Explore and Discover

Community gardening: a delicious pursuit to feed the hungry and the soul

Posted on April 25, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Erin Dodge I met with Teresa Sadler of Pumpkin Patch Community Garden to talk about the garden and learn her take on gardening, especially as a community. Originally a pumpkin patch and then a parking lot and staging site for the construction company that built the bridge over the river, the community garden was […]

Hollywood vs. novel and short story: dystopian worlds written by Philip K. Dick

Posted on April 18, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz Dystopian fiction seems to be enjoying a renaissance right now, at least in my life. And over the years Hollywood has kept up with the appeal, feeding our insatiable appetite for basic human struggles set against the backdrop of social, political, and environmental collapse that keep us glued to the screen. I […]

Weird animals for aspiring zoologists and the curious

Posted on April 11, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson Like many kids, my girls love animals. But one of my daughters is especially fascinated and passionate about wild creatures. I think some of her interest began with the PBS show The Wild Kratts. From the first time she watched, she was hooked. So far we’ve learned about pandas, tigers, polar bears, […]

Email scam posing as library on west side of state

Posted on April 4, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker To be clear up front, we have not heard of any scams regarding the Spokane County Library District, or any of our libraries. Also, scammers will use anything they can to get your money. So when we heard of an email scam involving the Seattle Public Library, we thought we’d take this […]

Q&A with Jeff Yeager, The Ultimate Cheapskate

Posted on March 28, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Erin Dodge We’re keeping it frugal with Jeff Yeager, The Ultimate Cheapskate. In April during Money Smart Week, Yeager presents “Finding Wholesale Happiness in a Retail World” at three locations (see locations, days, and times below), offering practical advice about how to live a happier, healthier, and fuller life—only if you are not wi […]

Consumer Reports saves the day (and my laundry)

Posted on March 21, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley It was like a scene from a horror movie. I was alone in the house when a loud banging and clanging started from the depths of the basement—as if something were trying to break free. I walked down the stairs to investigate. As I looked into the laundry room, all I could […]

Book Club for two: Books to read with someone special

Posted on March 14, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Stefani Miller One year ago, my husband came to me with the idea that we regularly set aside time to read the same book. Normally our tastes in reading couldn’t be more different. I love romance, and I don’t stray too far from that genre. My husband, however, reads more broadly. You’ll find everything […]

Easy Pinterest recipes for busy adults

Posted on March 7, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Melanie Boerner Do you get home from a busy day and just can’t bring yourself to make a meal for the family? I feel this way most weekdays! I don’t think it is just me—I bet lots of busy parents do, too. On the weekend, I can whip up an elaborate meal with the […]

Tags: cooking, DIY, family, food, parents, recipes

Apps I’m loving right now

Posted on March 1, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker In July of 2015, I wrote a blog about my interest in astronomy and one of my most favorite apps, Star Walk 2 (iOS, Android, Windows). Even now, I still get comments about Star Walk 2, leading to conversations about other favorite apps. So I’m talking about other entertaining apps I’m loving […]

Discussions with Tod Marshall: poetry & social justice, Irish poetry, spoken word, and National Poetry Month

Posted on February 25, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Erin Dodge Poetry can sing us a song, open us to a moment, inspire us to reach higher and go further. Washington State Poet Laureate and Gonzaga University professor Tod Marshall leads a poetry discussion series at Spokane County Library District in March and April. Each event has a casual atmosphere where everyone is […]