Community Bulletin Board for week of April 3, 2008

BRIDGEPORT

Brush disposal available today, Friday, Saturday

Bridgeport residents can dump trimmings from their shrubs and trees for free today, Friday and maybe Saturday, April 3, 4 and 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the city maintenance shop, 1013 North Jefferson Avenue. Availability on Saturday depends on whether or not the dumpster is filled. The program is offered by the city and its garbage contractor, Zippy Disposal of Chelan.

"The dumpster can only be used for branches that have been pruned from private yards," said a press release issued by city officials. "No grasses, leaves or garden brush will be allowed. No plastic bags are allowed. If there is any misuse of the free disposal site the city of Bridgeport will not be able to offer this service to the community in the future."

People who dispose of their brush in the dumpster are being asked to report any violations.

Parent Advisory Council to meet April 9

The Bridgeport Parent Advisory Council (PAC) will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. in the Bridgeport Elementary School library. A social time is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Topics to be discussed include the district's Family Leadership Class program, the strategic planning process and the district's plans for money generated through Initiative 728 for the 2008-09 school year. All district patrons are being invited. Child care and translation services will be provided.

Parent meeting, kindergarten registration scheduled

Parents who want to register their children for kindergarten in the Bridgeport School District are being invited to an information meeting Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m. in the Bridgeport Elementary School library. Parents will receive a registration packet and can schedule a time for the child's screening appointment. Parents who can't attend the meeting can pick up the packet and make an appointment at the grade school office before April 16.

Registration will be Thursday, April 17 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the grade school. Children must be five years of age on or before Aug. 31, 2008 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Registration and screening will take about one hour if the registration materials have been filled out prior to the screening. Children should accompany their parents. People who want more information can contact the grade school office, 686-2201, or the district office.

Water to start flowing April 15

Directors of the Bridgeport Irrigation District have announced that the district will turn on the irrigation water Tuesday, April 15. People who want more information can contact pump coordinator Dave Greer, 686-5122 or 449-1786.

Family Leadership class April 19

The second in a series of "Family Leadership" classes for Bridgeport parents will be held Saturday, April 19 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport Elementary School cafeteria. "Personal Identity: Past, Present, Future" is the class topic. Parents who want to register for the class or who want more information can contact Diane Hull or Lorena Lopez at the district office, 686-5656, beginning next Monday, April 7.

MANSFIELD

St. Andrews Grange members will hold their monthly meeting next Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Grange hall, Road 06 NE between Mansfield and Coulee City. Tim Behne will be the guest speaker; Behne will talk about watershed planning in the Foster Creek Conservation District and the surrounding area.

All interested persons are being invited.

BREWSTER

Chamber banquet for April 7

Liz Driessen will be honored as the Citizen of the Year and Erlandsen and Associates as the Business of the Year at the annual Brewster Chamber of Commerce banquet Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brewster American Legion hall.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Brewster Marketplace, the Les Schwab Tire Center in Brewster, Brewster's Wells Fargo Bank branch or the Cashmere Valley Mortgage office in Brewster.

Graduation party planning meeting April 7

Seniors in the Brewster High School class of 2008 and their parents who are interested in participating in a reception and/or all night party for the class are being invited to a meeting Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

Options include a reception for the graduating class after the ceremony on June 6, an all night party for the class, or both. Items that will be discussed on Monday include possible locations, starting time, possible fees, decorations.

All seniors and their parents are invited and encouraged to attend.

PATEROS

Season begins at Alta Lake Golf Course

The first match of the season for the Men's Club at the Alta Lake Golf Course will be next Tuesday, April 8; golfers take to the course at about 4:45 p.m. "We play a number of different golf games, from individual play to team events," wrote club president George Webber. Once each month there's a potluck dinner following the match.

Men's club dues are $10 annually; there's a $4 fee for each weekly match. There's also an optional $25 fee to establish an official handicap.

People who want more information can contact Webber, 923-2153, or check out the course's new website, www.altalakegolf.com.

REGIONAL

'Farm to Table' workshop April 7

Any and all food producers, restaurant owners, chefs and others in the restaurant industry are being invited to learn how to promote local consumption of locally produced food at the "Farm to Table" workshop Monday, April 7 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Annex in Okanogan.

The workshop will introduce the fruit, beef, wine and produces to people in the restaurant industry. Producers of everything but alcoholic beverages are encouraged to bring samples, and all participants are encouraged to provide information about their businesses.

Advance registration is requested. Participants can register at farmtotable2008@gmail.com or by calling Mark McIntyre, 206-632-0606.

Solid Waste committee to meet

The Okanogan County Solid Waste Advisory Committee will hold their monthly meeting Monday, April 7 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Department of Health conference room in the Public Services building (the old Virginia Grainger school), 1234 Second Avenue South in Okanogan.

All interested persons are invited.

Weather spotters sought; training April 22

A training session for Okanogan County residents who want to volunteer as "weather spotters" will be held Tuesday, April 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the conference room at the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, 123 5th Avenue North in Okanogan.

Weather spotters provide local-like their own backyard local-weather information for the National Weather Service; reports from Okanogan County go to the NWS office in Spokane. "Your reports, coupled with radar, satellite and other data, has enabled the National Weather Service to issue more timely and accurate warnings and statements for flooding, winter weather and severe thunderstorms," said a press release announcing the training. "Spotters are not required to have weather instrumentation, but it is helpful."

Starting this June, Washington will join the "Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network," a network of volunteer weather observers who will measure and map precipitation in their local communities. "By using low cost measurement tools, stressing training and education and utilizing an interactive website, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications," the press release said. "The only requirements to join are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can affect and impact our lives."

The course is free. People who want to register or who want more information can contact Glenda Beauregard at the Okanogan Emergency Management Department, 509-422-7206, or register online at www.okanogandem.org.

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