Spokane

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Crews are cleaning up a small train derailment near Freya and Trent.  12 cars came off the tracks around 5:30am.  BNSF Spokesman Gus Melonas said they are investigating the cause of the derailment.   The train was to Everett, Washington.  The cars that derailed were filled with new automobiles. Crews are waiting for equipment to arrive from out of state and will work throughout the night to get the train back on the tracks.  No one was injured in the derailment.

A train derailed Friday morning near the intersection of Sprague and Freya. Several cars were tipped off the tracks. Traffic is not blocked.

ElkFest VII just announced their music line-up for the weekend. It's righteous. It's epic. It's pretty much one of the most exciting weekends in music the entire summer. It occurs simultaneously with Artfest. That means Browne's Addition is all kinds of crazy with music, art, community events and more. It happens at Cannon and Pacific just outside The Elk. For an entire weekend, it's like one big giant block-party. It's got some of Spokane's best local bands (and some regional artists) that maybe you've heard of or maybe they're new to you. 

Cool Water Bikes, a full-service, non-profit bike shop in downtown Spokane will hold their annual Poker Ride and Run on June 11th from 10am-2pm. The ride will begin at the New Community Church, located at 1003 E. Trent, and continue along the Centennial Trail where participants can draw cards at stations along the route to form a poker hand.  There will be prizes for the best hands, and the further riders go, the more chances they have to improve their hand! The bicycle route is 10 miles and the run/walk route is 1-3 miles.  In order to be eligible for prizes, the ride or walk must be completed by 1pm. There will be a silent auction, raffle, and kids' games available on-site after participants finish the route. Food will also be available for purchase. The event is free, but donations will be accepted at registration.

The local branches of the United States Postal Service and 2nd Harvest Food Bank are teaming up once again for their "Stamp Out Hunger" campaign.You may have received a blue plastic grocery bag in the mail already. The USPS and 2nd Harvest want you to fill up that bag with non-perishable food items and leave it by your mailbox on Saturday, May 14th before 9 a.m.

Get the best view in Spokane from the top of its tallest building and then... repel down 20 stories from the top of the Bank of America Financial Center. Want in on the chance to do it? All you've got to do is raise some money.The Over the Edge event gives the once in a lifetime opportunity to 80 thrill seekers who raise at least $1,000 for the Special Olympics, a cause you can't beat. It's the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

This Sunday, Riverside State Park has something special lined up for visitors.  The park is going to set up seven different sites with the park.  Rangers will be stationed at each of the sites and they will provide educational information about the park and its recreational activities. At each of these seven sites, visitors will be able to enter prize drawings and there will be a grand prize drawing for guests who visit all seven sites and submit their completed punch card.

NW Woman Magazine invites you to their Pawtiny Pawty at Doggyland this Saturday, May 14Th 5p.m. - 8p.m.  There will be all kinds of dawg events sure to please and pamper pets and their people.

 Meals on Wheels needs your help!  Meals on Wheels Spokane is no longer receiving state funding...Budget slashed by 46.5%. In 2010 Meals on Wheels served 15,000 meals in the senior center and delivered 78,000 meals to home-bound seniors.. 75% of those using the shelter are 75 years or older. Of those receiving meals in their home, 76% live alone and 44% of those have incomes less than $1,000 a month. 80% of those served have 2 or fewer meals per day. 54% of those receiving meals rarely eat with someone.

A young whipper-snapper walks into the Browne's Addition Tully's and says, "I think I figured out where all the senior citizens in Browne's Addition go during the day." By early morning coffee shops house the commuters, by late morning and afternoon coffee shops house the retired, by evening... students and awkward dates.What time of day do you head to your local coffee shop?

Spokane's local fair trade store, Kizuri has partnered with Bunyaad, a fair trade artisan group in Pakistan, to host their first Fair Trade Oriental Rug Event from May 19-22. Every rug purchased will provide a living wage for Pakistani rug artisans trying to rebuild their homes after the devastating floods of August 2010.Approximately 300 rugs, each handmade in Pakistani homes by fairly paid adult artisans, will be available for sale in a variety of unique designs and sizes ranging from 2'x 3' to 10'x 14.'  An Introduction to Oriental Rug Seminar will be held at the store on Friday, May 20 at 7 PM.  Rug representatives who have been to Pakistan and spent time learning from the artisans about this job creation program will also be on-hand to answer questions. For more information contact:

One blogger came home to find this gift of art on her door step. If you look at the second photo (see below) upside down, you'll actually see that it's a dinosaur in a forest. 

It's only been open a year, and Spokane Valley's Discovery Playground is doing two things. One: creating a buzz among families with young kids. Two: being recognized by the state for being among the best.Parents from as far north as Wandermere to as far east as Post Falls, say Discovery Park is worth the trek, worth packing the kids up and heading to the Valley. The multi-sensory playground gives kids of all ages and abilities a chance to imagine and learn through the use of sight, sounds, touch and smell. On top of that, it teaches them about the natural history and environment of Eastern Washington. Who knew a park could do all that?And because of it, the Washington Recreation and Parks Association has awarded it "Best Special Use Complex". The City says it's proud of the recognition and thanks everyone involved in the eh playground for their contributions and efforts.

With temperatures finally hitting the 70's this week, it looks like local gardens will be blooming soon.  If you need some "goodies" for your garden, explore the Garden Expo this Saturday at the Spokane Community College Lair.  Over 250 garden-related vendors will be selling the latest in garden art, garden decor, yard furniture and all sorts of plants will be for sale as well. There will also be gardening seminars, food, live music and the chance to win a prize or two.  The Garden Expo starts at 9 am on Saturday and runs until 5 pm.  The address of the Spokane Community College Lair is 1810 North Greene Street.

Chances are... if you put something weird in your garbage can on the lower South Hill, it will be gone the moment you turn around. Eric learned that when his colleagues tossed out their dear mannequin friend outside Quisenberry Marketing and Design at 6th and Maple St.Here's the kicker. They left the torso. They left the head that can be seen peaking out toward freedom, but somebody took a leg. Somewhere out there is one mannequin leg wandering the streets of Spokane. Let's hope it went to a good home. The remaining parts of "Manny" have been taken. Parts is parts. 

The City of Spokane celebrated the region's recent win as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People with an event for kids on Saturday.The event, hosted by the Chase Youth Comission and other community organizations, held free activities for kids under the age of 12 in Riverfront Park. Some of the activites included youth entertainers, free games, activities, balloons, and other give-a-ways.America's Promise Alliance representative Lane Russell and Mayor Mary Verner were on hand to kick off the event. Mayor Verner said, "This celebration demonstrates their capacity to make important contributions to this community and civic life." 

As a fellow South Hill resident, you can understand my excitement about the announcement of this weekend's event. The Rocket Market will resume their summer concerts this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. They'll kick off the weeks of glorious beer and wine consumption on the patio with local musician, Marshall McLean (see above).

When the Arena Football League announced that fans would be given the opportunity to design the Official Logo for ArenaBowl XXIV, Myk Crawford of Spokane, Wash. went to work."We found out about the contest and it was kind of one of those ‘whim of inspiration' things. Once something came, I went with it and it worked itself out. I put in about six hours of work," Crawford said.The League announced the contest on Friday, April 29, 2011 and fans had just over a week to submit entries. More than 50 designs were received and then narrowed down to four finalists by the League Office. Fans voted on the winning submission on ArenaFootball.com.

 Attention all you Spokane Shock fans!  Would you like dinner with some of your favorite players?  A chance to shadow Coach Rob Keefe?  Support the team?  Then you could go to the Shockwave Booster Club dinner and auction this Friday, May 13th.  It's at St. John Vianney School, starting at 5:30.  It costs adulte $10, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12, and 5 and under are free. The live auction items include shadow Coach Keefe for a game, shadow announcer Dave Mason for a game, and dinner for 4 with Shock players.  There are a whole bunch of silent auction items, including scratch tickets, wine, coffee, and dessert baskets. For more information contact the .

Those of you who love and hopefully own a classic car, pay attention. Cruzin' for Kids car show is coming up soon and the Inland Northwest Thunderbird Car Club would love to have you show off your chrome. Want to join in...contact the President Dan Garcia  via email at dangarcia06@yahoo.com . For those just wanting to come by the event will be in the Garland District, June 4th. In addition to all local entries you will be able to see many of the cars that were in American Graffiti..and Peggy Sue Got Married...yes the movies.

  Todd Harnetiaux knows what it's like to keep busy. He has four grown children who've left the nest, his 15 year old Erica is living at home and he's also raising 3 of his 7 grandchildren with his wife Nancy on the South Hill in Spokane. "It keeps us busy that's for sure," said Harnetiaux with his usual smile. Harnetiaux is happy to be busy at work as well. He opened Modern Construction and Consulting Service (MCCS) in September of 2008 and things are starting to take off. "I just feel really fortunate right now. A lot of my colleagues are struggling. But I feel like we've filled a good niche," says the 52 year old.

This story can't be ignored any longer. A local candidate for city council is making his way all over the internet winning the hearts of geeks globally. John Waite is running for City Council, Position 1 against Donna McKereghan and Chris Bowen. He's seen here donning the marine suit for the popular computer game, StarCraft, during Free Comic Book Day outside his downtown comic book shop, Merlyn's. It's been posted on G4TV, BlizzPlanet, Reddit, I Can Has Cheezburger, The Escapist, Blastr, Scifilog and more.