Driving by Mary Maxfield’s home, you’d think you’re passing a giant bird house. Technically it’s a home, but it’s filled with books. Last month she installed a library in her front lawn at 46th and Crestline.

If you think that’s unusual, Maxfield isn’t alone. She’s one of thousands of residents across the United States bringing literature to their neighborhoods.

Magazines, children’s books and nonfiction novels are available for your perusal by opening the glass door. Maxfield says she saw a neighbor girl read a Bernenstain Bears book, front to cover, while waiting for her mother.

“We love books so much. For the kids that come by during the summer time when they don’t have their school libraries, it’s good to know have something they can come get. The challenge for me is keeping new books in there,” Maxfield said.

It’s based on the honor system. You take a book and bring it back. If you like, you can trade out a book of your own with one already in there. 

The concept comes from Little Free Library, an non-profit that supplies the kits and plans to build these libraries all over the world. They incorporate volunteer stewards to help keep the little libraries going with kits ranging in prices from $100-600.

With a strong tail wind, 62-year old Darby Roach and his best friend Mike Mann, cruise into Airway Heights on two wheels.  If you've driven Highway 2 in the past three days you may know who I'm talking about.  They're the two guys on loaded down bicycles, with the sneaky smiles and gusto of young men on an adventure of a lifetime.

Roach and Mann are on a mission to first bike across the United States and then the world.  The pair left Wenatchee Sunday morning and arrived in Spokane Wednesday night. In all, they've logged about 140 miles so far. Their goal is to get to Boston by the end of the Summer.  From there, Roach will fly solo to Europe where he plans to spend the next 3 years seeing the world. From the narrow streets of Paris to the snow covered peaks of Chile, Roach plans to pedal every mile of the way. 

What? Is he crazy? Who would do such a thing? All questions that ran through my mind when Roach told me about his ambitious goal. To understand this wild dream, you have to understand the wild man on the bike.  I don't think he'll mind my choice adjective, he raised me after all.

What if you could change someone's life, just by signing your name and clicking "vote?" You can. You can help a woman who has touched countless lives in Spokane - and, how now needs the kindness of friends and strangers more than ever.

Last month, we profiled legendary Spokane basketball and volleyball coach Linda Sheridan. She coached and taught at Shadle Park High School for more than 20 years and won countless games and championships. She's a coaching hall of famer.

And, she is battling ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease. That means she is slowly losing her ability to move muscles and is already having to change her athletic lifestyle to adapt. She knows it will go further; she knows she won't be able to walk - and, that change might happen very quickly.

Now, those people she's touched over the years are stepping up for their former coach and mentor - and, they want you to help.