If you live in the Emerson-Garfield area of Spokane, now is your chance to let your opinion on the neighborhood be heard.

They're holding their first public planning open house on Monday, May 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1905 North Monroe (old Stewart's building). This meeting will give citizens the chance to shape the neighborhood where they live and work.

"The city has plans to do work on North Monroe, without community input, they won't know what [our community] needs," Liorah Wichser, chair of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council said.

They are in the beginning stages of planning and there will be other opportunities for input to set goals, which Liorah says is important to getting off to a good start.

She strongly emphasized the group is currently looking for a few stakeholders in the planning process to be more actively involved.

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:

My series with Justin Rundle Continues. In this edition we talk about what it takes to compete on the stage in front of the lights and big crowds. Justin is a top Men's Physique competitior and tells us what he went through at the Emerald Cup.

My Journey as a Men’s Physique Competitor

Initially my involvement with the new Men’s Physique Division started on a whim. I made the last minute decision to compete in the 2011 NPC Big Sky Championships in Missoula, Montana last spring.

Forgoing the twelve weeks of dieting, I only did four. I did this because I was hesitant about competing. I felt being a personal trainer, I should be more then prepared. Three weeks later, I found how ironic my situation truly was. I always tell my clients to be prepared. Preparation helps control their outcomes and ensure success. I was totally unprepared for my first season.

To my credit, this was the first year of the division and the judging criteria had not been solidified. Originally, this fact is what encouraged me and gave me an ambitious outlook for the season.