MILLWOOD – Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, and Second Harvest Inland Northwest Food Bank will be handing out food in the Millwood Presbyterian parking lot Friday, from noon to 2 p.m.

Free produce and perishable products for families in need of food assistance will be available and no appointment is necessary. Participants must be present to receive their food. Boxes will be needed to carry food.

For more information, call (509) 924-2350.

Number of vehicle prowlings on wane

LIBERTY LAKE – Criminals have declared a holiday in Liberty Lake. The recent string of vehicle prowlings has come to an end, but no one knows if the thief or thieves are just waiting for better weather. There also were no arrests during the week ending Monday and only a handful of traffic tickets.

A snowblower was taken from an open garage and a car that was driven through a red light at Liberty Lake Road and Country Vista caused an accident. During the week police handed out citations for failure to show proof of liability insurance, violation of the 14-hour commercial driving limit, failure to stop at a red light and failure to wear a safety belt.

Holiday Lights display opens Friday

MANITO – Spokane Parks and Recreation, together with the Friends of Manito will host the 2010 Holiday Lights display at Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory, Friday through Dec. 19. The best viewing of the display is after 4 p.m. The Conservatory is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Conservatory is decorated with more than 30,000 lights, along with seasonal poinsettias, mums and other holiday floral displays.

The event is free and open to the public. On Saturday and Sunday, the Friends of Manito will have an open house in the Manito Meeting Room, just east of the Gaiser Conservatory, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Get Lit! gift wrapping fundraiser Saturday

SPOKANE VALLEY/NORTHTOWN – Eastern Washington University’s Get Lit! Program will hold a holiday fundraiser Saturday at Barnes & Noble bookstores in the Spokane Valley and NorthTown malls, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Books purchased at the event can be gift wrapped for free at the store. A percentage of the books purchased will help support the annual literacy festival and on-going outreach education programs.

The fundraiser will also include Gene Engene, an actor from EWU’s adaptation of Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” who will read from the collection at 2 p.m. in the Valley. Also, story time for children will be presented by Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program at 1 p.m.