Briefcase

12-screen theater to open Friday

WASILLA — John C. Schweiger, president and CEO of Coming Attractions Theaters Inc., has announced the grand opening of the company’s new Valley theater will be Friday.

The Valley Cinema, located next to Walmart in Wasilla, has 12 screens and is all stadium seating. It also features digital projection and sound as well as select 3-D presentations. This facility will also incorporate a “Backstage Bistro,” as well as a dedicated auditorium for customers age 21 and older.

Other features of The Valley Cinema will include online ticketing, and birthday and business meeting accommodations.

Coming Attractions Theatres operates a number of theatres in Oregon, Northern California, Washington and most recently Alaska with the acquisition and upgrading of Eagle River Cinemas.

For more information and showtimes, visit catheatres.com.

Fund-raiser to benefit Special Olympics

Supermarket chain Safeway, which owns Carrs, has partnered with Special Olympics on a fund-raising promotion that continues through May 1.

Last April, the Safeway Foundation raised $10.7 million during its annual Support for People with Disabilities Campaign. Based on that success, the store pledged to continue its efforts to support people with disabilities through the Easter Seals and Special Olympics organizations.

In Alaska, the campaign will help achieve the following:

• Maintain high-quality training and competition opportunities for more than 2,000 athletes and thousands of volunteers statewide.

• Enhance the quality of coaches’ training to assure that every athlete has a quality experience.

• Assist with housing, ground transportation and sport venues at the Winter and Summer Games

• Assist in outreach to an additional 8,000 adults and children with intellectual disabilities across Alaska who could benefit from participation in Special Olympics.

Booth space available for July 9 garden fair

Booth space is available now for the second annual Mid-Summer Garden and Art Faire, set from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 9 in downtown Palmer. This year’s theme is “Creating a Fertile Networking Environment for Gardeners and Friends” and funds raised benefit the Mat-Su Special Santa Program, which gave gifts to 3,500 Mat-Su Valley children in 2010. Booths costs $100 for the day. For more information, or to apply for a booth, email midsummergardenfaire@gmail.com.

Women of Science and Technology Day’ is April 30

A “Women of Science and Technology Day” is April 30 at the Mat Su College off Trunk Road. All girls in kindergarten through 12th-grade are invited to register and attend the hands-on workshops. Cost is $5 per girl. Workshops for girls in kindergarten through third-grade are from 10 a.m. to noon. And workshops for girls in fourth through 12th grades are from 1 to 4 p.m. Workshops will be led by professional women who work in the fields of science and technology. Register online at girlscoutsalaska.org, click on Programs, then Registrations, then Program Event. Or, register by calling the Girl Scouts of Alaska at (907) 248-2250.

For more information, contact jalexander@girlscoutsalaksa.org, or 376-3822.

Toastmasters meets Tuesdays

Toastmasters group meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Tuesdays at Wasilla Area Seniors Inc, 1301 S Century Cir. Toastmasters helps people develop better communication and leaderships skills, think quicker and more clearly on their feet, builds self-confidence and strong leadership qualities.

For more information, contact Dennis Moore at djmoore611@gci.net; Angela Ritchey at angritchey@yahoo.com, or visit matsutm.org.