Bill Hand|Sun Journal

As we all pretty much hope to do one day, I have become a Beatles song. No, not Let It Be. Ive never been able to let anything be. I can fidget the life out of pretty much anything.

Nor Penny Lane (though, like the banker, Ive never worn a mac in the pouring rain. Very strange.)

No, the song Ive become and that, I suppose, most of us hope one day to be, is When Im Sixty-Four.

Trivia: Paul McCartney was only 15 when he wrote that on the family piano. He was 24 when he recorded it; he divorced his 38-year-old wife when he was 64 in 2006 (Will you still feed me? No, and I want the dog the house and the Rolls!). He is 78 now, and can only sing When I Was Sixty-four, assuming he can remember what life was like that long ago.

I used to occasionally give thought to learning that on guitar and playing it to my wife before the 64th anniversary of post-womb existence, but I blew it. On Wednesday I went to bed 63 and woke up Thursday morning a Beatles song, but replacing Vera, Chuck and Dave with just Sara and Rachel. I guess its just something Ill have to yank off my bucket list.

I talked to an old friend in Erie, and he is the one who pointed out that we had not only missed singing the song in a legitimate way but that we had somehow become the song.

Youre in a strange world when youre growing old. In our youth-obsessed world, we refuse to admit age; we call ourselves middle-aged at best, as if were all going to make our 128th birthday. If were rich we buy all the youth we can in the form of Botox and plastic surgeons. We look in the mirror and recognize the person looking back at us, but we blink because were trying to figure out whos wrinkled skinhe borrowed to live in.

I can remember my father growing old, and how I didnt think it would happen to me; I can distinctly remember my mother-in-laws 50th birthday and how smug I felt at her advancing age and my own anything-but-advancing youth.

And were living in a weird age to be aged.

What happened to rocking chairs and front porches? I mean, I see rocking chairs on front porches all the time but the only thing that occupies them is autumnal floral arrangements. When I was young, grandparents used those things. They sat there, slowly rocking, ruminating over their lives, often with their needles stuck on that same single episode they remember best, telling it to us over and over. Grandma lived in the kitchen, baking cookies, and grandpa sat out back, firing off his opinion of the whippersnappers who didnt know anything, or offering philosophy often profound, occasionally outdated, and sometimes just plain weird.

And I am talking about the traditional grandparents in the cities and towns, not the country ones where grandma was churning butter at 95, even though stores had been making cheap butter and margarine since she was 30, and where Grandpa was out milking cows and overhauling tractors until he died with a wrench in his hand or a cat staring morosely by the bucket, wondering why the guy squirting milk her way had up and quit.

Today, rocking on the porch and complaining about the neighbors kids in our yards is the last thing on our minds. Were Facebooking and texting, golfing, tennis-ing and fishing and reaching our favorite fishing holes on a jet ski; none of this namby-pamby Ford pickup stuff.

We have more energy than ever before (not that a recliner and tv show wont instantly put us to sleep after 7 p.m.). We keep aging but we weve quit growing old (did you know the government dropped old age as a cause of death way back in 1951?). Medicines and an awareness that walks and bicycles do a lot more for your health than rocking on the porch are keeping us healthier.

At 64 I have your traditional aches and pains; rigor mortis is running early tests while I sleep I know it because I feel its stiffness when I first get out of bed in the morning. But otherwise, Im pretty good. My mind seems clear if a little weird; I can do pretty well the things Ive always done, so long as I do it just a bit more slowly and with a touch more caution. The only real health problem Im feeling as I write this is an ongoing ear worm for a Beatles song in my head.

By life span, Im into my final quarter. But Im not old. And Ill never truly be old until the young people around me start telling me Im (fill in the blank) years young.

Contact Bill Hand at bill.hand@newbernsj.com or 252-229-4977.

Originally posted here:
Will you still read me now that I'm sixty-four? - New Bern Sun Journal

Its a late summer day, high noon, and Im standing in the doorway that connects our study to the screened porch. A pleasant breeze out of the south wafts over me, making its way through a north window to who knows where. Perhaps the breeze will cool someone else.

In the backyard a gray squirrel forages for an acorn, then hops onto the trunk of the giant oak tree. Its one of many porch moments Ive experienced in more than 40 years of living in this house.

Many nice features make up this domicile we call home, but that porch is something on which Im glad previous owners chose to spend their hard-earned money. It is a place to read, write, snooze, dine out, listen to music and enjoy the view of the small but interesting landscape. Sitting there listening to the sound of rain watering the flowers is a relaxing way to while away the hours.

Back to that squirrel. Whether it is foraging or chasing other wagtails (my late fathers name for squirrels) up and around the trunk of the oak, the porch affords a 270-degree view into the world of those critters and others. Watching the squirrels could be described as cheap entertainment.

On a recent summer evening I was out back studying the night sky through the boughs of said oak when my wife, Karen, said: Phil, theres a raccoon on the side of the tree! I walked in a quiet manner to that side of the tree, and sure enough, a few feet above me the animal with the black mask looked down on me, illuminated by the rays of the floodlight that showcases the white oaks character. We watched until the raccoon climbed up and beyond, out of the light. A view from the porch.

Being on the porch does not always allow us to observe the feathered, furry or six-legged inhabitants of the place. They may be out of view in the shrubs and treetops. Thats when you train your eyes in the direction of the mating calls made by cicadas, katydids and tree crickets. Known but often unseen, all are part of the tableau.

Birds also fit into the picture, often seen and heard concurrently, other times known to us only by their songs or calls. The pair of cardinals that were nesting in a shrub next door let their presence be known to us when they flew into the boxwood adjacent to the porch and started yelling at our cat, Maisie. The alarm calls of ticked off robins, fearing that the cat might get after their fledglings, made for quite the vocal assault on Maisie. In the end neither species had to worry because the screen thwarted any loss of avian life by the resident predator.

Other birds making themselves known to us in this movie enjoyed from our screening room are woodpeckers, barred owls, bluejays and Carolina wrens that announce themselves with their ringing song.

When it comes to porches, a screen can be a nice feature in more ways than one. Because of its charcoal color, the screen acts somewhat as a blind, making it less easy for the critters to see us watching them. That barrier also keeps mosquitoes and other six-leggeds from annoying us as we do whatever we wish to do on the porch.

Dining al fresco is something we enjoy, be it the two of us, a foursome or when we have several guests at our home. For large parties, the porch acts as a nice transition between the interior and the backyard party scenes. Considering the options our guests can choose from, the porch is prime real estate where some folks spend the better part of the evening. Throw in the glow of oil lamps, good food and conversation: The ambiance could not be more enjoyable.

Its late September, and summer is merging into autumn. A May Sunday morning on the porch, when I sat in my late father-in-laws tattered recliner, the suns warm rays on my neck, casting a head shadow on a page of The Lima News, is now two seasons in the past. Then the breeze was a welcome thing. Now it means going from T-shirt to light jacket apparel to remain comfortable while writing. Its time for the conversion.

Conversion means installing poly film on the screen panels and acrylic sheets on the screen door to keep autumn breezes and winter winds that sift snow through the screen at bay. It means that as the sun goes lower its rays will be trapped, and the porch will be a more comfortable place to enjoy life. Maisie will hang out as well, and while the poly film does not afford a clear view of the yard, the door will allow the opportunity for her to satisfy her feline curiosity.

With little effort and expense (the poly film lasts four to five years) I convert the porch to a four-season sunroom. I suppose one could argue the point, but it does extend the use of the porch.

On a cold January day, say 25 degrees with bright sun, I slip on a jacket and hat, and I am warm. It may not be everyones picture of comfort, but its 55 degrees on a cold winters day. Its the simple things in life.

If I put the book down and take a nap that January afternoon, I will awaken and perhaps recall a dream. It might be one where I am standing in that aforementioned doorway, enjoying a cool breeze and watching the wagtails forage for acorns.

Phil Hugo lives in Lima.

See more here:
Phil Hugo: View from the porch invigorating in all seasons - LimaOhio.com

Its easy to picture yourself sitting on the back porch of this Cape Cod-style home wrapped in a cozy blanket and enjoying a hot cup of coffee while looking out onto Cutchogues Broadwaters Cove.

The overall vibe is warm and intimate, said listing agent Kim West of Corcoran. This is a home thats meant to be lived in. Upon arrival, you are immediately drawn to the outdoors and, of course, to the panoramic water views.

But the mahogany porch(es!) and views are just two of the many things we love about this property.

Inside the home, on the second level, there are three bedrooms, including a master suite with Juliette balcony, and two full bathrooms. On the main level, enjoy a semi-open floor plan with a kitchen boasting high-end appliances, a dining room and a living room with a wood-burning stove. Theres also an additional flex-bedroom and full bathroom.

Both the living room and dining room have sliding doors that open to the back patio overlooking Broadwaters Cove.

The layout is inviting and well-thought-out, West said. My favorite spot is the kitchen, its perfect for entertaining! The huge island and beamed ceilings offer both function and charm. And the semi-open floor plan lends itself to privacy when you need it, while still conducive to entertaining.

Outside the home, youll find lush landscaping, a catwalk to your very own private boat dock, a whole-house generator and solar panels.

Theres no doubt that this would be the perfect home to host the upcoming holidays in.

The property is listed at $1,999,000.

See the complete listing here.

Original post:
North Fork Dream Home: Cozy up on this back porch overlooking Broadwater Cove - Northforker

Instead of the normal gatherings, Sumter police ask city residents to turn on their porch lights from 7 9 p.m. Oct. 6 for National Night Out.

SUMTER, S.C. Each year, National Night Out events bring together police and the communities they serve to have conversations, interact and build relationships.

These events normally draw a crowd, but this year, many of the gatherings will look different due to COVID-19.

Sumter police plan to celebrate Oct. 6, but, instead of the normal cookouts and other community events, theyre asking city residents to turn on their porch lights from 7 9 p.m.

During that time, police will ride through city neighborhoods to convey a spirit of togetherness.

Even though were going through this epidemic and through this COVID, its still important to let people know in the community that we still care about them and we still have this working relationship, 1st Sgt. James Sinkler said. Were asking people to turn on their porch lights that want to participate in it and were going to have officers just kind of riding through the neighborhood. We won't be getting out. There won't be people having cookouts and large gatherings like we normally do.

Turn on your porch lights for National Night OutSUMTER, SC (Sept. 30, 2020) City residents, in partnership with the...

They hope to send the message that neighborhoods and police can work together to address issues and make a difference.

Sumter County authorities are also joining in, but in a different way.

Deputies say theyre planning a parade-style event through multiple crime watch neighborhoods that requested it.

Were looking forward to seeing you and your neighbors tomorrow during the 2020 National Night Out event!Our Crime...

Read this article:
Porch lights on for National Night Out in Sumter on Oct. 6 - WLTX.com

Jessica Cohen| Times Herald-Record

PORT JERVIS - Barbara Marszalek offers nourishment for body and spirit at the Thursday morning neighborhood breakfasts she serves on her porch at Kamelot, her therapeutic community center on Ball Street.

On a recent morning, dishes ranged from oatmeal and fruit salad to the hanky pankies brought by Patti Van Demark. Carrots, eggplant, lettuce and wax beans for the taking festooned another table. Cornell Cooperative Extension leaves vegetables at Kamelot every week.

Yesterday, there was watermelon and icicle radishes. They all went, Marszalek said.

But for some, communing with neighbors is the needed nourishment, she said. They skip the food and just chat.

We get the socialization we havent been getting, said Spiro Ragouzeos, who moved to Port Jervis from Queens three years ago.

Disgruntled, disillusioned New Yorker comes to Port Jervis to start a new life was how he described himself.

He had been doing administrative work for a small department at New York University and living in the Queens neighborhood where he grew up.

Every place evolves, but its not the community-oriented place I knew, where everyone looks out for each other. Everyones on their own path there, he said.

He found Port Jervis on a drive with a friend.

We liked the natural beauty, friendliness and the businesses here. Theres a potential for things to happen in Port Jervis, he said.

At the other end of the porch, Marszalek spoke Polish with Paula Kaminsky, who moved to Port Jervis after living in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, for 20 years.

Port Jervis is small. Everythings close. Neighbors are nice, she said. As for Barbaras breakfasts, she said, People come here to talk. Barbara gives good advice. I bring things I dont use my husbands tools, old clothes.

Also chatting on the porch was Carolyn Kalanyos, community engagement coordinator for Jewish Family Services, based in Middletown.

Our group helps old folks with getting to medical services, taking care of house chores and shopping, she said. People call us, and we try to find neighbors to help them. Were looking for volunteers. Anyone interested can call her at 845-341-1173, ext. 303.

Marszaleks porch has been a good source of volunteers, including Marszalek herself, Kalanyos said. And after delivering her hanky pankies, which she made with sausage, parmesan and Romano cheese and parsley on toast, Van Dermark said she was off to take someone shopping.

Jenny Volpe, who was staying with her parents in Port Jervis on the way to moving from Texas to Virginia, chatted on the porch too. She kept an eye on her 6-year-old Amelia, who collected bugs from the lawn in a jar.

People start coming at 8:45, usually about 20, Marszalek said. Some just pass through. Others take the opportunity to stay and catch up.

As the weather cools, she is thinking of offering soup later in the day and moving the gathering into her garage, she said.

Link:
Neighborhood breakfasts nourish body and spirit - Times Herald-Record

On Saturday afternoon, grab your lawn chairs and blankets and head downtown to Washingtons first Front Porch Music and Arts Festival.

Hosted by the Tri County Alliance for the Fine and Performing Arts, a newly formed organization that includes Daviess, Martin and Pike counties, the free event is open to all ages and begins at 3 p.m. with acoustic music from Chris Main on the front porch of the Rhonda Roach residence at 800 W. Walnut.

At 4 p.m., the Power House, 709 E. Main, will play host to Three Girls and a Mustache and at 5, just down Main Street on the porch of A Wonderful Life will be music provided by Dan and Judah Maley.

The music continues into the evening with Larry and Cherie Worley playing on the porch of Eric and Julie Basslers home at 12 N. Seventh St. at 6 p.m. Joe Howard and Jenna Clouse will entertain from the porch of Paula Van-Tyle Smith at 707 E. Walnut at 7 p.m. Jess Brower and Rhett Burton will perform at John and Nancy Wilkins porch at 8 p.m. before the upbeat sounds of Guilty As Charged return to Van-Tyle Smiths porch at 9 p.m.

All COVID-19 guidelines will be in place including wearing a mask and social distancing. In an effort to help be in compliance with those guidelines, organizers ask that before heading out to hear the music, all attendees, sign in at the Power House where several vendors will be selling a variety of items ranging from body products to jewelry and everything in between.

Several food trucks will also be set up near the Power House and on Walnut Street.

Pumpkin painting, pony rides and other activities will also be offered at no cost to children and art demonstrations will take place at Roachs home.

In the future, the Tri County Alliance for the Fine and Performing Arts hopes to use proceeds from the event to help raise money to build an indoor, 2,500 to 3,000 seat state-of-the-art auditorium. The other goals of the organization are to showcase local talent and bring in outside talent and grow an appreciation.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

Read the original post:
Front Porch Music and Art Festival slated for Saturday - Washington Times Herald

A new report shows that an estimated 1,527 new housing units have been authorized in Hawaii in 2020which equates to 107.5 units for every 100,000 residents.

The porch.com report notes that while home sales and new construction fell sharply during the onset of the pandemic, both have rebounded aggressively, fueled by a combination of low interest rates, increased demand and a growing preference for low-density housing.

According to the report, thelockdowns delayed peak home buying season, creating pent up demand for new homes, compounding a longer-term trend in the housing market of millennials aging and entering their prime home-buying years.

With this confluence of factors, prospective home buyers face a difficult situationwhile low interest rates are lowering the cost of a mortgage, the limited supply of existing homes is creating stiff competition for new homes and raising prices, according to the report.

The report further states that it will take home builders years to bridge the gap between the existing supply of homes for sale and the large number of interested buyers. However, investment in new housing varies significantly across the United States.

Many US states, particularly those in the South and Mountain regions, have been investing heavily in new housing this year despite the pandemic. Overall, Idaho, Utah, South Carolina, and Arizona have permitted the most new housing units per capita, while Texas and Florida have permitted the most units total. Northeastern states like Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York are hardly investing in new homes at all.

Porch analyzed data from the US Census Bureaus Building Permits Survey. To rank locations, Porch calculated the number of new housing units authorized during the first six months of 2020 per 100,000 residents. Their researchers also included the absolute number of new housing units authorized, the median home price of existing homes, and the estimated value of newly authorized homes.

A summary of data for Hawaii includes the following:

In comparison, United States data includes the following:

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Porchs website: https://porch.com/advice/cities-investing-most-new-housing

Continued here:
Hawaii Has Authorized 1,527 New Housing Units in 2020 - Maui Now

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Improper discharging of a firearm: Kensington Road

At 10:50 p.m. Sept. 15, police were called to a home on a report of shots fired. At the scene, police learned that a male resident of the home, 23, had been murdered in Cleveland Heights two days earlier.

The deceased mans brother, 24, and other family members were on their homes front porch when a car drove up and slowed while a male in the car shouted an obscenity about the dead man. The car was believed to be occupied by several males.

The car drove away, but returned less than a minute later. From the car, a male reached out and fired two shots before the car continued eastbound on Kensington Road. Witnesses were unsure if the shots were fired in the air or towards the home. No bullet holes were found in the home and no one was injured.

Police found two shell casings on the ground and an army fatigue hat in the street, which may have belonged to the shooter. The detective bureau is investigating.

Domestic violence: Bainbridge Road

At 6:55 p.m. Sept. 14, police were called to a home for a reported disturbance involving a family member. Officers arrived to find several people outside the home, and a man yelling at women.

The man then laid down in the front yard as one of the women yelled that he needed to go to a psych ward. The man said to police, You going to take me to jail real quick. He then told his mother to shut up.

The man became aggressive and, as his sister approached him, he took a swing at her. The sister dodged the swing, but was struck on the arm. Police then grabbed the man and took him to the ground. Police arrested the man and charged him with domestic violence and assault.

Upon his arrest, his family members became uncooperative with officers, refusing to complete written statements and telling police they didnt want any action taken.

Aggravated menacing: Blanche Road

At 9:50 a.m. Sept. 11, an inspector with the citys housing department reported that he was completing an exterior inspection of a home when a man came outside and began to berate him. The man said he was going to go to city hall with a machine gun and shoot everyone. A warrant was issued for the mans arrest.

At 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14, police went to an East Cleveland home and arrested the man who made the threats. The man was arrested on charges of aggravated menacing and inducing panic. Cleveland Heights police also wanted the suspect on previous outstanding warrants.

Improper discharging of a firearm: Renrock Road

At 9 a.m. Sept. 11, police were called to a three-floor multiple dwelling where several gunshots had been fired. A woman, 55, called police after being told to do so by a 25-year-old man who lives above her on the third floor.

As officers attempted to enter the closed first floor door, they heard from behind the door the 25-year-old stating that he needed help, that there were people after him, and that, according to the police report, it wasnt him. Police entered and found the man standing with his hands on his head. The man told police he had a knife tucked in his shorts. Police removed the knife and handcuffed the man. The man told officers that an unloaded gun was upstairs. Police found the gun, a rifle, on the second floor stairwell landing.

In the mans third-floor residence, police found several spent shell casings and a damaged window. No one was inside.

The man went on to tell police that he thought he was being followed by his ex-girlfriend and a man he does not know and that he could hear them walking inside the house. He believed they wanted to kill him.

The man told police that, in his head, he could hear the unknown male saying, She wants you dead. I am going to kill you. He also said the couple followed him home from work that morning, and that they could hear and see everything he was doing, and that they tapped his phone. He said he knew what he did was wrong, but that he was afraid they were going to kill him. Police had the man taken to the hospital for a psychological examination, where he was placed in a lockdown facility.

Officers found five gunshots had struck the rear of a neighboring house. Witnesses heard varying amounts of gunshots being fired, but saw no one suspicious in the area. The woman who called police said that the man came to her door and told her to call police.

The detective bureau is investigating.

See more Sun Press news here.

Read more here:
Two shots fired at mourning family while on their homes porch: Cleveland Heights police blotter - cleveland.com

I grab my cup of coffee and go sit on the porch while Billie runs around and does what he needs to do. His routine includes circling the house, checking for deer in the yard and smelling all the scents left by anything that may have passed through his yard at night while he was inside.

Jag, the terrier, sleeps in one of the chairs on the porch where he can watch the yard and protect us from invaders. It is fairly common for him to start barking viciously at some time in the middle of the night.

His bout of attentiveness is normally brought on by a passing deer, which is usually chased off by his barking. This saves him the trouble of getting off his chair and actually doing something. It also causes me to get up and go yell at him as he is barking right below our bedroom window.

Friday night was typical. Jag started barking as though the whole Chinese army was coming over the hill. By the time I got up and got to the door, the barking had stopped, and Jag was nowhere to be seen. That was good enough for me. Whatever the problem was, it must have been solved, saving me the trouble of going outside to yell at him.

Saturday morning, as per our routine, Billie and I went out in the early morning darkness. I sat down with my coffee in the chair next to Jag. He looked like the king of the world, propped up in his chair, satisfied with another night of protecting us.

Billie was only gone a couple of minutes, which is unusual. It usually takes 10 or 15 minutes to do a thorough check of his yard. When he came back, he was still tracking something, across the porch, past Jag and me, and around the corner.

The porch wraps around the house on three sides. I could hear Billie trotting to the far side, nose to the floor. A few seconds later, he came back with something brown in his mouth. He was proudly trying to show me his prize, but I was not about to take an unidentified object from him before I found out what it was and if it was alive. I reached into the house and flipped on the light.

Billie was standing there with a muskrat in his mouth. Fortunately for both of us, it was dead. Jag sat proudly in his chair as though he was saying, yes, that is mine, but you guys can have it. I did not really want it but took it anyway.

I am not sure why a muskrat would wander close enough to the house to cause Jag to go after it. I am sure Jag did not venture too far from his chair on the porch in the middle of the night to go hunting. Muskrats will travel away from water at times, but this one will not make mistake again of coming into the yard.

In the middle of the night when Jag is barking and growling, you never know what might be lurking in the darkness. Apparently, Jag knows, and he will take care of it.

Read the original here:
Walter Scott: You never know what may be lurking in the darkness - West Central Tribune

Participants have until this weekend to sign up for most events in the 2020 Valleyfest Parade, but will be allowed some flexibility due to smoke danger, COVID-19 restrictions and going back to school.

Executive Director for Valleyfest Peggy Doering said the smoke has made it difficult for Valleyfest organizers and court to prepare for the event, and she knows it must be challenging for others who are struggling with similar situations.

Because of our circumstances, I am not holding anybody to a deadline, Doering said.

She said participants will be able to do almost every event from home and the deadline to participate in the Marvelous Mini Parade and the Lilly Pad Procession is Sept. 19, but there is flexibility if meeting that is a challenge for most.

Participants can use anything to build shoebox entries into the miniparade including paint, markers, action figures or flowers.

Floats must be at least 12 inches long and 10 inches high, but there is not a maximum size. Themes must be family friendly and cannot include political candidates or issues.

To be eligible for a prize, participants must submit a photo of the float from the front. Organizers also ask that participants post their floats on social media and make videos of around 15 seconds to show how they made their floats, and tag the images with @SpokValleyFest or use the hashtag #MarvelousMiniParade.

Displays for the Valleyfest Lilly-Pad Procession should be up and registered by Sept. 19 at noon as well. Any theme can be used to decorate a porch as long the theme isnt political or religious. A few suggested by organizers include honoring people who have Hearts of Gold, harvest or honoring first responders.

The display should remain up between Sept. 19 and 30, On Sept. 26 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a procession that includes the festival royal court and community groups will visit the neighborhood.

The first 50 people to sign up will receive a Lilly-Pad Procession sign. Homes selected to be visited directly by the procession will be notified a day in advance and members of the procession will throw candy.

Those in the Lilly-Pad Procession must live in Spokane Valley, but the Marvelous Mini Parade participants can be from anywhere.

Instead of having a walk-through booth event, Valleyfest will have a Virtual Vendor Village. A link will be posted on the Valleyfest website where they will be available for live chats about their products. Live music will be streamed and will be available from Sept. 26 to Oct. 26 from to 4 p.m.

Nonprofits can also sign up for a social service booth, but must register by Sept. 20. Political candidates and political parties will be able to sign up for these types of booths.

Doering said live music will include favorites from past Valleyfest events including the Master Class Big Band and country artist Justin James.

In addition to parades, Valleyfest organizers are encouraging participates to get outside if the smoke clears up by event time.

It may impact challenges, Doering said, Hopefully some of this will clear up.

The festival will include a multisport challenge encouraging participants to participate in 10 outdoor challenges over 10 days, from Sept. 19 to 27. The challenges include, run, walk, bike or roller blade down the Appleway Trail and do the same on other trails and parks throughout the area. Registration is $5 plus a $1.58 processing fee.

Valleyfest will also host a free drive-in movie showing of The Sandlot when festivities begin on Sept. 26. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance because space is limited. The movie will be shown outside of the Hub Sports Center in Spokane Valley. Participants must sign up in advance by going to hubsportscenter.org/events/9-26-movie/.

Registration for all other events can be found atvalleyfest.org.

Original post:
Porch and mini Valleyfest parade deadlines near, but organizers say they are flexible due to smoke, COVID danger - The Spokesman-Review