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Arts/crafts

55th Annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show - The show will feature 40 dealers and 60 displays of precious and semi-precious stones, fossils, specimens and jewelry. It will also include demonstrations and children’s activities. Presented by Rock Rollers of Spokane. Today, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $6/adults; $5/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger and Scouts in uniform; free parking and admission is good all weekend. (509) 891-6533.

West Central Community Center Rummage Sale - Items include clothing, accessories, baby gear, furniture, housewares, collectibles, toys, electronics, books, video, tools and sporting goods. Benefits Developmental Disabilities and Youth Development programs at West Central Community Center. Cash and credit cards only. Today, 8 a.m.-noon. West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St. Free admission. (509) 323-7517.

Annual Spring Rummage Sale – Friday, 9 a.m., Newport United Church of Christ, 430 W. Third St., Newport, Wash. Free admission. (509) 447-4121.

Spokane Home and Garden Show – Friday-April 6. The 38th annual event. Learn of services to make your next home improvement project a success. Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and April 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. $8/adults; $6/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger. (509) 534-5380.

GFWC Arts, Crafts and Book Bazaar - April 12, 9 a.m., Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth Ave. Free admission. (509) 434-9680.

Celebrate Spring Craft Fair - April 18-19. Crafts, food, homemade items, plants and more. Bake sale and concessions both days with Spaghetti Feed on Friday from 4-6 p.m. and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday from 8:30-11 a.m. Hours are Friday, 2-7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sinto Senior Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. Free admission; $5/spaghetti feed, $5/pancake breakfast. (509) 327-2861.

Home/garden

Spokane Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale - March 29-30. Eight vendors and hundreds of orchids for sale. There will be raffles and speakers. Come and see prize-winning orchids and displays. Today, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. $2/person; free/age 15 and younger. (509) 953-5356.

Horticulture Workshops - The University of Idaho Extension presents the 2014 Idaho Master Gardener’s annual horticulture workshops, including: Hunting for Wild Mushrooms in Northern Idaho, Monday, 6-8 p.m., $10; Ice Age Floods, April 7, 6-8 p.m., $10; April 14, Plants and Clean Water: Creating Rain Gardens, Native Gardens and Protecting the Aquifer and Surface Water, 6-8 p.m., $10. Registration is recommended; class sizes are limited. University of Idaho Kootenai County Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 446-1680.

“The Life and Death of the Craftsman House” - Peeling stucco, rotting wood, inoperable sash windows? Historic Craftsman or Bungalow houses and their maintenance and preservation issues can be overwhelming for many homeowners. Which areas are most susceptible to decay? What resources are available to homeowners? An informational lecture by Amy Elizabeth Uebel, an architectural conservator, will answer your questions, discuss methods for damage prevention and address suitable preservation treatment options for common issues. Reserve tickets online at www.spokanepreservation.org/gala.asp. Monday, 6:30 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, auditorium, 2316 W. First Ave. $10/door (cash or check only). (509) 344-1065.

Spoils to Soils: Home Composting - Learn how to turn your kitchen and yard waste into a rich soil through backyard composting. This class will cover the basics of home composting. Presenter Kris Major is a Master Composter/Recycler. Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m., Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. Free. (509) 444-5390.

Vegetable Gardening 101 - Backyard Bounty Spring Gardening Series presents a class on designing your garden, soil prep, planting, watering, fertilizing and harvesting. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., (509) 893-8400. Free.

Idaho Native Plant Society - The topic will be upcoming field trips and activities. Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 667-8790.

SCD Tree Sale and Surplus Sale - The featured species this year are the Giant Chinese Silver Grass and the Rocky Mountain Juniper superstock. Both species are great for making screens, prefer full sun, are drought tolerant and are highly adaptable. Visit www.sccd.org to order. For more information on the annual tree and shrub seedling sale, email treesale@sccd.org or call. Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Spokane County Conservation District, 210 N. Havana St. (509) 535-7274.

Beginning Bird Watching Classes - The Friends of Turnbull and Spokane Audubon Society will sponsor beginning bird watching classes for ages 8 to 80. The classes will be Saturday, May 3, June 7 and July 12 and include binocular instruction and practice, field guides, identifying birds at Turnbull and more. Classes are 9-11 a.m., Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Road, Cheney. Registration and payment required with participant information and check to Friends of Turnbull, in care of D. Burt, 3312 E. Donora Court, Spokane, WA 99223. $5/per person; $10/per family. (509) 448-0659.

Beginning Gardening Class Series - Presented by the WSU Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners. Saturday, Growing Easy Flowers. 9 a.m.-noon. Registration is recommended at www.mgfsc.org or www.spokane-county. wsu.edu/Spokane/eastside. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $12/per class. (509) 477-2181.

Grow Your Own Food Class Series - Presented by the WSU Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners. Saturday, Vegetables for the Inland Northwest. 12:30-3 p.m. Registration is recommended at www.mgfsc.org or www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/Spokane/ eastside. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $12/per class. (509) 477-2181.

“Garden Wisdom: Lessons Learned from 60 Years of Gardening” - The speaker for the next meeting of the Inland Empire Gardeners will be Northwest gardening guru, author, TV personality and seed company owner Ed Hume. April 10, 6:30 p.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Free. (509) 535-8434.

Fresh Start Community Garden Work Day - Help spread mulch, add compost to beds, rake leaves, turn the compost piles, and general site cleanup. Bring a lunch, water bottle, gloves, shovels, large trash bags. Some snacks and drinks will be provided. April 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 11202 E. Mission Ave. (509) 927-1153.

Preserve Your Produce - Anna Kestell, a local food safety and preservation information specialist, will teach you how to store up a little taste of summer. She’ll walk you through the basics of canning, freezing and drying, and help you determine which method is the best fit for you. April 15, 6:30 p.m., Airway Heights Library, 1213 S. Lundstrom St., Airway Heights, (509) 893-8250; April 21, 6:30 p.m., Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Road, (509) 893-8260; April 28, 6:30 p.m., South Hill Library, 6004 S. Regal St., (509) 893-8340; May 5, 6:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., (509) 893-8400; May 12, 6:30 p.m., Deer Park Library, 208 S. Forest Ave., Deer Park, (509) 893-8300; May 20, 6:30 p.m., Fairfield Library, 305 E. Main St., Fairfield, (509) 893-8320; May 27, 6:30 p.m., Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards, (509) 893-8390. Free.