Buck Ellard at the grange

Sequim Prairie Grange hosts a dinner and dance with the Buck Ellard Band from 5:30-8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 290 Macleay Road. Cost is $10, and includes a dinner of a main dish, salads, desserts, coffee and water.

For more information, call 360-582-0100.

Story People set ‘Story Slam’

The Story People of Clallam County offer a participatory Studium Generale at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, in The Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

For more than a decade, The Story People have given an introduction to the internationally renowned Forest Storytelling Festival, held at the college. This year they are inviting students and other audience members to participate in the telling.

This year they introduce a form of storytelling called the story slam. A theme is announced in advance and anyone who wants to tell a true, 6-minute story from their life experience related to the theme can throw their name in the hat. The emcee will draw names, and those selected will take the stage to tell their story.

Most slams feature judges who score the stories,but this “Slam at Studium” will not be judged.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dr. Kate Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu or Dr. Lara Starcevich at lstarcevich @pencol.edu.

Book group to consider ‘Pachinko’

The Novel Conversations Book Discussion Group talk about Min Jin Lee’s “Pachinko” at the group’s next meeting set for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.

“Pachinko” follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all.

To participate, simply read the book and attend the discussion; no reservations are needed, and drop-ins are welcome.

Copies of the title are available in various formats that may be requested online by visiting the library catalog at www.nols.org. A limited number of copies of each book discussion selection are available at the library the month prior to each meeting.

To view a complete list of 2019 Book Discussion Group selections, visit www.nols.org/book-discussion-groups.

For more information about this and other programs, visit www.nols.org, email to discover@nols.org or call 360-683-1161.

Go virtual with Oculus technology

Dive under the sea with the North Olympic Library System. Adults and teens 13 and older can experience Ocean Rift virtual reality, an immersive 360-degree video using Oculus Rift and Go headsets. Explore an underwater world with dolphins, sharks, whales, manatees, and habitats ranging from coral reefs to shipwrecks and prehistoric seas.

The Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., will host drop-in sessions from 1-3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., hosts sessions from 1-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Using VR has potential safety concerns; participants must be 13 years or older (no exceptions). Adult participants must sign a release waiver, and participants aged 13 to 17 must have a parent signed release waiver. Waiver forms are available to pick up in advance at the library.

Registration is required for Sequim and Port Angeles sessions; register at www.nols.org.

Bats are topic of Gardiner talk

Lorna and Darrell Smith present a family-friendly talk on the bats of the Olympic Peninsula at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 US Highway 101, in Gardiner.

Darrell Smith, a wildlife biologist with Western Wildlife Outreach, and Lorna Smith with talk about their recent bat observations from their Cape George property and the new equipment and smart phone apps they are using to help detect and identify bats. They will also discuss the importance of bats to the local environment, what to look for in a bat box and ways to help out the local bat population.

Space is limited for this presentation; call 360-797-7100 to reserve a spot for the evening. A $5 donation is requested, with proceeds going to Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue.

Monday Musicale meeting set for Oct. 21

A free concert featuring Case Schmidt and Kari Spicer, who play the violin and specialize in classical music, follows the next Monday Musicale meeting, set for noon on Oct. 21 at the Queen of Angels Fellowship Hall, 209 W. 11th St., Port Angeles.

Monday Musicale meets the third Monday of each month. Proceeds from the yearly $15 club dues goes toward scholarships for local high school seniors.

The group’s annual Scholarship Benefit Concert is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Tickets are for sale at Forage Gifts and NW Treasurers in Sequim, and Port Book and News in Port Angeles. Admission is $15 and $20 at the door.

Call Gail McDonald at 360-477-8601 for more information.

Janda is OPAA’s October presenter

The Olympic Peninsula Art Association’s October general meeting is set for 9:30 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Oct. 24, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave., with presenting artist Carol Janda.

The community is welcome.

Janda, who has lived on the peninsula since 1983, taught art for Peninsula College Continuing Education Program as well as public schools in Maryland, Montana and Alaska. A signature member of the North West Watercolor Society, she shows her work at the Blue Whole Art Gallery.

Janda works in both 2D and 3D art forms using a variety of media and styles. Visit her artist page at bluewholegallery.com or blog at claythingsplus.blogspot.com.

Fourth Friday Readings

The next Fourth Friday Readings features writer Jerry Koch, starting at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, in the media room at The Lodge, 660 Evergreen Farm Way.

His presentation is followed by 5-minute open mic readings. Participants are encouraged to bring poems, short-short stories or memoir/novel snippets to read, but to rehearse in advance as readings are timed.

Get guidelines by emailing to Heidi@olypen.com.