Posts Tagged ‘Whidbey’

Whidbey Island Writers Association Fall Classes

Monday, September 21st, 2009

WIWA FALL CLASSES 2009

To register:

E-mail  wiwa@whidbey.com with your personal information and choice of class(s). Then mail a check or call the office with your credit card number. Or come by the office in Freeland during office hours: Monday, Tuesday or Thursday mornings 9-noon. Register soon!!

Crafting Fiction that Sells in Today’s Marketplace

Tuesday Evenings, 7-9 PM

September 29-November 17

Fee:  $115 for members, $135 for non-members

Site: United Methodist Church, Coupeville

Instructor: Literary Agent Andrea Hurst

Memoir: Writing Your Story

Monday evenings, 7-9 pm

September 28-November 16

Site: United Methodist Church, Langley

Fee: $115 for members, $135 for nonmembers

Instructor: Barbara Joy Laffey

Writing Poetry: The Body and the None-Others

Saturday afternoons, 1:30-3:30

October 3-November 21

Site: Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland

Fee: $115 for members, $135 for nonmembers

Instructor: Robin Barre


Puzzle Pieces: Navigating the Maze of Writing for Children

Monday evenings, 6:30-9:00

September 28-November 30

Site: Jim Davis House, Greenbank Farm

Fee: $180 for members, $200 for nonmembers

Instructor: Multi-published author Deb Lund

Fiction, or plain and fancy lying

Wednesdays, 10-12:30

September 30-December 2

Site: Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland

Fee: $115 for members, $135 for nonmembers

Instructor: Published author and MFA Instructor, Wayne Ude

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Whidbey Island Writers Association

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Fellow writers and poets, please attend one of the informational meetings regarding WIWA next Thursday at 7pm at Skagit Valley College, Room 225, Oak Hall.

Tonight was the meeting in Coupeville.

Please attend and give your input for programs, classes and the direction of the Whidbey Island Writers Association.

Don’t forget, Wednesdays, Just Write at the Coupeville pier. Join literary agent Andrea Hurst and local writers for an afternoon of inspiration and education. Come prepared to write, only sharing your daily goals and how you did, prepared to learn, enjoying speakers on topics such as blogging, publishing, and publicity, and prepared to meet kindred spirits. 3-5:30 pm, Wednesdays.

Visit the Whidbey Island Writers Association for more information on local critique groups, classes, contests and more.

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Penn Cove Water Festival and wine

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Quick post–this Saturday, is the Penn Cove Water Festival in Coupeville, 11-6, FREE! Also, some events Friday and Sunday too, click the link for more info. Weather is supposed to be good.

Tomorrow, Thursday wine social at Bayleaf Wine & Cheese at the Coupeville store.5-7pm, tasting Spring White Wines. $10, if you register early, $15 at the door, includes wine and appetizers. Did you know Beth, proprietress, was one of something like five stores in the United States invited to Italy by the Italian Wine Board?

Gotta’ run!

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Mothers Day, Music, Musicals and More

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Lots to do…

Friday & Saturday evenings, 7pm, at the Coupeville High Performing Arts Center, 501 S. Main, watch the original song and dance show “If The Boot Fits,” based on Cinderella. The show was written by Scott Arnold and runs this weekend and next, including a Sunday showing, 5/17, at 2pm. FREE for those with an ASB card and seniors over 62, $5 general admission, $3 for 5th graders and younger.

4-H Car Wash: Sat, starting at 9:30 at Whidbey Island Bank in Coupeville.

Mother’s Day Concert-Meerkerk Gardens, Sunday, 12-4, enjoy harp playing, bring a picnic and be surrounded by Mother Nature–the rhodies, cherry trees and bulbs are all in bloom. $12/door. 16 and under are FREE.

Spring Fling Art Sale–at the Coupeville Arts Center until the 19th. Also, enjoy our local galleries. Check out the show and galleries locally, or take a drive this weekend. Galleries & wine tasting at the Greenbank Farm. More art on Camano Island with their Open Art Studio Tour.

Whale Watching–from the wharf in Coupeville. Come aboard and watch the gray whales and other sealife.

Raffle tickets are being sold for a ride on the 1951 open cab fire truck in the Coupeville Memorial Parade, 5/23 at 11am. $1 each at Miriams, Honeybear, or Chamber of Commerce in Coupeville or Seabolts in Oak Harbor. This parade is perfectly sized (read: attention span & bathroom needs of small children) and a fun community event.

Farmer’s Market-every Saturday, 10-2. Food, locally grown beef, handmade cheeses and breads, fresh produce, tomato plants, flowers, crafts and fun! Brett’s Bread now has cinnamon rolls. I got some gorgeous geraniums from Whidbey Perennials–super prices. Something for everyone and always fun.

Two concerts to tell you about too–Friday, 7:30, at the Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor–dress up in disco clothes for the Mama Mia sing-along. No-host wine tasting beforehand at 6:30. Also, enjoy Big Band music at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) in Langley. 7:30-10pm, $15, on Saturday. Yes, there will be dancing. :)

Mother Nature is supposed to bless us with gorgeous weather this weekend. Make sure you play outside. Take a hike, go bike, work in the garden, or at the least, soak up the sun. Open Houses at Krueger Commons, today through Sunday, 12-5.

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Upcoming Events–April 10-12

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Artists–the application deadline for the Island County Historical Museum “Art for History Weekend” has been extended until 4/10. The exhibit will be held the weekend of the 18th and feature works emphasizing historic buildings or events in Island County history.

Normally, I don’t list events requiring a drive since we have so much to choose from, but on Good Friday at Langley United Methodist, you can hear an incredible voice sing–baritone soloist Karl Olsen will be featured in several selections of Brahms’ Requiem. 7:30pm, $10 donation & well worth it. Seating is limited.

Helping hands: Ebey’s Restoration Work Party–Sat, 10-2, at the Prairie Overlook on Cemetery Rd. Help the National Historic Reserve restore native plants. Tools provided. All welcome.

Or tidy the beaches: Sat, 10am at Joseph Whidbey or 1pm at Ebey’s Landing.

Open Skate at the Roller Barn in Oak Harbor–Sat, 3-6pm. $3, benefiting Relay for Life.

Easter Egg Hunts: Check The Examiner, News-Times, or Record’s websites for the hunt nearest you. Too many to list–multiplying like rabbits.

New Seibukan Karate class at Coupeville Elementary, Tue & Thu nights, 7-8:30pm. $100 for adults, $60 for students. 678-6099.

Dance Party! Monday, 6:30pm at the Rec Hall. Dancing & lessons if you want them. $5.

Adult Rec League Volleyball, Mon & Wed, 6:30pm at CHS gym. Age 16 and up, $5/game.

Would it be so wrong to go dance while spouse plays volleyball?

And did you hear?…the gray whales are back! Whales spotted off West Beach, Admiralty Inlet and all around Whidbey. The Mystic Sea was docked at the wharf last time I looked. So, boy, what a time to go whale watching.

We’ll have Open Houses at Krueger Commons on Friday, 1-4, Saturday, 1-3, closed on Easter.

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Mussel Festival Weekend Update

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Well, the Johnny Bulldog concert last night, benefiting the Coupeville High School Senior Class, seemed to be a resounding success! As usual, the band rocked the house. Lots of neat silent auction items were sold too.

Right now, it’s sunny and clear, but the wind–she is a blowing this morning. Dress warmly for the wind chill and don’t forget your sunglasses.

UPDATE: Weather isn’t so hot today–a spring storm of wind. So, inside activities are the name of the game for Saturday. Sunday should hopefully be better. Indoor options include the special exhibit at the Island County Historical Museum, browsing and finding treasures in the wonderful shops along Front Street, the Central Whidbey Co-Op Preschool is having a garage sale Saturday at the Methodist Church on Main Street, enjoying a bite to eat at one of the restaurants, viewing the art exhibit in the Rec Hall, or even enjoying some of the art studios on the Whidbey Working Artists Tour.

We stopped by the studios of painter Linda Shaefer’s and Karen Schroeder–oils and pastels. Boy, what a treat. Both of these artists had amazing abilities with light and color. From gorgeous notecards, unframed matted paintings or prints to beautifully framed pieces of artwork, there was a treasure to take home in everybody’s price range.

Enjoy! Oh, and Open House hours are today 3-6pm and Sunday, 1-5.

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Readings at Miriam’s

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Last night, I enjoyed listening to several authors read at our local espresso shop, Miriam’s. Faculty from the Whidbey Island Writers Association and students from the MFA program filled the local coffee house. A low-residency program, students come to the island twice a year and attend classes at nearby Fort Casey.

Mark Acito read and sang hilarious excerpts from his two novels, Attack of the Theater People and How I Paid for College. Larry Cheek read from his non-fiction book that is sure to attract wooden boat fans, The Year of the Boat. Kate Gales, a poetess, editor of The LA Review and managing editor of Red Hen Press, wowed us with powerful readings, including those from her book, Mating Season. Finally, Bruce Holland Rogers read several short stories and showed why he has won numerous awards, including a Pushcart Prize, two Nebula Awards, the Bram Stoker Award, two World Fantasy Awards, and has been nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award and Spain’s Premio Ignotus.

Also at the reading was one of the MFA instructors, David Wagoner. If you’re not into the world of poetry, I’ll just say, he’s someone you should read. He’s written 17 books of poetry, his latest nominated for both the LA Times Book Prize and…the Pulitzer Prize.

This Thursday, the 21st, another reading will be held at Miriam’s. The event starts at 6, with readings beginning at 7:15. It’s open to the public and free of charge. Readings include: Marvin Bell, poetry; John Calderazzo, fiction, nonfiction; Christopher Howell, poetry; and Carolyne Wright, poetry, nonfiction. Books will be available for sale and for signings by the authors.

Miriam’s is located on South Main Street, Coupeville, right next to the elementary school. Hope to see you there!

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Loganberry Festival

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Tomorrow finishes up the Loganberry Festival, 10-5 at the Greenbank Farm, south of Coupeville. It’s free, which is always a plus! Different bands will play all day long. Pie eating contests, free hayrides, artist demonstrations, carnival and puppet shows. There will be a winemaker tent and a beer garden. Vintners will be on hand to discuss the different wines available. Lots of food treat options too.

An interactive art installation, “Doorgan,” will be on display too. Seven doors will be displayed, that when opened, will add an element of sound with the works of seven Whidbey Island poets!

Greenbank hosts their farmer’s market on Sunday too. So, if you didn’t grab more raspberries or fresh basil today, you still have a chance over the weekend.

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