‘Fantasticks’ Performances Will Aid Shelter, Ensemble

Don’t miss the delightful musical, “The Fantasticks,” during two benefit performances at the Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard.

In a hilarious twist of romantic comedy, two fathers go to great lengths to attempt to match-make their children into holy matrimony. The popular story is sprinkled with musical favorites.

On Wednesday, show proceeds will benefit the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter. A complimentary wine-and-dessert reception begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by the show at 8. During the evening, there will be drawings for wine baskets, compliments of Knipprath Cellars and Vino!

Tickets are a minimum $15 donation.

For reservations, call Sabrina Jones at 535-8400.

On May 28, proceeds from the performance will benefit Zephyr, Spokane’s 20th-century musical ensemble. The evening begins at 6:30 with hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting, followed by the show at 7:30. Dessert will be served at intermission.

Tickets are $15. For reservations, call 235-4645.

More fund-raisers

Celebrate 50 years of service with the Easter Seal Society of Washington at a family reunion picnic May 31.

Festivities are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Riverfront Park’s Forestry Shelter. Families and individuals associated with Easter Seals - past and present volunteers, donors, staff members and campers - are invited to the celebration.

Activities will include a barbecue, birthday cake, music, games and crafts. Guests can share their Easter Seal stories, which will be compiled in a 50th-anniversary family album to be distributed at the year’s end.

The Easter Seal Society of Washington is a direct-service organization committed to helping those with disabilities (and their families) live with equality, dignity and independence. They offer quality programs and services, such as vocational rehabilitation, adaptive recreation and respite care.

For more information, call 326-8292.

Tie on those walking shoes and join the Great Strides walkathon May 31 to raise funds for cystic fibrosis, the No. 1 fatal genetic disease of children and young adults in this country.

All ages are invited to participate in the fund-raiser, which begins at noon at Martin Center on the Gonzaga University campus. The three-mile walk extends on the Centennial Trail, along the scenic (and rushing) Spokane River.

More than 150 walkers are expected to participate in the event, which organizers hope will result in pledges totaling $15,000.

Participants are asked to gather sponsors before the walkathon and bring their pledge money and sponsor lists to the registration/ check-in booth, which opens at 11 a.m. on walk day.

“Ninety-four percent of the money from this fund-raiser goes directly toward cystic fibrosis research,” says Becky Clayton, special events director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “The research has brought extended life to those who have cystic fibrosis.

“We are seeing progress and are getting closer to a cure.”

To receive a sponsor kit, call (800) 647-7774. Sponsor envelopes are also available at Deaconess Medical Center.

Natural foods fair

Today is the last day of Huckleberry’s Natural Food Fair at its Spokane Valley store, 15510 E. Sprague.

From 1 to 5 p.m. visitors can sample natural, whole-food dishes prepared by Huckleberry’s chefs and local and regional producers. Festivities also include drawings, gift certificates and product samples.

Kudos

Service League volunteers of Sacred Heart Medical Center presented a cash donation to the center at their annual spring luncheon.

Lou Aldecoa, chairwoman of the league’s gift shop committee, presented $75,000 to be used for programs and services throughout Sacred Heart.

In addition to offering the financial gift, the service league’s 400 volunteers donated 44,000 hours during the 1996-97 year. The volunteers provided a wide variety of service throughout the medical center, such as library carts, televised bingo and staffing of waiting areas.

Kudos to the Sacred Heart volunteers and the Service League’s outgoing president, Colette Jacobs, who passed her gavel to incoming president Kathleen Manning.

, DataTimes