Barn dance to raise funds for scholarships

P.E.O. Chapter FY in Sequim hosts a barn dance at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at 322 Clark Road. Proceeds raise money to help educate women in memory of Glenda Clark.

The event includes food, door prizes, raffles, a silent auction and dancing. Cost is $15 per person.

Call BZ Zabora at 360-477-1990 or AnnaLee Smith at 360-461-3008 for tickets or more information.

P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization seeking to educate women through scholarships, grants, awards and stewardship of Cottey College.

The New Iberians, a Portland, Ore.-based zydeco and blues band, plays the Sequim Elks Lodge on May 24. Photo courtesy of newiberians.com

Musical mix coming to Elks lodge

The Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, welcomes the upbeat, Portland, Ore.-based New Iberians zydeco and blues band for a debut concert and dance performance at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 24.

Evan Shaes and his band has been very popular over the past decade, event organizers say, bringing Louisiana-style music, Cajun waltzes, swamp pop and rock ’n’ roll to their repertoire.

Cost is $10, $8 for Elks members.

Woodturner Russell Neyman discusses “Fifty Nifty Woodturning Tips” at the Strait Turners club meeting on May 28 in Gardiner. Submitted photo

Strait Turners host special guest

Russell Neyman presents “Fifty Nifty Woodturning Tips” at the next meeting of the Strait Turners woodturning club, set for noon on Tuesday, May 28, at Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road.

Neyman is a past president of the Olympic Peninsula Woodturners chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.

The meeting will also feature a wood auction, a chance for turners to pick up a unique specimen for their projects.

New turners welcome. Cost is $5 for non-club members.

Carver’s work in spotlight at college

Michael Mills, a Peninsula College professor and writer, will present on the life and work of Raymond Carver at the next Studium Generale event at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, college’s Little Theatre, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

Mills’ presentation will focus on Carver’s relationship with writer Tess Gallagher and their time together in Port Angeles, particularly their commonalities as writers, and their prolific writing partnership. The two authors served to inspire, challenge, support and edit each other’s works during the last 10 years of his life.

Since Carver’s death from lung cancer in 1988, Gallagher has published many new books of her own stories, essays and poetry, while also serving as literary executor for Carver. She also works with translators, filmmakers, and publishers on many translations, adaptations, new editions, and the inclusion of his existing stories in textbooks and anthologies.

For more information, contact Dr. Kate Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu.

Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro-Luna visits Sequim, Port Angeles and the West End this month. Submitted photo

State poet laureate to visit peninsula

Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro-Luna visit all branches of the North Olympic Library System for a series of poetry readings and workshops for adults and teens.

Following two West End events on May 24, Castro-Luna is featured in a poetry workshop at 10:30 a.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., and a poetry reading at the Sequim Library at 1 p.m., both on Saturday, May 25.

Claudia Castro Luna has served as Seattle’s Civic Poet from 2015-2017, and is the author of the Pushcart nominated “Killing Marías” (also shortlisted for WA State 2018 Book Award in poetry), and “This City.” She is also the creator of the acclaimed Seattle Poetic Grid.

Born in El Salvador, she came to the United States in 1981. Claudia is currently working on a memoir, “Like Water to Drink,” about her experience escaping the civil war in El Salvador. She writes and teaches in Seattle.

For information about this and other programs at your library, visit www.nols.org, call 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.

Readings to feature speakers, open mic

Sequim’s Fourth Friday Readings, scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on May 24 in the media room at The Lodge, 660 Evergreen Farm Way. Featured writers are Eva McGinnis and Susan Erickson, followed by five-minute open mic readings.

Participants are asked to bring poems, short-short stories or memoir/novel snippets, and to rehearse in advance as readings are timed.

Get guidelines by emailing to Heidi@olypen.com.

Skwim Toastmasters Terry Barrett, M.E. Bartholomew and Terralene Burnham share a laugh at a recent Toastmasters event. The local group hosts a “Laugh Out Loud at our Humorous Speech Showcase” event on June 11 in Sequim. Submitted photo

Toastmasters slate ‘Laugh Out Loud’

Area Toastmasters clubs present “Laugh Out Loud at our Humorous Speech Showcase,” from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave. All are welcome, with a suggested donation of $5 per person at the door. Reserve seats at LOLToast.eventbrite.com.

The event features nine award-winning, humorous speakers from the Olympic Peninsula and beyond. All humor will be “clean.” and a live mini-auction will be woven into the evening to support area Toastmasters clubs.

Skwim Toastmasters is part of Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. See 907529.toastmastersclubs.org.

City to host arts talk

Join the Sequim City Arts Advisory Commission for a conversation about arts and culture in Sequim from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, in the Sequim Civic Center council chambers, 152 W. Cedar St.

This event will focus on the who/what/when/where and how of establishing an art hub/makerspace/center in the City of Sequim. Bring ideas and resources to the table.

Contact city Arts Coordinator Cyndi Hueth at 360-582-2477 or chueth@sequimwa.gov for more information.