BRIEFS

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool is hosting an open house on Wednesday, March 21 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Preston Hall. Come visit with your child. Spots can be reserved for next year's new families starting March 21st. Also, parents can join classes and learn new parenting skills to build stronger and healthier families. Preschool is for families with children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old. Classes meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. beginning in September. Parents participate in the classroom three times per month and attend a required Parent Education meeting in the evening monthly. Please call Laurie Withers at 527-4237 or 520-4830 for more information.

DISC GOLF COURSE OPEN

DAYTON - The disc golf course has new pads and signage and is ready for use, said Mayor Craig George. The course, located at the city park, was funded by a grant. George said there is still some money left over from the grant that may allow another pad to be installed. He said the course is "another great recreation activity."

TOWN HALL MEETINGS

DAYTON -- Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton, and Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, invite constituents to attend three town halls the weekend of Feb. 17 and 18. The representatives will be available to answer questions and discuss key issues of the 2012 legislative session such as the budget, agriculture, education, and public safety. Residents are invited to attend these town halls, held on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 a.m in Dayton at Country Cupboard and Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Walla Walla Community College Conference Center in Walla Walla.

For questions or information leading up to the events you can contact Rep. Terry Nealey at Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7828 or Rep. Maureen Walsh at Maureen. Walsh@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7836.

LEADERSHIP SEMINAR RESCHEDULED

DAYTON -- The Leadership Development seminar sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce has been rescheduled for Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The seminar had been canceled from the original January date due to weather conditions. Presenting this seminar will be Jenny Scott of Northwest Leadership Strategies. She will cover topics such as board organization, development and assessment, roles and responsibilities of volunteer boards, and bringing on new members and planning for succession.

This seminar is open to any community member who currently serves on a volunteer board or would like to serve. Preregistration is required by calling the Dayton Chamber of Commerce at 382-4825. The seminar is being co-sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Community Network and SEWEDA. There is no fee for the seminar; however a donation for lunch will be requested.

IRRIGATION WORKSHOP AND FORUM

WALLA WALLA - A free irrigation workshop and forum will be held March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Walla Walla Community College Water and Environmental Center. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by March 2. Topics include how to seize the opportunity to build your bottom-line, energy savings and water management technologies, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), Local on-farm energy efficiency deployments and issues, rebates, incentives and cost sharing and new NRCS initiatives for electrical energy efficiency. To RSVP, call Walla Walla Conservation District at 509-522-6347 or the Blue Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council at 509-337-8968.

IWO JIMA DINNER

WALLA WALLA - This Feb. 19 marks the 67th anniversary of the battle for Iwo Jima and the 17th reunion for five of the 12 original local veterans and the presence of a member of the Naval Intelligence group at the time. Two other Iwo Jima veterans will be added to the group. The group will meet at the Sterling Café on West Pine in Walla Walla at 2 p.m. for lunch to honor the fallen comrades at Iwo Jima and members of the group who have left since 1995. Each participant is asked to bring a photo of himself from the service, especially boot camp photos if they still exist. Also, please bring a brief history of what he has done since discharged from the service. Please keep history to five minutes. For information, call 509-382-4540.

JULIA CHILD COOK-OFF PART TROIS

The Downtown Walla Walla Foundation is seeking entries for the third annual Julia Child Cook-Off, to be held Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center. The featured dish for the Cook-Off -Part Trois - is cassoulet, a white bean dish made with various cuts of meat and poultry. Amateur chefs prepare the dish at home, then bring it to the Marcus Whitman Hotel for presentation and judging by local professional chefs.