Benefits, mediation led by a Tibetan master and other events without a holiday theme are offered this weekend.
Today’s Peninsula Spotlight, the Peninsula Daily News’ weekly entertainment guide, highlights arts on the Peninsula.
For information on other activities, see “Things To Do” on Page C4.
Here is a sample of activities to enjoy this weekend.
Officer benefits
SEQUIM — Two benefits for the families of the fallen Lakewood Police Department officers are scheduled this weekend.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4760 and VFW District 14, covering the North Olympic Peninsula, plan a bake sale at the Port Angeles VFW Hall, 216 S. Francis St., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today.
The VFW also plans a benefit sirloin roast dinner and concert at the Sequim VFW Hall, 169 E. Washington St., at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Entertainment will be provided by Ted Vigil, Final Approach, Denny Secord and Tracy Blume.
Admission is by donation.
Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and Officers Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswold, 40, who was born in Port Angeles and raised in Shelton; and Greg Richards, 42; were killed Nov. 29 in a coffee shop southwest of Tacoma.
For more information, phone Bonnie Woeck at 360-683-9546.
Tibetan master
PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend Buddhists will host Tibetan meditation master Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The rinpoche is a 33rd-generation lineage holder of the Buddhist wisdom lineage of Dzogchen, a lama of Dzogchen Monastery and professor of the Dzogchen Shri Singha University in Tibet.
He entered the monastery at the age of 5, and has studied and taught at Dzogchen Shri Singha Five Sciences University for 10 years. He meditated for seven years in difficult conditions in caves in the Himalayan mountains.
The rinpoche has authored more than 30 books and trained thousands of students worldwide.
A donation of $20 is suggested.
For more information, phone Robert Lapham at 360-385-1219 or e-mail robert.lapham@gmail.com.
Senior class benefit
QUILCENE — The Quilcene High School Class of 2010 will host a spaghetti feed and silent auction from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.
The event will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the school’s multipurpose room, 294715 U.S. Highway 101.
Proceeds will benefit senior class graduation activities.
The Quilcene High School boys and girls basketball teams will play a doubleheader at the school during the feed.
For more information, phone 360-765-3363, ext. 236.
Speaker series set
PORT TOWNSEND — Roy LeMeur will discuss electric vehicles in the premiere of the “Energy Now and for the Future” series at Solar Motive, 308 10th St., from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
LeMeur is a former northwest regional director of the National Electric Drag Racing Association and is experienced in electric vehicle design and development. He will discuss the history, technology and current status of commercial and homegrown electric vehicles.
Creators of several electric conversion vehicles will have their machines on hand and describe their methods and challenges.
The event is free and open to the public.
The series resumes in January with topics including residential and commercial photovoltaic systems, electric bikes and scooters, small wind systems and solar thermal applications.
For more information, phone 360-385-7477.
Book signing
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Historical Society will host a book signing for Alice Alexander’s new work, Early Settlers on the Upper Elwha, at the Museum at the Carnegie at 6:30 p.m. today.
Alexander writes the historical “Back When” column for the Clallam County edition of Peninsula Daily News.
She will talk about the research process for the book.
Odyssey Book Store of Port Angeles is a sponsor of the event and will sell copies of the book for $16 plus tax.
A few copies of Alexander’s first book, A Pioneer Family, Homesteading on the Upper Elwha, will be for sale.
Refreshments will be served.
For more information, phone Alexander at 360-457-3521.
Reading to dogs
PORT ANGELES — Children can read to dogs at the Port Angeles Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Olympic Gentle Paws will bring the dogs to the library at 2210 S. Peabody St.
Bird Count
PORT TOWNSEND — A potluck dinner will follow a bird count for the Audubon Society on Saturday.
The count will be of birds in the 15-mile Admiralty circle, which takes in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay, Admiralty Inlet and Oak Bay to Mats Mats Bay.
It is one of many bird counts planned throughout the state before Jan. 5.
The potluck will be at 6 p.m. at Rosewind Commons, 3121 Haines St., Port Townsend. A $5 fee go to the Audubon Society.
To join the count, phone Dick Johnson at 360-385-5418.