Storytelling, art, music, poetry and workshops are among upcoming activities on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Information also is available in the interactive calendar at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
PORT ANGELES
Celtic jam
PORT ANGELES — A free Celtic jam will be held each first and third Saturday of every month — until further notice — at Strait Music.
Led by fiddler Derek Stallman, the first jam will take place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 1015 E. First St.
This event is open to the public, and those interested in playing are asked to bring their own instruments.
Those who are interested in listening are invited as well.
For more information, phone Stallman at 360-640-2362.
Storytellers
PORT ANGELES — The Story People of Clallam County will host Portland, Ore., storyteller Norm Brecke at its free monthly story swap at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
His hourlong presentation, “Spaghetti Squids and Zombie Arms,” will be in the Raymond Carver Room at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
Refreshments will be served after his performance, followed shortly by an open mic — hosted by the Story People — ending at 9 p.m.
Stories at the swap are aimed for adult listeners but are suitable for teens and preteens.
Brecke’s career highlights have been as featured storyteller at the Powellswood Garden Storytelling Festival, Seattle Art Museum, American Library Association Conference and as a narrator with the Seattle Symphony.
For more information, contact Erran Sharpe at 360-460-6594.
Society speaker
PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society will sponsor a free presentation at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Dr. Alicia McLaughlin will present “Husbandry and Enrichment for Exotic Mammals” at the humane society office at 1743 Old Olympic Highway.
She is an associate veterinarian at the Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine in Bothell.
Anyone who owns or is interested in rabbits, Guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets or other small creatures is encouraged to attend.
For more information, phone the humane society at 360-457-8206.
Sneak peek
PORT ANGELES — The creative team for the 2017 Find Your Voice Festival will present a sneak peek of what it’s like to produce a live show of original monologues at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
The presentation will be next week’s Studium Generale in Peninsula College’s Little Theater at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
This year’s festival comprises monologues based on the prompts “I’ve never told anyone, but I’m going to tell you,” “When I was 10 …” and “No one could believe how many marbles could fit into a coffin.”
Karen Hogan, creative director of this year’s festival, will lead a discussion of the production process along with her creative team, including Lara Starcevich, producer; Morrea Henderson, assistant director; Pete Griffin, technical director; Tavin Dotson, stage manager; Janet Lucas, director; Sarah Tucker, director; Marissa LeeAnn Rose Wilson, director; and Laci Trussell, assistant director.
“I Never Told Anyone (But I’m Going to Tell You)” will preview March 16, followed by performances March 17, 18, 24 and 25 at Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St.
For more information, contact Hogan at karen@karenhoganstoryshaper.com or 360-683-4670.
AGNEW
Marathon bingo
AGNEW — Agnew Helpful Neighbors Club will host a marathon bingo session Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event at Agnew Community Hall, 1241 N. Barr Road, will feature soup, sandwiches, pie and snacks.
Proceeds from the marathon will fund maintenance of the hall and scholarships.
For more information, phone 360-504-3620.
SEQUIM
Message of Qur’an
SEQUIM — A discussion on “If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Qur’an” by Carla Power is planned at the Sequim Library at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The free discussion at the library at 630 N. Sequim Ave. is open to the public.
“A former foreign correspondent for Newsweek raised partly in the Middle East and boasting a graduate degree in Middle Eastern studies from Oxford, Power spent a year reading the Qur’an with a longtime friend, Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi,” the Library Journal said.
“Their experience led them beyond stereotypes to a constructive understanding of the text’s call for peace and equality.”
Copies of the book are available at the Sequim Library in various formats including regular print and downloadable e-book. They can be requested online by visiting the library catalog at www.nols.org.
The program is supported by the Friends of Sequim Library.
For more information, phone the library at 360-683-1161.
Spaghetti dinner
SEQUIM — The Sequim Prairie Grange will serve a spaghetti dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.
The dinner will be at the grange hall at 290 Macleay Road.
The cost is $10 per person for a meal of spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread, ice cream and cookies.
For more information, contact Loretta Grant at 360-683-3194 or penww@olypen.com.
Landscaping
SEQUIM — The second in a series of four landscaping classes at the Sequim Prairie Garden Club will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday.
Doug Cockburn will host the series of free classes every Monday through March 6 at 387 E. Washington St.
Refreshments will be served.
The classes cover beginning a yard, basic Northwest landscape, why and how to install sprinklers, deer-proofing, basic right plant-right location, living with a low-water-use yard, water gardens and year-round color.
The program will include video, a PowerPoint presentation, a handout and a personal landscape design of your yard.
To make a reservation, phone 360-681-0132.
Elks bingo
SEQUIM — The Sequim Elks Lodge will host bingo games from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admission will be free at the lodge at 143 Port Williams Road.
Minimum buy-in for the game is $10, and the Elks will offer popular bingo games, including progressive.
Players must be 18 or older.
Snacks and refreshments will be available.
All proceeds will go to the Elks scholarship program, charities supported by the Elks and lodge operating costs.
Thrift shop
SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild’s thrift shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Many new and gently used items await purchase at the shop located at 204 W. Bell St.
Featured will be furniture with accessories, dishware and kitchenware, jewelry and designer handbags.
All white-tagged items will be marked half-price, and new consignors and volunteers are always needed.
For more information, call 360-683-7044.
Art show
SEQUIM — An artist reception for an art show at the Alder Wood Bistro is set from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The show at the restaurant at 139 W. Alder St. benefits the North Olympic Land Trust.
“Through Their Eyes: Love Where You Live” will continue through the end of March.
On Sunday, wines courtesy of Wind Rose Cellars will be available, as well as “wine bites” from Alder Wood Bistro and chocolate produced by local master chocolatier Yvonne Yokota.
More than 20 artists have donated pieces in varying media for the exhibition. Proceeds from the show will benefit local land conservation efforts through the North Olympic Land Trust.
Jazz singer
SEQUIM — Local jazz singer Sarah Shea aims to chase away winter blues with a performance tonight at 7:30.
Shea will perform in the Gathering Hall of Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for $15. A beverage bar and snacks are available through OTA.
Accompanying Shea will be Al Harris on the piano, Craig Buhler on the saxophone and clarinet, Ted Enderle on bass and Tom Svornich on drums.
Fly-fishing meeting
SEQUIM — Sequim Greywolf Fly Fishers’ first meeting will convene at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The free open meeting will be held at the Sequim Fire Department, 323 N. Fifth Ave.
The meeting will focus on setting events for the future of other meetings.
Those interested are invited to bring fly-tying equipment, materials and small tarp to tie a fly.
For more information, phone Erik Simpson at 360-683-6684.
Support group
SEQUIM — A woman identified only as Azella will be the guest speaker at a brain injury support group meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the Sequim Fire Department.
The event will be free and open to the public at the fire department, 323 N. Fifth Ave.
In association with the Washington State Brain Injury Issue Association, the support group provides information about brain injuries of any type ranging from concussions to strokes and aneurysms, according to a news release.
Azella will speak about her personal experiences with her stroke and how she has dealt with it for the past 11 years.
Food and coffee will be served.
For more information, phone Azella at 360-406-1163.
Free workshop
SEQUIM — A free health workshop is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at John Wayne Marina.
The workshop will be in the meeting room at 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road.
Kicking the morning off will be Sequim Gym owner Kevin Pedrey. Pedrey’s presentation, “Let’s Get Moving — How to Start,” will address understanding the importance of exercise and nutrition for better overall heart and brain health.
Pedrey will be followed by Dr. Stephen Thielke, geriatric psychiatrist with the Veteran Administration’s Medical Center in Seattle and professor at the University of Washington.
During his presentation, “Challenges in Dementia,” Thielke will discuss dementia, depression and challenging behaviors associated with the disease.
Sack lunches will be provided by Park View Villas. The retirement and assisted living community is sponsoring the event with Dungeness Courte Memory Care, Sequim Health and Rehabilitation and Home Instead Senior Care.
For more information and/or to reserve a space, call 360-582-9309.
GARDINER
Mason bee talk
GARDINER — The second in a two-class series, “The Buzz About Mason Bees,” is planned at Wild Birds Unlimited from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.
During the class at 275943 U.S. Highway 101, owner Christie Lassen will talk about the benefits of mason bees as well as methods used to attract and keep them in one’s garden.
A contribution of $5 to the Community Education Fund will reserve a seat at this presentation, with proceeds going to the National Wildlife Research Center and Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue.
Seating is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to reserve seating.
To reserve a seat, phone 360-797-7100.
PORT TOWNSEND
Poetry reading
PORT TOWNSEND — Afrose Fatima Ahmed and Shane Knode will read selections of their poetry at the Northwind Reading Series at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The reading will be at the Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St.
The suggested donation is $5. All proceeds will support the Northwind Arts Center, a nonprofit organization.
Ahmed, who describes herself as a hybrid Texan-Washingtonian, released her first poetry chapbook, “he won’t dance with me,” in December 2013, and recently released two poetry chapbooks, “Body of Water” and “70,000 Veils,” in October.
She is working on her next collection of poems, “blood gold and honey,” which takes the shape of a fictional tarot deck.
Knode is a longtime Northwest poet. Originally from Sitka, Alaska, and raised on boats, he is deeply rooted into the landscape of the Northwest Passage. He spent his early 20s cutting his teeth in Seattle’s hip-hop scene.
From there, he began competing in Seattle poetry slams and getting involved in the Puget Sound’s rich letterpress print and publishing communities.
Along the way, he taught workshops for at-risk youths on the topic of poeisis or living poetics and toured with a live band performing improv spoken word with crowd participation.
His latest project has been traveling around the West with a mid-century typewriter, typing up poems for people on the streets.
For more information, see www.northwindarts.org or phone Bill Mawhinney at 360-302-1159.
Ukulele rendezvous
PORT TOWNSEND — Free ukulele lessons will be offered during a Ukuleles Unite session at Grace Lutheran Church from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The lessons will be provided for all skill levels at the church at 1120 Walker St.
Loaner ukes are available.
For more information, contact Germaine at 360-385-2233 or germaine@olympus.net.
Discount swim
PORT TOWNSEND — Mountain View Pool will host discount night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today.
The discounted swim will be at the pool at 1925 Blaine St.
Everyone will swim for $2. The whole pool is dedicated to play, and noodles, rings and other float toys will be available.
No lap lanes will be offered.
Children younger than 8 must be accompanied in the water by adults.
Conversation Cafe
PORT TOWNSEND — Conversation Cafe will meet at 11:45 a.m. today.
The public is invited to take part in discussions at Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar, 842 Washington St.
The topic for this week is “Accessibility.”
For more information, go to www.conversation cafe.org.
Bugs lecture
PORT TOWNSEND — “Bugs: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful” will be the topic of the final presentation of the Yard & Garden Lecture series Saturday.
The lecture will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
This is the last in a six-week series sponsored by the Jefferson County Master Gardeners that began Jan. 14.
Tickets for $12 will be available at the door if space is available.
For more information about the Jefferson County Master Gardeners, visit www.jcmgf.org or phone Susan Cronshaw at 360-301-2081.
Horse park benefit
PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson Equestrian Association will show a movie to benefit development of the Jefferson County Horse Park at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Ron Davis’ documentary film “Harry & Snowman,” a film about the bond between a man and his horse, will be shown at the Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St.
After the film will be a social and tea upstairs at the CoLab. Tickets are $18 for the film and $5 for the social and tea.
Proceeds will support the development of the Jefferson County Horse Park, an Olympic Peninsula community resource scheduled to open this summer.
The public park will offer equestrian facilities, biking, walking and horse trails.
Advance tickets are available at jeaparkbenefit.brownpapertickets.com.
Discovery Dance
PORT TOWNSEND — The Olympic Express Big Band will play for Discovery Dance at the Port Townsend Elks from 7 to 10:30 tonight.
Admission is $10 to the dance at the lodge at 555 Otto St.
Dancing will begin at 8 p.m. following a free (with admission) foxtrot dance lesson taught by Janice Eklund.
New dancers are encouraged to attend. Elks members and guests are welcome. This is a smoke- and scent-free event for all ages. No partner or previous dance experience is necessary.
The 17-musician Olympic Express Big Band’s repertoire ranges from big-band swing to boogie-woogie to jazz and Motown.
Discovery Dance is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of promoting partner dancing on and around the Olympic Peninsula. Dances are held on the third Friday of each month.
For more information, see discoverydance.org.
Wandlerlust
PORT TOWNSEND — This week’s Winter Wanderlust lecture will be “Walking Long in Scotland” at 7 p.m. today at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Admission is $7 for adults and free for children younger than 18 at the fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
Winter Wanderlust is stories and images from travelers who are fulfilled by sharing new places, people, cultures and the world. This week’s lecturer is Ron Strange.
For information, go to wanderlustadventures.net.
String band
PORT TOWNSEND — The Eagle Mountain String Band will perform at the Key City Public Theatre Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. today.
The band will play eclectic folk Americana at the playhouse at 419 Washington St.
Tickets are $15. They are available at the box office, by phone at 360-385-5278 (KCPT) or online at www.keycitypublictheatre.org.
Michelangelo lecture
PORT TOWNSEND — “The Evolution of Consciousness According to Michelangelo” is set from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The free illustrated presentation by George Hastings will be at the Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center, 3918 San Juan Ave. Donations will be accepted.
Hastings explains his presentation as unveiling secret messages by Michelangelo.
According to a news release: “Wanting to be associated with the apostles, Pope Julius II decided to have Michelangelo paint their pictures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Michelangelo had a better idea.
“Since the church had originally been built as the new Solomon’s Temple, why not paint scenes related to the Temple, the place where, according to the ancient Jews, God dwelled? The pope would love to be considered the new Moses.
“The Pope agreed, but what Michelangelo left unsaid was that, using these same pictures, he would tell a secret, highly esoteric story about his version of the ‘new Temple’ which had more to do with a state of higher consciousness than the pope’s brick and mortar church. If Julius had known what Michelangelo was up to he would not be amused.”
This lecture is part of a trilogy. The others are “Michelangelo’s Art of Story Telling,” which delves into the methods Michelangelo used to keep his secret message secret from the Pope, and “Moving On, According to Michelangelo.”
Contra dance
PORT TOWNSEND — Quimper Grange will present a contra dance from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The dance will be at the grange hall at 1219 Corona St. The caller and band are to be announced.
All dances taught and all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Treats and refreshments will be provided, and dancers are encouraged to bring snacks to share and their own personal water bottle.
For more information, call Dave Thielk at 360-602-1270.
Work party
PORT TOWNSEND — Admiralty Audubon will host a work party Sunday.
The public is invited to volunteer to help remove invasive species, plant native species and pick up litter at Kah Tai Lagoon Park, located at San Juan Avenue, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Weed wrenches and refreshments will be provided.
Parking will be available near the bathrooms across from Henery Hardware.
Event planners advise those interested to bring shovels and gloves for planting.
The Audubon has five trash grabbers available but encourages attendees to bring their own.
For more information, contact 360-385-0307 or ptrose53@gmail.com.
UFO meetup
PORT TOWNSEND — Olympic UFO Meet Up will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The meeting will be at the Port Townsend Friends Meeting House, 1841 Sheridan Ave.
Attendees will be invited to continue their discussions at another location following the meeting.
Space will be available for people to meet in private.
For more information, call 360-344-2991 or email olympic.ufo@gmail.com.
Whitman poetry
PORT TOWNSEND — Bruce Bode will host a seminar at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
The seminar will be free at the fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
Bode, also a faith columnist for the Peninsula Daily News, will present a lecture on the poetry of Walt Whitman.
For information, contact Bode at bruce@olympus.net.
CHIMACUM
Online newspaper sites
CHIMACUM — Being a “genealogy detective” involves scanning newspapers for information not found elsewhere. Mary Roddy, Jefferson County Genealogical Society speaker, will present “Read ‘Em or Weep” from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The free program — with donations accepted — will be at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road. The public is welcome.
Roddy’s program involves finding free and pay newspaper sites online. She will show how to do a “thorough searching in every newspaper every time,” according to a news release.
Roddy, a certified public accountant, earned a certificate from the genealogy and family history program at the University of Washington.
She is an active member of the Seattle Genealogical Society and speaks frequently in the Seattle area. She is a regular contributor to Your Genealogy Today and Internet Genealogy magazines and is a webinar presenter with Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Her background in accounting has influenced the way she uses spreadsheets and forensic research in her genealogy.
She is working on a novel that incorporates stories of ancestors she has discovered in her research.
For more information, see www.wajcgs.org, phone 360-385-9495 or email JCGSWash@gmail.com.
Winter music
CHIMACUM — Norman Baker and his band will perform at the Finnriver Winter Music Series at Finnriver Orchard & Cider Garden from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The concert will be at Finnriver at 124 Center Road.
The group’s new album utilizes undertones of pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, upright bass, clarinet and acoustic and electric guitars.
PORT HADLOCK
Boffer swordplay
PORT HADLOCK — The Jefferson County Library will host boffer swordplay at 3 p.m. today.
The free program will take place at the library, 620 Cedar Ave.
Boffer swordplay is a physical sport with light contact, similar in intensity to soccer and a pillow fight.
Boffers, constructed of foam-wrapped PVC pipe, duct tape and imagination, are used in live-action role-playing games and mock combat.
The activity attracts kids age 6 to 18.
Chaz Hillyard coaches participants, and boffers are provided.
JOYCE
Benefit breakfast
JOYCE — An all-you-can-eat benefit breakfast is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.
The breakfast will be at the Crescent Bay Lions Club, 181 Holly Hill Road.
This event is open to the public.
The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger.
Luck of the Draw will play a variety of music for guests at the breakfast.
The menu includes eggs cooked to order, hot cakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy, hashbrowns, ham, bacon, sausage, coffee and tea.
Proceeds help Crescent Bay members support Crescent High School yearbooks, scholarships for Crescent High School seniors, holiday food baskets, glasses for those in need and other community projects.
FORKS
College Night
FORKS — Peninsula College at Forks will provide information on how to pay for college at College Financial Aid Night on Wednesday.
The session will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the campus at 481 S. Forks Ave.
Students can get help accessing free resources to help pay for post-secondary education and receive step-by-step instructions for completing and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
Students and families will be able to file the FAFSA or WASFA at this event and ask questions about financial aid and college in general.
A formal presentation and student panel with Spanish interpretation is planned from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The event is co-sponsored by the Peninsula College Longhouse, Financial Aid Office and Forks campus.
For more information, contact Deborah Scannell at dscannell@pencol.edu or 360-374-9881.
Storytime
FORKS — The Forks Library will host family storytime for children up to age 5 at 10:30 a.m. today.
Storytime features action rhymes, fingerplays, crafts, dancing and songs at the library, 171 S. Forks Ave.
Activities support important skill development and encourage children to interact with peers and caregivers, according to a news release.
For more information, call 360-374-6402, ext. 7791, or email youth@nols.org.
Elks bingo
FORKS — The Forks Elks Lodge will host bingo games starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Regular bingo will begin at 7 p.m. at the lodge at 941 Merchants Road.
Concessions will be available for purchase.
Lego-Mania
FORKS — Children from ages 6 to 14 can create masterpieces with Legos at the Forks Library on Wednesday.
Lego-Mania is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the library at 171 S. Forks Ave.
Each week will present attendees with a new theme.
All materials will be provided, and the Lego creations will remain in the library after each session.
Reading to dogs
FORKS — Children can practice readings skills by reading to Tally the therapy dog at the Forks Library on Wednesday.
The session is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the library at 171 S. Forks Ave.
“Children can build their reading skills and find encouragement and reading success by reading aloud to dogs that are trained to listen and be attentive,” library officials said.
Tally and her trainer are members of Olympic Gentle Paws.
Music for a Cure
FORKS — Monica Henry will perform an evening of Broadway and jazz classics in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Henry will perform at the Elks Lodge, 941 Merchants Road.
Entrance will be by donation, and all proceeds will support the work of the LLS.
Attendees must be at least 21 years old.
Forks history
FORKS — The West End Historical Society and Forks Timber Museum will combine efforts for a monthly program at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Rainforest Arts Center.
The program will be free at the center, 35 N. Forks Ave.
Attendees are invited to bring their own historical items to share.
For information, call 360-374-9663.
