In brief: Stolen inchworm remains missing

SPOKANE VALLEY – The yellow oversized inchworm stolen from Discovery Playground two months ago is still on the lam. The 5-foot-long worm was ripped from the ground and the Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department was hoping it would turn up by now.

Last year several oversized fiberglass eggs were stolen, but they were recovered when an alert resident spotted them alongside the road. That hasn’t happened in this case, so the city is renewing its call for people to keep an eye out for the inchworm. Anyone with information on the location of the creature is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Grand opening for arboretum today

LIBERTY LAKE – The city of Liberty Lake will present a grand opening of Nature’s Place at Meadowwood, the city’s new arboretum today at 11 a.m.

The land was donated by the Meadowwood Homeowners Association (formerly the Cottages).

The arboretum is at 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Firefighters hoping to Fill the Boot

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Spokane Valley Fire Department is among those participating in the Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to benefit Muscular Dystrophy on Saturday. Firefighters will be at several intersections, including at Sprague Avenue and Pines Road, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. collecting donations.

The national Fill the Boot campaign has been running for 57 years. Last year, Spokane-area firefighters raised $78,670.

First MOPS meeting to be held Sept. 27

SPOKANE VALLEY – Mothers of Preschoolers, or MOPS, will hold the first meeting for the 2011-’12 school year on Sept. 27 at the Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene, 15515 E. 20th Ave., at 9 a.m.

Moms, who are pregnant and have kids through kindergarten, are welcome to attend. Child care is provided for newborns through preschoolers.

Cost for registration is $23.95.

For more information call (509) 926-1545.

City staff to have booths at Valleyfest

SPOKANE VALLEY – The city of Spokane Valley will have information booths at Valleyfest on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Mirabeau Park.

 Staff members will be available to answer questions, take suggestions and provide information about city government.  There will be fun and free activities for the kids, too.

 For more information, contact Carolbelle Branch at cbranch@spokanevalley.org or call (509) 720-5411.