In brief: Democrats meeting at Shadle library

NORTHWEST – The 6th Legislative District Democratic meeting will be held at the Shadle Park Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave., on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Registration will be at 5:30.

The topic of the meeting will be “Instant Runoff Voting,” and guest speakers include Morton Alexander and Jason Mager. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Wine lecture series features opera

RIVERSIDE – As part of its Wine and Music lecture series, the Holy Names Music Center will hold “Puccini as Placebo” next Thursday at Whitestone Winery, 111 S. Cedar St., at 7 p.m.

Nancy Klingman, director of music at Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, will speak on some high points from the world of opera.

Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets and for more information call Suzanne Bjork at (509) 326-9516 or e-mail suzanne@hnmc.org.

Model train club to hold open house

GREENACRES – Evergreen Railroad Modelers Club, 18213 E. Appleway Ave., will hold an open house Saturday at 6 p.m. for a model train weekend.

Visitors will have an opportunity to see a model train layout that includes elaborate scenery, two complete main lines and one large branch line, along with a large city, a small village, industries, bridges, tunnels and sounds.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call Jerry at (509) 939-5845.

Crisis nursery seeks diaper donations

SPOKANE – The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is in need of diapers, size 4 and 5, along with Similac Sensitive and Similac Advance formulas to distribute to area low-income families.

The Crisis Nursery offers this service to families whose financial resources fail to cover their basic needs and expenses. By helping these families in need, the nursery is making sure that children do not go without formula, a clean diaper and other basic necessities.

To help and for more information, call (509) 535-3155 or visit www.vanessabehan.org.

Home efficiency event Wednesday

COMSTOCK – The SustainableWorks South Hill Energy Efficiency Kickoff will be on Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sacajawea Middle School, giving South Hill residents the opportunity to learn about the local nonprofit’s reduced-cost energy audits and home retrofits, as a result of a partnership with the Washington State University Extension, Avista Utilities, the city of Spokane Environmental Programs and the Spokane Alliance.

The purpose of the stimulus-funded program is to help homeowners, renters and eligible small businesses make home improvements that reduce their energy use and energy bills. Participants can save on items like furnaces, water heaters, insulation and air sealing.

For more information call (509) 532-1688 or visit www.sustainable works.com.

Stores to distribute secondhand suits

SPOKANE – From Feb. 24 to Feb. 27, Dressbarn stores will participate in the ninth annual “Send One Suit Weekend” to help women who may not be able to afford it to have the proper outfit to wear for a job interview.

During the promotional weekend, members of the community may drop off gently used suits, pants, shirts, skirts and shoes at local Dressbarn stores.

The donations will be distributed among local nonprofit organizations to help women go into job interviews with confidence.

For more information, visit www.dressbarn.com/ our-causes.

Volunteer tree pruners sought

EAST CENTRAL – The Volunteers in Pruning program is currently seeking volunteers to help improve the future of young trees in public places.

Community members ages 16 and older, interested in joining the group may attend a training session on Feb. 19 at the Spokane County Conservation District Office, 210 N. Havana St., from 9 a.m. to noon.

The training is free in exchange for offering volunteer hours pruning trees. Space is limited and registration is required.

The project is sponsored by Community Canopy, a tree care education program for the cities of Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden, and the Spokane County Conservation District.

To register and for more information, call (509) 363-5495 or visit www.spokaneurban forestry.org.

Bluegrass band performs Saturday

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association will have a music showcase featuring Prairie Flyer on at Trent Elementary School, 3303 N. Pines Road, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for adults, and children 12 and under will be admitted are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

For more information call Charlie Matthews at (509) 891-8558 or visit www.spokanebluegrass.org.