Pea Patch Program Opens: April 12. Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department will rent out plots for urban gardeners to raise their own produce. Cost: $25 for Auburn residents; $32 for non-residents. Location: Behind the Metro Park & Ride on 15th Avenue Northeast. 253-931-3043.
Healthy Kids Day: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 12. Features activities, health and wellness resources, and prize giveaways. Cost: Free. Auburn Valley YMCA, 1620 Perimeter Road S.W., Auburn. 253-833-2770.
Foster Kids Shoe Drive: Through April 13. Donors can bring new shoes for foster children to any Sleep Country location. Call for details, directions. 888-887-5337 or www.sleepcountry.com.
April Pools Day: 1-3:30 p.m. April 19. Features water safety training, prizes, refreshments and open swim. Cost: Free. Auburn School District Pool, 516 Fourth St. N.E. 253-815-0873.
Investment seminar: 6:30 p.m., April 23, Where is the economy today? Diane Skillett, senior financial advisor with Waddell & Reed Inc., to speak. Free. Indochine Seafood & Satay Bar, 31406 Pacific Highway S, Federal Way. 253-874-3959, ext. 14. RSVP by April 16.
McTeacher’s Night: 5-8 p.m. April 24. Teachers from Valley Christian School will help serve dinner for students and parents. Also includes raffle and visit with local emergency services personnel. Part of the evening’s sales will benefit the school. McDonald’s, 702 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-833-3530.
“Paving the Road to Recovery” Auction and Community Awards Dinner: 6 p.m. April 25. Presented by Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation. Cost: $45. Muckleshoot Casino, 2402 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-876-3422.
Vehicle Check-ups and Maintenance Education: Noon-4 p.m. April 26. Includes free vehicle inspections, snacks, prizes and car care demonstrations. Cost: Free; donations for Auburn Food Bank welcome. Auburn Muffler Brake & Radiator, 1301 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-939-1979 or auburnmuffler@mcleodusa.net.
Clean Sweep: 7:30 a.m. May 10. Volunteers needed for annual community service projects in four local parks. Breakfast provided for volunteers at City Hall. Registration required. Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St. 253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov.
Auburn Rotarians scholarship show: 7 p.m., May 16. Blake Shelton, star of the NBC miniseries ‘Clash of the Choir’ will headline 25th annual show. Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St. Tickets $35 through Ticketmaster (206-628-0888 or ticketmaster.com). VIP packages available by calling 253-833-6333.
Classes
Natural Yard Care program: 7-9 p.m. April 17 and 24. Learn to minimize chemical pesticide use, conserve water and reduce yard waste going to landfills. Cost: Free. Mount Baker Middle School, 620 37th St. S.E.
“Homeschool Q & A” seminar: 7-8:30 p.m. April 24. Speaker Candice Childs will answer questions from parents interested in homeschooling. Cost: Free. Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 First Way S., Federal Way. 206-246-9227.
“Finding Female Ancestors”: 9-11 a.m. April 26. Genealogy class led by Beverly Bills and Myra Gormley. Cost: $10. Heritage Quest Research Library, 909 Main St., Suite 5, Sumner. 253-863-1805.
Financial literacy for domestic violence victims: 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through May 27. Class will cover safety and finances, basic banking, budgeting and more. Childcare and transportation available. Cost: Free. Call for details. Held at confidential Southside location. 206-799-6209 or jennifer@ywcaworks.org.
Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation: City of Auburn offers a variety of continuing education classes including creative arts, watercolor painting, Spanish, dance, buying real estate and more. Call for details. 253-931-3043, www.auburnwa.gov.
Faith
Buddhist Temple Spring Fundraiser Dinner: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20. Features sukiyaki or chicken teriyaki dinner. Cost: $10. White River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Way N., Auburn. 253-833-1442 or www.whiteriverbuddhisttmpl.org.
“Power of Prayer” breakfast meeting: 9-11 a.m. April 26. Speaker: Greg Turk. Meeting marks World Day of Prayer. Cost: By donation. First Christian Church of Kent, 11717 S.E. 240th St. 253-852-1930.
Health/Fitness
Blood drives in Auburn: Noon-2:30 p.m. April 22 at C-Dory Marine, 25 37th St. N.E.; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 23 at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2 at Auburn Regional Medical Center, 202 N. Division St.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 3 at Auburn Supermall, 1101 Supermall Way; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 7 at Auburn High School, 800 Fourth St. N.E.; 1-7 p.m. May 12 at Latter-Day Saints Auburn, 625 M St. N.E. For Puget Sound Blood Center. 800-398-7888 or www.psbc.org.
NW Neighborhood Nutrition: Noon and 6 p.m. Thursdays through June 26. Features weight-loss challenge, nutrition workshop and personal coaching. Cost: $39 for weight-loss challenge; free for nutrition workshop. Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N., Kent. 206-579-4581 or www.nwnnonline.com.
Step Aerobic/Weights Class: 7-8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost: $79 for 10 weeks. King County Fire Department No. 44, Station 92, 31709 Kent-Black Diamond Road, Auburn. 253-631-6350 or 425-413-1623.
Libraries/Books
Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-931-3018. Library events include:
• Game On!: 3 p.m. Wednesdays through April 30. Teens can play Guitar Hero, DDR and other Wii and GameCube games at the library.
• ESL: 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Learn English grammar, reading, writing and conversation skills.
• Computer Classes: Library offers a variety of classes, including “Microsoft Excel,” “Microsoft Word” and “Intro to Computers.” Call for details, registration.
• Friends of the Auburn Library: 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month.
• Study Zone: 4-6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Students kindergarten-12th grade can receive free homework help from volunteer tutors. Volunteer tutors needed; call for details: 425-369-3312.
Seniors
AARP Tax Aide Program: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through April 12. Volunteers will provide free tax assistance. Bring a copy of last year’s tax return, all current tax documents, photo ID and Social Security Card. Call for appointments, details. Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S. 253-931-3018.
Veterans
Veterans Outreach: 3:15-6:15 p.m. April 15 and May 13. Veterans and their families can get assistance in applying for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs from a Disabled American Veterans Service Officer. Kent Library, 212 Second Ave. N. 253-859-6439.
