Up Close

Living Water to get greener with new facility

Lawn, tree care company to consolidate operations with $2 million building

May 11, 2017

Living Water Lawn & Tree Care, which specializes in environmentally friendly lawn and tree fertilizing, is erecting a new building where it will consolidate its operations with two other affiliates, says Mike Fairburn, who co-owns Living Water with his wi

Strategizing for retirement as lifespans grow longer

Rules of thumb are helpful, but only provide a baseline

April 27, 2017

Michael Maehl

Making the transition from earning money to spending money when you first stop working is tricky, especially if you're healthy and eager to enjoy all that new free time. The nice thing about work is that it keeps you from spending money. Remember, retir

Women face unique challenges in retirement planning

Experts say inadequate guidance partly to blame

April 27, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

In preparing for retirement, women face some particular challenges that men don't, which is why experts here say it's still important to follow the old standby advice: Start planning and saving early. 'We really do our daughters and granddaughters

Boomer yoga

Exercise method said to help with injury recovery, prevention

April 27, 2017

Harmony Yoga LLC owner Alison Rubin says practicing yoga in the advanced years of life can have lasting benefits in both injury prevention and recovery. Rubin, who was born in Great Britain and emigrated to the U.S. in 1972, owns and operates Harmony Yog

Harnessing hospitality to enhance guest services

Creating edge by tapping into consumers' values

April 13, 2017

Guest Writer

Tourism and hospitality constitute one of the largest industries in the United States today, generating an impressive $118 billion in tax revenue nationwide and $1.1 billion in Washington state alone. In the city of Spokane, the industry accounts for more

Don't lose new employees to burnout

One key is not letting them wither in entry-level posts

April 13, 2017

Guest Writer

As managers, we have all been there. There seems to be a revolving door in Human Resources. Everyone is continually searching for that great employee. And, every once in a while, a good prospect comes walking through that revolving door. Alice is that

Blending work, play in hobby entrepreneurship

Consider several key factors before launching own venture

April 13, 2017

Guest Writer

Work and hobbies lie at opposite ends of the motivational spectrum. By definition, we go to work to make a living and practice hobbies in our leisure time, primarily for intrinsic enjoyment. Rather than maintaining strict boundaries between work and leisu

WSU adds to research, innovation capabilities in Spokane

New commercialization office hire staying busy

April 13, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Washington State University's Office of Commercialization has added a new position to the university's Spokane campus, establishing its first point of contact here for researchers hoping to develop and market new technologies in life science fields.

Space studies blast off at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy

North Idaho STEM Academy to send own satellite into orbit

April 13, 2017

Mike McLean

Students at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, in Rathdrum, have started up their own space program, dubbed Project DaVinci, and they hope to inspire excitement among younger people around the world about science, technology, engineering, and math-and sp

Next Generation Zone prepares young adults for careers

Spokane center expects another increase in visits

April 13, 2017

Sherman Birdtail says he doesn't know where his life would be without the educational, employment, and emotional support he's received from the staff of Spokane's Next Generation Zone, a career center for young adults. 'I came in at 16 to get my