Spokane Chefs Will Cook Up Heart-Healthy Gourmet Feasts

The Heart Institute of Spokane has invited 25 top Spokane-area chefs to participate in “A Heart Act To Follow,” a benefit dinner for HeartAction, an education program for patients at high risk of a heart attack.

Each chef dedicates his or her talents to one table of 10 guests who will guiltlessly gormandize through five courses of haute-heart-healthy fare.

The challenge to each chef is to create an exquisite, gourmet meal that meets the established dietary guideline of offering fewer than 30 percent of the overall calories from fat.

The institute hopes to demonstrate that gourmet food can be heart-healthy as well as exquisite and delectable - and to encourage more restaurants to join its “Lite ‘n Hearty” program.

This low-fat concept may prove to be more of a challenge to diners than chefs. After receiving an invitation to the benefit, one man asked, “What are they gonna’ serve? Water?”

For the dinner, the chefs create every detail of the meal, from tablecloth to aperitif.

The chefs are the stars, the tables create the stage and the result is a production that is “A Heart Act To Follow.”

The event will be March 15 in the Ridpath Hotel’s Empire Ballroom. An encore dessert buffet and dancing to Ultimate Demand follows dinner. Tickets are $100 each; seating is limited to 250.

For more information, call 625-3000.

Travel with a purpose

Global Volunteers offers unique volunteer teaching opportunities in Southeast Asia for service-minded travelers of all ages who enjoy contributing to and learning about foreign community development projects.

Rural villagers in Indonesia and Vietnam have invited North American volunteers to assist them with English language development programs throughout 1996. No previous teaching experience is required.

The private, nonprofit organization offers service programs in 13 countries worldwide and is coordinating three volunteer teams each to Jeruklegi, Java and Tan Hiep, Vietnam.

Dates for the Indonesia program are April 12-May 1, Aug. 2-21 and Sept. 20-Oct. 9. Dates for the Vietnam program are March 9-30, July 13-27 and Nov. 2-23.

Volunteers have weekends to explore cultural attractions. All service programs are led by experienced team leaders who are familiar with the country’s culture.

The tax-deductible fee of $1,790 and $1,990, for two and three weeks respectively, in Vietnam, and $1,575 and $1,725 for two and three weeks in Indonesia, includes ground transportation, food and lodging and project materials. Air fare and free-time expenses are extra.

For more information, contact Global Volunteers at 1-800-487-1074.

Benefit breakfast

Stacy Allison, the first American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and a domestic violence survivor, will present the keynote address at the fourth annual YWCA Benefit Breakfast.

The event will be at 7:30 a.m. March 25 at the Ag Trade Center. Proceeds will benefit critical YWCA programs and services such as its Transition School for Homeless Youth, Domestic Violence Safe Shelter, Adaptive Aquatics for the developmentally and physically disabled, Free Family Clothing and Necessities Bank, Children’s Center Child Care programs and others.

For more information, call the YWCA, 328-1190.

Family law seminar

The Northwest Women’s Law Center and Eastern Washington University School of Social Work are sponsoring a seminar on family law issues for social-service providers who need to understand the law to effectively serve their clients.

Local attorneys will address issues concerning domestic violence, dissolution and paternity actions, parenting issues, legal concerns of social service providers, and legal advice vs legal information.

The seminar will be 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 21 at Spokane Falls Community College. Cost is $50 per person, or $45 each if three or more people from the same agency attend. Limited scholarships are available.

Registration deadline is March 11. For more information, call Trevor Lutzenhiser, 208-682-9552.

Joy-filled volunteers needed

Project Joy which provides entertainment for convalescent centers, retirement apartments and fraternal and civic organizations, needs volunteers.

Specific needs include: kitchen band players, puppeteers, singers for the Joyettes and Minstrel chorus groups, actors for skits and performers for the senior orchestra.

Individual performers are also needed, including clowns, piano players, guitar players, singers …

If you are at least 50 years old and want to use and enhance talents or develop previously undiscovered abilities in music, dance or drama, call 324-0564 for more information.

Wanted: bachelors

Easter Seals is recruiting single men for its annual Bachelor Auction June 14 at the downtown Red Lion Hotel.

Some 25 bachelors, 21 years old through their 60s, will be selected to participate. Each bachelor, who coordinates a date package, is auctioned with his package going to the highest bidder.

All proceeds will benefit local Easter Seal programs to help disabled children, teens and adults live more independent lives.

Over the past five years, the evening of elegance auction has raised more than $87,000 in support of local programs. Each year, it draws more than 500 single women of all ages. In past years, women have paid as much as $1,425 for a bachelor and his date package.

“Rumors have it that there have been a couple marriages as a result of the auction, and some serious relationships that have lasted several years,” said an Easter Seals spokesperson.

Interested bachelors should call 326-8292 for more information or an application packet. Interviews begin Friday.

Bowling for Miracles

The Independent Order of Foresters will hold its fifth annual Bowling for Miracles Family Bowl-A-Thon to benefit Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital.

The event will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Page Entertainment Palace, 12828 E. Sprague.

For more information, call 928-1105.

Bid for Kids a success

The fourth annual Bids For Kids Television Auction Feb. 8 raised $37,000 for both Wishing Star and Alexandria’s House, Crosswalk’s Teen Mom Home.

Cox Communications donated the time, crew and facilities; Century Communications in Coeur d’Alene and KEYF-AM 1050 and Oldies 101.1 in Spokane carried the live auction.

Award deadline nears

Nominations are due March 18 to submit your employer for Family-a-Fair’s Workplace Award.

The recognition is for employers who initiate policies and programs that support working parents. Family-a-Fair members hope the award will encourage others to offer similar programs.

For more information, or to receive a nomination form, call 456-3733.

Employment expo

Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University, and Whitworth and Whitman colleges will host Partnership in Employment Expo ‘96 on Tuesday, 3-7 p.m., at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

Seventy-five employers will be available to discuss full- and parttime employment opportunities, cooperative and internship experiences and summer work.

Current students and school alumni are invited; admission is free. For more information, contact one of the school’s career office.

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