Christmas Tree Elegance Will Set The Holiday Mood

From IN Life (Sunday, December 2, 1993): Mary Jean and Joel Ferris are honorary chairman for the Christmas Tree Elegance. Their names were incorrectly listed last Sunday.

By now the turkey has been revisited as warm-ups, sandwiches, hash, soup …

With the passing of Thanksgiving, we welcome the Christmas season. The calender bulges (not unlike those who may have enjoyed too much Thanksgiving) with holiday activities and entertainment.

A week of elegance

Viewing lavishly decorated trees at the 12th annual Christmas Tree Elegance is a wonderful way to spark the excitement of the season.

For this Spokane tradition, the Crescent Court has been transformed into a holiday winter wonderland for a week of parties and hope-filled dreams as raffle tickets fill the boxes for each of 10 decorated trees and accompanying trips and gifts.

The three-day Preview of Trees runs between noon and 8 p.m. today, tomorrow and Tuesday. Enjoy a cup of cider, a cookie and Christmas entertainment while viewing the trees - and discovering new decorating ideas. The $2.50 tickets are sold at the door; children under 12 are admitted free.

Three sold-out Holiday Luncheons and Fashion Shows will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tickets are still available for a Taste of Elegance Cocktail Party and Dancing from 6 to 10 p.m., Wednesday. The event will feature music by Unlimited Demand, a buffet and magical entertainment. Reservations are required; tickets are $30 each.

The week concludes with Friday’s Gala Dinner Dance and Grand Tree Drawing. Tickets for the formal, black-tie optional event are $100 each. Reservations are required.

Raffle tickets for the trees will be sold at all events for $1 each.

For more information and reservations for the Wednesday and Friday parties, call the Spokane Symphony Associates, 326-3136. All proceeds benefit the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, now celebrating its 50th season.

Joan Winston heads up the committee for this year’s extravaganza; Joel and Mary Jean Francis are honorary co-chairman and co-chairwoman.

Art School Yuletide 1995

Spokane Art School presents Yuletide 1995 Thursday through next Sunday at the Art School, 920 N. Howard, across from the new Arena.

The 16th annual holiday exhibit and sale will feature fine arts and crafts by more than 38 artists. Marbled paper, scarves, jewelry, bird houses, calligraphy, stoneware, watercolors, metal furniture, pine needle basketry, dried florals and acrylics are some of the arts included.

The Gala Opening Night Party will be 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday. Fine wines, hors d’oeuvres and music by the Planet Lounge Orchestra will be available while browsing the array of gifts. Cost is a $15 donation. Reservations must be made Monday by calling 328-0900 or fax 328-0905.

Yuletide will be open Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call the school, 328-0900.

Here comes Santa Claus

If there are little ones in your home, you know it doesn’t take much to spark their interest in Christmas. They’re ready for it, even if you’re not.

(Those of us who no longer have children with unquestioning belief can attest that this aspect of the Christmas season passes all too quickly. Cherish it while you have it.)

The Spokane Guilds’ School’s annual Santa’s Breakfast and Christmas Bazaar is a perfect way to share your children’s unbounded joy and excitement while you participate in the deeper meaning of Christmas by supporting the school’s work of providing therapy and special education services for developmentally disabled children.

The breakfast and bazaar will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, in the Guilds’ School Bingo Hall at the corner of Boone and Monroe. Children can visit with Santa and Cinnamon Bear and have their picture taken while parents look for gifts at the bazaar featuring homemade goodies and crafts.

The annual event is sponsored by the Robbie Richards’ Helping Hands Guild.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the school or at the door; $4 for adults and $2.75 for children. For more information, call the school, 326-1651.

Four-part harmony and more

The Spokane Falls Chorus of Sweet Adelines will present “Christmas Dreams” at 2 p.m. Sunday at The Met. The program will also feature the Eastern Washington University Chamber Choir, First Presbyterian Church’s Intermediate Children’s Choir, Night Magic, Upbeat, Esprit, The Aristocrats, Hi-Lights and Lilac City Chorus.

Tickets, $8 (children under 12 free), may be purchased from G&B Select-A-Seat, 325-SEAT. For more information, call 466-7784 or 448-9328.

The promise of Advent

Gonzaga Prep’s symphonic band, symphonic choir and orchestra will present “Lessons and Carols,” a celebration of the promise of the Advent season through liturgical readings and music, at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Colbert, at 7:30 p.m., Monday. A reception in the church hall follows the free program.

Directors are John Walk, choir; Mike Smith, band; and Judi Jamieson, orchestra.

Landscape officers

The Landscape Association of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Baptist recently held its final meeting of the year with a luncheon in the Guild Rooms of the Jewett House.

Nancy Aston was elected president for the coming year. Other officers are Carol Jones, first vice-president; Ruth Bouten, second vice president; Marjorie Weed, secretary; Ruthie Thompson, treasurer, and Ellie Price, immediate past president.

Is the mike on?

A demonstration meeting of International Training in Communication will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday in the View Point Restaurant in the Farm Credit Building, 601 W. First. Men and women who wish to improve their speaking skills and leadership abilities are invited to attend.

ITC is a training organization specializing in communication skills. Spokane Communicators meets at Corbin Community Center two evenings each month. A new chapter is being organized for downtown professionals and business people.

For more information, call 326-7255 or 487-0057.

Mass said in Spanish

Two Masses in Spanish have been arranged by the modern language department of Gonzaga University for 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Monday, Dec. 11, in the Administration Building’s University Chapel.

The Rev. Michael Cook will celebrate the Masses with hymns and readings in Spanish. For more information, call Martha Gonzales, 328-4220, ext. 3323.

Ethical dilemmas discussed

The Rev. Gerald Cavanaugh, the Charles T. Fisher chairman of business ethics and chancellor at the University of Detroit Mercy, will deliver Gonzaga University’s Aram Lecture on Business Ethics at 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, in the Skyline Ballroom at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

He will speak on “A Global View: Deregulation and Ethical Implications.”

Cavanaugh, author of five books and numerous articles, lectures internationally, as well as at Stanford and Harvard universities and the University of California at Berkeley.

Cost for the lecture and lunch is

$15. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 328-4220, ext. 3404.

Cavanagh will also be on campus during the week to give lectures and seminars to students and faculty.

Software donated

Gonzaga University will receive a donation of software, valued at $445,650, from Oracle Corp. for the department of mathematics and computer science.

Paul De Palma, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, obtained the donation.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Betsy Carosella The Spokesman-Review