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Stay safe, avoid fines this camp fire season

Stay safe, avoid fines this camp fire season

If this warm weather has you thinking about getting outside and lighting up the campfire, there are rules you need to follow to avoid a fine or something worse. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency is outlining the rules and regulations for the season.

"As the weather improves the number of reports we receive about illegal outdoor fires increases. We want people to know and follow the rules related to recreational fires," said Lisa Woodard, Spokane Clean Air. "The rules are in place to ensure safety and to keep smoke to a minimum."

Recreational fires include cooking and camp fires, barbecues and other backyard warmers that burn charcoal, propane, natural gas or firewood. Those fires are allowed only on private property and in designated areas in parks and other public lands.

Here's what Spokane Clean Air recommends if you plan to light up a fire in our region:

New South Hill trail connection to Dishman Hills natural area

New South Hill trail connection to Dishman Hills natural area

Spokane County is trying to make it a little easier for you to get out and get some exercise! The county is forming a new trailhead connecting the South Hill to the Dishman Hills Natural Area this month.

The trailhead is located on the 3700 block of South Thierman Road in the Glenrose area, two miles east of Ferris High School. The county used Conservation Futures Funding to buy the 269-acre plot of land on April 12.

According to Jeff Lambert, Vice President of the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association, the new Conservation Area lies in the path of the Dream Trail, which will take the  "Connecting People to Nature" project and connect it to the Iller Creek Conservation Area on the south end of the Dishman Hills Natural Area.

Connecting the two conservation areas would result in a wildlife and recreation corridor of more than six miles, with a network of recreation trails of many miles.

The Dishman Hills Natural Area Association is holding a dinner at the Moran Prairie Grange to celebrate the new trailhead on May 12. The celebration is a member-only event, but you can join for a special $10 dues through May 12 via www.DHNAA.org.

Volunteers needed for neighborhood clean ups

Volunteers needed for neighborhood clean ups

Spring cleaning is not reserved for just for your home. There’s a neighborhood outside your front door that could use a little sprucing up.

If you’re looking to volunteer some time on Saturday morning to help clean up a park, street or some other part of your neighborhood. Here’s a list of different clean ups happening around the city.

It’s not a complete list, but if you know of a clean up that we’ve missed, comment below with the details and we’ll add them.

Volunteers needed for Lincoln St. cleanup

Volunteers needed for Lincoln St. cleanup

Volunteers are needed to help clean up the storm gardens along Lincoln St. They were built last year and help treat polluted runoff. It also makes the neighborhood look nice with plants. Residents of the Manito/Cannon neighborhood are meeting on Saturday, April 21st to help take care of the area.

The clean up helps many neighbors maintain the swails in front of their home, especially for those that have a hard time getting out like elderly homeowners.

The neighborhood council hopes to make it an annual event. Residents are meeting at the corner of Lincoln and 25th by Wilson Elementary from 9-11 a.m. They’re also heading up to The Scoop afterwards to celebrate a cleaner neighborhood. Speaking of The Scoop, they're switching over to summer hours starting Friday which means they're open until 7 p.m. 

High Drive Bluff clean up planned for Saturday

High Drive Bluff clean up planned for Saturday

(Updated 12:58 p.m.) - This comes from the Friends of the Bluff planner, Diana Roberts. She says there's another trail work party planned for this Saturday. They'll be working on the High Drive Bluff trails, cleaning them up for hikers and bicyclists.

Volunteers need to wear sturdy boots, work clothes, gloves and a sufficient amount of sunscreen, water and snacks.

Volunteers will be meeting at the trailhead east of Bernard and High Drive. Watch this post to find out where they're meeting Saturday morning at 9 a.m. They'll be working on the trails until Noon.

Earth Day celebration hopes to stray from street fair image

Earth Day celebration hopes to stray from street fair image

We sat down with Jessica Anundson, one of the planners for this year’s Earth Day event planned for downtown Spokane. The April 21st event is growing up since the past few years of its existence.

New this year is a series of panels on issues that Anundson hopes brings a more educational aspect to the event, straying from the street fair image.

“We wanted to have a discussion of what sustainability is and what the community looks like, centering them around the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit,” Anundson said. “We’re going away from the hippie-centric. We want everyone to be able to participate.”

The panels will discuss the connection between farmers and local chefs, spirituality within the environment and gain economic and social equality in a panel called: “Power to the People.”