Fig Tree opts for smaller column width
The width of columns in The Fig Tree are about .09 of an inch narrower than the traditional 11 pica width for newspapers, because The Fig Tree is now being printed by TCP Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the Lewiston Tribune.
In September 2019, they purchased Griffin Publishing in Spokane Valley, which published The Fig Tree since George Griffin, Jr., founded it in 2002. Prior to that, The Fig Tree's printer was Spokane Print and Mail, owned by George's father. Previous printers include the Cheney Free Press and Spokane Valley Herald.
"We published three issues with them in 2019, and then chose Northwest Offset Printing, a subsidiary of the Spokesman-Review, to maintain the column width," said Mary Stamp, editor. "After the September issue, we returned to TPC Holdings because they are more geared to runs under 10,000."
For information, call 535-1813 or visit thefigtree.org.
'Beyond Words: Doing Justice' is theme for 2021 EWLC and Benefits
"Beyond Words: Doing Justice" is the theme for the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference and for The Fig Tree's annual Benefit Lunch and Breakfast.
The legislative conference, planned by a team from The Fig Tree, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, Earth Ministry-Washington Interfaith Power and Light, and the Faith Action Network and local denominations, will be presented virtually from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30.
The committee is currently planning for a keynote speaker, panel response, workshops and a legislative briefing to address issues coming before the Washington State Legislature that convenes Jan. 11 for a 60-day session.
The benefit planning committee is in the process of deciding if the benefits will be virtual and the timeline. A lunch is planned March 5 and breakfast March 10.
For information, call 535-1813 or visit thefigtree.org.
Fair traders set up for online shopping
Ganesh Himal Trading Co is collaborating with Kizuri to set up a website where people can shop if they want to purchase and support fair trade without being exposed to COVID-19.
"We will set up a permanent online presence not only for Kizuri but also for fall Festival of Fair Trade," said Denise Attwood, co-owner of Ganesh Himal.
The online presence will include long-time Festival of Fair Trade vendors Conosur Imports with Penny and Oscar Haupt and Maya Color with Maria Cuc and Felipe Gonzales.
"We hope this will give wider access to fair trade items, given that the Festival of Fair Trade after Thanksgiving and Jubilee in early November at First Presbyterian Church cannot be held as usual because of COVID-19.
In the long term, it will give Kizuri an online presence for selling fair trade regionally and nationally in case of any future lockdowns and give communities without fair trade stores access to fairly traded items.
Consumers can shop online and do curbside pickup. There may be some delivery for those who can't drive or are vulnerable, Denise said.
In addition, Ganesh Himal Trading, Conosur Imports and Maya Color are considering doing pop up events at the Community Building on Saturdays throughout the fall.
They will offer smaller displays of two or three tables for one to three vendors—spread out and limiting the number of people coming into the building, while giving people a sense of the community that is usually a part of the Festival of Fair Trade.
"We hope to encourage shoppers to spread out their shopping throughout the fall and not congregate in large groups but still have a little fun," she said.
"It will give some 'retail therapy,' for shoppers, some community and a way to support fair trade and Kizuri while keeping people safe by allowing only five or six in at a time, all wearing masks," Denise said.
For information, call 464-7677 (Kizuri) or email info@ganeshhimaltrading.com.
Fall Folk Fest plans re-broadcasts on KPBX
The Spokane Folklore Society's 25th Annual Fall Folk Festival, celebrating diversity through music, dance and the arts, will be held virtually Nov. 14 and 15.
The Steering Committee decided to bring the festival to the safety of everyone's homes with a virtual program.
Spokane Public Radio (KPBX 91.1 FM), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will present a retrospective of festival broadcasts from 2000 to 2019, and "Best of the Festival Broadcasts" with KPBX's Verne Windham as host from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, and from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Fall Folk Festival will also stream pre-recorded performances selected from 2020 applicants on its website and Facebook. Details will be on its website and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Fall-Folk-Festival-Spokane.
In 2021, organizers plan a live festival celebrating its 25 years.
Vicki Ball, Carla Carnegie, Dave Noble and Leone Peterson organized the first Fall Folk Festival in 1996 at the Unitarian Universalist Church with a dozen groups performing.
Because it occurred during a severe ice storm and the church was one of the few places in town with power and hot food, more than 350 people attended.
The festival grew rapidly, outgrowing the church and moving to Glover Middle School. In 2003, it moved to its current location, Spokane Community College.
By 2005, for its 10th anniversary, it had expanded to two days and showcased more than 100 groups. The festival draws about 5,000 attendees a year.
For information, call 838-3683, email dgraham@spokanefolkfestival.org or visit spokanepublicradio.org.
Faith leaders hold 'Grieving Together' vigils
Inspired by the national Mourning Project, the Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience (FLLC) will hold weekly vigils for "Grieving Together" Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27.
The Mourning Project, "Mourning into Unity: United We Stand, Divided We Fall," is a nationwide, interfaith series of four weekly candlelight vigils to mourn the more than 200,000 dead from COVID-19, and other losses from the pandemic: unsafe schools, unsafe workplaces, unemployment. The goal is to reclaim commitment to peaceful elections and defuse rising violence.
Led by faith and healthcare leaders, the vigils are held outdoors with social distancing and masks. Some will join in parked cars or from home via social media.
The local vigils will be from 6 to 6:30 p.m.—with masks and distancing—in the parking lot or front lawn of Veradale United Church of Christ, 611 N. Progress, and virtually on the FLLC Facebook page.
Participants may tie purple—the traditional color of mourning and a mix of red and blue—ribbons on trees and bushes with messages about their grief. They are to bring their own flameless candle (cell phone), purple ribbons and messages, said Gen Heywood, pastor at Veradale UCC and convener of FLLC.
For information, email genheywood@att.net.
Center holds webinar on lead contamination
The Silver Valley Community Resource Center (SVCRC) will hold a webinar on "Any Lead Is Too Much" at noon, Tuesday, Oct 13. Panelists are Steve Gilbert, director and founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders, an expert on the impact of lead on children; Rhonda Kaetzel, regional director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Barbara Miller, director of the SVCRC and the Children Run Better Unleaded Project.
Panelists will explore lead health exposure and seek solutions in the nation's largest lead Superfund site, Bunker Hill in Idaho's Silver Valley. They will also speak about successes and failures in cleaning up the area and protecting Idaho's children from lead exposure.
The SVCRC focuses on environmental issues, advocates for human health interventions, grassroots organizing, leadership development and educational outreach.
For information, call 208-784-8891, email svcommunityresourcecenter@gmail.com or register at silvervalleyaction.org.
Create in Newport schedules virtual performance
Create in Newport has re-scheduled an April performance of "May's Vote" to a virtual performance at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24.
"May's Vote," a play by Toni Douglass, is about the prim and proper professional women's suffrage organizer Emma Smith DeVoe in Western Washington and the outrageous, flamboyant May Arkwright Hutton, a Spokane millionaire who struck it rich in Idaho silver mines. In their different styles, they worked side-by-side to lead the campaign that won the vote for women in Washington in 1910.
Funded by the Washington State Women's Commission and Washington State Historical Society's Votes for Women Centennial Grant Program, "May's Vote" toured the state in 1998 for the 150th anniversary of the first U.S. Women's Rights Convention.
The two-woman performance is produced by Key City Public Theatre in Port Townsend and performed by Barbara Callander and Denise Winter. They will give a live introduction before the performance and answer questions in a post-play discussion.
It is being offered virtually by Create, a volunteer community center for the arts in Newport, on a donation basis.
Joyce Weir, coordinator for Create, added that Create participates in The River Arts Alliance, 11 arts and humanities organizations serving communities from Elk to Metaline Falls. They meet quarterly by Zoom to share activities and promote each other's programs and education opportunities.
Washington Nonprofits recently helped connect nonprofits there with learning opportunities. Gabriel Cruden of Kettle Falls hosts the One River Nonprofit Network.
For information on the program and how to rsvp, call 447-9277, email create@createarts.org or visit www.createarts.org.
SIDS holds benefit run Oct. 11
The Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance ninth annual Run for the Angels begins at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct 11, at McKuen Park in Coeur d'Alene.
The run provides funds to support families affected by a sudden infant death or lost pregnancy. It also provides safe sleep training, sleep sacks, car seats and safety checks.
For information, call 206-582-6191 or email info@nwsids.org.
