Festival, Final 10 contest a sunny success for Elk
I hope you dads all had a nice Father’s Day, and everyone is enjoying the beginning of summer.
The 34th annual Elk Pioneer Days took place on Friday and Saturday. Mother Nature cooperated – the skies cleared and the rain stopped.
The Elk Music Association’s “Elk’s Got Talent – Final 10 Competition” Friday evening featured 10 talented vocalists that made the judges’ decision very difficult. The top three placers were Keri Weigle, first place; Kimberly Penner, second; and Holly Bolton, third. They were awarded gifts bags and cash prizes. Weigle will be featured on EMA’s next Elk Tracks Christmas CD later this year.
Emcee Cory Belden and EMA director Ricki Belden sang a grand finale song with the 10 contestants. The association would like to thank the judges: College Road Recording owner Wade Thames, musician Larry Walker and award-winning Riverside High School jazz band member Zack Jordan. They also thank event sponsors Reedy’s Custom Meats and Center for Oral Health. Sound production was provided by Greg Jordan’s Banana Belt Studios for the talent finals, the open jam that followed and for all of the musical entertainment on Saturday.
The weather was warm and sunny on Saturday which brought out the crowds for the parade, the arts, crafts and vendors, the beer and wine garden and all the entertainment on stage at the park. It was a fun and successful fundraising festival for the Elk Community Park Association and the EMA.
•The Simplified Summer Food Program for Children began last week at the Elk Community Park and will continue through Aug. 19. No meals will be served on July 2 and 5. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Riverside Middle School will serve breakfast from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon in front of the school July 12 through July 29 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Riverside and Chattaroy elementary school programs will start Aug. 3 and continue through Aug. 19 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Riverside Elementary will serve breakfast from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon on the south side front lawn. Chattaroy Elementary will serve breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon on the front lawn. Meals are free for all attending children under age 19.
In cooperation with the lunch program at Elk Community Park, the Elk Music Association will facilitate Craft Day for Kids every Wednesday starting at 12:45 p.m. at the park. The EMA will hold the first annual EMA Artists’ Day at the Park on July 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists booths, food, wine and beer and acoustic music will be available. For information or to get an application, call (509) 292-2996 or go to their website at www.ElkMusicArts.org.
•The Newport Rodeo takes place this weekend and the Lavender Festival will be July 10-11 also in Newport. See www. povlavenderfestival.com for more info.
•The Little Spokane River Water Quality Improvement Plan public meeting will take place at the Riverside Fire Station No. 46 on Deer Park-Milan Road on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The meeting will focus on the Little Spokane watershed. Rick Noll of the Spokane County Conservation District and Jon Jones of the Department of Ecology will be discussing finalizing and implementing the Total Maximum Daily Load documents, volumes I and II.