In brief: Free lectures on Japanese culture

NORTHWEST SPOKANE – Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute will host free lectures on Japanese culture, art and society next week.

Lecture topics include manga and anime, traditional food, gender differences and sake.

The lectures will be 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Kusaka Memorial Library, 4125 W. Randolph Road.

For more information, call (509) 328-2971 or visit http://ilovemfwi.com/ extension/discover.

Valley city offices closed for holiday

SPOKANE VALLEY – The city of Spokane Valley will close its business offices on Thanksgiving and Friday. The Spokane Valley Transfer Station also will be closed on Thanksgiving, but open at regular hours Friday. Call: (509) 921-1000.

Gaiser to open yule lights Dec. 12

MANITO – The annual holiday lights display at the Manito Park Gaiser Conservatory will run Dec. 12 through Dec. 21.

The display hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The best viewing is after 4 p.m.

Thousands of holiday lights along with poinsettias, chrysanthemums, Christmas cacti and other seasonal plants will be lit by the warm glow of colored lights.

The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Manito are hosting the free family-oriented event.

Open houses are being put on by the Friends organization on Dec. 13 and 14 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the park meeting room east of the Conservatory driveway.

Help needed to sew blankets

SPOKANE – Let’s Get Sewing! is seeking volunteers to make blankets for the homeless Saturday.

The volunteer event will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the shop, 2801 N. Monroe St., Suite 2.

The shop has donated fleece scraps to sew together, and will accept additional donations. The shop also has sewing machines to use, or volunteers can bring their own.

Blankets will be donated to the group Blessings Under the Bridge. There also will be a potluck lunch and prize drawings.

For more information, call (509) 217-7049 or visit http://letsgetsewing spokane.com.

Snow plowing details available

SPOKANE VALLEY – Snow-removal and deicing information for the Valley is available at www. spokanevalley.org/snow. The snow-plowing priorities map also is available at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. or you can call in for recorded snow-plowing information at (509) 720-5311.

EWU choir, jazz concerts planned

DOWNTOWN – Central Lutheran Church, 512 S. Bernard St., is hosting a holiday concert by Eastern Washington University Choirs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4.

Then, on Dec. 7, Eastern Washington University’s Jazz Orchestra, Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Collegians and Jazz Choir will present a concert at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5; $3 for seniors and non-EWU students; and free for EWU students with ID. Call: (509) 359-2241.