Meet & Eat with Andrew Chanse (Nov 7)

Meet & Eat with Andrew Chanse (Nov 7)

Chief Garry Park Neighborhood Council is hosting a Meet & Eat with new Spokane Library Director Andrew Chanse on Thursday, November 7. It will take place at Cassano’s Italian Grocery (2002 E Mission Ave) [map] from 5-6:30pm.

Meet & Eat, Andrew Chanse

Meet & Eats are hosted by individual neighborhood councils and provide an opportunity for people from all over Spokane to engage with community leaders on an informal basis. They not meant to be stage-managed PR events, but rather down-to-earth forums where you can get to know the guest speaker as well as offer feedback and pose pressing questions.

In Andrew Chanse’s case, concerned citizens and library supporters want to know how he plans to help sustain the libraries on a long-term basis since the recent levy, which starts in January 2014, will expire at the end of 2017. Chanse was brought to Spokane from Arizona in July of this year largely because it was thought he was ideally suited to address this issue.

Photos from the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market 2013 Season Finale

Photos from the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market 2013 Season Finale

The Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market held the last market of its inaugural season on October 18, 2013. Check out the photos (snapped by Megan Kennedy) below.

Familiar and first-time shoppers flocked to the market to stock up on items from their favorite vendors, enjoy some fresh-pressed apple cider from our hand-cranked cider press, and take part in the free prize drawing. The more prizes we gave away, the more vendors donated right on the spot! In the end, lucky winners went home with:

The most frequently asked question throughout the event was: “When will the market start next year?” We don’t have a specific answer to that yet, but you can count on sometime around early June. Keep an eye on our blog, our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to be alerted of specific dates.

Thanks again to all our sponsors, volunteers, vendors, musicians, and patrons for a fantastic first season!

Dave mans the Sweet Things booth with late harvest veggies.
A musical duo
Apple samples on offer at Pacific Produce
Karen Kinney of the Washington State Farmers Market Association
The cider press in action.
A wider view of the season finale of the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market on October 18, 2013
Eager to try the first pressing of fresh apple cider.
Fresh-pressed apple cider being poured for storage.
Socializing by the firepit
Slingshots by Riley
The younger shoppers model their new knit hats.
Barb from the Bistro Box shows why they’re called OMG sliders
The cider press — so simple even a child could use it!
Social Hour
Checking out Rebecca’s hand-knitted “pumpkin” hats.
Vendors and shoppers
Rebecca’s hand-knitted hats are a hit.
Rachel from Orange Thyme with her colorful handmade soaps
Mary Beauregard and her partner show off their needlepoint
Even the Domino’s deliverymen get a hankering after fresh apples
A view of honey and preserves from Petunia’s Marketplace.
Apple shopping
The guys from Old Harbor Sustainable Seafood chop wood for the firepit
ENUFF Crime Awareness Event, Oct 22

ENUFF Crime Awareness Event, Oct 22

Spokane COPS will be hosting an Every Neighborhood United for Families (ENUFF) crime awareness/prevention forum on Tuesday, October 22 at New Hope Christian Reform Church (3310 W Francis) [map] from 6-8pm.

This free event will address theft, vandalism and clutter in neighborhoods across Spokane and help connect individuals and organizations who are striving to increase safety in their community.

ENUFF 10/22/2013

Experts will be on hand to talk about Block Watch, current crime trends and neighbor-to-neighbor connectedness. You’ll also hear how you can play a role in realizing the Spokane Police Department Strategic Plan 2013 (PDF link).

Guest speakers and panelists include leaders in the Spokane Police Department, Spokane Police NCO Doug Strosahl, COPS director Christy Hamilton, Neighborhood Services Director Heather Trautman, Block Watch representative Sue Hille and many more.

For more info, call (509) 835-4572.

Meet Your Neighbors: CrossFit Dūrātus

Meet Your Neighbors: CrossFit Dūrātus

After a year of planning, six months of preparation, and a month of work in the space, CrossFit Dūrātus (1303 N Washington) [map] opened its doors in August in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood.

Crossfit Dūrātus 5

Already enjoying a loyal following of dedicated athletes and fitness enthusiasts, CrossFit Dūrātus is an inspiring and growing local business, founded by Kevin Longmeier.

“What I love most about CrossFit is that it is more than just fitness. It’s a community,” says Kevin.

And fortunately for Emerson-Garfield, Kevin cares a lot about community, including the neighborhood in which his business resides. CrossFit Dūrātus joins Landie Chappell (of PrimeLending) and Washington Grown in becoming the latest sponsor of our Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market, and Kevin even generously donated the grand prize for tonight’s end-of-season drawing… a free one-month membership to CrossFit Dūrātus.

Crossfit Dūrātus 6

Even if you aren’t the lucky winner of free membership to CrossFit Dūrātus, you should certainly check out their classes or personal training options. There is something about the environment and culture Kevin has created there. It only takes a moment to see it is a community of hard workers challenging each other to reach for their best. We’re glad to have them in the neighborhood!

Neighborhood Training: 501(c)3 Status, Oct 21

Neighborhood Training: 501(c)3 Status, Oct 21

In conjunction with the Building Stronger Neighborhoods committee, Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council is hosting a Neighborhood “Hot Topic” Training session on Nonprofit Formation on Monday, October 21. It will take place at the Corbin Senior Center (827 W Cleveland) [map] and run from 6 to 7:30pm.

This session will be of interest to neighborhood councils — including our own — who are currently pursuing or thinking about pursuing nonprofit status. Participants will hear some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of 501(c)3 status from two tax and business lawyers skilled in nonprofit formation.

BSN 501c3 training

Due to the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council’s historic debates over nonprofit status and the feeling that an unbiased expert opinion was necessary to make an informed decision, we specifically requested that the Corbin Senior Center serve as the site of this training session. Anyone who has or has had a stake in the EGNC becoming a nonprofit (or avoiding such a move) is therefore encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP to Jackie Caro at (509) 625-6733 or jcaro@spokanecity.org.