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Gonzaga prepares for annual spring dance concert

Gonzaga prepares for annual spring dance concert

Gonzaga students are getting ready to hold their 12th annual spring dance concert later this month.

The concert, which features 90 student dancers, will include several different styles. Ballet, jazz, modern and musical theater routines will all be presented. Between dances, several videos will be shown celebrating Gonzaga's 125th anniversary.

In a statement from Gonzaga University, dance director Suzanne Ostersmith says the dance students worked all semester to prepare and are excited to present this final performance.

“This is a much bigger experience in that these students are not only learning a subject, they are applying it physically, living it and then presenting it before a live audience,” Ostersmith said. “The stakes are high. How often do you present a term paper to a public audience?”

Tickets are $5 each and available for purchase online here. To reserve a ticket, call the Gonzaga Theatre Box Office at (509) 313-6553. Cash, Visa, or MasterCard are accepted.
 

Local Stars Serve Dinner to Benefit Homeless

Local Stars Serve Dinner to Benefit Homeless

Sports stars and local T.V. personalities will be serving dinner at the HuHot Mongolian Grill tonight to support Blessings Under the Bridge.

 

Jessica Kovac and her husband Mike started serving brown bag meals to the area's homeless in 2007. Since then it has grown into a weekly meal service and non-profit. Their brown bags include sandwiches and home made baked goods, as well fruit and toiletries. Each recipient is offered a bottle of water and coffee or cocoa.

 

“Blessings Under the Bridge has just boomed so much,” says Kovac, adding that she and her husband never expected their weekly ministry to become a non-profit. BUTB estimates that it takes only $12.00 to provide brown bags for ten homeless.

 

Fighting Cancer Through Running

Fighting Cancer Through Running

Running season is underway in the Spokane area. The 2nd annual Hope Run race is growing in more ways than one. This year the organizers of the race, Fighting Through Fitness, are teaming up with American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest to raise money for the fight against cancer.

Doctors diagnosed founding member of Fighting Through Fitness, Michael Moyles, with terminal brain cancer in 1999. He was given 6 to 8 years to live. Now, 14 years later he's still running strong.

Since being diagnosed, Moyles has completed many marathons and countless other races.

“Running is my way of telling cancer it hasn't gotten me yet,” said Moyles. “I made a commitment after my second recurrence to never let cancer win.”

Salvation Army Needs Your Grocery Bags

Salvation Army Needs Your Grocery Bags

Many houses have a stock pile of plastic grocery bags, whether they be under the sink or shoved in the pantry. You don't want to throw them away, and they can't go in the recycling bin. Why not donate them? The Salvation Army is always in need of grocery bags at their community food bank.

 

Every month the Salvation Army food bank serves 13,000 families in the Spokane area. Plastic grocery bags, as well as paper bags are always needed. The plastic bags are used to bag produce and the groceries are sent home mostly in paper bags. They currently purchase paper bags from URM.

 

Community Services Program Manager, Leslie Rogers, described the bank as “shopper's choice”. Customers are led through the aisles and are able to select which items they want. They are Second Harvest's largest food outlet.

 

Hometown Baritone Headed to NYC

Hometown Baritone Headed to NYC

You might remember Anthony McCain. You may have seen him singing and selling cookies two summers ago to raise money for music school. After two years at the Oberlin Music Conservatory in Ohio, McCain's rich baritone has gotten even better. So much better that he's now been accepted into a summer music program in New York City.

 

After graduating from North Central in 2011, McCain was given a full ride scholarship to Oberlin. However, he didn't have the money to actually get there. That is why he held the bake sale, and the community stepped in and helped get McCain there.

 

Last summer McCain was offered a job with a cruise ship. The offer was enticing, but after much thought and conversation with his mentors at Oberlin he declined so he could continue his education. It's proven to be the right choice. This year he has preformed in two of the main stage operas at Oberlin and was also selected as the baritone soloist with the Oberlin Choir on a tour in New York.

 

Parking Lot Opens New Horizon At Rocks Of Sharon

Parking Lot Opens New Horizon At Rocks Of Sharon

When it comes to rock climbing in the Spokane area, Minnehaha Park gets all the attention. But a new trailhead completed later last summer by Spokane County Conservation District and the Dishman Hills Conservancy has opened one of the best kept secrets.

Big Rock - Rocks of Sharon is an area loaded with massive granite walls and plenty of places to climb.

Javier Sparks is an avid climber and works at Mountain Goat Outfitters. He says climbers and hikers use to have to walk a fine line with neighbors who live in the area.  “Before you couldn't park and all and people would hassle you about it,” said Sparks.

It’s located on the south side of Krell Mountain, often referred to as Tower Mountain on the southeastern edge of Spokane. For those who aren't into rock climbing, the area provides great hiking trails and spectacular views of the Palouse.

Wanted: Hoopfest Volunteers

Wanted: Hoopfest Volunteers

On Hoopfest weekend thousands will be in Downtown Spokane to be a part of the largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the world. It takes a lot of planning and organization to run an event sporting over 7,000 teams, 250,000 players and 456 courts and have it go smoothly. But mostly it takes an army of volunteers and Hoopfest is already recruiting.

 

Last year over 2,500 volunteers helped make the event happen and this year organizers are half way to filling the volunteer ranks. Anyone can be involved, whether you have basketball experience or not. From court monitors to merchandise sales to general clean up there is a job for everyone.