JANUARY CALENDAR

he Pomeroy/ Dayton Junior Gun Club is sponsoring a youth trap-shooting series beginning Saturday, Jan. 8, at 8 a.m. The series will continue every Saturday for 10 weeks at the Pomeroy Gun Range located in Pataha, Washington, for a one-time $10 fee.

A downtown "Meet & Greet" to benefit the Pioneer Park Aviary in Walla Walla is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Land Title Plaza. 10

The Dayton Chamber of Commerce presents its monthly Business After Hours event at home this month. From 3-6 p.m. those interested are invited to view the chamber office's makeover, including new carpet, paint, furniture and lights. Refreshments provided. 12

Women (and men) are invited to attend the first Christian Women's Connection Luncheon of 2011 at the Seneca Activity Center in Dayton from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $9 per person. The lunch will be catered by Dayton General Hospital. Martin Venneberg, a former engineer at Boeing, will speak about problem solving in an engineer's world. Columbia County Commissioner Chuck Reeves, a member of the Waitsburg Quartet, will perform solo. And as January is National Eye Care Month, Catherine Schuck, O.D., from Dayton's Blue Columbia Eye Care, will be the luncheon's special feature. She will discuss how people can take better care of their eyes before it's too late. Reservations are required. Call Judy Jackson at (509) 399-2005. Those who reserve tickets are asked to gift them to a friend if they cannot attend or call Jackson by Monday, Jan. 10, to cancel. CWC is obligated to pay for the meals of those who don't show up. 14

Dayton Memorial Library presents Family Game Night, an opportunity for the whole family to get out of the house on a cold Friday evening and spend time playing games together. The event takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Games and puzzles will be available for all age levels. Free - with refreshments provided. 15

Another opportunity for bird lovers to support the Pioneer Park Aviary in Walla Walla will present itself in "It's For The Birds," a live and silent auction at the Elks Lodge (6 p.m.). Tickets are $10. The event will feature music by local band Bizarre Love Triangle.

The Walla Walla Dance Company will present The Snow Prince at 7:30 p.m. at Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College Campus in Walla Walla Experience the adventures of the young Snow Prince as he leaves the safety of his galactic snow globe home to explore the universe. Along the way the Snow Prince encounters interplanetary bodies and beings - each with their own distinct dance style. Written and produced by Nancy Wells of the Walla Walla Dance Company, this performance showcases the talents of local dancers ages 3-20. Tickets for the Snow Prince are available at Earthlight Books at 321 E. Main St., Walla Walla. Tickets are $12 general admission, $15 reserved seats, $10 seniors/ children under 12. There will be a special $5 senior rate at the door. The Snow Prince is sponsored in part by Art- Walla - access for all to art. 19

Attorney Corey F. Brock and accountant Jim Leffel will present a free seminar on Transition Planning for Farm Families and Family Businesses from 9 a.m. to noon at the Weinhard Hotel in Dayton. Call Lauren at (509) 622-4707 or email LaurenNay@bcmlaw.com to reserve a spot. Event coordinators will serve coffee and a light breakfast 8:30-9 a.m. and a catered lunch at noon. Attendees will learn to protect their farm by using a family LLC and/or trust, structuring the operation to protect from creditors and inlaws, and avoid pitfalls. Other topics will include water law and wind energy issues, Washington state estate tax, and ways to keep more profit. 20

A free presentation on the State of the Local Economy will be presented by state labor economist Arum Kone at the Liberty Theater in downtown Dayton beginning at 7 p.m. The Port of Columbia is sponsoring this presentation of current and historical economic data specific to Dayton and Columbia County. Topics will include: economic sectors, employment and commuting patterns, community characteristics, largest employers, retail spending, and tourism trends. Port manager Jennie Dickinson will follow Kone's talk with a short update on the Port's Blue Mountain Station project. For more information on the state of the economy, call the Port of Columbia at (509) 382-2577. 21

Prescott cowboy singers Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue will play live dinner music at the Tuxedo Bar & Grill in Prescott from 6-8:30 p.m. 29

The Blue Mountain Heritage Society will present its 4th annual Ground "Hog" Day Sausage Fest from 5:30- 8 p.m. in the Youth Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Dayton. Tickets are $12.50 per person or $35 per family. Tickets are available at the Village Shoppes on Main Street in Dayton or at the door. The event will include food and entertainment. Special themed baskets of goodies will be raffled. The Ground " Hog" Day Sausage Fest will benefit the society's Smith Hollow School project. For more information, contact Jacque Sonderman at (509) 382- 8919 or jacquejs@bmi.net.