Nonprofit Briefs

Shelton native, writer speaks at museum

Shelton native Gary Strankman - a writer and former attorney, judge and law professor - speaks at 6 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mason County Historical Museum, 427 W. Railroad Ave., downtown Shelton.

Admission is free, but reservations are requested by calling 360-426-1020.

Strankman was born in Shelton General Hospital in 1941 and graduated from Irene S. Reed High School in 1959. From 1968 to 1980, he worked in the District Attorney's Office in Contra Costa County in California. He ended his career there as chief assistant district attorney, overseeing an office of more than 80 lawyers.

In 1980, he was elected a superior court judge for Contra Costa and moved up the ranks to administrative presiding justice. He taught law, literature and history at various colleges, including the University of California at Berkeley. He retired about five years ago.

Strankman has maintained his connection with Shelton by awarding three Strankman Scholarships to Shelton educators each year, organizing online fundraisers for The Saints Pantry Food Bank in downtown Shelton that have raised $55,000, and writing fictional stories about Shelton in the 1950s on his popular Facebook page, "Well ... You Might Be from Shelton If ... "

Pioneer Kiwanis Club clam/shrimp dinner Saturday

The Pioneer Kiwanis Club hosts a shrimp and clam dinner, with a live and silent auction Saturday at Pioneer Elementary School.

Proceeds from the event go to scholarships for Pioneer School District students and for programs that benefit Mason County children.

The dinner usually features crab, but it is difficult to obtain right now, the club said. Tickets are a new price after the change from crab to shrimp at $35 for adults, and $15 for children ages 2 to 12; kids under 2 are admitted free. People who already purchased tickets will receive a $5 refund at the door. The meal also includes spaghetti and coleslaw. Tickets are available from any Pioneer Kiwanis member. For questions or to donate an auction item, call Lee at 360-432-0136 or Pam at 360-426-2344.

Learn about Kristmas Town Kiwanis on Saturday

The Kristmas Town Kiwanis Club hosts "Koffee With Kiwanis" from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at C.J.'s Restaurant, 116 West Railroad Ave., downtown Shelton. Come learn about the club. For more information, call Vickie Gonzales at 360-229-1442.

Visiting poet shares work at Shelton library

Alice B. Fogel, who was poet laureate of New Hampshire from 2014 to 2019, will read new works and discuss poetry at 5 p.m. May 24 at the Shelton Timberland Library.

Fogel is a poet-in-residence at Hypathia-in-the-Woods in Mason County. Her latest poetry collection is "Nothing But," a series of poems responding to Abstract Expressionist art and its effects on our consciousness. She works one-on-one with students with learning challenges at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont.

Gardening workshop Friday at Callanan Park

The Mason Conservation District and HOPE Garden host a gardening workshop from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday at the new community garden in Callanan Park in Shelton. The topics include planting a bed or garden with full-season crops, watering techniques and adding organic matter. Spanish interpretation is available.

Love INC offers free life skills workshops

The Shelton-based nonprofit Love In the Name of Christ (INC) and its 25 partner churches in Mason County are offering free life skills workshops.

The group and the churches work together to connect people with goods and services, including clothing, blankets, backpacks for kids, diapers, medical equipment and financial help. The group provides assistance to hundreds of low-income and indigent families each year. The workshops are hosted from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at First Baptist Church, 429 West Cota St., downtown Shelton. Sound Learning provides a Spanish language interpreter as needed.

Space is limited. Reservations are encouraged by calling 360-462-5683 and going to sheltonfbc.org.

The workshops include:

■ Self-defense, taught by local law enforcement officers, June 6-20.

■ Cyber security June 27.

■ Conversational Spanish/English July 11.

Later workshops will include cooking, computer courses, resume building, and canning vegetables, jams and jellies. For more information, call Love INC at 360-462-5683.

Annual rummage sale to Hoodsport church

St. Germain Church hosts its annual rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 28 at 600 Lake Cushman Road in Hoodsport.

Have your home assessed for fire risk

The Mason Conservation District is offering free wildfire risk home assessments, with a district forester visiting your property.

The district hosts an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 24 at the Mason County Public Works building. For more information, go to masoncd.org/wildfire.

Arts and Crafts Fair at Lake Cushman Golf Course

The Lake Cushman Golf Course hosts its second Arts and Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. More than 20 local artists and vendors will sell their work.

Local artists show works in Shelton Civic Center

Members of the Peninsula Arts Association display more than 60 pieces of their works Monday to May 28 in the Shelton Civic Center.

Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.