Etc. - March 10, 2011

Empire begins season with new lights, carpet

Tekoa’s Empire Theatre sparkled for its season opener Saturday night with the results of the latest restoration efforts. Two vintage replica lighting fixtures have been installed in the theatre lobby. The chrome tube lights conform with the art deco decor of the theater.

The other addition is a new red, diamond pattern rug for the lobby and aisles. The rug replaces a rug that “just couldn’t take another piece of duct tape,” according to Cheryl Morgan, one of the leaders in the restoration effort.

Area residents turned out for a rock ‘n’ roll show by The Senders who had anywhere from a 10 to 29 people dancing in the aisles.

The Empire will continue to offer a variety of entertainment for the area as well as more locally flavored events such as the Tekoa Royalty Program March 20,

Horse Crazy, the all-girl cowboy band from Twisp has been booked for March 26, and the Spokane Jazz Masters have been booked for a return show in April.

For further information about shows, ticket prices, donations or volunteer opportunities, call The Empire Theatre or visit us on Facebook.

Bank Left Gallery offers art from vault

As part of the Palouse March Madness celebration, Bank Left Gallery and Bistro will offer “out of the vaults” vintage art of all mediums from paintings to sculpture. Works by Vic Moore, Jerome Land and many other regional and local artists will be offered.

An opening reception will be March 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. with dinner and concert from 6 to 8 p.m.

This exhibit will run until April 2.

Melody Singers at Pataha

Spokane Melody Singers men’s chorus will appear for the third year in a row at the Pataha Flour Mill near Pomeroy Saturday at 7 p.m. Dating back to the 1930s barbershop style, they have produced several CD’s. A free will offering will be taken.

Dinner, by donation, will precede the event from 5-7 with reservations recommended.

Neon teen dance

DJ Ronnie Blackwood, 92.9 the ZZU, will combine current hits, special requests, lights and new neon lights for the county-wide Teen Dance Saturday, March 12, from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at the Palouse Empire Fairground, teens 14 to 19 are welcome. Cost is $5 per person with proceeds going to the Whitman County Library Honorary Teen Advisory Board Scholarship Fund and 4H.

Clubs & Youth Groups

The Colfax River’s Edge 4-H club met on Feb. 12 for a demonstration day. We met at the fairgrounds and 24 members each did a demonstration. We learned about a lot of things like baking bread, finger knitting, how to safely change a light bulb and many other things. Our next regular meeting will be on March 11 at the CETC building (the old Elks Lodge location).

President Mae Schultz, presided over the March 4 meeting at the country home of Kay Van Dyke. For current events Lois Scholz told of the local bio-diesel production by Steve Camp of LaCrosse.

Lynne Bruya presented the first reading of the 2011-2012 club budget.

At the meeting’s end the president read a poem “Song of the Sparrow” in anticipation of spring.

Ruth Enos gave a most interesting program on the crocus flower. She concluded by presenting each member with a live crocus for their garden.

The hostess served refreshments from a St. Patrick’s Day themed table.

The club will next meet at the Whitman County Library meeting March 18 with Sharon Baum as hostess.

ON CAMPUS

ART

WSU Museum of Art showcases the talents of Seattle artist Claudia Fitch in an exhibition from Jan. 13 to April 2, “Claudia Fitch: Works 1987-2010” will feature sculptures created by the artist to play with images from popular culture, including vernacular architecture and decorative statuary. Fitch works intuitively from what she calls a “junk pile” of visual materials culled over the years.

Fitch has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Washington and a master’s of fine arts degree from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.

UI Prichard Art Gallery exhibit: “John Wood, On the Edge of Clear Meaning” Feb. 21-April 9, a visual studies workshop traveling exhibition.

MUSIC

The Pan African Drum and Dance Ensemble will present music and dance from West Africa Tuesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in WSU’s Kimbrough Concert Hall. The free concert is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity; the Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee; and WSU School of Music. The performance draws on traditions from Mali, Ghana, Senegal and Guinea.

In addition to the concert, the ensemble will offer two dance workshops. Djeneba Sako will teach a Malian Dance class 4-5:50 p.m. March 21, at the WSU Dance Studio in Daggy Hall. Maputo Mensah will teach a Ghanaian dance class 6-7:30 p.m. March 23 at the Spectrum II Art and Dance Studio in Moscow. Admission to the workshops will be $15 at the door.

Bookmark

Get professional “Career Know How” with Executive Recruiter Allison Sherwood Wednesday, March 16, at 6 p.m. in the Colfax Library. She specializes in counseling candidates regarding effective job research, resume development and interview techniques.

Friends of WCL will have a St. Patty’s Day Book Blow Out beginning Thursday, March 17. Extra tables will be brought in to offer hundreds of new items for sale. The sale will continue until all items are gone.

As always, Troll’s Corner Book Sale is stocked with quality books, music and movies for sale whenever the library is open.

Youths in grades 1-4 are invited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Colfax Library March 17 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kids may ride bus 5 with a note from a parent to enjoy stories, crafts, games and more.

Fun educational classes for area preschoolers are each Thursday in the Colfax Library with Baby Time programs at 10:10, Toddler Time at 10:30 and Preschool Time at 11.

Play and Learn classes are a more interactive version that includes parents and caregivers, in the child’s learning experience each Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Colfax library events: Library Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, March 15 at 4 p.m.

“Customs, Cultures and Customers” with Randy Suess on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. and “Powerful Tools for Caregiving” series starting on Wednesday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m.