Writers’ Voices reading April 3
Hawaii Writers Guild will present its April Writers’ Voices reading on Wednesday, April 3 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Thelma Parker Memorial Library, 67-1209 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea.
Writers’ Voices is an evening of original readings by Guild members. Readers at the April Writers’ Voices will include Guild members Dr. Heather Rivera, Duncan Dempster, Jada Tan Rufo and Cecilia Johansen.
Rivera will be reading from her latest novel, “Twice Again,” the story of a woman’s unusual empowerment after her death from violent domestic abuse. Although this will be Dr. Rivera’s first time reading at a Guild event, she recently read at a Kona Stories event.
Dempster, a Guild member and its webmaster, will be reading from his newly completed novel, “Where are You?”, a sequel to his debut novel, “Chapel on the Moor.” Steeped in mystery, the story unfolds with touches of fantasy.
Tan Rufo, who spent 14 years as an English as a second language teacher in China, will read from her memoir, “Banana Girl,” a record of her adventures as an Asian-American woman in a foreign land.
Cecilia Johansen, a Kailua-Kona resident and former host of Writers’ Voices, will read from her recently-completed historical novella, The Captain and the Lady, which demanded a life of its own after starting out as a segment of a historical novel based on Johansen’s ancestors.
Hawaii Writers Guild is an independent association of professional writers engaged in the promotion of cultural enrichment. The semi-monthly readings are free and open to the public.
Pictures and stories of past readings are posted on the Guild website at http://www.hawaiiwritersguild.com/guild-news.html.
Free ‘We are Community’ resource fair coming to Waimea
All of Waimea is invited to the first “We Are Community” Fair from 5-6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28 in Waimea Middle School’s new STEAM Learning Center.
It’s free and all are welcome to this casual gallery walk of caring community supports and resources for students and families and community. Attendees will be gifted a free bag of food from The Food Basket (if wanted), along with tips and insights into supports or services that could make life better.
The idea was started by the middle school’s principal, Janice English. She and the school’s teachers and staff recognized that many in the community struggle with issues beyond the scope of the school, and these issues impact student well-being, attendance, behavior and readiness to learn. English knew was that there are supports and resources in the community that can help, so she reached out and the response was so abundant that the school decided to open up the event to the entire community.
Everyone who comes will be given a passport to be stamped as they stroll from station to station and the reward for making just six stops will be a bag of food from The Food Bank. Each station along the gallery walk will have information to share – from how to apply for SNAP (the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to QUEST for medical assistance.
There will also be experts available to talk about everything from after-school and summer programs for youth, to how to schedule free tax preparation help; from what to do if you or a family member needs a dentist or pediatrician, to blood pressure screening, to what to do if someone you know is experiencing anxiety, depression, loss or having thoughts about suicide.
Partnering with Waimea Middle School for this event will be the Hamakua Kohala Health Center, The Food Basket, Blue Zones Project, Boys 2 Men, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Waimea Elementary Thrift Shop, Thelma Parker Memorial Library, Hawaii County Community Policing, and family counselor Makela Bruno Kidani.
Info: Patti Cook, 937-2833.
Author to visit Quiz Bowl
Award-winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly, who won the John Newbery Medal for her children’s book “Hello Universe,” will attend the Newbery Quiz Bowl on April 25 at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
The Newbery Quiz Bowl is an islandwide reading competition for students grade 4-7, now in its 30th year. It challenges kids to read quality books, and answer questions game show-style.
Estrada will sign copies of her book, donated by Friends of the Library-Waikoloa Region, at noon.