In brief: Genealogy study to include the Irish

RIVERSIDE – The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society will hold its spring seminar March 10 at the downtown Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The event will feature the Ulster Historical Foundation and Fintan Mullan and Brian Trainor, of Ulster, Ireland. Their lecture will include information about Irish emigration from Ireland to America and Irish and Scots-Irish family history research.

Cost is $20 for EWGS members or $25 for nonmembers. To register and for more information, visit www.ewgsi.org. Deadline registration is today.

Parade organizers seek volunteers

RIVERSIDE – Volunteers are needed for The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick’s 34th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to be held March 17. The parade will begin at noon in downtown Spokane.

The Friendly Sons will hold weekly meetings at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at O’Doherty’s Irish Grille, 525 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., to discuss parade planning. Volunteers are encouraged to attend the meetings.

Individuals and community groups are welcome to participate in the parade for free. Commercial entries are $100 each. To register and for more information, call (509) 880-2785 or visit www.friendlysonsof stpatrick.com.

Bracelet funds to help nonprofit

RIVERSIDE – Beginning March 8, International Women’s Day, bracelets made of handmade paper beads from Uganda will be on sale at Kizuri, 35 W. Main St., to benefit the work of Women and Children’s Free Restaurant.

The Women and Children’s Free Restaurant purchased the beads and now women who dine at the restaurant, along with supporters have strung the beads into bracelets. Proceeds from the sale of the bracelets will go to continue the work of Women and Children’s Free Restaurant.

Kizuri is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

For more information, call Jenifer Priest at (509) 324-1995 or visit www.wcfrspokane.org.

Professor to give lecture on Africa

SPOKANE COUNTY – Megan Hershey, an assistant professor of political science at Whitworth University who specializes in African studies, will be one of five speakers to be featured in Whitworth’s 55th annual Great Decisions Lecture Series. The second lecture in the series will take place in the Robinson Teaching Theatre in Weyerhaeuser Hall on March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Hershey’s lecture, “Democratic Challenges and Change in Contemporary Africa,” will discuss current events in Africa and their implications for democracy, including an update on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, recent religious violence in Nigeria, and the indictment of four high-profile Kenyans by the International Criminal Court in connection to the 2008 post-election violence in that country.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (509) 777-4937.

To see a full list of events at Whitworth visit www.whitworth.edu.

Curves food drive launches today

SPOKANE – Curves will begin its 14th annual food drive today at all local Curves locations.

Curves clubs will waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of nonperishable food or donate $30 to their local food bank from March 12 through March 25. The event also gives their existing members an opportunity to help those in their area in need. Area Curves clubs may also qualify to win cash prizes for area food banks.

Area Curves locations include: 410 E. Holland Ave.; 1104 W. Wellesley Ave.; 2727 S. Mount Vernon St.; 164 S. Washington St.; 1304 N. Mullan Road; and 1235 N. Liberty Lake Road.

Information: www.curves.com.

Pet shelter seeks funds for clinic

SPOKANE COUNTY – The Spokane Humane Society is asking the community to help them raise an additional $200,000 for the Dorothy Mae Clark clinic.

The clinic broke ground in November and is approximately 60 percent complete. The additional funds will be used to equip the expansion of the 40 year-old animal shelter.

To meet its goal, the Humane Society has announced a number of giving opportunities and challenges to encourage and recognize prior, new and additional community support, including donors of $100 to $1,000 who can acknowledge a beloved pet or person on a new “Follow My Lead” donor wall as well as a memorial “brick walk” leading into the new facility.Information: Dave Richardson, executive director at (509) 467-5235, ext. 13, or visit www.spokanehumane society.org.