In brief: Chamber talk topic is marijuana

SPOKANE VALLEY – The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is presenting the program, “Marijuana: Budding Business or Bad Idea?” featuring U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby at 7 a.m. Friday.

Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. and the program is held at Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road.

Tickets are $25 for chamber members, $35 for nonmembers. Register by calling (509) 924-4994.

Free Restaurant looking for help

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE – The Women and Children’s Free Restaurant is looking for volunteers to fill many different positions including prep cooks, servers, dishwashers and laundry duty.

All positions require a weekly or biweekly commitment.

The restaurant, which serves dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and lunch on Fridays, is located at 1620 N. Monroe St.

Applications may be filled out at www.wcfrspokane.org. Call (509) 324-1995 for information.

Long-term Care needs volunteers

SPOKANE COUNTY – The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is looking for volunteers who can advocate for residents of assisted living centers, nursing homes and adult family homes.

Volunteers help protect people who don’t have friends or family members to fulfill that role, according to a news release from SNAP, which administers the program.

They alert authorities to concerns such as inadequate care, abuse, insufficient nutrition and financial fraud. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program operates in Spokane, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Stevens and Whitman counties.

Volunteers usually donate four hours a week to visit sites near their homes; SNAP provides a stipend for gas costs.

To volunteer, call director Linda Petrie at (509) 456-7133 or (800) 660-7133 or visit www.snapwa.org. The next four-day training session begins Sept. 10.

Friends of Manito to discuss plants

SOUTH HILL – The Friends of Manito will host a casual discussion about plants on the market Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Manito Meeting Room, 4 W. 21st Ave.

Among the featured plants are blueberry, coneflowers and hydrangea, which will all be available at the Friends of Manito fall plant sale on Sept. 7. Register by calling: (509) 456-8038.

Buchanan Building having open house

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE – The Buchanan Building, 28 W. Third Ave., is celebrating its recent renovation with an open house featuring drinks, snacks and tours on Aug. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Fourteen local businesses will call the 1909 building home.

Methodist church plans free concert

MORAN PRAIRIE – Moran United Methodist Church is holding a free concert on Aug. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The concert features The Turner Sisters, Sweet Grass and Daze Out, which will play bluegrass, gospel, swing and favorites from the 1930s and 1950s.

The church is at 3601 E. 65th Ave. and the concert will be held outside. Bring picnic chairs and blankets.

A pie social follows the concert.

Call: (509) 448-7102.

Free dump passes available

NORTHWEST SPOKANE – The Northwest Neighborhood Association is distributing 65 free dump passes on a first-come, first-served basis on Aug. 24 beginning at 9 a.m. at COPS Northwest, 2215 W. Wellesley Ave., Suite D.

The passes are valid for two weeks.

Recipients must bring a driver’s license or utility bill to verify residence in the Northwest Neighborhood, which covers the area west of Ash Street to the Spokane River, between Indiana Avenue on the south and Francis Avenue on the north to Fairview Avenue. Westgate and Northwest Terrace are included.

Call: (509) 326-6422.

Children’s theater holding auditions

SPOKANE VALLEY – Theater Arts for Children is holding auditions for its production of “Asylum” by Dennis Bush.

The play is about eight people who meet in an asylum. Parts are available for 13- to 17-year-olds, and 18-year-olds still in high school.

Please prepare a one-minute contemporary monologue for auditions on Sunday and Monday at 6:30 p.m. First-come, first-auditioned at the theater’s studio located at 2114 N. Pines Road, Suite 3.

Call: (509) 995-6718.

Carrington College offering tours

SPOKANE VALLEY – Carrington College is hosting an open house Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The campus is at 10102 E. Knox Ave., Suite 200.

Current and prospective students will be able to learn about programs at the school, meet faculty members and attend interactive classroom tours, as well as learn about financing options.

For more information about Carrington College, visit carrington.edu/ carrington-college/.