRO writes about adaptable homes. “Writing about accessibility was an eye-opener. Like most people, I’m not as well prepared as I ought to be for any loss in my mobility, nor do I want to face that inevitability. Reframing the discussion as an inclusive, universal approach towards home design has given me a new way to consider what changes I can start to put in place for both the short- and long-term.”

Health & Home is published every other month and is available free at more than 500 locations across the Inland Northwest. One copy free per reader. Subscriptions are available at $2.50 per issue: call x213. Reaching Us: Editorial: x261; Circulation: x226; Advertising: x215. COPYRIGHT All contents copyrighted © Inland Publications, Inc. 2022. Health & Home is locally owned and has been published since 2004.

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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

EVENTS

Wallace Huckleberry Festival BY MADISON PEARSON

hether you’re new to the Inland Northwest or you’re a lifelong resident, you’re probably familiar with huckleberries. They’re a big deal around here, and there’s no better way to celebrate our regional fruit than by dedicating an entire weekend to them. The annual festival celebrates all things huckleberry and features a 5k race, a pancake breakfast, food and craft vendors, live music and more. Fri, Aug. 19 from 7 am-9 pm and Sat, Aug. 20 from 7 am-3 pm. Free. All ages. Wallace, ID. wallacehuckfest.com (406-241-7134)

Historic Walking Tours

Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the natural beauty and history of our hometown when we experience it every day. Historian Chet Caskey is looking to remedy that problem by hosting free historic walking tours in Riverfront Park, where he shares his knowledge with curious minds. Explore the city’s past and present, and see how they merge in unique ways; learn about the rich history of the Spokane Falls, Expo ’74, the Looff Carrousel and more. Tours begin at the visitor center and last about one hour. Sat, Aug. 13 and 27 at 10 am and 12 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St., my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane (509-625-6600)

Manito Park Summer Plant Sale

The biannual plant sale, hosted by Friends of Manito, includes a selection of perennials, houseplants, and home and garden decor items. Held in the parking lot just east of the Gaiser Conservatory, plants are arranged by botanical name for easy access to your favorite outdoor and indoor plants. A list of plants that are available at the sale can be found on the Friends of Manito website. Sat, Aug. 27 from 8 am-3 pm. Free. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. thefriendsofmanito.org (509-456-8038)

Pig Out in the Park

It’s back! After a two-year hiatus, the 41st annual Pig Out in the Park returns to Riverfront in 2022. Spokanites know Pig Out as their favorite six-day food festival that just so happens to include some rockin’ live music as well. Along with 50 food vendors and three beer gardens, this year’s Pig Out includes over 40 public market booths and over 90 free concerts. Find some comfort food, a shady spot under the clocktower and feast all week long. If you try hard enough, you might be able to taste everything! Aug. 31-Sept. 5 from 11 am-10 pm daily. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St., my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane (509-625-6600)

Spokane Symphony Pops 1: Classical Mystery Tour

The Spokane Symphony is kicking off its 2022-23 season Pops shows with a tribute to The Beatles, the band that caused worldwide chaos and spurred the British Invasion in the 1960s. The Spokane Symphony takes Beatles lovers on a trip through their greatest hits and solo ventures. Take a stroll down “Penny Lane” and listen to the lush strings of “Yesterday,” all accompanied by the symphony orchestra. Sat, Oct. 1 at 7:30 pm. See Pops subscription prices on the symphony’s website. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave, spokanesymphony.org (509-624-1200)

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STORY TIME

Satisfying Shorts A

s readers familiar with Jess Walter’s work might expect, the stories in his new book, THE ANGEL OF ROME: AND OTHER STORIES, are full of humor and heart. Whether delving into a one-night stand between a thespian and ski-town townie (“Famous Actor”), the uneasy relationship between an aging man and the kids on his street (“To The Corner”), a son coming to grips with his father’s dementia (“Town & Country”) or the epic Italian romance-laced character clash in “The Angel of Rome,” the stories also offer hope in what can be dark times. While one can easily jump in at any place and enjoy a story or two, taken collectively these stories, written roughly from 2012 to 2021, do start to show a theme, Walter says. “It was such a difficult few years for me. For everybody. Politically, culturally. And I kept writing short stories to find some kind of hope,” he says, chatting in his Spokane office. “There’s still dark situations… But I think I was looking for kind of these human connections that felt hopeful in the face of all that. And that’s maybe where even the idea of the ‘Angel of Rome,’ that title story, came from, was this idea of finding hope in the connections we make with other people.” As Walter looks at his short stories — the 12 in Angel were picked from around 40 in contention to be in the book — he sees more than the characters on the page. He sees himself at whatever point in time he was writing them. “It’s surprising to look back and see how many of the things you were dealing with work their way in the stories,” he says. “Parenthood, children, political sorrow and anxiety over climate change. Everything kind of works its way in there.” — DAN NAILEN

BRING YOUR APPETITE

Rollin‘ Along

ungry? We thought so. Make the most of the last wonderful weeks of summer by grabbing a meal from a local food truck, where everyone from the pickiest to the most adventurous is sure to find a tasty meal. You can check out FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY, downtown at 221 N. Wall St. from 11 am to 2 pm through Aug. 26, featuring Tacos Camargo, Jerusalem, Toby’s BBQ and Skewers. Every Tuesday downtown, check out RIVERFRONT EATS, from 11 am to 2 pm, through Aug. 30, with a variety of food options in Riverfront Park, plus live music. Also be on the lookout for some don’t-miss options from relative newcomers. Take for example, the golden crispy karaage chicken topped with seasoning and a mayo drizzle at FUJI FUJI. Find them Saturdays from 5-8 pm outside the Inland Cider Mill on Francis, and Sundays from noon-6pm at the Wildland Cooperative in Green Bluff. At FORBIDDEN FRIES, the already pretty perfect French fry is elevated by adding a variety of toppings. A popular favorite for obvious reasons is the carne asada fries smothered with steak strips, queso fresco, chopped onion, sour cream, cilantro and verde sauce. Check them out at the Hillyard Food Court Pavilion (5108 N. Market) and at the Millwood and Fairwood farmers markets. – ANNE McGREGOR

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

Adapting to Stress Can herbs, plants and mushrooms help beat back the stress of modern life? BY NATE SANFORD

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daptogens are a broad category of herbs and plants thought to have medicinal qualities. As the name implies, they aim to help your body adapt – usually to stress, but also to ailments like fatigue and exhaustion. Various adaptogens have been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine. There are dozens of different types, but holy basil, ashwagandha, ginseng and astragalus are some of the most common. Renu Sinha is a Spokane surgeon who trained at some of the top U.S. medical schools. She also has a clinical education in Ayurveda. She’s a proponent of adaptogens, though she emphasizes that they aren’t a magic cure. If you’re drinking alcohol and smoking every day, adaptogens aren’t going to make your stress better. The herbs can help, Sinha says, but only if the person using them also takes steps to examine the root causes of their stress. Anticipating and controlling stress is a personal endeavor that requires a holistic approach, Sinha says. Your environment, diet, work and relationships all play an important role in your stress levels. “We want people to have realistic expectations,” Sinha says. Adaptogens have traditionally been absent from Western medical practices, though Sinha says there’s growing interest among some physicians. The scientific research landscape is still murky, and Sinha

says more studies are needed. A few studies have found positive correlations between adaptogens and stress reduction, but many have been inconclusive or struggled to draw concrete findings. Something like stress can be tough to measure empirically because it impacts everyone differently. Western medicine is good at addressing acute problems, Sinha says, but it sometimes struggles with chronic illness. While more research is needed, Sinha says adaptogens can play a role in Western medicine, alongside other holistic approaches like yoga and meditation. “We have an obligation to provide the truth to patients, and if we don’t know we have to say we don’t know,” Sinha says. “But if it doesn’t harm you, and it seems to help you improve, we’re OK with it.” Sinha stresses that people should consult their doctor before incorporating adaptogens into their diet. Research has found adaptogens to be largely harmless, but taking too much of some types can have a caffeine-like effect, impacting blood sugar levels or making your heart beat faster. People who are pregnant, diabetic or have heart conditions should be cautious, Sinha says. ...continued on page 13

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

Ashwagandha Holy Basil

COMMON ADAPTOGENS Ashwagandha Lion’s Mane

Asian Ginseng

Ashwagandha is probably one of the most well-known adaptogens. It’s an Indian herb that’s been used for thousands of years. It’s thought to have a calming effect and can be useful for chronic stress, Spokane Doctor Renu Sinha says. The herb is also thought to help with fatigue and insomnia. Sinha says people should avoid using ashwagandha if they are pregnant, have a thyroid problem or are on certain medication like sedatives. It can be taken in capsules or mixed with food or drinks like tea.

Holy Basil

Holy basil is also common in traditional Indian medicine. It has purpley, dark leaves and is thought to help with depression, fatigue and anxiety, Sinha says. Holy basil is also easy to grow, it just needs to be outdoors in the heat. You can put the leaves directly in your drink or brew it in tea. It doesn’t have many side effects, Sinha says, though taking very large amounts might lower your blood sugar.

Asian Ginseng

Asian ginseng is thought to improve the immune system and stamina, and might have some benefits in dealing with upper respiratory infections, Sinha says. You can

Reishi

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take it in capsules or tea. The downside, Sinha says, is that it can act as a stimulant, increasing blood pressure and anxiety and making insomnia worse.

Reishi

McFarland says reishi mushrooms are probably the best jumping off point for people new to medicinal mushrooms. They’re typically taken as tinctures or as a tea, though local mushroom grower Rob McFarland warns that the flavor can be pretty potent. (“It’s not something that you’re probably going to order from the coffee stand,” McFarland says.) Reishi is one of many mushrooms that have long been used in many Asian countries for immune support.

Lion’s Mane

This mushroom is thought to improve concentration, memory and other aspects of cognitive function, McFarland says. Enthusiasts like Paul Stamets, a mycologist in Washington state who was featured prominently in Netflix’s Fantastic Fungi, have also pointed to the mushroom’s potential benefit for dementia patients. It can be taken as raw, in powdered form or in tinctures. — NATE SANFORD

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“ADAPTING TO STRESS,” CONTINUED...

daptogens come in a variety of forms. They can be brewed into tea, mixed with food, and taken as capsules or powder. While many of the most common adaptogens are herbs or plants, adaptogenic mushrooms are also increasingly popular. Rob McFarland first became interested in adaptogenic mushrooms about four years ago, when he was catching frequent colds while working at an office job. He wanted to boost his immune system and started looking into the medicinal benefits of reishi mushrooms. Reishi mushrooms seemed to help, so McFarland started doing more research and began growing mushrooms of his own. He and his wife now run Far Land Fungi, a Spokane-based mushroom farm that specializes in both medicinal and gourmet mushrooms. The most popular mushroom they sell is lion’s mane, a stringy, white mushroom that resembles its namesake and is thought to benefit cognitive health. Thanks to a recent Netflix documentary and other popular media, most customers seem to already know about lion’s mane. McFarland says demand is so high they’re having trouble keeping up with production. “It’s sort of in the cultural zeitgeist,” McFarland says. ...continued on next page

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“ADAPTING TO STRESS,” CONTINUED... McFarland’s take seems accurate. While once relatively obscure, adaptogens have seen a surge of interest in recent years, driven in part by a growing millennial wellness industry and a string of celebrity endorsements. “Alright ashwagandha. Help a girl out

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that the global adaptogen industry will be valued at $23.4 billion by 2031. Adaptogenic products aren’t regulated by the FDA. That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe or don’t work, but it can open up the industry to bad actors who overstate the benefits of their product. Sinha recommends

When you exceed the amount of stress that your body can handle or your mind can handle, that’s when you have problems here,” Jennifer Affleck says as she pops a gummy in a recent ad for supplement brand Goli Nutrition. Gwenith Paltrow’s Goop company sells supplements containing adaptogens. Strangely, so does Alex Jones’ InfoWars. You can find them in natural food stores and farmers markets, but also at places like Sephora and Nordstrom. A report from Transparency Market Research estimates

consumers seek information from reputable government and medical websites. “You’ve got to remember that the companies are here to sell you a product,” Sinha says. “So sometimes, whether they mean to or not, they might make exaggerated claims.” Sinha thinks some of the growing popularity of adaptogens can be attributed to the stress of modern life.

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Tinctures are one of the many ways to consume adaptogens. FAR LAND FUNGI PHOTO

Almost half of American adults report that their lives have become more stressful over the past two years, according to the American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America” survey. Medical understanding of the effects of stress has also improved in recent years. It’s not just a negative emotion — prolonged stress can cause tissue and organ damage and make chronic health conditions worse, Sinha says. Google Trends data show a small number of searches for “adaptogens” in the 2000s and early 2010s. Search interest started increasing around November 2016 (a stressful time for many) and has been steadily climbing since. The largest share of the web traffic comes from Oregon; Washington is fourth. “When you exceed the amount of stress that your body can handle or your mind can handle, that’s when you have problems,” Sinha says. McFarland says stress is by far the most common thing customers want to treat with adaptogenic mushrooms. He uses them himself and says they’ve helped him manage the stress that comes with operating a mushroom farm and other businesses. “I think the stress that puts me under would take a far greater toll if I wasn’t supplementing,” McFarland says.

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local edible plants are common and may even be in your yard. From dandelion greens to wild daisies, and even a flowering plant known as the “oyster plant,” there are plenty of local wild foods waiting to be found.

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Wilted dandelion greens make for a delicious salad. SUPERFOOD

Wild and Free BY STACEY AGGARWAL

he Inland Northwest has a bountiful selection of wild edible plants and herbs – from berries to leafy greens, and everything in between – that can add nutrition and variety to your plate this summer. While the term “foraging” may sound quaint, the skill of seeking out and collecting wild plants is very much alive today. And while it can take training and patience to learn to forage wild plants, those efforts may be rewarded with a slew of health benefits.

ATTRIBUTES

Eating local, wild foods can help your health, wallet and the environment. Even if you’re not ready to try this yourself, there are plenty of professional foragers in our area who sell their bounties at local markets, so you can reap many of the benefits without getting your hands dirty. In the Inland Northwest, we’re very familiar with staple wild foods like morel mushrooms and huckleberries. However, if you look a bit further, you’ll find that

Many of these wild foods are packed with phytochemicals, antioxidants and other nutrients. Since these plants thrive in our Northwest soil, they’re naturally organic and more biodiverse than most commercially grown produce. Additionally, you can access them with little-to-no transportation, which accounts for a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the food industry. Finally, if you do decide to study up and get foraging yourself, you can save money by gathering your own produce instead of purchasing it and get some exercise by getting outdoors.

WEAKNESSES

Before you ingest anything you’ve harvested in the wild, you’ll need to confirm a positive identification. Unfortunately for foraging newbies, some edible plants have some look-a-likes that can be toxic. Boost your knowledge of local wild food by studying guidebooks for your area, taking a class,

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or going foraging with an expert. If you’re not 110 percent sure of an identification, you should keep the plant off your plate. Additionally, make sure you know how to sustainably harvest wild plants so that you don’t reduce the population of the plant you want to enjoy, or mistakenly harm the local ecosystem. For newbies, consider trying some of the many wild foods and medicinal plants offered by local experts at farmers’ markets.

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Have you ever tried a salad made with wilted dandelion greens, while sipping dandelion flower iced tea? Made a soup with wild daisy? Enjoyed morels sauteed with garlic and drizzled in butter? As much variety asyou’ll find in wild edible foods, there is an equal variety in ways to prepare them. New-to-you foraged foods are not only a great way to add some variety in your regular diet, but a reason to get creative in the kitchen.

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Stacey Aggarwal received a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Washington. She writes about biology, health and nutrition while running a lavender farm in North Idaho.

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Calorie Count It’s up to owners to help pets maintain a healthy weight BY JESSICA BELL

s veterinarians, we deal with pet obesity every day in the clinic. It’s not shocking since most online surveys find nearly 60 percent of dogs and cats are obese. Just as in humans, poor diet and obesity are linked to joint pain and arthritis, heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, certain types of cancers, and other health-related problems. And just as in humans, access to high calorie diets, excessive treats, and lack of exercise drive obesity. Yet far too often, people don’t recognize the reversible signs of obesity in their animals before these complications and others take hold. There are many improvements owners can do. Things like decreasing treats, cutting out human food and ensuring animals get appropriate exercise all play a role. It’s also critical to diagnose pet obesity early, and anyone can do that using the same method as their veterinarian — a body

UNDERWEIGHT

IDEAL WEIGHT

OVERWEIGHT

AMERICAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION GRAPHIC

conditioning score. The body conditioning score requires pet owners to evaluate their animals to determine their overall weight health. Typically scores range from one to nine, with four and five being the ideal weight. While many clinics have their own body conditioning scales, most are similar. Owners

can palpate the ribs of their animal and check to see if they can feel their pet’s spine; the two areas where dogs and cats have palpable fat covering. If they can’t feel the animal’s ribs or spine, it is a strong indicator there may be too much fat covering them. On the other hand, if the animal’s ribs are easily visible, they can be underweight.

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The body conditioning score also includes looking to ensure a dog’s flank, the area of the abdomen right before it meets the hind leg, is tucked behind the leg. When looking down on the pet’s back, they should have a slight hourglass shape. If there is no flank and it looks like their chest and abdomen meet their back legs, a dog is overweight. Body conditioning scores can be especially helpful in assessing boxier dogs, like bulldogs, that can be hard for owners to judge. Checking body conditioning scores for cats is critical too. Cats usually don’t see the veterinarian as often as dogs, and due to their survival instincts, they tend to hide joint pain caused by excess weight. A combination of these factors makes recognizing pain and health issues in cats difficult. Senior pets are especially susceptible to weight-related complications, so it is important to ensure pets are not overweight before entering their final years. Older dogs and cats exercise less frequently, so burning off the fat can be more difficult in later years. The best thing an owner can do for their animal is limit treats (human and pet) and keep their dog on a healthy, balanced diet. The most reputable pet food is regulated and approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Pet owners can jeopardize a pet’s health with too much food kindness, and possibly shorten their life by obesity health problems. But by paying attention to your pet’s weight, you can help your furry friend stay healthy and active. Jessica Bell is an assistant professor at WSU College of Veterinary Medicine and a small animal veterinarian in community practice at WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

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This is especially important for international travel. Some medications that are legal in the United States may not be legal in other countries, and the quantities allowed for certain products may be limited, so if possible, try not to rely on getting your medication at your destination. It also may be complicated to find medications in other countries, and some drugs may not even be available. If you’re traveling domestically, some prescriptions can be transferred to be

Make sure that you have enough medication to last through your trip. Consider packing a little extra to be prepared for any potential travel delays, remembering that it’s advised to travel with no more than personal use quantities. A good rule to follow is to travel with no more than a 90-day supply. Prescriptions are commonly filled for 30-day supplies, but many insurance companies will pay for 60- or 90-day supplies, and some will even allow overrides for a vacation supply. Check with your insurance company to ask about covered day supplies

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and your pharmacist to see if your prescription would be eligible to fill a larger day supply. Make sure to do this with plenty of time ahead of your trip since sometimes the pharmacy may need to send for a new prescription from your provider to fill a larger amount.

Pack Thoughtfully

The last thing anyone wants to deal with on vacation is lost luggage, but problems are compounded if that also results in lost medication. To avoid this risk, pack all medications in your carry-on bag. It’s recommended to keep all medications in their original container with the prescription label. If not, make sure to have a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor. I would also recommend printing out a complete list of your medications including drug name, dose and directions to pack with you. Happy travels! — LEXIE POWELL Lexie Powell is an assistant professor in the Pharmacotherapy Department at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences based in Spokane.

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A Spokane home incorporates classic design elements for a modern family of four BY ANNE McGREGOR 22

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PATRICK MARTINEZ PHOTO

hile a painting may inspire and music may enlighten, architecture is the one art form tasked with creating something that provides essential function in our daily lives. As far back as 15 B.C.E., Vitruvius famously expounded on the necessary elements of architecture, which he described as firmitas (strength and durability), utilitas (usefulness) and venustas (beauty and charm). On a rugged hilltop in north Spokane, architect Evan Verduin, founder of Trek Architecture, has achieved a striking balance of all three of those Vitruvian elements in one functional, durable and delight-filled family home. The home’s location was surely durable – after all, the lot

was filled with rocky outcroppings. But the rocks also posed the first challenge in the design process. “We needed to come up with a concept that wasn’t going to come in and spend a bunch of money removing all the rock, so we worked around it strategically. We did have to break up some rock, but we ended up leaving some outcroppings,” Verduin says. “So as you walk through the house, you’ll see moments where you can see the rock coming out of the hillside.” The home’s design – Verduin describes it as “Scandinavian-inspired, with a Northwest spin” – features a warm mix of wood and concrete, with steep, eaveless rooflines and an intentionally meandering layout. ...continued on next page AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

The painting over the fireplace in the great room slides up the wall to reveal a TV. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

Concealed drawers corral kids’ toys.

The dining room is purposefully intimate in scale.

ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

The kitchen island houses freezer drawers. PATRICK MARTINEZ PHOTO

“DURABLE, PRACTICAL AND BEAUTIFUL,” CONTINUED... owner was initially comfortable with. “I wasn’t sure I was going to like it,” she says. So Verduin worked to ease her concerns. “We did a couple mock-ups early on,” he notes. “We poured walls with three different types of wood, three different types of joint spacings,” for the homeowner to see before the design was finalized. The walls have ultimately become a key element of the home’s design. “You can imagine if it was all just painted white walls – we do that all

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the time,” Verduin says, “but this just adds a whole other level of texture to it.”

hough they’re undoubtedly aesthetically compelling, those concrete walls could be problematic in the winter – as in, very cold. So, in a nod to practicality, the house incorporates double walls, with rigid insulation sandwiched between the poured concrete on either side to improve the home’s energy efficiency.

The floorplan features a living room and kitchen situated in a vast, beamed vaulted space with a ceiling height of more than 30 feet. “The focal point of the whole home is this living space,” Verduin says. Spanning one side of the room is a contemporary fireplace, capped with a large abstract painting. But there’s a surprise underneath. “[The homeowner] didn’t want the focal point of the living room to be the TV, so we actually ended up coming up with a kind of cool idea to hide the TV behind that piece of art,” says Verduin. At the touch of a button, the painting glides up the wall, revealing the TV underneath. The project wasn’t particularly easy – “Between the AV guy and the contractors, it required a lot of coordination during construction,” says Verduin – but it does neatly solve a common problem of aesthetics versus functionality for a young family. In another nod to family needs in the often somewhat minimalist aesthetic, a row of nearly invisible broad drawers under the fireplace wall holds board games and other kid-related items, ready for an evening at the nearby game table. The dining area is tucked near the front entry and features a lower ceiling height, creating a more intimate space the homeowner enjoys using to help her kids with homework, but also for entertaining. A long broad island that separates the kitchen from the living area features easy-access freezer drawers and abundant deep storage drawers, and offers the perfect place for kids to eat breakfast and get ready for school. Somewhat hidden away across from the kitchen is the butler’s pantry. “This is the mom’s dream,” says the homeowner. “It’s my kitchen away from my ...continued on page 26

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

The breezeway is routed around a large rock outcropping on the site.

The primary bedroom offers a quiet refuge for parents of two young kids. PATRICK MARTINEZ PHOTO

PATRICK MARTINEZ PHOTO

“DURABLE, PRACTICAL AND BEAUTIFUL,” CONTINUED... kitchen – so I can have my mom’s mess corner!” Small appliances are lined up and easy to access, and there’s also room for little mementos, such as a Mother’s Day potted petunia from her son. The home’s second “pod” is accessed through a windowed breezeway, complete with a cushioned nook for reading while enjoying the views of the swaying tall grasses framing the large apricot-toned boulders. The natural look is exactly what the homeowner was going for. “I don’t want it to feel like it’s all manicured,” she says. “I want it to feel like it’s in a forest, and I don’t want to worry about mowing it every week. We’re still working on perfecting it. We’re getting there.” The primary bedroom at the end of the hallway is intentionally cool and dark. “I like to sleep in a cave,” laughs the homeowner. It also features a sauna. “I love that it’s in my bedroom, because I don’t think I would use it if it wasn’t,” she says. Views of the forest and distant Mount Spokane dominate the primary bathroom’s tub and shower spaces.

B The gym houses equipment for a budding American Ninja. ERICK DOXEY PHOTO

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ut the showstopper in this wing of the home is undoubtedly the shiny black iron spiral staircase that leads up to an artist studio/exercise space. In the studio, canvases are stacked, and one huge canvas is ready for an abstract painting that she’s planned for the dining room. The spiral staircase was just one of many specific elements the homeowner requested at the outset of

the design and build process. “I thought about every space that I wanted specifically and told Evan,” she says. In fact she and Verduin agree that the process of designing and building the home, though taking place over five years, was surprisingly smooth. “Sometimes it’s hard to get in the client’s head and determine what they’re looking for,” Verduin says, “but I think on our first pitch, (she) loved it. Obviously we developed it and massaged it over time, but it didn’t take us months and months to get to what she liked.” The home’s third pod may be the best combination of function and delight, par-

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The spiral staircase leads to an artist studio. PATRICK MARTINEZ PHOTO

ticularly if you happen to be a young boy. Because her son is a budding ninja warrior, the extra-tall garage at the far end of the home is equipped with a ninja-training gym. “Friends come over, and they are out here playing,” the homeowner says, noting that someday when the kids are done with the ninja gym, the space can go back to being a large garage, perhaps to store an RV. A “hangout” room near the gym features a virtual golf setup, as well as plenty of toy storage, while a catwalk leading to the kids bedrooms offers a view of the living area below and out through the living room’s tall windows, taking in views of the forest and the mountains beyond. “It is big,” the homeowner says of the house, “but nothing seems ‘over-big’ to me. Every space is very purposeful. Everything is thought through. It’s been just exactly what we need.”

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Installing ramps creates accessiblity for a wide variety of people including wheelchair users, the elderly, and parents pushing strollers.

Mind Over Matter Creating a home that fits your needs now — and in the future — takes planning BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

s any left-handed person knows, the world is designed predominantly for right-handers, resulting in some tasks that are inconvenient at best, impossible at worst. The same is true for the spaces where we live (and work), which are designed and constructed according to standards — door width, ceiling height, building materials, etc. — based on a “typical” human. Consider the standard interior door: 28 to 32 inches wide by 80 inches high, hinged, with a door knob. While the height accommodates all but a tiny fraction of the population over 6-foot 8, the width can be problematic. If the door is in a high-traffic area of the home, it’s obstructive, and it can become a barrier to mobility in any location if you find yourself sitting in a wheelchair or standing with a walker. The alternative would be custom construction, which is not feasible for most of us. Moreover, while codified standards help ensure safety and regulate cost – thus you can go to any box store and likely get what you need to maintain (or even build) your home – conformity often comes at the expense of accessibility for anyone who is not the “typical” human. This conceptual conundrum is what Abraham “Avi” Friedman has addressed throughout his illustrious career as an

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architect and professor of architecture at Montreal’s McGill University. In his lectures and numerous books, such as The Adaptable House: Designing Homes for Change, Friedman advocates for flexibility in home design and construction. “Leaving a ramp leading to the front door,” he says, “will serve not only a person in a wheelchair, but also a parent pushing a stroller.” This broad-based approach might be called adaptable, accessible, inclusive or universal design, which is the term Friedman uses. “What universal designers do is they suggest that everything needs to be designed to accommodate easy use, not only for the benefit of people with reduced mobility, disabled people, but for everyone,” Friedman says. The levered doorknob is an example of universal design. “If you take a regular L-shaped door opener, it is easy to manipulate regardless of your age, but definitely if you have arthritis,” he says. Yet levered door knobs are often more expensive than their round counterparts so replacing them adds cost, but redefining them as the new normal in door hardware also requires something else: a shift in one’s

mindset. Friedman describes how that has already occurred in the American kitchen. Formerly a space hidden from the dining and main living area, it Avi Friedman eventually became the eat-in counter or partially open kitchen, and now has morphed into the current kitchen island approach that makes the kitchen a visual and conceptual centerpiece of the home. “So, this is the historical route,” says Friedman, who notes that our mindset changes because of many factors, including technology and lifestyle. Sometimes change is thrust upon us, such as the 2020 pandemic-related shutdowns that forced many people to reevaluate their home spaces. Many people had to work and do schooling from home, had more or fewer occupants in the home, perhaps finding ways to isolate from each other, and so on, Friedman says. “And all of a sudden, people become more aware of the possibilities that they can

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have, if they will do certain alterations,” he says. Indeed, sites like Houzz reported increased demand for renovation experts, as much as 58 percent in June 2020. Another factor driving renovations is the resurgent trend toward aging-inplace, which has been exacerbated by rising housing costs and limited supply. “One of the things that we saw [during the pandemic] is the tremendous amount of fatalities in elderly housing,” Friedman says, noting that “people are now thinking twice whether they would like to end their life in such places.” People with means are reevaluating their homes accordingly, he says, and addressing mobility barriers — steps, cumbersome spaces — or adding a suite to accommodate an assistant, whether that’s family or a paid provider. The bigger picture, however, doesn’t

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depend on economic wherewithal; it goes back to the flexibility mindset, says Friedman. “Now, when you come to think about it, what we commonly do is that we are forcing our needs on the home, which does not make much sense,” he says, noting that we change our habits to match the conditions of the home. What we ought to be doing, he says, is looking for ways to adapt the space to fit our needs, especially using the space we have more efficiently and with adaptability in mind. Using heavy curtains to partition spaces instead of fixed walls, for example, but also getting more out of furnishings. Friedman lists examples from his studies, including putting a bookcase on casters — instant moveable wall — or using fold-down tables or the vintage Murphy bed. “And this is what flexibility to some degree is all about; it’s the ability of a user … to alter the home or part of it with ease.”

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Adair Homes offers floorplans that include a suite for a live-in caregiver. ADAIR HOMES PHOTO

Hand rails, walk-in tubs, and roll-in showers are features that homeowners can add proactively.

ADAIR HOMES PHOTOS

Right at Home Options abound for making a home that adapts to changing lifestyle needs BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

hange is one of the few constants in life. Some changes result in delightful upheaval — such as the birth of a new baby — while some are not exactly welcome — such as many of the changes that often come with aging, including a decrease in mobility or the loss of acuity in hearing and vision. The places we call home should ideally be able to flex with changes that are anticipated and, better still, adapt easily when unexpected changes pop up. Adair Homes is a custom home builder serving Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Arizona with a particular focus on offering

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accessibility options for their existing floor plans. The most common options, says marketing manager Kari Montoya, are “grab rails in bathrooms, wider doors to accommodate wheelchairs, roll-in showers, benches in showers, comfort-height toilet, and more customized features, such as a pull-out cutting board at wheelchair-height to make food preparation more accessible.” Another option is the addition of a separate, self-contained space — their 512 suite — such as for a live-in caregiver. This includes a 13-by-10-foot bedroom, a full bathroom, and a 15-by-10-foot living area

with a kitchenette and space for a stackable washer and dryer. “Many of our customers who are looking for accessibility are building their retirement homes, with aging-in-place in mind,” Montoya says. “We also have a lot of customers with multigenerational living situations, who need a ‘together but separate’ floor plan to make it easy to care for an aging relative.” Still, the number of customers utilizing these features is a small portion of their overall business, Montoya says. In fact, from November 2015 to present, less than 2 percent of Spokane-area customers wanted accessible features in their homes, which is on par with the state average, she says. By contrast, Access Home founder Jim Prophet is so busy he doesn’t need to advertise. His 14-year-old company specializes in retrofitting many of the accessibility features Adair offers to its customers up front. A typical scenario, says Prophet, is that someone has a stroke or falls, enters the hospital, recovers, and goes to a rehab facility. “They cannot be released to the home until they have certain criteria met,” says Prophet, who often works with a family member or case manager to facilitate home modifications, including adding a ramp or widening doors. Rarely does he get someone proactively modifying their home, Prophet says. “Emotionally people do not want to admit that they need help. They don’t want to admit that their health is ailing.” ...continued on next page

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Haystack Heights was built with intergenerational accessibility in mind.

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“RIGHT AT HOME,” CONTINUED...

ealing with changing needs can also involve more than just physical adaptations. Located in Spokane’s South Perry district, Spokane’s Haystack Heights is a 39-unit co-housing community that features wheelchair accessible living, including a

switchback ramp to the large common building and funding set aside to install chair lifts for multistory units, according to resident Susan Virnig, who’s also one of several co-founders. But in addition to the structural accommodations for people with various physical

limitations, says Virnig, there are cultural adaptations that can be just as, if not more, important. Intergenerational living is a hallmark at Haystack, which is similar to many other co-housing communities where residents own their units, but also agree and even welcome the opportunity to collaborate and share resources, like the communal garden. Virnig relays stories about how Haystack community members help each other out, such as an older person taking care of an infant for a young working family and one of the adults from that same family climbing up on a ladder to install something for an elder. It’s an approach that fosters a web of connectivity based on strengths and abilities, versus weaknesses or disabilities. Aging-in-place and assistance for the younger generation can all occur because help is only as far as your neighbor. “This is actually a return to a kind of village atmosphere that we grew up with,” Virnig says.

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Technical Support Why yelling at your house can be a very good thing BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

echnology can be a powerful ally in making every home accessible to all its residents at any stage of life. If you’ve ever fumbled for the light switch with an armful of groceries, for example, you’ll appreciate lighting activated by motion sensors. Portable versions, such as rechargeable LEDs, can be placed nearly anywhere; they might be used to

Smart speakers are handy accessibility tools. illuminate a change in step elevation that could be difficult for some to navigate. Or when that same technology is employed in your faucets, even the littlest members of the household can wash up unassisted. Some forms of technology allow everyone to be heard equally, such as through Internet-con-

nected devices like Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Home. This “smart” technology assists users with all manner of tasks, from adjusting the volume on the television to controlling the thermostat. And because smart technology uses machine learning and artificial intelligence, with use over time, it becomes uniquely adapted to the individual. Many newer products, including lots of home appliances, already come with smart technology built in, but workarounds exist for older things, too, says Jeremy Seda, North Idaho College’s information technology accessibility coordinator. “If I had my coffee maker and it wasn’t a ‘smart’ device,” says Seda, “then I’d get a smart plug and say ‘Hey, Alexa, turn on my coffee maker.’” Helping remove barriers to student learning is one part of his job, says Seda, who hosted the college’s third annual event honoring Global Accessibility Awareness Day in May. “Talking about accessibility is my passion,” he says, noting that someday soon we can expect to see smart technology become the norm in many parts of our lives.

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Surface Structure Trained as an architect, artist Andrew Parker creates mixed-media paintings that balance precision and spontaneity STORY AND PHOTOS BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

ometimes the best plans are ones that leave room for serendipity. That’s as true of Andrew Parker’s artwork as it is his career path. Parker recalls how a few years ago he was at work on a painting, filling in circles with black pigment, but stepped away briefly. When he resumed painting in the shapes, he discovered that the values of black didn’t match because the pigment in his cup had dried ever-so-slightly. “That was a lesson,” Parker says, DEAN DAVIS PHOTO noting that he realized: “You could fight it or go with it.” He went with it. Fast forward to a current piece, Midday, a mixed media composition combining drawing, painting, collage and printmaking. Its grid-like background of precise circles is overlaid with areas of color, including a black splash that has dripped in long, vertical arcs. Although it looks spontaneous, Parker actually transferred the splash shape onto the composition

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from another image, effectively melding two ways of working: structured and serendipitous. Those two words also apply to Parker’s career path. Initially, he pursued being an architect, partially because it sounded like a definitive job. “And that if it didn’t work out, I’d be a wildlife photographer,” Parker adds, noting that he spent a lot of time camping, hiking, backpacking and fishing with his parents, who were both park rangers. Although Parker had an early interest in art, he studied environmental design — similar to architecture but requiring fewer years of study — and photography in college. He spent his off-time from Montana State University in both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, and worked summers in farflung places like a fishing boat in Alaska and on an organic farm in Morocco.

During Parker’s senior year, instead of completing credit requirements for a dual major in photography, he chose a paid architectural internship at BCHO Architects and Associates in Seoul, South Korea. The culture, the climate and the mix of new and historical architecture impacted him profoundly, he says. “Totally different, radically different,” Parker recalls. And because the architecture firm’s founder incorporated visual art into his design process, Parker was expected to follow suit. “I spent a lot of time doing calligraphy brush painting and pen work,” Parker says. When Parker returned to the United States, he followed his future wife, Kit, to Houston, Texas. There he got a job at the international design firm PGAL and completed his master’s in architecture. When the young family returned to Spo-

kane, where Kit is from, Parker joined NAC Architecture, made art as a creative outlet and got familiar with the local art scene. While visiting Emerge art gallery in Coeur d’Alene, he was asked if he was an artist. “I never like that question, but I said yes,” he says, describing how the conversation turned into an opportunity to submit work to Emerge’s annual pop-up show. To Parker’s surprise, the three pieces he submitted were accepted. “That really kind of kicked things off,” says Parker, whose work since leaving NAC Architecture in 2021 has been featured at Dean Davis Studios and Emerge. With titles like Forest Path and Deep Blue, Parker writes in his artist statement that his work embodies “experiences as visual expressions.” A backpack hangs in the studio Parker has created in his Moran Prairie home, a reminder to get out and explore. A blanket from his Morocco trip covers a chair, while the scant wall space is covered with some of Parker’s own art, one of his children’s artworks and an African mask. The 120-square-foot basement space also contains his work desk, computer and a bookcase. A metal flat file holds his paints, drawing pens, and stacks of maps, Korean magazine images, and other types of paper he repurposes into his artwork. In an ideal world, he’d redesign his studio space, says Parker, who is still active in architecture and has served as executive director of the Spokane chapter of the American Institute of Architecture since fall 2021. “I feel like I got into architecture initially because it combined a lot of my interests in art and building and environmental sustainability,” Parker says. “And so right now I feel like I’ve taken architecture, again, and separated it into individual pieces; the creative element is pretty much the heart.”

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Less is More 36

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Applying creativity to restricted diets fuels Duane Sunwold’s culinary artistry STORY BY CARRIE SCOZZARO PHOTOS BY YOUNG KWAK

s an instructor at Spokane Community College’s Inland Northwest Culinary Academy, Duane Sunwold thought he was healthy enough, although tired. But his fatigue, followed by a horrific migraine and extreme facial swelling was actually his body declining into kidney failure. “I always call it my midlife crisis,” says Sunwold, who 20 years ago was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). His doctor prescribed medication, and while restricting salt was an obvious countermeasure, an SCC co-worker and registered dietician, Erin Clason, suggested he switch to a plant-based diet. “When you eat any kind of protein,” Sunwold explains, “kidneys actually swell, which is hyperfiltration.” Animal protein is harder for kidneys to process, he adds, so eliminating beef, chicken, pork, etc. from his diet enabled him to get back on his feet more quickly.

Since his diagnosis, Sunwold has turned his experience into teachable moments for his students at both SCC and North Idaho College’s culinary programs. His candor about his condition, says Sunwold, “teaches the students that when you get special requests in a restaurant, it’s not just making your life annoying; there’s a reason these people have to eat this way.” Sunwold hopes it also models the relationship between food and health. An astonishing one in three adults are at risk of developing kidney disease. Even worse, 90 percent of those with CKD don’t even know they have it. Among the warning signs of CKD are fatigue, difficulty sleeping, swollen ankles, frequent urination and “foamy” urine. “So my joke is I can blow bubbles at the urinal,” says Sunwold, who has given numerous presentations to the health care community, including a 2013 TEDx talk. Sunwold was determined to help others with CKD continue to enjoy eating delicious food, and so he reached out to Tony Reed, a former SCC student who is now Spiceology’s senior director of innovation and partnerships. “I had always wanted to do some saltfree herb blends,” explains Sunwold, who connected Spokane-based Spiceology to the National Kidney Foundation, which did a survey of kidney patients to see what flavors they would like. The result: Spiceology developed 16 salt-free blends with names like Loaded Baked Taters, Really Ranch, and Pizza Pie. Sunwold’s recipe for roasted veggie pasta salad utilizes Spiceology’s Salt-Free Fryless Chicken blend. Kidney patients’ No. 1 complaint is diet, says Sunwold. “And until I came on board, I don’t think anyone has — no one from the culinary field — has ever worked in this arena. So it was the first time where it’s like, ‘Why can’t we give patients flavor?’” Flavorful food helps him stay motivated, says Sunwold, whose CKD is in remission, due in part to his lifestyle changes. “I have to remember my kidneys are on crutches and I have to stay on this diet,” he says. Rather than feel constrained or disappointed, Sunwold is appreciative of his CKD. Not only has he learned a lot, he says, he’s had to be better organized in his home kitchen and more creative in general. “It’s made me a better cook.” Recipe on next page AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

TRY IT YOURSELF

Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad Duane Sunwold adds verve to vegetables in this recipe that can be easily adapted for any kind of pasta. Or skip the pasta and put these delicious roasted vegetables over pizza or polenta or serve as a nutritious, low-salt side all on their own.

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DRESSING • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard • 6 tablespoons lemon juice • 6 tablespoons olive oil • 1¼ teaspoons Spiceology Fryless Chicken Seasoning

VEGETABLES • 2 medium zucchini, sliced • 1 head of fennel, sliced • 8 button mushrooms, quartered • 1 red onion, cut in ½ and then sliced • 4 Roma tomatoes, diced • 8 ounces uncooked curly pasta, e.g. rotini or radiatori

GARNISH • 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, shredded • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano • 2 cups fresh shredded spinach

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine dressing ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and set aside. 2. Place all the vegetables in a large, nonreactive mixing bowl and pour ⅓ cup of dressing over the vegetables. Stir to coat. Let the vegetables marinate while you cook the pasta and heat up the grill. 3. Cook the pasta in boiling, unsalted water until the pasta is just tender. Drain the pasta and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to continue draining.

4. Cook your vegetables. a. If using a grill to cook your vegetables: preheat to 400 degrees, oil the grill basket and allow it to heat up with the grill. Cook vegetables until they turn golden brown, stirring every 4-5 minutes to encourage even browning. b. If using the oven to cook your vegetables: oil two baking sheets and spread vegetables evenly in a single layer. Roast at 400 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes until the vegetables brown evenly.

5. Pour grilled vegetables over the top of the pasta. Add the remaining dressing, garnish with fresh herbs and shredded spinach, toss and serve. Makes eight, 1-cup servings. — RECIPE COURTESY OF DUANE SUNWOLD, Assistant Professor, North Idaho College; Hospitality Instructor, Spokane Community College

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A Love of Growing

Colter’s Creek’s main vineyard is this hillside near the Potlatch River; founders Melissa Sanders and Mike Pearson share a love of chemistry and wine. MIKE BEISER PHOTOS

The owners of Colter’s Creek revived a nearly defunct vineyard and now share the fruits of their labor with a new generation BY LEANN BJERKEN

elissa Sanborn and her husband, Mike Pearson, have combined their mutual love of growing things and drinking wine into a fruitful business. “Being in the vineyard and growing the grape that people will eventually enjoy in their glass is really rewarding,” says Sanborn. “I don’t think either of us would do this if we couldn’t have a hand in growing the grapes we use.” Born and raised in Spokane, Sanborn moved to Moscow in 2001. It was there that she met Pearson, an electrical engineer turned chemist and founder of Anatek Labs, a full service environmental analytical testing laboratory. “My bachelor’s degree was in chemistry, so we had a shared interest there,” she says. “We discovered we also shared an interest in wine when I decided to return to school to study wine science through WSU’s food science program.” Sanborn says the couple soon learned about the Lewis and Clark Valley, and not long after that their thoughts turned to start-

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ing their own winery there. “The Lewis and Clark Valley was one of the Northwest’s first grape-growing regions up until Prohibition wiped everything out,” she says. “It was also close to Moscow and Mike’s business.” She says that on their first venture out exploring properties along the Clearwater River in 2007, the two noticed an abandoned vineyard with a for sale sign. The site had been planted in the 1980s by property owner Larry Spencer, with 5 acres of chardonnay, white riesling, and rkatsiteli, an Eastern European white grape. In the 1990s then-new owners Larry Kornze and Sherman Stapleton expanded that to include three additional acres of Bordeaux grapes including cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. It was a striking opportunity. “We got in touch with the Realtor, and everything just kind of fell into place,” Sanborn says. “When we bought the property, there were about 7 acres of vines still alive. Thankfully we were able to revive those and are still using them

today for wine.” While they waited for the older vines to recover and the newly planted vines to mature and start producing grapes, the couple decided to create a first vintage using grapes from various other Northwest vineyards. “For that first vintage in 2008 we used grapes from other vineyards in the Lewis and Clark Valley, the Snake River Valley, and some from Washington,” she says.

ver the next few years, the pair continued planting and grew the vineyard into what is now a 30-acre production site, located at the confluence of the Clearwater and Potlatch Rivers. “We produce about 5,000 cases of wine each year, so we’re still pretty small,” she says. “We don’t use big tanks, because we don’t produce that much.” While most wineries are segmented, with cold storage in one room or building and production, equipment storage, barrel room or cellar in separate areas, Sanborn says Colter’s Creek is more compartmentalized. “Our production room is the main and largest part of the facility, at about 5,000 square feet,” she says. “Our cellar is built underground to utilize natural ground cooling for bulk wine in barrels, our warehouse is chilled to house case goods, and our crush pad is outside as it doesn’t need heating or cooling.” Sanborn describes production at Colter’s Creek as quite traditional. “Our vineyard is laid out pretty steeply, which makes it neces-

sary to hand-pick the grapes,” she says. “We use automation where we can, but we also do a lot of things by hand.” She says the winery employs 10 key employees, plus part-time and seasonal workers. “Both myself and Mike are involved in administration, but he oversees the vineyard and fixing anything that breaks down, as well as overseeing the winery and staff,” she says. “And we have great employees who handle the sales and marketing, as well as events.” Sanborn says the two biggest factors that set Colter’s Creek apart from other wineries are its location and its traditional approach to production. “Not only are we one of only 60-some Idaho wineries, but we’re one of the few located in the Lewis and Clark Valley,” she says. “And the fact that we plant, grow, produce, bottle, age and sell everything ourselves is something special. As the industry evolves it’s rare to see a winery that’s not outsourcing in some way.”

n addition to its Potlatch production site, Colter’s Creek has two tasting rooms, both of which are situated in historic

buildings that have been remodeled. The first, a former pharmacy in Juliaetta, Idaho, houses a tasting room and restaurant that opened in 2012. The second, a tasting room and wine bar that opened in 2018, occupies the first floor of Moscow’s historic Hattabaugh building. The building’s upper floor, which previously housed apartments, was remodeled into a boutique hotel space in 2021. “People are always looking for neat, fun spaces to stay, and it offered a good connection to our tasting room there too,” says Sanborn. Colter’s Creek has 17 grape varietals growing in its vineyards, 15 percent of which are white, with the remaining 85 percent being red varieties. “We’re working to get more white varietals into production, because there seems to be an increased interest in white wines,” says Sanborn. “Because of our size, the types of wine we produce vary each year depending on the vintage.” She says the rosé and syrah are among the winery’s most popular bottles. “The rosés are popular because we only

make a couple each year, and we don’t make a lot of it,” she says. “Idaho in general is pretty well known for syrah, and ours are no exception.” When it comes to pairings, Sanborn recommends pairing the syrah with lamb chops, while the cabernet franc or cabernet sauvignon shine when paired with meats or even pizza. “In the late summer I also enjoy pairing our rosé with anything tomato based — your fresh salads, bruschetta, etc.,” she says. Sanborn says what she most enjoys about being a winemaker is growing and tasting different wines from all over the world. “I love drinking different wines and picking new varietals that we can possibly grow and produce here,” she says. “There are so many wine grapes I don’t know about yet, and we’re always discovering more.” In fact, Sanborn says the winery is already experimenting with a few different varietals, and this year will be its first year working with a white grape called friulano. “It’s another unique, Italian varietal that’s not widely planted in the U.S., so it will be fun to see how well it grows here,” she says.

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The ultimate super team — teachers and parents. JONATHAN HILL ILLUSTRATION

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School Ties In the face of waning volunteerism, parent groups are looking for new members to help build community at local schools BY E.J. IANNELLI

“W

hen I think of school, I think of the PTO,” says Hannah Poush. A distinct memory from her childhood in Orondo, Washington, a small town roughly midway between Wenatchee and Chelan, is of her mother dressed as a Raisinet and performing a dance routine with the rest of the volunteers from the school’s parent-teacher organization. “It was the norm to have parents and community in the school, and it felt very much like the school was a part of the community,” Poush says. Years later, when she and her husband returned to Orondo and started a family, Poush looked forward to continuing that tradition of PTO involvement. But the PTO was no longer active in the town’s sole elementary school. Then came a move to Spokane, where Poush, now a mother of three, hoped to find a thriving culture of community engagement. “I made this assumption that in the city PTOs were a big deal,” she says, but that wasn’t quite the case. The PTO at her local elementary school in north-central Spokane had, like so many organizations, been upended by the COVID pandemic. With in-person meetings and events on hiatus, the already modest participation in the PTO had declined even further. The organization was practically dormant. This isn’t necessarily a local phenomenon; nor is it an exclusively rural or urban one. As part of its biennial survey on the health of parent-teacher organizations, the advocacy and resource platform PTO Today has found that involvement in school parent groups has been in steady decline for about a decade. In 2013, 21 percent of respondents reported

that their PTOs had over 30 active volunteers. By 2019, that proportion had dropped to just 8 percent. About five months before the pandemic, 80 percent of PTO Today’s survey respondents were down to 20 volunteers or fewer. Partly because of her childhood experience, Poush saw the absence of a PTO as a major concern at a time when it was needed most. For her, the group was essential to creating a space where parents, teachers and administrators could come together on equal footing and discuss problems as well as opportunities.

“Relationships are really where PTOs have the potential to make a big impact.”

“Relationships are really where PTOs have the potential to make a big impact. Dollars have a big impact, sure, but in our society, which is pretty polarized and fast-paced, we’ve lost the organic opportunities to bump into each other.” She stresses the importance of being afforded the ability to “just be in relationships around the common goal of kids being successful.”

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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

Parent-teacher organizations can raise money for student incentives like trips to Silverwood. SILVERWOOD PHOTO

“SCHOOL TIES,” CONTINUED...

lthough most PTOs would likely broadly echo that same common goal, not all of them are, well, PTOs. Some go by parent-teacher associations (PTAs), some by parent-teacher groups (PTGs). Others simply call themselves booster clubs. The distinctions are generally slight — for example, PTAs are typically affiliated at the national level — but can account for some confusion among would-be participants. Likewise, the scope and emphases of PTOs can vary from school to school, even within the same district. Christi Gerhardt, a parent who led the PTG for the Spokane School District’s Odyssey program during the 2021-22 academic year, says that developing a budget and fundraising in support of it ended up being “a big piece” of her tenure as president.

“We try to split the ways that we spend the money. We have a line item for appreciation… for gifts when it’s Office Staff Appreciation Day or Principal Appreciation Day or Teacher Appreciation Week. And then we also have money for activities for the school to bring in guest speakers, to have social events for the kids, to set up social events for the parents and the community,” she says. Those events can include anything from daytrips to Silverwood to outdoor movie nights. “One thing we built into next year’s budget is dedicated money to help with students in our school who are in some sort of need.” By contrast, Maria Breedlove, a paraeducator at Spokane’s Ridgeview Elementary and the head of its PTG until her sixth-grader’s recent graduation, says that their group focused on encouraging students’ academic performance through small gestures or

grassroots-organized events. She points to a popular program that incentivized reading with the lure of free pizzas and ice cream. Another PTG initiative is an annual end-ofyear field day. “We get equipment for them to have fun on the last day of school so they can start their summer right. Or, because of COVID, we did snow cones, so at the end of the school year every student could just get their own snow cone,” she says. Regardless of where PTOs choose to channel their energies, active participation on the part of parents and staff has been shown to strengthen the bonds between parents, students and their schools over the long term. But securing that active participation also depends on schools promoting their PTOs and parents approaching the group with an open mind.

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“A lot of people have the perception that the PTG is full of stay-at-home moms” with scads of spare time, says Gerhardt, “which is definitely not true at our school. There are a lot of full-time working parents. Really, nobody is too busy to do this, and we’d never want someone to feel like what they have to give isn’t enough.” There are other lingering misconceptions, too: that PTOs only serve a purpose in elementary schools, that they already have a rich supply of volunteers or that they’re geared toward affluent demographics. Assumptions like these haven’t helped to reverse the rapid overall decline in PTO vitality over the past decade. Nevertheless, Poush has already seen some encouraging signs among the Audubon Elementary PTO. Finding successors to guide the PTO after students (and their parents) graduate can be an ongoing challenge, but their group has succeeded in electing a willing volunteer for its 2022-23 president. A busy dad, no less. And she also predicts that the virtual meetings prompted by the pandemic will continue, making it easier for time-constrained parents and teachers to attend.

“In this world that feels like everything’s swirling and you can’t make any impact, I really do think that PTOs are a place where we can make a difference,” she says.

“A lot of people have the perception that the PTG is full of stay-at-home moms... which is definitely not true at our school.”

“For any parent who’s feeling anxious about the future, about the safety of schools, about what their kids are learning, at the PTO you get to have a real conversation with other parents, with teachers and with the principal on how to navigate all those things everybody is trying to figure out.”

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Childlike Wonder Meets Grown-up Funder How Massoud Emami became a fundraising force for Riverfront Park and all of Spokane BY SETH SOMMERFELD

t’s the first summery day of 2022 at Riverfront Park, and the all-inclusive Providence Playscape playground rings with peals of children’s gleeful laughter. The biggest child contributing to this joyful clamor with bellowing chuckles happens to be the incredibly dapper grandfather who helped make the playground a reality — Massoud Emami. As chair of the Campaign for Riverfront Park, Emami is the man who helps make improvements to Spokane’s signature downtown park into a reality. It wasn’t exactly the most straightforward path for him to arrive at this point, but he revels in his community responsibility.

world away from the Pacific Northwest’s own Rose City of Portland, Oregon, Emami grew up in the City of Roses — Shiraz, Iran — a place renowned for the natural beauty of its lush, flowering gardens. It undoubtedly infused a love for communal outdoor elegance into his core. Family ties led him to the Spokane area in 1970. His older brother Mahmoud

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was attending graduate school at Gonzaga University (his younger brother Cyrous also graduated from GU), which lured him to study at Eastern Washington University. Eventually 10 or so family members migrated to the area. “Spokane is so perfect for somebody coming out of a small town to another small town,” says Emami. “Only thing different — everybody else left. I stayed.” After graduating, Emami worked at The Bon Marche department store for a decade before partnering with Gary Anderson to open the high-end men’s clothing shop Anderson & Emami. The store became a fashionable downtown Spokane fixture, and Emami worked there for 35 years before deciding to retire five years ago (the store is now Anderson & Co.). But Emami’s journey to becoming a local fundraising titan wasn’t one he fully expected. In fact, when he was approached to be a board member for Sacred Heart (now Providence) well over a decade ago, he was convinced they had picked the wrong guy. “I told them, ‘You want me as a board member? But I don’t even take aspirin!’ So

one of the sisters, I never forget, they said, ‘You know, there is a lot more than aspirin here. We have union, we have employees, we have building, mainly we have our image in the city that we would like to improve.’” After a four-term, 12-year stint with Sacred Heart, which included fundraising for the Children’s Hospital, some of the same peers asked Emami to join the Campaign for Riverfront Park team (along with his wife, Jacqueline, as the also very involved co-chair) and lend his skills to help finance six big projects at the park. To date, they’ve raised over $3 million.

o what makes Emami a fundraising superstar? The obvious element that jumps out as we stroll around the park is Massoud’s personality. He’s effervescent. He cannot for one moment hide the enthusiasm, vigor and pride he has for the park and for the Spokane community. It’s a charisma that could draw anyone in. When he’s in the zone talking about his fundraising projects, it’s easy to assume there’s not a cynical molecule in his body. “He is a wonderful, generous, very upbeat and always positive man,” says Yvonne Trudeau, the executive director of the Spokane Parks Foundation, the nonprofit behind the private fundraising. “Very personable, and he seems to know

everyone in town. He’s a very well-connected man, and I think that’s because people truly enjoy his company. He’s someone who doesn’t give up. He’s very persistent in a very sort of low-key way. He never feels pushy by any means, but yet he’s really able to help people see why they should be interested in this.” “It is his enthusiasm, his determination to get it done,” echoes Carol Neupert, who co-chaired the playground committee and worked with Emami as part of the Sacred Heart Foundation in the 1990s. “He has phenomenal relationships and interpersonal skills. He just loves people, and people gravitate to him. And fundraising is all about relationships, so he just makes people feel like, No. 1, it’s an important project; No. 2, they can participate and here’s how. That’s kind of Massoud in a nutshell. He’s just one of those people that can make things happen.” Emami himself is a bit more demure about his general likability. “Someone asked me, ‘What is your job?’” Emami says, unable to stifle a laugh. “I said my job is to connect with others, and then connect others with others.” But Emami’s approach is also drastically different from many in his line of work, even if it seems simple. “I never asked somebody gave me money for fundraising,” he says. “I always tell them, what I am doing and let them make their decision.” “You love something. And when you hear ‘no,’ you just get stronger,” Emami continues. “People get more generous when you are telling them what you’re doing. You’re not asking them, ‘Hey, give me $5. Give me $10.’ And Spokane has a very generous people, and we have some good companies. This [park] project was at the heart of downtown. It’s game-changing for all the people around there.” In addition to the children’s playground, the core park projects also included an offleash dog park and restoration of the flapping butterfly sculptures from Expo 74. The last of these projects holds a special place in Emami’s heart as he worked as a student at Expo 74, which featured a significant Iranian presence. “God, what an amazing time; how time changes,” he says. “But, you know, memory’s always right in your heart, it’s not going anyplace.”

“F

undraising is easy,” Emami says, “the hardest part is to build the best there is. The second part is

Equipment at the Providence Playscape playground is designed to allow children of all abilities to enjoy a day at Spokane’s Riverfront Park. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

wisely spend every penny of it. It’s not my money. It’s the money that people give for certain projects. So make sure you wisely do that.” Providence Playscape, largely funded by Providence Health Care, is a perfect illustration of that idea. Through a connection with his daughter who lives in Southern California, Emami found the Los Angeles-based Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, which specializes in designing world-class playgrounds that kids with disabilities can utilize. As Neupert sincerely puts it, “[Massoud] definitely connects the dots.”

The result is that Providence Playscape is truly a playground for everyone, boasting over 20 features including a we-go-round that’s wheelchair accessible, a high-back swing set that kids can strap into, a roller tunnel, a sensory wall, musical chimes, a sandbox, spongy ground surfaces that are both comfortable and safe, and more. While Emami’s grandkids have yet to play on it due to COVID (though they’ve been to the corollary in LA), he relishes a day he’ll finally get to share it with them. Going forward, Emani is primarily focused on raising funds to make the off-leash dog park a reality (he recently helped secure $250,000 from the Humane Society) and maintaining a cash base for future maintenance and repairs in Riverfront. Emami wants the wonder of the park to continue well after he’s gone. “The park is all about connections,” Emami says. “You and I can walk here, not knowing a word about each other, and we have so much in common. It gives you the energy of the world.” AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022

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