In brief: Businesses plan yule celebration

The Historic Hillyard Business District will present its annual Hillyard Holiday Festival Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 8 and 9 at businesses throughout Hillyard, on Market Street from Wellesley to Francis.

The shops along Market Street will be decorated for the holidays, and there will be a Hillyard North Pole at 5025 N. Market St., offering handcrafted gifts, activities for the kids and pictures with Santa Claus. Pictures with Claus will be $5. Kids and pets are welcome.

For more information, visit www.historic-hillyard. com/HolidayFest.

– Lisa Leinberger

Cheney

Turnbull plans Winter Festival

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge’s annual Winter Festival is Dec. 8, featuring the WSU raptor program, a track-making activity for children and music from local musicians.

Coffee and cookies and chili and cornbread will be provided. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Donations will benefit the environmental education programs on the refuge. Call 235-2760 or 928-4673 for more information.

Because of a detour at the railroad crossing on Cheney-Plaza Road, visitors should take Cheney-Spangle Road across the tracks, take the first right (on Alki Road), continue to Cheney-Plaza Road, then drive five miles south on Cheney-Plaza Road to the refuge entrance.

– From staff reports

Spokane

Utility bills target of scam

The city of Spokane is warning residents to be aware of a possible scam to collect money on overdue utility bills at customers homes based on a recent complaint from a customer.

While utility employees may collect money to prevent customers from having their water shut off, they will be easily identifiable, said Marlene Feist, public affairs officer. Utility employees will be driving marked city vehicles, wear identifiable job clothing, carry a city identification card and will provide a numbered city receipt in exchange for payment.

Anyone with a concern or questions or anyone who wants to verify an employee’s status should contact the city utility billing office at 625-6000.

North Hill

Tinman offers craft workshop

The Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave., is offering a Christmas craft workshop with local artists on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Artists Sondra Barrington and Kurt Madison will assist in creating unique bracelets, precious metal clay beads and polymer clay gift tags. Fees range from $5 for clay gift tags to $40 for all crafts. Each project takes an hour.

– Mike Prager