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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pastor to lead S. Perry group

Association elects Deb Conklin president

Conklin

The South Perry Business and Neighborhood Association elected a new president last week. The Rev. Deb Conklin, pastor at Liberty Park United Methodist Church, is serving through this fall as former president Geoff White of the Perry Street Café is focusing his efforts on the upcoming South Perry Fair and Parade on July 17.

Conklin has lived in the South Perry neighborhood for three years. Prior to that, she served in several smaller towns around Spokane.

“This is a unique association because it’s both a neighborhood and a business association,” said Conklin. “And it kind of ebbs and flows: sometimes we are wishing for more business people to come to our meetings, sometimes we are wishing for more neighbors.”

The SPBNA meets on the second Tuesday of every month, at 6 p.m. at the Perry Street Café. The neighborhood belongs to the East Central Neighborhood Council, but formed the SPBNA to better address neighborhood specific issues.

Conklin said SPBNA is working on community building in the neighborhood, which has welcomed several new businesses over the past couple of years.

“We have been working with the farmers market to find a good location,” said Conklin. “For now they are in the parking lot at The Shop, but they would like to perhaps locate around the cul-de-sac by the park.”

The South Perry Farmers Market opens its fifth season on June 3 from 3-7 p.m.

Conklin has been working with the Spokane Alliance for some time and she said getting involved in the SPBNA fits a broader perspective within the protestant church.

“In mainline Protestant circles there is a movement toward making the transition from church being a group that gathers for worship, to church being a group that also reaches into the community,” said Conklin.

The addition of the Emmanuel Life Center and several other businesses – a vet clinic, a beauty salon, a yoga studio and wine bar, just to mention a few – have invigorated the South Perry neighborhood, Conklin said.

“I think the types of businesses that are coming right now are different from what they used to be,” Conklin said. “There really is a lot happening here right now.”