Bloglander

Though it's still a little early for work here to begin on the Inlander's big Fall Arts issue (on stands Sept. 18), the Spokane Arts Fund has for weeks been focusing on a big, first-of-its-kind arts event set for October: Create Spokane Arts Month. 

With a purpose — to celebrate and showcase our region's creative minds and to encourage appreciation and participation in the arts — and a logo nailed down (designed by local arts familiar Tiffany Patterson) focus is shifting toward encouraging the public to nominate major contributors to the Spokane arts community for the first Spokane Arts Awards.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 8, at midnight, and it's really easy to do. Simply go to the Spokane Arts website and fill out this form to nominate an individual in one of four categories: leadership, collaboration, inclusion and imagination.

Here are descriptions of the ideal candidate for each award category as defined by Spokane Arts:

Leadership — excellent stewardship of resources, positive and consistent advocacy, a role model for others in the arts, a venture culturalist

Inclusion — enacting just and diverse community, building bridges across divides, proactive approach to accessibility and inclusion

Collaboration — creating and supporting partnerships, sharing resources, finding shared solutions, brings new meaning to the phrase “democratic participation”

Imagination — an energizing and inspiring presence, jaw-dropping creativity, a sky’s the limit approach, excellent execution of innovative ideas

The organization encourages nominators to consider people from a range of backgrounds, with distinct or broad ties to the local art scene. Nominees could be educators, artists, volunteers, an organization, community leader, donor, business or other entity. After filling out some basic contact info, the nomination form asks for a short 5-10 sentence paragraph explaining why the person or organization being nominated should be recognized in a respective category. 

Looking for ideas or inspiration? Click through past arts and culture coverage in the Inlander here.

Recipients of the Spokane Arts Awards are to be recognized at the Spokane Arts Awards Costume Ball celebration on Oct. 30 at the Davenport Hotel, the culminating event for Create Spokane Arts Month. 

The city of Spokane and the Downtown Spokane Partnership are asking residents to stop giving money to panhandlers and instead direct that good will toward local service providers.

The two organizations will launch a “Give Real Change” campaign this week in hopes of convincing people to donate money to local shelters, housing organizations and mental health care providers instead of to individual panhandlers on the street.

"It's about changing the behavior of the person inclined to give," says DSP President Mark Richard.

The $25,000 effort (half funded by the city, half by DSP) comes after the mayor convened a task force last summer to address public complaints about safety and the homeless population in downtown, especially targeted at young homeless people. The move was followed by a controversial extension of the city's sit-lie law, which now bans sitting or lying on downtown sidewalks during the 18 hours between 6 am and midnight.

Richard and others supportive of the "Real Change" campaign have argued they're not advocating for less compassion toward people in need. Instead, Richard says, contributions to social services help provide a "hand up instead of a hand out."

In a press release announcing the campaign, which will officially launch Friday, Catholic Charities Executive Director Rob McCann reiterates Richard's logic, saying some panhandlers are not homeless and use the money they're given for drugs or alcohol.

“In reality, when we give money to panhandlers, we are actually doing a disservice,” he says in the statement. “Each dollar handed out a car window marches the recipient closer to a life of chaos, addiction, suffering, and even death.”

DSP has also launched this website, which includes a list of social service agencies to which people can donate and will soon also have a Crowdswell campaign for people to donate directly to several issues the mayor's task force has identified, including job training for young people and both housing and help applying for federal benefits for homeless adults. The site also encourages businesses to "have employees earn a jeans day by making a pledge not to give to panhandlers" and directs people to advice for talking to panhandlers: "If a panhandler asks for money, acknowledge with a nod, reply with a firm 'no' and keep walking."

Below are the promotional materials the campaign plans to distribute.

HERE

Fire crews call in aircraft to help contain brush fire along High Drive on the South Hill. (S-R)

A Spokane mail carrier faces allegations she stole people's mail. (KXLY)

Thieves take utility trailer used for distributing meals to veterans. (KREM)

THERE

Officials discover inadequate medical care provided at private prison in Idaho. (AP)

Washington and Colorado senators ask the White House to clarify federal law on marijuana. (Seattle Times)

A Richland man has died after crashing his single-engine aircraft in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. (Missoulian)

ELSEWHERE

Removing prisoners from cells has become a high-risk ordeal. (NY Times)

Judge approves $2 billion sale of Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in wake of Donald Sterling's racism scandal. (LA Times)

US officials accuse Russia of violating missile treaty amid ongoing diplomatic tensions. (WaPost)

Lone Wolf Harley Davidson hosted the first Pacific Northwest HOG Rally this weekend at its 11-acre complex. The rally was host to over 1,600 registered bikers, along with locals and 121 volunteers. Bands, food, beer and local vendors in the biking community were also part of the event. 

HERE

Some Spokane County residents still without power days after windstorm. (KXLY)

STA approves extended route for proposed electric trolley bus system. (S-R)

Weather forecast shows the sun wants us dead, high-90s all week. (KREM)

Marijuana smell can still trigger a lawful police search. (S-R)

THERE

Oil trains crowding out grain shipments to Northwest ports. (Seattle Times)

Escapee from Grant County Jail recaptured after just 2 1/2 hours on the lam. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

Montana veterans have mixed reactions to senator’s plagiarism scandal. (AP)

ELSEWHERE

New York Times editorial board calls for the federal legalization of marijuana. (NYT)

One man killed after several people struck by lightning on California boardwalk. (LA Times)

Violence reignites following ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. (BBC)

After a turbulent week of fires and brutal winds, the sun is shining; it’s time to go hear some live music. 

TONIGHT

The Big Dipper’s got post-hardcore rocker Dustin Kensrue  singer of Thrice, coming through tonight. William Alan will open the all-ages show that starts at 7 pm and is $15.

Five years ago, multi-instrumentalist and DJ Kamtin Mohager was playing bass in the electronic band 3OH!3, but there was more he had to share with the world. Adopting the moniker the Chain Gang of 1974 (listen below), he released the 2010 collection Fantastic Nostalgic: The Early Recordings. Over the past few years, Mohager’s music has meandered through the lands of disco, Euro house and even a bit of punk. His latest album, the February release Daydream Forever, could easily have been released in the late 1980s and no one would have batted an eyelash. The electro-power-pop choruses, the synthesizer beats, and of course that breathy, high voice — it’s all there. Empires opens the show at the Bartlett that starts at 8 pm. $12.



Local Singer-songwriter Chelsey Heidenreich plays the Phat House tonight as part of her Northwest acoustic tour. It’s an all-ages show.

SATURDAY

Two X’s mark the spot at the Baby Bar Saturday as California-based Rexx takes over the stage. Openers include BBBBandits, the Beat Reds and (a name you won’t forget) Phlegm Fatale. The free show starts at 9:30 pm.

The Bartlett is raising money for kids Saturday with its Songs for Kids Foundation Benefit. It features many awesome local acts like Bandit Train, Water Monster, Hannah Reader, Scott Ryan, Cathedral Pearls, Josh Rifkind, Holy Broke, Dead Serious Lovers and Von the Baptist. The benefit is entry by donation and begins at 8 pm.  

Rags & Ribbons plays the Big Dipper Saturday with Flying Spiders opening up the evening. The all-ages show starts at 7:30 pm and is $7.

This Pasco-based five-piece Night Argent makes the kind of commanding sound designed to fill arenas. After opening for Imagine Dragons and having just played the Warped Tour in Auburn, Washington, last month, they’ve had opportunity to unleash their electro-pop rock ‘n’ roll on some big stages. Frontman Chase Manhattan sounds like a mashup of Justin Timberlake and Adam Levine without all the falsetto crap, and that’s a good thing. Saturday night, they’ll fill a much more intimate space at the Viking, unleashing their catchy, exuberant tunes. The show starts at 8 and is free. Sea Giant and Midnight Parkade will open.



Saturday, right outside of the Lantern Tap House is the South Perry Street Fair. Tons of local talent play the entire day through, starting at 11 am, including the Marshall McLean Band, the Camaros, Prairie War, Cedar & Boyer, Pine League, Von the Baptist and Josh Hedlund. Even better, this thing is entirely free.   

For years now, the community had rallied each summer for the Coaches vs. Cancer events, which last year culminated with an appearance by Dana Carvey.

While Coaches vs. Cancer is still a program of the American Cancer Society, a group of former C vs. C organizers have now created a locally focused charity aimed at fighting cancer. The Community Cancer Fund (CCF) is aimed at funding local cancer screening programs and research efforts.

The nonprofit organization is also debuting a celebrity golf tournament at the Coeur d'Alene Resort's famed golf course — yes, the one with the green floating out in the lake. Slated for Aug. 18, the Showcase Celebrity Golf Exhibition is to feature big names in professional golf, as well as the sort of big names in sports, specifically basketball, who've always come out for Mark and Marcy Few's C vs. C event.

Here's a rundown of those scheduled to appear, with more to be announced later, from a CCF press release:

A preliminary list of participants scheduled to take part in The Showcase events include Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Few, Eastern Washington University Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Hayford, Boise State University Men’s Basketball Coach Leon Rice, Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre, Oregon State University Men’s Basketball Coach Wayne Tinkle, University of Idaho Men’s Basketball Coach Don Verlin, former NBA players Dan Dickau and Craig Ehlo, and ESPN personalities Neil Everett, Sean McDonough and Fran Fraschilla. 

Spectator tickets are now on sale. General admission tickets are $20, but there are VIP packages going up to $400.

AROUND HERE

Under pressure from downtown business interests, the STA board has voted to postpone improvements to the downtown plaza. (SR)

After a controversial incident earlier this month, Coeur d'Alene police are now undergoing mandatory training on how to deal with dogs. (CdA Press)

At least 40 families are displaced from a mobile home park north of Chattaroy after Wednesday's storm. (KXLY)

Boil-water advisories have been issued for several areas of eastern Washington. Find them here. (KHQ)

ELSEWHERE

President Obama will meet with three Central American leaders today with hopes of slowing the migration of children to the U.S. from the region. (WSJ)

Secretary of State John Kerry is proposing a weeklong truce to temporarily stop fighting in the Gaza Strip. (NYT)

The French president says there were no survivors in yesterday's crash of an Air Algerie passenger plane in Mali. (BBC)

Amazon's losses this quarter — amid their public battle with publisher Hachette — were worse than expected. (NYT via Boston Globe)

FOR YOUR FRIDAY

We wanted to acknowledge, for those not paying close attention, that this week's Al French cover is an homage to Time magazine. We saw their cover design on May 19 for another strong character, and we simply couldn't resist making a version of our own. (No, we don't think Putin and French have much in common, besides being ambitious and powerful in their own way.) Kudos to the Inlander's art director, Chris Bovey.  

In this week's issue we profile Hazen Audel, who's starring in National Geographic Channel's new reality show Survive the Tribe. Audel taught art and science at Ferris High School up until last year. Our profile on Audel describes his more recent adventures running a guiding business in the Amazon jungle, along with other stories on how he's filled three passports from his travels since 1998. On the new show, debuting tonight at 9 pm, Audel spends a week or more learning about the culture of each indigenous tribe he visits and, as the title suggests, tries to adapt and survive.