Practice pays off on Riverside band, choir trips
The Riverside High School jazz band and concert band traveled to San Francisco in April to compete in the Heritage Music Festival.
We should be very proud of our bands as they took numerous impressive awards at the festival. The jazz band won first place as well as best overall instrumental group – determined by the highest overall score. The concert band took second place.
The jazz band and concert band both received adjudicator’s choice awards. They also won grand sweepstakes awards, which are decided by the overall highest scores. In addition to the competition, the students’ week was filled with fun activities. They rode the trolley cars and visited the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf. The kids’ San Francisco experiences, with each other and all their new acquaintances, as well as the sights of the city, will never be forgotten.The Riverside bands are under the direction of Brian Comstock. The jazz and concert bands’ final performances for the year will be May 25 at 7 p.m. at the Riverside High School all-purpose room.
Congratulations also to Riverside High School’s Touch of Class choir for winning first place at the Seattle Heritage Choir Festival on April 24. Twenty-one of the choir members participated in the three-day tour. The choir is under direction of Jesse Wittrock.
The Riverside bands and choirs both have active booster clubs instrumental in helping the students attend competitions.
Eloika Lake benefit breakfast
In collaboration with the Spokane Conservation District, the Eloika Lake Association has been awarded a five-year milfoil treatment grant for which the Department of Ecology will contribute 75 percent. The remaining 25 percent (nearly $19,000) is the local match requirement – half in cash and half through volunteer hours. The milfoil project begins this spring.
To help contribute to the cash match requirements, the ELA is holding a huckleberry pancake breakfast Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grub & More Restaurant on Highway 2 in Elk. Everyone is invited to support ELA’s second annual breakfast fundraiser. The $5 menu includes huckleberry pancakes, Eggers sausage, biscuits and gravy, coffee and juice. Cost is $3 for children age 8 and younger.
The Eloika Lake Association would like to thank Grub & More Restaurant for donating the use of its facility and for the strong support of local businesses donating supplies. For more information, visit www.eloika.com.
Luau pig roast
Elk VFW Post No. 5924 will be open to the public on May 22 for its biggest fundraiser of the year. The canteen opens at 11 a.m., and the live auction items will be on display. The beautiful, varied silent auction baskets will be available for bids – on display now through May 22.
The live auction begins at 1 p.m., the luau pig roast starts at 4 and the dance with live music kicks off at 7. Tickets for all events of the day are $10 per person or $15 per couple and may be purchased from VFW or Auxiliary members at the Elk VFW Post or the Elk Sentinel.
Auction items include an ATV utility box, Dry Fly whiskey, golf at Wandermere, Mt. Spokane ski lift tickets, Dorian Studio family photo session, dinners, hosted fishing trip on Diamond Lake, load of gravel, Bobcat rental, load of topsoil, bedroom set, hide-a-bed, gun cabinet, roll-top desk, propane stove, shop fridge, radial arm saw and more.
To donate items, services or gift certificates or for information, call (509) 292-8479 or (509) 292-8251. Wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt and head to the Elk VFW for a great day!