Inlander 02/04/2021 by The Inlander

VACCINES

Inside the glitch-filled rollout at Spokane Arena PAGE 10

WORDS

A local poetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scary, often stunning look at our world

PAGE 33

FEBRUARY 4-10, 2021 | NEAR NATURE. BUT NOT LOST

2 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

INSIDE VOL. 28, NO. 17 | COVER ILLUSTRATION: DEREK HARRISON

COMMENT 5 8 NEWS COVER STORY 14

CULTURE 33 FOOD 36 MUSIC 38

40 EVENTS I SAW YOU 42 GREEN ZONE 43

TUESDAY ANY LAR E PIZZA ORDER AT

EDITOR’S NOTE

he historic, pandemic-caused economic collapse has forced millions of Americans out of work and onto an unemployment safety net straining under the weight. (See our report on page 12.) We’re all waiting for vaccines that can’t come fast enough. (See page 10.) Our schools are struggling (page 8). And we’re spending an inordinate amount of time at home — which has fueled a boom in HOME IMPROVEMENT projects. Contractors are hard to land while the cost of building materials is skyrocketing, lumber included. “All the do-it-yourselfers came out of the woodwork, wanting to rebuild their decks and paint their houses and do roofs and fences,” one local supplier tells us. Fear not: In this week’s cover section (page 14), we’ll tell you which projects you should try on your own and which ones are better left to professionals. Plus, we have tips for tricking out your backyard and, if you’re a renter, what you can do without pissing off your landlord. — JACOB H. FRIES, editor

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Learn more at Inlander.com/Insider FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 3

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WHAT HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE YOU COMPLETED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN? RACHAEL DORR: We’ve been working on the backyard! The fence was in need of staining and we cleaned up the whole back area, put rock down the sides and in the back. We’ve added solar motion lights and a fire pit. Going to start a garden this spring as well.

GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL Jacob H. Fries (x261) EDITOR

Dan Nailen (x239) MANAGING EDITOR/ARTS & CULTURE Chey Scott (x225) FOOD & LISTINGS EDITOR Nathan Weinbender (x250) FILM & MUSIC EDITOR

Chris Frisella COPY EDITOR

Wilson Criscione (x282), Daniel Walters (x263), Samantha Wohlfeil (x234) STAFF WRITERS

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Amy Alkon, CMarie Fuhrman, Will Maupin, Carrie Scozzaro CONTRIBUTORS

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ADVERTISING Kristi Gotzian (x215) ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carolyn Padgham-Walker (x214) SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mary Bookey (x216), Jeanne Inman (x235), Rich McMahon (x241), Autumn Adrian Potts (x251) Claire Price (x217), Wanda Tashoff (x222) ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

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PRODUCTION & SUPPORT Wayne Hunt (x232) DESIGN & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ali Blackwood (x228) CREATIVE LEAD

EDITOR’S NOTE

Normally, we ask our question of the week of people we randomly encounter on the street. But with the coronavirus pandemic, we instead asked our followers on social media to share their thoughts.

SAMANTHA AICH: I made a catio; set up my new washer/dryer by myself from scratch, including the duct work; installed a closet system in an empty walk-in closet, created an upstairs studio, wallpapered my room; redid my laundry and kitchen floors and painted cabinets. HALEY LANDEN: Full-blown kitchen/ family room remodel (1,000 square feet). Been waiting 15 years to finish the last phase of remodel to a 1911 South Hill home, and we’re finally getting to it. MIKE VANDERBOSCH: We turned an old stairwell into a pantry in our 1904 Corbin Park home. CLAIRE E MATLEN: We’ve replaced our furnace, redone ducting, and my husband is working on finishing the basement! It’ll be great to have a play area that can get messy for our two little ones.

Derrick King (x238), Tom Stover (x265) SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Frank DeCaro (x226) CIRCULATION MANAGER

Travis Beck CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR

Jess Kennedy (x212) ADVERTISING SUPPORT

OPERATIONS Dee Ann Cook (x211) BUSINESS MANAGER Kristin Wagner (x210) ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

BETH LABAR: We built a parking area, concrete paver patio and fence in our backyard. It was a project we had been wanting to do for years. It was a good excuse to get the family to work together, especially with two teenage boys.

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LONNA GATELY: I’ve painted three rooms in my home, organized my laundry room and kitchen, and replaced an old doorbell and thermostat to modernize the house. Then I had somebody else paint the main part of the inside of my house… We have been very fortunate to have jobs that have gone uninterrupted and can afford to do these fun things! It’s been busy in our house!

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‘This is Real’

Don’t ask the author to write about buffalo.

Why is truth risky? BY CMARIE FUHRMAN

he said, “Write a poem about buffalo.” I told her I didn’t know much about buffalo; save for those I watched grazing a high school football field near Yellowstone. And those may have been bison. “But your people…” “My people raised shorthorns on a ranch in Hall, Montana,” I told her. “Later my people took jobs as engineers at Hewlett-Packard, joined the PTA, and enrolled me in cello lessons. We celebrated Serbian Christmas.” What had this teacher expected of me? What expectations are had of other diverse writers? Isn’t it another form of silencing when we are not

6 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

encouraged to write our stories and poems in the voice of our experience, even when that experience fails expectation and assumption or challenges the readers’ comfort?

student of mine gave me a book for Christmas. He tapped the cover twice, said, “This is real.” The book was Pimp: The Story of My Life, by Iceberg Slim. The first words were “A pimp is happiest

when his whores giggle.” I put the book down. Picked it back up again. Then I stayed awake late reading it. I found I wanted to understand the life of a pimp in the early ’40s, and I came to appreciate Slim for giving it to me straight. Drew, the student who gifted me Pimp, is writing a memoir of his time in Vegas as a carder, someone who runs credit card scams. One of the first essays he turned in used “bitch” to refer to his female companion. It made me uncomfortable for the same reasons it just made you uncomfortable.

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I needed stories about women who had to show up at their job the day after terrible heartbreak, not about those who flew to Italy and drank wine. I took it out. Asked him to change it. “Find another word or they won’t publish it.” “But that would be their word, not mine.” He reminded me of a lecture I repeatedly gave about the most important aspect of memoir: honesty. Drew knew the street. His closest friends were prostitutes. He did his share of drugs and scamming, then his share of time in prison. I would reference Shawshank, and he would laugh and say, “Not quite.” I would ask about prostitutes. Like Pretty Woman? “Hollywood whores are just that,” he’d say. “Something made up in Hollywood.” When we began working together, I searched for memoirs by cons and dopers. Examples he could glean from. I came back with fiction from white-collar criminals, reform stories, and a few poems. I wanted him to see himself in literature. Something to point to and ask, like this?

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remembered my own time as a student. I craved memoirs of mixed-race children and biracial adoptees. I wanted to read experiences of women who went into the mountains to experience wildness; not to overcome tragedy or find themselves. I needed stories about women who had to show up at their job the day after terrible heartbreak, not about those who flew firstclass to Italy and drank wine. What about girls who struggle with weight but never lose it? Native kids who grow up off-reservation and never experience their presumed culture? What about women who write about rape and cannot retaliate against their abuser? “This is not a hopeful tale,” her agent said of a novel my friend wrote about a woman and her stalker. “But this is real,” my friend replied. “I have experienced it.” “No one will believe that.” “I need an agent willing to take risks,” my friend told me. Why is truth risky? Is it because truth doesn’t sell? Because honesty makes us uncomfortable? Has the publishing industry cultivated an audience who only believe writers who are performing their presumed culture? Or gender? Who will only read a hopeful tale? Readers who seek shelter from the truth with political correctness and acceptable speech? Why are students surprised when they hear that “Those Winter Sundays” is written by a Black man? Are you surprised to know Drew is white? A popular journal recently rejected a poem I wrote about a friend who committed suicide, “This doesn’t sound like your other poems.” Can’t I, like Whitman, contain multitudes? Or are multitudes only allowed to white men? My friend won’t write a strong-girl fairy tale. I don’t write about buffalo. Drew left “bitch” in his essay. n CMarie Fuhrman is the author of Camped Beneath the Dam: Poems (Floodgate 2020) and co-editor of Native Voices (Tupelo 2019). She has published poetry and nonfiction in multiple journals as well as several anthologies.

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FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 7

Shadle Park High School teacher Sandra LaRoche pictured in 2018. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

EDUCATION

BAD TIMING? Spokane school levies usually see widespread support. This year, a levy proposal has drawn more GOP opposition BY WILSON CRISCIONE

n Spokane, levy proposals typically are among the least contentious measures you could put on the ballot. It’s been decades since a Spokane Public Schools levy failed. In 2018, the levy was backed by a whopping 73 percent of voters. But this time around, things are different. There’s a pandemic that has kept many kids out of school as their parents often struggle to make ends meet. Debates around how best to safely open schools tend to dominate discussion about school levies. And Adam Swinyard, the district superintendent, says nobody seems to be happy about the pace of school reopenings. “We get feedback from the community that they want our schools open faster, and they’re frustrated that we’re following the guidance of public health officials. And we get feedback that they want our schools closed, and they’re frustrated that we’re following the guidance of public health officials,” Swinyard says. That’s partly why the district’s levy on the Feb. 9 ballot has divided political leaders. The Spokane GOP last month announced that it opposes the Spokane Public Schools levy this year. Three City Council members — including left-leaning Lori Kinnear and Candace Mumm — voted against a resolution supporting the levy. Michael Cathcart, the lone conservative on council, tells the Inlander that, like Kinnear and Mumm, he voted against the resolution because he didn’t think it was the council’s place to support a ballot measure like that. But he also opposes the district asking for a tax increase right now. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic, a significant economic downturn, and I think that this is flat out wrong at this time,” Cathcart says. The pitch from the district, meanwhile, boils down to this: Even if you’re unhappy with schools now, voting against the levy will only make it worse, both for schools and for the economy.

he district’s promotional fliers emphasize that the levy is only replacing the 2018 levy and is not a new tax. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. While it may not be a “new tax,” the proposal on the ballot would raise the levy tax rate starting in 2022. That’s why Cathcart says he opposes it.

8 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

“What they should have done is put a levy on the ballot that kept it flat, kept funding things at the same level,” Cathcart says. “If the economy improves, as job situations improve, go back out and do a supplemental levy. … I would be out there supporting both of those.” Swinyard, however, argues it’s only a modest increase in taxes that is necessary to maintain educational services. And if you compare it to 2018, the district tax rate is actually significantly less. Here’s why: Four years ago, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill to add billions of dollars in state funding to schools by raising property taxes. It was the “fix” to the McCleary v. Washington lawsuit, which alleged the state was underfunding schools. But as the state raised property taxes on one end, on the other end it capped the amount of money school districts could raise through levies, which can fund nurses, counselors, custodians and technology resources not covered by the state. Spokane Public Schools, for instance, was getting tax dollars through a levy rate of more than $4 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2018. After the McCleary fix, the state said districts couldn’t get more than $1.50 per $1,000. That lower rate is where the district has been at the last few years. It put the district’s budget in a bad place. Of course, that was also partly due to pay raises to teachers, which proved to be controversial when budget cuts impacted hundreds of teachers months later. Then the state raised the limit that districts could collect in levies to $2.50 per $1,000. Some school districts, like Central Valley, approved a levy last year at the higher capped rate. That’s why CV’s levy renewal proposal on the Feb. 9 ballot won’t increase that rate. But Spokane Public Schools didn’t immediately come back and ask to collect at the higher $2.50 per $1,000 rate. Until now.

ecause the district will lower its rate next year on a separate bond — which unlike a levy pays for capital projects, not operational costs — the Spokane Public Schools’ overall tax rate through its levies and bonds will only increase by about $.40 per $1,000 in 2022 compared with 2021. That’s still significantly lower

than it was in 2018. And importantly, Swinyard says the school district desperately needs that money. The district is projected to see a $42 million reduction from the state in what’s called levy equalization, which is designed to compensate for school districts that have lower property value and therefore can’t collect as much through levies. Spokane’s property value continues to rise, and as that happens, levy equalization dollars go down. You would think the rise in property value would mean the district can collect more through its levy, but that’s not the case — voters are technically approving only the amount collected in a levy over a three-year period, not the rate, meaning if property values go up during that cycle the district can’t collect more. Even if this levy is approved, the district will be in a budget deficit, Swinyard says. If the levy isn’t approved, then Swinyard says the school district — one of the largest employers in the region — would have to lay off more people. “We would have to come up with $65 million to supplant that loss of levy funds,” he says. That’s why, despite the Spokane GOP’s opposition to the Spokane Public Schools levy, not all local Republicans oppose it. Mary Kuney, a Spokane County commissioner, says she supports the levy proposal because without it, extracurricular activities could go away precisely at a time when kids will need it most. Alisha Benson, CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated, also says she was disappointed to see the Spokane GOP oppose the levy. GSI has come out in support of the district’s levy, plus the others on the ballot. Twelve other local school districts — including Central Valley and Mead — are asking for voters to approve a levy on Feb. 9. “We truly believe this investment is a critical part of our recovery,” Benson says. But voters may have more hesitation. Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns tells the Inlander that he believes this will be a tough year for levies due to the economic hardships. In his view, the districts that offered more in-person learning “will have a better chance than those districts that did not.” n wilsonc@inlander.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 9

NEWS | HEALTH

Can’t-Miss Arena Event Overbooked How computer glitches and server overloads for the Spokane Arena’s mass vaccination site actually resulted in more people getting vaccinated faster BY DANIEL WALTERS

ther than a mammogram and a visit to the oncologist, it’s been nearly a year since Peggy Munson has left the house. She’s a 74-year-old former nurse with a heart condition. While a brutal chemo session to combat breast cancer a few years ago brought her to “death’s doorstep,” she says COVID-19 has her “more terrified than anything I’ve ever seen.” On Wednesday of last week, however, it felt like salvation was within her grasp. If she managed to nab a time slot through CHAS Health’s mass vaccination center at the Spokane Arena, she knew she’d not only be protected against a deadly disease, but also would be able to see her whole family again. Munson’s daughter warned her “this might get frustrating” and offered to assist her when the Arena vaccination website went live that morning. The clock struck 9. They rushed to compete for one of the 3,000 open slots over the next week. Relief washed over Munson as they chose an appointment date. It evaporated when they tried to enter Munson’s phone number. “It all went to hooey on the phone number,” Munson says. Everything froze. For two hours, she says, they kept retrying, eventually getting trapped in a bureaucratic paradox: The website appeared to tell Munson she couldn’t schedule an appointment because she hadn’t registered as a patient, but when they tried to register again, the website said they couldn’t because Munson was already registered. “We were never able to get through,” Munson says. As mass vaccination sites have opened up across the state, the rate of vaccine administration has gone from a drip to a dribble to a firehose. But with that torrent of new vaccinations has come a stream of logistical problems, from traffic jams to website glitches. “I don’t cry very often, because I’m a pretty tough old bird. For the first time, I was crying to my daughter,” Munson says. “We thought we had the appointment. We thought we were doing it. And then poof.”

FULL THROTTLE

Matt Meyer, director of entertainment for the Spokane Public Facilities District, was used to handling thousands of people streaming into the Arena for everything from Garth Brooks concerts to March Madness basketball

10 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Spokane Arena is one of the state’s mass vaccination sites. games. But with large events effectively made illegal over the past year, Meyer’s skill set had been repurposed. “We’ve been a homeless shelter, a clean air shelter, a voting center, a virus testing site,” Stephanie Curran, director of the Spokane Public Facilities District, the organization that runs the Arena. “We knew that down the road, there’s eventually going to be a vaccine, and they’re going to need a mass area to do it.” In December, Meyer gave a walk-through of the Arena to the staffers with Spokane Regional Health District. In early January, he did the same for the local nonprofit CHAS Health as they sketched out an initial strategy. They would ramp up slowly, vaccinating 80 people a day at first, and then increasing it to a few hundred in the next week. After all, Washington state’s vaccine rollout had been slow at first, stymied by a focus on front-line health care workers and a lack of certified vaccination sites. But on Jan. 18, with little warning, that changed. Gov. Jay Inslee announced that effective immediately, everyone 65 and over would be eligible for vaccination. Some of the state’s most powerful corporations, like Starbucks, Microsoft and Costco, would provide logistical support. And Inslee was commanding the state’s National Guard to help launch four mass vaccination sites, including at the Spokane Arena. “When Inslee made that announcement, it just ramped everything up immediately,” Meyer says, “and all of us started focusing on the larger numbers, rather than slowly, slowly progressing.” CHAS and the Spokane Arena aimed to vaccinate 500 the first day. All they had to do was let them sign up. That’s where the trouble started.

TECHNICAL FOULS

Across the country, vaccine-scheduling websites have been shuddering from the high demand. So the night before Wednesday’s launch last week, multiple reporters pressed Kelley Charvet, chief administrative officer for CHAS Health, about whether CHAS’s servers would be able to handle it. “We did have to transfer for a different server in

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

anticipation of high traffic,” Charvet assured them. “So we’ve tried to put all the safeguards in place to ensure that systems don’t go down tomorrow.” Instead, the moment they flipped the on switch the next morning, they were hit with a flood of 60,000 registration attempts simultaneously. The sign-up site, run by a third-party medical scheduling company called Qure4U, buckled under the strain. Joe Jovanovich, a 69-year-old retired bus driver, regaled the Inlander with a similar experience as Munson’s in trying to sign up. For over an hour that Wednesday morning, he sat on his couch with his iPhone, persisting through a gauntlet of crashes, freezes and unresponsive buttons. “I waited and waited and waited, and refreshed, and nothing happened and I’m back to stage one again,” Jovanovich says. Eventually he managed to get scheduled, but others weren’t as lucky. Some tried the phone lines, only to be placed behind hundreds of other callers. Vaccination was supposed to be for appointment only. Some showed up at the Arena knowing they hadn’t scheduled one. But others thought they had an appointment as a result of the glitchy website, but their appointment hadn’t gone through. At first, Charvet says, CHAS’s internal system was overloaded, too. The workers couldn’t tell who had an appointment and who didn’t. A handful of people without appointments got vaccinated while others were turned away angrily. The technical glitch had another, more consequential side effect. “Once the server crashed and came back online, there was a time period when they were triple-booking every single time slot,” says Meyer. The Arena had been given enough doses to vaccinate 3,000 people over six days. But thanks to the server strain, around 4,500 appointments had been scheduled in only a few hours. “We had people showing up for the exact same time for more slots that were allotted,” Meyer says. “At that point, we’re not going to turn people away.” All the problems came crashing together. So many

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cars were pouring into the Arena parking lot that the Spokane Police had to step in to direct traffic. The drive-thru COVID testing site in the parking lot was suspended. Meyer says CHAS brought down extra vaccine administrators and doubled the vaccination area inside the Arena to move people through more quickly. He credits the medical staff for adapting so readily. “During the debriefing, I looked at them and said, ‘Every single one of you did a great job,’” Meyer says. “‘You did exactly what you were supposed to do. We just did double the amount of people.’” Ultimately, the glitches hadn’t impeded vaccinations. They had accelerated them. CHAS expected to vaccinate over 500 the first day. Instead, they vaccinated 1,164.

REGULAR Admissions opens Session begins

February 2021

PROGRESS BAR

After Jovanovich pulled into the Arena parking lot for his vaccination on Sunday, his irritation at the problems had been replaced by a sense of wonder “how something could be done so well in this day and age.” “It couldn’t have gone any better,” Jovanovich says. “It was just like smooth glass, from the time you turn into the parking lot until the time you left.” Still, thanks to overbooking, CHAS had to scramble to find extra vaccine doses to inject everyone who signed up. They dipped into the next week’s stock and asked other providers — Charvet won’t say who — to loan them a few vaccine doses. Replenishing those supplies, however, means that while the state is sending 4,000 new vaccine doses to the Arena this week, CHAS was only able to schedule an additional 2,500 vaccinations Monday.

“I waited and waited and waited, and refreshed, and nothing happened and I’m back to stage one again.” In the meantime, others have been scheduling vaccinations at other locations like Costco, which quietly opened up registration for vaccinations in Spokane County last Friday. On Monday of this week, Charvet assured reporters that Qure4U had expanded its server capacity to accommodate 120,000 simultaneous scheduling attempts. Additionally, they’d implemented an online queuing system. Instead of letting everyone cram in to the server at once, applicants would wait in an orderly line to get scheduled. At 5 pm on Monday, a revamped CHAS website once again opened up for the next week of vaccine scheduling. And once again, Munson tried to get on their schedule for a vaccine. This time, she reports, the process was a lot cleaner. As soon as she logged on, she was told she was No. 2,154 in line. She could see a green progress bar, complete with a little animated silhouette of a man who walked forward as the bar advanced. “Now there’s 181 ahead of me,” she told the Inlander, watching the progress over the phone. But then seconds later, the man stopped walking. A new message appeared on the page. “‘The COVID vaccine schedule is full for the Spokane Arena location,’” she read aloud. “I was two minutes away from being able to make an appointment. ... It’s still mega-frustrating.” After all, fixing the website doesn’t fix the supply problem. Meyer says they’ve already designed the floor plans to allow up to 5,000 people to be vaccinated in the Arena every single day. But getting there means Spokane County needs to get a lot more vaccine doses every week. Already, Munson knows that thousands of Spokane residents have been vaccinated, even more quickly than anticipated. “But I wanted to be one of them,” Munson says. “I’m not a selfish person, but I want my shot. It’s not a lot to ask after 74 years, really.” n danielw@inlander.com

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NEWS | BUSINESS

Paying the Piper Unemployment costs spiked for employers hit hard by shutdowns, but Washington lawmakers have approved help BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

ast spring, a pandemic the likes of which the world hadn’t seen in a century forced leaders to shutter their economies in ways few people living today had ever experienced. The impacts were swift. Soon after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered people to stay home and restricted inperson services of nearly all kinds in March, the state saw a sudden, unprecedented increase in unemployment. Previously, the worst month for initial unemployment claims had been amid the Great Recession, when 90,331 people signed up in December 2008. Compare that to March 2020, when 306,544 people made initial claims, and then April when another 457,221 signed up for benefits. Washington came into the crisis with one of the healthiest unemployment trust funds in the country, sitting at $4.8 billion. But even with federal funds helping those on unemployment last year, the fund dwindled to $1.4 billion with pandemic-related payouts. While Washington remains one of the few states that haven’t had to take a federal loan to remain solvent, state rules dictate that the trust fund needs to be replenished by employers. So employers around the state recently received their new unemployment insurance tax rates for 2021, with many receiving eye-popping increases of 200 percent, 500 percent, even 1,500 percent. Some businesses previously paying hundreds of dollars per year now expected to pay thousands or even tens of thousands. That’s because the calculations for yearly rates are intended to ding employers who put more strain on the system. But these aren’t normal times, many owners point out. “We were forced to shut down, and now we’ve gotta pay for it, too, with no revenue,” says Tom Handy, owner of Paradise Creek Brewery in Pullman. “The unemployment system was set up originally to protect workers from unscrupulous practices by employers, if we fire people willy-nilly or hire too many people and lay them off, hire them back, lay them off again. … But now it’s the government that caused it.” Paradise Creek’s tax on their payroll is set to go from 0.1 percent to 1.47 percent, which would be about a fifteenfold increase, largely because their entire staff went on unemployment at one point last year. That comes as a blow when the business is still restricted like many other restaurants and bars, operating at a loss while they try to weather the financial storm, Handy says. “We’re paying for something we had nothing to do with, with money we weren’t allowed to earn,” Handy says. “We’ve never been allowed to get back to normal, and by the way things are looking, it might be another six to seven months, maybe more.” The good news? Washington lawmakers, recognizing the massive strain on businesses already teetering on the edge of collapse, passed a bill last week to eliminate $1.7 billion in tax increases that over the next four years would have been automatically charged to employers whose workers went on unemployment. Should Gov. Inslee, who requested the legislation, sign it into law soon, an included emergency clause means employers could

12 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

get new, lower tax rates in the mail before their April due date. In Idaho, meanwhile, Gov. Brad Little used $200 million in CARES Act money to help their trust fund, which resulted in a decrease in many Idaho employers’ unemployment insurance rates. But more work for Washington remains as the trust fund continues to be used while there’s still no end in sight for pandemic-related restrictions on the business community.

REMOVING THE OUTLIER

from about $4,000 per year to $20,000 or more. The legislation would remedy much of the increase by not factoring the $1.2 billion of unemployment benefits paid from March 22 to May 30, 2020, into the experience rate. Because the system requires that employers replenish the fund, more than $920 million in tax increases were expected this year alone. However, the legislation would prevent $1.7 billion in automatic tax hikes that were expected between now and 2025. On top of suspending or waiving other taxes that would increase employer rates, the measure would raise the minimum weekly benefit that’s paid to workers from $201 to $270 starting in July. To prepare for the next major health crisis, it would also change the rules for weekly claims so high-risk people who can’t work from home can quit their job and get benefits without impacting their employer’s experience tax, charges can be waived for employers who have to shut down or reduce hours due to an infectious public health emergency, and the one-week waiting period to receive benefits can be waived when federal funds are available as they have been during this pandemic. While the bill targets several unemployment issues, there’s still more work to do, Keiser says. “Unemployment insurance is funded by employers so we have to work out a future plan as well,” she says. “The approach this bill takes builds back the trust fund slowly but surely over five years.”

State Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, is intent on focusing relief on those businesses hit hardest over the last year. “One of the important things to keep in mind here is this has been a very uneven pandemic in its effect and damage for both people and for companies,” Keiser says. But one of the fastest ways to get relief to everyone was by making several across-the-board changes to unemployment included in Senate Bill 5061, which Keiser introduced. The measure — co-sponsored by Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, and others — received broad bipartisan support, passing 42-7 in the state Senate on Jan. 27, then passing 89-8 (1 excused) in the House on Jan. 29. Most significantly, the bill would help lower the tax rate employers were hit with this year by removing the outlier of last spring when Senate Bill 5061, co-sponsored by Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, and passed by the Legislature will calculating this year’s unemlower the unemployment taxes faced by businesses hit hard by the pandemic. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO ployment insurance rates. Several factors go into determining an employer’s unemployment taxes, Keiser thinks there’s also some opportunity to target including something called the “experience” rate, which federal or state funds for grants for business owners increases when an employer has more current or former who need assistance most. While that would take more employees using unemployment. lawmaking, she envisions grants intended for “voluntary With last spring’s COVID-19 restrictions, many contributions” that allow employers to essentially buy employers who had rarely or never used unemployment down their experience rating. Otherwise, the increased before suddenly had most, if not all, of their employees tax rates can stick with and impact employers for years using the safety net. As a result, their experience tax to come. increased for this year. “My intent is to get money either from the federal “It’s like automobile insurance in the sense that if you government if we get another tranche of relief in the next have an accident, your premium goes up,” Keiser says. couple months, or from our budget stabilization account “It’s not really fair because there are companies like small to target certain businesses, say small restaurants,” Keiser restaurants where they’ve had to lay off their entire staff.” says. “We need to be really targeted for those that really Upset employers have shared their stories across need relief on their rate class.” social media, noting that their rates in many cases were Meanwhile, she’s proud of the swift work to pass SB rising from a tax of less than 1 percent of their payroll to 5061. more than 4 percent or even 6 percent. One Spokane-area “I’m so excited,” she says. “I just want you to know employer who didn’t want to go on the record noted in a that government can work, and we can work together.” n public Facebook thread that their expected cost would go samanthaw@inlander.com

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MY KINGDOM FOR A CERAMIC TILE SETTER

It’s crazy-hard to find a decent, available contractor — but word of mouth is still your best bet BY DANIEL WALTERS

ome homeowners seek out home improvement. Others have home improvement thrust upon them. Take last November, for example, when a windstorm toppled a tree smack-dab onto the roof of one of the homes Steve Corker rents out. Corker had little choice but to find a roofing contractor who had the time to replace nearly 30 percent of the roof. “It almost took us four weeks to find a roofer,” Corker says. In the meantime, to prevent rain from leaking into the tenant’s apartment, all they could do was put up a tarp and wait. It’s not like Corker doesn’t have connections. He’s the president of the Landlord Association of the Inland Northwest. But with a portfolio of only four apartment units and 14 homes, it’s nearly impossible to find a fulltime handyman on call. “Most of the contractors won’t touch us with a 10foot pole,” Corker says. “We’re not big enough. They want to work on big projects.” And so like most homeowners or small-time landlords in Spokane who need work done on their property, Corker is at the mercy of a brutally tight market where getting a subcontractor in the door means sitting on a waitlist for ages. Just finding someone to upgrade a window, he says, took four months. “Right now, there’s just a lack of qualified craftsmen,” Corker says. “We’re just screaming for people in the industry to do the work.” Combined with the skyrocketing cost of construction materials, the dearth of available craftsmen can turn a simple home improvement project into a long and pricey nightmare.

14 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

HELP WANTED

On one hand, it’s great to be in the construction business right now. Garrett Sebright, a carpenter with Garrett Construction Service, says he’s booked out an entire year. “I don’t advertise or do anything,” Sebright says. “It’s all word of mouth.” Yet most contractors who rely on subcontractors are running into the same frustrations as they try to seek out plumbers, electricians and other skilled laborers for their projects. William Morin, a contractor who runs Morin Construction, says it can feel impossible to find ceramic tile setters or “a good drywall guy right now.” Even before COVID, Spokane had already been struggling with a construction labor problem. A few years ago the froth from the surging Seattle and Portland housing markets overflowed into Spokane, ending years of low rents and low home prices. But Joel White, executive officer at the Spokane Home Builders Association, says that the pool of construction laborers still hasn’t been replenished after many left the region — or the industry — after the 2008 recession. White, like many observers, thought that COVID might have sparked another housing crash. But that’s not what happened. The coronavirus didn’t devastate the construction trade — it supercharged it. While the initial lockdowns froze construction projects for a few months, that just gave more time for demand to build up. Stay-at-home orders, it turned out, just made people want to fix up the home they’re staying in. “People being stuck in home, stimulus checks — maybe they’re able to get stuff done around the house they’ve been planning for years,” Morin says. But it’s one thing to have the intention to rehab your house. It’s

another to find someone to help you do it, at a time when everyone has the same goal. “If you don’t know somebody, you’re going to call them, and you’re not going to get a call back right now.”

WOOD ON FIRE

The availability of labor isn’t the only problem dogging the home improvement projects. The price of construction supplies — particularly wood — has surged to ridiculous levels. “A sheet of oriented strand board has tripled if not quadrupled in price,” Sebright says. Take it from Karl Ziegler, executive officer of Spokane’s beloved regional building supply store chain Ziggy’s. “Lumber prices are high right now — unrealistically high,” he says. During the last week of January, he says, the composite price of 1,000 square feet of plywood was around $861 — a $16 increase from the week before. Last year at the same time? It was $339. “It started with the COVID shutdown,” Ziegler says. “All the do-it-yourselfers came out of the woodwork, wanting to rebuild their decks and paint their houses and do roofs and fences.” Simultaneously, the shutdown brought the lumber supply chain, already hobbled by Canadian trade tariffs, to a screeching halt. Mills and factories shut down or reduced their output, he says — some to avoid infecting their workers and others because they wanted to upgrade or retool. Once the shutdown was lifted, both average Tim Taylor types and professional contractors were competing for lumber, even as the size of the lumber pile had been whittled down. ...continued on page 16

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“MY KINGDOM FOR A CERAMIC TILE SETTER,” CONTINUED... Wood was the toilet paper of hardware stores. Every building supplier across the country saw shelves get stripped bare. “In the summer of 2020, we were some of the only guys who had product,” Ziegler says. Builders and contractors of all sizes, he says, were driving extreme distances just to shop at his inventory. “We had people from Colorado, from Eastern Montana. We’ve got people from Portland and Northern California.” But he wanted to focus on serving customers, not visitors. Ziggy’s put restrictions on how much any one customer could buy. “It’s not just a shortage on lumber, it’s a shortage on everything,” he says. “If you have the product in stock, somebody is going to try to buy you out.” The price spiked the most on wood, but the costs of building supplies across the board increased by 10 to 15 percent. “It’s on roofing. It’s on nails,” Ziegler says. “It’s on wire. It’s on copper pipe.” In other words, sometimes it’s not the contractor who screws you on the price. Sometimes it’s the screws themselves. “There’s guys who want to do a quality job and a fair price, and it’s all coming back on the consumer,” Sebright says.

KNOW A GUY

Not every contractor, of course, offers a quality job for a fair price. And when people are desperate, it’s easy to get taken advantage of, Morin warns. “They think, ‘I’ll just call such and such and trust they’ll do a good job and do a good price,’” says Morin. “But they’ll not do a good job and won’t do a good price.” Everyone in the construction business has horror stories about botched bathroom floors, half-completed projects and shoddy tile work. “Certain companies are notorious,” Morin says. Sebright knows the jokes well. From memory, COUTRESY OF GARRETT SEBRIGHT he recites the scene from the Naked Gun, where the love interest asks the villain, “How could you do something so vicious?” and he responds, “It was easy, my dear. You forget I spent two years as a building contractor.” Sure, there are websites like Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor where you can find contractors. But everyone the Inlander spoke with preferred word of mouth: To avoid a bad experience, find people who’ve had good ones. Ask people you trust to recommend people they’ve worked with before. In the Five Mile Prairie area, Corker says, the message board of the neighborhood social media network Nextdoor is filled with these sorts of contractor referral inquiries. “Every day they say: Who can do fences? Who can do roofs?” Corker says. “Who can put a water heater in?” And if all else fails, there’s the old-fashioned technique. Knock on the door. Driving around town, Corker keeps his eye out for impressive paint jobs or nice new fences, and if he needs one put up himself, he’s not afraid to walk up and ask. Last summer, Corker spotted a particularly nice deck. So he walked up to the landlord in the front yard, who was more than happy to put him in to touch with the craftsman who built it. There was just one problem. “‘I’d love to do something for you,’” Corker says the deckbuild told him then. “He said, ‘We can’t do it this summer.” And so, as has happened many times before, Corker was put on a waiting list. n

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Miller’s Hardware co-owner Stace Heston says there’s one thing every homeowner should be doing in the winter: insulating windows.

DO IT YOURSELF

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

With the internet and your local hardware store, you can do these three seemingly daunting things to improve your home

f you have the right tools, there are plenty of relatively quick and easy ways to improve your home. And one of those tools, perhaps one of the most useful, is the internet. Still, it can be an unwieldy one. How-to videos for home improvement are all over the place online, with plenty of good advice and, unfortunately, plenty of bad advice. In the wrong hands, it can easily ruin a project, and sometimes cause you to inflict damage on your plumbing or electrical system. Raena Strohmaier, co-owner of Strohmaier Construction in Spokane, says they see that a lot. “A lot of times when homeowners get into a project and it’s too much for them, they call us and realize it’s over their head,” she says. Generally, she says, new homeowners should try to avoid messing with plumbing or electrical systems if they can. Instead, she recommends they stick to aesthetics — flooring, tiling, painting. But times are tough. If you want to do some remodeling and save some money, these are three do-it-yourself projects you can get working on, as recommended from the folks at the local hardware store.

KEEP OUT THE COLD

Stace Heston, the owner of Miller’s Hardware and the Ace Hardware on Ninth and Monroe on the South Hill,

18 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

BY WILSON CRISCIONE says there’s one thing every homeowner should be doing in the winter: insulating windows. Whether it’s foam weatherization tape or shrink film, you can buy it at the hardware store for around $5 to $10. It takes maybe a half-hour at most to line it up on your windows, and it’s a great way to keep the cold weather outside. “You put this on, and you save money,” Heston says. He adds that if you go outside and see gaps around the window edges, then you can get a tube of caulking and fill in the gap to prevent even more air from getting inside.

REPLACE THE TOILET

This is a project that may have been more daunting before YouTube. But today, people might be able to get by with some instruction online and from the experts at the hardware store, says Larry Myers, owner of River Ridge Hardware on Garland. You can save hundreds by doing it yourself. “If you’ve never done it before, watch more than one video. Make sure you’re not getting conflicting advice. And secondly, go into a small, local hardware store — my whole staff will tell you exactly how to do it and whether you should be doing it yourself,” Myers says. Heston agrees that a DIYer can replace a toilet in a couple hours. He says there are a few things to watch out

for. For one, make sure the water is shut off to the toilet. And two, don’t overly tighten the supply line to the flush valve. He says that’s a common mistake, along with making the bolts holding the tank to the bowl too tight, which can crack the porcelain.

TILING

New tiling can make a world of difference for the bathroom. But it will take some time to master if you’ve never done it before. Pick a corner that’s out of a way, or get a sheet of plywood and practice gluing or grouting there. “I would practice first, before you put it where someone would see it,” Heston says. “Otherwise, it can look like someone didn’t know what they were doing.” A common mistake is not prepping the floor properly. It has to be clean, dry and level before you get started. But once you’ve practiced and know the basics, it can be done, with a little bit of help from the internet, he says. Just remember one thing: Be sure it’s what you want. If you’re going to update the flooring, the faucets, the toilets or the countertops, know how you want all of it to look before you get started on one project, says Kyle Strohmaier, a co-owner of Strohmaier construction. Otherwise, you might be calling a contractor to bail you out. “All of it needs to be planned out,” he says, “So you’re not going backwards.” n

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 19

GLAM WITHOUT GUILT

How to update your rental without making permanent fixes your landlord won’t like BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

’ve lived in places where the property manager insisted that the sloping kitchen floor was “intentional” from a renovation, where water seeped through the ceiling whenever it rained, and where ripped vinyl floors created grody black stains throughout the kitchen. Some of those things required serious renovations, and yet none of those landlords ever seemed keen on the idea of us tenants taking on even small, DIY projects that would make their places look better. But renters, I’m here to tell you there are in fact many upgrades you can make to your rental apartment or home without fear of retribution. Not only are they affordable, but even small upgrades can quickly make a space feel more like home. Here are some projects that are reversible and easy enough that anyone can handle them.

“MARBLE” COUNTERTOPS

My apartment has amazing built-in storage in a style from the early 1900s, but the small kitchen counter is covered in unappealing, chipped, faux wood vinyl from the ’80s or ’90s. Enter the magic of contact paper. Nowadays you can buy rolls in extremely realistic patterns that will not only go on easily, but come off without damaging the counter

Witness the magic of contact paper posing as marble. underneath. A roll of white marble-patterned paper lifted my kitchen space with a lighter, more timeless feel. The surface is even waterproof, meaning it can handle the spills and wipedowns expected in a kitchen. Maybe your style matches better with a granite or tile pattern. It’s up to your imagination. Contact paper can also be used to change up backsplash areas and even kitchen drawers.

SWAP OUT KNOBS

Speaking of those built-ins, old-school cupboards may

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come with tacky knobs or drawer pulls. Easily unscrew those, keep them in a bag so they can be reinstalled when you move out, and screw in new knobs and pulls that fit your aesthetic better. You can also replace door knobs fairly easily with the same idea in mind: put it back where you found it when you leave.

PAINT

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tenants. Paint is relatively inexpensive, and it’s not hard to cover up if you want to swap colors. So, if you’re sick of that particular white in your room, try out another shade or paint a more dramatic color on an accent wall. Neutral colors likely won’t even be an issue, but if your landlord hates it when you’re moving out, it’s easy to paint that room right back to the color it was before.

WASHI TAPE

If you’re nervous that even a coat of cream paint might start an unnecessary tiff between you and your landlord, washi tape is an inexpensive way to create artistic and totally nonpermanent accents in your living space. Try making a pattern on one wall with the very easily removable tape — think a chevron, repeating minimalistic lines or geometric shapes. Or, go crazy and create an entire art piece or faux wallpaper design. For inspiration, try browsing DIY sites like Apartment Therapy, HGTV’s DIY Network and Curbly.

CURTAINS

Have some boring old blinds? Pull those all the way up, install some hooks on either side of your window frame (use 3M sticky hooks for the no-hole version, or hooks that require small nails if your walls don’t take well to adhesives) and throw up a curtain rod with some fresh curtains. In just a few minutes, you’ve updated the entire feel of your living space. Not finding affordable curtains you like at the store? Check thrift or craft stores for fabrics that appeal to you, and it’s very simple to sew or even hot glue a tube or loops on top so you can easily thread the homemade curtain onto a rod.

MIRROR MAGIC

Put up a large mirror in a tight space, even if that means just leaning it against the wall, and you’ll instantly feel like the space got bigger and brighter. n

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 21

NEW HUE, NEW YOU

A quick paint job is a cheap way to freshen up your space, and your life BY SPENCER BROWN AND NATALIE RIETH

ainting a space can be a daunting task if you’ve never attempted it. But it’s also one of the quickest and cheapest ways to completely change a room, according to Cathy Peroff and Jana Oliveri of Spokane’s HUE Color and Decor. “Paint, new throw pillows and a new rug are the most inexpensive items to buy, and they can completely change the look of a room,” Oliveri says. “I would say you could totally revamp a room with paint, pillows and a rug for less than $200.” Before starting the process, you need to decide on a color. Peroff notes that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and recommends first looking at palettes to get an idea of how you want the space to look. “Once you know a color you want to use, then you can build a color palette around that,” Oliveri says. One of the biggest misconceptions of painting a room is that it is a long, arduous process. Peroff doesn’t agree. ...continued on page 27

Cathy Peroff, right, and Jana Oliveri of Spokane’s HUE Color and Decor. COURTESY PHOTO

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Spokane Valley Marine is prepared to exceed your expectations. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff will find the perfect new or used watercraft to fit your lifestyle, including the right parts and accessories. Our unparalleled selection of boats includes aluminum, deck, fishing, jon, pontoon, ski/wake and outboard. We’re prepared to make sure your experience is outstanding as we assist you every step of the way, from choosing your boat, to financing, customization and ongoing maintenance.

We are proud to carry a large selection of new and pre-owned inventory. When you are ready to invest in a new boat, our friendly and knowledgeable sales, financing, service, and parts departments are prepared to make sure your experience is outstanding, from assisting while you’re making your choice to ongoing maintenance and customization. At NW Boats & RV, we value the opportunity to create a long-term relationship with our customers, and we do that by giving you the best customer service available.

Legend Performance Marine is a Mercury/Mercury Racing, Hallett and Nordic boat dealer with a full-service center. Our expertise is built from over 50 years of combined experience in the industry, which affords us a wealth of technical knowledge to serve you and to make your boating experience the best it can be. Because we are boating enthusiasts, we understand that your time on the water is important, so we offer on the water service calls.

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For over 50 Years Mark’s Marine has brought the highest quality marine products in sales, accessories, and service to the NW. As your Aluminum Boat Headquarters we look forward to showing you the Mark’s Marine Difference! We carry the finest Fishing and Pontoon Boats from Lund, WeldCraft, HewesCraft, ThunderJet, Godfrey, and Avalon, powered by Yamaha and Mercury outboards. Boats, Accessories, Electronics or Service, Mark’s Marine has you covered.

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For over 70 years Tobler Marina has been a staple in the Inland Northwest. With products ranging from entry level to high end luxury models, we can accommodate your unique needs and budget. A Top 100 Dealer for the past 13 years, and a 5 Star Certified Dealer for the past 10 years. We want to make your boating season more convenient and enjoyable. Come find the boat to fit your needs at Tobler.

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Midway Marine is your new Tige Boat dealer serving north Idaho and eastern Washington. As your Tige dealer, our goal is to provide a complete boating experience at competitive prices. World class performance tow boats by Tige and ATX at ultra competitive pricing And huge Spokane Boat Show discounts! The industry’s only “All Aluminum” Luxury Pontoon by Veranda starting at only $39,990 with trailer and 115hp Yamaha motor included.

At Specialty Recreation & Marine we’ll help you find the perfect fit for whatever experience on the water you desire. We offer the best in pre-owned and new boats from Yamaha and SunCatcher Pontoon boats, plus personal watercraft and accessories from Sea-Doo and Yamaha. We’re excited to help you discover the fun and adventure that a quality boat or PWC can bring into your life! We look forward to helping you and your family.

We want to provide boat owners and their families with the best boating experience by maintaining a passion for quality products and service. Coeur d’Alene Marine Sports is a family-owned business offering new and used boats since 2017. In addition to helping you find the right boat for your family, we can assist with your boat maintenance and repair, boat rentals and boating supplies. We also offer water sport rentals including stand-up paddle boards and kayaks.

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26 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

“NEW HUE, NEW YOU,” CONTINUED... “If we are talking about a standard bedroom, start to finish I would say it takes four hours to paint,” Peroff said. “It’s all in the prep. It takes awhile to tape and clean everything off, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, it takes even longer.” Oliveri explains that if you are painting a porous surface or painting a dark wall a lighter color, you’ll need to prime the surface, which also adds to the total time. “A lot of times with clients we look at how much prep needs to be done,” Peroff says. “If the walls are in good shape and if it’s a lighter color, it shouldn’t take too long.” While most homes have walls you can definitely do yourself, some spaces do require a more skilled hand, and that’s where professional painters and decorators come in. “When you are in doubt, hire someone who knows what they are doing — like us,” Peroff says. “People think it’s expensive to hire professionals, but it’s not. You end up saving a lot of time and money hiring someone if you don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t spend endless hours buying samples or furniture that you won’t like later.”

Erin Haskell Gourde of Design for the PPL.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

hen you decide it’s time to tackle a painting project is totally up to you. You don’t need to wait until a wall or room looks bad to break out a brush and bucket. “It’s always a good time for a fresh coat of paint in my opinion,” says Erin Haskell Gourde, interior designer and owner and creative director of Design for the PPL. “It’s really just an economical way to feel, you know, reborn again.” Haskell says it is best to stick strictly to specialized paint stores for first those attempting DIY painting. They exist for a reason: to guarantee your paint doesn’t fail. Cheaper, lower quality paints found at big box stores are simply not up to par with higher quality products that paint stores like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore carry. And, of course, employee expertise is another factor falling in favor of a trip to a specialized store. Haskell also says it’s time for home decorators to reconsider the current, trendy instinct to select matte finishes. Although many find the look of a matte finish aesthetically pleasing, its look regresses significantly faster than paint with a glossier sheen, since matte finishes are more difficult to clean. Painting is all about sheen, or the glossy presentation of paint finish, Haskell says. As a designer, Haskell is an enthusiast of a glossy finish. “Don’t be afraid to go full-gloss, or semi-gloss, especially if your walls are smooth,” she says. Once you have decided your preferred sheen, purchased a fresh can of paint and tackled the messy, often tiresome portion of the project, it’s time to channel some creativity and accessorize. Keyword being accessorize, not over-accessorize. The best way to complement your brand new walls, Haskell says, is to decorate simply and focus on one single standout feature. Hanging a print, painting or installation, or even highlighting a built-in bookshelf are great ways to add a finishing touch. “The best way to refresh your wall is to paint it and then put a huge piece of art on there,” says Haskell. “That’s a big wow factor.” n

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FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 27

INSTANT INSPIRATION

Meet six local women transforming their homes and sharing how to do it yourself BY CHEY SCOTT

orget Pinterest. Instagram is the go-to for home and lifestyle inspiration when it comes to everything from budget-friendly, do-it-yourself renovations to the most high-end interior design. No matter your personal decor tastes, budget or era of your home, the following six DIY-savvy women of the Inland Northwest (who’ve collectively amassed tens of thousands of followers) are bound to spark inspiration to change at least something in your home. What better time to do so than now, while we’re all still stuck there?

DANIELLE LOFT

@themindfulhaven

From teaching herself to lay tile or transforming a thrifted table with scrap wood, Danielle Loft isn’t daunted when the next DIY project calls. The creative wife and mom has been in the process of transforming her family’s 1980s-era home in North Spokane for three years. When they moved in, she says, “it looked the same as the day it was built — blue carpet, wallpaper on every wall with pink, blue and brass all over.” INLANDER: When did you start sharing on Instagram? Loft: I found with the craziness of life and being a mom I needed a creative outlet that would help balance the chaos while staying at home with my kids. I’ve always loved decorating, but it wasn’t until three years ago I started using tools. I was instantly hooked. Biggest DIY success? Our kitchen. It challenged me much more than other room makeovers because it involved projects I had no prior experience with (framing and tiling). I taught myself how to tile a backsplash, build floating shelves and spray paint our cabinet doors. Easy project for a new DIYer? Anything involving paint is a great place to start because it can always be easily fixed. Color blocked walls are trending, and are an easy, impactful look to achieve with just paint and tape. Favorite local resources? There isn’t much of our home that isn’t thrifted, or a DIY, but when I do shop local I really love Abode Spokane and Spokane Hardware Supply, which was fantastic to work with for our kitchen hardware.

28 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

ERYN WHALEN

@eryn_whalen_online

The Whalen family makes their home in the foothills of Green Bluff, where they enjoy an urban farmstead lifestyle alongside a St. Bernard, three cats and 12 chickens. The family’s 1991-built home had never been updated when they moved in three years ago and is a fulfilling work-in-progress for her and her husband. Biggest DIY success? I’d have to say my favorite project will always be our upstairs hallway. It reminded me of something out of a ’90s horror film. We picked a pretty gray patterned wallpaper, installed crisp white faux wainscoting (super budgetfriendly), trimmed the doors, painted them all white and replaced a light. It was a nightand-day difference. Next on your project list? We really want to tackle the kitchen this year. I’m thinking tile to the ceiling and open shelving. What’s your decor style? I know farmhouse is overplayed, so I’ll just say “cozy.” I want my home to be inviting, warm, bright and happy. Maybe that’s not a style, per say, but I’m going for more of a feel than a look. Advice for fellow DIYers? Don’t overthink it. Try something and if you don’t like it, try something else! Favorite local DIY resources? There are so many amazing shops in the Sprague Union District: The Tin Roof, Two Women Vintage Goods and Blue Cat Vintage!

GIANNA CAPUTO

@indie.boho.nest

The before and after photos Gianna Caputo occasionally shares of her family’s midcentury rancher in Spokane’s Shadle area never cease to astound her 76,000 followers. Since moving in about two years ago, the wife and mom of two has completely transformed their home from drab, dark and outdated to crisp, modern and full of light. Most recently, she and husband Mark tackled the installation of peel-andstick floor tiles in their sunroom, one of Gianna’s favorite transformations to date. When did you start sharing DIYs on Instagram? Right about the time we moved in, so just about two years ago. I wanted to

have a place where I shared all the renovations we were doing, and that’s what started the whole thing. Easy project for a new DIYer? Start with something like painting, or simple furniture projects like sanding something down to reveal the true wood tones, and maybe changing out hardware. Even upholstery; if it’s a simple piece, you can easily put something new on with a staple gun. What’s your decor style? My style is definitely still boho, but it’s becoming a little more traditional and a little bit more rustic farmhouse, so I’m just starting to incorporate those themes. Advice for fellow DIYers? Expect it to be way more time consuming than it’s supposed to be, expect to make mistakes, and expect to get very frustrated. But in the end, it’s so worth it and you learn so much each time.

SHANNON MORSCHECK

@livingwithlady

Over the six and a half years they’ve lived in their 2000-constructed Five Mile home, the Morscheck family has completely transformed the space. While Shannon and her husband have done most of the work themselves — including building a large back deck, custom built-in shelving and more — the family of five recently celebrated the completion of a full kitchen remodel done by a local contractor, as it involved removing load-bearing walls. When did you start sharing your DIYs on Instagram? I switched from a personal to more of a business account about two years ago. I really love sharing the improvements and projects of our home, as well as random shenanigans to help bring a smile, and somehow it has become a dream job. Biggest DIY success? While we did hire a big portion of our kitchen renovation out, designing it was something I poured my heart into. Turning our main level into a space that serves our family better has been an absolute dream come true. Advice to fellow DIYers? You can always get the look for less. Whether that’s making it yourself or finding a dupe; you can still achieve the look you’re after without emptying your pockets.

The Nilson family’s custom backyard treehouse. KAT SKYE PHOTO

CHELSEY NILSON

@currentlymod

The Nilson family’s residence is the second midcentury era home they’ve owned; this one was built in 1964 and is in southwest Spokane Valley. Chelsey Nilson, her husband and their three children have lived there just over two years. Their DIY projects aim to maintain the original architectural style, with cohesive, modern updates. A custom backyard treehouse built for the kids was recently featured on the design website Domino. When did you start sharing your DIYs on Instagram? I started sharing after our kitchen renovation. I had so many fun pictures of the kids being involved in the process, and I wanted to document these memories, paired with a creative outlet for myself. What’s next on your project list? We’re adding some fun and functional aspects to our very bland basement bonus room: wood paneling, terrazzo tile, paint, furniture and decor, and, once the price of lumber settles down a little bit, I’d love to replace the old acoustic ceiling tiles with tongue-and-groove boards. Advice to fellow DIYers? It’s totally OK to fail, especially if you’re experimenting on your own home. I’m still learning this myself.

KELLI BATEMAN

@myhouseof8

If Kelli Bateman, a wife and mother of six, can find the time to DIY her family’s entire central Coeur d’Alene, craftsman-style home, the rest of us have zero excuses. Bateman’s Instagram feed showcases truly magazine-worthy images of each room and nook of the family home, from her kids’ uniquely personalized bedrooms to the magical results of peel-and-stick tile, painted cabinets and custom hand-painted “wallpaper.”

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Biggest DIY success? Our kitchen renovation is probably one of my favorite projects so far! We had a boxed-in kitchen that felt really cramped and small. We decided to knock down the walls which were blocking it in from the surrounding living areas. It instantly opened up the space and made it feel huge. Easy project for a new DIYer? Start with paint. Paint an accent wall in your bedroom or living room to give it a little pop. Or create a funky wall using a sponge and paint. There are so many fun patterns and designs you can create. Advice to fellow DIYers? Don’t be afraid to learn something new. Go for it! If you’ve been thinking about it, today’s the day! If you’re not sure how, YouTube can pretty much teach us anything these days. n

bellaterragardenhomes.com info@bellaterragardenhomes.com Erika Kahler • 509.995.5077 FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 29

62nd

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BACKYARD BEAUTY Tips and tricks for making your yard more eco-friendly and the ideal spot for outdoor entertaining

lot of us are probably spending more time than usual outdoors, even as temperatures plummet and snow flurries fly. It’s pretty much the only way we can be sociable without the potential danger of spreading COVID-19 — inviting friends over to hang out in the backyard, socially distanced around a crackling fire pit. Here are a handful of home improvement projects and tips to get the most use out of your backyard space, whether it involves making it more environmentally friendly or setting it up to be the perfect hangout spot on your block.

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BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

BUILD SOME RAISED GARDEN BEDS. The benefits of raised garden beds are numerous: It’s easier to manage weeds than in a traditional garden, they provide the sort of drainage that isn’t possible in non-irrigated soil, and they simply look nice. You can certainly construct your own — all you’ll need are some 2x4s, plastic sheeting for the bed, a roll of mesh to cover the plants and a whole lot of soil — but there are plenty of companies that manufacture kits that you can set up in your own yard. You’ll want a depth of 8 to 12 inches. Picking the right spot is the ultimate strategy: Depending on the plants you’re growing, they will either need to be in a place that gets the most sunlight, or a place that gets a bit of shade. GET INTO ECO-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING. Xeriscaping is all the rage right now. It’s a minimalist landscaping style

Give yourself a moment of (backyard) zen. that cuts down on the need for watering and irrigation, and it’s particularly popular in areas of the country that regularly experience droughts. Although Spokane isn’t exactly hurting for precipitation, it’s always a good idea to cut down on your water consumption, particularly if it’s just being sprayed on your lawn. Of course, reworking your lawn is a big and costly endeavor, but small gestures make a difference. Consider buying some droughttolerant plants (African daisies or Chinese forget-me-nots) and cacti, which require far less water. Rock gardens can make an eyecatching alternative to thirsty grass and soil. You may also want to consider planting flowers and native plants that are beneficial to bee and butterfly populations — serviceberry, golden currant and mock orange shrubs are pretty common in this area and are great sources of pollen.

INSTALL A FIRE PIT. Anyone who has the luxury of a backyard fire pit has no doubt discovered that this particular feature became a must in this age of lockdowns and quarantine. Sure, you can buy one through your neighborhood hardware store, and they’ll likely run you anywhere from $120 to snazzier models in the range of a couple thousand bucks. But if you’re looking for more of a multiday project, you could build one yourself. In your backyard, dig out a shallow 4- to 5-foot-diameter circle (always consult 811 before digging anywhere), spread a thick layer of gravel so that it’s level with the ground, and then stack large fire bricks or cinder blocks around the perimeter. It won’t be the fanciest thing in the world, but it’ll be a lifesaver on long, cold nights. Don’t forget to invest in some comfy canvas lawn chairs (preferably the kind with cupholders) that can fold up and be conveniently stored. HANG UP A HAMMOCK. The pièce de résistance of any backyard is a sweet spot to chill, and there’s no better place to do that than in the anti-gravity relaxation of a hammock. Again, it’s easy enough to find a bunch of ready-made options at local stores, but where’s the fun in that? If you’ve got a canvas drop cloth that’s about 6 feet by 9 feet, you can transform it into a hammock with a set of grommets, some O-rings and a few strands of rope. There are dozens of online tutorials to walk you through the process — or, barring that, shopping online is just a couple clicks away. There’s no better way to find your moment of backyard zen. n

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FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 31

THE MODERN KITCHEN

cause this is really the center, or heart, of the home,” says Alison Taylor, who founded Taylor Design with husband Josh. The couple met at Central Valley High School, attended University of Washington together and formed their company 20 years ago. “We like to think about what each drawer or cabinet will hold, and how people will function in the space.” Some of their own favorite memories have occurred in the kitchen, specifically around their kitchen island. Ever larger islands are undeniably popular, but not every kitchen can accommodate them. “We don’t believe in designing a kitchen to keep guests out, but instead in making it comfortable when they all crowd around the island,” Taylor says. Two recent empty-nesters on the South Hill employed the Taylors to create a kitchen featuring radiant heating and a wood-look tile floor, floating shelves and drawers — versus standard base cabinets with shelving — beneath the counter. “The custom range hood is also a popular feature now,” says Taylor, because it allows a necessary, functional component of the kitchen to blend in seamlessly. Thoughtful details like drawer dividers help maximize storage and minimize the tendency for kitchen clutter. In the recently completed kitchen for an active family with four boys in the Spokane Valley, the Taylors of course incorporated blue, playing off of Pantone’s Classic Blue “Color of the Year” for 2020. The deep blue base cabinets add crisp contrast to the fresh white of the upper cabinets. Though the appliances are stainless, and the pendants feature black metal, the Taylors chose gold hardware for the cabinet pulls, which adds a warm touch to both the dark base and crisp white upper cabinets. “Mixing metal finishes seems to be a big trend now,” notes Taylor, whose roots in the business go back a while, since she and her husband built their first spec house. “Over 20 years later, we still love working together and now our oldest daughter has finished college and joined us.”

Contemporary kitchen design is all about function — and fun BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

he kitchen is the undisputed hub of the household — not only a place for preparing food, but also the preferred spot for paying bills, the at-home office, homework and entertaining. But, of course, function isn’t the only priority. Kitchens are also often the best place in the home to showcase innovative, thoughtful design. From new trends in cabinetry that offer the opportunity to maximize efficiency to fearless use of dramatic materials and breaking old rules on matching metals, kitchens are often the epicenter of cutting-edge design for modern homes.

ART IN THE KITCHEN

“Kitchens and baths are the most challenging and technical spaces in the home,” says Sara Berry, who earned her bachelor’s in interior design from WSU and owns Berry Built with husband Matt, a home builder with more than 22 years in the industry. “I love creating functional art,” she says. That passion is on full display at a recent 1980s South FREE Hill home kitchen remodel. Berry took an innovative approach to the granite versus quartz debate, incorporating from matched slabs of to natural stone to create a dramatic kitchen backsplash. High-tech home design tools are opening a world of virtual possibilities • 16 In addition to HEALTH FAMILY Puppies ’n Kittens • 8 Backyard Birds • 40 being an obvious focal point for the large space, the stone offers easy maintenance — For more stories about Home, no grout lines check out our latest edition to clean — and of Inlander Health & Home, is exceptionally available free at most places durable. Durable you find the Inlander. quartz counters mimic the look of stone, without the maintenance issues, while light gray cabinets with visible, horizontal wood grain add to the modern vibe. The kitchen’s large island accommodates casual seating and considerable storage, and a nearby eating area reveals the on-trend mixing of metals, with a dramatic black and gold light fixture.

CHALLENGING TRADITION

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021

Reality

Home Improvement Resource Guide • Page 24 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER

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32 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

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The 1980s remodel

BERRY BUILT KITCHENS/SAGE AND SCARLET PHOTOGRAPHY

Mixing metallic finishes took a different twist in a kitchen the Berrys remodeled for a young family of five. Berry incorporated the stainless steel of the appliances and the black accents from cabinet pulls into the design of unique bi-fold upper cabinet doors fronted with frosted glass. While open shelving is trendy, homeowners are rightly apprehensive that it can end up looking jumbled and messy. The frosted glass insets allow subtle glimpses of the cabinets’ contents when the kitchen isn’t in use. The unique hinging allows the panels to be up and out of the way, functioning like open shelving during busy kitchen prep time. Seeing design elements at work is what inspires the Berrys. “We often get invited back to our projects after completion,” Berry says. “Matt and I love to stand back and watch the space perform the way it was intended to.”

ISLAND LIFE

“The kitchen is our favorite interior space to design be-

Scott and Ally Tedrow of Contempo Homes consider three things when designing a kitchen: “We want our clients to have kitchens operate with finesse, ‘wow’ guests and have timeless features,” Ally Tedrow says. Their company builds on Scott’s background in building and Ally’s education in business and design. Like other designers, they do extensive research on their clients’ needs, from how and what they cook and eat to entertainment needs. “One new trend we are finding of value to many of our clients is providing a pantry in a close proximity,” says Tedrow, including one that is separate from the kitchen, but also one built into the kitchen cabinetry as a mini bar, coffee station or larger storage. Or in the case of a kitchen they designed for a Peaceful Valley couple, a television cabinet. “We love how they are sleek, but still provide cabinet space, and add a touch of surprise,” Tedrow says. “When it comes to any design, the eye should be slowly directed or be told where to look with a ‘pop!’” Tedrow says. They added color — the orange stools in an otherwise light, neutral kitchen — and a strong vertical element connecting the island counter and ceiling. From the ceiling, the eye drops back down along the lines of the drop lighting, which in this case is a mix-andmatch approach: one rounded, the other a horizontal bar. “As kitchen lighting is changing, moving away from the three to four pendant fixtures and more towards linear fixtures, it is exciting to dive in and create,” Tedrow says. n A version of this article first appeared in Inlander Health & Home magazine.

INHERITANCE BY KATHRYN SMITH

We’re both afraid of the brain deteriorating before the body and of swimming, or drowning, which, to me, seems the same. When I was small, I was certain that one day the padded wall of the elementary school gymnasium would open to flood the room with chlorinated water. What made me believe such a thing would happen? There’s a photograph of me as an infant crawling straight for the incoming tide. Somewhere in the few years between, fear crept in like an insect, so light you can’t feel it until it bites. She knows deterioration of the body already, and the brain fog that follows

Spokane poet Kathryn Smith.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTO

WORDS

DISTINCT VOICE

Spokane poet Kathryn Smith’s new book offers sometimes scary, often stunning look at our world BY DAN NAILEN

he poem, even the lifelong pull of actually being a poet, comes from some mysterious place. There was no one poem that inspired Kathryn Smith and sent her on her path, at least not that she recalls. Not a particular teacher in high school, or a poet newly discovered, that gave the 43-year-old an “aha!” moment. “I did kind of grow up interested in it when I was in high school, and started reading poetry,” Smith says. “It was just something I connected with, and that interest and fascination continued, I guess.” That’s a bit of an understatement. Smith’s new collection, Self-Portrait with Cephalopod, arrives

Feb. 9 via Milkweed Editions, and it’s already won a Jake Adam York Prize given to an outstanding first or second collection of poetry. It’s a follow-up to her Book of Exodus and her prize-winning chapbook Chosen Companions of the Goblin. The works in the 88-page Cephalopod veer from intense and disturbing to laugh-out-loud hilarious, as Smith addresses everything from environmental disasters and the natural world to personal loss and celebrity culture as reflected by the media. While the subject matter might sound like it sprawls, the poems collected make it obvious you’re reading a distinct voice. And an intense one at that. ...continued on next page

like an overprotective parent. Love is knitted there, in the vessel I will wash with a damp cloth when she is dying. Will I? I am not tender, impatient with requests, though I’ve been known to bathe an ailing hen, to shoo ants intent on thieving grubs from a wasp’s fallen nest. Yesterday, I reached a blind hand to prize lettuce from its root and plunged the tip of my index finger straight into a wasp’s stinger. Now everything I point to is pain. Last time she called, she asked what she should do with the stack of music she found shoved in the hall closet, blooming with mold. It was her mother’s, so she was sad to lose it, but she didn’t know what she was going to do with it anyway. From Self-Portrait with Cephalopod by Kathryn Smith (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2021). Copyright © 2021 by Kathryn Smith. Reprinted with permission from Milkweed Editions. milkweed.org

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 33

CULTURE | WORDS “DISTINCT VOICE,” CONTINUED... Of course, in conversation you’ll be talking to a self-effacing self-described introvert her friends know as Kat. Asked about the first poems she ever wrote, Smith laughs and says, “I probably started in high school. We won’t be talking about those.” After growing up in Port Angeles, Smith got an English degree from Whitworth and returned to Spokane after a few years in California to pursue poetry and earn her MFA from EWU’s creative writing program. She graduated in 2004 “and just kind of stuck around” the area. One of the poems in Cephalopod was actually written when she was still in grad school; the most recent work is around two years old. The collection’s been pulled from a deep well of someone who’s been writing consistently for the better part of 20 years (in addition to working in visual arts like embroidery and collages, and crafting handmade journals sold under the name Paper Hermitage).

it feels recognizable. It makes a collection feel cohesive in the sense of the style being consistent,” Smith says. “I am a poet who writes in a lot of different styles, so finding a way to make all those styles come together in a way that makes sense that the poems are all in the same book, it’s a bit of a challenge. “I think there’s kind of a voice that transcends style, to some extent. Even if the styles are different, it still feels like it’s coming from the same poet.” There’s no doubting the works in Cephalopod are distinctly Smith’s voice, whether you’re talking about the intense passages of “catastrophes that we witness or the gross stuff that we see,” or the lighter side that comes through as well. It helps to have poet friends, Smith says, to read the collection and give notes like, “You have a lot of really long, intense poems all in a row. Do you have something shorter to break it up?” MORE EVENTS Besides the challenge Visit Inlander.com for of collecting different styles complete listings of and themes together under local events. one cover, Smith also had to figure out how to draw on poems that come “from different parts of my life, different parts of my development. As a poet, and as a human.” That makes Cephalopod all the more noteworthy, as its works remain engaging beginning to end, through all that “gross stuff” and sunshine, fear and hope, captured in its pages. n

“S

ometimes I don’t start with an idea necessarily,” Smith says. “I start with a line that comes to me, or I see something and I kind of have that image, and I want to find a way to enter that image. I guess I approach it in a lot of different ways.” Smith’s voice comes through in an array of poetry styles in Cephalopod, as she writes about “fur-bound” and “exoskeletal” beasts, ponders “do ants eat worms?” and contemplates “collecting birds battered in the night by creatures bent on malice.” She wonders “what good is butter without bread,” feeds chickens and gets her hands dirty in her garden, and catches air after a jump on her childhood bicycle, “rising from the saddle as though lifted, weightless, close as I’ve been to birds when their wings are stretched in flight.” “There are a lot of poets who have kind of a style, and

Kathryn Smith Self-Portrait with Cephalopod book release, with Maya Jewell Zeller, Laura Read and Ellen Welcker • Tue, Feb. 9 at 7 pm • free • Online; preregister at auntiesbooks.com/event

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CULTURE | DIGEST

Stealing Our Parents’ Skins $%@#* When I worked in college radio, we learned the legal origins of the types of “naughty” words you couldn’t utter on the air. The short version is it had a lot more to do with whether a word relates to bodily functions/sex than how offensive it is. The Netflix series History of Swear Words takes a deep, enjoyable look at the changing meaning of common swear words over the centuries. From pointing out bullshit origin stories to using clips from movies and TV to highlight the cultural context, the show tries to be educational while mostly just being a great excuse for funny people to cuss repeatedly. It’s hosted by curse-friendly Nicolas Cage, but the real surprise is when you find out the actor who’s said the most curse words on screen. (SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL)

BY DANIEL WALTERS

ormer Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart was already in a bad mood. He’d been dealing with a variety of aggravating family issues. And then he got a Facebook friend request from Larry Stuckart. There was a time when a message from his dad, a deeply empathetic champion of the poor who profoundly shaped Ben’s worldview, would have been a blessing. But Larry Stuckart died five years ago. Ben told Facebook long ago his dad died, but it hadn’t mattered. “Somebody hacked in and resurrected his account,” Stuckart says. “It was actually kind of fairly disturbing.” Countless diatribes have been written about the damage Facebook has done: sabotaging democracy, spreading lies and conspiracy theories, cannibalizing journalism, warping our psyches. It’s easy to overlook the smaller, more personal injuries that the site has inflicted: When the Facebook faces of our loved ones

THE BUZZ BIN

THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST There’s noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online Feb. 5. To wit: AARON LEE TASJAN, Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! The single “Up All Night” has serious Tom Petty with Jeff Lynne vibes. That’s a good thing. ODETTE, Herald. This Aussie creates some cool, off-kilter pop if her single “Dwell” is any indication. FOO FIGHTERS, Medicine At Midnight. “No Son of Mine” is a tribute to Lemmy, so the new Foos has that going for it. (DAN NAILEN)

are stolen, and we have little recourse to do anything about it. “Hello,” Diana L. Walters messaged me last month on Facebook. “Hope things are going well with you and the family and also Did you receive any text or email about the National Relief Fund?” Even setting aside the typos, a strange message for my mom to send. I didn’t have to be an Impossible Mission Force agent to know that someone else was wearing my mother’s face. It was probably a ploy to steal my money or my account. “You’re not my real mom!” I replied. My mom — the real one— was flooded with phone calls and emails from friends letting her know she’d been hacked. But she was helpless to do anything. She tried to reset her password, but the hacker had changed the email on her account. Even more deviously, the hacker had apparently assigned my mom’s old email address to a phony new account, making it impossible to use the email to recover the account. Unlike other huge corporations like Comcast or Amazon, Facebook has no call center agents, no chat support lines, no real people to contact. The only thing she could do was to start all over again — create a new account, with a new profile. So now, there are two “Diana Walters” on Facebook. One’s a recently created account with only a handful of friends and photos and very few comments. It’s the one that looks fake. Then there’s one that looks real, but isn’t. One with a history, dozens of photos and posts across years, one that shares 84 friends with me, the unkillable digital doppelganger who will continue roaming the internet, begging for you to be its friend. n

THE SPOKANE PIPELINE Where, oh where, would the Washington Huskies be without the coaching pipeline that traces right to Spokane? Jimmy Lake, the Huskies’ head football coach, went to North Central High School and played college ball as an Eag in Cheney. And now, with Monday’s announcement he was being promoted to defensive coordinator, Spokane native Bob Gregory will bring even more Spokane savvy to the squad. Promoted from his post as Husky inside linebackers coach, Gregory traces his roots to Gonzaga Prep and WSU, where he earned a starting job as a walkon. Eastern Washington: We get the job done! (TED S. McGREGOR JR.)

ADIEU, SWEET FEED One of the few things I’ll miss about the Trump era is Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau’s Twitter feed delivered in the voice of the comic strip’s long-time media punching bag Roland Hedley Jr. The account @realRBHJr was a daily delight as the cartoon craven Fox News reporter contorted himself to defend every outlandish statement or action from Trump. Trudeau is retiring the account, saying that if he were to continue, “after the last four years, my heart wouldn’t be in it. We’re all exhausted.” (DAN NAILEN)

FATEFUL NIGHT The same evening he became heavyweight champion and mere hours before he publicly rechristened himself Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay hung out in a Florida motel room with Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke. They were all at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement and at pivotal moments in their lives. Their time together was dramatized in Kemp Powers’ play One Night in Miami. It’s now brought to the screen by director Regina King, and it’s not only an engrossing historical drama but a showcase for a quartet of terrific performances — Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm, Aldis Hodge as Brown, Leslie Odom Jr. as Cooke and Eli Goree as Clay. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime. (NATHAN WEINBENDER)

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 35

The Collection Bakery owners Miguel (left) and Keely Silva-Glenn at 180 Bar & Bistro where they use the kitchen to bake. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

OPENING

International Inspiration The Collection Bakery offers a diverse selection of baked goods from around the world BY CHEY SCOTT

y marrying their individual cultures and years of baking experience in kitchens from New York City to Seattle, Keely and Miguel Silva-Glenn are bringing an eclectic mix of specialty pastries from around the world to Spokane. The couple met eight years ago while working at a bakery in NYC and launched the Collection Bakery in summer 2020 after COVID-19 forced them both out of Seattle’s hospitality industry and to Spokane, Keely’s hometown. The Collection’s current pastry lineup ranges from seasonal fruit tarts to traditional Mexican chocolate tortes and from layered Ukrainian honey cakes to babka — a sweet bread of Jewish origins. Each of these treats have a connection to the couple in some form. Miguel SilvaGlenn is from Mexico City, while Keely’s family has roots in Ukraine. Other influences in their pastries come from the couples’ past jobs in Italian, American and Latin restaurant kitchens, as well as the Israeli bakery where they met. “We were lucky that my family lives here, and so we decided to move back to Spokane,” says Keely SilvaGlenn. “We got here and were looking for jobs, and nothing was open at the time. We had time to reflect and knew we wanted to start a business at some point.” Rather than open a full-service cafe (their long-term goal) in the middle of the pandemic, Miguel, 30, says the couple decided to start out with online-only sales. They’re currently baking by night in a rented downtown kitchen and offering pastries for pickup and delivery, as well as through wholesale accounts for My Fresh Basket, Huckleberry’s Market and Main Market Co-op. The pastries are also sold at Meeting House Cafe in South Perry, and the couple are happy to take custom orders. “A big part of our business plan is how do we get through COVID,” says Keely, 27. “Not having a storefront gives us flexibility and a low overhead, and doing online ordering and targeting wholesale has helped us survive through this.”

36 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Online ordering runs from noon Monday to noon Thursday. Only a set amount of each pastry is available each week, meaning popular items tend to quickly sell out. Deliveries are available (free for orders above $15; otherwise a $4 fee applies) to addresses in Spokane and Spokane Valley, while pickup takes place Saturdays from 10 to 11 am, currently at the former Carr Sales Co. building at 919 W. First Ave., which is owned by Keely’s family.

ith the Collection’s ever-growing menu, its owners hope to educate customers on the culinary and cultural significance, as well as historical origins, of each item. “It’s really important to share the history of the dishes,” Keely says. “Sometimes people consume without knowledge, and there’s so much joy in that; but food is powerful, and sharing that cultural significance is a big part of our plan.” Miguel’s recipe for Mexican chocolate torte, for example, features traditionally spiced Mexican chocolate with cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s one of the Collection’s best sellers. Coming soon to the menu is a ginger key lime tart, which has origins in Black communities, Keely says. Even though it’s not a dish from either her or Miguel’s respective cultures, they’re sharing the dessert and its origins from a place of respect so as to create awareness of the ongoing appropriation of Black food and Ukrainian culture. Ten percent of proceeds from that honey cake

item are being donated to Black Lives Matter. The Collection is also partnering with guest chefs interested in sharing their culinary heritage with the community. The first such collaboration is with Keely’s stepmother, Mila Glenn, who came to the U.S. from Dubno, Ukraine, in 2019. Two flavors of honey cakes on the Collection’s current menu feature her recipe. “We want to be able to expand the menu with dishes outside of our culinary and cultural backgrounds,” she says.

eading into spring, customers can expect to see several savory breads added to the menu, like focaccia and baguettes, as well as a sweet hibiscus-glazed kouign-amann, a rich pastry of French origin consisting of dough laminated with butter and sugar. For Valentine’s Day (part of the Feb. 8 menu), options include a French entremet cake, chocolate truffle boxes and a chocolate “salami,” which is a sweet truffle filled with biscuit crumbles and nuts resembling salami that’s popular in Europe. Besides introducing locals to a host of specialty baked goods from around the world, the Silva-Glenns are eager to create an environmentally and socially conscious business by sourcing from sustainable local farms and offering a healthy, positive workplace for future employees. “We’ve worked in the industry for so long that, for us, we want to make sure we grow with an environment that is inclusive and has fair wages,” Keely says. n The Collection Bakery • Order online for pickup or delivery at thecollectionbakery.com • 862-7083

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ANNIVERSARY

Natural Woman Carole King’s Tapestry turns 50, and it’s still one of the greatest singer-songwriter albums of all time BY NATHAN WEINBENDER

humb through any used record collection worth a damn, and you’re bound to come across a dog-eared copy of Carole King’s Tapestry. It’s one of the quintessential records of the 1970s, the sort of cultural artifact that has become a recognizable totem for a specific time and place. Released 50 years ago this week, Tapestry is a record whose very title has become shorthand for “all-time great.” The recent Rolling Stone poll of the 500 best albums ever placed it at No. 25, and it was one of the first LPs of its era to be preserved by the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, inducted alongside the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. King had been in the pop game for a little more than a decade before Tapestry was released a day after her 29th birthday. Working amongst the coterie of scrappy young songwriters in New York’s Brill Building, King and her then-husband Gerry Goffin penned a slew of radio hits in the 1960s for other artists — “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” for the Shirelles; “Up on the Roof” for the Drifters; the dance craze classic “The Loco-Motion,” which was recorded by their babysitter Little Eva. She was one of the most prolific songwriters that most people didn’t know, and after her personal and professional partnership with Goffin ended and her band the

38 INLANDER FEBRUARY 4, 2021

City called it quits, she branched out on her own in the late ’60s. King’s solo debut, 1970’s Writer, is made up of leftover songs she had written with Goffin (who co-produced the album), and it blends sock hop-era nostalgia with Woodstock-era spaciness. The album holds up well today, but it didn’t get King the recognition she’d hoped for. Tapestry would change all that.

fter her separation from Goffin, King became entrenched within the now-mythic musical community of Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon neighborhood, rubbing elbows with the likes of the Doors, Buffalo Springfield and Joni Mitchell (who later contributed backing vocals on Tapestry). The freedom and fluidity of that era is all over Tapestry, which was recorded in a matter of weeks with super-producer Lou Adler and rushed into release in February 1971, a month after it was finished. “While we were recording the album I wasn’t thinking about all the people who might be affected by it, nor was I thinking about the level of success it might attain,” King wrote in her memoir, A Natural Woman. “I just wanted to get the songs on tape, enjoy the process with my friends and fellow musicians, and maybe get some radio play.” Perhaps it’s that lack of pretense that made the album

so effective. It’s difficult now to listen to Tapestry and divorce yourself from its legacy, because it almost sounds like a greatest hits compilation. Just about every song has become a standard. It lives up to its title as a patchwork of songs new and old, and the album really serves two functions at once: It’s a contemporary singer-songwriter showcase, but it’s also a career retrospective of a musician who had been toiling behind the scenes for years without the recognition she deserved. Tapestry opens with a trio of classic tracks that represent one of the greatest gauntlet throws in pop history — the rollicking “I Feel the Earth Move,” followed by the wistful ballad “So Far Away,” followed by the remorseful relationship postmortem “It’s Too Late.” All three were massive hits and have become radio staples, and they’re arguably King’s three most famous originals. Following that stellar opening, there’s the self-empowerment anthem “Beautiful,” which lent its name to a Tony Award-winning jukebox musical of King’s songbook, and “Where You Lead,” perhaps best known as the theme song for Gilmore Girls. The stripped-down “You’ve Got a Friend” would be covered by King’s regular collaborator James Taylor (who also plays guitar and sings on Tapestry), becoming his first No. 1 hit mere months after Tapestry was released. King reimagines “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” which Aretha Franklin

made into a hit in 1968, and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The loping story song “Smackwater Jack” is tinged with gospel and countryrock, while the cozy “Home Again” and “Way Over Yonder” give you the impression you’re sitting at the base of King’s piano. There’s not a single dud.

hen it hit record stores, Tapestry was an instant smash. It topped the Billboard charts, eventually selling more than 10 million copies, and the single featuring “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move” was a No. 1 hit. It won Album of the Year at the 1972 Grammys, beating such juggernauts as George Harrison’s triple album All Things Must Pass, the Carpenters’ self-titled debut, and the soundtracks of Shaft and Jesus Christ Superstar. A follow-up album, Music, was rushed out for the 1971 Christmas season and instantly topped the charts, as well. Though it successfully piggybacked off the popularity of Tapestry, it wasn’t met with the same rapturous response. In fact, none of King’s follow-up albums are ever mentioned in the same breath as her breakout LP, although 1974’s Wrap Around Joy brought her two more big hits with the singles “Jazzman” and “Nightingale.” Her last album of original material, Love Makes the World, was released in 2001. But it’s not like King needs to justify a legacy. After all, she wrote more iconic tracks before she was 30 than most musicians record in their entire careers. What’s so endearing about Tapestry is that it doesn’t sound like a blockbuster album. It has a homey, lived-in quality, from the cover image of King and her cat lounging in a window ledge to the sterling collection of songs that were mostly cherry-picked from an existing catalog. It’s like a comfy sweater, perhaps the most modest behemoth album ever recorded. It has endured for five decades, and I have no doubt that it’ll endure for five more. n

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FEBRUARY 4, 2021 INLANDER 39

MORE EVENTS Visit Inlander.com for complete listings of local events.

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PERFORMANCE WRITE FOR CHANGE

Gonzaga’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center is kicking off its new virtual Green Room series with Be the Change, a 40-minute video presentation produced by Letters Aloud. Be the Change is a dramatization of how young people have incited positive change throughout history simply by writing letters to their heroes. Some of the letters featured in the video are of Stan Lee making good on a promise, a 9-yearold consulting with Stephen Curry on his shoe empire, Tom Hanks trying to get discovered as a teenager and Ronald Reagan telling a seventh-grader to clean his room. The series’ kickoff event is free to stream online on Feb. 5 and is open to everyone who registers. Future performances in music, dance and more are listed online. — SPENCER BROWN Green Room: Letters Aloud • Fri, Feb. 5 at 6 pm • Free • Streaming online; details at gonzaga.edu/mwpac

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VISUAL ARTS CROSSING PATHS

On Friday Saranac Art Projects opens Between the Covers, featuring multimedia book art from local artists. The exhibit highlights a variety of pieces and styles, ranging from printmaking and photography to ceramic art forms. Not only are Between the Covers’ featured artists diverse in their respective artistic mediums, but each contributes a unique array of formal and thematic analysis. Contributors include Roin Morigeau, an interdisciplinary artist whose simple yet profound art expresses the feeling of “in-betweenness,” and Louise Kodis, who aims to bring joy to viewers through her warm colors, textures, fabrics and light. Challenging our traditional concept of “book,” Between the Covers emphasizes that media as a communication tool can be powerful in countless forms. — NATALIE RIETH Between the Covers • Feb. 5-26, open Thu 2-6 pm, Fri-Sat noon-8 pm • Free • Saranac Art Projects • 25 W. Main Ave. • facebook. com/SaranacArtProjects

MUSIC ROCKIN’ POST FALLS

Here in Spokane, just about everything is on some kind of hiatus, particularly in the realm of the arts. But right across the state line in Idaho, there’s still live music happening on the regular, and one of the places that’s keeping regional musicians on the books is Post Falls Brewing Company. This weekend, you can catch Son of Brad, the solo project of longtime local musician Daniel Mills, who will no doubt serenade the socially distanced crowd with a set full of covers as well as originals. While you’re there, enjoy their seasonal small batch brews, including the cinnamon-y Demon Sweat Imperial Stout and, to keep the rock theme going, Jimi’s Axe IPA. — NATHAN WEINBENDER Son of Brad • Sat, Feb. 6 at 6 pm • Post Falls Brewing Co. • 112 N. Spokane, Post Falls • postfallsbrewing.com • 208-773-7301

What can you give this week? VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WORDS A RARE OPPORTUNITY

For Gonzaga’s fourth annual Race & Racism Lecture, the school welcomes renowned poet and playwright Claudia Rankine. The Yale professor is the MacArthur Grant-winning author of Citizen: An American Lyric, a poetic meditation on race, and she’ll be speaking on racial aggressions and their societal impacts. While past lectures in the series by Angela Davis and Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors sold out, Rankine’s virtual appearance hopefully means more members of the larger Spokane community can tune in for the conversation (preregistration is required; info below). In addition to this event, Gonzaga distributed 750 copies of Citizen to area high schools and to Gonzaga students for discussions in classes and student clubs. — DAN NAILEN Claudia Rankine: Gonzaga Race and Racism Lecture • Wed, Feb. 10 at 6 pm • Free • Online; preregistration required at bit.ly/claudiarankine

OLDER ADULTS SOUGHT FOR MENTORING PROJECT - YMCA The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP of Spokane County, an AmeriCorps Seniors program sponsored by the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, is recruiting individuals age 55+ as volunteers for a new Writing Across Generations (WAG) project beginning this spring. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will virtually work with eighth12th grade students in Spokane County schools to share stories and promote the benefits of journaling and creative expression. Each senior volunteer will be paired with two students for eight to 12 weeks, meeting weekly online. Interested volunteers can find more information on the program website, contact rsvp@ymcainw.org or call 509-344-7787. rsvpspokane.org/writing-across generations

AUCTION VOLUNTEERS WANTED - THE LANDS COUNCIL Can you help fundraise to protect our forests, waters and wildlife? The Lands Council is a local environmental nonprofit that is gearing up for its annual auction fundraiser. Volunteers will meet virtually once a week, then work can be done independently and with flexible times. The committee will tackle the following tasks: • Brainstorming great local item donations • Completing donation forms • Finding photos of auction items • Communicating with donors and businesses Email Maggie at mgates@landscouncil.org to sign up!

EVENTS AND BENEFITS DOORS TO DREAMS GALA - BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SPOKANE COUNTY

Boys and Girls Clubs provide a fun, safe and constructive environment for kids and teens. You can support the vital work they do by attending this year’s virtual auction, which promises some amazing silent and live auction items for you to bid on (sneak peeks coming soon!). Event registration is free. Feb. 26, 7-8 pm. auction.ilfmedia.com/auction/doors-to-dreams-2021

MUSEUM DOWNTON DUDS

Downton Abbey premiered in the U.S. a decade ago, but today, more than five years after concluding its six-season run, the period drama remains one of the most acclaimed British costume dramas of all time. Several of those elegant costumes from the series about a family of British aristocrats and their domestic servants are swinging through Spokane. The MAC is hosting Dressing the Abbey, a traveling exhibit featuring more than three dozen original costumes from the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning show. Styles span the series’ timeline from 1912 to the mid-1920s, and savvy fans may recognize exactly who and when each exquisite outfit was worn among characters like the Lord and Lady Grantham, their three daughters and household employees. As of the exhibit’s opening, the MAC is only able to offer private, small group tours by reservation, so make sure to snag tickets online. — CHEY SCOTT Dressing the Abbey: The Iconic Wardrobe of Downton Abbey • Feb. 9-May 2, open Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm • $7-$12 • Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture • 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org • 456-3931

VALENTINES HEART RAFFLE - RONALD MCDONALD

HOUSE CHARITIES

Wondering what to get your love this Valentine’s Day? Enter Ronald McDonald House Charities raffle to win the “Heart of Hearts” painted statue for $20 an entry. This amazing painted sculpture was painted by Artist Melanie Lieb. The winner will be announced via Facebook on Feb. 12 at 1 pm. Purchase your raffle tickets online. rmhcinlandnw.org

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