calendar

Today

Encounters with Wildlife - Presented by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department; 1-5 p.m., Centerplace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Free. (509) 625-6200.

Great Train Expo - Huge operating model railroads, over 200 tables of trains for sale, kids can operate and ride trains. Runs through Sunday; 7-4 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $7/general, free/age 12 and younger.

Grow Your Own Food class series - Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. May 2: Raised Bed Gardening. Learn the best varieties for our region, how to plant at the right time as well as helpful water conservation tips and how to use less pesticides and fertilizers. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $10/class or $35/series. (509) 477-2048.

Outdoor Learning Center open house - The West Valley Outdoor Learning Center celebrates International Migratory Bird Day. See live raptors, learn bird-watching techniques and build your own bird feeder or birdhouse; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, 8706 E. Upriver Drive. Free. (509) 340-1028.

Special Olympics Spring Games - 12th annual East Region event with more than 600 athletes from Washington, competing in track and field, swimming, cycling, weight lifting and soccer at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. They are qualifying for the summer games at Fort Lewis, Wash. (509) 252-5033.

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum - “Apollo 11, One Small Step.” The historic walk on the moon by Neil Armstrong was 40 years ago. Come see artifacts, photos and get to know the moon. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Runs through Oct. 30. 12114 E. Sprague Ave. $5/adults, $4/seniors, $3/age 18 and younger. (509) 922-4570.

Sunday

All ages dance - Music by the Country Jammers. Refreshments will be served. Admission is by donation; 1-4 p.m., Tri-Community Grange, one block north of Trent on Starr Road. (509) 926-3803.

Great Train Expo - Huge operating model railroads, over 200 tables of trains for sale, kids can operate and ride trains; 7-4 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $7/general, free/age 12 and younger.

Monday

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - TOPS members meet every Monday; 9-11 a.m., Broadway Court Estates, 13505 E. Broadway. 922-3874.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Valley Point - The group meets every Monday; 6-8 p.m., Valley Point Learning Center, 714 S. Pines. (509) 216-3752.

Tuesday

Alzheimer’s Support Group - The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month; 1 p.m., Good Samaritan Village, 17121 E. Eighth. (509) 924-6161.

Pickleball - Play Pickleball every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 1-3 p.m., Valley HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo. $1 per day. (509) 570-2875.

Spokane Valley City Council study session - Tentative agenda items include a presentation on sewer rates and a discussion on the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan; 6 p.m., Spokane Valley City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague. (509) 921-1000.

Wednesday

E-mail Basics - Learn how to use email and set up a free web-based email account; 2 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Pickleball - Play Pickleball every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 1-3 p.m., Valley HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo. $1 per day. (509) 570-2875.

Public Works open house - The city of Spokane Valley hosts an open house with information on Sprague Avenue improvement projects being done this summer. There will be information on detours and closures; 4-7 p.m., Spokane Valley City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague. (509) 688-0247.

Senior volleyball - Games are every Wednesday; 1-3 p.m., Valley HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo. $1 per day. (509) 255-9509.

Valleyfest kick off - Sponsors, vendors, volunteers and community members are invited to kick off the 20th year of Valleyfest. Reservations are requested; 4:30-6:30 p.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. (509) 922-3299.

Thursday

Democratic Women’s Club - The Greater Spokane Democratic Women’s Club meets the first Thursday of each month; 11:30 a.m., Cafe Americana, University City Mall. (509) 928-9286.

Pickleball - Play Pickleball every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 1-3 p.m., Valley HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo. $1 per day. (509) 570-2875.

Poetry Slam – Read a favorite poem. Open to all ages; 6-7:30 p.m., Liberty Lake Library, 23123 E. Mission. (509) 232-2510.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - The group meets every Thursday; 6-8 p.m., Orchards Crest Retirement, fourth floor theater room, 222 S. Evergreen. (509) 922-8820.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Eagles - The group meets every Thursday; 9:30 a.m., Eagles, 16801 E. Sprague. (509) 928-5460.

Friday

Hearth Homes Auction and Dinner - Dinner is free. Reservations requested. Benefits the housing of homeless women and children; 6:30-8:30 p.m., Victory Faith Fellowship, 2024 N. Argonne Road. (509) 926-6492.

South Pines school carnival - Enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, jump house, cake walk, bingo, food and more. Game tickets are 25 cents each or a wrist band is $10; 6-8:30 p.m., South Pines Elementary, 12021 E. 24th. (509) 228-4400.

Spring Barrel Tasting - Spokane - Local wineries will host wine tastings and serve refreshments. Maps are available at each location. Wineries include Arbor Crest, Barrister, Caterina, Grande Ronde, Knipprath, Latah Creek, Liberty Lake Cellars, Lone Canary, Mountain Dome, Nodland Cellars, Robert Karl Cellars, Townshend Cellar, Vintage Hill and Whitestone. Runs through May 10. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

YMCA Green Way Plant Sale - Featuring annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. Fridays-Saturdays, May 8-23, while they last. All proceeds benefit the Green Way Program for kids of all ages and abilities. YMCA Greenhouse, 2421 N. Discovery Place. (509) 777-9622.

Next Saturday

Author Bernadette Peters - Tony Award winning actress and singer will be read from and sign copies of her children’s book “Broadway Barks”; 2 p.m., Barnes and Noble, 15310 E. Indiana Ave. (509) 922-4104.

Liberty Belle Flights - The most recently restored World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress will take to the skies for the first visit over Spokane on May 4. Public flights available May 9 and 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Runs through May 10. Felts Field Airport. $430/person. (918) 340-0243.

Spring Barrel Tasting - Spokane - Local wineries will host wine tastings and serve refreshments. Maps are available at each location. Wineries include Arbor Crest, Barrister, Caterina, Grande Ronde, Knipprath, Latah Creek, Liberty Lake Cellars, Lone Canary, Mountain Dome, Nodland Cellars, Robert Karl Cellars, Townshend Cellar, Vintage Hill and Whitestone. Runs through May 10. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

YMCA Green Way Plant Sale - Featuring annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. Fridays-Saturdays, May 8-23, while they last. All proceeds benefit the Green Way Program for kids of all ages and abilities. YMCA Greenhouse, 2421 N. Discovery Place. (509) 777-9622.