Home Calendar

Arts/Crafts

55th Annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show - March 28-30. The show will feature 40 dealers and 60 displays of precious and semi-precious stones, fossils, specimens and beautiful jewelry. It will also include demonstrations and children’s activities. Presented by Rock Rollers of Spokane. Hours are Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $6/adults; $5/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger and Scouts in uniform; free parking and admission is good all weekend. (509) 891-6533.

Home/Garden

Horticulture Workshops - The University of Idaho Extension presents the 2014 Idaho Master Gardener’s Annual Horticulture Workshops: Landscaping for Fire Prevention, Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m., $10; Introduction to Bee Keeping, Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $25/per person or $30/per family of two; Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Northern Idaho, Feb. 22, 1-4 p.m., $10; Managing Your Backyard Forest, Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m.; $10; Chicks in the City - Raising Chickens within City Limits, March 3, 6-8 p.m., or March 8, 1-3 p.m., $10; Basic Gardening for Northern Idaho, March 10, 6-8 p.m., $10; Tree ID, March 17, 6-8 p.m., $10; The Art of Composting, March 24, 6-8 p.m., $10; Hunting for Wild Mushrooms in Northern Idaho, March 31, 6-8 p.m., $10; Ice Age Floods, April 7, 6-8 p.m., $10; Plants and Clean Water: Creating Rain Gardens, Native Gardens and Protecting the Aquifer and Surface Water, April 14, 6-8 p.m., $10. Registration is recommended; class sizes are limited. University of Idaho Kootenai County Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 446-1680.

Basic Beekeeping Class - Presented by the Inland Empire Beekeepers Association and sponsored by the Washington State University Extension. The first class will be Feb. 15, followed by four “field days” of hands-on instruction. Washington State Beekeepers Association Apprentice certification available. Registration is required. Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $50. (509) 477-2195 or (509) 924-3652.

Cabin Fever: A Gardening Symposium - Presented by the Washington State University Spokane County Master Gardeners. Registration includes continental breakfast, with keynote presentation by Cass Turnbull from Plant Amnesty, the choice of four gardening classes, catered box lunch, parking pass and door prizes. There are 16 gardening classes to choose from covering a wide variety of topics. Detailed information and registration is found at www.mgfsc.org. Feb. 17, 7:30 a.m., WSU Spokane Campus, Phase I Classroom Building, 668 N. Spokane Falls Blvd. $75. (509) 536-8284.

Advanced Pruning - Cass Turnbull from Plant Amnesty will cover the three main forms of mal-pruning: tree topping, inappropriate shearing of trees and shrubs, and over-thinning. This is an advanced course and those attending should be familiar with principles of selective pruning. The class ends with an outdoor show and tell, live evaluation and pruning demo. Feb. 18, 9 a.m., WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $50. (509) 536-8284.

Scaling and Marketing Private Timber Workshop - Registration is due Feb. 18. Feb. 21, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., University of Idaho Kootenai County Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. $20/includes handouts and refreshments. (208) 446-1683.

Backyard Conservation Stewardship Program - This program will feature tips on landscaping with native plants, xeriscaping, soil health, permaculture, trees, organic gardening, composting, attracting pollinators, landscaping for wildlife and more. Training is provided by local experts. Register at www.sccd.org/education.html. Advance registration is required and registration will not be available at the door. A limited number of scholarships are available. March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 5:30-8 p.m. Spokane County Conservation District, 210 N. Havana St. $25. (509) 535-7274.

Animals

Priest Lake Sled Dog Races - Priest Lake Sled Races, also known as the U.S. Pacific Coast Championships is one of the longest continuously running sled dog races in the U.S. The race features Skijor, 3-, 4-, 6-, and 8-dog sprint teams as well as 6-dog mid-distance. There will be classes for youngsters. Food will be available onsite. Please leave your pets at home. Today, 9 a.m., Ravin Ranch Road and Highway 57, Priest Lake, Idaho. $4/parking. (208) 683-2387.

Second Annual Dog/People Blood Drive - The Inland Northwest Blood Center will have its bus parked out front so people can donate, and the Pet Emergency Clinic Blood Bank will be available to do initial blood typing and temperament testing on dogs. For your dog to be eligible, it must weigh more than 60 pounds and be 1 to 6 years old. Call the clinic to sign up. Feb. 8, 1-5 p.m., Lincoln Heights Veterinary Clinic, 2829 E. 27th Ave. Free. (509) 535-3551.

Woof, Purr & Wine - A fundraising event with dinner and wine for Partners for Pets. Feb. 15, 6-9 p.m., Nectar Tasting Room, 120 N. Stevens St. $30. (509) 893-9829.

Divino Fashion Runway Show - Opens with Canines on the Catwalks. Enjoy shopping, drinks, and other entertainment along with exquisite fashions and adorable dogs. Proceeds benefit SpokAnimal. March 21, 6 p.m., Service Station, 9315 N. Nevada St. $30/advance; $35/door; students: $15/advance; $18/door; free/age 5 and younger. (509) 850-0737.