LILACS to BHW1 Advertising for organizing a huge clothing and food drive for the people of Wellpinit, Washington, many of whom lost their homes in a wildfire. Thank you to all who donated and to Jamie Sijohn of the agency for organizing. The stacks of donations downtown at the former Marquee space were astounding. Thank you, Bill Butler, for donating the staging area at the Marquee. We are looking forward to producing great events there, including our Best of Spokane party.

LEMONS to the Spokane City Council for changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s not that a new holiday couldn’t be set aside to honor them, but I wonder if there aren’t more pressing issues facing the city right now. Further, judging Columbus, a one-time hero by the standards of his day, through the lens of today, could lead to abolishing other holidays and tearing down other heroes as we continue to revise history.

LILACS to Northern Energy for spearheading an effort to fight heroin/opioid abuse in Spokane. The local propane company is donating a portion of their income back to the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council. I like spokesperson Doug Holcomb’s line: “I’m from here, and I’m for here. Let’s figure out how to beat this together.” Driving through our once pristine working class neighborhoods and seeing lawns and homes completely neglected is prime evidence that this scourge is touching all of us.

LEMONS to Colin Kaepernick for not standing during the national anthem. There aren’t THAT many things that unite us, but respect for our country is one thing we shouldn’t mess with. His intentions are good, but he should find another way to get his message across. I’d hate to see young people who look up to him losing respect for our symbols. How awful if it begins to be “uncool” to participate in a simple show of respect, and we begin questioning whether we even should, depending on whom we’re with.

RELUCTANT LEMONS to the public school system for making a gallant, but failed, effort at attempting to babysit or warehouse children of poverty. Yet the schools’ hands are tied by law. The children aren’t at fault, but with so many parents addicted to drugs and neglecting their children, teachers’ hands are tied and for the most part need to give most of their attention to the troubled children instead of educating those who desire to learn. We can’t let the school system devolve into a mere holding pen. I know of one brand new teacher in a poor neighborhood who spends nearly every lunch hour crying.

LILACS to Pigout in the Park for taking the change in location in stride. To my mind, it was an improvement to have the booths lined up alongside the river. It felt less cramped and it pushed all the action a little closer together. Great lineup of food and music this year! With Bill Burke’s organizational skills, I still feel it’s a shame he didn’t make another run for a political office.

LEMONS to anonymous letter writers. We occasionally get letters to the editor or anonymous emails disparaging either one of us, a contributor, subject of an article or someone we work with on one of our events, usually with the most astounding claims and using the most astounding language. If you don’t have the courage to identify yourself and stand behind your thoughts, don’t bother writing. We have a good laugh and throw it all in the circular file.