January 21, 2010 in Washington Voices

Month ahead offers chili and jazz

• Print
• Email
• Share

Here it is the third week in January, and it has felt like spring. Some of the plants in our yard are confused; they are already turning green!

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted a mild winter with above-average temperatures in late December and most of January. But there is a prediction of some snow at the end of January and into February. We will see.

In any case, it sure has been easier than the last two winters. The Almanac also predicts a slightly warmer-than-average spring, a cooler and wetter summer than normal (regular heat wave in August) and a warmer and longer autumn into October. Sounds OK.

With freezing temperatures, then above-average temperatures and lots of rain, the condition of our rural dirt and gravel roads is already as horrible as they usually are after the spring thaw. In Elk, there are more potholes that are bigger and deeper than I have seen in my 11 years of residency. There is a pothole (or maybe it is a sinkhole) on Bridges Road that is 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and about 8 inches deep.

There are so many potholes on Bridges, Madison and Fridegar roads, you cannot go over about 10 mph. I have had occasion to travel on rural roads from Chattaroy to Deer Park and all around Elk and there are more potholes than you could count. Come on Spokane County, study up on some newer processes around the U.S. and figure out some way to really improve our rural county roads. They are supposed to be maintained, you know! Rural friends and neighbors – e-mail, write and call the Spokane County Roads Department.

OK, enough useless complaining, on to some more fun and interesting subjects. There are a couple of fun events coming up on Feb. 6. First, the Elk Community Park is sponsoring its 11th annual Chili-Chowder Cook-Off downstairs at the Elk VFW Post. If you have a favorite recipe you would like to enter, take your crockpot of prepared chili and/or chowder to the VFW activity room between 2 and 4 p.m. (You may also bring your entry in a soup pot with an electric burner.) There is also a dessert contest. If you want to try all these delectable entries, ballots and bowls are $2; $1 for kids 8 and younger. Tasting and voting starts at 4 p.m. There will be prizes and a bonfire. For information, call (509) 292-0577.

Also on Feb. 6, there is a wonderful, classy event called “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” The annual fundraising dinner-dance to benefit the Riverside High School Jazz Band starts at 6 p.m. and goes to 9 p.m. The dinner starts with appetizers, followed by the main course of prime rib, rosemary chicken or vegetarian pasta, and ending with a mouth-watering dessert.

And of course, you get to dance to the jazz and big band music of the RHS Jazz Band. During band breaks, a three-piece jazz combo will entertain. There will be a lot of great items included in a silent auction. Formal or semiformal attire is suggested but not required. All you guys can get a jump on a nice Valentine surprise and take your lady out for dinner and dancing for $30 per person. To volunteer to help or to purchase tickets, call Lora at (509) 475-8393, Sondra at (509) 844-4671 or Deede at (509) 999-0626. For information or tickets, call band director Brian Comstock at (509) 464-8591.

There are still a few Riverside High School Jazz Band CDs available for $10, and you can call Deede for those also.

Contact correspondent Billie Martin by e-mail at elkites@peoplepc.com.

No comments on this story so far. Add yours!