Miss Spokane Program Offers College Scholarship

Applications are being accepted for the 1997 Miss Spokane Scholarship Program, an affiliate of the Miss America organization.

Women between 17 and 24 years old are eligible to compete for the Miss Spokane title with its college scholarship.

“This is more than a beauty pageant,” says Carol Grover, executive director of the Miss Spokane program. “The Miss Spokane Scholarship Program gives young women the opportunity to further their education by achieving a scholarship to the college or university of their choice.”

The Miss America organization represents the world’s largest private scholarship foundation for women. Last year it awarded more than $31 million in educational scholarships to contestants at the local, state and national levels.

Applications to enter the Miss Spokane Scholarship Program are due Aug. 1. Applicants must be single, American citizens residing in the counties of Spokane, Ferry, Stevens, Lincoln, Adams, Whitman or Pend Oreille.

Auditions will be Aug. 9, when contestants will be judged in four areas: interview, talent, physical fitness and evening wear. The winner will be crowned at the 1997 Miss Spokane pageant Oct. 18 at Spokane Falls Community College.

The new Miss Spokane will compete for the title of Miss Washington next June with the chance of moving on to the Miss America competition.

For an application, call Grover at 466-1114.

Necessities Bank

Hundreds of community families depend on the Necessities Bank at the YWCA for free, essential personal hygiene items.

Here’s an opportunity to help the Necessities Bank replenish its bare shelves. The YWCA needs financial support or donations of the following unopened items: baby wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, toilet paper, laundry detergent, soap, deodorant, shampoo, disposable diapers, tampons, sanitary napkins and body lotion.

Donations may be brought to Spokane’s YWCA at 829 W. Broadway.

For more information, call 326-1190, ext. 128.

Outreach for single parents

Single parents in our community can seek support, advocacy, referrals and information through the Single Parent Outreach Connection.

The resource center, housed at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook, strives to meet individual needs and facilitate the education and employment of single parents who receive public assistance.

“Our goal is to help single moms and dads develop their own personal strengths, helping them provide a quality of life … for themselves and their children,” says Becky Swan, outreach president. “We hope to empower many welfare recipients to get off the state system and secure full-time employment at a livable wage in Spokane.”

Other new group officers are Charlene Abrahamson, vice president, Elizabeth Heath, treasurer; and Mary Murphy, secretary.

For more information on Single Parent Outreach Connection, call 483-4478.

Seniors

Senior citizens and their families are invited to an Old-Fashioned Dessert Social on July 30 sponsored by Senior Services of Washington. The gathering begins at 4 p.m. in the lower area of Manito Park on Grand Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill.

Enjoy leisurely games of horseshoes, croquet and lawn bowling. Percy Rinker of Project Joy will provide afternoon entertainment.

Bring your own potluck dish and stay for dinner at 4:30 p.m. Dessert and lemonade will be provided.

The event is free, although reservations are requested. Call the Sinto Senior Center at 327-2861.

Following the social, festivities will continue at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds with a Spokane Indians baseball game. Arrange for a group ticket price by calling the Sinto center.

Kids’ day camp

Treat your child to a week of summer fun at the Northeast Youth Center Summer Day Camp. Kids 4 to 9 years old are invited to participate in the three remaining sessions.

Aug. 4-8 is “Let’s Go Fishing Week,” and Aug. 11-14 has the theme, “Learn New Things.” The last session, “End of Summer Bash,” is Aug. 18-22.

Day camp is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Northeast Youth Center, 4001 N. Cook. Throughout the week children will participate in supervised activities, such as arts and crafts, drama, music, nature, excursions and special events, all centered around a lively theme.

Breakfast and lunch are provided.

The fee is $20 per week per child, with additional costs for field trips. Preregistration is required. Partial scholarships are available.

For registration information, call 482-0708.

, DataTimes MEMO: Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman-Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.