Starbucks comes out against guns, and a friend returns

Hooray for Starbucks! On Thursday, according to an Associated Press story, the Seattle-based company announced plans to run full-page ads in major newspapers telling customers guns are no longer welcome in its cafes.

However, the company did show signs of weakening their stand when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz later said, "he hopes people will honor the request not to bring guns into Starbucks (but) the cafes will nevertheless serve those who do."

The INKster has always been a big fan of Starbucks coffee but knows she would enjoy the drinks more if she didn't have to sit next to some big burly cowboy-type toting a gun.

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The 12th Annual Pink Tea sponsored by Gritman Medical Center has been set for Oct. 15 at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow. All the proceeds go to the Bosom Buddies Fund, providing free screening mammograms to women in Latah County who might otherwise not be able to afford the screening.

With the help of two generous local businesses, Gritman is holding a raffle to help raise additional funds for Bosom Buddies. Johnson's Jewelry is giving away a gorgeous and unique pink sapphire pendant. Also, a full-size community-made "Quilt for the Cure" donated by Stitches and Petals - in collaboration with Tami Drader of Angelic Creations of Colfax, Grace Conen, Marilyn Eichner, Jan Jacobs, Nancy Larson-Powers, Sharon Bunce, Janice Doyle, Anne Anderson and Karen Scharnhorst - will be available. Palouse Patchers contributed funds to help with the cost of the quilt.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. You need not be present to win. Tickets are available at Johnson's Jewelry, 866 Troy Road, Suite 121, Moscow; Stitches and Petals, 872 Troy Road, Suite 120, Moscow; Bertie's Gift Shop at 700 S. Main St., Moscow, or at the Gritman Foundation office, 700 S. Main St., Moscow. They will also be sold at the event. For more information or to register, call Jill Garnett at (208) 883-6018.

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The INKster was pleased to hear from an old friend of a decade or so ago - Bill Shephard - who was on the Washington State University theater faculty from 1986 to 2001. The INKster was then arts editor for the Daily News at the time when Bill was writing and directing a number of plays, including a few she remembers, such as "Dreamers," "The Holy Harlot of Alexandria" and "Missing Faces."

The INKster lost track of Bill when he left Pullman, but he told her that for the past 12 years, he had been a professor of theater at California State University, Monterey Bay.

"I've continued to write and produce plays, but my wife, Sandy, and I decided to retire this past summer and come back to the Palouse," he wrote. "We are currently living in Pullman but would like to eventually move to Moscow."

In his email of a couple of weeks ago, he said when he returned from a Fulbright trip to India in 1998-99, he changed his first name to Will.

As part of his transition into retirement, Will said he has thought about becoming involved in the local arts scene, particularly in Moscow. Not knowing the current arts community after his many years of absence, he is interested in finding groups that might be involved in dramatic writing, a topic that encompasses many genres, including play writing, screen writing, poetry, monologues and such.

"In Monterey, I organized a group titled 'Writers on Stage,' who gave dramatic readings at a local restaurant/bistro that were very well received," Will continued.

The INKster hopes some group in Moscow snaps Will up quickly and makes use of his many talents. He can be reached at wilhunsh@yahoo.com.

... the blotter rests.

Vera White pens INK. To contribute to INK, email vnwhite@cableone.net