In brief: Spring cleanup planned April 19

Glenrose spring cleanup is April 19, and neighbors are invited to help spruce up the community and have lunch afterward.

Trash bags will be available in the morning at the Morning Star Boys’ Ranch schoolhouse, at 37th Avenue and Fancher Road. Volunteers are asked to pick up litter along the streets and adjacent properties throughout Glenrose. Deposit full trash bags at 37th and Glenrose; look for the large banner on the Boys’ Ranch property.

Lunch will be served at the Boys’ Ranch from noon to 1 p.m. Cookies and other treats will be provided courtesy of the Glenrose Women’s Club.

Freeman

Open houses give bond details

The Freeman School District is planning a series of open houses in conjunction with a planned $19.5 million capital improvement bond on the May 20 ballot. The measure would pay to renovate and expand the existing elementary and high school buildings and make safety improvements.

District Superintendent Sergio Hernandez will lead tours of the schools from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today, next Thursday and April 24. A tour and car wash will be held April 19 from 2 to 4 p.m., with musical performances by students. The schools are at Highway 27 and Jackson Road.

West Central/Riverside

Project MOVE event at REI

REI of Spokane and Project MOVE will team with Miriam Richards, who will share her challenges of being fully deaf and living with Multiple Sclerosis on Saturday at REI, 1125 N. Monroe St.

Richards teaches American Sign Language at Western Oregon University, travels and has climbed the highest points in all 50 states, and has written a book about her experiences.

The day-long free event includes booths, information on Project MOVE and Climbing Wall “fun.”

For more information, call 328-9900 or e-mail jhess@rei.com.

For more information about Project MOVE call Kerry Whitsitt at 209-2856 or visit www.projectmove.org.

Downtown

Riverside council hosts party

The Riverside Neighborhood Council is hosting an anniversary party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bing Crosby Theater to celebrate its 10 years of work in the downtown area.

Gary Pollard of the neighborhood council said the event will recognize the developments and improvements that have brought new life to the downtown area over that time, including historic renovations and new construction.

“It’s a celebration of how the neighborhood has gone through a renaissance and reawakened in the past decade,” Pollard said.

The event is free and open to the public.

Balboa/S. Indian Trail

VASA Lodge

The Spokane chapter of the Swedish American VASA Lodge No. 145 is celebrating 100 years in the Inland Empire with an anniversary dinner and program April 26 at the Sons of Norway Hall, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd.

The VASA lodge is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest and was organized by Swedish immigrants. Several churches were started because of the need for Swedish-speaking “friends,” including Salem and Grace Lutheran and the Swedish Tabernacle, now First Covenant. The lodge continues to offer Swedish lessons to interested members.

Exhibits of the past 100 years will be on display, plus scrapbooks of their activities. The Lundin Family Violinists will play Scandinavian music.

Reservations are requested by Saturday for the catered dinner. Contact Steve Matthews at 489-2333, e-mail scubasteve701@comcast.net, or at 701 Brady Court, Spokane, WA 99208.

Spokane

Parks and rec offers junior golf

Spokane Parks and Recreation junior golf lessons and tournaments for children ages 8 to 17 will begin in mid-April.

Sessions run through early August. Lessons and tournaments will take place Spokane’s four championship golf courses: Downriver; Indian Canyon; Esmeralda; and Qualchan.

Lesson fee is $70 which includes four one-hour lessons and a playing lesson, rule book, tees and golf balls. Classes are limited to 12 students.

For detailed information and registration visit www.spokanegolf.org/jrgolf/.

Between Friends holds thrift sale

Just Between Friends will hold another consignment sale Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St.

Everything for sale on Sunday will be half-price. The sale is one of the Inland Northwest’s largest children’s and maternity consignment sale.

Admission is $3 on Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday. For more information, call Tyona Albrecht at 536-2840.

Whitworth

Causes of autism focus of lecture

Betty Williams, the Lindaman chairwoman and professor and coordinator of special education at Whitworth, will speak on the topic, “Separating Science from Science Fiction: Research on the Cause of Autism,” Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall on the school’s campus, 300 W. Hawthorne Road.

Williams will discuss the causes of autism, prominent theories about the causes and more.

Williams is the co-author of “Very Young Children with Special Needs” and is the editor of “Directions in Early Intervention and Assessment.”

For more information, call Patti Green at 777-3228.

DOWNTOWN

Dinner supports scholarship fund

The Miss Spokane Scholarship Organization will present at fundraising dinner Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division St.

The evening will include a dinner of baron of beef, au gratin potatoes, broccoli, salad and cheesecake.

There also will be a silent auction, fashion by Finders Keepers, casino games and more.

Tickets are $75 per person or $550 for a table of eight and the funds will contribute to the scholarship fund.

For more information, call Kelley Opperud at 484-4715.

Miss Spokane presents concert

Miss Spokane’s Outstanding Teen will present a benefit concert Friday at the Upper Glen of the Glen Dow Academy, 309 W. Riverside Ave.

The concert will feature performers Bridget Vogel, Shane Evans, the Nightfly and possibly more local bands.

Tickets are $8 and available at the door.

For more information, call Cheri Moore at 466-8593.

CHENEY

StageWest presents ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’

StageWest Community Theatre will present “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” April 18 through May 4 in the Cheney City Hall Auditorium, 609 Second St.

The show, which wraps up the theatre’s 2007-2008 season, is by Dale Wasserman, which was adapted from the novel by Ken Kesey.

Opening night is a dinner theater at 7 p.m. There are also dinner shows April 25 and 26, both at 7 p.m.

The dinner menu includes lasagna, garlic bread, steamed vegetables, beverages and desserts. Tickets for the dinner theatre are $20 each.

There will be shows without dinner April 19 at 2 p.m., April 20 at 3 p.m., April 27 at 3 p.m., May 3 at 7:30 p.m. and May 4 at 3 p.m. Tickets to shows without dinner are $10 each.

Tickets are available in Cheney at Bicycle Time, Owl Pharmacy and Copy Junction. In Medical Lake, tickets are available at Owl Pharmacy. For will-call tickets or more information, call 235-4575.

Peaceful Valley

Public hearing on proposed house

A proposal to build a new residence within 100 feet of the Spokane River is set to go before the hearing examiner next Thursday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

The city hearing examiner will take public testimony on an application for the residence by Keith and Jamie Slater at 2028 W. Clarke Ave. in Peaceful Valley.