In brief: Rosauers bagger to compete in state contest

SPOKANE – Erik Behrens, a courtesy clerk at Rosauers Supermarket, 1724 W. Francis Ave., will compete in the Washington Food Industry Association’s Best Bagger State Championship on Oct. 25 at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Behrens has bagged at Rosauers for seven years.

The contest is an annual event, with employees representing grocery stores from across the state competing. The statewide winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to participate in the National Best Bagger competition in Las Vegas in 2013 along with a $1,500 cash prize.

Contestants are judged on speed, technique, weight distribution, attitude and appearance.

Fall Leaf Festival will teach composting

WEST HILLS – The Spokane Master Composters/Recyclers will hold a Compost Fair on Oct. 27 at Finch Arboretum, 3404 W. Woodland Blvd.

The fair is part of the Fall Leaf Festival, and runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendees will learn how to turn garden debris, food scraps and leaves into compost.

Additional fair booths will provide information on other materials that can be composted, types of bins to use and how to build and turn a pile.

The fair is free; Spokane County attendees, with identification verifying residence, can receive a free plastic compost bin after completing the learning stations.

Bins are limited to one per household and are provided by the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System and grant funds from the Washington Department of Ecology.

The master composters/recyclers are volunteers sponsored by the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System.

For more information call the recycling hotline at (509) 625-6800.

For information about recycling and disposal services to Spokane County residents visit www.solidwaste.org.