Spring brings bustle to area
Everything is blooming including local artisans and fun activities.
•The Sawdust Gallery next to Country Garden Farms, just north of Miller’s One Stop on Newport Highway, re-opened on May 1. A group of local artisans have organized a co-op to display their arts, crafts, photography, paintings, garden art, plants, jewelry, bronze castings, wood crafts and antiques. Locally produced, affordable items will be available Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 40101 N. Newport Highway.
•The Elk Veterans of Foreign Wars men’s auxiliary is sponsoring an annual fishing derby Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Diamond Lake. The cost for two-person teams is $25 (one person must be a VFW member) and you must sign up at the Elk VFW Post by Friday. There will be prizes awarded for first, second and third places and for smallest and largest fish. The derby will be followed by a fish fry and potluck at the Elk VFW Post.
•Mother’s Day is Sunday, and there are some good opportunities for finding that perfect gift. The Riverside High School Greenhouse Plant Sale is Saturday morning, just north of the tennis courts off of Newport Highway. Riverside Family Foods will be decorating special cakes for moms on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Cost is $10.
•The Eloika Lake Association will hold a fundraiser breakfast downstairs at the Elk VFW Post Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. The breakfast will include pancakes and sausage or biscuits and gravy with coffee, tea or juice. The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for kids 8 years old and younger.
The association is sponsoring a hands-on workshop on aquatic vegetative management May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Fire Station and a follow-up workshop on May 16. Both sessions are being organized by Thomas Wimpy of Inland Water Pest Control and Consulting. The second workshop will be at the boat launch off Bridges Road west of Miller’s One Stop from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a barbecue/social; just bring your own beverages and lawn chairs. For information, contact Tammy Magnuson by phone at (509) 292-2100, e-mail eloika@aimcomm.com, or go to www.eloikalake.com.
•ARTSmart in Elk spring basic drawing classes will conclude soon. Lady-in-the-Woods Gallery on Laurel Road and Newport Highway will host an art reception and show opening for the students, who will each exhibit two of their works from the class. Family, friends and community art lovers are invited to attend the show and meet the artists May 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Homemade hors d’oeuvres and sparkling cider will be served, as this will provide another good place for a special Mother’s Day gift. For information on upcoming Friday and Saturday classes in Elk and Monday classes in Deer Park through July 31, call Valerie Woelk at (509) 292-5031.
•The Elk Community Park Association is accepting donations for its annual yard sale at the Big Red Barn in downtown Elk on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Booths are $10 if you would like to sell your own goods, arts or crafts. Call Becky at (509) 292-0706 or Cheryl at (509) 292-0577, or go to the park Web site at www.elkcommunitypark.com. Proceeds from the yard sale benefit the park and Elk Pioneer Days.
•The Elk Music Association will have a booth selling the Elk Tracks CDs. The Elk Pioneer Days 50/50 raffle tickets will be available, and orders for Elk Pioneer Days merchandise will be taken, or call Judith Herrell at (509) 292-2334.
•The Miss Elk royalty will have a car wash during the yard sale across the road at the Elk Sentinel. Lemonade and snacks will be available. The coronation takes place the evening before, at 7 p.m. downstairs at the Elk VFW.
Also, on May 16, the Elk Ladies Homemakers will hold the annual plant and bake sale at Riverside Family Foods from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
That same evening, the Elk Music Association will sponsor a Sadie Hawkins Dance with DJ music at the Elk VFW Post at 7 p.m. The theme is “Urban Cowboy” and there will be a prize for best-dressed couple. The entry fee is $5 per couple or $3 per person for members and signed-in guests. Tickets may be purchased at the yard sale or at the door. Photos will be available for a small fee. Proceeds benefit the music for Elk Pioneer Days.