"Qwerty."

"Fictile."

"Minaudières."

These are just a few of the words that have been carefully enunciated in recent years by children competing in the Central Valley Spelling Bee.

On Wednesday, two-time champ Jack Maglalang will aim for a third victory against 61 challengers at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H St. The bee is free to the public. Spelling starts at 9:30 a.m.

Maglalang, a seventh-grader at Winston Churchill Middle School in Carmichael, is a vet- eran of the spelling bee circuit, having won the local competition for the past two years and competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

A Sacramento contestant has won the national crown only once. That was 24 years ago, when Rageshree Ramachandran of Fair Oaks correctly spelled "elegiacal" for the win.

The contest includes fourth- through eighth-graders from six counties. Whoever takes home the trophy will go to the national spelling bee in May. This year, seven fourth-graders are competing against their older counterparts.

Sponsors include The Sacramento Bee, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, and Sierra Health Foundation.

- Mary Lynne Vellinga

District offers sewer treatment plant tour

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, which processes the wastewater of 1.3 million people in the capital area, is offering what it says is a fascinating free tour of its treatment plant near Elk Grove on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Behind the news: The tour will include an overview of the wastewater treatment process and district operations with key managers, a district news release said. A short walking tour will take visitors through the plant's water quality testing laboratory, process areas and control center - facilities not normally open to the public.

Info: Registration is required. Call (916) 876-6120 or sign up at www.srcsd.com/tours.

Bee, KFBK to host small-business event

Co-hosted by Bee personal finance columnist Claudia Buck and KFBK's Kelly Brothers, small-business owners are invited to a "Small Business Financial Q&A" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Bee, 2100 Q St.

Behind the news: An expert panel will discuss taxes, employee health benefits, retirement planning, employment law and other topics of interest to small businesses for 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A with the audience. The session is free and open to the public.

Info: To register, go to www.beebuzzpoints.com and click on "Bee Events"

In the News

Kennedy makes return visit to Sacramento

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a Sacramento native, will be back in town this week to take part in two events promoting public understanding of the courts. On Wednesday, Kennedy will participate in Open Doors to Federal Courts, a yearly program that brings hundreds of area high school students to the Sacramento federal courthouse downtown to meet with judges and court staff. On Thursday, Kennedy will be the guest of honor at the dedication of the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Library and Learning Center, which is housed in the courthouse. Neither event is open to the general public.

Around Town

Film Noir Movie Night to feature 1944's 'Laura'

The Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Road in Elk Grove, is hosting its free Film Noir Movie Night from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a showing of "Laura," starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. The 1944 film is about a police detective (Andrews) who falls in love with the woman (Tierney) whose murder he's investigating.

Info: Call (916) 264-2920

'Aviator's Wife' author visits Bee Book Club

Historical-fiction writer Melanie Benjamin, author of "The Aviator's Wife," visits the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St. in Sacramento, at 6 p.m. Thursday to sign autographs and answer questions for the Bee Book Club. Event is free but tickets are required.

Info: www.beebuzzpoints.com and click on "Bee Events"

Free talk will advise how to prevent identity theft

The Sacramento Public Library is hosting a free program for adults on preventing identity theft at 6 p.m. Tuesday at its North Natomas branch, 4660 Via Ingoglia, Sacramento. A representative from the California Department of Consumer Affairs will discuss the different forms identity theft can take and the ways it can damage one's reputation and finances.

Info: Call (916) 264-2920 or visit www.saclibrary.org

Civic Affairs

Public views sought on Elk Grove housing

Elk Grove is asking residents to weigh in on crafting the city's housing policies for the next eight years. A public meeting to explore the city's housing needs is scheduled for 4 p.m. today in the City Council chambers, 8400 Laguna Palms Way. The city is in the process of updating the housing element of its general plan.

Info: www.egplanning.org

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