Bloglander

Since 1978, people in Spokane have gathered in Riverfront Park at the end of July for the annual Royal Fireworks Concert. A 60-piece orchestra plays George Frederick Handel’s Musick for the Royal Fireworks with a fireworks show incorporated into the finale. Musicians come from all over the country to participate, and some have come from out of town each summer for over two decades. It has become a tradition in the music community.

Just two weeks ago, the official announcement came out from nonprofit arts group Allegro Baroque & Beyond, which had produced the concert since its birth: They would no longer continue funding the community event, and this year’s 35th annual Royal Fireworks Concert would be their last.

In an effort to continue the concert, founder David Dutton will lead a town hall meeting Monday, Aug. 12, at 7 pm. Dutton will discuss the Royal Fireworks Endowment and what needs to be done to continue the community event in the future.

Dutton says there was a large response from the community through Facebook expressing the desire to continue the annual concert. The town hall meeting came about in response to the amount of feedback, Dutton says.

The hope is that 50 or 60 people show up to the meeting on Monday, Dutton says, to show that there is community support for the continuation of the concert. From the supporters, Dutton is looking for people to volunteer for positions in a new organizational structure that has been created as well as pledges or donations to go towards the endowment fund.

Dutton will still need to find an organization willing to be the fiscal head of the Royal Fireworks Concert. However, the town meeting is the first step in keeping this community event alive.

The town hall meeting is Monday, Aug. 12 at 7 pm in the Great Hall of St. John’s Cathedral located at 127 E. 12th Ave. 

The Spokane Arts Commission announced the winners of its biannual All-Media Juried Show last week at the First Friday Artist Reception at the Chase Gallery.

Meg Shiffler, gallery director for the San Francisco Arts Commission, judged the every-other-year competition. This year’s winners were Chase Boston for his digital print Blood Meal, Erin Mielcarek for her ceramic Single Again and Ellen Picken for her graphite-on-panel drawing St. Gertrude’s Chasm. All the winners are Washington-based artists.

In a letter to the public, Shiffler says that she looked for honesty in the winners and finalists. “To me (honesty in art) means that the works feel fresh, the materials are not overworked and there is a genuineness about them that draws the viewer in,” Shiffler says.  

More than 300 works of art were submitted for the exhibition this year, but Shiffler chose about three dozen pieces for the show at the Chase Gallery in City Hall, which will continue until Sept. 27. The competition, which is regional, drew submissions from artists all over Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Submissions on display include etchings, wood mosaics, India ink and oil paintings, photographs and mixed media. One artist listed “collected tears” as a medium in her ceramic piece.

The Chase Gallery is in the basement of City Hall, outside of the City Council chambers. It is open during regular business hours and through council meetings on Mondays. 

This week, Deanna Pan writes about bees, colony collapse and what beekeepers are doing about it. Below are photographs of two commercial beekeepers who employ different methods of hive management. Mark T. Durst and Sons, photographed in Medical Lake, prefers to use a hands-off approach to hive management while Olson's Honey, photographed at their facility in Moses Lake, has used more active approaches, including using CO2 to keep their bees alive during the winter months.

Mark T. Durst and Sons 

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A bee works in a hive at Mark T. Durst and Sons.  

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Owner Mike Durst walks into a field holding hives at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

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A queen, center, is surrounded by her brood at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

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Two bees drink spilled honey at Mark T. Durst and Sons.

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Owner Mike Durst moves a hive at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

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Bees work in a hive at Mark T. Durst and Sons.

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Owner Mike Durst opens a hive at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

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Owner Mike Durst holds beeswax at Mark T. Durst and Sons.

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Owner Mike Durst holds pollen at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

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Owner Mike Durst examines a bee hive frame at Mark T. Durst and Sons.  

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Owner Mike Durst holds an essential oil patty for bees at Mark T. Durst and Sons. The essential oil patties are food for the bees and contributes to their health.  

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Owner Mike Durst sits in the midst of his hives at Mark T. Durst and Sons. 

Olson's Honey 

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Olson's Honey Field Supervisor Matthew Shakespear inspects a bee hive frame.  

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A bee pollinates a sunflower near an Olson's Honey facility. 

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Olson's Honey Field Supervisor Matthew Shakespear holds an enclosed queen bee.

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Olson's Honey bee hives and frames are photographed during sorting.

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Olson's Honey employee Furmin Lua smokes a bee hive before inspecting the frames within.  

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Olson's Honey employee Furmin Lua inspects a bee hive frame. 

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Olson's Honey Field Supervisor Matthew Shakespear, left, and employee Furmin Lua trade bee hive frames to inspect.

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Olson's Honey employee Furmin Lua inspects a bee hive frame.

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Olson's Honey employee Furmin Lua inspects a bee hive frame.  

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Olson's Honey employee Furmin Lua inspects a bee hive frame.

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Olson's Honey Field Supervisor Matthew Shakespear prepares to remove a frame from a bee hive.

Washington's pot adventures continue. After hiring experts and listening to citizens across the state, the State Liquor Control Board released its first set of rules earlier this year for the state's new recreational marijuana industry, instigated by Initiative 502.

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Tonight in Ballroom 100A of the Spokane Convention Center (334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.) from 6-9 pm, is the last of the board's public hearings on the rules. There, you can ask questions or share your thoughts (rants) about the proposed rules, found here or at the bottom of this post.

According to its planned timeline, the board will adopt the final rules Wednesday. They'll become effective a month later and the board will start taking applications for cannabis growers, processors and sellers Sept. 16.

HERE

Liquor board holding final hearing on marijuana legalization today in Spokane. (S-R)

Investigators charging man with vehicular homicide following fatal crash in Spokane Valley on Wednesday. (KXLY)

Post Falls parents make plea deal in child abuse case in which 2-year-old foster child died. (CDA Press)

THERE

Pentagon looks to extend health care, housing and other benefits to same-sex military spouses this month. (AP)

Officials acknowledge the NSA does review content of messages sent in and out of the country. (NY Times)

WORLD OF WEIRD IV

Actor who played Smalls in The Sandlot arrested for head-butting a cop in Houston. (TMZ)

LA restaurant offers extensive water menu including "Beverly Hills 90H20," the champagne of water. (Gawker)

SHARK WEEK: If you thought the NYC subway was weird before, somehow a dead shark hitched a ride on the N train to Queens yesterday morning. (NY Times)

Alexie: My mullet said to the literary world, “Hello, you privileged prep-school assholes, I’m here to steal your thunder, lightning, and book sales.”

Walter: To my shame now, I grew up embarrassed about being blue-collar, a first-generation college student, a nineteen-year-old father. We usually think of passing in terms of race, but people try to pass as another class, too. I did that.

The occasion is an anniversary, so the point is reminiscing. But the whole thing (it’s not too long) begs for a follow-up about what’s happened since: success, praise, how to attend New Yorker parties and become an esteemed denizen of the literary world without losing where you’re from.

Read the whole conversation (and see the mullet photo) here. 

HERE

Snyder and Mumm leading in early primary election results for Spokane City Council. Conservatives face off in the Valley. (Inlander)

Driver killed after stepping out of vehicle following collision on 3rd Avenue. (KXLY)

Mayoral fire service task force recommends restaffing South Hill station. (S-R)

Another "megaload" stand-off in Idaho. Two more arrested. (AP)

THERE

Obama cancels Russian summit with Putin amid Snowden tension. (NY Times)

Massive fire has closed the Nairobi airport in Kenya. (BBC)

WORLD OF WEIRD III

Cleveland kidnapper's "hell" house torn down days after sentencing. (Plain Dealer)

Eight-foot sturgeon found floating dead in Lake Washington. (Seattle Times)

Research shows dolphins can hold grudges for years. (Atlantic)

In the first round of primary election results, just posted on the Spokane County elections website, name recognition and cash look to be paying off for those vying for seats on the Spokane City Council.

Councilman Jon Snyder is leading in the race for his District 2 seat, representing the South Hill and downtown, with nearly 57 percent of the vote. Former state Rep. John Ahern is holding second (which would propel him to the primary) with 24 percent, and businesswoman LaVerne Biel has received about 20 percent of the vote.

In the fight for District 3, representing northwest Spokane and being vacated by Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin because of term limits, former TV journalist Candace Mumm leads with about 56 percent of the vote. Her well-funded antithesis Michael Cannon is next with nearly 27 percent of the vote.

Little surprise there. Mumm is backed by liberal Council President Ben Stuckart and labor unions; Cannon has support from conservative Mayor David Condon and the city administrator. Their less well-known and far out-fundraised opponents, former County Republican chair Curtis Fackler and West Central advocate Kelly Cruz, trail by nearly 20 points each.

In the Valley's conservative-against-other-conservatives race, part-time pastor Ed Pace and incumbent Gary Schimmels lead with 36 and 34 percent, respectively.

The deep red 7th District is favoring Colville farmer John Smith for state senator, with Mike Brunson and Brian Dansel neck-and-neck to take him on in the general election.

Total turnout county-wide is about 18.6 percent, according to the elections office. 

UPDATE: Another round of results was released Wednesday, but the winners remain the same.

Snyder took 55 percent of his district and will face Ahern in the general election for Spokane City Council. Mumm and Cannon will move forward for District 3.

In the Valley, incumbent Schimmels received fewer votes than the challenger Pace, who he'll face in November. Smith will move on to the general election for the 7th District state senate seat, where he will likely face Brunson (though the third challenger is only 29 votes behind).

According to the County Elections Office, another 200 ballots will be counted on Aug. 19.

Last year, National Night Out Against Crime rallied 37.5 million people from across the country, U.S territories, and Canada to get together with their communities in an effort to minimize crime. Tonight, Spokane neighborhood block parties and cookouts commence once again in participation of National Night Out 2013 with food, activities, and even appearances by Mayor David Condon and Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub. 

So, how does chillin’ with your neighbors prevent crime? The thought is that by building stronger connections between neighbors, the community will be able to stand together in a stronger front against crime. 

Want to catch the mayor discuss the budget? Or maybe you just want to kick back with friends? Here is the list from Spokane Police of various locations where neighborhood block parties are happening at tonight:

NORTHSIDE

Clear Choice Tax Services Inc. • 1403 W. Garland Ave. • 4:30-7 pm. • Mayor Condon will speak at 5 pm and Chief Straub will attend • Features barbecue and cake 

Shadle Center • W Wellesley Ave • 5-9 pm • Features sheet cake and coffee

C.O.P.S West • 1901 W. Boone Ave. • 6-7:30 pm • Features cake and a fire truck

GU Campus • 600 E Boone • 6-8 pm • Features cookies

Minnehaha Covenant Church • 4005 E Marietta • 6:30-8 pm • Mayor Condon will speak at 7 pm

Crestline Church of the Nazarene • 4520 N Crestline St. • 7-8:30 pm

DOWNTOWN

N. Wall St. (between W. Spokane Falls Blvd. and W Main Ave.) • 4-8 pm • Chief Straub in attendance at 4:15 pm

SOUTHSIDE

Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church • 4102 S. Crestline St.• 5:30-7 pm• Mayor Condon and Chief Straub will speak at 6 pm 

Martin Luther King Center • 845 S. Sherman St. • 4:30-7 pm • Features sheet cake, ice-cream, and a fire truck 

EASTSIDE 

Liberty Park Terrace Apartments • 1405 E. Hartson Ave. • 5:30-7 pm • Features ice cream and a fire truck. 

This past weekend, Charlie Papazian was in town. He walked our streets, breathed the same air we breathe and drank the same beer we drink.

Who?

Papazian is the president of the Brewers Association and widely considered the father of modern American homebrewing — and he’s clearly a celebrity at the local breweries that posted giddy photos and reverent updates. The local brewing scene is blooming, as we demonstrated in April’s Beer Issue and point out pretty much every single week. But Papazian’s presence is an impressive indicator that people outside the Inland Northwest are taking note.

Here are some social media highlights from the visit: