BRIEFS

SHOP FOR A CAUSE

DAYTON -- The Blue Mountain Heritage So- ciety (BMHS) is participating in Macy's "Shop for a Cause," which will benefit the Smith Hollow School project. Simply buy a $5 shopping pass and save 25 percent on regular, sale and clearance items, including home - even save on most brands usually excluded. Save an extra 10 percent on electrics/elec- tronics, watches, furniture, mattresses, and rugs/floor coverings (some restrictions apply). These exclusive discounts apply at any Macy's! This sale is one day only: Saturday, Aug. 25. If you would like to pur- chase any of these passes, please stop into the Dayton Chamber of Commerce before now and August 25. The entire $5 goes towards BMHS. You are also eli- gible to win a $500 gift card.

NEW SUPPORT GROUP

WALLA WALLA -- A new grief support group sponsored by Walla Walla Community Hospice will begin in September. The group will begin Sept. 5 and will continue weekly through Nov. 7. The group will meet from 6 - 7:30 p.m. The WWCH bereavement team will facilitate the group. The book "Under- standing Your Grief" by Dr. Allan Wolfelt is used as a guideline. There is no charge, but participants are encouraged to register by calling the WWCH office at 525-5561 or by email to info@wwhospice.org before Aug. 31. Walla Walla Community Hospice is a non-profit organization committed to providing quality hospice care to adults and children facing a limited life expectancy. Hospice care also addresses the needs of the patients' family members, includ- ing grief and bereavement counseling for up to 12 months following the death of a patient. Grief sup- port groups are offered to anyone living in Walla Walla, Columbia or northeast Umatilla Counties, not just the family members of hospice patients.

CHORAL CONCERTS COMING UP

WALLA WALLA -- The Walla Walla Choral Society is announcing the formation of a new, select Chamber Choir to perform with the Choral Society throughout its upcoming concert season. The Walla Walla Choral Society Chamber Choir will perform at each of this season's Choral Society concerts start- ing with "A Trip Through Tin Pan Alley" in October, followed by "On This Shining Night" in December with guest conductor Paul Dennis. A special spring concert, "A Gwyneth Walker Portrait," follows in March of 2013, and the season is capped off as the Choral Society joins the Walla Walla Symphony for Verdi's "Requiem" in May. Auditions will be held Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. in the choir room of the Melvin K West Fine Arts Building at Walla Walla University. Singers interested in audi- tioning can contact Artistic Director and Conductor, Christine Janis at 509-525-8586 for more information and to schedule an audition time.

LODGING TAX GROUP OPENINGS

WALLA WALLA -- Walla Walla County is seek- ing applicants to fill at least two vacant positions on the County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Members of the committee make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding disposition of the tax revenue collected for tourism promotion, in compliance with state statute and advisory guidelines. Members serve without com- pensation. Meetings of the committee are held on an "as-needed" basis. Applications can be obtained from the county website (www.co.walla-walla. wa.us), Walla Walla County Commissioners' Office, County Public Health and Legislative Building, 314 West Main/P.O. Box 1506, Walla Walla, or by call- ing the Commissioners' Office at (509) 524-2505. Interested persons are encouraged to call or email (wwcocommissioners@co.walla-walla.wa.us) with questions. Applications must be returned to the County Commissioners' office no later than Sept. 10.

DUTCH OVEN COOKING CONTEST

WALLA WALLA - The Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days is pleased to announce the return of the very popular Dutch Oven Cooking Contest and Demonstrations for the 2012 fair. In 2011, the fair introduced fairgoers to Dutch oven cooking as a trial, and due to its success and popularity, it is back again. All events will take place at the south end of the grandstands.

Friday's demonstration times will be 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30. Sunday's times are 1, 3, and 5 p.m. Satur- day is the biggest day, the day of the official Dutch Oven Cook-off, which has been sanctioned as an IDOS (International Dutch Oven Society) qualifying event. Only 50 tickets are available, and last year they sold out almost immediately.

Judges will be able taste all the contestants' food and pick their favorite bread, main dish, and dessert.

For more information please contact the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds at 509-527-3247, email wwdo@pocketinet.com or "like" us on Facebook, Frontier Days Dutch Oven Cook-Off.