Time for Spokane kindergarteners to register for fall class

The new school year seems so far away when we’re still slogging through the occasional snowfall, but it’s already time to preregister kindergarteners and new first-grade students in Spokane Public Schools. Parents may go to their neighborhood elementary school between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. until Friday.

A birth certificate or other verification of age is required. Kindergarteners must be 5 on or before Aug. 31 and those entering first grade must be 6. A Washington State Certificate of Immunization is also required and parents must have the month, day and year of each inoculation. Call the district at (509) 354-5900 for more information.

Dance the day away

Ballet Spokane will present a taste of their upcoming production of “Tales of Beatrix Potter” during a special performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. All ages are welcome and admission is free. Call the store at (509) 838-0206 for more information.

Volunteer opportunity

Volunteers are needed to staff local Yoke’s grocery stores for a food drive Friday to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. Stores need to be staffed from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call (509) 252-6242 to schedule a shift.

There is also an ongoing volunteer opportunity at Second Harvest on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Volunteers help sort food and pack boxes from 5 to 8 p.m. Call the number listed above for more information.

Baby clothing and equipment sale

Keeping a growing baby clothed is sometimes a losing – and expensive – battle. The Mothers of Multiples group is having a sale of used children’s clothing, shoes, maternity clothes, toys and baby equipment. The sale will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17 at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St. Call (509) 325-4928 for more information.

Family tree

The Spokane Public Library now offers free access to the HeritageQuest Web site, a genealogy resource chock full of family history information.

Families can search Federal census records, tax records, city directories, Revolutionary War pension lists and other sources of information to find all about their ancestors. You can either go to a library branch to use library computers to access the site or access it remotely through the library’s Web site ( www.spokanelibrary.org.) Your library card is required to access Heritage Quest through either method. Call (509) 444-5300 for more information.

Preschool open house

Parents who want to be involved in the education of their children are invited to an open house for the preschool program run by the Southside Parent Cooperative. The open house is set for noon March 13 in the lower level of Manito United Methodist Church, 3220 S. Grand Blvd. Open registration for infant, toddler and preschool programs will be at noon March 16. Call (509) 624-2709 for more information.

Reading frenzy

The Colfax Library will receive 70 new children’s books thanks to a Libri Foundation Books for Children grant. The foundation has donated money to rural libraries to buy new hardback books since 1989. As a condition of the grant, the Friends of the Whitman County Library must raise $350. To make a donation, contact Sheri Miller at (509) 397-4366.