Good morning, Spokane Valley.

Downtown Spokane will host a Winter Wonderland black-tie event on Dec.

6 that features dancing, music, and a silent auction with proceeds benefiting local small businesses—tuxedo rentals include the entry fee to help more residents attend.

Shoppers gathered downtown this weekend at the Festival of Fair Trade—held in Kizuri’s lobby—to support local and global artisans with handmade gifts from over 40 countries.

Rising prices and tariff challenges have made the event vital for small shops as they prepare for the busy holiday season.

Carlee Howie, the program manager for Olive Crest Strong Families’ Safe Kids program, helps keep children safe by placing them with volunteer host families while parents receive essential support.

She works with local hospitals, shelters, and churches to refer families and prevent foster care placements—earning her a Woman of the Year nomination.

Linda Beedle, a Spokane Valley grandmother, invented Sockietalkies—adaptable socks with holes and positive messages—for her grandson Coen who has autism, cerebral palsy, and effects from a stroke.

She launched her business in 2018 and is now shifting to work with hospitals and foundations so more people can try her affordable design.

A permit application for a new Topgolf facility has been filed on One East Country Vista Drive in Liberty Lake — the 35,000-square-foot site sits on a 27-acre property that may allow future commercial development.

ARCO-Murray will navigate the permitting process over the next six months following a recent ordinance change that permits later night operations.

The Slightly West of Spokane Artists Studio Tour opened on November 29th, showcasing 14 local artists in seven venues across Cheney and Medical Lake—visitors could buy art directly from creators and enter a raffle when they visited every site.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m., Erin Haskell, known as the Queen of Christmas, will lead a guided wreath-making workshop in Spokane where participants can create faux wreaths—personalized with decorative accents while enjoying small bites and bubbles.

The 33 Artists Market showcased local talent on Saturday by featuring emerging and established artists with works ranging from fine art to traditional crafts; the event ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.—community members met artists and learned about their creative processes.

The market offered locals a unique chance to connect with Spokane's art scene.

Tariffs changed how The Christmas Bureau buys toys for families in need; buyer Cheryl Taam said her team bought 75% of the toys in January and the rest in February to avoid higher prices.

The buyers had to scramble for deals—like switching from expensive scooters to limited drones—raising worries about next year’s drive.

Rough-legged hawks (roughies) have been flying over local fields and grasslands since October as they hunt rodents and stay in cold habitats, with wildlife biologist Mark Vekasy saying their feathered legs help protect them against winter chills.

The birds travel over 2,000 miles from the Arctic to settle here and are now common in our region.

The Spokane Fire Department advised residents to avoid buying new fire safety products such as fire blankets for holiday gift giving and recommended sticking with proven tools—working smoke alarms and a practiced fire escape plan.

They also suggested covering small grease fires with a cooking lid or cookie sheet instead of relying on unconfirmed new technologies.

On Saturday, Ridgeline won its boys’ and girls’ nonleague openers against Eastmont with scores of 65 to 41 and 66 to 45 while Pullman beat Lewis and Clark 51 to 48 in the boys’ game and lost 52 to 39 in the girls’ contest—marking the start of the Greater Spokane League season.

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